Maxwell Holmes & the Great Fruit Juice Felony #spon

When last we left our Siamese Sherlock, he had just "hung his shingle".
His new enterprise: Maxwell Holmes Investigations.
We join our sleuth mid- , uh, sleuthing.

Maxwell: *humming to himself* doop-dee-doo-dee-do ....

Maxwell:  Hrm ....

Faraday: Maxie, what are you doing in the refrigerator?
(And if you score some salmon, save me some!)

Maxwell: Don't bother me now, boy. Can't you see I'm working?

Faraday: Working on WHAT? Stealing noms from the fridge? Lemme see.
Seriously, Maxie. I didn't think you had it in you.

Maxwell: NO, I'm on a case right now.  Don't you think of anything else?
Faraday:  Yes. Wand toys ....

Maxwell: Off the chair, bro. I need to figure out how to install my new Vimtag Mini Cube security camera in here so I can gather evidence for my big case.

Faraday: WHAT big case?!?

Maxwell: Momma suspects someone is committing Fruit Juice Felony.

Faraday: Fruit Juice WHAT-ery?
Maxwell: Felony. Swigging RIGHT outta the container. Evidently that's a big no-no for humans.
Faraday: I hate to be the one to point it out to the techno-kitty and all, but how do you propose to power the camera, inside this thing?

Maxwell: Hrm, you have a point. Maybe I can hide one among the onions on top ....

Maxwell: Yeah ...that's the ticket. The suspect will never, uh, suspect.

Cut to close-up shot of Vimtag Mini Cube:

Allie: Oh Maxie. Honestly, don't you think you're taking this sleuthing a bit too far?

Maxwell: And why do you care, Allie, hmmm? Are you perhaps in CAHOOTS with the Perp?

Maxwell: Well, ARE you?

Allie: I don't have to dignify that with an answer!
*flounces off*

Will Maxwell ever find out whodunit?
Will the Vimtag Mini Cube record incriminating evidence?
What fee will Maxie charge for his services?

These answers, and more, below:

Faraday: oooooh, somekitty's in trouble now. How'd you get that footage, Maxie?

Maxwell: Elementary, my dear Faraday.

I suspected Allie was an accomplice, and as she'd seen me place the Vimtag Mini Cube on top of the refrigerator, I deduced she would signal the "All Clear" to the Perp if I removed it.

It's so small, she never noticed I had moved it to the countertop. And its black coloring allowed it to blend right in.

As they say in my line of work ... Case Closed!

Now, Momma ... About my fee ....

Faraday: WAIT, Maxie. Waaaaaitaminit! This is some pawesome blackmail material.

Let me just write up a list with our demands ....

***

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FCC Disclaimer: While this is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to photograph and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam, we giggled all the way through the creation of this. We hope you had fun, too. All opinions are our own. 
And YES. Marty really WAS caught swigging from the carton. 
Shameful. Truly shameful.
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Maxwell Hangs His Shingle #spon

The nice people at Vimtag contacted us recently, and asked if wanted to test drive their new mini camera. Since Maxwell commandeered our first Vimtag for his BirdTV channel, Faraday and Allie were all for it.

When it arrived, we saw immediately why it was called the M1 "mini cube" - that thing is nice and compact!

We were also impressed by the packaging. The camera was nestled in a well-padded foam cushion. The accessories were also neatly organized and compartmentalized in their own cushioned spots.

And - surprising no one - somekitty quickly took ownership of the new tech.

Me: Maxie, don't you think you should offer this up to Allie or Faraday first, since you're already using the other one?
Maxwell: But I have PLANS for this, Momma. And it's not like either of them would know what to do with it anyways ...
Faraday: I HEARD THAT, MAXIE!!!!

Faraday: Seriouslies, Maxie. You monopolize our other Vimtag, and now this??

AND ... does Daddy know you're messing around in his tool box?

Maxwell: Well, I told Momma about my plans for the Mini Cube, and she asked if I was planning to hang out my shingle.

Faraday: What plans, Maxie? And whazza shingle got to do wif it?

Maxwell: Me and this Vimtag Mini Cube are going to solve mysteries.
Though why I'd need a shingle for that is a mystery to me!

Faraday: Waitaminit, Maxie. Mysteries?!? I'm the Investigative Reporter in the fambly.

Maxwell: Dood, my client doesn't need breaking news. She needs brilliant deduction and subtle sleuthing. And we all know that you don't do subtle. That's why she hired ...

Maxwell Holmes!

***

Before we reveal anything else about Maxie's new career, including his very first Paying Client ...
we want to give you our honest opinion on his newly acquired investigative tool.

The Vimtag 4-1-1

This M1 mini cube camera has a much lower profile than our other one. Because of that - and the fact that it's a static image (and not a camera that can pan and tilt like the other one) it has very broad image coverage. The image is so wide it keystones a little around the edges. Take a look:

Our original Vimtag VT-361

Same view from the Vimtag M1 Mini Cube, sitting right next to the VT-361

Since this camera can be used for security and monitoring purposes, that makes sense.

It runs on the same app as the VT-361 model we reviewed earlier this year, so it has motion detection, two-way microphones and night vision. And you can set it to record when motion detection senses movement.

This Vimtag came with a Quick Start Guide that included instructions where you could set it up without ever attaching it to an ethernet cable, which surprised me, since our first camera didn't have that feature. It involved the camera reading a QR code off my mobile phone's screen.

No matter how hard I tried, though - I couldn't get it to work. Maybe it had to do with my screen's brightness, or resolution, or the distance I held the camera. And being more than a little stubborn, I had a hard time admitting defeat.

I should have called it quits much sooner.

Turns out that Vimtag doesn't just have really great cameras. They also have a pretty impressive customer service department.

Here's how you hook it up to your router. The white adapter handles power & ethernet connectivity.
You can store the adapter and the cute little ethernet cable after you've connected via wifi.

I called the 800 number and to my surprise, an answering service was on the other end (with a real human, too). They took my information and told me someone from tech support would get back to me within the hour. I headed downstairs to grab something to drink and was only halfway down before the phone rang again.

Okay, that was fast! I ran back upstairs while explaining my problem. He had it up and running in under 2 minutes. We never did figure out why I couldn't set it up wirelessly using their new QR code sign on feature. However once I turned on wifi while connected via ethernet and waited 2 minutes for the connection to stabilize, I could untether myself. I haven't needed an ethernet cable since.

And before I hung up, the guy urged me to call back at any time - even during the upcoming holiday - if I encountered additional problems. "We'll be here," he assured me. "We want to make sure you have a good experience." (BTW, I did not tell him I was reviewing the camera)

But I haven't needed to - it works great. And every time I unplug to move the camera around the house to different locations, it automatically reconnects to the wifi signal.

Which makes Maxie very happy, because he finally hung his shingle, and has his first client.
Me.

Faraday: ooooooooh Maxie, wait'll Mommy finds out you nailed your shingle to her kitchen wall ....

***

Tomorrow: Maxwell's First "Cold Case"

aka

"The Fruit-Juice Felony"

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FCC Disclaimer: While this is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to photograph and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam, we told you the honest truth about our experience. We only share content we feel may be relevant to our readers. All opinions are our own. 
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To Serve and Protect #spons

On Monday, we gave you a glimpse into the shenanigans that occur behind closed doors at a fellow pet bloggers home.

What you didn't see were the very real struggles facing this blogger, nor how her Vimtag camera has helped out.

As much as Maxwell loves his Chickadee Channel (and the occasional episode of Missouri Squirrels Gone Wild), still -- our Vimtag is being used mostly for entertainment.

For Amy of Sebastian the Sensitive Soul -- it's been used for much more than that.

Here's her story.

Several years ago, Amy chose to do something most of us cannot imagine doing: she opened her home to her parents, both of whom had diseases that would soon become debilitating. Her father had cancer. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

Two of Amy's favorite guys, husband Lee and Stilwell.

Amy and her husband, Lee, cared for her dad until the very end. I still marvel at the incredible compassion and strength that took. Now, almost two years later, they are faced with caring for an mother whose Alzheimer's has progressed considerably.

Amy & Lee also open their homes to elderly, less adoptable dogs.
Heloise passed away a few months before Amy left for training.

In the midst of it all, Amy changed careers. (Did we mention she was an undercover cop? How cool is that!) Several months ago, she hung up her badge for a different job, one she knew would require her to travel across the country for weeks of training.

Wouldn't you miss this sweet face, too?
Lowenstein wonders why mom has to go away for so long ....

It was too far to return on weekends, so Amy would essentially be away from her loved ones, both two-footed and four, for 5 solid weeks.

I don't know about you, but five weeks seems like an eternity when you're apart from loved ones. And I'd miss my furry family every bit as much as I would Marty. Amy was no different.

The Vimtag camera allowed her the freedom to check in on them any time of the day or night. It was easy to set up, and she could operate it anywhere her mobile phone had a signal. She'd check in on them during her classes, and at night when she was alone in her dorm room. It helped assuage her loneliness and allowed her to have a brief taste of home while so far away.

She got to spy on the Harvey Monster while she was hundreds of miles away.

I have to tell you that not all wireless IP cameras are as easy to set up as the Vimtag. (holy cow - some of them are awful, and hair-pulling impossible!!) Amy had initially bought a slightly less expensive brand, and she and I spent literally hours trying to get that piece of junk to work outside her home. Total fail.

In contrast, setting up the Vimtag took 5 minutes. If I hadn't already been in love with mine, this would have sealed the deal for me.

Amy's happy to be back home, and now she is using her Vimtag for another very important reason: she is able to check no her mom while she's at work. The peace of mind this brings her is something you cannot buy.

If you are ever find yourself wanting to purchase a wireless camera for your home, I highly recommend this camera. Here are a few of the features we especially like about it:

You can:

• Pan/tilt camera through app with gestures 
• Real time viewing
• Two-way audio
• Night vision

You can access your camera at any time either from the Vimtag app on your Android or iPhone, or on your computer at vimtag.com. You can move the camera around on your phone simply by swiping, and on the web app, there is a simple navigation pane you can click to move.

I love the fact you can talk through it too! (though Allie still wonders where my voice comes from!)

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FCC Disclaimer: This is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to create this post and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam. All opinions are our own. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and thank Vimtag for the opportunity. We hope you had fun, as well. 

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Busting the Puppy 'Rumor Mill' #spon

Faraday: Hey Maxie, whatcha doing, sitting over here instead of watching your BirdTV?
Maxwell: Oh ... I wanted to do some uninterrupted thinking, so I'm DVRing today's Chickadee Episodes on my Vimtag. I think better over here on the heater vent.

Faraday: WAIT - is this, like, one of your musings? 'Cause if it is, I'm outta here.
Your musings kinda creep me out, Maxie. Seriouslies.

Maxwell: No, no, nothing like that. I was just thinking about a rumor I recently heard about Harvey, Stilwell, and Lowenstein over at Sebastian the Sensitive Soul.

Faraday: Oh, well, why didn't you say so, Maxie. I love a good rumor! Hit me! (BTW, nice use of the Oxford comma in that last sentence. Harvey's human would be proud.)

Faraday: *impatient tone* I'm waiting ...
Maxwell: Okay, okay, I'm getting to it. *clears throat*
(adopts best Darth Vader voice)

Faraday, they've gone to the dark side .... 

Harvey. Lowenstein. Stilwell. 

They live with ... with ...

DOGS.

Faraday: *shocked look* NO WAYS! That's impossible. I woulda heard about it!
Maxwell: No, dood, it's true. And I hear they ...

(Darth Vader voice returns)  

CUDDLE with them .....

  
Faraday: That's it. You've been snorting too much nip, Maxie.
Maxwell: Dood, I swear it's true.

Faraday: Well there's one way to find out.

Let me just send in my covert ops team to install a surveillance Vimtag.
I'll make a few calls from my Secret Headquarters ....

Covert Vimtag, on the job!

Later that day:

Faraday: *disgusted look* Can you believe it? They even play smacky-paw in front of the dogs.

***

In case you couldn't tell, we love our Vimtag Cloud Camera. Lowenstein's human does too.
In fact, it has had a significant impact on her life ~ we'll tell you about it in a few days.

It features:

• Pan/tilt camera through app with gestures 
• Real time viewing
• Two-way audio
• Night vision

It's accessible from the Vimtag app on Android or iPhone, or on your computer at vimtag.com.

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FCC Disclaimer: This is a review and we were compensated for the time it took to create this post and tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam. All opinions are our own. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and thank Vimtag for the opportunity. We hope you had fun, as well. 

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The Mystery of the Missing Bird Seed #sponsored

Maxwell: Well, I finally managed to wrest our Vimtag Cloud Camera from Allie's pink claws. Just in time, too.

My BirdTV Channel is having some serious technical issues. 

"I'm counting on you, Vimtag."

I'm getting some serious signal interference. The bird seed keeps mysteriously vanishing.

So I'm aiming the Vimtag right at our bird feeder, to catch the culprit!

Vimtag camera, on the job!

My first clue came during the last snow. Check it out: see the muddy paw prints on the glass?
No bird made these, I can tell you that much!

...I think I'll just hang out with the camera for a while and see what we might discover...

What do you think Maxwell found out?
Did he solve his mystery?
Did he finally get his BirdTV signal to clear up?

Sadly, no vishus squirls have consented to be interviewed on the BirdTV channel. *sigh*
But every time the mom goes out to adjust the antenna (*ahem* fill the bird feeder), they are ALWAYS hiding underneath it, eating the dropped seeds!

We'll catch you red-pawed soon, we just know it!

***

In case you couldn't tell, we love our Vimtag Cloud Camera.

It features:

• Pan/tilt camera through app with gestures 
• Real time viewing
• Two-way audio
• Night vision

It's accessible from the Vimtag app on Android or iPhone, or on your computer at vimtag.com.
It's very reasonably priced. And Vimtag has graciously offered to giveaway one camera to a lucky reader.

Sweepstakes Rules: Must be over 18 to enter. Open to residents in the continental U.S. only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FCC Disclaimer: We were compensated for the time it took to tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam, and to offer this sweepstakes giveaway. All opinions are our own. Prize fulfillment will be completed by Vimtag. Winners will be chosen randomly and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Winner will receive a code from Vimtag for the product on Amazon.com. Winner will be responsible for any shipping costs.
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Intruder Alert! #sponsored

When last we left our intrepid felines, they were engaged in a heated debate on who might have the use of the coveted Vimtag camera first:

Allie or Maxwell?

Maxwell: Being a Scholar and a Gentlecat, Allie, I will graciously allow you the use of the camera first.

Faraday: Here, let me translate that for our readers.

Basically Allie threatened to do her patented Crouching Girlcat Hidden Whupa$$™ move on him if he didn't let her have the camera first.

Maxwell: FARADAY! DOOD. *embarrassed look*

Faraday: Well, the truth hurts, sometimes, Maxie. Be a mancat about it and all, okays? (and because we all suffer if she doesn't get her beauty sleep....)

Allie: True. I have not been sleeping lately. Being vigilant for Intruders has had a negative impact on my nap time.  And I might get a teensy bit out of sorts.

Faraday: Seriouslies, you do not want to see Allie's Grouchy Face.

(you were warned...!)

So, what did Allie do with the Vimtag?

It was incredibly easy to identify our surprise guest with our camera. You can turn on motion detection and set the Vimtag to record high definition video footage onto an external microSD card each time it detects motion.

And we got tons of footage. The camera recorded footage ALL.NIGHT.LONG. throughout the evening every time we had a visitor.

Oh, and DOOD.
Seriouslies, you should have called first!
(And, uh, we need to talk to you about your chicken intake. But we digress.)

Allie:  FINALLY. I can rest easy, knowing my Vimtag is on the job.

I've got my eye on you, Waffles.

***

In case you couldn't tell, we love our Vimtag Cloud Camera.

It features:

• Pan/tilt camera through app with gestures 
• Real time viewing
• Two-way audio
• Night vision

It's accessible from the Vimtag app on Android or iPhone, or on your computer at vimtag.com.
It's very reasonably priced. And Vimtag has graciously offered to giveaway one camera to a lucky reader.

Sweepstakes Rules: Must be over 18 to enter. Open to residents in the continental U.S. only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

____________
FCC Disclaimer: We were compensated for the time it took to tell you about the Vimtag Fujikam, and to offer this sweepstakes giveaway. All opinions are our own. Prize fulfillment will be completed by Vimtag. Winners will be chosen randomly and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Winner will receive a code from Vimtag for the product on Amazon.com. Winner will be responsible for any shipping costs.
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