Product review: MobiFren Flex-L Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds High Definition LDAC/Apt-X Sound

MobiFren Flex-L earbuds sound great!  I thought the sound was excellent at all ranges, strong base, pleasing middle and high notes, clear through the entire range.  They feel very comfortable in my ears. The earbuds are magnetic, they snap together when I am not using it so I can hang them around my neck (and not worry about dropping them) when I am talking to somebody.

The Bluetooth reception is solid within 15 feet.  If I leave my phone and walk away for more 15 feet meet I start hearing a bit of cracking. If I go a bit further I lose the Bluetooth connection with the phone.

I liked that the charging is done by a regular micro USB cable, not a proprietary cable.  The package comes with a carrying pouch.

Pairing with my phone was easy. I needed to hold the power on button for 4 seconds (middle button) and my phone detected a new Bluetooth device called ?.

The ear buds can be controlled by MobiFren_SM app, which is available for download from Google Playstore (there is also a version for Apple phones). The app is not as good as the ear buds themselves. The app has some extras such step counter and remote control for the camera, but the user interface is not great - busy screen, not intuitive, small controls that are hard to use while exercising.  The measurements are in kg rather then pounds, so the program is not cutomized for American market.

Overall, very comfortable fit, good sound, app is not as good as the eard buds themselves.  They come in attractive box and would make a nice impression as a gift.

You can locate these earbuds on Amazon


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: First Alert CO605 Plug Battery Backup CO Alarm

My old FirstAlert plug-in alarm died 7 years after the initial installation. It was supposed to last 5 years so I got my money worth.  I read some reviews that folks got an alarm which was manufactured many months before the purchase.  This is significant because the expiration date is based on manufactured date not the date when they alarm is deployed.  I purchased this alarm mid May and the manufactured date on the back was March 2019.  I thought two months old alarm was fairly reasonable.

What I did not realize is that this unit has no display of any kind (not even a light), you can't easily tell that the unit is plugged in. Only in the darkness I can see red glow on the front of the unit. The unit communicates everything via beeps -  ok, alarm, end of life. This is not as good as my previous alarm which had an LED display.

This is a plug in unit with a backup 9V battery (one battery is included). To activate the backup battery one has to press the test button after installing the battery.  The unit has to be plugged in low, i.e. close the floor  (unlike the smoke alarm) and a regular wall outlet is at a good height.  The unit is large but most of the bulk is below, so in a double outlet you can still use the top outlet when the alarm is plugged in the bottom outlet.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Magnivision Foster Grant purple Elana women’s reading glasses

I needed a pair of reading glasses in a hurry and I picked a pair of Elana Foster Grants in a local CVS. When I checked the price on Amazon for exactly the same pair the price was almost 10 dollars cheaper. If I was not in hurry this Amazon definitely would have been my choice.

As far as the glasses go, they fit well, the power is accurate, the glass is clear and I see as well in them as a more expensive prescription reading glasses.

I needed a pair of reading glasses in a hurry and I picked a pair of Elana Foster Grants in a local CVS. When I checked the price on Amazon for exactly the same pair the price was almost 10 dollars cheaper. If I was not in hurry this Amazon definitely would have been my choice.

As far as the glasses go, they fit well, the power is accurate, the glass is clear and I see as well in them as a more expensive prescription reading glasses.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

5 stars also reflect the Amazon price compared to the CVS pharmacy.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Large leak-proof lunch box with Leaf design

This bag turned out to be a bit bigger then I expected and a bit bigger than Amazon description:
11.25" long direction along the base x 6.5" wide i.e. short direction around the base  x 8" tall (from the bottom to the handles).  It has short handles and no shoulder strap.

I use it to carry lunch and sometimes dinner to work.  I used to carry my old lunch bag in the backpack along with  my computer, but this bag is too big to fit into the backpack with the zipper up, so I carry it as a separate bag.  To keep my hands free I added a camera strap by tying it to the handles, this way I can carry the bag over my shoulder.

This bag fits three 7" x 5" containers stacked on top of each other, with a 16 oz round container on its side next to them.  It also fits as 12 oz of soda standing upright if the bottle is placed in the middle portion of the bag.

The bag is foil-lined.  The foil does not really keep the food warmer than a cloth bag, but the foil is easy to clean with a wet sponge.

The bag has a side pocket on the outside.  I thought the bag looks pretty.  I also liked that that it looks different from all the other lunch bags in the office, no confusing it with someone else's lunch bag.  Its size does generate some chuckles, people suggested I get wheels for it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: FootGlide by BodyGlide Foot Anti Blister Balm

For years I suffered with blisters on my pinky toes when I walk for more than 30 minutes. I tried various remedies which did not work until I found Glide. Even orthopedic shoes did not fully cure the issue. But Glide did. I put a little bit between my toes, smooth it out with a finger, and I can walk all day without any ill effects.  Recently BodyGlide introduced FootGlide which works just as well.  I buy which ever one is cheaper when I need a new one.

Glide does not feel greasy or slippery, it just works. My skin feels softer too. My blister covered pinkie toes now look smooth and pretty like baby toes! One large bottle lasts a long time (more than a year of daily use).
I use the smaller 0.45 oz bottle when I travel. I don't leave the house without applying BodyGlide to my toes, it is now part of the routine like applying deodorant.

If you have a problem with blisters on your feet, I highly recommend it!

You can find FootGlide on Amazon by following this link.


You can find BodyGlide on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Windows 10: The Ultimate Beginners Guide by Max Greene

Very short book. Most of the content is comparing Windows 10 to Windows 8 and improvements that appear in Windows 10. The text reads like it came from Microsoft marketing department rather then a user with practical knowledge and experience.

This book certainly should not be be called "ultimate" guide. It has very little usable information - a few tips here and there, very few screen shots, very few how tos, no work arounds for common problems. Searching the internet brought me more helpful information.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link. 

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: Bayco Glass Meal Prep Containers, [6 Pack, 22oz ]

I was looking to replace 25 oz square Glad plastic containers for taking lunch (and sometimes dinner) to work.  I could not find the square glass containers of 25 oz size but these containers are 22 oz and are pretty close to what I was looking for.

Through reading reviews of various glass lunch boxes I learned that the weak points of these containers are the vents which begin to leak not long after being put to use, so I was looking for covers without vents.  Finally, I was looking for a good price per container.  They were $19.99 when I bought them, so $3.33 per container - not too bad.  Although they are 4 bucks cheaper as I write this review and I am a little annoyed. I should have used Amazon price tracker site camelcamelcamel site to make sure I am not getting the highest historical price.

I need to be able to fit two containers in my lunch bag, so the size with the lids on was very  important to me.  I was not sure how the measurements in the product description were taken.

Measurements with the lids on: 5.25" width x 7" length x 2.5" height.  Two containers fit into a lunch bag sized 6"W x 8.5"L x 6.5"H.

The package arrived well packaged in foam for each container. None of the containers were damaged, the lids close well, the containers are leak proof.  I am pretty pleased with the purchase.  Note that the instructions say not to put lids into the microwave.  I have kept them out of the microwave and the containers continue to be leak free.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★