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The Jaguar XE 35T is superb — but it's up against ferocious competition

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Jaguar XE35T 2

Luxury automakers have a sedan problem.

Specifically, a lot of US buyers are not completely ignoring the segment, after building it up to awesome dimensions over the course of decades, beginning with the arrival of the legendary BMW 2002 back in the 1970s.

There's long-term dread in the air, as consumers both old and young abandon the classic handling traits of sporty Euro four-doors in favor of high-riding SUVs and crossovers. Some new car buyers in the luxury realm, weaned on Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s, won't even give a sedan a first look. A few carmakers are even talking about getting out of passenger cars altogether.

That said, automakers such as BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus — the luxury Big Four — remain committed to sedans, largely because they have to. You simply can't throw away something as impressive as the BMW 3-Series, the archetype of entry level luxury and seemingly forever the automotive gateway drug of choice for every newly minted Hollywood agent and East Coast junior law partner in the country, even as sales decline precipitously.

Furthermore, the Big Four's competition lower down the food chain can't take on the upper tier of luxury without compelling four-doors. Alfa Romeo is coming back the USA with the Giulia, and Jaguar has given us the XE. 

We've had tons of fun with Jags in the past. So when the famous British marque let us borrow an XE 35t with all-wheel-drive, in "Polaris White" with the top R-Sport trim, we said, "Jolly good!"

Here's what we thought:

Photos by Hollis Johnson.

SEE ALSO: The Jaguar F-PACE sets a new standard for beauty in luxury SUVs

The Jag landed at our office in New York, in a luminous Polaris White paint job. The car wears the color well. The base vehicle is less than $40,000, but with the R-Sport trim, we're talking well over $50,000, loaded up on options.



Designer Ian Callum had his work cut out for him. The luxury sport sedan now assumes a familiar shape and must exude muscularity and refinement. For a Jaguar, a certain British panache is also on order, as is the spirit of coiled, catlike power.



The front end is superb, with all elements of the fascia in balance. Note those suave hood ridges, sort of like the darts in a well-sewn suit jacket.



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D-Day: Here's how the Allies began to reclaim Europe from the Nazis

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D Day Normandy June 6 1944 27

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces crossed the English Channel and began to reclaim the European mainland.

That day, 73 years ago, marked a turning point on the western front and in World War II.

The following images give you some idea of what those American, British, and Canadian troops saw when they left their landing craft and waded into history.

Robert Johnson composed an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: What it was like in the room when Nazi Germany finally surrendered to end World War II in Europe

It was overcast and foggy on June 6, 1944, when 160,000 troops landed on France's Normandy coastline.



Beaches along a 50-mile section of the Normandy coast were given five names — Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Each was heavily defended by German troops.



The clouds kept Allied bombers from targeting the German forces and softening up their defenses.



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Mesmerizing maps show the biggest risks to humanity

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new hiv infections 2015

The world is unquestionably getting better, but there are still a raft of risks we face in the future.

Earth TimeLapse, an interactive platform created by global security expert Robbert Muggah and Carnegie Mellon University researchers, shows those risks in a new light.

The platform uses big-data sets from a number of sources, including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, to visualize humanity's most pressing challenges, like climate change, new cases of HIV infections, and displacement due to violence.

Here are some of the most mesmerizing maps in the collection.

SEE ALSO: Mesmerizing maps show the global flow of refugees over the last 15 years

Temperature anomaly events

One way to see signs of climate change is to look at how many temperature anomalies have taken place over the years. Scientists define anomalies on a scale of degrees. Any fluctuation is considered bad for maintaining a stable climate.

Timelapse marks stability in white, colder temperatures in blue, and warmer ones in red. The darker the color, the more extreme the temperature event.

Compared to the light blues and pale yellows of the late 19th century, data for 2017 show huge dark red portions indicating fluctuations of 10 degrees or more — a sign the globe is getting hotter, and less hospitable, with each passing year.



Global flow of refugees

In 2015, the Syrian refugee crisis became by far the biggest source of displaced persons. More than a million people have arrived in Europe, and a similar number in South Africa.

The moves reflect ongoing threats to global security in some of the most fragile countries in the world.



Global terrorist attacks

Earth Timelapse's data for terrorism go back all the way to 1984. The larger the red circle, the greater amount of terrorist activity in a given area.

In 2015, unrest in Nigeria and Cameroon led to thousands of deaths caused by Boko Haram forces opening fire on civilians. Bombings in Turkey and Yemen also produced hundreds of deaths.

While terrorist acts represent a small cause of death relative to disease, the fact they are political in nature can undermine developing governments and threaten stability. The good news: Terrorism worldwide continues to decrease over time.



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The 10 biggest box-office bombs of 2017 so far

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King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

As we're halfway through 2017, we thought it would be a good time to look at the movies that pretty much no one has wanted to see in theaters so far this year.

While movies like "Get Out,""Logan,""Beauty and the Beast,""Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," and "Wonder Woman" have all found love at the box office, there are some titles that were seeking major coin and Rotten Tomatoes "Fresh" ratings only to be playing in front of empty seats at the multiplex.

From "Baywatch" to "Monster Trucks," these are the 10 worst box-office earners of the year — so far:

Note: This selection is limited to only those titles released by the six major studios that have played in over 2,000 screens for at least two weekends. Grosses below are all domestic earnings from Box Office Mojo.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: The 11 best movies of the year so far

10. "Smurfs: The Lost Village" - $43.8 million*

Reported budget: $60 million

(Note: Production budgets are estimates and do not include expenses for marketing and release.)

*Movie is still playing in theaters.



9. "Baywatch" - $41.7 million*

Reported budget: $69 million

*Movie is still playing in theaters. 



8. "Ghost in the Shell" - $40.5 million

Reported budget: $110 million



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New Yorkers are paying $300 to have someone fold their clothes for them

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Ryan Glick, of Coffee and Clothes

Two stylists working with a new startup called Fitz recently paid a visit to Ryan Glick's messy closet.

Fitz is a new closet-cleaning and styling service started by Gilt cofounder Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and Fandango founder J. Michael Cline. 

But 27-year-old Glick, who has worked with various fashion brands for his media platform Coffee 'N Clothes for the past three years, didn't quite need the fashion advice. He's received a lot of free gear from co-sponsored events with brands like Nike, Adidas, and Supreme, and he has simply accumulated too many shoes, T-shirts, and hoodies. 

Glick would like to buy more stuff, but finding enough space — especially in a Manhattan apartment — can be tricky. So he recently booked a complimentary appointment with Fitz, whose services include curating the items in your closet, or, for clients like Glick who already know their personal style, simply fold and organize the mess for $300. It's currently available only in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. 

Ahead, take a look at how they helped Glick's closet go from catastrophe to well-groomed masterpiece.  

 

    

SEE ALSO: Stunning photos show what it's like to live at the top of New York City

Before his three-hour Fitz Foundation appointment, which normally costs a flat $300, Glick showed us around his more troubled closet areas. The main problem was the bedroom closet and the above half-closet.



Glick confessed that his overstocked, messy closet often stresses him out. "If I see things all over the place, things not folded well, it creates more stress and [the clothes] seem dirtier," he said.



His drawers weren't looking much better.



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This San Francisco co-working space rents vintage camping trailers by the hour

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campsyte outdoor coworking space 4230

People who spend more time outside are happier, healthier, and maybe even smarter. But in today's ultra-competitive work environment, it's hard making time for the great outdoors.

A San Francisco startup wants to bring nature, or at least the look of it, to entrepreneurs.

Campsyte, founded in 2014, takes vacant city lots and transforms them into unique shared offices. Its latest project, OutCamp, claims to be the first outdoor co-working space.

We stopped by Campsyte to see what it's like.

SEE ALSO: I tried 'forest bathing' — the Japanese ritual that science suggests could reduce stress

A car might speed past this former parking lot and not think much of it.



But behind the wooden slats at the gate is a co-working space unlike any we've seen.



Campsyte offers office space "on-demand," so freelancers, startups, and teams can rent vintage camping trailers by the hour — or sign up for a monthly membership pass.

The startup charges $5 an hour for entry (or $11 for the day) and upwards of $25 an hour to reserve a RV. A one-person monthly pass costs $35.

By comparison, a pay-as-you-go membership at co-working giant WeWork starts at $45, though it comes with lots of perks including networking events and community managers.



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The best action cameras you can buy

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Insider Picks_Buying Guides_Action cam 4x3

The Insider Pick:

  • Action cameras are becoming very popular for their portability, fun first-person perspective, and rugged design.  Most shutterbugs — ourselves included — agree that the GoPro Hero5 Black camera is the best one you can buy with its rugged design, tremendous video quality, and cool features.

First-person photography and videography grow in popularity every day. But why? Bear with us for a minute, because here’s where a chicken-and-egg argument begins.

Perhaps these videos are popular because of the explosion of social media and the ability to share videos instantly. A good wipeout video always generates tons of likes after all — as long as no serious injuries occur, of course. 

On the other hand, the ease with which people can shoot first-person photos and videos, thanks to all of the best new action cams, may be the reason people are shooting more footage from this perspective.

Here, we’re going to argue that the growth of the features found in action cams has caused more videos to appear. After all, people have tried shooting crazy first-person videos and photos for many years. There’s a small mountain of broken and water damaged smartphones somewhere to prove it. Action cams are made for harsh conditions, meaning you can shoot some great first-person videos and photos without causing serious injuries to yourself or to your action camera.

How action cams work 

An action camera works like any other digital camera in that it records still image photographs and videos. All digital cameras use a lens that gathers the light from the scene, focusing that light onto an image sensor. The image sensor measures the light and turns it into a digital signal, which computer software uses to recreate the image digitally onto a display screen.

Beyond basic operation, action cams offer plenty of differences from typical digital cameras. Let’s break down the differences.

  • Versus DSLR cameras: A DSLR camera is much larger and bulkier than an action cam in physical size, making it almost impossible to wear a DSLR to shoot first-person videos and images. The DSLR generates photographs of tremendous quality, clearly outperforming the best action cam. However, fragile and expensive DSLRs break down when exposed to rough handing or harsh conditions.
  • Versus fixed-lens cameras: A traditional fixed-lens camera, also called a point-and-shoot camera, approximates an action cam in size, although most of these cameras remain slightly larger than action cameras. However, point-and-shoot camera designs aren’t meant to be attached to your body or bike for first-person shooting. Some fixed lens cameras are “tough” cameras, meaning they work underwater and can survive rugged conditions and drops, just like many action cams.
  • Versus smartphone cameras: Smartphone cameras work well for shooting first-person video because of their small size and one-handed operation, but to call them fragile represents a serious understatement. The glass screens — and backs — of many phones are far too easy to shatter, and many phones still aren't water-resistant enough to take a dive underwater, let alone fall in a puddle. However, that is changing as more phones become water-resistant. Regardless, action cams are still more practical and easy to mount during first-person action shots.

Key features in action cams

The best action cams share some important features, as shown by Tech Radar, Misadventure Mag, and Choice. 

  • Weight: When using an action cam to record a fun or wild activity, having the action cam attached to your body or vehicle gives the best results. Wearing a heavy action cam that throws off your balance may result in a serious wipeout.
  • Size: Along the same lines as weight, the action cam’s size plays a role in your enjoyment of it. Use a huge action camera, and your arm could bump into it, throwing off your movement.
  • Video quality: Higher video resolutions result in sharper videos. HD and Ultra HD (also called 4K) provide common video resolutions for new action cams. For those who only will share their action cam videos on social media, video quality takes on less importance. However, for those who want to replay video on a large TV screen, high-quality video works best.
  • Waterproof: Some action cams work in a greater water depth than others. This means if you enjoy diving with your action cam, look closely at its maximum water depth measurement. Some cameras offer only “weather proof” capability rather than waterproof, meaning they aren’t made for working underwater, but you can use them in the rain. Other action cameras require a waterproof case before they work underwater.
  • Battery life: An action camera with a short battery life causes frustration. No one wants their fun limited by a dead battery. Action camera manufacturers should include the estimated battery life for their models in the specifications list.

If you're interested in action cameras, you should also check out our other great camera buying guides, including the best DSLR cameras, the best point-and-shoot cameras, the best SD cards, and thebest microSD cards.

Although the GoPro Hero5 Black is our top action cam pick, for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the YI 4K+, the Kodak PixPro SP1, the TomTom Bandit, and the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30.

SEE ALSO: The best DSLR cameras you can buy

The best action cam overall

Why you'll love it: GoPro is the king of action cams, and the Hero5 Black is the best of the GoPro family with its 4K video quality and the ability to shoot under 33 feet of water.

GoPro is the best-known action camera maker for good reason — its cams are the cream of the crop. GoPro action cams continue to grow in popularity and add new features. The latest and greatest GoPro model is the Hero5 Black, which wins the distinction of being our top pick.

Video and still image quality truly shine with the GoPro Hero5 Black. Its 4K video resolution is among the sharpest you'll find on an action cam. The Hero5 Black creates amazing videos that you’ll be proud to show on a 4K TV. Additionally, maximum still image recording levels of 12 megapixels provide better than average results among action cameras. 

For divers, the GoPro Hero5 Black’s ability to work under up to 33 feet of water is outstanding, according to one Amazon customer review.  

Most of the negative Amazon customer reviews refer to poor customer service from GoPro when experiencing problems with the device. In its review, TechRadar’s biggest complaint against the Hero5 involves a slight downgrade in build quality from previous GoPro cameras.

However, TechRadar found more to like in its review, including how easy it is to control the Hero5 Black, using voice commands or the touchscreen display. CNET’s reviewers were impressed with all of the advanced components that come with the Hero5, including a GPS chip and electronic image stabilization. Simply put, no other action cam offers the combination of useful features, mount accessories, video quality, and still image quality as the GoPro Hero5.

Pros: Tons of above average features, crisp 4K video recording, strong still image quality, voice and touch screen control, waterproof to 33 feet, easily mountable and wearable 

Cons: Customer service is lacking, build quality lags previous models

Buy the GoPro Hero5 Black (camera only) on Amazon for $349.00 (price varies)

Buy the GoPro Hero5 Black (with head strap and memory card) on Amazon for $405.57 (price varies)

Buy the GoPro Hero5 Black (with 3-way grip and memory card) on Amazon for $437.30 (price varies)



The best 4K action cam

Why you'll love it: More action cams now offer 4K video recording, but the YI 4K+ sets itself apart by offering 60 frames per second at 4K resolution.

4K resolution video recording, which is also called Ultra HD resolution, represents the future of video quality. Sure, HD video looks tremendous, but 4K video offers four times as many pixels. To give your action cam plenty of longevity, be certain to seek a camera that offers 4K video.

The best pure 4K video action camera you can buy is the YI 4K+ camera. Although several action cams offer 4K video resolution, the YI 4K+ moves to the top of the heap by offering an excellent frame rate of 60fps. One way digital camera makers try to “cheat” and offer 4K video resolution without upgrading the performance speed of the camera is to limit the frame rate to 15fps. The YI 4K+ doesn’t cheat, and it even surpasses what’s considered a good level of performance at 30fps.

Even though it records high-res video at a high frame rate, the YI 4K+ offers solid battery life. The YI 4K+ can record 4K video at 60fps for a full hour, which is really impressive for an action camera, as Digital Trends points out in its review. However, when recording long 4K video clips, PCMag points out that the YI 4K+ heats up quite a bit. Another drawback to this action cam’s design involves the lack of waterproofing. To use the YI 4K+ while diving, you must purchase a separate underwater case.

One Amazon customer reviewer loves the upgrades YI included from the 4K camera to the 4K+ camera, as well as the inclusion of Gorilla Glass on the rear screen, which makes it scratch and crack resistant. 

Pros: Strong 4K video recording at 60fps, good battery life, easy to operate design with touch screen, strong photographic image quality, small camera body

Cons: Needs add-on case to provide waterproof capabilities, camera heats up over long 4K recording sessions

Buy the YI 4K+ on Amazon for $339.98



The best tough action cam

Why you'll love it: The Kodak PixPro SP1 is a tough camera that can survive a fall and work underwater without an additional case.

When using an action cam, you might as well just count on the fact that it's going to take some abuse. A lot of abuse, probably. That’s why we appreciate the toughness of the Kodak PixPro SP1 action cam, which features the ability to work in 32 feet of water without the need for an extra underwater case, to survive a fall of about 6.5 feet, and to work in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toughness isn’t enough, though, if the camera can’t create great images and video. As PC Mag points out in its review, the SP1 has excellent video quality during daylight hours, although you’re limited to recording 1080p HD video, rather than 4K.

Kodak offers the SP1 in two configurations, the Explorer Pack, which includes handlebar and helmet mounts, and the Aqua Sport Pack, which includes a surfboard mount. As far as downsides go, Tom’s Guide notes in its review that the SP1 struggles in low light with video and still image recording. However, it records still images at speeds up to 10 frames per second, a strong performance level for an action cam.

The PixPro SP1 has a good price point compared to some other action cams, too. One Amazon reviewer was impressed by the great performance of the camera given its relatively low price point. However, some reviewers on Amazon said the waterproof housing leaked, ruining the camera. It seems to be a rare occurrence, though.

Pros: Offers tough features, can survive fall of 6.5 feet, works in water depth up to 32 feet, good video quality, can record still images at speeds up to 10 fps, good value for the money 

Cons: Struggles in low light situations

Buy the Kodak PixPro SP1 (Explorer Pack) on Amazon for $206.64 (price varies)

Buy the Kodak PixPro SP1 (Aqua Sport Pack) on Amazon for $209.35 (price varies)



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Justin Trudeau celebrated World Environment Day by kayaking down the Niagara River — and the photos are fantastic

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Trudeau

To celebrate World Environment Day, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took the chance to kayak down the Niagara River— and, after the photos emerged, again earn the adulation of the internet.

After finishing a short trip down the river that borders Canada and the US, Trudeau also made an appearance on "Live with Kelly and Ryan."

The environmental photo op comes days after US President Donald Trump announced he would pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement. While Trudeau called his relationship with Trump "constructive," he also said he was disappointed with the president's choice.

"World Environment Day reminds us that we have a global responsibility to safeguard our environment – and that each of us has a role to play to preserve and protect it," Trudeau said in an official statement. "More than ever, Canada is committed to provide international leadership to fight climate change and support clean economic growth."

SEE ALSO: 10 books Justin Trudeau thinks everyone should read

DON'T MISS: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau tells Trump he's 'disappointed' with US decision to quit climate agreement

The 45-year-old prime minister carried his kayak with one hand to the edge of the Niagara River.



He didn't need assistance getting in the boat, either. He made sure to wear a life jacket.

Source: Radio-Canada



"Any day I get to kick off with a paddle is a great day in my books," Trudeau said.



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3 reasons why Apple's new smart-home speaker falls short of the competition (AAPL)

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Apple on Monday finally unveiled its long-rumored Amazon Echo competitor, called HomePod. This is it:

Apple WWDC 2017 HomePod

It costs $350.

With the HomePod, Apple made its smart-home intentions extremely clear: It wants HomePod to be the intelligent hub for your home, borrowing the best aspects from smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, and connected home-audio systems like Sonos, to let you talk to your speaker from anywhere in your home, and have it talk back. HomePod is a speaker for playing music, but it can also give you the weather, set timers, control other electronics in your home, or even just tell you a joke.

As someone who owns both an Amazon Echo and a Sonos family of connected speakers, I completely understand why Apple wants a piece of this space. They are, in short, the future. Sonos products work exceedingly well together, and improve each room they’re in. The Amazon Echo, meanwhile, has completely changed the way I live and behave in my own home. Both products offer seamless audio experiences in their own ways.

But when you think of “seamless” experiences in consumer technology, Apple is usually the first name that comes to mind, not necessarily Amazon or Sonos, and Apple has been absent in this smart-home space until this point. And so, Apple hopes the HomePod can be a similar frictionless device that improves the way you live at home.

I do believe that in time, through updates and iterations, Apple has the capabilities to make HomePod a better product than Amazon’s Echo family or the Sonos family. But right now, I don’t believe it’s better than either of those product lines.

Here’s why:

1. You still have to say “Hey Siri.”

Wake words might seem like a small detail, but in the scheme of virtual assistants, they are hugely important. The reason owning and using an Amazon Echo feels so effortless is because addressing the Echo never feels like you’re talking to technology. You can just say “Alexa,” and your command. It feels very natural, like you're talking to a person.

For some reason, other smart home devices miss this concept. This was my main gripe with Google’s Home, released last year, which insists you say “Okay Google” to wake the device.

It feels too much like you’re interacting with technology — I would never say “Okay Google” in real life. Saying “Hey Siri” is the same thing. It’s not how I normally talk, and it feels awkward. If you still think this isn’t a big deal, imagine saying “Hey Siri” every time you want to wake the device — several times a day, every day, for weeks, and months, and possibly even years. That's hundreds of thousands of times you need to say "Hey Siri." Trust me, by that point you’ll wonder why Apple couldn’t have come up with a more natural-sounding wake word, especially when Amazon lets you choose your wake word: “Alexa,” or “Amazon,” or, if you’re a fan of “Star Trek,” even “Computer,” which is awesome.



2. The price is not right.

As I mentioned earlier, Apple’s HomePod is designed to be something between a smart speaker like an Amazon Echo and a connected speaker like a Sonos device — and its price is meant to be a reflection of that, too. As of June 2017, here’s what the most popular smart-home and connected-speaker options are:

- Amazon Echo Dot: $50
- Amazon Tap: $130
- Google Home: $130
- Amazon Echo: $180
- Amazon Echo Look: $200
- Sonos Play 1: $200
- Amazon Echo Show: $230
- Sonos Play 3: $300
- Apple HomePod: $350
- Sonos Play 5: $500

As you’ll notice, Apple’s HomePod is actually on the upper-end of the most popular options, price-wise. And that, to me, is another big knock against it.

Like I mentioned earlier, I own both a Sonos family of speakers as well as an Amazon Echo. Sonos speakers sound better than the Echo, as most people will tell you. But over 90% of the time, when I want to play music, I choose the Echo.

There's an important reason I play music through my Echo more often than the Sonos: The Echo is simply easier and more satisfying to use. I can ask to play a song with my voice more quickly than I could searching for that song on my computer, via the Spotify section of the Sonos app. I can also change songs on the fly, as quickly as my imagination can come up with new songs to suggest. And the audio quality on the Echo, while not better than the Sonos, is “good enough” to merit me choosing the Echo as my main speaker.

This is the same reason I prefer Apple’s $170 AirPods over most headphones, even my favorite over-ear pair for 3+ years now, the $300 V-Moda Crossfade Wireless. If the difference in audio is negligible — and most people cannot discern small differences in audio quality — ease of use wins out, every single time. I don’t mind that AirPods can’t achieve the same bass as my V-Moda’s. They’re easier to charge, easier to carry, and easier to use, and that makes all the difference.

In other words, the key selling point of the HomePod is its Echo-like attributes, not its Sonos-like ones. Trust me on this one: Connected speakers are nice, but they’re not as transformative as smart speakers, because audio quality matters less when its other abilities can have a bigger impact on your life. So when considering the price of the HomePod, don’t compare it to Sonos; compare it to the Amazon Echo. And in this particular case, the Amazon Echo can do all of the same things the HomePod can (with the exception of AirPlay and Apple Music-related features), for $170 less. You can buy two Amazon Echos for the price of one HomePod, pretty much.



3. The design is uninspired.

Apple's new HomePod is by no means ugly. When I first laid eyes on it, I thought it was very "Apple." Simple. Minimalist.

But the more I looked at this speaker, the more I realized: The HomePods design doesn't feel very inspired at all. It feels very safe.

It only comes in two colors: black and white. Why so serious? If Apple is trying to distinguish itself in the home audio/home assistant space, it feels strange that the HomePod would look so same-feeling and plain, limited to the same austere colors as the Amazon Echo (black and white). Even Sonos equipment, which is also relatively monotone with lots of grays and blacks, is more exciting by comparison.

Considering the uniformity among popular home audio equipment today, Apple had an opportunity to actually do something different in this category, but instead largely followed the crowd in terms of design. It's a toilet paper-shaped rectangle with a ring on top and a light in the middle, which somehow manages to be reminiscent of the two most popular smart home devices right now: the Amazon Echo, and the more stout Google Home. The design feels very familiar.



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12 people share the best habits they've picked up from others

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listening

Psychologists have long observed that will power is overrated.

The most successful people build habits that eliminate the need for decision-making. Over time, the routines they establish help them accomplish far more than white-knuckling ever could.

Respondents in a recent Quora thread offered the best habits they've picked up from others.

Here's a sampling of their time-tested strategies.

SEE ALSO: Redditors give 20-somethings advice on how to enter your 30s without regrets

Don't give yourself too many choices.

Nela Canovic says she filled her life with choices thinking it made her happier, until a friend pointed out how much time she was wasting not making a decision.

Now she limits her number of options in restaurants, furniture, clothes, and basically everything to just two or three options.

"It makes my life easier," she says. "It makes me actually enjoy the day."



Exercise judicious patience.

Elizabeth Simmons recalls a senior colleague impressing on her the value of cultivating heaping doses of patience to make important decisions or solve tough problems.

"Often, a period of reflection and consultation will either produce a new solution to the original problem or reveal the presence of a complementary problem such that the two problems may end up being one another's solutions," Simmons writes.



Celebrate your wins.

Matt Sandrini and his friend Phil are accountability partners. Whenever one accomplishes his goals, the other asks how he'll celebrate. It's an important ritual, Sandrini says.

Planning to celebrate keeps him focused on the task, helps him associate goal-setting with pleasure, and gives him a much-needed break when he hits his goal, before moving on to the next one.



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10 tech gadgets your dad might actually use this Father's Day

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

INSIDER Picks_Father's Day_Record player 4x3If you're struggling to find something a little more high-tech than a tie for your old man this year, I'm here to help you out.

Whether your dad is a geek or not, chances are he'll appreciate the offerings here, some of which even give him an excuse to take out the toolbox and work on a project.

So if your dad deserves more than just a pat on the back this year, here are my choices for some great Father's Day tech gifts.

Having trouble figuring out what to get your dad for Father's Day? Browse all of Insider Picks' 2017 Father's Day gift guides here.

 

SEE ALSO: 32 gifts your dad actually wants this Father's Day

A nice pair of headphones

Dads love music, whether it's classic rock, jazz, hip hop, R&B, or classical. Status Audio's headphones sound excellent, and they're comfortable enough to wear all day.

You can read my full review here, but this is a gift any music-loving father will be able to appreciate.

Status Audio CB-1 Closed Back Studio Monitors, $79



A turntable

If your dad has regretted giving up vinyl since the late 1980s, he'll love a new turntable. U-Turn's Orbit is an affordable option that will make new and vintage vinyl sound excellent.

You can check out our guide on how to create an entire turntable-centric audio setup on a budget, but this is at its center.

U-Turn Orbit Basic Turntable, $179 



A fitness tracker

If your dad is trying to get in better shape, get him a Fitbit Flex 2. It's small, but can track his calories burned and steps taken. It's also "swim proof" so he can track his activity at the pool or ocean this summer.

All of this data will be synced to his phone so he can track his progress over time. If you really want him to take this seriously, buy one for yourself and challenge him to some "weekend warrior" workout competitions. Just remember to let him win every once in a while.

Fitbit Flex 2, $59.95



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12 tips for visiting Disney World on a budget

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Walt Disney World

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • The key to a budget-friendly Disney vacation are planning ahead and taking advantage of on-site amenities. 
  • Avoid park-hopper passes and meal plans at all costs. 

There’s nothing more magical than a trip to Disney World—the castles, the fairytales, the thrills, your favorite animated stars come to life. But as prices rise with every passing year, it’s become one of the most costly vacations a family, couple, or group of friends can take. How to make the hit to your bank account hurt a little less? Follow these 12 cost-saving tips for visiting Disney on a budget.

Say YES to...Staying on property.

Some might argue that Disney’s hotels are pricey, but you get far more from them than just the room you sleep in. Complimentary around-the-clock shuttles to every Disney park mean zero parking and rental car fees—not to mention easy access to Disney’s Extra Magic Hours, when certain parks open earlier or stay open longer on select days. And, while “value” hotels like Pop Century and All-Star Movies may not be the most glamorous options (we're looking at you, Grand Floridian), they get the job done. Want something even cheaper? Camping at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is an adventurous and wallet-friendly alternative. An added perk: Magic Bands—electronic bracelets that serve as your ticket to parks, rides, and even your hotel room—are free when you stay at a Disney resort. Stay outside the park boundaries and they’ll cost around $15 a pop—that's a $60 hit for a family of four.



Say YES to...Buying tickets up front

It pays—literally—to plan ahead. Every extra day you spend inside a Disney park cuts dollars off park admission as a whole. Current regular admission rates top out at $115 per adult per day ($109 per child), but stay three days and that price per day drops to $96 (and $90). Stay four days and it drops to $87.50 (and $82.50)...you get the picture. Also, if you already know you’re headed to Disney in the coming year, don't wait to buy. The parks rack up their entrance fees every year, so if you plan ahead, you can invest before those increases take effect.



Say YES to...Visiting during non-peak times

Holidays, while festive, are a disaster when it comes to crowds and cash. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, Spring Break, basically all of summer—avoid them if you can. Admission prices during peak times begin at $119 pre-tax, whereas if you visit during a "Value" window, rates drop to $99. Mid-January to March and late August through early October usually provide the best deals. And, of course, staying during the week is FAR cheaper than on a weekend. This calendar can help you track costs and see which days Disney designates as "Peak" verses "Value."



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A new drive-thru salad bar should scare McDonald's and Burger King

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Salad and Go drive thru image

Fast-food drive-thrus are attractive for four main reasons: the food's cheap, fast, and delicious, and you never need to leave your car. A new chain is offering those four things plus one more: food that's healthy.

Salad and Go has six locations in Arizona and serves ... you guessed it. Cofounder Roushan Christofellis hopes it will serve as an alternative to legacy fast food.

"We know that so many of those people eating from traditional drive-thru fast food are forced to go there, because they, just like me, needed something convenient and affordable, and that was their only option," she tells Business Insider.

Salad and Go sells 48-ounce salads, all priced between $5.74 and $8.23 depending on whether you add chicken, steak, or shrimp. It also offers soups, smoothies, and breakfast, which all cost about $4. Its drive-thru model is what largely allows the chain to keep prices low, Christofellis says. Since the 650-square-foot locations don't have interior seating, Salad and Go has low operational costs, and as a result it can keep its salads under $6.

The chain plans to launch seven more Arizona locations by the end of 2017, and elsewhere in the US in the next two years. Check it out.

SEE ALSO: You can pay whatever you want — or nothing at all — at this new restaurant

Salad and Go's seven locations are in Arizona.

 The first one opened in 2013.



Buying food there works just like most drive-thrus. First, you order at the outdoor menu ...

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... and then pull up to the window where you pay and collect your meal.



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10 US cities where everyone wants to live right now

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Austin, Texas

Austin is so hot right now — and no, we're not talking about the rising temperatures.

According to new data compiled by realtor.com, the Texas capital is seeing an influx of newcomers from other cities, and the population is booming, making it the No. 1 most popular place to live in the US right now.

If you've been keeping an eye on a number of other top cities lists, it should come as no surprise that so many people want to move to Austin — the city ranks No. 3 on the best cities for new grads to start their career list, and No. 1 on US News' overall best places in America to live list

As Business Insider previously reported, the city that wants to "keep it weird" is beloved for its live music scene and is host to some of the country's biggest music and culture festivals, including South by Southwest and Austin City Limits. The city was also nicknamed "Silicon Hills" in the 90s for its status as "among the top areas for venture capital investment in the country."

Of course, plenty of other cities top people's "must-move-to" lists. To figure out which cities Americans are flocking to, realtor.com looked at three data sources:

  • Census Bureau migration data from 2010 to 2014. The "migration ratio" is the ratio of people moving into a metro (from another metro) versus people leaving the metro (to another metro).
  • Search traffic on realtor.com. The "views ratio" is the ratio of Realtor.com views to a metro versus views from that metro elsewhere between April 2016 and April 2017.
  • Population growth estimates from 2015 to 2017. The "growth rate" is the percentage Nielsen estimates the population in a metro has grown based on census data.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best places to live in your 20s

DON'T MISS: Everything you need to know about buying a home, in 7 steps

10. Portland, Oregon

Migration ratio: 1.17

Views ratio: 0.74

Growth ratio: 3.9%

 



9. Tucson, Arizona

Migration ratio: 1.06

Views ratio: 1.63

Growth ratio: 1.6%



8. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Migration ratio: 1.32

Views ratio: 0.92

Growth ratio: 2.8%



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10 delightful photos of your favorite foods sliced directly down the middle

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Foods Cut In Half - 9

When photographer Beth Galton and food stylist Charlotte Omnès decided to collaborate, they knew they wanted to take a critical look at the foods we eat everyday.

During the process of choosing those items, they realized that pairing various foods together would be more efficient and visually appealing. "Shown together, they create a stronger statement about their symbolic nature," Galton told Business Insider.

It's not the first time a photographer has tackled bisected foods, but it's not a common practice, either. The images are technically difficult and time-consuming to make, but in the end, they are truly eye-opening.

We talked to Galton about how she created the series.

Jack Sommer contributed reporting to an earlier version of this article.

SEE ALSO: See the terrifying amount of sugar that's in 16 popular beverages

There is no set approach to the process of slicing and shooting. "Each item had its own set of issues that both Charlotte and I tried to solve," Galton said.



While they were able to slice some of the foods in half easily, there were some cases where multiple images had to be taken and then later pieced together with Photoshop. A seasoned stylist, Omnès was able to create solutions to various problems they would run into, including adding gelatin to the soup in this shot.



They also worked with two digital retouchers. "When our ideas could not be created realistically, they would help guide us with creating enough images for them to assemble the image we wanted," Galton said. "They both added their creativity as well as their technical expertise to the process."



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You have a lot of options when it comes to recharging a Tesla (TSLA)

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Tesla Road Trip 2016

Last summer, I drove my kids to camp in the Catskills. Our chariot for the journey was a Tesla.

And not just any Model S, but a P90D with Ludicrous Mode: the baddest, fastest, coolest Tesla in all the land. 

The idea was to see if this four-door luxury "family car" with supercar-beating acceleration — 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, claimed — could handle a journey of decent length (about 240 miles round trip) involving two adults, three kids, and the gear of a pair of campers for two weeks.

Quite a test, eh? And we decided to put the Model S through its charging paces. All of them — including some we didn't expect!

Read on to learn about all the different ways you can rejuice this most famous of electric cars.

SEE ALSO: Hackers show how they tricked a Tesla into hitting objects in its path

The pearl white Tesla, equipped with everything, landed in the driveway of our suburban New Jersey test car HQ.



It was a Model S, in P90D trim. The "P" for "performance," the "90" for the 90 kWh battery pack, and the "D" for a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup.



The trip would cover 117 miles, one-way.



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A crucial stock market signal just got its most bullish reading of the year

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running of the bull

US stocks may be hovering near record levels, but investors don't seem to be particularly worried about protecting the plentiful gains they've enjoyed.

At least that's the signal being sent by the options market, which is more unhedged on the S&P 500 than at any point this year.

The CBOE Equity Put/Call Ratio fell to 0.51 on Monday, the lowest since December 8, and 20% below the measure's current bull market average. A low reading implies that traders are making a small number of bearish bets, relative to wagers on an increase.

But while this gauge of investor worry is at a six-month low, it wasn't always so subdued. The ratio sat close to 1.0 at a five-month high as recently as mid-April.

cboe equity put call v2

So what conditions have recently shaped up to support the bullishness — or perhaps more accurately, lack of bearishness — being seen in the stock market right now?

Here's a breakdown of five themes supporting investor positivity, and suggesting that US stocks have further to run:

The breadth of stock market gains has been wide enough to allay concerns that indexes are being pushed higher by just a smaller number of companies.

While technology stocks — most notably the FANG group of Facebook, Apple, Netflix and Google — have gotten a great deal of attention for pushing stocks higher, the wider market has also been pulling its weight.

In fact, participation in the ongoing equity rally is broadening, as shown by the equal-weight S&P 500 index recently breaking out of a narrow three-month range, says Morgan Stanley, which thinks tech is getting too much credit.

"While performance from this group of stocks has been exceptional, they are not the only outperformers," equity strategists led by Michael J. Wilson wrote in a client note. "Outside this group, there has been ample opportunity for positive returns both across US sectors and globally."

Even the FANG-dominated tech sector itself is seeing more widespread strength. Roughly 45 stocks in the S&P 500 Information Technology index are sitting at 52-week highs, the most since at least 2012, according to data compiled by Strategas Research Partners.



Markets worldwide are being propped up by robust cash holdings that are at their highest in almost three decades.

Underpinning gains in both stocks and bonds is $5 trillion of capital that is sitting on the sidelines and serving as a reservoir for buying on weakness.

"This excess cash acts as a backstop for financial assets, both bonds and equities, because any correction is quickly reversed by investors deploying their excess cash to buy the dip," Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, the managing director of global market strategy at JPMorgan, wrote in a client note.

While the $5 trillion is roughly half of what it was before the US presidential election — a period that has seen the S&P 500 surge by 14% — the outstanding cash is still close to a record and well above the average level seen since 1990, according to JPMorgan data.



Consumer sentiment has been elevated for a prolonged period, something that's historically unlocked massive gains for stocks.

We're about halfway into such a high-confidence period, following recent University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index data that kept the trend intact.

Sentiment has been this high for this long on just five other occasions since 1978, according to data compiled by Morgan Stanley. The S&P 500 saw a median return of 21% in the one year following each positive reading and a 42% gain over a two-year period, according to the firm's data.

The S&P 500's 17% rally since June 2016 is roughly in line with that history. And perhaps more important for market speculators, it signals that the index could have 21% to 25% left to climb over the next year.

"This suggests that an environment of elevated and stable consumer sentiment is conducive to a building of animal spirits," a group of Morgan Stanley equity strategists wrote in a client note on Tuesday. "This trend started last year, but still has momentum."



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9 things high schoolers say they want to be when they grow up

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A-Level results students England

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

It's a question that's pretty familiar to most kids. And as young people go through high school and set their sights beyond graduation, it becomes all the more important.

Recently, The Boy Scouts of America's co-ed career development program Exploring released a report detailing the occupations that the younger generation aspires to.

The almost 152,000 survey participants ranged from eighth graders to the twelfth graders and were given 209 possible careers to choose from, which explains why the percentages for the top jobs are so low.

Here are the jobs that high schoolers have their eyes on right now:

SEE ALSO: 12 famous people who started their careers as interns

DON'T MISS: 6 questions to ask yourself before your intern's first day

9. Photographer

Photographers take photographs and can work in a range of fields, such as war photography, nature photography, or wedding photography.

Percentage of respondents who selected this career option: 1.7%



7 (tie). Veterinarian/veterinary technician

Veterinarians practice animal medicine and treat illness and injury in animals. Veterinarian technicians assist veterinarians.

Percentage of respondents who selected this career option: 2.1%



7 (tie). Actor/actress

Actors and actresses portray characters in performances, such as theater productions or films.

Percentage of respondents who selected this career option: 2.1%



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The best pieces of smart jewelry you can buy

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The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

IP_Jewelry_Buying_Guide_With_Badge 4x3 (1)

The Insider Pick:

  • Smart jewelry brings fashion and tech together in the perfect marriage of beauty and brains. We've tested all the smart jewelry out there, and the Bellabeat Leaf Urban is the best piece of smart jewelry for most women.

Wearables don't have to be ugly or super masculine to be high tech and helpful. A number of small startups and a handful of big companies are finally making wearables for women. One of the most exciting new categories is smart jewelry. 

Smart jewelry is turning the fitness tracker into a work of art. You can pick and choose between smart rings, pendants, bracelets, bangles, and so much more. Some of these gorgeous pieces of jewelry even use precious metals and semi-precious stones for extra style.

We've tested a lot of smart jewelry, and these are our favorite pieces. Every item in this buying guide offers special smart features, including fitness tracking, notifications, silent alarms, and even mindfulness reminders.

Whether you want a smart necklace, bracelet, ring, or watch, we've got you covered.

Updated on 6/6/2017 by Malarie Gokey: Added the Ringly GO smart bracelet and personal testing notes for the Ringly Luxe smart bracelet.

Bellabeat's Leaf Urban may be our top pick, but for various reasons laid out in the slides below, you should also consider the Ringly smart ring, the Fossil Q Tailor smart analog watch, the Ringly Luxe smart bracelet, the Ringly GO bracelet, and the Misfit Ray fitness tracker.

SEE ALSO: This under-the-radar Canadian brand makes buying fine jewelry easier and more affordable than ever

DON'T MISS: This Brooklyn shop makes jewelry you'll want to wear every day

The best piece of smart jewelry overall

Why you'll love it: You can wear Bellabeat's Leaf Urban as a bracelet, necklace, or brooch to track your activity, stress level, mindfulness, and sleep.

Bellabeat's original Leaf Nature was the first piece of smart jewelry I ever tried, and I've been a huge fan of the company ever since. I've worn some version of the Leaf almost every day for the past two years, and the new Leaf Urban is my favorite piece of smart jewelry — period. 

The Urban has a more modern and durable design that's water resistant and eco-friendly. The leaf-shaped body is made out of recycled wood composite that mimics the look of stone. It's encased in a metal clip that you can get in rose gold or silver. The metal part looks like the abstract veins of a leaf, and it opens up slightly to act as a brooch or a clip.

At either end of the Leaf Urban, the metal curves out into a loop so you can use it as a pendant on a necklace chain or wear it with a bracelet. Bellabeat includes a necklace and leather bracelet in the box along with your Leaf Urban and a tiny screwdriver for when you need to change the battery inside. The tracker is so popular that you can also find a number of handmade bracelets for it on Amazon.

The little wearable tracks your active minutes, calories burned, distance traveled, sleep duration, and sleep quality automatically. Just tap twice on the Leaf Urban to sync it with your companion app and see all the data.

You can also follow guided meditation sequences in the app and set silent alarms to wake up more peacefully in the morning. The app even has period and fertility tracking for those who are interested.

Using an algorithm, Bellabeat can predict your resistance to stress on any given day. For example: Say you didn't sleep well, you haven't exercised, and you've fallen behind on your meditation exercises — you may be more susceptible to stress on that day.

The Leaf aims to improve your well-being so you can live a more mindful, healthy life, and it does exactly that — with style.

Pros: Versatile design, eco-friendly materials, great mindfulness features, fitness tracking, and you never have to charge it

Cons: No notifications and replacing the battery after six months requires removing small screws

Buy the rose gold Bellabeat Leaf Urban on Amazon for $139.99

Buy the silver Bellabeat Leaf Urban on Amazon for $123.16

Buy handmade bracelets for the Leaf Urban on Amazon $13 and up

Buy 10 batteries for your Bellabeat Leaf Urban on Amazon for $4.05



The best smart ring

Why you'll love it: Ringly's smart ring looks and feels like a premium piece of jewelry, but it offers activity tracking and notifications, too.

Ringly makes the most high-end smart jewelry you can buy. Its smart rings are made of stainless steel coated in precious metals and hand picked semi-precious gemstones. These smart rings are just gorgeous. 

I've never been one for chunky statement rings, but Ringly's smart rings changed all that. I wore the Ringly for a few months before I sadly had to ship the review unit back. It made keeping up with all my calendar events and messages a breeze, because I could tell what was happening at a glance and either ignore it or address it on my phone.

You can choose from a wide variety of styles, including rings that are plated in 18K gold and others that use a dark finish on stainless steel. Ringly uses semi-precious gemstones like black onyx, tourmalated quartz, lapis, rainbow moonstone, and emerald. The company is always on the lookout for new stones, so keep an eye out for more styles. The most recent additions include purple jade, amazonite, and howlite.

The new Aries smart ring offers activity tracking on top of customizable notifications for hundreds of popular apps, including Slack, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Calendar, WeChat, Telegram, and so many more. A tiny LED light on the side of the ring lights up in different colors, and the ring vibrates when you get a notification. In the companion app, you choose which color light and vibration pattern you want to use for each notification. 

As far as activity tracking goes, Ringly keeps tabs on your steps, distance traveled, and calories burned. It's a basic fitness tracker, but a good one.

Although you do have to charge your smart ring, Ringly's wireless charging ring box is an absolutely genius solution. You simply pop your ring in its box, and it charges. You don't even need to charge it every night, either, because it lasts 2-4 days, depending on how many notifications you get. You do have to charge the ring box after 8-10 days, but it's very practical for traveling. 

Pros: Notifications for hundreds of apps, solid fitness tracking, gorgeous design with high-end materials, and a great charging ring box

Cons: No sleep tracking or silent alarms

Buy the purple jade and gold Ringly smart ring from Ringly for $165

Buy the amazonite and gold Ringly smart ring from Ringly for $165

Buy the howlite and stainless steel Ringly smart ring from Ringly for $165 

Buy the moonstone and gold Ringly smart ring from Ringly for $165

Buy the black onyx and gold Ringly smart ring on Amazon for $165

Buy the lapis and gold Ringly smart ring on Amazon for $165

Buy the tourmalated quartz and steel Ringly smart ring from Ringly for $165



The best smart analog watch

Why you'll love it: Fossil's Q Tailor looks like a classic analog watch, but it can track your activity, buzz with notifications, and more.

If you want an analog watch with smarts, look no further than Fossil's line of hybrid watches. My personal favorite is the Q Tailor with a rose gold casing and tan leather strap. Its subtle design is classic Fossil, and it fits in with any outfit. I wore it for a couple of weeks before I returned the review unit, and came away wondering why I typically wore a smartwatch.

The Q Tailor comes in three different color combinations, including the aforementioned rose gold and tan color palette, rose gold and navy leather, and gold and brown leather.

You can easily swap the 18mm straps with any other compatible watch bands — all you need is the same spring mechanism. Fossil offers a huge selection of straps for about $25 each.

One of the best things about the Q Tailor is the way Fossil uses the watch face to communicate information in a subtle way. There’s a small sub dial on the left side of the watch face where you can see how close you are to meeting your fitness goals. When you meet your goals, the watch hands do a celebratory dance around the screen as your watch vibrates.

You can also program the hands to alert you when your most important contacts text you. When my mom texts me, the watch hands go to 1.

There are three buttons on the watch casing. The top one triggers the hands to move to the date on the watch face. Press the center button, and the hands will show you another time zone. The center button filters you through each mode. Finally, you can program the third button to either bring up the selfie cam on your phone, control your music, or help you find your phone.

Even though it has all these high-tech features, you don’t have to charge the Q Tailor, and the simple watch battery inside is easy to replace after your six months of battery life runs out. All of these features plus a killer design and simple app make the Q Tailor the best hybrid watch you can buy.

Pros: Gorgeous design, great activity and sleep tracking, notifications, an easily programmable smart button, and you never have to charge it

Cons: You have to replace the watch battery every six months

Buy the rose gold and tan leather Fossil Q Tailor on Amazon for $155

Buy the rose gold and navy leather Fossil Q Tailor on Amazon for $155

Buy the gold and brown leather Fossil Q Tailor on Amazon for $155

Buy a 4-pack of batteries for the Fossil Q Tailor on Amazon for $6.49



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8 breakfast foods that will give you as much energy as coffee

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GrapefruitThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Waking up in the morning and feeling reading to start the day is tough. Usually a cup of coffee will get you through, but there are actually plenty of other foods that will give you that same boost of energy.
  • Try oatmeal or grapefruit for that extra pep in your step instead a cup of coffee everyday.

It’s a Monday. It’s raining. And it’s 8 in the morning. Ugh. Could life get any worse? Luckily there are some easy and yummy ways that will wake you up better than coffee in the morning.

Apples

Ever heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well, it turns out that apples can keep sleepiness away too. Packed with thirteen grams of natural sugar, apples are a great way to wake up — even better than coffee.

If you’re heading to an early morning lecture class and need your brain firing on all cylinders, be sure to pick up an apple on your way out.



Eggs

Protein, protein, protein. Not only will it make your body crazy muscular, it’ll bulk up your brain too. Eggs are bursting with essential nutrients and all the fancy stuff to keep your body charged longer.

Because of the healthy dose of omega 3’s, fat, and protein, eggs will keep you full longer, which really helps avoid that mid-class slump. So load up your plate with eggs — scrambled, fried, over easy, or in an omelette — and make your 8 AM simply egg-cellent.



Chocolate milk

It’s chocolate, of course it’s a power food. Now I’m not saying to gobble down a whole bag of chocolate chips, but a healthy dose never hurt anyone. Aside from eat chocolate straight up, mixing it with something is a sure-fire way to kick start your morning.

Milk has been the poster child for healthy bones since forever. But, when we add chocolate, it gets even better. Protein helps your body to make important enzymes that send signals to your brain to wake up and get moving.

Chocolate should basically be its own food group. Not only is it good with everything, but it also provides nutrients that can help your body to feel more awake. Cocoa has natural caffeine, and will help to maintain blood sugar levels longer when paired with calcium-rich protein.

Plus, there are tons of things to mix in to maximize the awesomeness. Chocolate milk tastes great, is good for you, and boosts energy. Boo-yah.



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