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Protect the lives of your most precious cargo with Athena by Eve

NEWS – It’s summer, and it’s hot, and I’ve already seen stories of several children who died in hot cars.  Infants, children, and pets (or K9 police officers) die because someone forgot they were in the car and went in to work or to the mall.  With the Athena by Eve, no other baby, child, or animal will have to suffer in a hot car.

Athena mounts to the interior roof of a car.  It connects to an app on your smartphone (iOS or Android), and it uses both low-energy Bluetooth and cellular data for connectivity.  You can log on through any computer or mobile device to customize the settings or to respond to alerts.  Athena is powered by rechargeable lithium polymer batteries, which should last 1-2 months between chargings.  You should, of course, recharge the batteries before they completely drain to be sure that your car is always being monitored.

The company says Athena’s  “patented multi-sensor technology uses an advanced in-cabin sensing system designed specifically for detecting babies or pets accidentally left behind in the car.”  The sensor turns on automatically when you leave the car, and it begins detecting a child or animal left in the car, no matter where they are located within the cabin.  If it detects a presence in the car, it immediately notifies you via the app, text message, phone call, and/or email with a photo of the car’s cabin plus the location of the car.  If you don’t respond within 60 seconds, it will alert the next person on your emergency contacts list – and repeats until someone responds.  You can even have Athena automatically call emergency services.

The technology is in the process of mass-production. It will be available throughout the States in 2019, priced between $150-$199.  Available colors are white, stainless, or black to match or complement your car’s interior.  You can leave your name and information at the website to reserve your unit, and the company will contact you when the Athena is ready to ship.  Learn more and reserve your unit at the Athena by Eve website.

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Protect the lives of your most precious cargo with Athena by Eve originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Posture Stand review


REVIEW – For folks like me and my wife who spend a lot of time working on a laptop or tablet, finding a comfortable position to do so is not always easy. Sometimes I work at night in bed or sitting on the floor or even the sofa. There are many companies that offer solutions for this type of working situation, and this device is just such a solution.

What is it?

The Posture Stand is an ergonomically designed stand that helps you to find the most comfortable and supportive position when working with your laptop or mobile device or even reading a book. It supports good posture and spinal alignment.

What’s in the box


1 x Posture Stand
1 x Accessory Rest
1 x Informational Booklet

Design and features

The Posture Stand is a great versatile mobile work platform that has the adjustability to adapt to your most comfortable work position. Whether you are sitting on the floor, or in bed, or sitting on the sofa, and whether you are using your laptop or tablet or just reading a book.




There is an accessory rest that can be attached to the end section of either side of the stand, and it can be used to place whatever accessory you choose within reason.


Each leg section of the stand can be adjusted incrementally up to 180 degrees in either direction. There is a metal locking ring that can be moved side to side to adjust and lock each section.


This stand is also versatile enough that it can be used as a side table or end table and can accommodate a lamp or ornament or maybe you just use it as a food tray as well and enjoy lunch.

What I like

  • The build quality
  • The flexibility and versatility
  • The ability to be folded away in a compact form when not in use

What can be improved

  • An accessory tray that can be mounted in more locations for better use

Final thoughts

The Posture Stand is a very convenient and versatile stand that works very well for me. I have found many uses beyond the use of mobile devices and reading that include a tray for eating while sitting on the floor or in bed, a display stand for taking pictures, etc. It is very sturdy and yet relatively lightweight. It is definitely a good product that will be continuously utilized in my household. In my opinion, it is a good value for the price.

Price: $74.99
Where to buy: Back Pain Help website.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Back Pain Help.

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Posture Stand review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Fluance raises the affordable bar with their new Ai40 speakers

NEWS – Here’s a question for you: At what point does the price of a set of speakers matter less and less? In other words, at what price do you stop hearing major differences in audio quality as the cost creeps up? It’s an interesting question that I’ve grappled with for years. Here’s my take: As the cost of speakers goes higher, sound quality differences become smaller and smaller. It’s a law of diminishing returns. Now, once you realize that, where is that pricing cutoff? There’s the rub. It’s different for everyone. That’s why you have speakers at every price level. Here’s what I consider an almost golden price point for small personal/bookshelf speakers: $200-500. Once you’re over that price, differences dwindle—unless you are an audiophile. Which brings us to the new Fluance Ai40 Powered 5” Bookshelf Speakers.

Fluance hopes they have nailed it with the Ai40 speakers.  At $200 ($199.99), they are designed for someone who is not an avid sound-o-holic, but someone who has space (bedroom, home office, etc.) to fill with good audio that they can enjoy without hassle. The Ai40 speakers are self-powered (no amp required) and have the wireless option of aptX Bluetooth. This is now becoming a requirement for speakers in this era of convenience.

These speakers include an integrated 70 watt (2x 35 watts) class D amplifier that delivers powerful sound. The 1″ inch silk soft-dome tweeters produce natural highs, while the woven, 5″ glass fiber drivers round out the performance with detailed mids and deep bass. Forget figuring out inputs and channels on an audio receiver; the plug and play Ai40 speakers connect either through RCA or Bluetooth aptX, allowing you to connect your audio system in no time.

The Ai40 speakers come with a remote and all the wiring you need. They come in three colors: Black Ash, Lucky Bamboo, and Natural Walnut. They are available now for $199.99. Visit Fluance for more information.

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Fluance raises the affordable bar with their new Ai40 speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 14, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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You’ll Bike Pretty with this straw hat bicycle helmet

NEWS – Bike helmets are an important part of your bicycling gear.  What’s more important than protecting your brain, right?  Bike helmets don’t always look like you’d like, though.  The folks at Bike Pretty make bike helmets for folks like them.  They describe themselves as:

  • We love matching our nail polish to our favorite vintage hat.
  • We find inspiration in the timeless elegance of vintage photographs.
  • We are never without a cute pair of shoes and our spirit of adventure.
  • We are motivated by the resourceful women in our lives who make the most of a beautiful afternoon.

If this description fits you, then you need to go immediately to the Bike Pretty website and find your perfect pretty and protective hat.

Bike Pretty helmets start with the YAKKAY Smart 2 bike helmet ($89), which is US CPSC and EN 1078 certified safe for use as a bicycle helmet in the US and EU.  That takes care of the protection.

Then you select the hat cover to make it pretty.  They have everything from the straw hat seen in the first photo, to a colorful tweed topper to a denim bucket style to an oilskin baseball cap style to a black rain hat.  Prices depend on the style of hat cover, but you can buy your first hat with the helmet as a combo, or you can buy the hats alone once you get the helmet to expand your wardrobe.

The helmet plus straw hat is $179, or the straw hat cover is $109.  The other helmet/hat combos are $135, with the hat alone for $59.  Helmets are available in three sizes to fit heads 20″ – 24″.  Bike Pretty notes that the helmets are European sizing and run small (compared to US sizing); follow their measuring instructions to be sure you get the correct size for your head.

Learn more and purchase your pretty helmet at Bike Pretty.

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You’ll Bike Pretty with this straw hat bicycle helmet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 13, 2018 at 12:25 pm.

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Aermoo B3 Bluetooth earbuds review

REVIEW – As I continue to get opportunities to test and review more earbuds, it feels like the battle is heating up and each new addition to the race is getting closer to claiming the title of “Best earbuds for Julian”. These earbuds are the next contenders. Let’s see how they stack up.

What is it?

The Aermoo B3 earbuds are a pair of Bluetooth wireless earbuds for listening to music and other audio from any audio device with Bluetooth capability. They also handle phone call functions.

What’s in the box


1 x Pair of Aermoo B3 earbuds
1 x Charging Case
2 x Pairs of Wing Tips
3 x Pairs of Ear Tips
1 x USB Micro USB Cable
1 x Instruction Booklet

Design and features

The Aermoo B3 earbuds are nicely and safely packaged. When you remove them from the box and you charge them, they are ready to go. The Wing Tips and Ear Tips that came pre-installed fit me perfectly. The instruction manual is small but provides all of the details that you need.

When you open the charging case you will notice a unique feature, one that I have never come across before. This case has 4 charging level LEDs that light up blue, and above the LEDs, there is an on/off button that controls the charging of the earbuds when they are placed in the case. This is unlike most other earbuds that automatically charge once they are placed in the case. When the on/off button is depressed, it allows the case to charge the earbuds. Since I very rarely read instructions, I ended up with “dead” earbuds before I figured that it was not just a press of the button, but rather I had to use the tip of my finger to really push the button down until it stayed in and then it was in the on position.

On the back of the charging case, there is the micro USB charging port. The case itself is a bit smaller than most I have come across measuring just 2.5″ x 1″ x 1″.

Performance

Specifications:

Bluetooth version: 5.0
Waterproof rating: IPX7
Headset Battery: 45mAH
Charging Case Battery: 460mAH
Charging Case Charging Time: approx. 2hrs
Music Playing Time: approx. 2.5hrs
Talk Time: approx. 3hrs
Standby Time: 100hrs

Using the earbuds: (MFB = Multifunction Button)
To answer a call: Short press of MFB on either earbud.
To hang up: Long press MFB on either earbud.
To reject a call: Press and hold MFB on right earbud.
Voice dial: Double-click MFB on left earbud.

To play/pause music:
In standby mode: Short press MFB on either earbud; double-click MFB on right earbud to pause.
Switch song forward/Backward: Long Press MFB for 2 seconds on right earbud for forward and 2 seconds on left earbud for backward

When you first take them out of the charging case, you press the multifunction button (MFB) on each earbud for 2 seconds and they turn on, their LEDs flash red/blue, they immediately go into pairing mode and show up in your phone’s Bluetooth connection choices. Pairing is simple and quick. The earbuds automatically connect to each other and the process like with all other functions is confirmed by voice command. The LEDs then flash blue as a confirmation of connectivity and status. Placing them back in the charging case disconnects them from the Bluetooth connection. The next time you remove them from the charging case, they automatically connect to your phone without the need to power them on or to pair them. I did notice that it the power button in the case is in the off position, the earbuds do not automatically disconnect from the Bluetooth connection.

These earbuds perform very well. The sound is very good and clear, and the Lows, Mids, and Highs are all present and well balanced. The maximum volume has a limiter so that you are never in danger of turning the volume up too high and damaging your hearing. They are very pleasing to listen to. I experienced very few Bluetooth disconnections and when I did, it was always within those geographical high interference areas that I mention in all of my earbud reviews.

I was quite surprised at how well these worked for phone conversations for me given my history of having issues with the other party hearing me with almost every earbud I have tested. It is also great that these earbuds allow phone use with either earbud.

The Aermoo B3 earbuds fit my ears snugly and stay in place quite well. I did not ever feel like they would fall out. However, they are a bit big and are not as comfortable as some others. If not seated just right, they can be a bit uncomfortable. The picture below provides an example of the size.

What I like

  • The build quality of the earbuds and the case, and the feel of the case. (It feels like soft velvet)
  • The overall quality of the audio presentation
  • The ability to use either earbud for phone calls
  • The stability of the Bluetooth connection

What can be improved

  • The size of the earbud so that it will fit better
  • The function of the on/off button in the case so that it engages and disengages with less effort and provides a confirmation of function. (Maybe a click?)

Final thoughts

As I spend more time testing and reviewing earbuds, I have come to realize that there is not necessarily a confirmed and measurable relationship between price and quality of sound and performance. The Aermoo B3 earbuds are relatively inexpensive but are a really great bang for the buck. I honestly was not expecting them to perform as well as they did, and for a price that is well short of even $100, they can challenge some of the much higher priced earbuds that I have tested. While they are not perfect, they are quite worthy. I always mention that fit and sound are individually subjective dynamics, and I am always careful not to provide any universal recommendations. Having made that declaration, I must give kudos to Aermoo for these earbuds.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: The Aermoo website and Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Aermoo.

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Aermoo B3 Bluetooth earbuds review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 13, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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