Friday, December 28, 2018

EC Technology iPad Keyboard Case for iPad 2018 6th Generation - iPad Air/iPad 2017 (5th Gen) - iPad Pro 9.7 - iPad Air 2 & 1 Ultra Slim 7 Color Backlit Portable Wireless BT iPad Case Keyboard with Pencil Holder

Got the new 2018 iPad for my birthday and didn’t like the case that I got with it as it was just a plain case that you could spin the iPad in if needed and it just seemed pretty flimsy so I did some research and found this iPad keyboard case from EC Technology and couldn’t be any happier.

It’s a breeze to install the iPad in it and connect to the Bluetooth keyboard (press the Function key + the C key on the keyboard to make the keyboard Bluetooth searchable for 3 minutes for the iPad to find it and select the “ECBK31” device in the Bluetooth settings on the iPad and pair to it when asked) that you are up and running in less than a minute. Once connected I can type away without any problems or lag and all the buttons, functions and features all work flawlessly. You don’t realize how much a keyboard for an iPad makes things so much better. This case also has space/holder for a pencil or Stylus Pen if you use or have one as well.

There are four LED lights on it that indicate the battery level, cap lock, Bluetooth and WIFI status so you always know where you stand on everything with just a glance. There is also a magnetic closure flap that folds over to keep the case closed as well as put the iPad to sleep or wake it up. If that isn’t enough, you can also adjust the keyboard backlight with three levels of brightness and choose between seven different colors.

It does take about 2 hours to fully charge this keyboard and with the backlight on, will last about 5 hours of continuous use or around 100 hours if you turn the backlight off when using the keyboard. Just remember to turn the keyboard off when not in use to save the battery even more.

Overall, a very nice keyboard case that protects the whole iPad and does what I bought it for. Worth every penny and then some.

DISCLAIMER: This was offered at a discounted rate in exchange for an honest review. I rely on reviews from the community when making purchases, so I believe in giving honest and unbiased reviews to help others. I am not obligated to leave positive feedback and receive no compensation for doing so. I am not associated with the seller in any way.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KJR6B5L/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Brace Master Golf Glove

Elasticized Fabric

√Unique Manufacturing Design: The breathable perforations on palm, fingers, and thumb will increase the breathability of the glove&make moisture reduction inside the glove, make your palm feel dry and comfortable even long time playing.

√Adjustable Closure and Elastic Optimized Design: With adjustable design, you can adjust the tightness to a suitable degree for your hands, this will prevent your hands from a slide in the glove and with wrist elastic, your wrist will not feel tight, just comfortable.

√Super Quality Leather Constructions: All glove adopt Cabretta leather, this material is especially for the ideal of added stability felling and comfort, fit like a second skin.

√All Environment Suitable: Our breathable design and high-quality materials make our gloves perform well in any environment, whether it is cold/hot/ rain / sunny, the glove can perform well, so just enjoy the fun of playing.

√Standard American Size: The size of our glove is based on standard international sizes, we also provide a table that you can refer to, so you can choose the right size to make sure the glove can perform at its best.

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KK7RPLG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Emarth High Power 10-30X50 Zoom Monocular

These monoculars have gotten way better than an older one I have. The construction and materials on this are great. This thing is Nitrogen filled and is water, dust and fog proof. With being IPX7 rated, you can take it in the water with you and it will not only be air and water tight but will float as well.

Love that you can zoom and have multiple choices between 10x zoom to 30x zoom with just a turn of the eyepiece. The 50mm lens on this also gives you a wide view and a great image using the BAK4 Porro Prism and they give you lens caps to protect both.

This is a little on the big size and weighs a little more than other but it also comes with a 1/4" tripod thread hole on the bottom of the monocular, so you can also use a tripod or monopod if needed. I would actually recommend one if using this for a spotting scope for target practice on the range or where you need it more stationary for a better stable view.

I have an eagles nest I like to stop by and see if they are home and in the nest or if they have given birth at that time of year and this makes it really easy to just pull up and look and check without even getting out of the car.

Overall, love this monocular from Emarth. This is made and built just like there bigger spotting scopes and I love those as well.

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Emarth-Monocular-Telescope-Waterproof-Traveling/dp/B07KM946V8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1545399143&sr=8-2&keywords=Monocular+EMARTH

AIOZX 8 in 1 Airpods Accessories Set

I bought my children the Airpods for Christmas and they didn’t come with anything but the USB charging cable and case, so when I saw this 8 in 1 accessory set from AIOZX, I jumped on it and bought these to go with the Airpods.

If you have tried the Airpods, they are nice, but these accessories make them better. The silicone case cover fits like a glove and helps protect the case and makes it so much easier to hold on to and handle, the ear hooks help keep them in your ear (yes, they fall out all the time), the anti-lost strap will stop you from losing one of them depending on what you may be doing (don’t think you won’t sometime) and the cleaning brush, well that is just a nice to have and useful when needed. Then you can wrap all that up and put everything in its own carrying case to store or carry all this in or use the carabiner to attach the case to anything you need to carry it around with and never lose it.

For the price, this 8 in 1 set works well, is made with quality material, is well built and just makes my gifts even better. Well worth the money for what you get.

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/AIOZX-Accessories-Protective-Compatible-Anti-Lost/dp/B07KJX5WGB/ref=sr_1_108?s=audio-video-accessories&ie=UTF8&qid=1545277101&sr=1-108&keywords=airpods+case

TAOPE Ant+ Bluetooth Bike Speed Cadence Sensor

This bike speed & cadence sensor from Taope is pretty small and easy to install and setup. You do need to be a little careful not to break off the tabs on the sides of the device that you use to attach the rubber band to secure it to your bike. So don’t over stretch it and try and put it on something too big around.

Once installed on your bike, you can connect to about any Bluetooth device, ANT+ device or both at the same time. So this will connect and can be used in about all the riding and excise apps that you may have that track and use this kind of data.

To track your speed, you attach the curved rubber mat to the sensor and then attach the sensor to the axle using the rubber bands to one of wheels that will be moving (or the only one you have for a stationary bike) and to track your cadence you attach the flat rubber mat to the sensor and then attach the sensor to the pedal arm on your bike using the rubber bands.

To switch the mode between these two modes, you have to take the battery out and then put it back in. This will change the mode and the LED light on the sensor will change between blue (cadence mode) and red (speed mode). I do wish there was a software or button on this in order to do this, but it is what it is and not really that big a deal to have to do but I did drop it one star for this.

Overall, this is a very nice sensor and does just as well as the more expensive ones do and well worth the money.

My Rating: 4 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/TAOPE-Bluetooth-Cadence-Waterproof-Computers/dp/B01IJ9CP4M/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1545226071&sr=8-15&keywords=Bike+Speed+Cadence+Sensor

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Luowice Wireless Security Camera Outdoor 1080P WiFi IP Camera 180 Degree Fisheye Panoramic Surveillance Video CCTV Camera Night Vision 100ft Waterproof

I have multiple cameras setup inside and outside at my house and this camera by Luowice, is one of my best ones. The picture and video on this is 1080P with very crisp colors and clear video during the daytime and the infrared night vision is very nice and I have no problem seeing anything at night as well.

This couldn’t be any easier to setup and use after installing the CamHi app on my phone. Once you install this camera and power it up, the app finds it and allows you to set up your WIFI on it and you are up and running. You could also plug it in using an Ethernet cord if you wish, but I have had no problems with the WIFI and this dropping or lagging.

One thing to think about is this camera software when using the app doesn’t have some of the features others may have. One of those features is the ability to flip the image on the screen, so you need to make sure you install this right side up or your view will be upside down or sideways. The way I needed this installed, mine was upside down, so I had to swap it out with another camera that I could flip the view. Even now I see the view is more up and down and not sideways in the app and I need to move and adjust it again to get it right. Update: I found if you connect to the camera using the web browser, you have all those options and settings and you can do more than thru the app.

The hands free pan to left and right works very well and comes in handy, but as you can see in my video, mine goes up and down and not left to right until I move and adjust the camera again. Not that big a deal but would be nice to know that up front or be able to correct that thru the software or the app. Thus the 4 stars instead of 5. Update: After finding the settings in the web browser, I changed this to a 5 star rating as it does everything I hoped for now and looks great. The video is straight now and pan left to right works perfect now.

Overall, a very nice bullet camera that does what I need it to do. Well worth the money.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRSWVXZ/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Drones for Beginners and Kids – Long Flight Time Bright LED RC Drone Quadcopter Gifts for Boys or Girls, Indoor Helicopter Light Up Toys by Super Joy

Finally, someone made a drone that has a bigger battery and that gives you more than 8 minutes of flight time. This drone from Super Joy comes with a 2000 mAh battery that actually gets about 28 minutes of flight time but does take about 90 minutes to fully charge the battery. That is awesome but now makes me wonder how long will these brushed motors last without being cooled down after 10 minutes of flight time like most drones this size. Time will tell I guess.

This has your standard features like headless mode, flips, one button return to home and 3-speed modes like most toy grade drones these days and they all worked fine when tested.

This drone doesn’t come with a camera, but as a beginner drone, you should be learning to fly and not take videos and pictures, plus with 28 minutes of flight time, you should be enjoying the flying and fun you can have with this drone.

This is a little on the smaller side and works best in little to no wind or flying inside with the winter months coming now as it does get pushed around a little with a moderate wind gust.

The LED lights on the legs and the one headlight on the front of this are very bright and make this easy to see when it’s dark outside and to keep orientation on what is the front and back so you know which way you are flying. The range on this is ok at about 150-200 feet and if you get that far it does start to get harder to see anyway.

Overall, a very fun and smooth flying drone to have and fly. Is actually pretty easy to fly and learn for a beginner in the lowest speed mode or has a little zip for the more experienced in the highest speed mode.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Drones-Beginners-Kids-Quadcopter-Helicopter/dp/B07HD62FTB/ref=sr_1_90?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1543291199&sr=1-90&keywords=drones+for+kids&refinements=p_n_feature_six_browse-bin%3A7029314011

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

APEMAN Trawo Action Camera 4K WiFi Ultra HD 20MP Underwater Waterproof 40M Camcorder with 170 Degree Ultra-Wide Angle Panasonic Sensor EIS Stabilization Dual 1350 mAh Batteries

I have multiple action cameras that I have bought since these have come out over the last two years and this has to be the best one I have gotten so far. With time, has come better specs and this camera has them with the 20MP photos and the 4K video that you can get from the lens, sensor and EIS stabilization this uses.

It has all the normal features most of these cameras come with (like slow motion & time lapse) and they all work well so far. There is no remote to control this camera from a distance so you have to use the Yutupro app to connect and control this using WIFI from your phone and that works just as good up to a distance but don’t get too far away or the WIFI will drop and not work.

This does come with two 1350 mAh batteries and they get about an hour and a half depending on if you are using the WIFI or other features. Turning them off will get you closer to two hours of recording for each battery. The batteries do take a couple of hours to fully charge them and they must be charged inside the camera one at a time unless you buy the dual battery charger.

This will hold up to a 128 GB card (not included) and may be needed if you always record in 4K, as 4k do create a pretty big file. I always record in 1080 @ 60fps because not much can play 4k yet, it is a smaller file and easier to transfer and process and I can get more frames per second and I think it makes a better and smoother video.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/APEMAN-Underwater-Waterproof-Ultra-Wide-Stabilization/dp/B07DN6VQRC/ref=sr_1_22?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1543285306&sr=1-22&keywords=action+camera

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Amconsure Flickering LED Tea light Candles, Battery Operated Flameless Candles, Dripping Wax LED Tea Lights Decorative for Party/Wedding / Votive Holders, Amber Yellow, Pack of 24

What’s not to like? These flickering tea light candles that look like the wax is dripping down the side of them by Amconsure are great and look pretty real from a distance. These 24 candles come with a battery installed and they give you 25 extra batteries to use when the original ones stop working. I did have two that the original batteries were dead on when received, but with all the extra batteries, no big deal.

I bought these to be used in the centerpieces at my son’s wedding reception and for the price and what I got, well worth it. I only need these to work for about 6 hours, so the 60+ hours they claim is just a bonus in my book.

They look like white short tea light candles but give off that yellow amber glow like a real candle does normally. That along with a natural flicker looks real to me when the lights are turned down and you can really see these glow.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amconsure-Flickering-Tealight-Flameless-Decorative/dp/B07K275BLQ/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1542339923&sr=1-3-spons&keywords=led%20tealight%20candles&psc=1&fbclid=IwAR05x71kVXKUVoSMD6X-qiVykfGipqVsqXsZ31yiMGRVO4oKHkaRx9items&ie=UTF8&qid=1542652764&sr=1-1&keywords=camping+mat

Music Credits: www.Bensound.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

USB Electric Heated Vest, Size Adjustable Heated Clothing for Body Warmer in Cold Winter Outdoor Activities Hunting Camping Hiking Skiing Motorcycle Travel with Free Laundry Bag

This heated vest by Cozihoma is a lot thinner and lighter than I thought it would be when I purchased it. That is a good thing. This will fit under anything you have when you wear it. There is also zippers on the sides of it so it will adjust between a medium to an XXL and will fit the wife without having to buy another one since I would be guessing at the size. There are snaps at the top on both sides as well allowing to adjust the length and neck area of this vest as well.

This is a black stylish material that has a pocket on the front for a power bank to run and operate this instead of using batteries. This is not only more efficient but saves a ton of money on batteries. My 10,000 mAh power bank has lasted the whole time the wife wore this vest and that was with the heat settings on high the whole time.

The only thing to worry about is your power bank must be a 5V/2.1A power bank and put out at least that much in order to power this vest. It will run on a lower amp, but it’s not as strong and also not good on the electronics in this vest. Most, if not all new power banks come with 2.1A ports but some of the cheaper or older power banks don’t. This does come with a current detector that will test your power bank to make sure it puts out enough volts to operate this vest. You should use it and test your USB ports on the power bank before using it full time. Plus both the power bank and vest into the current tester in order to see both the voltage and amperage. If you only plug the power bank in, you only see the voltage and not the amperage.

This couldn’t be any easier to operate as there is only one button to turn this on/off and adjust the different temperature settings.

I don’t see this getting very dirty and needing to be cleaned, but it does come with a laundry bag to put it in if you decide to wash it in your washing machine. Nice little bonus there.

How to Use:
1. Insert the USB port 5V power source with 2.1A min (make sure your power bank is charged and turned on)
2. Long press the power button until it turns red to start heating operation. Flashing indicates power bank is detected but if it keeps flashing there is a battery error and you need to long press again to restart and select you heating level again.

3. Press the button to change the level of temperature. Pre-heat, Low, Medium, High, Very High.
4. Long press to turn off the heat.

Different temp colors settings:
Red for Very High (122F)
Green for High (113F)
Blue for Medium (104F)
Red + blue for Low (95F)
Green + Blue for Pre-heat (86F)

Product Includes:
Heated vest *1
Package bag *1
laundry bag*1
Current detector*1

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Adjustable-Clothing-Activities-Motorcycle/dp/B07H3423B7/ref=sr_1_61_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542991364&sr=8-61-spons&keywords=heated+vest&psc=1

Music Credits: www.Bendsound.com

Monday, November 26, 2018

Smart Dimmer Switch, Maxcio Smart Light Switch Dimmable, Compatible with Alexa and Google Home, APP remote control, Timer/Schedule Function, No Hub Required - 1 Pack

I have all my lights in the house that I can automate but my kitchen that has a dimmer switch so I bought this Maxcio dimmer switch to finish the job and have all my lights automated.

I really like that this one has the digital readout for the lighting level compared to the other that don’t. I think it makes it easier to set manually if needed and also makes it look a little higher end.

There is only one big factor when choosing this switch to purchase. You must have the correct wire setup to make this work easily. There are some workarounds if you contact support but who wants to do that. You need to have four wires to make this work correctly. You need a ground, neutral, live and load wires and the neutral wire and a load wire are required. This won’t work with a 3-way switch box either (two switched that control one light or set of lights).

This is pretty easy to install on the wall (the 4 wire nuts that come with it make it easier), set up in the Smart Life app (that I already use for other devices), connect to your WIFI and then set up and control in the Alexa app. Took less than 20 minutes to do all this.

I do not have this setup on a schedule or on/off dust to dawn, but my other lights I have work fine that I have scheduled, so I assume this would too if I needed it to. It’s so nice now to be able to just tell Alexa to turn the lights on or off now or even dim them when needed.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Maxcio-Dimmable-Compatible-Schedule-Function/dp/B07HRC69N8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Emarth 20-60x60mm Porro Prism Spotting Scope with Tripod, 45-Degree Angled Big Eyepiece, Waterproof Fog proof Spotter Scope for Target Shooting Bird Watching Archery Wildlife Scenery (24mm Eyepiece)

I have wanted one of these spotting scopes since I used someone’s while we were following a white snow owl (a lifer bird for me in this area that never sees them) and now I have the Emarth 20-60x60 Porro Prism spotting scope and I love this thing.

This is not a heavy scope, but feels very well built and sturdy and looks very nice and professional. With a 45 degree angled big HD 24mm eyepiece, this scope is very easy to use and see thru. You can also adjust the magnification from 20x up to 60x and any 10 degrees in between, buy turning the eyepiece. This makes it fast and easy to change the magnification on the fly. You can also use the knob in front of it to fine-tune your view and focus once you find what you are looking for.

This comes with a tripod already, so no need to have to go out and buy one. This tripod is actually pretty good and can stand between 39 inches up to 47 inches, so should fit everyone. It comes with locking extended legs, swivel scope mounts and handle and all the standard tripod mechanics. The tripod for this price range is better than most and holds the scope without any problems and doesn’t sway or wobble unless you bump or move it. There is also a nice cloth carrying case that holds both the scope and tripod that has an extra velcro fabric piece that separates the two in the bag so neither gets damaged by the other while being stored or transported.

This scope is waterproof and fog proof since it is a closed scope and filled with nitrogen and can be used just about anywhere without fear of it getting damaged from the elements. The 60mm objective lens on the end also has a sunshade on it that can be pulled out and extended to help keep any unwanted light out of the lens while being used to help with clarity and vision of what you are looking at. These little things make this an even better scope than some others on the market.

I also purchased the cell phone adapter mount for this scope and it fits and works perfect on this eyepiece and makes taking pictures and video thru this so much faster and easier. The pictures are just as good as when you are looking thru this scope, so no problem there.

If you are shooting on the range, bird or wildlife watching or just want to look at the moon or your surroundings, this scope is well worth the money and you won’t regret getting one. I should have bought one a long time ago and waited and shouldn’t have and now I have two, one for me and the wife and we both love these.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Emarth-20-60x60mm-Spotting-45-Degree-Waterproof/dp/B07FSKDDSX?th=1

Monday, October 29, 2018

Smalody Bluetooth Speaker Portable Outdoor Wireless Speakers with Carrying Strap Built in USB, TF Card Slot, Aux Best for Party, Camping & Outdoor

The Portable SL-10 Bluetooth speaker by Smalody comes with your standard specs like an aux port for headphones, a slot for a TF card, 3.5 mm port to direct wire your source device into it with the supplied audio cable, USB port with a USB to micro USB cable for charging other devices, a 4.2 Bluetooth connection if desired that is good to about 30 feet, a built-in FM radio, built-in mic for a hands-free speakerphone operation, a shoulder strap, a 1200 mAh lithium battery that takes about 3 hrs. to charge and will last for about 4 hrs. Wirelessly or 6 hrs. if wired to the source and HD 8 watt loudspeakers with 40mm premium drivers. So everything you need in one speaker that is very portable, light and easy to carry.

This can be plugged into a wall outlet, charged and played at the same time as well as being able to be charged, played with a power bank or just ran off the rechargeable battery. It’s got you covered any way you want to use it and play it.

This is a little deceiving looking at the pictures as it does look bigger than it really is. It is actually 9.7x4.7x4.1 inches in size but don’t let the size fool you. Like a lot of speakers, this does have a really good, clear and crisp sound and a decent bass on the right songs that have it and you will be a little surprised how well this really does sound for the size of it. Doesn’t matter if you are inside or outside, you will like it. I personally use and equalizing app on my phone that helps tweak the sound from my phone and makes this speaker sound even better sounding when I play it.

If I have any cons, it would be the battery size and how long it lasts. With about 4 hrs. using the Bluetooth without being plugged in and not having the volume maxed, is a little on the short side for me, so I need to carry a power bank with me when heading outside someplace. I try to keep my phone plugged into it using the 3.5 mm cable to extend the battery life, but that isn’t always feasible or practical for me. Just remember this is an outdoor speaker but is not water resistant or waterproof, so keep it away from any liquids as well.

Overall, I am very impressed with this speaker and would recommend it to my family and friends to buy and use.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078J5PZ68/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thursday, October 25, 2018

ScharkSpark Drone Guard FQ36 for Beginners, Drone with Camera Live Video, Portable RC Quadcopter with 2 Batteries, 2.4G 6-Axis Headless Mode Altitude One Key Return 3D Flips and Rolls Toys

This little FQ36 Guard drone from Scharkspark is awesome. About the size of your hand when folded down and just a little bigger than that unfolded.

Being a smaller drone, this isn’t the best outside in a heavy wind, but with a slight wind or indoors, this is wonderful. Winter is just about here and this will make a great thing to use and play with when stuck indoors. With three speeds, there is a speed for the beginner to the advance. It comes with your standard options like headless mode, flips, one touch take off/land, altitude hold, one key return home and also has a 720p camera that can do FPV (first person view) if you are using the app that can be downloaded in both iOS or Android.

The nice thing is this comes with not one, but two 1000mAh batteries that take about 90 minutes to charge each and give you about 12 minutes of flight time each. Make sure to allow the motors a few minutes to cool off between batteries to help make the motors last longer.

With altitude hold, this is a very stable and easy flier that is easy to learn and fly for the beginner but fast and fun enough for the more advanced. The flips are fun and the FPV is ok but the phone holder is a little weak and could use some more support for bigger phones and the range is only about 95 feet with the range of the drone at about 300 feet but does get a little hard to see at that distance anyway. The one key return is a little iffy. When I tested it, the drone was facing me and it flew left right into the trees and not back to where it took off, so use at your own risk.

Over, I like this drone and what it has to offer. It’s a small foldable drone you can take anywhere and you can fly with just your phone or tablet if needed with the app (that isn’t very easy to do) or with the transmitter that isn’t any bigger than the drone itself.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D3NKNJY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Monday, October 15, 2018

Smart Power Strip, WiFi Surge Protector, Voice Control with Alexa & Google Home, 4 AC Outlets 4 USB Port with 5-Foot Cord, App Control Appliances, Individual Control, Timing Schedule, No Hub Required

The smart power strip from Pinlo is pretty amazing. For the price and being able to control 4 plugs individually and 4 USB ports (all together as one) is wonderful compared to only controlling one plug for about the same price from everyone else.

This is very easy to setup and use. Within the app on your phone, you can set schedules to turn things on and off as well as manually turn them on and off. This like most of the IoT devices, only works on your 2.4 GHz WIFI and will not work on your 5 GHz if you have it.

I have schedules setup for my lights, but pretty much don’t touch the app after getting this setup and working with my Alexa. Now I just use my voice and tell it when I want it on and off if it’s not at the scheduled times. Create a couple of groups and routines in the Alexa app and control most of the house if not all the house with one command, doesn’t get any better and easier than that. With this last power strip, I pretty much have my house done and automated and have nothing else left to automate as far as lights and devices.

If you have or had a smart plug or other IoT device before, this sets up pretty much the same way.

1.) Make sure your phone is connected to your 2.4ghz home WIFI

a. Your phone software is iOS 8.0 or above & Android V4.4 or above

b. You and the power strip are in WIFI range of your router

2.) Download and install Phone app

a. the “Smart Life” app if using “Alexa”

b. the “EfamilyCloud” app if using “Google”

c. Register your account in the app

3.) Plug in the power strip and make sure the green light is blinking fast

4.) Open the app and click “Add Devices”

a. Click “Confirm”, green light on strip should blink rapidly now

b. You will see “Connecting now”, when it reaches 100%, you have connected successfully

c. If connection fails, click retry button

i. If failed 3 times

1. Reset strip by holding the power button down for 6 seconds and retry adding the device

5.) To use and connect Alexa

a. Launch the Alexa app, click "skills", search for "Smart Life", then “enable” this skills

b. In Alexa app, click "smart home" then "devices", to search & connect power strip (Rename the device name to be used for voice control)

6.) To use and connect Google

a. Launch Google Home app, click "Home Control", on top right, click"+"

b. In the list, input "Smart Life", find & launch, connect to your "Smart Life" app account, follow prompts. Should show in “Devices” now

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076VRH9WP/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thursday, September 20, 2018

SANROCK GD65A Mini Quadcopter - Red with 2 Batteries

The GD65A drone from Sanrock is like most drones these days and has about 7-8 minutes of flight time with one battery. This also depends on how hard you fly this as it has 3-speed modes (low 30%, medium 60%, and high 100%). Wind and other outside factors could also make the flight time go up or down from the 7-minute average. That’s about 14 total flight time with the two batteries that come with this, but you should rest the motors a couple of minutes in between to let them cool off. I would suggest for beginners to start in the lower modes until you get good enough to operate this in the high-speed mode.

This does come with 2 batteries, 8 extra props (everyone needs), USB charging cable, a small screwdriver, and instruction in English.

This, like most drones today will do flips, has one key return, and headless mode. The 350 mAh Li-Po battery does take about 30 minutes to charge and the controller takes 2 AAA batteries that are not included. I like to use rechargeable batteries for these.

There are no LED lights on this for orientation and the only way to tell is by the props on the drone. The red ones are in front and the black ones are in the back. This makes it very hard to see and tell which way you are facing at a distance so I wouldn’t go too far away from you until you get good.

Overall, this is a very nice whoop style drone that flies very well inside with the altitude hold or headless mode and should be easy to fly for beginners but still be fun and challenging for better pilots

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DKF7WM3/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Music credits: http://www.bensound.com

NUBWO N2 Gaming Headphones

The people I game with on my Xbox one have been complaining they have a hard time hearing me when we play so I upgraded to these headphones by NUBWO. I really do like the look of the silver headphones. The 3.5 mm plug fits and works great in my Xbox headphone adapter I have.

I really like that the mic can be bent and moved to where I need and like, I think that was my problem with the other headset as the mic would only bend so far and I couldn’t get it close enough to my mouth for people to hear me without talking loud. The whole point of the headphones it to be soft and quiet at night when other people are sleeping.

The padding on these are pretty soft and comfortable to wears for hours as I play thru the night and you can bend, twist, and spread these apart but not really adjust them to your head size and that could make these a little tight on some people, but they should fit everyone and not break while doing it. With the tight fit also comes a great noise canceling that works pretty good at stopping outside noise from filtering in while using the headphones.

My last headphones also had the volume and mute on a plastic control module in the middle of the cable that plugged in and were always in the way and I was always muting myself during play by accident. These have those controls on the headphones and mic themselves, so no problem with them being in the way, but that also leads to one problem. With the mute button under the windsock filter on the mic, it is a little hard to get too and use. I can see the windsock getting torn, lost or stretched out, but good thing the Xbox one adapter has a mute button built in, so I don’t need to use the one on the mic but really need the windsock to stop people from hearing the whistling of my fan I have blowing on me while I am playing.

Overall, I am really impressed with the sound and quality of these. I can hear every footstep and fly buzzing around in Pubg with no problem. I should get a pair for my teammates as well now. For the price and what you get, well worth it.

My Rating: 5 Star

Found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071KJ8R9Q/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stppvp_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=d45777d6-4c64-4117-8332-1659db52e64f&pd_rd_wg=GVfq7&pf_rd_r=K2AVK4Z6PGMSANNFCSEX&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B071KJ8R9Q&pd_rd_w=Fomgv&pf_rd_i

Music credits: http://www.bensound.com

Remoking R820 RC Drone Toys Racing Quadcopter with 12 mins Long Flight Time - Black

The R820 drone from Remoking is better than most drones that get 7-8 minutes of flight time with one battery. This one gets around 12. This also depends on how hard you fly this as it has 3-speed modes (low 30%, medium 60%, and high 100%). Wind and other outside factors could also make the flight time go up or down from the 12-minute average. In high-speed mode, the speed on this is enough to make the pitch steep enough that this will fly itself into the ground if you are not careful and stay high enough when flying. The yaw rate (spin) is also pretty good and gets slower as expected in the lower speed modes. I would suggest for beginners to start in the lower modes until you get good enough to operate this in the high-speed mode.

This does come with 4 extra props (everyone needs), 4 prop guards (that I don’t use outside around trees), screwdriver (to attach the prop guards), USB charging cable, and instruction in English.

This, like most drones today will do flips, has one button take off/land, and headless mode. The 750 mAh Li-Po battery does take about an hour to charge and the controller takes 4 AAA batteries that are not included. I like to use rechargeable batteries for these.

The landing gear also houses the LED lights that are used for orientation. With red in the back (like the brake lights on a car) and green in the front. These are bright enough to see pretty well especially at night and that makes it very easy to tell what is the front and what is the back when this a getting hard to see at a distance. This is good up to about 165 feet away from you which might be it’s one weak point, I actually got much less range and would say it's good to maybe 100 feet, but when you start getting much further away, most drones get hard to see and harder to keep orientation on them.

My Rating: 4 Star

Found on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Remoking-Quadcopter-Headless-360%C2%B0flip-Channels/dp/B07DB3QJZS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536848188&sr=8-3&keywords=rc+drone+toys&dpID=51owf2wCkDL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Friday, December 28, 2018

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Monday, November 26, 2018

Saturday, November 10, 2018

I have wanted one of these spotting scopes since I used someone’s while we were following a white snow owl (a lifer bird for me in this area that never sees them) and now I have the Emarth 20-60x60 Porro Prism spotting scope and I love this thing.

I also purchased the cell phone adapter mount for this scope and it fits and works perfect on this eyepiece and makes taking pictures and video thru this so much faster and easier. The pictures are just as good as when you are looking thru this scope, so no problem there.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Monday, October 15, 2018

Thursday, September 20, 2018

This does come with 2 batteries, 8 extra props (everyone needs), USB charging cable, a small screwdriver, and instruction in English.

This, like most drones today will do flips, has one key return, and headless mode. The 350 mAh Li-Po battery does take about 30 minutes to charge and the controller takes 2 AAA batteries that are not included. I like to use rechargeable batteries for these.

Overall, this is a very nice whoop style drone that flies very well inside with the altitude hold or headless mode and should be easy to fly for beginners but still be fun and challenging for better pilots

My Rating: 5 Star

The people I game with on my Xbox one have been complaining they have a hard time hearing me when we play so I upgraded to these headphones by NUBWO. I really do like the look of the silver headphones. The 3.5 mm plug fits and works great in my Xbox headphone adapter I have.

Overall, I am really impressed with the sound and quality of these. I can hear every footstep and fly buzzing around in Pubg with no problem. I should get a pair for my teammates as well now. For the price and what you get, well worth it.

My Rating: 5 Star

This does come with 4 extra props (everyone needs), 4 prop guards (that I don’t use outside around trees), screwdriver (to attach the prop guards), USB charging cable, and instruction in English.

This, like most drones today will do flips, has one button take off/land, and headless mode. The 750 mAh Li-Po battery does take about an hour to charge and the controller takes 4 AAA batteries that are not included. I like to use rechargeable batteries for these.

My Rating: 4 Star

Music credits: http://www.bensound.com