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    June 21, 2013
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    December 10, 2014
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emiliosic's Reviews
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Replenish the battery life of an Apple or Android device with this 10W Belkin wireless charger. It provides fast charging speeds to save time in your busy day, and it minimizes electromagnetic noise to ensure full device functionality. This white Belkin wireless charger is compatible with phones that have plastic cases up to 3mm thick.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Fast, simple and effective wireless charging
on June 21, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This charger has a max power output of 10W for Android phones (iPhone 8 and X charge at about 7.5W which is their max capacity with any Qi charging base).
The design is very simple and pleasing., with a white glossy finish circle that looks like a coaster.
This model is also sold directly by Apple and Belkin offers three years warranty, plus warranty for connected devices so it gives me confidence in it's quality.
The charger comes with its own power supply, which uses a round power plug. The cable is about 5 ft. The power plug is rather large. It supports 110v/220v (good for international travel) but it doesn't include travel adapters.
Other wireless charging pads we have in the house use an USB plug instead but doesn't come with the power supply, like this one.
The charging base has a very subtle white light that's on when charging and off when removing the phone from the pad.
The bottom is rubberized and the top has a rubber ring so the phone stays in place.
We're using it with an iPhone 8 Plus, that has a plastic case, and works just fine, placing the phone about centered on the pad. It's OK if the phone is off center. It just works. The white light turns on, the phone beeps and the charging indicator goes green, no fuss.
If you're looking for something that 'just works', get this. It charges fast, it comes with everything you need (cable and power supply). The charging light is subtle, which works in a bedroom but also visible during the day. If the light changes color, it's when the charger detects a problem, and goes off when not charging.
Works with newer Android phones and new iPhones, and with cases on the phones.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Clean your home with voice command or app-based programs by using this Samsung robot vacuum. Its digital camera and nine sensors let it find its way around, avoiding obstacles and mapping the most efficient path through your home. Wi-Fi connects this powerful Samsung robot vacuum to your smart home systems.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Best in its price range
on June 4, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is not our first Robot Vacuum, but the first from Samsung.
This review is after about two weeks of use.
The vacuum itself looks the part with shiny plastic sides, a silver metallic painted plastic crown; where the top has a dark smoked plastic with a hidden LCD display, touch-sensitive controls on one side, and a video camera 'eye' on the front, with the dustbin an shiny silver painted plastic on the other side. It looks fine, but I wish it had more rugged materials. Painted plastic in appliances tend to scratch easily. Time will tell.
The bottom has two large, hinged wheels and two small wheels that are not removable. On our older robot vacuum, the smaller wheel (which is four times as big as these) tends to get caught with hair and other dust, but it's removable, so time will tell how this vacuum holds up.
The cleaning element is a large, single brush that goes from edge to edge, with an air barrier, squeegee-like ribbon on front that the vacuum lifts automatically on carpets and lowers on hard floors, which is clever. The dust goes to a dustbin, which has an internal 'cyclone' that's a bit hard to keep clean, where the dust gets trapped, and from there air goes to a dust filter and the suction fan is sealed internally in the vacuum. The internal section after the dust filter was already dusty with small particles after a few cleaning cycles. Out other vacuum has a simpler system where all the air flow elements are easy to clean.
This vacuum is much more quiet than other vacuums we have, and it cleans about as well as regular vacuums. The front of this vacuum is flat, so its roller is larger than on round vacuums, which cleans better on corners. Round vacuums have a side brush, which is not needed here.
Navigation in this vacuum is more advanced than earlier robot vacuums: Instead of going in random patterns, this tries to navigate in a grid attempting to cover the whole are. Also it's more aware of where it's supposed to be within the house but still misses several areas of the house on one cleaning cycle and goes through in others.
It's very good in general at detecting objects. It does not fall over stairs. It backs off when it's front wheel looses footing. It also detects objects and either slows down or avoids them completely. Occasionally it can end up pushing a small box-sized object around but overall it works much better at detecting objects than older robot vacuums.
If there is an area that needs to be avoided, it comes with a magnetic strip that's supposed with tape on one side that's supposed to be affixed to the floor. I was surprised that it does not use light beams like other vacuums. Since we didn't want to glue things to the floor, for now we have to remember to close the door to our kid's playroom.
It comes with an IR remote control (of the type that have to be pointed at the thing, not RF like many new devices), which works fine for the purpose of manually navigating it around to clean a spot (As long as it's in line of sight) and for initial Wi-Fi setup.
The Vacuum can also be controlled from a mobile phone or tablet via Wi-Fi with the 'SmartThings' app and a Samsung account to use with it: After creating the SmartThings account, add a new 'thing' and select the model, then the vacuum is set in pairing mode using the IR remote to set it in AP mode and switching the phone to that temporary Wi-Fi (I set it up with an iPhone, it might be slightly different with Android), then select the house's Wi-Fi, link it to the SmartThings account and then its's pretty much all set. Took me about five minutes to set up and found the process to be well documented. Note that it only works with 2.4 Ghz networks, it does not have a 5 Ghz W-iFi. Once it's set, the SmartThings app does all that the IR remote does and more. The interface is simple and well organized.
It claims on the packaging that it supports Alexa and Google Home. We have both and since SmartThings integrates with pretty much everything I thought it was going to be simple, but I was mistaken. SmartThings does integrate easily with both Amazon and Google, but on both assistants the vacuum shows up as a light switch and telling either assistant to turn it on or off makes the vacuum beep but does not start. It looks like Samsung / SmartThings are not mapping the 'switch' to the correct actions on the vacuum, so after spending too much time trying to set it up, it's not working for me.
Once the cleaning cycle completes, the history within the app shows what it's supposed to be an area map, but about the size of a coin, and every vacuum cycle looks slightly different, so this isn't very useful for now, and the mapping is way off.
Also the LCD display never turns off. It can stay in the cradle the whole day and it continually displays 'Full', never turning completely off (The vacuum does have an actual mechanical switch on the bottom that turns it completely off). I could not find, and I'm pretty sure it does not have an option to make it dark when in standby mode.
The battery lasts about one hour of cleaning and charges within 2 to 4 hours in its cradle.
Also note that there is the charging cradle and a very large power supply, so if you're one of those like me that would prefer to hide all the cables, it's going to be tough. Another issue is that when it gets stuck, it can completely drain the battery, so once it's put back on its charging base, it can take some minutes before it starts responding again, so it can be hard to know if it's on the right spot to recharge.
Besides its inaccurate navigation, and the lack of real integration with home assistants, it gets stuck a lot when running over small area rugs: The reason is the squeegee-like air barrier that it lowers on hardwood, and most of the time, it doesn't detect the transition to the area rug so it pushes the edge of the area rug and gets stuck in it. None of the vacuums we have ever had issues like this with area rugs. Out other robot vacuum might sometimes push a rug at the foot of the bathroom shower around a bit but wouldn't get stuck rolling over the rug.
On the positive side, it does have better suction than other robot vacuums, while being quieter. Remote operation is reliable though the SmartThings app, which is good at sending notifications to the phone when the vacuum gets in trouble.
For its price point, it provides a refined product with more refinements than others in the price range.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
5of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Clean sealed hard floors easily with this Bissell SpinWave cordless floor cleaner. It includes two types of pads that can clean a variety of surfaces, including tile and laminate, and restores the natural shine to wood floors. This Bissell SpinWave cordless floor cleaner has a 20-minute battery life, so you can clean a large area without recharging.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Cordless convenience
on April 26, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
About two years ago got the Bissell CrossWave, which is great, but also like the extra convenience of this which is cordless. Although it works a bit differently, both use the same cleaning formulas.
This unit came with two sample-size bottles of multi-surface formulas, a set of smooth pads installed and an extra set of 'scrubby' pads.
It's fairly compact, no assembly required, and lightweight. The pads spin somewhat slowly and so is fairly quiet, a faint whirl, and does not bother others in the house.
It takes about four hours to fully charge, and that provides about 30 minutes of runtime, for which I used about the small fill-line in the water/formula container.
Ours came with two sample bottles of Multi-Surface formula. Since the floors were relatively dirty, used the multi-surface formula with the 'scrubby' pads. It cleaned the hardwood floors well, picking up stuck-on dirt the vacuums couldn't handle. Also used it on shiny ceramic on a bathroom floors. The floors dried up in a few minutes, but it left lots of residue and dull-looking floors.
The next day, since the floors were now cleaner but still dull-looking, used the hardwood formula, which we had for the Bissell CrossWave, and this time, it left the hardwood floor back to its normal shine.
It's very maneuverable and easy to use when cleaning under the feet of kitchen cabinets and around baseboards, since the pads won't scratch them.
The mop has two buttons: And on/off and a spray button. The pads start spinning only after reclining the handle and stop when putting it straight. When pressing the spray button, it also makes a faint chime to remind that it's spraying formula.
For storing, it comes with a tray, so storing it with moist pads is not a problem, it also stands on its own, so it's simple to store.
The pads can be rinsed with warm water or are machine washable (wash them separately from clothes).
Filling up the tank is straightforward: Remove it from the mop by pushing it up. There are no latches nor other pieces that might break. The tank itself is about the size of a sports water bottle. Fill it up with warm/hot tap water to the first mark, add formula to the second mark, close the cap and put it back on the mop, that's it. It has a cap that won't leak until is fully inserted into the mop.
To keep in mind, the battery is not replaceable. It would be good to have a formula for hardwoods that would provide more luster. As for the multi-surface formula, consider using less of the formula mixed with the water for less residue on shiny floors, that worked better for me.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+43points
49of 55voted this as helpful.
 
Improve your dental care routine with this Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean electric toothbrush. It has three modes for a customized brushing experience and a pressure sensor to protect your gums from over-brushing. This Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean electric toothbrush has a built-in timer to encourage you to meet the recommended brushing time.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Improved model
on March 25, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is my 4th Philips Sonicare, which in average seem to last about 3 years. Other brands lasted much longer, but I much prefer Sonicare's system.
While older toothbrushes were made in either Holland or USA, this is made in China, although replacement brush heads are made in the US.
Like in other Philips personal care products, the battery is not replaceable, so be prepared to throw away the handle when the battery dies, and they make it very difficult to remove the internal battery in order to dispose of it correctly. (The instructions even illustrate how to crack it open correctly with a hammer without breaking the Li-Ion battery).
My previous toothbrush handle is the Series 2, that used for about a year (and it's still working) but I much prefer this model.
Like most other Sonicare handles, it uses an induction charger and takes about 24 hours to charge completely. With new batteries, it should last about two weeks before it needs to be charged again. The charger appears to be the same as in all my previous models, with a 110V plug but takes 110/220v (works abroad).
This model has a very useful feature that detects when one puts too much pressure while brushing and alerts by changing the vibration pattern. I tend to put too much pressure sometimes, and this might've been a contributing factor for the relatively low lifetime of the previous Sonicare handles that broke after about three years. I find it really useful.
Another new feature, is that by using 'BrushSync compatible' toothbrush heads, it detects the type of toothbrush and programmed lifetime, changing its brushing pattern and indicating when to replace it (about three months). These newer brush heads have an embedded RF chip to sync with the handle.
Note that it still works just fine with older brush heads, just without the replacement indicator. It works normally without any complains. That was a concern because I still had fresh replacement packs without the RF chip.
The toothbrush handle has two buttons: The On/Off, which also doubles to control the vibration intensity, and a brushing mode button. The intensity is shown with three white bars, and there are three modes: Clean, which is what one would use every day, that lasts two minutes, announcing every 30 seconds to switch sections to brush (Philips calls this 'QuadPacer'). The White mode lasts 2.5 minutes and ads a pulsating mode after the first 2 minutes. The last is a gum care mode that lasts 3 minutes and it has a different vibration mode.
This model also comes with a plastic traveling case that holds the handle and up to two brush heads, but not the charger.
Also note that while the brush heads are completely washable, the handle can be rinsed but doesn't seem to be completely waterproof. Never had any issues getting them clean though.
Aside from difficulties in recycling it and waste of not being able to replace the battery, it's a great and effortless brushing system and the introduction of the pressure sensor makes it a worthwhile upgrade.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Mainstream option for SoHo (Small Office and Home Office) applications in 1 to 8-bay systems with light to moderate workloads and extended idle time (excluding ZFS). Store your data on this WD network hard drive, which features a 3TB capacity for storing media and is suitable for installation within up to eight drive bays. Data transfer rates up to 6 Gbps ensure efficient performance.
 
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5 out of 5
5
WD30EFRX
on February 19, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Verified Purchase:Yes
This is the 'retail version' of WD30EFRX, which is the current model for 3TB NAS drive from WD. In the box there is the drive and mounting screws.
Not sure why WD30EFRX isn't displayed on the product listing. The server recognizes it as such.
While this is a new drive and time will tell, had WD NAS drives installed over two years ago with no issues.
These drives are 5400 RPM and 64MB Cache, and have firmware specific to be used in NAS/RAID configurations in smaller arrays up to 5 drives, for home and small business. It's designed to be always-on and has additional heat and vibration related designs that don't apply to desktop drives.
Note that there's a separate 'NAS PRO' line for bigger and faster arrays.
It comes with a 3-year warranty.
Used these drives with Synology NAS enclosures and connected to Linux PCs.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy superior sound and voice quality with these Jabra Elite wireless headphones. Integrated controls let you answer calls, adjust the volume or pause music with the touch of a button, while the included carrying case doubles as a charging station. External ambient noise keeps you aware of your surroundings, while a background noise filter delivers crisp, clear voice calls. With Bluetooth connectivity, these Jabra Elite wireless headphones are easy to pair to a mobile device.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Excellent execution
on February 18, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Jabra's 3rd generation truly wireless earphones are excellently executed.
One of the few, and my first Bluetooth 5.0 headphones, are IP55 dust and sweat resistant. Batteries last about five hours and the case provides two extra charges. They come with four microphones (two per unit) for excellent voice calls and noise conditioning.
The earphones come with three sizes of ear tips and provide a tight but comfortable fit, with a closed design for passive noise cancellation.
The sound is very natural and detailed. Through the companion phone app, there is a five-band equalizer.
Earpieces are relatively light and stay on. I find it comfortable to wear through the day.
The left earpiece has two controls for volume and tracks, the right piece has a single button for play/pause and calls.
Pairing with an iPhone was straightforward, with good range and no drops. Newer phones with BT 5.0 can have better range and power efficiency. IPhone 8 and X supports BT 5.0, but not required. Works perfectly with older phones as well. It can connect to two devices at the same time.
While the phone provides a battery indicator for the earphones, the Jabra Sound+ app provides detailed battery info, the five-band EQ, lets you select the voice assistant when pressing the multi-function button on the right earpiece: Siri or Google depending on the phone or Amazon's Alexa (Not yet enabled on iOS), and very neat features like HearThrough and Sidetone:
HearThrough: While the headphones provide passive noise cancellation, HearThrough uses the microphones to let some of the external sounds in. This is turned on or off by double-tapping the multi-function button or through the app, which lets adjust the amount of audio through.
Sidetone: When on a call, adjusts how much of your own voice is fed back through the earphones.
Audio calls work great. With the four mics, it isolates wind noise.
Then the little details is what makes these excellent earphones great. When taking the earphones off the case, they start pairing with the phone, and they turn off when back on the case.
Then when the earphones are in close proximity of each other (ie in the ears) it resumes playing music. It pauses the music if one takes one of the earpieces off, and resumes again if back within a few seconds.
The case is small enough to fit in one hand. It has an LED next to the charge port to indicate charge levels, and another indicator between the earpieces that indicates their charge.
GN/Jabra is a Danish company that has been designing professional products for as long as I can remember, and their attention to detail and quality shows in this product.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Acer 15 Chromebook: Enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life with this 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook. Its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM load webpages quickly and provide lag-free streaming, and the 16GB of internal storage holds documents and photos. This Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Great value with a limiting screen
on February 7, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is a great value for someone with basic requirements, including students.
The 15 in notebook is on a larger side at 15", which means a larger screen than the typical 13"laptops. It has suitable speakers, comes with a headphone jack, two USB 3.0 ports, SD card reader, a full size HDMI connector, Kensington lock slot, supports Bluetooth and has a solid Wi-Fi connection (AC standard, and works very well in the house, even picking up solid signals from neighbors). It also has a Webcam good for video chats. It has an Intel Celeron CPU, 4 GB RAM and 16 GB storage, which is fine for a Chromebook.
The keyboard is island keys and recessed like most modern laptops, good for general typing. The trackpad is relatively large and pleasantly effective.
The only and major drawback is the screen. The screen is mate, not reflective, which is good for work. The resolution is 1366 x 768, and while not the best for movies, it's OK for general purposes, but the real issue is that is that is that it's a bit washed out and after a while it can get tiring looking at it. Also keep in mind that it's not a touchscreen.
The laptop is a bit heavy at around 4.5 pounds, on the bulky side but with a battery that can go all day (Rated up to 12 hours).
It's a great student Chromebook, except for a mediocre screen. I still consider it a great value but the screen can be an issue for some.
Chrome OS: While it's not for everyone, it's fine for basic uses. Chrome OS is basically a Google Chrome browser with not much else, so for someone that only needs a browser, including the plethora of Chrome extensions, this is fine. It has a bit of storage to save files locally, USB connections, etc., and can print, but only to Google connected printers. It's also ideal for classroom settings.
Android applications: After installing the latest Chrome OS, it now opens up the Android Play Store, and can run many of the Android apps like a tablet. The android apps still feel a bit foreign, and it's not quite as integrated but works well for most tasks. It's not a touchscreen, so the android apps work through the keyboard and trackpad.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
8of 10voted this as helpful.
 
Get absolute precision with this Logitech wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. Place it anywhere you like thanks to the long-lasting battery and the efficient Bluetooth connection, and enjoy the feel of a mechanical connection that provides the perfect resistance. The full-size layout ensures this Logitech wireless mechanical gaming keyboard makes your games easy to control.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Solid design
on January 3, 2018
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
I'm not much of a gamer but I have a preference for mechanical keyboards.
The distinguishing feature about this keyboard is that is both mechanical and wireless.
The keyboard itself is quite heavy and thick (2 cm or 3/4 inch). The body of the keyboard is a thick gray matte plastic with a black base, and a black, integrated (non-removable) wrist pad. This is a matter of preference but I'd wish the wrist pad was not integrated. It's 2 1/2 in long.
The keys are full-size with traditional keycaps (Not island-style).
The top right of the keyboard has flat round media keys. I don't find the media keys particularly attractive. Looks cheap in comparison with the rest of the keyboard, but do work and are seldom used.
On the left of the keyboard there is a column of 6 macro keys, that can be customized once the Logitech gaming driver is installed, otherwise they work like the F1 to F6 keys.
The keyboard has feet on the back for either raised or flat position (There are no intermediate settings).
Keys: Most mechanical keyboards utilize one of several varieties of Cherry MX switches (Including other older Logitech mechanical switches). A few other keyboards utilize Alps switches -- Those are more akin the feel of vintage IBM or Apple keyboards, which have a distinct click feel and sound. This, like newer Logitech mechanical keyboards, use Logitech's proprietary switch which they call 'Romer-G'. These switches have a bit of weight and a muted click. While the keys allow a good amount of travel comparable to other mechanical switches, it needs little movement to register, about half way, when it gives a bit of bounce feedback. The keycaps on 'Romer-G' switches are a bit different. The switches don't have a mast but are hollow, which allows for a centered lighting on other models, but this model has no backlighting. Because of this, removing the keycaps is possible but takes a bit more effort.
Overall the feeling while typing on this keyboard is good, and comparable to Cherry MX Brown (No audible click).
Wireless: There is no way to use as a wired keyboard. It uses two AA batteries, that according to Logitech should last about 18 months. Mine arrived with generic AA batteries. There is a power off button on the right side. The keyboard uses either an USB receiver or Bluetooth. The Bluetooth connection is intended mainly for phones or tablets, where the USB receiver should be used on computers. Keys on the top of the keyboard allows switching back and forth between wireless or Bluetooth. Logitech differentiates between mainline products and gaming products (Logitech G). 'G' products don't use the 'Logitech Unifying Receiver' and instead the keyboard has to be used with its own receiver (Which can be stored on the battery compartment at the bottom of the keyboard). The advantage of this receiver is that is very low latency (Logitech claims to be equal or better than wired). Over the course of a week, never noticed any lags, even when reconnecting after a few minutes.
Software: Note that it doesn't use the same Logitech Flow or Logitech Options of other products. Because it's a 'Logitech G', it uses the (optional) Logitech gaming software, which can be very interesting, bringing profiles per application or games, and full control of the 'G' keys on the left. It also provides battery status for the keyboard and firmware updates on the keyboard itself. The software also lets configure the polling rate between 150 and 1000 / sec.
Apple Mac: My home work computer is a mac. Both they keyboard and the Logitech Gaming Software are fully supported on macOS, however the keyboard doesn't come with mac-specific keycaps, and are not available at the Logitech website.
The keyboard also came with a custom extension cable for the receiver, so it can sit closer to the keyboard if needs be (Mine is behind the monitor with no issues), and also comes with a matching phone stand, so the phone can be used with the Logitech Gaming Software, which provides a second-screen with configurable applets on certain games. It works on both Windows and macOS, with iOS or Android phones. (Search for Logitech ARX Control for more information about this).
Overall is a great choice for a mechanical keyboard, and the only wireless and Bluetooth, gaming, mechanical keyboard on the market today.
I would have preferred rechargeable batteries, but at least with AA batteries the keyboard will last for years. Also the built-in palm-rest could've been optional. Having support for the unifying receiver would've been convenient if the keyboard is used for more than gaming. None of this is a con but a matter of preference.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
14of 20voted this as helpful.
 
Arlo Pro 2 keeps an eye on your home while you're away, in brilliant 1080p HD quality. Put the 100% wire-free, weather-resistant camera anywhere, indoors or out. Then, power it with the included rechargeable battery or plugged it in (when indoors) to access activity zones and 24/7 Continuous Video Recording upgrades. Use 2-way audio or remotely sound a 100+ device siren while catching every moment with night vision and advanced motion detection. You'll even get motion and sound-activated alerts and 7 days of free cloud video recordings. Arlo Pro 2 works with Amazon Alexa to make your smart home security even more simple and effective.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Improvements on an already great system
on November 17, 2017
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
I have the earlier generation of Arlo Pro also, so I'll cover the differences as well.
The Arlo cameras are unique because they can run for months on batteries, no cables whatsoever.
This kit includes: One base station, two cameras with Li-Ion batteries and one charger.
The base station is required for the cameras to work. The cameras are paired to the base station that is basically a custom Wi-Fi router dedicated for the cameras. It also has a 100db siren built-in, so consider where you'll be placing this. Also it needs to connect to a home router via Ethernet cable (not Wi-Fi), so in most cases ends up being next to the home router. The base also has two USB ports for local storage.
The cameras are small, weather proof, have a motion detector, night vision, sound detection, speaker and mic. The batteries are replaceable and it's charged via a standard micro-USB cable. The charger supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3 (Like some Android phones, it can recharge the batteries in minutes).
Initial setup is extremely easy. Once the base station is connected to the router, go to a web page or start an app (on the same network as the base), go through a simple registration and will show you how to pair the cameras (it's just pressing a button on the base and one on the camera).
Then the web page or app, which are very similar, lets you configure the names for the area, name of the base station, and for the cameras, motion detection and night vision settings, etc.
The cameras have a strong magnet on the rear and it comes with a metal half-sphere that can be mounted on the wall, and can optionally be mounted with a standard camera mount. Remember that unless the camera is connected via USB, you'll need to re-charge them every few months, so the magnetic mount is handy, possible.
The cameras can be 'armed' based on a button on the app/web, a schedule, alexa, google voice, IFTTT or geo-fences.
Once a camera is 'armed', it starts recording whenever it detects movement. It sends a push notification to the phone and/or email where you can see the video, and if you want, put the camera in live mode, which shows audio and video, and has a push-to-talk mode so you can talk though the camera (it might have a delay of one or two seconds).
The app is very easy to use. There is no subscription required if, like me, are happy with one week of storage, it keeps the videos it makes for 7 day, and then it rotates (deletes) them out. Other plans seem reasonably priced, which can include continuous recording and advanced detection patterns.
The base station can also, simultaneously record to an USB memory or hard drive, and cloud storage is the primary method of accessing recordings.
There is a 'live' mode that can be triggered from the web site or apps. Note that it will stream to only one device at a time, but multiple cameras can display video.
The cameras support integration with home automation systems like wink or smartthings, and through IFTTT, integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant to arm/disarm and initiate a recording. The platform isn't open so you cannot just record from a web link like on other IP cameras.
Also note that although the cameras use Wi-Fi, they need the base and use their own Wi-Fi network with its base. The security on these cameras appears to be solid. A network scanner shows no open ports on the base, which is good, and the cameras are not directly connected to the network, they go through the base station.
The images are clear in both day and night modes.
Besides the web page, there are apps for iOS (phone/tablet), Android and Amazon fire. Also there is an app for Apple TV that works great to see recordings, arm/disarm. Fire TV and Echo Show can also show live video.
While the cameras work great with iOS and Apple TV, there is no Siri/HomeKit integration. In over a year of using a system, it's not something I really miss.
Comparing to the Arlo Pro system:
- The base is the same , so if you already have an Arlo Pro base, it works the same. Having multiple bases can be useful to extend the Wi-Fi range of the cameras (Pair them to the closest base).
- Pro records at 720p, Pro 2 records at 1080p.
- Both Pro and Pro 2 are the exact same size. The only exterior difference is that the outer part of the front rim is white on the Pro 2 and black on the Pro. Mounts, sleeves and batteries are interchangeable.
- Pro 2 can record continuously (24/7), but only when plugged in and with a paid storage plan.
- When plugged in, Pro 2 is always recording, so when it detects movement, it also saves the three previous seconds.
- When plugged in, Pro 2 supports detection zones. This is very common on other cameras. From the app, drag rectangle(s) indicating which areas of the image trigger motion detection, ignoring the rest.
Overall, if looking for a reliable system with no monthly fees, and the minimum amount of fuss, this a system to get. Pro 2 brings welcome improvements on an already solid system.
The free storage offers unlimited recordings for the past week and up to five cameras. Longer retention time, continuous recording or advanced detection require fees. (Detection zones, when plugged in, on Arlo 2, is free).
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-2points
7of 16voted this as helpful.
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Among the best noise cancelling headphones
on October 27, 2017
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Like other noise-cancelling full cup headphones, these are hefty but feel very comfortable wearing them all day long.
Construction is mostly quality plastic, with the top of the headband in metal, and leather ear-cups and on the inside of the headband.
It comes with a carrying case and the headphones have an extra hinge so they can fold more compact. This is neat.
Sound quality: Sound is full, crisp and clear, with or without noise cancelling. Compared with other wired and BT headphones from other brands, the sound is as good or better in these.
Battery life is excellent, with a rating of 30 to 40 hours depending on use. I managed to use them most of the week and the battery is still almost full.
Bluetooth: Can't ask more from it: Sony rates these as 'Hi-Res Audio' capable because it supports Sony's exclusive LDAC codec, that's capable of handling Hi-Res audio tracks. I tested it with a Sony STR DN-1080 receiver and works. The quality of sound of course depends on the input.
It also supports the AAC codec, which also produces quality audio, particularly from iPhones. Because it's the format used in iTunes Music, it should retain the audio quality over BT. Also supports AptX and the newer AptX HD codecs on some Android phones.
The range is among the best as well, even indoors.
It also supports NFC pairing/unpairing (For Android).
Mic: Very clear, better than many other headsets. A good way of testing it is using the memo recorder app, and compare.
All the functions of the headphones can be controlled via an app (iOS or Android):
- Battery level and BT codec in use.
- Equalizer: 5 bands plus bass control and several presets.
- DSEE HX: This appears in different Sony products and it helps in restoring heavily compressed music. I leave it on and it does sound better without creating distortion.
- Sound position control: This is a gimmicky feature that creates the illusion that sound comes from a side or behind, but disables the equalizer.
- Surround: Like on many receivers, it creates different echo/ambient effects. Nice for show but I end up leaving it off.
- Controls for noise cancelling: It has an interesting feature where the app uses sensors on the phone and GPS to guess the level of activity and adjusts the amount of ambient sound mixed within the noise cancelling, or it can be set manually.
Echo cancelling: I got the headphones after coming back from the last trip, so I couldn't tell how well it works on a plane, but in the office or around the house, the noise cancelling is brilliant, and I really like that the amount of ambient sound can be adjusted and can be set to voice priority (ambient voice through the speakers). It works very well. The headphones also measure air pressure to adjust echo cancellation levels.
The headphones also includes a headphone cable that can be used as a wired headphone without power and includes an adapter for older planes.
Controls: The best part is that covering the right ear-cup with one hand turns off echo cancellation and turns the volume very low. This is so when someone wants to talk to you, don't need to pause and remove the headphones. This works great.
The left side has a power button that's also used for pairing and another button to select the noise cancellation mode. For each action, the headphones reply with voice responses in English.
The right ear-cup has touch-sensitive controls:
Double-tap for play/pause
Swipe up/down for volume
Swipe left/right for prev/next track
Hold with one finger for Siri/Assistant or controlling calls.
I'm not sold on the controls. First both sides of the earphones look almost the same, so except for the R/L markings it's hard to get them right.
The touch-sensitive controls work but not the best choice for me. I wish it had actual buttons. Sometimes when I thing I'm swiping up or down, end up changing the song.
The double-tap for play/pause isn't intuitive enough. Takes longer than pressing a button to react.
Not an issue, but I really wish it had this feature: It doesn't detect if I take the headphones off, the music keeps playing. It would've been nice if it paused.
Also, except for the adaptive noise cancelling using the app and sensors on the phone, when I turn the headphones on, it always goes back to noise cancelling. It doesn't remember if I set ambient sound on last time I used them.
The headphones are as good as they get if Sony can improve on the controls. I might eventually get muscle memory to use the controls with more accuracy, but so far after a week of daily use, it doesn't come naturally.
My Best Buy number: 0784609086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
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Protect and boost the functionality of your 7th, 8th, and 9th Gen iPad with this graphite Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case. The precision trackpad allows for easy navigation, while the well-spaced backlit keys ensure effortless typing, even in dark environments. This Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case has a smooth texture for easy handling, and the adjustable kickstand provides comfortable viewing angles.
 

How do I sync the Logitech track Keyboard to the iPad?

No syncing necessary. It's not bluetooth, and has no batteries. There are three contact dots on the side of the iPad. Those are the 'Smart Connector'. The keyboard has pins that connect there and works like a laptop keyboard
User submitted photo
4 years, 4 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Simplify personal grooming with this Panasonic ARC 5 electric shaver. The ultra-fast motor and five-blade system make short work of facial hair by providing up to 70,000 cross-cuts per minute,. This Panasonic ARC 5 electric shaver has a built-in pop-up trimmer that makes it easy to sculpt mustaches, beards and sideburns.
 

Can you purchase a charge/clean station separately to work with this razor?

I don't think so. The charging tips on my shaver that does not have the washing system does not have the electric contracts on the back of the shaver. Get it as a kit.
4 years, 4 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Enjoy the powerful, crisp sound of these Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones. The sheep leather headband and ear pads conform to the shape of your head, adding comfort for all-day use, and Bluetooth connectivity lets you stream music from various devices easily. These Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones have active noise cancellation that lets you block or listen in on external sounds.
 

is this the momentum version 3?

Yes, latest model, Momentum 3.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
The reliable Brother MFC-L3710CW digital color all-in-one printer is an ideal choice for home and small offices looking for laser printer performance and need full functionality, print, copy, scan and fax, in a compact footprint. The up to 50-sheet automatic document feeder enables multipage copying, scanning and faxing, plus quick print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute. The manual feed slot accommodates varied printing needs and can handle a variety of paper types and sizes, including card stock, envelopes and more. The 250-sheet capacity adjustable paper tray helps improve efficiency with fewer refills and handles letter- or legal-size paper. Connect with versatile options, including built-in wireless or USB interfaces, and print wirelessly from mobile devices³. Save time by creating custom shortcuts on the 3.7" color touch screen, which also enables you to directly print from and scan to popular cloud apps, including Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, OneNote and more¹. Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges help lower printing costs. Comes with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call or live chat support for the life of your product.Prints up to 19 ISO ppm*, up to 19 ppm* in color.
 

Can you copy on photo paper. From a camera?

Like other laser printers, they can print to some photo papers, but my suggestion would be to use an ink based printer for photos.
Laser pictures are very good at printing pictures on plain paper for advertisements, but not on photo paper for storage
5 years, 1 month ago
by
emiliosic
 
The reliable Brother MFC-L3710CW digital color all-in-one printer is an ideal choice for home and small offices looking for laser printer performance and need full functionality, print, copy, scan and fax, in a compact footprint. The up to 50-sheet automatic document feeder enables multipage copying, scanning and faxing, plus quick print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute. The manual feed slot accommodates varied printing needs and can handle a variety of paper types and sizes, including card stock, envelopes and more. The 250-sheet capacity adjustable paper tray helps improve efficiency with fewer refills and handles letter- or legal-size paper. Connect with versatile options, including built-in wireless or USB interfaces, and print wirelessly from mobile devices³. Save time by creating custom shortcuts on the 3.7" color touch screen, which also enables you to directly print from and scan to popular cloud apps, including Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, OneNote and more¹. Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges help lower printing costs. Comes with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call or live chat support for the life of your product.Prints up to 19 ISO ppm*, up to 19 ppm* in color.
 

will it scan two sided to two sided through the scanner?

No, it has no duplex printing and no duplex scanning. Consider the almost identical model MFC-L3770CDW that has both duplex scanning and printing
5 years, 1 month ago
by
emiliosic
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 

What is the refresh rate of this screen??

This model has a 60Hz refresh rate
5 years, 2 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 

Is the display dim/dull? That was an issue with the 2018 G3

It's a WVA display, it's not dull. This would be an improvement from the 2018, from what I read. It might not be the best display but it's bright with decent angle view
5 years, 2 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 

does he have windows installed or i need to install it myself?

It comes with Windows 10 Home 64-bit pre-installed and licensed
5 years, 2 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 

Is this vr ready and does it have an additional hdd memory slot?

It passes the Oculus Compatibility Check.
It should have an empty internal 2.5" SATA bay. I didn't open it, but it has the hardware and space for it
5 years, 2 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 

What is the weight of the laptop?

It would be over 5 Lb, the laptop alone
5 years, 2 months ago
by
emiliosic