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.