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3 Amazing Westerns Available on Netflix

August 26, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

Netflix is home to some of the best western films available; unfortunately, not all of them are licensed in the US. In fact, the American Netflix Westerns category is pretty pathetic. But there’s no reason you have to be limited by your location. Below are three amazing westerns available on Netflix and how you can access them.

No Country for Old Men

If you haven’t seen it yet, No Country for Old Men revolves around how greed and money can corrupt people. When a man finds a suitcase full of money that, unbeknownst to him, was associated with drug dealers, a cat and mouse game quickly ensues. If you’ve already seen it, its unbelievable pacing, outstanding characters and heart-pounding thrills are worth watching it again. Although not available on American Netflix, this film is accessible in 18 other countries.

Back to the Future Part III

In this installment of the Back to the Future series, Marty has to go back to 1885 to rescue Doc. During their adventure, they have to deal once again with a ruthless member of the Tannen family: Mad Dog. However, another issue presents itself as Doc falls in love with a woman from 1885. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a necessary addition to your watch list. Despite not having access in the US, you can watch this movie on Netflix in 22 other countries.

The Book of Eli

While The Book of Eli is not a traditional western, its post-apocalyptic setting and plot line are reminiscent of the genre. Eli, who is blind, survives every day in the hopes of taking his special book to its proper destination, but a ruthless leader and his cronies have been looking for Eli’s book forever and set out to steal it. Throughout the movie, the book’s identity is evaded, so don’t miss the ending for an amazing and inspiring surprise. Like No Country for Old Men, this film is available on Netflix in 18 countries other than the US.

If you don’t live in the countries where these films are available and don’t plan to visit anytime soon, don’t worry. You can still watch them by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to get around geo-restrictions.

Which of these movies do you like the most? Do you have any other great suggestions for westerns? Please leave a comment below, and let us know your thoughts!

For the Love of Sherlock: 5 Shows to Try Next

August 19, 2016 // by Caroline// Leave a Comment

Doyle’s sleuth may be the most notorious mystery man in the world—not to mention certainly the most popular British spy ever written (sorry 007, but you’re a close second)—and for old and new fans alike, the story of the great puzzle master never gets old.

So what to do when the writings (or the latest BBC adaptation) runs dry? Check out the television adaptations that either borrow a lot (or even just a little) to get the same thrills from watching a highly scientific mind unfold obscure details to do what we mere mortals only dream of. So sit back with your magnifying glass and take a hard look at these show, my dear Watson!

Elementary

When the producer of the BBC’s Sherlock is “worrying” Elementary is possibly an overlap of its own hit television series, you can take it as a good sign that the show is fiercely dedicated to being a close variation and equally as engaging as Sherlock.

The big twist with Elementary comes with Dr. Watson being played by Lucy Lui, and the setting being New York City, rather than Holmes’ traditional London. For fans of getting every detail exactly like the book, this one isn’t for you! But the rest of the major points—mischief, mayhem and a dead body or two—are definitely up for grabs, as is Sherlock’s ever-lingering addiction. For a look at the detective from the view across the pond, check out CBS’s hit—it’s definitely a fresh retelling.

Broadchurch

For the fans of brooding tragic heroes, Broadchurch should be slated as your next obsession. With David Tennant in the titular role of Alec Hardy and his trusted better half Detective Sgt. Ellie Miller being played by Olivia Coleman, the murder of an 11-year-old boy turns a small town on the coast of the British Isles completely upside down in pursuit of the killer. Hardy comes with all the inner turmoil and haunted past that Sherlock carries around like baggage, with the bonus of Hardy being an obvious outsider as a new transplant to the town of Broadchurch.

While this may seem a stretch, the BBC’s latest series takes an entire season to solve a murder, get into the head of its characters and deliver a who-dun-it mystery with the kind of aplomb we’ve come accustomed to from a Doyle adaptation, so don’t count it out for lack of a pipe and hat. This one is ready to knock you off your feet.

House, M.D.

Hugh Laurie’s doctor-sleuth may not seem like a total match for Sherlock either, but if you take out the scalpel and hospital, the addiction crazed, ultra-genius Dr. House is certainly a carbon copy of the private detective himself—even if he stole the limp from Watson this go round.

For fans who go just as bananas for Grey’s Anatomy or ER as they do for the Hounds of the Baskervilles, let Dr. House take you on his pill-popping adventure through his discontent with his team, outlandish diagnosis and little-known background knowledge that only someone like Sherlock could possess. Since it was the most show watched in the world in 2008, all 177 episodes and eight seasons are available in their entirety, so no one has to wait for the story to conclude!

The Night Manager

Some say the latest screen adaptation of Le Carre’s work will make a future Bond out of Tom Hiddleston, but I’d like to think that the mind games of Jonathan Pine also take a fair amount of inspiration from Doyle’s leading man.

A night manager in Cairo during the break of the Arab Spring, former soldier Pine discovers a nefarious plot during one of his shifts and, instead of resisting attraction to the spy life, dives headfirst into sleuthing for Queen and country. This mini-series is sure to leave you wanting to know more about Pine’s backstory and his extreme intrigue for doing the right thing even when it will surely get him killed. Currently available on the BBC Player, this is a great one to flat out binge on!

Holmes

Was there ever a botched job that included the great Sir Ian McKellan? Hardly not, which is why you should get thee to a Redbox immediately to check out his turn as the sleuth extraordinaire in Mr. Holmes.

A different take on the age-old story, McKellen’s Holmes is retired and living out his life in the countryside tending beehives before being wrestled back into the thick of things when his last unsolved mystery won’t stop nagging him. While lacking in a physical Watson (we’ll see him in flashbacks, but no “Elementary, my dear Watson,” I’m afraid), there are plenty of new characters to enthrall in this slower, more reflective adaptation of everyone’s favorite private eye, and an excellent new location to do it from: Tokyo. Don’t say I didn’t warn you; this might just be your new favorite storyline.

Whether you’re looking for the close version of pipe and Victorian Baker Street or just hoping to fall in love with yet another guileless character prone to insanity and extraordinary skills of deduction, these picks are perfect for the Doylians and Sherlockophiles alike. Good reading to you!

Why It’s Not Time to Give Up on a Career in the Arts Yet

August 12, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

As a lifelong thespian, a career in the arts has always been blinkered for me by the endless warnings of the dog-eat-dog world of the entertainment industry. Anecdotes of struggling artists putting on shows and exhibitions in cramped basement studios for a few close friends and the odd passersby are numerous. Time spent waiting tables is nearly inevitable.
So, in this world of diminishing big breaks and one-shot opportunities, it’s easy to ask why we’ve not yet given up. Is a career in the arts worth it anymore, and if it is, how on earth can it be possible? Well, fellow artists, read on.

The Sad State of the Arts

It’s fair to say that the arts have been a penalized medium for a very long time. I imagine I wasn’t the only one who was warned away from my controversial career choices and advised to take a more “sensible” option such as math or science.

Art education all over the world is rapidly declining at an alarming rate, and what once was seen as a prestigious area of learning is now cast aside as a mere hobby. Pure arts funding for graduates has practically vanished, and those lucky enough to get a grant will find venues hesitant to work with new and unknown talent.

Finding a job in the arts also has an age-old catch-22. Every position requires experience, but to have experience you need to be offered a position.

Overall, it’s not looking good, and so I believed as I set out as a fresh-faced graduate, waitressing job already secured, to follow my dreams. Yet when I went looking, what I found shocked me.

Internet Artists

It’s true that if you look for a job in the arts in your local area, you probably won’t find one. Arts communities are long established, and getting a foot in the door usually requires committing an unsustainable amount of volunteer hours to the cause. However, when a friend pointed me online, I found the exact opposite.

Scrolling through Upwork (formerly Odesk), one of the many freelance websites, I could not believe my eyes. There were jobs for artists of every kind: filmmakers, designers, photographers, videographers, musicians, illustrators and even wordsmiths. They were paid, they were contracted, and there was something for everyone.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Working online allows you to share your art all over the world, and you don’t have to worry about the expenses of renting a physical space or becoming a part of the local prestigious arts community.

Finding Work

Aside from Upwork, there are endless websites that allow you to link up with employers and find work, but this isn’t the only way to become a successful internet artist.

There are countless platforms, such as YouTube, Flickr and Instagram, which offer a free way to showcase your work. Think about it: you may not be able to fill a gallery, but you can easily share your work online. Many modern celebrities and professionals have risen to fame through social media, so the potential for success is out there.

Alongside this, the great thing about working online is that you don’t have to be famous to be successful. The variety of work out there is limited only by the imagination. You could secure an ongoing design contract for someone’s business, make music for indie film projects, create your own video series or even just simply start your own blog or site. The potential for earning is there and ready to be taken!

The Digital Artists Toolkit

You might think it difficult to set yourself properly up as a functioning online professional, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As more people move away from location dependence and into working online, more tools are being released to aid this pursuit.

Staying secure is an essential factor of any online career as contracting a virus could result in lost work, unmet deadlines and extremely unhappy clients. Fortunately, there are plenty of installable apps to help, including anti-virus and firewall software and a solid VPN to encrypt your data so you can work on the go.

There are countless programs available for artists so you can transform work done by hand into digital formats. There are also plenty of free versions of photo and video editing software for those who can’t afford to make big investments just yet.

The Future of Art

Justin Bieber was spotted via YouTube. Kerby Rosanes began sharing his doodles on Facebook, and his “Sketchy Stories” brand is now known worldwide. There are countless singers, dancers, songwriters and animators who are skipping out the middleman and promoting and distributing their work straight through the internet.

It seems as if the days of major labels, production companies and pitiful royalties are coming to an end. Young creatives everywhere are turning their back on the exclusivity of the traditional arts world and taking their careers online. It’s an exciting time for aspiring artists anywhere, and it is bound to change the face of the arts as we know it.

So if you’re feeling disheartened about the lack of support, funding and constant warnings about your career choice, do not fear! You haven’t reached the end of the road yet. The age of digital content is just beginning and now is the perfect time to get involved!

The Best Kept Secrets for Streaming Live Sporting Events in 2016

August 5, 2016 // by Derek// Leave a Comment

If you are the type of person that can’t watch enough live sporting events, it must be frustrating just how few streaming options are available. In many cases, they’re one of the only options to follow your favorite teams. Unfortunately, many streaming services offer poor quality video and audio in addition to frequent freezing and buffering of the stream. While companies such as Hulu and Netflix have started to adapt to the needs of live streaming on the go, few services that work with sporting events are reliable.

The following are some of the best apps, websites and services that you can use for live streaming sports in 2016:

Android TV Box

An Android TV Box is one of the cheapest ways of watching high-quality content without paying for cable. It can act as an internet set-up box, games console, digital media player and TV tuner. You can stream live sporting events on Android TV Boxes through the Kodi platform. Kodi has several live streams or live stream aggregators such as BBTS, Sports Devil and Vdubt25. I would recommend Sports Devil as it does not require a monthly subscription like the other options.

Unfortunately, Android TV Box will not give you HD quality, as it does not support 1080p. If you need HD quality, you have to either subscribe to premium add-ons such as BBTS and Vdubt25 that charge between $5-20 a month, which is not that much for a diehard sports fan. While an Android TV Box will give you access to many streams, you will encounter buffering if you do not have premium add-ons. Switching through the streams may get you a better result, since most buffering results from a large number of people viewing one stream.

Over the Air Antenna (OTA)

Many streams are usually illegal and choppy at best. Nevertheless, many legal streaming services provide quality at too high a cost. If you are someone that just disconnected their cable and you are looking for a free streaming alternative, then Over-the-Air Antenna (OTA) is one of the best for getting free HD content.

A local OTA HD antenna will pick up the signals from the major TV channels that are free to air. While this option will not offer as many options as compared to alternatives like Android TV box, you can still watch your local television in HD without needing a monthly subscription.

Android Apps

If you have an Android device, you can stream live programs and sports on your device through apps. To gain access to live streaming on your Android device you need to find a website or go to Google Play to find apps that will connect you to the live streaming events you want to watch. There are several paid and free options available for streaming live sports on Android including Sport Live Stream, Sport TV Original and SopCast. Television stations also offer apps for live streaming such as WatchESPN and CBS Sports.

While you may need a paid subscription to watch some of the streams such as WatchESPN, most are free. You will simply need to download the apps from Google Play Store, install Adobe Flash Player and you are ready to go. For baseball fans, MLB.tv at $19.99 offers live video feeds to premium subscribers. Basketball lovers will enjoy NBA League Pass Mobile at $16.99 a season.

Roku

One of the most innovative streaming services on the market is the Roku Streaming Player. Roku is a digital media player set-top box that aggregates top quality content from multiple channels. The Roku player gets the data feed from the broadcasting channel via WiFi or a wired connection to the internet. The device is compatible with HDMI, video or audio cable, which means that you can watch your favorite sports from practically any device that allows these input options.

What I like best about Roku is the extensive catalog of channels available on the multiple services that it is compatible with. With Roku, you can watch anything from news to sports to family programing. It’s worth checking to see a complete list of channels available to see if there’s anything you might like.

iOS Apps

Up until very recently, you had to watch favorite events by logging into your satellite or cable subscription when on your Apple device. However, many networks now allow you to stream major events such as the Super Bowl on your iOS device without having to subscribe to cable. It seems networks are acknowledging live streaming as a major component in reconnecting with consumers that had severed ties with cable companies.

After NBC aired Super Bowl XLIX on the TV Everywhere live stream, other networks have joined the live streaming bandwagon. Major organizations that now support apps for live streaming include the NCAA, CBS, HBO, Apple TV, Showtime, PGA and NBC.

The most popular freestanding live streaming apps include Sport TV Live, TV Listings, Livestream, Slingplayer for iPhone, YO TV Guide, ESPN and Ustream. Installing some of these will give you access to most of the live stream events that the major broadcasters do not have on their catalogs.

There you have it. While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it will have a solution for most of your live streaming needs. What are you using for streaming in 2016? What services work better and which ones no longer work? Leave a comment below and help a fellow streamer.

Road Trip Radio: Top Playlists for Your Next Road Trip

July 29, 2016 // by Shawna// Leave a Comment

Whether its cruising down historic Route 66, taking a lazy drive down the Road to Hana in Hawaii or exploring New Zealand’s South Island Circuit, there is nothing better than belting out those favorite tunes from whatever device tickles your fancy. While the radio is always a go-to, sometimes the advertisements just kill your groove, and while the old CD player and some good old-fashioned CDs has served us for many a road trip, things tend to get boring if you listen to the same playlists several times.

Enter the world of digital streaming! Streaming services are your best source of curated playlists these days, plus on most streaming services, you can download your playlists for offline listening or listen via WiFi if you happen to lose cell signal on the road. Now the only question is, which playlists are best for beating the lull of a long drive?

Good Times, Great Oldies

Spotify’s Good Times, Great Oldies playlist is one of the finest choices if you want to relive your childhood during your next drive. Featuring nostalgic tracks such Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” and The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Good Times, Great Oldies is one playlist that can take you back to your greatest memories growing up, while also creating some new ones. While blasting tracks like these, it’ll be impossible not to have an impromptu karaoke session.

Road Trip

Google Play Music’s simply-titled Road Trip playlist, unlike the others on this list, is a combination of several genres of music making it suitable for a variety of tastes. Featuring cool tracks such as Kelly Clarkson’s “Behind these Hazel Eyes,” Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” and Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson,” this is a playlist for the whole family. With a mix of blues, rock and pop from the 80s up to the early 2000s, this is one incredible playlist.

Family Road Trip

If you are going on a road trip with kids, Pandora’s Family Road Trip is going to be vital. The station comes with a mix of sing-a -long classics ranging from children’s favorites, pop rock, reggae, classic rock and current family-safe hits. Artists you can expect on the playlist include Kidz Bop Kids, Bob Marley, They Might Be Giants, The Beach Boys and The Beatles. I found the classics collection quite roadworthy. Blast from the past artists such as The Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Van Morrison round out the playlist quite nicely.

The Ultimate Rock Road Trip Playlist

The Ultimate Rock Road Trip Playlist is for the hard-core rock fan. If features some of the biggest rock bands and artists to ever rock the stage. It has golden oldies such as Stairway to Heaven, Roxanne, Eye of the Tiger, Highway to Hell and Hotel California. What makes this playlist so great is that all of the songs are up-tempo stuff that will have you nodding your head and dancing your tail off, while still maintaining a first grasp on the steering wheel of course.

Road Trip Anthems

Not only does Road Trip Anthems have a catchy title, but it also has some of the catchiest songs for a road trip. From classic such as Ray Charles’s “Hit the Road Jack,” Foghat’s “Slow Ride” and Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee” to more modern tracks such as Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice,” Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive,” and Jay Z’s “99 Problems,” this playlist has so much variety that will keep you bumping to the beat regardless of age or preference. I also like that nearly all the tracks are related to driving, providing you much needed inspiration on a long road trip.

What other road trip playlists are you listening to? Have you created your own that you’d love to share with us? Leave a comment below for the benefit of other readers.

Five Must-Watch Films for Aspiring Expats to Germany

July 22, 2016 // by Caroline// Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a move to Germany, among other things, you’ll want to have an idea of the country’s history, culture and politics first. Fortunately, rather than consulting textbooks, there are plenty of great movies out there that’ll give you a great glimpse into life as it is and as it has been. Besides, movies are a great way to practice your conversational German outside of the classroom! So here, we have a list of my top five must-watch German-language films.

Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others)

This film made waves with movie critics around the world when it was released in 2006. It even won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It’s got an intriguing plot, fantastic acting, beautiful cinematography and everything else needed to draw the viewer in. The movie follows the life of a playwright in 1980s East Germany who ends up in trouble with the government, which doubts his commitment to the Communist Party. It’s an amazing and authentic look into that period of German history, as well as just being an entertaining, feeling-inducing watch.

Lola Rennt (Run Lola Run)

This quirky 1998 movie is one of the better-known German films. It’s a love-it or hate-it kind of movie. Even if you’re not interested in the plot, which is about a woman trying to collect 100,000 Deutsche Mark in 20 minutes in order to save her criminal boyfriend, it’s one of the easier movies out there to practice your language skills on. The structure of the movie is pretty interesting as well. It’s split into three different parts, showing different scenarios that could happen based on the original phone call that Lola receives. Regardless of how it may appear on the surface, the movie is actually surprisingly deep, touching on themes such as free will vs. determinism, and it features many well-known German actors.

Das Boot (The Boat)

This 1981 drama is well-known among lovers of German cinematography and beyond. It looks at life aboard a World War II U-boat, both during battle and during the long, boring stretches during the hunt, as told by a war correspondent assigned to the sub. Although some critics have claimed that the actors are overly-hysterical in the film, it’s definitely an interesting watch and well put together. For those interested in practicing their German, this film can be especially interesting since half the characters talk in High German, as you would have learned in most schools, while half the characters speak in various dialects.

Nackt unter Wölfen (Naked Among Wolves)

Despite all the horrible things that happened during World War II, there were some amazing stories that came from that time that show the true beauty of humans. This movie, based on the 1958 book by Bruno Apitz, tells the story of a young Polish Jew who is smuggled into Buchenwald Concentration Camp. From that time until the camp’s liberation, the other camp inmates manage to look out for the boy, who would certainly be killed by the camp guards if they were to find him. What’s most impressive, the story is based on real life events—if that doesn’t give you the chills, I don’t know what will! Best of all, this title is up for streaming on the US Netflix site.

Nirgendwo in Afrika (Nowhere in Africa)

Another movie based on a true story, this film tells the life of a Jewish family living in Kenya after having fled persecution in 1930s Nazi Germany. Of course, just because they’ve left Germany behind, it doesn’t mean they are unaffected by the war. The movie is an emotional rollercoaster, with the characters struggling both to find their identity in a foreign country, forgive one another for personal differences and much more. This is another Academy Award-winning film, with fantastic cinematography, music and acting, so definitely give it a watch!

Although some people have the mistaken belief that all the good films come out of Hollywood, that’s definitely no longer the case! Germany rolls out some truly wonderful films, and if you’re planning to move to the country, you’ll want to be aware of the culture and history. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of the German movies that are out there. Have we missed your favorites? Share them in the comments!

Tips for Staying Up to Date on the Latest Fashion Trends

July 15, 2016 // by Cassie// 1 Comment

Fashion trends shift quickly, so you’ll have to keep up if you want to stay fashionable. There’s always something new and happening in the fashion industry and trends change by the season. So how do you keep up with the latest fashion trends?

Whether you’re looking for men’s or women’s fashion trends, here are some tried and true tips for staying up to date both online and off!

Subscribe

There are a ton of fashion magazines available, some of which you’re likely to find at your local bookstore or supermarket. Most are already aware of Vogue, which primarily focuses on celebrities and women’s fashion, but did you know there are also fashion magazines geared toward men?

VMAN is just one example of such magazine. Basically a men’s version of V Magazine, VMAN is delivered quarterly and offers some great visuals of some of the latest trends. Alternatively, you can check out Mens Fashion Magazine if you’re looking for something that provides more frequent updates. Mens Fashion Magazine is entirely online and also offers some great how-to articles and other tips.

Magazines, however, are typically sent out monthly at the most, so it may be wise to keep an eye on websites as well, even if you do decide on a magazine subscription or two.

Socialize

Social media websites can be great for following and staying in the know about some of your favorite fashion icons and events. Models, designers and celebrities aren’t the only ones who typically have pages you can follow to stay up to date with the latest fashion trends; regular everyday people do as well!

You may be able to find some bloggers on social media that not only post photos of themselves wearing some of the latest fashion, but also news and information you might not have found elsewhere as of yet. When it comes to fashion, it’s often a good idea to stick to social media sites that are more visual—such as Pinterest or Instagram. Twitter can be great as well since it seems to be the go-to social media website for many celebs and models.

Attend

Depending on where you live, there may be some small fashion shows you can attend to get an idea of what’s in season. Even if you don’t live in a big city, consider traveling to a show or two or checking the internet for streams of them. There’s often photos posted online afterwards too, mainly on social media, so be sure to keep an eye out.

Attending big shows, such as New York’s Fashion Week for example, is generally out of the question if you have no ties to the industry. But there’re bound to be plenty of updates online if you absolutely cannot attend, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to snag a volunteer opportunity to get a glimpse of the action in person.

Shop

Whether you have the cash to regularly shop for designer clothing or not, there’s no harm in window shopping! Check out the stores, as many of them will have the some examples of the latest fashion trends in stock. Your local mall is bound to have at least one designer clothing store you can visit.

If you happen to live in a small town, no need to worry. You can still check online and might actually prefer to, as online stores tend to have a larger variety in stock due to limited shelf space in the actual storefront. If you’re looking for something especially unique and trendy, check out custom designers on Etsy or other similar pages for a chance to really stand out from the crowd.

Just be sure to protect yourself before you begin checking out any new websites. Not all of them are trustworthy, and the last thing you need is to have your identity stolen from putting your credit card information into a malicious site.

You don’t have to be stuck in something that’s “so last season.” Whether you choose to subscribe, socialize, attend or shop—or even a combination of the four—you’re sure to find the latest styles gracing the runway and the red carpet this year. If you have other tips for maintaining a pulse on the fashion scene, be sure to comment below.

Top 6 Apps for the Ultimate Sports Fan

July 1, 2016 // by Cassie// Leave a Comment

For some people, sports don’t really mean anything. For some others, sports are a small part of their lives, but they’re mostly just about entertainment. Then there are those who love sports, who eat, breathe and live for sports. For them, it isn’t enough to just catch a game or two on the TV; they have to follow all their favorite leagues, be on top of fixtures and schedules, analyze the details of the matches that transpire.

If you’re one of these sports super fans, one of the best ways for you to keep up with all the happenings in the sports world is through apps. Here are the top 6 apps that’ll please even the biggest sports fans amongst you:

ESPN

If there is one app that can cover almost all you might want from a sports app, it probably is ESPN. You can catch up with any sports news right on your phone, access live streams of sports events and shows (across various sports such as football, basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, softball and much more), get score updates or watch video highlights. With just one click, you can listen to the live ESPN radio, ESPN podcasts or live commentary. You can also personalize the app per your interests.

Team Stream

As a sports enthusiast, you probably get frustrated when you have to wait for websites and media outlets to release news. You want all the latest updates to be delivered to you, without having to search actively for the freshest information.

The Team Stream app from Bleacher Report will remove the need to go hunting for news. All you need to do is select your favorite teams, and then the app will show you the freshly curated news, rumors, highlights and scores you want. If you play fantasy sports, you can get the most recent stats and information about the players on your fantasy team.

THUUZ Sports

Couldn’t see a game because of work obligations? Returned from the bathroom to find out you missed a hat trick from your favorite player? Or did you skip a match and go early to bed only to hear your friends raving the next day about how amazing it had been? Don’t you worry, the Thuuz Sports app has you covered.

Customize the app’s service according to your sports tastes and preferences, and it will give you alerts about events on the TV or on your mobile. The app lets you watch highlights, so you never miss a big moment. Thuuz also rates all ongoing or upcoming games on a rating scale from 1-100, so you know what’s worth your time and what’s not. For fantasy football or baseball players, Thuuz will give you real-time updates on your players’ status and performances.

CBS Sports

Another excellent app that you can use to follow multiple sports is the CBS Sports app. It gives you super fast access to scores and statistics with instant alert notifications about breaking news and new scores. You can even live stream all CBS sports events (SEC football games, NCAA basketball, NBA basketball, the Masters Golf Tournament, PGA Tour and more) and radio or TV shows (Jim Rome, Boomer and Carton, Fantasy Baseball Today, Fantasy Football Today and more).

Aside from that, you can get scores and personalized push notifications for all major sports, including hockey, tennis, golf and auto racing. You can also get standings of each team across all the leagues, including the college leagues, and easily find team schedules.

StubHub

StubHub is not an app exclusively dedicated to sports. But it stands apart from other sports app for one wonderful reason: tickets! For many sports fans, watching sports right in the stadium or field is the most enjoyable experience. But they often can’t purchase tickets because they’re too costly or because they’ve missed their chance.

With StubHub, you won’t have to sweat it. It provides an opportunity for people to buy and sell sports tickets (or music and theater tickets) from the day they go on sale right up to the time of the event. You can get amazing seats, and often snatch a ticket for a way lower price than from anyone else. You don’t have to worry about scammers because the app backs every single order for your protection.

These apps make it easy for you update yourself about your favorite sports and sports teams. With just a few clicks of a button on your smartphone, you will have access to tons of information. When something new or exciting takes place, you will be one of the firsts to know about it. When you need instant stats, you won’t need to do complicated web searches. Everything you need to know will be contained within your phone on these apps. They will take you beyond the ordinary experience of a regular sports fan, and allow you to look into the sporting world from closer than ever before.

What other apps do you use to keep up with your favorite sports teams? Share in the comments below.

Downloading Music the Safe Way

June 24, 2016 // by Caroline// Leave a Comment

The information age has been a blessing for music lovers: no matter where you are, as long as you have Internet access you can listen to whatever tune strikes your fancy. This means no more trudging from store to store looking for that one album you want: you just hit up a website and you can find what you’re looking for. The downside to this is that the more you’re on the Internet, the more risk you run of having your personal information stolen. It happens all the time, so how can you protect yourself?

Piracy Doesn’t Just Hurt the Artist

Let’s start with the easiest tip: do not pirate music, be it through torrents or direct download. Besides it being unfair to the artist in question, you’re running a serious risk. The packets you’re downloading will often contain all kinds of nasty viruses and other malware which can infect your computer. Staying safe means avoiding risk, so stay away from file sharing and you’ve taken a good first step.

Don’t Give Away Too Much Information

Now that you’ve wisely decided to go the legal route, let’s look at some of the risks associated with that. iTunes is a great online store with millions of customers. A big marketplace like that is wonderful not just for music lovers but also presents a fat target for hackers. Apple is no slouch when it comes to security and yet every once in a while they get hit, like in 2010 and 2013. In both of these cases, people’s personal data ended up in the wrong hands and was most likely sold to the highest bidder.

If you want to prevent something like this from happening to you, make sure that you give as little information as you can to services that you use: try to give nothing besides your name and email address or, better yet, use fake ones. If you have an online wallet, make sure to the best of your ability that it doesn’t link directly to your bank account. Smart hackers can trace it back and raid the rest of your money if you aren’t smart about it. Whatever you do, never let websites remember your credit card. It seems convenient until you find yourself the victim of identity theft.

Strong Passwords

Even if you give away little to no information, you’d be surprised at what a smart criminal can do with next to nothing. The next step is for you to make sure your password is solid. Practically any password can be decoded given enough time, but time is not something hackers always care to spend. If you have any accounts protected with passwords like “password123” or something similar, change them today to something with no dictionary words and a lot of random numbers and symbols. If the service you use does get hacked, you’ll be sitting pretty while hackers vainly try and crack your account.

Become Anonymous

These three common-sense tactics should keep you out of harm’s way most of the time but none of them are fully secure. To make sure that you’re truly untouchable on the Internet, you’re going to need to get a Virtual Private Network (VPN) service. A VPN allows you to access the internet from a random IP address, making it impossible for hackers to locate you and remotely access your computer. A VPN can also mask your location, allowing you to bypass country restrictions so you can remain anonymous and access regionally restricted content. You’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’re practically invisible to cybercriminals.

Security is a learned behavior and any music lover who follows this advice is guaranteed to be safe from hacking and other nastiness. Do you have any additional recommendations as to how to stay safe while satisfying your musical cravings? Have you had any difficulties in the past? Please leave a comment below and tell us your thoughts!

Best Streaming Services for TV and Movies

June 17, 2016 // by Isa// Leave a Comment

If you’ve been thinking about cutting the cord for your cable, there’s never been a better time. While the top players like Hulu and Netflix still reign supreme, many others are jumping into the market with their own offerings whether it’s original shows or resurrected shows that simply didn’t make it on prime time.

Of course, companies like Comcast and Verizon have jumped onto the bandwagon and now offer their own Internet TV app and streaming services, while HBO has made their HBO Now service even more appealing.

With so many options available, which one is right for you?

Netflix

Netflix might not have been the first to offer streaming services, but it definitely picked up the torch and ran with it. The basic streaming service is only $9.99 starting in May 2016, which sadly doesn’t include HD or multi-device options. They also offer a plethora of different options from blockbuster movies to Japanese anime. Of course since they rotate out older programming you might miss out on your chance to watch something if you wait too long.

One of the biggest draws of Netflix is its original shows from “House of Cards” to “Marvel’s Daredevil”. If you want to watch any of these, the only place you can catch it is on Netflix. You can watch Netflix on a variety of devices like Chromecast, Roku and of course your PC. There is no offline viewing available so you’ll always need a connection. If you want newer releases, you can always take part in their DVD rental service, but that will cost an additional $7.99.

Prime Videos

Previously only Amazon Prime members could access their movie and TV section. However, in April 2016, Amazon announced that non-Prime members could now sign up for Prime Videos for $8.99 a month. This provides access to all of the original shows like Transparent as well as older HBO shows. There are many titles available, although some you still need to rent or buy if you want to watch them – most notably the newer movies. If you’re looking for free shows, look for the Prime banner on the selections. One of the biggest advantages of Prime Videos is the ability to watch your shows offline (in case the airport doesn’t have good WiFi).

While cheaper than Netflix, at the moment it is still a better deal to simply purchase the $99 a year Prime membership as this still includes Prime Videos.

Hulu

While overshadowed by Netflix, Hulu actually offered streaming services a full year earlier in 2006. It still offers a handful of free titles, but you’ll need to pay $7.99 if you want to watch full seasons of current and older TV shows. This price point also includes some ads so if you don’t watch to have your shows interrupted by commercials you’ll need to pay $11.99 a month. Even those have ads in the beginning and end of the show. Although it is more expensive, the benefit of a Hulu subscription means instant access to the most recent TV shows airing at any moment.

HBO Now

HBO was the very first individual channel to offer streaming services with HBO Go. It wasn’t perfect, as it required a TV login to watch. Without concurrent stream restrictions, many HBO Go users also shared their login with friends and family to access the most recent shows. HBO Now builds off the success of Go and offers online-only streaming for $14.99 a month. You can watch shows a couple hours after they air on TV on your PC, tablet or TV player.

Sling TV

At $20 a month, Sling TV is by far the most expensive option, but it also offers live access to channels such as Food Network, CNN, ESPN and more. It also has a multi-stream option so you can watch on up to three different devices for an additional $20 a month. That means if you want the single and multi-stream options you would need to pay $40 a month. Why would you pay for both? Multi-stream currently does not support a few channels like ESPN, ESPN2 and the Disney Channel. It also does not allow you to pay the extra $5 for the sports add-on for 9 additional channels.

While many of these services are available in other countries, they might not offer the same amount of titles. Others might not even be accessible. For example, Prime Video is not available to foreign IPs. Netflix does offer international content, though the amount and types of titles differ by region.

So which streaming service is best for you? It depends on the kind of experience you want. If you want a TV experience, then Sling TV might be your best option. If you want great original shows and access to Blockbuster movies, however, then Netflix or Prime Videos might be the better option. Of course, you can also subscribe to multiple streaming options if you can’t decide.

Do you have any thoughts as to what is the best service? Which of the above do you use currently? Please leave a comment below and tell us what you think!