callmeageeth
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- First ReviewJune 23, 2014
- Last ReviewJune 27, 2024
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- First AnswerJune 23, 2014
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Phyn - Smart Water Assistant - Matte Black
Track water use with this Phyn smart water assistant. The included mounting screws and adhesive strip offer easy installation, and the compatible app lets you monitor water consumption and alerts you to leaks. This Phyn smart water assistant automatically learns your plumbing system and is compatible with popular virtual assistants so you can access reports and alerts using voice commands.
Has Potential, but Requires Some Work on Your End
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 28, 2020
Phyn smart water assistant promises to tell you if you have a water leak, anywhere in your house, at a moment’s notice. It’s ambitious, and a worthwhile goal, but some limitations make it difficult to recommend.
To start, I’m a smart home nerd, I’m always looking for ways to automate my house or otherwise help my family be more efficient. I have to commend the Phyn team, because I think they’re on to something, but I think for the everyday consumer (or someone with limited knowledge of plumbing) will struggle to find its usefulness. But, I think if you really do your homework and understand your plumbing and WORK WITH the app, its usefulness will play out overtime. It’s just not the “install and forget it” that some might assume smart home devices to be.
IN THE BOX
In the box you get the Phyn device, couplers that connect to your water line (under your sink), a USB charging plug and some devices to hang the Phyn device on the wall under your sink.
In the box you get the Phyn device, couplers that connect to your water line (under your sink), a USB charging plug and some devices to hang the Phyn device on the wall under your sink.
INSTALLATION
Is surprisingly easy. The biggest challenge is simply cleaning out the space under your sink (although it’s a good opportunity to clean it out). I turned my water lines off (both hot and cold water). I downloaded the app and plugged in the Phyn to a power outlet. I connected it to the app. Then I got under the sink and using channel locks unscrewed the water hoses and screwed in the couplers. I made sure everything was tight then ran the water to make sure there was no leak. Up to this point, again, surprisingly simple.
Is surprisingly easy. The biggest challenge is simply cleaning out the space under your sink (although it’s a good opportunity to clean it out). I turned my water lines off (both hot and cold water). I downloaded the app and plugged in the Phyn to a power outlet. I connected it to the app. Then I got under the sink and using channel locks unscrewed the water hoses and screwed in the couplers. I made sure everything was tight then ran the water to make sure there was no leak. Up to this point, again, surprisingly simple.
After “Finding” the Phyn device and connecting to Wi-Fi, I was ready to plug it in under my sink. From the couplers there are two cables, a USB-C cable that goes to the Phyn, and a USB connector that plugs into the plug for power. Now, if you have a garbage disposal, you would think you would have a plug under your sink. I found out the hard way, I didn’t. My garbage disposal power cable simply ran through the cabinet to: I don’t know where. For now, I have an ugly white extension cord running from under my sink to an outlet on the wall. Since my setup is permanent (until I figure out what I’m going to do re power, I didn’t secure the Phyn device to the wall).
The other “snag” I ran into was that the app asked if I had a Pressure Regulating Valve (“PRV”) installed in my home. I had no idea, so I hit the button for the Phyn device to figure it out. According to the app, I didn’t have one. The app tells you that the PRV is helpful in making the Phyn work better and learn your house quicker. Again, this was something I didn’t know about in advance.
Then you tell the app what fixtures you have in your house and how many. For example, you have to identify the number of sinks and number of showers (or shower/tub combos) you have, as well as toilets.
REAL WORLD USE
To be clear, the app itself tells you that you have to “teach” the Phyn assistant about your house. It supposedly sends waves through your pipes to detect pressure. So I wasn’t expecting perfection immediately.
To be clear, the app itself tells you that you have to “teach” the Phyn assistant about your house. It supposedly sends waves through your pipes to detect pressure. So I wasn’t expecting perfection immediately.
But what started happening was that I was getting texts and notifications from Phyn telling me unusual activity was detected. First, I turned off the texting notifications because I didn’t need both. But frankly, I didn’t know what to do with the information. Then later I was told the unusual activity was resolved. When you go into the app, it will ask you if you know what was causing the unusual activity. If you say not sure, it tells you to go check your faucets to make sure they’re not dripping and if they are, to call a plumber. It does give you helpful suggestions, for example, I’ve had a toilet tank run before and it suggests putting food coloring in the tank to see if there’s a leak.
Right now, the app can’t tell me where there could be a leak. It’s a bit disconcerting because it seems as if there’s a leak at multiple devices. So in the sense that I am paying more attention to my plumbing is a plus, but I am also wondering if the multitude of notifications will be like the boy crying wolf. There are statistics as to how much water my family is using, but again, without knowing by baseline (what’s normal usage?) it doesn’t help me much. Now, over time, I expect to keep track of my usage which will help in the future (because I’ll have that baseline), but I’m not there yet.
SMART HOME CONNECTIVITY
Like I said before, I have a smart home, but I hate having 20 apps. That’s why Google Home is nice, it gives you the opportunity to integrate all of your smart home devices into one app. That’s not the case with Phyn. Yes, it has Google Assistant capabilities, so you can set it up and ask Google what the status of your water is, but it doesn’t integrate with Google Home. I’d like to see integration where you can utilize Google Home to help give Phyn more details about your house (where water fixtures are located for example). Maybe Phyn assistant doesn’t work that way, but from the non-educated it makes sense.
Like I said before, I have a smart home, but I hate having 20 apps. That’s why Google Home is nice, it gives you the opportunity to integrate all of your smart home devices into one app. That’s not the case with Phyn. Yes, it has Google Assistant capabilities, so you can set it up and ask Google what the status of your water is, but it doesn’t integrate with Google Home. I’d like to see integration where you can utilize Google Home to help give Phyn more details about your house (where water fixtures are located for example). Maybe Phyn assistant doesn’t work that way, but from the non-educated it makes sense.
CONCLUSION
At $300, the Phyn water assistant is pricey. And you have to have some baseline plumbing knowledge or at least the willingness to learn. I think the idea of this product is fantastic, I’m all for trying to manage my water usage and obviously anyone wants to know when they have a leak. But I think it’s too complicated for the average joe. If you have old water pipes or have been “burned” by a burst pipe before, I would definitely recommend it. It just takes a little work to get it going. But I feel pretty confident if you put the work in, and don’t simply dismiss notifications, that over time, it will become a useful tool in your smart home.
At $300, the Phyn water assistant is pricey. And you have to have some baseline plumbing knowledge or at least the willingness to learn. I think the idea of this product is fantastic, I’m all for trying to manage my water usage and obviously anyone wants to know when they have a leak. But I think it’s too complicated for the average joe. If you have old water pipes or have been “burned” by a burst pipe before, I would definitely recommend it. It just takes a little work to get it going. But I feel pretty confident if you put the work in, and don’t simply dismiss notifications, that over time, it will become a useful tool in your smart home.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Canon - SELPHY Square QX10 Wireless Photo Printer - White
Print your memorable photos with this Canon SELPHY Square QX10 compact photo printer. The compact, lightweight design offers easy portability, while the dye-sublimation technology delivers quality quick-drying 2.7 x 2.7-inch prints that last for a long time. This Canon SELPHY Square QX10 compact photo printer has a built-in battery for cordless hassle-free printing.
Solid printer, needs more customization options
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 24, 2020
IN THE BOX
Inside you will find the printer, USB cable, the “toner” cartridge and 3 sample sheets of paper.
Inside you will find the printer, USB cable, the “toner” cartridge and 3 sample sheets of paper.
SETUP
Super easy. I recommend charging it completely which takes a few hours. Loading the paper and ink cartridge is easy. The printer is designed so you can’t mess it up. Meaning, the ink cartridge only goes in one spot (on the side of the printer) and it won’t fit if you put it in the wrong way. The paper loads on the bottom of the printer. The door where the paper goes is easy to open and there’s a little label there telling you to make sure the back of the paper is facing up (up when you load it, facing down when you lay the printer right side up). The paper has Canon logos on the back, so again, it’s pretty intuitive.
Super easy. I recommend charging it completely which takes a few hours. Loading the paper and ink cartridge is easy. The printer is designed so you can’t mess it up. Meaning, the ink cartridge only goes in one spot (on the side of the printer) and it won’t fit if you put it in the wrong way. The paper loads on the bottom of the printer. The door where the paper goes is easy to open and there’s a little label there telling you to make sure the back of the paper is facing up (up when you load it, facing down when you lay the printer right side up). The paper has Canon logos on the back, so again, it’s pretty intuitive.
From here you have to download the SELPHY app (NOTE: there’s a lot of Canon apps out there, so make sure you download the right one). In the app, you click on the “add printer” icon at the top left and select SELPHY SQUARE QX10 and if your printer is on, it will add quickly.
PRINT QUALITY
Before I get into the ease of use, which is what prevents this product from getting 5 stars, I wanted to discuss the print quality. Now, first things first. I would assume most people know this by looking at the printer itself, but it is not going to print 4X6 prints. These are pocket size, squarish photos that are relatively small. Other printers (looking at you HP Sprocket) can take a photo and using 4 pages, create one larger photo. The SELPHY, to my knowledge, doesn’t have that capability. But the photo paper have an adhesive backing so you can use it as a sticker, which is honestly, what I think it’s made for.
Before I get into the ease of use, which is what prevents this product from getting 5 stars, I wanted to discuss the print quality. Now, first things first. I would assume most people know this by looking at the printer itself, but it is not going to print 4X6 prints. These are pocket size, squarish photos that are relatively small. Other printers (looking at you HP Sprocket) can take a photo and using 4 pages, create one larger photo. The SELPHY, to my knowledge, doesn’t have that capability. But the photo paper have an adhesive backing so you can use it as a sticker, which is honestly, what I think it’s made for.
Putting those inherent limitations aside, the printing quality is fantastic. The printer spits the paper out and pulls it back in several times (I believe applying different colors during each pass) and the end result is a fantastic looking picture. The HP Sprocket I mentioned above, doesn’t utilize an “ink cartridge” because the ink is somehow contained in the paper (which is why that printer is smaller). While I find the Sprocket printer to produce a good photo, I can confidently say the SELPHY produces a better result.
EASE OF USE
Now, the setup is easy, the printing quality is bad, but what holds this printer back is the app. It’s not terrible, it’s not even bad. But I’ve found most of Canon’s apps to be a little clunky with outdated visuals. I must admit it’s easy to navigate. It just feels limited.
Now, the setup is easy, the printing quality is bad, but what holds this printer back is the app. It’s not terrible, it’s not even bad. But I’ve found most of Canon’s apps to be a little clunky with outdated visuals. I must admit it’s easy to navigate. It just feels limited.
After the printer is connected, you open the app and you get an option to either “select and print” or “n-up layout.” Select and print is pretty obvious, you pick a photo you want (you must select from various folders where your photos are located). I’m not sure what n-up means, but it’s basically a collage. Some people might like it, but given that the paper is so small, I prefer to print one photo to one piece of paper.
After you select a photo, you are then given options to customize it. Now, the printer by default treats a photo like a polaroid photo. Meaning, there’s a larger white border at the bottom. You can customize the photo by moving the position of the photo, putting a timestamp, putting frames, graphics as stamps, texts, and filters. While I think the selection of TYPES of things you can do to customize your photos is sufficient, I was disappointed with the options WITHIN the types. Frames for example, there’s only 9 options. Without seeing it, it might seem like I’m complaining about minor stuff, but the 9 options available just don’t appeal to me. Most are just bright colors.
Bottomline is that the app could and should be able to offer you more customization.
CONCLUSION
At the end of the day, this is a well built, easy to use printer that makes small photos that are best used as stickers. If you can live with just printing pictures, you absolutely won’t be disappointed. The quality is terrific. But if you’re one looking to truly customize your photos, you will be left slightly disappointed.
At the end of the day, this is a well built, easy to use printer that makes small photos that are best used as stickers. If you can live with just printing pictures, you absolutely won’t be disappointed. The quality is terrific. But if you’re one looking to truly customize your photos, you will be left slightly disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Mr. Coffee - 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Strong Brew Selector and Reusable Coffee Filter - Stainless Steel
Enjoy delicious, bold-tasting coffee made simple with the new Mr. Coffee 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker with Strong Brew Selector. Brew your coffee as bold as you like it with the Strong Brew Selector—you can choose to brew a bolder cup of coffee if that's what you'd like, with the touch of a button. The coffee maker also features intuitive Brew Later programming that makes it easy to schedule brewing ahead of time, so you can wake up to the smell of freshly made coffee. This updated design also includes a Grab-a-Cup Auto Pause, so you can pour a cup of coffee before brewing is finished. Plus, the 4-Hour Auto-Shutoff feature automatically turns off the coffee maker so you don't have to. Plus, this coffee maker comes with a dishwasher-safe, reusable coffee filter, so you can save money and create less waste. Just sit back, sip, and enjoy great coffee just the way you like it.
Simple, but reliable
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 24, 2020
Fancy coffee drinks are all the rage these days. This Mr. Coffee maker won't be whipping up frappes or cappuccinos but it's not intended to do so. This is your basic, no frills coffee pot that does one thing and one thing well, make a hot pot of coffee. And at that, it excels.
In the box you obviously get the coffee maker and glass carafe. You also get a reusable coffee filter which I'm a big fan of. It minimizes waste and it's easy to clean.
It's like any other coffee pot, you measure your grounds and put in the included reusable filter and add water. It's programmable which is great for those are in a rush in the morning or simple like waking up to the smell of coffee in the morning. And it's super easy to set up the programming feature.
It's also nice that it turns off after 4 hours. So when you're in a rush out the door you don't have to worry about it stating on all day. It includes an auto pause feature, so you can pull the carafe out, and pour a cup, while it continues to brew the entire pot.
It's main feature, however, is the strong brew option. Honestly, I couldn't really tell the difference (although I admit, I drink my coffee with almond milk and splenda) but that doesn't matter to me one way or the other. I guess it's nice to have, and maybe those who drink coffee black can tell, but that shouldn't sway you one way or the other. Either way, it makes a good cup of coffee. I've tried Costco coffee, Starbucks coffee and while I can taste the difference between the coffee I use, Mr. Coffee delivers a consistent product with no coffee grounds in the pot.
I also like the size. Counter space in my house is a premium and I have to make room for a coffee making device. This Mr. Coffee machine is relatively small so it doesn't take up much space. And while it's made of plastic (except the carafe) I like the design. It looks classy enough to keep on your counter.
I really recommend this for anyone that just needs a standard, go to coffee pot. This is perfect for students or those that just enjoy a normal cup of coffee. Not to mention the price. It's virtually a steal.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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DJI OM 4
Life’s extraordinary moments deserve to be captured with smooth video. DJI OM 4 is a magnetic gimbal designed to complement your smartphone, allowing you to start recording right away. Ultra-compact, easy to use, and bursting with intelligent features, OM 4 is the ultimate solution for capturing and sharing your world.
Great tool for amateur and pro phone photographers
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 10, 2020
I always think it’s important to mention how I use electronics so you can get a feel where I’m coming from. I have no formal videography/photography or editing training, it is merely a hobby. One that I wish I had more time for. And since I have two young kids, most of my videos are home videos of my kids, and occasionally when I travel of more adventurous things like boating, hiking, white water rafting.
Like most people, my phone, the Google Pixel 4 XL is my primary device for taking pictures. But when the occasion calls, I use my Canon compact mirrorless camera for photos and my GoPros for video. I own the GoPro Karma Grip, so I have some experience with using gimbal cameras, but I’ve never used one for my cell phone. The DJI OM4 is the first gimbal I’ve used for my phone and I will just say that I’m impressed and it takes phone photography/video to new heights. It won’t replace my GoPro (which is more durable and much smaller) but the DJI OM4 is a great tool in the photography arsenal to have. It is now my go to whenever I want to film or take pictures of my kids in the situations where a GoPro isn’t needed (like kayaking, swimming, or attaching it to my bike).
I found the DJI OM4 intuitive and easy to use. Sure, my Pixel does the heavy lifting, but the stabilization and software that runs the DJI OM4 just takes things to another level in what your phone can do, in the realm of taking pictures and recording videos.
IN THE BOX
In the box you will find the gimbal folded up, a ring magnetic mount, a “clamp” mount, a short USB-C cable, a storage bag and small tripod that screws into the bottom of the handle. The storage bag won’t protect the device from being crunched in your traveling bag, but it is still nice to have to hold it and the USB cable in.
In the box you will find the gimbal folded up, a ring magnetic mount, a “clamp” mount, a short USB-C cable, a storage bag and small tripod that screws into the bottom of the handle. The storage bag won’t protect the device from being crunched in your traveling bag, but it is still nice to have to hold it and the USB cable in.
SETTING UP
Before I get to the app, I want to talk about the magnetic mounts. I’ve heard that the biggest complaint for the DJI OM3 was the clamp that holds your phone. People said that it was cumbersome to get your phone in and out. The biggest change to the OM4 was the use of magnetic mounts. So you have two options. One, you can attach the ring magnetic mount to your phone or your phone’s case, or two, you can affix a clamp to your phone, which attaches to the gimbal with a magnet.
Before I get to the app, I want to talk about the magnetic mounts. I’ve heard that the biggest complaint for the DJI OM3 was the clamp that holds your phone. People said that it was cumbersome to get your phone in and out. The biggest change to the OM4 was the use of magnetic mounts. So you have two options. One, you can attach the ring magnetic mount to your phone or your phone’s case, or two, you can affix a clamp to your phone, which attaches to the gimbal with a magnet.
For me, I prefer the second option. I’ve never used a ring mount (which doubles not only as a magnet to attach to the gimbal, but a ring to hold your phone) and while I’m not against it per se, I just don’t feel them useful for me. That's my personal preference. And since I don’t use my gimbal everyday, I have no issues using the clamp when I’m ready to use the OM4. I can say that I use a minimal case on my Pixel 4 XL and the clamp has plenty of room to spare going over my case. No matter the magnet you go with, I can say with certainty that you need not worry about your phone falling. The magnets are plenty strong.
Now, the app. That’s really the magic sauce here. I generally hate having a different app for everything, I can say that the DJI MIMO app is all around great. The download and logging in process was simple (this was my first time setting up a DJI account). So keep in mind this is my first foray into DJI products, but I was blown away by not only how easy the app was to navigate, but also the helpful dialogue boxes along the way. If, for example, you are having difficulties getting the gimbal to point in the right direction, a pop-up box will show up on your screen and offer some good tips.
And once the app is installed and open and so long as your gimbal is on, it’s dead simple to pair. The phone tells you it detects the gimbal and pairs flawlessly...every time.
THE GIMBAL ITSELF
I have to mention the quality of the gimbal and DJI’s attention to detail. I just found the OM4 to be well-built and thoughtfully constructed. It folds down for storage and there’s a little notch in the handle that prevents the top of the gimbal from spinning while in storage (in other words, locking it in place). It’s obviously made of plastic, but it feels solid and it has some heft but not too much as to feel overbearing. It comes with a wrist strap that attaches to the base in case you do lose grip and drop it. The buttons are minimal, but make sense. There’s a power button, that doubles as a switch between photo and video mode (super helpful), a record button, joystick to move the gimbal manually, zoom slider and “trigger” that can be utilized a number of ways with the default being to lock in on a subject. Even if you’ve never used a gimbal before and jumped right into filming, the controls are intuitive and easy to use. I also want to mention the USB port. As you know, using your camera/video features on your phone can be battery draining. Fortunately, DJI thought about this and included a USB port on the side. So using the small USB-C cable included with the OM4, I can plug my phone into the gimbal to charge it. The battery life on the gimbal is rated for 15 hours which is well longer than any photo session I would use it for, so I was always able to keep my phone’s battery topped off when using the gimbal. This feature is a big deal, as you’d hate to be out and about with no means to charge your phone and drain it while filming with the gimbal.
I have to mention the quality of the gimbal and DJI’s attention to detail. I just found the OM4 to be well-built and thoughtfully constructed. It folds down for storage and there’s a little notch in the handle that prevents the top of the gimbal from spinning while in storage (in other words, locking it in place). It’s obviously made of plastic, but it feels solid and it has some heft but not too much as to feel overbearing. It comes with a wrist strap that attaches to the base in case you do lose grip and drop it. The buttons are minimal, but make sense. There’s a power button, that doubles as a switch between photo and video mode (super helpful), a record button, joystick to move the gimbal manually, zoom slider and “trigger” that can be utilized a number of ways with the default being to lock in on a subject. Even if you’ve never used a gimbal before and jumped right into filming, the controls are intuitive and easy to use. I also want to mention the USB port. As you know, using your camera/video features on your phone can be battery draining. Fortunately, DJI thought about this and included a USB port on the side. So using the small USB-C cable included with the OM4, I can plug my phone into the gimbal to charge it. The battery life on the gimbal is rated for 15 hours which is well longer than any photo session I would use it for, so I was always able to keep my phone’s battery topped off when using the gimbal. This feature is a big deal, as you’d hate to be out and about with no means to charge your phone and drain it while filming with the gimbal.
REAL WORLD USE AND PERFORMANCE
Like I said, I’ve used a gimbal before, but not paired with my phone. I took traditional photos and videos with my kids and it was dead simple. And you would be shocked to see the difference in quality between holding a phone in your hand and using the OM4. Videos are obvious, even the best OIS or software can’t eliminate hand shaking. Videos taken with the gimbal, even holding it in your hand, look super smooth almost like you were a professional and knew what you were doing. But even photos looked better. I can’t explain it, other than my best guess being that the gimbal just eliminates hand shaking. The gimbal defaults holding your phone in portrait mode, but you can physically turn your phone into landscape mode and it adjusts accordingly.
Like I said, I’ve used a gimbal before, but not paired with my phone. I took traditional photos and videos with my kids and it was dead simple. And you would be shocked to see the difference in quality between holding a phone in your hand and using the OM4. Videos are obvious, even the best OIS or software can’t eliminate hand shaking. Videos taken with the gimbal, even holding it in your hand, look super smooth almost like you were a professional and knew what you were doing. But even photos looked better. I can’t explain it, other than my best guess being that the gimbal just eliminates hand shaking. The gimbal defaults holding your phone in portrait mode, but you can physically turn your phone into landscape mode and it adjusts accordingly.
I really enjoyed taking panoramas with the OM4. It was almost magical. The phone will tell you that it recommends a tripod (which I used), and when you line up your shot, say of the sunset, you can select how you want the panorama to be oriented. It lets you decide based on the number of pictures. So say you want a super wide panorama, you select 240 degrees. Or say you want a more focused panorama with a traditional wide angle lens, you select the 6 photo option. Then you click on record and the gimbal goes into action taking 6 or 9 shots (moving each time obviously) and then stitching them together. Again, I was amazed with the quality.
What was just as fun was making short video clips. There’s a story mode within the app, you select your preset (like leisure, activity, etc.) and you select how long you want each shot to last (usually between 1-3 seconds) and the gimbal will take a quick video clip, usually moving the phone to the side to get an “artistic” shot. After taking 4-6 clips, the app will put together a short 10-15 second clip that’s fun to share. I’m not sure how often I would use this feature, the clips really are just quick snapshots of activity, but it’s cool nonetheless and easy to make and share.
The gimbal also has person tracking. It uses AI to track an object or person. You can simply use your finger to drag a box over the person you want to track before or during filming, and the gimbal will follow that person. Obviously, the gimbal’s range of motion is only so much, so it won’t turn 180 degrees, but it does allow you to put the gimbal on a tripod and follow movements of someone allowing you to join the scene and not worry about now being in the frame.
You can also edit your videos in the app. I’m not a fan of editing videos on a phone (I’m looking at you GoPro), but it’s easy to do and the app makes trimming videos easy, and it puts the clips together for you with a music overlay. In other words, it’s the simple person’s video editing which is perfect for me and for most people. I can’t emphasize enough that the app helps walk you through the process and explain all of the features of the gimbal.
NITPICKY COMPLAINTS AND QUIRKS
While no device is perfect, the quirks I found using the OM4 don’t always pertain to the gimbal/app itself, but my phone. One of the issues with the gimbal was the zoom slider. Now, this is a phone, so I’m not zooming much, but even though I adjusted the sensitivity, I found the zoom slider to be too abrupt. Rather than a slow zoom in, it just feels like it goes from 1X to 4X too quickly. As far as the app, I found the tracking feature to be hit and miss. For adults it was fine, but for my 2 year old, it would lose my kid’s face (when he turned around) and just stop tracking. In terms of other quirks, it really depends on your phone. I save all of my photos and videos taken from all my cameras/phones to my personal cloud. If I use a DSLR, I simply plug the SD card into the computer and upload them directly. My phone is a bit trickier. My Pixel 4 XL only has 64 GB of storage and that fills up quickly. I don’t like only relying on Google Photos to upload and save all my footage because it downgrades the quality slightly (I’m talking about the free version of photo backups). I like to upload it to Google Photos so I can show someone, but I like to save the native files to my cloud. So now I have to plug my phone in periodically and manually transfer. For those with devices with MicroSD cards, or paid cloud storage, this is less of a problem, but data management is always something to consider, especially with phones. No means is it a deal breaker, just something to consider.
While no device is perfect, the quirks I found using the OM4 don’t always pertain to the gimbal/app itself, but my phone. One of the issues with the gimbal was the zoom slider. Now, this is a phone, so I’m not zooming much, but even though I adjusted the sensitivity, I found the zoom slider to be too abrupt. Rather than a slow zoom in, it just feels like it goes from 1X to 4X too quickly. As far as the app, I found the tracking feature to be hit and miss. For adults it was fine, but for my 2 year old, it would lose my kid’s face (when he turned around) and just stop tracking. In terms of other quirks, it really depends on your phone. I save all of my photos and videos taken from all my cameras/phones to my personal cloud. If I use a DSLR, I simply plug the SD card into the computer and upload them directly. My phone is a bit trickier. My Pixel 4 XL only has 64 GB of storage and that fills up quickly. I don’t like only relying on Google Photos to upload and save all my footage because it downgrades the quality slightly (I’m talking about the free version of photo backups). I like to upload it to Google Photos so I can show someone, but I like to save the native files to my cloud. So now I have to plug my phone in periodically and manually transfer. For those with devices with MicroSD cards, or paid cloud storage, this is less of a problem, but data management is always something to consider, especially with phones. No means is it a deal breaker, just something to consider.
CONCLUSION
I found my new phone companion. The OM4 has plenty of features to bring excitement to otherwise boring videos. And it comes in a small and easy to use package.
I found my new phone companion. The OM4 has plenty of features to bring excitement to otherwise boring videos. And it comes in a small and easy to use package.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Smoothie Bowl Maker and Nutrient Extractor* with smartTORQUE blends and powers through the thickest ingredients and never stalls. One base with multi-functions. Nutrient Extraction* Cup for smooth drinkables (vs. BL480). Smoothie Bowl Maker with built-in tamper powers through with less liquid for thick smoothie bowls.
Power in a Small Package
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 9, 2020
I've owned several Ninja blenders and my biggest complaint has always been their gigantic size. Granted, I never had a problem with their power/ability, but the motor base and large blender was just too big to keep on my counter top. With this new model, I can say that Ninja packed the same punch in a smaller base. But the catch is that you don't have a 64 ounce blender. If you have no need for a 64 ounce blender and mainly make soups/shakes/smoothies for you or one other person, this I can say is the better option, especially if countertop space is a premium.
IN THE BOX
You get the smaller base motor, two cups, one cup for making smoothies and drinking lids.
You get the smaller base motor, two cups, one cup for making smoothies and drinking lids.
EASE OF USE
Set up is dead simple, as you’d expect. You plug in the power cord and voila. You screw in the blade base and one of the cups and you’re off running.
Set up is dead simple, as you’d expect. You plug in the power cord and voila. You screw in the blade base and one of the cups and you’re off running.
There’s only a few select buttons, which I prefer over numbers 1-10. If you’re using a cup there’s extract and smoothie (I don’t find a difference) and for the smoothie bowl, there’s spread and bowl. For me, I didn’t find a difference between these two either.
WHO THIS IS FOR
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest knock against Ninja blenders has always been their size, typically their height. But that was for a blender for multi person use. This device is described as a single person blender. Meaning, it’s not going to make a large batch of whatever, but for one person in a blender cup. Depending on who you are making smoothies for and how many people, I would argue this model is the better version given it’s smaller size (unless you make a family’s worth of smoothies each day). For my wife and I, we each make our own smoothie cups and like having a small motor base on the counter.
As I mentioned earlier, my biggest knock against Ninja blenders has always been their size, typically their height. But that was for a blender for multi person use. This device is described as a single person blender. Meaning, it’s not going to make a large batch of whatever, but for one person in a blender cup. Depending on who you are making smoothies for and how many people, I would argue this model is the better version given it’s smaller size (unless you make a family’s worth of smoothies each day). For my wife and I, we each make our own smoothie cups and like having a small motor base on the counter.
PERFORMANCE
I think it’s important to tell others how I use items so you know where I’m coming from. Each and every morning I make smoothies, typically using a protein powder, fruits and veggies, both fresh and frozen. I found this Ninja model to make silky smooth smoothies each and every time. Honestly, I’m impressed. I load my cup up with my ingredients, put it in the base and click on smoothies. It takes about a minute. Despite the rubber feet, I found the motor to dance around my countertop. It’s never come close to falling off, but it was a little disconcerting at first when it started dancing. I make sure I put it far enough from the edge and haven’t had a problem.
I think it’s important to tell others how I use items so you know where I’m coming from. Each and every morning I make smoothies, typically using a protein powder, fruits and veggies, both fresh and frozen. I found this Ninja model to make silky smooth smoothies each and every time. Honestly, I’m impressed. I load my cup up with my ingredients, put it in the base and click on smoothies. It takes about a minute. Despite the rubber feet, I found the motor to dance around my countertop. It’s never come close to falling off, but it was a little disconcerting at first when it started dancing. I make sure I put it far enough from the edge and haven’t had a problem.
Like I said, I exclusively make smoothies for breakfast, but I did give the smoothie bowl a try and I was pleasantly surprised. Since I’ve never made a “smoothie bowl” before, I liked the recipe book (more like a few suggestions, but still, a nice addition). When using the smoothie bowl cup you simply turn the top of the lid (it has two paddles on the inside) while it blends to make sure things are blended. I had a perfect frozen berry concoction. It was similar to my smoothies, but with the addition of more frozen fruit it made a thicker smoothie that enabled me to eat with a spoon. I haven’t ventured out too far, but I like the possibilities and look forward to trying other recipes (such as nut butters).
I also want to note that everything is dishwasher safe, and even if you prefer or need to clean it by hand, it’s no problem. I have any difficulties cleaning the cups and lids by hand.
CONCLUSION
All in all, this is a fantastic blender. But when shopping, make sure you know how you want to use it. Specifically, how many people you’ll be blending for. If you want a blender to make a large pitchers of margaritas for multiple people, look elsewhere. But if you are simply looking for a powerful, versatile blender to make individual servings of smoothies or butters or even healthy desserts, this is the one to get. The motor base is small and will not take up much room.
All in all, this is a fantastic blender. But when shopping, make sure you know how you want to use it. Specifically, how many people you’ll be blending for. If you want a blender to make a large pitchers of margaritas for multiple people, look elsewhere. But if you are simply looking for a powerful, versatile blender to make individual servings of smoothies or butters or even healthy desserts, this is the one to get. The motor base is small and will not take up much room.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja brand has been a leader in kitchen appliances delivering innovative products for decades. Now introducing the Ninja Professional Plus Food Processor—make food prep easier with its power, intelligence, and versatility. The 1000-peak-watt motor and preset programs chop veggies, shred cheese, and make smooth sauces and cookie dough from scratch—all at the touch of a button.
Large and in Charge
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on August 17, 2020
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I'm a big fan of Ninja kitchen small appliances. I think overall, they do a fantastic job. I'm a cooking newbie, normally afraid to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Not only do Ninja products, like this food processor, perform well, but they also include fun recipes to try (not to mention the large swath of recipes available online for these products).
IN THE BOX
When you open the box you'll find a slicing/shredding disc (it's reversible), a razer sharp shredder, dough mixer, the motor base and the container. It's packaged well, and everything is easy to set up (even without the helpful quick instructions guide).
When you open the box you'll find a slicing/shredding disc (it's reversible), a razer sharp shredder, dough mixer, the motor base and the container. It's packaged well, and everything is easy to set up (even without the helpful quick instructions guide).
One comment is that this is a pretty large food processor. For some that's a big benefit (and the reason for buying it) as it can prepare/hold a lot. But for others, it's something to keep in mind, especially for small kitchens. It's about as wide as a blender and is taller than you'd think (although I didn't measure it).
BUILD QUALITY/LOOKS
I have to hand it to Ninja, they have a way of making plastic look good. On the one hand, the blender "feels" somewhat cheap because it is entirely made of plastic. But nonetheless, I think it looks pretty elegant all things considered. I don't keep it on my counter top, but that's because of space, but I wouldn't mind it if I had the space. Point is, it's a nice looking product. And even though it's plastic, it's well built and thoughtfully designed.
I have to hand it to Ninja, they have a way of making plastic look good. On the one hand, the blender "feels" somewhat cheap because it is entirely made of plastic. But nonetheless, I think it looks pretty elegant all things considered. I don't keep it on my counter top, but that's because of space, but I wouldn't mind it if I had the space. Point is, it's a nice looking product. And even though it's plastic, it's well built and thoughtfully designed.
SETUP AND EASE OF USE
In terms of putting the pieces together, it's straightforward. The container locks in, as does the lid, and only one of the three tools will fit in at a time. Obviously, the trick is knowing which one to use when (for those newish to the kitchen like me). But my point is that it's easy to use.
In terms of putting the pieces together, it's straightforward. The container locks in, as does the lid, and only one of the three tools will fit in at a time. Obviously, the trick is knowing which one to use when (for those newish to the kitchen like me). But my point is that it's easy to use.
There's only seven buttons (and three of them are low high and pulse) which makes using it even easier. Again, for someone like me who is new to cooking with a food processor, having clear and easy to use buttons that match your attachment (i.e. dough button for the dough attachment, chop for the blade attachment) is a big plus.
The base has nice suction cups on it to keep it in place when it's operating. This baby moves pretty quick and you need not worry about the processor sliding around your counter. It stays firmly in place.
PERFORMANCE
This thing rocks in the performance department. I've made several dishes using this (both in the book of recipes included with it) including a vegetable casserole, cookies and pesto. All dishes came out perfect. But what made it so easy, other than the easy to follow directions, was how well the food processor performed. I put in zucchini, squash and tomatoes in the chute (with the slicing disk) and it made quick work of those vegetables, making uniform slices. Not only that, but the large container held it all at once. I didn't have to empty out the container at all, it was large enough to slice and hold several of each. In terms of cutting down prep time, it did that remarkably well.
This thing rocks in the performance department. I've made several dishes using this (both in the book of recipes included with it) including a vegetable casserole, cookies and pesto. All dishes came out perfect. But what made it so easy, other than the easy to follow directions, was how well the food processor performed. I put in zucchini, squash and tomatoes in the chute (with the slicing disk) and it made quick work of those vegetables, making uniform slices. Not only that, but the large container held it all at once. I didn't have to empty out the container at all, it was large enough to slice and hold several of each. In terms of cutting down prep time, it did that remarkably well.
I also made pesto, and the shredder disc shredded the parmesan cheese in not time, and the container was large enough to hold the remaining ingredients. What I was left with was delicious pesto that had a fantastic and consistent texture. I also tried out the dough attachment to make cookies and they too, ended up tasting great.
I’m no chef, and I was greatly aided by the recipes that were provided in the box, but I can comfortably say that this food processor can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it (so long as it’s not crushing ice, it specifically says not to do that).
I’m no chef, and I was greatly aided by the recipes that were provided in the box, but I can comfortably say that this food processor can handle pretty much whatever you throw at it (so long as it’s not crushing ice, it specifically says not to do that).
CONCLUSION
If you are in the market for a food processor, you can’t go wrong with this Ninja professional model. It looks good, albeit a little on the big side, and performs remarkably well. And it is dead simple to operate.
If you are in the market for a food processor, you can’t go wrong with this Ninja professional model. It looks good, albeit a little on the big side, and performs remarkably well. And it is dead simple to operate.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+9points
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JLab - Play Gaming Wireless Earbuds - Black/Blue
Enjoy crisp, powerful sound while gaming with these JLab Play wireless earbuds. The rechargeable lithium-polymer battery delivers more than 11 hours of use on a single charge, and an in-line gaming microphone captures your voice clearly for smooth communication with teammates. These JLab Play wireless earbuds have a magnetic design to prevent falling off your neck while not in use.
Jack of all trades, master of none
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on August 13, 2020
I’m a fan of JLab headphones. Generally speaking, I think their headphones are a nice balance of quality and price. Obviously you can find “better” sounding headphones, but for the price point they offer, I find them to be a solid choice for the more budget minded consumer (or someone who doesn’t put an absolute premium on sound quality).
With that said, I found the JLab Play Gaming earbuds to be a tad underwhelming. Not necessarily because of sound quality, but because of deficiencies using them for what they’re intended to do...gaming.
I own virtually every video game console ever made. But my primary gaming devices are PS4 and Switch. I play online with friends on my PS4 but primarily play solo (or local multiplayer) on my Switch. For me, the real benefit for the Gaming Ear buds was their versatility. I could use them for travel when playing my Switch (since Bluetooth doesn’t work with it) and I could use it at home with PS4.
But first, WHAT’S IN THE BOX
I’m impressed with what you get for the price. A nice bag, USB charging cable, AUX cable, and extra ear bud tips.
As you can probably surmise from the product photos, they’re not truly wireless earbuds, but they are connected with a strap that goes behind your neck. In some ways, I much prefer the “cable around your neck” vs. truly wireless earbuds so they don’t get lost.
EASE OF SETUP - Bluetooth Connectivity
Pairing it with my phone was easy. On the right side of the cabling you will find the controls. There’s a center button for pairing (pausing music too) and volume. You hold the power button to turn it on and hold it another beat and it goes into pairing mode. Much like virtually every Bluetooth device I’ve tried in the past few years, it was a seamless process.
CONTROLS
One of my overarching complaints of all Bluetooth headphones are the controls. With over the ear headphones you physically have more space to button buttons (whether capacitive or otherwise) but earbuds present a different challenge. And every manufacturer has a slightly different way of making a small number of buttons do different things. Point is, the controls are actually quite versatile, but it can be a little complex (but nothing a little practice won’t take care of). For example, to change a music track you have to click the volume button and hold it for 2 seconds (intuition tells me to click volume twice). Answering a call you click the button in the center (the power button) or to reject the call you simply click the button once and hold it. To JLabs credit, they not only give you a nice, and easy to understand, graphic in the form of a quick start guide, but it’s also on the box. So you can’t complain that JLab didn’t show you how to control the device. And honestly, it’s no big deal, and is easily understood, it just gets confusing if you, like me, use different headsets and the controls are slightly different.
COMFORT
Fit and comfort for Bluetooth headphones are a big deal. If they’re not comfortable, then you won’t want to wear them for long periods of time. But most manufacturers, including JLab, include multiple tips so you can find the right fit. Anyone who cares about my opinion I tell them to take time when first purchasing earbuds to try the different tips on and find one that works. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't find a truly comfortable tip. For me, I felt they were all uncomfortable. The larger tips felt fine at first but they bothered my ears after using them for an hour. It wasn't painful, but you could feel they were there and it was distracting.
SOUND QUALITY
As I mentioned earlier, I think JLab products have decent sound quality. I found these earbuds, both playing music and games, to be just fine. Now, you're not getting 360 spatial audio for games like Call of Duty, but I found the sound to be adequate for most uses. The one thing I wish it has, and most smaller earbuds don't, is better bass. But frankly, I knew going in this pair wouldn't have deep bass like over the ear headphones due. Bottomline is that you can find better sounding headphones elsewhere, but for this price point the sound quality is more than satisfactory whether you're gaming or listening to music.
BATTERY LIFE
While I didn’t fully test the 11+ hours of battery life, I can say that I used these for listening to music on my phone for many hours over the course of a few days, and gamed a few hours each night for a few nights and had no issues. For battery powered devices, that’s more than ample. So why I can’t say, yes it lasts 11 hours, I can confidently say it lasts as long as you would expect them to.
GAMING
This is the department where I felt these headphones struggled the most, which was disappointing given that they're meant for gaming. I own all current gen consoles. I don’t play Xbox One online, but I do play PS4 online. Using the included AUX cable, to play online you plug the AUX cable into your PS4 controller and then plug the other end (micro-USB) into the charging port of the headphones. My PS4 picked up the audio immediately and fed the audio to the headphones. That much was easy. But in a group chat, I simply couldn’t get the volume loud enough to hear my friends. Note that to control the audio/chat you have to do it in the PS4 menus themselves. I will admit that my problem was likely user error. I’m used to plugging in my old headset into the PS4 via USB which never required me having to adjust the volume/microphone levels. I just couldn’t figure it out. I do wish, for people like me, JLab would include some instructions on troubleshooting on the various gaming platforms. And I like the dedicated mute switch. It’s a switch all by itself so when you need to mute, there’s no mistaking what button it is.
While I couldn’t hear my friends, they could hear me crystal clear. So I’m confident that the Play Gaming earbuds performed as they should, but I failed to adjust the volume accordingly. When I played a single player game (I was playing Last of Us 2) I found the earbuds to work just fine. Like I said, my issue was the volume of my chat.
I used these for my Nintendo Switch, and like using them for the PS4, you simply plug the AUX cable into the port on the Switch and the other end of the AUX cable into the headphones. I found the audio to work just fine. Again, I don’t game or chat with friends online on the Switch.
CONCLUSION
These really are a versatile set of headphones and for the price point, they really can’t be beat. The sound quality is mediocre, which I don’t mean as a knock, but it has its limitations. The microphone works extremely well, but know that you will need to mess with your console’s menus to the get the chat volume just right. And it sounds weird, but the included travel bag is a real plus for me. It’s really nice to see companies paying attention to where one might store earbuds, charging cables, AUX cables and give you a solution. Comfort is a bit lacking for me (when wearing them for an extended period of time), but I think that varies depending on the person, so don’t let my experience discourage you (some earbuds hurt my others, others don’t).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a cordless handheld vacuum designed for powerful suction. It comes with a motorized self-cleaning Pet Power Brush that eliminates hair wrap, a lithium-ion battery, CleanTouch dirt ejector, and more, at only 2.8 lbs.
Powerful Little Handheld
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 27, 2020
If you have a stick vacuum (i.e. Dyson) that can double as a handheld, this vacuum might be overkill (unless you need another) but even though I have a stick vacuum I found this to be a welcome addition to my home. The biggest drawback is that there's no cradle.
IN THE BOX
You get the vacuum which is svelte and light (looks good) and several attachments, including a power brush, crevice tool and "drapery" tool (wider mouth with soft bristles on the end. And of course the charger.
You get the vacuum which is svelte and light (looks good) and several attachments, including a power brush, crevice tool and "drapery" tool (wider mouth with soft bristles on the end. And of course the charger.
EASE OF USE
Other than making sure it charges for the recommended 4-6 hours after purchase, it's as straightforward as you would expect. All of the buttons are a distinct yellow, so they are easy to find (other than the power button which rests on the top of the handle). But there's only two buttons other than power, and the one towards the front of the vacuum opens the dirt bin the other on the bottom opens up the device so you can clean the filter.
Other than making sure it charges for the recommended 4-6 hours after purchase, it's as straightforward as you would expect. All of the buttons are a distinct yellow, so they are easy to find (other than the power button which rests on the top of the handle). But there's only two buttons other than power, and the one towards the front of the vacuum opens the dirt bin the other on the bottom opens up the device so you can clean the filter.
PERFORMANCE and BATTERY LIFE
This little guy packs a punch and it lasts a long time. You press the button and it stays on (vs. having to hold it to keep it on) which is nice. The power brush does a great job picking up my long hair cat's white fur on the couch. And it its "mouth" is wide enough to pick up most objects in your house (i.e. large pieces of food that my kids drop). The dust bin is clear so you can see when it's full, although it doesn't hold a lot, but that's really no big deal at all. Like I said, emptying the dust bin is super easy and makes no mess.
This little guy packs a punch and it lasts a long time. You press the button and it stays on (vs. having to hold it to keep it on) which is nice. The power brush does a great job picking up my long hair cat's white fur on the couch. And it its "mouth" is wide enough to pick up most objects in your house (i.e. large pieces of food that my kids drop). The dust bin is clear so you can see when it's full, although it doesn't hold a lot, but that's really no big deal at all. Like I said, emptying the dust bin is super easy and makes no mess.
I haven't had to clean the filter yet, but it doesn't seem to a big issue either. It's cloth, so when it gets dirty you just need to rinse it with water and let it air dry.
All in all, a no frills, powerful handheld that's nice to have around for small jobs... but...
ONE COMPLAINT
My one complaint is the lack of a base station. Older models of shark vacuums (I had a black and purple one years ago, I don't remember the model) had a cheap piece of plastic that you could insert the power cable through to act as a charging station. And that piece of plastic held the accessories. This Shark vacuum desperately needs that. I prefer to keep mine on the wall, in a cradle that keeps it charged with the accessories. Small handheld vacuum accessories are tough to keep track of. Obviously this is a first world problem, but it's just easy to misplace everything. I would like to see everything in one place...on a wall.
My one complaint is the lack of a base station. Older models of shark vacuums (I had a black and purple one years ago, I don't remember the model) had a cheap piece of plastic that you could insert the power cable through to act as a charging station. And that piece of plastic held the accessories. This Shark vacuum desperately needs that. I prefer to keep mine on the wall, in a cradle that keeps it charged with the accessories. Small handheld vacuum accessories are tough to keep track of. Obviously this is a first world problem, but it's just easy to misplace everything. I would like to see everything in one place...on a wall.
CONCLUSION
Even without a charging cradle, I can't take a star off this vacuum. For the price, you are getting a solid performer with great battery life. And the power brush works magic with animal hair. I recommend it if you are in the market for a handheld vacuum for smaller jobs when you don't want to get the "big" one out.
Even without a charging cradle, I can't take a star off this vacuum. For the price, you are getting a solid performer with great battery life. And the power brush works magic with animal hair. I recommend it if you are in the market for a handheld vacuum for smaller jobs when you don't want to get the "big" one out.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you need 8 dozen* of your signature chocolate chip cookies or shredded chicken for Taco Tuesday with friends and family, the KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer has the capacity for every occasion. This durable tilt-head stand mixer was built to last, and features 10 speeds to gently knead, thoroughly mix and whip ingredients for a wide variety of recipes and comes in a variety of colors to perfectly match your kitchen design or personality. Get creative and make more with your mixer with over 10 optional hub-powered attachments*, from food grinders to pasta makers and more. *Using the flat beater; 28g dough each **sold separately.
Solid performance in (slightly) smaller size
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 15, 2020
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I use stand mixers primarily to make bread and cakes. Two of the biggest drawbacks to mixers are price and size. They are expensive, especially for those that haven't baked before and want to give it a go, and they take up a large amount of counter or cabinet space. And they're heavy.
Kitchenaid makes a mini version, which I find too small, and the 5 quart version is too big. While this 4.5 QT model is by no means, “small” I think it’s the perfect size. It’s still heavy though.
When comparing this model to the “full size” version, I don’t find the mixer itself much smaller, but the bowl is what gives it its smaller size.
I found the color to be beautiful and a nice addition to my counter. While I don’t use it every day (maybe once every other week) I don’t mind looking at it on a daily basis.
For those who have never used a stand mixer, ease of use and operation is dead simple (you just need to know what settings/attachments you need). You plug it in, flip the switch to tile the neck back, attach the attachment you need (i.e. whisk) and slide the power setting from 1-10 (slow stir to very fast mixing) and voila.
When I make bread for my family, I typically make two small loaves from one batch of dough. I found the 4.5 QT bowl to be a perfect size. I used the “hook” attachment after getting my yeast going, put it on a slow stir and added my flour, etc. I found the performance to be up to par from what you would expect from the “larger” or “more premium” stand mixers. Bottom line, I don’t find a performance difference between this one and my larger 5 QT mixer (which didn’t have a tilt head). Honestly, the biggest difference between this one and the 5 QT is the bowl itself and how much you can fit inside. I found the motor to be smooth and responsive.
The other big point to make, and I eluded to this earlier, is the price. While it still isn’t cheap, if you have ever wanted to upgrade your mixing skills/ability, the cheaper price point with the same performance, is worth trading off for a bigger mixing bowl.
And don’t forget the extra accessories that you can purchase (or already have) that gives your stand more flexibility. There’s a vegetable spiraler, pasta maker, juicer and more. I personally don’t have those accessories, but you should take some comfort knowing they’re all compatible with the 4.5 QT version.
At the end of the day, if you are interested in getting a stand mixer but have been put off by the size and price, this is a good model to get (especially when on sale) to take that leap and give it a go. They’re a lot of fun to use, and more versatile than you can imagine. Best of all, the performance is nearly identical to the larger versions. While it’s a smaller model it’s still too big to move back and forth from cabinet to countertop (in my opinion) but luckily it looks handsome on your counter (if you can spare the space).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+18points
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The Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is the perfect way to keep your devices charged and ready to go. Say goodbye to fumbling with charging cords and lightning cables, with three wireless charging modules this iPhone charger can power your Apple iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. The elegant design and sleek black finish of Belkin’s Wireless Charging Pad makes it an ideal iPhone and Apple Watch charger for any home or office space. The durable rubberized pad provides stability while docking and undocking your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. While the integrated LED indicator lights show the charging status of each device. White light confirms active wireless charging, while an amber light indicates an error has occurred with charging. Featuring Qi technology that delivers safe power transfer up to 7.5 watts for a fast wireless charging experience. The phone charger works with iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13 & iPhone 14 including all standard, Plus, Pro, Pro Max and Mini models, as well as Qi-enabled phones from Samsung, Google, and more. Keep all your devices powered up and organized with the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger.
No frills, convenient and works well
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 10, 2020
If it’s not obvious, this charging stand is for those invested in the Apple ecosystem. Namely, iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. Although I have a Google Pixel (my wife has the iPhone) I can say this charger will work on any wireless charging phone (which is nice to have when I need to charge my phone). Bottomline is, if you don’t have all three devices (or even two) I wouldn’t bother getting this charging stand.
Setting it up is about as straightforward as it comes. In the box is the stand and the power cable. Note that it does not utilize Apple charging cable, not that it really matters, but the point is you can’t use any old Apple charger to plug into the stand. I assume this is to ensure the stand gets the appropriate amount of power when charging three devices.
The next thing to keep in mind is the size of the stand. In other words it’s footprint. It has a decent size, if you were to keep this on your nightstand and it is otherwise cluttered, you will need to keep that in mind. That’s not to say you shouldn’t get it, but taking into account where the stand will be is important.
In terms of performance, I can attest that it certainly works. As in it will charge all three of your devices for you. There’s no frills (unlike a Pixel Stand which permits your Pixel to act as a Google Home speaker), which is perfectly fine. Charging is what people want, and would like a convenient place to charge all of their devices at once. I can say it charges both an Apple Watch 1 and 3, iPhone XS and Airpods. But note, and I didn’t realize this at first, not all Airpods have a wireless charging case! So keep that in mind too.
My wife found that the stand charges her watch at about the same rate as the standard charger, but the Airpods and phone took longer to charge. This has not been scientifically verified by us, but if you needed some juice in a short amount of time, you might want to stick with charging cables. But if you like us, charge things overnight that’s not an issue.
Bottom line, this is a great charging stand and makes you wonder why there aren’t more. It’s a bit pricey, but I think it’s worth it given the convenience factor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lucyd - Lyte Titanium Bluetooth Audio Sunglasses - Starman
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2 years, 9 months ago
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callmeageeth
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callmeageeth
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callmeageeth