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IQAir Atem personal air purifier review

I suffer from seasonal allergies and live in an area where avoiding the trees and grasses that are the catalyst for my symptoms is impossible.  The dry air in Colorado also makes for a very dusty indoor environment so between the great outdoors and the dusty indoors, my stuffiness and irritated eyes are on round the clock.

The purifiers I have owned in the past have been bulky and loud and didn’t offer many choices in fan speed.  Many on the market are either on or off and others offer 3 different speeds, all noisy.  I honestly just thought that’s the way it was.  Admittedly I didn’t spend a lot of time researching and testing different air purifiers because my ignorance of these products was pretty robust as it turns out.  I haven’t bought an air purifier in the last 5 or so years but the last one I bought was a little unit that was about the size of a clock radio and sat on my nightstand.  I was truly amazed by the amount of noise something so small could generate, hence I no longer use that product.

The Atem from IQAir has been a wonderful addition to my life and I have really been enjoying all of the customization and technology that is packed into this beautiful product.  Set up was simple.  The unboxing and set up time took about a minute.  You only have to attach the power cable to the base then attach the base to the purifier then plug it in.  There are no buttons or switches on the Atem.  The power and fan speed are controlled by simply touching the Atem logo in the middle of the purifier.  You can cycle between low, medium, high and off.  Each setting is paired with a light under the air output vent.  Red is off, and the blue light extends as you go from low to medium to high (see pictures later in this review).

My absolute favorite part of this product is the Bluetooth pairing to my smartphone.  The IQAir Atem app allows for full customization of the device and also can be a remote control for it if you like.  When I was first exploring the device I had not downloaded the app yet and thought that while very sleek and attractive, it was just another regular purifier with nothing other than the cool look to distinguish it.  How wrong I was.  After downloading the app and easily pairing it with the purifier using the code on the Atem, it took a few minutes to update the firmware.  After that was done, my app was showing me what was going on with the purifier and in the surrounding environment and allowed me to control the unit from my phone.  Once paired the app will show you the current status of the fan, ambient temperature and humidity and the remaining filter life.  That really impressed me! Here is a screenshot of my phone while using the app.  To adjust the fan speed between your presets or to turn it off using the app, just touch the screen where it says “low”.

When I went into the configuration menu I saw that I had full control of what fan speed was associated with the low, medium and high settings.  Each setting could be programmed with a fan speed between 5-100%.  There is also a “Smart on/off” feature, which when activated will turn off/on your Atem at your customized period of time when your phone leaves or enters the Bluetooth range of the unit.  This is a great way to save power and filter life without even thinking about it.  The unit rotates on the solid metal stand to direct air in any direction you want.  The following screenshots are the options you have to configure the unit to your specific needs.

Currently, I have the Atem on my desk in my office.  It sits right next to my computer monitors so it is relatively close to me when I am working.  I have set my fan speeds at 40, 66 and 100%.  I find myself using the low and medium speeds most of the time.  When I use the 100% speed when my office is warm or I want to move some air, I am amazed by the output of this relatively small device.  When set to the upper limits of the fan speed it is no longer whisper quiet but with the volume of air it is moving, I would never expect it to be.  At the 40-66% range where I have it set nearly all of the time I can barely notice any sound, which is a great improvement over previous purifiers I have owned.

Here are some pictures showing the lighting when the unit is off and on the three preset fan speeds:

Off

Low

Medium

High

With the stand and power cord, the Atem weighs in at 6.26 pounds and is 12.44″ H x 5.51″ W x 11.77″ D.  It is offered in white or black, both come with grey trim.  It uses a HyperHEPA filter and the Atem will notify you when the filter needs to be changed on both the app and with the onboard lights.  They say that the average filter life is approximately 1 year assuming 10 hours/day at the default level 3 fan speed.

Now all of these great features come with a hefty price tag.  At $399, this is pushed into a different league than many of the other small area purifiers that you would find at your big box stores or online.  I truly believe that your money is well spent if you want to clean the air around your office, kitchen or bedroom and want the functionality that is unlocked when you pair this with your smartphone.  If you don’t think the capabilities provided by the smartphone interface are important or necessary then this product may not be for you as that is where much of the value is in my opinion. I didn’t know how much I would use an app to control my air purifier until I received this product though.  Now I don’t even touch the purifier, I just use my phone.

Positives

  • Wide range of customizable settings using the app
  • Extremely quiet when running in the middle and low ranges of air output
  • Can move high volumes of air if you set it to 100%
  • Beautiful sleek design that will look great on a desk, shelf or table
  • Sturdy construction and easy to set up
  • Long filter life; automatic on/off when your phone is in or out of Bluetooth range

Negatives

  • Expensive, but for good reason given the functionality of full customization and ambient conditions via the smartphone app

Final thoughts

I could not be happier with the IQAir Atem Personal Air Purifier.  I love having it in my office where I sit/stand at my desk for most of the day and having a little personal area of clean air has been very nice.  I have not brought this home to sit on my nightstand yet but I plan to do so soon or whenever I am willing to let it go from my office.  I can also see this being a great addition to the kitchen while cooking to keep the air clean and circulating so you aren’t left with the leftover smell of sautéed mushrooms or fried bacon for hours after cooking.  The customizability, style, functionality when used with the app and overall extremely high build quality are the main reasons I will highly recommend this product.

IQAir also offers a wide range of air filtration products to fit nearly any space.  I have been so impressed with this smaller unit that I am looking at larger ones for my home.

Price: $399.00
Where to buy: IQAir and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by IQAir.

The Onyx Boox Max2 Professional eReader is an Android tablet with an e-Ink screen

It’s been a while since I’ve thought about dedicated eBook readers, but the Boox Max2 Professional from Onyx is so much more than a dedicated eBook reader.  The Boox Max2 Professional has a giant 13.3″ eInk Carta flexible screen, WACOM + Finger dual-touch control, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, Android 6.0, HDMI, built-in mic and speakers, WIFI, Bluetooth 4.0, 2G RAM, and 32GB storage.  The eInk screen has 2200 X 1650 pixels, 16-step grayscale, and a 15:1 contrast ratio.  The screen is bi-stable, meaning it doesn’t use power to keep a static image on the screen, which helps it achieve the lowest power-consumption level in the eReader industry.  It’s perfect for reading A4 or US letter-sized documents in their original size.

Using the supplied stylus and the Wacom digitizer, you can draw and write on the screen just as you would write on a paper copy of your PDF.  You can also use your fingers on the screen, just as you would on an ordinary tablet.    Four mechanical buttons allow manual selection for menu, back, previous page, and prior page.

The Boox Max2 Professional supports the following file types:

  • Text:  PDF, EPUB, TXT, MOBI, CHM, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, PDB, etc
  • Image: JPG, PNG, BMP, etc
  • Audio: MP3, WAV, etc
  • Other special formats can be supported with third-party applications

With the built-in speakers, you can listen to music, text-to-speech playback of books, or audiobooks.  A built-in mic allows voice recording. The Boox Max2 Professional is equipped with WiFi.  It also has Bluetooth 4.0, which allows you to connect an external keyboard, pedal, or audio device.  The 4100mAH lithium-polymer battery gives you about 4 weeks of stand-by time.

With 32GB of memory, you’ll have room for lots of text files, music files, and eBooks.  Since it’s running Android 6.0, you’ll be able to download apps, too.  And with an HDMI cable, you can even connect the Boox Max2 Professional to a PC and use it as a second monitor!

Onyx will release the Boox Max2 Professional on December 27, 2017.  You can pre-order it now for €671.34 (about $790.00).  You’ll receive a Wacom E/M stylus, USB cable, microHDMI-to-HDMI cable, and a protective cover with your purchase.  It ships worldwide from Germany; shipping to most areas is free.

Mujjo full leather iPhone X case review

Sigh… The tech-realist in me knows how breakable the iPhone X is. But I still prefer using any and all my tech-devices naked. From my iPad Pro to my 12″ MacBook to whatever smartphone I happen to be using, I enjoy using them as their industrial designers intended. In this case, the iPhone X is not only sandwiched in glass, it is extremely slippery as well…a combination that screams BRAKE ME. That said, I continue my search for a case that not only protects my iPhone but is designed in a way that makes me want to keep it on my smartphone. Let’s see if the Mujjo leather iPhone X cases can hold my interest enough to get the job done 😉 .

The case is nicely fitted for the iPhone X, having a very tight fit along the curved edge where the case meets the stainless steel sides and front glass of the smartphone. So much so that once inside the case, it did take a bit of effort to remove the iPhone as I was swapping between cases for this review.

Other than color, the only difference between the two Mujjo cases is the slipper pocket on the back that acts as a built-in minimalistic wallet.

The underlying case is wrapped in Mujjo’s signature premium full-grain leather. Their “in-mold” process enables them to create an extremely slim profile that “accentuates rather than conceals the iPhone X’s beautiful design“. And I have to agree, while they are not as barely-there as the totallee case I reviewed last month, the Mujjo cases are much nicer in quality and craftsmanship while maintaining the shape and form of the iPhone. The case interior is lined with very nice Japanese microfiber, a slim, super-strong, lightweight micro-fabric that provides “a sophisticated, satin-like finish, material that provides luxurious padded comfort for your iPhone X”.

This case snaps onto the smartphone, covering and protecting nearly all of the iPhone’s sides and back. There are push-throughs for all the buttons and a cutout that allows access to the iPhone’s mute switch. The buttons themselves are easily pressed when desired and have a good tactile feel to them.

The right side has a single push-thru for the Siri/Apple Pay/power button.

The base of the case has a single cutout that spans a majority of the base allowing access to the lightning connector and speaker holes.

The case covers the entire top of the iPhone.

As I said, the Mujjo case perfectly wraps around the sides, edges, and top of the X, extending less than 1mm above the screen protector, as seen installed in this pic. This slight lip works well to protect the iPhone X’s (gorgeous) screen.

The iPhone X’s camera bump is slightly recessed providing greater protection. The wallet variant of Mujjo’s leather case can accommodate ID, a credit card or two, and a bit of cash.

The Mujjo cases feel great on the iPhone X, adding grippability and protection without adding much weight or bulk to the sleek and slim device. The premium full-grain leather looks & feels very nice with Mujjo’s promise of its signature vegetable-tanned leather aging with grace, acquiring a beautiful patina with the test of time.

The Mujjo iPhone X cases are available in: black, tan, gray, and olive.

Positives

  • Well fitted for the iPhone X
  • Excellent craftsmanship and materials
  • Gives grippability to iPhone X
  • Reasonably priced

Negatives

  • None

Final thoughts

Overall, I really like the Mujjo iPhone X cases’ craftsmanship, material quality, and simple minimalistic design.  Mujjo’s contemporary, sophisticated yet subdued design is very me and works well in any situation. The cases fit the iPhone X nicely, providing a decent amount of grippability and protection without adding much weight or bulk. So far, the black Mujjo case remains on my iPhone X and most likely will for the foreseeable future.

Price: $45.00 – $50.00
Where to buy: Mujjo
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mujjo.

AboveTEK Universal Tablet Stand review

Since buying my new iPad Pro 10.5 I have not bothered to look into or purchase any new accessories for it. It’s not that I couldn’t use a new stand or cover (okay I did buy a new Smart Cover), it’s that I haven’t come across any new products that fit a need or necessarily excite me. That was until AboveTEK offered me a chance to review their Universal Tablet Stand or Elegant Tablet Stand as it is listed on their website.

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

What is it?

The AboveTEK Universal Tablet stand is designed to hold all tablets from 7” to 13”. The base and base components seem to be made of aluminum and the adjustable tablet holder is made of plastic with rubber grips.

What’s in the box?

  • Base
  • 10” tablet holder
  • 13” tablet holder
  • 2 screws to attach the tablet holder to the stand
  • Phillips/Hex wrench
  • Small Hex wrench

First off, I must say, that when my Universal Tablet Stand arrived I encountered an issue when I tried to assemble it. The screw that is used to attach the tablet holder to the stand base would not tighten down enough to keep the holder snug to the base. I contacted AboveTEK regarding the issue and they sent me out a replacement promptly. Some assembly is required, but as you can see from the instructions it is not difficult. I will also note that all the tools needed to assemble the stand were included.

Assembly of the AboveTEK Universal Tablet Stand only took about three minutes to do it. From the front of the stand, you can see the tablet holder (in my case I am using the 10” tablet holder) and the base of the stand itself. The grey on the tablet holder is a rubberized material made to grip your tablet and hold it firm.

From the sides of the tablet stand you can see the up/down pivot point and the tablet holder attachment point. You can rotate the tablet 360 degrees and it has a wide range of tilt. You also get a sense of the style of the stand from the sides.

The back of the AboveTEK Universal Tablet Stand has a cutout that allows you to thread a cable through it and two screws that hold the tablet holder mounts to the tablet base. From the back, you can also see a hole and a line on the white tablet holder. This is to allow you to grip the tablet holder and lift it to slide your tablet in. This is spring loaded so it will clamp down firmly on your tablet and keep it in place.

I have included a comparison picture of the two tablet holders so you can see the size difference. I am using the smaller of the two for my 10.5” iPad Pro.

As you can see by the picture with my iPad in place the clamps on the tablet holder are unobtrusive and they keep my iPad firmly in place.

So, what’s my bottom line here? First, let me explain how I use tablet holders. My main holder that I have been using for several years is one I reviewed for Cooler Master Duo and I use it on my desk where I do most of my writing. That won’t change with this stand. My secondary location, the location that I use my iPad a lot more, is in my gaming area. The reason that the AboveTEK Universal Tablet Stand will be used there is its versatility. I use my iPad a lot when gaming on my Xbox and unfortunately some of the apps I use only have portrait mode capability. AboveTEKs Universal Tablet Stands ability to rotate from landscape to portrait modes fast and easily makes it great for my gaming needs. I am in no way saying this stand would not be great for desktop or any other application, it would, but I have a desktop stand already that I am happy with. To further that point I will say that there is a convenience factor with my current stand since I am up and down from my desk so much I pull my iPad in and out of my holder a lot. Having to pull my iPad in and out of the grips of the AboveTEK stand several times a day seems impractical to me. When I game I am usually there for a couple of hours minimum where having my iPad firmly secured is a must. Currently, at the time of this writing, you can purchase an AboveTEK Universal Tablet Stand for $45 on the AboveTEK website or amazon.com (down from $70). In closing, I would say if you are looking for a well made, well thought out tablet stand that offers versatility in how you use it, you should consider this one.

Positives

  • Solid design
  • Versital in its use
  • Adjust to several tablet sizes

Negatives

  • None

Price: $45.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by AboveTEK.

Waterfield bags, Flexispot bike desk, Gift guides, and more – Weekly roundup

Is it just me, or are the days speeding by lately? It seems like just yesterday it was Thanksgiving and now we’re only 9 days away from Christmas. If you feel like you need to slow things down, I have just the thing for you. Go find a comfy chair, put on some holiday tunes in the background and check out a weekly list of everything that we’ve posted this week.

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