Product Review: Apple Watch Series 4

 

I bought mine refurbished from Amazon. Despite being refurbished it looks brand new and may have well have been factory-sealed. If you have an iPhone, it is extremely easy to set up. You just pair it with your phone and it connects to your account and basically sets everything up automatically. You have the option of having it download a bunch of apps at one time, or you can pick and choose apps to download after the watch is set up. I have used it mostly for workout and sleep tracking, but there are a lot of other apps specifically for the watch available. I have not come across any issues with it having been refurbished, and getting it that way is much more cost-efficient than getting it brand new. 

After a couple of years, the face plate popped off. It actually still worked, and I could use a rubber band to keep the plate in place, but I did not want to do that long-term, and I was leery of using superglue on it.  Because it was out of warranty, Apple wanted $600 for the honor of sending it in to get fixed. So, needless to say, it was a lot more cost-effective to purchase a new one. I do not think the face plate popped off because it was refurbished. I just think that is a thing that happened with the older model. So far, I have had no issues with my new watch.

Product Review: SNSIR Screen Protector 44mm for Apple watch Series 6 (44 mm)

 

These are great for keeping the screen on the Apple Watch covered. There is no loss of the touchscreen interactivity and it is very easy to install. If you download a QR reader you can scan it with your phone and be linked to YouTube and see a video on how to put it on. It is really no different than installing a screen protector on a phone or tablet. If you can do that you can easily put this on. The only thing I would say is that a two-pack is kind of overkill unless you have more than one person in your household with an Apple watch. It would be nice to have the option of purchasing just one at a bit of a lower price. But, these can lose adhesion after a time, so having a second one readily available is not the worst thing in the world. That said, I am definitely satisfied with the purchase.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 58

For Day 58 I did the lower body stretch routine in XB, and then it was the first total body power workout of Phase 3 in 645.

Again, the 645 workout was more intense and went by faster (in terms of transitioning from move to move) than in the first two phases. Also, Amoila mixed in different moves that were not seen in the prior weeks. There was also more cardio incorporated into the workout. 

The XB workout was fine. I am getting better with mobility in my right hamstring, but my left is still extremely tight and I have to bend my knee quite a bit. I am still not anywhere near being able to do even a half-split yet on either side, but I am absolutely making progress.  

Product Review: OUT Dog Poop Bags

 

You get a lot of bags for approximately the same amount you would spend to get far less than you would get buying bags in a brick-and-mortar store. It is great to have them available as a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have them sent at a frequency that works for you. If you have just one dog, chances are you will only need a re-supply every 2-3 months. They are very sturdy and large enough to easily tie off. I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Roku Express

 

This is an inexpensive option for cord-cutters (kind of an oxymoron since it still has cords) i.e., those who are looking to ditch cable or satellite TV. It is basically a box that attaches to your TV via an HDMI cable, and then allows you to download various apps, some free, some paid (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Sling TV, YouTube TV, etc.) through which you can watch TV or movies.

The setup is easy. You just plug the Roku box into one of the HDMI ports on your TV, then connect it via a USB cable to a power source, which can be either through a USB port in the TV or connect the USB end of the cable into a power adapter that plugs into a regular wall outlet. Then you just follow the on-screen prompts to set it up, which will include connecting to your home's wireless network, telling it what you like to watch so it can suggest apps to download, and either setting up or logging into your Roku account (if you have an account set up). So, as long as you are not completely technophobic, you can get it set up in a few minutes.

There is absolutely no activation fee to set up the box. You have the option to set up Roku premium content (like HBO, Showtime, etc.) but you do not have to activate any of those. There are a bunch of free apps, including the Roku channel which have TV shows and movies, and usually play commercials throughout the shows, but those are generally past seasons of shows. If you want to watch current shows you either have to pay for a service like Sling TV or the like or get an HD antenna to connect to your TV to watch shows over-the-air.

Overall, this is a very good deal. Just to note, it will not play content in native 4k, so if you have a 4k TV you may want to upgrade to one of the more expensive boxes that will allow you to get the best resolution. But, if you have a regular HD TV that outputs 1080p, this is a great option. And, the remote is about 1000 times better and easier to use than the Amazon Fire remotes. So, if you are deciding between a Roku and one of the Amazon Fire devices, that may be something you want to consider. Roku does have an Amazon Prime app, so you can play all the Prime video content if you are a Prime member.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Authentic Replacement Parts - Braava jet 200 Series Wet Mopping Pads

 

These are the wet pads for the Braava 200 series of robot mops from iRobot. Meaning, when one of these pads is on the mop it will spray more water on the floor and make more passe of the room. Basically, it is the pad that will make the robot do the deepest cleaning job. There is a bit of a scented solution of some kind on the bottom of the pad that gives off a scent as the robot mops up the water. I am not sure if it contributes anything more than just scent or it if actually helps clean the floor.

The mop knows which type of pad is attached based on the perforations in the "card" (for those old enough to remember the punch cards that were used for computer programming years ago, it is like that) that slips into the base of the mop to attach the pad. Depending on how large a room you are mopping you may have to use more than one pad and one cleaning cycle to get the entire room clean. You do want to make sure that if there are any bigger lint balls or more than just a minimal amount of dust or dirt on the floor that you use a vacuum and/or one of the dry pads (which is like a Swiffer sheet), otherwise this will just push them around. These are best used if your floor just needs relatively light cleaning (for example, if you clean them once or twice a week on a regular basis) or in relatively low-traffic areas that have a hard surface floor.

Product Review: Whitmor Set of 2-10 x 10 x 10 inches-Turquoise Collapsible Cubes

 

I got these to keep my pantry organized. They are great for packets (things like taco seasoning, dry mixes, etc.), bagged items like chips, or other things that you want to keep together but do not really sit well on a shelf or in a cupboard. They are reasonably sized so they do not take up a ton of space (as long as your shelves are at least 10" deep) and are simple to set up (just unfold them and put the support across the bottom). I definitely recommend them as an inexpensive storage solution for a pantry or a closet.

Product Review: Bonsaii Cross-Cut Paper Shredder

 

I have a lower-end shredder that can handle doing one or two things at a time, for short periods of time (like credit card applications that come nearly every day in the mail), but also had a back-log of paperwork that I did not need any longer, but would take days in that shredder, and would undoubtedly cause it to get stuck and clogged. I was able to get through about half of it in less than an hour using this.

I like that it has a self-contained bin that holds a good amount of shredded paper. It does come with one bag that you can to line the bin, but I found it is easier just to empty the bin into a bag when it is full. This is because if the bin is not pushed in place all the way, it will not shred. The power light will just blink when you turn it on, but it will not do anything until the bin is pushed all the way in, and when you put a bag inside it, it tends to cause the bin not to sit correctly. Plus, I found that as it got more full, the clippings would push the back of the bag down so you would get some in the bag and some between the bag and the bin, and it would cause a big mess trying to get the bag out.

The instructions say that you can feed up to 18 sheets at a time into the shredder, but It did get stuck with a thicker envelope (which I do not think was as thick as 18 sheets of paper) causing me to put it in reverse (which worked just fine) to get it out. So, now I stick to about 3-4 sheets at a time and it has not got stuck since then. I also put a couple of old credit cards through it, and it handled them just fine. One nice feature is that it cross-cuts the paper and does not just spit out long strips which can sometimes stick together and leave information visible to anyone with the patience enough to go through it. So, it is nearly impossible to get anything useful from the shredded remains. And, it is a much more cost-efficient option than bringing a bunch of paper to a company that shreds in bulk. It is a good idea to get some of the shredder lubricating sheets as I have found those help keep this in good working order. I definitely recommend this.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 200 Series Damp Sweeping Pads

 

These are the damp pads for the Braava 200 series of robot mops from iRobot. Meaning, when one of these pads is on the mop it will spray some water on the floor and make a couple passes, but does not do as "deep" a cleaning as it does with the wet pad. There is a bit of a scented solution of some kind on the bottom of the pad that gives off a scent as the robot mops up the water. I am not sure if it contributes anything more than scent or if it actually helps clean, however.

The mop knows which type of pad is attached based on the perforations in the "card" (for those old enough to remember the punch cards that were used for computer programming years ago, it is like that) that slips into the base of the mop to attach the pad. It is akin to a Swiffer dusting sheet. Depending on how large a room you are mopping you may have to use more than one pad and one cleaning cycle to get the entire room clean. You do want to make sure that if there are any bigger lint balls or more than just a minimal amount of dust or dirt on the floor, you use a vacuum and/or a dry pad (which is like a Swiffer sheet), otherwise, this will just push them around. These are best used if your floor just needs relatively light cleaning (for example, if you clean them once or twice a week on a regular basis) or in relatively low-traffic areas that have a hard surface floor.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 200 Series Dry Sweeping Pads

 

These are the dry pads for the Braava 200 series of robot mops from iRobot. Meaning, when one of these pads is on the mop it will just sweep the floor (like using a Swiffer dusting cloth) and will not spray any water. The mop knows which type of pad is attached based on the perforations in the "card" (for those old enough to remember the punch cards that were used for computer programming years ago, it is like that) that slips into the base of the mop to attach the pad. 

Depending on how large a room you are sweeping you may have to use more than one pad and one cleaning cycle to get everything up. Also, it is good for dust and lint on the floor, but it will not get up big particles, just put them around. So, you may have to make a pass with a vacuum to get bigger things up.

Product Review: iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop

 

I have used this a couple of times in a smaller half-bath/powder room which has tile flooring. I fully admit I hate cleaning floors so the floor had dust bunnies and hair in the corners. So, I went over it with a stick vacuum and then used the dry pad (which is akin to a dry Swiffer duster) and then I used the wet cleaning pad on the mop. Note, that there are three types of pads, wet, damp, and dry. All the pads themselves are actually dry. The damp and wet refers to how much water the unit will spray while cleaning. When the damp pad is connected the unit will spray less water than with the wet pad connected. The robot knows which pad is connected based on holes in the pad attachment that slip into the base of the robot. They look like old-school programming punch cards (for those who are old enough to remember what those were) and based on the configuration of the holes, the robot knows how much, if any, water to spray while cleaning. The robot holds 150 mL of water (so just over half a cup), which is strangely not in the documentation provided with the unit but can be found on the iRobot website. 

The first time I cleaned the bathroom it took quite long. It probably took 30 minutes with the dry pad and another 30 with the wet pad. The second time, just using the wet pad took about 15-20 minutes. After the cleaning cycle, the floor was damp, but not extremely wet. So, the pad did a good job getting up most of the water that was sprayed. How clean it will get your floor will largely depend on how clean you kept it up to the point of using the mop the first time. After the first use of the wet pad, I had to pick up some wet dust/hair clumps that were left on the floor. After the second use, there were almost none of those and the floor was cleaner. So, if you use it once a week or once every two weeks, it seems like it will do a great job keeping the floors clean.

Here are some pros and cons I have noticed after the first couple of uses:

Pros:

1. It is small and can maneuver around tight spaces. It had no problems getting around the back of the toilet and between the toilet and vanity in a small bathroom.

2. The pads are reasonably priced for replacement disposable pads, and there are washable pads available as well, so it ends up being very cost-efficient.

3. The pads can be ejected after you run it by a slide-type button, so you do not have to touch the pad to get it off the unit. Definitely a plus after cleaning a bathroom.

4. It is very light, even with water in it, and has a handle so you can pick it up without touching the bottom.

5. It has a rechargeable battery. While it does not have a docking station that the unit reconnects to and charges from like the more expensive units do, it does have a battery that pops in and out of the unit and plugs into a charging dock (which itself plugs into a regular wall outlet) to charge. It takes a couple of hours for the battery to charge, and when the robot is connected to the app, it has a battery indicator so you know how full the battery is.

Cons:

1. It does not have all the bells and whistles that the higher-priced units have, like a docking station, the ability to schedule times to clean, etc. It does have some "smartness" to it, such as a virtual wall feature that will allow you to set it down and not clean anything behind where the unit starts out, but that is about it. Personally, I just put it toward the back wall of the bathroom and shut the door, and do not bother engaging the virtual wall. It will stop cleaning roughly where it started, so if you do not start it in front of the door, you will be able to open the door when it is done without it blocking the door (if the door swings into the room being cleaned).

2. It does not turn off on its own right away after the cleaning cycle stops. It is just a small point, but it would be nice if it just powered down right away after it stops so it does not waste battery power needlessly.

If I think of any other pros or cons as I use it, I will update the review. But, so far, after just a couple of uses, I really like this, and definitely recommend it, especially if you are not cleaning large areas.

Product Review: Tile Mate 4 Pack

 

This is a good source to keep track of things like keys, wallets, purses, etc., as long as they are in close proximity. I am sure everyone has done the "mad scramble" to find their keys or wallet while trying to leave for work, or just head somewhere that he or she has to get to within a certain amount of time. These will totally eliminate that. If you are used to setting up internet-connected devices, these are very simple to set up. They connect via Bluetooth to your phone via the Tile app. You name each tile, and from then on, you can find that particular tile (if it is in range of your phone) by choosing "find wallet" in the app, and it will play a tone from the tile that gets louder the longer it takes you to find it. Conversely, if you have a tile at hand but cannot find your phone, you can click the button on the tile and it will ring your phone. If a tile is out of range of the phone it will show on a map the last location it was before the phone lost connection so you can see if you left it at work, a restaurant, etc. Those are all the free features, and Tile does have a fee-based membership that adds features like notifying you via a phone alert if you leave the tile at home or work (basically if you move out of range of a tile), allowing you to send a notice to other tile users that something is lost, and notify you if someone finds it. Etc.

Overall, I love these. If you are going to put one in a wallet I would suggest getting a pack that includes the "slim" tiles, because the regular ones are fairly thick. That said, I was able to move some things around in my slim wallet and put a regular tile in one of the credit card slots and it works fine. I definitely recommend these, as long as you do not want something that will give you a precise location (that will get you within feet of what you are looking for) in the app.

Product Review: VicTsing Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

 

I bought this was looking for a better wireless keyboard-mouse combination, mainly because my old wireless mouse was a total pain to use. This is much better than my old one, but not perfect, and not as good as the more expensive Logitech models. The only thing that the keyboard is missing that would be nice to have is a hotkey for the calculator. Aside from that, it has a nice feel (but the keys could be softer), and the mouse is responsive and does not have issues with scrolling that my old one did. I am not sure that it would be all that good for a gaming keyboard, but if you mainly your computer to surf the internet and use Word or Excel or something like that, this is a decent to good, inexpensive option. But, if you really prefer softer touch keyboard keys, this will not be a good option for you.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 57

Day 57 is the start of Phase 3 in 645, which meant the lower body strength workout. This is really a total body workout as you are doing some arm work (by doing a lot of rows) and a lot of core work. In this workout, we go back to 15 reps and increase the pace. There is less downtime between exercises, so you get a lot more of a cardio effect than in the prior weeks.

For XB I did the lower back routine. My back and hips get so tight overnight that it takes about halfway through the six minutes for things to loosen back up. By the end of it my back always feels much better and a lot looser.

Product Review: Evelots 2 Pack VHS Storage Bag

 

If you are those who shelled out quite a bit of money on Disney VHS tapes over the years and do not want to part with them but want to store them out of the way, these are perfect. They are much like the DVD storage bags Evelots put out with three sections because of the inner plastic pieces that reinforce the seams. They will keep dust and water out, allowing you to keep them organized and stored on a shelf or in a closet without taking up a ton of space.

Product Review: Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum

 

I have a multi-level townhome with open stairs that get very dirty and can be a pain to keep clean, especially with a regular vacuum, I have tried other handheld vacuums that just do not have enough power to get the dirt up, especially if I have gone a couple of weeks (or longer) between vacuuming the stairs. This has absolutely solved the issue.

The vacuum comes with a docking station that mounts to the wall, a charger, whose cord mounts in the docking station so it will not get lost and can constantly charge the battery when it is docked, a telescoping tool to allow you to reach up high, a floor tool that allows it to act as a "regular" vacuum, a crevice tool, and a small head that allows for vacuuming the stairs or vents. There are two levels of suction, regular and max. The max setting uses more battery power but will pick up pretty much anything. Even with the floor attachment on it is very lightweight and easy to maneuver up a flight of stairs. The battery comes about twenty percent charged, and it takes a couple of hours to fully charge it the first time. After that, the charging time really depends on how long you use it before putting it back on the docking station. I have used it a few times now and did not fully drain the battery.

There are a few drawbacks. First, the container is very small and fills up quickly. Second, if the rollers on the floor tool get stuck because of hair or other debris, or it gets a clog in any portion, it will not power at all when you pull the trigger. So, it is easy to think that it is broken when it really just needs to be uncloged or unstuck. It is however very easy to empty and you can do it without ever having to touch the dirt and dust. Also, there is no way to lock the trigger in the ON position, you have to constantly hold it down for it to run. So, depending on how much you have to do, your hand may get tired, but it takes less than a minute to do a flight of stairs, and a couple of minutes to do a small area like a front entryway landing, or the like.

While this is not likely a vacuum you would use to do your entire house, especially if you have a lot of floor space to cover, it is perfect to pair with a robotic vacuum to get in places the other cannot go, such as stairs. Aside from the two points I mentioned above, which for me are very minor issues, I have no complaints so far. I will update this review when I need to replace the battery. I know that some people have found that the battery requires replacing (due to the inability to hold a charge) far too quickly, which would cause me to knock it down a couple of stars, but so far I have no complaints.

Product Review: OAGear Backpack Cooler

 

I use this to bring my lunch to work, as well as a protein drink I have later in the afternoon. I usually put about 4 of the small, flat, ice blocks in the insulated middle portion of the bag and it kept everything cool, as advertised. In fact, when I get home and take the ice packs out, they are usually still partially frozen. The insulating capability of this is much better than the lunch bag I was using before. In that, the same ice blocks were melted by the time I left work. The only thing I would change is to make the non-insulated front compartment larger so more items will fit in that. That aside, it works as advertised, and I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: PWR+ 6.5 Ft Samsung-Galaxy-Tab Table

 

I have one of the old Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets which has a 30-pin connector. The charging cable that came with it is starting to break down, so I got this to replace it. The tablet recognized it right away, and the cable charged it normally. Since this is one of the Samsung products found to infringe on Apple's products, it is no longer supported so having an off-brand replacement cable available is great.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 56

For Day 56, I did the Realign routine in XB. I think I have a bit more mobility and range of motion in this routine. I attribute that to all the hip and lower back work that is in 645 and doing the lower back and lower body routines during the week in XB. Most of the stretches in Realign are ones that are more challenging for me, but I am making improvements.

App Review: YouTube

 

This is a good stand-alone app that allows you to watch YouTube videos without having to use an internet browser through the TV. If you sign in with your Google credentials it will allow you access to all your saved videos, playlists, etc., and allows you to keep your phone free for other things (and watch videos on a larger screen).

Product Review: GREENSKY Compatible Toner Cartridge Replacement for Samsung Laser Printer

 

These are for the Samsung series of color laser printers (the CX series). You get the best of an inkjet with individual color cartridges, with the speed and printing quality of a laser printer. The big downside is that if you purchase the Samsung brand toner, it is very expensive. About $50+ per cartridge. This allows you to get all the colors in one pack for about $80. It is still expensive, and yes, kind of a rip-off given how inexpensive it is to actually make toner and the cartridges themselves. But, unless you want to buy a new printer each time ink or toner runs out, this is the most cost-efficient option I have found to get replacement toner for these printers. I had no issue with the printer not recognizing or accepting the toner cartridges (at least the one I have replaced so far), and they do last a long time. This is a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have replacements sent at whatever interval works for you.

Product Review: Skin-Friendly Non Latex Resistance Loop Bands Set of 4

 

These are a set of rubber resistance loops that can be used for a variety of different workouts. For example, the Chalean Extreme Beachbody workout uses loops quite a bit, as does the Job-1 program. They give you different levels of resistance with each band, so you can use the lighter resistance bands for exercises you need them on and use higher resistance bands as you improve. I would describe them as skin-friendly to an extent. They can still roll up and pinch, especially if you have hairy legs or ankles. There is also a lighter set (the bottom one in the picture) and a heavier set (the top one) that has bands with a higher amount of resistance. So, depending on your fitness level you can choose the set that is right for you (or get both and work your way into using the heavier set). I definitely recommend them.

App Review: Disney+

 

I have subscribed to Disney+ since its launch, mostly to watch the Star Wars and Marvel content, but I do, from time to time, watch some of the older movies that I watched as a kid. While the app is free to download, you do have to pay for a subscription, just like is the case with Netflix, Hulu, etc. It has a big chunk of the Disney catalog (with more being added pretty consistently) including many of the older movies and shows that people who are over 40 grew up with.

There are numerous ways to navigate around the content in the app, such as searching, browsing just TV shows, just movies, and by content (e.g. Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic, etc.). You can also browse content by the decade of release. One great thing is that you do not have to pay extra for the material that is available in 4K. If you have a 4K television, you can play 4k content without having to upgrade your subscription ala Netflix. Another thing that is really nice is that you get bonus content, mostly for the newer movies, much like would be included with the physical DVD or Blu-ray discs which is sometimes missing when you opt just to stream material.

You also can set up multiple profiles so each person in the house can have their own watchlist, and get their own recommendations based on what is viewed under the profile. And, you can set any additional profiles (there is a pre-set main/default profile that cannot be altered aside from assigning it a name and icon) as a "kids" profile to limit what content can be watched under it. As I mentioned above, each profile can also be assigned an icon of pretty much any character from the shows/movies on the service.

I have not had any of the streaming issues or error messages that some are getting. I was able to download and sign in without a problem, although I did so pretty early on the morning launch day. Overall, you get a ton of content for your money, including movies that are harder to find on physical media because they have gone out of print. It is a great value, especially if you signed up for the three-year deal that was offered a few months, or if you already have Hulu (you can basically pay a dollar per month more (if you subscribe to commercial-free Hulu) to bundle Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.

One thing to note is that after you sign in, it will require you to verify your email address, basically by emailing you a code that you then enter into the app. Although, the system does not make this very obvious because there is no box that pops up instructing you to verify your email. What happens is, on the menu (which is on a sidebar) there is a settings icon (a gear icon), that will have an exclamation point over it. When you click into the settings you will then see that you have to verify your email, then it will send the code. I am not sure what will happen if you do not verify or how much time you have to do so. Most likely it will kick you out after a while, but it is ultimately a very easy process. I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Adoric Wasp Trap Catcher

 

I have had wasps getting into my townhouse for years and tried this a few summers ago, putting it outside of my patio door. It took a while to catch anything, just using sugar water, but then did get a bunch of wasps. Later in the summer, however, it did get a honeybee. When the flowers in my garden were blooming the bees pretty much ignored it, but after things started dying off, the bee got caught in it. After that, I did not use it again. Over the course of the spring and summer, just one wasp got in the house, which is much better than in prior years when I would get at least 3-5.

Product Review: Flurhrt F-01 Nylon Zip Ties

 

These are great heavy-duty ties. I use one on the hose from my washer to the laundry sink to keep the lint trap on (since the zip ties that come with the metal mesh lint traps have become more and more flimsy over the years) and one to secure the manual garage door opener handle so it cannot be pulled from the outside using a coat hanger. They are good for each purpose, or for something like cable management. The pack gives you more of them than most people will likely ever need, but even so, they are useful when you do need them and I definitely recommend them.