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The best blenders you can buy

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

best blender

  • When selecting a blender for your kitchen, you’re going to want one that’s powerful enough to do whatever job you need, whether it’s creating a simple smoothie or crushing ice.
  • The Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender is the best one you can buy with its powerful motor, decent price tag, and easy-to-use preset blending functions.

A blender seems like a simple kitchen tool, and for the most part, it is. Blenders give you a variety of settings to help you achieve the consistency you need for a particular recipe.

Even if you don’t use it specifically for cooking, a blender is handy to have in your kitchen. When you want to make kale smoothies or homemade vanilla milkshakes, a blender is a must-have tool. (My blender much prefers vanilla to kale, but that’s just me.)

Although blenders all seem to perform the same task, there are a few different kinds of blenders and each version offers unique features. We’ll help you figure out which type of blender will give you the performance you want. The most common types of blenders include conventional, multi-purpose, immersion, and personal.

A conventional blender is the most common type for use in your kitchen at home. This type of blender can perform a variety of functions from making soup to blending smoothies. Multi-function blenders are more high-end ones like those you'd find in a restaurant. Finally, there's the personal blender, which is a small blender that makes single servings and may run from a battery for portability. Hand blenders, also called immersion blenders, are a popular alternative to the blenders most people are familiar with, and we have a full guide that you can check out here.

In this guide, we highlight a mix of conventional, multi-function, and personal blenders. When choosing a blender, you should also note that blenders vary in the power they provide, the quality of the components, and the variety of functions available. Think about how you want to use the blender, and you’ll have better success in picking one to meet your needs.

The motor is the most important part of any blender, and the higher the wattage, the better the performance. Always get a blender with a motor that's more than 500 watts. If you want to make frozen drinks, you may need one with 1,000 watts of power.

You'll also want to look at the type of blades on each blender. Some blenders have blades made for solid objects like ice, while others make use of a chopping type of blade. Stainless steel blades are best. The size and material of the blender jar are also key factors, as is the tightness of the lid.

Here are our picks for the best blenders you can buy:

Updated on 03/15/2019 by Owen Burke: Added a vacuum blender based on testing. Updated prices.

Read on in the slides below to learn more about our top picks.

SEE ALSO: The best immersion blenders you can buy

The best blender overall

Why you'll love it: True to its name, the Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender automatically senses the correct speed for the ingredients you’re blending and can be used for smoothies, dips, and milkshakes.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed Blender has four preset functions, 10 adjustable speeds, and a 1,100-watt motor that automatically senses the thickness of your ingredients. It applies the power necessary so all the manual guess-work is taken out of blending, making it convenient to use and resulting in a great final product whether you’re making a smoothie or a salsa.

Having tested this blender myself, I can personally attest to how well it works. Call me a creature of habit, but my morning smoothie is an almost daily ritual — one that’s been going on for close to eight years now — so a high-quality blender I can count on is a must.

I put the Calphalon Auto-Speed through its paces, and it’s held up well to daily use, resulting in thick, silky smoothies. I can tell you firsthand how unpleasant it is to encounter an unexpected spinach leaf or chunk of banana in a poorly blended smoothie, but that hasn’t happened once since I’ve started using this blender.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed can do much more than make smoothies, which makes it a great multi-purpose tool to have on your kitchen counter. The pulse feature allows for food prep and chopping — and results in a great salsa. There are also four preset functions for dips, milkshakes, frozen drinks, and smoothies as well as adjustable speeds for more hands-on control.

I especially like the addition of the reverse pulse button which helps pull the ingredients further down into the blade if necessary to prevent any jams and resulting in a smooth blend. The 6-point stainless steel blades are both durable and easy to clean thanks to the way they’re angled.

Each part of the blender that attaches to the base is also dishwasher safe for further convenience. I’ve cleaned each of these parts in our own dishwasher multiple times with no issue.

With such a powerful motor, this blender is much quieter than I expected. It’s by no means silent, but it’s much less deafening than others I’ve used in the past, making it a little less grating to listen to in the morning if you’re a breakfast smoothie fanatic like myself.

When blending, you can either use the 2-Liter pitcher for larger quantities, or the convenient 25-ounce Blend-N-Go Jar for single serving sized smoothies and drinks. While I liked using the Blend-N-Go Jar for smaller serving sizes, I did find the drinking lid that comes with it slightly awkward to use. It prevented any spills, but the attached cap sometimes was more of a nuisance than anything else.

For this reason, I often used one of my own containers for drinking, but still liked to use the Blend-N-Go jar when blending smoothies and drinks for the simple fact that it meant a smaller container to clean.

As far as quality and ease of use go, I was not disappointed. The lids to both the pitcher and the jar seal tightly, and I had no issues with any splatter or leaking while blending. The blade attachment fits easily onto the base, and removes just as easily when you’re finished blending.

While this blender is on the expensive side, if it’s a tool you know you’ll be using often, it’s a worthwhile investment that you’ll be able to rely on for durability, great results, and ease of use. Presets and speeds are controlled by a dial on the front that’s clearly labeled, and you can start, pause, pulse and reverse pulse at the push of a button.

The easy to read digital interface is also a nice touch, showing you how long you’ve been blending, or counting down to the finish if you choose to use one of the preset functions.

The Calphalon Auto-Speed blender is highly rated on Amazon, and as a result, is labeled as an “Amazon’s Choice” product. Reviewers call this an “awesome blender” loving how it looks on their countertop, it’s auto-sensor that results in perfect smoothies and shakes, and the high-end features that put it “at the head of the blender pack.”  — Kylie Joyner

Pros: 1,100-watt motor that automatically senses ingredients and adjusts for best results, four preset functions, 10 adjustable speeds, easy to clean, features durable stainless steel blades, comes with a Bend-N-Go jar for added convenience

Cons: On the expensive side, lid that goes with smoothie cup is slightly awkward to use

Buy the Calphalon Auto-Speed 2-Liter Blender on Amazon for $109.99 (originally $199.99)



The best blender for $120

Why you'll love it: The affordable Ninja Professional Blender delivers plenty of power to crush ice and blend a variety of ingredients to create perfect smoothies every time.

If you’re looking to create great-tasting smoothies at home, you’ll want a blender with plenty of power to ensure the ingredients are well mixed and delivered at the desired texture. The Ninja Professional Blender has the features needed to pulverize ice and create the highest quality smoothies possible.

It boats 1,100 watts of power with three speeds, a pulse setting, and a single-serve function. Ninja also includes two 16-ounce to-go cups so you can take your breakfast smoothie with you. The blender's 72-ounce pitcher is a good size and it has a form-fitting lid and a nice big handle.

The Ninja blender does a great job with all kinds of blending needs, including crushing and pureeing for smoothies, according to the Healthy But Smart review. It's the perfect versatile blender for people who don't want to spend $300 on our top pick but still need a powerful blender.

In its review, Easy Healthy Smoothie says this blender makes perfect smoothies and it's very affordable, considering the power it offers. One Amazon reviewer agreed, explaining that even though the blender is limited to 1,100 watts of power, it still performs as well as more expensive blenders.

Another Amazon customer says you’ll save twice with the Ninja BL660 because it's affordable and you won't have to pay for smoothies anymore.

As for downsides, the Kitchen Gear Pro says the Ninja blender is difficult to take apart and clean, in large part because of the sharpness of the blades. The lid also has some crevasses that are tough to clean properly. But otherwise, this is a great blender for $100.

Pros: Perfect option for creating smoothies at home, blender sold at a good price point, offers many different kinds of blending options, works to crush ice, blends many kinds of foods successfully

Cons: Unit’s lid can be difficult to clean, blades are sharp when you take blender apart for cleaning

Buy the Ninja Professional Blender BL660 on Amazon for $99.98



The best professional-style blender

Why you'll love it: The Vitamix Professional series 750 offers everything you need in a blender, but its proven longevity makes it worth the price.

We know $600 is a lot to spend on a blender, or anything, really. But if you want the most consistent consistency, and you use your blender on a daily basis, it's easily justified. When you go to a smoothie shop, you're probably paying well over $5 per drink, and if you do so even two or three times a week, that adds up (I'm a writer, so I'll let you do your own math).

The Vitamix 750 is a professional-grade blender built to last the better part of a decade, and Vitamix's 7-year warranty is enough to attest to that. Sure, you may have some 20-year-old anvil of a thing living on your counter that still works, more or less, but I'll bet your smoothies turn out to be laden with large, neglected chunks of your chosen fruits. I'll also bet it's not the prettiest thing in your kitchen, either.

Do you need to spend so much on a blender? No, but if you're willing to spend even $200, you might find that blender cutting out on you within a couple of years, no matter how shiny and stainless-steel-clad it may be.

For those that use their blender only every so often but still demand perfection, the Vitamix 5200 is of comparable quality, just with a less technical interface and no automatic drive for setting your blender to smoothie mode and walking away. But on the other hand, if you're running a smoothie shop or a cafe or B&B with a juicer, it's hard to ignore reasons for the automatic feature.

Around the web, Forbes and New York Magazine stand by the Vitamix 750. Meanwhile, nearly 300 Amazon reviewers give it a solid 4.6/5-star rating. — Owen Burke

Pros: Consistent, powerful motor, strong blades stay sharp, 7-year warranty

Cons: Price tag

Buy the Vitamix 750 on Amazon for $598.99

Buy the Vitamix 5200 on Amazon for $449



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Chase has announced the Freedom credit card's Q2 bonus categories — including 5% cash back at grocery stores

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Personal Finance Insider writes about products, strategies, and tips to help you make smart decisions with your money. Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Puerto Rico Jan 2019_Chase Freedom Credit Card 1

  • The Chase Freedom card offers 5% cash back — or 5x points — in different categories each quarter.
  • The categories for Q2 — April through June 2019 — have just been announced.
  • You can combine your cash back with the points earned from cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, making it even more valuable.
Somehow, it's already halfway through March. That means that it's time to start thinking about your credit card's rotating quarterly bonus categories.

Chase offers two strong cash-back cards — the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited— that offer great rewards that you can combine with the points you earn from other cards. While both cards are slightly different, they're both great options and both earn points quickly — I personally have both cards.

What's unique about the regular Freedom is that while it generally earns 1% cash back — or 1x Chase Ultimate Rewards point per dollar spent, if you combine that "cash back" with the points you'll earn from a card like the Sapphire Reserve— it earns 5% (or 5x points) in a different bonus category each quarter.

Chase has announced that this year's Q2 bonus categories are:

  • Home improvement stores, like Home Depot or Lowes
  • Grocery stores (excluding grocery purchases made at stores like Target or Walmart)

Any purchases that fall into those three categories will be eligible to earn 5% throughout April, May, and June. The category list may be a short one, but it's potentially lucritive — home improvement projects can run high, and groceries are an obvious necessity.

The bonus is capped at $1,500 of spend each quarter. After that, you'll still earn the normal 1% back. Keep in mind that in order to get the bonus, you need to activate your account each quarter. To do so, just log into your account or visit this site.

Learnmore: Delta has announced limited-time offers for its AmEx credit cards — the welcome bonuses are double what they're normally worth

Chase usually announces Q3's categories sometime in June; activation is scheduled to start on June 15.

If you don't have the card, this is a good opportunity to sign up. In addition to points you earn from spending, you'll get a sign-up bonus of $150 (or 15,000 Ultimate Rewards points) when you spend $500 in the first three months.

Click here to learn more about the Chase Freedom from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.

SEE ALSO: The best credit card rewards, bonuses, and perks of 2019

Join the conversation about this story »

How to delete your Google search history on various web browsers

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  • You should delete your Google search history on various web browsers from time to time. 
  • You can quickly clear your Google search history from desktop browsers as well as from a mobile device with these steps.
  • By adjusting the settings of your Google account, you can dictate what type of search data Google will maintain in the first place.

When one thinks about reasons for clearing Google search history, the first thoughts are probably about content of a salacious nature. That or to keep those surprise party or anniversary vacation plans a secret, of course.

But erasing stored Google searches is about more than keeping your past search habits private from a supervisor, spouse, or parent — and besides, there is always the option of using Incognito Mode on Chrome and Private Window on Safari to avoid a visible store of your searches.

More importantly, when you delete your Google search history, you remove all sorts of information that could potentially be used by shady characters. Beyond the funny videos, the news stories, the trivia, and other content, think of how many times you have searched for an address, a phone number, information about an employer, and other data that could help a hacker steal your identity, find you in person, and other unwanted outcomes.

So should you delete Google history? Yes, from time to time, you should. And you should also control the types of searches Google saves in the first place.

For the record, Google the company will still maintain data on much of your search history, logging how often you search for certain topics, for example. While perhaps disquieting, at least know that any data they maintain even after you delete your search history will never be openly displayed on your computer or mobile device.

That said, here's how to delete your Google search history on Safari, Google Chrome, and your iPhone device. 

How to delete your Google search history on Safari

Start by opening up the Safari browser and going to Google.com. And make sure you're logged into your account.

1. On the task bar at the top of the screen, hover over the word "History."

steven john

2. At the bottom of the drop down menu, hit "Clear History..."

google history

3. Select the range of stored searches you wish to delete, from "the last hour" to "today" to "today and yesterday" to "all history."

clear history

4. Hit "Clear History."

How to delete your Google search history on Google Chrome

Here again you start at Google.com and make sure you are logged in.

1. At the task bar atop the screen, hover over "History."

2. Click "Show Full History" on the dropdown menu.

Screen Shot 2019 03 15 at 11.39.17 AM

3. Click "Clear browsing data" on the left hand side of the next screen.

google history

4. On the next screen, select from the "Time Range" menu how much of your search history you wish to expunge, and make sure to note the boxes below that allow you to customize what you remove, from browsing history to cookies to cached images.

Screen Shot 2019 03 13 at 9.38.43 AM

How to delete your Google search history on an iPhone

Open up your browser and, you guessed it, make sure you're logged in to your Google account.

1. Tap the three horizontal lines at the top left of the Google homepage.

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2. Tap the words "Your data in Search."

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3. On the next page, scroll down about a quarter of the way, and you'll see the "Delete your Search activity" section. Tap either "Delete last hour" or "Delete all Search activity."

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4. On the popup screen, hit "DELETE."

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Managing what search activity Google tracks

Rather than always worrying about deleting search history, you can preemptively control what search data Google stores in the first place. From your browser, navigate to your Google account page, which you can also do by typing http://myaccount.google.com into the web address bar.

1. On the left side of the screen, click "Data & personalization."

Screen Shot 2019 03 13 at 9.19.36 AM

2. On the next page, you can customize what searches Google will store by clicking on each ("Location History" or "YouTube Search History," e.g.) and electing to "Pause" the storing of searches.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: How to tell if your Google Pixel phone is waterproof or water-resistant, and to what extent

Join the conversation about this story »

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5 female-founded venture capital funds to know — and the popular women-led startups they've invested in

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

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  • More and more women are becoming entrepreneurs, but the venture capital world is still overwhelmingly dominated by men.
  • Just about 9% of VC investors are women, all of whom are working hard to diversify the startup world and bring great ideas to the forefront.
  • To celebrate Women's History Month, we're taking a look at five inspiring female-led VC funds and the women-led startups they're backing like Billie, Parachute, Reformation, and more.

The faces of entrepreneurship are changing. In 2017, there were 114% more women-owned businesses than 20 years prior. Between 2016 and 2018, the number of black-women-led startups doubled. Data from Lance Surety Bonds found that immigrants are almost twice as likely to start their own business as are their US-born counterparts.

All of this makes sense. Diversity matters in the workplace, and not just for the reasons we already know, like having a greater pool of lived experiences to build from. According to McKinsey, businesses with diverse workforces typically perform better financially, too. 

Still, the venture capital (VC) world is overwhelmingly male-dominated. According to a recent study by Axios, women account for just about 9% of investors across U.S. venture capital firms. And, while female entrepreneurship is growing at a rapid rate, women are still not getting as much VC funding as their male counterparts. A BCG study found that while enterprises founded by women were given about half the investment as those founded by men, the  female-founded companies generated double the amount of revenue than their male equivalents. 

The gender investment gap is real, but it's clear that female entrepreneurs are still succeeding despite this. The good news — for investors and entrepreneurs alike — is there are plenty of women out there making it their job to get great female-founded businesses the funding they deserve. March is Women's History Month, so it feels particularly fitting to celebrate the intelligent women making waves in the VC industry.

Keep reading to learn more about five female-founded VC firms and the cool startups they've invested in:

Halogen Ventures

Founded by Jesse Draper, this LA-based fund invests in early-stage, female-founded consumer technologies. Beyond providing funding, mentorship and strategic networking are an important aspect of the Halogen experience. The VC fund has an impressive portfolio, boasting multi-million dollar candy empire, Sugarfina, as well as The Sill, a direct-to-consumer plant seller that's reinventing gardening for millennials by delivering easy-care plants right to your door. Halogen has also invested in women's luxury activewear destination Carbon38, and Senreve, a handbag brand that makes functional, luxury purses for women, along with many other unique e-commerce and technology platforms. 

Read our reviews about:

 

 



Brilliant Ventures

Founders Kara Weber and Lizzie Francis believe that diversity — whether it be of gender, race, or beliefs — is the backbone of a successful business. That's why they started Brilliant Ventures, an LA-based fund that invests capital (and time, experience, and ideas) into diverse founders ripe to become industry disruptors. In their portfolio you can find popular direct-to-consumer brands like Parachute, a brand that makes high-quality home essentials at accessible prices, and Tamara Mellon, a brand from the co-founder of Jimmy Choo that's redefining luxury by offering high-quality, trendy footwear at direct-to-consumer prices. 

Read our reviews about: 



Forerunner Ventures

You've probably heard of a lot of the brands that early stage venture capital firm Forerunner Ventures has invested in. This San Francisco-based fun was founded by Kirsten Green, and is made up of a team that is majority women. The fund is focused on investing in industry disruptors, including companies with business-to-business and business-to-consumer offerings. Their portfolio includes the likes of sneakerhead destination Stadium Goods, men's health and preventative care startup Hims, sustainable women's fashion brand Reformation, and the modern travel favorite Away

Read our reviews about:



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I found a hotel I like better than the $1 billion hotel considered 'the most luxurious in the world' — and it all comes down to location

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ZanzibarBestMostLuxuriousHotel KilindiElewana (36 of 42)

  • I've stayed at a lot of luxurious places as I've traveled over the past year, including the Marina Bay Sands, the Burj Al Arab, and Nobu Hotel Ibiza.
  • On a recent trip to Zanzibar, I was surprised to find that I liked a boutique hotel called Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar better than all of those.
  • It was designed as a getaway for a member of the 1980s pop group ABBA, but has since been turned into a luxurious eco-friendly beach getaway.
  • The reason I liked Kilindi better was because of its incredible location. It is situated on 50 acres of gorgeous tropical gardens and possibly the most beautiful beach I've ever stepped foot on.

I've stayed in a lot of luxurious places over the past year.

There was the Nobu Hotel in Ibiza that wows you with the novelty of having world-class cocktails and sushi at its own in-house Nobu Restaurant. There was the Myconian Ambassador Relais & Chateau, a regal getaway where the rooms have a view straight out of an influencer's Instagram post. There was the Marina Bay Sands, a $6.6 billion megahotel in Singapore with its own luxury mall attached and the world's largest infinity pool.

And, who could forget the king of them all, Dubai's Burj Al Arab, named "the best hotel in the world"? Shaped like the sail of an Arabian dhow ship and built for $1 billion, the Burj is full of extravagances like a Rolls-Royce chauffeur, a 14-piece set of Hermès toiletries, personal butlers, and 24-karat gold everything.

Dubai Burj Al Arab Most Luxurious Hotel (19 of 74)

So it surprised me that my favorite hotel I've stayed in all year was none of those. Instead, it was a boutique luxury hotel on the stunning African archipelago of Zanzibar. 

Read more: I stayed in a tiny, adults-only beach villa off the coast of Africa that runs nearly $1,000 per night, and it was the closest thing I've ever found to an ideal honeymoon destination

Originally designed as a getaway for a member of 1980s pop group ABBA, Elewana Kilindi Zanzibar opened to swanky travelers in 2009 with the idea of turning the all-inclusive beach vacation on its head.

Now, I can tell you straight up that Kilindi's food is not as good Nobu Ibiza, that it's not on an island as swanky as the Myconian Ambassador, and it doesn't have service that approaches Burj Al Arab's 6:1 staff-to-guest ratio.

What it does have, however, is location. And sometimes, location matters more than anything.

What makes Elewana Kilindi such a standout hotel

Elewana Kilindi is located on the quiet northern coast of Zanzibar, an island I consider to be one of the most beautiful in the world, even if the US News & World Report doesn't include it on its 20 Most Beautiful Islands list.

ZanzibarBestMostLuxuriousHotel KilindiElewana (39 of 42)

Zanzibar is full of wildlife, nature, and spice farms. The waters off the coast are a more mesmerizing turquoise than you'd find in the Mediterranean or Caribbean — and the powder-white beaches are quiet and private.

Elewana Kilindi sits on 50 acres in the middle of this paradise. Each guest stays in one of 15 eco-friendly villas. The hotel has the luxury of a swanky hotel, but dropped in the middle of nature. You wake up in the morning to the birds chirping, even as you are served a coconut lobster Benedict breakfast next to the private pool on your private deck.

Dubai Burj Al Arab Most Luxurious Hotel (34 of 74)

The other fancy places I've stayed in left me feeling like I didn't need to go back. Nobu Ibiza is on one of the island's less inspiring beaches. The Burj is in Dubai, which often feels more like a business hub than a getaway. The Marina Bay Sands in Singapore had me feeling like I was staying in a luxury mall.

Elewana Kilindi struck me as the platonic ideal of a honeymoon spot. That's not to say it's considerably cheaper than the other places I've mentioned: It still costs approximately $1,000 a night to stay there.

SEE ALSO: The top 14 boutique hotels in the world that should be on every luxury traveler's list

Join the conversation about this story »

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Save 30% on Nespresso machines at Bed Bath & Beyond — and more of today's best sales and deals from around the web

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place. For even more deals and savings across the web, check out our coupons page.

Nespresso machine bed bath & beyond sale

1.Save 30% on all Nespresso machines at Bed Bath & Beyond

With the side-effects of daylight-saving time still lingering, coffee consumption is at an all time high (or so it seems from around our office). Instead of going out for a latte or specialty drink, you can save some money by brewing one from the comfort of your kitchen. Now through March 17, you can get 30% off on Nespresso machines from Bed Bath & Beyond. The store currently stocks over 35 models, making it easy to find one that fits your needs. For more deals and promotions at Bed Bath and Beyond, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Nespresso machine sale at Bed Bath & Beyond now.

Neiman Marcus sale

2.Get 25% off one regular-price item at Neiman Marcus

By entering the code "LUCKY25" at checkout, you can receive 25% off one regular-price item at Neiman Marcus. Men's clothing, women's clothing, shoes, and handbags are eligible for discounts, but exclusions apply on some items. A sale like this rarely hits the site so be sure to act quick before the deal ends tonight at 10 p.m. CT. For more deals and promotions at Neiman Marcus, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Neiman Marcus sale now.

ipad target sale

3.Save $80 on an Apple iPad (6th generation) at Target

Target is offering $80 off a 6th-generation Apple iPad for savings of almost 25%. The discount only applies to the Space Gray iPad in the 32GB size, which has a 9.7-inch multi-touch retina display, all-day battery life, and a thin, durable design. For more deals and promotions at Target, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the iPad sale now.

Wusthof Gourmet Cutlery sale

4.Get up to 60% off on Wusthof Gourmet Cutlery at Crate and Barrel

Wusthof knives and cutlery have a reputation of lasting a long time, holding their shape, and adding weight and balance for a clean cutting job. Right now, you can save up to 60% on Crate and Barrel's selection of their gourmet cutlery — and with a $250 purchase of their products, you can also get a $25 Crate and Barrel gift card to spend at the store. 

Shop the Wusthof Gourmet Cutlery sale now.

Lucky Brand shoe sale

5.Take 30% off men's and women's shoes at Lucky Brand

Lucky Brand is having a massive sale on men's and women's shoes with looks to fit every style. Spring is less than a week away, so now is the time to upgrade your wardrobe — and a durable pair of shoes (that don't need to be snow-proof) is the perfect addition. The sale ends on March 20.

Shop the Lucky Brand shoe sale now.

 

Dell and PC sale

6.Take 17% off on Dell and PC electronics at Dell

Dell is extending its Friends & Family promotion to everyone, so you can now save 17% off the ticketed price. That may not seem like a lot, but on a pricey device, it adds up. The sale includes laptops, tablets, computers, and additional accessories, and though some exclusions apply, there are still plenty of devices that can fit your everyday needs. The sale ends on the morning of March 18, and be sure to enter the code "SAVE17" at checkout so you don't miss out on the discount. For more deals and promotions at Dell, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Dell and PC sale now.

 

Ralph Lauren Sale

7.Take and extra 40% off select sale styles at Ralph Lauren

This blouse, along with plenty of other spring pieces from the men's, women's, kids, and home department, are on sale right now for up to 50% off. Past-season sale styles are marked down an additional 40%, too, so you can stock up on cold weather items for next year. The sale runs through March 18 and discounts are automatically applied at checkout. For more deals and promotions at Ralph Lauren, check out Business Insider Coupons here.

Shop the Ralph Lauren sale now.

helix

8.Get $125 off of a Luxe mattress at Helix

In need of a new mattress? Helix, an NYC-based startup, is offering discounts on its most popular items during a big winter flash sale. To get the sale price, you have to enter your email address to unlock a $125 discount on the Luxe line of mattresses, designed to provide hotel-level comfort that is tailored to your needs.

Shop the Helix sale now.

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23 outdoor furniture deals to take advantage of this spring

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Portside Aluminum Outdoor Sofa

Spring is just a stone's throw away, and with the changing of seasons, it's about time to start getting your backyard, porch, or balcony in shape. That's why tons of stores are having major sales and deals on outdoor furniture — from full couch and armchair sets to small side tables.

We found discounts from West Elm, Overstock, Walmart, Pier1, Houzz, Wayfair, and The Home Depot that will make shopping for outdoor lounging or dining furniture simple (and a whole lot more affordable).

Keep scrolling for 23 great deals on furniture, or refer to the list of sales below to go straight to each retailer's outdoor furniture sale. 

The best sales to shop to get great deals on outdoor and patio furniture:

West Elm:Take 20% off all outdoor furniture

Overstock:Get an extra 15% off patio furniture

Walmart:Find rollbacks and discounts on outdoor items

Pier1: Get up to 30% off select outdoor furniture.

Houzz: Get up to 75% off on outdoor furniture and accessories.

Wayfair:Get up to 70% off all outdoor furniture and accessories.

The Home Depot:Find special values on outdoor furniture.

SEE ALSO: 22 deals from Houzz's big spring sale

An outdoor bench with a unique design

Safavieh Dl Outdoor Seat Bench, $257.54 (Originally $302.99), Available at Overstock

Check out Business Insider Coupons for more discounts and deals at Overstock.



A swivel chair that's bold and unique

Spinasan Collection Swivel Chair, $279.99 (Originally $349.99), Available at Pier1

Check out Business Insider Coupons for more discounts and deals at Pier1.



A storage box that can brave harsh weather

1st Avenue Cadiz Wicker Storage Box, $109 (Originally $199), Available at Houzz

Check out Business Insider Coupons for more discounts and deals at Houzz.



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The billionaire behind Hudson Yards, the most expensive real-estate development in US history, says it's 'not a neighborhood for the rich'

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stephen ross related

Hudson Yards is the most expensive real-estate development in US history. When it's finished, the $25 billion development will include luxurious residential towers, office spaces, a school, a luxury mall with high-end boutiques and restaurants, a $200 million art installation, public gardens, a performing-arts space, and the highest outdoor observation deck in the Western Hemisphere.

Condos start at $4.3 million and can cost upwards of $32 million.

Hudson Yards, with its glossy luxury boutiques and sky-high price tags, has faced criticism from some who see it as a neighborhood made only for the ultra-wealthy and has earned nicknames including a "playground for billionaires" and "a mall for the wealthy." Justin Davidson of New York Magazine called Hudson Yards "a billionaire's fantasy city."

But the billionaire behind the massive real-estate project disagrees with that characterization.

Hudson Yards is "not a neighborhood for the rich," Stephen Ross, the chairman of The Related Companies, the real-estate firm that's the developer of Hudson Yards, said in an interview with Forbes. "It's not a separate enclave."

hudson yards

Ross is worth more than $10 billion, according to Bloomberg, and Forbes estimates that his Related Companies has developed $30 billion worth of properties worldwide. Ross is also the owner of the Miami Dolphins.

In the Forbes interview, Ross said Hudson Yards' mall offers affordable options for eating and shopping, such as Shake Shack, H&M, and Zara.

The mall also includes the city's only Neiman Marcus, along with restaurants like TAK Room from Thomas Keller, the chef behind the Michelin-starred Per Se.

Luxury lifestyles in Hudson Yards

Hudson Yards currently has two luxury condominium towers: 15 Hudson Yards and 35 Hudson Yards. At 15 Hudson Yards, residences start at $4.3 million and go up to $32 million.

Read more: I toured the first residential building to open in Hudson Yards, NYC's new $25 billion neighborhood — and it was clear it's selling much more than just real estate

15 hudson yards penthouse

Its neighbor, 35 Hudson Yards, which its architect called "a city within Hudson Yards," will include a 60,000-square-foot Equinox fitness center, the world's first Equinox hotel, retail spaces, and at least one restaurant. Condos start at $5 million and go up to at least $28.5 million — and that's not including the penthouses, which are not yet priced. Ross himself will be moving into one of the penthouses, he told Forbes.

At One Hudson Yards, Related Companies' 33-story rental building that opened in 2017, available units range from $8,805 to $17,000 per month. At the nearby Abington House, the cheapest available apartment is a studio for $3,410.

Of the 4,000 apartments that are planned for Hudson Yards, about 10% will be rented at below-market rates as part of the city's affordable-housing program. These apartments, which will be open to those who make between about $31,000 and $62,000 per year, will rent for $858 a month for a studio and up to $1,350 a month for a two-bedroom, according to Curbed.

Hudson Yards opens to the public on Friday, but it's only about half-finished, according to Crain's. It's expected to be completed by 2025.

SEE ALSO: I toured a new 92-story luxury tower in NYC's Hudson Yards, where condos start at $5 million — and it was clearly designed to be so much more than just a residential building

DON'T MISS: Firefighters are warning that lives could be at risk in New York's $25 billion megadevelopment

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Take a look inside a $28.5 million NYC apartment on Billionaires' Row


Ruth Bader Ginsburg turned 86 on Friday — here's the workout she uses to stay on top of her game

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg

  • Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg turned 86 on Friday.
  • Many began to speculate when Ginsburg would step down from the bench after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement last year.
  • But Ginsburg is not defined by her 86 years of age. She works out with her personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, twice a week for an hour.
  • Her workout is a series of full body strength exercises that target arms, chest, legs, back, shoulders, glutes, and abs.
  • I decided to give Ginsburg's workout a try for two weeks — here's what happened.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg turned 86 years old on Friday.

If you are looking for evidence that Ginsburg isn't retiring anytime soon, just try her workout.

After Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, people began speculating when the liberal bastion might step down from the bench. But Ginsburg works out with her personal trainer, Bryant Johnson, twice a week. She has called him "the most important person in her life."

Johnson and Ginsburg have been doing the one-hour workout that he details in his book, "The RBG Workout: How She Stays Strong and You Can Too" for 18 years, aside from the three years he was deployed in Kuwait.

The workout starts with a five-minute warm-up and light stretching followed by a strength training session that includes push-ups, planks, chest presses, squats, and hip abductor exercises, then another round of stretches to cool down.

Here's what happened when I tried the workout for two weeks.

SEE ALSO: I tried intermittent fasting for 10 days — and I understand why people in Silicon Valley love it

DON'T MISS: I limited myself to seeing friends 2 times a week, and it had a surprising effect on me

I am no stranger to working out.

I have completed four half-marathons and go to fitness classes frequently, but I haven’t done much strength training recently because I was training for my races. I was expecting to be sore after the RBG workout.



I was up for the challenge of working out like Ginsburg, especially if it came with an honorary JD from Columbia University, a seat on the Supreme Court, or just great biceps.

But I didn't realize that I would want to recuse myself when I saw that pushups were followed by medicine ball pushups and two different types of planks.



If you work out from home, you'll need dumbbells, resistance bands or tubes, a door anchor, a medicine ball, a Swiss ball, and a stool or ottoman.

I worked out at my local gym, because I didn't think I'd be able to get into the Supreme Court gym where Justice Elena Kagan and Ginsburg work out.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything you need to know about Shudder, a streaming service that gives you unlimited access to horror, suspense, and thriller movies for $4 per month

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Screen Shot 2019 03 14 at 2.38.50 PM

  • Shudder is a streaming service that gives users unlimited access to the largest collection of uncut and ad-free thriller, suspense, and horror films.
  • You can join free for seven days. After your trial, Shudder plans start at $3.99 per month. 
  • You can stream Shudder using the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Xbox One.

John Carpenter, Alfred Hitchcock, Wes Craven, Stanley Kubrick, James Wan ... once you start counting them off, you realize how deep the wellspring of talent goes in the horror movie genre. But instead of finding grainy versions of the classics on Reddit or digging into the internet for the latest next big thing, you can find them all in one place: Shudder.

Shudder is a streaming service that gives users unlimited access to the largest collection of thrillers, suspense films, and general horror media, with each title being handpicked by genre experts and served uncut and ad-free. New releases drop as frequently as every week on the site, and offerings range from entry-level classics to exclusive and genre-defying tastemakers for super-fans. It also includes some series, a handful of podcasts, and "Shudder TV" — a 24/7, pre-programmed feed. 

It can be streamed using the Apple app store, Google Play, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and Xbox One. Monthly, it'll cost you between $4 and $5. 

Founded first as an invite-only beta test in the summer of 2015, Shudder quickly expanded to virtually every corner of the horror film ecosystem. By late 2016, the service had pushed its way into increasingly exclusive waters, no doubt thanks to a dedicated leveraging of industry ties and team expertise. For instance, in March of the following year, Shudder purportedly began carrying the full 190-minute unrated version of "The Devils." It was the first time since the film's 1971 release that the unrated cut had been available within the United States.

Years 2018 and 2019 have followed this momentum, with more exclusive and original content rolled out for members. In July 2018, Shudder hosted a 24-hour live event with the iconic horror host Joe Bob Briggs. For the day, horror fans could watch cult classics with Briggs' famous commentary accompanying the titles. The excitement was such that the site's servers crashed during the premiere — though the inconvenience didn't keep the marathon from amassing critical acclaim. 

Apart from investing in original content, the service also invites industry heavy hitters — filmmakers and icons — to create watch-lists of their favorite films as guest curators, sometimes with brief text introductions. As of March 2019, the collections include curations from horror icon Barbara Crampton, actor and comedian Kumail Nanjani, and "Mad Men" and "Summer of 84" star Rich Sommer, among others. 

Screen Shot 2019 03 14 at 2.56.36 PM

How to use it

  1. Create an account for a free seven day trial of Shudder.  
  2. Choose between an annual membership ($3.99 per month, billed once as $47.88), or monthly ($4.99 per month). 
  3. If you'd rather not continue with the service, just make sure to cancel before the trial ends.
  4. Start streaming.

On the app, movies are arranged into the following categories: supernatural, killers, creature features, psychological thriller, exclusive & original, paranormal, documentary, comedy, crime & mystery, revenge, sci-fi, cult, and shorts.

To help you navigate, you'll find the typical streaming service category prompts: newly added, Shudder essentials, last chance to watch, "binge this," and cues for popular genres like psychological thrillers and supernatural, as well as slightly more unique collections like Curator's Choice. There's also a slew of topically curated categories. In March of 2019, that takes the form of Women's History Month with categories like women in horror and "Vengeance is Hers" — a compilation with the commonality of a woman exacting revenge. You can use member reviews to help guide your selections, and save titles to your "list" for later viewing.

As mentioned, Shudder works for casual and deep fans of the genre alike. Members can find canon flicks like "Nosferatu," "Halloween", and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" — as well as deep cuts, new titles, and Shudder exclusives like the rage-filled action-horror "Mandy" with Nicolas Cage or the considerably more contemplative original "Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror." 

Bottom line

If you're looking for a convenient and affordable way to deep-dive into the horror movie genre, Shudder is worth looking into. At $4 or $5 per month (and a free seven-day trial), it's worth looking into even if you're just hunting for a scary movie night and want to avoid higher rental fees. Either way, you'll get access to a plethora of qualifying media, and you'll have seven days to figure out if there's enough to keep you interested.

Start your seven-day trial for free here

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why Tesla's Model X was the first SUV to receive a perfect crash-test rating

The top foods nutritionists swear by to be your healthiest self — and 2 they'll never touch

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drinking orange juice

  • There are lots of great snacks that nutritionists swear by, including nuts, cheese, crunchy vegetables, fatty avocados, creamy yogurt, and savory hummus.
  • But juice is terrible for your body, and sugar in liquids of all kinds is basically a nutritionist's worst nightmare. If you've got a hankering for something sweet, eating some fruit or a piece of dark chocolate is a better strategy. 
  • Nutritionists also recommend avoiding all hyper-processed packaged desserts that comes in a wrapper, like a mass-manufactured cookie loaded with preservatives.

Nutritionists are not here to torture you. Dietitian Jason Ewoldt from the Mayo Clinic says when it comes to healthy eating, deprivation is not a winning strategy.

"We try to enlighten people about the foods they should be focusing more on, instead of restricting," he previously told Business Insider.

Likewise, Sharon Palmer, dietitian and author of the book Plant Powered for Life, encourages people to enjoy eating healthy whole foods, like fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

Both Ewoldt and Palmer agree it's important to remember which foods are actually providing the key nutrients that help get our bodies through the day. These foods help keep us full quite naturally, by virtue of the fact they contain beneficial amounts of fiber, fat, and protein.

Here are the two foods nutritionists agree it's best to avoid, and some that they recommend.

Drinks loaded with sugar don't do anything beneficial for your health

long island iced tea

The first one is pretty straightforward: sweet drinks.

Just because you don't drink soda or sweet tea doesn't mean you're not at risk for health problems including weight gain, heart disease, and gout. Sugary mocha coffees and sweet blended beverages like smoothies and frappuccinos are also loaded with sugar.

"There's some pretty good evidence that when we drink liquid calories, like in the sugary beverages, we don't eat less food as a result," nutrition professor Jean Welsh from Emory University previously told Business Insider.

This is why people sometimes refer to sweet beverages as "empty calories." They pack on extra heft and can temporarily raise blood sugar without giving people any of the good stuff that our bodies need to survive, including key nutrients like fiber that slow digestion and keep us satisfied for hours.

Welsh's latest research suggests that drinking a lot of sugary coffee, tea, soda, or juice can even increase your risk of an early death.

Instead, she suggests incorporating whole fruits into your diet if you're craving something sweet.

"Fruit we have pretty consistently seen is generally associated with healthy outcomes," she said. This may be because there's something special about the way fruit sugars are absorbed that make them less harmful. 

Avoid processed sweet treats like pre-packaged cookies 

processed foods

Nutrition experts also recommend avoiding processed, pre-packaged sweet treats. This could be anything from a squishy Twinkie packed in crinkly cellophane to a slice of cake that was made in a factory and infused with preservatives.

Eating more processed foods is associated with more cancer risk, and sugary sweets are some of the worst offenders — a double whammy of white sugar and shelf-stabilizing ingredients.

Quick treats like packaged cookies can be tough to avoid when we're busy and hungry. A recent survey of more than 104,000 French people found that more adults are indulging in sweet, processed snacks in between meals than ever before. Having these types of energy-dense, sugary, salty, and fatty foods on hand can lead people to overeat.

There are plenty of delicious foods that are better for you than sweet beverages and mass-manufactured cookies

lunch

Ewoldt says having the right kinds of foods chopped and pre-portioned to take on the go "makes healthy eating a heckuva lot more attainable."

A good way to ensure you're getting enough filling dietary fiber is by adding a scoop of beans to your lunch, or munching on fibrous veggies (rich in healthy phytonutrients) with a side of hummus.

If you're craving something sweet, go for a bit of dark chocolate, which is relatively low in sugar but high in cocoa flavonoids— beneficial plant chemicals which help keep our cells healthy.

If chocolate and fruit are not your thing, have a yogurt instead, which some studies suggest can help keep your appetite in check. Try to choose a yogurt that's naturally low in sugar. You can always sprinkle some nuts, seeds, berries or spices like cinnamon and nutmeg on top for a nutritious flavor kick. For a savory treat, bring a cheese stick to work.

Both yogurt and cheese are filling, and there's new evidence that the fat structures in cheese can be better for the heart than other dairy sources like butter.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Harvard psychologist reveals the secret to curbing your appetite

How to download music and other audio files to your iPhone

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apple airpods and wired earpods

  • Download music from your iTunes music collection to your iPhone with just a few clicks.
  • You can download songs and other audio files to your iPhone using a USB cable or via Wi-Fi, though the initial setup requires connecting via USB either way.
  • Every time you add music to your iTunes library, you'll need to sync your phone to copy the additional songs to your phone.
  • Streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora let you play music on your phone without downloading songs.

Given that your iPhone is essentially a cell phone merged with a music player, Apple has made it surprisingly cumbersome to download your music collection to a new iPhone.

Windows users in particular have lamented for years that iTunes– Apple's desktop application that manages the audio data on your phone – is needlessly complicated.

To ease your experience, here's how the step-by-step on how to download music from iTunes to your iPhone

Prepare iTunes with your music

1. If you haven't done it already, install the latest version of iTunes on a computer that holds your music collection.

2. In iTunes, click "File," and then "Add Folder to Library." Choose the music folder where your songs are stored, and then click "Select Folder."

Download 1

3. If you have additional music stored elsewhere, repeat step 2 until you've added all the music you want to your iTunes library.

Download music from iTunes to your iPhone with a USB cable

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.

2. Turn on your iPhone and unlock it. If you see a message asking if you trust this computer, select "Trust." Meanwhile, on your computer, if a dialog asks if you want to allow the computer to access information on your iPad, choose "Continue."

3. Tap the device icon in the upper left part of the iTunes window.

itunes

4. Click "Music" under your phone's settings in the navigation pane in the left side of the screen.

5. Click "Sync Music" and then choose what you want to do – you can choose to download your entire music library to your phone (if you have enough storage space) or you can select just certain playlists, artists, or albums.

itunes

6. Click "Apply" and "Done" at the bottom of the iTunes window to sync.

7. The sync process may take a while, especially if you have a lot of music. When it's complete, click the eject button to the right of your phone in the navigation pane.

Remember that any time you add new music to your iTunes library, you'll need to connect your phone and perform a sync.

Download music from iTunes to your iPhone using Wi-Fi

If you don't want to mess with USB cables, it's possible to sync your iPhone wirelessly. Be aware, though, that this feature is sometimes finicky and may not work reliably for you. If you have trouble getting wireless sync to work, you can always resort to using a USB cable.

To set up your iPhone to work wirelessly, you'll need to start by connecting it with a USB cable.

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.

2. Turn on your iPhone and unlock it.

3. Tap the device icon in the upper left part of the iTunes window.

4. Click "Summary" under your phone's settings in the navigation pane.

5. In the Options section, click "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi" and then click "Apply" and "Done" at the bottom of the screen.

itunes

You should now be all set to automatically sync – including any new music you add to your iTunes library – whenever your phone is plugged into power and both the phone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network.

If you want to manually perform a wireless sync, open the Settings app on your phone. Tap "General," tap "iTunes Wi-Fi Sync," and then tap "Sync Now."

Download 5

Download music through your iPhone's iTunes app, or stream music on your phone

We'd be remiss not to mention the fact that in these modern times, you can play a vast library of music from your phone by either downloading music from your iPhone's iTunes Store app to your Music app or without downloading anything at all. 

You can use a music-streaming app like Apple Music, Spotify, or Pandora to stream music directly from the cloud, though you'll generally want to connected to Wi-Fi so you don't incur data charges.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone for every type of person and budget

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling console of the current generation — here's why Nintendo is dominating video games

REI has an extremely useful wedding registry program for outdoorsy couples — here's what you should know

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REI wedding registry couple

A growing number of people are opting to marry later in life. Many of them have chosen to live together before stepping into a lifetime commitment, and as such, have collected the myriad trappings of a shared life together already: plates, bowls, spoons, a robot vacuum ... the list goes on. 

What that means for wedding registries is pretty simple — it needs to be easier to gift things that match a couple's aspirations, values, and the kind of future they envision having together as partners.

If not every couple needs cookware and appliances to begin a life together because they already own them — or if they're not really the Waterford crystal glasses and silver gravy boat type — it should be just as convenient to gift them a double sleeping bag for their frequent camping trips. Or, in the place of a KitchenAid mixer, a portable burner, or a water purification system, etc. Some couples will want to prioritize gifts that make it easier to spend and enjoy time together outdoors.

For that, REI has revamped its registry to make it easier for couples and the people that love them to share more practical gifts as well as those curated for a shared adventure.

REI wedding registry

Here are a few of the perks to an REI registry:

  1. No membership needed: Couples don’t need to be REI members to make a registry, but we'd highly recommend it so you can stack the perks together.
  2. Shop anytime, anywhere: Purchase registry gifts online, over the phone, or in person at any REI store. You'll also get expert advice in-store and online if you're unfamiliar with something and want a second opinion or guiding light. 
  3. In-store mobile scanning: Scan in-store items using your cell phone to add them directly to your registry. You can also do it online. 
  4. Easy shipping: Most orders over $50 ship free — seeing as this is often the benchmark for wedding gifts, most guests won't have to pay at all for shipping.
  5. Return policy: In case you wind up with duplicates — or just have a change of heart — REI purchases can be returned within a year. 
  6. Alerts on inventory level: You can receive alerts when inventory is low on an item, and when something is back in stock. Guests can also see inventory levels, so they can prioritize what to give. 
  7. Extra savings on any un-purchased gifts: After your event, save 10% on any unfulfilled items from your registry.
  8. Feel-good gifts: A gift purchase from REI should benefit the long-term health of the outdoors, so you can keep enjoying them for longer. As a member-owned co-op, REI annually gives 70% of its profits back to the outdoor community through dividends to REI members, employee retirement, and investments in nonprofits dedicated to the outdoors.

It also doesn't hurt that REI makes it easier to shop your (and/or their) values. In 2018, REI invested $8.8 million in 400 nonprofits across the country to steward more than 1,000 outdoor spaces. In the same year, the co-op launched a comprehensive set of product sustainability standards that applied to the 1,000 brands they carried, plus a set of preferred sustainability attributes — so shoppers can narrow the REI selection by attributes like "recycled materials" or "organic cotton" to find something that's made with resource-conserving practices.

REI gift registry ideas:

According to the co-op's top sellers, the most popular REI wedding registry gifts are the following: A $25 gift card, Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler ($350), The North Face Dolomite 20 Double Sleeping Bag ($170), the Suunto M-3 D Leader Compass ($44), and the Coleman Triton Series 2-Burner Stove ($80) to name a few of the top 10. You can find more wedding registry ideas here.

Sign up for your REI wedding registry here

Join the conversation about this story »

11 natural cleaning brands that are as effective as traditional brands, but don’t use harsh, harmful chemicals

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truce

  • From skin care to food, we're cleaning up the products our bodies interact with. 
  • Household cleaners are another category of an everyday product filled with harsh and harmful ingredients. 
  • There are plenty of safer alternatives that are equally effective and affordable as traditional brands. They use plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, don't test on animals, and come in sustainable packaging. 

On my list of satisfying and cathartic things to do on a weekend, a deep house cleaning session has to be near the top. But that they often end with itchy, watery eyes or irritated skin dampens the excitement of having sparkly clean countertops, appliances, and floors. 

Just like with skin care and food, we're starting to take a closer look at the ingredient labels of the products we use in everyday life. Traditional cleaning products from big-name brands usually contain harsh, harmful chemicals that get the job done, but sacrifice our health in the process. 

These natural cleaning companies, however, prove that you can use safer ingredients and still clean your house effectively. They throw out chemicals and synthetic fragrances in favor of plant-based and biodegradable ingredients that are better for both your body and the earth. With socially and environmentally conscious missions guiding their products, they also give back to those in need and use sustainable packaging. None of them test on animals, either. 

All in all, they're simply the better choice if you want to clean your house with a clean conscience, and most cost only a little more if not the same as traditional brands. 

For effective cleaning without the chemicals, shop these 11 natural cleaning brands. 

Seventh Generation

Shop Seventh Generation cleaning and home products here: Amazon, Target, Boxed, Thrive Market

This certified B Corp is on a mission to make every part of your home more "clean" by making safer and sustainable laundry, dishwashing, cleaning, feminine-care, and paper products. Its cleaning solutions, like the $2.99 USDA Certified Biobased Toilet Bowl Cleaner and $2.99 All Purpose Cleaner, are all really affordable, so you don't have much of an excuse not to go plant-based. 



Green Works

Shop Green Works cleaning products here: Amazon, Target

Shoppers love the All-Purpose Multi-Surface Cleaning Spray and Cleaning Wipes from this company that also makes eco-friendly cutlery. The cleaning spray is a versatile all-in-one solution to tackle various types of dirty surfaces around the home, while the cleaning wipes are biodegradable and compostable. Green Works was founded in 2008 by a Clorox scientist who was inspired by her environmental biologist daughter to create a powerful, naturally derived cleaner. 



The Honest Company

Shop The Honest Company here: Amazon

Jessica Alba's The Honest Company is a favorite among parents because of its special emphasis on caring for babies in safe, natural ways. In addition to baby and beauty products (try its fragrance-free Baby Wipes or relaxing Bubble Bath), you can shop powerful cleaners made from gentle ingredients, including essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances. You won't need to be nervous using these household cleaners around your baby. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Elon Musk says he aged 5 years from running Tesla in 2018 — but experts think that kind of work ethic is dangerous (TSLA)

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elon musk

  • Elon Musk said 2018 was such a stressful year at Tesla that it "felt like aging five years in one."
  • Musk has also said he works for 120 hours a week, which is three times the average work week in the US private sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Overwork is an incredibly dangerous habit, research suggests.

Elon Musk had a stressful year running Tesla, to put it lightly. "2018 felt like aging five years in one," he said at the unveiling of Tesla's newest car, the Model Y.

As Business Insider's Graham Rapier reported, the company went through what Musk has called "production hell" as it struggled to mass-produce cars and become profitable.

This isn't the first time Musk has alluded to burning out at work. In August 2018, Musk told The New York Times that he had taken to working 120 hours a week.

That's well over three times the national average private sector work week of 34.4 hours, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"There were times when I didn't leave the factory for three or four days — days when I didn't go outside," the Tesla and SpaceX CEO told The Times. "This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends."

Silicon Valley often comes under fire for reportedly glorifying overwork, but judging from his New York Times interview, Musk has come to realize the toll it's taken on his life. He revealed that he'd spent his most recent birthday at work, and that he hasn't taken a substantial vacation since 2001. On top of that, he has trouble sleeping: "It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien," he told The Times.

As the CEO of two major companies, Musk is known to keep an intense daily routineInc. previously reported that the CEO ignores most phone calls, abstains from getting stuck dealing with emails, and breaks his entire day into a series of five-minute slots. But apparently, he's still there for 120 hours a week.

It sounds a lot like he's overworked.

There are serious dangers that come with overwork: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked long working hours with everything from cardiovascular disease to suicide to cancer. 

The tendency to work too much isn't limited to Americans. Death by overwork is a major problem in Japan, where it's known as karoshi. In 2017, a 31-year-old Japanese woman died of congestive heart failure after pulling 150 hours of overtime work, Time reported. The epidemic has even prompted the Japanese government to take steps to protect its citizens from overwork.

Working too much isn't just an inconvenience to your family or a guilt-trip to your colleagues — it's dangerous to your health.

SEE ALSO: A look at the demanding schedule of Elon Musk, who works in 5-minute slots, skips breakfast, and largely avoids emails

DON'T MISS: Bill Gates and Elon Musk share a daily scheduling habit that helps them tackle their busy routines

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk runs two huge companies by breaking his day into 5-minute slots

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What's going on with Elon Musk


30 appliances and tools that we swear by in the kitchen, from a $6 fish spatula to a $350 Dutch oven

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made in nonstick

From those who prioritize speed, convenience, and simplicity to those who cook every night and spend their weekends embarking on multiple-hour culinary adventures, the Insider Picks team consists of home cooks of all levels. Regardless of our differences in cooking style or interest in food, what we all know is that the accessories, cookware, and appliances we use matter.

We've tested a variety of kitchen products for review and in our personal lives, but there are a few favorites we always rely on and return to. There are no tricks or gimmicks with the kitchen tools we really care about — just quality, efficacy, and value. That means you'll see some investment pieces, but you'll also see small gadgets that prove you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to become a great cook. 

These are the 30 products we swear by in the kitchen and use every day to make our favorite meals and beverages. 

SEE ALSO: Subscription service Knifey sharpens your kitchen knives so you don't have to — here's how it works

A George Foreman grill that lets you make full meals in under 10 minutes

George Foreman 4-Serving Grill and Panini Press, $24.96, available at Amazon

I don’t enjoy cooking, but I do enjoy how much healthier and more affordable it is than eating out. This cheap $30 George Foreman grill my dad sent me in the mail as an “I’m worried about you not eating enough protein” gift is the only reason I eat healthy. You can cook a full meal (veggies, meat, paninis, etc.) on it in under 10 minutes and finish cleanup in five thanks to the removable plates. It’s the best gift I’ve gotten in years, and it makes home cooking and meal prep far easier than anything else I own. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter



A top-rated pour-over coffee maker

Chemex Classic Series Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker (6-Cup), $41, available at Amazon

The Chemex is my favorite way to make coffee. I saw it in a fancy coffee store a couple years ago and got one shortly after. I love the design and it just makes a great cup of coffee. I don't have a huge kitchen so anything larger than this would take up too much space. Yes, it is more of a process than a straightforward coffee maker, but I don't drink coffee every morning so I'm fine with that. It forces me to pay attention to making coffee, which means I end up with a better cup. Breton Fischetti, Insider Picks vice president



A convenient slicer that will make you wonder how you ever prepared avocados in the past

OXO Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer, $9.99, available at Amazon

I make guacamole about once a week, and I don't know how I'd do it without OXO's 3-in-1 slicer. It has a plastic blade to slice the outside of the avocado in half, a pit remover, and a slicer to cut the avocado into perfect slices. The pit remover is my favorite part, because it eliminates the danger of removing the pit with a knife or by other means. —Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks guides editor



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Inside the star-studded opening of the Shops at Hudson Yards, where A-listers including Anne Hathaway and Whoopi Goldberg came to see NYC's new $25 billion neighborhood

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Hudson yards opening

Last night, I was surrounded by dollar signs.

On my left, the real-life version of "Gossip Girl" — millennials wearing ascot scarfs, bow ties, and an air of confidence. To my right, female influencers dressed to what I call the "Instagram nines" — red lipstick, fur coats, and stiletto boots patterned with a dollar bill print.

I was at the grand opening of The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, a shopping destination in New York City's new $25 billion Hudson Yards neighborhood that began construction about four years ago. It's the most expensive real-estate development in US history.

Tastemakers, influencers, socialites, and celebrities — basically New York's elite and then some — congregated at the invite-only party, which Sharif El Gamal of Soho Properties described as "Sim City on steroids, but real" to Real Deal reporter Rich Bockmann. Bockmann himself said the event resembled "a circus."

My first impression fell somewhere along the lines of, "This is lit."

Read more: I got a tour of a $14 million penthouse in NYC's new $25 billion Hudson Yards neighborhood and found that it was perfectly designed to show off its best asset

hudson yards night

Perhaps that's because 8,000 people were invited — but, according to Vogue, some 13,000 showed up over the course of the evening. I wasn't surprised — it felt more packed than Times Square, but with fewer tourists.

It was especially crowded in the area where I spent a lot of my time: the grand opening of queensyard, the British-inspired restaurant by luxury restaurant group D&D London, whose portfolio of restaurants has been visited by celebrities and royalty like Princess Diana and Naomi Campbell. It stayed popping until 2 a.m., well past the time the rest of the grand openings at The Shops began to shut down.

queensyard

I couldn't blame the crowd — I had a hard time myself parting with the grilled cheddar cheese and truffle toasties, not to mention the Moët vending machine.

Moet machine

I ended up missing my red carpet moment, but Anne Hathaway didn't.

anne hathaway

Nor did Lin-Manuel Miranda.

lin manuel

Whoopi Goldberg was also there.

L❤️VE this women so much!!! @whoopigoldberg at the opening of @neimansnyc @neimanmarcus #love #friendship #treasure #brilliant #newyork #newyorkcity #hudsonyards ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by Ken Downing (@kendowningofficial) on Mar 15, 2019 at 4:27am PDT on

And Andy Cohen.

What an amazing night! Thank you @bravoandy the love was real! #hudsonyards #blessings #motivated

A post shared by Healing Wounds, Enhancing Live (@healingwoundsenhancinglives) on Mar 14, 2019 at 10:32pm PDT on

And Tom Brady.

 

And that's not to mention designers Diane von Furstenberg and Vera Wang.

Liza Minnelli performed as part of the grand opening of The Shops' Neiman Marcus, the city's first brick-and-mortar edition of the retailer. There was also a marching band, tap dancers, and a capella singers.

marching band

I ended up topping off my evening with a final glass of red and a stroll through an art gallery in The Shops.

Hudson Yards Art

Brian Underwood, director of Oprah magazine, dubbed the grand opening "the fanciest mall party I've ever been to," on Instagram.

Same, Brian, same.

SEE ALSO: Photos taken by Google over the past decade show how drastically the NYC skyline has changed in just 9 years

DON'T MISS: The CEO of an international luxury restaurant group opening a spot in Hudson Yards says diners want 3 main things — and it shows just how much fine dining has changed

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NOW WATCH: Take a look inside a $28.5 million NYC apartment on Billionaires' Row

My kids and I built and played with LEGO's new City Sets, and they are more fun and engaging than ever

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Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Fire Brigade LEGO City set

  • A high-quality LEGO set has easy-to-follow instructions, plenty of features that nurture imaginative play, and countless ways to make custom creations.
  • We liked the 2019 LEGO City Sets — the Sky Police Air Base, Fire Station, and the Downtown Fire Brigade— because they feature unique pieces that encourage kids to play and not just to build.
  • Though these are on the higher end of the LEGO set price range (currently starting at $69.99 on Amazon), each has more than 500 pieces and features the same durable construction that can last for generations.

Few brands have a track record of quality that compares to LEGO.

From its humble beginnings in Denmark in 1932, LEGO has grown to be the world's largest toy company with more than $4 billion in annual revenue and offices, stores, and amusement parks throughout the world.

Derived from the Danish words leg godt, meaning "play well," LEGO is dedicated to helping kids (and adults) use their imaginations. It comes out with several sets for each of its sub-brands every year — one of the most popular of which is LEGO City. My two boys — Jerome (16 years old) and Bucky (5 years old) — and I recently got to test out the 2019 LEGO City sets, specifically the Sky Police Air Base, Fire Station, and the Downtown Fire Brigade. Here are our experiences.

Fire station lego set

Specs

The LEGO City Sky Police Air Base Building Kit (Model No. 60210) has 529 pieces and is geared toward people aged 6 years and older. The set comes with six Minifigures: two sky police officers, two crooks, a motorcycle officer, and a classic police officer. The main air base is approximately nine inches high by eight inches wide by one inch deep. The airplane has a wingspan of 15 inches, length of 11 inches, and is just over 5 inches high. There's also a getaway car for the crooks to make jailbreaks and a parachute that allows Minifigures to jump safely from the undercarriage of the plane.

The LEGO City Fire Station Building Kit (Model No. 60215) has 509 pieces and is for ages 5 and up. The minifigures in this set are three firefighters, a fire chief, and a Dalmatian fire dog. Highlights include the fire station (11 inches high by 8 inches wide by 10 inches deep), an off-road fire vehicle, a water scooter, and a scouting drone.

The LEGO City Downtown Fire Brigade Building Kit (Model No. 60216) is a whopping 943 pieces and meant for anyone age 6 and older. It comes with four firefighters, two construction workers, and a pilot. The 10-inch-high burning building has a lamp post that pivots from horizontal to vertical. You can use the 9-inch-tall crane to bring the lamp post back to its upright position as you rebuild after a fire. There's also a 15-inch-long fire truck, a fire helicopter, and two smaller vehicles.

When looking at the number of pieces in a kit, keep in mind that each Minifigure has multiple pieces. For instance, each crook in the Sky Police Air Base Kit has four pieces: the hair, head, body, and the legs.

Read more: The best STEM toys for kids

Set-up process

Each of the sets comes with manuals that provide step-by-step picture instructions on how to put the city scene together. We haven't had any success getting Bucky to follow these directions, but Jerome has always enjoyed putting together LEGOs so he put the sets together to pass the time during some recent snow days.

Jerome started by separating all of the pieces by color. He then dug into the booklets. The Sky Police Air Base comes with five booklets, the Fire Station has two, and the more-involved Downtown Fire Brigade has seven. The two smaller sets took Jerome a little over an hour to put together. The Fire Brigade was closer to two hours. At no point was Jerome confused by the instructions. Of course, he has years of obsessive experience under his belt. Results may vary.

Lego city police station

What makes the 2019 LEGO City sets stand out

To find out what really makes these sets stand out, I reached out to an expert, Christopher Wright, who is a Manager at Bricks & Minifigs Eugene, Oregon and a lifelong LEGO fan. He has a room devoted to LEGOs in his house.

"With the release of these new sets, it appears that LEGO is focusing on giving young builders more bang for their [parents'] buck," Wright said. "The addition of new elements allows for a play experience that extends far beyond the build. By focusing more on play features, LEGO has done a great job of expanding the life of these sets."

Wright pointed to the parachute included in the Sky Police Air Base as an example of a new element that encourages play. The parachute is the first of its kind, and Bucky has a blast going to the top of the stairs and dropping his parachuted Minifigure out of the plane from the second-floor landing. The parachute takes a few feet to open up so it works best from a high spot.

Of the three sets we tested, the Downtown Fire Brigade is the star. There are several reasons why Bucky liked this set the most. He loves helicopters and so enjoys flying the fire helicopter around the house. Since he is in a stage where potty humor is the height of hilarity, he thinks it's awesome that he can use the crane to lift the porta-potty up and expose the worker trying to take care of business. Both Jerome and Bucky have a blast using the fire truck to put out fires.

The Downtown Fire Brigade set is the one Bucky keeps going back to and playing with. He clearly has the most fun with this one. Jerome took the other two sets to display in his room.

With his current interests in girls, drawing, and producing hip hop music, Jerome has all but lost interest in LEGOs. Yet, these sets kept Jerome engaged for hours on end. Each time we opened up a new set, he would pop on some music and build until he was done. We didn't need to encourage him or anything, though Bucky was there to make sure he stayed on task.

Jerome is particularly impressed with the detail of the new sets. For instance, he appreciates the garage door on the Fire Station, which opens and closes seamlessly. However, he was annoyed by the light and sound bricks (batteries included) that come with both of the firefighting-themed kits. They're meant to mimic the flashers and sirens on a fire truck. It was annoying because Bucky incessantly pressed the button activating the sirens. Unfortunately for Jerome, the batteries have not died yet.

Fire brigade lego set

Cons to consider

The squeezable air pump on the fire truck of the Downtown Fire Brigade that's used to project the LEGO "water" to put out fires takes a little getting used to. You have to squeeze the pump when it is positioned just right to get the water to come out. The problem is the pump doesn't stay in the optimal spot easily. The truck also has to be quite close to the fire to "put it out." I like the ingenuity, but I think it could still use a little fine-tuning.

The only other con I can think of is the age-old problem of LEGOs finding their way into every part of our house and destroying our feet. We're pretty good at keeping LEGOs in dedicated areas, such as the boys' rooms. But, with the hourly show-and-tell sessions, Bucky occasionally loses pieces as he brings his new creation to wherever I might be. For better or worse, our robotic vacuum usually finds these pieces, and if the boys are lucky, I find the pieces before emptying the dust bin. 

The bottom line

Overall, if you have a youngster who enjoys pretend play and building, the new LEGO City sets are sure to provide them with endless entertainment. When you consider how many pieces you are getting and the focus on extended play, the price is worth it. Our favorite is the Downtown Fire Brigade Building Kit, which is something we would typically buy for Bucky's birthday or Christmas as the preeminent gift. Regardless of which set you choose, I recommend setting up a dedicated LEGO-playing area so you don't lose pieces — and to protect your feet.

Pros: Durable, easy to build, provides hours of entertainment, nurtures imaginative play

Cons: The pump and house system on the fire truck could use some tweaking, small pieces are easy to lose and may destroy your feet

Buy the LEGO City Sky Police Air Base 60210 Building Kit on Amazon for $71.99 (originally $89.99)

Buy the LEGO City Fire Station 60215 Building Kit on Amazon for $69.99

Buy the LEGO City Downtown Fire Brigade 60216 Building Kit on Amazon for $99.99

Join the conversation about this story »

I got an inside look at Hudson Yards on opening day. Here's what the glitzy neighborhood is like, from the $200 million climbable sculpture to the 7-story 'vertical shopping experience'

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hudson yards

  • Hudson Yards, New York City's $25 billion megadevelopment, is officially open to the public.
  • The public can now visit the Vessel, a 150-foot tall, climbable sculpture in the center of Hudson Yards that cost $200 million to build.
  • The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, a luxury shopping center with stores like Louis Vuitton and Dior, are now open as well.
  • I got to spend the day at Hudson Yards for its grand opening. Here's what it looks like, from the $200 million climbable sculpture to the 7-story luxury shopping center.

Hudson Yards, New York City's $25 billion megadevelopment, officially opened on March 15.

The public can now visit the brand-new neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side, which includes luxurious residential towers, a luxury shopping center with stores like Louis Vuitton and Dior, and a $200 million, 150-foot tall climbable sculpture called the Vessel.

I went to the grand opening ceremony at Hudson Yards and spent the day there. Here's what it looks like.

SEE ALSO: The billionaire behind Hudson Yards, the most expensive real-estate development in US history, says it's 'not a neighborhood for the rich'

SEE ALSO: I got a tour of a $14 million penthouse in NYC's new $25 billion Hudson Yards neighborhood and found that it was perfectly designed to show off its best asset

Hudson Yards, New York City's $25 billion neighborhood, is officially open to the public. On March 15, I attended the grand opening ceremony in the central plaza.



To get there, you take the 7 train to the Hudson Yards stop, a new station that opened in 2015.

Source: Curbed



If you turn your back on the glossy new skyscrapers as you walk down the West Side Highway to Hudson Yards, you can see the remaining visible rail yards just across the street.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Galaxy S10 is the better smartphone for taking photos compared to the iPhone XS, and it's clear what Apple needs to add to its next iPhone

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galaxy s10 camera

  • The SamsungGalaxy S10 and AppleiPhone XS take nearly identical photos, so there's no specific winner for camera quality. 
  • But Galaxy S10 users have an option that iPhone users don't: an ultrawide camera that captures a much wider field of view than a smartphone's regular camera.
  • That option alone make the Galaxy S10 a better smartphone for taking photos. 
  • It's pretty clear that if other phones are going to have an ultrawide camera, the next iPhone is going to need one. 

I've finally had a chance to test the camera on Apple's iPhone XS against Samsung's Galaxy S10, and they take incredibly similar photos. 

Sure, there are some differences here and there, but iPhone users and Galaxy S10 users will be equally happy with the photos their phones take.

With that said, Galaxy S10 users have the option to take photos with the phone's ultrawide camera. That option alone seals the Galaxy S10 as the better smartphone for taking photos.

Check it out:

SEE ALSO: If you think the $1,000 iPhone XS is too cheap, don't worry — this company made a $24,500 iPhone with a mechanical clock on its back

The iPhone XS and Galaxy S10 take pretty similar photos. Here's a photo taken with the Galaxy S10.



And here's the same photo taken with the iPhone XS. There's little difference between the two in terms of quality.



Both phones have a dedicated 2x zoomed lens. Here's the Galaxy S10's 2x zoomed lens in action, which is slightly sharper than the iPhone XS's 2x zoomed photo.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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