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Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

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261–270 of 1001 posts

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#261

A keypad door lock. Knowing the door is always (automatically) locked, being able to leave the house without a key, and being able to let someone else when I'm not there either with my phone, or by giving them a code.. I'm living in the future.

I loved mine but it started eating batteries after a few months. I guess I should try other models.

I have a kwikset that I change with LSD rechargable AA batteries every 6 months (they last longer, but I don't want to be locked out).

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#262

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

Don't the Google headphones do universal translation in their range of headphones? I am sure apple can replicate if it is any good.

Does that mean translating, in real time, the speech of someone talking?

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#263

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

Isn’t there an ongoing investigation regarding an influx of tinnitus related to the ANC feature?

I'm not aware of any evidence of that, though for me I rarely notice my tinnitus unless I am in a quiet space. It is almost never quiet for most people in most cities, so I can understand someone noticing it for the first time while using ANC.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#264
post #169

Instant Pot. Can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker (mostly known for this last use) Though probably not as good for rice specifically as an actual high-end rice cooker, it greatly increased the range of foods I eat. Makes it easy to make nice one pot meals overnight for multiple days, you can make really good broth soups from chickens etc quickly, or slowly if you prefer. If you like to try tough…

Me too. Instant pot for the win. Haven't tried meat in it. It's been Indian curries and lentil soups & such. I also bought a 3 quart version for my motorhome!

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#265

- all matching socks. No more time spent pairing. - clothes drying racks that hook onto radiators. Reduces drying time and clothes crumpling - wired mechanical keyboard. Wired is simpler than wireless. Quality ones have n-key support - bicycle fenders - digital wrist watch so that I check my phone less.

The all matching socks strategy breaks down over time. Eventually you need to buy more socks, and the new ones aren't as worn as the old ones, so you end up having to match them anyway. My solution to this is to buy a large batch of identical socks. Then when you need new ones, buy another large batch that are slightly different - e.g. grey hiking socks instead of black, or wool hiking socks that have a slightly different pattern but are still the same style. This reduces the matching problem from matching all pairs to matching into a couple different sets, which is much easier.

I've thought too much about this.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#266
post #63

Aftershokz Aeropex bone-conducting headphones. I could walk, hike, drive listening to music or phone calls while hearing the environment around me and without exposing anyone else to my taste in music :)

don’t you achieve basically the same thing with airpods’ transparency mode?

Only issue with AirPods is that they trap sweat in your ear. Usually fine for normal workouts but for long distance runs they’re not usable.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#268

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

i have to use different sized tips and they push out over the course of time.. i like them and accept that it's my ears, but after the airpods pro i'll go with something with a hook or over the ear.

There are 3rd party tips you could try.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#269

Airpod Pro 2 They are basically bionic ears. Headphones, headset, earplugs, hearing protection, hearing aids, extendable ears, and more. Wish they could act as universal translators, but I suppose that's still yet to come.

i have to use different sized tips and they push out over the course of time.. i like them and accept that it's my ears, but after the airpods pro i'll go with something with a hook or over the ear.

I’m a wrestler and really struggle with getting a secure fit. This isn’t specific to Airpods, but it does seem worse than other buds. I tried foam tips from Comply. They worked reasonably well, but their longevity was short and the small size means there isn’t much physical room for them to compress/expand for a good fit. Some attachment issues as well (though I’ve heard they had been sorted out).

More Airpod Pro form factors would be welcome, but the functionality is pretty good.

Re: Ask HN: What sub $200 product improved your 2022

#270

An air fryer. It’s really a badly marketed product. Its real utility isn’t that it uses less oil, but that it cooks incredibly fast. Essentially an oven on steroids. It’s made cooking so much easier. I usually toss some boneless chicken in with a light coating of soy sauce and cornflour. While the chicken cooks, I prep a basic Asian sauce on the stovetop. The chicken and the sauce are both done within 10-15 minutes.…

Does the fan get all oily & grimy? Is it hard to keep clean? I like being able to wash greasy kitchen items in lots of hot water and detergent. I can't imagine it is possible to immerse the business end of an air fryer in water?

Not as bad as you might think. Splatter happens when moisture comes in contact with hot oil/shortening. In an air fryer you don't have much oil and it doesn't as easily splatter. It's relatively contained. AFAIK, there's no mist of oil droplets like with a frying pan or a fryer.
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