ZOOM 5 PORT USB "SMART" CHARGER

   This kind of device is almost a "must have" for the home or office nowadays. This one's a good one.

The multiple USB wall charger is great for travelers since it is certainly hard to find enough outlets to plug in chargers for GPS systems, phones, kindles, travel batteries and Bluetooth headsets in a hotel room if you are sharing your room.

But, if you are like me than you are quickly discovering that your house was not built to charge up all of the rechargeable devices that you have accumulated over the last couple of years. There just are not enough outlets in convenient places to charge up everything. This "travel" wall charger has quickly become an indispensable part of my daily tech life.

The charger with everything that comes with it.

The Zoom 5 Port USB "Smart" Charger takes care of this problem by being able to charge 5 different items at the same time. It is built to travel with a removable cord in the back so it will stow away in a smaller place.

I have used this charger for about three weeks now, charging a Kindle, a cell phone, various Bluetooth speakers and headsets. It charges things quickly and I have not experienced any kind of excessive heating with the device. A "smart" chip inside is supposed to detect the correct amount of charge that your device requires and make sure that it does not apply too much current and damage your device. 

This charger comes with two USB charger cords with three different heads - a mini-USB like Androids use and the iPhone 4 charger and the newest Apple charger tip. They are nice cords.

This kind of device is almost a "must have" for the home or office nowadays. This one's a good one.

As of the writing of this review this charger was $19.77 on Amazon. Click here to check for current pricing: ZOOM 5 PORT USB "SMART" CHARGER

Note: I received a free charger for review purposes in exchange for an honest review. 

Aduro AMPLIFY SB10 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headphones / Headset with Built-in Mic by Aduro

        Very Comfortable and Great Sound for the Price.

As a rule, I am not a fan of the bigger over the head type of headphones. Although the sound is always awesome, eventually the weight of the headphones themselves becomes an issue or they phones themselves start to hurt my ears. Not the inside of my ears - the outside part, where the headphones are sitting and rubbing. I don't know if it's because they pinch too tight (I have a large head) or what but they start to hurt.

The Amplify SB10 solves both problems. It is very lightweight and it does not hurt my ears. I have let it sit on my head for hours and they don't hurt.

But, do they work well?

Absolutely. This is a fine set of headphones.

The Bluetooth pairs easily and there aren't a lot of hoops to go through. I just hooked mine up to the Bluetooth after not using them for a couple of weeks and it was easy. Push the power button and the bluetooth button and they were paired before I could even check to see how they were pairing.

The AMPLIFY SB10 with everything that comes in the
package (a charger cord and an easy-to-read
instruction book

Secondly, the sound is great. I currently listening to the old rock standard "The Stroke" by Billy Squier and you can hear the vibration of the bass drum that is pounded on throughout. I have never noticed that before even though I have literally heard this song hundreds of times.

The headphones do not get super loud. I know that some people like to have their headphones so loud that everyone can still hear their music. These headphones will not do that. But, they are loud enough to block out everyone else and immerse you into your own personal world of sound.

The headset comes in four colors: Black, white, red and purple.

The set includes a telephone feature so you can answer the phone while wearing them without having to undo all of the bluetooth connections. The phone is excellent. You could use it as a hands-free device while working in the office or around the house.

The only negative I can think of is the fact that it is a headphone and they are just bulky and a pain to carry around when compared to ear buds. But, if you are looking at this review you've pretty much decided that the better sound is worth the inconvenience.

As of the time of this review, the Amplify SB10 headphones cost $29.99 on Amazon. Check here for current pricing: 

Aduro AMPLIFY SB10 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headphones / Headset with Built-in Mic

Note: I received a set of these headphones for review purposes in exchange for an honest review.

I rate these headphones 5 stars out of 5. 

Phiaton MS 100 BA Balanced Armature Earphones with Mic by Phiaton

    Nice Set of Wired Earphones

As I sat down to review these earphones I told my wife that these were a really, really nice set of basic headphones and that I really liked their simplicity. They had been sent to me for free through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review so I really had not paid attention to how much they cost. All I knew was that I have been using them pretty regularly for the last couple of weeks and that I really liked them.

Then, I saw the price ($79) and I balked at the whole review. 

Here's the deal with me. I really love music and listening to audiobooks so I use headphones a lot. But, I am not an audiophile. When buying for myself I would never look at Beats or Sennheiser or anything like that. Instead, I try to find something that is nice but that I wouldn't be a tragedy if they were misplaced or got broken. My standard is "Good Enough".

So, these earphones are out of my normal price range.

But, when I thought about it, I still like the earphones a lot and just because I am cheap doesn't mean everyone else is.

So, here we go:

Pros:

-First impression - very stylish and sharp-looking. Everything seems well put together. Everything is tight, good-looking and very lightweight.

-There are four sets of tips for the earphones so you should be able to find the size that works for you. Each tip has a different color in its core to make it easier to find the matching set.

-The cord is about as tangle-free as you can get. I teach high school and all day long I see students untangling earphones. These do not knot up (I have a set that does, no matter how careful you are).

-The sound is good. As noted before, I am no audiophile, but these are very good earphones. The sound is good with music and spoken voice. Right now I am listening to the metal band Skillet and the bass is very strong. And, yes, if you wish you could crank these things up to the point where you could do some real damage to your hearing. But, the speakers still sound good (even if you won't be able to hear them because you are deaf).

-The phone feature works well and the microphone is placed so that if falls about where you would pin a microphone on someone's lapel.

-The audio jack is a right angle jack. I am a big fan of right angle jacks. The typical straight out jack gets caught on things and that can damage your device's jack or your earphones or both.

-The earphones come with a little drawstring carry pouch. It will do nothing to protect your earphones against being crushed in a backpack but at least the earphones won't be free-falling around and getting tangled up with everything else.

Cons:

-There is no instruction manual. There is a very long warranty page that looks like an instruction manual, but no actual instructions.

So, to sum up, pricey but very nice headphones.

As mentioned above, at the time of this review, this set of earphone cost $79 on Amazon. Click here to check on current pricing: 
Phiaton MS 100 BA Balanced Armature Earphones with Mic


I rate these headphones 5 stars out of 5.

iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder - 5-Position + 6 Hooks Wall Mounted Organizer by iHomeSet

        Easy to Install

This morning I had a mess in a tight little corner in my garage with a bunch of brooms, two snow shovels and a spade competing for space. Now, there is plenty of room for the shovels because my brooms are all hanging on the wall on the iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder.

Installation is easy and it would be easy to install anywhere. The place where I installed my iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder is fairly cramped, comparable in size to a closet. But, it does not have to be hidden away - it's not like this holder is ugly or anything. It is just very functional-looking. 

The devices that grab onto the broom handle is able to accommodate a range of broom handle sizes, unlike some clip-style holders that I have seen. 

In addition to the broom holders, there are six hooks that can hold wet rags or short extension cords or the like. I hung several bungee cords that were just taking up space on a shelf on mine.

Installation was very easy. The holder comes with six screws and six plastic wall anchors and six holes to screw the holder to the wall. I stuck a pen through the holes and colored the wall where I would need to drill the holes and then hammer in the anchors. You will need a level to make sure that you are level before you start coloring in those holes, unless you are very good at eyeballing these sorts of things. Of course, it would be best if you could actually drill into a stud when you install the holder but the anchors do a good job and it fits snugly to the wall.

Total time to install: less than 15 minutes.

At the time of this review the iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder was being sold for $16.99 on Amazon. Click here to check for current pricing: 
iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder


I rate iHomeSet® Mop and Broom Holder 5 stars out of 5.

Note: I received a free Mop and Broom Holder in exchange for an honest review.

Mpow® Wired Earphone with Remote and Mic Volume Control for iPhone and other Smartphones by Mpow

  Great Value for the Price.

At first glance this is a basic set of earbuds. And, if they were, they would be a great set of earbuds. They have a volume control slider on a little box on the wire, they fit snugly and they sound really good. At $15.99 that sounds about right.

But, this thing also has a phone feature. There's a microphone on the little box with the volume slider and, sure enough, you can talk on your phone through these set of earbuds. And - it sounds good, too! 

This set comes with two extra tips for the earbuds so you can customize the fit a little bit. 

As of the time of this review, these earbuds cost $15.99 on Amazon. To check current pricing click here: Mpow® Wired Earphone with Remote and Mic Volume Control.

Note: I was provided with a complimentary set of earbuds in exchange for an honest review

I rate these earbuds 5 stars out of 5.

DE Lumi Earbuds- Illuminated Light Up headphones

      FUN!

The DE Lumi Earbuds are a decent set of headphones with a twist - they light up and pulse to the beat of whatever you are listening to. 

Now, when I say they light up, I do not mean that you don't need a flashlight if you go out in the dark. But, these would be a good idea if you are walking on the road at night because they would certainly make you more visible. 

They are clearly meant for the younger set - I showed them to my high school-aged daughter and she fell in love immediately. I merely thought they were cute so she is getting the headphones. 

The DE Lumi Earbuds with everything that came in the
package: a mini-USB cord and two extra sets of earbud
tips so it can be customized. 

So, how do they work?

They really do light up and they really do pulse to the beat. The cords are a little thicker than normal and found that I was afraid to fold them up too tight and pinch them for fear of breaking lights. That is not mentioned as a problem in the booklet, but I still had that impression. 

The battery for the lights have to be charged so there is a small plastic box where the headphones split. It has an on/off switch for the lights and a button to answer the phone. It has a small clip to attach the box to a shirt or jacket collar. This stops the weight of the battery from pulling the earbuds from your ear and lets the phone's microphone be close to your mouth.

The headphones are good, but I am not an expert audiophile so I can only tell you that they sound more than adequate for my needs. 

It has a built in phone and I used it in a lengthy conversation while I took my dog for a walk. The phone is excellent. 

This device comes in two colors - blue and green. 

As of the time of this review these earbuds cost $29.99 on Amazon. Click here for current pricing: DE Lumi Earbuds- Sound Reactive Illuminated Light Up Earphones

Note: I received a free set of earbuds in exchange for an honest review.

Winkine Durable Vintage Casual Lightweight Canvas Backpack - Travel School College Shoulder Bag / Bookbag / Daypack by IBSound

    I Am Torn When It Comes to This Bag. 

I am torn when it comes to this bag. First off, let me tell you that I was offered a review copy of this bag from IBsound so I paid nothing for it in exchange for an honest review.

Second, I have to tell you that I actually received two copies of this bag. The first one I received came without two of the three magnetic belt cinch straps that are used to close the pockets. I was sent another one right away. I would not even have mentioned the problem with the first bag (mistakes happen and they fixed it right away) except that the second bad also had an issue. The loop handle at the top was not sewn correctly - there's no way that anyone would have purchased it at a store the way it was sewn. But, I just took the belt straps from the new bag and put them on the old bag and between the two of them I had one complete bag. But, I felt that I had to report that both copies that I was sent had problems.

My high school-aged daughter loved the bag on sight and she used it for 4 show choir events to keep her personal items in. These show choir events are literally all day events (18+ hours long) so she really got to know the bag well. She siad that she would rate it a B/B-, which I interpret as 4 stars on the 5 star scale that I use.

But, when I told her he price of this bag she was troubled. At the time of this review the asking price for this bag is $28.99. (Check here for current pricing:Winkine Durable Vintage Casual Lightweight Canvas Backpack).  She said that she would pay no more than $15 for this bag, especially when compared the $45.58 price tag of her heavy duty school backpack that gets a real workout every day (she goes to a large high school and does not have the chance to go to her locker between classes so she carries everything in it) and looks as good as the day she got it.

The bag is made of a lightweight canvas. The straps, buckles and loop at the top are all made of a plastic leather-like material (I call it "pleather"). This pleather is better than the pleather of the past but is not fooling anyone within 5 feet of it. The main pocket has a cinch top. Inside, there is a additional zipper pocket to hold something small like a wallet or some change. My daughter put her battery to re-charge her cell phone in it. The leather straps are meant to look like they cinch shut but the buckles are merely decorative and the pockets are actually held shut by a magnet. If you do not overfill them, they will stay shut.

This is a lightweight bag. Don't try to use it as a heavy duty bag to carry a bunch of textbooks - it was not designed for it and it will not hold up. 

Considering everything, I have to rate this bag 3 stars out of 5.

Brightech Remix5™ - Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

      Great Speaker for Folks on the Go. 


The Brightech Remix5 is a powerful little speaker that fits in the palm of your hand (it is about the size of a baseball) and weighs less than half a pound. This little cube can really crank out the tunes if you push it - and it doesn't lose sound quality to distortion as you push the volume up. 

The rubberized surface offers some protection if it is dropped, but is mostly there for the purposes of grip - it is unlikely to shake itself off of your car hood if you take it out to a picnic.  It comes with a rubbery carry strap and an odd mini-USB/speaker cable combination. You use the same mini-USB to charge the speaker and to plug in to a device that doesn't have Bluetooth. Either way, the sound is great.

The Remix5 speaker with the strap and the odd charger
cord/audio cord.

My high school-aged daughter and I have given this speaker a good workout over the last month. We've hooked it up to two different Android phones and a Chromebook via Bluetooth and have not had a problem. 

The speaker is water resistant. Pay attention to that phrasing - this is not a waterproof speaker that you can stick in your shower, but it is one that can get a little wet around the bathroom sink. Brightech describes it as "splash resistant". 

The phone feature sounds great - I used it to talk for quite a while the other day. You just feel weird carrying around this speaker, but it does work well. 

All in all, this is a great speaker for the price with lots of great features and I am rating it 5 stars out of 5.  But I will make this recommendation to you. At the time of this review, Amazon.com is pricing this speaker at $29.99 (click here to check current pricing: Brightech Remix5™ - Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker ). I recommend that you look at the Brightech DanceOut (click here to see my review of the Brightech DanceOut). It is offers more features and is just an all around better speaker for only a few dollars more. 

Note: I received a sample of the Remix5 for review purposes in exchange for an honest review.