Streaming App Review: Max

 

Max (formerly HBO GO) allows you to subscribe to HBO without subscribing through whatever cable or streaming service you use for live channels. It has most of the archived HBO shows like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, Game of Thrones, etc., as well as the vast majority of the DC Comics content (aside from, as of this writing, the CW shows that stream on Netflix and Smallville which streams on Hulu), and shows like Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon that get licensed to stream on the service. Plus, due to COVID-19's impact on people going to theaters, for a time, the newly released Warner Brother movies were available for 30 days on the day that they were released. I believe that is no longer happening, however. And, the new episodes of shows like House of the Dragon are made immediately available at the same time they would air if you were watching HBO through a cable subscription.

The interface is very good and easy to navigate. You can search or browse, and add content to a watch list. And, if you stop a movie or show before it ends, there is a continue watching section that allows you to pick up where you left off. The interface is very similar to that of Disney + and Peacock, so if you have, or have used, one of those, you can easily navigate around in this. And, I do not notice a ton of buffering issues even though my Wi-Fi connection can be spotty at times. The connection to the app seems more consistent than I get with some of my other streaming apps. The only drawback is that it does not have archived versions of all the weekly shows, like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. It only has the shows of the most recent season, and as soon as the new season starts the prior season's shows are removed. That kind of sucks if you have not seen the early episodes and would like to go back and watch them without having to try and track them down online. Aside from that, I am definitely happy with it even though it is yet another paid streaming platform.

Product Review: Amazon Basics Upholstered Storage Rectangular Ottoman and Entryway Bench

 

This is a storage bench that is about the size of one and a half of those mid-sized plastic storage bins that you can get from any store. I use mine in my front entryway to store off-season coats, hats, gloves, etc. It is the perfect size for that. It is also something that you can easily put in a living room to store things like kid's toys, pet toys, or anything that you just want to keep out of the way and use as a footrest in front of a couch. 

The best thing about it is that you do not have to assemble anything. It is put together (including the legs) right out of the box. So, the hardest part will actually be getting it out of the shipping box. It is a great value for the money (as long as it is still in the $75-$95 range). If it is being sold for higher than that, then you may want to look for something else because I do not think it is worth more than $100. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for some kind of "hidden" storage solution.

Product Review: Energizer CR1632 3V Lithium Coin Battery (5-Pack)

 

These are the coin-sized batteries that are used in at least some of the tile trackers. You get 5 for a reasonable price and, at least so far, I have not had issues with them draining too fast. They are definitely worth the pickup if you have some device that requires them.

Product Review: CAP Barbell Coated Dumbbell Weight

 

This is a 12-pound hex dumbbell. These are gym-quality dumbbells, with a rubber coating on the ends. It appears that sometimes the page on Amazon offers just one dumbbell (making it necessary to purchase two at a time to get a set), and other times they are sold in pairs. So, pay particular attention when you are ordering if it just adds one to your cart or a pair, and order accordingly. I ordered the 12-lb dumbells (they were being sold as a pair when I purchased them) and they arrived in time and did not appear to be used at all, and were exactly as I expected them.

Product Review: MATCC Crampons Ice Snow Traction Cleats

 

I live in the upper Midwest, which is known for its horrible winters (from time to time anyway). My townhouse association does a crappy job at clearing off the ice that forms after the snow in the driveway is plowed, which can make it treacherous (to say the least) to bring the dog out, or walk down to the mailboxes in the winter. I have used these for a couple of years now and they do a great job of providing traction. I have found that they fit over a pair of sneakers a lot better than they do over a pair of boots, even relatively small boots. Putting them on sneakers is actually fine since it is really only when there is no snow on the ground to provide traction that makes it really hard to walk. Meaning, when there is a layer of ice, you are not walking through deep snow so wearing sneakers is doable.  The one pair of boots that I have that these do fit on has little to no grip when it is very icy out and it does work well on those. So, they can fit over a shoe or a pair of hiking boots pretty easily without the straps that come with them. If you have a pair of large boots (like Sorel boots) then you will need to get this a size or two larger than what your actual shoe size would indicate you need. I definitely recommend them if you live in a place that gets a lot of snow and/or ice in the winter, especially if you go hiking in the winter.

Product Review: Ring Indoor Cam (1st Gen)

 

This is a set of two indoor Ring Cameras. I got them mainly to be able to keep an eye on and communicate with, a disabled parent, aimed at the staircases so I can be alerted of motion on the stairs and monitor for falls. They are very easy to set up (basically you download the ring app, select the option to add a new device, scan the QR code on the back of the camera, and follow the instructions). If you are familiar with setting up devices like Amazon Echo, smart speakers, or the like, you can easily set these up. The App has a free tier and a paid monthly subscription tier. The big difference between the paid tier and the free version is that movement activity will not be recorded on the free tier, so you cannot see what happened earlier. You can only get a live view.

Once you set them up, you can customize zones in the camera's view to detect motion, and you can turn the motion detection schedule on and off, for example, if you only want to detect motion from a camera overnight, or when you are out of the house, at work, or something like that, you can. That will keep you from getting notifications when you do not need them. You can also snooze notifications for a period of time. You can also, under the privacy settings, set up zones in the camera's field of view that will not be recorded. So, yes are some privacy options, although it does not appear that you can totally turn off the camera for a duration without unplugging it. You can also set the motion detection to alert only when a person is moving, so it does not chime every time a pet moves around (during the free trial and then if you pay for the subscription after that).

The video is very good. Even at night with all the lights off, you can see very well. Much better than old grainy security cameras where everything looks like pixelated blobs. The only con is that they do lose connection to the wireless signal from time to time. Sometimes it is very easy to get them reconnected just using the app, and sometimes you have to unplug the cameras and plug them back in to get them to reconnect. Overall, however, I am very happy with the purchase and definitely recommend these.

Workout Update: 645 and XB Stretch Hybrid - Day 67

 Day 67 was the lower back routine in XB and the upper body strength routine in 645.

The Lower back routine went pretty much the same as it did the last time. There is nothing new to report about that one.

The 645 workout was another tough one. It incorporated some new moves as well as moves we have done before in earlier workouts. The pace is again more intense and I was definitely gassed by the time it was over. The focus, as it has always been in the upper body workouts, is on the shoulders and back, but the EMOM block is a biceps-focused exercise. Basically 21s but knocked down to 15s, doing 5 full biceps curls, 5 upper curls, and 5 lower curls. 

Product Review: Saucony Men's Multi-Pack Mesh Ventilating Comfort Fit Performance No-Show Socks

 

These are decent athletic socks. The one drawback is that they are so low profile that the ankle height makes it easy for them to bunch and slip off your feet when taking off your shoes (especially if you have slip-on shoes). But when you have just the socks on, they are just fine. They are a good value and comfortable. If the ankle height was a little larger, they would be perfect.

Product Review: Amazon Basics Original Fresh Liquid Hand Soap

 

I bought these back when hand soap was hard to find in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This gets you a lot of soap for a good price. The drawback to it is that it definitely has a bulk "industrial" feel and scent. It is not moisturizing at all and does not smell anywhere near as good as some of the scented hand soaps. But, you get about three times the amount as in a lot of those pump soaps, and you can get it as a subscribe and save item on Amazon.

Product Review:2-Pack Air Filter Replacement Humidifier Wick Filters

 

This is a pack of two pretty small humidifier filters. So, depending on the size of the filters your humidifier needs, you may have to use both of them with the long side pointed up/vertically. They are the same thickness, however, as the other square filters out there, so assuming that one or both fit your humidifier they do work.

Product Review: HUANUO Dual Monitor Mount Stand

 

I got this to have my two 32" monitors up off my desktop, and allow for them to be side by side, since my job requires me to have multiple programs like Word, Adobe Acrobat, and at least one internet browser screen open at one time, along with Outlook. I have a limited amount of space for my office setup right now so I cannot get the monitors exactly side by side (one is a bit lower than the other), but if you have a wide enough space they are able to be put side by side, with or without a laptop between them.

Overall, the stand is easy to assemble. It can be mounted just by screwing the base to the tabletop in almost a C-Clamp like manner, or you can drill into the table. This will depend on how thick your table is. All of the adjustments are made with one of the included Allen wrenches, which you definitely do not want to lose track of. It can be assembled in about half an hour, give or take, and the instructions are fairly well-written, but I did have to refer to the pictures a few times to figure out how to attach things.

It is definitely sturdy once you get it put together. I did have to adjust the arms once the monitors were on to keep them in place (when I initially put the monitors on, the arm kind of drifted down), but once everything is tightened, they stay in place just fine. I absolutely recommend this if you are looking for an inexpensive way to get dual monitors set up.

Product Review: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Original

 

This is a pack of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers in an assortment of sizes. They go from the size of a standard sponge to a larger square. So, you can clean a range of surfaces easily. And, they are able to get something like a sink that may have limescale built up in it clean without having to use a ton of cleaner (sometimes without using any cleaner). They are definitely worth the pickup and great to have as a subscribe and save item on Amazon so you can have them delivered on a schedule that fits your needs.

Product Review: Roku Premiere | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Media Player

 

I have a few different Roku devices (two ultras, and one Express). The Roku Express crashed when trying to open apps like Netflix and Hulu, but worked with other apps. After trying to restart and factory reset it (and trying to replace the express with my old Firestick which got caught in a boot loop that I could not get it out of), I decided to replace it with the Premiere. So far, it is able to open all of the Apps without a problem and the stream quality is very good. The setup is very easy. You just go to the Roku website and enter the code on the screen. Then it will download the apps that you select, or if you already have a Roku account, whatever apps have already been downloaded on the other devices.

Overall, the interface and remote for the Roku to be much better and more user friendly than the FireStick/FireTV interface and remote. The only downside I have discovered with the Roku interface (aside from the issue of the Roku express crashing) is that you are forced to have all of the same apps on each device that are logged in under that account. So, if you have multiple TVs in your house, some of which only certain people watch, and each has a Roku device that is logged in under the same account, everyone has to have the same apps on their home screen. The apps on each device's home screens can be rearranged, however, and those are sticky to the particular device. So, while each TV is stuck with the same apps, regardless of whether the person who watches that TV watches them all or not, each person can have their home screen arranged how they prefer, with the apps they watch toward the top of the list. And, Roku will randomly put new Apps on the home screen, whether you want them or not. That is the biggest pain and drawback. But, other than that, Roku has a very nice interface and is easy to use.

Product Review: Medog 12x16 Picture Frame Black For Pictures 12" x 16"

 

This is a 12"x 16" picture frame. They are not all that flashy looking and are a bit lightweight, but they are much better than the snap-together frames. They include a piece of plexiglass to cover the picture or whatever you are putting in it. The only complaint I have is that the metal pieces on the cardboard back that secure the backing to the frame are a bit hard to get back in place if you are putting a picture in that has a thick matte around it. Otherwise, these are a good option for an inexpensive frame.

Product Review: Outlet Covers Wall Plates

 

This is a pack of wall outlet covers that I bought when I repainted many of the rooms in my townhouse and the old 1970s "almond" colored plate covers did not look all that nice against the new wall color. While this got me more outlet covers than I needed, it is a better value to get them in a pack like this than it is to order them individually. They fit any standard outlet and come with a screw to mount them, so you do not have to save and reuse the old screws.

Product Review: WORX WX082L 4V ZipSnip Cordless Electric Scissors

 

This is definitely good for cutting thin things like wrapping paper, mesh (like screen material), etc. Basically, it can cut through anything that is relatively thin. It is not good for cutting stuff like thicker, cardboard, or anything much thicker than a couple of sheets of paper. But, for what it can cut, especially for long straight cuts that may be needed, it is much faster and easier than using scissors.

Product Review: TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender(RE105)

 

My townhouse is split-level and has dead zones on the upper level (my router is in my office in the basement). I bought two of them, and they definitely boost the signal on the upper levels and eliminate or reduce the dead zones. This is very easy to set up. You just plug it in near your router, push the WPS button on the router and the WPS button on the extender, then wait for the blinking light on the extender to turn solid. Then you can unplug the extender and move it to where you want the signal boost. Now I am getting the same Wi-Fi signal strength on the upper floors of my townhouse as I can in the basement. Given that these are relatively inexpensive, I definitely recommend this if you have a house that has Wi-Fi dead zones.

Product Review: Umbra Venti Swing-Top 16.5-Gallon Kitchen Trash Lid– Large, 35-inch Tall Garbage Can

 

The first can I received was shipped in a huge Amazon box, with a smaller inner box (with old labels on it) indicating that it may have been a returned item. The inner box was all bent up, and when I opened it, the can had two huge cracks on each side of the cylinder, which basically caused the thing to fall apart. Needless to say, I returned that one. I just received the replacement which was shipped in a smaller box, was packaged much better, and was not damaged at all.

I use the SimpleHuman "P" type trash bags which were way too big for my 10-gallon garbage can. They fit perfectly in this, and I am definitely not wasting a portion of the bag now with the can filling up before the bag does. I like that there is a ring to hold the bag in place and keep it from slipping down into the interior of the can. I am not a huge fan of the swing-type lid, but as long as you do not have something that is too stinky in the can it is not a huge issue. But, one thing that would make it better is a lid that fully closes the interior.

Product Review: Dial Liquid Hand Soap, Himalayan Pink Salt & Water Lily

 

I ordered this as a replacement for a subscribe and save item I had set up on Amazon. Usually, the soap I order through that comes inside a ziplock bag, and the top is screwed on well. This one was just plopped in a box with another item, and the top was loose (it did not come off all the way) causing some of the soap to leak out. Definitely not packaged as well as usual. The packaging issue aside, it does smell very good and is akin to the other non-foaming dial soaps.

Product Review: HDMI Switch 4K HDMI Splitter-Techole Aluminum Bi-Directional HDMI Switcher 2 Input 1 Output

 

I mounted my TV on the wall, and the mount covers one of the HDMI ports, making it impossible to access. So, I bought this so I could have both my Firestick and my blu-ray player connected to the TV without having to unplug a cable every time. A couple of things should be noted about this. First, it is a switch, not a splitter. So it does not allow for multiple displays on a single screen. It just allows you to switch between two devices by pushing the button on top of the unit. Second, it does not have its own power supply. It gets power by having something like a FireStick or Roku plugged into it (which is likely preferrable to most people). So, with those provisos, it works very well for what it is intended, and I definitely recommend it.

Product Review: Trianium Tempered Glass Screen Protector Designed for Apple iPhone 11

 

This is a screen protector for the iPhone 11. You get three glass protectors, which fit perfectly over the iPhone 11 screen. The instructions are very straightforward, and it took me all of 5 minutes to get it on. It fits just over the viewable area of the screen and does not get too close to the sides, which can interfere with getting a case on. There is a guide plate that goes over the phone to help get the screen protector on, which definitely helps get it lined up. Then, once I got it on I was able to get my case back onto the phone without any problem. I hope to never actually need three of these, but I definitely recommend them.

Product Review: Leviton 80709-W 2-Gang Toggle Device Switch Wallplate

 

I got these switchplate covers after I painted the walls of my townhouse. They fit a standard double switchplate, and I had no issues with missing screws. Definitely recommend them for an inexpensive switchplate replacement.

Product Review: Shark RV1001AE IQ Robot Self-Empty XL

 

I initially had this set up in my basement, which is partially finished with carpet. I closed the door to the mechanical room so it could not get in there. I watched it for part of the time while it was doing its run, and like the videos from Shark shows, it basically goes in rows across the floor. My basement is pretty much L-shaped, with a couch, bookcase, desk, a couple of DVD cabinets, and workout equipment against the walls. It was able to navigate to the obstructions, and once it figured out it could not go any farther, turned, and kept going. It seemed to get up the few specks on the floor well and returned to the base without a problem after about 35 minutes. It should be noted, that the carpet in the basement is basically brand new, and there are no kids or pets that go down there to get it dirty. Nor, do I have any area rugs or things that have caused other reviewers issues. One thing I do like is that the dust bin on the robot empties into the bin on the base. When the bin on the base gets full, you just empty it into the garbage. So, unlike the Roomba equivalent, it does not require bags (which for the Roomba are costly). 

I then moved it to the front entryway, which has vinyl plank flooring with rugs on it. Every so often it will get stuck on one of the rugs, but for the most part, it works just fine going over the rugs and transitioning from the hard floor and the rugs. I recently had to replace the battery, which is a bit of a pain in the ass, but it is working fine. One big point is that the app does not tell you that the battery needs to be replaced. It will just stop working and you kind of have to figure out what the issue is. 

Overall, I like it so far. If not for the weird issue with it coming off the base during the power outage, and not returning to it, I would have given it five stars. It does seem like when it is off the base the battery drains pretty quickly, but it does not take an extremely long time to charge up. 

Product Review: Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 indoor Grill with Air Fry, Roast, Bake & Dehydrate

 

This is the older model of the ninja grill. I purchased this because I do not need the extra features of the XL smart grill, and I liked that this one has a larger splatter guard, which covers the entire top interior of the cover. So far, I have used it to make air-fried tater tots and grill hamburgers (using pre-formed hamburger patties from the store).

Just from the couple of uses of the unit, I have found that when grilling it is a good idea to set the time for a couple minutes more than what the guide calls for, and then as you get to the last 5 minutes, check them to see if they are cooked to your desired level of doneness. On the preformed patties, 9 minutes cooked them to a doneness level between medium rare and medium. It will, of course, depend on the thickness of the meat. My version does not have the thermometer that plugs into the side of the unit, but I already have a digital meat thermometer, so I did not feel the need to pay extra for that.

The big pro is that this is very easy to clean. You simply pull out the inner container which holds the grill plate and the crisper basket when the unit is in use, get rid of the grease, then soak the container and grill plate and/or put them in the dishwasher. All the removable parts (the container, the grill plate, the crisper basket, and the splatter guard) are dishwasher safe.

Overall, it is much easier to use than an outdoor grill, especially if you are in a state with cold winters, and unlike some other indoor grills, it does not emit a lot of smoke. The instructions are easy to follow, and the food seems to turn out very well. If I need to update my review in the future I will do so, but so far with limited use of it, I am very satisfied.

Product Review: Universal Socket 7 to 19mm Socket Set with Wrench Power Drill Adapter

 

This is a universal socket head that comes with an adapter to connect it to a drill. It definitely saves a lot of time digging through different socket heads trying to find one to fit your bolt. Mine does not have any defective pins (as I have noticed some reviewers saying) and it works great. I definitely recommend it.