#| This drawing is low quality because it’s about the size of the top section of one of my pinkie fingers

[shittykankridaily]

How are you?

I’m d9ing decent.

[jacewilliams1]

From jars to jets: the forgotten story of the Jetwing

It’s that time of year. Crisp autumn weather means it’s harvest time. Backyard gardens enjoyed a good growing season hear in the Midwest, leaving us with an abundance of produce. What hasn’t been used already is being saved by drying, freezing or canning. There’s even a shortage of canning supplies at the local hardware store.

That got me thinking about glass jars and outer space. Stay with me and I’ll explain.

A few years ago, I visited the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, Colorado. Our daughter and her family live in Denver, so it’s a regular stop for us when traveling. The museum is housed in one of the historic hangars that were once part of the former Lowry Air Force Base. Much like the Glenview NAS, the area has now been redeveloped with housing, restaurants, and other businesses replacing the runways. Today, a B-52 bomber sits outside the hangar’s main entrance.

What is that logo doing on a jet?

While exploring the museum, a familiar logo caught my eye, but it was in an unaccustomed place: the nose of an experimental jet airplane. It was the Ball logo that I had seen on canning jars over the years.

So, how does a company go from glass jars to jets?

Curiosity lead me to doing some research. I learned that the company founded by five Ball brothers in Buffalo, New York, in the 1880s had a fascinating history. Family owned for 90 years, the four main components of their core product, canning jars and lids, were glass, zinc, rubber, and paper. This lead to expansion. The brothers purchasing a zinc rolling mill to manufacture lids and then a paper mill to fabricate the necessary packaging. In time, they also acquired tin, steel, and plastic companies.

During World War II, the company shifted their manufacturing facilities to producing shells and machine parts for the military. Near the end of the 1940s, Ball’s businesses became the focus of an antitrust case that ultimately hindered their ability to acquire other glass manufacturers and glass-making machinery, leading to the company’s first ever net operating loss. It became clear that the company needed to diversify in order to grow.

In 1956, the company formed the Ball Brothers Research Corporation in Boulder, Colorado, to build pointing controls for sounding rockets that carried scientific apparatus aloft in sub-orbital flights. The company eventually built seven of NASA’s early earth-orbiting satellites, making them a member of the aerospace industry.

Around the same time, the company was joined by a talented engineer, biplane enthusiast, and skilled aerobatic pilot by the name of Otto “Pete” Bartoe. In 1973, Bartoe (by then President of Ball Research) convinced the corporation to enter into a joint venture with his alma mater, the University of Colorado, to build what became known as the Ball-Bartoe Jetwing, an oddly shaped, single-engine, single-place aircraft with a stubby wingspan of only 21’9”. Bartoe designed it as a “low-key, low-cost” research vehicle that utilized unique design concepts along with conventional aircraft parts that included a Cessna tailwheel, Bonanza wingtips, and a Citation air intake. The idea was to entice military and commercial contracts with its unique technology.

The Jetwing was a jet powered taildragger with a “blown wing” that diverted the exhaust through wing root nozzles over the top sections of the wing’s leading edge to improve short field takeoff and landing capabilities. Its single Pratt & Whitney engine produced 2,050 pounds of continuous thrust. Tests proved that the “upper blowing surface” technology produced twice the lift of a conventional wing of the same shape and size. A secondary “augmentor” wing mounted just inches above the main wing added a low-pressure slot to guide the exhaust across the wing and draw in additional air to increase lift. Large flaps on the trailing edge effectively created a “bend” in the airstream above the flaps, providing a simple use of downward thrust that enabled the Jetwing to fly as slow as 40 mph. Notably, the aircraft lacked a tailpipe.

It looks odd, but it did fly.

The first flight took place in 1977 at the Mojave Airport, with test pilot Herman “Fish” Salmon at the controls. At low speed, the aircraft flew so slowly that Bartoe used his Super Cub as a chase plane.

Following a number test flights, Bartoe himself flew the Jetwing back to Boulder for more testing. The belly tank only held 106 gallons, which required eleven fuel stops to be made enroute. Because of a scarcity of jet fuel along the way, a mechanic chased the flight in a pickup with a container of Jet A in the back.

In Bartoe’s words, “As long as the engine was running, you couldn’t stall it. Landings were interesting: The jet blast came off the deployed flap, bounced off the ground, and forced the tail up. If you reduced power, the tail would come down suddenly, just as the wing was losing lift. But everything happened at such a slow forward speed that it was manageable.”

In 1978, after being unable to attract outside investment, the Jetwing was donated to the University of Tennessee Space Institute. However, interest in the aircraft increased in 1980 when the Navy considered developing it for use on short aircraft carriers. A new series of test flights were carried out. Despite its top speed of 350 mph, the Navy was able to land the Jetwing in a mere 300 feet.

Ultimately, the Navy discontinued blown-wing research in favor of vectored thrust technology. The Jetwing was returned to its original home in Colorado, where it took its place in history among other aircraft at the Wings Over the Rockies museum.

Continued success at Ball led to its expansion into avionics and aerospace systems. In the early 1990s the Ball Corporation spun off its home canning business. An independent company now retains the license to use the Ball trademark on its own canning product line. Now headquartered in Westminister, Colorado, the Ball Corporation no longer makes glass but is a leading manufacturer of plastic and metal food and beverage containers.

Meanwhile, in 1995, Ball Brothers Research Corporation became Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ball Corporation. Today, Ball Aerospace continues to develop innovative equipment and services to the aerospace industry.

Long-time EAA member Otto E. “Pete” Bartoe was inducted into the Colorado Aviation Historical Society Hall of Fame on October 30, 2004. He lives along the front range mountains of northern Colorado.

Epilogue: The Skyote biplane

Bartoe designed an aerobatic airplane (foreground) in addition to the Jetwing.

As an aerobatic pilot, Pete Bartoe dreamed of the ideal biplane. Something with the responsiveness and strength of a Bucker Jungmeister and the low-speed characteristics and fuel economy of a Rose Parrakeet. In the early 1970s, Pete designed and built his dream and named it the Skyote (rhymes with “coyote”). Its first flight was in 1976. Stressed to +9G and -6G, it can fly as slow as 38 kts and fast as 137 kts, with a 1,500 fpm rate of climb and a gross weight of 900 lbs.

In 1976, none other than Bob Hoover took it for a test flight and reviewed it for Sport Aviation. He offered this assessment: “I can only say that it was a rare experience to fly an airplane that exhibited such delightful flying qualities, along with an immense amount of creature comfort. The slow flight feature also provides short field performance that makes any little grass strip quite suitable. The Skyote gets off as quickly as a Super Cub—maybe quicker!”

Pete Bartoe’s personal Skyote is on display next to the Jetwing at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Plans and components for Skyotes are available from Aircraft Spruce, and an active Skyote type club is based in Grayslake, Illinois. At 2016’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, a Skyote built by John Roberts won the Homebuilt Plans Champion Award. Further information and photos can be found at Skyote.org.

The post From jars to jets: the forgotten story of the Jetwing appeared first on Air Facts Journal.

from Engineering Blog https://airfactsjournal.com/2021/02/from-jars-to-jets-the-forgotten-story-of-the-jetwing/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=from-jars-to-jets-the-forgotten-story-of-the-jetwing

[pixiepadlock]

How to fix an old wig?

Reading time: 4 min

Hello llamas! We are talking about how to fix an old wig. We will be using one that I borrowed and bringing it back to life. 

You will need:

- An old sad wig like this one that just needed a little love♥

- A mild shampoo with no sulfates/silicone

- Fabric softener

- Wide tooth comb

- Hair clips

- Scissors

- A lot of patience, because this will take some time if you want to do it right

Let’s start!

First step: Evaluate

Figure out what you are working with. Is this wig cheap? What is it made from? Is it dense? Most synthetic wigs are made from kanekalon and can withstand temperatures up to 70°C (158°F).

Important: When buying a wig - quality, density and length have a price. So if you can, invest into it because low quality wigs will have more tangles, fallout and will be harder to style.

This wig had a lot of tangles and it’s been stored with a hair tie around it so it lost it’s shape. It was in a box and we can also see it has some sort of residue on top once we comb it.

Step two: Combing

This will take the most amount of time, but it’s one of the more important steps. Hair brushes that are made for humans are designed to pull out loose hair that fell out during the day - so it’s best to use a wide tooth comb on your wigs so they won’t shed as much.

I use this one, that I bought for 2$.

• How to comb a wig?

If you DO have a styrofoam head - Place the wig on it and secure it with pins around the face frame and behind on the neck to keep it in place. You can also add a couple on the crown (center of the head). 

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - You can use any round object to place the wig on, ask your friend or relative to wear it while you comb, but you can also just use your knee as well.

- Section out the hair into smaller sections and work piece by piece.Separate into 3 big layers and then make those into smaller sections as well. This way you can thoroughly comb it and it will be easier to manage.

* This is a very professional drawing in paint because my PC died.

- Work from the bottom of the hair to the top slowly. Be gentle! This way you won’t stretch the hair out and your wig will hold the shape longer.

If you hit a big tangle, you can use scissors to cut a strand or two to detangle it easier, but try to save as much hair as you can so finger detangle. 

Step three: Washing and “conditioning”

* All the shampoos on the picture above are silicone and sulfate free

Q: How often should I wash a wig?

A: Usually, you can get around 20 wears until you have to wash a wig. But wash your wig caps more often because they are in direct contact with your scalp.

I use a shampoo with no silicons (like Dimethicone) or harsh detergents, like sodium laureth sulfate.

Most shampoos that are made for humans have some sort of harsh sulfate and/or silicons in them. Dimethicone can’t dissolve in water and will build up on the wig fibers over time, making it more difficult to style and weighing it down.

• Fill a washbowl with lukewarm water just to cover the wig and a dime size amount of shampoo. Put the wig in slowly, not disrupting the shape (so you don’t make new tangles) and then gently rub in the water and the shampoo into the wig cap and the hair. Rinse out, fill the washbowl with new water and shampoo  it again. Then rinse!

Once you washed it, fill the same washbowl with half water and half fabric softner and leave it for a few hours to soak. Some people soak it for 4 hours and some over night. You will see what works best for your specific wig. After the soaking, make sure to rinse it well because it can cause acne and dandruff.

Step four: Drying

This part depends on whether you have a styrofoam head or not. 

If you DO have a styrofoam head - place the wig on it, secure it with pins, rinse it again with warm water (be aware of how much heat the wig can take,if you want it straight) so you get the original shape once it’s placed and then wait for it to air dry. Make sure that it’s not touching any surface so the ends don’t dry weird. Place a towel underneath and change it once wet. 

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - place a towel on a flat surface and place the wig sideways on it, making sure that it’s placed straight and not curling weird. Change the towel once it gets wet and then switch sides after a few hours to dry the other side.

Step five: Cutting & Styling

Once the wig is dry, comb it again, then cut all the “dead ends" that couldn’t get soft with the fabric softener. They are most likely too damaged and will get stuck in your costume or props more easily, causing more tangles and disrupting the wig.

Now you will do all the gluing, shaping etc. That depends on what you need the wig for so I will skip on that part for now.This wasn’t my wig, so I didn’t want to cut it any more than needed.

Step six: Storage

For storage, if the wig is specially styled and you need to use it soon, place it on the styrofoam head until you need it.

If you DONT have a styrofoam head - If the wig doesn’t need special styling, I put it in  a zip-lock bag and keep them in order. You can see how I organise and label them > here <

If you have any tips for wigs or if I left something out leave it in the comments. And follow me on Instagram  now so you can vote on the upcoming posts! ♥

 Menu | Join the llama pack here

[tech-battery]

ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 Review: Green With Envy

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is a powerful business prosumer laptop that, for about $2,100, also gives you 4K and the legendary ThinkPad keyboard. But what initially looks like a low markup on this computer starts to become a bit steeper when stacked up against other 10th Gen Intel-based competition, especially the HP Envy 15.

This ThinkPad’s still cheaper than certain other premium contenders like the Surface Book 3, but does it have similarly unique features to justify that price?

Design of the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 maintains the ThinkPad style with an all-business look that nonetheless is thin and sleek enough to be appropriate for the home or on the go. A carbon fiber weave pattern (optional on 4K models) adorns the lid, while one of the corners plays home to an oversized glossy black and red ThinkPad X1 logo. In a nice touch, the red dot on the ThinkPad logo’s “i” also fades in and out when the laptop is in sleep mode.

The inside of the laptop keeps the same general motif, with a ThinkPad logo in the bottom-right corner and an otherwise no-nonsense look. The red TrackPoint that the brand associates itself with is of course at the keyboard’s center, but otherwise the most distinguishing design feature here is the hinge, which can bend far enough so that the screen is parallel to the keyboard.

The port selection here is also generous, keeping in line with the laptop’s utility-forward aesthetic. The left side is where you’ll find the charging port, as well as two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI 2.0 connection and a 3.5 mm combination headphone/microphone jack. The right side is where you’ll want to put your older accessories since it has the laptop’s 2 USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 connections. It also has a full-size SD card reader and a Kensington lock slot.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is able to accommodate so many ports, partially because of its size. At 14.3 x 9.6 x 0.7 inches, it’s wider than most similarly sized laptops and not exactly thin. It does keep pace with other business prosumer laptops like the HP Envy 15, which is 14.1 x 9.3 x 0.7 inches large, but still finds itself beat by entries like the 13.6 x 9.1 x 0.7 inch Dell XPS 15 9500. Still, there are thicker laptops that have hit this category recently, like the 13.5 x 9.9 x 0.9 inch Microsoft Surface Book 3, though that does detach into a separate tablet.

Where this iteration of the ThinkPad X1 does excel is weight. At 4 pounds, it’s easily lighter than the 4.2-pound Surface Book 3, the 4.5-pound XPS 15 and the 4.7-pound Envy 15.

Productivity Performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 has a Core i7-10850H Comet Lake processor as opposed to a more recent (and mobile-focused) Tiger Lake CPU. That’s understandable, since Tiger Lake doesn’t have an H series processor yet. But Comet Lake has been out long enough that competitors have had plenty of time to put out similarly powerful machines, so this ThinkPad is entering into a busy space.

Take the XPS 15 9500, which had an Intel Core i7-10750H when we reviewed it and options up to an i7-10875H. This laptop came out back in May, but is still plenty relevant. That’s also the case for the Microsoft Surface Book 3, which has plenty of convertibility options and uses an Intel Core i7-1065G7. The HP Envy 15, meanwhile, came out in August and has an Intel Core i7-10750H, but is much less expensive than the ThinkPad.

So how does the ThinkPad fit into the already well-developed 10th gen space? In our Geekbench benchmark, which tests general laptop performance, it scored 6,116 points, which is much higher than the Surface Book 3’s 3,831 points and just below the XPS 15 9500’s 6,174 points. It’s also still within spitting distance of the winner for this test; the Envy 15 scored 6,421 points.

The ThinkPad’s true performance starts to shine when you look at its file transfer and video editing speeds. The ThinkPad transferred 4.97 GB of files at a rate 1,615.7 MBps during our testing, which was almost double the speed of its nearest competitor. The closest is the Surface Book 3, which hit transfer speeds of 848.2 MBps, while the XPS 15 was stuck with a rate of 727 MBps and the Envy 15 with a rate of 650.6 MBps.

In video transcoding, the ThinkPad was also the fastest. It took 9:19 to transcode a 4K video to FHD using Handbrake, while the XPS 15 took 10:06 and the Envy 15 took 13:35. The Surface Book 3 lagged well behind, with a speed of 21:31.

We also put the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 through our typical Cinebench R20 stress test, which involves running the program on a loop 20 times. Here, the testing started out promising with an initial score of 1,630.5 before falling into more reasonable scores that were around the low 1,500s for the rest of the runs. This isn’t unusual, and the testing ended with an average score of 1,521.8. During these tests, the average CPU clock speed was 2.2 Ghz and the average CPU temperature was 62.3 degrees Celsius (144.1 degrees Fahrenheit).

Graphics Performance on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 also packs an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q, which is enough power to let it moonlight in gaming if not dedicate itself to play. It’s also about on par with what we see from most of its competitors, with the XPS 15 sharing its GPU and the Surface Book 3 making a slight upgrade to a 1660 Ti Max-Q. The Envy 15’s RTX 2060 Max-Q does give it a slight edge, however.

At 1920 x 1080 on high settings, the ThinkPad outperformed all competitors in the Civilization VI benchmark with a score of 82 fps. The closest rival was the Envy 15 with 70 fps, followed by the Surface Book 3 with 63 fps and the XPS 15 with 48 fps. This might be due to the ThinkPad’s slightly more powerful CPU compared to its competitors.

The more graphically intensive Shadow of the Tomb Raider showed closer results in its benchmark at 1920 x 1080 and high settings, with the Envy 15 and Surface Book 3 still taking top scores but with a narrower margin. These laptops hit 49 fps and 42 fps respectively, while the ThinkPad came behind with 32 fps and the XPS 15 was once again arguably unplayable thanks to its 29 fps score.

I also personally played Overwatch on the ThinkPad for about a half-hour. Even on 4K and with the game’s highest “Epic” settings, my framerate maintained a solid 75 - 80 fps. The keyboard did become warm about halfway into the session, but not uncomfortably so.

Display on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 has a 15.6 inch 4K multi-touch IPS display that’s plenty colorful but can run dimmer than competitors and can also suffer from poor viewing angles due to how glossy it is.

I tested the screen by watching the open source 4K film Tears of Steel on it, where I found that the image tended to become hard to follow at viewing angles beyond about 75 degrees. This was less because of the screen washing out and more due to the display’s reflective surface distracting me from the action. When viewing the picture straight-on, colors were vivid but blacks lacked depth, maybe because the screen didn’t become bright enough to help make the picture pop.

Our testing showed that the ThinkPad does indeed have a slightly darker screen than competitors, coming in with an average brightness of 338 nits. That’s plenty bright for most users, but falls short compared to other 4K prosumer laptops like the XPS 15 9500 (434 nits) and the Surface Book 3 (402 nits). Instead, it’s closer to the HP Envy 15 (329 nits).

As for color testing, the ThinkPad was in the middle of the pack, covering 96.1% of the DCI-P3 spectrum. That puts it about on par with the XPS (93.7%) and above the Surface Book 3 (71.2%), but below the Envy 15 (142%), which we tested with an OLED screen.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

Keyboards tend to be a big draw for the ThinkPad brand, thanks to what usually feels like plenty of travel distance and comfortable concave keycaps that make typing easy on the fingers, and the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is no exception here. On the 10fastfingers.com typing test, I tended to fall between 76 - 81 words per minute, which is on par with what I tend to earn on mechanical keyboards, and I barely made any typos as well. Keypresses felt distinct yet cushiony during my tests, and touch typing was easy as the distinct shape of the keycaps helped me keep track of my hand placement without having to look at the keyboard.

The precision trackpad had a little too much friction for my personal taste, but this tended to affect my comfort more than my input. Multi-touch gestures registered well, as did precise cursor movement. Friction became more of an issue with the touchscreen, where my fingers tended to stick to the surface rather than glide across it. Still, multi-touch worked without problems here as well.

As is standard for ThinkPads, the X1 Extreme Gen 3 also has the typical TrackPoint nub in the center of the keyboard. I tend to avoid this feature, as I didn’t grow up with the input method, but it responds to pressure well and can be used to make both precise mouse adjustments and sweeping mouse movements without needing to take your fingers off the keyboard.

Audio on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 has bottom-firing speakers on either side that, in my testing, seemed to prioritize volume and treble over bass quality. I used the speakers to listen to Blackpink’s Lovesick Girls, which easily filled my whole 2-bedroom apartment when I put the speakers to max and even when I closed doors. Even at this high volume, the vocals never became tinny, nor did the song’s high notes.

That said, the song usually has a prevalent bass track that’s meant to mimic a heartbeat that was almost completely omitted by the ThinkPad’s speakers. It also has a few small drum sections that do sound tinny over the ThinkPad’s speakers, showing that the laptop’s ability with high notes doesn’t necessarily carry over to lower frequencies.

Upgradeability on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 is about as friendly as a laptop can get when it comes to upgradeability. Simply loosen the 7 Phillips head screws on the bottom and then pry open the case with a tool like a spudger. Once inside, you’ll have access to the SSD and, since the RAM isn’t soldered in, you’ll also be able to access that. Plus, there’s a second SSD slot if you want to add in additional storage.

Battery Life on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad x1 Extreme Gen 3’s battery is poor even for a system with discrete graphics and a 4K display, so you’ll probably want to leave it plugged in when you’re doing anything that isn’t moving it from place to place. In our battery benchmark, which consistently browses the web, streams video and runs OpenGL tests at 150 nits of brightness, the ThinkPad only ran for 2 hours and 19 minutes.

That’s well below the 5:30 battery life for the Envy 15, which is another computer we said “you’ll want to keep near a charger.” Meanwhile, the 8:01 battery life of the XPS 15 9500 and the 11:10 battery life of the Microsoft Surface Book 3 make the ThinkPad’s numbers look pretty sad.

Heat on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 isn’t an ice-cold machine, but its temperature under strain is within expectations. We measured heat for the ThinkPad after 15 minutes of streaming video on YouTube, and found that its coolest point was the touchpad, with a more than comfortable 81.5 degrees Fahrenheit (27.5 degrees Celsius). The keyboard was much toastier at 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 degrees Celsius), while most of the underside not far behind at 96.5 degrees (35.8 degrees Celsius).

The hottest point on the laptop was 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.4 degrees Celsius) and was located on the underside, just above the laptop’s vents.

Webcam on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

ThinkPads are business notebooks, so you need a decent camera for the many video calls we're making these days. While the webcam is 720p, its color accuracy is true-to-life and there’s very little grain. The camera performs well in both normal and low light conditions. It’s not going to outpace your iPhone, but you won’t have to worry about looking washed out when video chatting with your coworkers.

It includes a physical webcam cover for those who are privacy-conscious. The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 webcam also comes equipped with an IR sensor for use with Windows Hello.

Software and Warranty on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

One of the key strengths to Lenovo’s computers is that they tend not to pack bloat, and while they do come with utility programs, most of them end up consolidated into one app. That’s the case with the ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3, which doesn’t feature any marketing material or niche pack-ins aside from Windows' usual offenders. It does, however, have a small but not overwhelming number of genuinely helpful programs.

You can find most of the ThinkPad’s utilities in the Lenovo Vantage program, which has features for running diagnostics, checking Wi-Fi network security, disabling the microphone and webcam, identifying serial numbers and more. Lenovo Pen Settings is where you’ll end up configuring any Lenovo pens you might buy - the laptop doesn’t come with one - while Lenovo Display Optimizer lets you change between picture modes optimized for movies, photos and mitigating blue light to help you sleep. The most egregious program here is probably “Glance by MiraMetrix,” which uses eye tracking to move the mouse cursor and even windows progRAMS.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 also has a one-year limited warranty.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 Configurations

Our ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 review unit came with an Intel Core i7-10850H processor, a GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q, 32GB of DDR4 memory and a 1TB SSD all for $2,129.

If you want to add on just a touch more performance, you can also swap to an i9-10885H processor for what is currently $303 more after applying a sales discount. Other options include the ability to upgrade to 64GB of RAM for a post-discount price of $262, as well as add a second SSD or swap the display to OLED. The former will currently cost you up to $680 while the latter will currently add $107 to your price tag.

Alternately, if you want to save money, you can also swap the screen for an FHD display, lower your included RAM down to 8GB, drop your storage down to 256GB, and swap out the i7 CPU for an i5-10400H vPro processor. Making all these sacrifices will bring your costs down to $1,498.75 after the current sale discount, though at that point, you might as well go for Lenovo’s almost identical uncustomizable model that costs $1,405 and has an i7-10750H processor.

Bottom Line on the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3 performs well when compared to its competition, but falls prey to a premium markup when you look at its features. It keeps up with computers like the XPS 15 and the Envy 15 on Geekbench, exceeds them on file transfer speeds and video editing and, depending on the program, can even beat the Envy 15 in some graphical performance tests despite having a weaker card. But the audio is OK at best, and the display isn't as impressive as the competition, which leaves using it feeling like a standard experience that you end up paying more for.

The XPS 15 9500, by comparison, is now selling for $2,508 if you choose similar specs to the ThinkPad configuration we reviewed. That’s a touch more expensive, but it will also upgrade you to the slightly more powerful i7-10875H processor. The Microsoft Surface Book 3, meanwhile, is $2,999 when decked out with similar specs to the ThinkPad config we reviewed. Both of these are more expensive than the ThinkPad, especially the Surface Book, but also have their own unique benefits. In the former’s case, we get a slightly more powerful CPU, while the latter comes with multiple levels of convertibility.

Which brings us to the HP Envy 15. The XPS and Surface Book aren’t clear winners over the ThinkPad, but the Envy 15 has an almost identical and sometimes stronger average use case experience for much less. This i7-10750H and RTX 2060 Max-Q equipped laptop does have 16GB less RAM and 512GB less storage than the ThinkPad, but it slightly beat the ThinkPad in all of our performance tests except file transfer speed, video transcoding and the FHD Civilization VI benchmark. Its AMOLED screen is also about as bright as the ThinkPad’s while being more colorful, and at just $1,499, it’s got a pretty hefty discount over the ThinkPad despite offering a similar and sometimes better experience.

This leaves the ThinkPad in a bizarre space where it at once feels premium but sometimes loses to supposedly lesser machines. And that's completely ignoring the ThinkPad's downright poor battery life. At first, laptops like the XPS 15 and Surface Book 3 leave it seeming like a good deal, but then contenders like the HP Envy 15 show that you can get a similar experience for much less.

And while the Surface Book 3 and arguably the XPS have unique factors justifying their premium price tags, the ThinkPad’s user experience is far more basic. It’s a good choice if you’re a ThinkPad fan, but if you’re OK trading in some memory and storage space for a better GPU and a far lower price, the HP Envy 15 is a more appealing buy.

[backtothestart02]

Mixed Drink - 4/? | westallen fanfiction

A/N: Back by popular demand - and a guess by one of my lovely readers correctly declaring Barry’s job title in this story - here is chapter 4. I hope you enjoy it, and please share your thoughts!! :D

Tagging @travelattwilight @mspurple23 @andromidagalaxie b/c I think these three ladies are dying for an update the most. lol.

*Many thanks to @valeriemperez for beta’ing. :)

...

Synopsis: AU - Two strangers meet in a bar. One spells danger, the other, desperation. 

...

Chapter 4 -

Iris’ jaw nearly hit the floor when the room beyond the cold metal doors came into view.

“How did you-” She turned to look at Barry, mouth still hanging open, and then promptly shut it. “I thought you were new to the city.”

“I am.”

“Hardly anyone knows about this place. Most people order online and get it delivered to them by UPS. This is like…a warehouse.” She looked around the glittering room. “A very gorgeous, clean, modern warehouse.”

“I may have done some research.”

“When?” she demanded, eyes narrowed.

He held out his bent arm to her.

“Does it matter?”

She told herself that yes, it did matter, a lot. But he was acting so charming and gentlemanly – and hadn’t hinted at sex for the last ten minutes – that she found herself dismissing it for the time being. Especially in a store as dazzling as this one.

Barry smiled smugly, which made her roll her eyes, but still she allowed him to guide her to the formal dress section. She stopped immediately when she got there, and her mouth fell open again. Everything she could see was stunning – absolutely stunning.

“You sure you want to pay for something here?” she blurted out. Because these clothes had to be more expensive than anything she’d ever owned in her life.

This time his smile was tender as he looked at her.

“Absolutely.”

Hesitant to take another step forward, Barry nudged her gently to loosen her up before tugging her in the direction of the most expensive dresses.

“Come on, Iris. It’s on my dime, and I can afford it. Live a little.”

She blew some locks out of her face.

What in the world does this guy do for a living?

A woman stepped forward out of the dressing room along the far wall.

“Mr. Allen,” she greeted warmly, and Iris immediately bristled. She couldn’t figure out why until it hit her moments later that the woman was swaying her hips more than was necessary as she led them to the dresses Barry had apparently picked out ahead of time.

Oh, God. Am I possessive of him already? Jealous, already?

“Here, try this one on,” Barry suggested after the woman had left.

It was a long, form-hugging silk one in a pretty silver color, with straps hanging lightly off the shoulders and a diamond clasp in the center of the top hem of the dress.

“I’ve got a few more when you’re done. We can always look for more if you’re not sure of any of them. Once you’ve gotten a dress you love, we’ll move on to the shoes and shawls. It’ll be a little chilly at the gala tonight with the air conditioning on.”

Shaking her head, she took the dress and headed for the dressing room. She stopped suddenly when a thought occurred to her. She spun halfway around and opened her mouth to speak, but he beat her to the punch.

“And jewelry and make-up, and an updo that will make every woman there envious of the goddess on my arm.”

Heat flooded her face, so she turned around and began walking towards the dressing room again to avoid him seeing just how flustered she was by his comments.

Compliments, rather.

“He sure knows how to make a girl blush,” she muttered to herself once behind closed doors.

She took a couple deep breaths and waited till her racing heartbeat slowed back to a normal pace. Then she looked at herself in the center mirror and pressed the dress lightly against her front to see how it might look.

It is pretty, she thought to herself.

She thought too of the look in Barry’s eyes once he saw her in this dress. Lustful, no doubt, but honestly, she was starting to miss that. No man had ever looked at her quite like he had. And he hadn’t even been the one doing the seducing. Nope, that had been all her.

How desperate she must’ve looked, jumping on him like that, caving to her desire so quickly. Her circumstances were pretty dire at the moment. What must he think of her?

The possibilities gnawed at her, making her feel small and insecure, until a knock sounded at the door.

“Yes?” she asked, trying to sound as normal as possible.

“You need any help in there?” his sexy voice answered, and she melted on the spot.

“No, I, uh, think I can handle it on my own.”

“You sure?” he teased, drawing the word out. “I’m pretty good with my hands.”

She laughed. “No arguing that.”

The knob started to turn on the door, and she promptly stopped it.

“I said I can handle it.”

He sighed loudly.

“Now go sit down. I’ll let you know if I need any ‘help’.”

“Fine,” he said on another sigh and walked over to the chairs by the doorway.

After a couple minutes of struggling to get the dress zipped up, and absolutely refusing to ask Barry for help – because then she’d never get past the first dress – she turned the knob herself and came into view, smirking the second Barry caught sight of her.

He got to his feet, shutting his mouth the second he caught her staring at him in amusement. But damn if she wasn’t the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“Is this the one?” she asked, turning around to reveal the low cut with the short zipper.

So easy to unzip. She smiled to herself when she faced away.

“It damn well could be,” he admitted, unable to take his eyes off her. Then, somehow, he shook himself out of it. “But you should try on all the dresses,” he said, determined to get a hold of himself. “Before I rip this one off of you,” he said quietly, huskily, hungrily.

Iris could only nod in response. “O-Okay.”

She walked passed him to try on the other dresses, but in the end it was a sparkling bronze number that tied around the back of her neck, enhancing her cleavage and sporting a slit up to the middle of her thigh, that he inwardly begged  for her to like best.

She sighed, faking uncertainty as she looked at herself in the mirror and caught his drooling expression behind her.

“I just…I don’t know…”

“Iris,” he rasped, and she turned around and burst into a fit of giggles.

“Oh, yeah,” she said, her eyes darkening. “It’s the one.”

…

No sooner had the door opened than Iris found herself drawn to the far side of the room with her hands pressed against the glass.

“I told you it was a good view,” he said, smirking as he shut the door behind them.

He walked over to the closet to hang Iris’ dress beside his tux and placed her other items of choice around them accordingly. Then he joined Iris at the window.

“I’ve never been up here.”

“Really?” he asked, apparently surprised. “Not even for one of your stories?”

She looked over at him, stunned. Though in hindsight she knew she shouldn’t have been. After a moment, she relaxed and raised one eyebrow.

“You did do your homework.”

He shrugged, then his own shoulders relaxed.

Why, she wondered, was he suddenly nervous that he might scare her off?

“Part of the job description,” he said.

Her eyebrows narrowed.

“A job you won’t tell me anything about,” she reminded him.

He tsk’d at her, then let a gentle smile spread across his face.

“A man is more than his job, Iris. Just like you’re more than yours.”

“Is that your way of saying this isn’t a pity date?”

“Who said this was a date?” he teased, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close.

Her mouth went dry.

He lowered his face, so his nose brushed against hers, and whispered, “Yes,” against her skin.

Iris’ arms snaked up around his neck as she murmured something unintelligible. Then, arching up onto her tiptoes, she kissed him.

It was just three Barry-sized steps to the bed.

…

When they walked into the ballroom at 7 o’clock that night – after an afternoon of room service, massages, and love-making - Barry and Iris were not only dazzled with the room before them, but also with each other.

It was hard for Iris to remember how opposed she’d been to this man only that morning. He was probably fooling her, being the player he’d likely been his whole life, and here she was telling herself that there could be no other girls if she saw none. She’d even deliberately not watched to see if he’d been checking out the retail employee earlier that day. She didn’t want to ask questions she might not like the answers to.

It was a little unbelievable that some free clothes and light wooing on a rooftop had turned sexual attraction into something deeper for her. Then again maybe it was just lust. Or maybe it was curiosity. His ability to keep anything regarding his job a secret for her was gnawing at her investigative journalist tendencies.

How she longed to report something of quality. Unfortunately, her attempt to do so after the third warning not to choose her own assignments had ended up in a suspension and then termination.

She supposed it was foolish and irrational, but she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to write about something that mattered.

And Patty, sweetheart that she was who would never hurt a fly, finally lost all her patience when she heard of Iris’ newly established unemployment. She sympathized, of course, but when Iris tried to explain the situation and Patty heard nothing but the same-old, same-old, she ordered her to leave. And Iris, shocked to the core that this angel of a human being would do such a thing, went without question. The door slamming behind her as she left nearly scared her to death.

She knew Patty just needed time, and that she would regret her actions. The two women didn’t have much in common, but they were both good, decent people trying to survive the wild world of law enforcement and the search for the truth. Patty’s field just happened to be keener on the serious issues than Iris’ was. Most of the time.

And Iris did feel bad. Patty would soon have to go apartment-hunting too if she couldn’t find another roommate to cover the costs of rent and utilities.

It was just a mess that Iris didn’t want to think about. Which was precisely what she’d gone and done every second since she’d been kicked out. Until Barry walked into her life. With the exception of the morning after hangover she’d endured above the bar at Teddy’s, she’d done little but think of Barry. Whether it was in a negative or positive light, she was still thinking of him. And she was going to continue to do so until at least the next morning when reality sank in again.

It was only Tuesday, though, and Barry had said he was staying in town until the end of the week.

Maybe he wouldn’t mind sharing his hotel room with her during that time?

What? Are you going steady with him now, Iris?

She rolled her eyes, punishing her inner self for her dreams, when Barry interrupted her by whispering the sweetest words into her ears.

“You’re the most beautiful woman in the room tonight, Iris.”

Heat spread into her cheeks, but she wasn’t embarrassed. She was happy. She turned to look into his eyes and saw such adoration there she had to blink to make sure it was real. It didn’t go away. His fingers intertwined with hers, and for all intents and purposes, Iris truly felt like they were the only two people in the world.

“Thank you,” she finally whispered in response, and he smiled, lifting her hand to his lips for him to kiss.

She was thinking of other places he’d kissed earlier in the day and the night before, but she put a stop to it quickly. She’d never be able to focus on the task at hand, which was being a professional plus one at his work-related gala. She couldn’t be pulling him away to make out with him in a quiet, abandoned, far away hall. If they got caught, he would be in trouble – It might even end his career.

“Allen!”

They both turned at the sound of Barry’s last name, and Barry’s demeanor immediately changed.

“It’s my boss. Come on.”

His boss?

But she went along anyway, forcing herself to keep up with him in her high, high heels.

“Sir,” Barry greeted, then turned to Iris. “Iris, this is my supervisor, Mr. Draeger.”

“Kevin,” the man corrected, then warmly and firmly shook Iris’ hand. After their hands dropped, he sent a suspicious look Barry’s way. “Where on earth did you find her?” he asked, skeptical.

Barry shrugged, unworried in the slightest. “Where do all men find the women of their dreams?”

She gasped, not registering that they’d met in a dingey bar.

“A little forward for a first date, isn’t it, Bartholomew?” Kevin asked, his voice going low.

Iris felt the tension building and cut in.

“Who says it’s a first date?” she asked.

Kevin glanced at her. “I think I know my employees well enough to-”

“Know who they’re seeing romantically?” she pushed. “Or sexually.”

His eyes widened. “Gutsy girl you’ve got there, Allen.”

“That girl is standing right here,” she interrupted. “And she wants to dance with her man.”

Both men’s jaws were hanging open by this point, but Iris only addressed Barry.

“Shall we?” she asked, and he nodded subtly, not looking back at his boss for a moment as Iris led him onto the dance floor.

“You’re incredible,” he said, pulling her close as they started the waltz.

“I couldn’t let him talk to you like that.”

“He’s my boss.”

“And I’m your date. Remember?”

He smirked, then slowly allowed his hand to lower a few inches down her back. Iris put on a good show, but he’d felt her delicious shivers.

“How could I forget?”

...

*Also posted on AO3 and FFnet.

[iairhumidifiers-blog]

The Best Humidifier for 2019

Why you should trust us

John Holecek is a former NOAA researcher and has studied atmospheric physics and chemistry in places from the continental US to the Arctic to the remote island nation of the Maldives. He is a longtime Wirecutter collaborator. For this guide, he weather-sealed his home office and installed an air conditioner to maintain stable initial conditions. He evaluated the humidifiers with two portable temperature and humidity data loggers, and used a laboratory-grade particle counter to size up the air washers (read more in How we tested).

Tim Heffernan is a Wirecutter writer and editor, and has conducted extensive real-world testing of air and water purifiers for our guides. For this guide, he tested nine humidifiers in his New York City apartment during the winter heating season, using the same data loggers.

Who this is for

If you are bothered by any of the symptoms caused by dry air, such as dry sinuses, nosebleeds, cracked and sore lips, or shocks from static electricity, the air in your home is likely too dry. In most of the US, this is primarily a winter problem, especially in homes with forced-air heating systems, which can drive indoor humidity as low as 10 percent, making it literally desertlike. However, dry air can also be an issue even if you have steam or under-floor heating, because cold winter air generally has less moisture than warm summer air.

Using a portable humidifier, such as the ones we researched here, is the cheapest and easiest way to humidify your home without needing to deal with an HVAC contractor. If you get one, you should keep the relative humidity levels in your home somewhere between 30 and 60 percent, which will alleviate the symptoms listed above while discouraging mold and mildew growth in your home. If you want to test your air before buying a humidifier, you can get a hygrometer on Amazon for about $10.

However, humidifying your home involves more than just buying a machine and keeping it filled with water. If you don’t take care to maintain your humidifier properly (see Health risks of a dirty humidifier), it can do more harm than good. Most humidifiers require regular maintenance, including a thorough cleaning at least once a week. There are exceptions, like our upgrade pick. But be honest with yourself: Are you ready to be a “humidifier parent”? If you know you’re not up for regular cleaning and maintenance, you may end up with a breeding ground for germs.

How we picked

This is the fifth iteration of this guide, so we went into it with considerable knowledge of what makes for a good humidifier, in terms of technology and design.

The truth is, most of the 21 machines we have tested over the years have performed adequately—but we’ve found huge differences in ergonomics, ease of cleaning and filling, quality of construction, and user interface. Because you generally have to interact with a humidifier daily—to refill the tank, sometimes more than once, and then restart and reset it—these factors always weigh heavily in our choice of which machines to pick for testing.

So do owner reviews and other testers’ findings. So as always, this time around we researched popular models on Amazon (paying attention to both positive and negative reviews), consulted AllergyBuyersClub.com, Top Ten Reviews, ConsumerSearch, and Best Buy, and read the comments from our previous guide for feedback and suggestions from our readers.

We focused on portable humidifiers because you can easily add one to any home or apartment and move it around as needed. We restricted our search to models rated to cover between 200 and 700 square feet: The low end of that scale is more than enough coverage for an average bedroom (which is primarily where these machines see use), and the high end is plenty for even the largest open spaces in most homes. Though you can find large console units theoretically capable of humidifying an entire home, the humidity levels will vary considerably with distance from the machine and room to room (even with all the doors open, which isn’t always practical), so we believe having a few, smaller humidifiers is the better option.

We largely limited our search to the two most common types of portable humidifier. They both employ simple, proven, effective mechanisms, and are extremely energy efficient.

Ultrasonic humidifiers use a rapidly vibrating diaphragm to launch microscopic droplets of water into the air, where they quickly evaporate and become water vapor—the source of humidity. These machines are generally very quiet (though they do emit an audible, mechanical hum), and cleaning them is simple, typically a matter of rinsing the tank and wiping down the internals every few days or weekly.

However, because they throw liquid water (not gaseous water vapor) into the air, minerals in the water can settle on surrounding surfaces as a fine white dust as the mist evaporates. Also, ultrasonic humidifiers must stand on top of a dresser, table, or shelf: The droplets need a bit of time to evaporate as they fall downward, or they will puddle on the floor.

Ultrasonic models can also overhumidify the air in a room, to the point that moisture condenses on floors, rugs, and furniture near the machine. And in the long term, overhumidification can promote the growth of mold and mildew in homes. For these reasons, we heavily favored ultrasonic models with built-in humidistats, which shut the machine off when the air reaches the desired humidity.

Lastly, if there’s no water in the tank to absorb the vibrations of the diaphragm, ultrasonic humidifiers can actually break themselves—so we looked only at models that had an auto-off when the tank ran dry.

Evaporative humidifiers use the natural process of evaporation to add moisture to the air. A fan draws air through a wet wick or filter, humidifying it before blowing it back out into the room. This technique has the big advantage of automatically preventing overhumidification: The evaporative process slows as the air gets wetter. That means evaporative humidifiers won’t produce condensation on floors and other surfaces and are unlikely to create conditions that promote mold and mildew.

On top of that, the evaporative process means any minerals in the water supply stay behind on the wick—so there’s no issue of white dust. Mechanically, evaporative humidifiers are robust and virtually failproof: They’re essentially room fans—and they emit the same, soft “white noise” that many people find soothing. Finally, they can operate without causing themselves any damage even if the tank runs dry.

Maintenance of evaporative models, however, is slightly fussier than for ultrasonic designs: The wicks need regular replacing (every one to three months) as they clog with minerals, and because the wet wicks can potentially be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, you really need to do a thorough cleaning of the tank and internals at least once a week. We favored models that made these tasks easy and inexpensive.

We also considered two other types of humidifier. Warm-mist humidifiers work by heating water into steam. As you might guess, this approach is not terribly energy efficient, and the hot parts may present a burn risk. However, some people like the slight warmth that these models add to the air, so we tested a few popular models. Impeller humidifiers use a rapidly spinning disk to fling water against a diffuser plate that breaks the droplets into fine mist. They are quiet, but like the ultrasonic models they can produce a white dust. The moisture output is low, and the customer ratings we’ve seen on Amazon are so bad that we’ve skipped impeller humidifiers entirely in our testing.

After five iterations of this guide, we have placed 70 different humidifiers on our short list and tested 21. If you’d like to see our test plan in detail, it’s in a lower section called How we tested—that material normally appears at this point in a Wirecutter review, but it’s so extensive in this guide that we moved it after the discussion of our picks.

Our pick: Honeywell HCM-350

Our pick

The Honeywell HCM-350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier has been our pick since 2015. It’s affordable, simple, durable, and highly effective—in a real-world test in a dry, steam-heated New York City apartment, it raised the humidity by almost 25 percent, turning in one of the very best performances we measured. But equally important, it’s also extremely easy to live with. It’s compact, and it can sit on the floor or on a table or shelf. It emits no bright light or loud beeps to keep you up at night. And it runs quietly, making only a soft “white noise,” like a room fan. Moreover, it’s the easiest humidifier to clean and fill we’ve ever found—the relevant parts are dishwasher-safe—which is invaluable, since those are the two tasks you’ll be doing most often with any humidifier. Rated for spaces as large as 400 square feet, it’s big enough to humidify almost any bedroom or living room. As of winter 2018, we’ve pitted it against 20 competitors, and at least eight Wirecutter editors have used one long-term in their own homes, and it’s still easily our consensus winner.

The Honeywell HCM-350 performs the most important task of a humidifier—raising the amount of moisture in the air—exceptionally well. In our real-world New York City apartment test, it raised the humidity by 23.5 percent, from an uncomfortably dry 26 percent to a pleasant 49.5 percent. That put it within an insignificant 1.5 points of the very best performer, and right at the EPA’s recommended “sweet spot” of 50 percent (beneficial for skin and respiratory-tract dryness, but below the level that encourages mold and mildew). Moreover, the Honeywell humidified the air quickly, outperforming all our other picks over the first two hours of the test. If you come home to a dry house or apartment, the Honeywell will make it comfortable soon. Encouragingly, these results also accord with the findings of our earlier tests under controlled conditions (see How we tested for details).

The Honeywell stands out for other, equally important reasons. Because it’s an evaporative humidifier, it emits gaseous water vapor, which means there is no risk of it creating puddles on your floor. Evaporation also leaves any minerals in the water behind, so you won’t see a layer of white dust around the machine. (Both of these concerns are a potential issue with ultrasonic humidifiers, including our pick for large spaces, the Levoit LV600HH, because those designs throw a mist of liquid water into the air instead of water vapor.) This means the Honeywell offers maximal options for placement: It can sit on the floor, behind a piece of furniture, or on a table or shelf. Ultrasonic models are more limited, as they have to reside on a table or shelf to allow enough time for the mist to evaporate before it falls onto a surface and makes a puddle. And because the evaporative process slows down the more humid the air gets, the HCM-350 is self-regulating: It can’t overhumidify a room the way ultrasonic models, which continuously pump water into the air, can.

Compared with our runner-up evaporative humidifier, the functionally similar SPT SU-9210, the Honeywell HCM-350 has a number of thoughtful design elements that make it much easier and more pleasant to use. Take the water tank: The Honeywell’s sits flat and stable on its top, allowing for hands-free filling (see the video below). The SPT’s tank rocks and wobbles, so you have to hold it while it fills. And look at the cap on the Honeywell’s tank—that “crossbar” allows you to get a really firm grip when opening or closing it. No other machine we tested has this feature; instead, they offer only ridges around the cap rim that get slippery when wet. (The other cap in our photo belongs to our ultrasonic pick, the Levoit LV600HH. The SPT SU-9210’s is much the same.)

Super-simple controls and a single tiny lightbulb make the Honeywell bedroom friendly. Photo: Michael Hession

The Honeywell HCM-350’s tank sits upright, letting you do other things while it’s filling up at the tap. Photo: Michael Hession

The Honeywell’s tank cap (left) has a crossbar that functions as a grip. It’s easier to open and close than typical caps (such as the Levoit LV600HH cap, right), whose smooth edges are slippery when wet. Photo: Michael Hession

Super-simple controls and a single tiny lightbulb make the Honeywell bedroom friendly. Photo: Michael Hession

The Honeywell HCM-350’s tank sits upright, letting you do other things while it’s filling up at the tap. Photo: Michael Hession

The Honeywell’s controls could not be simpler: It has just a basic toggle like that of a room fan, with off/high/medium/low icons. You can easily adjust the settings even in the dark, which is handy if, as is common, you plan to use a humidifier in the bedroom. The SPT model has four separate buttons for setting fan speed, the humidistat, and the timer, and they’re not backlit, so they’re a bit tricky to use in the dark. They also beep loudly with every push—frustrating in a quiet bedroom or a baby’s nursery. The Honeywell’s toggle is silent. And the SPT’s blue LED display and red power light glow brightly—enough to hinder sleep—and cannot be turned off while the machine is plugged in (not just while it’s on). The Honeywell has a single, small, unobtrusive green bulb to let you know it’s running.

The HCM-350’s ease of cleaning is far better than that of many competitors, beginning with the fact that all the parts that touch water (and are thus liable to accumulate bacterial, algal, or fungal growth) contain no electronics and are completely submersible in water for easy washing. The fill hole of the tank is large enough for almost anyone to reach inside for scrubbing (that’s 6-foot-1 writer Tim Heffernan’s hand in the photo below). And both the tank and the water tray are dishwasher safe (top rack only, no detergent). This is how it should be. Yet the HCM-350 stands in stark contrast to many humidifier models we’ve looked at, which contain electronics in the base and require you to clean them by hand. (Its most similar competitor in our test, the SPT SU-9210, lets you clean the tray, but not the tank, in the dishwasher.)

Cleaning the Honeywell takes only a couple of minutes, thanks to smart design that makes every step easy.

Because evaporative humidifiers use a fan to blow air across the damp wick, they make a small amount of noise—but it’s a neutral, even calming, white noise that few people find objectionable. If you like the sound of a room fan, you’ll be happy with the Honeywell. (Wirecutter designer Orr Shtuhl, who lives in New York City, said, “One thing I personally like is that the two lower settings are very quiet, and the strongest setting is loud enough to be used for white noise—I like to block out street noise at night.”) We measured its sound level on high at 48.9 decibels from a distance of 1 meter; that’s well under the 55 decibels it takes to begin interfering with a typical conversation. The noise drops to a barely noticeable 40.3 decibels if you set the fan speed to medium. That’s comparable to the sound from many ultrasonic models, which are often billed as “silent”—but which do, in fact, produce a mechanical hum that noise-sensitive people may find less pleasant than the white noise of the Honeywell.

Finally, for several Wirecutter editors and writers who own the Honeywell, this model has proven extremely durable over the long term. Mechanically it’s very simple, meaning it has very little inside that can break. And the tank is blow-molded from a single, continuous piece of plastic (like a milk jug). The one-piece design is much less likely to develop leaks over time than the two-piece (or more) fused-plastic designs found on many other models, including two of our other picks, the SPT SU-9210 and Levoit LV600HH, because it doesn’t have any seams that can come apart. It will likely outlast its three-year warranty—which is already generous compared with most models’ one-year warranties—and none of our staffers have ever had a problem with it.

Including the purchase price, the cost of new filters, and the cost of electricity, the Honeywell HCM-350 will set you back about $250 over the course of its three-year expected service life (assuming you’re running it 24 hours a day, six months of the year—you may well run it far less). That’s on the low end of machines we’ve looked at.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

At 1 gallon, the HCM-350’s tank is on the small side; if you run it 24/7, you’ll refill it at least once. Larger tanks can support a full 24 hours of operation.

In a design quirk common to evaporative humidifiers, the bottom tray of the Honeywell doesn’t physically attach to the upper housing, where the fan and tank are located; the latter just rests on the former. If you need to move the unit, you have to reach all the way to the floor and get your fingers under the tray—otherwise you’ll leave it behind.

Replacement filters are a simple drop-in affair. And Honeywell-made filters (versus third-party filters) are impregnated with an antimicrobial finish that, the company claims, virtually eliminates mold and bacteria growth. Regardless, depending on the hardness of your water, Honeywell recommends replacing the filter every one to three months. It’s normal for the filter to turn brown or slimy as the mineral deposits build up, and you can extend the life of the filter by flipping it top to bottom every time you refill the tank or rinse out the base. But once the filter becomes saturated with minerals, the wicking ability is impeded, resulting in a drop-off in humidifying ability (and water consumption). So if you notice that there’s more water left in the tank than you expect when you go to refill it, it’s probably time to replace or clean the filter.

In January 2016 we investigated several complaints from readers about replacement filters for the Honeywell HCM-350. The complaints noted poor fit and stated that the replacements were thinner than the originals, looked different, or did not perform satisfactorily. We spoke at length with a representative of Kaz, the manufacturer of the HCM-350. In addition to answering our questions, the representative sent photographs and a physical sample of the current-issue replacement filter. We also independently ordered a replacement filter from Amazon to be sure we were getting the same model that our readers would. Here’s what we learned:

Kaz, the manufacturer of the Honeywell humidifier, switched from a 1½-inch-thick filter to a ¾-inch-thick filter around 2011. If anyone recently received a humidifier with a 1½-inch-thick filter, it was (very) old stock.

Kaz phased out the outer blue Airwash layer on the ¾-inch filters in 2014. The Airwash filter reduced the humidifiers’ output. Other than this change, the filters are identical.

The replacement filters that Kaz sent us, the replacement we got from Amazon, and the original that we pulled out of our test model were all identical. The replacements we got from Kaz and from Amazon both fit our HCM-350 humidifier perfectly.

Kaz sells the same replacement filter under two different names, the Honeywell Filter A and the Honeywell HAC-504 series; they are identical. (The latest version in the series, updated for increased efficiency, is the HAC-504V1.) Many third-party manufacturers also sell replacement filters that they describe as “HAC-504 compatible,” but Honeywell cannot vouch for these filters’ performance. Our link is to a genuine Honeywell HAC-504V1. Or, to be absolutely certain, you can order directly from the manufacturer.

Long-term test notes

Wirecutter’s Michael Zhao and Kevin Purdy have each used a Honeywell HCM-350 for several winters.

Michael, who lives in a radiator-heated New York City apartment and uses the Honeywell in the bedroom, said, “It’s so easy to clean that I actually clean it. Which is pretty great.” Cleaning is really important—and ease of cleaning is one of our main reasons for recommending the HCM-350. Michael added, “It’s annoying that the fan collects dust, but I’ve found that the protective screen comes off cleanly if you give it a good tug with needle-nose pliers.” That allows him to wipe the fan off (and reinstall the screen) without much fuss. After moving from an apartment with a standard 8-foot ceiling to one with 12-foot ceilings—a big jump in volume though not area, as both rooms are about 150 square feet—Michael noted an apparent drop-off in absolute humidification but also saw that the unit was still effective at reducing the symptoms of dry air, such as waking with a dry throat. Additionally, he owns a cat, and he has found that the wick collects pet hair; a weekly vacuuming (a two-minute job) clears that up.

Kevin and his wife live in a forced-air-heated Victorian house in Buffalo, New York; it gets very dry in the winter, and they also use their Honeywell HCM-350 in the bedroom. Kevin admits to being “an anti-hypochondriac” and “on the far left end of maintenance,” meaning he doesn’t clean his unit with any sense of urgency. He has generally given the Honeywell’s reservoir a scrub with dish soap once a week, and not cleaned the base plate or the filter with any regularity. He also has let water sit in the reservoir for days at a time. He adds: “I have not had anything bad happen to me.” Fine, but honestly, he should follow manufacturer guidelines for any humidifier, or else risk serious illness; in the case of the Honeywell, that maintenance includes a weekly scrub of the tank and tray and a rinsing of the wick. As for the HCM-350’s performance, Kevin said: “It works really well, and it doesn’t look terribly ugly in our bedroom. It hides in a corner and does the job.”

Runner-up: SPT SU-9210

Runner-up

If the Honeywell HCM-350 is out of stock, consider the SPT SU-9210 Digital Evaporative Humidifier, which also performed extremely well in our testing. As an evaporative humidifier, the SU-9210 has the same inherent benefits over ultrasonic models as the HCM-350: a lack of white dust and puddling, and a general inability to overhumidify. And it has a number of features that some people might appreciate and that the Honeywell lacks, including an accurate humidistat and a timer mode. But it’s not nearly as easy to clean as our top pick and has a number of maddening design flaws, which ultimately make it much more difficult to live with. We can recommend it only if the Honeywell is totally unavailable and you need a humidifier immediately.

As far as quantitative testing goes, the SPT model performed very well, scoring (like all our picks) at the top of our real-world tests in a dry, steam-heated New York apartment. When we tested the humidistat’s accuracy, it nailed the 55 percent target (see How we tested for complete test results). Its estimated operating cost of about $200 makes it about $40 cheaper than the Honeywell over the course of three years.

But the SU-9210 provides a significantly worse overall experience. The hand-wash-only tank is made of several plastic pieces fused together, and we worry about it leaking over time. It also tends to tip over while you’re filling it, so you have to stand there holding it steady. The SPT’s display is brightly lit and can never be shut off, making it hard to use in a bedroom or nursery, and it also beeps loudly upon every button push, which compounds the problem.

If the Honeywell HCM-350 is sold out and you need an evaporative humidifier immediately or temporarily, the SPT SU-9210 is an acceptable substitute. For long-term livability, however, the Honeywell is a much better choice.

Upgrade pick: Levoit LV600HH

Upgrade pick

The Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is a beautifully designed, powerful ultrasonic humidifier, and it’s our pick for large spaces (like a living room–dining room) and exceptionally dry homes (wood-heated or forced-air). Its 6-liter/1.5-gallon tank can go for more than 24 hours between refills, meaning fewer trips to the sink (we got 27 hours, on medium, running nonstop, in a steam-heated New York City apartment). Its accurate humidistat maintains the humidity at your desired level. And it’s easy to live with: It’s very quiet, cleaning the tank is simple, and, in a thoughtful touch, the lighted display can be shut off—so it won’t disrupt anyone’s sleep. Among its downsides—as with all ultrasonic humidifiers—it has to stand above the floor to minimize the risk of puddling, and it can create a layer of white dust on surfaces if your water supply contains a lot of minerals. And its base unit is fussier to clean than it needs to be, owing to a design with lots of nooks and crannies. Overall, the Levoit is an exceptional humidifier, but it’s more powerful than most people need, and it’s usually a bit more expensive than our top pick.

The Levoit consistently placed at or near the top in our real-world test in overall humidification (see How we tested), and its humidistat, unlike on many models we have tested, proved accurate, tracking within five points of what the data loggers registered. That means you can set a target humidity and the machine will turn itself on and off to keep the air at that level. That said, we don’t consider a humidistat necessary on every humidifier—evaporative models, like the top-pick Honeywell HCM-350, naturally stabilize the humidity at a comfortable level.

The Levoit’s large tank (1.5 gallons) means the machine can run for a long time between refills—Levoit claims 30-plus hours, and we got 27 hours with the machine running continuously on medium. Our top pick, the Honeywell, with a 1-gallon tank, typically requires at least one refill during a 24-hour period. Combined with the powerful ultrasonic mechanism, this tank capacity makes the Levoit a better choice for very large rooms or very dry homes; generally, wood-heated and forced-air-heated homes are drier than those with steam heat.

We really appreciated a number of design features on the Levoit, such as a tank that lies flat while you’re filling it (letting you do something else in the meantime—a 1.5-gallon tank takes a while to top up). The tank’s fill hole is also large enough that you can reach inside for a thorough cleaning.

It also has a fill hole you can fully reach inside, for ease of cleaning. Photo: Michael Hession

The Levoit’s display can shut off—a thoughtful touch that makes it bedroom and nursery friendly. Video: Michael Hession

Like the Honeywell HCM-350, the Levoit LV600HH has a sit-flat tank that lets you do other tasks while it’s filling. Photo: Michael Hession

It also has a fill hole you can fully reach inside, for ease of cleaning. Photo: Michael Hession

The Levoit’s display can shut off—a thoughtful touch that makes it bedroom and nursery friendly. Video: Michael Hession

Best of all, the Levoit lets you shut off the bright display at night (you hold down the Auto button for a few seconds). That makes it far nicer to use in a bedroom or nursery than most machines (though our top pick is also sleep friendly, with just a tiny, dim bulb indicating that it’s on).

The LV600HH, even among the ultrasonics we’ve tested, is extremely quiet: We measured 35.2 decibels at 1 meter (on low, medium, and high), versus about 40 on other ultrasonic machines. Nevertheless, in a quiet room you can hear it, and like all ultrasonic models it emits a mechanical hum that’s not as restful as the white noise that evaporative humidifiers, like our top pick, produce.

Several of the Levoit’s few drawbacks are common to all ultrasonic humidifiers: It has to sit on a table or shelf, to give the mist time to evaporate before puddling on the floor; hard water can produce a white dust settling on surfaces near the machine; and it can potentially overhumidify a room. (In this regard, we don’t like that the Levoit’s Auto setting targets a humidity of 68 percent—that’s well above the 60 percent threshold for promoting mold and mildew. To be on the safe side, manually set the target humidity to 60 percent or below.)

One downside specific to the Levoit LV600HH is the complex water channel and chimney in the base unit, which both have a number of tight nooks and crannies where gunk can accumulate. Cleaning them isn’t difficult—a small brush really helps—but it’s needlessly fussy. We hope Levoit will emulate the simple, cranny-free design of the Honeywell HCM-350 in future iterations. The Levoit is also usually a bit more expensive up front than the Honeywell, but because it has no parts that need regular replacing, its long-term cost may actually be a bit lower.

But the Levoit’s strengths are many, and in truth it was a contender for our top pick. We stayed with the Honeywell for a few reasons, chief among them that model’s proven durability and exceptionally user-friendly design. Again, at least eight Wirecutter staffers have owned a Honeywell HCM-350, sometimes for years, and we’ve never had one break down. And it’s simply the easiest humidifier we’ve ever found to clean and refill. Compared with many competitors, the Levoit LV600HH earns a solid A- in those respects—but the Honeywell gets an A+. And the Honeywell is powerful enough for most people’s needs, as it’s effective in spaces of up to 400 square feet, far larger than most bedrooms and living rooms.

After three weeks of running the Levoit, guide author Tim Heffernan noted a few more minor flaws. The hum it emitted, though quiet, was readily noticeable if the machine was sitting on a bedside table, and both he and his wife (who can sleep through almost anything) found it distracting. That necessitated placing the humidifier across the room, which meant bringing in a chair to place it on—not ideal in a cramped bedroom. On a day when the natural humidity was relatively high, the Levoit created a damp spot on the floor, because the mist didn’t have enough time to evaporate before it settled. The moisture wasn’t enough to cause damage, but evaporative humidifiers like the Honeywell don’t have this problem at all. The Levoit tank’s cap is slippery and hard to open when wet—which it always is when you pull the tank off the machine to refill it. Using a towel to grip the cap helps, but that’s an extra step; a toothier texture on its rim would eliminate the problem.

One last thing: The Levoit offers a warm-mist function. It works fine, but because warm mist is energy intensive, involves hot parts that can potentially cause a burn (see Some general words of caution), and doesn’t actually humidify any better than other methods, we recommend not using it.

Also great: Venta LW25

Also great

The Venta LW25 Airwasher performed extremely well in our tests and is impressively energy efficient, but it’s worthy of its high price tag only if you are willing to pay a lot more money up front for lower power consumption and less-frequent refills and cleanings. Though your typical humidifier requires thorough cleaning (wiping down all surfaces and descaling with vinegar) at least once a week, Venta recommends simply rinsing the LW25’s wet parts every 10 to 14 days and relying on a proprietary chemical mixture to keep the funk down. A two-week supply (3.5 ounces) is included with the LW25, and the replacement bottle holds 35 ounces, so it’s good for more than four months of use. Additional bottles will run you about $20.

The Venta works by drawing air over a set of slowly rotating disks. It draws just 7 watts on high (about one-sixth of a typical evaporative humidifier like our top pick), yet it’s extremely effective at humidifying, consistently performing at the top in our real-world test. We speculate that this result might be due to the water additives you use with it: quaternary ammonium chlorides (see our section on health risks for more on these) and a “water softening agent,” which increase the wet surface area for improved evaporation, disinfect the water, and reduce mineral buildup. However, despite the machine’s extreme efficiency and big, 2-gallon tank, Venta still recommends that you top it off every day in order to maintain maximum humidifying efficiency—it works best when full.

We were not impressed with its “air washing” abilities. To test whether this machine was comparable to an actual air purifier, we used a laboratory-quality benchtop optical particle counter that measured particles in the 0.5- to 20-micron range to measure airborne-particle concentrations before and after three hours of testing. Background particle concentrations ranged from 65 to 200 particles per cubic centimeter. At the end of the testing period, the Venta lowered the particle concentration from a starting concentration of 180 particles per cubic centimeter to a final concentration of 9, which sounds impressive until you consider that our top pick, the Honeywell HCM-350, which makes no claims of air purification, got the number down to 14 in a similar test. For reference, a HEPA-certified air purifier would bring the number down to virtually zero in less than half an hour.

The Venta LW25 is compact at 12 by 12 by 13 inches and 8.5 pounds, and it’s definitely a better choice than the other air washer we looked at, made by Winix, which cost $20 more, had a more complicated user interface, and used 0.58 gallon per day (nearly three times as much as the Venta). The Winix also used an inferior disk design that required the disks to be inserted only one way; the cover was similarly unidirectional. The Venta’s symmetric design avoids those drawbacks.

Despite its high sticker price and the moderately high cost of the chemicals (about $40 per year), the overall price tag of the Venta LW25 spread out over a three-year operating life is relatively low. At about $425 total (sticker price plus maintenance costs), it’s the second most expensive pick here, but an impossibly low electricity cost of just $15 makes it more affordable than you might expect.

Vicks V750 Warm Mist Humidifier

The Vicks V750 Warm Mist Humidifier performed above average in our fall 2015 testing, raising the humidity levels from 60 to 82.5 percent over a three-hour period. It is clearly built to its budget price, with cheap-feeling plastic and wobbly assembly. But hey, it’s cheap. Compared with its sister model, the Honeywell HWM705B Filter Free Warm Moisture Humidifier, it is slightly more solid, and in our tests the outside got less hot.

The Vicks is compact (10½ by 12½ by 5¼ inches and a feathery 3½ pounds). It has a 1-gallon tank with a comfortable handle and a mixing chamber that draws room air in to mix with the hot steam, so the moisture exiting is warm, not hot. A medicine cup allows you to add medications or essential oils. Operation is simple, via a two-setting switch with an unobtrusive night-light indicating water status: green during operation, and red when it has shut off after emptying the tank. We tested the humidifier on high (1.9 gallons per day), where the 1-gallon tank needs to be refilled every 12 hours. It features an auto shutoff (as do all steam models we tested). One note of concern: We’ve seen several reports of leaks occurring at any time from a couple of weeks to a year after purchase, but those reports constitute less than 10 percent of the reviews. Still, to be safe, you could place the V750 on spacers inside a plastic tub to catch any sudden leaks.

Some general words of caution about warm mist

Warm-mist humidifiers work by heating water until it turns to steam. And that means they have the potential to cause burns—both from the hot water and steam and from the heating element. Because of that risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against their use in homes with children. (Note: The Stadler Form Fred, which we tested, was a particularly bad offender in this regard, as its silvery plastic steam tube became extremely hot when the unit was on.)

Warm-mist humidifiers are no better or worse than evaporatives or ultrasonics at humidifying the air. But they do use a lot more energy. True, warm-mist humidifiers slightly heat the room, meaning you could perhaps turn down the thermostat a pinch. The other humidifier types produce a very slight cooling of the air in the room, which you’ll need to heat again (via a furnace or other heating system).

But do warm-mist humidifiers actually offset their energy costs by lowering your heating bill? John Holecek did a calculation in 2015, and the answer is no. Assume the humidifier sees use for three years (for six months each year) and dispenses 4 liters of water per day of use. Assume the home is heated with natural gas. For energy costs, John used his local California rates of 18¢ per kWh for electricity and $1.20 per therm for gas. The efficiency of both the electric humidifier (range 65 to 80 percent) and the gas furnace was set at 80 percent (range 78 to 97 percent).

Warm-mist humidifiers are no better or worse than evaporatives or ultrasonics at humidifying the air.

By figuring out the energy needed to heat the water from room temperature to near boiling (334 joules), and adding the extra energy needed to vaporize it (2,260 joules), we know the total energy (2,594 joules) needed per gram of water. Using these assumptions, if you heat that water with the humidifier, you will spend a whopping $355 in electricity versus just $81 in natural gas to supply the same amount of heat to your air. On top of the other downsides, warm-mist humidifiers are a bum deal.

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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BJJ Clothing Apparel for Men & Women | Bravo

Bravo have earned a reputation as being a respected leader when it comes to supplying fighters with high quality MMA products from the biggest brands in the industry. We strive to offer products which have been approved by serious fighters for serious fighters. We also provide stylish MMA apparel for fight fans and casual spectators who want to dress like their favourite fighters.

We believe every article of BJJ clothing should provide you the means to effectively implement your full skillset and so our no-gi clothing has been developed in close consultation with BJJ masters and enhanced by the use of top-quality materials and construction throughout.

Putting together your BJJ gear arsenal can be fun and exciting - if you know what to get. This BJJ beginners checklist will tell you about all the Jiu Jitsu Gear you will need and want to get started with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This covers both the traditional form of BJJ (with a Gi) as well as No Gi Shorts. Have fun putting together your arsenal!

Jiu Jitsu (with Gi)

For the traditional form of BJJ, you will need a Jiu Jitsu Gi and Belt at the very minimum. Rash Guards are also recommended to wear underneath your Gi - see the No-Gi section below for details on rash guards.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gi | Bjj Gi

The word ‘gi’ is derived from the Japanese words ‘keikogi’ or ‘dogi’, which means “uniform for training”. As such there are many types of gis out there for all the different martial arts that require this type of uniform.

It is very important that you get a gi that is made for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This is because BJJ Jiu Jitsu Gi are made of tougher material and are designed to be durable and make it difficult for your opponent to grab. A Jiu Jitsu Gi comes with a jacket and pants, and are not usually accompanied with a belt. There are many things to consider when choosing a BJJ Gi.

BJJ Jiu Jitsu Belts

A BJJ Belt is functionally used to tie around your Gi jacket to help keep it in place. It can also be used for both offensive and defensive techniques. A BJJ Belt is something that is very important to the Jiu Jitsu practitioner - you will have it for a very long time, whether on the mat or nailed to your wall after you’ve moved onto bigger and better colors. Make sure you choose the one that best represents you. We offer a great selection. For beginners, this will be a White Belt. From there it goes in the order of Blue, Purple, Brown, Black for Adults and Yellow, Orange, Green for Kids.

BJJ Jiu Jitsu Belts are long as they are meant to wrap around your waist twice and still have excess length after you tie it. On one end there will be a patch with the manufacturer’s logo. On the other end there is usually a black bar (red bar on black belts) where you put your stripes that indicate progress between belt levels. When sizing for a belt, choose the same size that you chose for your gi.

No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Because Brazilian Jiu Jitsu focuses so intently on ground work and grappling it’s crucial your no-gi clothing protect you from abrasions while also enhancing your performance and that’s exactly what our grappling shorts, camo grappling spats and rash guards do.

No Gi Clothing

Animosity Fight Gear design their shorts to withstand the toughest workouts, session after session. We make our shorts from the lightest stretchable material, just to make sure that when you are in battle you know your kicks and knees are unrestricted. Our shorts are designed to last a lifetime with double stitching throughout and embroidered logos that won’t rub off or fade.

Helps improve blood circulation and accelerate recovery time

Anti-microbial fabric

Constructed with high quality polyester

Fully sublimated logos so they will never peal or crack

Made from a super soft flexible 100% polyester material

Triple stitched and overlocked across all stress points

Grappling Shorts

Grappling Shorts (also known as Fight Shorts, MMA Shorts and Vale Tudo shorts) are essential for no-gi BJJ. Fight Shorts are designed for the movements and technique of BJJ. First, they do not slide off easily - which is very important given the holds, grabs, and pulls that they will experience. Second, they allow for flexibility, both on the ground and for kicking if you are into MMA. Lastly, they do not have any metal objects (buttons, zippers, etc.) that can get in the way and cause damage to your opponent.

Fight Shorts (BJJ Shorts) come in two varieties: Board-style shorts which are loose, and Vale Tudo style shorts which are very tight and form fitting. You can also wear Gi Pants for no-gi BJJ, but keep in mind that it gives your opponent an advantage as they will have more to grab onto to control your movements.

Rash Guards

Rash Guards are important for several reasons. First, they are made with moisture wicking material. This draws moisture away from your body, while having the cooling effect of helping sweat evaporate. It also provides thermal insulation by using material that allows air to easily flow through it - essentially creating a layer of cooling air around your torso and arms. Rashguards are an essential form of protection from what is commonly known as “mat-burn”, or damage caused to the skin from contact with the traditional tatami mats used in jiu jitsu. As these mats feature a textured surface which renders them waterproof whilst also offering traction, friction between skin and mat can result in this type of burn. Although the soles of the feet and palms must remain uncovered during combat, the preventative measure of wearing a rash guard can protect key areas of the body such as the chest, arms and back. Rash Guards are also recommended for use under a Gi for the same reasons listed above. Additionally, it limits the rug-burn like effect of the rough gi material - especially the elbows if the rash guard is long sleeve.

Protective Gear

Although Brazilian Jiu Jitsu does not involve striking, it is very intense in that you are applying a lot of force while in very close proximity with your sparring partner. The bottom line is that nobody can always be 100% accurate when executing technique, so sometimes parts of your body end up where you don’t intend, which can cause damage to important areas. Wearing protective gear will help minimize this damage.

Mouth Guards

Although there is no striking/punching/kicking of any sort in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are takedowns and you always try to keep your opponent close as you manipulate and move around their body. This means it is likely that you will eventually get accidentally struck in the mouth by a passing arm, knee, leg, etc.

You can diminish the risk by wearing a mouth guard every time you are ready to practice Jiu-Jitsu. A mouth guard is used to protect teeth, gums, and nerves in the jaw.

Groin Protectors

A groin protector is the most important equipment a boxer should wear in every training or sparring session.

This piece of gear protects our groin and other body parts near to it from any accidental hit that might happen during training.

For Fighters, accidental low blows are normal occurrence during an intense sparring session.

To protect boxers,Fighters from any unbearable pain and other injuries resulting from an accidental hit, it is essential to wear a groin protector.

Groin protectors (aka groin cups) are highly recommended, especially since the groin is highly exposed in a variety of Jiu Jitsu techniques and movements, like passing the guard. One slip-up by you or your sparring partner and it is easy for a knee, foot, etc. to get planted where you don’t want it.

Groin protectors come either with a supporter (or jock strap) or the cup standalone. It is recommended that you get a good supporter for the cup as it will ensure a snug fit to your body. This is especially important in BJJ because if your cup is allowed to shift to a bad position, the groin protector quickly becomes a groin assaulter as soon as pressure is applied. Good supporters also have convenient cup sleeves, which enables you to quickly slip the cup in and out as needed between sparring sessions.

Head Gear

One of the conditions that can be caused by BJJ is cauliflower ear. This is due to trauma to the ear by an accidental strike or repeatedly pulling your head out of choke holds. The friction on your ear can cause the skin to separate from the cartilage. The result is a mangled looking ear that is caused by the calcification of the blood that fills up the space between the cartilage and the skin.

Not only is it not painful, cauliflower ear is not very pretty and it can impede hearing. Although cauliflower ear is considered a status symbol amongst veteran fighters and Jiu Jitsu masters, it may not be for the average BJJ practitioner.

To prevent cauliflower ear, be sure to get some headgear or ear protectors. The thing to consider most when getting headgear is something that is very low profile so that your opponents cannot use it as extra advantage to keep you in choke holds. The wrestling headgear should be light. When you choose it, make sure it is made of light materials. There is a load your ear can handle. Make sure not to press ears too much. In the case the pressure on your ears is too high, it might be even worse. Better not to have headgear at all than wearing an uncomfortable one which will affect negatively. A cauliflower ear can also be a consequence of bad ear guards, despite it is rare.

You need a material that will not become too warm after 15-20 minutes of an intense training session. Despite many ear guards cannot fulfill this criterion, it is crucial to try to find the most suitable ones. If it is too warm, you will have to take it off during hard training sessions, which leaves your ears and face exposed to the contact.

Knee Pads / Braces

• When practicing Jiu Jitsu, you will put strain on your knees. This is from frequently posturing on them, landing on them, and twisting them as you roll. Protect and Prevent knee injuries during exercise. Keep warm, prevention and reduction of stiff muscles and joints. Effectively impact resistance, increase blood circulation.

Ergonomic design, super lightweight, provides freedom of movement.

• High-density sponge shock absorption protection, effectively resist the impact force.

• Made of high quality material, comfortable and breathable.

• Large elastic force, comprehensively protect your knees while exercising.

• Great for fitness, outdoor sports or training exercises.

You will want knee pads/braces that are made from BJJ and other grappling martial arts as they are very low profile and flexible. Your legs and knees need to be very flexible and unimpeded during rolling if you wish to execute proper Jiu Jitsu technique.

Jiu Jitsu Bag

Where are you going to put all that gear? BJJ bags and gi backpacks are a very functional and practical way to carry your Jiu Jitsu equipment. Sometimes they are even made with the same type of cotton material and weave used in Jiu Jitsu Gis - which means they are very durable and rugged, and they look pretty cool.

There are two types of BJJ bags to choose from: the duffelbag and the backpack. The backpacks are usually good for carrying one gi and your protective gear. The duffelbags have more room for another gi, a change of clothes, fight shorts, etc. Duffelbags are also very useful for holding water bottles, sports drinks and snacks - which come in quite handy during long and intense sparring sessions.

[plastic-mold]

mold manufacturers in China | Topworks-China Mold maker | 30% COST LOWER,10 DAYS LESS

Mold manufacturers in China

Many people assume that mold manufacturers in China are going to be of poor quality. However, a huge number of companies- including multinational corporations- still choose to buy such plastic molds. Does that mean these companies are naive or making a mistake? Of course not. In fact, Topworks plastic mold company, as one of the Top mold manufacturers in China, is capable of making some of the best molds on the market- for a much lower price( 35% COST LOWER,15 BUILDING DAYS LESS) than European and American companies can possibly offer. China has seen a steady increase in the number of manufacturers of plastic injection molds as the industry has grown to be globally competitive. Not only do Mold manufacturers in China have the skills required to make superior injection molds, but we also possess excellent English skills for technology and business. That extends into the Topworks marketing departments, too- most of our sales staff have a strong grasp of CAD drawing, and the technical capability to choose the right mold building project for you. This allows them to speed up the communication process between Topworks and the customer. When making a new plastic injection mold, not only in China but all over the world, the process usually starts with a rendering of the final product drawing. After reading the drawing, engineers can then adjust how to build the mold based on things like the size and structure of the intended parts, the choice of material and how to keep the cost as low as possible – all while considering everything the customer asks for. China mold maker Our factory has worked with multiple European and American companies for many years now, so all you need to do is send us your drawings- we’ll be happy to carry out a test to show you what we have to offer. https://res.cloudinary.com/dl8a9jvpa/video/upload/v1572574321/plastic%20mold.mp4 Mold manufacturing has been around in China for over 30 years, meaning there are plenty of high-quality manufacturers operating today. Many China mold makers possess the same skills and experience as their western counterparts. While those injection mold manufacturers in China may only be paid around 65% of what they could make doing the same job in the US, they will still produce top-quality molds that you can really rely on. " order_by="sortorder" order_direction="ASC" returns="included" maximum_entity_count="500"]

How should I go about choosing mold manufacturers in China?

To clarify, the reason why a lot of US and European clients are declining to get their plastic injection mold from China is mainly that they are often more affordable (up to 35% cheaper than in their country). It should not, however, be the only factor you evaluate when weighing your options- you should also consider the following as a second factor to make sure that the mold manufacturers in China you choose are likely to provide you with a comprehensive task when it comes to developing the mold. - Can they afford to serve customers worldwide? - Consumers who used the service earlier and gave us their recommendations - Tool steel quality - The China mold factory manufacturing plant and their gear are of an industry standard. - Measures for quality control and validation - If you opted for a service provider who doesn't understand what they are dealing with, you may not have to waste your time. - Ability– will the China mold maker be able to carry out the entire task themselves, or will they have to employ a third party to help them with it?

plastic mold structure

The process of China mould making

A design engineer is generally responsible for drawing a component pattern of the new part before the china mold factory can start the actual production of the mold. This blueprint gives the toolmaker an idea of what the new component will look like, so he can start designing the mold before proceeding with the work. In order to design a mold in a way to replicate the finished part very precisely, the specifications of the final part must be carefully reviewed. By performing the initial design on the computer, the mold designer who worked at mold manufacturers in China can get accurate results. The designer of a mold has to consider not only the gate on the part, but also the flow of water in the mold, to decide where the parting line will be on the part, and also to determine how the parts will be pushed out of the mold. Once these decisions have been made, the actual machining steps then begin. There are a variety of operations that need to be carried out in order to make a mold, the raw metal blocks need to be cut into rough dimensions. To obtain exact dimensions, precision machining is required, with this precision machining, this machining generally entails milling operations, grinding, drilling, and the use of electrical discharge machining or EDM. The process of using the lathe to polish the surface of the mold once it has been completed. There have been several trials done to determine how well the mold is able to produce good parts in an appropriate cycle time.

China mould making tips

It is a prevalent understanding that injection molds are as varied in profile, complexity, and size as are the parts they are used to produce. The most simple form of injection molding involves two pieces of steel plates (core and cavity plate) that can be easily installed in a small injection machine and which can also be molded using directly cutting the impression of the article to be molded into the steel. More complex injection molds made by China mold companies will have more cooling channels for controlling the temperature and means for ejecting the moldings. A sliding block may be provided for undercut sections of the part, unscrewing devices for moldings that have a screw thread, and plastic in the runner of the mold may be kept hot to provide a good fluid path. For the purpose of ejecting the moldings after injection molding, there are sometimes hydraulic devices installed, and sometimes compressed air is applied. The process of the production of an injection mold generally begins with the design and construction of the mold. Care must be taken to optimize the design of the components so that they can be molded by China mold makers, and then it must be ejected in the construction of the mold itself. Then, if necessary, it will be tested in the China mold factory and, if necessary, modified before the mold production department is entrusted with producing the mold. Steel is traditionally used to manufacture molds, and it is still the most common material that is used. Cavities and core inserts are crafted from high-quality tool steel that can be hardened as needed. Ejector pins and other ejectors are made with hard tool steel when it comes to the ejection systems, so the same goes for the guide pins and bushes as well. The molding housing, or bolster, is made of mild steel that is softer than the hard steel. In fact, in the production of the mold, it is best to use this grade of steel for all the parts that do not have to endure frictional wear and tear, as it results in minimizing the mold builder’s costs. Also, the steel grade must be selected carefully so that the surface finish required matches the demand is. In the past, like some other molders, injection mold manufacturers in China have been unwilling to accept other materials, such as POM, PVC, on the basis of the assumption that the abrasive action of the plastic passing through the mold will gradually wear away the surface polish. Thermosetting materials and compression are what happen in this process, and the process of making transfer molds is nearly always hardened and chromium plated.  

mold manufacturers in China In retrospect, thermoplastics have little abrasive action, and therefore most of the time, even when runs have run as high as one million or more, soft materials have been used after hardening, especially for household ware plastic mold. These materials include aluminum, brass, zinc, aluminum-zinc alloys (Kirksite). The two last materials are ideal for prototype work since they can be cast easily from them using machines. You need to always look for the best possible mold when it comes to long-run products. Such molds are very costly. However, their cost per unit item is calculated out of ten and one hundred thousand items per mold, which is very small. Over a long period of time, the value of a well-made mold will grow, and in its turn, the cost of the mold will rise. This is because a well-made mold will not require frequent repairs, while the value per unit of the finished product will be very high.

EDM shop   Nowadays, more and more customers want injection mold manufacturers in China to make prototypes so they can evaluate the market and then ask them to make several thousand pieces of the mold design with hardened steel. A prototype mold is exactly what its title suggests, a mold that is being created to serve as a prototype for a product. In rare instances, from a product mold from China, one could find a way to make a long production run, but this is never a matter of course in a business world. The good thing about a prototype mold is that it teaches us a lot about how molds should be manufactured and makes us a lot more confident that we will produce a good mold, but that is probably the extent to which a prototype mold can be helpful.

China Mould Classification

China Mould Classification is generally classified into three general categories: - prototype molding (25 to 1,000 pieces) - Production molding (from 1,000 to 10,000 pieces) - High volume molding (from 10,000 to 2,000,000 pieces) - China Prototype Moulds Creating a prototype thermoplastic injection mold is one of the preliminary steps in building a new product. To evaluate the properties of the resin for injection molding and the set-up requirements for the mold, original prototypes have to be produced from the resin to monitor the dimensional control, the set-up process, and the setting of the mold. In certain products, prototype moldings are designed to meet specifications for product Quality Control testing. Therefore, they are generally used for product quality control testing and (occasionally) as the basis for the initial market testing requirement. As China prototype molds are intended to mimic the production part before launching a production run, they can be used as a relatively inexpensive learning device to point out and correct potential design issues or material selection issues before moving forward on a production run. An existing prototype mold may be fabricated utilizing an existing mold frame, interchangeable soft cavity inserts, manual loading and unloading systems, and a simple cooling system. - China Production Moulds The construction of china production molds utilizes a low-cost mold base and hardened tool steel cavities; the cavities should be machined into predefined shapes and sizes on demand according to specifications at established production rates. The mold must allow for the ease of repair as well as facilitate the escape of trapped air and volatile materials during the molding cycle employing facilitating the venting of the cavities. In this context, a production mold must also incorporate an automatic ejection system and thermoplastic melting temperature control for continuous cooling, ensuring shorter cycle times, lower costs, and consistently high quality. - China High Volume Production Moulds For the China moulds to fully meet the requirements of production tools, the molds must have multiple cavities and be composed of interchangeable mold components. In addition, an efficient high-volume production mould made in China should be easy to maintain and be designed to be resistant to adverse outside forces. For instance, - How often do you begin dismantling a mold only to discover too many inserts that are not numbered or labeled with positions? - What about slots for pry bars? - Could jack screw holes be useful in the removal of cavities? A well-configured mold can help minimize the risks of its design and construction and prevent corrosion and erosion. In addition, a customized preventative maintenance program can be incorporated, as well as surface coatings. Read the full article

[sonipanda]

And hello new brand! I have come across DK before, but never had the chance to get my hands on a pair until now!

I got these a while ago and realised I needed to get reviewing ASAP, and I know the weather is still pretty cold in the UK, but I didn’t feel like holding on any longer!

About Donna Karan

THE WORLD OF DONNA KARAN

Donna Karan, a pioneer. A woman designing for women. Modern woman—forward-thinking, confident, and self-assured—succeeding in the world, while pulling off the balancing act of life.

Responding and reacting to real needs—needs she knew because they were also her own, Karan launched Seven Easy Pieces with her first collection in 1984—and revolutionized the way women dress. A bodysuit, a tailored jacket, a skirt, pants, a cashmere sweater, a leather jacket, and an evening look. With Seven Easy Pieces, women could create infinite combinations with these easy-to-wear garments. Karan intuitively understood the need and desires of modern women, designing collections that could take them from day to evening and simplifying life, without sacrificing elegance or sensuality.

As Donna’s own life evolved, she was confronted with a new demand: a teenage daughter raiding her closet. And so came the next generation New Yorker: DKNY.

Since its inception in 1989, DKNY has been synonymous with New York, inspired by the energy and attitude of the city. Drawing on Karan’s original principle of designing for the woman who never knew where the day would take her, DKNY has transformed into a global lifestyle powerhouse: the dynamic wardrobe of everything you need to live a New York life—wherever that may be.

MODERN. CONFIDENT. ICONIC. NEW YORK.

More than 30 years later, Donna Karan is one of the most iconic names in American fashion. Her iconic silhouettes and innovative system of dressing remain as relevant as ever, now reimagined in a modern-day Donna Karan New York and the next-generation counterpart, DKNY. Caviar and pizza. Black car and taxi. The skyline and the street. Together, Donna Karan New York and DKNY are the two sides of the city that inspires everything we do.

– taken from her website

The Spec

Colour: Black 124

Size: Small

Denier: 10

Materials: 75% Polyamide, 25% Elastane

Price: £9.99

Website: UKTights – Donna Karan Signature Collection Ultra Sheer Satin Control Top Tights

My Outfit

I kept it proper chic for work today with my sheer polka dot shirt (with my bodysuit cami top underneath) tucked into my bodycon pencil skirt and just for effect, I added my peep toe polka dot court shoes.

I left my hair down and curly-ish and added small studs instead of big earrings to keep with the look.

My Deets

Shirt: Forever21

Bodysuit Cami Top: New Look

Skirt: H&M

Tights: Donna Karan

Shoes: Phase Eight

The Review

From The Website: Donna Karan have an amazing hosiery collection out and it’s here at UK Tights. These gorgeous ultra sheer satin tights have a control top to help smooth and shape your bum and tum. They’re also beautifully fine as they’re a 10 denier.

* 10 denier * Sandal foot * Ultra sheer * Control top * 75% Polyamide * 25% Elastane

The Packaging: I found the packaging to be really rich, luxurious and enticing. Like I am talking Wolford and above level. The front shows the model’s legs (not too sure if she is wearing hosiery but I like to hop she is) along with the brand and the make. In the top right corner, it also gives you a breakdown of the size, colour, style etc. which I think is great!

The back states the sizing guide, along with the materials and a little blurb about the hosiery:

“Why choose between your favourite hosiery and your favourite toner? My Signature Collection gives you both. Your legs will look their absolute sleekest and most sophisticated everyday of the week. More than hosiery, it’s a confident way of life.”

When you get inside, you will find these really neatly wrapped around cardboard with a branded label (fancy or what?!)

At first I thought it was promotional card (and it turned out it was) with the following text about the different pairs:

“How you feel about your body determines your mood. It even determines how you carry yourself. And if you feel good about your body, you are more self-confident. Donna Karan Hosiery is committed to making you feel longer, leaner, leggier. Sexier. Because if you feel great in your clothes, you feel great about your body. And that makes all the difference.”

“The Nudes Hosiery made to match skin tones, perfecting the look and feel of a truly flawless bare leg. Better than bare, virtually invisible, virtually flawless.”

“The Signature Collection Effortless style and everyday luxury, embracing the most desired, timeless leg options, from ultra sheer to sueded opaque.“

“The Body Perfect Collection Legwear Modern shaping and toning that combine innovative design with luxurious comfort. Three leg options and two body controlling levels provides the style you want and the control you desire.”

“The Body Perfection Collection Everyday Smoothing A simple, luxe way to look better under clothing each and every day. Three styles offer minimal control with maximal smoothing, including rear and tummy toning. A way to smooth, a way of life.“

“The Body Perfect Collection Shapewear An innovative shapewear system as comfortable as it is sleek. Four silhouettes and three body controlling levels provide the perfect combination of modern style and targeted sculpting that’s right for you.”

Getting Them On: so I would certainly advise hosiery gloves with these as they are delicate and are prone to snagging (not put it to the test yet!) I did the scrunch and roll on the legs, taking care going over anklets.

Rolling up the leg is a breeze; they just glide right on. No need for tugging or pulling up too high either!

On The Legs: is like wow! A pure smooth finish with a subtle shine to them is exactly what I love when it comes to sheers! They make the legs looks utterly gorgeous without even trying!

The denier is superb for a nice basic coverage (which works for most workplaces) and I love how you still get your natural leg colour still shining through.

The quality of these are amazing; not one snag throughout the whole day and I am super impressed with this! Normally I end up getting a few as I am busy rushing around most of the time, but I am dead happy with how these turned out 12 hours later!

Now these are control top, however I have to say that it’s the most lightest control top I have tried to date. I actually forgot that they were when I got them on and during the day, I treated them like normal tights; I mean with control top you need to make sure that your bum sits in a certain pair of the hosiery etc. but I truly forgot. Perfect for those who like these tops (I am part of this clan) and want it quite low rather than a top which can squeeze the life out of you!

Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures up close pictures of this, but look further down at the waistband section to see more.

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The Toes & Ankle: completely sheer sandal toes on these, which I am loving! It works so well with peep toe and open toe shoes (and perfect for summer coming up too!)

No snags or runs or pulls around this area, and plenty of toe wiggle room too!

Around the ankles yo won’t find any wrinkling or crinkling as these are a complete smooth run from the toe seams right to the band!

The Waistband: now the waistband/control top is decent. You get a good size brief boxer on them which covers front and back (of course) with a cotton gusset inside.

The band itself is comfortable during the day, however it does start to dig in slightly the longer you wear them I found. It wasn’t too bad, but I had to pull away a few times to relieve some pressure off my tummy.

My Thoughts?

I am digging these! I love that sheer, I love the denier and I love this brand. The control top is a light and subtle one which does work (to the point you forget!) and these hold up so well during the day.

The quality is fabulous on these, and I would recommend it solely on that basis. Everything else is a plus point in my eyes!

Donna Karan Signature Collection Ultra Sheer Satin Control Top Tights And hello new brand! I have come across DK before, but never had the chance to get my hands on a pair until now!

[mcneelamusic]

My Favourite Musical Gift Ideas for Christmas 2020

Now more than ever, the world needs music. Music has been scientifically proven to have a profoundly positive effect on your mental health.

Learning and playing music is also the ultimate brain train game and keeps the brain healthy and active and can even reverse decline.

I started selling bodhráns over 41 years ago. Since then McNeela Music has grown to include concertinas, flutes, whistles, fiddles, banjos, accordions and so much more.

Giving the gift of music is one of the greatest things you can do. So to help you choose the perfect traditional Irish musical gift I’ve compiled my list of top gifts for Christmas 2020.

You’ll find musical stocking fillers and Secret Santa ideas to beautifully crafted Irish instruments and that something extra special for the person who already has it all.

If you don’t see what you’re looking for get in touch and I’ll do my best to help.

– Paraic

Contents

Musical Stocking Fillers

Secret Santa Around €50

Gifts For Children

Irish Music Gifts for Under the Tree

Money No Object

Books & CDs

Under €100 ($)

Under €250 ($$)

Under €500 ($$$)

Under €1,000 ($$$$)

Under €2,000 ($$$$$)

Musical Stocking Fillers

Clarke Celtic Whistle

– The original penny whistle is a perennial favourite. This dark green Celtic whistle is the perfect musical Christmas gift for all ages and abilities, and is very pocket friendly too!

Robot Instrument Stand

– A colourful way to display your instruments and keep them within easy reach. This is a nifty fold away instrument stand and will hold a whole host of string instruments.

Metal Cheating Spoons

– For the percussionist in your life who wants to try out the spoons these cheating spoons make it easy to get started.

Flute Maintenance Kit

– A best-seller, we sell at least one practically every day, being a flute player myself I find that this is an invaluable kit designed to keep your wooden flute in tip-top condition.

Selection of Bodhrán Beaters

Bodhrán players are constantly trying out new beaters and tippers and will always welcome new additions to their collection. Take a look at my selection, all at stocking (!) friendly prices. I recommend the Fiddle Bow Beater and the Brush Beater if you’re stuck for ideas.

Shaskeen Live and kicking Double CD

– I’d recommend this for all lovers of traditional Irish music and the céilí band style and makes a great gift for the Irish music lover in your life

The McNeela Musical T-Shirt

Everyone who wears this comes back raving about the quality of the material and the comfortable fit. It also gets great feedback at sessions. Better still, it has been screen printed using cutting edge water based inks by local Dublin lads. Oh and the answer is on the back!

Drum Diddly Bodhrán Cream

This is my best-selling premium bodhrán conditioning cream, so good you can use it on your own hands, because you’re worth it! It also resurrects the goatskin to a startling degree and really enhances the tone. Sixty 5-star reviews can’t be wrong!

Quick Draw Capo

-My best-selling Capo, slide it on and never take it off. Perfect for nearly all stringed instruments.

Bodhrán Mic – This five-star rated bodhrán mic has astounded bodhrán players thanks to its ability to capture that beautiful bass tone plus the price ain’t bad at all!

The McNeela Violin Shoulder Rest

Designed to fit 3/4 and full size violins this beautifully crafted fully adjustable professional maple wood shoulder rest boasts an excellent fit, high comfort value and a professional finish plus it fits neatly into a Christmas stocking!

The FZONE Chromatic Violin Clip-On Tuner

-I use tuners all the time and this one is a top seller garnering great reviews plus it’s handy. Just attach it to the violin neck and tune up.

Premium Carbon Fibre Violin Bow – my coffee brown violin bow with snakewood frog weighs only 65 grams and gets a gorgeous rich tone from the strings.

Secret Santa Around €50

Gallon Cross Bodhrán Set – This beautiful screen printed 12″ bodhrán not only looks great but comes with a beater and an instruction DVD by yours truly. This is a perfect Celtic music Christmas gift for the percussionist in your life.

Lee Oskar Harmonica – You can’t go wrong with a Lee Oskar Harmonica. Suitable for playing Blues, Rock, Country, Folk and Jazz.

Books & CDs

Feadóg Tin Whistle Set – Tom Maguire’s classic method has inspired and introduced countless players to the joys of the tin whistle and this set contains everything you need in one with a tin whistle and demonstration CD.

The Irish Flute by Fintan Vallely – I still consult my Vallely Irish flute book for everything from practice tips to flute maintenance, very comprehensive and full of interesting information all presented in Vallely’s unique style.

Foinn Seisiún

The Foinn Seisiún Series starts with the Foinn Seisiún 1 book and is a library essential for those of you interested in getting to grips with Irish session tune sets. You can also buy the accompanying CD to play along with, magic.

Feochán CD by Robert Harvey – 7 time All-Ireland champion, Robert Harvey, was in with us recently playing some McNeela flutes and whistles. His playing astounded me. His acclaimed debut album would be a great Christmas gift for whistle and flute lovers or anyone who appreciates great traditional Irish music.

Extreme TGI Banjo Gig Bag – TGI make very smart instrument cases and their Extreme range is a particular favourite. Get it for the tenor banjo player in your life. It also fits a mandola.

Irish Flute Box – Another best-selling item and one of my top selling cases. It’s foam-lined, shock-proof and has a section for whistles. This is a must-have for the flute player in your life.

Gifts For Children

McNeela 14 inch Bodhrán – this bodhrán is a perfect size for ages 7 and up, it has all the features of a professional bodhrán, including the rich & warm McNeela signature bass, but in a child-friendly size

The Wren Concertina – This beginner concertina has been a best-seller of mine for years with good reason; it’s a great child-friendly size, it features large white buttons for easy finger placement, a clean bright sound and it comes with free beginner lessons with Caitlín Nic Gabhann.

Easy String Violin – My Easy String violin range is perfect for young delicate fingers. It takes the pain out of practicing and helps them get their note placement faster and more comfortably. The price cannot be beaten!

Cygnet Rosewood Wooden Flute – the Cygnet is specially designed for beginners both young and older. I’ve made the embouchure easier to fill and the flute itself is lightweight for a wooden flute. Not only that but it produces a beautiful soft tone, enough to get them hooked on the Irish flute style.

Tony Dixon Practice Flute – for the very young player this lightweight polymer practice flute will be a great entry to Irish flute playing and it’s at a nice learner level price too.

Irish Music Gifts for Under the Tree

Under €100 ($)

Premium bodhrán Gig Bag – we designed this bag to be sturdy yet lightweight and with plenty of cushioning for your bodhrán. I also added a handy beater pocket at the front plus rubber floor protectors. It looks fantastic in striking black and carmine and Celtic forest green colourways.

14” Non-Tunable bodhrán

– one of my best sellers, this comes with taped goatskin to get that signature luscious bass sound. A joy to play it’s perfect for young or petite players and a great travel size too.

Susato Penny Whistle

This is a top choice for many an established whistle player in Ireland. No one could believe the tone they could get from a ‘plastic’ whistle! It’s a great Christmas gift for the tin whistle or flute player in your life.

Bodhrán Beater Set 2020 Edition You will never go wrong giving a bodhrán player more beaters! Firstly, we’re always losing them and secondly we love to try out new styles. This set has it all.

Under €250 ($$)

Duo-Head Low D Flute & Whistle (TB022) by Tony Dixon – An excellent low D whistle and flute combo by Tony, you get two great instruments for the price of one with its dual-head accessory. It’s great for learners.

Setanta Low Whistle in D – John O’Brien has made the Setanta Low Whistle even more perfect. I’d even go so far as to say it is unmatched. This is a serious whistle, grab one before they sell out (again!).

The Setanta Low Whistles are also available in a Full Set of E, Eb & D

14″ Tuneable Bodhrán – this perfect travel size bodhrán comes with tuners so you never have to leave your perch at the session! It’s a great Christmas gift for a young beginner or for someone who wants to add to their bodhrán collection.

The Koda Mandolin – if they can play the violin, they can play the mandolin, the fingering’s the same. This vintage style mandolin by well known makers, Koda, will look great under the tree too!

Under €500 ($$$)

Wren 2 Concertina

This magical music machine is my best-selling concertina and just perfect for the beginner concertina player. I upgraded it in 2020 and it is even better than ever. The reviews are consistently excellent and it’s a lovely gift for any aspiring musician, plus you get superb online video beginner lessons absolutely free when you buy.

The Lon Dubh Delrin Irish Flute – it sounds so good, no one will know it’s not wood! I recommend this gorgeous flute for players in very hot, dry or cold climates. It is virtually maintenance free and it will never crack. It’s fast becoming a favourite here at McNeela Music.

Rosewood Performance Deep Rim 15” Tunable Bodhrán

I think the addition of tuners to bodhráns was a major leap forward for this great Irish drum; hand tuners are very convenient for uninterrupted playing all night long.

The deep Rosewood rim adds a beautiful aesthetic, this is one you’ll want to hang on your wall when you’re not obsessively playing it!

Oh, and how can I forget you also receive a comprehensive online introduction and beginner lesson to the bodhrán by yours truly – free with all purchases of McNeela tuneable bodhráns PLUS 8 bonus bodhrán lessons with bodhrán playing legend, Rónán Ó Snodaigh.

The Wave Bodhrán Set – One player has described receiving his Wave bodhrán as ‘a religious experience’! For the bodhrán player that has it all, this will seriously impress them.

The set includes everything an experienced player needs including a selection of advanced beaters, a premium travel bag plus full access to Rónán Ó Snodaigh’s complete Beginner to Master Bodhrán Course.

Under €1,000 ($$$$)

Arie de Keyser Keyless Flute

I currently have a small number of these stunning African Blackwood flutes ready to ship. Arie is famous for crafting beautiful wooden flutes for the traditional Irish market. His African Blackwood Irish flute would be a market leader. Hurry, if you want one as stock is very limited.

McNeela African Blackwood Flute – I’m very proud of this flute as it represents a culmination of many years of playing and research. It’s a powerful instrument thanks to the density of the blackwood, I’ve ensured that the low D is strong, and the sound has just the right amount of chiff for a great Irish trad sound

Swan Premium Beginner Concertina

– this is not just a very good looking concertina. Its looks showcase a superb instrument featuring terrific action, a great sound and sublime ease of play.

Perfect for beginners and improvers who want something a little more premium from their concertina; it’s also a favourite with pros. Plus it comes with free online lessons by Caitlín Nic Gabhann exclusive to McNeela Instruments!

Maestro Violin – this is one of those gems that no one can believe costs less than a €1,000. It produces a heavenly sound and is just made for traditional and folk music the world over. Listen to Liam O’Connor play it if you don’t believe me.

McNeela Keyed Delrin Flute – You won’t find such a superb keyed flute for a lower price anywhere. It’s crafted from low-maintenance hardwearing Delrin yet produces a gorgeous woody tone and is great for playing traditional and folk tunes both solo or in a group.

Under €2,000 ($$$$$)

Phoenix Concertina

– my best selling intermediate concertina is a game changer for the market. Superb sound, fast riveted action, ease of play second to none and the finish is a study in subtle elegance, you may never need another concertina.

Sam Murray Keyless Blackwood Flute – Sam Murray is one of Ireland’s greatest flute makers. I currently have two of these sought after flutes ready to ship now. So beat the queue and get your hands on the Rolls Royce of Irish flutes.

McNeela 3 Voice Premium B/C Accordion – Stun them with a gift of this premium 3 voice concertina featuring Czech made ‘tipo a mano’ reeds for a powerful accordion tone. It sounds as good as it looks and comes with a hard case and sturdy shoulder straps for a limited time only.

Sam Murray Keyed Blackwood Flute – Sam’s list of admirers is endless and includes myself so I’m deeply honoured to be an exclusive stockist of Sam’s work – his keyed African blackwood is a superstar among Irish flutes, there aren’t enough superlatives really.

Money No Object

Sam Murray Keyed Blackwood Flute – Sam’s list of admirers is endless and includes myself so I’m deeply honoured to be an exclusive stockist of Sam’s work – his keyed African blackwood is a superstar among Irish flutes, there aren’t enough superlatives really.

For the man, woman or child who already has everything, we have some very special antique concertinas. Each one is unique, displaying the ultimate in craftsmanship and musicality and most importantly has been hand selected with superb playability in mind and that inimitable quality of vintage warmth and all the stories the instrument has to tell.

This Wheatstone Linota Concertina is a rare specimen and a really special ‘find’ for the concertina lover in your life. Feel free to call me about this if you wish to discuss shipping etc.

I can’t think of a more special way to wish someone all the joys of the Christmas season. This is truly a gift for life.

Choose from antique Jeffries, Wheatstone & Lachenal concertinas and vintage violins bows.

Please get in touch with me for any extra details you may require and to experience the legendary 5-star McNeela customer service.

Contact: service@mcneelamusic.com or call me on +353 1 8322432

[gregslowe]

Lewisburg Named Top Zoom Town by Forbes

  The COVID-19 pandemic is propelling many remote workers to flee crowded cities in search of more bucolic settings. Some of these destinations were, in fact, once considered vacation getaways. NPR’s https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/09/08/909680016/zoom-towns-and-the-new-housing-market-for-the-2-americas" aria-label="Planet Money" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/3jX2FIi" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Planet Money defines “zoom towns” as housing markets that are booming as remote work takes off—adding another term to our growing pandemic lexicon.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, many workers opted to live in urban centers close to—or within commuting distance—of their offices and looked forward to vacations. Now, they find themselves living and working in high-rent and sometimes high-rise apartments with only limited space, with vastly diminished opportunities to travel for work or leisure. Because of social distancing measures and closures (including restaurants, theaters, nightlife  and cultural institutions), they are less able to take advantage of many of the perks that initially drew them to their once-vibrant communities. 

Remote workers are craving more space, privacy and tranquility as well as convenient opportunities to spend time outdoors and get closer to nature. Although interest in zoom towns has been primarily fueled by millennials, the desire to move is also being felt acutely by families living in close quarters whose children are now learning remotely at home.

Finding a place to call home

Recent trends in the real estate market reflect this shift: Rental vacancies are surging and rental costs are declining in urban areas—as housing prices are increasing and inventory is becoming more scarce in suburbs and rural areas. 

Online real estate market http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2020-09-08-Remote-Work-Could-Open-Homeownership-to-Nearly-Two-Million-Renter-Households" aria-label="Zillow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Zillow estimates that some two million renter households may now be in the market for home ownership because they are able to telecommute.

Based on media reports and/or out-of-town search traffic and home growth provided by Zillow, the seven towns below exemplify those that have been coined zoom towns:

Kingston, New York

Located in Ulster County about 90 miles north of Manhattan, https://kingston-ny.gov/Tourism" aria-label="Kingston, New York" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Kingston, New York topped the list in out-of town interest on Zillow, showing a traffic growth of 116% in July alone. The city offers the lure of a trendy, revitalized historic district; vibrant arts community; easy access to local parks, and opportunities for fishing, bicycling, rock-climbing, skiing and snowboarding.

Lewisburg, Tennessee

Set on rolling hills, https://www.tnvacation.com/middle-tennessee/lewisburg" aria-label="Lewisburg, Tennessee" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Lewisburg, Tennessee is an historic, small town with a population of less than 12,000 people. Located between the larger cities of Nashville and Huntsville, both about one hour away by car, it offers remote workers the best of both worlds (small town and larger cities). Housing is affordable and the wildlife-rich Duck River offers opportunities for fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

An article in the https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2020/08/20/fueled-pandemic-vineyard-real-estate-market-sees-new-kind-boom" aria-label="Vineyard Gazette" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/3kO8qbw" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vineyard Gazette notes that buyers are viewing scenic https://web.mvy.com/tourist-information" aria-label="Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts as a pandemic safe haven, of sorts. Only accessibly by air or boat, people who once owned second homes or spent summers here are now making the Vineyard their full-time residence. Divided into six intimate towns, this picture-perfect island offers beaches, boating and wildlife sanctuaries

Butte, Montana

The https://montanafreepress.org/2020/06/23/realtors-report-out-of-state-rush-on-montana-real-estate/" aria-label="Montana Free Press" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/2BtsZbX" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Montana Free Press notes that https://southwestmt.com/communities/butte.htm" aria-label="Butte, Montana" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Butte, Montana (fifth on Zillow’s list) is seeing an uptick in popularity on the ground. Median prices for single family homes in Butte, the fifth largest city in Montana, have risen more than 10 percent over a year ago. Residents praise its low population density, wide open spaces and abundance of recreational opportunities. Hikers, climbers and mountaineers will find it appealing to live about four hours from Glacier National Park,.

The Hamptons, New York

https://www.discoverlongisland.com/member/hamptons-visitors-council/" aria-label="The Hamptons, New York" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">The Hamptons, New York is made up of a string of small towns, villages and hamlets that line the South Fork of Long Island. Located about 80 miles east of New York City, the seaside region is best known for its expansive beaches, upscale restaurants, posh shops and luxury oceanfront homes. The https://www.easthamptonstar.com/health-business/202072/urban-exodus-drives-boom-hamptons-real-estate-market" aria-label="East Hampton Star" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/2NNi53M" style="box-sizing: border-box;">East Hampton Star reported that after a rental surge in early spring, low mortgage rates and worries over a second wave of the pandemic in the fall, led to a surge in home purchases. To meet demand, many short-term rental properties were turned into long-term ones or put up for sale.

Aspen, Colorado

Set in the Rocky Mountains, https://aspenchamber.org/" aria-label="Aspen, Colorado" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Aspen, Colorado is best known as a mecca for skiers and other year-round outdoor enthusiasts. The combination of an historic downtown, breathtaking scenery and posh resorts have made it a popular vacation destination that is now being sought out by remote workers interested a high-quality of life. According to https://www.aspentimes.com/news/new-aspenites-have-made-school-enrollment-and-real-estate-trending-up-but-for-how-long/" aria-label="The Aspen Times" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/327CzLe" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Aspen Times, the recent housing surge has created a spike in fall school enrollments.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

https://www.capecodchamber.org/" aria-label="Cape Cod, Massachusetts" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">Cape Cod, Massachusetts has long been a prime summer getaway, known for its quaint towns that offer boating, golfing, beaches, hiking and biking trails, arts and culture, charming shops, excellent seafood and more. Literally a cape off the coast of Massachusetts, its communities, each with its own history and traditions and culture, are divided into three sections. In an effort to explain the recent surge in real estate prices and sales, Barnstable County (Massachusetts) Register of Deeds John Meade told https://www.barnstablepatriot.com/news/20200911/cape-cod-real-estate-experts-say-its-too-soon-to-draw-conclusions-from-sales-boom" aria-label="The Barnstable Patriot" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/3cLlaNu" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Barnstable Patriot that strong sales may be “powered by work-from-home city dwellers relocating to the Cape.”

For those unhappy with their current living situation and seeking a truly “domestic” getaway, a visit to a “zoom town” might help pique your fancy before you make the plunge.

A few caveats to assuage your wanderlust:

Although remote workers can now https://www.nytimes.com/article/virtual-tour-real-estate.html" aria-label="visit homes virtually" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">visit homes virtually, a recent Zillow https://www.zillow.com/research/online-buying-selling-27568/" aria-label="survey" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">survey found that a majority of buyers (64%) say they want to tour a home in person before purchasing it. “That said, not everyone feels comfortable traveling during the pandemic,” says a Zillow spokesperson.

Writing for https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-09-13/should-i-buy-a-house-now-covid-19-pandemic-says-wait?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-view&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=view&__twitter_impression=true&__twitter_impression=true" aria-label="Bloomberg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(0, 56, 145); cursor: pointer; background-color: transparent;">https://ift.tt/35UVA7a" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bloomberg, Teresa Ghilarducci, a professor of economics at the New School for Social Research cautions that a seller’s market may not be the right time for anyone to purchase a new home.

via Blogger https://ift.tt/33Z9DWA

[cigarloungecom]

The Simple Cigar Humidor Guide

Cigar humidor

Cigar Humidors are the perfect solution. Cigars have dried tobacco leaves rolled in them. It is important to store cigars properly to keep the dried tobacco fresh and moisture-free. When cigars come in direct contact with air for a long time, they can be soggy or dry. A humidor is an enclosed wooden or acrylic box. Cigar Humidors have an ideal temperature and humidity level to store cigars. They can get in different sizes and different storage capacities depending on the requirement of the user. We even feature Humidors with marine themes!. The price of humidor depends on the size and functionalities included in it.

The main features of humidors are:

·        Hygrometer

·        Humidifiers

·        Spanish cedar interior

·        Dividers

·        Lock and key

The hygrometer is a device that uses to maintain the humidity at a balanced rate for cigars or tobaccos to prevent them from external temperature changes and moisture. The hygrometers have two types digital and analog.

A humidifier is a device which controls the moisture and humidity inside the humidor. It circulates the fresh air through the humidor. The ideal humidity level is between 65% to 70%. The humidifier maintains ideal humidity so, the cigars may not become dry or soggy.

Spanish cedar is wood type. It uses to make the interior of the humidors. Spanish cedar interior absorbs the extra moisture and humidity. It maintains the humidity level to keep the original flavor and aroma of cigars alive.

The dividers include for proper organization. They are cedar trays. These cedar trays also provide extra storage space for single cigars and accessories. These trays can remove if you don’t need extra space for storage.

The lock and key provide the security of the collection stored inside the humidor.

All humidors come with the features mentioned above.

Cigar Humidors are available in following types:

Cabinet cigar Humidor:

A Cabinet humidor is a large cupboard look humidor. It is also known as In Wall Humidor. It comes with dual-panels and a single panel depending on the size of humidor. Cabinet humidors are commonly used on the commercial level, where the huge amount of products need to store for a long duration. It can store thousands of products. Cabinet humidors come with a digital hygrometer and a humidifier. Due to the huge size and advanced features, the price of cabinet humidor is high. Checkout our Cabinet Humidor range here, or request a quote for a custom cabinet humidor. We also have a Remington Lite Humidor review.

Desktop Cigar Humidor:

Desktop humidors are small wooden boxes to keep on counters of shops or desks of offices. They include a glass hygrometer to monitor the humidity level and a humidifier to air circulation through the box. The desktop humidor is available at a low price. But it will cost high if you want a limited-edition humidor such as Daniel marshall or Savoy Humidor. In terms of specific product recommendations, The Old Glory is very popular, the San Tropez Humidor, and Cuban Wheel Humidor are always in high demand.

Furniture cigar humidor:

Furniture humidors are central wood tables and side tables to keep in coffee bars, homes, or offices. The exterior of these humidors looks like an item of furniture. They have a unique and attractive design. The wood table humidor typically uses in the tobacco or coffee bar. And the side table humidor use in the drawings or office cabins. The price of furniture humidors depends on size and features. in terms of specific product recommendations, The Glasstop Coffee Table Humidor is very popular, The Verona Humidor , as well as the Aging Vault Humidor

Travel cigar Humidor:

Travel humidors are small size humidors. They use for traveling. The size and weight of travel humidor keep convenient and portable. Travel humidor can store only a few cigars. The travel humidors have a low price.

Custom cigar Humidor:

Custom humidors made on orders. They are personalized humidors. It includes handwork, unique pictures, or paintings. The price of custom humidors is high as compared to ordinary humidors but you are also getting personalized service and custom fittings. Click here to view our custom humidor page.

Electric or Electronic Humidor:

In electric humidors, sensors used to maintain the humidity level and moisture. The user needs to adjust the temperature and humidity level only once. After the system starts working, it monitors the humidity by itself and maintains the ideal humidity level by absorbing or releasing the air depending on the requirement. It turns on the fan when the humidity level drops from the set point. The price of electric humidors is high due to advanced technology.

The cigar humidor users can also buy stuff like air purifiers, air conditioners, and humidification packets. These accessories do not include in the packaging of the humidor. The most trustworthy companies to buy a fully equipped cigar humidor and their accessories are the following:

·        Prestige Import Group cigar humidors

·        Quality Importers cigar humidors

·        Humidor Supreme cigar humidors

·        Don Salvatore cigar humidors

·        Adorini cigar humidors

FAQ that will help you to buy the best cigar humidor.

Are electric cigar humidors products for anyone?

Yes, anyone can use electric cigar humidors because they are more reliable and efficient. Meanwhile, they are expensive as compare to simple humidors.

What happens when the cigar direct contact with the air for more than 4 to 5 days?

The cigars absorb and release moisture. If you keep cigar without a humidor, it will dry out. The cigar humidor is the best way to keep cigar for storage.

Do I take cigars out of it’s plastic to put in the Cigar humidor?

No, it is not compulsory to unpack the cigar. But it is a good approach to keep cigars out of packet because the moisture can properly pass through the cigars. And the cigar humidor can work efficiently.

Do Cigar humidors come ready to operate?

The wooden humidors do not come ready to operate. You need to assemble all the components. The manual comes along with the humidor. You can read the instructions to assemble the humidor. It is a time taking process. All steps should follow properly, with patience. Because you are going to use humidor for a long time.

How long can a humidor last?

A humidor can last for years. It depends on the proper use and care.

Do I need to buy a new humidor if any of feature stop working?

No, you don’t need to change the whole unit. You can find the components of cigars on different sites and get from there.

How long a cigar last in the humidor?

A cigar can last for 3 months in a humidor.

Does anyone under the age of 21 can buy cigars?

No. According to law, the person with the age of 21 can buy cigars.

About Crown Humidors

We are committed to high quality cigar and humidor products and we want your shopping experience to be unique and thoroughly engaged every time you visit our store. We promise to do everything in our power to provide you with a first-class shopping experience and to answer your questions and concerns. Our top priority is for people who want to buy a large humidor or closet, and if you are not satisfied, there is a closet Or humidor.

If you have a product question or need help, please read the information in our FAQ section to see if we can answer your cigar question. If you cannot find an answer to your question, we offer you a few quick and easy solutions. We will respond to all your e-mails as soon as possible and look forward to helping you with any queries about cigars or humidors.

Simply fill out the form below and send it to us and you will immediately receive a reply from crownhumidors.com. This email is the quickest way to get a response from one of our customer service representatives. We will answer you when we receive your order, otherwise we will reply as soon as possible. Please visit our website, our Facebook page or our Twitter account (@ CrownHumidor).

When it comes to our customers “shopping experience, we want to make them happy and provide better service through good or bad feedback. We are constantly striving to improve the experience for our customers here at Crown Humidors and look forward to your feedback. Our Customer Service Team is at your disposal, so please call our Customer Service Team or send us an e-mail to the following address and you will be answered as soon as possible.

We always strive for 100% satisfaction, so if you would like to send us your feedback, please click on the link below to leave a comment.

The post The Simple Cigar Humidor Guide appeared first on Crown Humidors Cigar Lounge.

from Crown Humidors Cigar Lounge https://cigarlounge.crownhumidors.com/cigar-humidor/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cigar-humidor

[suzanneshannon]

Neumorphism and CSS

Neumorphism (aka neomorphism) is a relatively new design trend and a term that’s gotten a good amount of buzz lately. It’s aesthetic is marked by minimal and real-looking UI that’s sort of a new take on skeuomorphism — hence the name. It got its name in a UX Collective post from December 2019, and since then, various design and development communities have been actively discussing the trend, usually with differing opinions. Chris poked fun at it on Twitter. Adam Giebl created an online generator for it. Developers, designers, and UX specialists are weighing in on the topic of aesthetics, usability, accessibility, and practicality of this design trend.

Clearly, it’s stricken some sort of chord in the community.

Let’s dip our toes into the neumorphism pool, showcasing the various neumorphic effects that can be created using our language of choice, CSS. We’ll take a look at both the arguments for and against the style and weigh how it can be used in a web interface.

Neumorphism as a user interface

We’ve already established that the defining quality of neumorphism is a blend of minimalism and skeuomorphism. And that’s a good way to look at it. Think about the minimal aesthetic of Material Design and the hyper-realistic look of skeuomorphism. Or, think back to Apple’s design standards circa 2007-12 and compare it to the interfaces it produces today.

Nine years of Apple Calendar! The image on the left is taken from 2011 and exhibits the look and feel of a real, leather-bound journal, said to be inspired by one on Steve Jobs’ personal yacht. The right is the same app as shown today in 2020, bearing a lot less physical inspiration with a look and feel we might describe as “flat” or minimal.

If we think about Apple’s skeuomorphic designs from earlier in the century as one extreme and today’s minimal UI as another, then we might consider neumorphism as something in the middle.

Alexander Plyuto has championed and evolved neomorphic designs on his Dribbble account. (Source)

Neumorphic UI elements look like they’re connected to the background, as if the elements are extruded from the background or inset into the background. They’ve been described by some as “soft UI” because of the way soft shadows are used to create the effect.

Another way to understand neumorphic UI is to compare it to Material Design. Let’s use a regular card component to draw a distinction between the two.

Notice how the Material Design card (left) looks like it floats above the background, while the neumorphic variation(right) appears to be pushed up through the background, like a physical protrusion.

Let’s break down the differences purely from a design standpoint.

QualityMaterial DesignNeomorphismShadowsElements have a single or multiple dark shadows around them. Elements have two shadows: one light and one dark.Background colorsAn element’s background color can be different than the background color of the parent element.Background colors must be the same (or very similar) as the background color of the parent element.EdgesElements can be rounded or squared.Rounded edges are a defining quality.BordersThere are no hard rules on borders. Using them can help prevent elements that look like they are floating off the screen.Elements can have an optional subtle border to improve contrast and make the edges a bit sharper

That should draw a pretty picture of what we’re talking about when we refer to neumorphism. Let’s move on to how it’s implemented in CSS.

Neumorphism and CSS

Creating a neumorphic interface with CSS is seemingly as easy as applying a regular box-shadow property on any element, but it’s more nuanced than that. The distinctiveness of a neumorphic UI comes from using multiple box-shadow and background-color values to achieve different types of effects and variations.

Neumorphic box shadows

Let’s do a quick refresher on the box-shadow property first so we can get a better understanding. Here’s the syntax:

box-shadow: [horizontal offset] [vertical offset] [blur radius] [optional spread radius] [color];

Following options can be adjusted:

Horizontal offset: A positive value offsets shadow to the right, while a negative value offsets it to the left.

Vertical offset: A positive value offsets shadow upwards, while a negative value offsets it downwards.

Blur Radius: The length of the shadow. The longer the length, the bigger and lighter the shadow becomes. There are no negative values.

Spread Radius: This is another length value, where larger values result in bigger, longer shadows.

Color: This defines the shadow’s color, just as we’d do for the CSS color property.

Inset: The default value (initial) results in a drop shadow. Using the inset value moves the shadow inside the frame of the element, resulting in an inner shadow.

We can apply multiple shadows using comma-separated box-shadow values. Up to four values can be concatenated, one for each side of the box.

box-shadow: 20px 20px 50px #00d2c6, -30px -30px 60px #00ffff;

The following shows the box-shadow property values for a neumorphic UI element. Individual offset, blur and opacity values can be adjusted to be higher or lower, depending on the size of an element and the intensity of the effect that you’re trying to achieve. For neumorphism, it’s required to keep the shadows soft and low contrast.

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As we’ve mentioned before, a core part of neumorphic elements is the use of two shadows: a light shadow and a dark shadow. That’s how we get that sort of “raised” effect and we can create variations by changing the “light source” of the shadows.

Two positive and two negative offset values need to be set. Taking this into account, we get the following four combinations, simply by changing the placement of each shadow.

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Let’s use CSS variables to keep the values abstract and better understand the variations.

box-shadow: var(--h1) var(--v1) var(--blur1) var(--color-dark), var(--h2) var(--v2) var(--blur2) var(--color-light);

Light SourcePositive ValuesNegative ValuesTop Left--h1, --v1--h2, --v2Top Right--h2, --v1--h1, --v2Bottom Left--h1, --v2--h2, --v1Bottom Right--h2, --v2--h1, --v1

We can use inset shadows to create yet more variations. Unlike drop shadows that make an element appear to be raised from beneath the background, an inset shadow gives the appearance that the element is being pressed into it.

We can change if the element is extruded from the background or inset into the background by applying the initial (not apply the option at all) or inset, respectively.

Let’s keep our light source as the top left and only toggle the inset option to see the difference.

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Background colors

You might have noticed that the box-shadow values change the look of the edges of a neumorphic element. So far, we haven’t changed the background-color because it needs to be transparent or have the same (or similar) color as a background color of an underlying element, such as the element’s parent. 

We can use both solid and gradient backgrounds. Using a solid color background on the element can create a flat surface sort of look, when that solid color is the same as the color of the underlying element. 

On the other hand, using subtle gradients can change how the surface is perceived. As with the box-shadow property, there is alight and a dark value in a gradient. The gradient angle needs to be adjusted to match the light source. We have the following two variations when using gradients:

Convex surface variation:  The surface curves outwards where the gradient’s lighter section is aligned with the shadow’s lighter section, and the gradient’s darker section is aligned to the shadow’s darker section.

Concave surface variation:  The surface curves inward where the gradient’s lighter section is aligned to the shadow’s darker section, and the gradient’s darker section is aligned to the shadow’s lighter section.

.element {   background: linear-gradient(var(--bg-angle), var(--bg-start), var(--bg-end));   box-shadow: var(--h1) var(--v1) var(--color-dark),                var(--h2) var(--v2) var(--color-light); }

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Neumorphism in practice

Let’s see how Neumorphism performs when applied to a simple button. The main characteristic of a neumorphic interface is that it blends with the background and does so by having a similar or same background color as the underlying element. The main purpose of many buttons, especially a primary call-to-action, is to stand out as much as possible, usually with a prominent background color in order to separate it from other elements and other buttons on the page.

The background color constraint in neumorphism takes away that convenience. If the background color of the button matches the background color of what it’s on top of, we lose the ability to make it stand out visually with a unique color.

We can try and adjust text color, add a border below the text, add an icon or some other elements to increase the visual weight to make it stand out, etc. Whatever the case, a solid background color on a neumorphic button seems to stand out more than a gradient. Plus, it can be paired with an inset shadow on the active state to create a nice “pressed” effect.

Even though the solid color on a neumorphic button calls more attention than a gradient background, it still does not beat the way an alternate color makes a button stand out from other elements on the page.

Taking some inspiration from the real-world devices, I’ve created the following examples as an attempt to improve on the neumorphic button and toggle concept. Although the results look somewhat better, the regular button still provides a better UX, has much fewer constraints, is more flexible, is simpler to implement, and does a better job overall.

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The first example was inspired by a button on my router that extrudes from the device and has a sticker with an icon on it. I added a similar “sticker” element with a solid color background as well as a slight inset to add more visual weight and make it stand out as closely as possible to the ideal button. The second example was inspired by a car control panel where the button would light up when it’s in an active (pressed) state.

Let’s take a look at some more HTML elements. One of the downsides of neumorphism that has been pointed out is that it shouldn’t be applied to elements that can have various states, like inputs, select elements, progress bars, and others. These states include:

User interaction: Hover, active, focus, visited

Validation states: Error, success, warning, disabled

UX and accessibility rules require some elements to look different in each of their respective validation states and user interaction states. Neumorphism constraints and restrictions severely limit the customization options that are required to achieve the different styles for each possible state. Variations will be very subtle and aren't possibly able to cover every single state.

Everything looks like a button! Notice how the input and button look similar and how the progress bar looks like a scrollbar or a really wide toggle.

It’s hard to see which elements are clickable! Even though this is the simplest possible example that showcases the issue, we could have added extra elements and styles to try and mitigate the issues. But as we’ve seen with the button example, some other types of elements would still perform better in terms of UX and accessibility.

It’s important to notice that Neumorphic elements also take more space (inside padding and outside margin) due to the shadow and rounded corners. A neumorphic effect wouldn’t look so good on a small-sized element simply because the visual effects consume the element.

The ideal element for neumorphism are cards, or any other static container element that doesn’t have states based on user interaction (e.g. hover, active and disabled) or validation (e.g. error, warning, and success).

In his highly critical article on neumorphism, Michal Malewicz (who helped coin “Neumorphism” as a term) suggests adding Neumorphic effects to the cards that already look good without it.

So the only way it works OK is when the card itself has the right structure, and the whole extrusion is unnecessary for hierarchy.

See?

It works well when it can be removed without any loss for the product.

Accessibility and UX

We’ve seen which elements work well with neumorphism, but there are some important rules and restrictions to keep in mind when adding the effect to elements.

First is accessibility. This is a big deal and perhaps the biggest drawback to neumorphism: color contrast.

Neumorphic UI elements rely on multiple shadows that help blend the element into the background it is on. Using subtle contrasts isn’t actually the best fit for an accessible UI. If a contrast checker is scanning your UI, it may very well call you out for not having high enough contrast between the foreground and background because shadows don’t fit into the equation and, even if they did, they’d be too subtle to make much of a difference.

Here are some valid criticisms about the accessibility of a neumorphic design:

Users with color blindness and poor vision would have difficulty using it due to the poor contrast caused by the soft shadows.

Page hierarchy is difficult to perceive when the effect is overused on a page. No particular element stands out due to the background color restrictions.

Users can get confused when the effect is overused on a page. Due to the extrusion effect, it’s difficult to determine which elements users can interact with and which are static.

In order to achieve a good contrast with the shadow, the background color of what a neumorphic element sits on shouldn’t get too close to the edges of RGB extremes (white and black).

Now let’s talk UX for a moment. Even though Neumorphic UI looks aesthetically pleasing, it shouldn’t be a dominant style on a page. If used too often, the UI will have an overwhelmingly plastic effect and the visual hierarchy will be all out of whack. Ae page could easily lose its intended structure when directing users to the most important content or to the main flow.

My personal take is that neumorphism is best used as an enhancement to another style. For example, it could be paired with Material Design in a way that draws distinctions between various component styles. It’s probably best to use it sparsely so that it adds a fresh alternative look to something on the screen — there’s a diminishing return on its use and it’s a good idea to watch out for it.

Here’s an  example where neumorphic qualities are used on card elements in combination with Materialize CSS:

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See, it can be pretty nice when used as an accent instead of an entire framework.

That’s a wrap

So that was a deep look at neumorphism. We broke down what makes the style distinct from other popular styles, looked at a few ways to re-create the effect in CSS, and examined the implications it has on accessibility and user experience.

In practice, a full-scale neumorphic design system probably cannot be used on a website. It’s simply too restrictive in what colors can be used. Plus, the fact that it results in soft contrasts prevents it from being used on interactive elements, like buttons and toggle elements. Sure, it’s aesthetically-pleasing, modern and unique, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of usability and accessibility. It should be used sparsely, ideally in combination with another design system like Material Design.

Neumorphism is unlikely to replace the current design systems we use today (at least in my humble opinion), but it may find its place in those same design systems as a fresh new alternative to existing cards and static container styles.

References

Neumorphism in user interfaces

Neumorphism — the zombie trend

Let’s talk Neumorphism and Accessibility

The post Neumorphism and CSS appeared first on CSS-Tricks.

Neumorphism and CSS published first on https://deskbysnafu.tumblr.com/

[lampeizhi22]

Top Notch XiaoMi Roborock S50 S55 Tampines West Singapore

At 63.8 decibels, the Roborock S5 was noticeably louder than the Shark Ion R85 (59.2). We were able to have a conversation with another person in the room as the vacuum worked around us but undoubtedly raised our voices. Much like the program that accompanies the Mi Home app, the Eufy Robovac 30C is designed to control home devices. While the vacuum part of this program is robust, the design is not instinctive. We were impressed with how gently the Roborock S5 approached walls and barriers. The bumper on the Roomba 690 seemed to announce that it struck something with clunk; the S5 was more polite.The robot slows its own strategy and its brush before gingerly approaching an obstacle. The S5 pushed chairs and puppy bowl across the floor over the Shark Ion R85 and also the Neato Botvac D7. It wasn't destructive, but I would not leave a vase onto a lightweight plant stand around through a cleanup. The Roborock S5 may also be controlled via Amazon Alexa and Google Home. However, don't expect to get some features using Alexa; the only options are On and Off, which prompts to bot to come back to its base. Google Assistant adds"Return to Dock," which sends the robot home, rather than Cease, which pauses the vacuum in its paths. Overall, the Roborock S5 accumulated an average of 86.8% of all test debris on carpeting --a performance on a par with all the Neato Botvac D7, but well below the Shark Ion R85's 97.2 percent. The S5's hardwood performance told a similar story, picking up an average of 83.9% of all test debris. The Botvac D7 bested it by 12 percent. If you guessed the Go icon would initiate a cleaning cycle, then you would be wrong. Instead, Go directs the S5 into a user-chosen point on the cleaning map for the bot to perform a place cleaning. By activating the sterile icon, an overall vacuuming cycle is initiated. Buried in the Settings menu are five distinct Cleanup modes : Quiet, Balanced, Turbo, MAX and Mop.

 The program, and by extension, the vacuum, retains the mode last used. Flip the Roborock S5 above and you'll discover two rubber wheels on either side, a wheel at front, and a three-spoke side brush to the left. Between the black wheels is the mix rubber and bristle roller brush. Though similar to the brush around the Eufy Robovac 30c, the S5's roller brush remained free of hair and fuzz. Installation and app The main screen displays the most recent area in meters, cleaning time and also our favourite item of information. Along the base are icons for Go, Dock, Clean and Zoned Cleanup. Exactly what the Roborock S5 lacked in cleaning thoroughness, it made up for with speed, cleaning our hardwood and carpeting test area in an average of 15 minutes and 22 seconds, almost a complete hour faster than the Roomba 690 and 45 minutes fast than the Shark Ion R85. It wasn't quite as fast as the Neato Botvac D7, that cleaned the test region at a mean of 10 minutes. The guide recommends running a vacuum cycle over the area at least three times. We did so, but it did not seem to help. The S5 abandoned the mopped area dull and somewhat tacky. When it was possible to use something in addition to water from the tank, maybe it could have performed better. Layout  According to a Roborock agent, though the Roborock S5 uses exactly the same program produced by Xiaomi since the S55 (Xiaomi is an investor in Roborock), map data is saved locally on the robot, and only goes into the Cloud when a user views the map on the smartphone app. As much as 20 maps are saved in the Cloud at any time and so are automatically deleted after a year. When users delete a map it's also removed in the Cloud. The security firm assessed four distinct robot vacuums' security, such as the Roborock S55 and the Roomba 980. The Roborock S55 performed the worst; AV-Test explained this was"Due partially to gross security deficiencies in data transmission, the transport of data to third parties, the program's unexplainable thirst for information, as well as a clear need for progress in the statement on the handling of customer data." 

Note that Map Saving Mode is now in beta and have to be toggled on separately under Vacuum Settings from the program. We spent a few test runs re-mapping our first floor due to the map not saving mechanically. Both the more expensive iRobot Roomba i7+ and also the D7 are able to save floor plans. Despite its size, the Roborock S5 deftly maneuvered through tight spaces. At 3.8 inches high, the S5 sits squarely between the 3.9-inch Botvac D7 and the 3.7-inch Roomba 690. While we do not adore the raised laser cover in the middle, the characteristic was significantly less obtrusive than the one on the D7, that has a large overhang and penchant for becoming stuck under room seats. In our lab tests, the Roborock S5 performed well, but not outstandingly so. On hardwood and carpet, it picked up an average of 96.2 percent of the Cheerios strewn throughout the test area, which was slightly less than the iRobot Roomba 690 (99.5 percent), the Neato Botvac D7 (99.8) and the Shark Ion R85, that divides up a perfect 100 percent on this test. In the robot's center is a laser cap using a dab of underneath on the Neato Botvac D7. Above the cover are buttons for spot cleaning, on/off and recharging. Maybe due to its white color, the wall sensors on front and side of the S5 are more conspicuous than on other versions, but they don't detract from the bot's understated look. The Roborock S5 is primarily controlled through the Mi Home program (Android and iOS). Linking the robot to the app and to our house wi-fi network took 2 attempts because the directions for pairing the bot into the network were not too apparent. Instructions that were abstruse became a motif of the S5. "Starting the cleanup," a cheery voice announces from deep within the Roborock S5. Rather than a series of Morse code-like beeps and chimes employed by the Neato Botvac D7, the Shark Ion R85 and lots of other modern appliances, the S5 announces what it is likely to perform in easy-to-understand terminology prompts.

 Cleaning performance Security concerns You want it to look if it's docked on your living space, if you are adding a robot vacuum cleaner to your house. The Roborock S5 eschews the black-and-gray color scheme embraced by other vacuums for white, with silver trim around the rim. The Roborock S5 measures 13.8 inches in diameter, more than an inch bigger than the Shark Ion R85; it is also bigger than the 13-inch iRobot Roomba 690 and the 13.2-inch Neato Botvac D7. When the Roborock S5 get its claws, it cleaned areas in a detailed back-and-forth snake pattern. The robot vacuum found its way beneath our dining room table through the maze , readily weaving its way to the other. We appreciated how hewed to walls and about chair legs;it tackled walls and borders as tightly as the Neato Botvac D7. The vac was also smart enough to fully avoid a thick pile rug that felled other robot vacuums, but its taller height supposed it did not fit under one of our seats or our low-clearance sofa. One of our favourite design elements of the Robovac S5 is its own"hood." Flip the piece that is up and you will come across the ample dustbin concealed in the middle, together with a Wi-Fi indicator light and program reset button. The S5 was the robot vacuum cleaner we examined that had an onboard area to maintain the instrument for cleaning the brush roll, a smart means to maintain whilst enhancing the aesthetic. An indented section close to the back is meant to hold the microfiber mop module. The black-and-white dock for your Roborock S5 is just marginally taller than the vacuum . A clear plastic mat attaches to the dock, but it's only needed if you plan on using the attachment. Mopping performance We were reluctant to provide the S5 free reign to mop in case it decided to test and wash our rug, so we used the spot-cleaning manner, which sheds a 1.5- meter (4.9 feet) area around wherever the S5 is put. 

Turns out our hesitations were unfounded. The Roborock S5 produced about as much water on the floor as a wet Swiffer pad. If it had cleaned as well as a Swiffer does. Picking up dog hair on both the hardwood and carpeting stymied many of those robot vacuums we tested, including the Roborock S5;it picked up just 79.5% of pet hair--10 percent less than the Botvac D7 and 8.5 percent less than the Ion R85. On the other hand, the S5 did best the Roomba 690's 73.3 percent pet hair pickup speed. We're excited about zone cleaning as it's a great way to perform a daily cleaning of a hall or kitchen. You can draw boxes. Contrary to the iRobot Roomba i7+ and the Neato Botvac D7, you can't save or title the zones, which means you need to redraw the area every time that you wish to wash them. Adding to the confusion is a Edit Map button on the main display that lets you draw virtual barrier cassette and no-go zones. The Roborock S5 distinguishes itself with a mopping quality that's unique one of the robot vacuums we tested, but unfortunately, its prowess is much more of a novelty than genuinely useful. A slender, half-moon-shaped disc using a microfiber pad attached with velcro clicks resides beneath the back of the vacuum. Fill the disc with water, click it in, adjust the Cleanup manner in the program and you are ready to clean.

[chuamun7-blog]

Top Notch XiaoMi Roborock S50 S55 one-north Singapore

As per a Roborock representative, though the Roborock S5 employs the same app produced by Xiaomi as the S55 (Xiaomi is an investor in Roborock), map information is saved locally on the robot, and only enters the Cloud when an individual views the map on the smartphone app. As much as 20 maps are saved in the Cloud in any given time and so are automatically deleted after a year. When users delete a map in the app, it is also eliminated in the Cloud. Much like the app that accompanies the Eufy Robovac 30C, the Mi Home app was made to control home smart devices. While the app's vacuum part is robust, the design isn't intuitive. What the Roborock S5 lacked in cleaning thoroughness, it made up for with speed, cleaning our hardwood and carpeting test area at an average of 15 minutes and 22 seconds, almost a complete hour quicker than the Roomba 690 and 45 minutes fast compared to Shark Ion R85. It was as fast as the Neato Botvac D7, that cleaned the evaluation region at an average of 10 minutes, 22 minutes. Mopping performance One of our favorite design components of this Robovac S5 is its"hood" Flip the plastic piece up and you'll find the ample dustbin concealed in the center, along with a indicator light and program reset button. The S5 was the only robot vacuum we reviewed that had an onboard space to maintain the instrument for cleaning the brush roll, a means to keep functionality while enhancing the aesthetic. An indented section near the back is supposed to hold the microfiber mop module. When the Roborock S5 gets its bearings, it cleaned areas in a exact, back-and-forth snake pattern. The robot vacuum found its way beneath our dining room table through the maze , readily weaving its way to another from 1 side of the room. We appreciated how hewed to walls and about chair legs;it tackled walls and edges as the Neato Botvac D7. The van was also smart enough to completely avoid a thick pile rug which felled additional robot vacuums, but its taller elevation supposed it did not fit under our chairs or our low-clearance sofa. All in all, the Roborock S5 gathered an average of 86.8% of test debris on carpet--a performance on a level with the Neato Botvac D7, but well below the Shark Ion R85's 97.2 percent.

 The S5's hardwood performance told a similar tale, picking up an average of 83.9 percent of all test debris. It was bested by the Botvac D7 by 12 percent. Note that Map Saving Mode is currently in beta and must be toggled on separately under Vacuum Settings from the program. We spent several test runs re-mapping our floor due to the map not saving mechanically. Both the expensive iRobot Roomba i7+ and also the D7 are able to save floor plans. The security company AV-Test recently assessed four different robot vacuums' security, including the Roborock S55 and the iRobot Roomba 980. The Roborock S55 performed the worst; AV-Test said that this was"Due partially to gross safety deficiencies in data transmission, the transfer of data to third parties, the app's unexplainable thirst for information, as well as a very clear need for improvement in the statement on the handling of customer data." The manual recommends running a normal vacuum cycle . We did so, but it did not seem to help. The S5 left the mopped area dull and somewhat tacky. When it was possible to use something in addition to water in the tank, maybe it would have performed better. The Roborock S5 distinguishes itself using a mopping quality that's unique among the robot vacuums we analyzed, but unfortunately, its art is genuinely useful. A thin disc with a microfiber pad attached with velcro clicks resides under the rear of the vacuum. Fill the dish using water, click it in, adjust the Cleanup manner and you're ready to clean. If you guessed that the Go icon would initiate a fundamental cleaning cycle, you would be wrong. Rather, God directs the S5 to a stage on the cleansing map for the bot to perform a place cleaning. A vacuuming cycle is initiated by activating the Clean icon. Buried in the Settings menu are five distinct Cleanup modes : Quiet, Balanced, Turbo, MAX and Mop. The program, and by extension, the vacuum, retain the mode last used. At the middle of the robot is a raised laser cover using a splash of underneath on the Neato Botvac D7. Over the cover are buttons for spot cleaning, on/off and recharging. Maybe due to the colour, the wall detectors on the front and side of the S5 are more conspicuous than on other models, but they do not detract from the bot's understated appearance. 

The Roborock S5 measures 13.8 inches in diameter, more than an inch larger than the Shark Ion R85; it is also larger than the 13-inch iRobot Roomba 690 and the 13.2-inch Neato Botvac D7. Cleaning performance Picking pet hair on both the hardwood and carpet stymied many of those robot vacuums we tested, such as the Roborock S5;it picked up only 79.5% of pet hair--10 percent less compared to Botvac D7 and 8.5 percent less than the Ion R85. On the other hand, the S5 did best the Roomba 690's 73.3 percent pet hair pickup rate. "Beginning the cleanup," a cheery voice announces from deep inside the Roborock S5. Instead of a string of Morse code-like beeps and chimes utilized by the Neato Botvac D7, the Shark Ion R85 and many other appliances, the S5 announces what it is likely to perform in easy-to-understand terminology prompts. The Roborock S5 performed well, but not outstandingly so. On hardwood and carpet, it picked up an average of 96.2% of the Cheerios strewn throughout the test region, which was marginally less than the iRobot Roomba 690 (99.5 percent), the Neato Botvac D7 (99.8) and the Shark Ion R85, that scooped a perfect 100 percent on this test. At 63.8 decibels, the Roborock S5 was noticeably louder than the Shark Ion R85 (59.2). We had the ability to have a conversation although the vacuum worked around us, but raised our voices.Security concerns The Roborock S5 is mostly controlled via the Mi Home app (Android and iOS). Linking the robot into the program and to our house wi-fi network took two attempts because the directions for pairing the bot to the network weren't too apparent. Instructions that were abstruse quickly turned into a recurring theme of the S5. The black-and-white pier for the Roborock S5 is only slightly taller than the vacuum. It is only needed if you're planning on utilizing the mop attachment, although A large plastic mat attaches to the dock. The screen shows the area in yards, cleaning time and our favorite piece of information--remaining battery life. Along the bottom are icons for Go, Dock, Clean and Zoned Cleanup. Despite its larger size, the Roborock S5 deftly maneuvered through tight spaces. At 3.8 inches high, the S5 sits straight between the 3.9-inch Botvac D7 and the 3.7-inch Roomba 690.

 While we do not love the raised laser cover in the middle, the feature was less obtrusive than the one about the D7, that has a large overhang and penchant for getting stuck under room chairs. We were reluctant to give the S5 free reign to mop in case it decided to try and wash our rug, so we utilized the spot-cleaning mode, which sheds a 1.5- meter (4.9 feet) area around wherever the S5 is put. Turns our hesitations were unfounded. The Roborock S5 produced about as much water onto the ground as a wet Swiffer pad. If it had cleaned as a Swiffer does. We're enthused about zone cleaning to the Roborock S5, since it's a wonderful way to perform a daily cleaning of hall or kitchen where there's more foot traffic. From the primary display on the program, you can draw boxes. Unlike the Roomba i7+ and the Neato Botvac D7, you cannot save or title the zones, which usually means you need to redraw every time to the place that you wish to wash them. Adding to the confusion is an Edit Map button on the primary display which lets you draw barrier tape and no-go zones. Setup and program  Layout  You want it to look great -- particularly if it's docked in your living space, if you are adding a robot vacuum cleaner to your house. The Roborock S5 eschews the black-and-grey colour scheme embraced by other vacuums for white, with muted silver trim around the rim. The Roborock S5 may also be controlled via Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Don't expect to access some complex features the only options are On and Away, which prompts to bot to return to its base. Google Assistant adds"Return to Dock," which sends the robot home, rather than Stop, which pauses the vacuum in its tracks. 

Flip the Roborock S5 above and you're going to discover two black rubber wheels on both sides, a multi-directional wheel at front, and a three-spoke side brush to the leftside. Between the black wheels are the combination rubber and bristle roller brush. Though similar to the brush around the Eufy Robovac 30c, the S5's roller brush stayed remarkably free of hair and fuzz. We were amazed with how gently the Roborock S5 approached walls and barriers. The bumper on the Roomba 690 appeared to announce it hit something with clunk; the S5 was more polite. The robot slows its strategy and its own side brush before gingerly approaching an obstacle. The S5 pushed on seats and puppy bowls around the floor over the Shark Ion R85 and the Neato Botvac D7. It was not harmful, but I would not leave a vase on a plant stand around through a cleaning.

[industryjournals]

Sugar Substitutes Market Demand, Production Growth, Top Key Players and Forecast to 2026

Global sugar substitutes Market Overview

The Global sugar substitutes Market report draws accurate insights by examining the latest and prospective industry trends, helping the readers recognize the products and services that are boosting revenue growth and profitability. The study performs a detailed analysis of all the significant factors impacting the market on a global and regional scale, including drivers, constraints, threats, challenges, prospects, and industry-specific trends. Additionally, the report cites worldwide certainties and endorsements, along with a downstream and upstream evaluation of leading participants.

Market Size – USD 14.94 Billion in 2018, Market Growth - CAGR of 4.6%, Market Trends – Increasing awareness of low-calorie food consumption and healthy food and beverages among people worldwide are key factors that are expected to drive global market growth over the forecast period.

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The sugar substitutes market analysis is intended to provide all participants and vendors with pertinent specifics about growth aspects, roadblocks, threats, and lucrative business opportunities that the market is anticipated to reveal in the coming years. This intelligence study also encompasses the revenue share, market size, production capacity, and rate of consumption to draw insights pertaining to the rivalry to gain control of a large portion of the market share.

Competitive landscape

The sugar substitutes Industry is extremely competitive and consolidated because of the existence of several established companies that are adopting different marketing strategies in order to increase their market share. The vendors engaged in the sector are outlined based on price, quality, brand, product differentiation, and product portfolio. The vendors are gradually expanding their focus on product personalization by way of customer interaction.

The major players in the market are  Tate & Lyle (UK), Cargill Inc. (US), Archer Daniels Midland Company (US), Ingredion Inc. (US), Roquette Frères (France), Ajinomoto Co. Inc. (Japan), JK Sucralose Inc (China), PureCircle (Malaysia), The NutraSweet Company (US), and E. I. DuPont De Nemours (US).

Segments covered in the report:

This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at a global, regional & country level, and provides an analysis on the industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2026. For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data have segmented the market on the basis of type, origin, application and regional analysis.

Type (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026)

High intensity sweeteners

Low intensity sweeteners

High fructose syrup

Type of Procedures (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026)

Food

Beverages

Others

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Origin (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026)

Artificial

Natural

Region (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Points Covered in The Report:

A. The pivotal aspects considered in the Global sugar substitutes Market report consist of the leading competitors functioning in the global sector.

B. The report also encompasses company profiles prominently positioned in the global market.

C. The production, sales, corporate strategies, and the technological capabilities of leading manufacturers are also contained within the report.

D. The driving factors for the growth of the Global sugar substitutes Market are explained exhaustively, along with an in-depth account of the end-users in the industry.

E. The report also explains critical application areas of the global sector, curating an accurate description of the market to the readers/users.

F. The report undertakes a SWOT analysis of the market. In the final section, the report features the opinions and views of the industry experts and professionals. The experts also evaluate the export/import policies that might be propelling the growth of the Global sugar substitutes Market.

G. The report on the Global sugar substitutes Market delivers valuable information for policymakers, investors, stakeholders, service providers, producers, suppliers, and organizations operating in the industry and looking to purchase this research document.

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Reasons for Buying sugar substitutes Market Report:

A. The report performs an analysis of the dynamic competitive landscape that can help the reader/client move ahead in the global sector.

B. It also presents an in-depth view of the different factors driving or restraining the growth of the global market.

C. The Global sugar substitutes Market report provides an eight-year forecast derived on the basis of the potential growth of the market.

D. It helps formulate profitable business decisions by offering thorough insights into the global market and by creating a comprehensive analysis of pivotal market segments and sub-segments.

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