GADGETS by Gregg Ellman :: March 31, 2021
When you look at the specs Viofo A139 triple channel dash cam, it’s easy for non-tech heads to be intimidated and stay away from it. But don’t. Dash cameras are a technology gadget you think you don’t need until you do, which is often too late.
Not only for ride share’s and taxis for safety inside and out of the vehicle, but unfortunately the average person will get into accidents on daily drives, often not the cause of their own. What better for evidence than the actual video.
Yes, the Viofo A139 does a lot but the most important aspect is how easy it is to set up and instantly use. Once you see the high-quality image it produces and records (MP4 and JPG), it’s easy to see why this is almost a must-have.
The triple cameras include a front-facing, interior infrared, and one for the rear window, so everything is recorded without having to sacrifice a view. Along with the cameras, quick-release mounting equipment, easy installation cables, car charger adapter, and instructions are all included. So it does take a little time for installation, but it’s nothing to shy away from doing on your own.
Each camera has a Sony sensor, which records in full HD. You’ll really see the effect of the Sony sensors after recording night vision, which provides incredible detail. The front has a 140-degree wide-angle view, the inside and rear are 170-degrees. The front also has a nearly 300-degree rotation to get the best angle needed.
The recording resolutions at 30fps for the front is 2560-by-1440P, the interior and rear record at 1920-by-1080P. All three cameras can record simultaneously. Content is stored on a microSD memory card, class 10 up to 256GB.
The interior camera has a 6-element infrared LED lamp system, which translates to complete coverage of the interior for day or night.
Other features include parking mode, time-lapse, GPS with route data and vehicle speed, dual-band Wi-Fi built-in with 2.4GHz and 5GHzWiFi for transferring content, and audio recording. An external microphone can be added to capture audio in specific locations.
The feature I’m a fan of is the parking mode’s auto event detection. It’s not a guarantee you’ll get recordings of situations for example where a shopping cart hits your car, but it will automatically record a video clip when something is detected while the vehicle is parked.
The free Viofo companion app (App Store and Google Play) is user-friendly to help with the setup, live view, playing recordings, downloading, and even sharing some breathtaking video on social media.
www.viofo.com $269.99
Just in time for grilling season, Cave Tools has launched the Chicken and Turkey Roasting Rack to produce dinners cooked to perfection. After using it on a chicken, I’ll confirm it performed and produced as it’s promoted, with a smokier, crispier, and juicier result.
The patented self-basting and non-stick (dishwasher safe) stainless steel frame makes it simple for cooking on a grill or in an oven. It holds up to 20 pounds and holds the poultry at a unique 20-degree angle. The frame holds the poultry sitting with the legs facing down on the outside of the roasting rack, while keeping the wingtips tucked in the rack.
This allows drippings to pool above the breast, keeping it moist for the entire cooking process. Keeping the poultry off the grilling surface also speeds cooking time by an average of 20 minutes.
For grills and smokers, the provided instructions state to place poultry breast side down on the frame. On the grill, nothing needs to be added for browning or covering with foil. The final cooking temperature should reach but not exceed 165-degrees.
My invited and vaccinated guests all approved. A free download of the Barbecue Smoker Journal App is included.
https://cavetools.com $19.99
While cooking my chicken, I multi-tasked with Monoprice’s Monolith M-TWE true wireless earphones. With Qualcomm cVc echo cancelling and noise suppression technology.
A Monoprice press release correctly stated they are the internet’s best-kept secret for consumer electronics; I never heard of them. Until now.
With a decent sound and a reasonable price ($99.99,) they have all the features the average user will want. The Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds have noise canceling, built-in microphones for clear hands-free calls, and 10-hour battery life. The portable USB-C charging/storage case gives the earbuds another 20 hours of life. Each earbud snaps into the magnetic case, which will produce 1 hour of playback in just 5 minutes of charging.
Inside each ear is a 10mm neodymium dynamic driver and they are also workout-friendly with a water-resistant IPx4 rating for sweat protection. Touch controls were responsive to manage noise cancellation, volume, music selection, and answering phone calls. Five ear tips sizes are included.
With the SoundID from Sonarworks app, the Monolith M-TWE true wireless earphones can be tuned to a specific sound.
by Gregg Ellman
(@greggellman)
