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Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier review


REVIEW – Here we are once again in the season of summer in NYC. Every year, I have to battle against whatever allergens there are that are running rampant in the air. Some years are better than others, but this year has been extremely difficult for me. Whatever I am allergic to, has left me with asthmatic like attacks and mandated that I walk with a portable nebulizer machine and Albuterol refills each day when I go to work. At home, I am less susceptible to the attacks once I am in a room with or in close proximity to one of my air purifiers. Unfortunately, while I have a great air purifier in each bedroom, I have nothing in the living room and I can tell the difference when I am in that room. I desperately need another competent air purifier for my living room. Enter the Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier as a possible candidate for relieving my allergy stress.

What is it?

The Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier Is a HEPA air purifier suitable for a large room and capable of removing allergens caused by the usual suspects like pets, smokers, mold, pollen, dust, odors, etc. It can be remotely controlled via an IOS/Android app as well as by voice control via services like Alexa and Google Assistant.

What’s in the box


1 x Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier
1 x Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter
1 x Activated Carbon Filter
1 x User Manual

Design and features

Specifications:
Power Supply: AC 120V, 60Hz
Rated Power: 40W
Effective Range: ≤ 322 ft² (30 m²)
Operating Conditions: 14°F–104°F / -10°C–40°C
Noise Level: ≤ 52dB
Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR): 135 CFM (230 m³/h)
Standby Power: < 0.8W

The air purifier ships with both filters installed but each one is covered in a clear plastic bag for protection. When you open the cover of the device the Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter is at the front, with pull tabs on the top and bottom that allow you to easily remove it.

When all of the filters are removed, you can see the internal surface of the device, with the fan cover.

The first filter that you install over the fan, is the Activated Carbon Filter. That filter also has pull tabs for easy removal.


Once the Activated Carbon Filter is installed, then the Preliminary/HEPA Combination Filter is installed in front of it.


On the bottom right of the air purifier between the cover and the main body of the device, there is a safety switch that will shut the device off should the cover be removed while the device is on.

On one side of the filter near the top, there is a dust sensor cover that protects the dust sensor lens. The dust sensor lens should be cleaned whenever the main filters are changed. A damp cotton swab will work. There is a vent below the dust sensor compartment, that has a Filter Indicator Reset Button embedded in it. Like most device reset buttons. you can use something like a pin or pen tip to press this button and reset the filter lifecycle when you change the filters.



On top of the air purifier, there is a vent and a control panel. On the control panel as seen below, from left to right there is the On/Off button, the Display button, the Sleep Mode button, the Auto button, Fan Speed button, and the Timer button. In the middle of the control panel in between the Sleep and Auto buttons, there is a LED display that provides information like power status, WiFi connectivity, filter status, timer status, air quality status, etc when the device is on.

Performance

This Levoit Air Purifier comes completely put together and all that is needed to start using it is to open the front cover and remove the plastic protection that the filters come packaged in. After that, you plug it in, and it is good to go. Next, you download the VeSync app, and connecting it to the air purifier via WiFi is straightforward. The beauty of it using Wifi is that you can control the device from anywhere in the world. The purifier has fan speed controls and is very quiet at the lowest speeds. It also has a sleep timer, scheduling abilities via the app, and the display shows you the quality of the surrounding air. And, in Auto Mode, the internal sensor is used to automatically adjust the fan speed based on the air quality.

Apps
Below are various screenshots from the app that show functionality, control and the information provided.


 


 


The following pictures and screenshots below show the purifier’s response before I vacuumed the carpet in the room (pictured on the left) and after vacuuming (pictured on the right) when I must have disturbed dust particles in the room.


 


Overall, this filter performs very well based on the easement of the severity of the allergy attacks I have experienced since using it. The app makes it easy to use and provides important information like the filter life remaining, etc. The device is attractive enough to fit into the decor of any room and silent enough that it is not a distraction.

What I like

  • Cool looking design – Clean lines
  • Made me feel much better
  • The app control
  • The settings choices

What I’d change

  • Nothing I can tell so far

Final thoughts

In keeping with my aggressive hunt to find air purifiers for each of the rooms in my home that will effectively alleviate my horrible symptoms caused by my allergies, I have tested several brands that all boast the ultimate best results. Many have failed, but this Levoit is one that has succeeded. Not only has it alleviated my symptoms when in my living room, but it also does the same for my kids who suffer from allergies and are asthmatic. It is well built, and the app control is great. The filters should last a few months and are reasonably priced and available via the Levoit website. While I do already have a higher-powered air purifier in another room, it also cost a whole lot more. I give this one a well done and two thumbs up.

Price: $189.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Levoit.

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Levoit Smart WiFi Air Purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve review

REVIEW – Sometimes you just want to keep it simple, and the HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve delivers on that promise. It’s a solid sleeve for smaller laptops at a very affordable price. Simple. effective. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a laptop sleeve for your 13″ MacBook or a laptop up to 13.3″. The package also includes a bonus storage case for cables, mice, and whatnots.

What’s in the box?

You’ll get the sleeve and the storage case.

Hardware specs

  • PU leather & felt construction
  • Sleeve: 14.6″ by 10.8″ by 0.4″
  • Case: 6.7″ by 5.1″ by 1.25″

Design and features

I have a love/hate relationship with folios and sleeves designed for laptops. They’re great for  bags have no internal padding, and I love the convenience of ditching the bag when I just need to run between meetings. But sleeves can be overdesigned with a bunch of pockets and organizers I don’t need. I’m also not big on spending a lot of money on a specialty leather item that will spend a lot of time in my closet. The HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve solves a lot of those issues for me.

Let’s get the big issue out of the way up front: you won’t find any real leather in this build. Despite that the sleeve has a pretty substantial feel, and looks great in the pleather/felt combination.

Here’s a close up detail shot. You’ll find some nice finishing and detail work for this price point.

Here’s a side view to show you the layering. The felt and PU leather measure about 1/16″ in material thickness. I don’t know how much impact resistance it carries for drops, but it will definitely do the job to protect against dings and scratches.

Two magnets of decent strength secure the closure flap, and are also finished with reinforced stitching so that they won’t tear out.

You’ve even got a soft liner on the inside of the sleeve to protect your laptop against scratches.

This model is perfectly sized for my 13″ MacBook Pro. Internal dimensions measure 14.2″ by 9.6″ by 0.4″, so it will handle a 13.3″ laptop or 12.9″ iPad Pro as well.

A pair of thin 7″ by 6″ pockets are also sewn into the back panel. You’ll be able to fit a small notebook in there, your phone (my my iPhone XS Max fits perfectly in there), or assorted skinny things.

I’ve been keeping my USB-C to HDMI cable in one of those pockets in case I need it for presentations.

The package also comes with a bonus storage bag. It made from the same 1/16″ felt, and is big enough to carry an assortment of extra bits like your power brick, cable, mouse, etc. The closure is a basic elastic band, but it gets the job done.

Overall usability and functionality of the HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve is actually pretty great! There’s design isn’t complicated by wonky features or add-ons that interfere with it’s purpose. You won’t find any extra padding other than the felt, so don’t expect a good deal of protection for high-impact situations. I think you’ll be fine if you toss this in your bag for travel and commuting.

Speaking of commuting, that’s my favorite application for this sleeve. Some of my bags lack internal organization and padding of any kind; this sleeve provides a cheap, functional solution without adding a lot of bulk to my carry. When I get to the office I can still use it to haul my essential and it looks good doing it.

What I like

  • Simple, effective design
  • Budget friendly price
  • Looks good at the office
  • Provides decent protection against bumps, scrapes, and spilled lattes

What I’d change

  • Closure on the accessories pouch could be nicer
  • Budget materials may not appeal to everyone
  • No extra padding other than the felt

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for an inexpensive laptop sleeve for your 13″ MacBook or 13.3″ laptop, you can’t go wrong with the HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve. It looks and functions extremely well for the price point. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Price: $17.99
Where to buy: Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by HOMIEE.

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HOMIEE 13-13.3 Inch PU Leather Felt Laptop Sleeve review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Hompow portable projector review

REVIEW – The Hompow portable projector is lightweight and casts a screen size of up to 176 inches (diagonal).

What is it?

An easy-to-use, basic projector.

What’s in the box?

  • Projector
  • Instruction manual
  • Remote
  • Charger
  • HDMI to HDMI cord

Hardware specs

  • Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.8 x 2.8 inches
  • Weight: 3.1 pounds
  • Brightness: 2400 lumens,
  • Contrast: 2000:1
  • Resolution: 1080 pixels
  • Lamp life: 50,000 hours
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • ASIN: B07QMRRHPY
  • Model number: T20

Design and features

By using the buttons on the projector or the remote control, you can:

  • Select which input source you’re using (USB, AV, VGA, SD or HDMI).
  • Pick your “Color Temperature,” with Standard as the default. (Soft looked best for our uses.)
  • Select Noise Reduction options.
  • Choose your projection mode, which depends on the device you’re using and where the projector is positioned.
  • Select the aspect ratio (point to point; 4:3 or 16:9).

Setup

Setup was easy. My fifth-grader could handle it without help. Just plug it into the wall, and plug in your device. And press the power button.

Positioning was a little harder. There’s a riser on the bottom you can unscrew to adjust the front height, though we needed to play with that and added some coasters for our viewing. Then just fiddle with the focusing rings until you get a clear picture.

The lens cap is attached with a string, which is handy.

Performance

We tried this in three different rooms in our home and for watching TV shows and playing Wii games. At only 3 pounds it was very easy to move, and I’d even consider traveling with it.

I also noticed it didn’t get as hot as some of the older and more expensive projectors we’ve had.

The sound quality and volume were decent. Movie buffs and serious gamers would likely ask for better speakers.

The screen size varies a lot, depending on the distance between your screen and the projector, as you can see from the illustration in the manual. (Note that it’s inches to meters.)

The charging cord (47 inches) and HDMI cord (38 inches) included with the projector are very short, which gave us limited options for positioning it, unless we used an extension cord or different HDMI cord.

In our basement, the largest room in the house, we needed to position it in the middle of the room so it would project straight onto the wall (diagonal projection gives you a trapezoid-shaped effect). Plus we needed an extension cord so it would reach the center of the room. This made it quite awkward. We found it worked better in smaller rooms, where we could position it near an outlet and the device it was projecting, and point it straightforward.

It’s listed as having 1080-pixel resolution. When projected on a white wall, we found the picture quality for TV shows disappointing. Perhaps it’s because we watched shows that were literally and figuratively dark (Black Mirror and Stranger Things).

We found it worked much, much better for playing the Wii, especially more cartoonish games where image crispness isn’t so crucial. It worked well in our living room for an impromptu Just Dance party, and I can see it being fun when my kids have friends over. However, the video-game connoisseurs in my house noted the refresh rate was a bit slow for competitive Mario Kart sessions.

I should note that we tested it on our (untextured) white walls and not an actual screen.

What I like

  • Lightweight
  • Easy to set up and use

What I’d change

  • Longer cords
  • Better picture quality

Final thoughts

It’s a fun, portable projector for casual use. Movie lovers and true gamers should consider a higher end model.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Hompow.

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Hompow portable projector review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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VAIO gets that more ports are more better!

NEWS – VAIO recently announced a new laptop, the SX12.  What’s unusual about this computer is not the 12.5 inch screen, the 8th generation Intel processors, or its less than 2 pounds weight.  What’s unusual is the number of ports.  It has USB-C (for charging), 3 USB-A, HDMI, SD card, headphone, Ethernet, and VGA ports.  That’s enough to make even a full-sized laptop jealous.  It also includes a multi-touch trackpad, a fingerprint sensor, and an anti-glare coating, along with 14 hours of battery life and option for an LTE module.  The price is expected to be between $1,100 and $2,000, depending upon the options chosen.  It’s great for a computer vendor to realize that even light and thin laptops need a lot of ports; too bad there’s no word if/when it will be sold in the US.

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VAIO gets that more ports are more better! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 16, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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This Is Why We Have Betas. iOS 13 Beta Shows Saved Passwords

There’s a reason we have beta versions of software: all the kinks need to be worked out. This is also why using beta versions always come with warnings and disclaimers that you’re using the software at your own risk. Users of the iOS 13 beta have discovered that there’s a bug that makes it easy to access the data in “Website & App Passwords” in the Settings app. Certainly, this is something Apple needs to get fixed before the official release, expected for September. iOS 13 Security Bug iOS 13 has many great new features,… Read more