Our lake house in Pennsylvania has had its share of issues. Hit by lightning a minimum of 4 times, the electrical system had to be entirely replaced and a surge system installed. Then there was the water heater that burst, ran for a few days and destroyed the first floor. OUCH! The Wally Home will help prevent such future issues.
I’m currently working on a review of the INSTEON Connected Home Control and Monitoring system. Simply put, I’m impressed and I think you will be too. This morning comes news that the company will be releasing Windows and Windows Phone Apps for the system. Moreover, INSTEON products will soon available in Microsoft Stores and at MicrosoftStore.com.
The N2560 Network Attached Storage system by Thecus is a mid-level NAS system and it packs an Intel Atom-based Dual-Core processor as well as 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It’s got HDMI and SPDIF Audio outputs on the back for direct media streaming, and can hold 2 HDDs. The N2560 is expected out in May/June 2014 and will retail for $339.
Many of us have fond memories of summer days spent cranking the handle of an ice cream maker waiting for a homemade treat, but what about yogurt? While ice cream is great, it’s not nearly as healthy as yogurt. The new VitaClay Stoneware Yogurt Maker and Personal Slow Cooker makes it fun and easy to make your own at home.
The Heartbleed Security Issue is here. I tried out the Leap Motion controller last year; it’s a “hands free” device (small box) the connects to Mac and PC computers with accompanying software where hand gestures look to replace the traditional computer mouse during interactions. This service recently sent me the following notice regarding the Heartbleed Security Issue:
Last year Soundfreaq released a number of nicely priced Bluetooth speakers and docks with impressive features and excellent sound for the money. Now they have announced the availability of their newest speaker, the Soundfreaq Sound Rise. The Sound Rise is a modern take on the bedside alarm clock; it has all the features you want and then some.
For about 30 minutes, I’ve been sitting here trying to start writing my review of the $119.99 Kinivo M2 Bluetooth 2.1 speaker system. Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on your point of view — I’ve been enjoying the sound pumping out of the speakers way too much to do much of anything but bop my head.
The iHealth BP5 Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor (electronic sphygmomanometer) measures your maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) blood pressure in a convenient system using a sleeved monitor shell device and free mobile phone app named iHealth MyVitals.
Have you always wanted overhead speakers, but could’t spend the money to get them installed? New to Kickstarter, Airbulb just may be the product for you. It’s an LED light bulb that also has a Bluetooth wireless speaker built-in that screws into any typical light fixture. The first 200 Kickstarter backers can pledge $59 for their Airbulb.
When I reviewed the Synology DS213j, I was impressed with not only the physical device, but also Synology’s Disk Management software called DiskStation Manager AKA DSM. Today, Synology released DSM version 5.0 which includes a revamped user experience, overall performance boosts, optimized multimedia and mobile experiences, and more. Check out the full list of features at Synology’s website.
Flashlights are one of those items you don’t give much thought to until you need one. Once you do, you’ll want it to work correctly, casting a bright light where you need it. Good build quality and comfortable to hold are also key for a great flashlight. If this fits your flashlight needs, you might need a Maxxeon WorkStar 340.
If any old picture is worth a thousand words, how much would a big, bright, crisp picture be worth? That’s the question raised by the Epson Stylus Photo R2000 printer. 13″ wide, it serves up images that pop off the page; while my other printers max out at 8 1/2″X11″, this printer can handle 13″X19″ printer paper with stunning results.
The amphiro a1 is a digital meter that displays the water and energy usage in real-time during your shower. It installs easily and does not need any batteries; it also grades your shower from A+ through G-, and sometimes makes you feel guilty for your long, steamy shower. It retails for $89.
Tow it, drop it, hook it up—that’s all it takes to add living space to almost any lot. Wheelhaus makes prefab homes designed for “living large with less.” These rolling cabins start at $76,000 for just under 350 sq ft of living space. It is a cool way to add living space. Check out the styles.
Okay, I’ve had it! We have too many remotes! Apple TV, Direct TV, TV, DVD, Roku, a Vizio sound bar, and I may even be forgetting one! Has anyone tried one of those smart remotes with a screen? I’m considering a Logitech Harmony remote, but I’m wondering if there is something even better out there?
As cold as it’s been lately, it’s difficult to get too excited about grilling outside. But recently, I found a great use for my Grill Daddy Pro cleaning tool, that frankly I’m kicking myself for never thinking of before. Read on to find out why you might want to get one of these for your indoor kitchen:
I recently built a home bar; between glass wear, jiggers, shakers and openers, there are tons of gadgets I could fill my drawers with, but a recent Kickstarter campaign has introduced an item I have never seen. Brew Cutlery combines stainless steel eating utensils with a bottle opener. A $20 Kickstarter contribution will let you eat, drink and be merry!
According to researchers from security firm IOActive, the popular home automation product known as WeMo might be susceptible to some surprising security vulnerabilities. IOActive says a rogue user could remotely control attached devices, install malicious firmware, and remotely monitor your activities. The firm issued a critical security advisory recommending unplugging affected WeMo products.
We have had an unusually high amount of snow in my area this winter. It means I’ve spent what felt like hours cleaning off our cars, but hopefully cleaning off our vehicles will be a bit easier with our newest purchase — a Sno Brum!
I love my digital media, so I built my own Home Theater PC that streams all of my movies and TV shows to my HDTV. So, a Network Attached Storage system is perfect for me. The Thecus N2310 is an entry-level NAS with two Hard Drive bays, RAID support and a slew of other features. It retails for $159.
The Blend and Cook Soupmaker by Cuisinart lets kitchen culinarians make hot soup on a chilly day, then totally switch to frozen mixed drinks in the summertime with this flexible right in the glass blender jar. The black finish design looks great and helps with stains, while other advantages include BPA-free materials and the familiar spill lip on the base.