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- Review count88
- Helpfulness votes217
- First reviewJune 3, 2015
- Last reviewApril 25, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
- Review comment count4
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentJune 14, 2015
- Last review commentNovember 19, 2015
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- Answer count10
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- First answerJune 14, 2015
- Last answerApril 19, 2021
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Wyze Floodlight cam is the ultimate Home Security device with PIR Sensor, color night vision camera, and extra-bright Lumens to stop any person, or critter in their tracks. Wyze continues to offer smart home security at an affordable option and our floodlight delivers just that. Get additional safety features with an optional cam plus subscription.
Posted by: Jack
The Wyze Cam v3 needs no introduction - it’s considered one of the best value indoor/outdoor cameras with a bunch of useful features. And that sits at the heart of the Wyze Wired Floodlight. The name is confusing (saying both “wired” and “Wi-Fi”), but in essence it means the floodlight itself is powered by wires, while the camera works over Wi-Fi.
The unit is typical “Wyze-like” i.e. all plastic build, but well made. The floodlight can be adjusted to focus light, and the camera can be moved to some degree for needed coverage. The PIR sensor however gave me some limitations, as Wyze suggests keeping it at a level for optimum detection.
Installation is easy for anyone comfortable to work with electric wires (of course when the circuit is turned off). All the needed mounting hardware came with it, and since I already had an exterior electrical junction box, I had to do minimal work. It replaced my years old, “non-smart” floodlight with no fuss. Wyze provides a useful hook to keep the floodlight attached while I was connecting/splicing the electrical wires. One advice I’d like to give is to check that both the camera and the floodlight can be powered on and are fully operational before screwing the unit. I had an issue with the camera cable which required taking out the unit multiple times, so thing would have turned tedious if I had discovered it after I have mounted the unit into the wall already.
The Wyze cam v3 connects to the floodlight with a special Micro-USB cable. By special I mean that the Micro-USB end has a specially molded end for water-proofing. I could not use another cam v3 to the same outlet, and the bundled cam also is difficult to connect to normal cam v3 extension cable. There is, however, a full size USB-A port where I was able to connect another camera without issue. This provides an option to extend the “reach” of the floodlight camera to other corners.
Controlling of the floodlight is done via the Wyze app via the Wi-Fi capable camera. After setting up the camera, I got an option to select the floodlight as an extension, and this opened up all the features such as controlling the light, detection sensitivity, etc. The provided options are quite extensive.
The LED light array is very bright, but I could not change the color temperature like some other competing floodlight cams, but due to my usage that was not an issue. The PIR works quite well, able to light up when my dogs go out in my backyard. I haven’t seen a lot of false triggering (and that can be adjusted in the app).
The CamPlus subscription is a nice option, but not mandatory. Without subscription the detection recording is time-limited, and there’s a cooldown period. However, a MicroSD card (which unfortunately is not included) provides continuous recording which I can check anytime via the app. I had no issue using a 64GB micro-SDXC card.
In summary, I’m very happy with the floodlight so far. It is working both as a security camera and as a convenient light in my backyard, and given the price and ease of use is a definite buy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Available for NEW members, WHOOP is a wearable health & fitness coach that keeps track of everything from your sleep patterns to your exercise habits to not just track what you did, but tells you what to do next. WHOOP coaches you through your day with recommendations based on your unique physiology, whether that’s recommending when to go to bed or how much exertion you should take on to meet your fitness goals. Purchase includes an initial 12 month WHOOP membership, 4.0 hardware, onyx SuperKnit band, and wearable + waterproof* battery pack. WHOOP also comes with 24/7 customer service and a warranty in order to make it a worry-free purchase. At the end of your 12 months, you can renew your membership via the WHOOP app.
Customer Rating
3
Unique and useful - but not for the masses
on November 14, 2022
Posted by: Jack
The Whoop 4.0 health and fitness tracker is a difficult device to form opinions about. On one hand it is very targeted, and the features are focused on some particular health tracking data/metrics. On the other hand, the price and the needed subscription make this a device where I had to make a lot of deliberation. TL;DR: This is not the common health tracker for everyone, and all the details (features and limitations) need to be researched in a thorough manner before purchase.
Compared to “most” fitness trackers, Whoop does not have any display. That immediately limited usage of this a lot - the other comparable devices, in this form factor (i.e. wrist-mounted), have some form of information display (time, step count, etc) that make them easy to wear for everyday universal use. Furthermore, there’s no option to get notification from my smartphone. This works as a double-edged sword - on the one hand this gets rid of distractions and lets me focus on my activity, but on the other hand, I had to rely on another wearable device for notifications on the go. For me, it was not the end of the world, but certainly a limitation to work around all the time. I know for a lot of people this is a deal-breaker.
Without the “burden” of a screen and even a button, the Whoop presents itself as a very simple, easy to wear, comfortable device, which I got used to rather quickly. The included knitted band is easy to adjust. After I got used to the way to buckle/unbuckle it, I have been literally wearing it 24/7 (except when charging). I had no issue wearing it while sleeping or while working (in oily/muddy circumstances). The body is waterproof, as well as light weight, and I can clean it with a damp cloth or cleaning wipes when needed.
As for charging, I got a battery pack that can be charged via USB-C, which in turn charges the tracker wireless (after sliding it over it). The external battery pack is small and not heavy, but unlike what Whoop says/shows in promo material, I didn’t find it comfortable wearing the battery pack on top of my tracker on my wrist. It took away all the positive things I mentioned about comfort and made me more aware of the Whoop tracker than other times. I typically opted for charging it while not wearing it. The battery pack can barely charge the tracker 1 time, which was a big limitation in my eyes, and the LEDs are not very easy to read when charging. There’s almost no way I could figure out whether it’s charged 100% or not. I always had to open up the companion app on my phone to get more info, and for that that’s a big annoyance.
As for the companion app, I had mixed feelings. The app layout is not the most cluttered out there, but also not easy to read. I needed a few days to go through the learning curve (compounded by the fact that it needed 4-7 days to get all data calibrated), and had to look up terms and other stuff on the website to get a better understanding. I don’t believe a lot of people will get turned away from this, and hopefully Whoop will improve the onboarding process.
In the app the data is typically spread into Strain, Recovery, and Sleep. Sleep data is required for both the Recovery, and Sleep to be computed. As for health monitoring, the heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen level (SpO2), heart rate variability, and the skin temperature data are analyzed. The app lets me look at those on a weekly, monthly, etc. scale. Based on all these, a recovery score is given everyday, as well some suggestions from the sleep couch to suggest bed times, etc. Also, an activity monitor can be started anytime before I set out for a run, biking, etc. The activity options available are not limited, but I have seen other wearables support more comprehensive lists. Whoop was able to track all my common workouts automatically and gave me a calorie burn estimate. However, I was not able to check my low-level activity in good detail (i.e. number steps or distance traveled through-out the day). In essence, I had a small list of tracking data, which are comprehensive in themselves, but sometimes lacked the bigger picture I’m used with my other trackers. Also, this is by no means a replacement for dedicated outdoorsy activity since it lacks GPS/native location data.
In summary, Whoop does a limited set of functions in a well-rounded manner, and does not try to replace a “smart-watch”. It has a focused set of capabilities that are more suitable for people who are more interested in data that Whoop supports. Also, the need for subscription (which is not cheap) is a big road-block for wide adoption. As such, I’d suggest doing enough research before deciding to pick this up. For me, I’m still using it for the comfort and health data I’m getting. But given that all smart-watches are integrating all these features in more comfortable packages, I worry it’ll get replaced pretty soon.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Explore the art of espresso made right, effortlessly, with the refined features of La Specialista Arte from De'Longhi. Created for the hands-on home barista, this compact and stylishly designed machine empowers you to craft custom espresso drinks with ease and precision. From start to finish, unlock all the aromatic flavors of the beans for results that perfectly match your palette. Full control is at your fingertips with exclusive features like a conical burr grinder boasting 8 precise settings developed to expertly grind all bean varieties in a single or double dose. Use the complete barista kit, including a tamper, dosing funnel, and more, to prepare your fresh grounds in either a single or double dose in the single wall filter basket. Next, 3 active infusion water temperature levels adapt to your beans and roasting level for optimal flavor extraction. Finally, My LatteArt wand’s powerful steam produces the perfectly silky milk microfoam ideal for latte art creations. Save time with three beverage presets—espresso, Americano and hot water—for those on-the-go mornings. With La Specialista Arte, an authentic, hand-crafted coffee experience is within your reach. Indulge in the creativity of coffee-making as you get the best out of every bean and enjoy experimenting with foam art as a home barista.
Posted by: Jack
As a coffee aficionado, a good espresso always makes my day. However with the busy morning schedule, it was only during some weekends when I could gather some time and make proper espresso. Even though I had a good grinder and a decent espresso machine, I still had to go through some hoops before I could get everything perfect.
Enter La Specialista Arte from Delonghi which easily replaced a number of my existing machines. It is an espresso maker designed to make 1 thing very efficiently - espresso! Combining a grinder and the espresso maker in a very tight footprint not only saved up a lot of my counter space, but also made this a one-stop-job. The grind size and dosing ensures that I am getting a consistent amount of coffee every time, and the inclusion of a dosing funnel helps to keep things clean. A tamper and a tamping “mat” or holder is also there to further streamline the process. Thus the whole process simplifies to 1. Grind coffee using the grind size, dosing, and shot size control, tamp it down, and then get the portafilter attached and start brewing. Of course I needed to fill-up the detachable water tank first.
The design of La Specialista is clean without looking mundane. I wish the use of “chrome-accented” plastic was less, but overall it didn’t look too out of place in my kitchen. The knobs are gnarled and look premium and the buttons, though not very tactile, were good enough. An analog “manometer” shows the pressure of the espresso pump. Overall it’s a well designed appliance, and I only wish more metal parts were used instead of shiny plastic.
The La Specialista comes with a handy assortment of accessories. The metal portafilter comes with 2 basket sizes, each “bottomless” type. However the portafilter itself is spouted like a traditional one. For dosing tamping, the aforementioned tamper is quite heavy-duty, and the dosing funnel is easy to put on-or-off. The tamping mat is actually small and is more for hoding things together. Furthermore, a filter cleaning tip is also included. The nice thing is there’s a small cubby on the top to store some of these accessories and help keep the items tidy.
The detachable water filter holds around 2.5 liter of water, but does not include a filter. A water hardness strip is there to help reconfigure the machine’s cleaning cycle with the water in the particular area.
No home espresso machine is complete without a frother and La Specialista does that part graciously. The special frother wand supposedly makes latte art easy, but I’m yet to master that skill. A frothing jug is included to make steamed milk when I’m in need of some latte or cappuccino.
The controls are mostly straight-forward and intuitive, except the “OK” button - I would rather have it labeled something like “Brew” or “Start”. A power button in the side keeps it awake when needed - I rarely turned it off since I started using it daily. Apart from the grinder controls, there’s a button to select from 3 levels of water temperature, and a dial to select between Espresso, Americano, and Hot Water. The dial can also be used to start the descaling cycle. A separate button operates the steam wand. As for indicators, 2 lights are there to indicate empty water tank, or descaling reminder respectively. And apart from the portafilter for coffee, a separate small spout, which is unfortunately unmoveable, is there for hot water. This helps with making Americano very convenient, and doubles as a hot water dispenser when I need some for tea.
As for operation and performance, except the typical pump house, the machine works quite fast. Once I was able to dial in the correct grind size, dosing and temperature, I was getting my espresso or americano really consistently. I needed a few trial and errors at the beginning, but that’s the experience you need to go through to get great tasting coffee. I made some cappuccino for my friends as well and that turned out pretty well.
All in all, I am really pleased and satisfied with the La Specialista. It is definitely not the cheapest machine out there, but it provides a convenient package to upgrade the home barista skill. If espresso is the drink you’re after, this makes a lot of sense.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark WANDVAC POWER PET Cordless Handheld Vacuum combines lightweight portability with the incredible suction power of a high-speed brushless motor. Weighing just 1.5 lbs., this handheld vacuum boasts a tapered nozzle for easy debris pickup and accessories for tackling pet hair and tight spaces. Between cleanings, return your vacuum to the charging dock for fast recharging.
Customer Rating
4
Ultra-compact and practical cordless vacuum
on October 12, 2022
Posted by: Jack
The Sharp Wandvac WV410 is the 2nd iteration of the portable handheld vacuum that has been quite popular. This new version has a lot of improvements over the older one and makes it a more versatile compact unit.
The first thing I noticed when I got this vacuum is how light, small, and consequently ergonomic the design is. Like all shark vacuums, the build quality is superb even though the whole unit is made with plastic. The material is sturdy and seemed to withstand the regular rough handling when trying to vacuum some weird crevice. I never felt it’ll get damaged, which is not the case with a lot of these handheld vacuums.
The unit comes with 2 attachments, however there’s no powered attachment. A charging base, which also acts like an attachment holder, is included and importantly has a small footprint. This helped me to set it up in a convenient location, and made sure the unit is getting charged after stow. Another good feature which I found quite significant is the use of detachable battery. Thus if the battery fails after it’s charge cycle has been used up, I don’t need to throw away the vacuum. Also if I need to use it more frequently, I can get a second battery (and charger) to swap on the job. I really love this feature.
In terms of performance, I never thought this will replace my larger, corded units - you can only do so much with a small cordless unit - but I’m definitely impressed. Being a pet owner, I am constantly cleaning up dog hair and scattered food stuff all over the house, and for that purpose this has been working perfectly. The unit storage for dust and debri is small due to the form factor, but the hinge design for dumping these made it a breeze, and moreover it’s almost a no-touch solution. Thus, it’s quite easy to clean which again is something I miss in some of my other handheld vacuums. The vacuum is not the noisient out there, and the suction power is not extraordinary, but for the size and useability they are more than adequate.
Overall I’m quite impressed what Shark is delivering with the WV401 and I’m using it practically everyday. Without going overboard with features and design, the Wandvac provides provides the one thing I look for in a handheld vacuum - ease of use. The only wish I had is the inclusion of a powered attachment.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Built for ease of use and installation, Wyze Video Doorbell Pro gives you everything you want without everything you don't. If you don't like screws, no problem, a 3M adhesive strip is included, just peel and stick to any frame. Hate wiring. Us too. That's why we put a massive battery in there that lasts up to 6-months. Never miss anything with an ultra-wide, head-to-toe viewing angle of your front porch in fuller-than-HD resolution. Unlike some companies, Wyze doesn't charge you a subscription fee just to use basic features of your doorbell. What we do offer is Cam Plus that unlocks awesome extra-features like-package Detection, Person Detection, and unlimited video cloud storage. See more than ever before, wire free, with Wyze Video Doorbell Pro.
Posted by: Jack
The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is an easy to install, no-frills video doorbell that is a great value. It has most of the essential features expected from a video doorbell and offers more.
Pros:
Great value
Easy to install
Can be used both wired (with existing doorbell connection) or wireless (rechargeable battery). This makes it a very versatile solution and makes it easy to choose over other competitors
Can be mounted both with screws or with included adhesive tape
Comes with all the mounting hardware. For screwless install nothing is needed
Horizontal wedge is included, which is a common need for installing near the front door
150-degrees “square” view offers good coverage. After adjusting the placement I was able to see almost to the bottom part of my porch which is great for noticing packages
Video quality is quite good
Two way audio works quite well. The speaker is small but does its job. The microphone is decent enough
Chime piece works as a Wifi extender and provides great coverage. On top of this it supports both 2.5GHz and 5GHz, which is rare at this price-point. Also, there a quite a selection of interesting chimes that can be chosen
Smartphone notification popped up pretty quickly
Comes with cloud storage, albeit with some paywalled features
Integrates well with Google Home and Alexa
Great value
Easy to install
Can be used both wired (with existing doorbell connection) or wireless (rechargeable battery). This makes it a very versatile solution and makes it easy to choose over other competitors
Can be mounted both with screws or with included adhesive tape
Comes with all the mounting hardware. For screwless install nothing is needed
Horizontal wedge is included, which is a common need for installing near the front door
150-degrees “square” view offers good coverage. After adjusting the placement I was able to see almost to the bottom part of my porch which is great for noticing packages
Video quality is quite good
Two way audio works quite well. The speaker is small but does its job. The microphone is decent enough
Chime piece works as a Wifi extender and provides great coverage. On top of this it supports both 2.5GHz and 5GHz, which is rare at this price-point. Also, there a quite a selection of interesting chimes that can be chosen
Smartphone notification popped up pretty quickly
Comes with cloud storage, albeit with some paywalled features
Integrates well with Google Home and Alexa
Cons:
Only 1440 (HD) resolution
Bracket feels a bit flimsy. Even with the security screw, I felt that the doorbell could be taken out without much force
No local storage, everything is sent to the cloud
Free tier is very limited. The Basic plan only provides snapshot, and then also has a 5-minute cooldown period which may be unsuitable for many folks. There is a CamPlus Lite with name-your-price option (so can be $0, but you have to jump through some hoops for that), which has 12-sec video clip storage but still with the 5-min cooldown period. The CamPlus plan unlocks everything
Still used micro-USB port in this day and age
For increased motion detection time, wired connection is needed (which enables “pre-recording”)
Person and package detection is behind the CamPlus subscription paywall
Does not offer selecting “zones” for motion detection, sometimes causing unnecessary alerts
Only 1440 (HD) resolution
Bracket feels a bit flimsy. Even with the security screw, I felt that the doorbell could be taken out without much force
No local storage, everything is sent to the cloud
Free tier is very limited. The Basic plan only provides snapshot, and then also has a 5-minute cooldown period which may be unsuitable for many folks. There is a CamPlus Lite with name-your-price option (so can be $0, but you have to jump through some hoops for that), which has 12-sec video clip storage but still with the 5-min cooldown period. The CamPlus plan unlocks everything
Still used micro-USB port in this day and age
For increased motion detection time, wired connection is needed (which enables “pre-recording”)
Person and package detection is behind the CamPlus subscription paywall
Does not offer selecting “zones” for motion detection, sometimes causing unnecessary alerts
The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is a good choice on a tight budget, and offers an easy to install and use setup. If local storage is not a prime concern, and the CamPlus subscription is not a big issue, this is a very good choice in the value-for-money segment. I’m quite happy with it so far.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Don’t let your phone battery die as you go throughout your day. The Insignia NS-MW345C1B22B 45W USB-C Compact Wall Charger Kit for Samsung and iPhone Smartphones & Tablets has a high, 45-watt output to quickly charge your Samsung smartphone, tablet, smartwatch and more. This kit also comes with an included 6 ft. 100W certified USB-C to USB-C cable, giving you a super-fast charge you can depend on. Its compact and durable body with a foldable plug easily fits into a purse or pocket, ready for when you need it. A simple black design pairs well with your other accessories. Keep your Samsung smartphone working as hard as you do with this easy-to-carry charger.
Customer Rating
5
Complete portable solution for fast charging needs
on September 22, 2022
Posted by: Jack
USB-C was supposed to be a savior for charging all modern devices (except of course iPhones), but unfortunately we are still in a sea of confusion when it comes to fast charging. There’s the different types of fast charging “standards”, different cables, power limits, etc, etc. Especially in this day and age when (premium) smartphones no longer come with a wall plug.
However, if you are a Samsung Galaxy phone user like me, and have gone through shuffling between chargers that either don’t charge at all, or else charges at a measly rate, the Insignia 45 W USB-C charger kit for Samsung provides a surefire answer. Not only does it have a high power rating (45 W), making it capable of charging even my laptop, it comes with a very durable, even higher power rating (100 W!) USB-C to USB-C cable. And that makes it an easy recommendation for the typical Android, and especially Samsung smartphone users.
The charger is quite compact and nicely designed, forming a cube when the AC plug prongs are folded back, and I could throw it into my backpack during travel without any worry. The build is solid, and the black finish is subtle yet elegant - it does not look cheap.
As for the cable, I was surprised to see a 100 W rated USB-C cable being included, making it very versatile. The whole length of the cable is fabric coated which makes it durable and keeps it from becoming tangled up.. Furthermore, I really like the yellow colored reinforcement on the plug ends. A lot of times I had wire frays at those ends due to constant use, so I’m guessing I’ll get better mileage with this. The cable is not very pliable though and a bit stiffer for my liking. But if I had to choose between softness and durability, I’ll always consider the latter, especially for travels.
As for USB standard/power levels, this charger supports USB PPS, which makes it usable for a vast number of devices. After some digging I found the following voltage and current outputs: 5V@3A, 9V@3A, 15V@3A, 20V@2.25A, 3.3-11V@4.05A, 3.3-16V@3A. I was able to charge my Samsung Galaxy S22, a Pixel 6, and a Dell XPS 13 without any issue. As expected, the charger itself gets warm to the touch, but not exceedingly hot (which I found with some compact fast chargers).
In summary, I’m very happy with the charger and this is my go to for travel since it’s able to handle my smartphone, laptop and my headphones. It’s a good value, and great in terms of ruggedness.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Valuable Gen4 performance is here. Introducing the Crucial P3 Plus Gen4 NVMe SSD, delivering impressive speed with sequential reads/writes up to 5000/4200MB/s1 while providing data protection for optimal security. Engineered by Micron with the latest Gen4 NVMe technology, the Crucial P3 Plus comes in generous capacities2 and offers flexible backward compatibility for most Gen3 systems.
Customer Rating
4
Great value drive with mid-level performance
on August 27, 2022
Posted by: Jack
The Crucial P3 Plus is a great entry level NVMe drive that utilizes the newer PCIe Gen4 standard. Here's a few points that stood out in my 2 weeks use as my primary drive in my gaming laptop:
Pros:
- PCIe Gen 4 compatibility
- Great value
- Available upto 4TB
- Perfect for regular non-heavy duty usage, and very good option as secondary storage
- 5 years warranty (but with limitation)
- Only 1 side populated with chips which provides wider compatibility (some laptop M.2 slot have limited space)
- Standard installation procedure
- Acronis Cloning Software can be used for free to format/clone/setup
- PCIe Gen 4 compatibility
- Great value
- Available upto 4TB
- Perfect for regular non-heavy duty usage, and very good option as secondary storage
- 5 years warranty (but with limitation)
- Only 1 side populated with chips which provides wider compatibility (some laptop M.2 slot have limited space)
- Standard installation procedure
- Acronis Cloning Software can be used for free to format/clone/setup
Cons:
- Not the fastest PCIe Gen 4 drive out there. Sequential Read and Write in the lower 4000s MBps
- DRAM-less design which may present to be a bottleneck for some
- Even though there 5 year warranty, however it's limited by Total Bytes Written of 440TB
- Not the fastest PCIe Gen 4 drive out there. Sequential Read and Write in the lower 4000s MBps
- DRAM-less design which may present to be a bottleneck for some
- Even though there 5 year warranty, however it's limited by Total Bytes Written of 440TB
Overall, even though there're some limitations those will probably be more important for power usage. For regular purpose computing and secondary data storage activities, this presents a great value entry if PCIe Gen 4 compatibility is needed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Perfect for the endurance sitter and technology power user, Gesture adapts to your every move, and every device you use, to provide ultimate, long-lasting comfort and support for your body. With the most inclusive fit of any chair in our portfolio, everyone feels comfortable sitting in Gesture. Our proprietary seat cushion design leverages built in air pockets that conform to your body and reduce pressure that comes from long term sitting. Gesture’s arms adjust through a full range of motion – 360 degrees – for support that follows you as you work with multiple tech devices and interfaces. Armrests are designed to remain parallel to your work surface as you move, so you can stay comfortably on task at every angle of recline. Gesture’s 3D LiveBack(TM) technology is designed to flex and mimic the natural movements of your spine as you change postures. The contoured shape of the back helps to align your spine in its natural S-shape. Features include adjustable seat depth, fully adjustable arms, adjustable lumbar, seat height adjustment, recline tension adjustment, 4 position recline lock, plastic outer shell-back, upholstered back and seat, and wheels for hard flooring. Arrives fully assembled and is backed by a 12-year warranty.
Customer Rating
4
Expensive, but superbly comfortable and well-built
on August 10, 2022
Posted by: Jack
Working from home for me entails sitting at my desk for a long time. And this finally prompted me to get a better chair that’ll support my posture and keep me comfortable. The Gesture office chair by Steelseries offered me all these, albeit in a high-end package.
Pros:
Easy to get comfortable with a variety of body sizes
Offers tons of adjustability. Once I was done with all the fiddling it was a fantastic to sit on it for hours and hours
Even though the back is not mesh, it does not get hot
Back support is really good and has adjustable lumbar support
The arms offer far more freedom of movement from what I have seen from other comparable chairs
Seat depth is adjustable. My previous chairs lacked this, but after using the Gesture I truly appreciate this adjustment
There’s standard pneumatic height adjustment along with recline lock. The recline tension can be adjusted as well
Very well made and assembly takes a few minutes
Cons:
Not the cheapest chair out there
Quite heavy
Correct floor casters are needed - the hard-floor casters are terrible on carpet
In summary, the Steelseries Gesture is a must-consider chair in the higher-end chair space. It’s not cheap, but the comfort level it delivers is superb. For me, it was a no-brainer.
Pros:
Easy to get comfortable with a variety of body sizes
Offers tons of adjustability. Once I was done with all the fiddling it was a fantastic to sit on it for hours and hours
Even though the back is not mesh, it does not get hot
Back support is really good and has adjustable lumbar support
The arms offer far more freedom of movement from what I have seen from other comparable chairs
Seat depth is adjustable. My previous chairs lacked this, but after using the Gesture I truly appreciate this adjustment
There’s standard pneumatic height adjustment along with recline lock. The recline tension can be adjusted as well
Very well made and assembly takes a few minutes
Cons:
Not the cheapest chair out there
Quite heavy
Correct floor casters are needed - the hard-floor casters are terrible on carpet
In summary, the Steelseries Gesture is a must-consider chair in the higher-end chair space. It’s not cheap, but the comfort level it delivers is superb. For me, it was a no-brainer.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get super-portable sound to go. The XG300 wireless speaker plays as hard as you do, with up to 25 hours of battery life and IP67 waterproof and dustproof. Its rich full sound and booming bass are perfect for when you want quality audio that goes wherever you go.
Posted by: Jack
The Sony XG300 Bluetooth speaker is a great sounding Bluetooth speaker with decent portability and extra features that are more “party”-friendly. Right off the bat, the speaker follows Sony’s design and build-quality standards. Every material and surface looks well designed and put together. Picking it up I could feel that this was built to last.
Design is sleek and modern looking. The whole thing is cylindrical on its longer side. The circular CD-like ends look cool with the ambient lighting. Majority of the surface is clad in a cloth like material and seems to be IP67 waterproof rated. However, unlike some other speakers I have this does not float in the water (at least I couldn’t tell from the specs/manuals).
As for portability, the speaker unit has a built-in handle that folds into the body when not needed, providing a clean look. However, the speaker is on the heavier side - I myself was not comfortable with carrying around with my hands after a few minutes. Another issue was since the whole speaker is completely circular and only has 2 flat rubber feet to keep it stable, there were instances when the whole unit rolled off when resting on a narrow surface. And since it’s not a light item, I was always wary that it’ll fall on my toe.
Now for the most important feature: sound quality. That’s very subjective, but personally I am enjoying the sound for my everyday music listening, which includes a lot of metal, rock, and ambient. Also I listen to podcasts at other times. And all in all the sound is rich, with a bass heavy feel without being overwhelming. There’s a “Mega Bass” button that dials the bass up to 11, but I have rarely used it. With my Android phone, I used Sony’s LDAC codec which technically has higher fidelity than regular SBC/AAC and even aptX, and I think that provides a bit of an advantage to the XG300 compared to its competitors. Sony also touts that the speakers have “X-balance technology” that is superior. I can’t make a one-to-one comparison with that, as mentioned overall sound quality is very good.
The Sony Music Center app provides some functionality that enables more control compared to what can be done with the 7 buttons that are on the speaker, but I have not found them to be essential. As for the 7 hardware buttons: along with the conventional power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, volume up and volume down buttons, there are two more buttons hidden inside the back compartment (under the watertight flap) that tells the battery level, and turns the LED ring lights. It also has a “battery saver” mode that apparently caps the charging to 90% to improve long-term battery life. As for battery life, it’s rated for 25 hours on a single charge, and my regular use supported that. However, I had the LED lights turned off for most of the time.
The Bluetooth speaker has a microphone to take calls, and has built-in echo cancellation technology. I didn’t find call quality to be exceptional - people on the other end could hear me quite fine with no noticeable distortion, but it’s not the clearest microphone out there.
Overall, even though the Sony XG300 is not a cheap option compared to other speakers out there, the sound is really good and the design is sleek and unique in some sense. It’s placed in a more premium/upgrade price point and if you’re in the market for that, it’s worth considering.
Design is sleek and modern looking. The whole thing is cylindrical on its longer side. The circular CD-like ends look cool with the ambient lighting. Majority of the surface is clad in a cloth like material and seems to be IP67 waterproof rated. However, unlike some other speakers I have this does not float in the water (at least I couldn’t tell from the specs/manuals).
As for portability, the speaker unit has a built-in handle that folds into the body when not needed, providing a clean look. However, the speaker is on the heavier side - I myself was not comfortable with carrying around with my hands after a few minutes. Another issue was since the whole speaker is completely circular and only has 2 flat rubber feet to keep it stable, there were instances when the whole unit rolled off when resting on a narrow surface. And since it’s not a light item, I was always wary that it’ll fall on my toe.
Now for the most important feature: sound quality. That’s very subjective, but personally I am enjoying the sound for my everyday music listening, which includes a lot of metal, rock, and ambient. Also I listen to podcasts at other times. And all in all the sound is rich, with a bass heavy feel without being overwhelming. There’s a “Mega Bass” button that dials the bass up to 11, but I have rarely used it. With my Android phone, I used Sony’s LDAC codec which technically has higher fidelity than regular SBC/AAC and even aptX, and I think that provides a bit of an advantage to the XG300 compared to its competitors. Sony also touts that the speakers have “X-balance technology” that is superior. I can’t make a one-to-one comparison with that, as mentioned overall sound quality is very good.
The Sony Music Center app provides some functionality that enables more control compared to what can be done with the 7 buttons that are on the speaker, but I have not found them to be essential. As for the 7 hardware buttons: along with the conventional power, Bluetooth pairing, play/pause, volume up and volume down buttons, there are two more buttons hidden inside the back compartment (under the watertight flap) that tells the battery level, and turns the LED ring lights. It also has a “battery saver” mode that apparently caps the charging to 90% to improve long-term battery life. As for battery life, it’s rated for 25 hours on a single charge, and my regular use supported that. However, I had the LED lights turned off for most of the time.
The Bluetooth speaker has a microphone to take calls, and has built-in echo cancellation technology. I didn’t find call quality to be exceptional - people on the other end could hear me quite fine with no noticeable distortion, but it’s not the clearest microphone out there.
Overall, even though the Sony XG300 is not a cheap option compared to other speakers out there, the sound is really good and the design is sleek and unique in some sense. It’s placed in a more premium/upgrade price point and if you’re in the market for that, it’s worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ideal for espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos, cortados, and flat whites, the new Ember Cup, 6 oz, offers a premium coffee experience that does more than keep your coffee hot. Our smart mug allows you to set your preferred drinking temperature, so you can enjoy your expertly crafted hot drink —just the way you like it— from the first sip to the last drop. Ember Cup’s built-in battery maintains your precise drinking temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day with the included charging coaster.
Posted by: Jack
The Ember temperature controlled “smart” mug is a useful but expensive way to keep those hot drinks warm for extended periods of time. I have been using it for the last couple of weeks almost everyday as part of my daily morning coffee ritual, and here’s what I found out about it:
Pros:
- Very well build and feels sturdy to hold, especially with the rubbery coating
- Ergonomics is good, even without a traditional handle
- Charging is seamless with the charging coaster using only 2 pogo pins to connect to the cup charging ring. I was able to make good connection in every try
- Temperature control works as described. By default it’s pegged to 135℉ (which can be changed with the Ember app from 120℉ to 145℉
- App works well
Pros:
- Very well build and feels sturdy to hold, especially with the rubbery coating
- Ergonomics is good, even without a traditional handle
- Charging is seamless with the charging coaster using only 2 pogo pins to connect to the cup charging ring. I was able to make good connection in every try
- Temperature control works as described. By default it’s pegged to 135℉ (which can be changed with the Ember app from 120℉ to 145℉
- App works well
Cons:
- This is a 6 oz cup, so only suitable for small drinks (like espresso shots, small latte, tea, etc.)
- Battery life is ok, but I needed charging almost every day
- The mug was supposed to “sleep” when empty and when not being moved. However, almost every day I found the battery depleted. Since it wakes up whenever moved, it’s difficult to say what mode it was in unless checked on the app
- Instead of a barrel-type connector, a USB-C charging port would have made it more travel friendly
- A bit too expensive for the size
- This is a 6 oz cup, so only suitable for small drinks (like espresso shots, small latte, tea, etc.)
- Battery life is ok, but I needed charging almost every day
- The mug was supposed to “sleep” when empty and when not being moved. However, almost every day I found the battery depleted. Since it wakes up whenever moved, it’s difficult to say what mode it was in unless checked on the app
- Instead of a barrel-type connector, a USB-C charging port would have made it more travel friendly
- A bit too expensive for the size
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Jack's Review Comments
VIZIO E-Series E40-C2 LED Smart HDTV: This VIZIO Smart TV can fill your living room or bedroom with stunning visuals and your favorite movies, shows and apps in one place. You can stream media right from the TV, or use your smartphone, tablet or computer to project onto the big screen in up to 1080p quality.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Constant buzzing noise
By Jack
Bought the TV because for the best features in the price point ($314.99+tax). Looks great, and picture quality is quite good. However, there's a constant buzzing sound whenever the display is on. Tried to troubleshoot, and contacted Vizio. They said they can send a replacement, but with an older model (E420i-B2). Instead, exchanged it for a new one at Best Buy. The buzzing sound is a lot less now, and will observe and update review if it persists. Would have been a great value.
Jack
Raleigh, NC
June 14, 2015
Update: 06/14/15
I liked the TV so much that I exchanged it for a 3rd time. However, that annoying humming sound is still present whenever the backlight setting tweaked. Best Buy couldn't do anything about it, and Vizio did not provide any suitable solution (again offering the older model as replacement).
Thus, sadly I returned it and got a Samsung (UN40J6200) which was on sale for $50 more. No humming/buzzing nonsense, and picture is pretty good. The set, however, is not as sleek as the Vizio (a lot thicker bezel, and depth is bigger too). Hope this will workout finally.
+1point
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VIZIO E-Series E40-C2 LED Smart HDTV: This VIZIO Smart TV can fill your living room or bedroom with stunning visuals and your favorite movies, shows and apps in one place. You can stream media right from the TV, or use your smartphone, tablet or computer to project onto the big screen in up to 1080p quality.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Constant buzzing noise
By Jack
Bought the TV because for the best features in the price point ($314.99+tax). Looks great, and picture quality is quite good. However, there's a constant buzzing sound whenever the display is on. Tried to troubleshoot, and contacted Vizio. They said they can send a replacement, but with an older model (E420i-B2). Instead, exchanged it for a new one at Best Buy. The buzzing sound is a lot less now, and will observe and update review if it persists. Would have been a great value.
Jack
Raleigh, NC
June 15, 2015
Actually, it was my first guess too. But I tried a number of scenarios, and in all cases what I observed was that the buzzing is somehow correlated to the backlight (like the noise changes when the screen is all dark or all white). Also, all three exhibited the problem when I took them back to the Best Buy Geek Squad counter. The fact that both Vizio and Best Buy tech support asked me to exchange the sets without even mentioning any troubleshooting steps worried me that maybe there's no easy solution.
Somehow, I got my hands on three defective units. Bad luck I guess.
0points
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Samsung 40" Class UN40J6200AFXZA LED Smart HDTV: With a Full HD viewing experience and easy access to your favorite media and entertainment, you'll love this Smart TV. Enjoy the rich color and quality resolution as you shop online, watch streaming videos or update social media from your TV screen.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent TV for the price
By Jack
from Raleigh, NC
I got this TV from Best Buy a few days back, after getting very disappointed with a Vizio E40-C2 (had it replaced 3 times, but a humming/buzzing sound is always there driving me nuts).
Initial thoughts: The picture is pretty good. The design is not minimalistic as the Vizio, and its a quite thick TV. The only complain is out of the box, the picture looked terrible due to very poorly done calibration. Had to spend a lot of time to get a well-balanced picture.
Smart hub is OK, and a bit better than what Vizio had to offer.
A fair bit of googling indicates that it uses a native 120Hz panel made by Samsung themselves. The picture is also more legible in a bright room compared to the Vizio E40-C2.
Jack
Raleigh, NC
June 26, 2015
After using the TV for more than a week, all I can say is the TV is performing just the way I wanted. The only drawback I found is that the Samsung Smart Hub software used is an older version (2014), not the new 2015 'Tizen' based one. The apps are also very slow. So if Smart features are important to you, make sure you look into this carefully before buying. I don't mind because I only use the major apps (Netflix/Amazon), and the sluggishness does not bother me.
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VIZIO E-Series E40-C2 LED Smart HDTV: This VIZIO Smart TV can fill your living room or bedroom with stunning visuals and your favorite movies, shows and apps in one place. You can stream media right from the TV, or use your smartphone, tablet or computer to project onto the big screen in up to 1080p quality.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Constant buzzing noise
By Jack
Bought the TV because for the best features in the price point ($314.99+tax). Looks great, and picture quality is quite good. However, there's a constant buzzing sound whenever the display is on. Tried to troubleshoot, and contacted Vizio. They said they can send a replacement, but with an older model (E420i-B2). Instead, exchanged it for a new one at Best Buy. The buzzing sound is a lot less now, and will observe and update review if it persists. Would have been a great value.
Jack
Raleigh, NC
November 19, 2015
@MiketheD:
I don't think it's related to my room or anything, as the Geek Squad person also heard the buzzing sound and thus suggested to try another TV
I don't think it's related to my room or anything, as the Geek Squad person also heard the buzzing sound and thus suggested to try another TV
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Jack's Questions
Jack has not submitted any questions.
Jack's Answers
Enjoy a smooth gaming experience with this 27-inch ASUS Full HD monitor. The Shadow Boost feature increases clarity in dark scenes, and the ultrafast response times minimize blurring and streaking for seamless gameplay. This ASUS Full HD monitor has an ergonomic design that allows tilting, swiveling and pivoting as needed.
Is the monitor free sync or g-sync?
The monitor supports G-sync. Check the Asus website: https://www.asus.com/us/Displays-Desktops/Monitors/TUF-Gaming/TUF-GAMING-VG279QR/
3 years ago
by
Jack
Get a new take on security, with the latest indoor 1080p FHD Wi-Fi security camera. Small and lightweight in design, this camera gives users the flexibility of multiple placement options along with a simple set-up and installation process. See more and know more with an ultra-wide 135° diagonal field of view and night vision capabilities. Pan and tilt to cover larger areas so you don’t miss out on the most important details. Be aware when you’re not there with person detection technology, which will notify you when a person is detected.
Is this camera good for streaming/ use with Zoom? It says "Security" camera but I do not want a security camera. I want a camera that can work with Zoom and stream live with remote control app over wifi.
This is not a camera compatible with "Zoom" the online meeting service. Rather it has digital zoom to magnify the video.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Jack
Pair your workout with these black Jaybird Vista wireless headphones. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 6 hours of listening time, while the waterproof, sweatproof design helps prevent fluid damage. These Jaybird Vista wireless headphones have ear hooks and three pairs of soft interchangeable eartips for a secure fit and added comfort during extended periods of use.
Are they really sweatproof?
It survived when I took it for a run. Also survived a trip to the washer
4 years, 8 months ago
by
Jack
Pair your workout with these black Jaybird Vista wireless headphones. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 6 hours of listening time, while the waterproof, sweatproof design helps prevent fluid damage. These Jaybird Vista wireless headphones have ear hooks and three pairs of soft interchangeable eartips for a secure fit and added comfort during extended periods of use.
How do you control the volume
There's no dedicated volume control button, so you have to rely on your phone/device volume controller
4 years, 8 months ago
by
Jack
mophie powerstation mini: Built to keep your smartphone full of power throughout the day to help it keep up with your busy lifestyle, this charger fits right in your pocket, and has a protective metal outer band.
Voltage input? 100-240V ?
It's charged from a stranded 5V USB supply (PC USB port or other standard USB charger) so the AC voltage level is irrelevant.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Jack
Hear yourself in the studio with these Audio-Technica ATH-M50x AUD ATHM50X monitor headphones, which feature 45mm large-aperture drivers for faithful sound replication. The 90° swiveling earcups allow comfortable 1-ear monitoring.
How well does this work plugged in to a desktop computer?
I have a Mac Mini that is use for music mixing. Will these work with the headphone port, or will the sound be too quiet?
I use it with my laptop (Lenovo Ideapad) audio out, and it works fine. You may opt for a dac/amp if you want better performance.
8 years ago
by
Jack
Hear yourself in the studio with these Audio-Technica ATH-M50x AUD ATHM50X monitor headphones, which feature 45mm large-aperture drivers for faithful sound replication. The 90° swiveling earcups allow comfortable 1-ear monitoring.
Can these be worn while I walk or jog?
I KNOW these are advertised as studio headphones. But could they be worn while a person walks or jogs?
I use them while walking, but maybe I'll refrain from using them while jogging/running. The size of these headphones are not "small", so I'd feel very awkward while jogging with them.
8 years ago
by
Jack
Samsung 40" Class UN40J6200AFXZA LED Smart HDTV: With a Full HD viewing experience and easy access to your favorite media and entertainment, you'll love this Smart TV. Enjoy the rich color and quality resolution as you shop online, watch streaming videos or update social media from your TV screen.
Does this tv have a digital tuner built in?
Yes, it does have a built-in digital tuner.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
Jack
Raleigh, NC
VIZIO E-Series E40-C2 LED Smart HDTV: This VIZIO Smart TV can fill your living room or bedroom with stunning visuals and your favorite movies, shows and apps in one place. You can stream media right from the TV, or use your smartphone, tablet or computer to project onto the big screen in up to 1080p quality.
Does the Vizio E40-C2 have an Ethernet port?
Yes, it has a standard Ethernet port
8 years, 10 months ago
by
Jack
Raleigh, NC
VIZIO E-Series E40-C2 LED Smart HDTV: This VIZIO Smart TV can fill your living room or bedroom with stunning visuals and your favorite movies, shows and apps in one place. You can stream media right from the TV, or use your smartphone, tablet or computer to project onto the big screen in up to 1080p quality.
Does the TV stand only fit in one position?
Does the TV stand only fit in one position? Or can the two pieces of the stand be moved inward towards the center of the TV and fit into other positions of the base, so that the TV can rest on a table that isn't as wide as the TV itself?
No, the stand only fits in one position.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
Jack