Category: Gadgets

Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

Hopefully there will come a day when all that boring stuff we don’t want to do is done by robots. We already have machines wash dishes for us and wash our clothes. Now we even have robot vacuum cleaners! They’re really quite convenient, hoovering up any dirt with the push of a button. What’s not to love about these little guys? Today, we’re bringing you our list of the best robot vacuum cleaners.

Robotic vacuums have come a long way. The latest iterations have stronger suction, better edge-cleaning capabilities, and improved programming. for daily cleaning of surface debris, a robotic vacuum can work wonders—if you choose one of our top-rated models. And you no longer have to spend $1,000 to get great performance. If you’re thinking of purchasing one of these little machines, consider your flooring (some are better on carpet, others on bare floors), the layout of your home, and the types of detritus your home generates (pet hair, kid spills).

Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners

iRobot
These popular robot vacuum cleaners have been in production since the early 2000’s. Their Roomba 890 is a great option, as it comes with an app that allows you to schedule when it will clean. You can also set cleaning patterns to make sure the Roomba doesn’t miss those corners and hidden areas.

Roomba’s offerings are generally mid-priced compared to the competition. While they’re not the most technologically impressive, they’re generally pretty good. Remote activation and scheduling are the biggest draws to these classic robot vacuum cleaners.

The great thing about the iRobot brand is that they were pioneers of this industry and over the years have been able to offer a giant array of different products with different price points. you can get the older models for $150 or you can get their top of the line for almost $1000.

iRobot 690

Last year’s mid-range fave is still a great pick. It has many of iRobot’s covetable features, without the staggering prices. It connects to the same easy-to-use app to schedule cleanings and check battery life and even uses the same invisible wall barrier system. A few downgrades were inevitable—instead of the 980’s powerful AeroForce cleaning technology, the 690 has an earlier iteration called AeroVac, and the wonderful rubber carpet agitator was swapped for a boring, but effective carpet brush. But these are acceptable tradeoffs for being able to pocket more dough.

iRobot i7+
iRobot’s Roomba i7+ solves one of the most pressing robovac pain points: It can empty its own bin. This is in addition to smart maps that let the user map up to 10 different floor plans. In iRobot’s simple app, you can designate different zones in each floor plan, then remotely send the i7+ to tidy up the foyer and bathroom while leaving the cluttered bedrooms untouched. It also has updated navigation tech and a proprietary rubber carpet agitator to grab grime. If you can justify spending a month’s rent on a home appliance, this is it.

Samsung POWERbot R7070
On the higher end of prices is the Samsung POWERbot. This little robot is Alexa-enabled, and even works with Google Home. It sports a HEPA filter, which is great for those with allergies. It has smart-deploying side brushes that pop out when it gets near walls. This is a huge improvement over other side brushes that can scatter dirt when not near a wall.

The POWERbot also offers app functionality, programability and scheduling. You can activate it remotely and even view its pattern and path. It has great power, too, sucking up dirt, pet hair and messes with the best of them.

Eufy Robo Vac11

On the less-expensive side of things is the Eufy Robo Vac11. This entry doesn’t have any Wi-Fi connectivity, and it doesn’t feature a companion app. The trade-off is a lower price, and the vacuum is controlled from a remote instead. You can still program a schedule for the little robot, but you can’t check on it from your phone or change it remotely.

All in all, these three options are all pretty great! The biggest difference is price. If you’re looking for a robot vacuum, any of these would be a great choice. The biggest question is how much money you want to spend!

October 17, 2018
5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

1. The iRobot Roomba

Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

2. The Nest Thermostat

Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

3. Brilliant Light Switch

With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly.

5. The Ring II doorbell system

The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

The Conclusion

With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.

October 5, 2018
The Fix and Update to the iPhone XS Charging Issue

The iphone XS and XS Max are tremendously successful. While the release has not been the blockbuster event it usually is in the US it was all in all a great launch and a wonderful iPhone day celebration. However there have been massive complaints about Apple’s fancy new iPhone XS, The iPhone XS charging issue. It appeared that when the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max started arriving in people’s hands late last month with the iPhone XS charging issue. Reports started that the iPhone wouldn’t charge when connected to a lightning cable while the screen was asleep.

Reports say the phone would recognize the charger. It would give that comforting buzz and alert sound that let you all know power is good and on its way to iPhone glory. Sadly the phones were not charging. I have tried to duplicate the issues but with no success.

Now Apple never commented publicly on the issue, but a beta update out today (iOS 12.1) solves the problem. I have been using me XS Max since the launch date with no charging issue what so ever. It is still in Beta so it has to be thoroughly tested before a commercial release. Apple is already advertising how iOS 12.1 comes with some new emoji as well. That is good news and the release should be available soon.

I Have the Fix for the iPhone XS Charging Issue

However if you are having the iphone charging issues the Media is dubbing “Chargegate”. They tend to over react when ever their is a problem with the iphones. remember in 2010 when the electricity in your body was causing iphone 4 to drop calls. Was that casegate or antennagate? I can remember. Needless to say I have a fix for chargegate… QI

Qi?

Qi (the Chinese word for “energy flow“, pronounced like the “chee“ in “cheese“) is the universal standard for wireless charging of battery operated devices like cell phones, iPods, MP3 players and cameras. The wireless power transfer occurs through electromagnetic induction. With inductive charging the required power reaches the device not through a traditional cable but rather wirelessly through the use of electromagnetic fields. The principle is very simple: the Qi Sender (Charging Station) transfers the required energy to the Qi receiver (the mobile phone).

Simply using a relatively inexpensive Qi wireless charger, readily available on Amazon… Problem is solved. No need for hysterics, and the update will be out soon.

October 2, 2018
Microsoft HoloLens 2 slated for 2019 release

Microsoft will apparently released the long awaited Hololens 2 in the first quarter of 2019. Code-named Sydney within Microsoft, the device will be cheaper than the original (which costs $3,000), be lighter in weight, and more comfortable to wear, according to a news reports. At this time, we don’t know a whole lot of what Hololens 2 will be outfitted with, but the word is Microsoft is going all in on this one. Upon its release, Hololens 2 is fully expected to surpass Google AR goggles and the Oculus Rift.

What We Know So Far

According to Alex Kipman, Microsoft Technical Fellow of the Windows and Devices Group and key advocate for HoloLens, it’s been earmarked for the new version of the AR headset that the company has in the pipeline. Indeed, the HoloLens team had already previewed some of the news about the new sensor earlier in the year, beating CEO Satya Nadella to the punch. The sensor has 1024 x 1024 resolution, Kipman says, and a global shutter for improved performance in sunlight conditions. It has the highest figure of merit, too – that is to say, the highest modulation frequency and modulation contrast – which means lower power consumption. Indeed, overall system power is just 225-950 mw. That’s despite adding things like automatic per-pixel gain selection, for a broader dynamic range. That will give HoloLens 2 better abilities at capturing both near and far objects. There’s multiphase depth calculation support, which will preserve accuracy even if the chip, laser, or power supplies vary.

“With HoloLens, we saw incredible results when we took some of the magic of Kinect and applied it in a mixed reality context,” Kipman writes “The current version of HoloLens uses the third generation of Kinect depth-sensing technology to enable it to place holograms in the real world. With HoloLens we have a device that understands people and environments, takes input in the form of gaze, gestures and voice, and provides output in the form of 3D holograms and immersive spatial sound.”

Summary

At an expected cost of around $3,000.00 it’s hard to say what can be expected for the Hololens 2. If the hype around it is real, then it maybe worth scraping up some dough and getting yourself a new toy. For now, I’ll anxiously await to hear more about the specs on these bad boys.

October 2, 2018
The Vaultek MX Takes The Next Step Forward in Gun Safe Technology

Vaultek recently released the new state of the art gun safe “The MX” which comes fully loaded with Biometrics and all sorts of smart tech to make accessing your weapons easy in an emergency situation, but extremely secure when when being stored away. Complete with a smart phone app that can access the safe and log everytime the safe is opened, there is no better way to store your weaponry.

The Vault MX

Here is some basic information about the operations of the safe: The all new MX Series, the latest addition to Vaultek’s rugged line of smart safes. Designed to offer the largest interior space available from Vaultek with custom options the enthusiast gun owner will love. Height Adjustable shelf has (3) positions and slides out for convenient access. Modular Accessories can clip in where you like for full customization. Twin Pistol Rack with non-reactive foam is included and additional pistol racks as well as a non-reactive foam Magazine Rack can be purchased separately that stores up to (8) magazines. Precision Engineered 14-gauge steel housing and 12-gauge door pens automatically. MX and VT Series safes are equipped with the fastest access point available, smart key. Another feature exclusive to MX and VT Series is impact detection. Securely anchor with supplied mounting hardware to mount horizontally or vertically. Anti-theft features include anti-pry bars, interior hinges, and dual anti-impact latches.

Integrated smart safe technology raises personal security to a new level with upgraded high-resolution fingerprint scanner (only biometric model) storing up to 20 different user IDs. Remotely access the safe using the APP 2.0 from your smartphone to check power levels, view safe history, detect tampering, and customize your safe preferences. A built-in interior red light provides high visibility of your items. The backlit keypad illuminates via proximity sensor making it easy to navigate at night and features several hot key entries including toggling the Bluetooth on/off. The control panel features an LCD screen for prompt safe feedback and status updates. Long lasting rechargeable lithium ion battery keeps you powered for months, and only needs 2.5 hours to recharge with the included micro-USB charging kit. Vaultek is on mission to keep your belongings secure and out of the wrong hands. Exterior Dimensions 15″ x 11.5″ x 11.6″. Interior Dimensions 13″ x 11″ x 8.6″. U.S

October 2, 2018
5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

1. The iRobot Roomba

Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

2. The Nest Thermostat

Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

3. Brilliant Light Switch

With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly.

5. The Ring II doorbell system

The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

The Conclusion

With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.

October 2, 2018
U.S. Military Chooses New Light Attack War Plane

The New War-Bird

In a Fly-Off to see which plane would become the U.S. Military’s new Light Attack War-Bird, The EMB Super Tucano and the AT-6 Wolverine went head to head to show us what they got. After impressive flying and displaying combat skills, it appears the EMB 314 Super Tucano will win the bid to be the new “Light Attack Aircraft” as of 2019. The Sierra Nevada aircraft company was awarded the $1.5 billion dollar US Contract indefinitely. The company was “awarded a ceiling $1,808,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity contract for potential procurement, sustainment, modifications, ferry, and related equipment for the A-29,”

The warbirds main purpose will be to perform in small, quick, intermediate counter-insurgency mission. This will be to further assist our efforts in Afghanistan, while greatly reducing cost in the aircraft department as the F22 Raptor cost around $339 Million dollars each to produce. The a-29’s will be produced in Jacksonville, FL and at the U.S. Kabul base as well.

What can she do?

According to Air Force Officials: A-29s are turboprop planes armed with one 20mm cannon below the fuselage able to shoot 650 rounds per minute, one 12.7mm machine gun (FN Herstal) under each wing and up to four 7.62mm Dillion Aero M134 Miniguns able to shoot up to 3,000 rounds per minute. Super Tucanos are also equipped with 70mm rockets, air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9L Sidewinder, air-to-ground weapons such as the AGM-65 Maverick and precision-guided bombs. It can also use a laser rangefinder and laser-guided weapons. The Super Tucano is a highly maneuverable light attack aircraft able to operate in high temperatures and rugged terrain. It is 11.38 meters long and has a wingspan of 11.14 meters; its maximum take-off weight is 5,400 kilograms. The aircraft has a combat radius of 300 nautical miles, can reach speeds up to 367 mph and hits ranges up to 720 nautical miles. It’s main purpose and functions are as follows:

– Basic Surface Attack – Assess impact accuracy using hit/miss criteria of practice/laser-guided bomb, and unguided/guided rockets
– Close Air Support (CAS) – Assess ability to find, fix, track target and engage simulated operational targets while communicating with the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC)
– Daytime Ground Assault Force (GAF) – assess aircraft endurance, range, ability to communicate with ground forces through unsecure and secure radio and receive tactical updates
– Rescue Escort (RESCORT) – Assess pilot workload to operate with a helicopter, receive area updates and targeting data, employ ballistic, unguided/guided rockets and laser-guided munitions
– Night CAS – Assess pilot workload to find, fix, track, target and engage operational targets

Summary

I think this is a great new way of conserving our military budget and allocating the funds into other much needed areas of the department. Because we have become so advanced and superior with our aircrafts, most of their functions could be considered “overkill” and not necessarily the most efficient. Additionally, I just love the old “Warbird” style aircrafts and glad to see they can still be utilized in this day and age. Would love to get a chance to see one up close!

September 14, 2018
5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

1. The iRobot Roomba

Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

2. The Nest Thermostat

Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

3. Brilliant Light Switch

With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly.

5. The Ring II doorbell system

The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

The Conclusion

With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.

September 12, 2018
Microsoft Unveils Limited Edition Greaseproof Controller

Microsoft has announced the next big thin in gaming innovation: grease-proof controllers. The rub (ha) is that they only made 200 of them. And they’re only available in Australia. Through an online giveaway. If your excitement just deflated faster than a popped balloon, you’re not alone. We also wanted this awesome controller. Just look at it! It’s a greaseproof controller! How cool is that!

The Greaseproof Controller

Mashable

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

The hilarious(ly awesome) greaseproof controller is a special edition giveaway through Microsoft’s social media. It’s only being given away in Australia, to make matter worse. Why a greaseproof controller, you ask? Why, to keep the chicken dinner’s grease from ruining your gamepad! That’s right, this goofy innovation is in honor of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds coming to Xbox One. PUBG is an immensely popular battle royale shooter that has been out on PC for some time. It’s arrival on consoles is a big deal.

In PUBG, the players fight for dominance in an ever-shrinking map with limited resources. You only have one life, so you have to be careful that you don’t get caught out of position! With cunning, fast reflexes, good equipment and a dash of luck you could end up winning the whole thing! If you do, you’re treated to the ridiculous victory phrase “winner, winner, chicken dinner.”

Limited Edition

So, there are only two hundred of these suckers in the world and they’re not even for sale. That’s truly unfortunate, as we could definitely think of some uses for this technology. Heck, we here at GoodFind would use the heck out of a greaseproof controller. Eating potato chips and playing Halo go together like peanut butter and jelly! We’re sure we’re not alone in this: how many times have you looked at your greasy controller and wished it was greaseproof?

Come on Microsoft, your fans would totally pay money for a greaseproof controller! What’s that, you say? We should stop being gross and eating greasy snacks while we play video games? Wait, you’re saying we should stop gaming so much and get back to writing articles on tech and news? Well, those are solid points, but we’d like to offer a rebuttal. Look at how awesome that yellow-on-gray controller looks! Yeah, that’s all we’ve got. Stay frosty everybody! If Microsoft announces a mass-market release for this revolutionary tech, we’ll be sure to let you know!

September 7, 2018
5 “Smart Home” gadgets every house should have…

It’s 2018 folks, and the future is here. Astronauts are driving Tesla’s through space and the Reese’s company is doing some really innovative stuff with popcorn. With all this technology around us, it’s easy to take it all for granted and we sometimes don’t get all the use we can out of it and take advantage of smart home gadgets.

And the most important place you can use all this cool tech to your advantage is right in your very own home. Here are some amazing new smart home gadgets to make your life easier…

1. The iRobot Roomba

Ever since it’s inception in 2002, the Roomba vacuum has been an integral piece of smart home tech. With the ability to program this round robot to vacuum your home 7 days a week it can be a real time saver. With the latest 980 Model, the Roomba is more advanced that ever. With cutting edge mapping technology and dirt detection programs, this “set it and forget it” vacuum is a must have! For dog or pet owners life myself, I can stress it’s value enough. I have a lot on my plate and one thing I don’t to concern myself with is the daily sweeping thank to “Roger the Roomba”. Yes I named my Roomba, he’s family, folks. Word of advice…there are several competitors is the robot vacuum department, do yourself a favor and stick with the iRobot Roomba. You may a little more, but in this case “you get what you pay for”. This was been probably the best $900.00 I’ve ever spent.

2. The Nest Thermostat

Coming in at a price tag of $279.00, the Nest Thermostat is well worth the extra cost. Thanks to it’s smart and adaptive AI, the Nest knows when your home and learns your work schedule to monitor the A/C usage. You can also control the thermostat right form your Nest App on your mobile device to fine tune your A/C needs. For a native Floridan like myself, A/C usage and consumption is a real beast you have to tame. In the summer months, electric bills can soar thanks to primitive thermostats. There is nothing like a thermostat shutting down for the day knowing your at work, and then turn on a half hour before you get home so you don’t walk into a hot and muggy house. It’s just bliss. Once I had installed the Nest, I noticed an immediate 50% drop in my A/C consumption and a large drop in my electric bill respectively. This is a must have in your home.

3. Brilliant Light Switch

With the ability to control your homes, light, music, ambiance, and even take pictures with voice commands, the Brilliant light switch is a 2018 must have gadget for your home. Brilliant light switch also connects to several of your home’s smart gadgets such as Nest, Alexa, Sonos Speaker, Ring doorbell system, and more. Starting at $200.00 per panel, Brilliant Switch is a costly addition but this innovative new gadget gives your home a brain.

4. Amazon Echo and Echo Dot

This smart home “must” is quickly finding it’s way into every home, world wide. Alexa and Echo Dot, is a voice-controlled system that used to play music, make calls, send and receive messages, read the news, set alarms, and even order and Uber or takeout! With the capability of syncing up to Amazon-Fire, Apple Music, Audible, Pandora, and more, you easily find usage and justification for this piece of smart tech in your home. At a price tag of $150.00, the Amazon Echo has many uses to help in your home and is a fantastic smart home gadget. Word to the wise, Alexa has a built in microphone for consumer purposes that is ALWAYS LISTENING…Use responsibly.

5. The Ring II doorbell system

The Ring Video Doorbell, provides you with the capability to see who is at your door from the safety and comfort of your bed or couch. It lets you accept or deny visitor calls if you’re not home, and uses motion detection to alert you of activity on your doorstep even when the bell hasn’t been rung. By working off your home’s Wifi and mobile data, the 1080HD camera will alert your smart phone of any activity at your door step day or night. For an extra $3.00 a month, you can pay for cloud storage and have all moments video recorded for later purposes if desired. The newest model also has a 2 way intercom system, and infrared night vision. For that extra bit of security at a relatively inexpensive cost of $199.00, this doorbell is the must have for any smart home.

The Conclusion

With so many smart gadgets available, some better than others, these products can make our homes better, safer, and more convenient. 2018 is going to be a big tech year and the “smart home” business is growing evermore advanced daily. If you can pick-up just one of these items this year, you’ll be headed in the right direction. I’m still anxiously awaiting the release for Rosie the robot maid, but I may have to hold my breath for awhile.

September 5, 2018