One of the easiest, and most fun ways, to add some smarts to your home or office is with a strip of LED lights. Setting them to a particular color, scene, or pattern can go a long way to livening up an otherwise dull affair.
We’re a big fan of the myriad ways you can incorporate LED strips into your life. Whether it’s placing them behind a TV, under a window ledge, or running across the top of a wall, having them in place can spruce things up and refresh an environment.
Then there’s the different ways to to use the lights, including an app, remote control, and via voice.
The SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights, available for $20 at Amazon, are a great way to add more than a pop of color to your home. Offered in rolls of around 16 feet, the lights can be configured to any one of 16 million colors.
Can’t decide on the exact color you want for the party? Perhaps you’d enjoy using some of the preset “scenes” or letting them dance to the music. That’s right, the SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights can automatically flicker and pulse to the music from your speakers.
Other cool features include the ability to control via your preferred smart assistant or automation. Between Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, and CLOVA you’ve got pretty much all your bases covered. Use your voice to switch things from crimson to chartreuse or tie the lights to an automation so they change to blue when rain is in the forecast.
Light strips such as these come with a 3M adhesive backing which makes it easy to adhere them to nearly any flat surface. And because of the way they are designed, you can cut them off at the length you need. There’s no unnecessary LEDs wrapping around or doubling up; it’s just what you need to fit the space.
Features
Easy to install: Simply use the 3M adhesive on the back of LED Strip Light to install your lighting and attach it anywhere, it’s that easy.
Cuttable, bendable, magical.: You can even cut your LED Strip Light to get a length perfectly suited for wherever you want to attach it, it is also flexible and can be used even for corners or hard to reach places.
Set timers & schedules: You can also set timers and schedules to have your LED Strip Light turn on automatically at preset times.
Control from anywhere: Can be controlled using either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to help you control your LED Strip Light no matter where you are.
Save Right Now!
Normally, the SwitchBot Smart LED Strip Lights run about $20 but right now you can get them for as low as $13 if you use the coupon code 15SBLIGHTSB at checkout. Doing so from now until April 15 will keep money in your pocket.
There is no wonder in saying that TikTok is becoming one of the most famous applications right now. Millions of people are using this application at present time for making videos. If you are a TikTok user then you must know how important it is to have great numbers of followers. People who have millions of followers on their TikTok are treated and also recognized as a celebrity. If you have a high number of followers you can earn some money from your post, various brands will also get associated with you.
Do you know you can buy followers on TikTok? Yes you have heard right, if you want to know how to buy TikTok followersthen consider reading our blog post. Here we have discussed how you can buy followers on TikTok.
How to buy followers on TikTok
In this section we have discussed how you can buy followers on TikTok. The very first thing that you must know is that buying followers on TikTok is no rocket science; you can easily buy a huge number of followers for your TikTok account. You don’t have to go door to door and ask them to follow you, all you need to do is go to a certain website to buy followers from them. Yes, it is that easy to buy followers for your TikTok account.
You will see various websites offering you some different packages, for example, you can buy 200 followers by paying $2.8. If you are interested in buying followers that way, all you have to do is give your account details, and pay the money via bank transfer, credit or debit card. And you can see the result immediately after you complete the procedure.
But when you buy followers that way, there is one thing that keeps going on inside your head that is whether it is safe to buy followers like this or not. You might wonder whether your account will get banned if you buy followers like this or not.
Therefore, to help you understand whether it is safe to buy followers for your TikTok account, we have provided an analysis that will help you to get your answer.
Is it safe to buy TikTok followers?
Now that you know about how you can buy followers for your TikTok account, let us understand whether it is safe to buy followers this way or not. The one important thing that you should always remember is that it is 100% safe to buy followers for your TikTok account. There is no such risk that you will face if you purchase followers for your TikTok account. Do you know there are millions of people out there who buy followers? Yes, it is true, there are millions of people who buy followers from various websites to grow their account quickly and safely.
You must understand that when you buy followers from trusted websites you will get real people as your followers. Thus, choosing the right website is also an important thing you must keep in mind.
The bottom line
In the end we would like to suggest to you that, undoubtedly buying followers is a great way to quickly grow your account but you must also think about making an engagement with these followers.
Non-profit organizations have a significant role in communities all around the world by providing services that help people in need. Helping others is rewarding work. Yet, running a non-profit is hard work.
Like businesses, non-profit organizations need to be run like a well-oiled machine. And believe it or not, a great way to do that is to make sure that it operates similar to a modern-day business. No matter the type of non-profit organization you have, to create a lasting impact and have the ability to help as many people as possible, you need to invest in your non-profit, just like a business does. In other words, you need to invest in your team, structure, marketing, and long-term relationships with donors.
Here are a few tips on how to run your non-profit efficiently:
Gather Volunteers
Like most non-profits, yours also functions based on volunteer involvement. In other words, you need people who can give their time and effort to help your organization help others.
Volunteers can help with a number of things, from raising funds to finding people who can benefit from your services, gathering supplies for people in need, helping your non-profit with fundraising events, and many others. So, you need to make sure that you have a significant number of volunteers who can help your organization for free. Easier said than done, right?
Well, one essential aspect of running a non-profit is to learn how to gather volunteers. Start by understanding the type of volunteers you need. Based on the nature of your non-profit, you likely need volunteers that have a particular skill set. For example, you likely need people with strong soft skills who can easily interact with people in need.
Once you figure out what you are looking for in volunteers, make sure to develop a clear volunteer job description that tells all that and share it on every possible platform, including your websites, social media, job sites, and others. This will increase your chances to gather the right volunteers and decrease your efforts to screen a vast number of volunteers who may not hold the right abilities for your non-profit’s activity.
Work with A Fundraising Consultant
Non-profits run on donations. You need money to do good and help others. So, it’s clear that some of your efforts need to be directed towards attracting donors and keeping them loyal (but more on that later).
One good way to find donors who can support your activity is to work with a fundraising consultant who can offer you support and guidance in developing long-term contracts with major donors. A consultant can help you find donors among local businesses or even international brands.
A fundraising consultant has the know-how and skills to convince brands to support your cause and activity. They are also familiar with all the paperwork involved in signing contracts with donors. This will give you more time to focus on other essential decisions and tasks to keep your non-profit thriving.
Hire A Virtual Assistant
Just like it is when you’re running a business, running a non-profit comes with a plethora of tasks. Oftentimes, these tasks end up on your plate, taking a lot of time and effort from you. You have to take care of accounting, marketing, relationships with donors, and many others. All these tasks can be really time-consuming, leaving you with no or very little time to deal with more organizational decisions. But it doesn’t have to be this way. A virtual assistant can help free up your to-do list.
Virtual assistants are independent contractors who can support all types of businesses and organizations. They own a complex skill set that involves know-how and experience with a number of things, including data entry, accounting, web design, marketing, customer relationship management and many others. If you hire a UK Virtual Assistant, you will get help with various administrative and creative tasks that you can barely handle on your own. A VA will perform multiple tasks that are essential but time-consuming for you.
Have A Powerful Marketing Strategy
Businesses need marketing to attract customers who will buy their services and products. Non-profit organizations need marketing to attract donors who can financially support their activity. Your non-profit is no exception to the rule.
Marketing is essential in attracting more donors who will give money to support you to help others. It also helps attract more volunteers to help you with your services. So, make sure to develop a strong marketing strategy.
In today’s digital world, you have plenty of options when it comes to marketing strategies. You can promote your non-profit on social media, have a website, use email marketing, and many others. However, due to the humanitarian nature of your organization, make sure that you don’t ignore real face-to-face interactions. Offline marketing is also important to attract more people to support your cause. So, combine offline and online strategies for a more efficient marketing impact. For example, you can organize an in-person fundraising event and use online channels like social media or your website to promote it.
Treat Donors as Customers or Investors
When a donor decides to donate their time and money to your cause, they are actually investing in your services and the community you are helping. Looking at donors as investors or customers helps you treat them the right way to keep them engaged in supporting your non-profit more in the future.
Businesses can’t succeed without customers and investors. Neither can non-profits. So, make sure that you use various strategies to keep your donors engaged and loyal, including:
Show them the impact of their donations
Make them feel necessary for the activity of your non-profit
Stay in touch and keep them up-to-date with what’s new with your non-profit and projects.
Diversify Your Revenue Streams
Another critical strategy to run a successful non-profit is to find ways to make sure that you don’t only rely on donations. There will be moments when donors will be less active or have smaller budgets to donate. During those times, you need to have other revenue streams you can count on to keep your non-profit on the right track and continue to help others.
So, find ways to diversify your revenue streams. For example, one idea would be to develop merchandise products and sell them on your website.
The PowerUp 4.0 is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane that allows you to get creative, either folding your own unique wing shapes or following along with suggested designs. The plane is controlled by a Bluetooth connection with smartphone; a very simple app lets you pair with the plane and start flying right away.
PowerUp offers this neat little toy in many different packages on its website ranging from the starter package for $69.99 all the way to their “Ultimate Bundle” for $219.00. PowerUp was kind enough to send me their Flight Manual Bundle, which comes with a couple of paper templates as well as the PowerUp Paper Airplane Book.
Personally I would suggest a package that contains the book, as it contains tons of information on the history of the company and the product, 10 different folding tutorials, and even some interesting physics about how the paper airplane works!
First Impressions
Right off of the bat, I was very happy with the PowerUp 4.0. The package I received contained the plane skeleton, a charging cable, two extra propellers, and a clear plastic stand to store or display the plane.
In addition to this, the plane came with tons of paper with cool templates and printed designs on it to help guide you through the folding process. Also, the actual engineering of the plane is absolutely great. I’m no aerospace engineer, but the build quality was very sturdy and the frame was lightweight.
The plane comes with a crossbar that you can and definitely should attach so as to keep the fragile paper wings from folding upwards under the force of lift. The “cockpit” portion of the frame is made of clear plastic so that you can see the computer ship inside as well as the battery, which I think is pretty cool.
The front nose is made of soft rubber material to protect the plane from my poor landing skills. The book that came with it has tons of information about the relative speed, maneuverability and endurance of each different plane, as well as a step-by-step guide to folding the wings. I decided to start with PowerUp’s “Invader” design, which seemed pretty basic and easy to fold.
Let’s Go
Upon assembling your airplane, you will next have to install the PowerUp 4.0 application and then connect the plane to your mobile device by Bluetooth.
One of my biggest concerns with this was the usually limited range of Bluetooth connection, however the PowerUp 4.0 mitigates this with a fairly small antenna at the top of the computer chip and battery housing.
The application gives you even more information about the plane, as well as a couple of videos to get your plane prepared for your first takeoff. I was also very impressed with the app’s stat-tracking abilities. The plane can recognize when it is level with the ground as well as the moment it touches down.
The PowerUp 4.0 can track your flying abilities and record how long you were in the air. They have created a convenient log of the telemetry so that you can analyze your own skills as well as identify your best performance with each airplane so as to make it a personalized experience.
Ready for Takeoff
To preface this, I am by no means any more than a novice pilot, so my first flight I expected very little. My first opportunity (mid-winter in Ohio) to fly the plane was not in the best of conditions, and I didn’t have much space to work with at school.
Given the amount of wind, and my extremely limited time with the PowerUp, it was not too hard to handle. The plane has a couple different control modes in the app. One controls the plane using the gyroscope in your phone with the throttle controlled by a simple button that you slide up and down.
While this was the first mode I used — I thought it would be easiest — later I preferred the joystick mode in which the plane throttle and direction were controlled by their own respective “joysticks” on your phone screen.
The PowerUp 4.0 was just plain easy and equally entertaining to fly. Without any sort of controllable ailerons I was worried about the maneuverability of a lightweight paper airplane, but I was absolutely shocked by it as I racked up flight time.
I sat on the plane for a few weeks and took it out in March when weather was more cooperative. I was able to find a bigger field on a much less windy day and gave it another shot. I then switched to a new freshly folded “Onslaught” design with a much smaller wingspan and surface area.
The Onslaught design proved to handle much better and it was evident that by improving my origami skills I was also improving the maneuverability and stability of the plane.
With some practice and maybe a couple of different designs, I’m sure just about anyone could find a way to become a pretty decent pilot of the PowerUp 4.0.
Features
The book that came with this plane has got to be the most important feature of the entire piloting experience. It has way more knowledge in it than I could ever hope to summarize. All I will say is that Kyle Boyer and Shai Goitein, the creators of the PowerUp paper airplane lineup, give tons of useful information about how to ensure you have the most stable and fun flight possible. If you are struggling with flying your plane, the first place you will want to go will be this book.
The Bluetooth capabilities of the plane were also a pleasant surprise. The plane usually connected quickly to my phone and was ready to go within seconds after turning it on. I did find, however, that occasionally the plane would disconnect from my phone upon landing.
Normal Bluetooth connections between devices are hardly ever good for more than 30 feet, yet the airplane had no problems maintaining a connection to my phone from more than 150 feet away. I never was able to find an open space big enough to discover the limits of its range, but PowerUp claims that the range will reach up to 240 feet, assuming no interference. The application shows what I believe is a real-time measurement of the strength of the signal from the plane, measured in dB.
The battery level is also shown on the app while you are flying and leaves yet another good impression. PowerUp claims that the battery will last you only about 10 minutes of flight time, but considering my longest flight was only 1 minute and 6 seconds long, I find that to be plenty. I felt that in reality the battery did last much longer than 10 minutes, so I assume that to be based on the plane in air continuously.
While 10 minutes doesn’t seem like much, that 1 minute flight felt like forever and I was very satisfied after only a couple of flights. Regardless, in my time with it and for what it’s worth, the battery life was plenty.
The application comes with an acrobatic mode, but I couldn’t quite figure out how it modified the overall flying abilities of the plane. If you happen to somehow lose the plane in some tall grass, the app has a convenient method of locating it. Your mobile device will ping the plane to beep faster and faster as you approach it. Fortunately, I did not have to take advantage of this feature.
Final Thoughts
I think the PowerUp 4.0 is an absolutely amazing starter RC plane that is bound to make anyone who flies it a fan.
PowerUp has plenty of options for anyone, whether you’re a novice pilot like myself looking for some entertainment or an avid pilot hobbyist. The battery life is enough to be satisfying and it can be recharged easily by any micro-USB cable and power bank combo.
For being a simple Bluetooth connection, the range is also very impressive, and I can’t imagine it would be too hard to stay well within the range.
For an inexperienced pilot, the ability to control the plane came very quickly and easily. The application isn’t complicated yet it provided me with everything I could have asked for from it. The book that was sent with it is undeniably valuable to the overall experience of this product and I highly recommend it.
PowerUp definitely didn’t cut any corners with this plane, and there are tons of nice little features here and there that really make this plane worth it.
Your Android isn’t always ready for a swim. But does that mean you have to buy a new mobile after an untimely dip?
Maybe, but maybe not.
Check out the following steps you can take to save your waterlogged mobile, plus how to handle the replacement costs if nothing else works.
Step #1: Remove it from Water
You’ll want to act fast and rescue your phone from the water (or other liquid) as quickly as possible. Most water-resistant phones are rated for water exposure under controlled conditions, including time. So, the longer your phone stays submerged, the higher the chance it won’t turn back on again.
Step #2: Power Down
The next thing you’ll want to do is turn it off. If the water reached its way deep inside, this step might prevent any electrical shortages.
Step #3: Detach Removable Components
You’ll want to remove anything that you can physically detach from your phone, including your protective case, SIM card, and even the battery if your model allows it. This will help release any trapped liquid and expose air to more of your mobile.
Step #4: Dry Carefully
Next, you’ll want to remove any standing water left on and around your phone. Gently pat your phone and any detachable components using a microfiber cloth.
Step #5: Rest it Standing Up
Once it’s dry, let it sit undisturbed for the next 12–24 hours so that it can dry out before you turn it back on again. Make sure to orient it so that the major jacks or ports face in a way that lets trapped water drip out.
Step #6: Do Not Do Any of the Following
Ask a friend or go online and you can find miracle cures for a waterlogged phone. But many of these popular tricks do more harm good.
Rice: It’s said leaving your phone in a bag of rice will help draw out the moisture. But in reality, you run the risk of getting rice and dust stuck inside. A better alternative is letting your phone dry out in a bag of silica gel packets instead.
Air Compressor: Spray a can of compressed air may give you something to do, but all it does it blow water deeper into your phone. It’s better to let air and gravity do the work.
Hair Dryer: A hair dryer causes the same damage as an air compressor, but the added heat can accelerate corrosion.
What to Do if These Steps Don’t Work
You can follow all the steps above and your phone still won’t work. Or, it might start to glitch a week after you revive it. In either case, it’s time to think about your options.
Option #1: Ask Around for Quotes
The bad news is, water damage isn’t usually something covered by the original manufacturer’s warranty — whether you have a Google, Samsung, or LG device. That means you’ll be paying out of pocket for any repairs.
The good news is, not all repairs will cost the same, and you can shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Ask the manufacturer, your cell service provider, and any third-party repair shops near you for an estimate.
Option #2: Finance a New Phone
Sometimes, a repair will be a quick and cheap solution. But sometimes, it’s just as expensive as getting a new mobile. In that case, you might as well make the upgrade. Talk to your cell service provider about your current contract.
If you’ve paid off the old phone, you’ll be able to finance a replacement easily. But if you still have some charges outstanding, you might be able to balance things out by choosing an older, cheaper model.
Option #3: Buy a New Replacement
Unfortunately, if you just got your old phone, you may not have enough room on your contract or flex payment plan to finance a new one.
If you’re stuck buying a brand-new phone on your own dime, consider using an installment loan for backup. An installment loan might be an option when you need your phone for work, and you can’t possibly put off buying a new one.
If you qualify for an installment loan, you can borrow money online to cover the cost of your mobile. Rather than paying a phone upfront out-of-pocket, you’ll have an installment loan you can pay off over multiple payments.
To limit how big of an installment loan you need, look into refurbished or certified pre-owned models from your provider. Your provider will test these devices to ensure they run at factory standards.
Don’t Let Your New Phone Take a Dip
Following all these steps and paying for a new phone (with or without an installment loan) isn’t easy. It takes a frustrating and potentially expensive toll on your day. So don’t let it happen again. Keep your phone away from water sources, and make sure to keep it safely zipped into a pocket whenever you’re out and about.
Language translation and interpretation have existed for a long time to help individuals interact with people speaking different languages. Technological advancement has led to interpretation software development, eliminating the need to hire physical translators. Individuals can access tools that provide interpretation services through the global interpreter platform. Global interpreter platform is internet-based software that allows language service providers to deliver face-face interpretation services. The steps for using the tool are straightforward and user-friendly. Here, we have outlined the applications and advantages of employing the global interpreter platform in your business.
Applications of Global Interpreter Platform
Several industries, including foreign language interpretation firms and nonprofit language bodies, use the software. Global interpreter software has made work easier for nonprofit organizations dealing with various foreign markets. Foreign language interpreters also use the platform to get interpretations for many languages to facilitate their work. Additionally, a global interpreter platform is used in international courts which handle cases with citizens from foreign countries. The software is also used in universities, hospitals, corporations with deaf workers or limited English proficiency, and translation companies. Entrepreneurs should also think of investing in a global interpreter platform. As the business expands, you will start interacting with global organizations. Most of these companies will be speaking a different language from yours, so a global interpreter tool will help sort the language challenges.
Pros of Global Interpreter Software
Technology innovations have led to the establishment of numerous language translation platforms. You need to select the right platform that will be convenient and cost-effective. Global interpreter software is one of the best language service providers. The platform offers a myriad of benefits discussed below.
User-friendly
The first benefit of the global interpreter platform is that it is user-friendly. You will not experience difficulties when navigating the software or communicating with foreigners. Being user-friendly, you can use the tool on your mobile phone or landline calls. Further, the tool has a video-enabled podium to allow visual communication with people of different languages if your business is within the global scope.
One-call Interpretation
Technology has made the world a global village where we keep meeting new people conversing in other languages every day. It is impossible to avoid interacting with individuals speaking a different language from the one you know. And when you are communicating with foreigners, you may lack someone to translate what they are saying due to the language barrier. A global interpreter platform can help translate the words you do not understand into a language you can easily understand in one call.
Face-to-Face Interpretations
The software available in the past years was unable to support face-to-face interpretations. But, the global interpreter software allows face-to-face interpretations allowing you to deal with individuals face-to-face. The feature has increased the platform’s popularity and has encouraged many investors to conduct international business since they can understand different languages. Additionally, the global interpreter tool has availed a platform that individuals and organizations can use to interpret critical documents such as legal contracts.
Cost-effective
The global interpreter platform is cheaper than other alternatives enabling organizations to save money. Hiring a translator or an interpreter to do the job can be pretty expensive; that is why many firms are opting for the software.
Convenience
The platform serves your translation needs efficiently. It is convenient for business owners since they will only require the software, and they can communicate and do dealings with people from other nations with different languages. In addition, the global interpreter platform has a browser that supports the user language. The software easily translates your calls and offers assistance in a language you can comprehend. What’s more, the platform has readily available tutors who can train you on the use of the tool.
User Reports
The translating platform also sends user reports frequently. You can provide reviews regarding the use of the platform to allow the technical team to upgrade the software. Further, you can enjoy the tracking tools in the software to trace worldwide locations of people.
Conclusion
Today, many things have changed mainly due to modern technology. One of the changes is in the translation and interpretation field. The development of the global interpreter platform has moved translation and interpretation to a different level. Therefore, individuals only need to embrace technological changes to stay updated. The global interpreter platform provides convenient interpretation services to people, institutions, or companies. Being internet-based, it enables individuals to save time and money.
Headphones and earbuds come in all shapes and sizes, with budgets and features for pretty much everyone. If you have a particular need, or a price range to work with, you likely have a few models to choose from.
If running is a big part of your life, and you need an audio solution that works for the “on the go” moments in your life, you may want to check out the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone-Conduction Headphones. They’re a great product for someone who spends a lot of time out in the world, running and conditioning.
What makes the Shokz OpenRun Pro Bone-Conduction Headphones so interesting and somewhat unique is that they do not go on or in the ear. Instead, they rely on bone-conduction technology for audio. That is to say it basically turns your temples or cheekbones into speakers, of sort. Sound is transmitted via vibrations to your aural nerve, making it feel as if the audio is coming from inside your head.
Shokz, previously operating as AfterShokz, has been in this game for some time now with a number of bone-conduction options along the way. The OpenRun Pro are more or less an upgrade to the OpenRun (formerly known as Aeropex) and feature a much stronger bass experience.
In the past, one of the best parts of bone conduction has also been its shortcoming. Because it does not fit in the ear or over the ear, it doesn’t put the sound and vibrations where it needs to be. That’s considerably different here as the OpenRun Pro are quite an impressive experience.
As I immediately found with a variety of music genres, sound comes across much richer and more heavy than with other bone-conducting headphones. Thanks, bass transducers!
Wearing a pair of headphones that operate this way can be a little bit off-putting or awkward at first. One gets the sense that they are broadcasting music to everyone in the vicinity; however, it’s just a semi-private affair for the wearer. Those who do sit or stand in the area can make out what’s being played but it’s nowhere near how it is when someone plays music on a phone.
The sound was enjoyable enough that I found myself grabbing these for working around the home and office. They’re not the kind I’d use for mowing the grass, of course, but they work extremely well when it’s just me and myself. That’s in the kitchen, downstairs in the office, on the Peloton, and backyard at the grill.
As much as I like to dig into music and enjoy the soundscape of, say, The Dark Side of the Moon, these aren’t the sort of headphones I turn to for immersion. More often than not I find myself in situations where I need to be actively aware of my environment. Be it listening for my wife or sons, cars, or announcements at the gym, I appreciate that my ears are not covered and that I can hear what’s going on.
I found the design of the OpenRun Pro to be a comfortable one, constructed of a single piece of flexible material that connects two modules. While it sticks out ever so slightly, I hardly noticed it was there after a few listens. Moreover, the headphones fit nicely under a hat, too.
The right module, or earpiece, is where you find a pair of buttons for volume. Long-pressing the top button acts as the power control. For what it’s worth, these do not power off automatically so remember to do so when not listening to anything.
The left module is where the playback controls are with one click for pausing music, two for advancing a track, and three to go back one track. Interestingly enough, the buttons are not symmetric in that they’re in the same place on each module. This took a little bit of time to get used to but is otherwise a small point.
Charging the OpenRun Pro is done via a proprietary cable that connects magnetically to the right ear module. It takes all of 5-10 minutes on the charge to get enough power for a workout (90 minutes). Rated at around 10 hours of total playback per charge, there should be enough juice to get you through a full day of work or a couple of longer workouts.
I also appreciate that the Shokz OpenRun Pro have IP55 water resistance which means I can get caught in a rain or work up a sweat without any issues. And should there actually be a manufacturer defect, Shokz backs the headphones with a two-year warranty.
The concept of a robot vacuum is no longer foreign as most people have either seen one in use or have one at home. If you own one, you know how nice it is to have an extra helper around the house.
Whether it’s a scheduled sweep of the floor or a random spot clean, a robot vacuum can be a handy assistant. But if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s truly something we can live without. In fact, up until around a decade ago, we did.
As the prices of robot vacuums drop, and the technology continues to improve, it’s becoming more difficult to say no to having one. A few hundred bucks can go a long way to providing peace of mind and a cleaner living environment.
What about one that runs about $1,400? Surely, that’s just way too much to consider, right? As it turns out, I cannot immediately rule something like that out. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, introduced at CES in January 2022, really makes a strong case for itself.
There are a number of features in the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra that help it stand out from the increasingly crowded space. For starters, it works as both a vacuum cleaner and a mop. And it does a fantastic job at both functions, one that bests other models I’ve had in my home.
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra can also empty itself into a bin when it’s done running, and then refill its own water tank. Should one use the mop they’ll find it also dumps the dirty water, refills with clean water, and also cleans the mop head in the process.
The vacuum is also terrific at understanding and avoiding obstacles. Whether it’s a pair of shoes dropped on the floor in a random spot, or a pet toy that didn’t find its way back to the box, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra can figure these out and move around them. What’s more, it is a forgiving unit that doesn’t remap the floor as if these obstacles are permanent fixtures.
If you’re like me, setting a robot vacuum to automatically run at night can sometimes present problems. Did I walk around and pick up all of the cables, toys, and pillows that might have fallen on the floor? If no, my vacuum would usually throw a minor tantrum or “teach” itself to avoid the spots in the future.
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, however, asks you whether you have pets when setting things up. You can actually tell the unit as to how forgiving it needs to be. That is to say you can trade off temporary obstacles for deeper cleaning.
The setup process is rather interesting in that it can get a good look at the house, piece together a map, and make suggestions on rooms or areas. You can, of course, merge spots together, split a room up, create “no go” zones, and more.
The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is able to detect furniture and other items, placing them on a map and listing a percentage of confidence in what it sees. A row of shoes, for instance, was found on the first run in my home and the vacuum knew what it was looking at with 87% certainty.
The next time I ran it, the S7 MaxV went through this space as if they didn’t exist, yet still managed to treat the walls and other obstacles as if they were permanent. Roborock calls this tech the “ReactiveAI 2.0 Obstacle Avoidance System.”
It might detect a couch which may actually be a bed, but you can change that in the map. You’ll find after a time or two that it knows what types of things are in what types of rooms, and treat them accordingly.
Have a room that’s partially carpeted or with a rug on a hard surface? The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra knows the difference, maps it accordingly, and can switch between mopping and vacuuming on the fly.
One of the first generations of robot vacuums that I owned was an early Samsung that didn’t quite understand what steps were or how to stop at the top of a set. I learned (nearly) the hard way that it was going to tumble down a set of steps because the door to the basement was open when I ran it.
How does the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra handle such a situation? With flying colors. Not only does it know how to stop and turn at the top of stairs, it can be taught to map four floors in a home. Yes, you can take it upstairs and run it just like you would downstairs because it treats it as a totally different map. This simply wasn’t possible in earlier robot vacuum cleaners.
At one time I had pondered the notion of buying an “upstairs” vacuum and a main floor one. Sure, a basement one would have been cool and all, but would I really want to own three of those things? Suffice it to say, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is three of those things, with room for more.
Have you ever wanted to see what your robot vacuum sees? It’s possible here, and there’s even an option for two-way communication with it. Yes, you can run the vacuum remotely and talk with someone who happens to be in the home. I don’t use this feature very much, if at all. In fact, it’s only ever been used as part of a demonstration of what it can do.
via Roborock
I’ve had the S7 MaxV running for a few weeks now and I’ve yet to clean the bag out in the base’s dust bin. It’s a similar situation for mopping; I’ve dumped and refilled the water bins just twice but I’ve run the vacuum a little more than normal. I don’t notice any odor in the dirty water but we also tend to mop rooms manually, too.
The built-in 5200mAh battery provides around three hours of runtime, according to Roborock. I’m fairly sure this is an accurate number but I’ve never had to run it continuously. After about 25 minutes of running around the main floor, it tends to head back to the base with around 65-70% of the charge remaining. It should take around 5-6 hours to fully charge up if you’re completely empty.
With 5100pa of suction power, the vacuum seems to pick up things that other models might have otherwise missed. I am always surprised by the amount of dirt that comes from a robot unit and the S7 does a great job of picking up the tiniest of debris and dust as well as the random tiny pebbles, plastic, food scraps, etc.
When it comes to cleaning the mop head or emptying the dustbin things can get a little loud. To that end, you can set up quiet times so that it doesn’t wake people or disturb an otherwise peaceful setting. For example, after 8PM doesn’t bother with emptying the contents into the dock’s bag. On the other end of the spectrum, you can also manually empty the vacuum on demand.
At just under 4-inches, the S7 MaxV Ultra is able to slide under my couch, loveseat, and chairs. It’s a touch wider than other models at around 14 inches, but it’s nimble enough to navigate around the legs of a kitchen chair without taking much time.
While the vacuum is able to adjust itself for varying heights of carpet, I did run into one issue with a shaggy rug. I was 90% sure it was going to be a problem for the rubber brush that sweeps things under the vacuum so I was not upset. Once the S7 was back to the base I simply created a no-go box around the area and it stayed away.
As a person with a house full of Google Assistant speakers and displays, I appreciate when I can use voice to start and stop things. Indeed, not only can you run the vacuum on command, you can even tell it to clean specific rooms.
Conclusion
I’ve tested out the last three generations of Roborock vacuums and each seems to be a bit better than the predecessor. I really like what the brand puts forth and think the S7 MaxV is its best yet.
Do you need the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra? Absolutely not. Would it be nice to have one? Without question. It’s up to you to figure out where you fall in the middle of those two.
If you tend to have floors without any clutter or random mess, I would suggest the S7 Plus, especially if you don’t have a need for mopping. For $950 you get the robot vacuum and Auto Empty Dock.
The Roborock S7 MaxV is priced $860 for the robot vacuum by itself and $1,400 for the S7 MaxV Ultra package. Going the Ultra route adds the Empty Wash Fill dock, which arrives in early May. For what it’s worth, I understand the S7 MaxV also works with Roborock’s Auto Empty Dock which comes in at a combined price of $1,160. You can also buy the Empty Wash Fill Dock for $600 and the Auto-Empty Dock for $300, too.
Admittedly, these don’t come cheaply, and it’s a big ask for people to spend that sort of money. But, given Roborock’s flexibility and compatibility, I like that the docks don’t seem to be one-off models for each generation. That is to say you’ll be able to hold onto these and use them long term.
Regardless of where you jump in, and independent of any docks, I have no reservations in recommending the Roborock brand. But if you can swing it, you’ll be pleased with the S7 MaxV Ultra.
VPNs are one of the most misunderstood technologies on the planet today. This is due in large part to VPN companies and their army of shills who tout them as a one-button solution to online privacy and security. This is a gross oversimplification.
There are several advantages to utilizing a virtual private network, but knowing “the why” may require some finesse. So let’s discuss what a virtual private network exactly does, whether or not it can protect you online, and five facts that we bet you didn’t know about VPN.
1) The Internet Is Now Encrypted And In 70% – 85% Of Cases VPN Encryption Is Obsolete
The internet used to be a different, more trusting place 20 years ago. All communication was conducted in the form of HTTP. Your passwords, as well as all of the other information you supplied, were sent over the public internet in clear text.
Anyone who intercepted your communications could see everything you sent and received. This wasn’t good enough. As the world’s technical knowledge increased, and software that might record all of a public WiFi network’s traffic became available for download, something had to change. So the internet switched to an encrypted version of HTTP, known as HTTPS.
The saying “military grade encryption” is used a lot by VPN providers. It’s mostly marketing because HTTPS encryption, in general, is likely superior than whatever the provider uses.
Here’s the catch: while recent research suggests that about 80 percent of websites use HTTPS, that isn’t every website. Nothing close to it. I was on the Turkish Embassy’s website the other day in an attempt to acquire a visa and found that it didn’t employ HTTP. The site asked for passport photographs, bank statements, and other information sufficient to construct a fake identity, but it didn’t utilize HTTPS.
Another excellent example is streaming platforms. They seldom utilize HTTPS. If you’re sharing your WiFi with housemates or if there’s a common network for your building, a VPN is useful on these websites.
2) Your ISP Can Recognize That You’re Using A VPN
With a VPN, an ISP can’t tell what sites you’re visiting or anything else you’re doing online.
The only thing they know is that they’re routing traffic to a remote server, and they can probably figure out that the server is a VPN. There are lists of known IP addresses belonging to VPN businesses, the handshake process differs depending on whether you’re using HTTPS or a VPN, the packet is most likely different in size, a lot of data goes to a single IP address, and there are other ways to tell you’re utilizing a VPN that we won’t go into.
In a nutshell, yes, your ISP may determine that you’re utilizing a VPN, but it’s unlikely they’ll care enough to investigate. And if they did, there’s nothing they could discover. In Belarus, China, Iraq, North Korea, Oman, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), VPNs are either prohibited or selectively banned; however if you live in one of these countries it’s unlikely you’d be reading this article in the first place.
3) The Main Reason People Use VPNs Is To Watch Geo Blocked Content
Many VPN users already knew this, but the major reason people use VPNs is to access geo-blocked material. Geo-blocked material is not available in all areas. There are hundreds of titles that aren’t accessible in other countries on US Netflix. Then there are entire services like Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO, SkySports, and others that aren’t available to everyone around the world.
Why? Obsolete broadcasting rules from the days of the living room television sets are still regulating our fiber optic-powered entertainment on demand reality. You may continue to wait for outdated regulations to catch up with you, or you may simply get a VPN and upgrade your internet connection with the press of a button. These days, you can even get a VPN on your smartphone. For Android devices read about VPN apks.
4) VPNS Can Help You Prevent Your ISP From Slowing Down Your Connection
In the developed world, this isn’t much of an issue since there are legal safeguards in place; nevertheless, ISPs limit heavy users in developing regions without such protections.
This is a common practice in Asia and Africa. ISPs are known to track torrent traffic and slow it down. Their intentions for doing so are self-evident. The more people they can connect to the internet at the lowest possible price, the more money they make. Your ISP is first and foremost a business.
Your internet connection is shared. There may be a splitter connecting the cable that runs to your home to all of the other cables that serve your street outside of your home.
There’s also a second box down the road where all internet traffic for the area/suburb/city is aggregated. The majority of the internet is kept on servers abroad, so your nation’s internet traffic goes under the sea to data centers to retrieve international sites and join in steam lobbies. Every byte of data that travels over this submarine cable is paid for by IP transit agreements between ISPs. As a result, you can see how it is in the best interests of ISPs to slow down heavy users.
In Summary
VPNs aren’t the one-click panacea to online privacy and security that many people think they are. What they are is the most convenient method to access geo-blocked material while avoiding ISP throttling. It’s true that they hide your IP address from sites you visit, as well as sites you visit from your ISP, but don’t believe everything VPN companies say about themselves.
The Haymaker is a pair of headphone designed with gamers in mind, but packed with a number of other features for audiophiles. Priced about $330, they are compatible with an array of profiles and codecs and also boast Dirac tuning.
We’ve had a pair of these headphones in the office for a few weeks now and I’ve had a chance to use them in a couple of settings. Here’s what I think of The Haymaker.
Built using a glossy finish and a unique carbon design, the headphones have the appearance of “gaming” headphones. And with the brand name spelled out in LEDs over the headband, they have a certain visual appeal.
The Haymaker comes with two sets of ear cups, one being a pair of faux leather and the other with a a diamond-pattern fabric. Aside from the exterior skin they are the same material and have pretty much the same comfort. If anything, they “leather” gets a touch warm and long term listening gets moist on the ears. The cups connect via magnets and are incredibly easy to switch out.
The headphones come with a fairly large case which carries all of the cables and components. It’s somewhat bulky and eats up a decent amount of space in a backpack so that’s something to keep in mind if you like to take your gaming on the road.
The Haymaker headphones connect via Bluetooth 5.0 and are compatible with A2DP, AVRCP, HFP and HSP profiles; they support aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, AAC, and SBC codecs as well. Suffice it to say, you should get the best of your audio experience.
As far as the Dirac HD goes, it’s recommended that you install software on your PC to tune the sound from your computer and activate the PC controller that comes with the headphones. You’ll need a Windows PC to do so but once installed you can choose between stereo and 7.1 sound.
The included PC controller cable has a button which lets one mute the microphone, adjust volume levels and toggle stereo and Dirac 7.1.
The headphones have a physical button on the back of the left ear cup enable and disable noise cancellation. The switch is easy to locate and provides a solid click when sliding back and forth.
Speaking of noise cancellation, while The Haymaker headphones do offer the feature, the manufacturer suggests the best audio comes with it turned off. I can confirm this as I found that when enabled, the sound is pretty heavily compressed.
As far as other controls go, it does come with a bit of learning. Using more of a gesture and swipe mechanic, I found it takes a fair amount of time to master. Swiping up and down for volume, for instance, I would appreciate if there was something tactile I could feel as a reference point. Along the same lines, swiping forward and back is how you’d skip forward and back on tracks.
Taping the center right cup three times enables and disables the ambient sound so that one can hear environmental noises. Again, were there even the tiniest little nub on the surface, I’d have been more confident in using the controls.
Similarly, there is a way to control the RGB lights of the headphone ear cups and top band, with options to turn on and off, or change the colors. With eight colors to choose from and four light cycling modes, you’ll want to do these before putting them on. For one, you’ll want to physically see that they change to the colors you like. More importantly, it helps to know that your swipes are being registered.
Music sounds great on The Haymaker headphones as does gaming on PC and when paired via Bluetooth. Whether it be pop, electronic, or classical, I found them to have a wide, even soundscape.
I’m not one to fuss much about codecs or place particular emphasis on Bluetooth profiles so I can’t speak to testing those out. What I can say, though, is that these provided a sound experience on par with my expectations.
Depending on how you listen to your music, you might expect upwards of 40+ hours of playback. According to the manufacturer, you may look for around 26 hours of Bluetooth playback on a single charge with active noise cancellation enabled, and up to 43 with it turned off.
Switching on and off the lights will also impact battery; it’s also possible to plug in using the auxiliary cable and go unlimited just so long as you don’t use noise cancellation.
As a whole, The Haymaker provide a solid value proposition with plenty of flexibility. I might like a little quicker on-ramp for navigation but once I was comfortable with it, things were more efficient. As a pair of gaming headphones with ANC disabled, they work quite well. And thanks to a strong battery experience, I appreciate not having to worry about charging.
The lights might be a bit of a gimmick and not something that everyone wants; you’ll have to decide as to whether that’s worth it.
