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  • Review count
    200
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  • First review
    June 21, 2013
  • Last review
    June 29, 2024
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  • Answer count
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  • Helpfulness votes
    176
  • First answer
    December 10, 2014
  • Last answer
    November 4, 2021
  • Featured answers
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  • Best answers
    17
 
 
emiliosic's Reviews
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Stream audio and video with this black Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter and charger. The USB-C port connector delivers up to 60W for ultra-fast device charging, while the plug-and-play design offers hassle-free use. This Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter and charger supports 4K resolution at 60Hz for transmitting clear, detailed visuals.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Very convenient, well built
on July 8, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Had very good previous experience with Belkin products and this adapter is as good as it gets.
The adapter supports HDMI up to 4K x 60 Hz and USB-C power delivery (60 Watts).
I'm using it on my work MacBook with Thunderbolt 3 connection, and I'm able to drive a 16:10 monitor with perfect image and sound while at the same time charging it (Using only one port on the computer).
I also used it with a 4K TV, also with seamless results. The computer is able to detect the TV capabilities (resolution, size), i.e. EDID information, so the adapter is able to perform 2-way communications.
Power delivery works with up to 60 Watts.
Also used it with a Dell PC that has an USB-C display port and worked jus fine with this adapter as well.
It should also work with iPad Pros that have an USB-C connector for display out while charging.
If I have to pick something on this is that it's shell is shiny plastic which attracts fingerprints. Not a real issue.
The adapter is well constructed, with a warranty from Belkin for 2 years.
Mobile Submission: False
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+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
 
Protect and boost the functionality of your 7th, 8th, and 9th Gen iPad with this graphite Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case. The precision trackpad allows for easy navigation, while the well-spaced backlit keys ensure effortless typing, even in dark environments. This Logitech Combo Touch keyboard case has a smooth texture for easy handling, and the adjustable kickstand provides comfortable viewing angles.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
All I wanted in a case
on June 30, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is a fairly rugged case, which is thick and adds some weight, but not overly heavy.
The cloth-like material is very easy to clean and does not scratch easily.
Kids have been playing with the iPad, and I just wipe off the case with a cloth.
The case has no batteries and nothing to set up. Literally, put the iPad in the case and snap the keyboard.
The keyboard/trackpad uses Apple's 'Smart Connector', which does not require Bluetooth, pairing, nor batteries.
The keyboard is not attached to the case, it's held firmly with magnets to the iPad's case, so it can be removed when reading vertically on it.
The keys are backlight and are as good as any other slim keyboard from Logitech, with good amount of travel and feedback.
Then there is the trackpad. This is something I initially did not know I wanted, but it makes it so much easier to use the iPad when working with emails or documents. The trackpad is sufficiently large, sensitive and with good feedback, like a laptop. While the iPad works slightly different in terms of cursor movement, it feels intuitive right away. It also supports gestures like two-fingers, etc.
The flap on the back of the case is firm and provides a good range of adjustment to tilt the iPad to the right angle.
There is also a loop on top of the case to hold an Apple Pencil or the Logitech Crayon. I already had the crayon and it fits a bit too snugly, but the Apple Pencil is thinner so it should work out fine.
The first time I connected the case to the iPad, it offered to download an optional app: Logitech Control. This is again, optional, and what it does is allows to adjust the backlighting on the case (bright, medium or off), and the duration of the backlight.
It also updated the firmware in on the keyboard/trackpad.
One small caveat: Sometimes when waking up the iPad, it doesn’t recognize the keyboard right away. Simply snapping the keyboard back in works every time.
I highly recommend this case to anyone that’s going to be typing longer documents and the newly added trackpad support makes it much more useful when working with documents.
Not having to worry about charging the keyboard makes it feel more like a laptop
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+12points
12of 12voted this as helpful.
 
Simplify personal grooming with this Panasonic ARC 5 electric shaver. The ultra-fast motor and five-blade system make short work of facial hair by providing up to 70,000 cross-cuts per minute,. This Panasonic ARC 5 electric shaver has a built-in pop-up trimmer that makes it easy to sculpt mustaches, beards and sideburns.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Comfortable Shave
on June 18, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Note that this review is from someone who's been using rotary electric shavers for life, and my first time using foil shavers.
The shaver is well built, newest in the Arc 5 line with five foils, so it's large, covering the most surface on shavers of this type.
The whole shaver is made in Japan.
It comes with a charger that is 100v-240v -- with 110v plug (Needs an adapter when traveling abroad).
Also comes with a compact case in the shape of the shaver.
It charges quickly, but using a proprietary plug. It came as a surprise that it doesn't use a standard or wireless charger.
The internal Li-Ion battery is replaceable but not user-replaceable as the seal can break when opening the shaver (As per instructions).
A display shows the percentage charge remaining (but not an estimation of time remaining). It seems to be able to go for weeks without recharging so this is fine
It's also somewhat loud, compared to other shavers.
It's waterproof and can be used in both dry and wet shaving.
The shaving head pivots to follow the contour of the face, and can also be locked in place.
I personally find it more steady and quicker to use by locking it.
It does produce a clean shave, but I have to go over several times. It doesn't work very well with overgrown beard. It's best to use a trimmer first.
Also because the shaving head is so large and the foils are a bit far from the edge of the shaving head, it can be blunt when trying to shave around facial hair. For this it comes with a trimmer that pops from the back of the shaving head, and works very well for cleaning off sideburns.
After several uses, it gets better, although problem areas like around the neck persist.
No issues whatsoever with nicks or cuts.
Cleaning: The manual recommends to wash, rinse and then oil it daily. This seems a bit much to me.
Opening it and rinsing it is actually very easy. I'd say the easiest shaver to clean.
Note that there is also a version of this same shaver with a rinsing base.
Holding the base of the shaver feels natural. It has a grip area on the front right below the pivoting head, and the whole back is rubberized.
Overall it's a great foil shaver that produces smooth and close shaves.
Give it about a week to get used to it.
Mobile Submission: False
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+8points
11of 14voted this as helpful.
 
Make vegetable and fruit juices with this Oster JusSimple easy juicer. The wide feeding chute fits vgetables and whole fruits, while the two-speed juicer lets you prepare fresh juice quickly. This Oster JusSimple easy juicer features a Rinse 'n Ready filter and a detachable, dishwasher-safe blade for easy cleanup.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Large capacity and Powerful
on May 8, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This juicer is powerful with a 900W motor, comes with a large capacity pitcher and even bigger pulp bin.
It has two speeds: Slower for softer fruits and vegetables, and high for harder ones.
Even in slow speed it juices an apple in seconds.
The chute is wide and long to minimize spills. It doesn't actually fit an entire apple, nor I think you should, but it gets close. Cut a large apple in four pieces and it will be just fine.
While browsing other brands, it seems that all the full size juicers look more or less the same.
What distinguishes this model is that instead of the typical stainless steel mesh filter, this has a red coating that makes it easier to clean.
After juicing several apples, peaches and grapes, and let it sit for a while, I was able to clean the filter with running water and a sponge, without needing a brush.
The filter and other pieces are dishwasher safe. All other pieces are hard plastic except for the pulp basket which is a flexible plastic.
Pros:
- Powerful Motor.
- Large capacity.
- Easier to clean filter (Still requires some effort, but less so).
- Proven design.
- Motor base did not get dirty after normal use. It's covered in stainless steel so it's easy to wipe off regardless.
- It works well at what it does.
Cons:
- The pieces around the filter have some crevices that are hard to clean: The top part has some angles and pockets that require rinsing with more pressure. The bottom half has a lip that can get pulp stuck.
- Overall takes from 5 to 7 minutes to clean, having a large sink with a disposer. As I said, parts are dishwasher-safe although we prefer to hand-wash these things.
- The pulp and juice containers don't stack together so it takes a good amount of space when putting it away.
Overall:
I like the powerful engine and speed. Leaves pulp dry. The filter is easier to clean than other juicers we had before this, but like every single other appliance like this, needs cleaning.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Stay entertained with this Uxbridge Voice smart speaker. The Wi-Fi connectivity lets you stream music, while the integrated Amazon Alexa app allows for seamless hands-free operation. This Bluetooth-enabled Uxbridge Voice smart speaker has a 54Hz to 20,000Hz frequency range for efficient sound delivery, and the dual-microphone system blocks out background noise for clear audio.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Above its size
on April 3, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
About the size of an alarm clock (5" x 5" x 7" tall), this speaker is unrepentantly designed in the very retro classic style of Marshall concert speakers, although the case is entirely plastic.
Sound: Pleasantly, this sounds very good for its size. It's good enough to fill a small room and it does not distort at max volume.
On top of the speaker, it has volume, bass and treble controls. If using the 'Marshall Voice' app, it has a five-band eq with presets (Rock, spoken, pop, flat, and of course, custom). Changing bass, treble or volume on the speaker simultaneously reflects on the app.
Other physical controls: On the back of the speaker, there is a very discreet Bluetooth pairing button. The front has the after mentioned vol, bass and treble, and also a small play/pause at the left and a mic attention (turns on Alexa without the wake word) / privacy. At the front bottom of the speaker, on the copper-painted bar, there are four LEDs that change sequence and colors based on activity (Alexa colors, changing audio controls, etc.).
Normally there are no lights on the speaker, except for Alexa notices or if the mic is off.
The power cable is a 110v to C7 plug on the speaker, removable. It does not have an external adapter. Also it does not have a battery. It requires to be plugged in. Note that it also works with 240v, if traveling.
Audio sources:
- Note that it does not have an Aux In nor a headphones output. This speaker is really meant to be used either with Alexa voice or from a phone
- Airplay 2: Works really well from Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, macOS, AppleTV) and other airplay devices. For example from the iPhone, I can start playing on the phone, and then send the audio to this speaker and simultaneously to other Airplay2 speakers in the house, or AppleTVs. It works well with other brands also, and without delay. Volume can be controlled individually for each speaker and the whole group.
- Spotify Connect: From the Spotify app on a phone, at the bottom left, select this speaker and Spotify can stream directly to the speaker, using the app as a remote, but the app or phone are no longer needed while it continues playing. It does not require a subscription.
- Amazon Music: Besides Alexa, the Amazon music app on a phone can play directly to the speaker.
- Bluetooth: The speaker supports Bluetooth 5.0, which provides better range and it's better on the phone's battery, but it could only connect using the SBC Bluetooth codec. It didn't support aptX on an Android 10 phone. It sounds fine regardless and volume can be controlled from the phone's volume controls, from the speaker or the Marshall Voice app.
Initial setup:
Initial setup requires the Marshall Voice app from either Apple or Google app stores. The pairing process from an iPhone was flawless: It first detected the speaker via Bluetooth, found the WiFi network and asked for the Wi-Fi password. It did not require messing around with WiFi settings on the phone like other devices I used. Then it found a firmware upgrade for the speakers that took a couple minutes. Worked just fine. Alexa setup is optional. It's simple and it also requires one to have the Alexa app on the phone to finish the process.
Note that this speaker supports both 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz Wi-Fi, which It's great and not usual.
Amazon Alexa:
This is an 'Alexa enabled' devices. Just like any other non-amazon Alexa devices I use, there are some things it cannot do. For example, communications like calling someone through Alexa des not work. Also Apple Music through Alexa does not work either. The Apple Music skill is very restricted, and I have similar issues with other Alexa speakers. These are really Alexa limitations, but keep it in mind.
Pairing this speaker with other Alexa devices in music groups is supported, although it did not work in my case. The speaker shows as available to add in Alexa groups but ultimately fails for me. It might be a temporary issue.
Plus:
- Great, powerful sound, with deep but not overpowering bass. Clear Mids and Highs. It's really a step above most speakers of this size.
- Well executed Alexa integration.
- Airplay2 worked flawlessly in a household with a mesh Wi-Fi and multiple speakers and Apple devices.
- Spotify Connect works out of the box.
- Integrated power, Class-D amplifier.
- Phone app is simple and intuitive, and not required besides setup. It shows the name of the song that’s playing (Even for Bluetooth, if the phone provides it), source service and cover-art (if available).
Cons:
- Does not support Chromecast Audio. A separate version of this speaker replaces Amazon/Alexa for Google Assistant/Chromecast.
- Bluetooth does not support aptX codecs for Android.
Other considerations:
- I find the styling too forced. It's all plastic while evoking the classic Marshall styling. The long bar controls on the top are a bit much, and the copper bar at the bottom of the grille is really painted plastic.
- That said, it's very well constructed, with solid rubber feet (Which is good because it puts out a lot of sound). The enclosure does not produce vibration sounds. It's thick and solid.
Who makes this:
- Marshall branded products are produced by a Swedish company, Zounds Industries, that also produces Urbanears headphones.
Mobile Submission: False
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+14points
14of 14voted this as helpful.
 
Full-size cleaning without the cord. Full-size Bin. Full-size cleaner head. Now with full-size bin and full-size cleaner head for full-size cleaning, without the cord. ¹ Tested at the cleaner head to ASTM F558, dust-loaded.² Runtime based on consecutive use of two battery packs. Actual runtime will vary based on power mode, floor type, and/or attachments used.³In Boost mode. All other modes achieve at least 99.97% filtration.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Full-size capacity, good for hardwood
on March 8, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
The Dyson 11 Outsize improves over the other V11 models in having a larger bin and it now has removable batteries.
While previous models required a screwdriver to swap batteries, this model finally comes with swappable batteries (Like a power drill). It comes with two identical batteries and two identical power chargers. The battery can be charged in or out of the vacuum, and with the two chargers, both batteries can be charged at the same time.
The larger dustbin, while doesn't require emptying the vacuum as often, also makes an already large and heavy vacuum even more so.
Performance:
The vacuum engine is really amazing and very powerful. So much so that the vacuum has three speeds, and most times one would use it in either Eco or Med/Auto modes, or about half power or so. The Boost mode runs the battery fairly quickly, it's much louder and I found it mostly unnecessary, while making the vacuum heavier. In Boost mode this vacuum should exceed the suction power of most wired household vacuums.
The Med mode changes to 'Auto' mode when attaching the cleaner head, which senses the type of floor in use, and adapts its speed and the vacuum speed accordingly. If found this to work fairly well when going from hardwood to an area rug or floormats.
Battery:
Comes with two swappable batteries, 7-cell each. In Med/Auto mode, each battery provides from 30 min to 45 min runtime and 1 hour or mode in Eco. The runtime in Boost mode would be around 10 minutes. On a couple occasions, after continuous use, the battery went into protection mode and shut down for a few seconds. If this happens, wait 5 to 10 seconds and everything goes back to normal.
The battery can be charged in or outside the vacuum and has a charging indicator LED, in addition to the screen of the vacuum. It comes with two identical chargers which do no have any lights on them.
Cleaning:
- Hardwood: This is where this vacuum shines. It has plenty of power and about 2 hours of use (2 batteries - In Eco mode) is more than enough runtime. The 'High Torque' cleaning head works well: It has two sets of bristles. The softer is slightly longer and is used on hardwood. The firmer set of bristles are shorted and get in contact with rugs.
- Floor mats (or thick, shallow rugs): Using the 'High Torque' head works very well, and the Auto sense feature adjusts suction speed very well.
- Rugs: Using the 'High Torque' cleaning head works fine on thin or worn rugs, but fails to work at all on slightly thicker area rugs: While the vacuum has plenty of suction, the roller is driven by an independent motor housed inside the roller. It either doesn't have enough power to push the larger roller or it falsely senses that it's stuck and stops rotating. This works a bit better when setting the feet of the roller in less suction mode, and at the same time, setting the vacuum in eco mode. What it does is to let more air in, so it doesn't create too much suction. It's slightly better but it still gets stuck, and unlike other vacuums, I cannot recommend this for cleaning thicker rugs.
- Upholstery: This model comes with a smaller roll, that's also independently powered, and it's great to clean upholstery or car seats.
- Accessories: Plenty of other accessories including a soft brush, a hard brush, a crevices head and a standard head with a retractable brush. This last one would be the go to for almost any cleaning that doesn't include the powered brushes. All of it can be used with or without the aluminum extension rod.
Dock:
- It comes with a wall-mount dock that requires two screws into the wall, and once mounted, a clip in the dock hides the screws. Unfortunately, this design makes it very hard to try unmounting the dock without breaking it, which can be done with something like a long flat screwdriver and lots of patience. I don't know why they think this is a good design. If you like me don't want to make holes into the wall, there is an optional pedestal that like other Dyson products is priced accordingly and costs more than other vacuums.
Emptying and maintenance:
- Really easy by removing the accessories and lifting a lever. Note that unlike previous designs, the barrel can break if one forgets to detach the accessories. This was not a problem on previous designs. This is because the dust comes from the from of the vacuum, where the accessories go. On previous models, it had a separate latch to open the dust bin.
- The rollers have only two sets of bristles to make is harder to catch hair, and the roller can be removed from its enclosure making it easy to clean.
- Most of the vacuum can be taken apart. The dustbin assembly can come off with a series of latches and is very easy to maintain.
- It has a washable cloth filter and a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter is the last in a series of filters and should last from 6 months to a year.
Overall:
- Great suction, swappable batteries would make it an excellent choice. Very long runtime and extra battery. Great assortment of accessories included within. It's great if you don’t mind the larger size and extra weight. Excellent for hardwood, cleaning cars, upholstery and anything that does not include a thicker rug.
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40of 68voted this as helpful.
 
Type more naturally with ERGO K860 – an advanced ergonomic keyboard that promotes a more relaxed typing posture – reducing wrist bending and offering wrist support. A curved keyframe helps reduce wrist strain, while a pillowed wrist rest keeps your forearms elevated to help prevent excessive bending. This Logitech ERGO keyboard features Perfect Stroke keys for quiet performance and responsiveness, and the 2-year battery life offers long-lasting use.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Advanced ergonomics
on January 28, 2020
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is Logitech's only split ergonomic keyboard. It's also the first ergonomic keyboard that can simultaneously be paired to multiple devices, is wireless and supports multiple operating systems.
This keyboard is a great complement to the MX Vertical mouse, which I'm also using.
The layout uses 'island' keys that feel similar to a laptop keyboard: The keys are slightly separated, with a limited travel compared to mechanical keys.
With the divided keyboard, each side is tilted left/right for a more natural resting positions of the hands.
The media and desktop shortcut keys are fully functional on both macOS and Windows 10.
The integrated wrist rest is nicely padded while maintaining the keyboard's contour.
As a quirk, a phone can slide nicely under the curve on the keyboard.
Battery: It uses 2xAAA alkaline batteries. Logitech claims two years battery life. This might be true. I'm also using another Logitech (with mechanical keys) and it's been over a year with the same batteries.
On the plus side of using AAA batteries, there is no planned obsolescence here: Change the standard batteries and works like new again.
Connectivity: It can either use the Logitech unifying USB receiver, or it supports Bluetooth 5.0 LE. Note that if using an older computer that does not support Low Energy mode, the keyboard might not work with Bluetooth, but works with the USB receiver.
The Unifying receiver can connect to up to 6 devices (On the same receiver).
I cannot reinforce enough how reliable the connection is with the unifying receiver, and one receiver works with both keyboard and mouse.
The keyboard has three buttons to switch devices it connects to, or if using a compatible Logitech mouse, enable Flow to seamlessly switch between devices. This keyboard supports flow when used with the Logitech MX Vertical mouse, and it works between macOS and Windows 10.
It took me about a week to adapt to this keyboard, coming from a mechanical keyboard.
There are no lift tabs on the back of the keyboard, instead they are on the front so it can lean backwards when using it on a standing desk.
As potential cons to consider, as per one's preferences:
- No option to recharge batteries.
- No wired USB: Wireless only.
- No backlight keys.
- No mechanical keys: From personal experience, it took me longer to get used to the shorter travel than to the split keyboard.
- Keycaps are not removable.
Mobile Submission: False
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+20points
20of 20voted this as helpful.
 
The BISSELL® air320 Air Purifier is part of the BISSELL lineup of premium lifestyle air purifiers that join form and function in your home. The air320 is designed with clean lines, smooth edges, modern legs, a discreet cord wrap, and a fabric filter that fit into the design of almost any home. Beneath the unique design is a powerful machine you'd expect from BISSELL - a trusted brand in homecare. The washable fabric pre-filter on the front of the machine is part of this air purifier's 3 stage filtration. This filtration system also includes a pleated high efficiency filter to capture hair, dust, pollen, and dander and an activated carbon filter to capture home odors, pet odors, and volatile organic compounds. The air320 is controlled by a soft-touch dial that allows users to adjust the fan speed. The air320 can accommodate large rooms like bedrooms, living area, basements, and dining rooms. It is tested to the AHAM standard to have a Smoke CADR of 199 for rooms up to 308 sq. ft., making it great for bedrooms, living areas, basements, and dining rooms. You’ve trusted BISSELL to clean and care for the floors and surfaces in your home. Now, let us clean your air! Plus, every purchase of this product helps save pets! BISSELL® proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Great design
on December 19, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Last year we got the Bissell air400, which we liked and so got this to replace another, older purifier.
This is a large air purifier for larger rooms (Rated 1000 Sq. ft). We're currently using this in our Master Bedroom.
It shows a lot of thought was put into the design of this machine:
First, dare to say, looks great. With its wooden legs, fabric front and minimalistic controls, it has a timeless design of mid-century furniture. My first impression is how nice it looks.
It's fairly thin with just enough space for the central fan and the filters. (about 9" deep).
The controls very are simple to operate: Press the center button for on and off, and rotate the dial to go from automatic to 5 speeds. That's it.
The auto mode regulates the speed based on the air quality, this is displayed in a hidden display in the front, below the control, which has numbers up to 999 indicating air quality, and a glow light below that changes color depending on the air quality.
It then has an auto night mode, so it goes completely dark when the lights are out.
Filters: It has large an thick HEPA filter, a carbon filter of the same size, and a the front cover also serves as a fabric mesh. Replacing the filters takes seconds and no tools. The unit has a filter replacement indicator for each filter: F1 or F2 instead of the air quality readout.
The HEPA filter is for particulates, including allergens.
The activated carbon filter is for reducing ambient odors.
The auto mode uses a dust sensor on the side of the unit, that the manual indicates it should be cleaned twice a year. The cover for this comes out with no tools.
The unit is very well constructed. The air movement is provided by an aluminum 'squirrel cage' fan (similar to most HVAC units) powered by a digital motor (These are the most precise motors, also used by the latest high-end vacuums, etc.).
The air comes from the front mesh and it's exhausted trough the top of the unit, which has a metal grid. It does not blow air from the back, and has a simple cord manager
Note that if the unit looses power it will remain off, so it won't work with smart switches, and has no remote controls. It also does not generate negative ion particles.
Both carbon and HEPA filter are replaceable (not washable) but the front fabric cover should be vacuumed as needed, and it's not consumable.
Noise is still noticeable when at its lowest level: It's spec sheet refers to 37 dB at its lowest.
Overall it looks great, it's very simple to operate and very well constructed.
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
 
High Performance Computer and Electronics UPS for Premium Power ProtectionThe Back-UPS Pro family offers guaranteed power protection for high performance computer systems, routers/modems, external storage devices, game consoles and other electronics in your home or business. These UPSs supply electronics with abundant battery backup during outages and stabilize unsafe voltage levels. They also provide power protection from damaging surges and spikes, and allow the use of management software so you get the most out of your UPS. Premium features of this family may include Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), an LCD display, Smart Outlets, energy saving functions that reduce electricity use, network manageability, Watchdog, or configurable outlets. Together with the rest of the Back-UPS Pro's standard features, they are the perfect choice to protect your data and keep your system available.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Reliable and Compact
on December 13, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is a fairly compact tower-type UPS that uses a single sealed lead-acid battery.
Models with more than 1000VA output capacity requires more batteries, making this ideal if a compact UPS is what's needed.
Very straight-forward to use. Note that after unpacking the UPS, the battery needs to be connected (It's unplugged for safety). The battery can be replaced without tools by sliding the cover and swapping the battery (With the UPS unplugged).
It has three buttons in the front: Alarm mute, power on/off and a menu button to scroll through different readings. The display is easy to read without being too bright (Load, battery, voltage, watts and so forth). Holding the menu button turns off the display (When not running on battery), or leaves it always on.
Keep in mind that this UPS does not produce a sine wave like an AC power outlet, but an 'approximate' (stepped) sine wave. This is not an issue with most PCs and consumer electronics, but can be an issue with more sensitive devices.
On the back, there's a row of 4 battery-protected outlets and 4 that are surge-protected.
There is also a ethernet protection (2 ports) and coax cable protection. These are to protect equipment from surge due to lighting on network and coax cables, it doesn't do anything else, but valuable feature where needed.
There is also a management port. Oddly, it uses a proprietary RJ45 to USB-A cable and an RJ45 to RS232 serial can be purchased separately. I would've preferred a standard USB port. Not sure why this is still built this way.
Connected the USB to a Mac and it automatically recognized the UPS, indicating if it was running on battery power, time and percentage remaining. There is nothing to install on macOS, and it just worked. Connecting the USB cable is not necessary however, but the computer won't be able to prepare for shutdown when the battery runs off.
APC provides a software 'PowerChute' for Windows to provide similar information.
My setup that includes a laptop, large monitor, USB devices, etc. uses about 100W and I was able to run on battery power alone for over 45 minutes.
When running on battery, it produces a loud humming. This is normal.
The battery should last from 3 to 5 years, and it comes with a 3-year warranty.
I've been using APC UPSs for many years, and all of them worked when needed.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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User submitted photo
+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Stay connected with this Motorola Alexa wireless home phone. The built-in Alexa button lets you make calls, control smart devices and check weather and news updates, while the 2-inch full-color display makes it easy to browse through your contacts. This Motorola Alexa wireless home phone has a hands-free speakerphone for quality sound, and the backlit keypad ensures seamless operations in dimly lit rooms.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Promising but not ready
on November 13, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
The basic premise of having Alexa on a cordless phone works, but having it for over a week, it feels more of a concept than something that's ready for mass production.
What works:
I like the handset. The buttons are big, nicely separated. The color screen is easy to read.
Audio sounds find on landline calls, and speakerphone is loud and clear.
Batteries on the headset are standard rechargeable NiMh AAAs. No special 'packs', which is nice.
The menu is like most other cordless phones, easy to navigate. Not the fastest but works fine.
Alexa:
This is an 'Alexa Enabled' device, not an Echo device, so it doesn't do everything an Amazon Echo does. For example, 'Drop-in' to this phone doesn't work, but one can drop-in from the phone.
All other communication is possible.
To invoke Alexa, one has to press the Alexa button on the phone, and works in speakerphone mode, except when on an Alexa call, which can be used like phone calls.
When calling by voice using Alexa, it will dial using the landline, or if the contact is registered with Alexa, can also do an Alexa to Alexa call.
If spelling a phone number (Alexa, dial 1-888-555-1212, it will dial it using the landline.
It can also do any other Alexa request, including playing music, but don't. The phone's speaker is not designed for music playback.
What doesn't work:
Base:
The base is intended to be hidden away next to your router. It's not part of the phone cradle. This is fine, but it has several limitations, in my view:
- Proprietary power adapter with a barrel, not USB, and no option for battery backup.
- It requires a physical ethernet connection. Alexa won't work without it. There is no support for Wi-Fi, so the base will likely be next to your router/modem and requires an available Ethernet port.
- There is no voicemail. Most any cordless phone have built-in voicemail, except this, which only supports a voicemail provided by the phone company.
Handset:
- Buttons for the phone are logically arranged like most cordless phone, except for the Alexa button in the middle of the navigation buttons: Because the Alexa button is in the middle of the scroll up and scroll down buttons, it took me some mental training to stop trying to use the Alexa button to navigate the menus on the phone (Like looking at missed calls).
- The screen is large and color, but low resolution and with contrast issues. It's adequate but could be better. The screen doesn't show Alexa notifications or cannot be used with skills. It will only tell you if Alexa is speaking, listening or processing.
Alexa:
- When pressing the Alexa button, there is a short beep, and either immediately followed by an Alexa tone, or the Alexa tone plays within a second or two. This is confusing because the screen says Alexa is listening before the Alexa beep comes in, so Alexa does not understand the commands that were cut off at the beginning, making a frustrating experience.
App and Setup:
I was able to install the phone without much issue, but it's complicated:
First, it requires the "Motorola hellovoice" app. This is the same on both iOS and Android.
When searching on the app stores (I use both Android and iOS), the app is made by "Meizhou Guo Wei Electronics Co., Ltd". This immediately made me suspicious. Why would I need an app from a developer in China? Later found out that this is the correct name of the company that makes this phone under the Motorola brands (and other consumer brands). It requires me to approve the amazon skill, which required one login with Amazon, then another to login to actually add the phone base to Amazon. After that it asked me to access contact information from the phone and it then immediately proceeded to upload all of my contacts to their servers to be able to sync it with my the cordless phone. I'm not aware of what privacy provisions are in place, but it's too late now, it copied all the contacts. This gets then transferred to the phone, and there is no way to filter or edit contacts on the phone. It's all or nothing. I have a lot of commercial contacts on my phone that did not need to be on the house's phone. Having hundreds of useless contacts is not useful.
The app can also be used for check on the cordless phone's firmware, to see recent calls, even remotely, because all the call logs get synced with the 'Meizhou Guo Wei Electronics' servers.
Conclusion:
- I like the idea of having Alexa on the phone. However it's not that well integrated as it can be.
- The base doesn't have Wi-Fi, and there's sometimes a delay between invoking Alexa, and it responding.
- While it has Alexa, it cannot be set to listen for the wake-up word.
- It requires a cell phone for the initial install.
- The address book is all or nothing, there is no way to filter contacts and I didn't realize while installing it that it maintains a copy of all my contacts on the manufacturer's own servers, without proper consent.
Because of this, I'm not sure who the target audience for this device is. It's too complicated for elderly users to set up, and it's not flexible enough for advanced users.
If you don't mind these limitations, it's a nice cordless phone. This came with one base and one handset but there are sets with two and three handsets and a single base.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
+9points
10of 11voted this as helpful.
 
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The angle is pretty good, similar to my IPS monitor
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Does the oculus rift s come with the sticks to move your hands with?

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User submitted photo
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I initially ordered Fios without a router, with Ethernet directly from the ONT. This definitely works. Connect the ONT's Ethernet cable directly to the internet port. You might have to call the provider to 'release DHCP', for it to work, if replacing another router, or it should work on its own overnight.
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