REVIEW – Cleaning the bathtub has quickly become one of my least favorite chores as I’ve gotten older and my back has gotten more stubborn. Anything I can add to the process to ease the strain on my back and legs is welcome, so the Meco Cordless Power Scrubber is a welcome addition to the household cleaning regimen.
What is it?
It is a cordless electric power scrubber with three removable heads for a variety of cleaning functions.
What’s in the box?
Handheld Scrubber
Three removable heads: Flat, Rounded and Pointed Corner Brushes
Power cord
Warranty Card
User Manual
Adhesive clip for hanging from wall, with clip to attach to handheld unit
Design and features
The power scrubber has a simple design, with an on/off style power button on the handle. The different heads pop off and on with minimal exertion. The unit does come with an optional clip and adhesive mount if you want to attach to/hang from a wall or cabinet. When powered on, there is one speed.
Setup
Simply charge the unit and then attach the desired scrubber head.
Rounded Brush: Suggested for Sinks and Tubs
Flat Brush: Suggested for Tile
Pointed Corner: Suggested for window sills
Performance
We used the power scrubber to extensively clean our tub and shower after letting it get a bit dirtier than usual for the purpose of the test. Here are some before pictures:
For the tub, we used the rounded brush, for the grout seams and corners we used the pointed corner brush and then for the walls we used the flat brush. With our dark tile, you couldn’t really see the difference with the flat brush, but we could tell a difference for sure. Along with the power scrubber we used water and a tub cleaning foam product. Here are the after photos:
The actual scrubbing was pretty easy, just turn the unit on and it starts spinning at 350 rpm. Occasionally, the head would sort of grip a section of the tub and shoot off to the side if you didn’t keep the right pressure or have it at the right angle. It was easy to stop the unit and swap heads as we went along. The only real issue we had was the inability to adjust the speed of the unit, it is limited to a simple ON or OFF setting. It has a nice long handle, so we were able to clean all areas of the tub without having to stoop low or bend over completely at the waist.
What I like
Long handle takes pressure off the back and knees
Easy changing of cleaning heads
Powerful cleaning, it did a great job and make the cleaning process much faster, didn’t have to go back over areas with a magic eraser to get completely clean, as was our previous method
Fast charging and ability to hang from the wall
Light weight and comfortable on the hands/arms.
What needs to be improved
Storage – it comes with no where to put the heads when not in use.
One Speed – Would be very nice to have a low, medium and high setting to control the speed
Final thoughts
The Meco Power Scrubber was a great find, it is a powerful cleaning tool that takes a huge physical load off of cleaning difficult areas. Additionally, the different heads allow you the ability to customize your cleaning. I would highly recommend for anyone to add this device to their cleaning tools, as it will probably eliminate a few already in use. The storage issue can but mitigated by possibly buying a plastic storage bin of some sorts, or keeping the cardboard box (though this may not hold up over time). The speed controls would be my biggest suggestion for improving this unit to give the user some options especially if you have any areas, for instance, with weak grout that may get damaged at 350 rpm.
Price: $43.99 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample of this product was provided by MECO.
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REVIEW – I record training videos in my day job so it is important that my voice is captured under the best possible conditions. For a while I used a HyperX gaming headset but I had complaints from my audience that the sound was a little “tinny” and that plosives were a real problem. I switched to a Blue Yeti mic and while the sound was greatly improved, between the size of the mic and the pop filter I disliked the amount of space the solution consumed on my desk – not to mention how it blocked the bottom of my monitor when in the desk stand. So when the opportunity came up to review HyperX’s new gaming mic, I jumped at the chance. Would this be the best of both worlds? Read on to find out…
What is it?
The HyperX QuadCast is a standalone USB microphone aimed at the gaming community.
What’s in the box?
HyperX QuadCast microphone with built in pop filter
Shock mount
Desk stand
Mic mount adapter
Micro USB to USB type A cable
Design and Features
The body of the mic is metal which gives it a solid feel and the impression of longevity. Top to bottom, the mic is about 8.5 inches tall, so it is by far not the shortest mic out there. With the shock mount, it is 4 inches wide, but that is a tad less wide than competitors so what you lose in height you make up for here. The top half of the mic glows red when the mic is on and not muted. Here is the mic connected to my mic arm:
On the bottom of the mic is the gain control – simply rotate to increase/decrease the input volume.
On the back of the mic is the polar pattern selector. Starting on the left side, you have:
Stereo – collects sound from the left and right sides of the mic
Omnidirectional – gets sound from every side, so great if you are recording a meeting or other event where you can’t control sound source
Cardioid – only from the front of the mic, which is the go-to for streaming and podcasting
Bi-directional – front and rear (as opposed to stereo’s right/left), a great choice for interviews
Behind the mic mount is the micro-USB plug and the monitor jack. While it might seem like an awkward place to put these connections, there is actually plenty of room and will allow you to run the cable attached to the boom arm. This makes the connections less messy on your desk.
The top of the mic has the mute button. Simply tap the button to mute/unmute. When muted, the red glow dims considerably, giving you a visual cue that your sound is off.
The on-paper specs for the QuadCast are similar to the Blue Yeti – sampling at 48 kHz and 16 bit depth, and a response range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Not as good as a studio mic, but more than you need for most purposes. The sound is warm and seems perfectly matched for voice recording, whether that’s spoken word or singing. After sampling with this mic and the Yeti I find I prefer the quality the QuadCast produces – it just feels richer and like it has more depth, something my voice could use help with.
The mic is plug and play on Windows – plug it in and the OS finds it. A few seconds later you are good to go. No special drivers or other software needed.
A word on the pop filter – it stops a fair amount of plosives (the sound most people make when words start with the letters “B” or “P”) but it is not a match for a real external pop filter. After a few recordings I added my trusty Knox filter and the quality of recordings improved. I am willing to concede that it is perhaps the way I speak, but just be aware you may have this issue as well.
And a word on the gain control. You’d think that you would want to turn the volume up to 100% in Windows and then use the gain control to adjust the actual volume. You’d think wrong – that produces a “static-y” white noise that sounds horrible. In testing I found that for solo, cardioid recording I needed to keep Windows and the mic volumes both at about 50% to get the best quality and volume. Bi-directional, I needed to bump up the mic volume to get a balance between front and back. Never, though, did I adjust Windows volume beyond 50%.
What I like
The sound is warmer and fuller than comparably priced mics
Intelligent design – everything you need is easily accessible
The polar patterns gives the mic a wide range of applications – it isn’t a “one trick pony”
What needs to be improved
The pop filter should be higher-quality
You should be able to turn off the red glow – while you would lose the muted visual cue, the glow can be distracting to the eye
Final thoughts
As a first standalone effort, the QuadCast comes off as remarkably polished and ready for (almost) any kind of use. The sound quality is at least as good and perhaps subjectively better than other mics in the same price range. While on paper the mic is priced higher than others, by the time you factor in a shock mount and adapter, it might actually be less money. Because of the red glow I am not sure I would want to use this as a gaming mic, but for podcasts, videos and other uses it seems like a great device.
Price: $139.99 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample for this review was provided by HyperX
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REVIEW – Drones are available in many shapes and sizes and are used as toys, tools, or both. The budget to buy a drone can be as little as $25 or even less for a toy drone or thousands of dollars for a professional drone that you can use to take high-quality video and photos for all sorts of reasons. Today I want to show the DBUS2 from Drones By Us. It’s a midrange drone when it comes to price, so let’s find out if it offers enough bang for your buck. Let’s take it for a spin!
What is it?
The DBUS2 is an easy to fly drone that offers 4K (unstabilized) or 1080P (stabilized) video capture.
Hardware specs
Camera – Sensor 1/3.06″ CMOS, 13 MP, 3840 x 2160,
Video Resolution – 4K unstabilized, 1080p at 30 fps Stabilized
Video Format – MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264)
Memory – 16 Gb non-removable or expandable
Maximum Speed, horizontal flight, no wind – 2 m / 6.6 ft. per sec.
Hover accuracy – ±0.1 m (.33 ft.) Vertical and Horizontal
Maximum Operating Distance (Range) – Up to 100m. (328 ft.) horizontal and at 30 m (98 ft.) altitude above ground level
Maximum Flight Time – Up to 15 minutes
Battery – 1500 mAh
Dimensions: Folded – 145.5 x 80.8 x 52 mm / 5.7 x 3.2 x 2 in., Unfolded – 151 x 146 x 52 mm / 5.9 x 5.7 x 2 in.
Weight: 8.4 oz.
What’s in the box?
DBUS2 Drone
2 Smart Flight Batteries
Charger Adapter
Replacement Propeller Mounting Kit
8 Propellers
Know Before You Fly Card
Owner’s Manual
Design and features?
The DBUS2 has a durable matte black Polycarbonate and ABS plastic case with a strap across the top that holds the arms and propellers in place when the drone is folded.
On the bottom of the drone is the battery compartment. In the image above you can also see the VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry) camera which is located below the main camera. This drone does not use a GPS to position the drone while in flight.
The VIO navigation system uses a 160° ultra-wide-angle camera optimized for odometry, inertial motion sensors and sophisticated software to recognize object shapes and determine where the drone is in relation to its environment. VIO enables drones the ability to see paths through objects, recognize optimum landing spots, and navigate indoors without GPS. It also does not require you to calibrate the drone by rotating it in a variety of positions each time you go out for a flying session.
The DBUS2 ships with 2 batteries that easily snap into the bottom of the drone.
A button on the battery provides a quick visual indicator of the battery level by lighting up 1-4 LEDs. A fully charged battery can provide around 15 minutes of flight time. It takes about 45 minutes to fully recharge each battery.
The propeller arms easily unfold when you’re ready to fly the drone.
The image above shows the main camera with the VIO camera below it. The main camera has a 160 degree wide angle lens that is fixed at a 27-degree vertical angle. That means that you’re not able to change the angle of the camera if you want to record video directly below you or in front of you. This the biggest issue that I have with the DBUS2, but I’ll talk more about that later.
I love the size of the DBUS2. It’s just the right size to make it easy to take with you day-to-day and on your travels.
When it’s unfolded, it’s not so large that you’ll attract attention. It’s also not too loud when it’s powered on and in flight. It’s not silent either. It sounds like an angry bumblebee
Let’s fly this thing!
I’ve tested a few drones over the years and with each one, I’ve gotten better and better at flying them. I have to say that the DBUS2 drone is incredibly easy to fly and it’s rock solid when it comes to hovering. It’s so steady that you can fly this drone in the house without worrying that it will drift into a wall or furniture. As a matter of fact, I can see this drone as a fun tool for a realtor to make a walk (fly) thru of a home.
You can fly the DBUS2 drone just using the DBUS2 app on your Android or iPhone, or you can buy the optional DBUS controller $195.95. Yeah, that’s crazy expensive for a controller, isn’t it?
The controller features two removable joysticks and it has a built-in holder for your phone. The controller folds out so you can slide a phone between the left and right sides. I had some trouble finding a phone that would fit it though. My Pixel 2 XL barely fit it with the case off and my Huawei P30 Pro wouldn’t fit it. I wasn’t too bummed though because using the app is actually easier and means you don’t have to buy something extra to fly the DBUS2.
I used a Huawei P30 Pro for all my testing and flying of this drone. The app is easy to use and just requires that you turn on the drone, launch the app, wait for the drone to beep, tap the WiFi icon in the app, pair with the drone’s WiFi and you’re ready to go.
From there, the interface is basic and uncluttered, just the way I like it. You can use the onscreen buttons to launch, land, and maneuver the drone in flight. There are buttons to change from outdoor to inside flying, settings, snap a picture, start video capture, and go into the special flight features menu.
The DBUS2 drone defaults to 1080P resolution, but can also do 4K. The only caveat to using the 4K setting is that the video is not stabilized in that mode and jitter will be noticeable as you will see in the demo video below.
You can manually turn stabilization on or off while in 1080P mode.
You can also adjust for white balance and other settings.
There are camera options that you can use to take single snaps, burst shots that take multiple consecutive images, and even timed shots.
The special flight features menu gives you several fun ways to capture video including the ability to record a route by manually walking the camera around.
There’s a follow feature that is pretty fun to play with. You can draw a box around the subject and the drone will automatically follow it around (see my video demo for a clip of this feature in action).
You can also do some cinematic shots where the camera will start at a certain point and then fly back and up at an angle or fly left or right for a horizontal pan.
See it in action
It’s really a shame that the DBUS2 can’t fly higher and that you can’t change the angle of the camera. Not being able to shoot directly below the drone is my biggest disappointment with this drone.
Working with the video and image files
All of the drones I’ve reviewed in the past have featured removable storage in the way of a micro SD card. The DBUS2 drone has 16GBs of file storage but it is built-into the drone itself. To download the files, you have to use the app to download them to your phone. Or you can plug the drone into your computer using a micro USB cable (not included).
Connecting the drone to your computer will mount it like any other removable drive if you’re a Windows user. From there you can copy the files to your computer using drag and drop. But if you’re a Mac user like I am, you have to jump through an extra hoop to access the video files because plugging the DBUS2 into a Mac will result in nothing happening until you install the Android File Transfer app. That’s right, the DBUS2 is powered by Android. Although this app works fine, it’s not a very elegant solution in my opinion.
What I like
Compact folding design
Easy to fly
Extremely stable hovering
Includes 2 batteries
What needs to be improved
Add the ability to change the camera angle
Needs to fly higher
Add 4K stabilization
Improve file storage drive mounting for Macs
Final thoughts
The DBUS2 is a fun little drone. It’s super stable while hovering and easy to fly. It’s just too bad that the camera angle is fixed and that you can only fly a maximum of 100 feet in the air. At that height, you can’t even get above the tree line where I live.
Despite the fact that this drone lacks the ability to adjust the angle of the camera lens and it doesn’t offer image stabilization when recording in 4K mode, I still have thoroughly enjoyed testing the DBUS2 drone. My favorite features are the fact that it folds into a compact form factor that fits in a jacket pocket or bag and I love how easy it is to fly.
As it is, the DJI Spark is only $10 more and offers an adjustable gimballed camera, max altitude of 500m, obstacle avoidance, and most of the same cinematic features of the DBUS2. The only thing the Spark doesn’t offer is 4K video capture, but the DBUS2’s 4K video capture isn’t stabilized, so it’s a wash.
So I have to say that the DBUS2 doesn’t offer the same bang for your buck as other drones in this price range. That said, I look forward to what Drones By Us comes up with in the future. If a future Drones By Us drone can add an adjustable camera, stabilized 4K capture, other higher-end features, and can lower the price, I think they could have a winner on their hands.
Price: $389.95 Where to buy: Drones By Us Source: The sample for this review was provided by Drones By Us.
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REVIEW – I am a sucker for 2.1 channel audio systems: A left and right speaker plus a subwoofer. As an admitted bass-head, I really wanted to try out the new Creative Labs Pebble Plus speaker.
What is it?
the Pebble Plus is a USB-powered 2.1 desktop speaker system with subwoofer.
What’s in the box?
Left and Right speakers
Cabling (attached)
Subwoofer
Hardware specs
2x2W RMS, 1x4W RMS (up to 8W RMS, peak power 16W)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 75dB
Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz
Design and features
The two sphere-shaped speakers are permanently attached together with cabling. They stand with a 45 degree upward angle, ideal for desktop use.
The right speaker features a volume knob that doubles as a power switch, and an LED indicator.
There are three cable ends: 1/8″ stereo plug for audio, a single RCA-style connector for the subwoofer, and a USB connector for power.
There’s one hidden control under one of the speakers: A high-low gain switch. I almost missed it.
The subwoofer has no adjustments, and just one audio input. It has no amplifier built-in.
It’s quite small and light, weighing in at under 2-1/2 lbs.
Setup
I did not find any instructions in the box, but there is a wiring diagram on the side.
Here’s the entire setup with my 13″ MacBook Pro. Note that both the audio connector and USB are connected to the laptop.
Performance
I found the 45 degree angle of the left and right speakers provided a very nice sound to it. But for you bass-a-holics, be warned: The subwoofer is deeply disappointing. A few times I had to lean in and wonder “is this thing working?” Yes, it works, but only just. No rumbling low frequencies. It’s merely some low-end fill.
What I like
Angled speakers
Easy to use
Handsome
What needs to be improved
Anemic low-end for bass-heads
Final thoughts
For the price, the Pebble Plus 2.1 USB desktop speakers with subwoofer are “just fine”. But if you want something with more boom and thunder, look elsewhere.
Price: $39.99 Where to buy: Amazon Source: The sample of this product was provided by Creative Labs.
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REVIEW – Hydration is important and although the old adage of needing 8 glasses of water a day may not be 100% valid, it is true that plain water is better for your body than sodas, and other sugary drinks. Can you make plain water even better for you though? Some people believe that alkaline water is more healthy for your body than regular tap or filtered water. The vast majority of people believe that bacteria free water is healthier for you (duh!). Is there a way to turn your ordinary water into both more alkaline and free of bacteria? That’s where the Spectral Body Alkaline Blue water bottle comes in. Let’s check it out and take a swig.
What is it?
The Spectral Body Alkaline Blue water bottle is a 420mL (14.2 oz) glass water bottle that has a built-in filtration system that purifies and alkalizes water within 3 minutes with a touch of a button.
Is alkaline water better for you than regular water?
Regular water is supposed to be neutral with a pH level of 7.0. Alkaline water should have a pH level in the 8.0 – 9.0 range.
I’m not a doctor or a scientist. So I can’t tell you one way or another if the claim that alkaline water is better for your body than regular water is true. But if you Google “benefits of alkaline water”, you’ll come up with many opinions on both sides.
Some people believe that alkaline water is good for your skin, increases energy, helps reduce inflammation, helps prevent cancer, helps prevent osteoporosis, cures acid reflux, and more.
People who don’t believe in the claims cry BS and many health professionals say there isn’t enough research to support the many health claims.
Hardware specs
Type: Ionizer / Small water filtration system
Material: Stainless Steel
Average Alkaline Content: 9.2 PH
ORP Reading: -650
TDS Reading: 47 (contaminants) Parts Per Million
Water temperature: 5-40℃
Charging: USB charge
Bottle capacity: 420ML
What’s in the box?
Spectral Body Alkaline Blue water bottle
USB charging cable
Design and features
The Alkaline Blue water bottle is made of a double walled glass cylinder with a screw on top and a screw on base that’s a self-contained battery-powered filtration system.
The base contains an ionizer which puts the water in the bottle through the process of alkaline water electrolysis. The water runs over positive and negative electrodes emitted from the ionizer and when this occurs it will create alkaline water while flowing through the alkaline minerals and ORP water purification beads in the bottom in the reservoir.
The built-in filtration system has a rechargeable battery and comes with a proprietary USB cable that is used to charge it. A full charge will allow for multiple 3-minute filtration sessions. Depending on how much water you drink a day, the battery should last at least a day or two before requiring a recharge.
I asked Spectral Body about the lifespan of the Alkaline Blue bottle’s base unit and was told that it has a 2-year life span because the built-in battery does eventually die. This 2-year figure is based on using the bottle multiple times every day. They are developing a better battery replacement solution.
When the bottle is charging, an LED in the base glows red.
There’s also a Blue UV light that glows when the button on the base unit is pressed to start the purification and alkalizing session.
Note that the bottle can be washed, but the base should not be submerged in water. It’s best for cleaning that you remove the top cap and the base and just wash the glass tube.
Does it work and what does the water taste like?
The first time I tried the Alkaline Blue bottle, I just filled it with cold water, put the cap on, and pressed the button. The base emitted a blue glow and after 3 minutes, the bottle beeped and the blue UV light turned off to let me know that the alkalizing and purification process had ended.
I drank the water and didn’t notice any significant difference in the way it tasted or the way I felt after I drank it. However, when I sniffed the water, the smell reminded me of the way it smells when you walk outside after it’s rained. Kind of a fresh clean smell.
The second time I tried the bottle, I paid more attention to it and noticed a cool lava lamp effect while the water was going through the purification session. I took a quick video to show you what I mean. Check it out.
Wild right? I drank the water and again, didn’t really notice much of a taste difference when compared to un-purified water from the same source. I continued to use the Alkaline Blue water bottle for a couple of weeks once or twice a day and except for the fact that I was actually drinking more plain water instead of my usual drink of choice – tea, I didn’t notice any effects on my body, mind, etc.
So was anything really happening to the water beside the interesting bubble show?
To find out, I used a bottle of pH testing liquid from Think Alkaline that Spectral Body included with the water bottle review sample. I tested multiple water samples at a couple of different locations with water right out of the tap, through a house filter, from my day job tap water, and day job water filter machine.
For each test, I tried as best as possible to use the same amount of water and the same number of pH testing drops. I drew the water for each test at the same time by filling the Alkaline Blue bottle and a cup with the same water. Once the 3 minute filter session in the bottle was completed, I put 5 drops in each cup and waited a few seconds to see the results.
The image above shows the Alkaline Blue water on the left and plain unfiltered tap water from the faucet in my home on the right. According to the pH test bottle colors, the water on the left (from the Spectral Body bottle) is more alkaline than the tap water. The water on the left is more blue which means it has a higher pH level than the more green / neutral pH level water on the right. So the Spectral Body water bottle’s filtration base did make raise the pH level of the water.
But when I tried the same test at my office using the tap water there, the results between the two water samples were the same. There was no discernable change between the treated and untreated water that I could tell.
I tried quite a few more tests and most of the time I was able to tell that the Alkaline Blue water bottle raised the pH level of the water usually from a neutral 7.0 level to around 8.0 just using the colors on the pH testing bottle
Note: I didn’t have a way to test how effective the Blue UV light was on killing bacteria in the water.
What I like
Only takes 3 minutes to purify the water
Rechargeable
What needs to be improved
Not sure how effective the alkalization process is
The longevity of the product
It would be nice to offer a larger capacity bottle
Final thoughts
The Spectral Blue Alkaline water bottle is a nicely made bottle and I like that you can remove the cap and the base for easy cleaning.
As for using it to make your water bacteria free and more alkaline, the jury is out on those claims. The bottle may be able to effectively kill bacteria in the water using its UV light but I wasn’t able to confirm or deny that claim because I didn’t have a testing method.
Regarding the claim that the bottle can raise the level of alkalinity in water, most of the time I could see that the Spectral Body Alkaline Blue water had an elevated level of alkalinity. But having said that, I was not able to feel any benefits from drinking the alkaline water. If you’re a believer in alkaline water, I think the Spectral Body Alkaline Blue water bottle is the only bottle on the market that will let you raise the pH level of ordinary water. Whether or not there are benefits to consuming alkaline water is a question for which I don’t know the answer.
Price: $69.99 Where to buy: Spectral Body Source: The sample for this review was provided by Spectral Body.
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