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    February 22, 2014
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    May 23, 2016
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nickcal's Reviews
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Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR~ certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
 
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5 out of 5
5
An easy to install smart device
on November 9, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Several years ago, I lived in a one bedroom apartment. While there wasn’t a lot of square footage, there was more than one room to heat/cool and sometimes my bills would be astronomical. I ended up eventually getting a programmable thermostat that would start and stop according to my present schedule. This really helped my utility bills because I wasn’t heating/cooling the apartment when no one was there. Now that I have an entire house, I want something that is a little more substantial as far as thermostats go. I still want something that can be programmed, but I want it to work with my home automation, too. I’ve tried a few that are on the market (ecobee, nest) but for quite some time, I’ve wanted to see what Honeywell’s WiFi Thermostat could do for me.
Honeywell’s WiFi Smart Color Thermostat features voice control through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It will work with Smart Things and IFTTT. It is not compatible with Apple HomeKit but can be controlled through the Honeywell app, which is compatible with iOS.
Honeywell brags that this unit has a ‘simple set-up’. While this is true if you have a newer thermostat, some people with older units may have issues. This device requires a ‘C’ wire as its power source. It does come with the ‘C’ wire accessory, but if you don’t already have it, this could provide some hassle. Installing the thermostat is fairly simple. You remove the old thermostat and label the wires. Once they are labeled you mount the wall plate for the Honeywell unit. Hardware is provided for drywall and plaster walls. When the wall plate is secured, you then connect the wires. The terminal releases are a little tough to press, but they make connecting the wires so much easier than wrapping them around screws. Once the wires are secured and connected, you will then snap the thermostat into the wall plate.
The thermostat will go through a set-up process and once it asks you to join a WiFi network, you enter your network name and password. At this point, you will need to register the thermostat in order to get remote access. After all of these initial steps are completed, you can then finish the set-up on the mobile app.
I really like how simple the set-up process was. I had a smooth installation and I really enjoy using the Honeywell thermostat. It’s been pretty responsive and even though there is a slight delay between when I enter a command on the app and when the unit acts, it’s not enough to really bother me. I really like how readable the screen is especially compared to some other digital thermostats. The Honeywell seems to do a decent job of learning my routine and I’ve not had any major issues with it. I do wish it was HomeKit compatible but will settle for it working with Alexa.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy up to 14 hours of battery life with this Sony portable speaker. Its multiple LED lights create a festive atmosphere, and the EXTRA BASS feature offers deep, resounding lows for best enjoyment of your favorite songs. This Sony portable speaker streams digital media through a compatible device thanks to its Bluetooth capability.
 
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4 out of 5
4
A very capable, lightweight speaker
on October 30, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
A couple of times a year, we have a family get together at our house. These gatherings usually involve several people and we spread out around the house. When we do, it makes it harder for people to enjoy music that we have streaming from our house Bluetooth speaker. We have several smaller speakers that work great for smaller areas, but we really wanted a larger speaker to keep more people happy, more of the time. The High Power Home Audio System with BLUETOOTH by Sony ended up being the perfect answer.
The speaker sits about two and half feet tall and provide easy options for connectivity. Sony’s speaker can be connected to through Bluetooth or even NFC (if your phone is compatible). It arrives in a Sony branded box and doesn’t require any assembly. You simply life the speaker out of its box and packaging and plug it in. One of the really cool features of this speaker is that it can be 100% wireless. The speaker has an internal battery that provides up to 14 hours of run time. Out of the box, it did have a charge to it so I was able to turn it on and immediately start listening to music through the powerful speaker.
In addition to wireless connections, the High Power Home Audio System also supports analog audio through RCA. There is one USB port available and a microphone input. Even though I didn’t attempt to use this as a PA system, I could see that being a wise use of the speaker since it does project sound well and it’s very lightweight.
The big claim to fame for this speaker is the fact that it can be chained together with other High Power Audio System speakers. I only had a single unit so I wasn’t able to test this out, but knowing that for $500 I could have a decent pair of paired speakers — especially for our home gatherings - is really a strong benefit to me.
I really love the sound this speaker produced. It was a clear and the bass boost really does a nice job of amplifying the depth of the sound. My fiancé said that some of the highs were a little muddy, but it wasn’t enough to regard this speaker as a ‘bad’ audio system. The lighting effect is a neat addition, but it’s not the reason I would recommend the speaker. It’s sort of the icing on the cake though.
I did attempt to use the High Power Home Audio System as a speaker phone, but that wasn’t very successful. The speaker doesn’t have a built-in microphone so the person I was calling was getting my voice through the microphone on my phone and even though I could hear them just fine through the speaker, they had difficulty hearing me.
All in all, this is a really nice option for a ‘party’ speaker. I also would recommend it as an inexpensive field monitor or portable option for DJ’s to use for events.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5of 14voted this as helpful.
 
Pair your morning jog with these Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds, and enjoy your music each step of the way. Bluetooth compatibility with multiple devices lets you share your playlist without the tangle of wires. These Jaybird RUN wireless earbuds are sweatproof and dirtproof to handle the worst of your workout.
 
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4 out of 5
4
A solid, quality set of headphones
on October 27, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
I’ve had a real love-hate relationship with earbuds for many years now. They never seem to fit my ears right and even when they do, I don’t feel like I get the same sound experience that I do with a set of on-ear or over-the-ear headphones. Sound always seems to be hollow and without any bass boost. When wireless earbuds started coming to market, I sadly found something I disliked more than standard earbuds. Not only did they not fit or produce a solid sound, they also didn’t connect properly. One earbud would drop out sometimes and they just weren’t consistent. The Run true wireless sport headphones from Jaybird are a different breed all on their own.
UNBOXING
The headphones arrive in a well-designed kit. The box has Jaybird branding on it and a decent description of the product. Right away, you know that there is a mobile app experience designed for the headphones from the presence of the App Store and Google Play Store logos. In the box you will find several sets of ear gels and ear wings for earbud fit adjustments, a charging case for the headphones, a charging cable and case, a storage pouch, and the earbuds themselves.
Setting up the headphones isn’t difficult. When you turn them on for the first time, they are automatically put into pairing mode. I paired them to my iPhone and they appeared in my Bluetooth menu automatically. The instruction booklet suggests that you try out all the ear gels and wings until you find the best fit for your size ears. I was fortunate because the stock gels and wings that came pre-installed on the earbuds provided a solid fit for me.
USER EXPERIENCE
The mobile app for the Run headphones provides some basic information about the headphones and gives users the ability to use preset sound profiles to get a richer sound. You can design your own sound profiles if you want and save them for future use. I rather like this customized sound option. There are some mobile apps that only allow you to listen to predesignated music options to get the added features, but no matter what you are using with the Jaybirds Runs, you can utilize the sound profiles on top of that.
For the first time in a long time, I found a set of sport earbuds that are wireless that actually provide a good fit for my ears. I don’t feel like they are going to fall out of my ears and because they are solid in my ears, I get a better sound. One issue I’ve had in the past with earbuds that are a ‘tight’ fit is that they become uncomfortable. The Run headphones have remained comfortable and I’ve used them for a couple of hours at a time.
The only aspect of these headphones I don’t like is the control system. You can, of course, use your mobile phone to control the volume and playback of music, but the in-line controls really come in handy in most cases. The Run headphones have buttons built into both earpieces. They are a hefty click-style button that requires you to press quite hard in order to engage the control. I found this nearly impossible when I had the earbuds in my ears. I had to take the earbuds out in order to click the button.
Listening to music was a very nice experience and I can’t say that much for earbuds. I could hear everything in great detail and thought that the sound quality was superb. I had a little issue with watching streaming videos, but I think that had more to do with the Internet connection than the earbuds themselves.
Even though I’m not typically an earbud user, I really appreciate the Jaybird Run headphones because they give you freedom when being active where a lot of headphones do not.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With a Serial ATA interface, this WD Blue WD10EZEXSP internal hard drive easily connects to your PC or Mac. The 1TB capacity offers ample space to house important files, such as pictures, videos and music.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Perfect for a quick NAS fix
on October 20, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Verified Purchase:Yes
In my ideal world, I would walk into the store and pick up a 4TB WD RED hard drive for my Drobo. This is not ideal and I had a bad drive so placing an order online wasn't going to happen. I needed a drive and I needed it fast. The 1TB WD was the best drive Best Buy had in store so I went for it. I'm happy that my Drobo excepted the drive and it's been working flawlessly for a few weeks now. I'm happy with the speed I've been getting from my Drobo using these drives. I really don't have anything bad to say other than I wish I would have had the opportunity to pick up a bigger drive the same day.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Make the most of your morning routine with this Philips Norelco wet/dry shaver. Providing a powerful shave in the shower or out, this electric shaver delivers a full hour's shaving on one 60-minute charge. The MultiPrecision Blade system on this Philips Norelco wet/dry shaver cuts long and short hairs with fewer passes.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A NICE SHAVER FOR TRAVELING
on October 20, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
For many years, I’ve struggled with finding the ideal portable electric shaver for my needs. I typically have to shave at least once a day (if not more) and having something available at a moment’s notice is key for me. The Philips Norelco 5550 series shaver is a really nice option for someone like me.
The 5550 can be used as a wet or dry shaver. I prefer to use something when shaving so that my skin doesn’t get irritated, but I’ve used it dry, too and found that it’s pretty gentle. The shaver is packaged with a precision trimmer for sideburns and mustaches. I’ve seen it referred to as a ‘beard’ trimmer, but I don’t think it would work very well with super thick hair. The teeth just aren’t long enough.
The shaver has a very efficient battery. It’s rechargeable, which I love, and comes with a charging cable (but no stand. That can be ordered separately). For an hour’s worth of charging, you will have about an hour’s worth of shaving with the 5550 shaver. If you are in a hurry, you can let the shaver charge for about 5 minutes and will likely get through a single shave.
The 5550 also ships with a cover for the shaver head, but no carrying pouch. I would personally love to see this shaver come with a hard shell case for traveling, but I’d be happy with a soft sided case rather than have nothing to store it in. One of the reasons I like to have a case is so that I can keep all the accessories for a shaver in one place.
Like I said above, I tried this shaver out in both wet and dry circumstances. I was very happy with both results. I felt as though the shaver did a good job trimmer. I really like to use it in between grooming with a standard bladed razor. I found that the shaver was easy to clean and store and it travels well.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Save precious kitchen prep time with this Philips Viva multi-chopper. Its two functions provide coarse and fine chopping, and its automatic speed selection adjusts its performance to the type of ingredient. This 500W Philips Viva multi-chopper lets you achieve chef-quality results for coarsely chopped ingredients thanks to its ChopDrop technology.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A great time-saver for the kitchen
on October 18, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
My grandmother likes to cook. She watches afternoon cooking shows and then tries to replicate what those celebrity chefs have made. It brings her enjoyment and that makes me smile. That being said, she doesn’t grip kitchen tools as well as she used to and so she tries to avoid some recipes that require fine chopping of ingredients. This Multichopper from Philips seemed like a great gift for her. The Multichopper is provides perfectly diced onions (and other vegetables) in mere seconds. A job that once took my grandmother 30 minutes or more to intricately chop up vegetables can now only take a fraction of the time.
The device arrived in a nicely branded package from Philips. It was well padded inside it the box and the chopper came in just a couple of main pieces. I really like simple assembly options for equipment like this so I was pleased that there weren’t a lot of smaller parts.
The chopper comes with two different blade options — the ChopDrop blade and the regular chopper blade. Both blades fit into the motor unit loosely. I thought they might snap into place, but they don’t. They simply rest there. I was actually quite impressed with how well all the pieces fit together.
Either of the blades rest on a post that is located in the chopper bowl. The big difference between the two is that one is designed to chop inside the MultiChopper basket and the other is designed to chop outside the basket. In fact, when you use the regular chopping blade, you can’t even use the basket. The instruction manual states that the MultiChopper is intended to chop onions, garlic, cheese, raw and cooked vegetables, cooked eggs and fruits. The regular chopper is intended for use with nuts, raw meat, onions, hard cheese, boiled eggs, garlic, herbs, and dry bread. It’s a bit more of an all around blade. The device comes with a recipe book, which is a great help getting started.
Because the MultiChopper comes apart so easily, it’s pretty easy to clean. The only part you really have to be cautious about is the blades because when you are cleaning them, they are 100% exposed and you could easily cut yourself because they are so sharp.
When it came time to testing out the MultiChopper, I brought my grandma into the kitchen so she could see it work. We chopped up mini sweet peppers - one red and one orange - first using the MultiChopper blade and basket. I cut the tops off of the peppers and scooped out the seeds. Then I dropped each pepper into the basket whole. Once the motor was situated on the bowl and I pressed down, the peppers were chopped up within seconds. Next, we chopped up a quarter of a green pepper with the regular chopping blade. Again, the pepper was diced within just a few seconds and some of her meal prep was done within seconds.
The peppers we chopped up were a very fine dice. While this will work for most of our uses, I do wish there was a setting for size of cut so that you could end up with larger chunks if you want them. The Philips MultiChopper is a fabulous addition to our kitchen. It will save time and frustration so that we enjoy our meals more.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make smoothies, sauces or purees with this 1500W Ninja blender. It has 10 preset programs to ensure ingredients are properly blended, and 10 manual mode speeds give you complete control when blending tough ingredients. This Ninja blender holds up to 72 ounces.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A truly remarkable kitchen appliance
on October 17, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
When I was growing up, my parents always tried to make me the perfect milkshake at home. Unfortunately, it always turned out thicker or thinner than the ‘store bought’ shakes. Even though mom and dad made the shakes with ‘real’ ice cream and milk and didn’t serve me processed milkshake mix, I still had it in my head that the shakes from McDonald’s or Arby’s were better. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve still tried to discover the perfect ‘at home’ milkshake. And, what I’ve been realizing over the years is that it’s not necessarily the ingredients that make the shake — it’s the blender. The Ninja Chef high-speed blender is the the answer and the perfect addition to my kitchen.
The Ninja Chef blender is part of the SharkNinja family of products. When I got the blender, I didn’t realize that it was a sister product to my Shark Ion Flex cleaning machine, which I love. Even though I had heard great things about the Ninja brand, knowing that I already had experience with the product family instilled even more confidence in me that the blender would not only work well, but that it would also last for a very long time.
Set up of the blender is easy. It comes in separate, but already assembled parts. When you open the box, you will find the pitcher, pitcher lid with lid cap, tamper and the base. The Ninja Chef comes packaged with a recipe guide, full instruction manual, and a quick assembly card.. Even though the quick assembly card shows you everything you need to know to get started, it’s still suggested that you read the full manual before getting started. The Ninja Chef has a ‘cleaning’ mode as one of its settings. I think this is brilliant because it gives you a good option to clean the blades without cutting yourself. It is suggested that you clean all the parts in warm, soapy water before your first use. All the attachments are dishwasher safe and you can clean the base with a clean, damp cloth.
Assembly is easy. You place the pitcher on the base and lock it in place. Then you add your ingredients into the pitcher. If you have a lot or need to add them gradually, you can remove the lid cap from the lid and lock it into place when you are ready. Once your culinary creation is ready and all your blender parts are locked into place, you can select one of the Auto-IQ programs. This is probably my favorite part of the Ninja Chef. You can always run the Ninja manually, but it has a ‘brain’ telling it the optimal timing for the most-used recipes. For example, the Smoothie setting runs for 50 seconds. It started out with several bursts of power and then runs continuously for a few seconds before finishing with another pulse.
The first thing I made with the Ninja Blender was a protein milkshake. I added 8 ounces of milk (measured using the marks on the side of the pitcher), 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder, two scoops of ice cream, and about a cup of ice chips. Then, I set the blender to the Smoothie program. I was able to clean up the ingredients in the time that the blender was running and I didn’t have to worry about it spilling or making a mess of the kitchen because all the parts were locked. The smoothie shake turned out perfectly. With the help of the Ninja Chef, the long-lost homemade milkshake suddenly became attainable.
Even though I’ve primarily used a blender for smoothies and other drinks, the Ninja Chef opens up a world of possibilities because I can make things like dips and even cake mixes in this blender. I love the power of the Ninja Chef and can’t wait to see what I can make next.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Keep your camera safe and secure with this Peak Design SlideLITE camera strap. Two aluminum adjusters let you lengthen or shorten the strap so you can comfortably wear it around your neck or over your shoulder. An Anchor Link connection system ensures you can quickly attach and detach the strap on this Peak Design SlideLITE camera strap as needed.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Best stap for a DSLR i've used
on October 16, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
Verified Purchase:Yes
If I had more time to write this article, I would go into detail on why I believe it’s the best option for neck strap on the market. Since I don’t, I will simply cover off on a few features that really jump out to me.
First, I want to state that comfort is key when it comes to neck straps. The standard Canon neck strap cuts into my neck for some reason. I don’t know why, but it’s always irritated my skin. The SlideLITE has never bothered me while wearing it.
Second, I am able to use the SlideLITE with an Arca Swiss plate. That means, I never have to take the SlideLITE off my camera to slap a plate on it and vice-versa. That my friends is a huge time saver for me.
Now let us jump into something I'm not a fan of. When I first started looking into the SlideLITE I emailed the company to ask if there was a difference between the SlideLITE and the Pro model. They told me, no but, I would be better off with the Pro version due to the size of my camera. This confused me as I read that both models can handle full-size cameras. I went back and forth with them before getting a straight answer that the SlideLight can handle a full body without any problems but the Pro would give me a wider strap and thicker padding. Now if I planned on keeping the strap on me all day for hours at a time I would think a thicker and wider strap would be useful but for the most part, the strap that comes with the SlideLITE is perfect. I can simply roll it up and put it in my camera bag without taking up much space. I really wasn't a fan of getting the run around from support about if the SlideLITE would handle the weight of a Canon 5D Mark IV. Needless to say, it's working flawlessly and I'm super happy I saved money going with the SlideLITE over the Pro.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone with a camera. Also, I can't forget to mention how Peak Design has made all of the there straps interchangeable. The system is brilliant and being able to so quickly with a push of my thumb click it off my camera and back on is amazing. I do however wish they would find a better way for the Clutch to come off the camera. Being able to quickly remove it in the same form as the SlideLITE would be wonderful.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Protect your iPhone's data with this 64GB iXpand charger and backup base. It charges your iPhone quickly with 15W of power, and it backs up photos and videos as it charges to ensure precious memories are always safe. This iXpand charger and backup base also backs up your stored contacts, so you can restore them when needed.
 
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5 out of 5
5
A great way to recharge and backup your iOS device
on October 6, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
The battle for storage is a constant one. No sooner do we obtain the larger capacity mobile devices that we find ourselves with full hard drives and needing to back up our data so that we can continue taking photos and videos of our precious memories. iOS devices have the option of being backed up to iCloud, but if you don’t pay the premium option for the larger amount of storage, what are you to do? SanDisk has a pretty interesting option in the iXpand Base.
This device is designed to allow iOS users the ability to charge and back up their phones at the same time. This charging base will not work with Android phones and it is not a wireless charging base. The ‘base’ is simply a place to lay your phone while it charges and transfers data. On the back, you will find two ports - one Micro USB for the power adapter and one SD card slot for backups. There is a standard USB port on the bottom for you to plug a Lightning cable into. This is not included with the base, but I would have liked to see SanDisk provide all the cables needed.
The packaging is simple and includes SanDisk branding along with some description of the device. The base works in conjunction with an app that you download for your phone. The app acts as a backup manager and gives you options and settings to tweak for your device. The base comes with an SD card already installed and you can get capacities of 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB.
Setup was very easy. Once I downloaded the app and accepted the different permissions, the phone automatically backed up when I plugged it into the base. I actually do backup my photos to iCloud so I decided to backup my contacts to the base. I have over 240 contacts on my phone so I thought it might take a little time to backup to the card. The data transfer was over in less than a minute.
I do want to note that you cannot use the base without the app. When I first plugged into the base, I got a warning that the app was not installed. It will only work with the iXpand app. One of the things I really like about this device is that it will pick up where it left off. You will do an initial backup and after that, the app will recognize where the end was before and backup from that point on. I don’t believe you can do a ‘full’ backup of a device (apps and all) but the app definitely allows you to download images, videos, and contacts to the SD card.
The iXpand base is a really nice way to not only backup your phone, but also charge it. I love the concept of being able to do both functions at once and I love that SanDisk created such a nice looking product for just that purpose. The iXpand Base is great for any iOS user. I would love to see it be a more integrated stand where you actually dock your phone to it vertically rather than have it look like a wireless charging pad, but other than that, I think this is a great product.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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9of 9voted this as helpful.
 
Keep enemies out of your room with this fully animated Spider-Man toy. His LED eyes light up when he detects movement with his motion-detection technology, and speech recognition lets him engage in two-way conversations. Hook this Spider-Man toy up to the Internet via Wi-Fi for new adventures, missions and updates.
 
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3 out of 5
3
A bit of a let down, but could be cool for kids
on October 6, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville, IN
It wasn’t too long ago that I saw my first Sphero robot. It was fun to play with although a little tough to get used to movement-wise. That experience was with the first generation Sphero and since that time, the company has branched out into licensed devices like the droids from Star Wars. When I had the opportunity to try out Spider-man by Sphero I thought, “How cool! My very own superhero!” Unfortunately, the experience was less exciting than my anticipation.
The packaging is quite impressive and I have to say that it is adorned in the red/blue branding of Spider-man. It’s very classy looking and has a lot of great graphics on the outside of it. Spider-man himself is one solid piece. Other than plugging in his charging base with the Micro USB cable that is provided (no power adapter included), there is no other assembly required. Getting started with Spider-man is very easy, too. Once you have him plugged into power and charging, you download the app from the App Store (iTunes or Android) and power him on.
The first thing you will go through is a short warm-up to get you familiar with interacting with the hero. This is where the experience sort of fell flat with me. Spider-man does not move. Other than his eyes, which are small LED panels, there is no animation whatsoever. The app is very well-developed and gives users several ways to interact with the statue, but I personally would have liked to see some additional moving parts. I didn’t expect him to swing around the room with a web, but I did think that maybe his head would turn and his arms would be controllable. Spider-man does sense when you move him around, for example, if you pick him up and swing him around the room, but other than that, he’s basically just a free-standing statue.
All that said, Spider-man does look really cool. I was amazed with the detailing on the device and the soft silicone feel of the device. His voice rings through loud and clear and he did understand me pretty well when I talked back to him. The main part of this experience happens in the app. Spider-man can stand guard in a room (he will just report to you that there was motion/activity), act as an alarm, tell you jokes, and even watch TV with you (Spider-man animated series only). For an adult, it’s a little cheesy especially for the price you pay for it, but for, but for a kid, I could see this being a good experience for learning how to interact with an artificial intelligence-driven device.
Spider-man by Sphero is a unique version of ‘create your own adventure’ for the next generation. He looks cool and does work as he should. I just expected a bit more on interactivity from the device itself.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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