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The StickQuik magnetic tool holder keeps your tools organized and within reach

Ever find yourself reaching for a tool or kitchen utensil only to find that it’s out of reach. StickQuik is a magnetic tool holder that keeps tools, kitchen utensils, and other gear, right where you want them. It also helps to keep them neatly organized.

Magnetize it!

Made of flexible yet sturdy silicone bands with built-in strong neodymium magnets StickQuik can hold up to 3-pounds on any magnetic surface. Great for adhering items to a toolbox, whiteboard, locker, or grill.

It also comes with metal stickers that allow you to attach tools to non-magnetic surfaces.

Every StickQuik set includes six magnetic tool organizations bands, two of each size: 3/8″, 1/2” and 3/4″ and six 1″ D metal bases with adhesive backs. The three different diameters allow StickQuik to hold anything from a pen to gardening tools.

The StickQuik magnetic tool holder set comes in both black and blue, and is available on The Grommet for $19.95.

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The StickQuik magnetic tool holder keeps your tools organized and within reach originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Pluto Pillow Review

“A pillow built just for you” is what they said. I was perfectly happy with my “memory foam” pillow. In fact, I had been sleeping with pretty much the same design for nearly 20 years, and I had no complaints. I don’t NEED a new pillow! But, what if I was wrong?

Yes, I’ve been using the asymmetrical “memory foam” thing you probably first saw in a Brookstone or Sharper Image store in the late 1990s. I was a tough sell. Why give something up if it’s working just fine?

What is it?

The Pluto Pillow is a custom-built pillow based on your answers to an online questionnaire. There are over two dozen possible different combinations.

Design and features

I’m no textiles expert, but the Pluto Pillow is best described as a pillow within a pillow. The inner core is a more sturdy foam, and the outside is fill of different densities, depending on your survey. The outer cover is either smooth, or quilted (again, depending on your questionnaire answers).

Setup

First, you log in and fill out questions about your height, weight, your sleeping preferences (side? back?) and others.

You also get a chance to weigh in on how much you like (or dislike) your current pillow.

This is what I wound up with. Mine would consist of a particular foam core, soft fill, a quilted cover, and so on. Pillows ship out of Los Angeles, CA, so I got mine very, very fast (San Francisco). Most orders take 7 days.

What’s in the box?

The big day arrived! My new pillow came in a pretty box.

I opened it up and found… a piece of candy? Nice touch.

In this picture, you can really see the quilted cover. I believe mine came quilted because I prefer a cooling surface.

The side unzips to reveal the inner foam core, sandwiched between two layers of very, very soft fill (the way I wanted it).

Here’s a slip of paper with my pillow preferences:  I really wanted a plush, pillowy feel and I tend to sleep on my side.

Performance

I was advised to give the Pluto Pillow at least two weeks before rendering final judgment, so that’s what I did.

“This thing feels tall” I thought on the first night. My oddball memory foam pillow is fairly flat, so this was different. However, the Pluto Pillow was ridiculously soft. I’m talking, cotton candy, puffy white cloud soft. The promise of that “melty” sensation was totally true.

As the days went on, I found myself actually looking forward to going to bed to my new, poofy pal. It felt cool and cozy.

Two weeks went by very quickly. In fact, I had to add a note to my calendar (“Two Weeks”) to remind me. I went to bed that night with the old memory foam pillow, and it felt like sleeping on a paving stone: Flat and hard.

This was odd. I was certain I was going to try this pillow I’d never heard as a novelty, and go back to the old guard as if nothing had happened.  “Why don’t you just keep using the new one?” my wife said. “You seem to LIKE it.” She was right, and that’s just what I did.

What I like

A pillow built around your likes and needs. I was surprised how different this was compared to my old pillow, and even more surprised how much I would like it.

What needs to be improved

Only if it grew on trees.

Final thoughts

I was under the impression that the only way you’d like a pillow sight unseen is if you really hated your current one. Boy was I wrong.

Price: $89 (base price, look for coupons)
Where to buy: Pluto Pillow
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Pluto Pillow.

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Pluto Pillow Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Save up to $50 on a Nest smart home product and get a free Google Home Mini

The Gadgeteer has told you about several home automation products from Nest, and we’ve reviewed some of them, too.  They do their jobs well to keep you and your home safe and comfortable.  The only way that Nest could make their products better is to offer them at and discount and offer you a free gift, too.

Right now, if you purchase a Nest Thermostat, you’ll save $50 on the Learning Thermostat or $20 off the price of the Thermostat E.  You’ll save $30 with the purchase of the Nest Hello video doorbell.  And you’ll get a Google Home Mini with the purchase of each Nest Hello, Nest thermostat, and thermostat product bundle.  The discount and gift offer ends July 8, 2018 for the thermostats and July 17, 2018 for the Hello.  Head on over to Nest to learn more and shop to receive your discounts and Google Home Mini.

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Save up to $50 on a Nest smart home product and get a free Google Home Mini originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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The Loupedeck+ makes photo editing even better!


Some time ago, I wrote a news story on a device called Loupedeck that is designed to assist photographers with editing photos in Adobe LightRoom. It is a great device that has a keyboard type form factor and it has quickly become a mandatory part of my photo editing workflow. It has allowed me to easily and accurately edit photos, and to do so exponentially faster than doing so with a regular keyboard and mouse.

Just recently, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there is an upgraded version called Loupedeck+. While the layout has remained mostly the same, they have built it sturdier and with mechanical keys, and they have added the ability for more customization. In addition, in a great advancement, the new version now works with Skylum Aurora HDR. The manufacturer has also indicated that “The Loupedeck+ is also currently in beta integration with Capture One, with full functionality on the way later in the year. It is apparent to me, that Loupedeck+ has the potential to become an almost mandatory workflow tool for just about every photographer.

If you would like to purchase the Loupedeck+, you can pick one up from B&H Photo Video and Amazon for $229. I did read somewhere that they are even offering a $50 discount for the folks that already own the original Loupedeck.

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The Loupedeck+ makes photo editing even better! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2018 at 12:30 pm.

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Tsumbay car vacuum cleaner review

Cleaning the inside of my car usually involves two choices, one, pay a couple dollars at the local car wash or, two, drag out my old Dirt Devil hand vac. The Dirt Devil usually wins out (because its free). However, because it requires a power outlet that means dragging out my 50-foot electrical cord. As you can imagine it’s not very convenient, so I jumped at the chance to review the Tsumbay car vacuum cleaner. Hoping it might make my life just a little bit easier.

What is it?

The Tsumbay car vacuum cleaner is a lightweight portable vacuum cleaner that’s designed to plug into your cars 12V outlet (or cigarette lighter).

Hardware specs

  • Suction: 5000PA
  • Voltage: DC 12V
  • Power: 120W
  • Power cord length: 14.8ft
  • Weight: 2.2lbs
  • Size: 16” x 4” x 4.5”

What’s in the box?

  • 1 x Vacuum
  • 1 x  17-inch EVA extended suction pipe
  • 1 x Vacuuming flat nose attachment
  • 1 x Brush attachment
  • 1 x Manual

Design and features

Constructed of a very lightweight plastic the car vac has a sleek design. I received the black version, but it’s also available in white.

The vacuums power switch and power indicator light are located at the top rear of the vacuum, near the handle.

The Tsumbay is a 2 in 1 vacuum meaning it’s both a dry and wet vac (more on that in the performance section).

Dirt cup and washable filter

The front of the vacuum doubles as the dirt cup. Emptying it is done by pressing the latch release button located just in front of the power indicator light. Pull out the small filter and dump out the contents.

A few taps on the ground does a good job of clearing debris from the filter.

The filter is washable, and Tsumbay recommends washing it after every use to maintain performance.

Note: The filter is small and gets clogged up quickly. For max performance, I recommend clearing it out multiple times while vacuuming.

Performance

After plugging the vac into my cars 12V outlet, I fired it up. 

The first thing I noticed was the sound or lack of it. It was surprisingly quiet especially compared to my Dirt Devil or one of those car wash vacuums. Tsumbay lists the vacs decibel level at 65db. For comparison that falls between an air conditioner and a dishwasher on the decibel scale.

I used the extension tube and crevice tool to vacuum the floor of my car. I was pleasantly surprised by the suction power. The vacuum did a good job of picking up small pebbles, grass, and dog hair.

Check out the short video and before/after pics below to see the results.

Another thing I liked was the length of the power cord. Measuring 15-feet It allowed me to reach every corner of my Chevy Cruze, including the trunk.

Picking up dog hair

I have a puggle named Zoey, I love her to death but, she sheds like it’s her job. And even though I use a cover on the front seat, her hair ends up everywhere, the back seat, driver’s seat, even the dash. I often refrain from taking her places because the cleanup afterward is such a pain. Her hair was one of the biggest reasons why I chose to review the car vac.

I used the brush attachment to vacuum her hair from the floor and seats. I was happy with the results. The brush did a great job of loosening the hair from the seats fabric and carpet allowing it to be sucked up.

Finally, a quick and easy way to clean up after a trip to the vet or dog park!

Wet Vac

As I mentioned the car vac also doubles as a wet vac, I tested this by pouring water onto one of the car mats and vacuuming it up. Once again the vacuum performed well. You can see the results in the video below.

One note, the vacuum is only meant to vacuum up small amounts of liquid. In my testing I found anything over 1/4 cup tends to spill back out of the dirt cup.

I also noticed that once the filter is saturated, the vacuum loses most of its suction. Remove the filter and allow it to dry before using it again.

What I like

  • Plugs into cars 12V outlet (cigarette lighter)
  • Lightweight
  • Low noise
  • 15-foot power cord
  • Good suction power
  • Wet vac ability

What needs improvement

  • Extension tube could be a little longer and more flexible.
  • No storage bag

Final thoughts

I love this little car vac. I like the convenience of being able to plug it directly into my car. No more dragging out my 50-foot extension cord, and it’s perfect for spot cleaning. It’s also nice to know that if I spill something, it can be used for that as well.

I used an old duffle bag to store the vacuum and accessories, and it now has a permanent home in the trunk of my car.

If you have kids, pets, or just like keeping the inside of your car clean the Tsumbay car vacuum is the perfect car cleaning accessory.

 Price: $28.99
Where to buy: Amazon

Source: The sample for this review was provided by Tsumbay.

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Tsumbay car vacuum cleaner review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 25, 2018 at 11:25 am.

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