mkcar1's stats
- Review count156
- Helpfulness votes664
- First reviewDecember 24, 2014
- Last reviewJune 10, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes2
- First answerApril 28, 2019
- Last answerDecember 20, 2021
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Keep a visual record of your visitors with this eufy Security wireless video doorbell. Advanced WDR and distortion correction technologies help ensure your 2K video recordings come out clearly, and a 180-day battery life provides long-lasting performance. This weatherproof eufy Security video doorbell offers military-grade AES-256 data encryption to protect your footage during transition and storage.
Customer Rating
4
No subscription or power connection required
on May 3, 2020
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This is the first product from Eufy I have used and if it represents what can be expected from its other security products, I don’t think you can go wrong. Definitely recommend but do have a couple of quibbles.
Positives;
Nicely packaged and comes with everything you need to install/setup. Was very easy to un-pack and setup following nicely detailed instructions and base also “talks” you thru it. Had no issues connecting base to internet or doorbell to base. Yes, base uses ethernet cable (included) instead of Wi-Fi but I had 2 open connections on router so no issues - but be aware. If you don’t have opening on your router - you can pick up an unmanaged 8 connection hub pretty cheap if need be.
Doorbell is thoughtfully designed and seems sturdily built – has good heft due to internal batteries. You can connect using existing doorbell or mount somewhere else using battery (supposed to last 6 months to a year per charge). I used existing wiring and it worked fine but FYI you have to use app to turn on option to use your existing chime otherwise - crickets.
Once all setup was done and all working a few hours later I encountered a weird issue. The doorbell sounded (using house chime). Went out and no one was there, nothing was recorded and the internal chime was making a “grinding” sound. So, I popped off the doorbell, checked wiring and reinserted in the wall mount. It rang fine but would not record anything. I checked all settings and eventually found option to restart base. Took a couple of minutes for reboot and has worked fine since. I have found, after 40 years of IT experience, that if you run into an issue with computer, printer, phone, etc. and can’t figure what the problem is – try restarting or turning off/on. It works most of the time.
Once all setup was done and all working a few hours later I encountered a weird issue. The doorbell sounded (using house chime). Went out and no one was there, nothing was recorded and the internal chime was making a “grinding” sound. So, I popped off the doorbell, checked wiring and reinserted in the wall mount. It rang fine but would not record anything. I checked all settings and eventually found option to restart base. Took a couple of minutes for reboot and has worked fine since. I have found, after 40 years of IT experience, that if you run into an issue with computer, printer, phone, etc. and can’t figure what the problem is – try restarting or turning off/on. It works most of the time.
While there is an option to purchase cloud storage ($3 monthly or $30 annually both with 30 days overwrite) – you don’t have to as the base comes with 16GB built in memory. But I believe memory is eMCC, so its hard wired into base and not upgradable, which is bummer.
Day and Night motion detection seems to be very good with very little lag starting recording – captures pretty much all the action. High def 4:3 aspect ratio 2K (2650 x 1920) videos with 160-degree field of view. I do notice a little fisheye on the left of the feed (see pics). You can setup an area for detection and its very easy to use drag lines to set. Since I have the doorbell set up 90 degrees to my front door, I don’t have many issues with false alerts, etc. But using its AI you can set motion sensitivity and whether to use human or all motions.
Having option to use battery or electric power is a nice plus. Doorbell battery can be charged from base using its USB connection and supplied cable. Cannot use USB connection to add additional storage. I charged initially using power strip built in USB connection as was easier to get to than base connection. It worked fine. Since I used existing doorbell power connection I won’t have to worry about charging. The app will tell you battery percentage of charge in case you have no power connection so it is easy to keep track. The Homebase can also serve as the doorbell’s chime - when someone rings the bell. The base and doorbell are connected using their own wireless network using a 256-bit encrypted connection.
You can also set whether there is a water mark showing date/time on your recordings.
App itself is one of the better ones I have used. It has extensive settings for both base and doorbell. I found it easy to navigate and also has built in access for help. There is an explore option bottom right on main screen and it details Eufys other product offerings. So, while product info is there it is not pushed at you unless you look for it.
I did connect to my Google Home and was able to have google stream live feed to my TV using Chromecast.
You can use the base with other Eufy cameras – but doing so may eat up the 16GB of provided storage.
1 year warranty.
Negatives;
Can’t add/upgrade memory on base. It would be pretty much perfect if you could upgrade.
If I manually record or take a picture while using app on my phone it saves it to my internal storage creating an EufyPicDir folder. I have 2 issues with this -1 – why is it storing the data on my phone at all? Remotely I have access to any stored event on the base and can watch live – so why isn’t it storing this there? 2 – If it has to store it on my phone why is it using my internal storage and not my 256GB micro-sd card? Hopefully just a firmware update or could be operator error but I looked and looked and could not find anything in either base or doorbell settings. I suspect it is storing on phone to avoid using up data plan but since I have unlimited it would be nice to have option to use base.
I do have a concern about the batteries “life” - as where live I have the doorbell installed it will get the afternoon sun and we have already had days over 100 degrees. I guess I will find out!
There is no computer application to work with Windows, etc. So you have to use android or apple to access.
Overall, very nice and recommend.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dyson's intelligent and powerful cordless vacuum with twice the suction of any cord-free vacuum.*
Customer Rating
5
Cordless Suction thy name still is Dyson
on April 1, 2020
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Dyson continues to refine its cordless vacuums. This is a new model in Dysons line and there is not much info on it at this time, but given its retail price and name – origin - I believe this may be considered Dysons “entry” level vacuum. Even so the vacuum is very powerful with some upgrades from my current V10 Animal, which I have had for 2 years and have had no issues with and works as well today as new. This bodes well for this unit I think.
I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for something that will vacuum up the smallest particles and you want to go cordless. But there are several different versions of Dyson vacuums with each having different/more accessories. So, make sure you purchase the version you want as adding accessories after the fact can get pricey.
Positives;
Nicely packaged using all recyclable paper. Was very easy to unpack and put together
Unit is thoughtfully designed and seems sturdily built.
Cryptic user manual – mostly pictures with little verbal info.
Comes with wand to connect vacuum/handle to supplied torque drive cleaner head. Also has small clear storage clip that attaches to the wand to store the supplied combination and crevice tools for easy access while vacuuming. Docking station, plug in charger and 1 removable battery also included.
Took about 2.5 hours for initial full charge but battery was not fully dis-charged. Took around 3.5 hours from full dis-charge.
Having a detachable battery makes it much easier to replace or have multiples available to complete your vacuuming. A BIG step up from prior models. It seems they run around $150 apiece.
While it does not have the minute count down as to how much power is left, as some Dysons do, the 3 bars have been moved to the top of the vacuum making it much easier to see when vacuuming. However, I have my docking station high enough that I cannot see the bars – but there are 2 little blue pulsing lights on either side of handle that go out when fully charged. A nice touch. Also, you can charge battery alone or attached to unit and you have option to not use docking station at all – just plug into charger.
The power mode control is also located on top and now has push button rather than a click switch.
VERY powerful vacuum motor with 3 power modes;
Boost – using with powered floor attachment I got 10 minutes of run time. This is extremely powerful suction to the point I felt I could actually see the head lower when running. A tad difficult to maneuver on tile and almost impossible to move on carpet or rugs due to the extreme suction.
Boost – using with powered floor attachment I got 10 minutes of run time. This is extremely powerful suction to the point I felt I could actually see the head lower when running. A tad difficult to maneuver on tile and almost impossible to move on carpet or rugs due to the extreme suction.
Auto – using with powered floor attachment I got exactly 40 minutes of run time. You could feel the difference between this and “Boost” or “Eco” settings. Still very powerful suction and mode you would probably use most often. This mode is supposed to automatically change suction and I did notice an audible difference on vacuum when going between thicker carpet, tile or thin rugs.
Eco – using with powered floor attachment I got about 60 minutes of run time. While this is the lowest suction setting it still is powerful.
There is also a sliding adjustment on the floor attachment you can use to control some of the suction as well. I changed this for less suction when using on thicker carpet or rugs, rather than change the power mode. The other accessories do not have any adjustments.
I did not do a run time test using just the non-powered attachments but would assume longer run time due to not running the beater bar.
Very easy to maneuver but that is no surprise given Dyson more or less was the first to use the “ball” design. The power head is a tad small but it fits around the toilets very nicely as well as under most of my furniture.
Has HEPA filter but still surprised it picked up as much dirt as it did in areas I had recently vacuumed. The cover is now clear making it much easier to tell of dirty. I had forgotten to clean this on my V10 and it would not run and told me I needed to clean the filter. This new model does a s well.
Bag-less design allows for easy viewing and touch-less emptying. Dust collection area is very large but you do have to disconnect the wand or any attached accessories.to empty.
Bag-less design allows for easy viewing and touch-less emptying. Dust collection area is very large but you do have to disconnect the wand or any attached accessories.to empty.
Powered floor attachment is easy to dis-assemble to clean beater bar
Filters in vacuum are easily accessed and cleaned using water.
2 year warranty and easy to register on Dysons site.
Negatives;
It’s a tad heavy.
Still no way to lock the button to run so you must keep it pushed it in. I found this very tiring so I wound up using a twist tie to keep it pressed which worked nicely.
Still no lights on power head. I know there could be an argument made that these would use power and lesson runtime, but LEDs use very little power and having more light in some areas would be nice.
Battery took just about 3.5 hours to fully charge. This can certainly hamper your vacuuming if you have a large house and need to re-charge to finish. But at least now you have replaceable battery option.
The power unit dust collection area is so large that trying to use in your car or in tight spaces can be challenging and makes it hard to see where you are vacuuming.
Overall a very nice cordless vacuum and a nice step up from my 2 year old V10 animal.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This H&R Block Premium Tax software is designed for people who want to be in control of their tax preparation experience and feel empowered by completing their own return. It is a perfect solution for homeowners, investors, rental property owners, or self-employed who have complex tax situations and want to get a big refund.
Customer Rating
5
Works well, been using for years
on February 11, 2020
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I have used H & R Block Deluxe version since 2016, when I switched from Turbo Tax (used from 2008 to 2015) due to Turbo Tax moving some investment components to a pricier version, which I felt was not worth the added cost. I have been very happy with H & R Block over the years but I have run into one or two issues where it didn’t work correctly but there was always an update that fixed the problem.
I never felt the need to use this Premium version but since I was afforded this opportunity, I wanted to compare it to the Deluxe (which I had already purchased and filled out). Both came out with exactly the same figures for federal and state (AZ) While this Premium version worked great it was overkill for me but would highly recommend if you are self-employed or have rental property.
Once software is installed you just start it and it will walk you thru authorizing it, etc. Since I had used H & R block previously it was easy to import the prior year’s tax info. When I switched from Turbo Tax 2016 it also imported my TT tax info from prior year with no issues – so if you are looking to switch it should be pretty painless.
You can have the software import your W-2’s and financial info – which I have tried in prior years with varying degrees of success. I have found that just typing in manually works better for me. The software walks you thru every part of the tax form – asking you questions as you go as to what may or may not apply to you. While this can get tedious it has made me remember some things I had forgotten about to be included.
It will give you a running total of your federal tax amount as you fill out the forms. Once completed it will go over everything and highlight any areas of concern that may need more info. Once that is all good it will run a “test” as to completeness and your audit chances. Once all is good it will ask you to indicate your state to be downloaded and once selected/installed it walks you thru your states return in same fashion as federal. Once state is completed it runs one more completeness and audit check. If all is good you have the option to e-file federal and/or state. What you may not be aware of if you have never e-filled before, is you can pick the date to pay if you owe. If you file in February you can set a date for funds to come directly from your account anytime from then until 4/15.
Overall, I would recommend H & R Block software especially in a price comparison with competitor options. Just be sure you get the version that fits your financial needs.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your patios and entryways looking great with this Hoover ONEPWR cordless hard-surface sweeper kit. The lightweight construction makes cleaning tasks easier, while the long-lasting battery lets you get through extensive jobs before having to recharge. This Hoover ONEPWR cordless hard-surface sweeper kit blows up to 85 mph to get solid results fast.
Customer Rating
4
Great for lite duty “sweeping”
on December 23, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
The product is marketed as a sweeper, not a blower. If you need something to help do lite cleaning such as blowing some leaves, sawdust/dust off a small patio or work area this works great. But I would not recommend if you need something for heavy duty yard work.
Positives;
Very easy to put together – just slide the tubes onto the handle/fan, slide in the battery (mine came 50% charged), and you are ready to roll.
Battery is 2.0Ah, but you can get a 3 or 4 Ah optionally. Comes with battery charger and took less than an hour for full charge from 50%. To check battery charge there is a button on end of battery that when pushed shows 1 – 4 lights for charge left.
I found it to be nicely balanced and not very loud during operation.
Has a slide on/off switch so you don’t have to hold button down to operate for extended periods of time.
My runtime was pretty constant at 14 minutes 25 seconds.
Can be stored on its end to save space.
3 year warranty
Negatives
Only one power selection
Battery does not show charge left while running. You have to push button to light up 1 – 4 lights to show charge.
Watch out you don’t get your shirt sucked up in the back intake.
Not for heavy duty work
If you need something relatively small, lightweight and cordless for lite duty cleanups around the house this would do nicely.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Add style and comfort to your shaving routine with this Philips Norelco shaver. The five directional pivot and flex heads provide an ideal angle for the dual precision blades, while the QuickRinse hair chamber lets you maintain cleanliness. This Philips Norelco shaver has an energy-efficient battery and an LED indicator that displays the battery status.
Customer Rating
5
Nice shaver that doesnt break the bank.
on November 30, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Really like this shaver and recommend.
Nicely weighted/size and fit my hand nicely.
Charges quickly and after 30 minutes use it still shows almost full charge.
Flex heads work really well and are very easy to clean.
Includes a travel pouch.
Took me a little time determine beast way to shave around mouth but have it down now. Wet worked best for me as dry shaving left me with some razer burn on my neck, which hasn’t been a problem in the past – but could just be me.
I am clean shaven so cant speak to how it is to navigate around mustache or goatee.
No negatives but it is meant to be used cordless - unplugged from charger..
Overall very happy with the shaver and look forward to using.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Imbue your morning cuppa with additional quality by using this JURA coffee machine. Its Pulse Extraction Process optimizes extraction time and provides a delectable aroma, even for short specialty coffees. This JURA coffee machine also contains CLEARYL water filters and integrated rinsing/cleaning programs to provide a hygienic environment for purer taste.
Customer Rating
4
Coffee shops be afraid, be very afraid
on November 26, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This is a well thought out and very solidly built unit. The espresso tastes phenomenal, very smooth. If you are serious about coffee this is definitely worth a look.
Highlights for me;
After initially being intimidated, it's pretty simple to use and navigate.
Large detachable water reservoir – it is a tad dark to see through.
It, basically, cleans itself and notifies you if it's out of beans, water, etc.
Everything controlled/set at the push/turn of a button.
We were provided with the optional Blue-tooth dongle. This allows you – through their app – to access machine settings – allowing you to basically brew from your phone – which is pretty cool.
Absolutely love the milk frother.
Coffee grounds are collected in a pull-out drawer and are easily disposed of.
Dispenser is height adjustable.
They even provide a water hardness tester, so you can adjust the machine to your water. Our water tested fine so we didn’t use the “smart” (replaceable) filter also provided.
Large detachable water reservoir – it is a tad dark to see through.
It, basically, cleans itself and notifies you if it's out of beans, water, etc.
Everything controlled/set at the push/turn of a button.
We were provided with the optional Blue-tooth dongle. This allows you – through their app – to access machine settings – allowing you to basically brew from your phone – which is pretty cool.
Absolutely love the milk frother.
Coffee grounds are collected in a pull-out drawer and are easily disposed of.
Dispenser is height adjustable.
They even provide a water hardness tester, so you can adjust the machine to your water. Our water tested fine so we didn’t use the “smart” (replaceable) filter also provided.
Quibbles;
Biggest issue is there isn't an option to allow you to – temporarily - brew a different bean/coffee type. So, you have to wait until hopper has been emptied before you can change bean type. At this price point, I really think that should be an option.
Can only brew maximum of 8 oz.? At least that’s all I could do.
Adjustable espresso dispenser only allows room for a standard coffee mug, even at its highest position. There's definitely not room for my travel mug.
It's nice to have the milk frother, but it would also be nice to choose the amount of froth vs. warm milk.
Instructions mention not to use flavored beans as it can gum up the works. Personally, I don’t use flavored beans but if you do – this could be a big issue.
Overall a fairly fabulous machine that quite honestly produces the best coffee I have ever had.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Linksys Velop MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system gives you more speed, coverage, and capacity than it ever has before. Wi-Fi 6 combined with Velop's Intelligent Mesh™ technology delivers true Gigabit Wi-Fi speeds, up to 5.3 Gbps, to every corner of your home, even the backyard and outdoor smart home devices. Wi-Fi 6 also sends and receives multiple streams of data simultaneously and reduces latency, providing up to 4x more capacity compared to Wi-Fi 5 technology. So, it can handle the demands of up to 50 devices and more, from laptops and gaming consoles to smart home devices and 4K TVs, all competing for the same bandwidth. You'll also always have a more efficient Wi-Fi experience with OFDMA that enables more data to and from your devices in a more streamlined manner. And, with BSS technology, congestion is also minimized eliminating interference from nearby wireless networks to deliver a strong, clear Wi-Fi signal to your home, so you won't have to worry about your neighbor's Wi-Fi interfering with yours again. You'll even have 7x more battery life with Target Wake Time that reduces network interference, allowing your devices to remain in sleep mode longer. The MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system is a part of Velop's modular system, so if you need more coverage, just add more nodes. Plus, setup is fast with the Linksys app, so you can enjoy the next evolution of Wi-Fi in minutes.
Customer Rating
5
Powerful, large, white monoliths
on November 9, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
This mesh units 5.3 Gbps rated wi-fi speed (802.11ax WiFi 6), signal strength - coverage area (6000 sq. ft.) and ability to handle upwards of 50 devices is definitely a winning combination and is a great upgrade option.
While this system is backward compatible to prior Wi-Fi standards, to truly unlock the routers maximum speed/potential I would suggest you verify what internet access speed you are paying for from your internet provider, as well as your modems specifications. In my case I decided to upgrade to Gigiblast from Cox cable as well as replace my modem to handle Gigablast. Unfortunately, I wont get Gigablast installed until 11/23 as they need to perform some line upgrade to my house, So for now I am “stuck” with my current limit of 150 Mbps. I consider these to be “hidden costs” associated with wanting to get the best out of this router and maybe something that should be considered before purchase.
I have used the prior 802.11ac Linksys velop 3 node system (01-2017). My main dislikes of those units - it only allowed for max of 2 hard wired ethernet connections, no USB and the access/connection area is very small at the base of the unit.
Tech specs;
Tri-band (1,147Mbps 2.4GHz, 2,402 Mbps 5GHz, 1,733Mbps 5GHz)
2.2 GHz quad-core processor
512MB Flash memory
1GB RAM and 4x4 MU-MIMO.
There is virtually no info included in the box for these units and at the time I was writing this review there was very little info I could find but these 2 links may help with FAQ’s and specs;
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=306850#H06
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=306849
Tri-band (1,147Mbps 2.4GHz, 2,402 Mbps 5GHz, 1,733Mbps 5GHz)
2.2 GHz quad-core processor
512MB Flash memory
1GB RAM and 4x4 MU-MIMO.
There is virtually no info included in the box for these units and at the time I was writing this review there was very little info I could find but these 2 links may help with FAQ’s and specs;
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=306850#H06
https://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=306849
Positives;
1) The biggest positive for me is each unit can be used as a base or as an extension node. This provides future flexibility as you can “lend” an unused node to be used by a friend, etc. Netgear Orbi units are either base or extension – you cant use extension as a base.
2) Very Easy setup – but must download Linksys app and use mobile device for initial setup using Bluetooth.
3) Blazingly fast, with right equipment
4) Each of these AX5300 units allow for 4 1Gbps hard wired connections as well as USB 3.0 connection for external storage (doesn’t seem to support a printer). The ability to connect devices such as a TV using ethernet cable may allow for much higher streaming speeds than using the devices older wifi.
5 Signal strength is pretty amazing. Using speedtest.net app on my phone I checked signal strength at my wifi pool equipment which is outside and about 60 feet and 2 walls away from the extension node. Speed was exactly the same as I got when seated 10 feet away with no obstructions. After using for a week have not noticed any wifi drops of signal.
6) I think they have aesthetically pleasing shape but they are maybe 30% larger and heavier than prior Velop units. Also, prior model needed 3 nodes to cover 6000 sq ft – this takes only 2.
7) After initial setup you can access the wifi network using Linksys Smart WiFi on your desktop/laptop. The interface is nice and gives you more or less same access to settings as phone app – including map of attached devices. There is also a Device Prioritization option so you can give certain devices preference on their signal. Changes made here reflect on the phone app and vice a versa. Can list devices alphabetically – which I liked.
Stated on box can have more than 50 devices connected. I have 27 and while not all of them are in use at any one time I did run 3 with 5GHz and 3 with 2.4 GHz wireless connections as well as 1 hard wired - all streaming something and I did not notice any impact to picture/voice, etc.
Negatives;
1) Price - but I suspect most homes could make due with 1 node (3000 sq ft coverage) which would be cheaper.
2) I found an irritating anomaly between the Linksys phone app and the desktop interface. The device list on the phone will tell you whether device is connected to base or extension using 2.4 or 5 GHz but doesn’t give you the devices IP address. The desktop interface does give you the IP address but doesn’t tell you if device is connected to base or extension and doesn’t indicate how connected (2.4 or 5 GHz) – very frustrating. In either software you can easily rename the device.
3) Due to where the connections are in the back (on an edge and angled) the wires kind of stuck out for me, which I didn’t like particularly in the family room expansion node. I just turned it 45% and problem solved (see pics).
I think this is a great 802.11ax option and is for someone who has everything connected using wi-fi and wants the most up to date/fastest connection possible. There really aren’t many 802.11ax devices out there right now so if you currently have an 802.11ac rated router I am not sure this will be worth the upgrade price – unless you are bumping up against maximum devices connected.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Google Pixel 4 is the phone made the Google way. Its camera takes a perfect shot every time, even when it's dark out. The new Google Assistant helps you do things, such as control your phone and multitask between apps - with just your voice. Pixel 4 is also the first phone with Motion Sense, letting you use gestures to get things done without having to touch your phone. Google Pixel 4 is built around Google software you know and love that's always getting better.
Customer Rating
3
No “must have” features
on November 2, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Overall it is a nice phone but it really doesn’t provide anything to make it fall into the “must have” category. In comparing the Pixel 4 to my Samsung S8, that I have had for 2 years, I would still pick the S8.
It is nice to have phone unlocked and be able to use any carrier you chose and being able to use Android system without any “versioning” by a carrier is a great feature - and I think you are guaranteed at least 2 more version updates as well, directly from Google?
My 2 biggest issues are;
1) No micro-sd slot to add storage. I have a 200GB in my S8 as well as the initial 64GB.
2) The 4’s face recognition works really well and it is nice to just pick up the phone and have it unlocked. But since it has no finger print ID once unlocked you will have to manually enter an ID and password for any app requiring you to sign in. That’s really painful.
2) The 4’s face recognition works really well and it is nice to just pick up the phone and have it unlocked. But since it has no finger print ID once unlocked you will have to manually enter an ID and password for any app requiring you to sign in. That’s really painful.
Additional musings;
I tried the hand gestures for a day or two but at certain times they just didn’t do what I wanted/expected. So, I went into settings and put back the 3 row buttons. They worked as expected.
No dongle included in 4 to allow for wired headphone use. You can buy one for relatively low cost, but why not just include it. They did include USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter as well as 40-inch USB-C cable and charger.
Comes with 64GB of storage but I checked available space after initially turning on the phone and 17.65 was already being used by phone/system.
Camera is nice and it took excellent photos/videos and can do 4K. But I was not able to find anywhere I could set exact resolution (could only choose full or medium).
The lenses stick out from the phone and I think without a case they could be easily scratched/damaged when setting phone down.
To me the phone feels unbalanced with most of the weight in the upper left corner due to the lenses. I found it to be a tad slick as well to pick-up or hold (without case).
Astrophotography does take nice night time pictures (live in AZ). But how many pictures of the sky will an average person take?
Wifi is 5G (802.11ac) not 6G (802.11ax), why?
Battery life seems to be a tad short compared to my S8. Pixel 4 has a 2800 mAh battery, my S8 has 3000mAh and I believe the 4 xl has 3700mAh.
90Hz screen looks great but it eats up the battery. The phone automatically selects between 90Hz or 60Hz to save battery. Since I don’t really game on my phone, I set to 60Hz all the time. You go to Settings > Display > Advanced > Smooth Display). You can set it to 90Hz all the time but you need to use developer access.
1-year warranty
Considering all of the above I don’t think I would recommend the phone as I would not purchase it.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The flagship cooker that started the home sous vide revolution — now with quicker connectivity and more power. This Anova Precision® Cooker is splash-resistant, steam-resistant and water-resistant for durability, and the compact design allows for easy, convenient storage.
Customer Rating
5
Low and slow wins the food race
on October 30, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
A very nice compact unit that cooks food exactly to the temperature you set – no deviation. Great product and would recommend to any foodie. But it is slow cooking, not fast, so you will need to plan ahead to use.
Just unpacked, plugged it in and paired it to my phone using wi-fi after downloading Android app. Just followed step by step instructions. You will need to create an Anova account though. Once paired you can set/monitor the device remotely as well as having access to a wide range of recipes.
Easy to read and understand LED display on the sloping top makes it easy to set temp and time. You can adjust as it cooks as well. Display flashes different colors indicating modes of operation, preheating, cooking, error and pairing with your phone/device.
Heats using 1000 watts. Just clamp the device to the side of your pan. Depth can be adjusted up/down to match your pan. It took around 30 minutes to heat 7 quarts of water from 78 to 130 degrees. Kept temperature within .1 degree of set temp during cooking. Beeps when it reaches set temp and when done cooking (if using app message will pop up on your phone).
Occasionally have had issues with steak not being done around the bone or just totally under/over-cooked when using grill or pan. No such issue using the sous vide. Cooked 1.5-inch bone-in NY strip for 1 hr 45 minutes then did a quick 1-minute sear each side on high heat in another pan. Perfect medium rare. Chicken and pork loin came out great as well. You don’t need to use vacuum sealed food to cook with. I used good quality re-sealable bags clipped to the side of the pan, to keep them from interfering with the water heating/circulating.
Cooking sous vide keeps all the juices inside the food so it doesn’t shrink!
To me the seasoning/rub I used seemed to be absorbed much more into the food. I initially used way to much garlic.
Very hard to overcook using sous vide.
Comes with a 2-year warranty but it’s not stated in any documents provided – I had to go to Anovas website to find it.
Quibbles;
33-inch power cord is a little short in my opinion. It was very stretched to connect and use the pan on the stove, so I just put the pan on a trivet on the counter and used it there. Since heating is done thru the device you can basically cook anywhere there is an outlet. Benefit is this will leave your stove clear for cooking of other dishes.
For me a detachable power cord would have been nice, making it easier to store.
Creating account, you have to set a password – but you only enter it once and there is no option to view it after typed. So, make sure you typed it in correctly the 1st time.
Its relatively quiet but we have an open kitchen to our family room and at about 25 feet away I could hear a low level “whine”. Easily drowned out by the TV.
After watching years of cooking shows and seeing things cooked using sous vide method I was looking forward to finally having a chance to try. Product works great and allows your food to be done exactly how you like it all the way through – but if you want a sear or crispy exterior that is an extra step to do after sous vide cooking has finished.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Brother MFC-J6545DW INKvestment Tank all-in-one inkjet printer offers print, copy, scan and fax up to 11" x 17" and feature cartridges that work with an internal ink storage tank to deliver up to 1 year of printing. Help take the guesswork out of when to replace ink by using the unique Brother Page Gauge, a visual, numerical way to know the amount of ink you've used and the amount of ink you have remaining. Includes mobile device printing, 11" x 17" scan glass, automatic two-sided printing and a 3.7" touch screen.
Customer Rating
3
Nice printer let down by software and support
on October 9, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Overall, when able to print it works well (4 stars) – but given the software issues (2 stars) – I have to give it an overall rating of 3 and recommend if it is your only Brother printer.
The printer is let down by what I would describe as disastrously buggy software that would not let inkjet work/print properly with a Brother laser model MFC-L3770CDW I already had installed (iPrint&Scan, utilites and update software particularly). I had no problem finding the printer(s) when installing but afterward I kept getting no print driver error and/or printer(s) offline leaving me unable to print from either printer. I tried uninstalling/reinstalling with no luck. So, I contacted Brother but it took over 6 days to get support from them and that was only after I contacted BB TIN network for help. When I finally was contacted by support the person was great but it did take a while for them to uninstall and delete everything out before re-installing both printers’ software/drivers. They accessed my computer remotely, which was fine with me. I don’t know what happened in this instance as I received excellent support last year with a print issue with the laser (wasn’t using laser paper to print pictures – my operator error).
Unfortunately, I have several laptops/desktops/phone that I am having same issues as above when trying to add this printer to work in conjunction with the laser. I suspect if this is your only Brother printer it would probably work fine – as my laser did before trying to add this inkjet.
The printer itself I think is nice if a tad large (22.5W x 19D and 25.5D with MP open in back and paper collector open in front - x 12.5H inches) and heavy, at around 44lbs. I think this size could make it somewhat impractical for home use as wherever it is placed you really need to be able to access all sides of printer in case of jam, etc. I put it on a rolling metal cart I already had.
In the box are;
Instructions
Power cord about 6 feet. It has NO cumbersome brick.
4 toner cartridges (black, cyan, magenta and yellow)
Telephone line cord
Power cord about 6 feet. It has NO cumbersome brick.
4 toner cartridges (black, cyan, magenta and yellow)
Telephone line cord
This printer checks a lot of boxes;
Grayscale and color printing up to 1200 x 4800 dpi
Automated duplex printing
Scanner – 19200 x 19200 dpi interpolated
1200 x 2400 dpi (scanner glass)
600 x 600 dpi (from ADF)
Copier – 1200x 4800 dpi
Fax – I didn’t use this function
Wireless/ethernet/usb connections. Ethernet and USB connections require you to flip open under the scanner to access the connections. Does include phone cable but no USB or ethernet cable.
Grayscale and color printing up to 1200 x 4800 dpi
Automated duplex printing
Scanner – 19200 x 19200 dpi interpolated
1200 x 2400 dpi (scanner glass)
600 x 600 dpi (from ADF)
Copier – 1200x 4800 dpi
Fax – I didn’t use this function
Wireless/ethernet/usb connections. Ethernet and USB connections require you to flip open under the scanner to access the connections. Does include phone cable but no USB or ethernet cable.
Has a 3.5-inch color touchscreen. You can do a lot of adjustments using this and it is pretty intuitive but I found it a tad touchy when trying to scroll. Luckily there are up/down/side arrows which I found easier to use to navigate by.
Easily accessed USB 2.0 port in front to allow printing from thumb drives, etc.
Main tray has 250 sheet capacity holding up to 11x17.
Multi-purpose (MP) tray has 100 sheet capacity up to 11x7
I found the duplex printing to be very fast whether using greyscale or color.
Scanning worked well producing very accurate replication. Also has adjustments for resolution, size, etc. But no auto 2-sided scan, you must flip over manually. As such 2-sided cannot be done if using ADF.
If using the plate to scan the top expands upward an inch or so to allow for thicker source such as scanning from a book, etc. Can scan up to 11x17 source.
Text printing was very crisp and clear with no smudging even if using lowest resolution and ink saving option(s).
Pictures came out great except for fast as it left a few lines running across the pic. But wouldn’t normally use this resolution if printing a picture, but wanted to mention.
2-year warranty
Dislikes:
Software as mentioned above.
I am concerned that this unit with its ink “tank”. I have had issues in the past with inkjet printers ink drying up between prints leaving me constantly wasting ink needing to “clean” the heads. Only time will tell if this unit has any of these dry ink issues.
Printer is a tad noisy with all of its buzzing and clicks. Although I did not try quiet mode – which lengthens print times.
Manual 2-sided copies/scanner.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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SoloCam L40 2K is a completely standalone security cam that you can access via your app. No need for a Homebase, or wires, as SoloCam is completely wire-free and battery-powered, so you don't have to mess with anything. Every eufy Security product is engineered to ensure your security data is kept private. Have peace of mind that you will have a secure record of everything that happens around your home. Adjust the brightness and color temperature of the spotlight in case you don’t want to wake the neighbors. Takes just minutes to install the mount using a drill and the included pack of screws. No wires or cords needed. Chat to anyone passing by—invited or not—and hear their response up to 8 meters away in real-time via SoloCam L40’s two-way audio. Connect SoloCam L40 to the Google Assistant or Alexa for complete hands-free control of your home security. Designed to protect your home as well as your wallet, SoloCam L40 is a one-time purchase that combines security with convenience. Only receive the alerts which matter. Customize the area in which detection takes place to suit your home.
Can you shut off the light option on the camera?
yes spotlight is adjustable but I have it totally shut off
2 years, 5 months ago
by
mkcar1
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
How many devices can connect on wireless at the same time?
box states over 50. I have 27 and no issues so far
4 years, 7 months ago
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mkcar1
Enjoy seamless viewing with this LG 34-inch WFHD monitor. The 178-degree wide-viewing angles provide quality visuals from almost any direction, while the anti-glare coating eliminates distractive reflections to let you focus. Flicker-safe technology helps prevent eye strain during extended viewing periods. This LG WFHD monitor has fast response times that eliminate blurring.
Can you confirm if this has an in built speaker?
no internal speakers but it does have a headphone jack but its on the back of the monitor
4 years, 11 months ago
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mkcar1
Protect yourself in the event of an accident with this ESCORT dash cam. The built-in collision detection system stores important footage in the event of a crash, and Wi-Fi connectivity lets you instantly share data with your insurance company. This ESCORT dash cam uses super-capacitor technology to keep recording, even in extreme temperatures.
the BestBuy site recommeds buying 128gb card, however the Escort website says: Q: What is the largest size microSD card I can use with the Escort M1? A: The Escort M1 supports up to 32GB microSD cards. WICH SIZE IS THE CAM MEM. LIMITED TO?
I swapped out the 16GB with a 256GB micr-sd and it formatted fine (fat32) and has been recording fine. I have not recorded enough to actually confirm it will use all 256GB, but it accepted it.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
mkcar1