Best Amazon Launchpad
Style: Kittens. Exploding Kittens is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Exploding Kittens is quite easily one of the most hilarious games I have played. My friends and I are constantly buying and playing new games to play and Exploding Kittens are quite entertaining. It would be a huge improvement for Exploding Kittens to expand the deck a bit more and to also start using higher quality cards."
"This game would be worth $20 for a deck of cards IF it were a deck of cards that could endure the treatment of children. Not only that, but even when we first got the game, I did all of the card handling."
"The first is that it is simply a card game. I would encourage the game developers to invest in a thicker card with a heavier wax like the ones many other card decks are made with."
"We've had the game for a few weeks and played it quite a bit, but that cards are literally falling apart already. The corners are peeling apart a couple are ripped a little bit, just from normal shuffling. It sucks, because I would seriously consider buying the expansion pack but the difference in the cards will be so noticeable, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Pretty disappointing because, like I said, it's a great game....the quality of the cards is just so low. They really should be more laminated, like a good set of Bicycle cards or something, especially because it's not like you can just go out and quickly (and cheaply) pick up another deck."
Living off a diet of frozen corn dogs and ramen, they grew frustrated with the effort and cost associated with purchasing, preparing, and consuming food that was neither healthy nor enjoyable. Recognizing an unmet need, CEO Rob Rhinehart, alongside co-founders Matt Cauble, John Coogan, and David Renteln, developed Soylent as an experiment. The product was aptly named in homage to Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! The Soylent team is continuously iterating on its formula to improve this new, engineered food staple, ranging from sourcing the most sustainable, efficient ingredients to adjusting the taste, texture, and balance of nutrients. Soylent is supported by a passionate community that embraces our mission of expanding access to quality nutrition by improving the food system through innovation. Each bottle of Soylent Drink is more than just 20% of your daily nutritional requirements, it’s the freedom to let you choose how you want to spend your time. Ingredients include isolated protein from soy, sunflower oil, slow-burning carbs from beets, and all essential vitamins and minerals. Soylent Drink is a nutritionally complete, ready-to-drink meal replacement in a bottle.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These drinks saved my life while I was on chemo and all I could tolerate was liquids."
"I knew what my problem was; I eat at McDonald's two or three times a day sometimes, I like to eat a lot of sweets, and I practically held the saltshaker upside down. I am mentally lazy, I don't have time and I'm not going to take the time to do that. Unscrewing a bottle and drinking it is about all the mental energy and time I am willing to expend."
"Once I didn't have the time to meticulously prepare everything I ate, I began gaining weight and losing energy. I put off trying Soylent because I am a picky eater and wasn't willing to drop $40 on something I may not be able to take two sips of, but I decided to take the risk. I wouldn't drink it for every meal, but being able to satisfy my hunger throughout the day with Soylent, a nutrition bar, and fresh fruits and veggies allows me to take the time to cook a simple healthy meal for dinner when I get home, and gives me easy energy for a quick workout in the morning."
"Although it does have a slight chalky aftertaste that we've all come to expect from meal replacement liquids, it tastes really good!!"
"It's pretty tasty if it's people."
"When ever I feel that I drink a Soylent and what ever nutrient my body was craving Soylent has and the craving goes away. Again I want to stress Soylent isn't a miracle, drinking it isn't going to have you shed pounds. However you will most likely feel more alert and better (I pegged myself at about 15% better). You can use it to monitor your calorie intake easier and through calorie management lose weight,but that isn't Soylent causing you to lose weight it's strictly the fact you're counting calories."
Living off a diet of frozen corn dogs and ramen, they grew frustrated with the effort and cost associated with purchasing, preparing, and consuming food that was neither healthy nor enjoyable. Recognizing an unmet need, CEO Rob Rhinehart, alongside co-founders Matt Cauble, John Coogan, and David Renteln, developed Soylent as an experiment. The product was aptly named in homage to Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! The Soylent team is continuously iterating on its formula to improve this new, engineered food staple, ranging from sourcing the most sustainable, efficient ingredients to adjusting the taste, texture, and balance of nutrients. Soylent is supported by a passionate community that embraces our mission of expanding access to quality nutrition by improving the food system through innovation. Each bottle of Soylent Drink is more than just 20% of your daily nutritional requirements, it’s the freedom to let you choose how you want to spend your time. Ingredients include isolated protein from soy, sunflower oil, slow-burning carbs from beets, and all essential vitamins and minerals. Soylent Drink is a nutritionally complete, ready-to-drink meal replacement in a bottle.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These drinks saved my life while I was on chemo and all I could tolerate was liquids."
"I knew what my problem was; I eat at McDonald's two or three times a day sometimes, I like to eat a lot of sweets, and I practically held the saltshaker upside down. I am mentally lazy, I don't have time and I'm not going to take the time to do that. Unscrewing a bottle and drinking it is about all the mental energy and time I am willing to expend."
"Once I didn't have the time to meticulously prepare everything I ate, I began gaining weight and losing energy. I put off trying Soylent because I am a picky eater and wasn't willing to drop $40 on something I may not be able to take two sips of, but I decided to take the risk. I wouldn't drink it for every meal, but being able to satisfy my hunger throughout the day with Soylent, a nutrition bar, and fresh fruits and veggies allows me to take the time to cook a simple healthy meal for dinner when I get home, and gives me easy energy for a quick workout in the morning."
"Although it does have a slight chalky aftertaste that we've all come to expect from meal replacement liquids, it tastes really good!!"
"It's pretty tasty if it's people."
"When ever I feel that I drink a Soylent and what ever nutrient my body was craving Soylent has and the craving goes away. Again I want to stress Soylent isn't a miracle, drinking it isn't going to have you shed pounds. However you will most likely feel more alert and better (I pegged myself at about 15% better). You can use it to monitor your calorie intake easier and through calorie management lose weight,but that isn't Soylent causing you to lose weight it's strictly the fact you're counting calories."
Best Amazon Launchpad Body
The LectroFan offers twenty unique digital sounds to mask noises, and you can choose from ten different electric fan sounds and ten variations of pure white noise. Provides ten fan sounds and ten ambient noise variations, including white noise, pink noise and brown noise.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I thought that it worked pretty well until I had a house guest that snored like a "Freight Train" and had a tendency to watch action adventure movies until late at night."
"Every time someone walks by, a bird tweets or an ant crawls these dogs go into barking hysteria. We did everything to talk to management to even bordering up our bedroom window with sheet rock!!! We had lost all hope at this point and began waiting out our year sentence until we could move. I read the reviews on this little machine and I loved the fact that is had 'various FAN sounds' and volume control. But lo and behold, one morning I got up from a great night sleep and walked in the living room and the dogs were barking at there normal level and not a peep was heard in the bedroom."
"Moved into brand spanking new office space that is so quiet you can hear every flatulence, chip crunch, carrot bite, soup slurp, (boorish) conversation, whisper or otherwise, every phone call (if I concentrate hard enough, both sides), keyboard click, mouse movement, tummy rumble, foot step (nicknamed a couple new clod hoppers), sniff, sneeze, coffee slurp, burp, soda can opening, staple punch, paper printed, knuckle cracking annoyance from every inch of the 4000 square foot expedient path to nightmarish hell ... Then the LectroFan arrived."
"Fans range from industrial, ventilation, house, air purifier, oscillating and a few others I can't pin point. The white noise simply starts at a low frequency, then goes higher through each selection. I think the highest can block out annoying birds with high pitched sounds, or even noisy household members. Compared to a video review I watched about a sound machine that uses a fan, this has more variety."
Best Amazon Launchpad Food
Living off a diet of frozen corn dogs and ramen, they grew frustrated with the effort and cost associated with purchasing, preparing, and consuming food that was neither healthy nor enjoyable. Recognizing an unmet need, CEO Rob Rhinehart, alongside co-founders Matt Cauble, John Coogan, and David Renteln, developed Soylent as an experiment. The product was aptly named in homage to Harry Harrison's 1966 science fiction novel Make Room! The Soylent team is continuously iterating on its formula to improve this new, engineered food staple, ranging from sourcing the most sustainable, efficient ingredients to adjusting the taste, texture, and balance of nutrients. Soylent is supported by a passionate community that embraces our mission of expanding access to quality nutrition by improving the food system through innovation. Each bottle of Soylent Drink is more than just 20% of your daily nutritional requirements, it’s the freedom to let you choose how you want to spend your time. Ingredients include isolated protein from soy, sunflower oil, slow-burning carbs from beets, and all essential vitamins and minerals. We’ve come a long way, and Soylent is today’s future food: nutrition engineered for function, not excess. Soylent Drink is a nutritionally complete, ready-to-drink meal replacement in a bottle.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These drinks saved my life while I was on chemo and all I could tolerate was liquids."
"Although it does have a slight chalky aftertaste that we've all come to expect from meal replacement liquids, it tastes really good!!"
"I love these drinks but easily need to drink two a day to maintain my weight. I would love to continue drinking these but I've had to switch to myoplex which has 300 calories per drink, is half the price, but just doesn't taste as good."
"I am not a very hungry person and often struggle with trying to get myself to eat, or I just totally forget about eating sometimes. I can not for the life of me eat breakfast most days and Soylent ensures that I’m getting a good start of 400 calories in the morning."
"While this was my first time purchasing from Soylent, as a cyclist I'm no stranger to meal replacement shakes or protein powders."
"I think that was as good as it was going to get for me because I could feel myself getting hungry so I just ended up eating. This is good to have on hand on busy days, particularly during lunch, when you don't have the time to buy or make food to bring to work/school."
"However, my husband has been cutting back on Soylent now that he started getting paranoid with the idea of consuming too much soy and increasing his estrogen levels. I am not sure about the research and how much Soylent affects one's estrogen levels, but he started cutting back because of this."
"I've drank Soylent in the past using the older formula that you prep yourself so I figured I knew what to expect."
Best Amazon Launchpad Gadgets
*IMPORTANT - Please be advised that Tile’s connectivity and app are affected by a known Bluetooth issue with devices using Android 6.0.0 (Marshmallow). Tile Mate easily loops onto keychains or attaches to anything you don’t want to lose so you can find it fast. Battery life:One year from shipment: Charging:NoneAll activity measurements and calculations are estimates.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As it clearly outlines in the screen shots, anyone else who happens to have the app installed and is near you will cause the tile to report its location through THEIR phone. That's right, the company can find out where you shop, eat, go to church, jog, or walk the dog simply by your tile reporting its location through someone else's phone running the app. Once the app is ready to go it pairs with the tile easily and then there are some very interesting features. You do have to register and create an account in order to get to the point where you can tie a tile to the app. If, and I say if reluctantly, you have location services turned on the web site will allow you to view the last known location of the tile(s) under your account on a map. Now proximity here is Bluetooth distance which is at best 10 meters (30 feet) so the location overlaid on the map will be fairly close to where the tile was left as long as the location services on your phone can actually get a GPS lock (this gets far to technical to explain here but buildings, underground parking and just about any structure can block GPS signals). What I really liked, if you have the tile in hand but can't find the phone, double press the silver tile logo and if the phone is within range it will play a tune associated with the app. All in all, this is an easy to use device and there will be dozens of applications you could think of. I found the app very simple both to set up and use. The tile itself while having to real speaker isn't really loud enough to heard when trapped between cushions on a sofa or stuffed in a purse. I like that pairing a tile with the app is painless, totally non-technical. When using the web interface, I found the site easy to access through both the app and PC online. There are so many Bluetooth devices we already use that we can have a good idea of the coverage that can be expected between phone and tile. The app works and does not require a 10-year-old to set it up. Great idea and product but beware the intrusion to your comings and goings."
"No matter what system I tried to introduce him to, what basket was on the counter just for his wallet...was a dismal failure."
"At first, I was so happy with this product, helping me find misplaced keys and cell phone in my family's busy home."
"At first, it went well; I didn't really lose my keys so I'd use the tile a few times a month to make sure that everything was in working order. And it was spotty; sometimes, when the tile was right next to me, it'd take minutes for the app to locate the tile and ring. According to the Tile App, there were a few thousand Tile users around, able to find my device if they stumbled near it."
"After working correctly (or at least seeming to) for a few months I received a warning notice that several of my items--including the camera gear--had moved while I was away on a business trip."
"Could someone from customer support please contact me if they see this or just replace my dead tile?"
Best Amazon Launchpad House
The Anova Precision Cooker connects to your phone, so you can cook amazing meals by the touch of a button -- spend less time tied to the kitchen by relying on the app to notify you when your food is ready to eat. The Anova Precision Cooker brings sous vide to your home, so you can enjoy a cooking technique made famous by professional chefs for its incredible results.To help get connected through WI-FI, checkout our WI-FI Connectivity Troubleshooting steps in Specification Sheet [pdf ]. Sous vide cooking produces restaurant quality results that are impossible to achieve through any other cooking method.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"(Think of it like cooking with a crock pot... low temperature cooking over long periods of time ... slow and steady) . As you may know, one of claims of sous vide cooking is it can make the toughest cut of meat tender. Be aware that tough meats need to cook for a much longer period of time. Following the instructions for cooking a tough cut of beef to medium rare... we cooked ours at 149 degrees for 19 hours ( recommended time is 16 to 24 hours) . We then have a supply of ready to cook meals waiting for our Anova Culinary Bluetooth Precision Cooker, Black And "Yes" you can cook frozen food right from the freezer by just adding two hours on to the recommend cooking time. Just be aware when cooking for long periods (like cooking a tough cut of meat for 24 hours) water will evaporate so you want to make sure the water is always covering the food being cooked and to add more water if necessary. Anyway, by using a cooler... the water heated by the Precision Cooler is insulated from outside air so the cooker doesn't have to work as hard to keep the water hot thus saving on electricity, and with the lid closed the water that evaporates, condenses on the underside of the lid and drops back into the cooler."
"Once it got to 160+/- the temperature began to fluctuate again like the original unit did. After some testing I discovered that when the hot steam is allowed to enter into the vents on the rear of the unit, the fluctuations of the temperature began."
"How could Anova design a 200 hundred dollar cooking unit, that can heat water to 210 degrees, and then sits on top of that steaming water, but is susceptible/prone to malfunction because of inevitable steam intrusion into the control head??? Check the 1 star reviews - this is not a fluke, and is so common that ANOVA addresses it in the customer support section - their solution - put your unit in a bag of rice for 24 hours to dry it out and hopefully that will fix it, but if it doesn't "you have a problem"????"
"Then Anova pushed an update to their app that requires you to pair your kitchen appliance with your facebook profile. I mean, i'm looking at my blender and my pressure cooker and they seem to work fine without needing access to my social network."
"I returned the item because Anova updated the phone app to force you to buy Wifi access."
"Anova changed the app to require a login just to cook a meal."
Best Amazon Launchpad Toys
Style: Kittens. Exploding Kittens is a card game for people who are into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This game would be worth $20 for a deck of cards IF it were a deck of cards that could endure the treatment of children. Not only that, but even when we first got the game, I did all of the card handling."
"Exploding Kittens is quite easily one of the most hilarious games I have played. My friends and I are constantly buying and playing new games to play and Exploding Kittens are quite entertaining. It would be a huge improvement for Exploding Kittens to expand the deck a bit more and to also start using higher quality cards."
"The first is that it is simply a card game. I would encourage the game developers to invest in a thicker card with a heavier wax like the ones many other card decks are made with."
"We've had the game for a few weeks and played it quite a bit, but that cards are literally falling apart already. The corners are peeling apart a couple are ripped a little bit, just from normal shuffling. It sucks, because I would seriously consider buying the expansion pack but the difference in the cards will be so noticeable, I'm not sure it would be worth it. Pretty disappointing because, like I said, it's a great game....the quality of the cards is just so low. They really should be more laminated, like a good set of Bicycle cards or something, especially because it's not like you can just go out and quickly (and cheaply) pick up another deck."
Best Amazon Launchpad Camera
Manage multiple frames from one Nixplay Cloud Account: FREE Sync up to 5 frames and enjoy 10GB of photo storage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We gave a frame to each set of grandparents, and we regularly email new pictures directly to their frames throughout the year. Both Nixplay and Kodak let you log onto websites to upload pictures to your frames, or you can email pictures directly to the frames. When I wanted to add a picture, I would just email the picture to the address assigned to the Kodak frame, and I would put whatever I wanted for a caption as the subject line of the email. Nixplay has modeled their service after a photo sharing site, but it frankly doesn't work very well for 90% of people who just want to upload pictures to a frame easily and let the collection of pictures grow. General procedure: When you want to upload a bunch of pictures from a computer, you have to first create at least one album and one playlist, then upload the pictures to the album. After you add new pictures, you need to go into the album, select ONLY THE NEW PICTURES, and drag them onto the correct playlist. If you try just dragging all the pictures in an album into the playlist, then you would have two copies of all pictures (except the new ones). Nixplay allows directly emailing pictures to frames, but again they have complicated it. You can specify which album and playlist you want the emailed picture to go to if you know (and remember) the names of the album and playlist. I don't believe there is a way for adding a caption to a picture you are emailing, which is a shame, as that often was a fun part of emailing pictures to the Kodak. At the very least, they should have a "Grandparents Mode" enabled by default which would allow a simple way to have a frame that people far away could add pictures to, without having to have anyone manage it, and without the multiple steps required to add pictures through the website."
"The reason for that is that I have one frame in my bedroom and don't want it kicking on during the night for any reason (and I am too lazy to turn it on/off manually everyday). The unit I ordered had one bad pixel, and after I contacted NIX, I had a new (perfect) frame in my hands the next day."
"I will have the 15 inch in the living room, 12 inch in the bedroom and 8 inch at work. You have to nudge it around until you get it to come off (plastic tabs on the back of the plate are in some holes). I plan two use my screws to put in the mounting plate holes on the back of the frame, leaving them sticking out some, wrap picture frame wire around the screws and then hang it on the wall. The remote control works great and since I will be mounting this close to the TV in the living room, I like that I can use the remote to turn the frame off. There is a slot in the back of the frame to store the remote but I plan to keep it with my other remotes. Since some pictures are landscape and some are portrait, my initial plan was to have all my landscape pictures on the 15 inch frame and portrait on the 12 inch frame. If my Wi-Fi is ever down, the frame will just play the pictures that were last downloaded from the cloud. I have been wanting a digital frame for years but am glad I waited because I think the nixplay frame has everything I could ever want in a frame."
Best Amazon Launchpad Patio, Lawn & Garden
So after some research, experiments and many tests, we finally developed the Smart Soil solution that takes care of most of the problems apparent with other technologies. We wanted to make a product that delivers what it promises, but also looks great sitting on the windowsill or the table. Plant cultivation technologies tend to be messy- there are pumps, sensors, soil and wires to worry about. With the Smart herb garden I feel like we managed to keep the focus on the design but not compromise on the quality. Just insert the plant capsules, fill the water tank, and plug it in. You can choose between different refills - From Mini Tomato and Chili Pepper to Lemon Balm and Thyme - just pick a plant that excites you and start enjoying it in the Smart herb garden. Plus, we offer you cool tips and tricks about your plant and its stats through our Click & Grow app! ✔ GROW ANY PLANTS YOU WANT: This smart indoor garden is lightweight and easily portable. ✔ SMART SOIL TECHNOLOGY: The soil uses patented nano-tech growth medium that accelerates the plant growth without jeopardising quality. ✔ 100% REPLACEMENT WARRANTY: Since your satisfaction is our top priority, this portable garden is backed by our 100% replacement warranty and our 30-day money back guarantee!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The real issue I have with this system is the price of continual use, specifically, the replacement pods. My plan, when mother is done growing out her basil, is to empty the pods and refill them with Rockwool or some other seed starter, and drop a few seeds of lemon balm, thyme, or chives and see how well the system works then."
"The light has proper intensity and is adjustable to climb with the plants... to an extent, after which you have to cut back the plants from reaching the light. The light is supposed to blink when the water level needs to be topped off, but I haven't tested that feature, so I can't make a judgement on its effectiveness. They also state that the unit has "Specialized Sensors", and that they are In-unit sensors designed constantly monitor garden vitals attend to plants’ need for light, water, and nutrients. They like to use the phrase "Smart Soil" for their potting mix, as if it is some kind of special concoction that only they can make. Any good gardener can make a non-soil potting mix every much as good as what they are putting together. So you grow three basil plants that are not designed to be transplanted, and you'll end up either tossing a lot of leaves, or living on spaghetti! They even sell an "experimental" set of capsules with nothing but their "smart soil", and no seed, so you can plant a seed of your choice. The same $19.95 for three...and in order to transplant ANY of the plants in these capsules, you have to destroy the capsule itself, so you're out another 20 bucks for three more capsules, with or without plants. I've posted my rant, but to be fair, I am a very experienced gardener, and have long experience in germination all kinds of plants from seed, and with different soil and seeding mixes... so I have a hard time with recommending this product that, like computer printers, will be emptying your wallet on a continual basis...the plants being the equivalent of printer cartridges. Just enough to pep up a salad here and there, and enjoy watching a few plants grow up to about half a foot, this is a nice little conversation starter....but if you really want to grow sustainable and healthy fruits and veggies, and you still need to do it on a smaller basis, I'd use full size pots, or grow bags, and just go to YouTube, or Google, and look up soil-less growing mixes, and do it yourself. The rewards in both planting and harvesting the fruits of your labor and much more intense than simply automating. Recommended only as a hobby, decorative, or VERY limited space growing."
"So satisfying growing my own basil, indoors, in winter."
"I’ll start by saying that I have the opposite of a green thumb, I kill all plants."
"So far so good, bought it for christmas and as of February, 2 basils and a painted nettle are growing strong."
"nice really good to grow your own herbs."
"This container MUST be placed into the cavity upside down, with the solid "bottom" up. I mention it only because SOME people (husband) seem to think that somehow the water will magically reach the plants if you fill this container with water and then set it in the cavity."
"The strawberries didn't grow and the catnip didn't smell at all like catnip and my cats did not like it at all."
Best Kids' Nightstands
Not only was the BedShelfie made possible by the generosity and optimism of the Kickstarter Community - Kickstarter connected us to folks from all around the world - from Iceland to Singapore, to Cleveland, Ohio. FEATURED IN - Business Insider & Country Living as a Bedside Shelf for Dorms, Bunk Beds & Small Bedrooms (Watch out for knockoffs).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"So our master bedroom closet is not big at all and because of it we needed more storage, so we have two big chests besides the dresser, along with nightstands, and King size bed and it filled up the room."
"Great little bed shelf that clamps onto my bed frame!"
"I have a small space and having an end table or even a TV tray set up next to my bed felt crowded and I was constantly bumping into it."
"Most of the time when I impulse buy, the product either serves it's purpose adequately or it sucks!"
"They are a good size so they don’t make the room look crowded but can fit what you need on them."
"The original BedShelfie is the best."
"My son has been asking for some sort of bedside table for his upper bunk bed."
"Bought 2 for the new lofts my daughters got for Christmas."
Best Kids' Nightstands
Not only was the BedShelfie made possible by the generosity and optimism of the Kickstarter Community - Kickstarter connected us to folks from all around the world - from Iceland to Singapore, to Cleveland, Ohio. FEATURED IN - Business Insider & Country Living as a Bedside Shelf for Dorms, Bunk Beds & Small Bedrooms (Watch out for knockoffs).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My initial nightstand was made of thick black plastic and had a section of the shelf that was made for being tucked underneath the mattress and on top of the box spring so it was not the most secure but it served the purpose on the most basic form."
"Now that I have it I got rid of my night stand and it saves so much space in this studio."
"I imagine most people buy these for college or their kids which would be perfect, but I live in LA in a small studio and need to utilize my space as efficiently as possible."
"So last night we heard a crash and my immediate thought was the shelfie, rushed into the room to find that the shelfie was firmly in place and my daughter on the floor having fallen down the ladder getting up to use the bathroom from all the water ... An excellent and well designed, sturdy product, packaged well enough to gift and extremely useful."
"Overall I think it is a worthy investment at kickstarter REDUCED price, which it was 35 + shipping(maybe? I was planning to get a second when I lay hands on mine that came in today but the price throws me away. The paint has got scratch over couple places when receive, but it is very minor so not a deal breaker for me. I like the engraving on the side that shows BedShelfie, giving it the feeling is a classy furniture. The build is very sturdy that I did try to put a few more-than-five-hundred-pages text books on top of it and it seems holding OK. Also I put a 15 inch gaming laptop on it which seems no sweat at all (of course it hangs over the shelf but it is manageable, just be careful) . It might save me a trip that I need to get off bed to put my laptop on my desk before I go to sleep."
Best Pet Location & Activity Trackers
The LINK AKC smart collar is a sophisticated GPS smart collar designed for dog comfort, fit and fashion. LINK AKC is the only smart collar in the market with everything you need to keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy. LINK AKC is the only smart collar in the market with everything you need to keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Whistle had a hard time being that GPS unit that could give me that piece of mind. The Whistle would sync his activity as soon as we got back in the Whistle zone. The Whistle zone is a much better setup than what Link tried to do with "with you", "near home", and "away". If you're looking for more of an activity monitor and can deal with spotty GPS tracking than go with the Whistle."
"I took the LINK AKC because although Whistle GPS is the best option I've found so far, it has its flaws. ________________________. AESTHETICS/COLLAR. Winner: LINK AKC. One of the beauties of LINK AKC is the form factor and the fact that it comes with a matching collar. ________________________. SIZE/FIT/COMFORT. Winner: Whistle GPS. The LINK AKC collar looks like it is well made, but it is stiff leather, and it looks uncomfortable. Still, the LINK AKC unit is huge compared to Whistle GPS. _______________________. GPS. Winner: LINK AKC. The one biggest drawback to Whistle GPS is the tracking, which it does every 3 minutes. I could be more than a block away from home while walking my dog before Whistle GPS notifies me, whereas LINK AKC is right on it. _______________________. APP. Winner: LINK AKC. Both apps show tracking and activity level, but the Whistle GPS app is clunkier. Whereas LINK AKC has the map and activity displayed on the same page, Whistle GPS defaults to activity level and you have to go through a few manipulations to get to the map. _______________________. BATTERY LIFE. Winner: Whistle GPS. Whistle GPS wins hands down. _______________________. LIGHTS/SOUND/TEMPERATURE. Winner: LINK AKC. These features are not available on the Whistle GPS, but to be honest, I have no use for them."
"Normally he heads to a big, nearby field, but this time he crossed the road and went in a completely different direction. We live in a rural part of Washington State, with many natural barriers to signals. So, while I've been frustrated by slow GPS refresh times, and get misreads from time to time, I think it may have a lot to do with where I live."
"This means that he tends to sneak out from under us at times so the GPS function was the highlight for me... but I was so pleasantly surprised by all of the other functions that come in handy too. Alerts for temperature and if he is away from 'Home Base'... also the Adventure function is a fun tool to use when we go to new parks and explore."
Best Amazon Launchpad Tools & Home Improvement
Color: Black/White. Advanced silicone technology that bonds permanently to almost anything, then sets strong by turning into a durable, tactile silicone rubber overnight.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The GOOD: multiple colors, malleable, turns into a "hard rubber" on curing (not a plastic, still slightly soft, like a basketball), gives you the chance to fix things in the "plastic" world with more than just glue and hope."
"Pros: * Easy to work with. * Strong and long lasting. * Lots of applications. * Comes in various colors. Cons: * Short shelf-life. Depending on how you store it, Sugru will be usable for around 6 months sealed in its package. Many of the suggested uses imply that you can add Sugru to handles and knobs to provide cushioning. That makes is good for some situations (repair a watch band), but not so great for others (cushion the inside of a scissor handle). * Provide cushioning under a glass tabletop (worked very well). * Seal wires of a repaired set of earphones (effective seal, but added considerable weight and stiffness). * Keep an old iPhone USB plug from breaking any further (worked well). * Add rubber feet to a USB hub to prevent slipping (did not provide noticeable grip)."
"First, the positive: I got it mostly as an alternative to electrical tape for repairing charging cables on which my cats have shredded the coating. It was easy to use, and has made a somewhat flexible cover replacing the shredded plastic. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 mostly because the shelf life is short- I got 8 months, but some people have reported 3, and there’s no way to tell until you buy it."
"For smaller projects, 1. the paint on my glasses arms were chipped off, and repeated contact with it caused inflammation on my skin. I covered the glasses arms with a thin layer of Sugru, and it took care of the problem. It was a lot harder than I thought to apply a very thin layer of Sugru on metal though."
Best Planters
So after some research, experiments and many tests, we finally developed the Smart Soil solution that takes care of most of the problems apparent with other technologies. We wanted to make a product that delivers what it promises, but also looks great sitting on the windowsill or the table. Plant cultivation technologies tend to be messy- there are pumps, sensors, soil and wires to worry about. With the Smart herb garden I feel like we managed to keep the focus on the design but not compromise on the quality. Just insert the plant capsules, fill the water tank, and plug it in. You can choose between different refills - From Mini Tomato and Chili Pepper to Lemon Balm and Thyme - just pick a plant that excites you and start enjoying it in the Smart herb garden. Plus, we offer you cool tips and tricks about your plant and its stats through our Click & Grow app! ✔ GROW ANY PLANTS YOU WANT: This smart indoor garden is lightweight and easily portable. ✔ SMART SOIL TECHNOLOGY: The soil uses patented nano-tech growth medium that accelerates the plant growth without jeopardising quality. ✔ 100% REPLACEMENT WARRANTY: Since your satisfaction is our top priority, this portable garden is backed by our 100% replacement warranty and our 30-day money back guarantee!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The real issue I have with this system is the price of continual use, specifically, the replacement pods. My plan, when mother is done growing out her basil, is to empty the pods and refill them with Rockwool or some other seed starter, and drop a few seeds of lemon balm, thyme, or chives and see how well the system works then."
"The light has proper intensity and is adjustable to climb with the plants... to an extent, after which you have to cut back the plants from reaching the light. The light is supposed to blink when the water level needs to be topped off, but I haven't tested that feature, so I can't make a judgement on its effectiveness. They also state that the unit has "Specialized Sensors", and that they are In-unit sensors designed constantly monitor garden vitals attend to plants’ need for light, water, and nutrients. They like to use the phrase "Smart Soil" for their potting mix, as if it is some kind of special concoction that only they can make. Any good gardener can make a non-soil potting mix every much as good as what they are putting together. So you grow three basil plants that are not designed to be transplanted, and you'll end up either tossing a lot of leaves, or living on spaghetti! They even sell an "experimental" set of capsules with nothing but their "smart soil", and no seed, so you can plant a seed of your choice. The same $19.95 for three...and in order to transplant ANY of the plants in these capsules, you have to destroy the capsule itself, so you're out another 20 bucks for three more capsules, with or without plants. I've posted my rant, but to be fair, I am a very experienced gardener, and have long experience in germination all kinds of plants from seed, and with different soil and seeding mixes... so I have a hard time with recommending this product that, like computer printers, will be emptying your wallet on a continual basis...the plants being the equivalent of printer cartridges. Just enough to pep up a salad here and there, and enjoy watching a few plants grow up to about half a foot, this is a nice little conversation starter....but if you really want to grow sustainable and healthy fruits and veggies, and you still need to do it on a smaller basis, I'd use full size pots, or grow bags, and just go to YouTube, or Google, and look up soil-less growing mixes, and do it yourself. The rewards in both planting and harvesting the fruits of your labor and much more intense than simply automating. Recommended only as a hobby, decorative, or VERY limited space growing."
"nice really good to grow your own herbs."
"Beautifully designed and self contained."
"Very nice functional unit."
"This container MUST be placed into the cavity upside down, with the solid "bottom" up. I mention it only because SOME people (husband) seem to think that somehow the water will magically reach the plants if you fill this container with water and then set it in the cavity."
"* After you do the first fill-up of water, top it off the the next day after the growing medium as absorbed all the water it needs. * Reuse a small water bottle to add water over the float as needed. Aside from the nice compact size, one of my favorite features is actually the float that allows you to see if you need to add water."
"I loved the product but the light on mine continually blinks (regardless of whether it is low or full on water)."
Best Camp Kitchen Equipment
Rambler Tumbler with Lid. We over-engineered these double-wall insulated tumblers with an 18/8 stainless steel body, which means your drink still keeps its temperature no matter how much of a beating this cup takes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Does an equally good job keeping things cold. They are quite expensive and I hear there are brands that do just as good a job keeping things hot/cold."
"We have bought a few of these from Academy as gifts and my wife owns one (you can tell who make the BIG bucks in our house). I started looking for a tumbler because the one I was using at work was pretty beat up but I didn’t want to send $30 for one (yes I’m cheap). I did some research and by the time I got my Amazon Yeti I was armed with this information. I tried to label the pics: fake on the left in red, real on the right in green. 4) HEIGHT – The fake one is about 1/8” taller. 5) UNDER – The 2 tumblers have the “Design in in Austin…” sentence but the numbers after “China” are different. There is a difference in weight, I think the real Yetis are a bit heavier (also got this info from a YouTube video). If you are paying anything under $30 and/or if the cup is being shipped directly for China, chances it is a fake. My advice (if you want a real Yeti) buy one directly from Yeti, REI, Academy, Dick’s, Cabela’s, ACE Hardware…. At the end I did spend $30: I bought 3 Ozark Trails (look up Yeti vs Ozark Trail in YouTube) from the local Wally-Mart: two 20oz tumblers and one 30oz tumbler."
"Bigfoot isn't real... and neither is this YETI."
"This is a fake YETI."
"I originally purchased one from REI and noticed that the two I recently ordered from Amazon did not look or feel right."
"The image pictured has a YETI lid."
"The lid has started to crack after 3 weeks."
"Counterfeit items!!!"
Best Camping Cups & Mugs
Rambler Tumbler with Lid. We over-engineered these double-wall insulated tumblers with an 18/8 stainless steel body, which means your drink still keeps its temperature no matter how much of a beating this cup takes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We have bought a few of these from Academy as gifts and my wife owns one (you can tell who make the BIG bucks in our house). I started looking for a tumbler because the one I was using at work was pretty beat up but I didn’t want to send $30 for one (yes I’m cheap). I did some research and by the time I got my Amazon Yeti I was armed with this information. I tried to label the pics: fake on the left in red, real on the right in green. 4) HEIGHT – The fake one is about 1/8” taller. 5) UNDER – The 2 tumblers have the “Design in in Austin…” sentence but the numbers after “China” are different. There is a difference in weight, I think the real Yetis are a bit heavier (also got this info from a YouTube video). If you are paying anything under $30 and/or if the cup is being shipped directly for China, chances it is a fake. My advice (if you want a real Yeti) buy one directly from Yeti, REI, Academy, Dick’s, Cabela’s, ACE Hardware…. At the end I did spend $30: I bought 3 Ozark Trails (look up Yeti vs Ozark Trail in YouTube) from the local Wally-Mart: two 20oz tumblers and one 30oz tumbler."
"Bigfoot isn't real... and neither is this YETI."
"This is a fake YETI."
"I originally purchased one from REI and noticed that the two I recently ordered from Amazon did not look or feel right."
"The image pictured has a YETI lid."
"The lid has started to crack after 3 weeks."
"Counterfeit items!!!"
"There are many videos available online that show the difference between knockoffs and authentic Yeti Ramblers which I recommend everybody look at."
Best Freeze-Dried Dog Food
Made in the USA - Stella's Super Beef Dinner Patties’ all-natural recipe is crafted with care in small batches in Stella & Chewy’s own USA kitchen to provide the highest levels of protein-rich meat and quality grain-free nutrition for your pet. Now Stella & Chewy's makes it easier than ever to give your pet real raw nutrition with the convenience of freeze-dried.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Any of these flavors, Duck Duck Goose is a favorite as well as the Chicken, Lamb and Beef are at the top of the list."
"Dogs loved them."
"The patties themselves feel rather delicate and flaky (of course, since they're freeze-dried) but I can easily break them into smaller pieces without them falling apart in my hand which is certainly appreciated. I let my cat sniff since she was curious and I expected her to turn her nose up to it like she does with a lot of other treats...well, I was wrong."
"When I worry about her dehydrating, I crumble half of a patty into a cup of boiling hot water and let it sit until cool."
"I was feeding him dry kibble before and he would leave the food sitting for hours or until he was hungry."
"I have bought this from both my local pet store and from Amazon."
"But last night I actually crumbled the patties and I felt something sharp that hurt my finger. I tore through the bag and crumbled all the patties and found bone shards of all shapes and sizes, some close to 1 cm long! And some with very sharp edges.You would never know this unless you actually crumbled the patties with your fingers. sharp bone fragments that are hidden in these patties."
"Very disappointed."
Best Camping Dishes & Utensils
Rambler Tumbler with Lid. We over-engineered these double-wall insulated tumblers with an 18/8 stainless steel body, which means your drink still keeps its temperature no matter how much of a beating this cup takes.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Does an equally good job keeping things cold. They are quite expensive and I hear there are brands that do just as good a job keeping things hot/cold."
"We have bought a few of these from Academy as gifts and my wife owns one (you can tell who make the BIG bucks in our house). I started looking for a tumbler because the one I was using at work was pretty beat up but I didn’t want to send $30 for one (yes I’m cheap). I did some research and by the time I got my Amazon Yeti I was armed with this information. I tried to label the pics: fake on the left in red, real on the right in green. 4) HEIGHT – The fake one is about 1/8” taller. 5) UNDER – The 2 tumblers have the “Design in in Austin…” sentence but the numbers after “China” are different. There is a difference in weight, I think the real Yetis are a bit heavier (also got this info from a YouTube video). If you are paying anything under $30 and/or if the cup is being shipped directly for China, chances it is a fake. My advice (if you want a real Yeti) buy one directly from Yeti, REI, Academy, Dick’s, Cabela’s, ACE Hardware…. At the end I did spend $30: I bought 3 Ozark Trails (look up Yeti vs Ozark Trail in YouTube) from the local Wally-Mart: two 20oz tumblers and one 30oz tumbler."
"Bigfoot isn't real... and neither is this YETI."
"This is a fake YETI."
"I originally purchased one from REI and noticed that the two I recently ordered from Amazon did not look or feel right."
"The image pictured has a YETI lid."
"The lid has started to crack after 3 weeks."
"Counterfeit items!!!"
Best Dehydrated & Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Each batch starts with 90% or more meat, organs and bone and is often a single source of animal protein - the perfect solution for pets with food sensitivities. Our all-natural recipes are crafted with care in our own USA kitchen to provide the highest levels of protein rich meat and quality grain-free nutrition for your pet, as if they were in the wild. That's why every batch of Chick, Chick, Chicken freeze-dried raw cat food contains 98% chicken (always cage-free), organs and bone, plus taurine and probiotics for dietary health and eating as nature intended. Made in the USA - Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Chick, Chick, Chicken Dinner's all-natural recipe is crafted with care in small batches in Stella & Chewy’s own USA kitchen to provide the highest levels of protein-rich meat and quality grain-free nutrition for your cat.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In our continued commitment to provide only the best nutrition to your feline friends, our fish-based products now contain dandelion greens (a rich source of vitamins and minerals) as well as fenugreek seed (another great source of vitamins and minerals). ****NEW PACKAGES NOW HAVE THE TOXIC INGREDIENT MENADIONE SODIUM BISULFITE COMPLEX****. I am changing my review from 5 stars to 1 star as of 9/7/2016: Stella & Chewy is now adding the toxic Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (MSBC) in all their freeze-dried products. A German research list the following negative effects of menadione: • causes cytotoxicity in liver cells. • damages the natural vitamin K cycle. • causes hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia, not just linked to large doses. • is directly toxic in high doses (vomiting, albuminuria), unlike natural vitamin K. • has never been researched or specifically approved for long term use, such as in pet food. • FDA has banned synthetic vitamin K from over-the-counter supplements because of its high toxicity. The material safety data sheet from ScienceLab.com states the following: “Potential Chronic Health Effects: CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: 3 (Not classifiable for human.). Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.”. Stella & Chewy claims that they use minimal amount of MSBC and that there hasn't been any scientific study that has found it would be toxic or harmful to pets. However, feeding my cats products containing this ingredient every day for their lifetime and exposing them to cumulative exposure of this controversial substance is not something I am willing to gamble on. And since there hasn’t been any scientific study on the long term effect of MSBC in cat food, I will stay away from any product including it."
"Our kitty loved this the first serving."
"When I first bought him he was on a really bad brand of ferret food and this was the first good food I bought to switch him to and he did so easily and he seems to enjoy it as well."
"Too expensive to feed as full meals; I grind it up in my tiny food processor and sprinkle it on my homemade raw food for the one in five cats that I have that is real picky (mix it up and this works like a charm!"
"I ordered this on 2/21/15 and it was supposed to be delivered within a few days. Unfortunately this item was out of stock at the time that you placed your order and it is currently unavailable, but we are expecting to receive another shipment on 03/12/15 ..." I finally received it just a few days ago from Companion Caterers."
"My cat has been on raw meat bones and organ diet since he was a kitten."
"Yes, this type of food is more expensive than your run of the mill cat food but, there is no wasted food and you can rest easy knowing that you are feeding your furry loved one the best food possible (just short of shopping for fresh ingredients, adding the right amount of additional nutrients, and whipping it up yourself in your own kitchen)."
Best Security & Surveillance Biometrics
Door Chime Operation. Press the push button on the doorbell once, a sounding wireless signal will be sent to the receiver. Sound and Flash. There is a switch at left on the back of the Receiver. Press it to adjust the sound volume to be high, medium and low. Specifications A. Doorbell. Power: 1 x 3 Volts CR2032 battery (included). B. Receiver. Power: 2 x 1.5 Volts AA alkaline batteries (not included). Operating Temperature: -30¡æ to +40¡æ. Operating Distance: 300 feet in the open air. Selectable Tone: 36 Polyphonic Melodies. Digital Code Type: Auto-learning. DIY Expandability - Expand this system to fit your needs by pairing up to 5 push buttons to your receiver. Each push button can also be paired with multiple receivers to increase the notification coverage area.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I definitely recommend this doorbell, battery last for a long time ( I haven't changed it since I bought it), I love that I can move my doorbell around from upstairs to outside."
"The default is really the only regular doorbell-ish sound I found, but I honestly just got tired of cycling through all the songs."
"I appreciate the fact that i was able to choose the ring tone to something that was not startling because my father is elderly."
"I installed this in a playhouse our grandsons have when the original one died."
"The wireless doorbell kit is well made, and adds. a little spice to the décor."
"I work in an office suite in a large building and my office door is around the corner from the suite door."
"I like that this doorbell was wireless it made install a breeze."
"Works well but neighbors keyfod to unlock their car sets it off."
Best Amazon Launchpad Beauty
My wife is a makeup artist, and she was asking me to come up with a solution how to clean all the makeup brushes that she uses. After doing some research I came to the conclusion that this is a product that every makeup consumer would love to use, not only makeup artists. After establishing the viability of the product I still had to come up with a solution how to quickly clean makeup brushes in an affordable manner. ♥ PACKAGE INCLUDES - Brush Spinner, Charging Station, Eight Rubber Collars, Glass Bowl, Bowl Splash Guard Ring, Manual FREE BONUS - Includes a 140ml bottle of the Luxe Makeup Cleaning Solution. ♥ 2 YEAR WARRANTY - Use it with peace of mind knowing that we will stand behind our product, if you have any issue please contact our customer service team and we will be glad to help.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Love it so far! I've washed 6 different types of brushes and different sizes."
"The first, waterproof make up, concealers, heavy products like that, the brush has to be either be pre-soaked or washed a few times. Make sure you have a hold on the bowl when you take the top gasket off of it (water won't fully clean out otherwise) it will cause a mess all over your vanity, lol."
"This product’s ideal user would be someone who uses makeup often but rarely has the time or energy to clean their makeup brushes. The make up brush cleaner does a nice job of cleaning all makeup brush sizes and shapes. The medium speed on my larger makeup brushes did not flare or fan the bristles much, if any. I did not use the slowest speed much, but I think that speed might be nice when you need to clean eyeliner pencils makeup brush."
"I did place a fat rubber band around the glass bowl to prevent slipping out my hand. Also I love the multiple speeds which is why I ordered the rechargeable version. Also who wants to get ready to clean brushes and find out you don't have good batteries!"
"I took the brush and rubber collar off the unit and noticed an extra red button glowing. I realized pretty quickly that it was not an extra red button, it was burning on the inside."
"I usually have to wash about 30 brushes at one time so this is definitely nice to have to cut down on drying time."
"The people who pack or in this case re-pack this product should do a better job making sure the product works and that everything is included in the package before sending."
Best Amazon Launchpad Pet Supplies
Whistle 3 combines GPS, cellular and Wi-Fi technology to give you the most comprehensive and accurate tracking nationwide. Proactive Alerts: Get email, app or text notification when your pet leaves their safe place using Wi-Fi before they get too far away. Nationwide coverage on the AT&T cellular network: Whistle uses advanced GPS and cellular technology to pinpoint your pet's location anywhere in the U.S. on America's largest network. Trips: Follow your pet’s location over the last 24 hours to see where they went and when. Durable + Waterproof: attaches to any collar or harness up to 1'' wide and designed to go anywhere with your pet, even swimming.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I purchased my Whistle 3 from Amazon about 3 weeks ago to keep track of my escape artist, and wide roaming, Siberian Husky. I live on a ranch in the mountains of very rural western Colorado where finding a fast traveling dog is virtually impossible without a GPS tracker like the Whistler 3. There are a lot of pet trackers that use Bluetooth, which has a very limited range (100 feet max), or if they use GPS, connect to the cellular network via 2G, which unlike 3G, doesn't have complete US coverage. When your pet is within the range of designated Wi-Fi locations, Whistle switches from GPS to Wi-Fi to save power and battery time. All too often the electronics of gadgets like Whistle are designed by brilliant engineers, but the apps that drive them appear to have been developed by crazed aliens from planet Blx!#}. While at home or other designated Wi-Fi location, the app’s screen shows your pet within a shaded circle indicating the approximate range of the Wi-Fi router. Though I haven’t had a reason to call Whistle’s customer support, I did email them with a question that wasn’t answered in their website’s FAQ’s and received a very understandable response within a few hours and an offer to take care of the issue. There is a subscription charge of about $8 a month, if purchased annually, to cover the cost of cellular service to communicate between the tracking unit and your cell phone."
"I turns out that my bottom floor brick condo is very close to being a dead zone when it comes to data and cellular reception."
"First let me tell you how I use this (and don't use this) so you can judge this review: I live in a fairly remote location and just want to know where my dog goes when he "wanders off" for too long while I'm working and he's out with me. This usually means he's following deer, rabbits, squirrels, etc., that can take him miles away in no time - Urban/suburban dog owners please close your ears & don't hammer me about "irresponsibility" with my pet - it's a different world. Now that all the trees have fully leafed out, the % of time that the app sees his collar is probably 5% - basically useless for me at this location. Again, the totally aggravating thing is still that it tracks my cell phone (a third party piece of hardware) accurately, within seconds, EVERYWHERE I go, ALL the time."
"The strap connecting the tracker to the collar broke within an hour of use."
Best Aquariums
The Tetra Cube Aquarium Kit is the perfect starter aquarium for kitchens, dormitories, classrooms, and offices. Free direct access to our TetraCare Team is just a phone call away. Equipped with a Tetra 3i filter to keep your tank clean and provide a perfect environment for small tropical fish.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This tank is perfect for your Betta. The filter I use for all my Betta's in a 5 gallon or less set up is the Aqueon Model AT10 (internal filter). $21.99. https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-10-Gallon-QuietFlow-Internal-Filter/dp/B00AWV4R8I. 2) Purchase a Betta heater - this tank is plastic making the inexpensive Betta heater worthwhile. Misc supplies - Omega Betta Water Conditioner $5.94 & Omega Betta Buffet pellets $6.65. https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-06020-Betta-Conditioner-4-Ounce/dp/B003OCXQDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931051&sr=1-1&keywords=betta+water+conditioner. https://www.amazon.com/Omega-One-Betta-Buffet-Pellets/dp/B01DFT93TG/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931148&sr=1-2&keywords=omega+betta+food. 8) My Betta's thrive with Indian Almond Leaves. $7.95. https://www.amazon.com/SunGrow-Betta-Leaves-Pcs-environment/dp/B00HG1TMIW/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467930944&sr=1-2&keywords=betta+leaves. Total investment to set it up correctly is about $142 plus the Betta - This is a set up that will last you years."
"Has worked great for us!"
"I'm very happy with this tank and so is my betta!"
"So here goes: I switched my Betta, Sushi, from a tetra 1.5gallon tank Tetra 29137 WaterWonders Aquarium Cube, 1.5 Gallons, Black because with the added heater in that small volume of water, it was raising temps too high. For this 3 gallon unit as is, out of the box, I cannot recommend this tank (see CONS) >>BUT<< if you are willing to spend some more on upgrading what comes with this unit, you can have quite a good and attractive tank using this tank as a starting point. 3) CUTOUTS: Has in the back right (if tank is facing you)approximately 3inch wide x 2inch deep cutout that will fit an after market filter comfortably (which this tank is going to require as the supplied filter is not recommended, see CONS). I put that in quotes because BOTH 3 gallon tanks I received actually had bowed /curved edges in the front that up close is noticeable and detracts from the neat elegant lines this tank is supposed to give off. (If I have time, I will upload pics of the bowed edges) Looking online, all pictures were flat and flush so I think this is a manufacturing defect and I ask anyone else who has this tank to chime in and let me know if they also received tanks with bent tops. Also, since the pump is separate from the filter and connected via tubing, if the power goes out, you risk having water drain out of the tank onto the floor so you would be wise to buy a check valve if you insist on keeping the supplied crappy filter/pump. You would do much better for your fish and your sanity to buy an after market filter, I suggest and reviewed the Azoo Mignon 60 filter here: AZOO Mignon Filter 60 Also, the Azoo filter fits perfectly at the back cutout and even with the extension, will easily clear the ground floor on this 3 gallon tank. 1) LIVE PLANTS: Now if you are going to just stick with the supplied LED light fixture then I can only recommend "set it and forget" plants that don't require (but it helps if you do) plant food and proper Kelvin rated light fixture. The following suggested plants should do well in low to medium light and this particular tank (they are thriving in mine with just the included LED lamp). As mentioned in my 1.5gallon review: Most people will be tempted to put in decorations, plants, etc into this tank and specific to Bettas, almost all of them will tear Betta fins or worse. This is this one I am using in this tank: "Hydor 7.5w Slim Heater for Bettas" and reviewed here: Hydor 7.5w Slim Heater for Bettas and Bowls up to 5 gal. 3) PROPER FILTER with proper inline filter products: As mentioned before, the Azoo Mignon 60 filter but that too needs a little work. B) Aqua clear sponge insert: Aquaclear 20-Gallon Foam Inserts, 3-PackThis higher quality sponge provides decent mechanical filtration i.e. traps all the big crap and junk from returning back into the tank and will provide some substrate for beneficial bacteria (not nearly as good as the Biomax though). If I have time, I will upload more recent photos of the 3 gallon setup with a mix of live and silk plants. I use it as an emergency hospital tank (hope I never need it for that purpose) but mostly just a place where Sushi is put when I'm doing the monthly thorough tear down clean of his main 3 gallon tank (remember this tank even with filter will require weekly water changes)."
Best Pushbutton Switches
This dual-Voltage, single-phase Paddle Switch is rated for 110-Volt, 2 Horsepower motors up to 35-Amp and 220-Volt, 3 Horsepower motors up to 20-Amp. Rated for 2 horsepower motors; 110-Volt; Up to 35-Amp.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It is not quite as high and wide as a standard 1-gang box, but so close that I would not count the stray space. A rough-count of wires entering the box gives an NEC requirement as high as 13 or 14 cubic inches just for wire-folding space. So the total box depth must be about 3.5 inches, the deepest box commonly made, and not always available in the home-stores."
"The switch fit nicely on the fence and it works as expected although some wiring changes on my older saw had to be done due to the original switch that came with the saw."
"You can mount the screws in some metal boxes through the two holes that are normally used to screw the box into the wall."
"Additionally, you'll need two 3/4" strain relief bushings, four high temperature ring terminals for the gauge of your wire (to attach wires to your switch), and four 8-32x1/2" machine screws (to attach the box to the mounting plate)."
"The magnetic switch on the shop fox cabinet saw broke, well that is a $100 replacement, no thank you... I mounted a single gang mud ring to the switch first."
"Switch works as described and appears to be well built and sturdy."
"I purchased from Amazon Prime for 15$, and took a chance on the Woodstock D4151 110/220-Volt Paddle Switch to use on a router table project."
"Feel much safer with a large paddel that I can hit with my leg, than a tiny switch on the lower front corner (as the saw was designed.)."
Best Portable Changing Pads
A security strap to keeps the changing pad attached to the changing table. Durable quilted vinyl is 100% waterproof material that can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I will be ordering another one for new babys room as well. UPDATE: The new one that came in is not the same model # and has slightly shorter contoured sides. Not sure if this is an update or a whoops but summer brand who I called has not heard of this pad with this model #, yes that is kind of scary how the company hasn't heard of a product that I received from their brand/their tags are on it."
"We didn't use it at first, but at one point our daughter figured out how to push herself off the wall with her feet and slide the whole changing pad away from the wall, so we had to quickly attach the strap to the dresser that we use as a changing table. But if your baby does have frequent accidents, then you'd need to use a separate waterproof liner on top of the pad, or just get another changing pad altogether. Some changing pads have a strap to buckle the baby down, some don't. But with the popularity of "changing tables" and other such high furniture, it's likely that a lot of people are placing these things high up, and, let's face it, probably not buckling their babies in. Until one day I stepped 3 feet to the side for two seconds, and my 7-month-old baby flipped himself out of the changing pad and fell head first towards the hard tile floor... I'd much rather have a broken face than a broken/dead baby, but if I'd used the buckle that the pad came with, I wouldn't have had to have either."
"After seeing the prices the big box stores wanted for a changing table pad, we ran to Amazon. We've found this pad works perfectly well and does seem to fit all standard covers. To answer some common questions: - The pad measures 31 1/2" long by 16" wide (see photos). - There is a set of straps to securely buckle your child in while on the table, and a third strap for securing (with a screw) the pad to the dresser or table."
"I love this changing pad."
"Right now our baby's room is too crowded so this goes either on the bed in his room (which doubles as a guest room) or on the couch."
"Fits snugly in space provided."
"Really love this changing pad!"
Best Learning & Education Toys
Early learning center has 5 piano keys that play music and encourage creativity; wheels work on carpeted and hard floors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I saw the issues about the wheels sliding on hard floors, being too light to support a child while standing up, going too fast and kids falling on their face... Wheels sliding on hard floors... False, there is a rubber seam on the rear wheels that prevents side to side motion. My 12 month old (recieved this for his birthday) uses the locked setting on the main floor where it's hard floor and the free spinning setting on the carpet."
"Let me also clear up any confusion on why my LO likes this walker - My LO likes this as a toy, loves the music and sounds. - There are two settings to control the speed of the walker (however, we have never used more than one which is the slowest - We have used this walker on hardwood floors - you might want to use the faster setting if using on carpet). - The musical unit will keep your LO entertained for hours! We have had a couple falls, not really bad ones, and while I understand that kids fall and hurt themselves, its not fun when your LO is attempting to stand with the walkers help and the walker slips and runs away. All in all, this was much better than the other walkers we tried. The other name brand walker we purchased was no where in comparison to this walker. Please note - pediatricians now recommend not using a walker, I feel if you are constantly watching over your LO this is probably the safest walker and the most fun walker out there - minus the differences in the older and the newer models."
"A few days later, still a little sad that I couldn't find anything else, a friend of mine posted a video of her kiddos (she has twins) playing with the same toy I wasn't buying!! If your baby is ready to start walking then this toy is absolutely wonderful but please know that if your baby cannot stand on their own, then they are not ready to be walking with this toy so just get it for them to press the buttons since it can be easily removed until they can stand and walk with it. That is what it is made for. I gave the educational value a four because while there are a million things on it that baby can learn from, they probably are not going to because they will be so busy wanting to push a million other buttons."
"Little tip: If you have hard wood floors they can get going kind of fast especially when they are first learning to control their walking."
Best Bean Bag Game Sets
Eight bean bags team with this colorful target to increase hand-eye coordination, number recognition and counting skills. Develops hand-eye coordination, number recognition, and counting skills.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The bags are small and easy for a toddler to hold plus they are not too heavy so he can actually get a nice toss out of it."
"This product is almost to flimsy for young children to use."
"We got it wet and it dried really fast, but don't get the bean bags wet."
"He had minimal interest in it, but his older cousins (4 through 7 years old) immediately took it outside to play with it."
"The kids played with it all day, and were excited to get their turn."
"Cute toy, but the beanbags are too light to get into the holes (even for an adult!)."
"if the holes were just a little bigger the bags would fit better, making the kids more successful at accomplishing the task and lower frustration. That said, it's adorable, and I like that it encourages movement, gross motor skills, hand eye coordination, ect."
"Had the holes been bigger, as well as the bean bags it would have been the perfect toy."
Best Kids' Bicycles
● Front caliper brake, rear coaster brake.18 inch - dual hand brake The combination of brakes gives many options for learning to stop. ●12 inch suitable for child, whose height 33"-41", age 2-4 yr old. ●14 inch suitable for child, whose height 36" - 47", age 3-5 yr old. This sporty bike for boys and girls comes with a bell, a water bottle, training wheels, and a quick release seatpost which makes it easy to adjust the height of the seat (with carrying handle on 12-14-16 inch).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This bike earned five stars from our household because it's a good-looking, thoughtfully designed option for small kids who want a big-kid ride. -- It comes in a hard-to-find 14" size, which is just right for many riders ages 4 and 5. He was riding a 16" bike with training wheels, and although he had developed the balance necessary to ride without trainers, he was afraid to ride without them as his feet couldn't touch the ground."
"I sat down and read every single review of this bike, and I would like to address what seemed to be the most popular complaints: * "Too heavy!" Then, thinking about the mess of returning this large object, I ran out to the shed to see how heavy her 12" bike was. * "Wheels don't spin freely" - This was also a big concern of mine, as I am a stickler about quality control at the factory level. One thing I noticed was that the front caliper brakes needed to be adjusted, as they were rubbing slightly against the tire, creating that "imbalanced" sound when spinning the wheel quickly. If the coaster brake is engaged in the slightest, you can hear it rubbing as the wheel turns, so take note. Which leads me to the next con to address... * "Wheels out of true" - This one was concerning because it was mentioned by a few reviewers who claimed to have experience in bike assembly, maintenance, and repair. Once I figured out tightening the spokes was counterclockwise, in about 10 minutes I had both wheels very close to true and they spun much easier! Since I was able to correct the issue, and I'm pretty sure that places like Wally World and Target don't "true" their bikes prior to purchase, I decided not to dock a star. However, after easily peeling off a few decals, and throwing out the ridiculous stickers that come with it, this bike only says "RoyalBaby" in two places...the seat and the center of the handlebars. Even the company logo on the front of the frame has a predominant crown where you can't even see the small print "RoyalBaby" unless you stick your face right up to the forks. However we have several bicycle water bottles in our home and they all fit snugly in the holder, which is made of metal and bolts to the frame. Besides, the rear axle sits in a groove which allows you to slide it backwards or forward to adjust the tension in the chain, which apparently, some of these reviewers failed to realize. With a little time taken to read the instructions and make some basic adjustments, this bike seems more than capable of providing our kids with years of good riding."
"We had a balance bike before and this is her first pedal bike."
"The only negative I have to mention, and it’s a small one is that the water bottle holder doesn’t fit too well between the seat, and rear tire."
"Looked like it was easy to assemble (I caught Santa putting it together Christmas Eve) and I love that it comes with all the extras that you would want on a bike like a water bottle, a bell, and the training wheels."
"he did mention it did not say Royal "Baby" and the bell that came with it did not work."
Best Robotics Kits
Component listing: 25pcs LED ( white,yellow,blue,red,green). 1pcs RGB LED. 10pcs Ceramic Capacitor(22pf & 104pf). 2pcs Photoresistor. 1pcs Thermistor. 5pcs Diode Rectifier (1N4007). 4pcs Electrolytic Capacitor (10UF 50V & 100UF 50V). 10pcs NPN Transistor (PN2222 & S8050 ). 1pcs Tilt Switch. 5pcs Button (small). 1pcs 1 digit 7-segment Display. 1pcs 4 digit 7-segment Display. 1pcs Sound Sensor Module. 1pcs LCD1602 Module ( with pin header). 1pcs IC L293D. 1pcs IC 74HC595. 1pcs Active Buzzer. 1pcs Passive Buzzer. 1pcs RTC Module. 1pcs DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Module. 2pcs Potentiometer. 1pcs Rotary Encoder Module. 1pcs Joystick Module. 1pcs Keypad Module. 1pcs 5V Relay. 1pcs IR Receiver Module. 1pcs MEGA2560 Controller Board. 1pcs Breadboard. 1pcs Servo Motor (SG90). 1pcs Stepper Motor. 1pcs ULN2003 Stepper Motor Driver Board. 1pcs Prototype Expansion. 1pcs Power Supply Module WARNING: Pls. Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"RFID, audio, keypad, motion sensor, motors, LED's, temperature, humidity, light, remote control, distance, and even seven segment displays - it's all there with enough resistors, capacitors, transistors, and diodes to ensure you have everything you need to finish every project."
"For example, I was unable to get the stepper motor to work from this kit with the example stepper motor code that comes with Arduino IDE. But that's because the example code is for a different stepper motor and there are many different kits out there with different types of stepper motors. I took me two hours to learn about stepper motors and was able to write my own code to control it. I'm lucky to have an engineering background with a little bit of C code experience so I could see someone taking much longer to figure out the stepper motor issue or giving up completely. UPDATE: I spent more time going through the sample code provided by Elegoo and the stepper motor code they provided works perfect."
"I was able to successfully complete almost all of the projects in the kit except for the (4 digit number display, IR remote to control the stepper motor and MPU-6050 module). The kit was really well put together and has a good flow from easy to more challenging projects and includes everything you need to do all of the projects in the kit. I would've liked to see more detail on the actual writing code to set up other projects using the same components in the kit-like turning on other components from a sensor(buzzer with the motion detector, motor with the joystick) but it does a good job explaining what the code is actually doing for the individual projects and is overall really well written."
"Great kit."
"Works great so far."
"I buyed from Chile (southamerica), it's fine, all parts ok, I probed a program and the microcontroller worked fine and without problem's, happy with this buy."
Best Electronic Learning & Education Toys
It's become an all too common sight to see kids with their faces glued to screens, disconnected and disengaged from the world around them. Osmo was conceived to open up the digital experience to unlimited possibilities of real world, dynamic play and learning. Nothing is better than watching kids smile as they gain confidence and develop powerful creative minds. Solve physics puzzles by drawing lines on paper or placing objects, like a pen or a toy dinosaur, in front of the screen. 5 magical hands-on games and the iPad Base foster creativity & problem solving skills. Genius Kit comes with the Osmo Base (stand & reflector), game playing pieces (including upper and lower case Word’s tiles) and stackable storage containers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Whenever my son goes into Osmo, it tries to sell him Osmo coding."
"As a teacher and mother of a young child, I love the idea of this product. You could argue that this is an advantage to learning both but it is confusing when you're spelling words with all uppercase. I feel like a $100 app should include different screens and games for adding. The app constantly asks us to move the pieces but it never corrects itself."
"She is a wiz on the iPad, so naturally we thought it would be a good option to expand her skills using the device she is familiar with. She is starting kindergarten which has focused us on working towards those simple reading and math skills. I will layout the pros and cons for this product, which ultimately, I highly recommend for all parents starting with a 5 year age group. Cons: - Only works with Apple Products (I hope the designers expand to other touchscreen devices. Since my daughter is 5 years old, we were working with the Easy and Medium applications, but this allows for her to grow with the program, which is a nice feature. She was able to work, free of our attention, for almost 30 minutes, exploring the different animal shapes and construction of the pieces."
Best Garlic Presses
Not only is each kitchen tool gorgeously designed, they also come in an elegant, fabric lined presentation case (check out the second image on the left). The Alpha Grillers Garlic Press & Peeler Set is backed by an unconditional 100% lifetime money back guarantee. Since the garlic press is made from solid, high quality stainless steel, and the peeler tube from tough FDA approved silicone, these cooking gadgets will last as long as you need them. Thanks to the heavy duty construction and ergonomic design, you can easily mince both unpeeled garlic cloves and peeled root ginger. The large, comfortable handles and ingenious design make squeezing a breeze, even for those with weaker grip or small hands.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Noting the life time guarantee, I purchased the Alpha Grillers Garlic Press and Peeler Set about a year and a half ago and have been using it just about daily ever since for both garlic and ginger. WHAT IS IN THE BOX: Beautifully presented in a lovely gift box, I received both the stainless steel garlic press plus a silicone tube garlic peeler. I started using the silicone peeler for my garlic and it revolutionized my garlic peeling process. This press works for ginger as well as garlic. WHAT I DON’T LIKE: I love this garlic press. I purchased the Alpha Grillers Garlic Press and Peeler Set at FULL PRICE."
"Strangely, after looking hard & wide in Costa Rica, then again in specialty and gourmet kitchen stores on my trips back to the U.S., I could not find a solid press that compared to the quality of the ones I used to have. After reading reviews, I finally decided to take a gamble by buying one on-line that I had not seen and held myself, from a maker with whom I was not familiar."
"This Garlic press is just great and I love the press is attached, easy to clean and washes up great."
"at best) and having most of them break I finally got the message - yeah, a little slow on the uptake."
"I have wanted a garlic press for the longest time since I cook often, and use minced garlic a lot in my meals (I prefer fresh, minced garlic to overpriced, old, and pre-minced garlic). ___FUNCTIONALITY___. The press itself is easy to use and doesn't leave behind any of the garlic in the press. You might get a few layers of skin still in the press, but in between each press, it doesn't take long to take out those pesky layers before inserting the next garlic bulb(s)."
"Well not with this product."