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  • Best Call Center Software: Which One is Right For Your Business?

    Best Call Center Software: Which One is Right For Your Business?

    There are countless suites of call center software. It can be difficult narrowing these many, many options down. After all, it’s not like you can afford to just try all of them. What are you to do, then? Thankfully, we’ve got your back. Today we’re looking into some of the best call center software suites so you can make sure you make the right pick.

    Best Call Center Software

    What is Call Center Software?

    Before we get started, let’s look into some of the basics. What exactly is call center software? Well, simply put, it’s software that allows your business to function as a call center. Customer support, marketing, phone, email, instant messaging and social media are all typically handled through call center software.

    Auto-dialers, call analytics, computer telephony integration. Interactive voice response, call accounting solutions and automatic call distributors are some of the types of software you might find. Customer service systems offer features for submitting tickets to help customers with issues they’re having.

    Other features, like call recording, web callback, social media support, and quality monitoring are all important aspects of any good software suite. Now that you know what you’re looking for, let’s look at some examples.

    Freshcaller

    One of the most highly-rated software suites in the call center software world is Freshcaller. This software is unmatched when it comes to user-friendly interface, and it’s rather robust when compared to the competition.

    Ytel

    Ytel is a relatively new, but highly-rated, software for call centers. Ytel offers a number of helpful features, especially for smaller offices, and brings a lot of tools to the table. Integration with phone, messaging and email make this a very flexible and robust call center suite.

    RingCentral Contact Center

    Another highly-rated software suite is the excellent RingCentral Contact Center software. Customer relationships are an important focus of any business, and that’s what RingCentral focuses on. Bringing a number of tools for customer engagement to your business, RingCentral is a great suite for small and medium sized businesses.


  • Best Gifts for the Audiophile in Your Life

    Best Gifts for the Audiophile in Your Life

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

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

    Best Gifts for Audiophiles

    Sony WH-1000XM3

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

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

    Roberts Revival iStream 3

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

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

    Sony PS-HX500

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

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

  • Coolest TVs Seen at CES 2019

    Coolest TVs Seen at CES 2019

    CES 2019 has came and went, and we’ve seen a ton of new technology that is more than exciting for the future. The consumer electronics show was also the first place that 8K TVs were seen in an official setting! This exciting new TV panel development is a big step forward in the world of display panels.

    Today we’re breaking down some of the coolest TVs we saw at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. From rollable displays to massive, immersive 8K screens, there are a number of TV screens to be excited about in the coming year.

    Coolest TV Screens Seen at CES 2019

    LG OLED65R9

    Let’s start with the show-stopper, the LG OLED65R9. This massive OLED display rolls up when not in use. Yeah, it’s finally time to see this tech in real-life. After nearly a decade of hearing about prototype rollable displays, LG is set to be the first to market with the tech later this year or early next year. The display is downright amazing, producing a picture quality that rivals LG’s other OLED displays.

    The screen rolls into its Dolby Atmos speaker stand when it’s not in use. It can be toted relatively easily thanks to the speaker, and the speaker provides awesome sound quality to match the huge, high-end screen. The slick, futuristic design is likely to be a smash-hit when the OLED R line hits the market.

    The OLED R line is comparable in picture quality to the other LG OLED screens releasing in 2019, but the R line is likely to turn more heads. For one thing, the ease of stowing the screen and making the room much more visitor-friendly is a huge plus. For another thing, the R line of screens offers a built-in Dolby Atmos speaker, making these immediate home theater solutions.

    Sony ZG9

    The massive 88 and 95-inch versions of Sony’s ZG9 Master Series screen are set to be the first of these panels to support 8K. The screen is actually a departure from the existing Master Series line that uses OLEDs, in that it uses backlit LED technology that is state-of-the-art.

    The ZG9 also sports upscaling processes to clean up 4K and below images to make them sharper. Many people have noted that if they have a screen with a better resolution than the images they’re displaying, those images tend to look worse than they would on their native display.

    In order to combat this visual degradation, the ZG9 is set to clean up any images that are below that display standard. That’s a good thing, too, since there is currently no existing 8K content to view on one of these bleeding-edge screens.

    Panasonic GZ2000

    This Panasonic screen isn’t the most cutting-edge screen on the list, but it does have a lot going for it. It’s not a concept-style screen in the way that some of the others on this list are. However, it’s a much more straightforward style of screen and will be much more affordable than a lot of the others listed here.

    What makes it special enough to mention here, then? Well, a few things. Firstly, it’s got a brand-new processor running within that attempts to keep the screen much clearer and smoother even on high frame-rate images. The other big selling point to this screen is the Dolby Atmos implementation. Thanks to the aforementioned processor, the sound quality is uniquely excellent.

    In short, this Panasonic TV is going to be a budget option worth looking out for. It’s set to punch well above its weight class, so to speak.

    Samsung 75in Micro LED TV

    Micro LEDs are a huge step forward in screen technology. OLED screens look amazing and offer perfect blacks and great color accuracy. However, they have a few drawbacks. They don’t last as long as LED screens, they consume more energy, and they’re not quite as bright or vibrant as LED screens.

    That’s where Micro LED screens come in. By using a number of smaller LED screens working in concert, the Micro LED technology offers up the best of both worlds. The precise blacks and intense contrast offered by OLED screens pairs with the brightness, efficiency and long-lasting panels of LED screens with this tech.

    The Samsun 75-inch Micro LED is a massive leap ahead in this tech. It’s one of the largest screens that uses this tech that we’ve yet seen. Previously, “The Wall” model showed off this ultra-thin, multiple-display style of panel. This new screen is the natural evolution of this kind of technology, and likely to set a new bar for TV panels.

  • Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    Menstrual pain can be downright awful for some people. Studies have found that more than ninety percent of women suffer from menstrual pain, and of them, around forty percent describe their menstrual pain as being detrimental to their daily activities.

    These pains can surface as cramps that make it hard to concentrate or stabbing lower back pain.

    Many women experiencing this pain opt to use medicine to try to combat it, though they often find over-the-counter medication isn’t very effective. There are some new technologies that will help you fight the pain without medication, though!

    Combat Menstrual Pain without Medication

    The Old Way

    When cramps and stabbing back pain start to set in, many women go for over-the-counter NSAIDs, though studies have shown these are little help for menstrual pain. That’s because many women create a chemical called prostaglandin during their periods. This chemical is what sends the signal to your body to cramp, and overproduction of it is what leads to the extreme cramps of menstrual pain. While NSAIDs slow prostaglandin production, they don’t stop it.

    What’s more, though NSAIDs have little effect on menstrual pain, they can cause worse problems than they solve. Use of over-the-counter pain meds can lead to stomach issues like diarrhea and constipation. If you’re experiencing these issues, it may not be your period causing them! Other problems with these over-the-counter medications could include the development of ulcers, and they could even increase your risk of kidney or heart failure.

    The New Way

    If suffering through with ineffective pain meds was the old way, what’s the new way? Thankfully, new breakthroughs in technology may be able to help ease menstrual pain. Nerve stimulation technology is a new breakthrough that has been showing promising results in clinical tests. Officially known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations, or TENS, the process involves the use of electrical currents to send signals to your nerves that will, in turn, ease your menstrual pain.

    Using a TENS device is pretty straightforward. You attach a few electrodes to your body, wherever you’re feeling the worst pain. These electrodes then receive a very slight electrical signal from a machine. You don’t feel much of the electrical pulses, as they are so slight as to be very hard to notice. They do, however, prevent your nerve receptors from sending pain signals to your central nervous system.

    This means that TENS devices don’t stop your pain by addressing the symptoms. You’ll still be having your period, your body will still be cramping and producing large amounts of prostaglandin. However, you simply won’t feel the effects of these functions thanks to the signals from the TENS device.

    Results

    Researchers at many universities have found promising results with TENS therapy for use with women experiencing extreme menstrual pain. Many studies showed patients immediately reporting relief from their painful menstrual symptoms. TENS is an ideal procedure for addressing these problems, as it is both noninvasive and safe. It doesn’t require the patient to take any medication that could have harmful side effects and it doesn’t prevent the patient’s body from undergoing normal menstrual activity. All it does is block the pain signals being sent by the patient’s nerves.

    While there are a few adverse effects that could occur if a TENS unit is improperly used, proper use has, thus far, showed no danger for women experiencing menstrual pain. This is a great solution for some people who experience intense menstrual pain but don’t want to take medicines that might not even help them feel better.

    Types of Units

    There are many different varieties of TENS units available for home use. Research into specific units can be quite detailed, though there are a few basic varieties. For example, some of the earlier units, and some of the stronger units are home-only. These units tend to be larger and can’t be taken out of the home with you, as they are only for use indoors.

    Other examples include travel units that are smaller and can be packed up to travel with you. These types of TENS units tend to be less expensive, though they might not offer the same power as a home unit. They would be ideal for someone who travels often, such as on business trips or often goes on vacations. These can be easily slipped into a bag or purse!

    Finally, there are even wearable TENS units that can attach to your body under your clothes to give you relief throughout the day. These types of units are often even made with menstrual pain in mind!

  • Nintendo President Shuts Down N64 Classic Rumors

    Nintendo President Shuts Down N64 Classic Rumors

    With the monumental success of the SNES Classic and NES Classic, the N64 Classic looked like a sure thing. However, in a recent interview, Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America President, shut down any hopes of the system coming any time soon. Why is Nintendo not pushing forward with this surefire idea?

    N64 Classic Rumors Shut Down

    Reggie Fils-Aime stated that while he “would not ever rule something out… what I can tell you is certainly that’s not in our planning horizon.” The Nintendo exec continued, “We were clear when we did the first two Classic series that, for us, these were limited-time opportunities that were a way for us as a business to bridge from the conclusion of Wii U as a hardware system to the launch of Nintendo Switch.”

    “That was the very strategic reason we launched the NES Classic system,” Fils-Aime clarified. The president went on to clarify that the company understood that people were excited to engage with older Nintendo games. Fils-Aime stated that Nintendo plans to continue supporting its legacy content through the Nintendo Online subscription service.

    Nintendo Online

    The subscription service, which is around $20 per year, is a service for the Nintendo Switch. It is required to play games like Splatoon and Mario Kart 8 online. It also comes with a selection of NES titles that are updated with a few new entries each month. Currently the only games available through the service are NES games that are roughly 30 years old.

    At time of writing, there is no way to play other legacy content on the Switch. Fils-Aime indicated that fans of retro Nintendo games would see that type of content through the online service. However, the Virtual Console, the emulation offered on systems like the Wii, has yet to come to Switch. In the meantime, Nintendo fans must simply patiently wait to see when Nintendo will roll out anything other than 30-year-old games to the system.

    For context, it took Nintendo until the tail end of the Wii U’s 5-year lifespan to begin rolling N64 game out. We hope that this situation doesn’t repeat itself with the Switch.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced than ever. With cutting-edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must-have! For dog or pet owners like myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes, I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This has been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing you’re at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must-have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must-have gadget for your home. The brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, worldwide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built-in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smartphone of any activity at your doorstep day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2-way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing ever more advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for a while.


  • Are You Giving the Best Gifts? Our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

    Are You Giving the Best Gifts? Our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide

    It can be really difficult to find the right gifts for all your loved ones around the holidays. There are just so many great tech options out there for gifts! From smart watches to video games to entertainment, we’re running down some of the best gift options this season! Here’s our 2018 holiday gift guide!

    2018 Holiday Gift Guide

    Apple Watch Series 4

    The series 4 Apple Watch is a fantastic piece of technology. A gorgeous OLED display shows off your fitness tracking, music or weather in beautiful colors. This wonderful little watch is weather-resistant and is even waterproof enough to go swimming with you. If you know an active, outdoorsy type who also wants a stylish watch, consider getting them an Apple Watch.

    This watch sports a robust suite of fitness tracking, from sleep monitoring to heartbeat readings and more. It’s hard to describe how handy a smart watch is unless you’ve used one. If you know someone who would love to be more organized and have a fitness tracker that looks great, this is the gift for them!

    Bose SoundSport Wireless

    The Bose SoundSport Wireless headphones are great for the active person in your life. These impressive Bluetooth headphones have a lot to love in a little package. They retail for $150, making them a relatively mid-level point for Bluetooth headphones. The SoundSport Wireless headset is waterproof and sweat-resistant, making it ideal for jogging or working out.

    Additionally, these headphones sport an inline mic, making them great for answering calls while listening to music. There’s even a control bulb inline where the mic is so you can adjust the volume and skip songs without having to dig your phone out! If you’re looking to spend a little bit on an active loved one, this is a great gift to consider!

    Amazon Echo Spot

    Everyone has heard of Alexa, Amazon’s handy personal AI assistant. The Amazon Echo line of smart-home speakers has made her a household (ha) name. Everyone knows the Echo line for the excellent voice-integrated control of smart home functions. The Echo Spot is looking to add a visual element to the proceedings. If you know someone who has been dying to have an Alexa device and loves visuals along with convenience, this is the gift for them.

    The Echo Spot is the midway between the base-level Dot and the full-blown video-enabled Show. The Spot also falls between the two devices in price, retailing for only $130. That makes it a great gift for someone who loves their Echo Dot but wants something more in-depth for coordinating their smart home. Consider this device if you’ve got an undecided smart home adopter who you want to spend a little bit of money on.

    GoPro Hero4 Session

    We’ve all got that friend or family member who just loves going on crazy adventures. Whether they’re up hiking in the mountains, getting caught on a big wave or base-jumping from a crazy height, they’re out there. That’s the person you should get a GoPro Hero4 Session for! This mid-tier GoPro is in the sweet spot on both price and functionality. Coming in at $225, this POV camera won’t break the bank.

    For that price, you get a ton of great features. This camera is rugged, waterproof and durable. You can rest assured that it will survive most any adventure. It also shoots fantastic, high-quality video, making it a must-have for adrenaline-seekers. It’s also pretty small and really light, making it ideal for fast-moving adventurers who can’t lug around massive cameras.

    Nintendo Switch

    If there’s a gamer in your life who has been dying to play Nintendo games, consider getting them a Nintendo Switch. The system is a little pricey, coming in at $300, which makes it a pretty high-end gift. However, the system sports a very unique angle on console gaming. When docked, it functions as a normal console-to-TV system, like the PS4 or Xbox One. When undocked, however, the system becomes something like a portable gaming tablet.

    This is made more impressive by the stellar lineup of exclusive games on the system. Super Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are three massive notables on the system. Whether you’re shopping for a little one who loves Mario or a grown loved one who just wants to game, this is a great capstone gift.

  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • 5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

    It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

    And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

    1. The iRobot Roomba

    Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

    2. The Nest Thermostat

    Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

    3. Brilliant Light Switch

    With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

    4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

    This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly. 

    5. The Ring II doorbell system

    The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of  your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD  camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

    The Conclusion

    With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.


  • GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Review Roundup

    GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Review Roundup

    Way back in the distant era of mid-2016, Nvidia dropped the GeForce 10 series of graphics cards. Those cards largely cost more now than they did when they were introduced, thanks to Bitcoin miners, of course. However, their primary use, as gaming cards, has been their biggest selling point. However, the 10 series isn’t top dog anymore: the 20 series is here. How do the GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti stack up? Are they worth their price? Let’s get into it!

    GeForce RTX 2080 and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Review Roundup

    geforcertx
    Nvidia

    Technical Specs

    These new cards run on Turing GPU architecture, which is a bleeding-edge three-pronged approach. This provides a huge benefit to performance and efficiency, using three separate centers. Namely, this new architecture allows the cards to incorporate deep learning AI functions into real-time graphics. While this has been seen in workstation GPUs, it’s brand new to commercial gaming cards. And yes, you can bet that means these suckers are pricey.

    The other big benefit granted by this new architecture is ray tracing. Put simply, ray tracing is a new way to render lighting, shading and reflections. Between ray tracing and the deep learning, or DLSS, these are set to be the defining features of the 20 series. Most games don’t have a way to use this bleeding edge tech yet, but many are coming down the line.

    Bottom Line

    When it comes to practical testing, the verdict is in: these cards are bananas. The RTX 2080 blows the 1080 Ti out of the water across the board. The 2080 Ti, of course, is the absolute cutting edge of high-end graphics. Overclocking is a breeze with these cards, bringing a great amount of future-proofing to these 4K-capable cards.

    That said, if 4K is your focus, you’re going to want a 2080 Ti. That’s going to se you back: the 2080 Ti has a $1,000 MSRP, and the Founders Edition is $1,200. The 2080, while not as great for 4K, is still capable of ray tracing and DLSS. It’s a great option for those looking to stay current without breaking the bank. It retails at $700, or $800 for the Founders Edition.

    For the time being, these cards are likely overkill for most users. However, if you are currently running middling hardware and want to upgrade, consider getting a 20 series card. Additionally, if you’re building a bleeding-edge rig for future-proofing your gaming experience, these are absolutely the best of the best for the time being.