Appliance

I love gadgets that can pretty much take care of themselves with little intervention from me. Some gadgets that come to mind that fit this criteria are smart locks like the Kwikset Kevo Smart Dead Bolt and the Nest Learning Thermostat. I’ve used a smart thermostat for several years, but just recently I got the opportunity… Read More

It’s July in southern Indiana which means it’s hot and humid outside. But this year it’s worse because there’s a heat dome over us and while both we and the corn in the fields are sweating, air conditioning units are working overtime to keep our homes cool and comfortable. AC units use a lot of… Read More

Pollen, pet dander and spores: These are the bane of the existence of anyone with asthma and allergies. But be prepared to breathe easier: The IQAir HealthPro Plus removes 99.97% of pollutants including VOCs, particulate matter and ultra-fine particles, which are the most insidious because they can be breathed into your lungs and go directly… Read More

If you own an in-window, wall hanging or portable air conditioning unit, it is probably controlled with a handheld remote. Handy, yes. But Gadgeteer worthy, no. You can change that with the tado° Smart AC Control which gives your semi-dumb AC unit IoT (Internet of Things) super powers that are IFTTT and Amazon Echo compatible… Read More

Hi, my name is Bill Henderson and I’m an addict. I confess, I am a coffee addict. Ironically, I don’t drink it for the caffeine kick. Caffeine has no effect on me. I drink it for the taste. I like coffee. Currently my household uses a Keurig style maker made by Cuisinart. It’s a basic… Read More

I live in a rural area where power outages are commonplace. It doesn’t seem normal when a week goes by without the power flickering or going completely out for at least a few minutes. Before we had a whole house generator installed, we would lose the contents of our refrigerator and freezer at least once… Read More

If you have a cramped laundry room or perhaps just have your machines in a closet, you probably don’t have room for a utility sink for handwashing delicates or for soaking stains before washing.  The new Samsung activewash™ High-Efficiency Top Loading washer is perfect for these situations because it has a built-in sink.  Of course, the machine has… Read More

Last spring, Julie reviewed the Dyson Cool Desk Fan AM06.  She liked the cool, bladeless design of the fan, and her only “con” was the price.  For the same $299.99 that the desk fan cost, you can now get a large, floor-standing Dyson AM07 Multipler Bladeless Oscillating Fan.  This fan stands 40″ tall and has Air… Read More

About a year ago, I hopped on the essential oils bandwagon because several people I know use them for health and wellness purposes. However, I simply enjoyed the aroma and so did my kids. I’ve since purchased two ultrasonic diffusers, both of which have had drawbacks. One of these, the H2EO Ultrasonic Diffuser, leaves about… Read More

If you cringe every time a new electric bill comes in the mail and you wish there was an easy way to monitor how much power and money your appliances are using, you should check out the ego smart Wi-Fi socket from Efergy. This small module plugs in between a wall socket and the appliance… Read More

If the thoughts of turning your “dumb” home into a smart home sounds appealing but also too expensive and too daunting, consider Neurio. Instead of connecting individual sensors to all of your main appliances, Neurio is one sensor that installs into your home’s electrical panel (no cutting or disconnecting wires is required). This one sensor uses… Read More

When I upgraded my old fashioned “dumb” thermostat to a programmable / smartphone controllable thermostat a few years ago, it was a huge leap in convenience because I was able to program it to automatically turn the furnace down while I was at work during the day. It would then automatically turn the heat up… Read More

Winter is here with a vengeance, and you may be plagued with dry skin and static shocks as a result of the dry air the extreme cold brings.  The VapOrb USB Ultrasonic Humidifier can moisten your air and reduce your discomfort.  Best of all, it’s only 2″ in diameter, so you can take it with… Read More

This little fridge looks like those iconic Craftsman tool boxes from Sears.  It would look great in your workshop or man or woman cave, or just anywhere you want it if you love red as much as I do.  The 2-Drawer Toolbox Fridge stands 17.25″ wide x 20″ deep x 30.75″ tall and weighs 63 pounds.  It… Read More