Home 2017 May

Slingshots with laser beams, a smartwatch that talks to Alexa, Bluetooth headphones, and more – Weekly roundup


This week was interesting because I learned that people really like to read about slingshots. My post about the Assolar SS-12 multi-function super power stainless hunting laser slingshot was read over 3300 times in a few days. What does that mean? It means I need to find more slingshot related products to write about :o) But this week wasn’t all about slingshots, we wrote about a lot more products. To see a list of everything we posted this week, click through and enjoy!

But this week wasn’t all about slingshots, we wrote about a lot of other interesting products. To see a list of everything we posted this week, click through and enjoy!

Reviews

Articles

News

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Slingshots with laser beams, a smartwatch that talks to Alexa, Bluetooth headphones, and more – Weekly roundup originally appeared on on May 6, 2017 at 5:37 pm.

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Oval is one (more) sensor to rule them all


A couple months ago I reviewed the Notion home awareness sensor kit. I found the concept of one sensor that can report a variety of different types of data to be a great idea. Unfortunately, the reliability of the notifications and communication problems kept me from recommending it.

I was recently asked if I would be interested in reviewing a similar system called Oval. It uses small oval (surprise!) shaped sensors that can detect motion, temperature, light, proximity, and moisture.

You can find more info about this sensor system at meetoval.com. I’ll have a full review very soon. In the meantime, if there are any questions ask below.

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Oval is one (more) sensor to rule them all originally appeared on on May 6, 2017 at 4:54 pm.

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Using a SureCan gas can means never overfilling your lawn mower again


How many times have you refilled the gas tank on your lawn mower, weed eater, blower, chainsaw, etc. only to have it overflow and make a mess? I can’t count the number of times that I’ve done that and ended up with gas on my shoes, hands, and the ground. The problem is that traditional gas cans are awkward. I found a possible solution – the SureCan.

The SureCan is a 2.2-gallon gasoline dispenser that is made here in the US of 6 layers of polyethylene to provide long lasting durability.

It that has been designed so that you don’t need to tilt it to pour gas. The SureCan has an 8.5-inch flexible rotating spout and a thumb trigger that starts and stops the flow of gas.

The trigger opens a vent so that the flow of gas is quick, without any glug glug glug issues of other gas cans.

SureCan makes cans to hold gas, diesel fuel, and kerosene. The gas version of the can is priced at $41.12 and is available from Amazon.

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Using a SureCan gas can means never overfilling your lawn mower again originally appeared on on May 6, 2017 at 10:18 am.

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iClever F56 Bluetooth transmitter and receiver review


Most of us listen to some form of audio to get us through part of our day; maybe you enjoy listening to podcasts while working or streaming a specific playlist to pump you up at the gym.

I personally enjoy listening to music while driving in my patrol car at work. Unfortunately, the vehicle isn’t equipped with Bluetooth so I can’t stream audio from my phone. I imagine I’m not the only person who has run into this issue.

Fortunately, there are plenty of gadgets that can act as a bridge between your phone and your vehicle. I’ve recently reviewed one such device, the iClever F56 Bluetooth receiver, and transmitter.

In the box

  • 1 x IC-F56 Bluetooth Transmitter/Receiver
  • 1 x 3.5mm Audio Cable
  • 1 x Micro USB Cable
  • 1 x User Manual

Specifications

  • Bluetooth Version: 4.1
  • Bluetooth Profile: HFP/HSP/A2DP/AVRCP
  • Bluetooth Range: up to 30ft
  • Power Supply : Li-Poly 180mAh
  • Working Current: 22mA (Max)
  • Charging Voltage: DC 5V

Design

The F56 is a rather small device; at its widest points it measures approximately 2 inches and is about 1/4 inch thick. It actually looks like an over-sized guitar pick.

The front of the device has the power button and an indicator light. The power button also doubles as the play/pause and answer/hang-up button.




The edge of the device contains the charging port, the 3.5mm port, the receiver/transmitter switch, pairing button, microphone, and track/volume controls.

That’s all there is to the design of the F56. It’s a compact device that is travel friendly.

Performance

The F56 is extremely easy to use.

First, you have to decide whether you want to use the device to transmit or receive Bluetooth audio. I elected to use it to receive audio and placed the selector switch to “RX”. 

The first time you use the device it enters into pairing mode; I only had to open my phone’s Bluetooth menu and select “IC-F56” from the available devices.


Next I placed one end of the 3.5mm audio cable into the device’s jack and the other end into my vehicle’s aux port.

I turned on the radio and began streaming music.

The sound quality was great; I didn’t hear any background static or any distortion.

I was able to pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume directly from the F56. My only complaint is the buttons are very tiny and I can’t imagine being able to use them without taking my eyes off the road.

I also made a phone call while using the F56. The audio from the caller played through my car speakers; it was clear, although the volume was lower than the music that was earlier playing.

The person I was speaking with didn’t appear to have any idea I was speaking through the F56 and didn’t make any complaints about the audio quality.

I next decided to test the F56 in transmit mode.

I switched the selector from “RX” to “TX” and paired the device with one of my Bluetooth speakers. I inserted the audio cable into my phone and the F56 and began streaming audio.

As with my car stereo, the sound quality was great and free of any issues.

Conclusion

The F56 is a pretty nifty gadget and easy to use.

You can stream music to a non-Bluetooth device, or you can transmit music from any device with an auxiliary port to a Bluetooth device. It’s a very versatile device.

At only $29.99 the device is relatively inexpensive. If you’re in the market for a multi-faceted Bluetooth device, consider the F56.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by iClever. Please visit their site for more information and Amazon to order.

 

Product Information

Price: $29.99
Manufacturer: iClever
Retailer: Amazon
Requirements:
  • Bluetooth capable device
Pros:
  • Small
  • Easy to use
Cons:
  • Buttons very tiny

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iClever F56 Bluetooth transmitter and receiver review originally appeared on on May 6, 2017 at 8:51 am.

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Make your own paracord survival bracelets and fobs with this easy to use jig


If you’ve ever looked at someone’s paracord bracelet and thought “hey, I could make that”, now you can. The Jig Bracelet Maker Parachute Cord Survival Wristband Maker Paracord Braiding Weaving DIY Craft Tool Kit from Yakura comes with everything you need (except the paracord!) to make your own survival bracelets, key fobs and more.

The kit comes with the jig which is made of wood with an adjustable sizing block.

Although paracord is not included with this particular kit, for some weird reason, they included two buckles.

The Yakura paracord jig is priced at $13.69 from Amazon. If you don’t like the home brew look of this wood jig, Amazon sells eleventy billion other paracord bracelet jigs that you can check out that are made of metal and plastic. Some kits even come with paracord to get you started.

Have any of you made your own survival jewelry? If so, let’s hear about it. Leave a comment below.

If you want some inspiration, check out Stormdrane’s blog. He’s the master of paracord and knot.

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Make your own paracord survival bracelets and fobs with this easy to use jig originally appeared on on May 5, 2017 at 2:25 pm.

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