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Run, Don’t Walk, To Get Your WalkCar
Don’t you hate to hear about a product you really want, can’t wait to have, only to discover it will not be released for several months? It’s like watching a movie trailer knowing a title won’t hit the big screen until the next big holiday 6 months away or more, even though it has clearly been filmed already.
It is like a product announced to encourage public funding so it can be available to as many people as possible, only makers of the WalkCar are not asking for crowd funding. They just want to know if consumers are interested before this device is released.
Reserve Your Copy
You can sign up, though, to be one of the first to own a WalkCar from Cocoa Motors Inc. of Japan founded in 2013. Settle in for the long wait knowing that one of these little devices is being made especially for you by a little company based in Shibuya, Tokyo, run by Kuniaki Sato (CEO). It does not appear that a deposit will be required at this time although this situation could change, especially as the release date draws near.
What Is the WalkCar?
Cocoa Motors Inc. and technology reviewers anticipating the release of this exciting gadget refer to it as either a car in a bag or a laptop-size car. Tokyo has made the smallest vehicle one will ever find anywhere, and they can’t get any smaller for adult human beings to take advantage of them unless someone invents a car which starts out in the palm of one’s hand and extends at the press of a button. That is very “Jetsons,” but who knows?
Faster, Further, Smaller
Cocoa Motors Inc. refers to this as a super car, but don’t think of a luxury sedan or a sports car; think more of a tray that rolls. In fact, visually, the WalkCar resembles a dolly for moving heavy items without the assistance of handles. The big difference is that a WalkCar is motorized. I do not know what a mover’s dolly would cost, but this device is priced around $1,300 in US Dollars.
Not a Hover Board
And don’t be confused either; the WalkCar isn’t being touted as a hover board. It doesn’t fly or rise above the ground. Let’s be practical and reasonable: the magnetized infrastructure required to make such a thing work currently renders the hover board useful only in select environments of which there are few.
It’s an elite device suited to only a few people with lots of money; skateboarders, essentially. The WalkCar is supposed to get people from A to B with minimum effort, no magnets, and at a faster pace than they would manage just by walking.
While there are some small transportation devices out there like a one-wheeled motorcycle, that has to be locked up; the WalkCar comes with you in a bag no bigger than what your laptop slides into. This is theft-prevention at its best.
How to Steer
Apparently, you’re going to steer this thing like a surfboard. Adjust your balance slightly to make it go right or left. Recharge by USB. Reports suggest the weight limit is substantial and will help people with mobility issues get around more easily.
Watch the WalkCar do its thing by visiting the website for Cocoa Motors Inc. or heading to one of the many online reviews sure to drum up pre-release reservations and sales.
The New-Old Sega Mega Drive Limited Edition
Remember that old gaming machine you thought was so excellent or “sweet” as the kids say nowadays? You would brag about it to your friends and everyone wanted to come to your house after school until all the rest of the class got their own Sega Mega Drive or the next best thing.
Then you had to save up and buy add-ons so your friends would come back. This Sony game console was the precursor to Playstation and the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog; the Sega Mega Drive or Genesis.
Sega Mega Drive Limited Edition: The Genesis Returns
Image: PC Mag
It’s still black as before and has not been updated to become the high-tech dream of a new Nintendo Switch or the newest Xbox. Sony will release a fifth Playstation in the near future, sooner than expected, yet a certain generation of consumers finds comfort and joy in their pre-teen past when life was simpler and 64KB of memory sounded like enough capacity for files at the White House. There is a microSD slot if you want to play stored information too.
This limited edition, nostalgic toy offers old-style resolution, nothing like the realism consumers are used to. There is an old-fashioned slot for popping in a cartridge and a joystick which, though new, is made to appear ancient (okay, 20 years old). Consumers will also receive pre-installed games along the lines; games they recognize from their childhood.
If you are in your 30s, the Sega Mega Drive Limited Edition console is a Christmas gift made in gaming heaven. Set your clocks; mark your calendars. Only a relatively small number will be made unless demand is huge.
Release Date
In fact, right before Armistice Day, Americans can get their hands on the Sega Mega Drive Limited Edition gaming console. According to Sony, a lucky few will get to immerse themselves in specially-themed events; there’s going to be a real party where it won’t do to come dressed as any character born later than the age of the Sega Mega Drive itself. Watchers can expect for sales of Sonic the Hedgehog costumes to skyrocket, especially in New York where this event is set to take place.
Everywhere Sonic
The famous hedgehog, arguably more famous than Mrs. Tiggywinkle in some circles, will have a graphic impact on many media. Expect him to appear in the media quite a bit and to also become a best-selling plush toy.
Re-releasing a part of the gaming past is all about marketing, of course. There will be mugs, bedspreads, themed birthday party accessories, and loads more stuff related to 80’s gaming. Remember when Cabbage Patch dolls made a comeback? It was big business spawning many spin-offs that were not as quickly coordinated or taken advantage of originally (think cartoons and movies). The Smurfs are another good example.
Back to the Game
Okay, that’s enough about branding and making a huge pile of cash by reviving and selling an old idea. The Sega Genesis Console and Mega Drive will also come with an AC wall cable, a three-button Joystick, an AV cable, and instructions. Images suggest the joystick will not be wireless. Gamers will have to sit close to a screen which begs the question: “will it be better for people to dig out their 1980s TVs too? Surely they don’t want to sit three inches from a 50-inch screen?
There is an SD Card, headphones, and internal power for 110V or 220V customers (US or Europe). The color pallet features over 500 hues, more than 60 at one time. Sound effects are going to help make this an all-around childhood experience.
Expect to hear the same sorts of effects that provided yet another dimension to enrich your experience of Columns, Flicky, Golden Axe, or Jewel Master, all of them (and other games) from the 1980s and early 1990s.
The Google Pixel XL Personal Assistant
The Google Pixel is like a wireless, remote, high-tech PA; always with you, but you can slide that PA in your pocket. You ask the phone for information or to do things; the Pixel politely complies. Consumers will look at the Google Pixel and its larger version, the Google Pixel XL, and ask, “isn’t that just a Smartphone?” It is a Smartphone, but also so much more.
The Google Pixel XL
Begin by telling your Smartphone, “OK Google,” and this device is able to respond to your commands and questions. Next year, this service will also be in French. Voice controls, however, are just a small part of the many features Google has to offer.
Storing Special Moments
Enjoy unlimited storage online and keep videos and images safely close and recorded. You will not have to get rid of your pictures every so often to make space; there’s plenty. They will also be secure along with contacts, songs, and old texts if you want to keep hold of them. Some of those texts might be meaningful after all.
Image: Google Store
Excellent Images
This is a Smartphone with a small screen, although the XL is larger at 5.5 inches, but that AMOLED screen’s pixels and definition are amazing. The technology on these phone cameras is getting better all the time. Take photos in any light, employing the flash or not — whatever you need to do. Video calls will be sharp and rewarding. Bring those you love close to home no matter how far away they are, whether they use iPhone or Android devices, although the operating system is Android and customers receive updates to the operating system for 2 years plus security updates for free.
More about the Screen
Both versions of the Pixel are fitted with a Corning Gorilla Glass AMOLED screen featuring 441-ppi and high definition. A special coating is resistant to fingerprints. That same screen provides 12.3 MP at the rear and 8 MP in the front with a fast, automatic focus including Phase Detection and Laser Detection focus.
Google promises high-quality video too; enjoyable and reliable. There are even three microphones to pick up sound accurately plus an adaptive amplifier to play it back clearly. Background noises are cancelled out for your listening pleasure.
Snapdragon Processor
Each of the Google Pixels, the regular and XL, contains a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 821, which means the device is fast and efficient with battery power. That Quad-Core helps with the fantastic images but also storage and memory.
Although there is no limit to photo and video storage, there are limits to document storage. Note the parameters when you look at these two phones and you could find yourself wanting the larger phone for more storage space. The bigger screen is also nice for older eyes.
Compact Smartphone
One of the necessary features of a handheld phone is that it must be compact. The Google Pixel XL measures 6.09″ x 2.98″ to be precise; less about 1/3 and ¼ of an inch respectively for the regular-sized unit. They weigh 168 or 143g, about a third of a pound, so light.
Available colors are silver and black with an anodized aluminum finish. Customize with a personally chosen cover if you want designs or patterns. An RGB (Red Green Blue) color strata provides realistic color on the screen and also creates an LED light to notify users of alerts if they want to choose that option.
Pre-Order The New Microsoft Surface Studio Canvas
Microsoft would like to introduce creative individuals to their new studio: the Surface Studio. This 28″ display provides what they refer to as a “canvas” rather than a mere computer screen. Draw right onto that surface as though it were a piece of drafting paper and pay $2,999 for the privilege. The Surface Studio is currently available from Microsoft for pre-order and targets those serious about creating a graphic impression.
Image: Microsoft
Features
Consider this a cross between paper and a real canvas. The Surface Studio is very large, thicker than paper, but thinner than something you would set on an easel. With 13.5M pixels, your graphics will be the most complete, most authentic, and most stunning you have ever produced digitally.
Amateur and professional graphic artists alike will see their work come to life with the NVIDIA GeForce dGPU and an i5 or i7 Intel Core processor at their disposal. Bluetooth 4.0 is, of course, built into this new Microsoft display.
NVIDIA
The NVIDIA GeForce dGPU is a built-in feature designed for high definition video streaming. If you use the computer to watch movies, YouTube demonstrations, to play video games, or to host conference calls, Microsoft’s choice of technology makes it real.
Intel Processors
The computing world has seen a huge jump in computer speed, thanks to the i5, but an i7 improves that even more. When you work in a fast-paced world, tech is more important than cost. If your screen is used for work and your graphics need to be scientifically precise, that might be the way to go for a bit more money.
Take advantage of a 6th Generation i5 Core with 8 GB of RAM. Memory upgrades are also available. Microsoft is offering their clients as much as 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM, basically, but the standard is 8 GB.
The Surface Studio is your resume; your portfolio; potentially your artistic lifeline. Keep that lifeline stocked and ready for interviews, shows, to show clients, or for your enjoyment. Select a Rapid Hybrid drive of 1 TB or 2 TB.
Interaction
Press Surface Dial and hold it to access a selection of tools to take you to assorted apps, choose colors from a seemingly endless sRGB palate, or start drawing. With 1,024 pressure sensitivity levels and an eraser, this will be like working with paper only better.
The Studio Surface was designed to operate cooperatively and intuitively with Microsoft Windows, of course. You have access to all the tools associated with their drawing programs like Ink Workspace as well as editing functions for photographs. But the Surface Studio is also Office-capable; flexible to display text as crisply as images.
A pen is included plus Windows 10. Write or, alternatively, read documents and creative works on Surface Book where font will be big and legible on your wireless display. It’s weighty and large for travel, but not if you are only moving from a desk to the bed or another room in the office. If you wanted a small screen, a notebook would be more practical, but you wanted precision visuals.
Configuration
Stand the Surface Studio on your desk or lay it on the desk flat. How you choose to view and use it will depend on a given task and where you are. It’s usually easier to draw flat but to view visuals and movies upright. Then again, if you’re not at your desk, a screen laid flat is equally useful.
Ultimately, there should be joy in owning something so agile that you can host a video call on it and talk to people far away like they’re in the room, or take pictures with a 1080p camera plus video fed by Dolby Audio. Commercial and home-based users alike receive high-grade Windows Hello2 security; a visual safeguard which innovatively requires you to sign in on video. Protect the work you treasure.
The AquaTru Countertop Water Filter Available Now
Do you drink bottled water? How many bottles do you create for recycling and landfill every week; every month; every year? The answer could shock you, and that is before you calculate how much is spent on bottled water in your home annually. Add up the numbers across America and the figures are startling. Millions of those bottles wind up in creeks, rivers, in the ocean, or in landfills.
Should We Be Drinking Bottled Water?
Consumers choose bottled water because they distrust tap water or do not like the taste of tap water where they live. Though considered potable, many consumers argue that the chemicals found in bottled water are bad for you and that it’s not always as clean as people think it should be. Chemicals that clean the water also kill beneficial minerals. You’re better off with bottled water or installing a filter in your home.
Using a Water Filter
Buying and installing a water filter in your kitchen isn’t cheap, but in the long run it will save you money and ease your conscience. How did it feel knowing you contributed so much to the amount of waste produced in your country? Even if you take them to a recycling depot, the recycling process is not carbon neutral. A built-in filter could be the solution. Reverse osmosis purifies water without involving the expensive skills of a plumber. In fact, the installation process is simple.
Using TruPure Technology
This is the first countertop reverse osmosis system and, according to AquaTru, the only one of its kind. TruPure reduces the size of regular reverse osmosis devices used in large plants where bottled water comes from.
The system is small enough for your home and works hard to make your water safer. It gets rid of almost all the toxins that gush out of your tap. Even though water is regulated, some chemicals get through, but TruPure Technology quadruples the filtration capacity at your tap even compared with a filtered water pitcher. Invisible toxins like disinfectant and residue from drugs will be gone.
Filter Vs. Purifier
AquaTru makes a distinction between filters and purifiers: their system purifies water. A filter only gets rid of a percentage of nasty consumer byproducts found in the glass. A filter gets rid of large particles like chlorine but leaves many chemicals behind. The AquaTru Countertop Water Filter is more efficient.
Four Stages of TruPure Tech
The system works step by step starting with a mechanical pre-filter. Step 2 is to use a reverse osmosis pre-filter. The third step involves a reverse osmosis membrane made in the United States. Fourth is the carbon filter. That’s a formidable line of defense.
How Much Do You Drink?
Studies indicate that average households consume 1,000 gallons of water daily just for drinking. This amounts to thousands of dollars too, but you can save that with the AquaTru filtration system to the tune of nearly $3,000 if your consumption is considerable and you buy the most expensive water.
With a filtration system, you don’t have to worry about going out without water, hunting for a grocery shop or convenience store selling the stuff when you need it. Your fridge won’t fill up with bottled water before you shop for food either.
The iPhone 8: Rumors, And Anticipation
There is no sign of the iPhone 8 on tech store shelves; not yet. We don’t know what it will look like or what it will be made of; what the spec will be over all, not even dimensions. Consumers can make some educated guesses such as the fact that it will be light as always, not one of those Smartphones you can see from space. Otherwise, we will tell you what we know and what we guess. Just promise not to interpret this as the last word.
Big Redesign for the 10th Anniversary
Apple has announced they are planning to go for a celebratory overhaul, no minor tweaks. The design will allegedly be very different. How they interpret “very different” is anyone’s guess, but it will still be an iPhone in many ways, possibly in two versions.
One will be the expensive, limited edition type; the other will be for regular people (that is, anyone who can afford $600 or doesn’t mind selling his car to get a new iPhone). If it wasn’t at least similar, Apple would have to call it something else.
Don’t hold your breath for a Christmas release, though, or expect to find this in your stocking. Unless you hang those out at Easter, you are wasting your time. It’s more likely mom could get one for Mother’s Day but certainly not before 2017, a year that marks a decade of iPhone technology, controversy, and some level of commercial hysteria. I mean, some people are truly committed to owning one of each number even if the previous one is still working nicely.
Expectations of Quality
There is no denying that Apple makes a quality unit, although some accusations of fragility have circulated over the years. We anticipate something with reinforced glass, maybe even less metal and more glass than before.
Thanks to constant improvement in the way this material is made, glass isn’t the fearful element it once was. Consumers can now safely breathe on the most recent iPhone without breaking it. This OLED element will feature better pixels and more realistic gaming with a wider range of colors for contrast and realism.
Your photos and videos will stand up to ones taken on a Samsung, no problem. That is, they will be comparable until Samsung upgrades their camera too. Audio will also go through an improvement to match so that videos will play back with less background noise and truer quality.
New Security
Is security on these things as good as it gets? Not yet. You have seen some new laptops launched recently which use bio-metric security such as visual recognition. Could the iPhone 8 follow such cutting-edge lines, or will fingerprints be the most logical step for them? This is high-tech but not new-tech.
Faster Internet
Of course, these devices get faster all the time as the technology inside them becomes smaller. Soon customers will have to use a microscope to activate their iPhone and special glasses (or perhaps telekinesis) to make it work without fingers which are not becoming smaller to keep up. For now, expect data processing to speed up a little as you operate the iPhone 8 to email friends, shop, watch videos, or chat on Face Time. There will be little or no perceptible lag plus increased storage.
New Charging Method
Is it possible that Apple will go with wireless battery recharging? How expensive would this make the iPhone 8? What sort of dock would you require? Actually, recharging at a dock would be very cool; totally Star Trek. I’m all for it. Those cords go missing all the time and if you own more than one type of device, don’t even talk about what happens when you force an Android USB end onto an Apple one. It’s bad news.
Magical, Newly Revised Apple MacBook Pro
Apple announces their newest MacBook Pro. It even sounds confident, and believe me, this laptop is every bit as self-assured as it sounds. With newly intuitive controls you will find this an easy machine to operate, to navigate, and to fall in love with.
MacBook Pro is Also Professional
You’re not just making life easier; this machine is designed to work hard and to keep up with your imagination. Use the Touch Bar to instruct the machine quickly. Change brightness, volume, or image size. Speak on your iPhone with clients and friends without changing from one device to another.
Talk to people face-to-face using video calling that’s bright, real, and doesn’t lag; images will be so much bigger on the new MacBook Pro than on your phone. Draw something and add colors without going into another part of the computer.
Very Touching
Image: Apple
That’s not all your fingers are for; use them to get into the system. It’s what the technological world calls “bio-metric security.” This category includes eye scanners and facial recognitions, but fingerprints are a good start. Customers will need this kind of safeguard if they do a lot of shopping online.
Meanwhile, back to controls. The keyboard has been reinforced so it’s 4 times as secure as before and the tracking bar is larger as well. Some things got bigger, some were made smaller. Meanwhile, Apple has created an almost paper-thin version of their popular technology. For all its muscle, this is a light machine, perfect for someone who can’t go anywhere without his MacBook Pro.
Download Apps, Play Games, Edit Photos
While the MacBook Pro sounds like it should be a machine for the office, it’s also ready for gaming which says a lot. The expectations of serious gamers include incredibly fast speeds and incredible graphics. Images will be sharper, more authentic than ever before and Apple promises 130% fast download with as much as 3.8 GHz Turbo Boost to process at unbelievable speeds. Flash storage is faster too.
Faster is great, but what about tools? Use the new MacBook Pro to improve your photos and videos. Use the system’s amazing speed and image quality to create exciting projects at work and record precious moments at home. Apple added more colors in order to increase the richness and depth of pictures and video.
Two Versions
Choose the 13-inch version or a 15-inch option as per your budget and computing needs. SSD is standard and gives you way more storage, like up to 2 TB, so there is no assignment at college or project at work that will take up all of it. Each one is efficient but powerful for video rendering and developing 3D models.
With an Intel i7 processor, it doesn’t get any faster and the battery will still last an entire day. Watch home videos, stream live internet content in real time, or view full movies. Of course, the bigger 15-inch screen brings action films to life better than a 13-inch version.
Safety Pro
Laptops have a nasty habit of overheating. This is especially true if they sit on a person’s lap, but Apple is working towards an answer with their asymmetrical, split-blade fan design. This reduces heat and does so while making far less noise than previous fan models.
Recharge
After a day of working hard, you’ll need to recharge. The Thunderbolt 3 USB-C recharges quickly, so it’s not necessary to do this at night. The Thunderbolt 3 facilitates charging, video output, and data transfer with double the bandwidth and 40 Gbps throughput. Put one on your Christmas list.
Pick A Snack Plan At NatureBox
When it comes to eating, everyone has to choose foods that fit the family’s schedule and their needs. A plan has to be personal, logical, tasty: you should be able to pick your own. As far as snacking goes, why fight it? As they say at NatureBox, everyone enjoys snacking, and sometimes snacks are important, especially when a person needs an extra boost of energy.
What’s NatureBox?
A lot of food-based home-delivery programs focus on meals these days, and that’s great. If you’re getting a lot of satisfaction out of them, keep going. Trained chefs provide ready-made meals for heating up or the ingredients for freshly cooking gourmet dishes.
Is something missing though? Could it be the answer to your mid-afternoon rumblings; that hungry feeling around 3 o’clock when lunch was three hours ago and dinner isn’t for another three hours?
Take control of hunger rather than letting it take control of you by ordering from NatureBox. Have snacks ready all the time, but not just any snacks; responsible, healthy snacks.
Pick Your Own Menu
This isn’t like a dinner or lunch menu but a catalogue of light bites for mid-morning or mid-afternoon. Choose how many you want for a given interval. Select the types of snacks you enjoy. They are made with quality ingredients and none of them are artificial. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it probably isn’t in the box.
New Surprises
Every month, the development team feels ready to add another few snacks, maybe up to four. The list of options just keeps growing. If you don’t know what to choose, they are even confident to provide a few ideas to a diet that tries to deliver every good thing a body needs, including growing bodies. These are kid-friendly answers to hunger.
Join the Plan
Basically, you pick out five snacks for monthly delivery. They can be determined by your allergies and preferences so as to avoid dairy, wheat, animal products, or certain flavors you don’t like. Some are good for weight loss; others weren’t developed with calories as much as nutrition in mind.
Pick sweet or savory; spicy or mild. Go for a traditional snack or something with a more ethnic, interesting quality to it. Examples are rated by other customers so you can see which are a hit and which ones don’t quite hit the mark, plus why customers like or don’t like something.
Snacks at NatureBox
Let’s look at a few of the items on their menu. There are filters to help you break the selection down if you don’t appreciate a really big choice all at once. Under “Chips and Pretzels,” customers will find coated pretzels, Lentil Loops, Garlic Bread Cheese Strips, and Honey Crunch Chips.
Dark Chocolate Almonds and Sea Salt Chickpeas are considered good sources of protein. Various nuts and dried fruits fall under multiple categories including “Vegan.” Opt for a breakfast-style mini meal like granola with extras. Choose low sugar, no sugar, low sodium, or non-GMO.
A La Carte
Order items or join the club. When you join, NatureBox curates your box and you just choose preferences like gluten-free or vegan. NatureBox customizes boxes but takes away the tough job of trying to pick just a few things from their tasty menu. Enjoy a free trial period after which fully-fledged members enjoy discounts. Sign up for a household plan or supply snacks at the office. It’s a convenient and considerate way to snack.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe
The ZS570KL or ZenFone 3 Deluxe reminds us that cell phones are streets beyond what they started out as. We first knew these as communication devices and they were the size of a two-slice toaster. These shrunk and shrunk, but technology developed and grew. Now many times more tech lives inside something a fraction of the size we remember from the 90s.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe World First
Several of these are represented in the ZenFone 3 Deluxe. One is the first invisible antenna design. Second is a Snapdragon 821 processor, equivalent of what you find in many laptops. With Adreno 530 GPU, the meaningfulness of these two numbers isn’t lost on gamers or people who rely on their smartphones for all of the non-textual uses of a phone. If it isn’t sending email or texting, the ZenFone supplies visuals like games, Skype, and photography.
Storage is exceeding expectations and, for the first time, customers can own a phone with 6 GB RAM plus 256 GB of Universal Flash Storage 2.0 memory. This is a sign that companies are making phones they know and hope will be as powerful as laptops. Many individuals use their phones in place of a larger device, creating documents with voice activation and doing away with the need for a keyboard in many instances.
ASUS has also created the first phone worldwide to have installed a Sony IMX318 sensor and 23-megapixel resolution, the highest possible on a smartphone. Calling it a Smartphone is almost an insult; it’s a Genius Phone.
Metal Design
What’s with the invisible antenna? You don’t usually see an antenna sticking out of a phone, but there are gaps in metal exteriors to enable the wireless connection. ASUS does away with the gaps but not the metal. They employ diamond-cut curves in aerospace-grade, anodized metal sanded fine for a smooth result. It’s a shame you will want to cover that with a protective shield to prevent slipping, even with Gorilla Glass protecting the screen, but at home you can take it out and show the phone off to friends.
Color Perfection
Enjoy bright images shown in Super AMOLED with a contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 to enhance already amazing small-screen gaming graphics. Three focusing technologies combine in the ZenFone camera: phase detection, laser, and continuous auto-focus providing fast focus and true images.
Photons of light can’t leak between pixel sensors, so the images are super-clear. Game Genie brings gaming to a new handheld level. Its search window pops up so users can look for gaming tips while they play. Even broadcast game play from the small screen to YouTube for friends to watch. Yes, games use a lot of power, but recharging is almost finished in under an hour.
Sound and Scenes
Add precise sound from a system not found on any other mobile phone: SonicMaster 3.0 with High-Res Audio certification. ASUS provides a five-magnet speaker, a large sound chamber, and a metal voice coil for sound that is worthy of a professional studio experience.
ZenFone Accessories from ASUS
The range of extras includes a flip cover, mobile power pack in playing-card size, and a tripod for steady pictures. Create a perfect package for someone this Christmas.
Apple Pay: The New Way To Shop
If software designers have their way, soon all of your payment and identity cards will be centralized in one place: your phone. You will be able to make every transaction from a mobile device without pulling out a card. As long as you keep that device topped-up and don’t lose it, this could be the easiest way to shop.
Image: Apple
Smartphone Simplicity
Apple insists this is very simple. Download debit and credit cards. Touch the screen to select one of these at a participating store. Pay online with your Apple Watch or iPhone by holding a portable Apple device to a specially-designed reader. Download apps for various stores and make safe online purchases easily; almost too easily. Just to be on the safe side, keep a banking app on the screen too so you are sure about your balance before spending.
Shopping from Assorted Media
The two mobile options almost make it sound like this is a mobile service, but Apple is bigger than that. They make it possible to shop with Apple Pay from your laptop, desktop, or iPad. If your device is online, you can use Apple Pay; just don’t plan on holding your laptop to grocery store readers. That’s for internet shopping, and it is always secure to spend money this way.
Sense of Security
How does Apple achieve this? Customers are assigned a number specific to their device and also a code to use. You aren’t storing your card number and these figures are only exchanged at the POS. Otherwise, they remain private. If you lose your iPhone, it would be very difficult for a thief to access personal details unless you left them in a document on your phone. Apple Pay doesn’t record them. Activate a password code that’s not easy to guess for even better security.
Consumer Benefits
Don’t worry about losing points at various banks and other benefits you are interested in. Every time you pay, those are still attributed to your account. Soon, reward cards will be ready for Apple Pay at various grocery stores too and you won’t lose those points either. Keep saving for that exotic holiday or a food processor in a loyalty card catalogue.
Ready Your Store for Apple Pay
You must have figured out by now that using Apple Pay is convenient as a customer, but what about shop keepers? You will need to add a reader to your payment area and simply read-up on the service to get your bearings, but there is little to tell. Most of what transpires is between the customer and his software. Wherever retailers accept card payment of some kind, Apple Pay is a cinch to work with. Merchant services are available from Apple, so vendors can find out more about what’s involved including costs and support.
Be sure to tell people they can pay this way. That attracts customers. More importantly, you could see better numbers at the end of the month.
Where Can You Use Apple Pay?
Right now, consumers have a lot of choice in the mainstream as to where they can apply this service. There are numerous restaurants and shops which accept Apple Pay. These include Etsy, McDonald’s, Beyond the Rack, Tim Horton’s, Chapter’s, and Coles. Maybe some of your local grocery stores also accept this method of payment. Eventually, more companies will join the ranks of modern retailers such as Zulily and Ticketmaster.
The Nintendo 3DS And 3DS XL Game Systems
The original Nintendo 3DS provides portable play for kids who can’t keep still on long road trips; children who love the visual stimuli of Nintendo games or people who spend a lot of time waiting and get tired of reading or doing homework. There is only so much math you can do in one sitting and sometimes you run out of books, but with the Nintendo 3DS there is no end to the fun.
Portable Play
Nintendo is known for their Wii home entertainment console which, unfortunately, isn’t much good on the road. You can’t take Wii in the car and use it to play Mario Cart. It’s a home-based, big-screen form of gaming compatible with numerous games. Kids on the road (and also adults who love gaming) need something light, portable, and wireless to use for their days out. That’s where the DS comes in.
Compact and Self-contained
All you need is in one place. Interact by touching the control screen or use control buttons built into the machine. It opens wide but compact with the control screen bottom and viewing screen lifted up. Buttons are intuitively wired, like those of a Wii controller, to do what you always do with a handheld gaming device: move up, down, backwards, turn around, jump, fire, etc.
Nintendo 3DS, $170 and Up
For about $170 you get a 3DS but don’t need 3D glasses to appreciate the graphics. Slide the depth adjustment features to change how much you see if it is all just a little too much to take in. Even use the 3DS to take 3D pictures as well as playing 3D games. This price varies from retailer to retailer; higher prices might tell you a game is pre-installed.
Wireless, Battery Operated
The pre-installed battery gives you up to 8 hours of viewing, photographing, or playing pleasure without needing a wire to connect you to mains power. That battery could last as little as 3 hours if your 3DS memory is in full use or has been operating for a couple of years. Those 3 to 8 hours, however, are usually enough to get from home to your destination with some food breaks and sing-songs in between.
With wireless connection, you can enjoy content via SpotPass or StreetPass; it’s a flexible device, not for gaming only. Employ the stylus, fully adjustable, to interact with what is on the screen and to make Mii. Parental controls are available so you can limit what a small child is able to see online.
Older kids still need controls too, so keep an eye on what they are downloading with Netflix connectivity over their 3 1/2″ LCD screen. Memory is 64 MB. A storage card is supplied to add extra memory if you need it to store those pictures you love taking on the road. In this way, the 3DS is like a Smartphone but better.
New Nintendo 3DS XL, $200
Another exciting Nintendo product is their new 3DS XL for about $200. It is available in various colors with games pre-installed such as Super Mario World in 2D, Solgaleo Lunala, Monster Hunter Generations, and Super Mario 3D Land Edition. Colors for the case are bright and vivid; just what you want for holiday gift-giving.
Nintendo will also be selling a new device called the Switch, but not until March. It’s a cross between the 3DS and Wii because you can use it at home or you take it on the road and enjoy wireless gaming. The system is simple but expensive compared to a 3DS.
Origin Laptops: For The Serious Computer Gamer
Origin aims to provide consumers with the best possible gaming devices; the top experience when it comes to laptops designed for this purpose solely. A gaming computer is not like a regular laptop; speed and visuals must be much more high-tech in order to provide the optimal experience and to give each gamer an equal chance of competing or participating in his or her virtual world. Gamers who are willing to drop serious money on relevant equipment take their pursuits seriously, and so does Origin.
Overview
Origin promises to provide customers with the best technology. They offer “world class support” from the very beginning of your relationship with them. Trust Origin Laptops to be there if something appears to go wrong. As they say at Origin, lots of firms make computers, but not so many are able to custom design them for gaming and certainly not to these standards.
Choosing the Right PCs
Origin doesn’t sell just any PC. Their certified product must offer legitimate personalization. Only the firm’s specialists, all of them certified, get their hands on these machines. Lifetime support both online and by phone is supplied even though the typical gamer will update, upgrade, or might even grow out of a machine.
Computers are tested for gaming quality and performance, and quality assurance is essential. Quality assurance is not a bonus but an expectation, and you’ve got it. Computers are wired for optimal operating temperature and are all inspected against a 100-point list. You deal with a dedicated team that knows you and your laptop.
About the Founders of Origin
The people behind this company turned a hobby into a dream job. They offer more than 30 years of experience combined related to the making of gaming PCs and all three of them were critical to the growth of this market as a whole.
Kevin Wasielewski is one such co-founder, and his first gaming PC came from his mom. He has experience with EBGames/Gamestop and Alienware, has worked as a quality assurance tester, and understands many other roles besides.
Richard Cary, another co-founder, is the current president. He started out with Atari like most people but moved on to the Commodore 64, Alienware, and became involved at the professional level. He was Senior Vice President of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Logistics at Alienware before moving on to new endeavors. His focus at Origin is similar.
The final of three co-founders is Hector Penton, Chief Operations Officer and self-styled “geek.” He always loved Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, and Atari but, unlike the others, prefaced his working life with a stint in the army as well as time served at college. These guys must have met at Alienware because all three worked there at some point. Pento was there for more than 10 years and served in several capacities.
Products at Origin
So now you know these guys have earned their position in the gaming industry and you can trust them with your computer gaming hopes and dreams. What do they offer at Origin? Is it all laptops?
Origin carries 15- and 17-inch laptops plus PCs of small, mid, full-size, and rack-mounted configurations. Their list includes both gaming and professional computers like the Chronos Pro, a small PC featuring 6th generation tech, video editing, and 3D rendering plus greater efficiency than previous models. A mid-sized Neuron Pro offers DDR4 desktop memory which allows you to run multiple programs simultaneously without lag.
An Eon 17-X is the lightest, thinnest, fastest 17-inch laptop around with an Intel i7 core and fast USB 3.1 port. It uses the newest Intel Z170 overclockable processors which are able to run the newest games and applications without slowing down. Customers also enjoy the graphics by NVIDIA: authentic sounds and sights. The Eon 17-X is good for movies too.
Try the streamlined EVO15-S 10. It’s ready for VR, comes with the same Intel Core and graphics capacity as the Eon 17-X, and supplies NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics. This 15-inch laptop is light and portable for gaming or watching movies on the road.
Accessories from Origin include monitors and a liquid cooling system. The Frostbyte 240 works like your car radiator, to create a stable operating environment. Overheating can be a big problem, even a dangerous one. The Copper CPU plate and 240-mm radiator require zero maintenance and fans operate quietly.
The Nintendo Switch Game System
A waiting world of gamers was introduced to a new gaming system by Nintendo; the Nintendo Switch. This massive gaming company will bring home-based family game play to a whole new level, but not yet.
They are just preparing consumers and drumming up anticipation for a launch this March, too late for Christmas, but in good time to attract Americans preparing for a long spring break where they will now know what their children can do when not in school. That is, they know what to hope for, but will they be able to afford it?
How Much Will the Nintendo Switch Cost?
Although this system is incredibly flexible, it’s not going to set off a $2,000 bomb that breaks the bank. Tweens and teens with any motivation can easily save up the $300 or so if they start babysitting and raking lawns or shoveling snow now. That’s the projected approximate price according to some gaming experts. They could be out by $50 to $100, but you can expect this to be about right.
About the New Nintendo Switch
Like the Wii and other systems, the Switch will offer opportunities to play alone or with and against others in the home. A mobile format makes it device easy to take the Nintendo Switch to parties or grandma’s house, but you will want to use it on a TV that justifies the expense and the quality of this latest technology in interactive software. Although visually more reminiscent of handheld technology, the Switch is versatile.
Think “Wii” or “DS” only Better
Take the Nintendo Switch home, place it in the dock provided (resembling a dark gray toaster), and connect to the television. Line up your players or settle in to play against the program. Take the Switch out of its dock and it becomes a mobile gaming device, like the DS. It’s a 2-in-1 revelation. Consumers will no longer have to ask themselves, “do I buy a portable system or a home-based one for television?” You get both of them in one package.
Switch Controllers
Joy sticks or Joy-Con controllers are removable from each side of the Switch. One player uses both of them or two players take one each. Engage more than two using adaptation features. Click the Joy-Cons back into their place at the end of a session so they do not become lost. When using the Switch away from the television, there is an on-board version; the Pro Controller.
Let’s break this down; images are depicting a very sensible, high-tech, but simple design. On its own, the Nintendo Switch resembles an iPod turned on its side; slim, rectangular, and very small. There are slots, one on either side, which hold the controllers. Place these on the Nintendo Switch when you are the passenger on a long journey using this device as a portable gaming tool.
Slide them back out when you are playing at home so the Switch can rest in its toaster/dock and you or a pair of friends can sit back on the floor or sofa to play. These controllers are ergonomic. There are several buttons, mirrored side-to-side, but when they are replaced to the sides of a Switch that mirror is reversed on one side.
If one is playing alone, images suggest that those two small Joy-Cons can be connected onto a console with ergonomic handles. This makes it larger and more intuitive to utilize as a steering wheel, for example. Colors are black and light gray.
Friendly Competition
Home gaming systems encourage friendly (and sometimes fierce) competition. Friends and family would sit side-by-side on the sofa and play “heats” to determine the final pair of players and, eventually, the ultimate winner. In mobile mode, the Nintendo Switch can also be played against an opponent with his or her own Switch. Play the computer, play against friends at home on the TV, or pit one Switch against another head-to-head.
Features
The Nintendo Switch features over 500 games created by numerous gaming developers like Epic, Telltale, and Saga. It’s too early to tell if this latest and greatest portable/home-based system will also provide internet options the way a Wii does. It wouldn’t take much to build in some kind of multi-media programming, the reverse of a Smartphone which is only sometimes used as a gaming device. The tools are all in place, although this addition might spike the price.
Fitbit Charge 2 Fitness Tracking Watch
The makers of Fitbit hope customers exercise with an eye on their heart rate. As they say, “a better ‘you’ starts with heart”; your heart, that is. Forget that part of your body and nothing else matters. The Fitbit Charge 2 is on top of your health, though. Take a look.
What Can You Do with the Fitbit Charge 2?
Monitor your heart by day and night. Watch your heart rate over 24 hours. Never forget to move around every so often if you were ever guilty of being sedentary for too long. Find out how many steps you took, distance, calories burned, even how many floors you climbed. There are many automatic, useful elements to the Fitbit Charge 2.
A Closer Look
With the newest Fitbit, consumers are able to keep track of their heart rate all the time, whether at rest or during fitness feats. Ensure you are working hard enough but not too hard and don’t let your heart rest too much for too long. You won’t need a chest strap either; that is uncomfortable and unnecessary.
Reminders, Encouragement, and Motivation
Seeing how far you have gone provides a much-needed mental “high-five” in your day, whether that’s learning you climbed five flights of stairs or took 5,000 steps. When you can see your progress on a given day it’s also possible to set yourself goals based on your success so far. Walk further, be active for longer, climb more steps, and burn more calories. If your Fitbit Charge 2 is on, you will always know. The battery lasts up to 5 days too, so it’s easy to put on and forget about it.
The reminder setting won’t let you go more than an hour without taking at least 250 steps; enough to stimulate circulation but not necessarily get out of breath or lose a lot of time at work.
Sleep Monitoring
One of the biggest problems people have with weight loss, stress, depression, anxiety, and general fatigue is related to how much or little sleep they get. The Fitbit Charge 2 records your sleep so you know how deeply you were in la-la land and for how long. It will even wake you silently by vibrating to tell you it’s time to get up and start walking, running, etc.
Multiple Modes
The Fitbit Charge 2 can be set for all sorts of fitness goals like lifting weights, doing gentle yoga, or running. Set up the exercise using your wrist-mounted display and the Fitbit Charge 2 will follow your lead. Connect to the GPS on your Smartphone too and find out data like your running pace and route. With GPS and SmartTrack, the Charge 2 records where you hiked or biked and keeps track of what you did.
Cardio Level, PurePulse
Determine your current heart rate and push for a harder work out with PurePulse. You’ll understand what your heart is doing and what it could or should be doing in order to improve fitness and also to burn fat if that’s your goal. Remember to breathe too; that’s another part of the Fitbit’s purview. Many people get too caught up in what they are doing and forget to rest, stressing their hearts beyond what’s reasonable. The Fitbit is there for them too.
Sync to Your Phone
As seen above, the Fitbit Charge 2 wireless connects to your Smartphone so you can see information on your wrist, even when your phone is in the car and you’re on a mountain trail. Find out the time, where you should be in the next half hour, and read texts while you hike or run. Even customize the face of your time keeper. Download the app and you’re on your way. The Fitibit Charge 2, priced about $200, is available in lots of colors.
Stuck? Catch A Lyft
Lyft is a sort of taxi service but without the yellow car. It’s a transport service for the public, but not like a bus where you share with 50 other people or wait in the rain at an uncovered stop. Lyft is a sensible use of modern communication as a means of getting people from A to B.
What Is Lyft?
Everything these days starts with an app, it seems, and Lyft is no exception. Download the app to your mobile phone. This will put you in touch with registered drivers located near you in any one of numerous cities around the United States. These drivers will take you where you want to go and you only wait a few minutes.
Request a Ride
First, use the app to indicate that you need a ride. A driver comes out to get you. Payment is made over the phone, not in person. You could be stuck without credit cards or cash but as long as you have your phone, a lift is assured.
Four Plans
Lyft Line provides a cheap carpooling option. If other people are headed in the same direction, you can share a price which has been pre-set. Use this in a number of specially chosen American cities.
Lyft is the basic plan but you can still share the cost with friends. This plan and Lyft Plus are available around the country. You get access to a six-seater and the option to ride alone or share the ride. Unlike Lyft Line, Lyft and Lyft Plus are personal. You don’t ride with strangers.
The top plan is Lyft Premier, a classy, luxury car for one or more. Only certain cities provide this service, which is excellent for picking up an important client at the airport and making an impression or taking a company rep on a tour of the city.
In the Driver’s Seat
How do you get a job driving for Lyft? Apply online. First, consider what they want from you and the rewards. Make up to $35 hourly and keep your tips. This could be a daily thing, like a 9-to-5 job, or a weekend extra which will help you make money for a holiday. Since you don’t take or carry money, this is a safe way to run a business. Special rates are available during prime hours.
Lyft connects passengers and drivers using smartphones. GPS technology indicates who is the closest available driver so that a ride arrives in a timely fashion. Drivers have to accept a request, they aren’t automatically assigned, so drivers must be alert to calls throughout their driving day.
Insurance
There is no extra cost for insurance above and beyond your regular coverage as a driver and car owner. Commercial liability is available for up to $1 million as long as you have personal auto insurance for collisions plus insurance against injury caused by someone without a policy. Check out the details.
Community
Members rate each other, drivers and passengers. Find out how you did and stay in touch with the Lyft community too. This arena provides insight into how you could do better or reinforces what you know about creating a great driving experience.
Check out the latest Lyft promotions here.
Effective Teeth Whitening From Home
Dentists will usually argue that you are better off getting teeth whitened under their care for numerous reasons. Financially, they benefit from undertaking the job for their clients and the procedure is certainly expensive. Trays and other tools are custom-made to fit over a person’s teeth and not his gums.
Light treatments, also available from some dentists, are expensive too but effective and bleach-free. Dentists will say their professional touch acts more quickly, lasts longer, and is safer. Isn’t there some way to whiten teeth that is not so costly but still works?
Caveat
There are lots of methods, all available for application at home, but they aren’t usually approved. Also, you won’t see results as quickly and their efficacy depends on how closely customers follow instructions. In some cases, it’s not a good idea to use a product because of the condition of your teeth or because of sensitivity to certain ingredients. Exercise caution before spending a fortune.
Teeth Whitening at Home
Products for use at home receive mixed ratings from consumers. The simplest items are toothpastes and rinses since these fit naturally into your regular dental routine.
If you do no usually rinse, adding mouthwash to your oral hygiene sequence isn’t time consuming. Teeth whitening gels and strips offer other options. Let’s consider the relative values of each method.
Toothpaste, the Natural Choice
Scan the toothpaste section at your grocery or drug store and there will be so many choices it makes your teeth hurt. There are pastes for sensitive teeth, cavity prevention, and teeth whitening.
Ultimately, every toothpaste should protect you from getting cavities if you avoid eating sweets regularly and brush as directed by your dentist. Also, brushing with any form of toothpaste cleans teeth of some stains just as washing hands gets rid of some dirt, but coffee, dark juices and sodas, and red wine will almost certainly leave residue that won’t come off with simple brushing.
Certain brands advertise pastes which tackle every angle all at once: whitening and cleaning for sensitive teeth. Whitening can make teeth more sensitive to hot and cold foods or drinks, but special pastes mitigate that problem.
Some toothpastes are better for whitening than others. They contain either baking soda or a form of peroxide bleach, the latter of which is stronger, but baking soda is natural and offers the added bonus of cleansing your mouth.
Legally, toothpaste companies can’t add as much peroxide to their products as dentists can use because their toothpaste is being used without supervision. Bleach can cause a lot of damage in high enough concentrations. Baking soda will work to a point.
Deeply stained teeth respond better to peroxide. Be sensible: allow some days to see the results and don’t expect them to last without going for a routine checkup and cleaning at your dentist. Also, effects only endure as long as you use the toothpaste and are more noticeable when you reduce the amount of coffee or red wine you drink.
Maybe Mouthwash
This is probably the easiest whitening tool but the least effective. Although mouthwash with peroxide might do some good, it is sloshing back and forth, up and down, a few teeth at a time very briefly before being ejected from your mouth. There is also concern that mouthwash kills good bacteria which eat the bad germs around teeth and gums. You will notice some improvement, but it will be slight and subtle.
Gentle Gels
This is a more time consuming procedure done from home but has more lasting effects than toothpaste. Choose a gel infused with peroxide and you will have to brush this on, perhaps twice daily, leaving it in place for half an hour or more each time.
If you can’t last that long, the product will not be as effective, but do not leave it on too long as this could cause damage to your enamel. Still, over-the-counter examples are gentler than what a dentist offers.
At-home gels will start working in a few days but keep at it for a couple of weeks. Results are better than those you find with toothpaste and last for months if you are a candidate and the staining is not, in fact, darkening caused by disease or a dead tooth.
Significant Whitening with Strips and Trays
A similar sort of solution to the gel mentioned above is placed directly on your teeth using a strip, but this could touch your gums and you do not really want that. Bleach is not good for gum tissue. Trays can cause the same problems and they are highly inconvenient, needing to stay in place for hours, maybe overnight.
These methods plus gels, however, are solutions for a consumer with serious staining; far better than toothpaste or mouthwash, but they cost more and add many hours to the weekly oral hygiene routine. Still, if you want to see results quickly without going to the dentist, trays, gels, and strips will reduce stains significantly and quickly.