3Tcubed's stats
- Review count222
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- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewOctober 26, 2025
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- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count72
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- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
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The iSteady M7 brings mobile filmmaking to new heights through innovations. Featuring an upgraded on-device AI tracker, it seamlessly tracks any subject, from person to object, with your phone's native camera. With an innovative detachable touchscreen remote, it enables real-time preview and tracking target selection from a distance, making solo filmmaking easier than ever!
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I've been wanting a steadicam/follow-me phone/camera holder for quite some time. I've been doing product reviews for several years (like this one). I've wanted to take them a step further and have a video of the unpacking and product reviews (offering more than still photos. This Hohem iSteady M7 looks to come close to meeting my needs. I'd like to be able to use either my iPhone, Google Pixel or a GoPro type action cam. I also have a micro 4:3 DSLR that I use for AstroPhotography and product images, it can't be controlled remotely like the phone's or GoPro. The other thing I would like to have steady cam for is high resolution panoramic images (100+mp images stitched together, of landscapes or Astro Photos.
What stood out for me about the Hohem iSteady M7 was its detachable remote. It not only can be used for control but it can also display the image being captured (on a small display). I unpacked the M7 and was most pleased to find it included a very nice, professional case to hold the steadicam handle, cables, and tripod stand. The iSteady M7 also supports a payload of 500g which will allow my smartphone/GoPro to have additional filters or lens installed. Most phones only weigh 200-250 grams, so the additional weight supported by this gimbal is most welcome. The iSteady M7 only weighs 650 grams, and can be used (for up to 4 hours w/AI tracker, 8 wo/AI tracker). The (removable) AI tracking module also has a built in led fill light, which can be set from soft to cool or any RGB color. It's not "studio" bright but for a simple shadow fill its a perfect "quick" accessory. It also had a magnetic mount so it can be turned forward or backward on top of the gimbels phone clamp. I immediately found that the gimbels stabilization and the iPhone's own stabilization "fought" each other. Disabling the iPhones own internal stabilization provided much better results when using the iSteady M7. The Gimble has a built-in "selfie" extension pole (~8"), which is also useful when used with the tripod stand to raise the camera off a desk. The bottom of the gimble has a std tripod screw to attach the gimbal to any tripod or the included tripod leg pad. Unlike many cheap gimbels the M7 can rotate not only 360 degrees but it can do that continuously (it can actually spin). All three arms (axis') of the gimble have independent physical locking mechanisms. The gimbal also supports reverse charging, allowing the gimbals batteries to charge your phone (5V, no fast charging).
The coolest feature is the detachable remote, with touch screen. You can use the remote's display to tell the gimble what to track by double tapping on the image you want to track (like your face) and it will start following you, double tap again and it will stop tracking you. This is such a cool function for vloggers that work by themselves. It functioned flawlessly, truly amazing in such a small package, and controllable via the tiny remote, which can still be used to tilt/pan away from you as well as controlling the phone's zoom (which you can set the speed slow, med or fast zooming). On medium it took about 20s to go from 1x to 50x on my iPhone 17 pro. There are many more features that interface with the camera's setting (more like a DSLR with ISO & Shutter speed). If you're used to using another camera control app, like Blackmagic, only one can control the phone's camera.
I have to say that I'm terribly impressed by this gimbal. Hohem has a studio app with canned storyboards. I thought this would be really handy if I could define my own shooting plan/storyboards to replace what they have canned. Unfortunately I could not find a way to do this. I also could not find a way to redefine the matrix sizes used for panoramas, it looks like the app should allow this but it seems not to be implemented yet. Their app also cannot assemble (stitch together a panorama automatically), but there's other software that will do this for you. All and all if you'd like a hand controlling your camera this is a great tool. I hope that they continue to improve their Hohem Joy app, so much more could be added to it to make it a better tool for videographers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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HyperX SoloCast 2 is an all-in-one USB microphone designed for gamers and creators who want great sound without the fuss. Featuring a built-in shock mount, internal pop filter, and tiltable stand, this plug-and-play mic delivers clear audio in a compact, self-contained form. Customize your sound using onboard filters via HyperX NGENUITY Software.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
The HyperX SoloCast 2 USB is a new and improved microphone (made by HP). It uses (optional) HyperX NGENUITY app which allows for customization of gain, equalization and filters (high-pass, low-pass, and AI noise reduction). I installed the latest beta version of the NGENUITY software and encountered no problems (after a reboot). Their software required new audio drives to be installed (It's my understanding the Microphone works fine the default w/Windows 11 drivers). The HyperX driver allows their software to handle multiple filtering methods (including AI).
From my initial tests it delivers clear quite detailed audio with a most natural tone. It has a cardioid pickup pattern that allows the voice to be isolated to minimize background noise. It has a very convenient mute function where you simply tap on the top of the microphone to mute/unmute the microphone. This also turns on/off the red LED indicator when it is muted. It includes 3/8" & 5/8" inch threading to use it with a boom arm/stand. It has a compact, space-saving design which features a built-in shock mount and pop filter to reduce unwanted noise. For its price it delivers very crisp audio. I was using a 'certain color' microphone on my PC and this HyperX SoloCast is superior in many ways. I used it with my Mac Mini and it worked well (the NGENUITY software is not available for the Mac (yet?)) and was automatically recognised. I also used a USB-C to USB-C cable to connect this mic to my iPhone and it worked perfectly, with much higher quality sound than the iPhone's internal mic; so you can use the SoloCast 2 for a podcast/video from your iPhone. The mic sounds best if you are fairly close to it, as you move further away it loses definition (as all mics do). If you're within 2-3 feet of the mic the sound quality is excellent. I did find that the NGENUITY software does not "remember" what settings were set last when the application is started/stopped (notable, but a minor issue). This is not the best studio mic you can buy, but it provides a huge step up from a stock microphone and is probably better than any $100 dollar microphone I've tried/used.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Capture every drive with confidence using the ARC 700, a powerful 4K dash cam offering crystal-clear front and 2K rear recording. Equipped with Sony STARVIS and Galaxycore sensors, HDR, and Super Night Vision 3.0, it delivers sharp, balanced footage day or night. Enjoy peace of mind with advanced Parking Surveillance Modes, including Motion & Impact Detection, Time Lapse, and optional Radar Mode. Smart Thermal Protection ensures reliable performance in extreme heat, while Safety Camera Alerts and support for up to 256GB microSD cards add everyday convenience. The ARC 700 comes ready to install~everything you need, right in the box.
Customer Rating
4
Nice Camera (App could be improved)
on October 20, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
ThinkWare ARC700 4K UHD + 2K QHD Dash Cam bundle. I've been using a 1200p dash cam for the past 5 yrs, and decided it was time to get up to date. I wanted front and back cameras this time around. This ARC700 seemed small enough to fit the bill. And it supported 2.4 and 5G WiFi, my previous only had 2.4 and it took forever to review. The ARC700 features the Sony Starvis image sensor (which I'm familiar with as being one of the best low light, HDR sensors available).
Upon opening the box I discovered the camera set had to be powered by a 12v or 24v power source, it could not get connected directly to the USB 3.0 power that my car offered (from several positions). My old dash cam was USB powered. But because of this I did have the dashboard lighter available. The ARC700 does come with an accessory harness that allows the dash cam to be hard wired to the car's 24v power system (I would not be using, but it's nice the cable harness set was included).
I installed the ThinkWare DashCamLink software. and not surprisingly it could not locate the dashcam. So I went out to my car. The dashcam initially connects and pairs via Bluetooth, just hold down the BT key once the unit is powered up. The rec REC led will be on as well as the blue BT bars. Under the BT bars is the BT pairing button, hold it down for 3s to pair the devices. Once paired the app will attempt to connect to it's own 5G network. This is used to display the LiveView and offer other configuration options. By default the fount camera's view is displayed, but if you click on the circled "R" it will show the rear view. The front view was quite wide and clear, definitely more detailed and better color than my old 1200p camera. The rear (which I had not mounted in the back yet) also looked very good. I made several configuration changes, with each change the ARC700 Dash Cam reformatted the 64GB MicroSD card which it came with. I'm not sure why this is required, but once set up I'm not likely to make changes in the future. The "safety" LEDs on the front and back cameras can be enabled/disabled independently. The monitor parking feature can also be enabled/disabled.
The Dash cam can optionally be connected to a Radar device (which I won't be using). It can also monitor the car to take images when the car is parked and jarred (if power to the device is always connected (it won't be for me). The device has more features than I'm likely to use. I do wish it was USB powered, as this would have simplified my power setup. In using the dashcam I had it not detected when starting the car and it wanted to format the SD card and I had to connect to it via my phone to get it set up, other than this nuisance (-1 star) I'm very happy with the quality of the dashcam. If you are going to be recording 4K video, I recommend getting a 128GB or 256GB SD card.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Valor Pro Wireless pushes performance on Xbox with game-changing features. React faster with the rear paddles by keeping your thumbs on the thumbsticks while you jump, slide, reload, and more. With a low-latency wireless connection, Bluetooth~, and 1k Hz polling on PC, every movement stays sharp and responsive. Our new anti-drift TMR thumbsticks are designed to feel familiar while still alleviating common symptoms of wear and tear. Customize your controller settings without ever leaving your console with the SCUF app available on Xbox and PC. The built-in battery delivers up to 17 hours of playtime and recharges fast with the included 6ft USB-C.
Customer Rating
5
Extremely flexible, responsive
on October 20, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
The Corsair SCUF Valor Pro Wireless controller can be used with an XBOX or PC; connected via USB or Wirelessly via BT (mobile devices) or Low Latency RF. My first impression is that it is a high quality controller, with textured rubber on the rear and smooth rubber on the front. It weighs 10.2oz (which is about 40% less than a Xbox controller 15.7 oz) and about the same size. It is a highly user customizable controller. It can either be customized via remapping profiles. Any paddle can be remapped by holding the paddle down and pressing the button you want to be saved. The included concave thumbsticks can be changed out for either a short or tall convex thumbstick. The inner paddles can be disabled or completely replaced by blank plates. The controller can also control the audio/mic from a wired headset (std 3.5mm connector), two scroll wheels handle the audio levels of the headphones and mic (without affecting windows or xbox volumes (still independent). In wired mode polling can be set to 1K (PC only). Low Latency RF polling is done at 500 poles/sec. As of today most consoles/games do not support 1K polling (but this may be coming soon).
The SCUF Valor Pro also has a Companion App (now in Beta) available from the windows store (for Windows and Xbox). The companion app provides a graphic interface to remapping all paddle/button remapping. I found that you must use the controller to navigate the app (you can't use mouse or trackpad to control/interface with the app). Besides this the app performed as expected (no issues I discovered).
Connecting the controller to your device is easily done using the included USB-C to USB-A cable to an XBOX or PC using the XBOX or PC (or BT) switch on the bottom of the controller. Then press and hold the Nexus (Xbox logo) until you are connected. To connect with Low Latency RF, connect the included RF dongle to the Xbox or PC via a USB-A port. Then press and hold the Nexus (Xbox logo) until you are connected. To connect via Bluetooth select the BT button on the controllers bottom and press and hold the Nexus (Xbox logo) until you are connected. You will then need to go to the Bluetooth setting and select the Valor Pro Wireless Controller and you can then play via Bluetooth (you have to connect within 20s). I tried the BT on my PC and iPhone and both worked as expected. I tried both with Asphalt Legends and RaceRoom games. Both platforms worked as expected.
Here I have to say how responsive the controller was in wired mode... very impressive. Instantaneous responsiveness. BT was prompt but not instantaneous. The feel of the controller is excellent, the lighter controller felt great. I used the 'built in' Racing profile and out of the box it was 95% of what I'd have wanted. I re-mapped the "Y" and "A" buttons to be shift up/shift down and it worked as I wanted it. I do want to also commend Corsair on the quality of their documentation and the step-by-step by setup information. When I found no real documentation in the box my initial impression was how I was supposed to figure out all of the options. After using their QR code, it did a better job of walking me through the set up then any printed documentation could have. If you want a wireless controller this is probably king of the hill. If you don't care about wireless then their new wired controller is less expensive. The degree/flexibility of remapping all paddles/buttons is quite remarkable. Using their companion app any number of profiles can be defined to handle all this re-mapping.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Navigator robot vacuum is perfect for starting your journey to a cleaner home. Unlike robots that just bounce around, it uses Smart Path Navigation to map your home and clean in a row-by-row pattern. It delivers powerful performance on carpets & hard floors and detects & avoids objects~so you don~t have to tidy up beforehand.
Customer Rating
4
A quite Robot that works!
on September 16, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
Ok, this is my 9th vacuuming robot. I live in a multi-floor, split level home. I have 5 specific levels (with one or more steps between levels). This one I got for my master Bathroom (Toilet, Bath & Closet). Long ago I got tired of moving robots from one area to another. This is my second Shark, it's replacing an "off brand" that is not performing as needed (and apparently no longer supported). This is my only robot that is/was not self emptying (I prefer self emptying, but this is a small area). Shark for years has continued to improve their robots, both making them more powerful and less expensive. I'd call this navigator a mid-range robot. For example, their higher end robots support 5G, this robot only supports 2.4G WiFi. This one can also be controlled with Amazon's and Google Voice assistants (smart home products). Its base unit is very light, but when returning to charge it backs in very slowly. But it is very easy to bump it and change its position. As I've done with others, I suggest using some 'Alien' tape on both sides to make it more difficult to move (so it stays put). Getting it setup was very easy (a QR code takes you to the app to be installed). You must create an online Shark account (which I already had). Once the account is set up you can use the SharkClean app. First you set up the WiFi connection. Then you must charge it to at least 50% (I charged to 100%). Then you map the area where it will be used (you may have to do a firmware update first). I found mapping to be faster than cleaning.
This Shark uses Lidar to create a detailed map of your area before you use it the first time. It then calculates a back and forth pattern to cover your space allowing for furniture and/or other obstacles. Its mapping is very accurate, it rarely touches any objects when cleaning, and is quite gentle around furniture legs and such. It moves pretty quickly in open areas, around the perimeter it moves more slowly. It has two power levels. It does a great job of negotiating rugs/carpet and changing height as necessary (much better than my previous). On hardwood and tile floors, its little whisker helps bring in the dust rather than just blowing it around (I wish it had two). But after making two passes around my defined area, I saw it pass over objects to its right side. It did an excellent job on two fairly thick throw rugs (it changed suction levels to max when doing rugs). I think its exhaust on max on a tile floor may disrupt some of its cleaning duties. On carpet is did a much better job. It did a great job of picking fine threads on my larger rug. The home button caused it to return home, in a fairly direct path as did the return to home command in the app.
The plastic dust bin is.... dainty; not very big. But it has a HEPA filter to prevent dust from escaping when in use. My area is about 400sg ft, and every time I use the robot I empty the robot and it's quite full. I wish the robot could be emptied while it is in the docking stand, but the dust bin is on the head end of the unit. If it were on the tail end it could be removed while charging. It's very compact and well designed, it's 1" thinner than my prior robot, which lets it get under certain areas much better. There is no disposable vacuum bag (no extra cost). It is easy to remove the dust bin to empty. I did not notice much dust escaping when I emptied it. Compared to other robots I think Shark has substantially decreased the noise the robot makes. On solid floors it is very quiet, on rugs, it sucks louder, but it's a different sucking sound, somewhat muted by the rug. Dust does stick to the front of the unit, you will want to wipe the front down periodically. The rotating "cleaners" are designed to prevent the collection of hair.
This robot is competitive, to get a self emptying version or a simpler unit is the real purchase decision you need to make. You can schedule it to run but if you haven't emptied it it might not run long. Where I'm planning to use it, it will be more than adequate for my area. I'm a happy camper.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Cue the connection with the back and better-than-ever SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen). Deceivingly small, this portable powerhouse can fit in the palm of your hand, yet still deliver up to 12 hours~ of crisp sound. Powerful enough to break any silence, anywhere.
Customer Rating
5
Superb Little Speaker (Buy 2)
on September 7, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I had the first Bose SoundLink Mini back in 2013. I used it for years in my office, and I absolutely loved it, it was a groundbreaking product that led so many others to introduce high quality portable speakers. So the new Bose SoundLink Micro (Gen 2) caught my interest. I have probably acquired 10-12 other portable Bluetooth speakers since then. Now I want a small speaker I can use while traveling (generally with others); I needed a high quality portable. I like Micro 2's smaller size and flexible stretch band. Bose does not specify the output wattage of the Mico (gen2), but it's likely 5w as the original Micro was.
Like most BT speakers that are this size they do not have an aux input. Setting the Bose Micro (2) up was easy. I already had the Bose App on my phone, I just added the new product. The app includes a 3 band graphic EQ which I found very handy. The Micro weighs 11.6oz and it can be used for 12h without recharging. It's 4"x4"x1.5". The Gen 2 model has upgraded audio, battery and the newer Bluetooth 5.4. But I'm getting this speaker to travel with, and to use outdoors. I did my testing of the Micro (G2) by my backyard pool. The Micro (G2) has an IP67 rating, meaning it is both waterproof and dustproof, making it suitable for use in harsh conditions like beaches, rain, or the shower. This rating signifies that the speaker can withstand temporary submersion in water.
So to the pool I went. I started listening to Boston's first album. I was about 10 feet from the speaker with the speaker close to a wall. 'More than a Feeling', sounded quite airy, the speaker seemed to bounce the high's around. Quite pleasant. The bass was a little thin, so I adjusted the bass via the EQ in the app, and that muddled the mids. So I again used the EQ to adjust the Bass, Mids and Highs. I kicked up the bass 8db and the mids 4db and the highs 6db. Quite a difference (but I made further changes with a parametric equalizer app I had on my phone offering even better sound quality) . As Boston's 'Foreplay' switches to 'Long Time', and the rhythm picks up, and the speaker sounds very sweet, very easy to listen to. Pretty superb for its size. The bass of 'Smokin' was ok for a smallish speaker, I didn't expect chest thumping bass, and I didn't get it but it had a nice even tone, just what I wanted. I was listening with the speaker turned up to 8, and it was fairly loud (no noticeable distortion). However, turning it up to 10 it was quite loud (I expected to see my neighbors poke their head over my wall), far louder than I expected (or needed for critical listening). I then listened to some DSOTM, 'Money' sounded amazing, a little bass light but the midrange and highs were awesome. 'Us and Them' had a nice presence, the nuances of the girls' voices. And the subtle voices in 'Brain Damage' and 'Eclipse' were superb.
All and all this is a super little speaker, the app they provide is ok (a full range EQ was better). And it provided quite an improvement, proving the speaker has very good, accurate dynamic range. The Micro (G2) real winner for its size, I've found my new travel companion! I like this tiny speaker so much I'll probably get another so I can have Stereo output (supported by holding the Bluetooth and Volume Up buttons on one speaker and the Bluetooth and Volume Down buttons on the other speaker, then press and hold the Bluetooth and Volume Up buttons on either speaker until the voice prompt says "Stereo mode" followed by "Left" from the left speaker and "Right" from the right speaker to confirm). Oh my, how much small speakers have improved since the first Bose SoundLink Mini.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Escape the ordinary with Google Pixel 10. It has Pixel~s most powerful chip, an incredible camera, and Gemini built in to supercharge your productivity and creativity.~
Customer Rating
5
Superb entry level Phone
on September 7, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I'd have to call myself a smartphone brand agnostic. My first "smartphone" was the Motorola T720 in 2002. Since then I've had the Droid, many iPhones and Samsung phones. For quite a while I thought Apple's iOS had an advantage. But since the release of Android 10 or 11 I think there are less and less advantages. For me the most important features of a smartphone is its WiFi speed, the quality of its camera, the quality of its display and its battery life. Next on my list is size. I've tried several "Max" phones (~6.5" screen) and I keep returning to the smaller ~6" screen. I usually keep my phone in my front pocket and a 6" phone just fits better, and with modern high def screens (OLED) that are bright enough the size is fine.
The Pixel 10 is designed to compete with the iPhone. I've been using another Android phone in parallel with my iPhone 15 pro for about a year now. Its camera is sharper than the iPhones, and for Astrophotography it is much more friendly/easier to use than the iPhone 15 (16 is the same). I use my phone to help me quickly find the milky way (via long exposures) at night. I also use it with Sky Safari to locate stars (with a MagSafe tripod stand). So finding that the new Pixel 10 supports PixelSnap (the MagSafe equivalent) I was quite interested. I convinced my brother-in-law to change from his iPhone to a Pixel 9 Pro, and he's been so happy with the quality of its camera and its smart features. Something Apple has been very slow to adopt. Apple seems to still be stuck in the 'PHD' phone mode (Push Here Dummy) and the phone does everything for you. If you're more of a professional, getting to the professional features/settings (ISO, fStop, shutter speed) is well hidden or absent. The last couple of Android iterations have improved this greatly. They finally added a clean-up function but no ability to merge/select photo elements. I believe Android has taken the (professional) photo advantage. Android phones have had +48 megapixels capture chips for a generation or two. Android phones have been a generation ahead with "folded" telephoto lenses, and smartly combining digital zoom and telephoto capabilities. And offering HDR+ that user selectable/changeable is so much more user friendly.
The Pixel 10 supports WiFi 6E (the Pixel 10 Pro supports WiFi 7) and Bluetooth 6.0; my home router supports WiFi 6E. It also supports NFC and both 5G (Sub 6 GHz) bands, Dual band GPS for greater accuracy and USB 3.2 for wired charging and data transfer. All models also support Google Casting of Audio/Video to supported devices (I use this frequently for Audio, as it's higher quality than BT). The phone's CPU has the new Tensor G5 chip, which promises a 34% faster CPU and a 60% faster TPU for better AI performance. The processor is paired with 12GB of RAM, and you can choose either the 128GB or 256GB version. The display is brighter with a 6.3-inch Actua panel with 3,000 nits brightness, and you can choose a refresh-rate of 60 or 120Hz (120Hz uses slightly more battery power).
Google promises over 24 hours of battery life, and a 55% charge in 30 minutes if you plug the Pixel 10 into a 45W USB-C charger. It’s also Qi2 certified, which provides support for 20W wireless charging. I verified fast charging, getting the charge down to 5% and with a 75W USB-C charger, I was back to 60% in 30 minutes. I left the phone unattended for 24 hours and the battery dropped close to 40% (5G and WiFi in use, no other interactions). I was able to get well over a full day of 'normal' use from my Pixel 10. The Pixel 10 also supports Qi2's fast wireless charging support.
Google also promises you receive seven years of OS, security, and Pixel updates. The phone comes in 4 colors, I have the classic Indigo, which I love. The camera bump is similar to my iPhone, but with all cameras oriented horizontally across the back, I think it looks/feels a lot better. The Pixel is taller and narrower than the iPhone, and weights 0.5oz more (203g vs 188g). The Pixel can be unlocked via an on screen fingerprint reader, facial recognitions or via a pin#. I like having the finger print options (missing from iPhones). It also has PixelSnap (Google’s version of MagSafe); a set of magnets under the rear of the Pixel 10 that allows various accessories to be attached to the back of the phone. PixelSnap is compatible with MagSafe accessories.
The Pixel 10 has a three-lens rear camera system. The 48MP main/macro camera, the 12MP ultrawide camera and the 10.8MP telephoto that now has a 5x optical zoom (20x super res digital zoom). Which is most excellent. Images with the 5x zoom are much crisper. However I noticed that in night photos bright objects are blown out and detail from within shadowy areas tend to lack as much detail (enabling Ultra HDR improved this (but not videos). The same goes for night time videos, the darker areas lack "hi-def" clarity, yes some of this is subjective, and I don't have a Google 10 pro to compare it to, but from the video's I seen from my Brother-in-law (Pixel 9 Pro) the darker videos I took have softer edges, and bright lights have are over exposed. As I zoom in on some of my Pixel 10 photos (Jpg) I've noticed some AI artifacts, where groups of pixels seem smudged, they look fine until you zoom way in. When I look at the same 'raw' images they are just fine, so it must have to do with "Jpeg" output optimization (my iPhone does something very similar). The palm timer is new to me; if you attempt to take a picture using the timer function, if you show the palm of your hand to the 'camera' it will wait about 3 seconds after you stop showing your palm. This worked perfectly in daylight, but was more hit and miss in darker situations.
Its AI performance is outstanding. Google Gemini is still the best digital assistant you can get, and its capabilities are deeply embedded in the Pixel 10. There are so many AI features in the Pixel 10. I’m not typically a big AI user but several of the new features wow'd me. Camera Coach (preview) offers you real-time suggestions for improving photos, suggesting edits to improve your Photos (and you can just respond with your voice never touching the screen, it truly feels like magic. Auto best take, will take multiple photos and pick the best facial expressions from those taken (no more close eyes, and it tries to avoid reflections on lenses). When it detects red-eye it will suggest red-eye removal. I can see many further enhancements being added. The Add Me function allows you to have one person take a picture of one or more people, then hand the camera to another person who can add you to the initial picture (where you have left room). Then the AI addme function then stitches you into the new photo. Auto editing of existing photos (or new) can also be done with verbal commands, starting with "Help me edit", you view suggested prompts and use your own verbal suggestions. It will show you the results (faster than I expected) and ask if you want to keep the change. Repeat until finished. The panorama mode is the best I've found on any camera/phone, just follow the level indicator, the dots and the direction arrow. When finished, the Pixel adds HDR+ processing, and low light compensation to further improve the picture. Images of up to 100MP can be taken.
Magic Cue is designed to proactively guide you through various apps by looking at your: Gmails, Calendar, Messages, screenshots and contacts to assist you in responding in various apps based on what you're doing at the time. I've only scratched the surface in discovering its capabilities, but it does far more than "fill in the blank", with its suggestions. You will know its a Magic Cue suggestion when you see a rainbow outline (I told my wife this was the Unicorn effect). There is also a real-time voice translation feature for phone calls (I wish I had this when I was living in Japan). You can decline a call and have a transcript of the message taken. The Pixel Journal can help you document how you spent your time and what you were thinking, this can be integrated with your calendar and screenshots. Speaking of screenshots, you can take screenshots of articles in chrome, text messages or anything you want to remember and the Pixel screenshot app will help you organize the screenshots/pictures you've taken, and provide you a means to search for them in the future. These screenshots can be used in Google Studio, with Google's latest AI based Imagegen 4. Lots of new editing tools to help capture and save ideas. Which brings us to any text entry field that can be inspected or offer writing suggestions when you tap the Writing Tools Icon, where you can easily use voice dictation to add text (vs typing). None of this actually gets into Google AI Pro, which is a paid subscription service which I've not begun to explore.
I did some testing of the USB-C port with various (fast) USB Drives, none performed as well as they did on a PC (USB 3.2 Gen 2) or on a iPhone 15 pro. I copy files from my Phone to a PC/External drive on a regular basis.
ThumbDrive (SanDisk 512GB Ultra Dual Drive) - Rated at 150Mb/s
Pixel 10: Write-30MB/s Read-96MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-66MB/s Read-120MB/s, PC: Write-120MB/s Read-144MB/s
Pixel 10: Write-30MB/s Read-96MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-66MB/s Read-120MB/s, PC: Write-120MB/s Read-144MB/s
External USB-C SSD (Orico 512GB A20PLUS) - Rated 1000MB/s (USB 3.1) 2000MB/s (USB 3.2 G2)
Pixel 10: Write-422MB/s Read-428MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-629MB/s Read-802MB/s, PC: Write-1244MB/s Read-1606MB/s
Pixel 10: Write-422MB/s Read-428MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-629MB/s Read-802MB/s, PC: Write-1244MB/s Read-1606MB/s
External USB-C SSD (SSK 4TB SD501) - Rated 1000MB/s (USB 3.2 G1) 2000MB/s (USB 3.2 G2)
Pixel 10: Write-401MB/s Read-423MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-555MB/s Read-630MB/s, PC: Write-1333MB/s Read-1540MB/s
Pixel 10: Write-401MB/s Read-423MB/s, iPhone 15: Write-555MB/s Read-630MB/s, PC: Write-1333MB/s Read-1540MB/s
Overall the AI capabilities are pretty useful, they seem to offer what was to be in iOS a year ago (but really have not delivered). I'm a little disappointed that the camera quality seems to be a step backward (to push the pro version; the pro with 256Gb of memory also offers better USB performance).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for creativity. A stunning 16-inch screen in a stylish new design with on-device Copilot+ and AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series Processors, offering top power efficiency for the latest AI experiences.
Customer Rating
4
Good bones, a few things missing (do you care?)
on July 10, 2025
Posted by: 3Tcubed
This silver Dell Plus 16 notebook has a lot of potential (and good bones as I say). It's based on AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU, 8 Cores and 16 Threads (4x Zen 5, 4x Zen 5c running from 2 GHz to 3.5 GHz(Zen 5c) and 2 GHz to 5.0 GHz(Zen 5). Its multi thread rating is 21,127 and single thread rating is 3,919. Typically consuming 15W but peaking at 45w. It's a power efficient processor that has been popular in mid to high-end notebooks supporting AI (NPU TOPS up to 50 TOPS). It weighs 4.46 pounds and the external case is all aluminum (silver). It has a 1920x1200 HD+ touch screen. This Dell uses the AMD Radeon 860M GPU. It also has a nice backlit keyboard. It also does not have an Ethernet port or a SDcard reader. It has two USB 3.2 USB-C ports and one 3.2 USB-A port and 1 HDMI 1.4 port (w/HDR video). It has a headphone/mic jack. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It has a very nice 2K camera (but no physical shutter). It integrates Microsoft Copilot with a Copilot key. The USB ports are all limited to 20Gbps, it does support outputting to a USB monitor via the USB-C port. It has a nice trackpad. The back of the monitor is a silver metal as is the keyboard base, the bottom of the computer is also a sturdy metal base. The bottom can easily be removed by removing 9 screws (good/easy).
The AMD Radeon 860M GPU decent integrated graphics processor, it can handle light gaming at lower settings. It is fine for basic video editing and creative tasks and for browsing the internet. It's energy efficient; it is not suitable for high-end gaming. It should get about 20 hours of usage on battery power. It comes with a pretty good Micron Gen 4x4 SSD; spec'd to have max seq writes at 7000 MBs and reads at 6900 MBs. It supports DDR5x memory 7500Mhz. It comes with 32GB (2x16GB). The SSD is removable/replaceable. This is why I acquired this notebook; to upgrade it. I can live with 32GB of fast RAM.
The AMD Radeon 860M GPU decent integrated graphics processor, it can handle light gaming at lower settings. It is fine for basic video editing and creative tasks and for browsing the internet. It's energy efficient; it is not suitable for high-end gaming. It should get about 20 hours of usage on battery power. It comes with a pretty good Micron Gen 4x4 SSD; spec'd to have max seq writes at 7000 MBs and reads at 6900 MBs. It supports DDR5x memory 7500Mhz. It comes with 32GB (2x16GB). The SSD is removable/replaceable. This is why I acquired this notebook; to upgrade it. I can live with 32GB of fast RAM.
I did the initial set up and upgrades with the base hardware. Windows Home 11 requires you to have a Microsoft account to log into. I went through a DELL BIOS upgrade and needed at least 5 sets of "updates" to get throught all of the Microsoft updates.
I'm replacing the SSD with a faster 4TB Samsung 990 Pro SSD rated at 7,450 seq reads and 6,900 seq writes, of which I got 7,014/3,804 reads and 5,951/5,233 writes. To clone the SSD you must disable Windows 11 BitLocker (Encryption), with Windows 11 Home this is slightly more complicated but doable. The included Micron SSD tested out at 6,992/3,569 reads and 6,055/3,866 writes (CrystalDiskMark9, see image). This is close to the same on reads, but slower than the Samsung 990 Pro SSD on writes. The SSD migration/upgrade went smoothly.
The notebook runs pretty cool; you can just barely feel that the left side of the keyboard and palmrest is warmer than the right side. But it has a pretty nice HD+ screen and it's FAST and only 0.61" thick. The keyboard is better than I expected, almost no give. The island keys are plastic but they don't have a cheap feel to them. Key travel is so-so (I'd like a little more), but I do appreciate having a backlit keyboard. With the faster SSD and some configuration changes browsing the internet with either Edge or Chrome (via WiFi 6) was very fast. I did some audio editing and it was smooth and fast. The two 2.5 watt speakers are adequate, nothing to write home about. I usually edit with a BT connection or using headphones/earbuds, both of these worked very well. I do astrophotography where I stack hundreds of night photos. The applications I use are fairly CPU intensive, not so GPU intensive as it is memory intensive. Loading and comparing hundreds of images can only be done efficiently with lots of memory. This computer's Ryzen AI 7 processor handles this pretty efficiently (better than Intel I7 that I got this year). I processed a stack of about 100 images in just over 2 minutes 10 seconds. My newer Intel notebook (i7 w/64Gb memory)) took just over 2 minutes 50 seconds. So this notebook, as upgraded, will be faster; partially because SSDs have gotten faster. When notebooks start shipping with Gen5 M.2 interfaces and SSD's, they will come down in price, and I'll likely upgrade again (This Samsung 990 Pro supports both Gen4 and Gen5). But for now this is a pretty good compromise
This Dell 15 Plus does not support USB4 (but the Ryzen 7 AI 350 does) and does not have a SD card reader or ethernet. It's only power input is via one of the two USB-C ports, only leaving one USB-C and one USB-A port. Here they lose a star, they should support USB4. It's becoming more and more common and only having 2 USB ports is not enough. So I'll need to add a USB hub (probably powered) with a SDcard reader and probably at least one USB-C port to be able to use this with my astro-photography camera.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor - AW3425DW. Meet unmatched immersion with an ultrawide 34" QD-OLED, delivering greater speed and a striking new design.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
Monitor quality keeps improving. I come from the CRT monitor era. But I continue to evolve and I'm always looking for a better computer monitor. I'm a software developer. I use my different notebooks (8 Windows, 3 Apples) for different projects. I keep some with older OS's for testing, others for the differing software and hardware projects I'm working on. In most situations I prefer a multiple monitor setup, I almost always have a 27" monitor next to the notebook I'm using (when I travel I have 2 USB portable monitors). I pretty much can't work without a second monitor. This Alienware is a different beast (it's like 2 monitors in one). I'm going to use it on my desk, where I currently have a 4K monitor, that's aging. It came out before HDR was common and long before large OLEDs even existed. It was expensive, similar to this Alienware monitor.
My first impression when I connected the Alienware AW3425DW to my OLED notebook - the colors and stability are spectacular. I'm amazed how vivid this monitor is. My notebook has an OLED display supporting a 120Hz refresh rate. But the Alienware AW3425DW supports 240Hz refresh rate. Several years ago a response time of 8ms was considered good, and a couple of years ago 1ms was the fastest available, so this monitor's 0.03ms response time is astonishing. Assembly of the unit is very simple, screw the base into the mounting arm, and with the monitor in the box, click the monitor onto the arm. The monitor supports 2 HDMI ports (2.1), 1 Display port (1.4) and it serves as a USB3 hub (5Gbps, with 15W charging), with a USB-A and USB-C port. The monitor supports both Nvidia G-Sync, AMD's FreeSync Premium Pro and VESA AdaptiveSync. It also has 4 VESA mounting holes (100x100) on the back (which are hidden). The package includes a DisplayPort cable, a HDMI cable, and USB Type-A to Type-B cable all are 5.9 feet long. The monitor does not have speakers. The monitor supports an enhanced anti-burn-in AI algorithm coupled with an anti-burn-in graphite sheet protects your screen from unwanted burn-in and has a 3-year warranty.
This is my third widescreen display (the others are also curved); but first with any form of HDR; which I'm a big fan of (it ensures the monitor's calibration matches what's expected from a video). And it ensures that black levels are perfect. I've found in editing photos and videos it makes a big difference in getting accurate colors. Make sure your drivers are current to get the correct refresh rate. You should run Windows color calibration for HDR to get the most out of this display. I had to load the latest Alienware Command Center and Alienware drivers from Dell's web site to enable all of the options. The display is extremely steady, no flickering. It has a glossy screen but the curved nature helps to prevent reflections. It has a built-in feature that reduces blue light emissions. I thoroughly enjoyed watching videos on this display. The on screen setup for the display is very extensive (accessed via joystick on the center bottom of the monitor). The monitor stand offers only a tilt adjustment (no height, so it can't be used in portrait mode with the stand provided). It has a native resolution of 3440x1440 with a screen brightness of 1000 candela per square meter (outstanding). I noticed that its blacks on some dark videos were extremely precise (I could see shadows within shadows).. The extensive color/contrast controls can be used to make additional changes as desired. Used for gaming it's an incredible monitor. For day to day computer use it's an incredible monitor. Not to mention for software development it's an incredible monitor.
It's an absolutely superb monitor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Unleash advanced cleaning power with the Roomba Max 705 Vac Robot + AutoEmpty Dock, engineered to keep busy, pet-loving homes spotless. Extreme power-lifting suction combined with anti-tangle Dual Rubber Brushes extract and eliminate debris from carpets and hard floors. Get the most out of your robot with fast, advanced 3D mapping, object recognition, custom settings and precise navigation. Dirt and debris are trapped for 75 days in the dock for hands-free cleaning.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
Ok, this is my 8th vacuuming robot. I live in a multi-floor, split level home. I have 5 specific levels (with one or more steps between levels). This one I got for my largest area, my great room (Entry, Kitchen, Dining & Living area). Long ago I got tired of moving robots from one area to another. This is my second Roomba, it's replacing a Korean brand that is not performing as expected. All but one of my robots self empty themselves (I won't get another that does not). Roomba for years has continued to improve their robots, both making them more and less expensive; with the 700 series being more upmarket. For example, their entry level robots only support 2.4G WiFi, this one (and all my others support both 2.4G and 5G). This one also has voice announcements to tell you when it's changing modes of operation (or if it needs assistance). This is much better than not knowing, or needing to look at their app. Its base unit is pretty light, but when returning to charge it backs in very slowly. But it is very easy to bump it and change its position. As I've done with others, I suggest using some Alien tape on both sides to make it more difficult to move (stays put). Getting it setup was very easy, but you must create an online Roomba account (with a 12 character password and a verified email to use the iRobot Home App). Once the account is set up you can use the Home app. First you set up the WiFi connection, then you map the room where it will be used (you may have to do a firmware update (that takes nearly 30 minutes)).
This Roomba uses ClearView (Pro Lidar); it creates a detailed map of your room before you use it the first time. It then calculates a back and forth pattern to cover your space allowing for furniture and/or other obstacles (I have a lot). Its mapping is so accurate it rarely touches any large objects, and is very gentle around chair legs and such. It moves pretty quickly, faster than my other Roomba. It has four power levels plus a smart mode which allows it to choose/change power levels based on various sensors (vision/dirt detection). It does a great job of negotiating rugs/carpet and changing power/height as necessary (much better than some of my others). Like most of my others it will grab on to my carpet fringe, at first I thought it was trying to avoid it. It seemed to recognize it and avoided going directly over it. However as it departed my oriental rug with fringe its suction pulled on the fringe, and I had to manually release it. On hardwood and tile floors, its little whiskers help bring in the dust rather than just blowing it around. But after making two passes around my great room, I saw it over/past two objects several times. As it changed suction going up/over 2 rugs a piece of onion skin was miss/scooted aside every pass.. I also had a small garlic paper on the floor that never got picked up. I think its exhaust is disrupting some of its cleaning duties. On carpet is did a much better job, it did a great job of picking up crumbs under my dining room table, even with all the chair legs it had to work around. The home button caused it to return home, not in any sort of direct path. The go home command in the app had it take a much more efficient path (go figure, no big deal).
The plastic dust bin is fairly compact and well designed, it has a disposable vacuum bag (and an extra). It's easy to remove, replace and dispose of. This, I think, is better than a plastic bin to empty, too much dust escapes. Compared to other robots I think iRobot has greatly decreased the noise that their robots make. In its smart mode where suction varies, on hard floors it is very quiet. As it gets to carpets, it sucks louder, but it's a different sucking sound, somewhat muted by the carpet. Dust does stick to the front of the unit, you will want to wipe the front down periodically. It has dual rotating "cleaners", both with different textures. The combination they use seems to prevent the collection hair (a good design).
For the price this robot is competitive, it's not cheap, but it is full featured. Using it in smart mode it is quiet enough that you can still listen to a TV while it's running (I can't do this with my other Roomba, in a bathroom). Where I'm planning to use it, it will be more than adequate.
This is where my wife calls me Mr. Obvious....
This is where my wife calls me Mr. Obvious....
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy your favorite podcasts and music on the go with these Skullcandy Indy Evo true wireless earbuds. The sweat-resistant and water-resistant design is ideal for workouts, while the Tile technology lets you track and find them when lost. These Skullcandy Indy Evo true wireless earbuds offer up to 30 hours of battery life for continuous entertainment.
Does this have USB C charging?
The case has a USB C charging interface, the provided cable is USB-A to USB-C; but it should provide FAST changing if a USB-C charger is used.
5 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Enjoy your favorite podcasts and music on the go with these Skullcandy Indy Evo true wireless earbuds. The sweat-resistant and water-resistant design is ideal for workouts, while the Tile technology lets you track and find them when lost. These Skullcandy Indy Evo true wireless earbuds offer up to 30 hours of battery life for continuous entertainment.
Will these pair with two cell phones at the same time? I have to carry two cell phones, one for work (Android) and one is my personal phone (iPhone). I want these to pair with both so I can receive calls on either phone.
No, they will only pair to one device at a time
5 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Nighthawk AC2600 Smart Wi-Fi Router accelerates your Wi-Fi for Ultra HD 4K streaming to multiple devices. It offers extreme Wi-Fi speed for gaming - up to 2600 Mbps and uninterrupted video streaming with advanced QoS for applications such as YouTube, Netflix and others. High-power amplifiers and external antennas deliver range throughout very large homes. Implicit beamforming improves Wi-Fi speed and range on all mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Android. The Nighthawk app lets you get the most out of your router performance with customized settings.
Is it true there is an annoying blue light that flashes constantly on this unit? Can you turn it off?
If your network is working correctly it should stay a solid light blue. If it bothers you you could put some white tape over the LED, attached you can see the led.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Drive safely with this Cobra super HD dash cam. Its 1296p recording resolution captures high-quality video footage in any lighting condition, while the extreme temperature protection is tested to withstand sudden fluctuations. This Cobra super HD dash cam provides iRadar route tracking and live police alerts when connected to the iRadar app, so you never miss a thing.
How long does the cobra dash cam hold the footage does it erase it over how can you look back a week to see the footage
It holds 3,5 or 10 min segments; the number of segments depends on the resolution (1296P or 1080p) and the SD card size (mine came with a 32gb card) which will hold about 90m of 1080P video. I believe you can use cards up to 256Gb.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Voice clarity
The main reason for purchasing this sound bar is to hear the dialogue above the background music. Just turning the sound up doesn't do it. Is there a specific button to turn up the voice and not just the whole sound?
No, but I find the DTS Virtual does good job of bringing the voices to the center and balancing the rest of the content on it's own. The standard mode works best with Sports/news and the DTS works much better with movies.
6 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Realize immersive room-filling sound from your TV with this LG 3.1-channel high-resolution audio soundbar. DTS technology creates a thrilling surround sound experience, while high-resolution audio support ensures a stunning reproduction of sound and music. This LG 3.1-channel high-resolution audio soundbar features optical, USB, HDMI and Bluetooth for convenient connections to all compatible equipment and TVs.
Page 23 of the manual says you must use a high speed HDMI cable WITH ETHERNET in order for ARC functions to work. Is this true? I don't understand why the Ethernet would be needed.
The "ethernet" part is really a speed qualification (18Gb I think), it is the same speed that necessary to pass DTS/Dolby 7.1 or Atmos surround signals
6 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Start using this unlocked Apple iPhone 8 with your choice of carrier right away. Its 64GB of internal memory stores your favorite games, apps, photos and videos, and a fingerprint scanner prevents unauthorized entry. The 4.7-inch retina HD display on this pre-owned Apple iPhone 8 is ideal for video and FaceTime chats.
will this phone work with verizon
It will work with any carrier.
Only of you phone has heavy case/folding case of belt clip will it not work easily
Only of you phone has heavy case/folding case of belt clip will it not work easily
6 years, 5 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Lighten household chores with this SHARK~ ION~ vacuum system. The lithium-ion battery supplies a long-lasting charge, and the 0.66-quart dust cup and HEPA filter collect dirt, hair, and dander to prevent allergen buildup. This SHARK~ ION~ vacuum system comes with a built-in power vacuum to help with those extra cleaning jobs.
Does this one map a grid to use each time like the robot one? Thanks
No it seems to move around randomly, the softwre doe not currently show you the pattern it has traveled.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make media more fun with this HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop. Three possible screen positions let you watch videos or edit photos in comfort, and its powerful Intel Core i7 processor is ideal for gaming. This HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop has a 256GB M.2 solid-state drive, ensuring speed and ample storage.
How cumbersome is to service this laptop at home..e.g. if needs to be opened, would it be easy to detach from the leather cover? where I am trying to reach is to know the complexity of having this leather cover over benefits.
You can find the HP service manual online. I did and it VERY cumbersome, to get to the internal memory or M.2 SSD you have to use a heat gun to remove the screen (carefully) and again unglue the leather (60-90C heat gun). This is beyond the normal DIY upgrade. I was interested in upgrading the SSD; way to much effort, decided to get a SanDisk extreme 1TB, tested with system and it's still 1/2 the speed of the internal M.2 NVMe drive. Samsung X5 would be faster, but I could not justify the 3x+ cost.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Google Home Mini is a smart speaker powered by the Google Assistant, so you can ask it questions and tell it to do things. Just start with "Ok Google" to enjoy your entertainment, get answers from Google, tackle your day, and control your smart home. Google Home Mini works on its own or you can have a few around the house, giving you the power of Google anywhere."
can you connect it to speakers with Bluetooth or with a cord?
Yes,you can use it as a BT speaker, or cast audio to it via casting. You can't wire directly to it.
7 years ago
by
3Tcubed