Pocket Chain Saw Survival Gear Cool Outdoor Camping Tools

This pocket chain saw is a 25" long chain saw blade attached to two nylon handles. The length of the saw with the handles is 40 inches. It comes in a handy pouch which keeps the package neat and compact. It weighs only 4.7 oz on my digital postal scare.



To test the saw I enlisted the help of my husband to do the sawing while I held the end of the branch he was working on in place. The video shows the cutting of 1/2 inch branch. The entire process took slightly over 5 minutes. The attached video includes two short snippets in the beginning and the end of the sawing session.



Observations:

1. The saw worked but required a lot of energy and a good amount of time

2. The blade did not flip while it was in use, no adjustments were required

3. The blade came out pretty clean and no time consuming cleaning was required



The chain saw is most effective for cutting old trees or stumps still standing upright. Limbs on the ground require stepping on the tree limb to give it enough weight to counter the sawing motion. To cut a horizontal branch on a tree it helps to have two people, as the second person can hold the branch steady.



I received this saw from Stunning Gadgets with a request for an honest review, be it good or bad. This is a useful gadget to have in emergency, its small size and light weight are its biggest assets. Putting it to use does require effort and time, which is not unexpected, of course.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

iFlash® Ultra Slim 3200mAh Portable Power Bank Backup External Battery Charger with Embedded Micro-USB and Flashlight

Ultra Slim 3200mAh External Battery Pack looks very slick, it is quite thin. One unique feature of this external power pack is that it has a micro USB cable built into the side of the unit (see attached photo collage). It pops out of the side on a coiled cable, so if your mobile device takes a micro USB connector you don't need to carry any extra cables. This built-in cable delivers very rapid charging (see test results below). The power pack also has a port which allows you to connect other connectors, so it works with devices that have proprietary connectors as well.



I tested Ultra Slim 3200mAh External Battery Pack with Galaxy Nexus Phone (running ICS 4.0.4), Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tablet (running ICS 4.0.4) and iPad Mini.



I received this power bank from the manufacture for an honest review be it positive or negative. Top reviewers are often asked to review new battery packs and one of the benefits of being asked to test different power banks is that it gives me an opportunity to compare them to each other using the same charging test, so I can compare them using "apples to apples" comparison. This set of tests allows me to provide unbiased results as the numbers speak for the performance of each unit.



I received two identical units black and white, having two of them allows me to test for consistency in manufacturing. Ideally I want to see the same performance numbers for both units, and this was the case with the two Ultra Slim power packs .



My methodology is to charge each mobile device on each port of the unit for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charge in that 10 minute period. In addition I tested charging two mobile devices at the same time. Each line in the table below represents a separate 10 minute test. I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.



➨ General features:

======================



Ultra Slim 3200mAh external battery weighs 3.2 oz. Its size is 2.25" x4.25 " x 0.375". The pack has one USB output port and one built-in micro USB cable.



In addition to the built-in micro USB cable Ultra Slim comes with a charging cable and two tips - micro USB and iPad. It did not have tips for Samsung Galaxy Tab or lightening connector for iPad Mini and I used my own charging cables during the tests. I am attaching a photo of the Ultra Slim 3200mAh during one of the test next to my tablet for size reference. You can find this photo by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo in this listing.



Ultra Slim 3200mAh looks very slick: it is thin, has a nice finish, and in general has a look and shape of a smart phone. It shows the charge level by displaying 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% on panel. When it is charging, however, this indicator gets turned off. But the charging continued even when the lights were off. This is a little different from how other external power pack indicators work (they stay on when you are charging),so I wanted to mention it. In addition to the charging capabilities, Ultra Slim has a built-in flashlight.



➨ Test Results:

======================



✔ Galaxy Nexus Phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

White unit: AC ~~~~~ 6% change in charge in 10 minutes (built-in mciro USB charging cable)

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ 6% change in charge in 10 minutes (built-in mciro USB charging cable)



White unit: AC ~~~~~ 2% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ 2% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)



✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 tablet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

White unit: AC ~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)



✔ iPad Mini tablet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

White unit: AC ~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes (separate charging cable)



➨ Key finding:

======================

✔ This power pack has great performance with built-in micro USB cable.

✔ Using your own charging cables the power pack works with both Galaxy 7.7 Tablet and iPad Mini but performance is on the slow side.

✔ I observed the same performance for both the black and white model, which is good and reflects consistency in the manufacturing process.



I highly recommend this power pack to people who can take advantage of the built-in micro USB cable.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

GreatShield Mariner (IP-68 Certified) 100% Waterproof Protective Pouch Case for 8" tablets (iPad Mini, Galaxy 7.7, and others)

Mariner looks very cool and feels well made. It is very different from several other waterproof cases I own.



When not in use it looks like a neat looking white cylinder. This cylinder turns into a seal for a waterproof bag that is stored within it.



The cylinder lid opens when the connectors on both sides of the cylinder are pushed in at the same time. It is closed by snapping the lid shut. Listen for the click to be sure it closed.



In attached video I show opening the cylinder, inserting each of my two tablets (iPad Mini and Galaxy Tab 7.7) inside of it. The video also shows my water test with iPad mini: putting the case under water and using the iPad Mini while it is wet and inside the pouch. I also show removing the tablet and packing up the case back for storage by rolled it up into the cylinder.



The whole system is very neat and good looking. It worked well both in terms of being waterproof and keeping the ability of using the tablet while it is in the bag. I would rank it above other waterproof bags I have tried.



I received Mariner from the manufacture for testing and sharing my experience be it positive or negative. I am not compensated for this review or have a business relationship with the manufacture. The manufacture does not have any influence over the content of my review. I've done my best to test the product and provide an honest review. I hope the video gives you a good idea of what to expect.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Nano flash drive, V7 Mini USB Flash Drive, 32GB

This V7 nano flash drive has 32 GB capacity. The nano drive is really small: 7/8"L x 1/2"W x 1/8"H. I am attaching a couple of photos which shows this flash drive next to a regular flash drive and in use with my MP3 speaker player for size reference.



The drive has a small loop at the top, so it can be attached to a key chain if a loop if needed. My favorite use for this flash drive is in the MP3 player you see in the photo, I used to use this player with a regular size memory stick and a tiny one is so much more convenient.



The 32G capacity allows you to store 5416 photos each one is 12 MegaPixels or 250 minutes of 13 Mpbps HD video. The memory stick has a 5 year limited warranty.



The maximum speed that USB 1.0 devices can achieve is 12 MB/s while 2.0 devices can theoretically achieve up to 40 times of that at 480Mbps (although real speed it typically somewhat less than this theoretical maximum).



I measured the performance of V7 nano flash drive with several utilities and its performance falls in the middle of other USB 2.0 memory sticks I have tested.



To test various memory cards I run the same set of tests so I can compare them to each in "apples to apples" comparison, this way if some unit does not perform well I notice it by comparing it to other devices I have tested. My test consist of copying a large set of mp3 files totalling 638916 Megabytes.



V7 SDHC write performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ 1.642s (cpu) 1:55.52 (clock time)



For comparison I including numbers for copying the same set of files to SanDisk USB2 memory stick, Transcent microSDHC class 6 card, and to the hard drive of my computer.



✔ Transcent microSDHC : 1.482s (CPU time), 1:33.97 (clock time)

✔ SanDisk USB2: 1.358s (CPU time), 1:23.53 (clock time)

✔ Hard Drive: 0.573s (CPU time), 0:00.58 (clock time)



For read performance test I use Linux Disk Utility Benchmarks.



V7 SDHC Read-only performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ Minimum read rate 18.0 MB/s

✔ Maximum read rate 31.3 MB/s

✔ Average read rate 27.0 MB/s

✔ Average access time 1.4 ms



There are a couple of small negatives I want to mention (not deal breakers just for completeness of the review).



1. This memory stick does not have a led indicator which shows that the memory stick is being accessed. If I am using multiple memory sticks I like to see the reassuring flashing of the stick I am writing to so I can be sure I am accessing the right stick.

2. The memory stick has a pretty tight fit, I use the grippy material used to open can lids to pull the memory stick out the USB slot of my hub.



I was supplied a sample for testing and an honest review, be it positive or negative. I really like this nano flash drive and would recommend it to others.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Metrokane 9251 All Chrome Electric Rabbit Wine Opener

After a couple of back surgeries my hand strength is pretty bad. One of the things that is difficult for me is opening wine bottles. When Metrokane asked me to test and review Metrokane Electric Rabbit Wine Opener I eagerly agreed knowing I will be one of their weakling testers.



I finally found the wine opener that is easy for me to use! All I have to do is press the bottom button on the wine opener and wait until the motor stops, and then push the top button to eject the cork from the wine opener. No strength needed at all! At the 4th of July gathering we opened a few bottles using it, and they all worked equally well.



Attached video starts with the use of the foil cutter - one has to squeeze and turn it to cut off the foil. Then the video shows extracting the cork, and finishes up with ejecting the cork.



The bottle opener comes with a charger. It takes 5 hours to fully charge the opener. The top of the opener has a digital display which shows how many bottles you can open with the remaining charge. The fully charged unit can open 30 bottles.



I am attaching a collage of photos (which can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo).



✔ Photo #1 shows the use of the foil cutter

✔ Photo #2 shows wine opening removing the cork

✔ Photo #3 shows the cork coming out of the wine opener

✔ Photo #4 shows the cork being ejected

✔ Photo #5 shows the wine opener being charged (just starting, so it shows 0 bottles)



The Metrokane Electric Rabbit Wine Opener comes in an attractive round box. It would make an attractive gift.



Electric Rabbit Wine Opener has a 1 year warranty. It can be returned for repair or replacement to Metrokane (proof of purchase is required) to the following address:

Metrokane Consumer Service

150 East 58th Street

New York, NY 10155





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Toddy Gear 5 x 7 Inch Premium Microfiber Smart Cloth Touch Screen Cleaning

This cleaning cloth is generously sized 6 7/8" on one side and 5" on the other side. You get one cleaning cloth in the package. One side is terri-cloth like micro fiber, the other side is satiny cloth. It is machine washable.



Toddy cleaning cloths comes in many colorful designs. The design appears only on the satiny slipery side, the micro fiber side has a solid color.



I am attaching a photo collage which shows both sides, as well as in use cleaning glasses for relative size. The photo can be located by following 'customer photo' link under the main photo.



I received a sample cleaning cloth from the manufacture to share my opinion with it whether positive or negative.



Is it better than other less expensive micro-fiber cleaning cloth? No. But one side has a colorful print and you are paying premium price for the colorful design.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



AshopZones review ★★★☆☆

32 GB sd card

My V7 microSDHC memory card has 8 GB capacity. This capacity allows you to store 1354 photos each one is 12 MegaPixels or 63 minutes of 13 Mpbps HD video. The memory card has a 5 year limited warranty.



I testd both the microSDHC card directly and the microSDHC with SD sleeve.



I measured the performance of V7 micro SDHC memory card with several utilities and found its speed reasonable. It falls in the mid range of various memory cards I have tested in the past, it is neither the slowest nor the fastest.



To test various memory cards I run the same set of tests so I can compare them to each in "apples to apples" comparison, this way if some unit does not perform well I notice it by comparing it to other devices I have tested. My test consist of copying a large set of mp3 files totalling 638916 Megabytes.



V7 microSDHC write performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ 1.654s (cpu) 2:37.83 (clock time)



V7 microSDHC with sleeve write performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ 1.437s (cpu) 2:40.11 (clock time)



For comparison I including numbers for copying the same set of files to SanDisk USB2 memory stick, Transcent microSDHC class 6 card, to hard disk of my computer,



✔ Transcent microSDHC : 1.482s (CPU time), 1:33.97 (clock time)

✔ SanDisk USB2: 1.358s (CPU time), 1:23.53 (clock time)

✔ Hard Drive: 0.573s (CPU time), 0:00.58 (clock time)



For read performance test I use Linux Disk Utility Benchmarks.



V7 SDHC Read-only performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ Minimum read rate 19.1 MB/s

✔ Maximum read rate 22.3 MB/s

✔ Average read rate 21.9 MB/s

✔ Average access time 0.9 ms



V7 SDHC with sleeve Read-only performance:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

✔ Minimum read rate 14.9 MB/s

✔ Maximum read rate 22.2 MB/s

✔ Average read rate 19.3 MB/s

✔ Average access time 1.0 ms



The only small negative I have to say that the packaging of the card does not include a plastic case which is included with some other cards. I like having a spare memory card when I travel and find these cases pretty handy.



I was supplied a sample for testing and an honest review, be it positive or negative.



AshopZones review

EC Tech Mini 2600mAh external battery power bank lipstick size

The unique feature of EC Tech Mini 2600mAh that it looks like a flash light with a charging port in it. The flashlight is quite bright. Many batteries have a small built in flashlight, but they are normally not very strong where as this one if fairly good.



I tested EC Tech Mini 2600mAh Power Pack with with Nexus 7 Tab (running ICS 4.3), Galaxy Nexus Phone (running ICS 4.2) and Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tablet (running ICS 4.0.4). My tests showed average results for the phone, and below average results for the tablets.



I received this power bank from the manufacturer for an honest review be it positive or negative. Top reviewers are often asked to review new battery packs and one of the benefits of being asked to test different power banks is that it gives me an opportunity to compare them to each other using the same charging test, so I can compare them using "apples to apples" comparison. This set of tests allows me to provide unbiased results as the numbers speak for the performance of each unit.



My methodology is to charge each mobile device on each port of the unit for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charge in that 10 minute period. In addition I tested charging two mobile devices at the same time. Each line in the table below represents a separate 10 minute test.



I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.



➨ General features:

======================



EC Tech Mini 2600mAh external battery weighs 1.8 oz. Its size is 4.1" x 1" diameter.



The pack has one USB output port. The package includes 4 tips, among them mini USB, micro USB and iPad. The package also contains a charging USB cable. Galaxy tab connector and lightening cable for iPad Mini are not included.



➨ Test Results:

======================



✔ Galaxy Nexus Phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AC ~~~~~~ 3% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 tablet (using my own Galaxy tab connector cable)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AC ~~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Nexus 7 Tab

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AC ~~~~~~ 0% change in charge in 10 minutes



➨ Key findings:

======================

✔ This external battery works well as emergency power a phone or as a rechargeable flash light. This is not the best small factor external battery I have tested, but it has the brightness flash light of all the external batteries that I have tested. I keep in the car as a rechargeable flash light, and just in case I need power for an emergency phone call.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

EC Tech 7800 mAh Power Pack External Battery for Nexus, Samsung, Apple iPad

I tested EC Tech 7800 mAh Power Pack with with Nexus 7 Tab (running ICS 4.3), Galaxy Nexus Phone (running ICS 4.2) and Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tablet (running ICS 4.0.4). Overall, the tests show good results.



I received this power bank from the manufacturer for an honest review be it positive or negative. Top reviewers are often asked to review new battery packs and one of the benefits of being asked to test different power banks is that it gives me an opportunity to compare them to each other using the same charging test, so I can compare them using "apples to apples" comparison. This set of tests allows me to provide unbiased results as the numbers speak for the performance of each unit.



My methodology is to charge each mobile device on each port of the unit for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charge in that 10 minute period. In addition I tested charging two mobile devices at the same time. Each line in the table below represents a separate 10 minute test.



I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.



➨ General features:

======================



EC Tech 7800 mAh external battery weighs 6.6 oz. Its size is 2.75" x 3.75" x 0.875".



The pack has 2 USB output ports. The package includes 4 tips: PSP, Mini USB, Micro USB, Apple. It also has two adapter cables. Galaxy tab connector and lightening cable for iPad Mini are not included. The battery pack has a small LED flashlight built into it.



➨ Test Results:

======================



✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 tablet (using my own Galaxy tab connector cable)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port 1: AC ~~~~~~ 2% change in charge in 10 minutes

Port 2: AC ~~~~~~ 4% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Nexus 7 Tab

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port 1: AC ~~~~~~ 3% change in charge in 10 minutes

Port 2: AC ~~~~~~ 4% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Galaxy Nexus Phone

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port 1: AC ~~~~~~ 3% change in charge in 10 minutes

Port 2: AC ~~~~~~ 4% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Galaxy Nexus Phone and Nexus 7 Tab together

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Port 1: AC ~~~~~~ 3% change in charge in 10 minutes (Galaxy Nexus Phone)

Port 2: AC ~~~~~~ 1% change in charge in 10 minutes (Nexus 7 Tab)



➨ Key finding:

======================

✔ This external battery worked equally well for the phone and the tablets. It is not the fastest external battery I have tested, but its performance is very respectable.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Hipe 7" Digital 5 Day Wireless Internet Weather Forecast Station

I like the concept of this weather station, but encountered several flaws in its current behaviour.



HIPE weather station is not your typical weather station which has a probe that measures the weather conditions right outside your house. Instead it gets information from the internet and then broadcasts the information, using a USB wireless dongle, to the display unit somewhere in your house. The weather station can only operate when the wireless dongle is plugged into the computer and computer is turned on and connected to the internet. In the current version (6/6/2013) the information is updated and broadcast every 55 seconds.



To configure the unit you select a city for which information is available that is the closest to your location. I check two states that I am close to and each had 9 cities to select from. My closest choices were 10-15 miles away, so I noticed slight variation in the forecast and the conditions near my house. I have one of those old-fashioned weather stations with a temperature probe that I was comparing this unit with.



The weather station comes with software for Windows and Mac. I installed it on the Windows machine. The installation was very easy, the display immediately received the broadcast. However the install did not follow Windows standards and normal good software practices of (1) asking the user where to install the software and installed the package at root level on C: drive (2) asking the user whether he/she want to add an icon to the system tray (3) giving the user an option to suppress system tray pop-ups that are generated every 55 seconds when the software broadcasts the weather (which need to be dismissed manually).



I received this product for testing and review from the manufacture and the first unit I received had a problem with displaying the information: it showed the full forecast for the current day, but did not show high and low temperatures for next 4 days. The manufacture suggested trying fresh batteries and taking out batteries and then re-inserting them, but this did not correct the problem. He mailed me a second unit for testing and it worked perfectly. I am attaching an image of both units so you can see the difference between working and faulty unit.



I asked the manufacture about the warranty. I wanted to know if the display issue is covered and would a consumer need to return the unit to get the replacement or would supplying a photograph demonstrating the issue would enough. He told me that the display issue would be covered under 1 year warranty and the a photograph proof of the damage would sufficient, the broken unit does not have to be returned. This is a consumer friendly return policy that gets high marks in my book.



I am attaching a collage of 5 photos which can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.



✔ The first photo the display for two units, the top unit is the faulty one where you can see temperature shows up only for today.



✔ The second photo shows the back of the unit, including the stand that turns this unit into a table top unit. The other option is to hang the unit on the wall using the keyhole mount.



✔ The third photo shows the wireless dongle, the light is green when it is broadcasting. The dongle is fairly large and I had to use a USB hub to fit it comfortably into my computer.



✔ The fourth photo shows a nice forecast display that comes up if you click on the icon on the tray.



✔ The fifth photo shows a pop that is generated every time the software does a broadcast.



I found the pop-up that was generated every 55 seconds annoying, all it tells you is that weather forecast has been updated. By convention such intrusive pop-ups are only generated for critical issues not trivial information. I contacted the manufacture again regarding this software issue. He told me that the developers are working on an upgrade which reduces the frequency of pop-ups. He provided me with a download of this future version, which I liked better because it generated a pop up less frequently by getting updates less frequently. However, it still generates a pop-up that needs to be dismissed. It would have been better if the app operated in a silent mode and only gave the time of the last update if one were to click on the icon in the tray.



As I mentioned earlier the installation gave me no options. It did not give me an option to add or not add this app to my system tray. I guard that space very carefully and only allow some applications to be visible all the time, this app did not give a choice when it added itself to the system tray. And I would have liked an option which would allow me to select whether it generates any pop-ups or not. The application installation did not give me an option of selecting a directory where I wanted to install the app. The app installed its directory at the top level of c: drive, not under Program Files which is a Windows convention. Imagine if every application installed itself at the root level?



I really liked the concept of this device, I like seeing the forecast right on my night table. The screen display problem of the first unit was remedied by an excellent warranty which does not require the return of the unit. However the application itself, even the updated version I received from the manufacture, did not make the weather software a well behaved Windows application. I gave my feedback to the manufacture and I hope they will continue to improve this product because it has good potential.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.



AshopZones review ★★☆☆☆

Grace Digital GDI-EGSCM Suction Cup Mount

I am using Grace Digital suction mount to mount ECOROX Bluetooth Speaker. The speaker is 5.5"L x 3.5"W x 2.5"H. Its weight is 10.6 oz. The mount holds this weight easily.



I mounted suction mount with the speaker in my shower. It has been installed over a week ago and it still holds well without needing any adjustments. The mount attaches with a vacuum seal mount and has a quick release/lock lever. The mount allows the speaker to be pivoted 360 degrees. The suction mount and the pivot give me a lot of flexibility of where to place the speaker. I put it right inside of the shower stall, so I have great acoustics when I am in the shower.



I received this suction mount from the manufacture for testing and an honest review be it positive or negative. The mount works great, the hold is very strong. It will mount well on any smooth surface.



I am posting a photo of the suction mount holding the bluetooth speaker. The photo can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Sendy 5200mAh High Capacity Portable Power Backup External Battery

I tested Sendy 5200mAh power bank with Nexus 7 Tablet (JellyBean 4.2.2), Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tablet (ICS 4.0.4), and Samsung Galaxy Nexus cell phone (JellyBean 4.2.2), iPad Mini and Sansa Clip+ MP3.



I received this power bank from the manufacture for an honest review be it positive or negative. One of the benefits of being requested to test different power banks is that it gives me an opportunity to compare them to each other using the same charging test, so I can compare them using "apples to apples" comparison. This set of tests allows me to provide unbiased results as the numbers speak for the performance of each unit.



These comparison tests reveal that Sendy power bank works very well with Android devices (particularly the Galaxy Tab which is often the worst performer), but did NOT work with my iPad Mini.



The size of the power bank is 4" x 1.75" x 0.75". It weight 4.5 oz on my digital scale. In addition to being a charge it also has a built-in LED light. The light is not very bright, but better than nothing in an emergency situation.



My methodology for testing power banks is to charge each mobile device for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charged in that 10 minute period. Each line in the table below represents a separate 10 minute test.



I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.



✔ Nexus 7 Tablet

--------------

Charging cable -- AC ............. 1% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Samsung Galaxy Nexus Phone

--------------------------

Charging cable -- AC ............. 4% change in charge in 10 minutes

Data cable ------ AC ............. 1% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7.7

--------------------------

Charging cable -- AC ............. 5% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ iPad Mini

--------------------------

iPad Mini cable -- power source not recognized ............. 1% dischage in 10 minutes



✔ Sansa Clip+ MP3

--------------------------

When I charge Sansa MP3 with a standard AC charger, the MP3 player goes into charging mode, displaying the charging animated icon. When it is plugged into the Sendy power bank the MP3 continued to play the content. This is a great benefit for MP3 player with built-in battery, this means I charge and listen at the same time and I do not have to wait for the battery to recharge.



I am attaching a collage of 4 photos, which can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo:



Photo #1 shows everything that came in the package, USB cable with interchangeable tips and a small bag for carrying the power bank.

Photo #2 shows the power bank next to Sansa MP3 player for size reference

Photo #3 shows Galaxy Tab with the battery app showing results

Photo #4 shows iPad Mini which did not recognize the power shot (when it does a white plug icon is displayed on the app screen)



Overall:

------------------

Excellent performance for Android devices, does not work with iPad Mini. Nice size for travel.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

iFlash 5600mAh Backup External Battery Charger

I tested iFlash® 5600mAh External Battery Pack with Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tablet (running ICS 4.0.4) and iPad Mini.



I received this power bank from the manufacture for an honest review be it positive or negative. Top reviewers are often asked to review new battery packs and one of the benefits of being asked to test different power banks is that it gives me an opportunity to compare them to each other using the same charging test, so I can compare them using "apples to apples" comparison. This set of tests allows me to provide unbiased results as the numbers speak for the performance of each unit.



I received two identical units black and blue, having two of them allows me to test for consistency in manufacturing. Ideally I want to see the same performance numbers for both units when testing the same device, and this was the case with these two units.



My methodology is to charge each mobile device on each port of the unit for 10 minutes and measuring how much each unit was charge in that 10 minute period. In addition I tested charging two mobile devices at the same time. Each line in the table below represents a separate 10 minute test. I use Battery App by Elvison to determine how each device recognized the charging source. 'AC' status means the charging is at full charging rate. 'USB' status indicates charging at a lower charging rate. 'Discharging' status means that the charging rate is below the power that the device is consuming so it slows down the discharge rate but does not re-charge.



➨ General features:

======================



iFlash® 5600mAh external battery weighs 4.4 oz. Its size is 3.75" x1.75" x 0.875". The pack has one USB output port. It comes with a pouch which fits the power pack, cables and tips. It has a built-in flashlight.



The external battery comes with a charging cable and 5 tips - micro USB, mini USB and iPad (and two others I don't recognize). It did not have tips for Samsung Galaxy Tab or lightening connector for iPad Mini and I used my own charging cables during the tests. I am attaching a photo of Flash® 5600mAh during one of the test next to my tablet for size reference. You can find this photo by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo in this listing.



➨ Test Results:

======================



✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 tablet (using my own Galaxy tab connector cable)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blue unit: AC ~~~~~~ 2% change in charge in 10 minutes

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ 2% change in charge in 10 minutes



✔ iPad Mini tablet (using my own lightening connector cable)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blue unit: AC ~~~~~~ -1% change in charge in 10 minutes (discharged)

Black unit: AC ~~~~~ -1% change in charge in 10 minutes (discharged)



➨ Key finding:

======================

✔ It works well with the Galaxy 7.7 Tablet, although charging rate is not the fastest I have tested. This power pack does not work with iPad Mini. I observed the same performance for both the black and blue model, which is good and reflects consistency in the manufacturing process. Overall rating: OK.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★☆☆

Ferry-Morse 1930 Annual Cut Flower Seed Mixture

This was a disappointing purchase in several aspects.



First, the amount of seeds you get in the package is quite small. I am attaching a photo which shows the entire content of the package on a white sheet of paper (placed on 1 inch gridded mat for size reference).

My local nurseries sell this amount of seeds for around $1.



Second, three weeks after I planted the seeds, watered them daily, I have practically zero germination rate. I planted another bag of seeds in another flower bed at the same time and it has quite a few seedlings. Both areas were watered at the same time and are located in the same sunny area.



I am attaching a photo collage containing four photos (1) the seeds contained in this package (2) the back of the packet which shows different planting zones (3) Flower bed with Ferry Morse Flower Mix, you can see one tiny seedling in the middle of the flower bed (4) Another seed package planted at the same time totally brimming with seedlings of various size.



I can't recommend this flower seeds mix.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★☆☆☆☆

DB-Tech DB-WAW400 Wireless Water Overflow And Leak Detector

DB-Techi wireless water alarm consists of two units. The smaller unit is the water alarm transmitter (its size is 2.25" x 3.5" x 1") and the larger unit is remotely controlled receiver (its size is 5" x 4" x 1.25"). The transmitter unit has a water sensor probe which is attached by 82" cord to the unit. It also has a retractable antenna to communicate with the receiver unit. Both units have keyhole hangers and come with mounting hardware and two hole templates to make mounting easier. If you have an unfinished basement and can't easily mount the unit on the wall, the cord is long enough to place the unit on top of the water heater while the sensor is at the floor level.



The transmitter unit operates on one 9V battery (not included), and the receiver operates on three C batteries (not included).



I am attaching a video which shows the water alarm operation. The water alarm worked smoothly, however it took some experimenting to figure out when the alarm generates sounds (the manual is not clear).



✔ The transmitter and the receiver both generate sounds. Each one generates a different type of alarm and on a different schedule.



✔ The receiver generates a beep-beep-beep sound for a few seconds every 10 minutes. The receiver can be re-programmed to generate another beep sound, but I was satisfied with the default sound.



✔ The transmitter generates a twirling sound for longer periods of time with shorter breaks.



✔ Each unit has a switch that allows one to turn off the sound manually, which is a good thing because the sound is loud and annoying. Loud and annoying is a good thing for an alarm, but it is also good to be able to turn it off once you know there is a problem.



✔ The video shows that the alarm is very sensitive, it needs very little water to start making noise.



To summarize:

1. Very sensitive, alarm is set off with a small amount of water

2. Reliable, alarm went off in every test I tried

3. The alarm itself is fairly loud and the receiver unit can be mounted in a different location in the house, where it can be heard even better.

4. Mounting might require some creativity if you have an unfinished basement or if the water heater is not near a wall.



I received a sample unit from manufacture to share my experience with the alarm (be they positive or negative) the with the potential future buyers. I addressed pluses and minuses of the unit, and overall recommend it. This inexpensive device can save you a lot of money by alerting you about an unexpected flood before significant water damage occurs.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

Bolse 6 Watt LED Light Bulb 450 Lumen, 45W Replacement

In this review I am comparing 450 Lumen Bolse 6 Watt LED light Bulb (Warm White 3000K), 450 Lumen Bolse 6 Watt LED light Bulb (White 6000K) and 60 watt Sylvania incandescent light. The Bolse bulbs are rated as 45Watt replacement and they surprised me by being brighter than I expected.



To help my comparison I am attaching a collage of 5 photos.



Photo #1 shows Bolse LED light next to 60 Watt Sylvania incandescent bulb. As you see not only the buld is standard E26/E27 but the size of the bulb is the same as an incandescent bulb. This means these bulbs will fit into all old fixtures without poking out.



Photo #2 shows Bolse White LED light in a two light fixture: the LED light is on the left and the incandescent light is on the right.



Photo #3 shows Bolse Warm White LED light in the same two light fixture: the LED light is on the left and the incandescent light is on the right.



The light from the Bolse warm white light was very similar to incandescent bulb light. The brightness of 450 Lumen led light was quite close to 60 Watt incandescent. The main noticeable difference is the difference in the direction of the light. As you see in the photos the top of the light fixture is dark when used with the LED light.



I received these two LED lights for testing and review (be it positive or negative) from the manufacture.



Overall, I liked the lights, however I ran into a defect in one the lens cover. As I was screwing in the light for the first time (holding it by the metal base) the plastic lens fell off from one of the bulbs. When looked inside of the lens I saw a plastic shard that came off one of the edges. I was able to put the lens back on, but it comes off I push on it again. The second bulb does not have this problem. Photo #5 shows the broken off piece and the edge, and photo #4 shows what the light looks like with the lens off.



I contacted the manufacture to find out if the 1 year warranty applies to the lens damage I encountered. I also wanted to know whether the consumer would need to return the bulb or if photographic evidence would be sufficient. LowerPriceUSA responded that the damage to the lens is covered by the 1 year warranty and that "Customers do not have to mail it back. The photo proof will work." This is a consumer friendly warranty and for that reason I am not docking the bulb any stars.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Satechi Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Trigger

The Satechi Smart Trigger is a type of a remote control. Remote controls have many benefits from artistic to practical - from taking long exposure photos without a shake to including the photographer in the photo. So what is different about this remote control from a standard infra-red remote control? It provides you a bit more control over the timing, gives you a timer on the screen of your mobile device, and you don't need to remember to bring another gadget along on your trip. In addition it has a mode that allows you to take photos with an interval giving you an ability to take time lapse photos.



So overall this is a useful device. However the current version of the mobile app has many problems, it often gets into an invalid state which requires several corrective steps and the user interface of the device is not intuitive. I made a video where I demonstrate the corrective steps, I hope it will save people time of figuring it out on their own.



COMPATIBILITY

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



To be happy with this gadget you need to own the supported camera and the supported mobile device. My Canon camera was one of the supported models, my Galaxy 7.7 Tablet was not compatible, but my iPad Mini did work. Note that I included a photo showing a screen shot of the Google Play with incompatible message in case you want to check if your device is compatible prior to purchase. The photo collage can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.



The Satechi Smart Trigger is not compatible with all devices because it uses Bluetooth 4.0, requiring your smart phone or tablet to also use Bluetooth 4.0. The compatible devices using Bluetooth 4.0 are: iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPad Mini, iPad 3, Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4, and Samsung Galaxy Note 2.



The Android store would not let me install the app as it flagged my device incompatible. iTunes App store did not find the application under iPad apps, but the app I found under iPhone apps worked on my iPad Mini.



PAIRING TROUBLESHOOTING

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The difficulty comes with pairing the device to the tablet. It is possible to get the app into a wedged state in a number of way with several different errors. I show several of the error conditions I encountered in the video. The solution to all problems is the following three step process, which I also include in my video.



✔ 1. You need to make your mobile device forget the bluetooth profile associated with Smart Trigger (under settings)

✔ 2. You need to delete the Bluetooth profile tag from within the app itself

✔ 3. You need to stop the app from running. This is accomplished by touching the home button twice, selecting Smart Trigger from the list of running apps and holding down the icon for a few seconds until the red minus sign appears, then selecting the red minus to stop the app.



These three steps clean up whatever went wrong in the previous attempt, and you can start again



✔ 4. Open the Smart Trigger App with the Smart Trigger receiver turned off.

✔ 5. Click on the scan menu of the Smart Trigger App, press the button on the receiver once. Sometimes scan starts automatically.

✔ 6. When the prompt to pair come up, select 'pair'

✔ 7. Now the *key* and yet not obvious step is that you are not done pairing when you select 'pair' button, you need to touch 'Smart Trigger' label that is displayed on the screen. Note that this text does not look like a button, it just text. On the left you will see 'Smart Trigger' text, on the right you will see a trash can. Do NOT touch the trash can, touch the 'Smart Trigger' text.

The 'Smart Trigger' label does not always appear on the screen, sometimes you just see a pictogram of the camera. If you don't see 'Smart trigger' label and you cannot touch it, the pairing will fail and you will need to start again with step 1.

✔ 8. When you touch the label the grey Connection Status icon turns red confirming that you have paired the device

✔ 9. Once you see the red indicator you can attach the cable that goes from the Satechi unit to your camera's remote control port.

Satechi recommends that the camera be set to Bulb mode and Manual Exposure. You can use Start Trigger when the camera is set 'P' mode and 'Timed shot mode' but the camera does not allow the use of Bulb Mode while in 'P', so you will not be able to use all of the features of Smart Trigger. You can only set BULB in the Smart Trigger App to the maximum exposure length allowed by your camera in 'P'. The same limitation applies to 'AV' mode. 'TV' mode is not compatible with the Smart Trigger.



Once the pairing occurs the app works fairly well until the next time you need to do the bluetooth pairing.



I should note that Satechi has some nice troubleshooting videos on YouTube, however each of the corrective steps is in several separate videos so it takes quite a bit of research to find all the relevant steps. I hope my video which has all the steps together will save you some research time.



FUTURE APPP UPDATES:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have reported the issues I encountered to the manufacture. They told me that there is work in progress on the next version of the app (as of May 23 2013):

Upcoming app updates will include fixing the issue with Bluetooth connectivity (the pairing process) and allowing users to select shutter speeds of less than 1 second.



Note that the Smart Trigger device mounts in the camera's shot shoe, so with the smart trigger mounted you will not be able to use the hot shoe for your on camera flash. Smart Trigger does not communicate with the camera, it uses the hot shoe for convenience, so in a pinch you can let Smart Trigger tangle and use the hot shoe for your flash.



WISH LIST:

~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a future enhancement that I would love to see in the Smart Trigger (after the connectivity issues are addressed). I would like to have an ability to see through the app on the phone what the camera sees. This way I can adjust the composition when the camera is mounted in a way that does not allow me to see the viewfinder or LCD screen of the camera itself. With the availability of SD cards with WI FI capability this sounds like a real possibility.



I received Satechi Smart Trigger for testing, evaluation and review. I noted the positives and negatives of my experience, and I hope you will find the video and troubleshooting tips useful. I gave Smart Trigger 3 stars - I thought the mobile app rated 2 stars at this time and the device itself 4 stars. I will monitor the updates to this mobile app and once the pairing issues are fixed will re-evaluate.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★☆☆

Hipe 6 LED Automatic Motion-sensing Night Light

Hipe Motion Activated Light is 3.5" in diameter. It can be activated by motion or by turned on manually. In the motion detection mode it is also light sensitive. Manual on/off works both when it is light and dark. The light runs on three AA batteries which are NOT included.



I am attaching a collage of two photos which show the light turned on. These photos can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.



The first photo shows a close-up of the light. You can see that only a crescent shape portion lights up. The LED lights are covered by a milky lens which defuses the light and is a good feature for a night light when your eyes are not used to the bright light.



The second photo shows the light in a small dark room so you can see how much light it produces. The stock photo that shows the light in a stairway makes it look like this light lights up more area than it does in reality. The amount of light is reasonable for a night light, enough not to be in a total darkness.



The light can operate in two modes: motion activated night light and flashlight mode when you can manually turn it on and carry with you. The shape of the light is a bit awkward to carry and the light not very bright for a flashlight. I am unlikely to use it this mode much. However in a power outage it is nice that I can detach it and place the light somewhere else.



To operate the light in flashlight mode you need to press switch "on" or "off" manually.



To operate the light in night light mode, you need to leave the switch in "off" position and set the slider to 30 seconds or 60 seconds. The light will come on automatically when motion is detected and stay on for 30 seconds or 60 seconds as selected. The motion is detected within 16 feet from the light.



The light can be mounted in several ways. It comes with a sticky tape Velcro. One side of the sticky tape can be attached to the cover, and another one attached to the wall. This allows you to remove the light when you want to use it in "flashlight" mode. The second option is to mount the light using two screws included in the package.



The light is not very bright, so I find it best fits the role of the night light than the flashlight.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★☆

QQ-Tech® Newest Mini Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard

QQ-tech keyboard is 6 3/8" wide and 2 3/4" wide. It weighs 2.8 oz on my digital postal scale. Each key is 1/4" wide and 1/4" tall. This keyboard has individual keys made out of hard plastic. Despite the small size I found that my typing accuracy is pretty good, I have yet to hit a key I did not mean to strike. The keyboard has a very nice feedback: the click feels good and you hear it. I am using this keyboard with my Samsung Galaxy 7.7 tablet. I found that I type much faster using it than on screen keyboard, especially when I have to mix letters and numbers in the text. Pairing is remembered from previous sessions even when I turn off the keyboard and the device.



The touchpad is sensitive and responds well, however with the tablet's touch screen I find that it is easier to touch the screen rather than to use the touchpad on the keyboard. However for the use with non-touch screen devices I would use it with no issues.



I am attaching a video which shows pairing with my Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Android tablet and then typing some text. What is particularly nice is that some application do not display on screen keyboard, so you get the benefit of the entire screen containing the information without being covered by on screen keyboard. Some applications still display on screen keyboard even when the QQ-tech keyboard paired with the device, so it depends if the application developer anticipated bluetooth keyboard use or not.



I end the video showing the backlight function of the keyboard. It is turned on by hitting a key that looks like a yellow sun on the top row. As you see in the video this works really well.



I am also attaching a collage of two photos, which show the keyboard next to a ruler as well next to my finger for a size reference. The photos can be located by following 'customer photos' link under the main photo.



I received a QQ-tech keyboard for testing and review (be it positive or negative) from the manufacture. I hope the video will help you set your expectations.



Overall, I am quite pleased with this keyboard. The only thing the I wish that came with it is a little carrying pouch as this little keyboard will be doing a lot of travelling with me.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

35 Neodymium Magnets inch by NeoMag

These tiny magnets really work! I have a bunch of pretty bear magnets collected all over the world covering my refrigerator holding up notes, appointments, coupons... Quite often when I try to jam one more thing under them they just fall off (and sadly sometimes break). I just replaced all of them with these tiny neodymium magnets and lined up the pretty magnets at the top just for decoration.



What I like about these magnets

✔ Each magnet is so powerful that it can hold many pieces of paper. In the attached photo collage I am showing a one magnet holding 7 layers of papers. It was still holding very strong at that point.

✔ The magnets are so small that they are not covering much of information. I can see all information on appointment cards and other small papers attached to the fridge. Photo #1 shows one magnet in my hand for size reference.

✔ The package contains 35 magnets, after I replaced all my existing magnets I had 20 magnets (in Photo #3) left for future use.



Some things to be aware of

✔ These magnets will not magnetize against the stainless steel refrigerators as they are magnetized themselves

✔ The magnets are very small and might be attractive to small kids, thus the magnets are a choking or swallowing hazard for them

✔ These magnets are made from neodymium which is the strongest magnet on the planet. This material is fairly fragile and is held together with nickel coating. This means you need to handle the magnets with care. I have not encountered any breakage even though I have dropped a couple on the floor: they jumped as I tried separating them from each other.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link





AshopZones review ★★★★★

40" Wide X 5 Yard Long Natural Burlap from A.K. Trading Company

I am using this burlap in the garden to protect bushes from harsh New England weather. I am very pleased with this order.



✔ The burlap is of good thickness. I am attaching a collage of three photos: Photo #1 shows my hand under the burlap in the sun, so you can really see the weave and the thickness of the material. Photo #2 shows one of the edges, Photo #3 shows the others edge as the finish is slightly different on two sides.



✔ The entire 5 yards I ordered are very even. There are no imperfections, knots, holes, thinning. The entire piece is good.



✔ I ordered 5 yards, which is 180 inches, I received 188 inches. Nice!



The material has a typical burlap smell which mostly aired out in a couple of weeks.



Good quality product and getting a little more than ordered go a long way to build repeat customers. I will be back!



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★