As Raina and I were setting up our new house, one of the things I knew was that I wanted were large televisions both in the living room and the bedroom. Fortunately, I was approached by VIZIO and offered the opportunity to review one of their new 2016 VIZIO SmartCast M-Series Ultra HD HDR Home Theater Displays. We love it.
I’ve got a pretty amazing curved 27″ Dell monitor, and I thought it was the bees-knees until I saw these two new Dell monitors! Check out the new Dell UltraSharp 34 Curved Monitor and the Dell UltraHsarp 30 Monitor with PremierColor. Le sigh …
Assassin HTPC, one of the top names in the Home Theater PC game, is back in the news with their new Assassin Micro Media Extender. It’s a pint-sized PC that runs on Android that comes preconfigured with Assassin HTPC customized software that’s ready to use straight out of the box. The Assassin Micro retails for $249.99, including lifetime cloud updates.
Sen.se is announcing their new ThermoPeanut today, the first in its series of smart sensors called SensePeanut. For those of us who are wondering what a SensePeanut might be, the short answer is that each $29 SensePeanut has its “own set function, task or habit it can monitor.” SensePeanuts are designed to bring people the benefits of smart life automation without the need for costly or complicated solutions. We are thrilled to launch ThermoPeanut as the first in the line. Whether you are monitoring room temperatures, making sure your refrigerator is cooling properly or keeping a server room at an…
Raina and I continue to add smart features to our home. We love the Haiku Smart Fan we installed and reviewed here on Gear Diary. (Read the review!) The next step in the process was adding a smart thermostat. I received a Lyric Round Wi-Fi Thermostat for review. This second generation unit is small but packs a punch. It’s awesome!
I like to joke about having a black thumb, but the truth of the matter is that ever since I got a Click & Grow Smart Herb Garden, I’ve been feeling a lot better about my gardening prowess.
I use the Dyson Pure Cool Link Tower every day; I keep it running on automatic in my oldest stepdaughter’s room, where it not only keeps her cool, it also keeps her room smelling fresh. I’m in the process of building a new office outside, and so news of the new Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link definitely caught my attention.
We’ve reviewed several weather stations in the past, but the BloomSky SKY1 is in a class of its own. Not only does it give you up to the minute weather info from your chosen location, it creates a time-lapse movie of the entire day, and it allows you to share your info and movies easily with others.
Your computer is now thin, powerful, and gets great battery life. Your tablet is even thinner, often just as powerful, and gets even better battery life. Your workflow is truly mobile. And yet, if you want to print a document, you need to go into the office. Thanks to the HP OfficeJet 200 Mobile Printer, that’s no longer the case!
A healthy adult’s temperature hovers in the 98.something range, but we normally don’t give our temperature a second thought until we feel like crap. But once we feel bad, the first thing we want is that tangible proof that we aren’t just being wusses — that we really can call in sick — and that’s why we have thermometers.
Samsung has collaborated with the Parisian design duo of Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec to create the SERIF TV; in the process, they have re-envisioned not only “how the TV looks but also how it functions.” From top to bottom, inside and out, the Bouroullec Brothers re-imagined every aspect, from its minimal yet solid exterior form to its refined user interface and even its simplified remote control. The Samsung SERIF TV is just as beautiful to watch as it is to experience, with the best picture quality available in a 40” TV. The SERIF TV draws inspiration from typography: from the…
Raina and I are finishing up the first phase of our home renovation. When we set out to redo the kitchen and both of the upstairs bathrooms one of my goals was to add smart features wherever possible and have speakers in each and every room. That’s where the iHome iCVBT7 Double-sided Vanity Mirror with Bluetooth Speakerphone comes in!
Boogie Board, makers of fantastic LCD e-writers, are back with two new offerings, the Scribble n’ Play and the Jot 4.5 featuring Clearview. These new e-writers are geared towards kids, as the Scribble n’ Play features a Colorburst screen and the Jot 4.5 features a translucent screen for writing practice. Both are available today on MyBoogieBoard.com starting at $19.99.
I run a cattle ranch in West Texas; most of our community’s livelihood relies upon the weather, so when we ask each other “how much rain did you get?”, it’s not just idle chit-chat. Having an accurate way to measure what’s happening with the weather at all times is important, and that’s why I’m excited about the BloomSky weather station system.
One thing that my home way truly missing was a really good home stereo/music system, so while shopping around I stumbled across the Mu-so by Naim Audio. While expensive at $1499, the speaker gets the job done!
When Raina and I bought our house, I knew I wanted to add ceiling fans and smart functionality. (I know, you are shocked!) The Haiku Ceiling Fan from Big Ass Fans covers both of those “wants”, and the company was kind enough to send a Series L fan along with their Wall Control Module that adds their SenseME technology.
Brooklyn Bedding’s website offers the tagline “One Mattress to Rule Them All.” It’s an interesting statement but slightly inaccurate. You see, this is the third “bed in a box” I’ve reviewed, and it’s the one that offers the most options. In addition to a range of sizes, it also offers a range of firmness. And the price can’t be beat.
With the 4th of July weekend coming up, why not splurge a little and get yourself a new mattress, and get a FREE one on Casper?
Having a pet in your home while you’re at work sometimes can scare a lot of pet owners. You never truly know what could happen to your best friend, and sometimes you want to look after them from your desk like the stalker parent you are.
The ilumi smartbulb brings a ton of features to a previously “dumb” appliance. Unscrew your boring old light bulb and screw in the ilumi smartbulb and you’ll get a highly efficient, color changing, music sync’d, presence detecting light bulb that can be controlled by your smartphone via Bluetooth connectivity. You can get yourself an ilumi A19 smartbulb for $59.99.
I tend to hunch while typing; it’s completely unconscious and unintentional, but it results in me bunching my neck and shoulder muscles to the point of pain. I love the idea of a massager that I can passively operate on my own — without having someone else hold it, or without having to angle and hold it myself.