Infusing your own cannabis oil is a stoner rite of passage, though made obsolete by recreational legalization. Pre-internet, the tradition nearly always necessitated a trusted stoner guide or, at least, a dubious counterculture cookbook. Post internet, the process became marginally easier with technological sharing of techniques and recipes. After adult-use legalization, however, this heritage craft has been aggrandized to commodity levels, resulting in dispensary shelves packed with all kinds of medicated edible delights.

But the bottom line remains; for those who still pursue the heritage craft of extracting cannabinoids, terpenes, and essential oils from fresh weed, the process is time consuming, complex, and enormously stanky.

The LEVO II countertop oil extractor has compartmentalized the most challenging aspects of at-home extraction most remarkably the processes of drying and decarboxylation all in a countertop device as inconspicuous as a Kitchen Aid mixer or an oversized cookie jar. And while it doesn't completely erase the persistent stank of slow-roasted weed, it is self-contained enough to significantly decrease overall cannabis vapors.

The LEVO II is a countertop oil infusion machine. Its compact design takes up about as much shelf real estate as a family-sized rice cooker, and it's available in a range of contemporary colors. A LEVO II can hold about a quarter ounce of crushed herbs, and can produce up to 19 ounces, or just over 2 cups, of infused oil. While the LEVO II can be used with any kitchen herb your culinary heart desires, it's enormous popularity with the cannabis community has given it quite the reputation as a cannabis oil extractor.

The LEVO II can dehydrate fresh botanicals, but perhaps the most remarkable feature of this kitchen appliance is how effectively it activates dried herbs activation being shorthand for decarboxylation, the process in which the cannabinoids are heat-activated.

Original LEVOs were a bit smaller, did not feature activation cycles, and seemed more functional for culinary or skincare endeavors. The LEVO II however, is firmly geared toward cannabis extractors.

Once your LEVO II is removed from the box, you will notice a large sticker on its face prompting a download of the LEVO II smartphone app, which will then trigger the LEVO II's Bluetooth, connecting the machine to your smart device. The machine can be controlled almost entirely by the app, but if you're more the hands-on type, the machine's interface is uncomplicated and easy to understand.

The LEVO II is sleek and modular, with a lid that pops open with a gentle push, revealing a ceramic reservoir, a stainless steel infusion pod with a silicone mat and lid, and a small silicone stirrer that looks a bit like a spiky miniature hockey puck. The components are all easily removable from the machine, and easily replaced after cleaning.

The operational interface is comprised of: a small LED screen that displays verbal prompts throughout the process, one button that triggers drying, activation, and infusion cycles, buttons for controlling temperature and time, a button that unlocks the lid mid-cycle, a start/stop button and, lastly, a button that dispenses the oil once it's been infused. Turn it on, choose your cycle, adjust your temperature and time, and you're ready to start the infusion process.

The app is not necessary to operate the LEVO II, but it does offer a nice bit of assistance, delivering value in its calculations of temperatures and cook times based on a database of usable oils and botanicals. Choose from a concise list of common herbs and oils and the app will provide the correct temp and cook time. Once your LEVO II is turned on and connected to your smartphone, users can then control the LEVO II from their device. When doing your first extraction, however, we suggest operating from the machine's interface and using the app for reference. This may save you confusion later in the process.

The app also features blog posts explaining things like why activation is critical and how to make a vegan pesto pizza in case you're up for light reading while your herbs infuse.

Before using the LEVO II in any way, it is important to rinse all of the removable components.

Note: Had we used a more sticky-icky variety of cannabis, the 3-hour, 115 degrees F drying cycle would have been our critical step one, but as our weed was already dry and crumbly, we went straight to the second step: activation. For our testing purposes, we infused an eighth of cannabis. The activation cycle took 30 minutes at 240 degrees F. Only the faintest perfume of cannabis escaped the machine during the activation process, and a soft chime announced the completion of the cycle.

Tip: Chrissy Bellman, the founder of LEVO II suggests visiting jeffthe420chefcalculator.com to get an approximation of your doses based on the cannabinoid percentage, amount of weed used, and the amount of oil being infused.

The LEVO II's components are all easily removable for cleaning. Each is also dishwasher safe.

Bonus: if any oil is spilled in the housing, it can be wiped up fairly easily. The exterior is also easily wiped clean with a cloth. The power cord even has its own compartment once the LEVO II is powered down. The general simplicity of the machine and its parts make cleaning relatively effortless, which is pretty remarkable considering how messy, stanky, and greasy the undertaking of herbal infusions has been historically.

Infusing one's own cannabis oils gives a person complete control over dosing, strain specificity, carrier oils and intensity, and LEVO II goes a step further by enabling users to create uncommonly small batches. For example, a LEVO II can be used to transform an otherwise caustic pre-roll into butter for a half dozen medicated cookies, or to create a tailored infusion medley for a couple days worth of topical use, or to make a really, really good rosemary/OG Kush salad dressing.

At $249, LEVO II's most practical value is in how greatly it has simplified the art of herbal infusions. And though the LEVO II is built to work with countless botanicals, a significant swath of its users are likely more interested in strain-specific, cannabis infusions with calibrated dosages than parsley-sage-chrysanthemum EVOO recipes though, admittedly, the crossover is probably pretty broad.

Bottom line: whether you're infusing your favorite cannabis strains or your best loved kitchen herbs, a tool that eliminates all the most disagreeably messy aspects of marrying herbs and oils is hard not to appreciate.

All photos courtesy of LEVO.

More:
Everything you need to know about the LEVO II countertop oil infuser - Weedmaps News

The study of Luxury Countertops Market may be a compilation of the market of Luxury Countertops lessened into its totality on the idea of sorts, application, trends and opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, drivers and restraints and a world reaching. The careful study additionally offers a board interpretation of the Luxury Countertops industry from a range of information points that area unit collected through reputable and verified sources. moreover, the study sheds a lights on a market interpretations on a world scale that is more distributed through distribution channels, generated incomes sources and a marginalized market area wherever most industry happens.

Access Free Sample Copy of Luxury Countertops Market Report 2020: https://calibreresearch.com/report/covid19-impact-luxury-countertops-market-27899#request-sample

The Global and United States Luxury Countertops market research report provides a whole outlook on the challenges existing among the business and in addition discusses the rising threats, constraints and limitations. The report is associate fact-finding study that has associate degree full breakdown of the market dynamics like drivers, growth prospects, product portfolio, technological advancements associate degreed an full analysis of the key competitors of the market. The worldwide Luxury Countertops market is any segmental into kinds, applications, technology, end-users, business verticals and key geographies across the earth. whats additional, the report offers a forecast estimation of the valuation of the Luxury Countertops market 2020-2026.

NOTE: Our reports include the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. Our new sample is updated which correspond in new report showing impact of Covid-19 on Industry trends. Also we are offering 20% discount

Major Market Manufacturers indulged in this report are:

ArboriteAKPAristech SurfacesArmas CompanyArpa IndustrialeCAMBRIAWilsonartLOTTE ADVANCEDCaesarstoneFormicaCosentino SAGranito ZucchiGroupe PierredeplanHanwhaCXUNGelandi

Luxury Countertops Market 2020 segments by product types:

LaminatesEngineered StoneNatural stoneOther materials

The Application of Global and United States Luxury Countertops Market 2020-2026 as follows:

ResidentialCommercial

The report presents associate degree full study of the Luxury Countertops business through data gathered by thorough primary and secondary analysis. The data developed is verified and valid by business specialists and professionals. Additionally, the report utilizes advanced analytical tools like SWOT analysis, Porters five Forces analysis in conjunction with utility analysis and investment come analysis. The report provides a comprehensive associate degreealysis of the outstanding players of the market with an full analysis of their company outline, product portfolio, production and manufacturing capability, technological and products developments and revenue estimations. The report any examines key maths data and facts relating the worldwide Luxury Countertops market. The report any aims to supply a competitive advantage to the readers, clients, shoppers and market professionals engaged among the business.

Do You Have Any Query or Specific Requirement? Ask to Our Industry Expert: https://calibreresearch.com/report/covid19-impact-luxury-countertops-market-27899#inquiry-for-buying

Global and United States Luxury Countertops Market study provides essential information regarding the foremost challenges that area unit close to influence market growth. The report additionally provides overall details regarding the business opportunities to key stakeholders to expand their business and capture revenues among the precise verticals. The report will facilitate the current or coming back companies throughout this market to seem at the various aspects of this domain before finance or increasing their business among the Luxury Countertops market.

Along with a generalized market study, the report additionally consists of the risks that area unit usually neglected once it involves the Luxury Countertops industry in an exceedingly comprehensive manner. The study is additionally divided in associate degree associate degreealytical area wherever the forecast is expected through a primary and secondary analysis methodologies along side an in-house model.

Checkout FREE Report Sample of Luxury Countertops Market Report for Better Understanding: https://calibreresearch.com/report/covid19-impact-luxury-countertops-market-27899#request-sample

For a world reaching, the Luxury Countertops study additionally classifies the market into a world distribution wherever key market demographics area unit established supported the bulk of the market share. the subsequent markets that area unit usually thought of for establishing a world reaching area unit North America, Europe, Asia and therefore the remainder of the planet. reckoning on the study, the subsequent markets area unit usually interchanged, added, or excluded as sure markets solely adhere to sure products and desires.

Originally posted here:
Global and United States Luxury Countertops Market To Record Exponential Growth During Projected Timeperiod 2020-2026 by Aristech Surfaces, Armas...

How many times this year have you thought to yourself, What's going to happen next? I've found myself asking that question related to the coronavirus, deaths, shutdowns, cancellations, civil unrest, politics ... even sports. (The University of Michigan is really going to play football even when students have been ordered to quarantine in place because of rising COVID-19 cases?)

So I shouldn't be surprised to see that even some experts aren't united on predicting how business will fare in the coming months.

Just look at two stories from this week's print issue of Plastics News. On the one hand, you've got consultant Laurie Harbour and her company, Harbour Results Inc., saying they expect 30 percent of North American manufacturers to close in the next 18 months, with almost half of those being tool and die shops.

That's in part due to automakers slowing orders.

But on the other hand, as PN Economics Editor Bill Wood notes, the number of bankruptcies is currently lower than the historic trend. And the Small Business Optimism Index actually climbed 3.8 points in September. Bill is forecasting a 5 percent climb in U.S. GDP in 2021.

As for me? I have no idea what is going to happen next.

See the rest here:
Kickstart: The future is either going to be fine or a looming disaster - Plastics News

Published 2:00am EDT, Friday, October 23, 2020

Renovated kitchen / $375,000

This 1923 white single-family has a freshly painted interior and carpet upstairs pulled up to show the gleaming hardwood floors. The home - which boasts six rooms and sits on 0.11-acres - has an updated and renovated extra-large kitchen with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances that leads to a dining area for all your entertaining needs. The kitchen - which has a nice flow into the dining area- also has an island. A large living room and full bath completes the first floor. An oversized deck and private, flat-level backyard on an inviting cul-de-sac add to this homes appeal. Upstairs you will find three nice-sized bedrooms and another full bath. The versatile lower level is for the family room and an office. The property which has great value is walking distance to the train station, shopping, restaurants and more. The home is being sold as-is.

Listing agents: Todd Auslander and Jeannie Kasindorf, Auslander Kasindorf Group / Keller Williams; 203-504-3067, Tauslander@kw.com and Jkasindorf@kw.com

45 Morris St., Stamford

Beds: 3 Bath: 2

Square footage: 1,452

{{captions}} {{credits}} {{resaleLink}}

Continued here:
Renovated kitchen / $375,000 - The Advocate

'); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append('"+val.ihtml+""); $("#expandable-weather-block .weather-index-alerts").show(); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body h2").css({"font-family":"'Fira Sans', sans-serif", "font-weight":"500", "padding-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body p").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body span.wxalertnum").css({"float":"left", "width":"40px", "height":"40px", "color":"#ffffff", "line-height":"40px", "background-color":"#888888", "border-radius":"40px", "text-align":"center", "margin-right":"12px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body b").css("font-size", "18px"); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body li").css({"font-size":"14px", "line-height":"18px", "margin-bottom":"10px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body ul").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body pre").css({"margin-bottom":"24px"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body img").css({"width":"100%", "margin-bottom":"20px", "borderWidth":"1px", "border-style":"solid", "border-color":"#aaaaaa"}); $("#expandable-weather-block .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).css({"borderWidth":"0", "border-bottom-width":"1px", "border-style":"dashed", "border-color":"#aaaaaa", "padding-bottom":"10px", "margin-bottom":"40px"}); }); } function parseAlertJSON(json) { console.log(json); alertCount = 0; if (Object.keys(json.alerts).length > 0) { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").empty(); } $.each(json.alerts, function(key, val) { alertCount++; $("#mrd-wx-alerts .alert_count").text(alertCount); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body ").append(''); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(""+val.title+""); // if (window.location.hostname == "www.kmov.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kctv5.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.azfamily.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.kptv.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.fox5vegas.com" || window.location.hostname == "www.wfsb.com") { if (val.poly != "" && val.polyimg != "") { $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } else if (val.fips != "" && val.fipsimg != "") { // $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(''); } // } //val.instr = val.instr.replace(/[W_]+/g," "); $("#mrd-wx-alerts .modal-body #mrd-alert"+ alertCount).append(val.dhtml+"

Instruction

Read more from the original source:
What Are Countertop Smart Ovens, and Do You Need One? - WFSB

A sink is undoubtedly an important part of any kitchen. Whether you opt for a stainless steel sink, a farmhouse sink, or any of the many other style and material combinations, you'll have to make another big decision: single bowl or double bowl? While two might seem better than one, there are other factors to consider.

In its most basic form, a double bowl sink is divided into two bowls and two drains. Some models feature bowls of equal size, while others have a larger bowl alongside a smaller, shallower one. Whatever the combination, a double bowl sink can be a good option for kitchens where there is no dishwasher -- one sink can be used for washing dishes and the other for food prep. If there's a garbage disposal, it's even better, as you can send the food scraps on their way in one bowl and leave the other free for cleaning.

While the double bowl sink is certainly functional, it can make washing very large pots and pans a bit more difficult depending on the size of the sink. And if you also plan to use the kitchen sink to bathe a baby -- or a fur baby -- you might find that the double bowl sink is too restricting.

Sink choice also depends on the size of the kitchen. Single bowl sinks are a better option for smaller kitchens, as the two-bowl model is larger and will take up more counter space. It will also take up more storage space underneath the sink, especially if you have a garbage disposal attached. But if you have a kitchen with countertops and cabinets to spare, a double bowl sink will fit in just fine.

It's hard to narrow down a price for a double bowl sink because they come in a variety of sizes and materials ranging from budget-friendly to high-end. Then there's the installation: undermount? Drop-in? Tight radius?

HomeAdvisor.com (NASDAQ: ANGI) reports that the average cost of a new kitchen sink including installation costs $390, but if you choose a higher-end model and setup, it could go up to $2,000 or higher. Drop-in sinks are on the lower end of the price range, while undermount and farmhouse-style sinks are pricier.

When comparing sinks of the same material, a double bowl sink will usually be slightly pricier. For example, a stainless steel double bowl sink will be more expensive than a single bowl because the entire unit is bigger. However, a single bowl quartz sink or a fireclay farmhouse sink would likely be higher in price than even a double bowl model made from a more economical material.

It's not the number of bowls but rather the material and style of the kitchen sink that holds the real value. Farmhouse sinks continue to be a trend and are often noted in real estate listings, which is evidence of their cachet for homeowners. But even more important than the style of sink is its installation. For example, undermount sinks that fit seamlessly into the countertop make cleaning up after cooking a breeze.

The kitchen is arguably one of the most important rooms of the home, and the sink plays a crucial role. When planning a kitchen remodel, consider the material and installation of the sink first and foremost; then consider single versus double bowl models, depending on the size of the space.

See the original post here:
Double Bowl Sink: Worth the Investment? - Motley Fool

With most of the development in Toronto going vertical, it's hard to find new ground-hugging homes in the city with family-sized backyards andgarages. One such rare site is set to bring 41 new homes to a former public school property atCaledonia Road andInnes Avenue in the Earlscourt neighbourhood. We got a first look at updated plans for theSt Clair Villageproject byFrontdoor Developments Incearlier this month, and new interior renderings and details are nowoffering up a first look inside the future homes.

St. Clair Village, image courtesy of Frontdoor Developments

The work of Hunt Design Associates Inc, the project's units are set to includenine-foot ceiling heights on ground, main, second, and upper floors. Some notable features being offered includeelectric fireplaces, glass interior panel railings,staircases withnatural oak treads, risers, and painted stringers, and wide plank engineered wood flooring in all areas except for spaces like bathrooms, which are to feature porcelain floor tiling.

Suite interior at St. Clair Village, image courtesy of Frontdoor Developments

Kitchens at St. Clair Village will boast open-concept layouts, with select plans to includekitchen islands. Cabinetry and quartz countertops arebeing offeredin a choice of two colour schemes, along with the choice of porcelain tile or wood flooring. Tile backsplashes, soft-close drawers, and stainless steel undermount sinks are among the other features listed for kitchens.

Bathrooms are being offered withquartz countertops in two colour choices and undermount sinks. Ensuites will featureframeless glass shower enclosures with porcelain tile walls, and free-standing soaker tubs in all standard floorplans. Other features includepolished chrome plumbing fixtures and elongated dual-flush toilers in master ensuite and main-floor powder rooms.

Suite interior at St. Clair Village, image courtesy of Frontdoor Developments

Units at StClair Village range inarea from 3,005 to 3,040 ft, and start from $1,500,000. The project's onsite sales centre at 19 Innes Avenue can be visited by appointment. Construction is targeted to wrap up in time for the first move-ins in September, 2021.

Suite interior at St. Clair Village, image courtesy of Frontdoor Developments

Additional information and images can be found in our Database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.

* * *

UrbanToronto has a new way you can track projects through the planning process on a daily basis. Sign up for afree trial of our New Development Insiderhere.

Read more here:
Finishes and Features Provide Interior Preview of St. Clair Village - Urban Toronto

A latest specialized intelligence report published by KandJ Market Research with the title2020-2029 Report on Global Countertop Toaster Oven Market by Player, Region, Type, Application and Sales Channelhas the ability to help the decision-makers in the most important market in the world that has played a significantly important role in making a progressive impact on the global economy. The Global Countertop Toaster Oven Research Report presents and showcases a vital vision of the global scenario in terms of Countertop Toaster Oven market size, market potentials, and competitive environment. The study is derivative from primary and secondary statistical data and consists of qualitative and quantitative analysis of the industry and key players.

The latest report includes post Coronavirus(Covid-19) Impact on the Countertop Toaster Oven Industry, it includes on Industry Upstream, Industry Downstream, Industry Channels, Industry Competition, and finally on Industry Employment.

The Final Report Will Comprise the Impact of COVID-19 Analysis in ThisCountertop Toaster Oven Industry. For Sample Report & Graphs & Charts @:www.kandjmarketresearch.com/sample-request/517059

The global Countertop Toaster Oven market is showing promising signs that can be explored well in the coming days to achieve a notable valuation by the end of mentioned Forecast. The report is expected to consider the time-frame as the forecast period and it would deal with the market accordingly. Growth-inducing factors have been monitored closely in the report to gauge well the progress of the market. Each factor can play a significant role and has been given proper space on the basis of which the market can devise strategies. It has tracked various associated fields as well to get a proper map of how these end user industries are impacting the market and can take the market forward. The report has a credibility as it banks on the expertise of adept researchers who fetch numbers from a pool of information and sieve them as per the requirement. In the process, they have gone through the market by having it analyzed on top-down and bottom-up basis.

Key Segments Studied in the Global Countertop Toaster Oven Market:Market Analysis by Key Players such asRATIONAL, Werner&Pfleiderer, Wiesheu, Eloma, Convotherm, MIWE, Middleby, Panasonic, Philips, Joyoung, Electrolux, Media, KENWOOD, Cuisinart, Frigidaire, Calphalon, Kenmore Elite, APW Wyott, Belleco, Breville, Cadco, B&D, Equipex, Hamilton Beach, Hatco, Hobart, KitchenAid, Lincoln, Nemco Food Equipment, Oster

Market Analysis by Type of Countertop Toaster Oven:Gas Ovens, Electric Ovens

Market Analysis by Applications of Countertop Toaster Oven:Household, Food Service, Food Processing

Ask Discount for this premium report @www.kandjmarketresearch.com/discount/517059

Analysis by Regions of Countertop Toaster Oven Market: North America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.), South America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia etc.), Middle East & Africa (South Africa, UAE and Saudi Arabia etc.)

The segmentation plays a prominent role in dealing with the growth of the Countertop Toaster Oven market where various types and applications are promoting better understanding of the market. This segmentation has a strong foundation in volume-wise and value-wise data which backs the process of understanding the market scenario with numbers. The market has been combed through properly to get all the factors in line. The report has been enriched interviews as a first hand method of getting data. These interviews include chats with top market players, market analysts, distributors, people in the field of research and development and others owing to which the reliability of the report has increased significantly.

Regional market analysis of the report has backed the study of different regions as an attempt to understand growth pockets that can be beneficial for the market. The regional analysis has import, export, and other processes covered. Players who are getting involved in the market for a better growth are looking for these growth pockets to capitalize on the opportunities provided and find new scopes for growth. Certain countries have been tracked in detail to monitor them closely as they can be major markets in the coming years. Benefits like better infrastructure, cost-effective labor, access to raw materials, they offer have become luring factors for many market players and they want to expand their business to these regions to increase their profit margin.

Read More Detailed Information regardingCountertop Toaster Oven Industry with Covid-19 Updates@www.kandjmarketresearch.com/reports/517059

About Us:Kandjmarketresearch.com is part of the KnowledgeNJournals Research Firm which provides premium progressive market research reports, statistical surveying, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments from hundreds of publishers around the world. We have almost all top publishers reports in our collection to provide you with instant online access to the worlds most complete and fresh database on a Daily Basis. We are at KandJ Market Research are inspired to help our clients grow by providing appropriate business insight with our huge market intelligence source.

Contact us:Yash KandJ Market Research (Part of KnowledgeNJournals Research)

USA:+1 (661) 636 6162 |IND:+91 9325802062Email:[emailprotected];Web:www.kandjmarketresearch.com

Read more from the original source:
Countertop Toaster Oven Report: Globally Players, Applications, Types And Forecast To 2029 - KYT24

UPDATE: An open house is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Saturday, October 24.

SPONSORED: This two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is located at 538 S. Eola Drive [GMap] in downtown Orlandos Historic Lake Cherokee neighborhood, just blocks away from popular Thornton Park restaurants, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and zoned for the A-rated Blankner K-8 and Boone High School.

This 1,012 SF home boasts a great front porch and abundant character and charm. The interior has been freshly painted and features original hardwood floors throughout and lots of natural light.

The kitchen features new stainless steel appliances and granite countertops and other features include a new roof installed in 2019, a new hot water heater from 2020, a new A/C unit from 2019, and a transferrable Terminex drywood and subterrandian termite bond.

The backyard is fully fenced and boasts a deck and a patio for an easy, low-maintenance outdoor entertaining space.

The asking price is $339,000.

Click HERE for a tour or contact Julie Bowyer, Keller Williams at the Parks, at 407-758-0153 or[emailprotected].

All photos by Gil Levy,Framed Listings.

Read more:
House of the Day: 2/2 Lake Cherokee home asking $339000 - Bungalower

The new Amazon Echo boasts a striking spheroidal design.

Amazon's fourth-gen Echo smart speaker is a ball to use -- literally. Alexa's new countertop speaker is spheroidal, a striking departure from the soft-cylindrical speakers of past generations. Six years after the first Echo launched 10,000 (or at least a few dozen) smart speakers, a reimagined design was overdue.

The big question for Amazon and its new Echo is, well, how reimagined is it? Voice assistants are growing and changing all the time, but for the most part, they do what they've been doing for years already: answer questions, set timers, control your smart home gadgets, play music and so on. So why buy a new Echo?

Amazon has faltered recently with its core smart speaker, as the more budget-friendly Dot has become a better entry point to the market and 2019's Echo Studio offers higher-end sound for audiophiles. That left the $100 Echo as a sort of undefined middle child in the growing family of Alexa-powered speakers. But 2020's Echo is genuinely different, and it's not just because of the new spheroidal profile. This Echo has turned up the sound quality and added higher-end smarts than the competition, all for the same $100 price tag, leaving it one of the most forward-looking smart speakers released in years.

Amazon's 2020 Echo boasts two important upgrades that should inform your decision to buy it or not: improved sound quality and smart home hardware.

When it comes to sound, the Echo represents a significant improvement over the third-gen speaker from 2019, likely in part to the fact that the third-gen Echo essentially copped its design almost wholesale from an older device. In addition, the Echo has adaptive sound, so it can adjust to the acoustics of the room in which you use it. I personally didn't notice dramatic differences in output from room to room, but the speaker sounded good in the various rooms and on the various surfaces I used for testing.

The Echo sounds better than the last generation, but how does it sound compared to the direct competition? Google's $100 Nest Audio, which dropped only a couple of weeks before the Echo, is a solid device. But the Echo simply boasts more power: the Echo's volume at 85% is about equivalent to the Nest's max.

What's more, between the Echo's 3-inch woofer and dual 0.8-inch tweeters, bass and lower-range mids are richer and stronger. Listening to bass-heavy music, like Lil Wayne's A Millior Travis Barker's recent Run the Jewels collaboration, Forever, the Echo keeps the low end thunderous even at high volumes, whereas the Nest Audio ends up feeling treble-heavy as the bass begins to drop out.

Now playing: Watch this: Amazon's spherical smart speaker offers entertainment...

6:34

That said, if you prefer more acoustic music, the Nest Audio provides marginally better performance of complex, midrange-heavy songs. Both speakers, though, really capture the texture of vocal-heavy music. The Echo, with its slightly better low range, sounds slightly better to my ear when playing Johnny Cash's gravelly baritone in Hurt, whereas the Nest Audio sounds slightly crisper in its treatment of Lianne La Havas's subtle vibrato in No Room for Doubt.

As with Google's new speaker, a pair of Echoes can be set up to work in stereo format. The effect is great, particularly with songs that take full advantage of stereo panning or asymmetric sound, such as The White Stripes' Seven Nation Armyor Pink Floyd's Money. Unlike the Nest Audio, the Echo has a 3mm line in/out port for connecting to other speakers.

Both Amazon's and Google's smart speakers offer great sound quality for the $100 price tag, but after side-by-side testing with dozens of songs, the Echo takes the prize by a small but significant margin. It's more powerful, and if you like hip-hop or trap music, the Echo will treat you well. Otherwise, they're fairly comparable, with the Nest boasting a slight edge when it comes to some acoustic and classical music.

The Echo's sound quality is admirable, but Amazon has distinguished its midrange smart speaker even more from Google's Nest Audio and Apple's HomePod Mini with its built-in hub, which features a Zigbee receiver and Amazon Sidewalk Bridge. If those things don't mean anything to you, don't worry. Essentially, Amazon has built in two new ways for smart home devices to connect to its smart speaker.

The Zigbee receiver lets the Echo connect with countless smart home devices, from lightbulbs to flood sensors, without the need for an additional hub -- the middleman device that translates various types of radio signals so your low-power sensors can communicate with your WiFi network. This small design decision has seriously broadened the range of gadgets Echo users can install in their house without the extra hassle and expense of a smart home hub.

I tried installing a couple of Zigbee devices and found the process to be totally painless. This isn't revolutionary -- in fact, Amazon included Zigbee receivers in their $150 Echo Plus and their $230 second-gen Echo Show -- but it is bringing better home connectivity to a broader audience, and that's a clear win for Amazon customers.

Plenty of window, flood and motion sensors rely on low-power communication protocols like Zigbee to extend their battery life.

What's less clear is how Amazon Sidewalk, which Amazon says will launch later this year, will affect Echo users. According to a recent Amazon blog post explaining it, Sidewalk will allow users to "contribute a small portion of their internet bandwidth, which is pooled together to create a shared network that benefits all Sidewalk-enabled devices in a community."

Practically, that could mean a larger functional network for devices toward the edges of your property -- say, outdoor lights or Tile tracking devices-- or even beyond. It's a cool idea, though how much you benefit from it will largely depend on where you live, and how big of a change it will represent for most customers remains to be seen.

The other home feature I was excited to try with the new Echo was setting up a home theater group. Connecting a voice assistant to your entertainment system feels like a real improvement, if you haven't done it before. And the new Echo, using Alexa, works pretty well here.

I used a 4K Fire TV Stick to create the group, and it felt great to be able to simply say, "Watch The Boys," to Alexa, only to have your TV turn on and begin streaming the Prime show. The speakers worked fairly well, though I had one drop out of the group while I was testing it. If you have fast Wi-Fi, then it seems this setup would work well. In a house with multiple people streaming or using bandwidth in other ways, although relying on your Echoes for stereo sound might lead to more frustration than it's worth.

Amazon's Fire TV Stick can join two Echoes in a home theater group in the app in under a minute.

The other big problem I ran into was streaming music. I expected to be able to stream music as usual from the Echo speakers while the TV was off, then flip it on to stream video when I wanted. Alas, streaming music on the connected Echoes automatically turned on the TV, which scrolled lyrics to the songs. And when I manually turned off the TV, the music also stopped.

Using Alexa to control your TV and dual Echoes for stereo sound as you stream is cool -- it's much better than you could do a few years ago. But the kinks still aren't worked out to the extent I want them to be, so I still wouldn't recommend picking up new Echoes for your entertainment center unless you have fantastic Wi-Fi and don't plan to use the speakers for music, too.

CNET Smart Home and Appliances

Get smart home reviews and ratings, video reviews, buying guides, prices and comparisons from CNET.

The best changes to the fourth-gen Echo might be sound quality and home smarts, but the most obvious change is its spherical design. Of course, this design isn't some aesthetic revelation: Most smart speakers look basically interchangeable at this point, with a layer of fabric mesh over soft geometric shapes. Google's recent Nest Audio is vaguely rectangular, and Apple's soon-to-launch HomePod Mini is similarly spheroidal.

The new Echo has a larger footprint, which isn't ideal for kitchen countertop usage.

The ball-like profile, according to Amazon, enables the improved sound output, but it also comes with a few practical drawbacks -- chiefly a larger footprint. If you're planning to replace the third-gen Echo or an Echo Dot with this speaker, you'll probably have to slightly reorganize your shelf. It's a small complaint, but the kitchen countertop is some of the hottest real estate in many homes, and dedicating more of it to a smart speaker might not feel ideal for those of us with limited space.

The Echo comes in three colors: the standard charcoal (black) and glacier white, plus a muted twilight blue. That's a bit more conservative than Google's array of pastels, but again, many of these aesthetic distinctions feel like minor quibbles.

Those criticisms aside, the 2020 Echo feels like a much more worthwhile gadget than last year's third-gen Echo. The powerful sound and smarts distinguish it from the competition, and with an ever-improving Alexa, buying a smart speaker hasn't felt this good in years.

See the article here:
Amazon Echo (2020) review: The best Alexa smart speaker in years - CNET