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- Last reviewApril 21, 2024
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- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentNovember 29, 2013
- Last review commentJanuary 31, 2017
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Achieve outstanding performance and expandability with the new Dell XPS 8960 Desktop. Built with powerful processors, memory and graphics, this desktop acheives maximum performance to support your tasks.
Customer Rating
4
Nice system limited by cooling
on June 5, 2023
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
USB-C on front and back
SD Card reader
2 hard drive cages
Prewired for accessories
Clean wiring
Most service is toolless
Extra NVME slot
Fast Processor
Subdued chassis design
Quiet most of the time
USB-C on front and back
SD Card reader
2 hard drive cages
Prewired for accessories
Clean wiring
Most service is toolless
Extra NVME slot
Fast Processor
Subdued chassis design
Quiet most of the time
Cons
Only 2 USB-C ports
No thunderbolt
Anemic CPU fan
Undersized CPU Heatsink
Fan profile prefers throttling over better cooling
Proprietary Power supply
No extra capacity on power supply
Proprietary motherboard power connection
Proprietary CPU cooler mount
No option to upgrade to an optical drive
Only 2 USB-C ports
No thunderbolt
Anemic CPU fan
Undersized CPU Heatsink
Fan profile prefers throttling over better cooling
Proprietary Power supply
No extra capacity on power supply
Proprietary motherboard power connection
Proprietary CPU cooler mount
No option to upgrade to an optical drive
Design and Features
The XPS 8960 is the latest version of the 8900 series of desktops. The most notable change is the upgrade from 12th generation Intel CPUS to 13th Generation. The remaining changes are minor. A keyboard and mouse are included in the box which do the job but if your budget allows these should be upgraded immediately. Included on the front of the system are 3 USB-A 3.0 ports. one USB-C, a stereo jack, and a full-sized SD card slot. Around back you have 2 USB-A 3.0 ports, 2 USB-A 2.0 ports, 1 USB-C, Ethernet, and jacks for 7.1 surround sound. There are no thunderbolt ports. The board does have a DisplayPort port which might come in handy if you ever need to use the system without the discrete GPU. Internally there are two 3.5-inch drive bays with one available to add an additional drive. Both are pre-wired with power and SATA connections as well and include the toolless hard drive adapter. The motherboard is a proprietary design with part of the board jutting out of the front of the case for the ports on the front. The board has two ram slots, both filled, so memory upgrades would require removing existing memory. The good thing is 16GB is good for most use cases. The board has two NVME slots with one available to add an extra SSD. The included Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E adapter is upgradable as it is installed in an M2 slot with standardized antenna connections routed to outside the case to reduce interference. With a Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 and a max theoretical speed of 2.4Gbps it is unlikely you need to upgrade anytime soon. There is plenty of room to upgrade to a newer GPU in the future including a factory rail to add a GPU support for larger GPUs if you purchase the bracket that mounts to it. Unfortunately, you would likely need to upgrade the power supply to do this because it is rated only for a max of 460W. The power supply is also a proprietary design leaving you to only upgrade with a larger Dell power supply. Thankfully the chassis has up to a 1000W power supply available if you can get it as spare parts later. The power supply seems to be the newer ATX 3.0 standard as all power connections go to the motherboard and the motherboard supplies power directly to accessories such as hard drives. Most parts don’t require tools for removal or if they do it is just 1 or 2 screws. There is plenty of room for airflow with a large grill up front and back, but you won’t find any sort of dust filtering to keep things clean. A nice touch to see is the voltage regulators for the CPU have reasonably large passive heatsinks. The same cannot be said for the CPU. The heatsink and fan for the CPU cooler are undersized. The fan curve is also set to favor silence. The fans included can get very loud so it is understandable why they might wish to do this but there is also no way to change the fan curve if you prefer performance over silence.
The XPS 8960 is the latest version of the 8900 series of desktops. The most notable change is the upgrade from 12th generation Intel CPUS to 13th Generation. The remaining changes are minor. A keyboard and mouse are included in the box which do the job but if your budget allows these should be upgraded immediately. Included on the front of the system are 3 USB-A 3.0 ports. one USB-C, a stereo jack, and a full-sized SD card slot. Around back you have 2 USB-A 3.0 ports, 2 USB-A 2.0 ports, 1 USB-C, Ethernet, and jacks for 7.1 surround sound. There are no thunderbolt ports. The board does have a DisplayPort port which might come in handy if you ever need to use the system without the discrete GPU. Internally there are two 3.5-inch drive bays with one available to add an additional drive. Both are pre-wired with power and SATA connections as well and include the toolless hard drive adapter. The motherboard is a proprietary design with part of the board jutting out of the front of the case for the ports on the front. The board has two ram slots, both filled, so memory upgrades would require removing existing memory. The good thing is 16GB is good for most use cases. The board has two NVME slots with one available to add an extra SSD. The included Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E adapter is upgradable as it is installed in an M2 slot with standardized antenna connections routed to outside the case to reduce interference. With a Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 and a max theoretical speed of 2.4Gbps it is unlikely you need to upgrade anytime soon. There is plenty of room to upgrade to a newer GPU in the future including a factory rail to add a GPU support for larger GPUs if you purchase the bracket that mounts to it. Unfortunately, you would likely need to upgrade the power supply to do this because it is rated only for a max of 460W. The power supply is also a proprietary design leaving you to only upgrade with a larger Dell power supply. Thankfully the chassis has up to a 1000W power supply available if you can get it as spare parts later. The power supply seems to be the newer ATX 3.0 standard as all power connections go to the motherboard and the motherboard supplies power directly to accessories such as hard drives. Most parts don’t require tools for removal or if they do it is just 1 or 2 screws. There is plenty of room for airflow with a large grill up front and back, but you won’t find any sort of dust filtering to keep things clean. A nice touch to see is the voltage regulators for the CPU have reasonably large passive heatsinks. The same cannot be said for the CPU. The heatsink and fan for the CPU cooler are undersized. The fan curve is also set to favor silence. The fans included can get very loud so it is understandable why they might wish to do this but there is also no way to change the fan curve if you prefer performance over silence.
Setup and Performance
Setup is straightforward with the only extra software installed is a 1-year subscription to McAfee Antivirus. There are no other special utilities beyond Dell Update which handles things like Firmware updates. Performance is snappy for light to moderate use with no discernable weakness in the configuration. CrystalDiskMark returned a respectable 7000MB/s read and 5000MB/s write on average and remained stable throughout usage suggesting it isn’t throttling due to heat. The same cannot be said of the CPU. During the start of any benchmark test the fans would ramp up in speed for a short time getting loud and performance would increase, but then slow down. Next you could see CPU core frequencies drop. While running Cinebench, the test would start off strong but as soon temps rose above 72 degrees the system would opt to throttle the CPU instead of allowing fan noise for maximum performance. This meant that while the system is capable of boosting to 5.2GHz, it averaged between 2.7 and 3.5GHz. It is above base clock speed but leaves a fair bit of performance in the table. While this works fine for basic workloads it would be nice to override this setting and choose maximum performance over noise. Currently, there is no such setting. Dell could have also improved this by putting one of their higher performance coolers such as the tower cooler or water block which is included on higher end models. This would have allowed the system to take advantage of the processor better while keeping noise low. Of course, that is assuming that the system would remain stable pushing to max with the 460-Watt power supply. That said, if you want to try to squeeze out extra performance it looks like the board can work even with the Dell water cooler as it has the pins to control the water block. The other option could be to install a third-party cooler but the mounting system for the heatsink is not standard and would require some DIY work. In any case, if you are interested in the maximum performance the system has to offer you are going to need to do some modifications.
Setup is straightforward with the only extra software installed is a 1-year subscription to McAfee Antivirus. There are no other special utilities beyond Dell Update which handles things like Firmware updates. Performance is snappy for light to moderate use with no discernable weakness in the configuration. CrystalDiskMark returned a respectable 7000MB/s read and 5000MB/s write on average and remained stable throughout usage suggesting it isn’t throttling due to heat. The same cannot be said of the CPU. During the start of any benchmark test the fans would ramp up in speed for a short time getting loud and performance would increase, but then slow down. Next you could see CPU core frequencies drop. While running Cinebench, the test would start off strong but as soon temps rose above 72 degrees the system would opt to throttle the CPU instead of allowing fan noise for maximum performance. This meant that while the system is capable of boosting to 5.2GHz, it averaged between 2.7 and 3.5GHz. It is above base clock speed but leaves a fair bit of performance in the table. While this works fine for basic workloads it would be nice to override this setting and choose maximum performance over noise. Currently, there is no such setting. Dell could have also improved this by putting one of their higher performance coolers such as the tower cooler or water block which is included on higher end models. This would have allowed the system to take advantage of the processor better while keeping noise low. Of course, that is assuming that the system would remain stable pushing to max with the 460-Watt power supply. That said, if you want to try to squeeze out extra performance it looks like the board can work even with the Dell water cooler as it has the pins to control the water block. The other option could be to install a third-party cooler but the mounting system for the heatsink is not standard and would require some DIY work. In any case, if you are interested in the maximum performance the system has to offer you are going to need to do some modifications.
For reference, the installed core i7-13700 returned a score of 14,720 in 3DMark Timespy which is below the average of 20,000-22,000 for this processor. For contrast Geekbench turned in a respectable 2572 for single-core and 15494 for multi-core since it finishes well before heat buildup occurs. For the GPU it’s a little harder to test against a standard as it is a Dell specific card, but for reference it returned a Time Spy score of 5557 compared to the average of 6191 for an RTX 3050. In Geekbench, the installed RTX3050 scored 61244 versus the average of 62911. While the Geekbench scores shows GPU performance near average, the Time Spy score suggest there might be a small amount of GPU thermal throttling going on.
Final Thoughts
Overall performance is decent but not standout. The question is if that matters to you. The system may not perform at its maximum potential, but it performs well and quietly. It doesn’t support as many upgrades as a custom-built system, but the most often upgraded parts can be upgraded very easily with either Dell parts or third party. If your main concern is maximum performance and upgradability, this system might not be for you. If your focus is good performance, easy service, easy upgrades, and support from a single company then the XPS 8960 is worth considering.
Overall performance is decent but not standout. The question is if that matters to you. The system may not perform at its maximum potential, but it performs well and quietly. It doesn’t support as many upgrades as a custom-built system, but the most often upgraded parts can be upgraded very easily with either Dell parts or third party. If your main concern is maximum performance and upgradability, this system might not be for you. If your focus is good performance, easy service, easy upgrades, and support from a single company then the XPS 8960 is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The versatile and powerful ASUS Pro 15 OLED is an Intel certified laptop that’s designed for those who want to do more. Its 13th Gen Intel Core processor deliver outstanding multitasking and creative power, with ASUS IceCool Plus thermal technology for maximum performance. The 60 Hz OLED NanoEdge Dolby Vision has a cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 gamut, and is PANTONE Validated with DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification. It’s also TÜV Rheinland-certified for eye care. The Harman Kardon-certified quad-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system adds to the cinematic experience with ultra-realistic multi-dimensional sound. For fast face login there’s an FHD camera, and a color sensor allows automatic control of screen brightness and color temperature.
Customer Rating
5
Versatile budget laptop for creators
on May 21, 2023
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
OLED inky blacks
Bright screen
Auto backlight brightness
Webcam physical cover
Good keyboard
Smooth/ large trackpad
Strong chassis for thickness
RTX 3050 discrete graphics
Thunderbolt 4
Full sized ethernet jack
Full sized SD card slot
Runs quiet
Ram, SSD, and Wi-Fi upgradable
810H rate for durability
Good quality webcam for the series
OLED inky blacks
Bright screen
Auto backlight brightness
Webcam physical cover
Good keyboard
Smooth/ large trackpad
Strong chassis for thickness
RTX 3050 discrete graphics
Thunderbolt 4
Full sized ethernet jack
Full sized SD card slot
Runs quiet
Ram, SSD, and Wi-Fi upgradable
810H rate for durability
Good quality webcam for the series
Cons
Slight screen flicker at low brightness
Highly reflective screen
Fingerprint magnet
Average battery life
Too many ports are on right side
Upgradeable parts are complicated to change
Slight screen flicker at low brightness
Highly reflective screen
Fingerprint magnet
Average battery life
Too many ports are on right side
Upgradeable parts are complicated to change
The Asus Laptop Creator Q is a versatile laptop. While it certainly doesn’t win any competition in specs, it is reasonably well balanced for targeting startup content creators. The design is sleek and understated so it can blend in well for work tasks or gaming alike. It has a matt black finish with a metal lid and the rest is plastic. While it looks very nice, the finish is a fingerprint magnet. It has a good balance of ports with USB-A, USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, HMDI, ethernet jack, combo headphone jack, and a full-sized SD card reader. Strangely, over half the ports are located on the right and that’s not even including the power port. The overall design seems to be a blend of the VivoBook and ProArt series. It is built to the 810H standard for durability so it can handle day to day use reliably. The chassis has minimal flex for its weight. The screen can achieve over 600 nits of brightness allowing you to work in much brighter areas. Included is a 150W charger with a barrel type connector. It allows you to use the system at full power. It can charge via USB-C/ Thunderbolt, but you won’t be able to take full advantage of the CPU and GPU due to power limitations. The keyboard backlight and screen have auto brightness. The speakers are on the bottom at the front left and right but facing out at an angle to prevent them from being blocked on softer surfaces.
Opening the case you will find the Wi-Fi card, NVME, and RAM are upgradable. However, the process isn’t as straightforward. The bottom shell is held on by Torx screws, but you will still need a spudger and some delicate persuasion to release the plastic clips on the shell. Once inside the Wi-Fi card is simple, but you will find the memory and NVME underneath two overlapping brackets and with heat spreaders. Once you remove those both are what appear to be EMF shields covering them further that clip into tiny retaining clips. At first it looks like they are soldered to the main board, but they are tiny clips that are a challenge to line back up during reinstall. In short, if you haven’t changed parts on many computers, you may find the process a bit intimidating.
Usage and Performance
While the Creator Q is certainly able to be used for gaming with its RTX 3050. Performance settings are adjusted via the ProArt Creator Hub versus Armory Crate on the gaming series. Instead of overclocking features you find features for calibrating your screen for maximum accuracy. There is no MUX switch but instead the system decides when to use the iGPU or the dGPU for you. You can manually specify per app which one to use if needed. During stress testing on maximum performance the cooling fans, while audible, were still very quiet. While maximum clock boost was never observed the system was able to maintain a steady 3.26GHz at 100% utilization while keeping temps stable. That said, the chassis can get noticeably warm in heavy usage with a max temperature of 133 degrees Fahrenheit measured in the center near the back. During lighter tasks the system stays at most slightly warm to the touch and the fans rarely kick on and performance is snappy.
While the Creator Q is certainly able to be used for gaming with its RTX 3050. Performance settings are adjusted via the ProArt Creator Hub versus Armory Crate on the gaming series. Instead of overclocking features you find features for calibrating your screen for maximum accuracy. There is no MUX switch but instead the system decides when to use the iGPU or the dGPU for you. You can manually specify per app which one to use if needed. During stress testing on maximum performance the cooling fans, while audible, were still very quiet. While maximum clock boost was never observed the system was able to maintain a steady 3.26GHz at 100% utilization while keeping temps stable. That said, the chassis can get noticeably warm in heavy usage with a max temperature of 133 degrees Fahrenheit measured in the center near the back. During lighter tasks the system stays at most slightly warm to the touch and the fans rarely kick on and performance is snappy.
You might think that having a 1080P screen in a laptop of this size makes it feel low end, but it doesn’t. The OLED panel gives a sense of a higher resolution screen without the battery hit that would come from an OLED panel of this size on a laptop. The tradeoff feels right because while the lower resolution doesn’t seem perceptible at the normal working distance, the inky blacks and sharp contrast of the OLED make an impact for the better. The only tradeoffs are flicker and the extremely reflective screen. You are going to have to find the perfect angle to reduce glare. The system does indicate that it has a type of anti-flicker technology but the typical OLED flicker at low brightness can still be seen. It isn’t enough to be bothersome and the advantages make it well worth it. Combine that with the color accuracy of the screen and it makes for a very enjoyable experience whether creating or consuming content.
Adding to that is the pleasant typing experience on the keyboard. There is a good amount of travel with a distinct activation point and soft bump at the bottom. For the value-based creator laptop the keyboard is very good. The same can be said for the trackpad. While a smooth glass trackpad feels nicer, the one included is large, smooth, and consistent with good palm rejection.
The speakers are a bit of a surprise. While they won’t have the range of higher end laptops or the presence of separate speakers, they are actually very good for a budget system. Even though they are downward firing they are angled slightly outward so that they are less likely to get muffled by soft surfaces. When sitting centered on the laptop the speakers have a surround effect makes them feel more spread out and larger than they are. They get very loud, and even louder with volume boost if you are willing to sacrifice some low end. That said, unless you really need more volume it’s best to leave volume boost off to keep the little bit of low end you do have.
The same is also true for the webcam. The 1080P video is reasonably well exposed with minimal noise. Add something like a key light and you have a usable video for someone creating video a budget. The colors are bit on the cool side but not obnoxiously so. This could be easily improved by adjusting the color temperature of your lights making an overall decent budget steaming setup or even just a business webcam.
If there is one place where the compromises fall a bit short, it would be battery life. Even when set to the Best Power Efficiency mode working on simple tasks like typing or browsing the web battery life averaged near the 5-hour mark. While not bad, it feels like the largest compromise of the whole package. This is just for light workloads. Battery life drops to 1-2 hours on heavy loads but that is to be expected and most of the time those workloads you would be plugged in for maximum performance.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Asus did an excellent job balancing features for a budget-oriented creator laptop. Even though it might be targeted more for early creators, it doesn’t feel like you are missing out. If you are in the market for a budget-oriented creator laptop or just an overall versatile laptop that can easily handle both work and play, then the Asus Creator Laptop Q is worth serious consideration.
Overall, Asus did an excellent job balancing features for a budget-oriented creator laptop. Even though it might be targeted more for early creators, it doesn’t feel like you are missing out. If you are in the market for a budget-oriented creator laptop or just an overall versatile laptop that can easily handle both work and play, then the Asus Creator Laptop Q is worth serious consideration.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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GE Profile provides modern design and the latest features in home appliances. The 11-in-1 GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat is a countertop toaster oven designed for today's smart home. Features like Air Fry, Zero Preheat Technology and Built-in WiFi allow you to do more, through remote monitoring and technology that takes the guess work out of cooking. This is Smarter Innovation you’ve been looking for. This is GE Profile.
Customer Rating
3
Unique Toaster Oven with Quirks
on May 10, 2023
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Quick to heat up
Doesn’t lose much to case
Right angled plug
Built in light
Has a convection option
Smart connected
Convection function can be used for toasting
Touch buttons less likely to fail than membrane buttons
Progress light makes time reaming easy to see
Crumb tray appears to be nonstick
Quick to heat up
Doesn’t lose much to case
Right angled plug
Built in light
Has a convection option
Smart connected
Convection function can be used for toasting
Touch buttons less likely to fail than membrane buttons
Progress light makes time reaming easy to see
Crumb tray appears to be nonstick
Cons
Front door operation requires more space
Front door operation feels unusually hard
Convection fan makes sounds like it is faulty
Doesn’t fit standard 13inch pan for 12inch pizza
Touch control panel is a fingerprint magnet
Front glass is hard to clean
Time can’t always be manually adjusted
Only even numbers for number of toast
Smart functions very limited
Toasting doesn’t account for heat buildup
Toasting uneven top to bottom
Only has 15 guided recipes
Grating is not dishwasher safe and is hard to clean manually
Crumb tray pulls crumbs off tray when removing
Front door operation requires more space
Front door operation feels unusually hard
Convection fan makes sounds like it is faulty
Doesn’t fit standard 13inch pan for 12inch pizza
Touch control panel is a fingerprint magnet
Front glass is hard to clean
Time can’t always be manually adjusted
Only even numbers for number of toast
Smart functions very limited
Toasting doesn’t account for heat buildup
Toasting uneven top to bottom
Only has 15 guided recipes
Grating is not dishwasher safe and is hard to clean manually
Crumb tray pulls crumbs off tray when removing
Design and Setup
The GE Profile Smart Toaster Oven has a versatile feature set and considering the temperature range likely has more capabilities. The design is a modern, sleek, gloss black front and matt black housing. When off there aren’t buttons and knobs showing. Different from most toasters is how the control panel is on the bottom and angled at about 45 degrees. The buttons are touch sensitive instead of membrane buttons which means they will likely last much longer. The door also swings up and back instead of down and out. This might sound like a problem but if you are keeping the recommended 4 inches of clearance on all sides it should not be an issue. It also has a built-in oven light which is a bit unique for its size, and a welcomed addition. Also, a nice touch is the cord organizer on the back of the unit. Even though you need to keep 4 inches of space behind the unit you are likely to have extra cord. With the organizer you wrap the extra around the organizer and keep the counter uncluttered. It also has a right-angled plug which makes placement easier.
The GE Profile Smart Toaster Oven has a versatile feature set and considering the temperature range likely has more capabilities. The design is a modern, sleek, gloss black front and matt black housing. When off there aren’t buttons and knobs showing. Different from most toasters is how the control panel is on the bottom and angled at about 45 degrees. The buttons are touch sensitive instead of membrane buttons which means they will likely last much longer. The door also swings up and back instead of down and out. This might sound like a problem but if you are keeping the recommended 4 inches of clearance on all sides it should not be an issue. It also has a built-in oven light which is a bit unique for its size, and a welcomed addition. Also, a nice touch is the cord organizer on the back of the unit. Even though you need to keep 4 inches of space behind the unit you are likely to have extra cord. With the organizer you wrap the extra around the organizer and keep the counter uncluttered. It also has a right-angled plug which makes placement easier.
Usage and Performance
The idea of a smart toaster oven sounds nice. Control and see the status of your oven as well as follow recipes and let the app optimize the oven for you. This is only partly true with the GE Profile Smart Oven. You can control it remotely in the app if you have pressed the remote button on the front panel within 10 minutes of setting up a cook. You can follow guided recipes, but you are limited to 15 at the time of writing this review. Other GE appliances have the ability to make announcements over Sonos speakers, such as your timer is done. This oven does not show up as compatible. Maybe they could add that in the future. One item that can prove very useful is saving oven presets. Within the app you can set what mode you want the oven in, what temperature you want set, and how long the timer will run. You then save the favorite and give it a name. Have a preferred setting for your pizza? Set a favorite, if the pizza is frozen or fresh, thin or regular crust, and save the favorite and you don’t have to manually set it anymore. The only catch is you can choose a favorite directly from the oven. You must use the app.
The idea of a smart toaster oven sounds nice. Control and see the status of your oven as well as follow recipes and let the app optimize the oven for you. This is only partly true with the GE Profile Smart Oven. You can control it remotely in the app if you have pressed the remote button on the front panel within 10 minutes of setting up a cook. You can follow guided recipes, but you are limited to 15 at the time of writing this review. Other GE appliances have the ability to make announcements over Sonos speakers, such as your timer is done. This oven does not show up as compatible. Maybe they could add that in the future. One item that can prove very useful is saving oven presets. Within the app you can set what mode you want the oven in, what temperature you want set, and how long the timer will run. You then save the favorite and give it a name. Have a preferred setting for your pizza? Set a favorite, if the pizza is frozen or fresh, thin or regular crust, and save the favorite and you don’t have to manually set it anymore. The only catch is you can choose a favorite directly from the oven. You must use the app.
Toasting performance was inconsistent and requires learning the oven’s quirks. First, if you want a single piece of toast or any odd number you cannot choose it. It only allows toast settings for even slices. Next, if you need to tweak the toast time up or down after the toasting has started you cannot so if you know your bread or bagel is close to done but you have too much time left you cannot reduce the time. Your options are to cancel the current toast and start a new one or sit and watch the current and cancel when it is done. Even toasting is a bit of a challenge with this oven. Often toast will come out uncooked on the bottom and golden on top. At first, we thought it was a wrong setting, but we have verified it was on toast. A workaround we have found is to turn on convection when toasting. It toasts slower but much more even. It seems that back-to-back usage also was not considered in the design. Toaster ovens get hotter with each consecutive use. Some toaster ovens compensate for this temperature drift when toasting to make sure each batch toasts consistently. This Profile Smart Oven does not appear to do this as each batch of toast on the same settings with the same bread produced inconsistent results. It was nothing unusable but a little more of a manual process than preferred for a smart toaster oven. On a positive note, if you are not standing near the oven, it sends an alert to your phone 1 minute before it is done. It has come in handy on several occasions where family have become distracted and forgot they left something in the oven. Overall, while toasting is usable it seems it was not of high importance in the design.
Regular oven type functions seem more what this Smart Oven was primarily designed for. Regardless of baking or air frying the task was very simple and quick. It does seem to heat up quick and it is helpful to not have to start the oven well before you start your recipe. The little light in the back is also a nice touch and more convenient than the flashlight we are used to using to check on food.
There is a bit of confusion on the air frying as it instructs you to put meats in the tray so as not to have drippings go to the bottom of the oven but what is strange is it doesn’t even show using the grating that goes in the tray. You would think that to air fry at least using the grating that goes inside the baking tray would be helpful, but it shows you air fry the same as baking. Trying this with bacon meant it was cooking in the bacon grease instead of air frying. If you are wanting more crispy, less greasy bacon you might ignore the instructions and put the bacon on the grating inside the cooking tray. Regardless of if we are air frying or doing regular baking, we almost always have the convection fan on as it cooks much more even. It also speeds up cooking time. While this might be specific to our unit it is worth noting that the convection fan is noisy. The first startup it sounded dry and sounded like we had a little engine running in the toaster. After warming up it calmed down but even now it often sounds like there is a little motorcycle running in our oven. It doesn’t sound like it is supposed to make that noise and sometimes even when it turns off you can hear the convection fan scraping. It makes a metal on metal sound. What is strange is it isn’t all the time. Again, this might be something with our unit, but our box didn’t even have the slightest bit of damage. Our previous toaster made the same sound but only after it was several years old, and it continued to work long afterwards but this just seems odd brand new.
One feature shown is how you can make up to a 12-inch pizza in the oven. Our family regularly has pizza, and we are always experimenting with new recipes but haven’t mastered making a consistently round crust. That said, the idea of an oven that can heat up quickly, so we spend less time cooking sounds great. While technically it can cook a 12-inch pizza, it has trouble cooking with a pan. A pizza pan for a 12-inch pizza is typically 13 inches. This oven is exactly 12 inches deep. We aren’t going to cook without a pan and get grease and cheese everywhere, but our regular pan wouldn’t work. The only option we found at the time was disposable paper trays that we can bend into the oven. It’s a special type of paper that can last for an hour in an oven safely but unfortunately this solution also prevents a crispy crust. So far, we haven’t had luck finding a proper pizza pan that fits.
The oven door opening up instead of down is interesting and looks nice, but it is uncertain if there is really any advantage. It does lift the door out of your way but the traditional door that hinges down hasn’t been any hassle. Some family members said it was unusually hard to close but they were still able to do so. Opening is nice because the button to open it is nowhere near the heat. The downside is now with the control panel on bottom and no door to shield it all the food drippings land straight on the control panel. The control panel is already a fingerprint magnet, and this style choice means frequently wiping the buttons to keep things clean. On the standard tray setting the tray comes out 2 inches when the door opens leaving an additional 10 inches inside. While it works, it would be nice if the tray came out a bit further when the door opens. A nice touch is the drip tray appears to be nonstick as nothing that fell on it has been hard to clean off. Unfortunately, when pulling the tray out there is a gasket on the oven body that scrapes crumbs off the tray as you pull it out meaning those crumbs you were trying to get out are now on the bottom of the toaster.
Cleanup of the interior is easy. The interior has a chrome type finish that food doesn’t stick to very well, so it just needs a quick wipe down. The only exception is the bottom burners. It would have been nice if there were heat spreaders covering them like outdoor grills have, so food didn’t drip directly onto them causing smoking and odors. That would make cleanup around them far easier versus the thin metal cage surrounding them. It would have been nice if the metal grates were dishwasher safe, particularly the air fry basket, but only the cooking tray is dishwasher safe. This seems to be common with toaster ovens and air fryers, but it would be great to see this as an option someday as hand washing an air fry basket is tedious.
Final Thoughts
The GE Profile Smart Oven is a unique take on small sized multi-function ovens. With all its functions it makes firing up your big oven unnecessary in most cases. While it isn’t without its quirks, it is a very capable and easy to use oven. If you are in the market for a multifunction toaster oven and you like GE’s design, then the GE Profile Smart Oven is worth considering.
The GE Profile Smart Oven is a unique take on small sized multi-function ovens. With all its functions it makes firing up your big oven unnecessary in most cases. While it isn’t without its quirks, it is a very capable and easy to use oven. If you are in the market for a multifunction toaster oven and you like GE’s design, then the GE Profile Smart Oven is worth considering.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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All hail the new king. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset brings the best premium features to your gaming multiverse for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One, PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch and mobile. Featuring the most versatile noise cancelling system ever in a gaming headset, with the ability to control noise-cancelling levels from anywhere. Experience ultimate audio immersion with powerful, hand-selected 50mm Nanoclear drivers for a vast soundstage; and the TruSpeak noise-cancelling boom mic or dual built-in microphones offer ultra-clear comms. Our softest memory foam ear cushions enhance noise isolation and provide all-day comfort, and the Stealth Pro is built to last with a durable steel-reinforced headband and frame.
Customer Rating
4
Solid wireless gaming headset
on April 24, 2023
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Multi-platform
Almost neutral sound profile
Boom mic audio very good
Dual simultaneous audio sources
Swappable battery with spare
Sturdy Metal Construction
Carrying case with separate pocket for receiver
Adjustable active noise cancelling for speaker and mic
Good noise cancelling
Nearly neutral sound
Settings are stored in headphones directly
Adjustable noise gate
Adjustable side tone
USB-C connection
Ear cups rotate to store headphones around neck
Decent wireless range
Multi-platform
Almost neutral sound profile
Boom mic audio very good
Dual simultaneous audio sources
Swappable battery with spare
Sturdy Metal Construction
Carrying case with separate pocket for receiver
Adjustable active noise cancelling for speaker and mic
Good noise cancelling
Nearly neutral sound
Settings are stored in headphones directly
Adjustable noise gate
Adjustable side tone
USB-C connection
Ear cups rotate to store headphones around neck
Decent wireless range
Cons
Heavy for the size of the headband
Headphones squeeze tight on larger heads
No dual side USB-C cable included
Built in mic too distant
Treble a bit too high with default settings
Buttons not distinct for use by touch
Design and Features
Heavy for the size of the headband
Headphones squeeze tight on larger heads
No dual side USB-C cable included
Built in mic too distant
Treble a bit too high with default settings
Buttons not distinct for use by touch
Design and Features
Out of the box, the Turtle Beach Stealth looks far more restrained in style compared to previous generations of their gaming headsets. The earcups have a traditional round design and the construction is of metal and black plastic. Construction feels heavy and solid. With boom mic removed they could pass as standard headphones. On the left side along with the boom mic is a battery cover which is held in place by magnets. The right earcup houses the mode buttons and dial. The earcups rotate allowing them to hang the around your neck. The base station/ charger is also made of metal and plastic and feels heavy for its size. Two batteries are included so one can charge in the base station while the other is in use. Included is a cloth carrying bag which has a separate pouch for the base station/charger to prevent damage from the two scraping against each other. There is also a USB-C port on the back of the right earcup which can be used to charge or update the headphones but with port pointing straight back usage seems awkward while plugged in.
Performance and Usage
Regardless of if you are configuring the Stealth Pro headphones via the smartphone app or the computer software your settings are saved directly on the headphones. No need to create a cloud account or internet connection to have settings saved. The specs state the batteries are good for 12 hours. So far there hasn’t been a need to change batteries to verify runtime in part because of how the headphones feel. While the headphones feel well built, the pressure the band exerts on the side of your head if you have a larger head makes extended use uncomfortable. The weight might also be a negative for some. Other family members who used them expressed the weight combined with the size of the headband made extended use uncomfortable for them. If you normally enjoy extended gaming sessions, you might be less sensitive to these issues. In our family no one typically games for more than an hour at a time. Beyond that, the earcups are thick and soft and offer plenty of room.
Regardless of if you are configuring the Stealth Pro headphones via the smartphone app or the computer software your settings are saved directly on the headphones. No need to create a cloud account or internet connection to have settings saved. The specs state the batteries are good for 12 hours. So far there hasn’t been a need to change batteries to verify runtime in part because of how the headphones feel. While the headphones feel well built, the pressure the band exerts on the side of your head if you have a larger head makes extended use uncomfortable. The weight might also be a negative for some. Other family members who used them expressed the weight combined with the size of the headband made extended use uncomfortable for them. If you normally enjoy extended gaming sessions, you might be less sensitive to these issues. In our family no one typically games for more than an hour at a time. Beyond that, the earcups are thick and soft and offer plenty of room.
The headphones can be used either with the boom mic or the built in mic but the built in mic is more intended for things like phone calls. The boom mic is very good at picking up speech clearly producing a rich, natural sound. The integrated mic is a different story. It works fine for phone calls if needed but it makes speech sound distant and with lots of background noise. You can adjust the noise gate to try to filter this out, but it tends to cut out voices too much before it is affective enough with the built in mic. While it is nice to have an integrated mic, in most cases you will be better off with the boom mic. You have the option of adjustable sidetone. It works well, but in some cases, it could use a bit more volume than max currently allows.
Audio quality is surprisingly good. Overall, the Stealth Pro sounds fairly neutral with the exception of the highs being a bit exaggerated. While they are likely tuned this way to improve speech clarity, a little more bass and a little less treble sounds more pleasing. Of course this is subjective and it is fully tunable. Both the audio and mic have preset EQ options as well as fully customizable 10-band equalizer options so you can tune things to your exact preference. The ANC comes in handy to block out background sounds when playing in a noisy area, such as with family around. You can adjust how aggressive the noise cancellation is, but after setting 7-8 you start to hear a hiss or static sound. For gameplay you can also turn on a feature called superhuman hearing which helps to emphasize either sounds of footsteps or gunshots but it didn’t seem necessary in the games played. Game/ Chat mix is also adjustable from the app or from the headset depending on how you configure the action button and wheel. At first it seemed this feature was on PC as well, but it is only on Xbox. The reason is on PC those channels are controlled separately in Windows. While you can only have the mic connected to one source you can have the sound connected to two. This is a nice touch if you want to hear gameplay while also being on a call or listening to music. Some sources can change their own volume but neither audio source can exceed the set volume of the headphones.
While the Stealth Pro are good, they aren’t without some quirks such as how long it takes for them to start up and connect. The control buttons on the right ear are not very distinct so finding the correct one by touch is difficult. There is no way to control which Bluetooth source is connected except to turn off Bluetooth on other devices which the headphones were previously paired until the desired device is connected. Also, from time to time, the action button would cease to function when connected via Bluetooth. It would just beep, and nothing would change.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones are not without their quirks and could use some further software refinements. That said, they are a solid offering in the wireless gaming headphones. If you are in the market for wireless gaming headphones and would like them to serve equally well as both gaming and music headphones, the Turtle Beach Steal Pro headphones are worth a look.
Overall, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headphones are not without their quirks and could use some further software refinements. That said, they are a solid offering in the wireless gaming headphones. If you are in the market for wireless gaming headphones and would like them to serve equally well as both gaming and music headphones, the Turtle Beach Steal Pro headphones are worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for small and medium-size businesses, the imageCLASS MF753Cdw model balances speedy performance and minimal maintenance. The MF753Cdw is easy to set up and offers media versatility to print on a variety of media types and sizes, including envelopes, banners and more. The customizable, 5" color touchscreen delivers an intuitive user experience. Produce crisp, colorful documents with fast print speeds of up to 35 pages per minute1, using high quality Canon Genuine Toner 069 / 069 H. Use Poster Artist Online to create professional-posters, banners and signage. The MF753Cdw offers and expandable paper capacity of up to 850 sheets, with a plain paper capacity of up to 250 sheets, 50-sheet multipurpose tray, and optional cassette PF-K1 which holds up to 550 sheets. The MF753Cdw has a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, which scans double-sided documents in one pass. Easily connect and print through high-speed USB, Ethernet, or wirelessly from computers or mobile devices. Print using a variety of mobile apps, including the Canon PRINT Business app2 using your compatible mobile device. The MF753Cdw comes with a 3-year limited warranty3 and is backed by Canon's Service and Support network.
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Fast warmup, scanning, and printing
Compact
Quiet
Excellent print quality
Excellent scanning quality
Easy access to toner
Easy to use screen once configured
Touchscreen very customizable
Can be expanded with larger paper tray
Paper tray smaller sizes than most
Works with Android and iPhone for Printing
Scanner is used to calibrate color
Fast warmup, scanning, and printing
Compact
Quiet
Excellent print quality
Excellent scanning quality
Easy access to toner
Easy to use screen once configured
Touchscreen very customizable
Can be expanded with larger paper tray
Paper tray smaller sizes than most
Works with Android and iPhone for Printing
Scanner is used to calibrate color
Cons
Setup system is antiquated
Sometimes fails to connect when asleep
Touchscreen is slow and detects a swipe as a tap
Configuration via “RemoteUI” is tedious
Drivers won’t install on Windows 11
MF Scan couldn’t detect the printer on MacOS
Small paper tray for printing speed
Setup system is antiquated
Sometimes fails to connect when asleep
Touchscreen is slow and detects a swipe as a tap
Configuration via “RemoteUI” is tedious
Drivers won’t install on Windows 11
MF Scan couldn’t detect the printer on MacOS
Small paper tray for printing speed
The Canon MF753Cdw is marketed as a compact, easy to use solution for offices and is so simple it doesn’t need IT staff to set up. For a printer with this feature set, it is very compact. The footprint is barely any more than just a laser printer. As for setup and use so easy you don’t need IT staff, that is more questionable. It does have support for mobile printing on both iPhone and Android but there is no indication if scanning works on mobile as well.
Setup
The most basic setup isn’t too difficult. You choose how you are connecting hardwired or wireless. If you are connecting wirelessly then you just choose your Wi-Fi name and enter your password. Strangely, the printer doesn’t understand modern mesh Wi-Fi. Instead of just showing the Wi-Fi it shows every access point separately which can be confusing. Considering this is a business printer and mesh Wi-Fi is common in business networks this is a bit strange and might even explain why the printer occasionally shows offline. After adding it to the network you have two routes you can take. You can either use the default drivers and utilities included with Windows or MacOS or install the drivers and software from Canons’ website. A CD-rom is also included if your system still has one. Installing via the built in options in Windows and MacOS was painless. You just search for the printer, and if found, it set it up for you with the basic drivers. There is no Windows Store app available so you just get the basic functions. If you want to use the drivers provided by Canon for more functionality, things get more finicky and technical. First of all, on Windows 11 the printer driver installed and could see the printer but couldn’t install it. This prevented MF Scan from working as it needs the printer drivers. The entire process feels antiquated including software installation. If you have seen driver installers from Windows XP, this process would feel very familiar. MacOS worked a little better and installed but then had trouble finding the printer. Once it was able to find the printer the MF Scan Utility worked without issues, but MF Toolbox could never find the scanner. It really seems like if you want the simplest option then you are better off skipping installing the Canon drivers and utilities and instead just using the built in ones from your OS of choice.
The most basic setup isn’t too difficult. You choose how you are connecting hardwired or wireless. If you are connecting wirelessly then you just choose your Wi-Fi name and enter your password. Strangely, the printer doesn’t understand modern mesh Wi-Fi. Instead of just showing the Wi-Fi it shows every access point separately which can be confusing. Considering this is a business printer and mesh Wi-Fi is common in business networks this is a bit strange and might even explain why the printer occasionally shows offline. After adding it to the network you have two routes you can take. You can either use the default drivers and utilities included with Windows or MacOS or install the drivers and software from Canons’ website. A CD-rom is also included if your system still has one. Installing via the built in options in Windows and MacOS was painless. You just search for the printer, and if found, it set it up for you with the basic drivers. There is no Windows Store app available so you just get the basic functions. If you want to use the drivers provided by Canon for more functionality, things get more finicky and technical. First of all, on Windows 11 the printer driver installed and could see the printer but couldn’t install it. This prevented MF Scan from working as it needs the printer drivers. The entire process feels antiquated including software installation. If you have seen driver installers from Windows XP, this process would feel very familiar. MacOS worked a little better and installed but then had trouble finding the printer. Once it was able to find the printer the MF Scan Utility worked without issues, but MF Toolbox could never find the scanner. It really seems like if you want the simplest option then you are better off skipping installing the Canon drivers and utilities and instead just using the built in ones from your OS of choice.
The front screen comes with default options. You can adjust many things directly from the touchscreen, but it is easier to do this via what Canon calls RemoteUI. This is not only because many features are only configurable in RemoteUI, but also because the touchscreen is slow and tends to interpret scrolling or swiping as taps. RemoteUI is just the printers built in website for changing settings the same as printers have been for years. While functional, this isn’t exactly easy to configure for the non-technical person. Setting up Cloud services similarly isn’t the most straightforward process. First, it must be done through RemoteUI in the Application Library which is only visible in System Manager Mode and it isn’t as simple as connecting to a cloud service and you make a choice on the printer afterwards. You must configure buttons for each action you would like to perform specifically. For example, you need to create a button to do a singled sided scan and save it to your Google Drive. If you want to be able to do a double-sided scan or even change the format or resolution, you must create more buttons. For each option you would like to perform with your cloud service you also have to give a unique button group name, which is not used, and reconnect to the same cloud service which was used for the previous button. While the process works, it could do with some streamlining.
Usage and Performance
While setup is not as user friendly as marketing would lead you to believe, daily usage is the opposite. Occasionally the printer doesn’t wake from sleep and shows offline on the first try, but this is a minor nuisance. Most of the time, when you choose to print it wakes up extremely fast and the pages start coming out within a handful of seconds. Print quality is very good as well. Text and pictures have a slight gloss with good color uniformity making prints look more professional instead of dull and flat like some laser printers. This is likely also because as part of the setup process the printer creates a calibration page which you scan in ensuring prints are as color accurate as possible. The main issue you might run into is needing to refill the paper tray because it prints so fast. Scanning produces sharp results. Scans come out clean and remove most creases and noise without sacrificing sharpness. If you have spent time configuring the touchscreen buttons, the process is very easy. You can load up what you want to scan, tap the cloud account you want to upload to, and you are done. If you have your options set up, the process is seamless. Another nice feature is how the scanner, output tray, toner, and paper drawer all face the same direction. Also, changing toner doesn’t require opening half the printer either. All you do is open and door and pull out a tray. If you have ever dealt with changing toner by opening a hinge that lifts half the printer ready to fall back down, you can imagine how much simpler a toner tray is.
While setup is not as user friendly as marketing would lead you to believe, daily usage is the opposite. Occasionally the printer doesn’t wake from sleep and shows offline on the first try, but this is a minor nuisance. Most of the time, when you choose to print it wakes up extremely fast and the pages start coming out within a handful of seconds. Print quality is very good as well. Text and pictures have a slight gloss with good color uniformity making prints look more professional instead of dull and flat like some laser printers. This is likely also because as part of the setup process the printer creates a calibration page which you scan in ensuring prints are as color accurate as possible. The main issue you might run into is needing to refill the paper tray because it prints so fast. Scanning produces sharp results. Scans come out clean and remove most creases and noise without sacrificing sharpness. If you have spent time configuring the touchscreen buttons, the process is very easy. You can load up what you want to scan, tap the cloud account you want to upload to, and you are done. If you have your options set up, the process is seamless. Another nice feature is how the scanner, output tray, toner, and paper drawer all face the same direction. Also, changing toner doesn’t require opening half the printer either. All you do is open and door and pull out a tray. If you have ever dealt with changing toner by opening a hinge that lifts half the printer ready to fall back down, you can imagine how much simpler a toner tray is.
Final Thoughts
While calling the MF753Cdw simple enough to set up without technical knowledge is a bit of a stretch, once setup up the results produced are hard to beat. There are areas where the process could use refinement and simplification but if you are in the market for a compact laser printer that produces very good results quickly the MF753Cdw is worth a look.
While calling the MF753Cdw simple enough to set up without technical knowledge is a bit of a stretch, once setup up the results produced are hard to beat. There are areas where the process could use refinement and simplification but if you are in the market for a compact laser printer that produces very good results quickly the MF753Cdw is worth a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The best just got better with the new Nextbase 622GW 4K Dash Cam. With an abundance of new features and world’s firsts, the 622GW is the most accurate, powerful and highest image quality Dash Cam in the market today. Ultra-clear 4K recording at 30fps captures those all-important finer details, with recording at 1440p HD at 60fps or 1080p HD at 120fps for super slow motion available. An improved sensor ensures enhanced night vision on even the darkest roads. Image quality is at the forefront of the Dash cam revolution, with Image stabilization reducing vibrations from your vehicle and improving footage clarity. Another first for Nextbase is Extreme Weather Mode, to provide a clearer image in misty conditions using special defogging algorithms, crucial for winter and night-time driving. The 622GW is the world’s first Dash Cam to include what3words. This provides your exact location to a 3m square location without the need for a data connection, crucial for emergency services to precisely locate you. Coupled with Emergency SOS and Alexa Built-In, the 622GW shows its further ahead the field with technology advancements. Increased connectivity for transferring footage to your mobile phone is key with new built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and Hyper-Sync Wi-Fi 5GHz speeds are up to 10x faster. This ensures syncing times with the MyNextbase Connect app (IoS 12.1 or later and Android 5.1 and up). The 622GW is compatible with any Nextbase Rear View Module, to offer-all around protection, whilst crucially maintaining front 4K image quality, with 1080p full HD rear recordings. The 622GW features all the much loved Nextbase features including Intelligent Parking Mode, high accuracy 10x GPS readings, a 3” HD IPS touch screen and the fully patented Click&Go PRO mount design, for the ultimate Dash Cam user experience. Note- For this product a U3 class Nextbase microSD card is required (Not included). The ability to maintain a high WRITE speed consistently is what Nextbase SD cards are designed to do better than any other SD card. Any drop/fluctuation in WRITE speed within the SD card causes the Dash Cam footage to buffer, and in some cases will stop the recording entirely. Our Nextbase SD card controller and Firmware on the SD card achieves the requirements from our Dash Cam, where other SD cards cannot. Due to the continuous recording and overwriting of the card, the SD card needs to be a high-endurance card, otherwise the card may develop faults after a period of time; if a lower-capability card is used, certain features on the camera will not fully function due to being unable to re-write and record. Nextbase has over 3 million dash cams sold, 115 unique patents, custom designed processors and improved sensors which record fast moving objects in perfect picture clarity for day and night time driving. Auto adjusts contrast and brightness to further improve the footage details in the event of an accident. Save time, money, and ease with Nextbase Dash Cams.
Customer Rating
3
Solid video with room for software improvement
on December 11, 2022
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Compact
Offers tons of telemetry
Clear picture
Adjustable polarized filter reduces glare
Upgradable to cabin or rear camera
Upgradable storage
Strong magnetic mount
Hardwired option available
SOS Function
Whatthreewords function
Alexa functionality
Most license plates are readable
Compact
Offers tons of telemetry
Clear picture
Adjustable polarized filter reduces glare
Upgradable to cabin or rear camera
Upgradable storage
Strong magnetic mount
Hardwired option available
SOS Function
Whatthreewords function
Alexa functionality
Most license plates are readable
Cons
Poor touchscreen sensitivity at corners
No way to combine video files in app
Video can only be reviewed in 1 to 3 minute segments
Camera sometimes shuts off or restarts while connected via Wi-Fi
Cabin camera connection on right instead of left side
Software feels dated and sometimes fails
GPS date and time failed to update automatically with strong signal
Poor touchscreen sensitivity at corners
No way to combine video files in app
Video can only be reviewed in 1 to 3 minute segments
Camera sometimes shuts off or restarts while connected via Wi-Fi
Cabin camera connection on right instead of left side
Software feels dated and sometimes fails
GPS date and time failed to update automatically with strong signal
Design and Features
The 622GW is currently the top-of-the-line model from Nextbase which can record in 4K at 30fps or if you want to catch faster movement you can drop it all the way down to 1080p and record at 120fps. Video is recorded on a microSD card which is not included. They recommend using the Nextbase card for best reliability. The most important part is the card is fast enough and can tolerate extreme temperatures. The included mount attaches with a 3M pad which holds firmly. An extra pad is also included, and a suction cup is available separately. The camera connects and is held on the base using strong magnets. Built into the lens is an adjustable polarized filter to cut down on glare and reflections. Out of the box it is powered by standard car power port with very long cord and a tuck too to allow you to hide the cord behind trim. You can also purchase a hardwired kit which allows you to power the dashcam straight off your battery. Also available for purchase is a camera to record the rear of the vehicle, the cabin, or the rear using a zoom lens. You have three different options but the dashcam can only connect to one at a time.
The 622GW is currently the top-of-the-line model from Nextbase which can record in 4K at 30fps or if you want to catch faster movement you can drop it all the way down to 1080p and record at 120fps. Video is recorded on a microSD card which is not included. They recommend using the Nextbase card for best reliability. The most important part is the card is fast enough and can tolerate extreme temperatures. The included mount attaches with a 3M pad which holds firmly. An extra pad is also included, and a suction cup is available separately. The camera connects and is held on the base using strong magnets. Built into the lens is an adjustable polarized filter to cut down on glare and reflections. Out of the box it is powered by standard car power port with very long cord and a tuck too to allow you to hide the cord behind trim. You can also purchase a hardwired kit which allows you to power the dashcam straight off your battery. Also available for purchase is a camera to record the rear of the vehicle, the cabin, or the rear using a zoom lens. You have three different options but the dashcam can only connect to one at a time.
Included free for the first year is an Emergency SOS service that monitors for a crash and, if needed, contacts emergency services and shares important information including your location. The system uses your phone to contact emergency services. While nice to have, more smartphones are beginning to include similar functions without the need for an additional subscription.
Performance and Usage
Performance and Usage
Basic setup is simple and straightforward. Just mount it and connect it to power and it begins working. There is a small ring around the lens you use to adjust the polarizing filter to reduce glare. It is a bit hard to turn as it is very thin, but it makes a difference. While it doesn’t cut out all the glare it does greatly reduce it making videos through the windshield clearer. Setting up Alexa was a bit more finicky. Setup would go smoothly at first but after adding the skill the Nextbase app would not continue. Checking back in the app later and Alexa was activated. Once connected the calling Alexa via the dashcam would work to control Alexa on the iPhone but unfortunately the iPhone refused to connect to the stereo anymore. Removing the Bluetooth profile from the stereo and phone would allow it to pair again and partially work but calls and music control wouldn’t function through the stereo. It’s worth noting that since the phone received a recent update, strange Bluetooth issues have occurred between other devices and the phone. While the phone might be part of the cause of the issues, the dashcam also acted a bit strange. When connected via Direct Wi-Fi to the dashcam viewing video clips the dashcam would just randomly turn off or restart. The screen also seems much less sensitive to touch in the corners requiring multiple button presses of back or Ok to navigate menus. It’s hard to say what exactly was causing the Bluetooth issue but the combination would not work fully together.
While testing crash detection and parking protection are a bit difficult without damaging your vehicle, video performance is easy to test. Compared to previous generations of Nextbase Dashcams, the upgrade from 1080P to 4K is a subtle but important difference. The most important difference is in reading license plates. When you view videos on your phone it might seem at first that license plates are not readable but if you safe a photo using the camera button inside a video a good number of license plates are legible, even while moving, in challenging lighting conditions. It isn’t going to capture every license plate with perfect clarity, but it is far better than in the past. This is also without using the new image stabilization. Unless you live on a country road or go offroad often the standard video is very smooth without the sacrifice of needing to crop the video down.
Video quality is the strength of the 622GW. The Nextbase app and method for viewing videos still feels dated. If an event was recorded while in parking mode it doesn’t let you know you have a new video to check. The SD Card also needs to be manually formatted periodically or it will stop saving recordings. A subtle new feature of viewing is using low resolution for Bluetooth so you can quickly view videos. If you need high resolution, you choose the download button and it automatically switches to Wi-Fi Direct to download the full quality. There is still no way to view playback continuously. IF you are looking for a particular section of video you will need to browse and watch individual 1 to 3 minute long video clips to find the one you need. If what you are looking for spans more than one video file, the app doesn’t seem to have a way to combine them into a single video. A standout feature is just how much telemetry is stored in videos. Video files include the date, time, high resolution GPS location, speed, lateral force, and acceleration. For some reason though It kept showing a year of 2020 instead of 2022 requiring the date and time to be manually set.
Final Thoughts
It would be nice to see Nextbase focus on refining layout and operation of the app, but video quality is what matters most. While some of the extra features might seem a bit of a gimmick and a bit unrefined, capturing quality usable footage is where the Nextbase 622GW excels.
It would be nice to see Nextbase focus on refining layout and operation of the app, but video quality is what matters most. While some of the extra features might seem a bit of a gimmick and a bit unrefined, capturing quality usable footage is where the Nextbase 622GW excels.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Soundcore Sleep A10 Earbuds are your perfect companion for a peaceful night's sleep. They’re designed around an exclusive 4-Point Noise Masking system to keep night-time disturbances under your radar. Enhanced passive noise canceling combines with an advanced active noise masking algorithm, and soothing sleep sounds to block out up to 35dB of unwanted noise and deliver the ideal sleep environment. Sleep A10 earbuds are tiny and lightweight so they stay comfortably in your ears, all night long. Slim profile and pressure-free fit means even heavy side-sleepers can rest the entire night without discomfort or fatigue.
Customer Rating
3
Good but software could use refinement
on November 13, 2022
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Small enough to fit in the ear
Works good for side sleepers
Works with your music or white noise
Can create custom white noise
Tracks your sleep
Can turn off automatically when you fall asleep
Can adjust volume based on your phone’s microphone
Long battery life
Decent sound quality for size
Adjustable EQ
Small enough to fit in the ear
Works good for side sleepers
Works with your music or white noise
Can create custom white noise
Tracks your sleep
Can turn off automatically when you fall asleep
Can adjust volume based on your phone’s microphone
Long battery life
Decent sound quality for size
Adjustable EQ
Cons
Sometimes put pressure on ear canal
Can’t automatically switch from music to white noise
Soft materials catch on some fabrics
Viewing sleep history requires turning on earbuds
Small size makes them easy to lose in bed
Controls require hard double tap
Music mode doesn’t loop available sounds
Sometimes put pressure on ear canal
Can’t automatically switch from music to white noise
Soft materials catch on some fabrics
Viewing sleep history requires turning on earbuds
Small size makes them easy to lose in bed
Controls require hard double tap
Music mode doesn’t loop available sounds
The SoundCore A10 look about like any other earbuds while in the case. The case looks like a small white pillow and has a soft touch finish. Once you open the case is when you see the difference. First, the case doesn’t hinge open but instead slides open. The earbuds hardly take any room in the case. They are much smaller than normal. They are held securely in the charging case by magnets. When you take them out you also notice that the stem that goes in your ear is just large enough to fit the silicone tip. Initially they feel awkward to remove from the case and put in your ears because of their size and shape. If you aren’t grabbing onto the soft wing that holds it in your ear, then you are grabbing onto the soft ear tip that goes into your ear canal. Putting them in your ears is also different than normal. When you put them in they don’t feel like they apply much pressure and it almost feels like the wing isn’t grabbing anything until you realize that is because the earbuds are so much lighter. Except for the gentle pressure in your ear, it almost feels as though nothing is there.
Setup is a familiar process. Just install the app, create an account, and the app walks you through the setup process. However, the app is much different in that it has a music section and sleep section. The layout is a bit confusing. It seems the music section is where you can choose music or ambient sounds to help you focus, relax, or meditate. The problem is any music or sounds started from the music section only play once. Considering these are short loop tracks you only hear playback for only a minute. There is not option to repeat or create a playlist. The tracks do loop if you are in the sleep mode. What is strange is for some reason the music section where you choose the sound for the sleep. After choosing your sound you set it as your favorite, and it uploads it directly to the earbuds. This how you can play the sound/song on loop. This plays the song directly on the earbuds, without Bluetooth, increasing playback time from 6 hours, on Bluetooth to 10 hours on sleep. The limitation is you get to choose only one sound to loop. If you want to use regular music, then you choose the music option and then play music using your favorite music streaming app. For regular music you can choose from a list of EQ presets or set your own EQ profile. In sleep mode you can have the volume change dynamically based on the noise around you using your phone’s microphone, but this feature doesn’t work for regular music. You also have the option to have it turn music or the white noise off after it detects you have fallen asleep if you prefer. By default, it will continue to play what you have set. It would be nice to have the option to set it to change from your music to white noise the moment you fall asleep allowing the music to put you to sleep and the white noise to keep you asleep. Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t exist now, but it would great to see it added. Overall, they do a good job of muffling outside sounds, but if you sleep next to someone who snores loudly you will still hear them. However, the overall volume will be reduced a good amount.
While the small size makes it a little harder to handle, the benefit is they rarely bother you while sleeping. You can feel but them they don’t put a lot of pressure on your ear canal. Since they are flat and low profile, they rarely cause problems for side sleepers too. On rare occasions you can lay on them just right to put pressure on the side of your ear canal, but a slight move of your head can fix that. This is far better than traditional earbuds. Even if they don’t bother you, one issue that is a little more common is if you put pressure at just the right angle the ear tip will block the earbud. This will cause a noticeable change in volume on one side that can occasionally even wake you up. The fact that the earbuds are encased in a silicone boot also means that from time to time the will catch things like your pillowcase. This can lead an earbud being snagged out while you sleep. With their small size this can making finding them in bed a challenge.
Controls are limited only to a double tap on each earbud. You can configure what action the double tap performs but that is all you get. Everything else is adjusted via your phone. The controls aren’t touch sensitive. You must do a hard double tap. Think back to when you were a kid and the first time you tried out a doctor’s stethoscope and tapped out on while wearing it. This is nearly what it sounds like to use the double tap controls on the earbuds. It understandable why Anker doesn’t use traditional controls for sleep earbuds. The last thing you need is to accidentally active them while sleeping. However, it would be nice if Anker could improve on this compromise a bit more, so it doesn’t sound like you are trying to pop your eardrum to adjust. Since primary purpose of the Soundcore A10’s is for sleep you also won’t find a microphone.
You can tell the focus is on sleep more than sound quality. The Soundcore A10 doesn’t stand out when it comes to sound quality. They are bass heavy with some mids and the high range being a bit thin for standard music. At lower volumes or when listing to white noise the combination works quite well. For music, you hear more of the low sounds to allow the beat to put you to sleep and hear just enough of the highs to recognize your song. For white noise, the drivers seem to be well suited. Of course, with the EQ you can tweak things more to your taste, but you still want to keep your expectations in check. While the focus is sleep there are sounds intended to help with relaxation or focus, but it seems volume is limited within the app so outside sounds can more easily distract.
While the focus is on helping you sleep, you can also track your sleep. The Soundcore A10 can track your deep sleep, light sleep, awake time, and overall asleep time. If you are just looking for the basics of sleep tracking, the Soundcore A10 has you covered. However, if you are looking to get more specific information on your sleep habits you are going to need a fitness wearable to more granular information. The A10s are just for the basics.
While the focus is on helping you sleep, you can also track your sleep. The Soundcore A10 can track your deep sleep, light sleep, awake time, and overall asleep time. If you are just looking for the basics of sleep tracking, the Soundcore A10 has you covered. However, if you are looking to get more specific information on your sleep habits you are going to need a fitness wearable to more granular information. The A10s are just for the basics.
Final Thoughts
The Soundcore A10 earbuds help solve a problem regular earbuds don’t. If you prefer to fall asleep to music or ambient sounds and have issues with your regular earbuds, particularly if you are a side sleeper, the Soundcore A10 could be a good solution.
The Soundcore A10 earbuds help solve a problem regular earbuds don’t. If you prefer to fall asleep to music or ambient sounds and have issues with your regular earbuds, particularly if you are a side sleeper, the Soundcore A10 could be a good solution.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get a healthier, brighter smile with the Philips Sonicare 9000 Special Edition. This toothbrush features a pressure sensor, 4 brushing modes, 3 intensities and smart brush head mode pairing technology. The Philips Sonicare 9000 Special Edition will look beautiful in your bathroom, with elegant charging glass and premium finishings. Track your brushing within the Sonicare App to ensure you're reaching your oral health care goals.
Customer Rating
5
Stylish and Feature Packed
on November 11, 2022
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Attractive Design
Lets you know if you are brushing too hard
Tracks when it’s time to replace the brush head
Automatically switches to the correct mode based on brush head
Has 3 adjustable brush intensities
Pressure sensor alerts when you brush too hard
App automatically tracks your brushing habits
Syncs brushing habits with Apple HealthKit
Attractive Design
Lets you know if you are brushing too hard
Tracks when it’s time to replace the brush head
Automatically switches to the correct mode based on brush head
Has 3 adjustable brush intensities
Pressure sensor alerts when you brush too hard
App automatically tracks your brushing habits
Syncs brushing habits with Apple HealthKit
Cons
Lackluster travel case
App could offer more descriptions
Lackluster travel case
App could offer more descriptions
Sonicare seems to offer a version of their toothbrushes to fit every budget and style. The Sonicare 9000 Special Edition is more for those who want more options and information about how they brush but also want their toothbrush to look more elegant on the countertop. With the blue to black gradient, metal accent ring, and black chrome base this toothbrush is meant to be left visible on the counter. Even when you put a new brush head on, it doesn’t just switch to the mode that matches the brush head. The lights fade in a cascade from the top down to the correct mode. If there was anything that detracts from this feeling of elegance it would be the travel case. It is made of very thing plastic and the place where your brush head and body stays aren’t even distinct. The case feels as if it was an afterthought. That said, it does the job just fine.
A change from past Sonicare models is the easy start brush intensity is turned off by default. If you haven’t used Sonicare in the past, it would be good to activate this feature to help you get used to the feeling. You can also turn off the brush head reminder and pressure alerts although you would lose the convenience they provide.
The toothbrush can also pair with your phone. It isn’t required but if you are the type that either wants coaching on your brushing or just to track your brushing habits this can be helpful. If you have the app open when brushing it shows you how much brushing time you have left for each of the 6 brushing segments but also gives you a visible warning if you are brushing too hard. It also tracks in the app the amount of pressure you apply while brushing. If you have an iPhone, it can also sync your brushing habits with HealthKit. What seems a bit strange is when you set up the app it explains it needs to have permission locations. It says it is needed to know if you are near your toothbrush for automatic logging of brushing. It’s hard to see exactly how GPS helps unless maybe the sync feature will see any toothbrush, and this is used to make sure you are at home and it is your own. If that is the case one would wonder how it might handle a household with more than one of these toothbrushes. In either case, you don’t have to allow GPS to use the app, it says instead you will need to pair your toothbrush every two weeks.
IF you are in the market for a new Sonicare with the brush sync features, like the ability to choose brushing intensity, or want a more stylish toothbrush the Sonicare 9000 Special Edition is a great option.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Game like a pro on Windows 11 with this ROG Zephyrus G14. Double up on AMD firepower with Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU and Radeon RX 6800S GPU featuring exclusive AMD SmartShift and Smart Access Memory technology that dynamically boosts performance for any task. Be confident in screen quality with an ROG Nebula 120Hz Display. Leap into the next generation of memory and storage with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
Customer Rating
5
New Generation, Bigger Improvements
on November 10, 2022
Posted by: CraigB
New Generation, Bigger Improvements
Pros
Solid build with internal magnesium-aluminum
Subdued gamer styling
Quiet even at max speed
QHD+ Screen
Much brighter screen
120Hz screen with 3ms response time
AMD Advantage Certified
16:10 Aspect ratio
Webcam with Windows Hello
RGB Backlit keyboard
Good typing experience
Good sound quality
Excellent larger glass trackpad
Includes MUX Switch
Wi-Fi 6E support
Upgradable SSD, RAM, and Wi-Fi
Good battery life when properly set
Auto switching performance profiles for each game
Supports PCI-E Gen 4
Possible USB4 support in future update
Solid build with internal magnesium-aluminum
Subdued gamer styling
Quiet even at max speed
QHD+ Screen
Much brighter screen
120Hz screen with 3ms response time
AMD Advantage Certified
16:10 Aspect ratio
Webcam with Windows Hello
RGB Backlit keyboard
Good typing experience
Good sound quality
Excellent larger glass trackpad
Includes MUX Switch
Wi-Fi 6E support
Upgradable SSD, RAM, and Wi-Fi
Good battery life when properly set
Auto switching performance profiles for each game
Supports PCI-E Gen 4
Possible USB4 support in future update
Cons
Ports closer to the front of the chassis can get in the way
Plastic shells lessons premium experience
Inconsistent keyboard backlight
Mediocre camera quality
Average SSD performance
HDMI 2.0b instead of 2.1
Mediatek Wi-Fi card sometimes drops out
Occasional driver instability
Exhaust blows heat on screen
Gets fairly hot under full load
Ports closer to the front of the chassis can get in the way
Plastic shells lessons premium experience
Inconsistent keyboard backlight
Mediocre camera quality
Average SSD performance
HDMI 2.0b instead of 2.1
Mediatek Wi-Fi card sometimes drops out
Occasional driver instability
Exhaust blows heat on screen
Gets fairly hot under full load
Design and Features
The Asus Zephyrus G14 has taken a different direction for 2022. The setup is now AMD for both the CPU and GPU and being an AMD Advantage means more changes towards a more premium design. While 2022 version still carries the plastic exterior covering the magnesium/aluminum chassis of the past, now included is a higher end screen and trackpad. The screen is now a 16:10 aspect ratio QHD+ screen versus the old 16:9 FHD screen making the display slightly taller and with less of a chin at the bottom. The top and side bezels are about the same as prior generations except of course included now is a 720P Windows Hello Webcam. The old fingerprint reader integrated into the power button is gone. The keyboard deck has changed from silver to white and now the keyboard backlight is a single zone RGB instead of white. With the 16:10 ratio making the laptop longer overall, this has allowed a much larger glass trackpad and a larger area to rest your palms. The speakers have also been moved to the top of the keyboard deck to clear space for your palms and prevent muffling of sounds. The more angular elements, like the spacebar and cooling vents of previous generations, have been reduced or eliminated for a more subtle design.
The Asus Zephyrus G14 has taken a different direction for 2022. The setup is now AMD for both the CPU and GPU and being an AMD Advantage means more changes towards a more premium design. While 2022 version still carries the plastic exterior covering the magnesium/aluminum chassis of the past, now included is a higher end screen and trackpad. The screen is now a 16:10 aspect ratio QHD+ screen versus the old 16:9 FHD screen making the display slightly taller and with less of a chin at the bottom. The top and side bezels are about the same as prior generations except of course included now is a 720P Windows Hello Webcam. The old fingerprint reader integrated into the power button is gone. The keyboard deck has changed from silver to white and now the keyboard backlight is a single zone RGB instead of white. With the 16:10 ratio making the laptop longer overall, this has allowed a much larger glass trackpad and a larger area to rest your palms. The speakers have also been moved to the top of the keyboard deck to clear space for your palms and prevent muffling of sounds. The more angular elements, like the spacebar and cooling vents of previous generations, have been reduced or eliminated for a more subtle design.
Currently the USB ports are listed as USB 3.2 but prior reports and a article buried on Asus’s website says they are working to add USB 4 support to systems with Ryzen 6000 series processors. There is no timeline of when this might happen as the article states they will not release it unless or until they feel it is of high enough quality and stability. Currently there is a BETA BIOS available if you are willing to take the risk, but in its current state reports are it is unstable and even Asus recommends waiting. They also give no guarantees that it will ever be released. One other item not mentioned is that the installed Ram is rated as DDR5 CL40. Half of it is soldered onto the board and the other half is upgradeable to a max of 24GB.
The bottom panel now has a metal plate with venting and dust screens. The signature kickstand screen is still included which also means all ports and the power plug are on the sides. Since all venting is at the back of the chassis this also means all ports are towards the front sides of the chassis. While this presumably is done to improve cooling, it does mean that anything plugged into the ports is more likely to get in your way. New for 2022 is the addition of a MicroSD card slot on the right side. A full-size SD card slot would have been great for creative types wishing to offload pictures and videos from their camera, but a MicroSD is still a welcomed addition.
Usage and Performance
Initially the G14 got off to a rocky start. Out of the box it wouldn’t turn on. Even after plugging in it wouldn’t turn on for a couple of minutes. At first it seemed as though the battery might have been completely dead but on startup it was over 50% charged. It’s possible this was a delay on the first startup as it has not happened again. Also, it definitely needed to have all the drivers and firmware updates installed to be stable. Before all updating it would not turn on once and froze in sleep another. Since the updates have been applied things have smoothed out noticeably. This is bit odd for an Asus computer but it’s possible this system was from an earlier production run before critical updates were released.
Initially the G14 got off to a rocky start. Out of the box it wouldn’t turn on. Even after plugging in it wouldn’t turn on for a couple of minutes. At first it seemed as though the battery might have been completely dead but on startup it was over 50% charged. It’s possible this was a delay on the first startup as it has not happened again. Also, it definitely needed to have all the drivers and firmware updates installed to be stable. Before all updating it would not turn on once and froze in sleep another. Since the updates have been applied things have smoothed out noticeably. This is bit odd for an Asus computer but it’s possible this system was from an earlier production run before critical updates were released.
The first thing you notice on starting the laptop is the screen. While the previous generation screens didn’t look bad, the new screen is noticeably sharper and brighter. Even in a bright room the screen is comfortable to view and is still useable in outdoor situations. Colors look accurate and backlight bleed is minimal. If there is anything that could be considered deficient it would be the contrast. This panel isn’t capable of darker blacks let alone the inky blacks of an OLED. This isn’t an indication of a problem with the panel but merely its weakest aspect. Overall, it is still a very good panel and step up from prior generations. While refresh rate is slightly down from the prior years 144Hz panel to 120Hz the response time has been greatly improve to a reported 3ms. Without hardware to test its hard to say how accurate this is but there wasn’t any sign of ghosting during gaming. Its nice to see Asus finally added a webcam and even did it without increasing the bezels while including Windows Hello. You’re just going to have to keep your expectations in check. It works great for logging you in the moment the system wakes but this is a best a passable camera for basic video chat. This isn’t going to be good enough if you are thinking to stream with it.
The typing experience has been a strong point of the G14 laptops since their introduction and the 2022 edition is no exception. Whether you are gaming or working on a project the keys have a good amount of travel with a distinct activation point and soft bump at the bottom. The keys do wobble just a bit but not enough to slow you down. The change to white keys helps out visibility in bright light and also helps improve readability when the backlight is on. The downside is the backlight is not uniform. It seems to be a combination of two issues. The first is some keys just have smaller cutouts to let light through, such as the negative key and punctuation keys, but also that certain areas the backlight just doesn’t seem as bright, such as the left and right sides. Also, more of the backlight is bright and visible around the keys than through the letters reducing overall visibility. This can be improved by avoiding certain backlight colors, but Asus could do some further tweaking here. While the keyboard typing experience is largely unchanged from prior years the trackpad has had an upgrade. With the taller screen Asus was able to increase the size of the trackpad significantly. The glass surface is smooth and precise with good palm rejection even if it isn’t needed since there is plenty of room. Unlike some older trackpads, you don’t feel the need to avoid using this one.
The G14 has the power to serve work duties and styling subtle enough to not look out of place at work, but the big question is how does it game? To start, they added a MUX switch. In Armory Crate you can set custom performance profiles that automatically change for each game and based on if you are running on battery power or AC so once you set it up you don’t have to adjust the settings when you start the game with one exception and that is Ultimate Mode. Ultimate Mode is where you activate the MUX switch and force the system to only use the discrete graphics and at full power. You have to restart to activate or deactivate this mode and Asus recommends you are plugged in and they mean it. It uses significantly more power and wouldn’t allow you to game very long before you run out of battery. With the system set on Turbo Mode and Ultimate Shadow of the Tomb Raider pulled off an average of 69fps using the Highest detail preset and a resolution of 1920x1600. Turning on Ray tracing dropped the framerate down to an unplayable 32fps average. Thankfully the system supports RSR which allowed the system to pull off an average of 68fps with Ray Tracing set to Ultra. Switching to Minecraft seemed to show that RTX is still the bottleneck in 2022. With resolution set to 2560x1600 and all other settings on default frame rates became unplayable. By dropping down to 1920x1600 and using RSR once again things became smooth and playable once again. In short, if you want RTX and high resolution then you are going to need to activate RSR. Further stressing the system with Borderlands 3 returned just shy of 53fps at the full resolution of 2560x1600 and all settings on Ultra. While Halo Infinite doesn’t have a dedicated benchmark mode making a comparison difficult, it had no problems running smoothly with graphics maxed out. What is nice is on games that require you to drop the resolution slightly and use RSR you don’t have to do this manually. You just configure the profile via AMD Software and it handles things for you when the game launches. It would be nice if somehow the AMD Software and Armory Crate could be integrated into one but once things are set you don’t need to mess with them anyway.
Cramming this much power into such as small chassis isn’t without its tradeoffs. Asus has done a lot to try to get rid of all the heat, but they should allow the fans to spin a bit faster to keep the temps down. At full tilt the system can run too close or even over the max recommended by AMD. Also, on the exterior there were 4 spots reaching 130F and even blowing heat on the screen.
Final Thoughts
Asus made some significant improvements to the G14 for 2022. The G14 has been evolving from a mid-tier gaming laptop to more of a high-end gaming laptop. As long as it is fully updated, it is a solid laptop. If you are in the market for a compact mid to upper tier gaming laptop, the Zephyrus G14 is worth serious consideration.
Asus made some significant improvements to the G14 for 2022. The G14 has been evolving from a mid-tier gaming laptop to more of a high-end gaming laptop. As long as it is fully updated, it is a solid laptop. If you are in the market for a compact mid to upper tier gaming laptop, the Zephyrus G14 is worth serious consideration.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Revolutionary Twinkly Squares smart LED wall panels completely redefine decorative lighting. Whether you want pixel-perfect artwork and GIFs, cool ambience and mood lighting, reactive gaming lights, or a unique night light for kids, Squares is a must-have display screen and lighting decoration. This kit contains a master panel and 5 extension panels that each feature 64 premium, app-controlled, addressable LEDs designed for extraordinary brightness and color quality featuring over 16 million colors. Physically combine the master panel with up to a total of 15 extension panels (others sold separately) and use the Twinkly App to sync groups of Squares. Create huge displays of virtually endless preset and customizable effects, animations, GIFs, and pixel art on your walls and ceilings. Getting started with Twinkly lights is easy, a quick and intuitive setup process configures your device in a matter of seconds. The Twinkly ecosystem uses a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi controller with a state-of-the-art smartphone application, bringing new levels of lighting design and creativity to customize your connected home.
Customer Rating
4
Fun but app needs refinement
on November 4, 2022
Posted by: CraigB
Pros
Panels feel study
Doesn’t require any proprietary mounting
Pixel cells well isolated from light bleed
Bright enough to see even during the day
Quick and easy to map squares
Wiring panels is easy
USB-C power
Master panel can control 15 panels
Multiple master panels can be control together
Works with Homekit, Alexa, and Google Assistant
Compatible with Razer Chroma
Panels feel study
Doesn’t require any proprietary mounting
Pixel cells well isolated from light bleed
Bright enough to see even during the day
Quick and easy to map squares
Wiring panels is easy
USB-C power
Master panel can control 15 panels
Multiple master panels can be control together
Works with Homekit, Alexa, and Google Assistant
Compatible with Razer Chroma
Cons
Square connectors are a bit flimsy
Panel still feels loose after connecting
App feels unfinished
Certain graphics crash the panel
Doesn’t work with Aura Sync
Square connectors are a bit flimsy
Panel still feels loose after connecting
App feels unfinished
Certain graphics crash the panel
Doesn’t work with Aura Sync
Design and Features
The kit comes with five standard panels and one master panel. The master panel serves to power the other panels as well as control them. Each master panel can control up to 15 standard panel. Master panels can be combined. Power is provided by a standard USB-C port allowing increased flexibility. Panels can be daisy chained together for power and control. Plastic clips are provided to secure panels to each other. The back of each panel has standard holes for hanging from a screw or nail. This is good for flexibility but if you wanted to a damage free options with adhesive strips you might find it challenging to find enough flat area to attach the pads to the back.
The kit comes with five standard panels and one master panel. The master panel serves to power the other panels as well as control them. Each master panel can control up to 15 standard panel. Master panels can be combined. Power is provided by a standard USB-C port allowing increased flexibility. Panels can be daisy chained together for power and control. Plastic clips are provided to secure panels to each other. The back of each panel has standard holes for hanging from a screw or nail. This is good for flexibility but if you wanted to a damage free options with adhesive strips you might find it challenging to find enough flat area to attach the pads to the back.
Setup and Performance
Setup is very simple. Just use the included wires to wire the panels to one another. There is no need to worry about connecting them in a specific order. Just make sure each panel is connected to another. It doesn’t even matter if one panel is connected to more than one. Plastic clips are used to bind panels to one another. While they are fine to keep them together once they are hung up they are not structural and will allow panels to flex around before hanging. Once you have the panels arranged the way you like you just need to plug in power and press the pairing button. Once the app on your phone sees the panel you can connect it to Wi-Fi and your Twinkly account. After this, you will be prompted to map your layout using a very easy process. All you do is point your phone camera at the panels while the app has the panels display different color patters. The app will map out how you have them arranged and after this point you can control them as one unified panel.
Setup is very simple. Just use the included wires to wire the panels to one another. There is no need to worry about connecting them in a specific order. Just make sure each panel is connected to another. It doesn’t even matter if one panel is connected to more than one. Plastic clips are used to bind panels to one another. While they are fine to keep them together once they are hung up they are not structural and will allow panels to flex around before hanging. Once you have the panels arranged the way you like you just need to plug in power and press the pairing button. Once the app on your phone sees the panel you can connect it to Wi-Fi and your Twinkly account. After this, you will be prompted to map your layout using a very easy process. All you do is point your phone camera at the panels while the app has the panels display different color patters. The app will map out how you have them arranged and after this point you can control them as one unified panel.
Once set up you can choose from a selection of patterns, browse more effects from the Twinkly Store, design your own graphics, or upload your own image and let the app map the lights for you. While the app works ok, it still could use some refinement and bug fixes. Sometimes tasks such as applying more intricate designs tend to cause the panel crash and turn off when applied. While not entirely a surprise for uploaded images, it is a surprise that some sample graphics cause the panel to crash. The doesn’t appear to be any physical problem with the panels but a software bug as panels can work for hours without problem until changing to certain graphics. You can schedule the panels to turn on and off to a schedule as well as cycle through pre-installed graphics but strangely not graphics uploaded. To cycle through graphics uploaded as well as pre-installed you instead create a playlist from your effects library. It’s small oddities in the interface as well as occasional freezes and crashes that illustrate Twinkly has work to do refining the app. Even with these quirks the panels feel high quality with no noticeable light bleed between cells and a maximum brightness that works even in well lit rooms.
You can connect the Twinkly Squares to Apple Homekit, Alexa, and Google Assistant but at the current time the most you can do is turn the squares on or off and change to a solid color. You can also connect them to Razer Chroma and HP Omen which allows more options, such as syncing too music. Unfortunately, our household uses Asus Aura Sync which isn’t support at the time of writing this. Hopefully Twinkly will add support in the future. Even without support for Aura Sync, the Twinkly Square are still a nice edition to our gaming setup.
Final Thoughts
Software quirks aside, Twinkly Squares are fun to use. Even if the app is not improved there are workarounds for the quirks. As long as you are willing to learn to work through them, these squares would be a quick and easy way to add more customization to your setup.
Software quirks aside, Twinkly Squares are fun to use. Even if the app is not improved there are workarounds for the quirks. As long as you are willing to learn to work through them, these squares would be a quick and easy way to add more customization to your setup.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Arlo Pro takes the worrying out of life with the 100% Wire-Free indoor/outdoor home monitoring system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good system with lots of potential
By CraigB
from Texas
Pros
Extremely Quick setup (A 2 camera system takes roughly 30 minutes)
Very easy set up. It comes with basic instructions but the app nicely walks you through each step
No need to run wires
Compact
Discreet cameras easily blend in with lighter color homes
Good daytime video quality for the price
Includes microphone and speaker
Flexible mounting options. Included option is easy but other fixed mounts can be used
Large rechargeable batteries
Motion trigger is supposed to get an update to determine if the motion is by a person
All devices get regular security updates. Even the cameras get updated wirelessly. Nice considering cameras are a new target for hackers.
Inanimate objects don’t seem to cause false motion triggers
Standard external hard drive can be used for local storage
Basic plan included for free
Easily expandable
Extremely Quick setup (A 2 camera system takes roughly 30 minutes)
Very easy set up. It comes with basic instructions but the app nicely walks you through each step
No need to run wires
Compact
Discreet cameras easily blend in with lighter color homes
Good daytime video quality for the price
Includes microphone and speaker
Flexible mounting options. Included option is easy but other fixed mounts can be used
Large rechargeable batteries
Motion trigger is supposed to get an update to determine if the motion is by a person
All devices get regular security updates. Even the cameras get updated wirelessly. Nice considering cameras are a new target for hackers.
Inanimate objects don’t seem to cause false motion triggers
Standard external hard drive can be used for local storage
Basic plan included for free
Easily expandable
Cons
Support for Windows is poor for the new touchscreen devices.
No Windows app for Windows 8 and 10 devices of any size.
Video quality, mainly night time, is probably not good enough for legal purposes.
Night video quality makes recognition near impossible past approximately 10 feet
Easy to steal or move regardless of mounting
Camera speaker is not very loud
Provided screws use too fine of a thread and the metal head strips out easy
All videos are public if someone can intercept your emails on the way to your inbox. (Email delivery by design is not encrypted so if someone intercepts your emails on the way they can see any of your videos with audio)
Recording time is fixed so even if motion or sound is still occurring you can miss recording
Web interface has some bugs such as freezing on zoom, Live play button disappears, and touch doesn’t work.
Sound recording doesn’t occur until a few seconds after video recording
At least one camera exhibited a noticeable “ticking clock” sound when recording audio
Connecting them hardwired defeats the weatherproofing
Instructions do not give tutorial about advanced features but rather let you discover them
No organizer for hard drive recordings
Dependent on good upload internet speeds. The more cameras you have, the faster the upload speed you need. This can be a limiting factor for some.
Long lag time to start live viewing even with very fast connection
Support for Windows is poor for the new touchscreen devices.
No Windows app for Windows 8 and 10 devices of any size.
Video quality, mainly night time, is probably not good enough for legal purposes.
Night video quality makes recognition near impossible past approximately 10 feet
Easy to steal or move regardless of mounting
Camera speaker is not very loud
Provided screws use too fine of a thread and the metal head strips out easy
All videos are public if someone can intercept your emails on the way to your inbox. (Email delivery by design is not encrypted so if someone intercepts your emails on the way they can see any of your videos with audio)
Recording time is fixed so even if motion or sound is still occurring you can miss recording
Web interface has some bugs such as freezing on zoom, Live play button disappears, and touch doesn’t work.
Sound recording doesn’t occur until a few seconds after video recording
At least one camera exhibited a noticeable “ticking clock” sound when recording audio
Connecting them hardwired defeats the weatherproofing
Instructions do not give tutorial about advanced features but rather let you discover them
No organizer for hard drive recordings
Dependent on good upload internet speeds. The more cameras you have, the faster the upload speed you need. This can be a limiting factor for some.
Long lag time to start live viewing even with very fast connection
Setup was very easy, particularly for a security camera system. The entire process is achieved by following the steps one by one as the app tells you. Install the app, set up your Arlo account, plug in the base unit to power and internet, sync the cameras, hang the cameras, and you’re done. A two camera system only took approximately 30 minutes. The kit includes metal bases, screws, and wall anchors but the screws are small and easy to strip. The metal bases work with a strong magnet included inside the camera. Although convenient, the metal bases allow someone to easily steal or move these expensive cameras so placement is important. Netgear offers screw in mounts for a more rigid and secure mounting. The entire hardware and software process has had a lot of thought put into making it easy. There are no complicated router changes needed to be made at all or complicated programming. Oddly some features, like changing the recording quality, must be done on a regular computer for which there is no app.
There is one strange feature omission from Netgear. This system has a Pro designation and yet support for regular, more modern computers, is limited. Businesses by and large use Windows computers and the most popular type of Windows computers selling today are Windows 2-in-1 convertibles with touchscreens this trend is forecasted to increase and yet this system is barely even useable by any touchscreen Windows device. This is also odd because what better way to check out a security video than on a large screen. You are forced to use a browser to view videos which the experience varies based on browser. Simple things like moving a slider don’t work because the website doesn’t work with touch. Browser administration has other bugs, such as the Live Video button disappearing. If this was an app you wouldn’t have to worry about how the end user’s choice of browser affects the experience. Not having a Universal Windows app is a missed opportunity. I have seen a large increase in clients that are buying Windows 2-in-1 systems instead of desktops or Android/iOS tablets for their primary system. A Windows Universal app they could support such systems, or any other form factor of Windows for that matter. Imagine if the app was on Xbox One in your living room and you want to check on things outside. Just say “Hey Cortana, open Arlo” and you could see your video feed or videos quickly and easily from the convenience of your couch on a big screen. That would be great. If you have smaller Windows devices, the website is unusable. It tries to get you to use an app that doesn’t exist. Oddly enough if you have a link to a shared video the same website will serve you the video in a mobile optimized format. Smaller Windows devices and Windows Mobile devices are left unsupported. Future updates and app releases could easily alleviate this but for now Windows support is poor.
The base unit comes with a Sync/Siren button, network port, and two USB ports for storage. The siren is loud and sounds like newer smoke alarms. It can be trigger locally, by the app, or via configurable rules such as motion or audio sensing. You can switch the base unit to modes for recording for motion and/or audio, no recording, or armed or disarmed based using Geofencing. You can also define your own custom modes allowing specific cameras and audio for each to be on or off. Due to battery restrictions, there is no continuous recording. Recording time from motion is a default of 5 seconds regardless of if the motion continues. Cameras include built in IR for night vision, motion sensor, microphone, and speaker and are weatherproof assuming the charging plug cover is on. One large difference with the Pro version is the inclusion of large rechargeable batteries which should last quite a long time between charging. When video is recorded, it is uploaded via your internet connection to your account meaning a good upload internet speed is important. Videos are stored in a calendar format and can be viewed, shared, or deleted from the interface.
Overall performance when factoring in the price for features was good. Shuddering and lag was minimal with surprisingly good wireless range. Remote viewing of live video is reasonably quick although it still took several seconds and is highly dependent on your internet upload speed. Audio took about 2 seconds to start every time after a motion trigger recording or manual live viewing and had a slightly audible tick-tock sound. The built-in speaker is barely audible at max volume. As with all security systems, there is a loss of some detail to do recording compression. Daytime recordings show signs of video compression but subjects are still reasonably recognizable at approximately 25 feet. Nighttime viewing brings recognition down to approximately 10-15 feet before subjects hard to recognize. Although not official, friends in law enforcement said it is not good for legal purposes as they must have a definitive, recognizable face to use the video. Motion detection was generally good but people moving fast could often elude the recording. Due to the fixed recording time, the system could also miss recording an event if it ran past the configured time.
A big concern is the video sharing feature. Arlo by default emails you anytime it records. It conveniently sends you a screenshot of what it recorded. However; the email sends a direct link to the video that can be viewed without logging in. This would be even more concerning if you had cameras in your house. By definition, is sent unsecured between providers. Although the industry is trying to improve that, you should always assume your emails have no encryption when sent to you. This means that it is possible and relatively easy for criminals to eavesdrop and see your videos with audio without ever knowing your account info. The good thing is that is easy to remedy turning off the feature that emails you when it records a video. That way the link to the video won’t be sent out on the web unsecured and your videos are still stored in the cloud without being shared openly. Hopefully, Netgear will remedy this in the future.
Overall, it is a nice system for the price point when compared to the competition. Compared to legacy DVR and NVR security camera systems this makes the whole process a lot more accessible for the average consumer. As long as you keep your expectations in line it is a nice system. All security camera systems, particularly ones costing less than $2,500 have limitations.
Overall, it is a nice system for the price point when compared to the competition. Compared to legacy DVR and NVR security camera systems this makes the whole process a lot more accessible for the average consumer. As long as you keep your expectations in line it is a nice system. All security camera systems, particularly ones costing less than $2,500 have limitations.
A standout feature, even comparing to high end systems, is this system will automatically get updates for security. Anyone who watched the news in late 2016 saw that the biggest hack was perpetrated using devices, such as camera systems, that weren’t updated. That is something still lacking in the “professional” security camera world. You also won’t have to hire someone to come pull wiring through your house or small business. Cameras can be placed wherever you can mount a base. If for some reason, such as poor signal, the place doesn’t work they are easy to move. It not be a real high definition security camera system but it also costs nowhere near as much. Just be sure you can accept the Cons before buying. The overall system is well thought out and with continued improvement of the listed cons this could be the best system for nearly any price.
CraigB
Texas
New developments after extended use
January 31, 2017
I have discovered some new elements to the system with more use.
The first is that I did find a way to adjust video quality via the app and not just the website. It turns out the way it is displayed is as one of 3 choices instead of a slider.
Next is that the cameras only work with Netgear's proprietary charger. Even though it uses USB both the manual an other say it only works with the Netgear one.
Finally I discovered that the motion detection does sometimes act strange. I purchase one additional camera and for some reason no matter the sensitivity of the motion it records a motion even every 30 seconds at night. I have observed that it seems to happen more if my neighbor has a light on but even that is not consistent.
+4points
4of 4voted this comment as helpful.
CraigB's Questions
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