Radio Interference on an otherwise good device – Reviewing Bluetooth Car Receiver

I was pretty excited to order this device, as my car doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth capabilities. As such, I have to snake-around an auxilary output cable into the 3.5mm audio plug in my car. Things can get tangled, even if I use cable ties. It’s also unnerving knowing that the cables can sometimes dangle a little bit.

The packaging was nice on the outside, but rather poor on the inside. I remember having to pull the device out with a lot of force, while trying to be careful not to let it go flying across the room. The instructions and the 3.5mm audio cable fell on the floor and I didn’t even notice them for a few minutes.

The device itself is made of glossy plastic. It doesn’t feel like a “premium” product, but I think it would get the job done. I would be hesitant to leave the device in the middle of summer or winter. The buttons seem intuitive, as the symbols to denote them can be easily-discerned.

A few things that I like about this device are:

• Pretty-good build quality – I feel like the build-quality is more sturdy than a lot of devices in this price range

• You can play music from a memory card

• It has a 3.5mm audio jack

• It has three USB outlets

• You don’t have to recharge it; just plug it in and you’re good to go

When I plugged it into my car, I noticed several problems:

• The gearshift, when in Park-mode, gets in the way of the receiver.

• The microphone isn’t very good – I find myself having to lean over to speak into the speaker just to make sure my voice is heard. Of course, don’t do this while the car is in motion, not even at a traffic stop. I tried this in my driveway.

• The sound quality is poor compared to the 3.5 mm auxiliary audio cable I usually use

• There’s a delay when I want to use the Siri capabilities on my iPhone. I’ll speak, but then i’ll hear the beep on my phone that says for me to start talking. In the end, my phone never recognizes my command–which is something I never dealt with when I used my 3.5 mm auxiliary audio cable

For this price, I would much-prefer a bluetooth receiver that could plug into the 3.5mm audio jack in my car. The one drawback with that, of course, is that some 3.5mm bluetooth receivers have a rechargeable battery; this means that it will definitely wear-out over time and may not be user-replaceable.

If I were to improve on this device, I would say do the following:

• Allow this device to be mounted on the dashboard or the window – you won’t have to crane your neck trying to speak and it won’t block any of the essential driving controls.

• Switch the power outlet options, since so many people use devices that plug-in to a cigarette lighter socket (i.e. dash cams, backup cameras, etc.). I could think of a few solutions

• Make this a USB-powered device

• Keep it as a cigarette lighter slot-powered device, but include 2-3 extra cigarette lighter slots built-in to the device itself.

. As it stands now, I would say that this is a slightly-below average product. Believe me, it’s a product that i’d really love to give just an average review on. However, it just doesn’t deliver in terms of convenience, sound quality, or driver safety.

Carries everything but a good value – Reviewing the WeReach Backseat Car Organizer for Kids and Toddlers

My car can often be a mess, I have to confess. I think, throughout my life, old habits die hard – my cubby, locker, dorm, and bedroom weren’t always clean. So, to remedy this mess, I looked and found what might be a good idea – a backseat organizer.

Basically, they clip around the front seat of your car and wrap around so that your passengers (especially kids) will have plenty of pockets to keep their items organized in. Really, when you think of what you can fit, you are really only limited by its dimensions and your imagination.

I ordered this particular product because it was on sale and, from the looks of the pictures, it appeared to be a premium product because it was made of faux-leather. The shipping speed was good and it was packed in a plastic bag. When I opened the bag, no instructions fell to the floor. “It’s pretty intuitive” I kept telling myself as I unfolded the organizer. I was a bit disappointed because this wasn’t the glossy leather product I had seen pictured. Well, it was, but the photos on the site I purchased it from made the product look a lot more luxurious. The overall construction felt like it wouldn’t last a long time because it was rather thin. There were a few loose-seams, which was foreshadowing an inevitable premature end. Some of the pockets seemed rather small, while others were sagging (especially the pocket for the tissue box), so I didn’t really like the workmanship on this product.

Literally two-thirds of the installation process was intuitive, as I could strap the top two-straps to my backseat without any issues. For the dangling hooks on the third pair of straps, I had no idea what to do with. They couldn’t be clipped together, as they would inevitably unlatch themselves and be an injury risk to the driver and passengers. They weren’t long enough to be wrapped from underneath the seat. So I just left them dangling there.

I didn’t like this product and I will be returning this.

You can find the product on amazon.com/gp/product/B07DZCX658

Retails for around $16 with included taxes.

One Butt-Up for this Bike Seat

Check out the video review here

Purchase the bike seat here

*Overview*

I recently purchased a bike and – after going on several rides – my behind was aching for days. I purchased this bike seat on a whim, as I was looking for something with wider support, a softer cushion, and a spring to absorb bumps in the road.

*Installation*

This bike seat was very easy to install. This can be installed on the rail clamps or directly on to the seat post. The instructions were very clear. The only trouble I had on my end had nothing to do with the seat itself, but rather, taking the seat off my existing bike.

*Testing*

I took a leisurely ride on my bike during the weekend with this seat installed. I was very impressed that the seat absorbed the bumps on the road. When I got off the bike after about 45 minutes, the left-side of my behind was aching. I guess that’s better than my old seat, which left my entire behind screaming in pain. Perhaps I have to get used to it. If I notice any changes, I will be sure to update this review accordingly.

*Value*

I purchased this seat for $22.49 on June 12, 2018 on Amazon. Today is June 27 and I noticed that the price went up to $24.99. I went on CamelCamelCamel.com and noticed that the site didn’t have enough data to compare price changes.

I feel that $22.49 is too high a price for this particular bike seat. If it offered some amazing feature – like Bell’s Storage Saddle or GT Road’s Lighted Bike Seat – then the price could be justified. As it stands now, I feel that $15 would be a more-than-fair MSRP for this seat.

*Verdict*

3.5/5 Stars – This is a nice seat; however, one part of my behind is still sore. Then there’s the price…the price is too high. In a sea of thousands of different bike seats to choose from, this seat is generic because it doesn’t offer a cool feature that makes it stand out.

A not-so-bright future: The X-DNENG Solar Phone Charger 10000 mAh

Product can be found here

*Overview*

Solar battery chargers for USB electronics have always fascinated me. What a cool option to have when a plug outlet isn’t available! However, I wasn’t willing to shell-out between $40-$60 for one. Instead, I got this budget-friendly model. Is it any good? We’ll find out!

*Packaging*

The battery and it’s included accessories came in a very small box, which minimizes waste and keeps everything secure during the shipping process.

Inside the box, you’ll find:

-Battery

-USB charging cable (if there’s an outlet available)

-Holder with suction cups

-Small carabiner keychain

The holder is very flimsy and I have no idea what the carabiner is for. If it’s there to clip your battery on to your backpack, I couldn’t find a loop to install it to. Not like I would have clipped this on my backpack, as the carabiner is as flimsy as the holder.

*Testing*

I found that this battery charger was adequate for my needs.

When placed close-enough to the light, you’ll see a green light – as well as some battery levels light up in green – to indicate that the unit is being charged by solar light. Before you get excited, I felt that the solar power was more of a gimmick. For example, before I fully-charged the unit, I used the suction cup mount to mount the battery to my window. Before securing it, I ensured that the battery was indeed charging under solar light. After a couple of days, I plugged in the battery into my device and it barely worked.

I would highly recommend charging this using a wall outlet, as the solar power really doesn’t work much. The 10k mAh is a reasonable amount for a product of this capacity.

After a few charges, I discovered that there is no way that this could hold the 10k mAh as claimed. I have a good quality 5k mAh battery and it will charge my iPhone 7 Plus at least twice before needing to be recharged. This only went through one charge and then it needed to be recharged.

*Value*

Currently, this product has an MSRP of $21.99. I checked CamelCamelCamel.com and I noticed that there wasn’t any price changes. This is indicative that, on it’s own, this product is a good value. However, when compared to similar products – especially those with twice the capacity that go on sale for about $29.99 – it is a bit too expensive, in my honest opinion.

If this had more capacity – at around 15k mAh – this would be a good deal.

2/5 Stars – Cheap accessories, virtually non-existent solar charging, a lower-than-claimed battery capacity and a higher-than-average price makes this product mediocre at best.

Rock, Paper, or Scissors? A review of Table King’s Multi-Purpose Kitchen Scissors

Check out my video review here!

Click here to purchase the product

*Packaging*

Packaging is adequate and doesn’t use too many materials. It arrived in a small bubble-wrapped envelope, so there was plenty of cushioning.

*Does it make the cut?*

I was disappointed to discover that there wasn’t a blade cover for these scissors. If you’re a parent, I advise you to take an extra-special precaution to keep these blades away from children. Not only are they easy to open, but they are sharp enough to cause severe injury.

In my hand, the scissor’s plastic handle wasn’t very solid. It didn’t have that hefty weight that I look for in scissors. Naturally, it makes cutting packages much more-difficult. The blade was sharp, but not sharp-enough to make a cutting easy.

*Durability*

One of the selling points of these knives is that they are rust and corrosion-resistant. I will keep trying them out, wash them carefully, and will update this review if I encounter any issues that challenge this claim.

*Style*

It looks like something i’d buy from my local Dollar Tree store.

*Warning*

I was disappointed to discover that these scissors have – according to the state of California – an element that is known to cause cancer.

*Customer Service*

They were nothing but nice and responsive to me. Kudos!

*Verdict*

2.5/5 stars

For basic scissors, these are fine. They are pretty run-of-the-mill in terms of budget scissors. Cutting ability is average, while the customer service goes above and beyond. However, what really dinged this review was the fact that the scissors contain a cancer-causing element.

*Disclaimer*

I was reimbursed for this product by the manufacturer. There was no incentive to write a positive review, nor would I have accepted this review assignment if I was coaxed into writing a glowing review.

Book Review: “Mom, what is love?”

Purchase the book on Amazon

*This review is free of any specific spoilers*

This is an incredibly-quick read, perhaps more so than many similar books.

*Themes*

Initially, as the title of the book implies, I thought that this book would be about defining what love is – its characteristics, the feelings you get, the sacrifices, etc. However, this book barely touched on any of the characteristics of love. Rather, it was a mish-mash of random scenarios that were not logically connected. The reader was perhaps supposed to discover the type of love being conveyed, such as fraternal, maternal, friendship, romantic, and so on.

A few of the themes covered are: death, materialism, divorce, love aging, and the colors of love. The first three I thought were inappropriate for a child. Certainly, I wouldn’t want to see any of it when I was a kid. A few bright spots included sibling rivalry, loving days of the week, loving yourself, and maternal love. The characteristics that made those bright spots great was that they were very common experiences that pretty much everyone could relate to.

*Voice*

As the title implies, I had an idea that the main character would be finding out what love was from his mother. I was half-right in the sense that the book focuses on the child, but the mother’s voice is just hearsay from the main character, as opposed to a mother’s timeless advice on love. The main voice in this book is the child, whose mind busily wanders trying to grasp the essence of love. Basically, it is like talking to a five year old – except without all the fun of talking to a child. There’s no whimsical adorableness, you can’t ask clarifying questions, there’s no excitement, and there’s no “Aha!’ lightbulb moments.

I felt that the adult characters in the book needed some actual quoted dialogue, as this strategy would have served as the perfect springboard to clarify any confusion, as well as to outright- state themes and morals.

*Readability*

When I look for a good children’s book, I expect it to be thought-provoking, yet easily-understandable that even a little kid could comprehend it. This had absolutely none of the former and very little of the latter. If I were to read this to a child, they may not understand any of the highly-specific scenarios that don’t necessarily speak to a wide range of families out there. In order for me to read this to a child, I feel that I would have to read, re-read, and take some notes. To me, at least, that’s hardly a children’s book – that’s more of a classroom lesson plan.

*Illustrations*

I can tell that the illustrator put effort into making great illustrations. They reminded me quite a bit of some of the Amelia Bedelia, Clifford, and The Little Prince books that I read – and that’s somewhat of a problem for me. To me, the illustrations are very generic and don’t have a unique artistic element, where you could say, “Aha! I knew who illustrated this!”

Perhaps the bigger problem was that – at least for such a deep question like love – it would have been great to include more background scenery to make the characters more multi-dimensional, thereby giving you a better chance of teasing-out the themes of this book. Background objects and scenarios are especially effective when trying to accomplish this.

*Summary*

I would love to say that this book has potential – that it just needs some more artwork, more clarification, and more characterization. In all honesty, I wish that this review was reviewing a work-in-progress and this review didn’t need to be published to a wider audience. However, this book is currently published and doesn’t look like it will be getting a well-deserved revision. As of this writing – it can be bought for $2 on Kindle, $10 paperback, $15 hardback, and can be read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

It pains me to leave a bad review of a book that I can tell had a good amount of effort put into it. However, the truth when I was reading this was: if I can’t understand what’s going on, is there any chance that a kid could understand? How do I ferret-out the themes in this book and convey it to a child without confusing them even more? Although this is a quick read, you’ll spend most of your time wading through the one-dimensional characters and muddled themes to discover what love is about – or at least attempt to.

2/5 stars – appreciate the effort, though

A literal golden parachute to keep you covered – High Pulse’s Speed and Stamina Increasing Resistance Parachute (Size Small)

Click here to check out my video review

Buy the product on Amazon

*Overview*

I have a confession to make – ever since I was a little kid, I have always been fascinated by parachutes. Is it the exhilaration of jumping-out of a plane, knowing you’re covered? Is it gliding through the air as busy roads turn into eerily-quiet, slow-moving dots? Or maybe the relief of it’s humanitarian uses in poorer countries? Maybe all three – and more!

I was pretty interested to see if this product actually worked. More importantly, I wanted to see if this product was well-built to survive the everyday rigors of running. The idea is quite simple – harness the power of air to create wind-resistance to slow you down while running. Simple enough. However, what really separates products in this category is build quality, customer service, value, and extra features. So, let’s jump out and see what this parachute is all about!

*Packaging*

 

Since there are no parts that can break, really, this product was shipped in a small, tightly-packed box. Not only is this environmentally-friendly, but it also provides added the belt lots of cushion from the parachute itself. Inside, you will find:

• Parachute
• Drawstring bag
• Belt with clip
• Bonus! Tie-free laces

*Design*

 

This parachute gets top marks in terms of design. Not only is the fabric on both the parachute and the drawstring made of rip-stop fabric, but there is no string on the parachute to get tangled. The design is a mix between a regular parachute and the string free, mesh-lined parachutes that you likely found on toy army men when you were younger. Instead of a single piece of mesh netting, there are strips of the mesh netting around the circumference of the parachute.

*Testing*

We put this parachute through several tests and it passed wonderfully on each. Here is what I tested:

• Opening capabilities
• 20 lb weight resistance on rip-stop parachute material
• 20 lb weight resistance on parachute netting
• 20 lb weight resistance on the sewing between the rip-stop parachute material and the netting

*Value*

On the surface, this appears to be a good value. However, I used CamelCamelCamel.com to check on the price history of this item in the Size Small Version. Unfortunately, it came with no results. However, when I purchased this item on May 3, 2018 for $12.99, the price decreased to $10.99. I thought that the initial price I paid was fair – given the excellent build-quality and extra tie-less laces.

*Customer Service*

I can’t comment on the Customer Service, since I had no issues with this product – which, of course, isn’t a bad sign.

*Verdict*

5/5 Stars – I could find no discernible flaws with this product. The product has outstanding build quality and I would be more than willing to purchase another one of these parachutes for the initial $12.99 asking price.

*Recap*

Pros

-Product works well
-Generous size (even for the small size I reviewed)
-Carrying sack
-Bonus no-tie shoelaces
-Excellent material
-Excellent sewing
-High visibility
-Very-reasonably priced

Cons

-$2 cheaper now than when I originally purchased it (minor)

Not a cut above the rest – Table King’s Steak Knives Set

Check out my video review here!

Click here to purchase the product

*Packaging*

As you can see from the above picture, packaging is adequate and doesn’t use too many materials. It arrived in a small bubble-wrapped envelope, so there was plenty of cushioning.

*”Unsheathing” a knife*

I was disappointed to discover that there wasn’t a blade cover for these knives. If you’re a parent, I advise you to take an extra-special precaution to keep these blades away from children. Not only are they easy to open, but they are sharp enough to cause severe injury.

In my hand, while the knife’s plastic handle was very solid, it didn’t have that hefty weight that I look for in knives. Naturally, it makes slicing into foods much more-difficult. The blade was sharp, but not sharp-enough to make a cutting easy. I bent the blade quite a bit to test the build-quality and it seems like these will last a while.

*Durability*

One of the selling points of these knives is that they are rust and corrosion-resistant. I will keep trying them out, wash them carefully, and will update this review if I encounter any issues that challenge this claim.

*Style*

The style is that of a cheap steak knife. It looks like something i’d buy from my local Dollar Tree store. I definitely wouldn’t put these knives out if I were hosting company. They are more-suitable for private dining.

*Warning*

I was disappointed to discover that these knives have – according to the state of California – an element that is known to cause cancer.

 

*Customer Service*

They were nothing but nice and responsive to me. Kudos!

 

*Verdict*

2.5/5 stars

For basic knives, these are fine. They are pretty run-of-the-mill in terms of budget knives. Cutting ability is average, while the customer service goes above and beyond. However, what really dinged this review was the fact that the knives contain a cancer-causing element.

 

*Disclaimer*

I was reimbursed for this product by the manufacturer. There was no incentive to write a positive review, nor would I have accepted this review assignment if I was coaxed into writing a glowing review.

Give joint pain a “chill-pill:” Review of Terrafreeze

Background

I’m a younger guy that has both lower back pain, as well as a dull pain that affects both of my knees. I would classify my pain as moderate and noticeable.

I was drawn to this product based on the following criteria I had:

-No scent/Pleasant scent
-Applied easily
-No greasy fingers post-application
-Increased cooling abilities, compared to my current product

Check out my video review of TerraFreeze!

Comparison

I am comparing this product to a Dollar Store imitation of Mineral Ice (R) Pain Relieving gel.

Packaging

This cream was packaged in a small box. Inside, the jar of cream has a tamper evident outer-seal, as well as an inner-seal. Personally, I thought that the box was unnecessary, as I often get Petroleum Jelly that is just in a small jar.

Scent

Exactly like Life-Savers (R) Peppermint Candies. To me, that’s a pleasant smell. However, some people may not like it. I could see it reminding someone of denture cleaner or toothpaste.

I would characterize the scent level as moderate – it isn’t barely-noticeable, but neither is it overpowering.

Texture

Soft and creamy – it feels like it melts into your hands, yet is thick enough to be felt in your hands. From this test alone, you may not be able to determine how easily this stuff rolls on. Which is why we have to go to…

Application and Post-Application

This stuff goes on very easily and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin, which is nice.

If anyone says you smell nice, just say you like breath mints

Cooling Activation

Compared to my other product, this takes noticeably more time for the cooling sensation to activate. However, your patience will be rewarded…

Cooling sensation

On a personal scale, I would rate the cooling abilities of this cream around an 8. This stuff is practically Antarctica in a jar!

Amazingly, despite the extreme cold, it never felt like I had frost-bite at all.

Bonus – If someone makes a deprecating comeback toward you, just apply this burn cream

Overall Effectiveness

13 hours after I applied this, I was cycling and – in my morning brain fog – I completely forgot I had knee joint pain. However, take that with a grain of salt, as it is notoriously-difficult to wake me up in the morning. I probably have deeper sleep than a zombie or even a vampire.

16 hours after I applied this, I was sitting at my desk at work in the morning. I pressed on my lower back and I could barely feel any pain.

Value

On the TerraFreeze website, the two-ounce jar retails for about $50. As of this writing, there was a sale for about $25.

As much as I really like this product, I do not believe that the cost can be justified. Compared to my Mineral Ice knock-off that was only $1, the uptick in performance is just way too expensive. While the Mineral Ice knock-off is stickier and doesn’t cool as much, it is still very much a better value than this.

Customer Service

Great! Shipping was on the slower side and it took 5 business days. Not a big deal to me.

Verdict

3.5/5 Stars – Despite the smaller jar, extra packaging, and slower shipping, these aren’t discernible flaws that would take-away from how effective this cream really is.

However, the very-high cost for such a product is – in my opinion – not worth it and I am deducting 1.5 stars. I’m sure, if you searched further out there, you would be able to find a cheaper product that is just as effective.

Please keep in mind that my pains aren’t severe and I only have one product to compare it to.

*NOTE*

I was given a free product in exchange for my unbiased review.

A Close Shave – Zone 365’s Foot Shaver

Check out the video review here!

Purchase the foot shaver here!

*Packaging*

Indeed, simpler is better, as the shaver was simply packaged in a plastic bag.. This product was packaged just right, as it balanced adequate support with minimalist materials . Because of the excellent build-quality, there wasn’t any need for a box. I also think that this is a good testament to this product’s workmanship – if it can survive the tumbles of shipping, I imagine that it could withstand the toughest tasks you throw at it.

*Functionality*

Shavers are pretty simple to use. However, a lot of manufacturers can screw this up by not including a sturdy handle or correctly-sized holes. This shaver suffered none of those problems. Even when I aggressively shaved, this product was solid as a rock.

*Verdict*

5/5 Stars – As far as shavers go, I could find no discernible-flaws with this product whatsoever. If you are looking for a good, solid entry-level shaver, this would hands-down be my pick. For me, at least, I don’t need a fancy gel or rubber handle when this hard-plastic handle will do the job just as well.