marcoscu

NEEWER Sony ZV-E10 Camera Cage Review https://youtu.be/qqWoru6uswM More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/28vcyx9j Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: Having just bought a Sony ZV-E10 camera, as I do with every device I get, I looked around for the best accessories for it. The most important I think is a camera cage, both to protect the camera from impact damage and also to allow easy mounting of additional accessories without putting strain on the rather lightweight camera body. There are plenty of cages available, all very similar and priced between £35 and £60 with this one from Neewer coming in at £44 before discounts. I selected it in part due to the good reviews and also because I already use camera and video equipment from Neewer and have always been very happy with it. In the box, you get the cage itself together with a small double-sided sticky pad, a magnetic fitting tool preinstalled to the cage, and a poorly printed and very short user guide. The build quality of the cage is first rate and it has the look and feel of a professional piece of camera kit. The cage attaches to the camera body using the tripod screw mount in the camera base and a small angled screw on the side, be careful not to tighten it too much to protect the camera body, and it may well be that the small pad included is to give additional protection. A double-ended mounting tool is provided for both screws and is held magnetically inside the cage when not needed. The cage surrounds the camera body and features multiple Arri compatible mounting holes of ¼ and ⅜ inches, a cold shoe mount, and an expanded hot shoe area to allow unobstructed access for Sony ECM-W2BT Microphone, HVL-F32M Flash, and other accessories. The Arca style baseplate is compatible with DJI RS 2 RSC 2 RS 3 RS 3 Pro gimbals as well as a wide variety of tripod quick release heads. The non removeable silicone hand grip adds greatly to the usability and security of the ZV-E10 camera, which is not noted for its heavy duty construction. A range of top and side handles, lighting, rails and other bits and pieces are available from Neewer, Smallrig and others and will attach directly to the cage. I have been using it now for several days and have found no issues with it so far. The build quality is good and all is as I would like it to be. I can fit my Field Monitor on top and my wireless mic receiver to the side coldshoe mount without obstructing access to the microphone, SD card or battery. The camera's monitoring screen and fold and rotate freely too when the cage is in place. I am happy with it and regard this as a good buy although not necessarily a better one than any of the many rivals. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Lazy Laura - Quincas Moreira

Milifox Garden Plant Dibber Review https://youtu.be/GgUZNiVC_L8 More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/25v3ltnw Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/29/milifox-plant-dibber/ So what does a dibber do? A dibber is a handy tool to use when planting seeds, seedlings, and small bulbs. It is a long pointed stick that pokes holes in the soil to create space for growing these plants. There are several different types of dibbers, long ones, short ones, miniature ones, round ended ones and sharp pointed ones like this new model from Millfox. The dibber, which arrived well padded and simply presented is 27.5 cm long including a 12.6 cm metal tip with an 11 cm wooden handle and a shaft 3 cm across at its widest point. The tool is lighter in weight than I was expecting at just 140g but feels well made and robust with a stainless steel tip and a generic wood handle and shaft. Unlike with some lesser rivals, here the metal tip is screwed in place rather than glued. A garden dibber can make a big difference to the success of your plants. It helps you create evenly-spaced holes and ensures that your seeds are planted at the right depth. Pointed dibbers like this one go deep and can create an air pocket at the base of your seedling plug. In loose soils, this isn’t an issue, but be sure to add some soil (or compost) in the hole to fill any possible air pockets before adding your seedlings. Planting seedling plugs with a dibber is nice and quick – press and twist the dibber, pop the seedling in and you’re done. When transplanting seedlings, don’t worry if your holes are too deep – most young seedlings can be buried deeper than soil level. If you need a decent quality dibber for your garden for the Amazon price of just £6.99, this has to be a good buy. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Lawrence - TrackTribe

AliExpress Reusable Dolce Gusto Coffee Pod Review https://youtu.be/4_xvAQSgrD8 More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32960367041.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/aliexpresss-reusable-dolce-gusto-coffee-capsule/ Although they may not be for coffee aficionados, Dulce Gusto and the many rival coffee capsule systems, do have an appeal, as they are quick and easy to use and can give very enjoyable drinks, often of more arcane coffee brews that would otherwise require high end coffee machines and a certain level of skill to produce. The big drawback is that the coffee pods or capsules are expensive, cannot be reused and are environmentally unfriendly. Reusable coffee capsules can be obtained but they too can be expensive. However, on AliExpress and other Chinese online stores, they can be found at a more reasonable price. On AliExpress there are many reusable capsule packages available, so hunt around to find the cheapest and most suitable for you. Take note that not all Dolce Gusto type capsules will work in every Dulce Gusto machine, so check the listing for compatibility. The one I selected was available in a range of options from just a single pod to multiple pods with metal tampers and other add-ons. I went for the cheapest option of a single pod which arrived in a branded box together with a tiny brush and plastic coffee measuring spoon and cost me just £5.38 with free shipping. Delivery from China took about two weeks. Build quality seems OK. The capsule body is made from metal and seems pretty robust, the lid is of a quite thick silicone with the brush and spoon of low-grade plastic. The capsule has a very fine mesh bottom and a rubber or silicone outlet below it. The lid has a precut hole to allow the needle jet of the Dolce Gusto machine to enter and inject hot water into the coffee grounds in the capsule. Operation is not a simple business and some time has to be spent determining how much coffee to put in the pod and what setting to use on the machine. There is no hard and fast rule about this and the only way is by trial and error. Grind your coffee to a medium level, then add it to the capsule and tamp it down well. Then fit the lid to the capsule and ensure a tight seal is made. Next - and this is the tricky bit - align the hole in the silicone lid to the needle jet of the coffee machine. Take care with this as getting it wrong may damage both the silicone lid and the coffee machine itself. It does get easier and faster with experience. The first few cups I made with it were pretty dire but after a while the coffee got better - or I got used to it - and it may well be that over time a decent cup can be had from it. But the time and effort of filling the pod, tamping it down and carefully inserting it into the machine does rather detract from the ease and speed of the pod system. The price is good and if you have the time and patience then this may well be a cheaper way of using your Dolce Gusto machine. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Woodshedder - Quincas Moreira

AliExpress JBL Tune 760NC Bluetooth Headphones Review https://youtu.be/qdhKN_LqZag More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-760NC-.html?spm=a2g0o.best.search.0 Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: I have reviewed quite a few AliExpress items now, some have been good, others not, and some outright scams. I am not quite sure which category this one fits into. The JBL Tune 760NC headset retails for just under £70 on Amazon but it is widely available from a range of suppliers on AliExpress and can be bought for as little as £20, so it must be a scam, right? Inside the attractive and well-designed display box, which seems in every respect to me to be identical to the JBL original, was the headset itself, a very short bright orange USB-C Charging Cable, audio cable, a concertina style Quick Start Guide and large and dense book of legal disclaimers and bumf. The User Guide is easy to read although not very informative. All the specifications I list here are taken from the enclosed user guide and may or may not be accurate. The on-ear style headphones feel very lightweight and not particularly well made or robust. The headset looks good with an attractive black silk finish to the body and what looks like PU leather for the headband and earcups. The padding is good but not luxurious with the cups bearing a a large and prominent L and R inside the cups. The all plastic headband can be extended an inch or so and the cups themselves can be rotated and positioned pretty much any way you want. I found the headset to be rather a tight fit and not very comfortable, although the light weight did reduce the strain. The right cup has all the electronics and along the edge of the cup are buttons for Power On/Off, ANC On/Off, vol/track Up and Down, and Play/Pause/Call Answer/Reject/ Personal Assistant. There is also a standard 3.5mm audio cable port for the headset to be used in wired mode. The buttons are all flush, black and hard to identify by sight or by touch. Red/Blue/white LEDs are present for Bluetooth and ANC status alerts and charging confirmation, in addition to audio alerts. The Active Noise Cancellation, as with all such headsets is better described as Active Noise Reduction, does actually work and quite effectively for sustained low pitch rumbles – traffic, road roar, engines, – rather than for sudden high-pitched noises but in general it works well and makes a noticeable difference. The headset can also be used as normal earphones and an audio cable is provided for this purpose. Unlike with many other ANC headsets I have tried with this one there is little if any difference in the music quality with ANC on or off. Bluetooth Pairing, as with all Bluetooth 5 devices, was simple enough and achieved in the usual way by depressing the Multi-function/Power button for several seconds. The connection is indicated by the usual Red/Blue flashing LED. After pairing, subsequent connections to the same device are automatic and almost instantaneous. This headset can connect to two Bluetooth sources and to pair with the second headset, keep the headset turned on but switch off Bluetooth on the first device and pair manually to the second, when the first device is turned on again it will automatically pair to the headset. I have to say that I was not happy with the quality of the Bluetooth connection as it suffered from repeated dropouts when only three feet away from the source device. Battery life seems fine to me and I have no reason to doubt the claimed 35 hours of music time with Bluetooth and ANC ednabled and 50 hours with them off from a two hour charge. Time will tell how the battery fares in the long term. This headset is lacking a few features often found even on cheaper units these days. The is no FM radio, SD card slot or NFC pairing option. When I first tried the headset the bass was overwhelming and distorted but when I adjusted the EQ on my phone the sound quality became much better and tests connected to my Mac confirmed this. The bass is prominent but is clean, and smooth, mid tones are clear and detailed and very easy to listen to with high frequencies lacking in sibilance or shrillness. The sound quality of this headset is OK for the £20 price but I am glad I did not pay the £70 price of a real JBL. I have never used a genuine JBL Tune 760NC so cannot do a side-by-side test. The packaging of the headset here is excellent and seems genuine to me but the lightweight build quality, rather average sound quality and poor Bluetooth connection make me doubt the claims of it being genuine. Also, when pairing the headset name is displayed as TUNE760NC whereas I am informed the genuine article shows up as JBL TUNE760NC. As a sub £30 headset this is not a bad buy, the sound quality is OK and the ANC works quite well but to me, it lacks the quality feel and performance of a premium brand device. The Good Good Price Attractive Design Good Packaging Microphone Bluetooth 5.0 Good ANC The Bad No NFC No SD Card Slot No Radio Middling Audio Quality Poor Build Quality Music: YouTube Audio Library: Mulholland - King Canyon

Katsu 4” Mini Chainsaw D-04 Review https://youtu.be/g4sCmL5rV0I More Info and Purchase: https://tinyurl.com/yprekszn Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/03/06/katsu-4-mini-chainsaw-d-04/ This little chainsaw is widely available on Amazon, AliExpress and other platforms in various packages and under a range of brand names, so hunt around to find the best for you. Since I already had several compatible batteries, I selected this body only model currently priced at £19.99 on Amazon. Similar models complete with batteries and spare chains are also out there In the box, I received the mini chainsaw itself, an adjustment wrench, a screwdriver, protective glasses and a user guide. This is a body only kit and of course, no batteries were included. It uses Makita LXT type 18/21v batteries and these are easily found online. Build quality seems fine. The body is made from robust industrial strength plastic with the chain made from stainless steel. This device looks to be built to near professional standards and capable of more than just garden use. It is reasonably heavy but too much so for sustained one-handed operation. The chain saw worked straight from the box for me but it is best to fully charge your batteries first. It is possible to adjust the fitting of the chain using the supplied wrench but I found no need for this as the prefitted chain worked perfectly. The User Guide goes into some length regarding fitting the chain and adjusting the device for best results, so take care not to lose it, but as I said the chain saw worked perfectly straight from the box for me. Operating the chainsaw is easy and straightforward. There is a locking switch just above the trigger which needs to be released before use, then just pushing on the trigger starts the device up. There is a hinged guard above the chain to reduce spillage and splatter. Above the blade is a single white LED to illuminate the cutting area when working in restricted light. The motor will immediately stop when the trigger is released so there is no danger of it running out of control. After use be sure to re-engage the lock and remove the battery. Take care when fitting the battery always to ensure the lock is selected and to keep fingers away from the trigger area, just in case. I use my saw with two batteries, and a two hour charge should allow for more or less continuous working with one charging as the other is in use. The status LED on the power adapter changes from red to green when the battery is fully charged. Although the chainsaw is best suited to small branches and tree limbs up to about two inches in diameter, it will cope with thicker and larger items when necessary. I was amazed at just how powerful it is We had been thinking of engaging a tree surgeon to take down some overgrown thick hedging but I am pretty sure the mini chainsaw can take care of it. Some reviewers have reported the motor can burn out and this may well be the case if it is used incorrectly. The motor is not large and is best used for no more than two or three minutes continuously and then allowing it to cool for a minute or so. Also, I am careful not to ask too much from it and do not attempt to saw logs clearly beyond its capabilities. That is the way I have used mine and I have seen no indications of overheating. So I have been very impressed by the chain saw which does all I want and need and more. Is it perfect? No, I would have been happy to pay a few pounds more for a robust carry case and a protective casing for the chain when not in use. Also, it would be good to have the locking button colour coded so it can be confirmed at a glance that t it is engaged. However, these are just niggling points that may well be addressed in the next version. I have the 4-inch version but for just a few pounds more a 6-inch chain version is available but I think for most small garden work the smaller version is more than adequate and for the price of less than £20 before discounts, it surely represents a rather good buy. The Good Great price Good Build Quality Powerful Saw Action Long Battery Life The Bad No Storage Chain Guard Lock Switch Not Colour Coded No Carry Case No Anti-Cut Gloves Music: YouTube Audio Library: Savior - Telecasted

AliExpress Red Light Therapy Mask Review https://youtu.be/_LIN2-q85vU More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005168963693.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/03/03/aliexpress-red-light-therapy-mask/ I have ordered several AliExpress Red Light Therapy products over the last few months and I have to say that I have not been disappointed in them yet. There are a great many scams out there on AliExpress and similar Chinese marketing sites, so take care when ordering, but there are also many bargains to be had. Shop around the many AliExpress sellers to find the best price, often the same product is available under different names at a range of prices. Take note that delivery can often take several weeks. On the AliExpress product page, there are several options for this mask. I paid ￡95.97 for the most expensive option which included the neck panel and related fastenings, the basic model with just the face mask currently sells for just￡57.19. In the box, I received the face mask, neck panel, battery/control box, 2 eye protectors, mounting straps, USB-C charging cable, storage bag, and a user guide. I have to say the build quality seems first class, the mask and neck panel are both made from heavy duty silicone and seem built to last. The control panel/battery has a bright and easy to read LED display and is simple and intuitive to operate. The user guide is well written in good English, easy to read, and actually makes sense. The device consists of a mask and a separate neck panel each with 60 matrix LED light units on the inside surface which rest on or close to the skin when in use. The mask and neck panel are held in place with adjustable velcro straps. Both are separately plugged into the combined rechargeable battery unit and control box. This features a backlight screen with buttons for colour selection, light intensity and timer. There are 60 beam light matrix units in the mask and 60 in the neck panel each housing 4 individual LEDs, making a total of 240 LEDs in the mask and 240 in the neck panel. I do not own a spectrometer ( I wish I did) so I cannot test the output power or frequency of the LEDs, but I have no reason to doubt the claims of the supplier. We are not told the power of each LED but 0.5w is usual for devices of this type. The unit outputs the following colours and frequencies: Blue light 460nm - Anti-bacterial and skin repair Yellow light 590nm - Anti Acne and skin marking Red light 630nm - Anti-aging, collagen production, skin elasticity Near Infrared light 850nm - Skin repair, promotes skin metabolism The unit features a built-in 3000mAh rechargeable battery with a charge time of 1 - 2 hours yielding between 10- 30 minutes of use depending on the intensity and colour mode selected. Take note that the USB charging cable has a non standard plug on the battery end, so take care not to lose it. Operation is simple enough. The mask and neck panel can be operated together or separately and are plugged into the battery/control box. The box features a small display panel on the front with below it buttons for Power, Near Infrared Light, Light Intensity, Colour Selection, Timer Up, Timer Down. Long press the power button to turn on and then select the light colour (M button), 4-stage light intensity (E button), NIR light On/Off. The three visible light colours can be used individually or together with NIR. Use the timer Up/Down buttons to select the timer mode: 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes. All the selected options are shown on the screen. The unit is comfortable enough in use, although I did find the mask rather a tight fit, designed, I suspect, for female oriental faces, and although it did fit I found it more comfortable to use a short velcro belt as an extension to that supplied with the product. How well does it work? That will take time to tell and may well be subjective, but I have no reason to think this model will work any better or worse than the many much more expensive rivals available. I have seen very similar models for sale at several times this price on Amazon and elsewhere which I suspect are functionally the same. I think this is worth taking a chance on. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Too Late Now - Go By Ocean _ Ryan McCaffrey

Suncast 1250 Mannington Plastic Shed Review https://youtu.be/a7s5GI0ezMU More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/26zkx8l7 Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/23/suncast-1250-mannington-plastic-garden-shed/ We needed a small waterproof plastic shed for storing garden tools. We wanted something that would last reasonably well and would be fully water resistant. Our garden is small and we wanted a small upright shed to fill a particular space, but finding one was not easy. Wooden ones are widely available and can be found for less than £150 but all the ones we looked at were flimsy, poorly made and seemed unlikely to last long. After a long search, we decided on this Suncast model from Elbec Garden Buildings, but there was not much else available and at a list price of £308.12 it still seems outrageously expensive to me, although we were able to get it on sale for just £250. In the big box were the six panels of the shed plus the door handles and a rather too simple assembly guide. Everything is cleverly designed just to snap together with only a wooden mallet needed to aid the assembly. It was quicker than I thought to assemble the shed. Each component has a unique letter embossed into it which can be compared to the guide. The panels are then clipped together for assembly aided with strategic taps from the mallet - don't use a heavy metal hammer as it may damage the plastic panels. Unlike with other units I have put together, the panels seemed pretty accurately made and not too much force was needed to lock them together. I took special care that the roof was securely fitted to avoid any possibility of water entering. I completed the job on my own in under an hour although it would have been both faster and easier with another person assisting. Once in place, the shed seems sturdy enough although lighter in weight than I would like, the empty shed moving and wobbling about when the tight fitting doors were opened. It is a pity a double floor could not have been incorporated allowing a heavy flagstone to be inserted to give it stability. That said, once a few heavy garden products are inside it gets a lot more stable. No shelving is included, and there are no mounts or lugs to which third party shelves could be attached. Custom fitting shelves can be purchased, but this is not cheap. I bought a cheap plastic shelving unit that fitted in neatly to store lightweight small objects. After a few weeks of use, I am pretty happy with the shed. Only once did water enter overnight but I suspect the doors may have not been properly closed. The doors are a tight fit, no bad thing, and some care needs to be taken with them. I still find myself using one hand to steady the shed when opening the doors. Otherwise, there have been no issues with it. The contents remain dry and free from water leaks and condensation. For the price I still consider it expensive but it is well made, easy to assemble and works well, so I suppose it is worth the money. The Good Well Made Easy Assembly Weather Resistant The Bad Expensive Unstable Poorly Fitting Doors No Shelves Included Music: YouTube Audio Library: Lazy Laura - Quincas Moreira

Eleczon EC17 Computer Sound Bar Review https://youtu.be/zQR1iH3O8vI More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/2ybuw3hz Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/14/eleczon-ec17-computer-sound-bar/ This simple and easy to operate soundbar is designed for use with a computer and will sit neatly on your desk under your monitor but in fact, it can be used with almost any USB-C equipped sound source. It connects to an external audio device either with Bluetooth - using an up to date Bluetooth 5 connection for fast, stable and automatic pairing - or with a standard USB-C cable which is also used to charge the internal battery. It also has a TF card slot and will play most types of audio files from TF or micro-SD cards. In the branded mid-range box were the soundbar itself, a USB-C cable and a well written and comprehensive user guide. Build quality seems excellent and the device feels substantial and made to last. The soundbar has a semi-matt black finish with a fine mesh speaker grill along the front face which also houses the screen display which takes up the entire front of the unit. On the back is a recessed bay containing the USB-C port and TF memory card slot. There is no standard audio 3.5mm audio port, which is a pity. On top is a semi-recessed control bay with proper clicky buttons for lights, Bluetooth Pairing, Audio Mode, Volume Down/Back, Power On/Off, and Volume Up/Next. Voice prompts and the tiny top panel LED confirm settings. It is a pity that no space for a rotary volume knob could be found, however. I was pleased to see the soundbar features the latest Bluetooth 5 wireless technology which means connections will be faster, easy to initiate, lag-free and more stable. To set up Bluetooth, press the power button on the top panel and the device will automatically enter Blue Tooth pairing mode with a voice prompt to confirm this. On your Bluetooth equipped sound source connect to 'EC17', subsequent connects will be automatic. To make a new Bluetooth connection when in USB mode, just press the Mode button to return to Bluetooth Mode and press the Bluetooth Pairing button. The sound quality is good considering the size of the speakers with a decent level of punchy bass and a higher register that is not too sharp or sibilant. The volume level from the 10w speakers is rather impressive too. The main selling point for this device has to be the spectacular multi-coloured LED display, which takes up the whole of the front of the device. The unit defaults into LED off mode at startup, long press the Light button to switch the display on and short press to scroll through the five light pattern modes, long press again to turn it off. The lighting modes are: Flowing, Audio-Sync, Gradient Flowing, Breathing and Disco. All the light patterns are excellent, bright, vibrant and eye catching. It is a pity, given the appeal of the display, that there is no Lighting Only mode as it seems the device will power down when no active sound source is connected. Also, it seems that there is no pattern cycling option, as the display stays on the same pattern until the Light button is pressed. What are my suggestions for the next version? I would hope it would have a Light Only Mode and that a rotary volume control and a 3.5mm audio port will be included. That said, if you need a cleverly designed and well-made computer soundbar with decent quality audio and a fantastic desktop lighting display, you need to go a long way to find one better than this for the pre discount price of $59.99. The Good Good Build Quality Good Audio Full Panel Lighting Microphone Auto Off The Bad No Light Only Mode No 3.5mm Audio Socket No Rotary Volume Control Music: YouTube Audio Library: Hotlanta - Track Tribe

Yine Electronics Accessories Bag Review https://youtu.be/FW0NBPtO-Kg More Info and Purchase: https://tinyurl.com/yr8hwfeg Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/20/yine-electronics-accessories-bag/ I needed a small protective case for my red light therapy mitt and the bits and pieces that go with it. There being no dedicated bag for it, I needed to find a suitable budget priced alternative. That was a harder search than I expected but in the end, I found this one, priced at just £8.29. In the package you get the case itself, three internal partitions, and a rather unnecessary user guide. Build quality all seems fine for the low price and the case seems pretty well made. The 24.5 x 18.5 x 10 cm weighs just 210g and is made from a polyester and Oxford Cloth material. It is described as being waterproof, although no IPX rating is given but I would describe it as being splashproof - you could spill water onto it and if you mopped it off in good time the contents would be OK. It has a plastic zip all around the edge which folds back fully when opened with the twin zippers. A soft grip handle runs along the top. Inside there is some light padding to the top and bottom, enough to take the edge off any knocks it receives. Inside the bottom section is empty and holds the three velcro dividers, one short and two long, which can be repositioned to create custom sized partitions to protect the contents. The top part of the case, the lid, has an elasticated strip inside near the top with five mesh pockets along the bottom allowing small objects up to about five inches in height to be secured. The case serves the purpose I need it for and so far after several months of use is holding up well. The zip and handles are intact and working and the internal partitioning seems pretty robust too. For the budget price, I think it is a pretty decent buy. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Woodshedder - Quincas Moreira

Sage the Custom Loaf Bread Maker Review https://youtu.be/ffzvrMrl2NI More Info and Purchase: https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/bread-makers/bbm800.html?sku=BBM800BSSUK Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/17/sage-the-custom-loaf-bread-maker/ Having tried quite a few breadmakers over the years, I have to say that this one, the ‎Sage the Custom Loaf Bread Maker. is the best yet, although also the most expensive at £249.95. The same machine is also available under the Breville and Heston Blumenthal brands. In the box you get the breadmaker itself, the nonstick lined baking pan, a plastic jam making blade, a hinged metal bread making blade, and a user guide. Build quality is all first class as to be expected at this price point with everything exuding a quality feel to it. The user guide is large, nicely printed, comprehensive and easy to read. An equally well written bread making recipe book can be downloaded from the Sage website, but no printed version is included in the box, a real pity. The 41.7 x 24.4 x 33.8 cm,7.8 Kilograms machine will make three sizes of loaf up to 1.25 kg in weight with three crust browning settings which is the same as with every other bread machine I have used. It offers fewer automatic cooking programs - less than on many rivals - but is the only machine I have tried which offers a custom setting allowing the user to set and save their kneading, baking and resting parameters. The preset programs can be modified as well as additional fine tuning made to allow for crust browning and loaf seizes. The machine's automatic programs include some I have not encountered before: Custom, Basic, Basic Rapid, Wholewheat, Wholewheat Rapid, Gluten Free, Crusty Loaf, Sweet, Yeast Free, Bake Only and Jam. This machine is better designed and better constructed than any other I have yet tried, with a stainless steel body that certainly looks better and distinctly posher than the rivals. The metal casing does get hot, so take care and the body does sound a bit tinny sometimes, so it is not all good. The viewing window is larger than average and big enough to actually see what is going on inside and, another first for me, there is an internal light so the baking process can be easily observed. All the controls are on the right hand side and consist of a large backlit LCD panel with metal buttons around it for metric/imperial units, beeper on/off, internal light (press and hold to view), Delay Start, Modify, Cancel, Start/Pause and a large rotary dial for options (rotate to scroll, press to select. They are all non-touch, proper click buttons. This is by far the easiest bread making machine to operate I have yet tried. There is a large backlit LCD screen showing a list of the available programs, rotate the main dial to select the desired program and press to confirm, any options to it are then available such as Rapid or dough type and again press to confirm, if appropriate you can then select the crust type (3 levels of browning) and loaf size (4 sizes) up to 1.25Kg/2.5ibs. Press the Start/Pause button to start the program or to pause it before baking starts. There are additional buttons to modify, delay or cancel a program before operation. The main selling point for me is the informative and useful backlit LCD and the ease of use that it gives. Cheaper machines have a small non-backlit display that is hard to read and harder still to use. The display here is bright and clear with all the functions clearly named and as the baking process progresses you can see on the screen which stage you are at. Also, I was pleased to see that when I accidentally started the machine by mistake I was able to stop it and begin again, not a feature often found on the cheaper rivals. Likewise, it has a 60-minute power interruption recovery feature which could be handy if the device is unplugged by mistake. At 13 hours the delay start timer is longer than with most rivals which makes it easier to set the machine up in advance to make a loaf automatically. Like most bread machines it has a one hour keep warm facility, to keep the bread warm after baking finishes. Other unique features are the kneading blade which folds flat at the end of the kneading process to prevent the hole made in the loaf when the blade is withdrawn and the baking pan viewing light. The machine comes with a two-year warranty from SAGE with spares available for purchase - not cheap at £59 for the bread pan and £18 for the folding blade. I should say that I am not yet fully convinced that the bread made by this machine is any better than that made by the cheaper ones. The bread making process with this machine is much more enjoyable and worry free than with previous devices. Yet the result I feel is not necessarily nicer than that made with a machine costing a quarter of the price This is a high end bread making machine, well made and cleverly designed that makes excellent bread easily and with a minimum of fuss and bother. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Woodshedder - Quincas Moreira

ZVM Motion Detector Night Light Set Review https://youtu.be/pGAF2AnHWOE More Info and Purchase: UK: http://tinyurl.com/ytk833g2 Germany: http://tinyurl.com/yv7yoblz Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: Although listed as Night Lights in fact these compact sized motion sensor stick-on lights from ZVM could be used anywhere you need a small but powerful immediate light source with no trailing wires in the way. In the box were the two lights together with a pair of USB-C charging cables, two sticky backed metal mounting plates and a user guide. Build quality throughout is light in weight but decent quality with nothing looking likely to fail any time soon. The lights have magnetic plates on the rear which allows them to be mounted directly to any suitable magnetic surface. To mount in other locations a pair of sticky backed metal plates are included, simply stick them to the wall, door, or other desired area and the lamp will magnetically attach there. Once in place the lights can be slid around to reposition and will remain in place although the magnets are not very strong. Annoyingly, there are no rear slots, so screw mounting is not an option. Using the lights could not be simpler. Set the side panel turret switch to select warm or cool white, with the central position turning the light off. As you approach the lights they will illuminate for around 20 seconds before turning off. The lights have a built-in light sensor and will only turn on when the ambient light level is low. The lights have an internal 500mAh Lithium Polymer battery which can be recharged from any available USB port and two rather short cables are provided for this. One charge should give you several weeks of normal use. The Amazon pre discount price of £23.75 will get you a pair of lightweight, well-made lights, versatile in use and simple to operate. Not the cheapest out there, but they are well made, look good, and get the job done. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Too Late Now - Go By Ocean _ Ryan McCaffrey

EUKI D900 5K GPS Dash Cam Review https://youtu.be/08LQNLE47Ls More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/ywr7yb4v Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/26/euki-d900-5k-gps-dash-cam/ This is a dual mode, twin camera dashcam that can give 5K - yes, 5K - 30fps resolution in front camera mode and 4K30fps+2.5K25fps rear camera when in dual camera mode. That's not all it does, you can connect to the camera over 5G wifi to configure and control it as well as to to download video and photos. Oh yes, it has onboard GPS too. It also has a high quality screen and 24 HOUR PARKING MODE. There is not much it won't do. In the box you get the front camera with a 64GB micro-SD card already installed, a front camera car adapter with a 10ft power cable, a rear camera with a 20ft cable, 2 double-sided sticky mounts, 2 electrostatic mounting sheets, 5 cable clips, a mounting tool, a user guide, and a quick start guide. It's all there, everything you need is included. Most dashcams are single camera units but this system is supplied with a second small camera that is attached by cable to the front camera and can be positioned in the back window to continuously record activity behind the car in addition to the video recorded by the main camera. The rear camera is connected by a lengthy cable to a socket on the main camera. The f1.8 front camera has a 170-degree angle of view according to the User Guide, the f1.8 rear camera has a 140-degree AOV. Both cameras give a clear, detailed and sharp image at any available frame rate but a range of recording options are available: Front Camera Only 5K@30fps 4K@60fps (Rear camera unplugged) Dual Camera 2.5K@60fps + 1080P@25fps 4K@30fps + 2.5K@25fps The SONY IMX335 sensor built into both cameras also gives the option for HDR video, although not at 60 fps. I have to say that the video quality at any selected frame rate is first class, the best yet for me on any dashcam, but I keep mine set to 4K@30fps + 2.5K@25fps. The only downside is that video can be very large and the 64GB card will soon fill up. When it receives power both cameras are designed to record automatically and continuously in short segments overwriting the oldest when the card is full, the tiny internal battery will keep recording for a few seconds after the power goes off. When bumps or sharp braking is detected the camera G-Sensor will flag the current segment and not overwrite it in case an incident has taken place. This can mean that the card will fill up over time. I would advise buying the largest capacity Class 10 or better card - maximum size is 512Gb - and formatting it regularly to delete all the current segments, marked and unmarked. Fixing the camera to the mirror on my Toyota Aygo was easy enough and the cables were easily long enough for both cameras. Fitting the second camera was more of a chore as the cable has to be wound through the car from front to back but once it is done there should be no need to adjust it again. The rear camera is optional as the main camera will work perfectly well without it including in full 5K. The dashcam is controlled and configured using the JarvisCam app connected to a Wifi hotspot generated by the camera. You can select to operate in the various recording modes listed above. Various other options can be set including the microphone, loop recording time, etc. Recordings can also be selected, viewed on the app or downloaded. The front camera has a built-in 1.47@ screen but I find it easy to configure the camera through the phone app after which the dashcam will work entirely independently. I found the image quality to be excellent even in low light conditions, although for best night results. Image quality is crucial for dashcams as it is important to be able to identify number plates and other details in a recorded incident. I found that 4K@30fps + 2.5K@25fps HDR on, worked best for me at night. Another selling point for this dashcam is the inclusion of GPS tracking. Although it can be fun at first to trace your route on the screen map simultaneously with the recorded linked video, remember that in the event of an incident, the police may review all the files on the card and use previous driving speeding errors detected by the GPS against you. The camera does have a microphone which can be useful in the event of an incident if you are quick-witted enough to read aloud the numbers of the cars involved. It has 24R Parking Mode but I have never found parking mode to be much use in any camera due to the delay in awakening the camera following triggering. Also, to allow parking mode to function when the ignition is off additional hard wiring will be needed. Not quite every feature is included and it is a pity that no dual write SD card is included - it is handy to have a second backup card available if one needs to be submitted to the police or your insurance company. That said, that is an option very seldom offered. Priced at £129.99 before discounts - but there are always discounts - this is one of the most expensive but easily the best dash cam I have ever tested. If you can afford it, then buy it. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Silent Partner_ Succotash3.27

SHEHDS 6 IN1 Wall Wash LED Stage Light Review https://youtu.be/Aq7SAgy82Vk More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yndp9ppp Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/shehds-6-in1-wall-wash-led-stage-light/ This is not the sort of item that I normally review, but this stage light from SHEHDS is something worth looking at. In the box, you receive the LED lighting panel itself, together with a wall mounting kit, mains power plug, pass-through power cable, a wall mounting bracket set, and a user guide. Build quality throughout is heavy duty and this unit is clearly designed for professional stage use. The only letdown is the included user guide, which is poorly printed, hard to read and very technical. A far better looking user guide, albeit poorly translated and just as impenetrable can be downloaded from the SHEHDS website. So what is it? This is a heavy duty, professional grade Wall Wash lighting panel. The 98 cm unit is made from metal, super robust and clearly designed for stage shows, clubs, discos or high end parties. Along the leading edge has 18 LED separate lighting units outputting the whole RGBWA+UV light range. It has the capability for four channel DMX computer control, with 29/ 119 DMX channels in total. It can be linked to other lighting units but comes with a range of programmable lighting patterns built in which can be configured using the control panel on the back. So it will work as a stand alone unit. There are eight function effects which can be programmed using the keypad and control panel on the rear of the unit. The first two digits represent the control codes for each function and the last two represent the speed or other parameters that are applied to it. I think the unit comes into its own when DMX controlled in conjunction with other lighting units for a full stage effect. What is DMX? Digital Multiplex or DMXis a protocol used to control devices such as lights or fog machines. The signal is unidirectional, meaning it only travels in one direction; from the controller or first light, all the way to the last. In its most basic form, DMX is just a protocol for lights, like how MIDI is for keyboards or DAW controllers. The lighting unit looks fantastic when working and is very powerful giving colour washes, strobing and patterns to rooms and halls of any size. When used properly, and I am still getting used to it, it can only be described as spectacular. If you need a pro grade lighting unit then this would be a great buy. for less than $180. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Too Late Now - Go By Ocean _ Ryan McCaffrey

AliExpress TOURPRO 2 Headset Review https://youtu.be/4kTb7Q6Tn0k More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-TOURPRO-2.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.search.0 Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/21/aliexpress-tourpro-2-headset/ What’s this - a JBL Tour Pro 2 headset for £20? No, it's a £20 fake from AliExpress, listed as a MZYJBL TOURPRO 2, but it's a pretty good fake. It looks very similar to the £200 original and even comes with an interactive storage box with an LCD screen and a faint JBL logo but when you look and listen the differences are soon clear. The headset arrived in a generic padded bag with no product packaging and inside was the charging case with the two buds inside, two pairs of different sized gels, a short charging cable, and a concertina style user guide. As regards the build quality, I have to say that the headset seems well made and looks pretty upmarket as does the charging case. The user guide was rather hit and miss, poorly printed and hard to read with some pages making no sense at all. Listening to the headset I was quite pleasantly surprised. It really does not sound too bad. Plenty of bass and good, well defined lower midtones, but higher frequencies sound compressed and abrasive, although varying the EQ using the case helped with this. I have heard much worse and the sound quality is probably OK for the low price. I noticed some drops outs and left/right synchronisation issues but these were frequent at first but quickly rectified and I have to say that now, after several weeks of use, this is no longer a significant issue. One of the main selling points is the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) feature but this is not much use. The voice alert tells me it is switched on, but I cannot say I have noticed much difference when it is on other than a faint background hiss. The transparent mode works after a fashion with outside sound now louder than before but overlaid with a very pronounced and deeply annoying hiss. The interactive LCD screen case offers quite a few features and most of these do actually work, but I doubt if I will ever use them much. The screen always shows the current battery level for the case and the two buds but also offers: Wallpaper A small selection of non customisable wallpapers is available. Language A small choice of on screen languages Screen Brightness Brightness can be changed to a few preset levels. Playback Timer Some preset auto-off timers are available EQ Some EQ presets are available and they do work but not necessarily for the better. ANC/Transparent Modes Do not work in any useful way Audio Volume Slider Works OK Track Control Play/Pause, Back and Forward work OK Flashlight Turns the screen into a (very) mini torch Find Headset Works well for both or either bud - but is a bit faint Silent Now Turns ANC on for a timed period. Useless. After a few weeks of use, I would not describe this as an outright scam. It is certainly not a JBL Tour Pro 2 headset but it is a pretty nice budget headset, well made with acceptable audio quality plus a few interesting and unusual features. The specific version I bought is no longer available but the identical headset is available widely across AliExpress from as little as £18 and for that price, it is still a pretty decent buy. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Malandragem - Quincas Moreira

AliExpress Mini Portable Shaver Review https://youtu.be/GliV2RLuBKI More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006056440387.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/11/aliexpress-mini-portable-shaver/ You get some bargains on AliExpress as well as some scams and some Junk. For just ￡3.38 what sort of electric razor would this prove to be? In fact, it was distinctly better than I expected. In the branded but simple box, I got the razor itself, a charging cable, a tiny cleaning brush and a user guide. Build quality was as lightweight as I expected but nothing looked likely to fail straight from the box, as other AkiExpress items have done. The razor is made from plastic with a circular metal rotating blade. The blade cover can be removed to clean the blade and dust chamber behind it. To my surprise, the razor, which is very quiet in use, works pretty well. There is no way it is going to remove a full beard but it does a decent enough job for overnight growth or to touch up previously overlooked areas. Of course, it can't be compared to a high-end electric razor costing many times the price, much less with a wet razor for the quality of the shave, but it does work and that in itself came as a surprise to me. That said, I would not want to use it as my only razor. If you need a small emergency razor to leave in your car or overnight bag, then this would not be a bad buy and it is certainly better than you have a right to expect for ￡3.38. The same razor is available widely across AliExpress at a range of prices, so hunt around for the best buy. The Good It Works Bargain Price Light Weight Easy To Clean The Bad Cheap Build Quality No Carry Case Music: YouTube Audio Library: Point Being - Go By Ocean _ Ryan McCaffrey

TNMOO Rechargeable Wall Light Review More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yr8vsaho Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/19/tnmoo-rechargeable-wall-lights/ This is a well made, fully adjustable rechargeable 52 LED wall light with a remote control, three light modes and five stage dimming. In the box you receive the light unit itself, a wall mounting bracket, two double sided sticky mounts, a screw mounting key, a charging cable and a user guide. The build quality all seems fine, with nothing looking likely to fail or fall off anytime soon. The unit is rated IPX4 water resistant and although a light shower might not harm it is probably best kept out of the garden. The wall bracket features a 360° rotating magnetic ball and socket mount which can be pointed and positioned pretty much any way you want and allows the unit to be quickly and easily removed from the mount. This together with the included remote control means the light can be mounted at ceiling level with no problems. The 2000mAh USB-C rechargeable battery should give between five and twenty hours of continuous use from a three hours charge, depending on the settings used. The unit has a simple and rather overly sensitive touch button on the rear to allow for manual operation, short press to change light temperature mode, long press to set the brightness. However, the unit is probably best operated using the well marked and easy to use credit card sized remote control. With the remote control, the colour temperature and brightness can be set but a four stage timer can also be set giving timed operations of 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes. Take note that the timer can only be employed using the remote control and take note too that the device has to be switched on initially using the rear button before the remote can be used. The light is good and bright with the three colour temperatures of 3000K, 4000K, and 6000K clearly defined. One nice feature is that when using the 10 - 100% stepless dimming, the light will flash twice at the upper and lower levels. It looks good, works well and is easy to use and for the current price of a shade less than £12 I think it is a pretty decent buy. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Geographer_ Airline

ZYRIVON Reading Light Review https://youtu.be/z_K-ucmbbYs More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yprqtqmm Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/16/zyrivon-reading-light/ This excellent little lamp from ZYRIVON arrived nicely presented in a simple product box making the product attractive enough for use as a gift. Inside the box aside from the lamp itself was a short USB-C charging lead and a simple User Guide. The product is nicely designed in matt black plastic with a single large button on the top to switch between the five brightness levels and three white light modes. The crocodile jaws are strong and grip well and once in place the lamp feels pretty secure. The short 360° flexible gooseneck can be put into almost any orientation. The 16 LED device can be mains powered and will operate when charging but it is primarily designed for use with the internal 1000mAh lithium polymer battery for which it claimed 5-30 hours of continuous lighting from a two-hour charge depending on the lighting setting used. It is USB powered but no mains adapter is included which is no problem as we all have plenty of spare USB adapters these days. I was pleased to see that the USB cable is a standard one and does not have the custom plug I have encountered with some rival products. It is designed mainly for use with the crocodile jaws but will stand self-supported on the flat base, be aware that this limits how the gooseneck is used as the lamp is liable to topple over if it is extended too far out. The light has three light modes - cool white, normal white, and warm white - as well as 10- 100% Stepless Dimming, all selectable using the single control button on the lighting head. Short press to select colour and long press for brightness. Most people will probably use this light for reading, but it is small and neat enough to be used as a keyboard light and can be powered from a laptop USB port when doing so. It is compact and flexible enough to be stored easily in a laptop bag. The main use I put it to is to read by at night and it clips neatly to the cover of my book for this purpose. This is an excellent little lamp, good and bright and available now from Amazon for the very attractive price of £9.95. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Jane Street - TrackTribe

Dostmann External Weather Sensor Case https://youtu.be/t1JH1Ur9Img More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yv9cs79h Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/08/dostmann-external-weather-sensor-case/ I use a Netatmo weather station and although the outdoor sensor is supposed to be weatherproof I like to keep it protected from the worst of the elements and a case like this one allows it to measure the temperature, humidity and air quality but keeps the rain and snow off and does not attenuate the wireless signal. Priced today at £18.09 (slightly less when I bought it) on Amazon it is not too dear and although the same company have now produced a rather posher £30 version with a built-in solar-powered fan, I am happy enough with this one. In the box you receive the case itself, a user guide and a mounting kit consisting of a screw and wallplug set and velcro tape to secure the sensor to the mounting post inside the case. All you are going to need is included in the kit. The main unit consists of a lightweight flexible plastic tubular case with a detachable base and a wall bracket into which it slots. The case can be easily removed from the wall bracket as and when required. Build quality seems fine, although rather lightweight but it could be argued that is a feature designed to reduce the effect of the case on the radio signal to the sensor. The base of the unit can be removed and features an upright mounting post to which the sensor can be secured. On the base is a drain hole as the slats in the case wall allow the wind to pass through but also a certain amount of rain. I secured my Netatmo sensor to the mounting post using the velcro strips leaving a small gap between the bottom of the sensor and the case floor to protect it from any water pooling which might occur. After a couple of months of use checking inside the case, I could find no sign of weather damage or water pooling although the velcro had sagged and the sensor was now resting on the base. So there it is. If you have a weather sensor or any similar external device that you need to protect from the worst of the elements, then this would be a pretty decent buy. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Sweethearts - TrackTribe

Conambo K10C Bluetooth Headset Review https://youtu.be/tfKHZC8Zsqc More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/yo6q7hdk Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/conambo-k10c-bluetooth-headset/ The Conambo K10C Pro mono headset is perhaps mainly designed for the business market. Priced at £41.39 before discounts has a well made and professional feel to it. Build quality throughout feels first rate and robust with nothing looking likely to fail or fall off anytime soon. In the box, you receive the headset itself, a clip-fit storage case, 9 buds (one fitted) of different sizes, a rather short USB charging cable and a well written and easy to read user guide. This new headset employs the speedy Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset and I was very pleased to see that this headset also features USB-C charging and the Bluetooth 5.2 wireless protocol, which shows this is a newly designed unit and not just old tech repackaged. Bluetooth 5 allows the headset to quickly and easily connect to two devices at once, increases battery life and the reception range to 16m as well as giving fewer dropouts and less signal interference. Looking at the IPX4 water resistant headset, which is fully adjustable and configurable to most ear and head shapes, along the top we see physical buttons for power on/off, and volume/track adjustment. On the twin microphone stalk are buttons for mute/personal assistant, and the Multi-Function button to cancel/reject calls, play/pause music and reset the headset. There is also the USB-C charging port. This headset has three ways to charge from the 750mAh Lithium Polymer case battery. The headset can be slotted into the shaped recess inside the case, the headset can be inserted upright into the charging bay on the right, which can be accessed with the lid open or closed. The first method is the most natural when easy access to the headset is not needed and the second to make and receive calls when working at your desk. The headset is equipped with a standard USB-C port and this can be used to charge if the case is not available. The case itself is charged through the USB-C port and it gives a digital readout of the current battery status. A fully charged 750 mAh case battery should be able to charge the headset three times from flat. The only issue I have with the case is that there is no provision to store the charging cable inside. One feature of this device is the ability to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once. To do this, connect to the first device in the normal way and then turn Bluetooth off on that device, and then pair the second device as before. Now without disconnecting the second device, turn on the first one again and it will automatically pair without disconnecting the other.. This is easier to do than it sounds and works well for me every time. Call quality was excellent giving a clear distortion-free call with no dropouts or outages during my testing. Perhaps this is due to the dual noise reduction technologies of the twin microphones or the use of the AptX HD codec, but for whatever reason, call quality is excellent and one of the best I have encountered with this type of device. So there it is. This is a quality piece of professional grade equipment well suited for use in the office or on the road. The Good Good Build Quality 2 Device Connection Mic Noise Reduction Bluetooth 5.2 AptX HD Compliant Long Play Time Twin Mics The Bad Cheaper Rivals Available No Case Cable Storage Music: YouTube Audio Library: John Deley and the 41 Players_ Hear the Noise

AliExpress Smart Spotlight Security Camera Review https://youtu.be/4ZRswRnm_Uc More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005482344059.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: I have bought a few items from Aliexpress in China and with mixed success. This camera, with the Tuya brand name, for which I paid around £35, is widely available from multiple sellers within Aliexpress and looks very similar to the much more expensive Reolink Argus 3 camera I wanted to replace with it. It is a rechargeable 1080p external wifi security camera with a spotlight and motion detector. The appeal to me, aside from the price, was that it is controlled through the Smart Life app and can be linked to Amazon Alexa and Google Home. In the box you get the camera, a dual purpose mount, a mounting kit, USB-C charging cable and a well written user guide. I have to say that the build quality all looked equal to the Reolink and it was quick and easy to pair with the Smart Life app and then to Alexa. Looking at the camera, on thr front is the camera lens, infrared night light, Spotlight, i/r sensor, power status LED, WiFi status LED, and the motion detector PIR sensor. On the back is a metal tripod mount and the speaker grill, on the base is a second tripod m,ount, together with a gromett protected flap concealing the SD card slot, USB-C charging port, a camera reset switch, an On/Off switch, and a blank SIM card slot. The camera gives excellent results too with sharp and clear 1080p video and two way audio. I have also tested it with an external solar panel (also from AliExpress) and it seems to work well with it. That said, the video does look rather better inside the app than when downloaded. The video size from the card was 2304x1296, 15fps. It has the option for colour or infrared night vision, scheduled or 24/7 video with motion detection (with human discrimination), along with a good bright spotlight and a 100db siren. It can be powered either using the battery charged about once every two weeks or so or with a solar panel. I bought a cheap solar panel from AliExpress to use with it and this seems to be working OK even during the short winter days. Now the bad news. After a few days suddenly and for no reason the motion detection stopped working. I have reset the camera, removed and added it again to the system and confirmed the correct settings in the app but motion detection no longer works by day or by night. The camera will work for manual recordings and when in 247 recording mode but that is all. Also, like many cameras of this design (and there are many) it is very prone to raindrops getting onto the lens and distorting the picture. That's the way with AliExpress, you win some and you lose some. Had I bought it from Amazon I would have sent it back, but I am sceptical about my chances of getting a refund from the AliExpress seller. I will probably just keep it in use as a general security camera in 247 mode. Music: YouTube Audio Library: Jane Street - TrackTribe

Zoyzoii Kid’s Insulated Water Bottle Review https://youtu.be/ObAfcMTQyzA More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/ylo9vb98 Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: I was looking for a gift for a young relative. This compact water bottle looked cute and hopefully would be a practical gift too. The version I bought has a Fox theme, but rabbit, bear and tiger versions are also available. Zoyzoii also has a range of backpacks and other products sharing these themes. I was not disappointed with my choice and I hope she will not be either. In the attractive themed box you receive the bottle itself, a carry case with strap, a stickers set, and a user guide. The build quality all seems first rate, and the product is very attractively presented making it particularly appealing as a gift. This is not just a drinking bottle it is also an insulated flask and can keep the contents hot for up to 12 hours and cold for up to 24. It is completely safe to use and made from food grade materials including type 316 stainless steel (whatever that is) for the body. Slightly smaller than a standard bottle at 450ml and weighing just 265g it is well suited for smaller hands. It features a built-in but removable food grade silicone straw which folds out of the way when the lid is clipped shut and secured with a no-spill sealing ring. The lid itself can be removed to give access to the container before filling with liquid. The current price of £13.98 is certainly attractive and if you are after a stylish and robust drinking child friendly bottle or flask then this would be a great buy. Features Stylish Looks Good Build Quality Good Price Holds temperature well Robust construction Metal Carry Handle Music: YouTube Audio Library: School_Bus_Shuffle

AliExpress Gymbal Camera Neck Mount https://youtu.be/Br1zuskrqdI More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004610158239.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/02/04/aliexpress-gymbal-camera-neck-mount/ This is my latest buy from AliExpress, it's a neck harness for the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Gymbal camera although I intend to use it with Feiyutech Pocket 2, which I also bought from AliExpress. The identical mount is available from a range of suppliers under different names and prices on AliExpress. The prices vary continually, so hunt around for the best buy. Shipping is never fast from AliExpress, and the consignment containing this product took about three weeks. Tracking has improved and you can get stage by stage shipping details, although all orders do seem to take an age to leave China. In the bag were just the 5 components of the mount, no user guide or assembly instructions were included. Build quality seems fine with the look and feel of an action camera accessory. I do have some doubts about the long term durability of the neck collar as it is quite a tight fit and needs to be opened quite wide to get on, which must be putting a strain on it, but it seems fine so far. This mount is designed to hold the camera facing forwards at neck level, braced on your chest, allowing you to walk, talk and film hands free. There are two mounting options. The first uses the tripod screw thread on the base of the camera and the second uses a brace clamping around the camera body. The two mounting methods share components so you have to select one or the other mounting mode. I found that the bracing mount worked best for me and seemed the most secure. I would guess that the screw mount would also work with an action camera or any camera with a standard tripod mount fitting. The mount can be adjusted up and down and forwards and back to get the angle needed but I found it seemed to default to the right position without much effort. Assembly took a few minutes the first time as I had to figure out how it all went together but subsequent times were much quicker. Does it work? Yes, it does, to my surprise and it does a pretty decent job too with the camera facing forward and the built-in mic on my Feiyutech just a couple of inches from my mouth. Does it work? Yes, it does, to my surprise and it does a pretty decent job too with the camera facing forward and the built-in mic on my Feiyutech just a couple of inches from my mouth. It seems pretty secure when in place and it is restrictive enough so you would immediately notice if it came off but for safety's sake I secure the lanyard strap of my camera to my jacket. So that is it, it is a simple idea that works well and at just £6.81 it will certainly not break the bank. This is an AliExpress success! Music: YouTube Audio Library: Spirit Riders - Telecasted

AliExpress Red Light Therapy Brace Review. https://youtu.be/t4dficd0lMc More Info and Purchase: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005975967659.html Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: https://marcoscucom.wordpress.com/2024/01/13/aliexpress-red-light-therapy-knee-brace/ Look for my detailed video review on YouTube - search for the marcoscu channel This is my latest AliExpress purchase and the newest of my red light therapy products. Like almost everything on AliExpress the same product is available from multiple suppliers on AliExpress at a range of prices. I paid £24.32 including shipping from China, but be sure to shop around. In the box, I received the red light pad, a 49cm elastic webbing strip, a 1.5m USB cable, a 0.5m USB cable, an English User Manual, and a Storage Case. Take note that a custom plug is used on the pad end of the cables, so a regular USB cable cannot be used. Build quality seems fine and pretty much of premium grade. The pad is sized 54x26x2 cm with two long velcro straps on either end. It features 96 0.5W LED beads for 660nmm and 850nm treatment. Some of the buds are dual frequency and it seems that 32 are dual frequency and 64 are 850nm only. I do not have the technical equipment to test the output of the LEDs but the overall build quality and presentation do give me confidence in the claims for them. On the outside of the pad are the single backlit control button, the power input socket and a net pocket designed to hold a power bank. The unit can be powered either from a USB port or from a power bank but make sure that the port used outputs at least 5v/2a, as some generic devices put out a lower power level which may not be enough to operate the device. This is described as a knee treatment pad but it seems to me larger than is needed for that purpose and better suited to treat the shoulder or back which might explain the inclusion of the webbing extension strip. The AliExpress product page shows it being used to treat a range of body parts including the knee. Operation is simple enough. Short press the button, the button lights up green and both the 660nm and 850nm LED buds start working, short press again and only the 660nm buds operate, press again and only the 850nm dear infrared buds work, Press again to switch off. Remember that the 850nm buds are invisible to the eye and although the button remains lit the LED lights will appear to go out. The device will switch off automatically after a twenty minute session. To use the red light pad in pulse mode, long press the button and it will turn blue to show pulse mode is selected. Then just repeat the proceedure above to select the light option required. I tested the EMF pollution levels from this unit and although the Radio Frequency and Magnetic levels were low, the electronic frequency output level was high but not wildly so and comparable to that of many other household devices, so do not worry too much about it. Some of the items I have bought from AliExpress, including Red Light Therapy devices, have been junk but I do not think this is one of them. Assuming that the LED ratings are correct then, for the price, this seems like a pretty decent buy to me. The Good Great Price Good Build Quality Good User Guide Two Cables Provided Power Bank Option The Bad Slow Shipping Generic Box Music: YouTube Audio Library: Malandragem - Quincas Moreira

VISULAPEX S1 Projector Pro Review https://youtu.be/izpvN0ppm88 More Info and Purchase: http://tinyurl.com/ypz85trh (Use code 4KFN8HGG for 10% Reduction) Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Currently priced at £167.99 with an Amazon discount offered cutting the price in half at the time of writing, this compact sized short throw projector falls into the mid range category but it still has plenty to offer. Inside the box aside from the projector itself was a full sized remote control, a power cable with a UK plug, an HDMI cable, an A/V cable adapter, a angle adjustment screw, and a well printed English language User Guide. Build quality is excellent, the brilliant white plastic casing of the compact-sized projector feels well made and robust. Nothing feels flimsy or about to fall off or break. The power cable is heavy duty with a standard UK plug. The User Guide is large, simple and well written and tells you all you need to know. The infrared remote control is full-sized with proper physical clicky buttons rather than the credit card sized soft-touch remotes too often supplied. The main control buttons can also be found on the top of the projector itself. It has all the usual ports and connections: HDMI, 2 USB, audio out, and AV, allowing pretty much any sort of device to be connected to it including external speakers, Amazon Firesticks, Roku Boxes, hard drives and data sticks. As regards specifications, this projector offers native 1080p resolution with 4K downscaling, a contrast ratio of a very decent 15000:1, brightness of 500 ANSI Lumens (15000 Lux) , with a best image size of 200 inches over a projection distance of 3m with manual keystone and focusing correction. The image can be zoomed from 75 - 100% directly from the remote control, a high end feature often missing at this price point. It offers Screen Mirroring to wirelessly stream from Apple and Android phones. I was pleased to see that Bluetooth 5 has been used to give a faster and more stable connection and the unit features high speed 5G dual-band Wi-Fi. To operate you can use the supplied remote control, or the button set found on top of the projector itself. I use it with an Amazon Firestick connected to the HDMI port but external drives and memory sticks can be connected via USB. The second USB port can also be used to power HDMI connected source devices such as the Firestick, so it is good that two USB ports are included. When a Firestick or similar device is connected the remote control for that can be used for navigation, audio and general controls. The Projector can also connect to your home Wi-Fi network to allow wireless streaming from iOS, Android and other devices on the network. Take note that streaming is done over Wifi only, not Bluetooth. I found it gave a good, bright, well-saturated image at the optimum recommended throw distance of 3 m with effective and easy keystone correction when used in a darkened room. The image quality is clear and sharp without fringing and it holds focus well. There are multiple options available in the settings panel to change image quality, colour saturation and contrast. Audio quality was good from the rear facing stereo speakers and reasonably loud for the size but for use outside or in large rooms an external speaker may be needed which can be connected to the AV port or streamed over Bluetooth. The internal fan is far from silent but much less annoying than most others I have tried. The mid range price gets you some high-end features but if you are after a projector for professional use then keep on looking. The light output is fine for home use but works best in a darkened or semi-darkened room. The colours are good but less saturated and with slightly less shadow and highlight detail than you would find on a pro-level projector. The native 1080p resolution looks good and although 4K sources will play they will be downscaled in resolution. Those in search of a good quality entry-level projector with decent image quality and with support for all the basic functions may find what they need here. For new home theatre owners with a small to medium sized projection room, this would be very well suited. If you want an autofocus unit with perfect colour fidelity for professional use in an undarkened room and with a huge image then this one is not for you and expect to pay very much more to find it. This is a good quality device with excellent image quality and above average features for the price. It is priced far below high end professional projectors but it is by no means a budget device as regards its capabilities. It punches a good deal above its weight with build quality and design that makes it a great buy at a very affordable price. The Good Compact Size Good Image Quality Good Build Quality 5G Dual Band Wifi Bluetooth 5 Full Size Remote Control 4K Downscaling Low Noise Fan Wifi Screen Mirroring The Bad No Batteries Included No Carry Case Music: YouTube Audio Library: Beckoning - Telecasted

Kekoy 44'' Grabber Tool Review https://youtu.be/R72QhptCjm0 More Info and Purchase: https://tinyurl.com/yvzlnrpa Buy Me A Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/marcoscu6 Blog: I have a grabber tool which I use for fruit picking and other occasional tasks around the house. After some years the mechanism on my old grabber failed so it was time to replace it. After looking around on Amazon although most of the devices seemed very much of a muchness, this model from Keykoy seemed a better buy because at 44 inches it is longer than most of the rivals but it folds up to keep the size down. Constructed from plastic over a aluminium alloy frame, It seems pretty well made although the folding catches are a bit hard to use and rather more flimsy than I would like. The whole thing does feel a bit lightweight at times but then I suppose it has to given that weight can be an issue when reaching up for high objects. The three-section arm unfolds to expand and has two catches holding it rigid when fully extended. The catches work fine but take two hands to operate, which can be inconvenient. When folded a velcro strip is provided to lock the unit in place. A small but bright LED is incorporated into the rubber anti-slip jaws but annoyingly it uses three button type LR44 batteries rather than the more popular AAA or AAs and the switch to operate it is on the jaws, not the handle. On a projecting hook, a small magnet is included on the end of one jaw. These are both useful features which many rival grabbers do not have. The trigger mechanism to operate the jaws works well enough but a firmer feel and a more positive action would be better. Also, it seems the jaws can neither be locked shut or open. That, really is all there is to it. Priced at £19.99 after discounts, there may well be better ones out there, but despite a few drawbacks this still seems a good buy to me. The Good Above Average Reach Light Weight LED Light Magnetic Hook Folding Body The Bad Flimsy Feel Poor Trigger Non Standard Batteries Light Switch On Head Music: YouTube Audio Library: Snowy Peaks pt I - Chris Haugen.