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Rep. Elissa Slotkin looks to retain her seat against Paul Junge in Michigan's 8th Congressional District

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Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) hosts a town hall in Rochester, Michigan, U.S., December 16, 2019. REUTERS/Michael Martina
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) hosts a town hall in Rochester
  • First-term Rep. Elissa Slotkin will face Paul Junge in Michigan's 8th congressional district. 
  • The district is home to Livingston and Ingham counties and a portion of Oakland County. The cities of Lansing and East Lansing are split between Michigan's 8th congressional district and the state's 4th.
  • Michigan's 8th congressional district is one of 30 in the United States which voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented by a Democrat.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

First-term Rep. Elissa Slotkin looks to defend her seat against Republican Paul Junge in Michigan's 8th congressional district. 

The candidates

Slotkin, a former political analyst and intelligence briefer for the Central Intelligence Agency, was the Director for Iraq for the National Security Council from 2007-2009. In 2018, she defeated two-term incumbent Mike Bishop to join the House of Representatives. She is currently a member of the Armed Services and the Homeland Security committees in Congress.

Junge, Slotkin's challenger, is a former deputy district attorney and television anchor. He recently worked in the Trump administration's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency in the Department of Homeland Security. He is running on a platform focused on border protection, anti-abortion initiatives, and "destroying terrorists."

The district

Michigan's 8th congressional district is located in the southeastern region of the state, and includes the suburbs and exurbs between the Detriot area and Lansing. The district is home to Livingston and Ingham counties as well as parts of Oakland County. The district shares Lansing and East Lansing with the state's 4th congressional district.

The district is one of 30 in the country which voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented by a Democrat in the House of Representatives. Trump carried the district by six points, 50% to 44%, in the 2016 election, according to the Daily Kos.

As Slotkin defeated Bishop by 3.8 points in 2018, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer carried the district by four points, 50% to 46%, over her Republican opponent and incumbent Sen. Debbie Stabenow almost exactly tied with GOP Senate candidate John James in the district.  

The money race

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Slotkin has a massive fundraising advantage over Junge. Slotkin has raised $6 million – over six times more than Junge with $775,000. Junge has $445,000 in hand compared to Slotkin's $5 million.

What experts say

The race between Slotkin and Junge is rated as "safe Democratic" by Inside Elections and "leans Democratic" by The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Read the original article on Business Insider

First-term Rep. Haley Stevens looks to defend her seat against Republican Eric Esshaki in Michigan's 11th Congressional District

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Rep. Haley Stevens wearing mask
House Education and Labor Committee members Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) (L) and Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) wear face mask to help prevent the transmission of the coronavirus during a hearing about the federal government's role in protecting workers during the pandemic on Capitol Hill May 28, 2020 in Washington, DC. More than 62,000 health care workers have been infected with COVID-19 and close to 300 have died according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
  • First-term Rep. Haley Stevens will face Republican Eric Esshaki in Michigan's 11th congressional district.
  • The district is one of 30 congressional districts that voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented by a Democrat in the House of Representatives.
  • In March 2020, Esshaki successfully sued Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to extend the state's candidate filing deadline.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

First-term Rep. Haley Stevens looks to retain her House seat against Republic Eric Esshaki in Michigan's 11th congressional district.

The candidates

Stevens, the former chief of staff for President Barack Obama's Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, defeated two-term Republican incumbent David Trott in 2018 to join the House of Representatives. She is running on a platform centered around affordable healthcare, environmental protection, addressing drug addiction in the country, and strengthening American-Israeli ties.

Esshaki is a first-generation American and registered nurse. His campaign platform includes defunding Planned Parenthood, is against government-run healthcare, and standing against China. In late March, Esshaki sued Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer after she instituted a stay-at-home order in March 2020. The lawsuit resulted in a federal judge extending the candidate filing deadline due to the increased challenges of collecting signatures during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Detroit News.

The district

Michigan's 11th congressional district is located in southeast Michigan and northwest of Detroit. It is home to many Detroit suburbs including Auburn Hills, Troy, Canton Township, Novi, Rochester Hills, Northville, Birmingham, West Bloomfield Township, and Livonia. 

The district is one of 30 in the United States which voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented in office by a Democrat, with Trump carrying the district by 4.6 percentage points that year. 

In 2018, as Stevens won her race by over six percentage points, Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow carried the district by three points over GOP candidate John James and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won the district by six points over Republican Bill Schuette, according to the Daily Kos. 

The money race

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Haley has raised substantially more than Esshaki. With $3.86 million, Haley has raised about nine times more than Esshaki with $417,000. Esshaki has only $213,000 in cash on hand remaining compared to Haley's 3 million. 

What some of the experts say:

The race between Esshaki and Haley is rated as as "leans Democratic" by The Cook Political Report, and "likely Democratic" by Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, and "safe Democratic" by Inside Elections.

Read the original article on Business Insider

First-term Rep. Angie Craig looks to defend her seat against Tyler Kistner in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District

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Rep. Angie Craig
U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) speaks in support of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) during a campaign rally at First Avenue on January 17, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Klobuchar spoke to a crowd of supporters on the first day of early voting for the 2020 presidential primary in Minnesota.
  • First-term Rep. Angie Craig will face Republican Tyler Kistner in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district.
  • Upon being elected in 2018, Craig became the first openly lesbian mother in Congress.
  • This suburban district is one of thirty congressional districts in the U.S. which voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented by a Democrat.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

First-term Rep. Angie Craig looks to retain her seat against Republican challenger Tyler Kistner in Minnesota's 2nd congressional district.

The candidates

Craig, the incumbent, was previously a newspaper reporter before moving to London to work in human resources for a medical device company.

Upon being elected in 2018, Craig became the first openly lesbian mother in Congress. In the summer of 2020, she introduced a bill to extend paycheck protection program loans by five weeks. The bill was later ratified by President Donald Trump, her second bill signed by the president.

"I'll never stop fighting to keep the American dream alive, especially not in the middle of a global pandemic. That's why I urgently worked across the aisle to secure an extension of the PPP program. Our communities deserve our commitment that their best interests are what is driving our legislation," said Rep. Craig in a statement.

Kistner, Craig's challenger, is a former U.S. Marine and member of the Marine Special Operations Forces. His campaign platform centers on national security, improving infrastructure across the country, and defunding Planned Parenthood. 

The district

Minnesota's 2nd congressional district is home to the south Twin Cities metropolitan area and contains all of Wabasha, Dakota, Goodhue, and Scott counties.

The district is one of thirty congressional districts in the country which voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but is currently represented by a Democrat. President Trump narrowly carried the district in 2016, winning it by 1.2 percentage points over Hillary Clinton. 

Since 2016, this suburban district has trended considerably more Democratic. In 2018, as Craig won her first election over Rep. Jason Lewis by five points, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz carried the district by seven points, 51% to 44%, and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar carried the district by over 22 points, 59% to 37%, according to the Daily Kos. 

The money race

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Craig has raised $3.6 million, or triple the amount of Kistner with $1 million raised. Additionally, Kistner has five times less cash on hand than his Craig. Kistner has $487,000 remaining compared with Craig's $2.6 million. 

What experts say

The race between Kistner and Craig is rated as "safe Democratic" by Inside Elections, "leans Democratic" by The Cook Political Report, and "likely Democratic" according to Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Incumbent Don Bacon and Kara Eastman vie to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District

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Kara Eastman
Kara Eastman speaks to Democratic supporters in 2018
  • Rep. Don Bacon will face Democrat Kara Eastman in a re-match for Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.
  • Bacon defeated Eastman in 2018 in the general election by just two percent.
  • Nebraska's 2nd congressional district is home to Douglas County and the state's largest city, Omaha.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rep. Don Bacon looks to defend his seat against Democratic challenger Kara Eastman in Nebraska's 2nd congressional district.

The candidates

Bacon, the incumbent, is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Following his time in the military, he served as the military advisor for Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Bacon's legislative agenda and campaign is centered around agriculture, oversight and government reform, strengthening national defenses, and supporting U.S. veterans.

Bacon's challenger, Eastman, is a social worker and small business owner. In 2014, Eastman was elected to a four-year term to the Board of Governors of Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. She is running on a campaign to lower prescription drug costs, lowering college tuitions, and addressing climate change.

After losing by just two percent to Bacon in 2018, Eastman faced pressure in the Democratic primaries, namely from Ann Ashford. In response to Ashford's campaigns against Eastman, Eastman received support from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in a campaign email.

"Establishment forces have been aligned against Kara since the beginning," the email said. "In 2018, Kara came within just 2 points of defeating the incumbent Republican...but the Democratic Party still tried to recruit a different challenger. Instead of uniting behind her, they tried to find someone with fewer progressive policy planks to run instead," it added, in a thinly-veiled reference to Ashford. 

Two recent Democratic internal polls from this summer indicate that the race is quite close. An internal poll from the Eastman campaign conducted June 30-July 5 found Eastman leading by one point, 50% to 49%. An earlier poll conducted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in May prior to her primary win also showed her ahead by one point, 48% to 47%. 

The district

Nebraska's 2nd congressional district is located on the eastern edge of the state. It is home to Omaha, the state's largest city, as well as Douglas County and the western region of Sarpy County. Since 1995, the district has only been represented for one term by a Democrat.

The district is both is a top target for Democrats to win both in the House of Representatives and in the electoral college this November. 

Nebraska allocates their five electoral college votes proportionally, with two allocated based on the statewide vote and the other three based on the results in each of the state's three congressional districts, meaning the second district is worth one vote on its own.

Nebraska's second went for former President Barack Obama in 2008, but then swung to Mitt Romney in 2012 and President Donald Trump in 2016, backing Trump by just two percentage points, according to the Daily Kos.

But as America's suburbs continue trending blue, Democrats hope this year to defeat the Republican incumbent and win the district's vote in the electoral college. 

The money race

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Bacon has raised $2.2 million – about $700,000 more than Eastman's $1.5 million. Eastman currently has far less cash on hand remaining with just $404,000 left compared to Bacon's $1 million.

What experts say

The race between Eastman and Bacon is rated as a "toss-up" by Inside Elections and The Cook Political Report, and "leans Republican" according to Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Iconic American bookstore Powell's ditches Amazon, and says quitting the tech giant is like kicking a smoking habit

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powells books
Powell's is ditching Amazon.
  • Powell's, a giant in the independent bookstore world, will no longer sell books on Amazon. 
  • "For too long, we have watched the detrimental impact of Amazon's business on our communities and the independent bookselling world," CEO Emily Powell wrote in a letter to customers this week. 
  • Like many retailers that primarily rely on in-person shoppers, independent bookstores have struggled in recent months.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Powell's, one of the largest and most iconic independent bookstores in the US, is ditching Amazon. 

CEO Emily Powell wrote in a letter to customers on Wednesday that the bookstore would no longer be selling its wares on Amazon's marketplace. Powell's was founded in 1971 and takes up an entire city block in Portland, Oregon. 

"For too long, we have watched the detrimental impact of Amazon's business on our communities and the independent bookselling world. We understand that in many communities, Amazon — and big box retail chains — have become the only option," Powell wrote.

"And yet when it comes to our local community and the community of independent bookstores around the U.S., we must take a stand. The vitality of our neighbors and neighborhoods depends on the ability of local businesses to thrive. We will not participate in undermining that vitality."

Representatives for Amazon did not return Business Insider's request for comment.

Like many retailers that primarily rely on in-person shoppers, independent bookstores have struggled in recent months. Early on in the pandemic, prominent bookstores — including Powell's — were forced to lay off or furlough employees as they fought to stay in business. 

At the same time, Amazon prioritized shipments of essential goods like medical supplies and household cleaning products that were in high demand due to pandemic concerns. To make up for lost sales on Amazon, Powell's began refocusing on customers coming to its own website, Powell told CNBC. 

Powell said that Amazon's marketplace was "hard to give up, sort of like smoking" given that the e-commerce giant has historically been a "big sales generator" for the bookstore.

Ultimately, though, selling on Amazon is cost-intensive for small businesses like Powell's, thanks to expenses related to advertising and providing ultra-speedy shipping.

"No one goes into the book business expecting an easy path, and each year typically brings its share of surprises and challenges. This year, of course, is like none other in memory," Powell wrote in her letter to customers.

"We are all climbing the mountain ahead of us, but the outcome is uncertain."

Read the original article on Business Insider

11 cozy loungewear deals you can still find at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Nordstrom Anniversary Loungewear 4x3

 

With more time spent at home, we're always reaching for loungewear. If you're looking to pick up some cozy new sweats, head over to the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. The sale is live now until August 30, and you can find deep savings on clothing, footwear, beauty and skincare, and more.

With great savings on cozy pieces from brands such as BP, Zella, and FP Movement, you're sure to find great pieces for running errands or just hanging around the house. Since the sale is almost over, many products are selling out or only available in limited sizes, so we recommend checking out the site sooner than later. Below, we rounded up 11 of the best loungewear deals you can still find at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. 

You can also head directly to Nordstrom to shop the following categories:

Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale now.

Here are some of the best loungewear deals you can find this year:

Zella Live In Jogger Pants
zella

Zella Live In Jogger Pants, $38.90 (normally $59) [You save $20.10]

Alo Yoga Streetside Half Zip Faux Fur Hoodie
alo

Alo Yoga Streetside Half Zip Faux Fur Hoodie, $79.90 (normally $158) [You save $78.10]

BP Cozy Top
bp

BP Cozy Top, $24.90 (normally $39) [You save $14.10]

Vince Wool & Cashmere Sweater
vince

Vince Wool & Cashmere Sweater, $199.90 (normally $365) [You save $165.10]

Nike Sportswear Knit Palazzo Pants
nike

Nike Sportswear Knit Palazzo Pants, $39.90 (normally $60) [You save $20.10]

FP Movement Work It Out Hoodie
fp movement

FP Movement Work It Out Hoodie, $44.90 (normally $68) [You save $23.10]

BP Fleece Zip Hoodie
bp1

BP Fleece Zip Hoodie, $29.90 (normally $59) [You save $29.10]

BP All Day Tee
BP Tee

BP All Day Tee, $11.90 (normally $19) [You save $7.10]

Honeydew Intimates Sun Soaker Lounge Set
Honeydew Intimates

Honeydew Intimates Sun Soaker Lounge Set, $44.90 (normally $68) [You save $23.10]

FP Movement Solid Wide Leg Pants
free people movement

FP Movement Solid Wide Leg Pants, $59.90 (normally $108) [You save $48.10]

Honeydew Intimates Easy Rider Sweatpants
honeydew intimates

Honeydew Intimates Easy Rider Sweatpants, $29.90 (normally $48) [You save $18.10]

Read the original article on Business Insider

The 4 stimulus plans Congress is debating that could put extra cash in your bank account

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FILE - In this April 23, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump's name is seen on a stimulus check issued by the IRS to help combat the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in San Antonio. Hundreds of thousands of dollars in coronavirus relief payments have been sent to people behind bars across the United States, and now the IRS is asking state officials to help claw back the cash that the federal tax agency says was mistakenly sent. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
  • Congress is deadlocked on another stimulus package with fierce disagreements on the amount of federal spending needed.
  • Many economists have said additional action is needed to keep jobless people afloat since unemployment remains in the double digits.
  • Four plans under consideration are additional stimulus checks, extra unemployment payments, hazard pay, and hiring bonuses.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Congress is deadlocked on another stimulus package with Republicans and top congressional Democrats fiercely disagreeing on the amount of spending that's needed.

So far, Congress and President Donald Trump have approved over $3 trillion in emergency spending to confront the coronavirus pandemic and manage its economic fallout. The biggest chunk of that came in March from the Cares Act, a $2 trillion relief package designed to pump cash into every part of the American economy.

For individuals, it had two pillars — a wave of one-time stimulus checks of up to $1,200, and a $600 federal boost to weekly unemployment payouts — to help shore up their finances during an economic collapse. But those stimulus payments are largely spent and the government unemployment payout expired last month.

Now, Congress is debating measures that could provide financial relief and put extra cash in people's bank accounts, including additional stimulus checks for Americans. Here are the details.

Read more: Leka Devatha quit a cushy corporate career to start flipping houses. She breaks down how she made $1 million on a single deal by supercharging a simple strategy.

Lawmakers are weighing another round of stimulus checks.
stimulus checks
Stimulus checks.

Trump has expressed support for sending another wave of $1,200 stimulus checks, The Washington Post reported on June 23.

In their proposed stimulus packages, Republicans and Democrats both agreed on a second round of direct payments with similar income thresholds from the first one.

Read more: Bill Miller's record-setting fund beat the market for 15 straight years. He breaks down the trio of forces that has him bullish on stocks — and lays out a 'home run' trade he's making right now.

The Republican proposal also extended eligibility to include dependents regardless of age. They qualify for $500, expanding the range of people that qualify for the cash compared to the initial wave of stimulus checks that left out many adult dependents and college students.

Under the Cares Act, individuals earning under $75,000 a year ($150,000 for couples) got checks of $1,200, plus an extra $500 for dependent children. Payments phased out at $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for couples.

By the beginning of June, over 159 million Americans had received direct payments, per the IRS.

Read more: The ultimate guide to getting started in real-estate investing — according to entrepreneurs who built multimillion-dollar empires from scratch

An extension of boosted unemployment payments is also under consideration.
FILE PHOTO: People line up outside a Kentucky Career Center hoping to find assistance with their unemployment claim in Frankfort, Kentucky, U.S. June 18, 2020. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston
People lining up at an unemployment office in Kentucky.

Democrats are seeking to extend the $600 federal boost to weekly unemployment benefits through January. It's held firm on that position throughout stimulus negotiations.

Republicans oppose reviving the benefits at that amount, arguing it disincentivizes work. But that claim has been challenged by several studies.

Senate Republicans initially proposed a $200 bonus that would transition to a 70% wage replacement. The White House then proposed a $400 benefit until December; Democrats rejected it as insufficient.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that five out of every six recipients would get more money from the government than from their previous employer if the supplement were extended through the end of the year.

Unemployment, though, is expected to remain in or near double digits for much of the year, according to the CBO and the Federal Reserve.

A group of top bipartisan economists called on Congress this summer to implement a federal boost of up to $400 per week past July, tied to the economic health of individual states.

Read more: 'The outcome will be catastrophic': A renowned stock bear says current market valuations rival that of the Great Depression — and warns a return to normalcy will be accompanied by a 66% crash

Lawmakers are proposing hazard pay to give essential workers a financial boost.
essential workers coronavirus  1
A worker disinfects shopping carts at a Publix grocery store in Florida.

In the HEROES Act passed in May, House Democrats included $200 billion in hazard pay for essential workers such as grocery store employees. That measure would supplement an extra $13 an hour on top of regular wages for those workers.

Senate Democrats also released a proposal — known as the "Heroes Fund" — to provide up to $25,000 per person for a broad range of essential workers, including delivery drivers.

Some congressional Republicans moved in that direction too. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah also unveiled a plan to provide additional money for essential workers. It would ramp up pay for qualifying workers earning less than $50,000 a year by $12 an hour for three months. 

Read more: BANK OF AMERICA: Buy these 7 pharma stocks now as they race to develop COVID-19 treatments and vaccines

The $1 trillion Republican stimulus proposal did not contain a provision for hazard pay.

Some Republicans are pushing for a "back to work" bonus of up to $1,200.
Coronavirus restaurant

Several Republicans have rolled out proposals for a hiring bonus, arguing that it would be effective in getting people off unemployment rolls and back to work.

Rep. Kevin Brady introduced a plan for a $1,200 bonus, which is equivalent to a jobless person collecting two weeks of expanded unemployment benefits.

Another bill from Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio would put the bonus at $450 a week for up to six weeks.

"The $600 was necessary, in my view, to get us started in this, but now we have a situation where the economy is starting to reopen, people are looking for workers," Portman said at a Senate Finance Committee hearing earlier this month.

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Read the original article on Business Insider

The best air purifiers

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  • The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier is the best air purifier overall because it can clean a 650-square-foot room in 15 minutes, has an indicator that lets you know when to clean or replace the filters, and complements any decor.
  • We tested and researched more than 10 air purifiers from a wide spectrum of brands to determine the best ones for your needs and budget.
  • Our guide features air purifiers that are easy to maintain, remove a broad array of irritants from the air, and performed well in our tests.

Surprise — the air inside your home can be dirtier than the air outside. Chemicals from nail polish and cleaning products, pet hair, dust, and more can add up to poor indoor air quality and potential respiratory issues. That's where an air purifier can come in handy. 

It's a useful appliance that can greatly help improve the quality of indoor air. If you're considering an air purifier to help protect against the novel coronavirus, according to the EPA, a portable air cleaner by itself is not enough. However, when used along with other best practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention such as hand washing and social distancing, operating an air cleaner can be part of a plan to protect you and your household.

Our guide of the best air purifiers recommends models that are easy to maintain, remove a broad array of irritants from the air, and performed well in our tests. When we examined each model, we considered its Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), noise level, long-term costs, maintenance, and filtration systems. We also noted how easy they are to use, as well as any other useful features.

We explain our testing methodology in more at the end of our guide, and included other models we looked at that didn't make the cut as well as air-purifying techniques.

Here are the best air purifiers:

Prices and links are current as of 8/28/2020. We added tips on how to improve indoor air quality and related guides.

The best overall
blueair air purifier

The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier filters the air in medium-to-large rooms up to five times per hour, and it's so quiet that you won't notice it's operating.

The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier is designed to remove bacteria, mold, pet dander, dust, pollen, viruses, and other airborne pollutants. And, with a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 350 cubic feet per minute, it can clean the air in a 650-square-foot room approximately four times in an hour. Plus, it's small and lightweight enough for you to effortlessly move it from one room to the next.

The Blue Pure 211+ has three-stage filtration: a fabric pre-filter, particle filter, and carbon filter. And, the unit tells you when it's time to clean or replace the filter. Replacing the filter can be quite pricey though it should be done every six months to ensure you continue to breathe properly filtered air. The Blue Pure 211+ is Energy Star-certified and has relatively low energy costs (using 30 to 60 watts).

Another nice feature is that it runs quietly, ranging from 31 decibels on its lowest setting and 56 on its highest — quiet enough to use in a bedroom.

Pros: Does an excellent job of removing dust, pollen, and smoke; indicator lets you know when to clean/replace filter; attractive appearance; easy to use

Cons: Filter replacement is expensive

The best on a budget
Best Air Purifiers

If you're looking for an air purifier that offers an impressive balance of price and performance, the Honeywell HPA300 True HEPA Air Purifier is your best bet.

Honeywell is a trusted brand when it comes to air purifiers, and the HPA300 True HEPA Air Purifier is the company's most acclaimed model. In a crowded field of expensive models, this Honeywell unit does the best job of balancing performance with price.

With a CADR of 320 for dust (300 for smoke and pollen), the HPA300 is suited for rooms of up to 600 square feet. It has an activated carbon pre-filter, which needs to be replaced every three months, and three HEPA filters, which need to be replaced every year. A year's supply of replacement filters will run you approximately $70, so the operating cost is quite high. An indicator light lets you know when it's time to change the filter.

The biggest drawbacks are the high costs for filter replacement and operation.

Pros: Affordable; intuitive controls; easy to transport; does a very good job of removing smoke, dust, and pollen

Cons: Complaints of odors; might be too loud on high speed for some; expensive replacement filters

The best wall-mounted purifier
Best Air Purifiers

The RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier can be mounted to a wall for an attractive and unobtrusive appearance.

When installing an air purifier, you not only have to account for the space the unit takes up, but you also have to provide clearance around it to allow for airflow. When real estate is at a premium and appearances are important, the wall-mounted RabbitAir MinusA2 Ultra Quiet HEPA Air Purifier addresses this.

The MinusA2 has a six-stage filter: pre-filter, medium filter, patented BioGS HEPA filter, charcoal-based activated carbon filter, optional negative ion generator, and a customized filter. The custom filter is unique in that you can choose to target toxins, odors, pet dander, or germs depending on your needs. The filter replacement kit is expensive, but you only need to budget for it every two years or so.

Pros: Low filter and operating costs; silent operation; wall-mounted; outstanding at removing particulate matter; attractive appearance; five-year warranty

Cons: Expensive upfront cost

The best splurge
Best Air Purifiers

The Coway Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier barely makes any sound and adjusts the fan speed based on the air's pollution level.

The Airmega 400 Smart Air Purifier is Coway's top-of-the-line model. It features two sets of filters on each side of the unit: the easy-to-clean pre-filter and the Max2 filter, which is a combined True HEPA filter and activated charcoal. When it's time to change the filters, the indicator light turns on. The Airmega 400 can monitor the air quality and adjust the fan speed to quickly filter the air.

I tested this air purifier on the main floor of my home in a centrally-located spot. Although it's designed for rooms up to 760 square feet, it still did a great job in my open, 1,400-square-foot area, filtering the air in about 15 minutes.

In Smart mode, the fan speed ramps up when I get overzealous with my meat searing in the kitchen. After a year of use, I'm just now nearing the end of the original filter's lifespan. Replacing the filters is incredibly pricey, however. 

While some recommend the Wi-Fi-enabled version, the Airmega 400S, the only real difference between the 400S and 400 is the app-connectivity and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Other than that, performance is essentially the same.

Pros: Quiet; attractive design; energy-efficient; cleans the air in a 760-square-foot room in 15 minutes

Cons: Expensive filter contributes to the overall price 

Read our full review of the Coway Airmega 400.

The best ionizing purifier
Best Air Purifiers

In addition to three filters, the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier includes ionization, and the fan speed adjusts based on the air quality.

Coway is one of the top names in air purifiers and the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier is its most popular model. It has an array of high-end features, including an air quality indicator, an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed to the air quality, and a shut-off timer.

The Mighty has a CADR of 246 cubic feet per minute for dust, 240 for pollen, and 233 for smoke, which makes it a good option for rooms of up to 460 square feet. The air goes through four filter stages: pre-filter, odor filter, true HEPA filter, and an ionizer. An ionizer electrically charges air molecules for purification; it can lower bacterial infections by removing particles in the air. But note that the effectiveness has been questioned and may emit ozone. Fortunately, any ozone exposure is minimal, and you can turn the ionizing feature off if you're concerned.

The Coway Mighty is one of three air purifiers I'm currently running in my home. My son has it in his bedroom so we can minimize our home's "teen odor index." We've had it for a year, and it does an outstanding job. And, I like how easy it is to clean the pre-filter: When the indicator light tells me it's time for cleaning, I just run a cordless handheld vacuum over it. So far, I haven't had to replace the filter, but it's pretty affordable and it lasts for a year.

Unfortunately, the Mighty is not readily at the time of this update and will start shipping from retailers like Amazon in October. If you're looking for a similar model, Coway has a newer version called the Airmega 200M. Based on our testing, the 200M is more powerful but is otherwise similar in performance to the Mighty. Depending on the color, you can sometimes find the newer Airmega 200M to be significantly cheaper than the Mighty. If you come across this, we suggest going with the cheaper of the two because performance is so similar. We think you'll be satisfied with either.

Pros: Automatically adjusts fan speed based on pollutants in the air; timer; four-stage filtration; eco mode

Cons: High power consumption, gets loud on high

What else we considered

While researching this guide, we looked at numerous models and brands of air purifiers. Many of them just missed the cut, but are otherwise strong products in their own right. Here are five that almost made it:

How we test air purifiers
Dyson air purifier deal

When I test an air purifier, there are several things I look for such as the rate in which it cleans, noise level, and more. 

In addition to hands-on testing, I turn to other established reviewers, such as Wirecutter and Consumer Reports, for their assessments. Based on my and other experts' research and testing, and looking through the manufacturers' specs, I'm able to compare the key performance indicators of the top models.

Here are the main attributes when testing air purifiers:

CADR: Clean Air Delivery Rate is a rating developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers that is used to determine how many cubic feet of air an appliance can clean in a minute. If you multiply the CADR by 1.875, you can determine what room size the air purifier can clean four times in one hour, which is the recommended minimum number of air changes per hour (ACH). This calculation assumes an average ceiling height of 8 feet. Don't worry if this sounds confusing: We put it in easy-to-understand terms in our guide.

Noise level: A good air purifier will operate in the background without most people noticing it. Loud air purifiers are a deal-breaker. I use a sound meter positioned four feet from the air purifier and measure the decibels when the fan is at its lowest speed and highest speed. The average unit should register less than 40 decibels (like a light rain) most of the time and about 60 decibels (normal conversation) on high.

Long-term costs: Air purifier filters don't last forever. They need to be replaced every 3 to 24 months, depending on the type of filter. When buying an air purifier, you need to factor in filter costs and operating expenses. Look for Energy Star-certified units if you want to save money on electricity.

Maintenance: If your filters are dirty, then they won't perform well. You need to clean your filters regularly. I prefer air purifier that tells me when it's time for a cleaning. A cordless hand vacuum is all you need to clean most filters. You can clean some with water, but read the user's manual to make sure it's okay before doing this and be sure to thoroughly dry the filter before using it again.

Filtration: You want a true HEPA or HEPA-type filter that can remove at least 99.97% of 0.3-micron airborne particles. The purifiers in our guide all meet this requirement. Additionally, some models have ionizers. Ionizers are controversial, but they reportedly produce negative ions that cling to air pollutants, which makes them easier to filter or vacuum up.  

Other air-purifying techniques
Best robot vacuums

While we're here to help you choose the best air purifier for your needs, we'd be remiss if we didn't offer other solutions for clearing the air so you can have an effective multi-pronged attack on pollutants. Here's a guide on how to test and improve indoor quality.

But if the first thing that comes to mind is houseplants, hold on. While certain ones can help remove harmful air pollutants, their impact is a lot less than you'd expect. They won't make indoor air quality worse, but they won't make a dramatic difference either. 

Instead, here are simple steps you can take to clean your aireffectively without the need for an air purifier:

  • Clean regularly: Irritants can collect on surfaces and cause sneezing fits when disturbed. When you clean regularly — including dusting and vacuuming — you remove allergens and more. Check out our guides for the best vacuum cleaners, best robot vacuums, best budget vacuums, and best cordless vacuums.
  • Ventilate: This could include installing ventilation fans in your bathroom or kitchen, or running (well-cleaned) ceiling fans. 
  • Store chemicals outside of your house: Abrasive cleaners and other harsh chemicals are often a source of irritation. Store them in your shed or garage and not where you will be exposed to them regularly.

 

More helpful buying guides to improve air quality
lifestyle URPOWER littler humidifier, diffuser

The best humidifiers

An excellent humidifier can make your home's air much more comfortable to breathe, particularly when the air becomes too dry. Here are our top picks.


The best tower fans

A tower fan can move a substantial amount of air, creating appreciable cooling even in large rooms despite occupying less than a square foot of floor space. Some multifunction tower fans also have heating functions, making them ideal for use in all seasons, albeit usually with an added cost. Check out our favorite options.


The best dehumidifiers

A good dehumidifier removes excess humidity from the air, which can help prevent mold and mildew buildup and eliminate allergens. These are the best you can buy.

Read the original article on Business Insider

S&P 500, Nasdaq close at records as data signals continued recovery

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  • US equities gained on Friday on better-than-expected economic data. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite notched record highs.
  • Consumer spending in the US grew 1.9% in July, beating economists' 1.5% estimate and signaling a continued, albeit slowing, economic recovery.
  • The Dow Jones industrial average erased its 2020 losses. The index briefly traded above its December 31, 2019 close in Thursday's session before paring gains.
  • Oil was little changed as Hurricane Laura weakened over the Gulf region. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed as much as 0.9%, to $43.42 per barrel, before paring gains.
  • Watch major indexes update live here.

US stocks climbed to new records on Friday as economic data surprised to the upside. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite reached all-time highs once again as their rallies surged onward.

Consumer spending in the US grew 1.9% in July, the Commerce Department reported on Friday. Economists surveyed by Reuters anticipated growth of 1.5%. The gain follows a 6.2% jump in June and rebukes some fears that the nation's economic recovery stumbled last month.

The department also said US personal income climbed by 0.4% in July. Economists expected a 0.2% drop.

Here's where US indexes stood at the 4 p.m. ET market close on Friday:

Read more: MORGAN STANLEY: Buy these 12 underappreciated stocks that offer strong profit growth and are due for a surge

The Dow erased its 2020 losses, becoming the last of the three major US indexes to turn positive year-to-date. The 30-stock index traded above its December 31, 2019 close on Thursday but ended the session below the threshold. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite erased their year-to-date losses months ago on surging tech stocks. The Dow's smaller exposure to the sector delayed its turning positive for the year.

Investors continued to cheer the Federal Reserve's shift to a new monetary policy framework. The central bank will now aim for 2% inflation averaged out over time, signaling periods of stronger inflation to balance out today's lower rate. The shift "was music to the ears of Wall Street bulls," Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at OANDA Europe, said in a note.

"In theory, by aiming for 2% average inflation, the central bank should hold off a little longer before raising interest rates. Whether they do so to any significant degree is another thing," Erlam said.

Read more: Savita Subramanian uses her philosophy major more than her math degree as Bank of America's US equity chief. She told us how it guides her investing strategy — and shared the drivers behind her career success.

The energy sector led indexes higher through the session. Tech stocks continued to gain, with semiconductor producers including Intel and Nvidia led the group.

Financials outperformed on the Fed's announcement. Visa and Mastercard jumped the most in the sector.

Workday shares surged after the company beat estimates for second-quarter revenue and earnings. The cloud software firm attributed its success through the pandemic to clients' spending on solutions for the work-from-home shift.

Read more: Chris Mayer wrote the book on how to make 100 times your money with a single stock. He gives an in-depth assessment of the latest company that 'checks all my boxes.'

Gold climbed as much as 2.3%, to $1,973.92 per ounce, on new interest following the Fed's announcement. A longer period of low interest rates drags on Treasury yields, in turn boosting the precious metal's relative value.

Oil edged lower amid fallout from Hurricane Laura. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped as much as 0.8%, to $43.69 per barrel. Brent crude, oil's international standard, fell 0.6% to $44.80 at intraday lows.

Now read more markets coverage from Markets Insider and Business Insider:

The US tech sector is now worth more than the entire European stock market, Bank of America says

Credit Suisse fired a banker who forged a wealth-management client's documents and cost the firm $11 million, a new report says

We asked hundreds of millennial investors for their top long-term stock pick. Here are the top 7 most popular responses.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Online learning is growing faster than ever — we compared 4 of the top platforms leading the way

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Thanks to online learning platforms, a physical classroom is no longer the only place to gain an education. You can now learn anything, from photography to computer science, from anywhere. The democratization of education has helped break down traditional barriers of access like high costs and location, resulting in a more skilled and informed workplace and citizenry. Not to mention that online classes are a great way to gain new skills and stay engaged while many of us are spending more time at home due to self-isolation guidelines surrounding the novel coronavirus.

These days, there are countless types of classes and online learning platforms to choose from. You could spend years absorbing the differences in coding languages, strategizing how to most effectively leverage email marketing tactics for your small business, or in a very meta twist, learning how to learn — and then move on to a different platform and do it all over again.

To help you make sense of the different models, we compared four popular online learning platforms: Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Skillshare.

We looked at pricing, types of courses offered, what you're getting in each course, and the teachers who will be guiding you through it all. We also found the top courses from each platform so you can get an idea of why specific students flock to each site. 

Keep scrolling to find a platform that will suit your particular needs, whether you want to gain the skills necessary for that next promotion or you just love learning for the sake of learning.

Udemy
udemy

Udemy is the world's largest marketplace for online learning, offering over 100,000 courses across a large range of categories. Its mission is "to improve lives through learning." 

Course categories:

  • Development, IT & software, business, office productivity
  • Design, marketing, photography, music
  • Lifestyle, personal development, health & fitness 
  • Teacher training, academics, language, test prep

Pricing: 

  • Pay-per-course. There is no loyalty or subscription program.
  • Some classes are offered for free
  • Paid classes range from $10 (when discounted) to $200 per course

What you get:

  • Full lifetime access to the course
  • Learning tools: videos, articles, PowerPoint presentations, audio, assessments, and online discussion boards 
  • Certificate of completion depending on the course 

Teachers:

  • Experts in their field who create and manage the course

Apps available on:

  • iOS, Android, and Apple TV devices 

Corporate or team programs available for:

  • Business 

Languages:

  • The website is localized for 16 languages to make it easier for non-English users to browse courses offered in both English and their native language. 

Popular courses:

Use Udemy if: 

  • You like choosing from a variety of options for nearly every topic imaginable
  • You don't plan to take a lot of classes in the same time period. The cost of individual classes can add up quickly without promotions.
  • You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money. 

Browse and sign up for courses on Udemy.

LinkedIn Learning
linkedin learning

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) is a LinkedIn-owned online learning platform that offers over 15,000 courses, with more being added almost weekly. They seek to help users "learn from industry experts, and connect with a global network of experience." 

Course categories:

  • Business
  • Technology
  • Creative

Pricing: 

  • Free 30-day trial 
  • Monthly subscription plan, from $29.99 per month
  • Yearly subscription plan, from $19.99 per month

What you get:

  • Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning's entire course library
  • Personalized course recommendations
  • Offline viewing with the mobile app
  • Access to LinkedIn's Premium Career features

Teachers:

  • Experts in their field who create and manage the course

Apps available on:

  • iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Apple TV devices 

Corporate or team programs available for:

  • Academic, business, and government 

Languages:

  • Courses are offered in English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese.

Popular courses:

Use LinkedIn Learning if: 

  • You would like to supplement your current professional or educational experience.
  • You plan to consistently take courses in order to make the subscription worth it.
  • You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money. 

Start your free trial on LinkedIn Learning.

Coursera
coursera

Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer more than 3,900 academic courses on its online learning platform. In addition to courses, it offers specializations and online degrees. Its mission is "universal access to the world's best education."

Course categories:

  • Arts & humanities, social sciences
  • Business, computer science, data science, math & logic
  • Life sciences, physical science & engineering 
  • Language learning

Pricing: 

  • Free or pay-per-course for expanded access. Applications for financial aid are available. 
  • $29 to $99 per course
  • $39 to $79 per month for specializations (series of courses culminating in a Capstone Project)
  • $15,000 to $25,000 for an accredited master's degree 

What you get:

  • Free users get access to course materials like videos.
  • Paid users also get access to assignments, and will receive a final grade.
  • Certificate of completion for courses and specializations, or a degree certification. 

Teachers:

  • Instructors from top universities and other educational institutions around the world

Apps available on:

  • iOS and Android devices

Corporate or team programs available for:

  • Business and government 

Languages:

  • Video subtitles are available in over 30 languages.

Popular courses:

Use Coursera if: 

  • You want access to the minds of the world's top universities without having to pay for the costs of higher education. 
  • You need a scheduled pace to keep you moving and motivated, rather than going at your own pace. 
  • You would like to complete an online master's degree. 

Browse and sign up for courses on Coursera.

Skillshare
skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning platform that offers over 20,000 classes, projects, and workshops. Its mission is "to provide high-quality, personalized learning to millions of students worldwide." 

Course categories:

  • Animation, design, illustration
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Photo & Film
  • Writing

Pricing: 

  • Free 30-day trial 
  • Many classes are free to access
  • Monthly subscription plan, $19 per month
  • Annual subscription plan, from $8.25 per month. Need-based, small business, and student scholarships are available.

What you get:

  • Unlimited access to Skillshare's entire class library
  • Offline access to classes
  • Learning tools: videos and projects
  • Discounts on creative services like Shutterstock, Adobe Premier Pro CC, and Squarespace for Annual subscribers

Teachers:

  • Experts in their field who create and manage the course

Apps available on:

  • iOS, Android and Apple TV devices 

Corporate or team programs available for:

  • Academic and business

Languages:

  • Does not apply

Popular courses:

Use Skillshare if: 

  • You are a creative who wants to learn new skills or brush up on current skills.
  • You like to apply your learning to hands-on projects. 
  • You are an expert who would like to share your skills and make some money. 

Start your free trial on Skillshare.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best car rental companies

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Are rental cars safe 4x3

Car rental companies, along with the entire travel industry, have had to quickly adapt to a changing landscape as demand for travel dipped in response to the novel coronavirus.

Now, as many states continue phased reopening and Americans consider safe fall travel, more people are likely to turn to road trips as a result of concerns over air travel. Beyond standard cars, people are even renting RVs and camper vans to hit the road.

Like hotels, rental car companies such as Enterprise, Alamo, National, Avis, and Budget have all announced new measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, and are stepping up their cleaning and sanitization procedures. Our experts weighed in on the overall safety of such rental car policies and agreed that a well-sanitized vehicle is much less of a danger than being around infected humans. Strict checklists, new cleaning products, curbside and contactless pick-up, and the thorough cleaning and disinfecting of each vehicle when returned by a customer or transported by employees are all part of new levels of service designed to assuage concerns regarding COVID-19. 

As well as the familiar industry leaders, there is also a new generation of peer-to-peer car rental companies, where customers rent vehicles from approved 'hosts,' much as you might book an Airbnb.

Turo and Getaround are among the leading names in this market. "We're seeing people book cars to run errands and to get to and from work if they're essential workers who aren't comfortable using public transportation," says Christin DiScipio of peer-to-peer car rental company Turo. "We're seeing people book cars to use as an extension of their home office."

DiScipio reports that while demand has diminished in the short term, peer-to-peer companies such as Turo have commercial agility that will work in their favor going forward.

Additionally, as forward planning becomes less predictable, many companies have updated their cancellation policies. Customers should check policies very carefully before signing any rental agreement, and it's also worth considering taking out a specific travel insurance policy that would cover some of the costs in case of unforeseen changes. 

Enterprise, Alamo, and National are reportedly extending their existing no-fee cancellation policy to include customers with direct pre-paid rentals. At Hertz, young renter fees are being waived and the minimum age lowered from 20- to 18 -years-old to help college students and young drivers. Additionally, customers with pre-paid Hertz rentals booked prior to March 13 can cancel for no fee and transfer their balance toward a future booking within 24 months.

These new procedures and policies all factored into our list of top car rental companies for 2020. We also researched dozens of car rental companies across categories and consulted reviews on third-party sites such as Priceline.com, Kayak.com, Expedia.com, and Rentalcars.com. We considered price points, the number of nationwide locations (airport and otherwise), and impressive customer service satisfaction levels based on the 2019 customer satisfaction report by survey company JD Power, which gathered responses from over 12,000 business and leisure travelers who rented a vehicle.

Price quotes are taken from the company's own websites and are based on a one-week rental of a medium-sized vehicle (or 'standard' car, for example, a Volkswagen Jetta or similar) by a driver over 25, picking up midweek from a regional airport, with unlimited mileage. All quotes were for bookings made two months in advance without any extras.

Keep reading to see why we chose these companies, review sample price quotes and the kind of services they offer, plus updated hygiene and cancellation policies, and what you should know about each of our picks.

These are the best car rental companies: 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car: Best overall
Enterprise

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a trusted name that performs impressively well across all categories, including customer satisfaction, online booking, and price. According to the 2019 survey by trusted market research company JD Power, Enterprise scored highly for their website and app (placing second and third respectively), as well as placing second for overall customer satisfaction, with 855 points out of a possible 1,000 possible points and just one point behind leaders Hertz.

Typical quote: One-week rental comes in at $441 including taxes and fees.

Current COVID-19 cleaning policy: Enterprise Rent-A-Car has a new Complete Clean pledge, which includes, "washing, vacuuming, general wipe down, and sanitizing with a disinfectant that meets leading health authority requirements, with particular attention to more than 20-plus high-touch points." 

Current cancellation policy: During the pandemic, the company is extending its existing no-fee cancellation policy to include customers with pre-paid rentals booked directly through them. Previously, pre-paid rentals that were canceled would incur a fee. Cancellations must be made 24 hours or more before the pick-up, otherwise, a no-show fee of $100 will be assessed.

Look out for: Enterprise's daily rate can be slightly higher than the average car rental rate, but the company reports that it has reduced other additional charges, such as those for drivers under the age of 25.

Hertz: best customer satisfaction
Hertz car rental

Hertz has one of the top-regarded, best long-term reputations, with a decades-long presence. The company has more than 1,600 locations at airports in the United States alone, with a varied fleet and an impressive rewards program. Hertz's pick-up and drop-off processes at airports are particularly efficient, which was one of the main factors behind their high score of 856 out of 1,000 by respondents to JD Power's 2019 survey. 

Typical quote: One-week rental comes in at $326 including taxes and fees.

Current COVID-19 cleaning policy: The company's new cleaning policy is quoted as, "A 15-point cleaning checklist, and all cars that have been sanitized are being marked with a "Hertz Gold Standard Clean" sticker, which will only be broken when the car's driver accesses the rental for the first time, meaning that the driver's area is disinfected as a last step when the car is moved to its final location.

Current cancellation and fees policies: Young renter (under 25) fees are being waived and the minimum renter age lowered from 20 to 18 years old to help college students and young drivers return home. The company has also lowered rates for one-way trips. Customers with pre-paid Hertz rentals booked prior to March 13 can cancel their reservation for no fee and transfer their balance for use toward a future booking within 24 months. Otherwise, regular cancellation fees apply: full price for a no-show, $100 if cancelled more than 24 hours before pick-up, $200 if cancelled less than 24 hours before pick-up. 

Look out for: The quotes for short term rentals with Hertz are slightly higher than some of the company's competitors, especially when renting for just a day or two. Longer-term rentals are more competitive. 

National Car Rental: Best car rental company website and app
National Car Rental

National Car Rental is particularly proud of its services and loyalty program for business travelers, and this focus on customer service bleeds over into its leisure customer service as well. This is most apparent in its website and app, both of which are highly regarded, with the company placing first and second place respectively in those categories in the 2019 JD Power survey of travel industry online portals.  

Typical quote: A one-week rental comes in at $559 including taxes and fees.

Current COVID-19 cleaning policy: National shares sister company Enterprise's Complete Clean Pledge, which includes, "washing, vacuuming, general wipe down, and sanitizing with a disinfectant that meets leading health authority requirements, with particular attention to more than 20-plus high-touch points." 

Current cancellation policy: During the pandemic, the company is extending its existing no-fee cancellation policy to include customers with pre-paid rentals booked directly through them. Previously, pre-paid rentals that were canceled would incur a fee. Cancellations must be made 24 hours or more before the pick-up, otherwise, a no-show fee of $100 will be assessed.

Look out for: National is somewhat focused on business travelers and does not currently offer drop-off or pick-up services.

Alamo Rent-A-Car: Best car rental company for cheap quotes
Alamo Rent A Car

Alamo Rent-A-Car is a well-established, well-trusted name in the car rental market. Alamo's prices were regularly among the cheapest prices we found when gathering quotes both through the various companies' own websites and third-party comparison sites. Though the company has relatively fewer locations, Alamo's prices are always very competitive.

Typical quote: A one-week rental comes in at $516 including taxes and fees.

Current COVID-19 cleaning policy: Alamo shares the Complete Clean Pledge offered by National and Enterprise, which includes, "washing, vacuuming, general wipe down, and sanitizing with a disinfectant that meets leading health authority requirements, with particular attention to more than 20-plus high-touch points." 

Current cancellation policy: During the pandemic, the company is extending its existing no-fee cancellation policy to include customers with pre-paid rentals booked directly through them. Previously, pre-paid rentals that were canceled would incur a fee. Cancellations must be made 24 hours or more before the pick-up, otherwise, a no-show fee of $100 will be assessed.

Look out for: Alamo Rent-A-Car has slightly fewer locations than many of its competitors, and the locations it does have are very concentrated on airports. 

Turo: Best peer-to-peer car rental
Turo car rental

Peer-to-peer car rentals are still making inroads into the market, but Turo is a consistently favorite, allowing people to both rent out their private cars and rent from private car owners. Set-up is relatively straightforward and the renting process is nearly identical to that of any traditional rental vehicle. The company also offers well-defined insurance options. Pick-up and drop-off locations depend on individual owners and will change for each booking. Turo also offers their own roadside 24/7 assistance policy and prices are very attractive. 

Typical quote: A one-week rental comes in at $185 including taxes and fees. However, just like when comparing Airbnb to standard hotel rooms, Turo varies more than typical car rentals and has a wide range of price points available.

Current COVID-19 cleaning policy: The company asks hosts to "clean and disinfect the car after each trip with disinfectant wipes or spray. Wipe down the steering wheel, door handles, trunk latch, keys, and any other surfaces that are touched frequently."  

Current cancellation policy: Guests may cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before their trip starts. Guests who book within 24 hours of their trip have one hour after booking to cancel for free. For canceled trips longer than two days, a guest is charged one day's trip cost. For canceled trips two days or shorter, a guest is charged 50% of one day's trip cost. The trip cost includes the trip price and trip fee.

Look out for: Obviously the variety of cars on offer varies considerably and customer service levels and actual cleanliness practices depend on individual hosts, though they do receive a public rating, which can help inform your experience.

Read Business Insider's full review of Turo here.

Other reputable car rental companies that we strongly considered, but didn't quite make the cut:
Hertz

Dollar: The company has average pricing for the industry but locations are not quite as widespread and offers fewer benefits, for example, there's no at-home customer drop-off or pick-up. 

Sixt: A big name in Europe that is making strides in the American market, however, some car sizes might seem ungenerous to American companies.  

Thrifty: Attractive, competitive prices but fewer locations than many of its peers and a less expansive loyalty scheme. 

Budget: A good number of locations but it also has a less attractive loyalty program and their airport pick-ups can be subject to additional fees. 

Avis: Good, affordable quotes for weekly rates and a great app, but the loyalty program makes it challenging to earn points, and airport pick-ups can be subject to fees. 

How we made our decisions:

How did we choose the best car rental products?

Insider Reviews combed through the online specifications and customer reviews of car rental offers on the market. The research included car rental quotes from many companies and considered factors such as what is included in the rental agreement, the number of locations, the satisfaction levels of their customer service and the value for money on offer.

How far in advance should I book a car rental for the best price? 

The received wisdom is that it's better to book as early as possible to book a rental car, between three to six months is optimal. There's no real advantage booking any further out, and prices increase the closer to your trip you leave it. 

Are some days cheaper than others for picking up a vehicle? 

Weekend pick-ups tend to be slightly cheaper, with Monday and Tuesday pick-ups usually slightly more expensive. Compare airport pick-ups versus locations in the city, even factoring a taxi to these locations. Some cities will always be cheaper at the airport, while others will see the complete opposite. 

Is it worth paying for insurance? 

First of all, you may already be covered, so check with your car insurance policy, or call your insurance company to find out if your existing coverage extends to a rental car. Car rental companies typically offer the following coverage options at the counter as you sign the lease agreement, and it's really down to individual circumstances as to whether you take these out (though some kind of liability insurance is usually compulsory):

Loss-damage/collision damage waiver: This typically waives financial responsibility if the car is damaged or stolen, towed or incurs similar fees. Typical cost: $9–$19 a day. 

Liability coverage: This is usually required coverage, protects you from potential lawsuits and typically costs around $7–$14 a day.

Personal accident insurance covers medical costs that might be incurred after an accident. Typical cost: $1–$5 a day. 

Personal effects coverage insures against theft any possessions that you might keep in the rental car and typically costs $1–4 a day.

Is it worth joining loyalty programs?

Most loyalty programs are free to join, and sometimes there are immediate benefits or offers, so, there's really no downside to signing up. As with airline frequent flyer programs, the more you can build up by using the same company, the more benefits you will accrue, so frequent renters should look at their travel plans and the companies that will offer the most attractive benefits to members. 

Where can I get a rental quote? 

Most car rental companies will happily supply quotes on their websites without too much information being required. Third-party comparison sites are also very popular and can list dozens of options after entering personal information just once. 

Is travel safe? Here's what experts think you should know.
Is it safe to travel right now 2 4x3
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Amour Vert is a sustainable fashion brand that makes clothes in limited quantities — here's what sets it apart, plus our review

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amour vert
Amour Vert is making fashion greener than ever.

  • When we think about sustainable fashion, there's often a sense that something (usually style or comfort) is being sacrificed.
  • Amour Vert, a sustainable fashion brand, is completely upending that notion by making pieces that are chic, comfortable, and better for the planet.
  • Producing items in limited quantities and planting trees with purchases of T-shirts are just two of the ways the brand is contributing to a more eco-friendly future. 
  • We got to try two dresses from Amour Vert (ranging in price from $118 to $178) and were impressed with the quality, style, and overall mission of the brand. 

As a product reviewer, I've become hyper-aware of my own consumption. Constantly testing new products, covering launches, and researching brands surely makes you a more conscious consumer; gone are the days of credit card swiping with abandon. 

In helping Business Insider readers discover the best products and brands out there, I've learned about which brands I think are worth spending my own money on, too. Amour Vert is one of those brands that I'm happy to have discovered, and equally happy to support. 

Amour Vert translates to "Green Love" in French, a name that fits perfectly when you consider everything the brand stands for. While a fashion brand, Amour Vert is committed to making clothing that is thoughtful, versatile, and sustainable. They're accomplishing this with unique product methods, environmental initiatives, and timeless pieces that you'll want to keep in your closet forever. 

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How Amour Vert prioritizes sustainability

From the way they make their clothing, to the brands they choose to feature on site, to the environmental organizations they've partnered with, it's clear that sustainability really is the backbone of Amour Vert's brand. Here's a little overview of all of the unique things Amour Vert is doing to make sustainability a priority:

Production

Mass production can make clothing cheaper for consumers, but it doesn't do much good for the environment as it typically leads to massive amounts of waste. In an effort to eliminate excess waste, Amour Vert pieces are made in limited quantities. This also means that each piece is made with more care. And, limited quantity means the selection is always changing, so there's always something new to find on the site.

Signature fabrics

Amour Vert works directly with mills to develop signature fabrics that not only feel great but are better for the environment, too. The signature modal is made from sustainably harvested beechwood fibers. The Mulberry silk and organic cotton are both free of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful toxins. Merino wool is made at a sustainable-power plant, from ethically treated animals. The Tencel comes from sustainably farmed eucalyptus trees and the Cupro used is made from cotton linter that would otherwise just be thrown into a landfill as waste. The thought that goes into making these innovative blends translates directly into the superior quality you'll experience with its clothing. 

Tree planting

For every Amour Vert T-shirt that is purchased, the brand plants a tree in North America through American Forests, an organization working to reforest the region. So far, the brand has planted over 220,000 trees. Even if you're not buying a tee, you can add a tree to your cart for just one dollar — you can even plant one in a loved one's honor, making it a sweet gift for any of your environmentally-savvy friends and family.

Other brands

Amour Vert doesn't make their own accessories and shoes, but rather stocks those pieces from other sustainable brands. This is a great way to introduce yourself to more eco-conscious brands both big and small, like trendy footwear brand Veja and earth-inspired jewelry brand Leslie Francesca

amour vert 1

What kind of clothing you can expect from the brand

Amour Vert has a great, and constantly changing, selection of stylish basics and occasion pieces, like dresses and coats for women as well as a range of essentials for men as well. You'll find lots of unique clothing items in fun patterns and colors, as well as classic neutrals.

From my observation, Amour Vert takes attention to detail seriously. You'll find basic blouses spiced up with puffed sleeves and long skirts wrapped in unusual ways. These unique styles definitely make me more likely to continue shopping here. 

My colleague and I got each got to try a dress from the brand. You can keep reading to see which dresses we tried and how we felt about them, but if you just want the spoiler: we really loved them both. From the brand's mission to the comfort and style of their pieces, Amour Vert is definitely a winner. You can find our in-depth thoughts about the dresses we tried, below.

Our review of Amour Vert's dresses

hadden dress amour vert
Hadden Bold Stripe Dress, $188

Hadden Bold Stripe Dress, $118, in Ivory/Navy Stripe

Remi Rosmarin, Insider Reviews reporter:

Everyone could use a breezy, light T-shirt dress to get through the heat of summer. I love bold stripes, so I was drawn to this piece immediately. The fabric (a cotton, modal, and Spandex blend) is super soft and stretchy, making it an easy piece to throw on on those lazy days when getting dressed feels like such a chore. The dress is pretty flowy, with a loose fit throughout. I got a medium and found it to fit pretty well, though the sleeves and chest were a little tight in my opinion. They were not uncomfortably tight, but I think aesthetically I would have liked the way the dress looked a little more had those parts been a little looser. Bottom line, though, I wore this a bunch this summer and probably will a bunch next summer too — it's such a great go-to. 

olive
Olive Maxi Dress, $178

Olive Maxi Dress, $178, in Waves (no longer available)

Sally Kaplan, Insider Reviews senior editor:

This dress comes in a cute geometric pattern called Waves and a simple navy color. Sadly, both of them seem to be low in stock now, but if your size is left, I think you'll find it to be a perfect transitional piece as we creep closer towards fall. I've worn it with a jean jacket, leather jacket, and no jacket at all, and I get compliments every time. 

The Tencel fabric it's made of uses eucalyptus fibers, but you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at or feeling it. I will say that after a long day that involved a ton of walking, sitting, standing, subway riding, and ultimately washing the dress, I noticed that there was some material at the bottom of the dress that looked like it had pulled. It wasn't that the threads pulled and bunched or gathered the dress, it was just that there some lighter cross-hatched threads that were visible with a close look, almost as if a couple of black threads had fallen out and showed the white ones underneath. It's hard to describe, but it didn't happen anywhere other than the bottom of the back of the dress, so my guess is I must have stepped on it or pulled it when sitting down at some point. Amour Vert notes that this material is very delicate, so perhaps I just wasn't careful enough with it. Overall, though, I loved (and still love) everything about this dress.

The bottom line

If you're looking for great basics, Amour Vert is an excellent place to shop. If you're looking for an eco-friendly clothing brand, Amour Vert is ... still an excellent place to shop.

My favorite thing about this brand is that it's both stylish and sustainable, without sacrificing on either fronts. Amour Vert is proving you can be a conscious consumer, and a chic one, too. What's not to love?

Shop sustainable fashion at Amour Vert.

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SCOTT GALLOWAY: Democrats should stick to 3 themes instead of focusing on Trump

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aoc dnc 2020 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 18: U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) addresses the second night of the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention as she seconds the nomination of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders via avideo feed as seen at te convention's hosting site on August 18, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Once expected to draw 50,000 people to Milwaukee, the convention is now taking place virtually due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (Photo by Brian Snyder-Pool/Getty Images)
US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addresses the second night of the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention via video feed.
  • Scott Galloway is a bestselling author and professor of marketing at NYU Stern.
  • The following is his recent blog post, republished with permission. It originally ran on his blog, "No Mercy / No Malice."
  • Galloway says both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions were more about demonizing the opposite party than sharing a party platform or vision for the future presidency.
  • Democrats could unknowingly aid in Trump's reelection, the professor says, if they keep making excuses for looting and promoting intentions to defund the police, which Galloway calls irrational.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The DNC and RNC Zoom calls, posing as conventions, were all about shadows — not the parties or platforms themselves, but perceptions of threats. The Republican Party decided, in another first, to not update its 2016 platform because, you know, not much has happened since "Finding Dory" and "Lemonade" dominated the box office and music charts, and the Zika virus caused 5,230 symptomatic cases in the US, and one confirmed death.

"Make America great again, again" is the slogan, but the message is "I alone can fix these problems, even if they're of my own making." It's more effective than it sounds. We gave Bush and Obama a second term to figure out Iraq and the economy, respectively.

The DNC Zoom theme was "don't be afraid of us," in contrast to the GOP's "be afraid of them." Biden argued America needs empathy and competence, and Trump laid out the case for a strongman.

"They'll disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home, and invite MS-13 to live next door." — Rep. Matt Gaetz

Democratic elder statesmen (or whoever has their hand on the Vice President's back) decided to opt for the Neosporin of centrists (Kasich, Jones) and limited the cocaine (AOC) to one rail (96 seconds). Fun fact: I'd opt for the Bolivian marching powder, but they didn't ask. 

Actually, they did ask. My friend Tammy Haddad set up a dinner for a bunch of media types at a cool hotel in the East Village — when that was happening — with the charming guy running the DNC's Zoom call, Joe Solmonese. The dinner started great: Steve Schmidt, the GOP strategist, took me aside and told me how much my book "Algebra of Happiness" had meant to him. 

So — and there's a lesson here — I now really like Steve. No joke, if you keep your admiration/appreciation to yourself, you are shutting off goodwill and opportunities for friendship. Steve, call me.

Scott Galloway splenda DNC

So, at the dinner, everyone was asked to offer their advice on the big event, and we went around the table. A lot of great ideas about healthcare, Democrats' vision for the future, racial justice, unity, etc. My advice (no joke), was to stick to three key themes for the big event. Specifically, three call signs that would dictate all decisions about what people saw and felt at the convention:

  • young
  • hot
  • non-white

My fellow diners seemed somewhere between unimpressed and uncomfortable — it's not easy to be ageist, lookist, and racist in a 30-second speech. I never heard from Joe again. Tammy still thinks I'm the bomb, though.

My thinking. Any great brand strategy clears three hurdles: 

  • differentiation 
  • relevance 
  • sustainability 

OK, hard to be more differentiated from the GOP Zoom call than young, hot, non-white people. Seriously, stand AOC and Yang next to Giuliani and McConnell. Box checked. 

Scott Galloway DNC

Ideas and youth are always relevant, as we want to live longer and believe if we herd with youth and ideas we might get to stick around longer. Walmart and Oracle bidding for TikTok is two midlife-crisis firms believing 15-second videos are hair plugs. If either go through with this, they're going to look ridiculous. But I digress.

The future in America will be less white and less patriarchal. To be sustainable, look towards the future.

The most powerful moment for the DNC was Brayden Harrington, a 13-year-old with a stutter who said Joe Biden made him feel better about his speech impediment. Powerful. This hit all the notes for Joe, an empathetic man who can make us all feel better. The most powerful moment for the RNC was unscripted. Footage of Senator Paul leaving the convention and being harassed by protesters plays into the GOP narrative. Again, Americans stand to choose a lawless president over lawlessness.  

It all boils down to a simple contrast and decision being openly presented. The RNC: We're the white patriarchy, and it works … vote for us. The DNC: We're the future, but a non-carbonated future … with a skosh of white patriarchy. The Splenda of political parties.

How Trump gets reelected

Democrats are letting the GOP cast a long shadow of fear across America. Fear is typically more of a perception than an actual threat. Mark Twain said, "I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which have happened." Democrats could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and unwittingly reelect an incompetent president in the midst of a pandemic and recession, if we continue to make excuses for any looting and the irrational "defund the police" narrative. People are more afraid of the shadow (crime) than the object (criminal). 

NMNM_082820_v2_Artboard 3 copy 2 1

The real danger to the commonwealth is a party that determines they are not the party of Lincoln but of people who emerge from their homes, pace their lawns, and wave guns at Black people. The shadows distort the reality in the US: We are sick, living in chaos, and fearful. 

We'll want to have said we did something. Get your mail-in ballot and maybe even adopt a state.

READ MORE: Popular NYU professor Scott Galloway has a new course on business strategy anyone can sign up to take — I took away MBA-like insights for way less money than going to business school

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Stocks will pull back up to 7% multiple times and election-driven volatility will linger through early 2021, a Wells Fargo head strategist says

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Paul Christopher
  • Wells Fargo's Paul Christopher told Bloomberg he's expecting volatility in the stock market in the next few months heading into the election.
  • These pullbacks could be up to 7% as turbulence continues into the first quarter of 2021 when an administration's "decisions and appointments need to be made."
  • He's advising his clients to hold cash and put that money to work during the pullbacks. 
  • The strategist said investors are better off staying in growth sectors like information technology, communications services, consumer discretionary, and healthcare over the next few years. 

A Wells Fargo Investment Institute head strategist told Bloomberg that he is expecting stock turbulence and a number of market pullbacks heading into the election and well into the first quarter of 2021. 

"Most of the important decisions and appointments that need to be made in an administration have to occur in that period of the winter time ... so we are looking at volatility in the next coming months," Paul Christopher said.

The head of global market strategy said that market pullbacks of 5-7% may occur several times during this period. He said his clients are holding cash and he's advising them to "put that money to work during the pullbacks."

If there's a pullback in growth stocks and cyclicals begin to gain leadership, he said: "We would be looking to take rotation by pulling profits out of cyclicals and small caps, setting that money aside, and then gradually putting it to work in the next several months." 

Read more: Bank of America shares a trading strategy designed to boost returns from a 'potential blow-off' rally in Apple's stock as it surges past big-tech peers

But Christopher said that in the continued low-rate environment, it will be "difficult for cyclicals to gain much traction." 

"Going forward is a business cycle that looks a lot flatter, much less amplitude to it than in the past, and that means that you won't have so much time to play cyclical moves, '' Christopher said. 

The strategist said investors are better off staying with larger sectors and growth-oriented sectors like information technology, communications services, consumer discretionary, and healthcare over the next few years.

"You're not going to necessarily just put that money on automatic pilot, there will be times when the market gets overdone. We'll take some profits when we get to our tops of our target ranges, and then put that money aside and wait for the pullbacks," said Christopher. "Or if you do see some short-term rotation into cyclicals, that would be an opportunity to take profits there, pull money out."  

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Mark Zuckerberg took a dig at Apple by accusing it of charging 'monopoly rents' and blocking competition, report says

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Tim Cook Mark Zuckerberg
  • Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Apple has a "stranglehold" on the apps that are allowed on iPhones and accused the company of charging "monopoly rents," according to BuzzFeed News.
  • Zuckerberg made the remarks at a company-wide meeting on Thursday.
  • The comments come as tech giants like Apple and Facebook have come under increased scrutiny over antitrust concerns.
  • For Apple, its App Store policies and commission rates have been at the center of accusations regarding anticompetitive behavior.
  • Facebook has also recently clashed with Apple's policies in other ways too; the company said Apple blocked an update that mentioned its controversial 30% commission rate. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is calling out Apple's controversial App Store policies, a move that comes just as the iPhone maker has been under increased scrutiny over its commission rates and app approval processes.

Zuckerberg made the comments in a company-wide meeting on Thursday, according to BuzzFeed News' Pranav Dixit and Ryan Mac. 

"[Apple has] this unique stranglehold as a gatekeeper on what gets on phones," Zuckerberg said according to BuzzFeed News.

The Facebook CEO also accused Apple of charging "monopoly rents" and blocking innovation and competition through its App Store. The comments came in response to a question about Apple restricting gaming apps.

Facebook and Apple did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

The remarks come at a contentious time for both Apple and Facebook, as both companies have been scrutinized over antitrust concerns. The CEOs of Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon recently testified before Congress to address concerns about whether their size and influence hampers competition in the industry.

For Apple, it's the App Store that's been in the spotlight when it comes to accusations of anticompetitive behavior. Developers have long complained that the 30% commission Apple charges makes it difficult to price their offerings competitively.

But that sentiment came to a head earlier this month when "Fortnite" maker Epic Games violated Apple's rules by trying to circumvent the company's in-app payment system. Apple removed "Fortnite" from the App Store, and Epic filed a lawsuit against Apple in response. Apple also revoked Epic's developer account, but a California judge recently blocked the decision to remove the game maker's access to its developer tools.

Now, Zuckerberg is taking a stance on Apple's controversial App Store rules, according to the report.  The comments also come as Facebook has recently clashed with Apple in other ways, too. Apple blocked Facebook's attempt to tell its users that the company will be taking up to a 30% cut of transactions coming from a new online events feature, according to Reuters.

The social media giant also published a blog post recently detailing how Apple's iOS 14 mobile operating system could impact the ability of publishers to monetize through its Audience Network. Advertisers will no longer be able to track users through their unique device identifier without their consent — a change Apple is implementing to improve user privacy that in turn makes it difficult to deliver targeted ads.

Apple has not directly taken any shots at Facebook. But the company has repeatedly emphasized that it does not have anything to gain from gathering personal data about its customers.

"You are not our product," Apple CEO Tim Cook said last year to ABC News. "Our products are iPhones and iPads. We treasure your data. We wanna help you keep it private and keep it safe."

Zuckerberg also isn't the only company to weigh in on the state of today's mobile app stores. When speaking at a virtual Politico event last month, Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, recently called for regulators to more closely examine how app stores are being governed.

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13 new snacks and drinks to try this month, from vegan cheese puffs to non-alcoholic aperitifs

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best food and drink monthly 9
  • These are the best new food and drink products the Home and Kitchen team at Insider Reviews tried this month. 
  • They include healthy twists on gummy bears and cheese puffs, as well as refreshing and healthy drinks. 
  • See also: 12 home and kitchen product launches to shop now

In addition to testing and reviewing plenty of kitchen appliances and tools that make it easy to whip up delicious food and beverages — juicers, pizza stones, and Dutch ovens, just to name a few — our team also tries a lot of cool new snacks and drinks that are basically ready to consume. 

We love coming across foods, desserts, beverages, and condiments with interesting flavors, backstories, and production methods, and we want to share them with you. They're all available to buy online — in fact, some can only be found online — so you won't be able to stumble across these products during an ordinary trip to the grocery store. 

Check back every month for more of the best new snacks and drinks to shop — we'll be updating this article as we try them. 

Here are 13 of our favorite new snacks and drinks right now: 

A refreshing non-alcoholic aperitif
best food and drink monthly 10

Ghia Aperitif

Instead of alcohol, Ghia contains various botanicals, fruits, and herbs (like riesling white grape, yuzu, gentian root, fig, and rosemary), resulting in a bitter and complex flavor that you can enjoy on its own or mixed in a cocktail. It also has no added sugar. Ghia's a delicious post-work option when you want to relax and enjoy the flavors of a chilled drink, without the intoxication or hangover.

Above, I mixed it with grapefruit juice for a non-alcoholic take on my go-to drink, a Greyhound. If you get stuck on making your own drinks, your order includes a cute booklet of recipe ideas

Cheese puffs made from an ancient grain
best food and drink monthly 12

Ka-Pop! Cheddar Cheese Ancient Grain Puffs

I love a cheesy chip, but what's especially cool about these "Shark Tank"-approved cheese puffs is that they're dairy-free and made from non-GMO sorghum, a type of cereal grain. So even though I love regular Cheetos, these vegan alternatives do make my body feel better, and they taste virtually indistinguishable. I found the Red & Green Sriracha flavor too sweet and garlicky, so stick with the Cheddar Cheese. 

Gummy bears that have only 3 grams of sugar per bag
best food and drink monthly 11

Gummy Bears

It's always hard for me to resist candy, but at least I don't feel so guilty eating Behave's sweet and sour gummy bears. They'll probably remind you of competitor SmartSweets but Behave is slightly lower in sugar and calories. I love that the flavors, which are raspberry, lychee, and passionfruit and formulated in partnership with James Beard Award nominee Elizabeth Falkner, are more unique than the usual lineup.

 

Tart cherry juice
best food and drink monthly 14

Cheribundi Cherry Juice

I had never heard of Cheribundi before now, but it's apparently super popular, both for its tart taste and as a recovery drink for pro and collegiate baseball, football, and basketball players. It's high in antioxidants and also a natural source of melatonin, so it could help you sleep. I personally didn't experience the recovery or sleep benefits, but I did love it simply for its sweet and sour. While it doesn't contain added sugars, keep in mind cherries are still naturally sugary and an 8-ounce bottle contains 29 grams of sugar. 

Double-fermented vinegar made in California
best food and drink monthly 13

Parasol Vinegar

Brightland, which you might know for its beautifully packaged olive oil, now has two vinegar offerings. One is champagne vinegar made from Chardonnay grapes and oranges, while the other is balsamic vinegar made from Zinfandel grapes and blackberries.

As the muggy summer season winds down, these bold and bright vinegars are the ideal addition to cold salads, fruits, and bread. My favorite way to use the Parasol vinegar is over a salad of cubed watermelon and arugula or kale. 

Low-carb cereal that reminds you of your childhood favorites
best food and drink monthly 15

Cereal Variety Case

From senior editor Jada Wong: "The pandemic has made me really nostalgic for things I ate as a kid — namely, cereal. Magic Spoon is basically the adult version of your favorite childhood breakfast (and lunch, and dinner). All the flavors are delicious and there are new ones being released often. The latest Peanut Butter and Honey Nut flavors taste like Reese's Puffs and well, Honey Nut Cheerios. Both are packed with protein and have a lot less sugar than what I ate as a kid, making me feel somewhat better for still eating cereal every meal." 

The creamiest plant-based ice cream I've tried
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Eclipse Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Though I'm not vegan or lactose-intolerant, I do find dairy-free ice cream desserts interesting and have tried a few. I had yet to find one I liked — until Eclipse. I was really impressed with how creamy these plant-based ice creams are, even right out of the freezer (no sitting around or microwaving required). The base is made from a combination of oats, corn, potatoes, cassava, cane sugar, and non-GMO canola oil, and you can find more detailed ingredient information here.

I finished the Cookie Butter flavor the fastest, and the Vanilla came in at a close second. Right now, Eclipse has a cool Chef Collection that runs through the summer that features flavors from Flour Bakery in Boston (Sticky Sticky Bun), State Bird Provisions in San Francisco (Toasted Almond Thyme), and Olmsted in Brooklyn (Blackberry Taragon), among others. 

Produce boxes from local farms
best food and drink monthly 2

CropSwap app

Now that going to a physical grocery is no longer a leisurely endeavor, online grocery services and CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) programs are rising up to fulfill shoppers' needs. CropSwap offers CSA-style "CropBoxes" that get you fresh, affordable, and super local produce on a one-time or subscription basis. 

I received a $35 box ($50 with delivery) filled with beautiful fruits and vegetables from a farm in Fillmore, CA, which is less than 100 miles from my home. It included zucchini, a few different types of kale, a variety of citrus fruits, celery, avocados, and more. 

Canned makgeolli
best food and drink monthly 6

Makku Mango, Blueberry, and Original

Senior editor Jada Wong and senior reporter Owen Burke have been big fans of Makku, a new Korean drink available with nationwide shipping and same-day delivery in New York City. Jada says, "This is the first canned Korean rice wine available nationwide — makgeolli is usually sold in glass bottles at Asian and Korean supermarkets. It's got a milky viscosity, and it's sweet and refreshing. It's easy to drink and pairs well with a lot of different foods. I've tried all three flavors and Mango is my favorite."

Owen finds that Makku "offers a freshness that makes it a nice change of pace from light summer beer or the suddenly ubiquitous hard seltzer."

Starter ingredients for beloved southeast Asian dishes
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Omsom Sampler

Omsom, started by two Vietnamese-American sisters, makes "starter kits" of aromatics, seasonings and oils for:

  • Lemongrass BBQ: a Vietnamese marinade often used on chicken
  • Larb: a Laotian and Thai minced meat salad
  • Sisig: a Kapampangan Filipino dish usually prepared with pork 

All you have to do is follow the recipe cards, then add the pre-made starters to create a quick, delicious, and authentic meal. For this sampler bundle, which has two packets of each dish, Omsom worked with the chefs from NYC restaurants Fish Cheeks, Jeepney, and Madame Vo. 

These have come in handy during quarantine, when cooking fatigue is a real phenomenon. I love that I can make a flavorful and spicy meal but don't have to go grocery shopping or prep ingredients myself. 

Gourmet pasta sauce
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Sonoma Gourmet Kale Pesto with White Cheddar Pasta Sauce (6-Pack)

I've gone through two jars of this stuff, and while it doesn't taste like pesto at all, it's still really delicious. It's thick, creamy, and cheesy, perfect for a take on adult mac and cheese. Usually, I combined it with some kind of protein, a variety of veggies, and a fun pasta shape. You can also heat it up for an easy dip for chips, crackers, and vegetables. 

 

Better-for-you soda for the Instagram age
best food and drink monthly

United Sodas of America Variety Pack (12-Pack)

If Pantone made a soda, it'd probably look something like this. To create this colorful and eye-catching packaging, United Sodas worked with Alex Center, who led the design vision for Vitaminwater, Smartwater, and Powerade. 

More than a bunch of pretty cans, the sodas are creatively flavored (e.g. sour blueberry, toasted coconut, blackberry jam), made with organic ingredients, and low-calorie. There are also some more traditional flavors for when you crave something classic, like cherry pop and ginger ale. 

Wine with notes of lemongrass and yuzu
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Underwood Mei Wine

Another drink to pack for your park picnics? Canned wine, of course. 

Travel associate editor and wine enthusiast Hannah Freedman had the enviable job of taste-testing canned wines and loved Underwood from Union Wine Company's collaboration with chef Mei Lin: It's a "standout favorite thanks to its interesting flavor profile that includes notes of lemongrass, yuzu, tropical flavors like guava, and more." 

It's currently only available at Union Wine Company's website and Mei Lin's restaurant, Nightshade, in Los Angeles. 

Find more of the best canned wines for summer 2020 here

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'Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War' will bring the series to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X — here's what you should know before you preorder

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Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War
Sgt. Frank Woods returns in Activision's "Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War," due out November 13, 2020.
  • "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War," the latest entry in Activision's bestselling video game franchise, will launch worldwide on November 13.
  • Preorders are available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, though the PS5 and Series X versions of the game may be released at a later date.
  • Activision says the PS5 and Xbox Series X version of "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" will include additional features, like ray-tracing, higher frame rates, and faster load times, that won't be possible on PS4 and Xbox One.
  • For more gaming coverage, check out our guides to the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launches.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" will be released worldwide on November 13. "Black Ops Cold War" will be the first game in the series to test the potential of Sony and Microsoft's next-generation hardware as gamers decide whether or not to upgrade their consoles this fall.

Players can preorder the game now for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Release dates for the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" haven't been confirmed yet, but Sony and Microsoft are expected to launch their respective new consoles in November.

The "Call of Duty" franchise is a perennial blockbuster with annual releases. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" earned more than more than $600 million in its opening weekend last year, going on to become the bestselling video game of 2019.

Meanwhile, the free-to-play "Call of Duty: Mobile" has seen more than 250 million downloads since its launch in October 2019 and the free-to-play battle royale game "Call of Duty Warzone" has had more than 75 million players in its first six months of release.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" introduces a new campaign set in the 1980s, sending players on covert missions in East Berlin, Turkey, Vietnam, and Moscow to track an international conspirator named Perseus under orders from US President Ronald Reagan.

Beyond the new story, the game will introduce a fresh round of multiplayer offerings for "Call of Duty" fans, including an updated "Zombies" mode where players fight off near-endless hordes of computer-controlled monsters. 

Like "Call of Duty Modern Warfare," "Black Ops Cold War" will feature crossplay for players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, so you can play with your friends regardless of which platform they prefer. "Black Ops Cold War" will also include the free-to-play battle royale mode "Call of Duty Warzone," and progression from the current edition of "Warzone" will carry over to "Black Ops Cold War."

Differences between current gen (PS4/Xbox One) and next-gen (Ps5/Xbox Series X)

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War

Because the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are launching this year, Activision will release different versions of "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" for current and next-gen consoles. 

The $69.99 next-gen version of "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will have improved frame rates, ray-tracing, and faster load times. Activision says you'll still be able to play the $59.99 PS4 or Xbox One versions of "Black Ops Cold War" via backwards compatibility on your PS5 or Xbox One, but you'll have to pay to upgrade to the next-gen version to get those improved features.

However, if you decide to buy a physical copy of the game for Xbox One, you won't be able to upgrade it to an Xbox Series X version, and if you buy a physical copy of the PlayStation 4 version, you'll need the physical disc in your console to play it on PS5.

A digital "Cross-Gen Bundle" is available on in both the PlayStation and Microsoft stores, and as the name implies, they grant you access to both the current and next-gen versions of the game. Buying the "Cross-Gen Bundle" will also grant you access to the multiplayer beta, two downloadable weapon packs, and an operator pack for "Call of Duty Warzone" featuring "Black Ops" protagonist Frank Woods.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" Ultimate Edition and other preorder benefits

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Ultimate Edition

The Ultimate Edition of "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" for Xbox or PlayStation includes the cross-gen bundle and comes with three operator skins, three weapon blueprints and three vehicle skins, as well as a season one battle pass with 20 tier skips when it's released. Preordering "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" from the in-game store in "Call of Duty Modern Warfare" or "Warzone" will also grant you 10 tier skips in the current game.

Activision has promised players who preorder "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" early access to the multiplayer beta later this year, though dates aren't specified.

"Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War" will be available digitally and at most major retailers including Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Amazon. Again, if you decide to buy a physical copy of the game for Xbox One, you won't be able to upgrade it to an Xbox Series X version, and if you buy a physical copy of the PlayStation 4 version, you'll need the physical disc in your console to play it on PS5.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best first aid kits

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  • While you never intend to need a first aid kit, you'll always be glad you planned ahead and kept some high-quality medical supplies on hand.
  • The best first aid kits have everything from bandages and wraps to antibiotic ointment and pain relievers stored conveniently in a box or bag for easy access.
  • Even if you already own a first aid kit, it's smart to routinely check if anything in the kit is expired, low on stock, or needs updating due to any new health requirements of yourself or anyone else who might use it.
  • Our top pick, the First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit, is compact for easy transport, carefully curated with first aid essentials like wound cleaning supplies and bandages, and is less than $25.

I very much like being prepared — especially when it comes to my own health and well-being. Because of this, I keep a stocked first aid kit in my car, in my home, and packed and ready to go with my hiking gear. I also have a few bandages tucked into my wallet.

As a frequent camper and hiker, I know that having a first aid kit isn't only a good idea, it's a necessity. When you're a three-day hike from the nearest hospital, you'd better be able to count on your own supplies in the event of injury or illness.

When I first started heading out into the mountains, I carried a homemade first aid kit tucked into an old Altoids tin. It had all the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, medical tape, anti-itch, and burn relief gels, and so forth. But there were a few problems: The ointments and gels would almost invariably dry out over time, the tape and bandages would grow brittle and lose their adhesion, and because it was so small, I needed to re-stock it often.

So, I decided to splurge on a pre-curated kit that wasn't just bigger than my DIY version but had everything I needed. I needed to spend a few more dollars but when I finally switched to a professionally assembled kit, I got plenty more peace of mind.

How to shop for a first aid kit

A reliable first aid kit isn't exactly a mobile trauma center but it does provide the basic supplies you need to mitigate the ill effects of an accident, injury, or sudden illness. Remember, it's first aid, not final, comprehensive aid.

When choosing a first aid kit, you need to think about who might depend on it (in terms of the sheer number of people and the age and disposition of the user), where it will be stored and/or carried, and in what situations the likely users might endure an injury or illness.

Any first aid kit worth considering should have supplies capable of treating minor cuts, punctures, burns, and other such common injuries. Beyond that, the suitability of a given kit depends on careful consideration of factors ranging from weight to packaging to redundancy of the supplies included.

Choose the first aid kit that best suits the people and the situations in which they'll be, and then hope you never have to use it. With those tips in mind, read on to see which of our top picks is best-suited for your needs.

Here are the best first aid kits:

Updated on 8/28/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the section on how to shop for a first aid kit, checked the availability of each recommended kit, and updated the prices and links where necessary. 

The best first aid kit overall
first aid only

The First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit comes with all the basic medical supplies you need for quick diagnostics and the treatments of many ailments. 

The First Aid Only All-Purpose First Aid Kit packs 299 doctor-recommended supplies into a soft-sided case measuring just 9.25 by 7.5 inches on its sides and about three inches deep. It's about the size of a hardcover book but within this kit, you will find the tools needed to assess and treat everything from a scraped finger and heavily bleeding gash to a mild headache or high fever.

This kit comes with comprehensive wound cleaning and closure supplies, including multiple butterfly strips, gauze rolls and pads, and several types of bandages, not to mention the various alcohol, antiseptic, and antibiotic wipes and ointments. It's the perfect triage kit for a variety of common injuries.

The kit also comes with an array of supplies invaluable to the person administering first aid, such as sterile vinyl gloves, a single-use thermometer, tweezers, and nickel-plated scissors. For all that, it still costs less than a nice meal — and certainly less than a trip to the ER.

The plastic partition pockets keep everything well-sorted and easy to find in a snap, so you won't be fumbling for the right gear when time is of the essence, either. 

WebMD suggests you should replace your first aid kit once a year and replace any missing or expired items. At its affordable cost, you could replace the entire kit once a year without breaking the bank, maintaining a nice peace of mind in your home or workplace.

Pros: Compact but comprehensive, great low price, well organized

Cons: Limited shelf life, included tape is not as adhesive as it could be

The best first aid kit for the office
be smart first aid

The Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit is OSHA and ANSI compliant and covers the first aid needs of up to 50 people, making it perfect for the office.

The Be Smart Get Prepared Kit is a large, comprehensive first aid kit designed to meet the needs of several dozen people. It's a great choice for businesses, retail locations, schools, churches, and even for the home, though it's not a good choice for travel due to its bulky hard case.

The case helps keep the components organized and protected but it's not watertight or resistant to moisture or temperature fluctuations which can affect some of the components. Because of this, it should be stored in a temperate indoor environment.

The Be Smart Get Prepared 250 Piece First Aid Kit has all the wound care components you would expect, from alcohol prep pads and antiseptic towelettes to multiple bandages in varied sizes.

What sets this kit apart from the others in terms of suitability for use in the office or at a school are the medicines it comes with. You'd likely already have access to many of these medicines at home — like pain and anti-inflammatory tablets and antacids — but it's not always a given at work, school, or at other such locations.

It also includes cold packs, another handy feature for use when ice might not be nearby.

Pros: Great choice for the workplace, comes with a selection of medicines, hard plastic shell protects components

Cons: Case is bulky and not water-resistant, latch is prone to failure

The best first aid kit for disaster preparedness
Lightning X first aid kit

If you're cut off from emergency services following a natural disaster or in times of civil unrest, you'll be glad you have the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit.

If you foresee a time where there won't be anyone on the other end of a 9-1-1 call, or you just like to be prepared for anything, the Lightning X First Responder First Aid Kit is the way to go. This kit certainly borders on overkill for most households but it's likely the last kit you'd ever need to buy (not counting the items that merit periodic replacement, like alcohol wipes).

Anyone in need of first aid or preparing to administer it will appreciate the many bandages, the rolls and pads of gauze, the antiseptic wipes, the ointments, the tapes, and more. Anyone with actual medical training will also like the included stethoscope, sphygmomanometer, airway kit, and other more advanced medical tools. In the right hands, this kit is essentially a mobile trauma center while also having all your basic and intermediate first aid needs covered.

This comprehensive first aid kit comes loaded in a lightweight, ergonomic backpack with padded straps and reflective stripes, allowing it to be easily taken on the go — it's even comfortable to carry and highly visible. While it's a great choice for the well-prepared home, this kit was designed for emergency response professionals to use in the field.

Pros: Comprehensive supplies, features advanced medical gear, comes with backpack

Cons: Pricier than other options, many components not needed for basic first aid

The best first aid kit on a budget
coleman first aid

The Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit costs less than a fancy cup of coffee but it helps treat all sorts of minor scrapes, scratches, bug bites, and more.

If you need to treat a compound fracture, you're probably going to need a more advanced medical kit than this option from Coleman. More often than not, the damage we endure is often along the lines of minor cuts and scrapes, burns and bites, and the occasional puncture wound. For those everyday injuries, the Coleman All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit is the ideal choice.

It costs so little that there's really no excuse not to buy one, and given the diminutive size of this kit, you can (and should) bring one along whenever your travels might lead you away from ready access to medical treatment.

Into a charming little tin, Coleman packed several antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, sting relief wipes, and a total of sixteen bandages in five different size and shape varieties. There's also a razor blade for cutting away clothing or trimming medical tape, as well as a pair of safety pins.

Pros: Very affordable, lightweight and compact, perfect for travel

Cons: Not at all comprehensive

Check out our guide to the best emergency kits
emergency preparedness supply kit shutterstock_222250729

The best emergency kits you can buy

An emergency kit is something you should have around, in case an unexpected dangerous event happens. You can make your own, or purchase a pre-assembled kit that has everything you may need. We've rounded up the best emergency kits you can find pre-assembled.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best tech trade-in programs

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  • Instead of throwing away your old gadgets, there are plenty of websites where you can trade them in old for either cash or credit.
  • These trade-in sites can help you avoid scams and needing to meet up with strangers to sell electronics in-person.
  • There are even some places you can sell non-working or broken devices and get money towards future purchases.

The best way to afford all the latest new electronics is by selling your old ones. There are plenty of ways to go about selling your unwanted gear and gadgets, but meeting someone you don't know in-person to sell a valuable item isn't always the safest idea and usually not worth the risk. 

Here are some of the best places to turn your unused or no-longer-needed electronics into money that you can use to buy the latest products. The best tech trade-in services are low-risk in that there are professionals behind it and some level of safeguards in place to make sure you're not ripped off. 

It will depend on your motivation for selling gear whether you prefer the trade-in services that offer cash over the ones that provide store credit for your used merchandise. Most people can find a way to spend an Amazon gift card, for example, but not every will want a store credit to an Apple store.

I have used most of these services personally and even used many of them a combined dozens of times over the last eight years. Compared to the scams and often risks of trying to sell electronics on eBay or Craigslist, these services offer relatively secure and guaranteed credit or cash in order to refresh your new gadgets.

These services were evaluated not only from my own experiences, but also from online reviews and other experiences from contributors to reputable publications including Business Insider.

Here are the best tech trade-in services you can use today: 

  • Best tech trade-in service overall: Gazelle
  • Best tech trade-in service for cash: Decluttr
  • Best tech trade-in service for highest return: Swappa
  • Best tech trade-in service for in-person trade: Best Buy
  • Best tech trade-in service for Apple devices: Apple
  • Best tech trade-in service for speed: Amazon
The best tech trade-in service overall
Gazelle

Gazelle is long established as a reputable service for trading your old gear for cash or Amazon credit. After several uses of the site, there are few drawbacks to the overall pleasant experience.

Overall, Gazelle is the best trade-in service for people looking for cash (or Amazon gift cards) in a timely manner. From the amount of payment options to the devices it will purchase to the return process if needed, it is well done and is great for a wide variety of people.

Gazelle has been doing online trade-ins for a long time and quickly became the leader in how some of these online trade-in services handle their procedures, including shipping you the right sized box for your device and returning it if the valuation doesn't match.

I have used Gazelle to sell a computer, multiple phones, an iPad, and each time it has served as a worthy option. I have been satisfied and have recommended it to others as a way to get rid of electronics without (nearly) any risk.

My personal experience from sending in multiple types of devices into Gazelle is that the time it takes from start to finish is very decent. I haven't had an item completely rejected and the one time I had the price downgraded seemed fair — though of course I was hoping they'd be more forgiving and optimistic in the evaluation process.

Gazelle is not perfect, however, and one of the downsides is that Gazelle can tend to offer lower amounts. As an example an iPhone 6s traded in to Apple directly will net you $70 towards a new phone. Decluttr will offer $64 in cash for one unlocked in good quality or $12 in faulty condition. Meanwhile, Gazelle offers $51 in cash for an unlocked one in good condition or $14 in completely broken condition.

The overall process and experience is definitely one that will appeal to a wide range of people. The company will lock in a price it will pay for 30-days and it will send a box, pre-paid label, or let you print your own depending on the size and device value. While I've never seen it, the company says it will raise the price it pays if you have evaluated it too low. Also, if you evaluated the value too high it will send it back for free so you don't have to accept the lower fee. Gazelle will also remove your personal information from devices so it doesn't end up with someone else.

Pros: Check, PayPal, or Amazon gift card payments, trusted source

Cons: Not the highest amount per item

The best tech trade-in service for cash
Decluttr

Decluttr is another well-known, rising notable option for people to get cash for their electronics, but also for other items taking up space in their homes.

Decluttr has some appealing claims for why you should use their service. First, it says it will pay 33% more than you would get from a wireless carrier if you trade-in your device there. It also offers to help remove personal information from your device and pay the day after your device arrives.

Similar to Gazelle you can request your money be sent digitally with PayPal, but it also offers direct deposit. It doesn't offer gift cards or paper checks however, which is likely one way that helps it save costs from mailing out checks.

Decluttr will buy broken phones, similar to Gazelle, which also sets it apart from other places, like Swappa which requires devices to be in working condition. You'll likely only see an offer to buy broken phones on the most popular models which will be recycled for spare parts. You won't get much money from a broken device, but it will be more than throwing it in the trash.

Decluttr goes beyond trading-in tech like phones and computers, but will also allow you to trade in CDs, DVDs, games, and books. If you're just looking to get rid of stuff — you know, declutter — then the site will buy LEGO bricks by the pound. It's not a cost-effective way to make money however, with the site offering $3 for three pounds of authentic LEGO bricks.

While I haven't personally used the site to sell items, Insider Reviews checked out the site in 2018 and was impressed with the whole experience.

Pros: Increased price over carriers, direct deposit available, free shipping, next day payments

Cons: Not as high payment as other trade-in sources, low payments for LEGO bricks

The best tech trade-in service for highest return
Swappa

Swappa mixes the open marketplace with company-backed guaranteed trade-in models to offer a more DIY option, which will hopefully net people more money without the risk of selling directly to other people.

Swappa is a service for selling your old devices in a way that's more like eBay because you're selling (or buying) directly from other people, but still functions similarly to these other trade-in services. Because you're selling directly to other people and not companies that need to re-sell the devices, you tend to get the most amount back, but with a little bit more effort.

The way Swappa works is that you select your device from a pre-selected list of available options which helps control the inventory and have the correct specs listed for each product. Then you add in your own information about how it's been used and any flaws.

To try and verify the pictures posted to the site, you'll need to write your code on a paper that appears in the images. You can then set any price you want, but Swappa does provide helpful information around what the last prices a device like this sold for, what price it suggests to sell the fastest, and other stats to assist in the pricing. If you're someone who always wishes you could get an extra 10-20% out of your gear when selling to a trade-in service, this may be a way to eek out a few more dollars.

In my experience using Swappa a few times, I had no issues of fraud or non-payment, but your mileage could definitely vary. Swappa has narrowed in focus regarding the devices it allows to be sold as a means of eliminating all the cruft and things that make more general marketplaces susceptible to scam. This includes an employee approving a listing before it goes live. There are also public comments on each product listing so you can see if there's been an issue with the seller in the past.

The site mostly focuses on selling phones, tablets, computers, smart watches, but does also include other areas of tech like cameras and smart home gadgets, like Sonos speakers and thermostats.

The way the site makes money is by taking a cut for fascinating the sale. Shipping is also included in the price you decide to list an item for. As an example, if an iPhone 11 is being sold for $655 on the site, there's a $20 Swappa fee making the seller portion $635. The seller also needs to pay for shipping since that is factored in as well. So selling an unlocked, 64GB iPhone 11 will probably net you around $600 on that $655 listing. By comparison, selling the same phone to Gazelle will get you $290 – a sizable difference for a little more work.

There are plenty of ways you can sell a device for a higher amount, but eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp all come with much more risk, especially those with in-person meetings. Swappa includes a lot of the protections and ease of trading in to a company, but with the added benefit of getting more cash out of the deal.

Pros: Higher payout for your gear, community-based moderation

Cons: Can take longer to sell, more work involved than other services

The best tech trade-in service for in-person trade
Best Buy Logo

Best Buy's trade-in for credit is a great option for people who want to make the switch from old to new in the quickest way possible. Best Buy offers one of the widest selection of devices to trade in from either its website or at any of its store locations.

One of Best Buy's most valuable qualities is that it has physical stores around the U.S. to actually go to. Best Buy's online trade-in program will allow you to see how much money you can expect to receive from an item, but beyond the mail-in option you can also find a store to do the trade-in in-person.

You don't have to do anything online to do an in-store trade-in, but looking the item up on Best Buy's service website will give you an idea of what amount to expect. Best Buy's website will show the high price and low price depending on the physical appearance and functionality.

When you take your device into a store the employee will be using the same site to process your trade-in so the values and conditions still apply across the board. The difference will be that the employee will determine the overall quality instead of you. Ultimately the company will always determine the final value either in-store or at the processing center when you send your device in. As long as you're polite in your interactions there may be some wiggle room in determining whether the device is in good or fair condition — meaning a few light scratches that could be perceived in different ways.

Best Buy has the advantage of accepting a wide range of products to trade in. From cameras to video games to computers, there's a good chance you can trade in an electronic device you don't want anymore. While Apple doesn't yet offer credit for Apple TVs, Best Buy does — even if it's not too much money.

Best Buy can also carry over promotions from other device manufacturers. If you bring in a qualifying Sonos device, for example, you can receive 30% off a new Sonos product. This is the same promotion Sonos offers directly, but if you have a Best Buy gift card or just want to see the speakers in person, this is a good way to do that. It currently has trade-in promotions around Amazon ereaders, tablets, Microsoft Surfaces, and networking equipment. 

Pros: In-person option, expanded electronics available

Cons: Not highest payments, Best Buy credit instead of cash

The best tech trade-in service for Apple devices
Apple Logo

Apple's trade-in option is a great value for people trading in devices in order to upgrade to new Apple products. The process is frictionless and overall speedy if what you want is Apple store credit.

Most, if not all, trade-in services allow for iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products, but Apple's own trade-in service, specifically geared toward people trading up to a newer iPhone, is particularly good at making that happen.

Keep in mind, that you don't just have to trade in an iPhone or iPad, or even an Apple product, you can trade in a Samsung Galaxy phone or a Google Pixel and get an Apple gift card or credit towards a new device. Apple's trade-in service also works for Apple Watches, which has not been the case across all or most other services. Unfortunately, Apple TVs or iPods don't qualify, however anyone can send in pretty much any old electronic device for proper recycling.

Gazelle was one of the first to do a good job with sending the proper box for returning your gadget to them, but it has scaled that back, while Apple's return process builds on that and is top notch. The instructions are included along with the correct size box for your device and stickers to seal the package back up properly.

I've used the service a few times and it has been just as fast in shipping and processing as any other trade-in service, if not more so. I haven't had any items go missing in the process or had any disputes on the quality of the item sent in — which is promising, but not all encompassing.

There are two ways to do a trade-in, either stand-alone without buying another product or when purchasing a new Apple device. The second option here is likely more common. When you're going through the phone buying process you'll select the color and storage and then select whether you want to trade in another phone to be given as a refund for the purchase. Currently, there are 13 iPhone choices available dating back to the iPhone 6, or the original iPhone SE. There are 29 phone trade in choices available in total which includes Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

Answer a question or two about the phone's condition and then complete your purchase. You'll be mailed a box to return your own phone within 14 days. Once it is received and checked a refund will be applied to your order. If your trade in phone is worth more than the purchased phone you'll receive an Apple gift card with the remaining balance.

Pros: High credit amount compared to other sources

Cons: Only Apple store credit, geared towards device upgrades

The best tech trade-in service for speed
Amazon Trade In

Trading in your tech to Amazon is simple and can provide a reasonable amount of credit in a speedy way, but you'll need to make sure you want credit instead of cash for your trade-ins.

Amazon is an obvious choice to send your used electronics because, although you only get Amazon credit, many people will consider that as good as cash. You can buy almost anything from the website and so it's a natural fit for where to trade in old devices.

One handy feature of using Amazon's trade-in service that makes it quick, beyond the shipping aspect, is that the company knows what you've bought through the site in the past and will offer those options and tell you have much they're worth without having to go look up everything separately. That works well when you forgot about the device or game or book you bought 18 months ago and didn't use like you thought you might. It might not cross your mind that certain items are available to trade in.

Amazon is a great option for speedy turnarounds from start to finish. You could select a few items you previously bought, print a label, and get them processed and have credit in your account in no time. In my experience from using the service a half-dozen times at least is that it really is a timely option for an online trade-in service. As always, you may experience hiccups depending on what you're trading in, but when I sold headphones recently there were no issues.

The few problems I have experienced with the service revolved around the evaluation process which can fluctuate quite a bit depending on the person that looks over your trade-ins at the warehouse. When stuff hasn't been given the full value, I tend to have it shipped back, and it has always been in the same condition it left in.

Pros: Fast processing, lots of promotional upgrade options for Amazon products

Cons: No cash only Amazon credit, hit or miss on accepting customer's stated conditions

Read the original article on Business Insider

How to update your iPhone automatically or manually, so that you always have the latest features

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iphone x
You can update an iPhone manually or set automatic updates for it.
  • To update your iPhone manually, you'll need to head to your phone's "Software Update" menu.
  • In most cases, your iPhone will update automatically when left to charge overnight.
  • You can also update your iPhone using your computer, but the only reason to do this is if your phone won't update normally.
  • Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Apple releases updates for the iPhone pretty regularly. 

In addition to at least one major update to the OS each year, there are generally a few incremental updates throughout the year, often to fix bugs and perform security improvements. 

You can allow your iPhone to update itself automatically, or manually update it yourself. Here's what you should know.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

How to update your iPhone automatically

The easiest (and most secure) way to manage iPhone updates is to let your device handle it. 

Here's how to make sure your iPhone is ready to update automatically:

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap "General," and then tap "Software Update."

3. On the Software Updates page, tap "Customize Automatic Updates."

4. To let the iPhone do everything automatically, be sure both the "Download iOS Updates" and "Install iOS Updates" buttons are turned on by swiping them to the right.

How to update iPhone 1
If you enable automatic updates, you should never have to worry about whether your iPhone needs to be updated or not.

When both switches are turned on, your iPhone will download update files to the phone and then install them automatically overnight, when your phone is charging and locked. 

If you prefer, you can turn off "Install iOS Updates" but leave "Download iOS Updates" turned on. If you do this, the update will download to the phone and wait for you to install it manually.

How to update your iPhone manually

If you want to manage updates yourself, or the phone isn't installing updates automatically for some reason, you can do it yourself. 

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap "General," and then tap "Software Update." Your phone will check to see if there's an update available.

3. If there is, tap "Download and Install." Wait while the update downloads to your phone.

4. Tap "Install."

How to update your iPhone using iTunes on your computer

On rare occasions, you might run into a glitch and find that your iPhone can't install an update, either automatically or manually. 

If that happens, you can install it from a PC or Mac using iTunes. 

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer.

2. If you're on a PC, open iTunes. If you're on a Mac, open the Finder and click your phone's name in the sidebar.

3. If you see a message on the computer if you want to allow the computer to access your iPhone, click "Continue." Likewise, tap "Trust" on your iPhone. 

4. In iTunes, click "Library" and then click the iPhone icon on the left side of the toolbar. In the Finder, click "General."

How to update iPhone 2
When you switch to the Library view in iTunes, you should see an icon representing your iPhone.

5. Click "Check for Update." 

How to update iPhone 3
Click "Check for Updates" in your iPhone's Summary info to start the update process.

6. If there's an update available, click "Download and Update."

Leave your phone connected for as long as it takes to update.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

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