Samrio's stats
- Review count229
- Helpfulness votes1,008
- First reviewMarch 20, 2015
- Last reviewDecember 5, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
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- Helpfulness votes0
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- Answer count14
- Helpfulness votes105
- First answerMarch 20, 2015
- Last answerMay 21, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
With Live Streamer CAP 4K, simply hook up your video camera or camcorder to create the highest video quality contents for your 4Kp60(HDR) live stream and 4Kp30 video recording.
Customer Rating
5
A pretty great capture card for a Camera!
on December 22, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
If you’re in the market for a new capture card, you’re probably wondering if this will provide you with a solution. The honest answer is “sort of” in a good way. Like many streamers, I’ve opted to pay for new webcams that offer higher resolution or faster frame rates. Many of the streaming cameras tend to have limited viewing angles, making for some hit or miss quality captures. In my case, I’d been using some cheap USB camera capture card I’d found on another marketplace with less than stellar results and with a lot of stuttering.
I was happy to try the AverMedia capture device, in the hopes of giving my camera another shot. In the box you’ll find the capture card, a USB C to A cable, and a quick start guide. The device was quickly detected by Windows, and almost immediately ready for use once plugged in. OBS quickly recognized the device, allowing me to add it to my overlay with my Nikon camera connected over HDMI. Compared to my off-brand camera capture card, this was a huge improvement, with virtually no latency (or lag) coming from the camera. I was able to easily capture 1080P video, while maintaining a fairly steady recording during use. Bumping the resolution up on my camera to 4K, and the picture captured was far better than my previous cap card.
The capture card accepts 1080p60, 2160p60 (4K), and 1440p144; however, it will only output 2160p30 or 1080p60. While this won’t be much of a concern to many streamers, I was bummed to see that it wouldn’t capture at 2160p60. The device being what it is also lacks any pass-through, so I wouldn’t expect an enjoyable experience trying to use this with a console or other HDMI device. I even used the device to help capture some video for my friend's YouTube channel, bypassing his own memory card to capture live video straight from his camera.
Overall, I’m really impressed with the ease of plug and play, the reliable video stream being captured by the device, and the better quality picture over the cheaper alternative I was using previously. If you have a nicer 4K camera, you’ll see a huge benefit from grabbing one of these, and an even better experience if you’re wanting to use OBS or another program to capture live video for content recording. Given the price point, the ease of use, and the quality of the video I’d highly recommend this device. I wouldn’t, on the other hand, recommend this for someone just looking to capture content from a console or other device due to the lack of pass-through.
Mobile Submission: False
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Winegard Extreme 2.0 High-Performance Wireless-AC Access Point and Outdoor Wi-Fi Range Extender. The Extreme 2.0 Extender offers 1,000 ft. of boosted range - Winegard's best, and most secure, outdoor Wi-Fi solution.
Customer Rating
4
Finally WiFi in my Shop!
on December 22, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
I was a bit hesitant to try out this product. I recently sold my home in a major city, and moved into a more rural area. I ended up with a workshop, which is located about 450 feet away from the home. I attempted to use a mesh network to solve my WiFi troubles while working there, but found the speeds dropped significantly from my inside speeds of 400 to about 2 Mbps if I was lucky.
In researching outdoor WiFi solutions, the previous generation Winegard was one of the first products recommended. So, I was excited to get an opportunity to try out the newer generation device, hoping to gain some much needed speeds for my YouTube DIY videos. In the box, was the extender, which is around the size of a small 8 inch subwoofer, a mount similar to those found with a satellite dish for attaching to your home or a post/pole, an ethernet cord, and a power over ethernet power (PoE) adapter. I was surprised with just how lightweight the device was, believing it would take more effort to mount the device. I should note, the power adapter doesn't appear to be weather resistant, so you will need to keep this in mind during the installation.
There are essentially two ways you can set the device up. You can either use this as a simple extender, in a similar way as other WiFi extenders, or plug an ethernet cable from a nearby router into the PoE adapter to act as an access point. The benefit of using ethernet, is that it seems to share the same IP address range as your main network; thus allowing you to access your other internal network devices, such as a home server. In my case, I simply wanted to gain some better coverage while working outdoors and in my small workshop.
Setup of the device can be done using a laptop, tablet, or even your phone with a web browser. If you’re curious, there is a sticker with a default network name and password that you’ll use to login to the admin settings of the device once it’s powered. This allowed me to then scan for available networks, enter my home routers network password. The admin page will also give you some basic signal strength, and given it was attached to my home near one of my mesh network nodes, the signal strength would bounce between 80-88% at any given moment. It did take about 2 to 3 minutes for the connection to fully establish, but once complete I was able to see the new network pop up on my iPhone.
My ISP provided speeds range between 380 - 450 Mbps when connected to my home network in the house, and I was able to easily achieve around 120 Mbps on average when connecting about 400-500 feet away. Once I entered the workshop, that speed dropped to around 80 Mbps, which was still a significant boost over the previous 1-2 Mbps speeds seen without the extender.
Overall, I was really impressed with the easy setup, the boosted speeds around my yard, and now only get the occasional buffering when trying to watch media content in the shop. In my open yard, I was seeing speeds I’d never seen from a wireless node near a window, and was happy to see my friends enjoying connectivity in our back patio. While this device does state it will go about 1000 feet, I found that speeds began degrading about 800 - 900 feet during my use; with speeds hovering around 2-5 Mbps at roughly 1000 feet. However, this definitely solved a need for me, and I’m happy with the results!
Mobile Submission: False
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Create the ultimate laptop-like experience with the Brydge 12.9 MAX+. Featuring the largest native multi-touch trackpad ever included in a tablet keyboard, the 12.9 MAX+ delivers the most immersive and natural experience iPadOS has ever seen. Together with a new SnapFit™ Case designed to flawlessly match and protect your iPad, the 12.9 MAX+ creates the perfect productivity device for any environment. Brydge is critically acclaimed for their keyboard’s unmatched typing experience, and the Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is no exception. Featuring adjustable backlit keys, Instant-On™ Connectivity, shortcut keys, up to 3-month battery life and 135˚ screen rotation, you’ll have confidence cranking out that paper, clearing your inbox, or tackling whatever task comes your way.
Customer Rating
4
Great Keyboard, Trackpad is hit or miss.
on December 4, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
The Brydge Keyboard and Trackpad is the type of accessory that really helps push the maximum use of your iPad Pro. I often found that the iPad without a keyboard was great for some basic use, but text entry has always been a pain on the larger screen with a touch keyboard. Since the iPad Pro allows the use of bluetooth accessories, I often found myself using a larger standard keyboard, which made it impossible to use it on the go.
In the box you’ll find the Brydge keyboard with trackpad, a basic manual, and a warranty guide. Installation simply requires that you line up the camera to the cut out, and simply allow the magnetic backing to snap the iPad in place. In fact, the total install time was about 10 seconds. The longest part of the install is simply turning the keyboard on, using the power button, and pairing the device to bluetooth on your iPad Pro. The keyboard itself uses a USB C connection to facilitate charging, since this doesn’t use the smart connector on your iPad to share power.
At first glance you’d believe I was using my 13” Macbook Pro, only to find that it’s my iPad Pro. The only downside to this accessory, is the fact that it doesn’t automatically turn on when you open it from the closed position, since this is a Bluetooth accessory and isn’t using the smart connector to automate the connectivity. You’ll also need to plan to either use your iPad Pro charging cable, or purchase a separate USB C cable for keyboard charging with it’s own charger. I also found that at times, the keyboard would take more than 10 seconds to properly connect, leading to odd lag when trying to use the trackpad as soon as you power it on.
During general use, I found the keyboard comfortable, with a similar feel to using a standard macbook, but found the trackpad to have issues with proper connectivity or tracking. At times, when typing in Word or Google Suite apps, I’d notice the trackpad either being unresponsive or have a delayed response during use. This ended up with me constantly having to simply navigate with touch controls, and avoiding the use of the trackpad when typing in word processing apps. This became more of an annoyance as I tried to use this for my day to day tasks, as I tried to exclusively use my iPad over my Macbook.
Battery life has been great with the keyboard, and I didn’t once run out of battery over a prolonged 8 hours of use. The Brydge itself adds to the overall weight of your iPad, and I can only assume the extra depth stores a larger battery. The aluminum feeling casing feels solid, and mirrors the finish of a space gray MacBook, but in a slightly smaller form factor. This led to several questions from people asking what laptop I was using, and if Apple had released a smaller 12” macbook. So, I’d say this has the look down.
Overall, the keyboard was comfortable to use, the iPad Pro feels securely attached, typing experience has been elevated, and the “instant on” feature seems to be hit or miss during my regular use. However, given the odd connectivity issues, I’d still recommend this for a Pro user who needs a better way for text entry, and wants to utilize their iPad Pro on the go, without needing to bring a Mouse and Keyboard for comfortable use. The build quality is solid, and the finish makes this appear like a very premium accessory when compared to others offering similar function. You might have issues from time to time, app to app, when trying to use the trackpad, but never became enough of an annoyance that it would make me want to stop using it. For the most part, this is now my go-to keyboard accessory for my iPad Pro.
Mobile Submission: False
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SC 400D - The ultimate solution to all of life's blindspots. Whether you're on the road or parked, a commercial driver or commuter, hauling cargo or chauffeuring kids - you're covered from all angles in all situations with a Cobra smart dash cam. With stunning, easily-sharable 4K UHD resolution, Alexa built-in, heads-up navigation, and life police alerts, there's no better way to protect the vehicles, drivers, passengers, and cargo you value most. See just how much peace of mind the award-winning Cobra SC 400D dash cam can provide.
Customer Rating
5
4K Dashcam with Voice Commands!
on December 2, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
Let’s face it, dashcams are getting smarter and more important than ever as people start to commute back to work and normal life again. They provide you deterrence from theft, capture accidents as they happen, and can even save you some money in an insurance claim if you’re not at fault. The downside to many of the cheaper variety of dash cams is ultimately the picture quality, with many providing grainy or blurry footage, unable to read a license plate.
In comes the Cobra SC400D, which is the first 4K dashcam I’ve ever used, and will likely be the last one I install for some time. In the box, you’ll find the Cobra SC400, a 32 GB MicroSD card pre-installed in the device, a rear camera, a windshield mount with GPS integrated power, a long USB cable for the rear camera, some extra adhesive pads, and a cigarette lighter power adapter for the main body, which also has a free USB port for charging another device. You can also just hardwire this into your car, if you have an existing compatible connection you can take advantage of.
Installation requires the use of 3M style adhesive to adhere to the front and rear windshield. In my case, I installed this in a newer Ford Mustang, and the cable was more than long enough to reach the rear window, with some to spare. I appreciate the SC400 using a magnetic style mount approach, without the need to unplug a cable, or mess up your wiring while doing so. However, the reasons for needing to remove the device from the mount are minimal, as the “Drive Smarter” app allows you to grab any recordings stored on the camera while it’s powered on (using its own WiFi connection). You’ll also use the app to perform firmware updates, and also walk you through the Alexa setup process.
In my case, I use Apple CarPlay during my drives and Siri for most actions I’d need. However, the voice commands for the device are extremely useful to perform certain actions without the need to use the menus on the camera. For instance, using the voice commands allows you to display the appropriate camera on the display, start a recording, lock a recording, take a photo, and even turn the screen on or off. All of these are great for on-the-fly actions during an accident, an odd event captured on camera, or if you’d like to take a look at the rear windshield to view the traffic behind you.
Both cameras offer a wide viewing angle, which does a great job capturing most of the viewable area with either side, with the front camera having a slightly better view. I’d recommend a center mount point, as you’ll be unable to adjust the camera angles left or right once installed. The 4K video captured is clear enough to make out most license plates on the front camera, and depending on the angle of the rear camera and the tint, will likely capture most of the detail of the vehicles behind you. I will say, compared to the previous camera this replaced, the resolution was much clearer during the day, and provided a similar experience at night. I should also note that the rear camera is capturing in 1080P, which easily outperformed my previous 720P rear camera.
Overall, I was impressed with the camera quality, the GPS integrated Mount with power, the easy installation, and the better capture quality compared to my previous 1080 resolution dashcam. It’s up to you if you decide to use the app, or Alexa, but both offer their own advantages and features to really maximize the use of the dash cam.
Mobile Submission: False
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Keep enjoying your favorite sound equipment without an expensive component update. SOUNDFORM CONNECT Audio Adapter with AirPlay 2 turns your stereo into an AirPlay 2-enabled speaker to stream the music that you love from iOS and Mac devices. Our adapter is equipped with optical and 3.5mm output that brings signal from your devices to any speaker or receiver with an audio input.
Customer Rating
5
Great way to add AirPlay!
on December 2, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
I’ve been using a full Apple device household now for several years, and even maintained a 3rd Generation AppleTV hooked into my receiver for AirPlay with Apple Music in my office. The was overkill for this purpose, and I often had to restart the older device to get it to populate in my AirPlay list, or use the remote to turn the Apple TV on in order to use it. So, I was happy to see a third party device, which I’d hope would solve this use case for me.
In the box, you’ll find the Belkin SoundForm device, a USB C cable, a power adapter, and setup documents. Important to note, you will need to provide the appropriate audio cable, whether optical or a 3.5mm input cable for your receiver, as this doesn’t come with either. The USB C to A power cable that comes with the device is only about 3 feet long, which wasn’t long enough to run down the desk to an available power plug. However, it isn't an issue if your receiver can output 5W of power from an available USB plug. One one end of the device, you’ll find the audio connections, and the USB C on the other side with a reset pinhole nearby; in case you need to factory reset the device for any reason during setup.
Using your iPhone, you simply need to unlock your phone, and hold the device near the HomeKit label on the bottom of the device. My iPhone (running iOS 15), simply popped up to select a room, then go through the prompts of naming the device. This is all done independently of any Belkin App, which wasn’t required for setup, but is helpful with displaying the status of the device and installing any available firmware updates. In my case, the device was ready to use out of the box, and the app simply displayed a volume and settings button, which allowed me to rename the device, check the information of the device, and a sync audio option. The sync audio option in the app simply allows you to use auto sync, or set manual ms timing adjustments to account for any latency.
Once the device was set up, it was immediately recognized by my iPhone as long as I was on the same WiFi network, and even worked with multi-room selection. During use, my receiver was detecting a 48Khz input over an optical cable, never suffered from latency issues, and the sound was just as good as the Apple TV brick it replaced, without the headaches! Overall, I’m incredibly happy with the Belkin SoundForm, as it allows me now to switch between Vinyl and Apple Music with ease on my “dumb” receiver, plus the installation was easy!
Mobile Submission: False
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The first, and only, drug-free sleep aid solution to use continuous and precise cooling technology to reduce metabolic activity in the frontal cortex of the brain. Quiet your racing mind and fall into deeper, more restorative sleep. Customers have also reported relief from menopause, hot flashes, stress, insomnia, migraines, and that it’s great for relaxation.
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
I’ve had issues with sleep for a few years now, and have used a prescription as a back up for some time. I’m lucky if I get about 4 hours of sleep without it. So, when I had the opportunity to try the Ebb Versa, I figured I’d give it a try and see if it helped without the need to take a sleep aid.
In the box, you’ll find the Ebb Versa, and attached battery pack, a charging cable, and a couple of user manuals showing you how to use it. I was eager to try it out, so I immediately plugged it into the charger so I could use it on the first evening. The device has a cloth like feel, isn’t as heavy as it looks, and isn’t uncomfortable during use. You may find that you’ll need to tighten it down a bit to get full contact of the cooling pads, and it likely wouldn’t work too well for those of you that find the most comfort sleeping on your stomach.
About an hour before bed, I put the device on, ensuring it had a good fit, and turned it on. The battery pack itself is also the control for the device, using the button to set the various cool settings. I found the best setting for me was around level 3, and the effect is almost immediate. During use you will hear a small hum, which at first might seem distracting, but over a short period is suddenly no longer an issue.
Over the course of about another hour, I found myself simply laying there feeling the cool sensation from each pad on my forehead. Surprisingly, I fell asleep with the device on, as intended, and didn’t wake up until about 3 hours later with the device still doing its job keeping my head chilled. I also tend to shift a lot in my sleep, usually ending up on my side most nights, and didn’t once feel the need to adjust the device.
After night four of the device, it was clear this was having an effect on my sleep habits, as I began to fall asleep faster during use, and didn’t once use a sleeping pill. I’m not entirely sure of the science of the device, but I can honestly say this device somehow works. The cold sensation was a bit of a new experience, similar to placing an ice pack without needing a towel to wipe off the condensation or having to refill the ice. The manufacturer claims the device will stay powered for about 8 hours on a full charge, but I never would stay asleep long enough with the device for the battery to drain.
Overall, does this device work? Maybe. For me, it did provide some nights of easier sleep, but it didn’t keep me asleep any longer than usual. However, if you’re looking to try a new sleep gadget, I’d say give this one a try.
Mobile Submission: False
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Liberty 3 Pro are the perfect blend of high quality sound and noise cancellation. With our exclusive ACAA 2.0 technology, you’ll hear deep lows, crystal-clear highs, and very present mids. HearID ANC analyzes your ears and provides noise cancellation based on your environment. A triple-point ergonomic shape means you can wear these buds all day, comfortably. With the case, you get up to 32 hours of playtime (8 hours from the earbuds themselves) so you’ll have long-lasting listening sessions.
Customer Rating
5
Surprisingly excellent sound!
on November 27, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
I’ve never used any of the premium line of headphones from Anker prior to trying out the Liberty 3 Pro’s. Having tried various headphones, I was surprised with both the fit and the sound quality produced without any adjustments.
In the premium packaging you’ll find the ear buds, a wireless charging case, various sized soft tips for a personalized fit, a USB C charging cable, a warranty manual, and a user quick start guide. You’ll need to spend some time trying out the various sized soft ear tips, which are easy to install, to find the right set for you. I’d also recommend looking at the setup tips on the packaging, or reading the quick start guide, to get a good understanding of how to get the best fit for optimal sound.
Pairing simply required opening the case the first time and selecting the headphones on the Bluetooth device list on my iPhone. The free Soundcore app allows you to perform a quick firmware update, check the battery status of the earbuds and the charging case, and also personalize the touch controls & taps.
You can also perform a “HearID” test, which is similar to a hearing test. After asking your age range, the app guides you through various high and low tones, asking you to confirm whether or not you can hear them each time. Based on your results, the app then calibrates the sound for each ear bud, by adjusting the various EQ to provide the best listening experience. After running the test, I did notice an overall more enjoyable sound profile, especially with alternative or acoustic audio. There is also a separate Fit Test, which can be found in the additional settings page in the app. Here you can make sure you’re getting the best noise cancellation and audio while wearing them.
Over the course of several days, I found myself reaching for the Liberty 3 Pro headphones more often than my AirPods. They provided a better overall detail, and the bass response was hitting much more enjoyably compared to others I’ve used. The Noise Cancelling is on par with another premium pair, while maintaining a much higher quality audio experience. It’s hard to explain just how good these headphones sound. Watching movies during a recent business trip, I was amazed at just how well these elevated the viewing experience, while doing it’s best to block out environmental noise. The transparency mode also works well to allow pass through of your surrounding ambient environment noise, without over amplifying it.
Battery life ranged from 7 to 8 hours if I had them on all day with noise cancelling enabled. With the battery case, the packaging claims the headphones will provide up to 32 hours of listening. I have no doubt, as outside my first use, I have yet to have them die on me. I also appreciate the presence detection, which helps to essentially stop any playback when the ear buds are removed and continue when put back on.
The touch controls can be customized for each corresponding tap from single to triple taps. Want the single taps on each earbud to be volume, easy! Would rather trigger Siri or Google Assistant, add it! The tap controls are responsive, with an audible tone playing to confirm each action. There are even “Sound Effects” settings, where you can toggle your HearID sound profile, enable 3D Audio, turn on the default Soundcore Signature EQ, or set your own custom EQ. It was that settings page, where I realized just how much better the HearID Sound profile was compared to the others. I’d challenge you to go through and try each, and see if you agree!
I can honestly say these are the first “Hi Res” wireless ear buds I’ve used, where I believe the hype. The sound quality is much higher than I was expecting. The charging case is about the same size of my AirPods case, the various ear tips and wing sizes allow for personalized fit, and the app experience is simple yet very effective. I haven’t run into any disconnects in my weeks of use, the battery life has been great, and the wireless charging makes keeping them powered easy. I’d highly recommend giving these a try.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Echo Frames are smart audio glasses that give you hands-free access to Alexa. They are designed to help you save time so you can focus on what matters most. Use them to listen to audio entertainment, control your smart home, stay productive and organized, and communicate hands-free.
Customer Rating
5
Quality Sunglasses with Alexa!
on November 24, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
I’ve only ever had experience using a previous attempt at smart glasses by a huge search company. So, when I had the opportunity to try out the new Echo Frames as my daily wear sunglasses, I didn’t wait. I was surprised by the design, the quality of the lenses, and the compliments I was getting from the general public.
In the box, you’ll find the glasses, a nice hard case, a cleaning cloth, a charging cable, and some basic warranty information. You’ll need to make sure you have the most up to date version of the Alexa app installed on your phone. It will need to actively share your data connection in order to take advantage of the features and voice control. Pairing them to the Alexa app was straightforward and performed a quick update to the glasses once setup was complete. They came with a 40% charge, so I went ahead and plugged in the charger.
The charging cable itself has a pin layout that matches up and magnetizes to the frame for a quick connection. I’d compare this to a similar feel of a MagSafe charger. There was no fuss of removing a plastic cover or need to even pay too much attention about lining it up. It simply snaps in place on the bottom side of the frame, and immediately begins charging. You’ll notice a small LED light up red, until it’s done charging, at which point it’s green. It didn’t take very long to charge either, and given the limited use I wasn’t expecting it to discharge quickly either.
The glasses themselves are a glossy black finish, with dark glossy finish on my Sunglass lenses. If you’re wondering about your prescription, you can take the frames with your current prescription to LensCrafters for easy replacement. Wearing these for drives and walks has been just like any other pair of sunglasses. Even though the frames are slightly thicker to house the components, you’d have a hard time thinking they were any different than most wayfarer type of glasses. I even had a few compliments as I wore them around friends and family. They were all surprised when I showed them how they had Alexa built in.
I actually believed these were bone conducting audio but was surprised to find there were two small speakers pointing downward toward your ears. There is almost a small LED light, in the upper right corner of the inside of the frame. If you look up slightly, you’ll see it trigger anytime you’ve activated Alexa or engaged with the touch control. It’s not so bright that you’ll be blinded, but just dim enough to be seen at any time of day. If the battery dies at any point, they continue to function as sunglasses, just without any of the smart features. When paired to your phone, they’ll work like Bluetooth headphones, allowing you to play music, podcasts, or trigger Alexa commands. You’ll hear the familiar voice of Alexa as she looks up things for you, adds items to your shopping lists, or triggers your smart home commands.
Just to clear up any confusion, there is no digital display or HUD displayed on the lenses at any point during use. The LED light is the only visual indicator you’ll see blink when you’re triggering a command. On a full charge I was able to get anywhere from about 2 to 4 hours of use. My two-hour battery life was due to my excessive use of voice commands, as I was delightfully testing out Alexa for the first time. It lasted a lot longer if I was using it mostly for playback, like Bluetooth wireless headphones. The speakers themselves aren’t so loud that anyone around you will hear what’s being said, unless it’s super loud. The volume can also be toggled using the physical buttons located on the right temple arm of the frame, along with the action button. I was happy with the overall volume of the sound being beamformed. However, in louder environments, I found that the sound was difficult to make out, even if when actively trying to use them. The right temple is also responsive to tap and swipe gestures to respond to notifications. The Alexa app even allows you to designate “VIP” contacts, so you only receive select notification alerts, which also benefits your battery life.
Overall, I’d say these are great for lovers of the Alexa feature sets. I found this great to control actions for my home before the garage door was even open. They were comfortable to wear during my normal use, the build quality feels right, and the responsiveness with Alexa is great.
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The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer.Portal Go makes the best of Portal portable, so you’re free to see where the conversation takes you. Whether you’re chasing a toddler or just want a change of scenery, Portal Go’s built-in battery and integrated carry handle help keep the conversation going as you move from room to room. Connect to anyone—even if they don’t have a Portal—with Messenger, WhatsApp, Zoom and more. Portal’s Smart Camera will pan and zoom to keep you in frame so you can move and talk naturally, whatever the task at hand. High fidelity audio fills any room with sound whether you’re on a call, watching entertainment, listening to music with Spotify, Pandora or Tidal, or even using Portal Go as a portable Bluetooth speaker around the home. You can take your office anywhere with a dedicated calling screen to free up your laptop with screen sharing, calendars and conference calling on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Workplace. An ever-expanding AR library lets you blur backgrounds or add effects to liven up calls, while StoryTime uses AR, animation and music to let you tell immersive bedtime stories to loved ones anywhere in the world. Portal Go brings the good times to any room in your house even when it’s not in use with an HD display showing all your favorite photos from Instagram, Facebook or uploaded from your phone via the Portal app. You can explore with Portal’s browser or enjoy entertainment via a range of apps. And with Alexa Built-in, you can ditch the remote and control your smart home and connected devices with the sound of your voice. When you’re done, simply set your Portal Go on its Charging Dock until you need it next. Portal’s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the with the camera cover. All Messenger and WhatsApp calls are encrypted.
Customer Rating
4
Great way to stay connected to friends and family.
on November 14, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
The Portal Go, by Facebook (now Meta), seems to land somewhere between a digital assistant and a great way to stay in touch with your loved ones. I was curious to see how the “Alexa” feature worked and was pleasantly surprised with the performance.
In the box, you’ll find the Portal Go and a dock for charging. Powering on the device for the first time, and you’re welcomed with setup, where you’ll need to sign into your Facebook account to pair the device. There was also an update that was applied once it was connected to the internet. Overall setup time was around 10 minutes with the update installation being the longer duration of the process. I was also surprised to see that it included the ability to sign in or pair with your WhatsApp, Workplace, and a few other accounts. The camera also had a slide over cover, which would also display a camera off icon in the status area.
If you’re using the Portal as an overall home device, you can also enable a household feature, which allows everyone to use the device without worrying about your personal profile’s privacy. You can still go back to your personal profile on the device, and secure access with a Pin. The included apps are limited, compared to other smart featured displays, and some features require the use of the built-in browser. The browser, however, was quite responsive and handled most websites without issue. This Is where you benefit setting up Alexa on your Portal. It had access to pretty much every skill I already have enabled in my Alexa Smart Skills. When using Alexa, you’ll hear the familiar Alexa voice, and she responds in similar ways to one of Amazon’s display devices. I was able to use the same commands to call on familiar smart home triggers, and even call up my Alexa enabled cameras, including my doorbell.
The 10-inch screen is clear, easy to see, and goes into a sleep state when not actively in use. You can also turn your Portal go into a digital photo display, by selecting specific Facebook, Instagram, or phone photos in settings. I can see families using this feature to display a gallery of photos, which look great on the larger display. Otherwise, you can continue using the built-in screensaver, which cycles through curated art photos and nature backdrops. The Portal voice commands themselves can look up information and be used to start video calls with those on your Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp contact list. I found using the built-in call features pleasant, and my family loved the pan feature. My niece had me walk back and forth just to watch the camera follow me in either direction.
The biggest feature is the ability to take the Portal with you, around your home, and use the device to watch YouTube videos, join video calls, or listen to your Spotify account. The built-in browser can be used to browse most websites, and the touch keyboard was responsive when needed for type entries. The battery charge lasts upwards of 8 hours, and in my use did require placing on the charger at around 7 hours of extended Spotify and a few facebook messenger video chats. In case you’re wondering, I was able to have up to 8 people on a group video call with Messenger.
To charge the Portal Go, you simply place the device on the charging dock, which fits in the small cut out on the bottom of the Portal device. I can’t recall a single time where I had to re-adjust the charging dock to make sure the device was charging with an audible tone confirming charging has started. The speakers are clear, plenty loud, with most bass sounding as expected for a device like this. Listening to music, watching video content or taking video calls are a great experience, and the speakers perform well overall. I found setting the volume at midway was more than enough for most purposes. Call quality was clear, with minimal buffering on my Wi-Fi network. The small cut out handle makes carrying and moving the device easy. It has a similar weight to holding a large tablet or laptop.
If you’re worried about the microphone being on the entire time, you can simply tap the small circle/mute button on the top, and you’ll see a small red LED light turn on. There is also a small notification on the screen that confirms the mute setting. The battery charge is easy to see at any point, with it being displayed in the status area of the screen. If you’re using this as a personal device, you’ll see your current Facebook profile photo, your most used apps, your selected favorite contacts list. If you’re using additional apps, you’ll be able to scroll down the screen to perform actions like playing one of your Spotify shortcuts or read through some “how to” tips to use on your Portal Go. Using your location, it even shows you a summary of the current weather, just below the clock. If you want to see a forecast for the day, you’ll find some limitations, such as, only being able to show you a day by day forecast vs a summarized week.
So, who is this Portal Go for? I’d say this is a great way to stay connected with friends and family. Especially if you’re all connected on any of the available apps you can use on the device. You will need to pair this to your Facebook account but do have choice to limit the use of your voice data; even having the ability to delete voice captures. Using Alexa is a familiar process, performing most (if not all) smart skills enabled through the Alexa app. There is added security settings to ensure your device remains locked when not in use, such as requiring the use of a lock code, or even limiting to general use by an entire household. You can have multiple profiles, all with their own login sessions for all the various apps. The “Hey Portal” feature is great for hands free calling, getting simple weather updates, or starting your selected music app. I should clarify that your friends and family don’t need to use a Portal to receive a call from you, they just need to be using one of the supported Apps.
Ultimately, this is a well-rounded device for staying connected with friends, family, or even attending work meetings on any of the apps compatible with the Portal Go. The browser allows access to most websites, with basic browsing capabilities, like reading up on additional news or multimedia websites. I was pleasantly surprised with the included Alexa support, with the ability to use all the same voice commands and access the same camera streaming skills I was already using on my previous smart display. Given the greater desire to stay connected with loved ones or colleagues and assuming you’re using Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Zoom this is an easy recommendation. You'll be disappointed if you're wanting a similar experience to an Amazon device, but happy to know that the voice commands and skills all seem to work.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Night Owl is excited to offer our U.S. designed and engineered 4K Wi-Fi Bluetooth Network Video Recorder with Wi-Fi IP 4K Spotlight Cameras and Pre-Installed Hard Drive. With secure app-based Bluetooth setup, there is no need to connect a TV or monitor for setup or viewing (optional). You can easily configure your system right from the app on your smartphone or tablet with the Bluetooth connection. While a TV or monitor is not required, with Google Assistant you can use simple voice commands to stream camera footage directly to your TV or monitor, all while remaining hands free. Each camera has 2-Way audio (talk and listen) as well as a built-in siren and preset voice alerts. From within the app, you can easily activate the built-in siren, startling intruders and sending them packing. Have a guest but can’t get to them? Use a preset voice alert to let them know! Smart detection technology including human detection, facial capture, and vehicle alerts reduce the risk of false alarms, keeping you safe and well protected. Facial capture lets you see who is on your property by snapping a photo and sending the image to your Smart Device. Motion-activated dual spotlights flood your yard with bright lights when human motion is detected, instantly warding off trespassers. Proudly designed and engineered in the USA, our security system uses a built-in wireless connection for uninterrupted viewing with no delays. Our app gives you control of your system and easy access to your recordings, regardless of where you are. Night Owl never charges fees for storage or access to your videos. All recordings are securely stored on a pre-installed hard drive for convenience. You can view and download the recordings as you need them. This system provides the latest technology to give you the ultimate security experience. NOTE: Your Wi-Fi recorder is compatible with our BWNIP2 (Wire Free), WNIP2 (Wi-Fi IP) and WNIP8 (Wi-Fi IP) Series devices and is not backward compatible with other Night Owl products.
Customer Rating
3
Nice System, not so great power plugs!
on November 2, 2021
Posted by: Samrio
from Austin, TX
With Wi-Fi Security Cameras becoming the norm in smart homes, I appreciated the approach of having “Wi-Fi” capable 4K cameras without the on-going monthly fee to access them.
In the box you’ll find the DVR, a box with all the accessories for hookup which include an Ethernet cord, power adapters, a mouse, a Pin Key for resets, and mounting hardware. You’ll also find all four cameras neatly boxed with antennas detached, and mounting screws for each. You can perform setup with either your smartphone, with the Night Owl Protect App installed over Bluetooth, or follow the on-screen prompts to complete setup.
The smartphone app, while intuitive suffered from issues from the start, with the DVR box beginning and finishing the firmware install, rebooting, only to act like it wasn’t paired to the App or the account I set up from the beginning. I then power cycled the DVR, only to find it was acting as if the set up never happened, and then proceeded to perform the setup manually using a monitor and the mouse. Adding the four cameras also became a pain, as somewhere down the line the DVR remembered it was already paired, and then failed to see the last two cameras in pairing mode, necessitating that I start the set up process all over again. Either way, the initial install was a frustrating experience for me.
Next up, mounting. Once you’ve paired all four initial cameras, you can then unplug them from power and proceed to mount them. This is where I found myself hit a wall and was unable to further continue with proper setup. The power adapters that come with all the cameras are oriented in a way that makes them impossible to plug into power in an outdoor weather covered receptacle. I had intended on using these cameras for outdoor use to monitor my entry way and around the perimeter. My home was built only 5 years ago, and the rectangular power adapter doesn’t fit in the outdoor power plugs, due to the weather protective box that covers them. Calling an electrician and was quoted a couple hundred dollars to replace the power plugs with covers that would allow for the adapters to plug in. The only recommendation from support was to purchase aftermarket power adapters, that meet the same specifications on the power adapters themselves and would properly fit into the plugs without issue.
Unfortunately, this wasn't an investment I wished to proceed with, as my previous cameras didn’t suffer from this adapter issue. Although the picture quality would be ideal, given the 4K resolution and wireless capability, I wonder if Night Owl had researched power receptacles on a variety of homes, or just assumed they’d be plugged into an exposed wall plug or surge protector with plenty of room for their OEM adapters.
Given the frustrating setup process, and the inability to use the plugs to power the cameras outdoors, this makes this camera system a non-starter for me. So, I went to my brother’s home hoping he could use them, and again was met with the same style/size outdoor power plugs unable to use the power adapter in the orientation they’re in. For all these reasons listed, I’d only recommend these for indoor use either in your home or small business, or those who have power plugs that aren’t obstructed by newer weather resistant outdoor power plugs. Once the DVR and Cameras were properly paired, I was happy with the overall experience of using them, but given my inability to use them as intended, they didn’t stay powered on for long.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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This is not a laptop. It’s so much more. Meet Combo Touch, the keyboard case with trackpad that enables new levels of versatility with iPad Pro. Navigate and work in apps like never before with a new click-anywhere trackpad — our largest ever* — that gives you more space and allows for Multi-Touch trackpad gestures. SMART CONNECTOR technology helps to deliver an incredibly responsive trackpad experience and also makes powering and pairing the keyboard instant. Type comfortably for hours with laptop-like backlit keys that automatically adjust to your environment. You can always see what you're typing thanks to 16 levels of brightness. Enjoy convenient access to volume controls and more with a full row of iPadOS shortcut keys. The iPad Pro meets its aesthetic match with a slim, sleek design — the thinnest keyboard case we've ever designed with a trackpad.* The elegant woven outer fabric feels as great as it looks and the case is molded to fit your iPad Pro, protecting the front, back, and corners from scrapes and bumps. Your iPad Pro is held securely in place so you can have peace of mind that it won’t slip out and focus on what matters most — getting things done. *Compared to Logitech keyboard cases with trackpad released in 2020.
Will this fit the gen 4 12.9 iPad Pro?
Having both the Gen 4 and Gen 5 iPad Pro 12.9, I can confirm this works on both.
2 years, 11 months ago
by
Samrio
Refreshed and ready to take its rightful spot atop a new generation of consoles, the Turtle Beach® Stealth™ 600 Gen 2 is the successor to the best-selling wireless gaming headset for PS5™, PS4™ & PS4™ Pro. The Stealth™ 600 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset is enhanced with a host of upgrades, including a larger high-sensitivity flip-to-mute mic that delivers improved chat clarity and now seamlessly integrates into the headset when muted. The headband and hinge design have been reinforced for added long-term durability, and soft, glasses-friendly ear cushions provide plush comfort while refined 50mm speakers produce high-quality, immersive sound and are optimized to unleash the power of Sony 3D Audio on PS5™. A user-friendly audio preset button on the headset allows for easy access to customize audio, and gamers can still count on Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing® for an audio advantage on the battlefield. Finally, connectivity is made easy with the included, mini-USB Transmitter that wirelessly connects from your PlayStation® console to headset.
Is this Headset compatible with Apple Products?
I have been using this with my Mac Pro, using the included dongle.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
Samrio
Refreshed and ready to take its rightful spot atop a new generation of consoles, the Turtle Beach® Stealth™ 600 Gen 2 is the successor to the best-selling wireless gaming headset for PS5™, PS4™ & PS4™ Pro. The Stealth™ 600 Gen 2 wireless gaming headset is enhanced with a host of upgrades, including a larger high-sensitivity flip-to-mute mic that delivers improved chat clarity and now seamlessly integrates into the headset when muted. The headband and hinge design have been reinforced for added long-term durability, and soft, glasses-friendly ear cushions provide plush comfort while refined 50mm speakers produce high-quality, immersive sound and are optimized to unleash the power of Sony 3D Audio on PS5™. A user-friendly audio preset button on the headset allows for easy access to customize audio, and gamers can still count on Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing® for an audio advantage on the battlefield. Finally, connectivity is made easy with the included, mini-USB Transmitter that wirelessly connects from your PlayStation® console to headset.
Can these be used with a PC?
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
is this fully compatible with ios?
Yes, they support using Siri, and work flawlessly for me on iPhone X.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Samrio
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
Can they work independently? Is there a microphone in each piece so you can just switch between the 2 to gain the most amount of battery time?
Yes, they can work independently. However, the battery time was approx 5 to 6 hours with non-stop noise cancelling use before I had to charge them. Even so, about 10 minutes in the case gave me another 1 to 2 hours of use without issue.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Samrio
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
How comfortable are they? Do they feel like they're going to fall out with rigorous exercise (running) or do they have a secure fit a majority of the time?
Took these on a run outside, on a treadmill, on a bike ride, lifting at the gym, and never once fell out.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Samrio
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
I can’t understand why it can’t be connected to Ps4. Any idea out here?
This is actually a limitation from Sony Computer Entertainment, in regards to the PlayStation 4. They only allow pairing of officially PlayStation licensed headphones designed for use on the console. Even though these were designed by Sony, they weren't designed for use with the console. There are various 3rd party dongles you can purchase to use unsupported bluetooth headphones, if this is what you're trying to do.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Samrio
Immerse yourself in music or movies with this LG TONE Studio wearable speaker. It has four drivers to let you experience three-dimensional surround sound and feel low-frequency vibrations from the bass through your body. This LG TONE Studio wearable speaker is Bluetooth compatible for easy connection to your smart devices.
so this is a speaker that you wear around your neck? Does the sound work with and without the ear buds?
You can use either speaker mode, or ear bud mode. There is a toggle button on the device to select either sound option. If you're in ear bud mode, it shuts the speaker off. You just wear it the same way, no need to re-adjust the way it's sitting for speaker mode.
6 years, 9 months ago
by
Samrio
The Magnifi Mini home theater sound bar system delivers big room-filling audio and surround sound experience you’d expect from a full-size sound bar—all in an ultra-compact design that fits any space. Polk’s exclusive Voice Adjust technology dramatically increases vocal clarity and volume level for crystal clear dialogue no matter what you’re watching. Plus, our patented surround technology and Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding creates incredible room-filling surround sound all from a sound bar that is less than 15” long. Compatible with nearly all TVs, the universal sound bar works with your TV, cable box or satellite IR remote control and features simple setup in minutes with the included HDMI cable. The powerful wireless subwoofer delivers deep impactful bass to your favorite movies, TV, games, sports and music too. And if volume’s too loud during late night viewing, Night Mode lets you easily watch your favorite programs at night without waking the neighbors or other family members in your home. What’s more, bring the concert into your room with wireless music streaming via WiFi, Google Cast and Bluetooth. Whatever you do, just don’t let the MagniFi Mini’s small size fool you—this is that big Polk sound you love from a little bar.
I cannot connect directly to my TV because of location, can I connect this directly to the cable box?
You can, using the included optical cable. It's best to connect it to your TV if you have multiple sources (e.g. gaming consoles, DVD, Bluray players, etc.).
6 years, 11 months ago
by
Samrio
The Magnifi Mini home theater sound bar system delivers big room-filling audio and surround sound experience you’d expect from a full-size sound bar—all in an ultra-compact design that fits any space. Polk’s exclusive Voice Adjust technology dramatically increases vocal clarity and volume level for crystal clear dialogue no matter what you’re watching. Plus, our patented surround technology and Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding creates incredible room-filling surround sound all from a sound bar that is less than 15” long. Compatible with nearly all TVs, the universal sound bar works with your TV, cable box or satellite IR remote control and features simple setup in minutes with the included HDMI cable. The powerful wireless subwoofer delivers deep impactful bass to your favorite movies, TV, games, sports and music too. And if volume’s too loud during late night viewing, Night Mode lets you easily watch your favorite programs at night without waking the neighbors or other family members in your home. What’s more, bring the concert into your room with wireless music streaming via WiFi, Google Cast and Bluetooth. Whatever you do, just don’t let the MagniFi Mini’s small size fool you—this is that big Polk sound you love from a little bar.
Are there wireless rear speakers that can be added ?
No, it's not designed to have additional speakers.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
Samrio