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- Review count155
- Helpfulness votes64
- First reviewApril 26, 2014
- Last reviewMarch 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
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Who’s in the garden? Are the kids doing their homework yet? Nest Cam is wire-free, so it goes almost anywhere, outside or in. It knows the difference between people, animals, and vehicles, so you can get the alerts that are important to you. Listen and speak through the camera right from the Google Home app. Check in anytime with 24/7 live view.* If you miss a notification, you can always go back and see what happened with 3 hours of free event video history.* And it’s easy to install yourself – no outlet or wires required. Nest Camera Battery requires the Google Home app and a Google Account – it’s not compatible with the Nest app or the home.nest.com site. *** Stand and cable sold separately
Customer Rating
3
Smart, Wire-Free, Works best with subscription
on October 13, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
This camera integrates well into the Google Home ecosystem providing a wire-free solution with 1080p quality video although there’s some room for improvement.
// Setup
Just like most Google Home products, setup was simple using the Google Home App where you scan a QR code to pair it with the app.
Just like most Google Home products, setup was simple using the Google Home App where you scan a QR code to pair it with the app.
// The Camera
The camera itself is built well and has a solid construction. It’s quite a bit larger than other cameras on the market possibly due to a large battery and because of its weight it has a very strong magnet that’s used for mounting, allowing you to adjust the camera angle.
The camera itself is built well and has a solid construction. It’s quite a bit larger than other cameras on the market possibly due to a large battery and because of its weight it has a very strong magnet that’s used for mounting, allowing you to adjust the camera angle.
// Mounting
For mounting, it comes with a plate that you can attach to different surfaces and it comes with a couple screws and anchors to attach it to a wall and you could even mount it on a ceiling since the magnet is strong.
For mounting, it comes with a plate that you can attach to different surfaces and it comes with a couple screws and anchors to attach it to a wall and you could even mount it on a ceiling since the magnet is strong.
The convenient thing about this particular Nest cam of course is that it has a built in battery so you can mount it anywhere that’s in range of your wifi without having external power. It comes with a charging cable but it’s a rather short 1 meter cable, however there’s an optional 5 or 10 meter weatherproof cable available as an accessory.
// Optional Base
There’s also an optional base/stand if you don’t want to mount it to a wall and prefer to place this camera on horizontal surface, like on a table or shelf. The stand has a rubber base, it’s heavy, and along with the weight of the camera there’s very little chance of it tipping over. The stand also comes with an adequate 3 meter power cable to keep the camera powered all the time.
There’s also an optional base/stand if you don’t want to mount it to a wall and prefer to place this camera on horizontal surface, like on a table or shelf. The stand has a rubber base, it’s heavy, and along with the weight of the camera there’s very little chance of it tipping over. The stand also comes with an adequate 3 meter power cable to keep the camera powered all the time.
The design of the base is a little odd though and it only allows you to have the camera completely horizontal or rotate it 45 degrees downwards. It’s more of a pivot and less of a ball joint which would have provided more viewing angle options.
// Video Quality
It has 1080p video quality which is sufficient in most cases but it would have been much better with 2K or 4K. It has a 110 degree field of view which works well in plenty of use cases but would have loved to see a slightly wider field of view.
It has 1080p video quality which is sufficient in most cases but it would have been much better with 2K or 4K. It has a 110 degree field of view which works well in plenty of use cases but would have loved to see a slightly wider field of view.
Viewing footage in the Google Home app is very well thought out and scrubbing through recorded events is a great experience.
// Intelligent
The highlight of this camera though is how smart it is in terms of identifying people, animals, and vehicles having little to no false alarms with stuff like insects, shadows, etc… And I very much like the fact that you can create free form activity zones (not just a square but a custom shape) to specify areas in the camera view to get specific notifications.
The highlight of this camera though is how smart it is in terms of identifying people, animals, and vehicles having little to no false alarms with stuff like insects, shadows, etc… And I very much like the fact that you can create free form activity zones (not just a square but a custom shape) to specify areas in the camera view to get specific notifications.
With the intelligent detection, this allows this camera to get great battery life, I’m talking months before having to recharge.
// Subscription
With the Nest Aware Plus monthly subscription, you can have 10 days of continuous 24/7 recording history but do note that without a subscription, you only get 3 hours of recording and that’s not 3 hours of footage, that’s just the last 3 hour period of time. So if you’re looking for a security camera solution without a monthly fee, you may want to consider other options.
With the Nest Aware Plus monthly subscription, you can have 10 days of continuous 24/7 recording history but do note that without a subscription, you only get 3 hours of recording and that’s not 3 hours of footage, that’s just the last 3 hour period of time. So if you’re looking for a security camera solution without a monthly fee, you may want to consider other options.
// Thoughts
This camera is extremely intelligent, it’s built well, has great battery life, and integrates well into the Google Home ecosystem, but I would only purchase this camera if you are OK with the monthly subscription fee,
This camera is extremely intelligent, it’s built well, has great battery life, and integrates well into the Google Home ecosystem, but I would only purchase this camera if you are OK with the monthly subscription fee,
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The Farenheit Flare is great for the backyard or for your outdoor adventures. This easy to transport fire pit will add warmth and atmosphere. Designed to reduce smoke so you can cozy up and enjoy yourself.
Customer Rating
5
Well Built and Versatile!
on September 29, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
The first thing that stood out to me about this fire pit is how well-built it is. The entire product is made out of sturdy, stainless steel and the quality of construction is top notch with solid, smooth welds. I even accidentally dropped it on the ground and it didn’t even dent!
I just used some small kindling and starter to get it rolling and it worked great with the random firewood that I picked up at a general store on my way to my camping destination. It’s an extremely capable marshmallow roaster ;)
It produces a substantial amount of heat and holds heat very well due to its stainless steel construction.
This fire pit is designed in a way to minimize smoke and I’d say for the most part it works well.
I like this particular 13.5” version (it also comes in a 17” version) because I can use it in my backyard as well as camping. The smaller size fits easily in my car and it’s especially nice that it’s a 2-piece system so it’s stackable. I just use the plastic that it came with as a cover so no ash gets in my car but it would have been awesome for this smaller version to come with a carrying bag or dedicated cover.
The only real complaint I have about it is the somewhat obnoxious “Farenheit” logo that is laser cut on the outside of the pit. Sort of neat that it glows when a fire is lit but I would prefer more subtle branding.
Great product - didn’t know if I would get much use out of it but I’ve come to love it!
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Power up your home theater system with the booming bass of the SA-SW5 wireless subwoofer, designed to pair seamlessly with your HT-A9/A7000/A5000/A3000 Soundbar to deliver an immersive cinematic experience.
Customer Rating
5
Extra, EXTRA bass for the Sony HT-A7000
on August 27, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
This review is just for the SA-SW5 subwoofer which is an add-on for the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar.
The HT-A7000 soundbar by itself without an external subwoofer is able to pump out a surprising amount of bass. It's pretty great on it's own but adding the SW5 takes it to a different level. If you want or need extremely deep lows or desire an incredible punch from the low end, his is the way to go. Even at the highest subwoofer level (which can be controlled independently from the HT-A7000 remote control) there was basically no distortion. Honestly though, the highest volume level for the sub is probably way too much for even the bass lovers out there. I found that on the medium to high level (around 8 or so) it produced plenty of bass and I definitely like a lot on the low end.
The SW5 basically involes zero setup. I plugged it in while the HT-A7000 was actually playing and within 5 seconds it automatically paired with the soundbar without me having to do anything and it was instantly pumping out some additional bass. Highly recommended!
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Experience cinematic surround sound taken to a new level with the SA-RS3S wireless rear speakers. These speakers are designed to seamlessly pair with Sony’s A-Series A7000/A5000/A3000 Soundbar to complete your home theater experience.
Customer Rating
5
Extra rear punch for the HT-A7000 Soundbar
on August 27, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
This review is just for the accessory rear speakers for the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar.
If you want greater control of the sound coming from the rear or additional sound from the rear, these speakers do the trick.
The great thing about these is that other than the power cord, these are wireless with basically no setup. And when I mean no setup, I mean that I already had the HT-A7000 setup playing music, plugged these in, and within 5 seconds they paired automatically and just started pumping out sound. Done and done.
By itself, the HT-A7000 soundbar is phenomenal. It can already reproduce 7.1.2 channels with sound which comes from all around you but if you want to be able to increase the sound level from the rear these are the way to go.
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Discover a whole new level of immersion that envelops you in 7.1.2 channel surround sound with multiple speakers, a built-in subwoofer and advanced audio technologies. And with rear speakers it supports 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
Customer Rating
5
Amazing Sound for Movies, Music, & Games
on August 27, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
// Setup
For having so many features this soundbar is darn simple to set up. Plug it it, attach the included HDMI cable to your TV via an ARC capable HDMI port, and follow the on-screen set up process which takes about 3-5 minutes. During the set up process it will play sounds which the speaker uses to analyze your room for the optimum sound to be firing from the multi directional speakers.
For having so many features this soundbar is darn simple to set up. Plug it it, attach the included HDMI cable to your TV via an ARC capable HDMI port, and follow the on-screen set up process which takes about 3-5 minutes. During the set up process it will play sounds which the speaker uses to analyze your room for the optimum sound to be firing from the multi directional speakers.
// Sound Quality
The first thing I did was listen to some music from Spotify and was quite frankly blown away. Easily some of the best sound quality I have ever experienced (and I own other components from Definitive Technology and the sound quality is easily comparable - sometimes exceeding).
The first thing I did was listen to some music from Spotify and was quite frankly blown away. Easily some of the best sound quality I have ever experienced (and I own other components from Definitive Technology and the sound quality is easily comparable - sometimes exceeding).
Then I put on some higher fidelity tracks including masters from Tidal and this really showed off what this system can do. Highs were crystal clear and crisp without being piercing, lows were very low, even without an external subwoofer but worry not, they also have specific external subs that are designed to work with this system that compliment it very, very well.
One drawback is that there isn’t much in terms of fine-tuning profiles. You can adjust the highs and lows including the subwoofer level itself, but if you are looking for adjust numerous frequencies you may be disappointed. That said, I found the sound profiles for music, movies, and cinema to be distinct and worked very well for their intended media types.
For movies this is an optimum soundbar with 7.1.2 channels and Dolby Atmos. It’s truly one of those things you have to hear to believe where it make it seem that sound is coming from the front, the sides, above, and behind you all while being “just” a soundbar. It’s phenomenal.
It’s also very ideal for gaming where it has a 4K/120 passthrough so you can experience the games at a whole different level.
// Accessories
I also have the accessory rear speakers and the SA-SW5 subwoofer that can be purchased separately. Honestly, the soundbar by itself is amazing and the accessories do bring it to yet another level.
I also have the accessory rear speakers and the SA-SW5 subwoofer that can be purchased separately. Honestly, the soundbar by itself is amazing and the accessories do bring it to yet another level.
Like I mentioned earlier, I already had a high priced system from a competitor and it was the best I ever heard and this took it up quite a few notches. This Sony soundbar isn’t cheap but I do think it’s worth the money. Highly recommended!
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The WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ gives your Xbox the tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. With up to 5TB* of storage capacity, the WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ is a top-tier external HDD built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their Xbox so they can drive their game the way they choose. Included with your purchase is a 1-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with access to 100+ games on consoles and PC, plus online console multiplayer.****
Customer Rating
4
Inexpensive, Attractive Drive for Xbox storage
on August 1, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
This drive does exactly what it’s supposed to do: add external storage for games for your Xbox, but it can also work for PC storage if need be.
There’s nothing more than just plugging this drive in and it adds some extra storage for games. I really like the external design of this drive as it’s definitely more attractive than most standard external HDDs with an industrial, rugged look to it.
The only thing I would note is that this is an HDD and not an SSD so transfer speeds will be around 130MB/s.
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The RØDE Universal Vlogger Kit contains everything you need to get professional results when filming using your mobile phone with a 3.5mm input. The VideoMicro will vastly improve your audio, delivering crystal-clear, directional sounds for any application. The SmartGrip secures your device firmly in place for stable recording and connects seamlessly to the Tripod 2 for either handheld or tabletop use, while the MicroLED ensures all your shots are perfectly lit. The Universal Vlogger Kit comes with the DCS-1 dual cold shoe mount for quick and easy mounting of both the VideoMicro and MicroLED, a Rycote Lyre shock mount and WS9 furry windshield for filming outdoors and in adverse weather conditions.
Customer Rating
5
Everything you need and well worth it!
on June 25, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
If you’re looking for a complete package of everything you need to turn your smartphone into a GREAT vlogging/filmmaking rig, this is it. The included high-quality microphone and LED light can increase your production quality significantly.
I am pretty blown away at what you get in this kit as well as the quality of everything included.
// The Microphone
Included is a Rode VideoMicro on-camera microphone. I’ve been using this particular mic for years with my larger cameras for on-camera audio and the quality you get out of this microphone is great. It comes with a shock/suspension mount which helps with eliminating vibrations and the quality is top-notch.
Included is a Rode VideoMicro on-camera microphone. I’ve been using this particular mic for years with my larger cameras for on-camera audio and the quality you get out of this microphone is great. It comes with a shock/suspension mount which helps with eliminating vibrations and the quality is top-notch.
// The Light
This kit also comes with a small LED light but don’t let the size fool you. This thing is bright! It has 4 brightness levels so you can adjust the level based on your needs but probably the neatest thing about this light is that it comes with a filter kit that allows you to diffuse the light with a white filter but it also comes with a rainbow of colored filters so you can get creative with your lighting. The filters just pop into place with a convenient cover that snaps on the front of the light and you’re good to go.
This kit also comes with a small LED light but don’t let the size fool you. This thing is bright! It has 4 brightness levels so you can adjust the level based on your needs but probably the neatest thing about this light is that it comes with a filter kit that allows you to diffuse the light with a white filter but it also comes with a rainbow of colored filters so you can get creative with your lighting. The filters just pop into place with a convenient cover that snaps on the front of the light and you’re good to go.
// The Smartphone Mount
This is by far THE highest quality smartphone mount I have ever seen. The entire thing is made out of metal and I can’t imagine anyone ever breaking one of these. The clamps have a rubber coating on them which grip your phone securely while not damaging your phone and it holds your phone in place using a little screw dial which adjusts the tension. There is little possibility of your phone accidentally falling out of this mount.
This is by far THE highest quality smartphone mount I have ever seen. The entire thing is made out of metal and I can’t imagine anyone ever breaking one of these. The clamps have a rubber coating on them which grip your phone securely while not damaging your phone and it holds your phone in place using a little screw dial which adjusts the tension. There is little possibility of your phone accidentally falling out of this mount.
// The Tripod/Grip
Even the last 3 items are pretty much worth the cost of this kit but they also include this very good, multi-purpose camera tripod/camera grip. First, you can use it as a tripod and it has two different positions: a low mode which has the legs spread far out for stability and then a taller position depending on your needs.
Even the last 3 items are pretty much worth the cost of this kit but they also include this very good, multi-purpose camera tripod/camera grip. First, you can use it as a tripod and it has two different positions: a low mode which has the legs spread far out for stability and then a taller position depending on your needs.
You can adjust the angle of the camera with a screw dial and you can even point your camera straight up if you’d like.
You’ll attach the microphone and light to the included dual-cold shoe mount, attach that to the smartphone mount, mount it on the tripod, plug in the mic, and you’re off and filming.
The nice thing about this kit is that you can use all these components separately with other devices and not just your phone. The microphone is a high-quality microphone that many beginning and intermediate filmmakers use, the LED light can be used off camera to add some ambient lighting effects, and the tripod/grip has a standard 1/4-20 screw that can attach to any camera.
Really can’t say enough about what you get for the money here. Well worth it!
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Take powerful party sound everywhere you go with the rugged SRS-XG500 Wireless Speaker. Up to 30 hours of battery life and IP66 water and dust resistance make sure the music keeps on going. Play your favorite tracks with the crisp, clear sound of X-Balanced speakers, and keep the mood just right with the subtle glow of the LED ring lighting.
Customer Rating
5
Big Sound, Big Battery, Great Looks
on June 18, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
Sony did a great job with a modern take on the 80’s boombox with big sound, big bass, and long battery life.
// Sound
This speaker gets loud, very loud, and does best in larger, open spaces. It can fill a small room with sound easily and sounds even better the larger the space gets. The Mega Bass feature that Sony is known for boosts the bass significantly for those who prefer a super deep punch of bass. It can be a little overwhelming though with already-bass-heavy tracks but the good thing is you can turn that off if you’d like.
This speaker gets loud, very loud, and does best in larger, open spaces. It can fill a small room with sound easily and sounds even better the larger the space gets. The Mega Bass feature that Sony is known for boosts the bass significantly for those who prefer a super deep punch of bass. It can be a little overwhelming though with already-bass-heavy tracks but the good thing is you can turn that off if you’d like.
// Lights
Sony is also known for their lighting with certain speakers that can create a party-like atmosphere with different light patterns based on the music you’re listening to. What I really like about the lights on this particular unit is how the lights are only visible from the sides, not the front of the unit which creates more of an ambient light source than direct which is a lot more subtle.
Sony is also known for their lighting with certain speakers that can create a party-like atmosphere with different light patterns based on the music you’re listening to. What I really like about the lights on this particular unit is how the lights are only visible from the sides, not the front of the unit which creates more of an ambient light source than direct which is a lot more subtle.
// Construction
This speaker is built very well. Solid construction all around with a robust handle so you can easily take it places. Buttons are rubber coated and nice and clicky. The material on the rest of the speaker is sort of like a very durable fabric. Not particularly soft so it won’t tear so it should be nice and durable.
This speaker is built very well. Solid construction all around with a robust handle so you can easily take it places. Buttons are rubber coated and nice and clicky. The material on the rest of the speaker is sort of like a very durable fabric. Not particularly soft so it won’t tear so it should be nice and durable.
// Ports-A-Plenty
On the back of the unit, through a water resistant cover, there are a host of different ports to choose from including two USB ports (both for charging/1 for playback), aux in, as well as hooking up a guitar.
On the back of the unit, through a water resistant cover, there are a host of different ports to choose from including two USB ports (both for charging/1 for playback), aux in, as well as hooking up a guitar.
// Battery life for days
30 hours of battery life. Kind of nuts.
30 hours of battery life. Kind of nuts.
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TUF Gaming VG289Q is a 28-inch, 4K UHD, IPS display with superior images, 90 % DCI-P3 color space designed for professional gamers. It also features FreeSync/Adaptive-Sync technology, for extremely fluid gameplay without tearing and stuttering. VG289Q supports HDR technology across a range of luminance to deliver a wider color range and higher contrast than traditional monitors. The brightest whites and the darkest blacks bring out details like never before. It also delivers DCI-P3 90% color gamut and contrast performance.
Customer Rating
5
Incredible Quality for the Money!
on May 27, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
The quality of this monitor from everything from the display to the construction goes far beyond its low price tag.
First off, I was taken aback at how heavy the box was but once I opened up the contents I understood why. The monitor, the monitor arm, and the stand are built incredibly well and the construction rivals monitors 2-3 times the cost.
The base has a nice, large footprint which is probably needed considering the heavier weight of this monitor. The adjustable monitor arm is robust and has a smooth action raising and lowering it as well as titling the display. It can also be rotated by 90 degrees to use it in a vertical orientation. Very impressed with the physical ergonomics. Well done.
The display has a very thin bezel on the top and sides and a little larger chin at the bottom. It looks very clean on a desk.
The 60 hz refresh rate looks great while gaming and makes everything nice and smooth. I'm super impressed with how deep the blacks are on this display and the HDR mode worked well while connected via DisplayPort.
The viewing angles are also incredible and you can be way off angle and it still looks great with little to no glare.
I used this with both an ASUS gaming laptop and a Macbook Pro and it worked flawlessly with both.
The speakers are…um, speakers on a monitor. They aren’t great but I think most people will be relying on an external speaker system or headphones. They are on par with other monitor speakers so I can’t dock it any points for that.
Overall, just like the title says, it’s an incredible value for the money!
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Blackout Spark SL brings Blue’s legendary studio sound to your space. With a professional XLR connection and versatile switches, Blackout Spark SL gives you that broadcast studio voice for pro-level gaming, streaming, podcasting, YouTube videos and more.
Customer Rating
5
Rich sound with a gorgeous design!
on May 10, 2021
Posted by: gwtbike
from Fort Collins, CO
// Sound Quality
For vocals, this Blackout Spark SL excels in capturing rich, clean sound with plenty of clarity and detail. I have a lower voice, but not a baritone, and I feel it represented my voice well. The mic did a good job at rejecting and not picking up sounds that are close to the microphone but just like all mics of this style you’ll want to make sure to be up close to the mic. However, not too close as plosives (p’s) tend to be bit pronounced.
For vocals, this Blackout Spark SL excels in capturing rich, clean sound with plenty of clarity and detail. I have a lower voice, but not a baritone, and I feel it represented my voice well. The mic did a good job at rejecting and not picking up sounds that are close to the microphone but just like all mics of this style you’ll want to make sure to be up close to the mic. However, not too close as plosives (p’s) tend to be bit pronounced.
I also recorded acoustic guitar and I was vey impressed with the detail that it was able to capture.
I had this hooked up to a Scarlett Solo XLR interface and with the 48 volt phantom power, I set the gain in the middle of the range so this mic doesn’t need a ton of gain.
I didn’t have to use the high pass filter or the -20db pad in my environment but I can see how these can come in handy if there’s a lot of rumble or background noise.
// Construction
Just like all Blue products, the construction of this microphone is impressive. It’s very solid, does not feel cheap in any way, and this blackout version looks amazing in a studio setup or if you are using this for podcasting.
Just like all Blue products, the construction of this microphone is impressive. It’s very solid, does not feel cheap in any way, and this blackout version looks amazing in a studio setup or if you are using this for podcasting.
The shock mount is also very attractive and adds that retro look to the entire setup.
Sound quality is top notch and with the retro look with the black details, it’s a fantastic option especially if you are using this microphone while being on video.
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