HTC Vive Review

Virtual reality has always been an expensive hobby. Even in 1995, when the only VR option was the Nintendo Virtual Boy, it was hard to justify spending money on the device. It was uncomfortable to wear. It didn’t have any good games. And it was a little ahead of its time. Fast forward to this week, and after spending hours playing with the HTC Vive, I can safely say that VR is still an overpriced novelty.

The HTC Vive is the most advanced VR system ever sold. Its headset is ridiculously powerful, so you can look around in all directions without a hitch. Its wireless controllers make it easy to interact with objects in the virtual world. Even cooler than all that, the Vive lets you walk around in the game—which sets it apart from every other VR headset ever made.

Yeah, I know, the PLAYSTATION VR LAUNCH BUNDLE is legit, but it just doesn’t offer the same type of immersion. If you ever wanted to stand up, walk around, duck, or lunge in the virtual world, the Vive is the only system that will let you do that. The company suggests a 6-foot by 5-foot area for your VR activities, but you can also do “standing room only” or go even bigger that 6x5. The Vive is entirely customizable when it comes to setting up a playing area.

But that customizability is also its greatest flaw. There’s so much...stuff, and setting it up is a huge pain in the ass. The Vive ships in one gigantic box, about the size of a mini fridge, and inside that box are two wireless controllers, two base stations, a headset, and a bridge for connecting the headset to your PC.

And each accessory has at least one cable running to it. Finding the right slot for all of the different cables proved to be annoying—even for someone who spends every waking hour focused on technology. The system requires a total of five power outlets: two for the controllers, two for the base stations, and one for the bridge that connects the headset to the PC. You’ll also need power running to the PC and the monitor. So if you’re clearing out space for a new HTC Vive, you’d better have a room with plenty of wall outlets.

It took me almost an hour to get all of the accessories plugged into the right places. Once everything was connected, I got to the easiest part of the setup, downloading Steam and installing games. After all the software installation I had to calibrate the controllers, the headset, and the playing area. It was not easy, or quick, but finally—it was time to play some games.
An Immersive Experience Devoid of Content

The HTC Vive’s goggles are heavy—noticeably heavier than the Oculus Rift’s. They’re heavier than a bike helmet, heavier than a baseball cap, heavier than scuba goggles, and probably heavier than anything you’ve ever put on your face.

But it’s a small price to pay for walking around in a virtual space, especially if you’re excited about it, so most people will probably disregard the excruciating weight of the plastic headset. I know I did. I tightened the straps on both sides of the goggles and buckled in. I was ready to explore.

The first game I booted up was Job Simulator: the 2050 Archives. It’s a favorite among Vive owners because it takes advantage of the system’s best features, especially the wireless controllers and positional tracking.

The game takes place in an office cubicle, and you’re asked to walk around and complete menial tasks like the faceless corporate employee that you are. Thankfully, the game adds some humor to make the ordeal worthwhile. You use both controllers to operate your hands in the game. When you hold a trigger on either controller, your hands grasp any nearby objects. You can hold objects, throw them, knock them over, and do just about anything you’d be able to do in real life. The positional tracking was even more intuitive. You just walk around in real life, and the system automatically mimics your movement in the game. It’s incredibly realistic (considering that all the animation is styled like a children’s cartoon) and plays to the Vive’s primary strength: unparalleled immersion.

I had a lot of fun playing the easy challenges (I have some experience working in an office). After breezing through a couple of missions, I decided to take a break...and realized an hour had passed. It was a little disorienting, but with the sole mission of playing video games all day, I decided to carry on. I turned off Job Simulator and booted up something else.

City buildings move closer to solar energy

SOLEDAD — The buildings for City Hall, Fire Department, WIC and YMCA are looking at making a change to solar energy, and the Soledad City Council approved further research into projects on Aug. 2.

“There were five projects that were considered citywide,” said Richard Guillen, engineering consultant for the city. “The City Hall, Fire Department and the WIC building, the YMCA building, the La Cuesta Water Reservoirs/ Booster Station Site, the water reclamation facility, and the old landfill.”

According to the Optony Inc. Assessment report to the City of Soledad, the City Hall/Fire Department and WIC buildings are projected to use annual energy of 172,430 Kilowatt hours, solar photovoltaic potential 141,257 kilowatt per year and have an electricity offset of 82 percent. The YMCA is projected to use 159,633 Kilowatts, solar photovoltaic potential is 142,768 kilowatts and has an electricity offset of 89 percent.

The La Cuesta Water Reservoirs and Booster Station Site has an expected annual energy usage of 193,328 kilowatts and a solar photovoltaic potential of 112,299 kilowatts, which means it would have an electricity offset of 58 percent.

The Water Reclamation Facility’s annual energy usage would be offset by the on-site wind turbine and have a solar photovoltatic (PV) potential of 10,595,235 kilowatts. The electricity offset would be sold back to the utility.

The old landfill annual energy usage is non applicable and would have a solar PV potential of 22,213,610 kilowatts with an electricity offset that would be sold back to the utility.

“When I talked to the City Manager and Public Works Director regarding this we thought the most viable projects would be the City Hall, Fire Department, WIC building, the YMCA and the City Water Booster pumps,” Guillen said.

To finance the projects the city is considering direct purchase with a payback period of a 15-year loan with an interest rate of 49 percent or a power purchase agreement where excess power would be generated by the various solar projects and sell it back to a third party.

“I think this is a great idea and I would like to see us moving the City Hall, Fire Department and with the YMCA,” Councilmember Carla Stewart said. “But the YMCA one concerns me because I know that they’re replacing their roof in sections.”

According to Guillen, he is hoping that the YMCA roof will be part of the funding for the solar project. That answer is unknown right now and would have to be discussed with an architect and get engineering involved to see if the roof is going to be directly impacted the solar panels (for example: RENOGY 150 WATT SOLAR PANEL )

A Holistic Approach to Personal Management

Many people handle persistent trauma therapist NYC at some time in their lives. For some, these trauma therapists NYC may last for decades. Back trauma psychologist, for instance, is incredibly popular and certainly will be hard to treat. Lots of people basically place several supplements each day, just to cope with the discomfort. Luckily, as of late, there are helpful natural healing strategies that enable the patient to not only cope with the ache but to actually arrive at the basis of the problem and resolve it.

Your body, as well as the brain, are directly linked. For example, serious trauma therapy within the throat may seem to want it is just a real condition, nevertheless, the truth of the problem is that dealing with continuous discomfort might have significant emotional negative effects as well. Chronic pain can lead to despair, anxiety, and tension - just for starters. Anxiety is among the top factors behind many common preventable systemic disorders. While you can easily see, serious pain can be the reason behind several apparently unrelated circumstances.

porn addiction help can be quite bad for the body, especially if they are not taken in control. Using trauma therapy NYC can lead to reliability, liver and kidney problems, sleep issues, loss in hunger and more. On top of that, there's often an extended list of possible negative effects. Unfortunately, lots of people are not conscious that we now have natural methods to minimize sex addiction NYC.

In regards to sex addicts NYC, massage therapy can be extremely effective. Almost any illness could take advantage of therapeutic massage. When the muscles and areas are manipulated correctly, natural hormones are launched in the body, which helps you to remove sex addiction therapy. Hospitals preserve massage therapists staffed because deep-tissue massage is highly effective at supporting cancer patients to cope with the discomfort associated with chemotherapy.

In addition to being exceptionally beneficial as a means to cut back capsule intake, massage can also be an excellent method to lower pressure levels, that is definitely imperative to total mind and body wellness. Massage is really among the greatest preventive health steps that you can consider. Typical massage can help reduce your chances of getting sick and certainly will have you ever experiencing more upbeat and positive.

If you're enthusiastic about sex addiction treatment possibilities, you may want to confer with your healthcare service about proposing a great massage therapist. Many insurance plans may truly include therapeutic massage, and at lowest you'll experience the comforting feeling that a good massage may bring. Most of the time, massage can actually help heal persistent sex addiction treatment NY, eliminating it for good! Deep tissue massage also brings contaminants out from the body and will enable you to feel healthier overall.

Today, porn addiction treatment management does not need to simply mean taking drugs. We've better alternatives which have been demonstrated to be highly efficient at reducing discomfort permanently. If you should be dealing with discomfort in a standard schedule, or when you have experienced upheaval, consider using the normal approach.

Warning Signs Your Roof Needs Repair Or Replacement That You Can't Afford to Ignore

Have you ever taken an excellent look at your roof repair Bronx lately? I mean truly taken an excellent up close look. Could you learn how to tell if it is period have a roofing expert take a look at your roof repair Bronx NY? Or are you purposely ignoring the obvious indicators that you may need to have your roof analyzed mainly because you worry the very thought of what it will charge to repair or exchange your roof if certainly, an issue is available? Which the scenario, you aren't alone. In fact, you're like a lot of different homeowners who only do not have the full time or income or endurance for another home repair task, another cost, fundamentally another frustration to get to cover. You might have been preserving for a household getaway, a new auto, if not upgrading one of the rooms in your house and believe you just cannot afford today. Which means you disregard the signs and you also delay in support of the new auto, the household getaway, or even the master bathroom renovation. But unfortunately, roof repair is not something you wish to place on the back burner, as it may find yourself charging you drastically more money later on, whether it's not previously costing you more cash now!

So that you could be wondering "how do you know if I certainly must have my roof repaired or exchanged, or if I simply need to own it cleaned?" You may often contact roofing contractors Bronx NY and request an evaluation. Many Bronx roofing contractors provide free inspections and will even work with you with having your homeowners insurance to address most or even all the cost if it is due to some type of hail or tornado damage. If you should be still not confident you ought to call roofing Bronx here are nine indicators that can tell you which you certainly must have your roof repaired as well as replaced. Many of these signs are seen from the ground and by wanting inside your basement if available. In case you choose to get on the Bronx roofing companyitself and examine please use caution whilst the granules of the roofing tiles could be free and cause you to slip and possibly fall. Consequently BE MINDFUL!

1. Dark stained or filthy-seeking areas on your roofing Bronx NY. One of many most likely causes of any dark or stained searching areas on your own NYC sidewalk violations are results fungus or algae growth which in turn causes the brick pointing Bronx  to appear extraordinarily dark or filthy using areas. This problem usually happens in comfortable, moist places including the southeastern area of the place. This is often a problem for your cement sidewalk repair since the algae or shape starts eat away in the shingle foundation producing them to release and decay. In case you place any black areas on your own roofers Bronx and are worried about climbing on your own brick pointing NYC to acquire a greater search then contact a trusted roof repair NYC to examine your roof and determine when the spots are indeed algae growth and also to what extent. It's easier to tackle likely shape growth before it spreads to other parts of the roofing contractors in Bronx New York making this headache as well as the possible reach for your budget a whole lot worse than you considered it could be.

2. Shingle and sheathing damage. Destruction of the tiles, or even worse the sheathing of a roof, may be the effect of quantity of facets; one of which will be described previously. Form and algae may consume away in the natural base of shingles causing them to decay. If this dilemma continues undetected and reaches the sheathing systems then it may be too late whilst the sheathing may be the connection between your tiles as well as the rafters of the sidewalk violation. If this connection is poor then it creates your sidewalk repair Queens a lot more susceptible to damage during probably high winds during storms could eventually compromise the reliability of your concrete sidewalk repair. In case your concrete sidewalk seems to be loose in locations maybe it's a sign of a bigger problem called brick pointing contractors rot which could cause the probable fall of the cement sidewalk. With a roof repair Bronx NY, an expert examines your brick masonry contractor you may be avoiding added repair costs to not merely your waterproofing Bronx but to the interior of one's house.

GOAL ZERO NOMAD 7

The GOAL ZERO NOMAD 7 is a compact solar panel that charges phones or other electronic devices, and it has a modified maximum power point tracker to regulate output. We put this pre-release model to a quick test for a review. (It is available for sale on Mar. 29, 2016.)
Review: Nomad 7 Plus Solar Panel

The Goal Zero Nomad 7 Plus is, on the outside, one of the simplest solar panels we’ve tested. It is light, weighing less than 13 ounces, and it folds down to the size of a small book.

But don’t judge this book by the cover. Thanks to a small modulator, the panel tracks charging and output, helping devices recharge quickly even with the common fluctuations in power generation due to things like shadows and clouds.

The panel packs 7 watts of charging output at 1.4 amps. It is “smart” power, and it quickly juices small devices in our testing.
‘Intuitive’ Power Meter Built-In

The Nomad 7 Plus ($99) has no battery or other power storage. If you want to store extra power purchase any of a number of batteries separately.

It has a single charging output — a USB port with an intuitive power meter built-in. The meter helps you angle the panel just right to capture every possible bit of sunlight. Illuminated dots indicate charge output strength.

We tested a common use for this panel — charging a cell phone.

On a moderately sunny day, the charger brought my drained iPhone 4S (yeah, I know it’s old) to a full charge in about two hours. It’s worth noting that, because of some high clouds, the charger wasn’t showing a full four bars of charging, but it was still very effective.

Goal Zero says this panel is NOT to be used to charge tablets, and as such we did not test an iPad.
Charges Phones, Headlamps, Cameras, GPS Watches

I also tested it using a small Coast flashlight and a Suunto GPS watch. For both devices the panel brought them from stone-cold-dead to functional in about 15 minutes. The flashlight kicked out a powerful beam after a half hour of charging in the sun.


A dead battery in a GPS watch was restored to 30 percent in an hour.

I left the Suunto GPS watch on the charger for about an hour on a sunny day in Denver. It went from completely dead to 30 percent charged in that time, which is about as fast as it charges from a wall socket.
Advantages Of ‘Smart Charging’

The biggest difference between this panel and others is hidden in a small modulator called the Maximum Power Point Tracking controller.

The controller helps optimize the output from the solar panels for the battery being charged, particularly given variances due to light and shadow encountered during charging.

To boil down the tech jargon, it tracks the history of the power flow, so it understands if a device disconnects due to being fully charged or due to a lack of power (because of shade). It then automatically reconnects if needed.

It also “sags” the amount of power created due to spikes in solar energy, which helps devices charge safely and effectively, Goal Zero touts.

Four LED lights on the modulator take the guesswork out of positioning the panel, so you know when you are getting the maximum charge.
Removable Kickstand, Backpack Compatibility


The Nomad 7 Plus comes with a magnetically-removable kickstand. It’s useful in angling the panel at the sun. But if you don’t want to carry the extra weight (the kickstand adds 3.9 ounces), just pull it off and leave it at home. With the kickstand removed, the panel weighs 9.3 ounces.

This panel will be included in the purchase of the Gregory Baltoro, a pack designed with charging in mind that GearJunkie awarded ‘Best In Show’ last year at an industry event. That pack comes to market at REI stores in May.


To use it on other backpacks, the panel attaches on the outside with an included carabiner. With the kickstand removed, it becomes a cardboard-thin package that’s easy to attach and carry. The foot-long cord is plenty to reach interior pockets where electronics can ride, getting charged while you hike.
Nomad 7 Plus Conclusions

This is a slick little solar panel. It is effective at quickly charging small devices and is simple to use thanks to intuitive metering and design.

For those who just want to recharge phones and other small electronics, or store energy in small batteries for later, this is a good choice.

Guest Post: How to Patchwork Quilt - Patchwork Making For Pleasure

Introduction:

Patchwork Quilting is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby. Once you have learned the art of patchwork quilting you will be able to create your own patterns and designs making great pieces of useful and practical artwork that you will always treasure.

Many people would much prefer receiving a handmade quilt rather than a commercially mass produced product made by a patchwork quilting machine.

Patchwork has always been a hugely popular craft and more and more people are learning the art of patchwork quilting.

What Is Patchwork Quilting?
The definition from a dictionary for patchwork quilting is 'a quilt made by sewing patches of different materials together'. There are three layers of fabric and these three layers are stitched together to make the patchwork quilt. Almost every world culture has, in some way or another helped to develop today's art of quilting.

Make Beautiful Crafts & Gifts for Friends & Family
Patchwork quilting is an easy and fun way to make beautiful gifts for your friends and family members.

Of course it isn't just patchwork quilts that can be made. For example, just by reducing the size of your work or by changing the shape of the patchwork quilt your design can be used as a potholder, table runner, wall hanging, or even a quilt for a baby.

Quilts are a special way of keeping warm on cold nights and great for all members of the family to use. Quilts make wonderful gifts and are a great reminder of many happy memories as they will be treasured for many years and passed down from generation to generation.

A Fun & Rewarding Craft
Patchwork Quilting is a fun and rewarding craft.

On learning the patchwork quilting art you will easily be able to create your own patterns and designs.

One of the great things about patchwork quilting is that it becomes a great way of using leftover fabric from clothes or other projects.

Patchwork quilting is also a great way of creating something that can help to make money at charity shows and stalls.

Quilting is easy to learn and great to do with friends and family members. For example, making a patchwork quilt provides you with a rewarding time to spend with children and it will give them something to treasure for years to come. It is also great at giving children something to be proud of let alone a valuable pastime for them which can also help to keep children occupied for hours on end!

Designs

The designs and the techniques of quilt making have been traditionally passed down from one generation to another or from friend to a friend or a teacher to a student. Four Patch Quilt Blocks are generally one of the most commonly used designs in creating patchwork quilts.

As time goes on we begin to see more of a personal style developing in each person's patchwork quilting which assists in making quilting even more of an art form.

Get Into Quilting
Sometime in the mid 1960s quilt revival was started and this has continued to the present day. You too can be a part of this ever popular past time. It' growing popularity means that patchwork quilting continues to fill homes across the globe and more and more people are finding their way into this enjoyable craft.

8 Tips for Building Your Business Support Network

Whether you are just branching out or gearing up for your umpteenth year in business, it never hurts to have a supportive network around you. Owning a business can not only be stressful but lonely. Not every family member or friend will understand or emphasize with your entrepreneurial journey. The key is to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can offer advice, share opportunities and listen to your big ideas. Go beyond your typical inner circle and broaden your network of support.

Consider the following strategies in either engaging with people you hope to connect with or need to re-engage to strengthen the support around you as well as to look for new business opportunities.

1. Alumni: Reconnect with college and/or high school staff and classmates by letting them what you are doing now and what you have accomplished or plan to accomplish in your business. There might be opportunities to collaborate with university or community college by speaking at the school, hiring seasonal workers or bidding on a project.

If you have children or are engaged in your local community, this strategy applies to reaching out to the parents and teachers association (PTA) or a similar group within the school.

2. Chamber of Commerce: Join a local or state chapter and meet and support business leaders. Becoming an active member can expose you to other industries, opportunities and like-minded contacts.

3. SCORE: Supported by the SBA, SCORE is a nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their business. There are SCORE locations throughout the U.S. Between workshops and mentorship business owners can access professional support year-round.

4. Faith-based community: Your spiritual relationship with the members at your place of worship can have a positive effect on your personal life and business goals. Lean on faith-based organizations and activities that promote a healthy, productive lifestyle.

5. Extracurricular groups: It’s easy to forget that we form bonds with people we meet through leisure activities like sports leagues, volunteer and travel groups. When not working on or in your business, it’s essential to have a release.

6. Former co-workers: If you’ve shared ideas or worked well with previous coworkers and staff, re-engage them to share your current business venture. Their skillset might be useful in your next idea or they can provide insight or contacts that you may have not consider.

7. Professional organizations or conferences: Depending on the nature of your work and business, there might be an established network of professionals who meet annually. Conferences and professional groups are instant support systems because they bring together small and large crowds of people who are similar. You can get a lot of inspiration and information by not only attending events but potentially sponsoring or speaking at one.

8. Online groups via forums, private Facebook groups or Slack communities: Thanks to the internet and social networking, interfacing with other business owners across the world is reality. Building connections that go beyond day-to-day business matters, can provide new ideas and a different perspective.

How to Make Your Business Plan Stand Out

One of the first steps to business planning is determining your target market and why they would want to buy from you.

For example, is the market you serve the best one for your product or service? Are the benefits of dealing with your business clear and are they aligned with customer needs? If you're unsure about the answers to any of these questions, take a step back and revisit the foundation of your business plan.

The following tips can help you clarify what your business has to offer, identify the right target market for it and build a niche for yourself.

Be Clear About What You Have to Offer

Ask yourself: Beyond basic products or services, what are you really selling? Consider this example: Your town probably has several restaurants all selling one fundamental product—food. But each is targeted at a different need or clientele.

One might be a drive-thru fast food restaurant, perhaps another sells pizza in a rustic Italian kitchen, and maybe there’s a fine dining seafood restaurant that specializes in wood-grilled fare. All these restaurants sell meals, but they sell them to targeted clientele looking for the unique qualities each has to offer. What they are really selling is a combination of product, value, ambience and brand experience.

When starting a business, be sure to understand what makes your business unique. What needs does your product or service fulfill? What benefits and differentiators will help your business stand out from the crowd?

Don’t Become a Jack of All Trades-Learn to Strategize

It’s important to clearly define what you’re selling. You do not want to become a jack-of-all trades and master of none because this can have a negative impact on business growth. As a smaller business, it's often a better strategy to divide your products or services into manageable market niches. Small operations can then offer specialized goods and services that are attractive to a specific group of prospective buyers.

Identify Your Niche

Creating a niche for your business is essential to success. Often, business owners can identify a niche based on their own market knowledge, but it can also be helpful to conduct a market survey with potential customers to uncover untapped needs. During your research process, identify the following:

Which areas your competitors are already well-established
Which areas are being ignored by your competitors
Potential opportunities for your business

Executive Summary

The executive summary is often considered the most important section of a business plan. This section briefly tells your reader where your company is, where you want to take it, and why your business idea will be successful. If you are seeking financing, the executive summary is also your first opportunity to grab a potential investor’s interest.

The executive summary should highlight the strengths of your overall plan and therefore be the last section you write. However, it usually appears first in your business plan document.
What to Include in Your Executive Summary

Below are several key points that your executive summary should include based on the stage of your business.

If You Are an Established Business

If you are an established business, be sure to include the following information:

The Mission Statement – This explains what your business is all about. It should be between several sentences and a paragraph.
Company Information – Include a short statement that covers when your business was formed, the names of the founders and their roles, your number of employees, and your business location(s).

Growth Highlights – Include examples of company growth, such as financial or market highlights (for example, “XYZ Firm increased profit margins and market share year-over-year since its foundation). Graphs and charts can be helpful in this section.
Your Products/Services -- Briefly describe the products or services you provide.
Financial Information – If you are seeking financing, include any information about your current bank and investors.
Summarize future plans – Explain where you would like to take your business.

With the exception of the mission statement, all of the information in the executive summary should be covered in a concise fashion and kept to one page. The executive summary is the first part of your business plan many people will see, so each word should count.

If You Are a Startup or New Business

If you are just starting a business, you won't have as much information as an established company. Instead, focus on your experience and background as well as the decisions that led you to start this particular enterprise.

Demonstrate that you have done thorough market analysis. Include information about a need or gap in your target market, and how your particular solutions can fill it. Convince the reader that you can succeed in your target market, then address your future plans.

Remember, your Executive Summary will be the last thing you write. So the first section of the business plan that you will tackle is the Company Description section.