Bill Loguidice's Blog, page 109

Review: Segawoot Doorbell Kit

In my house, we have two entrances, a front entrance and a rear entrance. Only the front entrance has a hardwired doorbell. That means that if someone accidentally locks themselves out in our backyard, they have to bang on the back door to get someone’s attention. Not good. Fortunately, there’s a product like the Segawoot Doorbell Kit, which avoids expensive wiring by offering a practical battery-powered alternative.

The box.

The Segawoot Doorbell Kit comes with a doorbell transmitter, which is powered by a pre-installed 12V 23A battery, and is rated IP44 Waterproof for outdoor use. It also comes with two receivers that you plug into any AC outlet in your house and that can receive a signal from the doorbell transmitter from 200 – 700 feet away, depending upon wall conditions. You also get a tiny screwdriver for changing the transmitter’s battery, two screws and two anchors, and 3M double-sided adhesive; the screws and adhesive give you two options for mounting the doorbell transmitter. Finally, there’s an instruction manual, which provides detailed operating parameters, diagrams, and operating instructions.

What you get.

After doing a quick test to see that everything worked – once I plugged in one of the receivers and pressed the doorbell button, it worked immediately – I chose a non-permanent installation with the 3M adhesive. With the transmitter outside and the two receivers in convenient locations within my house, it again worked perfectly. The default sound and volume is sufficiently loud and pleasing, but if you don’t like it you can adjust it between four different volume levels and choose from 52 different ring tones, including some novelty ones like birds chirping or dogs barking.

The doorbell. You can store paper notes in the area behind the transparent cover.

This is a fantastic product. It’s a great price, supports up to 10 receivers (although the two that are included should be perfect for most situations), and it works instantly with no special set up required.

One of the receivers.

Thanks to Segawoot Direct for the review unit.

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Review: Ucare Large Backpack with Laptop Protection and Headphone Port

There are lots of backpacks out there for school-age kids, but few that are as nice looking and versatile as the Ucare Large Backpack with Laptop Protection and Headphone Port. It’s no surprise then that my oldest daughter, who’s 11, was so interested in this backpack.

The backpack arrives in a nice plastic zip storage bag.

The front of the backpack.

The rear of the backpack.

When you receive the Ucare backpack, it arrives in a nice plastic zip bag, which is reusable for when you need to store it. The backpack itself measures a generous 13″ (length) x 17.75″ (height) x 7.25″ (depth).

Behind the funky horse logo is a small zippered pocket with pen sleeves, which is embedded in another, larger zippered pocket. Behind those two pockets is a large zippered main pocket with a padded laptop area with velcro strap, a storage area in front of that, and a folder-like pocket. Behind that and to the top is a small, zippered pocket that can hold something sunglass-sized. To the left of that is another small zippered pocket with a headphone slot, so your wired headphones can still reach your ears while plugged into your smartphone or MP3 player tucked safely inside.

The backpack looks great.

Another angle.

The zippers have generous, oversized teeth, which makes for a really satisfying opening and closing experience. It’s a shame more products don’t have zippers like this.

The Ucare backpack is an attractive, textured burgundy color and all around has a nice, premium feel. This is no cheap off-brand product.

A pocket.

Another pocket.

And another.

The straps are fully adjustable and slightly padded. As you would expect, there’s also a top handle. Ultimately, this is a great bag that both me and my daughter highly recommend.

Thanks to Ucare for the review unit.

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Review: NOVICA Hand Carved Combination Chess Backgammon Set

While Armchair Arcade is primarily known for its videogame, computer, and technology coverage, we occasionally like to branch out into areas that are of likely lateral interest to our audience. One of those areas is board games. As such, today I’m taking a look at the high quality NOVICA Hand Carved Combination Chess Backgammon Set.

How it arrives.

There are lots of layers of shipping protection.

The NOVICA Hand Carved Combination Chess Backgammon Set is a roughly 3/4 scale travel set that, as the name implies, plays both chess and backgammon. The first thing that you notice when you take this set out of the extensive protective packaging is the smell. It’s a light and pleasant one, and is due to the mix of sheesham and kadam woods.

What’s inside.

The bottom of the board.

What’s also interesting is that this is a certified fair trade product in association with National Geographic. Apparently NOVICA works with Khyali Ram in India to craft this product, and it definitely does have a masterfully crafted look and feel to it, so it’s not surprising there’s an association with National Geographic.

The interior storage area and backgammon board.

The top of the set is the chess board, while the sliding storage drawer for the pieces also doubles as the backgammon board. This is a great use for the drawer, because it can also help keep your dice contained if you want to throw them and you’re not in a convenient place to use them freely.

The bags of pieces.

Befitting the set’s size, the pieces are small, but also well detailed. Like the bottom of the chess board, there’s also green felt on the bottom of the pieces. Again, this is clearly designed with care. As a bonus, besides the felt, all of the pieces are also magnetic on the bottom, so they stay on the board. This is definitely something that would work in a moving vehicle or other unstable scenario.

The detail on the small pieces is excellent.

If you’re looking for a classy, versatile, and transportable chess or backgammon set, it’s hard to go wrong with this product.

Thanks to NOVICA for the discounted review unit.

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Review: Satechi Classic Monitor Stand

Ergonomics is something you should pay attention to for any environment where you work or play, but in particular your computing environment. It’s important to have your monitor at just the right height to avoid neck stiffness and other, related issues.

The front of the box.

The back of the box.

As someone who owns a standing desk for my primary home computing space, I’m obviously a big believer in staying as healthy as possible when I spend time on the computer. And as a standing desk owner, I’ve struggled with having the ideal monitor height, particularly since I was never satisfied with the stability of monitor arms with my oversized ultra widescreen LG monitor. That’s why I’m reviewing the Satechi Classic Monitor Stand, which is all black like my desk.

Opening the box.

The contents.

In the box is the platform/panel that measures 21.5″ x 10″ x 0.5″, two legs, and a small bag of four screws, four 3M adhesive padded feet, and an Allen wrench (hex key) for the screws. As you might guess, assembly is simple–just attach two screws and two pads to each leg, which goes into the platform.

Attaching the legs.

Once assembled, my monitor got just the right amount of height and was quite stable. In other words, no matter how much I typed, there was no annoying jiggle. If you’re on the lookout for a monitor stand that can give a modest boost in height to your monitor, this is a great choice.

My mess of a standing desk, but at least my monitor is now an ideal height.

Thanks to Satechi for the review unit.

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Review: Sound Intone P6 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones

The Sound Intone P6 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones is a feature-rich headset that not only works wirelessly, but can also work over a standard 3.5mm audio cable (included), or can play audio from a card in its TF card (microSD card) slot. I’m reviewing the Black Gold design, but there’s also Black, Black Blue, White Gold, and White Silver for the same price.

The box.

You get the headset itself, an operations manual in both English and Chinese, a braided (tangle resistant) 3.5mm male-to-male audio patch cable, and a standard microUSB charging cable. Once charged, you’ll get about six hours of normal usage or 30 hours of standby time for its phone-enabled features. The latter includes answering calls, hanging up calls, and redialing the last number dialed. Music playback features include Play/Pause, Fast Forward/Rewind, and Next Track/Last Track. Any functionality like that will vary by device and of course won’t work when using a wired connection.

The contents.

The 3.5mm audio jack (AUX), built-in microphone, audio control features, and TF/microSD card slot are all located on the left earpiece of the headset. The band is fully adjustable, as well as foldable (for portability), and the ear pads/cushions are nice and soft. The ear pads are a little on the small side for my ears, going on top of my ears instead of over them, the latter of which being what I prefer. While I personally feel these would probably fit best on those with particularly small ears, like teenagers or children, this is a common style for adults, so don’t necessarily take my opinion of the fit as the be-all and end-all.

All functionality is located on the left can.

Audio quality over Bluetooth is impressively clear with nice bass. It can get really loud if you want with no noticeable loss of clarity. It’s actually quite impressive. Considering the feature-set, audio quality, and price, these headphones receive my highest recommendation.

Thanks to Sound Intone for the review unit.

The post Review: Sound Intone P6 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: Chetoo Ceramic Apple Watch Band with Butterfly Buckle

The Chetoo Ceramic Apple Watch Band with Butterfly Buckle is just one of an onslaught of third party watch bands for the infamous Apple Watch. These are needed because Apple not only gouges you for the cost of the watch itself, but also for the different types of bands they offer. The Chetoo is available in black or white and 38mm or 42mm Apple Watch sizes. I received the black 42mm.

The packaging.

You get the watch band, wet and dry wipes, sticker guides, and a small screwdriver. The latter is a nice touch, because many of the watch bands don’t come with any type of tool.

What you get.

Instructions are printed on the back of the box, although they didn’t apply since they’re about assembling the connector ends and they were already connected. I have the Apple sports band on my Apple Watch, and it’s a simple matter of pushing the button just above the band connector and sliding it off. I then took the plastic wrap off the Chetoo, which was probably a bit more difficult than it should have been. Once it’s off, you can see that the heavy band is a really nice black and good quality. I then reversed the band removal process and slid this band on. In other words, there was no need for the included tool, the guide stickers, or the wipes.

Installation was easy.

The band itself was a bit loose on my wrist. With that said, I probably have wrists that are on the smaller side, so I wonder if you have larger wrists if this would fit at all without installing extra links (not included). In any case, I decided to remove a link and see if the fit was any better. Using the included tool, I unfortunately wasn’t able to figure out on my own how to remove a link, so this would be something I’d have to take to a jeweler (and almost certainly will).

The clasp has a nice quick release feature.

In the end, this is a high quality band that matches up nicely to the Apple Watch design. The only real failing here is an explanation of how to remove links, and, perhaps if you have larger wrists, the lack of a few additional links. If you don’t mind those issues, which frankly will be present in just any watch band of this type (link style) that you buy, then this is an easy recommendation.

Thanks to BAOBAO for the review unit.

The post Review: Chetoo Ceramic Apple Watch Band with Butterfly Buckle appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Review: Best Drone by Get Childish (includes video)

Drones, like “hoverboards,” are among the hottest tech gadgets these days. While I’ve given up on the idea of riding around on a two wheeled scooter (having sold a nice one for fortunately more than I paid via a Kickstarter), I’m definitely still fascinated with drones. Unfortunately, drones can get quite pricey and are prone to breaking when (not if) you crash. That’s where something like the Best Drone by the company Get Childish literally comes into play.

How it arrives.

Although technically a drone, there’s no on-board camera, so it’s more a remote control flying saucer, and the price of course reflects that. Fortunately, the omission of a camera doesn’t take away any of the fun and may in fact help keep the peace with your neighbors.

The packaging.

The Best Drone, labeled UFO because of the saucer-like design and model number CX-31, comes with the drone itself, a remote control, a user manual, USB charging cable, and a bag with two small screwdrivers and two spare replacement propellers. Setup is simple. Put four AA batteries – not included – in the remote control, plug the 3.7V 500mAH lithion ion battery into the saucer, switch the remote control on, then push up on the left stick to initiate lift off.

Package contents.

The saucer can fly for about seven minutes from a typical charge, which can take up to 60 to 90 minutes. To charge the saucer’s battery, you remove it from the saucer and use the included USB cable with any standard powered USB port.

As expected, flying this drone successfully consistently can be a bit challenging and does require some practice. While you can use it indoors, this is the type of product that really excels outdoors, since there are no pesky ceilings to crash into.

 

The remote allows for multiple speed settings and various acrobatics, including a 360 degree flip. It can really be exhilarating flying this thing. The good thing is, even though I crashed multiple times, this can clearly take a beating. I only lost a propeller once after crashing and was able to pop it right back on.

Charging the saucer battery.

For the price, this is a great starter drone. There are just enough elements to tweak and fuss with to give you that drone experience without the associated price tag.

Thanks to Amazing Products for Everyone for the review unit.

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Review: ZealSound HDE-300 In-ear Noise-isolating Wood Headphones

For as much as I love good Bluetooth headphones, there’s still no denying the simple convenience and versatility of traditional wired headphones. Besides their versatility, wired headphones like the ZealSound HDE-300 In-ear Noise-isolating Wood Headphones I’m reviewing don’t need to be charged, which is of course a big plus in a world of devices where we have to.

The box.

With all of that in mind, one of the things I like best about the ZealSound HDE-300 In-ear Noise-isolating Wood Headphones is the design. While it’s a perfectly ordinary design otherwise, the sapele wood housing is not only attractive, but offers what can only be described as a warmer sound than more higher tech materials. The cable on the headphones is also of note, as it’s wrapped in what almost feels like nylon, and is tangle resistant as a result.

What you get.

In the package are the headphones themselves, which terminate in a gold-plated 3.5mm audio connector, as well as a cable clip, additional sizes of rubber ear pieces (which do a surprisingly good job at noise isolation), a cloth drawstring carrying case, and instructions.

For compatible devices (mostly smartphones), there’s a single button that allows you to Play or Pause audio, as well as Answer or Hang Up calls. Audio quality in general is quite good, with a slightly heavy bass response, thanks in part to its 10mm neodynium magnet drivers.

Thanks to ZealSound for the review unit.

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Review: TechSharkz Multi-colored Dual Charger for PlayStation 4

The TechSharkz Multi-colored Dual Charger for PlayStation 4 is a product of convenience. While it’s not a major amount of effort to plug a USB cable into your Sony PlayStation 4 DualShock controller, finding that cable can sometimes be a bit of a pain, as is cable management. This TechSharkz product simplifies all of that.

The front of the box.

The back of the box.

You get the PS4 LED Dual Charger, USB to miniUSB cable to go from the PS4 LED Dual Charger to a USB port, and a USB wall adapter if you don’t want to plug the PS4 LED Dual Charger directly into one of your PlayStation 4’s USB ports or USB port on another device. Most convenient is probably just to plug it into one of your PlayStation 4’s front USB ports, where it will charge even in the console’s sleep mode (make sure you have that option turned on in your PlayStation 4’s options).

What you get.

In the past – and actually in the present as well – I have used similar chargers for the PlayStation 3. I always struggled to slot those controllers correctly, though. Not so with the TechSharkz Multi-colored Dual Charger for PlayStation 4 and the standard PlayStation 4 controller. It goes in easily and securely.

How the controllers look docked.

You’re looking at about a three hour charge time for one PlayStation 4 controller, and about five hours for two. If you leave them plugged in when you’re not using your console, they should always be ready to go. I know for me, this is a great convenience, because it seems my PlayStation 4 controllers are always running low on charge. For those that care, there are multi-colored LED lights on the PS4 LED Dual Charger part when charging, so if you don’t have this hidden away, keep that visual effect in mind.

My charging unit in action.

Thanks to TechSharkz for the review unit.

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Review: BYB Professional Series CREE T6 LED USB Headlamp

Headlamps can be incredibly useful, freeing both of your hands for whatever task might be needed. The BYB Professional Series CREE T6 LED USB Headlamp takes this concept to the next level by being transformable from a headlamp, to a bicycle light, as well as to a traditional handheld flashlight. As you’d expect from this product category, it’s also ruggedized and waterproof.

The box.

In the package is the Headlamp, Mount Clip, Headband, USB Charging Cable, Battery Pack containing a 4400mAh lithitum-ion battery, and Storage Bag. The feel of all of the components, from the fit and finish to the noticeable heft, is top notch. I can definitely see this being used in the most rugged of environments without issue.

Package contents.

The lamp brightness is incredible and the light well focused (it’s rated to about 300 meters, or over 950 feet, of visibility). There are High Light (for its max 100% output of about 1200 Lumens), Medium Light (50% brightness), and Low Light (25% brightness) settings, as well as a flashing Strobe Light mode accessible from any brightness setting by long pressing the on/off button.

Use as a handheld flashlight.

While your unit will probably already come with a charge, the first thing you should still do is charge its battery via the USB cable. Once fully charged, the light will last about 5 to 15 hours of usage, depending upon brightness setting. The one caution you’ll have to take is that because the lamp is so powerful, the lens can quickly become hot, so you’ll want to handle this with care in the field.

Use as a bicycle light.

This is hands down my new go to head lamp. The strap is comfortable, everything is ruggedly built, and the light is incredibly powerful. The BYB Professional Series CREE T6 LED USB Headlamp is well worth its modest sale price.

The strap fits nicely on even small head sizes.

The lamp has its own power indicator. Be sure to unplug the lamp between uses.

Thanks to BYB for the review unit.

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