There’s a good chance you still have those videos you took from the last get-together with your friends. They are sitting in your device’s gallery waiting to be edited. The thought of transferring those videos to your computer for editing may have crossed your mind, but it’s not going to be necessary. Kinemaster is perfectly capable of editing your videos. It’s a feature-rich video-editing app for Android that has all the essential features to give your videos your own personal touch for free. Related: 5 of the Best Android Video-Editing Apps to Create a More Professional Video How to Trim a Video Using Kinemaster To… Read more
While Apple has made the Siri functionality available for older Macs, the company has not made the “Hey Siri” activation function available for all the Macs that support Siri. If you own an old Mac, you would know you have Siri but you do not have access to the “Hey Siri” hands-free command on your machine. Fortunately, though, you have a workaround to get access to the Siri’s hands-free command even on your old Mac. The workaround uses the dictation feature on your Mac to let you call Siri with your voice. Essentially, by setting “Hey” as a wake phrase and “Siri” as the word… Read more
If you like shiny new software, you may already know that Canonical just launched a new version of Ubuntu. It may be exciting, but is it worth the upgrade? The same question applies if you’re one of those people that don’t care about new things. Your old(er) Ubuntu installation gets the job done. But does version 19.04 solve any problems you currently have? Gnome Performance Improvements It seems Gnome is on a constant roller coaster regarding quality, performance and functionality. Throughout the years, it introduced features people loved or hated. And in the same way, it has removed features and created controversy, such as with… Read more
REVIEW – If you thought the fidget spinner craze was over and done with, you would be wrong. There’s a whole world of fidget toys out there and Aroundsquare is a company offering a variety of them. Let’s check them out.
What is it?
Fidget toys are usually small items that you can hold in your hand to twirl, spin, flick, and click. What’s the point? Does there have to be one? Seriously though, fidget toys can be stress relievers, focus enhancers, and even dexterity improvers. But above all, fidget toys are fun.
Fidget toys from Aroundsquare include begleri, knucklebones, deadeye contact coins, monkey knuckles, cardistry cards, and more. Aroundsquare sent me a Begleri, knucklebones, and deadeyes.
Deadeye Contact Coins
Deadeyes are specially designed disks that are made of Delrin or a variety of metals that include stainless steel, copper, brass, and titanium. They come in two sizes and different finish styles and are concave on both sides which creates a ridge around the edge that lends itself to really cool manipulation.
Check out the video below for just a small taste of what you can accomplish with Deadeyes if you put the time into learning how to work with them.
I love the feel of the Deadeyes coins between my fingers. They are heavy and smooth. Of the three toys sent to me, I think this is the one that I can learn to “juggle” first. I can almost do the coin spinning on the fingertip trick shown in the video above, but I’m nowhere near as smooth as the performer. Of course, that’s what practice is for right?
Price: $9.00 – $55.00 depending on material and finish
Knucklebones
Knucklebones are dumbbell shaped toys that you can roll and weave between your fingers. Like Deadeyes, Aroundsquare’s Knucklebones are available in a lot of different materials that include wood, titanium, steel, Delrin, brass, aluminum, and acrylic. They even make a modular version like the one shown above that has removal/replaceable ends and center sections.
I like playing with the Knucklebones because it’s something you can do without really paying attention to what you’re doing. You don’t have to look at your hand as you’re twirling it between your fingers. It’s a soothing kind of feeling playing with them.
I will say that although I love the look of the metal one shown in my hand in the picture above, it’s heavy and if you drop it, it makes a LOUD sound on a hardwood floor. So I prefer actually playing with the wooden one they sent me which is much lighter weight.
Price: $20 – $300 depending on the material and finish
Begleri
This is the one toy you’ve probably already seen before. It’s a Begleri and is basically two beads attached with a cord. This is a Greek skill toy that you can twirl, sling, and fling between your fingers almost like a tiny yoyo. And like the other toys, Aroundsquare offers a crazy cool variety of beads to choose from that are made of the same materials as their other toys including Delrin, steel, titanium, steel, acrylic, and more.
Of all the toys they sent, I would say that this one has been the hardest for me to get the hang of to do any trick so far. I really want to get decent at it though because just watching Aroundsquare’s video tutorials is mesmerizing.
Price: $10 – up
What I like
Stress reliever
Fun and addictive
Good for your brain and your fingers
What needs to be improved
Get more in stock
Final thoughts
Fidget toys are fun, but these toys from Aroundsquare are a cut above fidget spinners because they are actual skill toys. You can’t just pick them up and expect to be awesome with them from day one. It takes a lot of practice and that’s what makes them fun and frustrating and fun and maddening and fun. They will help with finger dexterity and will even exercise your brain in order to learn new moves.
If you’ve been looking for a new hobby or skill, the toys from Aroundsquare are awesome both in the way they are made, look and feel, and what you can do with them.
Price: Varies, see above Where to buy: Aroundsquare and Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by Aroundsquare.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
REVIEW – Living and working in NYC can be rewarding and exciting, but that benefit is usually overwhelmed by the level of stress that is an inherent part of life in this city. My life in NY is no exception, and many nights I usually have to ask my already tired wife to massage my tense and aching shoulders. The Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat sounds like the perfect answer to my aching shoulders and to me bothering my already tired wife.
What is it?
The Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat is a personal and portable massager that includes the versatility for it to be used to massage various parts of your body.
What’s in the box
1 x Naipo Massager
1 x User manual
1 x Car Power Adapter
1 x AC Power Adapter
Design and features
Features
● Professional Shiatsu Massage: This Shiatsu neck and shoulder massager comes with 4 big nodes and 4 small ones, which apply deep tissue massage on your neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back, waist, thigh, calve, leg, feet, and arm areas helping release stress, relieve sore muscles for full body parts
● Advanced Heating Function: The electric kneading massager has an infrared heating massaging feature; Together with the 8 massage nodes with soothing heat, the massager can be used to relieve muscle pain and tension after an exhausting day
● Adjustable Massaging Intensity: This massager machine also features 3 variable speeds to customize your own massaging style: Low Intensity for normal muscle pain relief and relaxation; Middle and High Intensity for tight knots and tense muscles and acupuncture points
● Suitable for the Whole Family: Made of skin-care premium breathable mesh and PU leather, this versatile massager works well both for the elderly and young; Relax with it regularly for 15-30 minutes per day
The massager is covered in a very soft and smooth material that feels like leather, but I am not sure that it is in fact leather. It is well made and seems like it would last a long time while enduring the abuse associated with frequent use.
On the inside of the massager where the device touches your body to perform the massaging function, there is a soft cloth type material that covers the contoured surface and the massaging mechanism that includes massaging beads/balls. The surface is designed to contour around the shape of parts of your body. There is also a connection cable with a jack on the end for you to plug in either of the 2 included power adapters.
On one of the massager “arms” there is a control pad that allows you to manipulate the functions and settings of the device.
Performance
The massager arrives in a brown box as shown below with no additional packaging other than a clear plastic bag covering the actual device. Despite the minimal protection, it arrived in perfect condition, and set up is plug and play.
It provides great massages with the ability to vary the speed of the movement of the massage and the direction. The heat option works well and adds to the experience in a positive way.
Caution: This device provides a deep and timed massage using the built-in massaging beads/balls. I have found that restarting the massage cycle once it is completed just because you are enjoying it, will result in aches and soreness the next day that will last for a few days. In other words, one massage cycle per body area is good enough. Do not overdo it.
Here are some pics of how it can be placed and used:
What I like
The build quality
The feel and the effectiveness of the massage
The versatility of applying the device in several ways
What can be improved
Safer and more protective packaging
Final thoughts
Whenever I go to the mall near my home, I often try to take a few moments to sit and relax in the public massage chairs. For $1, they provide a 3-minute massage that actually works well as a deep massage. It feels like my back is being kneaded by small fists and the result is really relaxing. This Naipo Shiatsu Kneading Massager Neck & Shoulder Massager does the same but with the added benefit of heat as desired. I am loving this massager, and for the price, in my opinion, it is a good value. I have no issue giving it two thumbs and a well done!!
Price: $49.99 Where to buy:The Naipo website and Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by Naipo.
Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.
