TuneIn Premium will stop offering audiobooks on January 15

Why is this happening? TuneIn won’t say.

For a lot of folks, TuneIn has been the go-to app for listening to music, podcasts, sports, news broadcasts, and even audiobooks in one single location. Unfortunately, starting January 15, 2018, one of these things will no longer be supported.

When you open the TuneIn app and select an audiobook that you’d like to listen to, you’ll now see a message saying “Audiobook content will no longer be available on TuneIn after January 15th.” For whatever reason, though, the listing of TuneIn Radio Pro on the Google Play Store is still advertising audiobooks as one of the main features of the app.

After being discovered by Android Police, TuneIn issued a statement confirming the removal of audiobooks without actually addressing why. Instead, the company says that it hopes you’ll enjoy “other premium content like 24/7 live streaming and commercial-free news with MSNBC, plus all the music channels and lie sporting events throughout the holidays.

TuneIn’s been offering audiobooks since August of 2015, and while I’ve personally never used the service, I’d definitely be a bit irritated if I was a paying subscriber.

These are all the deals for the Play Store’s ’12 Days of Play’ promotion

Amazon buys smart doorbell and camera maker Blink

Amazon keeps growing its smart home arsenal.

Back in 2014, a young startup by the name of Blink hit the scene with a smart home security camera that promised to be affordable, truly wireless, and filled with the most important features. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Blink followed up this initial release with more advanced security cameras and even a smart video doorbell. Now in late December of 2017, Amazon’s officially purchased the company.

The acquisition was announced on Blink’s website, and although it hasn’t been disclosed how much money Amazon paid for Blink, the fact that it’s already been acquired just three years after launching its Kickstarter is mighty impressive.

Blink says it’ll continue to support its products and customers and that nothing will be changing right now, but it remains to be seen whether or not this continues a year or two down the road. Blink could keep selling products under its own name, or we could see its tech migrated into Amazon-branded hardware.

Either way, it’ll be interesting to see what comes of this deal as we exit 2017 and move on throughout the new year.

Amazon Prime Video finally makes its way to Android TV

Charge ten devices at once with Anker’s $28 compact PowerPort 10 USB wall charger

The compact PowerPort 10 will keep all your devices charged at a great price.

Amazon is currently offering the Anker PowerPort 10 60W 10-port USB Wall Charger for just $27.99 when you enter promo code XMAS2133 at checkout. This deal saves you $12 off the item’s regular price, bringing it down to its lowest price ever.

This USB wall charger features 10 ports that can charge up to 2.4 amps per port or 12 amps overall. With its powerful 60 watt output, you can rest assured while charging multiple devices that it can get the job done. Best of all, it’s a huge space saver and is super compact.

You’ll also receive an 18-month warranty with your purchase, though I doubt you’ll need it as reviewers on Amazon left this product with a stellar 4.8 out of 5 star rating after almost 1,500 reviews.

See at Amazon

How to choose the right Chromebook

Knowing what to look for before you buy will make you happier and can save you money — which also makes you happier.

Whether you’re buying your first Chromebook or upgrading from an older model, you need to know what to look for before you part with your cash. Really, most purchases are this way — especially electronics of any sort. We can help you figure out which Chromebook features are right for you so you can be an informed buyer.

If you’re not yet sure that Chrome OS will work for you, go cheap.

Before you begin, you should set your budget. Thankfully, a fully capable and future ready (if not future-proof) model can be had for well under $300 if you don’t want to go for the top-shelf. And realistically, you don’t. Chrome OS runs really well on hardware that might not have enough “oomph” for another operating system. In fact, there’s a good chance your phone will have more cores, be clocked higher and have more memory than a Chromebook that can do everything it’s intended to do. That’s not to say you won’t benefit from having a more premium model with better specs, but it’s certainly not necessary.

And that makes the first thing on our buyer’s checklist easy: if you’re not yet sure that Chrome OS will work for you, go cheap.

One of the top-selling Chromebooks on Amazon (and a pick for “Amazon’s Choice”) is the Acer Chromebook CB-3. It sells new for $178 (as of December 2017). And while it’s not the nicest laptop you’ll ever see, it has a great IPS screen and runs the very latest version of Chrome OS. And runs it pretty well. You will see things get bogged down a little if you’re trying to do too much at one time, but a browser session with a handful of tabs open or a few Chrome apps or documents open won’t be a problem at all. It’s a perfect way to see how Chrome will handle doing the things you want it to do.

Amazon is also a great place to look for refurbished models that still carry a full warranty. I have seen Chromebooks for as little as $99 for Amazon Prime accounts, and any of them would be a good way to try a taste of Chrome OS so you know if you’re ready to spend a little more.

See at Amazon

If you’re already sure you want a little better hardware or are looking forward to Android apps, you still don’t have to spend a lot of money. But you do need to know what to look for.

Android apps will change how we use a Chromebook.

Android apps are going to change how we use a Chromebook. Adding almost 2,000,000 apps to one of the fastest and safest operating systems available will also make it one of the most capable for many of us. Don’t expect to run specialty programs like Adobe Photoshop or a CAD program, but for things like light video editing or 3-D drawing, you’ll find a handful of apps that can handle the task. Chromebooks weren’t designed for folks who need to use a high-end desktop or laptop. But most of us don’t need a high-end desktop or laptop and will be served well with a Chromebook. If Android apps are going to be important to you, here are a few things you need to look for.

• Make sure it’s on the list. You’ll find a list of Chromebooks that will be able to run apps from Google Play. Existing models will be listed if they’re going to support them. For newly-announced models, ask someone about Android apps before you buy. You can ask us — if we don’t know, we’ll find out.
• More storage is better. This goes without saying, but we are saying it anyway. Chromebooks were designed as a cloud-centric device. Because of this, many don’t come with a lot of storage space. Android apps can change how much you’ll need. Consider some games for Android (which will play just fine on your Chromebook) are up to 2GB or more in size, and you’ll see why. You can store a lot of data or documents or photos on the SD card, but apps will go to the actual device storage. Ideally, you’ll want 64GB or more, but 32 can work if you’re not interested in any games.
• Know how you plan to use it. Some of us want a convertible model that we can use like a tablet. Others want a traditional clamshell-style. Spending a little more to get something you’ll find more useful is worth it. Screen size comes into play here, too. If you’re on the go a lot, you might want an 11-inch model. Or the 14-incher would be better for your desk. Think about how you’ll be using your Chromebook before you buy one.
• Get a model with a touchscreen. Using a touchscreen for “normal” computing kinda sucks. Editing something in Google Docs or writing a long email just isn’t designed for touch input no matter the platform. That’s why the people who make tablets also make keyboard covers. But that changes when you add in apps originally designed for a phone. They are built for a great experience when poking and swiping with your finger, and that translates well from a 5-inch screen to a 13-inch screen. While you can use the trackpad for most any of it, it’s just not as good.
• How much memory do you need? That’s determined by what you plan to do. A model with 2GB will be enough to have a few tabs open in the browser as well as an app or two running, but if you’re the power-user type you’ll want to go with 4GB. The video experience benefits from more memory, too. A 1080p video on YouTube or Google Play Movies can get a little stuttery with 2GB, but 720p runs great.
• How premium do you want to go? Every other item on this list can be had in a sub-300 dollar Chromebook. You can also spend $1,000 on a Pixelbook. The $300 model will handle most anything you throw at it, but the Pixelbook just feels better. I won’t toss a silly car analogy in here, but only you know how much a nicer look and feel is worth. Of course, more expensive models tend to have nicer displays and smoother trackpads, too.

You’ll have to decide which Chromebook is best for you, but we can toss a couple recommendations out. The Lenovo Flex 11 is a great buy. $280 gets you a Chromebook that not only does everything a pricier one will, but is built for the education market, which means it’s ultra-rugged and has a spill-resistant keyboard.

See at Lenovo

If you’re ready to go all-in with Chrome and don’t mind spending a little more, The Samsung Chromebook Plus or the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 are what I consider the best Chromebooks for the money available today. Buy the Samsung if you want a digital pen, buy the ASUS if you want more storage. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Samsung Chromebook Plus at Amazon

ASUS Chromebook C302 at Amazon

Of course, new Chromebooks are coming out all the time and something coming up may be even better. You can keep up to date on our Best Chromebooks page, and keep an eye out for our reviews. And as always, the forums are a great place to learn more about anything Chrome.

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Tidal launches Android TV app, free 12 day trial coming on Christmas

Time to give lossless streaming a shot.

Tidal might not be the most popular streaming service on the block, but for folks that appreciate lossless high fidelity audio, it’s still one of the best options around. Just in time for the holiday season, Tidal has a couple big announcements to hopefully get more folks to make the jump from Spotify, Google Play Music, etc.

First off, Tidal finally has an Android TV app that’ll allow you to listen to songs, watch music videos, concerts, and quite a bit more. The app also made a debut on Apple TV, and this marks the first time Tidal’s expanded its app to any smart television platforms.

Shortly after this, Tidal also announced that it’d be launching a 12 day free trial of its service on Christmas Day, December 25. Tidal already offers a 30-day free trial when signing up, but the difference here is that you’ll be able to listen for 12 days without having to enter your credit or debit card info. Just listen to the music, enjoy it, and don’t worry about having to cancel so you don’t get charged.

All users will have access to Tidal HiFi for lossless high fidelity streaming, and during this 12-day promotion, Tidal says it’ll be launching new original music videos, documentaries, and interviews.

Pandora Android TV app gains Premium support, refreshed UI, and more

Coinbase halts trading after volatile bitcoin price fluctuation

At 11:11am ET this morning, the cryptocurrency marketplace Coinbase temporarily disabled buying and selling for all currencies on its site. This came after wild surges in bitcoin’s price in the last 24 hours: It plunged from a high of $15,800 late last night down to a low of $10,800 hours ago.

Bitcoin’s price has climbed back up to around $12,800 as of the time of publishing, and Coinbase noted that buying and selling may still be blocked. The latest update on the site’s status page, which went up at 11:35am ET, reads, “Due to today’s high traffic, buys and sells may be temporarily offline. We’re working on restoring full availability as soon as possible.”

Coinbase had disabled buying and selling yesterday at 5:57pm ET according to its status page, but that issue had been resolved within 15 minutes, with no indication of cause. While other occasional temporary blocks in the last month have been logged, the last few days have seen an uptick in holds put on bitcoin, bitcoin cash and ethereum. Some of these incidents weren’t explained, while others were explicit processing delays due to high transaction volume.

Via: CNBC

Source: Coinbase status page

The best coffee grinder

By Liz Clayton

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After more than 65 hours of research and hands-on grinding over the past two years, we think the über-consistent, no-frills Baratza Encore is the best grinder for most people. It reliably delivers the high-quality grind needed to make a great cup of coffee at a practical price for this kind of appliance.

Who this is for

A good grinder makes all the difference in brewing a balanced, flavorful pot of coffee. Photo: Michael Hession

If you consider your morning (or afternoon, or anytime) coffee a serious matter, you’ve likely already heard that the most important item in your brewing setup is a quality burr grinder. Unevenly ground coffee will brew unevenly, yielding a muddied or overly bitter cup. So a good grinder is integral to keeping the most essential part of your brewing technique—the coffee itself—at its most flavorful, and it will ensure the consistency required to produce, and reproduce, that flavor.

How we picked and tested

From left to right: Baratza Encore, Baratza Virtuoso, Porlex Mini Hand Grinder, and Capresso Infinity. Photo: Michael Hession

A quality burr grinder will cost at least $100, which is one reason so many coffee lovers linger in the purgatory of affordable, substandard blade-grinder land. But a good grinder should justify the price: It will last for years with proper maintenance and be easy to clean. It will grind more consistently than a blade grinder, which is the most important aspect of brewing an even, balanced cup of coffee. It should have high-quality, conical burrs made from a hard material like steel or ceramic, and adjusting the grind settings should be straightforward. We also like to see features for controlling dosage, like a timer or a built-in scale, but we don’t think these features are 100 percent necessary.

For this year’s tests, we looked at eight electric models. And because someone will always chime in with the question, “Can’t I just buy a much more affordable hand-grinder?” we also tested a couple of those.

We brought the grinders to the Counter Culture Coffee lab in Manhattan, where Matt Banbury and Ryan Ludwig helped us grind, brew, and taste one of their staple coffees, the Fast Forward blend. They also helped us measure how well the coffee extracted from the grounds, using professional tools such as a refractometer.

Later, we tested our favorite machines in a home setting, to learn about real-world conditions like footprint, noise, ease of use, and speed. Please see our full guide for details about our testing process.

Our pick

Photo: Michael Hession

The slim and trim Baratza Encore is lower priced than most of the competition—currently at about $140 versus about $200 for anything else in its echelon—and it performs as well as or better than any home grinder we tried. Baratza offers a range of similar grinders with different features and prices, but we found the entry-level Encore to be the best grinder with the best features for most people. It grinds beans quickly and evenly, it’s simple to use, and adjusting the settings is a breeze. It’s also easy enough to clean and maintain that you’ll use it for years to come. Baratza has a great reputation for durability and customer service.

Absent the bells and whistles of nearly all the competitors we tested, the Encore boasts only a modest on/off toggle dial on the side and push-down pulse button on the front of the machine. We don’t see its simplicity as a real drawback, but the inclusion of a timer would have been nice.

Upgrade pick: Baratza Virtuoso

Photo: Michael Hession

If you’re willing to pay more, the Baratza Virtuoso is a nearly identical grinder to the Encore, but it has a slightly speedier burr set, a timer switch on the side, and a heavier base that helps the grinder stay in calibration. We also think it’s a little better-looking than the Encore. In previous years, the Virtuoso was our top pick, but in our recent tests, we found the grind consistency comparable with that of the Encore. So, because you’re paying more for the features rather than the performance, we think it’s only worth the investment for serious coffee lovers.

Budget pick: Capresso Infinity

Photo: Michael Hession

If you really don’t want to spend more than $100 on a coffee grinder, the Capresso Infinity is a great choice. The Infinity did well in our tests, though it’s better at grinding coffee into very fine particles than into coarse ones, and we found the usability a bit arbitrary, with the numbers on its timer switch indicating some duration of time that isn’t seconds. But we liked it for consistency—not as good as our top picks, but better than all the rest—and for the ease of cleaning and maintenance. We also thought it felt sturdier and significantly more durable than any other machine in that price range.

Also great

Photo: Michael Hession

For those in the market for a truly portable hand-grinder—or a nice forearm workout—we recommend the Porlex Mini. Compared with the other hand-grinder we tested, the Porlex was easier to hold, with smoother and faster hand-cranking action. It’s also made of durable stainless, and fits perfectly inside the chamber of an AeroPress brewer for compact packing. It’s great for travelers or people living off-grid, but because the grind speeds feel glacial, don’t expect to use it as an affordable alternative to an electric grinder, especially if you want to brew more than one cup of coffee at a time.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

CNN kills its made-for-Snapchat daily show

Four months after it launched The Update on Snapchat, CNN is canceling the daily news show. According to the Wall Street Journal’s sources, CNN realized “there wasn’t a clear enough path to make money” with the show. That’s not the most surprising revelation – no one really knows if Snapchat shows are actually successful or how to measure the results.

CNN was one of many traditional media outlets, including Disney, NBC, A+E, MGM Television and ESPN, that launched shows for the millennial-friendly app. NBC even went as far as to partner with Snap on a mobile-only studio dedicated to creating content for the vertical video platform. But despite the hype and enthusiasm from the industry, Snapchat has struggled to add users at a satisfactory rate, leading the company to redesign the app last month.

CNN isn’t completely ditching Snap, though. In a joint statement provided to Engadget, the two companies said “Our relationship will very much be continuing.” They plan to “keep working together and mutually decided to hit pause as [they] explore the best opportunities for doing that.” CNN will continue to publish to the platform and pursue new projects with Snap. Who knows what that will bring, but in the meantime it’s probably a good idea for both parties to take a break until there’s a better way to measure the success of a Snapchat TV show.

Via: Mashable

Source: Wall Street Journal

The five best Razer Phone cases to keep your phone looking sharp

The Razer Phone is a multimedia marvel, with a 120Hz display, a massive 8GB of RAM, and the Snapdragon 835 powering the latest games, movies, and music. But those impressive innards won’t help if you drop it onto solid concrete. You can either risk the world taking away your techno-baby, or you can wrap it up in one of the best Razer Phone cases around.

Olixar Clear TPU Case ($8)

We always like to start our roundups with a clear TPU case. Because what’s the point in spending hundreds of dollars on a device you can’t see? This case from Olixar is made of a flexible and durable TPU material that’s fully clear so you can see the unique design of your phone — as well as the Razer logo on the back. It won’t provide the most protection against drops, but the soft TPU will absorb some force, and it will help to stop scratches, dirt, and other potential hazards from reaching your device. This is decent protection that doesn’t obscure your view, at a great price.

Buy one now from:

Mobile Fun

Abacus24-7 Slim Fit Case ($9)

If you really value the “naked phone” experience, but are still worried about protection, then you might be interested in this super-slim case from Abacus24-7. It’s very thin, adding barely any additional bulk to the phone, and the TPU adds extra grip as well, helping to keep your phone safely in your hand. While the thin nature of the device won’t cushion the phone too much from falls, it’ll still help against minor bumps and scratches, and a raised lip also protects the screen from touching surfaces. It comes in an understated black color, and the slim profile allows room for all the buttons and ports to peek through.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Orzly PU Leather Wallet Case ($10)

All these normal cases leaving something to be desired on the style front? A good wallet case is timeless, and this case from Orzly is exactly that. The Razer Phone might not scream “executive” or “boardroom” normally, but it will once it’s clad in this protective PU leather case. The case’s cover protects the display when not in use, and can be flipped behind the phone to act as a stand when needed — especially important with a phone as media-savvy as the Razer Phone. It’s easy to maintain and keep clean, thanks to the PU leather, and the card slots on the inside cover can serve double-time as a wallet when needed. This is a great case that transforms your phone into a sleek and executive device, while keeping its strong media focus.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Tudia Heavy Duty Dual Layer Case ($13)

If you’re looking for a case with a little more armor, then a dual layer case is a great compromise between protection and size. Made from a combination of soft TPU and hard polycarbonate, the inner core of TPU absorbs shocks and impacts, while the outer PC shell protects against more direct damage. The TPU also helps to aid grip, while a raised lip around the edges elevates your camera and display from dirt and grit when you lay your Razer Phone down. You’re generally paying a bit more than you would for a simple TPU case, but the added protection will be worth it for many users.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Razer Rugged Case ($40)

Of course, we can’t forget about Razer’s own offerings. Razer has released a bunch of different cases, but we like this rugged one the most. Made from a combination of hard and soft materials like other dual layer cases, this case does bring its own particular spin on that formula. The outside of the case is made from a blend of hard PC and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), which gives usually rigid PC more shock absorbency than usual. That’s not all — the inner lining is made from TPU, to further cushion your device against shocks and drops. It’s pricier than most on this list, but if you want Razer’s own vision for its device, look no further.

Buy one now from:

Amazon Razer

Want more for your new phone? We’ve put together a list of the best Razer Phone tips and tricks, just for you.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best Pixel 2 XL cases to keep your Google phone pixel perfect
• Stay Pixel-perfect: Ten of the best Pixel 2 cases and covers
• Here are the best OnePlus 5T cases to keep the flagship-killer beautiful
• Razer Phone review
• Check out 30 of the best iPhone 7 cases and covers for your shiny new phone

How to buy Ethereum

As much as bitcoin has shown amazing growth over the past few months, it’s been followed closely behind by some of the other popular alternative cryptocurrencies, the so-called alt-coins. One of the most exciting of those with an intriguing potential for the future, is Ethereum. If you want to get on that gravy train now, here’s how to buy Ethereum.

Proposed as a potential successor to bitcoin in 2014, Ethereum and its cryptocurrency token, Ether, offer some interesting features which could make the platform a better transactional medium than some of its contemporaries. Smart contracts make fraud and censorship even less likely than with other cryptocurrencies and the Ethereum blockchain is great for crowdsourced funding that doesn’t require a third-party middle-man like Kickstarter or IndieGoGo.

But whether you want to dig into the technicalities of what Ethereum and Ether are, or whether you just want to buy some to make some money out of it, in this guide we’ll walk you through the best ways to do so, so you can get together your own collection of “ETH” in no time at all.

Buying on an exchange

Arguably the simplest way to buy your first Ether is through an exchange platform. They do all the hard work of checking prices and making the actual transaction for you. Although Ether differs from bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in a few ways, using an exchange makes the practice of buying it no different.

But which exchange should you choose? There are tens of popular exchange platforms and each of them is a little different from one another. The simplest suggestion is to pick an established and insured exchange with full support for Ether trading like Coinbase, Kraken or BitStamp, but you can always use Bitcoin.com’s exchange page to sift through some of the alternatives to pick one that best suits you.

Once you’ve picked an exchange, you’ll want to sign up to it. That usually involves verifying your identity, so make sure you have some valid form of I.D. handy. In the cases of some, you’ll be able to twin your bank account or debit/credit card with the site to make purchases, but some will require you to transfer funds directly to a fiat currency (U.S.D etc.) account on the site first.

With your real-world money ready to go, it’s time to actually make a purchase. Some sites will offer you more options than others, but for most, you’ll input an amount of Ether you want to buy (or an equivalent amount of fiat currency you’re willing to spend) and click the “Buy” button.

If everything goes to plan, your investment funds will be deducted from your account or relevant wallet and your Ether will be transferred into its respective wallet. Although Ether is less susceptible to market congestion than bitcoin, trades aren’t always instantaneous, so if your cryptocurrency doesn’t show up immediately give it some time before starting to worry.

Once it does show up, you can hold on to it for selling later, trade it for another cryptocurrency, or even use it for various online transactions.

For those more comfortable using their smartphone to conduct financial transactions, there are various smartphone apps for some of the big exchanges, and they can be even more of a smooth experience. Take the same steps as described above but with taps rather than clicks, and you’ll have a stack of readily accessible Ether at your fingertips.

If you plan to hold your Ether for an extended period of time, or purchased a lot, you may want to take the extra security step to transfer for your Ether to an account that’s not linked with an exchange. There have been instances of exchanges being hacked or going down during times of extreme trading, so keeping your cryptocurrency in a more secure wallet — possibly even in “cold storage” — is a good practice for serious traders.

Buying through direct trade

If all of this exchange trading is a little too hands-off for you and you’d rather have more of a say in where your cryptocurrency is coming from, direct trade or peer-to-peer trade sites may be what you’re looking for. They let you set up a trade with a specific seller, but you do need to be present at the time of the trade and conduct the transaction yourself. They’re not particularly complicated, but you’ll want to make sure you double check all of the details before hitting the buy button.

Another advantage of direct trades is that you don’t necessarily have to use your bank account to fund the purchase. In the case of sites like LocalEthereum, you can use Paypal, Amazon gift cards, or even cash in person. If you have already purchased some bitcoin that you want to use to buy Ether with, you can also use sites like Paxful to “sell” it for Ether — but for the purpose of this guide, we’ll assume you don’t. In that case, LocalEthereum is your best bet for now, as direct trades with Ether are still a relatively young concept.

Head to LocalEthereum’s homepage and browse through the available offers. There will be a number of different people from all over the world offering Ethereum at various prices, so filter your results by location or payment method to find the deal that’s right for you. Double check the numbers against active trading rates for the cryptocurrency on a site like CryptoCompare or LiveCoinWatch and if you’re happy, click the respective “Buy” button on the right-hand side.

At this point, you’ll need to make an account on the site to continue the purchase, but it’s not a laborious process and doesn’t require the verification often required by exchanges. You’ll then enter into an encrypted conversation with the seller, who will discuss the terms of the deal. When they’re happy, they’ll transfer the Ether into an escrow account. You then make the payment in whatever form you chose, and the Ether will be released into a wallet of your choice.

Privacy and security concerns

A key component of LocalEthereum is its privacy, so once a transaction is completed, your message history is invalidated by the destruction of your unique, private key. However, if at any point during the transaction one party isn’t happy, an arbitrator can be called in who will be able to view messages at your request.

Because it’s peer to peer rather than operating on a large exchange, LocalEthereum and sites like it are far less susceptible to the slowdowns and crashes that occur during heavy trading periods. While Ether transfer times can still be affected, you don’t need to be so concerned about your currencies being locked up in the case the site isn’t accessible.

However, if you do decide to perform in-person trades for cash or some other medium, do note that you should take the same kind of precautions as any other trade with a stranger. Meeting in a well-lit, public place is a good idea. Although it’s unlikely you’ll run into problems, you never know the intentions of strangers you met online until the transaction is completed.

Editors’ Recommendations

• CryptoKitties lets you buy, sell, breed virtual cats using real digital currency
• How to buy bitcoin
• How to sell bitcoin
• Ethereum bug locks $280 million of cryptocurrency in owners’ accounts
• Go ahead, pass laws. Governments can’t kill bitcoin, even if they try