Dormi - Dont Throw Away your Old Android When You Update, Use It As A Baby Monitor or Security Listening Device

Dormi is a product for the modern era. Y'know, most of us who use smartphones, update them every 2 years at the end of our contract.

There are recycle programs out there, but why not, instead of disposing of, selling or recycling your old phone keep using it but as a baby monitor (or any listening device actually).

Dormi is an app for Android that does exactly that. All that is required is to download the app to 2 Android devices and pair them.

There is no need to have a telephone network connection on your old phone because Dormi uses the WiFi feature built into most existing Android phones. so there is no extra phone line cost involved.

The added ability to communicate back with your child, if necessary means you may not even have to get up and tend them.

Unobtrusive and silent, it works in the background oblivious to the surroundings. It may even make a potentially secret listening device if you so desire.

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Carlock - iPhone And Android Vehicle Tracker Made Simple

 Trust the Europeans to come out with a sensational smartphone compatible product that enables real time GPS tracking of your most prized possession - your vehicle.

This absurdly intelligent idea to use the OBD (on board diagnostic) port, found on just about every modern day vehicle and connect a small (almost hidden) dongle that operates on the GSM network (AT&T or TMobile), install the appropriate app from either Apple iTunes or Google Play and you suddenly have a super intelligent vehicle monitor.

The system works using the GSM (Global System for Mobiles) telephone network, where the dongle houses a mini SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card that you can purchase from AT&T or T Mobile on a prepaid plan.

 Plug the dongle into your OBD port, usually located under your dash and it receives its power from there.

Install the appropriate app from your network provider to your iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S running on both iOS 6 or iOS 7 platforms. Android 4.0 smartphones and up.


Currently available across the European Union, the plan is to release the product to the USA and Latin American markets toward the end of 2014.

The product is designed to work straight out of the box, which means no learning curve is necessary for any person to install, use and operate the Carlock. Because the product is plugged into the vehicles OBD port, it constantly trickle charges the built in battery, yet doesnt affect any of the vehicles operating systems. 

The product will come with a 2 year warranty. See the source below.

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Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - Demand So Strong, We Sold Out Quickly

I apologize for yet another post and picture of the Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock but this product continues to defy all our sales records.

We are now sold out of all colors.

New inventory is not expected for another couple of days (of the Satin Nickel) and we expect that most of them will be gone next week, due to covering back orders and the speed in which this product sells.

It is not that we are unhappy selling them, but keeping up with demand is a challenge.

We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you will continue to visit our site often to keep abreast of the latest news.

Thanks for your understanding.

Is GM Guilty Of Misbehaviour?

There has been much talk across news media in recent weeks about General Motors and their knowledge, since 2001 of a fatal problem with the ignition switch in a number of vehicles they produce.

This issue relates to the recent recall of over 1.5 million vehicles with faulty ignition key switches.

An article in yesterday's St Louis Post Dispatch (see source below) highlighted GM's knowledge about the problem since 2001.

Summarized from the Post Dispatch, "In that environment, basic components could take low priority, such as the ignition switch that GM sourced for Ions, Cobalts and other models. The right to manufacture the switch had been won by Dublin, Ireland-based Eaton Corp., according to documents from a wrongful-death lawsuit filed against GM. Delphi bought Eaton’s switch division in 2001.

Inside that switch, which cost as little as $2 to $5 to produce, was a spring loose enough to allow the ignition to switch out of the “on” position when bumped, a risk that would grow if the key was weighted by a heavy ring, GM has said. The turned key would then shut off the engine and power steering and disable the air bags.

The fatal flaw in the ignition switch, which GM now says its engineers discovered in 2001 while developing the Ion, has spurred the automaker’s biggest crisis since its 2009 bankruptcy and bailout."

As a locksmith, I choose to not work on automobiles at this time for various reasons. This revelation from GM is further disturbing to the locksmith industry I suggest, because there are many automotive locksmiths who are called upon to make keys for GM vehicles. In making a key for a GM vehicle that has one of the faulty ignition switches, if the customer has an issue, post locksmith service, usually they will claim warranty from the locksmith and most reputable legitimate locksmiths will honor their labor to the customer...

Lockwood 7444 Keyed Pocket Door Lock - Price Increase

Due to unfavorable exchange rates and increased materials cost, the manufacturer in their infinite wisdom are forced to increase the cost of this especially popular product.

We have not determined the new price yet for the product, but we anticipate a 15% price increase will be necessary.

We are currently sold out of the satin pearl color option as it is the most popular requested option.

We have about 15 units left in polished chrome that we will maintain at our original price of $115.00 + shipping. Compared to other competing products in this class, the Lockwood 7444 keyed Pocket Door Lock is still the most competitively priced option for use on pocket/cavity sliding doors.

If you are not concerned about the color, hurry and order today while the current price remains!

We are expecting a new delivery of the satin pearl option in about 2 weeks time. We appreciate your patience and thank you for your understanding.

EDIT 3/21/14 We only have 10 units left in Polished Chrome.

Price Rise Season Is Again Upon Us.

It is unfortunate that price rises are a natural part of life in a capitalist economy. Due to increasing costs of raw materials and shipping and taxes, many companies are forced to increase their prices to remain solvent.

Listed below, are some companies that have announced price rises effective immediately.

Olympus Lock

Dynalock

Schlage (Commercial & Residential)

Von Duprin

LCN

Ives

Glynn-Johnson

Steelcraft

Schlage (Electronics)

Dexter Brands

Belwith

Not all companies are announcing price rises at this time. Our Meroni product line continues to maintain 2012 price structures. The fabulous Meroni products service the residential and commercial markets with their wide range of specialty door hardware, handlesets, cabinet locks, door closers and specialty Automotive security solutions .

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Meroni Nova Entry Set Replaces Broken Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point Entry System

 We were recently called to one of our returning customers to provide a solution to secure their patio entrance door.
They had been using a Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point entry system on this door for many years, however the product had not worked for about the last 7 years, easily.

These doors and all the windows around the room used surface mounted, raised Venetian blinds that caused them to have to reverse the lever handle on the inside of the door, to be able to use the door. This was rather unsightly and as their children grew, became a handling issue that eventually caused the lock mechanism to break.

Having performed our services for them in the past, they called me to see if i could fix their latest issue where the lock had completely stopped operating from the outside too.

On my initial attendance, in which we always offer a free estimate, we determined that the entire unit be replaced. Unfortunately Peachtree Citadel Multi-Point locks of the particular vintage are no longer made. We were able to source a supplier who could provide us with a new lock, but the entire mechanism requires to be removed to be able to fix it.

We offered a solution that would work far better and they would regain use of the inside of the door with a normal type handle that would work easily with the raised Venetian Blinds already fitted to their door.


We were still required to remove the old Peachtree Mechanism, not a simple task and could then install a Meroni Nova N13 Entry set to their door. We removed the faceplate from the Peachtree lock, intending to reuse it and used large push plates in polished brass on both inside and outside to cover the old holes left by the old hardware. The Meroni Nova lock uses a push button to pull the latch back, so there is no knob to turn or lever to pull. This action means that they can operate and lock the door easily while maintaining aesthetics.

The pictures above are deliberately large to allow you to click on them for a close up view.

It took about 4 hours to complete the project, but the customer is ever so satisfied and we workers are pleased with our efforts too.

Rip Off Artists And Con Men Continue To Proliferate Across The St Louis Region

About 4 years ago, the Missouri Attorney General was instrumental in catching a gang of crooks deliberately scamming consumers by impersonating locksmiths.

That particular gang became well known across the country for willfully ripping off unsuspecting consumers.

The locksmith industry is one of the oldest industries in the world. There are a small number of qualified locksmiths across this country who still do business with ethics and morals, but they are seeing the trade brought to disrepute by sheisters bent on ripping people off.

In June last year, #ABC's The Lookout played a segment where they caught and filmed the leader of the scam operations, who has since escaped the country without paying fines and taxes owed.

But the scammers continue to trick customers into using them with nefarious search engine tactics. In fact, if you type "Locksmith Your City", replacing "Your City" with the name of your town, and press search, you will be bombarded with ads that point you to these companies.

(after the break, we will list some of the companies and their websites. we'd appreciate anyone reading this article to list other scammer companies in the comments) All comments are subject to moderation.