i-Ecko High-Tech Laptop Sleeve. 15.6"

This is a neoprene sleeve for laptops with size up to 15.6 inches.

Photo #1 shows the laptop sleeve on the gridded mat and ruler for size reference. It is 15.5" wide, 11.5" high (from the bottom to the zipper), the bottom is 1" but the sides expand to accommodate somewhat thicker laptops. The front has a pocket which sized 8" by 10", the side to the right of the zipper is 9". It comes with a detachable shoulder strap.



The sleeve is made out of one layer of thick neoprene. The zippers are heavy duty and operate smoothly. The handles have an extra layer of neoprene and Velcro on the inside so they form a comfortable thick handle.



The sleeve fit my laptop as a glove. Photo #2 show the laptop in the open sleeve, and Photo #3 shows the sleeve half zipped. The sleeve had enough room for me to put in all the cords.



The sleeve formed a very neat snug package, giving protection without taking up any extra room. Because of it size it nicely fits into my backpack. When I travel with a laptop during business trips I can keep it in the backpack and then easily pull out at the airport for the security check. This saves me from carrying a laptop case as an extra piece of luggage.



I received a sample laptop case for evaluation and review.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

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AshopZones review ★★★★★

Book Review: BrandingPays: The Five-Step System to Reinvent Your Personal Brand by Karen Kang

The author of the book has a very impressive background as she worked for Regis McKenna who did brand positioning for Apple. And who has done a better job branding than Apple? Karen Kang transfers what she learned about branding companies to the idea of personal branding. Branding yourself.



Ms. Kang uses a phrase "a cake with icing" when she talks about personal branding. The cake is your expertise, your knowledge, your experience. The icing is your personality, your image, your smile. Icing make people like you and trust you. Without the cake the person has no substance, only fluff. Both the cake and the icing are needed to do well in whatever you undertake if you want to be very successful.



The author explains why just having the core qualifications are not enough. The key to success is to let people know the qualification you have. She recommends that each person thinks of themselves as a product. And how you position "the product" is not constant, it varies depending on three key factors: target audience, your strength, and competition.



Suppose your goal is to get a promotion. To determine your target audience you would examine who can influence your promotion: obviously your direct boss, but there might be other players. Then determine the problem/opportunity that is important to the influential people and what strength you have to address that problem. As your work on addressing this issue, keep them in the loop. If you do not have all the information about the decision makers you need to do homework. For example, if you are going for an interview learn who you are interviewing with, look them up on Linked in, Google search them, learn about the company. When you describe your strength highlight those that are more relevant to that specific company or person. It is a lot more effective than having a generic pitch about yourself. Each company gets a lot of qualified candidates. Try to find something unique about your skills relevant to that specific company that will make you stand out from the competition. If you have little experience, stress you have a fresh point of view. If you are older, stress your long record of achievement. If you know foreign languages and you are interviewing with multinational company stress that skill even if it may not be immediately applicable to your job. Prove your expertise by using specific examples from the past. If you don't have enough experience build it up by volunteering, teaching, finding a way to increase experience even if you don't get paid for it. After explaining the general approach the author gives several specific examples.



An interesting concept in "Messaging" chapter is what the author calls "The elevator pitch". The elevator pitch is a set of talking points that succinctly answers "What do you do?" or "Tell me about yourself". You never know when the opportunity will arise to tell someone about yourself, and you want to think through what you would say to take advantage of this opportunity in the best possible way. The author provides a template of key points to cover in this message for 5 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds option of the pitch. Sample pitches for people with different backgrounds help to put this lesson in context. What else can you do with your Elevator pitch? Use it in your LinkedIn profile.



Speaking of LinkedIn, Ms. Kang has a whole long chapter on Social Media and branding. It contains a lot of nice tips from what should be included in your profile to why you should not change your profile photo often.



Through her book Ms. Kang stresses again and again that to help you reach your goals it helps to have influential supporters. The authors spends quite a bit of time of talking how to identify and form relationships with individuals who can advocate on behalf of your brand.



To summarize the gist of the book is that people will not take you seriously if you only have social skills, but everyone is a lot more helpful to the people they like. Ms. Kang recommends not to just focus on growing your core skills, but spending time on relating to people and cultivating relationships especially with career influencers. Her book will help you to form a plan of action.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





I receive a review copy of this book for an honest and unbiased review.



AshopZones review ★★★★★



Table of content:



Introduction



The Importance of Reinventing Your Personal Brand

What's Inside BrandingPays

My Story



Chapter 1



Take Charge of Your Personal Brand

Branding a Political Candidate

What Is Personal Branding?

Personal Branding Myths

What are the Benefits of Personal Branding?

Rebranding Throughout Life

Your Goal for Branding

The Branding Journey

Every Brand Needs Cake and Icing

Personal Branding Assessment Questionnaire

BrandingPays System: Five Steps to Your Cake and Icing



Chapter 2

Step 1: Positioning

Position Yourself for Opportunities

What Is Positioning and Why Do It?

What Is Your Goal?

Positioning Triangulation

Positioning Statement

Who Is Your Target Audience?

Problem or Opportunity Statement: What do they need?

Value Proposition: How can you provide the solution?

Differentiation: Why are you the best one to provide it?

Evidence: How can you prove it?

Sample Positioning Statements

Chart Your Position

Iterate to Hone Your Positioning

Chapter 2 Summary

Chapter 2 Action List



Chapter 3



Step 2: Messaging

Message for Clarity and Impact

The Elevator Pitch and Your Evidence

Sample Elevator Pitches

Different Value Messages for Different Audiences

Back Your Positioning Claims with Evidence Messages

How the Positioning Statement Can Feed Your Linkedin Profile

What Is Your Tagline?

Chapter 3 Summary

Chapter 3 Action List



Chapter 4



Step 3: Brand Strategy

How to Develop Your Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy Platform

Key Brand Descriptors

Sample Brand Strategy Platforms

Chapter 4 Summary

Chapter 4 Action List



Chapter 5



Step 4: Ecosystem

Ecosystem: Leverage Influencers to Establish Brand

Taking It to the People

What Is the Brand Ecosystem?

The 90/10 Rule

The Brand Ecosystem Model

Take Time for Relationship Building

Four Keys for Strong Ecosystem Relationships

Identifying Influencers

Managing Your Ecosystem Relationships

A Word About Networking

Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter 5 Action List



Chapter 6



Step 5: Action Plan

Build Your Brand Action Plan

A36o-Degree Brand

Brand Improvement

Brand Communication

Four Phases of Brand Communication Using the Ecosystem Model

Brand Action Example

Lessons from Rebranding an Entrepreneurial Company

A Word of Advice for Entrepreneurs

Chapter 6 Summary

Chapter 6 Action List



Chapter 7



360-Degree Branding: Vision, Symbols, Words and Dei

The Care2 Story: Rebranding from the Inside Out

Vision or Thought Leadership Branding

Your Look, Your Image: The Basics

Branding in Multimedia

Chapter 7 Summary

Chapter 7 Action List



Chapter 8



Portable Branding and Social Media: Getting Started

Why You Need to Be in Social Media

Choose Your Social Networks

Own Your Online Real Estate

Your Google Search Results

Your Avatar

To Blog or Not to Blog

Should You Promote Your Personal Brand or Your Business Brand Online?

Online Reputation Management

Do a Few Things Well

Chapter 8 Summary

Chapter 8 Action List



Conclusion



Reinvent Your Brand for New Opportunities

Four Stories on Overcoming Diversity Challenges in Personal

Branding and Life

Pillowpacker Pillows Pillowcases

Pillowpacker pillow cases are designed to fit Pillowpacker pillows. Each Pillowpacker pillow is 19" by 14" (slightly smaller than a regular size pillows which are typically 24" x 19").



I am attaching a collage of 3 photos.

Photo #1 and Photo #3 shows the Pillowpacker pillow case construction. This is a european-type pillow cases which fold over rather than have one open end. I prefer this style of pillow cases to the ones with one open side for their neat appearance. The pillow cases are made out of 100% percale cotton. They comes in 5 different colors. In the photos I attached you see red one and blue one.



Photo #2 shows Pillowpacker pillow next to a regular size pillow for a relative size comparison.



I hand washed both pillow cases in hot water to test for color fastness. On the initial wash there was a tiny amount of color bleed. I repeated the wash three times, by the third time there was no color bleed at all. There pillow cases did not shrink.



I received sample pillow cases from the manufacturer for an evaluation and unbiased review. These are high quality pillow cases and the fit is perfect since they are specifically made for these pillows.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.







AshopZones review ★★★★★

Pillowpacker Pillows Down Pillow Set / Microfiber Pillow Set

I had a couple of back surgeries, so finding a comfortable position in bed is always a bit of a challenge especially when I travel. At home I use a pillow with more loft for my head, and a flatter pillow under my knees to keep my spine in a position that does not hurt.  When I travel I often find hotel pillows uncomfortable.  They are usually either too fat to feel comfortable under my knees or too flat to be comfortable under my head.

This is where Pillowpacker Pillows come in.  The unique feature of this travel pillow is its construction.  It is shaped as a regular bedroom pillow (but somewhat smaller), but inside it has multiple layers: the out layer is either duck down or microfiber, and inside layer is an inflatable pillow.  You can control the thickness of the pillow by how much you inflate the inflatable pillow.  The softness of the duck down or microfiber makes you feel like you are sleeping on a regular pillow.  By changing the inflation of the pillow I could make it fit both of my needs thicker under the head, and flatter under the knees.



Photo #1 shows a fully inflated pillow (blue) and minimally inflated pillow (red).  The valve used to inflate the pillows is very easy to use. It is hard plastic screw valve. Blowing air into it is very easy, it takes only a few blows to inflate it (much easier than other inflatable pillows that have a silicone plug). 



Photo #2 shows the Pillowpacker pillow next to my regular size pillow. My regular pillow is 24" x 19", the Pillowpacker pillow is 19" by 14".



Photo #3 shows the construction of the pillow: dark blue is the pillow case, light blue is the sleeve that contains goose feathers, white is the inflatable pillow between the two layers of goose filling.



Photo #4 shows the Pillowpacker pillow case. This is a European-type pillow case which folds over rather than have one open end.  I much prefer this style of pillow cases for their neat appearance. It is made out of 100% cotton.



I prefer duck down pillows in general, my husband prefers microfiber, so I got one of each. In the photos above I used the blue pillow case for down pillow, and the red pillow case for the microfiber one. When I inflated both pillows I was able to get the same thickness on both of the pillows, they both weigh 5 oz. They both compacted similar well when I rolled them up for packing.  They do feel slightly different in a squeeze test. By squeezing each I can tell the difference between down and microfiber as microfiber has a bit more spongy feel to it. The down pillow is very soft, you cannot feel any quills, this pillow is made with top quality duck down.



Originally I thought I would use these pillows only when I travel, but I found the ability to adjust the pillow loft for my back problems so useful that I began using them as my "under the knees" pillow every day.  I found that being able to change the inflation really helps my back, as some days the back feels better with knees slightly higher and some days with knees slightly lower. 



Whether you want more custom comfort when you travel, or you use pillows to adjust leg position when you sleep this pillow can be customized to fit your needs. I recommend it.





You can find the Pillowpacker down pillow on Amazon by following this link.





You can find the Pillowpacker micro fiber pillow on Amazon by following this link.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Bolse® Universal Travel Adapter with USB Charger

Bolse universal travel adapter is plug adapter. It does no voltage conversion. This plug adapter is different from other international plugs adapters I have in two ways:



(1) It is all-in-one plug not multiple small plugs like my other adapter sets. This is good because pieces are not going to get lost and always be there when you need them. The "price" for being all-in-one plug that this unit is bigger than any one of the individual country adapter. The Bolse adapter's size is 2 3/8" x 1 3/4" x 2 1/4" with all prongs retracted. Its weight is 3.1 oz.



(2) In addition to the AC outlet it also has an USB port built into the unit.

Having a USB port is extremely handy for recharging mobile devices.

I tested the USB port with Tested with Nexus 7 Tab, Galaxy Nexus Phone, Galaxy 7.7 Tab using 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.



The results of my test is that the plug worked well with Nexus Android devices, but did not work with Samsung Galaxy Tab.

✔ Nexus 7 Tab........................... charging at AC rate

✔ Galaxy Nexus Phone............... charging at AC rate

✔ Samsung Galaxy 7.7 Tab......... discharging



OPERATION:

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

The plug operated very smoothly and I am attaching a video which demonstrates how the plug is switched between different configurations.

✔ For USA plug

Slightly press the button and slide to the right for USA/AUST plug completely as shown. Make sure the contact blades are turned to the parallel position.



✔ For Australia/New Zealand plug

Slightly press the button and slide to the right for USA/AUST plug completely as shown. Make sure the contact blades are Rotated to "\ /"position.



✔ For United Kingdom plug

Slightly press the button and slide to the left Ir UK plug completely as shown. Pull out the insulated ground pin from the housing.



✔ For EUROPEAN plug

Make sure the button is slid back to the center then press the button for Europe plug to pop out.



When the adapter is plugged into the wall socket, the "power" indicator lights up showing that the AC power and USB are operational. This plugs maximum power is 6A. This means some appliances that require higher power (for example some hair dryers) may not work. Check your appliance label to see if it requires less than 6A.

 

I am also attaching a collage of two photos.  The first photo demonstrate how this plug fits on the power strip. It is fairly large and covers two outlets on the standard size strip. The second photo demonstrating Galaxy 7.7 tab running the Battery app (discharging).



I was provided a sample unit for testing, evaluation and writing a review. I provided pluses and minuses of my experience with this unit, and if you have questions I have not answered I am happy to reply to comments.



Overall, this plug performed well in all tests other than charging Samsung Galaxy Tablet. This plug is very well suited to those people who travel to many different countries. They can really take advantage of one plug that works in over 150 different countries. If you only travel to one country, then one dedicated plug might work better because it is smaller and lighter.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Geritrex benzoin compound tincture for skin protectant

Benzoin tincture of benzoin is typically used as a treatment for damaged skin. It is often applied before applying tape or other adhesive bandages, especially if you have to keep taping and re-taping the same area. I use it slightly differently. I have a friend who is an avid skier and applies Benzoid Tincture to avoid blisters from skiing boots. When I told him about a corn I have on top of one of my toes which is irritated by otherwise very comfortable shoes, he suggested I start using a bit of Benzoid Tuncture on top of my toe. Since Benzoid tincture is often used as an antiseptic (due it the benzoin as well as its alcohol solvent) I felt safe using it on a corn that was irritated. I found that the compound really helps. Now my corn feels less irritated and less painful.



I am attaching a photo that shows an open container of the benzoin tincture. The content is a dark brown thick liquid that hardens a bit as it dries. A small hole in the cap allows you to dispense a small amounts. The liquid does stain if you spill it as I found out the first time I applied it to my toe. Now I put something under my foot as I apply the compound.



Overall, using it on my toe every day made me more comfortable and I recommend it.





You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★

Bolse® 150 Watt 12v DC to 110v AC Power Inverter with Dual USB and AC Port Charger

This power inverter allows you to convert the DC voltage in your car plug to AC voltage, so you can plug in devices that do not come with a car plug.



This plug offers many positives (listed below) and one negative which I illustrate with a short video. I am also attaching a collage of three photos.

 



The inverter is 5 3/8 inches long from the tip to the end with the outlets. It is 3 inches wide. The plug pivots about 45% in each direction.



Photo #1 shows the inverter plugged into the cigarette lighter outlet in the car. Photo #2 shows that despite being fairly wide it fits into a tight area where the cigarette lighter outlet is located.



➨ POSITIVES:



✔ This inverter provides 2 AC outlet and 2 USB ports.

✔ USB charging ports rated at 5 VDC. When I plugged in Nexus 7 Tab and Galaxy Nexus Phone directly into USB ports of this device they get AC level of power.

I used Battery App by Elvison to determine how mobile devices 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.

Photo #3 show Galaxy Nexus running the battery app while plugged into the USB port of this inverter.

✔ I tried several devices in AC port and they worked well as well. My most frequent use for the AC outlets is to use it with my battery chargers: my camera's recharger as well as my AA/AAA battery recharger.

This inverter supports devices with continuous power requirement of 150 watts or less. Note that the manual recommends that devices plugged into inverter should require 80% or less of the 150 watts rating for this device (i.e. 120 watts).

✔ The inverter has built-in low voltage protection, over voltage protection, over load protection, short circuit protection and over heat protection.



➨ NEGATIVE:



✔ To provide cooling the inverter has a built-in fan. The fan on my plug generated noticeable hum. I took a short video to illustrate the noise. It really did not bother me, but my husband was somewhat annoyed by it.

I was provided a sample unit for testing and writing an honest and unbiased review. Overall, I liked this inverter. About a year ago I bought a similar inverter from Radio Shark so I would be able to recharge batteries for my cameras on field trips. Comparing the two plugs I like this plug better because (1) its list price is less expensive then the amount I paid at RadioShark (2) it gives me two AC outlets and two USB outlets, where as RadioShark unit gave me one of each.



You can find it on Amazon by following this link.





AshopZones review ★★★★★