tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30241046502712258092024-03-17T21:06:16.286-04:00ReviewedByPhilI provide honest ratings and reviews on tech, toys, and consumer home goods that I've purchased and used. Reviews are based on hands-on testing and personal observations. All opinions and comments are my own.ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.comBlogger730125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-89097988216640553742023-08-11T11:51:00.001-04:002023-08-14T11:51:54.011-04:00Fezibo Electric Height Adjustable Sit Stand Desk (Model S8) Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8L-jwr16c2A/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/8L-jwr16c2A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Fezibo Electric Height Adjustable Sit Stand Desk (Model S8) Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/yOazBi'>Fezibo Electric Height Adjustable Sit Stand Desk (Model S8)</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Straight forward assembly, quite/powerful motor, easy to adjust with 4 custom one-touch settings.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />My computer’s been set up at the dining room table for a while now, but because it’s so tall and I am not, it’s not ergonomically ideal, and that’s been putting a lot of strain on my back and shoulders. So I decided to try a height adjustable desk so that I could make it as low as I need when sitting and also change it up easily if I want to stand and work to take a break from sitting. <br/><br/>The desk comes disassembled so you'll have to put it together yourself, however, it's pretty straight forward and I was able to complete it on my own in under an hour. The frame of the desk consist of sturdy steel columns, bars, and support brackets in a smooth, matte, painted finish. I ordered the 48""x24"" size in rustic brown in and the top of this desk comes in two pieces, connected via dowels and flat bracket connector plates. You'll also receive a keyboard tray in a matching finish with hanging hardware and sliders, and accessories pack with hardware and a few tools (mini wrenches and Allen keys). You do receive one extra of each piece in case you need a spare. A couple tips I have are to assemble the desktop facedown on the floor, this way you don't have to pick it up to move it or flip it over after it's assembled. You'll be performing most of the assembly with the tabletop upside down since most of the pieces need to be screwed onto the bottom of the desktop. At the very end of assembly, you'll flip over the desk.<br/><br/>The desk comes with two optional plastic J-hooks that you can use as headphone and accessory hangers, one on each side of the desk (per the pre-drilled holes). You can of course, drill more holes wherever you need to, however, I would avoid putting in screws and taking them out as the MDF material is quite crumbly and once a cavity is created, it's difficiult to mount a screw in the same spot. You really only get one shot at each mounting point.<br/><br/>The pre-installed plastic stud feet add 1/2"" height to the desk but are also adjustable about ¾"" so you can level the desk if your floors are uneven. Alternatively, you can replace them with the plastic wheel casters, but note that this will increase the minimum height of the desk by about 2”. Each of the casters has a lock tab that, when engaged, prevents the wheels from spinning freely. Note however, that the wheels are hard plastic and may leave scuff or scratch marks on your floors. Since I need the height of the desk to be at its absolute lowest and don't really need to move the desk around, I used the stud feet.<br/><br/>The keyboard tray is adjustable in height as well, once assembled, and if you need the tray to be lower, simply install the bracket higher up. There are three positions you can choose from, and I don’t recommend going past the third hole, as the connection may not be super secure. Just ensure that you’ve set each bracket to the same height. When assembled the controller will be positioned on the right-hand side of the desk. While the entire frame could be flipped around so the motor and controller are on the left-hand side, note that there are no pre-drilled holes for the controller on that side.<br/><br/>Three stick-oin zip ties are included for cable management. If you need to route cables from the top of the desk underneath, press and rotate the spring loaded tab in the cover plates in either corner of the desk, and you’ll be able to feed small cables through. For larger cables and plugs, you can simply pop the cover off, put the wire through, and replace the cover afterwards. The diameter of the opening is 1-3/4”. I like that if you don’t need to use it, the opening in the cover pops back into place and is relatively flat.<br/><br/>The height I chose for the keyboard tray (middle position) is 4-3/8” below the surface of the main desk. The tray is 23” wide and 9-3/4” deep giving me enough space for my ten-keyless keyboard and mouse, though wider full keyboards would leave you with much less mouse space. The backstop tabs prevent your keyboard from sliding off the back of the tray, but only if it sits flat on the surface. If your keyboard is raised, the bracket may not be tall enough. The other thing is that the depth is somewhat shallow and didn’t fit my mousepad, as you can see it hangs off the front. I could slide it back over the backstop tab or perhaps turn it horizontally, however, then my keyboard would be lopsided as one side would sit on top of the mousepad.<br/><br/>When fully assembled the minimum desktop height is 29” from the floor, 23.5” deep and 47” wide, so just shy of the advertised measurements. To raise and lower the desk, press and hold the up or down keys respectively and the desk will quietly lift or lower until the button is released. To save a height setting to one of the 4 one-touch buttons, simply press and hold it until the number on the screen flashes. You can also adjust the height in small increments by short pressing the up and down keys. The shortest setting is 28.5” and the highest is 46.4”, though keep in mind you’ll need to add in the height of the feet or casters to determine the final height. If you need to restrict the height range of the desk for clearance reasons, you can set a custom high and low setting that the desk will not exceed. The control pad can also be locked by long pressing the 1 and 2 buttons at the same time for 3 seconds. If you want to change from Imperial measurements in inches to metric, press and hold the 1 and 3 buttons for 3 seconds and the display will show the height in centimeters.<br/><br/>One addition I made to the desk is I attached a power strip, using double-sided tape, to the back of the leg next to the motor where I can plug in all the devices on my desk, including the desk motor itself. This is because as the desk moves up and down, I didn’t want to worry about wires being pulled out of a power strip sitting on the ground, or getting tangled. If you do have things on top of the desk plugged into something underneath, like a desktop tower, remember to leave enough slack in your wires to accommodate any height changes because if your cables are too short they will pull out or could be damaged. I also found the headphone hangers on the side to be pretty convenient, though I wish the width were a bit wider to accommodate the entire headband of my headset.<br/><br/>I was impressed with the smoothness and relative noiselessness of the motor, which ramps up and down at the beginning and end of moving so that there’s little vibration and no jerkiness. I wasn’t however, able to get the anti-collision feature to work, so just be cautious if you’re expecting this feature to prevent the desk from striking or crushing something underneath. The finish on the MDF surface is also quite nice, with a stylish look, a smooth matte feel. There is a tiny seam where the boards meet, but I don’t mind it, though there is slight a gap at the ends about 1/32” wide which isn’t a deal breaker for me.<br/><br/>With this desk, now I can work at my computer with proper ergonomics and posture, and when I want a break from sitting, I can press one button to bring the desk up to the height I need to work from a standing position comfortably. I've noticed already that my back and shoulders are considerably less tired after a long day of work at the computer. I can also store my office chair completely under the desk at the end of my work day. The desk was affordable, works great, and I was able to put it together in under an hour.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/yOazBi'>Fezibo Electric Height Adjustable Sit Stand Desk (Model S8)</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-51737112636603758952023-08-03T11:50:00.001-04:002023-08-14T11:51:13.446-04:00Corsair Xeneon Flex 45 Inch Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor (45WQHD240) Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6t8dUkvdrKc/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6t8dUkvdrKc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Corsair Xeneon Flex 45 Inch Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor (45WQHD240) Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/eil2ao'>Corsair Xeneon Flex 45 Inch Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor (45WQHD240) </a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Large display, gorgeous colors and contrast, customizable flex.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />This monitor comes with a DisplayPort cable, HDMI cable, USB-C cable, power brick/cable and USB-C to USB-A cable. To assemble place the monitor 24"" metal base and tighten the set screw on the bottom. The base's wide shape helps prevent accidental tip over and handles at the back and chin of the monitor facilitate picking up and moving it.
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<br/>When assembled the monitor is 41.75” wide, 18” tall, and 12"" deep (the panel is 1/4"" thick). It has a 45” diagonal giving and ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio. The bezels are super thin, though there's still a ¼” gap from the edge of the screen to the viewable area. While the stand is not height adjustable, you can tilt the screen up to 22° including a slight downward angle. On the front of the stand are the integrated I/O and controls: 2 USB-A 3.2 ports, a headphone output jack, input toggle, power button, and 5-way menu joystick. At the back of the stand are two HDMI inputs, Display Port input, USB-C with DP alt mode input, two additional USB-A 3.2 ports, and a USB-C upstream port, and power input. In order for input peripherals to work, the monitor’s upstream USB-C port must be connect to your computer. There’s no VESA mount support or alternate mounting options, though Corsair says accessories are ""coming soon.""
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<br/>The OLED display uses an LG panel and has a max resolution of 3440 x 1440 pixels with a pixel density of 83PPI and 240Hz refresh rate. And while not 4K, QHD at this size gives you plenty of high-quality screen real estate to work with. The response time is 0.03 ms and the monitor is compatible with both NVDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium. It also has a 3 year warranty. You'll get the best performance and compatibility when connected via DisplayPort, though you can utilize multiple inputs if you have more than one source device, like a laptop or gaming system. When powered on, a white LED that illuminates just below the power button and it cannot be turned off or dimmed in the settings. While the max resolution isn't 4K, the pixels aren’t visible unless you're very close to the screen, and the recommended viewing distance is 2-3 feet away from the screen.
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<br/>I noticed when switching between white and black backgrounds that the entire screen brightness would shift, due to the ""brightness stabilizer"" setting in the OSD system settings. This might be useful for games and movies where some scenes are dark and some are bright, but I found the abrupt switching to be a bit jarring. If it bothers you, you can turn this setting off, but be aware that this will lower the brightness of the screen overall.
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<br/>For content creation, I like to keep the screen as flat as possible. This keeps things like grids and lines looking straight and parallel, so I can see what I’m working with. Since the color gamut covers 100% of the SRGB color space the color accuracy is awesome and the colors are vibrant and rich. The 1.5 mil to 1 contrast ratio also produces uniform, deep, inky-blacks without any hazy washout. When you want to use it as a curved screen, just press the button and extended the handles on either side of the screen. Then firmly grasp and pull them inward towards yourself. When you reach the maximum curve, you will hear and audible click from each of the handles, and this is an 800R curvature. To flatten it again, just press the handles towards the back. You can also set the screen to lower curvatures as well by simply stopping at an intermediate point and the monitor will hold its shape. When the screen reaches its flattest setting, again, each side will click to let you know.
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<br/>This OLED screen produces zero backlight bleeding nor light halos around bright objects on dark backgrounds, making for gorgeous and immersive gaming, movie watching, and creative design experiences. However, this comes at the expense of susceptibility to burn-in or image retention. Corsair mitigates this with an OSD feature called “Orbit,” which when enabled shifts the image on the screen 1 pixel per minute in a circular pattern. If for some reason, you do experience burn-in or ghosting, try running the “Image Retention Refresh” from the OSD to try to get rid of it.
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<br/>Overall, this monitor delivers a hugely satisfying gaming experience and gives you the flexibility, pun intended, between a flat or curved display at your leisure. The input toggle lets you change between multiple input sources quickly, and you can even display up to two inputs simultaneously with overlayed picture in picture or side-by-side picture by picture. It’s got a really large footprint though, so just make sure you have the space for it on your desk and that you can position yourself far enough away from the screen optimal viewing.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/eil2ao'>Corsair Xeneon Flex 45 Inch Bendable OLED Gaming Monitor (45WQHD240) </a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-88718604891643417692023-07-21T11:50:00.001-04:002023-08-14T11:50:45.948-04:00XMCosy+ Smart Wall Light Indoor Outdoor Sconce Installation and Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nUzGwdgQyGw/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nUzGwdgQyGw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>XMCosy+ Smart Wall Light Indoor Outdoor Sconce Installation and Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/qg1Zd'>XMCosy+ Smart Wall Light Indoor Outdoor Sconce</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Straightforward installation, easy-to-use app controls, bright and versatile.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the light fixture, an instruction manual, and a pack of installation hardware. The light is a one-piece dual light fixture and measures 10-3/4”L x 3.5”W and extends 4.5”D from the wall. The light can be installed horizontally or vertically depending on your preference. Each of the light boxes can be rotated individually clockwise or counterclockwise for 350° of freedom, so you can point the light out, to either side, or back towards the wall if you prefer less direct wall accent lighting. You can even point the lights in opposite directions to provide illumination to either side, for example if placed in the middle of a hall or pathway. The body of the fixture is made of weather-resistant metal, while the translucent white LED diffusers are a durable plastic and will emit light from the ends and front faces of each light so it can be installed outdoors or indoors.<br/><br/>At the back of the light is an attached junction box with a plastic hanging bracket that measures 4” x 3.5”. It’ll be attached to your wall via 4 included screws. The wiring for the light goes inside and to open it, use the included Allen wrench to remove the set screws on both sides. The wiring for the light is simple. It has a black and white wire for hot and neutral wires respectively and a green ground wire attached to the metal housing. In the hardware pack you’ll receive three wire nuts, four wood screws and four plastic wall anchors for hollow walls. Just make sure to shut the power off at the breaker before working on any wiring.<br/><br/>I replaced an older light fixture that just had a very dated style and look to it. In addition, it wasn't a smart light and didn't really provide enough illumination for the hallway at night, as it only had one flourescent bulb in it. While the wiring in my home is older (ungrounded fabric sheathed BX) I was able to create a ground lead from its metal casing, though you should check to see if this may not be up to code where you live. If you have more modern wiring, you will likely have three wires, a hot, neutral, and ground which would be black, white, and green or bare copper respectively. The plastic wall anchors let you mount this onto a hollow wall, though it would be more secure to mount it directly into wood or a stud. The one tricky part of installation was holding up the fixture while connecting the power wires as they are short in length; it will be a bit easier if you have a second person holding the fixture up while you do this. When pushing the wires into the compartment, making sure tto avoid the protrusions on both sides of the box so that it can close fully. Then place light onto the box right-side-up; when oriented correctly, the rubber mode button should appear in the upper left hand corner. If you’ve installed this light outdoors, it’s recommended that you seal the box with some silicone caulk around the box for additional weather proofing.<br/><br/>If the fixture is on a switch, make sure it’s in the ‘on’ position and the light should start flashing, indicating that it’s in WiFi setup mode. You’ll need to download and install a mobile app on your smartphone to set it up and the QR code in the manual takes you to the XMCosy app. However, the light is also compatible with a number of other smarthome control apps like Tuya and SmartLife. The interfaces for all these app are nearly identical and in most cases, the app will detect the light for setup automatically. I nicknamed my light ‘Hall Light’ for easier voice commands. After setup you’ll be able to control the light remotely over the internet via the app. The settings you can change are Brightness from 1-100%, Temperature from warm to cool, and Color which you can pick from the presets or turn the color wheel for custom colors. Just note that the two lights will always have the same settings and can’t be adjusted individually.<br/><br/>In the scenes page, you can choose from a number of different pre-set effects and multi-color animations, for example, Colorful will cycle through the colors of the rainbow. You can also create and save your own custom scene. There’s a music mode which will change the light to the beat of music through your phone’s microphone, but the app needs to be open to this page and running in the background the whole time. In the last menu item you can set schedules and time triggered behaviorlike a sleep plan that will slowly fade the light out at a specific time on specific days over a period of 5 mins to 2 hours, or similarly a wake plan to trigger in the morning to fade in, again over 5 minutes to 2 hours, and also automatically shut off after a separate amount of time has elapsed after reaching full brightness. If you simply want to schedule on and off times, you can do that in the schedule menu, picking the time and days of the week for each programmed action. 'Turn on and dim' lets you choose a color and brightness for this action, while 'turn on and set scene' allows you to choose your custom presets or the multi-color animations. There’s also a countdown delayed shutoff timer that you can set from 1 minute to 24 hours.<br/><br/>Last but not least, you can change the power on behavior of the light, like activating do not disturb, which requires you to flip the switch to the light on twice to turn the light on, and choosing the light status after it is powered on. If you’ve enabled the Alexa skill for your control app, you can also use voice commands to control the light. There is also a physical mode button that lets you choose from 8 preset modes right on the light, whether you have a smartphone or not. There are 4 white modes from warm to cool, and four color changing modes. You won’t need WiFi or an internet connection to use the physical button, however, they are always the same 8 programs, and you can’t change them or choose any of the more advanced customizations or routines.<br/><br/>Overall, this wall light is exactly what I was looking for to replace and modernize our old hallway light fixture. It’s got lots of settings and colors that I can change easily in the app or by voice command, built in timers and schedules, and was super easy to install whether you’re using it indoor or outdoors. I really like that I can change the direction of the two lights and point them forward, at the wall or to the sides. I've positioned the upper light to shine light down the hallway while the lower one illuminates the top of the adjacent stairwell. The light is bright enough for our needs though can be dimmed as well, and I can still just flip the switch on the wall to turn it on and off, and it’ll remember the setting that I want when it’s turned back on.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/qg1Zd'>XMCosy+ Smart Wall Light Indoor Outdoor Sconce</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-53060260892065871312023-07-10T11:46:00.001-04:002023-08-14T11:50:15.930-04:00Dell Inspiron 3020 Desktop PC (2023 release) Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4MQfG4GxHOI/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4MQfG4GxHOI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Dell Inspiron 3020 Desktop PC (2023 release) Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/myhSgB'>Dell Inspiron 3020 Desktop PC (2023 release)</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Easy to setup, great for casual use, responsive and lag-free.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the PC tower, 6 ft power cable, USB optical mouse, USB keyboard, and quick start manual. The tower measures 6” wide, 11-1/4” deep, and 12-3/4” tall. The front of this machine has a grayish blue color called mist blue and a ridged texture. From top to bottom, there is a DVD+RW, power button, SD card slot, combo mic/headphone jack, two USB -A 2.0 ports, one USB-A 3.2, and a USB-C 3.2 port. On the back in the upper left corner is a speaker out jack, HDMI out and DisplayPort out for the monitor, which can be used simultaneously for dual-monitor support. Below that you have two additional USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, and the RJ45 Ethernet jack for a wired network connection. The PC supports WiFi-AX (WiFi 6) and Bluetooth 5.2 as well.<br/><br/>I recommend connecting the USB keyboard and mouse to the slower USB ports and reserving the SuperSpeed ports which are blue, for devices that would benefit from the faster speed, like external hard drives. I do like that it has a USB-C port on the front since this connection type is becoming more commonplace on newer devices. While there are four slots in the case for additional cards, there are only 2 expansion slots inside. At the bottom is the input for the power cable.<br/><br/>To open the tower for upgrading the components, you’ll need to remove two knurled thumbscrews, that are designed to be removable without tools, but if you find they are too tight, you can use a Philips screwdriver to loosen them. You don’t have to fully remove them from the panel. There is a security tab for you to add a lock on the case to prevent internal access, and a Kensington lock slot for additional security. Inside are a Foxconn 80 mm CPU fan, m.2 NVMe Gen 3x4 512GB SSD and 8GB of 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM pre-installed. There’s an open PCIe x1 slot for port expansion, a PCIe x16 slot for a graphics card, and a second RAM slot for additional memory up to 64GB total max. There are also several SATA power and data connectors available and room for a 2.5” or 3.5” HDD at the front. Just be sure any additional components added will stay within the 180 Watt maximum for the power supply.<br/><br/>When you power on the machine for the first time, you’ll need to complete a brief setup for Windows 11, which takes about 15 minutes. Once that’s done, you can start using the computer. The harddrive has about 450 GB free with 50 GB used for the OS and pre-installed programs like McAfee LiveSafe and Office 365. The hardware specs are mid-tier and neither exceptional nor minimalist. The machine runs on an Intel 13th Gen Core i5-13400 CPU with 10 cores, 16 threads, and 2.5 GHz base clock with a 4.6 GHz boosted max. The machine is quick and responsive and out-of-the-box is efficient at running multiple applications simultaneously for most computing tasks. There was no significant lag or delays experienced with common everyday usage.<br/><br/>The tower is very quiet when operating and doesn’t produce a lot of heat, though you’ll need to keep the vents on the back and left-side clear for proper airflow. I was surprised that the tower had a DVD drive as most software can be downloaded digitally nowadays, but if you happen to have software CDs, movie DVDs, or like backing up to physical media, I suppose it’s nice to have. It’s a pretty basic one though, with a motor-less pop-out tray that you have to push back in, like one you’d see in a laptop. The USB mouse and keyboard are also really basic but work just fine. The full keyboard is thin and lightweight with fairly quiet keys. The optical mouse is also lightweight and feels plasticky, but does have a clickable scroll wheel. <br/><br/>Overall, this PC isn’t a bad option for an entry-level tower PC. It has a small footprint, decent processing power and speed, and just enough specs to handle everyday computing and is suitable for most home office or personal uses. You could probably play some casual games on it too, or use it for media consumption, if you’re not looking for maxed out visuals and top of the line performance.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/myhSgB'>Dell Inspiron 3020 Desktop PC (2023 release)</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-41958766733984363232023-06-26T11:44:00.001-04:002023-08-14T11:46:20.364-04:00ChefIQ Smart Electric Pressure Cooker Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vZ65FJdMVu0/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vZ65FJdMVu0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>ChefIQ Smart Electric Pressure Cooker Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/PeoauNu'>ChefIQ Smart Electric Pressure Cooker</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: User-friendly, automatic updates, guided cooking, versatile functions.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the pressure cooker, 4 ft power cord, wire steam rack with handles, a pair of silicone hot mitts, plastic soup spoon and rice paddle, and an instruction manual and safety guide. There are a number of safety stickers on the lid that you can remove or simply leave in place as reminders, but you do need to remove and discard the blue tape over the pressure regulator knob. Turning the knob sets it to the ‘Venting’ position or ‘Sealed’ positions. The small red float valve adjacent to the pressure regulator indicates whether or not the cooker is pressurized and when the unit is under pressure this indicator will rise up and seal the steam inside at the same time. At the back of the unit you’ll find a removable condensation cup which collects any liquid that drains from the grooved rim which should be emptied and cleaned between uses. A spring loaded pin helps the cooker detect when the lid is opened or closed; if this pin gets stuck for any reason, simply reach underneath and pop it up with your finger.<br/><br/>The lid of the pressure cooker unlocks with a counter-clockwise twist and inside you’ll find a measuring cup, steam basket with handle, and non-stick inner bowl. Remember to remove the protective paper under the bowl before first use. The pressure cooker has a non-stick interior with a pressure activated heating element in the middle. And the rice paddle or soup spoon can be stored in the small holder on the right-hand side of the base.<br/><br/>Along the inside of the removable bowl are capacity indicators from 4-20 cups in 2 cup increments and 1-4 liters in ½ liter increments. Note that the max fill lines for pressure cooking versus other modes like slow cook are marked accordingly. To replace the lid, set it on top at a slight rotation and turn it clockwise to lock. The lid can be stored in either of the handles on the side when not in use. Towards the rear of the unit is the power port for the power cable. When you plug in the unit for the first time, it will prompt you to download the CHEF IQ app to set up the Smart Cooker, so you will need a smartphone or tablet to set the unit up, as there is no way to bypass this screen. However, once initialized, you can use the Smart Cooker without the app through the onboard controls. Also note that there is no power button and once plugged in the unit stays on, though it will enter a sleep mode after a few minutes of inactivity.<br/><br/>When you launch the app, you’ll need to register an account with Chef IQ and connect it to your WiFi network, so you’ll be able to control it over your internet connection. It’ll also update its firmware automatically. Once that’s done, setup is complete and you can use the Smart Cooker with or without the app.<br/><br/>Note that the LCD is not a touch screen. To the sides of the screen are the menu and mode selections: Pressure Cook, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Slow Cook, Favorites, and More. Just tap on the one you want and the display will show you the options for it accordingly. Then use the control wheel below the screen and press it to select. There may be a sub-menu to further specify what you are cooking. Before you start the cooking program, you can make adjustments to any of the settings to suit your needs or recipe. At any time, you can press the scale key just above the knob and measure the weight of ingredients added to the cooker. Press the knob to zero the scale before adding and measuring more ingredients.<br/><br/>The pre-set quick selections in each mode are different as applicable. For pressure cooking, you'll need to add at least 1/2 cup of liquid prior to starting this cooking program. Cook time can be set anywhere from 1 minute to 4 hours in pressure cook mode or 24 hours for slow cook mode. You can select low or high pressure settings, activate keep warm which keeps your food at 165 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 72 hours, choose a delayed start, in 15 minute increments up to 24 hours (be sure you follow food safety guidelines), and set the pressure release behavior: quick, pulse, and natural.<br/><br/>For pressure cooking, the unit will pre-heat in order to come up to pressure and displays its progress as a percentage; this typically takes about 10-15 minutes. When the unit comes up to pressure, the red float valve next to the regulator pops up and the lid will be locked to prevent accident pressure release. Then the cook timer starts counting down. There’s also a ring shaped progress bar around the time that shortens as the timer runs down. After the timer runs out, it will beep for 10 seconds to warn you that it is about to release the pressure. For the Quick release method, the steam will vent all at once, automatically, so there’s no need for you to manually turn the valve to venting. This helps protect you from accidental burns as you don’t want your hands near the hot steam as it exits the valve. When all the pressure is released, the float valve will drop down, the LCD will display this message, and the unit enters keep warm mode, if you have that option enabled.<br/><br/>From the app, you can look up recipes, browse for new ideas, and even mark your favorites for quick reference. Once you’ve found a recipe you want to make, you can view the video guided step-by-step instructions how to prepare and cook the dish in your Smart Cooker. It’ll even send the recommended settings to the machine over your WiFi, so all you need to do is add follow along and occasionally tap ‘Next’. It’s like having a pro chef helping you out every step of the way. There’s a whole bunch of categories and daily recommendations to keep things fresh and interesting. I use this cooker a lot, like the searsauté mode to brown ground beef for tacos and chili, then switch over to slow cook mode when I add the rest of the ingredients. It also makes great pasta, rice, hard boiled eggs, and even yogurt!<br/><br/>It’s probably one of the most used small appliance I have in my kitchen due to its versatility and when it’s a great way to make one pot meals to cut down on the number of pot and pans used and is a lot faster and more energy efficient than using the stove.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/PeoauNu'>ChefIQ Smart Electric Pressure Cooker</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-1667525081211954182023-06-21T14:15:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:15:32.911-04:00HP 15.6 Inch Laptop (model 15-fc0037wm) Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iVlkBPOpcsc/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iVlkBPOpcsc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>HP 15.6 Inch Laptop (model 15-fc0037wm) Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://bit.ly/3Pqiiei'>HP 15.6 Inch Laptop (model 15-fc0037wm)</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Lightweight, decent performance, long battery life.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the laptop, a 45 Watt power brick with 6 ft of cable and barrel style connector, a 3 ft grounded power cable, and a quick start guide that’ll show you how to charge and power on the laptop, as well as what all the features are, and several gestures for the touchpad. This laptop has a lightweight plastic shell with a beautiful blue-gray matte finish called Moonlight Blue and mirror-chrome HP label in the middle; this model is also available in rose gold. The laptop measures 14” wide, 9.25” long, and 0.75” thick with a weight of about 3.5 lbs. The bottom of the laptop is cream-colored with two rubber feet that span the width of the laptop at the front and back and a large grille in the middle for ventilation; it’s also made using ocean-bound plastic as part of HP’s commitment to sustainability and reducing environmental impact. The stereo speakers are also on the bottom to the left and right sides towards the front. <br/><br/>On the left side of the unit in the back corner are a USB-A port, HDMI out, USB-C port, and combo mic/headphone jack. On the right-hand side in the back corner are the power port with status LED and a second USB-A port. Note that the USB-C port cannot be used for charging the device. When the device is plugged in and charging the LED will be red and turns white when fully charged, which takes only a couple hours thanks to HP Fast Charge. On a full charge, the battery can last over 11 hours depending on settings and usage. The laptop screen opens to a maximum angle of about 120 degrees and features a 15.6 inch diagonal with narrow bezels, full 1080p HD resolution, and 250 nits max brightness. Note that it is not a touchscreen display. Just above the center of the screen is an integrated 2.1 MP webcam with dual-array microphones and it has a built-in privacy cover that you can slide over the lens when not in use.<br/><br/>The screen is coated with an anti-glare matte finish, cutting down on reflections and increasing visibility in bright conditions, for example when using outdoors and near windows, but I find that it does reduce contrast somewhat with its slightly hazy appearance. The panel also only has a 6-bit color depth, so the colors can look a bit washed out in general and may not be accurate enough for digital artists and content creators. This is more readily apparent when connecting a second display via the HDMI port to mirror and extend the screen, as you can see the difference in color here. However, you can simply bypass the laptop’s screen and take advantage of the higher color gamut and resolution of your separate monitor.<br/><br/>The first time you power on the laptop, you’ll need to complete a few steps to setup Windows 11 Home 64-Bit. So while I’m doing that, let’s talk about this build’s specs. Inside, this machine runs on a Quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 7520U APU, which has a max speed of 4.3GHz and 2.8 GHz base clock, with integrated Radeon 610M dual-core graphics at 1900 MHz, 8 GB of on-board LPDDR5 SDRAM, and a 256GB NVME m.2 SSD. There doesn’t appear to be, however, any upgradable components by the end user. Once Windows setup is complete, we can see that there’s about 190 GB of free space on the hard drive out-of-the-box; outside of swapping out the pre-installed SSD any additional drive space would have to be attached externally, though all the USB 3.2 ports support SuperSpeed data transfer rates up to 5 Gbps.<br/><br/>The graphics card is able to deliver a 60 fps refresh rate at 1080p resolution, however, isn’t powerful enough to handle heavy graphics in games that have immersive 3D environments. I found performance in games like Warframe and Path of Exile to be quite laggy, and the visuals stuttered and smeared a ton during fast-paced gameplay. Thankfully, for simply watching video content, the experience was much smoother. The webcam quality is also surprisingly good, with full HD 1080p resolution and admirable performance in low-light conditions. The pickup from the mics is very clean with little to no background noise captured. And the speakers, while small, sound clear and crisp and only start to sound boxy at higher volumes.<br/><br/>The mouse trackpad is generously sized at 5”x3” and responds to taps, swipes, clicks, and multi-finger gestures, which is pretty neat. The keyboard has a nice tactile feel and springy keys that have easy-to-read large lettering, but note that it is not backlit and may be difficult to see in the dark. It does, however, have a 10-key number pad. The arrow keys also have a non-standard arrangement, with half-height up/down arrows, which took me a little getting used to. The top row of the keyboard features dual purpose function/quick launch keys for emojis, volume and brightness and media control. You’ll also find the power button just above the ‘Backspace’ key, and I appreciate that it, the Cap Locks and Mute keys all have integrated status LEDs, so you’ll know when they are activated; though curiously, the Num Lock key does not. <br/><br/>In terms of connectivity, this device has WiFi6 and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast connections to home networks and wireless accessories, delivering lag-free video and audio syncing with compatible Bluetooth headphones. Keep in mind there isn’t an Ethernet port, so it won’t be able to support wired network connections.<br/><br/>Overall, this laptop is solidly mid-tier and more than adequate for work, school, and casual use. It’s got nice aesthetics, is quick to boot up, and has a long battery life. Its size and weight are great for portability, giving you enough screen real estate to enjoy consuming media and content while handling video streaming and internet browsing very smoothly. It’s not a top of the line gaming system, so don’t expect it to perform well with AAA title games, but for casual gaming and those that don’t rely on heavy graphics rendering, they will run on it just fine. I also feel that the native panel isn’t the best for content creation or visual arts as the colors won’t be accurate or vibrant enough, though you can work around this by hooking up a separate monitor.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://bit.ly/3Pqiiei'>HP 15.6 Inch Laptop (model 15-fc0037wm)</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-14401776662174764482023-06-09T14:13:00.002-04:002023-06-26T14:16:23.106-04:00KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine w/Automatic Milk Frother Attachment KES6404 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j4bc-v2TuW4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j4bc-v2TuW4?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine w/Automatic Milk Frother Attachment KES6404 Review</div>
<div><br /></div><div>#sponsored #ad</div><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/B9qNuQ">KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine w/Automatic Milk Frother Attachment KES6404</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Compact, small footprint, easy to dial in, good shot quality, automatic frother reduces effort for making milk drinks.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the espresso machine, automatic milk frother attachment, commercial-grade 58mm portafilter, plastic coffee scoop, manual milk steamer wand, steamer wand for the automatic attachment, four stainless steel filter baskets, a stainless steel milk pitcher, and a coffee grounds tamper. You’ll also receive an instruction manual, and two quick start guides one for the espresso machine itself and one for the milk frother attachment.<br /><br />This is the espresso machine. It measures 14x” from front to back, 11” tall and 6” wide, so it’s a quite compact machine that weighs only 10 lbs. Across the front you have the control panel. The first button toggles the mode, this selects a one or two shot dose, this is the cleaning cycle, and this is the start and stop button. This gauge along the bottom shows the positions for inserting and locking the portafilter. On the right handle side you’ll find the attachment point for the steam wand or milk frother attachment. To install the steam wand, simply push it in the port until it clicks. The nozzle is rotatable 360 degrees so you can adjust its direction. To remove the steam wand, press the release button just under the port and pull the wand straight out.<br /><br />This espresso machine has a matte black finish with silver trim, though to my eye, the finish is lighter than I anticipated and I would call it dark gray. The housing is also made of plastic, so be aware that it can be scratched and marred if something hits it. At the back of the unit, is a clear water tank with a handle that lifts out for easy cleaning and filling. The capacity of the tank is about 1 quart. The unit has a 40 inch power cord and most of it can be wound into the storage area under the base. There are two cable guides at the back so you can position the cord to the left or right side of the machine. There are also 4 rubber feet on the bottom of the unit to reduce sliding of the machine on your countertop. At the rear of the machine on the base is the power switch for the unit. At the front of the machine, you have a metal grill over a removable drip tray. The drip tray has a small red indicator float that pops up when the tray is full and needs to be emptied.<br /><br />Let’s get the espresso machine ready. We’ll fill the water tank at the back of the machine, and it’s real easy to see how much water you have in there because it’s clear. Then when you switch it on, it will immediately prime the pump and start pre-heating, indicated by the flashing lights. When it’s done pre-heating the lights will stop blinking. Right now it’s in espresso mode and pressing the dose button toggles between a single and double shot. When changing modes, for example to steam, note that the machine will need to preheat again because it uses a different water pathway for the heater. The same is true for hot water mode, which also allows you to select a single or double shot amount of liquid to dispense.<br /><br />The portafilter has heavy-duty build and weighs about 1 lb 5 ounces. You’ll notice that is has a flat bottom design with no protrusions allowing you to sit it flat on a countertop; this makes it a little easier to tamp your grounds flat and evenly. The handle is made of durable plastic though it isn’t rubberized. Inside the portafilter there are two channels that direct the espresso out of the spouts on the bottom in two separate streams. It comes with four different filter baskets. These two are single-walled and have two and one shot capacities respectively. The filters are marked with the style and dose size. These filters should be used with freshly ground espresso beans. The other two baskets are double-walled and you’ll notice that they only have a single pinhole on the bottom that lets the liquid through. This is because these baskets are pressurized and here’s what their markings look like. These filters should be used with pre-ground espresso beans that come in commercial packaging as it is more forgiving when your grounds aren’t a uniform grind size.<br /><br />The 58mm filter baskets simply snap into the portafilter with a quick press. To remove them, just pull up under the rim until it pops off. Most folks will want to weigh their grounds when making espresso, as precise measurements help ensure consistency. For the single-shot filter, KitchenAid recommends 10-12 grams or espresso grounds. If you use too much, you may find it difficult to lock the portafilter into place on the machine. So I’ll give it a little shake to level it, then press straight down with the tamper and give it a slight twist at the end so the grounds won’t stick to the tamper. The recommendation is to tamp with 30-40 lbs of pressure and you should end up with a flat even surface.<br /><br />Now let’s attach the portafilter to the group head. First, line up the handle with the portafilter icon on the left and press it up into the slot, then turn the handle to the right towards the lock icon to secure it in place. For a single shot, just place your shot glass centered below the portafilter. Then press the start button on the far right to begin pulling the shot. Your shot should start off dark and gradually get lighter and turn a golden color at the end. This KitchenAid espresso machine is the first consumer-grade small appliance to feature dual sensor water heating, measuring the temperature at intake and output so you get even consistent results and a smooth tasting espresso. You can see that the shot has a rich, thick crema on top.<br /><br />To steam milk using manual steamer wand, pour about half a cup of cold milk into the milk pitcher, just to the bottom of the spout. Then set the machine to steam mode and let it pre-heat. Set a clean, empy cup under the steam wand, then press start. Some water will dispense through the wand initially, but steam should be produced within a few seconds. Once you have consistent steam, press the stop button. Then place the tip of the steam wand just under the surface of the milk and press start again. You’ll want to continuously adjust the position of the wand so that it sits just under the surface of the milk and creates a vortex to draw in air and create bubbles. When you have enough foam, raise the pitcher and sink the wand into the milk so that it can heat it up without adding additional air and bubbles. You can use a thermometer here and stop the steam when the milk reaches 140-145 degrees F or about 62 degrees Celsius. Make sure to clean off the steamer wand right after steaming milk, otherwise the milk proteins tend to cake onto the hot nozzle making it a bit more difficult to scrub off. You’ll also want to flush the nozzle with plain hot water after steaming milk to clear the line of any residual milk so that it doesn’t spoil or build up.<br /><br />Now you can take your coffee cup, which, if you placed it on top of the machine, should be pre-warmed, thanks to the built-in glass warming plate, add your espresso, then your hot milk, and a dollop of foam, and you’ll have yourself a tasty cup of homemade cappuccino. I like to add a sprinkle of raw sugar, give it a little stir and enjoy. Mmm, wow that it really tasty.<br /><br />This model is compatible with an optional automatic milk frother attachment, which measures 9” tall, 3” wide, and 8” from front to back. At the back is a clear milk storage container with intake hose. Note the tank can’t be installed if the hose is connected to the milk frother as there isn’t enough clearance. The same is also true for removing the container, so always remove the hose first before removing or installing the tank. At the front of the milk frother is a clear storage bin and I like to keep accessories like the coffee scoop and extra filters in there. To install the steam wand for the attachment, remove the storage bin and press the wand into the rubber port on the underside of the head. This attachment has three modes hot water, hot milk, and milk foam. Simply turn the knob on the front to the desired output. But note that the selection dial isn’t discrete so it is possible to stop somewhere between the modes, but this isn’t recommended as the result can be inconsistent. On top you have a foam quantity adjustment knob and you’ll notice that the knob is a simple screw that allows more or less air to be drawn into the flow and in fact it can be fully removed, for cleaning purposes. The recommended way to set your forth level is to tighten it all the way and then loosen the knob as you want more foam.<br /><br />When attaching the automatic milk frother, note that there’s a notch at the bottom where the supporting foot will slide in. Simply align the connector to the steam port at the top and the foot to the slot on the bottom, and press in firmly until the attachment clicks into place. Then fill the milk tank at the back. For plain hot water, set the espresso machine to hot water mode and ensure the dial on the attachment is also set to hot water. Then press the start button to dispense the selected dose. For hot milk or foam, set the espresso machine to steam mode. I’ll choose hot milk on the attachment. Note that immediately after pressing start, you may get a splash of hot water from the nozzle, so I like to dispense into an empty cup and dump this out first. Then replace the cup and restart the mode. The hot milk from the attachment exits the nozzle at about 120 degrees F. For foam, set the mode dial to the cup icon, tighten the foam amount dial all the way, then press start. I find that the foam produced by the automatic milk frother isn’t as light and airy as what you can achieve with the manual steam wand. While the mode is running, you can adjust the amount dial on top, but open it too much and it will sputter so just be careful. It’s a bit hard to see here, the foam mode really produces about half foam half hot milk, so you can see here the foam layer is only about 1/2 cm, or ¼ inch. It is however, rich and silky. Like the manual steam wand, you’ll want to flush the attachment out with hot water after use. If there’s any leftover milk in the tank, you can simply remove the whole tank and the hose and store it in the refrigerator. If you don’t want to use the milk tank, you can simply place the intake hose directly into your milk container or any vessel of your choosing.<br /><br />Overall, I really like this espresso machine, and I think if you’re not into doing fancy milk art and steaming milk by hand, the automatic milk frother does a nice job of helping you craft milk espresso drinks at home without much of a fuss. The machine is easy to use and has a few other features that I didn’t go over like the four-stage head de-scaling function, and customizations like the ability to change the amount of water used in each dose setting, select your water hardness: low, medium, or high, and also choose your brewing temperature: low, medium, or high. Shots are easy to pull and come out with consistent quality, if you use the pressurized filters, or hone you barista skills with the single-walled filters and perfect your milk art with the manual steam wand. Whatever your skill level or preferred effort to espresso ratio, this machine has got you covered.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/B9qNuQ">KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine w/Automatic Milk Frother Attachment KES6404</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-17375880755271190972023-06-01T14:13:00.005-04:002023-06-26T14:16:37.619-04:00Blueair Classic 280i 200 Series Air Purifier Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5edPQ23GKXk" width="480" youtube-src-id="5edPQ23GKXk"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blueair Classic 280i 200 Series Air Purifier Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/TE5yyw">Blueair Classic 280i 200 Series Air Purifier</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Simple setup and easy to use, fresher air in hours, and cleans quietly in the background.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />During our home renovation, I had concerns about all the construction dust we were creating as we cut, patched, and sanded the walls. Not only did it cause a perpetual haze, the dust would settle on surfaces throughout the home on a daily basis, so we needed an air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture these particles and keep our breathable air clean. <br /><br />This is the Blueair Classic 280i and it comes with an instruction manual. The unit measures 21 inches tall, 16.5 inches wide, and 8 inches thick; the weight is about 25 pounds. On top, the front half is a lid that flips up to reveal the touch control panel. You have a WiFi button and indicator, power button, filter life indicator, auto-mode, VOC indicators, and PM 2.5 indicator.<br /><br />The body of the unit is made of sheet metal while the handle for the filter door and hinged lid on top are plastic. The unit doesn’t have wheels on the bottom, just 6 plastic feet that are not rubberized for grip on smooth surfaces, so be aware that it could slide around. If you do need to move the unit, it can be picked up using the built-in handles on the sides. The machine is rated for 120VAC power and consumes about 80 Watts per hour. <br /><br />Before first use, you’ll need to remove the protective plastic sheet from the pre-installed filter inside the unit, as indicated by this red sticker. Open the grated door on the back by pulling firmly on the handle on the right-hand side. Then remove the sticker and filter.<br /><br />My unit came pre-installed with the SmokeStop Series filter which captures fine dust particles, pollen, mold, and viruses, as well as VOCs, odors, and chemical fumes. On one side, are pleated non-woven fabric grooves for electrostatic and mechanical filtration, and on the back the screened side is filled with activated charcoal granules which takes care of gaseous impurities and pollutants in the air. This filter is a little more expensive to replace than the plain particle only filter, and note that filters should be replaced about once every 6 months. Note that when re-installing it, the pleated side, that’s marked “facing you,” should face out from the machine, the filter is also marked on top, “insert this way” to prevent any confusion. Simply slip the filter back into the compartment and press the door closed. The 7ft power cord on the unit is attached to the bottom left-hand side on the machine. <br /><br />This unit is smart, so you can control it remotely from a smartphone app over WiFi. Note that it is only compatible with 2.4 GHz networks and not 5 GHz networks. After plugging the unit in, the LEDs on the control panel with light up blue. To activate WiFi pairing, tap and hold the WiFi button, and it should start flashing slowly. Then on your smartphone, connect to the “classic-config” WiFi network and the WiFi LED should stay a steady blue.<br /><br />The touch controls are not dimmable and don’t turn off even when the control panel lid is closed,so as you can see the blue light bleeds from the back of the panel. However, the light is not visible from the front when the panel is closed even in a dark room. There is a small blue LED light on the front of the machine but it can be dimmed or turned off in the app though not from the unit’s physical controls.<br /><br />The fan can be set to low, medium, or high by tapping the power button. There’s also an “Auto” mode that uses built-in sensors to detect the amount of pollutants in the air and automatically adjusts the fan’s speed to match the amount of filtration needed to clean the air. If you don’t want the unit running on autopilot all the time, you can also create a custom schedule to run only during certain times or days and set up child lock to disable the manual controls.<br /><br />The various kinds of contaminants that it detects are PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, which are different sized particles; it also detects tVOC for chemicals and vapors. In the app, levels for each contaminant are recorded on a graph that tracks them over time, showing you when there are spikes and how efficiently they are removed by the BlueAir filter. I feel these sensors work well as it always shows predictable increases in pollutant levels during/after cooking, and when we were painting the dining room we saw an expected increase in tVOC levels. The indicators on the control panel change from blue to orange when contaminant levels are detected as high. It was pretty cool to see how fast these levels were remediated with the fan set to high. We typically saw levels return to low or undetectable within an hour or two.<br /><br />The 280i is a good fit for our space because it’s rated for a maximum room size of 279 sq ft, which is close to the largest single room that we have in this house. It can completely filter the air in a room that size five times an hour. The SmokeStop filter also does a nice job removing smells, odors, and vapors, for example, new paint smells from our renovation were less noticeable and completely eliminated in over just a few days. Since the air purifier draws in air from the back through the filter, be sure to leave enough clearance behind it so that air flow won’t be blocked. Filtered air exhausts from the top of the unit, so try not to set the unit under anything that can get blown around. <br /><br />I feel the air is cleaner and fresher smelling too. And during the spring and summer months when there’s a lot of pollen, I don’t wake up stuffy-nosed and itchy-throated in the mornings. The best part is that when the unit is on low, we barely hear it. Sometimes I forget that it’s even on until I walk past and hear the gentle hum of the fan whirring; so this could be a good choice for use in a bedroom especially for light sleepers. At the highest fan speed, it’s louder, but no more so than a box fan or space heater. <br /><br />The one thing about air filters is that you do have to replace the filters eventually, which can be costly. BlueAir offers an automatic refill subscription services that will send you a new standard particle filter every 3, 6, or 9 months for a discounted cost. However, third-party vendors do offer compatible air filters as well which can save you a little more, and I’ll list a few options in the description below. A “filter status” tracker in the app counts down from 180 days so you’ll know when the filter should be replaced. Changing the filters is as easy as removing the old one and popping in a new one, though you may also want to wipe down any dust on the interior of the unit as well. Just look at all this dust and debris that it captured that we would have otherwise been breathing in.<br /><br />Overall, I’m pretty happy with the performance of this Blue Air air purifier. It appeared to be well-made and durable, is quiet while operating, and our air quality does feel cleaner and fresher since we’ve started using it. Maintenance is simple and straightforward, and the app is user-friendly, giving you access to historical data, outside air quality reports, as well as temperature and humidity levels inside your home. I hope you enjoyed this review, you can ask me any questions in the comments. I’ll put a link to the product in the description below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and join me next time.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/TE5yyw">Blueair Classic 280i 200 Series Air Purifier</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-90554125612811413122023-05-26T14:12:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:13:18.505-04:00Cuktech P+ Series 40000mah Power Bank Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n1yVnxrRS2w/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/n1yVnxrRS2w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Cuktech P+ Series 40000mah Power Bank Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://cuktech.com/collections/frontpage/products/cuktech-p-series-40000mah-300w-power-bank'>Cuktech P+ Series 40000mah Power Bank</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Compact, high powered, easy-to-use, versatile and portable.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the power bank, a 20” USB-C charging cable, and an instruction manual. This is the power bank, it measures 3-3/8” deep by 3.25” wide and 4” tall. The device is compact but dense weighing nearly 2.5 lbs. A swivel handle is built-in, though note that like the housing, it is made of plastic and not metal. On top you’ll find a wireless charging area, the back is vented for heat dissipation, and on the bottom is a large rubber foot to keep the unit from sliding. Most of the front of is an LCD with a 4” diagonal, and along the bottom are a USB-A Out 1 with a max output of 22.5W, USB-C In/Out 2 with max output of 100W, USB-C In/Out 3 with 140W max, and USB-A Out 4 with 120W max. The wireless charging pad on top supports a 20Watt max output, which is suitable for fast-charging. The overall maximum output when using any combination of these ports is 300 peak Watts, and continuous stable charging values may actually be lower.<br/><br/>The thin rectangle in the middle with the Cuktech logo is the display toggle and pressing it lights up the display. The large number in the middle is the remaining battery life of the power bank which is also reflected by the completeness of the segmented ring around the number. You can only use one of the USB-C ports at a time to charge the power bank, so for example, if I plug my 65Watt power brick into port 2, you can see that the device starts charging and shows an input wattage of around 65. When I plug my 45 Watt charge into port 3, this value doesn’t change, but if I unplug the first charger, you can see the input wattage drops to around 45. Note that the maximum input wattage it can accept is 140 Watts which is only available through port 3.<br/><br/>For fast-charging devices like my smartphone and Chromebook, I can connect these directly to the USB-C ports that deliver the amount of power needed. The total output wattage is shown in the bottom right corner of the LCD. As you connect more devices to charge via the USB ports, the total output value will change accordingly. During operation, the LCD will dim after a period of inactivity, but you can bring it back to full brightness by pressing the toggle button, which will also activate the charging pad and USB-A. Short pressing the button again turns off the LCD, however it will continue charging any connected devices. To fully shut off power and charging, disconnect your devices and press and hold the button for several seconds.<br/><br/>When I place my Samsung A21 that supports wireless charging on top, you can see that it starts charging right away, and LCD brightens and displays the wireless charging icon. You’ll also notice the output voltage here is only 4 Watts, and the strength of the wireless charging will depend on how well your device’s wireless charging area is aligned with the charging pad on the power bank and if there is any interference, like a case on your phone. If I slide it over, I can get a better output of 12 Watts.<br/><br/>If you find that the USB-A ports are shutting off after 30 seconds, you’ll need to enable HUB mode by double pressing the LCD toggle. The HUB icon in the top left will show and the USB-A ports will continuously discharge low-current power allowing you to charge low-powered devices like Bluetooth headphones and wear-ables like my smart ring. This mode also allows you to connect additional peripherals to a computer or laptop, using bi-directional communication using USB-C port 3, giving you two additional USB-A ports to connect additional input or storage devices. However, note that HUB mode will only stay active for 2 hours before automatically shutting off.<br/><br/>This power bank has a total capacity of 40,000 mAh, enough for around 8-10 full charges of most current flagship smartphones. It charges quickly, in as little as 2.5 hours with a 140 Watt charger, is small and portable, and provides a number of different ways to connect and charge various high-powered devices including tablets and laptop. <br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://cuktech.com/collections/frontpage/products/cuktech-p-series-40000mah-300w-power-bank'>Cuktech P+ Series 40000mah Power Bank</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-82094613749362706882023-05-22T14:12:00.002-04:002023-06-26T14:16:46.556-04:00Ember Cup 6oz Smart Mug Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/a2EBR5el4XU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a2EBR5el4XU?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ember Cup 6oz Smart Mug Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/4MDCMH">Ember Cup 6oz Smart Mug</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Easy to use, fast heating of hot/warm drinks, but small capacity.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the smart mug, charging base, power adapter, and a user guide. The mug measures 3.25” tall, has a 3” diameter, and has an interior depth of 2”, since the bottom half of the base is occupied by the battery, heating element, and internal circuitry. The maximum capacity of the mug is 6 fluid oz.<br /><br />The Ember Cup has a minimalist, smooth, handle-less design. On the front is the Ember logo, and on the bottom is where the gold charging contact rings and power button are located. Note that the mug is not microwave-safe, as this will damage the electronics inside. To charge the mug, use the charging base coaster which is 4.25” in diameter and about ½” tall. On the bottom is a rubber pad to keep the unit from sliding around and at the back is the charging port for the included adapter. What’s neat about this charging method is that it doesn’t matter how you set the mug down in the base, since the two pins will have contact with each of the charging rings, no matter which direction it faces. Just be sure not to leave water in the saucer as this could damage/corrode the charging contacts.<br /><br />When you place the powered off mug into the base, the LED below the logo on the mug will illuminate and pulse red to indicate that it’s charging. When the unit is fully charged, the LED turns a solid green. Then to turn the mug on, short press the power button on the bottom and the LED will start flashing white intermittently. To set the holding temperature of the mug, you’ll need to download and install the Ember app to a mobile device. Then press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to activate Bluetooth pairing, indicated by a quickly flashing blue light. In the app, tap add a new device, and it should find and pair with the Ember cup automatically. You’ll need to register an account or sign in, and then you can choose a personalized color for the LED on the front. This is so you can tell the difference between your mug and the mugs of others if you have multiple mugs in use in your household. Then, whenever the mug is picked up, it will quickly flash this color, so you know who it belongs to. If there is a firmware update available an update will appear and it usually takes only a couple minutes to complete.<br /><br />The mug can sense when it is empty and will not activate the heating element if there’s no liquid in it, but you can still set your target temperature, by moving the slider at the bottom from 120-145°F (or 50°C - 62.5°C). In the settings, you can change the LED color and its brightness from dim to bright, but you cannot disable it completely. You can also set your temperature units to Fahrenheit or Celsius and enable or disable notifications. To use your mug, make sure it is on then simply fill it with your hot beverage of choice, like coffee. If the starting temperature of your drink is higher than the set temperature the heating element won’t activate. Once it falls below your set temperature by several degrees, the heating element will engage and the LED flashes white while it heats back up. On average, it took about 25 seconds to raise the temperature 1 degree, and the app displays a popup here to let you know when it’s at your desired temperature. Checking with an instant read thermometer, the reading in the app was about 4-5 degrees high, so your mileage may vary regarding accuracy, however, it was still plenty hot and enjoyable. Be aware that if you do set the target temperature lower than the current temperature, the mug doesn’t actively cool the liquid; it simply turns off the heater and lets it cool down naturally.<br /><br />For me, I found the ideal drink temperature to be between 125°F and 130°F as it’s still pleasantly hot but not enough to scald you when you take a sip. Note that if the mug is placed on the charging saucer and actively maintaining the temperature of your drink, the battery won’t increase in charge until the cup is emptied or powered off. There’s also a 2-hour inactivity auto-shutoff while sitting on the base that can be reset by simply picking up the mug and putting it back on the charger. To turn the mug off, press and hold the power button until the LED slowly fades out. The mug is fully waterproof so you can wash it by hand with a soft sponge or cloth. It is not dishwasher safe. Just be sure to fully dry it with a cloth before setting it back on the saucer for charging. The other thing to keep in mind is that your beverage needs to already be semi-warm in order for it to work effectively. This mug is not designed to heat up cold beverages efficiently and in fact, the heater won’t automatically kick on unless the starting temperature is at least 100°F, though you can turn it on by changing the holding temperature.<br /><br />Overall, the Ember cup is a decent warming mug that will keep your beverage at your favorite temperature for at least 90 minutes if you pick it up and walk away or indefinitely while in a charging base as long as you pick it up for a sip once every 2 hours. The capacity of this model is small though, at only 6 oz, but the advantage is that your beverage will heat up quickly and doesn’t use a lot of energy to do so. If you prefer a larger size, Ember also has mugs with 10, 12 and 14 oz capacities, and additional charging bases can be purchased separately which are compatible with all Ember mug models, so you can have multiple places in your home where you can set your mug down to charge or stay warm.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/4MDCMH">Ember Cup 6oz Smart Mug</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-62600579999775857292023-05-15T14:11:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:12:21.641-04:00Perlegear Floor Speaker Stands PGSS9-1 Assembly and Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kuFNPeK2GT0/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kuFNPeK2GT0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Perlegear Floor Speaker Stands PGSS9-1 Assembly and Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/hqnFNc'>Perlegear Floor Speaker Stands PGSS9-1</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Quick and simple to put together, perfect height for bookshelf speakers, sturdy and stable.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />These speaker stands require a little assembly, however, it's pretty straightforward and only takes a few minutes to setup. You’ll receive 2 MDF wood bases, with a black wood grain finish, and a rectangular cutout in the middle. The base measures 11-3/4” square and ½” thick. On the bottom, there are four brass threaded inserts around the cutout and one in each corner of the board for the assembly screws. The top plates are made glossy black tempered glass and measure 7-3/4” square and ¼” thick. On the bottom is a metal bracket blued to the center of the plate. <br/><br/>The posts come in 2 sections each, the upper and lower halves. These are made from sheet metal and have a matte black painted exterior. The upper posts have an elliptical cutout near the top with a rubber guard which will allow you to pass your speaker wires through the center column without being cut or damaged by the metal edge around this opening. The lower posts are attached to a rectangular foot. To connect the uppers and lowers together, we’ll use these plastic connectors which have threaded inserts on both sides for the two sections of the post. This is the accessories pack with screws, isolation feet, and rubber adhesive pads. The assembly instructions have illustrations and are pretty easy to follow. <br/><br/>If you have carpeted or soft flooring like an area rug, you'll want to use the metal spike feet which attach to the bottom corners of the bases. They simply thread into the inserts and are designed to stabilize and isolate the stand from your floors. If you have hard floors, you’ll want to also add the clear rubber feet which you simply press onto each of the metal spikes. After assembling the center column and top plate tot he base, place four of the rubber adhesive pads onto the glass top plate, one at each corner, making an 'X'. These help cushion and isolate the speaker from the stand as well as create a non-slip surface for it to sit on since the speaker won’t be attached to the stand in any way.<br/><br/>Since my Martin Logan speakers have metal isolation feet on them already and these didn’t line up well with the rubber pads, I decided to remove them so that the speaker wouldn’t be sliding around freely on the glass top. This allowed the speakers to sit firmly on the pads, and I found that they were pretty secure and didn’t move at all when pushed. They don’t move an inch or wobble when my robot vacuum bumps into them, making me feel confident my speakers won’t slide off if someone bumps the stand. The speaker cable can be run through the column of the stand to hide the wire, and you simply retrieve the wire from underneath so that you can hook it up to your receiver, sub, or amplifier.<br/><br/>These stands can hold up to 22 lbs each and feel stable and sturdy. They are 26.5” high from the floor to the top surface; the perfect height for my bookshelf speakers positioning the tweeters at ear-level when I’m sitting in front of them. They have a simple and practical look to them and while not high-end, serve their purpose well as I don’t have a media console to raise my speakers off the floor. The speakers are placed at the right height for the best listening experience in my home theater and help them produce interference-free sound that’s not muddied or distorted by surface vibrations.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/hqnFNc'>Perlegear Floor Speaker Stands PGSS9-1</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-87312804388335489872023-05-12T14:07:00.004-04:002023-06-26T14:16:56.573-04:00USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate vs USB Heated Mug Comparison and Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DtjOS3mohUI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DtjOS3mohUI?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate vs USB Heated Mug Comparison and Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://temu.to/k/usuRx3MgT5w1Xa5">USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate vs USB Heated Mug</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />OR try the USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate at TEMU: <a href="https://temu.to/k/usptEleHmaAYV2X">https://temu.to/k/usptEleHmaAYV2X</a> [TEMU Affiliate Product Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: The heated mug is more effective at keeping your drink piping hot, but lacks an internal battery.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Looking for something else? New Users Shop TEMU w/30%: https://temu.to/k/usnBOQNqAwv8CUf<br />🎁PLUS use my exclusive promo code: sale2869 for an EXTRA 30% off your entire order! As a bonus, download the Temu App and use my discount code there a second time!<br /><br />- FREE shipping ✚ FREE returns!<br />- Shop hundreds of items for under $10<br />- AfterPay & Secure Payment on TEMU<br />- Same Products, Just Cheaper, shop TEMU now!<br /><br />I actually really enjoy buying from TEMU, and was a customer before I signed up to be an affiliate. Their website has something for everyone at ridiculously low prices.<br /><br />Looking for extra cash? 💰💰💰 Join the TEMU Affiliate Program and get paid to help spread the word on social media! 😱<br />🌟 Anyone can join - you don't have to be an influencer!<br />🌟 Earn up to 20% commissions on every referred new user's order!<br />🌟 Just share your code or link. Benefits are received automatically!<br />👉 Click https://www.temu.com/k/6b7fa8b4 to join the Temu Affiliate Program today!<br /><br />😱 If you're an influencer with an established social media following, you can earn commission and get FREE products by signing up via this link: https://www.temu.com/k/c875ca46<br />#temubaes #temufinds #TemuAffiliateProgram #TemuInfluencerProgram<br /><br />I purchased a USB powered cup warming plate to keep my drinsk warm at my desk because I liked that I would be able to use my own coffee mugs with it. It comes with a 4 ft long microUSB cable that you can plug into any powered USB port and a simple instruction card explaining the functions. The warming plate measures 5"L x 4.5"W and is 0.75" high. On the bottom are 4 foam feet, a vented fanless heat exhaust, and a gravity switch which is triggered when a cup 150 grams or 5.25 oz or heavier is placed on top. The surface area of the tempered glass hotplate is about 3-3/4 inches square. On the front panel are the touch controlled power button, indicator LEDs for high, medium, and low, and a 1 hour drink reminder with LED.<br /><br />TEMU sent me an electric heating mug with a clear acrylic sip-top lid for free to try. The mug is made of metal and has gold electrical induction rings on the bottom to power the electronics inside the base. The mug appears to be double-wall insulated, though I don’t think the air gap in between the layers is vacuum sealed. The lid has a rubber gasket and creates a tight seal. You’ll also receive a powered saucer base with two contact pins and a 5 ft USB-C cable. The saucer’s power port is on the side just below the rim near the charging contacts and the mug only heats up when it is placed in the base.<br /><br />My espresso machine pumps out piping hot espresso at around 142° F, and I placed an espresso shot on the hot plate to see how well the temperature would hold after 30 minutes. It turns out that the hot plate isn’t very efficient at transferring its heat to the cup. The hot plate surface did get very hot, and while my thermometer showed it to be around 210° F, the temperature of the coffee dropped off to around 112° F. The hot plate also automatically switched to medium heat after about 5 minutes, as I think the hot plate simply became too hot. I poured the cooled off coffee from the hot plate into the heated mug and simply set it on the saucer to heat up. The starting temperature was 114°F an when I measured it again after 15 minutes, the coffee was 117°F, so not only did the mug hold the temperature steady, it actually went up a few degrees. I found that after 1.5 hours, the maximum temperature the drink could reach in the heated mug was around 141°F or 60.5°C.<br /><br />In conclusion, if your hot drinks like coffee or tea have a habit of going cold at your desk, your best bet seems to be to go with a mug that has a built-in heating element in the bottom to keep it warm. The warming plate sounds like a good idea since you can bring your own mug to the party, but it ends up warming your cup more than it does your drink. The other nice thing about the heater mug is that the outside of the cup doesn't get that hot even while the heating element is on, and it comes with a sliding sip-cover lid to prevent your drink from splashing while you’re walking around with it. However, the mug doesn’t have an internal battery and will only heat your drink while it’s seated in the coaster, which has to be plugged into a powered USB port.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://temu.to/k/usuRx3MgT5w1Xa5">USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate vs USB Heated Mug</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />OR try the USB Cup Warmer Hot Plate at TEMU: <a href="https://temu.to/k/usptEleHmaAYV2X">https://temu.to/k/usptEleHmaAYV2X</a> [TEMU Affiliate Product Link]<br />
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-61321504117111025762023-05-04T14:07:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:07:37.120-04:00Fruitsaver (Kitchen Crop VKP Brands) Steam Canner Calibration and Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pbRl4T9bntw/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/pbRl4T9bntw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Fruitsaver (Kitchen Crop VKP Brands) Steam Canner Calibration and Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/KdAh'>Fruitsaver (Kitchen Crop VKP Brands) Steam Canner</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Easy to use, fast, safe canning that saves you time and water with every batch.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive a removable rack, steam canner base, steam canner dome lid, temperature gauge, plastic knob, metal ring insert, metal knob skirt, and an instruction manual. The temperature indicator has three color coded rings for different zones depending on your altitude, from 0 to 9000 ft above sea level in 3000 ft increments. Instructions printed underneath say to start your canning timer only after the red needle has reached the green area for your zone to ensure proper sterilization and safety.<br/><br/>You'll need to assemble the gauge and knob to the lid, which is simple and straightforward. Assembly instructions are clearly described and illustrated in the manual . Just ensure that the text on the gauge and logo are oriented the same way so you can read them. This is important because the hole for venting the steam needs to be placed in the rear for safe operation. The height of the dome lid is 6.5” (8.0"" including the handle) with a 12.5” diameter. The base is slightly wider with a 13” diameter and is 16.5” including the handles with rubber grips on them. The height of the base is 3”. The jar rack is made from thin sheet metal with holes stamped out to let steam pass through and the feet keep the rack 1-1/8” above the bottom of the pan. It is sized to fit in the base with about a ¼ - ½” clearance all around.<br/><br/>Before first use, be sure to clean the inside of the steamer and the rack with mild soapy water and calibrate your gauge before you can start canning food safely. To do so, you'll perform the same steps as canning but use 4 one-quart jars of plain water without lids. It will take 20-40 minutes for the canner to come up to temperature. You’ll be looking for the red needle in the gauge to reach the green area of the range for your zone and stop rising. I’ll be using the outer most ring, the blue Zone 1 ring. If you notice steam or water sputtering from around the lid or it starts to lift up, slowly turn down the temperature until it stops. When the needle has stopped moving, you’ll want to record its position as the max point, which I’ve done here with a black marker. In order to ensure safe canning of your food, you’ll need to wait until the needle hits this mark before counting down processing time and calibration should be performed at the start of each canning season to ensure accuracy.<br/><br/>Since the canner is already pre-heated, I’m going to go ahead and can several pints of homemade tomato sauce warm packed into clean jars and fitted with finger-tight lids and rings. The canner can process up to 8 pints jars or 7 quart jars at a time, and I try to spread them out as evenly as possible on the rack. You’ll want to follow the same recommended processing time from the USDA as traditional water bath canning, which for tomatoes is 35-40 minutes. Pre-sterilization is only necessary if the processing time is less than 10 minutes, and be sure not to open the lid until processing is complete. Once the processing time is finished, you can turn the heat off, but it’s important that you let it stand for another 5 minutes before opening the lid, otherwise you’ll have to start all over again.<br/><br/>After 5 minutes, careful open the lid, tilting it away from you to let the steam out the back. Then remove the jars from the rack and allow them to cool for 12-24 hours. When the jars are cool, check the seal by pressing on the center of the lid to ensure it does not pop back up. After several uses, you may find that the inside of your steam canner is slightly discolored, either a chalky white or a dark dull gray. This discoloration doesn’t affect the performance of the canner and actually forms a protective layer preventing further corrosion and oxidation, so there’s no need to remove it.<br/><br/>Overall, this steam canner works well for preserving and canning acidic foods like tomatoes, jams and jellies, and pickle products. It saves a bit of time and energy since you only have to heat up a quart and a half of water to process up to 7 quarts of food versus a traditional water bath which may need several gallons. However, it can’t be used to low acid foods like vegetables or meat and must be calibrated each year.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/KdAh'>Fruitsaver (Kitchen Crop VKP Brands) Steam Canner</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-3006403469409514102023-05-02T14:06:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:07:00.719-04:00Turquoize Home Decor Teal Blackout Curtains Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VvXRWCzNIYU/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvXRWCzNIYU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Turquoize Home Decor Teal Blackout Curtains Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/VL2ppY'>Turquoize Home Decor Teal Blackout Curtains</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Dark, thick material, easy to install and clean. Very good light blocking capability.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />In the room where I will use these curtains, the current curtains, which were advertised as blackout curtains, don’t really do a great job at keeping out sunlight; lightbleeds straight through them at direct angles and out the sides as well. In addition, the white UV blocking layer on the back side of the old curtains, which is this rubbery coating on the window side has started to degrade and flake off in some places making this curtain even less effective impossible to clean without further damaging this layer.<br/><br/>The Turquoize brand curtains carry a generous 8 year warranty, and I ordered the 42” width by 63” length drapes. They are shipped as pairs and I got the teal color with oil-rubber bronze metal grommets. The size of the panels are accurate to their stated measurements both in length and width. The material is a thick, high-quality polyester with a satin-like feel and the stitch quality is straight, even, and consistent. These curtains are machine washable in cold water and can also be tumble dried on low and ironed. There are eight grommets on top of each panel, with a clear front and back side, that can accommodate up to 1.5” diameter curtain rods. When placing on the curtain rod, you’ll want to pass through the front side of the first grommet and then through the opposite side of the next grommet alternately in a wave pattern. We’ll use two panels per window for adequate side coverage and edge light blocking.<br/><br/>The difference between the old and new curtains around noon on a sunny day was like night and day (pun intended). With the new curtains up, even with the interior light on, the room is darker, and there is very little sunlight bleeding in from the window. These also aid in thermal insulation, keeping the room cooler in summer months. Overall, these work very well as blackout curtains and look and feel much higher quality than my old curtains.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/VL2ppY'>Turquoize Home Decor Teal Blackout Curtains</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-19267182206778077782023-04-28T14:05:00.002-04:002023-06-26T14:17:06.423-04:00Bluetooth Remote Controller Ring JX-05 from TEMU Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yrcDzZNhGl4/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yrcDzZNhGl4?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bluetooth Remote Controller Ring JX-05 from TEMU Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://temu.to/k/usL3xJQklsyGt3t">Bluetooth Remote Controller Ring JX-05 from TEMU</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Easy to setup and use to control a smartphone for selfies, social media, and other apps.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Looking for something else? New Users Shop TEMU w/30%: https://temu.to/k/usnBOQNqAwv8CUf<br />🎁PLUS use my exclusive promo code: sale2869 for an EXTRA 30% off your entire order! As a bonus, download the Temu App and use my discount code there a second time!<br /><br />- FREE shipping ✚ FREE returns!<br />- Shop hundreds of items for under $10<br />- AfterPay & Secure Payment on TEMU<br />- Same Products, Just Cheaper, shop TEMU now!<br /><br />I actually really enjoy buying from TEMU, and was a customer before I signed up to be an affiliate. Their website has something for everyone at ridiculously low prices.<br /><br />Looking for extra cash? 💰💰💰 Join the TEMU Affiliate Program and get paid to help spread the word on social media! 😱<br />🌟 Anyone can join - you don't have to be an influencer!<br />🌟 Earn up to 20% commissions on every referred new user's order!<br />🌟 Just share your code or link. Benefits are received automatically!<br />👉 Click https://www.temu.com/k/6b7fa8b4 to join the Temu Affiliate Program today!<br /><br />😱 If you're an influencer with an established social media following, you can earn commission and get FREE products by signing up via this link: https://www.temu.com/k/c875ca46<br />#temubaes #temufinds #TemuAffiliateProgram #TemuInfluencerProgram<br /><br />This is the JX-05 wireless Bluetooth Remote Control Ring. It comes in three colors, black, white, or pink. The included manual has English instructions printed on the back. The ring is made from a lightweight, sturdy plastic and mine came with a USB-C charging cable, but there’s also a wireless charging version available that includes a charging case instead. It has 4 rubber arrow buttons on top and a 5th center key. On one side is the USB-C charging port and on the other a status indicator LED (front of the ring). If we look at the ring with the front oriented to the right, the top arrow is up, the bottom down, and left and right arrows respectively. To charge the ring, plug the included cable into the side, then plug into any powered USB port and the LED will illuminate red. Note that the LED doesn’t change when the ring is fully charged, which takes about 2 hours. On a full charge it has a continuous run time of around 48 hours. <br /><br />The ring comes in one size that is a little less than 7/8” diameter or around a US ring size 10.5. While rather large, most folks will want to use it on their dominant hand’s index finger. Using it while up towards the third knuckle is a little awkward but not impossible. You can also use your other hand to press the buttons. I prefer to slide it down to my first knuckle and press the keys with that hand’s thumb, which I found easy and convenient. To turn the ring on, press and hold the center button for a few seconds and the LED should start flashing blue when it’s ready for pairing.<br /><br />There is no specific app needed for the ring, simply go into your phone’s Bluetooth settings and pair with the device called JX-05. Once paired, the status light changes to a solid blue. On my Android phone, long pressing the up and down buttons will increase or decrease volume, while long pressing right locks the phone, and long pressing left exits the current app and returns to the home screen. Within certain apps it can perform other functions as well. For example, in my camera app, up and down changes between front and back camera, the left and right buttons allow me to cycle through the different camera modes, while short pressing the center button activates autofocus, and long pressing it takes a photo or starts/stops video. This makes it great for setting up hands-free selfies or video remote control from a distance.<br /><br />In social media apps like Instagram or TikTok, short pressing the up and down keys to quickly scroll through content and I can double-click the center button to like a post. If you’re watching video, short pressing the center button will play or pause the video, and the left and right buttons will perform whatever action a left or right swipe does in that particular app. When not in use, simply slide it up your finger for an easy way to carry and forget about it until it’s needed again. To turn the ring off, press and hold the center button for 3 seconds.<br /><br />Overall, this ring remote control is lightweight, easy-to-use, and pretty handy. You can use it to control a number of functions on your phone, like volume control, snapping selfies, and navigate apps and social media from a distance without having to touch or tap your screen.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://temu.to/k/usL3xJQklsyGt3t">Bluetooth Remote Controller Ring JX-05 from TEMU</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-90202535736629138632023-04-20T14:05:00.003-04:002023-06-26T14:17:29.714-04:00Salati Mini Cordless Handheld Electric 6 Inch Chainsaw Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TLUPNc_pFJg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TLUPNc_pFJg?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Salati Mini Cordless Handheld Electric 6 Inch Chainsaw Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/QZ7A9B">Salati Mini Cordless Handheld Electric 6 Inch Chainsaw</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Simple to use, fast, clean cuts up to 6 inch thick wood, boards, or branches.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive a pair of gloves, safety glasses, two rechargeable li-ion battery packs, a replacement chain, cleaning brush, Phillips screwdriver, A/C wall charger, an empty chain oil dispenser bottle, the handheld mini chainsaw, and an instruction manual.<br /><br />The battery packs are 21 Volt, and measure 5”L x 3”W x 1.5” tall. On the front, if pressed, the red power button will show you the remaining battery life in 25% increments. The lights will stay on as long as you’re pressing the button. On the inside face is a barrel port where you’ll plug in the adapter to charge the battery. On the A/C adapter is an indicator LED. While n o light will show on the battery while charging, the LED on the charging brick will be red during charging and turns green when the battery is fully charged.<br /><br />This is the mini chainsaw, it has a rubberized hand grip and measures 14.5” from tip to tip and 5” from top to bottom. With the battery installed weighs only 2.5 lbs. Behind the battery bay is an integrated wrist strap. The length of the horizontal section chain to the bumper is 6”. On top you have a spring-loaded safety guard that automatically moves with the piece of wood you are cutting and springs back when disengaged. The plastic knob secures on the sprocket cover which can be removed in order to replace the chain or guide bar. The cover should always be tightly secured before use. On the opposite side is the chain motor housing which is vented to allow heat to dissipate. Next to the guide bar is a small LED flashlight, and right up against the bar on the lower inside is the chain tension adjustment screw. For proper tensioning, pull firmly on the chain in the middle of the saw plate, and you should be able to expose 1-3 of the middle guide teeth. If you find the chain is too tight, turn the adjustment screw counter-clockwise to loosen it or conversely turn clockwise to tighten.<br /><br />To use the saw, you’ll first need to press the safety switch just above the trigger. If this is not pressed, you won’t be able to squeeze and activate the trigger to start the saw. The button is designed to allow you to press it down with your thumb so you can squeeze the trigger using one hand. Once the saw is started, you can let go of the safety switch and the motor will continue to run until you release the trigger. The safety switch is available on both sides of the grip, so it can be used by right and left-handed users. To install the battery, simply slide it into the battery bay at the bottom of the tool until it snaps securely into place. To remove it for charging and storage, press down the red release button and pull firmly forward.<br /><br />This chainsaw can cut wood boards or tree branches up to 6 inches in thickness, and I’ll cut this 1 inch branch here. When cutting with a chainsaw, always remember to cut only with the flat section of the blade in the middle of the saw plate. Do not attempt to cut using the tip, as this can cause dangerous kickback of the saw towards you. Always start the motor away from the wood you are cutting. The saw is a bit loud, but no more so than an electric drill. Only begin your cut after the chain has reached full speed. Keep firm downward force towards the wood while cutting to reduce bouncing and gravity should do most of the work for you. The cuts made with the saw are fairly clean and very fast. Cutting a larger thickness around 1.5” also went smoothly and quickly. Again, here is the result of that cut. When cutting thicker logs, try to avoid cut through knots where there are or were branches, as the wood there may be harder and denser; I’ll cut just to the right of the knots here and you’ll see that the chainsaw has no problem cutting all the way through.<br /><br />After several cuts, check the chain to see if it requires tightening or lubricating; remove the battery before making any adjustments. You should also avoid using the chainsaw continuously for more than 10 minutes at a time to prevent overheating, though it will shut off automatically if this occurs. It the unit stops due to overheating, allow the motor to cool down before starting it again.<br /><br />Overall, this mini chainsaw is really easy to use and maintain, cuts through wood fast and smoothly, and is lightweight and compact. I hope you enjoyed this review. You can ask me any questions in the comments. I’ll put a link to the product in the description below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and join me next time.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/QZ7A9B">Salati Mini Cordless Handheld Electric 6 Inch Chainsaw</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-46887651820489489862023-04-06T14:03:00.002-04:002023-06-26T14:17:48.170-04:00Canon Color imageClass MF753CDW Laser Printer Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/F02hcMuAVhs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F02hcMuAVhs?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Canon Color imageClass MF753CDW Laser Printer Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/2FA0w0">Canon Color imageClass MF753CDW Laser Printer</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: High-quality, fast prints in color and black and white. Dual-sided single-pass scanning up to legal size, walk-up, WiFi, LAN, and fax.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Thank you to Best Buy for sending me this printer at no cost. When unboxing this printer, be sure to remove the manual and accessories on top, then turn the box on its right side before sliding the printer out. The printer should end up right-side up if removed from the box this way. You’ll receive the printer, 6 ft power cord, 10 ft phone cord, instruction manuals, and software CD. The printer measures 16.5” wide, 18” deep, and 16.5” high. When the lid is open, the height is 26.5” and when the paper tray and rear access door are open, the overall depth is 36” so be sure to leave some clearance in all directions to access and open all the panels. The weight of the printer is a nearly 50 lbs though there are handle grooves on the sides along the bottom, to make lifting, carrying, or moving the printer easier. <br /><br />Starting from the top, there is a 50-page auto-document feeder (or ADF), document return tray, the scanner/photocopier glass, tilt-able color touch-panel LCD, 150-sheet output tray, USB port for walk-up printing, power button, 50-sheet capacity manual load multi-purpose tray, pull-out tray for the 4 ink cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow with starter cartridges pre-installed, and 250-sheet capacity paper cassette. When loaded with legal-size paper the cassette extends 2-1/4” inches from the front of the printer when closed. You can also purchase an optional secondary paper cassette that holds up to 550 additional sheets, which you’d add on to the bottom of the printer.<br /><br />The release button to access the toner compartment is on the left hand side of the printer. On the back of the printer, you have an access panel for clearing paper jams, fax and telephone jacks on the left-and side, USB-A port, USB-B port, and Ethernet port. This printer also supports WiFi network connections and mobile printing. Note that you should not connect a USB cable to the printer prior to installing the computer software. The port for the power cable is in the lower left-hand corner.<br /><br />To set up the printer, plug in the power cable and press the power button. The setup guide will appear on the operation panel and the on-screen directions are easy to follow and only takes a few minutes. On your computer, use the software CD or download and install the printer drivers and software from Canon’s website. You can then go ahead and connect the printer to your computer using a USB-B cable if you haven’t already setup a networked connection over WiFi or LAN. At the end of setup, it’ll print a test page with some diagnostic information, and I was impressed that the printer woke up from its sleep state pretty much instantly when the job was sent and only took a couple seconds to warm up and complete the print.<br /><br />When printing a text-only black and white document the text is clean and crisp, without any streaking or unevenness across the page. It prints fast at up to 35 pages per minute and the first page was ready in the output tray in under 10 seconds. The printer isn’t very quiet while printing and even when it is idle while emit a slight mechanical hum, however, its quick printout speed means that you usually won’t be dealing with the noise for very long and after about 50 seconds of inactivity it goes into sleep mode. After it goes into power-saving sleep mode, the printer is completely silent. For color prints, the images came out with stunning quality, smoothness, and detail. The colors were bright, nicely blended, though perhaps a touch under-saturated and with a slightly softer focus than the digital image. They still looked great, however, with a dry glossy sheen even on 20-lb stock plain letter paper. There was virtually no banding across color gradients, and I would have no regrets printing art or family photos on this machine.<br /><br />This printer also supports PIN protected secure printing that would require you to enter a PIN number at the machine on the control panel at the time of printing, which would be useful in a public office setting so sensitive documents aren’t printed immediately and sitting in the output tray. For printing without a computer, use the USB port on the front to print PDFs and images from a thumbdrive (note that it doesn't recognize some file types like Microsoft Word documents); you’ll also be able to save scanned documents to a thumbdrive plugged into the walk up port. If the printer is connected to the internet, and you have remote UI setup, you can also scan directly to e-mail or fax by manually keying in the address or phone number or selecting it out of the address book. To print from a smartphone use the ‘Canon PRINT Business’ mobile app or Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and Wi-Fi Direct mobile print services to wirelessly transmit documents to the printer. You’ll also need to install ‘Canon Print Services’ to communicate with the printer.<br /><br />When using the auto-document feeder (or ADF) on top for copying or scanning, you can capture both sides of a page in a single pass for pages as large as legal size, so there’s no need to flip the page over to scan the other side. When replacing the toner for this printer, you can enable Canon Genuine Mode so that the printer only accepts OEM Canon toner cartridges which have chips that the machine uses to ID them as authentic. This feature is off by default, allowing you to use third-party aftermarket cartridges. There are also 6 customizable quick select menus where you can store your favorite features and functions, for example, one-touch ID Card Copy and Passport Copy.<br /><br />Overall, this printer lives up to its moniker Color imageClass as it prints both color images and black and white documents with speed and clarity. Whether you have a small business or just want great quality laser prints at home, this printer delivers them quickly, with minimal setup to get started, and a variety of connection options for both small and large networks. The printer has adequate security on control options for enterprise use, and with its ADF and dual-sided scanning capabilities up to legal-size sheets, covers most business and personal scanning, copying, faxing, and mixed media printing use cases.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/2FA0w0">Canon Color imageClass MF753CDW Laser Printer</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-48389907693943129832023-03-24T14:02:00.005-04:002023-06-26T14:04:21.842-04:00Perlesmith Budget Universal Floor Speaker Stands PSSS6 Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kuFNPeK2GT0" width="480" youtube-src-id="kuFNPeK2GT0"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perlesmith Budget Universal Floor Speaker Stands PSSS6 Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/7BuQCm">Perlesmith Budget Universal Floor Speaker Stands PSSS6</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Easy to Assembly, Stable though Lightweight, Supports up to 22 Lb speakers.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive four metal posts, a pair of threaded rods with two male ends, a pair of threaded rods with a male and female end, two tube base caps, two tube connectors, an accessories pack with hardware, stabilizer feet, and mini wrench, two small top glass plates measuring 7-3/4” square, two large glass base plates measuring 11-3/4” square and have four threaded posts in the corners on the bottom, and an assembly guide.
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<br />To assemble, start with the glass top plate and flip it upside-down, attach one of the threaded rods with a female end to the metal disc on the underside of the top plate, then install one of the rods with two male ends to the rod you just installed. Next, take one of the metal tubes, paying attention to which end has the opening for the speaker wire, and drop that over the rods with that opening towards the top plate. Slip the plastic connector ring onto the end of the tube and connect with another tube section with the hole for the wire facing the opposite end of the stand. At this point, you can feed your speaker wire through the tube assembly by dropping it in the top wire opening and retrieving it from the other side. Flip one of the glass base plates upside down and install either the hard metal spike feet for soft or carpeted flooring or the rubber stabilization feet for hard flooring. The rubber feet simply press onto the metal posts in the corners while the metal spike feet will screw into them instead. To attach the base plate, you’ll need the nuts and washers from the accessory pack; the lighter colored washers are nylon plastic and these should go against the glass, as they are softer and will help prevent damaged to the glass when tightening. Place one of the tube end caps onto the open end of the tube of the partially assembled stand, making sure the metal rod goes through the hole in the middle. Then place the base plate on, feet facing up and drop on the nylon washer, metal washer, and thread on the nut. Tighten with a wrench until snug, but be sure not to overdo it to avoid cracking the glass under too much tension. Repeat these steps for the second stand.
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<br />All in all, each stand takes only a couple minutes to assemble and once complete, feel sturdy and stable without any wobbling or looseness. The completed stands can each hold up to 22 lbs and are 28” tall from floor to the top plate surface making them the perfect height for 12” tall bookshelf speakers so their tweeters will be at ear-level when the listener is seated. You can optionally install the included foam isolation stickers to the top plate if your speaker housing will sit directly on top. However, since my speakers already have metal isolation feet on the bottom, I’m going to skip this step.
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<br />One thing you should be careful of is that your speakers will basically be freestanding on top of these stands and for me, the metal feet on a slippery glass surface means that my speakers are susceptible to sliding freely on the surface. My speakers also overhang the front and back of the top plate by about an inch and have only 4 tiny points of contact and a small amount of clearance to the edges of the plate. The stand only weighs about 8 lbs on its own, so I have to be super careful about bumping into it to avoid knocking the speaker off. Be wary of things like pets or robot vacuums as these could jostle or shake the stands enough to send your speakers tumbling, so you may want to secure them using Blue tack or another temporary adhesive solution.
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<br />The look of them is really clean and modern, though placing a media console between them would help hide some of the wiring to the receiver. It’s great that the wires are fed through the stand tube so that they’re not visible. The height of these positioned our Martin Logan Motion 2 B10 bookshelf speakers perfectly to get the best sound quality for our home theater. Do be mindful that by design your speakers sit atop a slippery glass plate, and you may want to take extra steps to secure it, though if your speakers are out of the way in a low traffic area and won’t be disturbed by pets, kids or robots, they should be pretty safe.
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<br />Overall, for a budget set of speaker stands, they do the job of getting our speakers to the right height decently and their assembly was super quick and simple. They can be used on both carpeted and hard flooring by simply changing the feet and have a plain but clean and stylish look.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/7BuQCm">Perlesmith Budget Universal Floor Speaker Stands PSSS6</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-28833004824355241622023-03-22T14:01:00.001-04:002023-06-26T14:01:43.771-04:00Bestisan Powered Down Firing Subwoofer SW65C Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hEuW6PNwmww/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hEuW6PNwmww?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Bestisan Powered Down Firing Subwoofer SW65C Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/oPwG'>Bestisan Powered Down Firing Subwoofer SW65C</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Capable of producing adequate bass tones to fill in mains gap, however, lacks significant power and ultra low end support for a truly immersive physical and auditory experience.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />The subwoofer comes with a 5 ft long RCA to 3.5mm jack audio cable, wall power adapter with 5 ft cord, and a quick start manual. The housing measures 9.25” square and 13” H. The body is made from a plastic coated MDF and weighs about 9 lbs. The subwoofer has a 2.5” reflex port in the back and the 60 Watt 6.5” driver for the sub is located on the bottom as it is down-firing and has a frequency response range of 40 Hz to 250 Hz. The four feet keep the sub 1” off the ground, so the sound can spread and have rubber feet for decoupling and stabilization.<br/><br/>On the back you have the controls. There’s a power button , LED status indicator, Aux out port, RCA line in with the left input as the low-frequency effects or LFE channel, volume dial, low pass crossover adjustment dial from 60 – 250Hz, 0 or 180 degree phase switch, and DC in power port. For me, since I’ll be putting the subwoofer on the same side of the room as my mains, I’ll keep the phase setting on 0 and as my receiver will be handling the crossover, I’ll dial the low pass cutoff frequency to the highest setting.<br/><br/>In a frequency test for the sub I found that although the device is only rated as low as 40 Hz, at 20 and 30 Hz, I did hear a little bit of sound being produced from the woofer, but it didn’t start to sound significant until we hit 40 Hz. As the frequency went higher there was a bit more volume produced, though it started to plateau and drop off after 120 Hz; if you’re looking for a cutoff value for this sub, depending on how low your mains can go, I’d target somewhere between 80 and 110 Hz.<br/><br/>When listening to a sub-boosted sound sample with and without the Bestisan sub turned on, the was a clear difference with the sub active in that the lower registers were more fully supported, and the bass tones and beat had more kick and weight to them. That’s to say the Bestisan sub does successfully add bass to the mix, which was somewhat lacking, even on my Hi-Fi Martin Logan bookshelf speakers; however, due to the limited size and power of the Bestisan sub and small amount of bass range extension over the speaker’s native lows of 56 Hz, it wasn't particularly a game-changing experience. I think the sub does a nice job at simply rounding out the sound and made my listening experience a little fuller and richer, but it didn't wow me with an impressive rumble.<br/><br/>Overall, if you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add some bass to a system that’s lacking in this area, the SW65C is an okay choice for those on a budget or with a small space that the amount of sound it outputs can fill. But if your space is large or you are willing to spend a little more, I’d shoot for a more solid 100Watt option like the Polk PSW10 which can deliver more immersive, body rumbling lows.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/oPwG'>Bestisan Powered Down Firing Subwoofer SW65C</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-42997596427443596762023-02-28T12:32:00.000-05:002023-06-26T14:00:18.652-04:00Cuckoo Smart Video Camera Bird Feeder by Arkantos Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CHQYFjgaqZY" width="480" youtube-src-id="CHQYFjgaqZY"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cuckoo Smart Video Camera Bird Feeder by Arkantos Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/4elNDK">Cuckoo Smart Video Camera Bird Feeder by Arkantos</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Quick and easy setup, clear video and audio, accurate AI identification of birds.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive an instruction manual, bird feeder seed box with removable HD camera, solar panel rooftop, bird stand perch, microUSB charging cable, 64 GB microSD card, accessories and hardware pack, bracket connector, mounting bracket, and drill sticker template. The front of the seed box has a clear front, and it measures 9” tall, 7.25” wide, and 7.5” deep.<br /><br />The camera is removable and the solar panel cable disconnects from the top. The rubber door is removable and inside you’ll install the SD card and the power switch is at the top. You’ll need to remove the protective plastic on the front and you’ll see the red light flashing when the camera is ready for pairing to the mobile app. The app you’ll need is called Bird Lover, and the QR code at the bottom of the bird feeder will take you to the app in your app store.<br /><br />After installation you’ll need to register or log in with an account. In the app, tap add device, select your model bird feeder, confirm the unit is powered on and is in pairing mode, then choose your home WiFi network and enter its password. A QR code will appear on your mobile device’s screen and you’ll need to scan it using the bird feeder camera from 8-10 inches away. After you hear the confirmation beep, tap continue and the light on the front of the camera should change to a solid green. Now you should be able to see a streaming live view of the camera feed in the app. <br /><br />The app will show you the camera’s remaining battery life, you can enable live audio, view the stream in full screen, capture live still photos and video recordings, enable the microphone for two-way communication, or activate an alarm to scare away other animals trying to steal the bird seed. You can plug the included data cable into the power port on top and connect the camera to a computer to access files on the card or charge the unit indoors.<br /><br />Behind the camera you’ll find a thumbscrew for securing the camera to a rotating bracket so that the camera doesn’t fall out of the bird feeder. To install the camera, rotate the bracket forward and drop the thumb screw into the hole in the middle, then place the camera with the top facing out, and thread the thumbscrew into the back of the camera. Then rotate the bracket back and plug the solar panel cable back into the top.<br /><br />On the underside of the roof, there is a USB-C port towards the back that the cable inside the bird feeder connects to so the solar panels can charge and deliver power to the camera. Then with the roof panel tilted forward, align the notches at the left and right sides, to the slots at the top front corners of the bird feeder window and slide them in at the same time. Then tilt the roof back until the tab at the back snaps into place. The solar panels on either side ensure that no matter which direction the bird feeder faces, that sunlight can reach at least one of them. The seed collection tray at the front of the bird feeder has holes in the bottoms to allow water to drain in case this area gets wet from rain. Then these two holes at the front are for attaching the bird stand perch and are secured using two screws at the bottom.<br /><br />Installing the bird feeder is quick and straightforward. After piloting the holes using the drill template, attach the mounting bracket in your desired location using the four long screws. If mounting to the top of the L-bracket, you’ll need to remove the plastic cup bracket and reinstall it on top. Then place the bird feed onto the bracket, and secure the bracket connector underneath with the 3 included screws. Note that the attachment point under the bird feeder has a post and tab that align with a hole and notch in the bracket connector and these must line up when attaching it.<br /><br />To fill the bird feeder, lift the tab at the back of the roof panel and tilt the roof forward. Then fill the chamber with seeds. As the chamber fills, seeds will dispense automatically into the seed tray, and the chamber can hold about 2.5 lbs of seed. Then tilt the roof back and snap it back into place. Lastly, place the perch into the holes at the front of the seed tray and attach it with the short screws underneath.<br /><br />Now all you need to do is wait for birds to discover your bird feeder and visit it. Don’t be discouraged if this doesn’t happen right away, as it could take several days or weeks before birds notice the food there. I’ve had mine setup for a few days now and am still waiting for my first visitor, but I’m eager to see what shows up soon! When they do I’ll get a notification on my phone. Using the AI recognition feature, the app will try and determine what species of bird came to your feeder and when using sample images, it seems pretty accurate!<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/4elNDK">Cuckoo Smart Video Camera Bird Feeder by Arkantos</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-89099585815844090562023-02-20T12:32:00.001-05:002023-06-26T12:32:44.320-04:00Ahopegarden Indoor Smart Planter Semi-automatic Countertop Mini Hydroponic System Setup and Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IOy3tuAzglM/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IOy3tuAzglM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Ahopegarden Indoor Smart Planter Semi-automatic Countertop Mini Hydroponic System Setup and Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/5QrvJj'>Ahopegarden Indoor Smart Planter Semi-automatic Countertop Mini Hydroponic System</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />Buy Direct from Ahopegarden: <a href='https://ahopegarden.com/?ref=3zcpozWy'>https://ahopegarden.com/?ref=3zcpozWy</a> [Ahopegarden Affiliate Product Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Simple and quick setup, self-contained, includes everything you need to get started growing indoors any time of the year.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />You’ll receive the smart planter, quick start card, and a full illustrated instruction manual. This is the smart planter. It measures 11” W, 7” tall, and 6.5” deep. The height of the light on top is adjustable on a telescoping column, just be sure to hold the unit steady while raising it. The light should be raised as your plants grow larger and the max height of the light is 20.25” above the table or about 15” above the planting deck. There are four different kinds of LED lights in the lamp on top including full spectrum white, short and long wave red for photosynthesis and plant health, and blue for vegetative and flowering. Then you’ll choose from two different light modes to stimulate vegetative growth or encourage flowering and fruiting depending on the type and maturity of your plants.
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<br/>The planter has eight holes for the planting pods and the ninth hole here, covered by a rubber cap, is the inlet for refilling the water tank below. This hole has a plastic tab in it, with a picture of a water can, preventing you from placing a grow pod in here by mistake. The rubber cap also has a water can on it.
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<br/>The planting deck simply lifts off and inside you’ll find a pack of 8 grow sponges, these are not pre-seeded, an 8-pack of grow baskets, and an accessory pack with plant tags, humidity domes, hole covers, spare drain hole plug, plastic tweezers and 12 sticker labels.
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<br/>In these boxes, you’ll find the wall power adapter with 5 foot power cord, and two different squeeze bottles of fertilizer pellets labeled A and B. At the bottom of the water tank is a water pump to keep the water moving and oxygenated, so that it won’t become stagnant. To its left along the bottom is the drain hole, which is pre-fitted with a water-tight rubber plug, that is removable for emptying the unit. The short power cord of the pump gets plugged into the top port, making the pump replaceable if needed, while the lower port is for the AC power adaptor.
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<br/>At the front of the plant, the water tank has a clear window marked from 1-3 liters in half liter increments so you can monitor the water level and add more when needed. On top of the light is the control panel with the power button, water pump button, vegetative light mode and flowering and fruiting light mode.
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<br/>The seeds I chose for my first planting are Greek basil, Buquinho peppers, Italian basil, cilantro, and Boston lettuce. The quickstart guide recommends soaking these seeds overnight prior to planting, so I’ll see you tomorrow morning. The next day, you’ll want to soak and rehydrate your grow sponges, and here I’m using 5, one for each of my plant varieties. They’ll rehydrate pretty quickly in about 1-2 minutes. Next, place each of the grow sponges into a hanging basket, then pop them into the holes on the planting deck, spacing them out as much as possible. If planting fewer than 8 pods, be sure to cover the open holes to prevent bugs or other contaminants from getting in the water tank.
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<br/>Now, we’ll carefully place our soaked seeds into the hole in the center of the growing sponges. The included tweezer really helps with precision here. We’ll pop a humidity dome on top, then label the plant so we know what’s what.Rather than place the sticker on the dome, which will be removed after the seeds germinate, I’m just going to stick it next to the seed pod. And I’ll do the same with the rest of the pods. Once all the seeds are planted, fill the water tank with 3 liters, or about ¾ of a gallon of water. Be sure to fill up to the max fill line so that the water can keep the pods moist throughout the germination process, then cap the water inlet.
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<br/>Next, we’ll adjust the light all the way down to the lowest level and plug-in and power the unit on. This turns on both the lights and the water pump right away, but if your seeds don’t need light to germinate, you can tap the light mode to turn the lights off. Just note that they will automatically turn back on 10 hours later and operate in a 16 on 8 off cycle. The same is true for the water pump. You can tap to turn it off but it starts up again in 10 hours and runs in 30 minute on/off cycles. I recommend leaving it on to avoid any problems with stagnancy like anaerobic bacteria or algae growth.
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<br/>For now, we won’t be needing the fertilizers, which we’ll add after the seeds have germinated, but to use them, we’ll need to add 100 ml of water to each bottle and shake to dissolve the pellets. Once made, the solution is good for 5 months when stored out of direct sunlight. Both these fertilizers should be used together for optimal plant health and each of the plastic screw tops have measuring lines up to 15 ml so try not to lose them. You’ll need to add 5 ml of fertilizer from each of the bottles for every liter of water added to the tank throughout the growing process. If you’re curious as to the composition of the fertilizer, the labels have a detailed breakdown of each of the nutrients so you can refill and reuse them.
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<br/>What I like about this product is that it’s all self-contained and the planter doesn’t have to be placed near a window because it’s got its own lights and timers. It’s also not so smart that you;ll need a smartphone or app to operate it. Once it’s setup the only thing you really need to do is refill the water tank when it drops below 1 liter and use the fertilizer after the seeds germinate. I hope you enjoyed this unboxing and overview Ahopegarden’s smart hydroponic indoor planter. I’ll put a link to the product in the description below. I’ll be posting updates over the next couple of weeks and months showing the progress of my little indoor garden right up through harvesting, so stay tuned and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel.
<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/5QrvJj'>Ahopegarden Indoor Smart Planter Semi-automatic Countertop Mini Hydroponic System</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />Buy Direct from Ahopegarden: <a href='https://ahopegarden.com/?ref=3zcpozWy'>https://ahopegarden.com/?ref=3zcpozWy</a> [Ahopegarden Affiliate Product Link]<br />
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-48899081350761836862023-02-02T12:30:00.002-05:002023-06-26T14:18:00.068-04:00Yale Assure Lock, Keyed Gen 1 w/WiFi Module (Yale Access, Connected by August) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/idK9coYNg9c/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/idK9coYNg9c?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yale Assure Lock, Keyed Gen 1 w/WiFi Module (Yale Access, Connected by August) Review</div>
<br />#sponsored #ad<b><br /></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/CRipC8">Yale Assure Lock, Keyed Gen 1 w/WiFi Module (Yale Access, Connected by August) </a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Quick and straightforward installation. Simple setup and app controls. Work well remotely to monitor and control access and review events.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />Amazon affiliate product links:<br />Buy the Yale Assure Lock - Keyed, w/WiFi AND Navis Paddle Handles Bundle at Amazon: https://geni.us/Z8ve7 [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br />Buy the Yale Assure Lock - Keyed, w/WiFi at Amazon: https://geni.us/CRipC8 [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br />Buy the Yale Assure Lock - Keyless, w/WiFi at Amazon: https://geni.us/VP4Q [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br />Buy the Yale Assure Lock 2 - Keyless, w/WiFi at Amazon: https://geni.us/hBSY [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br />Buy the Yale WiFi module only - upgrade kit (for Assure Lock Gen 1, formerly Connected by August): https://geni.us/hkq603b [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br /><br />You'll receive the deadbolt housing, touch panel keypad with optional keyed tumbler and two keys (if you have the keyed version), deadbolt latch, dead bolt strike plate, a bag of mounting hardware, and a set of 4 AA batteries. The Connected by August/Yale Access WiFi kit was bundled with my lock but boxed separately, since it is also available as an upgrade kit if you already have a compatible Yale Assure Lock Gen 1. In this kit you'll receive the plug-in wireless receiver, the door module, and optional Door Sense sensor.<br /><br />Installing the lock and setting it up took me about 20 minutes to complete, when replacing an existing dead bolt and flushing mounting the Door Sense Sensor inside the doorframe, for a clean hidden look. Once the smart lock is installed, you can setup and use the August Home or Yale Access app to create entry codes for household members (the apps are identical). Then to unlock the deadbolt from the outside, touch anywhere on the screen to wake it up, enter your passocde, and tap the check mark in the lower right hand corner. One-touch locking, lets you lock the deadbolt by simply touching anywhere on the touch panel, though be careful as this can be triggered by an accidental touch when the door is open too.<br /><br />In the app you can lock or unlock the door by tapping the circle in the middle of the screen in the app. There's also a handy auto-lock feature that will re-lock the door after a specific amount of time has passed since the door was opened. As well you can have the lock automatically unlock as you approach the door after being away from home, which is convenient if your hands are full or in cold weather, so you don't have to remove your gloves to work the touchpad. This feature does require you to have a smartphone though, with Bluetooth turned on, and the August or Yale app installed. With the Door Sense sensor, the app will also tell you if the door is currently open or closed. The other benefit to this is that the door won't auto-lock if the door is open or left ajar, a problem which we’ve had with previous keyless entry dead bolts that led to jams and the door closing on the extended deadbolt. You can set up push alerts to your phone for specific events like if the door is left ajar for longer than a specific amount of time (1 to 30 minutes) or when certain individuals use their PIN or app to unlock the door.<br /><br />One cool feature of this lock is the ability to use Alexa voice commands to lock and unlock the door. When unlocking the door though, you must select a mandatory voice code that you need to say out loud to execute the command. The lock also works with a number of other connected third-party integration like HomeKit, Google Home, Nest, Airbnb, IFTTT, and more. I found adding additional users with their own access codes to the door straightforward and simple, and the lock updates within seconds allowing nearly instant access control on-the-fly even if you're remote. You can restrict the users access from 'always' to only certain time slots on specific days of the week for recurring appointments (one time slot across all days), or set a temporary passcode that expires at a specific date and time. The app even keeps a history of the door's activity so you know who's accessing the door when unlocked it with a code or the app.<br /><br />The reason we got the keyed version is because we like to have a backup in case the unit runs out of battery, gets disconnected from the internet, or stops working for any other reason. The other thing we added to the door was the Navis Pivot push/pull lever, also by Yale. This allows us to easily push the door open once it auto-unlocks, so we don't have to set things down if our hands are full. It also eliminates the key for the door handle, so we don't get inadvertently locked out. Overall, we’re pretty happy with our Yale Assure Lock as it’s made securing our home, getting in the house, and giving others access simple. It was easy to install and set up and lets us manage the lock even when we’re away from home, as long as the WiFi bridge stays plugged in and has power. The batteries last 2-4 months depending on how often the door is used, and the app will let you know when it’s time to change the battery after it falls below 20%. Just be careful about using rechargeable Li-ion or NiMH batteries with the door as then don't typically drop in voltage before going flat, possibly causing the lock to lose power without warning, and since most NiMH batteries only deliver 1.2V of power versus 1.5V as alkaline would, the app may inaccurately report a low battery condition where none exists.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://geni.us/CRipC8">Yale Assure Lock, Keyed Gen 1 w/WiFi Module (Yale Access, Connected by August) </a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-67385730532652516592023-01-20T12:29:00.001-05:002023-06-26T12:30:11.053-04:00Best Value Replacement HEPA Filters for Blueair Classic 200/300 Series Air Purifiers Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vOfX9mQ9vF0/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vOfX9mQ9vF0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>Best Value Replacement HEPA Filters for Blueair Classic 200/300 Series Air Purifiers Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBqoN7l'>Best Value Replacement HEPA Filters for Blueair Classic 200/300 Series Air Purifiers</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />OEM DualProtection Filter from Blueair at Amazon: <a href='https://geni.us/NJbgkNl'>https://geni.us/NJbgkNl</a> [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Perfect fit, affordable, good filtration, works as well as the original filters.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />The aftermarket air filters come in either one or two packs, and the filters are individually packed. Each air filter measures 14-1/4”W x 18”L and 1-3/4” thick. The outer frame is made from a sturdy cardboard material and there are two fabric pull tabs on the side that faces out for easy removal. One side of the filter has the pleated non-woven HEPA filter while on the reverse you have an activated carbon sponge filter which is supposed to help filter out smoke and odors. This layer purportedly has thermally bonded activated carbon pellets, though it is difficult to verify these claims. The HEPA side is tightly pleated and uniform, with deep dust capture channels, just like the OEM filters from BlueAir. Around the outside perimeter, there is a foam gasket to help prevent dust and particles from escaping around the filter frame. <br/><br/>The existing air filter that came with my Blueair Classic 280i Air Purifier is pretty dirty after 6-months of use. To change the filter, carefully pull it out it, clean the chamber out of any residue debris and dust, and install your replacement HEPA filter with the pleated side facing out. My filters come with a handy date sticker so you can record when the filter was changed and when the next replacement date should be, about 6-months out.<br/><br/>On the touch panel display, you’ll see that the change filter light may still be orange, so to reset it, simply touch and hold the filter icon for 10-seconds until the light goes out. When you turn the air purifier on, the filter icon should display blue and the machine will run normally. Fast-forward another 6-months and just look at all the dust and debris that was filtered out from the air. The filter appears dark and splotchy; this is all the dust, hair, pollen, and other contaminants floating around our home that we would otherwise be breathing in, so I definitely think it’s worth it to have an air purifier in the home to keep our air clean. The best part is that this 2-pack costs about half as much as a single replacement dual filter from Blueair and will last a whole year if changed at 6 month intervals.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBqoN7l'>Best Value Replacement HEPA Filters for Blueair Classic 200/300 Series Air Purifiers</a> [Affiliate Link]<br />OEM DualProtection Filter from Blueair at Amazon: <a href='https://geni.us/NJbgkNl'>https://geni.us/NJbgkNl</a> [Amazon Affiliate Product Link]<br />
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-81933175873080909502023-01-13T12:29:00.151-05:002023-06-26T13:45:16.808-04:00Maroon Cafe Racer Leather Jacket by Angel Jackets Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jEeW2TV5U5A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jEeW2TV5U5A?feature=player_embedded" width="480"></iframe> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Maroon Cafe Racer Leather Jacket by Angel Jackets Review</div>
<br />#sponsoredpost #ad<div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://shrsl.com/3voso">Maroon Cafe Racer Leather Jacket by Angel Jackets</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Stylish, affordable, and comfortable quality real leather.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />If you love leather outerwear like I do, you know there's no such thing as "too many" leather jackets. I've collected and worn nearly a dozen over the years, so I was happy to add one more to my closet when Angel Jackets reached out to me with an offer for a collaboration and sent me their Diamond Maroon Café Racer for free in exchange for an unbiased review. </div><div><br /></div><div>Their leathergoods facility is located in Pakistan and ships direct to the consumer, so there's no middleman, allowing them to offer their products at a lower price than you would find in retail stores. However, this didn't cause a significant delay in order fulfillment as my parcel arrived here in the US just after 3 days from the time I was notified that it shipped.</div><div><br /></div><div>The jacket came with a re-usable dust-cover/storage bag. I had ordered the extra-small size as their sizing chart indicated this would be the best fit for my body measurements, a 35" at the chest and 28" at the waist.</div><div><br /></div><div>The garment was carefully packaged and lined to prevent scratches to the finish and patina, and I found no flaws or defects with the workmanship. From seams to stitching, straight lines, and proportions, everything felt well-made and like a perfect fit. The deep, ox-blood red color is awesome, as I'd been looking for something a little bolder with a little more wow-factor than your standard brown or black (I have several of those already!) It's a got a slightly grittier distressed look with shades of gray rubbed in throughout along the edges and seams. The lambskin is smooth with very little visible grain, and has a soft stretch to it. </div><div><br /></div><div>My one and only complaint was the initial strong chemical odor emanating from it, as it had just come off the factory floor and was sealed up in a plastic bag for shipping, which likely concentrated and intensified the smell. While all leathergoods have residual odors from tanning and processing, typically they air out and dissipate as they sit on the retail store floors, but since this isn't possible in a direct-to-consumer transaction, the consumer bears the burden of airing out the garment.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was fine with that though, and after leaving it hanging out in the open for several days that smell slowly started to fade away until it was hardly noticeable at all. Wearing it more often will also allow the smell to dissipate more quickly. </div><div><br /></div><div>This jacket features a short stand collar at the neck that fastens with a brass snap button and ring, like a choker collar. It's fitted with large zippers, YKK branded, each with twin-tailed leather pulls that are several inches long. The inner lining is polyester in the same color as the outer shell of the jacket and has a thin layer of batting in-between. There are deep pockets on either side of the inner chest that would fit a wallet, and an additional one, sized specifically for tall and narrow smartphones.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the exterior chest, you'll find two zippered small pockets at the chest, and two more side pockets art the waist. You can reduce the waist diameter a couple inches using the brass buckle cinches at either hip. The back of the jacket is padded, spreading across the shoulder and upper-back and has this great-looking diamond/web quilted texture.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are also elbow pads on the sleeves and snaps at the wrist with two positions for a wider or narrower fit. The jacket is quite fitted, which is a look that I like considering that I'm a bit on the leaner/shorter side with a small frame (I weigh 120 lbs and am 5 foot 4 inches tall). I didn't find the jacket extremely tight nor loose, and it gave me enough room to breathe and feel comfortable while moving without constricting my neck, arms, or chest. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for warmth, the jacket is on the thin side, but not cheaply so. It still feels very durable and provides protection from wind and chilly weather, without feeling stuffy or making me sweat. It's great for outerwear in spring and fall, though I'd avoid wearing it during wet or rainy weather as I would be concerned the color bleed or the finish stained with watermarks.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, I'm really happy with the look and feel of this jacket and I'd like to thank Angel Jackets once again for sending it to me for free to try out.</div><div><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href="https://shrsl.com/3voso">Maroon Cafe Racer Leather Jacket by Angel Jackets</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb"></script></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3024104650271225809.post-42362457166218056862022-12-20T12:27:00.001-05:002023-06-26T12:27:39.583-04:004-Gang Screwless Light Switch Faceplate Installation and Review<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <iframe width='480' height='266' class='YOUTUBE-iframe-video' data-thumbnail-src='https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TIqhfkLuK1U/0.jpg' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIqhfkLuK1U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'>4-Gang Screwless Light Switch Faceplate Installation and Review</div>
<br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/D4wSz'>4-Gang Screwless Light Switch Faceplate</a> [Affiliate Link]<br /><br />Takeaway: Simple installation, clean, sleek, and modern look at an affordable price.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />I recently added a fourth light switch in my living room, so the existing three-gang faceplate couldn’t be reused. However, I couldn’t find one at the local big box store at a reasonable price. Fortunately, I was able to find one online at Amazon from Bates Choice Pro, and it came with all the mounting hardware required for installation and a 1-year warranty. <br/><br/>This switch faceplate has no visible screws and is 8-1/4” wide by 4-5/8” tall; it’s thickness is about ¼”. The front face plate unsnaps from the back mounting plate where all the screws will be used for wall mounting, so that when you put the cover on you have a clean, glossy, pure white, smooth finish. The size of each switch window is the standard 1-1/4” by 2-1/2”. The faceplate mount will be installed after your switches are attached to the gang box, however you may need to adjust their positions in order to line up the 8 screw holes. To do so, loosen the adjustable position screws (in the pill-shaped windows) and gently coax the switches into position until the holes line up with the mounting bracket. Then fix the position and attach the included mounting screws at the top and bottom of the lined up switches to the mounting plate. It's easiest to do them one at a time starting from one side and moving down the line. You’ll want to be careful not to bend or flex the mounting plate during installation, as this will make it difficult or impossible to snap on the cover portion properly. That means if your wall is not completely flat or your switches are not all perfectly aligned and level, this faceplate may not be suitable for your installation since any wrapping of the mounting bracket will cause the faceplate to not snap in or sit flush.<br/><br/>After all eight screws are in place, snap on the faceplate but pay attention to which side has the release cutout notches, as these will go on the bottom as to be hidden; the top side has no notches. Place the cover over the mounting plate and press firmly on all sides all the way around, and inbetween the switches until it all the catches are secured. If you need to remove the faceplate to replace the switches or work on any wiring, simply insert a flathead screw driver into the release notches at the bottom to unhook the catches and gently pull the faceplate away from the bracket. Overall, this 4-gang faceplate was super quick and easy to install and gives my light switch panel a clean, sleek, and modern look at an affordable price.<br /><br /><b>Buy it at Amazon:</b> <a href='https://geni.us/D4wSz'>4-Gang Screwless Light Switch Faceplate</a> [Affiliate Link]
<script src='//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=d9558e6f-c05a-4f28-bd59-68fd34f458fb'></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&storeId=gardconnandsh-20&adInstanceId=bad2a8d2-f046-4713-bab0-b04bce36356b"></script></div>ReviewedByPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09845350024027002766noreply@blogger.com0