Or you could put the alarm on vibrate and put the phone under the pillow. Send me $10.00 for the suggestion and consider it a 50% saving on the $20.00 price of the disc
Printable View
Or you could put the alarm on vibrate and put the phone under the pillow. Send me $10.00 for the suggestion and consider it a 50% saving on the $20.00 price of the disc
Doc, I don't trust putting my phone under my pillow. Don't want to crush the screen with my massive noggin.
Seriously, I did that a few times, and once found I had knocked it between the metal rail bed. I'd rather spend $20 than put a $700 phone in harm's way, but I fidget when I sleep, move around too much.
The other obvious thing for me is that my phone charges every night. I wouldn't want wires under my pillow either.
@ Darryl - a few fitness trackers have had this functionality for a while. You set an alarm and they will even monitor your sleep cycle waking you up at the appropriate stage of sleep near your alarm time. This allows you to feel the most rested when you wake up. Others, like the FitBit Charge, will just vibrate the FitBit on your wrist to wake you up but don't do the sleep cycle tracking.
I'm familiar with those. But I like this a lot better, especially since I do not like the fitness trackers you wear on your wrist. Think of it as replacing an alarm clock, rather than replacing a fitness trainer or sleep monitor, and you'll have a better picture of how I see this $20 item. Also love that you don't have to charge it for a month. (It's about 50% of the reason I have the Fitbit Zip, where the battery last 3-6 months--mine closer to 3-4).
Quote:
Originally Posted by PedroDaGr8
I may have posted about this before, but I've just tried it. It's the Xiaomi Mi Band (pronounced Show-me-Me).
I bought it on a lark for $13. I do not like wearing things on my wrist, but figured for $13 I could throw it away, give it away, etc. if I didn't like it.
It came with no instructions. None. Well, last night, I decided to google/youtube it, and found a youtube that unboxed it, showed how to use it, etc. Very easy, but if you didn't know to download a free app, there's absolutely no way you'd know what to do with it.
Anyway, initial impressions.
* Looks fine. It's rubber with an aluminum color insert. I don't know if it's aluminum or what. It's the "brains" of the wristband; the part that gets charged up.
* About the charging -- it's an incredible 30-day battery. I detest having to recharge things. It's a large part of the reason why I like Fitbit Zip over all the other fitbits; I put a battery in it, and forget it for 3-6 months (in my usage, more like 3-1/2 to 4 months). But charging once a month? I can probably live with that. And all the reviews I read on it said it is legitimate.
* Using it -- I used the alarm feature (vibrates on the wrist 5 times at the appointed time), the sleep tracking feature (said I slept 5:54 last night, which is about right), and step counting. I did a "test" for step counting where I walked 300 steps, and counted them, and it was dead on. Doesn't mean it will always be--and I wonder if it will artificially add steps when I'm typing on my computer, etc.--but for a quick first test, it passed.
* Size -- this is shocking. I have small wrists, and I have it on the largest setting possible, and it is the very last hole. As in, anyone with a medium-sized wrist couldn't wear it. Now, maybe I ordered a "small" or something; I dunno. But this thing barely fits me; it wouldn't fit anybody with a bigger wrist. Crazy.
* Comfort -- it's fine, as far as these things go. I don't like wearing things on my wrist, so I'm not a fan, but that's not this device's fault.
* Ratings/etc. Waiting on engadget to rate it, but "user ratings" are mostly extremely high, with minority very low ratings. At engadget, average user rating is 8.1. That compares favorably to the Fitbit ChargeHR (8.3) and Fitbit Charge (7.0).
http://www.engadget.com/compare/fitn...8+84474+79154/
Cnet editors rate it 3.5 stars, and 7.6 overall.
http://www.cnet.com/products/xiaomi-mi-band/
Ridiculously cheap, and simple, and effective, according to the reviews. Also water resistant, although the Cnet editors warn that the rubber strap can be uncomfortable when wet.
Be careful of reviews -- here's one that has it 4.9/5.0, with 656 customer reviews. That just seems too out of whack to me. Most of the ones I see have it around 8/10, give or take. I think that's fair, but if you consider price, it makes it a 10/10 to me.
http://www.gearbest.com/smart-watches/pp_126026.html
Warning -- I'm not sure where I bought it; I think it was a slick deal around the first of the year/end of last year, and I'm just getting around to using it. There is a fake mi band being sold on Amazon that is not the real thing; just beware, read reviews, etc. if interested. For less than $15, I recommend it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
That's OK, you can still send me the $20.00
I'll think about it ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc
FWIW, I'm wearing the Mi band and my fitbit zip. They are within 9 steps of each other for the entire day. I'll take that and call it good for either one.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Just a follow up. The Mi band works well, but occasionally gets way off on steps depending on activity. Still useful. However, I misplaced my charger. Ordered another one, will take a month to get in from China.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
My wishlist - docking station for my surface pro (ordered last year but did not receive) .
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Still using when I exercise, and believe it or not, I used it the last couple of days in oppressive heat watching soccer games to keep sweat out of my eyes. Worked crazy well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
I'm still using the one I bought for exercise back in March.
I like mine just fine with a couple of exceptions. The first being that the sweat gutter is designed to channel the sweat from your forehead and direct it towards the sides and back of your head which for me is to my ears. Sweat in my ears is obviously uncomfortable but also poses a problem with my ear buds.
The other thing is since it is designed to direct the sweat to the back of your head, which it does if you're looking forward with your head up. The bad news if your neck is bent and you're looking down the sweat is directed back to the front and back into your eyes and face, but only if your sweaty task has you looking down.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, it doesn't absorb, just channels. It hits me on the temples, which is glorious as it is cooling. I have had it hit my ear before, so I know what you are talking about, and if it did that regularly, I wouldn't be a fan.
I kicked myself for not wearing it at Disney when the sweat washed the sunscreen into my eyes and burned about 30 minutes. My daughter would've killed me, but I think it would have been worth it.
She's not used to her parents acting like nerds yet? You've been taking it too easy on her. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
I never updated this, but because I'm an idiot, I did not realize when it came in (with the rush of things I bought business-wise at the end of the year--two Surface Pro's, two monitors, docking station, etc. ad nauseam), I just put it up. Found it after a year of it being put up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
I have something to add....an LCD Screen Sun Shield for DSLR cameras and camcorders.
One of the things that I miss from my old Sony camcorder was an eye viewfinder for recording. My "new" Canon Vixia HF R700 is like most others in its price range, with a flip out LCD screen only for viewing, not only for playback, but also for recording. Recording so many hours of video during bright sunlight shows you just what a poor idea that is. I got to the point where I just pointed it generally at the field, and moved the tripod back and forth, guessing where it was recording.
This sun shield produces shade for the screen where you can see the screen again. Remarkable. I'd say it gets back 80% of your viewing, which is fine for seeing where you are recording. It is leather, and adjustable, and about $13, it is inexpensive. Really works great.
https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Camera.../dp/B004ECZJDS
Attachment 5814
Something I got this year that's really upped my grilling game--an instant read thermometer. The best is generally regarded to be the Thermapen, but at $80.00 it can be a little pricey. I got this one on Amazon for $25 and it's very good--takes, say, 3-4 seconds to register vs. the 1-2 for the Thermapen, but otherwise is the same.
I've always done OK with beef but struggled with chicken and salmon--tended to overcook. This little ditty helps me hit the mark and the end product is consistently better.
Thanks for that recommendation, BEvans. I have an "instant" thermometer that probably takes 40 seconds to get up to speed. Heck, I can burn things in 40 seconds while waiting on it to reach the correct temperature. I don't know how long it really takes, but it's a long time. 3-4 seconds would be a Godsend.Quote:
Originally Posted by KSRBEvans
Yes, I overcook things too--even beef in my case. I have become a little better at that, but anything else? I could really use that thermometer.
Meh.com (or was it woot.com) just recently had a bluetooth grill thermometer (the type with a long lead that you leave in while cooking) for only $20. Very useful when grilling as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
I got one that's wireless, has a receiver and a base station, don't get to use it often but when I do it's great. Having it as a phone app would be all the cooler.Quote:
Originally Posted by PedroDaGr8
I have one of those, too, and find it useful when cooking something for a long period of time, like a pork butt. But for quick-grill items (10 minutes or less), I think an instant-read works better. YMMV.Quote:
Originally Posted by PedroDaGr8
I use mine on prime rib. Boy I love making a prime rib, just don't get to do it very often.
I know this is random, but as I hung up my hat and my sweat gutr to dry (I rinse them after using them to get the sweat/salt crystals off), I thought about this thread.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
Since the initial purchase, I have bought two more for myself. Two of them stay in my house with two different "dry-fit type" hats, and one of them stays in my car with my dry-fit UK hat, in case I am caught out exercising and forgot, or otherwise need the sweat protection.
Two of them have become somewhat discolored--all three were the clear, or whatever they call it, and it has that "aged" look, or the look of having been out in the sun. So do I, so I guess that's ok. But other than that, they continue to work masterfully. Today I "ran" (old man slow jog) 3.63 miles in 97 degree heat. My hat, as usual, was completely soaked in sweat, as was my shirt and shorts. But not one drop of sweat hit my eyes. And remember, I am follicly-challenged, and sweating is maybe the thing I do best. In fact, today after my run, I continued to sweat (I sit on a towel at home for about 15 minutes after I drive home), and then usually take a shower and hope that after the shower I have stopped sweating. Today my wife and I needed to pick up my daughter's car from the mechanic after my run, so I sat and sweated for about 15 minutes, and then just dashed in the shower long enough to knock the sweat off, but not really take a shower. I was still sweating when I got into my car to leave.
Sunday I ran and wore my glasses rather than contact lens. Not one drop there, either.
It may not work for all people, due to differing sizes of foreheads or whatever, and I don't think it is as effective for bicycling or something where your head is down. But for me, it's as close to the perfect product as they make.
USUALLY the sweat drips down my temples, which is cooling and pleasant to me in 90+ degree weather. On rare occasion (but not so rare as to be surprising) I'll get a drip into my ears. I think it has to do with where I wear my earphones, which wrap around my head into my ears, but I don't know exactly why. Or maybe from the sunglasses. In any event, it's annoying when that happens, but my earphones are waterproof, and guaranteed sweat-resistant for the life of the device, and it has never stopped working.
Anyway, thought I would raise this necro-thread from the dead to mention the Sweat Gutr again.
A+++++ product. One of my favorite micro-purchases ever.
Just going back and reminiscing about all times looking at this thread and laughing about some of the items.
For what it's worth, I still use the sweat gutr and did so today, and use it 3-5 times a week.
Fitness devices have given way to true Garmin devices. Cannot love my Venu 3 any more than I do, but I the cost is a bit more than the Xiomi fitness band I once championed.
Never got the banana slicer. Scared me although I still think I need it
I still use the sweat gutter I got under your advisement way back when…and I’m still a a Fitbit guy, sporting a Charge 5.Quote:
Originally Posted by Darrell KSR
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You and my wife have the same fitness band. (Maybe the 6? Same one though).Quote:
Originally Posted by blueboss
She loves it.