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Julie’s gadget diary – Gmail will be updated soon and I’m worried

I’ve been seeing a lot of headlines this afternoon about Google updating the web-based Gmail interface for the first time in years. I can’t remember any changes to Gmail since I switched to it as my only email client back in 2009. Software updates are usually something that I enjoy and look forward to, but today’s rumors are making me worried that a “new and improved” Gmail will wreck havoc on my productivity workflow.

I’ve considered myself a Gmail power user for almost 9 years now. I even wrote about the reasons why I love Gmail in a post from 2009. I still use all the features I talk about in that article to this very day and that’s why I’m worried… Other than labels, stars, and keyboard shortcuts, the other power user features I like to use are all Gmail Labs features which mean that they aren’t truly supported because Google considers them to be experimental.

Two of these features include multiple inboxes and canned responses. I could deal with not having canned responses because I can use an alternative like AutoHotKey on Windows or TextExpander on the Mac which is a program that runs in the background and expands certain keywords into pasted blocks of text for things that I type frequently. It’s a real time saver.

I read one rumor that Google will bring the same smart reply buttons that we have in the Gmail mobile app, to the desktop web interface. I do like that rumor and will be happy to see it happen, but I would still like to be able to create my own list of custom replies because I currently use a LOT of them.

So although I wouldn’t like to lose it, I can live without the current canned responses feature. But if Google decides to ditch multiple inboxes feature, I’m not going to be a happy camper at all. Multiple inboxes allow me to easily see messages that I need to reply to or groups of messages that I use as a pseudo task management system. I like to see everything on one screen like you can see in the screenshot shown above. That way I don’t have to go searching for what needs to be worked on. If this feature is abandoned, I’ll have to create a new workflow and that’s not something I hope I won’t need to do.

Am I the only person who is more than a little anxious about what Google may decide to change or delete from Gmail? Do we need to make a sacrifice to the appease the Google gods so there will be a favorable outcome? Let me know what you’re thinking in the comments.

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Julie’s gadget diary – Gmail will be updated soon and I’m worried originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2018 at 1:23 pm.

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Jisoncase Leather Slim-Fit iPhone Case review

Jisoncase brown leather iPhone case

One of my favorite official Apple accessories has been their leather iPhone cases. I’ve purchased a few over the years and my only regret was how much I spent on them…. usually upwards of $50. What if you could get Apple-quality for less than half that price? Jisoncase’s Leather Slim-Fit Case is just what you’re looking for.

What is it?

Jisoncase’s Leather Slim-Fit iPhone Case is, well, everything it says in the product name. It’s a genuine leather iPhone case that’s only a little bit larger than the phone itself.

Hand holding iphone in brown leather case
The case provides some subtle texture for a good grip.

Hardware specs

  • Made of premium genuine leather without stitching, and you can see the natural variations in the hide, top notch quality.
  • Fit snug, slim & no bulky. Weight: 0.05 lb. Precise cut-out allows easy access to all ports, buttons, camera on the iPhone.
  • Covered power and volume buttons ensure safety and dustproof, just press on them.

What’s in the box?

Just the case itself and a little moisture packet.

Jisoncase leather iphone case samples in brown and black
The slim case in both saddle brown and black.

Design and Features

Jisoncase leather iphone case back texture
They sure do want to you remember who made the case, though.

One of the first things I noticed about Jisoncase’s case was how similar it was to an official Apple leather case I owned a couple years ago. The leather texture is soft and has a subtle grippy texture to it that makes it much easier to palm than a caseless iPhone.

And since it *is* genuine leather, the material should only look better with age as it naturally absorbs oils from your hands and endures small scratches and nicks from regular use.

The fit is snug and the case itself is very slim and lightweight. In short, this is my favorite type of case… an improvement over the look and feel of a mobile device without much extra baggage. I can’t believe this case is so inexpensive. At under $20, it’s certainly one of the best leather cases I’ve used for that price.

What I like

  • Much less expensive than Apple’s official case with similar quality
  • Very slim, adds a nice grip
  • Will only look better with time

What needs to be improved

  • Nothing

Final thoughts

I’ve always been a fan of leather phone cases, and getting a case that’s of similar quality to Apple’s official leather case at half the price is a big win in my book.

Price: $16.99
Where to buy: You can buy the Slim Fit case in several colors on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Jisoncase.

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Jisoncase Leather Slim-Fit iPhone Case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2018 at 12:36 pm.

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No wall is out of reach with these paint applicators

I don’t have any radiators in my house, but I do have two toilets and a 600lb refrigerator that can’t be moved when I want to paint the walls.  Right now, the wall beside my fridge has paint only on the visible portion of the wall.  I can see the old wall color if I stand at a certain angle.  I need one of these Tight Space Paint Brushes to extend the paint further behind the fridge.

The Tight Space Paint Brush system has a 16.63″ x 4.5″ handle that slim, flat paint pads slide on to extend your reach by 12″ and give you better access and coverage in tight spots.  The packaging serves as a handy paint tray for loading up the pads with paint.

The paint pads can be hand-washed for reuse, using water for latex paint or mineral spirits for oil-based paint.  The Tight Space Paint Brush from Paint Behind is available for $14.95.  A refill kit with two more paint pads and a paint tray is available for $11.95.  Both are available from The Grommet.

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No wall is out of reach with these paint applicators originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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LectroFan sound and white noise machine review

There are many people that need some noise to help fall asleep. They need something for their mind to process to help unwind from the day. The LectroFan Sound and White Noise machine is the perfect solution.

What is it?

The LectroFan is a sound machine that produces ten variations of white, pink and brown noises, plus 10 fan sounds. The sounds are digitally synthesized and non-looping, so there’s no abrupt end as the sound starts over. The sounds help mask disruptive noise and give your brain something to think about besides the goings on of the day. It also keeps sudden noises from waking you up as easily.

What’s in the box?


The contents of the box are pretty straightforward. Included is the LectroFan machine, cord, owners manual, and power adapter.

Design and features

The LectroFan machine runs off of 5v 500ma, which means you can either use the supplied power adapter or simply plug the cord into a USB port. The unit is quite weighty for what it does, I’m assuming that it’s simply so that it won’t slide off of a nightstand as easy. It seems very sturdy and well made, definitely in the “built like a tank” category.

The unit has three rocker buttons for a total of 6 functions. On/Off, 60 minute timer, Volume up and down, fan sounds and white noises.

The volume on this little box is amazing. It can go louder than you’ll probably ever want unless you have it all the way across the room.

Changing the sound is as simple as pressing a button to cycle through the available sounds. When you reach the end of the sounds it plays a “whoop” sound and starts back at the beginning. Pressing the “60 min” sleep timer button adds 60 minutes to the sleep timer each time you press it.

What I like

  • Weighted and sturdy design.
  • Simple to use.
  • 60+ minute sleep timer.
  • USB Power option doesn’t take up yet another wall plug.

What needs to be improved

Doesn’t remember settings when unplugged.

Final thoughts

After a long day of writing code my brain sometimes just wants to keep going, thinking about stuff I was working on during the day. This machine really helped me fall asleep faster.

Price: $49.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Sound of Sleep

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LectroFan sound and white noise machine review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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The WOWOTO DLP LED Video Projector will steal the show!


As the summer approaches, I can’t help but think of all of the outdoor events I will have the opportunity to attend, including the outdoor barbecues where I get together with friends and family and in many cases, look at movies late into the night. Usually, we have to drag a TV outdoors, and then make sure that we place it somewhere that we can pick it up quickly should a quick summer shower surprise us.

This year we have been discussing a better option of a projector screen that can roll up and out of the way very quickly, and a projector that we can just pick up and run with. The advantage of the outdoor screen is that we can all spread out, and we can see the movies or sporting events from almost any angle. The discussion was going quite well until we got to the subject of the projector. For many years, a good HD projector would cost well over $1000, and no one seemed to want to spend the money despite the many years of enjoyment it could bring.

Tasked with the job of finding a reasonable projector with the specifications and connections that we need, I began my research and stumbled across the WOWOTO DLP LED Video Projector. This little gem boasts a starting model with 2000 lumens, 1080P and 3D support, built-in dual band wifi, Bluetooth 4.0, a quad core processor, 1280 x 800 native resolution, an image projection size of 15” to 300”, both 16:9 and 4:3 screen formats, support for multiple picture and video formats, and it is equipped with Android 4.4 OS and a Quad-core processor. It has AV, HDMI, RJ45, SD Card, SPDIF, MHL and USB inputs, and weighs in at just over one pound.

If you are as interested in the WOWOTO DLP LED Video Projector as I am, you can head over to Amazon, and purchase one for $399.

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The WOWOTO DLP LED Video Projector will steal the show! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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