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Showing posts from April, 2025

The leg rest on the Boulies Master Rex gaming chair almost had me convinced but that's not the reason to buy one

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Boulies Master Rex gaming chair: One-minute review The Boulies Master Rex is a relaxed gaming chair with an integrated leg rest and various adjustments for improved comfort and versatility. It’s a good-looking chair, and the Charcoal Grey finish on my review unit made it appear even smarter, although I found the black suede accents a little jarring and unnecessary. Overall, though, this is a relatively understated gaming chair that wouldn’t look out of place in any environment. I also had the water-repellent fabric finish which was very nice, feeling as good as the finishes on the best gaming chairs around. The rest of the chair is similarly premium, although the head pillow isn’t quite up to the same standards, with a cheaper-feeling material and lacking plushness – but it’s still sufficiently comfortable and supportive. The seat is quite soft for a gaming chair, providing plenty of cushioning, and is wide enough to comfortably accommodate various frames and sitting styles. The ...

SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades review: Smart blinds that harness the power of the sun

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SmartWings Motorized Smart Shades: one-minute review Setup of the SmartWings motorized shades definitely took some doing. The included screws were so soft that they were stripped right away. Still, we got them installed. Then, getting them up and running also took a bit of doing and required a call to customer service to get everything connected properly. Once all that was done, the blinds worked like a dream. They do everything you want smart blinds to do. You can connect them to just about any platform such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Google Assistant via Matter over Thread. Control them with your voice, tap to operate them on your phone, or set up automations. Open and close them all the way or just partially. You can also just use the included remote control. The blinds are battery-operated, and can be recharged via a wall outlet or with a small solar panel that attaches to your window. I installed the blinds over a month ago, and I haven’t had to re...

Is Plesk a good alternative to cPanel? I tried it to see what it's good at.

Operating system support: Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, CloudLinux, Virtuozzo Linux, Windows. Portability to different platforms Plesk has been around for a long time and is supported by many hosts. You also have the option to migrate to cPanel should you decide that Plesk isn’t for you. Plesk also supports a wide array of Linux and Windows operating systems, so you have a lot of options for installing it on various server setups. Plesk has a straightforward and fair pricing model - you pay for how many websites you use. This makes it great for average web hosters who need the flexibility of Plesk and don’t plan on hosting tons of websites. It is also a good choice for web agencies who plan on hosting websites on behalf of their clients and want predictable pricing. If you plan on hosting lots of websites all for your own use, then cPanel or sPanel offer cheaper plans. Ease of use Plesk has the most cohesive user interface of all the admin panels, combining the...

This cutting-edge wet-and-dry vacuum is so good, I'd even forgive it for damaging my wooden floors

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View or buy at Dreame UK / Amazon / Very Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: two-minute review Officially unveiled at CES 2025, the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum boldly promises “a completely clean, untangled and spotless home with zero effort". While the claim might seem audacious, on test I found it almost completely held true. This is one of the very best wet and dry vacuums on the market. The Dreame H15 Pro boasts several notable upgrades over its predecessor, the H14 Pro. Suction power has increased to 21,000 Pa (up from 18,000 Pa), the battery life is 20 minutes longer (an impressive 60mins) and the roller drying heat has been dialed up from 60C to 90C, which is great for swerving mold and nasty odors. While it no longer includes the H14 Pro's LED-illuminated brush head or automatic detergent dispenser, these omissions are hardly deal-breakers. Not least because the H15 Pro has one unique feature that no other cordless wet and dry vaccum is currently ...

After 3 weeks with Samsung's Galaxy A56, I'm closer than ever to ditching my iPhone for Android

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Samsung Galaxy A56 review: Two-minute review Mid-range and budget smartphones are growing in popularity as flagship devices increasingly come with heftier price tags. That doesn’t mean the best cheap phones are slower, less durable versions of their high-end counterparts – in fact, they offer unique value to budget-conscious buyers. In this category, the Samsung Galaxy A5X series is perhaps the best example, and the A56 carries on the tradition. Having launched alongside the A36 and A26, the Galaxy A56 is the most premium of the trio, boasting more RAM and better cameras. That doesn’t mean it’s expensive – far from it as it’s priced at just $499 / £499 / AU$699. The three siblings, however, share key features, like a 120Hz refresh rate, a 5,000mAh battery and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating . The Samsung Galaxy A56 is the ideal smartphone for the average user, offering seriously fantastic showings across its cameras, display, design and battery. The Galaxy A56 exudes cl...