nickcal's stats
- Review count328
- Helpfulness votes1,316
- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
- Last reviewAugust 20, 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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Trigger your smart lights with movement. The battery-powered Hue motion sensor can be easily installed anywhere in your home.
Customer Rating
5
Never left in the dark again
on March 4, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I'm a Hue fan. I big hue fan. I have 23 hue bulbs in my house and six hue strips. So it was a no-brainer to for me to get the Motion sensor.
I wanted an easy to use option for my entryway and hallway lights to come on when I walked in the front door and for when my non-tech-savvy grandmother walked out of her room. The Motion sensor does not disappoint.
They have been on a roll with the Hue products and the only complaint I would have is that the price for everything is so high. If you are running Hue lights and are looking for a way to manage motion in your home this will do the trick.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC UHS-I memory card offers enough speed, capacity, and durability to meet the demands of advanced photographers and passionate shutterbugs alike.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for my video needs
on February 3, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I was traveling to CES back in January and I knew I would be taking lots of photos and video with my Canon 70D.
The problem was I had been using a 16GB memory card and I knew I would need more space to keep from swapping cards out throughout the middle of the day.
That's why I went with this card. I needed something that I knew would be able to handle large video files and many of them. The card can handle the video taken with a DSLR and does a wonderful job of it. If you have issues with finding a card that will allow your camera to record more then a few seconds of video this would be the SD card you need. I'm happy with it.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a world of entertainment with Google Chromecast. Just connect to your HDTV's HDMI interface and your home Wi-Fi network to get started. You can stream your favorite apps from your compatible phone, tablet or laptop, plus use your phone as a remote to search, play and pause content.
Customer Rating
3
Not a bad device but not my first choice for media
on January 24, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
The chrome cast is a nice device and works as described. I'm in the Apple ecosystem and it works with my iPhone just fine. There is no super nice user experience, but that is because it's just casting what's on your phone to the TV so there is no need. It's a nice and easy device to use. If you do most of your video watching from your smartphone then a Chromecast is a nice tool to own.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
5
A very powerful mesh network
on January 23, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
We are an internet-driven home. We have a lot of ‘smart’ objects that use WiFi not to mention our phones, computers, and tablets. So, having a strong internet signal throughout the house is important to us. Earlier this year, we tested out the Eero system and while it was an easy set-up, it ultimately ended up being subpar for our needs. We never quite got the speed from it that we should have. So, when Linksys announced the Velop system, I was more than thrilled to get it installed.
Linksys has really redefined router/network set-up and installation. They make it very easy through their mobile app — which really ends up doing most of the work for you. The first step with the Velop system is to download the Linksys app. After that, you set-up one of the nodes near your modem. As I mentioned, the app does most of the work for you — you simply plug the node into the modem and then into power. Once the LED indicator light is illuminated, you can search for it through the app. At this point, the app takes over and connects the node to the internet. Using this method, you are setting up a new WiFi network in your home.
Once you have the first Velop node set-up you can place the others (if needed) throughout your home. The Linksys website suggests that you may only need one node for a 1000 square foot home. Our home is only 1500 square feet, but I still opted to set up the three-node system. This may be overkill for some homes, but given the bandwidth needed to operate all the smart items, I wanted to be sure I had a strong signal throughout the home. There is one node in my office (front of the house where the modem is), one in the kitchen (also the front of the house and covers the garage), and then one in the living room (the back of the house). All in all, the set-up only took me about 15 minutes (including the time to unbox the system) and the network was running at full speed.
I ran a speed test on the Velop network using the Linksys app and it sends back a reading of 236 Mbps down/23 Mbps up. This is the higher end of what we usually see from our internet provider. The second test I ran was using speedtest net. I ran it on our 5Ghz network on our Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router. The results were 77 Mbps down/14 Mbps up. Both tests were run from the room where the routers were set-up — so distance was not a factor with the speed results.
Even though the speed test results are impressive, I think the best test I ran was connecting to our WiFi network outdoors. Earlier this summer, I was working outside from our patio. Even though I was only about 50-75 feet away from front of our home where the modem resides, I had trouble connecting. I ended up tethering to my mobile phone for a solid connection. Since I set up the Velop, I have had a solid connection outside on our patio, in our garage, and even outside into our backyard.
I believe the Velop is probably the most powerful mesh system available right now. It’s easy to set-up, easy to use, and it provides a solid network connection throughout your home or office.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Charge your iOS product effortlessly with this Apple USB-C to Lightning cable . The USB port also lets you sync your iPhone or iPad with your computer. This Apple USB-C to Lightning cable is compatible with the newest generations of Apple devices, so it can be used with an iPhone 5 as well as an iPad mini.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for connecting my phone to the MacBook
on January 17, 2017
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I have the new MacBook Pro and when I got it I guess Apple neglected to think about the users who would want to connect there iPhones to there shinny new MacBook Pro's. Needless to say I had to buy this cable to sync and charge from my MacBook Pro. It's a standard quality cable from Apple. Noting over the top about it besides the price. Does the job as needed.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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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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, 10 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, 3 months ago
by
nickcal