JULY | 2020 | STYLE

DIGITAL DAZE

We normally reserve our Style section for...well, style, but the current COVID environment done fucked up the thang, as we find ourselves exercising abundances of caution we never knew we could or never imagined we’d have to. If you’re anything like the responsible adults of the world, you’ve been self isolating and social distancing since March.

Social distancing sucks to the extent that even introverts are beginning to complain, and that says a lot. COVID-19 is doing a bang up job at making our lives as miserable as possible, however there’s always technology. Technology presents us with a few options when it comes to keeping ourselves connected and entertained.

We didn’t have to dig too deep to find the connection between style and technology because it's literally right there. Our gadgets, like our style, say a lot about who we are and what’s important to us. The perceptions people form about us are just based on our gadgets just as much as they are based on our style, so it's easy to understand the relationship that exists between the two.

We actually found quite a few studies linking the two. However, we’re not here for that. We’re here to share some of our monthly fashion favorites as they relate to the unspecified number of digital days we’ve got ahead of us!

FAR FROM THE TREE | iPHONE 11 PRO | APPLE

Anyone who has ever owned an Apple product can attest to the durability of the brand’s products (as this is currently being typed on a near perfectly functioning 2012 Macbook Pro). The vast majority of the brand’s products are made from recycled materials, are environmentally friendly and efficient. Apple has remained at the forefront of technological innovation and has only played the role of the underdog once. Remember back when we thought airpods were the dumbest thing ever? Well, we see how that turned out!

Apple has become famous for its iPhone. The devices are coveted for their powerful operating systems, speed, software integration, and ease of use. The iPhone has come a long way from its early days as a device with only 4 GB of storage. Proof of the progress the brand has made can be found in the pudding of the iPhone 11 Pro. This device serves as one of two harbingers of Apple’s thirteenth generation of iPhones, and it came to play no games!  The ‘11 Pro comes in an assortment of finishes which include Silver, Midnight Green, Space Gray, and Gold. These finishes are pretty dope, but the real party is in the storage! Options include 64GB2, 256GB2, AND 512GB2. 

This model is water and dust resistant (“resistant” and not “proof”, because there is a difference) and comes with a pair of wired EarPods with a Lightning connector. You’re sure to enjoy the 5.8” Super Retina XDR display which makes everything on the screen smoother and more crisp than ever. Nothing goes better with crisp than clean, and the ‘11 Pro’s textured matte glass and stainless steel design defend the phone against fingerprints and smudges...because who hasn’t used their pant leg or shirt to desmudge their phone’s screen? Additionally, the battery life on the ‘11 Pro is estimated to last four times longer than that of batteries from previous generations, and the camera...well, let’s just say that this phone is going to be an investment for those of you putting in work on OnlyFans! 

Any Apple product you buy is going to be an investment piece. Prices may vary depending on how and from where you purchase your model from, so make sure to shop around. The iPhone 11 Pro  is available for purchase directly through Apple, and is supported by T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T and Verizon.

The brand really doesn’t need our press and promotion because they’ve done a stand up job at standing out, but if you’re interested in learning more you can do so here. In the event that you don’t see the iPhone 11 Pro in your future, then consider spending a little time exploring the rest of their inventory here. We’re beyond certain you’ll find something to suit your communication needs because when it comes to this brand and the quality of products they produce, it’s easy to see exactly why the apple falls far from the tree!  

THE FINAL FRONTIER | GALAXY S20 | SAMSUNG

Androids get more bad press than they deserve. Did Apple sell more units than Android in 2019? Yeah, but chill, because it wasn’t exactly a landslide victory. Both have their advantages, but those who choose Android over Apple do so because Androids are more affordable, offer a wider variety of apps available for download via Google Play, and are more versatile in terms of style. The newest member of Samsung’s Galaxy family not only puts the eldest of its tribe to shame but will have you wondering how you ever functioned with any of their first devices, which only offered sixteen gigs of storage. Gross. 

The yucks of minimal storage space have been seasoned to levels your grandmother would approve of, as the S20 comes equipped with one hundred and twenty eight gigs of storage. An additional perk can be found in the device’s eight gigs of RAMas well. You’re gonna need all this space to store the amazing quarantine selfies you’ll be taking, because taking group pictures in the middle of a pandemic is not the move. We can end the debate over who has the best camera on the market, as the S20 shuts it all down with its 30x zoom. That, when paired with the device’s AI bolstered super resolution zoom will have you Instagram ready in no time. 

Other features include 8K video recording, a 2X capacitive touchscreen, a 64MP telephoto camera, triple rear cameras, Infinity-O display, and HDR-10 video recording. Those of you who heavily rely on your phone will appreciate the twenty eight hour battery life, and just in case you were wondering, the device is definitely 5G ready! Samsung’s Galaxy S20  has a glass and metal frame, so be careful because gravity will not always be your friend. We strongly suggest you invest in a case to avoid your phone becoming a conversation piece later on.

The phone’s display is bright and crisp, has a great size, and isn’t the least bit heavy. Finishes vary, but the main selections include Cosmic Gray, Cloud Blue, and Cloud Pink. Prices might vary depending on the carrier and/or retailer, but expect to pay a minimum of 1,000.00 (USD). Feel free to spend a little time getting to know Samsung’s Galaxy S20 here to discover why this galaxy serves as the best mode of transportation to explore the final frontier of cell phone innovation! 

BEYOND SUPERFICIAL | SURFACE BOOK 3 FOR BUSINESS | MICROSOFT

Microsoft has had its hand in a multitude of innovative technological pots. The brand is about more than Word, and has gifted the world with Skype, Office 365, the Windows server, and more. While it is our humble opinion that the brand hasn’t always hit the mark (ask anyone who’s ever owned one of their HTC phones), they were identified as one of the two biggest contributors to the S&P in 2019. 

Microsoft’s Surface Book 3 for Business is the perfect quarantine companion, and can be used as a conventional laptop (laptop mode), as a tablet when detaching the screen from its base (tablet mode), or used to comfortably sketch and draw (studio mode). Regardless of whether you intend to use the Surface Book 3 for Business or pleasure (see what we did, there?) you’ll be more than impressed with its graphics and speed. The device’s long battery life is also a plus, as it’s on par with most high-performance laptops. Depending on which model you purchase you can expect it to hold a charge anywhere from fifteen to seventeen hours. 

The Surface Book 3 comes with the latest 10th Gen Intel Core processor, which provides seamless connectivity, an unmatched visual experience, and a performance that rivals most laptops. The laptop-tablet hybrid comes with no less than 256 GB of storage (varies based on selection) and up to 32 TB of storage and 32 GB of RAM to ensure you’ve got the speed and space you’ll need and then some. The surface can be purchased with either a 13.5” or 15” inch screen. Both options function using the brand’s PixelSense Display technology, which recognizes touch from fingers, hands or other objects.  

We strongly recommend the Surface Book 3 for anyone in the market for a new two-in-one device. If its screen resolution, solid design, and reputation as THE most powerful two-in-on laptop on the market isn’t enough to pique your interest, then the added benefits of its portability, performance, and versatility are certain to excite your inner tech demon. Discover more by scratching the surface of this product and more here .

FOREST FIRE | FIRE 7 TABLET | AMAZON

The jury is still out on whether or not Star Trek predicted or inspired some of the technologies we use on an everyday basis. For example, the first actual cell phone was made in 1973, however the Captain James T. Kirk was the first person we actually saw use one in 1965.

This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “Tomorrow is Yesterday.” Some might consider this as a one-off coincidence, but a closer look reveals that there’s more to consider than happenstance. The series introduced us to bluetooth, voice activation, Facetime, GPS, and the modern day tablet. 

Tablets have found themselves on the wish lists of people from all around the world. They feature super smart operating systems, an almost infinite number of apps, faster networks, and have become essential tools in the world of business. They’re pretty useful as personal tools of entertainment as well.

Movie watching, game playing, and book reading were never really hard, but tablets have done an amazing job of making these tasks more convenient than ever. Today’s market is saturated with tablets whose processing speeds rival that of traditional laptops. They serve as one of the best tools when it comes to being a ninja, allow remote access to cloud storage, are great learning tools for kids, and are now more affordable than ever. 

There are dozens of choices to be made when looking for the “perfect” tablet, and our personal fave is the Fire 7 tablet by Amazon! Amazon’s Fire 7 has a 7” IPS (in-plane switching) display, which is not only known for having the best color, but viewing angles as well. It provides its user with up to seven hours of operational time which can be used to read, web browse, watch videos, and listen to music. Users are sure to enjoy the 16 GB of internal storage ( there’s a 32 GB option available as well), and the two MP front and rear-facing 720 HD cameras are easily accessible, produce high quality results, and can be used to take photos and record videos.

Not only was the Fire 7 engineered by the good people at Amazon, but it was tested by them as well. It comes with twice the amount of storage found in previous members of the Kindle family, possesses a faster quad-core processor, comes equipped with Alexa, and is twice as durable as the iPad mini. This is one forest fire we don’t want you to prevent and suggest that you spend a little time with the tablet here. 

We thought we’d be done with COVID by now, but it looks like ‘Rona isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. As cases in America continue to rise, many of us are dreadfully awaiting the announcement of another lockdown. While nothing is for certain as of yet, it’s best that we prepare ourselves for another round of shelter in place orders by ensuring that we’ve got a gadget or two to keep us company. The stress that came as a result of the first lockdown is still fresh on our minds, and we wanted to dedicate this month’s Style to tech because a second lockdown means that nobody’s gonna see any of our fashions, and we’re gonna need something to entertain us if we’re to be stuck in our homes again.