Best 5 star ACs in India

<p class="financial-disclaimer"><i>When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a></i></p><p><a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"></a></p>Table of Contents: Masthead Sticky<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>A high-quality <keyword id="985715" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="blender">blender</keyword> has a powerful motor, features a durable jar, and is easy to clean.</strong></li><li><strong>I like the </strong><a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow noopener sponsored sponsored"><strong>KitchenAid K400 5-Speed Blender</strong></a><strong> for its 1.5-horsepower motor and helpful presets. </strong></li></ul><keyword id="9054237" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="product-card">Product Card</keyword> (small)<p>Cheap, weak blenders are frustrating. Many people struggle with an inferior blender - perhaps given as a gift or a secondhand store find. You might even give up on blending altogether because your low-grade model presents such a hassle. I've tested several blenders of all prices, and I've found you get what you pay for.</p> <p>That said, I found the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">KitchenAid K400 Blender</a> provides an impressive balance of performance and value. At $200, it's not a trivial purchase for most consumers, but it does as good of a job at common blending tasks as some of the bigger names, like Vitamix (a blender I also own and used as a point of comparison). Here are my experiences with the KitchenAid K400 Blender.</p><h2>Design and specs</h2><p>What sets the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">KitchenAid K400 Blender</a> (Model Number KSB4027BM) apart and warrants the $200 price tag is its heavy-duty 1.5-horsepower (1200-watt) motor. The blender has five speed settings plus four presets for blending icy drinks, smoothies, crushing ice, and cleaning. There's also a pulse function and a start/stop button.</p><p>The 56-ounce plastic jar is square-shaped with a curved bottom. Four asymmetric blades at the bottom of the jar help produce an even blend by pulling the contents down into a vortex.</p><p>The lid is also made of hard plastic with softer rubber around edges to form a tight seal. An center hole in the lid allows you to add ingredients while the blender is running without making a mess.</p><p>The <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">KitchenAid K400 Blender</a> is backed by a five-year warranty that covers full replacement of the unit, replacement parts, and repair labor costs. The warranty does not cover shipping and handling associated with fixing or replacing your blender.</p><p><a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored"><div type="image" title="Kitchen Aid Blender" height="1024" width="1365" msid="80871437" hostid="261"></div></a></p><h2>Setup process</h2><p>Setup is a snap: take the blender out of the box, clean the jar and lid before using, plop the jar on the base, plug it in, and you're good to go.</p><p>Operation is just as straightforward with the blender's simple dial and start/stop button. To make my first concoction, I added the ingredients to the jar, closed the lid, turned the control dial, and pressed the start/stop button. Within 10 minutes of opening the box, I had a fresh smoothie in my hand.</p><h2>What makes the blender stand out</h2><p>I most appreciate the KitchenAid blender's presets. You just turn the dial to the preset you want and the blender does its thing. This is particularly useful when crushing ice for drinks or snow cones. The appliance automatically pulses the ice - a must for a more uniform consistency. After putting a tray of ice cubes through the ice crushing preset, there were only a few chunks. The rest was more of a slush ideal for summer treats.</p><p>Any blender needs to be able to make top-notch smoothies. Most blenders won't pulverize berry seeds or tough, leafy greens, and you end up with them stuck in your teeth or throat. So, I made a kale, strawberry, frozen banana, and almond milk smoothie in the KitchenAid blender. The resulting beverage was as smooth as can be. There were no unpleasant bits of strawberry seeds or kale pieces to deal with. </p><p>I also like to see how well blenders can make nut butters. I tossed raw peanuts into the jar and ran the blender on high. The K400 did a pretty good job of making a slightly-chunky peanut butter. The chunks were much finer than store-bought chunky peanut butter, but not quite as smooth as peanut butter made in my Vitamix.</p><p>Fortunately, cleaning the jar of the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">KitchenAid K400</a> blender is easy. I just rinsed it out, added a drop of dish soap, filled the jar about a quarter of the way with warm water, and ran it on the cleaning preset. </p><p><a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored"><div type="image" title="Kitchen Aid Blender" height="752" width="1002" msid="80871438" hostid="261"></div></a></p><h2>Cons to consider</h2><p>While testing this blender, nothing negative jumped out at me. I found it mildly annoying that the K400 automatically shuts off after running for three minutes. While making mayonnaise - a process that requires adding olive oil slowly while the unit runs at high speed - I grew concerned when the blending stopped. But, the blender just timed out. I pressed the start button, and it was back at it.</p><h2>The bottom line</h2><p>Overall, the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">KitchenAid K400 Blender</a> is a workhorse. I tested it for 100 days, and there were no hiccups in its performance. It tackled all of the blending tasks I gave it and was easy to clean afterward. It's a great mid-priced blender that offers a balance of affordability and performance.</p><h3>What are your alternatives?</h3><p>When I'm not testing blenders, I mainly use the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vitamix-blender-review-ascent-a3500-2018-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vitamix A3500</a>, which is the best blender I've ever used and costs about three times as much as the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">KitchenAid K400</a>. The A3500 has smart connectivity, a 2.2-horsepower motor, and is backed by a 10-year full warranty. That said, the K400 does a comparable job at basic tasks like crushing ice and making smoothies. </p><p>For other blender options, check out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-blender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our guide to the best blenders</a>.</p><h3>Should you buy it?</h3><p>The KitchenAid is a very powerful blender for the price. That said, many users may not necessarily need a blender this powerful. If you mainly need a unit for combining simple ingredients, such as milk, bananas, and protein powders, save your money and choose a more affordable option.</p><p>However, if you want more out of your blender and can't afford or don't need a big-name Vitamix, the <a href="https://shop-links.co/1711890325645977832" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Kitchen K400</a> is for you. For most tasks, such as making truly-smooth smoothies, nut butters, crushed ice, icy drinks, and mixing thicker items, this blender will get the job done. Yet, if you plan on putting your blender through tougher tasks, such as kneading doughs, or if you want to heat soups as you blend them, you'll need to spend more money on a fancier model.</p><p><strong>Pros:</strong> Pulverizes berry seeds and leafy greens, crushes ice, four presets, 1.5-horsepower motor, five-year full warranty, great for nut butters, easy to clean</p><p><strong>Cons:</strong> Only five motor speeds, automatically turns off after three minutes of operation</p>Product Card (button)

This KitchenAid blender makes me wonder why I spent so much on a Vitamix - it works just as well and is half the price

Amazon Prime Day 2021: Here are the best deals and offers you can get during the sale

<p><em>The<span> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Insider Picks</a><span> </span>team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.</em></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Polk</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The $250 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polk Command Bar</a> isn't a soundbar that works with Alexa; it's a soundbar with Alexa.</strong> </span></li><li><strong>While there are innumerable soundbars that work with Alexa, there's only one other soundbar that has Alexa built-in (the <a href="https://amzn.to/2B7bQ4U" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sonos Beam</a>), and it's $100 more and doesn't come with a subwoofer.</strong></li><li>From the smooth setup to the excellent audio fidelity, this smart soundbar makes a great centerpiece for a smart home.</li><li><strong>Amazon Alexa has never sounded this good. Even without Alexa built in, the sound quality justifies the price.</strong></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polk has long been one of the premiere audio brands for home theater speakers. From floor-standing speakers worth multiple thousand dollars to cheap soundbars you grab off the shelf at Best Buy, Polk has done it all. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Command Bar</a> is different, though. It's an easy-to-use, all-in-one soundbar that's meant to be at the center of your home. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">First, what it is. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polk Command Bar</a> is a 260 watt soundbar with wireless subwoofer capable of producing sound from 40Hz to 22kHz. In addition to connectivity over toslink optical and HDMI, you can also stream to the Command Bar wirelessly over Bluetooth or WiFi. It supports both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands, too, which is a nice touch. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The included remote allows you to adjust the volume of the different components, set which mode you're listening on - more on that later - and tell Alexa to listen. You likely won't need the remote, though. As long as you've connected to an HDMI ARC port or connected with HDMI and optical, you can use your TV's remote to control the volume. The Command Bar is preconfigured to accept voice commands from Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and more, too, so you can always go at it that way. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to the HDMI output, there are dual HDMI 2.0a inputs capable of passing 4K HDR content at up to 60 frames per second through the soundbar. Assuming you have the correct input on your TV selected, you can switch between these inputs either using the remote or voice commands.</span></p><h2><strong>Getting started with the Command Bar</strong></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Polk</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polk includes a massive manual with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Command Bar</a>, which, at first, I couldn't find (it's stuck in a slot in the styrofoam). Originally, I assumed there wasn't one, so I went at the setup alone. Thankfully, the Command Bar doesn't need a manual. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After plugging it in, even before connecting it to your TV, Alexa will turn on and prompt you to finish setup using the Polk Connect app. Much like the Amazon Echo, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Command Bar</a> uses your phone to connect to your WiFi network, start location tracking, and pair to your various smart devices. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The setup is painless, though it does require a Polk account to complete. Thankfully, you only have to sign in once. Connect is used to manage any Command Bar you have, and you can assign different names and attributes to each. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Outside of the various connections <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Command Bar</a> can support, the setup is very fluid. Our subwoofer automatically connected without the need to press the pair button, there are mounting holes on the back of the unit - as well as two additional holes that can be attached with adhesive - and labels for where everything should plug in. When it was all said and done, I was using yelling "Alexa" across the room in five minutes. </span></p><h2><strong>The smart bar</strong></h2><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Polk</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong></a></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polk makes it clear that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Command Bar</a> is "Alexa enabled," but given how many smart home products are marketed with the Alexa brand, the purpose of the Command Bar is confusing. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>This isn't a soundbar that works with Alexa; it's a soundbar with Alexa.</strong> </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a far-field microphone and the iconic blue ring, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Command Bar</a> is a meeting of the minds, combining Amazon's AI with Polk's excellent audio quality. Saying "Alexa" lowers the sound of the audio, allowing you give any - well, most - of the commands that work with Amazon's Echo. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are some advantages over a regular Echo, though. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the back, there are dual HDMI 2.0a ports for 4K HDR content. One of the ports is actually labeled for a Fire TV Stick, and you can power your stick using the built-in USB port. With such a setup, you could, for example, say "Alexa, stream </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Avengers: Infinity War </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">on Netflix" and it would. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While it's great for those who own a Fire TV Stick, everyone else is left using voice command to simply switch between the HDMI ports. As with all smart home products, there are limitations to the Command Bar. It can't control apps on smart TVs or interface with non-Amazon streaming devices. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are other Alexa features missing, too. Even with the Alexa app on your mobile device, you can't use the Command bar to make calls or send messages. Likewise, the Command Bar doesn't support reminders, though, when I tried, Alexa said that it doesn't "currently" support that function, suggesting that it may come in the future. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most of the features are intact, though. Alexa can still tell you jokes, set alarms, and give you the weather report. The Command Bar integrates with the Alexa app, too, so you can use it to control other smart home devices.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong> Outside of a few, minor features, this is a better-sounding Echo in a different form factor.</strong> </span></p><h2><strong>The sound</strong></h2><p><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Polk</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></strong></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alexa has never sounded this good. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Amazon's Echo line has come a long way since its first generation, Polk is a true master when it comes to audio quality. When I first unboxed the Command Bar, set it up, and streamed some music, I was disappointed in the sound, though. While the Command Bar is capable of producing great-sounding audio, it needs some tweaking. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thankfully, that's simple to do. Polk includes four modes with the Command Bar: movie, music, sport and night. Each changes the balance of the subwoofer and soundbar and tweaks the frequency output. For example, movie mode has heavier bass and a more present midrange, while music mode tightens up the bass and accentuates the highs.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can, of course, adjust some parameters of the audio manually. Polk gives you control over the balance of soundbar and subwoofer, as well as the volume of dialogue. It calls this technology "Voice Adjust," which can help make dialogue in movies and TV shows clearer. From what I know about audio, the voice adjust sounds like it's messing around with some of the midrange frequencies to help voices cut through the highs and lows. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the price tag suggests this is a low-end sound bar with Alexa built in, that's not the case. Compared to my $150 Polk 2.1-channel soundbar, there's no contest. Before testing the product, I expected the two to sound similar - afterall, some amount of the MSRP has to account for the Alexa integration. However, to my surprise, the Command Bar sounded better. In addition to getting louder, it had deeper bass and crisper highs. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are a few reasons for that. The Command Bar and subwoofer have slightly larger amplifiers that are capable of producing floor-rumbling loudness. Furthermore, the Command Bar can maintain crystal clear quality when getting loud. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, the real difference is the addition of dual 1-inch tweeters next to the 1.25-inch drivers and a larger subwoofer. The woofer measures 6.5 inches with a built-in 100 watt class D amplifier.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That said, the Command Bar is relatively inexpensive, so, as expected, the sound isn't perfect. While the bass can shake the floor, you often won't want it to. When watching movies with the subwoofer turned up, the bass became flubby and overpowering. That's further demonstrated when playing bass-heavy music through it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a><p class="source"><span>Polk</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Command Bar has bass to spare, which makes it feel unbalanced in certain configurations. Movie mode makes music sound bass-heavy and dull, while music mode doesn't allow the subtle sub hits of movies to come through. It's important to adjust the Command Bar based on what you're putting through it.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are some minor annoyances outside of that, too. For example, you can't turn the Command Bar off. You can turn Alexa's microphone off, but the bar will remain on. When working, I had the TV on for some background noise, with the soundbar connected through an optical cable. Of course, I didn't need fantastic audio quality, so I opted to mute the soundbar and use my TV's built-in speakers.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After about half an hour, and after there was a moment of silence in whatever was on, the Command Bar unmuted and started blaring sound. I've been able to reproduce that a few times, but with varying consistency. Suffice it to say, some way to turn off the soundbar indefinitely is missing. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Outside of those few niggles, the Command Bar is seriously impressive. Even without Alexa built in, the sound quality justifies the price. Amazon's AI is just the icing on top. Polk recently announced integration with other speakers, making it the first third-party soundbar to be fully functional with Amazon's multi-room music ecosystem, too.  </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We want to note that there are a few complaints online about the Command Bar losing connection to other devices and dropping audio occasionally. While we didn't experience any of that during our testing, it is something you should be aware of.</span></p><h2><strong>The verdict </strong></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Polk has done something special with the Command Bar. While there are innumerable soundbars that work with Alexa, there's only one other soundbar that has Alexa built-in, and it's $100 more and doesn't come with a subwoofer. From the smooth setup to the excellent audio fidelity, the Polk Command Bar makes a great centerpiece for a smart home.</span></p><h3><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078HJMVTK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biip_012519_polk-command-bar-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B078HJMVTK&amp;linkId=505f96e53d9d1b6eba756e4fe2a29e33" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy the Polk Audio Command Sound Bar for $249 from Amazon </a></h3><p class="tagline"><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p>

I tried this soundbar with Amazon Alexa built in that's $100 cheaper than the Sonos Beam - here's why it's worth it

The best back-to-school deals to shop on Prime Day 2019 - for all ages

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Ford</span></p><p class="caption">The new Ranger.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>The new Ranger is <a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/F-Quote">Ford's</a> entry into the revived mid-size pickup market.</strong></li><li><strong>The former generation was dropped in 2011, and fans have been wanting it back in the US ever since.</strong></li><li><strong>The new Ranger is stylish, rugged, a high-tech.</strong></li></ul><p><br />Say hello to the all-new Ford Ranger pickup.</p><p>Ford unveiled the truck on Sunday, just as the 2018 Detroit auto show was kicking off. To say that this thing was hotly anticipated is an understatement. Perhaps the only other new product that has gotten Ford fans as excited in recent years is the soon-to-arrive, all-new Bronco SUV.</p><p>The Ranger is Ford's bid to enter the revived compact pickup game, taking on the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline. The segment has come back strong, but Ford dropped the previous generation of the Ranger back in 2011. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Ford</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The carmaker announced the new pickup at the Detroit auto show last year and on Sunday pulled the cover off the production vehicle, which will go on sale later in 2018 for the 2019 model year. Ford didn't announce pricing, but we can assume it will be directly competitive with the Colorado, which starts at about $20,000.</p><p>"Ranger has always held a special place in the hearts of truck fans," Ford vice-president Hau Thai-Tang said in a statement.</p><p>"The all-new Ranger is designed for today's midsize truck buyer, delivering even more utility, capability and technology for those who blend city living with more off-the-grid adventures on weekends."</p><h2>Small pickups are big</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Ford</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The compact segment is really a mid-size segment, as the new generation of smaller pickups aren't as downsized as their predecessors, such as the Ranger and Mazda B-Series vehicles that Ford and former partner Mazda discontinued in the US but continued to sell in other markets. </p><p>The new Ranger will be powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine (horsepower wasn't shared when the vehicle was revealed) and come with a ten-speed automatic transmission, a combination that ought to delivery appealing oomph along with good fuel economy.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Ford</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The frame, according to Ford, is steel (and the all-new platform will also undergird the Bronco). Given that the carmaker has made a big switch to aluminum for its bestselling full-size F-150 and larger Super Duty pickups, there was plenty of speculation that the Ranger would be similarly engineered. We'll have to wait until we actually get to Detroit and can ask around about what metals the Ranger is made of.</p><p>Trim levels will consist of an "entry-level XL, mid-level XLT and high-level Lariat trim series with available Chrome and Sport appearance and FX Off-Road packages, and in SuperCab or SuperCrew cab configurations," Ford said.</p><p>The FX package is particularly interesting: Ford based the offroad system on its bonkers F-150 Raptor high-performance pickup. (The pickup-truck world is already wondering if the Ranger will get the Ford Performance treatment and join the Raptor in the family as its little brother.)</p><h2>Not shortchanging buyers on premium features or tech</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Ford</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>In keeping with a trend, the Ranger won't skip on premium features or technology.</p><p>"Ranger incorporates smart driver-assist, passenger convenience and connectivity technologies," Ford said.</p><p>"Advanced driver-assist technologies include standard Automatic Emergency Braking, while Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, a Reverse Sensing System and class-exclusive Blind Spot Information System with trailer coverage are standard on XLT and Lariat trim levels."</p><p>Lariat trim trucks will "include Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control," and the Ranger will be available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the Sync 3 infotainment system, which will also provide Amazon Alexa integration and a 4G LTE wifi hotspot supporting up to ten devices. Audiophile truckers can also opt for a premium Bang &amp; Olufsen sound system.</p><p>The design of the Ranger is styling and aggressive: a big-looking pickup in smaller package. Coolest element? The "Ranger" names stamped in large letters on the tailgate.</p><p>The year ahead will be a big one for pickups as a true truck war breaks out. The new Chevy Silverado will take in the mighty Ford F-150, and now the Colorado will have its hands full with the new Ranger. </p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Ford stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/f-Quote"> <strong>here.</strong></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ford-built-plug-in-hybrid-cop-car-2017-11">Ford has built a plug-in hybrid cop car</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Ford just revealed the pickup truck we've all been waiting for

<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-japans-renesas-in-talks-to-buy-us-chipmaker-maxim-cnbc-2018-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Waymo</span></p><p class="caption">Self-driving cars, such as this Chrysler Pacifica minivan, which is powered by technology from Google spinoff Waymo, are likely to drive so-called edge computing, which could be the next big trend in tech after cloud computing.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Some experts think so-called edge computing will be the next big trend in tech after cloud computing.</strong></li><li><strong>In edge computing, a significant amount of processing power is shifted from the cloud to the edge of the network to devices such as manufacturing robots, self-adjusting thermostats, and self-driving cars. </strong></li><li><strong>Helping drive the trend is the growing number of devices that rely on artificial intelligence, which requires lots of data that often has to be processed in real time, making it harder to depend on the cloud.</strong></li></ul><p><br />One of the biggest trends in tech over the last decade has been the shift to cloud computing - the move to store and process data and run applications in data centers maintained companies including Amazon and Microsoft rather than on corporations' own computers.</p><p>But even as that trend is continuing and cloud computing is becoming more important, we're starting to see the first signs of what might replace or improve upon it - so-called <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/edge-computing-is-the-next-multi-billion-tech-market-2016-12">edge</a> or fog computing. This new type of computing has huge potential, boosted not only by the cloud trend but also cutting-edge devices that have the chance to become mass-market products, most notably self-driving cars and robots.</p><p>While a lot of work will still be done in cloud data centers, the edge trend will shift much of the critical processing and decision making to devices and gadgets that are connected to them, but at the far reaches of the network.</p><p>"There's going to be a symbiotic relationship between the edge and the cloud," said Peter Levine, general partner at venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.</p><h2>Edge computing is shifting processing power out of the cloud and nearer to end users</h2><p>The term edge computing refers to the concept of a so-called edge device. If you think about networks as a spoke and wheel, with servers and data centers at their centers and things like PCs, smartphones, and tablets arrayed around them in a circle, the latter group of gadgets are edge devices. They're at the network's edge.</p><p>Your smartphone is attached to the edge of your carrier's network. If you have a Nest smart thermostat or a Sony PlayStation 4, they're at the edge of your home Wi-Fi network. </p><p>In edge computing, gadgets are still connected to the internet and can still tap into cloud computing services. But they typically have more onboard computing power than in the past and can do more things on their own.</p><p>It's about "moving processing and storage close to the application," Levine said.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>George Frey/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Nest thermostats, which adjust the temperature in users' homes based on the data they collect about owners' habits, are another example of contemporary edge computing devices.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>In some ways, with edge computing, the technology industry is going back to the future. Prior to the 1980s, businesses depended on centralized mainframe computers, which workers might interact with using so-called dumb terminals. But PCs shifted processing power out to workers' desks, out on the edge.</p><p>More recently, the cloud-computing trend centralized processing power again. With edge computing, the pendulum is starting to swing back, distributing computing power more broadly, closer to end users.</p><p>It's still too early to get a sense of the potential size of the market for edge computing in dollars. However, the research firm <a href="https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/what-edge-computing-means-for-infrastructure-and-operations-leaders/">Gartner recently estimated that by 2022</a>, half of all data generated by businesses will be from these smarter edge devices, rather than from the cloud or their own data centers.</p><p>The definition of what would be considered an edge computing device is somewhat open to interpretation. But Levine and others think the distinguishing characteristic of such gadgets is their ability to do smart processing on their own. They wouldn't consider a simple internet-connected lightbulb an edge computer, for example. But they might consider a thermostat that adjusted itself based on your habits to be one.</p><h2>Artificial intelligence and self-driving cars are driving the edge-computing trend</h2><p>A big driver of edge computing will likely be the rapid development of artificial intelligence, which can require lots processing power to be available immediately. Some manufacturing robots, security cameras, and augmented-reality headsets already rely on AI. But the technology product that perhaps best highlights the need for and promise of edge computing is the self-driving car.</p><p>To be safe on the road, autonomous vehicles, such as those being developed by Waymo, Google's corporate sibling, have to make sure they're keeping to their lanes, recognizing and stopping at red lights and stop signs, and identifying pedestrians and bicyclists and making sure to yield to them. All of that requires the cars to crunch massive amounts of data in real time, every second of every ride. Indeed <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/02/07/technology/car-data-value/index.html">self-driving cars generate as much as a gigabyte of data every second</a>, according to some estimates.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Bill Pugliano/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Robotic arms weld an SUV as it goes through the assembly line at a General Motors factory.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>It's so much data that has to be processed so quickly it would be impossible for such cars to rely on servers in the cloud. If they were to depend on Amazon Web Services, say, or Microsoft Azure, to handle such information, they'd have to upload their data to those cloud services, wait for it to be processed, and then wait for the results. Even though those services can be pretty fast, they're not fast enough to be able to respond in real-time to current driving conditions or immediate dangers.</p><p>"The car would blow through the stop signs and run over people before the information got back from the cloud," Levine said.</p><p>So instead of relying on the cloud, Waymo and other self-driving car developers have been loading up their vehicles with heavy-duty processors from the likes of <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/07/uber-taps-nvidia-for-its-self-driving-vehicle-fleet/">Nvidia</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/18/16328284/intel-waymo-partnership-self-driving-car-chrysler">Intel</a>, giving each car enough computing power that it essentially becomes a "data center on wheels," as Levine puts it.</p><h2>Edge computing is likely to work in tandem with the cloud, not completely replace it</h2><p>But the important thing about the new edge-computing trend is that even though it's pushing processing power back to the edge, it's not leaving the cloud out. Instead, cloud computing still plays an important role.</p><p>With self-driving cars, for example, the vehicles typically, at the end of a day of driving, send the data they've collected to the cloud. The manufacturers of the autonomous vehicle systems use the data they've gleaned from those cars to train and refine their software so the vehicles offer smoother and safer rides.</p><p>Robots, phones and web cameras that have built-in facial-recognition systems, and other gadgets that rely on artificial intelligence work in similar ways. The device does much of the initial or immediate processing, but it relies on cloud intelligence to improve how it functions.</p><p>The biggest players in cloud computing are all embracing edge computing in one way or another. Amazon <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/lambda/edge/">offers several services</a> for integrating devices with AWS as does <a href="https://cloud.google.com/solutions/iot/">Google with its cloud service</a>. </p><p>When Satya Nadella first took over as Microsoft's CEO, he famously declared the company would pursue a "cloud-first, mobile-first" strategy. Last year, he updated that vision a little bit. Now, Nadella said, Microsoft is about "intelligent cloud and intelligent edge." </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Microsoft</span></p><p class="caption">Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announces the company's "Intelligent Cloud, Intelligent Edge" motto.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The software giant has an opportunity to help clients make edge devices work better with the software they're running on Azure, said Sam George, a director at Microsoft who's leading much of the company's edge computing efforts.</p><p>Some of Microsoft's big corporate customers are already benefiting from the edge-computing model, George said. One client is using Microsoft's edge-computing services with its manufacturing robots. The robots have enough artificial intelligence built-in that they can keep working even when the internet goes out. Without that connection, the company could experience "catastrophic downtime," he said.</p><p>"They're doing the real-time processing on the device itself," George said.</p><p>Ultimately, when it comes to edge and cloud computing, they're not necessarily in competition; they don't have to present users with an either-or proposition, George said. Instead, the two can complement each other, and the important thing for technology providers and their customers is figuring out the right balance between how much processing can be done in the cloud and how much should be done on the edge devices.</p><p>"The whole gist of edge is the ability to have consistency between services you run in the cloud and the devices that you run," George said.</p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Google stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/GOOG-Quote"> here.</a></p>

One of the biggest trends in tech over the last decade has been the shift to cloud computing - and we're seeing the first signs of what might be next

<ul class="summary-list"><li>First and <keyword id="121626" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Business-Class">business class</keyword> <keyword id="30815" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="flight">flight</keyword> experiences are currently heavily stripped back due to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cases-maps-us-world-spread-symptoms-death-rate-2020-1">coronavirus</a> pandemic.</li><li>Equally, lots of airlines are spacing passengers out in economy to comply with social distancing guidelines.</li><li><keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Travel">Travel</keyword> experts told Insider that although a premium ticket may not be worth it right now if you care about perks, it's likely that overall, it will become more appealing than ever.</li><li>This is largely due to the space and privacy offered, particularly with the trend for business class suites with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors.</li></ul><p>It's safe to say the <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Aviation">aviation</keyword> industry has been hit incredibly hard by the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-cases-maps-us-world-spread-symptoms-death-rate-2020-1">coronavirus</a> pandemic.</p><p>Global travel restrictions have resulted in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/air-traffic-during-coronavirus-pandemic-changes-effects-around-the-world-2020-4">a dramatic decrease in flights</a>, airlines are <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52606374">legally required</a> to refund passengers for canceled trips, and the limited planes that <em>are </em>still taking to the sky are often <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-flying-is-like-during-coronavirus-pandemic-airport-plane-photos-2020-4">flying at half capacity or less</a>.</p><p>While this period of time won't last forever, when more of us can start going on holidays and work trips once again, the whole <keyword id="52392" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Flying">flying</keyword> experience is <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-flying-airports-air-travel-could-change-future">going to look very different</a> for a long time.</p><p>In fact, it's possible things may never completely go "back to normal."</p><p>Many airlines are currently flying with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/empty-middle-seat-depends-on-which-country-you-are-flying-in-2020-5">empty middle seats</a> in economy due to social distancing. Meanwhile, most are operating with a highly stripped-back service in the premium classes, begging the question of whether it's still worth shelling out to fly business or <keyword id="131186" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="first-class">first class</keyword> when travel restrictions life but these measures are still in place.</p><p>However, travel experts told Insider that although a business or first class ticket may not be worth it right now if you're fussed about all the perks, it's likely that overall, it's about to become more appealing than ever.</p><h2>Airlines have drastically stripped back the business and first class experience</h2><p>Although all non-essential travel has been advised against for the past few months as part of various countries' national lockdowns, some people have had to fly.</p><p>The flight experience, however, isn't currently what it used to be, both due to airlines attempting to limit human contact and stay afloat economically — Emirates, for example, has cut its inflight WiFi and live TV to cut costs, <a href="https://simpleflying.com/emirates-cuts-wifi-tv/">Simple Flying reports</a>, as has <a href="https://www.qantas.com/gb/en/travel-info/travel-updates/coronavirus/impact-to-lounges.html">Qantas</a>.</p><p>Middle seats have been largely removed in economy to aid social distancing, cabin crew on airlines such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/qatar-airways-introduces-full-body-protective-gear-cabin-crew-coronavirus-2020-5">Qatar</a> are wearing full body Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and others have introduced <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-flying-airports-air-travel-could-change-future#temperature-checks-might-become-the-norm-2">temperature checks prior to take-off</a>.</p><p><div type="image" title="qatar airways ppe 2" height="2000" width="2667" msid="75866235" hostid="261"></div></p><p>It's perhaps in business and first class, however, where the biggest changes have been felt.</p><p>When you're flying in an upper class, one of the things you're paying for is extra attention from flight attendants. Now, airlines are trying to minimize interaction, keeping physical contact to what is strictly necessary.</p><p>Perks like fine dining, bowls of nibbles, and hot towels are off the menu, too. </p><p>On <a href="https://www.insider.com/qatar-airways-introduces-full-body-protective-gear-cabin-crew-coronavirus-2020-5">Qatar Airways</a>, for example, business class meals are being served on a tray instead of a table set up, with a cutlery wrap offered to passengers rather than individual cutlery service.</p><p>On American Airlines, first and business class meals are also being served on one tray instead of in courses, there's no longer a pre-departure beverage, and alcohol is ony available in first class, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-axes-most-food-and-drink-service-amid-coronavirus-2020-3">Business Insider's Graham Rapier reported</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.aircanada.com/uk/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/service-offering-changes.html">Air Canada</a> has replaced its normal bar service simply with bottles of water, the usual business class cuisine has been replaced with a pre-packaged meal, and special dietary requests can no longer be accommodated.</p><p>Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-deserted-empty-airports-world-coronavirus-air-travel-2020-2#meanwhile-cathay-pacific-has-announced-that-it-would-stop-offering-in-flight-hot-towels-pillows-blankets-magazines-and-duty-free-sales-30">Cathay Pacific announced</a> that it would stop offering in-flight hot towels, pillows, blankets, magazines, and duty-free sales.</p><p>Virgin Atlantic and Qantas are among others offering similar streamlined services, providing just orange juice and water.</p><h2>If you care about perks, don't fly business during or after lockdown</h2><p>If the business class flight experience is as much about the complimentary Champagne as the leg room for you, some experts believe it would be a mistake to pay for a premium ticket any time soon.</p><p>"Right now, in-flight service perks for all classes have been removed or changed to reduce the chance of contamination, removing a lot of the draw of these upgraded fares," Jack Sheldon, founder of <a href="https://jacksflightclub.com/">Jack's Flight Club</a>, told Insider.</p><p>"We are also seeing fewer deals on business and premium classes," Sheldon said, adding that business and first class seats won't be as valuable for travelers unless they are after the leg room.</p><p>Even if your main motivation for flying business or first class is the greater personal space, there's no shortage of space in economy right now.</p><p>"Where <keyword id="34984" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="airline">airline</keyword> loads are light, you may get a whole row to yourself, that's better (and more distanced) than flying up front," Gary Leff, founder of <a href="https://viewfromthewing.com/">View From The Wing</a>, told Insider.</p><p><div type="image" title="Emirates first class 4" height="933" width="1400" msid="75866239" hostid="261"></div></p><p>What's more, you don't get to appreciate the usual joy of being able to whizz through the airport's priority lanes at security and boarding, because either <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-flying-is-like-during-coronavirus-pandemic-airport-plane-photos-2020-4">there are no queues</a>, or lanes have been consolidated. </p><p>"With airport security in the US currently screening no more than about 200,000 people a day, down over 90%, it doesn't take long to get through the airport," Leff said.</p><p>However, Sheldon pointed out that "with the extra temperature checks and customs checking now added, we might actually be seeing longer wait times no matter your class."</p><p>Leff believes that, especially for short-haul flights, it's a waste of money to fly business or first class the way things are at the moment.</p><p>"Right now there's not much benefit to sitting up front on a short flight," Leff said. "Where the extra space is minimal and the service on short flights is minimal, there isn't much incremental value."</p><p>Long-haul flights, however, may be a different story.</p><h2>The privacy of a premium experience may prove more attractive than ever</h2><p>When leisure travel begins again, it's likely that the majority of people will return to flying somewhat tentatively, and many experts believe the added privacy of flying business or first class may in fact end up being a reassurance worth paying for.</p><p>"Those keen to keep a safe distance will like the security of the roomier classes," Sheldon said.</p><p>Gilbert Ott, founder of <a href="https://www.godsavethepoints.com/">God Save the Points</a>, agrees.</p><p>"I think at the right price, many travelers will look for any opportunity to enjoy more space, and this could tie into a pre-existing trend airlines were exploring with unbundled business class, where all the fixings were no longer included," he told Insider.</p><p><div type="image" title="©NickyKelvin 18 IMG_0404 2" height="1666" width="2500" msid="75866244" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Nicky Kelvin, Director of Content at <a href="https://thepointsguy.co.uk/">The Points Guy UK</a>, also predicts that more people will want to pay for extra space once they start flying again.</p><p>"Privacy and distance is likely to be in the forefront of many passengers' minds when they start flying again," he told Insider.</p><p>"An empty middle seat simply won't cut it for many, especially when there might be a fellow passenger directly in front or behind you."</p><h2>Suites with sliding doors offer extra protection</h2><p>Over the past few years, many airlines have been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-business-class-club-suite-review-private-cocoon-a350-2019-8">upgrading their business and first class offerings</a> to launch suites, some with <a href="https://www.insider.com/emirates-first-class-suites-review-photos-voted-best-in-world-2019-11">floor-to-ceiling sliding doors</a> for ultimate privacy. For those who can afford them, it's likely these will become more popular than ever.</p><p>"Even before the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> pandemic brought travel to a halt, many airlines were introducing new premium cabins that, often for the first time, included closing doors," Kelvin said.</p><p>"When travelers return to the skies they'll be more conscious than ever before about their personal space, and these airlines will be eagerly waiting to greet them with some of the most spacious and comfortable premium cabins imaginable.</p><p>"<a href="https://www.insider.com/emirates-first-class-suites-review-photos-voted-best-in-world-2019-11">Emirates</a>, Singapore, Etihad, and ANA [below] lead the way for ultimate segregation. All have first class suites with doors on certain aircraft. The Qatar Qsuite business class product is also an enclosed cabin and is set to become even more of a favorite for those wanting to socially distance."</p><p>It's possible that people will fly less frequently but fly better, deciding to splash out on the flights they do take.</p><p>"For many, 'fewer' trips will be the way forward, in favor of attempting to fly in business or first class to create natural social distancing," Ott suggested.</p><h2>Frequent business class travelers will still want to fly business</h2><p>"I'd expect premium classes to remain popular with the travelers who have always found these perks attractive," Sheldon said.</p><p>"The extra leg room, lie-flat space, and guarantee of personal distancing will always be worth the extra cost for some."</p><p> As Ott explained, business class travel often isn't even about the perks which have now disappeared.</p><p>"For business travelers, the experience was always about space to sleep or work while in transit, and rarely about the Champagne or the sodium heavy meals," he told Insider.</p><p><div type="image" title="Nicky Kelvin British Airways BA A380 First LHR ORD (74 of 102) (1)" height="1875" width="2500" msid="75866247" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Canceled holidays and trips due to lockdown have led many people to realize how much they appreciate travel, and Kelvin believes that they will simply be so happy to be flying again that they won't care about not having the usual premium perks.</p><p>"The desire to travel with increased privacy and distance from others could become the ultimate way to fly, even if the old trappings of first and business class travel do not come with the package," he said.</p><p>"After being stuck on the ground for so long, many travelers will be so happy to be flying safely again that Champagne and caviar will not be a priority."</p><h2>Both on the ground and in the sky, what will happen is up in the air</h2><p>While the majority of airport lounges are now closed, as <a href="https://paxex.aero/2020/03/airport-lounges-closing-coronavirus-covid19/">Paxex</a> reported, Kelvin believes that if they do reopen, they'll be extra appealing.</p><p>"Passengers are likely to want to be away from the crowds, so premium check-in areas and lounges (if they are open) will provide for an easier experience," he said.</p><p>Kelvin also believes more people will want to take longer trips when they can fly again, so the additional baggage and carry-on allowances that most airlines grant premium passengers will be "incredibly helpful."</p><p>Although no one knows what will happen to airlines as travel restrictions are lifted, Ott says the experience will "no doubt be very different."</p><p>He predicts smart cabin crew uniforms will be replaced by PPE gear, and Sheldon thinks face masks on flights may be a permanent change, as well as pillows and blankets replaced by hygiene-related perks like free hand sanitizer or masks.</p><p>"When it comes to food and drink, it's hard to imagine when that will return to any level of normalcy," Ott added.</p><h2>The price needs to be right</h2><p>As airlines attempt to dig themselves out of a hole, Ott says the price of fares will be important.</p><p>"Ideas that prices are going up are foolish, because airlines need cheap fares as much as we do. It's why we saw <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-airways-offering-free-changes-may-be-too-soon-2020-5?_ga=2.59079469.1098233960.1589789570-2057136890.1556640142">Qatar Airways recently offer $1,600 round trip business class fares</a> from just about anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world," he said.</p><p>"Lots of seats to fill, lots of people who want them and now less pressure to deliver on service aspects. It's all about cleanliness, distance, and comfort."</p><p>Although there <em>are </em>many seats to fill right now, Sheldon thinks middle seats in economy will be full again "before we know it."</p><p>"The travel sector has continued to grow and will continue to again once the worst of this crisis is over," he said.</p><p><div type="image" title="Emirates first class 10" height="933" width="1400" msid="75866249" hostid="261"></div></p><p>Leff believes that as flights begin to fill back up, we will see business class proving more popular than before.</p><p>"Having even just a little bit of space will mean more than it used to — even if it's not enough space to be socially distanced, not having someone literally touching you is of benefit," he said.</p><p>It's possible that the coronavirus pandemic may make people appreciate business and first class even more.</p><p>"I, for one, will value business class more than ever," Ott said.</p><p><strong>Read more:</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-flying-airports-air-travel-could-change-future">18 ways air travel might be different in the future, from immunity passports to blood tests</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-business-class-club-suite-review-private-cocoon-a350-2019-8">I flew business class for the first time on British Airways' new A350, and the cocoon-like privacy impressed me far more than the food or the lounge</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/emirates-first-class-suites-review-photos-voted-best-in-world-2019-11">I tested out Emirates' first class suites, and it was clear why they were voted the best in the world — especially if you hate other people</a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/comparison-emirates-first-business-and-economy-class-2019-11">I sat in all three classes on Emirates, and while the jump from economy to business was massive, I couldn't work out why someone would pay so much more for first</a></p>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/business-first-class-more-valuable-post-coronavirus-flight-experts-2020-5">Insider</a>

You Searched For "homemate wifi heavy duty smart plug" and got 9 results

Best 5 star ACs in India

Sourabh Jain

This KitchenAid blender makes me wonder why I spent so much on a Vitamix - it works just as well and is half the price

James Brains

Amazon Prime Day 2021: Here are the best deals and offers you can get during the sale

Rounak Jain

I tried this soundbar with Amazon Alexa built in that's $100 cheaper than the Sonos Beam - here's why it's worth it

Jacob Roach

The best back-to-school deals to shop on Prime Day 2019 - for all ages

Mara Leighton

Ford just revealed the pickup truck we've all been waiting for

Matthew DeBord

One of the biggest trends in tech over the last decade has been the shift to cloud computing - and we're seeing the first signs of what might be next

Matt Weinberger

Business and first class travel may be a waste of money right now, but premium tickets are about to become more valuable than ever

Rachel Hosie

45. Heard It Through the Grapevine

Sarah Wyman,Charlie Herman,Ju…