Volvo Replacing Keys With Smartphone App

Beginning in 2017, Volvo plans to do away with the traditional car key and replace it with a smartphone app. Gone would be the fob that locks and unlocks your car door. The traditional key fob will not be necessary for Volvo owners who choose to use their smartphones as their car keys via bluetooth in the future.

The majority of the car owners in the United States has access to smartphones. These mobile devices have taken over our lives and we have become dependent of them. Our phones can do so many functional things that make our lives easier, and Volvo is ready to take the next step by making them function as your car keys.

There are plenty of pros and cons to the idea of the smartphone key, but it appears that Volvo will be headed in that direction regardless. We don't leave the house without our phones, but in 2017 Volvo owners literally cannot leave their house without their phones. This will be convenient in such a way that Volvo owners will not have to carry a key in their pocket, but what happens when their phone dies?

Battery life has always been a hot topic in the smartphone industry. The best smartphones only last for about a day before they need to be recharged. Some phones die faster than others, so what happens when you are stranded somewhere without electricity to charge your phone in order to start your car? What if you're locked out of your car in the snow with a dead phone?

This smartphone app is a brilliant idea, but it also comes with a set of unanswered questions. In the future, we will likely rely on our phones for everything. It will be our key to everything and it will also be our wallet. Battery technology is bound to improve in the coming years, and Volvo is being progressive in making sure they are the mavericks in this new trend.

Prince (1958-2016)

Prince, one of the most polarizing artists in history, passed away in his home on Thursday, April 21, 2016 according to his publicist. Details of Prince's untimely death have not been released, but his fans around the world mourn his loss.

Prince Rogers Nelson was born on June 7, 1958 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up to be a legendary music icon. The man was small in stature, standing at just 5 feet 2 inches, but he was larger than life. Prince is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, having won seven Grammy's, an Academy Award, and selling more than 100 million records over the course of his career.

Prince was drawn to music at a young age, using it as refuge from a turbulent life at home. He started his own band in high school, covering songs by the great James Brown, Miles Davis, and Jimi Hendricks. Prince later on released dozens of hits, but his most notable are "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," "Little Red Corvette," and "Raspberry Beret."

Prince will always be recognized as one of the most influential artists in history. Those who were lucky enough to see him perform live could appreciate how he commanded the stage and captivated the audience. Prince was a one of a kind artist and he will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.

Apple Car in the Works?

It has been long rumored that Apple will eventually take a leap into the automobile industry. Their top competitor, Google, already has a leg up on the company based in Cupertino, California. Google has been testing software for a driverless car and they will eventually manufacture a car of their own. How long until Apple gets in on the fun?

Everything about an Apple car is pure rumor right now, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk implies that Apple does have plans to get in on the automobile industry:

"I encourage more participation by whoever it is to create electric vehicles," Musk said. "It's quite hard to do, but I think companies like Apple will probably make a compelling electric car. It seems like the obvious thing to do."

Tesla is leading the way in the realm of electric vehicles, with Google and Apple looking to follow their lead. Tesla already has software that will serve as an autopilot feature; a feature that Google desperately wants to replicate.

If Apple does follow suit, it seems that their huge and loyal fanbase will certainly invest in their cars. Apple would produce a gorgeous and efficient car that would remain consistent with the rest of the products that they sell. Anything you'll hear about Apple manufacturing a car right now is rumor, but don't be surprised when they actually do release a car of their own.

The Time Kobe Bryant Leaped Over A Speeding Aston Martin

Kobe Bryant recently played his final game with the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. The 20-year NBA legend has had plenty of memories on the court, but one of the most fond memories fans have of him off the court was when he leaped over a speeding Aston Martin in 2008.

Kobe had just finished an NBA season where he was honored with the prestigious Most Valuable Player award and he was gearing up to win a gold medal for Team USA in the Olympic Games in Beijing. As a promotion for his new shoes, Kobe made what appeared to be a homemade Youtube video where he jumps over an Aston Martin.

This was a risky and dangerous video that went viral nearly immediately. This video displayed Kobe's freakish athletic ability by jumping over the luxury car, and earned him respect from millions of fans around the world. Of course, there are doubters who believed the video was fake and attempted to debunk the fact that Kobe actually cleared the speeding Aston Martin, but that is besides the point. Unfortunately for the nonbelievers, the video has never been accurately debunked, so as far as we know, Kobe Bryant jumped over a speeding Aston Martin during the 2008 offseason.

Caring For Your Car

As a car owner, when you get a new car you want it to last forever. Obviously cars are not meant to run forever, but you can extend the lifespan of your beloved vehicles by taking simple steps to maintain performance and longevity. Here are a few suggestions in terms of caring for your car:

Regular Checks:

This may seem obvious to some people, but get to know your car really well and make sure nothing is out of the norm. Once you begin to become familiar with how your car should look and run, you will notice anything wrong with it immediately. So start paying close attention to things like:

• Damage to the body of your car
• Fluids that may be leaking from under your car
• Warning lights on the dashboard

Keeping track of these types of things can help you solve the problem before it becomes more costly and more difficult to fix. As soon as you notice a discrepancy with your car's performance, you should get it fixed immediately.

Under The Hood:

Sometimes we take how well our cars run for granted, and we do not realize that they are complex machines that have a lot of moving parts. If any of these moving parts begins to malfunction, it can compromise the performance of your car. Here are some things you'll want to take an extra close look at under the hood:

• Engine oil level and cleanliness
• Coolant level
• Brake and power steering levels
• Transmission fluids
• Belts

Basic Maintenance:

Most car owners know that it is important to change your brakes and oil every so often, but they are usually unfamiliar with when they should schedule such maintenance. The oil should be changed every 2,000-3,000 miles, and the brakes should be changed before the brake pad becomes bare. You should also switch out your oil filter every 5,000 miles. Other parts that should be monitored and maintained are:

• Air filter
• Headlights, turn signals, brake lights
• Spark plugs and cables
• Engine timing belt
• Windshield wipers

If you treat your car with the respect that it deserves, it will last you a very long time (depending on which brand you buy). A car is a big investment, so maintaining it and making sure everything is all right with it should be a no-brainer.

8 Life Hacks For Your Car!

1. Use nail polish to remove minor scratches and chips!

One of the most disheartening things that can happen with your new car is a scratch or a chip. Going to a body shop to repair this can get pricey, but using the closest color nail polish is a quick and much more affordable solution.

2. Clean foggy headlights with toothpaste!

Driving with foggy headlights can be extremely dangerous. Also, it makes your car look a lot less valuable than it actually is. You can go out and buy new headlights, or you can save a bunch of money by using toothpaste to get brand new looking headlights.

3. Charge multiple devices with a dual-USB through cigarette lighter!

One thing we can't live without nowadays is our mobile devices. Once the battery dies on our device they are rendered useless. Yes, we do have car chargers for that, but what if you need to charge two devices at once? Here is your solution.

4. Hold your car remote to your head to lock and unlock your car from further distances!

This one is strange, but it works like a charm. We don't quite understand the science behind this, but when you hold your car remote close to your head, it gives the remote more range to lock or unlock your vehicle from longer distances!

5. Use a tennis ball to measure where to park in your garage!

Do you have a garage that is extremely packed and are you afraid of hitting something with your car? The solution to this is to park your car and measure your spot by hanging a tennis ball from the ceiling by a string. Now whenever you park in the future, you know to stop when the tennis ball hits your windshield.

6. Protect your car door in your garage by lining your walls with a pool noodle!

Here is another solution for a tight space when parking your car. Instead of risking scratching your car door by hitting it on the wall, line the walls with a soft pool noodle. This will give you peace of mind when opening your car door in your packed garage.

7. Fix car dents with a toilet plunger!

Car dents are disheartening and can be a very expensive fix, but there is a potential alternative to fixing these dents while saving a bunch of money. Using a toilet plunger can potentially fix minor dents. Just use it like you are plunging a toilet.

8. Use seat warmers to keep your pizza warm!

Some people like cold pizza, but for those of us who enjoy our pizza hot, this is a clever hack. If your car has a seat warming feature, turn that thing on and keep your pizza warm on your drive home. If you have a passenger, kick them to the back seat. Pizza should always be the priority.

Uber Vs. Lyft

When you are out on the town and having a few drinks, it is best to leave your car at home and hitch a ride with one of these popular cab services. Uber and Lyft have taken the world by storm and have nearly completely taken over the taxi industry. These two popular cab apps make it easy to order a cab from your phone and they both let you know how much your fare will cost you before you agree to take the ride. They are competing companies, which begs the question: which app is better?

Availability

Availability depends on which city you are currently inhabiting, but overall Uber is more available than Lyft. Uber is available in 58 countries and 300 cities worldwide. Lyft is available in just 65 U.S. cities. For now, it appears that Uber is the winner of this category, but Lyft is growing pretty rapidly.

Price

Both companies offer competitive pricing for their services, but overall Lyft is just a little bit cheaper. Uber also charges surge prices during their busier hours, and those rates can get a bit ridiculous at times. Both companies are quick to respond when you request a ride, both averaging about a four minute response time.

Ways to Ride

Uber offers several different ways to get around when you request their services. You can specifically request: 

• Pool:Your driver will take you and one other passenger where you want to go, but they might pick up another passenger along the way.
• Uber: The car will only seat you and your passengers for the trip (four people total).
• Select: Similar to UberX, but the cars are high end sedans that must have leather seats.
• Black Car: High end town cars and professional drivers.
• SUV: UberX with more seating (up to six).
• LUX: Top of the cars like BMWs, Mercedes, and Porsche.
• Access: Wheelchair accessible service.

Lyft only offers three different ways to ride:

• Line: Similar to Uber Pool. You may or may not be sharing your ride with another passenger or two.
• Lyft: Similar to UberX. Seats four and you’re not sharing the ride with someone else.
• Plus: Vehicles have room for six, leather interior, and access to Spotify Premium in-car so you can listen to whatever you like during your ride.

The Verdict

Both services have their perks and downfall, but the choice is ultimately yours on which service you prefer to use. At the end of the day, as long as you get home safely from your night out, you are the winner.