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Wear the solar system on your wrist

NEWS – I’m fascinated by jewelry and little knickknacks representing the solar system.  I recently found a bracelet with stone beads that shows the sun and all the planets (plus Pluto, too if you want).  The Solar System Stone Bracelet is the perfect gift for the astronomers – or even astrologists if that’s your wont.

The bracelet has semi-precious stones for the planets.  There’s no sun for this bracelet, but there are blue sandstone beads to represent the universe, obsidian black holes, and metal stars and spacer beads.  The bracelet is available in 6.9″ or 7.4″ fixed-lengths (seen in the top image) or as an adjustable bracelet (second image).  All three styles are available with or without Pluto.

The Solar System Stone Bracelet is normally $39.99, but it’s available right now for $19.00.  All sizes and styles are the same price.  Check them out at the GiftTheGalaxy website.

And just so you know, they say they donate to the Planetary Society for each purchase made, to help advance space science and exploration.  There’s no mention of what they plan to do for the Space Force…  😉

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Wear the solar system on your wrist originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 31, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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SentryShield makes your child’s backpack bulletproof

NEWS – It’s an unfortunate fact that the terms active shooter and mass shooting are commonplace today. Parents shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their children when they send them off to school each day, but worry is just part of the world we live in now.

Some schools and businesses have active shooter scenario drills so that people will know what to do if such a terrible situation occurs. But are there other ways to provide some extra protection and peace of mind for your kids? SentryShield, the maker of tactical protection gear, thinks so with their Bulletproof Backpack Insert.

The Bulletproof Backpack Insert is a NIJ Level IIIA-compliant bulletproof insert that is eight times stronger than steel without being made of any metal. It’s constructed of up of 24 layers of ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) to make it capable of stopping a variety of ammunition without setting off a metal detector at the airport, schools, etc.

The backpack (16.25 by 11.75 inches) and handbag (14 by 10 inches) versions of the SentryShield inserts are both only 10 millimeters thick, and weigh only 1.46 and 1.74 pounds respectively. They can be easily inserted into your bag and left there to provide extra protection in the event of an active shooter situation.

The SentryShield is available now at SentryShieldUSA.com for an introductory price of $89.99. And for a limited time, a second SentryShield is available for 50% off when purchasing one at full price and entering code Protect50 at checkout.

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SentryShield makes your child’s backpack bulletproof originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 2:00 pm.

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Dremel’s Power Cleaner Tool makes things squeaky clean!

NEWS – As a self-confessed gadget nerd, I am always looking for gadgets that either make a process easier, are able to consolidate multiple individual processes into one, or present a new way of handling a task. I own a lot of various types of gadgets and equipment, and any type of tool that makes keeping them clean a quicker and easier task would very much work for me.

Recently, while browsing the internet, I came across the Dremel PC10-01 Versa USB Cordless Lithium-Ion Power Cleaner Tool. I am a big fan of Dremel tools, and I have their rotary tool both corded and wireless, and a bunch of their attachments. However, when I saw this cleaning tool with its design, I immediately thought of several niches that it could inhabit within my world. I can easily see its ability to work in tight spaces of specific spaces, and its grip design suggests that it would be more comfortable to use and control as opposed to the normal Dremel tool design. It features a USB fast charging Lithium-Ion battery and a rotation speed of 200RPM. It can handle wet and dry applications in both indoor and outdoor applications.

If you are interested in purchasing the Dremel PC10-01 Versa USB Cordless Lithium-Ion Power Cleaner Tool, you can head over to Amazon and pick one up for $49.88

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Dremel’s Power Cleaner Tool makes things squeaky clean! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

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Osmo lets kids become animators of their favorite Disney characters

NEWS – When I was a kid I loved to doodle and draw my own comics. Actually, I still love to do that! But back then and even now I just use a pad of paper and a pen which isn’t very Gadgeteer worthy compared to the cool new Osmo Super Studio that lets kids (and kids at heart) get in on the fun of animating their favorite Disney characters.

Available in Mickey and Friends, Disney Princesses, and the Incredibles games, the Super Studio sets are an add-on to existing Osmo sets which use a base for an iPad and a special clip on reflector that can “see” what is drawn on the included erasable and reusable pad as the Osmo app tells a story. But these aren’t static drawings, kids get to animate the cartoon filled with their favorite Disney characters by drawing objects and even choosing how the story’s plot progresses to exercise the kid’s creativity and imagination. Osmo’s AI automagically takes the drawings and makes them part of the story to bring the child’s drawings to life.

There’s even a section in the game where kids can learn step by step how to draw Disney characters just like real Disney artists do.

The Osmo Super Studio is designed for kids ages 5 and up and is available as an add-on to existing Osmo sets for $19 and Apple Retail Stores will carry an exclusive Super Studio Kit that includes the Osmo iPad Base for $59.

Get your copy of Osmo Super Studio today at PlayOsmo.com and Amazon, and in Target and Best Buy stores starting Sept. 4.

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Osmo lets kids become animators of their favorite Disney characters originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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BURST Sonic Toothbrush review

REVIEW – When one thinks of a gadget, a toothbrush doesn’t immediately come to mind. But in this day of smart this and smart that, it seems everything is becoming “gadgetized.” And toothbrushes are no different. Give a toothy grin to the new BURST Sonic Toothbrush.

What is it?

The BURST is a sonic toothbrush with a built-in rechargeable battery (USB charger included). It vibrates at 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute. It has three timed teeth brushing settings. 

What’s in the box 

  • BURST sonic toothbrush
  • USB charger stand
  • Toothbrush head
  • Charger plug

Design and features

Technically, the BURST toothbrush is not a “smart” brush. It doesn’t talk to your phone or keep a brushing history or send your brushing habits to your dentist. What the BURST sonic toothbrush does is brush your teeth in a pleasant and—dare I say—fun way.

The BURST toothbrush is nicely designed and easy to hold in your hand. It’s also designed to stand upright on its wider, flat base. There’s a modern, diamond-shaped pattern embossed into the non-slip plastic handle for easy gripping. An on/off button controls three different brushing selections: Whiten, Sensitive and Massage. The Whiten setting vibrates at 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute. The Sensitive setting at 31,000 sonic vibrations per minute is a less intense version of Whiten. The Massage setting vibrates in a fast, repeating on/off pattern. After trying out the three settings, I decided to choose Whiten and leave it there.

Soft bristles are attached to a replaceable head that easily snaps on and off. The bristles are dark gray and coated in charcoal imported from Japan called Binchotan. BURST claims that the charcoal coating absorbs impurities. Okay, charcoal is used to filter impurities from water, so I’ll have to take their word for it. And no, you can’t taste the charcoal. Hiding among the bristles in the center of the brush head is a flexible “x” shaped tip that BURST claims is a tooth polisher. I have no idea how effective it is, but I can’t feel it when brushing. The back of the brush head has an embedded tongue scraper. 

The brushing head is small which allows brushing in those hard to reach places. I still have my wisdom teeth and my hygienist admits that it’s almost impossible to effectively brush them because I have a small mouth. The BURST toothbrush does reach back there and I figure all those vibrations have to be better than what I was doing. I want to be using the BURST for a 6-month period to see if my hygienist notices any improvement.

Using the BURST toothbrush is quite easy. Dentists recommend brushing for a full two minutes, so the BURST toothbrush has a built-in Quadpacer timer to help you follow this rule. The timer is automatically set for two minutes—broken into four 30-sec. intervals. When you’re done, the toothbrush automatically shuts off. The goal is to spend 30 sec on each quadrant of your mouth. For instance—upper right, lower left, etc.

There’s a minor problem I have with this approach. While brushing my teeth, sometimes I need to spit before I’m done. So I turn off the toothbrush after a timed section. Then I just turn it back on to resume—having to remember where I left off. Unfortunately, the timer settings are not adjustable.

A word of warning: Do not pull the toothbrush out of your mouth while it is still on. Those 33,000 per minute vibrations will spread 33,000 (I’m making this number up) tiny drops of toothpaste and saliva all over the bathroom. You’ve been warned.

As I said, I leave the setting on Whiten. I was unsure of how this setting would work because I have sensitive teeth. However, I have had no discomfort or bleeding with the BURST. That’s even after concentrating the toothbrush on those hard-to-reach wisdom teeth. 

One humorous obstacle I had to overcome was that the vibrations of BURST toothbrush would tickle my mouth to the point I could hardly stand it. The solution was to just keep at it and although it still tickles, I can now put up with it.

When a brush becomes worn (usually every 3 months), replacing them can be done in two ways. BURST offers a subscription service that will automatically send a new brush head every 3 months for $6. That seems reasonable. When you purchase the BURST toothbrush, you’re signed up for the subscription—but you can cancel anytime. If you do cancel, you can still buy brush heads on the BURST site.

What I like

The BURST toothbrush will actually get me to brush better and longer. Only a dental appointment will confirm how effective it’s been. Also, $70 is not an unreasonable amount to pay for a toothbrush that does what the BURST does.

What needs to be improved

It would be nice to be able to customize the timer settings. The charging base comes apart too easily.

Final Thoughts

I would bet that most people don’t brush anywhere close to two minutes. I didn’t. The BURST Sonic Toothbrush has already changed those bad dental habits. It has to be better than what I was doing—and that’s a really good thing.

Price: $69.99 US
Where to buy: Burstoralcare.com
Source: The review sample was provided by Burst. Visit burstoralcare.com for more information.

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BURST Sonic Toothbrush review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 30, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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