MnstrMike
Top 250 Contributor
MnstrMike's Stats
- Review Count149
- Helpfulness Votes871
- First ReviewAugust 5, 2011
- Last ReviewAugust 24, 2025
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.1
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count3
- Helpfulness Votes5
- First Review CommentNovember 5, 2012
- Last Review CommentJune 18, 2017
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count41
- Helpfulness Votes48
- First AnswerNovember 22, 2010
- Last AnswerDecember 8, 2021
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers5
Studio Buds Totally Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds - Beats Red
True wireless noise cancelling Beats Studio Bud are made for music. Designed with a custom acoustic platform, Beats Studio Bud are engineered to deliver powerful, balanced sound in a compact, in-ear form factor. The result ~ immersive sound that pulls the emotion of music from the studio to your ears to keep you inspired. These earbuds feature two listening modes, Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and Transparency mode, to give you total control of your sound. Each earbud has up to 8 hours of listening time~ with two additional charges provided by its pocket-sized charging case to give you up to 24 hours of combined playback.~ Beats Studio Bud also offer simple one-touch pairing for Apple~ and Android~ devices.
To Beat or Not To Beat?
Customer Rating
4.0
The Beats Studio Buds definitely keep to the Beats premium formula with their design and materials quality; if your after the status symbol that comes with the Beats branding, the Studio Buds definitely keeps with tradition.
The Studio Beats come with the features all true-wireless earbuds should come with:
Active Noise Cancelling
Ambient Pass Through
Play/Pause/Skip/Previous
Answer/End/Reject Calls
Voice Assistant in iOS with voice command, Android requires button press
Active Noise Cancelling
Ambient Pass Through
Play/Pause/Skip/Previous
Answer/End/Reject Calls
Voice Assistant in iOS with voice command, Android requires button press
Missing Volume control; can only be done via connected device
Audio Quality is what you would expect from the Beats branding, so no complaints there. Call quality is the same. But I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more. This is the second high end brand I have tried lately expecting to be taken to another level, but unfortunately I feel a little let down. Mostly because the volume level just seems a little too soft; at maximum volume I’m left wanting a little more. Granted it is loud enough to hear, but not quite loud enough to feel immersed.
I realize these are not going to bring the same feeling as a set of over-the-ear headphones will, but I have tested others that get louder.
Fitment is great, I don’t get any ear fatigue wearing the buds, but over time they do lose their grip from ear sweat. I don’t think you would want these for any type of active use other than just walking or minimal around the house activity. Any kind of up and down movement I feel like I was constantly having to readjust. The default ear tips out-of-the-box were the best fitment for me, so switching the tips would not have made this experience any better.
This is hardly an issue that only rests with Studio Buds, rather one that I have found very common for me in trying many different brands. Some have included foam tips in place of the common silicone type to help aid in fitment. I would assume the tips are of a universal nature so it may be possible to purchase foam tips in place of the silicone to allow for more active use.
Beats Software is pretty straightforward to use and the button presses are easy to remember. They can be reprogrammed as well. The Studio Buds are designed with a true button, so it requires pinching the buds to be able to push the button without jamming the buds in the ear canal.
I don’t have any issues recommending, just understand some of the limitations I have mentioned and align your expectations.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Jaybird - Vista 2 True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Nimbus Gray
Featuring SurroundSense and ANC, Vista 2 allows athletes to amplify ambient sounds for safety or stay focused with Active Noise Cancellation. Along with Jaybird signature fit, function, and Earthproof durability, Vista 2 creates the ultimate true wireless audio experience.
5 Stars Not Normal For Me
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Tested with Galaxy Note 20 device.
I was a little skeptical with the JayBird VISTA 2’s as my RUN XT’s from a few years back I found sub-par; however, JayBird I think has done an excellent job with the VISTA 2’s and they are definitely an upgrade in their product line.
FITMENT
The biggest upgrade is that they stay in my ear! JayBird did some heavy advertising in this department to promote their ruggedness; I just wasn’t sure if that would translate to staying in place, but thankfully it does!
The biggest upgrade is that they stay in my ear! JayBird did some heavy advertising in this department to promote their ruggedness; I just wasn’t sure if that would translate to staying in place, but thankfully it does!
Honestly, the transition from the RUN XT’s to falling out sitting still to the VISTA 2’s putting up with washing a car on a super hot day and never needing to be readjusted is a major feat! Bending over a lot to pick up something out of the bucket never even gave me pause that the earbud might fall out. I don’t move slowly, so any workout routine with some up-downs, burpees, running, etc, I feel will retain the same experience I have had.
I would say that your ear design would be a major contributing factor here too. This relies on the “fin” being able to “lock” into position in the Concha Cymba. The buds are nicely balanced so that aids their ability to stay put and the designs spreads out more than the RUN XT’s so that they can fit more in the Concha Cavum and Intertragic notch. There are three ear gels included 1-2-3 sizes, with size 2 being the unboxed size installed. Size 1 does not have the “fin” which I think is a shame because I prefer the ear bud canal size of the 1 over the 2.
The buds do have a bit of weight to them and I did notice after about 2 hours of use I had some soreness, so there seems that there will be a “break-in” period. I think this is also do to the fact they are designed to sit a little deeper in the ear canal.
AUDIO/VOLUME/SOFTWARE
Audio Clarity is both loud and clear, with a nice balance of high’s, mid’s, and low’s. Call audio is good on both ends and the buds can be used independently.
Audio Clarity is both loud and clear, with a nice balance of high’s, mid’s, and low’s. Call audio is good on both ends and the buds can be used independently.
Noise Cancellation works extremely well, and I think it is where the JayBird software aims to please. The SoundSense (ambient noise pass-through) works extremely well when other people are talking to you, to the point that you don’t even know the buds are in your ear. I was extremely impressed with the level of clarity as I wasn’t even sure if the feature was on because the sound is so natural.
However, the feature falls a little flat when media is playing at any volume level and also when the wearer is talking, as it does not transmit the sound through the buds so you still end up talking loudly like you are wearing ear plugs. (UPDATE below, the short of it is that there is a hidden settings menu allowing more adjustment).
Also, when you start a phone call the software automatically goes into Active Noise Cancelling mode. In the companion app it does not register this change and when the call is finished it goes back to the SoundSense mode.
The companion app is quite extensive (even more than I first knew) and there is the ability to reprogram the button taps to perform different tasks. There are also equalizer settings that can be set for different activity types that can also be Edited. Volume level is also controlled independently of the mobile device volume.
When I first was testing the buds, I was concerned how low the volume was when my mobile device was at max volume. Once I started learning the button taps for the various settings, I noticed the volume level is not synced with the mobile device but independent.
NAVIGATION
The VISTA 2’s are designed with both physical and a capacitive button called “press” and “tap” respectively in the settings. The “tap” can only be programmed for one feature, where the “press” has single, double, and press and hold programming sequences. I do find the “tap” takes a few tries to get it to register, but when it does there is an audible chime so you know the setting change was registered.
The VISTA 2’s are designed with both physical and a capacitive button called “press” and “tap” respectively in the settings. The “tap” can only be programmed for one feature, where the “press” has single, double, and press and hold programming sequences. I do find the “tap” takes a few tries to get it to register, but when it does there is an audible chime so you know the setting change was registered.
By default the “tap” is set to for Sound Management which changes from either SoundSense or Active Noise Cancelling on both buds, however, there is no way to have both features OFF; one or the other will always be ON...OR SO I THOUGHT!
In the companion app for the Sound Management section that has both these features listed, there is also a “Settings” to the far right. I just assumed this was Title Heading as it didn’t look like a button. ANC does not have any settings to change, but SoundSense can change the level of pass-through, level of wind noise cancellation. Also, there is a setting for the Switch (tap) and ANC, SoundSense, or OFF can be selected or removed from the possible options. Selecting OFF, then shows it on the dashboard under the Sound Management section.
CHARGING CASE
A quick word about the charging case is that it is very light and compact and one my absolute favorites from the different ear buds I have tested across many brands. I am glad to see it is equipped with USB-C charging and somehow they crammed wireless charging into this little case. It takes twice as long to wireless charge (4 hours) compared to wired (2 Hours) when the case battery is fully depleted.
A quick word about the charging case is that it is very light and compact and one my absolute favorites from the different ear buds I have tested across many brands. I am glad to see it is equipped with USB-C charging and somehow they crammed wireless charging into this little case. It takes twice as long to wireless charge (4 hours) compared to wired (2 Hours) when the case battery is fully depleted.
The companion app can also show the case battery level on the dashboard. I did find it wasn’t always so easy to get it to register in the app though. Typically upon initial use each time it will show up, but if the earbuds have been connected/in use for some time that is when it was hard to get the case to connect too.
The case itself is a little grip to it. The lid magnets are pretty strong and the seam is tight. It would be quite difficult for the case to open accidentally. Which also can make for opening the case intentionally a little tricky given the size of the case, but I’ll take that over a more bulky case.
I do wish the USB-C port had a silicone plug, seeing as the amount of advertising for these buds are for the rugged, I feel that it is the weakest point for the case and maybe the whole product. I have had other earbuds that became useless because the charging port died, but the buds themselves were fine. Wireless charging is a nice backup, but hardly one I would want to rely on.
So, should you throw down your cash for this set? I think if you are an active person, do not like the ear-clip style of other brands, and want a true-wireless headphone, it is hard not to consider the Jaybird VISTA 2’s.
There are cheaper options available and I have tested most of them and they come with their short comings, but it follows the mantra “You get what you pay for''. The VISTA 2’s are a bit pricey, but I truly think they deliver what they claim. When I had the RUN XT”s I could not recommend the brand at all, but with the VISTA 2’s I have done a 180 in that regard.
I can easily recommend based on their quality and features for those looking to use for an active lifestyle.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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JVC - Marshmallow True Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Black
JVC Marshmallow True Wireless headphones offer two sizes of soft memory foam earpiece for superior comfort. Experience total true wireless headphones with no wires connecting the earpieces. Each earpiece offers a one button remote to control music and phone calls at the touch of a button. The Touch & Talk feature makes it quick and easy to reduce playback volume and take in outside sounds, which allows for conversation with others without removing the earbuds. Keep on listening for hours with plenty of time to spare. You get 8 hours battery life on a single charge, then recharge in the included carrying case for another 2.5 times, total 28 hours. Also available is a quick 10-minute charge which provides 1-hour playback. These headphones are rated IPX5 so you can enjoy sports or other activities out in the rain without hesitation. The convience of automatic power on allows you to connect to your device when simply removing the earbuds from the charging case, for quick and easy operation. Bluetooth 5.1 provides a stable connection. Individually, you can use either right or left earbuds by themselves whenever you desire.
Why Not?
Customer Rating
5.0
JVC keeps the design and software simple, which I think is what makes this bluetooth set a win. Audio quality is nice and loud without distortion. Spoken words in a podcast are clear and crisp.
The controls are simple as stated and easy to remember. These are definitely a great value and just tick the boxes off in the right spots to keep the costs economical without sacrificing quality.
The “Marshmallow” bud tips are a little more firm than foam ear plugs. The buds come with a total of 5 different tips. 3 silicone sizes and 2 “marshmallow” sets, with the larger size installed in the box. I ended up switching to the smaller set. I am happily content with this setup and do not worry about them falling out when doing physical activities...like walking or leaning forward, which seems to always be too much of an activity for traditional silicone tips.
My only real complaint with the set is that the silicone tips are rolled in paper instead of a small resealable bag/pouch. Which really I guess isn’t much of an issue if you only will use one set of tips.
I do appreciate that the instructions state how long full charge takes for both the case and buds, 3 hours and 2 hours respectively.
As for battery life, they do last a long time so its hard to say if they last the advertised length, but I will guess that for most uses it will at least last a standard workout session or other activity.
Again, there is nothing about this set that has any kind of stand out features, but it is an all-around utilitarian set. I’ve tested sets that have better, richer sound, but had many shortcomings. I cannot find any shortcomings with the JVC HAA11T.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bowers & Wilkins - B&W PI5 True Wireless Headphones with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX - Charcoal
B&W PI5 true wire-free headphones are attractive, well-built, and they deliver a refined sound quality. Featuring Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX technology these earphones ensure reliable connectivity whether you are streaming from your smartphone, tablet or PC. Allows connection of up to two devices at the same time, however, only one device can be used to play or make a call at a time. Download the Bowers & Wilkins free headphone app, available for Apple and Android for further control of the sound and noise cancellation, right on your phone. The PI5 headphones feature the latest innovations in adaptive noise cancellation along with 4 built-in microphones that pick up ambient noise and cancel it with an equal, but opposite, audio signal and enhance the call quality. There are three levels of Adaptive Noise Cancellation ~ High, Low and Auto, that can be controlled either by the multi-functional button on the left earbud or via the app. Similarly, the touch-sensitive button on the right earbud allows you to enable voice assistance. The buttons also allows you to control playback and phone call functions with single (play/pause, answer call), double (skip forward, end call), or triple presses (skip backward). Another stand-out feature of these headphones is the intuitive detection sensors that put the earphones on standby or reconnect them depending upon whether they are removed or put back on. The PI5s come with a sturdy and attractive charging case for charging the earbuds when not in use. The case is equipped with two 350mAh rechargeable batteries. Each earbud has a rechargeable battery which provides up to 4 hours of wireless playback. Including the charging case, the PI5 can provide up to 12 hours of continuous playback.
Excellent Audio
Customer Rating
4.0
Review is based on pairing with Samsung Galaxy Note 20
The B&W PI5 delivers a really great sound experience with nice low bass, mids, and highs without distortion at all volume levels. It has one of the best Ambient-Pass Through modes I have tested. Also the capacitive buttons are extremely responsive and easy to use, sometimes to a fault. I have known only one other brand to have this same level of response.
If you purchase these, know you are only purchasing for sound quality alone as there are limited software features that most other brands have.
YouTube Music “Allow external devices to start playback”.
If you have this setting turned on, as soon as the headphones are connected, they will begin playing whatever playlist was last playing. Not all a bluetooth devices will utilize this feature (vehicle head unit does not nor most BT headphones from different manufactures I have used0, but the B&W PI5 do and I have noticed that “most” times the audio stream results in stuttering effect which carries over to watching video too in a different app. Disconnecting the headset and reconnecting will fix this...only if the last audio source was actually a video source. I am heavily using YouTube Music and YouTube in these scenarios, so the bug could be between these two apps. If YouTube was the last source of audio played, the auto-play feature of B&W PI5 will not load a video to play and will not begin playing audio upon connection from YouTube Music.
If you have this setting turned on, as soon as the headphones are connected, they will begin playing whatever playlist was last playing. Not all a bluetooth devices will utilize this feature (vehicle head unit does not nor most BT headphones from different manufactures I have used0, but the B&W PI5 do and I have noticed that “most” times the audio stream results in stuttering effect which carries over to watching video too in a different app. Disconnecting the headset and reconnecting will fix this...only if the last audio source was actually a video source. I am heavily using YouTube Music and YouTube in these scenarios, so the bug could be between these two apps. If YouTube was the last source of audio played, the auto-play feature of B&W PI5 will not load a video to play and will not begin playing audio upon connection from YouTube Music.
I don't use Spotify, Pandora, etc so cannot comment if this also happens when using these services. I do use Google Podcasts, but cannot recall it ever auto-playing that.
Warranty
I feel I have to highlight this at top of my review as a 2 year warranty is great for making a purchase such as this!
I feel I have to highlight this at top of my review as a 2 year warranty is great for making a purchase such as this!
Companion App
The companion B&W headphones app does not have any way to turn this feature off.
The companion B&W headphones app does not have any way to turn this feature off.
While I applaud the level of capacitive feedback the side buttons have, one huge lacking feature is volume control on the headphones themselves. Volume is only controlled via the connected device! The positive there isn’t a deep list of taps to memorize and the majority of the time you will have your device nearby. Given the purpose of these and not being marketed as “Sport” with just IP54 rating, I see the manufacturers choice to limit the app and just focus on sound quality...there are also no reprogramming features, but again they are not needed with so few little command options.
App Settings
-has two settings that directly control the headset...Noise Cancel ON/OFF and Ambient Sound Pass-Through ON/OFF and level control. The app serves further as a conduit for:
firmware updates
-a set of Soundscapes that I can only imagine are meant to showcase the sound capabilities of the set as the length of time is in seconds and will continue to loop with a noticeable “skip” when restarting,
-Wear Sensor-when removing a bud from the ear, audio playback immediately stops. Just be careful not hit the capacitive button as it will then start playing audio again. I did this a few times before I understood what was happening.
-Connections-when paired to multiple devices it can be configured to either connect to the last device used or only to a specific one each time the buds are powered on.
Rename the headset, Software Info, and MAC Info
-Battery Level-the left shows a faster discharge than the right for the first 25% or so. Around 75% they seem to balance out to the same battery level.
-There is also a secondary menu to access Personal B&W Account, App Settings, and Legal Info
-has two settings that directly control the headset...Noise Cancel ON/OFF and Ambient Sound Pass-Through ON/OFF and level control. The app serves further as a conduit for:
firmware updates
-a set of Soundscapes that I can only imagine are meant to showcase the sound capabilities of the set as the length of time is in seconds and will continue to loop with a noticeable “skip” when restarting,
-Wear Sensor-when removing a bud from the ear, audio playback immediately stops. Just be careful not hit the capacitive button as it will then start playing audio again. I did this a few times before I understood what was happening.
-Connections-when paired to multiple devices it can be configured to either connect to the last device used or only to a specific one each time the buds are powered on.
Rename the headset, Software Info, and MAC Info
-Battery Level-the left shows a faster discharge than the right for the first 25% or so. Around 75% they seem to balance out to the same battery level.
-There is also a secondary menu to access Personal B&W Account, App Settings, and Legal Info
Fitment
As typical there are three different gel size tips to achieve proper fitment. The medium size comes installed by default and proved to be the best fitment for my ear. I had hoped that the B&W PI5 would be different from other similar designs of Wireless Ear-buds, but unfortunately (with my ear design) I cannot use these while being any sort of active and by that I mean bending over to tie my shoe or walking as the right bud will slip out of my ear. The weighting of the bud is high (as that is the only place for everything to fit in the ear) so gravity comes into play here. Ear Clip style is the most effective for me to remedy this. I don’t feel like I can fault B&W here as it is my ear, but it is an industry standard issue I continue to find with this particular design style and I find it is because the design limits the bud from going deep enough to seat in my ear canal fully. Going back to a wired headset with the earbud design I have never had these issues and actually preferred to the earclip design or over-the-head.
As typical there are three different gel size tips to achieve proper fitment. The medium size comes installed by default and proved to be the best fitment for my ear. I had hoped that the B&W PI5 would be different from other similar designs of Wireless Ear-buds, but unfortunately (with my ear design) I cannot use these while being any sort of active and by that I mean bending over to tie my shoe or walking as the right bud will slip out of my ear. The weighting of the bud is high (as that is the only place for everything to fit in the ear) so gravity comes into play here. Ear Clip style is the most effective for me to remedy this. I don’t feel like I can fault B&W here as it is my ear, but it is an industry standard issue I continue to find with this particular design style and I find it is because the design limits the bud from going deep enough to seat in my ear canal fully. Going back to a wired headset with the earbud design I have never had these issues and actually preferred to the earclip design or over-the-head.
Call Quality
They advertise the 4 Mics, but there may need to be some software tweaks in this department as calls sounded fine to me, but those on the other end said I was distant and hollow sounding like having the call on speaker phone and sometimes there was an echo.
They advertise the 4 Mics, but there may need to be some software tweaks in this department as calls sounded fine to me, but those on the other end said I was distant and hollow sounding like having the call on speaker phone and sometimes there was an echo.
Battery Life & Charging
This is the first headset I have ever reviewed that the manufacturer does not give a suggested run time. They easily last through anyone of my audio or video sessions. So a 2-hour length movie is no issue and I am bad about checking where the level was at after that. The charging case shows there are 2 x 350mAh batteries so I am assuming that is referring to the buds themselves. I don’t know what battery capacity is in the charging case or how long to expect charging to take place. There is the wireless option and USB-C port (praises there). Wireless will definitely be slower and usually on these devices is around 4.5w. But again no way to know this or the charging capacity of the case via wired, again industry standard with USB-C would suggest 10w or 15w.
This is the first headset I have ever reviewed that the manufacturer does not give a suggested run time. They easily last through anyone of my audio or video sessions. So a 2-hour length movie is no issue and I am bad about checking where the level was at after that. The charging case shows there are 2 x 350mAh batteries so I am assuming that is referring to the buds themselves. I don’t know what battery capacity is in the charging case or how long to expect charging to take place. There is the wireless option and USB-C port (praises there). Wireless will definitely be slower and usually on these devices is around 4.5w. But again no way to know this or the charging capacity of the case via wired, again industry standard with USB-C would suggest 10w or 15w.
I do not see these as replacing a dedicated bluetooth mic. While audio will be superior to those, they also are designed for longevity. The charging case will charge buds between use to definitely make it through a day, but don’t plan on using these for more than 3 or 4 hours of continued use.
I am on the fence if the audio quality justifies the limitations, personal issues I have during use, and lack of information. Bowers & Wilkins are known for audio quality and superiority, they do not disappoint there! Out of the other brands I have laying around, these definitely will be used the most.
Your determined use will have to weigh on your decision.
Because of the audio quality I can definitely recommend them for uses I have mentioned most applying to me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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BlueParrott - M300-XT Ultra-Light Noise-Cancelling Headset - Black
The BlueParrott M300-XT Bluetooth headset is engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments. Its ultra-light discreet design blocks out 80% of background noise using 2-microphones, it connects to 2 Bluetooth devices for more flexibility, and has a long battery life that offers up to 14 hours of talk time for all-day conversations. The ability to roam up to 300ft/100m gives you the freedom to leave your paired Bluetooth device behind. It is equipped with a customizable BlueParrott button which can be programmed for mute, speed dial or Push-to-Talk in the BlueParrott app. Included are 3 different size EarGels for a secure comfortable fit and the headset is adjustable to wear on the right or left ear. It is built to last with IP54-rated protection against dust and moisture and is covered by a one-year warranty. For optimal headset performance, the M300-XT headset should be used only with a Bluetooth enabled smartphone/tablet device. Not intended to be used with a laptop/PC.
Energizer Bunny of Headsets
Customer Rating
4.0
Using with a Galaxy Note 20
Going on 5 days of mixed use and still showing 100% battery life!! I have logged around 5 hours of talk time, a little bit of audio and podcast listening, and a lot of standby time.
Audio quality as you would imagine is geared toward the spoken word, so if you do plan on listening to music just know its going to be more for background noise than getting into the music. For Podcasts and the like it works great and for audio calls it is great.
My only complaint with the audio is the volume level. Max volume is still not that loud and gets a lot of distortion at max volume. 2 clicks out of max is where it has lived even in the quietest of settings. But when ambient sounds are high, I can still hear.
Callers have stated it sounds really good on their end and even when driving with the windows down it wasn’t loud, but there was a noticeable background sound, though it wasn’t distracting.
This is definitely not your typical bluetooth headset. When you dive into the companion app there are settings that make you realize this is way more than your typical phone bluetooth headset and honestly those features are lost on me. It has the ability to run many different Push-To-Talk apps for a Walkie-Talkie experience. Going through all that it can do I can definitely see it is designed for a warehouse or indoor commercial experience...and even the dreaded telemarketer. Obviously there are way more professions than those that can benefit from this headset, as in any open office setting with a 100 people in a room (assuming that ever comes back) would definitely find it useful.
The side Parrot Button as it is called has reprogramming features. As an average “Joe” phone user just looking for hands-free the amount of features for Walkie-Talkie and other Push-To-Talk services it can integrate with are lost on me. The button can also be reprogrammed to launch an App, but the list that is available to me on my particular phone does not have anything I can see as being necessary. So I have just left it on the default of setting of “Mute” while in a call.
The power button also acts as the Digital Assistant launch for your device, other than call answer/reject, so Google, Bixby, Siri or whatever you have your device set to. The App launch that the Parrott Button can do did not have Google Assistant available, but did have Bixby. It may seem redundant but it is easier to hit the Parrott button, even though it requires a harder press, than the power button. To hit the power button I find I have to grasp the device then find the button, where as I can just hit the Parrot button with one-finger easily, however, it does take a firmer press for the Parrott button to respond.
One of the reprogramming options is to give the Power level for the headset and phone. The headset it said was at High, while the phone it said was Medium...even though the phone had 93% charge.
I charged the headset out the box before setting it up and it only took between 30-45 minutes to be fully charged, but not sure of the starting level. Documentation doesn’t say charging times, but product page says up to 150 minutes. With standby time of 420 hours and 14 hours of Talk Time. It does come with a USB-C cable and the fact that it is USB-C is a huge plus considering it is the newest technology.
Comfort level is high as this can be worn for very long times and not have fatigue. The Medium size ear bud comes installed with the Small and Large in the box. I am wearing it on the right ear, but it can be swapped easily by just rotating the device.
The box is fully recyclable and has the quick settings guide printed on it as does the printed quick start guide. Interestingly the printed quick start guide does not note that the Power Button is also the Voice Assistant launch button, but both the box and webpage have this information on it. Just found that interesting.
These definitely remind me of the hold school Motorola headsets of the early to mid-2000’s; just way better quality.
There isn’t any accessories on the product page for purchase. I was curious if a charging cradle would be available. Definitely not a deal breaker, but I have seen other headsets that have this option. They charged via a snap on cradle so it was a different charging design all together. Which the USB-C format I do feel will offer quicker charging speeds.
I can easily recommend this if you are in the market for a true wireless mic. I have used many different bluetooth headphones and I just don’t think those devices do the best at pulling double duty; music is always great, but for conversation, just passable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Acer - Chromebook Spin 514 Laptop Convertible-14 Full HD Touch Ryzen 3 3250C GB DDR4 Memory64GB eMMC Flash Memory
Do More, See More, Anywhere: Watch your favorite movies, TV shows and other media—while on the move or traveling—on Acer’s exciting new convertible Chromebook Spin 514, which offers a 78% screen-to-body ratio to maximize your viewing experience on its 14” Full HD touch display. The Chromebook Spin 514 leverages the power of the latest AMD processor inside to ensure epic functionality when working on intensive and demanding applications—without the worry of ever slowing down! It features a 360° durable hinge to provide you with four different modes to enjoy, a high-quality, military-grade tested metal casing, and enough battery life to keep you fired up and running all day long!
Not a bullseye, but definitely on target
Customer Rating
3.0
This has been a pretty hard review to write. Out of the box, I was a little disappointed (trackpad issue), then as I continued using it, I grew to really appreciate what Acer was trying to do with this model. At just over 2 weeks of use now, I have aligned my expectations of what the device is capable of and given that, I can appreciate it as a solid laptop.
I will detail my issues and what you should expect, but my recommendation is that it is great for general basic use: browsing, researching, document creation, etc. If you plan to heavily use Android Apps, tablet mode, and use with a USI Stylus...you will want to increase your budget as you will need no less than 8GB RAM.
Configured with the Ryzen 3 CPU, 4GB RAM, and 64GB Storage, I think the real kink in the armor is the 4GB RAM, if you try and use the Spin 514 to its full potential. And since most Chromebooks do not have upgradeable memory or storage, there is nothing that can be done to mitigate this. I did do some research to see if anyone else was having issues with what I ran into and it appears that for the US, Acer chose to only give one configuration and that is this model I am reviewing. Which is unfortunate as it greatly hampers the full potential of the device.
I do have to warn about the trackpad. It was having some pointer drift (Mario Bros slide effect) when trying to access a menu button. It can be mitigated by turning down the pointer speed, but then compromises the smoothness of the cursor. I did turn on the Touchpad Acceleration and that did seem to help with the cursor drift. I am not sure if this is just a software bug or just the trackpad material used? Touch-to-click is enabled, but if the acceleration is off or speed is turned down, I found it typically did not register and required a full-button press.
App Usage
While I do have some of my “utility” Android apps like, home security and car maintenance installed and running fine; Gaming is pretty much a non-starter here, unless it is browser based. Stadia Gaming is totally fine and not glitchy, but that can be done with any device as it is not using so much of the system resources, rather the internet connection.
While I do have some of my “utility” Android apps like, home security and car maintenance installed and running fine; Gaming is pretty much a non-starter here, unless it is browser based. Stadia Gaming is totally fine and not glitchy, but that can be done with any device as it is not using so much of the system resources, rather the internet connection.
I was really excited to use this as a tablet with a stylus as I have really liked this transition from paper and pen and have done so with Android OS, iOS, and Windows OS devices over the years. Sometimes you just need to write your thoughts down. I purchased a USI Penovoal Stylus (Universal Stylus Initiative; Acer does not list this compatibility on the device page, but it is compatible). Based on the reviews of the stylus and the recommendation from websites, the negative experience with the Spin 514 I can only assume is due to the device limitations and not the Stylus.
That experience was considerable stroke inconsistency, oddly enough, not lag, just missing pen strokes. Palm rejection is actually an app issue, not a device one. Squid, which was a default app on the device, performed the best overall with consistency of pen stroke and palm rejection, but still not good enough to recommend.
While I have become accustomed to digital pens and devices, I do recognize that the Acer Spin 514 would be the cheapest device to do this well, by a large margin. So, while I was hopeful and excited to try that feature out on a Chrome OS device with higher hardware specs than those I have used in the past, it just isn’t in the cards for me on this device.
My Gaming Experience
Clash of Clans and Angry Birds 2 would never even load, and actually crashed (not the whole system, but the app itself). Asphalt 9 loaded, but I couldn’t get it log-in to my Google Play Games, whereas another person was able to get Asphalt 9 to not only load, but was playable; so if gaming is on your horizon, you may want to look elsewhere as this was not designed for that purpose. Unless however, you are a Google Stadia user. That had no issues running and syncing the controller with the Chromebook was no issue at all...if doing it through Stadia. If trying to just sync it via the device Settings menu, it would not recognize it in Bluetooth or USB-C.
Clash of Clans and Angry Birds 2 would never even load, and actually crashed (not the whole system, but the app itself). Asphalt 9 loaded, but I couldn’t get it log-in to my Google Play Games, whereas another person was able to get Asphalt 9 to not only load, but was playable; so if gaming is on your horizon, you may want to look elsewhere as this was not designed for that purpose. Unless however, you are a Google Stadia user. That had no issues running and syncing the controller with the Chromebook was no issue at all...if doing it through Stadia. If trying to just sync it via the device Settings menu, it would not recognize it in Bluetooth or USB-C.
It is a little hard to fault Acer in the Android App experience, as that really falls to Google to make it good since they control the hardware requirements for emulation. All of the current Chrome OS devices can do it, but the best experience will require higher hardware specs. The Spin 514 is fine for standard apps, but the gaming element is going to be hit and miss depending on the app.
One of my favorite aspects is the Dual USB C ports which either of them can be used to charge the device and handy when locating a wall plug to charge. The power brick can also charge your smartphone and tablets at 15w, 25w, and 45w.
Battery (4800mAh) life is pretty good when just using for general web browsing and tasks. I streamed a baseball game while outputting via USB-C to HDMI to a 4K 65” tv using Chrome Browser and the battery died after about 3 hours. I was running extended display mode, so both screens were on the whole time, I think that is pretty good considering. The audio ran through the TV, so no issues there. The claimed 10 hours is pretty close, I used it for about 3-4 hours each day for about 3 days for general web browsing, YouTube, and document creation before needing to charge.
Audio seems to be highly dependent on the content for max volume level, but even then just using the built-in speakers it quiet. Whether it was streaming via a browser app or from a local file, the audio at high was very quiet. Loud enough to hear, but definitely no rattling. Plug in some headphones and you better turn down that volume, it definitely gets a lot louder.
The screen is nice and gets bright enough for most settings, but you won’t want to use it outside; it just doesn’t get bright enough and is highly reflective. Inside use is fine (facing away from a window) and it will get extremely dark when in a low light setting, which for night use is very handy.
Going off the sound profile and the brightness profile, it seems this was definitely designed for a classroom or library setting. The keyboard is a perfect size and the keys feel great with nice feedback and bounce and quiet, seems to be a running theme! And wouldn’t you know the fan is quiet too.
Coming back to the screen, it is advertised at full 1080P, but the default screen size setting is 1536x865. That is typical for a small screen that can output 1080P. I prefer the 1707x960 output as the 1920x1080 is just too small. But it can output 2194x1234, so the screen can technically be considered 2K.
The touchscreen works as it should at default resolution. When I increase it as stated above, I find it takes a few more taps to get a window to close or minimize and sometimes on menu buttons as well. I did jump back to the default resolution when trying out any of the Android Apps and/or using the stylus, but the results were the same.
Some nice features are a backlit keyboard, larger trackpad and double charging ports (as already stated), but also dual-usb 3.0 ports. For a 2-in-1 that is a lot of ports.
The hinge is very strong and feels solid when moving one-handed. Opening the screen does require two hands, but I have found that pretty typical of 2-in-1’s. Even if you are not in the market for a 2-in-1, I highly recommend the design. Very few laptops offer 180 degree displays and tap out around 120 to 135. But when in the standing position, that just isn’t enough sometimes and a 2-in-1 gives you 360 degrees of range so you can definitely find the perfect angle for your needs.
The keyboard provides really nice feedback and is quiet, again using in a classroom/meeting setting would not bring any distraction to anyone around you.
I’m used to a 13.3” size and the small bezels and 14” screen on the Spin 514 is a nice upgrade in screen size, without a noticeable increase in overall size, but there is about 1lb in added weight I’m guessing due to the MIL-STD81H rating.
Storage may be a concern for you if you like to have a lot of personal pictures, videos, or other media that typically are larger in size, as the storage is not upgraded on the Spin 514, but there is a MicroSD card slot that could always remain inserted and their are the 4 USB ports already mentioned.
The minus 2 Stars in the score comes from the RAM limitations and overall score of the 3 Stars. But if you are looking at this for just general internet browsing, YouTube, document creation, etc. and because of the build quality, number of ports, and design style, then it is easily 5 Stars; Google's security updates until June 2029 for this device is good news too!
I can recommend the Spin 514, just know your needs and what you are wanting/needing this device for.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Leviton - 6A/30WT USB DUAL WALL CHARGER - White
6A/30WT Duplex Tamper-Resistant Outlets with USB C Dual Wall Chargers- White
Works Great...But A Bit of a Warning.
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I like finding new things! You could easily just put a charging station together, but then it takes up counter or table space, with the Leviton Dual-USB Charger that is not necessary if only needing to charge two devices...or more if utilizing the receptacles with chargers.
I ended up installing the plug in the living room where we typically charge our tablets.
I am pleased overall with the charging. It is not the fault of Leviton, but one thing to consider is that not all devices charge the same speed. For example the main devices in my home are:
Google Pixel 3a 18W charging max= 5V @3amp
Galaxy Note 20 & S21 25W charging max= 9V @2.77amp
Galaxy Tab S7 45W charging max= 15V @3amp
Google Pixel 3a 18W charging max= 5V @3amp
Galaxy Note 20 & S21 25W charging max= 9V @2.77amp
Galaxy Tab S7 45W charging max= 15V @3amp
The Leviton Receptacle has 5V@3a (15W), 9V@3a (27W), and 15V@2amp (30W).
So all of my devices charge at the default 15W; which is considered Fast/Rapid Charging (anything above 10W), but because each of my devices charges at different profiles, unless the Leviton had that specific profile, or my device could match the Leviton profile then it will only charge at the default rating set by the Leviton receptacle. Again, not trying to throw Leviton under the bus as they have built their device to charge at the ratings laid out by the USB Power Delivery 3.0 ratings, but mobile device manufacturers set their own standards within the limits.
The formula for Watts=Volts x Amperes. Check what your intended devices charging rate is, so you have proper perspective when looking at what your charging experience will be.
The documentation states that it can charge up to 2 devices, but that too will only be at 15W as the total output is 30W, which again is still fast charging.
So the WARNING in my title has to do with placement. The device itself is large and depending on the location of the receptacle you wish to replace, the Leviton Dual-USB Charger may not fit. The device is larger than a GFCI receptacle and so trying to place it in a wall box with a second receptacle might be fine, but if there is a GFCI also in that space, highly unlikely that it would fit. As a note, this device is NOT a GFCI receptacle so do not put this in place of one, your circuit would not be protected.
Also, given that the USB ports are in the same orientation as the receptacle blades, it is definitely advisable to install in an area that you would not easily try to insert the USB-C in the the receptacle blade.
Lastly, if using the USB-C and the receptacle outlets at the same time, be mindful of the size of the device plug needing the receptacle. It may need a device extension. Also, code does state that the receptacle should be installed with ground plug in the up orientation. The reasoning is so that if the plug is not fully seated in the receptacle, and something falls it doesn’t cross the blades...but 99% of items you typically plug in do not use a ground, so not an issue. So, putting in the “code approved” orientation is fine, unless you are going to use a power strip with a flat plug orientation, as it most likely will block the USB-C port.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+3points
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Dyson - Outsize Cordless Vacuum - Nickel
Intelligent full-size cleaning without the cord with a full-size bin and full-size cleaner head. Engineered for whole-home, deep cleaning the Dyson Outsize intelligently optimizes suction and run time across all floor types. Suction power, run time and tools designed to deep clean your whole home. 150% bigger bin than the Dyson V11 for longer cleans between emptying. The High Torque XL cleaner head is 25% larger than the High Torque cleaner head to cover more of your home, faster. Dyson DLS technology automatically senses and adapts to changes in floor type to extend run time for the right balance of power and run time when you need it. LCD digital display shows run time countdown to the second and displays maintenance alerts, giving you complete control of your clean. Advanced, whole-machine filtration traps 99.99% of particles, dust and allergens as small as 0.3 microns~.
Everything Can Improve
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Best Upgrades over the previous models
-Larger bin
-Removable battery pack (x2)
-Full size brush head
-More powerful motor
-More attachments
-Larger bin
-Removable battery pack (x2)
-Full size brush head
-More powerful motor
-More attachments
My Home
-1800 sqft upstairs
-1000 sqft finished downstairs
-Carpet stairs
-Living room rug 80sqft
-Upstairs 3 bedrooms carpet
-Living, Dining, Kitchen hard floors
-Downstairs all hard floor.
-4 x humans: 3 long hair, 1 short.
-2 x ~20 lbs dogs: 1 white short fur, 1, black/brown med fur
-1800 sqft upstairs
-1000 sqft finished downstairs
-Carpet stairs
-Living room rug 80sqft
-Upstairs 3 bedrooms carpet
-Living, Dining, Kitchen hard floors
-Downstairs all hard floor.
-4 x humans: 3 long hair, 1 short.
-2 x ~20 lbs dogs: 1 white short fur, 1, black/brown med fur
I have put some comparison photos in the review for size. We have been using the V11 Animal since it came out 2 years ago. It is still a fantastic cordless vacuum and will continue to use it. It will just be relegated to the finished basement only now. I also compare a bit to the V11. The great thing is that the accessories and even the chargers are the same, down to the wall mount. Read below though for one issue I ran into with the wall mount compatibility between the older V11 and the new Outsize.
Immediately in my carpeted areas I noticed an improved dirt pickup amount and I was able to do my 14ftx14ft bedroom without having to empty the dust bin 3 times like normal. Game changer!! In fact, I did the whole master room and living room without needing to empty the bin. The more powerful motor, and larger cleaner head is great. And as always the Outsize will adapt to the floor type to get the best cleaning mode to the conditions which is great for battery life too.
I also love how quite it is when using it. I was expecting to lose that feature with the increase in power, but NOT AT ALL. And honestly, I think that the decibel rating is a feature not advertised enough given the amount of power this and other Dyson models have.
Battery life is great. The battery time indicator fluctuates quite a bit during use and it is a learning system, so it will fluctuate a bit more at the beginning. But on first use I can do my whole house on 1 charge with a little power to spare. I could almost finish the whole house on the V11 Animal before, just would have to empty the dust bin about 10 or so times.
If you are going the extra mile and also dusting the blinds, base board, curtains, etc. The extra battery will be great here.
Having the full size cleaner head is great, the only section that it will actually be less useful is the carpeted stairs, but I still have the V11 and it can tackle it just fine or just swap out the cleaner head as they are compatible.
The upholstery tool is great and the no-tangle design of the brush is nice.
Due to the extra power, I have not even attempted a few of the smaller interior door mats. The V11 Animal already was too powerful for those and I know the Outsize definitely will be. They are only like 2.5ft by 1ft size so most things would suck them up into the cleaner head. Never thought of the couch attachment until writing the review, so will give that a shot!
Overall the Outsize is excellent and it's hard not to recommend. With the larger bin, if you have a lot of carpet, and the extra battery and charger, it definitely can be a great option for cleaning.
I do have a two caveats and unfortunately they carry over from the V11 Animal; these have nothing to with the quality of the product, I’ve had no issues out of use over the 2 years of ownership and with the removable batteries now on the Outsize I will get even more life out of this new unit.
That being said, Dyson prides itself in the efforts it takes in design and detail and I think they do achieve that with each product, but what irks me is the follow through on the full use of the product.
First, the dock. I highly recommend securing the wall mount to a stud if you have that option, if you don’t...DO NOT use the included wall anchors. They are not strong enough nor designed to handle the continued force of taking the vacuum in and out of the dock and will fail quickly (experience). I recommend a toggle bolt as it will definitely hold...IF you are adamant about wall mounting.
Second, where do I put all the accessories? It seems petty, but this should also be a part of the design process and included with the vacuum. The dock is very limiting and while it does achieve a nice minimalism design, its also not as practical, so the extra attachments get relegated to some where not usually as convenient.
Dyson does sell the Dok, and since the V11 wall mount works with the Outsize, there shouldn't be an issue with the Dok either.
(Side Note: I will add that while I did not remove the actual piece that mounts to the wall , I did have to swap out the part that the charger connection sits in. There does seem to be a slight difference in the design of the door that keeps the charger port on the dock seated. As soon as I swapped out that part, the Outsize slide right into place and started charging. Using the Outsize dock piece for the V11 had no issue and the V11 slid into place just as before to charge. So not really sure what the issue was there, it could have been as simply taking a part readjusted the charger port enough to adequately allow the Outsize to slid into place; which is what I am leaning towards at this point. It was too difficult to see that area when trying to figure out why it wouldn't slide down all the way at first.)
Back to my second caveat, the Dyson Dok does solve not wanting/needing to attach to the wall, but the accessories are still left without a home. Both of my caveats can be easily remedied with a search online and a lot of low cost options are available if you decide to not want to wall mount and/or looking for a solution to hold the extra accessories. Wish this was all figured out with the final product.
When it comes to size, the Outsize is just a tad taller than the V11 Animal and weight in the hand is unnoticeable, which makes dusting crown molding, blinds, and other tasks not resting on the floor just as easy as before. On the scales the weight difference is in ounces.
So to recap: stronger motor, bigger bin, removable and extra battery, larger cleaning head, nearly the same weight and size, backwards compatibility with accessories, dock, and charger, and still quiet! What’s not to like? It is hands down an upgrade and definitely worth it if you are going the cordless route.
And as the motto says…”everything can improve” and so it does.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
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Lorex - 2K QHD WIRE-FREE SECURITY SYSTEM - White
The Lorex 2K Wire-Free System is designed with flexibility in mind. With no wires to run, homeowners can get full home security coverage without clutter or difficulty accessing hard to reach power outlets. The whole system can be up and running in minutes. Wireless and compact, the Home Hub has a sleek design and provides homeowners the freedom to install up to 6 cameras indoors and outdoors. The system works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, offering the ability to control and activate features with nothing more than voice commands. Featuring a suite of deterrence technology, homeowners get important alerts whenever there is relevant motion thanks to advance person detection and the ability to fully customize notifications in the Lorex Home App. Homeowners can access and manage their 2K Wire-Free System and footage from the App anytime, anywhere.
Great System, Know Your Needs
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
This is not my 1st rodeo with Lorex, but my 4th Lorex system that I have either helped purchase and install or just help purchase. The first was an HD Analog System (helped purchase and installed), then a PoE HD System (helped purchase and install), and then a Wire-Free HD system (purchase only). This is the first system that I purchased and installed for myself.
No Subscription Necessary
This was a must for my needs and one of the reasons I always recommend Lorex, especially if you want a wireless or a wire-free (battery operated) system. Lorex is one of only two high quality systems that I know of that don’t require a subscription or hide features behind a paywall. They are also our northern friends...go Canucks!
This was a must for my needs and one of the reasons I always recommend Lorex, especially if you want a wireless or a wire-free (battery operated) system. Lorex is one of only two high quality systems that I know of that don’t require a subscription or hide features behind a paywall. They are also our northern friends...go Canucks!
Battery Charging
Initial charge took about 5 hours, so factor that in when you are planning your install. The charger is rated at 5V/2A and the batteries are 3.6V/6250mAh/22.5Wh and are limited to charging at 4.2V. The base station will use one of the chargers and cable...fyi for camera recharging.
Initial charge took about 5 hours, so factor that in when you are planning your install. The charger is rated at 5V/2A and the batteries are 3.6V/6250mAh/22.5Wh and are limited to charging at 4.2V. The base station will use one of the chargers and cable...fyi for camera recharging.
I cannot find anywhere in the included material how long to expect the charging time to take nor how long the battery charge should last; the product material only states what settings will cause more battery drain. Obviously the settings you choose and how much traffic there is will determine some of this, but there is no average expected time...2 months, 6 months, 12 months?
Storage
My system has been active for 101 hours at the time of writing and the battery level is 93%, storage level is at 300 MB used out of 29.72 GB formatted. Note: I have only installed 1 camera at this time to test and get a feel for what to expect on motion settings, field of view, etcetera,. before determining the placement of the second camera and final location of this first one. I don’t see the need for a larger MicroSD card (32GB included!) for two cameras. If more cameras are needed (see Product Support below) then it may be prudent to add storage. But that would just be for how long you want to keep footage. If you delete it monthly which is easy to do, then you shouldn't have any worries.
My system has been active for 101 hours at the time of writing and the battery level is 93%, storage level is at 300 MB used out of 29.72 GB formatted. Note: I have only installed 1 camera at this time to test and get a feel for what to expect on motion settings, field of view, etcetera,. before determining the placement of the second camera and final location of this first one. I don’t see the need for a larger MicroSD card (32GB included!) for two cameras. If more cameras are needed (see Product Support below) then it may be prudent to add storage. But that would just be for how long you want to keep footage. If you delete it monthly which is easy to do, then you shouldn't have any worries.
Event Log
The Timeline feature is great for a wireless/wire-free system. That is something typically reserved for wired systems with continuous recording. This is a hybrid of that since there isn’t continuous recording and just jumps to the flagged times motion was recorded. Unfortunately it always starts at the first record of the day each time you open the Timeline, but it isn’t hard to jump to the time frame you want.
The Timeline feature is great for a wireless/wire-free system. That is something typically reserved for wired systems with continuous recording. This is a hybrid of that since there isn’t continuous recording and just jumps to the flagged times motion was recorded. Unfortunately it always starts at the first record of the day each time you open the Timeline, but it isn’t hard to jump to the time frame you want.
Picture Quality
The day time picture quality is really good. There are three camera mode settings 720p, 1080p, and 1440p(2K). 720p to 1440p is a big jump in quality, 1080p to 1440p is negligible in snapshot, but video is a little crisper still. I guess given the area you are monitoring this could be different and the higher resolution could be more noticeable. 720p definitely looks like 720p. The brightness of the image does not change with either of the three resolutions and given that the 1440p resolution uses HEVC to compress, it doesn’t use much space. 1080p compresses to H.264. Note Windows 10 does not by default have a codec for HEVC (it is a $1), but VLC Player can watch it, but I have heard sometimes there are issues, so I paid the $1. No issues when watching on a mobile device.
The day time picture quality is really good. There are three camera mode settings 720p, 1080p, and 1440p(2K). 720p to 1440p is a big jump in quality, 1080p to 1440p is negligible in snapshot, but video is a little crisper still. I guess given the area you are monitoring this could be different and the higher resolution could be more noticeable. 720p definitely looks like 720p. The brightness of the image does not change with either of the three resolutions and given that the 1440p resolution uses HEVC to compress, it doesn’t use much space. 1080p compresses to H.264. Note Windows 10 does not by default have a codec for HEVC (it is a $1), but VLC Player can watch it, but I have heard sometimes there are issues, so I paid the $1. No issues when watching on a mobile device.
Night-Time Color is where things get a complicated and I’ll come right out with it, if you don’t have an external light source near your camera, then I wouldn’t bother with Night Time Color, just keep Night Vision on. I am in a subdivision, but rural setting, with 45+ft between each home and most have a only a front porch light on and a front yard pole light, so not a lot of ambient lighting in the area. Even with the Built-in LED light activating when motion is detected, its just not strong enough to give a good color picture. The deterrent setting is really all that it is useful for and no discredit to Lorex here, this is a battery operated system. Any high lumen light would drain the battery very quickly.
My current camera placement is the corner of the garage door opening with a dual directional LED Security light over my garage, so with it on, the Night Color is excellent, however, the viewing distance of the camera is decreased. The detection is still active further out than the viewing distance, but the object/person will not be clearly seen until they come closer to the camera. Night Vision picks up way more detail in the total area; it's just in grayscale.
So, while the box does say Color Night Vision, just know there is an imaginary asterisk that should state, best results achieved when used with a primary light source. I feel like there was something in the product manual about this.
Person/Motion Detection
Honestly I am still learning its quirks. Person Only works just fine and you can tweak the sensitivity. I am struggling when it is supposed to detect All Motion...especially/mostly with vehicles and I feel it has to do with a combination of the MotionZone settings, which is the ability to select only a certain area that will trigger motion recording. I think there might be a bug with the MotionZone, as it works as it should when in Person Only, but not in All Motion, as it continually sends notifications for zones I have blocked out. It confused me so much I thought I had it backwards as what was zoned for recording and not recording.
Honestly I am still learning its quirks. Person Only works just fine and you can tweak the sensitivity. I am struggling when it is supposed to detect All Motion...especially/mostly with vehicles and I feel it has to do with a combination of the MotionZone settings, which is the ability to select only a certain area that will trigger motion recording. I think there might be a bug with the MotionZone, as it works as it should when in Person Only, but not in All Motion, as it continually sends notifications for zones I have blocked out. It confused me so much I thought I had it backwards as what was zoned for recording and not recording.
My camera placement might help in this as it is just at the minimum height level, but I didn’t want to commit to fixing it to the side of the house until I tested it a bit more...glad I did.
Lorex Home App
Since this is the only way to interact with the system, which is new for me being used to installing wired systems, there are a few things to note.
1) Sometimes it can be very slow to open a motion notification and launch the recording, but the average is around 10 seconds.
2) If there are multiple notifications over a short time period sometimes it will open an older unviewed notification than what was selected and sometimes going into Live View stream just opens a recent notification that was unviewed.
3) Needing to login each time is pointless on a mobile device. I have Fingerprint set to default login which definitely speeds up the process, but if I need/want to get into the app quickly on my personal device that already has a security option setup, then I shouldn’t need to login each time to the app; even if my personal device is unsecure.
4) Privacy Mode/Notifications...when you want to walk outside your property and don’t want to be blasted with notifications you have two options...turn off notifications or turn on privacy mode. Privacy Mode shuts down the entire system until you turn it back on, so don’t forget! A snooze feature would be great with personalized timer function. Privacy function is better as it won’t even record so it will save battery on the cameras; notifications off will still leave you with 135 unviewed notifications and use battery more than normal.
Since this is the only way to interact with the system, which is new for me being used to installing wired systems, there are a few things to note.
1) Sometimes it can be very slow to open a motion notification and launch the recording, but the average is around 10 seconds.
2) If there are multiple notifications over a short time period sometimes it will open an older unviewed notification than what was selected and sometimes going into Live View stream just opens a recent notification that was unviewed.
3) Needing to login each time is pointless on a mobile device. I have Fingerprint set to default login which definitely speeds up the process, but if I need/want to get into the app quickly on my personal device that already has a security option setup, then I shouldn’t need to login each time to the app; even if my personal device is unsecure.
4) Privacy Mode/Notifications...when you want to walk outside your property and don’t want to be blasted with notifications you have two options...turn off notifications or turn on privacy mode. Privacy Mode shuts down the entire system until you turn it back on, so don’t forget! A snooze feature would be great with personalized timer function. Privacy function is better as it won’t even record so it will save battery on the cameras; notifications off will still leave you with 135 unviewed notifications and use battery more than normal.
Product Support
Currently there isn’t any! And I get that currently this product is not technically launched as I am being asked to review this product before official launch, but I did have some questions and I reached out to Lorex Support via Web Chat. First this product is nowhere to be found on their webpage, even though Best Buy has a product page, so I started a Web Chat. They knew nothing about this system, thankfully the help desk inquired a little further up the chain and was told this is a Best Buy Exclusive for a few months and is only being sold there. I can understand the exclusivity, but not having product support yet is a little crazy.
Currently there isn’t any! And I get that currently this product is not technically launched as I am being asked to review this product before official launch, but I did have some questions and I reached out to Lorex Support via Web Chat. First this product is nowhere to be found on their webpage, even though Best Buy has a product page, so I started a Web Chat. They knew nothing about this system, thankfully the help desk inquired a little further up the chain and was told this is a Best Buy Exclusive for a few months and is only being sold there. I can understand the exclusivity, but not having product support yet is a little crazy.
Lorex has a lot of products, which is both good and bad. Good there are a lot of options to meet your needs. Bad, they are not all interchangeable or compatible, so trying to find that out is pretty hard.
My main questions for the Web Chat was to find out if these cameras 1) will work with their Solar Panels? 2) Is the Lorex Home Hub to be compatible with their new line of entry and motion sensors that are compatible with the Lorex Home Center? 3) How many cameras does the Lorex Home Hub support? Because they have not been prepped on this product, my questions could not be answered.
Verdict
Yes, for quality of cameras, images, great 2 way audio, customization in app and utilization of camera outdoor and indoor, which I feel are what most people would be after. On the fence, because of the MotionZone and ALL tracking issue for my needs. The issues I have with the app are not a deal breaker, but I will have to mess with the camera location a bit more to see if that changes how the system reacts to my preferred motion settings.
Yes, for quality of cameras, images, great 2 way audio, customization in app and utilization of camera outdoor and indoor, which I feel are what most people would be after. On the fence, because of the MotionZone and ALL tracking issue for my needs. The issues I have with the app are not a deal breaker, but I will have to mess with the camera location a bit more to see if that changes how the system reacts to my preferred motion settings.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
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Philips One by Sonicare is an ultra-portable electric toothbrush that keeps your smile bright. Always be ready to touch up your smile, no matter where the day takes you. Designed with you in mind, Philips One is a big step up from manual brushing.
So Fresh and Clean!
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
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Positives
Handle size does not feel too large compared to a manual brush.
Brush head size is good for 10 and up*.
Timer is helpful!
Leaves a great clean feeling on teeth and gums.
Economical for an electric brush and brush head costs not too much more than a Colgate or Oral-B manual brush that I have seen.
Replaceable battery
Fun Colors!
Handle size does not feel too large compared to a manual brush.
Brush head size is good for 10 and up*.
Timer is helpful!
Leaves a great clean feeling on teeth and gums.
Economical for an electric brush and brush head costs not too much more than a Colgate or Oral-B manual brush that I have seen.
Replaceable battery
Fun Colors!
Coming from using a manual brush, I really like this one. I don’t have any negatives for this product, but maybe a couple grievances.
1). The travel case; glad it comes with one, but questioning how long it will hold up. The case is of a rubbery plastic texture and a solid piece. The hinge is just thinner than the two halves and is pre-flexed. I just don’t see this lasting too long for heavily travellers or using it daily to hold your toothbrush.
1). The travel case; glad it comes with one, but questioning how long it will hold up. The case is of a rubbery plastic texture and a solid piece. The hinge is just thinner than the two halves and is pre-flexed. I just don’t see this lasting too long for heavily travellers or using it daily to hold your toothbrush.
2). Exactly where can I buy replacement heads? BestBuy website doesn’t show replacements available, so far can only find them on Philips web-page. The packaging and materials do not give any indication on where to buy the replacement heads. Looks like there will be a subscription model for replacements in the future, which they have about 2 months to get that going before people are ready to be looking for the replacement head.
3) Brush head is bristle only. I do like a little silicone in my brush...hah, I guess silicone parts are not just for toys anymore! So maybe they will introduce a blended brush head?
Again this short list I don’t consider negatives, just observations and suggestions. As the product is on the market longer, I’m sure it will all get addressed or updated, but if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t dissuade my recommendation in any way. I definitely think this is a sweet spot in function and value for an electric brush...and I love me some subscription models; one less thing to remember!
I am supposed to be using an electric brush, as my dentist recommended long ago, as I brush too hard. I did heed this warning and tried the rotary and vibrating styles, but found that they were either too aggressive or the brush heads were just too pricey for me to justify. The online knock-off replacement heads were too weak of an offering and never felt like they were cleaning and/or just fall apart while brushing. And some of the electric brushes were quite large in hand and just felt awkward to use.
So for a little over two years now I have been back to a manual toothbrush and just really tried to not brush too hard and pay attention, but maybe I am a little ADHD and just zone out and think about life not focusing on the task at hand...I’m a bad Padiwan! I did try a competitor of Philips, that also used the vibrating method and had an app to go hardcore into your daily enamel washing, but I just didn’t find them equipped to the task.
I like that Philips gives the option of Replaceable and Rechargeable, given your perspective of renewable you get a choice. I prefer Replaceable, one it cuts down on one more thing in my life that needs to be recharged and have a specific charger and not stay plugged in all night, etc. Two, rechargeable batteries will die at some point and then you have to replace the whole thing. Alas, you get to decide which option is better for you. Also, at least in the photos the rechargeable brush handle looked a little thicker than the replaceable version.
*Lastly, if you are wondering why I know it is a good fit for ages 10 and up, I’m in a family of 4 and go super hardcore in my product testing before writing my reviews, so my wife and two kids each tried it out and approved!! Did you just vomit a little in your mouth reading that? Well, the Philips One Toothbrush is a great product to help get that funk flavor out-ya mouth!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+1point
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MnstrMike's Questions
MnstrMike has not submitted any questions.
Camcorder with webcam functionality
I need a reasonably priced camcorder that can also serve as a webcam. Which models have this feature?
It all depends on what you will use it for most. Any line-up of camcorders will do just fine for a webcam and on sale you can get a webcam for around $30.
For home videos, it all just depends what you are going to be doing, if you need a super zoom lens 30x or higher? Standard Def or HD? If you are only going to be putting them on a PC or do you want to watch directly on TV? There are still the tape versions available that you use the camcorder as a VCR. Or you can buy one that burns directly to mini-DVD's, holding 60 minutes of video. The last option records to SD cards and can hold anywhere from 2 hours to 16 hours, just depending on the size of card or built-in memory. Most of these camcorders only can record for about an hour to an hour and a half because of battery charge.
I know it's a lot of questions and doesn't really answer yours. Going off of "Reasonably priced and webcam" for specifications means anything less than $150 will work for your purposes.
For home videos, it all just depends what you are going to be doing, if you need a super zoom lens 30x or higher? Standard Def or HD? If you are only going to be putting them on a PC or do you want to watch directly on TV? There are still the tape versions available that you use the camcorder as a VCR. Or you can buy one that burns directly to mini-DVD's, holding 60 minutes of video. The last option records to SD cards and can hold anywhere from 2 hours to 16 hours, just depending on the size of card or built-in memory. Most of these camcorders only can record for about an hour to an hour and a half because of battery charge.
I know it's a lot of questions and doesn't really answer yours. Going off of "Reasonably priced and webcam" for specifications means anything less than $150 will work for your purposes.
Products from my answer
Toshiba - Camileo H30 High-Definition Camcorder with 3" Touch Screen - Black
Samsung - Ultra Compact Camcorder with 2.7" LCD Monitor - Purple
Flip Video - UltraHD (3rd Generation) Camcorder - 2 Hour - Black/Silver
14 years, 9 months ago
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Posted by:
MnstrMike
from
Knoxville, TN