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    February 8, 2015
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    July 7, 2016
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banjo's Reviews
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Choose between 22 different EQs to tailor your listening experience. Edit and save multiple sound profiles to match the genre, song, and environment. Enjoy 10 hours of listening from a single charge, and when you’re short on time, charge for 10 minutes to get 2 hours of playtime. Charge the case using the included USB-C cable or place it on a wireless charging pad to charge the case wirelessly. Life Dot 2S true wireless earbuds are protected against sweaty workouts, sudden rainstorms, and spilled drinks thanks to their IPX7-rated waterproof protection. The true wireless earbuds have silicone EarWings to ensure they stay securely in your ears. Use the Soundcore app to set the button profiles, customize your sound, and much more. Easily pair with your device and automatically connect with the last paired device next time you use your true wireless earbuds. Life Dot 2S is equipped with 2 microphones for clear calls. Switch to single earbud mode when making calls or listening to music while still maintaining awareness of the world around you. The charging case easily slides into your bag or pocket.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good fit and battery life + IPX7 rating
on October 6, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
OK I have reached the “collector” category of BlueTooth wireless earbuds, and have a good assortment ranging from the economy “no frills” models to some high-end “got it all” models. Honestly I’m not quite sure where to put the Anker 2S, and depending on what you are after they could meet the need.
FIT – this is always at the top of my list, as the fit really determines how everything else works on a pair of earbuds. I like the “wings” design like you find on sport-oriented earbuds, as they practically lock in your ears and don’t require a lot of readjusting to keep the buds in optimum position. The 2S earbuds definitely fit nicely, and stay securely in place for extended use. The snug fit helps to overcome the lack of ANC.
SOUND – the app that comes with these buds has a very good selection of pre-sets, and there is a noticeable difference as you try them out to find your personal preference. The bass can be cranked up if you like, and there are also some good settings that bring out the highs and are respectable for the mids. Overall, I am OK with the sound quality and especially at this price point haven’t tried anything that sounds better.
BATTERY – definitely one of the top features, as the 10 hours per charge holds true, and the case has wireless charging (a bit slower) which is mostly missing from other brands at this price point – very handy and hard to go back once you get used to having several devices with wireless charging. There is also USB C charging, and also a “quick charge” that will get you an extra hour or so with just a 10 minute nap in the charging case. I often fall asleep with my audiobooks at night and in the morning still have plenty of charge to tune in to NPR, walk the dog, and get ready for work.
ONE-BUD CAPABILITY – yep you can go with only one bud and still make phone calls or listen to the navigator app in one ear while driving and have the other ear open for music or keeping in contact with the traffic around you.
IPX7 – Well it just so happens that it was raining cats and dogs this morning, and it was nice to be able to walk the dog and get in the car for work without having to worry about getting the buds wet. Showering after a workout or rinsing off at the pool is not a problem either (not for swimming).
CALL QUALITY – the incoming call quality is just as good as any other pair that I have, and the outgoing quality seems to be OK as well – I asked about the voice quality on several calls and everyone said “sounds good to me” so seems to be just fine. I have higher priced buds with 4 microphones where the 2S has two, but honestly I don’t seem to find much if any difference.
CASE – the case has a nice set of indicator lights to let you know that both earbuds are charging when you put them in, and also to let you know when the case needs charging, and when the case is fully charged. The contour of the case is very friendly to the pocket, and slides in easily without too much of a bulge or bump.
A few features are missing that I like to have, such as “pass through” that allows outside sounds to be heard without taking out an earbud – so take out an earbud if you have the occasional need.
Overall these are competitive with features at this price point. If you are wanting a secure and comfortable “sports” fit with wireless charging, a waterproof rating, and good battery life – these may be right for you. If you MUST have ANC or “pass through” function – you can find those features in the same price range, but you may be giving up the IPX7 rating, “sports” fit, and the longer battery life you would get from the Anker 2S buds.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
JVC Gumy Mini True Wireless Headphones are lightweight and small in size. They offer high quality sound with a sleek in ear design. With the latest Bluetooth version 5.1, they will ensure a stress-free and stable connection. Pair the headphones with your bluetooth enabled device once and they will automatically power on and connect when the earbuds are removed from the easy to hold charging case. The Gumy Mini offer one button remotes on each earpiece for quick and easy operation. Control your music and phone calls with the touch of a button. The IPX4 sweat/rain proof rating allows you to enjoy sports or outdoor activies without worrying about getting weat or sweaty. Listen to music or talk on the phone for up to 5 hours. Extend this time with included rechargable battery case for up to 10 hours. Total battery life is 15 hours.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Functional Economy - nice to have around...
on September 25, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Gumy Mini True Wireless Headphones
Functional Economy – nice to have a backup set or an economy set of buds that are just fine for most everything that the day brings.
Man the market is being flooded with BlueTooth wireless earbuds… so what to get?
I can say I love me some wireless earbuds, so I have a nice little collection with something at each price point to keep handy at home and at work. So where do these guys fit in? At this price point they don’t have all the fancy trimmings like ANC and “pass-through” settings and 4 microphones on each bud, but all that isn’t needed all the time. How about a nice set of buds that doesn’t break the bank and is good for most of the daily needs? These might just be what you are looking for.
Where do they fit in?
Morning wake-up and dog walking >> YEP – these pop right in and connect quickly to the phone for my morning NPR news while getting ready for work and emptying the dog before I leave for work. I can also “Ask Google” to get a weather report and check on the daily calendar and to-do list. These are water-resistant, so a little splashing around the sink or dealing with walking the dog in the rain (she HATES going outside when it is raining!) no worries about a light spritz of water.
Driving directions >> YEP – these will work for “left ear only” when driving to get navigator app directions while keeping the other ear open to hear Karen behind me honking her horn as soon as the light turns green.
Binge-watching Ted Lasso and Big Bang >> YEP – hey for those ensemble-cast shows that don’t have a lot of background music (don’t forget TOS Star Trek and the other oldies but goldies) these are so light and easy to pop in that they are handy to keep on the nightstand or by the keyboard.
YouTube and (heaven forbid) TikTok addiction >> YEP – go ahead and waste countless hours of your valuable time and go down the rabbit hole with your YouTube or TikTok channels… these little buds will provide you with hours of mind-numbing entertainment.
NICE STUFF about these buds:
LIGHT as a FEATHER – OK pretty much any wireless earbud is going to be small and relatively light, but these are noticeably compact and light in the ears.
SOLID PRODUCT - JVC has hit it here with a solid product that has decent sound at a price that makes getting that “extra pair” or a set for the kids very affordable. If the kids want to play the “Karen Card” if they don’t get the expensive ones that the other kids have…. Tell them to get a job.
COLORS – if you have a set or two of CARBON BLACK or ICY WHITE buds, it’s kind of nice to have a good selection of bright colors to make a fashion statement. I promise, if you get the red, green, or blue – people will be asking you about them. If you are shopping for a set to get for the kids, you have a good choice of colors that should make your little scamper happy. NOICE!
USB C Charging – hasn’t everyone gone to USB C? Nope they have not, be sure to check the specs if you want to standardize on USB C.
PRICE POINT – I held back on wireless earbuds for quite some time since it just takes a second for one to fall out and get crunched before I could find it. Anything that puts a dent in my pocket either stays in a safe place, or has wings to lock it in my ear before I go out into the cold cruel world. This set is not something I would want to lose, but it if happens, I don’t have to get all puckered up on the replacement cost.
OK these are a few bucks more than some other economy buds, and of course a lot less than the rest of the buds. I have tried a few of the “entry level” buds, and can say that JVC has done a good job with these. Put down just a few more bucks for the JVC and you will have made a good decision.
Greetings and Stay Safe from Central Georgia!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Target trigger points with the Beurer MG10 Vibrating Massage Ball. Alleviate fasciae agglutinations and regenerate muscle tissues for immediate as well as long term results. The MG10 surface changes in order to provide different angles to soothe tense muscles with 2 speed settings. The massage ball is easily used during travel, at the gym, or at home
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
"Light Use" device and handy to have around...
on September 25, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Beurer - Vibrating Massage Ball – Black
Pretty nice when relaxing to work out those knots…
OK pretty obvious this is not a “therapeutic-grade” massager or an impact device… hey it’s a little knobby baseball that vibrates, so don’t expect a Swedish Massage… LOL. With that said, this is a sweet little “knot relaxer” that is easy to use when relaxing after a hot shower or treating your feet when binge-watching once you have met your calorie burning activities for the day.
The ball has “high/low” push-button settings, and you also get good wrist exercise when you twist the ball open to put in or replace the batteries. I was hoping this would be a good “chair buddy” when settling down for the evening and using the ball for sore spots or muscle knots. That seems to work sort of OK, but if you look at the recommended use methods you see that the ball works best when placing the ball in a sore spot and pushing back against a hard surface like a wall or the floor. Think of a bear scratching it’s back by rubbing up against a tree and you will get the idea. Holding the ball in my hand and pushing it up against a sore spot gives some relief, but my hand gets half the energy and my back, shoulder, leg gets the other half. Best results are using a hard surface to make the ball “push in” to get most of the energy into your muscle tissues. For soothing sore feet, rolling the ball between my feet and the floor while binge watching "Ted Lasso" gives good results.
There is always something “better” that costs more, so it would be nice to have a rechargeable battery built in, but you get what you get and picking a little kit with rechargeable batteries is a workable solution for replacing the batteries. Can’t speak about the battery life yet – and that will depend on which setting is used, but I have used the ball for several hours spread out over a few days and seems to be OK so far.
Maybe on a funny note, the cats seem to find this device very interesting – so I guess that is a “bonus feature” as long as you don’t let the dog get ahold of it as a chewy toy. DON’T leave this sitting around if you have a dog – that’s another story and I’m glad we saw the dog pick it up and got it back before finding out where that situation was going to go…
To sum it up… a nice little device that comes in handy if you have the need – but consider this a “light use” device for “light use” needs. Definitely one of those "impulse" purchases as the price is nice and low, and with the holiday season coming up I think this would be a great "stocking stuffer" or "party present" for holiday giving.
Greetings and Stay Safe from Central Georgia!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Your family needs a printer that’s fast, affordable, and easy to use. That’s why we developed the EcoTank ET-2800 – an innovative cartridge-free solution that uses high-capacity, easily refillable ink tanks. So you’ll worry less about running out of ink, and save a lot on replacement ink (1). The ET-2800 features genuine Epson print quality, a high-resolution flatbed scanner, and convenient color display – making it the ideal basic home printer.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
“No Ink Cartridges” called to me….
on September 25, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Epson - EcoTank ET-2800 >> “No Ink Cartridges” called to me….
Pardon me but the first few paragraphs ramble on about my experiences and consumer concerns I have had with the high cost of ink cartridges over the past few decades… and I am hoping the Eco-Tank concept will finally put an end to the never-ending story of “the ink costs more than the printer” that seems to keep coming up when using a new printer.
Not sure how many printers I have used since my first 24-pin Epson printer from back in the 80’s, but it has been more than a few. As “wet ink” printing came along to replace the ribbons on the pin printers, it was nice to have the quality of printing improve, but doggone those ink cartridges were always a sore spot. Obvious to most consumers is the fact that a teeny tank of INK probably doesn’t cost much to manufacture, so I sure felt taken-advantage-of whenever I plunked down the high cost of replacement cartridges. Believe me I tried the “hypodermic” method of getting off-brand ink and injecting it into ink cartridges, as well as the “guaranteed compatible” and refillable ink cartridges – and some of that worked and some didn’t but it was still a hassle to replace the printer ink. In the past few years, manufacturers seem to have added more and more “smart chips” and “code plates” to their ink cartridges to make it more and more difficult for consumers to have an open-market choice for replacement ink cartridges, and some will constantly pop up “nag screens” to remind you that you have deprived the manufacture of their after-market profits and suggest that if you don’t use the manufacturer’s OEM cartridges, creepy things “may” happen to your printer. Excuse me but I’m “old school” and still believe “If I buy it, I OWN it, and can do whatever I want with the device that I OWN!” …. OK let’s move on…
I’ll bet I am not the only one that tried to “stretch out” an ink cartridge and get just a few more copies printed before going to the office supply store to pay for a new cartridge(s) and ended up on Sunday afternoon running out of BK/C/M/Y (take your pick) ink for an important print job that had to be turned in on Monday morning. Sometimes it just seemed easier to get a brand-new printer “on sale” for about the same price as a set of replacement BK/C/M/Y ink cartridges… what’s up with that? SMH…
At the moment, I have another printer on the “monthly subscription plan” and that has worked out OK as far as not having to pay a lot at one time for a cartridge or full pack of ink cartridges, but some months I print a lot (like at least 50 and maybe more like 100) and some I do not, so keeping up with what plan I have and switching plans to save a few dollars is still kind of a hassle, and I feel like I am spending more for less sometimes if I don’t plan several months ahead to predict my printing needs and move around to the monthly plan that meets my needs. How do I know how many recipes my wife will print and how many school reports my son will print and how many student handouts I will be printing the month after next? No way. The plan I am on now makes it easy to “upgrade” the monthly plan (surprise) but doggone it is not so much fun when you try to “downgrade” the plan after a busy month. Like most folks, I usually settle for “more than I need” to be sure I don’t run out of copies, and there you go again I get the feeling that I’m spending more for less. To be fair it still beats having to run out to the local office supply store on a Sunday afternoon to buy an (expensive) ink cartridge, so excuse me I don’t want to sound like a Karen about it and just trying to share my own experience as a consumer.
OK with all that said >> I have been seeing ads for Epson “Eco-Tank” printers for quite a while but just now decided to have a look and see if it was worthy of all the buzz. Since ink cartridges are my main issue, let me start with that.
The Epson Eco-Tank printer comes with LOTS OF INK in BIG bottles that empty into separate BK/C/M/Y TANKS on the printer >> like filling up your gas tank >> and there are nice little WINDOWS so you can see how much BK/C/M/Y ink you have. OK that pretty much had me sold at that point EXCEPT I wnated to go online and see how much it would cost to buy more ink… So, sticking with Epson Official Ink – a BIG bottle of ink in any particular color costs about HALF of the price of a little bitty ink cartridge on other types of printers, and I would guess there is 3 to 4 times the ink in the Epson BK/C/M/Y bottles than in an ink cartridge. There you go that looks like a deal to me and the most “bang for the buck” for keeping the ink flowing that I have seen so far. Problem solved, mostly.
PRINTER SETUP – easy peasy >> I really have to admit that I am used to going “step by step” in the unbelievably small print found on all the “quick setup guides” for new devices, and I got out my magnifying glass to get started with the Epson, but as soon as I downloaded the app on my phone (and there is the same app that you can download on computer) the app just took care of it and all I had to do was follow each step in the app and the setup completed without any problems. What I mean is that the app starts with “unpack the printer” and takes you all the way through to checking print head alignment and printing your first test page. Get the app FIRST, and no need to squint at the microfiche on the “quick start” flyer. NOICE!
WIRELESS SETUP – OK on a home network that I have control over, it is easy to connect to my home wireless by choosing the network name and entering the password. We can print from desktop, laptop, Chromebook, and phones – all we must do is run the app on the devices to find and connect to the printer. Do it once, and it’s all set up. If you are wanting to set up at an office or school network, please be advised that you will probably need to get the support of your IT folks to give you (or help you) enter in the security key for the wireless router/hub that is in your area - at least this was the case on my school system. There is no “username” and “password” login on the Epson, it seems to want the security key from your office wireless network, so plan to get some help (if your IT folks are OK with personal printers connecting wirelessly to their network). Not an issue with me as I can use USB connection if I want to use the Epson at work.
PRINT QUALITY – as good as any other printer I have tried in this price range. I have not tried printing on photo paper as that is not something I do very often, but printing color pages, flyers, copies of presentations >> all those are good quality. If you need “super crisp” colors and laser-printer DPI, then you will need to plop down at least a couple of hundred more dollars.
OK one more little thing…. I made the mistake of assuming (or expecting) there would be a paper tray. There is NO paper tray on this printer – you can load about 30 pages in the back of the printer with about half the page inside the printer housing and about half the page sticking out the top. I do miss being able to load paper in a bottom paper tray like I have on some other printers in the same price range. When I chose this printer, of course I looked at the product pictures and I did not see ANY pictures from Epson that showed paper sticking up out of the back of the printer. There are lots of pictures of happy people with the printer on their desk and conveniently tucked in their living room bookcase but doggone not one of those product pictures shows paper sticking up at the back of the printer. I guess all those happy people sitting on the sofa and wanting the convenience of printing wirelessly from the comfort of their sofa will have to get up and put paper in the printer and then go back to sitting on the sofa and smiling and then they can print the recipe they found on Pinterest… it just kind of rubs me the wrong way but I’ll get over it. To be fair, there are more expensive Epsons that have the paper tray, and for about 1 Franklin more you can get an Eco-tank with a paper tray and a few other features.
To wrap it up… if you are tired of the ink cartridge hassles, you can go with another manufacturer’s “subscription plan” which is OK for me AS LONG AS I am printing a good number of copies like 50 or more per month on a regular basis (actually that is not how it goes, but maybe for you?) or AS LONG AS I am not printing much at all and can stick with the "economy plan" >> OR you can go with the Eco-Tank line and still plan to order ink, but at a LOT LESS cost and a LOT LESS OFTEN.
Peace and Stay Safe from Central Georgia!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+11points
11of 11voted this as helpful.
 
Elevate your entertainment experience with these dark gray Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds. The waterproof design withstands light splashes, while the secure fit offers lasting comfort for all-day use. These Jabra Elite 3 true wireless earbuds charge fast to save time and feature Bluetooth technology to promote hands-free use.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Can't beat the price for the included features!
on September 2, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Jabra Elite 3 Wireless Earbuds - Nice price point for the features!
I love me some wireless earbuds, so I can confidently compare these to some more expensive pairs that I keep on hand. Looks like Jabra is “renewing” its earbud product line, and these are the low end of the newer models, but at the price the E3 has a lot to offer.
Most of what I am looking for in wireless buds comes with the Jabra E3, with only a few compromises vs. the higher price points that you may want to consider.
FIT >> no matter how good, the buds must fit and stay fitted or the rest of the features don’t really matter. The E3 design has a narrower stem that goes a little deeper in the ear. This is good in some ways, as it keeps the buds in more securely and reduces outside noise. I would not say “bad” but you want to consider this if you like to use your buds for hours at a time. Me, I have no problem but could see someone with “sensitive” ear canals being uncomfortable with the deeper fit. There are no “wings” to keep the buds in like in a sport or workout set, but they stay in well for me and I can walk, run, or fall asleep while listening and they stay in nicely.
SOUND >> can’t complain and there are better sounding buds for twice or thrice the price, but these sound good and maybe a little soft on the mid-range but there are several sound profiles to choose on the phone app and Jabra has advertised more selections to come. Honestly I have tried switching profiles while listening to several different kinds of music and there is not an extreme difference, but there is enough of a difference in the pre-sets to play around with them and find one that sounds best to you. If you are a picky high-end audiophile, why are you shopping this price point? You know better.
BATTERY >> run time is not an issue with the E3, and the “quick charge” feature really does pump up the batteries a LOT in just a few minutes. I can pop them in the case, go walk the dog, and come back having gone from 50% to 85% in maybe 15 minutes. The case, like everyone else, carries a charge and 2 or 3 recharges on the case can be expected, depending on how low the buds are when you pop them in the case to refresh. Something new for me in earbuds is the automatic “cut off” that will shut down the buds if they don’t detect any sound for 15 minutes or so. For me, that makes me swap out these for another set when I go to sleep (listening to audio books) because they shut off when the audio book stops, and then I don’t get my alarms and “wake up” music in the morning unless I press the button to turn them back on. A small consideration and one that might not apply to your use, but thought I would mention it.
CONTROLS >> I really like the controls in the E3. They have a button control instead of touch-sensitive, which seems to work better for me and I don’t have to wonder if I tapped the bud in the correct way to make changes. I have a sport pair of buds that has buttons, but you have to push the buttons so hard it crams them into your ear – not the case with the E3 as the buttons are easy to push and have a nice “click” feel. These are the best buttons I have used.
ONE at a TIME or BOTH >> These really make it easy to use one or the other earbud, and changing from one to the other is smooth and seamless. The flow of music just pauses briefly when you take one out and put the other in and right or left side makes no difference. The “one bud” use for me is mostly when listening to podcasts or news broadcasts, so going from stereo to mono is not an issue. Also comes in handy when using navigator app when driving, as one ear gets the navigation directions and the other ear can be “aware” of surroundings.
PHONE APP >> A good phone app comes to help with equalizer adjustments, battery status, and a “locator” function if you drop a bud.
PAIRING >> No problem here, my buds are used with several desktops, several laptops, and a phone. The E3 will pair up with the “most recent” that has a signal available. If I am switching devices, then the E3 needs to be “disconnected” from the current device and “connected” to the new device. It would be nice to have a button press to disconnect and wait for another device to connect, but you can’t have it all at this price.
ANC >> Nope, not available at this price. I have several more expensive buds that have the ANC, and of course there is a difference, but the E3 buds fit very snugly so the ANC might be nice but I am not missing it that much. Higher priced models will get you the ANC, but with the E3 the price point is one of the best things about it.
HEAR-THROUGH >> a quick “one press” on the left bud will activate the “hear-through” which uses the microphones to pick up outside noise so you can hear what’s going on without taking out a bud. It works OK, but is not as finely tuned and sensitive as a more expensive pair I use. Again, a higher price gets more goodies, so nothing new about that.
DURABILITY >> again, the price point gets you water-resistant which is enough to protect from sweat during activities and waking in the rain. Don’t wear them in the shower, or wash them off in the sink. The overall build seems sturdy enough to not have to worry about dropping them on the floor. Not “military grade” indestructible, but that’s the price thing again.
RECOMMENDATION? OK my thoughts are that if you are looking for the “one that does it all” you might want to look at an upgrade (higher price) that has ANC, is totally waterproof, has the “wings” on the earpiece to keep them from ever falling out, and is “crush proof” construction. With that said, I find the E3 to have a VERY attractive price that gives you the most important features and is a perfectly comfortable, useable and durable set of buds. Since I love me some wireless buds, I will use them whenever I can. This calls for more than one set of buds, and I already have a few “high-ish” sets but I can honestly say these Jabra E3 buds are nice to have around for swapping out during the day, and it really makes me no never mind whether I have on the E3 buds, or another pair that is 2 or 3 times the price. There is really not that much of a difference other than having a totally waterproof set of buds with ANC. Other than that, they are pretty much the same, and at half to third of the price – the Jabra E3 buds are a sweet deal!
Stay Safe from Central Georgia!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Add that professional touch to your video calls with this set which features a 60 LED light that illuminates your videos and helps you shine on social media. True to its name, the achiever is perfect for experienced or aspiring social media bloggers, travel, working professionals and journalists.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent accessory for "pro" look at meetings...
on August 19, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Digipower - The Achiever - Video Call Pro kit with 60 LED Light, Stand & Smartphone Holder – Black
OK this adds a nice touch to those TEAMs and ZOOM meetings – which is why I wanted to try it out. There are plenty of ways to customize the stand and light, and my use was to hold a webcam and provide good lighting for online meetings and recording class sessions for my students.
Best feature is the heavyweight base and sturdy clamps that stay right where you put them. Lots of adjustments are available on the shade, angle, and intensity of the light to provide the best lighting and even hide the wrinkles of the old professor a little bit. I must say that the highest settings were VERY bright, and there was no reason for my purposes to go full throttle. This helps out with the battery life, which was really the only limitation I found on the video call kit. It’s nice not to need a power cable to run the lights, since it is battery powered, but that will limit the “off the cord” time to several hours before you might need to run a charging cable to keep the light going. I have really never had that problem as meetings and class lectures don’t last “all day” (even if some of them seem to go on forever) and the light can be turned down or off when I am not recording or meeting in “face time” mode.
Even though I very seldom (or ever) use my phone to record video sessions or for online meetings, I tried my OP7T which is 6.5” screen and also a Sony Xperia 10+ which is 6.5” screen and both of these “bar” phones fit very nicely and were held firm, with full access to the power and volume buttons.
I think the best benefit of including this type of lighting when doing video calls, meetings, and recordings is the “professional” look of having a constant and adjustable light instead of having to depend on the overhead room light or the computer screen “coming and going” in brightness during the face-time video. I like to look and sound professional when doing those meetings with colleagues and students, and this adds a very nice touch. Almost makes me look like a PRO!
Overall, this is a good accessory for enhancing your online video presence, and the price is a “no brainer” when considering the build quality, durability, and flexibility of this conference lighting kit. The next step up to a “ring light” and such bring a significant increase in price, and I don’t really see the benefit unless you do online video for a living, and if that is you I expect you have already dropped a bundle on your sound and lighting. For the rest of us “wannabe’s” and rising stars… this would be a good investment to get started as an online influencer.
Stay safe from Central Georgia!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Featuring SurroundSense and ANC, Vista 2 allows athletes to amplify ambient sounds for safety or stay focused with Active Noise Cancellation. Along with Jaybird signature fit, function, and Earthproof durability, Vista 2 creates the ultimate true wireless audio experience.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Great improvements cover all the bases!
on July 15, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Great improvement over previous model… covers all the bases!
Jaybird - Vista 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Midnight Blue
OK I love me some Bluetooth earbuds, and these are the best I have tried so far! Up until now, for active use and long-term comfort, the Jaybird RUN XT Sport were a good choice, except for a few issues with lag, ANC, and pocketability that have been totally improved upon by the Vista 2 model.
SOUND is fully customizable with the Jaybird app, and with literally hundreds of customizations available to choose from, you should be able to find the ones that are best for your listening. Phone calls are not a problem – sound coming and going seems to be as good as any I have tried. Please note there is NO LAG if you are watching video, which was a bummer to me when using the RUN XT Sport buds.
PULL-OUT STOPS PLAYBACK – this is a nice feature that might take you by surprise if you are not expecting it. If you remove one of the buds to talk to someone or for whatever reason, it will automatically pause playback on your device until you put the bud back in, then the playback resumes.
ONE BUD will work just fine if you want to keep an ear open. Pop in EITHER the right or the left bud to listen or to use for phone calls. Either one works just as well as the other. The other bud can stay in the case – and hey you can swap out the right for the left or the left for the right and double your listening time if you are in the habit of only using one bud.
FIT is excellent, with a low profile that doesn’t stick out from the ear and is comfortable even laying your head on a pillow for times of rest after exercise. The buds do not fall out when active, and can tolerate a lot of movement while keeping a secure fit.
BATTERY runs for 5 or 6 hours per charge on the buds using ANC, and longer without. The case holds a couple of additional charges with a “quick charge” that gives you another hour to finish up with only 5 or 10 minutes in the case. The buds have a magnetic connection to the charging terminals, so they pop right in and line up properly to get a charge. There are indicator lights on the case to let you know you have a secure connection for charging.
POCKETABILITY is very comfortable, with a slimmed down case that is comfortable in the pocket. There is also a pretty strong cord on the case if you want to hang them on a hook or clip, and I pop a thick band around the case just to be sure I don’t lost an earbud when using the cord instead of putting in the pocket. The case has a good magnetic closure, but I don’t want to run the risk of losing a bud so the heavy band is just to be sure I’m not worrying about it.
CONTROLS are also customizable with the app if you don’t care for the default setup. I particularly like being able to “tap tap” on the buds without having to push down on a button to switch between modes.
NOISE CANCELLING and SurroundSense both work well for me. The ANC works well, and is comparable to my headphones. Some reviews indicate that there is better ANC available on buds that are a higher price, but no surprise here and these are totally satisfactory to me. Tapping on the buds will switch from ANC ON to ANC OFF to SurroundSense. The SurroundSense is good when you want to hear what is going on around you, like when talking to someone or out on the road jogging or walking, and it seems like the ambient sounds are actually increased by the microphones. There are also settings for how much amplification you want to have using the app. I have read some reviews about wind noise with the SurroundSense when biking or running at a fast pace, but those are not my activities so no experience with this particular issue. If you don’t have earbuds in at all, and are riding or running at high speed, then your ears are going to “hear the wind” going by so maybe that’s just how it has to be?
DURABILITY is the best I have found. Waterproof – so they can be washed off to remove sweat. I have read the advertised claims of “crushproof” which is nice to know but I hope there will not be a need to see how “crushproof” these are – but accidents happen and a cheaper pair that gets crunched if one falls out does not seem to be something to worry about with the “Earthproof Durability” design.
Wireless CHARGING is coming on for many portable electronics, and the wireless plate for my wife’s phone seems to work just fine for the Vista 2 earbuds. I mostly use the USB-C port to charge, and either way these get charged up in just a few hours and then you are good for a day’s activities.
JAYBIRD APP does just about everything except sell popcorn and make change. You can adjust the sound settings, adjust the “tap” settings, adjust the button settings, check the charge on each earbud and also the case, locate the last signal received from an earbud if you happen to lose a bud and need to retrace your route to find it, and even the case can be tracked to the last point that the case was open and sent a signal.
Overall, this is the best set of true wireless buds I have tried – and I have gone through a good number of makes and models! I honestly cannot think of anything that is missing from the Vista 2 model. You can drop them, wash them, use one at a time, block out the noise or let it come through, low profile in the ears, easy to put in the pocket and lasts all day away from the charger.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ROCCAT Kone Pro Air Ergonomic Optical Performance Wireless Gaming Mouse with RGB Lighting is the first ever wireless Kone, and the result of over 14 years of devoted craftmanship. It is the most advanced gaming mouse we’ve ever created. After meticulous global research into hand sizes and grip styles, the result is one shape to fit any hand. It’s the iconic Kone shape, perfected. Providing supreme comfort without compromising on performance, the feeling of using the Kone Pro Air is unrivalled. It seamlessly fuses with your hand, virtually disappearing, keeping you focused and immersed. The Kone Pro Air utilizes our advanced Titan Switch Optical. With a satisfying and responsive tactile click, it’s reliable, fast, and durable. No double-click issues and no learning curve. Thanks to advancements in our extreme lightweight engineering, the Kone Pro Air weighs in at just 75g. The ROCCAT Bionic Shell keeps the weight down and provides a comfortable and consistent surface, whilst keeping dust and dirt out. It transitions into a beautiful translucent finish on the main buttons, allowing vivid AIMO 16.8 color RGB lighting to shine through, creating the signature look. The Kone Pro Air features our state-of-the-art 19K DPI Owl-Eye Sensor which delivers incredible responsiveness and precision. It also utilizes the ROCCAT USB-C PhantomFlex charging cable, which virtually disappears when in use – no friction, no distractions. Everything rests on our best-in-class pure PTFE heat-treated skates. They offer sublime glide right out of the box, with a spare pair thrown in for good measure
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Good gaming mouse? It depends on YOU
on June 3, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Good gaming mouse >> yes no maybe – it depends on YOU
Out of the box this is absolutely the lightest gaming mouse I have used. Gaming mice come in all sorts of configurations for weight – many with weights you can add or take away to get the feel that is just right for you. If you want your mouse to provide some “damping” to your movement from having some weight and heft – this is not for you. If you want the mouse to “disappear” and not affect your hand movement – this mouse does exactly that! The shape allows you to have a secure grip without having to clamp down and tire out your hand.
This is a very clean and straightforward mouse. There are two thumb buttons on the left side which are very responsive and can be programmed. A switch on the bottom of the mouse allows you to switch gaming profiles – which are pretty easy to set up using the software that comes with the mouse. Other than that, there are no extra buttons, switches, rockers for adding macros and shortcuts. Clean, lean, and mean. Again – what are you after that is best for YOUR gaming experience.
Wireless/Bluetooth – I have had some pretty “meh” experiences with Bluetooth gaming mice – this one is the best so far, perhaps due to the improvement with Bluetooth connectivity in general, but here you will have the best possible Bluetooth connection. I keep wondering if I ought to settle on the wireless dongle, but my Bluetooth has held up fine and I’m not going to use the dongle unless I have to – which hasn’t happened so far.
Precision – every gaming mouse I have tried needs some calibration and tweaking to be as precise as possible. There is a “Swarm” software package to get set up, and also some additional settings for fine tuning.
Clicky Buttons – very nice click feel, sound, and response. I have not used a mouse with better click response.
Battery Life – OK it’s wireless, so how long between having to charge the battery? A long long time. I have been using this a week and still yet to need a recharge. Hey no big deal to plug in the mouse overnight for a charge, but I’m not concerned about this one needing a charge in the middle of a day off for gaming therapy.
RGB Colors – well I left this for last as it is nice to have an RGB mouse, but with the black shell the colors are somewhat dull. The RGB doesn’t “pop” for brightness, but it is a nice touch. The RGB can be turned off if you like for longer battery life. It is so quick and easy to recharge that I just leave it on and let it add a little more variety to my desktop.
Overall, this is a good gaming mouse if you want a “light as a feather” mouse. That really really depends on what YOU want – but if you are thinking you want a heavier mouse because that is what you are used to… giving this mouse a try might be worth it to see if that picks up your gaming experience.
Stay Safe from Central GA!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The New Definition of High Definition: This FHD monitor feels as good as it looks, packing IPS technology for 178 degrees ultra-wide viewing angles, 99% sRGB color gamut for color accuracy, and AMD FreeSync to keep your eyes up to speed with your imagination.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Looks more expensive than it is…
on June 3, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
Looks more expensive than it is…
So many monitors to choose from, and this may be a good one for you in a business or home setting – as it has good refresh, very crisp colors, and a very stylish appearance.
Before going further, there are a few critical questions that may sort out whether this monitor is a good choice for your needs:
1 – Heavy Gaming >> probably not as the maximum refresh rate is 70Hz, the response time is 5ms, and there is no HDR support.
2 – Light Gaming >> no problems – this is my category and I have enjoyed the display color and have not noticed any frame skipping, smearing, or response lags.
3 – Daily internet, email, videos, social media, streaming – all of these look great, nice color, crisp text.
4 – Size – 24” screen which has plenty of room for most people. If you are looking at multiple monitors then 2 x 24” screens provides a lot of real estate and at this price point getting two for a new and stylish work area appearance might be a good idea!
5 – Connectivity – you get 1 HDMI and 1 VGA port – so if you only have display port on your computer you may have some connection limitations.
5 – Adjustability – OK the viewing angle has a good bit of adjustment, but there is no height adjustment. If you have two of these for multiple monitors – no problems, but if you already have one monitor set up and want to add this one to the mix, you get what you get for height and you may want to be sure you can adjust height on your other monitor if that is how you like them.
I mentioned style a few times already, and this is a very modernistic style monitor down to the base – and unbelievably light since there are no built-in speakers to add to the width. If you are particular about how your desktop looks, this will add a very modern touch. If you are adding this as a second monitor to your desktop, it will definitely stand out and might be best “in the middle” where you keep your primary monitor.
Getting a new monitor usually comes down to what looks best to you, and what fits best on your desktop. Best Buy will have these on display along with other monitors, so I recommend getting up close and personal before buying a monitor… your choice is going to be right in front of you for a long time, so to me it is worth the time to go and have a look before making the final decision.
Stay Safe from Central GA!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The HP OfficeJet Pro 8035e delivers increased productivity with fast speeds and custom mobile shortcuts. It includes the optional HP+ Smart Printing System that keeps itself up to date, secure, and ready to print from virtually anywhere at any time. Optional HP+ system requires an HP account, internet connection, and use of only Original HP Ink for the life of the printer.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Does it all from home or while out and about...
on May 9, 2021
Posted by: banjo
from macon, ga
This HP printer is a great solution for a household that has phones, Chromebooks, laptops, iPads, and desktops all going at one time or another. Every one of these devices can connect wirelessly for printing anything and everything! There is also the USB printing if you just have some printing from a computer that isn’t on the system but don’t want to go through making a connection… just copy the files to a USB stick and plug it in to do your print jobs.
HP has really worked on their printer setup, and getting everything connected and working has become very simple using the HP software and apps. Of course now that everyone can print everything whenever they want, the ink consumption has increased. Fortunately the ink cartridges are pretty much goof-proof, and there is the HP+ ink replacement system that I really suggest you try out.
The HP+ automatic ink replacement had me wondering if it was going to be a good deal or not, but HP lets you try it out without charge for the first few months so you can get a feel for how many pages will be printed, and you can easily adjust your monthly plan to match the total household pages that get printed. I kind of don’t like to get too many “automatic billing” subscriptions going, but looking at ink cartridge replacement cost, and the usual situation where I need to print pages (especially in color) and find that I’m running low on ink, then have to go out and get some ink cartidges all of a sudden, and then the cost of the cartridges…. Well for me it is much simpler and really not as costly to do the monthly rate with HP+ and not have to remember to “check the ink” when I need to print something important. I really do recommend that you go ahead and use the subscription service when you set up the printer. It doesn’t cost anything for the first few months and you can check your printer use to see if you want to continue with the subscription, adjust your usage plan, or just go back to buying your own cartridges as needed. I expect you will find the monthly subscription as convenient as I have.
For everything that this printer does and considering the pretty large paper tray, the footprint of the printer is small enough to easily fit on a desktop or side table. A lot of other “home business” printers with the same features look a lot larger.
I haven’t tried printing photos on photo paper yet, but the color on regular copy paper is good and it’s nice to be able to print color copies without having to worry about using up the ink. A little touch of color on an otherwise black and white page really does make things look better. My wife is especially happy because she can print out cupons, recipes, flyers, etc. and have them in color – they just look nicer and no worries about using up the ink!
Overall, this is a good unit that does pretty much everything and can be used to print something even if you are out and about. Your print job will be waiting on you when you get home!
Stay Safe from Central GA!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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banjo's Review Comments
 
Logitech Orion Spectrum RGB Keyboard: This keyboard's Romer-G mechanical switches respond quickly to your keystrokes to minimize lag time during fast-action game sequences. Plus, you can create a custom look with programmable intelligent RGB illumination.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Great for older geeks who don't need the "sizzle"
By banjo from macon, ga
Actually the "top of the line" G910 gaming keyboard was marked down to a lower price when I got this, but too much "gamer" stuff on the G910 and not for an 'older professional' who wants to appear more mature than his 13-year-old gaming son. IMO the G910 wasn't selling as well as hoped, and the G810 is (to me) the superior model in design, appearance, and performance.
This G810 looks professional on the desk, has OUTSTANDING color display (note that the 'special' keys on the number keys are also illuminated -- missing on many of the other illuminated keyboards - aren't these ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) the ones you can never remember when typing in the dark?), no "bottom of the keys" light spillover that takes away from the illumination focus, superior engineering on the Romer-G switches (Check out the tour of the Romer-G factory in Japan on YouTube), and feels like a BRICK in the hand (a GOOD BRICK) with heavy-duty construction. The 3-way adjustable tilt and huge rubber feet on the bottom will keep this from sliding around on any desk, including glass-tops. The only thing that makes this look like a "gamer rig" is the FABULOUS and CRISP color displays... which are easy to see even with the lights on in the room > fully adjustable to get it just the way you want at home or at work. I may be an old-timer, but I don't mind showing off a little bit and this keyboard is an EYE-CATCHER when the lights start doing the 'wave' across the keyboard!
I read all the reviews and fiddled with the keyboards on display and there seem to be "Logitech Nay-Sayers" who can't bear the idea of using anything other than the older design "cherry" keys. I have gone from manual touch-typing > to I B M Selectric > to I B M 'clicky' keyboard (still one of my favorites) > to membranes > to whatever-cheapo-keyboard Dell includes in their educational computers > to a Saitek PK17U Cyborg > to this keyboard. This one is the best by FAR! Re: keys... you get a little 'click' so the sound and some tactile/touch reinforcement for keyboarding (typing) is there, but not too loud and for me just enough to let me know I hit the key. Yes it feels different from the cheapo Dell keyboard i just unplugged and replaced, but every keyboard is different and this one feels like driving a luxury car!
Speaking of my son, he is now looking over at my new keyboard and looking at his illuminated keyboard and I think I know what he will be asking for come Christmas. Fortunately, the box still had the promotion of free download and activation code for "The Division" so the kid has something to keep him busy until Santa Claus comes.
If you are an old crab like me, but like a little 'sizzle' when using your computer and want to treat yourself to a smooth-as-silk keyboard... this is the one I would recommend. Leave the "whoopee" keyboards to the kids.
PS - you can hit a quick button on the keyboard and turn off the light display if you want to turn off the light show for a while.
Customer Avatar
banjo
macon, ga
Update @ Christmas 2016
December 21, 2016
Mentioned that my son was keeping an eye on my G810 from the get-go... first time I let him 'test drive' my G810 he says "ooooh, that feels nice" and decided he wanted to go to mechanical keyboard. He has a 'gamer' RBD keyboard (non-mechanical) with extra bells and whistles he has been using for a year or two, but instantly fell in love with the mechanical feel. Just gave him a "Week before Christmas" present of his own G810. He had his pick of the models available, and after tapping some keys and looking at the different models chose to get the G810. Just goes to show the "fancy schmancy" keyboards might look more-cooler-better but the proof is in the feel of the keys. It's a keyboard, after all.
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Enjoy Full HD viewing with this 25-inch HP micro-edge display. It has one VGA and two HDMI inputs for versatile, high-definition connectivity, and its edge-to-edge panel lets you opt for a clean-looking multi-monitor setup. Play video games smoothly thanks to the AMD FreeSync technology of this thin HP micro-edge display.
 

There was no vga cable in the box. Should I go to best buy or hp?

Any 15-pin VGA cable will do. Find your best deal and have at it.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
banjo
 
Enjoy Full HD viewing with this 25-inch HP micro-edge display. It has one VGA and two HDMI inputs for versatile, high-definition connectivity, and its edge-to-edge panel lets you opt for a clean-looking multi-monitor setup. Play video games smoothly thanks to the AMD FreeSync technology of this thin HP micro-edge display.
 

What vesa mount adapter do I need to mount this display?

This monitor does not have VESA mounting holes.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
banjo
 
Acer 15 Chromebook: Enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life with this 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook. Its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM load webpages quickly and provide lag-free streaming, and the 16GB of internal storage holds documents and photos. This Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display.
 

Does this device allow you to create file folders that I can be accessed while on a website? I need to transfer pics from my notepad and then upload them by accessing the folder from my companies website.

Set it up with a Google Drive for cloud storage and sharing of files.
6 years, 4 months ago
by
banjo
 
Acer 15 Chromebook: Enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life with this 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook. Its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM load webpages quickly and provide lag-free streaming, and the 16GB of internal storage holds documents and photos. This Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display.
 

My screen is upside down, how do I fix?

Oh my goodness! You must have been shipped the Australian model that is used south of the equator! LOL but seriously folks simply hit ctrl+shift+refresh. The refresh key is the one with the spinning arrow. It'll rotate the screen 90 degrees. Do that again since 90+90=180 degrees which is half-way round the circle. Peace out...
6 years, 4 months ago
by
banjo
 
Logitech Orion Spectrum RGB Keyboard: This keyboard's Romer-G mechanical switches respond quickly to your keystrokes to minimize lag time during fast-action game sequences. Plus, you can create a custom look with programmable intelligent RGB illumination.
 

Does this game as of 7/15/16 still come w/ a free The Division key?

I just picked one up 8/21/16 and it had the "Offer" logo on the box and a cupon inside.... should be good to go as long as your box has the "Offer" logo on it....
8 years, 2 months ago
by
banjo
 
With a Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi, this Samsung Galaxy S III I747 BLUE cell phone makes it easy to navigate Web content while you're on the go. The 8.0MP camera lets you snap photos to share with friends and relatives.This device is not warrantied through the manufacturer. This device has a limited 1 year warranty provided by CCR Warranty. To obtain technical or warranty assistance, please contact CCR Warranty at 866-579-8436.
 

s dis fon new or refurbished n does it take simple mobile Sim card

mine arrived late June and it looked brand new in original packaging with "bumper strips" on the case. i would say "brand new" for the one i got.
8 years, 3 months ago
by
banjo