Holiday Gift Guide- The Under $50 Gift That Locates Lost Items: Pixie!

3 Simple Steps to Find Your Things:

Attach Pixie to your iPhone
Pixie Points talk to each other, so to keep track of your things apply the first Point to your iPhone.

Attach Pixie to Your Things
Pixie Points go on anything you want to find: keys, wallet, remote … even your cat!

See Your Things
The Pixie App shows you exactly where all your things are relative to you, it even guides you with accurate turn-by-turn directions so you can find them faster!

Pixie Points talk to each other (we all need friends), so to keep track of your things you apply one Pixie Point to your iPhone and the other Points to the items you want to track. Watch how Pixie Works (button to play video)

2-in-1 Functionality: See It! Hear It!

Only Pixie allows you to see EXACTLY where your lost things are! (That’s right, we even use Pixie dust!) Pixie uses augmented reality to easily show you exactly where your lost items are! Just don’t trip over the couch on your way there. Visual guidance is great for noisy environments where you can’t hear a beep!

Precision Matters

Pixie is the only finder accurate enough to show you where your things are…down to the last inch! Our Location-of-Things Technology uses Bluetooth, but it also uses signaling, allowing the Pixie points to talk to each other. This may not sound like much, but allowing the Pixie points to talk to each other is what helps to provide accurate distance directions to your lost item. We can offer a high search range, 30 - 50 ft. indoors and up to 100 ft. outdoors.

Out of Range…No Problem

Pixie shows you where your items last were. For those who have a hard time staying in the same place, this is a great starting point for when you wander too far out of range

Find Your iPhone…Even If It's Off!

We get it, sometimes bad things happen to good people, like forgetting to charge your phone.

Pixie lets you find your phone even if its, off, out of power, or on silent!

We’ve got your back!
Pixify Your Life

Each Pixie account can keep track of up to 7 items, in addition to the one on your phone,  and includes adhesives and key chains so that you can pixify just about anything…the limit is your creativity.

My Thoughts:

As a college student, I am constantly losing my things. Whether it's my computer, my textbooks, or even my iPod, something always gets lost eventually. Nothing is more annoying than being on the run and not finding what you need. However, when I read about Pixie, I knew it must be the product that was made with me in mind!

Pixie is very user friendly. Included in my box were two Pixie attachments (but you can order more if you would like). You can choose any item that your often misplace or even your pets collar! Just take your devices out of the box and attach it to your items. Yes, it is that easy! Lastly, download the app for your mobile phone. I've attached the specs so you can see if your phone or iPad is currently compatible with Pixie's groundbreaking technology: 

Specs:

Range: Bluetooth range up to 150' outdoor and 30-50' indoor
Accuracy: within inches
Battery lifetime: 12+ months, no charging needed
Compatibility: iPhone 5s or later and iPad 4 or later
Waterproof: up to 3 ft. to IP67 standard
Dimensions: 1.4” wide x 1.8” tall x 0.13” thick

• 1 Year Warranty
• 30 Day money back guarantee
• Works with all Pixie-enabled apps.

Worry no more because Pixie has your back! Once the app is installed you are good to go. When an item goes missing that you have labeled, power up your app and the search is on. The augmented reality and Bluetooth technology allows for you to see exactly where your items are. Ranges go from 30-50 ft. indoors and up to 100 ft. outdoors. Your items can run but they certainly cannot hide from Pixie. This is truly a must have item! 

Connect with Pixie:

Website Facebook  Twitter 

Holiday Gift Guide: UE Megaboom

What is the UE Megaboom?
The UE Megaboom is a 360 degree speaker that boasts a loud and quality sound. Waterproof and light you can grab and go just about anywhere without worry. Both for Google Voice and Siri you only need to be within 100 ft of your speaker to access all your favorite music right from your phone! A 20 hour battery life and a fast micro USB charging, you don't have to be without your favorite music ever again!

Our Thoughts:
I was impressed with this speaker the moment I opened it! The hard case it came in offered unparalleled protection and I don't know that I would store the Megaboom without it. Sleek and round, the case offers storage for everything you need from the speaker itself to the charging adapters, and isn't bulky or cumbersome.

I was leery though, of the sound quality of the speaker, given that most of the wireless ones I've encountered in the past weren't all they said they were. I was never so wrong! We set this up outside and walked about 200 yards out and was able to still hear this little power house clearly. Even on the loudest setting, which is loud, the bass isn't distorted and there's not a single sound to make you think the speaker won't hold up to the test.

The app is super easy to use, and has multi-functions. You can add people for a block party (they can play their music as well), and the only thing they need is the app to connect, or connect two Megabooms together for an even more incredible sound experience. We have never had more fun as a family listening to music or our projection screen outside than we have since this has entered our lives.

I haven't been brave enough to drop it in the water, but I am sure it will stand up to the test! It has been dropped, and hasn't had a single issue. I am really happy with the quality and the sound this light weight speaker offers. At $299.99 you want your investment to work properly and for the long haul. I have no doubt that this is the one that will take you that far and then some! I am a life long fan now, and will definitely buy one to replace this one, IF it should ever need it.

If you're intersted in learning more about Logitech's Ultimate Ears Megaboom speaker follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube and visit their website Here to purchasing instructions and specs.

DLink Cloud Camera Review

The Cloud Camera is a wireless camera with pan and tilt functionality, allowing you to keep an eye on what's important to you from anywhere you are.

Worried that you forgot to close the door on your way to work?
Feel restless because there's nobody at home when you're traveling or on a business trip?
Curious to know what your pets get up to when you're not there?
Or you're a small business owner, company or shop and want to keep an eye on your premises?

Installing surveillance cameras is an ideal choice for many families, shops or small business owners. 

However, the complex, cumbersome, costly installation and deployment can be daunting.

What is needed is a simple, wireless, low-cost and well designed product that could offer powerful functionality and convenience.

 The answer is the DLink Cloud camera!

Our Thoughts

The setup was easy. I used the WPS connection from my router and I could then see it connected on my network and browsed to the IP and set everything else up from there. I chose to use local storage and configure the camera from the camera login as it has just about everything you would want already built in. I assigned it a static IP and forwarded the port in my router and just like that I could login from anywhere. Make sure you change the default login for security reasons. You can also setup guest accounts that can’t access the admin tools.

The camera spins almost completely around and straight up.  It doesn't go down as far as I hoped it would but I was able to overcome that by adjusting the installation. The controls and functions when logged into the camera work best in Internet Explorer. Firefox and Chrome were both a bit buggy. The picture quality is fantastic in my opinion and the audio works amazingly well. I have this camera on my porch and inside the house in my kitchen it picks up audio through my insulated wall. I even heard leaves as they blew by in the yard.

The night vision works pretty well for what it is. I can see my entire porch which is about 200 square feet in the pitch black. Motion detection is pretty good at picking up my cats. Wifi is great as far as I can tell I have it about 40 feet away from my router and through a couple of walls and have never had a problem with it connecting or staying connected. I’m extremely happy with the performance and functionality of the camera.

The way I'm utilizing the camera is I'm checking in on my animals and my husband. I am currently out of state, but with the camera hooked up I can login and see my land, my animals, and my husband too by pointing the camera through the window. Not just a security thing, but I'm using it as a webcam almost! This is so cool, I love that I can see my animals from miles away and keep an eye on my house. When my husband visits we're able to feel confident that everything is safe because we can see it all at night!

Buy yours here and check them out on Facebook and Twitter!

Reviewed by Jackie

Outdoor HD Wireless Network Cloud Camera

Filled with costumes, haunted houses, trick-or-treat fun, and loads of candy, Halloween marks a time of year for grownups and kids alike. As you get ready for this year’s scare-fest, D-Link offers some tips for tricking out your standard Halloween fare to help make your front porch spookier than ever with several smart home products – the D-Link HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2330L), D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug (DSP-W110), and mydlink^® Wi-Fi Motion Sensor (DCH-S150)

HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera

 
Outdoor surveillance during any season is helpful for keeping an eye on things, and with Halloween around the corner, neighborhood foot traffic and pranks can be at an all-time high. An outdoor camera like the D-Link HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Camera monitors the ghosts and goblins, candy thieves and seasonal pranksters, and helps you stay one step ahead of trick-or-treaters. Visit D-Link’s blog for steps on setting up a Pumpkin Camera (or Pum-Cam) on the front steps or watch the how-to video.

 D-Link Wi-Fi Smart Plug

 Wi-Fi Motion Sensor

Our Thoughts

This device was extremely easy to setup. I used the WPS button on the camera and router and it connected on the first try. After that I downloaded the camera driver to my PC from D-Links support website. I installed the driver, detected the camera and setup the network credentials. Now I can simply access the camera using the IP address and log in that was created. You can also set it up to log in to "my dlink" website but for my application that wasn't needed. The included ethernet cable is only about 4 feet long and has a nice weatherproofing cap for it but you would need cat5 outlets or have it pretty close to your equipment to need it.

The camera is approximately 75 feet from my router going through one window and one wall. I was afraid it would be too far but I have a stable connection and clear picture. The camera has a very long power cable that unplugs from the camera so I was able to drill a tiny hole in the wall and fit the cable through the wall to an outlet close by.

Construction appears to be pretty durable. The camera is sealed up nice to protect it from the elements. The stand has 2 screws to secure it to a wall and the arm screws into the stand and crimps everything together to seal it up. My only concern during installation was putting it high enough so it couldn't be easily tampered with. It is white and pretty noticeable. However during the Halloween holiday, using the idea of having it hide in a pumpkin is brilliant and works very well.

The camera GUI has a ton of options from setting up the display, to audio, presets, sd card, etc... I have the camera setup to use a 3rd party software for my recordings and then updates it to a google drive account.

Overall this camera works great and will be very useful, not only for the holidays, but day by day as an excellent security camera.

Buy yours here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook, and Twitter !

Reviewed by Jackie

 

Back To School - Epson Expression Printer

 

With all the must-have tech tools available for college dorms and high school desks, choosing the right products is a must, especially taking into consideration maximizing the little space available in those settings.

 

Allow me to introduce the Epson Expression^® Home XP-410 Small-in-One^™, a solution designed to meet the needs of students of all levels thanks to its incredibly small footprint and color printing, scanning and copying capabilities – all at an affordable price ($99.99).

 

In addition, the XP-410 is designed as a complete wireless solution and boasts Wi-Fi CERTIFIED^™ n, Wi-Fi Direct^™, and Epson Connect™ for cost-free and convenient wireless printing on-the-go from smartphones and tablets. What’s more, the Epson Expression Home XP-410 supports Android Printing (KitKat 4.4), enabling mobile users to easily print documents, images or web-pages to Android mobile devices without the need for a dedicated printing app, making it easier than ever to go back to school, back to work, or wherever your printing needs take you – in style.  

Our Thoughts

Whether needed for going back to school or for homeschooling parents like myself, this printer is awesome! Not being able to agree on a printer with my husband when the offer came through to review this wonderful product I was stoked to test it out.

It came with easy setup instructions, extra ink cartridges and different styles of paper so I could test each one out. 

Unpacking and getting the printer ready was easy. The ink clicks in easy. I like how you don't have to have big open doors or slots on it taking up twice as much room on the desk if not more. I've had other all in one printers and they always look compact until you want to leave paper in it hanging out the front or back all the time. The paper sticks up on this one and you don't have to open anything if you don't want to.  Make sure you follow the instruction sheet provided. 

It's very easy to follow. Power it on and it's ready to setup using the cd provided. At first I was shocked that there wasn't a usb cable provided with the printer but following the wireless setup was so much easier anyway. I had the software installed on my laptop and printer connected to wifi within 5 minutes. I printed a test page with no problems and I was done messing with it. I've only had one other wireless printer that was such a pain to setup and fix every time something went wrong. I have never had to hook this up to my pc.

A perfect printer for back to school!

Buy yours here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook and Twitter!

Reviewed by Jackie

Review: nio Tag

**Product was received in exchange for an honest review**

Losing a valuable item can not only ruin a day but also runs the risk of losing important personal information that can result in identity theft. GCL Solutions Group has now made the nio Tag available for North Americans. For the month of December when all of the add-ons to the application are free.

nio Tag does not work to find lost items but rather protect against them ever getting lost in the first place. By attaching the nio Tag to whatever item you carry most often, the gadget will alarm or vibrate to alert you that you have become separated from your keys, camera, laptop, purse or briefcase. Through Bluetooth 4.0 technology (available for both Android and iOS devices), the gadget connects wirelessly via a free nio app, acting like a buddy system, to keep track of the multiple valuables you carry throughout the day. 

Our Thoughts

My husband regularly walks away without his iPad. Sometimes it's not until he gets home that he realizes that he has left it on his desk at work. With the nio Tag, that no longer happens! 

Clipped to his iPad's case, the nio Tag alerts him when he walks too far without the iPad. It's great as it helps keep track of where he's set the iPad and it can be connected with two other nio Tags on things like keys and a brief case or backpack! I see this working really well in the case of someone who is riding the bus or subway or even using cabs quite a bit as it could help prevent theft. 

The App for the iPhone is simple and easy to navigate. Which makes it a pleasure to use. The battery on the Tag itself last up to three months on only one charge and it uses a Micro USB for charging. You can choose your distance for security from 2m to 15m to give a smaller or larger circle around depending on your situation. The other nice thing is that the nio Tag has a "find my phone" button! That comes in handy sometimes! 

This could certainly be a great gift for the techie in your home! I know my techie definitely enjoys the nio Tag! 

**I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The views expressed are strictly my own and were in no way influenced.**

Review & #Giveaway: Duracell Powermat #takecharge

*** Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review. *** 

Power on the go

you can count on

Welcome to Wireless Charging

Welcome to Duracell Powermat, the smart, easy way to keep your mobile devices charged. Our mission is to end your battery woes and unlock your phone and mobile device’s true potential with portable power and wireless charging.Sometimes it’s hard to keep your phone charged throughout the day. With phone calls, text messages, picture taking, social media updating, and more, the life of your battery can drain very quickly. The last thing you need is for your battery to run out while you’re at the store or running around town, inhibiting you from using that great coupon or from checking up on your kids. At Duracell Powermat, we have a solution for that!

Powermat

The Powermat is a new technology that allows wireless charging by placing your mobile device, or tablet, on a small mat, all you need is the Access Case and the mat.

Access Case

Powermat also offers a backup battery that clips directly onto the back of your Powermat Access Case on your phone and provides an extended battery life when you’re on-the-go and without a charger or electrical outlet. This backup battery can also be charged by placing it onto the Powermat and is very useful because it is not too bulky and you do not need to have it on your phone at all times, only when you really need it. 

Backup Battery

There are also a few other extended batteries that can be used for USB devices but require a small cable to use and charge, but once charged can last for days and days. These batteries are powerful enough to charge both your phone and tablet. The extended batteries include:

Travel Mat

Daytrip Backup Battery

Overnighter battery

Long Haul battery

This product is primarily for making sure that you do not run out of power in times when you most need it. We are also in the process of installing Powermats into a growing number of public places including Starbucks,  McDonalds, and Madison Square Garden so soon enough you’ll be able to pop in to your local Starbucks, place your phone on a mat installed directly into the counter or table, and recharge your phone as you recharge with a cup of coffee!

Visit Duracell Powermat on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Youtube.

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky winner will receive the Powermat and the portable battery or case that fits with the device that they have!  ***Eligible contestants MUST already own a smartphone or tablet.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Thoughts

Duracell Powermat sent us the Powermat for Two Devices, GoPower Day Trip compact portable battery,  Long Haul backup battery, and the PowerSnap Kit to review.  Both my husband and I have iPhones and he has an iPad, all of which see a lot of use.  We are new to the world of smartphones, just upgraded to them this fall.  It was eye-opening to see just how much battery life these mobile devices eat!  With my old non-smart phone, I think I charged it *maybe* once per week.  Now I was charging once per day, sometimes twice per day!  I use my new smartphone for my business, and I certainly don't want to be tied to an outlet when I need my phone on the go!

The GoPower Day Trip portable battery is nice and small, I keep it in my purse.  It provides up to 1 full phone charge, which is really nice when I'm on the go around town! I can have my phone plugged into it in my purse, and let it charge right while I run errands, and I still have my phone available to me when I need it.  The GoPower Day Trip can easily be recharged by setting it on the Powermat, as well as conventional methods.

The Long Haul backup battery is going to be perfect for our trips to the cabin!  It's good for up to 4 phone charges and has two ports, so you can charge 2 devices at a time, great for both our phones, or a phone and the iPad. We have limited solar electricity up there, so anything that lightens our electrical load helps out a lot!  Solar is of course, is dependent on it being sunny, and there have certainly been vacations where it's been cloudy/rainy almost the entire time so then we have to be really conservative, because our solar batteries don't recharge as fast. The Long Haul backup battery can also easily be recharged by setting it on the Powermat, as well as conventional methods.

My husband has been using the Power Snap Kit.  His phone is used for work as well, and sees even more use than mine does.  This kit includes both the AccessCase and the backup SnapBattery that snaps right to the back of the AccessCase. The Access Case can be on the iPhone without the SnapBattery - then you can recharge your phone right on the Powermat.  And if you are away from somewhere you can recharge your phone, simply snap the SnapBattery onto the AccessCase and you've got another phone battery ready to go, already attached to your phone so you can use it like any phone.  Or, just leave it on your phone all the time - it does make your iPhone a little more bulky, but then you've got double the battery power, which is great for when you're not going to be  near a charger, or don't have room to take other charging accessories with you.  We did notice that when using the SnapBattery, your phone's original battery will die first, and it seamlessly transitions to the SnapBattery.  You won't even know it happened unless you look!  When you want to recharge your phone with the SnapBattery attached, just place the SnapBattery onto the Powermat, or charge by other conventional methods.

Now for the Powermat!  This thing is really cool!  (LOL, like the others aren't??) It does need to be plugged in to a wall outlet.  Then simply place the backup batteries, the SnapBattery, or your phone (with the AccessCase) right onto it to charge!  You'll be able to tell when your mobile devices are properly aligned on the Powermat by feel - you'll feel a slight magnetic pull.  You'll also be able to hear it, it makes a neat little noise, LOL!!  And of course, it has a light indicator that turns on when the device is properly aligned.

Currently Powermat charging is offered in the following  public places- select Starbucks & McDonalds, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Madison Square Garden, and coming soon to Delta Shuttle & Delta Skyclub. In time, I think we'll see a lot more Powermats in lots more public places; it's such a fantastic idea!

Overall, big thumbs up from me - these would make great Christmas/holiday gifts for today's mobile device users! 

*** Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. Please note New Age Mama is not responsible for the delivery of this prize and cannot be held accountable if, for any reason, it is not received. Furthermore, New Age Mama is in no way liable for any injuries that may result from the use or misuse of this product. ***  

Review: Eye-Fi Mobi Card

*** Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review. *** 

Share and Store More of Life’s Important Moments with Eye-Fi’s 32GB Mobi Card

Perfect for proud parents, travel aficionados, sports and food lovers, Eye-Fi is the easiest way to add WiFi to a camera. Photo enthusiasts everywhere get reliable, fast transfer of photos and videos directly to the mobile devices they love – no wires, no fuss, and no delay in showing off the highest quality photos whenever and wherever.

Photos evoke such strong memories: your child walking for the first time, that road trip after college, the day you said “I do.” Those amazing memories simply demand higher quality than a smartphone camera can offer. With Mobi 32GB, there’s no need to compromise – greater storage capacity means every photo and video you want to capture is also available to share and enjoy from your mobile device.

How often do you discover images on your memory card leftover from last month? Last year? Mobi creates its own WiFi so images are uploaded to your smartphone or tablet as you take them. Photos and videos are ready when you are – for photo books, cards, prints or for anything you can imagine. For social sharers, editing and sharing memories with familiar apps like Facebook and Instagram, and text and email, are super simple because photos & videos are uploaded directly into the camera roll on the device.

Showcase Your Perfect Shot with 

FREE 8 x10 Inch Framed Canvas Print

And just in time for the holidays, Eye-Fi is offering a free 8x10 inch framed canvas print with a qualified purchase of a Mobi 32GB directly from the Eye-Fi website. This limited-time promotion allows Mobi users to take & share beautiful photos anytime, and continue to enjoy a favorite memory with a gorgeous print at home.

“Today’s photographer wants the ability to take great photos, but without compromising the convenience of mobile access and apps,” said Matt DiMaria, CEO of Eye-Fi. “The success of Mobi has clearly delivered on that promise and we’re thrilled to add capacity to an already well-loved product.”

Here’s how Eye-Fi Mobi 32GB works:

• Set up simply and instantly: Mobi has the simplest Eye-Fi card setup yet – no computer, no account and no cloud. Just download the free Eye-Fi app for iOS or Android, enter the Mobi card’s unique 10-digit code, and the mobile device is paired. Use the same code to pair as many mobile devices as needed.
• Share in real-time: Full-resolution photos and videos instantly transfer from camera to a device’s photo roll/gallery. From there, edit and share using the mobile apps you already love. 
• Shoots in RAW/JPEG: Capture both RAW and JPEG. RAW stays on the card but JPEG transfers over the card’s WiFi. 
• Transfer anywhere: Built-in WiFi means no WiFi network, hotspot or internet connection is needed for pairing or transfer; Mobi literally captures photos and then uploads a copy them from camera to a mobile device whenever new content is detected. 
• Works with the devices users already own (and love): As with other Eye-Fi cards, Mobi works with thousands of cameras, including hundreds of Eye-Fi connected cameras that have integrated Eye-Fi technology for improved usability. The Eye-Fi app can be downloaded for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, including the Kindle Fire.
• Back up automatically: Photos and videos transfer as they’re taken, so if anything happens to the camera, content is already safe on the mobile device. 
• Exceptional quality and speed: Mobi reinforces Eye-Fi’s commitment to provide state-of-the-art performance in SD memory. HD video, low light and fast action shots are easily captured with this Class 10, high-capacity card.

The 32GB Mobi card retails for $99.99 and is available now through www.eyefi.com, as well as other retail and camera specialty stores nationwide. The Eye-Fi Mobi card is also available in 8GB for $49.99, or 16GB for $79.99.

About Eye-Fi

Eye-Fi is dedicated to building products and services that help consumers manage, nurture and share their digital memories. Eye-Fi’s patented and patent-pending technology wirelessly enables the cameras you love and automatically uploads photos and videos from digital cameras to smartphones, tablets and computers, as well as online destinations. Available in select international markets, Eye-Fi has helped people wirelessly upload over one billion photos since being founded in 2005.

Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the company’s investors include NTT DOCOMO, Opus Capital, Shasta Ventures and TransLink Capital. Eye-Fi Inc. card products include proprietary technology developed and patented by Eye-Fi, Inc. See patents at www.eye.fi/patent.

For more information about Eye-Fi, please visit www.eyefi.com.

You can also visit Eye-Fi on Facebook and Twitter.

Our Thoughts:

Eye-Fi sent me an 8GB Mobi card to try out.  I gotta say, this thing is pretty cool!  I had no idea something like Eye-Fi even existed!  You just download the free app on your phone, enter the card's unique 10-digit code, and the mobile device is paired!  Pop the card into your regular camera and start taking pictures!  And BAM, there they are on your phone!

I recently upgraded to a nicer camera for my work.  There have been tons of times I wish I could just upload right to Facebook - but with the traditional camera set up, I have to pop the camera's memory card into my card reader, and then upload them.  If you're like me and shoot on a larger resolution, you know that Facebook won't upload them if they are too big, which means I need to resize and save any photos I want to share first.  Lots of extra steps.  Which also meant any photos I wanted to share while I was out and about had to wait until I got home and could pop the card into my PC and edit & save them.  Nothing instant about that!  With the Eye-Fi Mobi card, I can take photos on the go with my nice camera, and instantly share them, because they are already on my phone!    I mean, sure, yes, I can take photos with my smart phone and instantly share them, but I prefer my nicer camera. 

Now, please note that the Mobi card by itself is only for mobile devices.  Should you wish to edit photos taken on a Mobi card on a non-mobile device such as a PC, you will need to purchase an Eye-Fi X2 card instead of only a Mobi card.  With the Eye-Fi X2 you will also receive Eye-Fi's USB reader, which is necessary for your PC to read the Mobi card.  Eye-Fi has very helpful information and links on their website for downloading their software to use the card & reader on your PC!

Big thumbs up from me!  Technology is fun!!

*** Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way. ***