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Anker PowerHouse 535 Power Station review

Andrew Allen
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Anker has been entering more and more tech markets almost monthly over the last few years. The company has come a long way from its original cellphone cable beginnings. One of the latest offerings is the PowerHouse 535 Power Station.

I’ve been testing this mammoth battery pack for a few weeks, and Anker has made another brilliant product. Let’s check out this great, but very specific, piece of hardware in our full review.

Design

The first thing that will jump out at you is the PowerHouse 535 is a brick. It’s big, bulky, and somewhat heavy. But that’s what you’d expect from basically carrying around a tech-juiced car battery.

The entire PowerHouse 535 is cased in a plastic shell but has small touches of niceties with an ergonomic handle and soft-touch rubber feet on the bottom. Anker has built this thing like a tank, but that’s all intentional and well done.

The front is definitely the business end of the PowerHouse 535. Here you find an LED status display, car charging port, the AC two-prong outlets, and USB options. Just below these power jacks, you have a LED light bar meant to be used as a flashlight or emergency beacon.

Power options

Let’s dive more into the power outlets available on the PowerHouse 535. From the left side, you have the car adapter socket, a PowerIQ3 USB-C port, three PowerIQ USB-A ports, and finally, four standard two-prong AC power outlets.

The AC outlets offer a full 110-volt output just like your home outlets. This gives you a great option while out camping or in power outages. These outlets can function with normal loads from things like lamps, small heaters, and charging laptops. The max on the AC output is at 500W, so it’s worth noting it can’t output the wattage to run things with serious heating elements like toasters, microwaves, or most coffee makers.

The USB-C has Anker’s PowerIQ3 proprietary fast-charge system. This allows the PowerHouse 535 to charge from 15-Watts to a maximum of 60-Watts based on the device plugged into the battery. Whether it’s your smartphone that only supports the 15W or your USB-C powered laptop at 60W, the PowerHouse communicates and pushes the max allowed.

The USB-A ports are not as powerful but are just as capable. These are able to charge up to 36-Watts maximum. This is more than enough for all your peripherals. This also has PowerIQ onboard to communicate with each device plugged in.

Performance

I can’t complain about the end results of the PowerHouse 535 in the least. Everything I’ve attempted to charge with this monster has been successful. Anker rates that you can run a desk lamp for over 32 hours with this guy and while I did use it for this function, I didn’t stretch it this long. However, I don’t doubt it for a moment.

I was able to mimic the recharge of the Macbook Air that the company rates at eight full charges. I have a Dell enterprise Latitude laptop that was able to get a little over seven charges from completely dead. Seeing as how my Dell has a larger battery than the Air, I’d say the eight recharges is more than realistic.

Everything else I threw at the PowerHouse 535 was just as seamless. I charge phones, laptops, tablets, and even other battery packs using all four outputs. Whether it was the car adapter, USB-C, USB-A, or standard AC all functioned as you’d expect from the PowerHouse.

The LED display comes in handy with details of each charge. This shows the percent of battery left on the PowerHouse itself in large characters. Just below this, it shows an estimated time left at the current output before the PowerHouse will need to be recharged.

The bottom left shows the device being charged and the rate at which it’s receiving the output. The top right shows an icon for which the output method is being used. You get a different icon for each output.

You also have a tactile power saving button to the far right of the PowerHouse. This has no effect on the devices while charging. The trick is that when enabled it kills the battery pack of the PowerHouse once the output device is fully charged. This makes saving priceless charging for the next device a breeze.

When you do deplete the PowerHouse 535, Anker has you covered there as well. The included 120-Watt charging brick makes getting your maximum capacity easy as pie. It still takes a little over three hours to get back to a full charge but this is understandable for a battery station of this size.

Conclusion

Anker has a compelling battery mammoth with the PowerHouse 535 Power Station. While it’s in a niche market of campers and doomsday preppers, it covers pretty much every essential output and many devices while away from home or electricity.

The one drawback may be the price. You have to actively want this solution at $500. However, if you are in the market, I can’t think of a better option. You can find the Anker PowerHouse 535 for sale on the company’s main website or long-time partner Amazon.

Mobvoi announces the new TicWatch GTH Pro smartwatch

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Mobvoi, in collaboration with CardieX, announced the arterial health sensing TicWatch GTH Pro. Using ATCOR technology, this smartwatch can determine arterial waveforms, giving you a clear picture of your heart health. Essentially it determines the strength of your pulse.

To make this happen, Mobvoi built this tracker with dual PPG sensors. In addition to the standard wrist optical sensor, this device has one on the side of the device as well. All you need is a light touch from your fingers and it will determine your arterial health. The information is then passed to the Mobvoi app, and shown to the user as an “Arty Score”.

In addition to your arterial health, this smartwatch gives you a clear picture of your entire health. The TicWatch GTH Pro gives you 14 workout modes, blood oxygen measurements, continuous heart rate, sleep tracking, and wellness management. This device is 5ATM water-resistant and has a battery life of 7 – 10 days.

You can get the Mobvoi TickWatch GTH Pro at Amazon for $99.

KOVOL Sprint 120W USB-C Charger review

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The KOVOL Sprint 120W USB-C Charger was designed to be fast, safe, and convenient. I am happy to report that it succeeds on all three accounts. At $99, it can be a bit steep for the convenience it offers, but now that I have one, I can’t go back.

In an age where devices are shipping without chargers, it is nice to have a device that can quickly charge all of your devices for years to come. This GaN charger will deliver all the power you need to all of your devices. Let’s take a look at what a $99 charger gives you and why it is more than just a luxury purchase.

Packaging and Setup

The KOVOL Sprint 120W USB-C Charger comes with minimal packaging. You get the KOVOL Desktop Charger, a 4.9ft AC cable, a user guide, and a thank you card.

In addition to the minimal packaging, the setup is amazingly simple. You grab the desktop charger, plug in the AC cable and you’re done. That is all that it takes to start plugging in and charging your favorite devices.

The charger is heavier than expected, and you can really tell that it uses quality components. You don’t have to worry about it sliding all over your desk.

Performance

The KOVOL Desktop Charger has worked as advertised. This charger comes with dual power-delivery ports supporting a total of 120W. That is 60W per USB-C port when charging two devices! In addition to the dual USB-C ports, you also get dual USB-A quick-charging capable ports.

KOVOL touts the safety of their product. KOVOL’s Q-Pulse technology is designed to keep your devices and surroundings safe with built-in safety features. It has overcharge, high-temperature, and short-circuit protection. During my testing, this device gave me no issues and remained cool the entire time, even when charging four things at once.

In addition to their safety features, KOVOL also designed this charger to automatically optimize itself for each device that your plugin. This device will intelligently deliver the optimal power for each connected device. Routinely during testing, I would charge my laptop, my wife would charge her laptop, and I would charge my phone. My Samsung Galaxy S21 was quick-charged, while the laptops charged at full speed. It really is super convenient to quickly charge all of your devices at the same time while only using one wall outlet.

With 4 ports and a total of 120W, the wattage going to each device is going to depend on what is plugged into the charger. Check the table below for a list of expected performance.

Output Distribution

1 USB-C Port:100W
2 USB-C Ports:USB-C – PD 60W / USB-C – PD 60W
2 USB-A Ports:USB-A – QC 18W / USB-A – QC 18W
1 USB-C Port+1 USB-A Port:USB-C – PD 100W / USB-A – QC 18W
1 USB-C Port+2 USB-A Ports:USB-C – PD 65W / USB-A – QC 18W / USB-A – QC 18W
2 USB-C Ports+1 USB-A Port:USB-C – PD45W / USB-C – PD 45W / USB-A – QC 18W
All 4 Ports in use:USB-C-PD 65W / USB-C-PD 20W / USB-A-QC 18W / USB-A-QC 18W Or USB-C-PD 45W /USB-C-PD 45W / USB-A-QC 18W / USB-A-QC 18W
Input:100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 2.5A Max.
PD Output:5V-3A, 9V-3A, 15V-3A, 20V-5A, 100W Max. each port
Q-Pulse Output:5V-3A, 9V-3A, 12V-1.5A, 18W Max. each port
Total Output:120W Max.
Dimensions:46 x 46 x 85mm/1.81 x 1.81 x 3.35 inches
Tips:KOVOL Sprint 120W has intelligent power distribution technology, total output will have 2 different output combinations.

Final thoughts

The KOVOL Sprint 120W USB-C Charger is a capable device. Its compact design allows you to easily travel with it and with its support for adaptive 110-240 voltage means it can be used when traveling abroad.

This GaN desktop charger will safely charge all of your devices and it will do it fast. Its Q-Pulse technology will keep your devices protected. The KOVOL charger comes with a 24-month warranty and features 24/7 customer service.

Using other chargers in the past, I have always left feeling disappointed. I am glad to say that this device has bucked that trend and was a joy to use. Being able to simultaneously charge my devices at full speed is a convenience that I didn’t know I needed in my life.

At $99, this device is definitely something you need to want. It isn’t going to be a purchase you make without some consideration. But I argue the convenience it offers, far outweighs its price. You get what you pay for, and with the KOVOL desktop charger, you are getting an amazing product.

Boost your productivity with Mobile Pixels Trio Max

Scott Webster
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Few things can boost your office or school productivity like a secondary display. If you’ve ever tried it, you know just how frustrating it can be moving back to a single screen. We know this because we live it on a day to day basis.

Sitting down at a computer with two or more screens opens up the door to so much potential; moving to a single screen laptop out in the field feels like more than a single step backwards. If only there were a way to get two screens out of one Chromebook or portable computer…

The Mobile Pixel Trio Max is just that, a secondary screen for your laptop, Chromebook, or even PC. Designed with portability in mind, it’s the sort of thing that you can opt to leave in your bag or on the desk or simply keep in place for the long haul.

Working remotely doesn’t have to be a nuisance, even if it is sitting in a coffee shop or library. A device like the Trio Max lets you spread out your work without taking up much additional space.

All of a sudden you find yourself hopping between tasks, keeping up with emails, watching videos, posting to social media, and more — all without closing a tab. Heck, you can even use it for gaming as it makes quite the companion piece for the Nintendo Switch.

If you’ve ever pondered what it’s like to have a multiple screens for your laptop or Chromebook, wonder no more. The Mobile Pixels TRIO MAX brings a plug-n-play USB display to your favorite portable workplace.

There are a number of options available from Mobile Pixels, including models for different sizes of laptop screen. Swing by its website to learn more about the TRIO MAX ($259) or any of the other variants in the portfolio.

The benefits and myths of dedicated IP VPNs

AndroidGuys
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If you’re into cyber security, even just a little, you probably heard the concept of “dedicated IP.”  You might not know how it works, but it is one of the most popular trends on the market right now. 

There are many articles on the internet about dedicated IP (also known as static IP), but some complicate the issue more and actually create myths about it. Follow along if you want to learn the real-life benefits of dedicated IPs and see some of these myths debunked. 

What is a dedicated IP VPN? 

You may be familiar with the term but not with its actual function. So let’s explain what a dedicated IP is. 

We all have local IPs that define our devices and help us communicate on the internet. They are basically your letter address to let you receive information from the others. Now, remember that local IPs define our devices, so a malicious user might use them to get information about our whereabouts or activities online. 

That’s why people and companies that want to be safe from cyber threats use VPN services. One of the beauties of these services is dedicated IP solutions. A dedicated IP VPN is a unique IP address different from your local IP, so it hides your usual IP and encrypts all the data transfer. As a result, you have a more secure connection.

Dedicated IPs belong to the owner permanently and they can’t be used by any other user that you don’t know. This gives you the freedom of deciding your IP reputation, helps you prevent being blacklisted, and allows you to specify permitted users. 

Using a dedicated IP, you can ensure that the information that flows on your network stays within the boundaries you choose. It’s a great solution to cyber attacks, data leaks, and legal issues. 

The benefits of dedicated IP VPNs

Dedicated IP comes with significant benefits in network security, fast connection, and online privacy. Here is what you can get if you buy static IP online from a prominent provider on the market.

Allowlist & user verification 

By getting a dedicated IP, you’ll have control over the server it belongs. This means that you can create an allowlist for permitted users to ensure data stays confidential. 

By the way, when it comes to servers, there’re plenty of servers worldwide, but bandwidth and quality are quite important, especially in the US. If you’re looking for best VPN servers in the USA, feel free to have a deeper look at here nordvpn.com/servers/usa/ 

Additionally, dedicated IPs allow you to verify each user who tries to access your network. By doing so, you’re able to guarantee network security as users are identified regardless of their location, device, or connection. 

Secure remote access

Web-based businesses transit to the remote work model, saving resources and time for both employees and companies. But companies need to figure out a way to deliver secure remote access to team members. 

Dedicated IP solutions are great to ensure secure remote access. They are accessible globally and they can secure access from anywhere or any device. You don’t have to worry about device or connection safety if you have a dedicated IP.

Faster download & upload 

Usually, there are fewer users on a dedicated IP since it is used by a single company and its employees. If you’re on a shared IP, on the other hand, you may not even know how many IP neighbors you have. 

More users create more contradictions on an IP address, so fewer the faster. When you have a dedicated IP with only a handful of users, you are guaranteed to have a much faster download and upload. 

Myths of dedicated IP VPNs 

There’s also significant information pollution about dedicated IPs in most articles. Let’s see and debunk some of its myths. 

Dedicated IPs result in greater SEO scores

Wrong. Research on Google’s algorithms shows that the only thing that affects a website’s SEO score is the website’s characteristics, such as content, loading speed, or cross-linking. There is no evidence that permanent IP addresses give you better SEO results. 

You need a dedicated IP to get SSL 

This myth was true in the past, but not anymore. You would need a dedicated IP for an SSL certification before the cyber security technology was improved. Now, you can get SSL even if you are hosted in a shared IP; Server Name Identicator (SNI) technology allows multiple SSL certificated on a shared IP. 

Dedicated IPs are overpriced & not affordable 

Not true. Many VPN vendors now provide dedicated IPs to their customers; the more competition there is, the lower the prices. You can get your IP with a dedicated server for as affordable as $70/year on top of your regular VPN subscription.  

Mass emails require dedicated IP 

If you have a large email list, you might be wondering if getting a dedicated IP will ensure your emails are delivered to the receivers. The fact is, your IP is irrelevant. Most companies don’t even send your emails from their servers, so your IP is not related to the success of your email campaigns. 

Final word

Dedicated IPs are great solutions for improved cyber security and better remote access. They can be easily acquired and deployed in no time. If you are a company that needs to be protected from hackers, it is your go-to option. 

However, articles about dedicated IP solutions are prone to create myths. You need to be careful to look up whether they are actually true. Research your needs and make the best decision for your company. 

Photo by Stefan Coders from Pexels

MediaTek launches the Dimensity 8000 series and the 1300 series

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Today, MediaTek launched the Dimensity 8100 and Dimensity 8000 system-on-chips (SoCs). Both chips borrow from MediaTek’s powerful Dimensity 9000 platform. The new Dimensity 8000 series uses TSMC’s 5nm production process.

The Dimensity 8100 has four Arm Cortex-A78 cores running at speeds up to 2.85GHz. The Dimensity 8000 also has four Cortex-A78 cores but reduces the top speed slightly to 2.75GHz. Both chips include an Arm Mali-G610 MC6 GPU with MediaTek’s HyperEngine 5.0.

The new SoCs integrates MediaTek’s fifth-generation AI processing unit, APU 580. The 8000 series platform is aimed to be the mid-tier to the Dimensity 9000’s Flagship tier.

The Dimensity 8000 chips include support for up to 200MP cameras and 4K60 HDR10+ videos. It includes a leading 3GPP R16-ready 5G modem to boost sub-6Ghz performance using 2CC Carrier Aggregation. It also uses MediaTek’s 5G UltraSave 2.0 for improved power efficiency.

Also announced today is the 6nm Dimensity 1300. Powered by an octa-core CPU with an ultra-core Arm Cortex-A78 at 3GHz, three Arm Cortext A-78 super cores, and four Arm Cortex A-55 efficiency cores. It also gets an Arm Mali-G77 GPU.

Smartphones powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8000 and 1300 series will be available soon.

POCO announced the X4 Pro and M4 Pro at MWC

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At Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, POCO unveiled the X4 Pro and the M4 Pro.

POCO X4 Pro

POCO X4 Pro

The POCO X4 Pro features a 6.67 inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a display resolution of 2400 x 1800. The X4 Pro has a triple rear camera setup with a massive 108MP main sensor. It also has an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 16MP front-facing lens.

The X4 Pro runs on a Snapdragon 695 processor and up to 8GB of RAM. This device uses Dynamic RAM Expansion technology. This means the X4 Pro can borrow up to 3GB from storage for additional memory (available in the 256GB model). It has a 5,000mAh battery and is capable of 67W turbo charging. It can charge up to 70% in just 22 minutes and can be fully charged in just 41 minutes.

The X4 Pro comes in two storage variants and three colors. It comes in a 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage variant, as well as an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. It will ship in Laser Black, Laser Blue, and POCO Yellow.

POCO M4 Pro

Poco M4 Pro

The Poco M4 Pro comes with a 6.43 inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The display has a resolution of 2400 x 1800 and is capable of up to 1000 nits of brightness. Under the hood, you get a MediaTek Helio G96 processor. You can snag this device with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage or with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 8GB/256GB model is capable of using the same Dynamic RAM Expansion technology like the X4 Pro.

The M4 Pro has a triple camera setup with a 64MP main lens, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. Upfront you get a 16MP selfie camera. The M4 has a 5,000mAh battery capable of 33W fast charging. You can fully recharge the device in about an hour.

The M4 Pro will be available in Power Black, Cool Blue, and POCO Yellow color options. Early bird pricing starts March second and pricing depends on your region.

Motorola announces the Edge+ in North America with an optional stylus

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Motorola announced the new Motorola Edge+ for North America / Motorola Edge 30 Pro for the rest of the world. The Edge+ runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and a 4800mAh battery. It is Turbo Power capable and can give you hours of battery in just minutes. It is also capable of 15W TurboPower wireless charging.

Motorola equipped the Edge+ with a triple camera setup. You get a standard 50MP lens, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a macro lens. Upfront the Edge+ has a 60MP front-facing camera. The cameras have OIS onboard to eliminate hand shake and are capable of combining pixels to get better quality shots.

The Edge+ has a 6.7 inch OLED full HD display with a 144 Hz refresh rate. Motorola is promising an amazing audio experience and packed in Dolby Atmos to get the most out of your favorite tracks.

Motorola is offering a smart stylus with an adaptable folio which would indicate that Motorola is trying to get some former Note users who miss using their stylus.

The Motorola Edge+ will be available in Cosmos Blue and Stardust White. You will be able to find it unlocked at Best Buy, Amazon, and Motorola. Verizon will carry it and will be offering $100 of its list price of $899.99.

Zigma Spark 980 Robot Vacuum review

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Robot Vacuums are something of a luxury but the price has come down over the years, and we now have multiple options to choose from. The Zigma Spark 980 Robot Vacuum is a mid-tier vacuum that costs $300. It offers powerful suction, mopping ability, fall protection and is generally a pleasure to use.

Packaging and setup

The Zigma Spark 980 includes everything that you would need to operate your robot vacuum cleaner. It comes with:

  • Robot Vacuum
  • Charging Base
  • Charging Base Power Adapter
  • Remote
  • DustBin Side Cover
  • Dust Bin
  • Water Tank
  • Cleaning Brush
  • 2 HEPA Filter
  • 4 Side Brushes (2 Left and 2 Right side brushes)
  • 2 Mop cloths

The Spark 980 comes covered in plastic wrap and a foam bumper installed to protect the vacuum during shipping. For the most part, the vacuum came almost entirely ready to go. I had to install 2 side brushes, remove the foam and plastic wrap, and then it was ready to go. The inclusion of a remote was a nice touch for those that want to operate it without a smartphone nearby.

After taking everything out of the box, I then installed the Zigma app and paired it with my device. This process was straightforward and the app did a great job walking me through the steps. I liked how I was able to pick my language during setup, but I was hoping for a female voice from the United States. This unfortunately wasn’t an option, so I selected a female voice from the UK. The voice did grow on me throughout my use and I ended up enjoying the accent. All I had to do after the initial setup was wait for it to charge and run it for the first time.

Vacuum Performance

With Lidar Navigation, 4000Pa suction, and a claimed runtime of 140 minutes, I was expecting great things from this vacuum. The vacuum met my expectations and was an absolute joy to use after some initial hiccups.

Upon my eagerness to get the vacuum started, it wasn’t properly charged and struggled for the first few minutes. As the vacuum drives around it creates a virtual map, allowing you to set boundaries and avoid obstacles. The 2 side brushes also fell off upon first use, but that was my fault as I didn’t properly snap them into place. The vacuum also got stuck under a table, and it asks for help because it is stuck. I also got an alert on my phone saying the same thing. This only happened once and it was kind of cute listening to my robot call for help.

After charging it properly and sending it out to do its work, it worked amazingly well. At full strength, the vacuum is a bit noisy, but not a deal-breaker. I enjoyed being able to adjust the strength of the vacuum from within the app, allowing me to quickly adjust based on where it was. For hardwood floors, lowering the strength resulted in an adequate cleaning and much quieter operation. For bigger carpets, you may want to crank the power a little higher. This vacuum routinely collected way more dirt and debris than I thought it was going to. It was satisfying to dump the bin and see all the dirt it was able to pick up.

Mopping Performance

The Zigma Spark 980 also comes with a 360ml water tank and mop pad. Unfortunately, the Spark 980 will not sweep and mop the floor at the same time. You must remove the dust bin and replace it with the water tank in order to get it to mop. You can add detergent to the water in the water tank before mopping. The vacuum mops in a Y pattern, ensuring full coverage and a proper clean.

The mopping function didn’t work quite as well as vacuuming did. It was serviceable and did an adequate job, but definitely wasn’t amazing at it. But I don’t fault the Spark 980, as I view mopping as an added luxury of a robot vacuum. So the fact that it does it at all, and does it adequately is a big win in my book.

Be careful with the unit after mopping though. The charging base doesn’t have any kind of water shield, so it is possible for your floor to get wet after using it to mop.

Battery and obstacle avoidance

For bigger carpets, using it on full strength guarantees a great cleaning, just keep in mind that it will be a tad loud. Running it at full strength also diminishes the battery pretty fast. At full power, the robot would burn through its 3200mAh battery and return to its dock somewhere between 45 and 60 minutes. Far below its expected runtime. I generally ran the vacuum at medium power as I found this to be a great balance of cleaning power and noise. At medium power, I was able to achieve my expected runtime of 140 minutes and it picked up a lot of dirt. A nice feature of this vacuum is that if it has to return to the base for a recharge, it will continue where it left off once it has the power to do so.

The Zigma Spark 980 was OK at avoiding obstacles. I was never worried about it falling down the basement stairs, but I did witness it bump into things on occasion. It shouldn’t cause any problems but don’t leave a glass on the floor or you might be picking up its contents.

The app

The Zigma app is a no-fuss app, that gets you to the settings that you need quickly. The Home tab shows a list of devices and what the device is currently doing, as well as its battery life. The Room tab allows you to pick a device and then shows a virtual map of your home. You get the option of selecting a specific room to clean, for it to auto clean, and a record of what it has cleaned in the past. The record tab shows you a detailed cleaning report, how many minutes it has been charging and performing its duties. It also shows the frequency at which it works.

To get started you select Rooms > Device > Start Clean. Hitting start clean gives you additional options such as suction power. You get a slider bar, which allows you to increase or decrease the strength of the suction on the fly.

The automation tab allows you to set automation rules according to time. You can have the automation execute one time, every day, on weekdays, weekends, or set custom automation. Setting the rules are fairly simple, but make sure you pay attention to the details so you get the right device operating how you want. I was happy that it allowed me to select the suction strength when scheduling an automation rule.

The Service tab gives you tips for your device, which include instructions, unpacking, how to clean it, as well as common problems for that device. You can also find the Zigma Mall here, which is basically a storefront for other Zigma products.

The app does include the weather, temperature, outdoor humidity, and air quality. I think the inclusion of that information is a bit much and definitely overkill for a vacuum. Zigma sells air purifiers, so it is probably included for that purpose. I just wish I could turn it off, or have Zigma incorporate it in a banner for that specific device.

Final Thoughts

The Zigma Spark 980 Robot Vacuum was a joy to use. The cleaning ability of this vacuum at $300 was fantastic. Being able to adjust the strength on the fly was a nice bonus, especially since the strongest setting can be a bit loud. Mopping performance was just OK, but I view that as an added bonus. Be careful of the base though, there is no protection on the bottom of it, so it can get wet after the vacuum has finished mopping.

The app is relatively easy to use and did everything that I wanted it to. I also enjoyed being able to limit the vacuum to certain rooms and avoid other ones. My kids’ playroom is usually filled with Lego and it was nice not to have to worry about it.

There are more performant options on the market, but they cost significantly more and don’t add a lot of added capabilities. I would highly recommend the Zigma Spark 980 Robot Vacuum, especially if you are not looking to spend a small fortune on home automation.

3 must-try strategies to promote your YouTube cooking channel

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YouTube has always been an incredible platform for chefs, artists, and creators to showcase their different talents and build an impressive following. As someone who runs a cooking channel, there is so much you can do to promote it and grow as a chef and as a YouTuber.

Just because your primary audience is on YouTube, that doesn’t mean that you can’t leverage other online platforms to bring people to your channel. Whether you’re collaborating, talking to your audience, selling merch, or just posting about your content, you can make use of all the online tools available to you to promote your channel.

In this blog post, we’ve made things easier for you by listing down the different ways in which you can effectively promote your YouTube cooking channel. These tips are creative, inexpensive, and best of all, they require very little effort so that you can focus all your time and energy on cooking up fresh new recipes. 

Let’s take a look!

1. Make a good first impression on your channel

Your channel homepage is, in most cases, going to be your first introduction to a potential audience. And since first impressions matter, you have to make sure to stand out. Because if you don’t, people will just log off or watch someone else’s content. After all, there’s no shortage of YouTube chefs out there. 

The first thing you will have to do to make a good first impression is to put up a striking YouTube banner and profile picture. For both these elements, it’s important to stay on brand. For instance, if your channel is all about cooking desserts, add some colorful cake and sprinkles graphics that give people a hint of what you’re about before they dive in further. 

While cooking is your expertise, creating a fun yet professional-looking YouTube banner might not be your cup of tea. Luckily, there are plenty of online tools that can help you out. For instance, PosterMyWall has tons of YouTube banner templates that you can customize in minutes. Simply add some photographs of your creations, maybe a border or two, and viola! You have a great banner for your channel. 

Lastly, remember that YouTube lets you add one video as a pinned video on your channel. This video will start playing as soon as someone visits your channel and will likely be their first intro to your content. So choose a video that you’re proud of or that got a ton of traction. You can even film a special introductory video in which you tell people who you are and what your channel is about. 

2. Post regularly on social media

Use social media platforms as marketing tools that will bring more traffic to your channel. To make yourself as easily accessible as possible, try to have a good presence on all the major platforms. These include but may not be limited to Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. 

You can use social media in a lot of creative ways to get people to check out your channel. Here are a few things you can try:

  • Post colorful graphics as posts and stories that advertise your channel and your latest video 
  • Take pretty pictures of the dishes you cook and let people know they can see the process and replicate it by going to your YouTube channel
  • Do occasional giveaways and contests – challenge people to try one of your recipes and add their own spin to them, then share their content on your own page
  • Do live Q&A sessions in which you connect with your audience and answer questions related to cooking and baking

We understand that too much social media can get overwhelming. So be smart about how often you post. A good way to go about it is to have a set content schedule. When you plan out your videos for the week or month, plan the associated social media tasks accordingly. 

3. Collab with other big YouTubers

A great way to capture the audience of other YouTubers is to do collaborations. Popular YouTubers have been using this strategy for years and it’s worked brilliantly for them. You don’t necessarily need to find other cooking-related YouTube channels. You can invite any big YouTuber to cook a meal with you, or you can create the kind of content they make. As long as you get the exposure, the content will not really matter. 

Reach out to YouTubers via social media and try to work with lots of different creators so that you can gain exposure with all of their audiences. 

Final thoughts

Running a cooking channel can be incredibly fulfilling, especially when people share the stuff they made with you and cite you as the inspiration. With these strategies, you’ll be able to experience more of that and gain popularity and reach as a chef online. 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

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