Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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WICHITA With warm weather arriving and states beginning to lift restrictions on non-essential travel, many families may have a vacation on their minds. Road trips can offer a safe and budget-friendly opportunity to travel. Whether journeys reach near or far, plan with safety considerations should be included in trip preparations.

The great American road trip is still one of the best ways to extend family bonding while exploring stateside destinations, says Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. Regardless of where youre headed, planning ahead ensures your travel experience will be both safe and enjoyable.

AAA offers the following tips for planning a family road trip including aspecial map to navigate travel rules and restrictions:

Remember Safety First: Dont travel if you are sickor plan to travel with someone who is sick. Pack face masks, gloves and products to sanitize cars and surfaces for the trip. Plan to make as few stops as possible, but make sure to rest when drowsy or sleepy. Make sure everyone is restrained by seat belts or a child safety seat to prevent injury in case of a sudden stop, swerve or crash. Respect social distancing guidelines set by health officials.

Plan Ahead with A Trusted Travel Agent:Careful planning and preparation can make the difference between a well-enjoyed vacation and a travel nightmare. Leveraging the expertise of a travel professional has never been more important.With the list of AAA Approved and Diamond Rated Hotels, AAA travel experts can help you navigate the hotel recommendations based on acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality for nearly 60,000 properties.You can also visitwww.AAA.com/Diamondsto find an inspector approved local hotel in the destination city that will meet your needs.

The Centers for Disease Control also recommends that travelers clean and disinfect all high-touch hotel surfaces. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, remote controls, toilets, and sink faucets. Bring an EPA-registered disinfectant and other personalcleaning supplies.

Check Destination Business Operations/Local State Restrictions: AAA has a special onlineCOVID-19 Travel Restrictionsmap of the United States to help travelers keep track of the ever changing landscape of rules and regulations, paramount to ensuring a SAFE and fun-filled family vacation. Review the operational hours and protocols of destination attractions, rest stops and more along your travel route. Closures, stay-at-home orders and quarantine rules vary greatly across states, and even among various counties and cities within the states.

Prepare Your Vehicle: Due to stay-at-home orders, many vehicles may have not been driven in months. Prior to a road trip, check out your vehicle by taking it to atrusted repair facilityto perform maintenance such as battery, tire, brake and fluid checks. Be prepared for emergencies with a mobile phone and car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a basic toolkit with reflectors or emergency flares, and drinking water and snacks for passengers. Families can also have puzzles, a charged iPad and books for kids to keep them entertained while in the car.

Limit Distractions: Keep attention on the road by pre-programing GPS devices and adjusting seats and mirrors before heading out. Allow a driver to remain focused safely on driving by enlisting the help of passengers. Dont use handheld or hands-free cell phones while behind the wheel.

AAA.com/RoadTripis a free resource to help travelers find inspiration, explore destinations, plan the perfect route and get their vehicle road trip ready. AAA Travel is also offeringVirtual Travel Eventswith expert road trip advice. VisitAAA Virtual Travel Road Trip Eventsto register for the free June 2nd or June 4th events.

. . .

About AAAAAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to 60 million members nationwide and nearly 347,000 members in Kansas. AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.AAA is anon-stock, non-profit corporation workingon behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.For more information, visitwww.AAA.com.

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The great American road trip: AAA offers tips on traveling - Salina Post

Beautiful landscaping and a sweeping verandah provide a fantastic space for outdoor entertaining. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAURA BENNETT, VHT STUDIOS

When a historic home is infused with modern conventions in the heart of Kenilworth, there are no words to describe it. But there may be music.

Known by its neighbors as the wedding cake house because of the beautiful plaster details on its dormers, this lovely home in one of the North Shores poshest suburbs was built in 1889 for a founding member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. And today, its been lovingly restored for modern family life.

This home is truly remarkable, says Dave Chung, the Compass listing agent for 337 Melrose that went on the market earlier this year. This is a historical house where you really dont know whats old or whats new. Even at 8,000-square-feet, this is an incredibly comfortable and livable space. Its very warm and homey you know that a family actually lives here. Its hard to find an older home in this pristine condition where the next family could just move in and not have to do anything to feel at home. This particular house is rumored to have been one of the first 10 homes built in Kenilworth and the current owners are only the sixth family to have lived here in 130 years.

The grand staircase features beautiful leaded glass windows and gorgeous original paneling.

The minute you walk through the front door, you know youre somewhere special. With a gracious foyer and soaring ceilings, a gorgeous paneled fireplace greets you.

The front hall welcomes guests with a beautiful paneled fireplace.

They dont build homes like this anymore, explains Chung. Even in new construction, you wont see this much space dedicated to a front hall. It was clearly designed for a family that did entertaining on a grand scale.

337 Melrose Avenue in Kenilworth combines vintage details with a modern and comfortable floor plan.

The foyer opens to an expansive floor plan that is perfect for the family who loves to host. The current family mindfully separated the formal living spaces from where they spend their time day to day. Once three separate rooms, the kitchen is now a wide-open space outfitted with a tin ceiling, custom cabinetry, marble countertops, and a generous eat-in area. A relaxed family room is immediately adjacent.

This is one of the familys favorite parts of the house, says Chung. When its warm outside, the doors from the family room open to the veranda and provide additional space for entertaining or just another way to enjoy this home with views of their beautiful landscape.

The living and dining rooms are flooded with natural light and maintained their coved ceilings even after the first floor was significantly renovated.

The living room is of museum quality with coved ceilings, gorgeous details, and is flooded with natural light.

The coved ceilings were intentionally designed for the first homeowners to create perfect acoustics for the musicians they hosted, Chung says. The current homeowners were interested in preserving some of the homes history by maintaining elements like this. Another example is when it came time to replace the hardware on the doors, they discovered that some of the hinges were original to the home. With some research and a talented craftsman, they were able to replicate them and have them installed throughout.

The second-floor master suite has a lovely five-piece marble bath and walk-in closet with custom cabinetry. Three additional large bedrooms each with their own en-suite bath complete the second floor. The third floor has two additional bedrooms, a fantastic full bath, laundry room, and a gym or seventh bedroom.

The lower level bar is beyond compare with a custom leather banquette, integrated refrigeration, and designer touches throughout.

As if the rest of the home isnt enough to have you swoon, the lower level will win you over for sure. With a large playroom with endless built-ins, a bar that would make Ralph Lauren or the Deer Path Inn envious, and an incredible media roomthis is truly where the family lives.

The lower level is totally unexpected because the same attention to detail that was paid upstairs was carried through down here, as well, Chung says. Even the media room, which is typically an uninspired space in a house, was designed to be inviting and comfortable for all members of the family.

For more information, visit 337melrose.com.

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Hitting the Right Notes - Daily North Shore

Las Vegas-based Boxabl wants to mass-produce low-cost housing.

The company released its first product, a 375-square-foot prefab studio apartment early this year, called the Casita. Some videos showing the unit expanding from a shipping container went viral on Twitter, and Boxabl reports huge interest in its products ever since.

Boxabl was started in 2017 by Paolo Tiramani, Galiano Tiramani, and Kyle Denman. After several years of prototyping and testing materials, the Boxabl Casita was introduced in early 2020, with plans to ship by the end of the year. Since then, the company says it has experienced a huge surge in interest. Boxabl told Business Insider that it now receives hundreds of emails a day, with 8,000 requests to buy the Casita. So far, 1,300 people have put down deposits to join the waitlist for the $50,000 house.

The company is looking for massive growth. Though the startup is small now, the goal is to create a large manufacturing facility akin to an automotive factory, constantly churning out standardized pieces that can be combined to create customizable buildings. A spokesperson told Business Insider that Boxabl is looking to raise $10 million to fund this growth, with a private offering coming up. They have already raised over $100 million from investors.

The company also has plans to release more sizes, which will likely be 20 feet by 30 feet, 20 feet by 40 feet, and 20 feet by 60 feet.

Take a look inside Boxabl's first product, Casita, here.

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Boxabl tiny homes fit into shipping containers and sell for $50,000 - Business Insider - Business Insider

The median age of the American home is 38 years old. Add to that the increasing price of new construction over the last decade and the growing popularity of television programs featuring dramatic home renovations, and its no wonder Americans spent an estimated $328 billion on home remodeling in 2019. During National Home Remodeling Month this May, we encourage homeowners to consider the benefits of a home remodel.

Remodeling offers numerous enhancements to homeowners who want to change their living environment, without uprooting their family and moving. Home improvements can add more space for a growing family or older parent, improve energy efficiency and increase the resale value of your home.

If you are considering a remodel, you should be aware of the projects that increase the homes usefulness, value, and make it better to live in. Housing market data reveals that small, smart remodels reward homeowners with better return on investment and can help update and customize a home.

Review these top five remodeling projects and begin planning to remodel during National Home Remodeling Month.

1. Remodel the kitchen

A minor kitchen remodel can improve the look and utility of the space without costing a bundle and yields a 75 percent return. Consider replacing backsplashes, cabinet fronts, countertops, and flooring. Installing low-flow faucets and energy-efficient appliances can also reduce water and energy expenses in a heavily trafficked room.

2. Remodel the bathroom

Payback on remodeling a bathroom can reach 65 percent with new fixtures, tile, toilet, vanity and lighting. Low-flow toilets consumer less water and can decrease the monthly water bill.

3. Whole house remodeling

Repairs and replacements of old components and the desire for upgraded amenities were cited as the top reasons for customers to hire a remodeler. Evaluate the use of the entire home to see if it fits your needs. Homeowners are repurposing spaces to fit their families and making more efficient use of their homes square footage and equity, rather than moving to a new home and mortgage.

4. Room Additions

Room additions can be added for a variety of reasons including a change of the number of people living in the home, multi-generational living, a desire or need for more space, or desire to increase the homes value, room additions have become increasingly popular in the last five years.

5. Replace windows and doors

Updating windows can also return a solid portion of the investment (73 percent for wood frames and 71 percent for vinyl). New, energy-efficient doors and windows also help reduce energy leakage from the home and can bring down heating and cooling bills.

Smart remodeling projects can make your home more comfortable for your lifestyle.

For more information about remodeling, visit http://www.ironsbc.com

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For years, dirty countertops, appliances, or bathroom fixtures were just kind of gross. But unkempt corners of your kitchen and bathroom arent just a sign of laziness anymore. Now, theyre a potential breeding ground for infectious disease.

You cant just limp through cleaning these days. Youve gotta get rigorous about it, which means its no longer acceptable to bring a knife to a gunfight. The Drill Brush Cleaning Supply Kit not only ups the ante on your household cleaning regimen, but it handles the task by repurposing one of your toolkit favorites, your trusty power drill.

This set included four different brush heads, each designed with unique shapes and bristle stiffnesses to attach to your cordless drill for specific cleaning jobs.

Snap on the 5-inch medium stiffness brush for getting stubborn dirt off your kitchen countertops or bathroom flat surfaces. Or switch out to the 5-inch soft brush to apply a lighter touch for items like carpet, upholstery, glass, leather, wheels, and more.

However, if you need to go big, this kit comes prepared. The 4-inch stiff brush really digs in, attacking dirt and other built-up filth on areas like tile walls and floors or even linoleum. Finally, the 4-inch scrub pad stands ready to step in when you need to clean stainless steel, porcelain, or composites like fiberglass or carbon fiber. The brushes are all even color-coded to help avoid the threat of any cross-contamination.

Youll also get a backer attachment to connect your scrub pads as well as a 4-ounce bottle of Drill-Tergent, a non-toxic clean solution that obliterates 99 percent of germs on all of your household surfaces.

Applying the power of your drill, you wont have to throw all that elbow grease into hand scrubbing and scouring with scratchy steel wool anymore. The Drill Brush was also created for handheld cleaning of cast iron pots and pans, even with baked-on food or grease. These brushes snap on and off easily and can be safely used on stoves, sinks, baseboards, ovens, oven racks, flooring, or basically anywhere that needs some serious cleaning attention.

With an impressive 4.6 out of 5-star rating from reviewers on Amazon, this set usually retails for $39. But you can save almost $10 off the price of the Drill Brush Cleaning Supply Kit right now and get the whole set for just $29.95.

Prices are subject to change.

Amazons new Chinese thermal spycam vendor was blacklisted by U.S. over allegations it helped China detain and monitor Uighurs and other Muslim minorities

Mark Di Stefano of the Financial Times is accused by The Independent of accessing private Zoom meetings held by The Independent and The Evening Standard as journalists were learning how coronavirus restrictions would affect them.

Hackers tried to break into the World Health Organization earlier in March, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, Reuters reports. Security experts blame an advanced cyber-espionage hacker group known as DarkHotel. A senior agency official says the WHO has been facing a more than two-fold increase in cyberattacks since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Virus quarantines and shuttered restaurants sent millions of Americans back to their homes, only to rediscover the joys of firing up an oven and cooking something special for themselves. Whether by desire, necessity, or both, many of us have certainly been spending more time in the kitchen these last few months. And we havent just []

Now that the world is starting to re-emerge from its self-imposed COVID-19 quarantine, were all going to have to start making some adjustments to both short-term and long-term changes. And the questions Should customers be hounded out of a store if they arent wearing a face mask? Are crocheted face masks safe or not? And []

Maybe you had a piano teacher as a kid that drove you off the instrument forever. Or maybe you always wished for some serious training, but never found the time. Whether you have dreams of tossing off a Beethoven or Chopin piece at the drop of a hat or you have visions of being the []

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This brush set enlists your power drill in the war on germs and dirt - Boing Boing

If you've come to find the best toaster oven that you really ought to buy right this instant, I'm afraid I've got some rather disheartening news for you: Toaster ovens are, in my humble opinion, mostly terrible.

It's perhaps a hard truth to hear. For generations, the toaster oven has been a trusty, crusty countertop toasting and baking appliance-- an appliance that doesn't just toast bread, but also doubles as a second, small-sized oven -- and with faster heat (and reheat) times to boot! The problem? Most food you'd want to heat or toast, like bagels or bread, would be better off in a standard toaster, and most baking food would be better off sitting on an oven rackin your traditional oven. And good luck cooking a roast or other time-intensive and complicated foods in a countertop toaster oven, even if they do have the right temperature range. Either way, you're compromising from the get-go.

Most are bulky as hell, too -- and thanks to the rise ofInstant Pots,kitchen-friendly smart displays,food processors,sous vide cookers, and the like, the chances are good that you've got a better way to put that precious counter space to use than a large toaster oven.

Read more:Top bread machines for home bakers

Still, maybe you don't have a conventional oven and need a countertop toaster oven -- or maybe you just want one, dammit. I get it. This is a much-beloved kitchen appliance we're talking about, and my toasty hot take is probably a minority report. And despite my misgivings, there's still a lot to like about toaster ovens!

But splurging doesn't always make sense. Do you really need to add in modern luxuries like built-in food cameras, barcode scanners and smart cooking assistance? Techie toaster ovens from names such asTovala,JuneandBravacan cost anywhere from $350 to $995, but most of the extras found in a mini smart oven are above and beyond what an average kitchen needs.

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More reasonable are "upgrade pick" toaster ovens such as the fun, well-calibrated Panasonic FlashXpress, or a sturdy stalwart such as theBreville Smart Oven, both of which we reviewed -- and loved -- a few years ago. But at $127 and $299 respectively, those models, too, are outside the mainstream in a world where a regular toaster can be hadfor less than $20.

Read more: 4 signs it's time to replace your toaster oven

That's why I decided to take a look at some of your less expensive options to see if I could find a good value. I honed in on popular, well-reviewed models that cost between $50 and $100, and I used convection heating -- a trick that uses a fan to circulate the hot air and cook more evenly -- as a baseline, must-have feature.

Then, with six toaster ovens ready to go in our test kitchen, I set out to put them to the test to try to find the best toaster oven. Of these six, there were two we liked. But we're including the aforementioned Panasonic and Breville toaster oven in our buyer's guide here because they remain well worth the splurge.

We've tested all of those aforementioned upgrade picks here at CNET Appliances, but the only one any of us has ever bought for ourselves is the FlashXpress. It's a fun, quirky countertop cooker that uses an infrared heating element for tasks like toasting bread and baking frozen pizza with speedy precision, and it has an easily removable crumb tray. It might not be big enough for everybody (or for baking for everybody), but that also means that it won't take up any more counter space than it needs on your countertop. Even now, six years after we first reviewed it, it's still easy to recommend it as the best toaster oven for toasting or baking food, or even a countertop toaster oven upgrade. Read our full Panasonic FlashXpress review.

It definitely isn't cheap at more than $270, and there's nothing "smart" about the smart oven in a cloud-connected sense, but the Breville Smart Oven cooks just about everything about as well as you could possibly expect from a countertop convection oven. On top of that, the mini smart oven is sturdy, attractive, and has an easily removable crumb tray, and it's packed with extra cooking setting modes that you might actually find useful, including convection cooking. It's a great compact toaster oven pick if you don't have a smart oven or if you plan on using your oven toaster for cooking food just about every day. Read our full Breville Smart Oven review.

The Bialetti 35047 convection toaster oven offers the same 1,800 watts of cooking power as you'll get from the Breville convection toaster, but at $90, it costs less than half as much. You also get a modern-looking black stainless steel build with an easy-to-use digital display that lets you dial into your preferred level of doneness whenever you're toasting something for your meals. Easy is always a plus. Another little feature that I love? The "A Little Extra" button for those times when your toast or frozen pizza needs just a minute more or so. Just be warned: That extra power means that the Bialetti tends to cook food quickly -- and we've got the burnt pizza to prove it.

I hate that the door on this convection toaster oven opens down more than 90 degrees. The glass can crash directly against the corner of your counterotp if it isn't pushed all the way back against your backsplash.

Still, if you can forgive that design flaw, then you'll love the way this convection toaster oven cooks, whether you're toasting, baking or broiling. Available for about $60 at Costco, it was a top finisher in each one of our cooking tests. That sort of reliable, predictable cooking and baking is exactly what you want from your toaster oven.

More from Chowhound:10 toaster oven hacks you need to try right now

You've got absolutely no shortage of toaster ovens to choose from. Names like Black & Decker, Hamilton Beach, Oster and countless others have been cranking the things out for generations now.

The true bargain-bin picks cost less than $50. If you're willing to spend a little more, you should expect to get some form of convection heat and cooking, as well as perhaps a wider oven cavity, a few additional cooking preset options, digital controls, a non-stick coating on the bake pan or a nicer-looking design. The Bialetti and Toshiba models I tested come in black stainless steel, matching a modern large appliance trend, and the Toshiba model features a built-in rotisserie rack, too. The Nostalgia model offers a unique, red-bodied build, while lower-cost options from Hamilton Beach and Oster serve as simpler budget picks.

Testing toaster ovens requires an awful lot of cooking, so I donned my trusty tan apron and got to work.

Specifically, I set out to cook a wide variety of common toaster oven fodder. With the exception of the toasting tests, where I looked at each toaster oven's individual settings for light, medium and dark toast, I used standardized temperature and cook times, and followed the recommendations on the box for whatever I was cooking wherever possible.

More from Chowhound:How to Clean Your Toaster Oven

Bread made up the bulk of my test fodder -- after all, of all the foods most of us probably make most often with these things it's toast.

Most low-end toaster ovens use a built-in kitchen timer to set the broiling, toasting and cooking time. Typically, those timers include a couple of preset options for toasting -- medium toast, dark toast and in some cases, a setting for light, barely toasted bread, too.

Fancier models with an LCD display will usually let you dial into a specific doneness level when you're toasting. You'll typically get about six or seven settings to choose from with those, each with preprogrammed toasting times. That's more precise than turning a timer knob, and worth it if you're a stickler for the perfect shade of golden brown.

For my purposes, I toasted two slices of thin, white sandwich bread in each toaster oven at its version of each of the three common settings: light, medium and dark. After each test, I photographed the results and made sure to let the toaster oven cool back down to room temperature before testing again.

The main thing I was looking for was a nice, even color at medium settings, as well as the ability to easily adjust up or down from there.

The models with digital displays -- Bialetti and Toshiba -- were the easiest to use, since you dial into your preferred level of doneness on a six- or seven-point scale rather than guesstimating with a timer knob. Four out of 7 was a touch too dark for my tastes with Bialetti, but it'd be easy enough to leave it set at 3 (it was also the only toaster oven that visibly toasted the bread at the lightest toast setting). I also appreciated that it was the only toaster oven of the bunch to feature an "A Little Extra" button for those times when your toast needs another minute.

Meanwhile, the Toshiba's toast was a little too light at 4 out of 6, and too light at the darkest setting, too.

The other four toaster ovens I tested all use timer knobs with little markers for different settings. I'm not a fan of the approach, especially with a model like the Hamilton Beach 31123D, which puts tiny markers for medium and dark toast directly adjacent to one another on the dial. Though a full 3 minutes of toasting time separates them, you'll have to stoop down, squint and turn the knob very carefully if you want to hit anything in between the two with any sort of consistency.

The best of the manual control bunch? That'd be the Oster TSSTTVCG05, which consistently delivered satisfying golden brown toast at medium settings in less time than Bialetti, and which also features the best setting for folks who like toast dark, but not charcoal black.

Speaking of the darkest setting, I didn't begrudge the toaster ovens that burnt the hell out of my bread, because that darkest setting is often needed to toast from frozen. To put that to the test, I toasted several batches of frozen Eggo waffles in each toaster at the darkest setting. Predictably, the ones that had produced black toast at the same setting did the best job, though the Black & Decker toaster oven's Eggos were a little too well done at the darkest setting, too. That'll force you to search for a sweet spot between medium and dark on the dedicated doneness dial when you're toasting frozen food.

Meanwhile, the weakest toasters of the bunch -- Hamilton Beach and Toshiba -- weren't able to get the Eggos quite crisp enough. They might have benefited from Bialetti's "A Little Extra" button.

When following the instructions on the box, Black & Decker and Oster gave us the best-cooked frozen pizzas.

I also baked a bunch of frozen pizzas -- personal-sized pepperoni pies from DiGiorno, to be specific. The box recommends baking a frozen pizza at 425 F for 17 minutes, so that's what I did with each toaster oven.

The results were all over place, but not terribly surprising. The Hamilton Beach toaster oven was a little wimpy in the toast tests, and it followed suit here, too, with an underbaked pizza that needed another couple of minutes in the oven. Meanwhile, the toaster oven with the most power -- the Bialetti -- gave us burnt pizza that cooked a lot faster than you'd expect.

Toshiba burnt the pizza, too. That was more surprising since it had the opposite problem during my toast tests. Like Bialetti, it offers a dedicated pizza setting. With both models, the result was basically identical -- burnt pizza when following the box instructions.

The best-cooked pizzas of the bunch came from Oster and Black & Decker, while the bright red, retro-designed Nostalgia toaster oven baked a passable pie, too.

In addition to DiGiorno's, I made sure to test a number of other frozen snacks and foods, including mozzarella sticks (short bake time), Pizza Bagels (medium baking time) and waffle fries (long baking time). Again, for the most part, I was less concerned with how things tasted than I was with how much each toaster oven matched the recommended temperature and cook times compared with the user's manual. The results largely lined up with what we saw from the pizzas, but if you want to read more details, you can check out my full testing notes here.

My last tests were an office favorite: Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies. I baked five cookies at a time in each toaster oven at its convection setting and according to the recommended time and temperature settings.

The Toshiba toaster oven again produced an overcooked result, which fit the pattern -- it undercooked during toast tests and overcooked during baking and broiling tests. Bialetti and Black & Decker's cookies were slightly well done, too. Meanwhile, Nostalgia, Oster and Hamilton Beach produced our taste testers' top cookies (they passed the eye test with my Twitter followers, too).

Nostalgia's convection setting gave us the most even bake on cookies -- a notable difference from the standard baking tests, where Nostalgia tended to cook faster in the back.

In honesty, though, all of the toaster ovens did pretty well at the convection setting -- it's a feature that really makes a difference with baked goods like cookies. In fact, all of them can bake cookies or anything else just the way you like. The ones that overcook or undercook will just require more of a learning curve.

To that end, the Oster toaster oven emerged as my top pick from a performance standpoint -- it aced my toast tests and proved predictable throughout all of my baking and broiling tests, too. That said...

I've yet to test a toaster oven that makes foods taste any better than a full-size oven would. They're simply not designed to perform to that standard -- especially not for less than $100.

That's why I think you should take most toaster oven performance claims with a grain or two of salt. As long as your toaster oven doesn't overcook or undercook foods too much, and if it has enough power (1,500 watts is a good benchmark for average-sized convection toaster ovens), then you won't notice much of a difference in the way it cooks foods as compared with other models like it.

You will notice design flaws and clunky user interfaces, though, so if you can, head to the store and get your hands on the models you're zeroing in on before you buy. Open and close the doors, adjust the racks -- look for the little things. For instance, the glass door on the top-performing Oster model opens down more than 90 degrees, which means that the glass can clank directly against the corner of your countertop if you don't have it pushed up against your backsplash.

As for me, I hated the imprecise doneness dials on the Hamilton Beach and Nostalgia toaster ovens, and I was also bugged by the temperature dial on the Toshiba model, which starts at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and moves in 20-degree increments -- that means you can't hit a precise 400.

None of these countertop toaster ovens is perfect, but some in this price range look better than others, and feel much easier to use. Those are differences worth shopping around for.

You'll also want to think about what you'll be using your toaster oven for most often. If you like toast with your coffee each morning, prioritize a toaster oven with a precise preset. If you like to broil things like hamburgers, make sure you get a toaster oven with a high top rack position 2 or 3 inches underneath the heating elements. Many don't let you set the racks any higher than halfway up, which is too low from the heating elements for a good char.

One argument in favor of countertop toaster ovens is that they use less energy than a full-size traditional oven. That's true -- most full-size electric ovens will draw about 2,400 watts at medium to high heat, while the average toaster oven will draw around 1,500 watts. That means that every time you're using your toaster oven instead of your full-size oven, you're cutting your energy consumption by a little over a third.

What does that mean in dollars and cents? Let's walk through the math. Assuming an energy rate of $0.12 per kilowatt hour and an average use of 1 hour per day, the full-size oven will add about $105 to your energy bill each year. Unplug the oven and use a toaster oven instead, and that yearly energy cost drops to $65.

Your actual savings will vary based on use, and will likely be a lot less than $40. After all, most people who own toaster ovens will continue to use their full-size oven sometimes, if not most of the time, and hardly any of us will stop using our ovens altogether. So let's split the difference and say that using a toaster oven instead of a full-size oven at least some of the time can knock as much as $20 off of your yearly energy bill, provided you're baking something just about every day.

That's still pretty good, but it's also less than you might expect. Think about it -- the average 1,500-watt toaster oven offers about 0.6 cubic feet on the inside, while the average 2,400-watt electric oven offers about 5 cubic feet. The toaster oven is 85 percent smaller, but it's only using 35 percent less energy. If you've got a family to feed, or if you like to make multiple batches of cookies at a time, then you'll actually get more value from the full-size oven.

There sure are -- but it's very early, and they're very expensive. Unless you're an enthusiastic early adopter of smart kitchen tech with lots of cash to burn, they're tough to recommend, and I'd stick with a regular oven.

The first to arrive was the June Intelligent Oven, which now sells in a second-gen model for $599. It's a capable cooking machine that uses built-in cameras to identify what you're trying to make, and it offers cooking guidance and an abundance of settings to tweak in its companion app. It also isn't good at making toast.

The Tovala Smart Oven is another second-gen smart oven, and at $349, it's less expensive than June. It doesn't feature built-in cameras -- instead, this smart oven uses a built-in QR code scanner to identify specific Tovala meal kits or, thanks to a recent update, frozen food from Trader Joe's. From there, the smart oven automates the entire cooking process. You just put the food in and press start.

The Brava Oven is a capable connected cooker -- but it costs $995.

The third smart oven worth mentioning comes from Brava, and it's the most expensive of the three at $995. Among toaster oven upgrades, it's a bit like Frankenstein's monster -- you get the same infrared heating elements as the Panasonic FlashXpress, the same built-in cameras as June, and the same meals kit approach as Tovala. Like the smart oven itself, those meal kits are awfully expensive, with dinner for two ranging from $28 to $45.

I don't think any of these smart options are worth buying yet, but connected cooking gadgets are continuing to mature -- and with products like the Instant Pot proving that there's still a healthy appetite for well-featured kitchen tech and kitchen appliances, manufacturers are motivated to innovate.

That includes the market-movers. Just recently, LG announced that its smart ovens will support Tovala's meals kits -- though you'll need to scan their QR codes with the Tovala app on your phone. Whirlpool has a smart countertop oven of its own coming this spring; more are likely to follow suit.

Fresh competition like that might lead to something truly compelling -- and, at the very least, it should eventually help to bring prices down to more reasonable levels. When we get to that point, I'll update this section to include our top pick with its pros and cons.

See original here:
The best toaster oven is the one you'll hate the least - CNET

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Microduct Cable Market By Installation Environment (Direct Buried, Duct/Direct Install, Aerial, Indoor), By Type (Smoothwall, Corrugated, Ribbed), By Duct Type, By Diameter, By Material, By Application, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Conduits are small tubes generally made up of plastic, which provide protection and route electrical wiring and cables. Microducts are the conduits which divide the inside space within a duct into smaller compartments and in these divided compartments cables are installed. The installation of cables can be done by jetting, fitting or by pushing.

The Global Microduct Cable Market is expected to grow at a steady rate during the forecast period. The Global Microduct Cable Market is driven by the growing construction and electronics industry which require safe and cost-effective ducting solutions. Additionally, advancements in cloud computing, communication networks, among others have increased the communication traffic, which is anticipated to propel the market across the globe.

The Global Microduct Cable Market can be segmented based on installation environment, type, duct type, diameter, material, application, company and region. Based on installation environment, the market can be categorized into direct buried, duct/direct install, aerial and indoor. The aerial installation environment is expected to witness significant growth during forecast period. The aerial installation is self-supporting, non- metallic and light in weight that ensure quick and easy installation. Additionally, these include a stabilized sheath to resist the aging effects of UV radiations. Based on type, the market can be fragmented into smoothwall, corrugated and ribbed. The smoothwall segment is expected to hold a significant market share since these provide superior resistance to natural and mechanical damage. Additionally, these can easily be swept to make gradual blends without any requirement of special forming equipment.

Regionally, the Global Microduct Cable Market has been segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, North America is expected to dominate the market during forecast period. This can be attributed to the early adoption and advancements in technologies in the region.

Companies Mentioned

Objective of the Study:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Product Overview

2. Research Methodology

3. Executive Summary

4. Voice of Customer

4.1. Brand Awareness (Aided/Unaided)

4.2. Vendor Satisfaction Analysis

4.3. Unmet Needs/Challenges

5. Global Microduct Cable Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Installation Environment (Direct Buried, Duct/Direct Install, Aerial, Indoor)

5.2.2. By Type (Smoothwall, Corrugated, Ribbed)

5.2.3. By Duct Type (Thick Walled Ducts (TWD), Tight Protected Ducts (TPD))

5.2.4. By Diameter (Up to 5mm, 5-10mm, 10-15mm, Above 15mm)

5.2.5. By Material (PVC, HDPE, Nylon, Others)

5.2.6. By Application (Electrification, Transmission Network Development, Telecoms, Automotive, Construction, Others)

5.2.7. By Company (2019)

5.2.8. By Region

5.3. Product Market Map

6. Asia-Pacific Microduct Cable Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3. Asia-Pacific: Country Analysis

7. Europe Microduct Cable Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3. Europe: Country Analysis

8. North America Microduct Cable Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3. North America: Country Analysis

9. South America Microduct Cable Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3. South America: Country Analysis

10. Middle East and Africa Microduct Cable Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3. MEA: Country Analysis

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers

11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

13. Competitive Landscape

14. Strategic Recommendations

15. About the author & Disclaimer

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fuvk0y

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Global Microduct Cable Market (2019 to 2025) - By Installation Environment, Type, Duct Type, Diameter, Material, Application, Region, Forecast &...

There are a lot of options when it comes to Tesla Model 3 accessories, however, a heads up display is arguably the coolest looking among them.

YouTuber Because Tesla recently installed a heads up display in his Tesla Model 3 to see how useful it is in day-to-day driving. Heres the installation process.

The Tesla Model 3 heads up display was made by Hanshow, the same company that makes power frunk and power trunk for the electric car.

Right off the bat, the YouTuber made it clear that a HUD will not appeal to all Tesla Model 3 owners. Most of them prefer to use the center console thats already in the car. The HUD is mostly for those who dont want to look away to the center console to check their speed or other driving-related information.

There is no driver gauge cluster for the Model 3, so HUD could be invaluable for some users.

The HUD display is connected to the CAN-bus using an intercept wiring. You can connect the HUD display in two ways and the device comes with all the connectors and wires necessary for making the connection.

The method that the YouTuber used to make the connection is applicable for newer Model 3 manufactured in 2019 and 2020. For the old Tesla Model 3 manufactured in 2018, the HUD display comes with another connector as well.

To install the HUD inside the Model 3, the YouTuber suggested a pry tool, to clip open the plastic panels and reach the wiring.

The first installation step is to shut down the power. The YouTuber left the doors of the Tesla Model 3 open because theyre electronically powered. He also rolled down all the windows as well.

In the second step, he opened the lower-back plastic panel of the center armrest, to reach a part of the CAN-bus. Using the wiring loom that comes with the device, he intercepted this connection.

In the third step, he took the long wire from the new connector and tucked it all away underneath the plastic panels.

Lastly, he installed the heads up display in front of the driverside dashboard in his Tesla Model 3.

After the installation, the YouTuber went out for a drive in the sun. The heads up display in his Tesla Model 3 showed all the basic information including speed, current gear (reverse, park, drive), battery percentage, and blinkers.

The heads up display projects in front of a small screen. While driving sunlight, this screen suffers from a little bit of glare. However, the YouTuber ensured that it is nothing to worry about and its not a deal-breaker.

He was wearing polarized glasses and saw everything clearly on the heads up display without any issues.

During night time, the screen of HUD was very bright and there was no glare either.

Overall, the heads up display is a great Tesla Model 3 accessory. It complements the car very well. It even uses the same fonts and the same colors as the center console, which makes this HUD look like an official Tesla device.

People in the comments said that the device was really cool but itd have been much better if the projector used the windshield as a display instead.

Jocelyn Drolet said:

Why not project it onto the windshield instead? It would be much more appealing to me that way. In addition, we would not have the glare of the little screen on the windshield.

Echoing the same sentiment, another user said,

Ill respectfully passdefeats the purpose of the 15-inch screen.

Hugo Carretero raised an excellent point, he said, many cheaper electric cars have it as standard. Affordable electric SUVs like the Hyundai Kona comes with a HUD from the factory.

See more here:
Tesla Model 3 Heads Up Display Is A Must Have Accesory For The EV - Fossbytes

This new line allows manufacturers and industrial operators to achieve greater control system flexibility while reducing their own product complexities.

Traditional control systems require manual configuration, with a complex array of channel modules, analogue and digital signal converters, and individually wired inputs/outputs to communicate with the machines, instruments, and sensors on the operating floor. ADIs AD74412R and AD74413R will enable flexible control systems to be designed with reconfigurable module channels quickly, easily, and remotely without requiring extensive re-wiring - drastically increasing the speed of implementation, flexibility, and the ability to make changes without significant cost and downtime.

As Industry 4.0 emerges, manufacturers are looking for more flexible systems that can quickly and easily adapt to changing requirements, all driven by shifts in consumer behaviours and demand. As a result, they can no longer rely on fixed, large-scaled systems designed for mass-market products and predictable demand. Instead, flexible systems that can be reconfigured quickly are required.

According to ADI, its software configurable I/O will provide manufacturers with the capability to more efficiently implement new projects and achieve more flexible automated control, resulting in reduced design and installation costs, as well as reduced commissioning delays.

In using software configurable I/O, manufacturers can develop a platform that replaces multiple aging fixed function I/O modules or be applied across multiple customer applications where the I/O dynamic changes with each installation. For systems traditionally reliant on control cabinets with multiple I/O modules and specified wiring for each channel type, the need for hardware diminishes as end users can now install a single module type programmable from the control room, helping to decrease logistic, manufacturing and support costs.

Software configurable I/O also acts as a bridge to Ethernet-based control networks, as it can further be applied to brownfield installations requiring updates to 10BASE-T1L industrial Ethernet systems. It enables development of standardised, configurable field I/O units capable of translating between installed HART-enabled 4-20mA sensors and actuators and 10BASE-T1L or 100M Fibre backhaul.

Originally posted here:
First software configurable industrial I/O ofr building and industrial automation - New Electronics

Following the reportage of the Maharashtra Students Union (MASU) survey, which indicates that around 88.2 per cent out of 32,378 final year students of the state want last semester exams to be cancelled, students have revealed several reasons why exams should not be conducted. Students stormed Twitter with responses stating some of their parents are being treated for coronavirus, some are in quarantine centres because their family members are infected, while others have travelled to their native villages and do not have access to Internet connectivity.

Students claimed they cannot focus on preparing for exams as some of their parents are being treated for coronavirus. Riddhi Shastri, a final year student of Biology, said, "My father who is the sole earning member of the family is being treated at a hospital in Nallasopara. He tested positive as he used to work in a pharmaceutical lab. I am worried about his health, how am I supposed to study in this stressful situation?"

While some students revealed they are isolated in quarantine centres because their family members have been tested COVID-19 positive. Jigar Kothari, a final year student of Commerce, said, "I have been in a quarantine centre since the last four days, because my sister tested positive. I cannot focus on my studies in this centre while being worried about my sister. It is mentally difficult to focus and prepare for exams."

In addition, some students claimed they have travelled to their native villages because they could not afford to live in Mumbai. Now, they do not have access to the Internet. Tejaswini Naik, a final year student of engineering, said, "I travelled to my native place in Khed village because I could not afford to pay my apartment rent in Mumbai without a job during the lockdown. Now, I do not have access to an Internet connection."

While, Mastan Razi, a final year student of the University of Mumbai (MU) said, "I travelled to my native Ahmednagar when the lockdown was imposed, as the MU informed all students to vacate the campus. I do not have a computer, let alone Internet connectivity in my village. I will have to travel back to Mumbai if exams are going to be conducted."

These student responses have taken a toll on social media, following the recent decision of Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray to conduct final year exams.

Read more here:
Unable to focus on exams amidst pandemic, respond students to CM's decision on conducting final-year exams - Free Press Journal