nickcal's stats
- Review count323
- Helpfulness votes1,307
- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 11, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
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- Answer count4
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- First answerMay 23, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 7, 2020
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The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices - external hard drives and Thunderbolt displays, for example - to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port.*
Customer Rating
5
Works as expected
on January 17, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I did not want to buy this but Apple made it one of these must have devices to use the new Mac so all I can say is it does the trick. It works as expected and has a price to match Apple.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy nonstop music while charging your iPhone with this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter. It keeps your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus fully functional while plugged in, and it's compatible with Apple MFi-certified cables and headphones. The 12W power pass-through of this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter provides optimal charging speed for compatible devices.
Customer Rating
5
A very useful adapter for iPhone users
on January 14, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
When Apple released the iPhone 7/7 Plus phones this fall, they eliminated the headphone jack to simplify the design. This design choice though forces people to start using the Lightning port for headphones. Because of this, you have to make the sometimes difficult choice of either charging your phone or listening to music. Thankfully, Belkin released this dual lightning port adapter. This device is specifically designed to allow you for the charge/music listening experience and will not allow for two headphones to listen to a single iPhone or allow for two separate charging cables to be connected.
I like the design of this cable. It’s very similar to the adapters and cables that Apple provides. It’s slim and easy to store. I really like that the male end of the adapter is smaller. I currently have a larger case, protective case on my phone and while it doesn’t fit onto standard charging docks, this cable clicks gently into place quite easily. Testing the device out is really simple, too. I plugged the male end into my iPhone 7 and then a set of headphones (using the Apple Lightning adapter) into one of the ports and the a battery pack into the other port. My phone started charging and I was able to listen to music through my headphones. The nice thing was that there was no RF interference, which I used to get when I was using the headphone jack.
If you have an iPhone 7, I would strongly recommend investing in this adapter. It can really alleviate a lot of frustration as you use your phone more and more.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark Genius Steam Pocket Mop System is our most advanced floor cleaning system ever. Featuring both a Steam Mop and a Spray Pocket mop, the Genius system is the right solution for all your cleaning needs. Harness the power of steam to sanitize 99.9% of household bacteria*. (Sanitization studies were conducted under controlled test conditions. Household conditions and results may vary.)
Customer Rating
4
Would like to see improvements to design
on December 26, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I was first introduced to steam mops a couple of years ago when I was given one as a gift. The giver was concerned about me breathing in all the cleaning products I used and so a steam mop, which uses steam to clean, was a nice option. I’ve been very happy with the mop I have and was excited for the upgrade with the Genius model from Shark. The burst of steam feature was something that I was very intrigued by as sometimes I just feel as though the steam mop isn’t quite enough on its own. What I found was that the burst of steam isn’t something controlled by a button or switch. I involves flipping the head of the mop around, which is not something I want to do when I’m in the middle of cleaning. I’d much rather have a tap button on the handle to control this feature.
As far as cleaning goes, the mop does a good job of cleaning hard floors. I tested it out in our entryway, which is finished with tile. The tile had a nice shine to it when I was done and by the looks of the mop head, there was quite a bit of dirt picked up.
Assembly was quite easy. One of the benefits of this particular model of steam mop is that you essentially get two mops from one mop head. There are two different types of handles to use with the single head. I like this because it means I need less cleaning objects in my house. Another thing that I don’t like is that even though it’s flexible and the head allows you to slide the mop most places, the mop doesn’t remain standing on its own — it has to be leaning against something.
All in all, this is a nice option for steam mop. I think improvements could be made on the design, but it does a nice job cleaning.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Revive your Apple Watch conveniently with this Belkin Valet Charger power pack. A single charge of its 6700 mAh battery refuels a watch up to eight times, and an embedded smart chip detects connected devices for automatic wireless charging. This Belkin Valet Charger power pack includes a USB port for simultaneously charging additional devices.
Customer Rating
5
Great for on the go charging
on December 26, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
There has rarely been a day that I haven't worn my Apple Watch since I got it. In fact, I would consider myself a moderate-heavy user of the watch and I don't see that changing any time soon. There is rarely a day that I don't find my watch desperately needing a charge after only 8-9 hours of use. I do have a wall charger both at home and at my desk at work, but there are a lot of times that I'm not either of those places. For those times, I need something more portable like this Valet Charger.
I carry around a portable power bank for my phone and now Belkin has seen fit to create one that comes with a built in magnetic charging module for the Apple Watch. What's nice about this charger is that it's not only designed for the watch, but it's also equipped with a standard USB port so that you can charge other devices, like your phone, from it. The charger re-charges via a Micro USB port, which is pretty normal for this type of charger.
The body of the charger is primarily an aluminum finish to match most Apple designs. The end of the charger that has the magnetic charger for the watch is wrapped in a smooth black finish. There is a 4-light power indicator that you can activate by pressing the light panel in. This is also how you start your devices charging. When the battery arrived, it was partially charged and after I drained it completely, I took the time to charge it up full and found that it takes about 3 hours to charge it completely when it's dead.
I like the overall design of the Valet Charger, but have one small complaint. Since I'm one of those people that likes to carry as few cables as possible, I would have liked to see a USB-C option for output charging. I am in the process of migrating my systems to my new MacBook Pro and one of those changes includes swapping out my iPhone charging cable for one that has a USB-C end. For this reason, it would be great if Belkin has put that in as an option.
The charger has worked well for my on-the-go charging needs.
I carry around a portable power bank for my phone and now Belkin has seen fit to create one that comes with a built in magnetic charging module for the Apple Watch. What's nice about this charger is that it's not only designed for the watch, but it's also equipped with a standard USB port so that you can charge other devices, like your phone, from it. The charger re-charges via a Micro USB port, which is pretty normal for this type of charger.
The body of the charger is primarily an aluminum finish to match most Apple designs. The end of the charger that has the magnetic charger for the watch is wrapped in a smooth black finish. There is a 4-light power indicator that you can activate by pressing the light panel in. This is also how you start your devices charging. When the battery arrived, it was partially charged and after I drained it completely, I took the time to charge it up full and found that it takes about 3 hours to charge it completely when it's dead.
I like the overall design of the Valet Charger, but have one small complaint. Since I'm one of those people that likes to carry as few cables as possible, I would have liked to see a USB-C option for output charging. I am in the process of migrating my systems to my new MacBook Pro and one of those changes includes swapping out my iPhone charging cable for one that has a USB-C end. For this reason, it would be great if Belkin has put that in as an option.
The charger has worked well for my on-the-go charging needs.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Set up your smartphone to take photographs or stream videos with this Gorilla Pod K9 stand, which resembles a helpful canine to add a bit of fun. The expandable head mount clamps securely to a range of compatible phones for dependable stability. Flexible leg joints on this Gorilla Pod K9 stand adjust to any type of surface, offering level placement.
Customer Rating
5
Such a fun way to mount your phone
on December 23, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
Perfect for mounting my iPhone in random spots. It's a super fun because it looks like a little dog.
My wife has wanted this thing for ever and I felt good about getting it because Joby makes wonderful products. I had to explain to the Best Buy employee what this was so the only real bad thing is most won't have a clue how to use it lol.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With 24K gold-plated contacts, this 4' Insignia™ NS-PG04502 cable lets you reliably transfer audio and video signals between devices with a mini HDMI output and devices with a standard HDMI input.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for my DSLR
on December 9, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I needed this cable for viewing my DSLR screen on an external monitor. When i was searching for cables the only ones I was able to find was way to long or to short so finding this one has been wonderful. It's a very basic cable nothing magical about it just a simple HDMI cable but it's the correct size and works.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With an STM (stepping motor) and focus mechanism, this Canon EF-S 9519B002 zoom lens allows you to record ultrasharp videos or capture crisp photos using your compatible Canon camera. The UD lens element helps you take highly realistic images.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for my product photos
on December 5, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I love taking photos and needed a great lens I could use at this size without paying an area and leg. The Canon Ef-s 10-18mm is just what I needed.
I do with the lenses would be a bit cheaper in price but the STM function that Canon provides is awesome, so I'm not complaining to much.
What makes this lens better then just using the 18-135 the Canon 70D comes with is having the option to have a wider angel shot is something I was able to get out of the 10mm part of the lens without getting any blur. All around great lens.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make hands-free calls and listen to music with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones. The wireless design frees your range of motion, and the microphone makes conversations more convenient. Listen to music for over 8 hours on a single charge with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones, which are moisture-resistant for use during strenuous workouts.
Customer Rating
5
Sound quality was quite impressive
on November 26, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I love wireless headphones. I like to be able to walk around the house and listen to music or even audio from a streaming video and not have to worry about a dangling cord that catches on everything. In the past few years I’ve had the pleasure of testing out many different styles of wireless headphones and wireless ‘sport’ headphones are the most challenging for me to like. They usually don’t fit me very well - even with the different sizes of ear gels - and they constantly fall out of my ear. Because I can’t find a ‘good fit’, I don’t get a good sound. So I tend to shy away from the ‘sport’ style wireless headphones. When I got the Sony Wireless Stereo Headset MDR-XB50BS with Extra Bass, I was hoping that these issues might be alleviated.
At first glance, I was surprised at how large the main earpiece is. On the right ear, you will find a power/multipurpose button along with the volume control. You also charge the headphones from this side from the Micro USB port that is hidden on the underside. The headphones do come with a variety of ear gels and ear wings to help with the ‘fit’. So, one of the first things I did was swap out the gel and wing for a smaller size. The one that came pre-installed was just a bit too large for me. The switch did seem to help quite a bit, but because I’m not very used to in-ear headphones, it took me a little while to get used to them.
The headphones comes with a full set of instructions along with a visual quick start guide. The first step is to pair the headset to your phone or other Bluetooth enabled device. I connected it to my iPhone 7 and then turned on some music. The multipurpose button works well for playing and pausing music and the volume trigger also works as an advance track button if you press/hold it for a couple of seconds.
I have to say that once I got used to the ‘feel’ of them, the sound quality was quite impressive. A lot of headphone users end up complaining that in-ear headphones like this don’t have the best bass quality, but these Sony headphones have an above average bass volume. I tested this out by turning on a Hip-Hop mix station on Pandora Radio and listening to a few tracks. There is a nice bounce to the music without making your ears rattle. It’s a very nice balance between treble and bass.
Overall, I liked these headphones. I am still not sure that these headphones are for me as they were never really ‘comfortable’, but I think the sound quality is much better than other wireless sport headphones. I did find that the ear gels can pop off quite easily. At one point I took the headphone out of my ears and one of the ear gels came off the earpiece.
They are good headphones, but I think they will work best for someone that already likes sport headphones.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep unwanted hair to a minimum with this Philips grooming tool. The waterproof design lets you use it in the shower, and eight attachments make this trimmer perfect for grooming different sections of the face. This Philips grooming tool has a turbo setting to increase cutting speed, and it charges in just one hour to reduce wait time.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for on the go and at home
on November 20, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I'm very excited about this shaver. It's portable and has plenty of attachments that makes using it for multiple areas of the body perfect. It comes with a nice leather travel bag that I can keep it and the attachments in. It is a really good value for all the accessories that come with it. For the past several years, I've bounced around from razor/trimmer to razor/trimmer trying to find the right balance of function and portability. This one is perfect for travel and use at home even though some might just think of it for travel. I have another shaver that isn't quite as portable and this one works better than it does. It is easy to clean and switch attachment heads out. This would make a great gift for someone who needs a razor with lots of options.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Customer Rating
5
A fun, entertaining assistant
on November 7, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I'm a fan of the Amazon Echo and other digital assistants so when I was able to test out Google's new voice-activated assistant, Google Home, I was more than happy to do so. The Google Home is a voice-activated speaker that uses the Google Assistant to do things. It's about the size of a desktop Bluetooth speaker and it gives you the opportunity to control certain aspects of your home and daily life. The body of the device is designed to blend in with your regular home decor. It looks modern and works well with varying styles of interior design. The Google Home is first and foremost a speaker. As such, it's equipped with a microphone and play/pause and volume control. The basic speker controls are integrated into the touch surface on the top of the speaker. Because it’s voice activated, you can also control Google Home by talking to it. Commands like, “Play Pandora Radio,” will enable the music player on the device.
Even though I’m more of an Apple user, I really appreciate Google’s self-integration with devices like the Home. For one thing, the search is blazing fast. I used to have a virtual assistant called UBI, which pre-dated the other voice assistants like Google Home and Alexa. The search function worked on it, but it was slow - sometimes taking a solid minute to speak the answer back. Google Home responds within about 3 seconds whereas Siri on my iPhone 7 took about 7 seconds to tell me a response. All of Google Home’s functions are quick and precise. Another test we ran was to request that Siri and Google Home both turn on Hue lights in a specific room of our home. Again Home was faster. When asked, “Turn on the Living Room lights,” Siri took approximately 3.6 seconds to respond while Google Home only took about 3 seconds. What’s remarkable about this to me is that the two devices are running on the exact same network.
Set-up of the device is very easy. You plug it into power and then follow the instructions on the companion app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. Basically, once the Home is connected to the internet, you can start using it. The app is truly a companion because other than set-up, you don’t really need to use it. The app gives you pointers like ‘Things to ask’ and helps you connect other services like Music services and Home controls. You do have to use the app to connect your other smart devices in your home.
Probably the most impressive thing about the Google Home is the follow-up functionality when you ask questions. For example, you can ask, “Who is the current President of the United States?” And Home will answer, “Barack Obama.” You can then say, “How old is he?” Home will respond, “He is 55 years old.” Other voice assistant will get confused and say that they can’t answer the question because it doesn’t get the reference back to the original question. This is a function of the Google Assistant and it pulled through into this device flawlessly.
One of my favorite thing about Google Home, aside from how well it works, is how fun it is. Google Home provides an entertainment outlet in addition to a functional assistant. You can play trivia games with it, which makes it a fun addition to family gatherings. Say you are sitting around with friends and want to do something other than visit. You can simply say, “Play a trivia game,” and Google Home will act as your game show host. You can let it know how many people are playing and it will ask questions for each player in the correct order. We tried this out a couple of times with no problems. You can also have Google Home just ask you single questions if you are on your own.
As easy as Google Home is to set-up and use, it does still have its limitations. They are limitations that I feel that Google will upgrade over time with software updates, but they are still very noticeable especially if you use other voice assistants like Alexa. First, Google Home only works with some smart devices. Right now, it’s only compatible with Nest, Philips Hue lights, and SmartThings. It does work with IFTTT protocols and recipes and you can control your TV if you have a Google Chromecast, but no other streaming media devices. Google Home also only works with 5 different music streaming services - YouTube Music, Spotify, Pandora, Google Play Music, and TuneIn. You can’t connect to libraries throughout your house like you can with devices like Apple TV, but again, I think this is something that will probably be an upgrade once Home isn’t quite so new. One other very basic feature that the Home does not do is to record reminders. You can ask it to remind you to do something and it says, “Sorry, I can’t set reminders yet,” which leads me to believe it’s a forthcoming option.
For the limitations that Google Home has, it does a lot of things very right. If I had to choose between the Google Home and Alexa, I would choose the Home because it is so much fun to use. I think that if you are integrated into Google’s ecosystem, the Home is definitely the way to go.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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nickcal's Answers
Life’s extraordinary moments deserve to be captured with smooth video. DJI OM 4 is a magnetic gimbal designed to complement your smartphone, allowing you to start recording right away. Ultra-compact, easy to use, and bursting with intelligent features, OM 4 is the ultimate solution for capturing and sharing your world.
Does the magnetic sticker phone attachment interfere with wireless phone charging?
Ensure meals are cooked evenly with this Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1e microwave. The grill, convection oven and microwave functions provide a variety of cooking options, while the Element IQ technology precisely delivers the right cooking temperature for optimal results. This Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1 microwave features a Power Smoothing inverter for automatic adjustment of power to enable even heat distribution.
Is this an air fryer, microwave and convection oven
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Will Google Home work with ECOBEE Thermostat?
No. Unfortunately, Google has limited functionality to only the Nest thermostat. At this time, I don't see them opening up support for third parties as they are probably trying to push it with their own hardware, but that could always change.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
nickcal
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
can i download skype
Depends on the Google Play store. If Microsoft has a version of Skype for Android then yes.
9 years, 1 month ago
by
nickcal