Silicon Investor - Product Reviews

[Stan] It's that time of year - 12 space heaters are expertly tested. [youtube video]...

Stan — 10/27/2025 8:08:12 PM

It's that time of year - 12 space heaters are expertly tested.

I’ve Never Seen A Space Heater This Good!

[Stan] Settings to turn off in iOS 26. [youtube video]

Stan — 10/14/2025 8:13:03 PM

[Stan] A good products-testing channel, IMO. Project Farm - YouTube

Stan — 10/4/2025 12:01:44 AM

[Stan] If you're using any of these old routers, replace them. They have security risks...

Stan — 5/10/2025 5:56:50 PM

If you're using any of these old routers, replace them. They have security risks because they're not being supported anymore.

FBI says these 13 old internet routers are vulnerable to attacks. Is yours on the list?

[Stan] LOL. You're pre-approved!

Stan — 4/4/2025 12:47:53 PM

[Stan] Why modern fridges are not worth buying - What's the BEST Fridge to Buy? Th...

Stan — 12/2/2024 3:11:39 PM

Why modern fridges are not worth buying - What's the BEST Fridge to Buy? The Truth Will SURPRISE You!

Good channel.

[Stan] Enclosed fixtures - what makes an LED bulb burn out quickly - Sneaky Reaso...

Stan — 11/15/2024 4:30:59 PM

Enclosed fixtures - what makes an LED bulb burn out quickly - Sneaky Reason LED Bulbs are Dying Faster than Advertised

[Stan] Doubt anyone would scan a QR code from a random source, but still this is a good...

Stan — 9/21/2024 9:19:16 AM

Doubt anyone would scan a QR code from a random source, but still this is a good example about how tirelessly these predators scheme to get what they want from the unwary.

[Stan] A good site to check regularly for recalls. Some well-known brand food products ...

Stan — 12/19/2023 9:50:15 PM

A good site to check regularly for recalls. Some well-known brand food products are on the current list: fda.gov

[Stan] A bit OT, but these are very good cooking hacks IMO - youtube.com [youtube vide...

Stan — 9/19/2023 4:41:59 PM

A bit OT, but these are very good cooking hacks IMO - youtube.com

Thumbnail doesn't represent a single hack but there are hacks that use them individually.

[Stan] True, but not bad for donating to a non-profit for just buying something from Am...

Stan — 1/18/2023 11:17:44 PM

True, but not bad for donating to a non-profit for just buying something from Amazon. Their program had a good run, 10 years in which they sent out $400 million.

[TimF] Mildly unfortunate but you would really have to buy an enormous amount of stuff ...

TimF — 1/18/2023 10:56:18 PM

Mildly unfortunate but you would really have to buy an enormous amount of stuff through Amazon to generate any significant donation by using Smile.

[Stan] From my inbox, AmazonSmile is being discontinued as of 02-20-2023. [graphic] ...

Stan — 1/18/2023 10:23:34 PM

From my inbox, AmazonSmile is being discontinued as of 02-20-2023.

Dear customer,

In 2013, we launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. However, after almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped. With so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.

We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. We will continue to pursue and invest in other areas where we’ve seen we can make meaningful change—from building affordable housing to providing access to computer science education for students in underserved communities to using our logistics infrastructure and technology to assist broad communities impacted by natural disasters.

To help charities that have been a part of the AmazonSmile program with this transition, we will be providing them with a one-time donation equivalent to three months of what they earned in 2022 through the program, and they will also be able to accrue additional donations until the program officially closes in February. Once AmazonSmile closes, charities will still be able to seek support from Amazon customers by creating their own wish lists.

As a company, we will continue supporting a wide range of other programs that help thousands of charities and communities across the U.S. For instance:
Housing Equity Fund: We’re investing $2 billion to build and preserve affordable housing in our hometown communities. In just two years, we’ve provided funding to create more than 14,000 affordable homes—and we expect to build at least 6,000 more in the coming months. These units will host more than 18,000 moderate- to low-income families, many of them with children. In one year alone, our investments have been able to increase the affordable housing stock in communities like Bellevue, Washington and Arlington, Virginia by at least 20%. Amazon Future Engineer: We’ve funded computer science curriculum for more than 600,000 students across over 5,000 schools—all in underserved communities. We have plans to reach an additional 1 million students this year. We’ve also provided immediate assistance to 55,000 students in our hometown communities by giving them warm clothes for the winter, food, and school supplies. Community Delivery Program: We’ve partnered with food banks in 35 U.S. cities to deliver more than 23 million meals, using our logistics infrastructure to help families in need access healthy food – and we plan to deliver 12 million more meals this year alone. In addition to our delivery services, we’ve also donated 30 million meals in communities across the country. Amazon Disaster Relief: We’re using our logistics capabilities, inventory, and cloud technology to provide fast aid to communities affected by natural disasters. For example, we’ve created a Disaster Relief Hub in Atlanta with more than 1 million relief items ready for deployment, our Disaster Relief team has responded to more than 95 natural disasters, and we’ve donated more than 20 million relief products to nonprofits assisting communities on the ground. Community Giving: We support hundreds of local nonprofits doing meaningful work in cities where our employees and their families live. For example, each year we donate hundreds of millions of dollars to organizations working to build stronger communities, from youth sport leagues, to local community colleges, to shelters for families experiencing homelessness.We’ll continue working to make a difference in many ways, and our long-term commitment to our communities remains the same—we’re determined to do every day better for our customers, our employees, and the world at large.

Thank you for being an Amazon customer.

[Alan Smithee] When I moved in 2001, I tossed out a drawer full of old cell phones and charging...

Alan Smithee — 1/14/2023 10:47:42 AM

When I moved in 2001, I tossed out a drawer full of old cell phones and charging cables.

[Stan] This sounds like a great idea, I have some older devices collecting dust because...

Stan — 1/14/2023 8:52:09 AM

This sounds like a great idea, I have some older devices collecting dust because it seems a shame to toss them out.

Walmart And Target Will Now Give You Money For Your Outdated Devices, Here's How To Cash In (msn.com)

[Stan] I saw an article recently with a useful travel tip. Before you leave your home o...

Stan — 3/20/2022 11:10:48 PM

I saw an article recently with a useful travel tip. Before you leave your home on a trip, take pictures of your stove, sinks, bathtub and any other thing in your home you could later worry about not having taken care of before you left.

[Stan] Scotty vs. Modern Mercedes over the years, and he has a point! [youtube video] ...

Stan — 1/17/2022 10:06:55 PM

Scotty vs. Modern Mercedes over the years, and he has a point!

youtube.com

[Stan] T-Mobile Data Breach 2021: 100 Million Users Exposed in Latest Hacking, Is There...

Stan — 8/22/2021 2:19:18 PM

T-Mobile Data Breach 2021: 100 Million Users Exposed in Latest Hacking, Is There a Fix?

The American telecommunications provider T-Mobile falls victim to yet another data breach. More than 100 million user data have been stolen, including names, physical addresses, phone numbers, security numbers, unique IMEI numbers and driver license information. The hacker is reportedly selling a subset of the data for approximately $280,000. [excerpt]

This is, unfortunately, the second T-Mobile data leak that happened this year. Early in February, T-Mobile also confirmed a data breach that led to customer SIM swap frauds, also known as SIM hijacking. In summary, SIM hijacking happens when someone takes control of the victim's phone number. Hackers can automatically receive the victims' calls and messages, steal their user credentials, and take over their online service accounts. [excerpt]

continued ... itechpost.com

T-Mobile's response - t-mobile.com

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] Black & Decker. Bought a low priced cordless drill few months ago. Went to use ...

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 7/14/2021 8:51:25 AM

Black & Decker. Bought a low priced cordless drill few months ago. Went to use it and the 1/4 steel drill bit was bent. Complained to the company, they send out a driver but, complained, they sent out a high quality bit, yesterday they send out a 101 piece drill bit ad driver set. Now that is customer service.

[Stan] Good advice about laundry detergent - youtube.com [youtube video]

Stan — 6/22/2021 8:05:05 AM

[Stan] A big thumbs up for Shlage for their customer service. I had a Z-Wave remote c...

Stan — 6/2/2021 4:56:01 PM

A big thumbs up for Shlage for their customer service.

I had a Z-Wave remote control Schlage deadbolt lock installed in 2014. About 6 months ago, it started burning through batteries in about a month. Prior to that, batteries could last about 4-5 months.

I called them a couple of weeks ago to see what could be done about the problem. The agent asked for a pic of the door code sticker and a pic of the lock. He said they would send a replacement, at no cost. That was a pleasant surprise.

It arrived yesterday.

[Neeka] Our neighbor bought one of these and stopped by to show it to us yesterday. [y...

Neeka — 4/30/2021 2:14:36 PM

Our neighbor bought one of these and stopped by to show it to us yesterday.

[Neeka] Ski................I was given one of these today by a friend and I can't believ...

Neeka — 4/16/2021 7:49:38 PM

Ski................I was given one of these today by a friend and I can't believe what difference it made in my mask wearing experience. Made it much easier to breath without having the cloth or paper mask hitting my mouth. AZ has all sorts of different styles and choices for what they're calling face mask brackets.

amazon.com

AZ also has adjustable mask strap ear savers. Most of them are made for women, but there are some that are perfectly suitable for men. At the very least, I would highly recommend the brackets.

amazon.com

Message 33284933

[Neeka] Will do! They acknowledged they received the order, and I'm waiting for confir...

Neeka — 3/6/2021 12:27:25 PM

Will do!

They acknowledged they received the order, and I'm waiting for confirmation they shipped.

[TimF] Let us know how well it works for you.

TimF — 3/5/2021 6:20:49 PM

[Neeka] Thanks for posting the video Stan. I watched it live and in action yesterday at ...

Neeka — 3/3/2021 2:20:16 PM

Thanks for posting the video Stan. I watched it live and in action yesterday at my friend's house and was really impressed. I just ordered one in "Sea Glass" from their website. $99.00 + $8.31 tax and free shipping.

I don't think you want to be wearing fuzzy slippers when you get too near it though. ;)

[Stan] QVC sold that in 2018. 6 minute demo youtube.com [youtube video]

Stan — 3/3/2021 1:43:03 PM

[Neeka] eyevac.com Haven't read any reviews, but saw it work first hand at a friend's h...

Neeka — 3/3/2021 1:04:15 PM

eyevac.com

Haven't read any reviews, but saw it work first hand at a friend's house yesterday and it is great. Getting one...........or two!

[TimF] How Safe is a Sawstop Saw? [youtube video] youtube.com

TimF — 1/30/2021 11:35:59 AM

[Jerry Held] I readily agree. I think the video should have completed that task, but I'm prob...

Jerry Held — 1/26/2021 7:52:21 PM

I readily agree. I think the video should have completed that task, but I'm probably being a little too picky.

Great info, I have to admit. I never would have chosen oil as a way to get rid of grease but now that I think of it, gasoline, another petroleum product works pretty good too but leaves your skin a little smelly and dry as hell on top of that.

[Stan] Seems the oil can be taken up easily by a soapy solution from a product like Daw...

Stan — 1/26/2021 12:51:04 PM

Seems the oil can be taken up easily by a soapy solution from a product like Dawn.

[Jerry Held] That looks pretty good, but what about the elephant still standing in the room? ...

Jerry Held — 1/26/2021 12:40:32 PM

That looks pretty good, but what about the elephant still standing in the room? The grease is gone from the carpet but now you've got cooking oil in its place. How long until THAT attracts dirt? Maybe it's a smaller amount of oil but it's still oil.

[Stan] How to get your hands clean from even the worst grease, youtube.com (2 1/2 min...

Stan — 1/25/2021 11:01:28 PM

How to get your hands clean from even the worst grease, youtube.com

(2 1/2 minutes)

[greg s] I have a motorhome and have stayed in a lot of campgrounds. The Honda generator...

greg s — 12/30/2020 9:07:31 PM

I have a motorhome and have stayed in a lot of campgrounds. The Honda generators are definitely more quiet than most.

[Stan] A small Honda generator that goes the extra mile. And it's fairly quiet (57 deci...

Stan — 12/30/2020 7:16:15 PM

A small Honda generator that goes the extra mile. And it's fairly quiet (57 decibels, give or take), a big plus. I had one 20 years ago that sounded like a jackhammer. youtube.com

[Stan] How the dirtiest rugs are professionally cleaned, youtube.com [youtube video]

Stan — 12/29/2020 2:34:26 PM

[Stan] A pocket air conditioner/heater? It sounds good from what this user says from h...

Stan — 12/29/2020 11:44:36 AM

A pocket air conditioner/heater? It sounds good from what this user says from his own experience with it.

This is from the same YT channel as in my previous post. youtube.com

[Stan] Ceramic coating: For anyone who owns a snow blower, great tip for not having the...

Stan — 12/26/2020 4:23:04 PM

Ceramic coating: For anyone who owns a snow blower, great tip for not having the bucket, impellers and chute surfaces jammed with snow during a job. It sounds like it would be great for snow shovels too. youtube.com

[tom_trades_spy_calls] I hear a certain Nigerian prince is willing to pay you millions if you help faci...

tom_trades_spy_calls — 12/8/2020 11:49:54 PM

I hear a certain Nigerian prince is willing to pay you millions if you help facilitate a wealth transfer to a US bank account ...

[Stan] Speaking of cleaning windshields, Message 30435679

Stan — 12/3/2020 3:54:09 PM

[Stan] Pro auto detailer recommends an interior windshield cleaning tool. youtube.com ...

Stan — 12/3/2020 2:00:26 PM

Pro auto detailer recommends an interior windshield cleaning tool. youtube.com

[Stan] Scotty moved to Tennessee from Houston! youtube.com [youtube video]

Stan — 12/1/2020 11:43:40 AM

[Stan] The phishers aren't even trying anymore. This email came today from, uh, "Amazon...

Stan — 8/17/2020 4:08:51 PM

The phishers aren't even trying anymore. This email came today from, uh, "Amazon"
Amazs? Prime <infoupdate-tinggisadffdccgfffghhhgssssdddaaay49@abuh-abahmedan01.net>

Oddly, they think I make costumes - :)

Hello Costumer,

We have placed a hold on your account and all pending orders. We took this action the billing information you provided did not match the information on file with the card issuer.We detected something wrong with your Amazon account payment.We disabled your Amazon account for security reasons. For this you need to verify your account.To resolve this problem, please verify now with the name, address, telephone number and credit card registered in your account. If you recently moved, you may need to update this information with the card issuer. Click the button below to verify your account.

[Stan] How smartphones are made - youtube.com (Nov. 2019, direct link, 10 minutes) [yo...

Stan — 8/13/2020 12:52:33 PM

How smartphones are made - youtube.com (Nov. 2019, direct link, 10 minutes)

[Stan] Charitable organization to avoid - American Federation of Police & Concerned Cit...

Stan — 7/27/2020 5:09:32 PM

Charitable organization to avoid - American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens - A Police Family Survivors Fund.

Got an appeal in snail mail twice now from this group. I was interested but checked it out today on Charity Navigator (requires sign-in). Even though they give it a "moderate concern" rating I recommend not supporting it, for now at least. See the excerpt -

On October 11, 2018, KDLT reported on the charges of improper conduct allegedly taking place at American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens in an article titled, "Minnesota AG Sues Florida Charity Over Allegedly Misleading Donors." For this reason, we have issued a Moderate Concern CN Advisory as the allegations have yet to be confirmed. For more information regarding this matter, please see the KDLT article.

In December of 2019, AFPCC entered into a Consent Judgment with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. For more information, please see the Consent Judgement.

charitynavigator.org

[Stan] Really genius (some "why didn't I think of that" type) products and innovations ...

Stan — 4/18/2020 1:54:07 PM

Really genius (some "why didn't I think of that" type) products and innovations - direct link - youtube.com

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] The best clock radio you will ever own: [youtube video]

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 3/22/2020 8:06:16 AM

[Stan] Promising advancements in battery tech involving graphene. youtube.com [youtube ...

Stan — 3/15/2020 8:53:04 PM

Promising advancements in battery tech involving graphene. youtube.com

[SI Ron (Crazy Music Man)] Sony makes the best clock radios. I had one 30 years ago, I gave it to my mothe...

SI Ron (Crazy Music Man) — 3/14/2020 5:49:49 PM

Sony makes the best clock radios. I had one 30 years ago, I gave it to my mother. It had a CD player and was a great clock radio. I upgraded to a RCA and it sucks, this new Sony I bought I love it. Only problem the backup battery (CR2032) was DOA. Had to put another one i it. My old RCA won't bring in AM stations properly anymore, I listen to radio quite a bit, I don't watch TV.

[longz] agree Ron!...I had this Sony Dream Machine for years!...the reception for radio ...

longz — 3/14/2020 2:10:15 PM

agree Ron!...I had this Sony Dream Machine for years!...the reception for radio is excellent!

youtube.com