But as with anything, there are trade-offs. So is buying a smart TV worth it? We’ll lay out the pros and cons so you can decide.

Pro #1: All-In-One Entertainment

With various capabilities, smart TVs can just about do it all without the need for third-party devices – all accessible with a single remote. This is especially beneficial with the rise of new streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, Peacock and so much more.

Con #1: More Possibilities For Things to Go Wrong

Just as with any home appliance, vehicle, or product with “bells and whistles”, the more features it has, the more things can potentially go wrong. In some cases, feature malfunctions can impact the TV itself, forcing the question “was it worth it”?

…plus, you need a solid internet connection, either through WiFi or ethernet.

Pro #2: Seamless Convenience

TV is at its best when you’re bored… so what better feeling than to have a plethora of options? In addition to streaming services and such, most smart TVs also have additional apps that you would have otherwise had on your phone.

Con #2: Cost

Depending on the brand and the design, you could be spending considerably more on a smart TV. From there, it’ll come down to how often you’re using the “smart” features and decide whether or not it’s worth the additional charges.

A fun tip? If you decide not to buy a smart TV, you can always invest in a third-party entertainment device such as the Apple TV or Roku. You can find one at your local electronics store!

And the real con here? Most of these third-party entertainment devices cost less than the difference you’re paying for a smart TV. So in other words, you can spend an additional 300 dollars or so for a smart TV or $50 – $100 for a third-party device that you can just hook up to a conventional TV.

The post The Pros and Cons of Buying a Smart TV appeared first on Newton Search.

Following a well-publicized event, con artists will to risk exposure will attempt to cash in. They will script their scam around a catastrophic event such as an earthquake, or hurricane, and create a name that sounds authoritative, such as an association with law enforcement or the military. How do they obtain your number? Anyone can buy a phone list that focuses on a specific demographic. While the companies that sell them are legitimate and they do keep records such as the name of the buyer, the veracity of the seller is not questioned.

Another way to obtain numbers is by creating a random programming script that simply dials a range of presets while the scammer sits phone in hand waiting for a potential victim to answer. Either way, when someone answers, the caller springs into action. Their voice is commanding, fast, and the message is quickly transmitted: “We are the American Benevolent Whatever Association, and we need your help. Your contribution will help the families of those who have been impacted by A Recent Catastrophic Event. You have been selected because we know you care about others. Here is your chance to help hundreds of people with a one-time contribution of…”

The Government Does Not Call You; You Call the Government

Yet another popular scam is perpetuated by those who claim to be from the IRS, Social Security, or Medicare. Persons over 55 are generally the targets. The caller will claim that their future checks –usually the target person’s livelihood– are being withheld pending an investigation and to open a remediation ticket the caller needs their Social Security Number and/or a credit card to cover handling costs. The Government does not approach people in that manner and everyone is warned to be wary of any caller who identifies themselves as being from any Governmental organization. The Government advises that if approached in this manner, by a phone call, to simply hang up, and call their local agency office and report the call and provide the number, if possible.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), every year 11% of Americans or over 26 million of us fall victim to someone either calling or approaching targeted persons online. A proliferation of online and phone frauds have sprung up since the economic downturn of 2008 and seem to impact those who have lost their jobs or have incurred debt over the past two years. Also the demographics are slanted heavily towards non-Caucasians being approached, possibly due to the higher incidence of recent immigrants who might be more open to listening and complying with authoritative callers and messaging.

In case you’re interested, the FTC notes that while phone scams seem to follow a pattern of persons posing as government agency representatives, most online scams approach those seeking life changes. That’s why there is a proliferation of worthless products that tout their value as weight loss facilitators, sexual health rejuvenators, by claiming that the target has won a cash prize, or by someone posing as an authorized billing agent for buyer’s clubs or internet services, and let’s not forget those ‘get rich quick’ work at home programs.

The best advice is to be wary. There are legitimate work from home options, usually associated with major brands. Just approach any solicitation with a grain of salt and be wary. So if you answer the phone and do not recognize the caller, ask them to send you the information or just hang up. And as for online offers, remember that while hope springs eternal for all of us that there is no magic bullet nor overnight cure. That old adage was never more true: if it appears too good to be true, it probably is!

The post Phone Scams and How to Avoid Them appeared first on Newton Search.

Let’s Start With The Grill

There’s been a long (seemingly never-ending) debate as to which is the superior grill: gas or charcoal. We’re going to tell you the truth (and it might hurt some of you), but the answer is neither. Both types have it’s sets of pros and cons and each serves more specific purposes that can make the lives easier of the owners, depending on what they cook and how they do things.

The real question is choosing the right tool for the job. That’s where we come in!

Pros of Charcoal

• They Last Longer: Like most things, this is a double-edged sword. While gas grills tend to have more features, those very same bells and whistles tend to depreciate their lifespans while charcoal grills tend to live longer lives.
• The Food Tastes Better: This is obviously subject to opinion, but most will agree that the flavor result is superior with charcoal. It’s the main things that justify the cons listed below.
• The Smell of The Process: In my opinion, there’s no better feeling than cooking over a charcoal grill. The fumes just smell of summer and that’s something gas will never be able to replicate.

Cons of Charcoal

• Things Can Get Messy
• Cleaning and prepping a charcoal grill is typically dirtier, especially if you use old charcoal to save money. I expect to get dirty while prepping from the ash and coals and get cleaned up before its time to prep the food.
• Inferior Flame Management
• You can arrange the coals to fit what you’re trying to make, but it’s not the same as gas. You can simply turn the ignitor on/off and manage the flames with ease, while that is not possible on charcoal.

Pros of Gas

• The Entire Process Is Easier
• Everything from starting the flame, from cleaning the grill is simply more convenient. The grills tend to look nicer as well.
• Propane is Cheaper Than Charcoal
• Cost of fuel is cheaper for gas grills, which can save you a lot of money depending on how often you like to barbecue.
• Temperature is Easier to Control
• Back to flame management. Point, gas!

Cons of Gas

• Grills Are More Expensive
• While the fuel is cheaper, the models themselves tend to be more expensive. They also take more attention to maintain.

Preferred Brands for Gas & Charcoal

• Weber
• Char-Broil

Which Is Best For You?

The truth is, it depends on you!

Grilling Accessories

Here’s what we recommend:

• Spatula
• Tongs
• Basting Brush
• Scraper
• Thermometer

Party Activities!

While you’re cooking (and after the fact), you’re sure to have all kinds of things going on for a fun barbecue. More activities means more people can have fun.

Here are some favorites that can get anyone ready for a summer party:

• Bluetooth Speakers
• Cornhole
• Badminton
• Kanjam

The post How To Choose The Perfect Setup For Your Barbecue appeared first on Newton Search.

This is our complete guide to finding the perfect piano for you, regardless of your level of experience.

Before looking into the granular details, we have to start with the bare essentials. These are the main things you’ll have to consider.
Acoustic or Digital?

Before making any other decision, consider how involved you want to be with piano and whether you want a digital or acoustic. Digital pianos are less of an investment and have improved over the years, not to mention they’re cheaper and easier to move. All other decisions will depend on this first call!

The Size of Your Piano

As we’ve already said, your piano is more than an instrument – its a piece of furniture and a new edition to your home. You can consider the customization of the piano once you’ve picked one of the correct size – nothing too big that dominates the room, and nothing too small that makes it feel like you’re settling.

When thinking about the right size piano you want, always consider who’s going to be playing it. An experienced player might look for different things than a kid who’s just learning.

What Kind of Style Are You Looking For?

The size is one thing, but the style is a totally different story. The truth is, there’s a variety of pianos to choose from.

If you’re doing with acoustic, these are your choices:

• Grand Pianos: the grand piano is what most people imagine when they hear the word “piano”. They’re large, heavy, and are often the centerpiece of a room.
• Baby Grand Pianos: just smaller-scaled versions of grand pianos.
• Upright Pianos: these are smaller, lighter, and more affordable versions of grand pianos.
• Hybrids (Upright Grands): In-between grand and upright pianos.

If you’re going with digital, these are your choices:

• Upright Digital Piano: upright pianos that are digital
• Synthesizers: these are portable keyboards that offer an array of different sounds from the keys
• Digital Stage Pianos: digital pianos that reflect the feel and sound of acoustic pianos.
• MIDI Controller Keyboard: technical keyboards that have an assortment of additional knobs and buttons.

Figure Out Which Brand You Want

Not all pianos are created equal – What’s your budget?

Like when you’re buying anything else, some brands and models are more expensive than others. It’s not to say than some of the lower-end piano brands aren’t worth buying, it’s more that you want to make sure you’re getting the most for an allotted budget so there’s no buyer’s remorse.

Find An Expert

It’s important to find someone who has your best interest in mind. This is where a trusted piano dealer comes into play.

It’s nice to have someone that not only knows a lot about piano but may also be able to offer another perspective on the playing and purchasing process. Visiting a nice piano showroom with a helpful professional can make the piano-buying experience totally different!

There you have it, everything you need to know before buying a new piano! Take your time, choose one that’s right for you, and enjoy!

The post How to Choose The Right Piano For You appeared first on Newton Search.

Getting Started

As we know, there are quite a few makes and models out there. But what’s the right one for you? Unless it’s a “play car”, you’re going to want a car that’s going to make your life easier; it should fit your lifestyle. Say you have a lot of kids, you’re going to want a lot of cargo space. If you drive a lot, you’re going to want a car with good highway mileage. The idea is to make the right choice the first time because of how important an investment a car is to the average person.

Of course, determine your price range and start your research.

Finding The Right Car For You

Once you’ve decided what kind of car you want, start narrowing it down to a few models that you think would get the job done. From there, it’s time to start comparing. Online research is going to be your best friend here, checking online reviews from a variety of sources will give you some insight on the long-term value of each model. Every car as its set of pros and cons and when you consider the stress of making this decision, you can be easily swayed by aesthetics or a quick test drive. Since you’re buying a car, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul.

New or Used?

When you get a better idea of which makes/models are right for you, it’s time to ask the next question. Should you buy new or used? Surely a new car is ideal but is also more expensive, so you have to weigh the pros and cons. As we said, while a new car may be ideal, a used car might be the right move.

Since you’re buying a car, we’re assuming you’re going to want it for the long haul. With that said, there are different levels of “used cars”. Ask yourself:

• What’s the mileage on the car?
• How much work has been done on it?
• Is there a viable warranty?
• Is there a decent resale value?

So at this point, you’ve done your research, narrowed your choice down to a few cars, and you know if you want to buy new or used. It’s time to put the pedal to the medal (not literally, you’ll get in trouble). But really, you’re going to want to test these cars out and really put thought into the car’s role in your life. The car salesperson is going to highlight a lot of the car’s features, but you want to look at it from a long-term perspective, rather than focusing on the bells and whistles that you probably won’t even use that much.

Closing The Deal

After test driving these cars, you’ve now made your choice. You know what you want, so now comes the tricky part – getting the best deal. It’s going to be clear to the salesperson that you want the car, so they’re going to leverage that, but don’t let that stop, or even intimidate you. You absolutely, 100% have to negotiate pricing because (1) this person wants to sell this car and (2) you have to gain some control. Remember, you can buy a car somewhere else so don’t forget to remind them of that. It might take time, it might be a little stressful, but you have to go back and forth to get the best deal. Once you buy the car and drive it out of the lot, the price goes down, so you don’t want to leave with any buyer’s remorse.

Protecting Your Investment

There’s no better piece of mind than protecting your investment. Invest in windshield treatment, to be proactive. Regularly change your oil, check your breaks, and keep the interior clean to ensure your vehicle retains as much value as possible. Finally, enjoy your new car! There are few things more exciting than getting used to a new car if you get the right one.

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