Pool cleaning companies should be worried for a surprisingly affordable -and efficient- robotic alternative is making quite an impression on pool owners, worldwide.

Say hello to iRobot’s selection of pool cleaning robots: the Verro 300 and 600. Both use the same fine filter bag to pick up and trap dirt and debris plus algae, bacteria and debris as small as 2 microns. These devices make it possible for pool owners to clean their whole pool, from floor to waterline, in roughly an hour… with the touch of a button.

The Verro is basically a “drop in the water and forget” device. You plug it in a standard (outdoors) electrical outlet and gently drop it into your pool. Then, you let it go to work against whatever shouldn’t be in your pool, wether you see it or not.

Technically speaking, roller brushes scrub pool surfaces while a powerful vacuum and self-contained filtration system assist in the cleanup process. It works so well that it’ll even reduce the run times of your pool’s filtration system -and- improve the distribution of chemicals and temperature. Needless to say you’ll love bathing in this much cleaner water.

Compared to other pool cleaners, this one really hits the bullseye. The fact you can let it do the dirty work for you is amazing enough but the quality of the cleanup it provides set it in a class all by itself. Even in the deeper end of you pool, this robotic marvel easily climbs up walls (yep, it’s a lot of fun to watch) and therefore cleans the pool floor -and- all sides.

When you empty the fine filter bag from all the debris the Verro gathered, hose it down a bit and then, make sure to throw it in your washing machine to make it even cleaner (read: like new). Ideally, you should get yourself a second fine filter bag, for about 50$.

Considering how much it costs to have the “pool boy” come and clean things up, the Verro 300 at 699$ and the Verro 600 (which scrubs surfaces) at 1,099$ mean that your investment will likely pay for itself in about 6 to 10 weeks.

If you’re used to cleaning your pool by yourself, consider that using the iRobot Verro will help you reclaim at least two hours a week which you can spend doing all the other “interesting” things you want to do.

Overall, it’s a wonderful new way to cut back on the pool-related chores while still diving into pristine pool water.

Tags: irobot, verro, pool cleaning, clean water, algae, bacteria, debris, cleanup

Countless people, especially those minding their health, get frustrated by the food industry’s evident lack of creativity (or interest) in offering healthier alternatives to consumers.

Too much sugar (boatloads of it, actually), excessive use of salt, freightening amounts of cholesterol, heavily OGMed ingredients and dubious mixes of chemical additives should rightfully be feared by everyone, not just the savvy grocery shopper crowd.

Because your health is priceless, you’ll probably be happy to learn that Arthur’s Fresh is offering a delicious array of nature’s finest fruits and vegetables in the form of juice smoothies kids, teenagers and parents will all quickly fall in love with.

If you plan on enjoying on healthy life, these are the nutritious juices you want to add to your diet: Strawberry Rainforest, Blueberry Tea, 24 Carrot Energizer, Mango Plus, Verry Berry, Green Energy, Pomtastic and last but surely not the least, A?ßai Plus which sports a tasty little berry coming straight from the lush Amazon Forest.

Like all Arthur’s products, A?ßai Plus provides 2.5 servings of fresh fruit from completely natural ingredients but that’s not all because each serving of A?ßai Plus provides a good source of fibre and precious prebiotics. Ingredientwise, expect non genetically modified (non GMO, hurray), amazingly fresh (meaning not concentrated or adulterated) and as previously stated, it’s completely natural.

If you’re an Oprah fan, you probably already know the acai berry tops the number one position in her superfood list. The fact you can benefit from the very strong antioxydant power of this Brazilian berry just by drinking Arthur’s A?ßai Plus juice is news worthy of writing home about.

The company producing this unique collection of juice smoothies also has a different take on life than that of the widely known food industry giants — and it’s very refreshing:

Arthur’s Fresh was founded by a 5th generation fruit farmer from Goderich, ON and the son of Arthur John Bell (where the name of the company comes from).

His commitment to the land and making products that are actually beneficial to consumers has been passed down through the generations and shapes everything Arthur’s Fresh does.

This lays in stark contrast to the recent trend of products being made with lots of marketing hype that are empty calories offering little nutritional value for their consumer.

More specifically, here’s how Arthur’s Fresh is seeding positive changes:

1st make 100% natural products that are 100% good for people.
2nd procure ingredients ethically and support the agrarian lifestyle.
3rd minimize waste and maximize total system recyclability.
4th lead by example and take the high road.
5th seed profits into ideas that enrich childrens lives.

Walking their talk, Arthur’s Fresh seed at least 10% of their annual profits back into the community, every year. Even better, since 2003, their contributions have actually exceeded their annual profits, thus greatly exceeding their “minimum” commitment.

This quote from their web site really sums up their philosophy quite well: “We want to leave things a little bit better than we find them” and if every other food company out there observed such high ethical standards, the planet would arguably be in much better shape.

For all these reasons (and your own good, of course), it’s probably time that you changed (at least part of) your juice drinking habbits to include your favorite flavor of Arthur’s Fresh juice smoothies.

Tags: arthur’s fresh, juice, juice smoothies, health, acai, berries, fruit, vegetable, grocery

Please, could you tell me what time it is? I’m in a hurry and ohhh, that’s an awesome watch you’re wearing, who makes those? Well, if you’re a Patek Philippe watch owner, you could easily entertain your curious new friend.

Of course, you’d better tell your new friend what time it is to get that out of the way and then, you could talk about the rich heritage of this particular brand of finely crafted timepieces that are usually passed on from a generation to another.

Historically, Antoni Patek started making pocket watches in 1839, in Geneva, along with his fellow Polish migrant Franciszek Czapek. They separated in 1844 and, in 1845, Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding mechanism. In 1851, Patek Philippe & Co. was founded.

Nowadays, Patek Philippe & Co. is one of the most famous and expensive brands of wrist watches, in the world. Many watch collectors and enthusiasts regard these timepieces as the very best, second to none. Over the years, a number of notable individuals, including members of royalty, movie stars and tycoons have worn these watches -and- even Albert Einstein was a customer.

If you’re one to pay attention to details, you’ll be happy to learn that the company still makes all movements in house, in Switzerland.

The most recent collections include wonderful models for both men and ladies. The supreme test of ingenuity, in the case of Patek Philippe watches, stems from the sheer number of complications they can engineer in a wrist watch.

Technically speaking, a “complication”, in watchmaking, is anything a mechanical watch might do beyond telling the time and simple date. Patek Philippe upholds a tradition in complications that are useful in everyday situations such as annual calendars, dual time zones and world time displays.

Yellow or white gold (everywhere), sapphire crystal case backs, ultra-precise dials, countless technical refinements and all the features busy people crave make Patek Philippe watches both a pleasure to own -and- a valuable investment. Assuming you’d be interested in selling your timepiece, prices ranging from 5k$ to 60k$ are commonplace but most owners tend to pass it along to the next generation.

While some models are quite conservative in style and form, others are resolutely trendy and would fit any fashion conscious young adult.

Perhaps next time someone asks you what time it is, the Patek Philippe watch on your wrist will prove to be a powerful conversation starter, who knows?

Tags: patek, patek philippe, wrist watches, timepieces, luxury, gold, sapphire

Some people don’t wash their clothes, namely the billionnaires who find it more convenient to “wear once and then give away to charity” than actually cleaning their socks, briefs, pants and shirts.

For the overwhelming majority of us, however, washing our clothes is a regular chore that’s all too often accompanied by the loud thumping and bumping whenever the load gets unequally spread. Well, thanks to Samsung’s Energy Star compliant new VRT front-loading laundry machine‘s technological advances, this noisy and shaky nuisance might become (roll of the drum, here) -a thing of the past- (cue in the “ta-daaam”).

The Vibration Reduction Technology (VBR) basically reduces vibrations and washing machine noise during the spin cycle of Samsung’s conventional front-loading washers, making them the quietest on the market (with unbalanced loads).

The VBR technology alone could’ve made this washing machine a hit but Samsung went for a home run by offering this top of the line appliance in a spectrum of colors to provide versatility and style nearky anywhere in the home.

All design-minded consumers will love to choose between Tango Red, Onyx Blue, Stratus Gray and Neat White for their next VBR washing machine and paired dryer. The colors and styling definitely make them an attractive focal point to any living environment.

VRT washers also feature Samsung’s SilverCare technology ‚Äì a new option for cleaning delicate and colored fabrics. SilverCare removes odor causing bacteria in cold water without bleach. It helps keep garments looking their best by minimizing the fading and tattering effects of hot water while saving energy (when compared to standard hot water washing).

With an extra-large capacity of 3.8 cu. ft., the VRT Washing Machine can handle mostly everything from a single pair of jeans to a king size comforter.

Samsung’s VRT Washing Machine is currently available at an MSRP of $1,299 for the Neat White model and $1,399 for the colored models.

Tags: samsung, vrt, silvercare, washer, washing machine, technology, noise reduction

The first thing you’re likely to hear when you arrive at the W Retreat & Spa, in the sunny Maldives, is “maruhabaa” which means “welcome”, in the local language.

Located on the Northern Ari Atoll, this uniquely laid out resort and spa is a paradise for anyone looking to be pampered, Maldivian-style. Families looking to travel together are also welcome at this island-resort. However, divers might find this particular resort even more appealing thanks to a well maintained array of underwater diving sites, such as Maaya Thila, Fish Head, Panettone and Broken Rock. As a bonus, you can view the breathtaking house reefs and W’s own Fesdu house wreck. By all means, this is a amazing place to take pictures!

The room classes names say it all: Beach Oasis, Ocean Oasis, Seascape Escape and Ocean Heaven. It’s very easy to unwind in any of these rooms but you’re still free to choose according to your personal preferences.

If you’re into privacy when on vacation, you’ll love the all-villa retreat treatment. For instance, the bi-level beachfront and over-water retreats let indoor and outdoor mingle -and- roofs with peek-a-boo views of the sky really open up spaces. Furthermore, the glass-paneled floors reveal the lagoon’s fauna below.

Privacy is paramount at this W Retreat & Spa so you can enjoy your own plunge pool, sundeck and beach away from outside world.

Every room has an outdoor rainforest shower and honestly, that’s a blast. It’s impossible not to start a good day showering -outside- in such a magical setting. The 42 inch plasma TVs with DVD players are also a nice touch for anyone looking to catch up on Hollywood’s latest and greatest, hopefully with a loved one. There broadband internet access but there’s little chance anyone will bring a laptop to… relax, in this wonderful place.

Even if every room has a mini-bar, a munchie box (yummies) and a wine cooler, you’ll love the six (6) gourmet eateries on location, including the Fire (restaurant) where gourmet delights are served in rustic and natural surroundings with the moon and stars overhead -and- soft sand beneath your feet. Blissful… and delicious.

With 78 guest rooms available, the W Retreat & Spa Maldives may also prove to be the ideal setting for a “retreat” business meeting — with a stunning view, that is.

For those looking for the ultimate relaxation experience, there the Away Spa. The treatment areas allow for total privacy and complete renewal. Visitors can easily dedicate some time to their well-being with a natural healing therapy performed in one of 4 luxurious treatment villas. If you worked hard lately, you deserve to be pampered at the spa.

Of course, this is a W hotel so make sure to ask the Whatever/Whenever team what you crave and they will deliver whatever you want, whenever you want it. This retreat and spa should make for an ideal destination for your next “escape” into the world of luxury.

Tags: w hotel, w maldives, w retreat, w spa, retreat and spa, diving, underwater