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- Review count38
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- First reviewApril 20, 2010
- Last reviewJune 10, 2018
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- Average rating4.8
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Clean your carpets efficiently with this iRobot Roomba vacuum. It lets you set a schedule for automated vacuuming, and the sensors help it navigate under furniture and around objects on the floor for a more thorough cleaning job. This iRobot Roomba vacuum has internal brushes, agitators and suction to handle debris and pet hair.
Customer Rating
5
Nice to come home to a clean carpet daily
on July 30, 2017
Posted by: RonM
I've always been interested in the Roomba vacuum but not quite enough to be an early adopter. Now that they've been on the market for awhile, I figured that they would be more refined and that it was time to add one to the household. For those not familiar, the Roomba is a vacuum that runs itself although of course you have to empty the bin and clean the brushes regularly.
The Roomba 690 is apparently based on the 650 but adds Wi-Fi support. This allows you to manage the Roomba using their iRobot HOME app. The app makes it easy to start/stop a clean cycle and to manage the daily schedule. The schedule lets you set one time per day to have the Roomba automatically start cleaning. The app works whether at home connected to the same network, or out on a different network.
The Roomba itself is supposed to have a runtime of over an hour. I've noticed that the scheduled clean cycle runs about an hour and almost every time it still has enough power to make its way back to the dock for charging. (Occasionally it doesn't, and I've had to bring it back myself.)
The Roomba is definitely best suited for "maintenance" and not deep clean. I hadn't vacuumed in a week and the first few times the Roomba ran, the bin was full and the carpet still didn't seem as clean. However, after a few more times, the carpet now feels and looks clean. It is really nice coming home from work to a noticeably clean carpet.
Care and maintenance is easy enough, which is appreciated.
From what I understand, the main different between this model and the higher-end models is that the higher-end models actually map out the floor plan(s) to ensure full coverage. That does seem like a nice feature, because the 690 sometimes seems to spend more time in areas that don't need a lot of vacuuming but are a little awkward to maneuver into and out of.
A "Virtual Wall Barrier" is included, which can be used to either keep the Roomba from hitting a specific area, or crossing an invisible line. I've used that to help with the areas that are hard to maneuver into and out of, with success.
Bottom line, the Roomba does great for regular maintenance vacuuming. If you have a large home and/or want to ensure full coverage, the higher-end models may be worth spending the extra money, but you won't go wrong with this model.
The Roomba 690 is apparently based on the 650 but adds Wi-Fi support. This allows you to manage the Roomba using their iRobot HOME app. The app makes it easy to start/stop a clean cycle and to manage the daily schedule. The schedule lets you set one time per day to have the Roomba automatically start cleaning. The app works whether at home connected to the same network, or out on a different network.
The Roomba itself is supposed to have a runtime of over an hour. I've noticed that the scheduled clean cycle runs about an hour and almost every time it still has enough power to make its way back to the dock for charging. (Occasionally it doesn't, and I've had to bring it back myself.)
The Roomba is definitely best suited for "maintenance" and not deep clean. I hadn't vacuumed in a week and the first few times the Roomba ran, the bin was full and the carpet still didn't seem as clean. However, after a few more times, the carpet now feels and looks clean. It is really nice coming home from work to a noticeably clean carpet.
Care and maintenance is easy enough, which is appreciated.
From what I understand, the main different between this model and the higher-end models is that the higher-end models actually map out the floor plan(s) to ensure full coverage. That does seem like a nice feature, because the 690 sometimes seems to spend more time in areas that don't need a lot of vacuuming but are a little awkward to maneuver into and out of.
A "Virtual Wall Barrier" is included, which can be used to either keep the Roomba from hitting a specific area, or crossing an invisible line. I've used that to help with the areas that are hard to maneuver into and out of, with success.
Bottom line, the Roomba does great for regular maintenance vacuuming. If you have a large home and/or want to ensure full coverage, the higher-end models may be worth spending the extra money, but you won't go wrong with this model.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Adjust lighting levels easily with this universal Belkin Wemo Wi-Fi smart dimmer switch. It lets you schedule operations and set timer rules via the Wemo app, and it works with any dimmable LED, CFL or incandescent light bulb. This universal Belkin Wemo Wi-Fi smart dimmer switch is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control, and requires no hub for easy installation.
Customer Rating
5
Great smart light switch that delivers
on June 13, 2017
Posted by: RonM
I've been interested in home automation for some time now but have been hesitant to jump all-in with any one particular brand. So currently that means that I have a patchwork of devices of different brands, with multiple apps, and supported by various combinations of Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. (And yes, I have all three.)
I have a number of Belkin products, but this is the first Wemo product. From an installation perspective, it seemed very similar to a different brand's smart light switch.
The overall design and fit and finish of the Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer seems just _that_ much nicer than my other (non-dimming) smart switch.
The overall design and fit and finish of the Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer seems just _that_ much nicer than my other (non-dimming) smart switch.
The WeMo app worked as I expected, providing all the control I would expect.
Like other smart light switches, remote control is available, plus the ability to have it work on a schedule.
The new feature that the Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer brings to the table of course is the ability to have more control from a dimming perspective than a non-dimming smart switch. I had no issues with this functionality and really appreciate it to the point that I'm considering converting more bulbs.
Like other smart light switches, remote control is available, plus the ability to have it work on a schedule.
The new feature that the Wemo Wi-Fi Smart Dimmer brings to the table of course is the ability to have more control from a dimming perspective than a non-dimming smart switch. I had no issues with this functionality and really appreciate it to the point that I'm considering converting more bulbs.
I do wish it would work with lights that are connected to a three-way switch, but so far that seems to be a limitation for all smart light switches on the market.
If you're looking to automate and either have dimming or can install dimming, I think this is the way to go.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your tunes anywhere with this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker. This floating waterproof device is submersible in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, and it deflects damage from snow, ice and dirt. Pair this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker with up to eight Bluetooth devices, and use the included dry box for storing keys and cards.
Customer Rating
4
Interesting Bluetooth speaker in a crowded field
on June 13, 2017
Posted by: RonM
It seems like every week, there's a new Bluetooth speaker on the market to choose from. I own a number of them and to be honest, I haven't run into any that were _terrible_ but they do tend to have different features to try to stand out in the crowd.
The Lifeproof Aquaphonics line of Bluetooth speakers seems to be a new entry that banks on Lifeproof's reputation. While I've owned and had decent experiences with a few Lifeproof cases in the past, ironically one of the worst things I noticed was a decrease in phone audio quality, especially on speakerphone.
Does this carry over to the Aquaphonics line? Thankfully, it does not appear to do so.
But before getting into the subjective side of things, let's talk about specifics.
The AQ10 seems to consist of a plastic build, although it has a decent heft to it so as not to feel cheaply made. It has a light gray color scheme with bright green accents, which seems to be a popular combination for "outdoor/active" gear. For charging, it forgoes the typical microUSB found on most and instead relies on a 12V 2A charger with a barrel-type connector. I really wish they hadn't done that, as it's yet another separate power supply to keep track of.
The AQ10 can also act as a USB power bank with a USB A port, but it can only supply power to that port while the speaker is not in use. Plus, that port seems to max out at 500ma, which results in slower charging than the typical 1A (or higher) power banks.
The AQ10 is also advertised as having a small dry storage area, but it really is small. It's smaller than an iPhone 5, so I realistically don't see myself putting much in here except maybe some cash and/or room keys.
When paired with an iPhone, it does support iOS battery level reporting, which is nice. The buttons also are fairly tactile with a rubber covering, which lights up when your fingers get close. Besides the charging connector and the USB port, there is an aux-in jack which thankfully uses a standard 3.5mm connector.
The AQ10 seems to consist of a plastic build, although it has a decent heft to it so as not to feel cheaply made. It has a light gray color scheme with bright green accents, which seems to be a popular combination for "outdoor/active" gear. For charging, it forgoes the typical microUSB found on most and instead relies on a 12V 2A charger with a barrel-type connector. I really wish they hadn't done that, as it's yet another separate power supply to keep track of.
The AQ10 can also act as a USB power bank with a USB A port, but it can only supply power to that port while the speaker is not in use. Plus, that port seems to max out at 500ma, which results in slower charging than the typical 1A (or higher) power banks.
The AQ10 is also advertised as having a small dry storage area, but it really is small. It's smaller than an iPhone 5, so I realistically don't see myself putting much in here except maybe some cash and/or room keys.
When paired with an iPhone, it does support iOS battery level reporting, which is nice. The buttons also are fairly tactile with a rubber covering, which lights up when your fingers get close. Besides the charging connector and the USB port, there is an aux-in jack which thankfully uses a standard 3.5mm connector.
With that, how does it sound? Again, this is pretty subjective but when I first connected it and compared it to some other Bluetooth speakers I have that are similar in price, I was underwhelmed, to be honest. The overall sound didn't sound full range, with bass response being on the lighter side. However, the more I used it and experimented with different locations, I actually started to like the overall sound output because it seemed to fill the room/area to a good level, without getting distorted or overly bright on the high end. I also became more accustomed to the bass response; again, it's not as pronounced but it still sounds good.
I didn't specifically test any of the "proofs" in terms of water, sand, snow, but based on their reputation I feel confident that it will stand up to a reasonable amount of exposure.
$199 is the asking price for the AQ10, which seems to be banking on their brand name. If you're shopping for something in that price range, I would recommend trying one out in addition to the competition to see if its sound matches up with what you like.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Deep clean your carpets with this practical Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum, which comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head for great results on a range of floors. With a generous 30-foot cord length, this unit easily travels through large rooms and up stairs. The Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum’s HEPA filtration system makes it ideal for commercial or residential use.
Customer Rating
5
Another work of art
on April 8, 2017
Posted by: RonM
My main impression and experience with Dyson products is that they take appliances that we take for granted and either put a new spin on them or combine great performance with an appearance that goes above and beyond. My impression of the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 does not change this for me. Apparently this is the second/newer model/version of their Multi Floor bagless vacuum, although I'm not aware what the difference is between the two. What I did notice is that this is an elegantly styled vacuum that does a great job of vacuuming our home. It has an auto-leveling system so you don't have to adjust the height based on the thickness or pile of your carpet. It has a very generous length cord, which I greatly appreciate. Because it is bagless, there are no bags to replace although you do need to clean the filters regularly. Like most bagless vacuums, the canister should be emptied frequently in order to get the most performance from the vacuum. Due to the "Ball" design, it can be maneuvered quite easily and can even get into some low clearance areas I wouldn't expect it to. There are many attachments included which help with vacuuming either up high or for those crevices you can't get to normally. Overall, it seems to be constructed of heavy duty plastic, which keeps the weight down. Even so, the plastic is painted/accented in a way to convey more of a metallic appearance. Most important of all, the Dyson seems to do a great job of vacuuming both carpet and floor and the 5-year warranty should help towards piece of mind.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
5
Now this is wireless networking!
on January 18, 2017
Posted by: RonM
The Linksys Velop is Linksys' first entry in the mesh networking segment. Technically it is not their first Whole Home solution; they actually advertised their top-of-the-line EA9500 router + RE7000 extender as such which is not unlike some of the "mesh networking" offerings also available.
The Velop is what most people think of though when it comes to mesh networking. In this case, there are three identical units, that communicate with each other. Each unit provides simultaneous dual-band connectivity to clients, while utilizing a third band for mesh connectivity. This promises "full" speed connectivity to clients. Each unit also has two Ethernet ports; the unit connected to the Internet source of course loses one port for that connection, but all other ports can be used to provide wired connectivity.
The Velop is intended to be simple/straightforward to configure and the first sign of this appears during system setup. You pick any of the units and plug it in, then you must use the Linksys mobile app (for iOS and Android) to connect to the unit and configure. There is no web interface for configuring via a computer (technically, there is a web interface but it just directs you to install and use the app). The initial setup takes a few minutes while it "adapts" it self to your Internet source/provider, performs updates, and customization of things like the SSID and password. Once that's done, you repeat a shorter process for any other units you want to add. (You can add units at any time; you don't have to set up all units at once.)
Most importantly though, how does it work? My environment is a single-story home just under 2000 sq.ft. With a first-generation 802.11ac router centrally located, coverage was sufficient throughout the home although speeds did drop considerably in the far corners, especially if the straight-line path traversed exterior walls, sometimes making 5 GHz unusable (2.4 GHz was fine, of course). With one of the latest 802.11ac MU-MIMO routers, 5 GHz was now usable but still topped out no more than 60% of the maximum downstream speeds.
With the Velop, I am able to get full speeds throughout with 140+Mbps downstream anywhere in the home. Now that's what I've always wanted/expected when it came to Wi-Fi, and I no longer regret not having Ethernet drops all over.
With that said, I would prefer to have more precise control of the system. As it is, the mobile app is the only way to interact and you can't change things such as the wireless channels being used. I'm not sure if it is a conscious decision (let the system make the best choice) or something that will be added in a later update.
But truth be told, the wireless system delivers what I think most buyers want: fast, reliable wireless access with a straightforward setup. Additional units can be added at any time as well.
The Velop is what most people think of though when it comes to mesh networking. In this case, there are three identical units, that communicate with each other. Each unit provides simultaneous dual-band connectivity to clients, while utilizing a third band for mesh connectivity. This promises "full" speed connectivity to clients. Each unit also has two Ethernet ports; the unit connected to the Internet source of course loses one port for that connection, but all other ports can be used to provide wired connectivity.
The Velop is intended to be simple/straightforward to configure and the first sign of this appears during system setup. You pick any of the units and plug it in, then you must use the Linksys mobile app (for iOS and Android) to connect to the unit and configure. There is no web interface for configuring via a computer (technically, there is a web interface but it just directs you to install and use the app). The initial setup takes a few minutes while it "adapts" it self to your Internet source/provider, performs updates, and customization of things like the SSID and password. Once that's done, you repeat a shorter process for any other units you want to add. (You can add units at any time; you don't have to set up all units at once.)
Most importantly though, how does it work? My environment is a single-story home just under 2000 sq.ft. With a first-generation 802.11ac router centrally located, coverage was sufficient throughout the home although speeds did drop considerably in the far corners, especially if the straight-line path traversed exterior walls, sometimes making 5 GHz unusable (2.4 GHz was fine, of course). With one of the latest 802.11ac MU-MIMO routers, 5 GHz was now usable but still topped out no more than 60% of the maximum downstream speeds.
With the Velop, I am able to get full speeds throughout with 140+Mbps downstream anywhere in the home. Now that's what I've always wanted/expected when it came to Wi-Fi, and I no longer regret not having Ethernet drops all over.
With that said, I would prefer to have more precise control of the system. As it is, the mobile app is the only way to interact and you can't change things such as the wireless channels being used. I'm not sure if it is a conscious decision (let the system make the best choice) or something that will be added in a later update.
But truth be told, the wireless system delivers what I think most buyers want: fast, reliable wireless access with a straightforward setup. Additional units can be added at any time as well.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
Customer Rating
5
Makes coffee brewing fun and rewarding
on January 18, 2017
Posted by: RonM
The Ninja Coffee Bar System claims to be more than a coffeemaker. I'll admit that while we had a "gourmet" coffeemaker years ago, we've been drinking K-Cups for some time now because of the convenience.
The Ninja Coffee Bar System has us re-thinking that. What Ninja has done is put together a versatile coffeemaking system that seems to do everything right. First, it has a water reservoir that it draws from, based on drink sizes you specify each time. Second, it has multiple brew settings that really do make a noticeable difference taste-wise. Third, it has a frother that is not steam-based so you can froth both hot and cold.
Add to that little touches such as a drip stopper, a platform to hold mugs closer, an included permanent brew filter, and we find coffee making actually fun and rewarding.
Hopefully it will continue working faithfully for years to come, but the 3-year warranty does inspire confidence.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Revive your Apple Watch conveniently with this Belkin Valet Charger power pack. A single charge of its 6700 mAh battery refuels a watch up to eight times, and an embedded smart chip detects connected devices for automatic wireless charging. This Belkin Valet Charger power pack includes a USB port for simultaneously charging additional devices.
Customer Rating
4
Great 2-in-1 battery pack
on December 26, 2016
Posted by: RonM
I have the Apple Watch Sport (1st generation) aka a Series 0 Apple Watch. For me, it easily lasts a full day but if I forget to charge it at night, it doesn't quite make it through day 2. At least, that _was_ the case until the Pokemon GO watch app was released. Now that I use that app to track "workouts" I am always running my Apple Watch battery down by mid-day. I already use a dock-style charger to charge my watch overnight, so I could take my original charging cable and plug it into a charger or battery pack, but instead Belkin's new Valet Charger Power Pack ends up being a more elegant solution.
This is basically a 6700 mAh battery pack with an integrated magnetic charger for all Apple Watch models. Like most rechargeable battery backs in general, it uses microUSB to charge, comes with a cable but no charger. It does, however, draw up to 2.4A when charging to speed up that process. It has a four LED display to roughly show the current charge capacity. It also has a USB port for charging a second device at the same time, although the max output is 1A.
As you would expect for Belkin, it is MFi certified so it should continue to work going forward after software and hardware updates.
Overall, I like the size and the elegance of the design, although at $99.99 the price is really up there. You would think at that price point they would also include a nice Lightning cable and a charger. Also, it would have been nice for the USB port to supply up to 2.1A or 2.4A of current since the iPhone 6 and newer can draw more than 1A. Still, it could be worth the price and convenience to be able to quickly slip off the Apple Watch, put it on the pack, and then slip it in your pocket.
This is basically a 6700 mAh battery pack with an integrated magnetic charger for all Apple Watch models. Like most rechargeable battery backs in general, it uses microUSB to charge, comes with a cable but no charger. It does, however, draw up to 2.4A when charging to speed up that process. It has a four LED display to roughly show the current charge capacity. It also has a USB port for charging a second device at the same time, although the max output is 1A.
As you would expect for Belkin, it is MFi certified so it should continue to work going forward after software and hardware updates.
Overall, I like the size and the elegance of the design, although at $99.99 the price is really up there. You would think at that price point they would also include a nice Lightning cable and a charger. Also, it would have been nice for the USB port to supply up to 2.1A or 2.4A of current since the iPhone 6 and newer can draw more than 1A. Still, it could be worth the price and convenience to be able to quickly slip off the Apple Watch, put it on the pack, and then slip it in your pocket.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
Customer Rating
5
Effective way to increase coverage/speed
on December 21, 2016
Posted by: RonM
In my experience, wireless extenders or repeaters have generally been one of the last options for trying to improve Wi-Fi coverage. Whether it is a power-line based extender or a wireless extender, there are always compromises.
The Linksys RE7000 is a dual band wireless extender that can operate as a wired extender (using the Gigabit Ethernet port) or more commonly as a wireless extender. Because it is dual band, it can extend 2.4 Ghz, 5 Ghz, or both. Setup is all done via web browser and very straightforward, simply requiring you to input the password(s) for the wireless networks it sees that you want to extend. You have the flexibility to keep everything the same for seamless roaming between the main router/access point and the extender, or you can use discrete settings if you want more control.
In practice, you need to locate the extender at a point where the current existing signal is still decent, so that it can then repeat it out towards the weak coverage area. There is a built-in Spot Finder feature that helps with doing so. When done properly, I definitely saw an increase in Wi-Fi coverage and speed. A room with existing coverage but lower speeds saw noticeably higher speeds. Further out where there was no existing coverage, there was now coverage.
The extender's cross band feature leverages both bands (if you have a dual band wireless network) to balance out communication between the router and extender, and the extender to device, which definitely helps with speeds. The only improvement I would like to see would be the ability to set the specific Wi-Fi channels used by the extender, as it seems to use the same channels as the source network.
I did not test it as a wired extender, but would expect it to work just as well if you are able to connect it via Ethernet.
The Linksys RE7000 is a dual band wireless extender that can operate as a wired extender (using the Gigabit Ethernet port) or more commonly as a wireless extender. Because it is dual band, it can extend 2.4 Ghz, 5 Ghz, or both. Setup is all done via web browser and very straightforward, simply requiring you to input the password(s) for the wireless networks it sees that you want to extend. You have the flexibility to keep everything the same for seamless roaming between the main router/access point and the extender, or you can use discrete settings if you want more control.
In practice, you need to locate the extender at a point where the current existing signal is still decent, so that it can then repeat it out towards the weak coverage area. There is a built-in Spot Finder feature that helps with doing so. When done properly, I definitely saw an increase in Wi-Fi coverage and speed. A room with existing coverage but lower speeds saw noticeably higher speeds. Further out where there was no existing coverage, there was now coverage.
The extender's cross band feature leverages both bands (if you have a dual band wireless network) to balance out communication between the router and extender, and the extender to device, which definitely helps with speeds. The only improvement I would like to see would be the ability to set the specific Wi-Fi channels used by the extender, as it seems to use the same channels as the source network.
I did not test it as a wired extender, but would expect it to work just as well if you are able to connect it via Ethernet.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect your external wireless devices to the internet with this Linksys dual-band router. Two 5Ghz bands support both high-end gaming and low-end applications without compromising speed, and remote management lets you make adjustments from any location. This Linksys dual-band router has a sleek design that integrates easily into most workspaces.
Customer Rating
5
Noticeable upgrade from AC1750-class router
on December 21, 2016
Posted by: RonM
As somewhat of an early adopter, I find it common that each "bigger and better" product tends to be more incremental improvements, with only major improvements every now and then. I replaced an existing AC1750-class router that generally worked well in a 2100 sqft two-story house with the Linksys WRT3200ACM and was expecting more of an incremental improvement. I was surprised to find that both the 2.4 and 5 GHz coverage was noticeably stronger and farther. It had also been quite some time since I had worked with a Linksys admin interface and I was very happy with what I found. Besides the web admin interface which exposed all the controls I was looking for, there is a companion mobile app that also provides quick heads-up information on most items that one cares about. The mobile app is cloud integrated as well, so that information is available even when not connected to the router's network directly.
From a hardware perspective, there are multiple Gigabit Ethernet ports and USB/eSATA ports, which makes media and print sharing easier, although I did not test those features out already having a network-connected printer and file server.
The big bonus for this router is its touted support for DD-WRT open source firmware. This should allow for continued firmware updates in the future from the community, often with features not available in the "stock/original" firmware.
This router sells for roughly the same price I paid for my AC1750-class router a few years ago and I highly recommend it whether it's your first 802.11ac router or if upgrading from something like an AC1750 (or lower) class router, simply for the enhanced coverage and solid performance.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
Customer Rating
5
It. Just. Works. (That's a good thing!)
on November 6, 2016
Posted by: RonM
I've owned and used many smartphones over a decade now and like cars there is no single perfect choice for everyone's needs. That still holds true even today, but when choosing a smartphone one of the first decisions is to decide on whether to go with an iOS or an Android device. Choosing the latter greatly increases the number of actual devices to choose from, but no matter what you choose I've found that there are always compromises.
With that said, I've been using the Google Pixel with Verizon service for just over two weeks now. It has a very familiar appearance overall and a 5 inch screen. Unlike most Android devices with that screen size, it still has flagship specs. But most important of all, it is still as responsive today as it was on day one. That is something I have not been able to say about any other Android device I've had, flagship or otherwise. They all are responsive on day one, but even the best ones do not have the "appliance-like response" that the Google Pixel does. Similar to iOS devices, when you tap something, it responds no matter what, in my experience. This goes a long way towards avoiding getting annoyed by the device.
Feature-wise, it does not have any annoying omissions. Yes, it does not have wireless charging but in practice I've found it is a nice-to-have at best, with finicky and/or slow charging being a norm. It has an IP53 rating which helps with dust and water resistance; not as good as other devices but even those with better ratings are still not covered under warranty if damaged by water. It only has a single down-firing speaker but it is of good fidelity and overall volume. It has a very good camera and with unlimited cloud storage the lack of expandable storage is mitigated.
Most importantly however, for me it is the first Android-based phone that just works, any time and all the time.
With that said, I've been using the Google Pixel with Verizon service for just over two weeks now. It has a very familiar appearance overall and a 5 inch screen. Unlike most Android devices with that screen size, it still has flagship specs. But most important of all, it is still as responsive today as it was on day one. That is something I have not been able to say about any other Android device I've had, flagship or otherwise. They all are responsive on day one, but even the best ones do not have the "appliance-like response" that the Google Pixel does. Similar to iOS devices, when you tap something, it responds no matter what, in my experience. This goes a long way towards avoiding getting annoyed by the device.
Feature-wise, it does not have any annoying omissions. Yes, it does not have wireless charging but in practice I've found it is a nice-to-have at best, with finicky and/or slow charging being a norm. It has an IP53 rating which helps with dust and water resistance; not as good as other devices but even those with better ratings are still not covered under warranty if damaged by water. It only has a single down-firing speaker but it is of good fidelity and overall volume. It has a very good camera and with unlimited cloud storage the lack of expandable storage is mitigated.
Most importantly however, for me it is the first Android-based phone that just works, any time and all the time.
My Best Buy number: 0312783059
I would recommend this to a friend!
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