WHOOSH! It’s time to disinfect your staph and E. Coli infested gadgets (review)

We wash our hands. We brush our teeth. We put on clean underwear everyday. At least I hope most of us do these activities, because hygiene is vital in maintaining good health.

When you’re sick and need to visit a hospital, would you want to see a doctor who never washed his/her hands before they examined you? Or would you want your chef and waiter to use dirty hands while they handle your food? The answer is an obvious NO. There are laws that require hygiene standards to be met in situations like these, but its almost universal that no one really cleans their phones or other mobile devices.

When was the last time you cleaned your smartphone? When I say, “clean” I don’t mean simply wipe it off on your pants or shirt. I mean, when did you use a cleaning spray to remove the germs and microbes on it? Or when was the last time you cleaned your keyboard, portable speaker, mouse, or tablet? If the answer is never, you need to read on.

Let’s look at the facts

It’s time to list facts about the germs on your smartphone.

• 18% of phones are contaminated with staphylococcus (source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)
• 100% of phones are contaminated with with either single or mixed bacterial agents (source: NCBI)
• 16% of mobile phones are contaminated with fecal flora and E. Coli (source: Yahoo)
• 10X how many times your mobile phone is dirtier than a toilet seat (source: BBC)
• 30% of virus can be transferred from your mobile phone to your fingers (source:mashable)

What is Staph and E.Coli?

Staphylococcus: A group of bacteria that cause a multitude of diseases. Under a microscope, staphylococcus bacteria are round and bunched together. They can cause illness directly by infection or indirectly through products they make, such as the toxins responsible for food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. The best-known member of the staphylococcus family is Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococci are the main culprits in hospital-acquired infections, and they cause thousands of deaths every year. Also known as staph. – medicine.net

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract. The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons. – cdc.gov

Sure, anyone can pull out random facts from studies, right? Well go look up how dirty smartphones are at Google Scholar and look at how many scientists are actually doing scientific studies on that topic alone. (If you don’t believe me)

You can do the same search I did:

Goto Google Scholar to search scientific publications
Search “phones contaminated with staph”
Refine your search to 2016

You will find 463 studies and the vast majority of them all found smartphones to be extremely dirty.

Clean your smartphone and other devices with WHOOSH!

The facts speak for themselves.

Think about it. When was the last time you cleaned your smartphone?

I clean my smartphones a few times a week, and my latest favorite cleaner is WHOOSH! I like it because it is cheap at $7 for a 0.3 ounce bottle, and it comes with an ultra-soft anti-microbial cloth. I get about 30 uses from a one bottle, which means each clean costs just 23 cents. That is a cheap price to pay to remove E. Coli and Staph.

WHOOSH! is non-toxic, and ammonia and alcohol free. This is important to me because I have pets that I adore, and will not risk having poisons in my home. Also alcohol can strip off the manufacturers oleophobic coating that resists fingerprints.

It doesn’t get much simpler than WHOOSH! Simply spray your dirty displays with WHOOSH! and then wipe down with the included cloth. My iPad Pro 12″ needed a couple of sprays but was cleaned within seconds. What’s nice about WHOOSH is that it also leaves a nano coating that helps my displays resist microbes.

Conclusion

I am a Medicinal Chemist first and a writer second. The facts are real and supported by actual scientific publications. Smartphones really are nasty. Hospitals are requiring their staff to ensure their phones are cleaned, and some are banning them from the work floor altogether to help prevent serious outbreaks.

At just $7 a bottle, WHOOSH! is an investment that must be made especially if you work in environments that needed good hygiene.

• 3.7 Ounce WHOOSH! at Amazon for $15.97
• WHOOSH! Pocket 0.3 Oz – $7 at whoosh.com
• WHOOSH! Duo 0.3 Oz and 3.4 Oz $20 at whoosh.com

DDTank: An interesting, stylized take on the tank shooter genre (Review)

Overview

DDTank is a unique take on the tank combat genre, with a cutesy, anime-inspired art style, and RPG elements that make progression feel rewarding. It certainly isn’t a traditional military shooter.

Developer: Proficient City Limited

Cost: Free (with microtransactions)

Impressions

DDTank is a funky game. The art style is more reminiscent of a JRPG than a strategy shooter, but it works for me. The sprites are colorful and cute, and you have some decent customization options for your character as you progress through the missions. Clothing, faces, and hairstyles, as well as items and weapons all allow you to make a neat looking little character for you to play. Although the progression after the intro sequences is a bit slower than I’d like, you still get these items at a fairly rapid pace, so you’ll always have a fresh look for your character.

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Gameplay-wise, DDTank is a bit hit and miss for me. It isn’t terribly complex. Beyond some power-ups and super moves, the gameplay feels shallow. The shooting and aiming mechanics are a bit difficult to get used to as well; where you aim and where your projectile actually goes can sometimes be a bit off.

Also, enemies don’t seem to do significant damage to you unless you let the rounds drag on for a while, making the difficulty a bit too low for my taste. Perhaps this game is a bit more suited to a younger audience.

DDTank has a ton of modes as well, including a multiplayer arena and dozens of stages in the main campaign, to ensure that you’ll have something to do for a while. I would have liked to see some daily quests or maybe some challenge modes to try and add just a bit more to the game.

The developers could do a bit more to explain the controls and mechanics as well. The tutorials don’t really do enough to explain how exactly to aim, move, and fire. It’s up to you to trial and error your way to figuring it out for yourself.

Conclusion

I did have some fun playing DDTank, despite some drawbacks. The gameplay, while a bit shallow, does offer some interesting strategy, and some stages can get challenging. The amount of content and customization, along with the cute and fun art style, make this game a solid pick for kids or somebody looking for a different sort of game to occupy some time.

Download and install DDTank from the Google Play Store.

Cover-Up’s #WoodBack cases make your Nexus 6P look and feel awesome (Review)

I don’t love phone cases. I know most people are content with putting one on their phones and not really thinking about it ever again. I honestly wish that I was more like that because I’ve definitely screwed up more than one phone from not having a case on it, even though I baby my devices. The cases I do get interested in have to have a niche. They have to be interesting in some way. They have to make me want to keep them on the phone, rather than just becoming a part of it.

That’s why I absolutely love Cover-Up’s #WoodBack collection of cases. Not only do they look phenomenal, but they feel great in the hand too.

Protection

Let’s address protection first since that’s the reason you have a case in the first place. The #WoodBack cases aren’t military certified like UAG cases and they don’t make your phone water resistant like Lifeproof cases, but what they do offer is simple scratch and drop protection. I recently dropped my phone twice in two days. Once onto a driveway without a case and once onto a sidewalk with a #WoodBack case on. Without the case, I got scratched paint and dents. This phone is my baby (I should stop dropping my baby) and it hurts to see those scratches and dents on my phone.

The second fall, this time with the #WoodBack case securely on the phone, produced no ill effects. Not even for the case.

Your phone sits inside of a TPU case, that while thin, is pretty tough. There is some give in the case which helps disperse any shocks, but not enough that your phone is going to pop out of it. There’s also a bumpy texture on the sides of the case to help you grip the phone better. I owned a previous version of these cases that had smooth sides and it could be a bit slippery, but I haven’t had any issue holding onto my (rather large) Nexus 6P.

A slight lip comes up to protect your phone’s screen, but I really don’t know if it’s going to do anything to help it out in case of falls. It’s a bit too shallow to hold back your screen if it’s falling face down, but I think it will keep your screen from touching a surface if it’s just sitting on a table- which can help with scratches. I don’t have a tempered glass screen protector on my Nexus 6P, but I’d wager to say that if you have one on yours the #WoodBack case will come almost flush with the screen protector.

Look and Feel

The great thing about Cover-Up’s cases is the huge selection of different wood you have to choose from. Currently, for the Nexus 6P you can choose from 14 different styles of wood and designs. I am personally in love with the Blackened Ash wood and the Gold Lightning Bolt logo adds an awesome little bit of flair, without going over the top. The Elm Burl, Cherry, and Black Limba cases (pictured below) are also as beautiful in person as they are on the website.

One very appealing aspect of these cases is that no two are alike. The Elm Burl case I have pictured has some of the same characteristics as the press pictures on Cover-Up’s website, but it’s completely different in design. There are a ton of knots and distinctive features in my case that no-one else will duplicate on theirs. I love having a one-of-a-kind design on my phone.

I covered the bumpy sides earlier and that’s plays in rather heavily to how the cases feel in the hand. There’s no sliding around with this thing so my phone always feels secure in my hand. The bumps, on top of the size of the case, add almost no bulk either. The Nexus 6P is a humongous phone but the #WoodBack cases doesn’t make it feel any bigger. That’s a huge plus for me.

There are only a few minor negatives to these cases, and it’s really stretching. They are a bit deep. You can really tell how deep the case is when you’re putting your finger on the scanner on the back of the phone. I’ve not noticed any issues with getting a good read (in fact, it helps me center my finger on the scanner better) and the cutouts for the camera and flash are big enough so it doesn’t reflect back into the lens, so this is just a minor negative because it changes the feel of the phone.

Also, the case does cover the buttons on the phone and they can feel a bit mushy to press. The buttons don’t stick out very far so it’s easy to miss them unless you’re looking for them as you’re running your finger along the side of the case. It’s not a huge turn-off, but it will bother some people.

Conclusion

I think Cover-Up really hit it out of the park with the #WoodBack line. They aren’t the most protective of cases, but they’re on par with most cases out there. If you’re looking for something like an Otterbox, you probably weren’t looking at these cases anyway.

The wood backing of these phones look and feel absolutely fantastic. The fact that I will have my own unique design no matter what wood I choose is a huge selling point to me.

If you’re interested in picking up a #WoodBack case from Cover-Up, head over to its website or check out its listings on Amazon.

Bear Lock: Keep prying eyes away (Review)

Overview

Keep your apps as safe as Pooh keeps his honey pot. That’s what Bear Lock does: keeps prying eyes away.

Developer: Bear Lock Applock

Cost: Free

Setup

Setting up is relatively easy. Jasper, your guide in the app, will walk you through this. He will ask you to put in your name, set up a pattern lock and fingerprint (if you have a sensor), and your email.

Once the initial setup is complete, you are free to pick which apps you want to protect. You are given the choice between two lists: sensitive and all. Select which apps you want to protect and that’s it. You’re set up. To remove the protection, simply tap which app to remove the protection from and you’re good to go.

Review

Bear Lock is a neat app lock app. Say that five times fast. It does exactly what it says, locks your apps so no one else can get into them. Jasper will let you in only if you type the correct code. If you don’t have the code, he will eventually turn his back on you.

The fact that you can use both a pattern or finger lock is nice since some people (me in particular!) don’t like to use fingerprint locks. I would like to see them add a numerical unlock code in the future, but, for now, this will work. If you forget your code, don’t worry, there is also the option to be asked a security question or get an email sent.

Bear Lock also lets you theme the app. It may not be the most important feature in an app like this, but it’s a nice touch. The themes are limited to only changing the colors, but it’s still a welcomed feature. There isn’t too much more they could do in this area.

Conclusion

You can’t get much simpler than this app. I honestly believe you could get a six-year-old to set this up. The best part? It’s free. Zero dollars. I can’t find any in-app purchases anywhere and there are no ads of any sort. I’m kind of surprised about it. I wouldn’t be surprised if they added more features later for a premium. If you want a layer of extra security, and don’t want to spend any money, Bear Lock is for you.

Download and install Bear Lock from the Google Play Store.

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Honeywell Bluetooth Smart True HEPA Allergen Remover review

Every so often we get a chance to review products that fall outside the traditional scope of mobile accessories. Instead of Bluetooth speakers, mounts, or cables, we get to check out other items that tie in nicely with our smartphones. Today we’re reviewing the Honeywell Bluetooth Smart True HEPA Allergen Remover. Yes, an air purifier that can connect to your handset.

Now, before going much further, I’ll point out that I’ve not reviewed other air purifiers and allergen removers. To that end, you’ll find the following review will skew more toward the “every man” user and focus on the mobile-specific features.

First things first, this is a pretty sizable (about 20 inches tall) unit that sits on the floor or a medium-sized table. Big and black, it fits nicely with just about any decor and doesn’t draw much attention or distract from an environment. All of the buttons and controls are found at the top of the purifier. The purifier is constructed of plastic so it’s light and easy to move from room to room.

Upon taking it out of the box, you’ll be instructed to walk through a few steps with the Honeywell purifier. A plastic quick-start guide tells you the main settings, each with its own special use-case: germ (capture germs), general (everyday usage), and allergen (capture allergens). It’s not hard to get this one up and running at all as it is essentially plugging in and picking a setting.

The Smart Air Purifier comes with a pair of filters, one being an HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and a carbon pre-filter. The latter is designed to capture odor such as smoke. The HEPA filter should be replaced annually whereas the pre-filter is once per quarter. In terms of warranty, this guy comes with a five-year plan for parts and labor.

As a novice to these, it was hard to see the differences in the first few days of testing. The Honeywell also offers up a turbo setting for quick odor reduction or power cleaning while the VOC (volatile organic compounds) is more of an automatic setting that moves from one mode to another. I felt safest going this route, understanding it likely knew my environmental needs better than I did.

You’ll find there are some LED lights that can be dimmed or turned off. Should you find yourself using the purifier in the bedroom you may wish to disable the lights as they can be distracting. Do note that the Bluetooth light and power indicator do stay on; you’ll have to put up with those. There are indicator lights to notify you when it’s time to replace the filter, a nice touch for those of us who simply cannot remember to do so.

In terms of sound, I found the Honeywell purifier to be quiet and provide a calm and non-distracting white noise. Turn it on and you’ll pay attention to it for a few minutes, but it’s quickly forgotten or pushed out of mind. Switching modes doesn’t seem to do much in terms of obvious, discerned sounds. if anything, the allergen setting was the only one we noticed over others.

The Honeywell Smart Air Purifier is designed to handle areas of 310 square feet so it’s perfect for most rooms. We liked setting ours in the hallway and shutting off doors to select rooms. This way it would clean the upstairs, steps, and a few small rooms at once. After that we would shut those rooms and repeat the process downstairs.

All in all, we had to rely on the purifier and app to qualify or quantify its effect. But, I can personally attest that the allergen option was very helpful this spring. There’s something about the air come March and April that really does a number on me. Sleeping was much easier this year as I kept the Honeywell in the bedroom.

Whereas the Smart Air Purifier works just fine on its own, things get extra useful and interesting when pairing to a phone. Connected via Bluetooth, the purifier can pair with most Android and iOS devices. Connecting is done by pressing a button on the phone and holding down the Bluetooth button on the purifier. Pair it once and you’re all set.

The app was easy to navigate and looked better than we expected for an air purifier. It’s pretty easy to cut corners and deliver an ugly UI with functions tucked away. Instead, we found a pretty modern and intuitive interface with fairly obvious settings. Also handy was a reminder at the bottom for when you’ll want to replace the filter.

Tapping on the app results in immediate changes on the Honeywell unit; there’s no lag in adjusting settings. Moreover, there are additional settings that don’t come with the standard purifier experience. Log your zip code and you’ll find the app can detect the allergens in your area. Doing so will tell you how grass, mold, tree, and ragweed pollens are. It’s possible to set alerts for thresholds so you can be notified when a particular pollen gets high.

The mobile app also provides cleaning schedules so you can pick a day or time that you’d like the purifier to work. Want a turbo cleanse before getting home? Sure you do. Make it happen.

As someone who suffers through spring with allergies, the Honeywell Bluetooth Smart Air Purifier HPA250B has been a pleasant addition to the home. I’ve come to appreciate the mobile app more than I anticipated, too. I like the idea of knowing the pollen levels for specific types of allergies. Additionally, I enjoy being able to adjust modes from the phone and having a constant reminder of when filters need replaced is just an icing on the cake.

If you’re in the market for a standard air purifier and don’t necessarily want or need the Bluetooth functions, you can definitely find other options for less money. But, if you’re suffering from allergies, live with a smoker, or like the notion of connecting your home, you’ll definitely come to like this Honeywell purifier.  And if that’s not quite enough to convince you, don’t forget the five year warranty.

You can pick up a Honeywell Smart Air Purifier for about $250 through Best Buy. Currently, though, it’s on sale for $210. Amazon also has the unit going for about $208 as of the time of this review.

Inateck BH1105 Headphones: $10 headphones that you’re crazy not to buy (Review)

Trying to find a good pair headphones for the best can prove a task. Unless you are looking to buy a high dollar name brand that can afford to set up sample stations in big box stores, you have no real way of knowing the sound and quality. So you take a shot at those $7 earbuds from Walmart and they end up fitting poorly and breaking a month later. Luckily Inateck’s engineers have the solution in its wallet friendly BH1105s that sell for $9.99 on Amazon.

Design

These sleek headphones are in a class that is rare, beautiful and beyond affordable. One glimpse at these and it’s hard not to want to snatch up a pair. The earbuds are made from zebra wood, which aids in creating a full sound, really makes them stand out. Connecting the 3.5mm plug is a four-foot long cord that gives you plenty of movement.

The three different sized tips are made out of a flat black silicon that comes to a smaller point that makes it fit better in the ear. I have never been a fan of in-ear headsets as they typically are very uncomfortable and rarely stay in my ear, but these fit nicely inside my ear and didn’t fall out after a run test.

Sound

The way a product looks is one small aspect and as beautiful as the design is the sound it resonates is where it really counts. So how does this headset stack up? I tested these with various types of music including Hip Hop, Rock, Country, and R&B and the sound was amazing. It has a very rich sound where neither the highs or bass overpowers each other. I didn’t really expect too much and it’s always nice to be surprised.

An issue some people have with headphones is when you’re on a train, bus, or in some type of public venue the person next to you is listening to their music and you hear every word. Don’t you just hate that? If you’re listening at a reasonable volume, let’s say 75%, you don’t get that with these. Which is nice for all you undercover Taylor Swift fans.

Conclusion

As a person who is very….let’s say conservative when it comes to buying a headphones, I have bought many budget headphones and I got what I paid for, an uncomfortable, hollow sounding headsets that break within a month. For just $10 these are easily a no brainer pair of headphones to buy. The BH1105s have a high-end luxurious look and sound that makes you feel like you paid top dollar.

Buy BH1105 on Amazon