Articles by M Thorne

Reviews September 1, 2026

Ultenic AC1 TriFlex Review: Sticky Messes, Pet Hair, and Grime Don’t Stand Much of a Chance

There’s really no way around it: I am terrible at housekeeping. There are reasons for it, but in the end, it means I’m always interested in technology that can make cleaning our home a little easier, faster, and more efficient. I was offered the Ultenic AC1 TriFlex cordless electric mop and vacuum, so I decided to give it a shot. Since I don’t clean often, I figured whatever I did with it would really put it through its paces. I’m impressed with the results overall, so let’s dive in. What Is This Thing? The Ultenic AC1 TriFlex cordless vacuum falls into…

Reviews August 28, 2026

iGulu F1 Smart All-in-One Home Brewer Review: High-Tech Homebrewing Gets Easier, but Not Quite Effortless

In 1993, American Michael Berstein dreamed of bringing microbrewing to consumers through small batches and foolproof kits. The result, Mr. Beer, became a profitable piece of countertop brewing equipment that’s still around today. Since then, advances in technology have inspired plenty of attempts at more sophisticated homebrewing devices, including the iGulu F1 in this review. But can it really perform as advertised? In short: kind of. Fermentation makes true one-step, brew-to-glass simplicity difficult. Still, the iGulu F1 is an intriguing device for homebrewers who value its features.

Reviews August 4, 2026

EPSON EcoTank Photo ET-8550 Review: Prosumer Printing at Prosumer Prices

Consumer printing is a funny business. Once ubiquitous, home printers have become less essential in our increasingly paperless world. Still, desktop printing remains important for photographers and artists who rely on high-end inkjets (and high-end ink) to create original prints—what “giclée” actually means. The EPSON EcoTank Photo ET-8550 is one such premium photo printer, with large-format support up to 13″ × 19″ borderless, or nearly 256 feet using the rear feeder and a paper roll. It’s EPSON’s premier photo printer, with a price to match. The real question is whether it’s worth it. Let’s find out!

Gear Bits August 2, 2026

OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers Recalled After Overheating, Fire Risk, and One Death

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall of about 1.5 million OCOOPA rechargeable hand warmers because their built-in lithium-ion batteries can overheat and ignite, posing serious fire and burn hazards.

Reviews June 24, 2026

Huion Note E Review: The Little Tablet That Could(ish)

I’m a bit of a digital notepad aficionado. I have loved digital pen products since my first exposure to a Wacom tablet in the heady 1990s. I’m not an artist; I’m just a cheesy doodler. It doesn’t matter, though – I think the ability to directly input handwritten content is just amazing technology. I am also a big fan of e-ink and epaper. It offers certain benefits over a standard display but has its downsides. So, when Huion offered their Note E tablet, I was very curious to see whether the hardware lived up to the hype.