REVIEW – For many years I have suffered from allergies, with some years being way more severe than others. In many cases, the severity depends on my immediate surroundings, including when indoors. Since it is impossible to control most environments I was beyond excited when I received an offer to review the Airtamer Personal Air Purifier which by design seems to suggest that it would at the least, alleviate some of my sufferings. Does this sound too good to be true? Let’s see!!

What is it?

The AirTamer A302 is a travel size personal Air Purifier that claims to filter 875% more air pollutants than the closest competitor.

What’s in the box

1 x AirTamer Personal Air Purifier
1 x Case
1 x USB Cable
1 x Instruction Leaflet
1 x Warranty Card

Design and features

According to the manufacturer, the following picture explains the scientific process of the AirTamer Air Purifier:

The manufacturer further claims that “FilterStream AirTamer personal air purifiers clean your air by removing airborne pollutants(e.g. viruses, bacteria, pollen, dust, etc.) away from your personal space. Breathe cleaner, healthier air everywhere you go.”

On the back of the device, there is a micro USB port for charging, a square silver-like plate that is the sensor as indicated in the illustration above, and a power button with 4 small LED lights. The LED lights indicate power status and level of charge. There is also a metal clip on the back that allows you to clip it on your clothing.

The AirTamer comes with a replaceable lanyard.

Performance

I followed the instructions and charged the device, and wore it just as stated, but got no relief from my allergies at all.

Once charged, that battery lasted for more than 2 days of use, which for me was about 12 to 13 hours per day. After wearing it for about 2 weeks with absolutely no relief or decrease of any of my allergy symptoms, I gave up on this device.

What I like

• The small size

What can be improved

• I am not sure because for my test it did nothing noticeable, so there is no way to measure its functionality

Final thoughts

From the inception, I was quite skeptical about the possibility of this device actually having any effect on my allergies and the severity level.  By nature, I am an optimist, and therefore I really wanted to believe that it would provide enough air purification around my immediate area to make some difference. I wore this device for almost 2 weeks, with absolutely no effect whatsoever on my allergies and the effects I was feeling. If it is actually purifying the air around me, I have no way of verifying. The only thing that was otherwise repetitious was the comment from folks who were wondering if I was wearing the device from the commercial that says: “Help!! I have fallen and I can’t get up”.

Price: $79.99
Where to buy: The AirTamer website
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by AirTamer.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Health and fitness

AirTamer Personal Air Purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 12, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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REVIEW – Yeah, I know… electric toothbrushes aren’t the sexiest gadgets. But they are an important tool in your daily cleaning routine. If you’re shopping for some power-assisted dental hygiene the PRO-SYS VarioSonic is a simple, cost-effective solution worth our consideration. And if you’ve been avoiding an electric toothbrush because you have sensitivity issues (like I do), this particular gadget is even better. To the review!

What is it?

It’s a rechargeable electric toothbrush with 5 different speeds and 5 different brushes for a total of 25 possible brushing intensities.

• Hardware specs
• Rechargeable battery runs for over 1 month on a full charge
• DuPont Tynex Bristles for all brush heads
• 5 levels of intensity
• 2 minute timer

What’s in the box?

The package includes the toothbrush, 5 brush heads, a charging dock, a USB wall adaptor, and a travel case. An instruction manual is also included.

Design and features

There are lots of electric toothbrushes out there with a wide range of features and options. The PRO-SYS VarioSonic keeps things simple: excellent design, simple functionality, and great ergonomics. You pretty much get everything you need in a great toothbrush out of the box, without paying for a bunch of features you’ll probably never use.

The VarioSonic is lightweight and maneuverable in your hand. It doesn’t have features like a rubberized grip, but I didn’t miss this in normal use.

One of the great things about the VarioSonic is that it caters specifically to those with sensitivity issues. You get 5 different toothbrush heads, each with different degrees of brush stiffness and contouring based on your needs. “Normal Soft” is the standard brush for folks without sensitivity issues and healthy gums:

For comparison, here’s a close up of the “Hybrid Soft” that represents the midrange of the set. It uses a combination of the “Normal Soft” bristles with an outer ring of longer, softer bristles for deep cleaning. High-quality DuPont Tynex bristles are used in all the brushes:

The brush heads run down to a “Super Soft” level for really sensitive teeth and gums. If you have sensitivity issues, this package gives you everything you need for comfortable brushing without having to buy any extras. That’s great if you’ve been afraid to check out an electric toothbrush. Options abound here.

Once you’ve chosen a brush head, you’ll find that there is a single button on the handle for operation. Pushing the button cycles through 5 level of intensity, each of which is accompanied by an audio tone that drops with each level for additional feedback. The pic below shows the middle level selected. When combined with the 5 brush heads, this makes for 25 different levels of softness and intensity to choose from to match your specific needs. You can even start on really gentle settings with the softest brush and work your way up as you get more comfortable!

Regardless of the level you choose, the brush runs through a two minute brush cycle. The brushing pauses every 30 seconds to indicate that you should move to the next quadrant in your mouth (upper right, lower right, upper left, lower left) for a proper cleaning. If you’re wondering about the quality of the brushing, you should know that the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs has provided their seal of approval on the VarioSonic as safe & effective when used as directed.

The charging setup is also very well executed, using a USB cable to connect the charging dock. A USB power block is provided in the kit, but you could plug directly into a USB wall socket or even a portable charger in a pinch. Note that you cannot get the USB port wet, so you’ll want to be careful handling it!

PRO-SYS has also provided a nice traveling case with the package. It’s a nicely contoured and slim design that makes it easy to travel with, and includes a pair of light magnets to ensure a tight seal. The build feels like much more than an afterthought. Combined with a battery life that is rated for more than a month of regular use between charges, and you’ll find that the VarioSonic is really easy to travel with.

Daily use with the PRO-SYS VarioSonic is great. It handles well, feels good, and provides everything you need for your daily dental maintenance. It does not have features like the ultraviolet cleaning or gum massage modes, but I don’t know that you need those for this device to be effective. It does the job simply and well.

I should note that the selection of soft brushes is a great bonus. I’m a dentist’s worst nightmare with some pretty bad sensitivity issues. While my Sonicare does a great job, it does put a pounding on my sensitive teeth. The VarioSonic provides a gentler brushing (even at max intensity) that is much more comfortable for me.

There’s also the issue of price. You can pick up the VarioSonic on Amazon right now for $69.99 on Amazon Prime. That’s a pretty good value for an ADA-approved electric toothbrush when compared to Sonicare or Oral-B pricing. You also get 5 different brush heads to boot. I think it’s a pretty good deal.

What I like

• Quiet operation
• Lightweight and easy to handle
• USB charging options
• Multiple brush heads and intensity levels out of the box
• Ideal for those with sensitivity issues

What needs to be improved

• Keep the USB connectors away from water

Final thoughts

In a market filled with electric toothbrushes, the PRO-SYS VarioSonic provides a simple & effective design at a reasonable price point. If you have particularly sensitive teeth, this is a great option over some other brands that provide more power but aren’t as kind to those with dental issues.

Price: $69.99
Where to buy: Get it on Amazon or visit the Variosonic product page on the PRO-SYS web site to buy direct.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by PRO-SYS

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Health and fitness

PRO-SYS VarioSonic Electric Toothbrush review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 6, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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REVIEW – I have 2 young kids who attend school, and colds and fever are a part of everyday life in my household. When I was a kid, my mom taught me to detect a fever by resting the back of my hand on the neck and observing the warmth. While over the years I have perfected that technique (my wife would beg to differ), I do not take any chances with my kids. Being able to not only detect a fever but to know the severity of the fever is very important. The methods of sticking a thermometer under an active kid’s armpit or trying to fight to get it inserted in the rectum become too challenging. The iHealthLabs PT3 Infrared Thermometer is designed to quickly ascertain a temperature without even touching my kids. Does it actually work? Let’s see!!

What is it?

The iHealthLabs infrared Thermometer utilizes no-touch infrared technology to get an immediate temperature reading without having to touch the skin and possibly wake up a sleeping child.

What’s in the box

1 x iHealthLabs infrared Thermometer
1 x Manual
1 x Instruction Leaflet
2 x AAA Batteries

Design and features

Features:

• High precision: ultra-sensitive infrared sensor measures IR energy emitted from the forehead and collects more than 100 data points per second.
• Fast testing in just 1 second, get reading instantly.
• Safe & Hygienic. No-Touch design, non-invasive measurement.
• Gentle vibration to alert when a reading completed. No annoying beeps.
• Hold. Aim. Press. Only 3 steps to test, easy for self-measurement.
• Readable at night with LED backlit.

The iHealthlabs Infrared Thermometer is small and compact measuring 5″ long x 1 1/2″ wide. It is about 0.5″ thick on the body and about 1 1/4″ at the head. On the front surface, there is the control button in the middle and the name branding on the bottom.

On the opposite side there is the “head” that is used to read the temperature, and on the bottom half, there is the battery compartment that holds 2 AAA batteries.

Performance

How to use:

• Aim the probe of the iHealth at the center of the forehead and keep it there approximately 1.0” away from the
skin.
• Press the button to start to measure the temperature
• The thermometer will vibrate once it obtains the temperature, and the reading is displayed on the LED display

• If it fails to read the temperature, dashes (—-) will appear instead.

• The thermometer will switch off after 8 seconds of no use

I tested this thermometer side by side with a conventional thermometer with the armpit as the testing area of choice for the conventional thermometer. Each time the readings of the thermometers were within 2 degrees of each other. Considering that the armpit would conceivably be slightly warmer, I consider the iHealthlabs thermometer surprisingly accurate and consistent. I say surprisingly because prior to testing this thermometer, I had always believed that the $400 plus thermometers that I would see at my medical center were the best bang for the buck. While I do believe that in urgent cases each degree is critical, it is my opinion that the iHealthlabs Infrared Thermometer is generally fine for daily use as long as the immediate surroundings are within “normal” temps. I say this because I did notice that if I am in an air-conditioned room this thermometer does seem to read the skin temp which may be lower than the internal body temperature.

What I like

• The size
• The ease and speed of use

What can be improved

• A brightly colored LED display for the temperature would make it easy to read in any kind of lighting

Final thoughts

As I mentioned earlier in this review, I was quite surprised at the performance of this thermometer when I tested and compared it to my usual daily use thermometer. For the price, I honestly expected erratic readings but they were very close and consistent. The thermometer is made of plastic, and I only tested it for one month, so I will post an update if anything changes. But for now, it works.

Price: $19.99
Where to buy: iHealthlabs website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by iHealthlabs.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Health and fitness

iHealthLabs PT3 infrared thermometer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 1, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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REVIEW – Sore muscles are not fun but how do you fix them? Most of the time I just wait it out until the pain goes away, but that can take a day or two. Another solution could be an electronic massager like the Koogeek massager. They sent me a sample of this highly portable device. Let’s check it out.

What is it?

The Koogeek massager is a small pocket-sized EMS electronic muscle massager device that can be controlled via your phone or other iOS/Android device.

What’s in the box?

Koogeek massager
micro USB charging cable
2 gel pads
Instructions

Design and features

There isn’t a lot to say about this device other than it looks like two flattened eggs tethered together by a flat cable.

Each oval pad has a metal snap on the back for the gel patches and one of the pads has a micro USB connector to charge the internal batteries.

Included with the Koogeek EMS massager are two gel patches. These patches are super sticky so you have to be mindful where you lay them down if you don’t remember to put the layer of clear plastic back over them.

Before you can start using the massager, you’ll need to charge the batteries which is done by plugging it into a micro USB adapter. When you do that, an LED around the cable will glow red while charging and will turn off once charging is completed.

According to the instructions, the next step has you install the Koogeek health app which is used for a variety of their health products and even includes a step counter feature. But to use this app, you’ll have to create an account. If you’re like me, you’re thoroughly tired of creating an account for a new gadget. Why do you even need to have an account for an electronic muscle stimulator? Yes, I created one anyway, but not without some grumbling and even after I created it and tried to pair the massager with my phone (Pixel 2 XL), it never connected.

Luckily, you don’t even need to use the app to use this device. All you need to do is turn it on by holding the + button for about 3 seconds on one of the egg-shaped pads. Then you can stick the pads with the gel patches attached on your body in the area that needs the massage and you will feel the electrical pulses which change rhythm during the session. You can also press the + or – buttons on the pad to change the intensity level which goes from 1-10.

I didn’t think a massager this tiny would really do much, but I was surprised when I put one pad on my bicep and the other one on the opposite side of my arm and with each pulse, my arm would twitch and I could feel a very obvious electrical zap which may or may not feel good to you. According to the instructions, the working voltage is 30-60V. Some people might think this type of device feels too intense and even slightly painful at times. I think it just takes a little while to get used to it.

I was also surprised by the battery life on this small device. The battery will last up to 300 minutes of use with up to 23 minutes per session at which point it automatically turns off.

What I like

• Small
• Long battery life
• Surprisingly powerful

What needs to be improved

• Only comes with 2 gel patches so you have to buy more after they wear out
• Couldn’t pair with my phone to use the app

Final thoughts

Other than the problem that I had with the Koogeek app, this portable EMS device worked great. I was really surprised. That said, I don’t know how well devices like these help with muscle pain. For me, the sensation of the electrical stimulation feels uncomfortable. But others might like it. If you’ve used larger EMS devices and wished you had an ultraportable EMS device, I think the Koogeek is probably as small as they come.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Koogeek.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Health and fitness

Koogeek Smart Massager review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2018 at 11:19 am.

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