FIFINE AmpliTank Tank3 Microphone Review

I’ve been doing voice overs forever – it’s a blast! Friends often ask me how to get started, but they’re usually on a tight budget. Recommending a good mic for cheap has always been tough… until now!

My go-to for recording my professional voice over work is a Sennheiser MKH416 with a RØDECaster Duo setup. Unfortunately, my setup starts at $1,500. I’ve always hesitated to recommend budget microphones to beginners, ... (more)


When Influencer Marketing Backfires

The Rise of Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing has become the go-to strategy for brands looking to capture the attention of digital-savvy consumers. By partnering with popular YouTubers and social media personalities, companies aim to create a sense of trust and authenticity around their products. But what happens when this strategy goes too far?

It started as a way for brands to connect with their audience on a more personal level, ... (more)


Top 5 Mice That Don’t Require a Subscription

When it comes to choosing the right mouse, the options can be overwhelming. Whether you’re working, gaming, or just browsing the web, the right mouse can make all the difference. As a self-proclaimed mouse junky, I’m always eager to try the latest and greatest when they hit the market.

I’ve spent countless hours putting a variety of mice through their paces in real-world scenarios. After extensive testing, I’ve narrowed it ... (more)


iOS 18.1 Beta with Apple Intelligence first impression

Just installed the first iOS 18.1 (and iPadOS 18.1) beta with the first appearance of “Siri 2.0” and I gotta say, my first impressions of the new Siri are pretty bad. Outside of the UX change, Siri is still dumb as rocks. Doesn’t speak results and still shows web results.

I don’t think the updated Siri engine has been rolled out yet. The interface changes and the voice seems to ... (more)


Get my 5% Off MOZA Racing Coupon Code

Ready to jump into sim racing or upgrade your old belt driven kit to the latest direct drive options from MOZA Racing, but want a discount? I have coupon codes available. Read on to learn how to get one.

This is legit, unlike those annoying pop-under coupon code sites or playing Reddit roulette. Spoiler alert: there is absolutely no coupon code that will give you 65% or 50% off ... (more)


Get a Meta Quest Supernatural 30-Day Guest Pass

Thinking about VR fitness? I personally think that Supernatural is the best workout game available on the Meta Quest — and I’ve tried them all. It’s engaging, fun, constantly updated, has excellent popular music, and I get an amazing workout. I’m offering up my 30-day guest passes so you can try it for a full month for free.

If the ones below are no longer available, be sure to bookmark ... (more)


Branding updates for my YouTube channel: Build. Fix. Innovate.

Since I’ve shifted from automotive to tool reviews, then to reviews of products that aren’t tools, and more… it got me thinking that my old YouTube channel branding needed some tweaking.

BTW, I swear more videos for my YouTube channel, @chris, are on the way. I swear! I’m actually editing a video and it’s gonna be a good one!

My previous channel tagline, “DIY & Product Reviews”, no longer ... (more)


State of YouTube, Motorz TV, and Tool Talk in 2024

I love creating video content. I realize it may not look like it if you take a look at the recent uploads of my YouTube channel, @chris. It looks like something bad happened. Well, it did… so let’s talk about that, Motorz TV, and “Tool Talk with Chris Duke”.

So what happened? The pandemic happened, and I had to pivot quickly. That led to putting my TV show and ... (more)


BOBOVR S3 Pro Super Strap for Quest 3 Review

Do you have a Meta Quest 3 VR headset and hate the provided jockstrap and feel their overpriced Elite battery strap isn’t much better? Well, the king of VR head straps (BOBOVR) has had a M3 Pro out for a while but recently announced their heavily upgraded S3 Pro Super Strap. I just got my hands on it, and this article is about how awesome it is.

First, a ... (more)


How to use a remote control with the HOVERAir X1

This is your complete how-to guide for using a remote control with the HOVERAir X1 selfie drone. It will be updated over time with the latest information. Let’s fly right into how to make your X1 flying camera work like a normal drone.

While the X1 is billed as an autonomous flying selfie camera, there’s also a mode which allows you to fly the X1 manually using the app ... (more)


Apple has a new Journal app and I hate it

With iOS 17.2, Apple added a journaling app called “Journal”. I was so excited about it that I jumped on the first beta that had it. Now it’s released for everyone to use, and I absolutely hate it. Here’s why, and what you should use instead.

Why does it suck so bad? Because it is only available on iOS — the iPhone. It’s not available on iPadOS (getting Weather app ... (more)


I tried OxyCleaning my eye

It wasn’t intentional, but I accidentally put OxyClean in my eye. I’m OK, but it wasn’t a very pleasant experience. This post is to openly state my stupidity, and maybe act as a friendly reminder to the future you.

It started with something simple: using OxyClean to clean the white mesh of a dirty second-hand HomePod mini I acquired last night. I put a little bit in a small cup ... (more)


XPPen Mini Keydial ACK05 Shortcut Keyboard Review

This is my review after spending an hour with the XPPen Mini Keydial ACK05 wireless shortcut keyboard. I got this to assist with repetitive keystrokes in a work/production environment. Unfortunately it did not work out and here’s why.

This might be an unfair review for most people because this product is designed to assist artists who mainly draw on tablets, use Photoshop, etc. But it does have quite a bit ... (more)


I’m a pilot! I passed the FAA Part 107 exam 97%!!

After 3 weeks of studying hard nearly every day, I went to my local testing center to take the FAA Part 107 test to become a commercial UAS pilot. About 80 minutes later I got my score and was shocked and elated to see that I got 97%.

Why was I shocked? For as much studying as I did to prepare for this test, I was sure going into it ... (more)


LG now sells a suitcase TV

I don’t know why, but I love this. It’s a 27″ 1080p TV… it’s a tablet for gaming… all in a portable suitcase. It’s called the LG StanbyME Go and I think it would be great for businesses and those with an RV or living the van life! 3 hour battery life, 30W speakers, and more. It will go on sale later this month for $999, which seems pricey to ... (more)


Wireless Apple CarPlay AI Box Adapters Review

A few months ago I added a wireless CarPlay adapter to my Ford Maverick pickup truck. Ford cheaped out on adding it to cut costs so instead of Ford spending another $2 to add it, I had to spend $70. Yay. More recently, I decided to check out a few of the “AI Box” adapters to see if they were any good. Here is my consolidated review of two of ... (more)


Are FCEVs (hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles) the future of EVs?

This year (2023) a new battery hydrogen electric vehicle will be produced that has a 1,000 mile range and over 2,000 horsepower. Which begs the question: are FCEVs (hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles) the future of EVs?

As a former Tesla owner, I have a lot of respect for BEVs (battery electric vehicles). Tesla disrupted the automotive industry to the point where Ford lost $1B last quarter trying to catch ... (more)


How did I not know there was a Ferris Bueller TV Show?

Seriously, how did I not know of the Ferris Bueller TV show? Today I learned there was a short-lived Ferris Bueller series back in 1990-1991. Even though it only lasted 13 episodes, it had some big stars in the making, like Jennifer Aniston and Richard Riehle from Office Space. You can watch the pilot episode, below.

They got some actor named Charlie Schlatter to play Ferris. Sorry dude, you’re no ... (more)


WD-40 in Tide pen form. Who knew?

I just found out that there’s WD-40 in pen form. After living with (and probably misusing at times) WD-40 for all my life, I had no idea such a thing existed. Madness! Where was this thing when I needed a little bit of WD-40 but only had the spray can which sprayed it all over the damn place, including my fingers?

Created to deliver WD-40 with “pinpoint precision”, it’s ... (more)


Stop those annoying “Deposited a new message” SMS messages

Spam calls are bad enough. It gets worse when they leave voicemail. You know what’s even worse than that? Getting a SMS text notification that they left a voicemail. I was fed up with all of it and figured out how to stop them.

18001112222 Deposited a new message:
"This person called, but left an empty message"
Click here: 14691112222 to listen to full voice message.

For me, I like ... (more)