Lutron Smart Plug, AirPods Pro 3, iPhone 17, and a Switch to Visible – HGG659

In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I spent some time diving into a few recent tech updates and sharing a bit of what’s been going on with me. I started with a look at the Lutron PD-150UTB-BL smart outdoor plug — it’s built like a tank and performs great outdoors, but at $85, it’s hard to call it a good value. From there, I talked about Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3, which I recently picked up. The upgraded noise cancellation is noticeably better, and the new translation features are surprisingly effective for multilingual conversations.



I also shared a few thoughts on my recent move from T-Mobile to Visible. The switch couldn’t have been easier, and the cost savings were immediate. Toward the end, I mentioned some ongoing health issues that have slowed down my podcasting schedule a bit, but I’m still pushing through and doing what I can to keep the show moving forward each week. Thanks for listening!















In this episode of Home Gadget Geeks, I shared a few recent tech updates and some personal notes from the past couple of weeks. I kicked things off with a hands-on review of the Lutron PD-15OUT-BL Smart Outdoor Plug, which has been powering my shed setup through a full Nebraska summer. It’s built like a tank—weatherproof, durable, and designed to last—but at $85, it’s definitely on the pricey side compared to similar TP-Link or Energizer models that run around $25. If you’re already in the Lutron ecosystem, though, and need something that can survive both the summer heat and a Midwest winter, it’s worth considering.



Next, I talked about my experience with Apple’s AirPods Pro 3, which I picked up recently. The noise cancellation is fantastic—Apple claims double the isolation from the previous version, and I believe it. The real standout feature for me, though, is real-time translation. After pairing them with my new iPhone 17, I tested the translation feature in Portuguese and Spanish with colleagues from Brazil and Mexico. The conversation flow felt almost natural, with in-ear translations keeping up surprisingly well. It’s not quite Star Trek’s universal translator, but it’s getting close.



The episode also covered my switch from T-Mobile to Visible, Verizon’s budget-friendly carrier. The transition was smoother than expected—took all of 20 minutes once I had my transfer code from T-Mobile. So far, the coverage and speed have been solid, and at around $40 a month (after an introductory deal), it’s hard to complain. Visible uses eSIM activation, which made the setup between the iPhone 12 and 17 seamless.



Toward the end of the show, I gave a quick health update. A bit of nerve damage in my back has made sitting for long recording sessions tough, but physical therapy is helping and things are improving each week. I also talked a bit about chronic pain and how it’s given me new empathy for listeners who deal with it regularly.



Full show notes, transcriptions (available on request), audio and video at http://theAverageGuy.tv/hgg659



Join Jim Collison / @jcollison for show #659 of Home Gadget Geeks, brought to you by the Average Guy Network.



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