All the power you expect, without the cord. Go where ambition takes you with the cordless hand blender from KitchenAid. Designed with a powerful rechargeable lithium ion battery, the new cordless hand blender delivers optimal runtime and performance, so you can cook wherever, whatever, and however you choose. Blends 25 bowls of soup on a full charge.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Easy to use Dishwasher safe detachable blades Charger port requires blade removal for safety Light Balanced weight Powerful Variable speed Sturdy container for food prep Quiet Fast charge time Long battery life Second safety button to reduce accidental activations
Cons Guard falls off easily Very tall Small batches can be messy Difficult to maintain precise speed with variable control
Design and Features The blade handle has a two-button system where the button that rests in your palm serves as a safety button to prevent accidental activation and the button for your fingertips controls the variable speed. On top is a charge and battery level indicator light. The bottom half which contains the blades, is made mostly of metal with a small section of plastic where it connects to the main body. The blade section detaches and is dishwasher safe. Included in the box is a blade guard you can attach to the bottom to help prevent damage to more sensitive pots and pans. A sturdy mixing cup, which includes a lid, is the only other accessory in the box.
Performance and Usage The variable speed is easy to operate but precise control is challenging as there is no digital readout or dial to maintain consistent speed. In most cases you only need small bursts of blending, so this issue is only minor. The middle section of the motor body has a narrow section for your hand which helps give you a secure grip on the blender. The motor is so quiet that you would think this blender isn’t up to the task. It’s great to not have to worry about a cord getting in the way but sacrificing power would be a deal breaker. Fortunately, the motor never had an issue with anything it was tasked to blend. Quite the contrary. Even when used to blend thicker items the motor didn’t seem to change sound or speed and made the task easy. In fact, often blending was much shorter than expected of whatever was thrown at them. This can sometimes be a delicate balance for tasks such as homemade milkshakes as it can blend the ice cream so fast that you must stop and mix the remainder of the ingredients manually or risk a runny milkshake. If you are trying to blend small amounts, such as when you are making a small batch of blueberry jam, the blender can throw the ingredients everywhere, so you want to plan accordingly with a suitable container. A slight downside for the advantage of having a blender that is up to the task. If there was any part that was a disappointment, it would be the plastic guard used to protect your more sensitive pots and pans from scratches. It holds on with so little force that more sticky items, such as potatoes, will pull the guard off as you attempt to make mashed potatoes.
Maintenance is simple. Cleaning only requires twisting the bottom half of the blender off and tossing it in the dishwasher. The battery seems to last a long time and charging is easy. A simple but helpful safety feature is that the charging port requires you remove the blades the same as if you are cleaning. Just leave it to charge and when the light on the top of the handle turns green you are ready.
Final Thoughts If you have thought a hand blender would be good addition to your kitchen tools, you might look to go the extra step and get a cordless one. The convenience of not worrying about snagging a cord spoils you to never want to go back. To that end, the KitchenAid Cordless Hand Blender fist the bill with little compromises.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Two piece design makes cleanup easy
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Charge indicator and battery level
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Charging port requires removing blades for safety
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Blender makes cauliflower potatoes quickly
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Smooths jams in seconds
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Strong blender means smaller batches like this require a taller container to prevent messes.
Protect and compliment your tablet with this Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air. The full-size keyboard features backlit keys that enable you to type in dark environments, while the precision trackpad improves productivity with multi-finger gesture control. This Logitech Combo Touch for iPad Air has a built-in kickstand that provides a preferred viewing angle, and a pen holder to secure your crayon or Apple pencil.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Comfortable to use Case finish is attractive, durable, assists grip, and resists stains Keys are responsive with good travel Keys feel well spaced Keys have an adjustable backlight Keyboard doesn’t have batteries that require charging Touchpad movements are precise Touchpad uses inertia Keyboard is very sturdy with no flex Case is very thick with good protection Stylus holder has just the right amount of friction for secure storage All ports, including charging port, have large opens to accommodate accessories Kickstand feels very sturdy and stays at the angle you put it at
Cons Tablet use requires taking the keyboard off Magnets are too weak to hold hold heavy keyboard on reliably Power and volume buttons are too low profile and require too much force Keyboard cover is difficult to open with no notch or other tab to grab Kickstand bottom is sharp and can be uncomfortable on legs Kickstand extends beyond case making tablet use less comfortable Front and back cover profiles don’t match Keyboard connection is finicky and sometimes loses connection
Out of the box, the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case feels premium. The case has a substantial amount of weight, likely because of the kickstand design which stays where you put it. The keyboard cover is equally as sturdy with little flex. The texture looks like canvas and gives the more sophisticated look to the overall design. The stylus holder has more of a soft touch rubberized finish. The power and volume keys are low profile bumps in the case versus cutouts. There are cutouts for the speakers and the charge port, which is large enough to accommodate most their party cables . Usage The overall design attempts to allow both tablet format and computer use and this does require some compromises. In table use, you can’t just fold the keyboard cover to the back. You must remove it. Once removed, the left side leaves and open cavity where the protruding sharp edge of the kickstand digs into your hand slightly. It’s still usable. But, you might find yourself shifting the way you hold it periodically to give your palm of your hand a break. Also, in tablet mode the overall bulk of the case becomes apparent as it doesn’t feel much lighter with the keyboard off. At first glance, you might feel the stylus holder is an afterthought but it works surprisingly well. The slightly rubberized finished and overall size provide just enough friction to give you confidence. It will hold the Pencil securely while still allowing it to be removed without much effort.
If you want to use it as a laptop, you will find the compromise is first in the overall length but the harsh edge of the kickstand. Although it holds position very well, the sharp edge over time can dig into your thighs. The overall length and top heavy design means laptop usage works best if you are laying slightly back. This both allows the space but improves stability and reduces the overall pressure the kickstand exerts. So, usage on laying back on the couch isn’t too bad, but sitting up in a chair isn’t as great. The place where the overall package shines the most is sitting at a desk. The kickstand can be adjusted to the perfect angle for you with no discomfort while remaining stable and the keyboard case has a solid base to allow confident typing. You can also adjust the tablet and keyboard backlight straight from the keyboard to suite your needs. There is a slight learning curve but the touchpad supports all the gesture navigation features of iOS.
Performance Of course, trying to be jack of all trades means there will be compromises. But, the big question is do they improve the overall functionality in a meaningful way. The answer to this question is a yes. The kickstand mechanism works very well and stays where you put it without requiring much effort. The keyboard allows much faster typing on par with an ultra book with a good quality keyboard. And finally the touchpad has a precision and movement that feels, for lack of a better term, very Apple. If you have used other Apple products, the overall feel of the touchpad should be very familiar.
As for protecting your tablet, of course it won’t provide liquid protection but the thickness and rigidness of the panels gives the impression it will protect you from most drops. The weak magnets might be the one area of concern but when all are used when it is closed it feels like it will keep the cover on in all but the most extreme drops.
Final Thoughts If this fits your iPad and you have been looking for an affordable way to increase your productivity, this combo case is definitely worth a look. Logitech has a long history of making quality products and the overall feel and usage of this case gives you the feeling it will last for quite some time. At the risk of sounding cliché, it really does make it feel more like a computer. If Apple could ease up on some of the mobile design restrictions this could potentially negate the need for a regular computer. For now, this just reduced the need.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Kickstand stays were you put it and works very well on hard surfaces
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Pencil holder provides the right amount of hold without making it hard to remove
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Ports have a good amount of clearance to accommodate most accessories
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Buttons look nice but are too shallow making them harder to find
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Kickstand protrudes out making a sharp edge when using as a tablet.
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Backlight is adjustable and as bright as the kind in laptops.
Soothe sore muscles with this Theragun Prime massage device. The brushless motor features QuietForce technology for low sound, while Bluetooth connectivity syncs with your portable device for convenient control and guidance via the Therabody app. This Theragun Prime massager delivers up to 30 lbs. of force to effectively warm up muscles and release tightness.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Powerful and near impossible to stall Longer stroke distance than others Quiet Motor Includes travel bag Includes the 4 most used tips Convenient method of changing tips Polished app with routines Apple Health integration Multiple power levels Allows firmware updates to improve/fix Pressure coaching via app
Cons Sometimes rattles Grease from shaft can get on clothes Shut off a few times unexpectedly Coach does not pause when changing body locations
Design The design is still the similar triangle shape that Theragun has used in the past. One could be forgiven for thinking it is not new. The handles are made of a rubberized finish that aides with grip allowing 3 different positions to hold the device to try to get to where you need. Included are 4 tips which are quick and easy to swap out. Depending on the usage, some tips are made of a foam rubber where others are firmer to get deeper to those hard to reach muscles, like the cone. On the top are three buttons which control power on, percussion on, power up, and power down. The power levels are indicated by 5 led bars and the battery life is indicated by 3 round leds. Included is Bluetooth connectivity to allow the Prime to work with the included app. All accessories can comfortably fit in the included travel pouch which keeps the whole package very light and compact.
Usage You might be wondering why a percussive massaging device needs an app. The answer seems to be to help guide those with less experience than a physical therapist on how to properly use the device. It can integrate with Apple Health and suggest treatments based on your activities as well as record your treatments back into Apple Health. The app is well polished and offers you different options for the type of pain you are having or what activity you are needing to recovery from, such as jogging. The app will prompt you to turn on the Theragun. After this, there is a brief pause where it shows you were to place it and in which direction to move it. If you look quickly enough it also shows you which tip to use and which grip to hold with. This is a great start, particularly for those less experienced, but it would be better if the app started with a full screen showing the location on your body and movement so you could see it better as well as a graphic of the particular tip to use as well as the best grip to hold with. Then once you tap ok it should proceed with treatment. It would also be helpful if in between changing positions or sides it paused, prompted you where to go next, and then let you choose the next position. Instead it just rushes though the different positions. Initially the only prompt you received was the phone, which you are likely not holding, would vibrate but recently a firmware upgrade added a studder vibration when it is time to move. This is a great first step but unless you a professional, who would not need the app in the first place, and automatic pause to read the screen would be helpful. It’s still a nice touch but you can tell Theragun was originally targeted at professionals. Hopefully with time they will refine the process for the less initiated. It would also be nice to see all the extra treatments on their YouTube channel added to the app as well. The app doesn’t seem to have a coach for certain hip issues but their YouTube channel as a tutorial specifically covering it.
The underdog in this is having Bluetooth connections allows firmware updates. It sounds unneeded but the additional of the studder vibration for changes has already show shut a feature is helpful in adding value. Another nice feature for those less experience is the pressure indicator. While using the app, it will show dark gray with too little pressure, blue with ideal pressure, and red with excessive pressure. This comes in hand because the included graph is hard to reach at times because the power of the percussion causes your eyes to vibrate as well. An improvement could be made here as well because with excessive pressure it shuts off immediately instead of giving maybe a vibration warning which would allow to adjust and continue instead of thinking the unit died and having to unpause the app. This issue has cropped up on occasion and the device will shut off in the middle of treatment when switching between areas without being triggered by the excessive force shutdown. It has been with a fully charged battery. It hasn’t happened enough times to warrant concern although it is still worth mentioning.
Performance One thing Theragun seems to have plenty of is power. Just one power level bar showing and you can get deep into the muscle but if bump the power bar to light up all 5 leds you have enough power and speed to rattle your eyes and teeth. Although not officially recommended for this purpose, the power is even enough that during a back massage it can effectively help you clear out chest congestion as your entire body cavity feels the effects. This force might also means as you treat one area, the pressure helps you realize you had another trouble spot that needs attention. The stall force is well above what most people need. If you use the app it will turn the unit off, but you operate it directly you can push it into your leg with likely more force than is healthy without any signs of stalling.
A surprise change from older Theragun devices is the noise level. You can still hear it, but instead of sounding like a power tool it’s more of a low hum. In fact, the motor noise is less noticeable than the rattle that happens if you put the device in certain positions on your body. It’s not apparent if the rattle sound is normal, maybe because the changeable tips, or a defect in this unit but it has an occasional plastic rattle when used on certain parts of the body. The operation of the motor feels very solid so even if it is a defect it isn’t one that would cause problems with operation. That said, at the loudest you can still comfortably carry on a conversation.
Final Thoughts Besides what seem like minor issues making a professional grade device more available to the average fitness enthusiast, the Theragun Prime seems well suited for active types whose regular job doesn’t isn’t in fitness. If you either have a lifetime of ailments hindering your performance or are a younger athlete needing to keep inflammation under control the Theragun Prime can really help. It is good recovery tool for those who have want some of the functionality of the professionals in a simpler, more affordable package. If Theragun continues to refine the software and firmware, the Theragun Prime could prove to be even more of a value.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Quick change tip system
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Power and battery meter
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Includes a carrying pouch
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Sometimes the device would turn off and display this message
Monitor your property and capture 1080p footage with this eufy smart floodlight camera. The super-bright 2500-lumen motion-activated lights provide excellent illumination for nighttime recording. This eufy smart floodlight camera offers the option to livestream HD video from your smartphone, and two-way audio communication lets you interact with visitors from afar.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Solid metal build, except camera housing Bright floodlights provide very even lighting Multiple options for lighting Lights can be controlled separate from camera Camera works in both color and night vision Camera can be forced to stay in color mode if desired Multiple security profiles including GeoFencing Very simple setup Lights are dimmable No subscription fees Wide 140-degree field of view Good color contrast and sharpness 2-way talk is very clear when it works Decent Wi-Fi range Quick app launch Support for Alexa and Google Assistant No dependence on internet to record
Cons Limited smart home integrations 1080P for such a wide field of view reduces clarity Heavy compression further reduces overall clarity Dynamic range not very good Heavy motion blur and ghosting in dark lighting Motion sensor can’t distinguish between tree moving and person Motion detection range only approximately 25 feet Can’t record distant motion due to dependence on sensor first No option for person detection No option for RTSP stream or other continuous recording Doesn’t support base station recording yet IR lights are placed too close to camera attracting bugs to block view Flood lights only have 2 axis of motion limiting proper adjustment of shield
Design The main body and lights are made of metal. The camera housing is plastic with four IR LEDs on the sides of the camera lens. The camera and motion detection module are adjusted via a keyed ball and socket joint. The flood lights have 2 axis adjustment with wingnuts. Recordings and motion processing is all done locally and internet is only used for remote access to settings and recordings. This means reliable recording is not dependent on a consistent internet connection.
Setup The floodlight comes prewired with a plug for initial setup close to your Wi-Fi. Installation is easiest if you are replacing an existing flood or spotlight and already have a box. Only 3 wires are needed to install. The camera’s slotted ball makes adjustment straightforward. However, the 2-axis adjustment on the flood lights is less than ideal. The tops of the flood lights have a rain hood that needs to be on the top of the light to function properly. The issue is you can only move the light in two directions. This means that at some angles the hood is tilted instead of at the top. The lights and the camera can be configured to operate independently. You have adjustments for lighting for motion, manual, and scheduled. With dimming options this means you can set the lights to a dim setting on a schedule and have them change to full brightness with motion. The camera can be configured with up to 4 rectangular shaped motion activity zones. The motion sensitivity is adjusted via a slider. There are options for different security modes that allow you to change options quickly. You can also define your own security profiles or use the Geofencing option. Reports say that Eufy will add the functionality to save recordings to a base station used by their other cameras in the future. Unfortunately, there are no reports of adding RTSP stream support like their other cameras have. The closest option to continuous recording is you can change the retrigger period to 0 seconds which allows multiple back to back recordings of motion.
Performance The video has a 3 second pre buffer so in most cases, even with fast motion, you still get the recording. The speed of notifications to a mobile device are very quick if your phone has good internet. The app opens quickly to a preview as well. The video a very wide 140 degrees meaning you could put one in your front or back yard and capture nearly the entire yard. The video looks very clear on a smartphone. Unfortunately, you will find how limiting the 1080p video and heavy compression is when recording a wide field of view if you zoom in. If you try to zoom in on an area in a recording you will quickly find the image becomes pixelated and unusable. Furthermore, the compression causes the picture to look as though it is shifting around in such a way that, from experience, may cause some courts to consider the video as modified and invalid. A better option would be at least 2K recording with larger storage and lighter compression. Overall contrast is good, but the dynamic range isn’t very poor. This means evenly lit spaces will look good but daytime videos won’t do well in shaded areas. The shadows will be dark enough to allow someone hide from view and recording. Night videos are well exposed with the IR lights with even lighting across the entire video with no significant hot spot. The only issue with this is the IR emitters are so close to the camera that bugs will hang around the camera lens and block the view. Professional security cameras leave a suitable gap to prevent such issues. Night videos with the flood light are good from a distance but if you get too close the dynamic range issues comes up again causing over exposure and subjects become washed out and unidentifiable. The best way around this would be set the brightness of the floodlights to a dimmer setting so you can get proper exposure close-up. This would sacrifice overall range but allow clear video up close. On max brightness, the floodlights are bright enough to illuminate an area of 75x75ft.
Although not specified, motion detection seems to have two parts. The motion sensor is used to trigger a recording but will only do so if the motion is within the defined activity zone. This is counter intuitive as one would expect an activity zone be used to define if activity is seen in this zone you should record it, but only if another sensor saw it first. You can define up to 4 rectangular shaped zones. The industry standard is now the more flexible polygon motion zones. Depending on the motion sensor to trigger recordings first for a camera with such a wide view seems strange. The camera can see so much but only record if what is happening is within approximately 25 feet. Furthermore, it seems easily fooled by inanimate objects causing false triggers. It would be nice if Eufy was able to, via an update, add the intelligence to allow recording based on motion in the defined activity zone combined with basic AI to only alert if the motion is human. Of course, this would depend on the processing power, but their battery powered cameras can do this.
Overall, the Eufy Floodlight Camera is a solidly built product. Except for relatively low-resolution camera for the viewing angle, the other issues are either small or could potentially be improved via future software updates. Feature wise it lags beyond the industry but what makes it unique is the focus on privacy and storing your data locally and note requiring another monthly subscription. Eufy has been aggressively updating the software for its product line over the years and there is no reason to expect them to not do the same with the Floodlight Camera. If privacy is your first concern over having every fancy, cloud connected feature then the Eufy Floodlight Camera could be a good fit for you.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Poor dynamic range makes the dog in the shade nearly invisible
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Motion blur and ghosting in dark areas. Here the dog is extended to s strange shape
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IR Lighting is very consistent with no significant hot spot
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Flood lights are very bright and consistent. You can also see how the IR lights attract spiders too close too close to the camera.
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IR Lights are too close to lens attracting bugs right near the camera
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2-axis floodlight adjustment means you can't level the lights completely
Get a handle on every battle with this DARK CORE RGB PRO SE Bluetooth gaming mouse. The contoured design and interchangeable side grips let you play in comfort, while programmable buttons and a customizable optical sensor give you complete control. This DARK CORE RGB PRO SE Bluetooth optical gaming mouse offers up to 24 hours of battery life and Qi wireless charging for intense gaming sessions.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Smooth and precise tracking Comfortable Qi charging capable Physical, fast wireless, and Bluetooth connections Braided USB-C for charging/data cable Includes separate sniper mode Interchangeable side grip On board memory for storing up to 3 profiles Lighting profile can be used to indicate system temps Micro switches have a solid feel Mouse has storage for USB dongle
Cons iCue software is not very intuitive Saving profiles didn’t seem to save them to the mouse Doesn’t support light linking Hard to distinguish individual buttons Placement of sensitivity buttons leads to accidental clicks No OSD for mode changes Battery level only shown as tray icon Battery level only has low, medium, and high iCue doesn’t prompt for automatic download No automatic game profiles
Design The Dark Core RBG Pro SE is latest generation of Corsair’s highest end wireless gaming mice. The latest iteration includes Qi wireless gaming that is compatible with any Qi charger, but more importantly their companion gaming mousepad. The specs state 128 grams but this one came in at 140-142 grams depending on side grip. The charging/data cable now uses USB-C instead of Micro-USB. The side grip is interchangeable between sleek and offering a finger rest. Underneath the side grip is a storage bay for the high-speed wireless USB dongle. Operation is through hardwired USB-C cable, High speed Slipstream wireless, or Bluetooth. On the underside of the mouse is a mode switch where you can choose off, Bluetooth, or high-speed wireless operation with hardwired mode switching automatically when plugged in. This is nice because you can then use the same mouse for regular work without a dongle and then switch to high speed on your gaming system. The profile is a medium height arch which decent compromise to allow the most popular grips with good comfort. The finger rest is particularly helpful if you use a claw grip. The back half of the mouse has a soft, textured surface to improve comfort and grip. In front of the thumb rest are three LED lights that indicate DPI mode and two configurable buttons. On the left click mouse button there are also two more configurable buttons.
Usage and Performance The instructions say to plug it in hardwired first for initial configuration. But, out of the box it works if you just plug in the USB dongle. That said, unlike other brands, it doesn’t prompt to download their custom iCue software. This is good in the fact that you can get straight to using it. The bad is if you didn’t read the instructions or already know, all the advanced settings and profile setup is done through iCue. It would have been nice if, like other mice, on initial install on a new system it prompted you to install the configuration software. It’s not a deal breaker but just not as refined as one would think for what should be a high-end device. That said, without configuration the profile button switches between a couple of lighting profiles and the buttons on the side of the left mouse click button still work to change DPI mode. Operation is smooth and precise with no perceptible lag. A quick flick to the side to shoot and the mouse stops where you stop without overshooting. The slight texture also means if you tend to lift while moving you should have a good amount of grip to do so confidently. The main issue is the button profiles don’t make it easy to determine which button you are touching which leads to more accidental button presses. The DPI mode is a perfect example of this.
To get really get to the capabilities of this mouse you need to install the iCue software. When you launch it after installing it looks slick, but unfortunately it seems looks came first. All the functions are there, but it seems they didn’t take a lot of time thinking of how to organize things and make the software simple to use. You can create macros but there is no obvious way to assign them after creation. After digging, you might find the menu has an option to go to support and you can browse their support website. There is a macro section but then part the instructions says macros aren’t supported without a keyboard which is strange if true because why would the mouse options have macro setup. Furthermore, when trying to map a macro to a mouse button it never seemed to work. In short, if macro activation is supported via the mouse setup of such functions is far from intuitive. Furthermore, there isn’t any sort of indication or default OSD that indicates mode changes or Macro activations.
Another oddity is that there is a sniper mode in the DPI settings. This seems great because you can put very low DPI to allow precise aiming while sniping. What is strange is the DPI mode switch buttons don’t toggle through sniping mode. There also isn’t a pre-configured button for it. With further digging in the help you will find that sniper mode requires to map it to a button. That just seems a bit strange to go so far as to create the option for a DPI profile built in but not have at least a default mapping. It also further gives the feeling that the hardware is good, but the software just feels unfinished.
Finally, when it comes to storing profiles, just when you think you have them stored on the mouse you might find yourself out of luck again. According to the specs, the mouse can store up to 3 profiles that don’t require iCue. It could be the confusion with the software but in use once the profiles were “saved” and the mouse was moved to a new computer it was like starting all over again. At least the positive part of this is the default profile isn’t horrible, but the process just doesn’t feel intuitive. On research, it seems others have had similar issues with older versions asking on different sites. Seasoned users have either pointed them to Youtube videos or other forums so it would seem this confusion isn’t isolated. Apparently, there is also an option to auto switch light and mouse profiles automatically when launching a game but this goes back to needing to do more research. Other gaming mice offer to automatically install the companion software and even auto search for games and even offer default game profiles and well as allow you to download and share from others. Corsair might have allowed loading shared profiles, but they don’t make it straightforward to find if they do.
Final Thoughts The Corsair Dark Core RBG SE has a name to match its design, complicated. On the hardware front, it’s a solid mouse besides the button profile issue. It’s hard to comment on individual grip styles, weights, and button activations but the mouse feels well built. If you are a PC gamer and have tweaked every aspect of your system from voltages to clocks speeds until just shy of the point of failure or thermal overload, programming the Dark Core is just another thing to figure out. The big question is if the hardware draws you enough to warrant figuring out the configuration when more intuitive options exist.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Mouse includes storage for dongle
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Weight with side grip with finger rest.
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Buttons have smooth profile increasing the chances of hitting the wrong one.
The BISSELL® air320 Air Purifier is part of the BISSELL lineup of premium lifestyle air purifiers that join form and function in your home. The air320 is designed with clean lines, smooth edges, modern legs, a discreet cord wrap, and a fabric filter that fit into the design of almost any home. Beneath the unique design is a powerful machine you'd expect from BISSELL - a trusted brand in homecare. The washable fabric pre-filter on the front of the machine is part of this air purifier's 3 stage filtration. This filtration system also includes a pleated high efficiency filter to capture hair, dust, pollen, and dander and an activated carbon filter to capture home odors, pet odors, and volatile organic compounds. The air320 is controlled by a soft-touch dial that allows users to adjust the fan speed. The air320 can accommodate large rooms like bedrooms, living area, basements, and dining rooms. It is tested to the AHAM standard to have a Smoke CADR of 199 for rooms up to 308 sq. ft., making it great for bedrooms, living areas, basements, and dining rooms. You’ve trusted BISSELL to clean and care for the floors and surfaces in your home. Now, let us clean your air! Plus, every purchase of this product helps save pets! BISSELL® proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Looks more like a piece of furniture Quiet most of the time Automatic mode adjusts speed based on need Automatic night mode turns off lights in the dark No back intake means you can put it flush against a wall
Cons Very loud on high Only measures PM2.5 No timer
Design The Bissell Air320 departs from most purifiers that tend to look very functional and don’t really blend into your décor or others that mimic the style of a fan. Instead, the Air320 looks more like a piece of furniture with design cues from furniture of the 1960-1970s. The legs are rounded with a faux wood finish to continue the furniture theme. A single dial with a button in the center controls everything with an oversized dot matrix display hidden in the plastic on the front that indicates the PM2.5 levels. Also included is a hidden color changing light the creates a glow directly under the display with the color indicating the general air quality going from green to red. The fan has 5 speeds as well as an auto mode. Included is a PM2.5 sensor which can measure fine particles but there is no mention of a PM10 sensor to measure dust, mold, and pollen. Air is pulled into the mesh fabric on the front and filtered air exits from the top. This design means you can put the unit flush against a wall without impeding operation. It also has a cord organizer built into the back to keep things tidy. The overall build feels sturdy.
Performance and Operation Overall operation is very simple. There are no smartphone controls or WiFi to set up. Just press the button in the middle to turn in on and then turn the dial to set the fan speed. Nothing else is needed. On low, the unit is barely audible and can be easily drowned out by regular noises in a room. On high, you will likely hear if even over a very loud TV. Thankfully you only hear the sound of air rushing, but it is still noticeable. If you keep it on one speed you could probably just tune it out after time but on auto the change can be quite abrupt. If it is anywhere near where you are cooking and is set to auto, you will know withing a few minutes if any smoke, fumes, or anything else is floating in your room as it goes into turbo for a few minutes to clean things up. Even in a 30x22 room it only takes between 15-30 minutes to get levels under control once no more pollutants are added. At that point, the pollution levels drop low enough for the automatic mode to drop the speed down to more tolerable levels. There is a bit of a tradeoff in moving so much air in a short time but it seems quite effective in taking care of even large rooms. In most cases, the filter can keep the room clean enough that running on full speed is rare. The only downside is the effectiveness of auto mode for allergies is questionable because it sets filter speed based on measurements. If you are expecting this to automatically sense dust, mold, and pollen it would seem unlikely as it doesn’t measure that particle size. Unfortunately, other measurement tools have not shown that not enough of the pollen has been making its way into the house lately to do a proper test even though several trees are pollinating currently. That said, if your only hang-up is a PM10 for other allergens you can always run it on manual since the filter media itself is capable of handling it. The main question is how effective auto mode actually is.
The digital readout and color light to indicate air quality are straightforward and make it easy to tell the overall air quality even from across the room without adding too much information. A thoughtful touch is when the room goes dark it turns off all lighting and displays. This is helpful for bedtime, but it would also be helpful to include a timer function to allow scheduled mode changes. It’s hard to justify running a purifier when you away from the house all day. Remembering to turn it off an on again will likely lead to someone forgetting. It would also be nice to have a way to set it to force a lower maximum speed at bedtime. Most people would likely be willing to wait a little longer to get fully cleaned air at bedtime if it meant not listening to a jet engine in their room for up 15-30 minutes or longer depending on there is more being added to the room. Although its nice to make things as simple as possible, these additional features would make it more likely to be used regularly as well as make it more effective.
Final Thoughts The Bissell Air320 is an attractive and simply designed purifier with just enough to help without causing confusion for those less technically inclined. No need to expect calls from the grandparents asking how to use it. The main question is if it is overly simplistic for your purposes. If you mainly need a purifier that can move a lot of air and clean a larger space, the Air320 could potentially fit the bill.
Build your muscles anywhere at any time with this lightweight Gorilla Bow travel resistance trainer. The compact, lightweight design ensures easy portability, and compatibility with a huge range of exercises helps tone muscle groups across your body. This Gorilla Bow travel trainer includes free video tutorials to get you started.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Bow is made of thick metal Finish feels durable Bow can be broken down into 3 parts Doesn’t require connecting to a door Feels more like free weights Allows more traditional movements like free weights Allows a lot more weight than traditional bands
Cons Can be heavy for some Still large when broken down Travel bag not included even though it’s a travel kit Instructional videos are separated and mostly repetitive intro Instructional videos often have poor audio quality Include bands only go up to 110 pounds
Design The bow is made of heavy gauge aluminum and feels very sturdy. Two buttons used to lock the ends of the bow in place. When the ends are locked in the, the bow feels like it is a single piece. Unlike cheaper products, this feels like it was built to last. One thing to keep in mind is if you want to take a flight with the bow and put it in your check-in baggage. Expect to dedicate nearly 6 pounds of your luggage weight to the bow. Included are four bands with max out at 110 pounds total. If you typically exercise with more weight, your going to need to purchase additional bands. Although this model is called the travel bow, a carrying case is not included but is available for purchase. For exercises where you need wrap the bands around your body, a sleeve is included so you don’t have to worry about pinching yourself. The sleeve can also be used to protect the bands when you stand on them.
Usage If you have exercised with free weights before, the bow design can be a bonus as it is far more straightforward on how free weight movements translate to bands. An example is you can duplicate a bench press by putting the bands behind your back and pushing away from your body with the bow. Much simpler than a band setup that mounts to a door. It also feels much more natural and closer to free weights, including requiring you to pay attention to form and left/right balance. Although the progressive nature of the bands has a different feel, it’s still nice to have a relatively compact package mimic free weights much closer. The resistance ramp-up seems much quicker than traditional bands, possibly because they are shorter, leading to a more natural feel.
From a hardware standpoint, the Gorilla Bow is well built. The website also appears well designed. If there is any criticism to levy against the Gorilla Bow, it would be the video tutorials. There are a small number of workouts for beginners on their YouTube channel, but the majority is dedicated to single exercises. This would seem helpful for more experience people just looking for a quick tutorial on form, but the issue is each video spends about three quarters of the time explaining who the person is and what they are going to demonstrate. Instead of forcing experienced people to fast forward through, the videos should either quickly get to the technique or just put all of them in one video. Where the channel really comes up short is workout routines for beginners. Another issue with the videos is often the speech is recorded with the built-in microphone on the camera making them hard to understand. This issue is made worse by the fact that the background music further drowns out what they are trying to say. Thankfully, the instructional booklet on their website has a workout routine for beginners and quick explanation for experienced people.
Final Thoughts Overall, the Gorilla Bow is well built. YouTube video issues aside, the Travel Gorilla bow is a solid product that blends the advantages of two different types of workout equipment into a small package. Whether you are new to exercise or have been using free weights for years, the Gorilla Travel Bow can serve you well.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bow with protective sleeve installed. You can use up to 4 bands at at time
eufy eufyCam 2, 2-Camera Surveillance System: See everything that happens around your home in 1080p HD with this eufy eufyCam 2 kit. Quick and easy to set up, two wireless cameras and a home base provide all that you need to get started, while smart integration ensures you can easily connect to other smart devices. This eufy eufyCam 2 kit provides 365 days of use from a single charge for continuous observation.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Responsive company very open to feedback No subscriptions required to enable smart features Local recording means minimal internet requirements Planned USB storage expansion option Planned solar panel early 2020 Planned Geofencing by the end of 2019 Fast app launch time Quick app notifications Person and face detection directly on camera Option to only alert for people while still recording motion Extremely long battery life Excellent speaker and microphone quality Easy setup process Base station speaks instructions very clearly Base station is both wired and wireless RTSP and storage to NAS options Night vision is easily improved by a small amount of supplemental lighting Nest home hub integration
Cons Video compression artifacts reduce image quality Video quality varies based on varying wireless conditions Initial recording is pixelated Delay in motion recording means sometimes recordings are missed Ghosting sometimes occur with night vision Screw mount feels weak and has no slot to angle camera higher 3-piece screw mount seems overly complicated Sometimes detection motion detection fails to record people Night vision isn’t very far without supplemental lighting Audio recordings affected by small amounts of wind
Security cameras for home use have become increasingly popular in the past few years. The first goal was to make them more affordable than the ones used by businesses. They were complicated to install and not user-friendly. Next came wireless and battery power options to make installation simpler and more flexible. They either required strong Wi-Fi everywhere or frequently recharges. Then came smart cameras requiring a subscription to enable full functionality. At each stage in the evolution of home security cameras there seemed to be a big gotcha in the design that, even though you might have bought them, made you wish they would improve the design. The Eufycam 2 is the latest version from Anker that tries to find that perfect balance between price and features that we want.
Design and Features The cameras are wireless, and the base station also has a Wi-Fi option to allow optimal placement. The batteries claim to have a 1-year battery life, which is noticeable when you feel their weight. In contrast, the base station is barely larger than a large coffee cup. Included is an ethernet jack and a USB port, which Anker says they plan to offer a USB expansion dongle in early 2020. Included are both magnetic bases, better suited to indoor use, and screw in bases, which are ideal for outdoor mounting. The magnetic bases feel sturdy but the screw in bases have a 3-piece design with parts feeling less substantial. Furthermore, adjustment is limited as there is no slot like generic mounts that allow placement up to 90 degrees from the mounting bracket.
As of November 12, Anker added RTSP functionality and the ability to store clips directly to a NAS. If you have a way to plug the cameras into USB power while keeping them safe from the elements, Anker says they can operate in a continuous recording mode. One would assume this would mean this is using RTSPS or a NAS as continuous recording would quickly fill up the integrated 16GB eMMC. Geofencing and an iPad version of the app are slated for release before the end of 2019. A web management portal is slated for release early January 2020 as well. Furthermore, Anker has stated they plan to develop a solar panel for Eufycam early 2020. Even if nothing else stood out about Eufycam, one thing should. Anker is serious about making Eufycam a strong contender. They are very open to feedback, are accessible and easy to contact, and are rapidly improving the product.
Performance The range of the cameras will vary wildly based on your local conditions, but with the base station using Wi-Fi, you shouldn’t have any problems installing cameras anywhere in the average sized home. Being wireless and battery powered does come with some caveats. Fast motion can sometimes be missed as the object has left the frame by the time the camera has turned fully on from its lower power mode. This is a tradeoff with battery powered cameras and Anker has worked to try to alleviate that some by start recording as soon as possible, which results in the start of recordings being more block with lighting being less accurate and audio a bit strange. Shortly after leaving low power mode the cameras will settle down and things will clear up. This is not unique to Eufycam.
As part of the tradeoff for wireless convenience, sometimes videos can show some compression artifacts or slight signal issues. Regardless, the system adjusts things to make sure they work reliably even if not always at max quality. The result is a clear picture with good color balance and clarity during the day and respectable night vision for battery powered cameras that can be easily improved with a little bit of lighting. Some occasional ghosting, where people partially disappeared or appeared in parts, occurred when someone quickly moved in sight of the camera and there wasn’t enough light. People are recognizable up to about 60 feet in daylight and around 10-15 feet at night. You can still see them beyond 10-15 feet, but you might not be able to recognize them depending on overall lighting.
The human and face detection really comes in handy for reducing false alerts. You can configure multiple motion detection boxes in the app but without the AI you would still be notified of simple things like swaying branches. By keeping processing local, not only to you improve privacy, but recognition is very fast and doesn’t even need a fast connection. By keeping processing and recording local, you also avoid the problem of cloud cameras that require a fast internet connection. Unlike cloud based smart cameras, detection and classification is near instantaneous. This can come in handy as you won’t have wait for the video to upload and get processed before you get notified a person is in your back yard. The AI will also take a snapshot of the first face it sees but Anker states they are working to optimize this as well. One could hope this means it will eventually take snapshots of everyone recognized.
What is even more surprising is how good the audio quality is for conversations. While breezes can affect the quality of audio recordings easily, conversations are very clear and crisp. Once you get the hang of how to use the app, it is quite easy to hold a conversation with someone standing in front of the camera and for them to clearly understand you. Other wireless cameras have struggled with this. The camera speaker is not only loud enough to conversation but also work as an alarm. You can set the cameras to sound an alarm based on motion or if a camera is moved, such as when someone is tampering with it.
A bonus feature is Alexa and Google Assistance integration. Although support for other smart platforms would be nice, it is still nice to be able to ask Google to show a camera on your Nest Hub or Chromecast device just using your voice. Launch times are noticeably slower than when viewing video via the app. Hopefully this is just a matter of Anker optimizing their software in future releases.
Final Thoughts Anker might be a relative newcomer to the security camera space but the commitment to constant improvement shows they are serious about getting your business. There are still some slight rough edges in operation and future promises but judging based on their 2 firmware updates and the app updates that have been installed in the 5 days of ownership it seems like Anker will be one of those companies to follow through. If you are looking for the convenience of fully wireless security cameras, don’t like paying subscriptions to keep features working, and don’t like charging cameras frequently, then you should give the Eufycam 2 a serious look. Anker has done a commendable job of minimizing the limitations of the technology to offer a convenient solution.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Motion pixelated at night. Picture is from approximately 10 feet away.
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Sometimes a pixelated circle persists. Even near the end of the video you can see it near the street.
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Face recognition where it picks up the face of a delivery drivver
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The system recorded the motion of a cat at 20 feet but thankfully due to the AI there was no alert.
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Can blend ice very smooth Makes ice cream without fuss Can make smooth and hearty soups Has a keep warm function after cooking Has built in heating element Cleans up quick and easily Easy to use after you get the hang of it Beeps to warn you before blending Automatically mixes soups while cooking
Cons Heavy Manually cooking options don’t include periodic mixing Cleaning doesn’t get all areas clean Base of picture cannot get wet
Design The Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender has the distinct styling that is instantly recognizable if you have used other Ninja Kitchen products. The controls are use the same membrane style buttons to make cleanup easy and include a status display to let you know what mode, or time, you have the blender set. You would be forgiven for thinking this is a run of the mill blender as it looks pretty much like any blender until you realize the base of the glass pitcher is much thicker than normal. The reason for this is inside the base of the pitcher is a heating element. In the past, blenders that cooked with use the friction of the blade to heat up the ingredients quickly but always leave you with a smooth soup. The Foodi instead slows the process down a bit to allow the option of cooking hearty soups. The pitcher is not dishwasher safe and even shouldn’t get the base wet due to the heating elements. This is possibly why included in the feature set is a clean function.
Usage and Performance Initially it can seem a bit confusing how you use it. It helps you use a couple of the recipes in the included book first to get a better hang of it. Once you understand how the process works, operation is simple and straightforward. If you are making a soup that has aromatic ingredients, like diced onions, you can put them in first and use a 5-minute sauté option. This heats up the ingredients and blends them slightly. Once you are ready to start the actual soup, you just dump in your ingredients and press either hearty or smooth. The main difference is smooth blends the soup while mixing and the hearty option mostly only stirs the soup. Hearty also skips the final blend at the end of cooking. In both cases, it will beep a few times just before the stirring occurs to warn you. This is particularly helpful when you have your face down near the picture to check on the results as sometimes it can push out steam when the mixing occurs. In most cases, the soup takes a maximum of 35 minutes. You can continue to let it cook if the soup isn’t done but that is rarely the case. Even with raw meats, like cubed chicken, they are fully cooked in the 35 minutes. Once you understand how to adapt your recipes it becomes very convenient. You don’t have to watch over this and watch for burning or even worry about stirring. There is also a manual cook option where you can set your own temperature to low, medium, or high but this option is completely manual. Ideally it would have been nice if you the manual options could be set so that once you enter them, you don’t have to check back and it would stir for you, end the cook at the set time, and switch to warm automatically. Unfortunately, in manual mode it is fully manual in every way. This means even stirring requires you to manual pulse the blades for a brief time. It’s still convenient but seems like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Besides making smoothies and crushed ice, which is does quite well, you can also make ice cream. The bonus is just how quickly it makes homemade ice cream. Of course, the kids will still find it hard to wait but you would be hard pressed to make it from scratch any faster and kids really seem to enjoy watching the process happen. There is an extra step of letting some ingredients cool in your freezing first as well as a post blend freeze but the whole process is still quick. There is no need for salt ice or stir for hours. If there was anything to consider a downsize in the process, it would be the small batch sizes. Even this isn’t much of a downside as you can quickly follow up with another batch or even use the opportunity to make more than one flavor. The one elusive part of making ice cream so far is obtaining the buttery smooth. Using the included recipes, the ice cream is smoother than regular homemade ice cream but still not quite the buttery smooth of some brands you can buy at the grocery store. Hopefully this is just a matter of finding the right recipe but regardless, making ice cream from scratch this quick and easy makes it worth it.
Cleanup is easier than you first might think. The pitcher cannot get wet the clean function is like having a build in dishwasher. The key is to run the cleaning cycle right after you are done and before food hardens. You put water up the to the specified line and add a few drops of soup. It will start with an initial mix to get the soup bubbled up and then it heats up the water just like a dishwasher. You can walk away and six minutes later the process is done. The process isn’t flawless and sometimes doesn’t clean the lid and hardened foods will require using the included cleaning brush but overall, it’s much easier than other options.
This convenience and versatility do come at a cost. By including a built-in heating element into the pitcher, it had to be made of glass. The glass picture by itself is already heavy but including the heating element makes it even heavier. For some, this can present a problem because when you are dealing with a hot soup the only acceptable place to grab is on the handle. Your instinct is to support it picture with two hands to pour but that is asking to get burned. The manual even warns against holder anywhere except on the handle. If you have weak arms or wrists, it might be best to test weight in the store to see if you can use it one handed. Hopefully Ninja will come up with a solution to this in future versions.
Final Thoughts The Ninja Foodi Cold & Hot Blender is one of those kitchen items that might make you wonder if is even worth it in the beginning. It wouldn’t be a surprise was to wonder why a blender is making soups and cheese dips. If you are the type who loves soups, cheese dips, or homemade ice cream you will find this blender is surprisingly useful and convenient.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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It can make about 4 servers of soup. These are deeper bowls.
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Results of the smooth tomato soup recipe
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Queso with Rotel tomatoes comes out smooth and creamy
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Cleaning function takes care of most but misses the top section. Still a great feature
Play your favorite tunes anywhere with this weatherproof and drop-resistant Sonos Move portable speaker. The Trueplay automatic tuning adapts and balances the sound based on where you are and what you're listening to. This Sonos Move portable speaker incorporates built-in support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay and the Sonos app to let you stream audio from a smart device.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Pros Surprising sound range and bass from a small speaker Sleek and secure carrying handle Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming Charging rings makes charging easy Backup USB-C for charging without ring Water, dust, and drop resistant Supports Google Assistant and Alexa Includes automatic Trueplay tuning Battery is replaceable when it wears out Sturdy feel
Cons Volume up and down button graphics the same Volume buttons don’t light up Midrange slightly weak Tons of options get complicated with limited instructions Battery indicator only shows up when the battery is low
For fans of Sonos that have been wanting a portable speaker, Sonos finally answered with the Move. The Move is a portable speaker offering a ton of features and is targeting higher end customers.
Design and Features The design is understated. If you have seen other Sonos speakers and how the style is very simple, then you get the idea. The matte black color is a little different than the rest of the lineup. Early reports say they chose the particular shade of black to help keep the speaker cooler in the sun but it’s still black so only time will tell if this is true. It’s IP56 water and dust resistant for use outdoors. It has a downward firing tweeter, mid-range woofer, and far field microphones. It’s just a little under 10 inches tall and has capacitive microphone mute, play/pause, volume up, and volume down button on top. Inside the carrying handle, which is handy considering its weight, are a power button, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi button, and Join Button. Inside the front of the speaker grill is a power and battery indicator, which only seems to light up when the battery is low. You charge it via a charging cradle, but Sonos mercifully realized we don’t want to carry that on the go and included a USB-C charging port on the back as well. No need to bring another charger in your car. A nice touch is that the battery is replaceable. The specifications say it lasts for 900 charges or about 3 years. After that point, you can purchase a replacement and install it yourself. If you would like to have portable stereo sound, the Move can be paired with one more Move. It will not pair with any other Sonos speaker. It supports too many streaming services and protocols to list. More than likely it will support your favorites.
Performance and Usage Sound quality can be very subjective, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that the Sonos Move sounds like a much larger speaker than it is. Depending on the room it is placed in, the amount of bass it can generate can be surprising. Even when compared to larger portable speakers, the sound output was not only louder, but more refined. The automatic Truetone is supposed to adjust the sound based on the area. Although it was difficult to recognize any difference with it on or off, the speaker was able maintain good quality sound even outdoors. Of course, there are limits to what you can do in such a small package. You aren’t going to be getting any hard-hitting bass and mid tones seem slightly muted but mid-bass and highs were good. Overall, the sound quality is quite pleasant for such a small package. People are often surprised when you show them that this little speaker is what they are listening to.
Although it was hard to tell how well the microphones worked for automatic Truetone, its safe to say they worked very well for the integrated assistant role. Google Assistant had no problems hearing commands clearly and responding correctly.
Overall, the Sonos Move is well thought out and feels like a quality product. Like every product, it still has room for improvement. The app feels overly simple to start where it doesn’t initially even help you set up your preferred assistant. Once you dig deeper, you will find many options broken down into confusing sections with options buried several layers deep within. There is the option to download the manual from the website, but it seems like some careful planning and renaming of options could do a lot to improve navigation. In other areas, it’s just assumed you know features and they don’t tell you about them while labeling buttons with non-standard graphics. For example, volume up and down or both a set of four squares. This means the two buttons look identical and unlike the mic and play/pause button, the volume buttons don’t light up. Something else you likely won’t realize unless you dig through the manual is swiping left or right between the volume buttons will skip forward or back a track. Once you know it, it’s not a big deal but a small adjustment to the graphics or even a single page graphic in the app could fix this.
Final Thoughts Sonos has never been known to be a budget brand or the ultimate of high-end audio but rather somewhere in the middle. Of course, if you are a Sonos fan and want a portable speaker, the Move will provide the same type of experience you love. If you are in the market for a portable speaker and you value compact size with good sound and build quality, thoughtful features, and don’t mind spending a little extra for it then the Move is also worth checking out.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The app layout seems a bit confusing at times. Things like Alarms are under general system when that would be usually per device.
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If didn't read the manual, you might never know you can swipe to go forward or back a track.
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Charging ring tabs on the bottom and a handle backup USB-C port right above them.
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If you can see a set of lights behind the grill. It could have been useful as a battery meter but unfortunately it only lights up to let you know the battery is low.
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Backlights for volume and play buttons would be great.
Watch your favorite movies, TV shows and sporting events in crisp 1080p resolution with this Samsung UN65FH6001FXZA HDTV, which features Clear Motion Rate 240 to preserve picture detail during fast-action sequences.
Overall5 out of 5
This is an awesome TV for the cost
ByKoromfromRaleigh, NC
First, this is a fantastic monitor. If you have a receiver for your HDMI switching and watch TV with the sound through that receiver then this is the PERFECT TV for you. I use it with my Denon e300 receiver, all my HDMI inputs go into the receiver with one HDMI cable going to the TV. Minimal fuss and muss. The picture quality is truly incredible for a LCD TV, the blacks are very very good, almost as good as my Panasonic Plasma but its understandable that its not that good as LCD cannot show true black like a plasma can. I checked 3 bars for the sound quality but honestly I never used the internal speakers. I gave this 5 stars and would have given it 6 stars if I could have (on a 5 star scale) because the picture quality is just that good.
Folks. For those of you telling this reviewer that he is talking about the wrong TV because he calls it an LCD, it is an LCD. LED TV's are still LCD TV's. The difference is the backlight behind the LCD is LED's instead of CCFL(fluorescent). Both still have and LCD screen that you actually look at up front.
Microsoft Band 2 (Large): Keep track of your health and fitness goals throughout the day by monitoring your heart rate, steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, hours slept and other helpful metrics. Just pair with your Windows Phone, Apple iOS or Android device via Bluetooth to receive alerts at a glance.Discover how the technology of Microsoft Band 2 can assist you in a healthy, productive lifestyle. Learn more ›
Overall5 out of 5
Best fitness tracker for the money
ByCraigBfromTexas
When choosing high end fitness bands, my choices went back and forth between the Microsoft Band 2 and the Fitbit Surge. Fitbit has been in the business for fitness wearables for longer but I chose the Band 2 for what I felt was better value for my money. I purchased during a $50 off sale making it even more attractive and $50 less than the Surge. My main phone for this review is a Lumia 1520 with Windows 10 Mobile. I assume others will write reviews of the phone for other platforms and that is where this review starts. This fitness wearable is by far the most compatible. It supports iOS, Android, and Windows Phone/Mobile. Fitbit does as well but support for Windows Mobile is more limited. Comparing it to the Surge, it has more customizability, color screen, and a partially metal build. It feels more premium than the Surge. The metal does have 2 downsides. The first is that the finish used shows scratches extremely easily. See included picture. The second is that sweat and soap cause a foul smell very quickly requiring regular cleaning.
The Band 2 can be worn in two positions. The first is with the screen facing outwards like a watch. I tried this but it felt uncomfortable and viewing the screen was awkward particularly considering the screen doesn’t have a vertical view. This leads me to my preferred position which is with the screen facing inwards. It is much more natural to view and operate. It also feels more comfortable and is in fact the recommended way to wear the device. If there was any concern it is that wearing it inward the screen is always contacting surfaces when you lay your arms down. It uses gorilla glass but it still concerns me that I might scratch the screen. Every fitness wearable wasn’t completely comfortable to wear for one reason or another but this one starts to feel about like a watch after an adjustment period. Before you get the size right you might put it a place that binds you wrist or hits a nerve. I also learned it can get the heart rate just fine without tightening it down so far you hit nerves. Just like a watch it will take some fiddling to find your perfect tightness. Fortunately, the latching mechanism feels strong and has more adjustments than a tradition watch as well giving you more flexibility. Just make sure you use the sizing guide on the size of the box to choose the correct size. It shows wrists sizes with the wrist sideways.
Now the big question is how it works for tracking vitals. I haven’t worked with VO2 Max so I can’t comment on that but after getting the fit correct, the heart rate seems pretty close. Checking manual it was usually within about 10BPM or less from actual. Tracking steps seems a little different. It is difficult to verify but it seems to be a little high on the number of steps sometimes compared to my old hip worn pedometer. It just seems like I can reach 5,000 steps fairly easily. I am not a runner so I have not tested the GPS but I have read that some units have come from the factory with a bad GPS. What’s really nice is with all the vitals it gathers, more than just heart rate, it should be a fairly accurate color estimate. It has guided workouts you can add but I used the generic color tracking and added my own workout types to track. You can add things like HIT and weight training for your own purposes but it uses all the sensors to estimate the color burn instead of estimating based on the workout type. I feel this is more accurate but cannot verify. When you start workout mode, by default the screen stays on showing your workout time and heart rate. I suspect it is not as accurate as a chest band but it seems pretty good. After your workout is done you can see the entire workout on your phone or the website with your heart rate the entire time and your max marked. If there was any gripe it would be that you can’t have it vibrate when you hit your target or max heart rate. That would have been a great feature but, who knows. Maybe they will add it in the future. You can even use the website to compare your vitals to others in your height, weight, and age category. It’s all anonymous and very informative.
When not working out it still tracks your heart rate all the time but the other useful time to check is when you are sleeping. It can detect your sleep but if it gets it wrong you can only delete the time, not edit. You are better off starting your sleep tracking yourself. While sleeping, it will monitor you and in when you wake up you can see what your resting heart rate was overnight to get an even better picture of your health. It also has a smart alarm you can activate. If you want to wake up at a set time, just set the alarm and it will vibrate to wake you up. What I really like is if you activate the smart alarm and set it for 7:30am it will wake you up somewhere between 7:00am and 8:00am when you are most awake. That means you don’t wake up to an alarm feeling like you haven’t rested. You can even set the strength of the vibration.
Since this is a little bit of a smart watch you can add some apps. Since the phone doesn’t have any memory though, expect to only have them work when around your phone. It can control music on your phone and even use voice recognition with Cortana. I am running a prerelease build of the phone software so on occasion the connection dropped but it wasn’t hard to get back. I have found the notifications actually quite nice. I can leave the phone in one place in the house and still get notifications and respond to basic texts. I can also connect my phone to the stereo and change tracks and turn the volume up or down. It’s a standard feature for a smart watch but this is a fitness wearable and much cheaper than a smart watch. There are even some extra apps you can add and some third part utilizes to customize it further but if you want a smart watch more you might want to go that route. If you want a smart fitness tracker, this thing is hard to beat.
Pros Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness Smart Alarm Customizable workouts Workout coaches Customizable with smart watch type features Solid latching mechanism Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen) Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%) Gorilla glass screen Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich Integrates with Health Vault Constant heart rate Portal to compare health Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Cons Cannot change band because electronics are built in Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor Cannot change screen orientation Awkward wearing screen outward Metal finish is easy to scratch No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time Water resistant instead of waterproof Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward Sync is a bit slow
I just wanted to add an extra observations to my original review.
For those of you who want to view the display outside in sunlight, it doesn't seem to get that bright. For me that is not a big deal because outside exercises are typically the type where I don't use real time tracking but if you are the type who needs to read the display in direct sunlight, you might find it difficult. I will be checking further and report back if I find anything because indoors it is so bright that I wonder if I have done something wrong in the setup. Even with this finding I still feel it is the best for the money.
Also, if you happen to swap between phones or get a new phone you will have to factor reset the band. I periodically switch phones and discovered this. The system is designed to easily replace your band while using the same phone but if you move the band to any phone, even one that was restored from a backup of your original you will have to factory reset the band and set it back up. Not a huge deal because little is actually stored on the phone.
One other huge bonus for Windows Phone/Mobile users. If for some reason you either forget or choose not to wear your band and have a Lumia that is capable you can use it to augment your Band. Sometimes for different reasons I don't want to wear my band and only need to track steps. If I just keep my Lumia 950 in my pocket, it will track my steps and add them to what the band couldn't track. That particular feature is one I really love. The only caveat to that is while it updates the steps on the app and portal, the extra steps from your phone don't get transferred back to your band. This means if you took 2,000 steps with your band and phone and an additional 5,000 with only your Lumia the app will report 7,000 steps total which is correct but your band will continue to report 2,000 steps. Minor quibble though for a great additional feature for Windows Phone fans.
ecobee ecobee3 Programmable Touch-Screen Wi-Fi Thermostat: Maintain a comfortable home with this programmable thermostat, which is Apple® HomeKit-enabled, so you can control the temperature remotely using your compatible device. Home IQ helps you conserve energy.
Overall1 out of 5
cant set custom temps..sensors are glitchy
Byannaj
i was trying to get this thermostat to set 4 or 5 different temps automaticly per day. an ecobee tech couldnt help me get this done on my web portal account . the sensors dont read the occupancy after being in the room for hours like being in a bedroom all night when u wake up the sensor will read unoccupied or sitting in the living room all day the same thing will happen after a few hours. a regular programable thermostat would have been a better choice.
I was just wondering if you have looked into IFTTT to set those custom automatic temps. I haven't tried your exact scenario but the Ecobee3 can be connected to an IFTTT account to extend it's functionality.
Your household wants to play, stream and work online all at once. With this Linksys router, you can do it all without buffering or other interruptions. Use the Smart Wi-Fi app to get started, control, and monitor your home network from anywhere.
Overall5 out of 5
Solid router with good range and speed
ByCraigBfromTexas
I am posting this review after about a week of use. If I find anything more significant after posting I will add it as a reply to my original post. Be sure to check there for additions. I needed to upgrade my WiFi because the internet service in my area was about to be upgraded to exceed the capacity of my current wireless N solution. This router seems as if it was marketed towards moderate power users as well as people with less technical skills who need an upgrade. Packaging is minimal the same as most routers today. It comes with a CD for documentation but it is not used for setup. This is a good thing because as an AC router most people upgrading to this would have newer devices, few of which have an optical drive.
For the non-technical This is not very hard to set up. You plug power into the only spot it fits. There are three antennas that screw into very noticeable spots on the back. And the internet plug is clearly labeled. The instructions tell you what to do in a few steps to get the device to take care of the rest. It also has the wireless already set up if you are afraid to do it and even comes with a sticker with the information so you will know what the password is to get on the WiFi. It already has a guest WiFi too but there is a separate login so someone can’t just borrow your internet without you giving them the password. If you feel more comfortable there are apps for iPhones and Android phones to control the device. Speed and range are very good but if you can it is always recommended to install it as close to the center of your house and avoid metal. The router can pretty much take care of itself after that and it shouldn’t require any further work.
For the technical people If you are looking for a device with tons of granular settings, this might not be the device. Of course the power users I am referring to would probably be better suited sticking with the WRT series. I doubt this device will ever see an aftermarket firmware. It attempts to have a clean interface but that means it will feel slower than a power user router for some settings changes as transitions and animations run their course. Setting changes that require a reboot happen nearly as fast as the fastest routers out there. Although the stock firmware attempts to look fancy and simple it still has a decent amount of settings for all but the most extreme power users. The antennas use a standard connection so if you wanted to upgrade to larger ones later that is possible. Hardwired speed has been very good. I’m just a casual gamer but this hasn’t slowed me down at all and I cannot tell the different hardwired from my old gaming router. Wireless speed is actually very good as well although I was never able to achieve the 1300Mbps link speed advertised even right next to the unit. I maxed out at 900Mbps and it is possible that is related to my AC devices. My old router would drop down to the 39Mpbs on the opposite side of my house whereas this one can maintain at least 177Mpbs and often more.
So far during my ownership the stability of this device has reminded me of the old Linksys routers how even the cheap ones never locked up. I’m hoping it stays this way. If you want to change settings, you can do so the standard way most technical people do via the IP address or it has a built in URL. Thankfully it doesn’t require some odd application for initial setup. Unlike standard routers, this one is cloud connected when you choose so meaning remote access is passed via the cloud. It does support some dynamic DNS options but they seem more to push you towards connection via their cloud. Fortunately, this is optional except if you want to take advantage of the built in USB ports and access files remotely. I don’t have a spare drive to test right now so unfortunately I could not test the NAS performance. It does have a very basic QoS which allows you to set up to 3 services or devices as high priority but that’s pretty much it. It has some newer options but then oddly has more old services, such as Real Player and Rhapsody.
Pros Large, replaceable antennas Great Range Reliable Gigabit Ports Fast Processor Status lights can be turned off Decent amount of features for all but the heavy power users Doesn’t require a special application for setup or CD Has USB ports for attaching a hard drive Offers automatic firmware upgrades to keep security up. Good for keeping non power users safe (Can be turned off) Documentation is thorough if you need help. You just click help on the top bar Major changes that require a restart are almost unnoticeable to users as it restarts fast Has WiFi secured by default and requires a password to be configured during setup. This is good if you are buying one for family and just want it secure without needing to help them. It even has a handy sticker with device specific WiFi passwords so someone can’t just look up a default WiFi password for the unit and borrow internet.
Cons Interface tries too hard to be attractive slowing it down with animations Only supports 2 Dynamic DNS providers. QoS settings seem to cater to power users but offer little customization QoS rule changes require moving service or devices boxes around and the interface jumps quickly between sections. This often causes you to accidentally move something you didn’t intend to. Included “Apps” are of limited usefulness and only work on iOS and Android which leaves out anything Windows (No Windows 10 Universal Apps) and no Mac. No configuring your router with touch, like via a Surface, using a Windows App.
Final Notes Higher end units near this price point I have owned have had large aluminum heatsinks to dissipate heat. This one has one very small heatsink. I suspect heat stress will be higher on this unit and might be why this case has such a large open cavity you can easily see straight through the vent holes. I suspect longevity will be lower but only time will tell. So the unit has not felt very warm so fingers crossed.
Adding to my original review I have found some new observations to add to this router. I switched to using it as an access point, which takes a little digging, and found out that once you do so you lose a lot of features that should still work but are removed. For example, as an access point you get no guest networks. You can only have 1 2.5GHz WiFi and 1 5GHz. All features such as WMM and QoS are completely gone. Remote administration is turned off. I have also experienced an odd condition where my Xbox One cannot connect using the exact same key as my old router that my Xbox was connected to. I have also experienced 1 lockup where the unit just completely stopped responding and had to be power cycled. Over all it's still a good router but it feels like it could use a little more firmware refinement.
Microsoft Band 2 (Large): Keep track of your health and fitness goals throughout the day by monitoring your heart rate, steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, hours slept and other helpful metrics. Just pair with your Windows Phone, Apple iOS or Android device via Bluetooth to receive alerts at a glance.Discover how the technology of Microsoft Band 2 can assist you in a healthy, productive lifestyle. Learn more ›
Overall5 out of 5
Best fitness tracker for the money
ByCraigBfromTexas
When choosing high end fitness bands, my choices went back and forth between the Microsoft Band 2 and the Fitbit Surge. Fitbit has been in the business for fitness wearables for longer but I chose the Band 2 for what I felt was better value for my money. I purchased during a $50 off sale making it even more attractive and $50 less than the Surge. My main phone for this review is a Lumia 1520 with Windows 10 Mobile. I assume others will write reviews of the phone for other platforms and that is where this review starts. This fitness wearable is by far the most compatible. It supports iOS, Android, and Windows Phone/Mobile. Fitbit does as well but support for Windows Mobile is more limited. Comparing it to the Surge, it has more customizability, color screen, and a partially metal build. It feels more premium than the Surge. The metal does have 2 downsides. The first is that the finish used shows scratches extremely easily. See included picture. The second is that sweat and soap cause a foul smell very quickly requiring regular cleaning.
The Band 2 can be worn in two positions. The first is with the screen facing outwards like a watch. I tried this but it felt uncomfortable and viewing the screen was awkward particularly considering the screen doesn’t have a vertical view. This leads me to my preferred position which is with the screen facing inwards. It is much more natural to view and operate. It also feels more comfortable and is in fact the recommended way to wear the device. If there was any concern it is that wearing it inward the screen is always contacting surfaces when you lay your arms down. It uses gorilla glass but it still concerns me that I might scratch the screen. Every fitness wearable wasn’t completely comfortable to wear for one reason or another but this one starts to feel about like a watch after an adjustment period. Before you get the size right you might put it a place that binds you wrist or hits a nerve. I also learned it can get the heart rate just fine without tightening it down so far you hit nerves. Just like a watch it will take some fiddling to find your perfect tightness. Fortunately, the latching mechanism feels strong and has more adjustments than a tradition watch as well giving you more flexibility. Just make sure you use the sizing guide on the size of the box to choose the correct size. It shows wrists sizes with the wrist sideways.
Now the big question is how it works for tracking vitals. I haven’t worked with VO2 Max so I can’t comment on that but after getting the fit correct, the heart rate seems pretty close. Checking manual it was usually within about 10BPM or less from actual. Tracking steps seems a little different. It is difficult to verify but it seems to be a little high on the number of steps sometimes compared to my old hip worn pedometer. It just seems like I can reach 5,000 steps fairly easily. I am not a runner so I have not tested the GPS but I have read that some units have come from the factory with a bad GPS. What’s really nice is with all the vitals it gathers, more than just heart rate, it should be a fairly accurate color estimate. It has guided workouts you can add but I used the generic color tracking and added my own workout types to track. You can add things like HIT and weight training for your own purposes but it uses all the sensors to estimate the color burn instead of estimating based on the workout type. I feel this is more accurate but cannot verify. When you start workout mode, by default the screen stays on showing your workout time and heart rate. I suspect it is not as accurate as a chest band but it seems pretty good. After your workout is done you can see the entire workout on your phone or the website with your heart rate the entire time and your max marked. If there was any gripe it would be that you can’t have it vibrate when you hit your target or max heart rate. That would have been a great feature but, who knows. Maybe they will add it in the future. You can even use the website to compare your vitals to others in your height, weight, and age category. It’s all anonymous and very informative.
When not working out it still tracks your heart rate all the time but the other useful time to check is when you are sleeping. It can detect your sleep but if it gets it wrong you can only delete the time, not edit. You are better off starting your sleep tracking yourself. While sleeping, it will monitor you and in when you wake up you can see what your resting heart rate was overnight to get an even better picture of your health. It also has a smart alarm you can activate. If you want to wake up at a set time, just set the alarm and it will vibrate to wake you up. What I really like is if you activate the smart alarm and set it for 7:30am it will wake you up somewhere between 7:00am and 8:00am when you are most awake. That means you don’t wake up to an alarm feeling like you haven’t rested. You can even set the strength of the vibration.
Since this is a little bit of a smart watch you can add some apps. Since the phone doesn’t have any memory though, expect to only have them work when around your phone. It can control music on your phone and even use voice recognition with Cortana. I am running a prerelease build of the phone software so on occasion the connection dropped but it wasn’t hard to get back. I have found the notifications actually quite nice. I can leave the phone in one place in the house and still get notifications and respond to basic texts. I can also connect my phone to the stereo and change tracks and turn the volume up or down. It’s a standard feature for a smart watch but this is a fitness wearable and much cheaper than a smart watch. There are even some extra apps you can add and some third part utilizes to customize it further but if you want a smart watch more you might want to go that route. If you want a smart fitness tracker, this thing is hard to beat.
Pros Solid (premium) build quality. It often gets looks and people asking what it is Tracks more vitals than any other fitness wearable Comfortable after figuring out your preferred fitment Bright, sharp screen with auto brightness Smart Alarm Customizable workouts Workout coaches Customizable with smart watch type features Solid latching mechanism Good battery life for its functionality (2 days with no GPS and auto on screen) Fast charge time (30 minutes to 80%) Gorilla glass screen Works on iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and Web. The web is the most feature rich Integrates with Health Vault Constant heart rate Portal to compare health Rich sleep stats including restful sleep, times awake, resting heartrate, and recovery
Cons Cannot change band because electronics are built in Metal area is a trap for sweat and soap requiring regular cleaning to prevent odor Cannot change screen orientation Awkward wearing screen outward Metal finish is easy to scratch No build in memory to bring music and store GPS while leaving phone behind for a time Water resistant instead of waterproof Possible to scratch screen with it facing downward Sync is a bit slow
As others who have discovered after owning the Band 2 for a while, the band itself tends to split. Even if you are gentle the rubberized material just doesn't seem to hold up. The good news in my case is I leave reasonably close to a Microsoft Store. I brought it to them and as always they took great care of me. The assistant store manager was the one who assisted me and he said that Microsoft is aware of the problem and is already working to fix the issue. I had the same problem with the first generation Type Cover for the Surface. Back then they took care of me and ultimately Microsoft corrected the issue. It's unfortunate this kind of thing gets through but at least it doesn't seem to be a hassle to get it resolved.
Enjoy powerful performance with this compact HP Pavilion Wave computer. The Intel i3 processor provides fast data handling, while the 1TB hard drive lets you store plenty of files. This HP Pavilion Wave computer has 8GB of RAM to run the latest applications and four USB ports for connecting multiple accessories.
Overall3 out of 5
Still can't get the speaker/microphone to work.
ByMurphdad013fromNew York , ny
The HP help line is terrible and Best Buy was no help at all. In fact I spoke directly ....finally...with someone at HP who said that my Paviliion Wave needed an external microphone headset for montonaccess Cortona. WRONG!!!!
Arlo Pro takes the worrying out of life with the 100% Wire-Free indoor/outdoor home monitoring system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Overall4 out of 5
Good system with lots of potential
ByCraigBfromTexas
Pros Extremely Quick setup (A 2 camera system takes roughly 30 minutes) Very easy set up. It comes with basic instructions but the app nicely walks you through each step No need to run wires Compact Discreet cameras easily blend in with lighter color homes Good daytime video quality for the price Includes microphone and speaker Flexible mounting options. Included option is easy but other fixed mounts can be used Large rechargeable batteries Motion trigger is supposed to get an update to determine if the motion is by a person All devices get regular security updates. Even the cameras get updated wirelessly. Nice considering cameras are a new target for hackers. Inanimate objects don’t seem to cause false motion triggers Standard external hard drive can be used for local storage Basic plan included for free Easily expandable
Cons Support for Windows is poor for the new touchscreen devices. No Windows app for Windows 8 and 10 devices of any size. Video quality, mainly night time, is probably not good enough for legal purposes. Night video quality makes recognition near impossible past approximately 10 feet Easy to steal or move regardless of mounting Camera speaker is not very loud Provided screws use too fine of a thread and the metal head strips out easy All videos are public if someone can intercept your emails on the way to your inbox. (Email delivery by design is not encrypted so if someone intercepts your emails on the way they can see any of your videos with audio) Recording time is fixed so even if motion or sound is still occurring you can miss recording Web interface has some bugs such as freezing on zoom, Live play button disappears, and touch doesn’t work. Sound recording doesn’t occur until a few seconds after video recording At least one camera exhibited a noticeable “ticking clock” sound when recording audio Connecting them hardwired defeats the weatherproofing Instructions do not give tutorial about advanced features but rather let you discover them No organizer for hard drive recordings Dependent on good upload internet speeds. The more cameras you have, the faster the upload speed you need. This can be a limiting factor for some. Long lag time to start live viewing even with very fast connection
Setup was very easy, particularly for a security camera system. The entire process is achieved by following the steps one by one as the app tells you. Install the app, set up your Arlo account, plug in the base unit to power and internet, sync the cameras, hang the cameras, and you’re done. A two camera system only took approximately 30 minutes. The kit includes metal bases, screws, and wall anchors but the screws are small and easy to strip. The metal bases work with a strong magnet included inside the camera. Although convenient, the metal bases allow someone to easily steal or move these expensive cameras so placement is important. Netgear offers screw in mounts for a more rigid and secure mounting. The entire hardware and software process has had a lot of thought put into making it easy. There are no complicated router changes needed to be made at all or complicated programming. Oddly some features, like changing the recording quality, must be done on a regular computer for which there is no app.
There is one strange feature omission from Netgear. This system has a Pro designation and yet support for regular, more modern computers, is limited. Businesses by and large use Windows computers and the most popular type of Windows computers selling today are Windows 2-in-1 convertibles with touchscreens this trend is forecasted to increase and yet this system is barely even useable by any touchscreen Windows device. This is also odd because what better way to check out a security video than on a large screen. You are forced to use a browser to view videos which the experience varies based on browser. Simple things like moving a slider don’t work because the website doesn’t work with touch. Browser administration has other bugs, such as the Live Video button disappearing. If this was an app you wouldn’t have to worry about how the end user’s choice of browser affects the experience. Not having a Universal Windows app is a missed opportunity. I have seen a large increase in clients that are buying Windows 2-in-1 systems instead of desktops or Android/iOS tablets for their primary system. A Windows Universal app they could support such systems, or any other form factor of Windows for that matter. Imagine if the app was on Xbox One in your living room and you want to check on things outside. Just say “Hey Cortana, open Arlo” and you could see your video feed or videos quickly and easily from the convenience of your couch on a big screen. That would be great. If you have smaller Windows devices, the website is unusable. It tries to get you to use an app that doesn’t exist. Oddly enough if you have a link to a shared video the same website will serve you the video in a mobile optimized format. Smaller Windows devices and Windows Mobile devices are left unsupported. Future updates and app releases could easily alleviate this but for now Windows support is poor.
The base unit comes with a Sync/Siren button, network port, and two USB ports for storage. The siren is loud and sounds like newer smoke alarms. It can be trigger locally, by the app, or via configurable rules such as motion or audio sensing. You can switch the base unit to modes for recording for motion and/or audio, no recording, or armed or disarmed based using Geofencing. You can also define your own custom modes allowing specific cameras and audio for each to be on or off. Due to battery restrictions, there is no continuous recording. Recording time from motion is a default of 5 seconds regardless of if the motion continues. Cameras include built in IR for night vision, motion sensor, microphone, and speaker and are weatherproof assuming the charging plug cover is on. One large difference with the Pro version is the inclusion of large rechargeable batteries which should last quite a long time between charging. When video is recorded, it is uploaded via your internet connection to your account meaning a good upload internet speed is important. Videos are stored in a calendar format and can be viewed, shared, or deleted from the interface.
Overall performance when factoring in the price for features was good. Shuddering and lag was minimal with surprisingly good wireless range. Remote viewing of live video is reasonably quick although it still took several seconds and is highly dependent on your internet upload speed. Audio took about 2 seconds to start every time after a motion trigger recording or manual live viewing and had a slightly audible tick-tock sound. The built-in speaker is barely audible at max volume. As with all security systems, there is a loss of some detail to do recording compression. Daytime recordings show signs of video compression but subjects are still reasonably recognizable at approximately 25 feet. Nighttime viewing brings recognition down to approximately 10-15 feet before subjects hard to recognize. Although not official, friends in law enforcement said it is not good for legal purposes as they must have a definitive, recognizable face to use the video. Motion detection was generally good but people moving fast could often elude the recording. Due to the fixed recording time, the system could also miss recording an event if it ran past the configured time.
A big concern is the video sharing feature. Arlo by default emails you anytime it records. It conveniently sends you a screenshot of what it recorded. However; the email sends a direct link to the video that can be viewed without logging in. This would be even more concerning if you had cameras in your house. By definition, is sent unsecured between providers. Although the industry is trying to improve that, you should always assume your emails have no encryption when sent to you. This means that it is possible and relatively easy for criminals to eavesdrop and see your videos with audio without ever knowing your account info. The good thing is that is easy to remedy turning off the feature that emails you when it records a video. That way the link to the video won’t be sent out on the web unsecured and your videos are still stored in the cloud without being shared openly. Hopefully, Netgear will remedy this in the future. Overall, it is a nice system for the price point when compared to the competition. Compared to legacy DVR and NVR security camera systems this makes the whole process a lot more accessible for the average consumer. As long as you keep your expectations in line it is a nice system. All security camera systems, particularly ones costing less than $2,500 have limitations.
A standout feature, even comparing to high end systems, is this system will automatically get updates for security. Anyone who watched the news in late 2016 saw that the biggest hack was perpetrated using devices, such as camera systems, that weren’t updated. That is something still lacking in the “professional” security camera world. You also won’t have to hire someone to come pull wiring through your house or small business. Cameras can be placed wherever you can mount a base. If for some reason, such as poor signal, the place doesn’t work they are easy to move. It not be a real high definition security camera system but it also costs nowhere near as much. Just be sure you can accept the Cons before buying. The overall system is well thought out and with continued improvement of the listed cons this could be the best system for nearly any price.
I have discovered some new elements to the system with more use.
The first is that I did find a way to adjust video quality via the app and not just the website. It turns out the way it is displayed is as one of 3 choices instead of a slider.
Next is that the cameras only work with Netgear's proprietary charger. Even though it uses USB both the manual an other say it only works with the Netgear one.
Finally I discovered that the motion detection does sometimes act strange. I purchase one additional camera and for some reason no matter the sensitivity of the motion it records a motion even every 30 seconds at night. I have observed that it seems to happen more if my neighbor has a light on but even that is not consistent.
Play games or program tech solutions on the wide 23-inch screen of this HP LED HD monitor. The antiglare flatscreen offers views from any angle, and the 1920 x 1080 display offers super-sharp images. This HP LED HD monitor has HDMI and VGA inputs, letting you connect a variety of peripherals and devices.
Wanting to purchase 3 of these. Join them for iracing online is that possible and what's easiest way?
Play games or program tech solutions on the wide 23-inch screen of this HP LED HD monitor. The antiglare flatscreen offers views from any angle, and the 1920 x 1080 display offers super-sharp images. This HP LED HD monitor has HDMI and VGA inputs, letting you connect a variety of peripherals and devices.
Can the monitor orientation rotate to a portrait view and can an adapter allow it to be compatible with an iPad?
Play games or program tech solutions on the wide 23-inch screen of this HP LED HD monitor. The antiglare flatscreen offers views from any angle, and the 1920 x 1080 display offers super-sharp images. This HP LED HD monitor has HDMI and VGA inputs, letting you connect a variety of peripherals and devices.
Windows XP would not be an issue. It would be what monitor plug(s) your computer has. It does include an older style VGA plug so I suspect you would be ok. If you want to be sure, take a picture of the back of your computer and bring it to the store and the staff could verify what you have to be safe.
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
Will this desktop support this graphic card?
https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?sdtid=9141847&SID=4cf74706860511e691e4e6dd8bcd7d810INT&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&itemnumber=N82E16814126100
Doubtful. The included power brick is 150 Watts and the one with a custom Radeon card uses a 180 Watt power brick. You would have to somehow modd the card to fit in the space which isn't a traditional slot and also purchase the 180 Watt brick and finally verify the card uses a maximum of 30 Watts. Overall I wouldn't recommend it.
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
Can I use an expansion slot to use dedicated video card to bypass the integrated video card ? Thanks
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
Only if you swapped out the original with a smaller 2.5". The factory base model comes with a 3.5" which takes up the whole space whereas the higher end model has 2 of the 2.5" drives.
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
how big is the power supply is it at least 400 watts are over
150 Watts for the base model and 180 Watts for the model with the SSD and Radeon card. It's a separate power brick. This is not a case for mods really.
Dell Inspiron 3650 Desktop: Multitask without sacrificing speed with this computer's high-speed wireless connectivity and 12GB memory for fast computing. Store plenty of music, videos and games with the expansive 1TB hard drive.
Can I transfer my existing MS Word/Excel or does it require MS 365?
ecobee ecobee3 Programmable Touch-Screen Wi-Fi Thermostat: Maintain a comfortable home with this programmable thermostat, which is Apple® HomeKit-enabled, so you can control the temperature remotely using your compatible device. Home IQ helps you conserve energy.
Does this device work with Samsung Smartthings?
I checked the Smartthings website and while they have a long list of compatible products, this one isn't on the list so I would like to know for sure before purchasing it.
Not directly but you can through adding the additional programming via the Smartthings Lab I believe it is called. I was looking into it myself and a company/person has made an addon module to support Ecobee3 but claims that since the development is ongoing and complex they ask for a minimum $15 contribution to get his/her code. https://github.com/yracine/device-type.myecobee The other option is to connect the two via IFTTT but that won't allow you to directly control your Ecobee via Smartthings but rather trigger actions based on events. If you want direct control via the app the only thing I found is to pony up the $15 for the code. I'm thinking about doing that myself.