#Outdoor Tech Shopping Spree

[riverparksquare]

River Park Square

Nestled in the heart of downtown Spokane, River Park Square stands as the city’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment hub. This dynamic destination offers an upscale retail experience, world-class restaurants, and exciting entertainment options, making it a must-visit attraction for both locals and tourists. Whether you’re looking for a high-end shopping spree, a gourmet dining experience, or a fun-filled evening at the movies, River Park Square has something for everyone.

A Brief History of River Park Square

River Park Square has long been an essential part of Spokane’s commercial landscape. Originally established as a modest shopping center, it underwent a significant redevelopment in the late 1990s and early 2000s, transforming into the modern retail and entertainment complex it is today. With its contemporary architectural design, stunning glass atrium, and strategic downtown location, the mall plays a crucial role in Spokane’s economic and cultural growth.

Shopping at River Park Square

One of the main draws of River Park Square is its diverse selection of retail stores, catering to fashion lovers, tech enthusiasts, and home décor aficionados alike. The shopping center features a mix of high-end boutiques, popular national brands, and locally owned shops that provide a unique shopping experience.

Popular Stores at River Park Square

Nordstrom – Spokane’s go-to destination for luxury fashion and designer brands.

Apple Store – The perfect stop for tech lovers looking for the latest gadgets.

Anthropologie – A trendy boutique offering stylish clothing, accessories, and home décor.

The North Face – Outdoor enthusiasts will find top-quality gear and apparel here.

Free People – A haven for bohemian fashion lovers.

Urban Outfitters – Trendy, eclectic fashion and home goods for young adults.

Pottery Barn – A home décor store featuring high-end furniture and accessories.

Williams Sonoma – A must-visit for those passionate about cooking and gourmet kitchenware.

The variety of stores ensures that whether you’re shopping for clothing, electronics, or specialty items, you’ll find exactly what you need at River Park Square.

Dining at River Park Square

After a long day of shopping, visitors can indulge in delicious dining options that range from casual bites to gourmet experiences. Whether you’re in the mood for a quick coffee break, an upscale dinner, or a sweet treat, River Park Square offers something to satisfy every craving.

Top Dining Spots at River Park Square

Twigs Bistro & Martini Bar – A stylish bistro offering handcrafted cocktails and a diverse menu featuring everything from pasta to seafood.

Mizuna – A local favorite for farm-to-table dining with a focus on organic and vegetarian-friendly options.

P.F. Chang’s – A well-known chain serving up delicious Asian-inspired cuisine.

Ben & Jerry’s – The perfect spot for a quick dessert with a variety of ice cream flavors.

Rockwood Bakery – A charming café offering fresh pastries, sandwiches, and gourmet coffee.

Starbucks – Ideal for a coffee break while exploring the square.

Entertainment at River Park Square

Beyond shopping and dining, River Park Square is a hub for entertainment and leisure activities. The center’s highlight is the AMC River Park Square 20, a state-of-the-art movie theater that features comfortable seating, an IMAX experience, and the latest Hollywood blockbusters.

For those looking for a more interactive experience, River Park Square often hosts special events, seasonal celebrations, and live performances that make visiting the square even more enjoyable. From holiday-themed festivities to fashion shows and art exhibits, there’s always something happening at this bustling destination.

Family-Friendly Activities at River Park Square

River Park Square is a fantastic place for families, offering a variety of kid-friendly activities that make shopping trips enjoyable for all ages.

Mobius Discovery Center – Located nearby, this hands-on children’s museum offers educational exhibits and interactive play areas.

AMC River Park Square 20 – Perfect for a family movie night.

Public Seating Areas – Comfortable spots where parents can relax while kids enjoy their snacks.

Holiday Events – Seasonal attractions such as Santa’s Village and Easter egg hunts delight children year after year.

River Park Square’s Impact on Spokane’s Economy

As one of the city’s most visited commercial centers, River Park Square plays a vital role in Spokane’s economic development. The mall attracts tourists, boosts local businesses, and provides employment opportunities across various sectors, including retail, dining, and entertainment. By drawing foot traffic to downtown Spokane, it also benefits nearby hotels, attractions, and public spaces, further enriching the city’s urban landscape.

Accessibility and Location

River Park Square is conveniently located in downtown Spokane, making it easily accessible for both locals and visitors. Here’s what you need to know before planning your visit:

Address: 808 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201

Parking: The shopping center offers a spacious multi-level parking garage, with validation available for shoppers and diners.

Public Transportation: Several bus routes stop near River Park Square, making it a convenient destination for those using Spokane Transit Authority (STA) services.

Nearby Attractions: Visitors can explore other Spokane landmarks such as Riverfront Park, Spokane Falls, and the Spokane Convention Center, all within walking distance.

Why Visit River Park Square?

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a longtime resident, River Park Square provides an experience that combines luxury shopping, gourmet dining, and top-tier entertainment all in one location. It’s more than just a mall—it’s a cultural and social hub that reflects Spokane’s vibrant energy and charm.

Key Reasons to Visit:

Diverse Shopping Options: A mix of high-end brands, boutique stores, and local retailers.

Exciting Entertainment: A state-of-the-art movie theater and year-round events.

Fantastic Dining: A variety of restaurants offering everything from casual bites to fine dining.

Family-Friendly Environment: Attractions and events that cater to visitors of all ages.

Prime Location: Situated in the heart of Spokane, near major attractions and hotels.

Conclusion

River Park Square is more than just a shopping mall—it’s an experience that blends fashion, food, fun, and community in a stunning downtown setting. Whether you’re looking to indulge in retail therapy, savor a delicious meal, or enjoy a night at the movies, this premier Spokane destination delivers. Next time you’re in Spokane, make sure to visit River Park Square for a day filled with excitement, elegance, and endless entertainment.

Consider supporting one of our trusted partners.

808 W Main Ave, Spokane, WA 99201, United States

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[firstandtownmaincenter]

Exploring First and Main Town Center in Colorado Springs: A Complete Guide

Nestled in the picturesque city of Colorado Springs, First and Main Town Center stands as a vibrant hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor to the area, First and Main Town Center offers a myriad of experiences to discover and enjoy.

Retail Therapy

First and Main Town Center is renowned for its diverse shopping options, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Whether you're searching for fashion-forward apparel, electronics, home decor, or specialty items, you'll find it all here.

Fashionistas will delight in browsing the latest trends at stores like Buckle, offering stylish clothing and accessories for men and women. Meanwhile, Lane Bryant provides fashionable options for plus-size women, ensuring everyone can find something flattering and trendy.

For tech enthusiasts, a visit to Best Buy is a must. From cutting-edge electronics to home appliances and tech gadgets, Best Buy offers a comprehensive selection to meet your needs.

Dining Delights

After a productive shopping spree, indulge in a delicious meal at one of First and Main Town Center's many dining establishments. Whether you're in the mood for a quick bite or a leisurely dining experience, you'll find a variety of options to satisfy your cravings.

Buffalo Wild Wings is a favorite spot for sports fans and wing enthusiasts alike, offering a laid-back atmosphere and a mouthwatering selection of wings and burgers. If you're craving Mexican cuisine, Chipotle provides fresh, customizable burritos and bowls made with high-quality ingredients.

Entertainment and Recreation

First and Main Town Center is not just a shopping and dining destination—it's also a place for entertainment and recreation. Movie buffs can catch the latest films at the nearby Cinema Point, featuring state-of-the-art screens and comfortable seating for an enjoyable cinematic experience.

For those looking to stay active, the center offers opportunities for leisurely strolls and outdoor activities. Whether you're taking a relaxing walk or enjoying some time in the fresh air, First and Main Town Center provides a welcoming environment for all.

Community and Events

Throughout the year, First and Main Town Center hosts a variety of community events and activities that bring residents and visitors together. From seasonal festivals to live music performances and art exhibitions, there's always something exciting happening at the center.

These events create a lively and engaging atmosphere, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among attendees. Whether you're attending a concert under the stars or exploring local artwork, First and Main Town Center offers opportunities to connect and enjoy memorable experiences.

Convenient Location

Located conveniently near the intersection of Powers Boulevard and Carefree Circle in Colorado Springs, First and Main Town Center is easily accessible from major highways and surrounding neighborhoods. Ample parking and convenient access make it a stress-free destination for shoppers and diners alike.

Plan Your Visit

Whether you're planning a day of shopping, enjoying a meal with friends, catching a movie, or attending a community event, First and Main Town Center promises an enriching experience for all. Discover why it's a beloved destination for locals and a must-visit for visitors to Colorado Springs.

Come and explore First and Main Town Center—a place where shopping, dining, entertainment, and community converge to create lasting memories and enjoyable moments. Experience the best of Colorado Springs at First and Main Town Center, where every visit is a delightful adventure waiting to be discovered.

[neelkamaloptics]

Chennai Chic: Explore the Top 10 Sunglasses Styles Making Waves in the City

Welcome to Chennai, where tradition meets trendsetting, and the fashion scene is as diverse as the city itself. In this vibrant metropolis, sunglasses are more than just a practical accessory – they're a statement of style and individuality. Join us as we delve into the top 10 sunglasses styles that are making waves in Chennai's fashion landscape.

1. Traditional Indian Sunglasses

Embracing their rich cultural heritage, many Chennai residents opt for traditional Indian sunglasses. These sunglasses often feature intricate designs, embellishments, and vibrant colors inspired by Indian art and craftsmanship. Whether adorned with traditional motifs or crafted from indigenous materials, these sunglasses are a testament to Chennai's pride in its heritage and identity.

2. Bollywood-Inspired Sunglasses

As the heart of the Tamil film industry, Chennai draws inspiration from Bollywood's glamorous aesthetic. From oversized frames to embellished details, Bollywood-inspired sunglasses are a favorite among Chennai's fashionistas. Whether you're channeling your favorite movie star or adding a touch of Bollywood flair to your ensemble, these sunglasses are sure to make a statement wherever you go.

3. Eco-Friendly Sunglasses

With a growing emphasis on sustainability, eco-friendly sunglasses have become increasingly popular in Chennai. Made from recycled materials or sustainable sources such as bamboo or wood, these sunglasses offer a stylish and environmentally conscious alternative to traditional eyewear. Whether you're strolling through the city's lush parks or exploring its eco-friendly markets, eco-friendly sunglasses are a chic choice for the conscientious consumer.

4. Traditional Handcrafted Sunglasses

For those seeking a unique and artisanal touch, traditional handcrafted sunglasses are a must-have accessory in Chennai. Crafted by skilled artisans using age-old techniques, these sunglasses showcase the beauty of handmade craftsmanship. Whether adorned with intricate carvings, embroidery, or hand-painted details, each pair of handcrafted sunglasses tells a story of tradition, skill, and cultural heritage.

5. Retro-Chic Sunglasses

Drawing inspiration from decades past, retro-chic sunglasses are a perennial favorite among Chennai's fashion-forward crowd. From cat-eye frames to round lenses, these sunglasses evoke the nostalgia of bygone eras while adding a modern twist to any outfit. Whether you're attending a vintage-themed event or simply strolling through Chennai's historic neighborhoods, retro-chic sunglasses are sure to turn heads and spark conversations.

6. Designer Sunglasses

For those with discerning tastes, designer sunglasses are a symbol of luxury and sophistication. From iconic fashion houses to up-and-coming designers, Chennai's boutiques offer an impressive selection of designer eyewear to suit every style and budget. Whether you're indulging in a shopping spree at Express Avenue or browsing the upscale shops of Khader Nawaz Khan Road, designer sunglasses are a must-have accessory for the fashion-conscious elite.

7. Sporty Sunglasses

With its warm climate and abundance of outdoor activities, Chennai is a paradise for sports enthusiasts. Whether you're hitting the waves at Marina Beach or playing a game of cricket at Chepauk Stadium, sporty sunglasses are essential for protecting your eyes and enhancing your performance. From lightweight frames to polarized lenses, these sunglasses are designed to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle while keeping you looking cool and stylish.

8. Futuristic Sunglasses

Pushing the boundaries of conventional eyewear, futuristic sunglasses are a bold and avant-garde choice for the fashion-forward individual in Chennai. With their sleek lines, geometric shapes, and innovative materials, these sunglasses exude an air of modernity and sophistication. Whether you're attending a high-tech conference at Tidel Park or exploring the city's burgeoning tech scene, futuristic sunglasses are sure to make a bold statement and set you apart from the crowd.

9. Boho-Chic Sunglasses

Channeling a laid-back and bohemian vibe, boho-chic sunglasses are a favorite among Chennai's free spirits and artistic souls. With their round frames, tinted lenses, and earthy hues, these sunglasses capture the essence of bohemian style and wanderlust. Whether you're browsing the vibrant stalls of Pondy Bazaar or attending a music festival at Besant Nagar Beach, boho-chic sunglasses are the perfect accessory for embracing your inner free spirit and embracing life's adventures.

10. Minimalist Sunglasses

For those who prefer a more understated approach to fashion, minimalist sunglasses are the epitome of chic simplicity. With their clean lines, neutral colors, and streamlined design, these sunglasses offer a timeless elegance that never goes out of style. Whether you're attending a business meeting in the bustling commercial district of Anna Salai or enjoying a leisurely brunch in Mylapore, minimalist sunglasses add a touch of sophistication to any ensemble without overpowering your look.

In conclusion, Chennai's sunglasses scene is a vibrant tapestry of styles, influences, and cultural traditions. From traditional Indian designs to futuristic silhouettes, there's a pair of sunglasses to suit every taste and occasion in this dynamic city. So, the next time you're in Chennai, be sure to explore its diverse array of sunglasses styles and discover the perfect pair to express your unique sense of style and personality.

[sweepstakes-online]

Outdoor Tech Shopping Spree Sweepstakes

Outdoor Tech Shopping Spree Sweepstakes

Want to Win Grand Prize? Then you can join Outdoor Tech Shopping Spree Sweepstakes. you can join this by following some basic rules of Sweepstakes. Interested and eligible Entrant can visit Officials Rules by clicking on “Sweepstakes Rules”, the link is given below. The candidates must submit their entry before the last date of Sweepstakes.

Outdoor Tech Shopping Spree Sweepstakes |…

[locitapurplepink]

Welcome to my newest game called Create Your Own Dream 🌾

I wanna share with you guys what are you always image or dream about.It could be your dream house, dream vacation, your dream world. Anything you want to be 😁

The first theme for the start is your dream vacation.

Seasons

Spring/summer/autumn/winter

Activities

Picnic in the park/stargazing/outdoor concert/snowboarding/travelling around the world/ going to the beach/hiking/riding horse/shopping spree/go to the fair/dance party/watching movies/camping at the mountain/making a giant snowman/dive and explore the underwater world (sea)/exploring the sky with a hot ballon/taking pictures

This is mine @locitapurplepink

Note :

For activites : you could only choose five or six

For seasons : you could only choose two

If you guys love this one, you can tag anyone else to play.

I tag @photogirl894 , @leosardonyx18, @starwarsresistance2020 , @bbqfish , @commander-tech , @omegathebadbach , @s-pirth-lemonade , @barissoffee , @littlefeatherr, and anyone else who wants to share your dream with me 😁

[yierknives]

What do I need to pay attention to when buying a new Bluetooth speaker on Black Friday 2021？

Bluetooth speakers are one of the best ways to enjoy your favorite music wirelessly, but if we’re talking about smart speakers, then the value is even higher. As Black Friday approaches, deals will start swinging at you left and right, especially Bluetooth speakers.

More and more people now own smartphones and other gadgets that no longer feature the 3.5mm audio jack, and that means one of two things: they need a dongle or gear upgrades to Bluetooth.Waiting for Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 is the best way to nab yourself a really nice speaker at a proper discount.

We’re setting up to follow the major holiday shopping spree, like Amazon’s Black Friday 2021 sale, Black Friday 2021 offers at Walmart, and Best Buy’s Black Friday 2021 deals.

When is Black Friday 2021 going to start?

The Black Friday deals will kick in on the 26th of November this year. Recently, retailers have extended the duration of the shopping event all throughout the weekend and all the way to Monday, which is now called “Cyber Monday”. Some even start with warm-up deals on the week before Black Friday, so keep your ears perked starting from the 19th of November, just in case.

Will there be speaker deals on Black Friday 2021?

Most definitely. And if you don’t find the one you want, be sure to stick around until Cyber Monday 2021 kicks in. The Mondays are usually reserved to tech gadgets and online sales — hence the name. We expect huge discounts on Amazon’s speakers as well as Bluetooth speakers from major and respected audio companies. Below are our expectations, based on experience from the previous years.

How to find the best deal on Bluetooth speakers during Black Friday 2021?

Well, your best bet is to cross-reference the large retailers and try to grab the cheapest offer you can find before it’s gone. There are a lot of flash sales going on during shopping events, not to mention a lot of the discounted stock is limited. It may also be beneficial to keep an eye on a couple of smaller stores — these don’t get much traffic and may offer a crazy deal from time to time just to get more eyes on them.

Before you go out and blindly purchase a Bluetooth speaker this holiday season, make sure you inform yourself, so you don’t regret your purchase down the road.

Check the model number and price

One common practice technology vendors use for Black Friday is to create special variations for their products during the shopping season. Typically, these models are a blend of the vendor’s various other products. It may sound like a good deal, but vendors usually don’t offer support or warranty replacements on Black Friday models because they’re built specifically for the holiday season. These models will typically state on the box in super small text that there is no warranty support on them. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get a bad product in the end, but it’s worth noting that if something goes wrong, you’re on your own.

After you’ve verified the model number actually exists, and it isn’t a specialty model, go ahead and check the speaker’s price. Some speakers may look like they’re on a steep discount, but in reality, the price was recently reduced and could potentially be the new price going forward. While rare, some vendors choose to hike the price a few months before to make it look like you’re getting a discount. Camel is a fantastic resource to check whether or not an item has recently hiked in price or has seen an even greater price reduction.

Is it waterproof?

A portable speaker isn’t so portable if you can’t bring it with you, would it? While it’s not a requirement and highly depends on what you plan on doing with your speaker, water resistance is something you should be looking for.

Electronic devices typically get IP ratings, so you’ll want to do your research on the specific speaker you’re looking for. If you want to take your speaker on the beach, for example, you’ll want IPX7, IPX8, or IP67/IP68. If your speaker has an IPX8 or IPX68 rating, you’ll have the highest level of protection. Your speaker could get splashed by an ocean wave, and it should survive it no problem. Surprisingly, some speakers take it a step further and offer full water protection, even enticing you to let the speaker float on the water.

If your speaker is rated anything less like IPX4, you’ll want to be super careful when using it out and about. It should survive rain, sweat, and things of that nature, but beyond that, you’ll need to be extra careful.

Also, be aware that most vendors will have an IP rating but won’t actually cover you under warranty if your speaker gets water damaged.

Are there additional features?

Many Bluetooth speakers include a battery that can power other devices. This means the speaker can charge your smartphone while you’re on the go.Bluetooth speakers designed to be used at home use an AC adapter that plugs into a wall outlet.Portable Bluetooth speakers run from a battery for on-the-go power. Some speakers offer both battery and plug-in options.

Speaking of camping, some speakers will have an AM/FM tuner. Not only will that allow you to tune into the radio, but it’s helpful if any bad weather is brewing or if any potential threats are in your area.

Some speakers may even come with party lights — yep, you read that right. If you’re planning to use your Bluetooth speaker at a party, it can really liven up the room. Light-enabled speakers come in various shapes and sizes, with some offering strobe lights, multicolored lights. Some may even sync up the lights to the music.

BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS FAQ

Q. Why do I get static and poor sound quality from my Bluetooth speaker? A. Bluetooth speakers offer a maximum connection range of about 33 feet from the source. As you approach 33 feet, the audio quality drops. You also may see lower quality when the speaker’s battery nears empty. Charging the battery while trying to play music may cause static as well.

Q. Why are some Bluetooth speakers called water-resistant and others called waterproof? A. A water-resistant speaker will stand up to splashing or light rain. A waterproof Bluetooth speaker can handle full submersion in water or extremely heavy rain. Look at the IP rating to figure out a speaker’s resistance level. The first digit in the two-digit IP number is the dust-protection number, while the second digit shows water protection. On a zero-to-nine scale, the higher the number, the better the protection.

Q. Why won’t my Bluetooth speaker pair with my smartphone? A. There could be a few different reasons. First, make sure to turn on Bluetooth capabilities on the smartphone. Next, if the smartphone already has a few active Bluetooth pairings going, disconnect a couple of them. If that doesn’t work, try turning off the devices and turning them back on after a few minutes to reset. Finally, make sure the batteries on both devices are charged.

Q. Are Bluetooth speakers safe to use outdoors? A. You can use any portable Bluetooth speaker in dry outdoor conditions. Just keep it out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time to avoid damage to the case. However, if you’ll be using your Bluetooth speaker in wet weather or near water, you need a water- or weather-resistant model.

Conclusion

Whether you’re going to the beach, camping, hiking, or a party, a Bluetooth speaker is essential. Don’t be that person that plays music from your phone’s speaker at max volume. Take a Bluetooth speaker with you and impress your friends, family, or coworkers.

Why choose DINDINMODERN

● A variety of high-quality Bluetooth speakers are available. ● Delivery from the local warehouse, within 3 days. ● Manufactured in our own factory, cost-effective. ● Excellent pre-sales and after-sales service. ● Free returns ● Excellent materials, safe and durable. ● Pursue innovation and optimize design ● We listen to customer needs and feedback.

[orbemnews]

These beautiful Italian towns will pay you to work remotely (CNN) — Remote working has become a possibility for many during the pandemic, meaning the office can now be anywhere from a kitchen table to a sandy beach on the other side of the world. And while relocating to a picturesque Italian town might also factor on many people’s lists, that prospect just got even better with two destinations offering to pay workers who make the move. In an attempt to lure newcomers, Santa Fiora in Tuscany and Rieti in Lazio will pay up to 50% of the rent of anyone who decides to move and telecommute on a long-term basis. Rents are already relatively low, so the deal is potentially very attractive, but make no mistake, this is no paid vacation. Applicants must have an “active” job, even if they can do it in front of a laptop on a panoramic terrace overlooking olive groves while sipping a glass of red wine. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, as long as you’re tech-savvy enough to do it anywhere. Although Italy is still slowly emerging from its latest pandemic wave, it hopes to reopen properly to travelers over the next few weeks, raising the tantalizing prospect of a proper Italian summer. And while Covid has hit Italy particularly hard compared with some of its European neighbors, one silver lining has been that people have been relocating to previously depopulated towns, bringing new life to previously declining areas that now offer social distancing and lower contagion rates. So-called “smart working villages” are now flourishing in Italy as local authorities grasp the potential of boosting high-speed internet and setting up equipped “labs” for telecommuters. Santa Fiora Santa Fiora’s mayor hopes good internet connections will lure remote workers. Comune Santa Fiora Located in the heart of wild Tuscany, the medieval village of Santa Fiora is nestled in the Monte Amiata natural reserve and is close to the wonderful Val D’Orcia Valley, Montepulciano’s wine heaven, and Siena. Today the population is down to barely 2,500 residents but mayor Federico Balocchi believes technology and virtual work can revolutionize the future of his hometown. Teleworkers willing to relocate and rent a house here under the Tuscan sun will be given up to €200 ($240) or 50% of the total rent for long-term stays of between two and six months. Local rentals are typically in the range of €300 to €500 monthly, meaning anyone who moves here might end up paying as little as €100 per month. To help outsiders find their ideal type of accommodation — be it a cozy stone cottage in the historical center or a little villa in the surrounding green rolling hills — the town hall has launched a website (https://www.vivinpaese.it) to advertise rentals alongside a list of useful services and contacts of plumbers, baby sitters, doctors, electricians and food delivery to make newcomers feel instantly at home. There are also links to local estate agencies for a wider choice of houses. But don’t think you’ll get paid to laze around gorging on delicious pasta dishes and going on sightseeing sprees around Tuscany. Balocchi is keen to stress that the rental voucher is not a partly paid-for-vacation. Potential tenants must prove that they will be actually working remotely. “It’s not targeted at occasional touch-and-go tourists, but people who really want to experiment with our village life,” he tells CNN. “The goal is to incentivize people to move in and virtually work from here. We want Santa Fiora to become their flexible office. Each time a youth leaves to search for a job elsewhere a piece of our village is taken away. “This is only the first step of our smart village project, focused on connectivity and technology to lure new residents and firms.” The village has just been cabled with high-speed fiber internet and “working stations” are being identified amid its narrow cobblestone alleys and Renaissance palazzos. Beyond the broadband connection, the pace of life in Santa Fiora is slow, offering a sojourn far from city chaos and smog. It’s ideal for people wishing to spend a part of the year in a quiet and relaxing place surrounded by nature. Santa Fiora properties rent for about €300 to €500 per month. Comune Santa Fiora So what’s the catch? First, you must be really teleworking and prove it through a detailed document of what exactly it is you do for a living — be it architecture, design, poetry, freelance reporting, online cooking lessons or brokering world peace. It must be forwarded together with your application form. People on a pension are welcome to move in but won’t benefit from the voucher unless they’re still working as independent contractors, professionals or online consultants. Secondly, once you find somewhere in the town, you’ll need to forward proof of rental with contract details and your new address. The €200 monthly vouchers work as reimbursements to be paid only after you send rent receipts to the mayor’s office. Visiting Santa Fiora as soon as global travel resumes might be a good way to get a feel of the village life and personally search for your perfect abode. Balocchi assures the town’s tourist office will be happy to assist in all procedures and paperwork. Tenants are of course free to prolong their stay beyond six months, albeit at their own expense, with the mayor hoping that some might fall in love with the village and stay forever. And if they decide to invest in the local tourist sector, Santa Fiora is willing to give them up to €30,000 to open a B&B or restyle an old dwelling to turn into a hotel or hostel. There’s even a baby bonus of up to €1,500 for each newborn if anyone decides to take up residency and have a kid. Santa Fiora is located in the heart of Tuscan wine country. Comune Santa Fiora “That would be great if new families actually settled in,” says Balocchi. “This place is perfect for remote workers who must balance jobs and kids. We have low kindergarten fees, free school shuttle buses and many activities for children to allow parents time to breathe.” A former mining center, Santa Fiora is an idyllic Tuscan hilltop village where nature and art perfectly combine. There are towers, fountains, panoramic piazzas overlooking the hilly landscape, museums and works of Renaissance artists. Cut through by the river Fiora it’s surrounded by chestnut forests and a network of streams, waterfalls and pristine springs. There’s an ancient spectacular fish pond surrounded by a lush garden of pine trees, magnolia and orchards enclosed by lavish palazzos and a castle. Top outdoor activities include horseback riding, biking and trekking along mountain trails. Santa Fiora has a popular international music festival in summer and regular food fairs starring local mushrooms, onions and chestnuts. Rieti Rieti, not far from Rome, is also offering rental deals to remote workers. Scopri La Sabina For those who’d rather be closer to Rome, stunning Rieti has a similar deal but for a minimum of a three months stay. Eclipsed by the fame and allure of the Eternal City, it’s an under-the-radar destination worth seeing. Even though Rieti has some 50,000 inhabitants and is one of the largest cities in the Lazio region, its population isn’t growing. “We’re kind of stuck,” says deputy mayor Daniele Sinibaldi. “Young people still keep fleeing to Rome in search of work so we’ve embarked on a mission to lure remote workers who will turn Rieti into their smart office and revitalize our city.” Rieti’s housing offer is even more appealing. Rent vouchers could be extended beyond six months and a preliminary lease agreement is all the proof needed to get the ball rolling, says Sinibaldi. Teleworkers are free to pick a property even in nearby rural districts where rents are lower compared to the city. Finding a place might be trickier as there’s no town hall website with available properties. Applicants will need to get in touch directly with agencies or online rental platforms (such as immobiliare.it; subito.it; casa.it). Sinibaldi is confident telecommuting will revitalize sleepy Rieti. “Rents in town are in the range of €250 to €500,” he says. “For €600 you can have an entire little villa in the peaceful countryside. Also, the voucher can be used in the entire territory of Rieti, including the rural hamlets of Sant’Elia, Cerchiara and the skiing resort of Terminillo but we’d love to have people move in to live in the historical center.” Rieti’s origins are steeped in legend. It was founded by the fiery Italic tribes of the Sabines who inhabited the wild hills and forests of the area but were forced to bend the knee to ancient Rome after a series of bloody massacres. During Roman times Rieti was a strategic outpost along the Via Salaria salt route, one of the main highways of the Empire. Enclosed within protective medieval walls and turrets along the pristine Velino river, Rieti is locally known as “the freshwater Venice” for its network of streams, ponds, springs and luxuriant lake reserves. Rieti’s rental deal extends to the surrounding countryside. Comune Rieti It’s a mix of medieval, Renaissance, baroque and modern architecture where monumental piazzas, fortified walls and aristocratic palaces are connected by narrow picturesque alleys. Standing on the majestic Roman bridge to admire deep red sunsets that set the river ablaze is a popular evening activity. Since the Roman age Rieti claims to be the so-called Umbilicus Italiae, aka “Italy’s belly button,” the exact geographical center of the country. The supposed dead center is apparently embodied by a historical billiard table located inside a tiny bar on the main piazza, where a round-shaped monument dubbed “la caciotta” (‘the cheese form’) marks Italy’s navel. Fascinating treasures are hidden from sight. Strolling along via Roma, the main shopping street, you’d never guess that right beneath your feet runs another ancient Roman overpass from which the city grew and flourished. The viaduct was built in the third century BCE to prevent flooding on the Via Salaria. The underground city is made of arches that are incorporated into noble residences. Many dwellings in the historical center boast Roman walls and secret passageways to underground chambers. Local food specialties include Fregnacce alla reatina, a diamond-shaped pasta with a tasty sauce of softened lard, celery, onion, chopped tomatoes, salt and chili. Pizzicotti are ‘pinched’ gnocchi served with a spicy tomato, garlic and olive oil sauce. Stracciatella are eggs cooked in veal broth while spaghetti alla carrettiera are made with seasoned pecorino cheese and chili pepper. Source link Orbem News #beautiful #Italian #pay #remotely #towns #Work

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$2500 OutdoorTech.com Shopping Spree – Outdoor Tech

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Want $14K in Extra Cash? Move to These 5 Cities Where Living Is Easy

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It’s a classic problem: You’re dying to squander your paycheck on a shopping spree or pub crawl, but you know deep down that this money should go toward rent (or maybe some replacement boxes of mac ‘n’ cheese). Such is life. But it turns out there’s a way to expand your expendable income—and it doesn’t involve sacrificing or changing anything other than where you live.

A new report from GoBankingRates.com has ranked the five best—and worst—cities based on a “comfortable” standard of living, which essentially means residents end up with extra play money (or savings) after paying for necessities like food and housing.

If you live in Virginia Beach, VA, count yourself lucky: It tops the easy living list. After their bills are paid, people here have an average of $13,985 extra to blow however they wish. Time to party!

Why certain cities are ‘easier’ than others

To determine how much people need to make for a “comfortable” living in each city, the study used the 50-30-20 budgeting rule: 50% of your income should go toward necessities, 20% toward savings, and the remaining 30% toward discretionary expenses like the movies or dinner out with friends.

From there, researchers compared the cost of living in each city (gleaned from local prices for housing, groceries, and more) with the metropolis’s median income. And it turns out that people tend to make more than they need in certain cities—like Virginia Beach, which topped this list for the second year in a row.

Here are the five best places to live comfortably, and how much surplus income residents will have in each place per year:

Virginia Beach, VA: $13,985

Arlington, TX: $6,906

Colorado Springs, CO: $5,112

Albuquerque, NM: $4,585

Austin, TX: $3,058

  So why, exactly, are people in Virginia Beach swimming in so much surplus cash? One major reason is that the city has the largest concentration of military personnel outside the Pentagon, and they are (rightfully) well-compensated in terms of pay, pension, and affordable housing. As a result, says local real estate agent Cindy Black, “Our city is sheltered [from] the national housing statistics” such as inflated home prices that are plaguing other markets.

Indeed, according to realtor.com/local, the median home price in Virginia Beach is $239,000, well below the national median of $260,000.

Plus, local real estate agent Jeremy Caleb Johnson points out, real estate taxes in the area are low. As a result, “We’re a diverse and growing city of almost 500,000, and the forecast is that we’re going to continue to grow. Virginia Beach has become a wonderful place to get your start and raise a family.” (Remember: You’ll have $13,985 extra to spend at Gymboree.)

While most of these cities made the list last year as well, one newcomer this year is Austin, TX. It’s also one of the cities gaining the most residents, according to our latest report on hot spots where Americans are currently moving. And it makes sense: Tech giants like Apple and Facebook now employ a large percentage of Austin’s population, while a thriving indie music scene and outdoor art installations make it a destination city.

Cities where the living is hardest

Now, the bad news: GoBankingRates found that in many cities, people have to pay more than they make in order to live comfortably. The worst offender? Miami, where the cost of living exceeds the median income by $44,840. In other words, these people are either racking up credit card debt or tightening their belts and abstaining from all the fun that people are clearly having in Virginia Beach.

Here are the five worst places to live comfortably, and how much of an income deficit residents face each year:

Miami, FL: $44,840

New York, NY: $33,073

San Francisco, CA: $29,063

Los Angeles, CA: $25,842

Oakland, CA: $25,820

  Not surprisingly, with the exception of Miami, these cities’ housing markets are among the nation’s most expensive, with homes costing a cool $1 million in New York and $1.3 million in San Francisco. In Miami, however, the median house price is only $279,000, so it’s a bit of a mystery why this place topped the list.

How did Miami beat the rat races in New York and California? “The largest income driver in Miami is tourism, and most of the jobs pay an hourly wage,” notes Florida-based real estate consultant Jack McCabe.

And while the price of real estate here may pale in comparison to New York and California, housing is expensive in other ways. For example, Miami has the ninth-highest rent of any U.S. city, totaling $22,800 per year. What’s more, property taxes are high and homeowners insurance is through the roof due to the threat of hurricanes.

Plus, “a substantial amount of the population of Miami lives in condominiums and communities with homeowners associations,” says McCabe. “These HOA fees can run so high that they might feel like another mortgage.”

We just hope those HOA fees in Miami pay for a community swimming pool so these poor residents have something cheap to do this summer.

The post Want $14K in Extra Cash? Move to These 5 Cities Where Living Is Easy appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com®.

from http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/cities-where-living-is-easy/

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Preppers all over the world have actually been hunched down safely in…

Preppers all over the world have actually been hunched down safely in your home or in their bunkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For them, long-term food storage is a baseline, so making it through a season or 2 without venturing out is mainly a mental obstacle. I have actually spent the past 3 years talking to people getting ready for an unclear future disaster, and some of them emailed me in the early days of the pandemic from their redoubts, revealing wry frustration as they viewed buyers on TV desperately stacking materials– hand sanitizer, mineral water, and, yes, toilet tissue– in their shopping carts. One wrote me, “These individuals are fixing a leaking roofing in a rainstorm.”

Possibilities are you have a neighbor who was ready for this pandemic. And if you knew they were stockpiling before the catastrophe, you likely believed they were weirdos. I understand I did, even as I traveled the world writing a book about them. Not anymore. Although preppers have long been the topic of ridicule, I imagine a number of us will handle a few of their habits, or at the very least make space in our closets and garages for nonperishables.

Scooping up limited necessities offers individuals a sense of control throughout times of uncertainty, so the excellent toilet-paper dash-and-grab of 2020 was a self-fulfilling prediction. The rarer something is, the more people seek it. 6 weeks after the preliminary pandemic hoarding spree, many essential commodities are still in short supply. President Donald Trump just recently signed an executive order to prevent meat scarcities. With about 15 percent of the population now out of work, Americans are looking for support from food banks, in lines stretching for miles in some places. These eyeglasses of desperation are both a censure of our society and a revelation about our collective lack of individual preparedness.

The crisis has likewise highlighted how woefully insufficient a number of our living arrangements are for social distancing. I have pals in London, New York City, Los Angeles, and Sydney who have little ability to prepare, not to mention store food. That level of base-needs dependence on society is anathema to preppers, who fast to point out that only a few a century ago not having enough food and fuel stored to make it through winter season was effectively suicide.

A number of years back, I flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to talk to a wealthy Canadian offshore oil-rig worker and end ofthe world prepper who asked me to refer to him as “Auggie.” I was baffled by Auggie’s desire for a pseudonym, due to the fact that he remained in the middle of constructing the most noticeable house I ‘d ever seen. Operating on the extreme end of disaster readiness, he was building an “eco-fortress” made up of four vacation homes that he would stock with adequate materials for a multi-month siege. He created 3 of these vacation homes for future purchasers. Auggie’s own stronghold was a three-story cinder block with bulletproof windows and an outdoor main atrium. He prepared to scaffold the interior walls with lattice for passion-fruit vines that would curtain down over a swimming pool. He guaranteed me that the off-the-grid structure, which sat in the middle of an abandoned orchard at the far edge of a remote village, would have remote monitoring systems, mantraps, a panic space, and a nuclear-fallout shelter that doubled as a day spa.

He called his personalized hideaway “Sanctum,” which in Latin suggests “a sanctuary,” however in English denotes a private retreat. For Auggie, the doomstead served both functions, being a location for security, study, and self-improvement throughout the crisis he made sure was simply around the corner. And here we are.

Even prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, preparing for emergencies, in the casual sense, might no longer be thought about a niche activity in the United States. A 2017 study by the financial-tech business Finder suggested that roughly 20 percent of Americans spent cash on survival products that year, and a further 35 percent said they currently had what they required for an emergency situation. However my guess is that a lot of these exact same individuals are now discovering that their preparations were inadequate. Somebody may keep a flashlight and a first-aid package hanging from a garage hook or tucked under the bed, or may have even acquired a three-day tactical assault “bug-out bag” offered on Amazon for $49.99, however just staunch skeptics have stockpiled food, water, medicine, fuel, tools, weapons, and equipment for months of isolation.

In 2013, at least 3.7 million Americans self-identified as survivalists, according to 24/7 Wall Street, a financial-news source. A lot of these residents, who presumed that the government lacked the resources to protect them after decades of cuts to the public sector, have hoarded with the gusto of frontier settlers. Prepping is a multibillion-dollar-a-year industry in the U.S. In a 2017 interview with Bloomberg, Aaron Jackson, then the CEO of Wise Co., a Salt Lake City– based producer of freeze-dried fare with a 25-year service life, declared that his food was a staple “that every American family in this age of unpredictability need to have.” Jackson approximates that survival food sales alone total about $400 million yearly. The business provides certainty in a pallet of black plastic buckets for $9,499.99. Apparently, this mail-order pantry can offer three meals a day for one year for a family of four. Long-term food containers for your “deep larder” can now be purchased Kmart and Bed Bath & Beyond. Costco recently had actually a page committed to “Emergency situation Food by the Pallet,” advertising “one year of food storage” for $4,999. These pallets sold out 2 months earlier, as did a number of the televangelist Jim Bakker’s “survival food containers.”

from Life Hacker Online http://lifehackeronline.us/index.php/2020/08/14/preppers-all-over-the-world-have-actually-been-hunched-down-safely-in/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=preppers-all-over-the-world-have-actually-been-hunched-down-safely-in

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We Poke Into Mark Zuckerberg’s Network of Real Estate

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Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hit a rocky stretch of his tenure as boss of the world’s largest social network. After an earnings call in which he warned investments in security and privacy would cut into profitability, bearish investors began shedding their holdings. The massive sell-off caused the tech mogul’s personal wealth to plummet $16 billion in one day.

While we’re sure he’ll get by on the $66.8 billion he’s now estimated to be worth, there’s always Plan B: His real estate holdings. 

We took a tour through Zuckerberg’s impressive network of pricey properties, and there’s plenty to like.

Zuckerberg’s childhood home

The 34-year-old entrepreneur grew up in Dobbs Ferry, NY, a small village in Westchester County, about 30 minutes outside of Manhattan. As recently as 2012, his parents, Edward and Karen Zuckerberg, were still living in the place they purchased in 1981, where they raised Mark and his three sisters.

Edward ran his dental practice out of the home, and the hassle of communicating between floors inspired middle-school student Mark to create one of his first successful programs. The young Zuckerberg created an instant-messaging service for the home and dental practice that he dubbed ZuckNet (pre-AOL instant messenger). By the time he got to college, he was known as a programming prodigy.

Facebook house

Fast forward to 2004. The startup concocted at Harvard headed to Silicon Valley. Zuckerberg dropped out of school to focus on getting his company off the ground, and moved into a rental in Palo Alto, CA. Now known as the “Facebook house,” the vibe of the abode was vividly captured in the movie “The Social Network.”

The Facebook team lived and worked in the home, which is now rented by students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business during the year, and aspiring entrepreneurs over the summers, according to Business Insider.

Launching the Wall at the Facebook house

Facebook

The four-bed, three-bath, single-story abode includes a pool out back. An apparent true-to-life scene in the movie re-creates a moment when the residents secured a zip line from the roof to the pool, busting the chimney. (Business Insider reports the landlord now expressly forbids this.)

“It was run like a frat house. Kids sleeping two or three to a room, basically just like mattresses on the floor, people crashing everywhere,” former Facebook President Sean Parker once recounted, according to Business Insider.

And, of course, there’s a Facebook page for the house.

Palo Alto properties

As it began to grow, the company was headquartered in Palo Alto (until 2011, when it moved to a much larger space in nearby Menlo Park). Zuckerberg also made his home in the tony town. Or shall we say, homes. 

In 2011, the entrepreneur shelled out $7 million for his first home in the Crescent Park neighborhood.

The modest (by tech standards) residence has been restored and offers 5,617 square feet of living space, wood floors, a saltwater pool, banquet-size dining room, glassed-in sunroom, five bedrooms, and five bathrooms.

Built in 1903, the property includes an outdoor entertainment pavilion, fireplace, barbecue, and spa, according to Architectural Digest. 

Satellite view of Mark Zuckerberg’s house in Palo Alto

Google Maps

After Zuckerberg’s marriage to Priscilla Chan in 2012, the two invested in four more surrounding homes, for a total of $30 million, according to Architectural Digest. Although the homeowner identities are masked, the LLC associated with the purchases is Iconiq Capital, a money manager said to represent Zuckerberg, Forbes reported.

Not all the transactions were smooth. One seller filed a lawsuit against the tech titan, claiming that Zuckerberg had promised him networking introductions, but never followed up after the sale went through. Zuckerberg’s lawyers countered that the agreement had become way overblown in the seller’s mind.

The reason for the land grab? Privacy, of course. 

Zuckerberg then announced plans to demolish the recently purchased homes to build anew. But city officials gave that idea a “thumbs-down,” leading the billionaire to scale back his compound scheme, opting to renovate rather than rebuild two, and replacing the other two.

By the way, Mark isn’t the only real estate wheeler-dealer in the family. His sister Randi Zuckerberg put her Georgian-style Los Altos spread on the market in 2015 for $5.5 million, and it sold for $6.5 million. Considering the home was purchased in 2011 for $4.7 million, that’s a pretty sweet profit.

San Francisco pied-à-terre

The Bay Area shopping spree wasn’t over. Zuckerberg reportedly bought a San Francisco pad in an off-market deal in 2013, according to multiple news reports. (And once again, the Facebook CEO’s name isn’t attached to any purchase documents.)  

The $10 million he paid for a 5,542-square-foot home in the city’s Dolores Heights neighborhood was just the beginning. According to reports, Zuckerberg put in permits for a $1.6 million renovation and expansion of the space, including an office, media room, half-bathroom, mudroom, laundry room, wine room, and wet bar, plus new roof and reconfigured landscaping. 

The ambitious plan led to a 17-month renovation caught on Google Street View, and was described by irritated neighbors as “an ordeal that has torn up their sidewalks, left them without street parking, and put the block under the watchful eyes of a 24-hour security detail,” according to Curbed SF.

Kauai kerfuffle

The Facebook founder values his privacy. How much? In 2014 the Zuckerbergs reportedly shelled out $100 million for two huge tracts of land on Kauai’s North Shore, creating a 700-acre spread for family getaways. 

The land has 2,500 feet of ocean frontage as well as a working organic farm. The couple made plans to build a 6,100-square-foot, two-bedroom residence on the property, along with a 16-bay garage complex and a “ranch administration building” that includes keycard-protected offices and security headquarters.

The plantation includes plots of land passed down through the generations that dotted the acreage. In 2016, the Zuckerbergs filed eight lawsuits to force locals out of the plots they owned. Most of these holdings were less than an acre each and, as you can imagine, the move didn’t go down well with longtime residents, who called Zuckerberg “the face of neocolonialism.”

The couple eventually dropped the suit, calling it a mistake.

Kauai property

Google Maps

The post We Poke Into Mark Zuckerberg’s Network of Real Estate appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Vivo Nex review: Frustratingly imperfect, undeniably desirable (Update: Video added) The best part of the move to truly bezel-less phones is the weird and wacky solutions to the question of where to put everything that used to live above and below the display. Front-facing cameras, fingerprint scanners, speakers and sensors all need relocating if we’re going to have proper full-screen phones. The Vivo Nex valiantly addresses those necessities, in pursuit of that notch-less and bezel-free ideal. It doesn’t succeed on every front, and there are more than a few caveats you need to be aware of before you decide to import one. As you might have guessed, owning a first-gen smartphone from the future – today – isn’t a pain-free experience. It’s a gorgeous and exciting phone, but sometimes window shopping is better than a shopping spree. That is why, ultimately, the Vivo Nex should probably remain an object of desire rather than become the phone in your pocket. About this Vivo Nex review: I have been using the Chinese version of the Vivo Nex S for two weeks: a few days in China on a data-only SIM and the rest of the time in Berlin, Germany on the Blau network switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data. At the time of publishing this review, the Nex was running Android 8.1 Oreo with Vivo’s FunTouch OS version PD1805_A_1.14.5 and the June 1 security patch. The Vivo Nex was provided to Android Authority for review purposes by Vivo’s PR agency. We’re holding off on adding final review scores until we can run the Nex through its paces in our suite of custom tests. Pros: Cons: Futuristic bezel-free design Solid OLED display Competitive camera Excellent performance Eye-catching camera mechanism 22.5W fast charging support Really good wired audio Problematic software China-only release Under-performing battery Unreliable fingerprint scanner No IP rating, NFC, wireless charging Display Let’s start with what made all the Nex’s design decisions necessary: the display. The Vivo Nex houses a massive 6.59-inch Full HD+ AMOLED panel in a chassis that’s only a smidge larger than the 6-inch Pixel 2 XL. For a phone as big as this it’s surprisingly manageable, with very little bezel around the top three sides and only a small chin below the screen (1.71 mm on the sides, 2.16mm on top and 5mm below the display). The display offers all the usual OLED benefits, like deep blacks, rich colors, and an always-on display. According to Vivo’s marketing material it’s a Super AMOLED panel, but the company wouldn’t confirm it was sourced from Samsung. However, Samsung recently demoed an OLED panel with the same audio emission capabilities (more on this later) at Display Week. Regardless, in bright sunlight the Vivo Nex screen didn’t get quite as bright as I’d like, making outdoor visibility no better than most phones. (For those interested, the ambient light sensor lives underneath the 19.3:9 screen, where it peeps right through the display at the center-top of the panel.) White balance is good, as is color accuracy generally. A night light mode is available in the settings and you can adjust the color temperature to suit your blue light filtering needs. Long story short: the Vivo Nex’s display is every bit as good as you’d want an all-screen phone to be. Not everyone will be happy with the Full HD+ resolution and relatively low pixel density (1,080 x 2,316 pixels and 338ppi), but it’ll serve most consumers perfectly well — with power savings to boot. Design Accidental palm touches were never an issue for me, unlike what David experienced on the Find X. The Nex has a slightly larger chin than the Find X, but there’s nowhere to rest your hand meat on either device. Fingerprints are a problem as with most glass-backed phones, but the holographic laser etching does a great job distracting from the accumulated grease. While the Xiaomi Mi Mix was the first to remove the top and side bezels without adding a notch, it did so by including a larger bezel on the bottom, a dodgy piezoelectric earpiece speaker, and what might be the dumbest location for a front-facing camera yet. Almost in response to Xiaomi’s effort, Vivo shrinks the bezels even further, uses under-glass vibration for the earpiece speaker, and puts the front-facing camera inside the chassis of the phone, popping up on command whenever the camera app switches to the front-facing viewfinder. I could watch this all day… #VivoNEX pic.twitter.com/UdAJK2u5xa — Kris Carlon (@kriscarlon) June 21, 2018 More than the screen and its impressive 91.24 percent screen-to-body ratio, the Vivo Nex’s pop-up camera is arguably its biggest wow factor. Every time the Nex’s camera popped out from the phone, I was asked to “do it again” by whomever I was with. It elicits almost childish expressions of wonder in anyone that sees it. It’s undeniably cool and the novelty hasn’t worn off even after a couple of weeks. The downside of such a nifty piece of tech is the simple fact that adding a moving part to a smartphone adds a degree of risk. Considering the frequency with which many of us drop our phones, there’s a justifiable concern about the camera breaking or the mechanism simply wearing out over time. Vivo has shared durability data to allay those concerns, but for most people it will come down to a simple decision. You’re either comfortable with the risks, or no amount of assurances will make you think this is a good idea. The Nex's pop-up camera is arguably the biggest wow factor in a phone jam packed with them, but adding a moving part to a smartphone is a contentious decision. It’s impossible to say just how much effect the Nex’s camera mechanism has on the battery, but at least it has to be less than the Find X. Oppo’s rising camera mechanism elevates the entire top of the phone and contains both the front and back cameras. Its reliance on facial recognition means the cameras pop up every time you want to unlock your phone. By comparison, the Vivo Nex’s selfie-only power needs seem negligible, especially if you’re not terribly prone to selfies. For anyone that barely ever uses their front-facing camera, the Nex offers an ideal solution: it’s there if you need it and spares you the unsightly compromise of a notch. According to Vivo the camera module can push up to 500g in repeated trials, and it can apparently can be raised and lowered repeatedly up to 50,000 times and withstand up to 45kg of thrust force when extended. For what it’s worth I had absolutely no problems with the Nex’s elevating camera. The dust that inevitably accumulates on it didn’t actually obscure the lens, so cleaning it wasn’t as necessary as you might think. It has also proven to be more rugged than I was expecting, and I’ve been purposefully rough with it. The camera’s very snugly fit. You can’t wiggle it from side to side and pulling it upwards is fruitless. If you press down on the camera while it’s out it springs back down before taking the hint and retracting itself fully. While it’s still early days, I’m increasingly confident this thing could handle some battle scars before you have any problems with it. If you’re concerned about causing damage to the camera by dropping it you probably have more to fear from breaking the display than the camera. Audio The small bezels on the Nex’s display mean the earpiece speaker also had to be re-engineered. Rather using than a typical smartphone speaker, Vivo’s vibration motor transmits sound through the entire screen. That means when a call comes in you can place your ear anywhere on the display to hear the other person (although towards the top where the vibration motor is located is best). It sounds much like any regular smartphone speaker and isn’t as audible to those near you, as I initially expected. After a couple of weeks of using it, I can’t say I’ve found it any worse than a normal earpiece speaker. Considering the sound comes from beneath the screen itself, that’s a big win. Expect to see the same tech in more phones down the line. The Vivo Nex also has a bottom-firing speaker that gets plenty loud and offers better bass than something like the Pixel 2. The degree to which the display vibration contributes to overall audio quality is arguable, but it is noticeably less shrilly at full volume than the Pixel, giving some credibility to Vivo’s claims of “more powerful bass and softer, smoother treble.” I wouldn’t call external audio the Vivo Nex’s best selling point, but it fares no worse than the competition, achieving comparable results through some impressive technology with other benefits than just sound. There’s a set of decent bundled earbuds in the box, but the Vivo Nex has a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you can just use what you’ve got. The V1 chip and built-in DAC means you’ll get great audio out of a good pair of wired headphones. Vivo has put the fingerprint scanner under the display glass on the Nex and turned the screen itself into an earpiece speaker. In-display fingerprint scanner Like a lot of other things we’ve come to expect on a phone, you won’t find a visible fingerprint scanner anywhere on the Vivo Nex either. The company partnered with Goodix to include an under-glass scanner, so you can unlock your phone with your fingerprint through the display. It hasn’t gotten old, even after spending a while with this phone. Interestingly, a recent teardown revealed it’s actually a camera doing the scanning through a peephole in the display, not an ultrasonic solution. While Vivo had been working with Synaptics when we first saw this tech at CES, the scanner on the Nex is made by the same company that supplies Huawei and Xiaomi with in-display fingerprint scanners. This means that the sensor isn’t visible at any angle, unlike previous Synaptics scanners and even the Vivo X20 UD. The Vivo Nex’s fingerprint reader is not as fast as a capacitive scanner and yes, it occasionally freaks out and fails to read your print at all, but I’m willing to cut it some slack. In-display tech will improve in time, and only those willing to put up with it as is would be advised to pick up a Nex, anyway. It unlocks almost instantly in the right conditions, but in less than ideal situations, the unlock animation might flash three times before it finally unlocks or fails in the attempt. The in-display fingerprint scanner is slower and less reliable than current capacitive sensors. If you need your phone unlocked in a split-second every single time, the Nex is not for you. Given the frequency with which we unlock our phones, this could understandably make or break your experience. Much like the notch or the HTC U12 Plus’ capacitive power and volume buttons, it’s either something you feel strongly about or will quickly adapt to. Personally, I didn’t mind the delays or the failure to unlock much, but your mileage may vary depending on how impatient you are. When the fingerprint logo is visible on screen the camera is active; when it’s not visible it’s inactive, meaning no unlocking. If your phone is lying on a table, you’ll have to give it a nudge to activate the fingerprint camera or hit the power button. It’s also activated by movement, so picking up your phone activates the scanner camera automatically. You can turn off the fingerprint logo on the always-on display in the settings, but if you do so you’re also disabling the camera, making unlocking your phone from a screen-off state impossible. Bright ambient light can also cause issues for the fingerprint scanner, as it uses illumination from the screen to get a sufficiently contrasty image of your fingerprint. In these cases, the Nex falls back on a lock screen PIN. The Nex scanner works with banking apps and payments within WeChat and AliPay, just don’t expect it to work with many banks outside of China. The Vivo Nex is a cutting edge but flawed device that tries to do a lot of amazing things and inevitably can't do them all perfectly. For all the fancy new tech the Nex includes, there are drawbacks. The under-glass fingerprint scanner is not as fast or reliable as current capacitive scanners. The front-facing camera raises valid concerns about durability even if it does mitigate privacy concerns by being hidden most of the time. Shoving sensors into the bezel like the proximity sensor or under the screen like the ambient light sensor or finger scanner make the display more expensive to manufacture. The Vivo Nex is a cutting edge but flawed device that tries to do a lot of amazing things and inevitably can’t do them all perfectly. So far, though, everything the Nex fails to do is arguably made up for in sheer coolness. There’s no denying that it is it an exciting phone to use. Software When I talked about window shopping earlier I was referring to the idea that while it may be fun to lust after runway fashion, should you ever get the chance to wear some you’d likely find it uncomfortable and impractical. This sums up the Nex perfectly for me. It is almost irresistibly cool. It’s also not the smartphone you and I desperately want it to be. The Nex was made for China, not the Western market. It’s hard to get in the West and even harder to deal with Vivo’s FunTouch OS. Vivo's FunTouch OS is app drawer-less and heavily iOS-inspired. To call FunTouch an abomination would be unfair. It is app drawer-less and heavily iOS-inspired. That might make Android fans in the West cringe, but it’s considered a selling point in Asia. You can’t just install a different launcher, either. Despite being able to change the default launcher in the Settings, the Nex automatically defaults back to the FunTouch Launcher whenever you hit the home button. Even using Greenify to hibernate Vivo’s launcher isn’t a simple solution. Even using Greenify to hibernate Vivo’s app drawer-less launcher isn’t a simple solution. To grant the necessary permissions Greenify needs, you must have a Vivo account – something only possible with a valid Chinese phone number. Likewise, some of the interface is only in Chinese and there are some formatting issues with Latin characters like large spaces between apostrophes and the “s” that follows them. The Jovi virtual assistant, for which there is a dedicated hardware button, only works with the Chinese language and with Chinese services, making it largely useless to Western audiences. There are a lot of pre-installed Chinese apps most Westerners would instantly remove, and there’s no Google Play Store or Google apps out of the box. These can be force-installed but even then you’ll have issues downloading pretty common apps from Google. You’ll also encounter problems getting push notifications to come through properly. Likewise, the always-on display shows notification icons, but only for a very limited number of Vivo apps. There’s also no way to quickly access the settings unless you have the app icon on the home screen, with no shortcut in the notification shade and command center or quick settings. I could go on but I’m sure you get the point. As it stands, the Vivo Nex is not a phone you actually want in your pocket unless you live in China. The FunTouch experience is admittedly mitigated by an understanding of the Nex’s target market, but the Vivo Nex is not a phone you actually want in your pocket unless you live in China. If Vivo ends up releasing a global unit that may well change — it’s possible given the company’s sponsorship of a sporting event as global as the World Cup. For that to happen though, Vivo would need a European or American launch plan and agreements with Google and (hopefully) carriers. But for now, I wouldn’t advise anyone outside China to try buying one unless you have an extraordinarily high tolerance for inconvenience, incompatibility, and inconsistency. If you really want a Nex, you can import one for a little over $800. Performance & Hardware Ignoring the usability of the software, the Vivo Nex lacks very little on the hardware front. The Snapdragon 845 with Adreno 630 GPU, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, Android 8.1 Oreo and a 4,000mAh battery with fast wired charging should keep all but the most discerning specs hounds happy. There’s no microSD expansion, NFC, or wireless charging. Nor is there an IP rating which has become increasingly important as a standard flagship feature. When it comes to specs there's very little lacking in the Vivo Nex, barring an IP rating, wireless charging, microSD expansion and NFC. I never found myself in need of additional power or memory while using the Nex, but at this stage of the specs game stutters and lag are pretty rare in the Android world. If benchmarks are your thing, the Nex performs very well, posting almost 290K in AnTuTu, well above the Galaxy S9, OnePlus 6 and Xiaomi BlackShark. It also ranks very well in Geekbench 4, Vellamo and 3D Mark benchmarks. The Nex’s performance problems lie more in peculiar software behavior than in a lack of power. Out of the box, navigation is handled via swipe gestures from the bottom of the screen. You can remove all visual clues or use a dot or line to remind you of the swipe targets. On-screen navigation buttons can be added and, whether you opt for gestures or virtual buttons, you can rearrange the order to your liking. In keeping with the all-screen experience, I opted for gestures and they were easy enough to get used to. Accessing recent apps is achieved by swiping up and hold as the third gesture (after back and home) is to bring up the Nex’s iOS-like command center. Even with the Google app and Assistant installed, there’s no way to access it with a long press of the home button and Oreo’s quick app switching is not possible either. Battery Battery life is another issue entirely. Despite its impressive 4,000mAh cell, battery life is not the Nex’s strong point (at least on the review unit I picked up). Vivo’s software doesn’t report screen-on time but I can tell you that even on days of what I consider very light usage, the Nex still needed charging every day. This could have something to do with being a Chinese unit in Europe, but I’ve not experienced such rapid battery drain on a non-international review unit in recent memory. Heavy usage days required a top up in the late afternoon, something I’d never dream of on another 4,000mAh device, like the Huawei P20 Pro. The Nex received several software updates during the two weeks I had it, so it’s not unreasonable to assume battery life could improve rapidly. The Nex ships with Vivo’s 22.5W fast charging solution which will top up your phone in short order when required. Stay tuned for our full Vivo Nex battery review coming up soon for more. Camera Perhaps the biggest surprise for me was the quality of the Vivo Nex camera. It’s not necessarily better than the Pixel 2, but as you might have seen, it’s a pretty close race. The Nex camera tends to overexpose most shots and over-saturate colors, with a bit too much sharpening under scrutiny. The quality of the Nex's camera was a nice surprise, although it does tend to over-expose, over-saturate and over-sharpen. Whether you like this approach is entirely up to your personal tastes. I tend to bump colors and contrast while editing my photos anyway, and I don’t mind a little sharpening if it makes my photos look better on my phone and when I share them to friends. If you prefer more sedate colors, can’t stand the over-sharpened HDR results that are common to the new breed of AI cameras, or judge a photo by how it looks at 100 percent crop, you probably won’t like the Nex’s camera as much as I do. It’s either something that saves time or adds unwanted and impossible-to-remove “enhancements.” Then there’s the AI camera features. Like basically every other smartphone company right now, Vivo has packed the Nex with “AI” camera features, from AI beauty mode and AI scene detection, to AI HDR and AI Filters. How much AI goes into each of these features — and how useful they are — is up for debate, but on other phones with AI cameras (like the P20 Pro), the AI is primarily used to detect scenes and automatically enhance the photo based on what it recognizes, usually by bumping the saturation and sharpening the result. The Vivo Nex does this by default. The “AI” in the Nex camera seems largely relegated to glorified filter suggestions. Again, the P20 Pro lets you disable AI or use it to do what the Nex does by default, without the option to turn it off. So rather than an on/off state, you get an “on and even-more-on” situation. While I don’t particularly mind this myself, it could be make-or-break for some smartphone photographers. The main cameras on the Nex are a 12MP f/1.8 sensor with 1.4-micron pixels and a 5MP f/2.4 lens with both optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS). Despite the Nex not implementing the de facto standard camera shortcut of two quick presses of the power button, you can assign the same shortcut to a long-press of the volume down button. It’s not as fast but it gets you the same result. Fortunately, the shutter lag I noticed while in China was resolved with one of the updates the Nex has received in the last two weeks. The camera app is pretty standard fare. Swipes take you to different shooting modes like AR stickers, panorama, manual mode, face beauty, and 30fps video at 4K resolution, as well as 1080p slow-motion at 240fps. Time-lapses are also possible on the Nex and video is stabilized, although it doesn’t come out as smooth as the P20 Pro’s AI stabilization or EIS on the Pixel 2. There are some curiosities to the camera app. If you have HDR set to auto and you turn on portrait mode, it’ll disable HDR, as you would expect, but once you leave portrait mode HDR stays off. The same goes for live photos. If you’re in either mode and turn HDR back on, portrait or live effects are instantly disabled. Portrait mode supports from 16 to 0.95 aperture, but the results at wider simulated apertures are as unrealistic as you might expect (the ping pong table in the gallery below includes a normal shot, a f/16 shot, and a f/0.95 shot. You can clearly see the issues with the cutout and the artificiality of the blur). Even with the AI filters disabled, the Nex unnaturally bumps saturation in landscape shots. Over-saturation notwithstanding, color reproduction on the Vivo Nex is extremely accurate. In the tricky photo below of various pigments, the photo is almost spot on barring the vibrancy of the yellow which is brighter than in reality. The red, orange and green pigments, as outlandish as they appear in the photo, are actually that bright in real life. SEE THE FULL-RES PHOTOS In low light the Nex holds up quite well, keeping noise to a bare minimum (and outperforming the Pixel 2 in my testing), but it loses realistic detail with post-processing. Dynamic range is decent but isn’t as good as something like the Pixel, with the Nex struggling with the lighter parts of the shot. The Nex handles detail in shadowy areas very well, often even better than the Pixel 2, but once again tends to over-expose and blow out the highlights. It’s a simple enough task to jump into manual mode to change the exposure settings, but as we all know, this is a step most users will not take. I asked Vivo about Super HDR, which was announced before the Nex’s launch, but that isn’t (yet) present on the device. The company declined to confirm if Super HDR would be added to the Nex’s repertoire via a software update or if it lacks necessary hardware. Vivo said the Nex’s AI HDR is “based on” the company’s research into HDR technology and captures “more frames of a wider dynamic range (11eV) than previously possible.” Even without Super HDR, if Vivo modifies the Nex’s default exposure setting a bit, the company could have a very competitive camera on its hands. For a phone that makes the front-facing camera hardware as big of a deal as the Nex does, it produces soft results. The front-facing camera is an 8MP f/2.0 shooter offering the usual bokeh portrait mode, which suffers from the same issues with cutouts and fake-looking results as most phones. It supports HDR, filters, beauty mode, live photos, and a variety of different aspect ratios including 4:3, 16:9, 19.3:9 and 1:1. Unfortunately, the front-facing camera produces notably soft results that lack detail and proper exposure. It’s a shame Vivo didn’t put the same effort into image processing for selfies as it does for the rear-facing cameras, especially considering how big of deal the Nex’s camera mechanism is. Specs Vivo Nex Display 6.59-inch Super AMOLED, Full HD+ (2316 x 1080, 338ppi), 19.3:9 aspect ratio SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 with AI Engine, 64-bit, octa-core, 10nm GPU Adreno 630 RAM 8GB Storage 256GB Cameras Rear: Dual pixel 12 MP f/1.8 (Sony IMX363) with 1.4µm pixel size, OIS and EIS + 5MP f/2.4 Front: 8MP, f/2.0 with elevating mechanism Audio 32-bit/192kHz audio, 3.5mm audio jack Battery 4,000 mAh, fast charging IP rating No Sensors Fingerprint (3rd generation in-display), accelerometer, proximity, compass, gyroscope, infrared, ambient light Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 5(850), 8(900), 34(2000), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500) Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4G/5.1G/5.8G, hotspot Bluetooth 5.0 A-GPS microUSB 2.0 3.5mm headphone port USB Type-C SIM Dual SIM/hybrid slot Software Android 8.1 Oreo Funtouch OS 4 Dimensions and weight 162 x 77 x 7.98mm 199g Colors Black, Red Gallery Final thoughts When all is said and done, the Vivo Nex is a glimpse of the future. It’s an ambitious product that in many ways still acts and feels like a concept device. For all its shortcomings, I wholeheartedly commend Vivo for even daring to produce a phone like this for the mass market. That said, it’s probably for the best that it won’t make it to Western markets. It’s an infuriatingly imperfect but undeniably desirable phone. Despite its appearance, the Vivo Nex is still a phone like any other. Its display is great, the (main) camera is surprisingly good, performance is outstanding, audio is fine, the fingerprint scanner needs work, the software is atrocious, and the battery isn’t great. In short, it’s a lot like most phones available today. Vivo hasn’t solved a smartphone problem as much as it has just transferred existing smartphone problems into a more futuristic form factor. Vivo hasn't solved a smartphone problem as much as it has just transferred existing problems into a more futuristic form factor. The Vivo Nex is the most exciting phone I’ve seen in years. I’ve enjoyed using it, enjoyed the reactions I’ve gotten from those I’ve shown it to, and even enjoyed grappling with its shortcomings. It has made the smartphone experience fun and exciting again, but it’s as fraught with frustration and surprise as my earliest Android memories. Compared to the polished and soulless phones we’re currently surrounded by, the Nex is a breath of fresh air. It’s a way-marker on the inexorable march to truly bezel-free phones, even if it is imperfectly executed. Hopefully it will serve as a clarion call for the phones that come after it. , via Android Authority http://bit.ly/2JwyNVi

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