Reviews – Page 7

UTEN Vacuum Sealer review

REVIEW – With only the two of us in our household, grocery shopping can be a bit of a challenge. Many items come in bulk or in large quantities. I often end up buying food items and have them go to waste because it is more than I need. I have been wanting a vacuum sealer for a while, so when this popped up I jumped at the chance to review it. Let’s see if it helps to solve some of my bulk food issues.

What is it?

The UTEN vacuum sealer is exactly what it says it is. It is a vacuum food sealer. It can seal bags and it also comes with a hose attachment to let it vacuum the air out of storage containers that have the proper fitting.

What’s in the box?

The sealer came well packaged in a basic cardboard box. It had a nice film strip over the top of the sealer to protect the finish. There is an extra strip of protective film over the stainless stripe at the bottom of the top cover. That is what the blue-colored stripe is. The following items were inside the box.

Five large (9.84 x 13.78 in), ten medium (7.87 x 11.81 in), and five small (5.91 x 9.84 in) vacuum bags
The vacuum sealer
Suction hose attachment
User manual

Hardware specs

Voltage: 110V
Frequency: 60Hz
Motor Power: 125W
Vacuum Degree: -40 ~ -55Kpa
Sealing Width:0.1in
Sealing Length: ≤ 11.8in
Dimension: 14.4*4.5*2.4in
Net Weight: 0.98Kg

Design and features

I really love how the vacuum sealer has a storage compartment for the power cord. It makes putting the appliance away very easy. Cabinet space is a premium in my kitchen and I was able to just slide this puppy into a very small spot.

The picture above shows the sealer opened up. The sealer has four different options. The first is just vacuum. You would use this if you had a separate storage container you wanted to suction the air out of using the hose attachment. The hose attaches to the protrusion just on the right side of the drip tray. The seal button can be used if you have a roll of vacuum bags. You would use it to make the initial seal on the bag. The next button is the food button. I have more information on it below.

Performance

I purchased two containers of chicken wings. One was drumsticks and the others were the flats. There were way too many for a single serving for my husband and myself, so I decided to use those as my test subjects. When sealing food in vacuum bags, you first choose if the food is dry or moist. The moist option will take longer to seal. In the case of the chicken, I chose the moist option.

I loaded the bag up with the wings and then placed the open end of the back to where the opening was over the drip tray. The silver band at the bottom is where the heat will be used to seal the bag. I closed the sealer making sure both buttons on the side of the sealer popped out with clicks letting me know it was closed all of the way. I then pressed the last button on the right labeled ‘Vac Seal/Cancel’. That button vacuumed out the air and then sealed the bad with the heat strip. Any time during the process I could have pressed cancel to stop it.

The above picture shows the chicken wings fully sealed. I think it did a great job. I ended up making three bags of wings. I placed a video below showing the vacuum process. The blue blinking light stops when the sealing process is complete.

What I like

Very reasonably priced.
Gets the job done exactly like it is supposed to
Nice storage compartment for the power cord.
Very compact

What I’d change

Nothing that I can think of!

Final thoughts

If you have been thinking about getting a vacuum sealer then don’t wait any longer. You will have a tough time beating the price. Maybe other sealers have more features, but this one gets the job done and is very easy to store.

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by UTEN.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Cooking, Home and Kitchen

UTEN Vacuum Sealer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2019 at 11:01 am.

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Honeywell TP70PWK dehumidifier review

REVIEW – One of the drawbacks of having a dehumidifier is the task of constantly emptying the tank. I jumped at the chance to review the Honeywell TP70PWK Dehumidifier because it has a built-in pump.

What is it?

Honeywell TP70PWK Dehumidifier is one of Honeywell’s largest home dehumidifiers capable for use in a room or basement up to 4,000 sq ft.

What’s in the box?

List contents – you can remove this heading and section if it doesn’t apply to your review.

Honeywell TP70PWK Dehumidifier
Drain Hose
Pump Hose
User Manual
Instruction and Warranty Sheets

Design and features

Honeywell TP70PWK Dehumidifier is a 70 pint/9 gallon dehumidifier for medium to large rooms. This dehumidifier is a large beast, yet it is Energy Star qualified which means this compact, but powerful unit removes moisture with less energy than conventional dehumidifiers, saving you money.

The TP70PWK has easy to use controls and an easy to read LCD display. There’s also a humidity display on the front of the unit that shows through the surface.

I was most interested in this particular unit because it has a built-in pump that is capable of draining condensation vertically or horizontally up to 15 feet. This means you can drain it out a window or into a sink or drain. This is a great convenience feature for me because I was tired of spilling the water from my old unit, and was quite tired of emptying it every day. There is also a drain hose for continuous draining if you have a drain near the unit. The pump is optional to use, the unit still has a tank that can be used if you don’t want to use the drain hose or pump hose.

The built-in air filter helps reduce dust and is easily cleaned under a faucet which means there are no costly replacement filters to buy. The unit even has a light that comes on to indicate that the filter needs to be cleaned. The filter is located on the back of the unit.

The humidity control can be adjusted in 5% increments between 30% and 90%. A recommended healthy humidity level is between 40% and 50%.

The unit can be set to automatically turn off or automatically turn on using the timer functions. There are also two fan speeds, high and low. The sleep mode simply reduces the LED brightness while it is on.

The Honeywell TP70PWK also has an Auto-Restart feature which will automatically resume its operation after a power outage.

There is also a carry handle that conveniently pops up making moving the unit a bit easier on the smooth-rolling wheels.

Panel Indicators/buttons left to right:

Filter Alert
Fan Speed Control
Water-Full Indicator (top), Humidity/Timer set increase (bottom)
Display Screen (top), Power on/off (bottom)
Continuous Operation Light (top), Humidity/Timer set decrease (bottom)
Timer Control
Sleep Mode
Auto Drain Pump Mode

What I like

Built-in Pump
Wheels
Front and top displays

What I’d change

Nothing I can think of

Final thoughts

Overall the Honeywell TP70PWK Dehumidifier has worked flawlessly and just as advertised. The built-in pump means that it is basically maintenance-free.

Price: $339.95
Where to buy: Honeywell and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Honeywell.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: dehumidifier, Home and Kitchen

Honeywell TP70PWK dehumidifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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BenQ SW270C Photographer Monitor review

REVIEW – Whenever I write a review, I always assume a position of impartiality. Having said that, many of the readers that follow my reviews know that I love BenQ equipment and especially BenQ monitors. When I heard about the BenQ SW270C Photographer Monitor, I was beyond excited about the opportunity to test and review it. Let’s see if I am still excited after taking it for a spin!!

What is it?

The BenQ SW270C Monitor is a 27-inch Photographer Monitor with, 2K Adobe RGB, Uniformity Technology for Screen-Wide Color Accuracy, 99% Adobe RGB Color Space with IPS Technology and multiple built-in ports including USB-C Connectivity with Power Delivery. BenQ has also included a Hotkey Puck that simplifies switching between modes. The Hotkey Puck is programmable so that it can be used to quickly adjust the displays settings.

What’s in the box

1 x BenQ SW270C LCD Monitor
1 x Monitor Stand
1 x Monitor Base
1 x Shading hood for landscape orientation
1 x Hotkey Puck G2
1 x Video Cable: DP to mini DP
1 x USB Cable
1 x Power Cord
1 x Quick Start Guide
1 x CD-ROM

Design and features

Specifications
Screen Size: 27″
Panel Type: IPS
Backlight Technology: LED backlight
Resolution (max.): 2560×1440
Brightness: 300
Native Contrast(typ.): 1000:1
Viewing Angle: (L/R;U/D) (CR>=10), 178/178
Response Time: 5 ms (GtG)
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Display Colors: 1.07 billion colors
Color Gamut: 99% Adobe RGB, 97% P3, 100% sRGB
Display Area(mm): 596.7×335.6
Pixel Pitch (mm): 0.2331
PPI: 109
DCR (Dynamic Contrast Ratio) (typ.): 20M:1
Color Bit: 10bits
Headphone Jack: Yes
Segment: Photographer
Product Color: Gray
Color Mode: Adobe RGB / sRGB / B&W / Rec. 709 / DCI-P3 / Display P3 / M-book / HDR / DICOM/Calibration 1 / Calibration 2 / Calibration 3 / Custom 1 / Custom 2
HDR: HDR10
Display Mode: Full, Aspect Ratio, 1:1
Color Temperature: 5000°K / 6500°K/ 9300°K / User Mode
Gamma: 1.6 – 2.6, sRGB
K Locker: Yes
OSD Language: 18 Languages (English / Francais / Deutsch / Italiano / Espanol / Polish / Czech / Hungarian / Romanian / Netherlands / Russian / Swedish / Portuguese / Japanese / Chinese / S-Chinese / Arabic/Korean)
PIP/PBP: Yes
HDCP: 2.2
VESA Wall Mount: 100x100mm
AMA: Yes
Display Screen Coating: Anti-Glare
3D-LUT: 16bits
Delta E: <= 2 (avg)
Uniformity Technology: Yes
Hardware Calibration: Yes
Video Format Support: Yes
Gamut Duo: Yes
Black & White mode: Yes
Black Level: Yes
Hotkey Puck G2: Yes
Factory Calibration Report: Yes
HDMI: HDMI (v2.0)x2
DisplayPort: DisplayPort (v1.4)
USB 3.1 Hub: USB Downstream x 2, Mini USB x 1
USB 3.1 Hub: USB Upstream x 1
USB Type-C: Yes (PD60W, DP Alt mode, Data)
Card Reader: SD/MMC type
Support Format: SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC
Voltage Rating: 100~240V
Power Supply: Built-in
Power Consumption (based on Energy Star): 36.1W
Power Consumption (stand by mode): 0.5W‎
Power Consumption (sleep mode): 0.5W
Dimensions (HxWxD mm) (w/o Base) (with shading hood): 372.2 x 626 x 238.04
Dimensions (HxWxD mm) (without shading hood): Landscape: 504.5-611 x 613.8 x 213.4; Portrait: 733.4 x 380.7 x 223.2
Dimensions (HxWxD mm) (w/o Base): 368.9 x 613.8 x 62.65
Dimensions (HxWxD mm): Landscape: 504.5-614.3 x 626 x 334.8; Portrait: 744.6 x 381.1 x 334.6
Software: Palette Master Element
Support Calibrator: X-Rite i1 Display Pro / i1 Pro /i1 Pro 2 /i1 Studio , Datacolor Spyder 4/5
Hor. Frequency (kHz): 27~140Khz
Ver. Frequency (Hz): 24~76Hz
Video Bandwidth (MHZ): 600M Hz
Compatibility: Mac Compatible, Windows® Compatible, Windows®10, Windows®8.1, Windows®8, Windows®7

The monitor base is a relatively large and weighty base that provides a firm platform for the monitor. In the middle towards the rear, there is a circular cutout that is the receiver for the monitor stand. Underneath there is a wing screw that screws into the monitor stand to lock the two together.

The picture below shows the monitor stand with the locking plate at the top the connects into the VESA receptacle on the back of the monitor to connect the two. Right below the VESA plate, you can see 2 tracks that are the sliding tracks that allow for height adjustment, and below that there is a pass-through hole for cable management. Underneath the stand, there is the plate that connects to the monitor base. There is also a circular slot to accommodate the Hotkey Puck.

The next picture shows the Hotkey Puck in the monitor stand.

Underneath the monitor, there are the connectivity ports. As shown below from left to right they are the headphone jack, USB port (upstream; connecting to the PC), USB-C port, DisplayPort socket, 2 x HDMI socket, Hotkey Puck / Hotkey Puck G2
socket, and the AC power input jack.

When facing the front of the monitor there are 3 ports on the left side. As shown below, they are from top to bottom, an SD card slot and 2 USB ports.

On the bottom right of the front of the monitor, there are the control buttons. From left to right they are 5 control buttons and the on/off power button.

1. Press any of the control keys.
2. The hotkey menu is displayed. The left three controls are custom keys and are designated
for specific functions.
3. Select (Menu) to access the main menu.
4. In the main menu, follow the icons next to the control keys to make adjustments or for
selections.

Performance

The monitor arrived well packaged and padded. Out of the box, the components are easy to assemble and putting the monitor together only took a few minutes. Adding the hood took a bit longer but was easy once I figured out how the pieces connect to form the hood and how they attach to the monitor. Youtube videos helped me to better understand the process. Before I added the hood, I took the time to play around with the monitor rotation. Since the hood attachments that come with this model only work for use in landscape mode, I took a picture without the hood to show the rotation capability. (This monitor rotates 90 degrees to be used in either portrait or landscape mode.)

Once I set up the monitor with the hood attached, I took the following pictures from both the left and right perspectives to show how it looks installed.

On the top of the hood, there is the sliding door that provides access to the screen for using a calibration device without having to remove the hood.

I connected my iPad Pro 12.9″ to the monitor and edited some pictures using Adobe Lightroom on my iPad with the BenQ connected via USB-C as an extended monitor. Having the larger real estate along with accurate colors is great especially as my eyes get older.

To try to illustrate some of the visual benefits of the monitor including the color representation and the hood effect, the picture below shows the same picture twice. On the left, it is opened via Photo Viewer on my BenQ PD3200U, and on the right is it opened in Adobe Lightroom on this BenQ SW270C monitor.

I also edit photos in PortraitPro, and the experience with this monitor including the amazing colors is also great.

What I like

The build quality
The connectivity options
The stability
The features
The color accuracy
The detachable hood
The overall functionality

What I’d change

Include the extra hood sections needed to use the hood in Portrait Mode as well
(Personal wish) – A 32-inch or 35-inch version would be greatly appreciated!!

Final thoughts

I am a huge fan of BenQ monitors, and the BenQ SW270C Photographer Monitor does not disappoint. As a photographer, I spend a lot of time editing photographs on my iPad and my studio PC. This monitor allows me to connect my iPad to it via USB-C and also to use it as an extended monitor on my desktop PC. When connected to my iPad, the Power delivery feature ensures that my iPad remains charged. Whichever way I decide to use the monitor, the colors are precise and brilliant and it is just a joy to use even more so when I have hundreds of photos to edit and in some cases color-correct. I am currently using it with its stand on my desk but I plan to mount it on the wall with an arm that allows for even more movement. The included hood is perfect for viewing true color representation, and for increasing accuracy, especially since ambient lighting or stray lighting becomes less of a factor. The sliding opening in the hood is perfect if there is a need to use a color correcting tool. I have such a tool, but I have had no issue with the colors right out of the box. The Hotkey Puck is also a nice convenient tool albeit that I do not use it very often. I give the BenQ SW270C Photographer Monitor a very well done, and two thumbs way up!!!

Price: $799.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by BenQ

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: monitor

BenQ SW270C Photographer Monitor review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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CIGA Design MY Series titanium mechanical skeleton watch review

CROWDFUNDING REVIEW – If you enjoy wearing a watch on your wrist but a smartwatch is an overkill for your needs, a traditional analog watch is an interesting option. Today I want to show you the CIGA Design My Series titanium skeleton watch which is currently seeking funding on Indiegogo.

What is it?

The My Series titanium skeleton watch from CIGA Design is an auto mechanical wristwatch designed by Michael Young and winner of the 2017 iF Gold Award.

Design and features

The MY Series watch is a unique watch that is designed so that you can see the inner mechanism of gears, springs, and levers.

The MY Series uses a Seagull AAA auto-mechanical movement which means that it does not have a battery that you need to charge every night. You just need to wind the crown the first time you’re ready to wear the watch, and from there, the movement of your wrist will keep the spring wound. See that half-circle shaped part on the back? That is a weight that rotates as you move your arm and by some manner of wristwatch sorcery, it harnesses that movement to wind the watch’s internal spring.

The watch case is made of grade 2 Titanium which makes it strong yet lightweight. The watch is both scratch-resistant on the case and on the synthetic sapphire crystal watch face. It is also 3AT water resistant which means that it’s splash resistant, but not waterproof. You can wear it in the rain, but not in the shower or while swimming.

The CIGA Design MY Series titanium skeleton watch is eye-catching and if you hold it up to your ear, it’s ear-catching too because you’ll be able to hear it tick!

The watch is large on my girly wrist, but it’s comfortable to wear with the included silicone band. I was sent an orange band, but backers will be able to choose from orange, blue, red, and black silicone bands. A free black leather band is also included with each reward so the watch can go from casual to classy just by switching bands.

The dial of the watch has a sort of bowl shape to it with etched marks for the hours and minutes around the edges. If you look at the image above, you’ll see that there are nine marks between each hour marking and the hours are not designated by numbers. I prefer numbers on my watch dials and only one mark per minute instead of two marks, but that’s just me.

I also find the hour and minute hands to be a little hard to see against the watch face since the hands and dial are similar in color. However, it is nice that the ends of the hands have luminescent markers. But, you have to “charge” the markers with light before they will glow in the dark.

What I like

Unique see-through design
Auto mechanical movement means no batteries or charging required

What I’d change

I’d like to see a smaller version more suitable for women
Make the hour and minute hands easier to see against the watch face

Final thoughts

The MY Series titanium skeleton watch from CIGA Design is a cool looking watch that is comfortable to wear and easy to use because you don’t have to charge it every day. If all you want to know is the time of day and nothing else, this watch has that covered. Compared to today’s smartwatches, the MY Series might seem simple, but instead of a mini computer that tells the time, this watch has gears, springs, and other parts that all work together without any help from batteries, processors, or software.

Where can I find more info?

The CIGA Design campaign ends on 9/30/19 they are working towards their funding goal of $31,875. You can pre-order a MY Series watch starting at $228. After the CIGA Design campaign ends, rewards are estimated to start shipping in September 2019. Visit their Indiegogo page for all the details.

Source: The sample for this review was provided by CIGA Design.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Crowdfunded, Watches and Clocks

CIGA Design MY Series titanium mechanical skeleton watch review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 25, 2019 at 2:50 pm.

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Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD oil review

REVIEW – I’m always interested in trying alternative foods like the meal replacement shakes that I’ve been writing about lately. I’m also interested in alternative medicines that can help provide relief for a variety of health issues. I was invited to try some CBD products from Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD products have gained popularity in the last year, so I was game to give them a try.

What is it?

CBD aka Cannabidiol is an extract from the hemp plant and also the trendy new ingredient being used in 100’s of products including oils, lotions, edible gummies, and more. Some people claim that CBD helps with stress, anxiety, pain, inflammation, epilepsy symptoms, and more.

Daddy Burt Hemp Co. has family ties to the hemp farming business in Kentucky for over 100 years.

Are CBD products legal and will it make you high?

Those are the 2 main questions that most people wonder about when it comes to CBD products. Simply put, the answer to the first question is yes, and the answer to the second question is no.

CBD products that are made from hemp (like the ones from Daddy Burt) are legal to use and purchase from online retailers in the US.

Using CBD products will not make you high because CBD has no psychoactive, intoxicating, or mind-altering effects. That said, some types of CBD products can contain traces of THC which can show up in a drug test. Daddy Burt Hemp Co. offers CBD isolate oils which contain zero THC so there are no worries about it causing a failed drug test. CBD is also not addictive and has no side effects.

For more info on these topics, you can check out the CBD FAQ on Daddy Burt’s site.

My experience using Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD oil

Daddy Burt Hemp Company sent me a bottle of their THC free CBD oil and a bottle of their full-spectrum CBD oil which does contain less than 0.3% of THC, so it can show up on a drug test. If that is a concern, the THC free CBD isolate should be chosen instead.

I was interested in trying the full-spectrum version of the CBD oil because it has 85 different cannabinoids from hemp which is supposed to provide extra benefits over the isolate version. I have tried another company’s CBD oil in the past and didn’t feel any benefits at all.

I also wanted to see if CBD oil could help with mild joint pain and mild stress/anxiety issues that I sometimes have. For joint pain, I think I have the start of arthritis or an RSI (repeated stress injury) in my right lower thumb. I usually just take Tumeric capsules for it and stopped taking Tumeric prior to testing the CBD.

As for stress, I will sometimes feel a little anxious when it comes to social events. This is very mild and usually only consists of getting an upset stomach before the event or the worry that I might get a stomach ache at some point. I do not and have never taken drugs for anxiety.

I realize that my experience trying these products are personal to me and that others can have a completely different experience or no experience at all.

Both types of CBD oil samples that were sent to me came in a small brown glass bottle that holds 30 25mg servings.

The bottles have a glass eye dropper attached to the cap. The dropper has dosage markings on the glass tube.

You can use the oil sublingually by putting the drops under your tongue and holding them there for at least 60 seconds. There aren’t any specific dosage rules as far as if you want to take a full dose (25ml) once a day or break up the dose twice a day. During the few weeks that I’ve been testing them, I would take a dose in the morning and another in the late afternoon.

The taste of the oils are neutral like a light olive oil or in the case of the full spectrum version, it has a slight peppermint flavor.

When I first took the full-spectrum oil, I wondered if I would feel “anything” weird since it has a tiny bit of THC in it. I really didn’t feel anything at all. I didn’t get all zen, and I didn’t get the munchies. I just felt nothing. I was actually a little disappointed. But, I kept taking it and after a couple of weeks, I have noticed a few things.

The swelling and minor pain in my hand seem improved. It’s not like it’s healed and 100% better, but I would say that it’s 20% better than when I was taking Tumeric.

What about anxiety? Since I don’t have many instances when I have that issue, I wasn’t sure I’d have a chance to really test for improvement while testing this product. But 2 occasions did come up while taking the CBD oil. The first instance was when we were going to a concert in another town. Typically, I would feel a little stressed about driving there, finding a place to eat, finding parking, etc, in time to get to the theater for the show. I had no worries or upset stomach issues during the trip.

Then, another time we had plans to meet with a family member that I’ve not seen face to face in a couple of years. I would normally be anxious about that but this time I wasn’t at all and didn’t even realize that I wasn’t nervous until it was back home.

What I like

Easy to use
U.S. Hemp Authority Certification

What I’d change

Nothing

Final thoughts

Reviewing a product where the results are subjective is tough especially when it comes to foods and products like CBD oil where each person that tries it can have a completely different experience. That said, I will say that I feel like I’ve had good results when taking Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD oils.

I feel like the oil helped with the inflammation in my hand and it helped with my anxiety issues. I can’t promise this product will do the same for you, but if you’ve thought about trying CBD oil but weren’t sure which company’s products to try, I have no problems recommending Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD products and I hope to try some of their other CBD products like their lotions and gummies in the future.

Price: $74.95 per 1 oz (30ml) bottle
Where to buy: Daddy Burt Hemp Co.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Daddy Burt Hemp Co.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Health and fitness

Daddy Burt Hemp Co. CBD oil review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 25, 2019 at 11:22 am.

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