Tag: schools

Categories
Review

Review: Anywhere Can Be a Cinema with LUMOS AURO v2 Projector

So, 1st Blackheath Scouts had a movie night at the Scout hall, and we needed a solid data projector to show the movie. We’ve used a very old Epson projector in the past, but this time, we got our hands on the brand-new LUMOS AURO  v2 Home Cinema projector. Big shoutout to LUMOS for letting us try out their latest model. Spoiler alert: It was a game-changer.

Unboxing and Setup

The kit arrived in two boxes: one for the stand and one for the projector. Setting up the stand was a piece of cake – join the two poles, attach the base plate, and top it off with the 360-degree ball head. It took less than five minutes, and voila! A rock-solid stand ready for action.

Unboxing the LUMOS AURO  v2 was like opening a present. Inside, there was the projector, a remote control, a power cable, and an HDMI cable. The only thing missing? Two AAA batteries for the remote. No biggie, though.

Setting up the projector was just as easy. I attached it to the ball head adapter on the stand, plugged in the power cable, and switched it on. That’s it. Simple as that.

Projection Magic

I initially placed the projector in the middle of the Scout hall, thinking I needed some distance to fit the screen I had set up. Boy, was I wrong! The image filled the entire back wall of the hall, which is 9m wide and 3m high. Next time, I’m bringing a bigger screen to take full advantage of this beast’s capabilities. It can project up to a massive 200-inch screen if you have the space!

Once I adjusted the projector’s distance to the screen, it went into an auto-focus routine that left me in awe. In just a few seconds, the image was pin-sharp. Super impressive.

Testing and Performance

The LUMOS AURO  v2 is Wi-Fi enabled, so I quickly connected it to my phone’s personal hotspot. Streaming YouTube videos was a breeze, and the preloaded officially certified apps (YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and more) worked flawlessly. Just log in, and you’re good to go.

The image resolution is top-notch – super sharp, with vibrant colours and great contrast. Even with the hall lights on, the brightness was incredible. A quick peek at the manual revealed why: 1080p native resolution and 6000 lumens. No wonder it was so bright!

The audio was equally impressive. Despite its compact size, the AURO v2 pumped out loud, clear sound with decent bass. Its certified Dolby Audio Dual (2) Speaker system had rich, strong bass and immersive sound. It was more than enough for a home cinema setup, though I added extra speakers in the large Scout hall to combat the inevitable Scout chatter and popcorn fights.

Next, I tested a film loaded onto a USB stick. Again, the AURO  v2 didn’t disappoint. The image quality, colour vibrance, and contrast depth were superb. The Scouts started arriving, popcorn was popped, bean bags were prepped, and we were ready to roll.

The remote control was a pleasant surprise too. Easy to navigate in the dark and worked all the way from the back of the hall. A big win in my book.

Additional Features and User Experience

The projector’s user interface was a breeze to navigate. Everything was intuitive and easy to find, with no confusing menus. The remote control was just right – no unnecessary buttons, making it easy to use even in the dark.

The AURO  v2 was silent during operation, a delightful contrast to the noisy old Epson. And it stayed cool throughout the movie, just lukewarm at the end, so we could pack it away immediately without waiting for it to cool down.

One standout feature was the automatic keystone and focus adjustment. Move the projector, and it quickly and accurately adjusted itself. Super handy and very impressive.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the LUMOS  AURO  v2 Home Cinema projector is an impressive piece of kit. The build quality is solid, the image and sound quality are mind-blowing, and it’s incredibly easy to use. At $498, it’s a steal compared to other projectors that cost three times as much. The Scouts loved the viewing experience, and so did I. It’s five stars from me.

Top marks, LUMOS. You’ve got a winner here.

Grab A Discount

If interested, you may use the promo code “MUMTPO25OFF” for a special -$25 off any purchase during website checkout. 

Categories
Family

Healthy Habits with Dettol

Do you start to worry when winter approaches? Do the kids get colds and the flu easily? Does it happen more now that they go to school or day care? I have had my fair share of sickness with the twins and being exposed to more germs at school can make things harder for the whole family.

So how do you all remain healthy in cold and flu season?

Make sure you teach your little ones about proper hand hygiene techniques. I’m sure you are already telling your kids to make sure they wash their hands after eating, the toilet and so on. I know I do.

This hand wash is fab as it smells divine and of course gets rid of the nasty germs.
This hand wash is fab as it smells divine and of course gets rid of the nasty germs.

Parents are teaching their children about proper hygiene but it can fall down when they are at school or elsewhere. Do you know if there is a policy to wash hands after eating or playing? I don’t, but will definitely ask now.

The lovely people at Dettol sent me this care pack so we can not get sick this winter. It has helped and with us getting a cold while on our holidays I have used this to ensure we don't get anymore nasties.
The lovely people at Dettol sent me this care pack so we can not get sick this winter. It has helped and with us getting a cold while on our holidays I have used this to ensure we don’t get anymore nasties.

The simplest and cheapest way to make sure you don’t spread germs on your hands is to wash them well with soap.

To help get the message across to little people Dettol have teamed up with Tina Harris, who stars  as Lah-Lah from Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band and she has created the below song to help encourage kids to wash hands and to stay healthy this winter.

The Dettol Happy Handwashing Song

Wish to download the audio, then click here

 

Did you know?

Dettol has also created a free initiative available to all primary schools in Australia. It has been developed alongside the “NSW Department of Education and Training to provide teachers with a range of curriculum aligned resources to help students stay happy and healthy.” If you wish to recommend that your school take part download the letter and give to your school or email Dettol to be part of the program now.

In my pack from Dettol I have a laminated card. This will be put up in the bathroom once the renovations are complete. It lists all 5 tips to ensure you have really well washed hands.
In my pack from Dettol I have a laminated card. This will be put up in the bathroom once the renovations are complete. It lists all 5 tips to ensure you have really well washed hands.

These handy wipes are so great. They help make sure the counter tops and any surface is clean and rid of germs. Dettol Surface Cleanser Wipes are great to keep with you for any emergency.
These handy wipes are so great. They help make sure the counter tops and any surface is clean and rid of germs. Dettol Surface Cleanser Wipes are great to keep with you for any emergency.

Have you succumbed to the flu or a cold during winter? Or have you managed to dodge any germs so far? If you have what do you do to remain healthy during winter?

Thanks so much to Dettol for sending me a care package. It has come in very handy.

 

Categories
News

Siblings at different schools?

School kid. Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
School kid. Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How would you feel if you had to enrol your kids at separate schools? Yes this is happening, in the inner city parents have been told that due the number of children growing at inner city schools the boundaries are tightening.

Schools have told parents from Annandale North and Leichhardt Public Schools that there is no guarantee siblings will be able to enrol. Some parents have found themselves going to different suburbs to just drop each child off at school.

I cannot imagine how this adds to the day of stress just to get to work on time, and before you do that you have to navigate two different areas, traffic and all that goes with it to drop your kids at school. Not great if you ask me, it is quite the opposite and brings to mind some language that is not fit to print. You get where I am going with this. A stiff drink might be required for this stupid policy, really???? Why would you want your kids in different schools?

How do you get to each place at the same time for pick up? How would you get to both schools for functions/plays/sporting events and more? Maybe in a fantasy world, all events would be nicely spread out and would not clash. However in the real world, all events tend to fall on the one day and someone is going to be upset you did not turn up. Insert very upset face and angry parent symbol here.

Jamie Parker a Greens MP has been quoted in a Sydney Morning Herald article saying that the policy is cruel and not family friendly. Anything that makes you place kids in separate schools and makes you travel and puts you out is not family friendly. I wonder if the people who made these policies have their kids in the same school.

In the same article it tells us:

“An increase of 900 primary school children has been projected for the electorate over the next five years, but there are only 16 spaces in schools, including music and art rooms, that can be turned into more classrooms. Another 39 classrooms are needed and more siblings face being turned away as schools reach capacity.”

From what I gather it is down to very bad planning from the Department of Education for not allowing for growth and of course thinking that siblings would not want or need to attend the same school. Mr Parker is also blaming the former Labor government for this issue.

Annandale is an inner city school that is running out of room. In 2008 their enrollments were 353 and now it is 440. One idea was to have a demountable classroom on the small playground but there is no room.

I am not sure what the answer is if schools don’t have room. Maybe a new school/schools? Although creating, and building a new school takes time and might not answer the short term issues, but it would address the future ones.

Has your child been turned away from the school due to lack of space? Did you have to go to a neighbouring area? Let us know.