Share techtoyz's profile
techtoyz
techtoyz's stats
- Review count25
- Helpfulness votes161
- First reviewMarch 18, 2012
- Last reviewMay 13, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.1
- Review comment count2
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentJanuary 7, 2014
- Last review commentOctober 26, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count7
- Helpfulness votes16
- First answerSeptember 29, 2015
- Last answerNovember 24, 2015
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
A 5.5-inch Retina HD display with 3D Touch. 7000 series aluminum and stronger cover glass. An A9 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. All new 12MP iSight camera with Live Photos. Touch ID. Faster LTE and Wi-Fi. Long battery life and iOS 9 and iCloud. All in a smooth, continuous unibody design.
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I've been an AT&T customer since the Cingular Wireless days and this is my first time on Verizon and also my first time getting this huge phone too.
Service on Verizon is okay. No surprise they nickel and dime you and charge you extra for voice over LTE (aka VOLTE). Coverage is definitely better for the places I use it.
Now onto what you really came here for: the iPhone 6s Plus has been great. I swore to myself that I would NEVER go to this large of a phone, as I considered the 6 to be the perfect size; However, the two things that made me upgrade were the camera (the optical image stabilization makes a world of difference) and the battery life: I can go almost 3 days on a single charge. I will admit it's a bit girth-y and definitely quite a bit heavier than the 6/6s, but I do find with the bigger keyboard, I type a bit better on it and the sharper screen is nice too.
Upgrading from a 6: the first thing I noticed, was the sharper display. The second would be the faster Touch ID 2.0. You can barely put your finger on the fingerprint sensor and you're in! iOS 9 has many new features that are built exclusively for this device like the 3D Touch, where you can press down on an icon and get shortcuts (i.e. if I press and hold on Calendar I can instantly create an event or see my upcoming events for the day without actually launching Calendar). When you mistype, instead of having to press and hold and use that little circle/bubble finder window to drag backwards, you can actually 3D Touch on the keyboard and the entire keyboard becomes a massive trackpad. Live motion photos (kind of like little GIFs with audio) is cool but I have yet to use it. And 4k video is a welcome edition - if you're really savvy, you know 4K video was available on the 6 thru an App but native support is always nice because less apps = less space being consumed on your device. The device feels sturdier than the 6, which can most likely be attributed to the heavier weight and if you're like me an have a ton of apps on your phone, you will DEFINITELY benefit from the extra RAM and processing power. To give you an idea, my 6 was so tapped for RAM when I tried to drag word tiles onto the board with Words with Friends, the game would completely lockup and I've have to restart my phone to try again. Further investigation revealed my phone was using 92% of available RAM without trying to actually play Words with Friends (for reference, the RAM is double, the CPU is 70% faster and the GPU is 90% faster).
Comparing it to the new Galaxy devices, the new iPhones blow them away in camera responsiveness, audio output and a majority (all but one) of the CPU, GPU and Web-browsing benchmarks. The 6s Plus (which has a smaller battery this year than last year's model) came out equivalent to the Note 5's battery. It's also worth noting that performance-wise, the 6s phone are FASTER than an iPad Air 2, benching right under the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in most of Anandtech's benchmarks over-taking the Surface in many of the GPU-based benchmarks (mind you with Microsoft's push to integrate Xbox more into Windows, this was surprising). Performance has been pegged to be on par with Intel's new Core M chips (i.e. the processor inside the new 12" MacBook with Retina or Lenovo's Yoga 3). Read/Write times were upwards of 50% faster than the best Galaxy devices as well (this impacts loading/saving times - i.e. when launching apps or when saving photos to disk which may explain the slower camera speeds too).
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
Protect your Apple iPhone 6 Plus or 6s Plus with this JACK SPADE Color-Block JSIPH-006-TOGRY case, featuring linen construction for a lightweight armor against bumps, nicks and scratches. The slim profile allows easy portability.
Customer Rating
3
I really wanted to like this case, but...
on September 29, 2015
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I saw this case and thought it would be perfect for my iPhone 6s Plus; However, the only drawback (and it's a huge one for me) is that the bottom of the case is way too thick and it does not allow me to use any of the docks (and I have 3-4 of them around the house) with my phone. Because of this, I may be returning this case tomorrow and getting a Silicon one from Apple (since Best Buy opted to not carry these).
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
-3points
0of 3voted this as helpful.
Escort Passport Max 0100016-1 Radar and Laser Detector: Rely on this radar detector for your car to keep you informed of who else is on the road. The unit also shows you where red lights and speed cameras are located so you can adjust your driving accordingly.
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I had the Escort Passport 9500 before and that radar detector was a trooper (no pun intended). Eventually though the suction mount stopped holding and I eventually moved to using double-sided 3M tape and mounting it manually to the dashboard. I recently purchased a new vehicle, so I thought I'd upgrade my detector as well and my good friend had just purchased the Passport Max and swore by it. Online reviews seemed kind of mixed, with some people reporting bugs in the Live app mostly. I bit the bullet anyway and purchased one - this was back in April. Fast forward to today and I've had issues with the Max snapping into the mount bracket since the date I received it. I thought maybe it was just me and I tilted the mounting bracket upwards to keep the radar detector from sliding back off of the mounting bracket since it wouldn't snap in. I asked my friend if his was doing that as well and it wasn't until he started messing around with his that he found that his too would not snap into the bracket either. When my detector is sitting flush (parallel to the dash) it actually slides off of the bracket while I'm driving and ends up sliding around the dashboard so I finally got fed up and emailed Escort. They replied asking for my address and I sent it in and never heard back (this was 13 days ago). I called today and after being on hold for 30 minutes they agreed to replace it under warranty and told me that I would have to cover shipping to them and they would cover it back. It seems to me that if you make a faulty product and it is under warranty, YOU as the company that still decided to produce it should take FULL responsibility for the repair. Another example of a good company, tainted by poor quality control and/or customer service decisions.
Outside of that issue, the radar works great and I like the fact that it auto-stores locations where repeat false alarms occur. I find the GPS speedometer pointless, as every car in the U.S. comes with one, so it seems like something more useful could have gone here (like maybe the direction of the detected band so I know if the cop is up ahead, behind etc.). Making it talk is also pointless and when you drive closer to a band it goes down in volume where it would seem to make sense that it tries to get your attention MORE not LESS the closer you get or if you're going to have a GPS speedometer maybe if it doesn't detect a drop in speed it gets louder as you get closer? Just a thought.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Accurate
What's not so great: Poor support, some useless features.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Ease of Use
4
Features
4
Share this review:
-4points
3of 10voted this as helpful.
Efficiently store data on this Seagate Constellation ES.3 ST4000NM0033 4TB hard drive that features a Serial ATA interface for simple connectivity and fast transfer speeds. PowerChoice technology helps ensure efficient cooling and performance.
Customer Rating
4
Purchased for a SMB NAS
on April 8, 2014
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I use two of these hard drives for my small business NAS. The read and write times (and cache) are great and definitely a noticeable difference over the WD Red drives they replaced; However, my one complaint is that these drives are noticeably louder as well when reading and writing. I've gotten used to it now but still worth noting depending on where you plan on ultimately putting them. For my personal setup, I use this network storage strictly for backup and as a NVR for our security cameras. I highly recommend using Copy for storing files offsite (for better redundancy). You can get 20GB of free storage at https://copy.com?r=0Oy7FR.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Fast
What's not so great: Loud
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Performance
5
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
With fourth-generation Intel Core processors, the latest graphics, and faster flash storage, the incredibly advanced MacBook Pro with Retina display moves even further ahead in performance and battery life.* *Compared with the previous generation.
Customer Rating
5
Mind. Blown.
on April 8, 2014
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
Where to begin? I am beyond impressed with the performance of this machine. I use my machine for advanced spreadsheets and desktop publishing and you often here that you can "buy a comparable machine for half the price"; However, my research concluded that the closest machine was the Asus ROG G750JW-DB71. This machine exceeded almost every spec of that machine away and by the time you add in all the softwares (i.e. Antivirus, Microsoft Office, future Windows updates that run $150-200 each) - there's really no price gap. Because I use my machine for business, it's truly nice to have a machine that JUST WORKS. When I sit down to use it, I don't have to sort thru optional and recommended updates, wait for new definitions to download or scans to complete - it's simply ready for whatever task I have for it next. It's truly a breath of fresh air. Having an iPhone and iPad I was able to find my way around fairly simple and setting up my printer was painless. The Pages (Word), Numbers (Excel), and Keynote (Powerpoint) softwares IMO are incredibly easier to use than actual Office and the fact that you get FREE access to iWork in the Cloud (comparable to Office 365 which costs $99 per year) you can start a document on your computer and pick it up on your iPhone or iPad or vice versa. It also allows you to run iWork on PCs thru Safari, Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox. For the hardware (i.e. quad-core, dual graphics) I was INCREDIBLY impressed with the battery life AND weight of this machine! Great job Apple. PS: If you signup for Copy (https://copy.com?r=0Oy7FR) you get 20GB of FREE online storage. I use this for storing my documents since my iPhone and iPad consume most of my 5GB of iCloud.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Great value, fast, fully-loaded
I would recommend this to a friend!
Display
5
Performance
5
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
iPad® mini 2 has a stunning 7.9-inch Retina display with over 3.1 million pixels. It also comes with the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, ultrafast wireless, iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, powerful apps, and up to 10 hours of battery life.1 Yet it still fits easily in one hand.
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
The first-gen iPad mini was good. It was the perfect size and weight and the fact that all of the apps on the full-size iPads were immediately available for usage on the mini made the decision to go smaller, even easier. However, I like to read on my iPad and the more I read on my mini, the more I longed for a Retina display because the lower pixel density stand out on a non-Retina (in a bad way).
When Apple released the iPad mini with Retina, I immediately ran out and picked one up and I can honestly say Apple has perfected the tablet. It's normal for a Retina model to go up in dimensions and weight, but this was very minimal. It retained the same great battery of the original iPad - I can usually go two full days on a single charge and that's with using it for streaming music/videos, browsing the web, checking email and using apps for business too.
The processor speed bump is very welcomed! On the first-gen iPad mini, some things (i.e. your book shelf loading and switching between apps) had a really noticeable lag/delay, which the new iPad mini with Retina display vastly improved on.
The addition of Pages, Numbers and Keynote is a HUGE plus. Don't let foolish people tell you that you need a Microsoft product to interact with Office. Not only can you open Word, Excel and Powerpoint files here, but you can actually export them as Office or PDF too and it's ALL FREE! In addition to that, if you're like me and you just do basic-intermediate work in Office, I have yet to come across a time when someone's had an issue with compatibility or formatting with my files.
If you're most of an advanced Office user, you can actually run Office 365 on an iPad, but the catch is you have to pay for it yearly - which brings me to my next point - all new iOS devices and Macs get Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for free so that you can start a document on your computer, pick it up on your iPad and make small modifications via your iPhone. If you don't have a Mac, Apple offers free iWork in the Cloud. So if you fall in love with these Apps and you want to use them on a Windows-based machine, simply sign into iCloud.com and you can run all these apps right there in the browser (no plugins or other add-ons required so it works great at school and work where they usually lock the computers down and keep you from installing things)! It works on Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox or any other modern (HTML5) browser. You are also fully capable of downloading files from iCloud.com in Word, Excel, Powerpoint, or PDF file formats and printing is also supported.
If you're on the fence about WiFi or cellular, I recently upgraded to an iPhone 5S and my company's data plan allows us to use our phones as Personal Hotspots - so when I cannot connect to WiFi I simply enable the hotspot on my phone and thru the iPads WiFi menu select my phone, key in the code and I'm off to the races.
If you're using your iPad for school - KNO, CourseSmart and Notability are indispensable apps! Also register at https://copy.com?r=0Oy7FR for 20GB of FREE CLOUD STORAGE. This blows the pants off of DropBox's 2GB.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Resolution, size, weight, softwares
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Smart Case for Apple iPad® mini and iPad mini with Retina display - Black
(375)
Apple TV® - Black
(22,053)
Apple - iPhone 5s 64GB Cell Phone - Silver (AT&T)
(60)Ease of Use
5
Features
5
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
5
No brainer if you have an iOS or OS X product.
on January 7, 2014
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I use it in...:Apartment
I loved my Apple TV so much I recently purchased a second for my bedroom and one for my parents. If you have an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or Mac this is simply a no-brainer. It's incredibly easy to setup - it just requires a power outlet and HDMI cable (sold separately) and when you turn it on for the first time, you can actually set it up automatically just by touching your iOS device to your Apple TV. It automatically configures your Apple TV's WiFi network & password, iTunes store account information and language/region format preferences (see http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5900).
Content-wise Apple is constantly adding new providers to it like HBO Go, PBS, Disney, Crackle, Smithsonian and Bloomberg to name a few. One of my favorite features - outside of being able to stream anything from my iPhone, iPad or Mac - is the mirroring function. If you have a Mac running OS X Mavericks, you can actually use your Apple TV to extend your desktop - simply put, it functions as a wireless second display and it functions flawlessly!
For business and education users users - there's the ability to enable conference room mode which displays instructions on how students and colleagues can connect their respective iOS / Mac devices to Apple TV and you can mirror presentations, textbooks, or whatever is on your iPads screen.
As a side note, note that most TV provider apps (like HBO, Cinemax, ABC, NBC, etc.) are blocking mirroring functionality via their apps but you can still pull up their sites thru the computer and mirror that way or use their respective Apple TV apps. The statements most of the providers seem to be releasing say its a licensing issue with TV providers and they don't want to step on any toes so they're simply requiring you to still have a cable provider and you utilize your login for your respective provider to allow access to streaming/mirroring.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Simplicity, constantly adding new content and mirroring function.
What's not so great: Come on...include the Apple HDMI cable:)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Apple - AirPort Extreme Base Station - White
(5,746)
Rocketfish™ - 6' In-Wall HDMI Cable - Multi
(1,874)
Apple - MacBook Pro® 13.3" Laptop - Intel Core i5 with 8GB Memory - 256GB SDD - Silver
(951)Ease of Use
5
Performance
5
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The highly advanced iPhone 5s features the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, a new 8MP iSight camera, a new FaceTime HD camera, ultrafast LTE wireless, iOS 7, and iCloud. Yet it's as thin and light as ever.
Customer Rating
5
A great upgrade thru and thru
on January 7, 2014
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
Age:25-34
Phone size:Just right
I use my phone primarily for business and I considered going to a Blackberry Z10 (I used Blackberry before coming over to iPhone) or even a Lumia 920 because iOS had been the same all the way up to version 6. It's not that iOS was bad but if you look at the same interface for 3-4 years it gets stale; Then Apple released iOS 7 and the iPhone 5S and my loyalty was restored. What I instantly loved about my 5S was the Touch ID; I download a lot of Apps, Music, and access my phone frequently throughout the day. It was a welcome change to not having to key in a password, which for the average iOS and Android user is flawed in its own way. You could also see the speed improvements right away. Certain aspects of apps that would normally cause my iPhone 5 to hesitate the 5S just blew them them like "now what!?!" I'm not a huge camera person but after taking some Thanksgiving and Christmas photos and pulling them up thru the computer you can also see the improvements there. We happen to have most of the same family members over every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas so I simply pulled a photo from last year (taken with a 5) and compared it to one taken this year and I advise everyone to try this and you'll be impressed. Apple's on the right track - sometimes, manufacturers get side-tracked with trying to have the largest spec sheet and that affects things that matter more like battery and build quality of the device (you have to cut somewhere to make a profit). My only one criticism is iOS 7 still needs some intense TLC. My phone every once in a while reboots instantly upon launching certain apps so there's still some bugs to be resolved but rumor has it that iOS 7.1 is not far away so I'll stick it out for now. In regards to screen size - the great debate - I remember a time when it was all about how small you could make a phone; Everyone remembers phones like the Motorola Razr - my iPhone is the perfect fit for my hand size and if Apple increased the screen any larger than 4.2-4.5" I would probably pass and stay with my 5S. I just think there's a point where a phone stops being a phone and starts becoming a tablet and if you want a tablet, by all means get one, but don't punish the people that actually want a phone.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Touch ID, Speed, Improved Camera
What's not so great: iOS 7 still a little buggy
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Griffin - PowerJolt SE Lightning Vehicle Charger - Black
(619)
Apple TV® - Black
(22,053)Picture Quality
5
Battery Life
5
Sound Quality
5
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Save time and avoid the frustration of putting together furniture. Let a knowledgeable Geek Squad Installer assemble your furniture correctly and safely. Get more for your money — combine this service with Whole Room Setup › WHAT IS INCLUDED A Geek Squad Installer will: Come to your home Walk through installation details Assemble one (1) piece of furniture to manufacturer's specifications Install safety restraints and/or mounts to the extent recommended and provided by the manufacturer Verify the structural integrity of the furniture and ensure the fit and finish are up to manufacturer's specifications Place a TV on or inside the furniture, as needed Clean work area and remove packaging Remove and recycle one (1) TV Approximate time to complete: 1 hour (will vary based on your home and the product being assembled) Why should you have Geek Squad do it for you? 90 day limited workmanship warranty Friendly, knowledgeable Installers Apartment, condo, house or elsewhere — we come to you Note: This service does not include connecting audio and video components, mounting equipment to furniture, or mounting furniture on a wall. Additional charges for any other required add-ons will be quoted by the Installer prior to any work being done. Additional charges may be required for land travel beyond installation coverage areas. Service returns cannot be accepted after installation services are completed. See Terms & Conditions. WHAT TO EXPECT Important scheduling information: After completing your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You will also receive a redemption e-mail for each service you've purchased. Print a copy of the redemption e-mail(s) to give to your Installer at the time of service. To use this service, follow these easy steps: To schedule your appointment, call 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) and follow the prompts for Home Theater and Installation. Print your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail. Be ready when the Installer arrives at your chosen location. Should you need to change your Furniture Assembly date after you've scheduled your service, call 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) to reschedule your appointment. WHAT TO HAVE READY When the Installer arrives, remember to have the following ready: The printout of your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail for the Furniture Assembly service you purchased The piece of furniture you'd like assembled
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I called last week and scheduled my installation for today from 4-8pm. I ended up calling last night and moving it up to 8a-12p. The lady told me someone would call me in the morning with a more accurate time.
Fast forward to this morning around 9am I get a call from Geek Squad saying that they are unable to complete the job because of a call-in and they're not having any luck getting another installer to pick up the job - huh? To make matters worse they assume you have no life and like its just easy peasy to reschedule it - not exactly. I work 45 hours a week 5 out of 7 days which means the next available date I can setup an install is next week. So until next week my TV, audio system and networking stuff is sitting on the floor in my living room - $130 well spent!
Also if you try calling them, I hope you have A LOT of time on your hands; every time I've called it's AT LEAST a 20 minute hold time and you get routed around from person to person and have to tell at least 4-6 people the same things over and over again as they transfer you from department to department.
Absolutely terrible experience and this will be my last time using Geek Squad.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Not yet performed
What's not so great: Terrible customer service
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+9points
14of 19voted this as helpful.
The intelligent, easy-to-use AirPort Extreme Base Station with simultaneous dual-band support is the perfect wireless access point for home, school or office. It offers next-generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology and delivers high-performance wireless access for Mac computers, PCs and Wi-Fi devices such as iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch and Apple TV.
Posted by: techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I use it in...:Apartment
I've had an Airport Extreme in the past, then I switched to an Airport Express since I was living in a smaller apartment and now I am back at an Airport Extreme due to the lack of LAN ports on the Airport Express (although I knew this going into the Express I just only had a single LAN connection that I needed before, but that has changed recently).
The Airport is as beautiful as you'd expect with it being an Apple product. Normal routers are cheap, light plastic. They're bulky, complicated to setup and in most cases the support for them is based overseas. The Airport has some weigh to it, yet it's very space saving and easy to setup. Setup can be done from a computer (Mac or PC) or iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. It's fast, it covers a wide area and offers more than enough LAN (up to three with gigabit speeds) and wireless connections (up to 50 at once!) to suit my needs.
The current generation Airport Extreme is a little pricer than the previous generation so if you want to save some money, you may consider the 802.11n version which is currently priced a little over $150. The support (in terms of how many devices actually utilize) 802.11n is still relatively light at this time, but give it a year and 802.11ac will most likely be the new Wireless-N.
One last cool feature on these is beamforming. Beamforming currently only works on the latest generation of MacBook Air, but you'll most likely see it in future versions of iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac. This base station has SIX antennas (versus four in previous generations) and it knows where an 802.11ac device is on the network. Then AirPort Extreme targets its signal to that device. So your Wi‑Fi signal is stronger, clearer, and faster.
If you don't have a backup solution in place, currently, and you are a Mac user I'd highly recommend the Time Capsule version of this which includes 2-3TB of storage. I already have a NAS so I opted to just do the Extreme.
My Best Buy number: 2518595702
What's great about it: Fast, easy setup, plenty of LANS
What's not so great: Not that many 802.11ac devices as of yet
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Apple® - AirPort Extreme Wireless Base Station
Apple - AirPort® Time Capsule® 2TB Wireless Hard Drive & 802.11ac Wi-Fi Base Station - White
(2,208)
Apple - AirPort® Time Capsule® 3TB Wireless Hard Drive & 802.11ac Wi-Fi Base Station - White
(587)Ease of Use
5
Performance
5
Share this review:
+15points
21of 27voted this as helpful.
techtoyz's Review Comments
LG G Pad 8.3 Tablet: Boasting a high-definition screen that stretches nearly edge to edge, this tablet features an immersive viewing experience on a bright, beautiful display. It's easy to navigate and advanced features give you the power to multitask, game and connect to your world, all on an ultracompact, portable device.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Overall very satisfied with how easy to use.
By Tempo43
from Timonium, MD
This will be a great tablet for someone who wants a small one to carry around. Sound is good. Extra memory slot is great unlike the iPad. Also, you are able to flash video and iPad can!'t.
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
Flash Video & Expandable Storage Correction
January 7, 2014
Three things:
(1) Flash video for mobile devices was discontinued back in 2011; http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-09/mark-smith-adobe-flash-mobile/51135466/1
(2) You CAN actually playback flash on iPads using cloud-based browsers (the same as the Kindles built-in browser) like Puffin, SkyFire or Photon.
(3) You CAN also expand storage on iPads up to 1TB using new WiFi based hard drives like the Seagate Wireless Plus http://www.bestbuy.com/site/wireless-plus-1tb-mobile-device-storage/7420065.p?id=1218844154853&skuId=7420065&st=seagate%20wireless%20plus&cp=1&lp=1.
If you don't like a product, list that as your reason for not buying it but please refrain from posting false information.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Operate your entertainment devices with this handy Savant remote. It comes with a curved design for a more comfortable grip and a high-resolution touch screen that provides simpler access to the buttons you need. The convenient voice-command button provides hassle-free operation. Connect to over 380,000 entertainment devices with this Savant remote.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Not compatible with most Smart Home devices.
By techtoyz
from San Antonio, TX
I had two older Harmony remotes (Ultimate One and Touch models) and I was looking for something a little more advanced that could not only control my A/V stuff, but also my Smart Home stuff. The Best Buy employees talked this remote up as being "the" remote and for the price, it definitely should be, but it falls short of looking great and being easy to setup.
PROS:
The setup process is definitely easier (and more modern) than Logitech's Silverlight-based My Harmony app. The desktop setup app for Logitech's Harmony and their unapologetic lower-quality build quality is what made me want to look else-where. These are both spaces that Savant excels in. The design of the remote is beautiful, sturdy and comfortable. I HATE the material that Logitech puts on the back of their remotes, and it was a breath of fresh air that Savant passed on whatever that is, but still made the remote anti-slip. The app is very polished and setting up the Savant remote and host via the app was pretty straight forward.
The setup process is definitely easier (and more modern) than Logitech's Silverlight-based My Harmony app. The desktop setup app for Logitech's Harmony and their unapologetic lower-quality build quality is what made me want to look else-where. These are both spaces that Savant excels in. The design of the remote is beautiful, sturdy and comfortable. I HATE the material that Logitech puts on the back of their remotes, and it was a breath of fresh air that Savant passed on whatever that is, but still made the remote anti-slip. The app is very polished and setting up the Savant remote and host via the app was pretty straight forward.
CONS:
Using the Savant remote is a process. The remote tells you to try commands like "Watch XYZ" channel and I'll say something like Watch NBC and all of a sudden I'm fighting the remote because it seems like when you give it voice commands it's assuming that the TV is off so it will turn the TV off and then back on and then it turns the cable box off and ends the command there (or turns the cable box off and on but still fails to tune into the right channel). Even trying to just tap on a channel, you get pretty much the same result.
Using the Savant remote is a process. The remote tells you to try commands like "Watch XYZ" channel and I'll say something like Watch NBC and all of a sudden I'm fighting the remote because it seems like when you give it voice commands it's assuming that the TV is off so it will turn the TV off and then back on and then it turns the cable box off and ends the command there (or turns the cable box off and on but still fails to tune into the right channel). Even trying to just tap on a channel, you get pretty much the same result.
From a Smart-home this remote is EXTREMELY lacking. They just got Nest thermostat support a couple of months ago and still don't support MAJOR smart home staple brands like the Phillips Hue (or God forbid you don't trust Google and therefore don't want a Nest, the Honeywell Lyric, Ecobee, etc.). To be marketing this remote as "the" premiere all-in-one smart home remote, these are shocking omissions and it should be noted that these ARE things that the Logitech Harmony Elite advertise as supported.
I'll probably take advantage of the Logitech Harmony trade-in offer and try out the Elite and if it's everything Logitech says it is and it improves on some of the shortcomings of previous Harmony models I've had, I'll probably be getting rid of the Savant.
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
Ended up returning.
October 26, 2016
I ended up returning this because one of the wall bricks that this device shipped with was defective (emitting a high-pitch noise when plugged in) and the remote would not properly turn on and off devices -- i.e. on Logitechs this is called an Activity and you would press "turn on TV" and it will turn on your TV, turn on your cable box, tune into the right source, etc. This remote will recognize commands whether they be tapped on/off or spoken but it does weird things like it will turn the TV on, turn the DVR on, tune into the source and then turn the DVR off. This creates an imbalance because when you try to run the command again it turns the TV off and the DVR on etc. At first it was comedic but it became really agitating very quickly.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
techtoyz's Questions
techtoyz has not submitted any questions.
techtoyz's Answers
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
how can i unlock it
Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:
*The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
*Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
*The associated account is in good standing
*The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked
For domestic SIM unlockable ("DSU") devices launched after February 2015, Sprint will automatically unlock the device when it becomes eligible.
For inactive devices, customers must contact Sprint Customer Care to request that their DSU-capable device be unlocked and may have to take steps to perform an over-the-air update to ensure the unlock programming has been relayed to the device. Additional validation may be required to ensure eligibility.
Sprint makes no guaranty that an unlocked device will work on another carrier's network. Whether another carrier will accept and activate a device is subject to that carrier's policies and capabilities. Additionally, Sprint devices which the owner has attempted to reprogram or activate on another carrier's network or otherwise altered from its initial programming or settings may not be able to be reactivated on the Sprint network.
*The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
*Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
*The associated account is in good standing
*The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked
For domestic SIM unlockable ("DSU") devices launched after February 2015, Sprint will automatically unlock the device when it becomes eligible.
For inactive devices, customers must contact Sprint Customer Care to request that their DSU-capable device be unlocked and may have to take steps to perform an over-the-air update to ensure the unlock programming has been relayed to the device. Additional validation may be required to ensure eligibility.
Sprint makes no guaranty that an unlocked device will work on another carrier's network. Whether another carrier will accept and activate a device is subject to that carrier's policies and capabilities. Additionally, Sprint devices which the owner has attempted to reprogram or activate on another carrier's network or otherwise altered from its initial programming or settings may not be able to be reactivated on the Sprint network.
8 years, 5 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
How much is an iPhone 5 trade in value?
There's many factor's that go into your trade-in value, such as the size of your device (storage-wise), condition, color and carrier. The best thing to do would be to navigate over to Best Buy's trade-in site and use their estimator tool:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/electronics-promotions/online-trade-in/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat133600050011
Best regards,
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/electronics-promotions/online-trade-in/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat133600050011
Best regards,
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
Can you buy the phone without the 2 year plan, would it cost more?
If you're not doing a 2-year plan, the only other options would be to purchase the phone outright (you own it from day 1) starting at $699.99 for the iPhone 6s or $799.99 for the 6s Plus -OR- you could lease the phone. Under Sprint, you never really own the phone though unless you pay the Purchase Option Price (listed on your lease agreement).
It may be better to finance the phone thru Best Buy: you'd open a My Best Buy card and finance the outright price of the phone (i.e. $699 for an iPhone 6s) but you would get 12 months to pay it off with no interest (around $58.33 / month) but your plan remains untouched if you like your current plan AND you own the phone so you can actually come out on top if you were to privately resell this phone when the next model came out.
Hope this helps!
It may be better to finance the phone thru Best Buy: you'd open a My Best Buy card and finance the outright price of the phone (i.e. $699 for an iPhone 6s) but you would get 12 months to pay it off with no interest (around $58.33 / month) but your plan remains untouched if you like your current plan AND you own the phone so you can actually come out on top if you were to privately resell this phone when the next model came out.
Hope this helps!
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
Do I own the phone after 2-years?
(from Sprint) No, you'd have to visit a Sprint store and ask to pay the Purchase Option Price (listed on your lease agreement) and it's all yours. Any remaining lease payments will continue until the end of your lease term.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
Can I have the phone unlocked after 2-yeas?
(directly from Sprint):
Unlocking for Domestic Usage
Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:
*The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
*Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or *Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
*The associated account is in good standing
*The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked
For domestic SIM unlockable ("DSU") devices launched after February 2015, Sprint will automatically unlock the device when it becomes eligible.
For inactive devices, customers must contact Sprint Customer Care to request that their DSU-capable device be unlocked and may have to take steps to perform an over-the-air update to ensure the unlock programming has been relayed to the device. Additional validation may be required to ensure eligibility.
Sprint makes no guaranty that an unlocked device will work on another carrier's network. Whether another carrier will accept and activate a device is subject to that carrier's policies and capabilities. Additionally, Sprint devices which the owner has attempted to reprogram or activate on another carrier's network or otherwise altered from its initial programming or settings may not be able to be reactivated on the Sprint network.
Unlocking for Domestic Usage
Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:
*The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
*Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or *Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
*The associated account is in good standing
*The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked
For domestic SIM unlockable ("DSU") devices launched after February 2015, Sprint will automatically unlock the device when it becomes eligible.
For inactive devices, customers must contact Sprint Customer Care to request that their DSU-capable device be unlocked and may have to take steps to perform an over-the-air update to ensure the unlock programming has been relayed to the device. Additional validation may be required to ensure eligibility.
Sprint makes no guaranty that an unlocked device will work on another carrier's network. Whether another carrier will accept and activate a device is subject to that carrier's policies and capabilities. Additionally, Sprint devices which the owner has attempted to reprogram or activate on another carrier's network or otherwise altered from its initial programming or settings may not be able to be reactivated on the Sprint network.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.Best Buy One and Sprint Lease options available in store. Learn more ›
how much do I need to pay per month for 6s plus?
I am new in USA. I dont have a credit card. how much would it cost me for a new iphone 6S 64 gb of Atnt? how much do i pay for each month total ( for carrier and for phone both )?
if you could let me know about the sprint offer as well for the same question please.
if you could let me know about the sprint offer as well for the same question please.
Greetings Sam,
The 6S Plus cost would vary based on how long you want to keep the phone for before upgrading to a newer one; The shorter the time, the higher the monthly price.
For AT&T, there's Next 12 (20 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 12) for $37.50; Next 18 (24 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 18) for $31.25; and Next 24 (30 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 24) for $25. Note these rates are for the hardware only and do not include service.
For Sprint, they roll the device and plan (iPhone Forever with Unlimited Data) together which for that size of device would run around $85/month, but anytime you don’t have the latest iPhone, you are eligible to upgrade. You would bring in your iPhone and upgrade on the spot and away you go.
Welcome and hope this helps!
The 6S Plus cost would vary based on how long you want to keep the phone for before upgrading to a newer one; The shorter the time, the higher the monthly price.
For AT&T, there's Next 12 (20 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 12) for $37.50; Next 18 (24 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 18) for $31.25; and Next 24 (30 Payments, Eligible for Upgrade after 24) for $25. Note these rates are for the hardware only and do not include service.
For Sprint, they roll the device and plan (iPhone Forever with Unlimited Data) together which for that size of device would run around $85/month, but anytime you don’t have the latest iPhone, you are eligible to upgrade. You would bring in your iPhone and upgrade on the spot and away you go.
Welcome and hope this helps!
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX
Save time and avoid the frustration of putting together furniture. Let a knowledgeable Geek Squad Installer assemble your furniture correctly and safely. Get more for your money — combine this service with Whole Room Setup › WHAT IS INCLUDED A Geek Squad Installer will: Come to your home Walk through installation details Assemble one (1) piece of furniture to manufacturer's specifications Install safety restraints and/or mounts to the extent recommended and provided by the manufacturer Verify the structural integrity of the furniture and ensure the fit and finish are up to manufacturer's specifications Place a TV on or inside the furniture, as needed Clean work area and remove packaging Remove and recycle one (1) TV Approximate time to complete: 1 hour (will vary based on your home and the product being assembled) Why should you have Geek Squad do it for you? 90 day limited workmanship warranty Friendly, knowledgeable Installers Apartment, condo, house or elsewhere — we come to you Note: This service does not include connecting audio and video components, mounting equipment to furniture, or mounting furniture on a wall. Additional charges for any other required add-ons will be quoted by the Installer prior to any work being done. Additional charges may be required for land travel beyond installation coverage areas. Service returns cannot be accepted after installation services are completed. See Terms & Conditions. WHAT TO EXPECT Important scheduling information: After completing your order, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. You will also receive a redemption e-mail for each service you've purchased. Print a copy of the redemption e-mail(s) to give to your Installer at the time of service. To use this service, follow these easy steps: To schedule your appointment, call 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) and follow the prompts for Home Theater and Installation. Print your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail. Be ready when the Installer arrives at your chosen location. Should you need to change your Furniture Assembly date after you've scheduled your service, call 1-800-GEEK SQUAD (1-800-433-5778) to reschedule your appointment. WHAT TO HAVE READY When the Installer arrives, remember to have the following ready: The printout of your Geek Squad confirmation e-mail for the Furniture Assembly service you purchased The piece of furniture you'd like assembled
Do the furniture have to be brought from BestBuy for the Geek Squad installer to assemble?
No, I actually purchased a TV stand from Wal-Mart and I had neither the time nor patience to assemble it, so I called 1-800-GEEK-SQUAD and had them come out to my apartment and assemble it here for me. Best of luck!
8 years, 7 months ago
by
techtoyz
San Antonio, TX