explore42's stats
- Review count211
- Helpfulness votes626
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewAugust 13, 2026
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- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count23
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- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
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The new Dell 24" Curved Gaming Monitor is equipped with a 4ms Response Time - 165Hz - AMD FreeSync Premium Technology featuring Vertical Alignment, Anti-glare with 3H hardness, and 1500R Curvature. Adjustable height and LED screen, this 24" monitor is equipped for ultimate game play.
Customer Rating
5
Full Featured Gaming Monitor
on March 19, 2021
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
Getting a monitor that gives you a great FHD panel with a high refresh rate for a reasonable amount of money has just gotten easier. This Dell monitor once I got it fully set up really amazed me. The overall display quality, build, stand flexibility and ease of set up makes this monitor a real winner. Naturally one of Dell’s larger curved monitors will give you a more immersive feel but if you don’t have the space or the money this is a great alternative.
Features: The display is VA panel which supports FHD 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate up to 165hz. It has up to a 178 degree viewing angle and a 3000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks. The response times are 1ms in MPRT mode, 4ms Gray to Gray (GtG) in Super Fast mode and 8ms GtG in Fast mode. There are two HDMI ports, a Display Port and a Headphone/audio out jack. The monitor has the typical Dell stand which gives you total control over the display height and angle. I think this is more important with a curved screen than a flat screen. To get the full immersive feel you need to have the monitor at eye level so that your eyes are aligned with the middle of the screen. Since this is a 24” monitor I set mine up so that I was sitting about 1.2 ft away for playing games, that is the minimum recommended distance for a 16 x 9, 24” FHD display. When doing anything else I would move back to about 24 inches from the screen. If you sit close your games are going to become far more intensive. The display has a very thin side bezel so all the control buttons are on the right rear of the panel. There is one main joy stick menu button and four function buttons. These are the buttons you need to access the set-up menu but more importantly you use them for selecting input source, short cuts and game presets. So when choosing where to put the monitor its important to make sure you can get your hand around the right side of the display. The other option is load Dell’s Display Manager (DDM) app for windows and control everything via the app.
Setup: After I put the monitor together on its stand and cabled it I went through the basic set up items. My gaming laptop can do up to 144 hz at FHD so I configured Windows for 1080 at 144hz and set the monitor’s response time settings to MPRT – note that MPRT only works with 144hz and 165hz refresh rates. Next I checked out the monitors performance using the Eizo monitor test and TestUFO. The panel was perfect with no pixel issues and the colors and gray scales were uniform across the panel. Playing with the TestUFO I was able to see how much the 144 hz refresh improved over a standard 60hz rate. I repeated this same process with my desktop which support FHD 1080 at the 165hz refresh rate. Again the monitor looked and performed great. There are five preset game settings and 3 customizable presets as well. The preconfigured presets are Standard, FSP First-Person Shooter, MOBA Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, RPG Role-Playing Games and Sports. These are definitely something you are going to want to play around with and if you don’t like them you can create up to three more presets to meet your taste.
Bottom Line: What I really like about this monitor is that the colors are vivid and blacks are reasonably black. Some of my games seemed to run better under MPRT and others seemed to look better using the Super Fast response time. I’m not sure how much of this was personal preference vs measurable performance but I played with the settings until I found what I liked. I would recommend making sure your game’s refresh rate is set correctly because I found several of mine defaulted to 60 fps and I had to manually change it. I also found that because it’s a curved monitor the in-game camera angles can change the immersive feel. Viewing the game from inside the car was much more immersive than having the camera show a bird’s eye view from behind. You need to try the various options because what worked on a flat screen may not give you the maximum benefit of this curved monitor. Lastly because this is a VA monitor its good for general use as well. Getting used to the curved screen while doing spreadsheets and documents does take a little getting used to but once you do it becomes a non-issue.
Bottom Line: What I really like about this monitor is that the colors are vivid and blacks are reasonably black. Some of my games seemed to run better under MPRT and others seemed to look better using the Super Fast response time. I’m not sure how much of this was personal preference vs measurable performance but I played with the settings until I found what I liked. I would recommend making sure your game’s refresh rate is set correctly because I found several of mine defaulted to 60 fps and I had to manually change it. I also found that because it’s a curved monitor the in-game camera angles can change the immersive feel. Viewing the game from inside the car was much more immersive than having the camera show a bird’s eye view from behind. You need to try the various options because what worked on a flat screen may not give you the maximum benefit of this curved monitor. Lastly because this is a VA monitor its good for general use as well. Getting used to the curved screen while doing spreadsheets and documents does take a little getting used to but once you do it becomes a non-issue.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Sonance Mag Series 2.1-channel outdoor rock speaker system is a $1,300 value.~ Bundle includes (2) MAGMR6 satellite rock speakers and (1) MAGMR10W rock woofer. ~ Elevate your outdoor soundscape with the Sonance MAGROCKS2.1 Outdoor Rock Speaker System, a premium 2.1-channel setup designed to disappear into natural surroundings while delivering crystal-clear audio. This weather-resistant outdoor speaker system includes two 6.5" satellite rock speakers and a powerful 10" rock woofer, offering high-fidelity performance across patios, gardens, and open-air spaces. With its rugged fiberglass-reinforced enclosures and realistic stone-like finish, the MAGROCKS2.1 system blends seamlessly into landscaping while withstanding UV rays, heat, rain, snow, and poolside splashes. Whether you're entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet evening outside, this discreet outdoor sound system fills your space with rich, dynamic sound, featuring clear highs, smooth mids, and immersive low frequencies. Built for seamless compatibility with leading platforms like Sonos, Bluesound, and Denon HEOS, the MAGROCKS2.1 is simple to install and scales effortlessly with your outdoor audio system. From casual backyard listening to rich, all-encompassing outdoor audio, Sonance delivers performance you can hear but not see.
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
My previous outdoor speakers were mounted on my deck and provided good sound quality but most of it went to the neighbors due to where I had to mount them. These Sonance Magrocks allow me to place the speakers lower and closer to where we want the music to be heard. The addition of the woofer definitely is an improvement in the sound quality.
Pros: Good Build Quality, Visually Appealing, Overall Good Sound Quality
Cons: Spring Loaded Connector!
Build Quality: These speakers are solid and definitely carry some weight. The overall rock appearance helps the speakers become less noticeable in the yard. The bottom of the speaker where they are sealed was heavily caulked and because it is on the bottom none of it shows. They used clear caulk which I think will be easy to monitor and replace should it ever fail. The satellite speakers have a 1” tweeter and a 6 ½ “ mid-range/woofer. The woofer has a 10” woofer and utilizes a 150 hz low pass filter to derive its sound. Combined the speakers provide a 35 to 20khz response. The satellite speakers have a 6 foot wire permanently attached and these connect to the woofer. The woofer then attaches to your amplifier and uses high pass filters to supply the music to the satellites. The connector panel on the bottom of the woofer uses spring loaded connectors! I would have thought that speakers this expensive would have had banana connectors / 5 way binding post . I am not a fan of spring loaded connectors and would replace them if I could.
Setup: Because these speakers require a separate amplifier there is no requirement for electric near the speakers which is a plus if you are installing them around a pool like I am. There are three speakers, two satellites providing the left and right channels and a single woofer that sits in the center. You need to purchase and run outdoor speaker wire from your amplifier to the woofer. Then you connect the wiring that is already attached to each satellite to the woofer. There is a plate that covers the wiring connector underneath the woofer to keep things somewhat sealed from the outside.
Cons: Spring Loaded Connector!
Build Quality: These speakers are solid and definitely carry some weight. The overall rock appearance helps the speakers become less noticeable in the yard. The bottom of the speaker where they are sealed was heavily caulked and because it is on the bottom none of it shows. They used clear caulk which I think will be easy to monitor and replace should it ever fail. The satellite speakers have a 1” tweeter and a 6 ½ “ mid-range/woofer. The woofer has a 10” woofer and utilizes a 150 hz low pass filter to derive its sound. Combined the speakers provide a 35 to 20khz response. The satellite speakers have a 6 foot wire permanently attached and these connect to the woofer. The woofer then attaches to your amplifier and uses high pass filters to supply the music to the satellites. The connector panel on the bottom of the woofer uses spring loaded connectors! I would have thought that speakers this expensive would have had banana connectors / 5 way binding post . I am not a fan of spring loaded connectors and would replace them if I could.
Setup: Because these speakers require a separate amplifier there is no requirement for electric near the speakers which is a plus if you are installing them around a pool like I am. There are three speakers, two satellites providing the left and right channels and a single woofer that sits in the center. You need to purchase and run outdoor speaker wire from your amplifier to the woofer. Then you connect the wiring that is already attached to each satellite to the woofer. There is a plate that covers the wiring connector underneath the woofer to keep things somewhat sealed from the outside.
Performance: I hooked the speakers up to a Yamaha receiver that provides 140 watts of power. The satellite speakers provide good mids and highs with clarity. I tried various favorite songs and they performed well without showing any distortion even at the higher volume levels. Because the Woofer plays the bass for both the left and right speaker it needs to be located in the center and not too far from either satellite. I noticed that when you move the satellites too far away from the woofer you start to notice the sound originating from the woofer which is not what you want to hear. When they are properly spaced per the installation specs, 6 to 12 feet apart the woofer seems to disappear and the sounds all seem to originate out of the satellites. I would highly recommend considering this when figuring out where to place the speakers. Originally I wanted to put the satellites at the ends of our wall with the woofer in the center but the sound quality suffered so I opted to move the speakers closer to the woofer. Second choice was in the small flower garden that is waiting for spring as shown in the photos.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics produce high-quality visuals on the fast 15.6-inch 144hz FHD display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
Upon opening and unpacking this laptop my first thoughts were how thin and solid it felt. This has to be nearly half the thickness of my older gaming laptop and at least a pound lighter. I’ve been very happy so far with the performance and overall quality. Its quite the balancing act of trying to get a good gaming laptop that is portable and affordable and I think Asus has done a nice job with the TUF Dash.
Specs: This laptop is well equipped for the price. The display is 1920x1080 HD at 144hz which isn’t the fastest or highest resolution these days but its adequate for the games I play. The CPU is the new Intel i7 11370H, the memory is 16gb of DDR4 3200 and the SSD is a M.2 NVMe PCIe 512gb SSD. Due to its thin design only a second M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD is supported. Its easy to install a second SSD but be sure to watch the screw lengths because there are two different ones when removing the bottom cover. The video card is the new NVidia RTX 3060 and its built for gaming. The laptop supports wi-fi 6, has an ethernet port, three USB 3.2 ports, a Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C type) port and an audio jack. The keyboard is a back lit chiclet style keyboard with three settings for brightness and three modes; Breathing, Strobe and Static. There is only one color choice which is light green. The WASD keys are clear which looks more funky than making it look like a gaming keyboard. On the plus side there are dedicated keys for Volume level, Mute and the Armoury Crate launch. The directional keys are slightly larger which is nice. The speakers are located in the front of the base and are typical laptop speakers. There are four vents for cooling, one on each side and two in the back. What its doesn’t have is a much shorter list. There is no numeric keyboard, no DVD drive and no web cam which is a downside if you plan on using this for more than gaming.
Performance: I really like the Asus Armoury Crate which gives you four preset configurations Silent, Windows, Performance and Turbo. These settings are quite useful when you are using the laptop and trying to limit the heat and noise. Using Geekbench 5 I was able to get Single Core = 1541, Multi Core = 4833 and CL score of 100089. This is much faster than my older gaming laptop so I am happy with the results. Because the laptop is so thin the amount of venting that can be done is limited. When playing Forza Horizon 4 I could barely hear the speakers over the fans. Not all the games were that bad, it just depends on the game and setting. I found playing most of my games on Performance vs Turbo kept the fan at a more tolerable level. The laptop after a half an hour of gaming gets pretty warm and after an hour or more you are going to want to stay clear of the vents. The Keyboard gets warm but nothing more than I would have expected on such a thin laptop. I would highly recommend using gaming headphones for anyone who plans on gaming using the Turbo mode. Both my gaming headphones and wireless controller connected via Bluetooth without issue and I never felt like there was any delay in response even when running the laptop all out. The display was a pleasant surprise, it provided good contrast and brightness and the colors were rich. Since the display has a 144hz refresh and the highest resolution supported is 1980x 1080 HD I didn’t expect the NVIDIA RTX-3060 to have any problem keeping up and I wasn’t disappointed. Lastly, I would have no problem recommending this laptop as a multipurpose laptop. It would be a perfect laptop for anyone who games, dabbles in photo and video editing and also uses the typical Windows Office apps.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience total freedom on a budget with Jib True. The newest true wireless earbud from Skullcandy is easy to connect and easy to enjoy. Call, track change, and volume controls are all within close reach through one main button. 22 hours of audio on a single charge means you spend less time recharging and more time enjoying your music. Jib True earbuds are adventure-ready, too. An IPX4 rating means Jib True is sweat- and dust-resistant. You don~t need to worry about damage if a little rain kicks up during your urban or outdoor adventure. Dual microphones make your calls clearer and if you feel like keeping one ear open, you can use either bud ~solo~ without missing a beat
Customer Rating
4
Great Value but a Bulky Fit
on January 20, 2021
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
The Skullcandy Jib earbuds have a lot to offer at a very affordable price. The 6 hour battery life – 22 hours including the case, the IPX4 sweat and water resistant rating, and the ability to operate either earbud as a single master earbud make these earbuds quite appealing. The downside is these earbuds are large so the fit can be problematic.
Fit: These earbuds are much larger than my prior Skullcandy Sesh ear buds. Because of this I found myself checking the fit more often than I like when moving around. I tried all three ear cups but none of them made the earbud feel more secure. Anyone who has small or shallow ears may have a difficult time getting them comfortably inserted where they won’t fall out. Another difference is that these earbuds are thicker and sit at the base of your ear. Other earbuds I own are shallower and curve upward vs sitting on the bottom of the ear. If you are used to shallower earbuds you may find that these don’t fit as well. Also because of their size these earbuds are quite noticeable when worn.
Setup: Skullcandy includes a nice card with all necessary information needed to get the earbuds paired and working. The earbuds come in a small case where they are magnetically pulled into the charging position. Because the case is small and earbuds are thick it can be a little difficult getting them out of the case. On the outside of the case there is a single led that indicates the battery level of the case. The more it flashes the more battery life there is left. A voice prompt alerts you when the earbud’s battery only has 30 minutes of power left. Each earbud has a LED to indicate that it is charging and in pairing mode. I had no issues with the earbuds pairing to any of my Bluetooth devices. Because these earbuds can be used individually you need to make sure both pair.
Setup: Skullcandy includes a nice card with all necessary information needed to get the earbuds paired and working. The earbuds come in a small case where they are magnetically pulled into the charging position. Because the case is small and earbuds are thick it can be a little difficult getting them out of the case. On the outside of the case there is a single led that indicates the battery level of the case. The more it flashes the more battery life there is left. A voice prompt alerts you when the earbud’s battery only has 30 minutes of power left. Each earbud has a LED to indicate that it is charging and in pairing mode. I had no issues with the earbuds pairing to any of my Bluetooth devices. Because these earbuds can be used individually you need to make sure both pair.
Functionality: Each earbud has a single mechanical button on them that is used in various combinations to do everything from changing the volume to answering the phone. Because of the looser fit I found that pressing mechanical buttons annoyed my ears.
Sound Quality: These earbuds won’t produce booming bass or crystal clear highs but for everyday commuting and streaming music or a video from a phone I felt they did a reasonably good job. Like most earbuds you need a good equalizer to get the best quality sound and these were no different. I added some bass and mids while cutting down the high end to get the best results for my taste. Skullcandy promotes the earbuds as having a Noise-Isolating fit however I didn’t find they isolated noise any better than other regular earbuds.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Polk MagniFi 2 high-performance home theater sound bar and wireless subwoofer system provide bigger, more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars, and is optimized to make movies, TV, video games and music come to life. The MagniFi 2 comes with a wireless 8" subwoofer and features patented SDA surround technology for a wider, more immersive listening experience and Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue. Stream your favorite music with Chromecast built-in from Google Play Music, Amazon Music HD, Apple Music, Roon, Qobuz, Spotify, Tidal and many more. Compatible with HD and 4K TVs. Includes HDMI and Optical cables for quick and easy setup. At just over 2~ tall, the sound bar can easily fit under your TV without blocking its remote sensor, and with 2 keyhole slots coupled the unit can also be mounted to any flat surface offering a variety of placement options.
Customer Rating
4
Immersive and Flexible but lacking strong Bass
on January 10, 2021
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
I’ve owned several Polk speakers over the years so my expectations were high when I got the MagniFi2 soundbar. I have always felt that Polk is very good at producing speakers that provide very clear mids and highs and this soundbar did not disappoint in that regard. The bass while ok was not as impressive for a couple of reasons as discussed below. The preconfigured equalizer settings for music, movie, night, sport and 3D give you some interesting options and using the voice and bass control adds to the flexibility. Overall this is a good soundbar for the money.
Pros:
- Supported all my 4k content whether I was streaming or using my DVD player.
- Three HDMI ports and ARC support
- Good clear frequency response especially across the mids and highs for music.
- The Voice Adjust is really nice for shows and sports when you need to increase the vocal ranges.
- The LEDs on the front of the soundbar are intuitive once you understand their function.
- The sound stage is quite large and Polk does a good job producing virtual surround sound.
- The 3D audio mode adds some dimension to the soundstage. This feature can be amazing on one video and flat out bad on the next. With this turned on it seems like the bass is lessened which can also be a negative.
- Simple set up for the Wi-Fi connection via Google Home as well as Bluetooth. Both worked with no issues.
- The Subwoofer automatically paired with the soundbar and the connection stayed solid without any drop outs.
Concerns:
- The only complaint I have with the audio quality is with the bass. At times it seemed like the bass was lacking punch or muffled.
- The subwoofer has very short legs so if you have carpet the carpeting can “deaden” the subwoofer response. My subwoofer sank deep enough that there was barely a fingers width between the subwoofer frame and carpet.
- If you are wall mounting the soundbar you have to make certain there is enough room between the bottom of the TV and the top of the soundbar for you to reach the manual buttons.
- The remote control is well laid out but the buttons can be difficult to find in low light and they require a fair amount of push to actuate the button.
- The 3D affect can really enhance some movies but in others it becomes a detriment. The audio soundstage is expanded but it also increases some of the background sounds which can be overwhelming. It also can introduce some reverberation and echo which can be distracting.
- No eARC support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. I found that some of my DVDs (Top Gun for example) didn’t play the audio because the soundbar does not support Dolby Digital True HD. By making changes to the DVD player settings or the movie’s audio settings I was able to get all them to play audio eventually.
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support but it does have Polk’s 3D variant.
- Supported all my 4k content whether I was streaming or using my DVD player.
- Three HDMI ports and ARC support
- Good clear frequency response especially across the mids and highs for music.
- The Voice Adjust is really nice for shows and sports when you need to increase the vocal ranges.
- The LEDs on the front of the soundbar are intuitive once you understand their function.
- The sound stage is quite large and Polk does a good job producing virtual surround sound.
- The 3D audio mode adds some dimension to the soundstage. This feature can be amazing on one video and flat out bad on the next. With this turned on it seems like the bass is lessened which can also be a negative.
- Simple set up for the Wi-Fi connection via Google Home as well as Bluetooth. Both worked with no issues.
- The Subwoofer automatically paired with the soundbar and the connection stayed solid without any drop outs.
Concerns:
- The only complaint I have with the audio quality is with the bass. At times it seemed like the bass was lacking punch or muffled.
- The subwoofer has very short legs so if you have carpet the carpeting can “deaden” the subwoofer response. My subwoofer sank deep enough that there was barely a fingers width between the subwoofer frame and carpet.
- If you are wall mounting the soundbar you have to make certain there is enough room between the bottom of the TV and the top of the soundbar for you to reach the manual buttons.
- The remote control is well laid out but the buttons can be difficult to find in low light and they require a fair amount of push to actuate the button.
- The 3D affect can really enhance some movies but in others it becomes a detriment. The audio soundstage is expanded but it also increases some of the background sounds which can be overwhelming. It also can introduce some reverberation and echo which can be distracting.
- No eARC support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. I found that some of my DVDs (Top Gun for example) didn’t play the audio because the soundbar does not support Dolby Digital True HD. By making changes to the DVD player settings or the movie’s audio settings I was able to get all them to play audio eventually.
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support but it does have Polk’s 3D variant.
Setup: My TV supports ARC so I connected the HDMI cable to my TV’s ARC HDMI port and it was up and working. When I went to wall mount the soundbar I realized that getting to the buttons could be problematic so I made sure it was a couple of inches below the TV. The subwoofer paired with the soundbar on power-up and was operational without me having to do anything. I next added the soundbar to my Google Home account and put the soundbar on my wi-fi network so I could cast to it. All this was simple and straight forward without any type of issue.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Blueair Classic 480i air purifier allows you to take full control of your indoor air with integrated sensors, smartphone control, and Alexa compatibility. Independently certified for rooms up to 434 ft~, the Classic 480i comes standard with a DualProtection filter to remove odors, as well as 99.97% of airborne particles, like pollen, dust, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, and more with HEPASilent filtration technology. The durable steel construction and up to 5-year warranty with product registration ensures clean air for years to come. The Classic 480i operates at whisper-quiet noise levels (32- 56 dB) and is ENERGY STAR certified for best-in-class energy efficiency (15-90 W).
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you want to remove contaminates from your indoor air this Classic 480i is one that I would highly recommend. The filter is very quiet on the low speed and the medium speed is about the same noise level as my laptop fan. On high its about the equivalent of the air sounds you hear on a jet when flying. It’s a distinct back ground noise but not enough that its annoying. On high this unit will filter the air 5 times for a 400 sq ft room. Due to the Hepa-Silent filtering process the air moves quickly through the 480i so even on low it supplies a nice amount of air circulation. The overall build quality and intuitive controls make it a breeze to use and maintain. The Blue Air app gives you total control remotely or through schedules. The physical appearance of the 480i is fairly pleasing while being non distinct. Bottom line is this 480i does a great job filtering the air and when running on low or even medium its easy to forget its even in the room.
Set up and Operation: Setting up this air purifier is simple. You can either use the app to run the filter remotely or on a schedule or you can manually control it from the control console. The control console resides below a lift top door on the top of the filter so its easy to access and easy to read once you understand the icons. The indicators give you a good = blue or bad = orange indication so they don’t provide the same level of detail as the app provides. The 480i comes with two stage filtering. The first stage filters the contaminates and the second stage filters the VOC, smoke and odors. The filters are easy to access and replace via a door on the rear panel of the unit.
App: The Blue Air app was easy to install and set up. Once you have downloaded the App you follow the instructions on pairing your mobile device to the filter. Both devices have to be on a 2.4 Ghz wifi network. Within the app you can see the indoor air quality, the outdoor air quality, the filter status, the fan speed and any schedules you have set up. I can't validate how accurate the air quality measurements were in the app but the 480i is AHAM certified so I know if there are any contaminates this unit will filter them. The unit has four fan speeds; off, low, medium or high which can be set manually via the control panel or via the app. The filter status indicator is just a timer that shows you how many days are left before you should replace the filter. The scheduling feature in the app allows you to set up multiple activities per day. I have ours running on high or medium for most of the day with the LED brightness set to medium. Then at night I have the filter run on low with the LEDs off. I set it up to run like this throughout the week and if at any time I want to turn the fan up or down I just use the app or control panel to make the temporary changes. If you use Alexa you can add the Blue Air skill and control the fan speed via Alexa as well. Its not the fanciest app but the scheduling works well and it performs all the necessary functions I needed.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Soundcore by Anker Flare 2 wireless portable speaker provides a 360~ immersive audio/visual experience and enhances the atmosphere of any gathering. When you want a deeper bass for your party, the Flare 2 portable speaker is the best choice with its BassUp technology. The custom-designed DSP chip and dual bass radiators deliver 100% more bass than ordinary portable Bluetooth speakers. It doesn't stop there, this party speaker is IPX7 Waterproof, so your party stays rocking no matter the weather. Even a full submersion in water will not harm the Flare 2 Bluetooth speaker.
Customer Rating
5
Sight and Sound Excitement
on December 11, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
This speaker brings out the fun with its good sound and entertaining light rings. I am thrilled with the overall quality of the Soundcore Flare 2 speaker and the Soundcore app.
Pros:
- Good sound quality and sound dispersion for a speaker this size
-Light Rings add fun to the music
- Soundcore App offers total control and flexibility, definitely worth using
- Water proof and very portable
- Ability to synchronize multiple speakers via Bluetooth linking
- Good speaker phone and microphone audio quality
Cons:
- No Stereo Capability
- Buttons on top are hard to find especially if you are using this as a speaker phone
- No external battery level indicator, it would be nice if the light ring could be used as a battery indicator on start up
Speaker: The speaker looks and feels like a quality component. It has some weight due to the batteries and speaker components but not so much weight that its not portable. The speaker provides good sound dispersion and a fair amount of bass with the bass boost on for a speaker this size. Its plenty strong enough with 20 watts of power to provide more sound than a typical speaker this size can provide. The controls are on the top and the side of the speaker. On top there is the power button, the volume up and down, the light ring selector and a multipurpose button in the center. The buttons are rubber coated mechanical switches which means you have to depress them to actuate them. This is good for water proofing but it makes it more difficult to find them. This is really a problem if you are using the speaker as a speaker phone because the multipurpose button is the answer button. Sitting on a desk it can be problematic finding the button when the phone is ringing. The audio quality and microphone quality are quite good as a speaker phone if only the buttons were easier to use. The advertised battery life is 12 hours but I think the actual number of hours depends on the user. I use mine for several hours and always put it on charger at the end of the day. The speaker has two light rings that really make this speaker stand out. There are multiple light functions in the app to choose from and you can actually pick the colors to use in the rings. Depending on the light mode the ring light will actually pulse with the music played. If you aren’t interested in the lights you can turn them off. If you purchase more than one of these speakers you can link them together to synchronize the music and light rings – perfect for parties or events.
Soundcore App This has to be one of the best apps for portable speakers. Its simple to understand and it offers great control over the speaker and light rings. The app has three main pages; Equalizer, Home and Light settings. The home page allows you to power off the speaker, check the battery level, play or pause the music and set the volume using a half moon style dial. The equalizer page has four preset equalizer settings as well as a custom preset that lets you fully customize the equalizer. You can also turn on the bass boost which really does make an impact on the sound quality. The light page has 6 preset lighting patterns. Within each pattern you can choose which colors to use which makes the light rings totally customizable to your taste. I am really impressed with the quality of this app and its ability to control the speaker and lighting.
Pros:
- Good sound quality and sound dispersion for a speaker this size
-Light Rings add fun to the music
- Soundcore App offers total control and flexibility, definitely worth using
- Water proof and very portable
- Ability to synchronize multiple speakers via Bluetooth linking
- Good speaker phone and microphone audio quality
Cons:
- No Stereo Capability
- Buttons on top are hard to find especially if you are using this as a speaker phone
- No external battery level indicator, it would be nice if the light ring could be used as a battery indicator on start up
Speaker: The speaker looks and feels like a quality component. It has some weight due to the batteries and speaker components but not so much weight that its not portable. The speaker provides good sound dispersion and a fair amount of bass with the bass boost on for a speaker this size. Its plenty strong enough with 20 watts of power to provide more sound than a typical speaker this size can provide. The controls are on the top and the side of the speaker. On top there is the power button, the volume up and down, the light ring selector and a multipurpose button in the center. The buttons are rubber coated mechanical switches which means you have to depress them to actuate them. This is good for water proofing but it makes it more difficult to find them. This is really a problem if you are using the speaker as a speaker phone because the multipurpose button is the answer button. Sitting on a desk it can be problematic finding the button when the phone is ringing. The audio quality and microphone quality are quite good as a speaker phone if only the buttons were easier to use. The advertised battery life is 12 hours but I think the actual number of hours depends on the user. I use mine for several hours and always put it on charger at the end of the day. The speaker has two light rings that really make this speaker stand out. There are multiple light functions in the app to choose from and you can actually pick the colors to use in the rings. Depending on the light mode the ring light will actually pulse with the music played. If you aren’t interested in the lights you can turn them off. If you purchase more than one of these speakers you can link them together to synchronize the music and light rings – perfect for parties or events.
Soundcore App This has to be one of the best apps for portable speakers. Its simple to understand and it offers great control over the speaker and light rings. The app has three main pages; Equalizer, Home and Light settings. The home page allows you to power off the speaker, check the battery level, play or pause the music and set the volume using a half moon style dial. The equalizer page has four preset equalizer settings as well as a custom preset that lets you fully customize the equalizer. You can also turn on the bass boost which really does make an impact on the sound quality. The light page has 6 preset lighting patterns. Within each pattern you can choose which colors to use which makes the light rings totally customizable to your taste. I am really impressed with the quality of this app and its ability to control the speaker and lighting.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make your photos look amazing with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021. The Adobe Sensei AI technology features a new face-tilt function, and its Guided Edits provide a new perfect-landscape feature. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 lets you easily edit photos, make clips, and create memes to share on your favorite social websites.
Customer Rating
5
It will make you Smile
on November 30, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you have owned or used Photoshop Elements in the past then you will feel very comfortable using the 2021 version. If you have never used Photoshop elements don’t worry because Adobe provides lots of optional help material. There are 58 guided edits that help you unleash the creative potential of your photos. This version has all the typical features you would expect and several that are truly amazing. Best of all this software does most of the magic for you so you can enjoy the editing of the photos as well as the end results. The software is as simple or as complex as you want or need it to be.
New Features I really liked: Fine tuning Faces including angles, improving the landscape by replacing the sky, moving and scaling items within the photo, adding motion to a photo to create animated GIFs and the auto back up feature for the Organizer catalogue.
The installation was simple and straight forward. I downloaded the software, logged into my existing Adobe account, entered my redemption key and then used the serial number to complete the installation. It’s a few more steps than using the dvd type installation but it wasn’t that complicated. Note to make sure you keep your redemption code and your serial number handy because you need them to install the software.
The home screen features a ribbon with creative and editing ideas that show you what is new and what is possible with the software. The items give you a quick overview which is helpful when deciding what to do next. The ribbon contains everything from how to share photos to various methods to edit your photos and even how to order prints and gifts if you happen to want those. Below the ribbon you select either to use the Organizer or the Photo Editor. The Organizer will catalogue all your photos and videos into a single workspace. There are lots of tools to help you organize your photos by tagging them by people, events, etc. This version now allows you to automatically back up your catalogue so you don’t have to worry about losing your photo library data. The photo editor has three editing modes: Basic, Guided and Expert. In the Guided mode there are over 55 tiles that show you an example of what each guided feature does and how it affects the photo. This makes it very easy when choosing what editing tools are needed since the software pretty much does it all for you. In the Expert mode all the editing tools are available individually and you can pick and choose what to use and how to use it. This mode gives you total freedom but it can also add to the complexity of the editing process. There are times that you will need to use the Expert mode to touch up the photo after the Guided mode is completed. I used the guided mode to move a little girl to the center of the photo and when I did this it left some of her curls floating where she was originally. I then used the Expert mode to remove the curls. While the Guided mode is not perfect it definitely makes the editing process much simpler.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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See the essential details, longer. Arlo Essential Spotlight has extended battery life and captures video in 1080p resolution with an integrated spotlight, color night vision, and an extended life battery. Wire-free and weather resistant, Arlo Essential works indoors or out. Set it up yourself in just a few easy steps and clearly see who~s there, even at night. With one year battery life~, it~s perfect for high traffic locations or areas that are difficult to reach. Easily recharge your camera using the included indoor power cable (battery not removeable). Receive notifications and view videos that tell you a package, person, vehicle or even an animal is detected, so you can take quick action like phone a friend, sound an alarm or call emergency services with a trial of Arlo Secure included.~ Personalize what you get notified for and create custom activity zones to ensure you only get alerts for what matters, reducing those that are less important.
Customer Rating
5
Quality Camera and App
on November 21, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
If you want a good Security camera that is simple to install and easy to operate this is best option that I have come across so far. The biggest concern I had originally was that this camera would be slow in sending alerts and activating the video to my phone and the battery power would not last. After installing the Essential XL and using it I can say I no longer have those concerns. The Arlo app alerts me quickly on motion detection and the video activates reasonably quick. Anyone who wants to monitor their property and doesn’t want to run wires or doesn’t have local power should definitely consider this camera. The only downside is that you have to sign up for subscriptions services if you want to use most of the features beyond the trial period and this includes accessing the video in the cloud.
Features: This camera is a full featured camera with a 130 degree field of view, a 12x zoom feature, a spot light – note this not a flood light, two way audio, a siren alarm and color night vision. The image can be rotated 180 degrees in case you have to mount the camera upside down. The biggest feature in this camera is its extra long battery life of about a year between recharges. The batteries cannot be removed from the camera as in other Arlo cameras and it does take some time to charge the battery. The charge time will depend on the usb charger you use since one is not provided with the camera. The Arlo app gives you complete control over the motion sensing, the alerting and the use of geo fencing. If you chose to purchase the Arlo Smart subscription you get Smart Notifications like detecting people, packages, cars and animals. You also get 30 day cloud storage with the Arlo Smart subscription.
Setup: The Essential XL Camera set up is fairly easy and is typical of most Smart Home devices. You have to download the Arlo mobile app on your phone, create an account and then follow the directions on adding the camera. It takes more time to mount the camera than it does to get it operational. Because the camera is wireless you have to make sure you have good wireless coverage in the area where you plan to mount it. You can quickly verify wi-fi signal strength by looking at your phone’s wi-fi settings while holding the phone where you plan to mount the camera. The camera’s mounting bracket can either be attached in the rear of the camera or under it. I mounted mine on my front porch and attached the mounting bracket to the rear of the camera. The camera mount is pivotable and allows you to tilt the camera to get the best viewing angle. There is a twist knob that you tighten down once you get the camera set into position and this locks the camera firmly in place. As mentioned above no USB charger is provided so although they provide a short USB-A to USB micro cable you will have to provide the charger. The first charger I tried was taking forever to charge the battery so I connected a higher powered one and the battery did charge faster. Once I had the camera mounted and working in the Arlo App I added the Arlo skill to my Alex app and now I can see my Arlo camera on my Echo Show using Alexa.
Video Quality: At 1080p this camera does not have the highest video resolution but for someone looking to monitor their doors or driveway this camera meets the requirements. The video is always crystal clear and the camera provides a wide view without having a fish-eye effect. The color night vision is not the most colorful but the image is good even in low light conditions.
App: You need Arlo’s mobile app to set up and manage the camera. The app is very intuitive and well thought out. The home page allows you to directly access the camera’s live view. From the home page you can also manage your devices, enter the Library where prior alert video is stored, go into settings as well as arm or disarm the camera. The app allows you to set up and manage the activity zones and you can set schedules or use geo fencing for arming or disarming the camera. If you pay for Arlo Smart you can also set up activity detection based upon packages, cars, people and animals. The Arlo Smart also has an emergency feature that allows you to trigger the siren, alert a friend or call 911.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience fast, reliable Wi-Fi 6 for your connected home. eero 6 uses the power of Wi-Fi 6 to support faster speeds to every corner of your space, increase your internet~s efficiency, and reduce network congestion compared to prior Wi-Fi standards. eero makes it easy to expand your system as your needs change. With cross-compatible hardware, you can easily add eero products in minutes. Best of all, you can say goodbye to dead spots and buffering. eero~s mesh wifi technology optimizes for your space~so you can confidently stream 4K video, game, and video conference across your home.
Customer Rating
3
Good Coverage but missing Features
on November 10, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
The eero 6 AX1800 is a wi-fi system for someone who wants a very simple wi-fi network. For anyone who wants to control their wi-fi network this router will not meet their needs. Even with the simple eero system configuration and set up I ran into several issues that may be problematic for someone who is not network savy. The overall coverage provided by the two satellite stations and the base unit is good. The plus side here is that due to coverage I am now able to get connectivity with the eero mesh set up where as before I had areas with no wireless connectivity from my existing router. The overall speed of eero system is difficult to determine which I explain below. The eero Wi-Fi system does not have any type of configurable Quality of Service – QOS which means you cannot control or limit the bandwidth being used by your kids playing games or streaming videos while you are trying to do your work in your home office. I think this is a major flaw in this system. Also, note that the main hub only has one available ethernet port for wired expansion and the satellites do not have any. This means everything has to be wireless or you need to purchase additional networking gear. The system does not support USB network drives. The app you use to control the eero system is very intuitive but it is only supported on phones and tablets, it is not supported on a laptop.
Setup: Setting up the eero system is very quick but this can be misleading. You download the app and follow the specific directions given in the app. They recommend you use the existing SSID and password that you have in your existing router so that everything comes up working when you turn off the old unit and turn on the new one. I followed these directions and for the most part about 70% of my devices did in fact come up working. The misleading part of this is that the devices did not show up in the eero management app as being on the network. In other words, I had smart plugs working on the network but when I looked in the eero app they were not listed as being on the network. To get all my devices to show up in the app I had to go to each device and delete the old network configuration and add a new one even though both configurations where identical. When the device signed into the network the eero app recognized the device and added it to the program. Sorry to say that just power cycling or rebooting the devices had no effect, only reconfiguring the network settings worked. Reconfiguring phones, tablets and laptops aren’t that time consuming but all the small devices like smart plugs, security cameras and appliances can take some time and patience. I also had an interesting issue when the eero router decided that accessing my isp gateway was a security risk and started blocking my access. Nowhere in the app is there a listing of blocked sites nor did I find a way to unblock the access.
Adding New Devices: Adding a new device was generally very simple but there were some devices that were very problematic. When I would add a new device the eero app would alert me that a new device joined the network. I would then open the app to name the new device and add a proper icon to the device. The app is very intuitive and it does show you what devices are connected to the router hub and satellites. Problems occurred when I tried to add devices like my vacuums that only supported the 2.4 ghz band. The eero router would attempt to add devices to the 5 ghz band and thus it constantly failed. After doing some searching I found an option hidden in the troubleshooting section that allows you to “Temporarily pause 5 Ghz”! Great idea to have this option but its too bad its buried in the troubleshooting section of the app.
Coverage: I placed the base unit and two satellites strategically around my house to cover the most space. My overall coverage when I checked with a wi-fi analyzer on my phone was better than what I had with my old single router.
Throughput Speed: This is very difficult to judge due to the lack of control and information you have with the eero router and app. My isp provides 500mb service to the gateway. The eero app verified that I was getting 500mb download from the gateway but I could never pull more than about 200 mb on my laptop or phone using Speed test. For this testing I was using a new Iphone 12 pro that supports wi-fi 6 and a standard laptop that did not support wi-fi 6. As I checked around the house the typical eero speed test was about 1/3rd less than my old router. I do not know if the eero router is limiting the download speed due to some type of internal configuration or if it is just that much slower. Also keep in mind that any devices connected via a satellite can be speed limited due to the connectivity between the main hub and the satellite.
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.
6 years, 1 month 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.
6 years, 1 month 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.
6 years, 6 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.
6 years, 7 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.
6 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.
How much ram is there?
It comes with 8gb in two slots. These can be upgraded up to 32gb per Dell's specs.
6 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.
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.
6 years, 9 months ago
by
explore42