Three years ago I tested out a popular ice maker by Frigidaire, which I’ve used practically nonstop since then. In early 2026, however, I saw a news story from CES while it was here in Las Vegas, and they featured a smart ice maker by Govee Life, which I knew I had to try… and that time has arrived. How does this $500 model stack up against my faithful $100 Frigidaire? And while you’re here, don’t miss this week’s fresh deals and an epic drink taste test over on Freakin’ 2.

This week I tested the GoveeLife Smart Ice Nugget Maker, which is a $500 countertop ice maker with app controls, a large side water tank, customizable lighting, and the ability to make a lot of chewable nugget ice pretty quickly.

I compared it against the Frigidaire ice maker I’ve been using for the past three years, and the results were not even close. I also attempted to make ice remotely while out at Lake Mead.

It’s big, heavy, and definitely expensive, so it’s not going to be for everyone. But as someone who goes through a lot of ice, especially with my daily iced tea habit, I found this to be a compelling option.

Don’t have time to watch the review? Check out my written version here.

One potential issue with bug zappers is that you have to run a long extension cord to power them. This model is rechargeable and includes a 10W solar panel, so you aren’t as limited where you can place it.

A quality backpack can make a huge difference in your travels, and this high-quality Oakley model is currently half off. It has a 30L capacity and padded compartment for a laptop. Reviews are solid.

This 20V rechargeable leaf blower typically runs about $90 but it’s currently on sale for $40. This would make a nice addition to your spring and summer yardwork regimen. Just don’t use it at the crack of dawn on Saturday mornings!

If you’re freezing soup, sauce, chili, or even cooked rice, try putting it into a freezer bag and laying it flat on a baking sheet until it freezes. Once frozen, you can stand the bags upright like files or stack them neatly.

It saves a surprising amount of freezer space, and because the food freezes in a thin layer instead of a big block, it also thaws faster when you need it. Just make sure to label the bag with the date before it goes into the freezer, because frozen mystery meals all start looking the same after a while!

My latest video over on Freakin’ 2 includes an extensive taste test, or should I say taste guess, and ranking of 14 flavors of BUM Energy. A lot of these flavors are much harder to identify when you’re blindfolded. My correct percentage wasn’t very impressive, but I had a lot of fun anyway!

Remember Wish? Before Temu, that was the go-to discount marketplace online. It was 5 years ago today that I posted my 5th installment of a series in which I bought items marketed on Wish as “As Seen on TV” items, and then I compared them to the real thing.