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    April 26, 2014
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gwtbike's Reviews
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Meet the Ninja Foodi Indoor Grill. The grill that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. Updated sleek design from the original Foodi Grill. 500°F of hot cyclonic air for surround searing, while the 500°F high-density grill grate gives you delicious char-grilled marks and flavor while being virtually smoke-free. It's also an air fry crisper, allowing you to enjoy guilt-free fried food.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great indoor grilling, versatile, easy-to-clean
on October 15, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
Ninja seems to keep on coming out with very versatile indoor cooking appliances and this Foodi Grill continues that trend with great indoor grilling results along with the ability to air fry, roast, bake, as well as dehydrate.
I used the Foodi Grill for grilling some steaks as well as some salmon and both turned out quite well for not being a traditional outdoor grill. During the winter months when I don’t want to step outside in the snow, this will definitely fit the bill for getting good grilling results without the need for a traditional grill.
I can also see this being useful for someone in an apartment or just for anyone that doesn’t have a full-on outdoor grill.
What I like about the grilling (and other cooking methods) is that you can actually put food on while frozen and with additional cook time, it can both thaw and cook the meat without making the meat turn out chewy.
It seems like Ninja always thinks about how a product can be used in many ways and this Foodi Grill is the same where it’s very versatile in the sense that it can also double as an air-fryer, you can roast stuff like vegetables in here, there’s also a baking function, and you can also dehydrate.
They emphasize a lot in the instructions to use an oil with a high smoke point and this is definitely important to keep smoke to a minimum while grilling indoors. Coconut oil worked well for me but I would not suggest using butter. They make it very clear that it’s not recommended and that’s certainly the case as I attempted to use butter with a steak and the smoke, although not terrible, was much more than coconut oil. You’ll have to stick with the oils they recommend such as canola, coconut, avocado, vegetable, and grapeseed oils.
Clean up is a pretty easy process as well for the most part where nearly everything that could get oily is removable as well as dishwasher safe. They include a cleaning brush for the grill grate for any food remnants and also found that useful for the air fryer crisper basket. You can also remove the splatter shield that’s mounted on the lid but I did find a little portion around the splatter shield that you have to make sure to wipe down after use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Venom Go by Hyperice is a revolutionary heat + vibration wearable with unmatched versatility and customization. Choose from 9 combinations of heat and vibration to soothe sore muscles in an instant. Place the Venom Go wherever your body needs it most and remove with ease – completely reusable with up to 20 uses per pad.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quite blown away!
on October 7, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
I was skeptical about this little device, for sure. Can something this small and portable really provide massage and heat therapy? Yes, yes it can...and very well I might add.
For the size of this pod, it delivers a surprising amount of vibration and you can fine tune the amount of vibration on 3 different levels. I found it to be super useful on my shoulder which has some issues as well as my lower back and gluteal which suffer from a bit of sciatica. Since the pad has an adhesive nature to it, you can just stick it on and kind of forget about it.
The more surprising part for me was how much heat this little pod can put out. I found it to be easily on par with something like small heating pad that you would plug into the wall. And I also found the heat to be fairly evenly distributed across the entire pad.
The pads can be reused up to 20 times...at least that's what they say but as long as your skin isn't too oily and you keep the adhesive portion of the pad clean, you can extend this beyond 20 uses.
The battery last about an hour but of course your mileage may vary depending on how much heat and/or vibration that you choose.
The pads replacements run $29 for a package of 3. If you think about the price per pad, its not cheap by any means but each pad can be used up to 20 times (and even more from my testing).
Probably my only complaint is that for the price, I wish it came with a carrying case. Since it's designed to be portable and there's multiple pieces to manage (the pod and the pads) a carrying pouch or case would have been a nice inclusion.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Stay on track, on time, and in style with Galaxy Watch5¹. Ready to get a better understanding of your wellness? Galaxy Watch5 features body composition analysis², improved sensors that get an accurate read on your heart rate³ and Advanced Sleep Coaching¹ that helps you get your zzzs . Whether you’re getting your steps in, jogging at lunchtime or crushing yoga class on the weekend, strut your fashion sense with Watch bands and faces that match your awesome outfit. Stay powered up on the go throughout even your busiest day with an improved battery that gives you time to do it all. Worry less and do more and with a Sapphire Crystal Glass that’s more durable than before and a water resistant design that can take a splash⁴ or two. Go ahead, unleash the best you with Galaxy Watch5.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Better than the Watch4 but could be better
on September 1, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
I've had previous generation Galaxy Watches and have been left wanting more with all of them for a variety of reasons. This Watch5 has a lot of improvements but feel it could use some polish in some areas.
Pros:
Battery life - they claim up to 50 hours of battery life and with the out of the box settings, I can easily get that and sometimes more. If I track a lot of outdoor activities that can drop below two days but that's to be expected using GPS.
Design - I am a sucker for the design of Samsung watches and the same can be said for the Watch5 - its simple, elegant, and sporty, all in one. This is probably the reason I keep on trying Galaxy Watches.
Display - its stunning just like all Samsung displays. And the touchscreen is really good too where it's predictable and responsive. The interface is snappy where there's little to no delay getting around WearOS.
Cons:
Heart rate accuracy - the heart rate readings are quite hit and miss where sometimes I get OK results but then other times its way off, and I understand how to wear a watch to get accurate heart rate (a bit higher on the wrist above the wrist bone and snug). This has been a pain point for me for 3 generations now of Galaxy Watches. They say the heart rate sensor is improved wit the Watch5 but I'm not so sure.
Waiting for GPS - on some occasions I can get a GPS signal somewhat quickly within around 5-10 seconds but sometimes up to 5 minutes. Again, a pain point for me from previous Samsung watches.
Overall thoughts:
To me this seems like just a battery life improvement over the Watch4, which to be honest is welcome considering I was only getting around a day from the previous generation. Two days isn't stellar compared to some other watches on the market but doubling the battery life is a big deal.
With all that, I realize it was definitely critical but it's still one of the best smartwatches you can get if you have an Android phone. It has great connectivity, the display is incredible, and the do an amazing job with their design.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
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Instead of filling up your house (and the planet) with an extra charger for each new device you buy, Anker 735 charger has the power you need to charge the majority of your personal devices with just a single charger.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Little Powerhouse & Great Travel Companion!
on September 1, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
This little charger strikes a great balance between power and portability providing enough power for a small notebook or tablet along with enough ports for your tablet, phone, and earbuds.
With 65 watts of max charging power, this powered my smaller Dell laptop or my 10" iPad Pro easily and it can also charge a 16" Macbook Pro, although a bit slower. The array of charging ports is on the more modern side with 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A and you can charge simultaneously with all 3 ports, but I found that it will prioritize the USB C ports for fast charging.
The portability is what this thing is all about. I have some 90+ watt wall chargers and although the provide plenty of power, I certainly notice the weight when traveling. This little guy allows me to reduce the weight and size by about half which makes a huge difference especially on quick trips.
The quality of the build is top-notch - super solid and the foldable plugs are robust and it stays put and doesn't fall out of the socket.
This thing has a permanent place in my travel bag!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Hearing is believing. Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro pack a studio-worthy listening experience into our most comfortable design yet —wear them as long as you want. Stimulate your senses with enhanced 360 Audio that surrounds you in your favorite beats like never before. Feel every note like you’re there with Hi-Fi sound quality. Stay focused on the sounds you love with Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation that quiets even the loudest outside sounds. Work out worry-free with moisture resistance that stands up to rain. Pair your Buds2 Pro with the rest of your Galaxy for new ways to enjoy pro-quality sound wherever you happen to be. Whether it’s a podcast, a call or your favorite playlist, listen blissfully with Galaxy Buds2 Pro. Now you can hear translations through your Buds while on calls or during face-to-face conversations
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
These blew me away!
on September 1, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
When I first took out these small buds from the case, I was wondering - how good can the sound be out of something this small? I was shocked to hear both the depth and clarity that these little buds can put out. They're simply great and that was straight out of the box with no customization.
There *are* earbuds that have better sound quality but that comes at a cost. For instance, the Sony XM4s (which many people including myself regard as having some of the best sound quality out there) are fantastic - but they're huge. They simply don't fit comfortably if you have smaller ears.
Sound quality is one thing but comfort is another and I can wear these for hours on end - I barely notice them. When using them for running, for not having any additional wings or tips, they stayed in my ears surprisingly well and didn't budge. In regards to sweat, I had no issues with these and not worried about them with an IPX7 rating.
The active noise cancellation is decent. I've heard (or not heard) better from other buds but these do a good job.
The touch controls on each of the earbuds took a little getting used to due to the specific area you need to touch to get them to work. It's on the center and back of the bud and they don't register from the front of the earbud.
Battery life is decent but not exceptional but the thing to consider is the size of these buds. I'd much prefer the lightweight comfort of these buds vs something larger with longer battery life. 8 hours of listening without ANC and 5 hours with ANC is plenty for me and the charging case provides a quick charge feature where you can get an hour of playback with just a 5-minute charge. And just like the buds, the case is svelte and easily pocketable.
I used this with both my Android phone as well as my iPhone and they pair easily with both platforms. They also have a 24-bit high resolution audio mode, but, and this is a big but - that's only available if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone.
These earbuds strike a nice balance between sound quality and comfort - highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
-1point
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The Frigidaire 12,000 BTU 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner keeps your home cool and comfortable when and where you need it. Enjoy more cooling flexibility with two different fan speeds plus dehumidifying Dry Mode to keep your room cool and comfortable while also removing excess moisture from the air. Plus, cool your room anywhere, anytime from your smart device with the Frigidaire app.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Much better than a window unit!
on August 23, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
I’ve used windows unit air conditioners for years and this is quite the upgrade. Although window units are generally less expensive, the convenience, efficiency, and security of this floor unit is worth it.
For what what I need, this unit easily cools the 500 square foot space where it sits and also can help cool adjacent areas.
Although it sits on the floor and takes up a little floor space, the efficiency that it provides as well as security make up for the small footprint. The issue with a window units is that you need to support them on the backside if your window is not robust enough and there’s also an issue of security where there’s a large opening where someone could break in. With this, the opening is much smaller and the risk is reduced. Plus, it’s much easier to move from room to room on the same floor due to the rollers.
A bonus is that it has a washable filter rather than having to purchase new ones which I thought was great.
Absolutely does exactly what it’s supposed to do. Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Suit up, strap in – and let Helios pave the way. Equipped with superior cooling technology and a trove of performance like NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti laptop graphics and the latest 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor – this gaming laptop will be your guide to gaming bliss. With the 240Hz QHD IPS panel, NVIDIA G-SYNC technology and 3ms Overdrive response time you can say farewell to blur and hello clear, crisp, high-octane gameplay.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Display, Solid Construction, Few Compromises
on August 13, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
This laptop strikes a nice balance with a quality build, fantastic display, descent performance, and a nice array of ports.
Let's start out with what is arguably the highlight of this laptop - the display - it's fantastic. The QHD display has rich and vibrant colors, deep blacks, and it's just a great viewing experience. It may be "only" a QHD display but honestly, I didn't really notice the difference between this and some 4K displays. Don't shy away from this because it isn't 4K. This 240hz display is great. And it's also plenty bright.
The bezel surrounding the display is somewhat pronounced on the bottom though but I'm guessing that may have something to do with the form factor of the base. The overall construction is rock solid. There is no flex to the display, it both looks and feels premium, and they did a great job with the design which is pretty subdue with just a small, metallic Predator logo on the lid and another inside.
The gaming performance with the 8GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti was a great experience with games like Far Cry 6 and GTA V. I had zero complaints even at some of the higher settings. And of course, having the number pad is a huge plus.
I use this to edit videos and found the performance with Adobe Premiere Pro to be very good where it scrubbed through 4K video with ease. Even tossing two 4K clips side-by-side was no problem. And exports were also very respectable compared to a higher power machine I have.
The touchpad is also fantastic. Very responsive, predictable, and honestly one of the best I've used on a Windows machine. I'm pretty picky about the trackpad experience on laptops and I can't complain about it at all - it's really very good. Oh, and a nice touch is that there's a polished edge around the trackpad.
The key feel of the RGB keyboard is good where the keys are positive without being clicky. You can adjust the settings of the RGB pattern for different "wavelengths" if you will, where it's basically different speeds at which the RGB pattern moves across the keyboard. Sadly, unless I missed something, you can't set it to just be on all-the-time and not have a light pattern.
It has a good array of ports with 2 USB A on the right side, 1 USB A on the left along with an ethernet port and headphones. On the back there ports for power, HDMI, USB C, and DisplayPort. Love the fact that the HDMI and DisplayPort are on the back but I wish the USB C was on the side.
The speakers are the weak point though on this laptop where I was expecting a bit better based on the size and weight of this laptop. I would have thought there would be enough room to fit in some descent sound but found the sound to be a bit hollow, however it they can get pretty loud.
I think a lot of us may use gaming headsets or speaker systems when we're gaming so this may not be that big of a deal but if you're relying on the built-in speakers for most of your gaming, you may be left wanting more.
For weight, it comes in around 5.7lbs which isn't necessarily light for this class and it also has a substantial power brick so keep that in mind if you're bringing this with you.
I'm impressed by the performance, the construction, the trackpad, and the display. A really good experience using this laptop and for me, I use a headset when I'm gaming and hook it up to speakers when I'm viewing movies or editing videos, so the sub-par speakers aren't a big deal for me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Everything you need is right in your screen. Watch, work and chat - all without connecting a separate PC - with Smart Monitor. Your favorite content, productivity and video call apps are built-in for a simpler and more stylish desk setup that’s a joy to use every time.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Fantastic All-In-One Monitor and Smart TV!
on August 10, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
Simply put - this is a great value for the money doing double-duty as a high quality, 4K monitor as well as a smart TV. A great option for small spaces especially in this day in age of working from home.
Being someone who spends a lot of time in their home office, this monitor/smart TV has helped me reduce clutter by having an all-in-one device for both work as well as entertainment. The quality as a 4K monitor is fantastic - basically what you'd expect out of a Samsung.
For being a dual purpose device, there's no lack of ports with HDMI, and HDMI arc, 3 USB type A ports, and a USB C port which can also provide 65 watts of power.
Being able to use this monitor with both your computer as well as a standalone device is what it's all about and the smart TV functionality is good out of the box with apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, YouTube, and many others preinstalled.
They include a very nice remote control to use in conjunction with all the smart TV controls. May be a strange observation but the buttons are positive and clicky - not too clicky where it makes a lot of noise, but you just know you're hitting the buttons.
It comes with a stand where you can tilt the monitor upward and downward but sadly no height adjustability. That would be nice and all but it's hard to complain about that considering the already great price.
Super happy with this all-in-one!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Normatec 3 by Hyperice is the next evolution of the iconic Normatec series, using dynamic air compression to advance your wellness, recover faster, improve your training, and maximize your performance. Normatec’s patented precision pulse technology helps to increase circulation, revive muscles, and reduce swelling and has long been the choice of elite athletes and consumers throughout the globe.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great recovery for less money than before!
on July 28, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
I’ve been using the previous generation Normatec leg sleeves for a couple years now for recovery and they’ve been fantastic. The new Normatex 3s provide the same great recovery benefits (with some upgrades) and best of all, they’re $200 cheaper.
The Normatec 3 leg sleeves provide air compression which can aid in preventing lactic acid buildup in your legs after long or intense workouts. These shouldn’t necessarily be thought of as providing a massage, more compression and stimulating blood flow and something that can increase the benefits is elevating your legs when using them.
A big upgrade in my opinion with the Normatec 2s vs the previous generation is the control unit where the interface is improved quite a bit (and quite frankly is just prettier than before) where there’s simple but informative indicators for battery status, amount of pressure, duration, as well as a Zone Boost feature which allows you to fine tune where pressure is being applied if you want to target one particular zone. In addition there’s also a selection on the control unit to use it with Normatecs other compression sleeves for hips and arms.
The sleeves themselves also are improved where there’s less “dead-spots” with the compression. The previous generation sleeves had a few spots in between each zone where there wasn’t much compression. With the new sleeves, they’ve overlapped the zones to eliminate the dead spots and provide even coverage and this is probably one of my favorite things about these updated sleeves.
Where it gets more capable is when you pair it with the Hyperice app where you can use “routines” which are fine-tuned for your particular activities and recovery. The only complaint I have here though is that the bluetooth connectivity from the unit to the app was a little hit and miss where it usually took 2-3 times to connect to the unit. Not sure if that was my phone or the unit but just thought I would mention it.
The improvements from the previous generation are all nice to see but again, the nicest thing about these new versions is that they are much cheaper and more accessible. Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Bring the party with you and spread sound with the XE200 Wireless speaker. A line shaped diffuser and X-balanced speakers provide a wide sound stage, with powerful bass and richer sound. Pair with IP67 Waterproof, dustproof and shockproof design, this speaker is made for even the strongest elements.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great sound in a lightweight, waterproof package
on July 22, 2022
Posted by: gwtbike
I’ve been a long-time fan of Sony audio products and this product continues to deliver on the same great quality with a lightweight, durable, and great-sounding speaker…especially for the price.
Rather than a round cylinder which most speakers like this opt for, they went with a 5-sided, pentagon shape which I tend to like as it won’t roll off a table if it were to tip over. The other advantage of this 5-sided design is that you have options if you do want to lay it on it’s side.
I found the audio quality to be quite good in either orientation, whether it’s standing straight up or laid on one side. One thing to note here though about audio quality is that even though it has a 5-sided design, it doesn’t necessarily emit sound in all directions. Most of the sound can be heard from about 270 degrees around the speaker but the back portion tends to be weaker.
The speaker itself is made from a combination of rubberized silicon for most of the speaker which is nice and grippy so it won’t slide of a surface and the rest is made up of fabric which covers the actual speakers. It’s a very classy look for being a durable speaker that has an IP67 dust and water resistant rating.
I like that this speaker is lightweight and I appreciate the size, but for being their smallest speaker in their XE lineup, it’s not a super small speaker by any means, but it’s still very lightweight.
Battery life is very respectable with up to 16 hours on a charge and I found that to be pretty accurate, even with my listening habits being probably louder than most.
Sound quality is surprisingly good for a speaker of this size where it has a balanced sound profile out of the box where everything is crisp and clear even at high volumes. One thing I found interesting was the range of this speaker in regards to how far away you could hear the sound. One night, I had the speaker on one end of my house in the kitchen which is a good 50-75 feet away from my bedroom and I mistakenly thought the music was coming from my much bigger soundbar.
One thing that Sony die-hards may miss though is what was seemed to be always found on Sony speakers - the Mega Bass button. Being a huge fan of Sony products, this almost seemed like it wasn’t even a Sony product without it, but I have to say that the sound profile is nice and balanced - certainly less bass than a Sony speaker with mega bass enabled but more bass than that same speaker without. So they seemed like they split the difference and found a balance without having that “turbo” mode.
However, there is a customizable equalizer that you can access with their Music Center app - works great for customizing the sound profile but that one-touch mega bass button was also nice, although a lot of the times that mega bass button may have been a bit too strong.
The other thing missing from this speaker is an auxiliary port which I suppose may be a sign of the times of everything going wireless, but just something to be aware of.
One thing that I loving about Sony products that have been released in the last few years is that their packaging is nearly all recyclable carboard - it’s a nice touch and makes you realize how much un-recyclable materials some other companies use.
Overall, another great Sony audio product.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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