Joe Porletto

Joe became a Maker at the age of ten after piecing together a Sinclair ZX80 that his grandfather had given him. The bug bit him hard and he’s been tinkering, building, deconstructing and generally creating gadgetry mayhem ever since. Joe lives in Seattle with Addy, his rescue pitty, and Chino, his blind kitty.

Nocs Provisions Standard Issue Waterproof Binoculars and Photo Rig review – Powerful optics in a compact rugged form!

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REVIEW – The amount of what I consider necessary gear to pack on my adventures has slowly grown over the years to the point where I now need to thin out my kit just to save the strain on my back. Currently on the cutting block are my Emerson 7×50 Binoculars. They weigh over 2lbs,

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Creality Ender 3 Max Neo 3D printer review – Max out your 3D prints with this powerful large format printer!

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REVIEW – After getting bit by the 3D printing bug a few years back the desire to print larger, more complex items quickly followed. Unfortunately, the price of large format 3D printers runs pretty high, with some models costing well into the thousands. But, since I’m only interested in printing items slightly larger than possible

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Geneverse Solar Generator HomePower ONE PRO review – Reliable app-controlled backup power from the Sun!

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REVIEW – As summer comes to a close and the days get shorter it’s time for me to gather and clean all of my outdoor gear and store it for next season. Usually, as I put my gear back into storage I do quick assessments of things I need to replace or upgrade. One item

Geneverse Solar Generator HomePower ONE PRO review – Reliable app-controlled backup power from the Sun! Read More

Annke WX810 4K Ultra HD Webcam review – Sleek design and 4K clarity for your WFH needs!

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REVIEW – Splitting time between home and workplace offices has created a number of new challenges for workers these days. One issue is making sure you have the best equipment to do your job available in both locations. For me, this means completely duplicating my technical setup. Webcams are something I usually don’t put a

Annke WX810 4K Ultra HD Webcam review – Sleek design and 4K clarity for your WFH needs! Read More

Coolife HAPIMP NV3180 Night Vision Binoculars review – Never be afraid of the dark again!

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REVIEW – For people living their best outdoors lives knowing what’s going bump in the night is a valuable asset. Whether it’s protecting your food from sneaky nocturnal thieves or being able to observe night-loving wildlife, seeing in the dark is pretty useful. The Coolife HAPIMP NV3180 Night Vision Binoculars are an affordable way to

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Levana Oma Sense Baby Movement Monitor review – Sleep like a baby knowing your baby is too!

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REVIEW – New parents have so much to worry about these days, from getting proper formula to deciding on whether or not to get their baby vaccinated against COVID-19. Along with these new concerns come old standbys like is that rash normal, why hasn’t he/she pooped today, and is the baby sleeping safely? Technology might

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ClicBot Standard Robotics Kit review – This might be the droid you’re looking for!

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REVIEW – Along with flying cars, the promises of the future almost always include some type of robot companion. From C-3PO and R2-D2 to Johnny 5 and V.I.N.CENT, all the way back to Maria from Metropolis, robots are always depicted as a ubiquitous part of our daily future lives. Yet, here I am in 2022

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Solo Stove Campfire review – Bring the heat everywhere you go with this portable camp stove

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REVIEW – With the unofficial start of summer upon us, it’s time to dust off the camping, hiking, and backpacking gear and prepare for adventure. For me, one of the most important considerations when heading to the great outdoors is knowing when I will be able to eat. Not just when I will eat though,

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Zhiyun Crane M2S Camera Stabilizer review

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REVIEW – With the amazing advances in camera technology made in the last decade it’s now possible for aspiring videographers to create professional-level videos with little more than a smartphone and maybe a microphone and light or two. So, it’s not surprising to now see the massive camera accessories market shift toward supplying these creators

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MUA Journal review

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REVIEW – One of the unexpected but truly beneficial results of the pandemic has been the new focus some companies have placed on the mental well-being of their employees. My employer for instance goes to great lengths to provide us with tons of resources for bettering and maintaining our psychological well-being. Personally, I’ve found that

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Tekto Skar OTF Knife review – Release your inner John Wick (just not with this knife)

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REVIEW – Some knives are just inherently cooler than others. For me, it doesn’t get much cooler than an automatic OTF (out-the-front) knife. There’s something about flicking a switch and having a razor-sharp blade spring forward that makes me feel like a secret agent, or a notorious hitman named John Wick for that matter. The

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FlexSolar 120W Foldable Solar Panel Kit review – The power of the sun in the palm of your hand

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REVIEW – As my collection of portable batteries and power packs grows, the need for cheap (or free) electricity to keep them topped off increases as well. To avoid forking over my paycheck to Seattle City Light each month I’ve been looking for an effective solar panel kit to address this need. I may have

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Gadgeteer team – gear we’re using in 2022 – Shooting Range Edition (Joe Porletto)

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REVIEW – When the Gadgeteer team decided to do another round of “Gear we’re using” posts I was concerned because I’ve been using pretty much the same gear for the last two years. I documented my Work from Home setup exactly a year ago as I write this and that hasn’t changed at all. Since

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UGOOS UT8 Pro Android TV Box review – A buggy powerhouse that’s not ready for prime time

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REVIEW – Since “cutting the cord” years ago I’ve had the opportunity to try out pretty much every TV media box. I’ve run my media collection and streaming apps through Rokus, TiVos, Amazon Fires, Chromecasts, Xboxes, Playstations, Macs, PCs, Smart TVs, and my all-time favorite, Nividia Shields. Just know, the Nividia Shield hands down outshines

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SANNCE 2K 4MP Super HD Webcam review – I’m finally ready for my closeup!

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REVIEW – Even though I’m using my webcam more than I ever thought I would, I can’t bring myself to invest in better lighting for my frequent video meetings and chats. Further complicating the problem is my cramped work area which doesn’t have much room for additional equipment like a large ring light. Fortunately, I

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Donner DBA-1 15W Bass Guitar Amplifier review – Big sound in a little package

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REVIEW – One of the many hobbies I picked up during my pandemic downtime is the bass guitar. I’ve played guitar since I was a kid but was always a bit intimidated by the bass. Having been in the same band for about twenty years now (insert shameless Spotify plug here) I’d frequently pick up

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