Pat Pilcher

Editor at Witchdoctor

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Articles

HP OfficeJet Pro 9120e: Effortless printing etcetera

4 days ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary The paperless office is one of those overhyped buzzwords that were frequently bandied about in the late 1990s. It never happened. Nearly all home offices and households still have at least one printer, often two, and those large piles of printed documents are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. This weighed on my mind as I unboxed HP’s latest OfficeJet Pro multifunction inkjet printer/scanner/copier/fax.
Samsung's Bespoke AI Jet Ultra reviewed

1 week ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary Having given top marks to Samsung’s original Bespoke Jet cordless vacuum, I was keen to see what they’d devised for the new iteration. The Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra – what a name! – at a glance isn’t really very different from the earlier version, with a similar overall design. Like the original, the docking station takes 2-litre bags, which can take four full loads from the AI Jet Ultra’s half-litre bin.
Here's how to stay connected without the expense and hassle while traveling: D-Link's nifty mobile hotspot

2 weeks ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary Quite a few years back, we were travelling and while in Portugal, a much-loved relative back at home passed away. This was back in the day of dumb brick-phones, and we were without Wi-Fi, so we only heard about it after the funeral. We were both devastated. Thankfully, the internet can now be found almost everywhere, thanks to the wonders of services such as SpaceX, mobile networks, and smartphones.
Ninja Creami Deluxe

3 weeks ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary When I told friends I was going to review the Ninja Creami, I was surprised to find that they already knew all about it. You see, they were the cool kids (Yeah, I have cool friends. Who’d have thought?!) who hang out on Instagram and/or TikTok, where the Creami is already a star with a bigger than huge following. Here’s the thing, though: I love ice cream, gelato, sorbet, granita, and other sweet, icy desserts.
HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14: A flipping great display and next-gen features

3 weeks ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary HP’s latest notebook PC promises plenty of nifty next-gen bells and whistles. Under its hood, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip packs Intel’s latest mobile silicon, the Core Ultra 7 256V processor, making it one of the first so-called Lunar Lake-powered laptops we’ve had a chance to test. Design-wise, the gunmetal black metallic finish of the OmniBook Ultra Flip lends it a solid, no-nonsense look.
Suunto's Run fitness tracker will keep you moving

4 weeks ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary If running/jogging and the whole fitness thing is your jam, then there’s a strong chance that you’ve probably already heard of Suunto. Their latest watch, the Suunto Run, is an affordable AMOLED sport-centric fitness tracker. Even though I am no runner (my exercise maxes out at pint lifting), I went wrist-on with it to see what it’s capable of.
Light up your life: strip lighting that's sparkly and smart

1 month ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary I’ve long waxed lyrical about the benefits of LED lighting, and the introduction of Hue smart lights made it a colourful no-brainer for any smart home, including that of Cassa Pilch. Smart lights use less electricity than old-school incandescent bulbs and can switch to millions of combinations of colour and brightness. Best of all, they can be controlled using smart assistants like Alexa, Google, Siri, and others.
How to avoid culinary catastrophes in 5 easy steps

1 month ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

It’s no secret that I love cooking almost as much as eating. The only trouble is that things can sometimes go wrong in the kitchen. Making mistakes is also my superpower. Here are some simple steps I follow when cooking that can help keep the fuck-up fairy away from your culinary concoctions. RESEARCH: Before I cook anything new, I spend time researching. New dishes or cuisines I’m unfamiliar with mean reading up on a new cooking technique or new ingredients.
Annke's solar-assisted WB300 security camera reviewed

1 month ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary Recently, I reviewed the oddly named Annke Wiffle Smart Doorbell and was impressed by the sheer amount of bang for the buck on offer, especially compared to more expensive big-brand products. So, when the chance came up to check out Annke’s WB300 solar-powered tilt/zoom outdoor wireless security camera (phew!), I leapt at it. A solar-powered 2K video tilt and pan security for a hair under $113? What’s the catch?
Sennheiser HD25 Plus: Updating a Classic

1 month ago | witchdoctor.co.nz | Pat Pilcher

Summary If you’re a headphone fanboy, the odds are good that you’ll have heard of the Sennheiser HD25 cans. Since their launch 20+ years ago, they’ve built a cult-like following in production and DJ circles. In the hi-fi industry, standing still is paramount to going backwards, and not being a brand that likes to be left behind, Sennheiser has updated its legendary HD25 to the HD 25 Plus. As you’d expect, the HD25 Plus is solidly built.