TheBolt

Since the beginning of the flat-screen TV era, manufacturers have been slowly marching towards creating the “perfect” TV. Plasma TVs produced a phenomenal picture, but their glass screens were susceptible to bad glare and the technology was an energy hog, plus the TVs were still quite heavy. LCD TVs—and then LED TVs—were much more energy-efficient and could be made significantly lighter and thinner than plasma displays, but they never quite measured up in picture quality. Whichever technology a user opted for, there was a compromise to be made, until now. OLED TVs check every box on the list of traits you’d ever want on a TV: nearly infinite contrast ratio, vibrant colors, 4K resolution, extreme energy efficiency, and an ultra-thin construction.

OLED TVs were, for many years, something of a technological holy grail. They’ve existed as prototypes for years, and were often dismissed as vaporware. But now that two of the biggest names in television have multiple models of OLED TVs for sale, it’s safe to say that the technology has officially arrived. Both the LG Signature OLED TV and Sony A1E OLED TVs are available at Abt, so we unboxed one of each and compared the two. If you’re in the market to buy an OLED TV, this is the comparison you need to see:

Earlier this week, we talked about some of the technologies and practices that Abt has implemented in our business which help us be green on a day-to-day basis. And while it might not be feasible for individual homeowners to cover their roof in solar panels, there are still plenty of tactics that each of us can practice to help 2ease our impact on the environment. We’ve all heard of the 3 R’s of being environmentally-friendly: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. These are some of the simplest ways we can work to better the environment, so here are some ways each of us can fit the 3 R’s into our daily lives.

Recycle

Most of us live in cities with municipal recycling programs. We take our cans, plastic bottles and paper products and drop them in a bin at the end of our driveway every week, and they’re hauled away and recycled, which keeps about 89 million tons of waste out of landfills. But it’s not always as easy to recycle other, larger items—your TV, cell phones, old light bulbs—which can be toxic to the earth.

In 2010, around 2.4 million tons of electronic waste was disposed of, with only 27% of it being properly recycled. Products that end up in landfills will eventually release hazardous substances like mercury, lead, and PCBs into the ground, which can contaminate our crops and water sources. In an era when we’re all constantly upgrading our gadgets, it’s increasingly important that our old devices get recycled properly. Thankfully, there are centers across the country that make it easy to drop off your old e-waste for safe recycling. Can’t make it out to Abt to recycle your old appliances, electronics, or other devices? Visit RecycleNation to search for your nearest recycling facility. Their recycling finder is also a great way to discover all of the other items you can recycle, including things you may never have thought of.

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April showers can lead to more than just May flowers if you like to be active outdoors in the spring. You might not mind a little sprinkle on your morning run or weekend in the park, but your electronics probably will. A typical phone, wireless speaker or camera can usually survive a brief encounter with water, but when you’re unsure what the weather’s going to bring, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Luckily, there are more options than ever for ensuring your electronics can endure extensive exposure to nature’s wrath. Here are five of our favorite water-resistant products for your spring adventures.

Smartphone

Your smartphone is your hub to any and all digital activities, from entertainment to productivity. If it gets soaked by a surprise shower or a dip in a puddle, you may suddenly find yourself without your music collection, workout tracking, communications and more. If you’ll be springing for a new smartphone this spring, consider choosing a waterproof model like the Samsung Galaxy S7. This high-end smartphone packs all of the great features you’d expect from a Samsung flagship smartphone (a quad-core processor, QHD AMOLED display, expandable storage, 4K video, and more) all wrapped in a resilient package. So not only do you get IP68 rating for dust and water-resistance—meaning the S7 can survive a dunk in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes—but you don’t have to sacrifice performance to get it. (more…)

They say time flies when you’re having fun, which might be why it’s hard to believe that it’s been a full year since we first got to play with the HTC Vive virtual reality system. The Vive has been one of our favorite gadgets to come out in the last year. To mark its one-year anniversary, HTC has designated April 5th “Vive Day,” and will be celebrating with a variety of offers for new customers who pick up a Vive system on that day.

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Let’s be honest. No matter where you go on vacation, every possible photo op has been done to death. If you’re looking to set yourself apart from the crowd creatively, you’re going to need to include some new tactics into your repertoire. Here are seven ways to set your social media game on fire during your next vacation.

1.) Elevate your photography, literally.

One way to set your vacation photos apart from the crowd is to take to the skies with a drone. Drone photography will open up an entirely new way to see the sights of your destination, and also make for a pretty unique selfie opportunity. The current generation of drones is easier than ever to fly, so with minimal practice, you can be adding some killer aerial shots to your vacation feed. Take a look at how using a drone captured a much more dramatic view of our rooftop solar panels:

Using a drone can take your vacation photos to new heights.

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The middle of a surprise almost-spring snow storm probably isn’t when you’d be thinking about upgrading your cooler products. But we’re holding on tight to the idea that warmer temps are right around the corner, which means it won’t be long before the backyard parties and beach visits start, which means you’re going to need something to keep your cold drinks cold. And there are no products on earth better suited to that task than Yeti coolers and drinkware, which are now available at Abt.

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There’s a little bit of Irish in everybody on St. Patrick’s day. For some it’s a time to don your green clothes, grab a pint, and hit the parade. For others, it’s a chance to host a party with friends and family. We’ve assembled three delicious dishes that highlight the almighty Guinness draught beer that are perfect for your St. Paddy’s day festivities. Not just a favorite drink on the holiday, the malty flavor imported from Ireland is also versatile ingredient when used for cooking.

While most will be drinking the delicious pint of the gods, you can curb their munchies with some Guinness-inspired snacks. We start with a robust barbecue sauce whose tantalizing flavors will pair with the meat of your choice. Then for the main course, a heavenly cheesy Guinness Mac n’ Cheese, followed up by a malty Guinness float for dessert. These snacks won’t leave you like a blind cobbler’s thumb, and it has been shown that Guinness is good for you, in moderation. We hope you enjoy these dishes and please have a responsible St. Patrick Day.

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Just like the major sporting events, no Oscar viewing party is complete without an assortment of snacks at hand. And what snack says “the movies” more than popcorn? We found a few creative, easy-to-make recipes for some fun, flavored popcorn’s that will be the highlight of your Sunday night. We suggest popping your corn in an air popper, or to save even more time you can buy plain, pre-popped corn. So check out the recipes below and let’s get popping!

S’mores Popcorn

INGREDIENTS

10 cups popped popcorn

2 cups milk chocolate chips

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

2 cups mini marshmallows

2 cups graham cracker pieces and crumbs

DIRECTIONS

Pop your popcorn. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper, spread popcorn onto cookie sheet.

Break up 2 cups of graham crackers into bit sized pieces.

Melt 1/2 of chocolate chips, add a small spoon of coconut oil and transfer into a plastic freezer bag. Make sure the chocolate is still hot when in bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the popcorn, make sure to go in a zig zag direction to get all the popcorn.

Sprinkle the marshmallows and graham cracker pieces over the drizzled popcorn.

Melt the remain chocolate (add some coconut oil) and repeat drizzling process.

Allow to cool and then break up into pieces and enjoy!

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The biggest night in the entertainment awards season is coming up, and one of the most commonly-asked questions is: “How can I watch the Oscars without cable TV?” It’s a question asked more and more often as increasing numbers of people cut the cord. With every big television event, viewers that are accustomed to streaming content encounter problems figuring out how to watch the Oscars, or the Big Game, or any major broadcast event. While there are many options that are of dubious legality, here are a few legitimate ways that you can watch the Oscars without a cable subscription.

Over the Air Broadcast

Many viewers, especially those raised on cable, may not realize that, in much of the country, it’s possible to tune in to all of the major networks using nothing more than a simple indoor HD TV antenna. If your TV was manufactured in the last ten years or so, it’s able to receive over-the-air digital (OTA) broadcasts. That means that all you need to do is plug in an antenna to begin receiving free broadcast television. Since ABC is broadcasting the Oscars, anyone who can get the OTA signal can watch them for free, without cable. To find out what channel ABC is in your area, use the FCC DTV Reception Map. If your signal shows as strong or moderate, you should have no problem receiving the broadcast with a simple indoor antenna. Those in rural areas will probably see a weaker signal and may not be able to receive the broadcast without a larger outdoor HD antenna. 

Your key to watching the Oscars without cable TV.

Say you don’t have a TV, because you’ve become so accustomed to streaming to your computer or tablet, or you you live in an area with a poor OTA signal. Well, ABC is providing an online streaming option that might work for you. ABC’s website provides streams of their regular content, but only to a selection of major metro markets: Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham and San Francisco. And while that covers a majority of the watching population in the USA, it’s still going to leave a lot of potential viewers in the dark. (more…)

Treadmills are popular because they’re easy to use and give you the ability to burn a significant number of calories, all from the comfort of your own home! You’re able to enjoy working out while watching television, listening to music, or even reading a book (for those that prefer walking at slower speeds). Before purchasing a piece of exercise equipment the size and cost of a treadmill, we recommend researching and becoming familiar with relative terms such as “best treadmill”. While many will advertise their product as the “best”, you must consider what the “best treadmill” is for you personally.

There are many factors to consider when looking at treadmills, but the most important are:

What does it cost?

Where will I put it?

Will this help meet my particular fitness and/or health goals? (more…)