Saturday, September 3, 2016

Lambos, Audis, Porsches and a Hellcat: Our week on Instagram

Another week gone by already? Seriously? Jeez. Well, since it's Friday, you know what that means -- another recap of the week's Instagram exploits! Have you started following us on Instagram yet? You really should, mostly because I'm running out of clever introduction paragraphs.
Carfection has disappeared once again. They said they were going out to get cigarettes, and...I don't know. I keep checking my Instagram feed like a sad puppy, staring longingly out the window, wondering when Human will get back and feed me more treats. The analogy kind of trailed off there at the end. Sorry. I'm this close to starting my three-day weekend.
Thankfully, Roadshow posted at least 10 pictures, so I don't even need those wankers across the pond this week. Tim has spent the past week in the Porsche Panamera and the Lamborghini Aventador, causing the rest of us to seethe with jealousy. Antuan went on a trip to check out Audi's latest tech, Emme drove a Subaru WRX STI, Jon took a spin in the new Fusion Sport and Paukert's got a Hellcat. Solid week, if you ask me, which you didn't.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 recall: How to return or exchange your faulty phone

Samsung on Friday announced a global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 on account of defective batteries. According to the company, 35 separate incidents have resulted in a Note 7's battery catching fire. Sales have stopped, and all devices already sold will be replaced by the company.
Samsung has issued instructions for those affected by the recall, but for those who don't feel comfortable waiting until next week, US carriers are ready to help you out starting Friday.
Instructions for each carrier are below, and we will keep updating this post as more news becomes available.

Go through Samsung

As early as next week, Samsung will give Note 7 users the option to exchange a recalled model for a brand new (and fixed) unit. Alternatively, users can exchange the Note 7 for a Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge instead of a Note 7, complete with a refund the difference in price between the two devices. Samsung will also allow users to exchange Note 7-specific accessories, should they choose the latter option.
Samsung advises users to return the device to the retail outlet at which the device was originally purchased, or call 1-800-SAMSUNG to initiate the exchange directly with Samsung.
Customers will also receive a $25 gift card or bill credit for the inconvenience.

Verizon Wireless

Verizon customers can return the Note 7, with Verizon waiving the restocking fee through September 30.
"Because customer safety is our top priority, Verizon has stopped selling the Galaxy Note 7," the carrier said in a statement.

Sprint

Sprint's CEO Marcelo Claure posted a statement on Twitter detailing Sprint's plan of attack for the recall. For current Note 7 owners, you should visit your local Sprint store to return your Note 7. Sprint will give you a "similar device" to use until Samsung is able to fix the issue and sales of the Note 7 resumes.
You can read the complete statement here.

AT&T

The company is "strongly encouraging" customers to exchange the Note 7 and any accessories purchased with it.:
Samsung has notified us that they have identified a battery cell issue in certain Galaxy Note7s. They have asked all retailers, including AT&T, to stop selling the device. Because safety is our top priority, customers are strongly encouraged to exchange the Samsung Note7 for a new device. Customers with a Note7 may select a new smartphone, and may also return any Note7 accessories.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile will issue complete refunds for the Note 7, including any accessories purchased with the device. The company is also waiving any restocking or shipping fees during the exchange process. Visit your local T-Mobile store or call 1-800-937-8997 to initiate the process. T-Mobile expects to have replacement Note 7s "in the next two weeks," according to a statement published on its website.
A portion of the statement is below:
Starting immediately, customers who are concerned about using the Note 7 can return the device to T-Mobile for a full, complete refund. They'll get a full refund of anything paid for the device and any Note 7 accessories. We'll waive any restocking charges and shipping fees, and customers can keep the free Netflix subscription they received with purchase during pre-order.
Best Buy
If you purchased a Note 7 from Best Buy, you can return the device to the store for a full refund. Best Buy's official statement follows:
We have stopped selling the Samsung Note7. Customers can visit a Best Buy store to return or exchange their device, without a restocking fee. Customers will have the option to replace it with a new Note7 when they become available.
We have also reached out to Amazon inquiring about the process customers should follow if they've purchased a Note 7 online and will update this post when we hear back. 

Meet the Pixel and Pixel XL, Google’s 2016 ‘Nexus’ phones

A few days ago, a report said that Google will discontinue the Nexus smartphone family starting this year, and replace it wit a brand new brand. New product name was not offered at the time for the brand new Google Phones, but a new report now says that Google settled on Pixel and Pixel XL for the HTC-made Sailfish and Marlin that we’ve seen in so many leaks.
According to Android Police, an accurate source of Android leaks, the new Google handsets have an October 4th release date, just as previously rumored. Google is supposedly holding a special media event for the day, with Pixel set to become the new name for Google Android products.
In addition to the Pixel and Pixel XL, Google is also expected to unveil a new 4K Chromecast device, Google Home, and an in-house design for a Daydream VR viewer device that may be known as the Daydream View.
Prices details for any of these new products have not been announced, but we already expect the new Nexus phones – or Pixel and Pixel XL – to be more expensivethan last year’s Nexus handsets.
The Pixel phones will be available to buyers on October 4th, or shortly after that, and will run a Google-customized version of Android 7.0 Nougat.

Avoid the 32GB iPhone 7 like the plague

Apple is finally killing the 16GB iPhone this year, which is a great thing for buyers. I praised leaks suggesting that 32GB will be the entry-level storage option for new iPhones, starting with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. But that doesn’t mean you should buy a 32GB iPhone. In fact, when the iPhone 7 is made available for preorder next week, definitely don’t purchase the 32GB model.
You probably know people rocking 16GB iPhones who can hardly manage their available storage. Maybe you are one yourself. If that’s the case, 32GB of iPhone memory might still not be enough going forward.
Starting with the iPhone 6, I purchased 64GB iPhones, which represented the mid-tier memory option for both iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s, thinking that would be enough for me. I currently have around 10GB of free space, even though I manage my data very actively.
There are plenty of reasons to avoid the 32GB iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, no matter how attractive the idea of saving $100 might be.

Storage tiers

Apple will have 32GB, 128GB and 256GB iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus versions in stores. Sticking with the mid-tier option, you’d get almost 100GB of storage for just $100 extra. That’s a lot more than last year’s iPhones, which gave you just 48GB more space for the $100 it cost to jump from entry-level to mid-tier.

The iPhone is getting cheaper

Apple may keep the same iPhone pricing tiers in place, but by upgrading memory it’s effectively making it more affordable for you to get more storage. 128GB and 256GB iPhone 7 versions will cost as much as current 64GB and 128GB iPhone 6s models. You do the math.

iPhone upgrade plans

You don’t have to pay the full sticker price for the iPhone anymore, but you don’t have to ink new contracts either. Instead, just go for installment or upgrade plans. That way it’ll be a lot easier to buy an iPhone that has more storage. In time, the investment will pay off, especially if you don’t want to upgrade to a new iPhone every year.

No expandable storage

Just like every other iPhone, Apple will not include a microSD card port in the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. The only external storage solutions for the iPhone are Lightning flash drives or wireless options that aren’t necessarily hassle-free solutions. By going with 128GB or 256GB instead of 32GB, you’ll won’t have to pay anything for external storage options. Not to mention that you can transform your iPhone into a memory stick with the help of apps and load even more files that you need to keep with you on the go.

More storage = less cloud

Yes, we all need the cloud and it’s great that it’s there in various shapes and options. But with more built-in storage, you’ll always have the files you need at your fingertips whether or not you have internet access.

More demanding content

In case you haven’t noticed, the improved capabilities of the iPhone come with a major side effect: storage consumption. Better photos, 4K video, better games, high-resolution movies… they all require extra storage. And you won’t have to decide which games to install or how many episodes, movies or songs to download before going on a trip.

One more thing

Yes, I am basing this on rumors at this point, and Apple could have a different memory setup for the iPhone 7 than what rumors have suggested. But whatever its mid and high-end storage options will be, it’s fairly obvious that there won’t be a 16GB iPhone 7 this year. Instead, the 32GB iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be your cheapest options, but you should avoid them at all costs and get yourself more storage. You won’t regret it.

Walmart touts top toys for holiday season

A racing play set, a Disney princess carriage and a drone are among Walmart's top toy picks for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

The world's largest retailer, relying on the recommendations of hundreds of pint-sized experts — children ranging from 1½ to 12 years old — came up with the 25 most appealing games and gizmos. They could be destined to become some of the season's biggest sellers.

"Whatever your child is interested in, there's a great toy this year in that category, and I think that's what's driving the health of the business,'' says Anne Marie Kehoe, vice president of toys, Walmart U.S ...The top picks include a Num Noms Lip Gloss Truck, which may have particular appeal to budding makeup mavens, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mega Lair Playset and a Disney Princess Carriage, one of six of the top 25 toys that are exclusive to Walmart.

There's a Little Live Pets Puppy for animal lovers and, for would-be adventurers, a Sky Viper Streaming Drone and a Razor Power Core E100 Electric Scooter. And the force is expected to stay with Star Wars for another year. Just as last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" premiere focused shoppers' attention on all things galactic, the debut of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" on Dec. 16 is likely to spur sales of soon-to-be released toys such as the Star Wars Electronic R2D2, another of Walmart's most-popular picks.

Walmart doesn't break out sales by product category, but it says toys play a significant role in its holiday revenue. And the season is critical to the toy industry as a whole, which sees 70 percent of its sales in the last two months of the year.

Walmart isn't leaving much to chance, not only checking the opinions of its littlest customers, but even working with suppliers to design toys the retailer thinks will have particular appeal, such as the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Batcave, which will be another Walmart exclusive with Mattel.

"We ... thought this would be a great gift, and the kids who love that brand would really love that play set,'' Kehoe said of Walmart's collaboration with the manufacturer behind the Batman v. Superman toy.

Kehoe said toy sales last year remained strong after Christmas on through the spring, and she expects that trend to continue.

Still, industrywide, retail sales were not as robust as expected during last year's holiday season. Sales in November and December increased 3 percent to $626.1 billion, below the National Retail Federation's projected uptick of 3.7 percent. The increase was also less than the 4.1 percent growth seen during the 2014 holiday season. Retail experts attributed the more anemic growth to warmer winter weather, an increasing preference for experiences over material gifts and the growing number of consumers who prefer to browse online rather than in brick-and-mortar stores. Online sales surpassed projections last year, rising 9 percent to $105 billion.

Beyond toys, Walmart expects cookware, video games and consoles and makeup kits to also be big sellers this holiday season, with the Sony PlayStation Virtual Reality Bundle looking like it will be a particular standout.

The Top 25:

For entrepreneurial kids:

My Life As Food Truck
Num Noms Lip Gloss Truck
Pom Pom Wow Decoration Station
For caregiving kids:

Doc McStuffins Hospital Care Cart
FurReal Friends Torch, My Blazin’ Dragon
Hatchimals
Little Live Pets Puppy
For imaginative kids:

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Batcave
Barbie Rainbow Cove Princess Castle Playset
Fisher-Price Imaginext Bat Flight City
Fisher-Price Little People Sit ‘n Stand Skyway
My Little Pony Explore Equestria Crystal Empire Castle
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mega Lair Playset
For thrill-seeking kids:

Pie Face Showdown Game
Razor Power Core E100 Electric Scooter
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Remote Control Skateboarding Mikey
Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-Rex
Hot Wheels A.I. Racing Playset
Nerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster
Tyco Terra Climber Remote Control Vehicle
Vtech Go! Go! Smart Wheels Treasure Mountain Train Adventure
For independent kids:

Disney Princess Carriage
Paw Patrol Zooming Marshall
Sky Viper Streaming Drone
Star Wars Electronic R2D2

Monday, August 22, 2016

exactly how you could optimize your history credit cards




Having a credit card could be an excellent way to construct a viable credit rating. Staying enlightened on each card is essential for customers that prefer to utilize charge card for these purposes. The following is a list of credit card fundamentals that could help consumers all over to make educated decisions when it involves their plastic.

Lots of people have the charge card, however actually a couple of utilizing them properly. While it is reasonable to enter into debt under specific circumstances, many individuals abuse this advantage and also get captured up in settlements they can’t afford. Preferably, you ought to pay off your balance completely monthly. In this way, you can improve your credit report as well as reduced your balance all at once.
Aim to establish up your very own spending plan when handling charge card. Budgeting your earnings is smart, as well as including your credit history in stated spending plan is also better. Do not think of a line of credit history as additional money. Allow a quantity of money that you can pay monthly on your charge card, and also adhere to via every month with the payment. Remain committed, and also settle that quantity religiously regularly.
Maintain a close eye on your balance. Also, see to it that you comprehend the limitations positioned on your credit rating cards. If you do take place to review your credit line, the financial institution will enforce costs. If you continue to look at your restriction, you will have a hard time paying down the balance.
If you are considering buying a credit card via the mail, ensure you effectively secure your personal info by having a mailbox with a lock. A great deal of people that have swiped charge card in the past did so easily, because they’ve done it on mailboxes that aren’t locked.
Preserve a sales receipt when making on-line acquisitions with your card. Keep the invoice in a secure location, as well as when your credit card bill shows up, check that the on the internet retailer charged you the correct amount for the product that you acquired. If they didn’t, call the company and immediately submit a dispute. This is required to ensure you are not overcharged for your purchases.
Never make use of a public computer system for online acquisitions. Open computer systems at libraries, coffee shops, and various other places, might keep your private details, making it very easy for a technically intelligent thief to access. By putting your details on public computer systems, you are inviting difficulty right into your life. Just get things online if you are on your personal computer system.
Maintain a checklist of all your credit card numbers and also the emergency phone numbers for your lending institutions. Preserve it in a safe location, like a secure, as well as keep it separated from your cards. This listing will help you if you ever shed your credit card or are a sufferer of a break-in.
You must always examine card declarations quite extensively. See to it all the charges are precise. Look specifically for illegal fees that you did not make in any way. Inform the credit card area regarding anything that doesn’t seem right. This could quit you from paying greater than you owe as well as it is feasible that it could help your credit report.
If you have even more compared to one credit card, aim to select one to settle every month. Your credit rating record could improve if you can demonstrate a capacity to pay a card off completely monthly.
Currently, it is probably clear that credit card usage could help people as they work on developing their credit report as well as taking control of their money. Comprehending the specific cards is essential, though, as this assists individuals to make educated options. Ensuring to recognize the basics enables clients making intelligent decisions that are right for their needs.