Microsoft released the Xbox One Friday, exactly one week after Sony's PlayStation 4 launch.

We've been playing the next-gen console for more than a week.

It's definitely not a perfect console, but boy is there a lot to do, and when it works, it's fantastic. 

However, is it worth the $499 price tag?

With the holidays around the corner, and Sony's slightly cheaper PS4 ($399) on the market, here are the big takeaways from the Xbox One to consider when deciding which system to buy this holiday season.

Love: The three different ways in which you can turn on the console. 

In addition to using the Xbox logo on the controller to turn on the system, the Xbox One is voice activated (simply say “Xbox On”) or can be turned on by swiping your finger over a motion sensor on the console. 

Note: You need to have the Xbox set to “instant-on” mode to turn on the console with your voice. 

The downside: We’ve wasted a lot of breath trying the voice activation feature to turn on the One.  

We’d stick with the controller. It’s easier.  

Indifferent: The new Xbox Dashboard 

Microsoft says the Xbox One home is “designed to be simple and uncluttered … to easily find … what you want.”  

That’s definitely true. Unlike the eight screens available to scroll through on the Xbox 360, now there are just three — the home, store, and pins. 

However, the whole look and feel of the dashboard screams Windows 8. If you’re not an adopter of the operating system, you may feel like it’s being forced on you. 

The biggest addition here are pins which are available to use on the Xbox 360, but weren’t mandatory. They’re not necessary here either, but they’re quick shortcuts to apps, games, and activities. You can pin up to 25 different items. 

While cool, the biggest downside is that you can’t freely rearrange your pins in whatever order you want. If you wish to move the pins, you can do so in a tedious shuffling manner which sends one after another to the front slot. 

Love: The exclusive game selection 

This is a no-brainer. The Xbox One clearly has the upper hand when it comes to better, exclusive launch titles. 

“Lococycle” may not be anything to brag about from collective reviews, and “Ryse: Son of Rome” is your generic, gladiator combat, but zombie and racing games “Dead Rising 3” and “Forza Motorsport 5” show off the full range of the 40 new improvements to the controllers.  

The new view button let’s you change views in Forza, while the triggers let you experience every crash hands on.   

Hate: No backwards compatibility 

This was the same with the PS4. Though you can upgrade a few select Xbox 360 games for $10 at the moment to Xbox One versions, the selection is limited.

Battlefield 4
Madden NFL 25
Need for Speed Rivals
Call of Duty: Ghosts
NBA 2K14
FIFA 14
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

If you recently purchased "Grand Theft Auto: V" or Batman game "Arkham Origins," you need to stick with the 360. 

Love: Watching cable on the Xbox One 

Arguably one of the best features of the Xbox is the ability to live stream your cable through the console.  

It's a pretty simple process as illustrated in the handbook / manual that comes with the One. In addition to the set up for the Xbox One, you just run the HDMI cable that (hopefully*) runs from your TV to your cable box and run it from the cable box to the Xbox console. 

The transition is very smooth. We had the television on in the living room the other night and I had no clue whether or not we were streaming through the console. It didn't help that both our Xbox 360 and One were turned on (remember, we can't play 360 games on the One). 

I had to say "Xbox" to test it out and see if Kinect commands would come up on the screen. (Turns out we were watching AMC through the console.) 

Why would I want this? 

Why wouldn't you? But seriously. For any gamer, it makes transitioning from television to video game play — and vice versa — so much easier. Before the Xbox One, we needed to switch the input on our television to go back and forth between games and TV. In our case, for the Xbox 360, this is going from HDMI 1 to HDMI 2. 

With the Xbox One, there's no switching. You can just tell the console "Xbox Watch" and tell it to head to whatever channel you want to watch.  

Want the volume higher? Say "Xbox volume up." The same goes for volume down and mute. 

Want to go right back to your video game? It can do that, too. 

Sounds cool … but does it work?  

It's not perfect. That's for sure. 

I've had to repeat myself a few times.  

But when the Xbox One's Kinect is listening to you and decides to work, it does so wonderfully and fast. The best part? You don't even need to yell at the Kinect every time you want a command done. Speaking in your regular voice — while a good distance from the console — registers with the console.  

I've sat in front of the console from a variety of ranges, speaking in a multitude of high and low-pitched voices ( looking slightly ridiculous in the process) and though I've had to repeat myself a few times, the Kinect picked my voice up without fault.

Just make sure you don't have the volume up too loud while trying to speak to the console or it may not hear you. 

One thing I have noticed is that the Kinect seems more responsive to me than other friends and family members. This may be because I have used it the most so the Kinect recognizes my voice more than the others. Over time, the technology is supposed to respond better to those who speak to it frequently as it recognizes your voice over others. It sounds weird, but in a way, I'm kind of like it's mom.  

Just how easy is it to set up?

*Well, we ended up having an old Comcast box without an HDMI outlet (those exist!). So we had to go and get a new one in order to use the cable feature on the Xbox One.

We've tried out the feature on three different TVs and overall, setup is pretty painless. However, for those who have surround sound, it hasn't been as easy to figure out how to hook that up. There's currently a Beta in place. If you're having trouble figuring that out, you can head here.

Hate: How specific I need to be with commands. 

While using the TV on the Xbox One, you do need to know the channel network. You can't just say "Xbox watch channel 42."  

Want to play a video game? You can't simply say "Xbox play Forza." Games require that you say "Go to" instead of "Play." Play is reserved for movies and music. 

For some apps, you also need to say the name of that app specifically. Any command with Xbox One's exclusive title, "Forza Motorsport 5" must be said with the entire title of the game. 

Needs Improvement: The Xbox's version of a TV Guide 

While watching TV on the Xbox One, you're able to surf through what's on through the consoles version of a TV Guide called the One Guide. Sounds and looks cool. You can mark your favorite channels, and easily say any show's name on the screen to bring up info on it. It's very similar to what your cable box can already do for you — just hands free.  

One feature you're supposed to be able to do is ask the console what's on any channel at a given time by saying something like, "Xbox, What's on ABC?" 

Though it worked during various demonstrations while I was with the Xbox team, no matter how much I have used this command, it simply hasn't worked. Instead, I'll be taken straight to the network channel. Not a huge problem, but it could be refined. 

Love: The Snap feature 

We’ve gone over this before, but the ability to run two applications at once — or snap them on the screen together — is pretty awesome. 

You can play video games while listening to music or watch TV while running Skype or the NFL app. 

The combinations are endless depending on the apps you have downloaded on the console.  

Some combinations don’t make sense (we wouldn’t run two TV based apps at the same time — Netflix and Hulu), but that’s part of the fun. 

Our best combo so far? ESPN and the NFL app to show live scores and game highlights. 

You can read more on this feature here.

Love: Xbox One's Kinect Gestures 

The new Xbox has five gestures to try out.  

On the 360, you used to select an object by hovering your hand over something and waiting for a load circle to complete around it. This is gone. Instead, you push in with your hand to "tap" into an application. For any "Star Wars" fans, it's kind of like using the force (without things getting obliterated in the process).  

They're fun to use … when you can get them to work. 

Hate: It's not so easy to get your hand to pop up on screen. 

We spent a good amount of time looking like morons trying to get the little hand to pop up on the screen. (We nearly couldn't put it in our 60 second Xbox One review because we couldn't get the function to work.)  

On the 360, the way you make the hand appear is by gently waving your hand back and forth. 

On the One, you just hold your hand up. But you need to make sure that you hold it up so the one camera sees your hand. Then a white hand pops up on the screen. It can be frustrating if it doesn't work and we've given up many times. Also, the only gestures we've really gotten to successfully — and easily — work are "making a selection" and "grip and hold." 

Hate: Calibrating the Kinect and its size

Compared to the old Kinect — and the PS4 camera— the Xbox One's Kinect is pretty large in comparison.

Though we can see the improvements in the Kinect camera (it uses an HD camera that shows us in 1080 pixels) and how precise its motion technology is, we've experienced issues using the Kinect when going to play Kinect Sports.

You have to make sure you have the camera leveled JUST right in order for it to see your floor space to play.

The camera can be adjusted easily enough up or down. If you're fiddling around with this it can become a bit frustrating.

Could be better: The Internet and Bing Search

Sorry Google fans. As a Microsoft product, you’re forced to use Internet Explorer and Bing search. The concept sounds intriguing; however, the execution isn’t that great.  

The Bing feature listens fantastic. It brings up exactly what you search for … provided it has to do with television, movies, and actors. 

On Internet Explorer, while useful, it’s annoying to type out a website with an Xbox controller letter by letter.

Could Pass: DVR / Record That

Like the PS4, you can also record and share gameplay on the Xbox One. While Sony’s console records up to 15 minutes of gameplay, the One's The DVR feature can capture up to five minutes of gameplay. Say "Xbox Record That" and it will record up to 30 seconds of play.

It’s easy to share recorded clips with friends across Xbox Live. However, if you want to share your videos elsewhere on social media, it’s a two-step process through the Xbox’s Skydrive which isn’t really all that clear. 

 We’ll take recording on the PS4 any day over this.

Love: The achievements you can get across apps.

On the Xbox 360, you could get achievements, goals the game sets for players to accomplish, only in games. (The point of these is basically to give players extra incentive to continue and replay games.) The One allows you to get achievements in any app. 

Here are a few you can receive:

Indifferent: The ability to Skype 

Skype looks great on the Xbox One. You can host calls with up to four people and send messages to anyone using the application, on or off the Xbox. 

The only problem here is whether people are really going to use this feature on the console. Microsoft wants you to use it to chat with friends while watching TV or playing games. We figure this feature may come in handy during Xbox Live parties and matches with friends; however, you’re already using the chat feature to communicate with up to 30 people, so one must ask how necessary this really is.

Overall: Is the Xbox One cool? Without a doubt. Do you need it right this instant? Probably not.

There's no denying this is a great console. From the cable and Snap features to the Kinect gestures and commands, the Xbox One has much more to offer to the average consumer than the PS4. 

The Kinect commands don't work perfectly, I've had to repeat myself numerous times speaking to the console, and that can become frustrating. Over time, it does seem more cognizant of my voice over others the more I use it. 

While meeting up with both Sony and Microsoft for the two consoles, there was one main difference I noticed.

When I first tried out the Xbox One at the start of the month with some of the Xbox team, they were very anxious to show off every facet of the Kinect. I spent very little time actually playing a game, and that was a problem. Though the Kinect was — and is — cool, it didn't always work. The Sony team wanted to get me to play a game right away, tossing around its virtual robots. 

To me, that speaks volumes about the audience both are trying to hit.

Microsoft seems a little too dependent on using the Kinect to sell this device when in reality I'm not sure how many people will even use the camera all the time.

Don't get me wrong, though. The Kinect is great. There's a lot of room for potential and growth. I'm really interested in seeing how developers plan to use the full range of Kinect capabilities (motion capture and all) in future game releases — if at all. But its not why I'm dishing out $499 for a console. 

It's clear Microsoft is trying to reach a broader audience. However, it may just be trying to be too much of everything. Do I really need Skype on here? It's cool I guess, but I have a multitude of other devices to easily use that on (iPad, laptop, desktop). It sounds silly, but I feel so distracted by everything else available on the console that it's easy to forget the main purpose of the Xbox One is to play video games.

I get that Microsoft is trying to make gamers' lives easier by integrating everything into one system and make everything available so you never want to leave the console. While it's great to have everything available at your fingertips, at the end of the day, gamers just want to play their games. 

SEE ALSO: We played the Xbox One and PS4 — here's which one we liked better

AND: What you get with the Xbox One console

Join the conversation about this story »

Last week, the American Institute of Economic Research released its annual list of the best college towns in the country — naming Ithaca, New York as the best destination for students.

Ithaca is home to both Cornell University and Ithaca College, and is truly a welcoming and comfortable setting for students. As a former four-year resident of the town, I could not agree more with the AIER's findings (I graduated from Cornell earlier this year).

Based on my own experiences, Ithaca is the perfect mixture of giving students everything they would want in a college experience and offering seemingly endless opportunities to explore a unique local culture.

"Ithaca Is Gorges."

It's the most cliched line anyone has ever said about the city, but it's also true — Ithaca's gorges are gorgeous, as is much of the surrounding area.

The gorges, waterfalls, and green hills of Ithaca not only make great scenery, but also give the local area a cool calling card and a fun place to explore — just make sure you're staying safe.

Students basically make up half the population.

Ithaca is home to two major colleges — Cornell University and Ithaca College — which bring more than 20,000 to the city when school is in session, almost doubling the local population.

The young average age helps reinforce the feel of Ithaca as a college-centric city, and makes it more comfortable and fun to socialize.

Its bar scene and nightlife are tailored to college living.

To be blunt, one of the most important aspects of any college town is the local nightlife — and Ithaca has a great, student-oriented bar scene.

Many of the bars are centered around Cornell's off-campus area known as "Collegetown," but there's also a thriving downtown at the Ithaca Commons.

Tom Brady has had a hectic year.

He freaked out at his receivers, berated a ref, and confronted criticism that he's washed up.

But now, for the first time in 2013, he's in the top-10 of our power rankings.

Our rating is a composite of three advanced stats: defense-adjusted yards (DYAR), total QB rating (QBR), and win probability added (WPA). Each stat accounts for one-third of the rating.

UNRANKED: Matt Flynn, Green Bay Packers*

Team record: 5-5-1

Thing to know: The last time he started for the Packers he had the greatest passing game in franchise history.

*Not enough data to make a ranking.

31. Geno Smith, New York Jets (previously 31st)

Team record: 5-6

DYAR: 41st

QBR: 39th

WPA: 42nd

Thing to know: He hasn't thrown a touchdown since October 20th.

30. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns (previously unranked)

Team record: 4-7

DYAR: 39th

QBR: 38th

WPA: 41st

Thing to know: Geno Smith took over his "worst QB in the league" title during Jason Campbell's spell. Will Weeden take back the crown?

Simon Khalaf, CEO of app analytics company Flurry, presented at Business Insider's Ignition 2013 conference.

Armed with a bevvy of interesting charts and maps, he talked about the "post-mobile world," the increase in cheap communication alternatives, and the global explosion of app developers.

In case you missed it, we've got his presentation in full. 

Drug trafficking, gang wars, political instability, corruption, and poverty have combined to make Latin America by far the most homicidal region of the world.

The region has 40% of the world's murders, despite having only 8 percent of the population, according to the U.N.

The highest murder rate of all is in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with 169 homicides per 100,000 people, according to a study published earlier this year by Mexico's Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice. The ranking is based on 2012 data, except for San Pedro Sula and Distrito Central in Honduras, where authorities would not cooperate and 2011 data was used.

The study does not count deaths in a war zone or cities where data was not available.

Forty-one of the top 50 dangerous cities are located in Latin America. U.S. cities also made the list, lead by New Orleans at 17th, along with Detroit, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Oakland.

50) Barranquilla, Colombia had 29.41 homicides per 100,000 residents.

49) Brasilia, Brazil had 29.73 homicides per 100,000 residents.

48) Belo Horizonte, Brazil had 29.74 homicides per 100,000 residents.

Winter weather is upon us, which means it's time to get ready to hit the slopes. 

We've rounded up the coolest accessories that will make great gifts for the skiing enthusiasts in your life. 

From Camelbaks and helmets to the latest in footwarming technology, we've got all of your gifting needs covered. 

The Voice Communicating Ski Goggles from Hammacher Schlemmer will help you meet up with your friends on the slopes.

These Bluetooth-enabled goggles use a bone conduction microphone so you can communicate clearly on the mountain without the interference of wind. You can chat with up to six friends within 1,600 feet of each other, and a full charge will last you 12 hours. 

Connect wirelessly to your iPhone so you can automatically answer incoming calls or play music while you shred the slopes. 

 Price: $299.95

The Smith Vantage helmet will keep you both comfortable and safe.

A good helmet is a must these days, and the Smith Vantage helmet is a great one. Twenty-one adjustable vents help you change your temperature appropriately for both winter storms and sunny skies, while the constant movement of air keeps your goggles from getting foggy. The helmet comes in a variety of colors, so you'll be looking stylish while keeping your head safe. 

Price: $22o

The Camelbak Antidote Reservoir makes it easy to stay hydrated in that dry mountain air.

Skiing can get exhausting, and it's important to stay hydrated. This Camelbak is an easy, handsfree solution — fill it with water in the morning and slip it into your backpack with the rest of your gear. Any time you get thirsty on the slopes, just bite and sip out of the tube. 

Price: $35

Starting next year, Apple is expected to sell two versions of the iWatch. One will reportedly feature a 1.7-inch OLED screen for men, and a 1.3-inch OLED screen for women. 

There's no shortage of smart watches available on the market today. But no one has "won" the smart watch market just yet. 

Samsung recently released the Gear, but the reception has not been all that great. In fact, it "feels more like an unfinished product," Business Insider's Steve Kovach says.

Sony's SmartWatch 2 also seemed to disappoint. Though, it's still a better option than the Gear.

Sourcebits, a mobile and Web development startup, recently designed a concept for the ideal iWatch. 

The "iWatch" comes in two colors, white and space grey.

It can change the display to quickly provide relevant information. The "iWatch" does this by combining geolocation with learned behaviors to get familiar with what you need.

It gives you access to all of the same apps you get on your iPhone and iPad.

Over the past 89 years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become an irreplaceable staple of Thanksgiving festivities. 

Every year, 3.5 million people flock to the streets of Manhattan to see the parade in-person and 50 million people gather around their television sets to watch the parade from home. 

What began as a small Macy's employee-run event called Macy's Christmas Parade, has morphed into a huge production that requires almost an entire year's worth of preparation.

From the parade's first character balloon, Felix the Cat, and its original route that started at 145th street, to this year's spectacle, which will feature appearances from Fall Out Boy, Florida Georgia Line, and the Robertson family of "Ducky Dynasty," the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade continues to be a sight to see.

The first Macy's Day Parade was on November 27 in 1924. The parade originally featured Macy's employees and live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Floats, instead of balloons, were the main attraction.

The parade began in Harlem at 145th Street and ended in front of the Macy's flagship store on 34th Street. It was originally called the Macy's Christmas Parade, but was renamed the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in 1927.

(Above photo is from 1994)

An estimated 250,000 spectators attended the first parade. Today, about 3.5 million people attend.

(Above photo is from 2007)

On Saturday, "The Hunger Games" actor Josh Hutcherson hosted a Thanksgiving-themed episode of "Saturday Night Live," kicking off what might perhaps be our favorite time of year on the weekly variety show.

Since the early 1990s, the super funny "SNL" cast and celebrity hosts have staged song-and-dances, mock talk shows, and cartoon — all in the name of the holidays.

From Adam Sandler's ode to Chanukah, to Alec Baldwin's spherical holiday snacks, and of course, the 2006 digital short by The Lonely Island about a special boxed gift for the ladies, "SNL" hasn't ceased to entertain us .

It's the most wonderful time of the year, so for that, we're taking a look back at some of the funniest "SNL" skits of all time.

"The Chanukah Song" (1994)

Before making it big in comedy movies, Adam Sandler was a five-year "SNL" cast member, and one of his most memorable performances came via a December 1994 episode.

In "The Chanukah Song"— a follow-up to his 1991 "The Thanksgiving Song"— Sandler sings about Jewish children feeling alienated during the Christmas season.

Sandler rhymes, "Tell your friend Veronica/It's time to celebrate Chanukah/I hope I get a harmonicah/Oh this lovely, lovely Chanukah."

"Motivational Santa" (1994)

The late Chris Farley was by far one of "SNL's" most memorable cast members, and though he appeared as a variety of characters (ahem, Chippendales) throughout his career, he often played Matt Foley, an over-the-top motivational speaker.

In this December 1994 "SNL" episode, Foley returns as a department store Santa Claus, frequently reminding that he, of course, lives in a van down by the river. 

NPR's Delicious Dish - "Schweddy Balls" (1998)

The Delicious Dish was a regular sketch on "SNL" featuring cast members Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon discussing often-monotonous cooking topics on an NPR talk show. 

In a December 1998 episode, Alec Baldwin joined the sketch as Pete Schweddy, famous for his spherical food items made of various ingredients, aka "Schweddy Balls."

The 1998 sketch did so well that it has since appeared on every "SNL" Christmas sketch compilation episode.

We recently brought you a fraternity fashion email from the self-proclaimed "Fratshionistau" that was making the rounds at Emory University.

We spoke with the author — Emory sophomore Jonathan Weiss— and put together our own Fraternity Fashion Guide. Weiss helped us determine some do's and don'ts for the well-dressed frat boy.

Inside, you'll find tips on how to dress for any occasion — formals, date nights, class, or parties.

You'll also find some advice directly from the Fratshionistau, such as this gem about how to best pull off a semi-formal look: "Simplicity stands out! Busy designs on shirts or ties are distracting. A solid white shirt with a solid colored tie, or a basic pattern, is always the easiest way to go."

Formal Wear

Formal wear is a look you'll only need to pull off once or twice a year, so why not make sure you're doing it right? When in doubt, opt for a dark ensemble — slacks, jacket, dress shoes, tie  — but please, we're begging you, get your pants hemmed. No one likes a guy in an ill-fitting suit. 

Sure you can rent a tux or suit, but if you invest now (assuming you've stopped growing), that $1,000 tuxedo will last you a long, long time. 

Occasions: Formal fraternity events in college and your friends' weddings after college.

Avoid: Tacky patent shoes, ill-fitting pants, and the cummerbund. As Weiss says, "It didn’t get you lucky at senior prom, and it won’t do the trick now."

Formal Look #1: The Tux

Our recommendations:

Tux:  Boss Hugo Boss 'The Stars Glamour' Trim Fit Wool Tuxedo ($895)

Cuff Links: J. Crew Fabric Knot Cuff Links ($12.50)

Bow Tie: J.Crew Italian Satin Point Bow Tie ($55)

Shoes: To Boot New York Ballard ($375)

Formal Look #2: Suit & Tie

Our recommendations: 

Jacket: Theory Eclipse Multi Wellar Suit Jacket ($645) 

Pants: Theory Marlo U Suit Pant ($235)

Bow Tie: Lauren Ralph Lauren Bow Tie ($50)

Tie: Theory Roadster Tie ($98)

Shoes: ALDO 'Brownlie' Wingtip Oxford ($100)

We've all seen horror stories about athletes letting themselves go once they retire.

But there are plenty of examples of the opposite — big-bone athletes who manage to get into tremendous shape.

Over the next few slides we'll look at retired athletes who slimmed down once their playing days ended and active athletes who prolonged their careers by dropping a bunch of pounds.

Alan Faneca, former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman

Alan Faneca after losing 100 pounds

Source: PFT

Ronaldo, former Brazil striker

The date of America's first Thanksgiving is a matter of small debate.

The harvest feast that inspired the holiday took place in 1621, but a "larger and more organized event in 1623 was the first recorded religious day of thanks," so let's go with that for now.

Were you a part of that larger and more organized event when it took place, here's what you and your pilgrim tech geek pals would have been raving about.

William Lee invented the knitting machine in 1589, which played a seminal role in kicking off the industrial revolution to come.

Small things were made big with Zacharias Janssen's 1590 invention of the compound microscope.

Galileo invented the water thermometer in 1593. Small glass containers of different densities are suspended in water inside a larger glass cylinder. As temperatures rise and fall, so do the different containers.

It's that day of the year — Thanksgiving.

So, as we always do, we're taking a moment to list the technology things that we here in the Tech department of Business Insider are thankful for. 

Of course, what we're most thankful for is you. Your interest makes what we do possible.

Thank you.

Jay Yarow: I'm thankful for Apple's control center in iOS 7. In particular, I love the quick access to the Flashlight, and the easier access to set my alarm. It's totally changed how I use my phone.

Jay Yarow: I love my new Nest thermostat, it's been another big time game changer making life better.

Alyson Shontell: I'm thankful for startups like Snapchat and Uber, which had awesome years and were exciting to write about.

Sipping on seasonal cocktails is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

And even though classics such as mulled wine and eggnog are delicious, there are other winter drinks out there that will add a kick to your festivities.

Below are five easy replacements for boring holiday beverages, complete with recipes.

Instead of Mulled Wine, try Glögg

Mulled wine and the Scandinavian glögg are essentially the same thing, except glögg also adds a stronger spirit like vodka or brandy into the mix.

The best part about glögg is that since you're adding so much other stuff to it, you don't need to worry about having a nice wine — a cheap red of your choice will do the trick.

What you'll need: 2 bottles of dry red wine, 1 cup of vodka or brandy, brown sugar, 2 oranges, and spices like cardamom pods, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and more.

Instructions: Place everything in a large pot and bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir from time to time, and then remove from heat and let it sit for 2 hours. Strain everything to catch the spices, and reheat.

Find a full recipe here.

Instead of Spiked Hot Chocolate, make Spiked Coconut Hot White Chocolate

Peppermint Schnapps or Bailey's Irish Cream with hot chocolate are two tried and true cozy winter drinks. But if you're feeling adventurous, make hot white chocolate instead, and add some coconut rum for a touch of the tropics.

It's surprisingly easy to make hot white chocolate, and you can also amp up the flavor by adding some coconut milk into the mix, too.

What you'll need: Skim milk, a can of coconut milk, a bar of chopped white chocolate, and coconut flavored rum.

Instructions: Pour the milk and coconut milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and stir in the white chocolate until the mixture is smooth. Pour into a cup, and add as much rum as desired.

Find a full recipe here.

Instead of Eggnog, make a Tamagozake

Also know as an "egg sake," a Tamagozake is essentially just an eggnog with sake. And it's delicious.

Some people also use this sweet and creamy drink as a homemade cold remedy, but it's good all the time since it's so simple to make.

What you'll need: Sake, sugar, ginger, and one egg.

Instructions: Mix the egg and sugar together in a bowl while you heat the sake and ginger in a pot. Once it's hot, pour the sake in with the egg and sugar while whisking.

Find a full recipe here.

Instead of a Hot Toddy, make Hot Buttered Rum

Who doesn't like a hot toddy? The mixture of Whisky or brandy with boiling water, sugar, and honey topped with lemon, cloves, and/or cinnamon sticks was once thought to cure the common cold.

But those same spices and flavors gets a twist with the addition of rum and butter. It's a delicious, warming cocktail that will make anyone who makes it a huge hit at the party.

What you'll need: Dark brown sugar, one stick of butter, honey, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, spice rum, and boiling water.

Instructions: Mix the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until smooth. Add the rum and 2 cups of boiling water and stir until the butter mixture dissolves.

Find a full recipe here.

Instead of Mulled Cider, try a Spiked Wassail

Hot apple cider is a holiday tradition, but it gets an extra kick with the Wassail. (The name comes from the Old English tradition of "wassailing" or caroling.)

It's very similar to spiked hot cider but with vanilla and bourbon. If you like apple cider, the Wassail is definitely for you.

What you'll need: Apple cider, fresh ginger, lemons, vanilla bean, and bourbon.

Instructions: Combine all nonalcoholic ingredients in a  saucepan and simmer for an hour. Pour bourbon into mugs and add hot spiced cider mixture. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Find a full recipe here.

SEE ALSO: 16 Hot Cocktail Destinations Around America

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Wexford, John and Jackie Kennedy's Virginia countryside estate, is on the market for just under $11 million. 

The four-bedroom ranch house lies on more than 160 acres of idyllic farmland in Marshall, Va. Of the many homes the Kennedys owned, this was the only one the couple built together, completed in 1963, just weeks before the president was assassinated. 

The estate is more than just a historic landmark — it also has plenty of amenities. There's a tennis court, swimming pool, and lots of space for horseback riding and fox hunting. Beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains make this an ideal countryside escape. 

JFK wasn't the only president to call Wexford home. President Ronald Reagan rented the estate in 1980 and prepared for his debates against Jimmy Carter here. There's even an underground Secret Service bunker that's a reminder of the estate's presidential past (photos via Estately).  

Wexford lies on more than 160 acres of rolling Virginia farmland, about an hour outside of Washington, DC.

You can see the house in the distance, just across the pond.

There's also a tennis court and swimming pool.

RM Wilson Engineering, a specialty car restoration plant in Leicester, England, just finished a monumental project: replicating the famous Ferrari P4.

The company has 45 years of experience restoring classic Ferraris, but the P4 is particularly special for its association with James Glickenhaus, a former movie director and exotic car collector, and its value as one of the world's most expensive classic cars.

The nearly perfect replica of the Ferrari P4 was made from scratch to look identical to the original.

On the inside, RM Wilson Engineering used a ZF gearbox and created its own fuel injection system. With a 400i 4 cam engine, this P4 produces more brake horsepower than the original. 

Amy Shore, a photographer also from Leicester, visited RM Wilson to document the Ferrari. She shared some of her photos with Business Insider. 

The Ferrari P4 replica was made at RM Wilson Engineering in Leicester, England.

It's a near-perfect replica, externally matching the original Ferrari P4 with some internal upgrades.

The replica P4 has a 400i 4 cam Ferrari engine.

Black Friday is only a week away, so it's time to start preparing.

For the annual shopping frenzy, you'd be wise to give yourself a leg up on the competition. To find the best bargains, the most important tool will be your smartphone. 

We've compiled a list of Black Friday shopping apps that should be your go-tos for the post-Thanksgiving extravaganza. They're sure to help you land deals, and some from the comfort of your own home.

The best part? They're all free.

BFAds

This app is, quite literally, made for Black Friday. BFAds helps you plan your shopping list and browse ads by store or category. It also sends you push notifications on the latest Black Friday news.

Consumr

This sleek mobile app scans item barcodes to let you browse millions of product ratings and reviews from other people. You'll also be told the average price of an item, so you can tell if you're getting a good deal, and will be able to write your own reviews on the spot.

Coupon Sherpa

Coupon folders packed with clippings are a thing of the past. If you've got your eye on holiday deals, don't leave home without loading Coupon Sherpa's handy app to your smartphone, which lets you locate, download, and present in-store coupons to the cashier.

It seems the coming new year will have Hollywood looking to the book world for inspiration in the film industry. We’ve already seen a fair amount of that this year, what with Enders Game, The Great Gatsby, Catching Fire, and World War Z all hitting the big screen in 2013. Not surprisingly, all were books that sold rather well this year — whether they sold well because of the films, or the films were made because the books had been selling well. The coming year has a number of book adaptions hitting theaters, so book lovers, get pumped — here’s just ten.

Click here to see the books being adapted into movies »

The Giver

Adapted from Lois Lowry’s well-loved novel, The Giver is a classic dystopic tale of a seemingly perfect future society that has a dark side. Lowry spoke with Good Reads about the possibility of a movie in 2012, but said that the pace and content of the book had made a film adaption difficult.

“It seems to me that they all seem to be much more action packed (other books). They’ve been trying to make a movie of The Giver, but there’s not a lot of action in it. It’s relatively easy to make a move of The Hunger Games,” said Lowry — though she noted that the lack of action doesn’t really take away from the quality and importance of the book. “The Giver continues to be just as popular as it always has been.” The film will star Brenton Thwaites as Jonas, Jeff Bridges as the Giver, and will have Taylor Swift appearing as Rosemary.

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For

Anyone who has a love of comic books will be pleased to hear that Sin Citywon’t end with its first movie adaption. The previous film, from back in 2005, covered a number of different story-lines from the comic series. The second film is likely to do so as well, drawing multiple characters from the written work into the movie.

Once again, Frank Miller — comic writer and artist — will be involved in the film, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, and Mickey Rourke will also be returning to play their original roles. Considering the popularity of comic books turned movies, Sin City’s second appearance on the big screen seems a good.

Vampire Academy

Vampires — they’re big everywhere, in movies, books, manga, television, you name it — they’ve made an appearance. There’s Twilight of course, the CW’s Vampire Diaries — not to mention True Blood and all of Ann Rice’s contributions. Basically the list could go on forever, and judging by Richelle Mead’s theater-bound Vampire Academy, it very well may.

Mead’s book series is targeted towards twelve-year olds and up, and judging by the jawline of the cast will probably draw plenty of hormone-rich viewers. The protagonist, Rose, played by Zoey Deutch, is a half-human/half-vampire in training at St. Vladimir’s Academy. Buckle up — there will be boys, plus plenty of evil vampire adversaries.

Millions watched the 86th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they got a special treat this year: The Marine Corps Band.

For only the second time in the parade's history, the band marched and performed in the streets of New York, reaching nearly 53 million on the streets and on TV with their music.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be invited into the homes of American families while they get together to celebrate Thanksgiving,” Master Gunnery Sgt. Jeffery Fangman, bandmaster for Quantico’s band, told Ameesha Felton. “It’s one of the greatest opportunities we have to tell the Marine Corps story to the nation and internationally — through music, drill, snap and pop, and through everything we represent as Marines.”

80 Marines made up the formation — coming from Quantico, Va., Cherry Point, N.C., and Jacksonville, N.C.

The band won the chance at performing in the parade through a lottery in 2011, beating out more than 150 applicants, according to WITN.

The band marched along the entire 2.5-mile parade route.

Performing popular marches like 'Semper Fidelis,' the official march of the United States Marine Corps and the 'Marines Hymn.'

As always, their precision movements and musical performance were impressive.

There's been a lot of "Star Wars" talk lately with casting getting under way for "Episode VII."

While we can expect that film December 2015, there are also a number of "Star Wars" spinoff films in addition to the three already planned.

While fanboys contemplate the next sequel's plot, no one's really sure what the spinoffs shall entail either. 

We're rounded up ten characters we'd like to see in theaters from the obvious to a few you may not be familiar with — unless you know the extended universe.

Sorry, but you won't find Admiral Ackbar here.

The character's great for a gag, but any film with him would be a trap.

MACE WINDU: Samuel L. Jackson says he wants in on the new installments even if he has to return as a hologram.

Sure, Jackson has another Disney franchise on his hands right now with "The Avengers," and there's the slight issue about his character getting axed in "Star Wars—Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," but it wouldn't be the first time we saw a hologram in the "Star Wars" universe.

CHEWBACCA: Han's Wookie sidekick has a family back on his home planet of Kashyyk. And, in the books, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader imprisoned most of the Wookies to help build the Death Star.

(Source: "Star Wars" wiki)

HAN SOLO: Harrison Ford's a little old at 70 to reprise the role, but if the film was to follow a younger Solo in all of his smuggling glory alongside Chewy, then we could get a peek at his adventures before joining up with Luke and Leia.

Though Disney has yet to confirm, EW reported Han will get his own movie.