We recently told you about the Sobro smart nightstands Indiegogo project. (My geek side won out over my design plan, and I’m waiting for my pledge for two of the nightstands to be fulfilled in October of this year.) As it turns out, Sobro already has some experience with smart furniture, because they also used crowd-funding to launch their Sobro Coffee Table last year. This smart coffee table is the ideal piece for your TV or game room.
The Coffee Table has a 22″ x 11″ x 7″ refrigerator drawer that can keep up to 32 drinks cold. It also has two built-in Bluetooth speakers with enhanced sound and bass, and it has 2 USB charging ports and four 120V power outlets to keep your phones, remotes, and other devices charged. Underneath is an LED fixture for mood lighting or for a nightlight. A tempered glass top has built-in touch screen controls to control all the functions of the table without having to download an app to your phone or tablet.
And the table even has two storage drawers to hold your remotes, coasters, game controllers, cables – even your old-school TV Guide, if those things still exist in a paper format.
The Sobro Coffee Table measures 43.1″ x 22.8″ x 22.8″ and weighs 100 pounds. It is available in all white (second photo), all black, or black with woodgrain (top photo). You can purchase directly from Sobro for $1499.00 for any color or at Amazon for $1299.00 for the white and woodgrain or $1499.00 for the all black model.
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You’ve heard of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, but have you heard about an electronic radon detector? Me neither. So I was surprised and interested when the folks at Airthings offered to send me their Wave smart radon detector for a review. Let’s take a look.
What is it?
The Airthings Wave smart radon detector looks like a smoke detector, but it will let you know what level of the deadly radon gas is in your home or building. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. What exactly is radon gas? According to the EPA:
Radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer from radon exposure can include:
Persistent cough.
Hoarseness.
Wheezing.
Shortness of breath.
Coughing up blood.
Chest pain.
Frequent infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.
Loss of appetite.
Scary right? You may have used a charcoal radon detector kit before. It comes in a small box that you leave in your house for several days before mailing it to a lab for the results. Unlike the charcoal tests, the Airthings Wave smart radon detector will let you see the level immediately anytime you want to check it and it will also tell you the humidity, and temperature level. It even supports hand gestures.
Hardware specs
Power supply: 2x AA alkaline (LR6) or Energizer L91 batteries
Dimensions: Radius: 120 mm (4.72 in)
Height: 36 mm (1.42 in)
Weight: 219 g (incl. 2x E91 batteries)
Radon sampling: Passive diffusion chamber
Detection method: Alpha spectrometry
Operational and storage environment:
Temperature: +4 °C (39 °F) to +40 °C (104 °F)
Relative humidity: < 85 %
Initial Accuracy/Precision at 100 Bq/m3 (2.7 pCi/L):
7 days < 20 %
1 month < 10 %
Measurement range: 0 Bq/m3 to 50000 Bq/m3 (0 pCi/L to 1350 pCi/L)
What’s in the box?
Airthings Wave smart radon detector
2 AA batteries
Design and features
At first glance, the Wave smart radon detector looks like a traditional smoke detector. It’s made of white plastic with a sensor and a built-in color LED indicator on top.
It has a magnetic cover on the base that covers 2 AA batteries which are included with the unit and which should last up to 1.5 yrs before they need to be replaced. The base plate can be attached to the wall or ceiling with a single screw.
How do you use it?
All you have to do is install the batteries, mount it on a wall or ceiling and wait an hour for it to do its initial reading. Then all you have to do is wave your hand over the unit to see if the reading is green which means good air quality (low radon levels), yellow which means the level of radon gas is above the recommended levels and red which means the levels are high and action should be taken which is usually the installation of a Radon Mitigation fan.
You can use the Airthings Wave smart radon detector by itself, but you can pair the detector with your Android or iOS device and use it with the free Airthings app to automatically record radon, humidity, and temperature level readings so you can see trends over time. This important because just one good reading doesn’t mean you’re home free. Radon readings fluctuate with the seasons and the location of your home.
The app has an easy to understand interface that will immediately show you if there is an issue with radon gas in the area where the detector has been placed.
You can drill down into the data to see averages and trends for radon, temperature, and humidity levels. The Airthings website mentions an audible alarm that will sound if the radon gas levels are unsafe, but I couldn’t find any details about this feature in the app.
If you’d like to read more about the accuracy of the Airthings detector, check out the article below.
I don’t recall having a radon test for my home when I bought it, but that’s been almost 20 years ago. So, I was a little nervous about trying the Wave detector because I didn’t want to see a bad reading and then worry that we’ve been living with high levels of radon gas for almost 20 years. Luckily that wasn’t the case. I tested the levels in my basement (levels tend to be the highest on the lowest level of your home) and was greeted with very low levels for a couple of weeks.
What I like
Really easy to setup
Runs on batteries that are included and will last up to 1.5 years
Portable, so you can move it from room to room to check levels
Can be used alone or with an app to keep a history of the levels
What needs to be improved
Expensive
Wish it also included a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and radon detector in one device for the same price
Final thoughts
I really like the idea of having an easy to use radon detector that can give me a reading immediately instead of having to wait weeks and send a kit in the mail for the results. I also like that the Airthings app will show trends and averages over time so you can see how the radon levels fluctuate during the spring, summer, or winter months.
I gave the detector to a friend of mine who used a radon test kit and found that his house had high levels. He had to have a special remediation fan installed in his house to bring the levels down. The Airthings Wave smart radon detector will see if the fan actually works. Too bad he didn’t have the Wave BEFORE he had the fan installed… Anyway, I will update this review in a few weeks after the detector has collected some data on his house. So stay tuned.
Price: $199 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by Airthings.
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Another one of my passions is writing, filming and producing short films. I have only worked on one so far, but I have several more planned for the future. One of my scripts includes a scene in an SUV, where I need to mount sizeable and somewhat weighty video cameras at various positions on the external of the vehicle, including on the hood, and on the sides of the driver and passenger doors. Obviously, a major concern is the ability to do so and ensure that there is no damage to the quite expensive video and audio equipment that will be mounted.
My search for a very safe, budget-friendly solution led me to the Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount. These mounts come in various sizes for various applications, but the focus of this news story is safety and the “bang for the buck” for this specific model, primarily because it is designed for cameras and rigs that weigh up to 8 pounds. This capability makes it more eligible for professional productions, with the ability to mount a large variety of professional video cameras and DSLR cameras. As with these types of gear, it can be mounted to any flat surface, and with this model via the dual 3-inch diameter suction cups, which do a great job of creating a strong and secure bond that will hold even when the vehicle is moving. This mount is designed to reduce vibration, and with the 3 adjustment points and the ball head, it allows for great versatility.
The Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount is available for purchase at Amazon or B&H Photo Video for $65.
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If you’re a dog owner you know how important it is to stimulate your pooch on a daily basis, you can take them for walks or to the local dog park but what do you do when you’re not home. Wickedbone is a Kickstarter project that looks to keep your furry friend entertained even when you can’t.
Wickedbone is the worlds first smart and interactive dog toy. The bone shaped toy interacts with your dog using responsive triggers such as touch, lights, and sound.
There are two different modes that you can use. Drive Mode allows you to control Wickedbone using the Wickedbone App (available for IOS and Android), using the apps joystick-like controls you can choose between 9 different available motions to play with your dog.
Interactive mode allows Wickedbone to attract your dog’s attention and doesn’t require manual operations. In this mode, Wickedbone reacts to different types of touch from your dog.
Making it the perfect mode for when you’re not at home or just too busy.
The rechargeable battery lasts up to 4-hours on a 1-hour charge (depending on the mode you choose).
The Wickedbone’s wheels and protective cover are removable making it easy to clean.
You can even customize it with different colored wheels.
Wickedbone is available through its Kickstarter page for $69. But you’d better hurry as there are fewer than 140 of the 500 Early Bird pledges left and 23 days before the campaign ends.
According to their Kickstarter page, the Wickedbone is estimated to be delivered to backers this July.
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I’ve only had one previous dash cam, and it was a very cheap one. While I was waiting for the PAPAGO! GoSafe S780 dash cam to arrive, I didn’t have my hopes set very high because I had never heard of the company. When it arrived I was unexpectedly surprised by this high-quality dash cam. PAPAGO! seems to have quite a variety of dash cams and accessories.
What is it?
The PAPAGO! GoSafe S780 dash cam isn’t your run of the mill dash cam – it’s a high-quality dual camera, low light dash cam that is capable of great performance regardless of the time of day.
Before I received this product I knew nothing more than its name. Being a photography nerd, as soon as I opened the shipping box and saw the “Sony Sensor” on the front of the box, my hopes suddenly raised. Sony makes some of the best camera sensors on the market.
1920X1080P60, 1920X1080P30, 1280X720P30, .MP4 format
Storage Device
MicroSD card (Class 10, 8GB or above. Supports up to 128GB)
Battery
Built-in super capacitor
Weight
.12 lbs
Dimensions
2.2″ x 1.2″ x 2.4″
What’s in the box?
GoSafe S780
Rear Camera
Interconnect Cable
Car Charger
Suction Cup Mount
3m Adhesive Mount
Micro SD Card
User Manual
Warranty Card
Design and features
The dual camera design allows you to place the second camera either in a rear-facing position out a rear window or facing the cabin of the vehicle to record the occupants. This is a great feature for rideshare drivers who need an extra level of protection for themselves and their passengers. I occasionally do some YouTube videos, so this will come in very handy for those moments when I don’t have my regular camera running.
You can use the far right button to quickly change which camera(s) the display shows. The modes are: Front, Rear, Front and Rear (like picture-in-picture), and off. Regardless of the mode, both cameras record to separate video files at the same time.
The S780 turns on automatically and starts recording when power is applied to the plug. The camera will record 5-minute segments of video, replacing the oldest files when the memory card is full. Embedded supercapacitors provide enough power to save the recording when power is lost, either from turning off your vehicle or in the event that a crash disrupts power to the camera. A 16gb memory card holds approximately 90 minutes of video files before the files are overwritten.
While recording you can press the down arrow button for 3 seconds to capture a picture without interrupting the video recording. These are saved to a separate “photos” folder on the memory card and are not overwritten.
There’s also an emergency mode, which is activated by pressing the far left button while the device is recording. This mode will lock the current file so that it is not overwritten when the memory card is full. The locking of the file will also occur when the g-force sensor detects a crash – something I declined to test.
The main camera has a SONY Starvis sensor with a 150-degree ultra-wide angle lens, which is not only glass but has anti-reflection coating as well to eliminate flaring when facing bright lights. The quality is really good. You can make out street signs very easily, but license plate numbers were difficult to make out, but I think that’s more a limitation due to the 1920×1080 resolution than it is the camera itself.
The second camera has a 180-degree view and a SONY Exmor sensor and also features a glass lens and anti-reflection coating. The camera has a wide enough angle of view that even mounted on my rearview mirror, it was wide enough to capture both driver and passenger, seeing slightly out each side window.
Also available is an optional accessory called the TireSafe D10E (sold separately), which enabled the unit to display your tire pressure and temperature in real-time. The unit also supports a GPS antenna (sold separately) to record speed and for GPS logging on your videos, to automatically correct the time, and for other related functions. However, you can only use one of these at a time.
Something I never expected to see in a dash cam is the PAPAGO Driver Assist Features, which include Stop Sign Recognition, Stop and Go, Driver Fatigue Warning, and Headlight Reminder to help you stay safe on the road. For example, when the unit “sees” a stop sign, it will display a stop sign on the screen and give an audible beep. These features are able to be turned on and off in the settings. The stop sign feature worked well, picking up every stop sign, but if you’re going over 25mph you won’t stop in time. I would be nice if it could pick them up a little farther away. The stop and go feature worked well also, giving a lower toned beep when it detects the car in front of you has started moving, but you haven’t.
The S780 has three recording modes: Automatic Recording (Loop recording), Monitor Mode (1 picture per second to save storage space), and Motion Detection(motion-activated recording). The monitor mode is useful to make a hyperlapse video with, as it saves the pictures as frames of the video.
The unit also supports microSD cards up to 128GB which allows approximately 8 hours recording time before it loops over old videos at 1080p30 setting. The unit comes with a 16GB card.
Although there is an included quick start manual, there were no instructions for the wiring of the rear/second camera. After some discussion with Papago support, I found out that the cable for the rear camera has two bare wires that you must connect to ground and the 12 volt backup light signal. If you’re placing the camera at the back of the vehicle that would mean connecting to the backup light wire. If you’re placing the camera in the passenger compartment then you can just leave the wires disconnected, as it’s not really going to do anything for you.
If you don’t have any electrical knowledge this might require some installation help from an auto shop or a friend.
When you have the backup wires connected, the display automatically shifts to the rear camera and provides some on screen distance guides when you place the vehicle in reverse.
What I like
As I mentioned before, the Sony sensors really make this thing. The clarity and dynamic range for both day and night use are really superb. If you’re not into photography like I am, you might not fully appreciate the low light abilities of this dash cam.
One thing I really liked was the extensive menus and settings. This enables you to customize each of the features, and disable features you don’t want on.
The microphone is extremely good, it picked up sound clearly, and from a fair distance away, such as someone standing outside of the vehicle talking to me and the sound of my turn signal.
The primary power plug has a 13-foot cord, allowing you to run the cable behind panels and such so that it’s not in the way. It also has mini-USB connectors and instead of those tiny and fragile micro-USB connectors.
The GoSafe S780 is eligible to receive a lifetime of free upgrades as soon as they are issued, who can’t like that!
I really like the automatic camera view change when going into reverse.
What needs to be improved
Needs better instructions about wiring the rear camera.
I felt the buttons on the camera were a little too hard to push. Being that the camera is normally going to be mounted up and out of the way, I think they could have gotten by with buttons that were a little easier to push so that the unit didn’t move when pressing them.
Both a suction cup mount and a 3M tape mount are included for the main unit, and the rear camera has a 3M tape mount as well as holes and screws for optionally hard mounting it.
Final thoughts
Being one of the more expensive dash cams on the market, I felt as though it was a little pricey for the features it has. Sure, the video and audio it produces are fabulous, but it lacks things that other lower cost cameras have such as touch screens and fewer cords.
Price: $279.99 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample of this product was provided by Papago!
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