EcoFlow DELTA Pro is the New Standard of Renewable Energy Solutions – Available on Kickstarter Now

The EcoFlow DELTA Pro, the first portable home battery, will empower individuals’ disaster response capabilities and revolutionize the way households consume power.

The post EcoFlow DELTA Pro is the New Standard of Renewable Energy Solutions – Available on Kickstarter Now appeared first on Pocketnow.

How I used Kanbani for a week to boost my productivity

Last week we told you about Kanbani, a free (and ad-free) task manager we think you should really take a look at. If you missed our original article, you can read it here. As a reminder, the application brings in an old Japanese model of managing tasks, by employing what the concept describes as a “board” (kanban actually means board in Japanese).

Think of it as a whiteboard for tracking all of your tasks, from the initial idea stage to the progress, execution, and ultimately, the completion of the task.

I left my colleagues on our official business tools for a week and went rogue by using Kanbani on my own to experience the app and the concept. Don’t get me wrong, with Kanbani you can have multiple users and you can even host the tasks on your own secure server, but I wanted to see how it makes an impact on my life, and specifically, my productivity.

As far as I’m concerned, Kanbani encompasses all the tools that I’ve been using, which all translate to separate apps. Asana for task management, Calendar for appointments and events, and Evernote for taking notes and drafting stuff up.

With Kanbani, you get everything in one place. Thanks to Techtober (going way into November), I have a lot of devices in for review, aside from the regular day-to-day tasks and operations required to run the website. Needless to say that my To-Do list quickly got populated.

My setup consists of three boards: To Do, Doing, and Done. This is pretty much the default setup once you download and launch the app, and it just so happens to match my needs. I will likely add one more board for generic ideas, where we will eventually filter stuff out: some will get deleted, some will get promoted to the To-Do list.

How Kanbani can replace Asana

Just like in Asana, you can assign tasks in Kanbani to yourself or others. It also has a timeline representation of everything that you have going on, so you can easily, at a glance, know how tight your schedule is.

As any particular Task advances through its stages, just like in changing a status in Asana, the task will evolve through the boards until it’s ultimately completed. If you’re using the app while collaborating with your colleagues (remember, you can securely share boards via QR codes in an encrypted fashion), upon synchronization, you will be able to track your co-workers’ progress as well, in case you are managing teams.

They can also contribute to other boards, if you are bouncing ideas back and forth, by populating a board destined for brainstorming.

How Kanbani can replace Evernote

…this particular stage is also the one where it can replace other third-party tools like Evernote. You no longer have to use another service in order to collect ideas and brainstorm. Whether that’s across the organization, or individually, you can easily create a board with items that are yet unclear whether they’ll materialize in something or will get ditched, or even postponed.

A typical usage scenario in our case would be editors’ jotting down ideas for editorials and general coverage, our SEO team would filter through it initially to find the best opportunities, and the publication leader would then decide who does what and when by assigning those tasks back to the editors.

How Kanbani replaced my Calendar

I’ve got two calendars in my life: a work calendar (that’s green) and a private calendar (that’s blue). For the week I’ve migrated to Kanbani because of its timeline representation of tasks, which is pretty much how I use the Calendar app.

By using color labels you can define as many color codes as you would like. I kept the green and blue approach but added a red label for stuff that should take priority over anything else on said day.

Conclusion

I’ll list some of the reasons you should take a look at Kanbani. You have absolutely nothing to lose! It’s not only free, but it’s ad-free. It’s privacy-oriented (you don’t need to sign up, create users, etc.), and sharing is QR code-based with encryption. It’s secure, as in you and your team have the option of hosting the boards on your own secure servers, or even decide to take it offline and maintain most of the functionalities. It might improve your productivity by replacing several different tools you’re currently using, by bringing them under the same umbrella.

Try for free

You can download Kanbani from the developer’s website, XDA Developers, GitHub, from the Google Play Store, as well as from the AppGallery

We thank PDApps for sponsoring this article!

The post How I used Kanbani for a week to boost my productivity appeared first on Pocketnow.

Meet Kanbani and how it can boost your productivity

The word “kanban” means “billboard” in Japanese. In the 1950s, Toyota implemented it as a business strategy in order to facilitate and optimize manufacturing.

The principles of kanban are basic and easy to understand. The billboard, or, think of it as a whiteboard, is divided into a number of columns, usually three, but could be more, with tasks being added. 

It could be as simple as To Do, In Progress, and Done. More sophisticated usage scenarios could add an additional column at the beginning, named Ideas for example, but every company has its own workflow, and the kanban can be fine-tuned to meet said specific needs.

Enter Kanbani, a free application by PDApps, which brings the kanban, and its concept, to the palm of your hand. Not only is it free but it is also 100% ad-free so your experience isn’t interrupted.

It is available to download from the developer’s website, XDA Developers, GitHub, from the Google Play Store, as well as from the AppGallery

Once installed, you’ll be greeted with the “Welcome” board. You can create as many boards as you want and later manage them, but we recommend you go through the initial board as it explains in detail how the app works and the concepts behind it.

The way I implemented it for my daily routine is this: I have three columns, called lists in the Kanbani application, named To Do, Doing, and Done. More on this, with details and examples, in an upcoming post.

The first one holds all of my tasks. Adding a particular task (called Card in the app) is as easy as pressing a button, adding a title, description, due date, with options to fine-tune with color codes in order to stand out or categorize. You also have the option to select which List it goes to. 

However, I started off by adding all of my tasks as cards in the To-Do list, with their due dates. Once that was done, I started moving them to the Doing list, for those which are in progress.

It’s as simple as that. You can choose to view cards as lists or a timeline, which is a nice representation of said cards in a calendar layout.

The app also allows you to share boards, as well as print them to PDF files or even import and export them to Excel.

While it works for individuals, you can also create, or join teams, in which case the boards will be synced. Sync options include WiFi, Bluetooth, e-mail, or Android Sharing, and all sync data is end-to-end encrypted (AES).

Furthermore, Kanbani also has a web interface and is not limited to the app on your smartphone. You can check out a demo version here. The benefits of using the web version include a better overview of your board, lists, and cards, as well as easier sharing among team members.

An internet connection is not always needed, as synchronization can occur at intervals, or you can work entirely offline, retaining most of the functionality. This means that your boards and tasks are private, and privacy is something Kanbani developers take seriously.

You don’t need to register or create accounts, which is, by itself, a privacy feature, and with encrypted sharing (all sharing is QR code-based), coupled with the ability to sync to your own server makes this one of the most, if not the most privacy-oriented to-do list app. 

Need more? PDApps enables you to download the APK directly from their website, in which case you’ll get the app with the Google Play Analytics code stripped. 

What’s even better is that Kanbani is completely free, with absolutely no strings attached.

Now that you’re familiar both with the concept of kanban and the Kanbani app, I’ll show you how I personally use it for my Pocketnow work in an upcoming Kanbani application.

We thank PDApps for sponsoring this article!

The post Meet Kanbani and how it can boost your productivity appeared first on Pocketnow.

Roborock’s versatile smart vacuum lineup is on sale during the Prime Days

The pandemic has forced most of us to stay home. While work from home can be fun for some, staying at home brings some errands that are not fun to do, especially mopping the floor. The more you stay at home, the dirtier the floor gets, the more you need to clean it. However, Roborock is adding the fun to home cleaning with its versatile range of smart vacuum cleaners. It offers a range of innovative solutions for different ways of cleaning. If you have been looking to get one, you are in luck. Roborock is offering discounts on its range as part of Amazon Prime Day deals. Here’s a closer look at what you can get during the sale.

Quick link to purchase at Amazon:
Buy the S6 MaxV
Buy the S5 Max
Buy the S6
Buy the E3

Roborock S6 MaxV

The Roborock S6 MaxV is the company’s flagship robot vacuum. It can recognize and avoid obstacles, which makes it the best option for floors that have a lot of furniture, homes with pets, or those that have toys lying around. The product comes equipped with dual cameras that are positioned alongside a LiDAR system, which enables the robot vacuum to navigate around obstacles including pet waste, scales (weighing), or shoes.

With its 2500Pa of suction, which offers 25% more suction power than its predecessor the S6, the S6 MaxV is Roborock’s most powerful vacuum cleaner ever launched, now picking up even finer dirt from hard floors and reaching deeper into carpets. The product is receiving a $150 discount and will be sold at $600 instead of $750 from October 13 – October 14. 

Buy on Amazon

Roborock S5 Max

The Roborock S5 Max is equipped with a 290ml water tank that can mop 2600 sqft space on a single charge. It is designed to customize water flow levels for different areas. A high-reliability electronic water pump, tested for over 1500 hours of use, gives you total control over water use and stops unwanted water flow from damaging floors. You can also start and stop cleanups using Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

It sports an advanced LiDAR navigation system with adaptive algorithms that help it move in Z-pattern. Plus, it is built for hard floors and carpets, which makes it perfect for the holiday season. It is receiving a 20% discount and will be available for $440 instead of $550 during the October 13-14 sale.

Buy on Amazon

Roborock S6

The Roborock S6 comes with SLAM navigation and proprietary mapping algorithms. Plus, it has 2000Pa of suction that is powered by a 32-bit quad-core processor. It makes the robot vacuum relatively quieter than its predecessor. It is an ideal option if you have a toddler at home or if you want your machine to do the job quietly. Moreover, the device features the largest battery in its class, a 5200mAH lithium-ion powerhouse, drives the S6 for up to 3-hours.

The water flow is adjustable so mopping can be tailored to fit different homes. Further, the key parts are easily detachable for easy maintenance and cleaning. It will be the deal of the day from October 13, 10PM to October 14, 10PM Pacific Time. The robot vacuum will be made available for a discount of $230 and will sell for $420 instead of the regular price of $650.

Buy on Amazon

Roborock E3

The Roborock E3 features a high-precision dual-gyroscope inertial navigation system. The motion tracking sensors identify areas that have been cleaned, reducing repetition or missed spots. It detects obstacles and decelerates in advance to minimize the impact on furniture and walls. The device also comes with a powerful 2000pa suction and can clean carpets by automatically switching to maximum power. 

There are thirteen sensor types that collaborate to give the E3 fall avoidance, surface awareness, collision sensitivity, escape route calculation, and more. Moreover, it recharges automatically when the battery is low and returns after charging to continue where it left off. It will be the deal of the day from October 13, 10PM to October 14, 10PM Pacific Time. The device will sell for $224 instead of $340, which translates to a whopping 34% discount.

Buy on Amazon

We thank Roborock for sponsoring this article!

The post Roborock’s versatile smart vacuum lineup is on sale during the Prime Days appeared first on Pocketnow.

Roborock announces the vacuum-only S4 Max: smarter and more efficient than last time!

Having owned two Roborock robotic vacuum cleaners, the S5 Max and the S6 MaxV, it is really easy to get used to the convenience it offers and the value it adds to my life, by saving me precious time. 

Both aforementioned models offer a vacuuming and mopping combination, but now the company is preparing to launch a model for those who are only interested in the vacuuming capability. 

Whether you want to mop up yourself or skip mopping altogether, the key is to have a clean and dust-free surface, whether that’s wooden floor, tiles, or carpets.

Enter the new Roborock S4 Max, the latest addition to the robotic vacuum cleaner line-up, dedicated exclusively to vacuuming. Being a Roborock product, you can expect top-notch performance both when it comes to navigation, vacuuming power, and battery life. 

Equipped with the company’s LIDAR navigation system, it makes sure to get the job done efficiently, with fewer passes and misses. It does so by mapping out your home constantly with the help of laser beams that revolve at 300RPM. This way your rooms are not only accurately mapped and recognized but said maps are constantly updated with every pass.

With a suction power of 2,000Pa, coupled with a floating main brush that adapts its height, and automatic carpet recognition that boosts power accordingly, the S4 Max makes sure that it thoroughly cleans any surface.

Its 5,200mAh battery ensures 150 minutes of operation, which is good for homes roughly 250 square meters large. With a large, 460ml dust bin, you don’t have to constantly empty it after every pass or every room, and thanks to the HEPA E11 filter, which is washable, 95 percent of particles, like pet dander and mold, are being captured.

While the robot does the actual job, it’s the application that lets you truly unleash the capabilities of the S4 Max. Once the first pass is done, and your home is mapped for the first time, you can define your rooms inside the app. 

With automatic room recognition, the S4 Max can identify every room inside your house, allowing you to customize not only the order in which they will be vacuumed but also the suction power, to best suit the floor types you have. Automatic carpet detection ensures proper cleanup by boosting the power when carpets are detected.

Should you have multiple levels in your home, you simply put the S4 Max on the desired level, without the need to manually select the floor inside the application. 

One of the conveniences of having a robotic vacuum cleaner, like the S4 Max, is the ability to set up schedules. For instance, in my particular case, I have it set to vacuum every other day at 8 AM, when I’m at the gym so that by the time I get back home, it has finished vacuuming the entire place.

But you can have an even higher degree of control over scheduling inside the app. For instance, you can set up kitchen and hallway vacuuming every day, and another schedule (like every other day) for the bedroom, or twice a day for the living room.

By defining specific zones, the S4 Max can only vacuum a specific part, or several parts of a room, without going through the entire place. You can see specific usage scenarios in our Roborock S6 MaxV review here.

With the new S4 Max, Roborock has something to offer for everyone. If you only need the convenience of a vacuum, without the need for it to mop up, definitely check out the S4 Max.

It is available starting today, October 9, and goes for $429. If you’re a busy professional or are just tired of walking around and vacuuming yourself, definitely give the S4 Max a shot!

We thank Roborock for sponsoring this article!

The post Roborock announces the vacuum-only S4 Max: smarter and more efficient than last time! appeared first on Pocketnow.