Shelagh McNally

Whether good or bad, the weather is the one thing we all have in common. Probably why we talk about it so often. The Netatmo Weather Station bills itself as the the first personal weather station. It lets you monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, air quality and even noise from your phone, tablet or computer.

If you’re like most typical Canadian homes, you probably still have a landline plus several cell phones. The Panasonic Connect series include the Panasonic KXPRD262 and Panasonic KX-PRW120c that provides a bridge between your landline and smartphone.  

Can the Wagan Tech Ion Boost V8, a portable emergency roadside kit that claims to jumpstart a dead car battery all on its own, help protect your loved ones? I asked an aircraft structural mechanic to check out the device and give me her professional opinion. What will an engine expert think of the Wagan Tech?  Check out our video test.

I started seriously looking at the 25.4 cm (10″) Hipstreet Phoenix when one of the youngest family members cracked the screen on the shared family tablet for the second time. The Phoenix cost less than a repair and turned out to be sturdier as well with some terrific features.

I have to start off confessing the first thing I tested on the Jawbone UP Move was the sleep feature. Was my midday nap really that long? It felt like only half an hour. I did quickly progress to using the Jawbone UP Move to track my daily activities and it did motivate me to get off the couch.

As the go-to person in my large Irish family, I’ve helped young and old pick the technology that works for them. It’s a question of figuring out their likes and dislikes to fine tune what they actually need rather than what they think they want. This approach seems to work as we’ve ended up with a wide range of products that has made everyone happy. Is there a product here that suits your family?    

We love our smartphones and the right accessory just makes them better. Here are some of the best his and her accessories that can be shared by everyone to enhance their smartphone experience.  

Adding a few exceptional knives and pans to your kitchen can make all the difference in your kitchen. Using guidelines from my chef friend,  I checked out the ZWILLING JA Henckels Professional “S” collection and the new frying pan. I was impressed with their quality and performance.  

Above our heads every evening is a world of celestial happenings. A telescope can open the night skies for you to enjoy. It’s all waiting for you to discover when you have the right telescope. Here’s what to look for when buying one.  

Revitalizing a tired room can be as simple as adding some colour, creating an accent area or simply re-arranging your furniture. By following some suggestions from the pros, I recently did a mini makeover of tired rooms that didn’t blow the budget or stress me out.