explore42's stats
- Review count178
- Helpfulness votes611
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewSeptember 13, 2025
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- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes239
- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
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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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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The Samsung Jet~ 75 Complete Cordless Stick Vacuum features a lightweight and maneuverable design and a removable battery that can be easily swapped* for extended cleaning time up to 60 minutes. Compatible with Samsung Clean Station~ for mess-free, automatic emptying of the hygienic dust bin. *Second battery sold separately.
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
Samsung’s Jet 75 Cordless Stick Vacuum is a versatile and portable cordless vacuum. The battery life using the vacuum with an Action roller is about 20 minutes on MID and only 9 on Max. While the suction is no match for a corded vacuum it does an ok job picking up dust and debris on hard wood floors. Due to the short battery life on Max the vacuum is only good for quick pick-ups on carpeting. The vacuum only weighs 6 pounds but those pounds are fully supported by your hand grip. Some may find the Dustbin and filtering components difficult to to clean and use. (see photo)
Pros: Versatile, easy to maneuver, well designed and solidly built, HEPA filtering, vacuum recharges in the wall mount and can also charge just the battery, Mid level suction is good enough for most jobs
Cons: Short battery life on Max, Less convenient dustbin assembly, small rollers on the power brushes, no carpet height adjustment, cannot turn off rotating brush in the Action heads,
Set up: The vacuum comes with a rather thick manual and it covers the basics like showing the various components, installing the wall mount, attaching the parts and maintaining the vacuum. All the components have a solid quick connect feature and are easily separated when needed. Samsung did a nice job designing these so that they are easy to use and solid in their build. You basically connect whatever components are needed to the main vacuum assembly and you are ready to go. The battery can be charged either in the vacuum or outside of the vacuum using the same charger assembly provided. This is helpful because if you pick up a second battery one can be charging in the charger while the other is being used in the vacuum.
Operation: The vacuum has a small indicator display that shows the status of the vacuum as well as any error warning. If you press the Power button the display will show the suction level the vacuum is in. By pressing the plus or minus button you can switch vacuum levels from Min to Mid to Max. The battery has LEDs on the side to indicate the battery charge level. Most of the time we run the vacuum for our hard wood floor on Mid and the battery last about 20 minutes. The vacuum comes with three powered attachments; the Turbo Action Brush, the Soft Action Brush and the Mini Action Brush. Using any of these three brushes will lessen your vacuum time because they have spinning brushes to agitate the surface. The action heads have very small rollers which makes these heads less agile on carpeting and mixed surfaces (see photo). The action heads cannot be adjusted for carpet height nor can the rotating brush be turned off. All three action heads do have a simple unlock that allows the brush assembly to be removed from its housing for easy cleaning. The vacuum has a 5 layer HEPA filtration system so it does a good job in capturing the dirt and exhausting clean air. There are three filters in the vacuum so emptying the dustbin and the overall maintenance becomes a little more complicated. The dustbin has to be unsnapped and slid off the rails of the vacuum head, then the inner filtering system has to be twisted and removed from the dustbin so you can empty the dustbin. While not overly complicated it is certainly more problematic both in removing and reinserting the dustbin. There is not a simple trap door on the dustbin to empty it like some vacuums have. The vacuum exhaust vents are high on the vacuum, near the handle. (see photo) If you are doing any type of overhead vacuuming be prepared to get a strong breeze in your face.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
The Tineco A10 Tango has the versatility and strong suction of A10 Hero and includes two full-size power brushes for a customized cleaning experience. The roller brush is designed to gently clean hard floors, and the multi-tasker brush grabs dirt and pet hair from all floor types. The A10 Tango makes the perfect cleaning partner for smaller homes and apartments, or as a supplemental vacuum to pick up daily messes throughout larger homes. The A10 Tango is designed for 3 in 1 use - clean your hard floors, carpets and hard to reach areas with the hand vacuum attachment.
Customer Rating
3
Good for Light Duty Jobs
on October 31, 2020
Posted by: explore42
from Cincinnati Ohio
The Tineco A10 Tango vacuum is a lightweight modular stick vacuum that is capable of handling the light duty vacuum jobs around the house. Because its lightweight it is very maneuverable but this also means a lighter battery which means shorter run times. The suction on normal is enough to pick up the small stuff on hardwood floors and tiles and possibly carpeting. On the Max setting the suction power is greatly increased but the battery life drops to about 10 minutes. Even on Max with the powered Multi-tasker brush attached the vacuum could not raise the carpet nap enough to remove lines left by my robot vacuum cleaner. Bottom line is this is a good lightweight vacuum for doing hardwood floors and light duty cleaning but it isn’t going to handle carpeting as well.
Pros: Lightweight, easy to maneuver, well-constructed, lighted power brush, easy to empty dustbin, HEPA filtering, battery can be charged in or outside of the vacuum head
Pros: Lightweight, easy to maneuver, well-constructed, lighted power brush, easy to empty dustbin, HEPA filtering, battery can be charged in or outside of the vacuum head
Cons: Short battery life, Small dustbin, vacuum does not recharge when placed in the wall mount, no carpet height adjustment on the power brushes, cannot turn off the rotating brush in the power brush head, maintenance of the filters may be problematic for some
Setup: This vacuum has some of the best packaging I have ever seen. On the outside box it shows everything you should find inside and then inside each internal box is stamped with what is supposed to be inside it. It really makes assembling the vacuum and learning the various parts much easier. The vacuum comes with the main vacuum assembly, a large power brush, a large soft power brush, a mini power brush, a 2 in 1 dusting brush, a crevice tool and pre- filter cleaning assembly. (See Photo) There is also a wall mount bracket that also holds the attachments and a power supply to charge the vacuum. The attachments are easy to assemble and all the parts are well constructed and solid.
Operation: Operation is straight forward, the power button is a trigger type switch and there is a lock lever so you don’t have to constantly hold down the trigger. The vacuum has two speeds normal and Max. The Max speed is activated by pressing the Max button on top of the vacuum head. If the vacuum is run on normal the battery should last about 25 minutes but if you use the MAX setting the battery life drops to 10 minutes. There are three LEDs on the side of the battery that show the amount of charge in the battery. To recharge the battery you must connect the charger cable to the battery. This can be done with the battery in the vacuum or removed from the vacuum. (See Photo) The vacuum does not automatically charge when you place it in the wall mount which is a major drawback. Because the battery life is so short I would not recommend this as a primary vacuum for a house. We use the vacuum for quick pick ups, sweeping the hardwood floors and cleaning the steps. The vacuum has lights on the power brush heads which are handy when going under things but they can be distracting when vacuuming in the open due to their brightness. There is no on/off switch for the lights. There is no adjustment for carpet height on the power brushes and you cannot turn off the rotating power brush so the rotating brush is always brushing the floor. This vacuum provides multiple filters to capture the dust and debris. (See Photo) There is a pre-filter, a mesh filter and a HEPA filter. The pre-filter and HEPA filter will eventually need to be replaced whereas the mesh filter can be cleaned with the dustbin. There is an interesting pre-filter cleaner attachment that allows you to use the vacuum to clean the pre-filter but I am not sure its much help because you are sucking out the debris on an external pre-filter only to have it pulled into the vacuum and onto the pre-filter in the vacuum.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+22points
22of 22voted this as helpful.
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Enjoy true high-definition surround sound from your home theater with this Definitive Technology speaker. With powerful left/right speaker dispersion and balanced surround sound, this speaker immerses you in an enjoyable audio experience. Sized to fit unobtrusively into home theater systems, this Definitive Technology speaker includes iconic design elements that enhance the visual aesthetic of your system.
Can I use them as atmos speaker setup
These are surround speakers. For full atmos sound you need speakers that bounce the sound off the ceiling. Def tech makes speakers specifically to do this. They attach on top of the tower speakers.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
explore42
This Danby Designer DDW1899BLS-1 built-in dishwasher's water-softener system helps eliminate select water-based minerals in locations where hard water is an issue. The 7 wash cycles provide versatile options to suit a wide range of cleaning needs.
Air Dry and Turn off Manually?
Can you confirm or clarify please. It says no heated dry so that means they have to air dry? One person said you have to manually hit button to turn off at end of cycle. Is this true?
Good question but not sure how to answer this. Its kind of magic because it uses some type of evaporation process. My old dishwasher had a heated dry and an air dry. If you used the air dry the dishes were still wet at the end of the cycle. With this unit the dishes are fully dry without using a heater element. The manual explains the technology but bottom line is works fine for me and uses less electric.
9 years, 6 months ago
by
explore42
Clean every inch of every dish. This Samsung appliance washes away heavy foods without the need for you to pre-rinse. Plus, the quiet operation mean you won’t be interrupted by loud noises while the dishwasher is running.
Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Contractor needs to know: Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Mine is hard wired. I would suspect it is whatever the installer chooses to do.
9 years, 6 months ago
by
explore42
Whirlpool Gold 24" Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher: Ensure a deep and sanitized clean with this high-powered dishwasher. Its soil-sensing technology, along with a unique silverware spray mechanism, produces exceptionally clean dishes for a generous amount of family and guests.
Rotating spray arm?
Wondering if this dishwasher has a rotating spray arm that sits under the class rack? There are no photos that show the interior.