June ION magazine 2020

June 2020

Better living through technology

WASTE NOT Sisters start floral upcycling biz

HOW TO: Boost your home Wi-Fi Sell stuff online and make money PLUS: 5G? PhotoStick?

We answer your tech questions

t s e b e h T cord re ers y a l p 020 2 f o

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June 2020

FROM THE EDITOR

Show off where you work

STAFF Editor LISA GLOWINSKI Copy Editor MICHAEL TOESET Designer MICHELLE LAUZON

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Vice President, Content Innovation & Development STEVE DORSEY

’ve always loved seeing employees’ desks, the personality they put into their work home away from home.

And now because of Zoom meetings and newscasts and late-night talk shows from home, we get insight into the work and living spaces of our friends, faraway colleagues, celebrities — basically everyone, it feels like.

It’s become a popular talking point on social media, with Facebook groups dedicated to sharing “where I work” and screenshots sent to @ratemyskyperoom, a Twitter account that rates people’s video call backgrounds.

You don’t even have to show your real space if you don’t want to. Loads of people are using skyline and sunset photos, stills from TV shows like “Tiger King” and “The Office,” posh house images and other virtual backgrounds to show their personalities even further. Or disguise them, I suppose.

I would love to see your work from home spaces. Your knickknacks, your books, your art, your pets, the things you’re proud of and comforted by. Send your photos to ion@gatehousemedia.com or facebook.com/ionnewsmag. I’ll share mine as well in the next issue.

Vice President, Marketing LORI CATRON Ad Sales GERRY JOYCE Cover photo: Bigstock © GANNETT CO., INC. 2020 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Best,

WHAT IS ION?

Lisa Glowinski Director, More Content Now Gannett

Technology is all around us.

How can we use it to make life easier, not more complicated?

ION’s mission is to help readers understand technology in order to use it to improve their lives. Find us on Facebook at /ionnewsmag and monthly in this newspaper.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing. ION Magazine and Gannett Co. Inc. buy all rights to contributions, text and images, unless previously agreed to in writing.

While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, Gannett cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication.

ION is a premium edition of Gannett. Due to the size and value of premium editions there will be up to a $9 surcharge on each date of publication. Rather than assess an extra charge for premium editions, we will adjust the length of your subscription, which accelerates its expiration when you receive these premium editions. There will be no more than two (2) premium editions published each month during the subscription term.

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June 2020

Is anyone testing 5G? Q: Why is there no third-party testing of 5G to ensure it is safe and not a danger as being reported, including being banned in much of Europe?

— Joseph H. A: I’m going to sidestep the part of your question that asks “why,” Joseph.

In my reading on the topic, it appears quite a bit of research has been done.

The problem appears to be that there is no scientific consensus on whether 5G is or is not dangerous. So, let’s discuss 5G briefly, learn what it is, and hopefully give people the basis to do some independent research.

First things first: Just what the heck is “5G” anyway? Put simply, it is the next step in the evolution of mobile device communication. It is referred to as a new generation of technology. Including the original first-generation analog mobile phones, there have been four generations (4G) up until this point. The next logical step will be 5G. It represents a giant leap forward in data speed for wireless devices. The goal is to deliver speeds that are up to 100 times faster than current 4G. To put it in raw terms, that is a speed on the order of gigabits per second — monstrously faster than 4G speeds, which top out at mere tens of megabits per second.

5G has been very controversial. As you mentioned, Joseph, it has even been banned outright in several countries. What is so different about it that has so many people up in arms? To fully answer that would require in-depth knowledge of radio frequencies, magnetic fields and RF propagation, and I don’t think anyone wants that lecture from me. I can simplify it by saying that in order to achieve the increase in speed that is being demanded from this next generation of cellular communication, the effective radio energy that is output by mobile devices and cell towers is being increased. A lot. 5G also uses higher radio frequencies, referred to as millimeter waves. This high-energy, high-frequency radio energy is far more capable of penetrating flesh than previous generations of cellular technology. The scientists that are most concerned believe these radio waves to be mutagenic — that is, capable of interfering with and changing the DNA structure of living organisms.

Is there cause for concern? Sounds like it to this Geek. Some testing has been done, but it has certainly not been adequate, and there is an ongoing debate between scientists on both sides as to just how much danger it poses. Meanwhile, 5G is already live in

several places around the world — including within the United States — and you can bet that data are being gathered on its effects.

In no small way, a live test is being conducted, using human subjects.

This is something unprecedented for such a wide-reaching, publicly used technology. Let’s hope the tests yield good results.

It’s Geek To Me is written by Jeff Werner, who answers ION readers’ specific questions. To view additional content, including his regular weekly column, comment on articles or submit a question, go to ItsGeekToMe.co (not .com!)

DO YOU HAVE A TECH QUESTION?

Let one of our experts find the answer for you. Send it to ion@gatehousemedia.com.

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June 2020

Your tech questions answered Q: We live in a condo and have a Samsung Smart TV. We also have a motorhome we travel in during the summer, with a Samsung Smart TV. I usually put the condo Comcast service on vacation rate while we are gone for the summer. I am told that I can now leave the Comcast service ON during the summer and get an app on my phone, iPad or laptop computer that will allow me to stream my Comcast stations through the app to my motorhome TV. Any truth to this rumor?

— Greg Colby, Sarasota, Florida A: Comcast is probably your best bet for all the details, but I was able to find some information at xfinity.com/support/articles/live-tv-streaming.

I’m wary of these words: “while connected to your in-home Xfinity network.” I’m not sure if you just have a router at home or are running something like a VPN, but if it’s a simple Wi-Fi set up, you probably won’t get very far in your motorhome before you lose access.

The article also notes “While out of the home, you can still live stream portions of your channel lineup and Xfinity On Demand library,” and “Outside the home, over 200 channels and over 40,000 TV shows and movies from your lineup will be available for live streaming.” So, you may still be able to tap into a fair bit of entertainment.

One last thing to note: “The Xfinity Stream portal can be accessed on PCs, Macs, and select Chrome OS devices.” So you might have to cast the stream from your mobile device to your TV in the motorhome. And of course you can only use your mobile device in areas with Wi-Fi or cellular data (which might get costly).

Bottom line: I would test your setup and confirm with Comcast before you travel off too far.

Q: Photos are my thing. IPhone, iPad: I love the access of those formats. Is a PhotoStick or PhotoStick Mobile the answer?

— Patsy Smith A: I will say first that the only difference between regular flash drives and more expensive PhotoSticks are a bit of software that comes with the PhotoStick to scan your computer or tablet for all of the photos it can find, then it puts them on the stick.

If you’re pretty sure you know where all your photos are on your computer or phone, you might not need that software.

But if you want to be sure you’re backing up every photo, the extra $40 or $50 might be a good investment for you. Only you can decide that!

— Lisa Glowinski, ION

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JUNE 2020

In this issue

diversion RECOMMENDATIONS

GO GO GADGETS

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What to watch, read and download this month

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The best record players of 2020

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Best music streaming services

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Fascinating documentaries

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The best laptops under $200 of 2020

POD PEOPLE

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Boost your trivia IQ

ON THE COVER Whether you’re looking to invest in your first reliable turntable or want to upgrade the relic that you’ve spun your records with for years, we’ve tested some of the best turntables on the market to help you decide. PAGE 18

COLUMN

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Tracy Beckerman: For repairs, dial 1-800-MY-HUSBAND

instruction HOW DO I ... ?

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Connect a laptop to a TV

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Sell stuff online

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Boost my home Wi-Fi

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Learn to code

conversation FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR

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Leveling up

START ME UP

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The power of flowers

ALL PHOTOS STOCK UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

June 2020

RECOMMENDATIONS

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What to watch, read and download this month Hello, summer! We hope you’re able to get outside this month, even if you still have to be socially distant.

And if you can’t hit up the beach or travel very far, you can at least load up your e-reader, tablet or laptop with some new entertainment, and take it to the patio.

Here’s what to look for on streaming platforms this month.

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Young readers can look for today’s release of “Treasure Hunters: The Plunder Down Under” by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein.

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America’s favorite weatherman Al Roker releases the book “You Look So Much Better in Person: True Stories of Absurdity and Success.” And speaking of absurdidty, retrospective series “The Bachelor: The Most Unforgettable — Ever!” premieres tonight on ABC.

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Venerable author Joyce Carol Oates’ “Night. Sleep. Death.

The Stars.” is out today.

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FLAG DAY

HBO’s original limited series “Perry Mason” premieres starring Matthew Rhys (“The Americans,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”) as the legendary lawyer.

FATHER’S DAY Documentary series “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer,” based on the bestselling true crime book by Michelle McNamara, premieres on HBO.

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Big book releases today include “Near Dark” by Brad Thor, “The Hollow Ones” by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, and “She Proclaims: Our Declaration of Independence from a Man’s World” by Jennifer Palmieri.

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W E D N E S D AY

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One of Netflix’s most controversial series, “13 Reasons Why,” begins its final season.

“Artemis Fowl,” an adaptation of Eoin Colfer’s young adult fantasy novels with director Kenneth Branagh, was scheduled to open in theaters Aug. 9 but instead will premiere on Disney+ today.

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“Top Chef” host and general goddess Padma Lakshmi gets her own show on Hulu: “Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi,” premiering today. Also, new today on Apple TV+ is “Dads,” a documentary featuring six extraordinary fathers. It’s directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, whose dad Ron is something of a director himself.

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25 The second season of “The Twilight Zone” reboot — all 10 episodes — releases today on CBS All Access.

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SUMMER BEGINS

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June 2020

The best music streaming services

By Don Melanson | Reviewed.com

I

f you’ve yet to join the world of streaming music — or you’re looking for a new service — there’s never been a better time to shop around. No matter your musical taste, the best streaming services offer instant access to millions of songs, intuitive discovery features and even offline listening, allowing you to stream your favorite tunes to your smart speaker or headphones. But, with so many services available, finding the one that best suits your needs can be daunting.

After a significant amount of research and testing, we found Spotify Premium to be the best music streaming service for most people because of its widespread availability, ease of use and personalized features that help you discover music. We also found Spotify’s free plan to be the best offered by any service. It gives you the same type of user-tailored benefits found in the premium plan, albeit with a few key trade-offs — namely, ads that interrupt your music, as well as more limited listening options.

HERE ARE THE BEST MUSIC STREAMING SERVICES WE TESTED, RANKED IN ORDER: 1. Spotify 2. Tidal 3. Apple Music 4. Deezer 5. Amazon Music Unlimited 6. YouTube Music 7. SoundCloud Go+ 8. LiveXLive

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OTHERS WE TESTED TIDAL Cost: Top-tier HiFi plan is $19.99 per month; standard plan is $9.99 a month Pros: • High-resolution, “Master Quality” audio • Exclusive content • Easy-to-use interface Cons: • HiFi plan pricier than Deezer or Amazon • No free plan available

BEST OVERALL SPOTIFY PREMIUM Cost: Basic plan costs $9.99 a month. Spotify also offers a $14.99 family plan that allows for up to six users. And, like other services, a student plan is available for $4.99 per month.

Pros: • Available on multiple platforms & devices • Great personalized recommendations • Simple, intuitive interface • Flexible plan options Con: • No high-resolution audio

Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, tidal.com

APPLE MUSIC Cost: Starting at $9.99 a month / $99 a year Pros: • Deep integration with Apple devices • Lots of exclusive content • Music syncing across devices Cons: • Still for iOS/Mac users rather than Android • No free option Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, apple.com/apple-music

Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, spotify.com/us

DEEZER

BEST FREE OPTION SPOTIFY Pros: • Same personalized features as Spotify’s premium plan • Full-featured desktop app Cons: • Ads can be annoying • Mobile app is more limited. No offline listening Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, spotify.com/us

Cost: A free plan (with ads and limited skips) offers shuffle play and mobile access only.

Get all features for $9.99/month, and a family plan with up to six profiles for $14.99/ month. A HiFi plan is also $14.99/month, and student access is $4.99/month.

Pros: • Streamlined interface • Hi-res plan available • Some exclusive content Cons: • Podcasts not available in all countries • Desktop app mostly identical to web interface

Downloand at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, deezer.com/en

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AMAZON MUSIC UNLIMITED

SOUNDCLOUD GO+

Cost: $7.99/month for Prime members; everyone else pays $9.99/month for a single user and $14.99 for a family plan. If you’re a student, you’ll pay $4.99/month. A high-resolution audio plan is $12.99/month with Prime or $14.99 without.

Cost: $9.99/month, or $4.99/month for a plan with less music to choose from and lower sound quality Pros: • Tons of indie and community-created tracks • Variety of subscription options • Lots of free music available

Pros: • Discount for Amazon Prime users • Hi-res audio plan available • Dolby Atmos music support

Cons: • Web interface is clunky • Not as widely available as other services

Cons: • Additional features limited at present • Less attractive if you don’t have Amazon Prime

Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, checkout.soundcloud.com/go Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, amazon.com/music/unlimited

LIVEXLIVE BY SLACKER

YOUTUBE MUSIC

Cost: $9.99/month premium plan, $3.99/month plus plan

Cost: $9.99/month, $14.99/month for a family plan or $4.99/month for a student plan Pros: • YouTube integration adds exclusive music • Solid recommendations and personalized content

Pros: • Plenty of live content and exclusive programming • Less expensive plan available for more limited streaming

Cons: • Unavailable on some devices and platforms • Light on features

Cons: • Sluggish, confusing interface • No family plan • No free trial option

Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, youtube.com/musicpremium

Download at: Apple iTunes, Google Play, livexlive.com

THE TESTS To determine which music services are the best options, we started by first narrowing down the list of services to test to a manageable eight, relying on previous experience using various music streaming services, as well as expert opinion from trusted sources. We evaluated premium and free versions of each service, too. Next, we assembled 21 popular and lesser-known songs, representing a wide range of genres from various eras.

We used these songs to build a playlist for each streaming service in our test group, in order to assess: • The overall user-friendliness of each service • How difficult it was to build a playlist • How easy it was to find and listen to music • The breadth of music available on each service — the fewer songs

available, the lower the marks Beyond this, we also used each service to listen to music that we ordinarily listen to on a daily basis. This helped to judge how well each service’s music recommendation features worked. We also spent time exploring extra features each service offered, such as live radio, videos, curated playlists and exclusive content. The cost of plans offered by each service was also considered, as well as podcast support, offline capabilities, each service’s overall sound quality (is it really CD quality like they tout it to be?) and availability on smartwatch apps.

While conducting these tests, we used each service’s web interface and desktop application (where available), as well as their Android and iOS apps.

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fascinating

By Kate McCarthy Reviewed.com

documentaries From unsolved murders and kidnappings to folks climbing mountains and starting national movements, documentaries are a great way to get a deeper look into aspects of our society that are often overlooked. These films also are a great way to travel around the world, venture back in time, or get a look behind the scenes at some of our most beloved cultural institutions.

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DISNEY + 1. “WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY”

Pretty much everyone has seen a Disney movie, but do you know what goes on behind the scenes to make them? “Waking Sleeping Beauty” gives you the peek you never knew you were craving and makes you realize that yes, Disney magic is real because of unbelievably talented people. Highlighting the teams that brought you classics like “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” see how they turned out iconic movies over a decade of hard work, long hours and plenty of margaritas.

June 2020

4. “MARVEL’S HERO PROJECT”

In this docuseries, Marvel highlights the fact that you don’t need to wear a cape to be a superhero. Follow the lives of remarkable kids over 20 episodes as they lead marches against abuse, inspire others with disabilities to reach for higher goals and more. The team at Marvel highlights each child and their achievements with their own custom comic book.

5. “ELEPHANT”

Narrated by the Duchess of Sussex herself, Meghan Markle, get ready to go on a monthslong journey (neatly wrapped into 86 minutes) with a herd of elephants to find water. You’ll get completely wrapped up in this adorable elephant family. While the hundreds-mile-long journey isn’t easy, there are plenty of bloopers and heartwarming moments.

HULU 6. “FREE SOLO”

Follow the journey of professional rock climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to do what no human has ever done, climb El Capitan, a 900 meter (2,952 foot) vertical rock face, alone. No equipment. No harness.

No guide. Just his own two hands, sheer will and an insane amount of guts. Winner of the 2019 Best Documentary Feature Academy Award.

7. “WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?”

During these uncertain times, it’s nice to have a familiar face on screen, especially that of the greatest neighbor of all time. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” takes a look at the life of Fred Rogers, the iconic children’s television host, and how he brought joy to children and adults alike for years.

2. “AFRICAN CATS”

Take a break from staring out your window and instead take a journey to the wild African savanna, where cubs learn how to survive, lions fight off rival packs, and mothers nurture their young. You get an intense, up-close seat to what goes on in the wild when animals think no one is watching.

3. “FRANK AND OLLIE”

Have you ever seen a scene from “Snow White”? What about “Pinocchio”? Or “Lady and the Tramp”? More than likely you’ve had the pleasure of viewing some of Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston’s work.

This documentary follows the story of two of Disney’s most talented and prolific animators, who brought to life so many iconic characters on screen that Walt Disney himself was amazed with what they could produce. With a decades-long friendship, see how they became inspired with ideas (yes, even the one to kill Bambi’s mother).

8. “THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS”

Robert Shafran, Edward Galland and David Kellman discover in college that they were triplets separated at birth, and this doc follows their hunt to discover why their adoptive families were never told about their brothers.

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9. “THE UNTOLD STORY: DOCUSERIES”

From investigating child brides to finding out how dogs became man’s best friend, this series dives deep into stories that often get overlooked.

For a historical fix, check out the episode of what happened in Europe after the German surrender post-World War II. If espionage is more your thing, former spies divulge how they really served our country in the “Untold Story of American Spies” episode. You can also take a deeper look into one of the most notorious cold case murders of them all, the JonBenet Ramsey case.

12. “ABDUCTED IN PLAIN SIGHT”

If you’re looking for a film that will leave you audibly gasping, this is it.

One man manipulates and destroys an entire family with an intricate web of lies. It is disturbing, infuriating and, like a car crash, you just can’t seem to look away.

13. “DON’T F**K WITH CATS”

What starts as a video of a man harming a cat quickly turns into a Facebook group of DIY FBI agents that spend years — yes, years — searching for a culprit. Twisted videos, bizarre alter egos and an insane international manhunt — this docu-series will leave you thinking twice about what you put on the internet and who is watching you.

14. “CRIP CAMP”

Straight from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, this is a civil rights story you’ve probably never heard before. Spanning decades, “Crip Camp” begins in 1971 at Camp Jened, a New York summer camp for teens with disabilities. The film closely follows a group of campers who go from embracing their independence as teenagers at camp to adult activists, fighting for the disability rights movement.

This film will leave you shocked that their story has yet to be told.

15. “JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI”

10. “IRIS”

You don’t need to own designer clothes or even know a designer’s name to know this: Iris Apfel has style, and yours will never be as exciting, eclectic or interesting as hers. A businesswoman, interior designer and absolute icon, Apfel marches to the beat of her own drum and views the world behind her (famous) oversized glasses. She’ll make you laugh, question things, and want to put on your most outlandish outfit and strut your stuff.

NETFLIX 11. “TIGER KING”

What begins as an expose about one woman running a big cat sanctuary while trying to stop Joe Exotic from breeding tigers in captivity and allowing tourists to play with tiger cubs, turns into something much more wild. Murder, FBI investigations, love affairs, hitmen and bad teeth.

Yup, “Tiger King” covers pretty much everything.

Deep inside a Tokyo subway station lies a restaurant with only 10 seats ... and three Michelin stars. The reason? Jiro Ono. At age 85 he is considered the best sushi craftsman in the world and has no plans of retiring anytime soon. “All I want to do is make better sushi. I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more,” Ono says. See what makes this legendary chef tick and how his relationship with food shaped him into an iconic sushi maker.

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POD PEOPLE

Boost your

trivia IQ

By Matthew Girard | More Content Now

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rivia nights have become a favorite pastime for people of all ages. Although the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders around the country have turned traditional trivia nights into social media gatherings, trivia night “hangouts” can be a fun way to stay connected to your loved ones and put to good use all that useless knowledge you’ve accumulated over the years.

Here are a few trivia podcasts to play along with or give you an edge for your next trivia night.

Trivial Warfare This podcast brings the pub quiz home to you. Filled with the banter and fun of a trivia night with your friends, hosts Jonathan Oakes, Chris Hollister, Carmela Smith and Benjamin Young provide a gateway to the larger world of trivia. Each weekly episode features the hosts and guests answering a variety of questions.

Recent episodes include “You Keep Writing Spinaroonie,” “It Smells Like Answers in Here” and “All the World’s a Stage.”

Find it: trivialwarfare.com Suggested listening if: You may not have the answers, but you miss the atmosphere of a group night out.

Podquiz For those looking for true trivia practice or some questions for your next trivia night, Podquiz features the format of 20 questions with music interludes followed by the answers. Fans can keep track of their scores by downloading an answer sheet. Podquiz has more than 700 episodes available to choose from.

Find it: podquiz.com Suggested listening if: You want an interactive entertainment option.

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No Such Thing As A Fish To keep you up to speed on the latest tidbits, host Dan Schreiber is joined by James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray and Anna Ptaszynski to share what they have learned in the past week. Every Friday, they discuss topics on everything from bubbles to the opera. Recent episodes include “No Such Thing As A Leg Made From Milk,” “No Such Thing As Tedious Moss” and “No Such Thing As A Tiny Ferris Wheel.”

Find it: nosuchthingasafish.com Suggested listening if: You’re feeling intellectually stunted from staying at home 24/7.

Go Fact Yourself In an effort to make your favorite celebrities feel more like normal people, hosts J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong quiz them to see who is the smartest. Before each show, two celebrities compete against one another in topics each think they are experts in. Whichever comedian, actor or musician has the most points wins the game. Recent episodes include “Jordan Morris,” “Best of Baseball” and “Jimmy Pardo.”

Find it: maximumfun.org/podcasts/go-fact-yourself Suggested listening if: You enjoy famous people poking fun at themselves.

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By Don Melanson | Reviewed.com

hile streaming services current-

1. Fluance RT82

ly account for the vast major-

2. Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC

ity of music listened to, vinyl records, which provide warm,

truer sounding audio, are more popular now than at any point since the mid-1980s. Whether you’re looking to invest in your first reliable turntable or want to upgrade the relic that you’ve spun your records with for years, here are the best turntables we tested, ranked in order:

3. Denon DP-400 4. U-Turn Orbit Plus 5. Audio-Technica AT-LP120XUSB 6. Music Hall mmf-1.3 7. Crosley C6 8. Sony PS-LX310BT

BEST OVERALL FLUANCE RT82 During testing, the Fluance RT82 performed like turntables that cost considerably more. It takes its design cues from vintage stereo hardware: Its large, cone-shaped feet and smooth-opening, heavy, tinted plastic lid provide the RT82 with a suggestion of quality and luxury.

Like most turntables, the RT82 requires a small amount of assembly and setup, when it’s first unpacked from its box — calibrating the tonearm was a bit difficult — but Fluance provides instructions for the setup process that’ll have most users up and running in no time. Fluance even includes a bubble level with the turntable, making it easy to dial in the RT82’s adjustable feet.

I found the RT82’s sound to be rich and full, thanks in no small part to the well-regarded Ortofon OM10 cartridge (which transforms the movement of the stylus into an electronic signal which is translated into audio) that comes pre-installed on a removable headshell, which will make upgrading the cartridge, in the future, relatively easy. Fluance also offers an acrylic platter (which comes standard on the company’s higher-end RT85 turntable) as an upgrade, which provides plenty of options to improve upon the RT82’s sound, down the road.

One issue that could be a shortcoming is that there is no built-in preamp option. This means the electronic signal that carries audio from your turntable to your sound system will be exceptionally quiet and, in some cases, not heard at all.

To get around this, you’ll need a receiver or amplifier equipped with a phono input, Alternatively, you could use an external phono preamp. If you don’t already own this equipment, buying it increases the total cost of owning an RT82.

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BEST VALUE CROSLEY C6 Crosley is best known for its budget-minded, retro-styled turntables, which can look neat but seldom sound very good and can potentially damage your records. The company has been working to change this reputation in recent years, however, resulting in hardware like the C6. At $180 (or even less on sale) you get a fair bit for your money, including a solid MDF (manufactured wood) plinth with a nice veneer, an adjustable tonearm (albeit one without anti-skate, a feature that keeps the turntable’s stylus from skipping),

OTHERS WE TESTED PRO-JECT DEBUT CARBON DC Pro-Ject’s turntables have long been among the most recommended for anyone taking their first steps toward becoming an audiophile. It’s not hard to see why: While the Debut Carbon is short on features, to my ears, it offered the best sound of the eight turntables I tested.

The Debut Carbon’s carbon fiber tonearm and Ortofon 2M Red cartridge help to deliver a clear, dynamic sound that’ll complement a wide range of music. As with our best overall pick, this turntable’s platter and cartridge can be upgraded. However, cartridge upgrades could prove difficult as Debut Carbon’s tonearm doesn’t have a removable headshell.

The Debut Carbon’s focus on excellent sound above all else required sacrifices in its design. The built-in anti-skate feature found on most turntables is also replaced with a separate hanging anti-skate weight that adds a small extra step to the Debut Carbon’s initial setup. You’ll find no controls on this turntable beyond an on/off switch and, to change speeds, you’ll need to take the platter completely off and move

an upgradeable cartridge and a built-in preamp.

The included cartridge is a basic Audio-Technica Moving Magnet that offers decent sound but lacks some of the fidelity and openness you can get from some higher-end options. Apart from its built-in preamp, this is a barebones turntable. You’ll have to remove the C6’s platter and move its belt in order to change speeds.

It’s possible to upgrade the C6’s cartridge, should you have the money to do so and want to give this turntable a considerable boost in audio quality.

the belt to a different position — something that could quickly become annoying if you listen to a lot of 45 rpm records. Finally, its overall build quality might not match what many would expect from a turntable in its price range (the lid’s hinges, in particular, are noticeably creaky). Once you hear the Debut Carbon playing, however, these issues are easy to forget.

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DENON DP-400 The Denon DP-400 comes in right at the top end of our price range and is a solid option. It can cost more than our main pick, but it is among the best-sounding turntables I tested. The DP-400 offers more in the way of convenience than many of the other turntables featured in this guide, including a semi-automatic function that automatically lifts the tonearm at the end of a record (but doesn’t return it), a speed selector that includes a 78 rpm setting and a built-in preamp.

It’s also one of the most striking turntables I tested in terms of appearance, with a sleek design and an unusual lid that doubles as a record stand. Unfortunately, that also turned out to be one of its biggest drawbacks. While it’s generally recommended that you remove a turntable’s lid or leave it open while playing a record to get the best sound, that’s not always practical. With the DP-400 you have to remove it completely and find a place to put it.

U-TURN AUDIO ORBIT PLUS With its single page of setup instructions, the U-Turn Orbit Plus was one of the easiest turntables to get up and running. It was also the only turntable I tested that ships with an acrylic platter as a standard feature — a rarity for its price range. The Orbit Plus comes equipped with a very respectable Ortofon OM5E cartridge (which can be removed and upgraded), one step below the OM10 cartridge found on the Fluance RT82. The model I tested didn’t have a built-in preamp, but U-Turn offers a version of the Orbit Plus with either built-in or external preamp as upgrade options. The customization options when ordering this turntable are one of the Orbit’s biggest advantages.

However, there are a few drawbacks. You have to move the Orbit Plus’ belt in order to change speeds (although you don’t have to remove the platter). You’ll have to make do without a cueing lever unless you pay for an upgrade. I found that changing the cartridge is more difficult than it is with other turntables in this guide, as the tonearm doesn’t have a standard counterweight with tracking force markings on it: You’ll need to buy a separate stylus force gauge.

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AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-LP120XUSB The AT-LP120XUSB was the only direct-drive turntable I tested and one of the most feature-packed. It’s a modest update to Audio-Technica’s well-regarded AT-LP120USB, which itself took a lot of cues from Technics’ legendary SL1200 turntable (a popular option with DJs and audiophiles alike). If you aren’t doing any DJing, that means you’ll get some features you probably won’t use.

While the AT-LP120XUSB is made using more plastic than some other turntables I tested, it still feels substantial thanks to its aluminum platter, and it sounds great with the standard AT-VM95E cartridge (mounted on a removable headshell).

You also get a built-in preamp, and a USB port that lets you connect the turntable to a computer to make digital copies of your records.

MUSIC HALL MMF-1.3 Music Hall’s mmf-1.3 turntable bears a few similarities to the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon — both are made at the same factory.

However, the mmf-1.3 places more emphasis on convenience, fit and finish. It’s easy to set up, comes standard with a built-in preamp, and it has a speed selector (including a 78 rpm setting).

It sounds good, although I found the entry-level Audio-Technica AT3600L cartridge that comes with it to be a bit lacking in clarity and detail compared to what the Ortofon cartridge on the Fluance RT82 or the higher-end Audio-Technica AT-VM95E cartridge on the AT-LP120XUSB can provide.

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SONY PS-LX310BT The Sony PS-LX310BT turntable is the least expensive, easiest to set up and most straightforward to use of the eight I tested. It’s also loaded with features, including Bluetooth connectivity that is simple to use, a USB port for making digital copies of your records and a built-in preamp. Given its low price, all of these features mean that inevitably corners needed to be cut elsewhere. For example, while the turntable has a fairly high-end look, it is made almost entirely of plastic, making it significantly lighter than any of the other turntables I tested.

The PS-LX310BT’s sound quality is underwhelming, lacking in the depth and warmth that attract people to vinyl in the first place. This might not be a deal-breaker if you plan on using it with a small Bluetooth speaker or basic stereo system, but, unlike the similarly-priced Crosley C6, there’s no way to upgrade this turntable’s cartridge if you’re looking to get better sound quality without buying a whole new turntable in the future.

THE TESTS There are a lot of turntable options out there. To arrive at a manageable number to test for this guide, I set a price range of $150 to $500. With this budget, it’s possible to find a solid mid-range turntable that’ll make most people happy and might even please some fledgling audiophiles. Aside from relying on my years of experience testing and using audio gear, I also looked to trusted publications like Wirecutter, CNET and The Master Switch, as well as a number of enthusiast forums, to steer me in the direction of which consistently well-reviewed turntables I should call in for testing.

I set up each turntable as I would have if I had bought it for myself, placing it in the same position and connecting to the same equipment that I use with my current turntable, including a Sansui

AU-777 amplifier and Pioneer CS-88 speakers (both vintage but fully functioning). During testing, I played the same three records representing a range of genres on each turntable: Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue,” Johnny Marr’s “The Messenger” and Emmylou Harris’ “Profile.” Additionally, I used each turntable to play a variety of other records over the course of hours of day-to-day listening.

I also measured the speed of each turntable by eye with a printed strobe disc and with the RPM Speed & Wow app for Android.

After performing these tests, I also placed each turntable close to a source of vibration (a speaker) to see if there were any major issues with using it in a less-than-ideal setup.

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GO GO GADGETS

The best laptops under $200 of 2020

By Richard Baguley and Whitson Gordon Reviewed.com

N

ot everyone needs or can afford the latest, most powerful laptop out there. For simple tasks, such as running webbased apps like Google Docs, browsing the Internet or sending an email, for example, a low-powered, low-priced laptop fits the bill. Laptops capable of such tasks can be had for $200 or less.

Understand, you get what you pay for. These laptops come with the barebone specs: minimal drive space and memory, and slow processors.

But for giving your kids access to the web, sending a teen off to college

with a computer for their studies or for you to stay up-to-date with Facebook, a $200 laptop could be an ideal purchase.

Our top pick is the HP Chromebook 11-v031nr because of its zippy performance and comfortable keyboard. None of the portable laptops profiled in this guide were very fast. However, the Chromebook 11 was among the fastest in our tests and has enough processing power to handle simple tasks like web browsing, writing and text editing. Google’s Chrome OS focuses on these basic tasks and the Chromebook 11 handles them with ease. And, once you’re finished with work or reading, Chrome OS allows you to download and run Android apps and games, albeit in a small, smartphone-like portrait screen mode and at low resolution.

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THESE ARE THE BEST LAPTOPS UNDER $200 WE TESTED, RANKED IN ORDER: 1. HP Chromebook 11-v031nr 2. Dell Inspiron 11 3181 3. Dell Chromebook 3189 2-in-1 (4GB RAM, 32GB Storage) 4. Acer Chromebook 11 cb3-132 5. Samsung Chromebook 3 500C13-K04 6. HP Stream 11 ah0-12dx

BEST OVERALL HP 11-V031NR The HP Chromebook 11-v031nr is adequate in the best sense of the word: It has what you need, and nothing else.

It features a reasonably solid build quality, and is very portable at about 2.5 pounds. Its 11.6-inch display is clear and fairly bright with decent color. The keyboard is large and comfortable to type on, although it does feel a bit like typing on wet cardboard if you are used to more expensive keyboards on laptops like the Thinkpad X1. The touchpad is large and responsive, recognizing left (one finger) and right (two-finger) mouse clicks without issues. Its battery life is also pretty good: We found that it lasted an impressive nine hours and 34 minutes on our browsing battery test.

The main issue with the Chromebook 11 is its internal storage: The 16GB on the device leaves only about 8GB free, and that will quickly get filled when you start saving photos, music and videos. You can add more storage by plugging in a micro SD card; a 64GB one will cost you about $12.

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OTHERS WE TESTED DELL INSPIRON CHROMEBOOK 11 3181 (32GB) The Inspiron 11 3181 is a small, light laptop that takes its style cues from larger, more expensive Dell laptops. Its 11.6-inch screen is clear and bright, and its keyboard has large keys with a decent amount of travel for responsive typing. The keys are slightly more widely spaced than most laptops, though, which might make for slow typing for those used to smaller laptop keyboards.

Its 32GB of MMC storage is a little cramped. With only the essentials installed, you end up with about 21GB of free space available. That’s more than the other Chromebooks, but it will still get filled up quickly once you start storing photos, videos and other space hogs. It’s good that this laptop comes with 100GB of online storage space for two years included because you are going to need it.

DELL CHROMEBOOK 3189 2-IN-1 (4GB RAM, 32GB STORAGE) This Dell is another unassuming-looking 2-in-1 that bends back into tablet and tent modes. While it’s not the lightest or most attractive Chromebook we’ve seen, it’s sturdy enough for K-12 education environments. The plastic lid is scratch-resistant, the keyboard is sealed against fluids, and the rounded edges are rubberized.

The full-sized keyboard offers a great typing experience. I didn’t notice any creaking of the chassis either, so it appears to be well-built. This might be a good laptop for a college student on a budget.

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ACER CHROMEBOOK 11 CB3-132-C4VV Acer went with an all-white, almost Mac-like look for the Chromebook 11, and it works pretty well. This thin and light (under 2.5 pounds) Chromebook was the top performer in our browser tests, edging out the Samsung by a slim margin.

The Acer handled the web tasks that we tried without strain, chewing through a couple of complex Google Spreadsheets and streaming HD video from YouTube without straining.

This performance comes at a cost, though: We measured the battery life at 6 hours and 52 minutes, about two and a half hours shorter than the HP Chromebook. That might make all the difference on a long school day or weekend trip. The 16GB of storage on this laptop might also prove to be limiting, although it is worth remembering that you can add a 64GB micro SD card for $12, and it comes with 100GB of online storage in Google Drive for two years.

SAMSUNG CHROMEBOOK 3 The Samsung Chromebook 3 is a sleek, svelte machine that is the thinnest in this roundup, at 0.7 inches. It was a little thin in our tests as well, managing 6 hours and 41 minutes in our battery tests, the second shortest time. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, although we did find that it made a slight (but noticeable) rattling noise. The touchpad is large and wellplaced for easy use, but the 16GB MMC drive this laptop ships with is rather cramped, leaving just under 8GB of free space with only the essentials installed.

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HP STREAM 11 The HP Stream 11 has a problem that can be explained in two words: Windows 10.

The other laptops we looked at run Google’s lightweight Chrome OS, while the Stream 11 runs the full version of Windows 10. We found that, despite having a similar processor, memory and battery than the Chromebooks, it had much slower performance and shorter battery life. Chrome OS can run quite happily in anything over 2GB of memory, while Windows really needs a bare minimum of 4GB, and preferably 8GB. Quite simply, Windows struggles to run in the 4GB of RAM that this laptop offers. Additionally, Windows 10 limits the battery life of the Stream 11, managing only 6 hours and 8 minutes of web browsing.

The advantage of running Windows is that you get to run Windows programs. As part of the Stream 11’s purchase price, HP bundles a year’s subscription to Microsoft Office 365 (a $70 per-year value), providing you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and others, plus 1TB of OneDrive space. Given that a Microsoft Office 365 subscription costs nearly a third of the price of the laptop, for the right person, this is a great deal: A student armed with a Stream 11 will have access to premium apps for writing essays and making presentations. However, while we found that these programs were usable, creating anything more than basic documents was difficult, as the laptop started slowing down the more complex the documents became.

THE TESTS First, we look at how well each laptop performs. Because the laptops in this guide are mostly designed for running web applications like Google Docs, we use two web benchmarks: Basemark and Speedometer. These test the processing power of the laptop in a web browser: for all of them, we used Google Chrome.

Most laptop displays do well in a dark room, but what about outdoors? Is a glossy screen better than a matte one? To figure this out, we test the brightness on the display with a CS-200, a handheld device that measures luminance. We measure the white levels and black levels at max brightness and then again at 50% brightness.

Next, we tested the battery life of each laptop to see how long you can use them for between charges. With their displays adjusted to a brightness of 200 nits, we set them to continuously cycle through popular websites, simulating the way you would use the laptop when idly browsing the web. We also look at how comfortable the screen is to look at and other factors.

If you have a bit more space in your budget, all of the laptops we tested offer upgrade models that have faster processors and more drive space, which can make them more flexible for more demanding tasks. Their internal hardware is not, however, up to the challenge of running modern 3D games.

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HOW DO I ... ?

Connect a laptop to a TV

By John Higgins Reviewed.com

W

e belong to an on-the-go culture. Our phone calls, emails and the consumption of many forms of media can be done with a laptop computer or ultrabook: Their tiny displays are a window to a far greater world.

Sometimes, however, that 13-inch display doesn’t feel large enough. Fortunately connecting your laptop to a TV, using a wire or wirelessly, couldn’t be easier.

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Using Google Chromecast

Using a cable Almost all modern TVs come with at least one HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) port.

As a standard, HDMI is capable of carrying both high definition video and sound on a single cable. Also, many recent laptops come equipped with an HDMI output.

Using an HDMI cable is the easiest and most reliable way to mirror your laptop’s screen to your TV. (Mirroring means to have the same image on both screens.) Getting a high-speed cable that can send a 1080p (or greater) image from your computer to the TV is ideal. But don’t think that that means you’ll have to break the bank. We ran comprehensive tests on HDMI cables and found that cheap AmazonBasics cables worked just fine.

What you need: • An HDMI cable • For recent MacBooks, a USB-C to HDMI adapter ($15-$20) • For some Windows and Linux laptops, a Mini-HDMI or Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable (under $10) Step 1: Connect HDMI cable to laptop and TV The order you connect them in isn’t important: Just make sure both ends of the cable are plugged in.

Step 2: Select the input on your TV These are labeled at the physical connector on the TV and can be selected in the TV’s on-screen menus, usually under Inputs or Picture.

Step 3: Adjust display settings, if necessary Once the connection is complete and the proper input is selected you should be good to go. If you aren’t getting your computer screen image on your TV you might need to select the TV in your display settings.

• Mac: When the TV is connected, an AirPlay icon will appear on the right side of your menu bar near the battery icon. It looks like a box with a black triangle underneath it. Select this and choose the “Mirror TV Name” option.

• Windows: Left-click the Windows menu, type “Display” and select “Change Display Settings.” There you can select your TV and change resolution if necessary to match your TV’s resolution (720p, 1080p or 4K).

After downloading Google’s Chrome web browser to your laptop, you’ll be able to use a Google Chromecast to “cast” tabs from your laptop’s browser to your TV. This could be a video from YouTube, a browser-based game or your entire desktop. You can buy a Chromecast for as little as $35. More expensive models offer higher resolution and extra functionality.

Some smart TVs, such as Vizio’s P-Series with SmartCast, come with this functionality, so double check whether you need an extra device before running out to buy one.

Step 1: Connect the Chromecast to an HDMI input on your TV Just plug it in. Some models of Chromecast also need to be connected to a USB port for power. If the one you own is one of those, it should come with a microUSB cable and power adapter.

Step 2: Select the proper input from your TV menu Choose the input you plugged the Chromecast into with your TV’s on-screen menu. Once the proper input is selected, signal from the Chromecast will be displayed on screen.

Step 3: Set up your Chromecast online Now that you can see what you’re doing, using Google’s Chrome browser, navigate to chromecast.com/setup to go through the setup process and connect it to your Wi-Fi network.

Step 4: Start streaming Select the Cast icon on your Chrome browser or in an app, such as YouTube, PLEX or Netflix, and select if you want to cast the browser tab or entire desktop.

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Using AppleTV For MacBook users, investing in an Apple TV is the easiest, best way to wirelessly connect to a TV. One of the benefits of using Apple products exclusively is how well they work with one another. Apple TV fits into that ecosystem. Connections are quick and everything understands each other because they’re running on the same operating system.

A base model Apple TV can be had for $149. But our recommended model is the slightly more expensive Apple TV 4K. In addition to allowing you to connect your laptop to your TV wirelessly, an Apple TV lets you stream any iTunes purchases you may have made and provides access to a wide variety of streaming services like HBO Now, Hulu and CBS All Access.

You can even use it to play many popular iOS games.

Step 1: Connect the Apple TV to your TV with an HDMI cable Plug your HDMI cable into the output on the back of your Apple TV and an input on your TV. Step 2: Select the HDMI input through your TV menu The HDMI input can be selected with either your remote or by using the buttons on your TV. They can usually be found along the bottom bezel or just around the back on the left or right side.

Step 3: Complete the Apple TV setup with the included remote or an iOS device What won Apple their audience is the ease of use of their products. Once the Apple TV boots up, you’ll be led through the on-screen setup. If you run into any issues, an answer can be found through their support site.

Step 4: Choose the Apple TV from the AirPlay icon on your Macbook’s menu bar So long as your MacBook and your Apple TV are both attached to the same wireless network, an AirPlay icon should appear in your MacBook’s menu bar. If the AirPlay icon doesn’t appear, you can turn it on from your system menu. To do this, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your laptop’s display, select System Preferences from the dropdown menu, then click Display. At the bottom of the preference pane that opens, you’ll see a box marked “Show mirroring options in menu bar when available.”

Click it. The AirPlay icon should now appear in your menu bar.

In order to wirelessly connect your MacBook to your Apple TV, click the AirPlay icon and select your Apple TV. If you have a fast home router, your MacBook’s screen should be displayed on your TV, almost instantly.

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HOW DO I? ...

Boost my home Wi-Fi

By Camryn Rabideau Reviewed.com

M

y boyfriend and I moved into a new apartment at the beginning of February, and one of the important decisions we had to make was how to handle our internet situation.

In our old apartment, we had a 300 Mbps connection and used a router rented from our internet provider, but we weren’t happy with its performance. My boyfriend does a lot of online gaming, and the internet often couldn’t keep up. Similarly, I was often underwhelmed by our internet speeds when trying to work in my home office.

Upon moving, we decided to upgrade our internet speed to a Gigabit connection, and after much debate and research, we also decided to purchase an eero home Wi-Fi system.

What is eero?

Eero is a mesh Wi-Fi system. Instead of having one router that’s responsible for transmitting the internet signal across your whole home, mesh systems use several units placed around your home. Basically, all the eero units are connected to a single wireless network, and they capture the internet signal from the main unit and rebroadcast it, providing a stronger, more consistent connection throughout your home.

This eliminates the common issue of dead zones in rooms that might be too far from the main router, and it’s a useful solution for people who live in brick or concrete buildings, where internet signals often have trouble getting through walls. Eero also features dynamic routing algorithms, which figure out the quickest path from the router to your device, helping to give you consistently fast internet.

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Eero also boasts an easy-to-use app that lets you monitor all the devices on your network, and it automatically installs software updates. Its devices come with world-class encryption and security protocols, and you can even use it to set up parental controls, creating profiles for your kids’ devices, monitoring their usage and scheduling internet breaks.

Even with all these features, eero is still incredibly easy to use, but this high-end technology comes at a price. A single eero unit costs $79, and a three-pack like the one we bought is $199.

Why we chose eero When we headed to the store to purchase a new router, we actually weren’t planning on buying the eero system.

After all my research, I had decided the Netgear Orbi Mesh Wi-Fi System was the way to go, mostly because I was concerned about compatibility with our internet provider. As you might expect, providers want you to rent their routers, so there’s limited information available about compatibility of third-party routers.

When we got there, a genuinely helpful salesperson recommended the eero. He said the Orbi was good, but since we have a 1,800-square-foot apartment with several brick walls, he thought we would benefit from a system with more nodes. Not only does the eero come with three units, but it’s endlessly extendable, allowing you to add as many units as you need (other systems cap the numbers of units per network).

With his assurance that the system would work with our internet provider, we went with the eero router, and I’m so glad we did.

All the reasons we love our eero It was incredibly easy to set up the eero system. All we had to do was plug the router into our modem, and the eero app walked us through setup.

Ever since upgrading to a faster Wi-Fi plan and investing in a mesh router, we’ve had no complaints about our internet performance whatsoever — and that’s saying something given the number of devices we connect to it. By my last count, we had close to 20, including both of our phones and computers, our Peloton bike and a smart litter box. Even with all these gadgets vying for a connection, our streaming never buffers and my boyfriend’s games don’t lag.

Plus, there are no dead zones in our two-story apartment, even though our main router is in a weird closet tucked away in the corner of the second floor. We placed one eero unit in the living room with the TV and the third in the “man cave,” and we’ve been pleased with the coverage.

I also love being able to log into the app and see all the devices connected to the network, as it gives me peace of mind none of our neighbors are leeching off our Wi-Fi. The app also makes it easy to test your download and upload speeds, letting us see if we’re truly getting the internet speeds we’re paying for.

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HOW DO I? ...

Sell stuff ONLINE I

By Patrice J. Williams Reviewed.com

f you’re ready to unload clothes, accessories, electronics, furniture and pretty much anything else, quite a few websites and apps can come in handy.

There are the sites everyone’s heard of and have a trusted reputation, like eBay and Poshmark, and there are a few apps that are a bit newer to the game but are proving to be amazing resources for selling items quickly.

Regardless of what you’re selling and how much effort you can put into it, there’s a resource perfect for you.

buyers. And the pricing format provides flexibility as well.

You can price items in an auction-style sale with shoppers placing incremental bids or offer a fixed price, or even set a fixed price but let people make offers.

1. EBAY: THE CLASSIC IS STILL KICKIN’

• Best for selling: Designer brands, on-trend fashion, accessories, shoes • Seller fees: $2.95 per sale under $15 or 20% of the sale price for orders over $15 Easy to use: Just snap a pic and upload from your phone.

And while you’ll find people selling designer items, this app is especially great if you want to unload trendier fashion, accessories and even beauty products. Once you set your price, shoppers can counter with a lower offer, which you can accept, deny or counteroffer until you find a middle ground.

When you make a sale, use the prepaid label to ship your goods off. Unlike a lot of other resale apps, this one offers a sense of community and even hosts virtual fashion parties with themes like everything plus size, best in makeup, preppy or men’s style, where you can share your relevant listings.

The advantage here is you can reach people with similar tastes directly and share your listings with those most likely to buy.

• Best for selling: Home decor, personal tech, vintage, collectibles, books, video games, toys, etc.

• Seller fees: Varied Everyone knows eBay. And that’s one of the things that makes it so appealing as a destination to sell your stuff.

From electronics to vintage wear to antiques, there’s earning potential for it all. The best items to sell on eBay can be the basics that everyone needs like vacuums, kitchen products and home decor, or you can find the right buyers for those really obscure items that you know will catch a pretty penny, like vintage video games, signed posters and designer handbags, as that’s what many shoppers head to eBay in search of.

While you might be thinking eBay seems sketchy or unreliable (because it can be if you’re not careful about who you sell to and buy from), you’ll be glad to know the company offers a ton of support and protection for both sellers and

• eBay.com

2. POSHMARK: WHERE THE COOL KIDS ARE SELLING

• poshmark.com

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3. THREDUP: A SITE THAT SELLS FOR YOU • Best for selling: New and used women’s and kids’ clothing and accessories • Seller fees: ThredUP will buy your clothes from you and resell them at higher prices.

The San Francisco-based company offers what they call “Clean Out Kits.”

You simply request a bag, fill it with the clothes you want to sell (15 pounds max) and they’ll photograph and list your items for sale, shipping back any unaccepted items. After the bag is processed, you can sign into your account to see the possible earnings and payout or accept the upfront offer right away.

This is the place to sell your new or like new women’s and kids’ clothing and accessories (no stains or tears, and typically must have been purchased within the last five years). They accept a variety of brands, but items from

Banana Republic, J. Crew and Madewell sell extremely well.

• thredUP.com

4. THE REALREAL: UNLOAD YOUR DESIGNER FINDS • Best for selling: Jewelry and designer goods • Seller fees: As high as 60% (it gets lower the more you sell) Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior. This is straight-up luxury for women, men and children’s clothes and accessories. Similar to thredUP, you send your goods in and the team of consignment experts photograph your items. You can receive 40% to 85% commission depending on the product and its resale price.

• therealreal.com

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5. SWAP.COM: ITEMS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

8. CRAIGSLIST: THE SITE THAT CAN BE A CASH COW

• Best for selling: Clothing, toys, books, decor • Seller fees: Varied Yet another site that follows the model of you ship it, we’ll upload and sell it for you. You can sell a variety of clothes for men, women and children, as well as toys, books, outdoor equipment and more. But not so fast.

Currently, you have to be invited as a continuous seller on the site. Anyone can fill out the Premier Seller Application and, if you’re approved, send in a “test” box. If your items are up to par quality-wise, you’ll be invited as an official seller.

• Best for selling: Larger items like furniture, TVs, bikes • Seller fees: None Craigslist is selling to strangers. But don’t let that scare you. Select the nearest location — CL has specific sites for all major cities — and upload your photos along with a description of the items and how much you want to sell them for.

While this service doesn’t provide the convenience of simply shipping the product to a seller or third party, it is a great option for quickly unloading items that would be harder to ship, particularly furniture and bikes. Also, during the summer moving season and holidays, the listings can be a great way to make money. Stand out in a sea of listings with complete info like dimensions, models and clear photos. While job postings, services and products sold by dealers can incur a fee, other ads are free to post. You can even let people know you’re having a yard sale.

• swap.com

6. KIDIZEN: FOR SELLERS SEEKING A COMMUNITY • Best for selling: Kids’ clothing • Seller fees: 12% and a 50 cent listing fee, only charged once an item sells If you have quite a few clothes your little ones have outgrown, check out Kidizen, where parents are able to quickly create their own virtual storefront. This means coming up with a store name, adding profile photos and completing a bio. This is certainly more for parents who have quite a few clothes to unload and/or someone interested in building a community with the other parents on the site. The website and mobile app offer guides and blog posts on setting up a shop, including how to capture the best photos for your listings, writing great descriptions and determining the best times to sell.

• kidizen.com

7. FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE: THE BEST PLATFORM YOU FORGOT ABOUT • Best for selling: Cars, furniture, electronics, appliances • Seller fees: None You’re probably on the giant social media site already, but have you used Facebook’s Marketplace yet? The process is as simple as uploading photos, writing a description and setting a price. Unlike the previously mentioned options where you ship to a company or buyer, the most common Marketplace form of delivery is meeting in person and exchanging money. For obvious reasons, safety can be a major issue, so Facebook offers tips for meeting safely. This option becomes a bit safer if you choose to share your listing on your Facebook feed, so your friends and family, presumably people you already know, can buy your items. And many local police departments are starting to set up monitored public spots for transactions like these, so be sure to check out your options.

• facebook.com/marketplace

• craigslist.org

9. LETGO: THE APP WITH SAFEGUARDS • Best for selling: Big ticket items that would be hard to ship • Seller fees: None Finally, and similar to Craigslist, is Letgo. The app gives sellers the power to upload their goods and sell to people in their neighborhood. Of course, it’s always suggested to meet in a public place, but Let Go also has features that make it a bit more appealing than other person-to-person sale sites: Instead of giving out your phone number if you need to communicate with a buyer about meeting up, the app’s chat feature handles that. Also you can see a buyer’s profile, which includes ratings and reviews from other Letgo users. There’s even an option to nix the need for a cash transaction and just use Apple Pay. Currently, Letgo is free to use, with no listing fee or commission.

• letgo.com

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June 2020

HOW DO I? ...

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Learn to

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By Julia MacDougall | Reviewed.com

rom coding-themed toys to movements like Hour of Code, coding is everywhere these days. However, you’ll want to think about your goals a bit before you dive in. There are multiple coding languages, largely falling under four categories: web development, electronics/circuitry, computation/modeling and database tasks. The first step is to decide which flavor of programming would be the most fulfilling for you.

Whichever language(s) you pursue, here are some resources and products that can help you get started.

Internet/web development • Programming languages: CSS, HTML, Java, Ruby, XML, PHP, Go, Swift, Visual Basic • What is it? Like the internet itself, these web-based coding languages offer infinite possibilities. Any time you see a webpage, you’re looking at the final result of millions (billions?) of lines of code. There’s the part the reader/ user sees (aka the front end), and there are the tools the content creator uses to make the content visible/interactive (aka the back end).

These coding languages deal with the creation and use of websites, app design/creation and the sharing of information between websites.

If you want a taste of what web developers do, go to the settings menu on

your web browser and look for the “Web Developer” or “Developer Tools” option, and try not to get overwhelmed at the code that suddenly appears.

RESOURCES

• Coursera: Choose the audit option to access lectures and videos related to web design basics, Visual Basic, and Javascript, CSS and HTML for free. To get a certificate of completion or access to graded material, you’ll need to pay a fee.

• Codecademy: Get free access to daily exercises and basic coding lessons for these web development languages. By subscribing to Codecademy Pro for $19.99/month, you get access to more tools, support and content.

• Khan Academy: Tons of freely available tutorials on HTML, CSS and Java.

• W3 Schools: Those who are self-motivated can work through the tutorials and exercises for PHP, Java, CSS and XML for free.

• “Eloquent Javascript” by Marjin Haverbeke: A book for Javascript beginners, also at eloquentjavascript.net.

• “A Smarter Way To Learn” series by Mark Meyers: Highly reviewed books that walk you through CSS, Java and HTML on your Kindle.

• Ruby Essentials: An online textbook that walks you through the basics and logic of Ruby, at techotopia.com/index.php/Ruby_Essentials.

• Learn Swift 5 For Beginners: This series of bite-sized video lectures walks you through the basics of coding in the Apple OS environment. codewithchris.com/learn-swift

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Electronics/Circuitry • Programming languages: C++ (Arduino), Python (Raspberry Pi) • What is it? C++ and Python are the main coding languages compatible with the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi microcomputers/microcontroller boards, respectively.

These coding languages are designed to translate electric signals into digital ones and vice versa.

With C++ and Python, you’ll be able to see the fruits of your coding labors in the real world instead of just the virtual one, with projects like automating things in your home and building cool robots.

RESOURCES

• Coursera: Choose the audit option to access Python lectures and videos for free. To get a certificate of completion or access to graded material, you’ll need to pay a fee.

• Codecademy: Get free access to daily exercises and basic coding lessons for these hobbyist electronics languages. By subscribing to Codecademy Pro for $19.99/ month, you get access to more tools, support and content.

• W3 Schools: Self-guided tutorials and exercises.

• “Arduino Workshop: A Hands-On Introduction with 65 Projects” by John Boxhall • “Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming” by Eric Matthes • projects.raspberrypi.org/en • pythonprogramming.net/introduction-raspberry-pi-tutorials

Computing/modeling • Programming languages: Python, C (C/C++/C#), Fortran, Matlab, R, VBA, Bash/Unix Shell • What is it? We’ve already talked about Python and C++ in the context of electronics and circuitry, but these coding languages, along with C (C/C++/C#), Fortran, Matlab, R, Visual Basic and Bash/Shell, are commonly used when it comes to computing tasks such as batch file operations, file organization/creation/manipulation, performing calculations, plotting/manipulating data and writing computer programs.

RESOURCES

• Coursera: Choose the audit option to access Matlab and Bash/Unix Shell lectures and videos for free. To get

a certificate of completion or access to graded material, you’ll need to pay a fee.

• Codecademy: Get free access to daily exercises and basic coding lessons for Python, C++, C#, Bash/Shell and R. By subscribing to CodeAcademy Pro for $19.99/month, you get access to more tools, support and content.

• W3 Schools: Self-guided tutorials and exercises for Python, C++ and C#.

• Learnx.org: The website may change depending on which language you’re learning, but this provides an introduction (and exercises related) to the basic commands for Bash/Unix Shell, C, C++ and Python.

• fortrantutorial.com • swirlstats.com/students.html • “The Linux Command Line” by William Shotts • homeandlearn.org: Thorough explanations for the variables and operators that can help you build macros in Excel.

Database tasks • Database language: SQL • What is it? SQL is technically a database language rather than a true programming language. It is commonly associated with the business world because with SQL, you can organize and interrogate databases.

If your workplace runs on data and the amount of data you have surpasses what you can handle with Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, chances are one or more of your work tools rely on SQL. SQL commands, libraries and syntax are used by other coding languages such as Java and Python. There are other database languages out there, but SQL is the most popular.

RESOURCES

• Coursera: Choose the audit option to access SQL lectures and videos for free. To get a certificate of completion or access to graded material, you’ll need to pay a fee.

• Codecademy: Free access to daily exercises and basic coding lessons for SQL. By subscribing to Codecademy Pro for $19.99/month, you get access to more.

• Khan Academy: Free tutorials • W3 Schools: Self-guided tutorials and exercises • “SQL For Beginners: The Practice Guide to Learn SQL in 1 Day” by James Deep • sqlzoo.net/wiki/SQL_Tutorial: This explains SQL syntax, and includes an SQL query window at the bottom of each page so you can try it out yourself.

June 2020

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FEATURED ENTREPRENEUR

June 2020

Leveling

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

UP

Charlie Bink’s

Kickstarter success leads to board game company

A

bucket list challenge and a bit of family inspiration led Charlie Bink to create the Trekking the National Parks board game in 2014, but it was a chance encounter that took his business to the next level.

A seasoned developer in the tabletop gaming industry, the Phoenix-based artist and print designer is a co-founder of Underdog Games.

On March 17, in the midst of a global pandemic, Underdog Games launched a Kickstarter campaign for their newest game, Trekking the World. The timing did not seem optimal, and the game makers were “hugely hesitant,” Bink said.

“We thought it would be a disaster, but it seemed to be a blessing in disguise, and I’m very happy about it,” he said.

It took just one day to fully fund the campaign. In the end Underdog Games amassed over $255,600, hugely surpassing its original goal of $32,200.

Delivery of Trekking the Globe to backers is expected this fall.

DAD’S IDEA

Board games can be both wholesome family fun and sharply competitive. They bring families together and teach valuable life and social skills, but to encourage new players you need the right game.

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June 2020

FAMILY FUN

Charlie Bink, co-founder of Underdog Games, with his parents John and Terry Binkele. PHOTOS PROVIDED

Bink, a graduate of the Art Institute of Phoenix with a degree in media arts and animation, previously worked as an artist, designer and animator at Eagle-Gryphon Games and Pearson Education. As a younger man he was obsessed with tabletop games and enjoyed sharing his hobby with others including his parents, John and Terry Binkele. (Charlie’s last name is Binkele, too, but he goes by Bink.)

“I used to go to my parents’ every Sunday to have dinner, and we would play board games. I introduced a lot of board games to my parents,” Bink said. One family favorite was Ticket To Ride, a cross-country railway-themed game that’s easy to play and appeals to all ages.

After his parents retired they embarked on a bucket list quest to visit all of the country’s (at that time) 59 main national parks. At a family dinner/board game night between two trips, Bink’s father shared an idea with his game-loving son: “Why don’t you make a game that’s like Ticket To Ride, except about the national parks?”

“It was something about him saying that. It just was very obvious to me. Everyone would like that. Why doesn’t that exist?” Bink said.

Because there weren’t any national park-themed games available, Bink set his sights on creating one. Other than designing a fun and competitive game about the national parks, the goal was to make it accessible, he said, meaning easy to play and without extra equipment needed.

Accessibility is the key to creating a modern classic board game, he said.

The game is pretty simple. Your goal is to visit national parks, earning points by attaining goals and collecting colored stones from different parks. Players must strategize and manage their resources. Playing cards feature informative blurbs and gorgeous images of the national parks, most shot by Bink’s father.

From the beginning, Trekking was a family affair. The Binkeles tested and tweaked, met with industry leaders, attended games conventions and took the game public with a Kickstarter campaign in July 2014.

“It was definitely a thrill. It was like the Holy Grail. That was my first Kickstarter, so I was scared that it would fail as anyone would be. And so when it succeeded, I was thrilled,” Bink said.

Feedback was good, and the game picked up a Mensa award in 2015.

The initial run sold out in about one year.

There were a few bumps in the road. Along the way, Bink made “basically every mistake you could possibly make” in the sense that Trekking was too expensive to print, produce, package and ship, he said.

But one thing Bink is proud of is how people respond to the authenticity of the game.

“I think it’s easy for anyone to want to slap the words ‘national park’ on a box and make a game, but that was absolutely not why we made this game,” he said. “It was sort of a family legacy to begin with.

I think on some level that shines through.”

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Charlie Bink, as a kid with his parents and older sister Tosha at Yosemite in 1993.

GOING CORPORATE

Fast forward a couple of years: Hasan Hasmani was interested in starting a board game company, and he happened to see Trekking the National Parks at a mutual friend’s house.

Hasmani was the founder of a seven-figure Amazon e-commerce business with plenty of expertise in online sales and marketing. Introductions were made.

“Hasan had a great vision, and I sort of took a chance on it and I think it’s playing out,” Bink said.

Hasmani owns Underdog Games, launched in early 2018, but Bink also considers it his “baby because I’ve helped make it what it is today and will continue to do so in the future,” Bink said.

Doing a second edition of Trekking the National Parks wasn’t in the original plans, “but the game was done and ready to have another shot in the world,” Bink said.

The team cleaned up some early issues and released the second edition in 2018. It won a Parents Choice Award in 2019.

That’s when things really took off.

“My family’s first print run was about like 3,500. Now, you compare that to the fact that we sold 50,000 last year with Underdog Games and that seems pretty pitiful. So I will say the second edition

definitely took off quickly. But we knew in part how to make that happen because I had years of experience on who the customers were and how to sell it,” Bink said.

LESSONS LEARNED

Underdog Games is currently split among three locations, with the headquarters in Long Island, New York, where Hasmani and Dave Cisek, the director of sales, reside. Another employee works remotely in Wisconsin, and Bink is in Arizona. Virtual employees in the Philippines handle emails and process orders.

Learning to sell a game for a profit turned out to be one of Bink’s biggest challenges.

“If I learned anything along the way, it’s that I had to overcome my own tunnel vision of what’s possible and how to sell a game. I didn’t understand or know all the steps and pitfalls that lay ahead,” Bink said.

In addition to going on walks and playing bocce ball with his wife, listening to music and visiting national parks, Bink continues to enjoy tabletop games.

“It seems kind of silly, but I do play board games to relax. Part of the reason I love this industry is that I get to have fun doing the things I like to do and learn from the games while I’m having fun playing, which helps me make better games,” Bink said.

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June 2020

START ME UP

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PHOTO BY LEATAL COHEN

The power of flowers ReVased upcycles once-used flowers from events

By Melissa Erickson | More Content Now

S

isters Aviva and Arielle Vogelstein’s lives have followed similar paths, so it’s not surprising both recognized a need when they saw it and turned it into a business opportunity.

The Baltimore, Maryland, natives married about nine months apart. They were troubled that their beautiful and costly wedding flowers became part of American throw-away culture.

“After our weddings, we knew we had to do something about floral waste,” Arielle said. “Our flowers were so beautiful and fresh but for the most part were tossed out within hours after our celebrations ended.”

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Aviva (left) and Arielle Vogelstein PHOTO BY SHAWN WEHLAND

Instead of just talking about the problem, the Vogelsteins started asking questions and doing research.

“We discovered that not only are flowers one of the most expensive wedding budget items, but also, despite their average lifespan of three to 14 days, wedding venues generally need to turn over event halls immediately. So the majority of these arrangements end up like ours: in the trash,” Arielle said.

“We knew something better could be done with these beautiful, fresh flowers and ReVased was born.”

SALES AND DONATIONS

Launched in January 2019 with the aim of reducing floral waste, ReVased is a subscription floral company that upscales and repurposes wedding and special occasion flowers, as well as donating blooms and arrangements to local nonprofits and worthy causes.

“We take flowers from events and elsewhere that would otherwise be thrown out and upcycle them into new arrangements for your home or office,” Arielle said.

Subscription floral services are not new, but ReVased’s business model is a “win-win-win” strategy.

“Our subscription is different in three main ways.

Our flowers are upcycled, we donate flowers to non-profits with every purchase, and our price point is significantly lower than other options on the market,” Arielle said. Subscriptions start at $29 a month.

ReVased flowers get a do-over at nursing homes,

women’s shelters and senior centers. For every arrangement sold, ReVased donates flowers to nonprofits including Baltimore’s Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, where the Vogelsteins volunteered when they were younger.

EARLY EXPERIENCE

The sisters grew up in Baltimore, where Aviva resides.

“We’re actually Nos. 1 (Aviva) and 2 (Arielle) of eight siblings,” she said. “We were pretty similar growing up, both loving sports and games, really anything with competition. I hate to admit that Arielle is the better athlete. Arielle followed me to the University of Pennsylvania.”

After college, Aviva moved to New York, graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and worked in the non-profit legal world. Arielle put her economics degree to work with mission-driven tech companies, most recently serving as director of growth at Via. “I spent the majority of my time there focused on growing the Via ride-sharing app, providing me direct exposure into building a consumer service,” Arielle said.

Both left their careers early in 2020 to focus fulltime on growing ReVased.

“We’ve always been entrepreneurial, as demonstrated by some highly successful lemonade stands growing up, but this is our first startup,” Aviva said.

‘TESTING AND LEARNING’

The original business model charged a fee to event hosts to donate flowers, but the company switched to the current subscription model in November 2019, Arielle said.

“The times are changing. When we started, we only sourced flowers from events. As we grew, we realized there was a lot more waste happening in the flower industry beyond events, and we began working with select local florists and wholesalers to tackle their oversupply,” Arielle said.

To generate income ReVased applied and was accepted to two accelerator programs: SHIFT Ventures’ Conscious Venture Labs fifth cohort and the Emerging Technology Centers’ AccelerateBaltimore 2019 cohort, earning $125,000 in seed funding, Arielle said.

In startups things change fast; people and companies have to adapt.

“Don’t be afraid to pivot until you’ve found the right fit. Starting a company is all about testing and learning,” Arielle said. “If we hadn’t been flexible and responded to real market feedback, we would never have launched our successful subscription service.”

Halfway through the Conscious Venture Labs cohort in fall 2019, the Vogelsteins “began experimenting with new business models and ultimately found stickiness with the subscription offering,” Arielle said. “We received some great initial traction and our hard work was validated at the culmination of the program, when ReVased was crowned winner of the accelerator’s pitch night.”

June 2020

IT’S JUST SCIENCE

The positive feedback the company receives is in line with what the sisters know: Flowers make people happy.

“Non-profit professionals constantly tell us how much it brightens up their space and makes their residents and members happy,” Aviva said.

Science has proven that flowers can boost emotional health and have tremendous positive impact on mental and physical health, Aviva said. The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, can heighten life satisfaction and affect social behavior, according to a Rutgers University study. They can also increase memory and mood in the elderly.

“This is why we love donating to nursing homes and senior centers,” Aviva said.

HOW TO START

Launching your own startup takes a great idea, enthusiasm and ambition. If you’ve got an idea, go for it.

“Just start! There’s never a perfect time. Even spending 20 minutes of the day on your idea is better than nothing,” said Arielle. “It’s exceptionally easy and affordable these days to run tests to validate your idea, such as setting up a small digital ad campaign, and you’ll never be successful if you don’t try.”

Both sisters keep a close eye on customer and partner feedback as well as website and service analytics, which allow them to move quickly and improve their offering.

Do your research. While creators often feel their idea is unique, someone else may have tried it and failed.

“Learn what exists in the field before you begin and make sure you stand out,” Aviva said. “Stay up to date with the trends. We follow tech news closely and are always talking to other entrepreneurs and people in the industry. The best ideas often come externally.”

ReVased currently operates in New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn and select parts of Queens), Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, where the company is headquartered.

“We plan to continue growing and expanding in and around these regions and would love to eventually offer our service nationwide,” Arielle said. “We also have other areas of waste on our radar, whether it be food, decorations or clothing.

“So much could be given a second life after events. Once we feel that floral waste is being appropriately addressed, we will definitely consider expanding into new product areas as well.”

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COLUMN

For repairs, dial 1-800-MY-HUSBAND

T R ACY B EC K E R M AN Lost in Technology by Tracy Beckerman looks at the lighter side of figuring out how to use tech. Tracy has written a humor column, Lost in Suburbia, for GateHouse Media and Gannett since 2008. You can find her weekly column about life as an empty-nester, along with her Lost in Suburbia Classics column, in most Gannett newspapers. Follow Tracy on Twitter @TracyBeckerman and on Facebook at Facebook.com/ LostinsuburbiaFanPage.

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ike many men, my dad likes his electronic toys. When some new, high-tech gadget comes out, he’s usually the first one at the store for the most complicated, feature-laden, problem-prone gizmo on the market. Hair-raising price tags aside, this would be a pretty benign hobby if not for the fact that when the complicated, feature-laden techy thing malfunctions, my father doesn’t have a clue how to fix it. That is, assuming, he was able to get it working in the first place.

Through all this, my mother is remarkably patient, having weathered 60 years of my dad’s techno meltdowns with a combined ability to offer a sympathetic ear and to completely ignore him, or suddenly find herself in dire need to go to the supermarket while he is off his gourd.

My dad is a lot of things — a sweet man, a gifted artist, a caring father and grandfather — but tech genius he is not. Fortunately for my dad, early on in my marriage he discovered that I had done one better than marrying a doctor or a plumber: I had married a techno-wiz. And so, my husband was welcomed into the family with open arms and a lifetime of TVs, DVRs, cell phones and computer software issues to repair.

In his defense, my father is usually very understanding of the fact that my husband actually has another full-time job he must attend to and cannot drop everything at a moment’s notice to, say, re-program my dad’s TV remote. However, from time to time, my dad goes off the digital deep end, has a petit mal techno-seizure, and we know it will just be a matter of time before the phone rings.

“Hello,” I said.

“Where’s Joel.”

“I’m fine Dad, how are you?”

“I need to talk to Joel.”

“Clearly,” I responded. “But my husband is not here.”

“When he gets home, can you tell him to call me right away?” he asked urgently.

“Is everything OK, Dad?” Concern crept into my voice. I’m actually a little worried, now.

But then, through gritted teeth he responds, “The darn DVR is driving me crazy!” and I know that we are not in Kansas anymore.

Apparently, a tornado had lifted my dad’s house up and dropped it on his DVR, and not even the great and powerful wizard could get the DVR to stop mysteriously recording every home decorating show on television. Of course, the more likely scenario is that my dad programmed the machine to do this without knowing that he did it. The less likely scenario is that my mother did it secretly to drive my father up the wall. Regardless of origin or blame, the upshot was that my dad had no interest in watching shows like “Magic with Window Treatments” and had no idea how to get the machine to cut it out.

“Dad, Joel is in L.A. this week,” I told him gently.

They say it’s better to use a calm, soft voice when dealing with hysterical people.

“I can’t wait all week,” he said urgently. “The DVR is so full of home improvement shows that it has no room to tape ‘Blue Bloods!’”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“OK,” he said. “I’ll call him in L.A.” I reminded him that it was 4:30 in the morning on

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the West Coast and the family repairman would not be in a helpful mood if he were woken up at that hour. I then reminded my dad that my husband/repairman is in meetings most of the day, most of the week, and my dad may just have to miss Tom Selleck this week.

While I reminded my dad of all these things, my son appeared in the kitchen door.

“Who’s on the phone?” he asked me.

I cupped my hand over the receiver. “It’s Pops,” I told him quietly.

“He’s having DVR issues.”

“Oh really? Let me talk to him,” he said reaching for the phone.

For several minutes my son listened to my dad’s DVR saga, and then for several minutes more, my son told my dad how to fix the problem.

“Problem solved?” I asked hopefully.

“Yup. Pops said thanks for the help and can you still ask Dad to call him.”

“Why?” I was puzzled. “I thought you said the DVR is all fixed?”

“It is,” he replied. “But he’s also having a problem with his iPad.”

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