Abshier House

Article / Updated 09-11-2024

Android Auto is a new feature available for your Droid smartphone. Because cellphone-related car accidents are on the rise, many major automobile manufacturers have decided to implement a safer way to use your smartphone while driving. Once your Droid is connected to your automobile, the phone’s screen will be mirrored on the display of your car stereo. Credit: Image courtesy of Android.com Android Auto gives you a hands-free option for operating your smartphone while driving. What do you need to use Android Auto? Before you can use the new Android Auto safety feature, you will need to take a couple of things into consideration. Do you have an Android smartphone running OS 5.0 or higher? The Android Auto safety feature is only available on 5.0 (Lollipop) and higher. If your smartphone is running an older Android OS, unfortunately, you will not be able to use Android Auto. Update your device (if applicable) to Android 5.0+. If your device is unable to update to Lollipop and you want this new feature, a new phone purchase may be required. Do you have a data plan through your cellphone provider? Because Android Auto uses data-rich applications such as the voice assistant Google Now (Ok Google) Google Maps, and many third-party music streaming applications, it is necessary for you to have a data plan. An unlimited data plan is the best way to avoid any surprise charges on your wireless bill. Do you have a compatible car or supported aftermarket stereo? Many 2016 automobile models and aftermarket stereos will support Android Auto. If a new car purchase is not in your near future, an aftermarket stereo is a great option. Check the Android Auto page to see if the car or stereo you wish to purchase is supported. What is included with Android Auto? The built in applications supported by Android Auto are listed as follows: Google Maps: The Google Maps app offers directions, road and traffic conditions, as well as travel time. Get directions quickly and accurately. Messages: The Messages application will read incoming text messages. You speak your response into the car stereo/microphone. Android translates your speech into a text and sends it to your recipient. Messages paired with Android Auto allow you to keep your eyes on the road instead of on your Droid. Music: The Music app allows access to the stored music on your smartphone. You can rock out to all your favorite jams directly from the car stereo. Home: Home is a shortcut icon that takes you directly to your Home screen. Here, you can quickly see all of your supported applications and safely make your selection while driving. Phone: The Phone app, paired with Android Auto, allows you to make and receive calls through your car stereo. When a call is coming in, your music or audio pauses and you will hear the ringtone instead. Take or reject the call and the music resumes as soon as you are finished. Applications such as Pandora, Spotify, Google Play Music, and many more are supported. Search the Google Play Store for additional applications. To access other supported applications while your phone is connected to Android Auto, you simply download the applications to your smartphone and coordinating icons will display on your car stereo. If no extra icons are displayed then no supported applications have been downloaded. Keep in mind that Android Auto is not an OS built into your car stereo, but is a feature that allows your phone to display on the screen in your car. Most Android Auto-supported stereos also support Apple CarPlay.

Article / Updated 02-22-2024

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hosts a basketball tournament every year that begins the week of March 19. The tournament includes 68 men’s teams and 68 women’s teams. (The NCAA expanded the women's field from 64 to 68 in 2022.) The men’s tournament is televised on CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV network affiliate stations; the women’s tournament will be available on ESPN, the ESPN app, ABC (for the title game), and Sling TV. The schedule for the 2024 men’s NCAA March Madness tournament is as follows: Selection Sunday: March 17 (brackets, seeds, and team selections) First four: March 19-20 First round: March 21-22 Second round: March 23-24 Sweet 16: March 28-29 Elite Eight: March 30-31 Final Four: April 6 National Championship: April 8 The schedule for the 2024 women’s NCAA March Madness tournament is as follows: Selection Sunday: March 17 (brackets, seeds, and team selections) First four: March 20-21 First round: March 22-23 Second round: March 24-25 Sweet 16: March 29-30 Elite Eight: March 31-April 1 Final Four: April 5 National Championship: April 7 Selection Sunday Each year on Selection Sunday, 32 teams gain automatic entry into the tournament due to winning their conference’s championships. The remaining teams rely on a selection committee to be granted entry into the tournament. This process takes place on the Sunday before the March Madness Tournament begins and, therefore, is appropriately named Selection Sunday. It is also the day when the brackets and seeds are released to the public. Brackets are the format in which the tournament runs. For example, on the day of the First Four games, there will be four brackets and eight teams playing; the four losing teams will then be removed from the tournament and the four winning teams will move to their new brackets and prepare for the next round of games. After the First Four, the regular tournament begins with 64 brackets including the winning teams that played in the First Four. The winner from each bracket will move on to the next set of brackets until eventually all teams have been “weeded” out and only two remain to play for the championship game. Seeds are essentially committee rankings. The teams in each division are ranked in descending order, with the strongest team (or team most likely to win) ranked in the number-one spot and the weakest team in that division is ranked number 16. The brackets are split up accordingly so the tournament's powerhouse teams are evenly distributed within the 64 brackets. The First Four round The First Four refers to the number of matches/brackets played — not number of teams. The First Four includes the eight lowest ranking teams in the men's division that play against each other, and the four losing teams are removed from the tournament. This part of the tournament is also known as “First Four Out” since four of the teams will lose out of the tournament before it even has really begun. The First Four Out was designed to get the 68 men's teams down to 64 so that the number of teams is the same as in the women's divisions. The brackets and dates, therefore, can be the same for both the men and women divisions. This part of the tournament applies only to the men's teams. In the First Round, those 64 teams play against each other to move on to the Second Round. Second round In the Second Round, the remaining 32 teams play in 16 brackets, and the winners of each bracket then move on to the regional semi-finals (Sweet 16 round); the losers again are removed from the tournament. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds The regional semi-finals, also known as the Sweet Sixteen, is where the final sixteen teams are set up in matches against other teams within their regional divisions. The divisions are broken up into geographical areas and listed as follows: East West South Midwest The winners of the regional semi-finals are then moved to the regional finals where only eight teams remain, known as the Elite Eight. These eight teams play head-to-head to determine the winners, and the remaining four teams from all regions are matched up in the national semi-finals. The Final Four After regional finals, the remaining four teams from all regions are eligible to play in the national semi-finals. These remaining four teams are known as “The Final Four,” and this is where many people start watching the tournament. The final four teams then play, and the two winners from the national semi-finals move on to the national finals. Championship game The national finals or championship game is where the final two teams play to determine the winner of the current year's March Madness tournament. The NCAA has changed the format of the game several times in its history, as well as the name. In recent years the name of the tournament has been simply “NCAA Division 1 Tournament,” but the more popular March Madness title will always remain.

Article / Updated 01-03-2024

When you are approaching the end of your fantasy football season, if it has gone well, you may be in contention to make the playoffs. If that's the case, congratulations! Bragging rights are what this game is all about, and you are one step closer to achieving the ultimate prize. If not, don't feel bad. There's always next year, and most leagues include a consolation playoff so you can at least one up a few of your friends or co-workers — even if your season didn't go as planned. No matter how your season ended, you need to know how fantasy football playoffs work, so you can pursue a league championship. Credit: ©iStockphoto.com/zentilia Fantasy football playoff trophies await league winners. Fantasy football playoff rules and structure Generally, the teams with the best records will make the playoffs. In some leagues with divisions, that may not be the case. In leagues without divisions, the teams with the best records will advance to the playoffs. Leagues that include divisions will usually have two or three divisions and operate like the NFL to determine which teams make the playoffs. The team with the best record in the division will advance, even if it doesn't have one of the best overall records league-wide. In leagues with divisions, there will usually be one or two wildcard teams that will earn their positions from win/loss records among the rest of the non-division winners. Division winners always have a higher seed than wild card teams. The team with the best record will be the 1st seed in the playoffs. If your league has divisions, this team would have, coincidentally, won its division as well. Another divisional winner with the next best record will be the 2nd seed, and so on. If your league does not have divisions, the remaining seeds will be determined by overall win/loss records. In the event that two or more teams have identical win/loss records at the end of the fantasy football regular season, a tie-breaking system will determine their position. Most leagues use a standard tie-breaking system, and it goes as follows: Overall points scored Head-to-head record Division record Overall points against Coin flip Fantasy football playoff formats In a standard league, four teams will make the playoffs. In this case, the 1st seed will play the 4th seed, and the 2nd seed will play the 3rd seed. The winners of these two matchups will go on to the next week to play for the league championship; the losers will play for 3rd place. In some deeper leagues with 12 or more teams, 6 teams can make the playoffs, introducing the need for bye weeks. Bye weeks act similar to the NFL playoff bye weeks. The 1st and 2nd seeded teams will not have to play the 1st round; instead they automatically advance to the 2nd round and will play the winners of the 1st round. The consolation playoffs work similar to the regular playoffs in seeding and bracket style. In most leagues, the fantasy playoffs will begin week 13 or 14 of the NFL season. Standard leagues (four team playoffs) will use the following two weeks for the playoffs, and larger leagues with six teams may continue playing all the way through week 17. However, most leagues omit week 17 (and some even week 16) to prevent unfair play from NFL teams resting players for their real playoffs. Nobody wants to have their playoffs ruined by a resting player. For example, if Peyton Manning is on your team and has dominated the entire season, your fantasy football championship can be decided by having to scramble for a backup quarterback (QB) because Manning is resting during week 17. To best prepare for the fantasy football playoffs, be sure to read your league rules to understand how the playoffs are set up. Ask your commissioner if you have any questions such as the number of teams that can qualify, the playoff schedule, rules around wavier picks and trading, and so on. Strategies for winning fantasy football playoffs If you have made the playoffs, you will need to continue to monitor and adjust your lineup carefully if you want to win your league's championship. Weekly matchups, weather, and players on teams actually fighting for real playoff spots (or not) should be considered now more than ever. Late in the season, teams that play in the north will be playing in the cold and perhaps snow so certain positions should be chosen with caution. Games played with precipitation and/or extreme cold favor the running game, whereas games played in good weather or domes generally favor passing and kicking. Some players thrive in bad weather, though, so an in-depth knowledge of your own players will prove to be an advantage either way. You'll also want to familiarize yourself with your league's playoff rules if you haven't already. Many league's final trade deadlines are during this week, and it could be your last chance to really strengthen up your roster for a championship run. You could also try picking up free-agent players you think your opponent may want, to prevent them from filling holes in their lineup that may arise come playoff time. Finally, just continue to do what got yourself in this position. Don't overthink your decisions and just continue with the players that got you here, barring injury or other player circumstance. If you need to make starting roster adjustments, hopefully you have made good moves throughout the season and have viable bench players to replace any player that is inactive or consistently infective. Roster depth cannot be underestimated come playoff time so you should be actively trying to improve your team the entire season.

Article / Updated 08-28-2023

So, you want to join a keeper league but you are not quite sure about how it works, the keeper league rules, or if it's for you? If this sounds about right, keep reading. Keeper leagues offer fantasy football owners the opportunity to keep a certain amount of players from year to year. Retaining players helps maintain continuity with each team and offers a new interesting dynamic for fantasy football. Keeper leagues bring new and exciting gameplay and lets owners "build" a team over the course of many seasons. If you play your cards right, you can create a winning tradition and become a dynasty in your league for years to come. Sometimes the season may not go as you planned, and keeper leagues open up a new dimension to strategy that traditional leagues simply do not offer. If it becomes clear that your team is not going to be competing for trophies, the best you could do in a traditional league is be a good sport and try to play the spoiler role, or win your consolation playoffs. In keeper leagues, you could instead focus on how to make your team better for future seasons. You could trade off one of your older, more productive veterans to teams competing for the playoffs, for one of their younger rising stars. There are many different ways to approach and be successful in a keeper league; keeping both the present and future in mind is always important. How keeper leagues work Keeper leagues work virtually the same as a normal fantasy league, except that each team gets to keep a certain number of players from year to year. Each fantasy owner will get to select which players they get to keep, and teams will keep the same number of players in most cases. In the first season, the draft is performed as any other fantasy draft would be. Depending on the league rules, typically five to ten players are kept from each team, and all other available players, plus any rookies, will be available for the next available draft. In the extreme, dynasty leagues offer a chance for fantasy owners to keep all of the players from last season, and only rookies are drafted. There are many different ways to implement keeper leagues — and no single correct way. Discuss the idea with your fellow league members, and decide what works best for you. Common keeper league rules In addition to keeping players from year to year, fantasy football keeper leagues can offer a wide array of other options and rules. Stipulations on keeping a player are commonly based on his tenure, total team tenure, draft position, or player salary, among other criteria in certain leagues. Player tenure is a concept that means a player can only be kept for a fixed number of seasons before he has to be released back into the free agent pool to be redrafted. For example, a league might have rules that simply state "All teams can keep up to five players, but no player can be kept for more than four seasons in a row." Team tenure is a concept that increases cost the longer a certain player is on the team. Instead of being allowed a fixed number of players, a team is allowed a fixed number of seasons during which they could keep any combination of players. For example, if the fixed number was ten seasons, you could keep one player ten years in a row, or ten players for one year, or any combination in between. Draft position is a way of associating cost with the player whom is being kept. Generally, if you keep a player who was drafted in the first round of last season, you will have to give up your first-round pick of this seasons draft. Some leagues even stipulate that certain top-tier rounds cannot be kept, or have a high cost associated with them in auction leagues, particularly for keeping a highly drafted player year after year. Player salary, for these purposes, has to do with a player's auction value, not his actual personal salary. The cost may continue to rise for every season an individual player is kept without being released back into free agency. If a player is purchased for $5, that cost might double every season he is kept, making it impractical to keep players for several years. In addition to these concepts, leagues may want to implement certain guidelines and rules for trading players. At times, teams may have wildly different goals, some trying to win now, some trying to build for the future, and this all must be kept in mind when regulating trades. Some leagues may have some form of a salary cap, preventing teams from having too many protected, high-value players simultaneously. However, auction leagues might simply rise the cost associated with these players. Other leagues might discourage giving up on the current season by having a draft lottery, making it not guaranteed you will get a high pick next season if your team performed badly in the previous season. Some leagues may be more forgiving and offer the lowest ranked competitors the highest draft picks the following season. Tips/strategy for managing a keeper team League rules can be among the most important factors in deciding strategy for your fantasy football keeper league. How many players start at each position, scoring modifications, and rules for keeping players are some of the more important factors in managing your keeper league season after season. You should get to know your leagues rules and any scoring modifications, so you can make wise choices on which players to pick up and which to drop for the long haul of a keeper league. You'll also want to keep players from year to year based on their past performances and projected performances for future seasons. A young star running back could be the mainstay of your team for several years, but if you see production or opportunity drop, along with rising age, the value for keeping that particular player may not be there after many years. You will have to weigh your options among your returning players and decide which ones are most important to you. To help strengthen your team, you could always try initiating trades with other members in your league. There are many situations where a trade can help both teams in keeper leagues. One side might benefit in the current season, while the other may be in better shape for the future. Some fantasy owners might even intentionally pick up mostly younger players in the hopes that they culminate into a squad of fantasy superstars one day. Others may value experience and opportunity more, and attempt to be competitive every year. The choice is yours.

Article / Updated 03-28-2023

Since the 1980s, fantasy baseball has become a popular way to interact with the baseball games you watch and love. With fantasy baseball leagues popping up all over the place, you may be asking yourself what the point of this game is, and how to join a league to get in on the action. To play fantasy baseball you first must understand the basics of fantasy sports and the whole reason behind joining a league. Fantasy baseball basics Fantasy baseball can be played in many different ways, which can determine how you score players and how the winner of the league is selected. The most common variation of playing fantasy baseball is called Rotisserie. In this version, each person in the league compiles a team of real players; the players are scored by category; and the person with the highest cumulative point totals at the end of the season wins. The categories for scoring points are as follows: Team batting average (total number of hits divided by total number of at-bats) Team earned run average (total number of earned runs times 9 and then divided by total innings) Total home runs Total runs scored Total saves Total stolen bases Total strikeouts Total team WHIPs (total number of walks allowed by pitcher divided by total innings) Total wins This configuration is the most common and is known as a “5x5 fantasy baseball league,” referencing the five hitting stats and five pitching stats that are used for scoring. Some leagues adopt more or less scoring categories depending on the complexity of the league. Keep in mind that some leagues score weekly as opposed to a cumulative end-of-season scoring schedule. If you are in a league that scores weekly, you have more chances for your team to win, in either specific categories or as a whole. New twists on the game have emerged, including versions such as: Daily fantasy baseball. You choose your team from players that are playing on that particular game day, and total the points at the end of the day to choose the victor. This version is a great way to learn how to play a whole season without getting too invested in both time and money. Head-to-head. You pit your whole team against another person’s team and score your points for the week. The person with the most points wins, but instead of winning in each category — like with the standard rotisserie style rules — you receive just one win for the week. Round-robin. This scenario follows the entire season, scoring your wins and losses, and the winner is determined by which team has the best win/loss record for the season. Single-elimination. A set number of teams play a single-elimination tournament to decide the victor. For instance, if your team at any point loses, you are done and out of the tournament. If the team wins, you move on to the next match, and so on until a team wins the season and cashes in. Another popular feature included in most fantasy baseball leagues is the ability to trade players. Trading can be done in one of two ways. Your league can choose to include a trading floor where all players can trade together and all trades are done in public. You league can opt to allow trades privately between different team owners. This version often causes conflict within the league, and usually results in an impartial judge (non-league member) determining whether or not the trades are fair. The reason you might want to trade players can be complex. Some people trade players to get rid of a bad player. Others trade a group of bad or mediocre players for one really good player. Often when trading players or creating a roster from scratch, each team is restricted by a salary cap. Each player is assigned a salary; if you select all top-notch players, you will exceed your salary cap. This rule keeps the better players more evenly distributed among league members to prevent one team from having all the higher ranked players. Why join a fantasy baseball league? Now that you have a generalized grasp on how the game works, you can find a fantasy baseball league that follows the rules by which you want to play. Many league options are available online, and more personal games can be found at your local watering hole or a friend’s man-cave. Approach playing fantasy baseball with the goal of finding new friends who love baseball as much as you do. Of course, you also might have the opportunity to win a nice chunk of change!

Article / Updated 01-30-2023

Everything worth doing benefits from proper planning, and taking a test is no exception. The last chance a student has to influence the outcome of a test is the night before they take it. Here are ten must-dos to positively affect the outcome of a test. Eat a well-balanced meal It’s a proven fact that what you eat will have an effect on your physical and mental performance. Avoid coffee and doughnuts or pizza and soda the night before a test. Grilled fish with steamed vegetables on the side, mixed fruit for dessert, and caffeine-free beverages throughout would be perfect. Greasy, heavy food can make you lethargic the morning after consumption. No alcoholic beverages of any kind should be consumed. Get your stuff ready for the morning Make sure you have all the materials that you’re taking into the test ready. If a laptop or calculator is allowed, have it on the charger. Have more than one pencil or pen in hand. Pack a bottle of water and/or some candy for the nervous dry-mouth that can set in before an exam. Gather all your stuff together and have it ready to go the night before. Lay out your clothes Choose an outfit that is layered and lay it out before retiring. You won’t have any control over the temperature of the testing area, so be prepared to add or subtract layers so you can be comfortable during the exam. Go for comfort, not style. Review with a buddy Schedule a question-answer review of the testable material with a study buddy early in the evening to test your knowledge of the subject. Use it to identify the areas that need more effort. The review will also help you have confidence in your ability to do well on the test. Visualize a positive outcome Attitude affects test scores. Even with proper planning, too many people hurt their performance on a test because they just know that they're going to fail. Think positively and don’t embrace failure as an outcome. Don’t think that you might fail, know that you will succeed, and your performance will be the better for it. Make a morning pre-test plan List the things you need to do before the test. List everything that needs to happen and make sure there’s enough time to get it all done without creating stress. Don’t try to do too much; now is not the time to try to work in a load of laundry. Set the alarm No-brainer, huh? You’d be surprised how often this happens to well-intentioned people. Check your morning plan and get up early enough not to be rushed. Don’t rely on others to get you up. Exercise before retiring A little light stretching and exercise will help you fall asleep faster and sleep soundly through the night. It also works out the tension you may be carrying after a day of studying and test prep. If you go to bed tense, you may wake up with a backache or headache — definitely not appreciated on the day of a test. Get a good night’s sleep Don’t burn the midnight oil the night before a test. The extra effort put into late-night studying will be offset by reduced mental performance due to lost sleep. It won’t help, so don’t try it. Call it a night and go to bed; your morning will be better for it. Reward yourself Treat yourself right. Remember to schedule a little post-test celebration or other reward for all your hard work preparing for the test. Make it special. After all, you are worth it!

Article / Updated 11-04-2022

Listen to the article:Download audio What is the Amazon Fire TV Stick? The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a device joining the ranks of home entertainment streaming technologies. The Fire Stick plugs into your TV’s HDMI port giving you access to your favorite TV shows, movies, subscription services, music, photos, and games. The Fire TV Stick houses all of your favorite content and is easily transportable, so you can take your media anywhere! What you get with the Fire TV Stick Imagine being able to take your TV with you when you go on vacation. That’s the functionality you get with the Fire TV Stick. The Fire TV Stick houses all of your content and is completely portable. Simply remove your device and take it with you when you travel. Plug it into any compatible TV to gain instant access to all of your favorite videos. If you are an Amazon Prime member, your Fire TV Stick comes pre-registered to your account. You have immediate access to all of your Amazon Prime content as soon as you plug your Fire TV Stick into your HDMI port. Being a Prime member also lets you choose from a cache of Amazon Originals that cannot be accessed by the average user. When you receive your box from Amazon, you will have everything you need to make the Fire TV Stick work. In the box you will find your new Fire TV Stick, the remote, a USB cable and power adapter, HDMI extender, 2 AAA batteries, and a guide to get you started. In addition, you get the following features: 1 GB of memory 8 GB of internal storage Optional voice support Dual-band, dual-antenna Wi-Fi A dedicated VideoCore4 GPU How the Fire TV Stick works The Amazon Fire TV Stick rivals other popular streaming devices like the Roku and Chromecast. How does the Amazon Fire TV Stick work? Your Fire Stick plugs into your HDMI TV via USB port, connects via Wi-Fi, and comes equipped with a Bluetooth remote. Simply plug your Fire Stick in and you will be directed through the setup process and prompted to sign into your Amazon account. The Fire Stick is a central repository for all your content. Once logged on, you will have access to any music and videos purchased through your Amazon account. In addition, you can view any pictures uploaded to your Amazon Cloud service. Using your device, you also have access to thousands of apps and games. For instance, you can use your Fire TV Stick to open the Netflix app and watch trending Netflix videos. Or, open YouTube and browse the latest uploads from your favorite vlogger. Other services like HBO Now, ESPN, and Hulu can also be accessed with your Fire TV Stick at a cost. However, even with the fee, you get the advantage of being able to choose your preferred services instead of being tied into a cable package. Games are also available. But, you will need a controller which is only available for purchase through Amazon. Fire TV Stick vs. Fire TV Amazon offers a Fire Stick and Fire TV. These products offer the same services and both come equipped with a Bluetooth remote. So, what's the difference? Size: The Fire TV Stick is far smaller than the Fire TV. The Fire Stick is about three inches long and plugs into your TV. Fire TV is a square console that, while sleek, is about four and half inches long on each side. If you prefer the minimalist look, the Fire TV Stick is the winner. Cost: You will find that the Fire Stick is the cheaper option. The Fire Stick costs $39.99 while the Fire TV will set you back $99. Speed: The Fire Stick will give you 1 GB of RAM, while the Fire TV offers 2 GB of RAM, making the Fire TV more responsive. If you're a serious gamer, you might want to go for the Fire TV to avoid lags and frustration in loading speeds. Additional ports and storage: With the Fire TV Stick, you won't have options for expansion. The Fire TV console has a USB port, Ethernet port, and microSD slot, making it easier to store and access content. Capabilities: The Fire TV stick can support your watching habits up to 1080p. Fire TV is enabled for 4K streaming. With the trend leaning toward 4K TVs, the Fire TV might be a better option if you are looking to upgrade or already have. Although, if you haven't (or don't plan) to go the 4K route anytime soon, the Fire TV's capabilities and portability factor make it a perfectly adequate choice for those just wanting to stream their favorite shows. Evaluate your needs and budget before determining which Fire TV option is right for you. Why you need the Fire TV Stick When people hear the phrase “streaming technology,” most groan and think about how they just want watching TV to be easy. Well, the Fire TV Stick makes it simple. Only now, instead of searching through those horizontal bars of endless TV shows, you can access what you want to see, when you want to see it. For easier searching, the Fire TV Stick offers voice control using Amazon's Alexa. You can get this capability two ways. Simply press the black button and speak your choice. If that extra cost doesn’t appeal to you, you can download the free Fire TV Remote app on your phone. Using your phone’s native voice prompts, you can speak your choice and your phone will relay your choice to the Fire Stick. Why else would you want the Fire TV Stick? Well, it learns. Or rather, it uses your preferences to make predictions about what you might like. Using ASAP (Advanced Streaming and Prediction), the Fire TV Stick offers you choices of related programming based on your previous watches.

Article / Updated 12-03-2021

Car manufacturers have been working on self-driving cars since around 2008, and experts say they could become available to consumers during this decade. The self-driving car employs many available technologies which allow an automobile to move safely through the streets without a driver. Sensing its surroundings without any human intervention, the self-driving car would offer a whole new approach to commuting on the roadways. The technical components of a self-driving car Each car is equipped with an inertial navigation system, Global Positioning System (GPS), radar, video, and laser rangefinders. The vehicle leverages information gleaned from the inertial navigation system — a device that accumulates errors over time — and the GPS to determine where it is located and then uses the sensor data to further refine its position. From these data inputs, the car builds a three-dimensional image of where it is located. The car uses the noise filtered data from the sensors to make navigation decisions through its control system. A self-driving car is designed using a deliberative architecture, meaning that it’s able to make intelligent decisions by storing a map of its environment. From that stored map, the self-driving car makes decisions on the best way to navigate around obstacles, such as pedestrians and road work. After the vehicle has made routing decisions, a variety of commands are then sent to the car’s actuators which control the braking, throttle, and steering. All of these processes are repeated many times per second until the car comes to its final destination. The future of self-driving cars Great strides have recently been made by car manufacturers in the production and testing of self-driving cars. There still remains, however, many technological barriers that must be overcome before these vehicles are made safe for the open roads. For example, GPS can be unreliable and computer visions systems are limited. Adverse weather conditions also make these vehicles unreliable. For example, if snowfall partially or completely covers a traffic signal, the self-driving car may be unable to detect the color of the signals. The ability to navigate around unpredictable and varying construction sites is also a hindrance that must be overcome. None of these obstacles are insurmountable, but we are still a few years off with this technology.

Article / Updated 12-03-2021

To get the best used car, know the prices, actual value, vehicle options, mileage, and condition of the make, model, and year of your targeted automobile. Do not talk with a car salesperson, or an owner selling a car, other than exchanging some pleasantries and indicating you are just gathering information. Do not fall in love with a specific car that you must have! First, develop a plan. Arm yourself for the contest of wills you are to about to enter. Remember, with no plan, there’ll be little or no savings on the price of the car you buy. If you own a vehicle, are you going to sell it privately, donate it for a tax deduction, or attempt to trade it in when you purchase a newer vehicle? Research to price your current vehicle. The following websites have programs that will help you establish a price for your current car or truck, including trade-in, private sale, and dealer values. Kelley Blue Book NADA Edmunds You should also check vehicles, currently for sale, that will compete price-wise with yours. Look to Carvana Craigslist cars.com Autotrader You can ask CarMax for an appraisal. Advertise your vehicle. If selling a car yourself, again, Craigslist is a good free site to list your vehicle for sale. AutoTrader charges a listing fee, but is widely used. Include as many photos as allowed on internet sites. Videos, such as those posted on YouTube, may also be possible. Heck, even try putting a “For Sale” sign in the window. They really do still work! Trade-in your car or truck. The price you get will be lower than if you sell it yourself, since many trade-ins get auctioned. If your car is an absolute gem, a dealer may put it on the lot for sale. Think price negotiation. Also, sales tax may be paid on the newer vehicle you purchase. A few states allow the dealer to deduct the trade-in value from the price of the newer car or truck you buy. You only pay sales tax on the difference between the two values. Keep in mind the two negotiations: the price you get from a trade-in, or private sale, and the price you pay for the newer vehicle. The difference between comes directly out of your pocket. Research pricing, mileage, condition, and colors of exterior and interior of used vehicles. Accept only what satisfies your desires and your wallet. Use many of the strategies you used in pricing your older vehicle. Use the same internet resources you used to sell your vehicle to look for local available vehicles that match your thinking. In your searches, put in how far out you want to look — 50 miles, 100 miles, or . . . ? Talk to your local bank or credit union loan officer. Get an idea of what you can afford. It will give you an alternative to compare when a dealer bombards you with car loan options. Don’t just look at a proposed monthly payment and assume you can meet that amount. What is the total cost of financing? How many years will you be paying for a vehicle dropping in value every month? Select some vehicles from internet and classified searches to go see. This can be the fun part of buying a used vehicle. Get prepared with small info packets on each specific vehicle you select. Print out data from internet sites and cut out data from classified ads in print publications. Phone or e-mail sellers to verify those vehicles are still available for sale. Make appointments so somebody will be there to answer any questions. Check out the vehicles you selected. Be cool. Even if a car or truck looks like a beauty, curb your enthusiasm a bit. Remember that exclamations like, “Wow, this looks cool” are clear buying signals and can make a seller more firm in price negotiations. Each positive exclamation could cost you. Don’t disparage the vehicle either. That can just make the seller angry. However, you should politely ask questions about your concerns. Of course, you should definitely road test the vehicle if you are interested in a possible purchase. Don't buy the first, or even the second, vehicle you check out and test drive. You ought to see the others you selected for viewing that day. You need some examples to make comparisons on what you like and don’t like. Walk away, but promise to consider the vehicle after you see others you made appointments to see. Make a deal on the vehicle you like. Offer to purchase at a price at least 10 percent to 15 percent lower than the asking price. If the seller refuses to come down on the price, consider walking away. Make certain you express that you like the vehicle very much at the price you are offering. Tell the seller that you would want your mechanic to check the vehicle before sealing the deal. If you do walk away, leave clear written contact information with the seller and express that you would be happy to hear from him, or her, if your offer becomes acceptable. Then keep searching and making offers acceptable to you until the right deal comes through. Get the vehicle checked by an Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certified Technician or a mechanic you trust. If you can find an ASE Certified Master Technician, tested and certified in all eight automotive and light truck service skill areas, it would be ideal. Paying $75.00 to $125.00 for a thorough pre-purchase inspection could save you lots of money in future repairs. Ask if you can observe the inspection in progress and go along on the test drive. Also, ask for a written report or a filled out checklist of the results. Finally, when a deal goes through, make certain you get a bill of sale and the vehicle's title signed over to you. If financing part of the purchase price, check again with your bank, or credit union, before accepting a financing plan from any seller. Take the best and safest loan deal that won’t leave you owing more money than the car is worth. Happy car hunting!

Article / Updated 12-03-2021

Since Apple CarPlay has been introduced, you may be curious about whether or not your car is equipped with this new safety feature. Most automobile manufacturers have already started incorporating Apple CarPlay into many of their upcoming models. If the make and model you desire is not in the list below, contact the automobile manufacturer and ask if they plan to include this feature in a future model you wish to purchase. Keep in mind that most dealerships will install anything you want into the car to finalize a sale — this includes aftermarket equipment (for a fee, of course). Compiled below is a cheat sheet on which cars currently offer Apple CarPlay: Make Model Year Acura NSX 2017 Audi A4 Q7 2017 2017 Buick LaCrosse Regal 2016 2016 Cadillac ATS ATS Coupe ATS-V CT6 CTS ELR Escalade Escalade-ESV XTS 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Chevrolet Bolt Camaro Camaro Convertible Colorado Corvette Corvette Convertible Cruze Impala Malibu Silverado Silverado-HD Spark Suburban Tahoe Volt 2017 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Citroen Berlingo C3 C4 C5 2016 2016 2016 2016 DS AUTO DS 3 DS 3 Cabrio DS 4 DS 5 2016 2016 2016 2016 Ferrari 488 GBT 488 Spider California T Berlinetta F12 TDF FF 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Ford Escape 2016 GMC Canyon Sierra Yukon Yukon XL 2016 2016 2016 2016 Honda Accord Civic Ridgeline 2016 2016 2017 Hyundai Sonata Elantra 2016 2017 KIA Forte 5 2017 Mercedes-Benz A-Class B-Class CLA-Class CLS-Class E-Class GLA-Class GLE-Class 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Mitsubishi Pajero Pajero Sport Mirage 2016 2016 2017 OPEL Adam Astra Corsa Insignia KARL 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Peugeot 208 Partner T 2016 2016 Porsche 911 718 Boxster Macan 2016 2017 2017 Seat Alhambra Ibiza Leon Toledo 2016 2016 2016 2016 Skoda Fabia Octavia Rapid Superb Yeti 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Suzuki Baleno Ciaz SX4 S-Cross Vitara 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Volkswagen Beetle CC E-Golf Fox Golf GTI Lamando Passat Polo Scirocco Sharan Spacefox Tiguan Touran 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016 Volvo XC90 S90 2016 2017 Keep in mind other car manufacturers such as BMW, Dodge, Scion, Toyota, and many others plan to offer Apple CarPlay in future models, but have not yet released information on which models they plan to include. Not to worry. If you have already purchased a new car and it is not equipped with Apple CarPlay, you can always have an aftermarket stereo installed that does support this new feature. When picking out an aftermarket stereo make sure the packaging sports the Apple CarPlay logo. Big name manufacturers such as Alpine, Kenwood, and Pioneer have already started releasing models that include Apple CarPlay. Check with the stereo manufacturer to see if the stereo you wish to purchase is supported.