Gadgets: Outdoor lighting system

Pick a color, any color. Once you choose a single color, multiple colors or patterns and effects, you'll have a whole new look for the do-it-yourself Enbrighten outdoor lighting systems.

As far as installation goes, when a company tells me it's easy, it often isn't. But in the case of Enbrighten, it was even easier than I could have imagined. I started with Enbrighten Wi-Fi VIBE color-changing outdoor Eternity Eave lights, which come in strands of 50, 100 or 150 ($159.99/$249.99/$349.99) foot lengths with a choice of cords in white or black.

From start to finish, everything you need is in the box. The AC-powered Eternity Eave lights feature an RGBWIC LED connected by the cord. They are attached to your surface with the included premium 3M mounting brackets and screws, if needed, which attach to each rounded quarter-sized puck light. And if you are like me and unfamiliar with what exactly RGBWIC LED lighting is, Google AI says it is a type of LED strip light technology that combines red, green, blue, white and independent color control capabilities.

With the Eave lights, there are 36 light pucks for every 50 feet of cord. Multiple strand extensions can be connected up to 200 feet, according to the Enbrighten site. The non-AC plug end can be cut for specific lengths and has an all-weather rating ranging from minus 4 degrees up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes them ideal for backyards, boat docks, holiday decorating or almost anywhere on your property.

Once installed, the decorative high-quality lighting can change colors or a theme with the push of a button on its user-friendly companion app. This can be done by changing one color, selecting a pattern of colors, selecting a mode, grouping multiple sets together, or even picking a preset for specific holiday themes.

You can control the lights through your existing Wi-Fi with the Enbrighten app (iOS and Android) or by hitting the on/off button on the power pack. However, having instant automation is a lot more fun, so I controlled them through my Alexa for voice commands and scheduling to control the on/off (they also work with Google Home). Once they are on, the fun begins with endless possibilities to control the modes, schedule and what I'm sure are millions of color combinations.

The preset modes are a lot of fun, ranging from holiday themes like Mardi Gras and Christmas to Valentine's Day and the Fourth of July. You can also create your own and save it for future use. Individual colors can be selected and used at full power or dimmed to your choice.

While the Eternity Eave lights can change your structure, Enbrighten's new Eternity Landscape Lights will brighten and change the atmosphere for the landscaped areas. Each puck-shaped LED light also has RGBWIC LEDs and many of the same features, including connecting to your Wi-Fi for app controls, an all-weather IP67 rating, and an easy DIY installation. Within the app, you can also choose colors, modes and effects.

They are available in 33-foot lengths (two 16.5-foot strands), which include 8 lights ($99.99) and a 16.5-foot extension strand with four lights ($39.99). You can extend them to 150 feet with 36 lights, with one end connected to an AC power source. Each light has four LEDs with frosted lenses and attaches to an individual light stake for a stable ground installation hidden behind plants, shrubs, or trees.

A side note on Enbrighten sales: They donate 50% of their net profits to humanitarian causes worldwide.

https://enbrightenme.com

Twelve South's new AirFly Pro 2 is a must-have if you're flying. Most airlines' TV and movie choices are great, but getting the sound to your Bluetooth headphones isn't something they have thought about, so you have to lug along a set of wired 3.5 mm headphones for a direct connection.

The pocket-sized AirFly Pro 2 makes the Bluetooth connection for you. The 3.5 mm auxiliary plug goes into the in-flight entertainment system. Then, put your Bluetooth headphones into pairing mode, and with the press of the AirFly Pro 2, they are connected. In addition to airline use, it is ideal for making the same connection to gym equipment and car stereos.

AirFly has been around for a few years. Still, the new Pro 2 model has some enhanced features, including the attached cable, an upgraded Qualcomm audio chip for better sound, faster pairing, and over 25 hours of battery life after a USB-C charge.

But please remember to unplug it and take it when you land. You have been warned.

https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/airfly-pro-2 $59.99

Having a travel charger is one thing, but the EZQuest WorldTravel 65W charger works in over 200 countries with 4 different retractable plug types and charges up to six devices simultaneously.

A big feature that stood out to me is the GaN charger's power delivery, which enables it to charge more powerful devices such as laptops. The PD can deliver up to 65 watts of power. The six connections include a single AC universal port, 4 USB-C ports and a single USB-A port.

There is a built-in 10 amp fuse for safe power, and the compact (2.8 by 2.0 by 2.25 inches) WorldTravel charger provides overcurrent, over-voltage, over-temperature, and short-circuit protection. The amount of power you get for each device being charged is determined by intelligent power allocation, which results from the devices being connected at once.

WorldTravel 65W is $59.99; there is also the WorldTravel 35W with many of the same features but fewer watts (35) for $45.99. If you use this for devices like a laptop, check your laptop's power needs first.

https://ezq.com/worldtravel-65w-gan-5-port-with-pd-wall-charger-details.html