Why we don’t have Black Friday

The adverts are already shouting at us: Black Friday is back on 24 November 2023. Just not for us. We are avoiding this consumer spectacle. Black Friday comes from the USA and marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. It is the day after Thanksgiving, a very cosy family celebration in the tradition of … Read more

Dual Arc defensive torch absurdly overpriced

As soon as it gets dark earlier in the evening, an exaggerated advertising campaign tries to talk you into buying a torch for 42 euros. The device is described as a “dual arc defensive torch” and a “multifunctional torch with double arc”. It is a well-known and quite good aluminium torch with 2000 lumen light … Read more

NeoWatt is a scam

Once again, scammers have launched a large-scale online campaign in which they try to promote a completely useless device as an electricity-saving miracle. The advertisement for NeoWatt states: “NeoWatt is a small, compact, affordable and easy-to-use plug-in device that prevents unnecessary power from entering your electrical lines and overloading your network.” But that’s untrue. NeoWatt … Read more

Install Windows 11 on (almost) any hardware – solve TPM problem

The installation of Windows 11 on older computers and laptops often fails with an error message. Often the lack of support for TPM 2.0 is criticised, or the installation wizard reports other errors. Nevertheless, Windows 11 can be installed on many devices and used for everyday purposes, including receiving updates. However, some hardware requirements must … Read more

Electrical appliances sell on Amazon with the brand AURUM

In the past, anyone who wanted to sell electrical or electronic devices on Amazon could do so without specifying a brand. In the meantime, however, it is compulsory to have a brand name on Amazon for all devices that fall under the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act, because a brand name is a prerequisite for … Read more

AURUM disposal concept with WEEE number for 50 euros per year

Following an amendment to the Electronics Act, anyone offering electronic devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones or smartwatches for sale to private individuals in Germany has recently been obliged to indicate the WEEE number of the company that ensures the disposal of the product on the product page as well as on their invoice. … Read more

Pro Power Save is fraud

The completely useless Voltbox has first been renamed Ecotex. Then to EnergyFix. And now Pro Power Save. To avoid repetition, we refer to our article from June 2022 on the complete uselessness of the device. The constant renaming is obviously intended to prevent consumers from taking note of experiences that others have had with the … Read more

Blackout due to fan heaters?

Blackout in Toronto 2003, CC BY-SA 3.0, Urheber: Camerafiend

A spectre is haunting Germany, the spectre of a nationwide power blackout. Politicians, authorities and the mass media have allied against this spectre – and have already named a culprit to be pilloried if, despite all the ingenuity of those responsible, a power blackout cannot be avoided in the winter of 2022/23: It is the … Read more

Continuous disruption with Gmail

Since August 2022, a significant number of emails addressed to accounts at the Google mail service Gmail have not been delivered. Google has so far not responded to enquiries about this. We have therefore removed all Gmail addresses from our newsletter and recommend that account holders re-register with another email address that is not with … Read more