Share DonMc's profile
DonMc
DonMc's stats
- Review count59
- Helpfulness votes426
- First reviewNovember 16, 2016
- Last reviewNovember 9, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
Answers
- Answer count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First answerNone
- Last answerNone
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
eufy Security Wi-Fi Video Doorbell kit is a 1080p video doorbell with advanced WDR and 4:3 aspect ratio. This doorbell has a up to 120 day battery life off of just a single charge. Setup is easy, and your data is stored locally on the Wi-Fi doorbell chime inside your home, using advanced encryption.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
For the life of me, I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t own a video doorbell. The peace of mind this Video Doorbell from Eufy gives me is priceless.
As long as your home base is connected to WiFi, you have access to see anything going on in front of your house remotely. I live in NY, and spend winters in Florida. With this doorbell, I can monitor the goings on at home, and speak to whomever is at my front door. And to see just how much snow I’m NOT missing…
This doorbell records any motion (human, animal or both), and the app alerts you whenever there is motion. You can even set up the app to identify certain faces, or even is someone is crying (in distress).
A mailman rang my doorbell because he was wary about the rash of porch piracy in my area, and didn’t want to leave my package if no one was home, I was able to speak with him remotely, and told he he could leave the package because I was just a few blocks away and would retrieve it shortly. Saved me a trip to the post office.
Got a crazy ex stalking you? This door bell provides proof they were at your door. It starts recording whether the doorbell button is pushed or not.
There have been products that are fantastic, but are hampered because of a substandard app. The app that accompanies this doorbell is fantastic. It does what you need it to do.
I don’t have any knowledge of comparable video doorbells out there, but i can’t imagine them being better than this one. I also have the 2k version of this doorbell. The 1080 version isn’t as sharp, but the video is still very high quality.
Highly, highly recommended.
As long as your home base is connected to WiFi, you have access to see anything going on in front of your house remotely. I live in NY, and spend winters in Florida. With this doorbell, I can monitor the goings on at home, and speak to whomever is at my front door. And to see just how much snow I’m NOT missing…
This doorbell records any motion (human, animal or both), and the app alerts you whenever there is motion. You can even set up the app to identify certain faces, or even is someone is crying (in distress).
A mailman rang my doorbell because he was wary about the rash of porch piracy in my area, and didn’t want to leave my package if no one was home, I was able to speak with him remotely, and told he he could leave the package because I was just a few blocks away and would retrieve it shortly. Saved me a trip to the post office.
Got a crazy ex stalking you? This door bell provides proof they were at your door. It starts recording whether the doorbell button is pushed or not.
There have been products that are fantastic, but are hampered because of a substandard app. The app that accompanies this doorbell is fantastic. It does what you need it to do.
I don’t have any knowledge of comparable video doorbells out there, but i can’t imagine them being better than this one. I also have the 2k version of this doorbell. The 1080 version isn’t as sharp, but the video is still very high quality.
Highly, highly recommended.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
VP83 LensHopper Camera-Mount Condenser Shotgun Microphone
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
The Shure VP83 Lenshopper Shotgun microphone is a decided improvement over the built-in mic that came equipped with your camera. But you'll have to do some adjustments in order to get the sound quality you're looking for. The dB gain range on this mic is -10dB to +20dB. There was a noticeable hiss when I set the microphone at +20 and 0dB. When I changed my camera setting to its lowest sound level, and set the mic to -10dB, the hiss was gone. You'll have to experiment with different settings for different environments. I would not recommend +20 for most indoor recording.
The mic controls are conveniently located on the back of the unit, well within reach of my thumb, should I need to adjust settings on the fly.
The included foam windsock does a decent job in reducing ambient noise. There is also a dead cat windsock available (not included) for those really breezy outdoor shoots. This mic requires one AA battery (included), and it's purported to last for up to 130 hours.
The included foam windsock does a decent job in reducing ambient noise. There is also a dead cat windsock available (not included) for those really breezy outdoor shoots. This mic requires one AA battery (included), and it's purported to last for up to 130 hours.
The manual offers very little in-depth information. Even though it's 54 pages long, it's basically three pages of pedestrian information, repeated in a dozen or so languages.
I would have liked to have seen a protective case for this mic. If your gadget bag is like mine, it's loaded with a ton of equipment, and I'm afraid of this mic getting damaged during transports to different gigs.
This is a nice microphone, and I recommend it. I gave it only four stars solely based on its high price point. I've been shopping for a camera mount mic for a while now, and I've seen far less expensive versions out there (some of them at HALF of what this one costs). I can't imagine this mic being that much more superior to those others, that would warrant such a disparity in price. Before you make your purchase, perform your due diligence and shop around. Do your research. Who knows, this just might end up being the one for you. Just be sure before you buy.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The new Denon Home 350 plays all your music wirelessly with the great sound you expect from Denon. Enjoy your music in any room of your house, and group other products with HEOS Built-in such as AV receivers, Hi-Fi systems, sound bars and speakers to fill your whole home with music. With a dynamic tweeter and powerful mid-bass driver, enjoy accurate, room-filling sound, without sacrificing the space needed for a full Hi-Fi system. Play music from your favorite online streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music HD, Pandora, TIDAL and more, or play music stored on your phone or network via Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
First off, the Denon Home 350 Wireless Speaker is not for everybody. Given its high price point, it’s clearly designed for true audiophiles (with deep pockets). Secondly, this thing is big, I mean breadbox big. But it will fill your room (and probably your house) with an incredibly rich sound.
I’ve been a devotee of Denon sound systems for decades. Their sound and build quality are hard to surpass, and this unit is worthy of the Denon brand.
The first thing that impressed me about this unit was the separation. As rich and remarkable as the sound is with this speaker, it uniquely separates the vocals from the music and allows you to hear the singer as clearly as I’ve ever heard.
The treble is remarkable; you can hear every single percussion instrument, no matter how subtle it may have been on your other speakers. The midrange is solid, delivering your music like you’ve never heard it before. The bass response is the best I’ve ever heard, and I own more than a few high end speakers. The bass is deeper than I can recall from a speaker, without drowning out every other instrument. I played a track with the heaviest bass I have, and this speaker delivered. The bass was booming! Even at high volume, there was absolutely no distortion. Zero.
The treble is remarkable; you can hear every single percussion instrument, no matter how subtle it may have been on your other speakers. The midrange is solid, delivering your music like you’ve never heard it before. The bass response is the best I’ve ever heard, and I own more than a few high end speakers. The bass is deeper than I can recall from a speaker, without drowning out every other instrument. I played a track with the heaviest bass I have, and this speaker delivered. The bass was booming! Even at high volume, there was absolutely no distortion. Zero.
The top of the unit has Play, and Volume up and down buttons that light up automatically for you to see when your hand passes over the unit. There are also preselect buttons (1 -6 ) that you can program to play your favorite music streaming service.
The Denon Home HEOS app had me up and running in no time. Music can be played wirelessly from the app via your home network or Bluetooth connection. The app has a healthy array of all major music streaming services that make it easy to switch from one service to another with a mere touch of the company’s logo. Once your streaming service has been activated in the app, the preselect buttons on top allow you to play that service without using your phone or streaming source.
The USB port in the back of the unit is perfect for plugging in my iPod to keep it charged. That was a nice touch.
The USB port in the back of the unit is perfect for plugging in my iPod to keep it charged. That was a nice touch.
This Denon Home 350 is the end all, be all, in wireless speakers. It has the best sound quality I’ve ever heard. The high price point might scare away the casual listeners, but true audiophiles will pay for the privilege of listening to their music with the best quality there is in a wireless speaker.
This speaker is amazing, and I am so happy to have it.
This speaker is amazing, and I am so happy to have it.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8'' SM-T290 case with rigid back shell and frontal flap made of anti-slip material. The build-in front cover converts into a multi-position stand with two function corners that make writing, surfing the net, watching movies and pics comfortable.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
The Gala Folio Case from Tucano is a nice looking case with a quality look and feel. The multi-position stand is a helpful feature, but it’s landscape only. I prefer portrait position when I read, but to be fair, I’ve yet to come across a case for an 8” tablet that supports portrait position
There’s also no magnet or latch to help secure the case when it’s closed.
There’s also no magnet or latch to help secure the case when it’s closed.
I’ve owned several cases for other Samsung 8” tablets, and there isn’t anything that sets this one apart from ones I’ve bought for half of this price. There are less expensive, similar quality options out there. Shop around before settling on this one.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Our most affordable percussion massage device, the Hypervolt GO has all of the features you need.. With surprising power and whisper-quiet operation, the GO was designed with simplicity in mind. The GO is ready to provide relief wherever you roam.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
The Hypervolt Go is a smaller, less powerful version of it’s larger, more powerful line of massagers. At only 1.5 pounds, it’s incredibly lightweight for it’s size. Unfortunately, I can’t speak to the app, since it’s not available for Android devices.
I suffer from debilitating back spasms. I mean the kind of spasms that will make you scream at an elderly nun. When I get those spasms my usual recourse is medication. This massager is a game changer. The bullet shaped attachment gets right down in the muscle until the spasm yields. Does it hurt when I use it on a spasm? H*ll yeah! But that temporary pain leads to prolonged relief.
I won’t go into all the bell and whistles and ins and outs of this massager. All I’ll tell you is, this thing does what it’s supposed to do. Full stop. Any time I can get relief from a horrific back spasm without pumping my body full of pills is a win!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Dumbbells are made with heavy-duty rubber heads to minimize noise, mitigate typical wear & tear to the equipment and your floor. Rubber hex design prevents the dumbbell from rolling and chrome plated handles are ergonomically fit for any grip or hand type. 35mm diameter handle.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
First off, when did Best Buy begin selling non-gadgety (is that a word?) gym equipment?
Given that gyms aren’t open in several parts of the country, we’ve all had to seek alternative methods to stay in shape. Sitting in front of the tube while in quarantine doesn’t just expand your midsection, it also results in muscle loss and brain cell deterioration. These Tru Grit 20lb Hex Rubber Coated Dumbbells provide a solution to at least one of those issues. They are absolutely gym quality equipment, built to withstand regular, extensive usage. The dumbbells are solidly constructed, and are rubber coated to limit damage to surface areas. In my case, we have hardwood floors in our townhouse, and the rubber coating prevents the scuffing of my pristine floors (which prevents my wife from using one of the weight on my skull).
These dumbbells are a more practical solution to an oversized, overpriced and underused exercise machine. Dumbbells allow you do perform several exercises to help you maintain muscle during your downtime from your Netflix binge sessions.
The Tru Grit dumbbells are the real deal and will last for as long as you want them to. Highly recommended.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The Bella Pro Series 2-Slice Digital Touchscreen Toaster has a powerful 1000-watt toasting system and 7 setting shade control designed for consistent toasting, every time. The extra wide slots can accommodate standard sliced bread, bagels and Texas style toast. High lift lever to easily access smaller breads with anti jam and auto shut off features for extra safety. Durable Stainless Steel exterior with digital touchscreen interface and LED display countdown timer adds style to any kitchen. Removable crumb tray and convenient cord wrap for easy storage.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
Who knew that something as simple as a digital timer on a toaster would have such an impact. No more guesswork, or staring at your toaster, waiting for your toaster pastry to pop up. Now I know exactly when it will pop up.
The defrost function is great for those of you who eat frozen waffles. Now you can thaw them first so they won’t be soggy. The cancel button is also a nice touch for those times you overestimate the toast time for your snack, and that dreaded burning smell is all over your kitchen
The extra wide slots (and I mean extra...wide) will easily accommodate any size bread or bagel you have. I toast ciabatta bread, which is large and dense. This toaster has no problems with the size or density of the bread.
I love this toaster! It’s weird that it’s taken so long before someone decided to beef up the most basic appliance in the kitchen. This toaster is a winner. When you’re in the market for a new one, I’d start here.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Make the most of your tablet with the ZAGG Pro Stylus. Take notes, sketch, mark-up documents, swipe through pages, and just do more. With a eight-hour battery life, palm-rejection technology, and compatibility with apps that support Apple Pencil, you’re ready for anything. Compatible with Apple iPad Pro 12.9" 6th Generation (2022) 5th Generation (2021), 4th Generation (2020), 3rd Generation (2018); iPad Pro 11" 4th Generation (2022), 3rd Generation (2021), 2nd Generation (2020), 1st Generation (2018); iPad Air 10.9" 5th Generation (2022), 4th Generation (2020); iPad 10.2" 9th Generation (2021), 8th Generation (2020), 7th Generation (2019); iPad 9.7" 6th Generation (2018); and iPad mini 6th Generation (2021), 5th Generation (2019).
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
The Zagg Pro Stylus is a decent alternative to its main competitor. A cheaper, decent alternative.
The look and feel of the Pro Stylus is impressive. It has good weight and feels solidly built. It has the feel of an expensive ink pen. The Stylus has a flat edge that attaches and stores magnetically to the right edge of my 11 inch IPad Pro. That’ll save me a lot of time wondering where the heck I put the thing down. The stylus does not charge when attached to your iPad. It charges via a cable (included) to a USB-C connector cleverly hidden near the top of the stylus. Zagg boasts a nine hour battery life per charge.
There is a rubber tipped point at the top of the stylus, which I use more than the pencil tipped end. I did a search for Pencil compatible apps and turned up a decent number of them, albeit just about all of them either charge you outright, or offer the dreaded in-app purchase option. Very few freebies.
The Stylus has tilt recognition; very handy when a thicker or thin shading is required for your project. It also has a light to indicate when your stylus needs a power re-up.
The rubber tipped stylus provides a nice experience when using your iPad. But this product has a very niche appeal, it isn’t for everyday users. Artists? Graphic designers, heck yeah. But for everyone else, it’s a lot of money to spend for a regular, rubber tipped stylus. Hopefully, developers will continue to create apps to take better advantage of this Stylus
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Improve the air quality around you with this Filtrete smart air filter. The air filtration technology eliminates bacteria and traps dust particles, while the built-in Bluetooth pairs with the Filtrete mobile app allowing you to track filter life remotely. This Filtrete smart air filter lets you monitor outdoor air quality for different locations conveniently.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
With or without the ‘Smart’ aspect of this Filtrete Smart Air Filter, it is still one of the more complete furnace filters on the market. This filter claims to reduce allergens, bacteria and viruses. The fact that it uses an app to monitor the life of the filter is a bonus. The app informs you of the life of your filter in percentages. This will be helpful in preventing you from changing a filter too soon, or too late. I’m pretty certain that I change my filters before they completely expire, due to the fact I have respiratory issues and I’d rather be safe than sorry. This smart filter will give me the peace of mind knowing that it’s either still viable, or that it’s time to change it.
Since the sensor slightly protrudes from the filter, I had doubts about getting it to fit in its slot, but it installed with no issues.
The app gives you a somewhat useful amount of information, such as: the current life of the filter; air quality levels; tips and alerts; and change reminders.
I only gave it four stars because it’s too soon to gauge its efficacy over the long haul. And I can’t know for sure how accurate the life monitoring feature will be. But, I usually buy the higher quality filters to help improve the air quality in my home, and Filtrete is the brand I usually buy, so this wasn’t much of a gamble for me.
I like this filter because now I’ll know I won’t be replacing an expensive filter before it’s actually time to do so.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Keep a visual record of your visitors with this eufy Security wireless video doorbell. Advanced WDR and distortion correction technologies help ensure your 2K video recordings come out clearly, and a 180-day battery life provides long-lasting performance. This weatherproof eufy Security video doorbell offers military-grade AES-256 data encryption to protect your footage during transition and storage.
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
Where to begin…
The Eufy Video Doorbell is a home run.
The package comes with everything you’ll need to setup and install the doorbell. Included in the box are screws, anchors, ethernet cable, jumpers and extension wires that allow you to hardwire the doorbell (you are given the option of going with battery operation if you don’t want to go that route). Basically, Eufy provides everything but the screwdriver to install the device.
The Eufy Video Doorbell is a home run.
The package comes with everything you’ll need to setup and install the doorbell. Included in the box are screws, anchors, ethernet cable, jumpers and extension wires that allow you to hardwire the doorbell (you are given the option of going with battery operation if you don’t want to go that route). Basically, Eufy provides everything but the screwdriver to install the device.
Setup was a breeze! Plug in the HomeBase2, and thing will TALK you though the setup. It will instruct you to download the app (which is fantastic!), and before you know it, your HomeBase is up and running and connected to the internet via the included ethernet cable. Honestly, it took all of five minutes to set up (not including the firmware update). Even that grandparent who can barely operate a flip phone will be able to set this thing up.
The real star here is the app, which allows you to configure your doorbell just how you want it. You can set up your device to only recognize humans, so it will ignore animals or cars that drive past your house (but you can set it to recognize YOUR pet). It also has facial detection so you can identify any individuals you select in advance (I set mine to recognize the brother-in-law who’s always coming over to borrow money). The doorbell also has a crying detection!! If the camera detects a crying individual, it will let you know. Crazy, right?
You can configure the app to allow your camera to stream to your mobil device, or directly to your Amazon or Google smart devices. Albeit, you won’t get the 2K video on your smart device, but the image quality is still good. You can save your doorbell videos to your phone, or cloud storage i.e. iCloud or Samsung. Cloud storage is also available for purchase through Eufy.
Got questions about fine tuning your app? The Help section of the Eufy app is actually helpful! It provides detailed, illustrated instructions to help answer your questions. One of the best help sections I’ve ever seen on an app.
Eufy did it the right way. A quality device, with a complete installation package, a very customizable app… I could go on. Given the growing necessity for video doorbells, I highly, highly recommend this one.
Pros:
Everything!
High quality video
Easy setup
Six month battery
Very user friendly, customizable app
Facial recognition
Instant notifications
Two way audio
Ability to save videos to your device or cloud storage
Everything!
High quality video
Easy setup
Six month battery
Very user friendly, customizable app
Facial recognition
Instant notifications
Two way audio
Ability to save videos to your device or cloud storage
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a screwdriver or drill (that’s all I could come up with…)
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
DonMc's Review Comments
DonMc has not submitted comments on any reviews.
DonMc's Questions
DonMc has not submitted any questions.
DonMc's Answers
DonMc has not submitted any answers.