Tile Mate Tracks My Luggage from Toronto to Manila: A Bluetooth Tracker's Journey

Putting Tile Mate to the Test: YYZ to MNL Flight Experience

I'm an Android user, so when it comes to luggage trackers Tile Mate is my go-to option. While not as widely discussed as Apple AirTags, it serves as a reliable tracker for those outside the Apple ecosystem. So, how did Tile Mate fare on my recent flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL)? Let's find out.

Initial Tracking Success, then Radio Silence

Before check-in at YYZ, the Tile app easily connected to my luggage. However, after dropping it off the connection vanished – likely due to the increased distance. Tracking attempts at the gate and onboard proved futile.

Taipei Layover: More Frustration with Tile Mate

At Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE), I repeated the same tracking attempt at check-in and on the plane, encountering the same frustrating silence.

Manila MNL: A Glimmer of Hope (Finally!)

At MNL, I held onto a sliver of hope. Thankfully, just before the luggage carousel started rolling my Tile Mate sprang to life, showing my bag's location as it approached. Relief washed over me, but the near miss left me with mixed feelings.

Mixed Verdict on Tile Mate's Effectiveness

While Tile Mate ultimately delivered at MNL, its performance throughout the journey left me divided. Its inability to track throughout most of the trip, especially during crucial moments like flight connections, raises concerns about its reliability for long-distance travel.

However, a few silver linings remain.

Rough GPS location potential: Tile's network of app-running devices can offer a rough GPS location when a connection is established, providing some peace of mind.

Android compatibility: For Android users like myself, Tile Mate remains a valuable option in the limited world of luggage trackers.

Final Thoughts

Despite the frustrations, I'll continue using Tile Mate, aware of its limitations and hopeful for future improvements. It's not perfect, but Tile Mate remains a viable option for Android users seeking a basic tracking solution , albeit with a few caveats.

Top 3 Travel Accessories We Used for Month-Long Philippines Trip

Best 3 Travel Accessories for Travel

We traveled in the Philippines for one month. There were a few travel accessories we packed, but we used some more than others. Today, I will go through the 3 most-used travel accessories that came in handy during the trip.

1. Travel Power Strip – This is a slim version portable travel power strip or extension cord with many USB ports, USB C ports, and regular outlets. It even has a fast-charging USB C port. This was the single most useful travel accessory that helped us a lot. Not every hotel has a power outlet near the table or bed and this piece was a lifesaver. 

2. Small Power Bank – This is a Mini 10000mAh fast charging Power Bank. This Portable Charger is small and lightweight. We kept it with us all the time to charge our devices. It is especially helpful when you are out on a long day tour.

3. Portable Travel Fan – This is a small travel fan that folds into a power bank and also works as a flashlight. We used it all the time, as it was too hot in the Philippines. We also used it as a flashlight at night in Boracay where some streets were not well lit.

I have created a video to visualize all these items in the link here: Our Top 5 Travel Accessories & Apps For Month-Long Philippines Trip

I do not do any affiliated, paid, sponsored, or Patreon reviews in order to give you honest and unbiased opinions. To purchase any one of these products, please search on Google and find the most suitable one according to your preferences. 

Rode Wireless Me – First Impressions & The Ultimate User Guide

Best Wireless Audio Mic for Content Creators - Rode Wireless Me

Rode just released its new wireless system Rode Wireless Me for social media, which is a trimmed down version of its Rode Wireless Go II. Rode Wireless Me has some unique features, but is also missing some features.

Rode Wireless Me Best Features

GainAssist

By far, this is the best feature Rode Wireless Me offers and I believe no other wireless audio system currently offers this feature. What this means is that Rode Wireless Me will automatically adjust its gain (loudness) without the need to set anything up manually.

GainAssist takes away a lot of guess work and hassle and the unit is ready to work when you are ready.

Me Mic

The receiver has a built-in microphone (the ‘ME Mic’), allowing Rode Wireless Me to record from both the receiver and transmitter. This is very handy when you need to record 2 people like when you are interviewing someone.

I haven’t seen any other wireless recorder offering this feature without buying a 2nd transmitter.

There are some features Rode Wireless Me is missing as stated below:

- Doesn’t have any audio recording meter on the devices. So, it’s hard to tell if it’s level or even if it’s recording.
- Doesn’t have any options to change settings on devices. You will have to open the Rode Central app and connect with a USB cable to do that.
- Me Mic doesn’t have any microphone port to add an external mic.

- Transmission range is 100m, half than most other similar wireless mics.

If the shortcomings are not so important, with its unique features Rode Wireless Me is something to take a look at before deciding on your next wireless mic system.

I have a full tutorial video on Rode Wireless Me here:

Rode Wireless Me - The Complete Beginners Guide Instruction Manual

What Is a Smart Business Card (Smart Digital Business Card)

How to Use a Smart Digital Business Card

Smart business cards are the business cards of the future and making a lot of buzz these days. I will give you some highlights about smart business card in this article.

A smart business card is a plastic (they can be metal also) business card, which looks like a regular business card. But it has a scannable QR code to provide contact information or you can even tap it on your NFC-enabled phone to transfer the contact info as a V file.

A smart business card also comes with an app which lets you scan a QR code without the need of a physical smart card. You can update your scannable information any time on the app or on a desktop. This is big difference when compared to a paper business card, as once you print a paper business card it cannot be changed anymore.

Another advantage a smart business card provides is that it never runs out. So once you have one, people can scan or tap forever and you don’t have to worry about running out of cards.

Two big disadvantages of a smart business card are that people may be reluctant to tap and download a vcf file, which is your contact card, thinking it maybe some kind of scam. Also, you have to rush people to scan the QR code, which may not be viable sometimes.

On the other hand, you can hand over a paper business card without rushing and I think you would have a better chance of a follow-up when someone has a physical business card and they wont be thinking of any sort of scam or some sort of unauthorized access to their phone by installing a vcf file.

While both a paper business card with a QR code and a smart digital business card with a QR code and NFC tapping option have advantages and disadvantages, I think paper business cards will still survive a long time.

You can watch this video here for more: What Is A Smart Business Card

NIVEA MEN Shaving Cream Review | Men’s Best Shaving Cream (Budget-Friendly)

NIVEA MEN Protect & Care Moisturizing Shaving Cream | Best Shaving Cream

I have learned to love the Nivea scent since I was a kid and anything bearing the Nivea name or scent would pique my interest enough to try it. This feeling is even more strong when the product is a men’s product.

Nivea regular shaving cream for men was something I wanted to try and review for some time. Nivea has a few variations of men's shaving cream. Today I will look at the NIVEA MEN Protect & Care Moisturizing Shaving Cream.

Its blue package is a classic and showcases the Nivea logo and design. I was looking for where it was made, but it was not clear. I am assuming this is made in Germany, but I may be incorrect.

Some of the Nivea Men shaving cream ingredients are Aloe Vera & Pro-Vitamin B5. My skin felt creamy and supple while shaving with Nivea Men shaving cream.

I used a shaving brush and double-edge razor. I found its lather to be not too overwhelming and just right. The razor glide was very smooth and kept my face moisturized throughout the shave. I felt the Nivea Men shaving cream game to be a balanced shave without too much lather or heavy fragrance, which may be a common thing for other shaving creams.

One thing no other shaving cream can beat Nivea Men shaving cream on is its price. I saw it priced at $4 CAD in the past, but now it ranges around $4.50 to $6.50, which is a bargain for a quality shaving cream.

I am happy with Nivea Men shaving cream and you can’t go wrong with this product. This is not a paid or affiliated review.

You can view my video review here: Nivea Men shaving cream review