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Autobrain review

If you are the parent of a teenager, a baby, or you are concerned about the driving of your elderly parent, the following review will probably be of interest to you. Autobrain has developed a device that you simply plug into your vehicle’s diagnostic port and it transforms your car into a connected smart car. Let’s take a detailed look… 

Installation and Setup

Installation of the device itself couldn’t be more simple. You just plug it into your diagnostic port on your vehicle.  Then you download the app, sign up for an account and then take it for a drive!  You will see lights blinking on the device, sort of like the random blinking that happens on a modem.  The directions say that it could take up to 12 hours for the app to sync with your car, but once my account was set up it only took about an hour. I did have to call because my account was partially set up already because of the fact I am reviewing it, so there was a bit of confusion, however, the gentleman on the phone was very helpful and got me going in no time.

Using the Device

There are 4 modes that you can choose from: Family Safety Mode, Teen Safety Mode, Senior Safety Mode, and Safe Baby Mode.  You can switch between these modes using the mobile app (which is free from the App Store or Google Play) and your desktop computer.  The program looks the same on the app and the computer, so switching between them is very easy to do.

All of the modes have settings that you can change to customize them to your specific needs. If you have a teenage driver that you’d like to keep track of and see how good they are driving then teen mode is the obvious choice.  It will give you a driving score that is calculated by taking any instances of speeding, hard braking or hard accelerations and gives you a numbered driving score with 100 being perfect.  The data that you can get from this program is amazing.  For each trip you can see how many miles were driven, how long it took and what the fuel cost was.  I could have used this to charge my kids a fee for having to make extra trips in the car when they forgot things for softball practice back in the day!

For each mode you can set up parameters that will alert you when a person goes outside of what they call a “Safe Zone” that you create.  To create it, you put in an address and then how many miles from that address a person is allowed to go. You will then get an alert on your phone when someone is out of the safe zone. You can actually drive yourself crazy with the amount of alerts you could get from this device.  You can get an alert when someone speeds, when the car starts, when the car is driven between certain hours of the day/night, when it parks, when the car leaves and arrives home school or work, or any other address that you add.

The alerts are almost immediate.  When I would park my car, I would have barely closed the door and I would get a notification that I had turned my car off.  I would probably not set up all these alerts if I was monitoring someone’s driving because it would drive me nuts! Unless it was my grandma because she rarely goes anywhere.

The Teen, Family and Senior Modes are all very much alike, but the Safe Baby Mode is a tad different.  While in this mode, you will get an alert to remind you to take the baby out of the car every time the ignition is turned off.  This may seem like a silly thing, but apparently, this sort of thing happens as evidenced by the news reports, so better to be safe than sorry! You can turn this mode on in addition to any of the other modes.

Roadside Assistance and Car Health Detection

Another great benefit to having this gadget plugged into your diagnostic port is that it can detect mechanical issues with your car.  If an issue is detected, an Autobrain mechanic would contact you and give you an estimate on how much the repair should cost. No more questioning whether or not a mechanic has overcharged you which allows you some added bargaining power at the repair shop.

You also get 5 free tows 35 miles or less each time, free lockout services if you lock your keys in your car, emergency battery boosts if your battery dies (which shouldn’t happen because you would get notified if your battery was getting low), emergency fuel delivery if you should happen to ignore the low fuel alert that Autobrain sends you, tire change services and most importantly, emergency crash response should you get into an accident.

Using the App

The screenshot below is what the main menu looks like on the computer and it’s identical on the phone.  On the computer however, to the right side of this menu is a map that shows you where your car is (see next pic), and where it has been.  It will tell you the places the driver stopped, and for how long. It will allow you to choose the specific day and you can follow along the route that the car was driven.  You can even see where the driver had to brake too hard or accelerate way too fast.

Below is what the map looks like in the browser on your computer. You can see all this on the app on a phone or tablet too, it’s just you can only see half of it at a time.  As you can see on this trip we took in Family Safety Mode, there were 2 hard breaks, and apparently I was speeding 5 times!  Of course, I did all this to “test” the device and make sure I got the alerts 😉  My score is an F because if you speed….automatic F!  Tough crowd.

Share the Love

You are issued a promo code when you sign up (it’s found in your app settings under Free Service) and if you give it to a friend and they sign up, they can get the device with a one month trial for only $19.97, plus YOU get one month of service for free as well.  This is cheaper than you can get it through the Autobrain website, which is $49.97 with a one-month free trial. Also keep in mind that if you don’t like it, you can send it back and get a refund and they will even send you a postage paid envelope! With no risk and no contracts…it’s a no-brainer!

All in all, I am pleased beyond belief with the functionality and the ease of use of this product. It’s like having Onstar or AAA service, with all the control right at your fingertips. The only thing that I couldn’t figure out, and it’s not that big of a deal really is how they compute the driving score.  I tend to be a perfectionist and a fairly good driver, and I get 93’s on my score and there are no alerts that I’ve hit the brakes or excelled too hard. Now that my girls are not really new drivers anymore, I plan on using this device (which they love) instead of Onstar because they are too far away now to rescue them if they have a flat tire or lock their keys in their cars. It’s a wonderful piece of mind for all of us!

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Autobrain. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $49.97 plus 1 free month service. $9.97 per month thereafter.
Manufacturer: Autobrain
Requirements:
  • A vehicle
  • A diagnostic port
  • A driver
  • A computer, smartphone or tablet
Pros:
  • Easy to setup and install
  • Cheaper than Onstar
  • 24/7 roadside assistance included
  • Low monthly cost and no contracts
Cons:
  • Difficult to figure out how the driving score is calculated.

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Reviews

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Autobrain review originally appeared on on March 13, 2017 at 8:07 am.

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Journey far and wide with the new Stack Pack from Topo Design’s Spring Collection

“Classic Modern Mountain” is how Topo Designs describes their distinctive style. This Colorado-based maker of outdoor gear & apparel is known for products that feature simple functional design, exceptional craftsmanship, and distinctive color schemes. The new Stack Pack offers flexible organization for work, travel, and hiking expeditions. 

The two-chamber design of the Stack Pack offers plenty of options to sort out your gear. At 11″ by 17″, the generous main compartment includes a built-in laptop sleeve. The front compartment panel unzips on three sides, allowing full access to multiple mesh organizer pockets for your quick-access items. Compression straps, two water bottle side pockets, a pair of gear loops, and an external bungee rig provide plenty of options for mission-specific extras. As with all Topo products, you also have an assortment of funky color schemes to choose from that will stand out in a crowd. The overall size of the bag checks in at about 17 liters, which seems just about right for a day trips, travel carry-on, or the work commute.

All of Topo Designs products are handmade in an environmentally-friendly facility in Colorado. I can attest to the quality and durability of their gear from personal experience (I own a Rover Pack). Check out the $98 Stack Pack and the whole Spring Collection at Topo Designs web site.

Filed in categories: Bags, News

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Journey far and wide with the new Stack Pack from Topo Design’s Spring Collection originally appeared on on March 13, 2017 at 7:07 am.

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RIIND The Pen review

Whether it’s smartphones, wallets, pens and other gadgets, sometimes it’s a curse being The Gadgeteer because I’m never satisfied with what I have and am always chasing my next favorite thing. Ok who am I kidding, it’s freaking awesome being The Gadgeteer for that same exact reason. There’s always something new, better, faster and more awesome on the horizon and I get to check out a lot of those awesome things. Today’s new thing is The Pen from RIIND. Catchy name huh? But is it awesome? Let’s find out.

What is it?

First of all, you might be wondering how to pronounce RIIND. It’s pronounced the same as the rind of a watermelon.

The Pen is just that, a pen. And although it writes like an ordinary ink pen, it has some not so ordinary features that set it apart from the eleventy billion other pens in the universe.

Design and features

The Pen has a pleasing baton-like shape, with a rounded top and pointy tip. It’s made of anodized aluminum and is available in clear with a polished clip, gray with a polished clip (shown above), black with a polished clip, or black with a black clip.

The Pen has a smooth satin finish that looks and feels great. A 1.25-inch long grip at the tip end of The Pen has a fine knurling that provides a perfect textured grip while remaining comfortable to hold for long writing sessions.

One of the main features that make The Pen stand out from the crowd is its binary twist ContinuousCam mechanism that extends or retracts the tip with a half turn in either direction. That means you never have to think about how to open or close the pen because any way you turn it is the right way to do it.

The mechanism feels smooth but rugged with no rattling when the tip is out or in. I really like the way it feels when you twist the end and the ink tip clunks into place.

The other feature of The Pen that will cause people to ask you where you got it, is the super clip. It’s definitely noticeable with the shiny chrome finish. It’s not only made of robust material but its unique asymmetrical design allows the clip to open farther than any pen clip that I’ve seen before. That means you can clip the pen to almost anything and it will stay put. That said, I do wish that RIIND offered a version of The Pen without the clip because I don’t use that feature and would prefer the smooth look of the pen without the large clip shiny clip.

Replacing refills is a non-issue with The Pen. Just unscrew the pen tip, remove the used cartridge, insert a new one, and replace the tip. The Pen is compatible with 35 different refills including my favorite, the Pilot G2 which comes with The Pen. You can see a list of compatible 110mm ink refills on their successfully funded Kickstarter campaign page.

The Pen has great balance and the diameter of the grip is just right, so writing with The Pen feels comfortable even for long sessions.

The Pen has a cool industrial look that really sets it apart from other pens I’ve recently reviewed. I really like this style although some people might think it looks a little too masculine.

Final thoughts

The Pen is manufactured in the US, has stand-out looks with unique features. If you like its industrial style and super clip and don’t mind the $99 price tag, I think The Pen would make a great EDC pen that should hold up for years and years of writing and doodling adventures.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by RIIND. Please visit their site for more info.

 

Product Information

Price: $99.00
Manufacturer: RINND
Pros:
  • Easy extend/retract cam mechanism
  • Super clip
  • Compatible with 35 different refills
Cons:
  • Expensive
  • Slightly top heavy

Filed in categories: Paper and Pens, Reviews

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RIIND The Pen review originally appeared on on March 12, 2017 at 11:43 am.

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Addicted to the snooze button? This alarm clock guarantees you’ll get up to turn it off

For all the chronic snooze bar pressers of the world comes the Witwatia Pressure Sensitive Alarm Clock. The Witwatia alarm clock is not like ordinary alarm clocks that rest on the night stand next to your bed. This alarm clock goes on the floor like a rug. Yes, the floor.

The Witwatia Pressure Sensitive Alarm Clock is a large memory foam mat with a built-in clock and digital display. When the alarm sounds, you will need to stand on the pressure sensitive mat with both feet for at least 3 seconds to silence the alarm. The idea is if you can get out of bed and stand on the mat for 3 seconds, then you might as well go ahead and get ready for your day instead of jumping back in bed.

The alarm sound can be customized by connecting the mat to a computer using a USB cable to add your own tunes.

The only down side that I can see with this alarm clock is that it has its own built-in “snooze bar”. If you don’t get out of bed and stand on the pressure sensitive mat, the alarm will play for 5 minutes, stop for 5 minutes, then play again for 5 minutes. So your best bet is to put a really obnoxious alarm sound so you won’t be able to stand listening to it play for a full 5 minutes.

The Witwatia Pressure Sensitive Alarm Clock can be purchased for $59.99 from Amazon.

Thanks to Pam T. for sending me this news idea.

Filed in categories: News, Watches and Clocks

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Addicted to the snooze button? This alarm clock guarantees you’ll get up to turn it off originally appeared on on March 12, 2017 at 10:38 am.

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DripJoy coffee service and JoyBarista coffee maker review

Like many households, mornings at the Chapman residence usually start with a trip to the coffee maker. I love my coffee hot, but I always put milk in mine, which cools the coffee to barely tolerable levels. DripJoy has a single serve coffee maker called the JoyBarista and a subscription coffee service with multiple types of coffee. What thrilled me most about the JoyBarista brewer was the ability to brew hotter coffee, which is supposed to make it taste better. I’ve just had my cup, so let’s head into the review!


I was sent the JoyBarista and three types of coffee; medium, medium-dark, and dark. I dislike nearly all types of dark coffee, so I had to test theirs out to see if I could tolerate it. My husband, on the other hand, loves dark coffee.


In the JoyBarista box, you’ll find the JoyBarista brewer and an instruction manual.

Setup was really easy. I simply plugged in the brewer, filled up the water reservoir, then ran the recommended amount of cycles to clean out the innards. Once that was done, I was ready to start brewing me some coffee.


Now seems a good time to talk about DripJoy’s coffee subscription service. There are many packages you can choose from, with the price ranging from $.39/cup (256 cups per month) to $.62/cup (24 cups per month). These examples are for the residential home options, and there are further discounts if you need more than that. You can tinker around on their website and see further pricing.

When you start a subscription, you get the option to purchase the JoyBarista for a discounted price. Now, the pods themselves claim to be Keurig 2.0 compatible, so the JoyBarista isn’t a necessity, but I could not get any of the pods to work in my Keurig 2.0 unit. Keurig 2.0 K-Cups worked fine on the JoyBarista, however.


Alright, back to the brewer. The JoyBarista can brew between 6-12 ounces of coffee with a single pod. 6 ounces was a little small, but 8 ounces was just right for both my husband and I. You can easily remove the cup base to place taller cups if need be. The time between pressing the ‘brew’ button and getting your final cup of coffee is just a little longer than the Keurig, which makes sense since DripJoy claims the hot water sits longer on the coffee grounds to draw out the full flavor.


The one thing I disliked about the brewer was the sleep mode. After 1-3 hours (adjustable) of idle time, the brewer will automatically go to sleep. This is to save power since there is a commercial grade heater within the unit, but both my husband and I agreed that waiting for the water to heat up in the morning was quite annoying. I timed it one morning, and it took a little over two minutes for the water to heat up and the brewer to be ready. I contacted support and they said there is no way to disable sleep mode, but they’ve received similar comments to my own and will look into it for future models.


Using the brewer is very, very simple. You press the button on the top and it opens up so that you can place a coffee pod inside, then you close it, choose your cup size, and press the brew button. You can’t customize the coffee strength, which some may dislike, but my husband never complained once. (He uses the strong setting on the Keurig all the time!) When I used regular Keurig coffee pods in the JoyBarista, it tasted good; a little stronger, but more flavor as well. Despite the flavor being better, I still couldn’t stand any of my husband’s dark roast coffee pods.

That being said, the dark roast pods (named French Elation) from DripJoy were much better. These were my husband’s favorite type, and I have happily drank several cups of dark roast coffee. We would definitely get the dark roast pods again. We also were able to try their Colombian Cheer (medium strength) and Morning Joy (medium-dark strength), and my favorite had to be the Colombian Cheer. Since we had a way to bypass the non-Keurig 2.0 pods, I tried the DripJoy branded coffees in the Keurig 2.0 machine we have, and I really preferred using the DripJoy.

Overall, I can’t see myself going back to my Keurig, even when we run out of DripJoy branded coffee pods. My coffee is a bit more flavorful in the JoyBarista than the Keurig, and the temperature of the coffee comes out perfect in my eyes. All of the flavors of coffee we were sent were fantastic, and non-DripJoy branded coffee also tasted good. I am still unsure whether or not the Keurig will be demoted to storage in the garage, but for now, the DripJoy JoyBarista coffee maker will stay on the counter for me and my family to use.

Source: The sample used in this review was provided by DripJoy. Please visit their website for more information.

 

Product Information

Price: Pods: ~$.39/cup – $.62/cup : JoyBarista – Base price $189.99; discounted with subscription order.
Manufacturer: DripJoy
Pros:
  • – Very simple to use
  • – Hotter coffee than standard Keurig coffee makers
  • – Great tasting coffee both from the brewer and from their coffee pods
Cons:
  • – Have to wait for the water to warm up if it goes into sleep mode
  • – DripJoy coffee pods may not work in Keurig 2.0 coffee makers

Filed in categories: Home and Kitchen, Reviews

Tagged:

DripJoy coffee service and JoyBarista coffee maker review originally appeared on on March 12, 2017 at 9:12 am.

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