Batlacit's stats
- Review count242
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- First reviewFebruary 13, 2016
- Last reviewNovember 2, 2025
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- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count55
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- First answerSeptember 21, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 21, 2022
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Oakley Meta HSTN is here. These AI glasses capture your unique POV with a built-in hands-free camera. Enjoy your favorite music with powerful speakers. Say ~Hey Meta~ and get answers quickly with Meta AI. The game will never be the same with Oakley Meta HSTN.
Customer Rating
5
Solid smart glasses
on November 2, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
Meta's smart glasses haven't always been perfect, but at this point I think it's fairly uncontroversial to say that they've become the benchmark for what smart eyewear is supposed to be. Oakley's first attempt to adapt the tech to their frames isn't getting nearly as much press as some of their other offerings from this generation, but anyone considering sticking a smart device on their face would be foolish to overlook them.
I've been lucky enough to get to try a pretty wide variety of smart glasses over the years, including all of Meta's previous offerings, so I went into it with a pretty good knowledge of what kind of features to expect. The open ear audio design basically offers a compromise between the higher audio quality of traditional earbuds and the more discrete bone conduction headphones. You get reasonably good sound (albeit with somewhat poor bass response) and no one except someone sitting right next to you is likely to hear any of it. The thin, angular arms of the glasses here do a pretty good job of directing audio into your ear and the mic array has no issues picking up clear audio for calls or spoken commands. It does struggle a fair bit on the lower end - more so than most audio glasses - but I still found it more than adequate for listening to audio books or music when going out on a walk. The cameras are basically the same as we got with the last generation. They're perfectly fine for capturing action shots or landscapes, but with the fixed focus and compact optics they do struggle with a lot of shots. This is definitely more of a supplement to your phone's camera than a replacement - but I'd still say it's a very good supplement and has become my preferred method for taking photos of wildlife on hikes.
This brings us to the AI features. I'll be honest here: while I find the features cool, particularly some of the assistive features meant for people with vision impairments, I'm not sure they're to a point where I'd recommend buying the glasses for them. They were reliable enough in my testing, to be clear, but they drain the battery fast and this is a problem. Putting aside all the other issues with some of these AI features, the fact is that the glasses just barely have enough battery for a full days' use as earbuds and an occasional camera. If you also want to make full use of the AI features as well you'll be going from judging the useful life in hours to minutes, which makes me very hesitant to rely on them. It also doesn't help that some of the features feel like they're still in beta. To give one example, the live translation function. When it works, it's very impressive. But there's a pretty limited range of environments where it can work. You need to have the appropriate language packs already downloaded to the glasses, there are only a few languages supported, and you still need to rely on your phone. A phone that, at least in my case, already has a much better translation function that works for pretty much any language I throw at it. As cool as it seems in theory, in practice I can't see myself ever using it.
Finally, how are they as glasses? Turns out they are quite good. I don't know if I'd want to wear them every day, as the chunky angular design is not exactly subtle about what's hidden inside, but they're great for weekend outings or camping trips. The lack of ear hooks do mean they can slide off though, so you may want to consider adding a strap just to make sure you don't find yourself bending over and dropping the things into a canyon somewhere. The lenses also proved to be a very pleasant surprise. I've been using transition lenses in my daily driver pair of glasses for about a year now and while I like them I have noticed that they often struggle with clarity in low light environments. These do not. When they are not needed, they are perfectly clear and I kind of want these in my normal glasses now. Time will tell if it lasts, but for now I'm quite happy. And should I ever want to, it is possible to swap the included lenses out for prescription versions at a later date.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 Select delivers 2K video clarity, intelligent detection, and smart home control in one device. Advanced mmWave radar and face recognition provide accurate alerts without false alarms, while built-in Zigbee and Thread/Matter hubs connect your entire smart home ecosystem. End-to-end encrypted streaming keeps your video secure, and expandable local storage enables 24/7 recording. Compatible with HomeKit Secure Video and dozens of third-party devices, the G410 Select lets you see who's at your door, control your locks, lights, and security systems, all while maintaining complete privacy. One doorbell. Complete smart home control.
Customer Rating
4
Good Hardware, Slightly Undercooked Software
on October 29, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
Video doorbells are an excellent example of a product category where every year the products only get more sophisticated and more connected, which many have some rather complex feelings about. Aqara is one of relatively few companies that seeks to offer an alternative - promising most of the same features of bigger brand offerings with fewer baked in security concerns. For that alone, they deserve to be commended. Unfortunately, decoupling from the cloud isn't quite so simple as some might hope.
Getting the doorbell installed was very simple. In my case I was hoping to replace a conventional doorbell button, which unfortunately didn't quite work out as this is a very wide doorbell and there was no way to fit it on the thin trim piece the wires ran through. Even with that the installation was done in under an hour, most of which was taken up trying to deal with pairing issues in the iOS app. I don't know what the underlying issue was that kept the phone from being able to complete the pairing process at first, but after a few resets of the app and the doorbell we were eventually able to get past it and after a quick firmware update the connectivity problems have not returned. I also have to award some points for the decision to incorporate a threads border router into the hub unit, as this is becoming an increasingly important part of any smart home setup that is all too easily overlooked due to the limited number of devices offering it. Getting the various smart features such as local facial recognition and archiving took about as long, in part because of the very busy and oddly fragmented user interface for the app. While the doorbell does have the option to only use local storage (which is wisely located on the doorbell ringer/hub) by default it'll still be using the cloud for most things, so if you want to avoid having a feed of your front drive uploaded to an unknown server somewhere you will need to work for it a bit.
Once we'd gotten through the initial teething issues, though, the doorbell became a lot easier to work with. The app prioritizes putting all the essential controls for the device at your fingertips whenever you open it up, so no hoops needed to be jumped through to check a notification or see who's dropping off a package. The local AI driven features are... okay. The camera provides a surprisingly good image in multiple lighting conditions, but even with a nice clean shot of my face it did struggle to correctly identify me a lot of the time for no clear reason. The activity monitors feel quite sensitive, even turned down, which can lead to some false alarms. To give one example, every time I took my dog out to do his business it would tend to trigger a notification that an unknown "lingerer" was present at the front door. While my partner was initially amused, long term this feature may need to get turned off unless we can find a way to improve the facial recognition. And the voice modulation features are definitely more of a novelty than a useful addition, since the effect is so heavy that it's honestly hard to follow what's being said some times. That said I imagine most will rush to ditch the app and integrate it directly into their preferred smart home ecosystem. And since the doorbell supports pretty much every standard out there, you'll likely end up happy with that regardless of what you're using.
As to if I'd recommend the doorbell... that gets a little more complicated. It is a bit of a cleaner, more modern aesthetic than a lot of offerings out there. The option for local storage of footage is indeed tempting. But it also doesn't integrate quite as cleanly with traditional doorbell systems as some. You more or less have to use the included chime, which will need to be powered via a USB phone charger (not included). And the app is undeniably cumbersome. These are problems that tech enthusiasts likely won't even consider, but for others who are less fond of tinkering I can see them representing a significant barrier. So I can really only give it a qualified endorsement.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Valor Pro Wireless pushes performance on Xbox with game-changing features. React faster with the rear paddles by keeping your thumbs on the thumbsticks while you jump, slide, reload, and more. With a low-latency wireless connection, Bluetooth~, and 1k Hz polling on PC, every movement stays sharp and responsive. Our new anti-drift TMR thumbsticks are designed to feel familiar while still alleviating common symptoms of wear and tear. Customize your controller settings without ever leaving your console with the SCUF app available on Xbox and PC. The built-in battery delivers up to 17 hours of playtime and recharges fast with the included 6ft USB-C.
Customer Rating
5
Feels Good
on October 21, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
I can safely say that I've never had a controller quite so nice as the Valor Pro.
Honestly I'm a little tempted to end the review there, but for those of you who need more convincing allow me to explain. Game controller design is pretty much solved, at this point. We know how to make them good, and pretty much everyone does. So for a controller to stand out, it really needs to go above and beyond. Many opt to do so with premium materials and finishes. The Valor Pro does indulge in this somewhat, but more of its focus seems to be on part selection and a generally high attention to detail. The wight, the balance, the feel of the controls, even jtaking it out of the box and holding it in your hands gives off the feeling of a well engineered high quality device in the most satisfying way.
There are three features on the Valor that make it stand out for me. The first is the four rear paddles, which by default are bound to the ABXY face buttons. The box brags that this means you never have to take your thumb off the right stick - and while I can certainly agree with it in theory I think that most will agree that the years of muscle memory telling you to do just that makes it easier said than done. But the layout here is good enough that I found it a lot easier to start learning than I have with similar designs. I credit this to the way that your fingers basically sit between a set of paddles on the grip and a raised face button on the back, meaning you only need to pull or push with your middle finger to get either one rather than feeling your way around a set of triggers or sliding up and down the grip to reach the right control. The second is the built in audio controls. You've got two volume dials, both of which can be clicked to mute, flanking the headset jack. They're a lot more convenient than headset mounted controls and frankly work so well I have to wonder why it's not part of the standard design. Finally, there are the controls themselves. Everything feels smooth and tight, with some pleasantly tactile feedback from the rear controls and the d-pad. There's also a fair bit of customizability for both XBox and Windows. The most important setting, the sensitivity of the analog triggers, is handled via toggle switches on the rear of the controller and can be swapped without having to take your eyes off the screen if you feel the need. Everything else is controlled via a SCUF app. The app for this is listed as still being in beta, but in my time with it I haven't run into any issues that would make me concerned about recommending it.
All in all, it's an easy recommendation for anyone looking to upgrade from the standard controller experience.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Anker SOLIX C1000X Gen2 Portable Power Station ~ your on-the-go energy companion! Compact yet mighty, this battery powered generator is designed to keep your adventures charged. With a robust 1,024Wh capacity, it delivers reliable power for camping trips, outdoor events, and emergency situations. Boasting 9 powerful output ports, it ensures you can charge a variety of devices simultaneously. The Anker SOLIX C1000X Gen2 is the solution to your power needs, wherever life takes you.
Customer Rating
5
Glamping in Style
on October 21, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
As someone who regularly uses a BiPAP to deal with sleep apnea, a power station has been on my camping wish list for a while. Unfortunately, finding an affordable option that's got enough capacity to actually run the power hungry little machines for more than a night is easier said than done. The SOLIX line from Anker seeks to solve that problem by improving the charging process so that you can get some of the benefits of a larger capacity unit without having to set aside the space or one - and while it's not a perfect solution I think it definitely shows a lot of promise for my future outdoor adventures.
The unit ships with basically just the essentials. You get the power station, a 120v charging cord (using a standard 3-prong design so you don't need to worry too much about losing it) and a 12v charging cord for your car. It's about the size and weight of a small drinks cooler that's been fully loaded with ice - making it fairly easy to carry around a campsite. Since I'm hoping to rely on it for longer excursions I also paired it with an inexpensive 200w foldable solar panel array, which I may expand in the future to up charging speed. The adapter that came with the panels worked with the power station out of the box, so no additional accessories were required to set it up for off-grid operation.
Performance in the wild is very good. The power station arrived with an almost full charge, and it took less than an hour to top up before heading out. With just one button to turn it on there's not a lot of complexity to worry about, you literally just plug stuff in and it works. And I found it worked very well - keeping all our devices charged (phones, tablet, etc) while also running my BiPAP. I wasn't able to fully vet the solar charging since cloud cover was surprisingly dense for most of the trip, but even with less than ideal light conditions the unit steadily charged throughout the day and (with a little help from the car) ended up lasting the full trip with plenty of charge to spare.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the world~s first hi-res wireless certified gaming headset the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite. Outputting audiophile-quality 96kHz/24bit sound over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, it's powered by 2-piece carbon fiber drivers. The new GameHub works with all systems, and can mix up to four sound sources simultaneously. Tune out external noise with best-in-class ANC and onboard AI noise rejection.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent sound with some interesting features
on October 16, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
I've seen a fair number of premium gaming headsets at this point - but I can safely say the Arctis Nova Elite stands apart. While it may not be the ideal headset for everyone, I think it's safe to say that there isn't anything else out there at the moment that can match this specific mix of features.
The headset is split into two main parts: the hadphones themselves and a USB Control Box/DAC that sits on your desk. The headphones use an elastic universal fit design. I've tried a few of these over the years and generally haven't liked them very much, as they usually feel kind of awkward and end up concentrating too much weight on the top of your head. I'm pleased to say I didn't encounter either of those problems here. The elastic band is a bit softer and better at contouring to my head than most, and offered enough adjustment to handle a wider array of head sizes than most. Weight is relatively modest, though still pretty far from ultralight, and the controls are well laid out for easy access. The retractable boom mic in particular gains points for how smoothly it integrates into the headphone's body when you're not using it.
The control box, meanwhile, gains points for simplicity. Pretty much everything is controlled via a combination jog wheel/button that normally handles volume, with a few vital statistics being relayed via a small OLED screen. It looks great on my desk and doesn't take up a lot of room, but admittedly can be a bit slow to use for more complex tasks. For day to day gaming I don't think anyone will care, but if you plan to use this for a more complex streaming audio setup it's definitely worth considering that you'll want to have everything prepared before you start. The box is also vital for the headset's best party trick: swappable batteries. With how long headset batteries tend to last these days I can't say this is solving a problem that comes up often, but it is nonetheless appealing to know that I don't have to plug anything in if I find myself suddenly out of juice before a gaming session.
As far as actual use goes, I mostly have high marks. Sound quality is excellent, and the ANC option does a great job filtering out fan noise from a gaming tower (though it can admittedly become a little uncomfortable with protracted use.) The ear cups are soft and do a good job providing some passive noise blocking as well, though it's worth keeping in mind that they do heat up a fair bit over longer gaming sessions. The microphone audio is also good - albeit a little grainy. It does better with the included baffle attached, but since that also interferes with your ability to stow the mic I can't say that's something I'm likely to use that much. Most of the finer adjustments need to be handled via an app installed on either your phone or PC, and this is one area where I admit I'm less impressed. There's a lot of bloat built in, a very aggressive push to have you sign up for an account with SteelSeries, and the audio controls feel very deliberately hidden. But once you figure out how to get past that it does its job, and you probably only need to go in there a few times, so I decided not to knock a star off for it.
All in all this does get a recommendation for me - provided you feel like the unusual feature set caters to you. I'm still not entirely sold on the need for ANC or swappable batteries for most people, but for the few who do want it there really aren't a ton of competing options and certainly not many offering this kind of styling or build quality.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you~re creating or being entertained, steal the show with the versatile and stylish HP OmniBook X Flip 16 Next Gen AI PC. A vibrant 16" 3K OLED touch display ensures you always have the best seat in the house, while the flexibility to use it flipped, folded, or flat ensures that it~s also the most comfortable and productive. Designed for the spotlight, it~s engineered with recycled metal and comes with a modern backlit keyboard.
Customer Rating
4
Solid productivity laptop
on September 19, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
The OmniBook X Flip is a good laptop that tries to accomplish a bit of everything. With the screen that looks like it belongs on a gaming machine, the RAM and storage of a productivity powerhouse, and the form factor of an ultraportable, it is clearly making a strong play for the generic daily driver market. And while this does have some advantages, it does perhaps hold it back from being a truly great machine.
One thing I do have to give it is that it makes a good impression taking it out of the box. The metal case (which does a very good job of repelling fingerprints, FYI) makes for a subdued and elegant silhouette, and the large OLED screen is absolutely gorgeous. Going through the initial setup process took about an hour, most of which was spent going through automatic updates, and once it was set up the machine was reasonably responsive. It does ship with a fair amount of what I'd characterize as bloatware, which definitely drags down performance out of the box, but once you strip that out its performance is pretty good for a mobile i9 ultra and battery life is much better than I'd usually expect from an Intel chip. The ARC integrated graphics can easily handle some light gaming, though the Omen gaming app (which tries its best to use "AI" to optimize gaming performance) will point you to cloud gaming services if you want to do anything too ambitious.
Unfortunately this is also when I began to notice some things that I was less than impressed by. Build quality here is a real mix. With a machine this large and this thin some amount of flexibility is pretty much unavoidable, as not even the metal case can deal with all the leverage it'll have to deal with, but even by that standard this thing bends very easily. It's better when the screen is closed or in tablet mode, as the magnets holding the screen in place are quite strong and it seems to help brace everything, but this is definitely not a machine I'd want to be carrying around in a bag without a case, ideally a hard case, to keep it safe. I also have to say that the keyboard is surprisingly poor. While the scissor switches feel fine on their own, there are a lot of keys that for reasons I can't quite figure out are sitting at different elevations or slightly skewed. Normally I wouldn't be too concerned about this, as good keyboards on laptops are pretty rare to begin with but given that this is a convertible and the keyboard is going to be somewhat regularly located on the back of the machine, sliding around on your arm or leg as you use it as a tablet, I have some definite concerns that these uneven keys could lead to something getting caught and popping off.
I do think that this has the potential to be a decent daily driver for some people - particularly given the quality of the touch screen that would make it a great option for artists when paired with the optional pen (which is not included.) But with the build quality issues I've run across I think it's probably best for those who only plan to occasionally travel with it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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ROG Falcata 75% split gaming keyboard with hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switches and ROG Hall Sensor; featuring Rapid Trigger toggle, intuitive control and multi-function wheel, tri-mode connectivity with ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology, Zone Mode, four-layer dampening and detachable silicone wrist rests.
Customer Rating
5
One of the best ergonomics out there
on September 15, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
As I've gotten a little older, I've come to appreciate the need for an ergonomic keyboard. Unfortunately while they may be good for your wrists, there are depressingly few split keyboard designs that actually offer a halfway decent typing experience, let alone a good gaming one. ASUS aims to fix that with that with the Falcata, and does so with their usual brand of gratuitous overkill.
The general build quality of the Falcata is among the best I've ever seen. It is a seriously beefy piece of tech with lots of metal parts and absolutely zero deck flex, which admittedly is made substantially easier by the fact that the split design doesn't create nearly as much leverage. The optional wrist rests are made of sturdy rubber so they should last a very long time, and the magnetic switches shouldn't be subjected to nearly as much wear and tear as the contacts on more traditional mechanical designs.
As for the user experience, I found myself with very few complaints. It's got all the usual bells and whistles you'd expect from an ROG product with elaborate RGB, low latency, key rollover, and so on, so I won't go into much detail there and instead focus on the real game changer: the ergonomic layout and what it can do for your daily comfort. I'm usually not the greatest fan of smooth switches, as I find the physical feedback of tactile designs to be better for my accuracy and just general awareness of what I'm hitting. And when I first took it out of the box I really did not think I would like the switches here, as they seemed ridiculously sensitive and would often start triggering just from the pressure exerted by resting my fingers on the home row. But this was before I discovered that the actuation point for every switch is adjustable. And what's more it's adjustable on the keyboard itself, through the use of a multifunction control wheel on the left side. While I do still somewhat miss the satisfying click of the keys, once I had everything dialed in I found my accuracy was almost identical to what I was getting with my tactile boards. And oh my goodness, the comfort is so much better. I've noticed in the last few years that my left wrist has been getting angry when I let myself spend more than an hour or so at the keyboard, and on some days it just won't tolerate it at all, but with this I can completely eliminate the issue with just a few seconds of adjusting. I've even started using it for work, which is made significantly easier by the fact that it supports pairing with multiple devices via Bluetooth.
That said there are a few areas for improvement with future versions. The biggest, arguably, is the documentation and height adjustment. The keyboard comes with 8 detachable feet (4 tall, 4 short) 10 places to screw them in and 0 explanations for how this is supposed to work. Based on how the sockets are arranged it seems like you're supposed to be making a triangle with the feet to provide a wrist-friendly angle on your desk, but every time I try to do so it either feels very wobbly or like I'm missing pieces. The instructions basically only show you where the feet screw in, not how you're supposed to arrange them, so I feel like I'm missing something very clever that the engineers behind it thought would be self evident. But, honestly, if that's the biggest complaint I have it's probably a good thing. This is an easy recommend for anyone looking for an ergonomic mechanical keyboard.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Equipped with a 48MP sensor and a 3-axis gimbal, P40 Lite captures ultra-stable 4K video and detailed 8K photos with professional clarity. Smart shooting modes~including MasterShots and Smart Follow~offer creative flexibility for a wide range of scenes. Up to 31 minutes of flight time and a 6km transmission range support extended shooting sessions. The drone remains stable in level 5 winds (3m flight altitude in Optical Flow Mode) and features a triple-positioning system~combining optical flow, GPS, and ToF~for accurate, responsive control.
Customer Rating
4
Fantastic hobby drone with a few rough edges
on September 8, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
The P40 Lite claims to offer top tier camera drone features in a hobbyist size package. This is a deceptively difficult thing to do given the need to stay under the 250g takeoff weight limit for non-registered drones, particularly for a company that's mostly known for targeting beginner pilots rather than professional or semi-professional users. After taking it on a few flights in a variety of conditions and doing a lot of experimentation, I'm not sure I can honestly say it's succeeded in everything it's set out to do. But, despite that, it is a remarkably fun and capable little device that I suspect many hobbyists will be very excited by.
First, let's talk about some of the highlights. The drone is well designed and very portable, including a hard shell carrying case with space for up to three batteries (assuming one is stored in the drone) and the controller. Deploying the drone requires only a minute or so, and packing it up takes about the same. Charging is also done via USB-C, making it very easy to just bring with you and pull out whenever you find a good opportunity rather than having to plan everything ahead of time. Control is handled via a combination of the included controller and your phone, and for the most part it works very well. The drone handles well both on still days and in light winds, control range is excellent, and the RTH and boundary features should keep you from getting into any serious trouble. And the camera has captured some absolutely beautiful footage - though admittedly in some cases I found it to be prone to oversaturating the colors on bright days. It also includes a RemoteID module, which technically isn't required for the drone in its base configuration but is required if you choose to install the optional (included) blade guards which push the takeoff weight high enough that it requires registration.
Unfortunately, this is also when I started noticing some issues with the drone. The first warning came when I opened up the phone app and saw a lot of very basic spelling mistakes and other translation errors. Badly translated apps are hardly unheard of these days, but I do find it's often accompanied by a general lack of polish and attention to detail in other areas. And I definitely feel like I ran into a lot of that after getting familiar enough with the handling to switch off of beginner mode.
To be clear the drone still flies just as well on manual control in its unlocked state as it did with manual control. But most of the advanced autonomous features were pretty hit or miss. Smart follow really seems to struggle to identify what you want it to track, and absolutely cannot be trusted to keep the target in frame. Additionally it had a strange tendency to start violently rocking back and forth whenever the breeze picked up, which even with the otherwise excellent gimbal produced fairly unusable footage. I really don't know what was causing that behavior in particular, as it would always stop the moment I resumed direct control and it seems to have no problem when performing landings or takeoffs in similar conditions, which makes it a bit hard to plan for when trying to take video. Also, though this is a much more specific complaint, if you have a phone with a pinhole selfie camera right at the top there is a very good chance that the takeoff and landing controls on your screen will fall directly behind it. Given the popularity of this phone design and the importance of that button in particular, I really do feel like this is something that should be addressed in a future version of the app.
All in all, I do think the P40 Lite has a lot to recommend it and is a great option for the more serious hobbyist. But with so many of the more advanced features being prone to odd and unpredictable behavior, I do find it hard to recommend for anything more than that.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Moza R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals Bundle delivers high-performance sim racing at an exceptional price. This bundle is designed for PC users and includes the precision-driven R3 Racing Wheel with advanced force feedback and the Moza SR-P Lite pedals for responsive, realistic control. It offers unbeatable value without sacrificing performance~perfect for both experienced racers and newcomers seeking immersive racing on PC.
Customer Rating
4
Direct Drive Wheel for Everyone
on September 2, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
For years, I've heard that direct drive wheels offered the best experience for racing sims available. I've also heard that they cost an arm and a leg, and as such figured I'd just have to take their word for it. So you can imagine my surprise when seeing that Moza, a company I'd never really heard of before, was offering a bundle that included a full direct drive wheel base at a budget friendly price point, I wasn't sure if I should be excited or deeply suspicious. Ultimately, I ended up somewhere in the middle as the R3 bundle provides both top tier hardware for an immersive gameplay experience and one of the worst user experiences I've ever had with a consumer device.
First up, I want to talk about the good parts of what you get. The R3 bundle really does offer you a high end, if admittedly somewhat basic, set of sim hardware. The wheel base is small but deceptively powerful, and features a variety of options for mounting and expansion hardware. The wheel is likewise very good, if admittedly a little rudimentary, and uses a modular connection system that makes it very easy to either pull it off to free up space or swap it out with more specialized wheel designs for F1. The pedal kit is basic but highly adjustable, with an option to add a third clutch pedal if you wish. Just about everything is metal and uses standardized metric hardware rather than molded catches or plastic fasteners too so it should be rugged enough to stand up to many hours of use in just about any setup. The force feedback effects are also quite detailed and much smoother than the very grainy response you generally get from gearbox based systems, though it can still get a little rough during more dramatic turns and skids.
Unfortunately, this is where I come to the areas where I had more trouble. While everything worked very well eventually, getting it set up in the first place required more effort and cajoling than any peripheral I've worked with since the days of Windows 95. Windows 11 can't recognize the Moza device as a standard input device, so everything has to go through the company's proprietary drivers and dashboard app. And this app is, simply put, a mess. The setup package I downloaded from the Moza website attempted to run a powershell script that immediately (and silently) bombed every time I tried to launch it. I was eventually able to get it to install the application by manually unpacking the executable and locating the setup package the powershell script was trying to run, only to have it bomb because it hadn't loaded any of the drivers it needed to communicate with the wheel. Eventually after an hour or so spent on the Moza subreddit I managed to find another download page that let me download the "Offline installer" which worked. From there I tried to get into one of my go-to racing games, the admittedly slightly aged Project Cars 2, only to find that it couldn't detect the wheel's rotation axis. The app suggested that this was because I had not configured the driver to work with the game and provided a link that it said would give me instructions... which simply told me that the game did not require configuration to work with the wheel. After some more googling I discovered that the actual problem was that the wheel base required a firmware update, which then required me to recalibrate all the controls, then create a custom mapping for the controller. And then I was finally ready to race.
To put it into perspective, the entire process from unpacking the wheel to doing my first successful lap in a simulated replica of my first car took about three days. Granted I was only really working on it in the few hours I set aside for gaming after dinner, and this is not that unusual for some of the more esoteric bits of sim gear that are available today. But with the R3 being priced at a point that makes it more approachable for the average consumer, I'm a bit concerned that many are going to end up just bouncing off during the setup phase.
The good news is that once you do get through it all, you don't need to touch it much. There is an app for your phone that lets you do some adjustments to the wheel without having to interrupt your game, which is an interesting option to have, but I'll admit I haven't found all that much use for it yet.
All in all, this makes it a somewhat odd product to recommend. Just going by the hardware, it's probably one of the best racing wheels I've seen. But I struggle to imagine anyone who isn't either tech savvy or really devoted to racing sims enduring the installation process. So if you are interested - hopefully hearing about my experience will help spare you some frustration.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Samsung~s 32~ Odyssey G5 G51F Gaming Monitor boasts incredibly detailed, pin-sharp images with QHD resolution (2560x1440). HDR10 provides brighter highlights, improved contrast and color accuracy, making every scene feel more vivid and realistic. 180Hz Refresh Rate and near-instant 1ms Response Time (MPRT) captures all your moves with reduced lag for ultra-smooth gameplay. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro reduces choppiness, screen lag, and image tears. Black Equalizer allows you to adjust dark areas in games, so you can locate opponents hiding in the deepest shadows. Virtual Aim Point allows you to hit your marks with next-level accuracy, giving you the optimal aim with crosshairs on the screen. Auto Source Switch+ instantly switches to a new source signal when connected devices are turned on, without having to use multiple inputs. Ergonomic stand makes it simple to tilt and adjust the monitor for total gaming comfort.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent LCD for Gaming
on August 23, 2025
Posted by: Batlacit
Samsung has been a fairly dominant force in the gaming monitor space for quite a few years now, so it should come as a surprise to no one that the Odyssey G51F shows that there's still plenty of life in LCDs even if OLEDs are stealing the spotlight. It delivers an excellent, highly responsive gaming experience as well as ample screen space for every day computing.
The design language of the Odyssey hasn't changed much over the years, nor has it needed to. The stand is sleek and stable without taking up an excess of desk space, the complex curves of the rear casing are pleasing to the eye (assuming you ever see them,) and the frame lacks any obtrusive clutter that might distract from the 32" panel. Ports are arranged at the bottom and with the use of the built in cable management it's not hard to route everything so that it's mostly out of the way, if not completely invisible. So, overall, it should be a good aesthetic fit for most desk setups.
As far as the panel itself goes, it strikes an excellent balance between image quality and performance. 32" is right about at the point where you start being able to tell the difference between QHD and UHD resolutions, so I imagine some might question the decision to opt for the lower pixel count, but given the difficulty of driving UHD panels at high refresh rates I think they made the right call here. The image is still plenty sharp unless you plan to regularly lean in to inspect things more closely, and everything feels fantastically twitchy running at 144+Hz. Colors are also very good. It's not going to be able to give you the same vivid colors that you can get with a really good OLED, but provided you turn on HDR it can still deliver some very respectable black levels while producing some dazzling colors. And with FreeSync you don't really need to worry about tearing either - which is definitely important if like me you have it plugged into a laptop whose GPU can't quite drive the QHD panel at full speed without the occasional hiccup.
Usually I would finish a review by listing some of the downsides I encountered while trying the product out. In this case, though, I don't have any. Yes, there are better gaming monitors available on the market. There are even a few better LCD gaming monitors on the market. But you aren't going to find many of them at this price point. That makes this a very easy recommendation for anyone looking for a big, fast panel for their gaming rig that won't cost more than your tower.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Fly through the sky in ways that seem impossible. We never lost our passion for flying, and with DJI FPV, those passions have turned imagination into reality. With this immersive and intuitive aerial platform, get ready to go into the beyond. Sleek and aerodynamic, the DJI FPV aircraft delivers powerful propulsion, battery life, and wind resistance, making this system as capable as it is visually stunning.
Is the headset stereo or is it 2D only?
It's strictly 2D. The screens don't actually take up all that much of your field of vision, so it's more like having a very big monitor floating in front of your face than actually being inside the drone.
4 years, 7 months ago
by
Batlacit
Bose Sport Open Earbuds are true wireless earbuds like you~ve never seen or heard before. What makes them truly unique is that they are the first workout headphones of their kind that combine exclusive Bose OpenAudio technology with an innovative open-ear headphone design to produce high-quality sound without covering your ears. This allows you to hear your music and the world around you for an unbelievable, full-sensory experience. The city. The surf. Your running buddy. Hear it all and your music at the same time with these entirely new, entirely open sport earbuds. Sound is what motivates, and Bose Sport Open Earbuds deliver. The exclusive Bose OpenAudio technology produces clear, consistent sound that~s more authentic and comfortable than bone conduction. In addition, acoustic spillage is minimal thanks to speaker placement that~s closer to the ear. A comfortable and secure fit is crucial when exercising. These sport earbuds were rigorously designed and tested to gently rest on your ears while staying put no matter how intense your workout. Bose Sport Open Earbuds also offer up to eight hours of play time (with daily charging), an advanced mic system for crystal-clear calls, and IPX4 sweat and weather resistance. Now you can combine the environment that invigorates you with the content that motivates you.
can one earbud be used at a time to either take/talk on phonecalls?
Yes, this works fine. Though weirdly audio quality seems much better when you use both.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Batlacit
Upgrade your entertainment setup with the Core Innovations 150~ Home Theater Projector - White (CPJ600WHBY). With an adjustable screen size between 32~-150~, this projector is perfect for solo gaming marathons or an immersive movie night experience with the entire family. Stream videos, view photos or play your favorite games by linking your preferred device to this projector via numerous versatile connections, including HDMI, VGA, USB, Micro SD and AV.
Looking for dig projector for art projects. Is this good for photos off phone
I think that'll mostly depend on the art project. It can show photos, but the resolution is low enough that you're not going to get a ton of fine detail with them. It also needs to be pointed pretty much straight at the projection surface, as the keystone correction screws up the focus pretty badly.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
Batlacit
Upgrade your entertainment setup with the Core Innovations 150~ Home Theater Projector - White (CPJ600WHBY). With an adjustable screen size between 32~-150~, this projector is perfect for solo gaming marathons or an immersive movie night experience with the entire family. Stream videos, view photos or play your favorite games by linking your preferred device to this projector via numerous versatile connections, including HDMI, VGA, USB, Micro SD and AV.
Does this projector come with the cords needed to connect to a laptop or do I need to purchase it separately,
It does not - you'll need to provide your own cables. And batteries, if you want to use the remote.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
Batlacit
Supreme stereo sound, impressive comfort and extended cross-platform compatibility ~ that's the ROCCAT~ Elo X Stereo Wired Cross-Platform Gaming Headset for PC, Xbox, PlayStation~, Nintendo Switch & Mobile. Experience a weightless, dynamic fit thanks to a self-adjusting metal headband, superior memory foam ear cushions and ProSpecs~ Glasses Relief System for glasses wearers. Precision-tuned 50mm drivers produce crisp highs to thundering lows to help you seek out opponents with pitch-perfect stereo sound while a detachable noise-cancelling microphone featuring TruSpeak~ technology ensures your commands are heard perfectly with crystal-clear voice communication. Finally, the 3.5mm jack lets players go from PC to game console to mobile devices with ease.
Does it work for a Nintendo switch?
Yep, it'll work with anything with a 3.5mm headphone jack. The headset has a 3-pole combined headphone/mic plug attached to it and comes with a y-splitter that'll separate it out into discrete 2-pole connectors for the mic and headphones.
5 years ago
by
Batlacit
Offering the ultimate true-wireless experience for any fitness-loving music lover, JLab Epic Air Sport ANC offers customized sound and active noise canceling plus industry-leading 70+ hours playtime. Transition from gym to calls or from work to a run, effortlessly, with features like wear-detect, movie mode, wireless charging and more.
1. Does leaving the buds in the charging case for long periods of time degrade the battery? 2. Is any operating system specific apps or drivers needed for use? My use case is running it off a Linux laptop without Windows installed
1. Technically, yes, but letting lithium batteries go unused for long periods of time is bad for them in general. Keeping them in the case is on the balance probably better for them than the alternative of letting them sit outside the case since it'll take longer for them to run completely dry, at which point they won't be able to accept a new charge.
2. Some of the proprietary features like the touch controls or EQ settings do require a mobile app to configure, but apart from that you shouldn't have any issues connecting it to your Linux machine as a generic audio device so long as you've kept the Bluetooth stack reasonably up to date.
2. Some of the proprietary features like the touch controls or EQ settings do require a mobile app to configure, but apart from that you shouldn't have any issues connecting it to your Linux machine as a generic audio device so long as you've kept the Bluetooth stack reasonably up to date.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
Batlacit
Refreshed and ready to take its rightful spot atop a new generation of consoles, the Turtle Beach~ Stealth~ 600 Gen 2 is the successor to the best-selling wireless gaming headset for PS5~, PS4~ & PS4~ Pro. The Stealth~ 600 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset is enhanced with a host of upgrades, including a larger high-sensitivity flip-to-mute mic that delivers improved chat clarity and now seamlessly integrates into the headset when muted. The headband and hinge design have been reinforced for added long-term durability, and soft, glasses-friendly ear cushions provide plush comfort while refined 50mm speakers produce high-quality, immersive sound and are optimized to unleash the power of Sony 3D Audio on PS5~. A user-friendly audio preset button on the headset allows for easy access to customize audio, and gamers can still count on Turtle Beach~s Superhuman Hearing~ for an audio advantage on the battlefield. Finally, connectivity is made easy with the included, mini-USB Transmitter that wirelessly connects from your PlayStation~ console to headset.
would a usb type c to 3.5mm audio jack work for the headset so i could make it wired and will the mic still work as well?
No. it looks like the USB port is only wired for charging - audio either goes through the USB dongle or not at all.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
Batlacit
Refreshed and ready to take its rightful spot atop a new generation of consoles, the Turtle Beach~ Stealth~ 600 Gen 2 is the successor to the best-selling wireless gaming headset for PS5~, PS4~ & PS4~ Pro. The Stealth~ 600 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset is enhanced with a host of upgrades, including a larger high-sensitivity flip-to-mute mic that delivers improved chat clarity and now seamlessly integrates into the headset when muted. The headband and hinge design have been reinforced for added long-term durability, and soft, glasses-friendly ear cushions provide plush comfort while refined 50mm speakers produce high-quality, immersive sound and are optimized to unleash the power of Sony 3D Audio on PS5~. A user-friendly audio preset button on the headset allows for easy access to customize audio, and gamers can still count on Turtle Beach~s Superhuman Hearing~ for an audio advantage on the battlefield. Finally, connectivity is made easy with the included, mini-USB Transmitter that wirelessly connects from your PlayStation~ console to headset.
Will this work with a PC?
Yes - though there are a few caveats. It doesn't respect system audio settings, so software volume controls are out and automatic gain control on the mic is hit or miss. But if you're willing to manually set the stuff up the user experience is decent.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
Batlacit
Capture high-quality videos with this Sony Handycam 4K camcorder. The 0.4-inch CMOS sensor delivers high-resolution 4K content with fast intelligent autofocus and enhanced audio, while the SteadyShot image stabilizer boasts clear detailed shots even at full zoom. This Sony Handycam 4K camcorder has a built-in Highlight Movie Maker that lets you create and share videos seamlessly.
Can I use a remote wireless microphone or lavalier microphone with this camera?
Yes - though depending on the exact model of mic it might require you to purchase some accessories that expands its input options. Out of the box it only supports external mics using a standard 3.5mm minijack.
5 years, 3 months ago
by
Batlacit
The Philips Hue HDMI Sync box adds premium surround lighting to your home theater by syncing your Hue smart lights with movies, music and video games. Watch, listen and play with more wonder and excitement as your lights dance, flash, dim and brighten with your screen. Requires Hue color capable lights and a Hue Bridge (sold separately).
Will this work with every generation of Hue bulbs?
Provided you've kept up with software updates, this should work with any Hue bulbs you may own.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
Batlacit