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deathbyhysteria · 6 years ago

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57 facts tag !!

i was tagged by @serensims - thank you for tagging me even though i took so long because it gave me a migraine lol

i tag @gemgeminox @maplestreetsims @justkeeponsimming @all-harlows-eve @daisydezem and anyone else who wants to have a go.

facts are under the cut!

1. i just turned 21 years old

2. i am studying law in london

3. when i finish i may go and do a postgrad somewhere abroad! we’ll see

4. i have literally no hobbies now

5. when i was younger i used to do ballet, viola, piano, guitar, yoga, drama, dance, singing and ballroom dancing - not all at the same time (i.e. i was much more well rounded than i am now)

6. i have one younger sister

7. i always wanted to have an older sibling, especially an older brother

8. i used to be a big reader but i stopped. but over the summer i’ve been reading more again, especially crime books by Harlan Coben

9. some shows i’ve been watching a lot of over the summer: bojack horseman, 3%, the flash

10. s5 of bojack horseman actually came out on my birthday and i tried to rewatch all 4 seasons before then but i failed. however i just started the new season today!

11. i was admitted to hospital twice over the summer, once while i was abroad i’m holiday which SUCKED

12. i love travelling and some of the places i’ve been to are: italy, cyprus, various places in the usa, jamaica, mexico, nigeria, greece, spain, switzerland.

13. my dream destination is japan... i would love to visit so badly

14. speaking of japan, my favourite cuisine is actually japanese food, and i also really enjoy chinese and what little i have tried of vietnamese food too

15. i have only one (two?) piercings and that’s my ear lobes. but i would love to get a second set of piercing on my lobes and i’m hoping to do it in the near future

16. i’d love to get a tattoo one day but i’m not sure what i’d get and also i don’t like pain

17. i’m in and out of hospital kinda frequently because of a medical condition i have (without going into specifics, you could say i’m a little like a spoonie)

18. the only surgery i’ve had was when i was about 6 years old and i had my tonsils removed

19. i really like makeup and i can get quite creative with it, but i don’t tend to wear anything outside of mascara, my go to lipstick (which is touch by mac) and possibly eyeliner on a daily basis

20. i’m 5ft 7in (and a half)

21. i know basic french and a little more than basic spanish, and i’m a native english speaker

22. this year i’m learning yoruba, and i’m also hoping to pick up some basic german too

23. i rarely cry at movies but the only ones which did manage to make me cry were: titanic (i’m sure i was too young to be watching it at the time), princess and the pea, boy in the striped pyjamas... oh and avengers: infinity war which made me bawl like my puppy had died

24. i’m a really big fan of the mcu and i always go to watch the new releases in the cinema with my sister and my dad

25. i’ve never see the incredible hulk so idk maybe that makes me a fake fan

26. i had to wear braces for 6-7 years? but afterwards i stopped wearing my retainers so some of the gaps opened up in my teeth again 🤷‍♀️ what can you do

27. i love music and i always try to give every genre a go... the only one i can’t deal with is country music

28. my favourite thing is getting to see live music and i’ve gotten to see: one direction (my first concert!), 5 seconds of summer, little mix, twenty one pilots, hey violet and most recently taylor swift

29. i’m still taking driving lessons over a year after i first started but my driving test is booked for next friday so idk maybe i’ll have an official license soon if i don’t flop

30. i had 4 really close friends in high school but after that we kinda grew apart and i got pretty lonely and pretty bad (read: ridiculously awful) at making friends

31. i did struggle with depression and mild anxiety in the past

32. if you have mental health issues - please try and talk to someone about it. keep trying until you find someone you can trust. it took me a long time to admit i needed help and even longer to find someone i felt comfortable confiding in, but it was the best thing i ever did.

33. i did really really well in my gcse’s but since then i’ve just gotten dumber i guess because all my grades have been nothing short of average, sometimes even significantly below average

34. tumblr is basically the only social media i use now. i stopped using facebook, twitter and instagram, and i only keep the snapchat app around so i can take cute selfies, but i don’t ever post

35. it’s 2am as i type this and i’m running out of things to say

36. i used to get really painful periods, to the point where i was basically bedridden and the pain was enough to make me physically throw up. luckily they aren’t as bad anymore

37. i love the summer and i really need that vitamin d in my life

38. i really love winter clothes and big loose comfy sweaters are literally my favourite thing

39. i drink a lot of tea, especially green tea with lots of honey

40. i’m mildly lactose intolerant and yesterday i drank a chocolate milk which had some adverse effects... it wasn’t worth it tbh it tasted kinda nasty

41. i used to really love bratz and i watched all the movies and even bought some of their albums

42. i can’t really walk in heels but i’m trying... platform heels are not so bad but then i get people telling me i’m tall already so i don’t need to wear heels (as if i don’t just wear them because i like them)

43. i love lush bath bombs and i always have a few hanging around my bathroom

44. my dress size is like a 10 but sometimes i have to go up a size because of my big bust, which i hate

45. i actually really enjoy playing the papa’s pizzeria franchise online and they’re like my go to games when i’m really bored

46. speaking of games i also really love phoenix wright, i’m playing the trilogy on the app now as i had only played ace attorney before

47. i love getting manicures and idk why but i always tend to paint my nails dark blue... there’s this shade this one shade and no matter which nail bar you send me to, if they have it i’ll always pick it out without even realising it

48. i play sims on my macbook air which probably isn’t a great pc for gaming bc it always makes the fan go absolutely crazy, although my game never lags even back when i used alpha cc

49. i played the og sims but i never played sims 2 or 3 and i also never bought any expansion packs even though i was desperate to

50. i wear a lot of black, not intentionally but probably because it’s just a safe colour that you can’t go wrong with

51. i actually really enjoy getting socks as a gift but no one buys me them because i think it’s a universally accepted fact that socks are a rubbish gift

52. i don’t own any trousers that aren’t jeans and i think that’s probably a little odd but i’m not sure

53. i don’t have a great track record of keeping my mobile safe and i’ve ruined a lot of good phones by cracking the screen, dropping them in the toilet, dropping them into my cereal, or just plain losing them

54. speaking of which i currently have an iphone 6s in rose gold and i love it and don’t care all that much to upgrade it. but it only has 16gb of space and i’m desperate for more

55. i also really enjoy getting new pyjamas. and my favourite pyjamas are the ones that aren’t pyjamas at all i.e. just give me a t-shirt in size xxxl and i’m good to go

56. i wear glasses because i have a lazy eye and i’m also long sighted (which is an absolute recipe for disaster when you’re trying to apply eyeliner, let me tell you)

57. i’m genuinely surprised that i managed to list 57 facts about me!

#tags #57 facts tag #non sims

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atakportal · 7 years ago

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I wish Apple's 2018 MacBook Pros had more compelling updates

New Post has been published on https://idealz.cloud/2018/07/12/i-wish-apples-2018-macbook-pros-had-more-compelling-updates/

I wish Apple's 2018 MacBook Pros had more compelling updates

Apple finally updated its MacBook Pros after over a year (a lifetime in the computer world) without changes.

But as attractive as some of the new features are — faster processors, more RAM and storage configurations, and, err, a quieter keyboard — none of them really leap off Apple’s website and make me want to yell, “SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!“

This isn’t a full review of the new MacBook Pros — I haven’t seen or used them in person and we’ll have one soon enough — but my honest opinion on what Apple’s announced. See, although I review consumer tech for a living, I’m still a consumer and vote with my own money.

My own personal laptop is a maxed-out 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. It was one of the last of this particular model to come with a full suite of ports (full-sized USB, SD card, MagSafe, etc.) before Apple redesigned its notebook lineup in 2016, dropping all ports in favor of USB-C.

The fully loaded laptop, which I bought with a sizable discount from B&H, has served me well over the years. But, five years on, it’s on its last legs.

Some of the keys on the keyboard are cracked after suffering who knows how many thousands of words on Mashable. The Intel processor and integrated graphics are too slow for crunching 4K-resolution videos and chokes hard for streaming 4K videos on YouTube. The MiniDisplay Ports constantly can’t maintain a stable connection to the two old Apple Cinema Displays I have (the displays work fine with a Windows 10 laptop). And the Retina display’s anti-reflective coating has started to wear off, but I’ve been too lazy to bring it to Apple for what could be a free repair.

In short: I need a new laptop, and although I like what the updated MacBook Pros offer, I don’t love them. For my specific case, the 15-inch MacBook Pro is off the table; it’s simply too large for my needs.

But let’s go down the list of reasons why I’m not pulling out credit card without hesitation.

1. It’s really expensive

RIP your wallet.

The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with Intel 8th-generation Core i5 or i7 chips, a maximum configuration of up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

These are much-needed and respectable spec bumps, but holy moly, is it pricey. The base configuration with an Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD costs $1,800. Tick off the checkboxes for all the highest configurations and it balloons up to an I’m-gonna-cry $3,700.

Now, I’m aware MacBook Pros have always commanded a premium, especially with the upgraded configurations. But like damn, even the entry-level model is too much. I’ve got other ridiculously priced things (like New York City rent) to pay, man.

Apple’s site shows the 13-inch MacBook Pro still starts at $1,300 for the non-Touch Bar model, but that’s for the old model with slower processor. The new $1,800 model isn’t replacing the 2017 models at all.

Which brings me to my next point…

2. You’re stuck with the Touch Bar

If you want to blame the $1,800 price on anything, blame it it on the Touch Bar because the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t come in a version with the regular function row.

Nearly two years since its debut, I can now confidently say the Touch Bar is not very good. Not only does it take extra taps to change settings like the volume and brightness, but few developers have really programmed anything extraordinary for it.

Heck, Apple didn’t even show off any new uses for it at WWDC this year. And if Apple can’t come up with new compelling uses for the Touch Bar, then nobody will.

Fact is, the Touch Bar is an overpriced extra that nobody really needs, and few people are willing to pay more for. Apple not selling a version of its new MacBook Pros with regular function rows has me worried that model is on its way out for good.

I don’t think I’m alone in wanting to save a few hundred bucks (maybe put it towards Final Cut Pro X or something) for a non-Touch Bar model.

3. The keyboard’s still worrisome

Based on all the reports from reporters who got hands-on time with the new MacBook Pros, it appears Apple hasn’t redesigned the controversial flat keyboards so that they don’t break from specks of dust.

Apple’s stance is the keyboard problems only affect a small number of devices, but I’m doubtful of the claims. Mashable Tech Editor Pete Pachal has been using a 15-inch MacBook Pro loaner for just a few weeks and he’s already experienced an unresponsive key.

The third-gen “butterfly-switch” keyboard isn’t devoid of improvements. The keys are supposed to feel different — more like the keys on pre-2016 MacBook Pro redesign. But I’ll believe it when I get to try the new keyboard myself.

The keyboard’s also quieter, but is that really a change many people were asking for? While I personally appreciate a quieter keyboard (yes, I hear my colleagues pounding extra hard on their MBPs), I think I’m in the minority.

Most people just want a reliable keyboard with more travel. I’m concerned we’ll have to wait until at least the next update or refresh to get both.

4. Still missing an SD card slot

Apple still hates the the SD card.

Image: OBY SESSIONS/MACFORMAT MAGAZINE/GETTY IMAGES

It’s 2018 and dongle hell is very much still a thing. I could complain about it and how USB-C hasn’t become the catch-all port we were promised years ago, but I’d sound like a broken record.

I’ll concede full-sized USB ports aren’t coming back. Neither is HDMI or Mini DisplayPort or MagSafe.

But why, oh why, couldn’t Apple add the SD card slot back? If the MacBook Pros are indeed machines for pros – people who need to do “real” heavy-duty work, then the port needs to return.

I’m all for shooting with my iPhone in most situations. But there are still many times where I need my mirrorless or DSLR. As working professional who shoots both photos and videos, the port is essential. It’s comical the unloved MacBook Air is the only laptop Apple now sells with an SD card slot.

Handful of other concerns

Next time, maybe.

Image: lili sams/mashable

These are my biggest concerns for the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, I have a few others.

True Tone, which changes the color temperature of the display, is now built into the new laptops. It’s a nice feature on iPhones, but I’m not sure if it’s a must-have on a laptop. I’d much rather have a display that covers more of Adobe’s color space, like the Razer Blade 15.

The 13-inch is only configurable with up to 16GB of RAM. There’s no 32GB of RAM option, which exclusive to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. It’s understandable adding a 32GB of RAM option for the 13-incher would have meant including a larger battery like on the 15-inch, but it still would have been nice to have the choice. Why not let consumers decide if they’re willing to deal with an extra pound or less of weight in exchange for more memory? Other computer makers do.

Touch ID also feels like it’s gonna be outdated quickly with Face ID just waiting to make the leap to the Mac. After bringing Touch ID to the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, logic suggests Face ID will probably make land on the laptops in the future, too. Having used Windows Hello on Windows 10 laptops, I can confidently say signing in with your face is a convenience worth paying for.

I don’t think I’m being unreasonable. As my computer turns five, I’m exactly the target buyer who’s looking for a new machine. If I, a power user, feels like Apple could have went just a little further to make the MacBook Pro better, then I can’t even imagine what someone who’s not as demanding is thinking right now.

They have to be seriously considering a rock-solid alternative like the Huawei MateBook X Pro. Because I know I am.

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#apple #compelling #macbook #updates

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buttonholedlife · 5 years ago

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Beware: The Techno-Doom-Loop

There is actually a principle I have actually been making an effort to articulate for a long time. The problem is throughout the episodes where I wish to verbalize it, I am actually therefore stuck in disappointment and apprehension that I can't raise considerably even more than guttural chants as well as obscenities. These episodes have actually been happening a lot more frequently it seems to be. Either because I am actually growing older or even considering that alleged "cloud computing" is actually ending up being much more ubiquitous.

It happens when you're about to do some unimportant duty, something that needs to take no greater than 15 few seconds. Like the amount of time my spouse asked me to receive an audio sermon she got coming from a web site onto her apple iphone. No worry, right?

But in between shooting up iTunes, updating iTunes on her laptop pc, updating iTunes on her phone, updating iOS just before I can easily improve iTunes, recouping her code for iTunes, deauthorizing one-too-many gadgets from iTunes, a couple of various other obstructions I can't don't forget any longer and also I'm 90 mins into this odyssey.

The problem is it's certainly not merely that people time. "Hey, don't forget the amount of time I inquired you to copy that data to my iPhone as well as you found yourself tossing my brand new laptop at the pet?" ... as if it feels like that people opportunity? No. It is actually progressively each time.

Today must have been actually chill ...

It's Brand-new Year's Day. Angela asked me if I could bear in mind a newspaper article I once located regarding a relative of hers in Barbados that I had delivered her. Could I find it once again? After exploring our text I choose I'll check my email. However because I shifted notebooks, (the same the brand-new laptop migration that caused my changing from Microsoft workplace to LibreOffice), the worldwide hunt functionality in Thunderbird, the one that browses around all mailboxes as well as within message bodies have not worked. It only takes up an empty button home window when you run a search as well as it simply remains empty.

I discover there's an upgrade offered for Thunderbird (or even "ThunderTurd" as happened to be actually recognized within the upcoming hr or even so). I attacked the button, download the upgrade, restart it ... and right now every thing is blank.

I reboot my laptop computer, and also it goes right into a software program improve that takes half an hour to finish. Besides that, Thunderbird still appears hosed. Repeated reboots do nothing, as well as the "Concerning Thunderbird" dialogue is constantly adhered on "Using Update".

After attempting a handful of points, I determine to open up a ticket in the Mozilla Assistance forums ... simply as very soon as I produce an account ... which I need to have to validate via an authentication code they send ... guess where? To my email.

I operate upstairs to get my phone and also acquire the regulation coming from my email there certainly, lastly I can upload my query ... Simply as quickly as I reveal what is wrong to the ticketing system which suggests a number of various other articles that have absolutely nothing to do along with my complication before lastly placing a little hyperlink near the bottom along the collections "none of these solve my concern".

It is actually New Year's Time as I claimed, so I am actually certainly not counting on a lot of people to be losing their f-ing day dicking around on Mozilla assistance discussion forums so I choose certainly not to keep my breathing spell for any replies.

I remember I made use of to use Postbox when I experienced some various other complication along with Thunderbird. It was something to perform with every outgoing information stopping working to create a copy to sent-mail after awhile and it never ever getting addressed. I really did not mind purchasing Postbox, in reality I liked that because that (apparently) implied this is actually a qualified company that will definitely alleviate their paying out customers as something similar to customers as well as less like cattle. That concept was actually dashed when they unceremoniously encouraged me into upgrading to model 6 and also then when I obtained there realized that they went down third-party plugin assistance and also suggested GPG help was actually gone. Many thanks, pricks.

So I returned to Thunderbird (now securely ThunderTurd) considering that a minimum of that still supported Enigmail's GPG plug-in. Then, that additionally damaged in the step to OSX Catalina.

I ought to possess prefaced of the along with "I started on this hike throughout a vigorous, yet sunny Brand-new Year's Day mid-day". It is actually right now sinister out.

Where was I? Oh yes, Postbox.

After downloading and install Postbox and select the damn.dmg repeatedly once again as well as absolutely nothing happens I think about if Postbox determined to discard 64-bit support, or have not received to it yet, but I think that's extremely unlikely (despite the fact that different a lot greater companies, like Amazon.com, haven't bring out a 64-bit Kindle audience for OSX however).

They do support it I am actually simply overlooking something. Oh yes, OSX obstructs all apps coming from non-Apple Retail store designers unless you go into your security setups and also exclusively allow it.

I enter environments expecting to observe that greyed out "Postbox" being listed as shut out, all ready and also ready to click on the "allow anyway" button or whatever it is actually gotten in touch with ... other than it is actually certainly not there certainly. There's absolutely nothing. No blocked out apps. So I select the dmg a couple of more time, other than I click more difficult and also begin swearing on every click on, however even that doesn't aid.

I remembered it occurred to be actually previously. More than as soon as. And I constantly find yourself on this reddit string called "Option!! For all applications not opening up in Catalina" which appears like precisely what I need.

It advises turning off the OSX gatekeeper, such as this:

Which I carry out and afterwards I select the dmg a few more times and also the fscking factor are going to still not open up.

Flip back to the covering as well as perform it once again

Still no dice. I perform hear my notebook carrying out one thing so I look at the procedure checklist as well as DiskImageMounter is taking up many of the Central Processing Unit, so I get rid of -9 that, then click on the dmg and bingo! Postbox puts in.

(As I type this tirade, which I may or may certainly not upload, I bear in mind that very same reddit thread tells you to re-enable gatekeeper afterwards, which I haven't done however, and will definitely carry out ... now)

Incredibly, this goes off easily. I was expecting my laptop pc to reboot or even one thing. Always remember, all this is actually component of the greater image, which is I prefer to operate a search across my email notifications. Postbox is still re-downloading my whole entire inbox so I can't fairly carry out that as yet. I am actually performing this as an alternative.

Anyhoo ... it appears like there's an old model of Postbox on my brand-new laptop pc which should possess discovered when I rejuvenated coming from back-ups, and also it possesses my old email profile pages and also they are actually all certainly there, apart from ... it is actually motivating me for my expert code on my Postbox software gadget and I possess no concept what the hell it is actually because it is actually from a number of years earlier.

Some additional appearing about and I figure out how to totally reset a professional security password in Postbox

Disabling the master code indicates I need to come back the IMAP code on all my profiles, so I open my keychain to begin re-entering all of them. However as I perform the very first one, nothing at all happens. None of the e-mail is boiling down. I am re-entering the password time and time once again as well as it is actually just certainly not happening.

I don't forget that regarding a year ago our experts altered the hostname on the easyDNS IMAP swimming pool. There was actually a reason for it, I merely can not remember what it was. I remember my mom's email was down for weeks because I could not come down there to change the solitary hostname setting in her e-mail client.

I finally improve all the IMAP hosts throughout all the profiles, and obtain the passwords went into ... which's where our team are actually right now. My principal inbox is still installing, every one of my email transmitting filters run out time, I am actually able to lastly run my hunts ... and it's showing up nothing at all.

I began this around 3pm, it is actually right now 5:51 pm. When I mosted likely to apply a weed of coffee I eventually caught a phrase that illustrates this form of butterfly impact dynamic:

The Technology-Doom-Loop

Over the holidays I was actually making an effort to coarsely verbalize this concept to a handful of pals. None of our company possessed a key phrase for it, yet they all understood specifically what I was actually referring to. This seems near global recently. And also my mate is actually fairly educated about this things, think of being actually a total techno nonprofessional?

One pal described it as "Brazil minus the cylinders", after the techno-rubble dystopian society illustrated in the Terry Gilliam movie of the exact same label.

The primary guideline of the techno-doom-loop is that: when you get started on what must be an unimportant technology based duty, you are actually avoided coming from performing that duty by a plunging set of interdependencies and also breakdown states that burn with a purchase of enormity more time to handle than the authentic duty on its own.

Just how usually does it happen to you? The amount of time perform you lose in techno-doom-loops? Exactly how typically does it happen to your staff members as well as colleagues? To your whole entire team? When I deal with it, whole projects and projects obtain slowed down within this constantly. Just how much is your opportunity, their opportunity, our opportunity worth? Include all of it up, and our team'll find that this most likely has a true financial price even higher than a few of the imagined dilemmas we hear a whole lot concerning in traditional media and also social media networks.

It's one of the reasons that I tend to grunt coffee away from my nostrils when I hear experts breathlessly gushing concerning Artificial Intelligence. If our software program receives much smarter, civilization is mosting likely to grind to a standstill just before any of our devices usurp our team.

This content was originally published here.

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jamesmcphee30 · 6 years ago

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iPhone 11 Plus Wi-Fi 6 Equals Undefined?

I read a curious story this weekend based on a supposed leak about the next iPhone, currently dubbed the iPhone 111. There’s a report that the next iPhone will have support for the forthcoming 802.11ax standard. The article refers to 802.11ax as Wi-Fi 6, which is a catch branding exercise that absolutely no one in the tech community is going to adhere to.

In case you aren’t familiar with 802.11ax, it’s essentially an upgrade of the existing wireless protocols to support better client performance and management across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Unlike 802.11ac, which was rebranded to be called Wi-Fi 5 or 802.11n, which curiously wasn’t rebranded as Wi-Fi 4, 802.11ax works in both bands. There’s a lot of great things on the drawing board for 11ax coming soon.

Why did I say soon? Because, as of this writing, 11ax isn’t a ratified standard. According to this FAQ from Aerohive, the standard isn’t set to be voted on for final ratification until Q3 of 2019. And if anyone wants to see the standard pushed along faster it would be Aerohive. They were one of, if not the, first company to bring a 802.11ax access point to the market. So they want to see a standard piece of equipment for sure.

Making pre-standard access points isn’t anything new to the market. Manufacturers have been trying to get ahead of the trends for a while now. I can distinctly remember being involved in IT when 802.11n was still in the pre-standard days. One of our employees brought in a Belkin Pre-N AP and client card and wanted us to get it working because, in his words, “It will cover my whole house with Wi-Fi!”

Sadly, we ended up having to ditch this device once the 802.11n standard was finalized. Why? Because Belkin had rushed it to the market and tried to capitalize on the fervor of people wanting fast connection speeds. The AP only worked with the PCMCIA client card sold by Belkin. Once you started to see ratified 802.11n devices they were incompatible with the Belkin AP and fell back to 802.11g speeds.

Belkin wasn’t the only manufacturer that was trying to get ahead of the curve. Cisco also pushed out the Aironet 1250, which had detachable lobes that could be pulled off and replaced. Why? Because they were shipping a draft 802.11n piece of hardware. They claimed that anyone purchasing the draft spec hardware could send in the lobes and get an upgrade to ratified hardware as soon as it was finalized. Except, as a rushed product the 1250 also consumed lots of power, ran hot, and generally had very low performance compared to the APs that came out after the ratification process was completed.

We’re seeing the same rush again with 802.11ax. Everyone wants to have something new when the next refresh cycle comes up. Instead of pushing people toward the stable performance of 802.11ac Wave 2 with proper design they are going out on a limb. Manufacturers are betting on the fact that their designs are going to be software-upgradable in the end. Which assumes there won’t be any major changes during the ratification process.

Cupertino Doesn’t Guess

One of the major criticism points of 802.11ax is that there is not any widespread adoption of clients out there to push us to need 802.11ax APs. The client vs. infrastructure argument is always a tough one. Do you make the client adapter and hope that someone will eventually come out with hardware to support it? Or do you choose to instead wait for the infrastructure to jump up in speed and then buy a client adapter to support it?

I’m usually one revision behind in most cases. My home hardware is running 802.11ac Wave 2 currently, but my devices were 11ac capable long before I installed any Meraki or Ubiquiti equipment. So my infrastructure was playing catchup with my clients. But not everyone runs the same gear that I do.

One of the areas where this is more apparent is not in the Wi-Fi realm but instead in the carrier space. We’re starting to hear that carriers like AT&T are deploying 5G in many cities even though there aren’t many 5G capable handsets. And, even when the first 5G handsets start hitting the market, the smart money says to avoid the first generation. Because the first generation is almost always hot, power hungry, and low performing. Sound familiar?

You want to know who doesn’t bet on non-standard technology? Apple. Time and again, Apple has chosen to take a very conservative approach to introducing new chipsets into their devices. And while their Wi-Fi chipsets often seen upgrades long before their cellular modems do, you can guarantee that they aren’t going to make a bet on non-standard technology that could potentially hamper adoption of their flagship mobile device.

A Logical Approach

Let’s look at it logically for a moment. Let’s assume that the standards bodies get off their laurels and kick into high gear to get 802.11ax ratified at the end of Q2. That’s just after Apple’s WWDC. Do you think Apple is going to wait until post-WWDC to decide what chipsets are going to be in the new iPhone? You bet your sweet bandwidth they aren’t!

The chipset decisions for the iPhone 11 are being made right now in Q1. They want to know they can get sufficient quantities of SoCs and modems by the time manufacturing has to ramp up to have them ready for stores in October. That means you can’t guess whether or not a standard is going to be approved in time for launch. Q3 2019 is during the iPhone announcement season. Apple is the most conservative manufacturer out there. They aren’t going to stake their connectivity on an unproven standard.

So, let’s just state it emphatically for the search engines: The iPhone 11 will not have 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, support. And anyone trying to tell you differently is trying to sell you a load of marketing.

The Future of Connectivity

So, what about the iPhone XII or whatever we call it? That’s a more interesting discussion. And it hinges on something I heard in a recent episode of a new wireless podcast. The Contention Window was started by my friends Tauni Odia and Scott Lester. In Episode 1, they have their big 2019 predictions. Tauni predicted that 802.11ax won’t be ratified in 2019. I agree with her assessment. Despite the optimism of the working group these things tend to take longer than expected. Which means Q4 2019 or perhaps even Q1 2020.

If 802.11ax ratification slips into 2020 you’ll see Apple taking the same conservative approach to adoption. This is especially true if the majority of deployed infrastructure APs are still pre-standard. Apple would rather take an extra year to get things right and know they won’t have any bugs than to rush something to the market in the hopes of selling a few corner-case techies on something that doesn’t have much of an impact on speeds in the long run.

However, if the standards bodies prove us all wrong and push 11ax ratification through we should see it in the iPhone X+2. A mature technology with proper support should be seen as a winner. But you should see them move telegraphed far in advance with adoption of the 11ax radios in the MacBook Pro first. Once the bigger flagship computing devices get support it will trickle down. This is just an economic concern. The MacBook has more room in the case for a first-gen 11ax chip. Looser thermal tolerances and space considerations means more room to make mistakes.

In short: Don’t expect an 11ax (or Wi-Fi 6) chip before 2020. And if you’re betting the farm on the iPhone, you may be waiting a long time.

Tom’s Take

I like the predictions of professionals with knowledge over leaks with dubious marketing value. The Contention Window has lots of good information about why 802.11ax won’t be ratified any time soon. A report about a leaked report that may or may not be accurate holds a lot less value. Don’t listen to the hype. Listen to the people who know what they’re talking about, like Scott and Tauni for example. And don’t stress about having the newest, fastest wireless devices in your house. Odds are way better that you’re going to have to buy a new AP for Christmas this year than the hope of your next iPhone support 802.11ax. But the one thing we can all agree on: Wi-Fi 6 is a terrible branding decision!

Or I suppose the XI if you’re into Roman numerals

︎

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from martinos https://networkingnerd.net/2019/01/15/iphone-11-plus-wi-fi-6-equals-undefined/

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preciousmetals0 · 5 years ago

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March Madness; Disney Sadness; Apple Gladness

March Madness; Disney Sadness; Apple Gladness:

Friday Four Play: The “Take It to the Limit” Edition

The third time’s the charm, right?

That’s what they say, anyway. Dow futures hit the circuit breakers once again this morning as markets took it to the limit … one more time.

Most of us are sad after Wall Street experienced its worst day since 1987’s Black Monday. The rest of us are wondering what to do with the rest of March now that March Madness is officially canceled.

Now that’s madness!

But it’s not only the NCAA tournament. The NBA suspended its season, as did the NHL, Major League Soccer and European soccer.

The MLB delayed opening day for at least two weeks and canceled spring training.

The PGA will still hold tournaments, but without spectators. Who will the announcers shush now? It’s just not the same!

It’s clearly a bad time to be a sportsball fan.

Getting back to the heart of the matter, Wall Street’s in rally mode today. Optimism is growing over a promised White House coronavirus bill … though what’s ultimately in this bill may or may not help you through the night.

Wall Street has been living life in the fast lane, with easy money driving massive bullish trading in the city.

Right now, however, we need to learn to be still. Remain calm. Don’t get lured into either the rush to sell or the rush to buy. Today’s rally may just turn out to be a sucker’s rally, so there’s no need to rush into today’s buying spree, guns blazing, like a desperado.

After all, the markets won’t have their pretty maids all in a row for some time. If you don’t plan to invest properly for the long run, you’re in for a heartache tonight … I know.

So, put me on Wall Street and show me a sign. And take it to the limit … one more time.

And now for something completely different … here’s your Friday Four Play:

No. 1: A Whole New World

I don’t know what timeline we’re stuck in, but I never thought I’d see the day when The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) closed all its parks at once.

From Florida to Paris, Disney announced this morning that it will cease all park operations as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

“In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, we are proceeding with the closure of our theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Paris Resort, beginning at the close of business on Sunday, March 15, through the end of the month,” Disney said in a statement.

Here at Great Stuff, we expected this announcement and anticipated that it’d lead to heavy selling pressure. However, since the closures arrived on a rally day for the markets, DIS stock is actually gaining despite the news.

We wanted to tell you that this would be a buying opportunity for DIS. But now … I think we’ll hold off until investors finally digest this historic event — especially since park revenue makes up about 26% of Disney’s total sales for the year. Ouch.

No. 2: Slackin’ Off

On the surface, Slack Technologies Inc. (NYSE: WORK) appeared to put in a solid fourth quarter. Earnings and revenue (which jumped 49%) each topped analysts’ expectations.

However, guidance for both the first quarter and the full year were on the light side. This was especially disconcerting for Wall Street, which expected big things from a company that enables working from home through the COVID-19 outbreak.

Digging deeper into the report, we find that fourth-quarter losses more than doubled year over year. What’s more, most of the new users flooding into Slack due to the coronavirus are free users. Convincing those freemium users to buy amid uncertain market conditions will be tough indeed.

As a result, Wall Street sent Slack packin’ to the tune of more than 25% today.

No. 3: The Beginning of the End?

The last time we checked in on Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), the iPhone maker was shuttering its retail locations across China and issuing profit warnings — a veritable canary in a coal mine.

It’s fitting, then, that Apple is now the dove carrying an olive branch of hope.

What’s that, little bird? Oh, Apple is reopening all 42 of its Chinese retail locations?! That’s great news!

But there’s more…

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) analyst Aaron Rakers upgraded Apple stock from equal weight to overweight. Why? Rakers expects Apple to outperform, noting that the tech giant is “under-owned in large cap fundament funds.”

Wait … you mean to tell me that, after two weeks of the harshest selling we’ve seen in years (decades, even) … funds don’t own enough AAPL shares?

Fascinating … it’s not like everyone was dumping nearly every stock they owned recently, including Apple. Tell me more! Is water wet? Is the sky blue? Can sheep bladders really be used to prevent earthquakes?

Now, even the good news comes with a warning: “While it is still admittedly difficult (impossible) to gauge the fundamental impact Apple may realize from the COVID-19 outbreak, at current levels we think shares offer a compelling risk / reward for long-term patient investors.”

Is Rakers too soon? Too late? Either way, we’ll see what kind of financial shape Apple is in when the company reports its second-quarter earnings in a couple of months.

AAPL shares are up about 4.2% at last check. Nice.

No. 4: Occidentally on Purpose

For some, market collapses are a time to hunker down, save capital and prepare for the worst. For others, it’s time to go hunting.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that activist investor Carl Icahn gobbled up nearly 10% of Occidental Petroleum Corp.’s (NYSE: OXY) shares during the recent market downturn. That’s right: In the middle of the Russia/Saudi Arabia pillow fight over oil prices, when oil service companies were getting beaten to death, Carl drank Occidental’s milkshake … drank it right up.

Icahn not believe it, and neither could Occidental. Today, the company’s board adopted a “poison pill” to prevent Carl from completely taking over. The pill (definitely not the little blue kind) is designed to limit shareholder rights for one year should any one shareholder acquire 15% or more of OXY shares outstanding.

Basically, Occidental just turned off the tap on Icahn’s share-siphoning program. Investors aren’t happy, however, as OXY is one of the few stocks struggling in today’s broad market rally.

Great Stuff: Happy Little Trees

Weeks like this make me want to put on Bob Ross and drift off to thoughts of happy little trees.

If this week’s whiplash was tough for you, you aren’t alone. Although … let’s not kid ourselves.

We aren’t through this yet. We have no idea how markets will react as the virus seeps deeper and deeper into the bowels of America. There will be more volatility to come — I’d almost guarantee it, but you know … irrational markets and all.

Just remember…

Optimism is just as contagious as the virus … and all the worry that comes with it. If you’re searching for some much-needed positivity to start the weekend, search no more.

No matter what the markets look like now, we will get through this. Business will go on. Life … uhhh … finds a way!

And you better believe that Mickey Mouse ain’t dead.

At times like this, you can count on Banyan Hill expert Paul Mampilly to keep looking forward.

Paul’s “Strong Hands” approach to investing is crucial for times like this. He believes America will emerge from the coronavirus stronger than ever … no matter how long it takes. And the mega trends that he follows (such as 5G and precision medicine) won’t die to market panic.

Click here to learn about Paul Mampilly’s vision for a new, rebuilt United States — America 2.0 … complete with Strong Hands and happy little trees.

That’s all for this week. But don’t fret, you can get more meme-y market goodness by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Editor, Great Stuff

0 notes

goldira01 · 5 years ago

Link

Friday Four Play: The “Take It to the Limit” Edition

The third time’s the charm, right?

That’s what they say, anyway. Dow futures hit the circuit breakers once again this morning as markets took it to the limit … one more time.

Now that’s madness!

But it’s not only the NCAA tournament. The NBA suspended its season, as did the NHL, Major League Soccer and European soccer.

The MLB delayed opening day for at least two weeks and canceled spring training.

The PGA will still hold tournaments, but without spectators. Who will the announcers shush now? It’s just not the same!

It’s clearly a bad time to be a sportsball fan.

Wall Street has been living life in the fast lane, with easy money driving massive bullish trading in the city.

After all, the markets won’t have their pretty maids all in a row for some time. If you don’t plan to invest properly for the long run, you’re in for a heartache tonight … I know.

So, put me on Wall Street and show me a sign. And take it to the limit … one more time.

And now for something completely different … here’s your Friday Four Play:

No. 1: A Whole New World

I don’t know what timeline we’re stuck in, but I never thought I’d see the day when The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) closed all its parks at once.

From Florida to Paris, Disney announced this morning that it will cease all park operations as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

No. 2: Slackin’ Off

On the surface, Slack Technologies Inc. (NYSE: WORK) appeared to put in a solid fourth quarter. Earnings and revenue (which jumped 49%) each topped analysts’ expectations.

As a result, Wall Street sent Slack packin’ to the tune of more than 25% today.

No. 3: The Beginning of the End?

The last time we checked in on Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL), the iPhone maker was shuttering its retail locations across China and issuing profit warnings — a veritable canary in a coal mine.

It’s fitting, then, that Apple is now the dove carrying an olive branch of hope.

What’s that, little bird? Oh, Apple is reopening all 42 of its Chinese retail locations?! That’s great news!

But there’s more…

Wait … you mean to tell me that, after two weeks of the harshest selling we’ve seen in years (decades, even) … funds don’t own enough AAPL shares?

Is Rakers too soon? Too late? Either way, we’ll see what kind of financial shape Apple is in when the company reports its second-quarter earnings in a couple of months.

AAPL shares are up about 4.2% at last check. Nice.

No. 4: Occidentally on Purpose

For some, market collapses are a time to hunker down, save capital and prepare for the worst. For others, it’s time to go hunting.

Basically, Occidental just turned off the tap on Icahn’s share-siphoning program. Investors aren’t happy, however, as OXY is one of the few stocks struggling in today’s broad market rally.

Great Stuff: Happy Little Trees

Weeks like this make me want to put on Bob Ross and drift off to thoughts of happy little trees.

If this week’s whiplash was tough for you, you aren’t alone. Although … let’s not kid ourselves.

Just remember…

Optimism is just as contagious as the virus … and all the worry that comes with it. If you’re searching for some much-needed positivity to start the weekend, search no more.

No matter what the markets look like now, we will get through this. Business will go on. Life … uhhh … finds a way!

And you better believe that Mickey Mouse ain’t dead.

At times like this, you can count on Banyan Hill expert Paul Mampilly to keep looking forward.

Click here to learn about Paul Mampilly’s vision for a new, rebuilt United States — America 2.0 … complete with Strong Hands and happy little trees.

That’s all for this week. But don’t fret, you can get more meme-y market goodness by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

Until next time, good trading!

Regards,

Joseph Hargett

Editor, Great Stuff

#Timor Invest

0 notes

charllieeldridge · 5 years ago

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20 Essential Travel Items Everyone Should Pack

Every year there are new travel gadgets and gear upgrades coming on the market. A quick “travel” search on Amazon will almost always lead to 10 or 15 purchases. But not all of these travel items are worth packing and while some of them may seem cool, you’ll never actually use them.

After travelling for over 10 years with nothing more than a 40-liter backpack, we’ve learned to really minimize our travel gear and only pack the best (and necessary) travel items.

But that’s not to say we don’t have a few luxury items in our bags. There are some things in our packs that you’ve most likely never heard of, and others that are more common.

In this article, I’m going to list 20 essential travel items we have in our bags. These are items that we couldn’t travel without and we don’t think you should either!

Note: The most important thing you travel with is your backpack itself. Don’t miss our buyer’s guide for the best travel backpacks of the year and make sure your pack does everything you want it to.

1. Handpresso (for coffee fanatics!)

We absolutely love the Handpresso, a compact, hand pump espresso machine. As coffee lovers who aren’t crazy about brewed coffee (we only like espresso), this is one travel item that we wouldn’t leave home without.

Simply pump it 30 times, add hot water and a pod of your favourite coffee and voilà, you’ve got the perfect cup of espresso. For budget travellers who find themselves ordering lattes at coffee shops every day, the Handpresso can be an enormous money saver.

Just think about it.

One large latte at Starbucks is around $3.65. We purchase a bag of ground espresso coffee at the grocery store for just $4.50 (or less) and that bag makes around 40 cups of coffee. Add a bit of milk and we calculate that we’re not paying more than 15 cents per latte.

Aside from the money savings, we just love this little pump.

We purchase delicious ground beans from all over the world. Colombian dark roast in Colombia, rich Java from Indonesia and tasty espresso from Italy. We wake up every morning and instead of walking to a coffee shop or conglomerate, we make lattes right in our accommodation and drink them on our deck.

If you love espresso, then you should travel with a Handpresso pump. The only real downside to them is that they’re quite heavy at around 800 grams. Even though we only travel with 40 liters, we still find space for this essential travel item.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR HANDPRESSO ON AMAZON

Bonus Hack: Pick up a boil coil on Amazon as well. This handy little gadget can boil water in minutes and is super compact. If you don’t have a kettle, simply plug it in and add it to a cup of water and you can have boiling hot coffee in no time. The boil coil is also great for tea, cooking a cup of noodles or even for making hard-boiled eggs.

UPDATE 2020: A lot of people are now using the Aeropress coffee machine for travelling. While we are still happy using the Handpresso, you may want to compare this to the Aeropress and see which is best for you. It’s definitely lighter, but does it make better coffee? Having used both now, I still think that Handpresso has it beat but it’s up to you.

2. Zipper Cubes

We still swear by these things. They keep your bag organized and ensure that everything is compressed down so that you can pack more in your bag than you would by just rolling clothes and stuffing them inside.

mesh packing cubes

We purchased Eagle Creek Zipper Cubes and they’re incredibly durable. We’ve had them since 2010 and we’ve packed them so tight that we’ve had to kneel on them and pull on the zippers just to do them up. To this day, the zippers have held up and they’re still working like new.

There are a lot of these brands on the market, but the only ones we’ve ever used are Eagle Creek and we know that they’re incredibly durable. This is one of the best travel items to have, no matter your style — backpack, or suitcase, these cubes keep everything organized.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR PACKING CUBES ON AMAZON

3. A Drone

When we first bought our DJI Phantom 3 back in 2014, drones were mostly reserved for professional videographers, vloggers and bloggers who wanted aerial photography. These days, drones have become smaller, more durable and easier to fly.

We’ve upgraded to the DJI Spark, which is so tiny that it can pretty much fit into any backpack or luggage. It comes with a hard foam case to keep it protected and it takes great videos and photos. If you like to get unique photos while you’re travelling, then this thing is perfect.

It sets up in minutes, can be flown using just a smartphone and has a bunch of cool features like follow me, hand gestures and point of interest. The drone can be flown by a 12-year-old and DJI has made it very simple to get excellent cinematic shots.

If you’re a blogger, I definitely recommend picking one of these up. At just $399 you really can’t go wrong. But even if you’re not a blogger, these small drones are perfect for getting cool video clips and beautiful photos from the sky while you’re travelling.

DJI recently released the Mavic Mini drone which is a definite replacement for the Spark. With a 2.7K camera, enhanced Wifi and a 3-axis gimbal all for the same price as the Spark — I’ll definitely be upgrading to the Mavic Mini as soon as possible!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR DJI DRONE ON AMAZON

4. Portable Charger (Power Bank)

Believe it or not, we didn’t travel with a power bank until mid-2017. I really don’t know how we did it. iPhones and other devices barely last a day, so we were always walking around with electronics that were completely dead and useless.

Today we travel with 3 different portable chargers, in 3 different sizes for different situations.

There’s no need to take out the heavy power bank if you’ll only be gone for the day, and the smallest one we have only charges the iPhone to 50%, so we only use that one if we’re running out the door and we realize our phones are dead.

This portable charger by Rav Power has 3 outputs, is compatible with the new iPhones, and charges most smartphones for 6 times with one charge! We personally use this TP-Link power bank, but the Rav Power is higher rated, more affordable and offers more charges.

Of course, these portable chargers aren’t just for smartphones. You can charge tablets, cameras, and anything that uses a USB to charge.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR A PORTABLE CHARGER ON AMAZON

Finally, we pack the Travel Card. This thing is about the size of two credit cards stacked on top of each other, but it doesn’t hold much charge. If we’re lucky, it’ll give the iPhones a 50% charge, but we can only usually rely on it for around 35%. Still, it’s great if we just need a quick boost in battery and don’t want to carry around anything heavy.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR THE TRAVELCARD ON THEIR WEBSITE

Note: Travelling with carry-on luggage makes flying a lot less stressful. To figure out whether or not your luggage will meet the restrictions of the airline you’re flying with, check out this carry-on size chart which shows the allowance of 170+ airlines.

5. Noise Cancelling Earbuds

I wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about surrounding “noise cancellation” until I tried on a pair of Bose QuietComfort 20 Noise Cancelling Earbuds. These things are super comfortable and they actually cancel out most noise from around the room or airplane.

The best part is that you don’t have to actually listen to music in order to cancel out the noise. You can simply put in the earbuds and turn on the noise cancellation feature and the earbuds will scan the audio climate in the room and counteract any noise by sending the opposite signal into your eardrum.

They work like a charm and really need to be heard to be believed. Oh, and they’re Bose, so you know they sound amazing when they’re playing music.

Another option if you’re looking for a Bluetooth option (and if you’re an Apple fan), are the Apple Airpods Pro. We have a pair each, and these noise-canceling Bluetooth earbuds are great for working out, listening to Podcasts and chatting on the phone — minus the annoying cord that gets in the way.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR BOSE EARBUDS ON AMAZON

6. Laser Lite Ear Plugs

Continuing on the theme of blocking out unwanted sound, I wouldn’t travel without a good set of earplugs. When I have the opportunity to order my favourites from Amazon, I always choose Laser Lite Foam Ear Plugs.

They’re soft, comfortable and block out the most sound possible without hurting your ears. You can pick up a pack of 200 of them for just over $20 and they’re worth every penny. To get the most out of them, you’ll have to pinch them down and insert them into your ear, and then let them expand deep within the canal.

Earplugs are an essential travel item for anyone — dogs barking, music blaring, fireworks going off, loud traffic, people partying…it all happens when you’re trying to sleep!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR EAR PLUGS ON AMAZON

7. Good Compact Camera

Every traveller needs to carry a good pocket camera, although these days, it’s pretty amazing what iPhones can do!

If you want to take some better photos and great videos while you’re travelling, without packing the size and weight of a full DSLR or mirrorless, then I recommend the Canon G7x Mark II.

This camera has some incredible features, takes great photos (when not in Auto mode), and produces some of the best videos of any camera in its class. Canon has now updated this camera to the G7X III but be careful. A lot of users are complaining about bad focusing and overheating.

If you’re not a Canon fan, then you may want to go with the Lumix LX10. This one outdoes the G7x II with 4K video and rack focusing photography, meaning you can take the photo now, and decide where to focus later. A great feature that’s definitely worth the money. Also, the LX-10 has a Leica lens which promises clearer, more crisp photos.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR LX10 ON AMAZON

Having used the G7x Mark II for over a year, I can say it’s an excellent camera and I highly recommend it — especially for videos.

Another option and a camera that we recently upgraded to is the Sony RX100 VII, which has excellent retina focus, an external mic port, and takes great photos.

Bonus Hack: Both the G7x II and the LX10 lack an external mic port. If you plan to do any video with these cameras, the built-in mics sound terrible when there’s even the slightest bit of wind. The solution is to pick up a small mic muff, cut out a piece and glue it over the built-in mic at the top of the camera. The sound becomes less tinny and the mic works amazingly well in windy conditions.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR G7X MARK II ON AMAZON

8. Lems Shoes

I can’t speak highly enough about these amazing travel shoes. Nick’s Lems Shoes have lasted him for over four years and he wears them quite a bit.

They’re extremely comfortable, can be used in place of dress shoes and running shoes in most cases and the best part is that they roll up into a ball for easy packing.

Without a doubt these are the best shoes Nick has ever owned and if they ever wear out, he’ll buy another pair right away. For men and women, these are simply the best travel shoes on the market.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR THE MEN’S LEMS SHOES ON THEIR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR THE WOMEN’S LEMS SHOES ON THEIR WEBSITE

9. Ziploc Bags

Not only do these plastic baggies take up virtually no room in your suitcase and weigh nothing, but they have a variety of uses, making them one of the best travel items.

If you’re listening to music at the beach, these bags are a great way to keep sand out of your speakers or phone. If you’re hiking through the rain, putting your electronics in Ziplocs is a great way to protect them.

Use a Ziploc to keep your electronics safe when you’re near water, to keep cords from tangling together in your luggage, to keep small gels or lotions from spilling all over your bag, and, of course, to pack snacks.

We wouldn’t travel without them.

10. Bluetooth Speakers

Everyone these days travels with Bluetooth speakers. When you’re getting ready to go out for the night or just chilling on your beach hut patio looking out at sunset, having a bit of music playing in the background can really set the mood.

Not just any Bluetooth speakers will do either. You’ll want to have a nice mix of durability and excellent sound. We currently have the JBL Flip 5 Speakers, which are fully waterproof. If you’re looking for affordable Bluetooth speakers in 2020 these are my top choice.

The JBL speakers are fairly lightweight, durable and affordable.

We’ve brought them to the beach numerous times and didn’t worry about them getting wet or sandy. Plus, we use them when listening to music, and when watching shows on TV.

If I was going for pure sound quality and didn’t care about weight and size, I would go with the Soundlink Mini II Limited Edition.

They’re still small enough that you can travel with them, but at a pound and a half they’re quite heavy, plus they cost around $200. If you don’t mind the extra half pound in weight and don’t care about waterproofing, they’re probably your best bet for sound quality.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR JBL SPEAKERS ON AMAZON

11. Portable Doorstop (or Doorstop Alarm)

Safety is probably one of your biggest concerns when traveling.

Something that takes up as little room as a doorstop can provide you that added layer of security — especially if you’re staying in a hostel or other location that doesn’t conform to typical security practices.

While this standard doorstop prevents entry into a room, a doorstop alarm like this one emits sounds of 120 decibels – quickly drawing you from your slumber!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR DOORSTOPS ON AMAZON

12. Locks

While we’re on the subject of security, don’t forget to take a lock (or two). These little devices will come in handy when it comes to hostel lockers, gym lockers, and even your check-in baggage.

Be sure your locks are TSA approved so they don’t have to be cut if your luggage needs to be opened during the screening process. (TSA-approved locks can be opened by security officers using a master key.)

Pro Tip: A key lock gives you one more thing to lose (or forget!). Use a code lock, instead.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR TRAVEL LOCKS ON AMAZON

13. Plug Adapter (and maybe a converter)

Before you leave, save yourself a world of frustration by checking to see whether you’ll need a plug adapter (if you’re traveling to a country where the electrical sockets are shaped differently) or a voltage converter (if your destination uses different voltages and electrical frequencies).

Chargers for devices like smartphones and laptops are typically compatible with both North American and European frequencies — but don’t take this for granted. Be sure to check the fine print on every adapter before plugging it in, or you run the risk of damaging your device.

Pro Tip: A universal adapter like this one enables you to charge your electronics in hundreds of countries around the world — and offers dual USB ports.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR ADAPTERS ON AMAZON

14. Wet Wipes

Wet wipes are great for sanitizing a questionable room, wiping down your area on an airplane, cleaning up when you don’t have access to soap and water, and even spot-cleaning your clothes. Plus, they have no trouble getting through airport security!

These sanitizing wipes are also very handy when you’re out hiking or trekking on a hot day, or if you’re in the dusty desert and you want a quick “bath”.

These have been an essential travel item in our packs for many years now — once you travel with them, you’ll wonder how you ever did without.

15. Diva Cup

This one is just for the ladies!

When travelling around the world, having your period can be more difficult than it is at home. If you can believe it, tampons are hard to come by in many countries, often there are no garbage cans in the bathrooms, and in many places, you can’t flush anything down the toilet.

This is where the Diva Cup comes in. This silicone menstrual cup can be worn for 8+ hours (great for long travel days), and it won’t take up a ton of space in your pack, as bulky tampons do. It’s easy to use and easy to clean.

But the best part? It’ll save you money and is great for the environment. I highly recommend it.

☞ SEE ALSO: Pills, Paps and Periods – How To Handle Female Health While On The Road

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR THE DIVA CUP ON AMAZON

16. Reuseable Bottle and Steri-Pen

While we’re on the topic of being responsible travellers, unless you’re drinking glacier water, or are travelling in a developed country, most likely you won’t be able to drink the tap water in the destination you’re visiting.

Purchasing bottled water is a must, but what happens to all of the empty bottles afterward? Just think of the amount of garbage you are producing while travelling abroad, especially for an extended period of time.

Instead, bring a reusable bottle and a Steri-Pen.

When we’re living somewhere for a month or so, we always purchase one of those 18L bottles of water and just fill up our glasses/bottles as needed. If we’re just travelling, we try to always bring a reusable bottle and fill it up wherever drinking water is available.

Stopping for a water break while trekking Torres del Paine in Chile

In Mexico, almost every business and hostel had a jug of drinking water for customers and guests. In other parts of the world, something like a Steri-Pen to clean and sterilize the water, or using water purification tablets is a good idea.

No matter where you are, try to find a way to avoid drinking water from disposable bottles.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR A REUSABLE BOTTLE ON AMAZON

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR A STERI-PEN ON AMAZON

17. Travel Clothes

When trying to keep your luggage weight and size to a minimum, you’ll want to pack clothing that’s versatile and lightweight, yet is comfortable.

I’ve owned Prana clothing now for 6 years. Initially, I’d been looking for new hiking pants, that would be stretchy, soft and (most importantly) not stick to my legs in the humidity of tropical destination. The Halle Pant is perfect for that.

Even if you’re not trekking or hiking, this pant is a good choice for travel days. While I always wear them for multi-day hikes, I also always wear them on flight days because they’re so comfortable — and stylish.

Prana has a wide range of chillin’ out, loose pants that you could wear while exploring cities, riding on buses, doing yoga, or just hanging out on the beach in the evenings. They also have many lightweight shirts and clothing for adventurers.

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu – wearing Prana pants

They’ve been around for 22 years now and have to be the most ethical clothing company I’ve ever found. They focus on giving back to the earth, rather than taking, and are very conscious regarding the usage of water, energy, and chemicals during manufacturing.

Their apparel is made from organic cotton and recycled materials while avoiding the use of harmful toxins and chemicals. Many of their clothes are also Fair-Trade Certified! In my opinion, Prana clothes are a travel essential.

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR CLOTHES ON PRANA.COM

18. A Pillowcase

This is a simple one. We always pack a pillowcase each.

Why?

If a pillowcase is “pilly”, or if there’s a question as to the cleanliness of it, it’s nice to know you have your own that you can slide on!

Plus, if you’re trekking or trying to sleep on a long bus ride, you can stuff the pillowcase with some clothing and create a makeshift pillow.

19. First-Aid Kit

When it comes to medicine and first aid items, the more offtrack you’ll be, the more items you should pack. For a regular holiday, you should still have these essential medical travel items in your bag:

Band-aids (plasters)

Antibiotic/antiseptic lotion for cuts and scrapes (ie: Polysporin)

Ibuprofen/Paracetamol or some sort of painkiller & fever reducer (Tylenol, Advil, Panadol, etc.)

Pills for nausea/indigestion/diarrhea/upset stomach (ie: something with Bismuth: Pepto-Bismol)

Cold & flu pills (ie: Benylin, Benadryl, Tylenol, etc.)

Sore throat lozenges

Antihistamine (for allergic reactions to anything from hay-fever to bug stings).

Vaseline

Immune boosters (we like oil of oregano and ginger)

Tweezers, nail clippers, and safety pins (for splinters, ingrown nails, blisters, etc.)

Hand sanitizer

20. Travel Towel

We’ve travelled with a travel towel since our very first trip in 2008. If you choose to sleep in hostels, guesthouses or huts, oftentimes towels won’t be provided, or they charge a security deposit to rent them.

Travel towels are thin, lightweight, super absorbing and microbial (meaning they won’t smell!).

They have more uses than simply drying off after a shower — you can bring them to the beach, to waterfalls, use them as a blanket for a picnic, sit on them on a dirty seat, create shade at the beach, etc.

We have the MSR Pack Towel, which has been going strong since 2011!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR A TRAVEL TOWEL ON AMAZON

21. Bonus: Essential Travel Gear for Pets

Travelling with a pet? Make sure you grab these essentials. Don’t forget to bring immunizations records, a suitable crate, and a blanket if your pet is cleared to sit on your lap. Always bring a few treat options, a chew toy, and waste bags just in case!

If you have an emotional support animal and flying within the US, you should be able to carry your ESA in-flight according to the Air Carrier Access Act.

Most airlines require these things: ESA letter from your Licensed Mental Health Professional, pet health form signed by your veterinarian, and a behavioral form. You can learn more about emotional support animals and the air carrier access act here.

Now You Know The Best Travel Items

It’s amazing how a well-packed bag can help make travel more enjoyable. Packing the right gear can save you time and money, make for a nice ambiance and keep you comfortable on the road.

Make sure you check out our packing lists: The Ultimate Packing List For Full-Time Travellers, Travel Packing List for Men, and our Travel Packing List For Women for more great packing ideas.

What are your favourite travel items? Surely you have some things in your bags that you wouldn’t travel without. Share with us in the comments below and if we really like it, we’ll add it to this post! Thanks to Shutterstock.com for providing many of the images in this article.

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readersforum · 6 years ago

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How I podcast

New Post has been published on http://www.readersforum.tk/how-i-podcast/

How I podcast

I’ve been podcasting in various forms for about a dozen years now. Sometimes it has been within the corporate confines of the various publications I’ve worked for and sometimes it has just been for myself. That’s the beauty of podcasting — there’s no overhead.

It can be recorded on a terrible Skype line or meticulously crafted by an army of producers. You can do it for five listeners or five million. Do a five-episode miniseries or suddenly look at the calendar one day and realize you’ve been putting up an episode a week for five years.

My current podcast, RiYL, falls into the latter category. Episode 322 just posted this weekend. That’s a lifetime in podcast years, and I’m not exaggerating when I say there’s no way the show would have lasted this long had I not assembled the proper gear.

It’s true that doing the show has been an ongoing process of refining my setup, both in terms of recording hardware and the software workflow, but the core components have been in place for a while. A number of my more successful friends have invested thousands to build home studios that sound as professional as any NPR affiliate.

For me, however, the key has always been mobility. I’ve fine-tuned a podcasting rig that sounds good, but is small enough to slip into a laptop sleeve. Leave no trace, as the saying goes.

Always keep a podcasting rig you can fit in a laptop sleeve. pic.twitter.com/BAwbHAuzKG

— Brian Heater (@bheater) January 25, 2019

The motivation dates back to the show’s humble beginnings (though, for the record, the first few episodes were done over Skype as I was still figuring things out). I realized pretty early on that getting touring artists and musicians to come to my place in Queens (with a few exceptions) was going to be a non-starter.

Piecing together a lightweight rig has given me the flexibility to meet people where they are, be it a hotel room, bar or their PR rep’s conference room. And now that I travel pretty regularly for work, it means I can easily slip the setup into a carry-on, so I can meet guests in their hometowns.

Here’s a photo of upcoming guest Hannibal Buress, recorded in my hotel room in Lagos, Nigeria. My setup is placed gingerly atop my overturned suitcase on a coffee table. He’s clearly impressed.

The other thing the setup has helped me realize is that people’s expectations for professionalism has shifted considerably in recent decades. My rig is small and simple, but various guests have commented over the years that they’re impressed. The last person who interviewed them had them speak into their iPhone.

At the very least, this is certainly better than that.

It’s not the end-all, be-all, by any stretch of the imagination. This is just what has worked for me. Over the years, I’ve had plenty of people — guests and otherwise — ask me what I use. Also, in the wake of last week’s Spotify acquisition of Anchor and Gimlet, podcasts are, once again, the hot newness. So now seemed like as good a time as any to get this all down on paper.

TASCAM DR-40 4-Track Portable Digital Recorder ($170): This was my first acquisition and the one piece of hardware I’ve held onto through the duration of the show (though for the record, I’ve purchased it twice after an unfortunate incident with a lost backpack).

Zoom and Roland also make solid multi-track recorders that will probably be interchangeable for most. The key is finding a system you like that sports dual XLR mic inputs that you can monitor on the fly. They pretty much all have built-in mics, but you’re not going to want to rely on room mics for a podcast. It sounds like crap and it’s a nightmare to edit if you’ve got more than one speaker.

Recording works like a charm. The system records each mic to a left and right channel, which it saves as a WAV file on an SD card. Just make sure the mics are placed at a sufficient distance, so you don’t pick up too much cross talk.

Of course, here you’re limited to two mics. That’s been an issue at points when entire bands have wanted to join in on the fun. The aforementioned companies do make recorders with more inputs. Those are generally larger and a lot pricier, though.

Honorable mention here goes to the Rodecaster. The board is really great at what it does. We recorded an episode of TechCrunch Original Content on the thing, with it doing guest duties and producing in real time. The recent addition of multi-track recording makes this thing an absolute killer.

It has eight channels, including multiple mic inputs, triggerable sound pads and the ability to beam someone in via phone. If I was setting up a home studio on the cheap, I would shell out for one of these, no questions asked. That said, it’s just way too large for my current needs.

Weymic New Wm57 ($10): Okay, true story. Right after I bought the TASCAM, I invested in a pair of super-cheap mics. They sounded… OK, but the presentation was lacking. One afternoon, I went to Reggie Watts’ Brooklyn apartment to record an episode. I handed him a mic. He looked it over, moved it around in his hand a bit, then slyly unplugged it and reached into a drawer behind him, grabbed a mic and popped it on.

The guy knows from microphones.

My takeaway here is that presentation is important. Looks matter, as does weight. A microphone should have some heft to it. People’s expectations have lowered with regards to what an audio setup looks like, but you need good mics if pros are going to take you seriously.

I’ve since been through various mics, and lately I’ve settled on these things. For the record, they’re a wholesale knock-off of the Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone — the go-to microphone for podcasters. The SM57 is the thing I assume Marc Maron and Terry Gross would talk about if they had to share an Uber Pool to Silver Lake.

The Weymic looks nearly identical and sounds great for one-tenth the price. Don’t ask me how. And hey, I’m not exactly swimming in Casper ad revenue here. Also do yourself a favor and invest in a couple of foam windscreens to cut down on sibilance. You can get a bunch in a pack for cheap.

Universal Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand Portable Foldable Tripod (Two for $15): I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to add these to the repertoire. Guests jostle mics a lot during long interviews, and that stuff picks up. I’ve also had a number of older guests on the show, and asking them to hold a microphone for 45 minutes to an hour is just cruel.

These, picked up from Amazon, are super-cheap and fold up into nothing, making them perfect for my laptop-sleeve constraints. The only issues are: 1) They’re not great for super-tall guests. I recently had a member of the band Health on the show and ended up sticking the stand precariously atop a pile of several books; and 2) The screws loosen themselves like crazy for some reason, so I just purchased a pair of keychain screw drivers to keep them in check.

I pair all of that with a couple of six-foot XLR mic cables ($7 a piece for Amazon basics) and some velcro ties. Those fit nicely in the outside pocket of the laptop sleeve, along with backup batteries.

Audacity/Garage Band: Sometimes you just stick with the workflow you’ve got. I should probably upgrade to Adobe Audition (maybe this article will be what motivates me) one of these days, but I’ve been using Audacity for like 10 years at this point. It’s simple and it works fine for chopping up a show. That’s my biggest complaint with a number of the free apps like Anchor — they mostly suck when it comes to editing a show.

And editing is important. It’s true that another one of the wonderful things about podcasts is they can be as long or as short as you want, but everything can benefit from a little tightening up. I also spend a lot of time adjusting levels (often on the subway ride home). And make sure to record a little room tone to get rid of ambient noise in post.

After the show is edited, I export it as a single track and import it into my show template in Garage Band. That’s where I add the music beds, outros and the like.

Podbean: A couple of friends are launching a podcast soon. They asked me who I use for hosting. Podbean is something I found early on. I’m not sure I’d recommend the service, but I’m 300+ episodes deep at this point. There are a lot of options out there, so shop around a bit. Anchor is compelling for novices, including its built-in ad-servicing (though I’m a little wary of how the Spotify acquisition will play out) and a lot of my friends swear by Libsyn for more popular shows. Heck, even SoundCloud has a decent option.

Everyone has an embedded player and the means with which to syndicate to iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, et al.

I’ve found Podbean to be a bit clunky and the service has experienced a handful of outages. That said, recent additions have streamlined the program, and they’ve added some pretty decent analytics to the backend, so it’s definitely headed in the right direction. Once uploaded, I embed that into a Tumblr post.

This week on RiYL, a frank discussion with @michaelfranti about the power of human connections and optimism in a difficult world. https://t.co/Q8Y6joNlCy #riylcast pic.twitter.com/PoVseiihWf

— Brian Heater (@bheater) February 11, 2019

Headliner: I’ve tried a number of speech visualizers for promoting the show. I found Anchor’s clunky. Wavve’s was decent, but they start charging you after your first 30-second clip. I only just started using Headliner this week, and it’s terrific. Easy to use, highly customizable and, best of all, free.

The transcriptions are okay for a free service (you’re going to have to clean them up) and the online editing tools are great. I think I’m sticking with this one for a while.

Additional shout-outs to Google Drive. The first thing I do after transferring files from my desktop is back them up here. It’s the one place where I’ve got all my files and has helped quite a bit with scheduling episodes.

YouTube is another recent experiment for me. I’ve been syndicating the show to all of the usual places, as mentioned above, but it recently occurred to me that people use the video platform to listen to audio programs. I asked a bunch of folks on Facebook and found it to be surprisingly popular. This will become increasingly important as more people purchase screen-sporting assistants like Google Home Hub and the Amazon Show. It’s a new thing for me and I’ve only got a handful of subscribers at the moment, but I’ll let you know how that goes.

I do still find myself recording remotely from time to time. Auto podcaster extraordinaire Kirsten recently introduced me to Zencastr, which is great for this purpose, recording each caller remotely and backing up those files to a server. If I’m using Skype, I go with the old standby, Ecamm’s Call Recorder, to record locally.

I’ve also become attached to Blue’s Raspberry USB mic for this purpose. It’s adorable and tiny, so you can stash it in a backpack for travel. It’s not the best-sounding mic, but it’s good for its size and it sounds a hell of a lot better than the company’s Yeti Nano. Rode’s got a company of models with optional windscreens I’ve been meaning to check out as well, but I’ve heard good things.

If you’re hip to any new tools you think I should check out, hit me up on Twitter at @bheater. I’m always looking for ways to step up my game.

0 notes

toomanysinks · 6 years ago

Text

How I podcast

For me, however, the key has always been mobility. I’ve fine-tuned a podcasting rig that sounds good, but is small enough to slip into a laptop sleeve. Leave no trace, as the saying goes.

Always keep a podcasting rig you can fit in a laptop sleeve. pic.twitter.com/BAwbHAuzKG

— Brian Heater (@bheater) January 25, 2019

Here’s a photo of upcoming guest Hannibal Buress, recorded in my hotel room in Lagos, Nigeria. My setup is placed gingerly atop my overturned suitcase on a coffee table. He’s clearly impressed.

At the very least, this is certainly better than that.

The guy knows from microphones.

After the show is edited, I export it as a single track and import it into my show template in Garage Band. That’s where I add the music beds, outros and the like.

Everyone has an embedded player and the means with which to syndicate to iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, et al.

This week on RiYL, a frank discussion with @michaelfranti about the power of human connections and optimism in a difficult world. https://t.co/Q8Y6joNlCy #riylcast pic.twitter.com/PoVseiihWf

— Brian Heater (@bheater) February 11, 2019

The transcriptions are okay for a free service (you’re going to have to clean them up) and the online editing tools are great. I think I’m sticking with this one for a while.

If you’re hip to any new tools you think I should check out, hit me up on Twitter at @bheater. I’m always looking for ways to step up my game.

source https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/12/how-i-podcast/

0 notes

fmservers · 6 years ago

Text

How I podcast

For me, however, the key has always been mobility. I’ve fine-tuned a podcasting rig that sounds good, but is small enough to slip into a laptop sleeve. Leave no trace, as the saying goes.

Always keep a podcasting rig you can fit in a laptop sleeve. pic.twitter.com/BAwbHAuzKG

— Brian Heater (@bheater) January 25, 2019

Here’s a photo of upcoming guest Hannibal Buress, recorded in my hotel room in Lagos, Nigeria. My setup is placed gingerly atop my overturned suitcase on a coffee table. He’s clearly impressed.

At the very least, this is certainly better than that.

The guy knows from microphones.

After the show is edited, I export it as a single track and import it into my show template in Garage Band. That’s where I add the music beds, outros and the like.

Everyone has an embedded player and the means with which to syndicate to iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, et al.

This week on RiYL, a frank discussion with @michaelfranti about the power of human connections and optimism in a difficult world. https://t.co/Q8Y6joNlCy #riylcast pic.twitter.com/PoVseiihWf

— Brian Heater (@bheater) February 11, 2019

The transcriptions are okay for a free service (you’re going to have to clean them up) and the online editing tools are great. I think I’m sticking with this one for a while.

If you’re hip to any new tools you think I should check out, hit me up on Twitter at @bheater. I’m always looking for ways to step up my game.

Via Brian Heater https://techcrunch.com

#TechCrunch

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florenciolampkin · 6 years ago

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Robocalling: It’s Truly an Epidemic

Robocalls are out of control at my house. First, the landline rings. I don’t answer because I have Caller ID and don’t recognize the number. Then my cellphone rings with a similar number, and within a few minutes, my cable telephone line also rings. Did I mention my husband often gets a call on his cellphone around the same time? Calls to my landline sometimes start before 7am and continue as late as 10pm. We’ve had as many as 15 calls in a day. I’m not surprised by one estimate that says about one-third of all phone calls are now robocalls and scams.

I’ve done everything that’s recommended. I use the call-blocking feature on my iPhone after getting a spam call. I don’t ever answer calls from unrecognized numbers. I’ve registered my cell and landline numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov). Last month, I called my carrier, AT&T, to see what could be done. They have extra protection called “Call Protect” which includes automatic fraud blocking. The mildly sympathetic agent also recommended the Do Not Call Registry, which I haven’t found to be very effective.

Some people are turning to apps like RoboKiller to fight back. For $3.99 per month, suspicious calls are forwarded to a recording that fools the scammers into thinking they’re talking to a real person. The idea is to waste the robocallers’ time and frustrate them so much that they’ll hang up and never call back. “Spoofing calls,” where the number looks like it’s from your area, are also blocked. RoboKiller’s website (www.robokiller.com) claims you’ll see a 90 percent reduction in spam calls within 30 days. I’ve read articles about other free or low-cost call blockers (Truecaller, Nomorobo and Hiya), but I haven’t tried any of these apps yet. If you have, let me know if they’ve worked for you.

There is some good news. According to Consumer Reports, some phone companies will soon be introducing new technology that blocks robocalls. It’s called “STIR and SHAKEN” (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited and Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs), which works with both landlines and mobile phones. It doesn’t prevent the calls, but it would make your Caller ID trustworthy again by marking suspicious calls as potentially fraudulent. But don’t expect the unwanted calls to stop overnight—the telecom industry is still working out the details of the program. Some carriers will have to upgrade their networks before the technology can be fully implemented.

The post Robocalling: It’s Truly an Epidemic appeared first on Diamond Certified.

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mistermobilesingapore-blog · 6 years ago

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iPhone LCD or screen cracked? 5 things you must know!

These are the Top 5 questions you must know when you break your iPhone LCD or screen.

"HELP! I just broke my iPhone screen! Do I need to replace the JUST the screen or also the LCD display?

Will you be using original parts for iPhone LCD / screen / glass replacement?

What is the difference between iPhone Grade A replacement and Grade B replacement?

Why do you need 2 hours to replace my cracked iPhone glass when other repair providers can do it within 30 minutes?

Does the price-savings justify choosing a third-party service repair provider over the Apple service center?

Hello everyone! The purpose of this post is to debunk ALL of your most frequently asked questions have when you are staring at the most dreaded and OCD-cringing problem with their phone - A CRACKED IPHONE LCD or screen!

More often than not, and more prevalent than ever before, due to the ceaseless size "improvements" of mobile phones and its bigger screen display, the enlarged surface area of your iPhone LCD display means that when you accidentally drop your beloved iPhone, the risk of it being a beloved CRACKED iPhone is increasing at an alarming rate.

Of course, at Mister Mobile, your friendly neighborhood handy-man, you can have your iPhone cracked screen replaced in a jiffy, but we shall not be covering this topic today. You may check out our services and prices for iPhone screen replacement here.

1. "HELP! I just broke my iPhone screen! Do I need to replace the JUST the screen or also the LCD display?"

[caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="200"]

Reliable iPhone cracked screen replacement to restore your iPhone to its beloved condition in a jiffy![/caption]

It all boils down to, frankly, your luck. When you drop your phone, there will be only 3 possible outcomes :

The first and best outcome is, of course, nothing happens to your phone (duh). There are no cracks and it looks exactly the same. You don't need to do anything to it.

Second, cracks may appear in just the EXTERIOR layer of your iPhone display. It does not matter if the crack looks like a spider-web or if it's just a hairline crack - they all belong in this category.You need to replace only the glass (repairers in Singapore commonly refer to it as "glass", to minimize confusion between the screen and the LCD display. For our tech-savvy readers, this glass is technically the digitizer).We only need to replace just the glass of your iPhone IF your LCD display is working perfectly, and the touch responsiveness of your phone is 100% sensitive.The repair cost for iPhone glass replacement is much cheaper compared to replacing the LCD assembly (we will be talking about this later).

[caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Above is an example of iPhone cracked screen where only the outer layer is cracked. The display and touch sensitivity is functioning perfectly.[/caption][caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

iPhone 6S Plus glass replacement Grade A. As you can see, it is just a piece of glass which does not control/ affect the display and the touch responsiveness of your phone.[/caption]

Lastly, and also the most costly, is when the interior layer of your screen is damaged. It does not matter if the outer layer is cracked or not - once the interior layer is damaged, you have to replace the full iPhone LCD assembly consisting of the LCD display, the touch screen flex, and glass (or just the short form of "LCD", as repairers in Singapore commonly refer it to. The common symptoms when your iPhone LCD is damaged are - blurred images, lines appearing on the display, blacked out display, insensitive to touch, black spots. Should these symptoms appear almost immediately after you have dropped your phone, chances are, your phone is due for an LCD replacement. At Mister Mobile, we can replace your iPhone LCD within 60 minutes.

It is NOT POSSIBLE to replace just the iPhone LCD WITHOUT replacing the glass due to 2 reasons. Firstly, we purchase our parts in one set which includes the glass. Secondly, and more importantly, it is impossible to retain your glass in its original condition after the separation process of the glass and the LCD display.

[caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="225"]

Cracked LCD display for iPhone 6S. Lines are appearing on the display[/caption][caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Blacked out display after you have dropped your phone. This means that your iPhone LCD is damaged.[/caption][caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

Damaged iPhone glass after the separation process, which makes it unusable.[/caption][caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="300"]

We separate the iPhone LCD and glass using specialized machinery.[/caption]

2. Will you be using original parts for iPhone LCD / screen / glass replacement?

Technically, NO ONE in Singapore can claim their parts to be original EXCEPT authorized Apple service providers, which in Singapore refers to the service center you go to, to service your iPhone within Apple's one-year warranty period.

"Brand Copyright Infringement – Unless you’re licensed to sell Apple iPhone parts, you’re not technically allowed to advertise new “Original” parts, even if the item is new and 100% authentic. If you ever see the words “for iPhone 4s, 5, 5s, 5c” etc. at the end of the item title or advertising pitch, now you’ll know why. Apple has actually been fairly quiet about imposing seizures at customs and online marketplaces for those who sell parts without authorization." - Source - harvestcellular.net

To abide by this consumer law, we refer to our products as "Grade A" or "Grade B". Our "Grade A" parts are as good as original, which is as good as what you get at authorized Apple service centers.

So, if you come across any repairers in Singapore who advertise their parts as "original", think twice - chances are, they are using the exact same parts as we do.

We define ourselves as an alternative choice to authorized service providers, who provide similar services which are cheaper, faster and is more accessible without compromising on quality. Our technicians are very highly-trained and we are able to fix many issues which authorized service centers cannot. For example, Apple only offers full iPhone LCD replacement, even if you need to replace only the glass (Source: Apple Singapore).

3. What is the difference between iPhone Grade A replacement and Grade B replacement?

The easy answer? Grade A is always better than Grade B!

As explained above, our Grade A parts are

As good as the original. Your phone screen will be restored to its original condition and it will work perfectly in these 3 aspects - its touch sensitivity, the DPI and resolution of its display, and its physical appearance.

Its touch sensitivity is 100% responsive.

Its background colour is white.

It will break less easily than Grade B parts.

Also, should your glass break again, you can still opt for glass replacement.

Our Grade B parts are after-market products manufactured by non-Apple suppliers. These LCDs are basically targeted at consumers who wish to get their screen fixed at a cheaper price. They may be due for a phone upgrade soon, due to budget constraints, or just the simple fact that their screen will break again sooner or later anyway. Grade B LCDs are

Less touch-sensitive.

Has a blue-ish background.

Generally breaks more easily.

Should your glass break again, it is also impossible to replace just the glass - you can only replace the full LCD assembly.

For everyone looking to replace their iPhone screen, do inquire carefully and thoroughly to avoid being overcharged!

[caption id="attachment_img" align="aligncenter" width="159"]

Grade A and grade B difference.[/caption]

At a Glimpse, Grade A iPhone LCD has a whiter background which is as good as the original and is 100% touch-responsive. After-market Grade B iPhone LCDs have a blue-ish background and is less touch-sensitive

At Mister Mobile, we offer both, to cater to your different needs,

Grade A and Grade B glass replacement AND

Grade and Grade B LCD replacement

However, we will always recommend Grade A iPhone LCD or screen replacement due to its reliability.

Notes for Grade B glass replacement: Technically, we will just swap your cracked-glass Grade A LCD to a new, working Grade B LCD. We then sell your cracked-glass Grade A LCD to buyers who refurbish it. We offer this category of repair to customers who are looking for the cheapest repair option available.

4. Why do you need 2 hours to replace my cracked iPhone glass when other repair providers can do it within 30 minutes?

This is the repair-cycle breakdown when you fix your iPhone glass with us.

10 minutes - In-processing and a full test of your phone to ensure all components are working fine.

10 minutes - Disassembling your iPhone.

15 minutes - Separating the glass and iPhone LCD using specialized machinery

15 minutes - Applying a brand new Grade A glass onto your own LCD.

30 minutes - Heat-induced process to adhere the new glass firmly to your LCD, using specialized machinery.

10 minutes - Assembling your iPhone

10 minutes - A full test of your iPhone to ensure your phone is working perfectly before you leave.

Total time WITHOUT delay - 100 minutes.

As you can see, it takes approximately 100 minutes to replace the glass of ONE iPhone. Many a time, there will be multiple jobs at once and our technicians will multitask to get your iPhone fixed as soon as possible.

Other service providers are able to do it in 30 minutes because they do a straight swap of a NEW Grade A iPhone LCD with your CRACKED-GLASS LCD, postponing or sub-contracting the tedious and time-consuming process of actual glass replacement to a later date. You will probably be getting the same end result, but you will not be getting the same iPhone LCD which you sent in.

Notes: We are able to carry out this 30-minute iPhone LCD swap process too, but we will only do so at the request of our customers who have time constraints.

5. Does the price-savings justify choosing a third-party service repair provider over the Apple service center?

Yes and No. Before we carry on, we wish to mention that our repair prices are as much as 60% cheaper than Apple service centers.

Yes Camp.

No data loss - 99% of the time, should there be no unforeseen circumstances, your phone data will remain intact. We advise you to back up your data before coming, but it will save you the hassle of restoring your backup. At Apple service center, your data will be erased, 100%, no questions entertained.

Very fast - We can fix your iPhone within 2 hours, whereas Apple service center needs at least one working day to replace your iPhone screen.

You can fix an appointment with us at your convenience, walk in, and get your iPhone repaired. No waiting in line, no disappointment.

No Camp.

Voided Apple warranty - your warranty with Apple will be VOID after repair. This is especially important for newly-launched iPhones within warranty (example: the newly launched iPhone XS and XS Max). Sometimes, the price savings may not justify the loss of 9-11 months of warranty left on your iPhone. What if your iPhone breaks down and it happens to be a very costly issue?

Ending thoughts

Besides the voiding of Apple warranty, we do not really see any other reasons why we third-party repairers in Singapore are losing out to authorized service centers because we are faster, cheaper, and more flexible. At Mister Mobile, we place a great emphasis on customer service too, and our experienced customer service staff and technicians will probably do a better job than them!

Also because we do it better, because we do it safer, because we do it with a smile!

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atakportal · 7 years ago

Text

I wish Apple's 2018 MacBook Pros had more compelling updates

New Post has been published on https://www.uberbuyer.com/2018/07/12/i-wish-apples-2018-macbook-pros-had-more-compelling-updates/

I wish Apple's 2018 MacBook Pros had more compelling updates

Apple finally updated its MacBook Pros after over a year (a lifetime in the computer world) without changes.

The fully loaded laptop, which I bought with a sizable discount from B&H, has served me well over the years. But, five years on, it’s on its last legs.

But let’s go down the list of reasons why I’m not pulling out my credit card without hesitation.

1. It’s really expensive

RIP your wallet.

The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with Intel 8th-generation Core i5 or i7 chips, a maximum configuration of up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 2TB of SSD storage.

Which brings me to my next point…

2. You’re stuck with the Touch Bar

If you want to blame the $1,800 price on anything, blame it it on the Touch Bar because the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t come in a version with the regular function row.

Heck, Apple didn’t even show off any new uses for it at WWDC this year. And if Apple can’t come up with new compelling uses for the Touch Bar, then nobody will.

I don’t think I’m alone in wanting to save a few hundred bucks (maybe put it towards Final Cut Pro X or something) for a non-Touch Bar model.

3. The keyboard’s still worrisome

Most people just want a reliable keyboard with more travel. I’m concerned we’ll have to wait until at least the next update or refresh to get both.

4. Still missing an SD card slot

Apple still hates the the SD card.

Image: OBY SESSIONS/MACFORMAT MAGAZINE/GETTY IMAGES

It’s 2018 and dongle hell is very much still a thing. I could complain about it and how USB-C hasn’t become the catch-all port we were promised years ago, but I’d sound like a broken record.

I’ll concede full-sized USB ports aren’t coming back. Neither is HDMI or Mini DisplayPort or MagSafe.

But why, oh why, couldn’t Apple add the SD card slot back? If the MacBook Pros are indeed machines for pros – people who need to do “real” heavy-duty work, then the port needs to return.

Handful of other concerns

Next time, maybe.

Image: lili sams/mashable

These are my biggest concerns for the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. However, I have a few others.

They have to be seriously considering a rock-solid alternative like the Huawei MateBook X Pro. Because I know I am.

#Apple #compelling #MacBook #updates

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