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The Volt is the vampire of charging cables

NEWS – The Volt is a short cable that you can use to charge one device from another device. That’s right, this cable siphons juice from one battery and effectively turns that device into a portable battery that you can use to charge a second device.

The Volt Battery Share Cable will not work with iPhones, but the cable will work with most Android devices that have either a micro USB or USB-C port. The cable is available in two sizes: .25m and .75m (approximately 10 inches and 30 inches) and has a micro USB connector on each end with an adapter that will turn it into a USB-C connector. On one end there’s a USB-A connector so that you can plug the cable into a USB adapter.

Why would you need this cable? It’s less bulky than carrying a portable backup battery and you don’t have to depend on that battery being charged. The only thing you do have to depend on is having a device that can be used as the host while the other device with the low battery (the vampire) sucks the sweet sweet power elixir from the host.

The Volt Battery Share Cable Kickstarter campaign that started today and ends on January 10, 2019. Right now they have raised almost $2,000 towards their funding goal of $15,000. You can pre-order a Volt Battery Share Cable starting at $25. After the Volt Battery Share Cable campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in February 2019. Visit their Kickstarter page for all the details.

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The Volt is the vampire of charging cables originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 4:25 pm.

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You won’t need an electrician to install a Mr. Beams wireless motion-sensor ceiling light

NEWS – Have a dark closet in your house or a dark garage?  Maybe you could even use a light over your shower, but you don’t want the expense of hiring an electrician to run wiring to install the fixtures you need.  You won’t need to run wiring with the Mr. Beams Wireless UltraBright Motion Sensor Ceiling Light MB990.

This ceiling fixture installs in about five minutes with the included mounting plate and screws.  Power is supplied by four D-cell batteries, which should last about a year with average use of about eight illuminations per day.  The MB990 produces 300 lumens to illuminate about 300 sqft.  Motion detection triggers the light from about 18 feet away; the light turns off after 20 seconds of no motion.

And remember I mentioned a light in the shower?  The Mr. Beams MB990 is IPX4-rated for outdoor and shower use.

There are other styles of Mr. Beams wireless fixtures if this one doesn’t fit your needs.  The Mr. Beams Wireless UltraBright Motion Sensor Ceiling Light MB990 is $29.99 at the Mr. Beams website.

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You won’t need an electrician to install a Mr. Beams wireless motion-sensor ceiling light originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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Google Home and Nest are better together – and will save you $100!

NEWS – If you’re looking for a time and for products to start building your smart home system, now is your time, and Google Home Hub and Nest are your products!  Nest is now offering the Google Home Hub, and they are offering you $100 savings and free shipping if you buy a Google Home Hub with select Nest products: Ring doorbell, Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Cam Indoor, and Nest Cam IQ outdoor camera.

Google Home Hub has a viewing screen built-in which works great with the Nest Hello video doorbell and the cameras.  You’ll be able to see what’s happening inside or outside your house without having to move to a window or door and risk alerting an intruder you’re home.  With the Thermostat, you can check or set your temperature right on the screen of the Google Home Hub.  And of course, with Google Assistant built in, you’ll be able to control everything with your voice: “Google, show me the front porch”;  “Google, make it warmer”.

Bundle prices start at $248 for the Google Home Hub plus a Nest Cam Indoor.  Go to the Nest website and start smartening up your home now!

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Google Home and Nest are better together – and will save you $100! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 11, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Protect your dog from predator attacks with the CoyoteVest

NEWS – Luckily, we don’t live in a coyote area, so I don’t have to worry about my dog being snatched when we take him outside for a walk.  Many people do live in those areas, and their pets may be at risk every time they go out, even for a quick potty walk.  I personally have never taken my dog out without a short leash, so he’s always right by my side, and the coyote would have to go through me and my ballbat to get Teddy.  For dogs that get a bit more freedom, they need something to make them less easy prey.  Enter these vests that make your dog look like an extra from the Road Warrior movies!

The CoyoteVest was created after the designer lost their dog to a coyote.  The purpose of the vest is to slow the coyote attack down and give you a chance to react.  “While nothing can protect your dog completely, the CoyoteVest offers multiple levels of protection that can help. The unusual appearance makes your dog look strange in the eyes of a predator and may cause them to hesitate before attacking. If they do attack, a formidable array of shiny spikes defends the back and the neck – which is where most injuries occur – and the vest is made with stab-resistant Kevlar®  that can withstand sharp canine teeth.”

Of course, your dog isn’t only at risk from coyotes.  Your little dog is at danger from larger, aggressive dogs, and sometimes they can even be snatched by birds of prey.  That’s why CoyoteVest also offers accessories to help increase the protectiveness of the vest.  Both images show dogs wearing vests equipped with CoyoteWhiskers, which are soft nylon bristles that can irritate the eyes and mouth of bigger canines.  They could also make the attacker wary of potentially razor-sharp, poisonous spines.  And if birds of prey are the danger, the HawkShield, made of three layers of stab-resistant Kevlar®, protects your animal from being stabbed in the back by an attacking bird.  The HawkShield can be attached to a Vest and will still allow the spikes and Whiskers to also be attached.

The CoyoteVest is endorsed by veterinarians.  And while they are made for dogs, they can be used to protect any animal that can fit into the vest.  CoyoteVests for dogs or cats start at $99.95.  Learn more at the CoyoteVest company.

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Protect your dog from predator attacks with the CoyoteVest originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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The Evergreen Elf monitors your Christmas tree to keep your family safe

NEWS – Forget the Elf on the Shelf; that little tattletale only makes your kids anxious.  The Evergreen Elf is useful; he will keep your family safe by preventing your real Christmas tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.

The Evergreen Elf will fit on any live-tree stand on the market now.  He has a probe on his back that fits into the water reservoir of the stand; it’s adjustable so you can push the probe down to the bottom of the reservoir.  The battery-powered Elf continually monitors the water level and alerts you when it’s time to add water.  You won’t have to crawl under the tree to check the water levels by sticking your hand in the reservoir any longer.  The Elf can also alert you when his batteries get low.  The monitoring method is optimized, though, so a set of batteries should get you through the Christmas decorating season.

The Evergreen Elf is offered at a variety of local vendors, and it’s available both in-store and online at the Home Depot and English Garden chains.  Go to the Evergreen Elf website to find a retailer close to you.

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The Evergreen Elf monitors your Christmas tree to keep your family safe originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 10, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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