RBrylawski's stats
- Review count67
- Helpfulness votes895
- First reviewJuly 18, 2011
- Last reviewMarch 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
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- Answer count5
- Helpfulness votes35
- First answerNovember 10, 2013
- Last answerNovember 5, 2020
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Jabra Elite 85t true wireless earbuds have been engineered for a calls and music experience like never before, with fully adjustable Jabra advanced Active Noise Cancellation™, 12mm speakers for big sound, up to 25 hours of battery (ANC on), and 6-mic technology with wind protection for amazing calls. And because it’s Jabra tech, it’s all crammed into a really tiny body. Because ANC doesn’t only stand for Active Noise Cancellation… Jabra Elite 85t: Accept No Compromise.
Customer Rating
5
A Great Successor to the Elite 75t
on November 5, 2020
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
I’ve owned and truly loved my Jabra Elite 75t for the last year. In my opinion, Jabra has taken everything that was wonderful about the 75t and they’ve delivered a next level experience in the 85t that is perhaps not earth shaking but is next generation excellent. In this review, I’ll highlight the notable differences between them.
The first thing you want to do is go your App Store and download the Jabra Sound+ App. Then follow the directions to pair your 85t’s to your device. Once paired, open the app and go through all the available setup options. Out of the box, an update was available for my headphones, which took about 15 minutes to complete. Anytime an update is available, the Discover Tab in the Sound+ App lights up to let you know you can update. Jabra couldn’t make it any simpler if they tried. While I’m speaking about the app, it’s one of the best apps to control and manage earphones I’ve had the pleasure to use and I’ve used plenty of them.
So what did Jabra do to make the next generation Elite 85t better?
So what did Jabra do to make the next generation Elite 85t better?
Small things first. The charging case is now Qi wireless capable. And its slightly larger than the 75t charging case. The earbuds themselves are slightly larger than the 75t as well. But that has NOT been an issue in wear, fit or most important, comfort. More on comfort below. As already mentioned, the Jabra Sound+ app is the same app, with minor differences to accommodate the more advanced ANC in the 85t. The app is and continues to be industry leading in feature and control options. I won’t go into great detail on the app, except to say it’s simple, intuitive and VERY effective. You can easily integrate with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri and Google Assistant. It was the same on the 75t.
Moving on to more important things, let’s start with Advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). All of my headphones have ANC. For me ANC is not the driving force behind any headphone purchase. Mostly because when ANC is active, the soundstage is typically compressed. And so too is this the case with the Elite 85t when ANC is on. It's very good to be sure, but if you're not in a noisy environment and you don't need noise cancelling, don't engage it. The sound stage will be expanded and music sounds fuller without it. ANC also uses more power so you'll get longer average use times without ANC engaged. Jabra incorporated a special ANC chip which permits something most ANC headphones cannot do and that’s giving you the ability to adjust the level of ANC to the level of noise reduction appropriate for the listening environment you’re in. Most ANC systems are either on or off. You either get noise reduction or you don’t. With the Jabra system, you use a slider in the Jabra Sound + app to dial in the perfect level of ANC and Hear-Through. Jabra dials the level of ANC in levels of 3db in 11 adjustments from no noise cancellation to full noise cancellation, with a toggle to add hear through for situations when you need to have some sense of things happening around you. It’s simple and effective. Each earbud has a microphone on the outside to cancel noise from the outside and one on the inside to cancel noise inside the ear. For the price its remarkably good.
When Jabra introduced the Elite 75t, they did NOT have ANC. Instead they offered passive noise cancellation. What that means is once you’ve chosen the eargel with the best fit, they go deeper in your ear, to block out the outside world. It’s pretty effective to a degree. But Jabra just did something truly remarkable by rolling out an update to the 75t and Active 75t bringing Active Noise Cancellation to them both. That Jabra didn’t leave the 75t series out and it was even possible to turn earbuds which didn’t offer ANC and turn them into earbuds WITH ANC, with an update is simply amazing. Is it as good as ANC on the 85t? No. But it’s very good and I believe this is the first time anyone has ever done this. Kuddos to Jabra!
Another notable improvement for the 85t is going from 6mm speakers to 12mm speakers. To be honest, the Elite 75t’s should not sound as great as they do with 6mm speakers, but they do. In doubling the size of the speakers in the 85t, the sound to my ears is broader. Because the 75t requires a very tight fit to block outside noise. Bass on the 75t can be a bit much. In contrast bass on the 12mm speaker on the 85t is not overpowering (a good thing to me), because the new earbuds are semi-open as opposed to fully closed. I personally find the sound more natural. Bass is tight, without boominess and gives a sense of greater depth without rattling your head. Mid-range is enhanced and highs crystal clear with no hint of being shrill. Overall, I think the new 85t’s are better balanced and better sounding than the 75t.
Not long ago, Jabra introduced a feature through the app called My Sound. My Sound, adjusts the sound precisely for your hearing, where each ear is played frequencies at varying loudness levels from audible to barely audible. Once complete, the app configures the earbuds precisely for each ear. You must be in a place where it’s totally quiet as some of the tones can be hard to hear and you tap a box on the screen for each frequency you hear. I’ve taken the My Sound test a couple times and I’m not sure I can honestly hear much of a difference either way. It would be great if could toggle back and forth to hear how music sounds with the results of the sound test or without the sound test. As it stands now, you can only start over and take the test again.
Also new this year is a wireless Qi charge ready case. Last year’s case could only be charged with a USB C to charging brick. The case this year is just slightly larger than last years case. But the case is already smaller than most other earbud cases, so not an issue. The case is well engineered and has a nice matt finish (nothing shiny here, no siree). And the earbuds fit in their charging cradle magnetically. You can turn the case upside down with the lid open and shake it and the buds remain securely in place. On a full charge, the earbuds will provide up to 5.5 hours of continuous play with ANC or up to 7 hours without ANC. The case itself holds up to 25 hours with ANC or 31 hours without ANC.
The Elite 85t has an IPX4 dust and water rating and can take sweat from a hard workout or splashing water. They cannot be submerged in water. The Elite 75t has an IPX55 rating, which is tad better. Both the 75t and 85t come with a two-year warranty against dust and water, so you are well covered if anything goes wrong. In terms of connectivity, the Elite 85t can connect to 8 devices and play through two simultaneously. Jabra provides actual tactile buttons you can program to do what you want from pause, play, answer a call, move from one track forward or back. I will say the buttons require a bit more force to engage on the 85t, but they’re so much better than touch sensitive buttons.
Jabra truly excels at headphones for phone calls. The 85t continues this tradition with 6 (count ‘em SIX) professional grade microphones, three in each bud. They added what they call SideTone, so you can hear your voice more clearly and naturally on a phone call, coupled with advanced wind protection algorithms, phone conversations are amazingly clear. I took a walk on a breezy afternoon with ANC all the way up, pass-through on and made a phone call. The ANC did a great job removing wind noise. My office can get loud and It works great there as well.
All in-earbud headphones need to fit your ears properly to sound their best. With the 75t, the eargels are round and need to go deeper in your ear to block outside sounds. This can cause pressure and listener fatigue, but it’s how Jabra manages to get great sound from 6mm speakers. It’s VERY important to try all three eargels (small, medium, large) to determine what fits and sounds best. Using a size too small will not only provide a poor fit but will ensure you're not hearing everything these puppies can produce. The 85t eargels are a new semi-open oval design with pressure relief vents to eliminate pressure buildup. I find the 85t’s immensely more comfortable and listener fatigue is non-existent, even for extended periods of time in your ears. You still need to make sure you’ve chosen the right size eargel to get the best sound.
Like the 75t, you still can’t listen to either earbud in mono. The 75t and 85t are slave and master. This means they aren’t paired individually and thus, it’s not possible to listen through the left earbud individually. You can listen through the right earbud in mono mode by putting it in your ear and leave the left earbud in the charging case. If Jabra can add ANC with an update, maybe this will come in a future update.
Like the 75t, you still can’t listen to either earbud in mono. The 75t and 85t are slave and master. This means they aren’t paired individually and thus, it’s not possible to listen through the left earbud individually. You can listen through the right earbud in mono mode by putting it in your ear and leave the left earbud in the charging case. If Jabra can add ANC with an update, maybe this will come in a future update.
Sorry this is long, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the differences between the 75t and the new 85t. I’ve put the 85t through extended listening sessions over the last few days, some sessions exceeding 3+ hours without a break and they are simply terrific for long listening. The 85t is to me a great step up and better in all the areas they needed to be. The 75t is still terrific made even better when Jabra updated them with ANC for free. But the 85t is all around better with larger speakers, fully adjustable next generation ANC, a case with wireless charging, Jabra’s traditional superior call quality, coupled with more balanced sound Over the last couple years, Jabra has been making some stellar state-of-the-art Bluetooth earbuds. One can only imagine how they’ll top this a year from now, but I have every confidence they will. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying the best earbuds for the money out there and that makes me a very lucky camper indeed.
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See exactly what’s happening in and around your home in full 1080p HD, day or night with this eufyCam 2C Camera. The IP67 weatherproof-rating ensures that eufyCam 2C Camera is built to withstand the elements. Every eufy Security product is engineered to ensure your security data is kept private. Have peace of mind that you will have a secure record of everything that happens around your home.
Customer Rating
5
Terrific Security Cameras - Simple To Set Up
on October 13, 2020
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
Eufy, is Part of Anker Innovations and their motto is “Smart Home Simplified.” This EufyCam 2C Security Camera System certainly supports that motto. To be honest, I was simply dreading setting it up and installing the cameras. We recently moved into a brand-new home and the house we left had wireless security cameras from a different manufacturer, which were utterly disappointing. And if you wanted to access video recordings, you had to pay a monthly access fee. Well not with the EufyCam 2C system. It comes with a 16 GB SSD, which you have total control over and COSTS not ONE PENNY per month to store video clips (which you can Watermark and time stamp via settings in the Eufy Security App). Thats not just nice thats TERRIFIC and saves me money.
Another terrific advantage the EufyCam 2C system offers is a 180 day (Six Month) battery. Our previous system required getting on a ladder to remove the cameras almost every 6 weeks or so to charge the batteries, which was a major pain. We haven’t had the system long enough to know if 180 days is realistic, but it takes 5 hours to charge the cameras, so it has larger batteries inside than most lesser systems, which should support the 6 month claim.
Simply said, the EufyCam 2C system is some kind of special. Here are my thoughts:
It comes nicely packaged as you can see from the first attached photo. You get the two cameras, the base station, an ethernet cable to connect the base station to your router, a charging cable for the cameras (it’s Micro USB but I wish they had gone with USB C), the mounting hardware for the cameras, a Quick Start Guide and stickers (for marking the mounting holes and for letting would be unwelcome visitors know you have a security camera system from EufyCam).
Setting up the EufyCam 2C system couldn’t be simpler. If you get one, make sure you charge the cameras before you do anything. As mentioned above, it can take up to 5 hours to charge them and that was my experience with them fresh out of the box. If you’re an Android or iOS user, you go to the App Store on either platform and download the Eufy Security App, which you’ll need to help you get everything connected. Next you plug the base station into power and connect the supplied ethernet cable to your home router. Once the base station is connected directly, the Eufy Security App walks you through setting everything up seamlessly. Once connected, you can then move to a pure Wifi connection and disconnect the base station from your router, which lets you move the base station where you need to ensure the strongest signal to the cameras.
For our home, we have a mesh network with three nodes placed in the front, middle and back of the house. This setup provides excellent connection to both cameras, one at the front and one at the back of our home. This to me was one of the biggest surprises about the EufyCam system. The system we had in our home previously had a very difficult time staying connected to the base station and was in fact the reason we spent hundreds of dollars to move up to a Mesh Network to begin with. Perhaps because of the Mesh Network, both cameras are getting a very strong Wifi signal. But even before I went from the wired ethernet setup to Wifi directly, both cameras were getting a decent signal. And both cameras were quite far from the base station.
I’m technically savvy, but installation challenged when power tools are required. We live in Florida, and our new home is built to withstand 150 mph winds from hurricanes, so its stucco over block. Me having to drill into concrete to install the camera bases was a bit daunting. But with a good masonry drill bit it went surprisingly well. I did end up using shorter anchors than were supplied with the system. Once mounted, the cameras are very secure and can be adjusted to any angle you might want. PLEASE NOTE: The Quick Start Guide recommends you test the cameras in the locations you want to mount them before you drill any holes. I cannot stress enough how important this step is. Speaking of, you can take photos at any time through the app of a scene, which is stored directly in your Photo App on your phone. Attached is a photo of the view from the camera on the back our home.
Here are some of the key specifications of the system:
1080P Full HD Live Streaming
16 GB local storage via the base station, which you have full control over
Military Grade Encryption for top notch security
IP67 Weatherproofing
Human Detection and Activity Zones
2C Way Radio so you can greet welcome OR unwelcome visitors
Integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit
Eufy Security Application for Android or iOS – Note this app even works in landscape mode with iPad
16 GB local storage via the base station, which you have full control over
Military Grade Encryption for top notch security
IP67 Weatherproofing
Human Detection and Activity Zones
2C Way Radio so you can greet welcome OR unwelcome visitors
Integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit
Eufy Security Application for Android or iOS – Note this app even works in landscape mode with iPad
We haven’t owned the system for a long time yet, but given previous positive experience with Anker products, the fantastically simple set up of the system, 180 day battery, HD video, IP67 Weatherproofed Cameras and Military grade encryption, I’m really pleased with the system so far. I may have been dreading setting up and installing the system, but it was just so easy, even for this installation challenged fellow. I am confident you’ll have a very easy time setting this up to protect your home. I mark the EufyCam 2C system as highly recommended!
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Keep surfaces dirt-free and dust-free with this Hoover ONEPWR DustChaser hand vacuum. The handheld design offers easy carrying between rooms, while the rechargeable LiIon battery allows for cord-free, continuous use. This Hoover ONEPWR DustChaser hand vacuum has a rinsable filter for easy maintenance and includes an upholstery tool and two-in-one dusting and crevice kit for furniture and hard-to-reach areas.
Customer Rating
4
It's a Hoover and It Works Great!
on August 4, 2020
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
The ONEPWR DustChaser Hand Vacuum, may look a little odd, but it’s one of the best hand-held vacuums I’ve used. Hoover says its designed to make cleaning easier and more convenient. I mostly agree with that statement.
Weighing in at 2.5 lbs., with its odd shape, I find it very ergonomic in my hand and it can get into tight spaces most hand-held vacuums won’t. The vacuum has 2 times more suction than most other hand-helds and I’ve managed to use this in places I haven’t been able to get to easily with anything else I own, such as in between and under the car seats, something almost impossible with other devices.
Hoover equipped the DustChaser with a dual stage filtration system with HEPA Media. This means it is engineered for use in a wide range of clean air applications which provide high available efficiency at a minimal resistance to air flow. Translation? It cleans well and doesn’t let dust or dirt get into the air around you as it does its job. Its bagless and simple to empty. The motor was designed to provide consistently powerful suction without fading, while capturing almost 100% of the dust, dirt, and allergens down to 0.3 microns. That is smaller than you can possible see!
It comes well packaged and includes a battery and battery charger as well as multi-purpose tools, including a built-in extended nozzle, a 2-in-1 dusting/crevice tool and an upholstery tool. The battery is Lithium Ion and its more suitable for small jobs, which is to be expected of a cordless hand-held device. I got a little more than 30 minutes of time on a single charge. If you need more time, you may need to invest in a second battery as the time to fully charge from discharge is close to 2 hours.
Overall, I really like this Hoover DustChaser. If there was anything I would change, it would be for the battery to last a little longer and it doesn’t come with a wall mount of any kind. With its somewhat odd shape, finding a good place to store it takes some thought. Otherwise, it feels good in my hand. It gets into places most other’s can’t and it offers powerful suction, with great filtration.
Ultimately, it’s a Hoover and Hoover has been in the vacuum business since 1908, so you know you’re getting technology more than a century in the making. And that's a very good thing indeed!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep each glass of wine as fresh as the first with this Coravin Model Three wine preservation system. Patented technology lets you pour wine without removing the cork, saving the rest for later. SmartClamps easily attach and detach to the bottle and works on corked bottles. This Coravin Model Three system uses ultra-pure argon gas for long-lasting preservation.
Customer Rating
5
The Stay Safer at Home Wine Accessory You Need
on May 23, 2020
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
We’ve wanted a Coravin Wine Preservation System for the longest time. Being quarantined and having some good bottles of wine to try, this seemed like the perfect time to finally get one! We don’t often open a bottle of wine and drink it all in one sitting. When you open a bottle of good wine and try to seal it back up with one of those pump seal systems, just a few days later, that really good bottle of wine is not so good anymore.
Coravin to the rescue. It comes nicely packaged and while it may appear a bit complicated, its actually pretty simple. In addition to the Smart Clamp, two Argon gas canisters, screw top and cleaning pin, you get a well-written easy to follow user guide. The box it comes in has a quick start guide on the inside flap and you also get a QR code you can scan to watch some videos about how to use system.
To get started with your Coravin, simply insert one of the two supplied Argon gas canisters into the system, give a quick tap on the gas button to test the gas works, pull the smart clamps down to lock in place, align the system over the neck of the wine bottle, and push it down firmly to insert the needle fully in the bottle. Then tilt the bottle over your wine glass, press and release the trigger and dispense your wine.
The magic is once you pull the needle out of the bottle, the cork reseals as if you never had any wine from the bottle. You can put it right back in your wine rack (Coravin suggests on its side) for a future glass of wine, which will be just as good as the first glass of wine, whether you wait days, weeks or months.
This system is designed for wines with natural cork. It is not designed to work with plastic cork. Interestingly, you can use the Coravin with screw top wine bottles. Included with the system is a Coravin reusable screw top which you can use just like you had a cork inside your wine bottle. Simply unscrew the screw top and immediately replace it with the Coravin top (they say you should not pour wine from the bottle, until you’ve done this), then simply align the smart clamps, insert the needle just like you had a natural cork, pour, enjoy and remove to return anytime you want.
And that is the beauty of the Coravin Wine Preservation System. No longer do you have to drink a full bottle of wine for fear it won’t save well. Now you can have a glass of wine from a great bottle of wine and return anytime you want, be it a day, a week, a month or even a year or two later.
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Fry up tater tots, meats and other foods without oil using this BELLA Pro Series air fry combo unit. An integrated pressure cooker produces rapid results, and removable parts ensure cleanup is simple, even in the dishwasher. This BELLA Pro Series air fry combo unit has a host of preprogrammed settings, including slow-cooking, that let you cook an array of dishes conveniently.
Customer Rating
5
One Device Does It ALL!
on February 14, 2020
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
If you’re anything like us, you’ve amassed an arsenal of the newest must have kitchen gadgets over the last few years. We have the rice cooker, the slow cooker, the air fryer, the insta-thing cooker, just to name a few. I’m all for time saving kitchen innovation. But all this innovation has our cabinets overflowing with too many time saving kitchen gadgets. It’s overwhelming and it needed to stop. Enter the Bella Pro Series Air Fry Combo Unit. It’s a slow cooker. It’s an air fryer. It’s a rice cooker. It’s a pressure cooker. And it also roasts, steams, bakes, broils, saute’s, dehydrates, reheats and can even make yogurt, all rolled into one 6.5 qt stainless steel finished magical device. Now this puppy isn’t small or light weight. Coming in at nearly 22 lbs., and 15” x 17.7” x 16.7” it needs a deep shelf or cabinet to sit in. Fortunately for us, when you factor in all the appliances it can replace, finding a home for it in our kitchen was easy. Because of its size, we found using it on the kitchen island or stove top works best.
Ours arrived a few days ago and it was packaged nicely. Inside the box, you get a 6.5 qt nonstick pot with handles, a crisping basket, pressure cook plate, air fry plate, plate handle, reversible steam rack, recipe book, user manual and a quick start guide. There really isn’t much this puppy can’t do. With 1500 Watts of power, it can do its magic quickly and efficiently and thus far, everything we’ve cooked has come out perfect. We’ve cooked rice perfectly, enjoyed perfectly fried chicken thighs (see photo), broiled a couple steaks, just to name a few. There’s much for us to try, but based on our initial impressions, this is one fantastic device. Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty. Nice!
The Bella Pro Series Air Fry Combo, has digital controls which are laid out well and easy to use. It’s very intuitive and once you know the right temperature and cooking time (easily found in the supplied user manual) for the food you intend to cook, it’s easy to program. Everything your food touches is nonstick and dishwasher safe. We’ve found cleanup to be very simple.
Bella is part of Sensio Inc., from Montreal, Canada. Perhaps it’s not a name you’re familiar with YET, but with a product as cool, convenient, well built, which does as much as this thing does, it’s only a matter of time before Bella is in loads of American kitchens. I’m certainly glad one is in mine! Now what to do with all these, time saving kitchen gadgets we’re no longer going to use now that we have the Bells Pro Series Air Fry Combo?
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Get inspired with Solo Pro noise cancelling wireless headphones. To deliver sound how you want it, Solo Pro features two listening modes: Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency. Beats' Pure ANC gives you the space to create with fully immersive sound, while Transparency helps you stay aware of your surroundings. Every detail of Solo Pro has been carefully considered, right down to the intuitive way the headphones turn on and off via folding. The ergonomic design delivers exceptional comfort for extended wear and sleek style. And with up to 22 hours of battery life, you can keep the music going no matter where your day takes you. Solo Pro offers Class 1 Bluetooth for extended range and fewer dropouts.
Customer Rating
4
Beats - You've Made A Believer Of Me!
on December 6, 2019
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
I can’t believe I own a set of Beats headphones. More importantly, I can’t believe I’m loving them. Let me explain why. Until now, I was never impressed with Beats. To me, Beats headphones were more about making a statement with the “b” on each ear cup for people who don’t really care about great sound. That was until I listened to the new Beats Solo Pro. I’ve had mine now for a few days and have spent many hours listening to all genres of music. I can honestly say the Solo Pro is really really good!
These are most definitely not the Beats which were. These Beats go in a totally new direction and I’m honestly stunned at how much I’m enjoying them. Gone is the boomy, mushy rattle your head bass with little regard to mid and upper frequencies. Gone is glossy, cheap plastics. When Apple bought Beats a few years ago, Apple has been infusing Beats with higher and higher levels of quality, especially in terms of sound. And these Solo Pro are without question the best Beats headphones I’ve heard.
In typical Apple fashion, these come packaged superbly. Once you remove the outside plastic wrap on the box, you flip one side of the box down to fold all sides of the box flat in Apple-esque style to reveal the carrying case, with the headphones inside. There’s a hidden slide out tray with the Lightning to USB cable and a caribiner you can attach for extra’s if you need to carry additional accessories or attach them to your backpack.
My daily drivers have been a much more expensive pair of high-end Bluetooth, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), over-the ear headphones. Are the Solo Pro the equal of them? No, but they also cost less. and they sound really good. Beats has done a terrific job with the look and feel of the Solo Pro. They come in multiple colors from light to vivid blue, black, ivory, gray and like the pair I have, red. The design is modern and sleek looking. Beats is using high-quality plastics, which are matte finished and seemingly impervious to fingerprints. Behind the plastics are aluminum, which is anodized to compliment the color of the headphones and everything moves and slides with a feeling of long-lasting goodness. There is no power button on these puppies. To turn them on you unfold them on and you fold them back to turn them off. The ear cups are not leather but are certainly soft and didn’t make my ears sweat like some cheap pleather I’ve worn before. Underneath is memory foam which is soft and adjusts to the contours of your ears well.
My daily drivers have been a much more expensive pair of high-end Bluetooth, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), over-the ear headphones. Are the Solo Pro the equal of them? No, but they also cost less. and they sound really good. Beats has done a terrific job with the look and feel of the Solo Pro. They come in multiple colors from light to vivid blue, black, ivory, gray and like the pair I have, red. The design is modern and sleek looking. Beats is using high-quality plastics, which are matte finished and seemingly impervious to fingerprints. Behind the plastics are aluminum, which is anodized to compliment the color of the headphones and everything moves and slides with a feeling of long-lasting goodness. There is no power button on these puppies. To turn them on you unfold them on and you fold them back to turn them off. The ear cups are not leather but are certainly soft and didn’t make my ears sweat like some cheap pleather I’ve worn before. Underneath is memory foam which is soft and adjusts to the contours of your ears well.
For iPhone/iPad user like me, you’ll love how simple it is pair these headphones. Apple uses the H1 Chip in their new headphones. Once you unfold them to power them on, they instantly pop up on your iPhone screen (without having to go into Settings/Bluetooth) and you simply tap to connect. Going even further, if you have multiple iDevices, the headphones will now be paired with every device you have which uses the same Apple ID. With six devices under the same Apple ID, it’s a blessing to be honest. You can pair them to any device which accepts Bluetooth headphones. So, Android you’re not left out. Apple says they are Class 1 Bluetooth. Their range is beyond amazing. Many BT devices have a range of around 30 – 40 feet at most. Not these puppies. You can go way further from your paired device than I’ve gone with any BT headphone I’ve ever owned. I didn’t lose connection until I got at least 100 feet from my iPhone. There are no latency issues with videos either.
On the Apple side, there is no App for the Solo Pro. There is a Beats App available for Android for pairing and firmware updates. There are no EQ settings. You either like how they sound, or you don’t. Or you can download an EQ app, if you feel you need one. In my opinion good headphones shouldn’t need equalization to sound good. I don’t adjust EQ on my other headphones, even though I can. These are truly tap and play headphones!
Controls on the Solo Pro are physical, not touch. From personal experience with touch controls, the concept is better than reality. An unintended swipe can pause or change your music when you didn't want to. The Solo Pro controls are simple and intuitive. Press the center of the right ear cup once to pause your music. Tap it again to play. A double press skips to the next track or a triple press goes back to the previous track. Hold the top of the button to increase volume and hold the bottom to lower volume. Press and hold the center button to bring up the virtual assistant or if you're an Apple user simply say "Hey Siri." The only other control is on the left ear cup, where you can turn ANC and Transparency Mode on or off.
Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) in the Solo Pro is adaptive, meaning the headphones monitor outside sounds to apply the right amount of noise cancellation without negatively impacting your music. While noise cancelling is great in noisy environments, there are times you need to hear some of what’s going on around you. So the Solo Pro also includes Transparency Mode. With Transparency Mode, you’ve got noise cancellation, but you can also hear outside sounds. This is one area the Solo Pro outshines all my other headphones. Outside sounds don’t sound digital or altered. Some people place a huge amount of importance on ANC. I don’t buy headphones for ANC. I buy headphones for their sound quality and ANC is just a nice addition. To that end the ANC and Transparency Mode on the Solo Pro is all I could ever need and then some.
Let's talk comfort. No matter how good headphones sound, if they're not comfortable you won't enjoy them. I’ve read reviews where people said they are uncomfortable. One person complained they couldn't run with them. To think these would make good running headphones makes no sense to me. For running, choose a good pair of earbuds which lock in place, not an over the ear headphone which can bounce when you run. I found if you don't extend the ear cup arms far enough from their shortest length, they can be a little tight. But if you adjust them to extend lower on your ear, the comfort level increases significantly. It did for me and I wear glasses, which hasn't been an issue at all. Maybe Apple will offer these in an over the ear version at some point. Anyone considering these will just need to try them on at their Best Buy store to see how they feel on their head.
A final note about comfort: There is no "L" "R" markings on the ear cups. That doesn't mean it doesn't matter which way you wear them. It matters a lot. The right ear cup has the lightning charging port and physical controls for pause/play/volume/answer/track selection. Trust me, if you put them on backwards, they're most definitely not comfortable. It made me wonder if some people who thought they were uncomfortable, wore them backwards?
Sound trumps all when it comes to headphones. These aren’t the Beats of just a few years ago and was for me, the single biggest surprise. I commented earlier that bass doesn’t overwhelm and it doesn’t. But bass isn’t lacking either. If you play music with heavy bass, it’s powerful, with great oomph. It just doesn’t cover up what the rest of the music is doing and that’s why I think they’ve improved significantly. Symphonic music is full, with a great sound stage. Piano music resonates perfectly. Vocals sound smooth and natural. And the highest frequencies, such as cymbals, triangle or harpsichord are brilliant, without sounding shrill or harsh. Remarkably, turning on ANC didn’t diminish the sound stage, which often happens with headphones using noise cancelling circuitry. Call quality with the Solo Pro was terrific. I’ve made/answered several calls with them. I could hear them clearly and they could hear me clearly.
Battery life on the Solo Pro is great! You can get up to 22 hours of play on a single charge with ANC or Transparency on. If you don’t use ANC or Transparency, you can get up to 40 hours on a single charge. That’s FORTY HOURS!! And if you need to recharge on the go, you can plug in for 10 minutes (Fast Fuel) to get 3 hours of play time. It wasn’t long ago getting up to 6 hours was considered great for wireless headphones.
With all the praise, is there anything to criticize? Here are the few cons I can think of, which really don’t amount to anything significant:
1. The carrying case provided, while nice and soft is well, soft. I don’t like soft cases. I purchased a hard case to provide more protection during transport.
2. The Solo Pro doesn’t offer a wired connection. I you want or need one, you can buy an Apple lightning to 3.5 mm headphone plug for $35.
3. It’s disappointing to see Apple chose lighting to USB to charge these. It’s time (IMHO) for Apple to retire the Lighting connector. With Pro in their name, I would have expected USB C.
4. These don’t pause if you take them off your ears (you need to remember to tap the right ear cup once to pause them), which I find odd, given much less expensive headphones pause if removed.
5. For those who want to adjust EQ, you can’t since there’s no app provided. If you think you need one, there are options in both App Stores.
2. The Solo Pro doesn’t offer a wired connection. I you want or need one, you can buy an Apple lightning to 3.5 mm headphone plug for $35.
3. It’s disappointing to see Apple chose lighting to USB to charge these. It’s time (IMHO) for Apple to retire the Lighting connector. With Pro in their name, I would have expected USB C.
4. These don’t pause if you take them off your ears (you need to remember to tap the right ear cup once to pause them), which I find odd, given much less expensive headphones pause if removed.
5. For those who want to adjust EQ, you can’t since there’s no app provided. If you think you need one, there are options in both App Stores.
If this all I can come up with, it’s honestly trivial and in no way should stop you from giving serious consideration to the Solo Pro.
All in all, the new Beats Solo Pro, bring Beats forward many steps from the Beats from just a few years ago. They’re well-made, with premium feeling materials. They sound terrific, in fact far better than I expected. They’re for the most part comfortable and for $300 are a really great value. Beats, you made a believer of me and that’s not easy to do. Or maybe with quality and sound like this, it was.
Note: I took one star off for comfort and for not pausing when taken off your head. Otherwise, these are 5 star headphones.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+89points
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Enjoy the powerful, crisp sound of these Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones. The sheep leather headband and ear pads conform to the shape of your head, adding comfort for all-day use, and Bluetooth connectivity lets you stream music from various devices easily. These Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones have active noise cancellation that lets you block or listen in on external sounds.
Customer Rating
5
Simply The Best Sounding Bluetooth Headphones EVER
on October 27, 2019
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
After 3 full days using the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Bluetooth Headphones heavily, they are remarkably sublime. This is a long review and I apologize in advance. If you’re going to spend $400 for state-of-the-art Bluetooth headphones, I hope this helps you. This review covers; Design/Build Quality, Features/Comfort, Bluetooth/Codec, Smart Control App, Battery Life, Noise Cancellation and most importantly SOUND.
I’ve owned several high-end Bluetooth headphones. I much prefer over-the-ear design. I find them more comfortable, better sounding and way more immersive. For the last three years I’ve been using a pair of high-end Bluetooth headphones with noise cancellation. I thought they were really, good. That was until I got the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Headphones.
The headphones come nicely packaged and included in the box is a USB Cable with USB-C connectors and USB adapter for USB-C to USB-A if you don’t have USB-C capabilities. You get a proprietary analog audio cable with 3.5 mm jack which is about 1.5 meters long. Also included is a soft carry case and a quick start guide.
The first thing they suggest you do when you get them is to charge them fully. Then you download the Sennheiser Smart Control app for iOS or Android. The first time you open the headphones to turn them on they automatically go into pairing mode. If you have a device which supports NFC (Near Field Communication), the connection is automatic. If your device doesn’t support NFC, you simply go into Bluetooth settings on the device to pair them.
DESIGN/BUILD QUALITY
These headphones are retro-modern if there is such a word to describe them. The ear cups and headband are beautifully wrapped in supple and soft sheepskin leather (no fake PU leather on these puppies – no sir) attached to matte black metal. They are nicely padded and generously sized to fit just about any size ear. My ears don’t touch the inside of the ear cup, which is a first for any headphone I’ve ever owned. Adjusting the headphones to your head is accomplished by a simple, but elegant stainless-steel band you simply slide up and down. Many competitors to Sennheiser use a lot of plastics in their build. Many don’t offer leather either. The sum of all the parts of leather and steel in these Momentum’s looks and feels very high-quality, which should last for many years.
COMFORT/FEATURES:
These headphones are super comfortable. Wearing them for hours is great. They don’t put pressure on your ears or your head. The sheepskin ear cups are simply sublime in my opinion. Unlike fake leather, which can feel hot very quickly, these never felt even warm.
There is no power button on the headphones. To turn them on, you unfold them, and they instantly turn on. To turn them off, you fold them, and they instantly turn off. And when they turn on, there are voice prompts to let you know their status, such as “Power On,” “Power Off” or “Device Connected.” When you take the headphones off, they pause instantly. When you put them back on, play resumes.
All the controls are buttons on the right ear cup. My previous Bluetooth headphones were touch control. I’m so grateful these are not. If you’ve ever had touch-controlled headphones, it may seem cool at first. But just touching the controller on them often brings unwanted actions, like moving to the next song when you didn’t want to or pausing the music. Having real physical controls makes so much more sense and the layout simple, intuitive and very easy to use. You get a button to control ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) which includes three levels – Max Mode, Anti-Wind Mode, which lets in enough of the outside world when you may need it, and Anti Pressure Mode, which reduces pressure on ear and was actually my favorite mode. You can turn ANC completely off if you prefer. The other buttons are volume up/down, multi-function for music and calls and voice assistance buttons. There are separate microphones for ANC and for phone calls. Phone calls I made with the headphones were uniformly excellent. Callers were completely unaware I was using headphones – Nice!
BLUETOOTH/CODEC
The Momentum 3 headphones are Bluetooth 5.0. Bluetooth 5.0 is the newest Bluetooth standard and is very Low Energy (LE), meaning it won’t run your connected device battery down if your device is 5.0. The newest generation devices are 5.0, but if you don’t have a 5.0 device, no worries, your headphones will work just fine, as these are backward compatible.
In terms of connectivity, these headphones can be paired with up to 8 devices. Remarkably, they will pair automatically with the last two devices they were paired with at the same time. WOW! You can move seamlessly from, say your iPhone to your iPad, without having to unpair and pair again. If you connect to a 9th device, the least used device will be unpaired. Still, having the ability to pair with eight devices, two of which are simultaneous is astounding!
The Momentum’s come with the following Codecs: aptX, aptX LL, AAC, SBC. What difference does this make? These are the most advanced compression's for lossless audio streaming. aptX is not available on iPhone but is available on other makes. Apple uses AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and is the successor to MP3. Whether your device is aptX or AAC, it will simply sound better.
SMART CONTROL APP:
SMART CONTROL APP:
Go out to the App Store or Google Play Store and download The Smart Control App. It’s perhaps a too simple, but quite easy to use app. Once you’re in the app, you can control the equalizer (EQ) and Noise Cancellation. Adjusting EQ is too simplistic. You slide your finger around, which is easy, but doesn’t permit adjusting bass, mid and high frequencies separately. But since I personally found no adjustment was necessary at all, the app isn’t something I’ll use much, if at all. You can also turn on Transparent Hearing, which turns on the microphone if someone needs to get your attention.
These headphones also come with Tile App compatibility. Since I’m already using Tile, I can track the headphones if I misplace them. If you’re not a Tile user, you will need to download the Tile App and set up an account, which is free.
BATTERY LIFE:
Momentum claims the battery lasts 17 hours. That is not industry leading, but it’s not bad either. Competition in the same class offer better battery life of anywhere from 20 to 30 hours. The pair of headphones I’m replacing offered only six hours, so 17 hours is a big step up for me. But if your battery dies, you can plug the Momentum in with the supplied 3.5 mm cable. It takes about three hours to fully charge the battery.
NOISE CANCELLATION:
There are other headphones in this class which offer more noise cancellation. If your primary reason to buy headphones is to be completely isolated from the outside world, then these may not be the headphones for you. I buy headphones to listen to music. Noise cancellation for me is not the determining factor. To that end, the three options you get with Momentum 3 are more than enough for me and then some. Max offers the most isolation from outside sounds. Anti-Wind is best if you’re outside and need to be aware of your surroundings. And Anti Pressure for me was prefect.
SOUND:
This is what it’s all about. And that’s the magic of Sennheiser sound. Sennheiser is a German company, founded in 1945. They are ALL about sound and introduced the world’s first open headphones in 1968, forever changing the world of headphones. To me, sound trumps ALL when it comes to headphones. Design, build quality, features, etc., aside (which are all excellent), this is where the Momentum's shine brightest.
OMG - These puppies have bass. Deep bass. Full bass. Punchy bass. Well controlled bass. While these headphones are great for any musical genre, I’m mostly a classical music lover. When the organ In Camille Saint-Saens Organ Symphony is played, it is simply awe inducing. The same with the Canons in Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. It can rattle your head, but in a great way.
Vocals and instruments, such as guitar or piano are so natural sounding. Few headphones recreate the human voice naturally. I expected Sennheiser to get the human voice and instruments right and they did. To change it up, I listened to some songs from artists like Libera or Enya and everything was balanced and natural sounding. Another fun group, Caravan Palace, uses synthesizers and instruments and with the Momentum's, I heard things I’d never heard with other headphones.
Many headphones over emphasize treble. which can easily become harsh sounding and fatiguing. The best reference monitor speakers may sound flat in comparison initially but sound more natural and can be listened to for many more hours. This is the case with these Momentum’s which makes for being able to listen for hours without listener fatigue.
Is there anything I would change? Just a few things. It would have been more class leading if Sennheiser had put a bigger battery in for more than 17 hours of play. The included soft sided case won’t provide much protection, so I purchased a hard-shell case for more protection. The Smart Control App isn’t really all that smart. And finally, while you can see the battery percentage in the Smart Control app, I would have preferred to see battery percentage in the Battery Widget on my iPhone/iPad. The quick start guide isn’t very good, to be honest. Bu you can go out to Sennheiser.com and download the full user guide, which is much better. To be honest, if these are the only thing’s I can be critical of it’s pretty minor.
So, there you have it. For $399, these are the best headphones I’ve ever listened to. I like how they look. I like how they’re built. I like how they feel on my head. And I LOVE how they sound. It just doesn’t get better than this and I can't recommend them enough!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+71points
78of 85voted this as helpful.
Whip up wholesome smoothies, purees and dressings with this 1800W Philips Avance high-speed blender. It finely crushes hard ingredients such as nuts and seeds thanks to its ProBlend Extreme technology, and the noise reduction dome lets you work in the kitchen discreetly. Pull off various recipes with the five preset programs and variable-speed manual mode of this Philips Avance high-speed blender.
Customer Rating
5
Hands Down The Best Blender I've EVER Used
on August 14, 2019
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
OK, so I thought I knew what a good blender can do. I even have a modern blender with lots of features, and a high wattage motor. But much as I thought it was special, it can’t hold a candle to this Philips Avance Blender. Nor should it, to be honest. This isn’t your average priced blender. It’s an expensive luxury, but oh so fantastic if you use a blender a lot like we do.
I have a fruit smoothie every morning for breakfast, so having a blender that really blends well is important. And does this baby ever blend well. It simply makes the most incredibly smooth smoothie I’ve ever made at home. I chalk that up to the massively powerful 1800W motor and sharp stainless-steel blades.
The pitcher is very large at 69-oz capacity. And it’s made of impact resistant materials that are free of BPA and other you don’t want them to leach into your food compounds. All the removable parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
You get 10 speeds along with four pre-programmed modes for Smoothie, Frozen Dessert, Soup and Nuts. Also included is an easy to understand, nicely written user guide, along with a recipe booklet filled with easy to follow step-by-step recipes.
The look of the Avance Blender is modern and sleek. It will compliment any modern (or not so modern) kitchen. It’s finished in brushed stainless steel. The power button on the side turns it on. The round controller clicks through the 10 speeds with a solid and confidence inspiring click or you can choose the simpler method by just choosing one of the four pre-programmed modes.
You also get what they call a Noise Dome. It attaches to the base of the blender to muffle the sound when you blend. I actually had high hopes for this, as our cats aren’t particularly fond of the noise a blender makes. The Noise Dome sadly won’t work well for us. Installed on the blender, it won’t fit under the cabinets in our modern (built in 2016) kitchen. And to be honest, it’s not easy to put on or take off. Had Philips made the blender including the Noise Dome, just an inch shorter, we could install it and leave it. Since it doesn’t fit, we’d have to put it on for each use and take it off when done. The dome is now stored in a shelf in the panty as it’s pretty much useless to us. This is the only miss with this otherwise incredible blender. In all honesty however, the dome has nothing to do with how well the blender does its job. It does its job SUPERBLY.
While by no means inexpensive, we’re beyond pleased with the Philips Avance Blender. It’s solidly made and blends better than any blender we’ve ever used. Our experience with other Philips products has always been positive so this blender should last the test of time. With that, paying this much for something you might use daily which won’t likely ever need to be replaced is actually a smart investment.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Safeguard your home with this Arlo security camera system. Its 4K resolution provides maximum clarity so you don't miss a single detail, and a siren is integrated so you can fend off intruders either remotely or while at home. This Arlo security camera system is weather-resistant, so it's functional rain or shine.
Customer Rating
5
High Quality And Simple To Install/Setup
on June 9, 2019
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
I’m not handy. Really, I’m not. I’ve wanted a state-of-the-art security camera system for the longest time. But being completely born and graced with two thumbs, any system I might buy couldn’t require much drilling, much wiring or anything overly complex. Sure, I could hire a company to install a camera system, but that just adds another layer of cost and I didn’t want to have to spend even more money. Enter the Arlo 4K Ultra UHD Wire-Free Security Camera System. Let me assure you, even if you’re two thumbed like me or maybe even three thumbed, YOU CAN DO THIS! I say this with total confidence because I did do this.
So, let me spell this out for you. The Arlo comes packaged perfectly in a box with everything you need. You get the Arlo Utra UHD Camera, a charging cable for your wireless camera (including a USB charging brick), the base unit to connect to your home router via the included Ethernet cable, and the magnetic wall mount with the hardware to install it.
To install the rechargeable battery, push the button on the bottom side of the camera, which releases the camera from the camera housing. Install the battery by pushing it in and it will click into place. Plug the charging cable into the USB charging brick, then just tap the magnetic end into the underside of the camera housing to charge. It will blink blue a few times, then to check the battery status going forward, you check is using the Arlo App on your smart phone or tablet.
Next, download the Arlo App to your smart phone or tablet and plug the Ethernet cable into the base station and your Wifi Router. Create an account in the Arlo app, then the app takes you through the simple steps of connecting and setting everything up, including updating the firmware on the base station. You will be guided next to connect the camera and also update the firmware on the camera. In a matter of mere minutes, you’re all set up. Easy-Peasy, even for the two-thumbed among us!
Included with your purchase is Arlo’s one year of Smart Premier Service and rolling 30-day cloud recording for up to 10 cameras. Should you want Continuous Recording, you can buy an annual plan at additional charge.
Now all you have to do is decide where to install the magnetic wall mount. For me, the most complicated part of installing the camera is having a stucco house, so I had to use a masonry bit on my drill.
So how does it all work. Really Really GREAT. The Arlo camera is 180 degree – Panoramic view. It has a spotlight and dual microphones and a speaker built in as well. If someone shouldn’t be there, you can tell them they’re on camera and tell them to leave. You can also set up the app to use e911 at the touch of a button on your phone. Night vision with the Arlo is great. And it’s in color, not just black and white like many other camera systems. If that’s not impressive enough, the camera is 12x Zoom to boot!
The video quality is uniformly EXCELLENT. Set up couldn’t be easier. It looks great and works even better. All in all, this has to be about the easiest to install wireless security camera system you can get.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Protect your 11-inch iPad Pro from dings, dents and scratches with this Logitech slim folio case. The textured surface helps prevent slipping, while the rubberized feet provide solid traction and elevation for improved airflow. This Logitech slim folio case has a slender design, making storing and transporting simple, and the built-in stow holds and charges a 2nd-generation Apple Pencil.
Customer Rating
5
An Excellent Keyboard For iPad Pro From Logitech
on June 4, 2019
Posted by: RBrylawski
from Tampa, FL
When I say my odyssey through keyboard land for my iPad Pro 11 has been exhausting AND expensive, you simply have no idea. In all, I’ve purchased 4 other Bluetooth Keyboards. None of them met my needs, until that is, I got the Logitech Slim Folio for iPad Pro. This review may be long, but maybe it can help you avoid making the mistakes I’ve made.
The first keyboard I bought was one of the very first aftermarket keyboards for iPad Pro 11 available. There were so few available at the time. It was a folio style keyboard, but the keyboard attached to the folio by magnet, which promptly fell off to the floor. It did have some iOS Shortcut keys, but oddly missing was the key to bring up the onscreen keyboard, which is necessary if you want to insert emojis into text messages or text to speech. Fail
The next keyboard case wasn’t totally bad. It had the necessary iOS Shortcut keys and was backlit with a rainbow of colors. But there are times I want to use the iPad like a tablet and with this one you just couldn’t do that unless you removed the iPad from the case. Fail
Third was a 360-degree rotating keyboard, which at least would let you use the iPad in tablet mode. It too had the rainbow of backlit key options and the necessary iOS Shortcut keys. But it was too plasticky didn’t provide a very good typing experience. And the rotating hinge just feels like a break waiting to happen. Fail
The final one was from a big-name brand in Bluetooth keyboards. It wasn’t inexpensive. The typing experience was decent, but in terms of how it was finished, I don’t know what they were thinking. It had too many contrasting finishes. The keyboard was covered in a grey vinyl material and the backside was clad in a different color grey fabric. The case the iPad sits in was black plastic. The iPad could be released from the keyboard to use it in tablet mode, but it attached to the keyboard by a thin magnetic strip, which seemed flimsy and too easily broken. To use the keyboard in type mode, you had pull down another flap, making the whole thing unstable if used in your lap. It was returned for refund. Fail
Enter the Logitech Slim Folio for iPad Pro 11 or 12.9. This combines the best of Folio design with hard-shell design. Charge this puppy up with the USB C cable and power brick you got with your iPad Pro (Note: Logitech does not supply a cable in the box). Next place the iPad in the case, which is a bit challenging the first time. One of the advantages of the Logitech is how much protection it provides your iPad. But the top portion of the keyboard case covers the power and volume buttons and on the other side, it also covers the corner of the iPad. The top portions require that you flex them to get them to seat correctly. Of course, there’s really no reason to remove the iPad from the case, so once it’s on you’re done. And my iPad has a screen protector, which the case didn’t cause any issues with.
As soon as you place the iPad in the magnetic groove on the keyboard, the power light blinks white to let you know it’s ready to pair. Open the Settings App > Bluetooth on your iPad and the Logitech will appear below the list of devices already paired to the iPad. Tap the Logitech Keyboard on the screen and a box will open on your iPad with a 6-digit number. Enter the number on the keyboard and this is important as the dialog box DOES NOT tell you this, but you need to tap the enter key after you have typed the code for the keyboard to pair. Once you’re paired, you never have to do this again.
There is no power button on the keyboard. But not to worry, Logitech says it will stay charged for at least three months and it only turns on when you place the iPad in the magnetic groove on the keyboard. What’s unusual is, it’s ready to type the moment you place it there. And that’s because Logitech is using Bluetooth LE on this keyboard. Why is that good? With many Bluetooth Keyboards, when you first turn them on (even if they’ve been paired previously), it can take several seconds for the keyboard to be ready to type on. Not with the Logitech. Because of Bluetooth LE, the second it’s placed in the magnetic groove, you can immediately tart typing. And of course, when you take the iPad out of the magnetic groove, the keyboard is turned off to conserve battery life.
The Logitech Slim Folio lets you use your iPad in three modes. Type Mode, Sketch Mode and Read Mode. The latter two let you collapse the iPad on the keyboard to use the iPad as a tablet or read or draw if you have the Apple Pencil 2. Speaking of Apple Pencil. People lose them all the time. Most keyboards available for the new iPad Pro’s do permit Pencil Charging. But they don’t offer the unique and oh so convenient way to store the pencil when the case is closed as it does on the Logitech. There’s a vinyl flap which keeps the pencil in place when closed and there’s even a slot in the flap to store the pencil if you don’t want it to be attached to the iPad when you’re using it. Nice!
The keyboard is backlit. With one color. White. Three of the lesser keyboards I purchased had multiple colors. I guess that’s OK, if for some reason you haven’t lived until you’ve typed with keys backlit in Red, Green, Blue, Aqua, Yellow, White or Purple. I don’t happen to be one of those people. I just want to be able to see the keys when typing in low light and this keyboard provides three brightness levels, from low, medium and high. It does its job well, which is all I need.
In terms of iOS Shortcut keys, all the ones you could need are there. It includes the important key to bring up the Onscreen Keyboard as well as volume, backlit up/down, home, volume up/down/mute, play/pause/previous/next track, lock, search and one most don’t provide – Battery Check. Nice! Interestingly though, if you use the Battery Widget on your iPad, the Logitech Keyboard will NOT appear in the battery list. This is an omission Logitech should reconsider. I personally like knowing the exact percentage of charge remaining.
The whole reason for buying a Bluetooth Keyboard is to type on it. So, what’s the typing experience like on the Logitech? This puppy has excellent tactile feel. Keystroke is short and feels uniformly excellent. This isn’t surprising since Logitech has been making Bluetooth Keyboards for a LONG time. They are a Swiss company, who has been making PC peripherals, since 1981. They make Mice, Smart Home controls, Speakers, Security Cameras, Video equipment and Keyboards. They’ve clearly learned a thing or two about making great keyboards along the way. The keys click with a nice sound. They feel like you’re typing on a real laptop. Far better than the cheap keyboards I purchased. It won’t take you any time at all to really appreciate the quality and comfortable typing experience you’ll get with the Slim Folio. If you type a lot, you’ll really appreciate how great the keyboard itself is.
So is there anything I don’t like. Yes. But nothing major. For one, if you do lay the iPad flat to draw on, it’s not actually flat, which isn’t necessarily bad. It’s at an angle. But since it’s sitting on the vinyl back flap, if you draw towards the sides of the iPad, it’s not as stable as you might like. As mentioned earlier, there’s only one angle you can use to type on the keyboard with your iPad. If you need the ability to adjust your screen in more than one angle you won’t get that with the Logitech. And I don’t understand why Logitech felt it necessary to put plastic covers over the volume and power buttons. They aren’t necessary IMHO, and it requires more pressure to adjust the volume or turn on the iPad. Finally, the Logitech is called the “Slim Folio.” That’s somewhat of a misnomer. It’s definitely NOT slim. They should have just called this the Logitech Folio Pro.
Finally, while the packaging your keyboard arrives in is excellent as you’d expect from a company like Logitech. There is no real user guide. There’s a small paper pamphlet with how to place the iPad in the case, which also provides the address to Logitech.com for the online user guide. Until I went there, I couldn’t get the iPad to pair because I didn’t know you needed to tap the enter key after typing the 6-digit code. Logitech should at least have included a quick start guide to get you up and running. Still, if this is all I can complain about, it’s very minor. Very minor indeed.
Honestly, there’s a reason cheap keyboards aren’t satisfying. You get what you pay for. At $119.99 for the Logitech, you get a far better keyboard, with many more features, more flexibility, better protection and a great typing experience, all for less money than the iPad manufacturer’s much more expensive Smart Folio keyboard. The Logitech Slim Folio is a very good keyboard case. Yes, very good indeed!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+43points
47of 51voted this as helpful.
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Jabra Elite 85t true wireless earbuds have been engineered for a calls and music experience like never before, with fully adjustable Jabra advanced Active Noise Cancellation™, 12mm speakers for big sound, up to 25 hours of battery (ANC on), and 6-mic technology with wind protection for amazing calls. And because it’s Jabra tech, it’s all crammed into a really tiny body. Because ANC doesn’t only stand for Active Noise Cancellation… Jabra Elite 85t: Accept No Compromise.
Does the semi-open buds stop occlusion?
YES. Not only are they more comfortable for lengthy listening sessions AND occlusion is a thing of the past. You don't hear your footsteps when you walk and you don't sound like you're in a tunnel when you talk.
3 years, 5 months ago
by
RBrylawski
Listen to your TV or music wirelessly without disturbing others.
Do these headphones come with a fiber optic cable
No, if you want to connect them via digital optical cable, you'll have to buy one. I bought one, but couldn't get them to work via the optical cable, so I used the RCA to headphone jack, which worked just fine.
5 years, 5 months ago
by
RBrylawski
Listen to your TV or music wirelessly without disturbing others.
Do I need to buy something to hook it up with my tv .?
If your TV has a headphone jack you don't need to buy anything to hook them up.
5 years, 5 months ago
by
RBrylawski
Master the art of the perfect latte or cappuccino with this DeLonghi Nespresso Lattisma espresso maker. This multifunctional unit brews your coffee and prepares the milk for a great cup of coffee every time. The built-in milk jug holds just the right amount of milk, eliminating waste, while an automatic shut off feature that will turn the machine off for safety. This DeLonghi Nespresso Lattisma espresso maker is compact, leaving counter spaces clear.
Can you get just hot water from this machine?
Yes you can just get hot water from the machine. But, if you want a lot of hot water, you'll have to hit the brew button several times to keep pumping out hot water to the quantity you want.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
RBrylawski
Transform your iPad into the ultimate viewing experience with the Versavu from Targus. With 360 degree rotating axis and soft-touch liner, no other competitor offers you more. Take this case everywhere you go and know that your iPad is completely protected. This product boasts a stain-resistant padded exterior that wipes clean with water, along with a lining made from soft-touch material. The Versavu is perfect for either at work or while you travel. Type, watch, browse or chat, as this stand features a patent-pending rotating design that allows you to view in either portrait or landscape angles. Be proud of your branding and style with the brightly colored cover which frames the Apple logo. No one will mistake what tablet you are carrying and Targus allows you to take it there.
Will it fit original ipad
Yes, original iPad supports Airprint and this printer is Airprint enabled, so it should work just fine.
10 years, 5 months ago
by
RBrylawski
Tampa, FL