Apple may have just unveiled brand-new iPhones, but there's still plenty to like about its older devices — and they're now cheaper than ever before. 

After introducing the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max on Wednesday, Apple dropped the prices of some of its older devices. While the priciest iPhone now exceeds $1,100, a year-old phone like the iPhone 8 will set you back a more manageable $600. 

And the price isn't the only thing to love about the iPhone 8 — its design and specs are still competitive with Apple's new flagship phone. 

Here are 6 reasons to still buy the iPhone 8 over the new iPhone XS:

SEE ALSO: Apple just quietly killed off a bunch of older iPhone and Apple Watch models — here are the products that are gone forever

1. The iPhone 8 costs $400 less than the iPhone XS.

If you're looking for an affordable phone with up-to-date specs, the iPhone 8 is a solid option. It starts at $599, or monthly payments of $24.95. 

Of course, if you're looking for more storage, the price will increase significantly. While the 64 GB option starts at $599, a 256 GB iPhone 8 costs $749.

Still, it's a better deal than the new iPhone XS, which starts at $999 and can cost as much as $1,349.

2. The iPhone 8 is lighter and thinner than the iPhone XS.

Not everyone is looking for the lightest, thinnest phone. But if that's a priority for you, the iPhone 8 is the best option.

iPhone 8:

• Weight — 148 grams
• Depth — 7.3 mm

iPhone XS:

• Weight — 177 grams
• Depth — 7.7 mm

3. The iPhone 8 is water resistant and has wireless charging, just like the iPhone XS.

Just like the brand-new iPhone XS, the iPhone 8 is compatible with Qi wireless chargers. It's also waterproof in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. 

The iPhone XS is slightly more waterproof than the iPhone 8, however — Apple says it can be submerged in two meters of water for up to 30 minutes. 

If you're considering getting into digital photography, you're probably feeling overwhelmed. Aside from questions like, 'What is an F-stop?' or 'Why are there so many numbers in the camera names?' you're also probably wondering which brand you should choose. 

There are plenty of great camera manufacturers making all kinds of cameras —mirrorless, DSLR, point-and-shoot, and everything else under the sun. But we're only going to focus on one big question this time: Canon or Nikon?

These two companies have been going head to head for years, and they're basically industry standard in the photography world. 

Here are some of the key differences between Nikon and Canon to help you figure out which camera is right for you:

SEE ALSO: Here's how the new $400 Apple Watch Series 4 compares to last year's model, the Apple Watch Series 3

Before you decide anything, take a trip to a camera or electronics store and get a feel for the different cameras.

Neither brand is going to have a certain feature or component that the other one doesn't. The biggest differences in the camera bodies and interfaces will be in the design and location of the external buttons, and how the camera menus are set up. This will simply come down to preference. Which is more comfortable for you? Is one easier to pick up and figure out without looking at a manual? 

The design, while certainly not the most important camera function, can help you form a preference for either brand. It all comes down to comfort here. 

Next, you'll need to decide if you want a full-frame camera or a crop-sensor.

Put simply, a full-frame camera has a larger sensor — the device that captures light when you take a picture. A crop-sensor camera has a smaller sensor, and usually a smaller camera body. This doesn't necessarily mean a full-frame camera will take higher-quality images than a crop sensor, but there are a few key differences. 

First off, full-frame cameras are going to be more expensive. The camera bodies themselves will be larger, and since they're aimed at a professional audience, they're going to have features that a professional would want. This includes more shots-per-second, multiple SD card slots, and better low-light performance. 

Crop-sensor cameras are still a perfectly acceptable choice — especially for beginners. They generally won't have quite as many features as a full-frame camera, especially at entry level, but they're more than adequate. The biggest difference is hinted at in the name — the cropped sensor. Without getting into details, a crop-sensor camera won't show as much of the scene as a full-frame camera using the same lens. 

Here's an explainer from SLR Lounge that shows some examples of the differences between images taken with full-frame and crop-sensor cameras.

If price is an issue, you might want to start with a crop-sensor camera. It will get the job done, and you'll be instantly impressed with the results when compared with the photos you've been taking on your phone. 

Now, let's take a look at the different crop-sensor and full-frame options from each company. Nikon currently offers eight crop-sensor cameras on its website, but there are older models available from resellers and third parties.

Here's the crop sensor cameras Nikon currently offers on its website:

1. D3400 ($449)
2. D3500 ($499)
3. D5300 ($599)
4. D5600 ($699)
5. D5500 ($699)
6. D7200 ($999)
7. D7500 ($1,149)
8. D500 ($1,899)

(Note: some of these prices reflect the addition of an 18-55mm starter lens. You can purchase only the camera body for cheaper, and select your own lens.)

• Niche compiled a list of the best American suburbs to live in for 2018.
• Suburban life in the US has changed in recent years, and is becoming nonexistent in some areas.
• But still, Americans are attracted to suburban life. Some of the best suburbs are even tourist destinations, including Santa Monica and Berkley, California.

In a series titled "The Death of Suburbia," Business Insider previously explored the declining state of American suburbs. Reporters found millennials are doing everything they can to avoid suburban life, like living on a boat, to be closer to their jobs in big cities, and that over 800 golf courses, a suburban staple, have shuttered in a decade.

But with the rising cost of living in big cities, suburbs are still a popular place for families to settle down, according to Pew Research Center.

Niche compiled a list of the best suburbs to live in for 2018 and ranked them according to cost of living, school quality, crime rates, home prices, employment, and amenity access, among other measures. Statistics on Niche's list are primarily from the US Census and represent the most recent data. The list measures the overall quality of living in suburban America. Some crime and safety rates were not provided. 

However, some suburbs on this list are tourist destinations, including Santa Monica and Berkley, California. Below is Niche's ranked list of the 50 best suburbs in America.

SEE ALSO: The 50 smartest public high schools in America

DON'T MISS: The 33 safest American cities to live in

50. Arlington, Virginia

Population: 226,092

Median home value: $623,300

Median household income: $108,706

Crime & safety grade: Not provided

49. Evanston, Illinois

Population: 75,472

Median home value: $356,600

Median household income: $71,317

Crime & safety grade: B-

48. Mountain View, California

Population: 78,827

Median home value: $973,000

Median household income: $109,248

Crime & safety grade: B

• Generation Zs were born after 1997.
• They prefer brands that are healthy, socially-conscious, and connected with influencers on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.
• But many of their favorite brands are shared by older generations, too. 

Millennials, move aside. There's a new generation advertisers are vying to reach: Generation Z.

Gen Zs are Americans born after 1997, and their short lives have been already been marked by the advent of mobile technology, social upheaval, and the Great Recession.

Ypulse, a New York-based youth marketing firm, interviewed 8,494 Gen Z consumers on 332 brands this year for its Ybrands survey. Then, the firm ranked those brands based on the consumers' awareness, past purchase, and loyalty, as well as their perceived personality and influence.

Bobby Calise, vice president of Ybrands, said these brands won over Gen Z because of their ability to convince young adults of their coolness and momentum. 

More unique to Gen Z, Calise said, is their preference to buy from brands with expressed stances on social causes. 

"In the past, brands might have considered playing it safe for fear of alienating some of its customer base," Calise told Business Insider. "But in today's social and political climate, it's arguably riskier not to take a risk — even if it's a calculated one — when it comes to brands taking stands."

Ypulse shared the final ranking with Business Insider. Here are the top 100 brands that Gen Z adore: 

SEE ALSO: Gen Zs never watch TV, are stressed about Snapchat, and are concerned that technology has ruined their mental health — here's what it's REALLY like to be a teen in 2018

DON'T MISS: Teenagers are less likely to work today than any generation before them, and some say school is to blamehttps://www.businessinsider.com/category/generation-z

100. KFC

Why it's popular: KFC launched a plan in 2015 to boost quality across its US restaurants — revamping the menu, retraining employees, and remodeling. That venture focused not on making KFC a health food magnate, but on its core business of quality fried chicken. 

99. Jif

Why it's popular: While there are plenty of new competitors in the peanut butter market, Jif still has the largest brand share. The brand also has created new snacks and partnered with Hilary Duff on its natural peanut butter line. 

98. Buffalo Wild Wings

Why it's popular: While millennials and Gen Zs alike don't frequent fast casual chains, Buffalo Wild Wings has a different take on dining out by allowing patrons to customize their meal with different sauces. 

Hurricane Florence has arrived in the US, thrashing the East Coast with torrential rain, high winds, and massive floods.

The hurricane's center made landfall at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, at 7:15 a.m. ET on Friday morning.

Winds up to 112 mph lashed the coast, and a storm surge of up to 11 feet was expected in some areas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm dropped up to 33 inches of rain, causing "catastrophic" floods and a "life-threatening" situation, the NHC said.

So far, at least 14 people have been reported dead. About 417,000 people in the Carolinas have lost power, with power companies racing to restore it.

Here's what the hurricane's impact looks like on the ground.

SEE ALSO: A North Carolina newsroom was evacuated while reporters were live on air covering Hurricane Florence

DON'T MISS: 'We just don't want people to think this is over': Florence continues ravaging the Carolinas as the death toll climbs and rivers threaten to overflow

Hurricanes form over warm ocean water. Florence formed off the coast of west Africa on August 30, and strengthened to a Category 4 storm before it hit the US East Coast on September 14.

Source: NHC

This was Wilmington, North Carolina, as the most ferocious part of the storm passed over on Friday morning.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1040561313385275393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#Wilmington currently in the eyewall of #Florence - winds gusting 90+ mph pic.twitter.com/7sFyyZM33D

The canopy of this BP petrol station in Topsail Beach, North Carolina, was completely blown away.

Tweet Embed:
//twitter.com/mims/statuses/1040479135657689088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Gas station canopy goes flying as Hurricane #Florence nears landfall along the Carolina coast. https://t.co/nuRzakssgFpic.twitter.com/FBFIbued42

• US News compiled a list of A+ schools for B students, calculating admission data and SAT/ACT scores.
• To be considered an A+ school for B students, a university had to have a high freshman retention rate, admit a large portion of students who didn't get straight A's in high school, admit students with a range of SAT/ACT scores.
• If you have high grades but are a bad test taker, don't fret — several universities consider more than just a test score.

Applying to college senior year of high school is a life changing process and decision. Many students have high GPA's but fall short when it comes to SAT/ACT scores. If you have high grades but are a bad test taker, don't fret — several universities consider more than just a test score. 

US News compiled a list of A+ schools for B students, looking at admission data, average freshman retention rates, and the school's rank on US News' Best Colleges list (the top three-fourths made this list). 

To be considered an A+ school for B students, a university had to have a high freshman retention rate, and admit a large portion of students who didn't get straight A's in high school and have a range of SAT/ACT scores. SAT/ACT score averages are calculated based on the most common score of admitted students and represents the 25th-75th percentile. Read US News' full methodology here.

Below is a list of the top 25 national universities that classify as A+ schools for B students.  Tuition and fees included below are for the 2018-2019 school year. 

SEE ALSO: A USC and Yale grad who got a perfect score on the SAT shares his best advice for acing the test

DON'T MISS: The 50 best US colleges for your money

25. Arizona State University - Tempe

Overall rank: 115 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 84%

ACT: 22-29

In-state tuition and fees: $10,822

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $28,336

24. University of the Pacific

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 65%

SAT: 1070-1330

Tuition and fees: $48,040

23. University of South Carolina

Overall rank: 106 (tie)

Acceptance rate: 72%

ACT: 25-30

In-state tuition and fees: $12,262

Out-of-state tuition and fees: $32,362

• Multi-million-dollar homes for the 1 percent are hardly eyebrow-raising.
• They are, however, when they extend stories beneath the earth's surface. 
• Here are 50 photos that show how obsessed the wealthy are with subterranean homes.

For the wealthy, owning a luxury home is no rare feat. 

But even for the some of the world's wealthiest individuals, underground luxury mansions are an extravagant expense.

But, whether these mansions have been fashioned out of a desire for pure opulence, a lack of space, or paranoia (yes, luxury bomb shelters are a thing), for some, they are a must. These photos show just how obsessed the super rich are with underground mansions.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: A tech billionaire just listed his Palo Alto home for $100 million, the most expensive Bay Area listing in a decade — take a look inside

At the St. Moritz ski resort in Switzerland sits a lavish, seven-story home, dubbed The Lonsdaleite, or The Ice Palace.

Source: Business Insider, Vimeo, and Vimeo

It was listed on the market for $185 million last fall. Realtor Senada Adzem told CNBC that the home was "designed to make a billionaire's jaw drop."

Source: Business Insider and CNBC

The home's great room is covered in 35-foot floor-to-ceiling windows on one wall...

Source: CNBC

• Workplace emails might give you a headache.  
• And, if you have passive-aggressive coworkers, having to electronically communicate with them might make emails all the more stressful.  
• Adobe found the nine most-hated passive-aggressive email phrases in a recent survey. Business Insider asked a social worker and a psychologist how to respond to deescalate the situation.

If that snippy coworker is being passive-aggressive in an email (again!), resist the urge to send an equally snarly response. 

"The goal of the passive-aggressive person is to get someone else to visibly act out the anger that they have been concealing," social worker Signe Whitson, author of "The Angry Smile," told Business Insider. "Any time their covertly hostile email is responded to with overt hostility, the passive aggressive person succeeds."

Don't fight fire with fire. If you do, you're just falling into the passive-aggressive person's trap. 

Instead, Dr. Neil J. Lavender, author of "Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job," said you should focus on what you need to do to complete the task at hand, rather than "majoring in the minors."

"If the email is requesting you to turn in a report, then turn it in. If you need to return a phone call, then return the phone call," Lavender told Business Insider. "Don’t get 'mired in the minutia.'"

Adobe found the nine most-hated passive-aggressive email phrases in a recent survey. Below, take a look at some key phrases you can use to diffuse the situation when one of those emails lands in your inbox.

SEE ALSO: 11 signs your boss is passive aggressive

'Not sure if you saw my last email'

With 25% of workers saying this is the most annoying email phrase, "Not sure if you saw my last email" was by far the most disliked phrase in Adobe's survey.

Lavender suggested beginning your note with, simply, "Thank you, I did receive your last email and..."

'Per my last email'

Whitson recommended leading your response with an equally brief, "Thanks for the reminder."

'Per our conversation'

This might be a sign that your worker is trying to create a paper trail from your in-person talks.

"A simple, 'Thanks for the recap' will go a long way in keeping a friendly workplace and rising above someone else’s covert anger," Whitson said.

Gambling will gut you.

After years of preparation, in 2018 I finally got the courage to put down a significant amount of money along with my cousin to join the Westgate SuperContest.

Last Sunday was the first time my picks actually mattered — if I had the best gambling year of my life, I'd have a shot at splitting a $1.5 million grand prize with my cousin. I was ready to live the fantasy.

Then my picks went 1-4. Gross. Even worse, those losses came in a myriad of gut-punching ways. The Giants were an inch away from scoring a two-point conversion that would've saved me a loss, and the Steelers somehow blew a 14-point lead to the Browns to settle in a tie.

Thankfully, not all my bets were losers. We hit our moneyline underdog with the Chiefs beating the Chargers outright, an easy two-team teaser with the help of the Ravens and Vikings, and also cashed our Monday Night Chaser. Even with a brutal stretch of SuperContest picks, I survived with my bankroll intact.

There's only one thing to do after a rough week — dust yourself off, check your wallet, and charge back in.

Below are our picks for Week 2 of the Westgate SuperContest, along with some of our other favorite bets on the slate.

SuperContest Pick 1: Indianapolis Colts (+6) over Washington Redskins

Week 2 is all about avoiding overreaction, and this line looks about three points too high based on where it would've been before the Redskins big win in Arizona to start the season. I think that game spoke more to the Cardinals deficiencies than anything else, and while Indianapolis won't be world-beaters this year, they can certainly keep pace with Washington.

Andrew Luck can basically will the Colts offense to 20 points or so on his own, and the Redskins haven't won their home opener in four years.

SuperContest Pick 2: Atlanta Falcons (-6) over Carolina Panthers

Despite a disappointing performance against the Eagles in Week 1, this feels like a great spot for the Falcons to bounce back to get their 2018 campaign on track.

Matt Ryan and the Atlanta offense shot themselves in the foot time and time again against Philadelphia, coming up short in the red zone on several crucial possessions. That's a testament to the Eagles defense, and while red zone struggles have been a theme for the Falcons, the Carolina defense they'll face on Sunday is not at the Eagles' level.

Atlanta hasn't lost to the Panthers at home since 2014, and with Carolina stuck recovering from several key injuries, I think the Falcons do enough to cover here.

SuperContest Pick 3: Pittsburgh Steelers (-4) over Kansas City Chiefs

This is another great example of an overreaction game. The Steelers looked awful in their Week 1 tie with the Browns, blowing a 14-point fourth quarter lead to a team that hadn't won a football game in close to two years. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs now possess the greatest offense the world has ever seen.

I don't buy it.

Whenever the public is all over one side of a bet, it's usually best to go the other way, especially when the public falls in love with an underdog. According to the Action Network, 75% of bettors have taken the Chiefs in this game, which is right now the most heavily bet game of the board.

Look for the Steelers to bounce back at home — I'm not saying it will be easy, but I think they figure out a way to win by a touchdown.

• Millennials are known for carrying a lot of student loan debt.
• A LendingTree analysis of users' anonymized credit report data concluded that student loan debt made up the largest portion of millennial debt among those who carry it, accounting for 40% of the typical millennial's total credit and loan balance. 
• LendingTree also broke down where millennials with the most debt live in the US and surprisingly, the top 30 places on the list did not include historically expensive cities like New York or San Francisco.  
• That's because LendingTree included millennials without debt in the analysis, many of whom live in major cities and metro areas.

Millennials with the most debt in the US live all over the country — but apparently not in New York or San Francisco, two of the most historically expensive cities in America.

That's according to a LendingTree study, in which researchers analyzed anonymized credit report data from My LendingTree to see where millennials with the most debt live. Researchers looked at debt balances, excluding mortgages, of people born between 1981 and 1996, and included people both with and without debt. The debt calculated included personal and student loans, auto, and credit card debt. My LendingTree currently has more than nine million active accounts. 

The study concluded that student loan debt made up the largest portion of millennial debt for those who carry it, accounting for 40% of their total credit and loan balances. 

"Auto loans make up a large percentage of millennial debt in places where that overall debt tends to run higher, so it's not entirely surprising that people who live in places with vibrant public transportation systems, or even places that don't have a big car culture, would have lower balances," Kali McFadden, a LendingTree senior research analyst, told Business Insider.

The LendingTree researchers found auto loans make up 43% of debt for millennials in Riverside, California, but only account for 22% of debt for millennials living in New York City.  

"People in expensive cities also tend to earn higher paychecks, which means they may be making bigger student loan payments under an income-based repayment schedule, even if their monthly expenses are significantly higher than people who live elsewhere but earn less," McFadden said.

Here are the top 30 cities in the US where millennials have the most debt, with the median debt balance per millennial in a given city. 

SEE ALSO: 31 cities where you could be considered 'rich' if you earn less than $100,000

DON'T MISS: A writer who had $60,000 in student loans says it took him 5 years to make the mental shift he needed to pay them off before turning 30

SEE ALSO: Companies from corporate giants to hot startups have begun offering perks and programs to tackle employees' stifling student loans

30. Chicago, Illinois

Median balance: $22,784

29. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Median balance: $22,974

28. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Median balance: $23,075

The 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards air Monday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Before the Emmys are handed out at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, celebrities will get the chance to stop by a gifting suite filled with roses, headphones, and a few trips.

Backstage Creations will give up to 50 celebrities gift bags and luxury items from this year's Emmy's Giving Suite. This year's presenters include Gina Rodriguez, Sterling K. Brown, Ben Stiller, Sarah Paulson, Kit Harington, and Michael Douglas.

For the sixth year, Backstage Creations and the suite sponsors will donate $150,000 to the Television Academy Foundation on behalf of celebs who visit to help support aspiring student TV producers.

From a trip to Kenya to Swarovski jewelry and ice cream, keep reading to see all the items celebs will have the opportunity to take home.

A three-night all inclusive stay for two at one of Canyon Ranch's two locations.

Celebs can choose from a stay at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona or in Lenox, Massachusetts. This stay was also featured in last year's Emmy's giftbag.

A three-night all inclusive stay at The Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya.

Kenya's Luxury Safari location lets guests sleep under the stars, go out on a mobile safari, track rhinos, or go on a helicopter ride.

You can learn more and see all of the Luxury Safari Camp locations here. 

A stay at Viceroy Bali.

The Indonesian resort has 25 private pool villas and was recently named one of Condé Nast Traveler's top 50 resorts in the world. 

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.

It's an exciting time to be a shopper.

Today, there are more options than ever for whatever you want to buy, be it a simple pair of underwear or a king-size mattress. A growing number of these options are offered not by the decades-old brands you see all the time at your neighborhood retailer, but by online-only companies that boast better quality products, more memorable personalities, and middlemen-free distribution methods (sorry, middlemen). 

Once a fledgling concept still finding its feet, direct-to-consumer retail has clearly proven that it's here to stay. The names Everlane, Warby Parker, Bonobos, and Glossier now ring a bell for — if not incite passionate exclamations of love from — most people, so we're surveying the retail startup scene in search of the next big success story.  

We've had our finger on the pulse of these 20 startups that are shaking up their industries and have great futures ahead of them. If you haven't heard about them before, you'll know to pay attention to their names in the future.

See the retail startups you should keep an eye on this year below.

Daily Harvest: For putting a fresh smoothie in your hand in minutes

Daily Harvest's healthy smoothies, soups, parfaits, and sundaes arrive at your door in pre-portioned cups, ready to be blended and consumed in just a couple minutes. Eating healthy is not easy, partly because it takes so much time to shop and prepare food, but Daily Harvest makes it easy with its convenient, superfood-packed combinations. It recently launched a new latte line and we're eagerly watching it to see what other creative recipes it comes up with. 

Read more about how Daily Harvest works here and our review of its Harvest Bowls and lattes here

Shop ready-to-blend drinks and meals at Daily Harvest here

Helix: For personalizing your sleep experience

Casper, Leesa, and Tuft & Needle are just a few popular direct-to-consumer mattress startups you've probably heard of. But Helix is different because it makes a custom mattress just for you based on your sleeping style and preferences. This personalization brings an unparalleled sleep experience, and if you're still not happy after 100 nights, you can return the mattress. 

Read our review of Helix's mattress here and pillow here

Customize your Helix mattress here

Allbirds: For using unique materials to make comfortable shoes

Sneakers made out of wool — and a sustainably-farmed merino wool at that — don't sound like they would work or be very practical, but Allbirds is the innovative brand that pulls it off. It even recently figured out how to make shoes from eucalyptus pulp. The shoes are soft, comfortable, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating. And did we mention they're machine-washable? They're a favorite in Silicon Valley, but we wouldn't be surprised if we saw more and more Allbirds taking to the streets very soon. 

Read our review of Allbirds' Runners here, Loungers here, and new Tree collection here

Shop shoes at Allbirds here

• Having a car can be expensive and inconvenient depending on your means and location.
• Living in the Bay Area, author Laura McCamy decided to give up her car 10 years ago, which has saved her money, reduced her stress levels, and increased her daily exercise intake.
• Here are four benefits to going car free and why I plan to stay car-free.

When my aging Nissan pickup didn't feel safe to drive anymore, I faced a choice: Buy a new vehicle or get rid of it for good.

Reluctant to take on a new car payment, I decided to go car-free. The Bay Area has a decent public-transit system, and I could always buy a car later if it didn't work out.

Part of the impetus to give up my car was my concern about climate change. However, there are a number of additional benefits to giving up your car that could make it a worthwhile decision, like saving money, more opportunity for exercise, and slowing down in a fast-paced world.

A decade later, I'm still living car-free in the Bay Area, and I don't plan on buying a car anytime soon. Here are four of the best things about going car-free and tips for making the transition.

SEE ALSO: 10 things not to keep in your car in the summer

1. Saving money

Experian estimates that the US average new car payment is $523 per month, not counting insurance, gas, parking, and repairs. By not owning a car in the Bay Area specifically, I'll be saving around $14,625  per year, according to Fortune.

There are still times when using a car is the best option, such as when the weather isn't ideal for biking, there's no bus stop within a reasonable distance of my destination, or my cat has to go to the vet.

In those cases, I simply borrow a car from a friend, take out a GIG car share, or summon a Lyft whenever I need a car (though a recent study from AAA found that relying solely on ride-hailing services would cost twice as much as owning a car in a major US city).

If you decide to ditch driving altogether, consider taking public transit, biking, walking, and/or working from home to make car-free living even more economical. You can also save by trying bikeshare programs like Citi Bike or purchasing a scooter.

For many people, owning a car equals freedom, but having the extra cash frees me to spend my money on travel, home improvements, or whatever else makes me happy.

2. Exercise

I used the money I saved by giving up a car to purchase a new bicycle and some gear, and I get almost everywhere I need to go by way of bike.

When I'm not biking, I often walk. My blood pressure is impressively low, and I never get an exercise lecture from my doctor.

My bike rides feel more like fun than exercise, but my heart and lungs are experiencing the benefits. A 2017 British study found that people who commuted by bike were less likely to die from heart disease or cancer.

Cyclists may even age better than most, according to a study published in the Journal of Physiology. Scientists examined cyclists aged 55-79 years old and found them to have memory, reflexes, balance, metabolisms, and immune system responses similar to those of people decades younger, the New York Times reported.

I don't know if my car-free commute will help me defy aging, but I will at least be happier along the way.

3. Slowing down

We live in a fast-paced world. Life without a car has enabled me to reduce my expectations of what I can get done in a day and make time to appreciate my surroundings.

When I walk or ride my bike, I make sure to observe what's going on around me in my neighborhood, such as the thorny artichoke plants rising from the curb, a new mural painted in the center of the street, kids laughing at the playground, and the ripe raspberries that grow beside the community garden.

The time I spend on transit is a gift, too. Riding the bus is has become an educational experience for me. I get to interact more with other people and learn through meaningful conversations.

Apple just debuted a brand-new Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 4.

The new watch has a larger display, upgraded heart-tracking sensors, and a faster chip than last year's model, the Apple Watch Series 3.

But it also bears several similarities to last year's model: the new watch gets the same amount of battery life (18 hours) and the design looks nearly identical to the Series 3, and to previous versions before that. 

So whether you're a first-time Apple Watch buyer, or you're just trying to decide if you should upgrade from last year's watch, here's how the Apple Watch Series 4 compares to the Apple Watch Series 3. 

SEE ALSO: There were two major no-shows at Apple's big iPhone event

The Apple Watch Series 4 and Apple Watch Series 3 bear a lot of similarities. Both watches come with the option for GPS only, or GPS plus cellular connectivity.

There's a price difference if you opt to add a cellular connection — plus, the Apple Watch Series 4 is more expensive than the now-discounted Apple Watch Series 3.

Here's the price breakdown:

• Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS — $279
• Apple Watch Series 4 with GPS — $399
• Apple Watch Series 3 with GPS and cellular — $379
• Apple Watch Series 4 with GPS and cellular — $499

On the design front, there is a change from last year to this year in regards to the cellular version. The Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular had a red digital crown, while the Apple Watch Series 4 with cellular just has a thin red stripe on the crown. Apple also added haptic feedback to the digital crown on the Series 4. 

Both watches get 18 hours of battery life, and are water resistant up to 50 meters.

There are a few key design differences between the two watches. The Apple Watch Series 4 has a bigger case size than the Apple Watch Series 3, and it also has a bigger screen.

The Apple Watch Series 4 has a slightly larger case size than the Apple Watch Series 3. 

Both watches come in two sizes: the Apple Watch Series 4 in 40 mm and 44 mm, and the Apple Watch Series 3 in 38 mm and 42 mm. 

The upside of the larger case, however, is a larger screen:

• Apple Watch Series 3, 38 mm — 563 sq mm display area
• Apple Watch Series 3, 42 mm — 740 sq mm display area
• Apple Watch Series 4, 40 mm — 759 sq mm display area
• Apple Watch Series 4, 44 mm — 977 sq mm display area

• With just 12 years of operations under its belt, the Hong Kong-based carrier Hong Kong Airlines has become one of the best airlines in the world.
• I recently flew from San Francisco to Hong Kong at the very back of the economy cabin on one of the airline's new Airbus A350-900s.
• Though there's no such thing as a perfectly pleasant 14-hour flight in economy, my Hong Kong Airlines experience put other flights I've taken to shame, largely because of the upgraded in-flight entertainment system and the tasty meals.

For some, riding in business or first class is a must when taking long-haul flights. The lie-flat seats, the Champagne, the three-course meals — ah, the luxury.

For the rest of us mere mortals, low-priced economy seats are the way to go.

Such was the case for a recent trip I took to Hong Kong from San Francisco aboard Hong Kong Airlines, a young carrier based out of Hong Kong that has quickly become one of the best airlines in the world.

The airline is known for its "affordable luxury," which I can certainly vouch for — I purchased a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong from the Bay Area for a mere $500.

Here's what my economy experience was like aboard a Hong Kong Airlines flight:

SEE ALSO: I flew on a private plane with Blackbird, the flight-sharing startup that's like the UberPool for planes — here's what it's like

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My trip began at San Francisco International Airport. Always antsy before a flight, I arrived three hours before we were scheduled to take off at 12:30 p.m.

The two largest airlines at the West Coast airport are United and Virgin America, the latter of which merged with Alaska Airlines just this year.

Source: SFGate, Business Insider

The newest player on the SFO scene is Hong Kong Airlines, which in its 12 years of operation has become one of the best airlines in the world.

Source: Airline Geeks, Hong Kong Airlines, Forbes

• While Ibiza is known as a party capital of the world, many wealthy and famous head to the lesser-known pastoral north of the island to relax.
• One of the most luxurious and secluded resorts on the island is Atzaró Hotel and Spa, an agrotourism resort where Rihanna, Shakira, and other celebs have stayed.
• I recently spent the day at Atzaró to see what it's like to live like a popstar. The food was good, the drinks were strong, and the grounds were stunning.

The Spanish island of Ibiza is world-famous as a vacation and partying hotspot for the wealthy and the famous.

Every summer sees the usual influx of actors, billionaires, and models and their entourages flooding in for wild parties at the island's bumping clubs and beautiful beaches.

But what if you are looking for something a bit more secluded, classy, and chic? Ibiza has that, too.

Enter the Atzaró Hotel and Spa, an agrotourism resort hidden in the northern countryside of the island. Considered one of the more prestigious hotels on the island, the resort opened in 2004 after being converted from a 300-year-old traditional farmhouse into the lavish 10-acre estate and gardens it is now.

The hotel's hidden, serene location has made it a favorite of celebrities ranging from popstars Rihanna and Shakira to actress Kate Hudson, among others. 

I recently visited Atzaró Hotel and Spa on a recent trip to Spain. Keep reading to see what it's like:

SEE ALSO: I stayed at Robert De Niro's ridiculously swanky new hotel in Ibiza — and it makes you feel like a celebrity, if you can afford it

DON'T MISS: I went on an epic road trip to find the best beach in 2018's hottest travel destination — and it did not disappoint

Getting to Atzaró is a bit of a schlep. Located near Santa Eularia des Riu in the north of the island, it was a 30-minute ride from Sant Antoni de Portmany, one of the major towns on the island. It's about the same distance from Ibiza Town.

The drive there was gorgeous. The ride revealed a lush, green countryside that I didn't even know existed on Ibiza. Located down a small country road, Atzaró is named after the mountain behind the property.

The property was originally a finca, or Spanish farmhouse, built some 300 years ago, that served as the family home of owner and CEO Victor Guasch.

• San Francisco's new four-block-long Salesforce Transit Center — and the stunning rooftop park located on top of it — is officially open to the public.
• A project almost two decades in the making, the transit center was designed to be a central nexus for local transportation.
•  Eleven bus lines stop at the station, and transit officials plan to eventually connect it to rail lines as well. 
• The $2.2 billion transit center is being hailed as the "Grand Central Station of the West," and some have compared its park to The High Line in New York.

San Francisco's highly-anticipated Salesforce Transit Center and the new park located on its roof are officially open to the public.

Located in a colossal white building that snakes its way through the city's downtown South of Market district, the transit project was almost two decades in the making and was designed as a much-needed improvement to San Francisco's notoriously clogged transportation systems. Routes on eleven bus lines stop at the transit center. In the future, so too will Caltrain, the Bay Area's commuter-rail services, and California's High Speed Rail, which will run between there and Los Angeles.

The center's urban design has drawn comparisons to New York's new Oculus transit station, while its rooftop park has been likened to The High Line in New York, a park that's located on a former elevated rail line. But its new nickname harkens back further into Gotham's history.

The center has been dubbed the "Grand Central Station of the West." It's an apt moniker, given the building's scale and $2.2 billion budget.

Take a look around San Francisco's "Grand Central Station."

SEE ALSO: There's a 'water bar' in San Francisco that will pour you shots of fruit water, not booze — take a look inside

The transit center's bulbous white facade spans four blocks in downtown San Francisco. It's hard to miss.

Its exterior is made from perforated white aluminum that was shaped into wave-like forms.

The main building consists of five levels, including the rooftop park and the Grand Hall on its ground level.

The Bus Deck is above the ground level. The structure's two other levels are below-ground floors that were designed for rail lines but aren't yet in use.

Source: Transbay Program

The only way to get Apple's MacOS operating system is to buy one of Apple's own Macs. That's pretty much the way it's always been. Or at least, that's the only official way. 

The computer pictured above is running MacOS, but it's not a Mac. It's a so-called Hackintosh — a computer built by a hobbyist, made to run MacOS on non-Apple hardware.  

You read correctly: You don't need to buy a Mac to get the Apple experience (or official Apple apps), assuming you're willing to do the work of building one. 

In a way, the reasons to buy, build, or turn your existing computer into a Hackintosh represent some of the less desirable aspects of buying a Mac from Apple — namely, that they're expensive, hard to customize, and often not exactly what you need. 

Check out some of the reasons why people build their own Hackintosh computers instead of buying a Mac from Apple, including some perspectives from tech YouTubers:

SEE ALSO: Everything that's wrong with the computers and laptops that Apple sells

With a Hackintosh, you can get the Apple experience for much less money than if you shelled out for a pricey Mac.

YouTuber Snazzy Labs made a $350 Hackintosh that "manages to hang with Apple's current lineup" as of January 2018, he says. 

Building your own Hackintosh also lets you run apps that only run on Macs, like Final Cut Pro X, without paying the premium that Apple's computers command at retail.

Something to note off the bat: Legally and ethically, building a Hackintosh is kind of a grey area.

To build a Hackintosh, you need a copy of Apple's MacOS to install on it, or else what's the point? The problem is that, generally speaking, the only Apple-sanctioned way to get a copy of MacOS is to have it already installed on a Mac. 

Most reputable Hackintosh guides advise you to take a Mac you already own, and copy the operating system off of that. But it's fair to say that this isn't what Apple had in mind for the MacOS software — and it could violate the terms of service that you agree to when you first got your Mac. 

So far, Apple hasn't taken action one way or another on the Hackintosh community, and has let it be. Just be advised that this may not always be the case. 

We've reached out to Apple for comment on its stance towards Hackintoshes, and will update if we hear back. 

YouTuber Marques Brownlee built a Hackintosh back in 2013 because Apple didn't have a computer that fit his needs at the time.

Truth be told, Apple doesn't make a computer that I'd be perfectly satisfied with.

Take my 2016 MacBook Pro, for example. I bought it because I wanted an Apple laptop with a 15-inch display. But the only models in that screen size come with a dedicated graphics chip — a chip with more power than I really need in my everyday life. Still, if I wanted the bigger screen size, I'd have to pay the price for that premium hardware. 

The same is true of the rest of Apple's Mac lineup, too. 

Apple might not always release computers with the specs that you need. Or, if a Mac does have the specs you want, it might also come with parts that you don't need. Apple's newest iMac Pro, for example, is essentially built into a 5K display —  a super-high-end display that contributes heavily to the $5,000 price tag. If you want the machine, but not the display, then you don't really have other options...apart from building your own Hackintosh. 

It's part of the reason why the popular tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee built a Hackintosh a while back:

As Hurricane Florence makes it way across the Carolinas, millions of coastal residents have reason to be concerned about the structural integrity of their homes. Already, nearly 300,000 homes and businesses have lost power, and officials are reporting damage to property in Onslow County, North Carolina. 

When Hurricane Harvey swept Texas last September, it damaged more than 204,000 homes and apartment buildings. Around the same time, Hurricane Irma destroyed a quarter of the homes in the Florida Keys, according to federal officials.

While the idea of a hurricane-proof home may sound far-fetched, a housing startup called Arkup has created a residence that can withstand rising sea levels and Category 4 hurricanes. The key lies in its hydraulic while lifting it 40 feet above the ocean floor.

Arkup calls the residences "livable yachts" due to their buoyant nature, which allows them to bob with the water. After debuting the designs in 2017, the company teamed up with The Advantaged Yacht Charters & Sales, the oldest yacht charter company in Miami, to make the structures available for rent and purchase. In August, The Advantaged announced that it is accepting charter reservations online.

The residences were designed by architect Koen Olthuis, who has pioneered the concept of the floating home.

Each 4,350-square-foot unit contains four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms.

Prices range from $2 million to $3 million.

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.

Ever since I graduated high school and college, I've been steadily getting more hours of sleep per day, and boy do I appreciate those extra hours. I've realized how important sleep is for everything from skin health and mood to energy and memory retention (turns out all-nighters usually don't help you ace the final), which is why I'm now especially frustrated on those nights when I can't fall asleep right away and clock in my precious eight hours. 

Your body should be in the optimal state to rest — calm, relaxed, warm (but not too warm), and still — not tossing, turning, and getting yourself worked up. Everyone has their own little tricks to help them achieve this ideal sleeping state, so I consulted the rest of the Insider Picks team to learn about their secrets. 

It's not surprising that many of their essential products are the ones directly related to sleeping: pillow, comforters, and mattress toppers, for example. Auxiliary products and apps also help our team out, whether they fill the air with soothing scents and sounds or make your body feel extra comfortable. 

For some of the top products that can help you get the best sleep, check out these in-depth Insider Picks buying guides: 

• The best pillows you can buy for your bed
• The best mattresses you can buy
• The best mattress toppers you can buy
• The best sheets you can buy for your bed
• The best comforters you can buy
• The best travel pillows you can buy
• The best women's bathrobes you can buy

These are the 20 products and apps the Insider Picks team uses to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake up well-rested. 

A soft, cooling mattress topper

KLOUDES Mattress Topper (Queen), $225, available at Amazon

"Even though I have back pain and logically understand that I should be sleeping on a firm mattress, I live by a mantra of 'the squishier, the better.' My partner finds this mattress topper to be a little too soft for her liking — especially on top of an already pretty plush mattress — but I love it.

Normally I have a hard time falling asleep because it takes me forever to figure out how I want to configure my sheets and blankets to account for our room's ever-changing temperature. But because this topper is made from a cooling foam that helps regulate warmth, I have a much easier time getting comfortable and settling in. It also diffuses some of the body heat we each give off at night so neither of us wake up sweaty anymore."—Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

A convenient pillow spray you can bring anywhere

ThisWorks Deep Pillow Spray, 75ml, $29, available at Amazon

"I’ve lent this spray out to friends, roommates, and family to help them sleep, and I’ve always had trouble getting it back from them. The power blend of lavender, vetivert and chamomile is unbelievably soothing, and it helps set up a sleep routine for me that signifies to my body it’s time to relax." —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

A travel pillow so you can finally fall asleep on your flight

Trtl Pillow, $29.99, available at Amazon

"At first glance, the Trtl pillow looks nothing like a pillow. It seems more like a scarf or blanket, and in some ways, that’s actually what it is. A soft, lightweight fleece wrap hides and cushions a plastic neck support on one side, which rests on either shoulder or your chest to keep your head in a comfortable position.

The neck support consists of a few stiff ribs on one end of the scarf. To use the Trtl, simply place the ribs in the position you find most comfortable, then wrap the scarf around your neck. Velcro on the other end of the ribs holds the wrap in place while you doze off. The ribs have a little bit of flexibility to eliminate any pressure points or discomfort."—David Slotnick, Insider Picks senior reporter