Get Your Home And Workplace Sparkling Clean With These Uber Cool Gadgets!

Nobody enjoys cleaning their homes or workplaces but it is an essential activity that just needs to be done. The thought of pushing that bulky vacuum cleaner across those dusty carpets is enough to give anyone a massive sneezing fit. Sadly not all of us have the luxury of being able to pay for professional housekeepers and this grim task is a regular reality check. But now there are some pretty cool developments on the cleaning appliance front that add just a little bling to the whole occasion. If you like the sound of these spring cleaning gadgets, please take the load of your feet and have a cup of tea whilst reading the rest of this article.

Hurricane canless air duster – $79.95
There can be nothing worse than having a load of crud stuck between your computer keys whilst you are trying to do your job. Banging the keyboard upside down may get rid of a few of the crumbs and human skin cells, but you usually lose half of the darn keys in the process! You can use the canned air devices that shoot the chemical laden gust of wind into the keys, but the after effects are pretty grim. The same thing goes for trying to clean your other electronic gadgets at home and in the office. But now there is a much cooler alternative, please give a bug hand for the 02 Hurricane canless air duster! This gadget uses a rechargeable battery and really does a number on those hard to reach areas that we love so much. The air is totally safe and one charge is enough to replace 25 cans of that foul smelling tinned product. You can use this all over the house and office and it will always come back for more. At less than 80 bucks it’s an absolute steal and we say that every office and home should have an 02 Hurricane!

Plug Hub - $24.99
Okay, our second gadget is not strictly a cleaner, but it will certainly help you to avoid the annoying build-up of junk that accompanies a load of loose plugs and cables under your workstations. The plug hub will make short work of the ‘rat’s nest’ build up and you also get a handy surge protector thrown in to the mix. Your desk at work and at home will look far more professional with a nice dosage of health and safety added as well. There’s enough room for 6 plugs and that is surely enough for any single workstation! The gadget has a handy cord anchor to hide the unsightly longer cables that can result in a nasty trip for your colleague or housemate!

NeatDesk desktop scanner and digital filing system - $369
Our final office and home cleaning gadget is a real beauty and we already have one of these installed! This device will allow you to continue with a paperless office ethos without having to lose any of the valuable information. The NeatDesk will scan all of your documents and allow you to retrieve this using an intuitive reference system. As well as this, it also scans your business cards and turns them into digital contacts. What an awesome way to get rid of that important but bulky paper-based clutter!

Of The Best?
Any one of these 3 brilliant gadgets will ensure a cleaner office and home for you, why not buy all 3 and turn over a new leaf?


The author of this post, John Brown, is an employee at Zenith Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems, a company that offers many services such as cleaning metal parts. Since he is a tech enthusiast, he likes to experiment with gadgets and also write about them in his articles.

By: Unknown On 9:45 AM

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Allow IOS Apps To Spread Some Designer Love Around Your Home!

Have you ever looked at those perfect homes that are showcased on the designer websites and then shuddered as you remember your last foray into the world of home improvement projects? We’ve all made a mess of the painting or flooring renovation at one time or another and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. But, if you’ve finally had enough of averting your eyes from that dreadful decking or woeful water feature, why not look for some expert help? iOS apps have an astonishing array of home improvement apps that have already transformed the efforts of millions of people just like you and me. This article will outline a few of the better ones that are just waiting for you to hit that download button right now!




Home Design 3D – For iPhone by Anuman - $3 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/home-design-3d-for-iphone/id426123718?mt=8
This app will run on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and it requires iOS 6.0 or later for smooth running. Well our first offering is something that will be welcomed by thousands of frustrated DIY’ers worldwide! You simply draw up a replica of your target room and this incredible app transforms it into a 3D version. The best way to employ Home Design 3 D is to build up your room in 2 D format and when you are done you can convert it up to three dimensional visibility. This will allow you to gain a clearer perspective of how the finished upgrades will look. You have so many options for add-ons and you’ll always be able to find that perfect window design, exact floor covering or wood / faux wood blinds that you are hankering after.  You can alter the dimensions as you continue and there is no excuse for a shoddy end product. The only downside of the app is that you will need to spend a little time getting use to the usability before you can start getting the desired results. But overall this is a very cool piece of kit that will offer some stunning results.

My Pantone by Pantone - $10 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mypantone/id329515634?mt=8
This app will run on your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and it requires iOS 5.0 or later for smooth running. If you’re a bit artistic and are fed up of the same old boring paint colours on offer at your local home improvement depot, well, this app is for you! Those clever colour-tastic chappies over at Pantone have developed this killer app to allow intrepid home improvement fans the ability to experiment with their beautiful tones.  The Palette feature allows you to mix and match color schemes and with over 13,000 to choose from you’ll have no end of possibilities. These palettes can be exported to your social media sites for further discussion with your ‘expert’ buddies! If you see a colour on the net and you’re not sure of the exact name, why not import it to this app for a quick match up? You can also print these lovely tones via your hard copy device and use them to try against the wall or ceiling in question. This is a groovy app that will certainly get the artistic juices flowing like a river!

iOS At Your Command!

These apps are both just what the home improvement doctor ordered, why not get them before that next project starts?

This post has been authored by Susie Bradshaw, an employee at NY City blinds which deals in a variety of window shades. She enjoys her job and often indulges in cooking and baking when she isn’t busy with work.

By: Unknown On 8:08 AM

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Creative Uses For Smart Home Technology

From energy savings and improved safety to luxury and convenience, smart home technology offers a number of benefits. As more devices gain Internet connectivity and other innovative features, the ability to create a true automated home of the future is becoming a reality quickly. These four smart home technologies offer creative uses and outstanding benefits.

1. Smart Climate Control with Nest
For many homes, the thermostat is the heart of keeping your home comfortable. However, it is also likely that you are using the same type thermostat that your parents used in their homes. Nest is looking to change that with their Learning Thermostat.

The thermostat features Internet connectivity to provide access to a bounty of energy saving, convenient features. A smartphone app allows you to adjust your heating and cooling remotely wherever you have Internet or mobile data coverage as well.

The core of the Nest system is the detailed reporting and intelligence features. Based on your daily schedule, the thermostat will optimize your heating and cooling routines for optimal savings and comfort. It automatically detects common routines, such as when you work and seasonal temperature changes, to keep your house comfortable without the need to touch the unit.

2. Wi-Fi Fireplaces Put Comfort in Your Pocket
It seems that everything is gaining Wi-Fi capabilities these days. Whether you are using it to set the mood or keep warm in chilly weather, propane and natural gas fireplaces offer the benefits of wood-burning fireplaces with instant on and off convenience. Escea recently released a full line of Wi-Fi enabled propane fireplaces that allow you to remotely operate and monitor your fireplace with a few taps of your smartphone or portable device. Controls include fan speed, temperature, timers and more.

Indoor and outdoor models make it possible to find uses almost anywhere that you have access to your home network. Possible ideas include a cozy garden nook, your living room or your home library or office.

3. Creating House-wide Audio with Sonos
With recent advances in set top boxes and mobile devices, it is easy to take your computer, television programming or movies from room to room with you inside your home. However, transmitting music and audio throughout your house remains tricky. Sonos is revolutionizing home theater and home audio systems by removing the wires and complicated interfaces.

Instead of using a central receiver and running wires throughout your home, Sonos' full line of speakers utilize the spare wireless bandwidth of your home network to deliver hi-fidelity sound to your Sonos speakers. You can control your speakers using a web interface or portable device to create sound zones, switch audio from another room or combine speakers for a full surround sound experience. Speaker options include the newest Sonos PLAYBAR, as well as multiple 3-way speakers, 5-way speakers and a subwoofer.

The only cables or cords required by most Sonos speakers is a power supply. This means that anywhere you have electricity and access to your home network, you can enjoy your favorite music, radio stations and more. They also offer repeaters to help extend your network out to your yard, pool or other outdoor area with ease.

4. Controlling  Your Home through Social Media and WeMo
Belkin's WeMo power adapters and accessories combine social media and home automation to provide a number of uses for any home. From turning lights off and on to audio surveillance, the WeMo line offers simple ways to interact with your home using your computer or iOS mobile device. Multiple WeMo devices can be synchronized and grouped to offer flexibility in managing your automated tasks.

The devices feature a controller app or direct integration with IFTTT. By sending a Twitter or Facebook message with a specific phrase, you can activate your WeMo outlets or sensors instantly. The motion sensor accessory offers the opposite functionality. Anytime that the motion sensor is engaged, it will send a quick message to your email or on your mobile device. These features offer nearly unlimited ways to customize and automate your smart home technologies.

Smart home technologies are bringing innovative convenience and features to virtually every aspect of daily living. From fireplaces that light with a tap of your phone or tablet to turning off your child's television through Twitter, these four options offer creative ways to automate your home. For more options and in-depth guides on home automation, consider CNET's Home Integrator Directory.

About The Author
Willie Pena is a freelance writer, video producer, visual artist, and music producer. He prefers the Oxford comma. In addition to writing for firms such as IBM, Colgate, Transunion, Webroot and a multitude of private clients and websites, he also shoots, directs, and edits the hit celebrity web series “Teens Wanna Know”. Catch his rare blog posts on williepena.com, and connect with him on Google+, LinkedIn.

By: Unknown On 9:00 AM

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