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Bappy
 
 
 
Bappy's stats
 
  • Review count
    251
  • Helpfulness votes
    332
  • First review
    November 25, 2012
  • Last review
    June 23, 2024
  • Featured reviews
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  • Average rating
    4
 
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  • Answer count
    14
  • Helpfulness votes
    3
  • First answer
    May 23, 2016
  • Last answer
    November 25, 2021
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    1
 
 
Bappy's Reviews
<< 1 ... 16 17 18 19 20 ... 26 >>
 
Watch over areas remotely with this Defender 2K Wireless IP security camera. The IP67-certified metal housing offers protection against inclement weather conditions, while the integrated app lets you watch footage live from a smartphone. This Defender 2K Wireless IP security camera uses 128-bit encryption to help secure the video feed.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
good camera, with limitations
on June 27, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
I was an early adopter of consumer level security cameras, mostly avoiding the DVR systems that are prevalent these days. Usually they were simple IP cameras with built in Wifi capabilities and sub HD resolutions. Eventually moving to HD quality solutions.
So here comes the Defender - Indoor/Outdoor 2K Wi-Fi Wireless Security Camera. Looking at the quality of build it seems solid and is rated for Outdoor use. I mounted mine inside my garage to test, some basic hardware is attached to the camera including a shorter than needed harness which includes power and a RJ-45 jacks. The setup also includes an AC Adapter (longer cord) and WiFi connectivity. Configuration of the camera REQUIRES download of a iOS or Android app, setting up an online account and scanning of a QR code on the bottom of the camera. This sets up the camera connection, during this time the app detects available wireless networks and prompts for the WiFi password of your network. I’m a little wary about providing this info and would really like the ability to setup the camera in a mode that does not require reaching out into the internet. Unlike early generation security cameras I have previously used, the Defender 2K camera does not appear to have a web interface to be able to configure without an internet connection. While the iOS app is good, I would prefer more control on configuring the camera, including motion detection level, network configuration, DDNS values and port setup. None of this appears to be available and their online support documents more or less seem DVR system centric.
Other than the downsides I mentioned the camera and image quality both appear to be very good. For most people the simple online based configuration is a plus. Just really frustrated with companies that force you to sign up for an account only to push a subscription based cloud model. Give me the options to fully utilize the device (camera in this case) the way I want.
Pros:
- Image and build quality are excellent
- iOS app is pretty decent, although brand specific
- infrared night mode
Cons:
- no web interface or advanced configuration abilities
- short wiring harness
- mandated online signup
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Stream HD broadcasts for free with this RCA indoor flat amplified HDTV antenna. Sleek and super thin, this powerful antenna offers excellent signal quality while seamlessly blending into your home decor. The multidirectional design of this RCA indoor flat amplified HDTV antenna needs no adjustment, leaving you free to enjoy your favorite programs.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Solid square of reception
on June 21, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
This RCA antenna is a square shaped plastic model with a built in stand. It comes with a downloadable app which is super handy, there are some holes in it in regards to content. But overall very useful with a direction finder for pointing your antenna. This setup includes an inline signal input which requires AC power. I’ve seen others that are powered by the USB plug in some TVs, this uses a supplied AC adapter. Overall I was able to pull an additional 4 channels with not much positioning required. All the other channels I was getting with my previous non amplified antenna I also received with this RCA model.
Pros:
- good reception
- solid build
- good mobile pointing app
Cons:
- Requires AC adapter, having a USB power plug would be nice.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
0points
3of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Acer Nitro 5 Laptop: Lose yourself in the absorbing multimedia experience delivered by this Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. The Intel Core i5 processor ensures a lag-free performance, and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card delivers immersive visuals on the 15.6-inch Full HD display. This Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop has 8GB of RAM for seamless multitasking.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Solid (litterally) laptop
on June 20, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
First let’s start with the general physical appearance, this laptop is solid and looks good. The backlit keyboard has a good feel and the touchpad responsive. The keyboard adjusts in intensity and is an attractive red/orange color. In fact, the color reminded me of my old Pontiac Bonneville's instrument panel! The non-touch screen is solid (frankly did not miss the touch screen) as this one has a matte finish in comparison to the shiny, reflective look of the touch variety. The system has the usual ports, including (3) USB 3.1 ports (one an always power on version) and a high data transfer rate USB-C port. This system also has HDMI, Ethernet and standard audio out ports. A webcam, dual microphones and set of good sounding speakers in the front bottom corners round out this high value package.
The guts of this system include some high-performance components including an Intel four Core i5-9300H CPU which runs @ 2.40GHz, 8 GB of RAM and a speedy 256GB SSD. Of all the improvements made in personal computers in recent years, SSD drives (which replace traditional spinning disks) offer the most performance bang for your buck. Two video adapters are included an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU. What does all this yield, a high performing, reasonably priced gaming laptop which frankly is great for all use cases.
Benchmarks:
59.98 FPS at 1920x1080
SSD Write speed: 822.05 MB/s
Copy speed: 591.76 MB/s
Read speed: 904.08 MB/s
Pros:
- Solidly built
- High performing for price
- Expandability space for an additional M.2 SSD and traditional 2.5-inch spinning disk
- Not much preinstalled bloatware
- Good battery life
- Gaming specific A W S D and arrow keys are framed for emphasis
Cons:
- Case is a fingerprint magnet
- Keyboard layout is strange and takes time to get used to
- Could use more preinstalled RAM
- Power tip into laptop is recessed, seems robust but difficult to plug in
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Take control of your gaming experience with this Logitech Astro USB controller. The highly durable construction is great for extended sessions, and the fully customizable layout lets you remap each button to mimic any console configuration. This Logitech Astro USB controller has extra-sensitive triggers that respond seamlessly without having to depress them fully.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Solid 3rd gaming controller
on June 18, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
The ASTRO C40 TR Controller is a great controller for serious gamers who utilize the Playstation 4 and PC platforms. I was impressed with many things about this product and overall recommend it to professional gamers who want a quality 3rd party controller that offers more customization options than competing 1st party hardware. While this controller is 3rd party, it has the quality of a manufacturer the likes of Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. This controller resembles a Playstation 4 competitor to the Xbox Elite line of controllers for the Xbox One/PC platforms.
Presentation:
The package itself was a very sleek and used expensive feeling cardboard that was high quality. Upon opening the package, the controller was securely nestled inside of a carrying case. The carrying case was a nice touch; this product is expensive but the hard shell carrying case provided peace of mind that your new investment would be protected from a drop, dust, or someone with dirty hands.
Functionality:
The most striking part about this controller is that it is modular. After opening the carrying case, I immediately wanted to try moving joysticks and directional pads around to find a configuration to my liking. I ended up settling upon a configuration different from the default Dualshock 4 setup, with the joysticks offset rather than parallel at the bottom of the controller. This mocked similar controller layouts I use for other platforms such as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Having this flexibility is a huge plus to ultimately deliver a comfortable experience for the player. This flexibility is also great for those who wear out joysticks frequently and require swaps. The only downside is that it can be tricky to set components correctly. I spent quite a bit of time fiddling with the directional pad the first time I swapped anything, but eventually got better at moving things around as I practiced.
Other functions that were nice but that didn't offer as much for me were the rear mappable buttons and the configuration software. These functions were nice to have, but they are something I will need to play around with more to really get a good use of. I think the use of these functions (particularly the rear buttons) depend highly on the types of games you play. For instance, quick reaction time related games like first person shooters would utilize this function well.
Overall:
I would recommend this controller to others. While the controller is expensive at an MSRP of $200 USD, you do get what you pay for. The ASTRO C40 TR is well engineered; provides flexibility that other controllers on the market do not, and integrates well with software so that the device can be customized to meet the needs of any type of gamer or gaming session. To boot, this controller's battery also lasts longer than a standard Dualshock 4 which is nice. While I recommend the controller to others, I do have a few suggestions for improvement:
Add in the ability to wake the PlayStation 4 system remotely with the home button. 3rd Party controllers have just started utilizing this functionality with other platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.
Switch from USB Type A connection to USB Type C. I prefer this type of cable and believe the industry will move in this direction. It is beginning to become prominent in gaming technology.
Include a brief document in the packaging explaining the different color notifications/pulses in a way that is more visual than the current instructions. A quick one pager with everything would be great. For example (solid amber is x, blinking amber is y, etc.)
Post more videos online of the disassembly and reassembly of modular components. Initially I was having trouble putting the controller back together. I did a search and found a few videos, but there wasn't as much online as I had thought there would be.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Access your smartphone on the road with this iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic mount. The suction cup and dashboard pad provide stable attachment on consoles or windshields, and rare-earth magnets and a rotating ball joint securely hold your device at flexible angles. This iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic mount supports wireless and wired charging with its metal plates and protective film.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
solid, no shaking !
on June 6, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
I have struggled with windshield or dashboard mounts for smartphones. Most are unstable and shake while driving. The iTap 2 Magnetic Dash Board Mount is SOLID, mounts to either a windshield or comes with a supplied mount pad with adhesive backing for your dashboard. I don't know about you but I really hesitate to apply anything to a dashboard, especially since I lease my vehicles. One thing you do have to do is attach a metal plate to the back of your phone, again this might not be something your are overly comfortable with, but I just sandwich the metal plate between the back of the phone and the case. Easy.
The mount has a super strong magnet and holds a phone of any size, securely. The only thing is the mount is small and does not really extend, so don't expect it to project from your windshield (as it remains close). Overall this is a really good, solid phone mount that is well built. Highly recommended.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Upgrade compatible PC systems with the WD_Black SN750 internal SSD. Read speeds of up to 3,470MB/s offer improved load times, while the M.2 form factor means you can directly plug into the motherboard without extra cabling. Compared to typical 2.5-inch SSDs, this WD_Black SSD fits double the storage density on a single-sided drive, making it suitable for portable builds.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
performance improvement, cloning not for novices
on June 6, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
Already pretty familiar solid state drives (SSD) in a few of my devices, I was eager to upgrade my existing small M.2 NVMe SSD to something with a higher capacity, enough to clone my existing Desktop computer drive to the SSD. This type of clone operation (which copies your current Windows boot drive where the operating system is kept) from a spinning desk yields a drastic performance gain. If you are not comfortable with opening a PC (or laptop) and getting into the innards of a device then this is not a self-installable item. Especially if you want to replace the existing hard drive which contains the operating system (Windows). The Western digital documentation provides a download location for cloning (copying) software, they provide a stripped down version of Acronis which provides the necessary tools to back up your device either by partition or whole drive. Acronis is simple to use, but you do need to have a moderate understanding of disk drives and partitions. Being in IT, I already had a high level of confidence in performing the swap. After my experience though, I highly recommend that you migrate from a smaller capacity drive to a higher capacity SSD. Since my spinning disk was 1TB and the SSD was 500GB I had to rely on Acronis to “smart shrink” each of the partitions. It was able to do this, but each time I wound up with a non bootable SSD, even after changing my system’s BIOS settings to boot off the SSD. I also tried several other software utilities such as Clonezilla and Macrium Reflect none yielded a copy of the OS partition that was able to boot (or in Disk Manager – indicate the partition as bootable). I even shrunk my Operating System to something that would fit on the target SSD without “shrinking a partition” and still no go. At one point I was going to quit the effort and just use the drive as a location for source and output files for video editing. This use case still yields good performance; however it was not quite what I was looking to do. Eventually I gave in and decided to reinstall Windows on the SSD drive (using Windows UEFI recovery) and all was good. The process was a little messy however, on the plus side I did wind up with a desktop computer that had substantially increased performance, which booted to a usable Windows 10 Desktop in 15 seconds. This a drastic improvement over the minute or so it took my spinning disk to boot and load Windows.
I also included some screen shots of disk performance benchmarks from my:
- original 7200 RPM spinning disk which came with the computer
- a lower capacity SSD (from a company that also makes televisions and smartphones) which overall had the best read performance.
- the subject of this review: a WD - Black SN750 NVMe SSD 500GB Internal PCI Express 3.0 x4 (NVMe) Solid State Drive which overall had better write performance.
You will notice a drastic performance improvement in the benchmarks, but not much between the two SSD. Again, if you are a novice, don’t expect to purchase a new SSD and successfully tackle this type of project.
Pros:
- Decent price
- Substantial performance improvement over traditional spinning hard drives
- Best in class SSD performance
- Acronis software is provided (although it has to be downloaded) to help clone or backup your existing drive.
Cons:
- Installation can be tricky
- Downloadable software didn’t really work from a going from a larger spinning disk to a smaller SSD.
- Understanding of cloning, backups and Operating System fundamentals is required (recommend professional installation for non-technical users)
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
0points
2of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Pump up the volume with these Sony wireless on-ear headphones. Advanced drivers produce clear high-fidelity audio, while the EXTRA BASS feature helps you feel the beat by enhancing low-end frequencies. A 30-hour battery life keeps the music coming. With a lightweight construction and soft swiveling earcups, these Sony wireless on-ear headphones keep you comfortable while you listen.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Awesome sounding & comfy
on May 24, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
The Sony WH-XB700 Wireless Headphones are an over ear style model, that successfully isolate you from most outside sounds, although they do not include active noise cancelling. They are very comfortable fitting even with my large ears and head, with swiveling ear cups and padding on the over the head band. They are mostly constructed of plastic, with soft faux leather earcuffs and are lightweight and provide fatigue free listening. As for the sound, they provide clear, deep bass and a wide frequency range. Regardless, if you consume high resolution audio these are the right set of headphones, they provide clear, crisp sound and the low frequencies do not seem to be overly emphasized or artificially enhanced. The tonal quality seems true to the source material. There are several tracks where I heard details layered within the recording that I never was aware of, quite the experience when you listen to familiar material and discover new detail. Since these are high res headphones listening to high bitrate FLAC files takes full advantage of the capabilities. At a minimum I suggest you crank to the max the streaming or download quality of your favorite music service, including a setting that provide maximum dynamic range. The only thing I was disappointed with was the lack of a real storage case, I really am surprised that such a higher end product provides no storage other than a black cardboard box. You can control the sound profiles and fine tune some of the settings using Sony’s mobile app, which provides a good level of functionality and usefulness across their headphone lineup.
Pros:
- Lightweight and very comfortable
- High quality, true to source sound reproduction
- battery life (rated for 30 hours) seems on par with what I experienced.
Cons:​
- charging cable seems to be proprietary, but is similar to a USB-C cable.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
 
Stream from up to 50 feet away with this Aluratek BT5 transmitter. The rechargeable design saves you from having to replace the battery for added convenience. This Aluratek BT5 transmitter features Bluetooth compatibility, so connecting to PCs, TVs, MP3 players and a variety of other devices is quick and simple.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Pretty interesting little device
on May 19, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
I’m used to the standard mobile device to Bluetooth receiver for playing audio from your mobile device or tablet. This is the opposite, use the line out from a device you want to broadcast from to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones. I used this on the output from my Television to listen on my wireless headphones. Essentially put your wireless speaker into connect mode and the transmitter will pick it up. Pairs automatically with two devices and will connect to them automatically from that point on. Only issue I had was my sound bar upstairs in another room tried to pair with the transmitter for some reason, not sure if the sound bar is always in discovery mode or what, something I need to keep an eye on. In any case the audio transmitted from the device sounded clear, with a little background noise. Nothing major but still slightly noticeable. In any case this device comes in handy.
Pros:
- transmit audio from a non Bluetooth device
- comes with a couple of adapters
- sounds decent
Cons:
- instructions and description could better explain its use.
- no switch reversal, thinking this would be better as a dual purpose device, transmitter or receiver.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Top up your phone's battery with this Belkin wireless charging pad. Qi certification ensures compatibility with a large variety of devices, while the 10W transmission charges select phone models nearly twice as quickly. This Belkin wireless charging pad features a silicone grip to quickly stabilize mounted devices and an LED light that indicates improper charging conditions.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
simple and fast
on May 15, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
Please Note: your device has to be "qi wireless charging capable" to use this charger.
I was skeptical of wireless charging, but when my employer gave me an iPhone 8 plus and it became a possibility I figured I would give it a try, glad I did. Since I avoid keeping mobile phones (I carry two) in my pocket, I usually place them on my desk on stands for easy viewing. The Belkin 10W wireless charging pad is perfect to keep my device in a charged state. Placing it on the pad activates the familiar chime as the phone starts to charge. The pad attaches the supplied AC adapter. Do start the charging proces you lay your phone flat on the pad and it charges....wirelessly. My iPhone 8 plus charged from 15% capacity to 85% within an hour, and was fully charged in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I would expect a fully depleted iPhone 8 plus to take about 90 minutes to fully charge. Overall the charging pad is built well, an LED lights up when you place you device on the pad and begins to charge. There is a bit of a placement sweet spot on the pad, which I guess would vary by the device and by what type of case you have your phone in. My fairly thin plastic case worked did not present any problems, however thicker or metal based cases might interfere with charging.
Overall I find the Belkin 10W Wireless Charging Pad to be a great product.
Pros:
- fast wireless charging
- low profile
- easy placement
Cons:
- NONE
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Take and print digital photographs with this Canon IVY Cliq instant camera printer. The 5MP camera captures high-resolution images, while the built-in flash brightens low-light subjects. The microSD slot provides up to 256GB of extra storage space. This Canon IVY Cliq instant camera printer produces photos in less than 50 seconds, letting you share shots quickly.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
gimmicky instant camera
on May 6, 2019
Posted by: Bappy
from Garner, NC
The Canon IVY CLIQ Instant Camera is a gimmicky point and shoot camera that prints each picture you take on Peel & Stick ZINK Photo Paper. The paper costs about fifty cents a 2x3 inch sheet and fits in the camera like a small deck of cards. Taking pictures is pretty easy, actually a bit too easy as the shutter button is way too easy to trigger when handling the camera. I took one accidental picture after loading in the paper. The camera is pretty basic with a fixed lens, an auto flash and a selfie mirror on the front. With this basic model, there is no way to take a picture, preview and then print. Press the shutter button and you print (along with saving the image to a micro SD card). As for the prints, they are fairly basic and look like a bit flat color wise. Given the quality (or lack of) the prints and small size (don’t expect 70/80’s era instant prints) I can’t really recommend the camera. My teen children did think instant prints were pretty cool though, especially with the sticky backing for placement on a surface.
Pros:
- Instant prints
- Camera looks cool
- SD card for storing images you took
Cons:
- Small, unremarkable instant prints
- No preview, click the shutter you get a print
- No control over flash, exposure or much else
- Takes about 25 prints per charge
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
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Bappy's Review Comments
 
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Bappy's Answers
<< 1 2
 
Capture and share special moments with Google Clips. Engineered to recognize faces and expressions, this clever camera automatically takes several-second-long audio-free motion photos, leaving you free to focus on the occasion. Enhanced with Super Res mode, the Google Clips device syncs data with your phone and lets you save any frame as a high-resolution still photo.
 

can you record movies? quality? audio?

quality is OK, although often motion blurred. No audio.
6 years ago
by
Bappy
 
Automatically go from hundreds of mystery folders to a visual view in the photo and video Organizer. See your best photos thanks to auto-curation. Effortlessly extract candid photos from your raw footage. Make photos and videos look amazing with automated photo editing and video creation options. And create and share beautiful printed artwork, new dynamic slideshows, photo and video collages, animated GIFs*, and full-length movies. Being creative is even easier with the Elements bundle.
 

Will this be a CD software or an internet download version?

DVD media was included in my package, however my computer doesn't have a DVD drive so I had to goto Adobe's site to download the installations
6 years, 6 months ago
by
Bappy
 
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
 

does it have bluetooth

yes, streams music to bluetooth speakers and headphones with ease
8 years, 1 month ago
by
Bappy
 
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
 

can i download skype

yes, it have a front facing camera for use with Skype, Facebook and other messaging apps
8 years, 1 month ago
by
Bappy