@radi0j0hn There was, in fact, a time period not really all that long ago when The Sharper Image was a respectable company with a chain of high-end retail stores. Nowadays though, yes, their name bounces around between various Chinese manufacturers, much like all of the legacy American electronics brands. (As an aside, real UV-C light from fluorescent tubes, which this device appears to use, will kill viruses, along with bacteria.)
@radi0j0hn, that’s exactly why ya doesn’t says the word Virus, or actually, Viruses in there, nor do’s ya not sees SARS-CoV-2!! Also, there is a very specific difference between Sanitizing & Disinfecting a device, or whatever [for a good reason, but they can Google that much]!!
(for those outside the US - up until 2008 or so Sharper Image was a chain of stores inside malls that was notorious for selling really, really overpriced “gadgets” to yuppies. There’s “overpriced” as in “I, a regular meh visitor who might, MIGHT be a little bit more thrift-conscious than the average person, consider it overpriced”, and then there’s “overpriced” as in “it’s a CD player with brushed aluminum and wood accents being sold for ten times as much as the literal exact same electronic components in a plastic case at the Sears three stores down” - Sharper Image was the latter)
@PooltoyWolf@radi0j0hn@ZPB
The main competition for The Sharper Image stores were the Brookstone stores. I think they’ve merged and both sell the same stuff, the stores are gone, and they advertise by paying airlines to put their print catalogs in the back pockets of the seats.
@mike808@PooltoyWolf@radi0j0hn afaik Sharper Image basically ceased to exist as a corporate entity during the 2007-8 downturn. The brand name was bought by CorporateEntity who now licenses it to various Chinese manufacturers.
@dam091, Wha-Wha-Wha-What¿? Please, note, if my comments irritate Anyone That immensely just simply don’t read them, but me’s gonna use me Free Speech rights to sqwauk & enjoy myself, JSYK!! I did quit cursing to please some of you prudes, so…
Were you letting random strangers handle your phone?
Maybe just keep using hand sanitizer, washing, and taking a swipe with the Lysol on any contacted surfaces. And focus on avoiding shared spaces, because aerosol transmission seems to be the big unaddressed vector.
@brainmist Not contaminated by other’s- contaminated by owners inadvertently- using in BR, after touching other items of environment, kids, etc., and this is a chemical-free way to lower the overall microbial burden of commonly handled items. Not only will our cells, keys, and home remotes get put in here- when/if things allow safe travel for vacations- hotel and airBnB.rental remotes will too.
In for one:
/giphy sharing-warm-remembrances
This one appears to use actual fluorescent tubes for UV-C emission, unlike the last ones Meh sold, which have UV LEDs of dubious wavelength. I’m in for one of these, with the most festive and appropriate order number:
@PooltoyWolf, so your giving dis item a Up¿? I’ll purchase one if it does the job it advertises!! I do not mind much wiping my Vette, or Chopper down when someone as much as looks at them, but I hate Disinfecting the little stuff,… Dead Nabbit, who am I kidding, I ain’t got gonna this sh…crap!! I would like to know if anybody thinks this deal is worth buying though, please!!
@decoratedwarvet@PooltoyWolf Actually I am wondering the same thing about if this has the actual UV tube bulbs (I would guess 2, one on each side?). As much discussed on previous deals, there is a lot of doubt about the LED models which in some cases may be little more than blue-tinted LEDs.
Note that the UV bulbs (not LEDs) have been commonly used in toothbrush sanitizers from major brands and apparently are considered effective.
This sanitizer works by using a well-established technique called “Overkill.” It works (ie sells) by using magic words to cause people to worry about anything and everything. The chance of you getting sick from touching your phone/tablet/keys/etc is approximately ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of a percent.
But still… why take chances. Overkill those germs! Nomad must STER-ilize!!
@MrNews
The potential role of mobile phones in the spread of bacterial infections, Conclusion: Mobile phones may serve as vehicles of transmission of both hospital and community-acquired bacterial diseases. Strict adherence to infection control, such as hand washing, is advocated. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19801807/
Mobile phones represent a pathway for microbial transmission: A scoping review, June 2020, Conclusions: While this scoping review of literature regarding microbial identification on mobile phones in HC and community settings did not directly address the issue of SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19, this work exposes the possible role of mobile phones as a ‘Trojan horse’ contributing to the transmission of microbial infections in epidemics and pandemics. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32360322/
@SnDMommy Thinking back to my recent 6-day hospital stay, I do agree that healthcare providers (and ancillary staff) in medical settings carry their phones & tablets around a lot, and should definitely sanitize them frequently.
As for the other 98% of us, I’m not sure it’s not overkill. Frequent hand-washing, social distancing, mask wearing, and avoiding non-essential encounters are best practices to reduce chance of infection(s).
I have such mixed feelings about gizmos like this. While helpful and feel good in the short term, this is how we create superbugs like MRSA, and have to continually search for more potent antibiotics. Having survived Necrotizing Fasciitis (strep caused flesh eating bacteria) back in 1998 and one of the first to get the then wonder drug vancomicin, I have a skewed view I guess.
@Faffs I don’t think that this leads to superbugs. If we assume that antibiotics kill off 99.9% of the population, then the 0.1% that are individuality resistant to the antibiotics are the ones that procreate, creating the superbug strains.
But I don’t think UV light works that way. The killing mechanism is like burning ants with a magnifying glass - it just isn’t a process that a fraction of the population can be resistant to. The 0.1% survival rate is more likely based on the fact that the UV only works if the bugs are directly lit up. If they are shielded from the light (inside a port, for example) then they will do just fine.
@Faffs@rpstrong
It will breed resistant bugs that seek out and thrive in places that UV can’t reach. The survival trait being selected for isn’t chemical, it is behavioral.
@rpstrong Gizmos like this, and anti-bac everything else, and over use of antibiotics (ie, fed to cows, chickens, etc) all combine to create superbugs. shudder
@Faffs, there’re a few articles out lately, like one of a letter signed by as many as 150 physicians, immunologists, and research scientists who are recommending the immediate dispencing of Vit D to fight SARS-CoV-2 to all of the hospitals, and the assisted-living facilities!! Plus, somebody on the Quora App link said that Vit K & Magnesium Glycinate help the Vit D², and Vit D³ be more readily absorbed into the deficient body; all three aid the immunity system.
@decoratedwarvet Unfortunately, I have to avoid Vitamin D supplements. I mentioned MRSA, because I have reoccurring bouts of it. Vitamin D can inhibit tissue healing , as I found out first hand. I come from a family of medical zebras, so what works for most is either ineffective or detrimental to us.
Regarding whether this has bulbs or (possibly ineffective) LEDs, info on the HSN site supports the idea of bulbs:
ultraviolet light emitted from two powerful UVC bulbs
Material Composition: ABS 88%, TPR .60%, PVC .05%, EVA foam .15%, Halogen Light 5% and PCBA 6.20%
I did look and found a site selling this type of bulb for other purposes (as I mentioned in an earlier post the most common place people may already have seen these is in the UV toothbrush sanitizers).
So it seems to be confirming this may be “real” enough to risk the $25 on. My friend spent $50 for one of the LED ones a few months ago and then decided to give it to me because he said it was probably just useless junk, and after looking at it I tend to agree. A lot of people made a LOT of money selling those snake-oil-sanitizers a few months ago. Not that Meh would ever sell marginally useless products in the interest of profit…
EDIT on the other hand I’m concerned that this uses USB power, which is 5V at 1-2 A. That doesn’t seem like enough to run 2 halogen bulbs. But it’s perfect for LEDs – which brings us back to the initial skepticism about how “real” this is.
Despite the no chemical claim, these actually produce ozone which is a powerful chemical disinfectant. (Assuming that these actually work.)
Ozone will sterilize places that the light can’t reach. Ozone diffusion takes time. That is one of the reasons these things all take at least 15 minutes, even the ones with very powerful lights.
If you can’t smell any ozone after opening the case, then it is a sham device.
@hamjudo I have the smaller model of this and it does not use LEDS. It produces quite a bit of Ozone and since I just got a bigger phone with a large Otter Box clip that does not fit in the smaller one, I am ordering this puppy…
@hamjudo@stuwho Thanks, I’m still trying to figure out “watt” is going on with the power vs bulb thing. Does this have an internal battery and just “charge” from the micro-USB port? That would tend to make it even more “portable” as it says it is – no plug necessary. That’s the only way I can see it providing 18W of power to 2x9W bulbs. But if it has an internal battery then obviously it can’t provided that much power for many cycles until needing to be recharged… and then it would also put it into the category of “things sold on Meh with failing internal rechargeable batteries that will kind-of hold a charge until the return period expires.”
@hamjudo@pmarin The slightly smaller one that i have has no internal batteries. It draws about one amp from the 5volt usb power supply meaning it uses a total of 5 watts. I will test current draw as soon as the new toy arrives.
@stuwho Thanks. They just told me that they must have gotten lost or damaged in the mail. And they processed my refund. Guess I dodged a bullet. Thanks
I just broke down and got one, mostly to use on things like cuticle and finger nail clippers, etc. I also wanted to take full advantage of my free shipping this month. I don’t feel any regret yet, so…
Specs
What’s in the Box?
Price Comparison
$39.99 at HSN
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Friday, Sep 17 - Tuesday, Sep 21
Should Glen be so close to a Sanitizer?
@hchavers, one would have to actually disinfect his buttocks!!
Will this arrive in time for Christmas? My mom is coming over at 2.
@fuzzmanmatt It will arrive in plenty of time!
For Christmas 2021.
@fuzzmanmatt, Yes; Christmas 2021!!
“Safely kill up to 99.9% of household germs and bacteria”
Notice the word VIRUS is not there.
Sharper Image was, is and always will be cheap crap.
@radi0j0hn I thought “germ” is a catch-all word for pathogens, including viruses.
@radi0j0hn There was, in fact, a time period not really all that long ago when The Sharper Image was a respectable company with a chain of high-end retail stores. Nowadays though, yes, their name bounces around between various Chinese manufacturers, much like all of the legacy American electronics brands. (As an aside, real UV-C light from fluorescent tubes, which this device appears to use, will kill viruses, along with bacteria.)
@radi0j0hn, that’s exactly why ya doesn’t says the word Virus, or actually, Viruses in there, nor do’s ya not sees SARS-CoV-2!! Also, there is a very specific difference between Sanitizing & Disinfecting a device, or whatever [for a good reason, but they can Google that much]!!
@PooltoyWolf @radi0j0hn haha, are you kidding?
(for those outside the US - up until 2008 or so Sharper Image was a chain of stores inside malls that was notorious for selling really, really overpriced “gadgets” to yuppies. There’s “overpriced” as in “I, a regular meh visitor who might, MIGHT be a little bit more thrift-conscious than the average person, consider it overpriced”, and then there’s “overpriced” as in “it’s a CD player with brushed aluminum and wood accents being sold for ten times as much as the literal exact same electronic components in a plastic case at the Sears three stores down” - Sharper Image was the latter)
@PooltoyWolf @radi0j0hn @ZPB
The main competition for The Sharper Image stores were the Brookstone stores. I think they’ve merged and both sell the same stuff, the stores are gone, and they advertise by paying airlines to put their print catalogs in the back pockets of the seats.
@mike808 @PooltoyWolf @radi0j0hn afaik Sharper Image basically ceased to exist as a corporate entity during the 2007-8 downturn. The brand name was bought by CorporateEntity who now licenses it to various Chinese manufacturers.
@mike808 @radi0j0hn @ZPB I’m not aware of a merger between the two, but Brookstone stores still exist. The concepts are very similar.
@radi0j0hn @ZPB I personally never bought a bad product from them.
@PooltoyWolf @radi0j0hn @ZPB Me neither - they always cost too much.
@radi0j0hn @rpstrong @ZPB :U
The remaining 0.1% are still on your phone, strong enough to evade sanitizing, and they just watched millions of their brothers die. Just sayin…
@awk, And They Bees Madder Than A Wet Hen!!
@decoratedwarvet can you not
@dam091, Wha-Wha-Wha-What¿? Please, note, if my comments irritate Anyone That immensely just simply don’t read them, but me’s gonna use me Free Speech rights to sqwauk & enjoy myself, JSYK!! I did quit cursing to please some of you prudes, so…
Were you letting random strangers handle your phone?
Maybe just keep using hand sanitizer, washing, and taking a swipe with the Lysol on any contacted surfaces. And focus on avoiding shared spaces, because aerosol transmission seems to be the big unaddressed vector.
@brainmist Not contaminated by other’s- contaminated by owners inadvertently- using in BR, after touching other items of environment, kids, etc., and this is a chemical-free way to lower the overall microbial burden of commonly handled items. Not only will our cells, keys, and home remotes get put in here- when/if things allow safe travel for vacations- hotel and airBnB.rental remotes will too.
In for one:
/giphy sharing-warm-remembrances
OH MY GOD THEY FED GLEN A SANITIZED PHONE!!!
@shahnm There’s other worse things Glen could have in his mouth…
@robson Who’s to say he hasn’t…?
@robson @shahnm, either way, him’s got his shot already anyway; he got hisin for National Security reasons, JSYK!!
Hey! Stop bugging me!
Every time you put these things up for sale, I remember how The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe ended.
This one appears to use actual fluorescent tubes for UV-C emission, unlike the last ones Meh sold, which have UV LEDs of dubious wavelength. I’m in for one of these, with the most festive and appropriate order number:
/giphy merry-colorful-gingerbread
@PooltoyWolf, so your giving dis item a
Up¿? I’ll purchase one if it does the job it advertises!! I do not mind much wiping my Vette, or Chopper down when someone as much as looks at them, but I hate Disinfecting the little stuff,… Dead Nabbit, who am I kidding, I ain’t got gonna this sh…crap!! I would like to know if anybody thinks this deal is worth buying though, please!!
@decoratedwarvet @PooltoyWolf Actually I am wondering the same thing about if this has the actual UV tube bulbs (I would guess 2, one on each side?). As much discussed on previous deals, there is a lot of doubt about the LED models which in some cases may be little more than blue-tinted LEDs.
Note that the UV bulbs (not LEDs) have been commonly used in toothbrush sanitizers from major brands and apparently are considered effective.
@decoratedwarvet This product appears to use actual fluorescent UV lamps, so yes, it will kill germs.
This sanitizer works by using a well-established technique called “Overkill.” It works (ie sells) by using magic words to cause people to worry about anything and everything. The chance of you getting sick from touching your phone/tablet/keys/etc is approximately ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of ⅒ of a percent.
But still… why take chances. Overkill those germs! Nomad must STER-ilize!!
@MrNews Ex-TERM-in-ate!
@MrNews
The potential role of mobile phones in the spread of bacterial infections, Conclusion: Mobile phones may serve as vehicles of transmission of both hospital and community-acquired bacterial diseases. Strict adherence to infection control, such as hand washing, is advocated. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19801807/
Mobile Phones as a Potential Vehicle of Infection in a Hospital Setting - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26083898/
Mobile phones represent a pathway for microbial transmission: A scoping review, June 2020, Conclusions: While this scoping review of literature regarding microbial identification on mobile phones in HC and community settings did not directly address the issue of SARS-CoV-2 responsible for COVID-19, this work exposes the possible role of mobile phones as a ‘Trojan horse’ contributing to the transmission of microbial infections in epidemics and pandemics. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32360322/
@SnDMommy Thinking back to my recent 6-day hospital stay, I do agree that healthcare providers (and ancillary staff) in medical settings carry their phones & tablets around a lot, and should definitely sanitize them frequently.
As for the other 98% of us, I’m not sure it’s not overkill. Frequent hand-washing, social distancing, mask wearing, and avoiding non-essential encounters are best practices to reduce chance of infection(s).
@MrNews @SnDMommy, You do know that the SARS-CoV-2 is the virus, and the COVID-19 is that deadly disease?
I have such mixed feelings about gizmos like this. While helpful and feel good in the short term, this is how we create superbugs like MRSA, and have to continually search for more potent antibiotics. Having survived Necrotizing Fasciitis (strep caused flesh eating bacteria) back in 1998 and one of the first to get the then wonder drug vancomicin, I have a skewed view I guess.
@Faffs I don’t think that this leads to superbugs. If we assume that antibiotics kill off 99.9% of the population, then the 0.1% that are individuality resistant to the antibiotics are the ones that procreate, creating the superbug strains.
But I don’t think UV light works that way. The killing mechanism is like burning ants with a magnifying glass - it just isn’t a process that a fraction of the population can be resistant to. The 0.1% survival rate is more likely based on the fact that the UV only works if the bugs are directly lit up. If they are shielded from the light (inside a port, for example) then they will do just fine.
But the survivors won’t breed UV resistant bugs.
@Faffs @rpstrong
It will breed resistant bugs that seek out and thrive in places that UV can’t reach. The survival trait being selected for isn’t chemical, it is behavioral.
Resistance is futile.
@rpstrong Gizmos like this, and anti-bac everything else, and over use of antibiotics (ie, fed to cows, chickens, etc) all combine to create superbugs. shudder
@Faffs @mike808 @rpstrong
Holiday doormat:
@Faffs @mike808 And next week, Meh will be offering microbial sized sunglasses.
@Faffs, there’re a few articles out lately, like one of a letter signed by as many as 150 physicians, immunologists, and research scientists who are recommending the immediate dispencing of Vit D to fight SARS-CoV-2 to all of the hospitals, and the assisted-living facilities!! Plus, somebody on the Quora App link said that Vit K & Magnesium Glycinate help the Vit D², and Vit D³ be more readily absorbed into the deficient body; all three aid the immunity system.
@decoratedwarvet Unfortunately, I have to avoid Vitamin D supplements. I mentioned MRSA, because I have reoccurring bouts of it. Vitamin D can inhibit tissue healing , as I found out first hand. I come from a family of medical zebras, so what works for most is either ineffective or detrimental to us.
Regarding whether this has bulbs or (possibly ineffective) LEDs, info on the HSN site supports the idea of bulbs:
I did look and found a site selling this type of bulb for other purposes (as I mentioned in an earlier post the most common place people may already have seen these is in the UV toothbrush sanitizers).
https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/ultraviolet-germicidal/
So it seems to be confirming this may be “real” enough to risk the $25 on. My friend spent $50 for one of the LED ones a few months ago and then decided to give it to me because he said it was probably just useless junk, and after looking at it I tend to agree. A lot of people made a LOT of money selling those snake-oil-sanitizers a few months ago. Not that Meh would ever sell marginally useless products in the interest of profit…
EDIT on the other hand I’m concerned that this uses USB power, which is 5V at 1-2 A. That doesn’t seem like enough to run 2 halogen bulbs. But it’s perfect for LEDs – which brings us back to the initial skepticism about how “real” this is.
@pmarin If you can smell ozone after you open it, then it is the right type of light. No ozone, no sterilization.
@pmarin Meh should really get in the habit of giving bananas sunburns with tan lines to prove they’re UV-C.
2 Watts is a tiny amount of power, yes, but that’s actually exactly how much the toothbrush UV bulbs with edison bases consume. But then there’s these guys: https://www.dentistrx.com/buy/electric-toothbrushes-and-accessories/uv-sanitizer-light-bulb-replacement which burn even less power; I could see them using a pair of these.
But will that give a banana a suntan? It’d probably take days.
Despite the no chemical claim, these actually produce ozone which is a powerful chemical disinfectant. (Assuming that these actually work.)
Ozone will sterilize places that the light can’t reach. Ozone diffusion takes time. That is one of the reasons these things all take at least 15 minutes, even the ones with very powerful lights.
If you can’t smell any ozone after opening the case, then it is a sham device.
@hamjudo I have the smaller model of this and it does not use LEDS. It produces quite a bit of Ozone and since I just got a bigger phone with a large Otter Box clip that does not fit in the smaller one, I am ordering this puppy…
@hamjudo @stuwho Thanks, I’m still trying to figure out “watt” is going on with the power vs bulb thing. Does this have an internal battery and just “charge” from the micro-USB port? That would tend to make it even more “portable” as it says it is – no plug necessary. That’s the only way I can see it providing 18W of power to 2x9W bulbs. But if it has an internal battery then obviously it can’t provided that much power for many cycles until needing to be recharged… and then it would also put it into the category of “things sold on Meh with failing internal rechargeable batteries that will kind-of hold a charge until the return period expires.”
@hamjudo @pmarin The slightly smaller one that i have has no internal batteries. It draws about one amp from the 5volt usb power supply meaning it uses a total of 5 watts. I will test current draw as soon as the new toy arrives.
@hamjudo @pmarin I also throw my KN95 mask in when I get back from a shopping trip to the store. The ozone really freshens it up…
/giphy bounteous-nice-sugarplum
I’m still waiting on the 2 UV Sanitizers I ordered in November.
Is anyone else?
@Loveless713 I got mine but they are not worth the wait…
@stuwho Thanks. They just told me that they must have gotten lost or damaged in the mail. And they processed my refund. Guess I dodged a bullet. Thanks
I have a Sunbeam travel toothbrush sanitizer that I bought many many years ago. It definitely gives off ozone and is powered by 2 AA batteries.
I just broke down and got one, mostly to use on things like cuticle and finger nail clippers, etc. I also wanted to take full advantage of my free shipping this month. I don’t feel any regret yet, so…
Forty-two.
What up, mah Golgafrinchans?