CraigB's stats
- Review count172
- Helpfulness votes2,719
- First reviewFebruary 11, 2013
- Last reviewMay 12, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
- Review comment count7
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentNovember 29, 2013
- Last review commentJanuary 31, 2017
- Featured review comments0
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- Last questionNone
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- Answer count43
- Helpfulness votes53
- First answerMarch 24, 2015
- Last answerNovember 6, 2021
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Work with your files on the road via this My Cloud Home personal storage device. Mobile, desktop and web-based apps let you access to up to 4TB of files from anywhere there's an internet connection. This My Cloud Home personal storage device plugs directly into your Wi-Fi router for convenient centralized file storage and backups.
Customer Rating
4
Nice concept that needs more options
on September 20, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Attractive design can be placed nearly anywhere
Fanless ventilation is quiet
Provides access to files anywhere
Backs up certain cloud storage and mobile devices
Provides multi user access
Fingerprint login option to control access
Offers a dual drive option for improved file safety
Setup is very easy
Remote access doesn’t require knowledge of networking
Attractive design can be placed nearly anywhere
Fanless ventilation is quiet
Provides access to files anywhere
Backs up certain cloud storage and mobile devices
Provides multi user access
Fingerprint login option to control access
Offers a dual drive option for improved file safety
Setup is very easy
Remote access doesn’t require knowledge of networking
Cons
Each user can only have one login per cloud system
No indication of progress of backups except email when complete
Can only backup photos and videos from mobile devices
Desktop program offers several applications without telling you they require a purchase
Legacy desktop program mostly just redirects to website
No matching modern desktop application
Drive letter on desktop fixed at Y
No main account for viewing and controlling all files on drive
No option to encrypt all files on drive
No pin access control option like on mobile
Very limited compared to a traditional NAS
Software is overly basic and different between desktop and mobile
Each user can only have one login per cloud system
No indication of progress of backups except email when complete
Can only backup photos and videos from mobile devices
Desktop program offers several applications without telling you they require a purchase
Legacy desktop program mostly just redirects to website
No matching modern desktop application
Drive letter on desktop fixed at Y
No main account for viewing and controlling all files on drive
No option to encrypt all files on drive
No pin access control option like on mobile
Very limited compared to a traditional NAS
Software is overly basic and different between desktop and mobile
The Western Digital My Cloud Home is the latest iteration of a series of network-attached drives. With the addition of the name Home in the latest version of the product, there is no doubt should be left what audience Western Digital is targeting. Tech products for home typically have a greater emphasis on appearance. Although style is subjective, most would likely agree the My Cloud Home has a subtle and attractive design that most people would not object to placing out in the open. It has ventilation slots on the top and bottom to allow passive cooing, meaning no annoying sound of fans running. For the size, it feels quite heavy. Judging from what is visible in the cooling slots, it appears to be due to large heatsinks. Hopefully, this should translate to a long service life.
My Cloud Home seems to be more smartphone oriented which makes the initial setup easy but rather odd. The reason is that the unit comes with a setup card that includes an activation code. The sheet instructs you to set up the drive on a computer. It works just fine using the website on a phone but the process could use some refinement. If you have a previous generation My Cloud, you cannot use the old app. It is strange and confusing that the new unit, which shares many of the same features as the previous generation, requires a new and only slightly differently named app. There are a few extra functions which can be added including Plex, an import tool from a legacy My Cloud, and a backup tool for different cloud storage options.
You can configure the mobile app to backup your camera roll but not files stored on your mobile device. Cloud backup is a handy option to put final control of your OneDrive or Google Drive documents back in your hands. With each account, you can configure one of each type of cloud storage to download and backup onto your My Cloud Home. Once configured, your files will be downloaded for backup locally so if for whatever reason you lose access to your cloud storage you will still have your files. Unfortunately, there is no status of your sync provided except an email upon completion. Files are accessible via the app on mobile with photos and videos having a dedicate section that works fast but offers little organization. If you have many photos and videos, be prepared for a lot of scrolling. For traditional computers there is a program available although it is essentially a link to the My Cloud website and a list of programs you can install. What is not apparent is that most of the applications require a purchase of a product or subscription until you install them. Unfortunately, there is no corresponding modern Windows App in the store that is battery aware and touch friendly.
The software strives to keep things simple and to that end much the complication of standard file and folder sharing is not present. If you want to have the options to share the way it is done at work, this is not the one you will want. The way the system works is once the owner registers via email, others can be invited via email to use the My Cloud Home. Each account is separate from the others giving each person their own private space. Each user has a way to share files based on email accounts but options are much more limited.
If you have read this far, you will notice that each feature comes with what could be considered a negative. The My Cloud Home attempts to be simple but the problem is each feature seams either unfinished or overly basic. Overall, it is a solid unit with good performance. In testing, it backed up 125GB from a OneDrive account in less than a day. Stability was good with no occurrences of lockups or freezes. Remote access worked without any special knowledge required greater than entering in an activation code. If you are looking for a network storage for home with advanced features, it might be best to wait and see how Western Digital updates the software or use another option. If your main need is for a hands off device to backup your important files, the My Cloud Home will happily work in the background without needing any further work.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+64points
75of 86voted this as helpful.
Surround yourself with robust audio performance in a slim package with this LG ultra-slim soundbar. Compatible with the latest LG televisions, the compact soundbar pairs seamlessly to deliver an immersive audio-visual experience. The 4K high resolution audio on this LG ultra-slim soundbar lets you hear the action in every scene.
Customer Rating
4
Big sound from a small package
on August 18, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Doesn’t distort even at max volume
Automatic on/off
Automatic input control
Built in Chromecast
Can be extended with extra speakers wirelessly
Responds to TV remote for volume controls
Sleek design
Dialog is very good even with heavy bass
Sound range is very good compared to most soundbars
Doesn’t distort even at max volume
Automatic on/off
Automatic input control
Built in Chromecast
Can be extended with extra speakers wirelessly
Responds to TV remote for volume controls
Sleek design
Dialog is very good even with heavy bass
Sound range is very good compared to most soundbars
Cons
Sound is almost completely heard from front more like 2.1
Max volume could be higher
Bass is so carefully controlled that hard hits from things like explosions are muffled
EQ settings limited to only bass and treble
Bottom speaker mounts limits use of third party mounts hanging from TV
Manual soundbar controls are on the back and potentially blocked
Midrange depends too much on subwoofer
Sound is almost completely heard from front more like 2.1
Max volume could be higher
Bass is so carefully controlled that hard hits from things like explosions are muffled
EQ settings limited to only bass and treble
Bottom speaker mounts limits use of third party mounts hanging from TV
Manual soundbar controls are on the back and potentially blocked
Midrange depends too much on subwoofer
Soundbars are becoming increasingly popular as a solution for the typically anemic sound from TV speakers for those who want better sound but don’t want a full surround system. They offer a sleek and easy to install solution that is simple and out of the way while vastly improving sound. The problem is that many soundbars create more low frequencies and allow a heavier punch for more realistic TV viewing while losing the higher or midrange frequencies that make dialog understandable. LG markets the SJ8 as 4.1 channel a high-res 4K. That’s a lot of tech speak to make it sound very sophisticated but the term 4K sound is just marketing. The question is beyond all this technical jargon if the soundbar sounds good. The short answer to this question is yes.
When you first see the box for the SJ8 you will notice the box is very large. Upon opening you will be surprised that most of the space is filled by styrofoam. That’s because the box needs to accommodate the long soundbar plus a boxy subwoofer. Don’t let the thin size of the soundbar fool you. The combination is able to put out more sound than much larger, cheaper soundbars with more dynamic range. In plain English, it just sounds better and clearer. Installation is a bit different than other soundbars though. Most others mount to the wall from the back. This one mounts from the bottom. Unfortunately, if you wanted to use one of those nice universal soundbar mounts that hangs off your TV bracket you are out of luck. For everyone else, wall mount brackets are included.
Inputs are limited to one HDMI for more modern flat screens or optical and that’s it. For most people looking for a soundbar that should be just fine. If you have a modern LG TV, you also have a wireless option which allow pairing it with your TV very cleanly. Oddly though, in the pursuit for a sleek look the buttons are on the back of the soundbar likely hard to reach or see. A nice touch in this clean appearance is a very straightforward LED text display hidden in the speaker grill showing what input you are using in plain English. That’s a welcomed change from many other sound bars which you often need to memorize a combination of lights to figure out what input you are on. As helpful as the display is, you likely won’t need it much because this sound bar is smart enough to switch inputs for you making things even simpler. In fact, when you turn on your TV the soundbar will automatically turn on for you. Just the same, when you turn it off it will turn off shortly afterwards even using the optical input. It’s a novel idea that makes things so much better. Even if you have an older TV it can take care of itself. If that isn’t simple enough the soundbar also knows the volume controls for other TVs meaning regardless of what TV you have or how it is connected you can use your original TV remote to control the volume. After using for a short time you will begin to wonder why all soundbars don’t do this.
It seems that everything about the LG SJ8 is about simplicity. This includes adjusting the sound. EQ adjustments are limited to Subwoofer and Treble. You get four modes called Cinema, Standard, Bass, and ASC. In most cases, the best mode is ASC because it automatically figures out the best settings based on what you are listening to. Often automatic modes are best avoided even with on high end stereo equipment. ASC is one of the best tested so far and allows you to set it and forget it. A common problem with soundbars is that while increasing the amount of bass in your TV viewing experiencing they often leave something out. Many times, other soundbars can achieve floor shaking bass while you can barely understand dialog. What is nice about the SJ8 is it has enough range that you can still clearly understand people speaking while still enjoying the bigger sound. The system was carefully calibrated to where even at max volume the system still outputs clean sound with no distortion. You won’t get the extremely hard hitting bass from an explosion but you also won’t hear that odd subwoofer pop or flutter from it being pushed beyond the limits. If there was anything to complain about, it would be that the system relies too heavily on the subwoofer for midrange sounds. What this means is the subwoofer needs to go in front or things sound odd. In a living room this could be ok but in a bedroom with the subwoofer sitting on the floor it will be likely blocked partially by your bed. This can lead certain dialog to have an odd placement that you know is in front of you but oddly somewhere on the floor instead of matched with the dialog up near the screen. Considering the overall sound though, most people would easily stop noticing this after a short time and just enjoy the great sound range. The other aspect that falls a little short of claims is the 4.1 sound. The sound in most cases is distinctly 2.1. You can sort of fake some sounds coming from the back in Cinema mode but overall the sound is very much right in front of you. This doesn’t really take away from the experience so much as point out that marketing doesn’t always live up to hype. A bonus though is if you really want full surround sound you can buy extra wireless speaker and pair then to the soundbar and upgrade your listening experience.
If you love listening to music, the SJ8 comes with a bonus. It has Chromecast Audio built right in. No odd, third party solutions but real Chromecast. This is great because you can easily include it as part of a whole home audio system just by purchasing Chromecast audio adapters instead of needing to buy LG speakers for your whole house. You can also pair it with other brand speakers with Chromecast built in leaving the choice completely up to you. It’s another nice touch to what overall seems to be a very thoughtfully designed system. It’s refreshing to see a company design a product more for the customer than profit and locking a customer into buying only more of their products. In fact, this openness could potentially encourage one to purchase more LG products just to reward them for giving the customer the choice.
Only a few small flaws keep this unit the SJ8 from getting 5 stars. If possible, it would be rated 4.5. If you are in the market for upgrading your TV sound and want a sleek solution that has good dynamic range, dialog that is actually understandable, a small footprint, simple operation, and operates seamlessly with little fuss the LG SJ8 is a great solution.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Hear everything happening in the game with this Logitech gaming headset. Low distortion and an acoustic port behind the driver combine to produce precise, realistic sound, and downloadable software lets you customize audio for each game. Play in comfort with the ultra-soft microfiber ear pads of this Logitech gaming headset.
Customer Rating
4
Versatile and Affordable
on August 16, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Connections for almost any type of device
Comfortable over the ear fit
Bluetooth DAC for 7.1 surround on PC games
Positional sound in PC games can even place sounds behind
Overall balanced sound
Sound still loud even when wired to smartphone
Breathable fabric reduces sweating during long sessions
Tension on head strong enough without being too tight
Extra earpiece pads are softer
Earpiece pads are washable
Includes carrying bag
Connections for almost any type of device
Comfortable over the ear fit
Bluetooth DAC for 7.1 surround on PC games
Positional sound in PC games can even place sounds behind
Overall balanced sound
Sound still loud even when wired to smartphone
Breathable fabric reduces sweating during long sessions
Tension on head strong enough without being too tight
Extra earpiece pads are softer
Earpiece pads are washable
Includes carrying bag
Cons
Limited instructions
Folding doesn’t reduce bulk
Separate bag for adapters doesn’t have a place in the main bag
Fabric on installed earpiece pads could be smoother for longer listening
Changing pads could be easier
Cables should have integrated straps to allow better organization
Default sound without EQ adjustment makes headphones sound weak
Limited instructions
Folding doesn’t reduce bulk
Separate bag for adapters doesn’t have a place in the main bag
Fabric on installed earpiece pads could be smoother for longer listening
Changing pads could be easier
Cables should have integrated straps to allow better organization
Default sound without EQ adjustment makes headphones sound weak
Many people purchase headphones for separate uses. Not because they want separate headphones but rather headphones did not exist with connections to multiple devices. For most people, it would be great to have one set of headphones that is good enough for nearly any use.
The Logitech G433 headphones attempt to the type of headphones that are affordable and adaptable so that you don’t have to spend a fortune on multiple headsets. The primary focus is on gaming but with all the connectors they easily suit other scenarios. Included in the box you will find 2 main cables. Both have the smaller stereo headset jacks which fit most smartphones, stereos, tablets, game consoles, and PCs. One cable has built in volume controls and a mic mute button best suited for gaming while the other includes a push to talk mic that uses the volume controls on the device, such as tablets and smartphones. For best sound on a PC there is an included USB DAC which allows 7.1 surround sound allow positional audio within games. If you can’t use the USB adapter and want sound to your PC and you have a separate jack for input, there is an adapter that splits input and output to separate jacks so you connect to your PC’s headphone and mic jacks using the same cable. A boom microphone is also included that plugs directly into the left earpiece for in game communications. The boom microphone is listed as having a pop filter. Although not tested, any improvements to microphones for in game are a welcomed edition. The earpieces and headband are listed as microfiber. Although comfortable, if you are expecting the installed earpads to be soft you will be disappointed. The material is soft enough to be useable for long periods but is has a rough texture. This at first might seem to be a bad thing but it does seem to solve one nagging issue that can happen with extended use of headphones, particularly in gaming, and that is sweat. The material makes up for some of this roughness by allowing them to breath preventing the annoying sweat buildup that seems to happen on some. Thankfully, if you can’t handle the texture there are softer earpads included in the box. The whole package comes with two carrying bags. One for the headphones and one for the adapters. They do the job well but a more foldable design for the headphones in the future would be appreciated. Strangely, there is no storage location for the accessories bag inside the main bag. You are left with the choice of either jamming it in with the headphones or carrying it separately. One bag with accessory pockets or at least a secondary pouch for the accessory bag would make carrying easier. Another small tweak that could go a long way would be integrated cable straps to allow neatly bundling cables to put in the bag when done.
If the versatility has you interested, you might find sound quality sells the whole package. Being realistic, these headphones are not top end audiophile quality but they are well balanced for most uses with an overall good range. The primary focus is on gaming and when used with the included USB DAC the 7.1 surround sound does quite well. Sounds were easily recognized as coming from a certain direction. If someone was coming up from behind you, you would hear the sound behind you as you would expect. This makes games more immersive and hair raising when you didn’t expect anything to be behind you. Equalizer adjustments are dependent on the connected device but they work well for watching movies, listening to games, audiobooks, and of course gaming. Surprisingly, for such large headphones they can achieve high volume even when driven by the amplifier built into a smartphone. The overall audio range is good enough to allow crisp dialog while including enough bass to give some impact when needed. Most people will likely want to make at least some basic EQ adjustments as the default audio just doesn’t do the headphone justice. If you are a person who likes headphones with heavy bass these are not for you. For others who would want to have a single pair of headphones that can adapt to nearly any situation with good sound quality and comfortable extended listening for an affordable price, the Logitech G433 headphones just might be the perfect fit.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+12points
12of 12voted this as helpful.
Enjoy your morning java with this Ninja coffee brewer. Its specialized extraction technology maximizes the flavor of your hot or iced brew, and its Auto-iQ One-Touch Intelligence feature lets you choose the size of your drinking vessel so it delivers the exact amount of water. This Ninja coffee brewer has a removable reservoir for easy refilling.
Customer Rating
5
I found my love for coffee again
on July 22, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Provides full bodied flavor
Offers multiple options from Standard, to Rich, to Iced
Iced coffee option makes sure it’s not watered down
Offers cup, thermos, half carafe, and full carafe options
Burner keeps coffee warm without burning
Includes scoop with recommendations for sizes
Twist on/off water tank feels more secure
Removal water tank eases refilling
Lever allows brew to stop for pouring
Provides full bodied flavor
Offers multiple options from Standard, to Rich, to Iced
Iced coffee option makes sure it’s not watered down
Offers cup, thermos, half carafe, and full carafe options
Burner keeps coffee warm without burning
Includes scoop with recommendations for sizes
Twist on/off water tank feels more secure
Removal water tank eases refilling
Lever allows brew to stop for pouring
Cons
Coffee can be a bit cool after a while on the warmer
Scoop doesn’t have a place to set or hang
The filter area always drips on the carafe when pulling open
Icon for full carafe looks almost half full leading to initial confusion
Coffee can be a bit cool after a while on the warmer
Scoop doesn’t have a place to set or hang
The filter area always drips on the carafe when pulling open
Icon for full carafe looks almost half full leading to initial confusion
Over the past few years the trend has been towards one serving, convenient pod or cup style coffee makers. Cost and arguably flavor was sacrificed in favor of convenience. The Ninja Coffee Brewer doesn’t follow these trends and focused on the taste of the coffee first and it looks like they have succeeded.
At first glance, the appearance of the Ninja Coffee Brewer can be a little odd compared to other coffeemakers. It is distinctly the style of Ninja products. After unboxing and putting in place the look seems to be much better and overall seems to take up less space. In fact, it took up nearly half the space of the previous pod style brewer. A scoop is included with two sizes and recommended scoops for each cup size. A place to hang the spoon would have been a nice final touch. The carafe carries the same unique design which Ninja describes is intended to keep as much coffee near the warmer as possible to keep coffee warm without burning. This task is achieved for the most part but if left long enough the coffee will get cool instead of burning and the flavor will still change. Thankfully the coffee is not ruined during this process like traditional pots. If you expect to not have another cup for more than an hour, it would be best to make a single cup or half carafe to get the best flavor.
Regarding the flavor, it seems Ninja has been able to live up to their better tasting coffee. The way it brews coffee is a little slower since it must first soak the grounds and let them sit but the slightly longer wait is worth it. In blind taste testing, the Ninja Coffee Brewer won out over pod style coffeemakers each time. The flavor was as strong or as weak as the way it was made but it always had more flavor than pod style brewers while also tasting smoother. In a group of avid coffee lovers, every one of them found themselves drinking more coffee and enjoying it more. For those who love coffee extremely dark, this coffeemaker seems capable of accommodating. If you put extra grounds and put it on rich brew it can make a cup so rich and smooth that choice coffee shops don’t seem to even compete on standard drip coffee. Overall it seems capable of pleasing both the dark and light coffee fans equally. There is a small sacrifice in convenience but a huge gain in flavor and customization of brew. If you like iced coffee this coffee pot has you covered. There is an iced coffee setting that, when used, adjusts the brewing cycle to reduce how much water is used while retaining flavor. You fill your cup full of ice, choose iced coffee, and once done the ice is almost completed melted but you don’t have watered down coffee. Add some chocolate syrup, half and half, and liquid sugar and you have a highly addictive iced coffee to help you cool down after working outside. The bonus is you spend far less than buying it at a chain coffee shop while having all the flavor, unlike the old way of pouring regular hot coffee over ice.
Convenience is the main area where the Ninja Coffee Brewer falls short but only slightly. There is of course the normal cleanup of the filter but the good thing is the filter is reusable. No trips to the store to get more filters right when you want a cup. The water reservoir conveniently twists off allow you to secure attach and remove for easy refilling. The size of the reservoir matches a full pot so there is no worry about overfilling the carafe. It’s a small but thoughtful touch. A small oddity is that the reservoir has a built in handle which held blocks the markings for pot size. If the markings were moved 90 degrees in either direction it would be more intuitive. The twist method of removing and installing the reservoir means that you know exactly if it is fully secured and working. Some other traditional coffee pot water reservoir attachment systems have a less secure mount and, if set on a timer, could lead to a pot not being brewed because the water could not come out. The Ninja had a distinct click feeling as it is secured letting you know it is installed correctly. A small negative in the convenience factor, besides cleaning, is that the filter basket leaks when moved even well after the brew is complete. The carafe can be filled and the brewer off and yet the moment you pull out the pot a few drips come out. If you pull out the filter basket, coffee will drip over the handle of the pot and in front of the coffee pot. It can be an inconvenience but thankfully there is an easy workaround. If you turn the switch on the bottom of the filter basket to closed you don’t get any drips.
Pod/cup style brewers may be what most people see today but given a chance, the Ninja Coffee Brewer would likely convert many. Coffee drinking has turned from more of a daily habit into an enjoyable experience. Our entire family has doubled the amount of coffee they drink while saving money.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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17of 18voted this as helpful.
Experience clear, crisp sound with these JBL Everest wireless headphones. Their Pro Audio Sound technology provides the sound quality you'd expect in a concert hall or studio, while the echo-canceling microphone lets you make clear, hands-free calls. Enjoy your music wirelessly with the Bluetooth feature on these JBL Everest wireless headphones.
Customer Rating
3
Good, not outstanding
on July 18, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
20-hour battery life
Foldable design
Included carrying case
Sleek design
Excessive highs without EQ adjustment
Sturdy feel
Power button slider makes use easy and distinct
Wired and wireless design
Carrying case included
20-hour battery life
Foldable design
Included carrying case
Sleek design
Excessive highs without EQ adjustment
Sturdy feel
Power button slider makes use easy and distinct
Wired and wireless design
Carrying case included
Cons
Pressure on ears for larger heads can cause fatigue
Lows are weak without EQ adjustment
Even with adjustment classic songs sound tinny because bass is missing
Volume button awkward
Right and left speaker text can be easy to miss for first time users
Battery cannot be used to boost volume when plugged into phone
Volume low when using hardwired connection to cellphone
Pressure on ears for larger heads can cause fatigue
Lows are weak without EQ adjustment
Even with adjustment classic songs sound tinny because bass is missing
Volume button awkward
Right and left speaker text can be easy to miss for first time users
Battery cannot be used to boost volume when plugged into phone
Volume low when using hardwired connection to cellphone
Most hear about brands who market their on ear, bass heavy headphones claiming they are the best around. JBL looks to be going after someone more interested in overall clarity versus heavy hitting bass.
The Everest 310 out of the box includes a carrying case, stereo cable, and charging case. The design folds to allow a nice, flat case that includes a placed to store the stereo cable and charging cable. The headband is a single, sleek band providing a simple and clean look. Just be prepared for a slightly tight feel if you have a larger head. For first time users, it might be difficult to know the left from right since the letters R and L are inside the earcups and appear to be a styling design. After the initial confusion, the letters are hard to miss and help quickly the left from right side. The power button is a slider making recognition simple and easy. Unfortunately, the volume up, play, and volume down are all one massive button with a slight bump for play. This often leads to pausing a track instead of changing volume as you try to feel around and take a best guess which button you have you finger on. Two other buttons on the front include a Bluetooth button and sharing button. The sharing button requires another set of compatible JBL headphones and you can wirelessly share what you are listening to.
If you are the type of person who likes heavy, punchy bass these headphones are not the ones you want. Sound attempts to lean towards more balanced. For classic songs or 90’s rock the Everest 310s seem to remove any semblance of bass leaving a vocal heavy, almost metallic sound. Strangely, sounds for drum cymbals sound clear but seem to be missing that makes them more impactful. It’s difficult to describe but on some other high-end headphones the sound has more depth. Although 90’s rock doesn’t have the punch of many modern genres, it does have bass. If you want to bring back the bass you are going to need an EQ. The drivers are most certainly capable of bass. What they don’t seem to be capable of is the more modern, hard hitting bass. If you listen to something like dubstep you can get the bass, but be prepared for it to feel softer than you expect and remove some of the intended impact of the song. If you are using Bluetooth, your options may be limited as not all smartphones offer an EQ over Bluetooth. The good part is you can use them hardwired to work around the issue as more smartphones offer EQ control via stereo cable. This leads to a different shortcoming. The drivers of the headphones are so large that using them hardwired leads to a dramatic reduction in volume. Smartphones just don’t provide much power to the headphone jack and as soon as you plug the Everest 310s in you will find you cannot use the battery to boost power. All power for the drivers comes straight from the cable. Unless your smartphone provides extra power via the headphone jack, hardwired listening might be best left to plugging into an amplifier.
Overall, the JBL Everest 310 headphones are a decent offering if not a standout one. If either don’t care about heavy hitting bass or like a software bass sound, after EQ adjustment, they could serve you well. If prefer very distinct highs with loud vocals they have you covered.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-3points
4of 11voted this as helpful.
Kick your listening experience up to a whole new level with wireless JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds. The 10-hour battery life lets you enjoy your music all day, and crystal clear radical sound creates a smooth, precise and memorable listening experience. Get the most out of your music, phone calls and audio books with JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds.
Customer Rating
5
Balanced sound with long battery life
on July 10, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Comfortable after finding good fit
Memory wire allows it to be bent to conform
Balanced sound quality with good bass but not excessive
Long battery life
Nice fade out and fade in when changing tracks
Voice feedback that states remaining battery life
Distinct buttons make control easy
Lightweight
Splash proof and washable if done gently
Plenty of ear canal inserts including one unique
Compact for capability
Includes carrying case
Comfortable after finding good fit
Memory wire allows it to be bent to conform
Balanced sound quality with good bass but not excessive
Long battery life
Nice fade out and fade in when changing tracks
Voice feedback that states remaining battery life
Distinct buttons make control easy
Lightweight
Splash proof and washable if done gently
Plenty of ear canal inserts including one unique
Compact for capability
Includes carrying case
Cons
Antennae is weak, particularly cross body
Wire snags neck when hanging down
Antennae is significantly worse when tied up off neck
Charging port cover difficult to open
Callers report sounding distant like on speakerphone
Best reception quality requires phone to be on right side
Antennae is weak, particularly cross body
Wire snags neck when hanging down
Antennae is significantly worse when tied up off neck
Charging port cover difficult to open
Callers report sounding distant like on speakerphone
Best reception quality requires phone to be on right side
Over the ear headphones are great for active people if you can accept the weaknesses that come with the design. The JLabs Epic 2 headphones claim to have solved some of the largest weaknesses. For such compact headphones, the battery life is claimed to be 12 hours and a special antennae design is used to create skip-free sound.
In testing, the battery life is likely very close to the 12 hours. In fact, they lasted several days through several workouts where tracking the overall battery life seemed pointless. It is doubtful anyone could tolerate in ear headphones for 12 hours and charging is reasonably quick. Even if the claimed life of 12 hours isn’t true, it is unlikely anyone will run out of battery. Part of the reason is when the headphones are turned on, after announcing they are connected to your phone, the next thing they do is state the battery life. The battery life is announced as full or medium so you don’t get a percentage but it gives you a good idea if they will last through the task.
The claim of radical skip-free sound is where at least in part the promise fails. The wire that goings between the headphones and serves as the antenna can be tied up to keep it off your neck. In the instructions, it warns that signal quality will degrade and they mean it. If you want to maintain skip free audio, use an armband holder for your phone. If you keep the antenna wire hanging down you will usually have skip free sound. Where the promise starts to fail even the antenna fully extended is if you keep the phone in your left pocket and bend over or kneel. Each time you kneel and your body starts to create more signal resistance, the sound will drop in and out. Moving the phone to the right pocket improves the quality but there are still some skips. This leaves you with a choice of either wear the phone in an armband holder or deal with the antenna on your neck. If you do a lot of side to side movements with your head and work up a sweat you will likely want to use the armband as the antenna wire on the headphones sticks to sweating skin unusually well. Although this issue is not unique to over the ear headphones it is far more challenging to solve. With some adjustments, you can achieve that skip free sound everyone wants but few products seem to provide.
Over the ear headphones usually do a great job of staying out of the way but can also be much less comfortable. With some work, the Epic 2 earbuds can be very comfortable. Many tips are included from large to small. A gray set is included for people with shorter ear canals. Some tips unique to JLabs are a 3-rib design. They provide the similar benefits to the traditional design but seemed to have a little more holding power and blocked more external sound while not affecting comfort. Getting the headphones to be comfortable requires some work but is achievable. A feature that might be easily overlooked is the over the ear portion. It uses memory wire to allow it to bend and conform it to your ear. This greatly helps improve comfort and stability. To get the wire to conform requires a fair bit more of an effort and can lead one to think it isn’t working at first. The wire must be bend slightly beyond the desired position to get it to stay where intended. After becoming accustomed to this method, getting a custom fit is easy and the earbuds will stay put.
Tip: Insert the earbuds in with the memory wire on top and rotate them around your ear and into the ear canal. This provides a better fit without the need to press them too far in.
The Epic 2 earbuds claim superior sound quality due to an oversized driver for the class of headphones. For most people, this claim holds true. If you have them fitted correctly, the sound is balanced with a good range from the lows through to the highs. The bass is good without overpowering as it does on some brands. A nice sound is when you change tracks the sound fades and the next one fades in. The clarity might not be as great as audiophile headphones but considering sound is streamed over Bluetooth 4.0, it is unlikely you will hear better particularly in this price point. It will be interesting to see if the next generation includes Bluetooth 5.0 for improved sound. This sound quality doesn’t translate to great call quality. With the microphone behind the ear, expect callers to comment that it sounds like you are on speakerphone and can hear background noise. Most people looking for over the ear headphones are wanting them for active use so extended phone calls during a workout seem highly unlikely. For other times, the microphone does a passible job.
The design for active people includes one last feature in a sweatproof and splashproof design. Considering where they will be worn, the sweatproof design is a plus as some other brands start to distort at the worst possible time at the peak of a workout. Although the design doesn’t allow sweat in much to be begin with, the sweat had no effect on sound quality. Sweat also had minimal effect on the security of the earbuds during movement. A much-appreciated feature is the splashproof design. It isn’t splashproof to allow swimming. The splashproof means after a sweaty workout, you can quickly run them under the faucet to clean them so they are clean and sweat free for the next workout.
Overall, particularly considering the price point, the JLab Epic 2 headphones are a solid offering for an active lifestyle with mainly minor improvements needed for the next generation.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Control everything from lighting to your refrigerator in your home with this all in one Samsung Mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub. Not only does it deliver an optimized Wi-Fi signal to every corner of your home, it also works as a SmartThings Hub, connecting compatible cameras, lights, voice assistants, and more to create your smart home. Now you can manage your Wi-Fi and all your smart devices from the palm of your hand with this Samsung Mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub.
Customer Rating
3
Great concept in need of firmware upgrade
on June 30, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Mesh Wi-Fi gets signal everywhere
Compact size with clean look
Bridge ethernet port
Integrated SmartThings Hub
Can operate as only a mesh Wi-Fi using bridge mode
Built in thermal shutdown protection
Network traffic graph shows real time internet usage
Allows UPnP which some game consoles require
Mesh Wi-Fi gets signal everywhere
Compact size with clean look
Bridge ethernet port
Integrated SmartThings Hub
Can operate as only a mesh Wi-Fi using bridge mode
Built in thermal shutdown protection
Network traffic graph shows real time internet usage
Allows UPnP which some game consoles require
Cons
Slow! Max speed tops out at under 150Mpbs at ANY node
No mention of dedicated wireless backhaul. Tested speed is too slow to verify
No mention of ethernet backhaul capabilities
No migration utility for SmartThings so everything must be rebuilt
No way to manage on a computer
Smartphone administration app sometimes fails to connect
Extremely basic QoS, high priority or regular for devices
Devices with static IP set on device cannot be managed at all
Port forward is impossible if IP is statically assigned at device
LAN network is fixed at 192.168.1.x leading to possible conflicts
Some devices never show up in the device list
Most devices show up at MAC address instead of device name
No wall or ceiling mount option
Units get hot
No content filtering options
Nonexistent instructions
Node connection strength tester does nothing more than show if nodes connect
Changing DNS causes management to break until power cycling units
MTU not configurable even though some ISPs require
SmartThings setup fails if you already have an old SmartThings app installed
Enabled SmartThings corrupts your original SmartThings hub if you had one
Instructions for Z-Wave Exclusion or repairing are non-existent if your old hub is corrupted
SmartThings is not fully integrated. Advanced features require a separate app
Editing SmartThings in the Connect app deletes SmartApps in the SmartThings App.
No WPS, which is the only way some Blueray players connect
Slow! Max speed tops out at under 150Mpbs at ANY node
No mention of dedicated wireless backhaul. Tested speed is too slow to verify
No mention of ethernet backhaul capabilities
No migration utility for SmartThings so everything must be rebuilt
No way to manage on a computer
Smartphone administration app sometimes fails to connect
Extremely basic QoS, high priority or regular for devices
Devices with static IP set on device cannot be managed at all
Port forward is impossible if IP is statically assigned at device
LAN network is fixed at 192.168.1.x leading to possible conflicts
Some devices never show up in the device list
Most devices show up at MAC address instead of device name
No wall or ceiling mount option
Units get hot
No content filtering options
Nonexistent instructions
Node connection strength tester does nothing more than show if nodes connect
Changing DNS causes management to break until power cycling units
MTU not configurable even though some ISPs require
SmartThings setup fails if you already have an old SmartThings app installed
Enabled SmartThings corrupts your original SmartThings hub if you had one
Instructions for Z-Wave Exclusion or repairing are non-existent if your old hub is corrupted
SmartThings is not fully integrated. Advanced features require a separate app
Editing SmartThings in the Connect app deletes SmartApps in the SmartThings App.
No WPS, which is the only way some Blueray players connect
The Samsung Connect Home is a new mesh WiFi offering from a growing number of contenders but with one unique feature. A SmartThings hub is integrated in. The intention is to simplify your smart home setup, improve coverage, and take a lot of the complexity out of the process. For someone new to mesh WiFi or SmartThings this goal is largely achieved. You just plug in the main unit, open the app and pair, and almost all configuration is already done. Turning on SmartThings is as easy as choosing yes and pairing items. This all sounds great but it comes with a problem. People who know what SmartThings does or what the benefit of a mesh WiFi is want more. They appreciate simplicity but want at least some control and this becomes a challenge.
To start, the units are subtle enough in design that leaving one out the open is unlikely to garner any unwanted attention. This is good because a good mesh WiFi is about proper placement, which can mean placing a unit in plain sight. The downside is the units are neither wall or ceiling mountable making options limited. One feature some mesh systems have that is missing from Connect Home is a signal meter either in the app or on the unit. There is a portion during setup where it can check signal strength but it doesn’t provide any useful information to say that the unit should be placed closer for better speed. This leaves you to guess if you have a good spot. If you have an internet speed of less than 130Mbps this system should serve you just fine. The problem is that it is rated at 866Mbps. Even testing with multiple devices straight from the WiFi on the unit serving as the router within two feet of the unit the speed was the same. Better units have a dedicated channel between them called backhaul so that they can communicate without losing speed each time your signal jumps from one to the next. Unfortunately, neither documentation nor testing could determine if these units processed such a feature as the speed never reacesh its full potential regardless of location. Although it cannot be confirmed, this speed issue seems as though it is a software issue as the hardware specs show it should do much better.
Software is where these units really feel as though there is a need for growth. If you want to change QoS rules on a device, it must be connected via WiFi. Hardwired devices do not show up in the interface to set QoS. If you want to add a port forward, again the device must be connected via WiFi as hardwired devices do not show up to set any port forwards. Want to set a device, such a printer, with a static IP? You can’t set it beforehand. The device must show up in the interface first, which means WiFi only, and then you can change its address. Manually set it up in the printer and it might work but the system won’t show it at all. Do you have a NAS that you host all your music or videos on for access away from home? This currently cannot do this as pretty much any NAS will complain if you don’t manually set it static and of course, unless you it has integrated WiFi, you can’t create a port forward to it. Some ISPs have their modem set up with a fixed 192.168.1.x network and a select few refused to change those settings. Plugging in this system will cause your entire internet to stop working because the internal network is fixed at 192.168.1.x and cannot be changed. This seems to go against the attempt at simplicity. If the attempt was simplicity, it could detect your ISPs settings and verify there isn’t a conflict. Even better is if there was a step that recommended the settings to prevent a conflict but also allow you to adjust them if the need arose. If you have worked with some of the more unique mesh offerings you will know they come with robust family controls, filtering, and reporting. These units currently offer nothing more than a schedule to turn off devices that show up in the internet. Family controls are not a strong point.
The intriguing part of this package is having SmartThings built right in. No need to have a separate box, separate configuration, or even separate purchase. This is a great concept. For those who want to have the most basic smart home you can just pair devices and only use the Samsung Connect app. You can get the ability to turn things on and off and even set up some rules. The problem, at least at the time of this review, is the Connect app severely limits the number of compatible devices. Only a handful of SmartThings compatible devices work within the Connect app. This is where the separate SmartThings app comes to the rescue. If you haven’t used SmartThings before, it will require you to use or create a Samsung account. Beyond that, it becomes a fully functional SmartThings hub.
The problem comes up if you already had a hub. To start, there is no migration or backup tool. You must pair and rebuild everything from scratch. Before turning on the hub functionality, be sure to unpair your devices from your old hub as the moment you turn on the new one it gets confused if you used the same email address an unlinks your old hub. This will lead you to research how to use Z-Wave Exclusion mode and how to unpair devices and documentation is sketchy and circular in nature. Have a wall switch stuck paired to your old hub? There is a strong chance the switch instructions will instruct you to check your hub for help on resetting and the hub will suggest you check the switch instructions. These poor instructions are from very large name brands as well, not just some small outfit venturing into smart devices. If you also have a legacy SmartThings account, be sure to choose create new account. If your Samsung account is already on your phone it will automatically recognize it and allow you to select it. This is a known glitch in the setup. If you want to use Smartapps in the SmartThings app, be sure to steer clear of trying rules in the Samsung Connect as the Connect app will delete any Smartapps you install. It’s best to choose to administer with only one or other. The SmartThings app by far will be the most full featured option offering more functionality and device compatibility.
So, one could ask the question what is good about this product? Except for the units being a little warmer than normal, the hardware is solid. Reaching out to Samsung support, which is listed on their website, were some excellent and quickly available support staff on the SmartThings team. Horrible phone menus aside, wait time was short and the staff were very knowledgeable. They also confirmed, with limited detail, that the software on the devices is mainly launch software and plans are to further expand and improve functionality. With the software improvements and the speed issue solved this could be a very competitive offering. Based the current software/firmware, it is rated at 2.5 stars. If the software is upgraded as indicated, the rating could easily change to a 4 to 4.5. Samsung has been known to do this in the past and every critique of the devices was software related, again assuming the speed issue is a software issue. If you consider a SmartThings Hub, at the time of writing, goes for $99 this could be a great deal. For anyone with internet above 120Mpbs or those wanting advanced networking features patience is the best option. Give Samsung time to add the additional features and see if they fix the speed issue before you make your final decision. If you have internet speeds below 120Mbps, would love to have WiFi everywhere in your house, as well as have SmartThings without the extra cost of a hub this could be a great buy even now.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your floors spotless with this Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum. Its sensors and mapping system automatically adapt to the pattern of floors in the home and effectively avoid obstacles. This Alexa-compatible Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum provides maximum cleaning coverage including edges and corners thanks to its sophisticated edge-cleaning technology.
Customer Rating
4
A vacuum that gets smarter with automatic updates
on June 14, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Short enough to get under most furniture
Edge cleaner
Very quiet on normal mode
Sound is not unpleasant even on max
Large easy to clean and washable dust bin
Washable/reusable filter
Brushes don’t tangle easily
Room mapping means more consistent vacuuming
Integrates with Smartthings
Integrates with Alexa
Capable of vacuuming higher shag carpets than most
Automatic recharging
WiFi connectivity for remote status and control
WiFi connectivity allows for automatic software upgrades and improved intellegence
Automatically recharges and continues
Mapping camera works in the dark
Doesn’t require any remote sensors
Can be set to automatically clean when you are away via SmartThings
Doesn’t easily get tangled
Doesn’t randomly bump into furniture to determine when to stop
Vacuums around items left on floor instead of trying to run over them
Short enough to get under most furniture
Edge cleaner
Very quiet on normal mode
Sound is not unpleasant even on max
Large easy to clean and washable dust bin
Washable/reusable filter
Brushes don’t tangle easily
Room mapping means more consistent vacuuming
Integrates with Smartthings
Integrates with Alexa
Capable of vacuuming higher shag carpets than most
Automatic recharging
WiFi connectivity for remote status and control
WiFi connectivity allows for automatic software upgrades and improved intellegence
Automatically recharges and continues
Mapping camera works in the dark
Doesn’t require any remote sensors
Can be set to automatically clean when you are away via SmartThings
Doesn’t easily get tangled
Doesn’t randomly bump into furniture to determine when to stop
Vacuums around items left on floor instead of trying to run over them
Cons
Low slope on front often means transitions between surfaces are awkward
Sometimes misses spots of a room or entire rooms
No sensor to report full dust bin
No dirt sensor to improve cleanup of heavier spots
Tiny secondary wheels can build up hair and are hard to clean
Cleaning brush has a bearing which can get clogged with hair and is hard to clean
Instructions are not comprehensive and are partly in book and partly online
Instructions for connecting to SmartThings at the time of review are incorrect
Limited scheduling at time of review. No unique daily options or Normal/High suction programming
Recommends an open 6-foot area for base station
Not recommended to have base station under furniture for discreet storage
Rams into black furniture
Sometimes tries to edge clean corners diagonally
Sometimes randomly loses app connection for short periods
Short run time before needing recharge
Sometimes acts as if it is avoiding obstacle that isn’t there in the middle of a room
Can miss half a room if the door is in the middle
No option for random vacuuming to bring up carpet fibers
No handle to pick up
Picking it up while charging during cleaning cancels the cleaning
Low slope on front often means transitions between surfaces are awkward
Sometimes misses spots of a room or entire rooms
No sensor to report full dust bin
No dirt sensor to improve cleanup of heavier spots
Tiny secondary wheels can build up hair and are hard to clean
Cleaning brush has a bearing which can get clogged with hair and is hard to clean
Instructions are not comprehensive and are partly in book and partly online
Instructions for connecting to SmartThings at the time of review are incorrect
Limited scheduling at time of review. No unique daily options or Normal/High suction programming
Recommends an open 6-foot area for base station
Not recommended to have base station under furniture for discreet storage
Rams into black furniture
Sometimes tries to edge clean corners diagonally
Sometimes randomly loses app connection for short periods
Short run time before needing recharge
Sometimes acts as if it is avoiding obstacle that isn’t there in the middle of a room
Can miss half a room if the door is in the middle
No option for random vacuuming to bring up carpet fibers
No handle to pick up
Picking it up while charging during cleaning cancels the cleaning
Robotic vacuums have been around for many years now and each year they seem to get even closer to replacing the need to manually vacuum. The Samsung Powerbot R7040 is a long way towards that goal. It doesn’t require any special remote sensors or excessive rearrangement of a room to function, although a light pickup of items on the floor wouldn’t hurt. It has a cleaning roller that, although not self-cleaning, requires little cleaning. There are no regular maintenance parts to replace as the filter is washable. The one issue with maintenance is there are some rollers that don’t come apart that hair tends to get stuck in.
The Powerbot R7040 uses multiple sensors to navigate your house and has a base station to return to when it is time to charge. Vacuuming only has the options of S pattern or spot clean spiral. There is no option, at least at the time of the review, for a random pattern to help with your carpet getting matted. Where it stands out is with the included edge cleaner. When the it detects an edge, it can extend a brush to help get more out of the crease. This really helped in getting dust at the joint of the baseboard and floor.
It offers a remote like many others as well as app connectivity as more do but it also includes SmartThings and Alexa integration. Unfortunately, at the time of writing this review the instructions for connecting to SmartThings were incorrect as it instructs you to press a button on your remote which does not exist. Once this issue is corrected you should be able to leave your house and SmartThings will automatically tell the Powerbot to clean your house. Until then, you can just open the Smart Home app and say goodbye. Alexa integration instructions were not included but possible. Connecting to Alexa does not function through the app or any modern browser. In fact, the connection only worked when performed using the Alexa app website and Internet Explorer. The Samsung pairing website failed to function on other browsers tested including Edge and Chrome. This does not appear to be an isolated incident as the overall rating for the Smarthome App for Alexa is 2 stars with multiple complaints about pairing devices and browser support. Once connected to Alexa, you just tell it to turn on the Robot Vacuum and off it goes.
Strangely, when activating via Alexa the Powerbot only cleaned one room. Hopefully, with an automatic internet updates this could be corrected in a future update. In fact, some issues have already been resolved since the vacuum was first installed. Initially, the vacuum would only run for one single strip and the moment it tuned around the brushes would continue but the vacuum turned off. After leaving fully charged overnight to update, the next day the Powerbot got some smarts and could navigate and vacuum correctly. It has taken a lot of the day to day pickup out of the to-do list and is quiet enough to run while in the house. It is best to keep in mind that just like other robotic vacuums, there will be oddities of randomly missed spots and small amounts of debris sometimes missed. Typically, the next time the vacuum runs it seems to find those missed spots.
If you have black furniture or other black items you may run into some issues. Normally the Powerbot senses furniture and gently comes up and cleans near it without bumping it. In testing, it would come full speed to black furniture and ram into it. It also ran on top of a black floor scale and became stuck. This can be prevented in most cases by using the boundary marker that is unfortunately not included.
The Powerbot takes a lot of the small cleanup out of the daily routine. A standard vacuum would still be a good idea for periodic heavy cleanup. Although capable, the Powerbot doesn’t have the brush strength of suction power of a manual upright to get the deep cleaning. Even though it can automatically adjust suction power depending on surface it does not have a dirt sensor so generally expect a single pass over dirt no matter how thick. Using turbo mode can help pick up more but be prepared for it to spend more time charging than vacuuming. What it does do is allow you to extend the time between deep cleanings and enjoy an overall cleaner house day to day. This is especially helpful where small bits of dirt on a tile, laminate, or wood floor can make for an unpleased barefoot experience. It is also nice to see carpet less matted down between regular vacuuming.
Hopefully Samsung will leverage the automatic WiFi updates to further improve the intelligence of this smart vacuum in the future. If you are in the market for a relatively affordable smart vacuum and features such as SmartThings integration, low maintenance, and automatic cleaning based on what you do then this might be the one for you. Assuming Samsung continues improving the software, which they usually do, this rating could be a 4.5 stars considering the price versus features. Just be sure to give it a night or two on the charger to update before passing judgement as it seems the shipping software has some bugs but the updated software is much better.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
I would recommend this to a friend!
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60of 68voted this as helpful.
Prepare a wide variety of foods with this nonstick DeLonghi Livenza digital grill. It includes grill and griddle plates that can be switched out depending on the type of food being cooked. This 14.5-inch DeLonghi Livenza digital grill has a hinged top so you can make delicious panini, and it pairs with a digital cookbook app.
Customer Rating
4
Large, sturdy multipurpose grill
on June 12, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Plenty of grilling space
Includes flat and griddle cooking surfaces
Can make waffles with optional accessory
Versatile
Easy to read digital screen
Includes timer function
Easy dishwasher cleanup
Top and bottom cook surfaces are controlled separately
Includes companion app
Premium appearance
Plenty of grilling space
Includes flat and griddle cooking surfaces
Can make waffles with optional accessory
Versatile
Easy to read digital screen
Includes timer function
Easy dishwasher cleanup
Top and bottom cook surfaces are controlled separately
Includes companion app
Premium appearance
Cons
Actual temperature does not match set temperature
Heating is very uneven
Dials didn’t feel smooth for such an expensive product
Steep slope on for drippings causes items such as eggs to run
Drip tray removal is in back
Massive size limits kitchen placement in normal kitchens
Only includes temperature settings and no Low/Medium/High
High amp draw might require using a separate circuit
Actual temperature does not match set temperature
Heating is very uneven
Dials didn’t feel smooth for such an expensive product
Steep slope on for drippings causes items such as eggs to run
Drip tray removal is in back
Massive size limits kitchen placement in normal kitchens
Only includes temperature settings and no Low/Medium/High
High amp draw might require using a separate circuit
The Delonghi Livenza is a very large multipurpose grill. The grill surfaces have an integrated heating element. The claim is by offering direct heating of the cooking surface you get even distribution of heat. With the included flat grill and griddle and optional waffle plates you have the option to cook nearly anything without the need of a stove or oven. In fact, the Livenza can even serve as an open broiler. A timer and sear function are also included to round out the package. There are only temperature settings and no options for Low, Medium, and High so some knowledge of cooking temperatures or using the companion app are recommended. Cleanup should be easy since the plates are dishwasher safe and the drip tray catches everything else. The front display has a slight angle meaning food will likely need to be cleaned off the front but the task is not difficult. Strangely, the drip tray must be removed via a back slot. With such a large grill, a side or front removal of the tray would be preferred.
If you intend to purchase the Livenza, keep in mind this is a very large grill. You could be forgiven for mistaking this for a commercial grade restaurant grill it is that large. It looks and feels the part in every way. It feels very sturdy as if it was intended for frequent use. Digging deeper into the grill, the commercial type nature continues where each heating surface is controlled separately and a bright, easy to read display shows the set temperature of each heating surface. Unfortunately, the temperature set cannot be trusted but more on that later. The knobs feel sturdy except that turning them feels rough, almost as if there is sand stuck behind the knob. This takes away from the premium feel a bit. After continued use the rough feeling lessoned. One can only hope this is because they are tight from the factory for extended use and require a breaking in period. Carrying on with the more commercial theme, with this grill open you have as much surface area as most residential cooktops except nearly all is useable. When cooking large amounts of greasy food, such as bacon, enough bacon grease is vaporized where you may want to consider using it under your vent hoot if you don’t have tall ceilings. Because of the size of the grill, if you intend to use both surfaces at the same time while having another appliance running, such as a small toaster oven, you will need more than a 15-amp circuit.
Probably the boldest claim is that the Livenza solves the largest problem every cooking surface or grill and that’s uneven heat. Unfortunately, during testing it could not live up to this claim. Temperatures were verified with a thermal gun to very as much as 80 degrees Fahrenheit from one area of the plate to another. This can the difference between overly runny eggs and dry eggs. Not only are surface temperatures inconsistent, they are regularly higher than set. When the temperature was set to 400 degrees, a check with a thermal fun verified temps of 436-448. A setting of 350 yielded 398 degrees. This does not prevent the Livenza from being a competent cooking tool, only less than accurate or consistent.
If you are in the market for a very large multipurpose grill for larger meals and value a sturdy build quality and commercial look this grill may be for you. Just be ready for temperature inconsistencies.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Replace the keyboard of your Microsoft Surface Pro 7, 6, 5 or 4 with this silver Brydge keyboard. It conveniently lets you open the screen at your preferred viewing angle without a kickstand, and its backlit keys increase visibility in low light working environments. This Brydge keyboard is lightweight, so it doesn't add extra bulk to your device.
Customer Rating
3
Solid construction but with quirks
on May 20, 2017
Posted by: CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Solid all metal construction
Similar design qualities to Surface Pro 3 and 4
Good keyboard size
Includes trackpad
Changeable pads for Pro 3 and 4 tablet
Backlit keys
Long battery life
Automatic Sleep/Wake function
Can open to nearly 180 degrees
Stays confidently at the set angle
Charges via micro USB
Automatically installs and configures on pairing
Solid all metal construction
Similar design qualities to Surface Pro 3 and 4
Good keyboard size
Includes trackpad
Changeable pads for Pro 3 and 4 tablet
Backlit keys
Long battery life
Automatic Sleep/Wake function
Can open to nearly 180 degrees
Stays confidently at the set angle
Charges via micro USB
Automatically installs and configures on pairing
Cons
Color isn’t an exact match
Shape makes it look more like another Surface instead of a base
Inserts for Pro 3 do not stay in place as well as Pro 4
Keyboard requires excessive force
Trackpad not configurable
Keyboard sometimes takes a while to work resuming from hibernation
Bottom bumpers have a sharp edge increasing chances of snagging
Finger slot of opening too small making opening awkward
Hinge resistance excessive for easy opening
Color isn’t an exact match
Shape makes it look more like another Surface instead of a base
Inserts for Pro 3 do not stay in place as well as Pro 4
Keyboard requires excessive force
Trackpad not configurable
Keyboard sometimes takes a while to work resuming from hibernation
Bottom bumpers have a sharp edge increasing chances of snagging
Finger slot of opening too small making opening awkward
Hinge resistance excessive for easy opening
The Brydge 12.3 keyboard answers a request some Surface Pro owners have been asking for since the beginning, a solid keyboard option. It is compatible with the Surface Pro 3 and 4. It comes with rubber inserts for the Pro 4 and if you have the Pro 3 you need to switch out for the slightly thinner ones since the Pro 3 is just slightly thicker. You could possible leave in the Pro 4 spacers it is not advisable as it puts excessive pressure on the bezel as it holds the tablet and makes insertion and removal difficult. The design attempts to mimic the angular design and metal construction of the tablet and it mostly succeeds. The Brydge feels solid and well built, almost stronger than the tablet itself.
While the Brydge attempts to compliment the Surface design and mostly succeeds, the attempt does have some flaws. First, the base uses the same angle as the tablet instead of being straight. Regular laptops have the base design different to make a distinction between base and screen making knowing which side is top or bottom immediately apparent. With Brydge, you must pause and look for clues if you have it oriented correctly. The easiest clues are the large, almost clunky, rubber feet on the bottom. Of course, laptops often have rubber feet on them but, with Brydge looking create a more elegant design they missed a key element of higher end laptops. Normally, the rubber feet are slightly recessed into the base to create a smooth transition. Some even use sleek bumper strips that look more like styling lines. With Brydge, the feet literally feel like they are just stuck to the bottom. Although the adhesive feels solid, this often creates a problem over time as that distinct line of the rubber catches bags and other materials and either is torn or ripped off. Along the lines of complimenting the Surface design, Brydge attempted to mimic the color and texture of the tablet. Overall, the finish is very nice and high quality but fails at mimicking the Surface color and texture. The Brydge uses a slightly darker gray color instead of the light gray/silver color of the Surface. This of course is a small item and does not affect the functionality of the device in any way. However; if you are looking for an exact match and want it to look like it was made by the Surface team it’s not quite there. Most people wouldn’t even notice and be perfectly happy but for those wanting a perfect match it’s not there. The brackets that hold the tablet in place, understandably, stand out. If you are looking to purchase this, functionality is more important than a perfectly sleek compliment. Brydge has done a commendable job as a third-party manufacturer.
Aesthetics aside, the most important aspect of the Brydge is functionality. This is where some shortcomings can hinder and overall decent experience. If you have a Surface Pro 3, you will have to change the rubber inserts that hold the tablet. This on it’s own would be ok. The problem is the smaller inserts just didn’t hold in the bracket quite as well. Insertion and removal the tablet required more carful effort as the edges of the rubber would often catch the tablet and try to curl in as the tablet is inserted. Removal also attempts to pull the rubber insert out slightly. The instructions say when changing inserts, adhesive still on the bracket does not affect the replacement but it seems this may not be the case. The brackets also serve as the hinges. The hinges are very strong and hold the tablet confidently at the angle you set. Tension is tighter than traditional laptops. Although this means the combination holds the angle you set confidently it presents a problem. The tension is so great that, combined with the extremely small finger insert, opening the hybrid laptop is difficult. Those with fingernails might have an easier time but opening takes more effort than it should.
A nice feature of the Brydge is sleep/wake support. When you close the combination of Brydge and Surface, the keyboard detects the tablet shutting off and goes to sleep as well. Opening also wakes the keyboard. This means no fussing with a power button but you can also conserve battery life. Battery life is estimated to last and average of 3 months, depending on backlight usage, before needing a recharge. The backlight keyboard has three levels of brightness to suite your needs. The keys are space well and even for larger hands don’t feel as cramped as one would think. The keys have a large space between them so you can detect each key distinctly. Key travel is medium compared to other modern laptops but sensitivity is poor. Typing is imprecise requiring very hard presses to register a keypress. If you are a fast typist with a light touch, be prepared to press a lot harder. All but the hardest typist will find the amount of required force excessive and possibly even tiresome. If you are happy with the force required to type on the fabric keyboard of the Surface, you will find the Brydge a test of strength. Hopefully, Brydge will improve this in the future as typing force varied between keys. The I, O, and E key presses were often the ones missed even with strong force. The Brydge also includes a touchpad just like a traditional laptop. On pairing, the keyboard worked almost immediately. Strangely, the mouse took approximately 20 minutes to show up even though the Brydge was said to be fully installed. If you are the type who likes to customize the touchpad tracking speed or you like the speed and sensitivity of the stock fabric keyboard, you are out of luck. Although the touchpad does an acceptable job it not as smooth, fast, or precise as the OEM touchpad.
The Brydge 12.3 is a strong effort at providing an option of a hard keyboard and laptop type experience to the Surface Pro 3 and 4 family. If you are happy with your currently Surface fabric keyboard or are just curious about a hard keyboard, you are best sticking with the OEM fabric one. The good thing is that the keyboard doesn’t cost much more than the stock keyboard so if you don’t mind spending the money or just must have a solid base for your Surface, Brydge can be a viable alternative. Just be prepared to strengthen your hands and possibly slow down your typing.
My Best Buy number: 2528554201
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.
+2points
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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.
0points
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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.
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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.
0points
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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
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
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
4of 4voted this comment as helpful.
CraigB's Questions
CraigB has not submitted any questions.
Bring out your creativity to share your life stories. Adobe Sensei AI technology* and automated options do the heavy lifting so you can instantly turn photos into art, warp photos to fit any shape, and more. Add moving overlays or 3D camera motion to take your photos to a whole new level, and save them as MP4s for easy sharing on social. Grow your skills with 60 Guided Edits that step you through how to create perfect pet pics; extend, remove, or replace photo backgrounds; and more. Effortlessly organize your photos, and craft personalized creations like dynamic photo and video slideshows with all-new styles and inspirational quote graphics. Transform your favorite photos into gallery-quality wall art, beautiful prints, and unique keepsakes with the built-in prints and gifts service. †And enjoy an updated look that makes the software even easier to use and navigate. *Adobe Sensei is the technology that powers intelligent features across all Adobe products to dramatically improve the design and delivery of digital experiences, using artificial intelligence and machine learning in a common framework.†FUJIFILM Prints & Gifts service is available in the U.S. only.
Can photoshop Elements 2022 edit both video and photos? Thanks,
Photoshop Elements does photos. Premier Elements does videos.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
CraigB
Sit back, relax and let the Samsung Jet Mop automatically clean your floors. Samsung’s Jet Mop automatically cleans all type of floors, like tile, vinyl, laminate or hardwood. This robotic mop features dual spinning fiber pads that easily and quickly remove dust and dirt. Now, you can simply take it easy as the intelligent Jet Mop does the hard work for you.
Does this unit require water(specific) or cleaner(special brand)? Example: deionized, distilled, tap, boiled, spring. Example: fabuloso, pledge, mop and glow, bleach/water, brand compatible.
Unfortunately, the instructions say to use only water and nothing else.
3 years, 6 months ago
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CraigB
Monitor your property and capture 1080p footage with this eufy smart floodlight camera. The super-bright 2500-lumen motion-activated lights provide excellent illumination for nighttime recording. This eufy smart floodlight camera offers the option to livestream HD video from your smartphone, and two-way audio communication lets you interact with visitors from afar.
will it work with homekit
Not at this time but Eufy did add Homekit to their other cameras. Maybe this one will be added later.
4 years, 1 month ago
by
CraigB
eufy eufyCam 2, 2-Camera Surveillance System: See everything that happens around your home in 1080p HD with this eufy eufyCam 2 kit. Quick and easy to set up, two wireless cameras and a home base provide all that you need to get started, while smart integration ensures you can easily connect to other smart devices. This eufy eufyCam 2 kit provides 365 days of use from a single charge for continuous observation.
How are people posting reviews of these cameras, with photos and everything, when it's not available for pre order? Where are people buying them?
Probably the same way Amazon does. They let some regular people have a chance to try the product a little early and review it. They do that for movies and restaurants all the time to see if any tweaks need to be made before opening things up wide scale.
4 years, 6 months ago
by
CraigB
eufy eufyCam 2, 2-Camera Surveillance System: See everything that happens around your home in 1080p HD with this eufy eufyCam 2 kit. Quick and easy to set up, two wireless cameras and a home base provide all that you need to get started, while smart integration ensures you can easily connect to other smart devices. This eufy eufyCam 2 kit provides 365 days of use from a single charge for continuous observation.
How many cameras can connect to the home base?
I read in one place where it said 20 but the biggest question would be storage until they offer the USB expansion dongle. There is a place in the app help that talks about formatting up to 128GB flash drive so many that is already supported.
4 years, 6 months ago
by
CraigB
Why can't i sort the the home theater projectors by "Native Resolution"
One of the most important features of a home theater projector is its Native Resolution. Please allow us to filter our selection by this very important parameter. Every other retailer's site allows this. It does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling when you hide important information about a product.
Because in the consumer space, most projector manufacturers no longer release their native resolution. Projector Central is a good site for info but if you are looking for true, native 4K resolution you are looking at likely over $10,000.
4 years, 7 months ago
by
CraigB
Work or play on the go with this Dell G5 15 notebook. The 15.6-inch FHD display delivers a clear crisp picture, while the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti graphics card supports most modern games. This Dell G5 15 notebook has a 256GB SSD and 1TB hard drive for ample storage and quick file access, and the Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM offer quick multitasking.
On the 1660 Ti model, does it ship with a DisplayPort input?
Work or play on the go with this Dell G5 15 notebook. The 15.6-inch FHD display delivers a clear crisp picture, while the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti graphics card supports most modern games. This Dell G5 15 notebook has a 256GB SSD and 1TB hard drive for ample storage and quick file access, and the Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM offer quick multitasking.
Hi, I bought this laptop. I don't know how to activate windows 10 included. Thanks
Make sure all updates are installed first and then run the Windows Activation Troubleshooter under Settings->About. You will see text offering to troubleshoot. Took a slew of updates and three times troubleshooting before it stopped.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
CraigB
Work or play on the go with this Dell G5 15 notebook. The 15.6-inch FHD display delivers a clear crisp picture, while the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti graphics card supports most modern games. This Dell G5 15 notebook has a 256GB SSD and 1TB hard drive for ample storage and quick file access, and the Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM offer quick multitasking.
What is the display refresh rate?
It's 60Hz. It's probably the only negative of this rig. Dell does offer it with a 144Hz screen.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
CraigB
Remove hair without wax or razors using the Lumilisse by Conair hair removal device. Rapid pulses of intense light help prevent hair regrowth, delivering permanent results with consistent use. The FDA-cleared device uses sensors to safely activate. Choose between continuous mode for large areas or manual mode to target specific trouble spots. The Lumilisse by Conair hair removal device includes two attachments to ensure perfectly smooth results all over.
Can this be used on Facial and Neck hair?
There is a special tip for facial hair but you can't use it very well around the chin and jaw line or close to the eyes. It is best to make sure to follow the initial test as for some it can cause a rash or heat burn. My wife has PCOS and tried to use it to treat the facial hairs and it caused a heat burn and very dry scaly skin and she could not continue to use it there.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
CraigB