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- Review count97
- Helpfulness votes126
- First reviewOctober 13, 2016
- Last reviewMay 19, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
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- First answerDecember 21, 2017
- Last answerOctober 20, 2021
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Upgrade your sound entertainment experience with this Yamaha sound bar. The robust construction ensures longevity even with rugged use, while built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies provide convenient wireless connectivity. This Yamaha sound bar (winner of the 2020 CNET Editor’s Choice Award) has a compact design for easy placement, built-in Alexa technology for hands-free operation and four woofers for immersive sound reproduction.
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
A soundbar that can interact with your smart home devices and answer questions through Alexa? You bet.
A soundbar that can connect to your home wifi and be controlled via your smartphone? Yep.
A soundbar that can stream Spotify or connect through Bluetooth at the press of a button? Oh yeah.
Yamaha has made a really nice system that will fill a room with sound. The quality of the sound is great (tested with Galavant) and tweakable with several different EQ options as well as a 3D surround mode, clear voices mode, and bass extension mode.
My favorite part is that the volume is highly segmented so you can adjust to just the right volume (on lower quality soundbars you have either too loud or too quiet and nothing in between).
The integration with Alexa is a nice touch but be aware that you cannot (at the time I'm writing this) select your wakeword on this device.
The subwoofer is BIG, but that also means it pushes a lot more bass and my tests using Star Wars did not disappoint.
So why 4 stars and not 5?
1: the box/packaging is a total nightmare. I'm not joking, this is the worst part of the entire thing. You cannot open the package without getting a mountain of styrofoam particles and styrofoam bag pieces all over the place. Not to mention, the box itself is so awkward and does not separate, so you'd better have a big car or no passengers to haul it home.
1: the box/packaging is a total nightmare. I'm not joking, this is the worst part of the entire thing. You cannot open the package without getting a mountain of styrofoam particles and styrofoam bag pieces all over the place. Not to mention, the box itself is so awkward and does not separate, so you'd better have a big car or no passengers to haul it home.
2: the touch bar buttons are a little finicky and the app does not always accurately reflect all the settings. During setup, there's a 15-minute firmware update that must be applied in order to use the thing on your network... and so it's easy to miss the fact that the microphone could be muted (it was, but the app didn't show it was)... so after lengthy troubleshooting, I re-ran the entire setup process to try to sync everything back up. Turns out I just needed to push the touch bar button to unmute the mic. Sheesh.
- You cannot select your own wake-word for Alexa.
Overall, a good setup for a general entertainment room.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Achieve the deep-fried flavor you love, without all the oil and added calories. The Chefman TurboFry™ Touch Air Fryer allows you to bake, fry and roast like a pro. This airfryer requires little to no oil, so there’s less of that fried oil smell lingering in the house and less fat that you’re consuming. Its large 3.5-liter capacity and flat basket gives you the ability to cook enough for a hungry crowd all at once. Skip the microwave! Reheat soggy leftovers in the air fryer to return them to their original texture. Make better-for-you fries that are just as crispy and tasty, roast chicken thighs, or heat up leftovers for a quick and easy meal. The temperature control with 60-minute timer automatically shuts off once food is done, so you never have to worry about burning or drying out your food. Its space saving basket is removable and dishwasher safe for easy clean-up, so you’ll have more time to dream up your next air-fried meal!
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
It's not magical, but it is super practical, especially for health-conscious couples or young families looking to conserve energy and keep their house cooler on hot summer nights.
Essentially an electric burner and convection fan combo with a basket, the CHEFMAN TurboFry is a very clean-looking device about the same size as a coffee-maker. The touch-screen is responsive and easy to use/set. The air fryer screen turns on when you push the tray in and has a loud audible beep when cooking is complete. You can easily set temperature, time, and other settings right on that main touchpad.
In terms of counter space, it's unobtrusive, although when cooking you'll want to keep the back of the device clear for about a foot (this is where the primary vent seems to be). The handle is thick and well-insulated so hot food is easy to handle and transfer. The basket itself is decently sized - I was able to cook a morning's worth of hashbrowns followed by enough bacon for breakfast and lunch in 2 more sets. While it doesn't save a ton of time in cooking, it did produce a really nice result that didn't stink up the house with the bacon. It also saved valuable pan space that could be leveraged to cook other things at the same time.
Experimentation is required for getting just the right temperature and time combo to get the "fry" that you're after. Reheating is actually fairly quick and because it's more even, the food emerges tastier than microwaved fare.
Chefman includes a really nice recipe book along with the device which doubles as a de facto manual and a nice primer on the various functions of the device (they do include a quick reference guide for timing and temperature suggestions, too).
In terms of prep, the cooking surfaces are easy to clean and top-rack dishwasher safe. There are only two parts to really clean. The basket has a removable internal rack (it is not adjustable).
Fresh out of the box, it has that "new oven" smell, so maybe use it outside and/or near an open window the first time. The smell did not transfer to the food and was gone after the first use.
The heat from the device dissipates rapidly when off, meaning you can keep your house cooler and use less energy than firing up the oven for that batch of fries or veggies. The serving size generated might be smaller than you're used to, but because it requires very little attention, it can easily be used as a hands-off cooking utility that completes side dishes while you focus on the main dish.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The MFC-J805DW printer features reengineered INKvestment Tank cartridges along with an internal ink storage tank. Business-capable features include mobile device printing⁴, scan to cloud services capabilities⁴, flexible paper handling options, automatic two-sided printing, and easy on-screen navigation using the 1.8" color display. With the ink included in-box, the Brother INKvestment Tank all-inclusive solution delivers truly uninterrupted printing, exceptional features, super convenience, large page yields, and low-cost printing.
Customer Rating
4
AirPrint Laser Printer with Cool Functionality
on July 24, 2019
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
I'm a huge fan of Brother printers in general because they tend to be super low-maintenance over time, they last for freakin' ever, and their per-page ink/toner costs are low. In short: they make ideal home-based business machines.
So how about the MFC-J805DW?
Here's the TL;DR version: if you need a reliable inkjet that can scan, copy, and fax while connecting to Dropbox and AirPrint this is your printer. If you print a lot of high-volume color stuff for your business, you want to drop a bit more money and go for the Brother Color Laserjets + the Brother multi-page scanners.
Setup of this printer took about 5 minutes, including ink installation (which I can already tell will be much less painful than other inkjets I've worked with). The marketing on the box contends the ink will last for a whole year, and given Brother's track record on toner, I'm inclined to believe them. The paper tray is pretty meager compared to other brother printers, but that's no biggie. The print quality is good for inkjet standards (I'm slightly spoiled in that I have a color laserjet) and would pass muster for important documents that had to be delivered in color.
The copy/scan functionality works as expected, however... and this is the one major bummer/stupid exclusion on the whole device: there is no way to do multi-page or even duplex scanning. What? Why?
Brother's scanner (the ADS-1700W) is super simple and reliable and the same footprint could easily be thrown into this printer at a cost of an extra pound and quarter inch on the top. Why was this functionality not included? Multi-page scanning is a modern-day business requirement.
Aside from that... everything else is super easy to use and works exactly as you'd expect with minimal headaches, setup, or frustration. Everything Brother does tends to be very well-thought-out, which is why the exclusion of duplex scanning or multi-page scanning is just such a bummer.
Overall: this is a solid printer with smart design principles which reduce stress and frustration inherent to the process.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
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Turn a small space into an immersive gaming area with this Oculus Quest all-in-one VR system. The wireless headset and controllers provide a compact setup and don't require a PC, and the 64GB of storage accommodate compatible VR game titles. This Oculus Quest all-in-one VR system uses Insight tracking technology for instant, accurate response to movements.
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
TL;DR: if you've got experience with VR's more popular titles and are hoping for a large library of awesome content, wait a bit and come back. If you're new to VR and will be able to stay entertained on a deeply immersive experience across a few titles (for now), literally run as fast as you can to pick one of these up.
Unboxing and setup: the unboxing and setup process is super slick and within 15 minutes you're in a virtual world that's as surprising as it is interactive. The headset is comfortable as well as the controllers, and there's minimal fuss required (even if you wear glasses!) to get a comfortable fit. Unlike some of the early VR "headsets" that utilize your smartphone, the Quest is standalone, comes with two smart controllers which allow you to directly interface with objects in the game in a natural way, and is not vertigo/headache inducing. I was able to play for an hour without wanting to take a break.
The audio is plenty loud and immersive without requiring earbuds or other isolating mechanisms. A decently sized play area is required if you want the full "holodeck" experience - but I was able to play in about 4x4 without much problem. The headset has externally facing cameras that you use to draw a "guardian boundary" around yourself which shows up as a protective grid to prevent you from accidentally deshelving the contents of your desk.
The controllers are both comfortable and touch-sensitive - meaning the buttons know if your finger is on the button, not just pressing the button... so you can create a wide array of mostly natural gestures to interact with in-game objects. You can naturally throw in-game objects and several of the demo games shine while showcasing this natural interactivity.
The game library is not as comprehensive as I would like and it's missing several titles that I would have expected would be straight ports... however, that's just a matter of waiting. The tools are all right here... the demos showcase the experience really well... and there's very minimal "clunkiness".
If you're a VR newbie or had lesser VR experiences in the past - the whole Oculus Quest experience is nothing short of straight-up magic. Now we just have to wait for the game library to catch up.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Add high-quality audio to video content with the Samson Go Mic Mobile Lavalier Wireless System. The system’s two-channel receiver comes with a variety of mounting hardware and cables to connect your digital device, and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets you record for up to 13 hours. In addition to the receiver, the system features Samson's PXD2 Beltpack Transmitter and LM8 omnidirectional Lavalier microphone for up to 100-feet of uncompressed digital wireless operation.
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
Samson is nothing if not incredibly thorough. Included in the package are an awesome carrying case, attachments for every kind of phone connector, two separate power connectors, tiny screwdrivers to adjust the gain and attachments to your camera, and perfectly-sized bags to keep everything organized. There's no fluff in the box, but because of the sheer number of connectors, it might take you a bit to figure out what everything is.
The max operating range is listed as 100 feet, but in signal-rich environments, I was able to get about 30 feet. Not a huge deal, but if you're surrounded by a ton of signal-spewing tech, you don't want to be too far away from your subject if you can help it. Outdoors and in large without a ton of ambient signals, I was able to get a lot closer to the 100 feet without issue.
The gain control on the mic pack as well as the volume toggle on the receiver offer a LOT of control over the final levels. I noticed significant differences between received levels on my Canon T3i and my iPhone (I'm pretty sure the iPhone was using some sort of software correction). The iPhone sounded spectacular with out of the box settings and once I figured out the settings, the Canon T3i also had great audio.
The microphone performed well - even in environments with noise and with a subject talking at various volumes. The cord was generous enough, I'd have liked another length or so. The pack arrived almost fully charged and the battery performed well throughout testing. The on-the-box limit is 13 hours, I'd believe it. The charging connector is USB.
Connecting to my iPhone was very simple (the receiver has a sliding toggle and can "grip" the back of the phone and then the "grip" can then connect to a tripod). This also makes for a really easy selfie filming setup. The audio quality was awesome. Connecting to my T3i took a bit more work because I had to attach the shoe mount (which requires the included screwdriver). After correcting the settings, the audio was also very good.
I'd like to test the 2 channel setup at some point, just to see how it performs, but single, add-on Go Mic recording packs are a bit hard to find at the time of writing. The carrying case comes with a spot for a hand-held wireless mic, which is an easier-to-find option. If you add a second Go Mic, there's not a spot in the stock case to easily store it without smushing it in with the cords.
Overall, this is a great wireless lav bundle and greatly simplifies the DIY-videographer's life (esp. if you combine video and audio from iPhone and DSLR sources and need a versatile mic that will handle BOTH without a lot of hand-wringing over finding the right cords).
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Grab a Crayon and make your mark! Logitech Crayon is a pixel-precise digital pencil for all iPads (2018 releases and later) that helps unleash your creativity and productivity in hundreds of Apple Pencil supported apps. Crayon uses Apple Pencil technology including Scribble for a seamless writing experience that's as natural as pencil and paper. Need a thicker or thinner line? Just tilt. Logitech Crayon is built tough with 4 ft drop protection, a unique roll-proof shape, and up to 7.5 hours of active writing time. Palm rejection technology allows you to rest your hand right on the screen while you write.
Customer Rating
3
Great Digital Pencil Limited to One Gen of iPad
on November 5, 2018
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
Logitech makes some of my all-time favorite peripherals... and this would EASILY be among the top, too, except that it ONLY works on the 6th Gen iPad.
Does it work well on the 6th Gen? Yes, absolutely. Does it track well? Yep - on the surface level it looks as if it tracks as well as the Apple Pencil. Compared to other offerings like the 53 Pencil and other styluses, this is miles ahead. Having used the Apple Pencil extensively, I missed the pressure sensitivity (especially in my app and style of choice).
The thought put into the charging mechanism (hey, the cover is attached!) and the charging port is female... the indicators are simple and easy to read, charging is fast, and the balance is great. The charge lasts through a full art project or (presumably) a day of classes and notetaking...
Is it a great digital pencil? Yeah, if you own a 6th Gen iPad or are planning to get one.
But why oh why leave off Bluetooth for wider compatibility? As a 3rd-party peripheral maker, Logitech is already playing catch-up since Apple will always be one step ahead (and at the time of writing, having just released both a new iPad Pro and Apple Pencil that features magnetic wireless charging... they just took that step for Pro users) you'd want your device to work far and wide. Add to that, most kids in the target demo ("Crayon" branding) get hand-me-down iPads and not the latest gen... (aka, the iPad mini and iPad 4th gen my kiddos are learning on). Frustrating. Unless it's a software thing, this particular version of the Crayon might be one to skip until/unless they add in Bluetooth or wider compatibility - especially if you don't own a 6th Gen iPad or plan to upgrade soon.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-3points
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The Back-UPS battery backup offers guaranteed power and surge protection for wireless networks, computers, gaming consoles and other electronics in your home or business. Models supply battery backup during outages and unsafe voltage fluctuations, as well as provide protection from damaging surges and spikes. They're available in 'tower' or 'floor' styles, and together with a variety of standard features, they are the perfect choice to protect your data and keep you connected
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
If you live on WiFi calling in your house because of bad cell phone coverage, this is a must for any sort of emergency situation. Keeping your router and modem up in a power outage will keep your WiFi calling up.
APC is a solid brand in this field and this Back-UPS is perfect for that task. The setup out of the box requires attaching a wire to the battery, but other than that... it basically functions as a taller surge protector (yes, this also has built-in surge protection). The outlets are spaced similarly to a standard surge protector, the weight is not too bad.
While there are any number of use-cases for a battery backup system, this particular setup is good for keeping your internet up and running in inclement weather (and, potentially keeping your phone charged, although there are better devices for that).
There's extra software that gives you some cool insights into your power usage and also how the UPS is working, but it's not necessary out of the box. Overall, a very cool, compact system to keep your family connected (and safer!)
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Clean your room quickly with this Shark DuoClean upright vacuum. Its deep-cleaning bristle brush and soft brushroll capture particles of any size, while the quick-release detachable canister lets you use the wand alone to reach hard-to-access spaces. This Shark DuoClean upright vacuum has LED headlights for visibility and an accessory storage compartment to keep everything organized.
Customer Rating
5
Light, powerful, and everything detaches...
on November 5, 2018
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
Shark makes a nice vacuum. The NV771, in particular, is crazy light and versatile. The base comes off from the roller, the handle comes off of the base, the top of the handle comes off from the longer section...
Everything on this vacuum is intuitive and easy to use. This is no joke, I literally turned it over to my 4-year-old. I tasked my younger kiddo with making a huge food mess and gave the 4-year-old about a minute of instruction on how to use the vacuum.
Not only was the kiddo able to pull apart the pieces (and lift the base from the rollers) and figure out the various switches, the vacuum snagged crumbs, larger pieces, you name it. A vacuum that makes cleaning fun to even a 4-year-old is something special, and in all seriousness, all the various attachments/modes are actually fun to use as well as useful.
The storage footprint is bigger than a wall-mounted vacuum but smaller than most other vacuums with this much power. It's got a lengthy cord and emptying the dustbin is super easy.
I was surprised that the vacuum was substantially quieter than I expected for this much power. Add to that a HEPA filter... it's a solid vacuum for a mid-sized house with stairs and various floor types.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Streamlabs water monitor gives you the peace of mind that your home is protected from water damage. It attaches easily to your existing plumbing, with no pipe cutting required, and uses ultrasonic technology to measure and detect changes in the flow of the water in your pipes. It's Wi-Fi enabled, so you can check on your home anytime, anywhere using the smartphone app. And real-time leak alerts will notify you if you need to take action. The Streamlabs water monitor is also part of your complete smart home, integrating with both Nest and Alexa systems.
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
Leak sensors are nothing new, but this implementation is something out of sci-fi. The app is well-designed and quickly shows you your water usage, the most intensive usages, and allows you to rapidly make your home more efficient one tap at a time.
Installation is a breeze - it takes a total of 10 minutes. The only concern you might have is having power close enough to the main water line.
From there, you can test each tap's water usage, customize alerts, you name it. It takes a few seconds to update current usage, but you can easily catch minor and major leaks along with just wasteful water usage within minutes.
Highly recommended to those who want to know how they're using their water.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Step up your game with this Logitech HERO Core wired gaming mouse.Customize RGB lighting to match your style and environment or sync to other Logitech G products. G502 High Performance Gaming Mouse features Logitech HERO 25K optical sensor for maximum tracking accuracy and precision. No matter your gaming style, it’s easyto tweak G502 to match your requirements, with custom profiles for your games, adjustable sensitivity from 200 up to 25,600 DPI, and tunable weight system that allows for tuning and balancing of up to five additional weights for just the right balance andfeel.
Posted by: NickAtWTF
from Fort Collins, CO
This mouse reminds me of the high-end Alienware mouses I had back in the day for my gaming PC. I took a break from PC gaming for a bit and while I really enjoyed my time on the console, I missed some of the more "threading-the-needle" type things you can do on the PC.
I tested in a variety of games; where this mouse really shines is PvP, especially with the high-res camera in the guts of the mouse.
The bundled software lets you set up macros and such, but what was super useful for me was that you could tweak the sensitivity of the mouse on the fly and see what setting you were on via the LEDs.
Color customization, cool. Weight customization? Awesome... I might be nuts but I prefer a mouse that has some heft. I only wish there was a button tension control, as I sometimes found myself inadvertently clicking while getting used to where my fingers had to sit to NOT push buttons. It's not crazy, but folks with bigger hands playing tense games might squeeze their way into a macro execution.
This is not a problem, per se, but you want time to train with this mouse. There are so many buttons and each one can be customized, and while it'd be super intuitive after a week or two, your first few games are gonna be rough.
Logitech gives you some cool software that allows you to customize per profile and per game, which means you can go nuts on presets. The mouse seems sturdy (even without the extra weights) and well-built; the cord has a weaved coating and also seems very sturdy.
Overall: I really like this mouse. It's a worthwhile investment for casual-and-beyond gamers who need more than just the stock buttons. Bonus points that it LOOKS really cool in addition to playing well.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Next-level versatility comes in the perfect pair — Surface Slim Pen 2 stores securely and recharges in the premium keyboard, featuring a large glass touchpad and luxurious, Alcantara material covering. Ready to pair with Surface Pro 9, Surface Pro 8 and Surface Pro X.*
Is this keyboard backlit?
Yes - with 3 different illumination levels controllable on the keyboard function keys.
2 years, 7 months ago
by
NickAtWTF
Tough on bad guys. Easy on you.The Nest Secure alarm system is easy to live with every day. Just tap Nest Tag on Nest Guard to arm and disarm the alarm - no passcode needed. Nest Detect sensors look out for doors, windows and rooms. And with the Nest app, you can keep an eye on what matters.
If you leave a window open, are you able to bypass to set an alarm? Also to confirm, if you set the alarm to say you are at home but want the alarm to go off if the window or door is open, will this go off instantly or will it be the min 30 seconds?
Yes - each Detect has a button you can use to "quiet open".
You can set the alarm to go off as close as 30 seconds after a motion or open detection event has happened (it's not instant). There are 3 modes you can set: off, "at home but armed", which turns off motion detection but turns on open detection, and "away and armed" which turns on motion detection and open detection.
You can set the alarm to go off as close as 30 seconds after a motion or open detection event has happened (it's not instant). There are 3 modes you can set: off, "at home but armed", which turns off motion detection but turns on open detection, and "away and armed" which turns on motion detection and open detection.
6 years, 5 months ago
by
NickAtWTF