How to Quickly Ripen Bananas at Home

You're all set to make your world-famous chocolate-banana babka: The oven's preheated, your mise en place is ready and, to be honest, you're really just craving dessert. The only problem: Your bananas aren't ripe yet. Have no fear. Here's how to quickly ripen bananas three different ways.

RELATED: How to Freeze Bananas for Future Deliciousness

A quick stint in the oven speeds up the ripening process. Like avocados, bananas give off ethylene gas, which is typically released slowly. Add heat to the equation and the ripening process gets sped way up. The bananas will turn black in the oven, so this method is best if you're cooking or baking with them—the heat will bring out all their sugar.

Preheat the oven to 250°F.

Place the bananas on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the bananas and incorporate into your recipe.

This kitchen appliance was *made* for last-minute projects. If you have a bunch of hard bananas and a sudden hankering for banana bread, a quick zap in the microwave will do the trick. This method works best with partially-ripe fruit.

Take a fork and poke holes all over an unpeeled banana.

Place the banana on a microwave-safe plate or paper towel. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Remove if it's to your desired softness. If it's not, continue to microwave the banana in 30-second intervals until it's to your liking.

It all comes down to gas. As bananas ripen, the peels release ethylene. The more concentrated contact the banana has with the gas, the quicker it'll ripen. Enter this paper bag hack, which traps ethylene inside and speeds ripening. If you want to make it even faster (like overnight), add another fruit that releases ethylene to the bag, like an avocado or apple. Whatever you do, don't use a plastic bag—it doesn't let enough oxygen in, so it can actually slow the ripening process. This method is great if you know you'll need a ripe banana in advance; it'll take about one to three days depending on the banana's initial ripeness.

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Place a banana in a paper bag.

Close the bag loosely and let it sit at room temperature for 24 hours.

Once the banana is yellow and soft, remove it and enjoy. You may need to wait an additional 24 or 48 hours for it to be ripe.

More Tips on Ripening Bananas

Always leave green bananas in a bunch. The more bananas, the more ethylene gas and the quicker they'll ripen.

Underripe bananas can also be helped along by being kept in a fruit bowl with pears, apples and other fruits that release ethylene.

Storing underripe bananas in a warm place like on top of the fridge, in front of a sunny window or near a heater can help them yellow in 24 to 48 hours.

Tips for Avoiding Over-Ripening

Once they're yellow, separate them to avoid brown spots and speedy browning. Turn to the fridge once they're at ideal ripeness to keep them that way for longer.

If you've already separated the bananas and they're ripe or browning, wrap each of their stems tightly with plastic wrap. This will isolate the ethylene gas and slow the ripening process so you get to actually eat them before they turn dark and mushy.

To store a partially-eaten banana, no matter the ripeness, cover the opened end of the banana with plastic wrap to seal the stem and any split in the peel. Then, place it in an airtight container in the crisper drawer of your fridge for one to two days.

If you have too many ripe bananas and too little time, fear not. There's always the freezer. For bananas at their peak, peel them and freeze in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. If they've already started to brown, first peel and slice the bananas into rounds. Line a baking sheet with the slices in a single layer and freeze until solid, about 2 hours. Then, store the slices in freezer bags for up to three months.

Ready to cook? Here are a few of our favorite recipes that call for bananas.

RELATED: How to Store Bananas so You Never Have to Miss the (Banana) Boat on Your Favorite Fruit

How To Ripen Bananas

Online appliance scam uses Walmart addresses in Durham Chapel Hill BBB finds

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Online businesses that claim to be based in the Triangle are advertising home appliances at a discounted rate, but customers report they never received what they paid for.

Troubleshooter Diane Wilson tracked down the issues and dug into what was really going on.

From coffee makers to microwaves, toaster ovens, a variety of kitchen appliances are sold on multiple websites with the same web design template.

A convection and air fry smart oven on www.OvenDeals.com caught Dan Ogden's attention.

"I actually can't believe I didn't check it out first but I guess at that particular moment, it seemed like a good price. We've been waiting to get that oven for a while, so I thought I'm just going to buy it," Ogden said.

He paid $279 through PayPal for the oven, and after getting a confirmation of his order, he emailed the website to see when his oven would ship.

"Immediately got the response 'email address not found,' and at that point, I realized it was a scam," Ogden said.

Odgen is not alone, the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is investigating OvenDeals.com as well as xrobocleaner.com, CoffeeGuuru.com, Vacuumsspot.com, Gocoffeemaker.com, Shopcoffeemaker.com, Cafeeureka.com, and Dysonguru.com after they received consumer reports through BBB Scam Tracker and their complaint form.

The reports claim customers are paying for products and services and not receiving them. There are multiple websites that fit this same web design template.

"There's a number of websites that are all connected, and it's offering really great deals like appliances that are you know really expensive, and it's like half price or a third of the price of what they typically would be," Alyssa Parker with the BBB said.

One red flag the addresses listed on these websites are all Walmart locations, not the actual location of these businesses. Plus, the phone numbers listed go to a Google Voice account.

OvenDeals.com uses a Durham Walmart address (5450 New Hope Commons Dr. Durham, NC 27707)

CoffeeGuuru.com website is currently down.

Xrobocleaner.com was using an Erwin, NC Walmart address, but the website is currently down.

Vacuumsspot.com uses a Goldsboro Walmart address (4350 US-70 E. Goldsboro, NC 27534)

Gocoffeemaker.com uses a Chapel Hill Walmart address (12500 US Hwy 15 501 N, Chapel Hill, NC 27517)

Coffeeeureka.com uses a Cameron, NC Walmart Address (2800 NC-24 #87 Cameron, NC 28326)

Dysonguru.com uses a Dublin, GA Walmart address (2423 U.S. 80 W, Dublin, GA 31021)

Shopcoffeemaker.com uses an Indianapolis, IN Walmart Address (7245 US 31 S, Indianapolis, IN 46227

Parker says the BBB reached out to the businesses about the customer complaints, but have not gotten a response."Unfortunately, it's getting people, and they're losing a lot of money to it," Parker said.

Troubleshooter Diane Wilson reached out to OvenDeals.com through email, but it came back as undeliverable. By phone, she could only leave a voicemail, and no one ever returned that voicemail.

When it comes to Dan Ogden and the product he paid for but never got from OvenDeals.com, he said, "I don't think they had any intention of getting you the product they had on there."

He said he's learned his lesson that no matter how good the deal, he will always research the company before clicking buy. Ogden did dispute the charge through PayPal and says a refund is now processing.

The Troubleshooter Takeaways are to always pay with a credit card so you can dispute it if you don't get what you paid for, also Check BBB.org to see past complaints, reviews, or alerts on a company.

Copyright © 2020 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

How To Buy Anything From USA To India or Any Country - My Real Experience

Carlos Santana’s ‘Stunning’ Home Is for Sale for $3 Million

Nearly a year and a half after purchasing a home in Anahola on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Carlos Santana is looking to sell it for $2.995 million, $300,000 more than he paid for it in February 2019.

The listing is held by Harvest Edmonds of Emerald Isle Properties, who notes that the "stunning home" sits on 1.48-acres on a hill that offers views of the ocean from its three bedrooms. Edmonds mentions that it's currently owned by the Santana guitarist, adding that it "captured his heart when he first moved to Kauai." When Santana bought the place, it was learned that the house's name is Nohona Ke Moe'uhane, which translates to "memories you'll treasure for the rest of your life."

The 3,938-square-foot home sits at the end of a long, palm-lined driveway, which is accessible via gated entry. The three bedrooms each have an en suite bathroom and open up to the outside, where a 1,313-square-foot deck -- newly refurbished deck with Ipe wood -- features a six-person jacuzzi, a blue glass fire pit, plenty of space for entertaining and a brief walk to the beach. A guest cottage, complete with its own spa and lanai, adds another bedroom and bathroom.

Floor-to-ceiling windows line the living room, which the Los Angeles Times says has exposed beams and clerestories, and the gourmet kitchen contains an island with a six-burner stove, stainless steel appliances and solid granite countertops. You can see pictures of the property below.

Santana had planned to tour this summer, with support from Earth, Wind & Fire. But as with everything else in the music industry this year, it has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rancho Santana Ocean Front Home

Toshiba launches 2020-21 range of home appliances in first ever nationwide virtual event

The new range launched during the virtual event includes a multi-door refrigerator, two-door refrigerators with top freezer, washer dryers, front-loading and top-loading washing machines, and water purifiers."Toshiba has always been known for providing technologically-advanced high-quality home appliances. The launch of our 2020-21 range of refrigerators, washing machines, washer-dryers, and water purifiers is a testament to Toshiba's strong commitment to satisfy the varied needs of our Indian consumers," said Pranab Mohanty, Vice President, Toshiba Home Appliance Business, speaking at the occasion."Currently, these products are manufactured at and sourced from Toshiba global factories. To support our commitment towards the government's Make-in-India mission, we soon plan to manufacture Toshiba brand products in India at the 'Toshiba Manufacturing Complex' located at SUPA Pune," he said.Governed by the Japanese Takumi spirit, Toshiba 2020-21 range of home appliances is designed, engineered, and manufactured with uncompromising attention to the details that matter most to people. To complement consumers' home decor, the new range perfectly amalgamates design with functionality, giving it a very elegant look and fit with the modern room interiors."Our new range of home appliances is an embodiment of Toshiba's meticulous product quality and design, guided by the Japanese 'Takumi' philosophy centered in the highest level of craftsmanship," added Mohanty.The brand promise of delivering crafted breakthrough home solutions with heartfelt details that make a (big) difference, is engrained in the new brand slogan #DetailsMatter.Showcasing the unique product elements that have been designed and developed keeping customers' conveniences at the core, #DetailsMatter campaign will entail a complete 360-degree sales and marketing program.Henceforth, all Toshiba home appliances communication materials from packaging to commercials will always adorn the hashtag #DetailsMatter.Toshiba Multi-Door Refrigerator GR-RF646WE-PGIThe new multi-door Toshiba refrigerator is one of the most innovative, spacious, and technologically advanced refrigerators, designed carefully keeping in mind the Indian consumers' storage needs and their evolving lifestyle. The 650 litre four-door refrigerator is a masterpiece with a luxurious design and glass door finish.It comes with the iconic convert zone feature, that offers complete flexibility to the consumers to transform one of the 91 Litre bottom-mounted freezer units into a mini-fridge. With a touch of a button, customers can expand the refrigerator's capacity by almost 15 per cent and adjust temperatures setting from -18°c to 7°c to store vegetables, fruits, fish, and meat within the same space.There are additional intelligent features to keep the freshness inside the fridge intact for longer like 3 System Cooling that boasts of three independent cooling systems delivering fast and efficient cooling to each compartment and avoiding mixing of odor, allowing consumers to avoid cross-contamination of food.The Plasma+ Pure Deodorizer deactivates bacteria, removes bad odor, and keeps the inner surrounding clean and healthy by purifying the cool air.Each and every Corner of this masterpiece has been utilized effectively there are 26 Spatial Compartments to cater to everyone's storage needs.Featuring a Smart Digital Touch control to maintain desired temperatures in all compartments and an even cooling all the time, the Toshiba multi-door refrigerator is priced at Rs 149,990 and is available in an elegant Blue Glass finish.Toshiba 2-Door Refrigerator GR-AG66INAIntroducing the distinctive Automatic Ice Maker feature in this category, Toshiba two-Door Refrigerator comes with many innovative features that ensure freshness, convenience and hygiene in the fridge. With Auto Ice Maker Function, consumers can get many ice cubes at once without any hassles.The 661 litre refrigerator incorporates Cool Air Wrap System that circulates pure and Fresh air to the corners of the fridge using multiple vents. The Ag+ (Silver nano) Crisper contains the Ag plus ions that restricts bacterial growth keeping groceries fresh for a longer period.Toshiba's patented LED Hybrid Deodorizer uses two catalysts filters that decompose different types of odor and a LED/UV light to restrain bacteria growth inside the refrigerator, keeping the food items fresh and healthy for longer periods.The Ultra-Fresh Zone in the refrigerator gives the flexibility of adjusting temperature setting up to -3°c, giving an additional advantage of storing food at lower temperatures, apart from using it as a normal chiller zone. This elegant looking Model hosts a Touch Control at the freezer door to make it convenient for consumers to adjust freezer temperature and choose from different modes. Available in Gradient Blue and Black color options, this 661 L model is priced at Rs 83,990.The two-door Refrigerator range includes 6 models with 12 variants of SKUs from the capacity 252 litre to 661 litre with the price range between Rs 27,000 and Rs 85,000.All Toshiba refrigerators come with Real INVERTERTM technology to ensure optimum energy consumption translating into energy savings of 20 per cent, and a ten-year compressor warranty.Toshiba Washing MachinesThe 2020-21 range of Toshiba washing machines include 4 top-loading and 6 front-loading SKUs starting from 7 kg up to 9 Kg ranging between Rs 21,000 and Rs 80,000.The new Toshiba Washing Machine range adopts safety and humanized design and is aimed to provide exclusive laundry care for your family. The new range also houses the Real INVERTER™ motor that is quieter, more efficient, durable and more stable than a conventional motor.Toshiba Front-loading Washing Machine is one of a kind and works by the phenomenon of The Great Waves technology that uses both Flush Wave and Color Alive that saves time, money and protects your laundry. It gets the washing done in one go for easy and hassle-free lifestyle with both the washer and dryer at same capacity.The front-loading washing machines are designed with Anti-Bacterial Gasket that avoids damp or unpleasant smell when opening the front load door and prevents formation of molds and mildew on the gasket surface. The Drum Clean feature thoroughly cleans the drum with high temperature water, without using any harsh chemicals. Priced at Rs 35,990 onwards the front-loading washing machine models are available in white and dark grey colors.The Top-loading washing machines feature 'No Angular Design' - a rounded corner design that prevents accidental injury or scratching during operation. The transparent glass lid with a bearing load of 100kg is enhanced with Silk Pattern looks aesthetically pleasing, leaving no water residue on inner lid. The 43-degree Soft Closed Lid design ensures the lid drops down constant slowly and closes safely.The Easy Kit multi-functional detergent box provides a separate container for softener, liquid detergent and washing powder, and the siphon cap structure ensures thorough mixing of water and detergent to enhance washing performance significantly.Using the three waterfalls and water flow from 864 water holes, the GREATWAVES™ function creates three different types of waves the No Wrap Flow to avoid tangling of laundry, Upper Push Flow to enhance contact surface of laundry in the tub, and Spring Flow to avoid excessive wear of laundry.Toshiba Washer-DryerThe 11 kg front-load washer-dryer houses Real INVERTER™ motor, and is powered by the GREATWAVES™ technology. This model is also designed with Anti-Bacterial Gasket and the Cyclone Mix technology improves washing performance by using an impeller that is implanted in the drawer which increases detergent dissolution by 20 per cent. Priced at Rs 79,990 the washer-dryer also has a LED Drum Light for better viewing of clothes during washing or drying.Toshiba Water PurifiersToshiba Water Purifiers range for 2020-21 includes 4 SKUs featuring a UV Shield that kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria in the water using a cold cathode UV lamp, which is a last point purification ensuring purity till last drop; a Smart Interactive Display that informs consumer about filter replacement, water level inside the tank, service reminder and UV function Highlighter; and a Replaceable Tank design with choices of a stainless steel or plastic tank.The Black Mirror Finish RO+UV variant N1748T1 (K) comes with a Stainless steel tank and White color RO+UV variant N1748T1 (W) with a plastic tank, these models are available at Rs 27,990 and Rs 24,990 respectively, the Green RO series N1748TNF-IND(W) which is suited for low TDS input water retails at Rs 23,990.Toshiba also has added new UF + UV variant in its range this year suited for areas where input TDS is upto 250 PPM, this model is priced at Rs 14,990.The complete Toshiba Water Purifier Range promises purity till last drop.Along with customer inspired innovations, Toshiba also ensures robust after sales services through a wide network of service centers to ensure ease and availability for its customers. In 2020, the brand strives to further strengthen its services across categories along with a stronger dealers' base across India through an extensive retail network of large format stores, multi-brand outlets and a robust dealer network across India.At present, the company has a strong network of dealers across India and robust after sales services through its strong service footprint in the country. In addition to the 476+ service centres, the brand has also introduced Toshiba Care, a tollfree service support where customers can directly connect on the number - 18004191111.This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

Micromax Environ Series - Quad Air Protection

How to keep yourself safe from a lightning strike in your home

NEW ORLEANS– It is National Lightning Safety Awareness Week and just yesterday lightning crashed into two homes in the Seventh Ward.

WGNO's Kenny Lopez takes a look at some things homeowners can do to keep themselves safe from lightning strikes.

In a storm lightning can strike at any time, and Jyvone Lewis found out just how unpredictable lightning can be first-hand.

"I never thought a house could get struck by lightning like it did. I never thought I'd wake up and hear what sounded like an explosion hit," Lewis said.

There are some ways to stay safe if lightning strikes in your home, and WGNO's Chief Meteorolgist Hank Allen explains.

"Stay away from windows, stay away from any metal that would conduct electricity if lightning would strike your house. You want to take away anything that would conduct electricity, so avoid water and appliances, and avoid using the computer. Not too many people have landline phones with cords, but you'd want to avoid that as well," he said.

Hank also said it is important to remember to avoid running water like doing the dishes, and taking showers during thunderstorms.

"Obviously something that is hand-held like your cell phone you'll be o.k., but the only thing to fully protect your appliances would be to un-plug them if you knew thunderstorms were coming in," Allen said.

The safest place to be during thunderstorms is the most inside area of your home or downstairs.

"The weird thing about lightning is you don't know where it'll go, but it does like to travel in the easiest way possible," he said.

Hank also said to remember to stay off balconies, porches, out of car ports, and make sure to stay away from concrete walls and floors.

There were no injuries in the lightning strike in the Seventh Ward yesterday.

Lightning photography in this story provided by WGNO News Director Rick Erbach.

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Suggest a Correction Share this story More News Stories Louisiana state leaders pushing for more contact tracing and new strategies. by Peyton LoCicero / Jun 23, 2020 NEW ORLEANS, La. (WGNO)- Senator Bill Cassidy is addressing all the hot button topics that are on everyone's minds, from Covid-19 clusters, contact tracing to testing and strategies. Let the countdown clock begin…again. We have 27 days left in phase two. Read the Full Article Second stimulus check: Kudlow says possible checks should go to people 'most in need' by Nexstar Media Wire / Jun 23, 2020 WASHINGTON -- Larry Kudlow, who serves as director of the White House National Economic Council, told Fox News Business on Tuesday the Trump administration is actively considering another wave of stimulus checks that will be the subject of debate in Congress next month. Kudlow said there will be a "healthy discussion" after the July 4 recess "about the next move regarding economic policy." He said he thinks "tax rebates or the direct mail checks" are being considered, but he said he believes the government should target out-of-work Americans. Read the Full Article What's going on with the fireworks in New York City? by Nexstar Media Wire / Jun 23, 2020 NEW YORK CITY - The Fourth of July is still over a week away, but in many cities it seems the celebrations have already arrived. New York City in particular has seen an eruption of pyrotechnics, a constant booming night after night. Read the Full Article Top Stories Louisiana state leaders pushing for more contact tracing and new strategies. Second stimulus check: Kudlow says possible checks should go to people 'most in need' What's going on with the fireworks in New York City? Bad times are good for this guy's business Couple weds to get around U.S.-Canada border closure Walmart will stop displaying Mississippi flag at its stores New Orleans Public Schools plan to begin reopening during the first week of August Senators prepare for 2nd wave of coronavirus 4th victim in north Charlotte block party shootout dies, family says Barcelona opera house reopens for audience of 2,292 plants Infectious disease experts address Congress as coronavirus cases surge across the U.S. NOPD searching for man who exposed himself at Parisite Skate park Read more stories More Stories Tracking the Tropics, Week 4: Saharan dust blankets Caribbean as Tropical Storm Dolly forms in the northern Atlantic Louisiana medical marijuana grower says it will cut prices 'Dead zone' task force states getting $840,000 from EPA Jimmy Kimmel apologizes for use of blackface in sketches Read more stories Forecast Current 78° Few Clouds Tonight 72° Scattered Thunderstorms Precip: 50% Tomorrow 86° Scattered thunderstorms possible Precip: 60% Popular Cooper urges St. Tammany residents to do their part to halt the spread of COVID-19 Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of teenage girl in Meraux New Orleans Public Schools plan to begin reopening during the first week of August Video New Orleans' immigrant workers impacted by COVID-19 to receive $750K in financial relief June 25 & 26 – Free coronavirus testing in St. Bernard Second stimulus check: Trump says 'very generous' payments could be announced soon NOPD searching for man who exposed himself at Parisite Skate park Latest News Louisiana state leaders pushing for more contact tracing and new strategies. News / 2 hours ago Second stimulus check: Kudlow says possible checks should go to people 'most in need' News / 2 hours ago What's going on with the fireworks in New York City? News / 2 hours ago Video How to keep yourself safe from a lightning strike in your home News / 2 hours ago Video Bad times are good for this guy's business Local / 3 hours ago Video Couple weds to get around U.S.-Canada border closure News / 3 hours ago Video More News

How to Survive a Lightning Strike

Home Tours: Inside a Stunning $14.5 Million LA Estate That Doubles as a Zen Retreat

Click here to read the full article.

As the name would suggest, Los Angeles' Hidden Hills is rife with homes that are bona fide enclaves in their own right. The neighborhood borders the similarly tony area of Calabasas. In the heart of Hidden Hills lies a newly built, enviable 13,500-square-foot mansion on a full acre for $14.5 million.

The home was built in a fresh, contemporary style with a vaulted ceiling. It's a ranch house at its core, with a sprawling great room and kitchen that takes up the bulk of the main floor. The kitchen, in particular, is kitted out with Gaggenau appliances and a walk-in pantry as well as a separate walk-in refrigerator for storage. It looks out upon the grounds and outdoor pool, letting the natural light in and blending elements of both indoor and outdoor living.

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It was developed by Legacy Estates LA, who built the mansion with both form and function and mind. "They're known for mixing sensational and forward-thinking aesthetics with incredible functionality," listing agent Tomer Fridman tells Robb Report. "Because at the end of the day we want to live in a beautiful house, not just have a beautiful house that's not livable."

Fridman gave us the full tour of the Jed Smith Road address in a recent episode of "Robb Report Home Tours."

Elsewhere on the first floor is the master bedroom, which occupies an entire wing of the house. Just before you enter the suite is a meditation area with a small zen garden. There's direct access to the pool and a private backyard from the master, further bringing the landscape indoors, should you so choose.

The master bath has a large steam shower, plus dual closets—each equipped with a Laundry Jet system, which eliminates the need for hampers in the home and is a modern update on the charming but practical historic laundry chute concept. A small hole in the wall, the Laundry Jet seamlessly transports your clothes to one of the property's three laundry rooms. Each of the home's eight bedrooms has one.

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The basement houses the home's many amenities, including a gym, movie theater, temperature-controlled wine cellar and underground garage with a carousel for showing off your favorite marques.

But if you'd rather spend time outside with guests, there's a covered outdoor living room space just off the pool that has its own dishwasher, refrigerator and bar, so you won't have to run back into the house to get anything.

In short, it's a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. For a closer look, check out more photos of the Jed Smith Road address, below:

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Mel Gibson's $29.75million Costa Rican jungle estate

Home sale prices from Contra Costa County June 20

117 Laurelwood Drive, Danville; $2.25 million; 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms in 4,719 square feet; built in 1992 on 0.55 acres; the home, located in the Northridge Estates neighborhood, is recently upgraded; cherry hardwood is located throughout the first floor, with custom tile designs; other upgrades include custom moldings and arched doorways; each bedroom has en-suite bathrooms with travertine tile floors and marble counter space; one bedroom and bathroom are located on the first floor; office boasts garden view and custom hardwood shelving; open kitchen includes marble counters, custom cabinets with glass-top enclosure, and top-of-the-line appliances such as a six-burner stove and a wine fridge; upgraded backyard features a pool and a spa.

Click here to view transactions from previous weeks.

June 2020 East Bay Real Estate Weather Report

Don’s Appliances Teams Up With Habitat For Humanity To Help Those In Need

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Don's Appliances is partnering with Habitat For Humanity in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Until yesterday, Don's Appliances would deliver new refrigerators for free, that way the old ones could find a new home.

Today, Don's donated the appliances to the ReStore home in Swissvale.

"The products that we received from them, the appliances, are very important as one of our highest-selling products in that we have in our ReStore," said Dr. Howard Slaughter, the president and CEO of Habitat For Humanity of Greater Pittsburgh. "We're excited because these products will be purchased by families who will then put these products in their homes and this is a way for us to help the community.

The proceeds will benefit Habitat For Humanity's homeownership and repair programs.

Property Brothers and Habitat for Humanity team up for affordable housing

2 Homer Glen men charged after identity theft investigation involving Lake Forest man and $1 million worth of tractors appliances

Jamelle McBride, 32, and Brendan Butler, 22, both of the 16000 block of Josef Drive, Homer Glen, were taken into custody June 17 at their home after an investigation that began in June 2018 when a Lake Forest resident informed police of an identity theft, Lake Forest police said.

Unsolved Mysteries with Robert Stack - Season 2 Episode 7 - Full Episode

Doris Day’s Former 1920s Beverly Hills Home Sells

The former Beverly Hills home of the late Doris Day has a new owner. The contemporary-style dwelling, which Day owned for several decades, was originally built in 1922 and sits on two thirds of an acre in the Beverly Hills Flats neighborhood. According to the Los Angeles Times, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom house sold for $11.025 million, substantially less than the $14.5 million asking price, but still a considerable bump above the $6.5 million the actress sold it for in 2006.

The single-story residence still maintains much of its original ritzy, elegant charm, with such detailing as beamed ceilings, wainscoting, crown molding, and numerous crystal chandeliers throughout. Measuring 4,300 square feet, the home is flooded with natural light and features a combination living and dining room with glass doors that open directly out to the backyard brick patio. An upgraded kitchen boasts a La Cornue range and sleek stainless steel appliances.

The master suite also has direct access to the backyard, which features a large swimming pool, an outdoor fireplace, an expansive lawn, a sports court, and plenty of space for outdoor dining and entertaining. Day and her then-husband and manager, Marty Melcher, bought the home together in the 1950s, while Day was gaining fame in Hollywood with such hit films as Love Me or Leave Me and Lover Come Back. Day passed away last spring at the age of 97.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

#625 INSIDE Tour of BARBARA STANWYCK & JACK OAKIE Empty House! - Jordan The Lion (4/23/2018)

Should you buy cheap home appliances from Asda?

If you're popping to Asda for your weekly food shop, you might be tempted to make a detour to the home appliance aisle to pick up a cheap vacuum cleaner, toaster or kettle.

With own-brand kettles and toasters for less than £20, and a cordless vacuum cleaner costing just £60 (a whopping £174 less than the average price of the cordless vacuums we've tested) they're certainly a tempting prospect.

These appliances look cheap and cheerful, but while some are bargain Best Buys that give pricier brands a real run for their money, others are so bad we've had to label them Don't Buys to avoid.

We've rounded up the latest Asda gadgets to go through our tough lab tests, so you can find the great-value options worth snapping up – and the ones best left on the shelves.

Kitchen appliance reviews – get our independent verdict on everything from air fryers to coffee machines

Asda vacuum cleaners Goblin GSV401W Foldable 2-in-1 Cordless Stick,  £60

If Dyson is the iPhone of the cordless vacuum cleaner world, then this Goblin is an entry-level Nokia. It's a fraction of the price of the cheapest cordless Dyson though – the Dyson V7 starts from around £200.

It may not have the cool factor, but it's got a few handy features you might not expect on such a cheap model, including a pull-out handheld vacuum and a combined dusting brush and crevice tool for smaller cleaning jobs around the house.

The foldable neck (something Dyson has only recently added to its stick vac designs) makes it easy to reach under coffee tables, and at 2.4kg it's nice and light, so you shouldn't have to strain to push it over your carpets.

It runs for longer than some cheap models, but does it actually bust the dust? Read our full Goblin GSV401W Foldable 2-in1 Stick cordless vacuum cleaner review to find out.

Asda Goblin corded vacuum cleaner, £23

One enthusiastic shopper caused a stir last year when she declared her new cheap Goblin vacuum to be 'better than a Dyson'. Naturally, we decided to get some Asda vacuums to our independent lab to see whether there were bargains waiting to be discovered.

The brand's latest corded stick model, the Goblin GSV101B-19, is astonishingly cheap, at just £23, and combines the lightweight convenience of a stick-style vacuum with the uninterrupted run-time of a corded vacuum.

It's rare that a vacuum cleaner that's this cheap impresses in our test labs, though. Could this one buck the trend?

Find out how it fared in our comparative tests, which put every vacuum through the same series of challenges to find the best, by checking the full Asda Goblin GSV1010B-19 vacuum cleaner review.

Best cordless vacuums and best corded vacuums – see our top picks for cleaning, allergen retention and ease of use

Asda kettles Asda George Home Kettle GPK201C-19, £12

Kettles rarely come much cheaper than this simple plastic Asda model. It's very light, at just 0.7kg, and has capacity for 1.7 litres of water (pretty standard for a kettle), making around six to seven cups of tea in one go.

It comes with a two-year warranty and, seeing as most kettles break down in the first two years of ownership, according to Which? research, this is a pretty good deal.

We love how light and balanced it feels in your hand, but is it also quick, quiet and efficient enough to be a true bargain? Check the full Asda George Home Kettle GPK201C-19 review to find out.

Asda George Home Fast Boil Kettle GJK401MP-19, £20

Since Pantone named rose quartz as its 'Colour of the Year' in 2016, pale pink has been a popular feature in home decor. This pink and chrome kettle offers a bit of added pizzazz without breaking the bank.

Like the Asda George Home Kettle, it holds 1.7 litres and comes with a two-year manufacturer guarantee.

It's really easy to see the water level through the clear window, but not everything was quite so rosy in our tests. Get the lowdown on this kettle in our Asda George Home Fast Boil GJK401MP-19 review.

Kettle reviews – find your perfect match with our independent reviews of hundreds of kettles

Asda toasters Asda George Home GPT101C-19 Toaster, £11

Breakfast sets can be pricey, so you'll be pleased to know that buying this cream toaster and its matching kettle (above) will leave you change from £25 – perfect if you're setting up home somewhere new and trying to keep costs down.

It has all the standard options to reheat toast, defrost bread and cancel the cycle, as well as seven browning settings for the pickiest of toast connoisseurs.

It's smart, compact and easy to use, but does it toast well? Read our Asda George Home GPT101C-19 Toaster review to find out if it's a golden (brown) ticket to top toast.

Asda George Home GST201B-19 Toaster, £18

This model is a little pricier than Asda's cheap cream toaster, but for this you get a stylish metal exterior and a high-lift lever, which crumpet lovers will find useful to stop their fingers getting singed when retrieving toasted treats.

It's quick to serve up slices, but does it toast them evenly?  Head to the full Asda George Home GST201B-19 Toaster review to find out.

Toaster reviews –  see our reviews of toasters from all the big brands, and supermarket offerings

Can cheap appliances compete with the big brands?

The price of gadgets such as kettles, vacuums and coffee machines can vary by hundreds of pounds. So is it ever worth buying at the lower end of the spectrum?

We test products at every price point, and time and again our testing has shown that price isn't a reliable indicator of performance. We've found ultra-cheap appliances that do a brilliant job, and pricey gadgets that fall far short of expectations.

However, cheaper products can be much more of a minefield, with plenty of mediocre or even downright terrible products sitting alongside the gems, so it pays to check our reviews first to find out which cheap gadgets will do you proud.

We also survey thousands of Which? members to find out which products last when you get them home. You can see how Asda home appliance owners rated the reliability in our guide to the best kettle brands and best toaster brands.

ASDA KITCHEN Appliances - February 2020

Why At Home Stock Surged Today

What happened

Shares of At Home (NYSE:HOME) surged today, finishing up 13.5% after a Wall Street analyst released a bullish research note on home-furnishing retailers. Separately, investors were also encouraged by fresh retail sales data released by the Commerce Department.

So what

Jefferies boosted its price targets on numerous home improvement and home-furnishing companies, including Lowe's, Home Depot, and Wayfair. The firm believes that the broad shift to remote work that COVID-19 is spurring may translate into a large number of people moving from urban cities to suburban areas, boosting homeownership in 2021. Those new homeowners are then expected to start buying more products to furnish those homes, particularly as homeowners tend to spend more on big-ticket purchases like appliances than renters.

Image source: Getty Images.

While At Home is not mentioned specifically in the research note to investors, the company would clearly benefit from those trends.

Now what

The Commerce Department also released monthly data regarding retail sales today, and the report showed that overall retail sales in the U.S. jumped 17.7% as more states move to reopen their economies. More specifically, seasonally adjusted retail sales for furniture and home furnishing stores soared by 90% to $7.7 billion in May, compared to $4.1 billion in sales in April.

Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, e-commerce companies have noted that demand for home furnishings has remained strong as consumers spend more time at home. In its annual report, At Home notes that it does "not currently engage in e-commerce," so it will rely predominantly on the return of retail customers as lockdown restrictions ease.

US Stocks Surge On Wall Street

Haier Smart Home Joins Hands with Ecosystem Players to Showcase Tomorrow's Smart Home at the 127th Canton Fair

On the opening day, Haier announced the achievements of its global roster of premium brands, which have registered growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic. It had also unveiled its Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem strategy, by featuring differentiated scenario-based solutions that tied together multiple products in an overall system, refreshing the conventional single product display. Haier's global ecosystem partners, customers, and users were invited to participate in the many digital events taking place over the course of the fair.

"Our Internet of things ecosystem is empowered by Haier's COSMOPlat platform," said Qingfu Zhang, VP of Haier Overseas Electric Appliances Corp. "On this platform, all parties can share resources, co-create, and interact with solutions to enhance quality, optimize resource allocation, and engage in digital transformation. Currently, the COSMOPlat platform boasts 340 million users, making it the world's largest mass customization solutions platform. We are thrilled that many consider COSMOPlat as the world's leading industrial Internet ecosystem brand, and it has even been selected as one of China's top 10 industrial Internet platforms by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology."

With this year's scenario-based presentations, Haier is offering participants a deeper look at its smart home solutions, through the lens of their Internet of things ecosystems. Through a livestream format, Haier distributors in seven countries and factories in six countries will explain the specific solutions, emphasize their localization and customization possibilities. Meanwhile, its sub-brands are also organizing their own digital experience zones. For example, AQUA is unveiling its Smart Community Laundromat as well as demonstrating the potential of its AQUA Cloud IoT ecosystem, while European e-commerce player AO will team up with seven executives to introduce their strategic cooperation in the refrigerator and washing machine categories.

***

About Haier

Founded on April 1989, Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (former Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., Shanghai: 600690) is the world's leading home appliance maker.The Company boasts seven world-class brands including Haier, Casarte, Leader, GE Appliances-US, Fisher & Paykel-New Zealand, AQUA-Japan, and Candy-Italy.

According to Euromonitor International's 2020 Global Major Appliances Brand Rankings, Haier's retail sales volume of large household appliances ranked the first in the world for 11 consecutive years. Haier Smart Home is also a Fortune Global 500 company.

Haier Smart Home focuses on the continuous improvements of the best user experience so as to provide consumers with smart home solutions, create full-scenario smart life experience, and offer design and function options customized for and by users.

For more information, visit: http://www.haier.net/en/

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1190630/warm_up_video_01___ecosystem.mp4

SOURCE Haier Smart Home

Обзор курса Разработка инновационных продуктов (русский перевод)

Haier's Five Global Brands to Share the Same Stage at 127th Canton Fair Bringing the Latest Smart Home Solutions to Global Customers

QINGDAO, China, June 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's leading home appliance brand and smart home ecosystem builder, Haier Smart Home ("Haier", Shanghai: 600690), announced that its five major brands, Haier, GE Appliances (US), Candy (Italy), AQUA (Japan) and Fisher & Paykel (Australia/New Zealand), will present at the 127th virtual Canton Fair to showcase the next-generation smart home solutions integrated with IoT. From Haier's factories to the showrooms based around the world, Haier will leverage the digital platform to introduce the upgrades for the products designed to achieve a full-scenario smart ecosystem.

The 127th Canton Fair will take on a whole new online format packed with remote solutions for product promotion, matchmaking and business negotiations. Haier is also accelerating the digital transformation to move its smart experience space to its online platform with the launch of Haier Smart Home App in 2019.

Together with Haier's global ecosystem partners, customers and users, Haier is set to invite the audience to witness the smart home solutions with the extensive functionality designed to create an all-around and interconnected ecosystem to fulfill the users' needs including cooking, living, clothing and entertainment.

"Haier has been working on digital services for years. The virtual Canton fair is the perfect opportunity to not only present our smart home solutions but also connect with customers," said Qingfu Zhang, VP of Haier Overseas Electric Appliances Corp., "With our online platform and professional broadcast team, Haier aims to transport viewers into the vision of future where the IoT powers the entire smart home ecosystem."

The second highlight of the exhibition is that Haier's five global brands, namely Haier, GE Appliances (US), Candy (Italy), AQUA (Japan), Fisher & Paykel (Australia/New Zealand), will share the same stage to bring the product portfolio tailored to the needs of users in different countries and regions.

For years, Haier, alongside its sub-brands, has gained a strong foothold in the global markets owing to its strong innovation and R&D capacity. Haier has also demonstrated strong resilience in the global markets despite the economic headwinds brought by the pandemic. In Q1 2020, Haier has maintained a leading position in its overseas market by achieving the 31% increase in sales.

"With our smart home solutions and localized services, we are committed to our vision of delivering green and healthy living for households around the world. From R&D and design to manufacturing and post-sale services, Haier has adopted the customer-centered approach to bring more values to our customers," said Zhang.

About Haier

Founded on April 1989, Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (former Qingdao Haier Co., Ltd., Shanghai: 600690) is the world's leading home appliance maker.The Company boasts seven world-class brands including Haier, Casarte, Leader, GE Appliances-US, Fisher & Paykel-New Zealand, AQUA-Japan, and Candy-Italy.

According to Euromonitor International's 2020 Global Major Appliances Brand Rankings, Haier's retail sales volume of large household appliances ranked the first in the world for 11 consecutive years. Haier Smart Home is also a Fortune Global 500 company.

Haier Smart Home focuses on the continuous improvements of the best user experience so as to provide consumers with smart home solutions, create full-scenario smart life experience, and offer design and function options customized for and by users.

For more information, visit: http://www.haier.net/en/

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/haiers-five-global-brands-to-share-the-same-stage-at-127th-canton-fair-bringing-the-latest-smart-home-solutions-to-global-customers-301076494.html

SOURCE Haier Smart Home

Top 5 Best Split AC (Air Conditioner) In 2020

Eco-tip: Selecting and preserving the 'teenager' of appliances

Want to pocket an extra $1,000 each year? Here are six simple home electric upgrades that save money, make your home more comfortable and help the environment.

Of the appliances in a typical home, water heaters consume the most resources.

Purchasing an efficient, durable one can avoid energy waste, solid waste and waste of money in the long run. Maintaining your water heater can save even more money and resources.

Comparing the water heater in your home to your other appliances is like comparing your teenager to your child of any other age. The water heater consumes resources like a teen consumes food.

The website www.visualcapitalist.com features a study showing the average water heater uses 14% of a typical home's electricity, while a refrigerator uses just 4%. After the water heater, the next closest consumer is the washer and dryer together, at 13%.

In terms of solid waste, refrigerators are the only appliance weighing more than water heaters. An average empty refrigerator, at 200 pounds, weighs more than an average water heater, at 120 pounds, but if a water heater is not completely drained, it is far heavier. Full, water heaters average 450 pounds.

Air pollution: Eco-tip: Upside of pandemic? It clears the air for everyone

Although water heaters are recyclable after being drained, and refrigerators are recyclable after the refrigerants are siphoned out by a certified recycler, the resources expended transporting and processing either one of these heavy, bulky items make their solid waste management issues as difficult as the logistics for a teenager's pre-pandemic extra-curricular activities.

However, unlike other appliances, and unlike teenagers, water heaters can be replaced with alternatives. One alternative, a solar water heater, is sometimes used to supplement, rather than replace, a water heater.

In Ventura County, since freezing weather is so uncommon, direct circulation systems are viable. Water is simply pumped through solar collectors, heated by the sun, and can then either supplement or can replace a water heater.

Complete replacement, for example with a system from Sunbank Solar, which specializes in online sales, features a 40-gallon solar water heating system for under $3,000.

Tankless water heating systems are another water heater replacement technology. Usually using natural gas, they heat water with intense blasts of energy when hot water is needed, rather than heating water frequently and storing it in a tank, where it gradually cools and requires more energy to re-heat.

Although these substitutes are efficient, most people use conventional water heaters. Choosing an efficient, durable water heater can save energy and reduce solid waste.

When shopping for a water heater, look for Energy Star certification. Every appliance sold in California must have a label indicating expected energy consumption compared to average comparable devices.

Reducing fire hazards: Eco-tip: Brush clearance assistance to reduce fire hazards

Only some appliances are efficient enough to earn the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification, indicating the device exceeds minimum standards.

Some devices offer not only efficient design for heating and storing water, but also other conservation features. For example, Ankur Maheshwari, senior global product manager for Rheem, told me his company's new ProTerra Hybrid electric water heater features two green innovations.

First, the ProTerra LeakGuard model has a built-in leak detection system, automatically shutting off to limit water loss from the tank to no more than 20 ounces. It also sends a text alert to notify the homeowner.

The second, a heat pump water heater, works "like a refrigerator in reverse," saving "nearly $500 in annual energy costs compared to standard electric water heaters."

With a retail price of approximately $1,300 at a major home improvement store in Ventura County, the ProTerra is more expensive than comparably sized water heaters, but the annual savings, if performing as promised, provides a full return on the additional investment in less than two years.

Water heater maintenance makes a big difference for efficiency and durability. Start with proper installation. Although some water heaters, including the ProTerra, allow zero clearance installation by placing all service components in front of the unit, most require at least two feet of space for optimal operation.

To optimally maintain any water heater, Maheshwari recommends draining about a quarter of the tank at least every six months to remove sediment and debris. Turn off the cold water supply, hook up a garden hose to the drain valve, and drain water into a bucket or out a door until water runs clear.

For gas-powered water heaters, check plumbing joints for corrosion. Check the water supply by turning on a nearby hot water tap and listening for water running.

Best practices also include replacing the anode rod every three years and testing the pressure-relief valve, on the top of side of the heater, by placing a bucket below the discharge pipe and gently lifting the pressure-relief valve lever. For both conservation and safety, set your water heater to less than 120 degrees.

To recycle your old water heater, contact the company hauling your residential refuse. Contracts and service are different in each Ventura County city, and some allow refuse haulers to charge for large items.

For example, the county's unincorporated area refuse haulers offer free collections twice per calendar year for bulky items unable to fit into curbside carts. However, haulers are allowed to charge for items over six feet in dimension or weighing over 80 pounds.

To learn more, visit www.energystar.gov and energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Appliance.

Eco-tip is written by David Goldstein, an environmental resource analyst for the Ventura County Public Works Agency. He can be reached at 805-658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.

Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/06/13/how-select-efficient-water-heater-refrigerator-appliances/3181135001/

Why I live a zero waste life | Lauren Singer | TEDxTeen

Two face identity theft charges after search of Homer Glen home

Jamelle J. McBride, 32, and Brenden Butler, 22, were arrested after a search of the home on the 16000 block of Josef Drive, executed by sheriff's detectives and representatives of the United States Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois Department of Revenue, Lake Forest Police Department and the Chicago Police Department.

Dubai Customs eye is watching you

UAW to sell lake home built for ex-president under scrutiny

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers said it has accepted an offer on a lakefront house in northern Michigan, three months after federal prosecutors warned that it could be confiscated as part of a corruption investigation.

Cabin 4 at a UAW conference center on Black Lake was being built for former union President Dennis Williams, who retired in 2018. The home's design plan included granite counters, stainless-steel appliances, a fireplace, wine cooler and a hidden storage room.

While the property was listed at $1.3 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office in March filed an affidavit in Cheboygan County, warning that the government had facts that could terminate an interest in the property.

Property traced to law violations is "subject to forfeiture to the United States," the affidavit states without disclosing any other details.

"It is common for the government to file one on any property they believe may be involved in a crime," explained Jorin Rubin, a Detroit-area lawyer who specializes in forfeiture law.

UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg said the buyer has no affiliation with the UAW. He didn't disclose a price.

Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the affidavit on the property will be removed "at the appropriate time." She said the deal requires some local and state approval because of lake access and land division.

"We have absolutely no reason to believe the government is interested in blocking the sale, and we have been working cooperatively with the government to finalize the sale," Rothenberg said.

The government's corruption probe has greatly embarrassed the UAW. Ten union officials and a late official's spouse have pleaded guilty since 2017, including Gary Jones, who succeeded Williams as president and served for roughly 18 months.

Some officials used union dues for golf, lodging and fancy meals, while others tapped cash from a Fiat Chrysler-UAW training center with approval from an FCA executive. Still others took kickbacks from union contractors.

Williams has not been charged but his California home was searched last summer.

"This is the right thing to do," UAW President Rory Gamble said of the sale. "We committed to this as part of our comprehensive reforms, and I believe the government agrees that the sale of Cabin 4 should go forward to an independent buyer and the proceeds from the sale should go back to what our membership intended it be used for to begin with."

The 700 Club - June 11, 2020

Luxury Home In A Popular San Mateo Neighborhood

© Realtor.com 10 9th Ave Apt 101, San Mateo

SAN MATEO, CA — This light filled ground floor, end unit condo, is remodeled with luxury finishes and its own private wrap around yard, making it feel like a single family home.

A large, eat-in kitchen featuring custom cabinets, Calcutta marble counters, stainless steel appliances, and a built in desk, and the yard has a Trex deck and wrap around patio that's accessible from nearly every room.

View 35 photos

Address: 10 9th Ave Apt 101, San Mateo, California

Price: $1,398,000

Square Feet: 1731

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2 Baths

Built: 1983

Features: Welcome to the Royal Oaks located in one of San Mateo's most popular neighborhoods, Hayward Park. This light filled ground floor, end unit condo, is remodeled with luxury finishes and its own private wrap around yard, making it feel like a single family home. A large, eat-in kitchen featuring custom cabinets, Calcutta marble counters, stainless steel appliances, & built in desk. The spacious living room/dining room is open w/ a wet bar, wine refrigerator & gas fireplace. 2 large bedrooms including a master suite. 2 bathrooms remodeled w/designer tile and custom cabinets with Carrara marble counters. The yard has a Trex deck & wrap around patio, accessible from nearly every room. Features: plantation shutters from San Francisco Shutter in-unit washer/dryer LED lighting high ceilings 2 car parking storage unit secure building. Walking distance to Central Park, downtown restaurants/shopping & Cal-Train. Close to 92, 101 & situated between Silicon Valley & San Francisco.

This listing originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.

San Mateo - Real Estate - 263 Crescent Ave

UPDATE: Retailer replaces Avondale woman's washer with upgraded appliance

AVONDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS5) -- Amber Leffew says she is thrilled knowing a brand-new washing machine was recently delivered to her home. "I mean we've been dealing with this since January, so we are extremely happy," she told 3 On Your Side's Gary Harper.

After being contacted by 3 On Your Side, Best Buy is currently looking into the matter.

In a previous 3 On Your Side report, Amber explained how her $449 Insignia washing machine that she bought from Best Buy leaked all over her floor for unexplained reasons. Even after Best Buy swapped out the appliance for another one, she says the second Insignia machine leaked as well. Amber told us this in that first report. "I was doing laundry and I walk in and I walk on water. So, there's water all over the floor the first week."

As a result, Amber says she's been walking her dirty clothes over to her mom's house next door for months just to do laundry while Best Buy kept telling Amber this: "Since coronavirus is here, there is not much we can do. We can put it on hold. It would take a month or two to get someone back out here."

But things started to move after 3 On Your Side got involved. I got a hold of Best Buy and the retailer agreed to take back Amber's leaking washer and they even replaced it with new, upgraded LG washing machine with no questions asked.

The machine is more expensive than the Insignia washer that was replaced, but Best Buy ate the difference. "Very thankful for them (Best Buy) to do that for us. They didn't have to do that for us and they did so we are very thankful for that," a smiling Amber said.

Amber says she's eager to see how her new appliance works and says it only happened with the help of 3 On Your Side. "Oh my gosh, Gary Harper, you are a lifesaver. If anyone needs to get anything done, we're going to send them your way," Amber said.

I have to say Best Buy was great to work with. They were very responsive to 3 On Your Side's request for help and replacing the washing machine with an upgraded model is certainly appreciated.

Gary Harper's 3 On Your Side reports air weeknights on 3TV News at 9.

Copyright 2020 KPHO/KTVK (KPHO Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.

Boulder Planning Board Meeting 2-27-20

Smart Home Market Next Big Thing : Major Giants Amazon Google Legrand Prama Hikvision

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/08/2020 -- Latest published market study on Smart Home Market in India 2019 Market with + data Tables, Pie Chart, high level qualitative chapters & Graphs is available now to provide complete assessment of the Market highlighting evolving trends, Measures taken up by players, current-to-future scenario analysis and growth factors validated with View points extracted via Industry experts and Consultants. The study breaks market by revenue and volume (wherever applicable) and price history to estimates size and trend analysis and identifying gaps and opportunities. Some are the players that are in coverage of the study are ABB India Ltd., Honeywell International India Pvt. Ltd., Amazon India Ltd., Google India Pvt. Ltd., Legrand (India) Pvt. Ltd., Prama Hikvision India Pvt. Ltd., Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd., Schneider Electric India Pvt. Ltd., Signify Innovations India Ltd., Xiaomi Technology India Pvt. Ltd..

Get ready to identify the pros and cons of regulatory framework, local reforms and its impact on the Industry. Know how Leaders in Smart Home Market in 2019 are keeping themselves one step forward with our latest survey analysis

Click to get Smart Home Market in India 2019 Market Research Sample PDF Copy Here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2585549-smart-home-market-in-india-2019

Major highlights from the Study along with most frequently asked questions:

The smart home market in India is expected to reach INR 324.14 Bn by 2024, from INR 90.15 Bn in 2019, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~29.17%. Increasing disposable income, rising geriatric population and initiatives undertaken by the government for smart city development, have provided an impetus to the smart home market in India. In addition, escalating demand for energy-efficient systems and growing popularity of smart speakers have also been fueling market growth. However, high cost of smart home devices is expected to limit the widespread adoption of these products in the country.

Market segmentation:Based on product type, the smart home market is segmented into smart lighting, control and entertainment systems, security and access control, smart thermostat, and smart home appliances.

Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2585549-smart-home-market-in-india-2019

The smart home appliance segment is the leading segment, which held a market share of ~45.55% in 2019. These appliances are controlled either using smartphones, voice or touch technology, making it more convenient for users to operate. These control features have attracted several users to adopt connected appliances in their households. This, in turn, has propelled the growth of the smart home appliance market in India.Smart lighting is anticipated to be the fast-growing segment, expanding at a CAGR of ~47.57% during the forecast period. Various energy-saving initiatives by the government, along with improved awareness about energy-efficient lighting products have increased the adoption of smart lighting among Indians.

The control and entertainment systems segment is expected to expand at a CAGR of ~27.48%. Smart speakers have gained immense popularity among the growing millennial and Gen-Z population. Smart speaker manufacturers like Amazon, Apple and Google are adding new features such as voice recognition in regional languages, music playback, and streaming podcasts, among others, to attract more customers. Apart from smart speakers, entertainment systems like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and Google Chromecast are also expected to flourish in the Indian market.

Market insights:Voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Bixby, Google Home and Siri are being increasingly adopted as controlling units for the Indian smart home ecosystem. Hence, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are launching new smart home products compatible with more than one voice assistant.Smartphones have become the primary interface for remotely controlling smart home devices. The companies are leveraging the potential of smartphone apps to provide remote access to users. Users can easily receive notifications/warnings about unauthorized entry, operate air conditioners, and control lighting systems, among other functions, using such apps.

Browse for Full Report at @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2585549-smart-home-market-in-india-2019

Basic Segmentation DetailsSmart Home Market in India 2019 Product Types In-Depth: Software and Service

Smart Home Market in India 2019 Major Applications/End users: Lighting Control, Security & Access Control, HVAC, Entertainment & Other Control, Home Healthcare, Smart Kitchen, Home Appliances

Geographical Analysis: North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East & Africa & Rest of World

For deep analysis of Smart Home Market in 2019 Market Size, Competition Analysis is provided which includes Revenue (M USD) by Players (2018-2019) & Market Share (%) by Players (2018-2019) complimented with concentration rate.

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Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis of Smart Home Market in India 2019 Market Size Estimation and Trends Available in Full Version of the Report.

Thanks for reading this article, you can also make sectional purchase or opt-in for regional report by limiting the scope to only North America, ANZ, Europe or MENA Countries, Eastern Europe or European Union.

About HTF Market ReportHTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the "Accurate Forecast" in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their "Goals & Objectives".

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/smart-home-market-next-big-thing-major-giants-amazon-google-legrand-prama-hikvision-1293465.htm

Full Replay: Dear Class of 2020

Pricey smart appliances might only last two years

Expensive smart appliances such as dishwashers and fridges could become obsolete after as little as two years if manufacturers stop providing vital software and security updates, consumer group Which? said.

Standard appliances can last for up to 10 or 11 years, and of the consumers surveyed, 69% said they would expect smart appliances to last the same length of time.

However, "many manufacturers are failing to give clarity about the length of time their products would be supported with important security updates - without which they would potentially be rendered a security risk," the report stated.

Smart appliances allow users to control them remotely with a phone. Without regular updates they could leave data on the owner's home network open to hackers. This is not only a huge security risk but could be terrible for the environment if it means machines that still work will be replaced and end up in a landfill.

READ MORE: Fake reviews 'twice as likely' to dupe shoppers into buying poor-quality products

The majority of manufacturers, including Samsung (BC94.L) and LG (066570.KS) said they would offer updates for "the life of the product" but did not say how long that would be. Only Miele was definitive, stating it would support its smart appliances with 10 years of security updates.

Which? also said around six in 10 people (61%) surveyed who do not already own a smart appliance said they would not consider buying one.

Natalie Hitchins, Which? head of home products and services, said: "Until manufacturers are clear and upfront about how long they will support these products for, consumers could be better off avoiding smart appliances that might turn 'dumb' after only a few years and stick to more reliable and significantly cheaper non-smart alternatives."

Meanwhile, a report by Infoholic predicts that the global smart home appliances market will grow at a CAGR of around 32% in the period 2019 to 2025.

Demand is expected to increase due to several factors such as increased digitalisation, growing consumer awareness of smart hubs, rising living standards and an uptick in consumer purchasing power. 

5 Best Home Gyms in 2019

YouTuber Rudy Mancuso Buys All-New Modern Home

New Jersey native and popular YouTuber Rudy Mancuso has followed the lead of scores of his social media-famous peers, having invested his earnings by setting down some residential roots in L.A.'s San Fernando Valley. Modern, clean-lined and built new in 2020, the just-sold Mancuso estate lies in the desirable Studio City neighborhood and offers four beds and 3.5 baths in more than 3,000 square feet of living space. For those amenities, and many more, Mancuso shelled out $2.26 million.

From the street, a concrete walkway interspersed by thin strips of grass leads past the attached two-car garage, to the blocky structure's towering front door, which swings into the public living areas.

The home's entire ground floor is essentially one giant room, with dedicated areas specifically for dining, cooking and living. There's a large kitchen with center island and top-notch appliances, plus cabinets and countertops bathed in a deep Prussian blue. An adjacent family gathering space has a fireplace, built-in bookshelves and glass sliders providing access to the back patio.

All four of the home's bedrooms are upstairs, and the master suite offers a private balcony overlooking the backyard. The requisite luxe amenities are all accounted for — the master bed sports another fireplace; the ensuite bath has dual vanities, a soaking tub and steam shower.

While the .14-acre lot isn't particularly huge, it's well suited for large-scale entertaining with a loggia for alfresco dining, a full outdoor kitchen containing a BBQ and bar seating, plus an L-shaped patch of lawn and a pool with inset spa. A wall and some ficus hedges lend the property some privacy from the neighbors, many of whom have strikingly similar-looking and equally new houses.

Mancuso, still in his 20s, first came to public attention on the now-defunct app Vine. Today, he's probably best-known for his musical comedy sketches on YouTube and Instagram, and for his frequent collaborations with other high-profile social media comedians like Lele Pons, plus his work with Australian actor Maia Mitchell, his longtime girlfriend. Over the last four years, Mancuso's YouTube channel has amassed more than 7.2 million subscribers and 1.3 billion lifetime views.

Kobi Costa and Kayla Laws Schulman of Coldwell Banker held the listing; Scott Behrle of Compass repped Mancuso.

Aladdin & Jasmine | Anwar Jibawi & King Bach

Colorado shipping-container home on 35 acres comes with vaulted bunker for $1.65M

LOCATION: Carbondale, Colorado — This small town of 6,500 at the foot of the Rocky Mountains has emerged as flashy Aspen's slightly lower-key but increasingly hip counterpart, drawing a slew of new restaurants and boutique lodging options in recent years (including Izakaya Carbondale, an offshoot of popular Aspen sushi spot Kenichi, and Way Home, a restaurant, bar, and inn rolled into one century-old brick house. A horse ranch with 35 acres, 1122 County Road has sweeping views of the snowy twin peaks of Mount Sopris and Roaring Fork Valley's pastures. Horses graze by the fence lines daily and elk families migrate through the area. It's remote, in other words—but there's a Whole Foods-equipped shopping center in the nearby town of Basalt, only a ten-minute drive away.

PRICE: $1,650,000

SPECS: 2 beds, 2 baths, 1,351 square feet, 35 acres — Built in 2016, this custom shipping-container home has massive floor-to-ceiling windows in nearly every room (and decks—the master bedroom has two). The sleek and minimal interior features dark, locally sourced wood floors and white corrugated steel walls, a nod to the structure's industrial origins. A high-contrast kitchen mixes black cabinets with stainless-steel appliances (and a farmhouse sink) and a large handmade butcher-block countertop. Nearby, spiral stairs lead up to the two bedrooms and down to a basement with enough space for laundry and an office or art studio.

NOTABLE FEATURE: The owner, an inventor, snuck in an architectural Easter egg: A secret opening built into the living-room floor reveals a subterranean vaulted space that stretches 50 feet. It can be used as a safe room, wine cellar, or slightly dystopian basement lounge.

The high-contrast open kitchen features a stainless-steel farmhouse sink and a handmade butcher-block counter. Wake up to a view of horses grazing in the pastures. Each side of the house has an outdoor space; the largest deck faces a snowy mountain peak. Sign up for the Curbed Daily Newsletter

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$1,650,000 Luxury Container Home from Colorado

These 'awesome' smart home plugs and light switches are up to 32 percent off today

Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Want a smart home? We do too! Having the ability to control your household appliances and lights with your phone or the sound of your voice is flat-out amazing. But making your home "smart" can get expensive. Not today!

Amazon's Deal of the Day is on select Gosund and Nitebird products. Today only, you can save up to 32 percent on smart home plugs, light switches and more starting at just $16. It's the perfect time to upgrade since we're spending more time hunkering down at home.

But act fast, these sales expire at midnight. Shop the sales below and save:

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to convert your everyday appliances into smart home appliances, a good and reliable smart plug is the way to go. Luckily, this four-pack of Gosund Wi-Fi Smart Plugs are on sale for just $22, or $11 off. That's just $5.50 per smart plug and the lowest price we've ever seen on this four-pack.

Here's how they work: Just plug them into a wall outlet and plug in the appliance you'd like to "make smart" like a lamp or TV. Sync the plug to your home's Wi-Fi network and the Gosund app for Android or Apple iPhone, and that's it. You can now use the app to control your appliance or even Alexa or Google Assistant.

"These little mini sockets are awesome," shared a five-star reviewer. "All I did is download the app, open it, plug the socket in, waited a few seconds for the little blue light to flash...then the app asks me to accept and I can change the name of the socket, then click, bam, boom! Done! They can be up and running in literally seconds. Amazing."

The Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch is a hardwired solution to converting your home's lights into smart lights—and this four-pack is on sale for just $57, or $19 off. This is the lowest price we've ever seen on this four-pack, breaking down to $14 per switch.

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Working like traditional light switches with off and on functions, these Gosund Smart Dimmer Switches can also dim the lights to your needs. Simply control them with your phone via the Gosund app. They can even be used to control ceiling fans.

"The switch was easy to install, and the directions were clear. The Gosund app is very easy to use and set up schedules," added another Amazon shopper. "It linked easily to my Google Home. The dimming switch works well and looks sleek also. The switch remembers the last dim setting, too."

Want to give your TV some pizazz? This clever smart LED strip—which is on sale for $16, or $4 off—offers a colorful and bright light show that installs behind your set. These LEDs can be adjusted with the Nitebird smartphone app (or Alexa and Google Assistant), so you can turn them up or down to set the mood for movie night.

Since these LEDs can soften your TV's brightness, they're a great solution to eye strain. You can also sync music to them, so the beat and rhythms of your favorite songs will go along with the pulsing and colorful light.

"These are quick to set up and look really nice," shared a delighted five-star reviewer. "The music sync is cool but I think they work better just as ambient lighting. The app takes a few minutes to setup, but then it's really simple to adjust the light especially if you have it connected to Google Home."

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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✅Smart Light Switch: Best Smart Light Switch 2019 (Buying Guide)

Chinese Giants Baidu And Midea Launch Joint Smart Appliance Push

Share Share Share Share Print Email Homeowners in China and beyond will soon be able to use smart speakers to turn on the lights and control the microwave under a new partnership between Chinese search and artificial intelligence giant Baidu and smart device manufacturer Midea Group.

The two Beijing-based companies have announced a "strategic partnership" through which users can control Midea's array of smart home appliances through Baidu's lineup of smart Xiaodu speakers, according to a press release sent out by Baidu.

The partnership, in turn, will bring "smart home comforts to tens of millions of users and provide a full smart home ecosystem," the companies said.

Under their new partnership, the two companies will also sell bundles of their products, featuring Midea appliances and Xiaodu smart speakers. Midea touts itself as China's largest smart device manufacturer, with 70 million smart appliances on the market.

China's smart speaker market is growing explosively, with $235 million in sales during the first quarter, according to All View Cloud, a data analytics firm. China saw a 23 percent jump in smart speaker shipments in the first quarter, even with the shutdowns and quarantines triggered by the coronavirus.

Baidu's Xiaodu devices, which utilize a cloud connection or infrared, will now enable homeowners and others to use voice commands to control an even wider array of smart appliances than was previously possible.

Under technology previously deployed by the two companies, Xiaodu smart speakers can be used to control a range of other smart appliances made by Midea, from the kitchen to the furnace in the basement.

With help from Xiaodu products and DuerOS, a voice assistant, homeowners and apartment renters alike can turn on the rice cooker, set the temperature of their refrigerator or start the dishwasher.

In addition, voice commands can also be used to switch on the Midea robo vacuum cleaner, the air conditioner, heat, the washer, water heater, water purifier, gas water heater and kitchen hood, the companies noted in their press release.

Last August, Baidu overtook Google in home assistant sales, taking over second place behind Amazon.

Shorewood Home For Sale Has New Kitchen

SHOREWOOD, WI — Take a look inside a desirable four-bedroom in a great Shorewood neighborhood. This home boasts a remodeled kitchen with granite countertops and new appliances, tons of cabinet space, hardwood floors throughout, grand entryway, new carpet in family room, back up generator, natural fireplace, upstairs laundry.

This home has all the charm of the north shore.

This listing originally appeared on realtor.com. For more information and photos, click here.

502 Herath Lane, Shorewood, IL 60404 - Residential for sale

Chinese home appliance maker AUX rolls out washable air conditioning unit with removable core

Creating a new environment for indoor health

NINGBO, China, June 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AUX, a Chinese home appliance maker with air conditioner sales ranked among the world's top three for both 2018 and 2019, rolled out a solution on June 1. On that day, AUX formally debuted its washable air conditioner with removable core during its online event themed "keeping your air conditioner's core clean and creating a healthy indoor environment" at which the company's new product lineup was announced.

At the event, Gu Tangtang, Vice President of Home Appliances at AUX, said, "The washable air conditioner is the fruit of AUX Japan R&D Center's two years of research and development. AUX incorporated the concept of 'building blocks' into the air conditioner assembly and leveraged the futuristic technology behind some 1,300 patents to make the core removable and, hence, washable. Disassembling one air conditioner can easily be done by just one person in five easy steps with the entire process being completed in 30 seconds."

AUX Japan R&D Center engineer Yasuaki Miyama added, "AUX has completely overturned the structural design of the air conditioner, breaking away from the entire concept of how a traditional cooling device was designed, by fully deconstructing and re-imagining the entire internal composition of the cooling unit. We finally made a breakthrough in the structure after countless technological iterations with the result being the washable air conditioner with a removable core. The new design has overcome the challenges that air conditioner owners faced when it came to how to wash and clean the unit."

Besides the removable core feature, the new model comes with a wind-free mode and 56 °C high temperature sterilization. AUX has set the sales price for the highly customizable and configurable unit with the highest rating in terms of energy efficiency at 3999 yuan for the 1.5P version, an excellent cost for value when compared with quality products of the same class.

The launch of the new washable air conditioner with removable core will undoubtedly promote the rapid development of the world's HVAC industry and give a much-needed boost to manufacturing in general.

This year, the spread of COVID-19 has forced everyone to think of the importance of maintaining one's respiratory health and the importance of indoor air quality. When using an air conditioner to cool or ventilate a space, keeping the cooling unit clean is a common pain point due to the structural problems associated with traditional equipment. Air conditioner cores, including the air duct, the wind wheel and the tubes that transport the water are all areas where massive amounts of dirt and other pollutants collect. Especially in the cooling unit's core, these are all areas that can easily turn into breeding grounds for germs as well as the source of indoor air pollution, turning the air conditioner into the "invisible killer" that endangers human health.

 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinese-home-appliance-maker-aux-rolls-out-washable-air-conditioning-unit-with-removable-core-301067636.html

SOURCE AUX

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