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mostlysignssomeportents · 11 months ago

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Google reneged on the monopolistic bargain

I'm on tour with my new novel The Bezzle! Catch me TONIGHT in SALT LAKE CITY (Feb 21, Weller Book Works) and TOMORROW in SAN DIEGO (Feb 22, Mysterious Galaxy). After that, it's LA, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and more!

A funny thing happened on the way to the enshittocene: Google – which astonished the world when it reinvented search, blowing Altavista and Yahoo out of the water with a search tool that seemed magic – suddenly turned into a pile of shit.

Google's search results are terrible. The top of the page is dominated by spam, scams, and ads. A surprising number of those ads are scams. Sometimes, these are high-stakes scams played out by well-resourced adversaries who stand to make a fortune by tricking Google:

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/phone-numbers-airlines-listed-google-directed-scammers-rcna94766

But often these scams are perpetrated by petty grifters who are making a couple bucks at this. These aren't hyper-resourced, sophisticated attackers. They're the SEO equivalent of script kiddies, and they're running circles around Google:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

Google search is empirically worsening. The SEO industry spends every hour that god sends trying to figure out how to sleaze their way to the top of the search results, and even if Google defeats 99% of these attempts, the 1% that squeak through end up dominating the results page for any consequential query:

https://downloads.webis.de/publications/papers/bevendorff_2024a.pdf

Google insists that this isn't true, and if it is true, it's not their fault because the bad guys out there are so numerous, dedicated and inventive that Google can't help but be overwhelmed by them:

https://searchengineland.com/is-google-search-getting-worse-389658

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Google has long maintained that its scale is the only thing that keeps us safe from the scammers and spammers who would otherwise overwhelm any lesser-resourced defender. That's why it was so imperative that they pursue such aggressive growth, buying up hundreds of companies and integrating their products with search so that every mobile device, every ad, every video, every website, had one of Google's tendrils in it.

This is the argument that Google's defenders have put forward in their messaging on the long-overdue antitrust case against Google, where we learned that Google is spending $26b/year to make sure you never try another search engine:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-27/google-paid-26-3-billion-to-be-default-search-engine-in-2021

Google, we were told, had achieved such intense scale that the normal laws of commercial and technological physics no longer applied. Take security: it's an iron law that "there is no security in obscurity." A system that is only secure when its adversaries don't understand how it works is not a secure system. As Bruce Schneier says, "anyone can design a security system that they themselves can't break. That doesn't mean it works – just that it works for people stupider than them."

And yet, Google operates one of the world's most consequential security system – The Algorithm (TM) – in total secrecy. We're not allowed to know how Google's ranking system works, what its criteria are, or even when it changes: "If we told you that, the spammers would win."

Well, they kept it a secret, and the spammers won anyway.

A viral post by Housefresh – who review air purifiers – describes how Google's algorithmic failures, which send the worst sites to the top of the heap, have made it impossible for high-quality review sites to compete:

https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/

You've doubtless encountered these bad review sites. Search for "Best ______ 2024" and the results are a series of near-identical lists, strewn with Amazon affiliate links. Google has endlessly tinkered with its guidelines and algorithmic weights for review sites, and none of it has made a difference. For example, when Google instituted a policy that reviewers should "discuss the benefits and drawbacks of something, based on your own original research," sites that had previously regurgitated the same lists of the same top ten Amazon bestsellers "peppered their pages with references to a ‘rigorous testing process,’ their ‘lab team,’ subject matter experts ‘they collaborated with,’ and complicated methodologies that seem impressive at a cursory look."

But these grandiose claims – like the 67 air purifiers supposedly tested in Better Homes and Gardens's Des Moines lab – result in zero in-depth reviews and no published data. Moreover, these claims to rigorous testing materialized within a few days of Google changing its search ranking and said that high rankings would be reserved for sites that did testing.

Most damning of all is how the Better Homes and Gardens top air purifiers perform in comparison to the – extensively documented – tests performed by Housefresh: "plagued by high-priced and underperforming units, Amazon bestsellers with dubious origins (that also underperform), and even subpar devices from companies that market their products with phrases like ‘the Tesla of air purifiers.’"

One of the top ranked items on BH&G comes from Molekule, a company that filed for bankruptcy after being sued for false advertising. The model BH&G chose was ranked "the worst air purifier tested" by Wirecutter and "not living up to the hype" by Consumer Reports. Either BH&G's rigorous testing process is a fiction that they infused their site with in response to a Google policy change, or BH&G absolutely sucks at rigorous testing.

BH&G's competitors commit the same sins – literally, the exact same sins. Real Simple's reviews list the same photographer and the photos seem to have been taken in the same place. They also list the same person as their "expert." Real Simple has the same corporate parent as BH&G: Dotdash Meredith. As Housefresh shows, there's a lot of Dotdash Meredith review photos that seem to have been taken in the same place, by the same person.

But the competitors of these magazines are no better. Buzzfeed lists 22 air purifiers, including that crapgadget from Molekule. Their "methodology" is to include screenshots of Amazon reviews.

A lot of the top ranked sites for air purifiers are once-great magazines that have been bought and enshittified by private equity giants, like Popular Science, which began as a magazine in 1872 and became a shambling zombie in 2023, after its PE owners North Equity LLC decided its googlejuice was worth more than its integrity and turned it into a metastatic chumbox of shitty affiliate-link SEO-bait. As Housefresh points out, the marketing team that runs PopSci makes a lot of hay out of the 150 years of trust that went into the magazine, but the actual reviews are thin anaecdotes, unbacked by even the pretense of empiricism (oh, and they loooove Molekule).

Some of the biggest, most powerful, most trusted publications in the world have a side-hustle in quietly producing SEO-friendly "10 Best ___________ of 2024" lists: Rolling Stone, Forbes, US News and Report, CNN, New York Magazine, CNN, CNET, Tom's Guide, and more.

Google literally has one job: to detect this kind of thing and crush it. The deal we made with Google was, "You monopolize search and use your monopoly rents to ensure that we never, ever try another search engine. In return, you will somehow distinguish between low-effort, useless nonsense and good information. You promised us that if you got to be the unelected, permanent overlord of all information access, you would 'organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.'"

They broke the deal.

Companies like CNET used to do real, rigorous product reviews. As Housefresh points out, CNET once bought an entire smart home and used it to test products. Then Red Ventures bought CNET and bet that they could sell the house, switch to vibes-based reviewing, and that Google wouldn't even notice. They were right.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/welcome-to-the-cnet-smart-home/

Google downranks sites that spend money and time on reviews like Housefresh and GearLab, and crams botshittened content mills like BH&G into our eyeballs instead.

In 1558, Thomas Gresham coined (ahem) Gresham's Law: "Bad money drives out good." When counterfeit money circulates in the economy, anyone who gets a dodgy coin spends it as quickly as they can, because the longer you hold it, the greater the likelihood that someone will detect the fraud and the coin will become worthless. Run this system long enough and all the money in circulation is funny money.

An internet run by Google has its own Gresham's Law: bad sites drive out good. It's not just that BH&G can "test" products at a fraction of the cost of Housefresh – through the simple expedient of doing inadequate tests or no tests at all – so they can put a lot more content up that Housefresh. But that alone wouldn't let them drive Housefresh off the front page of Google's search results. For that, BH&G has to mobilize some of their savings from the no test/bad test lab to do real rigorous science: science in defeating Google's security-through-obscurity system, which lets them command the front page despite publishing worse-than-useless nonsense.

Google has lost the spam wars. In response to the plague of botshit clogging Google search results, the company has invested in…making more botshit:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/16/tweedledumber/#easily-spooked

Last year, Google did a $70b stock buyback. They also laid off 12,000 staffers (whose salaries could have been funded for 27 years by that stock buyback). They just laid off thousands more employees.

That wasn't the deal. The deal was that Google would get a monopoly, and they would spend their monopoly rents to be so good that you could just click "I'm feeling lucky" and be teleported to the very best response to your query. A company that can't figure out the difference between a scam like Better Homes and Gardens and a rigorous review site like Housefresh should be pouring every spare dime it brings in into fixing this problem. Not buying default search status on every platform so that we never try another search engine: they should be fixing their shit.

When Google admits that it's losing the war to these kack-handed spam-farmers, that's frustrating. When they light $26b/year on fire making sure you don't ever get to try anything else, that's very frustrating. When they vaporize seventy billion dollars on financial engineering and shoot one in ten engineers, that's outrageous.

Google's scale has transcended the laws of business physics: they can sell an ever-degrading product and command an ever-greater share of our economy, even as their incompetence dooms any decent, honest venture to obscurity while providing fertile ground – and endless temptation – for scammers.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task

#pluralistic #monopoly #seo #dark seo #google #search #enshittification #platform decay #product reviews #spam #antitrust #trustbusting

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covid-safer-hotties · 2 months ago

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Price to power to size to portability, the AirFanta 3Pro is one of the best on the market. Here's the latest review (Also preserved in our archive)

Afiliate links if you want this guy to make a buck from your purchase: www.amazon.com/stores/AirFanta/page/0D35BA0F-6AFE-48BB-BB83-E984C65192D4?asc_campaign=c192889518f863d96d278a446b3a951d&asc_source=01H1P39M5ZSG9J6WR6B1HBK9M0&language=en_US&linkCode=sl2&linkId=be7b5afa91953d14a40a0b6fb293d6aa&ref_=as_li_ss_tl&tag=namespacebran492-20

air-fanta.com/?dt_id=2137762

AirFanta is a name that I hear more about every day. While it’s a relatively niche company, it’s quickly becoming well-known – at least within the air quality ‘enthusiast’ community – for performant yet affordable air purifiers and air quality monitors. I’ve been using the AirFanta G2 Air Quality Monitor for quite a few months now, but the two products that have always interested me the most are 3Pro and 4Lite air purifiers.

After having the 3Pro set up inside my office for over two weeks now, I am happy to be able to present my full review of the device. For anyone unaware, this purifier is designed to filter a massive amount of air (we will discuss the CADR and more soon!) at a relatively affordable price. It does this by being essentially a pre-assembled CR (Corsi-Rosenthal) Box – a form of air purifier that was itself created due to the need for affordable and effective air purification devices.

While the 3Pro doesn’t embrace the typical DIY aspect of traditional CR Boxes, it has the advantage of having proven performance (no need to worry about whether your DIY box is effective!) and being ready to go out of the box. However, perhaps my favourite aspect of this device over traditional CR Boxes is how easily obtainable it is. While this probably isn’t an issue for anyone in the U.S. or Europe, I find it hard to source good HEPA filters in New Zealand at an affordable price. The 3Pro ensures I don’t run into this issue.

In today’s review of the AirFanta 3Pro, I want to answer a few key questions. Firstly, how does it perform? Secondly, how does it compare to more ‘traditional’ air purifiers? Finally, and most importantly, is the 3Pro worth the markup compared to making your own CR Box at home? By the end of the article, I will share the answers and my opinions regarding each of these questions. Let’s dive in!

The key selling point of the AirFanta 3Pro is its fantastic CADR – especially at this price. For anyone new to air purifiers, CADR stands for clean air delivery rate, which indicates how much air an air purifier can clean and deliver in a set period. The measurement typically used for CADR is CFM, or cubic feet per minute. A higher CADR in CFM indicates the purifier delivers more clean air.

CADR is calculated by considering both the filter efficiency and the airflow through the filters, making it a much better metric (and the standard for air purifiers) than airflow alone. Most CADR tests use a room of around 30m3 and test how much faster the purifier removes particles from the air than if they were left to settle naturally without any other influences.

So, what is the CADR of the 3Pro? It is quite impressive, 413cfm (702 m3/h) at full speed. To best put this in perspective, I recommend reading the fantastic HouseFresh review to see how it compares to other devices currently on the market (spoiler alert; it performs very favourably). I also believe these official figures, as multiple other sources have confirmed them.

The AirFanta 3Pro uses HEPA H11 filters, which are rated to provide ≥ 95% filtration. It’s worth noting that while this figure may not seem that high and that while many air purifiers use higher-rated filters, the H11 filters used here aren’t necessarily bad. That is because, unlike respirators and masks, air purifiers are not designed to purify the air as best possible on a single pass. Rather, if an air purifier can continually filter the same air after multiple passes through the filter, the particle count and concentration will be significantly reduced.

This is important to note because H11 filters are less dense, allowing for better airflow and generally with less noise. Compared to masks, you can think of the balance between filtration and breathability – generally, the more filtration a mask or respirator provides, the less breathable it is. The same goes for air purifiers. The key difference here is that purifiers are designed to have air pass through them multiple times, unlike a mask or respirator, which only has one chance to filter the air before the wearer breathes it. This is why, despite having ‘only’ an H11 filter, the 3Pro can achieve a fantastic CADR.

Of course, this is a very simple explanation, but it’s important to clarify this because I can predict many questions asking, ‘But why weren’t better filters such as HEPA H13 filters used?’. While I can’t speak for the exact answer (you’d have to ask Adam from AirFanta about that!), it’s likely to strike a balance between single-pass filtration performance, airflow, and noise level. While we’ll dive into it soon, I believe complaints about the H11 filter will quickly disappear once you see the performance that the AirFanta 3Pro has to offer.

It’s also worth noting that carbon filters are available, which will provide filtration through adsorption for VOCs and many odours. While I didn’t get these filters to test, some people will opt for them to help manage VOCs. Since these add another layer to the filter, they will likely slightly drop the CADR, but probably not enough to make any significant impact (and, of course, the extra filtration is a big benefit).

AirFanta also has a full list of third-party certifications and test results, which can be viewed here. Interestingly, both bacterial efficiency and viral efficiency reports from Guangzhou Institute of Microbiology Group Co., Ltd. (a CNAS-accredited laboratory) have been provided, and both reports show a > 99.99% decrease in particle concentration after 60 minutes of use in a 30m3 room. The bacterial test goes further and shows the results after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes. These results show a ≥ 95.63%, ≥ 99.91% and 99.99% drop in tested particles, respectively.

These results show that, at least in a room around 30m3 in size, the AirFanta 3Pro can reduce bacterial and viral particles by ≥ 99.9% in 30 minutes, with 60 minutes seeing a near complete removal of such particles. While we can’t tell exactly what size the particles were in this testing (at least not without paying for access to the original standards), these results are very promising. Potentially worth noting is that since the 3Pro is rated for 702 m3/h, there would have been around 23 air changes within one hour in the 30m3 test chamber. Therefore, the ≥ 95.63% is after almost six air changes, and ≥ 99.91% after around 12.

Of course, these tests and the stated CADR are at the device’s maximum fan speed, which isn’t ideal in many situations. While it’s important to know a device’s maximum performance when needed, it’s more likely you’ll want to leave the device running at a lower speed either all the time or at least quite regularly. Below are the stated CADRs at different fan speeds:

6 – 413CFM 5 – 374CFM 4 – 321CFM 3 – 247CFM 2 – 141CFM 1 – 57CFM Of course, I was also curious to run some tests myself, but I must make the disclaimer that my tests are far from scientific. That said, I wanted to perform some testing similar to a real-life setting where the AirFanta 3Pro is likely to be used. As such, I decided to set up a test room. I measured this room to be 25.6m3, which is about the size of a standard bedroom (it is a bedroom!). While this room is smaller than what I believe this device is intended for, it’s the most controllable room in my house regarding airflow as it only has one door and one window, which can easily be closed and no other forms of ventilation or air disturbances.

In this room, I burned incense until I reached a PM2.5 concentration of 500ug/m3. However, since I can’t exactly control the PM concentration, it ended up being somewhere between 500 and 600 in my tests. I then put the incense out and did a control test to see how long it took the particles to settle without any assistance at all. This took around 90 minutes, and I used this as my baseline.

I monitored the particle concentrations with five AirGradient monitors that were located in each corner and the centre of the room. I then reran this experiment three more times – once with the purifier at maximum speed, once at half speed, and once at the minimum speed to see how long the concentration took to reach < 5ug/m3. I measured the particle concentration by averaging the data from all five monitors to ensure the whole room had been filtered. Here are my results.

In this graph, you can see the baseline data in blue (labelled Ambient) and the particle concentration drop from the AirFanta 3Pro at maximum speed (speed 6) in red. As you can see, it took around 90 minutes for the particle count to drop to < 5ug/m3 without the purifier running but less than 20 minutes with the device at maximum speed. I was very impressed by these first results, and while I wouldn’t want to run the device at full speed often as it is loud, I appreciate having a good peak performance for times when you need to clean the air in a room quickly.

I reran this test, but this time with the 3Pro at half speed (speed 3) and was impressed by the relatively low performance drop. I was worried my results were incorrect, and I reran this three times, but each result was within one minute of the initial result. It looks like a large chunk of the device’s performance is retained between the higher speeds, even though the noise level decreases significantly. This gave me high hopes for the 3Pro’s performance at minimum speed.

Unfortunately, but perhaps not unexpectedly, the device performed far worse at the lowest speed (speed 1). While the particle concentration did drop more quickly than without the device, it was vastly slower than at the faster speeds. It is worth noting that this is not bad at all, as the device is very quiet at this speed and we can see the performance is clearly there, if needed, just turn the device to a higher speed. However, I had inflated hopes after seeing the great performance at higher speeds. Of course, this does match with the stated speed 1 CADR which is roughly 1/8 of the maximum CADR at speed 6.

If we add the times it took the 3Pro to reduce the PM concentration to below 5ug/m3 at each speed setting, we can see that it took between 17.3 minutes and 80.1 minutes to clean the room, depending on the speed. Interestingly, between the higher speeds (speeds 3-6), there appears to be little performance drop-off but a significant improvement in noise levels. At the slow end, the device takes a long time to filter the room, and if you want to use these near-silent speeds, you will probably want to have the device constantly on.

It’s worth noting that previously, the AirFanta 3Pro came with a voltage dial on the adapter. This could be used to adjust the speed, and many reviews of the device still refer to this voltage dial (essentially, a speed dial). Newer versions come with a speed dial with speeds 1-6, so I have referred to speeds instead of voltages for this section.

Before concluding this section, I was also curious how this device would perform if I lit incense in the room while the air purifier was on. I didn’t have a reason for doing this other than curiosity. Still, considering the stellar performance at the higher fan speeds, I wondered how the purifier would handle a pollutant source emitting particles while the device was running. Below, you can see the results (keeping in mind that this same room reaches over 1000ug/m3 when burning incense without an air purifier).

As you can see, the AirFanta 3Pro significantly reduced the maximum particle concentration in the room and rapidly cleaned the air once the incense finished burning. I would be very confident using a device such as this even during periods of heavy pollution, such as during wildfire season.

Overall, I’m quite impressed with the performance of the AirFanta 3Pro, and although it’s loud at full speed, it’s great to know that it’s more than capable of cleaning a small to medium-sized room quickly when needed. Larger rooms will take longer to filter, but I am confident this device can do it based on this performance.

If you prefer a quieter device, you can still use the AirFanta 3Pro, but you will want to leave it at a lower speed and constantly have it on. Thankfully, at the lower speeds, it’s a relatively quiet device, and I found it easy to work even with the purifier constantly on – as long as it was set to a lower speed, such as 1 or 2.

On the certifications page (located here), AirFanta also discloses and publically makes its results from non-performance-related certifications publicly available. There are a few pertinent and important documents here, so let’s discuss these before moving on. For the 3Pro, we can find the following documents provided:

UL507 certificate of AirFanta 3Pro CE-EMC certificate of AirFanta 3Pro and 4Lite CE-LVD certificate of AirFanta 3Pro and 4Lite FCC certificate of AirFanta 3Pro and 4Lite California Air Resources Board certification of Airfanta 3Pro Let’s review these individually, beginning with the UL507 certificate at the top. This certification might seem minor, but this is a safety standard for low and mid-powered fans such as those in PCs, kitchen hood vents, and, obviously, some air purifiers. The documentation for this certification is extensive (around 200 pages long), but this certification ensures the fans on the 3Pro are safe from a range of potential issues.

The next two certifications, both CE certificates from the European Union, indicate that the device meets EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) and LVD (low voltage directive) requirements. These are essentially further safety tests and indicate that the device is safe and provides high protection from potential EMC and LVD dangers.

The FCC certificate shows that the AirFanta 3Pro complies with FCC requirements, which are pertinent to customers from the United States. Still, these certifications are also helpful for trust-building with global customers. While I’m not U.S.-based, I certainly feel more confident in a product if it’s also FCC-compliant.

Finally, the CARB (California Air Resources Board) certification shows that the AirFanta 3Pro complies with California’s electrical safety and ozone requirements. This is particularly important as ozone can be a big issue with some air purifiers, and it’s reassuring to know that this is not an issue in the case of the AirFanta 3Pro.

If you’ve ever seen a CR Box, you will already know exactly what to expect from the 3Pro because that’s exactly what it is – a CR Box with pre-chosen parts that come as one ready-to-assemble package. While CR boxes aren’t that hard to assemble, the 3Pro streamlines the process and removes the difficulty of selecting and choosing your own parts. While some enthusiasts might opt for another CR Box, many other prospective customers will appreciate this approach.

When you open the 3Pro’s box, you will be met with six ‘layers’ that must be assembled. This is a very clean approach, as it means that the packaging for the device is relatively compact (albeit still quite heavy), and it even means that the device can be transported and reassembled easily. While it would be a stretch to call this device portable (that’s what the AirFanta 4Lite and SmartAir QT3 are for!), this means it is far more compact than other air purifiers with similar CADRs. While it is still quite large, you could easily take it on the road and use it at hotels, or perhaps even fly with it if you are taking large suitcases.

Back to actually assembling the product! Once you open the box, you will see six panels layered on top of one another. These are the cube’s six sides, with four being HEPA filters, one being a solid plastic base for the device, and the final being the top, where the four fans are located. Assembling the device is easy, and you will want to place the base on the ground before slotting the four filters into it. The only potential difficulty with assembling this purifier is holding the four sides in place as you slot the top on, but even this is quite straightforward with the included velcro intended for exactly this purpose.

A manual is included, but the device is so easy to put together and take apart that I can’t imagine anyone ever using it past the first assembly. Even then, it’s not really needed, as assembling the device is quite self-explanatory. The only note I think might be important to the user is that the mesh surface on the filters should be facing outwards (not the filtering surface, which should face inwards).

All of this is to say that assembling the device is very straightforward, and no one should be scared away or turned off this device because it has a small DIY element. It’s also a bit easier to assemble than other CR boxes as the slots have already been cut out of the base plate, and everything can be put together without the need for glue, tape, or other materials. Perhaps more helpful, the filters have already been chosen, and there is no need to shop around for the best price-performance filter.

Once assembled, the device takes the shape of quite a compact CR Box. On top of that, I must add that I think this device also looks a lot better than any traditional CR Box – at least any that I’ve ever made! While it still has an industrial look, it’s a device that could quite easily fit into a classroom, office, or room without attracting too much attention. While I value aesthetics much less than performance, I appreciate having a device that looks good, too – especially if it can blend in.

Once assembled, the device feels quite solid, and despite there being no adhesive or tape used in the assembly of the purifier, I feel confident lifting it and moving it without dislodging the pieces. With that said, I tend to lift the device from the bottom and hold the top down to ensure none of the pieces slide out from their intended positions.

On top of the purifier are four large fans connected to a controller that will allow you to adjust the speed of the device. These fans look almost identical to large PC fans, and they’re held in place by a wire bracket that also serves as an extra layer of protection to stop any children or animals from getting fingers or paws into the fans. That said, if you have the device around children, you may want to place it up higher so they can’t easily reach the fans.

That’s really all there is to the design of this device. It’s very simple, but it’s also affordable and performant. While some might miss the smart features and connectivity of more pricey air purifiers, the two types of devices cater to very different customers. Overall, I’m a fan of this straightforward approach, which reminds me of the SmartAir Sqair.

The AirFanta 3Pro uses four 140mm fans to push air through the filters. Characteristically, smaller fans tend to have higher-pitched sounds than larger fans and the AirFanta 3Pro sits somewhere in the middle as it uses medium-sized fans. If you have a desktop PC with a case fan (not the other fans, such as the higher-pitched CPU fan), you’ll likely already know what these fans sound like, as most desktop cases use 120mm or 140mm fans. This isn’t an unpleasant sound, but it is quite audible.

To see how loud the AirFanta 3Pro is, I conducted noise tests at 30cm and 2 metres with a sound level metre that measures in dBA (A-weighted decibel). dBA differs from traditional dB because it is adjusted for the human ear’s sensitivity to different frequencies. Low and very high frequencies are de-emphasized, mimicking how humans perceive loudness. In other words, it’s a better representation of the actual noise level than dB for a device such as an air purifier. However, I do want to note this as many other websites use dB, which will explain why my results are significantly different.

For further context, here are a few examples of the volumes of some noises in dBA. Obviously, these can vary, and especially with dBA, they will vary between different devices. However, they are rough examples:

10 dBA – Breathing or leaves rustling: Extremely quiet. 30 dBA – Whispering: Comparable to a quiet library. 40 dBA – Refrigerator hum: A typical low background noise. 50 dBA – Moderate rainfall: Light, soothing noise. 60 dBA – Normal conversation: The sound of talking at a close distance. 70 dBA – Vacuum cleaner: Considered moderate noise, can be annoying over time. 80 dBA – Heavy traffic or a loud alarm clock: Noise becomes uncomfortable after prolonged exposure. As you can see, at the lowest speeds, the 3Pro doesn’t add much to the noise of most rooms, but at the highest speeds, it can sound almost as loud as a vacuum cleaner (provided you are close to it). This is a lot of variation, but I like how this device gives the user full control over speed and noise, allowing them to pick a good balance.

I think most people will have this device running on speed 2 or 3, and both sounds are very manageable at a distance. If you do want a short burst of cleaning, the device will be significantly louder, and that’s why I only recommend using the higher speeds when needed.

When it comes to power consumption, the device can go from very low power to relatively high power. Here is a list of the wattage and voltage at each fan speed:

6 – 33.2 watt – 12v 5 – 27.4 watt – 11v 4 – 18.9 watt – 9.3v 3 – 11.1 watt – 7.3v 2 – 4.7 watt – 4.8v 1 – 2.2 watt – 3.0v I won’t dive into power costs here because those vary greatly depending on where you reside, but I hope these specifications can give some insights. What’s most impressive to me is how much range this device has, whether we are discussing volume or power draw. There is such a large range that you can choose exactly what setting works best for you and leave the device to it.

The AirFanta 3Pro costs $149 or $159 (USD) depending on whether you opt for the CE-certified or CARB-certified version (the CARB variant is the lower priced of the two). It’s surprising to see a different price on these two units, but I assume it’s due to extra costs, either with the CE certification or getting the device into Europe. Either way, if you’re in the U.S. (or any non-EU country), the CARB variant will work, and that’s the model I received.

In the box, you will get six panels to assemble the 3Pro. This includes four HEPA H11 filters, which, as per AirFanta, should be good to last 6-12 months, depending on air quality conditions. In most cases, I would assume these filters will last closer to 12 months, but those who experience severe wildfire seasons or whose homes are exposed to consistent year-round pollution may need to replace the filters more regularly.

When you need your first filter replacement, you can opt for the default H11 filters or H11 filters with activated carbon. Interestingly, it doesn’t seem you can choose the filters you get with the device initially. If you want activated carbon filters from the get-go, you must purchase the device alongside an extra pack of filters. The activated carbon filters will set you back $74.99 compared to the basic filters, which cost $54.

The filters aren’t cheap, but it’s important to remember that each filter replacement pack you order has four individual filters, which is a substantial amount of filter materials. It’s also important to note that, unfortunately, you will need to purchase official AirFanta filters as they are smaller than most square HEPA filters, and other filters will not fit on this device. I don’t think this is a big deal, as I appreciate the smaller form factor of this device over larger devices, and even four HEPA filters from other brands will not be cheap.

If we estimate that most users use each set of filters for around nine months, your yearly filter costs for non-activated carbon filters will be $67.5. On the other hand, if you opt for the extra VOC adsorption of the carbon filters, you are looking at an ongoing cost of just under $100 per year. This is in a similar price range to other equally performant air purifiers, and this device’s initial cost is also much lower.

While power cost also needs to be factored into the ongoing cost equation, that cost will vary significantly depending on your air purifier usage (hours, speed, etc) and location. However, regardless of usage patterns, you should plan to spend between $67 and $100 on replacement filters for this device every year.

Overall, I’ve been very happy with the AirFanta 3Pro. While it’s not a perfect air purifier – if one even exists – this is a fantastic device that balances many difficult factors. Ultimately, it comes in as an affordable air purifier that doesn’t skimp on performance. In fact, it has a higher CADR than many more (and much more) expensive air purifiers. Furthermore, it offers a wide range of speeds that allow the user to choose the ideal balance between speed and sound for the setting.

I’ve always been a fan of the CR box concept, but I think the AirFanta 3Pro takes this a step further and, due to this, will appeal to many more people. While I’ve never had an issue constructing CR boxes, I often have difficulty sourcing the parts (especially good filters), and I appreciate how the 3Pro can provide the same or better performance at a slightly higher price while also simplifying the shopping process for me.

Surprisingly, for a device of this size, it’s also quite portable, and you will be hard-pressed to find anything that provides a higher CADR than this device while also being ‘packable’. While I still wouldn’t go so far as to say it can fit in a backpack, it can definitely fit in a car or suitcase and is ideal for longer trips where you might be staying in hotels with unknown air quality. If, on the other hand, you want to use it around the house, it’s also a great device.

The biggest disadvantages I see with the AirFanta 3Pro are the sound and the design. There’s no denying that while the device is powerful, it’s also loud at its higher speeds. While this isn’t unusual for an air purifier, it is worth noting that you probably won’t want to run this device at its higher speeds unless necessary. I usually find myself using speed 2 or 3, which is the sweet spot for most users. On the upside, the lower speeds are almost silent, and although they significantly diminish performance, they are good for users who are okay with constantly running the device.

The design may also bug some users. While I don’t mind (and actually like) the device’s industrial design, I know some people don’t use CR boxes due to the design. If you don’t like the look of CR boxes, the chances are you also won’t like the design of this device. With that said, this design allows this device to have such a good price-to-performance ratio, and I think many potential customers will appreciate this more.

Overall, the AirFanta 3Pro is a cost-effective air purifier that should be on your radar – especially if price is a concern. If you’ve tried the 3Pro, I would love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to use the comments section below! Furthermore, if you have any remaining questions, please don’t hesitate to as,k and I will do my best to reply. Thank you for reading.

Pros: High CADR (413 cfm) for effective air purification Affordable compared to similar high-performance devices Pre-assembled CR box design simplifies setup Portable and compact for travel use Certified for safety (UL507, CE-EMC, FCC, CARB) Cons: Loud at higher speeds Design may not appeal to all users (industrial look) Limited to proprietary filters, increasing costs No activated carbon filters included in basic kit

#mask up #public health #wear a mask #pandemic #wear a respirator #covid #still coviding #covid 19 #coronavirus #sars cov 2

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top5listing · 2 years ago

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LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Pets Hair in Bedroom

Color - Cream White

Brand - LEVOIT

Product Dimensions - 8.7"D x 8.7"W x 14.2"H

Power Source - AC

Item Weight - 7.48 Pounds

About this item

WE WON'T RELEASE ANY PRODUCT WITHOUT THE LOGO: Each of our products undergoes professional tests & recognition, after which a formal LOGO is printed. With this confidence and our strong team, we take the LOGO of levoit as our promise

HIGH PERFORMANCE: Enjoy fresh air in 12 minutes with the Core 300 True HEPA Air Purifier. Featuring VortexAir Technology, 360° air intake, and CADR of 141 CFM / 240 m³/h (Clean Air Delivery Rate), Core 300 can purify air of a 1,095 ft² space once in one hour. The higher the CADR of an air purifier, the larger its purification area

FIND RELIEF: Ease sneezing, congestion, and other allergy symptoms caused by airborne contaminants. The H13 True HEPA Filter works alongside the Pre-Filter and High-Efficiency Activated Carbon Filter to capture 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 microns in size, such as dust, smoke, pollen, odor

OFFICIAL LEVOIT FILTERS: Search for B07RSZSYNC or Core 300-RF to find Levoit's Core 300 replacement filter. Levoit filters provide the best fit and filtration, while off-brand filters are unreliable and may damage the air purifier

MULTIPLE FILTER CHOICES: Choose from a variety of replacement filters to best meet your needs. The Toxin Absorber Filter specializes in smog, toxins, and VOCs. The Smoke Remover filter specializes in wildfire, smoke and etc. And the Pet Allergy Filter helps to capture pet dander and absorb unpleasant odors

#LEVOIT Air Purifier #LEVOIT Air Purifier for Home Allergies Pets Hair in Bedroom #levoit air purifier for home allergies pets hair in bedroom #levoit air purifier #air purifier #air purifier for home allergies pets hair in bedroom #levoit air purifier review #best air purifier for pets #levoit air purifier for home #best air purifier #best air purifier for allergies #air purifier for pets #air purifier for allergies #air purifier for home #best bedroom air purifier for allergies #best air purifier for home #air purifier for home use

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azspot · 17 days ago

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Once we were out of Los Angeles, I stopped at a Best Buy to get an air purifier. On my phone, I searched the reviews for the one they had on sale. I picked one out. The employee tried to sell me an extended warranty plan. I said no thank you, got back in the car, and kept driving away from the fire. I do not know when we will be able to go back.

‘We’re Fine’: Lying to Ourselves About a Climate Disaster

#acd #losangeles

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rbhvacinc · 1 month ago

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Best HVAC Repair Company in California

When your HVAC framework stops working, it can feel like everything is turned upside down. Whether it's the center of summer and your AC goes out, or it’s winter and your radiator falls flat, you require somebody you can believe to get things back on track. That’s where RB HVAC Inc. comes in. As your nearby HVAC repair specialists, we’re here to guarantee that your warming, cooling, and discuss quality frameworks are working flawlessly—no matter the season.

Why Select RB HVAC Inc. for Your HVAC Repair Needs?

1. We’re Experienced and Trustworthy

At RB HVAC Inc., we’ve been making a difference California inhabitants and businesses with HVAC repairs for a long time. Our group is made up of talented specialists who have seen and settled fair almost everything. From minor issues like a indoor regulator glitch to major repairs like AC breakdowns, we know how to get your framework running easily again.

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We get it that HVAC issues can strike at the most badly arranged times, which is why we offer quick, solid benefit over California. We’re not fair approximately settling things quickly—we too accept in neighborly, genuine benefit that puts you to begin with. Whether you require a speedy settle or an crisis repair, we’re fair a phone call away.

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• Duct and Ventilation Repair: Wind current issues? We’ll review your conduits and ventilation framework to guarantee your discuss is streaming legitimately and your domestic remains comfortable.

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• Thermostat Repair: Your indoor regulator controls your consolation. If it’s failing, we’ll repair or supplant it to reestablish the culminate temperature in your home.

4. Reasonable Estimating with No Surprises

We know that HVAC repairs can be an startling cost. That’s why we center on giving clear, fair estimating with no covered up expenses. We’ll provide you a nitty gritty assess some time recently we begin any work so you’ll continuously know precisely what you’re paying for. We’re committed to advertising top-quality benefit at a cost you can afford.

5. Client Fulfilment is Our Best Priority

We don’t fair need to settle your HVAC system—we need to make beyond any doubt you’re totally fulfilled with our benefit. From the minute you call us to the minute your repair is total, we’re here to make beyond any doubt your involvement is smooth and stress-free. If something isn’t right, we’ll make it right. Your fulfillment is our number one goal.

How to Know If You Require HVAC Repairs

HVAC frameworks don’t continuously appear self-evident signs when something’s off-base, but there are a few ruddy banners you can see out for. If you take note any of these issues, it’s time to call in the pros:

• Strange Commotions: If your framework is making abnormal sounds like slamming, murmuring, or shrieking, it’s attempting to tell you something’s not right.

• Inconsistent Temperatures: Hot or cold spots around your domestic or office? That’s a sign your framework might not be working efficiently.

• Weak Wind current: If discuss isn’t blowing as unequivocally as normal or if your framework isn’t cooling or warming legitimately, you might have an wind stream issue.

• Skyrocketing Vitality Bills: If your utility bills are higher than regular and you haven’t changed your utilization propensities, it might be a sign that your HVAC framework is working harder than it should.

• Frequent Cycling: If your framework is continually turning on and off, it might demonstrate a breaking down component or indoor regulator issue.

The Significance of Preventive Maintenance

While repairs are in some cases unavoidable, normal upkeep can offer assistance you maintain a strategic distance from expensive shocks. We offer preventive support administrations to keep your HVAC framework in beat shape, capture minor issues some time recently they turn into major issues, and make beyond any doubt your framework is running as proficiently as conceivable. A small TLC goes a long way in expanding the life of your HVAC framework and keeping things comfortable year-round.

Proudly Serving California with the Best HVAC Repair Services

From sunny Southern California to the cooler Northern districts, we gladly serve homes and businesses over the whole state. No matter where you’re found, we’re here to make beyond any doubt your HVAC framework works the way it ought to. We get it California’s one of a kind climate and are prepared to offer assistance with repairs that keep your space comfortable no matter the weather.

Get in Touch with RB HVAC Inc. Today!

At RB HVAC Inc., we’re more than fair a repair company—we’re your trusted accomplice for all things HVAC. Whether you require an critical repair, schedule upkeep, or a interview around your HVAC framework, we’re here to offer assistance. Let us appear you why we’re the best HVAC repair company in California. Contact us nowadays, and let’s get your framework back to culminate working arrange!

#hvac repair #hvac contractor #hvac services #ac maintenance #hvacparts

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jerdazenglobal · 9 months ago

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Some genuine reviews from yoga enthusiasts who use air purifiers:

"As a longtime yoga enthusiast, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my practice improved significantly after installing an air purifier. Now I can concentrate more deeply and fully immerse myself in every breath and pose, making each session more fulfilling."

"Ever since I started using an air purifier in my yoga studio, I've noticed my breathing is more relaxed and natural, and my focus has significantly improved. It really helps me achieve a 'Zen' state during practice, making each session more effective and enjoyable."

"I was initially skeptical about installing an air purifier in my yoga room, but the results have completely changed my mind. The fresh air quality has significantly enhanced my practice quality, making me feel revitalized every time. I highly recommend every yoga enthusiast give it a try!"

"Putting an air purifier in my home yoga corner was one of the best decisions I've made. Now, no matter what the air outside is like, I can ensure that the air I'm breathing is the purest. This makes my yoga sessions smoother and my focus sharper."

...

#AirPurifierReviews #Yoga

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gulshanfacility · 9 months ago

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Elevate Your Workspace with Rental Office Plants: Find the Perfect Fit Near You

In today's fast-paced corporate environment, creating a welcoming and productive workspace is essential. From ergonomic furniture to ambient lighting, every element plays a crucial role. However, one often overlooked aspect is the presence of greenery. Introducing plants into your office not only enhances aesthetics but also contributes to a healthier and more vibrant atmosphere.

If you're considering adding some greenery to your office but don't know where to start, fret not! Rental office plants offer a convenient and cost-effective solution. With a plethora of options available, finding the perfect plants for your workspace has never been easier.

Why Rental Office Plants?

Firstly, rental office plants provide flexibility. Whether you're looking to revamp your office decor for a special event or simply want to experiment with different plant varieties, renting allows you to adapt to changing preferences without the commitment of purchasing.

Moreover, rental services often include maintenance packages, ensuring that your plants remain healthy and vibrant. This means no more worrying about watering schedules or dealing with wilted leaves. With professional care provided, your office plants will thrive, enhancing the ambiance of your workspace effortlessly.

Where to Find Rental Office Plants Near You

Now that you're ready to bring the benefits of greenery into your office, the next step is finding a reliable source for rental office plants. A quick search for "near me plant nursery" will yield a list of options in your vicinity.

Plant nurseries offer a diverse selection of plants suited for various office environments. Whether you prefer low-maintenance succulents, air-purifying ferns, or statement-making palms, you're sure to find the perfect fit for your workspace.

When selecting a plant nursery, consider factors such as reputation, variety of offerings, and rental terms. Reading customer reviews and exploring their portfolio can give you insight into the quality of their products and services.

Integrating Rental Office Plants into Your Workspace

Once you've chosen a plant nursery, it's time to select the plants that best complement your office space. Consider factors such as lighting conditions, available space, and overall aesthetic when making your decision.

For areas with ample natural light, consider incorporating plants that thrive in such conditions, such as snake plants or pothos. In dimly lit spaces, opt for low-light tolerant options like peace lilies or ZZ plants.

Placement is key to maximizing the impact of your office plants. Strategic positioning near workstations, common areas, and entryways can create focal points while improving air quality and reducing stress levels among employees.

Remember to schedule regular maintenance visits as part of your rental agreement to ensure that your plants remain healthy and vibrant. With proper care and attention, your rental office plants will continue to enhance your workspace for months to come.

In conclusion, rental office plants offer a convenient and affordable way to incorporate greenery into your workspace. By partnering with a reputable plant nursery near you, you can select from a diverse range of plants and enjoy professional maintenance services to keep your office looking fresh and good environment.

#Rental office plants #plant rental #near me plant nursery #balcony terrace garden

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nichenirvana · 2 years ago

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Niche Site Teardown #3: housefresh.com

Site: housefresh.com

Niche: Air Purifiers & Humidifiers

Note: Data such as traffic, backlinks, competitors, authority, keywords rankings etc are all ESTIMATES provided by 3rd party tools mostly UberSuggest.

Website Overview

Date Site Founded: 2013 (first registered but not built out until 2021)

Domain Authority: 53

Organic Monthly Traffic: 112,000 visitors p/m

Number of Keywords Ranking: 40,190

Number of Backlinks: 10,322

Number of Pages: 295

Top 5 Pages

6 Best Bathroom Dehumidifiers – 10,650 visitors p/m.

9 Best Air Purifiers for Cigarette Smoke – 4,961 visitors p/m.

Humidifier vs Air Purifier: What’s The Difference? – 2,683 visitors p/m.

6 Best Air Purifiers for VOCs – 2,529 visitors p/m.

6 Best Air Purifiers Made in the USA – 2,167 visitors p/m.

Monetization Methods:

Affiliate Marketing: Yes.

Display Ads: Yes. (Mediavine)

Digital Products: No.

Physical Products: No.

Subscriptions / Memberships: No.

Branding & Design

Built On: Wordpress.

Theme: Generatepress.

Unique or Generic Looking: Generic.

Well Branded: Yes.

Good Logo: Yes.

Trust & Authority

Real Person or Persona: Persona (I think – About page lists owner and staff but no full names or personal social profiles linked to so hard to be 100% sure)

Good About Page: It’s OK (Covers what the site does, why should trust them, how they test products etc)

Genuine Authority: Yes (A full topical authority covering all things humidifier, air purifiers, and filters)

Social Prescence: Yes . - Facebook: No. - Instagram: Yes. - Pinterest: Yes. - Youtube: Yes. - Tik Tok: No. - LinkedIn: No. - Twitter: Yes. - Discord: No.

Email List: No.

Competitors List

ohsospotless.com / Estimated Traffic = 95,532 visitors p/m / # of Backlinks: 40,789

airpurifierfirst.com / Estimated Traffic = 40,000 visitors p/m / # of Backlinks: 8,820

airfuji.com / Estimated Traffic = 4,819 visitors p/m / # of Backlinks: 5,078

My Thoughts on How To Improve Traffic:

Video Traffic: If they are really reviewing the products, and they do have unique images which suggests they own the products, I think they could do more with video to drive traffic. Adding full video reviews of the products on Youtube and Tik Tok could be more revenue.

Social Traffic: Despite having a social media presence they have very little following and haven’t posted much social content – if this was something they focused on it could become a bigger traffic driver.

Build an Email List: Although sites built around specific product types can be difficult to build an email list there are options such as a lead magnet advising on the best ways to clear the air in your house or the best device for specific type of air issues.

My Thoughts on How To Improve Revenue:

Avoid Distracting The Reader: The top of some of their “best X” affiliate reviews have highlighted boxes that randomly link out to other websites (I believe in the thought that linking out to authority sites is a good signal to Google, which is true) but this is likely to send people away from the affiliate content and lose sales, so put those links at the bottom of the page or within the content.

Call To Action Buttons: There’s no buttons with call to actions in the “top 3” product review comparison tables on their affiliate content, just text links, big, colourful buttons, would generate more attention and clicks.

Showcase The Personal Experience: Though they seemingly have unique images of the products and even videos on Youtube showcasing the products their written reviews and affiliate content don’t really highlight that personal experience of using the product, it still reads like a very generic review written by someone who hasn’t actually used it (even though I believe they may have owned and used the products).

Don’t Display Prices: They are displaying prices directly in reviews and comparison affiliate posts which I would discourage because one big reason people will click your affiliate buttons is to check the price on the retailer.

Avoid Listing The Retailer: On their call to action buttons they often use terms like “Buy on Amazon” which although I’ve never tested it specifically I believe could cause a reduction in clicks because people may think “OK, I’ll check it on Amazon later” or open Amazon direcrly without clicking your links or buttons.

Biggest Takeaways To Apply To Your Own Site

Product Sites Still Work: Going all in one specific product type (in this case devices that clean the air of your house) and covering every piece of information, reviewing every product, and comparing all the different models can give you high topical authority and extremely high traffic (an estimated 100,000+ visitors p/m in this case).

Using the Products Builds Trust: If you can buy the products and take original photos and videos to add into your content then do it – this shows much more trust because people can see you have actually used them rather than regurgitating the Amazon listing information.

Always Use Call to Action BUTTONS: Never use text link call to actions but instead always use big, colourful, contrasting buttons people can’t miss.

Don’t Distract Your Visitor: Never put anything at the top of your pages that can take your visitor AWAY from the thing you want them to focus on otherwise you’ll lose their attention and lose clicks and sales.

Avoid Listing Prices: Avoid using product prices on your affiliate content (even when using Amazon’s API to display the current price) because it gives people one less incentive to click through to Amazon – many people will click to check the price.

Don’t Tell The Reader Where The Link Leads: Again, avoid mentioning “Amazon” on your call to action buttons (though remember you do need a clear disclaimer at the top of your pages / visible above the fold saying you’re an Amazon affiliate) as many people will open Amazon in a new tab or decide to just check it directly on Amazon later meaning they won’t click your affiliate link.

Build your Email List: It drives repeat traffic back to your site, makes people more likely to buy, and drives more sales plus it’s something Google cannot take away from you.

#affiliate #marketing #niche ideas #niche marketing #seo

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