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    June 21, 2013
  • Last review
    June 29, 2024
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  • Answer count
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    176
  • First answer
    December 10, 2014
  • Last answer
    November 4, 2021
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    17
 
 
emiliosic's Reviews
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Enjoy the powerful, crisp sound of these Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones. The sheep leather headband and ear pads conform to the shape of your head, adding comfort for all-day use, and Bluetooth connectivity lets you stream music from various devices easily. These Sennheiser MOMENTUM wireless over-the-ear headphones have active noise cancellation that lets you block or listen in on external sounds.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Superb Audio
on November 2, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
These headphones provide one of the best listening experiences. Audio is clear and detailed, very clear mid-tones, highs and enough bass.
Design:
These are around the ear headphones, which are larger and they rest on the head, surronding the ears, not resting over the ears.
The headband is made of flexible metal, covered in leather with light padding.
Hinges are also metal, and fold inwards (like eyeglasses) but not sideways.
The button-like mounts between the earpieces and headband giving the headphones a classic retro look of studio headphones.
Earcups are very soft and plush, leather.
Controls and operation:
After using many high-end Bluetooth headphones, these for me as the best in usability:
- Unfolding the headphones turns them on directly, no button press necessary. It pairs with the phone right away. Folding one or both earcups turns it off.
- Using sensors in the earcups, starts playing music within a second of putting the earcups on. Lifting one of the earcups or putting them around the neck pauses the music. For example, if need to talk to someone, simply lift the earcup and it pauses on its own. Also this puts the headphones in standby mode, but does not unpair from the phone, to save battery.
- Controls are very simple, using logically placed buttons on the back side of the right earpiece:
○ Noise Cancellation control: Off, On or hear-thru (The hear-thru mode is a toggle on the same switch).
○ There is a spacing and then the volume up, play control and volume down buttons.
§ Like on many other headphones, the play button skips forward with two clicks and backwards with three clicks. The volume buttons serve only one function. Holding it for 2 second plays back the battery level.
○ The last button invokes the voice assistant when pressed once, and Bluetooth pairing when held.
- Call control: If the headphones are around your neck, putting them on answers the call. Putting it back on the shoulder mutes it. The play button also answers and hangs-up. Holding it rejects the call. Pressing it twice switches call (Call-waiting, etc). Holding the volume down or up mutes or unmutes the call.
- The noise-cancelling function can work without a phone connected.
- The headphones come with an audio cable that can be used even when it ran out of battery (or use ANC in conjunction with the audio cable if it's on).
Bluetooth:
It checks all my boxes. State-of-the-art Bluetooth implementation:
- Bluetooth 5.0 (better range and better battery with newer Bluetooth 5.0 phones).
- It can connect to two phones at once. I was able to use both my iPhone and Android paired at the same time, but plays audio from one at a time, it does not mix the audio, which would've been better for me. Regardless, very few headphones connects to two phones at the same time.
- Supports NFC pairing for Android phones.
- Uses Bluetooth LE for app control.
- Codec support: SBC (Standard), AAC (best for iPhones), and AptX/AptX low-latency for higher-quality on Android.
Tile:
- One of the very few headphones that support the Tile Bluetooth tracking platform. This is very useful when miss-placing the headphones. Tile can tell you if the headphones are nearby and make them play a beep, even when they are off. And because Tile has millions of uses, the headphones can be tracked if any other Tile user is nearby. It worked for me on both iOS and Android, even when not paired to the phone. Note that it took me a few tries to pair it initially using an older iPhone, but once I set it up worked fine.
Alexa:
- After using the headphones, received a firmware update notification. After updating them, I was given the choice through the Sennheiser app to switch to Amazon's alexa when pressing the assistant button on the headphones. Otherwise, it's Siri on iPhone and Google's on Android (Or whatever your phone uses by default).
App:
- The Sennheiser 'Smart Control' is very basic and simple to use. It looks and works practically the same in iOS or Android. It's used to check the battery, set Alexa if needed, firmware upgrades, some general settings for the headphones, the level of noise cancellation and the equalizer.
- The equalizer is different than anything else I've seen: Instead of setting individual Eq bands, there is a single dot, that depending on where it's set on the page, it adjusts both bass and treble. It's the simplest I've seen and it's effective.
Noise cancellation:
The headphones already provide superb passive noise cancellation because it's a closed design.
The ANC provides three levels. However I find that even at max, the active noise cancellation is not enough.
If you're looking for absolute silence with active noise-cancellation, this is not for you.
Observations:
- The headphones charge via USB-C, which is the new USB standard, which is reversible and charges faster (depending on the charger and device).
- It comes with an USB-C to USB-C cable, and also an USB-A to USB-C adapter, to connect to traditional USB chargers. It also comes with an audio cable.
- Battery rated for 17 hours of music play.
- A carrying case is provided also, which is padded, gray cloth, and find it very nice.
- Sennheiser is a German company, with many, many years of experience in making headphones. And to my rejoice, are also manufactured in Europe (but not in Germany though).
Final notes:
Lackluster active noise cancellation notwithstanding, these are very solid headphones, with exquisite sound, and very solid construction, and albeit a bit heavy, feels very comfortable wearing them though the day.
Battery life could be better for headphones this size, but is plenty for most uses, charging them about twice a week.
Also note that these do not fold flat, so they took a bit more space than necessary. However these are impressive, solid headsets.
Sennheiser sound does not disappoint. It's among the best sound on wireless headphones. Very rich, detailed sound. Neutral, balanced sound with very vivid delivery. I cannot stress how well it sounds, unless you're looking for overpowering extra bass, which is not my case.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
5of 8voted this as helpful.
 
With 15 programmable controls, LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, hyper-fast scroll wheel, and the revolutionary HERO 25K sensor, G604 offers both versatility and high-performance with endless possibilities to play with mastery. Dual connectivity lets you toggle between Bluetooth and ultra-fast 1 ms LIGHTSPEED advanced wireless technology—even on separate machines. Extremely accurate tracking and class-leading power efficiency enables up to 240 hours of high-performance gaming with one AA battery.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Lag-Free Wireless
on October 15, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is a new addition to the growing list of Logitech G products geared towards Esports and gaming in general.
While this mouse doesn't look particularly out of the ordinary, which is good, has some unique capabilities not only for gaming but also for regular desktop use.
Unlike the Logitech professional line, these use their own software (G Hub) and wireless receiver that is not compatible with Logitech's traditional 'Unifying' receivers.
Design and controls:
While not specifically designed as an ergonomic mouse, it feels comfortable to hold. Particularly, the thumb rest on the left is good. The palm rests in a natural position.
The scroll wheel has a selectable modes (with a button behind it): Free wheeling and sequential. The difference is that in the fist mode, the wheel which feels like a solid metal, scrolls freely, without inertia. In the other mode, it 'clicks' while scrolling. The scroll wheel can be clicked for a 'middle button' and has left and right movements.
Then there is a set of buttons at the index finger, which are by default set for DPI settings, and are configurable.
At the thumb, there is a set of 6 buttons (3 in two rows), which are customizable through the G software. These can be reached with the thumb after a short practice.
Tracking:
Like other gaming mouse from Logitech, it uses the 'HERO' sensor with up to 16K DPI. The mouse has gliders in its four corners and center.
As expected, it works on every surface I tried.
Connectivity:
It connects via either an USB receiver, which is dedicated to the mouse and cannot be shared with other G devices, which is the recommended way with 1ms lag (as stated by Logitech), or via Bluetooth (which would have higher lag). The proprietary wireless connection is also more battery efficient than standard Bluetooth. The mouse can connect to two devices, and switch between the USB adapter and Bluetooth by pressing a button in the middle of the mouse.
Opening the rear of the mouse, next to where the AA battery goes, there is storage for the USB adapter.
There is no way to use the mouse with an USB cable.
It requires an AA battery (Alkaline, not rechargeable), which should last months to a year.
The mouse comes with an USB extension cable, so if using a desktop PC, the wireless adapter can be closer to the mouse.
Software:
Logitech's G hub works across all its G line of products (I'm using it with the G613 wireless gaming mechanical keyboard).
Upon installing the software, it upgraded the firmware on the mouse., and then walks you the buttons assignments.
The software works on PC and Mac. I tested it on macOS 10.4.6 (Mojave) and works fine, like in Windows. The buttons assignments can be programmed per profile, and the profile can switch based on the running application/game.
The mouse can also optionally store up to 5 profiles in its own memory.
Also the G Hub can switch between standard macros and 'G-Shift' mode (via a macro on the mouse or keyboard) adds another layer of button assignments.
Profiles can be shared (Internet) via the G Hub software, directly, which works like a forum/profile store (Free).
There are no lights on the mouse, except for a pairing/status light in the center that usually remains off.
Overall:
Excellent gaming mouse. I'd prefer rechargeable batteries, but being able to replace the battery using standard alkaline AA eliminates the issues associated with Lithium.
Purpose-built wireless interface works as well as wired, with greater convenience and no wires to tangle on.
Buttons are easily configurable through G Hub.
The mouse feels great to hold and right-sized for 'medium' hands.
Right-hand only design.
A drawback of the proprietary 'lightspeed' wireless adapter is that it's one per device, even multiple G devices on the same computer require one adapter for the mouse and one for the keyboard. In exchange, it's faster than other wireless technologies, and I can attest that the G keyboard has been on the same pair of AA batteries for over a year with very little drain, and should keep going for at least another year.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+13points
13of 13voted this as helpful.
 
The reliable Brother MFC-L3710CW digital color all-in-one printer is an ideal choice for home and small offices looking for laser printer performance and need full functionality, print, copy, scan and fax, in a compact footprint. The up to 50-sheet automatic document feeder enables multipage copying, scanning and faxing, plus quick print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute. The manual feed slot accommodates varied printing needs and can handle a variety of paper types and sizes, including card stock, envelopes and more. The 250-sheet capacity adjustable paper tray helps improve efficiency with fewer refills and handles letter- or legal-size paper. Connect with versatile options, including built-in wireless or USB interfaces, and print wirelessly from mobile devices³. Save time by creating custom shortcuts on the 3.7" color touch screen, which also enables you to directly print from and scan to popular cloud apps, including Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, OneNote and more¹. Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges help lower printing costs. Comes with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call or live chat support for the life of your product.Prints up to 19 ISO ppm*, up to 19 ppm* in color.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Excellent connected MFC printer with no duplex
on September 27, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
I've been using Brother printers at work and home for years. They're among the best and this is no exception.
We've been using at home, for years, a previous model which is remarkably similar to these new models, trouble free for years.
The printer is relatively quiet and fast.
While the speed of the first page varies, I can confirm that is faster than older Brother printers.
I found the quality to be very good, even for photos: Kids in the house go through a lot of printing so it made sense to use toner. While this won't print on photo pater, it's very good for advertising and school projects.
The scanner is very fast, comparable to feed scanners on much larger printers.
It's relatively compact for a color laser printer, and very easy to service:
- Each tonner is individually mounted to its drum. Drums last much longer than toners and are replaced separately: Take the drum + toner out, swap the toner and insert it back in. The printer knows if one puts the wrong color (Because I did it).
- Replacing the belt is also straightforward, as well as the dust bin (which in our case should last for years).
- Controls are straightforward, with a simple numeric keypad and a bright and clear touchscreen, that although sluggish compared to a smartphone, it's very usable and responds quickly with little pressure.
It's also an excellent connected printer, with an extensive list of features for home and corporate users:
- AirPrint: Print, fax scan without prior setup from iPhone / iPad and macOS.
- Mobile Printing for Windows: Windows 10 detects the printer automatically, when on the same network.
- Connects with Android and Chrome via Mopria or Google Cloud Print.
- Can scan to a mobile phone.
- Scan to email (SMTP), Wndows File Share (SMB), to FTP servers from the printer itself.
- Scan to SharePoint servers.
- Scan directory to Windows PCs.
- Scan directly to end user and corporate versions of cloud services: Microsoft OneNote, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote and Box: Initial setup is done via a PC, and then the printer can connect directly to the service, accepts multiple profiles, which can be saved as shortcuts.
It can turn itself completely off if not used (Configurable, by default 8 hours, and can be disabled).
Mobile:
- While one can print directly from iOS, for both iOS and Android there is an app 'iPrint&Scan' from Brother, which is free, allows also scanning, faxing and copy previews, and status checks.
Some of the more advanced corporate management features:
- Supports proxy settings, SNMPv2 and SNMP v3, web management via HTTP and/or HTTPS with configurable certificates, SMTP (Email) with authentication.
- TLS certificates can be self-singed directly from the HTTP Web GUI or can generate a CSR or import an existing certificate chain.
- Native support for secure print.
- Firmware can optionally update from touchscreen or web management page.
- Touchscreen and dialing restrictions.
- IP access list for management.
Paper management
- Tray accepts full ream of paper. Tray supports most sizes including A4 and Folio up to Legal.
- Manual feed from the front.
- Bypass door on the rear of the printer for specialty prints and envelopes, so they can go straight from the manual feed to the rear bypass without bending.
Fax
- Extensive fax receive options including manual and automatic fax tone detection.
- Settings for VoIP lines and international faxing (Changes speed, fax capabilities, etc).
- Accepts remote codes, fax store and forward, fax to email and to cloud services
Copy
- BW and Color
- Supports adjustments and reductions
- Can remove background colors
- ID copy (print back and front of an ID on the same page).
Brother also officially supports Linux drivers (RPM and deb).
The printer accepts Postcript3 and PCL6.
Optional replenish services
The printer can integrate automatically with an auto-fulfillment service for toner.
The initial registration can be done from a phone on the same network as the printer.
The providers supported are:
- Brother refresh: Toner ships directly from Brother
- Amazon dash replenishment
- Best By Easy Replenish
This is completely optional. It's advertised on the documentation and the phone app. There are no nagging reminders on the printer if not set up.
Connectivity
- It connects via WIFI (2.4Ghz, 802.11N) or USB
- USB is available bout really this printer is made to be used via WIFI
- Note that there is no wired ethernet connection
CAVEATS - Considerations
While I'd highly recommend these printers based on this new model and experience on older, similar models, this particular model, MFC-L3710CW seems to be made specifically to hit a marketing or pricing goal:
- Currently for about the same price (and about $ 50 or so list price), the almost identical MFC-L3770CDW gains some functions that can be critical to most people:
- Wired ethernet connection (In addition to WiFi, which is also available and optional).
- Duplex printing
- Duplex scanning
- Also adds NFC for simpler printing from Android.
So unless you really don't want duplex (the printing path is slightly simpler), or the difference in price is an issue, consider the MFC-L3770CDW.
If I had to buy again, I'd get the later instead.
Conclusion:
- Excellent all-around multi-function, as long as one understands this model has no duplex and no wired ethernet.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+28points
28of 28voted this as helpful.
 
Produce high-quality pictures on this Acer 27-inch Full HD widescreen monitor. AMD Radeon FreeSync technology offers crisp visuals while gaming, and the ergonomic design allows tilting through a 20-degree range for a customized setup. This Acer 27-inch Full HD widescreen monitor has AcerVisionCare technology that helps minimize eyestrain during extended periods of use.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Gaming Friendly Monitor
on September 25, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is for the most part a daily use monitor.
It has a nice, clear and bright LED display that is 27" diagonal.
It has a good amount of settings that are gamins specific, plus full gamma controls.
The FreeSync feature only works on computers with certain AMD / Radeon video cards, which lets the card dynamically adjust the refresh rate up to 144hz.
Controls: The power button is prominent and has a bright light (blue or yellow when on or standby). The LED light cannot be turned on. All the other controls are not really visible and on the bottom of the monitor's frame.
Pros:
- Quality screen
- While the screen is not matte, it's not overly reflective either
- No visible frame except on the bottom
- Blue Light filter setting lowers the amount of blue light, but the image has noticeable green / yellow hues
Cons:
- No DisplayPort
- Stand is not height adjustable, only tilt
- Only VGA cable provided
The stand is rather basic, which is an oval plate holding a small arm that attaches to the bottom of the monitor. Only the tilt is adjustable. However, this monitor has VESA holes sop consider getting a VESA arm is you need to adjust it.
Overall is a good monitor. It has an understated, simple look. With no visible frames on the top and sides. Controls are simple and intuitive. It's 27", which is a very comfortable size for both work and videos. FreeSync can help some games with the right video card to use this.
Personally the biggest issue is that it has no DisplayPort, however, the HDMI connection is perfectly fine, and it doesn't really make a difference on FullHD monitors like these. Just make sure to get the right cable or adapter if HDMI is not an option.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Boost your confidence with this Upright Go 2 posture trainer. Integrated sensors detect when you're slouching to help train your body for better posture in under 14 days. Use the device by itself or sync with the Upright app on Android or iOS. With a portable design, 30-hour battery life and easy-touch adhesive to keep it safely in place, this Upright Go 2 posture trainer is ideal for all-day wear.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Very well designed posture trainer
on September 22, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
The idea of this product is to remind you when one is slouching.
I work at an office and I noticed that I might be sitting in unhealthy positions. (ie slouching).
It's not pleasant, and it affects the spine over time.
How this works:
There is a small device that has to be stuck on your back, and connects over Bluetooth to your phone.
There are two modes of operation:
1. Training mode vibrates on the device on your back *every*time* you slouch, even when picking up things or leaning to look at something. This gets old quick, so it's best to use for a few minutes a day.
2. The normal mode of operation communicates with your phone and after a few minutes it will remind you on your phone to correct the posture.
Device:
It's fairly small but still noticeable. Attach it right below your neck, on your back on or around your spine.
It comes with a pack of 10 reusable adhesives. The adhesives are like a gel that attaches gently but firmly, although it's best to use indoors. Each adhesive can be used multiple times, depending on skin (ie oily skin or sweat).
It's easy to peel and doesn't pull hairs (like a bandage would). It's a lot gentler than that.
It charges using an USB-C connector (USB-A to USB-C cable included), although it does not charge at USB-C. Charge is rather slow and initial charge takes a few hours.
It has a single pressure-sensitive button (not an actual button but an indentation that one presses -- It's a good design with no openings do it's easier to keep clean.
There is a light, inside the device that turns red while charging, green when charging and blue when paired.
It comes in a nice plastic jewel case with a magnetic close, with an opening for the USB-C charging cable so it can be charged while on the case. The bottom of the case has marking so the sticky reusable pad can rest on it. On the other half, there is a holder for an additional sticky pad.
App:
Works on iOS and Android. This review is for iOS:
- The first time, it asks some questions including general health and habits. However it does not connect with Apple HealthKit to obtain general information, however it syncs back data to HealthKit as 'Mindful Minutes'. This is optional and by default it does not sync.
- The app is very intuitive, with a quick and thorough welcome mode with optional videos.
- It then starts a training program with a few minutes the first day and goes from there.
- At any time it can switch between the training and tracking mode.
- In tracking mode, the app stays in the background and notifies via a phone notification when it detects too much slouching.
- iOS app has Apple Watch integrations (Did not test it).
Every time one puts on the device, it needs to 'calibrate' a few seconds with the app open to detect the body's straight up position (Or by pressing the button on the device twice after putting it on).
Desktop app: Available from the Mac Appl Store, it syncs with the iOS app (Tracker -> iOS app -> macOS app) which shows a widget which is neat while working, so I can see if it detects slouching while working, without having to look at the phone.
Supplies: More sticky pads can be ordered online and via the app, with free shipping. Currently is about less than $ 1 per adhesive (which again, lasts a few applications each).
Customer service: A chat with customer service (based in Israel) is available through the app itself.
Overall, I'd say it's effective. It motivates to keep a better posture, which is the goal of this system. However the major caveat is that it's not a comprehensive system. It tracks the 'incline' of the device attached to the back, not if the rest of your back is straight. Also one could be working on a desk, leaning on it but not slouching, and if the device measures a resting angle, it will treat it the same as slouching. This would be the major caveat, however after a a few days, I noticed on the app that there is a software update that extended the battery life from 30 to 45 hours on a single charge, and among other features it claims that it improves false detection, like when one is leaning down, it won’t track it as slouching. This is a welcome addition, and shows that they're working on improvements.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Store and access files on the go with this WD My Passport Portable Hard Drive for Mac. The backup software keeps you covered against accidental data loss, and password protection prevents unauthorized access to your content. The portable hard drive comes with USB-A and USB-C cables for flexible connectivity options.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Very thin and lightweight
on August 17, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
This is a very thin HDD (Less than 1/2 in).
It's a 3.5" HDD in a very thin and lightweight enclosure, with an USB 3.0 interface.
The enclosure is dark blue, matte (Does not attract fingerprints).
It comes with two cables: One with an USB-A 3.0 connector and the other is USB-C, so it can connected equally to either a new or older Mac or PC.
Note that there is nothing specific to Macs on this drive, except that it comes pre-formatted for Macs (MacOS Extended, Journaled).
Software:
It comes with WD Discovery for Mac and for Windows.
This utility is a front-end to the optional utilities and hardware encryption tools. It also has a tool to backup data from different consumer cloud services into the drive: Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Drive, Facebook and Instagram pictures, and also for WD MyCloud.
The utilities has diagnostics and firmware upgrade (for the drive), and settings for the default sleep timer on the disk and to enable or disable the activity LED on the disk.
As for security, the drive provides native hardware-based encryption, or can use the standard encrypted drive format that's part of macOS.
To use the drive's hardware encryption, it requires the optional WD Security tool, and that needs to be installed on each computer that's going to be connected to the drive.
The drive supports Apple's Time Machine.
In my case, I'm using this drive as a Time Machine backup destination, and reformatted it o MacOS Extended, journaled and encrypted. Not using the WD Security tool so the drive can be used to recover without having to install additional tools.
Speed: AJA System Test reports 102 MB/Sec Write and 107 MB/Sec Read (1 GB Sequential). (With an Encrypted File System).
Caveat: The drive is USB 3.0. Because of this, can't use standard USB-C cables, and need to use the ones that came with the drive.
Overall is very portable, well designed as I'd expect from a WD drive.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
 
Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Performance on a budget
on July 31, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Dell G3 is Dell's line of affordable gaming laptops.
This new 2019 model gets the basics down with a few compromises for a great price
Design:
A bit bulky, and over 5 Lb., in an all-plastic case, with a bit of flair with blue accents and angled back, it's built to handle the actual heat from the CPU and GPU.
The keyboard is full-size island keys, including numeric keypad, with adjustable intensity blue backlighting. The trackpad is large enough, slightly to the left so it's centered below the space key.
The laptop comes with a very large (And heavy) power supply, rated at 180W (Which would be needed to run the CPU and GPU at full).
The laptop has an internal 3-Cell 51W battery.
I couldn't remove the bottom cover because it has a hidden screw behind the label, but from what I found, the memory and SSD are replaceable, and there is also an internal, empty 2.5" HDD bay.
Screen:
Specs: 1920x1080 60Hz, 15.6", 6-bit depth. Matte screen, no touchscreen
While the specs don't sound that impressive, in person it's actually very pleasant. The images are clear, and the matte screen is best to avoid glare, and workable angle views.
CPU / Memory / Drive:
9th Generation (2019) Intel i5-9300H with four cores, Embedded 630 Display controller.
8 Gb DDR4 in two slots: 4 Gb / slot. Note that while the memory would need to be replaced to expand it, it performs better when distributed in two slots rather than single 8 Gb slot.
512 Gb M2 NVMe: This is a nice, fast drive. Larger drives tend to perform better because data is more distributed through memory blocks.
Video: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (Max-Q)
Slots/Connections:
- On the right, two USB 2.0 (Yes, 2.0), SD card reader.
- On the left: Barrel-type power cord, One USB-C (DisplayPort), One HDMI 2.0, One USB 3.1, Ethernet RJ45, headphone jack
A bit disappointed that it has no thunderbolt ports (So no eGPUs here), and only one USB-C that's also the DisplayPort. And one USB 3.1 while two other ports are USB 2.0 (Fine for keyboard and mouse), but would use one of the USB 3.1 or USB-C for a memory stick.
There is a camera above the screen but with no depth sensor and no fingerprint sensor, so no option for Windows Hello.
Software:
Not much bloat, thankfully, except for McAfee (one-year free subscription), Spotify, Netflix, and Office (trial).
The antivirus didn't pose much resistance when uninstalling, and Windows went back to Windows Defender smoothly.
Then there are the typical bunch of programs from dell for software upgrades and cleanup, Nvidia tools and pleasantly surprised that it also includes the Alienware control center.
The keyboard has a "G" key (Actually, F7) that enabled the performance mode with fans at full speed via the Alienware control center.
Benchmark (With default settings)
GeekBench 4
Single-Core: 4960
Multi-Core: 16704
OpenCL: 187427
Games:
Fortnite runs smoothly at 60 FPS at 'Epic' quality
VR:
It can run the new Oculus Rift S. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is listed as recommended. Note that The Rift S uses both the USB 3.1 port and the USB-C port, and you'll need an (inexpensive) USB-C to DisplayPort adapter.
Resuming:
Current-generation CPU. Overall package is nice, except for not having enough ports and no Thunderbolt. While the screen is rather basic, is pleasant to look at, with solid colors. The Ti 1660 video card is actually pretty good for the value on this machine, which is the main reason one would get this.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience an immersive acoustic performance with these Sony XB Extra Bass wireless headphones. The noise-isolating fit mutes ambient noises, while the lithium-ion battery offers up to 30 hours of playtime, keeping you entertained during long-distance travels. These Sony XB Extra Bass wireless headphones have a touch sensor for convenient control.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Detailed sound with powerful bass and noise cancel
on July 25, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Design:
These are over the ear headphones, completely covering the ears. The earcups are quite thick at about 2/3 inch and very soft. The headband is also plush.
The headphones also fold flat and inside the headband making it easier to carry.
While it's on the larger side, the earcups are very comfortable to wear though the day.
Construction is mostly solid, quality plastic with parts of the headband covered in leatherette.
It comes with a soft-lined carrying bag, a short charging cable and 3.5mm audio cable.
Sound quality:
Full-bodied sound, very crisp and clear.
Enhancing bass levels do not distort the sound.
These phones are labeled as Extra Bass, and while it delivers, the bass level is completely adjustable, producing detailed, neutral sound, with a punch, when called for.
Noise Cancelling:
While the Noise Cancelling circuitry on this model, unlike the 1000 series, does not account for changes in air pressure, which would be applicable to air travel, it's otherwise as good as it gets. When paired with a phone, either iOS or Android, it also uses the sensors on the phone to detect is one is sitting, traveling or walking/running, and adjusts noise cancelling accordingly. It can also be set manually to play back noise from its mics for better situational awareness, or to filter all noises except voices, which I prefer.
Battery life is excellent, with a rating of 30 to 45 hours depending on use. I managed to use them for over a week at work, on and off, and by the end of the week, the battery was still at around 50%.
Bluetooth: The major negative is that it still uses Bluetooth 4.2, while other brands had Bluetooth 5.0 for some time. The advantage of BT 5 is not sound quality, but is more efficient in power consumption on both the headphones and the phone.
Other than that, this is one of the few headphones that provides every Bluetooth codec available today. I used this with both iOS and Android phones, and it supports SBC and AAC on iOS, and additionally, also supports AptX and AptX HD on Android phones. If using a recent Sony device, like a Sony Receiver (I my case, the STR-DN1080), it also supports the LDAC codec, which is Sony proprietary. While this phone doesn't have Sony's HD Audio label, both AptX HD and LDAC support 24bit audio streams.
It also supports NFC pairing, which makes setting up the headphones slightly easier.
Mic: Has mics on both sides
All the functions of the headphones can be controlled via an app "Headphones Connect" (iOS or Android), which works about the same way on either platform:
- Battery level and BT codec in use.
- Equalizer: 5 bands plus bass control and several presets.
- DSEE HX: This appears in different Sony products and it helps in restoring heavily compressed music. I leave it on and it does sound better without creating distortion (Disabled if equalizer is on, except for bass levels).
- Sound position control: This is a creates the illusion that sound comes from a side or behind, but disables the equalizer. Not sure how this is useful, but it's there.
- Surround: Like on many receivers, it creates different echo/ambient effects. Nice for show but I end up leaving it off.
- Controls for noise cancelling: It has an interesting feature where the app uses sensors on the phone and GPS to guess the level of activity and adjusts the amount of ambient sound mixed within the noise cancelling, or it can be set manually.
The headphones also includes a headphone cable that can be used as a wired headphone.
Controls: The best part is that covering the right ear-cup with one hand turns off echo cancellation and turns the volume very low. This is so when someone wants to talk to you, don't need to pause and remove the headphones. This works great.
The left side has a power button that's also used for pairing and another button to select the noise cancellation mode, and from the app can be changed to launch the voice assistant.
The right ear-cup has touch-sensitive controls:
Double-tap for play/pause
Swipe up/down for volume
Swipe left/right for prev/next track
Hold with one finger for Siri/Assistant or controlling calls.
The touch-sensitive controls work but not the best choice for me. I wish it had more actual buttons. Sometimes when I think I'm swiping up or down, end up changing the song.
The double-tap for play/pause isn't intuitive enough. Takes longer than pressing a button to react. It's not very responsive. It takes about 2 seconds to pause the phone using the controls. I used other Sony headphones and it seems to be the same across all of Sony's headphones with touch-sensitive controls.
Also, it does not detect if someone takes the headphones off: It does not pause the phone.
The power-off settings are configurable, so it's possible to set the headphones for noise cancelling, and stay on, without being connected to the phone, once set up.
If used with the 3.5mm cable, the headphones also work while off.
Voice assistants: While there is no additional setup needed for using Siri on iOS or the assistant on each Android device, these, like other newer Sony headsets, provide integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (One the two, but if using these, the noise cancelling settings have to be changed from the app).
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-13points
14of 41voted this as helpful.
 
Capture video while driving with this Nextbase 422GW dash camera. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity automatically sync footage to your phone for easier editing and sharing, and the 2.5-inch IPS touch screen offers intuitive control with upgraded resolution. This Nextbase 422GW dash camera with Alexa built-in uses a G-sensor and SOS response service, safeguarding your footage upon impact while alerting emergency services for safety and a prompt response.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Very well designed
on July 5, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
Specs:
- Camera records 1440px30fps or 1080x60fps
- Accepts remote o locally attached rear-camera modules at 1080p
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection to a phone
- Alexa support (Over Bluetooth with a phone)
- G-Sensor, GPS
Design:
422GW is part of a line of new dashcams. This model has all the connectivity features.
When first opening the package and installing it, it's obvious it was designed in UK, and there is a lot of attention to detail.
The camera comes with two mounting bases: On is permanently affixed via a 3M sticky pad, and the other is a more conventional suction cup that works very well. In both cases, the power cord is connected to the mount, not the camera, and the camera is held through a strong magnet that also sends power, so the camera can be cleanly removed without unplugging any cables.
The camera screen is touchscreen, fairly responsive, with a physical record button that lights up faintly at night.
Functionality:
The camera is meant to be paired with a phone for full functionality. Like other high-end cameras, it features Alexa integration (Both the camera app and the Alexa app have to be running in the background on the phone for it to work). It can automatically transfer videos to the phone in case of impact (The camera has G-sensors) and optionally call 911 or send a link to the videos via email. These last features are optional.
The recordings are very clear during the day, and at night it records in color, fairly clearly, depending on how good your headlights are.
App:
The camera can stream real-time video to the phone, or transfer videos to the phone (By default, the camera creates one video per minute, this can be changed).
The main screen is a bit busy, and on my iPhone, it only works in portrait mode. Putting the phone in landscape (sideways) does not produce a full-screen video.
When reviewing videos, the top of the screen shows the video and on the bottom it can show map data overlaid with Google maps, acceleration, speed, X-Y axis, location.
Overall:
This is a great camera, among the best in term of features and how well it's designed. It works well as either permanently mounted (with optional hardwire kit) or plugged in via cigarette lighter connector. It can always be removed with the magnetic connection to the base even when the base is permanently attached.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections work reliably with a well designed app.
It supports different models of rear-cameras and rear-passenger cameras (ie for ride-hailing) that can be either attached to the camera itself or via a cable to the rear window.
Designed in UK with great attention to detail.
Note: It uses MicroSD cards (Not standard larger SD cards), and it does not come with one. If you're planning on using a rear camera module, you'll need a 'v30' capable card to be able to record two HD videos in real-time.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Clean messes and dust at the office with this Hoover ONEPWR wet and dry cordless vacuum. The capable motor delivers up to 45 cfm for faster cleaning, and the rechargeable 2 Ah battery facilitates cordless use. This Hoover ONEPWR wet and dry cordless vacuum includes a 3-gal. dirt tank to trap captured debris.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Fairly compact and lightweight utility vacuum
on July 2, 2019
Posted by: emiliosic
from Wakefield, MA
It worked well for wet jobs, like cleaning a small leak in a basement floor.
There is a single HEPA filter for dry cleaning, which has to be removed for wet cleaning.
The filter is washable and should not need to be replaced if cleaned properly..
It comes with a stretchable hose up to about 6' or 7'. It's similar to the type of hoses on upright vacuums. The diameter of the hose is smaller than on most other utility vacuums but about the same as on household ones. The plus side is that the hose is very flexible, which makes detailed cleaning easier.
It comes with two attachments: A Crevice tool and a utility nozzle.
The nozzle can also be attached to the exhaust port and then attach it to the hose to use as a blower.
(The blower mode is not for emptying water from the bucket, it has to be opened and dumped in a sink, as it doesn't have a drain port.
The power is adequate for this size of vacuum. Used it in cleaning a basement, after lightweight sanding of a door, or cleaning up small water leaks.
Note that the 2 Ah battery only lasts about 10 minutes of continuous use, which is not really enough except for very light duty jobs.
The batteries are compatible with other Hoover 'ONEPWR' vacuums and leaf blowers.
With that in mind, Hoover also sells a full-size utility Vac with larger bin, more power, wheels and larger battery, while this model is much more compact and lightweight.
Tthe only major issue is that the battery's capacity on this is too small for most practical uses, and additional batteries are currently priced for almost as much as this whole kit.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get more out of your home theater setup with this Sonos Beam compact smart soundbar. A 5-speaker with five amplifier setup delivers rich, big sound to your room, while the single-cable connection allows for fast, easy setup. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, this Sonos Beam compact smart soundbar lets you control the volume and power with the just sound of your voice.
 

Is pairing the Beam with 2 Play 5s and a Sub versus the Sub and 2 Sonos Ones an overkilI? I just purchased 2 Play 5s, 4 Sonos Ones, a Sub and the Beam and I am now having second thoughts on the original configuration/room location

It depends on your music tastes and budget :)
Keep in mind that these will act as surround speakers, so in this case you'll have surround speakers that are more powerful than the main speaker and that's not necessarily the best setup.
If I were contemplating such solution I'll stick with the Sonos Play for surround and use the Play:5 elsewhere as main speakers.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Get more out of your home theater setup with this Sonos Beam compact smart soundbar. A 5-speaker with five amplifier setup delivers rich, big sound to your room, while the single-cable connection allows for fast, easy setup. Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, this Sonos Beam compact smart soundbar lets you control the volume and power with the just sound of your voice.
 

I have set up the beam and can turn off the tv with Alexa, but when I ask to have the tv turned on, it never turns on even though Alexa says it is done. What am I doing wrong? I have a TCL 49inc Roku tv. It is set up on both Sonos app and Alexa app.

It works for me, using a Hisense TV. "Alexa, Tun On TV", it turns on the TV connected to the Sonos Beam.
It could be an issue with the HDMI CEC configuration on your TV, or it could be that the phrase "Turn on TV" is configured on Alexa to do something else. Check on the Alexa app if there is a group, device or routine named either "TV" or "Turn on TV".
We have a Harmony hub remove already configured in another room and Alexa was turning that on instead when speaking to the Sonos. After renaming that activity via Harmony, then Alexa worked as intended on the soundbar.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Only @ Best BuyListen to music with this sweat- and dust-resistant wireless Jabra Elite headset. It connects via USB, mini-jack or Bluetooth, and a powerful microphone lets you use voice commands with your mobile device. This Jabra Elite headset reduces background noise and has a built-in motion sensor that lets you track fitness efforts.
 

Can an owner of the original non active 65t comment on the fit and stability difference with the active version? Curious if that and the extra IP rating is worth a look, or negligible.

I have both. (The second pair is for my wife). They are the same size, shape and weight. Besides slight color differences, the Active have a rubberized texture on the earbuds and on the charging case. The manufacturer's web site also indicates that it has a motion sensor, but I have not seen any difference when using the iOS app.
The silicon gel pieces look the same as the standard model. Battery life and other features are the same.
I've been using the standard model since it came out and the Actives for a few days, and didn't notice any difference in how they fit on my ears.
See the pictures of both models side by side. Active are on the right
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6 years ago
by
emiliosic
 
Only @ Best BuyListen to music with this sweat- and dust-resistant wireless Jabra Elite headset. It connects via USB, mini-jack or Bluetooth, and a powerful microphone lets you use voice commands with your mobile device. This Jabra Elite headset reduces background noise and has a built-in motion sensor that lets you track fitness efforts.
 

Does both earbuds stay functional with audio when you talk? Can you hear stereo sound (not mono) when you talk?

Yes, on phone calls, audio comes from both earbuds. Also each earbud has two mics, and uses the mic array to isolate ambient noise
6 years ago
by
emiliosic
 
Clean your home with voice command or app-based programs by using this Samsung robot vacuum. Its digital camera and nine sensors let it find its way around, avoiding obstacles and mapping the most efficient path through your home. Wi-Fi connects this powerful Samsung robot vacuum to your smart home systems.
 

Can this robot machine vacuum carpet for one hour?

yes, cleaning cycles last for about one hour to 90 minutes
6 years ago
by
emiliosic
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 

Can these headphones work as noise cancelling without having to be connected to the phone (like the Bose)?

Yes, it works without a connection
6 years, 8 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 

Will these head phones need to be connected tot he phone to use the noise cancelling function or can they operate as noise cancelling headphones whithout having to be connected to anything?

the noise cancelling does work without a connection
6 years, 8 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 

Does the quick attention mode turn on when you rest your head against the the side of the airplane or headrest ? If so, can this feature be turned off ?

No, it doesn't activate when laying on a pillow, etc.
It must detect induction from the body, so a pillow doesn't trigger it.
The feature cannot be turned off.
6 years, 8 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 

Let’s say the battery dies and I connect with a wire. Will noise cancelling work? I know Bose QC35 will provide a sound but no noise cancelling on that case. What about Sony?

Yes, it works with a wire without power
6 years, 8 months ago
by
emiliosic
 
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
 

Does the recently unveiled new version of MDR-1000x (WH-1000XM2) support multiple bluetooth connections as does Bose's QC 35 and all the other high-end wireless headphones? That was the only reason I haven't purchased the MDR-1000x.

It does remember multiple BT connections, and can connect to a music profile and audio(phone) profile simultaneously, but not to two music streams simultaneously.
6 years, 8 months ago
by
emiliosic