explore42's stats
- Review count178
- Helpfulness votes611
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewSeptember 13, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes239
- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
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Nugget Ice. Pellet ice. Drive-in ice. Whatever you call it, you know it's "the good ice." Now that chewable ice is available from the convenience of your countertop with the Opal 2.0 Ice Maker. It is capable of producing up to 38 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and stores up to 3 lbs. of ice at one time. The Opal 2.0 Ice Maker has WiFi connection capability and comes with the side tank attachment for 3x more ice production.
Customer Rating
5
GE’s Opal 2.0 is a Real Gem
on July 16, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you love ice especially chewable ice this is the ice maker you will want. I love icy drinks but the crushed ice out of my refrigerator is more like chunks than crushed. The ice out of this ice maker are those wonderful little nuggets that not only are smooth in your mouth but also easy to chew on. You can fill your glass entirely with these ice nuggets because the nuggets are small and a glass full of ice makes your drinks that much better.
Set Up - Picking up this ice maker is an arm full. It’s well constructed so lifting it into place can be a chore. The unit is big enough to hold about 3 lbs of ice so it takes up some space on the counter. It is purposely designed to fit on a countertop, at 16 ½ inches tall, 17 ¼ inches deep and almost 13 ½ inches wide. It fits perfectly under my cabinets and due to the depth with the drip tray it almost reaches the edge of the countertop in the front. The unit is self-contained which means you add the water either to the unit directly or to the side water tank which is much like the water tanks on most coffee makers. Because the unit is self-contained you don’t need to hire a plumber or worry about having it installed near a water line which was a major plus for me. The side tank can sit on either side of the unit and attaches via a mounting bracket which is connected to the ice maker. To fill up the tank you remove it from the side mount, unscrew the plug on the bottom and fill it up. Once its full you screw the bottom plug back on and place it back into the side base. The one complaint I have with the side tank is that you physically have to unscrew the bottom cap to add water. The bottom cap sits in the water basin which I don’t think is a good design. It would have been better to have a trap door lid on the top of the tank to add water so you aren’t touching areas where the water flows. The unit does need to be cleaned occasionally so you will need to be able to run the ice makers drain lines over to a pan/bucket or sink. I decided it was easier to drop the drain lines into a pan/bucket when I clean it versus having it installed near my sink. The entire cleaning process is straight forward and the unit has a cleaning cycle built in. One other thing to consider when installing this ice maker is that it is not the quietest appliance due to the motor running during the ice making phase.
Operation – Once you have flushed the system and added water you just power it on and it starts making ice in about 30 minutes. There are three touch buttons on the front for the Power, Light and Cleaning cycle as well as an Add Water indicator light. The ice bin is a pull-out see-through drawer that drops slightly when fully extended to give you plenty of opening to scoop ice. The see-through feature allows you to quickly see how much ice has been made. The side tank is big enough to hold enough water to make a day or two’s worth of ice for my family. Because the side tank is also see-through its easy to assess when its time to add water and if you forget the light comes on the front of the unit to remind you. For those that really want to stay connected there is an app that you can download on your phone that will provide you with the ice maker’s status as well. One thing to note, as the ice sits in the bin unused some of it will melt which will then drip into the water bin to be refrozen into new ice nuggets. The reason I mention this is because its not like your freezer’s ice maker which fills the bin and then stops making ice until some is removed. In this ice maker unused ice begins to melt which triggers the unit to run to make new ice out of the melted ice so it’s a continuous process if you leave the unit on all day long. This continuous process keeps the bin full of fresh ice but it may also add some unexpected noises when the motor is running.
Final Thoughts - So far this ice maker has operated flawlessly. The ice is near perfect and everyone loves the nuggets versus the cubes or crushed ice out of the freezer.
Set Up - Picking up this ice maker is an arm full. It’s well constructed so lifting it into place can be a chore. The unit is big enough to hold about 3 lbs of ice so it takes up some space on the counter. It is purposely designed to fit on a countertop, at 16 ½ inches tall, 17 ¼ inches deep and almost 13 ½ inches wide. It fits perfectly under my cabinets and due to the depth with the drip tray it almost reaches the edge of the countertop in the front. The unit is self-contained which means you add the water either to the unit directly or to the side water tank which is much like the water tanks on most coffee makers. Because the unit is self-contained you don’t need to hire a plumber or worry about having it installed near a water line which was a major plus for me. The side tank can sit on either side of the unit and attaches via a mounting bracket which is connected to the ice maker. To fill up the tank you remove it from the side mount, unscrew the plug on the bottom and fill it up. Once its full you screw the bottom plug back on and place it back into the side base. The one complaint I have with the side tank is that you physically have to unscrew the bottom cap to add water. The bottom cap sits in the water basin which I don’t think is a good design. It would have been better to have a trap door lid on the top of the tank to add water so you aren’t touching areas where the water flows. The unit does need to be cleaned occasionally so you will need to be able to run the ice makers drain lines over to a pan/bucket or sink. I decided it was easier to drop the drain lines into a pan/bucket when I clean it versus having it installed near my sink. The entire cleaning process is straight forward and the unit has a cleaning cycle built in. One other thing to consider when installing this ice maker is that it is not the quietest appliance due to the motor running during the ice making phase.
Operation – Once you have flushed the system and added water you just power it on and it starts making ice in about 30 minutes. There are three touch buttons on the front for the Power, Light and Cleaning cycle as well as an Add Water indicator light. The ice bin is a pull-out see-through drawer that drops slightly when fully extended to give you plenty of opening to scoop ice. The see-through feature allows you to quickly see how much ice has been made. The side tank is big enough to hold enough water to make a day or two’s worth of ice for my family. Because the side tank is also see-through its easy to assess when its time to add water and if you forget the light comes on the front of the unit to remind you. For those that really want to stay connected there is an app that you can download on your phone that will provide you with the ice maker’s status as well. One thing to note, as the ice sits in the bin unused some of it will melt which will then drip into the water bin to be refrozen into new ice nuggets. The reason I mention this is because its not like your freezer’s ice maker which fills the bin and then stops making ice until some is removed. In this ice maker unused ice begins to melt which triggers the unit to run to make new ice out of the melted ice so it’s a continuous process if you leave the unit on all day long. This continuous process keeps the bin full of fresh ice but it may also add some unexpected noises when the motor is running.
Final Thoughts - So far this ice maker has operated flawlessly. The ice is near perfect and everyone loves the nuggets versus the cubes or crushed ice out of the freezer.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Capture sweeping views of your surroundings when driving with this Rexing V3 dashcam. The Full HD front and rear cameras feature Wide Dynamic Range technology for optimal performance in low-light situations, while a built-in GPS logger tracks important metrics in case of a driving incident. This Rexing V3 dashcam uses a temperature-resistant supercapacitor for added reliability.
Customer Rating
4
Great Dash Cam not so great Mount
on June 27, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
This dash cam on paper is near perfection. In reality though there are a few issues I had below that you may have to overcome. The front camera itself is feature rich and offers various video resolutions up to UHD. Due to processing power if you want to use both the front and rear facing cameras the highest resolution is FHD by 30 fps which still looks great and is perfectly acceptable. It includes all the typical high end extras like the driver assisted lane departure and crash warnings, photo mode, crash detection and logging the video with the gps coordinates and speed. It also has great night vision because it uses infrared sensors on the cabin camera. The display is a 2.7 in display which is big enough to make it usable but not so large that it becomes distracting. When setting up the display you can chose between the two cameras as well as a picture-in-picture which shows you both cameras at once. I found this was very helpful in setting up the camera. The display also gives you the status of most of the camera features so you can quickly verify that everything is working in a single glance. There are five buttons on the camera, Power, menu, up and down and enter/ok. The button operation is fairly intuitive and setting the various options like camera resolution is a simple task. I have used multiple dash cams in the past and setting this one up was fairly easy. The phone app uses wireless connectivity and was relatively easy to use. It is not the most feature rich app but it allows you to do the important things like accessing your photos and videos. One gripe I have is that there is not a simple way to take a quick photo which other dash cameras have. To take a photo you have to stop the recording and switch to the photo mode and then you can push the ok button to take a photo. This is too time consuming when you just want to snap a quick photo of something going on in front of you.
Installing the dash cam presented some issues. Rexing gives you everything you can think of to install this Dashcam. There is a nice long power cord, stick-on wire restraints, a tool to help you hide the cabling in the car’s trim and even a second windshield mount. The windshield mount provided is a simple plastic mount that attaches to the glass using double sided tape. The issue is that the mount has no tilt left or right adjustment so if you don’t get it perfectly mounted parallel to your car’s hood the video may look angled left or right. You can adjust the front camera up and down slightly within the mount. The second issue is that the interior camera is on the far right hand side of the assembly. In my car when I mounted the dash cam where I had my old one the mirror was directly in the line of the interior camera. To get video of the interior vs just the back of my mirror I had to lower the dashcam which now becomes more noticeable both inside and outside of the car. The second option was to mount the camera farther to the right out of the way of the mirror but this makes reaching the camera from the driver’s seat more difficult. I wish they would have mounted the interior camera dead center below the front camera or on the left side of the assembly because that would have worked out much better. Bottom line, be sure to power up the camera and place it where you think you want it and then select the interior camera view to make sure you are getting the video you expect. Luckily, they supply an extra double sided tape in case you don’t get it perfect the first time.
Installing the dash cam presented some issues. Rexing gives you everything you can think of to install this Dashcam. There is a nice long power cord, stick-on wire restraints, a tool to help you hide the cabling in the car’s trim and even a second windshield mount. The windshield mount provided is a simple plastic mount that attaches to the glass using double sided tape. The issue is that the mount has no tilt left or right adjustment so if you don’t get it perfectly mounted parallel to your car’s hood the video may look angled left or right. You can adjust the front camera up and down slightly within the mount. The second issue is that the interior camera is on the far right hand side of the assembly. In my car when I mounted the dash cam where I had my old one the mirror was directly in the line of the interior camera. To get video of the interior vs just the back of my mirror I had to lower the dashcam which now becomes more noticeable both inside and outside of the car. The second option was to mount the camera farther to the right out of the way of the mirror but this makes reaching the camera from the driver’s seat more difficult. I wish they would have mounted the interior camera dead center below the front camera or on the left side of the assembly because that would have worked out much better. Bottom line, be sure to power up the camera and place it where you think you want it and then select the interior camera view to make sure you are getting the video you expect. Luckily, they supply an extra double sided tape in case you don’t get it perfect the first time.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed to make printing easier for the whole family, the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer lets everyone print, scan, and copy everyday documents, schoolwork, borderless photos and more. This wireless picture printer can order ink for you and deliver it to your door with up to 50% savings on ink using the HP Instant Ink delivery service, so you can print high-quality documents and photos when you need them (subscription required). Set up, and connect the all-in-one printer to your family's mobile devices in a few easy steps for remote scanning and sharing using the HP Smart app. And keep connected, and reduce interruptions with self-healing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Prints up to 10 ISO ppm* in black and up to 7 ppm* in color.
Customer Rating
4
Streamlined Wireless Printing
on June 25, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
This Hp Envy printer is a good all round printer for someone who needs the occasional print, copy or scan. The HP Smart software makes it easy to print, copy and scan from any wireless device anywhere. The printer can print up to 10 ppm and provides the print quality that I expected from a typical ink jet printer. To install the printer you download the HP app on your phone and it walks you through the setup. The app first finds the printer via Bluetooth and then guides you through adding the printer to your wireless network. The entire process is very simple and straight forward. Once you have the printer on the wireless network other devices can immediately find it. I have the HP Smart software running on all my devices and the software found the new printer once it was added to the network. The software works great on my android phones, my ipads and my windows laptops. This printer does not have a display and instead relies on the HP Smart software to guide you. There are indicator lights and buttons on the printer to help you copy, scan and print if you do not want to use the app. The indicator lights are very intuitive and the lights add to the visual appeal of the printer. The printer has two ink cartridges, a black one and a multi-color one and the paper tray holds 100 pages. Having all three colors in a single cartridge is a negative for anyone who does a lot of color printing because as soon as one color runs dry you have you to replace the cartridge. HP counters this by trying to get you to sign up for a subscription service on the ink but I don’t print enough color prints for this to be a problem. Because this printer is so compact you need to raise the top to load the cartridges versus pulling down the front as on most HP printers. There is no document feeder on this model so each sheet needs to be placed on the glass if you are doing multiple scans or copies however it does offer duplex printing which is nice for those who like double sided printing. The big plus to this printer is the HP Smart software integration. The software has the standard copy, scan and print functions but it also adds some interesting extras like camera scan and smart tasks. These software extras adds value to the printer and makes it much more user friendly. My only complaint with the printer is the multi-color single cartridge and HP’s push on the ink subscription during the set up. Both were more of a nuisance than an issue for my printing needs.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Record and view impressive video with this powerful security system, providing 4K Ultra HD resolution with superior definition and detail. This system also features Smart Motion Detection on all channels, so you only receive notifications that are important to you. Smart search technology allows you to quickly and easily filter motion events, saving time when reviewing footage. With convenient voice control and smart home compatibility, 4K Ultra HD resolution, and Smart Motion Detection, this security system has everything you need to start protecting what's important to you.
Customer Rating
3
Lots of Potential with Lots of Questions
on June 11, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
After installing and using this Lorex System I have mixed feelings about it. Overall the system functions as expected using the default values but there is very little information on how to configure the various options and what impact they have on the system. I found when I set the camera recording levels to the “best” quality the mobile app live view would fail with no explanation. The overall solution lacks guidance and information for anything set beyond the default values. The Lorex hardware and software both seem to be quite usable and reliable however the lack of support and guidance in setting up the various options ruins the overall experience for anyone who wants to use the system beyond the default values. Also, the use of bnc cables even with Siamese power taps is still not as convenient or widely usable as Ethernet cables.
What I liked about the system:
- The controller initial set up was straight forward once I got past the monitor resolution issue mentioned below.
- The video images are clear and its easy to zoom in for close ups.
- There are options to enhance your camera image quality like saturation and chroma.
- The Smart Motion Sensing worked well and setting up the motion detection zones was simple. This is one area that Lorex does provide good information.
- The night vision is good but not very colorful under normal night lighting.
- The mobile app was easy to use and the notifications were quick and consistent.
- The system provides great flexibility when you set up notifications and alarms.
- There is a home and away setting as well as an “alarm all/disarm all” type setting.
- Even though the local interface, the web interface and the home app have totally different screens its fairly easy to figure them out. The ability to access the video locally on the controller or remotely using a pc, tablet or phone is plus.
- You can access the controller from a PC using Microsoft’s Edge browser and the controllers IP address.
- The system records a main stream which is 4k but it can only be viewed as 4k video using the controller’s hdmi cable that is attached to a 4k monitor. There is a sub stream which defaults to a 704x480 resolution and is used to stream video to any remote device like a pc, tablet or phone. This helps limit the data requirements on the remote devices.
- The controller initial set up was straight forward once I got past the monitor resolution issue mentioned below.
- The video images are clear and its easy to zoom in for close ups.
- There are options to enhance your camera image quality like saturation and chroma.
- The Smart Motion Sensing worked well and setting up the motion detection zones was simple. This is one area that Lorex does provide good information.
- The night vision is good but not very colorful under normal night lighting.
- The mobile app was easy to use and the notifications were quick and consistent.
- The system provides great flexibility when you set up notifications and alarms.
- There is a home and away setting as well as an “alarm all/disarm all” type setting.
- Even though the local interface, the web interface and the home app have totally different screens its fairly easy to figure them out. The ability to access the video locally on the controller or remotely using a pc, tablet or phone is plus.
- You can access the controller from a PC using Microsoft’s Edge browser and the controllers IP address.
- The system records a main stream which is 4k but it can only be viewed as 4k video using the controller’s hdmi cable that is attached to a 4k monitor. There is a sub stream which defaults to a 704x480 resolution and is used to stream video to any remote device like a pc, tablet or phone. This helps limit the data requirements on the remote devices.
What I don’t like about the system:
- No auto sense for the display monitor settings, this was problematic for me during the initial set up because my 1080p monitor did not work. I had to use a 4k tv to set the system up initially.
- The wired mouse is cheap and limits the distance you can sit from the controller. The system does not support a wireless mouse.
- The current software only supports 7fps in any resolution. I tried various combinations and could not get a higher resolution even though the camera supports 15fps.
- There are a lot of options when it comes to setting up your cameras and Lorex provides very little information on what the optimal settings are. I don’t think the typical home customer is going to know the benefits of using CBR vs VBR or what their bit rate should be for a given resolution!
- There are no help screens or on-line explanations for most of the options. There is a manual but it explains the “what” an option is vs the why an option should be selected and no-where is the impact on the controller or hard drive explained for any of the options. This is very important because when I selected certain options my live video feeds would stop working with no explanation as to why. Luckily if you run everything in default it works consistently.
- The use of BNC connectors and analog cameras are outdated in the digital world. The cables provided were in-wall certified but are not supposed to be exposed to the weather which can make installing outside cameras more difficult.
- The camera mounts are plastic and the screws to adjust the camera’s angle felt cheap and were difficult to torque due to their quality.
- The camera deterrent light is not bright enough to be much of a deterrence.
- On the front of the controller there is an alarm button with no visible labeling. It looks like an on/off switch at first glance.
- No auto sense for the display monitor settings, this was problematic for me during the initial set up because my 1080p monitor did not work. I had to use a 4k tv to set the system up initially.
- The wired mouse is cheap and limits the distance you can sit from the controller. The system does not support a wireless mouse.
- The current software only supports 7fps in any resolution. I tried various combinations and could not get a higher resolution even though the camera supports 15fps.
- There are a lot of options when it comes to setting up your cameras and Lorex provides very little information on what the optimal settings are. I don’t think the typical home customer is going to know the benefits of using CBR vs VBR or what their bit rate should be for a given resolution!
- There are no help screens or on-line explanations for most of the options. There is a manual but it explains the “what” an option is vs the why an option should be selected and no-where is the impact on the controller or hard drive explained for any of the options. This is very important because when I selected certain options my live video feeds would stop working with no explanation as to why. Luckily if you run everything in default it works consistently.
- The use of BNC connectors and analog cameras are outdated in the digital world. The cables provided were in-wall certified but are not supposed to be exposed to the weather which can make installing outside cameras more difficult.
- The camera mounts are plastic and the screws to adjust the camera’s angle felt cheap and were difficult to torque due to their quality.
- The camera deterrent light is not bright enough to be much of a deterrence.
- On the front of the controller there is an alarm button with no visible labeling. It looks like an on/off switch at first glance.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Improve your listening experience with this Belkin SoundForm Elite Hi-Fi smart speaker. The Push-Push dual woofer design delivers deep, distortion-free bass, and the Speaker Active Matching technology helps maximize sound quality. Google Assistant integration lets you control this Belkin SoundForm Elite Hi-Fi smart speaker and play songs from your library using voice commands.
Customer Rating
4
Quality Sound with a Phone Charger
on May 26, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
The Belkin SoundForm Elite Smart Speaker sound quality and phone charger are five stars but the software and set up along with some missing features lower its rating. The speaker acoustic design is from Devialet, a company that produces high quality audio gear and who helped Belkin to develop this speaker. For a speaker that is only 6 ½ inches around and tall it can produce sound quality better than many much larger speakers. It includes a nice quick phone charger cradle in the top of the speaker and supports both Bluetooth 5.0 and Chromecast along with the Google Assistant built in.
What I liked:
- The sound quality is it’s best feature. It has very rich bass and provides clear highs. Because of the design the midrange and highs can be slightly directional so speaker placement is important. The unit has 2 subwoofers and single full range driver built in.
- The way the subwoofers are designed the speaker does not vibrate nor does the phone in the charging cradle shake.
- The top of the speaker is actually a wireless quick charge phone cradle which is quite convenient.
- The speaker has very intuitive color coded LEDs which help with the operation.
- There is a factory reset button which can be easily accessed and used if needed – see below.
- Once configured and working the Google Assistant was very useful.
What I liked:
- The sound quality is it’s best feature. It has very rich bass and provides clear highs. Because of the design the midrange and highs can be slightly directional so speaker placement is important. The unit has 2 subwoofers and single full range driver built in.
- The way the subwoofers are designed the speaker does not vibrate nor does the phone in the charging cradle shake.
- The top of the speaker is actually a wireless quick charge phone cradle which is quite convenient.
- The speaker has very intuitive color coded LEDs which help with the operation.
- There is a factory reset button which can be easily accessed and used if needed – see below.
- Once configured and working the Google Assistant was very useful.
What I’m not thrilled about:
- The top of the speaker has buttons for Blue tooth, volume up and down, play/pause and microphone on/off. The negative here is that the buttons are flush with only light print over the button which makes it difficult to know if you are hitting the button or not.
- The initial set up requires you to use Google Home which fairly common. During my initial set up I had issues with the Google Home app configuring the device. I ended up having to reset the unit back to factory defaults twice before I could get it completely set up. The whole process is not that complicated but obviously something kept going wrong.
- The Blue tooth connectivity worked from the start but I had to go to the web site to find out that you need to hold down the Bluetooth button for 3 seconds to activate it. That information is not included in the documentation that comes with the speaker.
- The Speaker does not support Siri, Alexa, Air Play or Amazon Music as others do in this price range.
- Mono only, no stereo.
- The top of the speaker has buttons for Blue tooth, volume up and down, play/pause and microphone on/off. The negative here is that the buttons are flush with only light print over the button which makes it difficult to know if you are hitting the button or not.
- The initial set up requires you to use Google Home which fairly common. During my initial set up I had issues with the Google Home app configuring the device. I ended up having to reset the unit back to factory defaults twice before I could get it completely set up. The whole process is not that complicated but obviously something kept going wrong.
- The Blue tooth connectivity worked from the start but I had to go to the web site to find out that you need to hold down the Bluetooth button for 3 seconds to activate it. That information is not included in the documentation that comes with the speaker.
- The Speaker does not support Siri, Alexa, Air Play or Amazon Music as others do in this price range.
- Mono only, no stereo.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Drink or serve the wine you want with the Coravin Model Six Wine Preservation System. Featuring a luxurious color palette enhanced by sleek chrome accents, and innovative SmartClamps~, Model Six is a fusion of elegance and technology. Its additional premium accessories offer a complete Coravin experience. Simply insert, tip, and pour as much wine as you and your guests desire~then save the rest of the bottle for weeks, months, or even years! Includes 3 Coravin Pure Capsules, 2 Coravin Screw Caps, and a Carry Case.
Customer Rating
5
Nothing to Wine about, its Fantanstic!
on May 23, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If your favorite wine uses a natural cork and you want to enjoy a nice glass of wine without having to worry about opening the entire bottle this is what you need. During the week I often like to have a glass of wine with my dinner but due to schedules and timing its not a consistent occurrence. Using the Coravin I no longer have to worry about opening a bottle or having wine spoil because I didn’t get to finish the bottle in time. The Coravin wine preservation system lets you easily extract wine from the bottle without having to remove the cork. The system uses a small needle to puncture the cork and an Argon gas cartridge helps force the wine through the needle. To pour a glass of wine you slide the assembly over the top of the bottle, press down which drives the needle through the cork, tilt the bottle holding both the bottle and the assembly and then push the Argon gas lever to start your pour. Because the needle is small it does take a little extra time but its not a show stopper. When your pour is complete you pull the assembly upward and it comes out cleanly while the cork reseals itself. The system is well made and solid however due to the way you need to hold the wine bottle and assembly when pouring a glass it can be a little cumbersome until you get used to it. Overall I am very please with the system, its easy to use and performs perfectly every time. The Model 6 comes with three argon cartridges, a really nice storage case to hold the Coravin, and two screw on caps.
Things to consider. Since only natural cork will reseal I recommend cutting the foil to verify the cork prior to using the system. The needle will puncture a synthetic cork and everything will work normally however the synthetic cork will not reseal when the Coravin is removed thus the wine will leak. The Argon cartridges are not cheap. I average about 15 glasses or about 3 bottles worth of pours per cartridge so it does increase your overall wine cost. Lastly, because the needle does puncture the cork there is a risk of knocking some cork into the wine. This is not an issue if you use the Coravin until the bottle is empty because the needle is so thin. However if you decide to uncork a bottle that had been previously punctured by the Coravin you may find small pieces of cork in the wine. I don’t see this often because it also depends on the age and quality of the cork but can be a slight nuisance.
Things to consider. Since only natural cork will reseal I recommend cutting the foil to verify the cork prior to using the system. The needle will puncture a synthetic cork and everything will work normally however the synthetic cork will not reseal when the Coravin is removed thus the wine will leak. The Argon cartridges are not cheap. I average about 15 glasses or about 3 bottles worth of pours per cartridge so it does increase your overall wine cost. Lastly, because the needle does puncture the cork there is a risk of knocking some cork into the wine. This is not an issue if you use the Coravin until the bottle is empty because the needle is so thin. However if you decide to uncork a bottle that had been previously punctured by the Coravin you may find small pieces of cork in the wine. I don’t see this often because it also depends on the age and quality of the cork but can be a slight nuisance.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get rid of nose, brow and ear hairs with this Philips Norelco nose trimmer. The protective guard system offers comfortable hair removal without pulling and provides a barrier between skin and blades, while the rechargeable LiIon battery supports cordless trimming. This Philips Norelco nose trimmer features an ergonomically designed grip for easy handling. The nose trimmer is fully washable, making it easy to clean by simply running under a warm faucet.
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you are looking for a nose/ear trimmer get this one because its as good as the competition and the eyebrow attachment actually works! I have used several trimmers over the years but this the first one that had attachments that actually worked and were easy to use. The trimmer body is styled and works like most of the typical nose/ear hair trimmers except that the top detaches and you can put on a different cutting attachment for trimming eye brows. I have always tried to do this with a scissors and comb and was a little nervous when I tried the eyebrow attachment for the first time. I first tried the long comb attachment and once I got the hang of it I opted for the shorter comb which did a nice uniform trim. The trimmer itself seems to be well built, its easy to clean and for nose and ear hairs it does as good as others I have bought in this price range.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Turn moments from your phone into effortless photo creations. Designed to use with Bluetooth and the HP Sprocket app, plus the included power bank, you can easily transform photos from your camera roll or social media into sharable memories.Creates a 4" x 6" photo-quality print in as little as 61 seconds*
Customer Rating
3
Mobile but Limited Usability
on January 27, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
The HP Sprocket Studio Bundle is a nice self contained mobile photo printing solution however it has limited connectivity that may affect its usability. I would recommend this printer only for someone who needs a self powered mobile printer. For everyone else there are other mobile photo printers that offer more features that you may want to consider.
The printer produces good quality photos in a reasonably short time. The photos had good saturation, hue and contrast but at times seem to be slightly less sharp than I would have expected. To operate the printer you need to install the HP Sprocket software on your device. The Sprocket software is used to control the printer via Bluetooth as well as manipulate the image quality of the photo. The Bluetooth set up is simple and reliable. The Sprocket software allows you to select images from your local device’s photo gallery or from Instagram, Facebook or Google if you have those accounts on your phone. Once you select the image the software gives you several options on improving the image quality as well as possible templates to embellish the photo. You can create everything from photo cards to collages to photo id cards. Many of these same features are included in most phones today but its nice to have it as an option in the printer software. The bundle includes a battery pack that will allow you to print 80 photos before needing to be recharged. There are led indicators on the side of the battery pack that indicate charging and stored capacity. The battery pack makes this solution truly mobile and allows you to print anywhere. The paper tray holds 20 pages although the bundle only includes 10 prints to start with so be prepared to buy more paper and cartridges. The carrying case that is included is a simple fabric bag with no extra protection for the printer. Its fine for storing the printer but I would recommend getting something more substantial if you plan on hauling the printer any distance.
Cons: This printer only allows connectivity via Bluetooth thus you cannot connect via wifi or usb or memory card. This is really a problem if you want to print a photo taken from a camera or a photo stored locally on a computer or a usb drive. The photo quality was good except several of my photos came out with a single line with lighter coloration near the edge of the photo. I am not sure if it is caused by the paper transport mechanism or the cartridge system. As the photo is printed the paper feeds in and out of the front and rear of the printer. The front has a support tray however the rear of the printer does not thus the print hangs out of the rear of the printer only supported by the photo’s edge inside of the printer.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience hands-free phone usage with this LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset. The integrated Meridian Technology, 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC and multilayer metal construction deliver fine-detailed audio with high resolution, while retractable earbuds and a flexible neckband offer comfort. This LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset is Bluetooth enabled for effortless syncing with your smartphone.
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you like wireless neckband based earbuds the LG Tone Flex HBS-XL7 is one to consider. They have long battery life, good sound quality and easy phone and Google Assistant functionality. They lack noise cancellation and aren’t water/sweat proof so that may be an issue for some.
Fit: The neckband is smooth, lightweight and very comfortable. The ear buds pull out from the neckband at each end and stay locked out at the extended length. To retract the buds you give a gentle tug and they return to the neckband housing. The wire from the neckband to the earbud is very thin and barely noticeable. The ear buds are straight buds and not contoured or angled so although they fit comfortably I was more aware of them in my ear than when using my true wireless buds which are offset to fit the ear more naturally. These earbuds are not noise cancelling nor do they totally block out exterior sounds which is good and bad depending on your use. While the neckband is made of flexible material I still found it somewhat difficult to fit into my pocket when not in use.
Connectivity: These earbuds pair faster than any other blue tooth headset or earbuds I have. Whether it was my pc or ipad or my phone these earbuds paired super fast. There is a LED light on the side that gives you some indication of pairing along with an audio message so pairing is a simple once and done. As for distance these earbuds acted slightly different than others that I have owned. They reach about the same distance as my other blue tooth headsets but they don’t drop out nearly as much when reaching their limit. When you reach the limit rather than producing choppy sound quality the earbuds just announce that you are out of range and everything goes quiet.
Operation: When you power up or power down the LG Tone Flex the neckband vibrates to give you positive feedback. It also uses the vibration to let you know that you have an incoming call. There is an audio prompt on power up that tells you the battery level and pairing status which I found very helpful. The left side of the neckband has the power switch along with a multi-function switch. On the right side of the neckband there is a Google Assistant button that once configured worked great. All the buttons were easy to locate and operate without a problem. There is a USB-C charging port on the side of the neckband for recharging the battery. Because the battery life is around 10 hours and it has quick charging capabilities I can head out the door with them and never have to worry.
Operation: When you power up or power down the LG Tone Flex the neckband vibrates to give you positive feedback. It also uses the vibration to let you know that you have an incoming call. There is an audio prompt on power up that tells you the battery level and pairing status which I found very helpful. The left side of the neckband has the power switch along with a multi-function switch. On the right side of the neckband there is a Google Assistant button that once configured worked great. All the buttons were easy to locate and operate without a problem. There is a USB-C charging port on the side of the neckband for recharging the battery. Because the battery life is around 10 hours and it has quick charging capabilities I can head out the door with them and never have to worry.
Experience: The sound quality out of the box had good clarity but seemed a little flat to me. With the help of some tweaking with an equalizer I was able to get them to provide the sound quality I like. This version of the Tone Flex has a 32bit DAC and Meridian Audio which is supposed to improve the audio quality however I found the quality was only marginally better than other earbuds I have. Using the earbuds to make and take calls turned out to have mixed results. Generally everyone said I sounded great but depending on the shirt I was wearing and how the neckband sat on me some people said I sounded farther away or slightly muffled. When that happened I would rearrange the neckband with its two microphones and everything was back to being clear.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hold viewing parties anywhere with this white Epson mini-laser streaming projector. The integrated Android TV software and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity lets you access and stream your favorite content without your phone or computer. This Epson mini-laser streaming projector uses an advanced 3LCD projection system to produce bright, colorful images in up to Full HD resolution.
Customer Rating
5
Projects Everything Anywhere
on January 2, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
This Epson EF-100 projector is portable powerhouse. It is extremely flexible and can project brilliant images on nearly anything you have available. Because it has a built in Android TV Streaming stick along with a small but ample speaker it really is a portable one-piece show.
SET UP: Setting up the projector was extremely simple. Packed with the projector is the Android TV streaming stick and two remote controls. One remote controls just the projector and the second one controls both the projector and the streaming stick. The Android TV streaming stick is the equivalent in size to an Amazon Fire stick yet slightly shorter than a Roku Streaming Stick +. To install the Android TV streaming stick you remove the rear panel to get access to a bay which holds the streaming stick and has a hdmi input cable and a micro usb power cord. You can swap out the streaming stick with a Fire Stick if you like but because Roku uses a mini usb power connector it would need an extra USB mini to USB micro adapter cable. I personally liked the included Android TV streaming stick even though I have Roku and Amazon sticks elsewhere in the house. The unit has its vents on the same side as the power plug so you can place the projector on its side or its back or in the standard mounting position. Being able to place it on its back allows you to watch movies or play games on the ceiling which was a big hit in my house. The set up is menu driven and easy to follow. Connecting the projector to my 5ghz wireless band was straight forward and I was able to pair it with my blue tooth enabled sound bar, head phones and ear buds without any issues. I was able to go from unboxing to playing YouTube videos on my wall in less than 10 minutes.
FEATURES and CAPABILITIES: The biggest huddle for a projector is producing light and color in a room with a fair amount of ambient light. This projector did a good job in various lighting conditions including a room with a wall full of windows during the daylight hours. The projector provides 2000 lumens using a laser light source and because it uses 3 chip LCD technology the colors were rich and well pronounced even in the brighter conditions. There are 4 preconfigured display settings going from brightest to softest you have Dynamic, Bright Cinema, Natural and Cinema. I found that using the Dynamic and Bright Cinema to be too bright for low light viewing but quite nice for the brighter rooms. The Natural and Cinema modes are much more subdued and deliver quality images in a lower lit area. The resolution is WXGA (1280 by 800) on a native aspect ratio of 16 x10. The projector does have options for aspect ratios of Auto, 16x9, Full and Zoom. The Full and Zoom can be useful in eliminating the black bars around the content or filling in the entire light field if that’s an issue. Even though the projector does 1280x800 I found that the overall image was still quite acceptable even if the input was FHD or 4K. The projector has automatic vertical keystone correction but also includes both horizontal and vertical manual adjustments as well. The focus is a manual slide switch that allows you to get crisp imaging with minute movements. The throw ratio of the projector is 1.04 in wide mode to 1.4 in Tele mode. You can adjust this to help format your image to the light field and/or to your projector screen. I use a 100 inch projector screen and tweak the setting to fully fill the screen without any light spilling over the edges. Epson included lots of options to tweak from white balancing to saturation and contrast levels. The best part is that you can save multiple configurations so that you don’t have to remember each setting for each type of content or room/projection surface. The speaker that is included sounds much larger and better than you would expect. There are four sound modes; standard, vocal, music and movie. I felt that for playing games or watching impromptu movies on the ceiling the speaker did a nice job. For a serious move however I used the blue tooth to play the audio through my soundbar.
WHATS NOT PERFECT: There aren’t many issues with the projector. The projector leg to raise the front of the projector is not the typical one I have seen on Epson projectors. It does the job but it feels cheap and not very reliable. While WXGA was the primary resolution for laptops and computers in the past most higher end devices today display FHD or 4K natively.
BOTTOM LINE: This projector does a very nice job of projecting bright and colorful images in every scenario I have tried. The ability to use the Android TV streaming stick along with the enclosed speaker make this a perfect companion to share content or gaming on nearly any surface without having to lug a ton of equipment.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed to make printing easier for the whole family, the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer lets everyone print, scan, and copy everyday documents, schoolwork, borderless photos and more. This wireless picture printer can order ink for you and deliver it to your door with up to 50% savings on ink using the HP Instant Ink delivery service, so you can print high-quality documents and photos when you need them (subscription required). Set up, and connect the all-in-one printer to your family's mobile devices in a few easy steps for remote scanning and sharing using the HP Smart app. And keep connected, and reduce interruptions with self-healing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Prints up to 10 ISO ppm* in black and up to 7 ppm* in color.
is this self healing?
I assume you are asking about wireless self healing. According to the specs it is self healing. I have this on my 2.4 wireless network and so far its been rock solid.
5 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Designed to make printing easier for the whole family, the HP ENVY 6055 all-in-one printer lets everyone print, scan, and copy everyday documents, schoolwork, borderless photos and more. This wireless picture printer can order ink for you and deliver it to your door with up to 50% savings on ink using the HP Instant Ink delivery service, so you can print high-quality documents and photos when you need them (subscription required). Set up, and connect the all-in-one printer to your family's mobile devices in a few easy steps for remote scanning and sharing using the HP Smart app. And keep connected, and reduce interruptions with self-healing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Prints up to 10 ISO ppm* in black and up to 7 ppm* in color.
Is this printer good for home use from a computer and my iPhone?
As long as you are printing about 100 to 200 pages per month this printer should work for you. The HP Smart software works on my Ipad so it should work on your iphone. Download the app from the Apple store and check it out. I have the software on my ipad and my windows laptop and can print without any issues. There are also buttons on the printer if you would prefer to use them vs the software app. This printer can scan, print and copy but it cannot receive faxes. You can send a fax using HP's cloud services but it cannot receive a fax. Also if you do a lot of color printing realize that the colors are in a single cartridge with this printer so if one color is used up you have to replace the entire color cartridge.
5 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Enhance your mobile play experience with these Emerge gaming triggers. They can be added to smartphones to provide more satisfying left and right buttons, and the tactile switches are great for use with first-person shooters. These Emerge gaming triggers have suction cups to hold them securely in place during use.
Will they work on an iPad mini???
As long as you can download the HP Sprocket software from the Apple store and you can turn on the Bluetooth connectivity on your IPAD the printer should work fine.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
explore42
Turn moments from your phone into effortless photo creations. Designed to use with Bluetooth and the HP Sprocket app, plus the included power bank, you can easily transform photos from your camera roll or social media into sharable memories.Creates a 4" x 6" photo-quality print in as little as 61 seconds*
Does this version print 2x3 sticky back photos too, or just the 4x6 size?
Experience hands-free phone usage with this LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset. The integrated Meridian Technology, 32-bit Hi-Fi DAC and multilayer metal construction deliver fine-detailed audio with high resolution, while retractable earbuds and a flexible neckband offer comfort. This LG TONE Flex wireless stereo headset is Bluetooth enabled for effortless syncing with your smartphone.
Are these sweat resistant?
They are not water or sweat proof. I would not recommend using them in any type of workout activity.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
explore42
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.
Can I add Ram to it?
It comes with 8gb in two slots. According to Dell's specs you can upgrade to 32gb.
5 years, 9 months ago
by
explore42
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.
How much ram is there?
It comes with 8gb in two slots. These can be upgraded up to 32gb per Dell's specs.
5 years, 9 months ago
by
explore42
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 a 144hz screen?
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.
There is another slot for solid or hard drive?
Say goodbye to cords and cables with these Skullcandy Sesh true wireless headphones. Bluetooth technology seamlessly connects to your smartphone, tablet or PC, letting you stream music or take phone calls with the built-in microphone. These water-resistant Skullcandy Sesh true wireless headphones come with a charging case, providing up to an extra 7 hours of listening time.
What is the maximum distance that the blue tooth works before it disconnects from your phone??
The documentation for the Skullcandy Sesh says 30 feet but that varies with the device you are connected to and the environment you are in. I found that I could easily go to over 30 ft when connected to my IPAD but my at that same distance I would get drop outs when connected to my Samsung phone. The things to consider are the environment - thickness of walls and floors as well as other electronics that may be supplying interference.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
explore42