The best fan

By Tyler Wells Lynch and Séamus Bellamy

This post was done in partnership with The Sweethome, a buyer’s guide to the best homewares. When readers choose to buy The Sweethome’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After more than 60 hours of research—including three separate interviews with fan engineers and product testing experts as well as several days measuring air circulation, airflow velocity, and decibel levels with HVAC equipment—we think the Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan is the best fan for most people.

How we picked and tested

The first thing we did was break down fans into two basic groups: room fans designed to cool a larger space, and desk fans designed for use in smaller, personal spaces. Then we checked to see which fans from each category were the most popular on a number of websites. To trim the massive number of fans, we decided to consider only products with at least 100 reviews and an average rating of four stars or higher.

Based on our conversations with industrial product testing company Intertek, the three key metrics for measuring fans’ performance are airflow velocity, air circulation, and noise. To test the airflow velocity, we built a rudimentary wind tunnel out of cardboard and duct tape. (It was simple, but we described it to Intertek, and our sources said it should do the job.) So with a fan blowing from one end and a digital anemometer at the other, we collected a series of velocity readings in cubic feet per minute (CFM), a standard unit of measurement used by HVAC contractors.

To assess air circulation, we fastened seven ribbons at different locations throughout a 285-square-foot room. We placed each fan at the same location in the room, and set to its highest setting with the oscillation mode turned on. We then noted how many of the ribbons stirred or rustled.

The third key metric we tested was noise. We used an iOS noise-meter app and measured the output of each fan in dB(C). We also looked at the remote-control performance, ergonomics, and safety of each fan, but these factors didn’t influence our picks as much.

The best room fan: Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan

Photo: Marshall Troy

Of all the fans we tested the Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Tower Fan struck the best balance of performance and price. It did not dominate the other fans in any specific category—in fact, it proved middling in our airflow and circulation tests. But the Seville was the only fan we tested that did not suffer a significant flaw with regards to airflow, circulation, noise, price, build, stability, quality, design, or convenience. It was one of the quietest fans we tested, averaging 57.2 dB(C) on its highest setting, and has a wide oscillation range of 75 degrees.

In our airflow and circulation tests, the UltraSlimline proved fine. We registered an average CFM of 680.2, and the UltraSlimline moved four out of seven ribbons in our 285-square-foot test room. It wasn’t the top performer in either test, but in no way did the UltraSlimline fall short in its ability to cool the room we were sitting in. We feel the other standout factors for the Seville make up for the middling circulation performance.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Since around 2016, we’ve noticed a steady trickle of Amazon reviews complaining about the motor failing after only a few months of use. Our editor-in-chief also experienced the same problem. We reached out to Seville for comment, and a representative told us that the company “intend[s] to address any issues” it finds. The representative said the return rate for the UltraSlimline remains low, and were quick to highlight the one-year return policy on all Seville products. So keep that receipt!

Runner-up room fan: Vornado 630 Mid-Size Whole Room Air Circulator

Photo: Michael Hession

If you want more-powerful performance, but still have an eye on price, go with the Vornado 630. It outperformed our top pick in both our airflow and air circulation tests, has better reviews, is backed by a better warranty, and costs only around $5 more. We also found it was much easier to clean than a tower fan. However, the 630 is not our pick because it has only three speed settings, does not have a remote or a sleep mode, and does not oscillate.

In our airflow test, the 630 registered an average CFM of 781.30, the third highest in our test group. In the air circulation test, the 630 moved five out of seven ribbons.

With an average reading of 61.2 dB(C) at the highest setting and 53.4 dB(C) at the lowest, the 630 was the third loudest fan we tested. Despite this, the tone was consistent and not very pitchy, and we didn’t think the 630 was irritatingly noisy.

Best desk fan: Holmes Lil’ Blizzard

Photo: Marshall Troy

The Holmes Lil’ Blizzard 8-Inch Oscillating Table Fan is the best option for a small space like a desk or a bedside table. This wasn’t the most powerful desk fan we tested, but it proved to be the most pleasant one to use. You get a pivoting head, the ability to oscillate in a wide 40-degree arc, and two power settings. These features aren’t unique to the Holmes, but the combination gives you more than you get with any other fan at this size and price.

Most of the complaints about the Lil’ Blizzard concern its build quality. People complain that it’s made of flimsy plastic, and we’re not going to lie—it totally is. Despite that, it still managed to pass our fingertip safety test, and none of the other fans in this category did that. One other flaw: The Lil’ Blizzard was the loudest fan in its category, averaging about 70 dB(C).

Upgrade pick: Dyson Air Multiplier AM06

Photo: Marshall Troy

The Dyson Air Multiplier AM06, though expensive, was far and away the best desk fan we found. It was the quietest fan we tested, and its blade-less design makes it super easy to clean and an elegant piece of decor for any room. It’s also flexible, with 10 power settings and a wide range for the sleep timer. But as much as we like the performance, aesthetics, and even the sound of the AM06, the price is hardly justifiable when you consider that a device at a fraction of the cost will serve a very similar function and perhaps even cool a larger room faster.

With an average CFM of 569.11, the Air Multiplier actually had one of the lowest airflow velocities in our test group. But the Dyson is a perfect example of why wind tunnel airflow tests are not enough to gauge a fan’s overall power. In our whole-room air circulation test, the Air Multiplier moved six out of seven ribbons and was one of just two fans able to move the ribbon placed directly behind the fan. This device may not deliver the highest velocity of airflow, but when it comes to actually circulating air throughout a room, it’s exemplary. It’s also the quietest fan we tested, registering a mere 49.7 dB(C) on its highest setting.

This guide may have been updated by The Sweethome. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Sweethome: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

Dwayne Johnson and Apple made a Siri movie

Now here’s something you probably didn’t see coming. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has revealed that he’s starring in a Siri-themed movie (The Rock x Siri) that launches July 24th on Apple’s YouTube channel. He’s shy about details (other than that it’s the “coolest, sexiest, funnest” movie ever), but it’s safe to say there will be some plugs for Apple’s voice assistant. We’ve asked Apple if it can elaborate on the premise.

It’s not hard to see why Apple would go to the lengths of crafting a movie with an A-list celeb (even if it’s ultimately a glorified commercial). Siri is about to become particularly important to Apple’s bottom line thanks to the HomePod, and a high-profile video might boost the AI helper’s image as it competes with the likes of Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.

Teamed w/ @Apple to make the biggest, coolest, sexiest, funnest (is that a word?) movie ever. Drops TOMORROW!#ROCKxSIRI #DominateYourDay✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/STwlCPsVUh

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) July 23, 2017

Source: Dwayne Johnson (Twitter), Apple (YouTube)

Apple Teams Up With Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson for Siri Movie

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson today announced that he’s teamed up with Apple for a movie that co-stars Apple’s AI-based personal assistant, Siri.

According to the poster tweeted by Johnson, the movie is called “The ROCKxSIRI Dominate the Day.” There are no details on how long the film is or what it’s about, but it apparently debuts tomorrow on Apple’s YouTube channel.

Based on the image, it appears to feature car chases, space travel, an alien fight, and a concert performance. In a Facebook post, Johnson calls it the “biggest, coolest, craziest, dopest, most over the top, funnest” movie ever.

I partnered with #Apple to make the BIGGEST, COOLEST, CRAZIEST, DOPEST, MOST OVER THE TOP, FUNNEST (is that even a word?) movie ever.

And I have the greatest co-star of all time – #SIRI.

I make movies for the world to enjoy and we also made this one to motivate you to get out there and get the job done.

I want you to watch it, have fun with it and then go LIVE IT.

The film will premiere on Apple’s YouTube channel on Monday, July 24, but it’s not yet clear what time it will debut.

This is the second time Apple has teamed up with a partner to release a short film. Last month, Apple highlighted “Détour,” a film French director Michel Gondry shot on the iPhone in partnership with Apple and in a decidedly more Apple style.

The project with Dwayne Johnson is unusual, but it comes at a time when Apple is preparing to release the Siri-based HomePod, so that may be why the company has decided to promote its personal assistant in a fun and unique way.

Tag: Siri
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Get free Wi-Fi and melatonin-laced water on Cabin, a new luxury bus

Why it matters to you

Buses have historically gotten a bad rap as transportation, but Cabin wants to change that.

Busses are rarely anyone’s preferred method of transportation. Cost effective? Sure. Convenient? Maybe, as long as things aren’t horribly delayed. But in terms of comfort, no one’s lining up for a bus. Cabin wants to change that. It’s a new independent bus service that’s more of a mobile boutique hotel, and for now, it’s only operating between Los Angeles and San Francisco. But if you’re looking for an alternative to a train, a plane, or being your own chauffeur, this could be a viable option.

Let’s be clear — this is no Greyhound bus. Cabin, as you might guess, gives its passengers their own cabins, which come with comfy beds, luxury sheets, privacy curtains, power outlets, USB cords, ear plugs, and free Wi-Fi. The journey begins at 11 p.m., so you can think of it as a redeye of sorts. Upon boarding, you’ll be given a cup of chamomile tea, and a bottle of melatonin-laced water. Eight hours later, when you arrive at your destination, you’ll get a cup of espresso.

While Cabin is certainly a modern take on travel, co-founder and president Gaetano Crupi says that it took its inspiration from a rather old-fashioned view of transportation, in which efficiency was not the priority, but rather comfort. “What they would book is a cabin for that journey, and that personal space, that cabin, was as exciting as the destination itself,” said Crupi of old transportation forms like the Orient Express in an interview with SPCR.

Cabin isn’t exactly what Crupi thought it would be — not yet, at least. Originally, the co-founder hoped Cabin would take the form of a self-driving car.

“We were especially intrigued by the idea of falling asleep on Friday night and telling your car to take you somewhere very far away so you could spend Saturday there,” Crupi said. “That was the point that we really were interested in because this would make your neighborhood feel like it was a 500-mile radius area.”

But given that we’re still a fair distance from fully autonomous vehicles, the Cabin team settled for a bus. And so far, it’s been quite a hit. The original wait list for a ride of Cabin (which is $115 each way) grew to 20,000, and demand is now so high that the team is aiming to provide daily runs from Santa Monica to San Francisco beginning in September. So if you’re looking for a way to get from SoCal to NorCal, you may want to book a trip yourself.

A recycling robot named Clarke could be the key to reducing waste

Why it matters to you

We all know that it’s important to recycle, but that’s sometimes easier said than done. Luckily, Clarke the robot is here to help.

Admit it — you’re not entirely sure how to recycle. It’s understandable, really. With so many different materials now in play, how are you supposed to know what needs to be thrown into a landfill and what can be reused? Luckily, while humans might not be the best at practicing the Three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle, of course), another “R” is here to save us. It’s a robot, and it’s been affectionately named Clarke.

Developed by AMP Robotics, this robot makes use of artificial intelligence to recognize and sort various food and beverage containers. As it stands, Clarke has already been deployed in a municipal waste facility in Denver, Colorado, where it helps out with the trash-sorting system. Using a visible-light camera, it can spot milk, juice, and food cartons, and pull them out using its robotic arm and suction cups. These items are then diverted away from the landfill, and sent instead to the appropriate recycling facility.

With a reliable rate of 60 items a minute, Clarke picks up recyclable waste with 90-percent accuracy, and is about 50 percent faster than a human would be at doing the same job. Ultimately, that results in a 50-percent reduction in terms of sorting costs.

“The fundamental platform that we’ve created was a system to sort pretty much all the commodities that are in a recycling facility today,” AMP Robotics founder, Mantanya Horowitz told Engadget, “Whether it’s cardboard, No. 1 plastics, No. 2 plastics, or cartons — cartons just ended up being a great place for us to start.”

But because Clarke is an AI-based system, the more it works, the smarter it gets.

“Even though this first system is picking cartons, it’s actually watching and learning from all the other commodities that it’s seeing as well,” Horowitz added. “That’s what’s really exciting. The more systems that we have out there, the better they’re going to be.”

In the future, the hope is to introduce more granularity to Clarke’s sorting abilities. “Right now we can say, ‘That’s a No. 1 plastic’ but we want to be able to say ‘That’s a Pepsi bottle, that’s a Gatorade bottle’ and give recycling facilities even finer resolution on what’s going through [their lines],” Horowitz explained.

So while you should still do your best to learn what’s recyclable and what’s not, even if you mess up, Clarke may be able to save the day, and help our planet.

Awesome tech you can’t buy yet: Sun-defying tents, bee monitors, dream masks

At any given moment, there are approximately a zillion different crowdfunding campaigns happening on the Web. Take a stroll through Kickstarter or Indiegogo and you’ll find no shortage of weird, useless, and downright stupid projects out there – alongside some real gems. We’ve cut through the Pebble clones and janky iPhone cases to round up the most unusual, ambitious, and exciting new crowdfunding projects out there this week. That said, keep in mind that any crowdfunding project — even the best intentioned — can fail, so do your homework before cutting a check for the gadget of your dreams.

Buzzbox — beehive monitoring device

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Honeybees are having a rough time lately. In 2016 alone, more than 40 percent of colonies in the United States perished. To fight this troubling trend, many beekeepers have turned to technology for help, and they might soon have another high tech tool at their disposal. Say hello to BuzzBox: an innovative hive monitoring device designed to keep beekeepers more in touch with their buzzing broods.

Bees are finicky creatures, and a wide variety of factors can affect the health of a given hive. The BuzzBox system is based around a series of sensors that track factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and more. As an added bonus, the entire unit is powered via a two-watt solar panel. The device also has a a built-in anti-theft accelerometer to monitor movement just in case someone tries to nab your kit and/or hive.

The BuzzBox is also capable of recording and analyzing the acoustics inside of a hive and recognize patterns over time. This allows the device to detect a panoply of diseases, parasites, and other health issues facing a colony — which gives beekeepers time to intercede before the issues spread to the entire hive.

Sonnet — backcountry mesh networking

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Want to communicate over long distances in the wilderness without dishing out big bucks for a set of high-end walkie-talkies? Sonnet might just be what you’re after. It’s a mesh networking hub that allows you to send messages and make calls to other Sonnet users right from your smartphone — even when you’re outside your cell phone provider’s network. It doesn’t use cell towers or Wi-Fi at all, so it’ll work even if all other forms of communication are unavailable.

Much like similar products from GoTenna or Beartooth, Sonnet uses long-range radio signals to create a peer-to-peer network that allows smartphone users to communicate directly, regardless of whether or not there are any cell towers nearby. The gadget connects to an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth and uses a special app to send messages, photos, and GPS information to other Sonnet users who are nearby.

Sonnet reportedly has a range of about 3 miles, but can go as far as 9 if both parties have line-of-sight, such as when the sender and receiver are on top of two mountains. If there are more users in the area, however, the device can use mesh networking to connect people over even greater distances — up to 50 miles in some cases!

Neuroon — brainwave-reading sleep mask

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

A few years ago, an innovative new project popped up on Kickstarter and took the web by storm. Luci, as it was called, was an EEG headband that could read your brainwaves, detect when you were dreaming, and then automatically play sounds to help you enter a lucid dream state. It was a brilliant idea, and it gathered tons of support in just a few weeks … but unfortunately, it turned out to be a scam. The project was eventually cancelled after the internet debunked the creator’s bogus claims, and the product never made it past the conceptual phase.

But not to worry — the the idea of brainwave-scanning lucid dreaming gizmos hasn’t died out entirely. Now, thanks to a startup called Neuroon, the concept is back, and better than ever. Neuroon has recently taken to Kickstarter to help fund its eponymous sleep mask: an EEG-reading device that  can perform a wide variety of different functions — including the potential to induce lucid dreams.

Neuroon scans your brainwaves while you sleep to determine when you’ve entered deep REM sleep, at which point a series of lights will flash over your closed eyelids. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to recognize this pattern, realize that you’re dreaming, and go lucid.

Rumpl Puffy Poncho — outdoor poncho/blanket combo

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You know Rumpl? The company that makes those super rad outdoor blankets? Well, the founders are back with yet another brilliant idea: a high-performance outdoor blanket that doubles as a poncho. Think of it as a more versatile version of that mummy bag you probably lug around when you go camping or backpacking. It’s warm, lightweight, and packs down into a sack — but thanks to its clever design, you can use it for more than just sleeping in a tent. Slip your head through the top slit, and suddenly it becomes an ultra-warm poncho.

On the outside, the Puffy Poncho is constructed from super-premium 20D, rip-stop nylon with a water-resistant DWR shield. This not only makes it incredibly soft and breathable, but also rugged and tear-proof as well. The DWR coating makes Rumpl stain resistant, and also prevents odor and bacteria from building up. Inside, it’s filled with ultralight synthetic down that mimics natural down, but is lighter, extremely compressible, and completely washable.

Ohnana — heat-shielding festival tent

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Ever tried to sleep in late while camping (at a festival or elsewhere), only to wake up just a couple hours after the sun comes up because the temperature inside your tent has skyrocketed? You’re not alone. Hot tents have plagued campers and festival goers for decades, but now there’s finally a solution. The Ohnana tent, as it’s called it’s designed with special materials that block out sunlight and prevent your tent from becoming an oven.

It is all thanks to two reflective coatings that are placed atop two separate layers of 170T polyester. That, the Ohnana team says, allows the tent to reflect infrared light, which in turn keeps the inside of the tent and its inhabitants cool. And not only does it block the heat, but it also blocks the harsh rays of the morning sun, so you will not be rudely awakened by light in your eyes.

The tent also comes with windows so that you can allow the breeze in when appropriate. And if there is no breeze to be had, rest assured that you can use the Ohnana tent’s built-in fans, which double in function as a source of light.

Awesome tech you can’t buy yet: Sun-defying tents, bee monitors, dream masks

At any given moment, there are approximately a zillion different crowdfunding campaigns happening on the Web. Take a stroll through Kickstarter or Indiegogo and you’ll find no shortage of weird, useless, and downright stupid projects out there – alongside some real gems. We’ve cut through the Pebble clones and janky iPhone cases to round up the most unusual, ambitious, and exciting new crowdfunding projects out there this week. That said, keep in mind that any crowdfunding project — even the best intentioned — can fail, so do your homework before cutting a check for the gadget of your dreams.

Buzzbox — beehive monitoring device

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Honeybees are having a rough time lately. In 2016 alone, more than 40 percent of colonies in the United States perished. To fight this troubling trend, many beekeepers have turned to technology for help, and they might soon have another high tech tool at their disposal. Say hello to BuzzBox: an innovative hive monitoring device designed to keep beekeepers more in touch with their buzzing broods.

Bees are finicky creatures, and a wide variety of factors can affect the health of a given hive. The BuzzBox system is based around a series of sensors that track factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and more. As an added bonus, the entire unit is powered via a two-watt solar panel. The device also has a a built-in anti-theft accelerometer to monitor movement just in case someone tries to nab your kit and/or hive.

The BuzzBox is also capable of recording and analyzing the acoustics inside of a hive and recognize patterns over time. This allows the device to detect a panoply of diseases, parasites, and other health issues facing a colony — which gives beekeepers time to intercede before the issues spread to the entire hive.

Sonnet — backcountry mesh networking

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Want to communicate over long distances in the wilderness without dishing out big bucks for a set of high-end walkie-talkies? Sonnet might just be what you’re after. It’s a mesh networking hub that allows you to send messages and make calls to other Sonnet users right from your smartphone — even when you’re outside your cell phone provider’s network. It doesn’t use cell towers or Wi-Fi at all, so it’ll work even if all other forms of communication are unavailable.

Much like similar products from GoTenna or Beartooth, Sonnet uses long-range radio signals to create a peer-to-peer network that allows smartphone users to communicate directly, regardless of whether or not there are any cell towers nearby. The gadget connects to an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth and uses a special app to send messages, photos, and GPS information to other Sonnet users who are nearby.

Sonnet reportedly has a range of about 3 miles, but can go as far as 9 if both parties have line-of-sight, such as when the sender and receiver are on top of two mountains. If there are more users in the area, however, the device can use mesh networking to connect people over even greater distances — up to 50 miles in some cases!

Neuroon — brainwave-reading sleep mask

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

A few years ago, an innovative new project popped up on Kickstarter and took the web by storm. Luci, as it was called, was an EEG headband that could read your brainwaves, detect when you were dreaming, and then automatically play sounds to help you enter a lucid dream state. It was a brilliant idea, and it gathered tons of support in just a few weeks … but unfortunately, it turned out to be a scam. The project was eventually cancelled after the internet debunked the creator’s bogus claims, and the product never made it past the conceptual phase.

But not to worry — the the idea of brainwave-scanning lucid dreaming gizmos hasn’t died out entirely. Now, thanks to a startup called Neuroon, the concept is back, and better than ever. Neuroon has recently taken to Kickstarter to help fund its eponymous sleep mask: an EEG-reading device that  can perform a wide variety of different functions — including the potential to induce lucid dreams.

Neuroon scans your brainwaves while you sleep to determine when you’ve entered deep REM sleep, at which point a series of lights will flash over your closed eyelids. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to recognize this pattern, realize that you’re dreaming, and go lucid.

Rumpl Puffy Poncho — outdoor poncho/blanket combo

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You know Rumpl? The company that makes those super rad outdoor blankets? Well, the founders are back with yet another brilliant idea: a high-performance outdoor blanket that doubles as a poncho. Think of it as a more versatile version of that mummy bag you probably lug around when you go camping or backpacking. It’s warm, lightweight, and packs down into a sack — but thanks to its clever design, you can use it for more than just sleeping in a tent. Slip your head through the top slit, and suddenly it becomes an ultra-warm poncho.

On the outside, the Puffy Poncho is constructed from super-premium 20D, rip-stop nylon with a water-resistant DWR shield. This not only makes it incredibly soft and breathable, but also rugged and tear-proof as well. The DWR coating makes Rumpl stain resistant, and also prevents odor and bacteria from building up. Inside, it’s filled with ultralight synthetic down that mimics natural down, but is lighter, extremely compressible, and completely washable.

Ohnana — heat-shielding festival tent

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Ever tried to sleep in late while camping (at a festival or elsewhere), only to wake up just a couple hours after the sun comes up because the temperature inside your tent has skyrocketed? You’re not alone. Hot tents have plagued campers and festival goers for decades, but now there’s finally a solution. The Ohnana tent, as it’s called it’s designed with special materials that block out sunlight and prevent your tent from becoming an oven.

It is all thanks to two reflective coatings that are placed atop two separate layers of 170T polyester. That, the Ohnana team says, allows the tent to reflect infrared light, which in turn keeps the inside of the tent and its inhabitants cool. And not only does it block the heat, but it also blocks the harsh rays of the morning sun, so you will not be rudely awakened by light in your eyes.

The tent also comes with windows so that you can allow the breeze in when appropriate. And if there is no breeze to be had, rest assured that you can use the Ohnana tent’s built-in fans, which double in function as a source of light.

Awesome tech you can’t buy yet: Sun-defying tents, bee monitors, dream masks

At any given moment, there are approximately a zillion different crowdfunding campaigns happening on the Web. Take a stroll through Kickstarter or Indiegogo and you’ll find no shortage of weird, useless, and downright stupid projects out there – alongside some real gems. We’ve cut through the Pebble clones and janky iPhone cases to round up the most unusual, ambitious, and exciting new crowdfunding projects out there this week. That said, keep in mind that any crowdfunding project — even the best intentioned — can fail, so do your homework before cutting a check for the gadget of your dreams.

Buzzbox — beehive monitoring device

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Honeybees are having a rough time lately. In 2016 alone, more than 40 percent of colonies in the United States perished. To fight this troubling trend, many beekeepers have turned to technology for help, and they might soon have another high tech tool at their disposal. Say hello to BuzzBox: an innovative hive monitoring device designed to keep beekeepers more in touch with their buzzing broods.

Bees are finicky creatures, and a wide variety of factors can affect the health of a given hive. The BuzzBox system is based around a series of sensors that track factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and more. As an added bonus, the entire unit is powered via a two-watt solar panel. The device also has a a built-in anti-theft accelerometer to monitor movement just in case someone tries to nab your kit and/or hive.

The BuzzBox is also capable of recording and analyzing the acoustics inside of a hive and recognize patterns over time. This allows the device to detect a panoply of diseases, parasites, and other health issues facing a colony — which gives beekeepers time to intercede before the issues spread to the entire hive.

Sonnet — backcountry mesh networking

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Want to communicate over long distances in the wilderness without dishing out big bucks for a set of high-end walkie-talkies? Sonnet might just be what you’re after. It’s a mesh networking hub that allows you to send messages and make calls to other Sonnet users right from your smartphone — even when you’re outside your cell phone provider’s network. It doesn’t use cell towers or Wi-Fi at all, so it’ll work even if all other forms of communication are unavailable.

Much like similar products from GoTenna or Beartooth, Sonnet uses long-range radio signals to create a peer-to-peer network that allows smartphone users to communicate directly, regardless of whether or not there are any cell towers nearby. The gadget connects to an iOS or Android device via Bluetooth and uses a special app to send messages, photos, and GPS information to other Sonnet users who are nearby.

Sonnet reportedly has a range of about 3 miles, but can go as far as 9 if both parties have line-of-sight, such as when the sender and receiver are on top of two mountains. If there are more users in the area, however, the device can use mesh networking to connect people over even greater distances — up to 50 miles in some cases!

Neuroon — brainwave-reading sleep mask

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

A few years ago, an innovative new project popped up on Kickstarter and took the web by storm. Luci, as it was called, was an EEG headband that could read your brainwaves, detect when you were dreaming, and then automatically play sounds to help you enter a lucid dream state. It was a brilliant idea, and it gathered tons of support in just a few weeks … but unfortunately, it turned out to be a scam. The project was eventually cancelled after the internet debunked the creator’s bogus claims, and the product never made it past the conceptual phase.

But not to worry — the the idea of brainwave-scanning lucid dreaming gizmos hasn’t died out entirely. Now, thanks to a startup called Neuroon, the concept is back, and better than ever. Neuroon has recently taken to Kickstarter to help fund its eponymous sleep mask: an EEG-reading device that  can perform a wide variety of different functions — including the potential to induce lucid dreams.

Neuroon scans your brainwaves while you sleep to determine when you’ve entered deep REM sleep, at which point a series of lights will flash over your closed eyelids. With a bit of practice, you’ll be able to recognize this pattern, realize that you’re dreaming, and go lucid.

Rumpl Puffy Poncho — outdoor poncho/blanket combo

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You know Rumpl? The company that makes those super rad outdoor blankets? Well, the founders are back with yet another brilliant idea: a high-performance outdoor blanket that doubles as a poncho. Think of it as a more versatile version of that mummy bag you probably lug around when you go camping or backpacking. It’s warm, lightweight, and packs down into a sack — but thanks to its clever design, you can use it for more than just sleeping in a tent. Slip your head through the top slit, and suddenly it becomes an ultra-warm poncho.

On the outside, the Puffy Poncho is constructed from super-premium 20D, rip-stop nylon with a water-resistant DWR shield. This not only makes it incredibly soft and breathable, but also rugged and tear-proof as well. The DWR coating makes Rumpl stain resistant, and also prevents odor and bacteria from building up. Inside, it’s filled with ultralight synthetic down that mimics natural down, but is lighter, extremely compressible, and completely washable.

Ohnana — heat-shielding festival tent

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Ever tried to sleep in late while camping (at a festival or elsewhere), only to wake up just a couple hours after the sun comes up because the temperature inside your tent has skyrocketed? You’re not alone. Hot tents have plagued campers and festival goers for decades, but now there’s finally a solution. The Ohnana tent, as it’s called it’s designed with special materials that block out sunlight and prevent your tent from becoming an oven.

It is all thanks to two reflective coatings that are placed atop two separate layers of 170T polyester. That, the Ohnana team says, allows the tent to reflect infrared light, which in turn keeps the inside of the tent and its inhabitants cool. And not only does it block the heat, but it also blocks the harsh rays of the morning sun, so you will not be rudely awakened by light in your eyes.

The tent also comes with windows so that you can allow the breeze in when appropriate. And if there is no breeze to be had, rest assured that you can use the Ohnana tent’s built-in fans, which double in function as a source of light.

Best MicroSD Card For Android

• Best overall
• Best value — capacity
• Best value — speed
• Best balanced

Best top-tier

Samsung EVO+ 256GB

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Samsung’s very-highest-of-the-high-end microSD card isn’t cheap. In fact, it’s the priciest on this list. But you’re also getting a winning combination of performance and storage capacity, with 90MB/sec write speeds and 95MB/sec reads, and an enormous 256GB of space.

That’s more than you’ll ever need in a smartphone, and the high read/write speeds will help if you’re shooting lots of 4K video on a high-end phone like the Galaxy S8 (as too will that enormous capacity.) Better still, it’s water, temperature, X-ray and magnetic proof, so you needn’t worry about it getting damaged while you’re out and about.

Best value – capacity

Samsung EVO Select 128GB

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If you want a nice high storage capacity without breaking the bank, Samsung’s128GB card is a good option — it provides a staggering amount of storage, and with pretty fast read and write speeds to boot — though remember your phone probably won’t be able to achieve the maximum read and write speeds quoted here. It’s about the lowest price we’ve seen for a 128GB card, and a great way to free up a ton of space on your phone or tablet.

What’s more, you can pay an extra $8 at checkout and get an OTG reader thrown in too.

Best value – speed

Lexar Professional 1000x 32GB UHS-II/U3

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If speed is more important, you might want to give this Lexar card a shot. It uses UHS-II flash memory and boasts read speeds of up to 150MB/sec — but only to supporting PCs and cameras, no phone we’re aware of currently supports UHS-II speeds for reads and writes. The capacity isn’t the greatest, but if you’re up for paying $27 more you can double your capacity to 64GB.

The Lexar card also comes with a USB reader for plugging into your PC and transferring data at higher speeds.

Best Balanced

Lexar High-Performance microSDXC 300x

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This Lexar card won’t break the bank, but offers a great balance of speed and capacity. 64GB should be enough for most people’s photo, video and offline music needs, while the card’s UHS-I speed rating provides ample performance.

There’s no full-sized SD adapter bundled with this card, but you can’t argue with the price for this kind of microSD.

Update, July 2017: This list has been updated with a new entry in Best Balanced, and other minor corrections.

Get a rechargeable Saberlight Plasma lighter for only $15.95

It’s the 21st century, why the heck are you still using traditional flame lighters? Electricity-generated plasma beams are much hotter and cleaner than a butane flame, plus it’s also windproof and splash proof so you’ll be able to get something lit no matter the weather.

Save 84% off the Saberlight Rechargable Plasma Lighter! Learn More

If this sounds like an amazing invention, you’re going to love this deal from Android Central Digital Offers! You can get a Saberlight Rechargeable Plasma Lighter for just $15.95, that’s 84% off the regular price of $100.

This lighter is TSA approved and includes a built-in rechargeable li-ion battery and a microusb charging cable. You can get up to 300 uses on a fully charged lighter, and like we said it’s way healthier and safer than a traditional butane lighter. Looking to double down and buy one for yourself and a second for a friend? Check out this two-pack for just $29.99 and save 85%!

This deal won’t last for long, so make sure to get yours today!

Save 84% off the Saberlight Rechargable Plasma Lighter! Learn More