Gadgets :: January 9, 2019
by Gregg Ellman
(@greggellman)
There are times when I spend just minutes with a new product and other times it captivates my attention for hours. The latter was the case with Monster Illuminessence color-changing LED mood lighting system.
The mood lighting kits are ready to use out of the box and will instantly get any room ready for a party, holiday dinner or anytime you want to feature a lighting atmosphere with different moods.
When I say I spent hours, this was not a case of the setup being difficult. In fact it’s incredibly easy to get set up in minutes. Everything is controlled by a handheld radio frequency remote control. This means there’s no software, app or any download needed.
What took me so long is deciding which setup I liked and worked best.
The system is sold in parts, with light strips, bulbs and longer power extension cables, enabling it to work in rooms of any size. The bigger the room, the more you get.
The two-led light mood kit ($19.88) has a pair of multicolor/white LED dimmable bulbs. These screw into any standard light fixture and the setup is done. With the RF remote control (powered by two AAA batteries, not included) you can instantly turn the lights on or off, change the color of the light, control dimming, set up programs or use one of the preset programs. The programs include beach, Christmas and Halloween themes. Whatever you choose, the response is instant and kind of fun. Or just set it to “White” for everyday white light.
The USB-powered LED strip mood light kit ($28.88) has an extra bright multicolor/white dimmable 150-LED 16.4-foot strip and the RF remote. This is great for lining a wall behind a sofa or even the rim under furniture.
If you really want to go all out, according to Monster, you can pair up to four Illuminessence remotes with up to 30 different LED bulbs or strips in each group for the right light throughout your home.
Small space ($14.88) LED mood light kits have a RF remote, a single bulb and a 6.5-foot 60-LED strop. A large space ($28.88) kit has the remote with 2 bulbs and 2 strips.
I have the Crayon but not the 6th generation 9.7-inch iPad. So I borrowed my friend’s to test Logitech’s digital pencil.
While the name is Crayon, the looks of it at quick glance resemble a metal pen without an ink tip.
It really takes the tablet to a new level with how well and precise you can write notes and work in apps supported by Apple Pencil. This includes drawing, note taking and working with simple PDF’s and Adobe Lightroom and CC.
An internal battery is charged with a lighting cable and will last for up to 75 hours. When it’s inactive for 30 minutes it automatically shuts off.
A feature I loved had nothing to do with its performance, rather its appearance. The 6.5-inch long crayon is not rounded, which is really important to prevent it from rolling off your desk when not in use. Instead, the flat sided feature keep it in place.
Replacement tips and tip covers are available for purchase.
Whatever your choice, the Crayon is sure to work perfectly without any delay or lag time. To adjust how thin or thick you want the Crayon to draw is simple to control, just tilt it while in use and the tip will adjust to thick or thin.
There’s no software or setup for the Crayon, just turn it on and a connection is made.
www.logitech.com $69.99
