Technology

The truth is, I hate Outlook. But in the Windows environment, there's no better email, calendaring and contacts package than Microsoft Outlook 2016. When I think about why I hate the software, it comes down to a set of frustrations around key areas like a lack of focus on inbox management, a tacked-on search facility with a terrible user interface, and the absence of two-way syncing with non-Microsoft sources of calendars and contacts.

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Verifly, which was launched in 2016 as an insurance provider for drone pilots, is expanding its services to include pretty much every type of part-time or contract work for the on-demand economy.

Founded by Jay Bregman, who had just sold his ride-sharing company, Hailo to Daimler Mercedes-Benz in 2016, and Eugene Hertz, the co-founder of Quidsi, which was the e-commerce company behind diapers.com and soap.com, Verifly is a simple solution for part-timers who need business insurance. And nearly everyone should have business insurance if they&re doing any kind of service job given how litigious America is.

In fact, according to a study from theInstitute for Legal Reformover 34% of qualified small businesses have had a lawsuit filed against them in the past 10 years and around 40% of all sole proprietor businesses aren&t insured.

When it launched Verifly offered coverage starting at $1 million for a price of $10 per-hour, per-flight. That may be a great deal for a casual operator, but itworth noting that pilotinsurance for drones typically runs between $600 and $800 per year, according to the website UAV Coach.

The company is taking the same approach with gig work., Anyone from photographers and DJs to magicians and clowns — along with the legions of part-time handymen and and women out there — can get insured for at least $1 million for just $5 per-hour, per-job.

Verifly says per-hour prices decrease if a customer buys a longer policy or extends their policy and costs can change depending on what work a customer does, the limit that customer sets, and whether there are any additional coverage terms that are added. Using a customerzip code, Verifly places potential policy holders in a risk territory which then adjusts the price of the insurance based on historical loss data. The company offers policies from just one hour and up to one month without an annual contract or commitment.

To apply for a policy, users simply open the companyapp and select the type of work that they do. Users then set the duration of their coverage, from an hour up to one month. Once thatdone, the app will provide a certificate of insurance that customers can refer to.

Again, price is important here. While Verifly will insure someone in minutes for $5 per hour, a quick search online shows business insurance prices beginning at $21 per month, with others offering quotes at $30. So, if a &gig& runs over an hour and is less of a part-time thing and more of a job, the Verifly coverage may not be the best bet.

New York-based Verifly doesn&t provide the insurance itself, thatdone by the massive insurance holding company, Markel, but through its apps available on iOS and Android and through its website, the company is a gateway to insurance.

So far, the company has raised $7 million in venture funding from investors including Slow Ventures and individuals like Sam Shank, the co-founder and chief executive of HotelsTonight.

&The meteoric rise of independent work as both a normal way of earning a living and an aspirational lifestyle represents a fundamental shift in the way we think about operating a business and earning a living,& saidWill Quist, Partner, Slow Ventures, in a statement. &To address this, a new model of insurance will rise. It will be delivered on-demand and charged in the same way these workers are paid — by the job. We are thrilled to back Verifly in their quest to professionalize and elevate independent workers.&

Itthe sounds. The wisps and growls and gargles. Hit the red Start Engine button on the steering wheel and the world wakes up to the sounds of rumbling V10.

The Audi R8 Spyder is a marvelous cup of coffee and a great way to start the day. Whatmore, after a week as treating this red R8 as my daily driver, I can plainly state the supercar is surprisingly easy to live with as long as some concessions are made. Sometimes, when slogging through a daily routine, iteasy to forget you&re driving a mid-engine supercar. And then you put your foot down and the sun explodes.

Review

Spring arrived in Michigan just in time for some cruising with the Audi R8 Spyder. The snow is gone and the trees are budding. The sun is bright and warm and perfect for a bit of driving with the top down on this mid-engine machine.

This R8 packs a 10 cylinder engine paired to a fantastic 7 speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission that converts the engineraw power into speed. Itall-wheel drive and capable of hitting 60 mph in a few ticks over three seconds. And the top folds down, too. To say the previous and then state the R8 Spyder is comfortable is to say the car is special.

This 2018 Audi R8 Spyder is lovely. Itnot audacious or extravagant. The R8 is effortless. After a week of driving this R8, I find it closer to pedestrian than exotic and I&m okay with that. Ita testament to the engineering that went into developing this vehicle. Instead of just stuffing the biggest engine possible into the smallest body, Audi developed a platform thatmanageable yet capable of producing intense excitement. Ita pleasant blend of Audi refinement and mid-engine driving dynamics. Simply put: The R8 Spyder is an everyday supercar.

Most drivers should be able to jump in an R8 and feel confident. The car doesn&t require extraordinary skill to tap the extraordinary potential. The steering is precise and the ride firm yet not backbreaking. It handled Michigandilapidated roads with the same amount of confidence as an ordinary sedan. Visibility is good with the top up and spectacular when itdown. A person can feel like a skilled driver after just a few minutes in an R8.

I took the R8 on a several hundred mile road trip from MichiganDetroit region to Traverse City. It was a lovely Spring weekend and I spent most of it finding deserted back roads winding around the cherry farms and wineries in Northern Michigan.

This is a car of two minds and they&re controlled by a button on the wheel. The drive mode button on the steering wheel allows the driver to select comfort or dynamic modes. The difference between the two modes is profound. When on comfort mode, the R8 is smooth, quiet and capable of a mindless ride in stop and go traffic. Use this mode around town between stop lights and your passenger will forget they&re in a $200,000 car. Click on dynamic and they&ll immediately be reminded by the roar of the engine.

The dynamic mode is where the R8 comes alive. When clicked on, the engine growls and spits, shaking as it awaits instructions. Gear shifts are held longer than when in comfort mode and the ride is stiffened. The steering tightens up and feels as if it could bend time and space. Turn off the traction control to activate the launch control and the car gets even meaner.

Piloting the R8 Spyder in dynamic mode is akin to making the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. It turns you into a time traveler.

The car eagerly dives into corners and breathes fire as it exits at full throttle while the AWD system keeps all four tires planted. Body roll is nonexistent and the brakes feel like they could stop a speeding bullet. When in dynamic mode, the engine screams when the throttle is planted on the floor. The transmission rockets to the red-line of 8.5k and clicks through the seven gears with determined precision.

When the launch mode is activated, the carcomputer takes over, and only takes two gears to hit 60 mph in around three seconds; the R8 hits 100 mph in third and still has four more gears available for use. Launching the car is as easy as drag racing a car on a PlayStation game.

Through it all, the crazy acceleration and hard breaking and stop-and-go traffic of I-75, I managed an average of 19.6 mpg during my week with the car.

The Audi R8 is appointed in a similar manner as other Audis. A large LCD screen is situated behind the steering wheel and is the main screen in the car. To save weight and because space is limited, there is not a second screen in the center infotainment stack. The only screen in the car is behind the steering wheel. Passengers have to look at the instrument cluster to see what song is playing. Itslightly odd, but in character for most cars of this caliber.

The carsoftware is impressive considering its age. Audi rolled out this version several years ago and it still holds up as one of the best available.

The familiar interior is what sets the R8 Spyder apart from me. Audi has some of the best interiors of any automaker and the company has wisely equipped most models in a similar manner. The R8 is no different. Besides some extra carbon fiber, the inside of the R8 looks similar to the inside of a $65k Audi TT RS.

This is car that a person could drive on most days. As long as they don&t have a family. Or a golf buddy. Or a passenger with more luggage than a carry-on suitcase. Storage space is limited and the car cannot hold more than two people.

The R8 sits on the ground. Therejust a few inches between the bottom and the road and I avoided aggressive speed bumps during my time with the car. Getting in the car is easy enough. The doors open like on a normal car and there is plenty of room even with the top down to fall into the car. Unlike in other supercars, getting out of the car does not require one to fold in half and roll out with the door open. Just stand up and get out.

The seats are supportive because of course they are. This is a nearly $200,000 race car that a person can drive to the farmermarket. The seats are firm yet giving and feature as many adjustment options as any other Audi sports car. Reclining is not an option though. Itlimited by the firewall located between the passenger compartment and the massive engine.

There is very little storage in the R8. The passenger seat is the only place to store a golf bag. The trunk is in the front as the engine takes up the rear of the car. During my overnight trip with the R8, I took a duffel bag, computer bag, and extra shoes. I filled the front trunk. Inside the cabin is a glove box and a small, lockable compartment on the wall between the two seats. This compartment can hold a cell phone or sunglasses and nothing else.

I have one request for Audi. Itnot too much to ask for the sun visor to rotate to the left of the driver and to the right of the passenger. You know, like on any other car.

Bottom line

The Audi R8 Spyder feels alive. It feels like a sentient being capable of making decisions quicker than the driver and I&m okay with that as long as I get to go along for the ride.

To say this is an everyday supercar is to, by definition, say a person could drive this car everyday. I think ittrue. For the right person, living in the right area with lovely weather and smooth roads, this could be a car thatdriven daily. For most others, though, other cars like a Porsche 911 Turbo S or Tesla Model S offer similar speed and excitement while having more storage space than a carry-on suitcase.

There is no denying Audi made a fantastic machine in the R8. Careful balancing was used to craft the vehicle that resulted in a wonderful droptop perfectly suited for most drivers. Respect.