CraigB's stats
- Review count193
- Helpfulness votes2,786
- First reviewFebruary 11, 2013
- Last reviewMay 14, 2025
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- Average rating4.2
- Review comment count7
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentNovember 29, 2013
- Last review commentJanuary 31, 2017
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- Answer count43
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- First answerMarch 24, 2015
- Last answerNovember 6, 2021
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The ROG Zephyrus G14 has been redesigned with an all-new premium aluminum chassis for increased durability and elegance. At 0.63 inches thin and weighing in at just 3.46lbs, this gaming powerhouse combines portability with cutting-edge technology. Featuring the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and NVIDIA® RTX 5070 Ti laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G14 achieves unparalleled gaming performance. The Zephyrus G14 features an OLED ROG Nebula Display. Enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 3K resolution, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Elevate your audio experience with new upgraded woofers, offering a 252% volume increase, 100Hz bass frequency, and Dolby Atmos support. For intense gaming sessions, the ROG Intelligent Cooling integrates liquid metal and aerodynamic 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans to sustain peak performance.
Customer Rating
5
The sweet spot for performance and value
on May 14, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Excellent quality 3K screen
VRR up to 120Hz
Great typing experience
Great speakers
Aluminum chassis feels premium, light, and strong
Very thin for the performance
No screen wobble
Windows Hello facial login
SD card slot
Includes Advance Optimus and MUX switch
Ports are towards the rear on the sides and out of the way
Large, smooth trackpad
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
32GB of RAM should last for several years
More VRAM this year for the mid tier GPU
Can be silent and functional when needed
Reasonably quiet even on Turbo
iGPU power enough for gameplay while extending battery life
Good Wi-Fi even though it is MediaTek
Long battery life on silent eco mode
Nearly as performant as the 5080 but a better value
Excellent quality 3K screen
VRR up to 120Hz
Great typing experience
Great speakers
Aluminum chassis feels premium, light, and strong
Very thin for the performance
No screen wobble
Windows Hello facial login
SD card slot
Includes Advance Optimus and MUX switch
Ports are towards the rear on the sides and out of the way
Large, smooth trackpad
Upgradable SSD and Wi-Fi
32GB of RAM should last for several years
More VRAM this year for the mid tier GPU
Can be silent and functional when needed
Reasonably quiet even on Turbo
iGPU power enough for gameplay while extending battery life
Good Wi-Fi even though it is MediaTek
Long battery life on silent eco mode
Nearly as performant as the 5080 but a better value
Not So Great
GeForce Driver issues with latest version
MSI Afterburner causes severe lag
Armory crate has buried some useful settings
MicroSD card slot instead of full sized
Keyboard backlight uniformity issues
Single zone RGB
Trackpad rattles when tapped
RAM not upgradable
No ethernet port
Only one USB-C 4 port
Doesn’t always wake from sleep
GeForce Driver issues with latest version
MSI Afterburner causes severe lag
Armory crate has buried some useful settings
MicroSD card slot instead of full sized
Keyboard backlight uniformity issues
Single zone RGB
Trackpad rattles when tapped
RAM not upgradable
No ethernet port
Only one USB-C 4 port
Doesn’t always wake from sleep
Chassis and Ports 9.5/10
The 2025 G14 looks identical to the previous generation but that is a good thing. It feels solid with no hint of flex. There is no detectable screen wobble. Included is a 200-watt power brick with the proprietary slim power adapter. Asus limits the GPU to 110 watts, but with G-Helper you can go as high as 120. You get two USB-A and two USB-C with one of each on each side towards the back. Only one USB-C port is version 4. The intake vents have a dust filter to help slow down buildup of dust internally.
The 2025 G14 looks identical to the previous generation but that is a good thing. It feels solid with no hint of flex. There is no detectable screen wobble. Included is a 200-watt power brick with the proprietary slim power adapter. Asus limits the GPU to 110 watts, but with G-Helper you can go as high as 120. You get two USB-A and two USB-C with one of each on each side towards the back. Only one USB-C port is version 4. The intake vents have a dust filter to help slow down buildup of dust internally.
Screen 10/10
Asus lists the screen as 400 nits SDR and up to 500 nits. Windows reports a peak brightness of 616. Overall, it gets bright enough to work in a well-lit room and has the inky blacks of an OLED. It supports VRR up to120Hz which is very playable without sacrificing battery life. The 3K screen seems like a bit of an overkill at 14 inches but it does look very sharp. While there is no mention of pixel arrangement it doesn’t exhibit the color fringing that you normally see with OLEDs that causes blurry text. Even checking close up, it isn’t visible. This means that, unlike many OLEDs, it can do well both with gaming and productivity. With 100% of DCI-P3 it also does very well for professional work without needing to depend on an external monitor for color accuracy. It does seem to have an anti-glare coating, but not so aggressive that it crushes the contrast.
Asus lists the screen as 400 nits SDR and up to 500 nits. Windows reports a peak brightness of 616. Overall, it gets bright enough to work in a well-lit room and has the inky blacks of an OLED. It supports VRR up to120Hz which is very playable without sacrificing battery life. The 3K screen seems like a bit of an overkill at 14 inches but it does look very sharp. While there is no mention of pixel arrangement it doesn’t exhibit the color fringing that you normally see with OLEDs that causes blurry text. Even checking close up, it isn’t visible. This means that, unlike many OLEDs, it can do well both with gaming and productivity. With 100% of DCI-P3 it also does very well for professional work without needing to depend on an external monitor for color accuracy. It does seem to have an anti-glare coating, but not so aggressive that it crushes the contrast.
Keyboard 9/10
Asus states the keys are 12.24% larger than before, but comparing it to a family members older Zephyrus it is hard to see. Travel feels like it has increase and activation is more consistent. Typing had no issues with missed keys and showed no signs of ghosting. Activation in typing and gaming has been very reliable. A weak area that remains from every white/silver Zephyrus is backlight uniformity and consistency. Asus seems to have improved the contrast making the keys easier to read, but the backlight is still inconsistent from key to key. The secondary markings are almost unreadable. The backlight is a single zone. Individual RGB keys would be nice for color coding for games to better highlight groups. Looking beyond those shortcomings, the keyboard is excellent in regular usage. The keys have a silent tactile feel with about half the travel of a dedicated low-profile mechanical. Travel is even with no detectable wobble and activation is roughly at the midpoint.
Asus states the keys are 12.24% larger than before, but comparing it to a family members older Zephyrus it is hard to see. Travel feels like it has increase and activation is more consistent. Typing had no issues with missed keys and showed no signs of ghosting. Activation in typing and gaming has been very reliable. A weak area that remains from every white/silver Zephyrus is backlight uniformity and consistency. Asus seems to have improved the contrast making the keys easier to read, but the backlight is still inconsistent from key to key. The secondary markings are almost unreadable. The backlight is a single zone. Individual RGB keys would be nice for color coding for games to better highlight groups. Looking beyond those shortcomings, the keyboard is excellent in regular usage. The keys have a silent tactile feel with about half the travel of a dedicated low-profile mechanical. Travel is even with no detectable wobble and activation is roughly at the midpoint.
Trackpad 8.5/10
It seems like Asus has made some gains in their trackpads, but there is still room for improvement. It is much larger than my older style and the glass surface feels smoother. Palm rejection has improved with no false activations so far. The click also feels better than it used to with a softer feel with a firm click. The one area that may have actually become worse is the diving board rattle. It seems every diving board style trackpad has this but this generation the rattle when tapped seems louder. It would be nice to see Asus transition to a haptic version, but it is the only gripe with this trackpad. In daily usage it does the job smoothly and reliably.
It seems like Asus has made some gains in their trackpads, but there is still room for improvement. It is much larger than my older style and the glass surface feels smoother. Palm rejection has improved with no false activations so far. The click also feels better than it used to with a softer feel with a firm click. The one area that may have actually become worse is the diving board rattle. It seems every diving board style trackpad has this but this generation the rattle when tapped seems louder. It would be nice to see Asus transition to a haptic version, but it is the only gripe with this trackpad. In daily usage it does the job smoothly and reliably.
Speakers 9.5/10
It feels like high end laptops are hitting the peak of what they can do out of a small chassis. Asus says they have increased the volume 252%. They don’t specify what it is 252% louder than, but they do get very loud. They get loud enough to where people on the opposite side of the house can hear what game you are playing. If you enable Dolby Atmos, the default mode does make the speakers noticeably quiet for surround sound. While volume is good, it is the sound quality that stands out. These are the best speakers I have heard in a Windows laptop. For the size they also have a surprising amount of bass.
It feels like high end laptops are hitting the peak of what they can do out of a small chassis. Asus says they have increased the volume 252%. They don’t specify what it is 252% louder than, but they do get very loud. They get loud enough to where people on the opposite side of the house can hear what game you are playing. If you enable Dolby Atmos, the default mode does make the speakers noticeably quiet for surround sound. While volume is good, it is the sound quality that stands out. These are the best speakers I have heard in a Windows laptop. For the size they also have a surprising amount of bass.
Battery 9/10
Asus has struck a good balance between battery life and weight. While you could drain the battery in less than 2 hours on Performance with the right game using the dGPU, the iGPU is a better choice. The Ryzen processor seems a good fit for this since integrated Radeon graphics performance is better than Arc. While I haven’t had the opportunity to try gaming on battery I have gamed on this processor on a previous system. Based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if you can get over 4 hours of gaming using the iGPU. If you just need to do basic productivity work and you run it in silent on Eco it is closer to 9-10 hours before even trying to tweak things further with G-Helper.
Asus has struck a good balance between battery life and weight. While you could drain the battery in less than 2 hours on Performance with the right game using the dGPU, the iGPU is a better choice. The Ryzen processor seems a good fit for this since integrated Radeon graphics performance is better than Arc. While I haven’t had the opportunity to try gaming on battery I have gamed on this processor on a previous system. Based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if you can get over 4 hours of gaming using the iGPU. If you just need to do basic productivity work and you run it in silent on Eco it is closer to 9-10 hours before even trying to tweak things further with G-Helper.
Cooling 9.5/10
Asus claims they have further improved cooling in the latest generation. While I don’t get an opportunity to game for multiple hours often, I can say it handles heat well in the 30-60 minutes I usually get. The top of the keyboard near the screen gets hot but the keyboard area stays manageable. Even though the center of the keyboard gets hot, the heat doesn’t transfer much to the keys and is mostly on the metal chassis below. The current design does a good job of shedding the heat to the center and back off the chassis away from your hands. Comparing it to a 2025 G16 a family member has; it does feel slightly cooler in the keyboard area. It also sheds the heat and cools back down quicker. While it can definitely get hot, it seems to have better control on thermals making me wonder if Asus was too conservative.
Asus claims they have further improved cooling in the latest generation. While I don’t get an opportunity to game for multiple hours often, I can say it handles heat well in the 30-60 minutes I usually get. The top of the keyboard near the screen gets hot but the keyboard area stays manageable. Even though the center of the keyboard gets hot, the heat doesn’t transfer much to the keys and is mostly on the metal chassis below. The current design does a good job of shedding the heat to the center and back off the chassis away from your hands. Comparing it to a 2025 G16 a family member has; it does feel slightly cooler in the keyboard area. It also sheds the heat and cools back down quicker. While it can definitely get hot, it seems to have better control on thermals making me wonder if Asus was too conservative.
Wi-Fi 9/10
I can’t give full credit with the history of MediaTek, but so far this Wi-Fi card has been surprisingly good. Unlike previous cards this one hasn’t randomly disappeared or stopped functioning after waking from sleep. I only have Wi-Fi 6E so that is as far as I can test but in most cases the system prefers 5Ghz since 6Ghz is so sensitive to obstructions. That said, this card has been one of the fastest and most well behaved on my network.
I can’t give full credit with the history of MediaTek, but so far this Wi-Fi card has been surprisingly good. Unlike previous cards this one hasn’t randomly disappeared or stopped functioning after waking from sleep. I only have Wi-Fi 6E so that is as far as I can test but in most cases the system prefers 5Ghz since 6Ghz is so sensitive to obstructions. That said, this card has been one of the fastest and most well behaved on my network.
Performance 8.5/10
Of course, as a slim laptop you don’t expect it to be the top performer but, at least for right now, it seems to be hampered by some driver issues. Out of the box, everything was working surprisingly fast but then in the process of trying to find the limits problems were found. For starters, the latest version of the GeForce driver caused the screen to flash and change brightness. Then the driver crashed twice. The easy fix is just to roll back the driver. The main issue is having Afterburner just installed caused games to be unplayably slow at any resolution. Hopefully there will be a fix in the future but without it I can’t get the full picture of the systems capability, but you can get a general idea.
Of course, as a slim laptop you don’t expect it to be the top performer but, at least for right now, it seems to be hampered by some driver issues. Out of the box, everything was working surprisingly fast but then in the process of trying to find the limits problems were found. For starters, the latest version of the GeForce driver caused the screen to flash and change brightness. Then the driver crashed twice. The easy fix is just to roll back the driver. The main issue is having Afterburner just installed caused games to be unplayably slow at any resolution. Hopefully there will be a fix in the future but without it I can’t get the full picture of the systems capability, but you can get a general idea.
On Turbo, Forza Motorsport benchmarked at 38FPS, DLSS off, and every setting maxed out to see the upper limit. While Doom Eternal doesn’t have a benchmark, it felt smooth with every setting maxed out, DLSS off, native resolution. Halo Infinite was smooth on Ultra at native resolution with no scaling. If feels like there is more headroom in this card. The largest game I threw at it still left over 2GB of VRAM. Without Afterburner it is hard to say but it felt like the GPU still had some headroom as well. Early benchmarks suggest the same with the 5070ti coming in less than 10% slower than the 5080 but at a much better value.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 version of the G14 feels like a refinement of the first generation of this chassis. While there is still room to improve, such as finally fixing the normal quirks of Asus laptops like the screen not always turning on from sleep, it feels like the most polished version of the series so far. If you are in the market for a compact and versatile premium laptop and prefer a balance of value and performance, then this Zephyrus G14 is worth a look.
The 2025 version of the G14 feels like a refinement of the first generation of this chassis. While there is still room to improve, such as finally fixing the normal quirks of Asus laptops like the screen not always turning on from sleep, it feels like the most polished version of the series so far. If you are in the market for a compact and versatile premium laptop and prefer a balance of value and performance, then this Zephyrus G14 is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Hisense U6 Series is the access point for serious sports fans like you. It’s the ultimate in Mini-LED technology: hyper-real contrasts, bright lighting and rich shadows. This is the kind of TV that drops you right in the action so you can catch all the details—down to every bead of sweat on a player’s brow.
Customer Rating
5
Well balanced entry level mini-LED TV
on May 9, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Near OLED level black levels
No risk of burn-in
Very color accurate
Very good sound for built-in speakers
Bright enough for well-lit rooms
No visible blooming
Limited glare
Fast built-in Fire TV
Simple setup
Includes EQ for adjusting sound
Supports ethernet connection as well as Wi-Fi
Alexa voice assistant is responsive
Includes a powered USB-A port for other streaming devices
Turns on fast
Near OLED level black levels
No risk of burn-in
Very color accurate
Very good sound for built-in speakers
Bright enough for well-lit rooms
No visible blooming
Limited glare
Fast built-in Fire TV
Simple setup
Includes EQ for adjusting sound
Supports ethernet connection as well as Wi-Fi
Alexa voice assistant is responsive
Includes a powered USB-A port for other streaming devices
Turns on fast
Not so great
Controller has small, indistinct buttons
Controller buttons not visible in the dark
Controller power button didn’t respond reliably
Limited options for naming inputs
TV sometimes lags in certain menus
HDMI inputs close to the outer edge may cause routing issues
Faint vertical band on left and right side with solid colors.
Controller has small, indistinct buttons
Controller buttons not visible in the dark
Controller power button didn’t respond reliably
Limited options for naming inputs
TV sometimes lags in certain menus
HDMI inputs close to the outer edge may cause routing issues
Faint vertical band on left and right side with solid colors.
Out of the box you will notice the TV is thicker than most TVs are now. It isn’t as thick as old-fashioned LCD TVs but a far cry from the ultra-thin OLEDs, but that comes with an upside. You don’t need to be concerned with burn-in. It also seems to offer more space for good speakers. You can install it using the included feet or a VESA mount for a wall. There is no HDMI cable included. Only the remote and feet.
With Fire TV included setup is very simple. All settings are integrated into one interface, and it walks you through the setup. A surprising bonus is the inclusion of a ethernet port for those of you who either prefer hardwired connections or just want to eliminate any Wi-Fi issues. Besides the HDMI ARC port, there are 3 additional HDMI ports which is standard nowadays. What isn’t standard is an off-air antenna connection, SPDIF, compositive video in via stereo jack, and headphone jack. It is rare to see those as options on most modern TVs. If you want to use your own streaming device there is also a powered USB-A port. The ports are facing to the side of the TV, but they are close to the edge meaning you might have issues where your cables can’t bend enough to be fully hidden behind the TV.
Smart TV OS 10/10
While some manufacturers like to create their own custom SmartTV OSes which are often slow and clunky Hisense, thankfully, opted for Fire TV. Right out the box it made setup simple, and all the major streaming platforms were available. The TV would turn on fast and be responsive each time. It must be said though that the remove sometimes misses button pressing for turning on and off. A bonus if you have Amazon Prime is Luna is also integrated. All you need to do is pair a Bluetooth game controller and you can stream games straight from your account. The interface was smooth and consistent. The only hiccup experience seemed to be when changing settings in Ambient mode.
While some manufacturers like to create their own custom SmartTV OSes which are often slow and clunky Hisense, thankfully, opted for Fire TV. Right out the box it made setup simple, and all the major streaming platforms were available. The TV would turn on fast and be responsive each time. It must be said though that the remove sometimes misses button pressing for turning on and off. A bonus if you have Amazon Prime is Luna is also integrated. All you need to do is pair a Bluetooth game controller and you can stream games straight from your account. The interface was smooth and consistent. The only hiccup experience seemed to be when changing settings in Ambient mode.
Sound 9/10
While the EQ profile needed some tweaking for our taste out of the box, the sound from the built-in speakers was surprisingly good. It was also nice that Hisense opted to include an actual EQ and not just treble and bass adjustments. Of course, it won’t compete with a dedicated sound system, but if you don’t care about surround sound and rumbling base the built-in speakers do a respectable job. It even has a subwoofer. While it won’t provide thumping bass it does provide more depth to the sound. The default sound profile seems to favor dialog, and that’s even before turning on dialog enhancement. In fact, our family felt it was too strong out of the box. It seems to have plenty of adjustment for those who have trouble understanding dialog.
While the EQ profile needed some tweaking for our taste out of the box, the sound from the built-in speakers was surprisingly good. It was also nice that Hisense opted to include an actual EQ and not just treble and bass adjustments. Of course, it won’t compete with a dedicated sound system, but if you don’t care about surround sound and rumbling base the built-in speakers do a respectable job. It even has a subwoofer. While it won’t provide thumping bass it does provide more depth to the sound. The default sound profile seems to favor dialog, and that’s even before turning on dialog enhancement. In fact, our family felt it was too strong out of the box. It seems to have plenty of adjustment for those who have trouble understanding dialog.
Screen 8/10
If you are thinking this would be a budget alternative that looks as good as an OLED panel you would be wrong but only if you can compare them side by side. It is close enough that the average person won’t be able to tell the difference if this TV wasn’t sitting right next to one. Blacks are very dark and it can display bright scenes right next to dark with no discernable blooming. With 1000 nits of brightness bright rooms are no problem. The glass seems to have a mild anti-glare, but you will still get some minor glare and reflections. The TV does even better in a dark room where it does not have to fight against ambient light and reflections. In fact, in our family the issue when the room was dark was the screen was too bright, almost hurting our eyes. It does have a light sensor as well as some adjustments up and down to suit your preference. By default, the automatic brightness seems too dim in bright rooms and too bright in dim rooms. Thankfully there are several methods to adjust it to your preference. When it comes to color accuracy you can tell things have improved greatly over the years. Particularly if you use FilmMaker mode the colors look correct and appropriate to the scene. No over saturated colors or blown out reds but what appears to be very color accurate. The one area that the panel has a small weakness is what some refer to as a dirty screen door effect. If a single color is displayed on the screen, such as white, you can see inconsistent bands of a darker version of the color and some faint blotches. Adjusting dynamic contrast reduces the effect. Thankfully, while it does have this weakness you are unlikely to see it while watching normal videos as any inconsistencies are invisible unless you display a single color across the entire screen.
If you are thinking this would be a budget alternative that looks as good as an OLED panel you would be wrong but only if you can compare them side by side. It is close enough that the average person won’t be able to tell the difference if this TV wasn’t sitting right next to one. Blacks are very dark and it can display bright scenes right next to dark with no discernable blooming. With 1000 nits of brightness bright rooms are no problem. The glass seems to have a mild anti-glare, but you will still get some minor glare and reflections. The TV does even better in a dark room where it does not have to fight against ambient light and reflections. In fact, in our family the issue when the room was dark was the screen was too bright, almost hurting our eyes. It does have a light sensor as well as some adjustments up and down to suit your preference. By default, the automatic brightness seems too dim in bright rooms and too bright in dim rooms. Thankfully there are several methods to adjust it to your preference. When it comes to color accuracy you can tell things have improved greatly over the years. Particularly if you use FilmMaker mode the colors look correct and appropriate to the scene. No over saturated colors or blown out reds but what appears to be very color accurate. The one area that the panel has a small weakness is what some refer to as a dirty screen door effect. If a single color is displayed on the screen, such as white, you can see inconsistent bands of a darker version of the color and some faint blotches. Adjusting dynamic contrast reduces the effect. Thankfully, while it does have this weakness you are unlikely to see it while watching normal videos as any inconsistencies are invisible unless you display a single color across the entire screen.
Final Thoughts
For a budget-oriented mini-LED TV Hisense seems to have done a very nice job. While a budget TV comes with compromises it doesn’t feel like it in the case of this TV. If you are in the market for a budget mini-LED TV, then the Hisense U6 Mini-LED is worth considering.
For a budget-oriented mini-LED TV Hisense seems to have done a very nice job. While a budget TV comes with compromises it doesn’t feel like it in the case of this TV. If you are in the market for a budget mini-LED TV, then the Hisense U6 Mini-LED is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Powerful bass from a portable speaker. The ULT FIELD 3 is designed to be carried in one hand and comes with a stowable shoulder strap to make it easy to transport. It's also waterproof and dustproof, so that you can take your favorite music to the beach and beyond.
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Solid build quality
Includes carry strap
Clean attractive design
Straps attach very securely
IP67 water rating
Clear vocals
Can be linked with other Sony speakers with party mode
Can connect to a second Field 3 for stereo mode
Surprisingly good as a speakerphone in calls
Supports multipoint Bluetooth
USB-C charging doesn’t require special cables
Custom EQ option
Battery care option extends battery lifespan
Works well for resonating bass
Works as a power bank to charge your phone
Good battery life
Solid build quality
Includes carry strap
Clean attractive design
Straps attach very securely
IP67 water rating
Clear vocals
Can be linked with other Sony speakers with party mode
Can connect to a second Field 3 for stereo mode
Surprisingly good as a speakerphone in calls
Supports multipoint Bluetooth
USB-C charging doesn’t require special cables
Custom EQ option
Battery care option extends battery lifespan
Works well for resonating bass
Works as a power bank to charge your phone
Good battery life
Not so great
Occasional Bluetooth stability issues when using Prioritize Sound Quality
Sound can be a bit boxy
Attractive white design also shows dirt easier
No stereo jack
EQ doesn’t offer as much bass as Ult Mode
Straps are hard to remove once attached
Turning off ULT mode seems to turn off all bass
Occasional Bluetooth stability issues when using Prioritize Sound Quality
Sound can be a bit boxy
Attractive white design also shows dirt easier
No stereo jack
EQ doesn’t offer as much bass as Ult Mode
Straps are hard to remove once attached
Turning off ULT mode seems to turn off all bass
The Sony ULT Field 3 has a simple, clean design. The finish of white textured cloth looks elegant, but over time it will likely collect dirt quicker than darker colors. In the box are the speaker, carry strap, and USB-C charging cable. The speaker feels solid and well built. It has a slight heft to it but is not excessively heavy. The included carry strap almost feels overbuilt and includes metal clips on the ends to attach to the straps on the speaker. The strap attaches via straps hidden behind rubber plugs on the speaker. The clips are easy to install and stay secure very well. However, removing the strap is more challenging due to barbs on the clips. While difficult, it does mean they are unlikely to ever come loose accidentally. There is a USB-C charging port and battery mode button behind a rubberized door on the back of the speaker. The battery button is for changing battery care mode and checking battery charge status. When care mode is enabled, it stops charging the battery at 90% to extend the lifespan of the battery at the cost of some runtime. There is no stereo jack, and playback is only via Bluetooth. The speaker supports party mode where it can be connected to other compatible Sony speakers. I do not have another to try this feature out.
For setup you can connect as a standard Bluetooth speaker without the app. However, the core features of editing Bluetooth connection profiles and creating custom EQs will not be available. You also lose the DJ function. For Android phones you can pair via a quick tap on the speaker. If you have a second Field 3 you can connect them as a Stereo pair. You can also connect it to other compatible Sony speakers with Party Connect.
First, with the ULT mode off it sounds as if the speaker has no bass at all. It can save battery life but would drastically reduce the quality of music. One place where it could be useful is if you are listening to podcasts or other speech as the bass doesn’t matter. In ULT mode the speaker is surprisingly good at producing resonating bass such as what is produced by a bass guitar. No surprise that it struggles to reproduce punchy bass with its small woofers. The overall sound is clean and precise even at high volume with no perceivable distortion. Vocals are crisp and clear, slightly bright, but not harsh. The sound is also slightly boxy but not over the top. The sound is very directional and you can tell exactly where the music comes from. From a distance, it sounds more like you are standing in front of a stage with the performer versus being in an auditorium. If you are thinking of using custom EQ to try to tweak out the boxy quality, you will find it comes at the cost of bass. While Custom EQ does offer 7 bands, it seems as though Sony has opted to limit the maximum bass to the preset ULT setting. It’s a bit of a shame as it would be nice to have the extra tunability. That said, most people would like the standard ULT profile as it makes the music feel lively and lets the vocal stand out without being offensive. Periodically while using the speaker, it would start to have issues with having a solid connection to my phone while playing music causing stutters. This is the Bluetooth profile that favors audio quality. While I could have changed Sony Connect to use the profile that prefers connection stability over audio quality the issue was not very common.
It might seem strange for a Bluetooth speaker to offer speakerphone capability, but it comes in handy. If someone calls while you are listening to music, you don’t have to worry about stopping the music or disconnecting from the speaker. You can answer the call straight from the speaker and the music is paused automatically. Audio quality from the person speaking was clean and clear and people reported the echo cancelling mics sounded good. They said it sounded like a good quality speakerphone. It did pick up some background noise but not enough to interfere with the call and it made talking on speakerphone feel more natural than on the phone itself. Part of the reason is the voice of the person you are speaking to sounds far higher quality than the little speaker built into the cellphone. It seemed like a gimmick at first. It may not be required but it is surprisingly nice to have.
Overall, the Sony ULT Field 3 is a solid small portable speaker and the departure from the flashy speakers from the past is appreciated. If you are looking for a small to midsize portable speaker the Field 3 is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja® CREAMi® Swirl turns almost anything into ice cream, soft serve, and much more at the touch of a button. Bring the ice cream shop to your countertop with Creamify Technology®—now with soft serve. From one-ingredient fruit sorbets to protein-packed, low-calorie desserts, create customizable treats as unique as you are. Customize flavor, control ingredients, and create classic scooped or swirled treats—the possibilities are endless.
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Adds even more dessert options beyond the standard Creami
Easy to learn particularly if you know how to use the original Creami
Dishwasher safe
Makes it easy to have ice cream that is healthy and tastes good
Includes lots of recipes
Simple to use
The same base can be used for ice cream, soft serve, and milkshake
Works with simple regular ingredients
Can turn existing store ice cream into new creations
Color coding and keyed parts ensure you don’t put it together incorrectly
Tells you if you forgot to install a part
Adds even more dessert options beyond the standard Creami
Easy to learn particularly if you know how to use the original Creami
Dishwasher safe
Makes it easy to have ice cream that is healthy and tastes good
Includes lots of recipes
Simple to use
The same base can be used for ice cream, soft serve, and milkshake
Works with simple regular ingredients
Can turn existing store ice cream into new creations
Color coding and keyed parts ensure you don’t put it together incorrectly
Tells you if you forgot to install a part
Not So Great
Loud
Takes up a lot of space
Good results are temperature sensitive
Looks and sounds like it is about to break with certain recipes
Pints take more space due to soft serve spout
Old Creami accessories are not compatible
Getting soft serve right takes trial and error
Loud
Takes up a lot of space
Good results are temperature sensitive
Looks and sounds like it is about to break with certain recipes
Pints take more space due to soft serve spout
Old Creami accessories are not compatible
Getting soft serve right takes trial and error
The Ninji Swirl by Creami is an upgraded version of the original Creami that adds soft serve capability. With a footprint nearly double the size and the weight to match this Swirl will likely need a dedicated spot unless you are ok with moving a 26-pound appliance on a regular basis. It is also very tall but should fit under most cabinets, but just barely. Thankfully there are no moving parts or things to worry about on top. The design is mostly chromed plastic, gray, and black with a few levers that are white. From a distance the appearance is nice but a bit busy in the Ninja way. Part of the unit sticks out for a drip tray under the soft serve area but you can store that underneath when not in use.
It seems Ninja is worried about people being confused about how to use it as there are stickers all over the device and accessories that describe their function and some even include QR codes with more information. While the Swirl is more complex, the extra stickers may give the impression to some that it is hard to use and that is not true. Initially there is a learning curve but going through things step by step you realize it is a lot simpler than it seems. Setup is very simple as the only thing you need to install is a drop tray and plug it in. After washing all you need to do is choose your first recipes. The only frustrating part of setup is realizing you must wait 24 hours to enjoy your creation. The one exception is if you want to change a store-bought ice cream into something else.
Probably the main challenge of the Swirl is determining what you are going to make with so many options. Out of the box you get 2-pint containers with lids. With so many recipes and low-calorie options, you are likely going to want to purchase extras. That does lead to a downside of the new pint containers. With the soft serve spout, they take up even more space in the freezer. The storage lids do ok but don’t feel fully secure either.
Making standard ice cream is straightforward and identical to the older generation Creami. You just create your base and make sure it doesn’t go above the max fill like. Let it freeze for 24 hours, and you are good to go. Where things require more experimentation is on the soft serve side. Depending on how well your freezer does it might take more or less time for the process to work. Ninja lists a specified ideal freezer temperature range but if you have an old school freezer that likes to go well below zero it might take some extra work. On my freezer it likes to freeze things well below zero regardless of the setting. This means the Creami pints are extremely cold when you go to spin them. This doesn’t seem to be a problem if you are making them into standard ice cream, but it does if you are making soft serve. It seems like it is related to the process of adding air but when making soft serve if the pint was overly cold the entire container will shake, rattle, and move to the side as it is processed in the Swirl. It also looks as though it was to rip the pint off the base. So far it has held up fine but when a base does this it typically requires a respin. While most times it seems slightly quieter than the original Creami it is much louder when this happens. Either way the Swirl is still very loud. An easy workaround to reduce the shaking is to leave the pint on the counter for a few minutes to warm up. Again, this only applies to the soft serve options and a little trial and error, and you can get it sorted out. Until then, you still have perfectly edible soft serve with the texture just not perfect.
The more you use it you start to realize how simple the process is. You just make your base, then process it to ice cream or with one extra step to soft serve. There are some things to remember like how to lock the pint into the process or retracting the press if stops but those quickly become second nature. The parts have color coding to help you learn but it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it.
What seems to be more of a challenge besides finding the optimum freeze temperature for your base is mastering a good soft serve swirl. You can adjust the speed it pushes out the soft serve but getting it right still takes practice, but the process is fun. What is nice is if you don’t want to use it all you can just level off the top of the pint and put it back in the freezer for later. Another option is you can process it first as ice cream and then use the remainder as soft serve.
If you have an original Creami model you can already make a version of soft serve. However, the Swirl does seem to make the soft serve slightly softer and airier without making it watery but most people probably wouldn’t notice the difference. Regardless, the Swirl makes the process easier and more fun. More so if you have kids.
Cleanup is easy. If you are going to reuse the parts soon you can just rinse them. If not, then just toss them in the dishwasher as all the parts are dishwasher safe. However, you will want to remove 2 seals periodically as they can hold ice cream and over time could start to smell. Thankfully removing the seals is not difficult.
Final Thoughts
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is fun new version in the Ninja Creami line. It’s easy to get the hang of, provides even more dessert options, and is fun to use. If you are looking for an all in one cold dessert maker, the Ninja Swirl by Creami is hard to beat.
The Ninja Swirl by Creami is fun new version in the Ninja Creami line. It’s easy to get the hang of, provides even more dessert options, and is fun to use. If you are looking for an all in one cold dessert maker, the Ninja Swirl by Creami is hard to beat.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enhance your home's security and convenience with the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Smart Lock. This advanced smart lock offers 3D live fingerprint identification, allowing you to unlock your door with just a touch. The ULTRALOQ Bolt integrates seamlessly with major smart home platforms, including Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The sleek black design complements any door, providing both functionality and style. With easy DIY installation, robust battery life, and weather-resistant construction, this smart lock is built for long-term reliability and security.
Customer Rating
4
Well built. Could be refined further.
on February 7, 2025
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Actuation feels solid
Casing feels sturdy
Multiple methods to unlock
Works with Homekit
Can auto unlock when you get close enough
Allows you to hide your pin code with junk numbers
Works even when wearing gloves
Even has the option to work for business
Hold 8 batteries for longer battery life
Actuation feels solid
Casing feels sturdy
Multiple methods to unlock
Works with Homekit
Can auto unlock when you get close enough
Allows you to hide your pin code with junk numbers
Works even when wearing gloves
Even has the option to work for business
Hold 8 batteries for longer battery life
Not so great
Auto unlock is finicky and only works about 15% of the time
No option to lock when leaving, only timed
Fingerprint reader is finicky sometimes
Striker plate doesn’t match shape or size of industry standard.
Plastic turn for deadbolt on inside feels a bit cheap compared to the rest
Cloud functions sometimes lag
Door sensor can’t be embedded in door
Doesn’t support Apple Homekey
No support for Matter
Auto unlock is finicky and only works about 15% of the time
No option to lock when leaving, only timed
Fingerprint reader is finicky sometimes
Striker plate doesn’t match shape or size of industry standard.
Plastic turn for deadbolt on inside feels a bit cheap compared to the rest
Cloud functions sometimes lag
Door sensor can’t be embedded in door
Doesn’t support Apple Homekey
No support for Matter
The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint is a heavy deadbolt that looks and feels premium. The casing is brushed satin nickel with the controls in black plastic. While it still looks nice, the thumb knob on the inside takes away slightly from the premium feel. The deadbolt mechanism feels premium with no play in the mechanism and smooth activation. The outside portion looks nice, but slightly busy with all the options provided. The buttons are clear with the text inlaid below the surface meaning you don’t have to worry about them wearing off from use. They are also backlit for use at night.
A surprise feature is for a lock that unlike most locks in the category, the Ultraloq has direct support for business use with a feature called Ultraloq Air. If you want to use it for your business, you can link multiple locks to the Air services and control the locks and users via a website. Currently the service is free, but U-Tec has been upfront in saying they cannot guarantee it will always be free, particularly for large installations. It is nice that they are honest about this and it wouldn’t be a surprise that they had to add a service fee to support the cloud costs for larger installations in the future.
Setup 8/10
The installation is very easy unless you have an unusual door. The installations provide options for the most common door types with step-by-step guides and the hardware needed. There are also videos provided if you prefer that format. It takes less than 10 minutes to swap out your hardware for the new. The two main sticking points that can slow you are down are the striker plate and leveling the deadbolt. The striker plate doesn’t match the standard size striker plate and might require chiseling out of your door trim. The other is when installing the outside portion, it tightens up the plate that the inside portion mounts to at the same time. For both the inside and outside portion of the lock to be level and square with the door you must try to get both sides correct and tighten them while ensuring they don’t move. It took a few tries where either the inside or outside portion was tilted slightly. Not a huge issue but a little innovation in this area could smooth the installation process.
The installation is very easy unless you have an unusual door. The installations provide options for the most common door types with step-by-step guides and the hardware needed. There are also videos provided if you prefer that format. It takes less than 10 minutes to swap out your hardware for the new. The two main sticking points that can slow you are down are the striker plate and leveling the deadbolt. The striker plate doesn’t match the standard size striker plate and might require chiseling out of your door trim. The other is when installing the outside portion, it tightens up the plate that the inside portion mounts to at the same time. For both the inside and outside portion of the lock to be level and square with the door you must try to get both sides correct and tighten them while ensuring they don’t move. It took a few tries where either the inside or outside portion was tilted slightly. Not a huge issue but a little innovation in this area could smooth the installation process.
Included in the box is an optional door sensor that allows the lock to know if the door is open or closed. This makes features like auto lock more useful and knowing if the door is fully closed. The only downside is the included sensor doesn’t have an option to mount in the door from for a more discrete appearance. It sits right on the door frame like a wart waiting to be hit as someone goes through the door. If you have decorative trim around your door this will sit awkwardly on top of it. From research it seems a thin magnet could be used instead for a more discrete installation.
Setting up the app is easy but can be a little finicky. It seems like occasionally either the lock, app, or maybe the cloud hangs for a few seconds. The initial pairing was easy but changing settings withing the app would go smoothly and then randomly would display a working logo and feel like it is frozen for several seconds. Everything worked fine, just occasionally, it would lag. It could be due to the shipping firmware as the first update attempt said it failed to install, but checking again it was showing updated. After the update the lags seem far less often.
Smart Home Support 8/10
The Ultraloq supports multiple smarthome platforms and now this version includes Apple Home support. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support Apple Homekey which feels like a big omission. For those of you with Home Assistant or Homey, there isn’t direct support to add the lock and third-party support seems nonexistent. Customers have requests support for the other platforms and U-Tec has been receptive so fingers crossed the other platforms will be supported in the future. While Matter isn’t turning out to be the perfect solution as it was pitched, it would have still been nice to see support for Matter as this could make things easier for both U-Tec and clients to support their preferred smart home platform.
The Ultraloq supports multiple smarthome platforms and now this version includes Apple Home support. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support Apple Homekey which feels like a big omission. For those of you with Home Assistant or Homey, there isn’t direct support to add the lock and third-party support seems nonexistent. Customers have requests support for the other platforms and U-Tec has been receptive so fingers crossed the other platforms will be supported in the future. While Matter isn’t turning out to be the perfect solution as it was pitched, it would have still been nice to see support for Matter as this could make things easier for both U-Tec and clients to support their preferred smart home platform.
Smart Controls 7/10
Automation within Homekit or Alexa are limited due to security but you can add extra functionality if you don’t mind having another app running on your phone tracking your GPS. The U-Tec supports Auto Lock and Auto Unlock. The Autolock feature is a basic timer that locks the door immediately or a specified time after you close the door. It would have been nice to have a feature to automatically lock the door when all family members have left the house. The Auto Unlock feature is more automatic and customized to you. As you are returning home and are within about 900ft of your house the app prepares to unlock the door. When your phone is withing Bluetooth range, approximately 10 feet, it unlocks the door. While this sounds great, in practice it works about 15% of the time. This might be because of the way our house is on the street. You must pass by it on a neighboring street which causes it to trigger the first Auto Unlock mode, then it disables Auto Unlock, finally as you approach the house on the street Auto Unlock triggers again. This might be causing a delay in the auto unlock. It might also be that it needs further software refinement because once when the auto unlock worked it locked the door just after opening even though the door trigger would have indicated an open door. The idea of auto unlock is nice but, considering the finicky nature support for Homekey would be preferred. If they could improve consistency, it might justify running another app a bit more.
Automation within Homekit or Alexa are limited due to security but you can add extra functionality if you don’t mind having another app running on your phone tracking your GPS. The U-Tec supports Auto Lock and Auto Unlock. The Autolock feature is a basic timer that locks the door immediately or a specified time after you close the door. It would have been nice to have a feature to automatically lock the door when all family members have left the house. The Auto Unlock feature is more automatic and customized to you. As you are returning home and are within about 900ft of your house the app prepares to unlock the door. When your phone is withing Bluetooth range, approximately 10 feet, it unlocks the door. While this sounds great, in practice it works about 15% of the time. This might be because of the way our house is on the street. You must pass by it on a neighboring street which causes it to trigger the first Auto Unlock mode, then it disables Auto Unlock, finally as you approach the house on the street Auto Unlock triggers again. This might be causing a delay in the auto unlock. It might also be that it needs further software refinement because once when the auto unlock worked it locked the door just after opening even though the door trigger would have indicated an open door. The idea of auto unlock is nice but, considering the finicky nature support for Homekey would be preferred. If they could improve consistency, it might justify running another app a bit more.
Control Options 9/10
Between smart options pin code, fingerprint, app control, and traditional key the Ultraloq seems to offer almost every option. The pin code is handy if you are wearing gloves or someone doesn’t want to have their fingerprint registered. The buttons have a nice clicky feeling where you know without a doubt you have pressed it. It also has a nice feature that you can enter random numbers before and after your code to prevent someone finding your pin code by looking over your shoulder. If your pin is in the group of random numbers, it works. The fingerprint option is also nice but requires app access for setup. Whereas the pin code works 100% of the time if you enter your pin correctly, the fingerprint scanner works about 80% of the time on the first try. Sometimes it requires a second try even when a finger is properly placed on the pad. With as fast it registers your touch this is not a big deal to try again.
Between smart options pin code, fingerprint, app control, and traditional key the Ultraloq seems to offer almost every option. The pin code is handy if you are wearing gloves or someone doesn’t want to have their fingerprint registered. The buttons have a nice clicky feeling where you know without a doubt you have pressed it. It also has a nice feature that you can enter random numbers before and after your code to prevent someone finding your pin code by looking over your shoulder. If your pin is in the group of random numbers, it works. The fingerprint option is also nice but requires app access for setup. Whereas the pin code works 100% of the time if you enter your pin correctly, the fingerprint scanner works about 80% of the time on the first try. Sometimes it requires a second try even when a finger is properly placed on the pad. With as fast it registers your touch this is not a big deal to try again.
Final Thoughts
The U-Tec Ultraloq Bolt is a well-built smart deadbolt trying to add useful features instead of just making an expensive locked tied to a subscription. While it would be nice if it had support for a few newer technologies but is very versatile as it is. It would be nice to see some future refinement to the operation of the smart features but overall, it is a very nice smart deadbolt. If you are in the market for a smart deadbolt and would like one with nearly every option for control, the Ultraloq Bolt is worth considering.
The U-Tec Ultraloq Bolt is a well-built smart deadbolt trying to add useful features instead of just making an expensive locked tied to a subscription. While it would be nice if it had support for a few newer technologies but is very versatile as it is. It would be nice to see some future refinement to the operation of the smart features but overall, it is a very nice smart deadbolt. If you are in the market for a smart deadbolt and would like one with nearly every option for control, the Ultraloq Bolt is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Small but mighty, the Nextbase Piqo 2K delivers premium performance in an ultra-compact design. This dash cam captures every critical detail in stunning 1440p HD, whether you're driving in bright sunlight or on dark roads. With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, the Piqo 2K offers seamless connectivity and real-time tracking, letting you easily access, edit, and share footage through the Nextbase App. The Piqo 2K goes beyond capturing footage—it's designed to be your complete driving companion. Smart Parking ensures your vehicle is monitored while you're away, automatically recording any knocks or bumps and notifying you via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Guardian Mode Lite allows you to set limits for anyone borrowing your car, so you're always in control. In emergencies, the Piqo 2K’s Emergency SOS system contacts services and sends your GPS location, while Witness Mode Lite alerts a loved one if something goes wrong. Piqo 2K doesn’t just provide protection—it offers peace of mind every time you’re on the road. With its powerful features, the Piqo 2K is more than just a dash cam—it’s a smarter, simpler way to safeguard what matters most.
Customer Rating
2
Needs a lot of refinement
on December 9, 2024
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Doesn’t require a subscription
Subscription option isn’t pushed
Compact design
Easy to adjust mount
Records speed, G-Force, and GPS Location in video
Includes SD Card in the bundle
Offers multiple options to power
Smart Parking can monitor your car while parked
Includes 2 mounting bases
Included power port adapter has 2 USB-C connections
Doesn’t require a subscription
Subscription option isn’t pushed
Compact design
Easy to adjust mount
Records speed, G-Force, and GPS Location in video
Includes SD Card in the bundle
Offers multiple options to power
Smart Parking can monitor your car while parked
Includes 2 mounting bases
Included power port adapter has 2 USB-C connections
Not so great
Grainy video with compression artifacts even in bright light
Poor dynamic range
Smart parking is useless when dark
No interior or rear camera option
No polarized lens allows dash reflections and glare
License plates only readable stationary in bright daylight
App has connection stability issues
ESOS has trouble activating
Dashcam kept chiming while driving, even more after ESOS error
Live view for setup won’t rotate to portrait
Video thumbnails take a long time to load in app
Videos take a long time to download in app (4 minutes)
Dashcam often disconnects after viewing or downloading a clip
Dashcam orientation is easily accidentally altered by putting up sunshade
Clips are broken up into equal length videos instead of by event or timeline
Events cannot be viewed in a single clip
Trimming videos in app can be tedious as you cannot zoom in on timeline
Thumbnail view of clips only has option for small thumbnails
SD card needs to be regularly formatted, or it becomes full of protected clips
Grainy video with compression artifacts even in bright light
Poor dynamic range
Smart parking is useless when dark
No interior or rear camera option
No polarized lens allows dash reflections and glare
License plates only readable stationary in bright daylight
App has connection stability issues
ESOS has trouble activating
Dashcam kept chiming while driving, even more after ESOS error
Live view for setup won’t rotate to portrait
Video thumbnails take a long time to load in app
Videos take a long time to download in app (4 minutes)
Dashcam often disconnects after viewing or downloading a clip
Dashcam orientation is easily accidentally altered by putting up sunshade
Clips are broken up into equal length videos instead of by event or timeline
Events cannot be viewed in a single clip
Trimming videos in app can be tedious as you cannot zoom in on timeline
Thumbnail view of clips only has option for small thumbnails
SD card needs to be regularly formatted, or it becomes full of protected clips
The Piqo 2K is targeted as a budget option to their premier IQ series of Dashcams. The only subscription offer is an ESOS service, which is not required for any core features of the dashcam. It is powered by USB-C using an included power port charger that includes 2 ports so that you can charge your phone at the same time. There are options for hardwired and ODBII power, either of which would be needed if you wish to use the Smart Parking feature which monitors your vehicle while parked recording events.
Setup 6/10
Installation instructions are in the app. After power on and pairing you can view a live preview of the dashcam to verify you have it adjusted properly. Strangely, the app only allows showing the video in portrait mode at the top of your phone leaving you with a small preview. After the basic setup the app leaves you on the main screen to explore features. Here you can activate the ESOS feature. On my current unit I am having issues with ESOS not fully activating.
Installation instructions are in the app. After power on and pairing you can view a live preview of the dashcam to verify you have it adjusted properly. Strangely, the app only allows showing the video in portrait mode at the top of your phone leaving you with a small preview. After the basic setup the app leaves you on the main screen to explore features. Here you can activate the ESOS feature. On my current unit I am having issues with ESOS not fully activating.
Video Performance 4/10
While the sensor is 2K which the video often feels lower. If it is overcast or a dark day, then video quality drops sharply. First, the sensor seems to have a very limited dynamic range. At night, license plates are just blown out rectangles of bright light. You could lower the exposure to help it read the license plate. However, the rest of the image becomes barely visible and very dark making the rest of the image useless. This issue is made worse by the fact that the sensor only supports 30fps at 2K. License plates, unless stationary, are likely going to be unreadable. The one exception was sitting still in the daytime. This issue is more pronounced with what seems to be heavy compression, over sharpening, or a sensor that is over driven. Even during overcast days video has a significant amount of noise. You won’t see it on the phone but if you extract the video and zoom in on a larger screen you can see it. As the evening progresses into night vehicles sometimes look as though they are painted into the video. This poor low light performance also effects the Smart Parking performance. In decent lighting it can capture some detail, but the lack of IR means that if you park your car in a place that isn’t lit then all you will capture is a video of black. With most vandals and thieves preferring to do things in the dark it means you likely won’t catch anything. The lens also has no polarizing filter which results in reduced video quality due to glare from lights as well as dash reflections on your windshield. Even with help from support we could not improve the video any further. Overall, the video quality is usable for traffic events so long as you aren’t worried about catching license plates, but it feels like a budget oriented 2K sensor.
While the sensor is 2K which the video often feels lower. If it is overcast or a dark day, then video quality drops sharply. First, the sensor seems to have a very limited dynamic range. At night, license plates are just blown out rectangles of bright light. You could lower the exposure to help it read the license plate. However, the rest of the image becomes barely visible and very dark making the rest of the image useless. This issue is made worse by the fact that the sensor only supports 30fps at 2K. License plates, unless stationary, are likely going to be unreadable. The one exception was sitting still in the daytime. This issue is more pronounced with what seems to be heavy compression, over sharpening, or a sensor that is over driven. Even during overcast days video has a significant amount of noise. You won’t see it on the phone but if you extract the video and zoom in on a larger screen you can see it. As the evening progresses into night vehicles sometimes look as though they are painted into the video. This poor low light performance also effects the Smart Parking performance. In decent lighting it can capture some detail, but the lack of IR means that if you park your car in a place that isn’t lit then all you will capture is a video of black. With most vandals and thieves preferring to do things in the dark it means you likely won’t catch anything. The lens also has no polarizing filter which results in reduced video quality due to glare from lights as well as dash reflections on your windshield. Even with help from support we could not improve the video any further. Overall, the video quality is usable for traffic events so long as you aren’t worried about catching license plates, but it feels like a budget oriented 2K sensor.
App Performance 3/10
While image performance can be attributed to this being a budget dashcam, the app performance should still be decent. The app is workable but feels unpolished. While using the app for setup was good, besides the lack of a landscape option, daily usage was a bit less refined. To start, when you connect the dashcam it takes quite a while to go through the process. First it connects via Bluetooth and then takes you through connecting via Wi-Fi. Once it is connected via Wi-Fi it syncs the clips to view on your phone. However, each time it syncs it must refresh the thumbnails, even for videos it has already generated a thumbnail for before and this process is slow. If you leave the screen, it refreshes the thumbnails again. This means that any time you go to the preview screen you mostly see black squares. If you tap on a thumbnail it brings up the preview video reasonably fast. You can view the video in portrait with the speed or your location on the map, or you can view landscape for a larger video. Viewing a video usually works, but sometimes it will just disconnect when you back out of one video to view another. Downloading videos is where things become less stable. To start, downloading a single video which is roughly 200MB takes 4 minutes consistently. If you needed 2 video clips, it would take roughly 1 minute to start each download and 4 minutes to download. This means 2 clips would take roughly 10 minutes to download. To make matters worse, after downloading video and before staring a second download, the dashcam would randomly disconnect. Working with support we were unable to get the video to download any faster. In testing, this appear to be a delay within the app as sharing the same 200MB video within the app to any app on the phone was similarly slow. Once the video was exported out of the Nextbase app, transfers using the same phone over Wi-Fi was fast, so it appears there is something causing video transfers within the app to be unusually long. You could remove the SD card and download via a computer fast, but then you also lose all the helpful telemetry.
While image performance can be attributed to this being a budget dashcam, the app performance should still be decent. The app is workable but feels unpolished. While using the app for setup was good, besides the lack of a landscape option, daily usage was a bit less refined. To start, when you connect the dashcam it takes quite a while to go through the process. First it connects via Bluetooth and then takes you through connecting via Wi-Fi. Once it is connected via Wi-Fi it syncs the clips to view on your phone. However, each time it syncs it must refresh the thumbnails, even for videos it has already generated a thumbnail for before and this process is slow. If you leave the screen, it refreshes the thumbnails again. This means that any time you go to the preview screen you mostly see black squares. If you tap on a thumbnail it brings up the preview video reasonably fast. You can view the video in portrait with the speed or your location on the map, or you can view landscape for a larger video. Viewing a video usually works, but sometimes it will just disconnect when you back out of one video to view another. Downloading videos is where things become less stable. To start, downloading a single video which is roughly 200MB takes 4 minutes consistently. If you needed 2 video clips, it would take roughly 1 minute to start each download and 4 minutes to download. This means 2 clips would take roughly 10 minutes to download. To make matters worse, after downloading video and before staring a second download, the dashcam would randomly disconnect. Working with support we were unable to get the video to download any faster. In testing, this appear to be a delay within the app as sharing the same 200MB video within the app to any app on the phone was similarly slow. Once the video was exported out of the Nextbase app, transfers using the same phone over Wi-Fi was fast, so it appears there is something causing video transfers within the app to be unusually long. You could remove the SD card and download via a computer fast, but then you also lose all the helpful telemetry.
Beside the general slowness of the app and random disconnects, there is also the challenge of finding the video you are looking for. Video clips are displayed as small thumbnails only. Many of them you will just see the same road repeatedly. If a larger landmark, such as a large building, isn’t showing in the thumbnail it can take a fair bit of time and guesswork to find the clip you want. While there are technical limitations as to why clips are broken up, the app should be able to display a stitched chronological view making it easier to browse. Many modern cameras today show a timeline view of clips with markers and thumbnails of events making it easy to see the order. Furthermore, they allow rapid scrubbing through the videos to quickly find the section you are looking for. It Nextbase would use this method it would make scrubbing through dashcam videos far more intuitive.
Smart Features 4/10
The Nextbase app only supports one Piqo for a single user on a single device. If family members share the car, only the one who set up the camera can view it. If you have more than one Piqo you will need more than one smartphone to access each Piqo. This feels like a missed opportunity. Nextbase could allow family sharing and when a family member took a vehicle the Piqo in that car would know via Bluetooth a valid driver was in the car and be able to mark those clips differently. Pairing that with Guardian Mode, it would have been great if parents could set limitations. Then when a teenage child uses the vehicle, their phone would pair with the dashcam as well, but they couldn’t make changes. This same app could alert the parents if the child was speeding, leaving their allowed area, or if they had been in an accident without any manual work. This would also be helpful for Witness Mode so that when a different family member takes the vehicle the features would still work. However, in my case, Witness Mode wouldn’t work. While my vehicle is an older sports car, its nowhere near as loud as some vehicles but Witness Mode would never activate. It never seemed to hear my voice. It might be unique to my situation, but it also could be because the microphone quality isn’t very good. Reviewing clips, general speech wasn’t very clear so unless you have a very quiet vehicle this feature might not work for you.
The Nextbase app only supports one Piqo for a single user on a single device. If family members share the car, only the one who set up the camera can view it. If you have more than one Piqo you will need more than one smartphone to access each Piqo. This feels like a missed opportunity. Nextbase could allow family sharing and when a family member took a vehicle the Piqo in that car would know via Bluetooth a valid driver was in the car and be able to mark those clips differently. Pairing that with Guardian Mode, it would have been great if parents could set limitations. Then when a teenage child uses the vehicle, their phone would pair with the dashcam as well, but they couldn’t make changes. This same app could alert the parents if the child was speeding, leaving their allowed area, or if they had been in an accident without any manual work. This would also be helpful for Witness Mode so that when a different family member takes the vehicle the features would still work. However, in my case, Witness Mode wouldn’t work. While my vehicle is an older sports car, its nowhere near as loud as some vehicles but Witness Mode would never activate. It never seemed to hear my voice. It might be unique to my situation, but it also could be because the microphone quality isn’t very good. Reviewing clips, general speech wasn’t very clear so unless you have a very quiet vehicle this feature might not work for you.
Final Thoughts
While it is nice that Nextbase is trying to make a more budget oriented dashcam that offers some of the features of more premium ones, it feels like at this point there is still a lot of refinement that needs to be done. Hopefully Nextbase will continue to improve the operation of the dashcam as it could be a decent budget dashcam. Unfortunately, I can only comment on how well it does currently and not any future promises or expectations. Unless Nextbase refines the app and firmware further, you are likely better served by other dashcams in their lineup.
While it is nice that Nextbase is trying to make a more budget oriented dashcam that offers some of the features of more premium ones, it feels like at this point there is still a lot of refinement that needs to be done. Hopefully Nextbase will continue to improve the operation of the dashcam as it could be a decent budget dashcam. Unfortunately, I can only comment on how well it does currently and not any future promises or expectations. Unless Nextbase refines the app and firmware further, you are likely better served by other dashcams in their lineup.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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LG UltraGear OLED introduces the World’s First VESA Certified Dual Mode gaming monitor.¹ On the large 32" screen, Dual Mode allows PC gamers to experience graphics-driven games in detailed 4K/UHD at up to 240Hz or gamers can play super fast-paced games in Full HD at up to 480Hz with a quick press of a hotkey.² The OLED screen is also certified VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 which enables gamers to experience HDR in games as developers intended with stunning, rich black levels and bright, deep color contrast to produce the on-screen visuals gamers crave. The sleek, white, 32GS95UV will be the centerpiece of your battlestation with a gorgeous, virtually bezel-less design, that's height, tilt, swivel and pivot adjustable along with built-in speakers. With plenty of connectivity options it's easy to see how this UltraGear is essential gear for an amped up battlestation.
Customer Rating
5
Versatile for those who love FPS
on November 13, 2024
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Fast
Good color accuracy
Anti-glare doesn’t affect contrast
Bright
Built in speakers
Maintains clarity at 1080P mode
Pixel arrangement still works well for productivity
Small footprint
Clean design
Border is nearly invisible
Includes FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync
Fully adjustable stand
Fast
Good color accuracy
Anti-glare doesn’t affect contrast
Bright
Built in speakers
Maintains clarity at 1080P mode
Pixel arrangement still works well for productivity
Small footprint
Clean design
Border is nearly invisible
Includes FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync
Fully adjustable stand
Not So Great
No USB-C
Speakers are loud but have no range
Backlighting doesn’t sync with third party tools
Matte finish not for everyone
No USB-C
Speakers are loud but have no range
Backlighting doesn’t sync with third party tools
Matte finish not for everyone
The LG UltraGear 32” OLED Dual Mode is an interesting monitor that targets a niche of gamers. The reason it is niche is most gamers would be perfectly happy with the 240Hz refresh rate. Most gamers wouldn’t notice the difference and would struggle to go much above 240 on modern games without a hefty system. While you can lower the resolution on other gaming monitors and increase refresh rate it isn’t always with a perfect scaling. When this monitor scales down to 1080P from 4K it combines 4 pixels into one which allows clarity to be maintained. LG includes 2 HDMI 2.1 ports and 1 DisplayPort 1.4 port. All ports are listed capable of handling the full 4K 240Hz throughput required. It also has a built in USB-3 hub with 2 USB-A connections. There are no USB-C ports or power delivery. The stand is fully adjustable for height, tilt, and rotation. The monitor can also rotate to portrait mode.
Setup 10/10
While basic monitor setup is simple, this monitor makes it easy by having a factory calibration. Out of the box you just turn one thumbscrew to attach the base the stand, click in the Vesa mount, and plug it into the computer. Straight out of the box the colors of the monitor were well balance and didn’t require any adjustments. While the color calibration probably isn’t going to impress a graphic designer, the overall calibration is very good. The entire setup process takes less than 5 minutes.
While basic monitor setup is simple, this monitor makes it easy by having a factory calibration. Out of the box you just turn one thumbscrew to attach the base the stand, click in the Vesa mount, and plug it into the computer. Straight out of the box the colors of the monitor were well balance and didn’t require any adjustments. While the color calibration probably isn’t going to impress a graphic designer, the overall calibration is very good. The entire setup process takes less than 5 minutes.
Sound 4/10
There is no detailed description of what Pixel Sound speakers are. The best guess is that the speakers are right behind the screen playing through it gives a clean look with no speaker grills on the front and the sound is directed at you instead of down. However, the sound isn’t very satisfying. The speakers do get very loud, but they have almost no range to them. Surprisingly they don’t sound like you would expect playing through something but there is no bass. Only lots of high with a little bit of a hollow midrange thrown in. They get the job done and sound ok at lower volume but, you will want to save some money in your budget for some discrete speakers if you don’t already have them.
There is no detailed description of what Pixel Sound speakers are. The best guess is that the speakers are right behind the screen playing through it gives a clean look with no speaker grills on the front and the sound is directed at you instead of down. However, the sound isn’t very satisfying. The speakers do get very loud, but they have almost no range to them. Surprisingly they don’t sound like you would expect playing through something but there is no bass. Only lots of high with a little bit of a hollow midrange thrown in. They get the job done and sound ok at lower volume but, you will want to save some money in your budget for some discrete speakers if you don’t already have them.
Productivity Work 9/10
With OLED monitors starting to be more affordable for the average person, most people don’t have a dedicated gaming monitor. One of the downsides of some OLEDs is the pixel arrangement doesn’t render text well in Windows making productivity work challenging. LG chose an arrangement that allows you to use the monitor for productivity work as color fringing is reduced to the point where it is not visible with the naked eye. The display also has an anti-glare which helps with visibility in a brightly lit room. Unlike older anti-glare coatings, the finish doesn’t destroy contrast as text and images. It would be nice if the maximum brightness was a little higher for those areas with a lot of light pollution.
With OLED monitors starting to be more affordable for the average person, most people don’t have a dedicated gaming monitor. One of the downsides of some OLEDs is the pixel arrangement doesn’t render text well in Windows making productivity work challenging. LG chose an arrangement that allows you to use the monitor for productivity work as color fringing is reduced to the point where it is not visible with the naked eye. The display also has an anti-glare which helps with visibility in a brightly lit room. Unlike older anti-glare coatings, the finish doesn’t destroy contrast as text and images. It would be nice if the maximum brightness was a little higher for those areas with a lot of light pollution.
Gaming 10/10
No surprise that gaming is where OLEDs shine and this monitor is no exception. In Halo Infinite details were clearer and enemies could be spotted quicker. Using dual mode, it was hard to tell any significant change in graphics quality, but the system was able to push out a peak of just under 300fps on the high preset. If you stopped to look carefully textures, they were slightly software but thanks to the 4 to 1 mapping of pixels in dual mode the loss of quality was unnoticeable in gameplay. What was noticeable was how smooth the gameplay was. It was particularly noticeable when performing flick shots. It was subtle but big improvement where it was easier to see movement and be able to accurately fire. The previous monitor never seemed to be an issue, but the fast response time and fps brought to light not all misses were a result of a better player.
No surprise that gaming is where OLEDs shine and this monitor is no exception. In Halo Infinite details were clearer and enemies could be spotted quicker. Using dual mode, it was hard to tell any significant change in graphics quality, but the system was able to push out a peak of just under 300fps on the high preset. If you stopped to look carefully textures, they were slightly software but thanks to the 4 to 1 mapping of pixels in dual mode the loss of quality was unnoticeable in gameplay. What was noticeable was how smooth the gameplay was. It was particularly noticeable when performing flick shots. It was subtle but big improvement where it was easier to see movement and be able to accurately fire. The previous monitor never seemed to be an issue, but the fast response time and fps brought to light not all misses were a result of a better player.
The nice part about the dual mode setup is when you switch to slower paced games you can turn off dual mode and see more detail. Forza Horizon 5 never looked back on the old monitor but it pales in comparison to playing Forza on an OLED. Foliage was more vibrant, textures were crisper, and it overall made it feel like it was a refresh of the game.
Trying out something even slower paced, details in Minecraft was noticeably better. Textures were easier to see an you could easily tell the types of blocks apart whereas on the old monitor it was hard to see the difference between iron, gold, and copper particularly in dark settings. Unfortunately, Complimentary Shaders was messed up on the Java install so there was no time to try out realistic texture packs to see just how far the image quality difference went.
While the quick access button to Dual mode is convenient, it would be nice for LG to add an auto switching option to their monitor software. When you first plug it in Windows installs the LG monitor app giving you control of the monitor in Windows, but the process is as manual as it is from the hardware buttons. The issue is that switching modes in game often causes game glitches and instability. One time the screen completely froze. If LG updated the monitor app with game profiles, you could configure the screen to automatically change profiles when a particular game is selected making the process seamless. It would be great if LG would add this feature.
Final Thoughts
The LG UltraGear 32” Dual Mode OLED monitor is a solid monitor for those who want it’s specific features. If you aren’t the type who plays fast past games and 240fps is enough, LG has other options that may be a better value. However, if you like fast pace games and want a single monitor that handles work and play then this monitor is worth a look.
The LG UltraGear 32” Dual Mode OLED monitor is a solid monitor for those who want it’s specific features. If you aren’t the type who plays fast past games and 240fps is enough, LG has other options that may be a better value. However, if you like fast pace games and want a single monitor that handles work and play then this monitor is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for a seamless experience, the fully automatic Magnifica Plus guides you through the brewing process. Easily craft drinks with the touch of a button with 18 recipes to choose from, including Latte Macchiatos, Cappuccinos, Americanos & Iced Coffee. The built-in conical burr grinder and brewing unit deliver espresso with the perfect grind, dose, and brew every time, saving you time and effort. De’Longhi’s proprietary LatteCrema™ technology automatically froths milk and milk alternatives, allowing you to personalize your drink with 3 different frothing settings - light, creamy, or dense. The full touch screen display and soft touch buttons make navigation intuitive and guide you to craft and customize your beverage quickly. With up to 4 unique user profiles, adjust size and intensity to fit your preferences. Find your favorite drinks faster with Smart One-Touch intelligence, programmed to remember your most popular choices. Clean-up is simple with our auto-clean function and detachable, dishwasher-safe parts. With the Magnifica Plus, enjoy your café favorites at home, at the touch of a button.
Customer Rating
5
Save money without sacrificing quality
on October 22, 2024
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Makes good shots out of the box
Easy to make good coffee foam
LatteCreama system easy to clean
Has bypass to use ground coffee
4 user profiles make it quick to make your preferred drink
Updated display feels more premium
Drip tray has plastic fins that protect the metal from scratches
Quick startup
Quite for a mid-range super automatic
Coffee grinder and press seem strong
Control screen has fun animations and tips when making drinks
Detects and alerts you if there isn’t enough coffee to make the puck
Can make most drinks very hot
Large water and spent grounds containers
Makes good shots out of the box
Easy to make good coffee foam
LatteCreama system easy to clean
Has bypass to use ground coffee
4 user profiles make it quick to make your preferred drink
Updated display feels more premium
Drip tray has plastic fins that protect the metal from scratches
Quick startup
Quite for a mid-range super automatic
Coffee grinder and press seem strong
Control screen has fun animations and tips when making drinks
Detects and alerts you if there isn’t enough coffee to make the puck
Can make most drinks very hot
Large water and spent grounds containers
Not So Great
Plastic vs glass control screen cheapens feel
All plastic build makes it look cheaper
No timer to schedule it to start up in the morning
No cleaning brush included
Limited temperature options
Plastic vs glass control screen cheapens feel
All plastic build makes it look cheaper
No timer to schedule it to start up in the morning
No cleaning brush included
Limited temperature options
The Delonghi Magnifica Plus, while in the budget line of super automatics seems as capable as the midrange Dynamica line with the style of the upper end Eletta line. While the exterior is all plastic it doesn’t feel cheap taking it out of the box as it feels solid. The drip tray seems to be the only exterior metal piece and Delonghi has added a thoughtful touch of protecting it from scratches from cups by having the plastic fingers from the drop tray sit slightly higher than the tray. This means cups sit on the plastic fingers of the drip tray instead of the chromed metal causing scratches. The touchscreen looks nice but instead of glass it uses a plastic cover which your finger drags on and detracts slightly from the overall feel and appearance
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The bean hopper appears very large since it is wide, but it is shallow. It holds enough beans for about 10 shots. Delonghi have chosen not to seal the bean hopper. It is up to you if the risk of beans staying humid or oxidizing to the open air is more important. The cover is tinted which should reduce the effect. In our family we can go through 10 shots in less than 48 hours so the concern if oxidizing is minor compared to the risk of beans absorbing moisture from the brew chamber.
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The bean hopper appears very large since it is wide, but it is shallow. It holds enough beans for about 10 shots. Delonghi have chosen not to seal the bean hopper. It is up to you if the risk of beans staying humid or oxidizing to the open air is more important. The cover is tinted which should reduce the effect. In our family we can go through 10 shots in less than 48 hours so the concern if oxidizing is minor compared to the risk of beans absorbing moisture from the brew chamber.
Included in the box is a package of descaler, water softener filter, and a scoop for ground coffee. Unlike higher end models, the cleaning brush is not included.
Setup 9/10
Setup is straightforward. You can use it straight out of the box. Just clean it, fill it will coffee beans and water and you can be ready to go. If want to take advantage of user profiles, you will need to take the time to configure things. In most cases, Delonghi has simplified the process and offers tutorials on the control screen to walk you through the steps. You can have up to 4 user profiles and assign each a color. The color is reflected on the screen as well as a dedicate profile button making it easy to see which profile is active. It would be nice if there was some sort of scheduling option. While it doesn’t take very long to start up, it would be nice for those in a hurry or on a regular schedule to set the espresso machine to be on and ready when they are.
Setup is straightforward. You can use it straight out of the box. Just clean it, fill it will coffee beans and water and you can be ready to go. If want to take advantage of user profiles, you will need to take the time to configure things. In most cases, Delonghi has simplified the process and offers tutorials on the control screen to walk you through the steps. You can have up to 4 user profiles and assign each a color. The color is reflected on the screen as well as a dedicate profile button making it easy to see which profile is active. It would be nice if there was some sort of scheduling option. While it doesn’t take very long to start up, it would be nice for those in a hurry or on a regular schedule to set the espresso machine to be on and ready when they are.
Noise 7/10
Of course, most super automatics are noisy but the Magnifica Plus seems to be on the quieter side for most operations. The grinder is still loud, but for a super automatic is sounds about on the quieter side and far quieter than any grinder at a coffee shop. It doesn’t seem quiet because it is sealed but just the fact that the grinder seems to have plenty of power to ground through beans with little effort. The operation of the brew camber seems more audible from across the house, but the process is short lived. Compared to our old sealed and insulated semi-automatic it was less noticeable across the house.
Of course, most super automatics are noisy but the Magnifica Plus seems to be on the quieter side for most operations. The grinder is still loud, but for a super automatic is sounds about on the quieter side and far quieter than any grinder at a coffee shop. It doesn’t seem quiet because it is sealed but just the fact that the grinder seems to have plenty of power to ground through beans with little effort. The operation of the brew camber seems more audible from across the house, but the process is short lived. Compared to our old sealed and insulated semi-automatic it was less noticeable across the house.
Drink Customization 7/10
Unlike higher end models, there is no smartphone control. Judging based on reported usefulness of the app on higher end models this omission doesn’t seem to an issue. Thankfully, the controls on the touchscreen are easy to use. Options have been simplified to temperatures of low, medium, and high. Sizes are small, medium, large, and extra large with no description of how large each is. You can also choose from multiple intensity levels which vary based on the drink.
Unlike higher end models, there is no smartphone control. Judging based on reported usefulness of the app on higher end models this omission doesn’t seem to an issue. Thankfully, the controls on the touchscreen are easy to use. Options have been simplified to temperatures of low, medium, and high. Sizes are small, medium, large, and extra large with no description of how large each is. You can also choose from multiple intensity levels which vary based on the drink.
Brew Quality 9/10
From the factory the grinder is set to 5, but based on forum posts the machine was changed to 4. Using this setting out of the box the first shot with fresh medium roast Arabica beans with a recent roast date produced a smooth, full-bodied shot with a hint of sweetness, a smooth crema, and very hot. Our family does not traditionally drink black coffee, but this machine is the first where the results make us feel it could be an option. It was surprising to not need to try several test shots to dial in the grinder for the correct extraction. In fact, we have not been motivated to adjust the grind setting further even though spent pucks suggests more fine tuning is possible. Trying to test the weight of pucks before brewing resulted in brittle pucks. In testing used pucks that had been dried ranged from 15 to 30g. With 30g pucks that would explain why even larger drinks maintain flavor.
From the factory the grinder is set to 5, but based on forum posts the machine was changed to 4. Using this setting out of the box the first shot with fresh medium roast Arabica beans with a recent roast date produced a smooth, full-bodied shot with a hint of sweetness, a smooth crema, and very hot. Our family does not traditionally drink black coffee, but this machine is the first where the results make us feel it could be an option. It was surprising to not need to try several test shots to dial in the grinder for the correct extraction. In fact, we have not been motivated to adjust the grind setting further even though spent pucks suggests more fine tuning is possible. Trying to test the weight of pucks before brewing resulted in brittle pucks. In testing used pucks that had been dried ranged from 15 to 30g. With 30g pucks that would explain why even larger drinks maintain flavor.
That is one surprise is trying larger drinks. The Magnifica Plus has been able handle larger drinks such as an extra-large coffee or Longo while still maintaining a good amount of the strength. When needed it can also brew two pucks back-to-back for the same drink. However, if you are hoping to fill your travel mug in one go this isn’t your machine. It doesn’t make drinks beyond approximately 12 ounces and the drip tray doesn’t accommodate anything beyond a tall drink glass. A small caveat is if you like your large drinks very hot like at a coffee shop. You may want to preheat your cup and run some water through the machine to heat things up thoroughly to get the best results as large brew out of the machine recently turned on into a room temperature cup will yield a very warm coffee, not very hot you may prefer.
Milk Foam 9/10
While the milk foam isn’t as high of quality as than created manually from someone with experience it makes up for this with the ease of creating milk foam. Using 2% milk halfway through it life produced milk foam with larger bubbles that would pop and sizzle like soda. It seemed to be a combination of the age of the milk and the extra fat. One thing others have advised is the orientation of the pickup hose is important. According to forums, if the hole in the pickup hose isn’t align with the passages in the top the milk foam quality will suffer. Trying this technique seem to produce better foam but there were even better results to be had. Trying “barista grade” oat milk produced uniform micro bubbles that were stable. While better, trying this with a flat white did product a sweet foam but it felt dry. With testing, we found the perfect milk for milk foam was fat free, high protein milk. Options such as Fairlife milk and ones like it produced a milk foam that was light and delicate with microbubbles that were stable and long lasting but more importantly, sweet without any dryness.
While the milk foam isn’t as high of quality as than created manually from someone with experience it makes up for this with the ease of creating milk foam. Using 2% milk halfway through it life produced milk foam with larger bubbles that would pop and sizzle like soda. It seemed to be a combination of the age of the milk and the extra fat. One thing others have advised is the orientation of the pickup hose is important. According to forums, if the hole in the pickup hose isn’t align with the passages in the top the milk foam quality will suffer. Trying this technique seem to produce better foam but there were even better results to be had. Trying “barista grade” oat milk produced uniform micro bubbles that were stable. While better, trying this with a flat white did product a sweet foam but it felt dry. With testing, we found the perfect milk for milk foam was fat free, high protein milk. Options such as Fairlife milk and ones like it produced a milk foam that was light and delicate with microbubbles that were stable and long lasting but more importantly, sweet without any dryness.
Maintenance 9/10
The grounds container holds approximately 10 pucks, and the machine will remind you to empty every 10 shots or every 72 hours. There is also a red indicator that floats up in the drip tray that around the same time that you need to empty the grounds container. While some moisture does end up in the grounds container it is easy to empty and clean overall. You can fill the water tank by fully removing it or using a small fill spout available by pulling the water tank forward slightly. In the water tank is a water softener. While not required it reduces maintenance by reducing the frequency of descaling required. It should also help improve shot to shot consistently by conditioning the water. The brew chamber should be cleaned once a week and can be accessed by removing the water tank and opening an access door behind the water tank. All you need to do is brush old coffee grounds off the parts, but you will need to provide a cleaning brush. The LatteCrema system and metal drip tray can just be tossed in the dishwasher and the brew group just needs a quick rinse. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
The grounds container holds approximately 10 pucks, and the machine will remind you to empty every 10 shots or every 72 hours. There is also a red indicator that floats up in the drip tray that around the same time that you need to empty the grounds container. While some moisture does end up in the grounds container it is easy to empty and clean overall. You can fill the water tank by fully removing it or using a small fill spout available by pulling the water tank forward slightly. In the water tank is a water softener. While not required it reduces maintenance by reducing the frequency of descaling required. It should also help improve shot to shot consistently by conditioning the water. The brew chamber should be cleaned once a week and can be accessed by removing the water tank and opening an access door behind the water tank. All you need to do is brush old coffee grounds off the parts, but you will need to provide a cleaning brush. The LatteCrema system and metal drip tray can just be tossed in the dishwasher and the brew group just needs a quick rinse. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
Final Thoughts
The Delonghi Magnifica Plus, while part of the budget line of super automatic espresso machines, feels more like a solid mid-range device. It takes a lot of the complexity and variability out of making variety of different coffee drinks. It allows you to spend more time enjoying your coffee without spending the extra money at a coffee shop. It has just enough options to allow customization without so many as to overwhelm. If you love a variety of different coffee drinks and appreciate the quality of a well make drink by a barista but like saving money, then the Delonghi Magnifica Plus could be a worthwhile investment. Over time you can save a ton of money while enjoying more coffee.
The Delonghi Magnifica Plus, while part of the budget line of super automatic espresso machines, feels more like a solid mid-range device. It takes a lot of the complexity and variability out of making variety of different coffee drinks. It allows you to spend more time enjoying your coffee without spending the extra money at a coffee shop. It has just enough options to allow customization without so many as to overwhelm. If you love a variety of different coffee drinks and appreciate the quality of a well make drink by a barista but like saving money, then the Delonghi Magnifica Plus could be a worthwhile investment. Over time you can save a ton of money while enjoying more coffee.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark CarpetXpert HairPro with StainStriker, 2-in-1 upright deep carpet cleaner with built-in spot & stain remover provides unbeatable deep carpet cleaning* and unbeatable tough stain elimination‡ for all homes. Shark’s deep-cleaning HairPro innovation is designed to pull up deeply embedded hair from carpet fibers with no clogs, no clumps, and no hair wrap. Instantly eliminates odors - even smoke and pet urine. Disclaimers: *Shark CarpetXpert models vs. consumer carpet cleaners based on ASTM F2828 using included cleaning solution as of May 15, 2024. ‡Based on pet stains (TM116) and household stains (TM110) vs. extractor market, using included stain cleaner and best-performing accessory. .
Customer Rating
4
Great for stubborn stains
on October 14, 2024
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Not overly heavy
Easy to operate
Easy to clean
Built-in hose and attachment cleaner
Built-in hose
Hose doesn’t mix stain booster until the last second
Includes specialist pet mess cleaning attachments
Includes 4 different tools for four hose end cleaning
Includes storage base to keep floors clean
Has separate floor drying mode
Automatically applies cleaner
Not overly heavy
Easy to operate
Easy to clean
Built-in hose and attachment cleaner
Built-in hose
Hose doesn’t mix stain booster until the last second
Includes specialist pet mess cleaning attachments
Includes 4 different tools for four hose end cleaning
Includes storage base to keep floors clean
Has separate floor drying mode
Automatically applies cleaner
Not So Great
Hard to push on low pile carpet
Roller doesn’t get very deep in carpet
Small water and wastewater tank
Stated only compatible with Shark cleaning solutions
Operating instructions make it feel complicated to use
Still requires vacuuming first
Hard to push on low pile carpet
Roller doesn’t get very deep in carpet
Small water and wastewater tank
Stated only compatible with Shark cleaning solutions
Operating instructions make it feel complicated to use
Still requires vacuuming first
Setup 10/10
Out of the box setup is very simple. All you need to do is attach the handle and hose to the base on you are ready to go. Nothing else is required except finding a place to store the cleaner. Included is a plastic mat for storage that keeps any leaks safely off your floor during storage. It also serves to store two of your extra cleaning attachments.
Out of the box setup is very simple. All you need to do is attach the handle and hose to the base on you are ready to go. Nothing else is required except finding a place to store the cleaner. Included is a plastic mat for storage that keeps any leaks safely off your floor during storage. It also serves to store two of your extra cleaning attachments.
Usage 9/10
Reading the instructions may make it feel confusing to operate, but it is quite simple. There are some differences of how to operate the different attachments, but they are minor. The vacuum automatically knows when you are using the main roller or the hose and switches automatically. It is also nice that you don’t need to install and remove the hose each time you need it. It stays attached at all times and can be used quickly and easily, much like a standard vacuum. You can be cleaning a large area, stop and clean a stain with a hose end tool, then continue cleaning the large area easily.
Reading the instructions may make it feel confusing to operate, but it is quite simple. There are some differences of how to operate the different attachments, but they are minor. The vacuum automatically knows when you are using the main roller or the hose and switches automatically. It is also nice that you don’t need to install and remove the hose each time you need it. It stays attached at all times and can be used quickly and easily, much like a standard vacuum. You can be cleaning a large area, stop and clean a stain with a hose end tool, then continue cleaning the large area easily.
Cleaning Performance 8/10
Using the main roller, cleaning is about average. The roller works well on medium pile carpet but doesn’t feel like it gets quite as deep as others. It does clean the carpet, but it doesn’t get out any extra stains than you would expect with any other carpet shampooer. Usage on low pile carpet is more awkward. When you push forward on low pile the cleaner seems to stick too much and requires more effort to push forward. It still does the job well, just less smoothly. The standout is using the hose with attachments with the Oxy booster. Shark says the hose sends the cleaner and Oxy booster to the attachments separately and only mixes them at the last second to maximize cleaning performance. While it is uncertain how true this is, it is hard to argue with the results. Our carpets have had some stains for several years that we have pretreated and run our old carpet shampooer across multiple times with little to no change. Running the CarpetXpert over it with the roller produced similar results but spot treating with hose end cleaner almost completely removed the stain on the first pass. We have tried other spot cleaners with oxy boosters built in, so it is very possible their claims of waiting to mix are not just marketing.
Using the main roller, cleaning is about average. The roller works well on medium pile carpet but doesn’t feel like it gets quite as deep as others. It does clean the carpet, but it doesn’t get out any extra stains than you would expect with any other carpet shampooer. Usage on low pile carpet is more awkward. When you push forward on low pile the cleaner seems to stick too much and requires more effort to push forward. It still does the job well, just less smoothly. The standout is using the hose with attachments with the Oxy booster. Shark says the hose sends the cleaner and Oxy booster to the attachments separately and only mixes them at the last second to maximize cleaning performance. While it is uncertain how true this is, it is hard to argue with the results. Our carpets have had some stains for several years that we have pretreated and run our old carpet shampooer across multiple times with little to no change. Running the CarpetXpert over it with the roller produced similar results but spot treating with hose end cleaner almost completely removed the stain on the first pass. We have tried other spot cleaners with oxy boosters built in, so it is very possible their claims of waiting to mix are not just marketing.
The CarpetXpert is still not without some limitations. While it looks an operates much like a vacuum, the instructions tell you that you must vacuum you carpets first. Also, while it is a pet shampooer, you must remove excess pet hair first. There is an attachment specifically able to handle pet hair, but it is only for very small areas. Also, while the vacuum is not overly heavy it does come at the expense of having a small water and wastewater tank. If you do the 3 to 4 slow passes the instructions suggests you will have to empty and refill the vacuum 2 to 3 times in an average sized bedroom. While not ideal, it seems like an acceptable trade for easier usage. Another is the automatic dispensing of cleaner when using the roller. For the main areas it is convenient to have it automatically dispense cleaner, but it does means that when you stop near the wall it will leave extra detergent on the carpet. This can be corrected by choosing the dry only mode. It also comes in handy if you don’t want to wait for the carpet to air dry as you can run extra passes to further dry the carpet.
Maintenance 9/10
While not maintenance free, Shark has done a good job of making cleanup of all the necessary areas easy. The wastewater tank has a press fit lit that you remove to empty. This also gives you access to the two filters. One is removeable and washable and the other is more of a screen built into the tank. Hair gets caught in at the bottom. It would be nice if the screen could be removed to gain easier access to trapped hair at the bottom but overall, the issue is minor. The roller has a cover that opens giving you full access to clean the entire area easily. If you need to wash the roller it is also removable but so far very little has stuck to the roller. The hose is quick and easy to clean. The top of the main detergent tank has a place where you press the hose end to, and it sucks up cleaning detergent cleaning the tool and hose at the same time. Not only does this quickly clean the tool but also the hose preventing the hose from remaining dirty with what would likely be pet messes. One small difference with this cleaner is when you turn if off it continues to run for about 3 seconds. This allows the cleaner to ensure the hose, and any other tubing has been fully emptied.
While not maintenance free, Shark has done a good job of making cleanup of all the necessary areas easy. The wastewater tank has a press fit lit that you remove to empty. This also gives you access to the two filters. One is removeable and washable and the other is more of a screen built into the tank. Hair gets caught in at the bottom. It would be nice if the screen could be removed to gain easier access to trapped hair at the bottom but overall, the issue is minor. The roller has a cover that opens giving you full access to clean the entire area easily. If you need to wash the roller it is also removable but so far very little has stuck to the roller. The hose is quick and easy to clean. The top of the main detergent tank has a place where you press the hose end to, and it sucks up cleaning detergent cleaning the tool and hose at the same time. Not only does this quickly clean the tool but also the hose preventing the hose from remaining dirty with what would likely be pet messes. One small difference with this cleaner is when you turn if off it continues to run for about 3 seconds. This allows the cleaner to ensure the hose, and any other tubing has been fully emptied.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet is a good carpet shampooer. While cleaning performance with main rollers might not seem special, cleaning with the hose and overall usage and maintenance are very good. If you are looking for a carpet shampooer with an emphasis on cleaning up after pets, this HairPro Pet is worth considering.
Overall, the Shark CarpetXpert HairPro Pet is a good carpet shampooer. While cleaning performance with main rollers might not seem special, cleaning with the hose and overall usage and maintenance are very good. If you are looking for a carpet shampooer with an emphasis on cleaning up after pets, this HairPro Pet is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the new & improved SmartGoggles: 100% blackout, lighter, and more comfortable than ever. Designed for every face shape, the SmartGoggles provide effective and soothing relief to help you relax, reduce stress, ease tension headaches, relieve eye strain, and improve your sleep. With a therapeutic blend of compression massage, heat, and vibration targeting your forehead, brows, and temples, SmartGoggles offer relief in just 15 minutes or less. The innovative SmartRelax treatment uses a proprietary biometric sensor to create personalized vibration patterns based on your heart rate, promoting relaxation and helping to lower your heart rate. The all-new blackout design blocks all light, creating the perfect environment for deep relaxation. The improved adjustable fit gently cushions any face shape without added pressure on the eyes, ensuring unparalleled comfort. Incorporate the SmartGoggles into your bedtime routine and experience scientifically proven benefits: reduced stress, enhanced relaxation, deeper sleep, and improved overall sleep quality, validated by SleepScore Labs. Better days start with better nights, and the SmartGoggles is here to help you achieve both.
Customer Rating
3
Nice, but limited in effectiveness
on October 7, 2024
Posted by: CraigB
Great
Integrated heart rate tracking
Blocks out most of the light
Includes carrying pouch
USB-C Charging
Basic functionality works without phone
Heating, massage, and vibration options
App includes matching ambience sounds
Didn’t hold excessive heat
Integrated heart rate tracking
Blocks out most of the light
Includes carrying pouch
USB-C Charging
Basic functionality works without phone
Heating, massage, and vibration options
App includes matching ambience sounds
Didn’t hold excessive heat
Not So Great
Somewhat bulky
Padding doesn’t protect eyes well
Finicky to get to fit comfortably
Massage mode too abrupt
Massage of temples is too hard and not adjustable
Headache mode puts pressure on temples
Head strap is a bit tight for larger heads
No way to tell battery charge without app
Somewhat bulky
Padding doesn’t protect eyes well
Finicky to get to fit comfortably
Massage mode too abrupt
Massage of temples is too hard and not adjustable
Headache mode puts pressure on temples
Head strap is a bit tight for larger heads
No way to tell battery charge without app
Out of the box the Therabody Smart Goggles 2 looks like a combination of a sleep mask and a VR headset. They have a fair bit of weight to them but considering you should be laying down to use them it shouldn’t be much of an issue. The head strap is made of a thick but breathable material. On the top of the goggles are buttons for heat, vibration, and power. Included in the box is a carrying pouch and USB-C charging cable. There is no power brick.
Setup 9/10
If you aren’t interested in the app features, you can use them straight out of the box. All controls are available via the buttons on top and the beeps are different for each mode. There are also status lights that show you the active mode. Without the app you will miss out on some extra features that make them more worthwhile. Pairing is as simple as clicking to add a new device in the Therabody app, choosing Smart Goggles 2, and following the instructions on screen.
If you aren’t interested in the app features, you can use them straight out of the box. All controls are available via the buttons on top and the beeps are different for each mode. There are also status lights that show you the active mode. Without the app you will miss out on some extra features that make them more worthwhile. Pairing is as simple as clicking to add a new device in the Therabody app, choosing Smart Goggles 2, and following the instructions on screen.
App Options 6/10
With the app set up you can choose based on what you like to with options for Focus, Relaxation, Sleep Preparation, Tension Relief, and Travel Relief. You can also choose on the genre of music you would like and the Time. The longest time currently is 25 minutes. The music is paired to match the routine helping to boost the effectiveness. There are some pleasant routines but the most effective seem to be Sleep Preparation and Relaxation. You can heart your favorite routines to quickly find them later. There are a good number of routines to start but it would be nice to see Therabody add more music options and longer durations. The Goggles do ask for access to your Apple Health suggesting they will save your sessions but looking back into the health app nothing was showing. It might be nice to sync this with Apple’s mindfulness time to track.
With the app set up you can choose based on what you like to with options for Focus, Relaxation, Sleep Preparation, Tension Relief, and Travel Relief. You can also choose on the genre of music you would like and the Time. The longest time currently is 25 minutes. The music is paired to match the routine helping to boost the effectiveness. There are some pleasant routines but the most effective seem to be Sleep Preparation and Relaxation. You can heart your favorite routines to quickly find them later. There are a good number of routines to start but it would be nice to see Therabody add more music options and longer durations. The Goggles do ask for access to your Apple Health suggesting they will save your sessions but looking back into the health app nothing was showing. It might be nice to sync this with Apple’s mindfulness time to track.
Comfort and Fitment 6/10
Fitment is a bit awkward. The instructions say to put the strap above your ears, but if you do that then the bottom of the goggles dig into the bridge of your nose and can interfere with breathing through your nose. You can move them higher up but then they dig into the bottom of your eye socket. The best fitment to cover your eyes is with the strap straight back, but then the strap presses your ears down. It also tends to touch your earbuds if you are wearing them causing your earbuds to buzz if there is vibration. If you play around enough you can find a sweet spot with the strap off your ears and the goggles fitting comfortably over your eyes, but it doesn’t take much to bump it off the sweet spot. If you can get them in the sweet spot, they block out nearly all light. If you have a larger head, you may find the strap doesn’t get quite loose enough as the adjustment range is limited. The strap will stretch but overall, it will fit tighter to your head. The padding around the eyes is decent but not very thick. The material feels like it would hold in a lot of heat but so far no one has had issues with overheating, unless maybe they had the heating function on max.
Fitment is a bit awkward. The instructions say to put the strap above your ears, but if you do that then the bottom of the goggles dig into the bridge of your nose and can interfere with breathing through your nose. You can move them higher up but then they dig into the bottom of your eye socket. The best fitment to cover your eyes is with the strap straight back, but then the strap presses your ears down. It also tends to touch your earbuds if you are wearing them causing your earbuds to buzz if there is vibration. If you play around enough you can find a sweet spot with the strap off your ears and the goggles fitting comfortably over your eyes, but it doesn’t take much to bump it off the sweet spot. If you can get them in the sweet spot, they block out nearly all light. If you have a larger head, you may find the strap doesn’t get quite loose enough as the adjustment range is limited. The strap will stretch but overall, it will fit tighter to your head. The padding around the eyes is decent but not very thick. The material feels like it would hold in a lot of heat but so far no one has had issues with overheating, unless maybe they had the heating function on max.
Usage and Performance 6/10
Usage is a mixed bag. For relaxation, particularly for combining with the app for the ambient sounds or music they can be very effective when fit correctly. A 25-minute session felt as refreshing as a good nap with a heart rate drop of between 20-30bpm. The whole family enjoyed them for this purpose. For sleep preparation you do relax more, and your heart rate does drop, but at the end of the routine they beep and stop abruptly and didn’t seem to help anyone fall asleep faster even though it was nice. The option for headache relief was not useful for any of the family. The main reason is the headache relief option massages your temples by pressing in on them hard. Adding vibration as well didn’t help for the headache. The headache mode would have been better with only head and a milder massage but considering the placement of the air bladders that doesn’t seem possible.
Usage is a mixed bag. For relaxation, particularly for combining with the app for the ambient sounds or music they can be very effective when fit correctly. A 25-minute session felt as refreshing as a good nap with a heart rate drop of between 20-30bpm. The whole family enjoyed them for this purpose. For sleep preparation you do relax more, and your heart rate does drop, but at the end of the routine they beep and stop abruptly and didn’t seem to help anyone fall asleep faster even though it was nice. The option for headache relief was not useful for any of the family. The main reason is the headache relief option massages your temples by pressing in on them hard. Adding vibration as well didn’t help for the headache. The headache mode would have been better with only head and a milder massage but considering the placement of the air bladders that doesn’t seem possible.
The word massage is a bit misleading. It is really air bladders that air up and down with a small air pump. They work well to air up as the bladders air up slowly, but when they deflate, they do so very abruptly. If you can imagine it would be like someone giving you a massage and after putting pressure on a muscle, they abruptly remove their hands. It takes away from the overall experience. It would be nice if the part that deflates the bladders was adjustable and Therabody could tune them to deflate slowly. Inflating is a different issue in that they deflate hard against your temples. The entire family wasn’t fond of that massage mode. The combination of pressing hard on your temples then abruptly deflating for headaches just doesn’t feel good. In fact, one family member’s headache was worse after trying this mode. Going back to fitment, if the goggles aren’t fitting just right the front massage bladders will inflate putting pressure directly on your eyes. While uncomfortable, this one is controllable by making sure they are fitting correctly. In the end the massage option is a mixed bag. For certain routines they work good while others not so much. The good thing is you can choose the mode to your likely.
Final Thoughts
While the Smart Goggles 2 aren’t perfect, they can be good for certain purposes. If you are look at them for headache relief, you may be disappointed depending on the type of headaches you have. If you are the type who enjoys relaxing by meditating, listening to ambient music, or sensory deprivation you will likely enjoy the Smart Goggles 2 if you can look past the quirks.
While the Smart Goggles 2 aren’t perfect, they can be good for certain purposes. If you are look at them for headache relief, you may be disappointed depending on the type of headaches you have. If you are the type who enjoys relaxing by meditating, listening to ambient music, or sensory deprivation you will likely enjoy the Smart Goggles 2 if you can look past the quirks.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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CraigB's Review Comments
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
5 out of 5This is an awesome TV for the cost
By Korom
from Raleigh, 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.
Bottom line: Fantastic TV for the price.
CraigB
Texas
An LED TV is a type of LCD TV
November 29, 2013
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.
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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
5 out of 5Best fitness tracker for the money
By CraigB
from Texas
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
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
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
CraigB
Texas
Additional Findings
January 9, 2016
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.
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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.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5cant set custom temps..sensors are glitchy
By annaj
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.
CraigB
Texas
Did you try IFTTT
February 7, 2016
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.
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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
5 out of 5Solid router with good range and speed
By CraigB
from Texas
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
CraigB
Texas
Longer term observations
February 22, 2016
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.
0points
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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
5 out of 5Best fitness tracker for the money
By CraigB
from Texas
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
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
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
CraigB
Texas
Band split after serveral months
May 23, 2016
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.
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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
3 out of 5Still can't get the speaker/microphone to work.
By Murphdad013
from New 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!!!!
CraigB
Texas
It has a built in microphone
January 16, 2017
I own this unit and it has a built in microphone. I use it for Cortana regularly. Sounds like the support person got it wrong.
0points
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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
4 out of 5Good system with lots of potential
By CraigB
from Texas
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
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
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.
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.
CraigB
Texas
New developments after extended use
January 31, 2017
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.
+4points
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CraigB's Questions
CraigB has not submitted any questions.
This SanDisk Ultra Plus 16GB microSDHC memory card features a Class 10 UHS-1 speed rating to ensure quality video recording performance, while the rugged construction protects your media from damage due to temperature, X-rays, shock and water.
Will this work on a vita?
No it will not. Sony uses a proprietary memory card for the Vita. It needs to be a Vita memory card unfortunately.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas
Easily capture 4K Ultra HD video footage with your enabled smartphone, tablet or camera with this SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC memory card, which features a 64GB capacity, read speeds up to 95 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 90 MB/sec.
Will this card work in the Samsung galaxy note 4?
If you are talking about from a technical standpoint, yes. Your device can support up to a 128GB microSD. This card should be fast enough to support 4K recording. It records 4K reliably for my phone. Unfortunately, I cannot comment if there might be any unknown incompatibility issues. Even though it technically should work, sometimes one phone just doesn't work with one brand, make, and model of card that it should. That said, this card in my personal experience has been rock solid stable.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas
Easily capture 4K Ultra HD video footage with your enabled smartphone, tablet or camera with this SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC memory card, which features a 64GB capacity, read speeds up to 95 MB/sec. and write speeds up to 90 MB/sec.
Very costly
How can Best Buys ask $299, when the same card is available on Amazon for $80?
It's not a big deal in the end. I purchased one using Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee. They were shocked themselves at the difference as several employees checked the screen to compare the price. They told me that Amazon's sale price was $150 below their ACTUAL cost but they honored the Price Match Guarantee anyway and I got my rewards. If you buy one, just get them to match the price and after enough lost revenue they will go back to negotiate a better price on their end.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
CraigB
Texas