Terro 2 oz Liquid Ant Killer II T200

This stuff works, plain and simple.  I had attempted to avoid any chemical based insecticides, but after trying dimataeceous earth and an interesting little flashlight device that emits a high pitch frequency, nothing delivered the results in a prompt manner.  So I got the Terro 2oz pack and set out a few "puddles" of the stuff on the patio to get the ants hanging out in the yard and the ones that had made it in the house.  The ants swarmed to the puddles and I reapplied a few days in a row.  Within a week the 2 ant colonies were gone.  This stuff is worth it!  I need to buy a larger package next time.

MOTO X Pure Edition Armband, JOTO Sport

Well I needed a wristband to run with my phone because of a few near drops when running with it.  So Amazon is usually the logical place to go, but my phone is the Moto X Pure Edition, and its a BIG phone.  That being said, my choices were somewhat limited.  The top two are linked below, but one is a case that holds your phone in a nylon pouch of sorts, and the other is a specialized case that you must put your phone in to attach it (Fittense).

At first glance, I really liked the concept of the Fittense as it allows rotation - alas, there were several reviews indicating that the Fittense is only for larger arms, and my arms are not.  So I went with the JOTO - and I'll be retuning it, even as much of hassle that can be.  The problem is, the clear plastic cover wreaks havoc with the Moto Sense active display and tends to stick to the display, so really, this will be an issue with any smart phone.  It's unfortunate because it did fit well both on my arm and on my wrist.  Oh well, I guess I'll just hang on to it for the time being.


  JOTO Armband    


Fittense

Google Cardboard,Topmaxions 3D VR Virtual Reality DIY Glasses For 3D Movies and Games

Google Cardboard

Is it gimmicky, well yes - but if you haven't checked it out, this is an easy way to get to it. Basically, you download the app on your phone, put it in the assembled cardboard and viola, you are in the 3D realm...Not that you weren't already. But this is a pretty cool little toy. You can virtually go almost anywhere streetview will take you and there are a ton of other custom apps and games already out there. For this specific device...

Pros:

• Good construction (for cardboard anyways) 
• The strap seems to work well

Cons:

• The lenses need a bit of calibrating - they are just a bit off
• In order to have a snug fit, you have to take your phone out of the case.

Verdict:

• If you like tech stuff or knows someone that does, and doesn't mind spending $14 to have a gimmicky toy that might sit on a shelf for months at a time, its a worthwhile buy.

 

Update: D-Link Wireless AC 750 Mbps Home Cloud App-Enabled Dual-Band Broadband Router (DIR-817LW)

Well I finally got this thing to run, turns out running through a CenturyStink Actiontec Modem requires sensitivity to setting up the DNS host. Blah - basically just have to make sure there is no conflict with the router IP address. After that was set, its been a very reliable router in both 5g and 2.7g modes. I will say however, without an antenna, the range is somewhat limited to two rooms away, which works for most homes - I think the only place I have trouble with it is in my bedroom closet, which is on a different floor and behind up to 3 doors.

D-Link Wireless AC 750 Mbps Home Cloud App-Enabled Dual-Band Broadband Router (DIR-817LW)

So promising, yet so much trouble.

Well this should have been easy - it seems like it would be a great product, but alas, it's not working.  I'm not an IT expert by any means, but I know what to look for on XDA, and I know how to make things work eventually.  The current router we have is TP-LINK TL-WR841N Wireless N300 Home Router, 300Mpbs, IP QoS, WPS Button, but it's been having a lot of issues lately with random drops (I'll need to review this one).  The shining point of the TP-Link was that I simply connected the WAN port to our Centurylink Actiontec C1000 router and presto, it works.  The new D-Link DIR-817LW promised to be so much more with a larger broadcast speeds and abilities - if I could get it to work.  We have 3 D-Link cameras (930, 932, 934), and although finicky to set up, they have been relatively flawless for spying on our daughter NOT sleeping during naptime.  That not with standing, we figured another one would be great, so we recently ordered the 934.  Since D-Link promises everything to be super happy if it's all D-Link (ugh, its like an Apple knockoff), I figured I would wait to set it up.

I have tried everything with the D-Link router, I have set the Actiontec to assign IP addresses with DHCP, and that didn't seem to help.  It will connect but it will not convey internet to any wireless connected devices.  I will continue to reset and tinker with it, but it should not be this hard - the TP link is much less reputable and other than annoying drops, this one should work fine.  

More to come later...and of course now the price has dropped under the $50 I paid!

If you are curious, here's a link to both router products...