Category: Uncategorized

Is Now the Time to Refinance Your Home?

When is the right time to refinance your home? That can be a tricky question, as the act of refinancing can be time-consuming and you want to make sure you’re getting the best deal. However, the general rule of thumb is that you want to refinance when you can save at least 2% of the interest rate of your current mortgage. Let’s get more into home refinance, what it means, and when you should pull the trigger.

Remember: if you have specific questions about real estate or home values, you might wish to speak to a professional financial advisor. Everyone’s situation is unique, and while general rules are helpful, you’ll want specific advice when you go to make major moves like refinancing your home.

Home Refinance

What is Home Refinance?

Home refinancing refers to a practice that involves taking out a new mortgage loan to pay off an existing loan. Broadly, this falls under the umbrella of a financial practice called debt consolidation. This might sound a bit odd at first. Why would you take out a loan just to pay off another loan? However, this makes more sense when you look at the benefits you could get. For instance, if you can get your interest rate lower on the new loan than your existing loan, it’s a good idea to refinance.

Typically, people are going for the lower interest rate. However, there are other reasons to do this. These reasons could include switching from a fixed-rate mortgage to a variable mortgage, or vice versa. One could also make the switch in order to shorten the length of their mortgage.

Lower Interest Rates

One of the main reasons people will refinance is to get a lower interest rate. As a general rule, if you can reduce your interest rate by at least 2%, you should do so. In a market with historically low interest rates, you should also consider getting a fixed-rate loan, which will lock in a rate for the duration of the loan. This can give you peace of mind that the loan will remain stable even as the interest rates of the market go up.

When one gets a lower interest rate on their mortgage, they have two options. First, they could simply opt to have lower monthly payments. This is great for people who might not have a lot of money left over at the end of the month. Another option would be to pay off the loan faster by keeping the payments the same. This is a great option for people who aren’t having any issue meeting all of their bills every month.

Fixed Rate: The Right Call?

Should you get a fixed rate loan when you refinance, or should you opt for an adjustable rate? This is a complex question that depends on a number of factors, like the length of the loan and the current interest rates in the market. However, as a general rule, if interest rates are low or your loan is for a longer period, you may wish to get the fixed rate. This locks in the interest rate and gives you peace of mind that you’re not having to keep up with the market’s rates.

On the flip side, if you loan is longer, or if interest rates are historically high, you may wish to go with an adjustable loan. Adjustable loans change their interest rates based on the market, generally reflecting what you see on the housing market. These allow you to buy-in with a higher interest rate without worrying about getting stuck with it even while rates in the market fall.

June 5, 2019
Why the iPhone Has Enjoyed Enduring Success

While the iPhone X and XS line hasn’t sold quite as well as prior iterations of the long-running smartphone line, they’ve still made their mark on the cellphone industry. When looking back at the history of the iPhone, people often overlook just how pivotal Apple’s device was in the development of modern phone technology. Today we’re taking a deeper look at Apple’s device to find out why it’s had such enduring popularity.

Why the iPhone Remains Popular

Bleeding Edge

Let’s begin by saying that we love Android, Android devices and the wide variety of phones available on that platform. However, when it comes to blazingly fast, bleeding-edge technology, no one has Apple beat. The A12 Bionic chip under the hood of the iPhone XS is unparalleled in terms of speed and performances and blows everything Qualcomm offers out of the water.

This means a lot of things for the iPhone. For one, it means that the overall experience is faster, smoother and more responsive than on any other phone. For another thing, it means that functionality like augmented reality and more taxing games are much better than on a comparable phone, like the Galaxy S10.

Holistic Design

Apple’s phones are designed and owned entirely by Apple, and the entire device syncs up with its own features in a beautiful way. Android devices, by their very nature, are composed of parts from dozens of manufacturers. While this is normally seamless, it can occasionally result in Franken-Phones that don’t have the most integrated of features.

For an example of what we’re talking about, look no further than Apple’s Face ID system on the iPhone X and onward. The incredibly complex and impossible-to-crack technology works like a charm, only unlocking for your face and working in nearly any lighting conditions. Meanwhile, Samsung’s experiments with face unlocking could be beaten by a print-out of your face.

“Walled Garden”

Something of a double-edged sword for Apple is their “walled garden” approach to their own technology. If you already own a Mac, an Apple Watch or an Apple TV, you’re heavily incentivized to stay in the ecosystem. The iPhone works seamlessly with the Apple Watch, while it syncs to your Mac easily and organizes your music while it’s at it.

However, this does mean that it’s a bit harder to jump into Apple’s ecosystem for a single device. That’s not to say that the iPhone won’t work with a PC or with a third-party smartwatch, it just won’t be as clean and user-friendly.

Speaking of User Friendly…

While on the subject of being user friendly, let’s take a look at the iPhone for a moment. When you open up an iPhone, there’s not a steep learning curve to figuring out how to use the device. Primarily, if you want to do something, you touch it and it opens. Navigating the more complex gesture controls is intuitive and straightforward. The same goes for the apps available on the iPhone.

The device is heavily curated, and software all has to be okay’d by Apple before it can hit the App Store. This means that you’re not going to see carrier-based bloatware on your phone, and Apple users get the first pick of the best apps that hit the smartphones. After all, it’s easier for developers to make software for the all-inclusive and unified design of the iPhone over the myriad of configuration Android phones can take on.

And while we’re on the topic of streamlined phone ecosystems, let’s poke the sore spot: iPhones get iOS updates all on the same day. It can take weeks or months for every Android device to get access to the newest versions of Android, thanks to the disparity between the numerous Android devices. iPhones, by contrast, all update at the same time.

June 4, 2019
What to Know About United HealthCare

United HealthCare is one of the largest health insurance agencies in the US and was founded in 1974. The company is managed by UnitedHealth Group Inc. Today, they are considered one of the most reputable insurance agencies, and they often have excellent customer satisfaction ratings. Today, we’re going over a few of the most notable facets of United HealthCare and their history.

United HealthCare

History

Originally, the group was founded in 1974 under a different name. They were first called Charter Med, but the name was changed in 1977 to United HealthCare Corp. The company would go on to change names, again, in 1998, to UnitedHealth Group. That group, in turn, spun off six independent business segments. One of them is the United HealthCare company we’re discussing today!

Another spun-off company is called Optum, a branch that is dedicated to pursuing UnitedHealth Group’s technology and health services platforms. OptumHealth, OptumInsight and OptumRx are the most well-known public-facing iterations of the Optum brand. They offer solutions for care delivery, operational improvement and other management-end medical services.

Members

United Healthcare’s insurance covers approximately 45 million people. The company’s services pay out to over 6,100 healthcare facilities, which encompasses over 855,000 physicians and other medical professionals.

There are five groups that United offers benefits for. There are community and state plans, which function as managed state Medicaid programs, paid out through a private insurance company. Another type of plan, the employer and individual plans, cover the traditional consumer style of health benefits. Finally, United HealthCare also offers Medicare and retirement plans, arguably their most noteworthy plan variety.

Plan Varieties

In addition to the types of plans they offer, United HealthCare also offers specialized plans for people with specific issues. For instance, United offers a specific insurance plan for patients with diabetes. This plan allows for the patient to receive care for their diabetes at no additional cost as long as they pursue ongoing preventative treatments.

Why UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth is a very large and respected company in the world of medical coverage. Whether you’re a contractor who needs to pay for their own insurance, a business owner looking for a benefits package for employees, or a retiree looking for help with Medicare, UnitedHealth surely offers something that would be of interest to you.

Their various plans offer great benefits for policy holders. They cover a very large number of doctors and care facilities, meaning it’s unlikely you’d be far from a physician in-network. The group has consistently received high customer satisfaction reviews from policy holders, making it a safe pick for those on the fence.

Health Insurance

Some people might not consider health insurance a reasonable thing to spend a lot on. After all, you’re trying to stay out of the doctor’s office! However, skimping on your health insurance is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. No matter your opinion of the healthcare system in the US, you need insurance.

For one thing, good health insurance gives you peace of mind. You don’t have to worry about what happens to you or your family if someone gets hurt or suddenly falls ill. A good insurance policy means that your finances won’t get decimated by a sudden, expensive hospital visit.

Top Care

Having a good insurance policy also means that you don’t have to worry about the quality of care you’re receiving. It can be nerve-wracking when you need care and you don’t know if the doctor is qualified for the procedure you need. A good healthcare plan, however, means that you know you’re getting the best care available. Can you put a price on peace of mind? We know we can’t.

May 28, 2019
How to Come to Grips with a Divorce

It can feel devastating to have the person closest to you in the world no longer be in your life. Divorce is not a fun subject, and whether it was mutual or out of nowhere, you’re certainly going to need help dealing with it. After all, it represents a huge shift in your life.

There are a number of concerns when it comes to divorce. Of course, there’s the simple stuff: who gets what, who stays in the house, who gets the dog. Then, there’s the complex stuff. Who gets the kids, who will your friends side with, how are you going to move on? Today we’re going over a few tips for coping with a divorce.

Coping with a Divorce

You’re Different People

It’s okay that you and your former spouse went separate ways. You are different people, with different needs and wants and you have now gone your separate ways. If they were the one that wanted the divorce, then they’ll be happier moving forward. If you were the one that wanted it, hopefully you’ll be able to plot your new course and move on.

Bring Your Friends and Family in

Sometimes one of the best things you can do is just spend your free time with friends and family. Pull them in and make them aware of what you’re going through. They care about you, and they’ll be happy to spend some time with you and help you work through it. Whether that’s going out for dinner, going on a fun trip or whatever else you enjoy, just do something to take your mind off of it.

Get a Routine

It’s important to stay in your routine, and even to incorporate new things into your existing one. If your former spouse had you set aside time for them or their activities that is now free time, fill that time with your own hobbies. Maybe you like playing an instrument, or painting, or gardening. Whatever your hobby of choice, take your newfound free time and run with it!

Exercise and Nutrition

Don’t neglect your body! Make sure you’re getting plenty of exercise and eating right. This will do a few things. For one, getting exercise and eating good meals means that you’re in a better routine. Having a healthy routine is great for your mental health. For another thing, if you’re going to hit the dating scene again, you want to make sure you’re in good shape!

Try to Stay Optimistic

Try to stay positive. When your marriage ended, it might have felt cataclysmic. However, the ending of one chapter just means it’s the beginning of another. When your life gets upended, it’s hard to see the silver lining. However, take this as an opportunity to address the things you want to change. Clean house and get ready for a new chapter, this time with more wisdom.

Take a Break

If you can, try to get away for a while. Is there a vacation you’ve been wanting to go on, or a place you’d like to visit? Keep in mind, you can make whatever plans you want, now, as you’re unattached. Go on whatever adventure you’d like to go on and take a break from the real world for a spell. If you have vacation days, take some time off and tend to your own mental health.

Things Will Get Better

You will heal, in time. It might take you a while, but you will eventually feel normal, like your old self, and happy again. Things might seem hopeless now, but your brightest days are yet to come. You will stand in the sun again. Don’t let this stop you from enjoying the good things in life.

May 28, 2019
Why are Blue Diamonds so Popular for Engagement Rings?

Blue diamonds are rather rare, and, as such, are extremely expensive. Naturally occurring blue diamonds are so rare that many people thought that “blue diamonds” weren’t actually a real thing in antiquity. Instead, it was thought that such stones were actually sapphire.

In the modern era, blue diamonds are exceedingly popular as engagement ring stones. This is due to the striking appearance and deep symbology of blue diamonds. Today, we’re looking more deeply into blue diamonds and their place among other types of diamond.

Blue Diamonds

Overview

Despite their physical similarities, sapphires and blue diamonds are not the same gemstones. Sapphires are actually part of the corundum family, much like rubies. Corundum is a crystallized form of aluminum oxide and manifests many colors in nature. Blue diamonds, as their name implies, are a solid form of the element carbon, like all naturally occurring diamonds.

Blue diamonds, unlike their clear or yellow cousins, are exceedingly rare in nature. They share this trait with red or pink diamonds, though blue diamonds tend to be more popular in formal jewelry. Blue diamonds, much like any diamonds, have a crystalline lattice structure that makes them incredibly hard and resistant to most forms of contaminates.

Deep Blue

The beautiful deep blue color of blue diamonds is caused by the rare appearance of a contaminate in the crystalline lattice structure. In the case of a blue diamond, the contaminant in question is boron. Few elements can contaminate diamonds, as their carbon-lattice structure is very resistant to such impurities. This makes blue diamonds much rarer than white or yellow diamonds.

In fact, blue diamonds are almost entirely of the Type IIb diamond classification, which themselves are only 0.1% of the world’s supply of diamonds. Only a few of these, in turn, are blue. This means you can expect to pay a pretty penny for a blue diamond, but you’ll know you’re getting one of the rarest rocks on Earth.

It’s also possible to create a blue diamond in a lab setting. Artificially made blue diamonds are made using electron-beam radiation, and it’s much more likely that this what you’re buying when you start shopping for a blue diamond.

Blue Diamond Lore

Humans love gemstones, and many people ascribe various near-supernatural powers to them. Blue diamonds are no exception. Many people ascribe properties of truthfulness, eternity, peace, devotion and spirituality. It’s no surprise, then, that these rings prove so popular as engagement rings. What words are better to describe a union than eternity, truthfulness and devotion?

Famous blue diamonds are not plentiful, but their fame outweighs their small numbers. One of the most famous gemstones of all time, the Hope Diamond, is a fancy blue diamond. Originally, the Tavernier Blue, a rough but strikingly beautiful diamond, was cut down into the Blue Diamond of the French Crown.

The Hope Diamond

History holds that Tavernier, a French explorer, purchased the exceptionally large diamond from a mine in India. He then sold it to the French Crown, where it was cut down into the French Crown’s prized Blue Diamond. Following the events of the French Revolution in the late 1700’s, the diamond was stolen and recut into the smaller (yet still exceptionally large) Hope Diamond in an attempt to obscure its origins.

Following a long and complex series of changing hands in the intervening century, the Hope Diamond eventually found its way to rest in the National Gem Collection in Washington DC. The stone is so famous and rare as to be of literally incalculable value. It’s impossible to say how expensive the stone would be if it were auctioned. Folklore has also suggested that the stone possesses ill fortune, and any wearers of the jewel have a cruel fate befall them.

May 23, 2019
Lighting and Paint Tricks to Make Your House Look Bigger

When I was a kid I had dreams of playing center field for the Yankees or starting my own internet company. Now that I’m an adult homeowner, I just want a lush green looking yard and to walk into my big, well lit, well-painted home. I guess it’s all about perspective. I mean a well-lit living room, matched with the right paint colors, can make your room look so much bigger, inviting, and warm, while totally evolving the feng shui.

That first step into your own home is important. You want it to completely welcome you home and put you at total ease. To tell you the truth I haven’t decided whether I want that initial reaction to being that of a warm cozy home, or big open and spacious home. Luckily both of this can be achieved with the right paint and the right lighting. Yes, it’s very true different paint colors and styles can have completely different effects on your rooms.

The right lighting and paint can set the tone for the rest of your house. You can manipulate this tone at your will based on your color choices. Let’s take a deeper look into how paint colors and lighting can change the feel of the room and the tone of your home.

Two Main Choices, Light or Dark

Just like McSorley’s on 2nd ave, there are only two choices. Light or dark. The light will make your eye travel continuously around the room. This gives the effect of making the room appear more spacious and open. The color of a lighter room tends to recede, giving a cooler vibe. You want to use light colors to create a feeling of openness in a room and make it feel more expansive.

This is great for small apartments or tight bedrooms. Light colors will bounce whatever light is available in the space, which can help if you don’t have great natural light. We will get to more on lighting in a bit.

When you decide to go from a dark color to light you will need to prime the wall with a white primer first. This is important, don’t skip this. Pick your colors carefully, know how they will react to their surroundings, i.e. white absorbs no light, just reflects. Whereas blues absorb red lights. When selecting your light colors, remember different colors will draw the eye to the separation and will stop where the colors change.

If you use one color the eye keeps moving from room to room and judges the space as being larger than it is. I would recommend this for a smaller home. If you are getting a claustrophobic feeling from your room try painting the ceiling a lighter color then the walls. This will make the ceiling look like it has been elevated and larger.

The dark paints create a cozier and warmer feel but makes the room feel smaller in doing so. If your house is set up to walk into a big open space, using dark colored paints is a great way to make it feel more comfortable. For a great effect try painting the ceiling a darker color than the walls to make it appear lower.

I deeply enjoy the look of dark colored walls with a nice bright white trim. The contrast establish a border and boundary that the eye picks up immediately. It’s like it adds a sense of order to the room, but you can extend the trim to other rooms. This will give the effect of a continuous space, with both the coziness and the openness at the same time.

Don’t Be Afraid of Change

It’s best to play around with the coloring and change it every so often. I like to change mine for the holiday seasons, adding light colors to the open spaces with some deep reds as a contrast walls. It makes my holiday decorations pop. Speaking of contrast walls, let’s talk about their purpose in small narrow rooms.

If you paint both end walls of a narrow room darker than the other walls, the end walls feel closer to you. It will make the room appear more of a square shape. In a bigger room, a nice look is to divide the walls with a lighter color on top and a darker color on the bottom.

Lighting

Now onto lighting, everything can affect the lighting. Lighting also affects eveything. Let’s start with your room placement. A north facing room will appear cooler and bluish. If your room is south facing dark colors will look brighter; lighter colors will virtually glow.

To the east is great for reds and yellows, your colors will look warm and yellowy before noon, then turn bluer later in the day. West facing you will want to go with something bold, the morning light makes the colors look dull, however they are stunning in the evening light.

January 16, 2019
Top 5 Meal Delivery Services

Have you stopped and looked around at the world we live in today. We are undoubtedly in the best of all times to be alive. This statement can be righteously confirmed with simple services like meal delivery services.

Our species has evolved past the hunter gather format to a place where pre-prep foods from all over the world are sent on a daily or weekly bases, delivered to your doorstep for you to cook into gourmet dishes at your convenience. I really don’t know what manifest destiny means, but I’d like to believe this is it. For those of us that want to get healthy meal prep is one of the best ways to ensure you have the time and energy to make healthy meals all week long. Meal prep kits are the best way to do meal prep without all the work.

The meal delivery services field is growing, with specialty purveyors focusing on vegan foods, seasonal ingredients, and smoothies. These meals are healthy, tasty, easy to make, and maybe best of all, you don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike and then battle the crowds at the grocery store. With home meal kits, you just go online and browse the latest recipe ideas, and they come straight to your door ready for you to put together. So this leads to the question, which one? Lets Look at the Top 5 Meal Delivery Services.

Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot runs on plant power. If you don’t eat animal products or are lactose intolerant, you’re in luck. Every single dish from Purple Carrot is not only vegetarian, but vegan, too. But don’t worry, we’re not talking boring grilled veggies here. This box features seasonal produce, herbs, and creative sauces that keep things interesting. Each week, Purple Carrot chefs create a new selection of plant-based dishes like cauliflower l’orange and coffee teriyaki skewers. In addition to being healthy and tasty, Purple Carrot encourages users to appreciate the way that eating plant-based meals instead of ones containing meat is environmentally friendly, cutting down on water use and emissions. In addition to the individual plan serving one to two people there is also a family plan returning that makes two meals for three to four people, and a “performance” plan that ups the protein content of each meal, and is gluten-free.

Blue Apron

They’re the OG of meal delivery services. Most of Blue Apron’s recipes are pretty easy, making the company a good choice for beginner cooks. Instead of spending all night at the grocery store or in the kitchen, Blue Apron delivers pre-measured ingredients for simple recipes straight to your door. Meals start at just $9.99 per serving and you can choose the two-person plan, This comes with two or three meals per week or the family plan which comes with up to four meals per week. Also for those of use that like a nice glass of wine to to compliment this 5 star gourmet dinner you just prepared check out the company’s wine delivery options.

Blue Apron never fails to take you out of your comfort zone. The most impressive thing was that out of the dozens of meals I made, there were only one or two dinners that I’d never make again. Another perk is that they love condiments as much as I do. Many of the recipes require you to whip up different sauces or au jus for dipping.

Though there are generally a few choices for your three weekly meals, this isn’t the best option for those with dietary restrictions, as they really only offer a regular and vegetarian option. And even though the meals won’t take forever cook, you’ll still spend a decent amount of time in the kitchen—somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 minutes. If you use cooking as a way to decompress and chill out after a long day, you are in luck. Blue Apron never fails to take you out of your comfort zone. The most impressive thing was that out of the dozens of meals I made, there were only one or two dinners that you would never make again.

Plated

Plated has easy to follow recipes and is very flexible with customers, but it’s the food that is simply divine. The recipes are crafted by the company’s culinary team and use high quality ingredients that are free of hormones and antibiotics. And while the recipes can be exotic and seductive, you can also just whip up some more standard fare like waldorf chicken salad and spicy crunchy shrimp bowls. You can also add dessert if you really feel like getting carried away.

Plated is also flexible – the company will allow you skip weeks, switch recipes and cancel anytime. There is a great range of recipes—from an elevated grilled cheese to stuffed roasted squash to pumpkin rigatoni—that reflect the current season. It’s also great they have a two meal a week option. One drawback though – the company doesn’t offer specifically vegan options

Hello Fresh

What makes Hello Fresh unique is that it offers a vegetarian meal plan for folks who don’t eat meat. The company is also committed to using responsibly-sourced ingredients. To use, first choose from the veggie, classic, or family plans, which all come with two or three recipes per week and start at $7.99 per serving. Still skeptical? Purchase a Hello Fresh Meal Delivery Services in select grocery stores for your first go-around. All the recipes are straight-forward and rarely included unnecessary steps. Plus, the portions are bigger, so we always had leftovers for the next day.

Sun Basket

If you’re trying hard to stick to a certain food regimen like Whole 30 or the Paleo Diet, Sun Basket’s meals can help. They only send the cleanest ingredients to their customers. Choose from either a classic plan, which serves two to four people, or a family plan, which feeds four people and starts at $10.99 per serving.

The Final Meal Delivery Services Thought

It didn’t take long for me to realize that a meal delivery service was exactly the type of instruction I needed. You choose the meals you would like to make and they send you the stuff needed. Not only did it save me time since I didn’t have to go to the store and scour the shelves for specific ingredients, but it also broke down every step for me in dummy terms. Not only am I getting to eat these gourmet meals with ingredients Ive never even heard of, I get a daily win and sense of accomplishment from cooking a 5 star meal.

December 7, 2018
Best Adjustable Beds

Sleeping is my favorite hobbies and activity. By a far margin, I love to sleep. I can plop down anywhere and just snooze. However as we get older sleeping becomes more difficult, time and wear take there toll and you need the right mattress to recharge your body. The answer is an adjustable beds

The term ‘adjustable bed’ refers to any bed base that can be raised or lowered to create different sleeping positions. Adjustable beds were first used in hospitals to accommodate patients with injuries that required an angled sleep surface. They also promote circulation and help reduce pain and swelling, making them optimal for people recovering from medical procedures.

In the past, adjustable beds were found almost exclusively in places like hospitals. But now, more and more people are opting to use them at home. If you’re among them, you might be wondering about the top adjustable bed frame brands. What are they—and will buying one of these highly rated models yield a noticeable improvement in your sleep? Lets look at the 3 best adjustable beds for seniors.

Prodigy 2.0

Prodigy 2.0 from Leggett & Platt. This adjustable bed frame offers a host of features to keep sleepers comfortable throughout the night. These include a full-body massage option, which alleviates pain and pressure points using light waves on the surface of the bed. Owners can also adjust the leg height to create a higher or lower profile, while the adjustable pillow tilt is ideal for people who snore, as well as those who read or watch television in bed.

Lucid L300

The L300 from Lucid is our Best Value Bed because its price-point is far below that of the average adjustable bed, yet it offers plenty of features and functions to improve sleep quality and duration for most. These include head and foot elevation, as well as dual adjustment for couples with different angle preferences.

The bed also offers a zero-gravity preset. This position, which elevates the legs higher than the head, is linked to high levels of pain and pressure relief. It is also beneficial for sleepers with high blood pressure. Some of the bed’s other high-tech features include dual USB ports, a wireless remote with a built-in flashlight, and one programmable memory position.

Reverie

Reverie Adjustable Beds designs their beds with a team of in-house engineers and an advisory board with doctors and scientists. Reverie has been in business since 2003 and started selling their power base adjustable beds five years later. In 2011, Reverie began manufacturing mattresses in New York with customizable firmness across the entire mattress to complement their adjustable bed line.

Reverie makes five adjustable bed bases, all with differing technology. Adjustable bed technology includes things like zero gravity, lumbar support, wireless remote, LED lighting and more. Reverie adjustable beds range in price from $2,399 to over $4,000

Don’t for get the mattress…

Tempurpedic

They are the best of the best. The Cadillac of adjustable beds, with the options to match. Tempurpedic has three adjustable bases under the Tempur-Ergo brand. They tied Amerisleep in the durability and warranty category, and came in slightly behind them in customer reviews and health benefits, putting them second overall in our rankings. The biggest drawback is that Tempur-Ergo bases have some of the highest prices when you compare them with other adjustable bed frames that offer similar features. So these offerings might not be the best value.

December 3, 2018
Tech Throwback: Google Glass

I like to take a look at where I’ve been to evaluate where Im going. Technology is cyclical after all… wait no its not. That said I still like all the feels that come rushing back like a flood of nostalgia every time I get my hand on the tech I grew up with. I’m going to go back periodically and take a looking at the stuff that used to blow our hair back and get our minds rolling. Some of these device blew up and changed the world, some where ahead of their time and some just fell flat and became colossal failures. Today’s throwback is a sure fire hit, a true tech game changer… that missed. The Google Glass.

Google Glass

Google’s project program for developing a line of hands-free, head-mounted intelligent devices that can be worn by users as “wearable computing” eyewear. The first product release from Project Glass, Google Glass, was available for beta testers (U.S. residents only) to purchase in 2013, for $1,500 plus tax. It was all the rage of the tech world at the time.

Google Glasses look like a pair of eyeglasses, but the lens of the glasses are an interactive, smartphone-like display, with natural language voice command support as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Google Glass is powered by the Android mobile operating system and compatibility with both Android-powered mobile devices and Apple iOS-powered devices is expected.

The Big Miss

Google Glass didn’t just trickle out into the world. Instead, it exploded with the kind of fuss and pageantry usually reserved for an Apple iSomething.From its unveiling in 2012, it was considered the Gadget, yearned after by everyone from nerds and chief executives, to chefs and fashionistas. It was the must-have toy that was going to set the gold standard for a new class of wearable computers.Time Magazine named it one of the “Best Inventions of the Year.”

Google Glass failed to help consumers understand why they needed such a device.Google created the best wearable solution. Aside from early adopters seeking bragging rights, Google’s customers did not respond because they could not quickly understand what problem it solved, or why they needed Google Glass. Steve Jobs said it best, Unless your customer has a mouse problem, they don’t care if you have a better mousetrap.

Other than tech that has gone by the wayside in the past, there are some more modern tech we can see struggling before our very eyes. Google Glass is one of these technologies. Attempting to manifest the Minority Report lifestyle into real life, this tech has attempted to enable the easy access of features like recording, the internet, email, and other un-necessities.

The Final Thought

Earlier this month, the FCC revealed Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 with essentially the same design as its predecessor. The Google Glass is not dead yet, with an Android Oreo update and a new snapdragon processor it is still clinging to life.

November 29, 2018
Meet the 2019 Audi Q5

2019 Audi Q5 just the sight of it makes me tingle. this 2019 Audi Q5 beasts on with a 252-horsepower, turbo four-cylinder engine or, in the case of the sporty SQ5, a 354-horsepower V6 turbo. The quattro all-wheel drive system is fitted as standard, and an air suspension can be added as an option. We’re also treated to the Audi virtual cockpit digital driver display as well as a choice of leather upholsteries and interior trims. It is mesmerizing.

2019 Audi Q5

it has been a long wait for the second-generation Audi Q5 and beneath the new car’s subtle styling, there’s a tremendously accomplished vehicle, one that is perhaps truer to Audi’s Quattro heritage than smaller Qs.Entering its second generation, the 2018 Audi Q5 returns with a striking new exterior design complemented by improved power and efficiency. Delivering unrivaled stability and performance via the standard Audi quattro® all-wheel drive system with ultra® technology, the 2018 Q5 also makes integrating your compatible smartphone simple, with standard Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto™.Standard power across the Q5 lineup comes in the form of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged TFSI® engine paired to a responsive 7-speed S-tronic® dual-clutch automatic transmission. With a refined interior offering outstanding versatility, the Audi Q5 remains a top choice among luxury crossover buyers.

What’s New

With a totally Refined Interior it is a luxury upon luxury automobile. So choice, if you have the means I highly recommend picking one up. From the available panoramic sunroof which lets natural lighting in. Super fresh air into the cabin to the optional ambient LED interior lighting. Check the 30 customizable color settings. The 2019 Audi Q5 offers drivers a comfortable space to unwind and relax.

Available features like the hands-free tailgate release, standard sliding rear seatbacks, and standard 40/20/40 split folding rear seats highlight the ability of the Audi Q5 to adapt to life’s many changes. Thoughtful attention to ergonomics can be seen in the available MMI® all-in-touch control panel and available high-mounted 8.3-inch display. The impressive interior gives drivers a commanding view of what’s ahead in the 2018 Audi Q5.

Hands On the 2019 Audi Q5

It is breathtaking, remarkable. At first glance, the 2019 Audi Q5 doesn’t seem all that different than its predecessor. But upon closer inspection, it turns out that the new Q5 — the first entry in the vehicle’s second generation — is bigger, sleeker, faster, lighter and just plain better than the first-generation version we’ve been admiring since its debut for the 2009 model year

On-road, Audi Q5 is remarkably swift for something of its size. At 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds and vast overtaking flexibility courtesy of the VAG 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. As a high-speed cruising vehicle, it’s wonderfully suited to even Mid Florida conditions. With directionally stability and comfort provided by the air-suspension. Then add sufficient tyre volume to insulate you against the unhappy consequences of a pothole strike. Mechanically faultless at speed, Q5’s amazingly composed. The air-suspension manages to mask Q5’s weight, preventing that fidgety nervousness. This is which afflicts many SUVs when they’re tracking at speed over substandard surfaces. You’re never required to make those annoying mini-corrections all of time

November 21, 2018