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  • 5 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers for Summer

    5 Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers for Summer

    As my old buddy Brad used to say, Its summer time and we’re living easy. I’m sure you all have great summers plans in place,  with boats and beaches, golf, good friends, great times and noodle salad, but have you accessed what you are going to use for music during all this fun in sun? I didn’t think so and that is why I’m here, to tell you about the 5 best portable Bluetooth speakers you can take with you anywhere you go this summer. To make this list they will need a few requirement, for one they have to be IP water resistant. The second is they need to have full 360° sound.

     

    5. TREBLAB HD55

    Wonderful sound, With HD55, you’ll feel as if you’re at a live concert, with clear high notes, deep bass and 360° true HD sound. This advanced Bluetooth speaker has the latest state-of-the-art double 12W drivers and double bass radiators. Great for the  Office, traveling & late nite LA gangsta style pool parties. IT is waterproof with a rating IPX4.  Amazon pricing of only $69.97

     

    4. Soundcore Flare Portable Bluetooth 360° Speaker

    Much like the HD55, the SoundCore Flare has the 360° and is IPX7 waterproof. This has great mid range sound, great acoustics and will keep the singing going on all night. It secured the number 4 position for one terrific reason, its $10 cheaper at $59.99.

     

    3. JBL Xtreme 2 Portable Bluetooth Speakers

    The JBL Xtreame is know for delivering earth-shaking powerful stereo sound. The speaker is armed with four drivers, two JBL Bass Radiators, a rechargeable 10,000mAh Li-ion battery supporting up to 15 hours of playtime. Its also IPX7 certified waterproof.  At $299 it starts off our top 3 Portable Bluetooth Speakers for summer. 

    2. Bose SoundLink Revolve+

    You can never go wrong with Bose. They have mastered commercial sound. And this is the best-performing portable speaker from Bose. It ultimately delivers Deep, loud, jaw-dropping sound with True 360-degree coverage. Ipx certified and fits beautifully in the golf cart.  At $299 its a steal. 

     

    1. Ultimate Ears MEGABLAST

    And the winner is…UE’s most powerful speaker with 360° intensely rich sound, stunning clarity, and heart-pounding bass. With up to 12 hours of battery, it brings your music to life wherever the summer leads you. With  Amazon Alexa hands-free voice control you can now just ask Alexa to blast tunes from Spotify. It is waterproof and virtually indestructible: Never worry about going easy on it, your music will always be on point. The speaker is IP67 rated and can be immersed in water for up to 30 minutes. Yes I tried it. It is by far the loudest on this list, the most durable and at $190 the best value Portable Bluetooth Speakers for your summertime listening pleasure.

     

    The Final Thought

    This is going to be the best sounding summer ever. Get me  my speedos and a REM playlist!!

  • Smart Speaker Security Concerns

    Smart Speaker Security Concerns

    Your smart speaker is an incredibly handy piece of technology. It helps organize your life, streamline your household activities and even helps you shop online. But what are the security risks posed by having an always-on mic in your living room? Who’s listening to your recorded audio? According to a recent report from Seattle news station KIRO 7, these concerns are not mere conjecture. 

    Danielle’s Story 

    Photo Credit: SFGate 

    A Portland woman identified as ‘Danielle’ told the Seattle news station that her Amazon Echo sent a recording of a private conversation to a contact. The conversation was utterly harmless, apparently a discussion between Danielle and her husband regarding hardwood floors. However, the contact who was sent the audio files immediately contacted Danielle and told her to disable her Alexa-enabled device immediately. The contact feared that Danielle had been hacked and was in danger of having her information stolen. 

    Amazon’s Confirmation 

    Photo Credit: Amazon.com 

    Danielle immediately contacted Amazon to ask for answers. How did this happen? Were they aware the Echo was doing this? The representative that Danielle reached found the relevant logs, confirming what had happened. He apologized profusely, according to Danielle, as the situation was unbelievably unlikely. Apparently, the Echo device overheard the conversation happening in the other room. Some words in the conversation made the device think it was being asked to send a message. After mistaking background noise for a confirmation, it sent the overheard conversation to the contact.  

    An “Echo Butt-Dial” 

    Photo Credit: The Seattle Times 

    Wired Magazine described the ordeal as an “Echo butt-dial,” a complete fluke. Amazon claimed that they will use the data from this incident to tighten Alexa’s recognition protocols and make this scenario more unlikely. However, this individual scenario isn’t the only smart speaker security concern: if they’re always listening, how can they be secure? What are some of the other concerns with these devices?  

    Background Sounds Being Recorded 

    Photo Credit: The Verge 

    The first issue, and most pressing in regard to Danielle’s case, is that of background sounds. Smart Speakers have to be listening for their trigger phrases all the time. If they don’t, they literally don’t work. This represents a serious security concern, though, as Danielle found out. What if the speaker mishears you and sends private conversations to people who aren’t supposed to hear them? What if a malicious hacker accesses your device and listens in to find out when you’re home? Would Amazon bear responsibility for such a breach? 

    The answers are currently unclear. While such situations are mostly hypothetical, Danielle’s case shows that they are potentially possible.  

    Who Can Hear Your Conversations? 

    Photo Credit: CNET 

    If your smart device is always listening, who can hear what it records? Google is well-known for creating complicated advertising profiles for users. Smart speakers are surely a part of this. Listening for conversations about buying new hardwood floors, for instance, could lead to targeted ads on your favorite websites for floor installation. This alone seems predatory; who would invite a large ad agency into their life to gather valuable data about their spending habits?  

    This is even before mentioning the hacker issue again. If a malicious hacker were to access Google or Amazon’s user profiles obtained via Smart Speaker, they would have unprecedented data about potential identity theft targets.  

    Can Law Enforcement Access it? 

    Photo Credit: Linkedin 

    If Google or Amazon are listening in, what kind of risk are users at for law enforcement listening in? The NSA’s wiretapping is well-known and, surprisingly, well-documented. Suspected criminals with smart speakers may have their homes bugged voluntarily. Would law enforcement need a warrant to collect audio from these devices? Would they need a court order to obtain user profile information from Google?  

    If law enforcement begins pursuing smart speaker information as a common means of information-gathering, the private lives of users could be at risk. Everyone had to read 1984 in school right? Yeah, this would be the first step to something like that. No thanks. 

    How Long is Your Data Stored? 

    Photo Credit: Management Events 

    Speaking of access to your personal info, there’s also the issue of just how long Google and Amazon store this information. Thankfully, you can delete your audio request history from your user profile. However, you can’t do anything about the data stored on Google and Amazon’s servers about you. 

    In fact, even Apple’s Siri stores data you obtain through it and give it. Apple has confirmed that raw audio collected through Siri is stored for 18 months! That’s kind of ridiculous! The issues of law enforcement accessing this info, lawfully or otherwise, are further exacerbated by this data’s inaccessibility to the user who created it. 

    Who Else Is Using Your Smart Speaker? 

    Young hacker in data security concept

    Photo Credit: MyTechLogy 

    Finally, there’s the issue of someone else using your speaker. The main use for Alexa, as far as Amazon is concerned, is as a storefront. Ordering through Alexa is purposefully easy and painless. You just tell her to order you things and she does it, no questions asked. So, imagine, if you will, that your home is broken into and your Echo is stolen. The criminal then orders a ton of stuff with your credit card. Are you on the hook for that money? 

    While that scenario is a bit extreme, there are more conventional ways that Alexa’s shopping functions can be used against you. For one, if you have children, they could access your Alexa and order themselves a new tablet or gaming console, spending a ton of your money without telling you. Your friends could try to play a prank on you by ordering embarrassing items with your money. Not that that’s happened to this writer… 

    How to Protect Yourself 

    Photo Credit: Network World 

    All this doom and gloom begs the question, then: How do you protect yourself from these potential data breaches? Well, one easy way, of course, is to simply not have a smart speaker. Or, if you do have one, sell it to someone else and use the money to buy a VPN subscription. No? Alright, alright, real advice, then. 

    Keep your smart speaker in a room where it’ll overhear as little as possible. If you can, keep it in a room with a closed door. The less it overhears, the better. Aside from that, just be careful what you say around it. Try to keep conversations around the device light, don’t talk about sensitive information. Another good security measure would be to not pair any of your debit or credit cards to the speaker. While it may be less convenient, it’s much more secure. 

    The Future of Smart Speaker Security 

    Photo Credit: CNET 

    Hopefully these concerns will be addressed with future updates to the technology. Smart speakers are very handy, convenient devices. Many users have come to depend on the features they offer. It seems as though the companies that make them are at least nominally dedicated to making them secure. While only time will tell what the future hold for the contentious smart speaker technology, stories like Danielle’s serve as reminders: trust no soulless machine with your personal information. Even better: trust no soulless corporation. 

  • 10 Science Questions Every American Should Know the Answers To. Do You?

    10 Science Questions Every American Should Know the Answers To. Do You?

    The National Science Foundation is an organization that keeps up with American’s scientific aptitude. To that end, every two years the NSF releases a series of ten basic science questions. These questions are meant to test the average American’s knowledge of science. Every American should know the answers to these questions, but do you? Let’s find out! 

    Are Electrons Smaller or Larger than Atoms? 

    Photo Credit: Inventions and Inventors 

    Yes! Electrons are one of the smaller parts of an atom. Electrons, together with protons and neutrons, make up each and every atom. Those atoms, in turn, make up all matter in the observable universe. Cool, huh? 

    Does the Earth Go Around the Sun, or Does the Sun Go Around the Earth? 

    Photo Credit: YouTube 

    Much to the surprise of flat-Earth conspiracy theorists, the Earth actually orbits the sun. This was a major scientific breakthrough during the Enlightenment. Astronomer Galileo Galilee is largely credited with popularizing the “heliocentric,” or sun-centered, model of the cosmos. 

    Is All Radioactivity Man-Made? 

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

    No, it isn’t! The vast majority of natural radioactivity is in the depths of outer space. However, everything from soil to flowers to certain minerals on Earth contains certain amounts of radioactivity.  

    True or False: The Continents Have Been Moving for Millions of Years, and Will Keep Moving 

    Photo Credit: Encyclopedia Britannica 

    This one’s true! Yeah, believe it or not, the continents are on the move. They’re just really slow about it! A few million years ago, a map of the Earth would have looked like some alien planet to us. In a few million years, the continents as we know them will be a thing of the past. Mind-blowing, right? 

    True or False: The Center of the Earth is Very Hot 

    Photo Credit: Wonderopolis 

    True! Earth’s core is comprised of molten metal. The immense pressure of the planet’s mass keeps the core as hot as the surface of the Sun! 

    True or False: Lasers Work by Focusing Soundwaves 

    Photo Credit:  Laser World 

    False! Lasers work, instead, by focusing light energy. That focussed light can then be applied in all kinds of neat ways, from cutting diamonds to detecting intruders and more! 

    True or False: Humans Developed from Earlier Animal Species 

    Photo Credit: How Stuff Works 

    This one is a bit controversial to some, but it’s true! Scientists agree that humans are evolved from earlier animals and share a common ancestor with the great ape family of animals.  

    Do Antibiotics Kill Viruses as well as Bacteria? 

    Photo Credit: News Medical 

    No, they don’t! The clue is in the name: antibiotics are only effective against living things. Oddly enough, viruses are technically not alive. They’re incredibly good at replicating themselves and taking over cells, but they don’t possess the right qualities to be considered living beings. 

    True or False: It’s the Father’s Genetics that Decide Whether a Child is Male or Female 

    Photo Credit: Quora 

    True! Weird, right? Since only a male can pass down their Y chromosome, it’s actually on the dad’s genetics to determine the sex of their child. This one trips a lot of folks up, but it’s easy to remember since women can only pass down their X chromosomes, and it takes an XY combination to create a biological male.  

    The Last of Our Science Questions: True or False: The Universe Began with a Big Explosion 

    Photo Credit: Sputnik International 

    True! Scientists largely agree that the universe (as we know it) began after a fantastic expansion we refer to as the Big Bang. Now, the term ‘explosion’ might be a bit inaccurate, as that would imply preexisting space into which things were being scattered. The Big Bang, instead, was more of a sudden expansion of an infinitely dense and infinitely small point in space. 

  • Top Ten Things We Want to See at E3 2018

    Top Ten Things We Want to See at E3 2018

    It’s almost that time again. E3, the biggest conference for gaming news, starts on June 12th, and runs through the 14th. What kinds of news can we expect from the big three console makers? And what news will break from third party developers? Buckle up and get ready for a one-way ride to hype town, because we’re counting down our biggest E3 wishes! 

    Rocksteady Superman 

    Photo Credit: Comic Vine 

    Rocksteady, the developers behind the phenomenal Batman: Arkham series, have been rumored to be working on a Superman game. Such a project may well represent a chance for the big blue Boy Scout to finally star in a good open-world video game.  

    After seeing what Rocksteady could do for the Caped Crusader, it’s exciting to think about how they could handle Superman. Free-flying through Metropolis, beating up bad guys and saving the innocent? Sounds like a recipe for an awesome adventure! Here’s hoping it doesn’t play anything like Superman 64… 

    Fable 4 

    Photo Credit: Game Skinny 

    There are rumors circulating that a reboot of the storied Fable franchise might be on the way. An announcement at E3 would be met with trepidation by some, and joy by others. Lionhead Studios, the team responsible for the series, was shuttered back in 2015. This came after a series of downright awful Fable titles that experimented with the series’ direction. Namely the disastrous “Fable: The Journey,” an on rails (!) shooting game (!!) that was played with Kinect (!!!). 

    However, Microsoft would be handling Fable 4’s development in-house. If they stick to the RPG roots the franchise was founded on, it could be something truly exciting for the struggling Xbox brand. Fingers crossed that Microsoft learns from past mistakes made with the franchise and just makes a freaking RPG. If this one even mentions the word Kinect, I’ll be disappointed. 

    Borderlands 3 

    Photo Credit: DSO Gaming 

    It’s been rough for Gearbox lately. Their foray into the hero shooter genre, Battleborn, was absolutely trounced by Blizzard’s Overwatch. While Battleborn was quirky and cool in its own ways, it was unfavorably matched up against Blizzzard’s smash-hit. That’s in the past now, though, and Gearbox can push forward with their flagship franchise: Borderlands. The famous frenetic shooter was a smash-hit for Gearbox back in 2009, and its sequels were fantastic.  

    Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the last entry in the looter-shooter franchise, came out in 2014. In the meantime, the gaming world has changed pretty tremendously. Here’s hoping Gearbox sticks to their guns (ha) on this one and makes a solid Diablo-like shooting RPG. If they try to go toe-to-toe with Fortnite and make this one a battle royale I might scream. Gearbox, come on, guys: do what you’re best at! 

    Elder Scrolls VI 

    Photo Credit: GamingScan 

    With the exception of Elder Scrolls Online, we haven’t seen an Elder Scrolls game since 2011’s Skyrim. Many single-player RPG fans have been clamoring for another entry in the open-world series. While Bethesda has been experimenting with spin-off card game titles and their MMO, they’re clearly still dedicated to their core games.  

    Odds are pretty good we’ll see at least a trailer or some gameplay footage from a hypothetical new Elder Scrolls. However, some of Bethesda’s other franchises like Prey or Doom might be receiving the next full-game treatment. If so, we’ll be sure to see them at E3. With luck, we might just see one of those in addition to a new single-player Elder Scrolls!  

    Next Gen Systems from Sony and Microsoft 

    Photo Credit: NDTV Gadgets 

    The Xbox One and PS4 are five years old now. There’s definitely some speculation that Sony and Microsoft might be showing off some new hardware at this year’s E3. If so, pricing, graphical capabilities and exclusive games will certainly be the topic of conversation.  

    However, it is worth noting that the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro were recently released. This might give a bit of extra life to the aging systems. However, with the Nintendo Switch only recently being released, it might be wise of the other two console makers to fast-track their follow ups.  

    Star Fox 

    Photo Credit: DeviantArt 

    Star Fox is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises, but it’s had a bit of a rough patch lately. The unusual and pervadingly awkward Star Fox Zero has somewhat sullied the franchise. However, rumor has it that a racing game like F-Zero is in the works with the Star Fox cast. This would be more than a little odd, but it would be interesting.  

    Nintendo hasn’t released an F-Zero title in America since 2003. Seeing it live on, even in spirit, would be great. I would definitely rather see a new F-Zero than see Star Fox become a racing game, I wouldn’t dismiss it out of hand. Hopefully, though, the rumor is empty, and we’ll see a real follow-up to 2006’s fantastic Star Fox: Command. Either way, expect to see something from Star Fox at E3! 

    Fire Emblem 

    Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons 

    Fire Emblem, once circling the drain and ready for cancellation, is now one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises. Buoyed tremendously by its characters appearing in Super Smash Bros, Fire Emblem is an example of the latter franchise’s propensity for playing king-maker.  

    Announced at last year’s E3, the Switch version of Fire Emblem is likely to be part of Nintendo’s June 12th presentation. The Switch is a perfect fit for the franchise: console releases like Path of Radiance have delivered huge, gorgeous maps. Handheld releases like Awakenings have delivered deliciously-difficult strategy on the go. Marrying these two aspects of the franchise is a match made in heaven. If Nintendo releases this game in the same window as Pokemon and Smash Bros, it’s going to be a very good year for gamers. 

    Gears of War 5 (Or Really Any Xbox Exclusives) 

    Photo Credit: Game Rant 

    The Xbox One isn’t doing too well when compared to the PS4 and the Switch. A lot of momentum Microsoft carried into this console generation was wrecked by their awful DRM policies when the system was announced. Following the abysmal reaction to the announcement, early games on the system were plagued by network issues and bugs. Notably, the Master Chief Collection, a game that should have been an easy home run for the company, was bungled out of the gate and nearly unplayable.  

    Needless to say, Microsoft needs some wins. While they’re in no danger of going out of business or anything (hello, Windows), they do run the risk of becoming irrelevant. Sony does everything Xbox does, but with better graphics and better exclusives. At least, for now. Maybe Microsoft has some heavy hitters up their sleeve for E3. Maybe something like… Gears of War 5? Alright, I guess Gears games are cool. Maybe try somehting new, guys? Oh well, time will tell. 

    Pokemon 

    Photo Credit: Den of Geek 

    It’s absolutely astonishing that it took this long for a core Pokemon game to make it to home consoles. It’s almost funny: Nintendo had to make a hybrid console to finally maneuver Game Freak into making a Pokemon for one of their home consoles. In any event, the internet is collectively abuzz with hype for this release. This one is guaranteed money for Nintendo if they just put in a few much-demanded features.  

    A “pro” mode where they don’t teach you how to throw a damn Pokeball would be cool. Let my Pokemon follow me around in the overworld. Give me a 3D, over-the-shoulder camera. Little things, man. You guys should knock this one out of the park. Hell, Game Freak already made 1080p 3D renders of the entire Pokedex for X and Y. (Don’t believe me? Emulators can extract those models, and they’re gorgeous.) Fingers crossed that we see a lot of this one at E3. 

    Most Hyped Game of E3: Super Smash Bros 

    Photo Credit: Screen Rant 

    Nintendo set the Internet ablaze when they announced Smash Bros for Switch at the end of their March Nintendo Direct. This series has achieved legendary status among Nintendo fans. Smash Bros singe-handedly ignited interest in the Fire Emblem series in the US. Characters included in this fighting game’s roster become instant icons. The promise of Smash on the go on a big, gorgeous Switch screen is a huge one. Two-player fighting in table top mode with split Joy Cons! Huge LAN-style parties with linked Switch systems! The Switch was seriously made for Smash. 

    Nintendo likely plans to launch their paid online service alongside Smash, so we’re likely to see it in September. I don’t think there’s another game that deserves as much attention at E3 as Smash. Seriously, any information Nintendo gives during their E3 Direct will be dissected, obsessed over and talked to death in the months before the game finally drops. Hopefully we can all keep our hype contained in the meantime. 

  • Ten Features We Want to See Most in iOS 12!

    Ten Features We Want to See Most in iOS 12!

    On June 4th, at the Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple is set to unveil their new iOS 12. Before then, though, we can only guess what kinds of new functionality are on their way. In the meantime, though, we certainly know the features we want to see! Read on to find out which new features we’re hoping make it to iOS 12. 

    Dark Mode 

    Photo Credit: iHelpBR 

    iPhone users have been asking for a system-wide dark mode for quite some time. While Android has been sporting this feature for quite some time, it has yet to be implemented on iOS. Many users prefer the aesthetic of darker menus with white text, but only certain apps support dark modes on iOS. With luck, it will be a feature unveiled at WWDC! 

    Group Facetime 

    Photo Credit: Apple Support 

    Another much-requested feature, many are hoping for the ability to Facetime more than one person at a time. Many similar video chat apps have this functionality, such as third-party apps like Skype and WhatsApp. It would only make sense for apple to follow suit with iOS 12. 

    Split Screen Functionality 

    Photo Credit: Mi Community 

    An option to run two apps side-by-side simultaneously would be awesome! Android has had this for a while, and it’s great for multitasking. Looking at a restaurant menu while navigating to it! Looking up recipes while running a cooking timer! The combinations are endless. Apple’s phones are certainly powerful enough to handle this functionality, it’s just a matter of coding the infrastructure. It would be nice to see Apple catch up with the competition in this aspect. 

    That Volume Icon 

    Photo Credit: Lotus Bud 

    The only notably ugly thing about the iOS interface is that big, hideous, intrusive volume button. It would be really nice if Apple redesigned the volume indicator to be less noticeable and sleeker. This one is simple, but it might not be high on their list of changes to focus on. Here’s hoping the designers hate this ugly icon as much as I do! 

    Tighter Camera Controls 

    Photo Credit: Gear Patrol 

    The iPhone camera has precious few manual controls over things like shutter speed and exposure. These functions are in plain sight and easy to use on Android. It would be excellent to see better camera functionality on iOS 12 without resorting to third party apps like Camera+. 

    App Wish List Return 

    Photo Credit: iDownload Blog 

    With the release of iOS 11, the App Store was completely reworked. With this rework came the removal of app wish lists. The wish lists were sorely missed by users who like having their short list of apps they wanted. Hopefully Apple hears the requests of wish list fans and brings it back with iOS 12! 

    Always-on Screen for iPhone X 

    Photo Credit: Switch 

    The iPhone X features a battery-saving OLED, much like common Android phones that sport always-on displays. This would be cool functionality to add to the newest iPhone, for display of the time or notifications. It does somewhat go against Apple’s aesthetic, but then again, so did the iPhone X! 

    Siri Improvements 

    Photo Credit: Macworld 

    Siri was one of the first mass-market personal assistant AIs, but her age is starting to show. It would be great to see some updates to her that make her more responsive and smarter, like Alexa. Heck, even Google Assistant (!) is smarter than Siri these days. Also, how hard would it be to enable some Spotify functionality with Siri? Ball’s in your court, Apple! 

    Messages Improvements 

    Photo Credit: iSource 

    Improved functionality for things like archiving and searching messages would be awesome. Apple’s current messaging infrastructure is great for just shooting messages but trying to find messages more than a few days old is difficult. An option for searching and sorting messages would be greatly appreciated! 

    Our Biggest Hope for iOS 12: Smart Orientation 

    Photo Credit: Apple Support Communities 

    Please. Apple, please. Stop making me open my control panel to lock and unlock portrait orientation every time I want to watch a video. YouTube sort of lets you bypass this by pressing the enlarge button. I just want to see functionality like this across all apps. Put an option in for “portrait lock except videos” or something. Just do this one thing and I’ll be happy, seriously. 

  • Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    Which Mobility Scooter is Right for You?

    So your mobility isn’t what it used to be… no problem! Today, some insurance companies will actually help with coverage on a mobility scooter, or even pay for the whole thing. Check it out for yourself! Either way, it may be worth checking them out and seeing if it fits your lifestyle. With that in mind, let’s look at the top ten mobility scooters.

    Drive Medical Phoenix Heavy Duty

    A heavy, sturdy scooter for a great price, this one is a good pick. This one has a headlight, which is good for darker areas. It also has a basket in the front for carrying things, making it great for grocery store trips! The seat is customizable, broad and comfortable. For $1,200, this is a great heavy-duty pick.

    Pride Mobility Go-Go Sport

    This scooter is notable for its four-wheel drive and durability. It’s not terribly fast, topping at 4 MPH. That said, it’s rugged and durable, and works great when outdoors! If you like being outside and enjoying the sunlight, this is a great pick! For a combination of durability and mobility, check out the Go-Go Sport!

    E-Wheels EW-72

    A stylish and slick scooter, the E-Wheels EW-72 has a look inspired by classic cars! For those looking to really zoom, this scooter has a top speed of 15 MPH! As a heavy-duty scooter, it works quite well, as it has a top weight rating of 500 pounds! If you’re looking for a great, stylish, heavy-duty scooter, this is a great choice for you!

    Transformer Electric Folding Mobility Scooter

    Another great choice for carrying in a trunk and carrying around with you, this transforming scooter is pretty neat. It folds up into a nice, compact shape so it can go anywhere with you! The battery is airline compliant, so it can fly with you, which is great for those who fly often. If you’re on the move and need a scooter that can keep up, this is the one for you!

    E-Wheels Jellybean Electric Scooter

    The second E-Wheels scooter on our list, this one is also quite heavy-duty! This one is three-wheeled, though, so it’s got a bit of a different construction from some others on this list. The best thing about this scooter, though, is the high speed! It tops out at 18 MPH, which makes it a serious scooter! It has a great battery, too, offering up to 45 miles on a single charge. This one also has an anti-theft alarm, which is great! It sports a huge back-mounted basket, perfect for trips to the market.

    Spitfire 420 Ex

    Another great scooter, this one has interchangeable panels in different colors. The panels come in red, blue and silver, and are easy to change out! It also boasts quick-connect batteries, a comfortable seat and padded armrests. The wheels are anti-tip, which makes this a very safe pick. The front-mounted basket even has an interior lining, which is great for shopping. If you’re looking for a good mobility scooter for medical reasons, such as old age, this is a good pick.

    SmartScoot Lithium Foldable Travel Scooter

    This folding scooter is great to throw in the trunk or backseat and carry with you to a destination. The best thing about this scooter: the battery! It has great battery life for how portable it is for travel. It lasts for up to 12 miles! It also breaks down into three parts, and only weighs 27 pounds.

    Drive Medical Scout 3 Wheel

    At the very low price of right around $600, this three-wheeled scooter is a popular choice. A little less expensive than its four-wheeled counterpart, this one is a good value. The drawbacks to this scooter include its three-wheeled construction, slightly low battery life and make. There are more comfortable, high-end scooters, but if you’re looking for a good bargain, this is it. This scooter is the most affordable on our list!

    Best Value: Drive Medical Scout Compact 4 Wheel

    For those on a budget, the Drive Medical Scout Compact is a very popular choice. At $700, it’s a fantastic value, and it shows in its popularity. It’s a good scooter, with all the trimmings you’d expect from a medical mobility scooter. Older customers on a fixed income love the low price, and the price doesn’t compromise the quality. This one also has interchangeable panels in red and blue, so you can change your style! A great value for the money for those looking to save.

    Best Overall Mobility Scooter: Shopride Sunrunner

    If you’re looking for an especially comfortable scooter, look no further than the Sunrunner! It has a 300-pound capacity and a huge 25-mile battery. You can opt for a headlight, which is quite useful. It has a front basket, perfect for shopping. The star of the show is the big, comfortable seat, though. You can’t beat the level of comfort on display here! It’s hard to find something this premium and high-quality for this price! It retails for $1,500 but can often be found on sale for less.


  • 10 Things You Never Knew About Your iPhone

    10 Things You Never Knew About Your iPhone

    Do you fancy yourself as being tech savvy? How much do you really know about your phone? If you know all ten of these iPhone tips and tricks, you may really be a tech wizard! Check out these 10 crazy things you never knew your iPhone could do! 

    10. Snap Pictures with Your Volume Button 

    This one is cute, letting you snap a picture with your phone like it’s an old-school camera with a top button. You don’t have to do anything to enable this, it’s just already on out of the box! Have fun snapping pictures! 

  • Looking for a Weird Game? Here’s the Ten Weirdest Games for iOS

    Looking for a Weird Game? Here’s the Ten Weirdest Games for iOS

    Sometimes you don’t want to play by the rules and do normal stuff. Sometimes you want to let loose and be a little weird. If you’re looking for something delightfully odd and wickedly weird, we’ve got something for you! Check out our list of the top ten weird games to ever release on iOS. Let’s get weird! 

    10. Bear vs Art 

    Photo Credit: bearvsart.com 

    In this odd commentary on gentrification, a bear fights off pretentious millionaires who hang bad art up in tacky galleries. This one is somewhat simple at first glance, featuring grid-based puzzle gameplay. You’ll avoid security guards and motion-sensing lasers, stop art thieves and roll over art critics. It’s pretty silly, and certainly worthy of the title “weird game.” Great for haters of snobby art critics! 

    9. I Am Bread 

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

    In this game, you become bread. And as this bread, you will attempt to become toast. As this piece of bread, you have to navigate the unforgiving space of the kitchen in an attempt to make it to the toaster. The catch is, if you fall in the floor, you fail. This one is rather addictive and fun, considering how ridiculous its premise is. If you’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to be bread, this game is for you! 

    8. Giant Boulder of Death 

    Photo Credit: Touch, Tap, Play 

    Have you ever wanted to be a giant boulder and rampage down a mountain? If so, this game will certainly help you live that fantasy. GBOD is an arcade-style autorunning game where you try to wreak as much havoc as possible before you are inevitably stopped. Hunting high scores and challenging your friends via the leaderboards is a fun way to kill some time with this supremely weird game! 

    7. CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars 

    Photo Credit: Zepto Lab 

    Ingredients for a weird game: adorable backronym, weird robot-building mechanics, cute cats piloting said robots. Throw them all together and you have a fun robot-building game starring some adorable felines! FCATS features tons of customization options for robots and fun player versus player modes. CATS is a great game for robot enthusiasts, cat people, or both! 

    6. Office Jerk 

    Photo Credit: Google Play 

    Everyone who has worked in an office has wanted to pelt that one annoying guy who works there. This oddly cathartic weird game has you lobbing random stuff at some jerk who works in your office. Or maybe you’re the jerk, since you’re the one tossing all this junk at the dude across from you. In any event, this one is fun, and you’ll probably get some kicks out of breaking his monitor or giving him a big old lump. 

    5. Robot Unicorn Attack 2 

    Photo Credit: The Gameological Society 

    It doesn’t get much weirder than being a robot unicorn. Well, it does: being a robot unicorn while running endlessly and listening to power metal. This one has been around for a while, but it’s still quite fun. And it is still a seriously weird game. Its gameplay consists of running endlessly, avoiding obstacles and being awesome. It’s a very addictive game, with emphasis on setting high scores and beating your best. You can also customize your unicorn and give it upgrades to help set higher scores! 

    4. Sausage Bomber 

    Photo Credit: Google Play Store 

    In this weird game you are tasked with repelling invading forces the only way you know how: by dropping your meat on them. What? I’m serious! You’re equipped with all manner of meat and have to bomb your opponents with it! This game features a ton of missions and a great difficulty curve. This one is made fun by just how much each level challenges you to up your game to progress. It’s also deliciously weird. 

    3. Booger Boing 

    Photo Credit: iTunes 

    First of all, gross. Alright? This game is nasty. You’re trying to navigate boogers around in a nose. Just, yuck, man. This must’ve been made by folks who loved that Garbage Pail Kids thing. Jokes aside, this one is in the same gameplay camp as something like Angry Birds. Featuring gross-but-cute graphics and a happy, upbeat soundtrack, Booger Boing is actually a fun little game. If you can get past just how freaking gross it is. 

    2. Amateur Surgeon 

    Photo Credit: Touch, Tap, Play 

    There are actually four games in this weird game series, and they’re all actually great. Something of a riff on surgeon simulators like Trauma Center, Amateur Surgeon puts you in the role of the titular ill-equipped “doctor.” With levels ranging from seriously gross to hilariously ridiculous, you’ll find a lot to love in this long-running and weird series. As long as you don’t mind performing a ton of dubious procedures on cartoon characters and being seriously grossed-out by some of them. 

    1. Our Favorite Weird Game: Goat Simulator 

    Photo Credit: Humble Bundle 

    Certainly, you’ve heard of this supremely weird game? If not, here’s a quick description. It’s a goat simulator. You live a day in the life of a totally normal goat. Who goes on a destructive rampage through the city. And isn’t beholden to the laws of physics. And has a seriously sticky tongue. Okay, maybe it’s not a totally normal goat. In any case, this game is riotous, weird fun and remains awesome after all this time. If you want a seriously weird and hilarious game to spend a few hours on, look no further than Goat Simulator. 

  • Top 5 Battle Royale Games on iOS

    Top 5 Battle Royale Games on iOS

    They are taking over the app store as the next big thing in mobile gaming. They are fun, chaotic, and extremely intense. As with any big gaming trend in the app store once something hits big with popularity the market gets flooded with knock offs and wanna-bes’. So here is a look at the Top 5 battle royale games. I think you know 1 and 2 already. All of them are the same premise 100 players are scattered throughout the massive battlefield. Explore the map, collect weapons, take aim, and pull the trigger.

     

    1 PUBG

    This is the tops, the alpha, the best PVP royale there is. Though it was not first, fortnite was, PUBG was up and going first and once it was there was no stopping it. The game is based on previous mods that were created by Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene for other games using the film Battle Royale for inspiration, and expanded into a standalone game under Greene’s creative direction.  Its fun, come find me, callsign:  beaunasty

    2. Fortnite

    Fortnite has recently taking over the top spot in the app store over PUBG in the PVP royale battles. However it is still no. 2 in free games below “love balls”. There is a lot of aspects to this game that should make it number 1 on this list. It’s got way better animation and looks like a lot more fun. It partakes in the unreality of fantasy a bit more for more entertainment. The guns… Did I mention how cool the guns are. Think Ratchet and Klank like guns. You can build structures to defend yourself. Its a lot more immersive and lacks the quick please and excitement of PUBGs simple killem PVP.

    3.Knives out

    This is the big one in japan. So big in Japan that they raked in 24 million from mobile users last month. This game has the potential to top those Battle Royale game one day. I love most of the features included such as Top kills, Farthest Travel etc. It makes me wanna compete with my friends. Bugs, it has them like Sometimes, shooting during scoping doesnt calibrate well with the aiming. It drops a bit bottom-right. It is also very laggy and has glitches like when I walk it teleports me back to where I was. Sometimes I’ll tap the Trigger and it’ll shoot a half a clip without my finger touching the screen.

    4. Rules of Survival

    This one lets you have up to three hundred players fight in a battle royale, a type of large-scale last man standing deathmatch where players fight to remain the last alive. Players can choose to enter the match Solo, Duo, a Squad of four people, or a Fireteam of up to five people. In either case, the last person or team left alive wins the match. There are two playable maps in the game: Ghillie (120 players), and the 64 square kilometer Fearless Fiord (300 players)

    5.Critical Ops

    Just like the rest of list you can pair up with friends or take on complete strangers all over the world. With A 100 player Vs player format and all the trends that have it landing on this list. This one has some very smooth gameplay. All animations are very smooth. Great variety on the skins. Weapons are unique and pretty fantastic. On the positives it’s a fast-paced mobile FPS reminiscent of CS:GO. What has it moving down the list is that there a pretty noticeable latency issues (lag) and very sparse content.

  • Ten Things You Didn’t Know You Can Do With Your Chromecast!

    Ten Things You Didn’t Know You Can Do With Your Chromecast!

    Your Chromecast is pretty handy. In fact, it’s so handy, it’s probably got a ton of functionality you’re not even familiar with. How is this possible? Well, that’s Google for you: they cram every bit of functionality you can imagine into their products. Without any more delay, let’s dive in: what are the top ten coolest things your Chromecast can do that you don’t know about? 

    Remote Control 

    Photo Credit: The Good Guys 

    If your TV supports HDMI-CEC, you can use your phone to completely replace a TV remote! HDMI-CEC TVs can use a feature that allows them to match the input from their HDMI port. In short, with CEC online, when you start casting, your TV will automatically switch to it. No need to manually adjust the input! This one isn’t game-changing, but it’s a neat little quality of life feature! 

    Google Slides 

    Photo Credit: Gtricks 

    Need to give an impromptu presentation? Google Slides is great for putting presentations together on the fly. Even better, if you don’t have a thumb drive or some other transfer device, or just need to give the presentation from your phone, you can Cast your slideshow.   

    When you go to “Present,” just select “present on other screen.” Boom, like that, you’re a tech wizard and you’ve got a presentation on your big screen! 

    Daydreaming 

    Photo Credit: Amazon 

    Using a virtual reality headset makes you look pretty silly to onlookers. Since the people in the room with you can’t tell what exactly you’re seeing, you tend to just look like you’re flailing around. If you want to share your VR experience with your friends, though, you can cast from your Daydream View. This way everyone can see the obstacles you’re dodging through your Chromecast. (This works for Gear VR, too!)  

    Maybe this somewhat alleviates how silly you look with that VR headset on. 

    Use Your Home Sound System for your Music 

    Photo Credit: PCMag 

    If you have an awesome sound bar and really wish you could play your music through it, you can! Just get the Google Play Music app and cast to your Chromecast. If you pay $10 per month for a Play Music subscription you can even play Google’s streaming radio and vast library of artists.  

    LocalCast 

    Photo Credit: Shutterstock 

    Does your new smart TV have no audio out? This isn’t terribly uncommon. But what should you do when you want to watch something on your big screen but not disturb others in the house? Try LocalCast. LocalCast lets you send the image to your Chromecast but keep the audio on your smartphone.  

    This lets you get the picture quality of your TV but not wake up any sleeping housemates! A really handy functionality of your Chromecast, staying courteous is always a good thing! 

    CastPad 

    Photo Credit: Google Play Store 

    Available on Android devices, CastPad lets you draw in live time on your device and see it reflected on your TV through your Chromecast. The applications for this are pretty obvious at first glance, allowing for tons of fun with doodling. If you like Pictionary but don’t have any paper on hand, CastPad! If you want to have drawing contests with your friends, CastPad!  

    The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Go ahead and invite some friends over and have fun drawing! 

    Watch Your Old DVDs 

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

    Well, sort of. This one is a bit of a workaround. Using the Disc to Digital service from Vudu, you can stream movies that you own the DVDs of. First you scan the UPC code on the DVD box, then you pay a small fee. It’s about $2 for a standard definition movie and $5 for an HD movie. Once you’ve paid, you can stream the movie to your Chromecast! 

    This one is great for people interested in de-cluttering their living room. Scanning your DVDs and then having a garage sale can help minimize the amount of physical clutter, which is great for minimalists and digital enthusiasts! 

    Link with Google Home 

    Photo Credit: Google Store 

    This one takes a little bit of setup. If you connect your smart device, Google Home Speaker and Chromecast all to the same wi-fi they can all sync up. Then you go through some quick settings menus and link all three of the devices to each other. Once you’re set up, you can use your Google Home voice commands to fire up things like Netflix.  

    It might sound like a bit of overly-complicated setup to get going, but once it’s all together it’s super handy! It’s great whether you prefer voice command to remote controls for convenience or just like minimizing coffee table clutter. It also can impress the socks off your house guests when you tell your TV what you want to see, and it happens! 

    Speaking of Guests… 

    Photo Credit: Flipkart 

    If you want your guests to have the option to use your Chromecast, but don’t want them to have to connect to your wi-fi, you might be a little flummoxed. Luckily, your Chromecast has a guest mode! While in guest mode, your Chromecast can receive casts from nearby devices without needing a wi-fi connection. 

    Our Favorite Off-the-Wall Chromecast Use: Heads-Up Display 

    Photo Credit: Google Play Store 

    If you’re looking to get all the information about the world that you need at a glance, you can check out Dashboard Cast. This super-handy functionality turns your TV into a heads-up display with customizable widgets. Want to see the weather, an RSS feed and the stock market? You got it. Want a clock, a news feed, a calendar and a traffic report? You got it.  

    This one is seriously awesome for its customization and functionality. You’ll feel like Captain Kirk on the bridge of the Enterprise getting status reports on all critical systems. Not to mention just how awesome it is to have all the info you need right at hand when you glance at your display.