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    October 8, 2014
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    October 22, 2023
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    November 7, 2014
  • Last answer
    April 23, 2021
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InsaneDiego's Reviews
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Nugget Ice. Pellet ice. Drive-in ice. Whatever you call it, you know it's "the good ice." Now that chewable ice is available from the convenience of your countertop with the Opal 1.0 Ice Maker with side tank. It is capable of producing up to 34 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and stores up to 3 lbs. of ice at one time. The Opal 1.0 Ice Maker comes with the side tank attachment for 3x more ice production.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
We love nugget ice
on October 22, 2023
Posted by: InsaneDiego
We love it with one or two minor exceptions. It's just a little too high for our kitchen as shown in the attached images. I believe it is about 17" high and our cabinets are around 15 1/2". We have it currently in front of the cabinets but the door just ever so slightly touches the unit. Which brings me to the second exception. I didn't realize how heavy this unit is. It is 30+ pounds. It's a beast. It makes it a little less portable. What I'm saying is that if they made this 2-3" shorter and maybe 10 pounds lighter, mwah!
When I picked up the Opal 1.0 ice maker I had done a fair amount of research on ice makers. The problem is that the research was done on the less expensive ice makers, the ones that make the cubes. All I kept reading about was how nugget ice is what you ultimately strive for. I knew nothing about nugget ice though as I wasn't prepared to spend the extra dollars on the ice maker. Now that I have a nugget ice maker I can understand why everyone says it is top of the line. You load up a cup with nugget ice, pour your warm drink over it a viola, in seconds you have an ice cold drink. As you drink the ice swirls around in the cup making fun sounds. You end up getting a few nuggets in your mouth and they are little gifts of fun to munch on. They are solid pieces but not rock solid so easy on the teeth. The best part is that the ice doesn't melt very fast. I don't know what the science is behind it but it hangs in there really nice.
As I said earlier, I did research on regular cube ice makers and one of the selling points is that they make ice in minutes. I believe the advertising for this unit says it starts making ice in 12 minutes. Well, that is sort of true. First, you would want to use cold water to try and hit that mark, otherwise it is more like 15 minutes. Second is how it makes the ice. It doesn't make a tray at a time. You won't have a full glass of ice in 15 minutes. It makes them one or two nuggets at a time. What this means is that it really is more like a cup of ice takes about 30 minutes to generate.
The bin where the ice is generated is not cooled. The Opal 1.0 is not an ice storage unit. You will either want to make the ice and use it very soon or take it out and freeze it. It will tend to clump a bit when you put it in the freezer but it breaks apart nicely in your cup once you pour your liquid on it. We find ourselves running the unit for a few hours to make a nice bag or two of ice and then turn it off. Since the bin holding the ice isn't refrigerated you might ask, what happens when it melts? GE thought of that and it just melts back into the pool of water to make the ice!
While running, the unit is pretty quiet. I would say it is on par with a quiet dishwasher. There is a little hum. Once you leave the kitchen, you don't here it. Using it is super simple too. Pour your water into the giant bin at the front of the unit and press Start. When the water level gets too low, a light comes on the ask for more water. Once it gets beyond a certain point, the unit turns off.
All in all, this is a solid unit. The ice is fantastic, it's easy to use, it's quiet, and the whole family loves the results. I just wish it was a touch smaller and lighter.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Get hands-on cleaning control and hands-off debris removal with the All-in-One Tower that keeps your LG stick vacuum clean, charged and ready to go—automatically. Two quick release batteries and Kompressor technology combine for uninterrupted cleaning power, with multiple tools for cleaning all kinds of surfaces, both high and low. Done for the day? Return the vac to the tower to recharge, store tools neatly out of sight and let Auto Empty clean out the dust bin for you. Your hands, floor and air stay clean and your CordZero vac is ready to go when you need it next.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A quiet powerhouse
on May 24, 2023
Posted by: InsaneDiego
My first concern when getting the LG CordZero vacuum was the size of the base station. The concern was real (mostly). The base station, where you hang the vacuum to charge is rather large. Not a lot larger than a full-size vacuum to be fair. Unlike a vacuum though, you have to plug it in, it has to have a couple of inches clearance behind it and about 8 inches of clearance on each side to open the attachment doors. If that wasn't enough, they recommend for it to not be placed on carpet because it might fall over. Now I don't have any hard floors near an outlet so I've put it on my low level carpet and it's fine. Just be aware that this is not recommended. One other item of note is that wherever you place the base station it is designed to not move around a lot. The station is heavy, about 25lbs. Pick a spot and leave it there. I've opened my review with this downer information because it may be a deal-breaker for you.
I have had a variety of vacuums and it seems like anything made in this century is good so I didn't know why this would be any different. Here comes the laundry list of why it's different.
This is my first cordless vacuum and I have to say, I'm immediately hooked. I can go anyplace in the house without being tethered and it feels good.
Once you feel the freedom of no cord, you realize this vacuum isn't loud. Other than a little high pitched shreaking noise that doesn't seem to go away, it is amazingly quiet. To be specific, I registered it at 70db. If I went to the other side of a wall it was only 55db. I could watch TV while someone else was vacuuming the house. Compare that to a cyclone type vacuum that runs about 90db.
I'm free to move about and I'm not killing my ears. The next cool thing is its suction. It's like magic. It had no problem picking up everything on my carpet. I have several additional floor rugs in the carpeted and uncarpeted locations in the house. The suction is so gentle that I can run the vacuum over the carpets without them getting sucked up and bent out of shape. Yet it picks up the dirt and dust. Magic!
Now we get to the reason that we got this vacuum. We are old school folks and my wife hates the dust bins in all the vacuums. Opening it up to empty means getting a trash bag, putting the device inside and letting it drain so the dust cloud stays in the bag, not the air. The base station of the LG CordZero will automatically suck the contents of the cannister into a bag. No airborne particles to worry about. It is so cool! Yes, we'll have on-going maintenance costs to keep buying bags but for us its worth it.
The battery life is good if you run it in normal mode. They estimate 40 minutes or so. It comes with 2 batteries so you'll always have a backup. If you run it in Turbo mode then it will drain in about 6 minutes. I haven't had to put it in Turbo for normal vacuuming but I did have to do it to cut my hair (I have a vacuum based hair cutting device).
Because of it's small size (height) , you can get underneath a bed. Something only the robot vacuums could do.
Also because of its small size, it doesn't generate a lot of heat in the exhaust.
The attachments that come with the unit are sufficient but I wish it included a flexible hose. The attachments are all about a foot long or so. That means you have to hold the base unit where you want to use it. The base unit is pretty small so its easy'ish to hold but it would be nicer to have a flexible hose so I could set it down while dusting and such. You can purchase the hose separately though.
Speaking of attachments, that brings me to something that bothers me a lot in the base station. The doors don't open all the way, 90 degrees. They open about 70 degrees so it makes it a bit odd to get to the attachments that are stored in the base. I'm looking at the hinges and unless those doors snap open, they don't feel right. Until I see that this is true, I'm not pushing my luck and having them snap off.
In the end, the LG CordZero turns out to be quite a different vacuum. The pros way outweigh cons. My cyclone cleaner may be gifted to a friend. This vacuum is light, quiet, picks up the dirt, doesn't heat the room when doing hand vacuuming, and is gentle at the same time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
DJI Action 2 isn't just ultra-versatile, it's also our most powerful action camera yet. The innovative magnetic design lets you effortlessly swap out accessories as you capture life on the go. From parkour to park walks, break the mold with DJI Action 2. DJI Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo includes a Camera Unit, Front Touchscreen Module, Magnetic Lanyard, Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount, Magnetic Adapter Mount, and a power cable. This combo offers dual touchscreens and magnetic versatility for diverse shotting scenarios.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Mixed Emotions
on November 14, 2021
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
I have mixed emotions with the Action 2. I want to like it but it keeps falling over itself. I'll start with my biggest gripe. They want you to use the camera by itself. If they didn't then why make it standalone, with memory built-in. It is extremely small and light. Also it's completely waterproof when it is just the camera AND it also has a screen. It all sounds too good. Depending on the situation, it is good. Very good. That's where I start to have my issue with it. It is an action camera. Action means riding a bike, skateboarding, skiing, etc. I attached the Action 2 to my chest mount and went for a ride. The built-in memory is good for about 25 minutes of footage. That lasted me about 40 minutes of real-time riding. Then the memory and pretty much the battery was exhausted. Sure I can tack on the power module or front screen module. I can copy the footage off the camera onto an SD card. To do that though, I'm not riding any longer. I'm now changing my behavior due to my device. Now I can also simply attach the front screen or power module to the camera and ride. Then I have tons of memory and about 1 1/2 hours of battery life. When I use it like that, I've lost one of its major features, its size. I've attached a picture to show the difference in its orientation vs. my other action camera. Again, mixed emotions.
Let's go through what I do like about the Action 2. It's small and light. You can wear the lanyard, attach it to your torso and get some really cool 1st person footage. You can't even tell you are wearing it, it's so light. The voice control works very nice and the commands are very simple. When doing action sports, being hands-free is a big plus. The footage is nice. Good color. I did have to set the EV to -0.3. When doing vlogging of myself, the sun blew out my face in several spots. Kicking down the EV just a touch helped a lot. The ability to do 4k @ 120fps is awesome. If you aren't into video editing, the Slow Motion mode is very cool. It will record in 4k also and do the slow-motion rendering for you automatically. Using a button while recording you can toggle between normal speed and slow motion for some really cool effects. Photos come out nice as well. I use another product that allows me to use my action camera with magnetic mounts. The Action 2 stepped it up a notch though with its locking mechanism. I have had my other camera jar loose from the magnetic mount and that is never fun. With the locking mechanism, I don't see that occurring. The Ultra Wide angle is very wide. Things get distorted around the edges a bit but for doing MTB videos, its exactly what you want so you can the handlebars shaking all over with the road ahead. I found the RockSteady stabilization to work well as long as there is enough light. The sound is good too. It was almost like I was wearing a microphone. I could keep listing more items. The point is, the camera and system are good in the right scenarios.
Then there are the things I didn't like. Overheating. I've had it shut down twice due to overheating. DJI explains in their manual or literature, paraphrasing, "it's a small device in aluminum and it will get hot". Yep, sure does. It probably takes either about 20 minutes of mostly shooting to get it to occur, or constantly using it for a couple of hours, shooting, uploading videos, going back out, and shooting. The good news is, it does cool pretty rapidly. It's just something that I've never seen to this level in an action camera. Next up is the Mimo app. It doesn't work for me. After checking with DJI, my $700 Motorola phone that I bought last month, that has been out for only 2 months, and runs Android 11, just can't cut it. That was disappointing. I've already discussed the insufficient battery life/memory when just using the camera. It's an action camera and when you go and do action sports, chances are pretty good that you aren't just doing them for 15-30 minutes. You are out for 1, 2, 4, 8 hours. Therefore, you really need to use the camera with the power module. In that configuration, it is still smaller than the competition but not by too much. The HorizonSteady is awesome. Absolutely brilliant. The problem is, you have to be in 2.7k mode and it super zoomed in. Probably half as wide as the ultra wide mode. I don't know what kind of activity I'd be doing to warrant that narrow FOV and most importantly, the reduction in resolution. I shoot exclusively in 4k now. One final biggie is the camera glass. It's huge...and completely unprotected. I do not engage in radical sports. I ride a street and mountain bike and I'm not that daring. In the last 4 years, I've had to replace two screens on my action camera. Once due to a fall, once due to the 3rd party magnetic mount failing. $20 later I was up and running again because I could buy a new lens glass. The Action 2 will require that you send it in to DJI. You better take the DJI Care refresh insurance. Just one fall and it will be worth it.
In conclusion, the camera definitely has a place in my arsenal for some situations. I will need to see if this works in my mountain biking activities. I definitely need the power module attached. It's really nice to easily pull the camera off my chest and do some vlogging. The big, unprotected, non-user-replaceable lens glass is scary.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Finally. A robot vacuum you can rely on to get the job done. The Roomba j7 robot vacuum packs 10x the power-lifting suction and comes with unique intelligence to avoid cords and pet waste. It even understands times when you’re home and seasons when more cleaning may be needed. Compared to the Roomba 600 series cleaning system.
 
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Customer Rating
1 out of 5
1
Tearing up my carpet
on October 26, 2021
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
I was very excited to get my Roomba j7 with its room mapping ability. The problem is, it's chewing up my carpet as shown by the images attached. My carpet is probably at least 10 years old but I've never had an issue with another manufacturer's robot vacuum nor with many different models of push vacuums. Given that it's chewing up my carpet after only 4 uses, it's only going to get worse. The problem is probably a combination of factors. Older carpet, huge suction from the vacuum, and the fact that vacuum uses two rubber rollers. It seems to be pinching my carpet. It only happens in its turnaround spots. When it turns around, the rollers are still spinning and it's basically twisting the fibers out. So this is a no go.
What I will say however is that the auto-sensing technology is amazing. It mapped my house perfectly. I laid down no vacuum zones and the Roomba did avoid them. It took 3 mappings to create the final working map. The app worked pretty well. Setting the no vacuum zones was pretty easy. You lay out a rectangle where you don't want it to go. It was a bit too sensitive though and the box moved by itself as you were dragging it so it took a bit of trial and error to get it to be in exactly the right spot. I've attached a picture of a little rug in one of the rooms that I marked as don't clean there.
I hooked it up to Alexa and that worked well too. But, the Roomba is very dependant on technology to do its magic. If you don't have the app on your phone or Alexa, basically you just tell it to go and it will do the whole house. If you don't like using your phone as a computer, this is not the vacuum for you. You'd be losing a lot of functionality.
So, it did what it was supposed to but in my case, it's tearing up my carpet so I can't recommend it.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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0points
2of 4voted this as helpful.
 
The Ninja CREAMi transforms frozen solid bases into ice cream, sorbets, milkshakes, and more at the touch of a button. From healthy to indulgent, the Ninja CREAMi can create frozen treats as unique as you are!
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best Ninja Product Ever
on July 13, 2021
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
Let me start by saying I never knew making Ice Cream and Fruit Sorbets at home could be so fun and so Delicious!
As soon as my Ninja Creami was delivered I opened it up and began reading the instruction booklet because it was hot out and we wanted Ice Cream!
The packaging was well constructed and the mixing Paddle had a nice wrap of cardboard around it so that it was easy to handle. Three one pint mixing containers with lids are included as well as the Handled Mixing bowl that holds the one pint containers for mixing.
There is an abundance of Delicious Recipes to get you started so I started notating the items I already have at home and then listed what I needed from the store to get mixing.
Once I returned home from shopping I started creating. The recipes in the booklet all require the mixtures to freeze for 24 hours so I started with making 2 base flavors of Ice Cream using the ingredients listed in the recipes. Strawberry and Vanilla. I found the use of Cream Cheese in the Vanilla intriguing. The recipes are easy to read and follow. Once the Vanilla and Strawberry were mixed and in the freezer I used some store-bought Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream to experiment with for the Mix-In setting.
The Items I used to Mix-Into store-bought Vanilla Ice Cream: Mini Brownies, Soft Peanut Butter Cookies with Peanut Butter Chips, Swiss Mocha Instant Coffee, and Mini Chocolate Chips. I mixed each of these items in separate batches.
I followed the instructions for putting the one pint container into the Outer Mixing Bowl then placing it on the unit and locking it into place. The panel display lit up and was VERY easy to see and READ. I selected the Mix-In button and moments later the Ice Cream was mixed. I pushed the release button spun the Handled Bowl back down, removed the Mixing lid, and had beautiful creamy Mixed Ice Cream!
I do have to say that getting the paddle off after making a mixture is a little tricky but I learned to release it onto a plastic lid so as not to get ice cream on everything or drop the paddle because it's so cold or slippery depending on how long I let it set out on the counter.
The Brownie was thoroughly mixed into the Ice Cream. The Peanut Butter Cookies were thoroughly mixed into the Ice Cream with the Peanut Butter Chips remaining whole. The Instant Coffee blended evenly all the way through and the Mini Chocolate Chip batch was well mixed as well leaving the chips intact. Both the Brownie and Peanut Butter Cookie batches were very creamy. I was thrilled with all 4 mixtures.
I then made the Lemon Sorbet Mixture and put it into the one pint container so that it could freeze.
The next day we tried the Vanilla and Strawberry Mixes. My freezer is set at 0 degrees so I first used the Ice Cream Setting and then used the Re-Spin setting to get them creamy. Both flavors tasted really good But we found that using the Heavy Cream in the recipe left an after coating in our mouths. (So I noted that and just used the milk and a little more cream cheese when I redid the recipes a few days later...Oh Yes much better! Loved them both!)
Next to try was the Lemon Sorbet. The one pint containers are clear so I could see the nicely frozen lemon mixture. The Sorbet button was selected and this time was really fun to watch because I could see the progress of the paddle as it went down and back up. Truth be told I love Lemons and this was just so tasty and fun for me, I will have Lemon Sorbet in my freezer from now on!
The next adventure was to make a Fruit Sorbet from a can of fruit. I was truly skeptical but my Granddaughter loves fruit cups so I had to give it a try. I made a Mixed Fruit Cocktail Sorbet and a Pineapple Sorbet. I let her help me after they were frozen and she loved seeing the pictures on the buttons and really liked seeing the fruit get mixed. She really enjoyed the fruit cocktail one she said it was yummy. I had to laugh though when she tried the pineapple because she stuck her fingers into the pint container and wouldn't let me put it in bowl. She just kept eating it out of the container! I really enjoyed eating it too!
I also created a layered mixture of fresh Banana, Vanilla Yogurt, and Strawberries. Again my Granddaughter helped and again she was thrilled. This is her favorite Ninja Product by far.
So in summary, I love my Ninja Creami! Everyone who was at my house this weekend that tried a creation ate it all and made a request for more. There are now several suggested flavors for their next visit. Awesome Product. I highly recommend it.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+18points
18of 18voted this as helpful.
 
Hover-1 Alpha-Pro Electric Folding Scooter
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Fun for kicking around & running local errands
on April 23, 2021
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
I really enjoy the Alpha-Pro scooter. As a big guy, 6' 1" and 235 lbs, it's a bit difficult to find a scooter that is rated past 220 lbs. The Alpha-Pro is rated for 264 lbs. Even with me getting close to the maximum weight, I find the scooter very nimble when using it on flat ground. I have no problem getting it up to its 18 mph max speed. When it comes to inclines, it's not much of a problem there either. On a slight incline, the speed will drop to maybe around 15 mph. When I get to the subtle climbs, maybe 5% grade or so, the speed will drop to 9-11 mph. That sure beats walking! Once I hit an incline of close to 10%, it needs some help. I'm going to have to lean forward, give it a little foot kick on the ground and chug up the hill at maybe 4 mph. Thankfully, you don't find too many inclines that steep too often.
The Alpha-Pro uses 10" air-filled tires. I can't speak as to how easy or hard it is to blow them up, but it definitely makes for a smoother ride than the 6 or 8" hard tires on some of the less expensive models. Even at my height, I find that the handlebars are in a comfortable position. I also very, very much love the wide platform to stand on. I have plenty of space to position my feet how I want them. The brakes though, that's a bit of a different feeling. The Alpha-Pro has a rear disc brake and it's not anything like my mountain bike (mechanical) rear brake in terms of stopping power. It is pretty weak and if you needed to stop quickly, I feel like you may be headed for trouble. Either that or maybe I'm not squeezing it to its max. For me, the key is to ride under control and try to anticipate when I might need to stop so I can slow down a bit to avoid having to try and hit the brakes hard.
The Alpha-Pro is range rated for up to 17 miles. As a bigger guy, I'm definitely not getting that. Riding continuously from point A to B with some small inclines, I'm getting about 10-11 miles. That brings up an interesting point though. Once you get past the 8-mile mark or so, the scooter gets a little strange. If I perform a complete stop, instead of going back to 15-18 mph, it will only go about 6 mph. I still have well over 20% of the battery showing. If I turn off the scooter and then turn it back on, bam, I'm back to normal speed. So it seems there is some kind of internal protection going on. This brings me back to my range test. I'm riding almost non-stop for 45+ minutes. I'm wondering if I could squeeze out another 1-3 miles if I had some interim stops where the scooter would cool down for 10-15 minutes in between. If you weigh less than 200 lbs though, I'm sure you'll come close to the advertised 17-mile range.
The scooter is pretty heavy. Something like 30 lbs or so. That being said, it's lighter than my 45 lb bike! When I go to the store, I fold down the handlebars and throw the scooter in a shopping cart so I don't have to leave it unattended. It's a bit of a tight squeeze but it fits. Because it's 30+ lbs, you do have to have a little bit of muscle to get it in the cart, so beware of that.
In terms of features, it's pretty stripped down. There is a front headlight and it works pretty well. The only real issue is that the brake wires are in front of the light so it takes just a little bit of light away. The Bluetooth speaker is a bit gimmicky. It definitely works with my iPod (yes, I still use an iPod). You aren't going to turn many heads though thinking you have some awesome sound system. The running lights are a nice touch if you ride at night or at dusk. The display for the scooter is bare bones. 5 lights representing your battery life left and it tells you your current speed. No odometer on it. :( Last but not least is the cruise control. Once you get the knack of doing a double-tap on the throttle to engage it, you just hold on to the handlebar grips and enjoy the ride. No sore thumb!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
DJI Mini 2 is beginner-friendly, powerful, and well, mini. Impressive performance, stunning image quality, and creative videos are just a few taps away. Explore an entirely new perspective, capturing the moments that make your life truly yours.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Tiny Powerhouse
on November 15, 2020
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
I'm reminded of a slogan, "you've come a long way baby". My current drone is the Phantom 3 and the new Mini 2 is way way beyond that in just 4-5 short years. It's so tiny it fits in the palm of your hand. And lite too! That low weight comes into play when you look at the FAA regulations. You won't need to register the drone because it falls under the 250g weight limit. Just because it's tiny doesn't mean it can't fly though. I took it out in some windy conditions, probably 15-20mph, and while it swayed a little while hovering, it was very responsive when flying and you wouldn't know by looking at the video it was that windy until you saw the trees rocking.
Speaking of flying, the new Fly App was easy to use. You get a quick, interactive, guided tour of the interface when you go to fly the first time. You will actually be flying the Mini 2 within a couple of minutes as it has you take off, do a few quick maneuvers, and land. The app is so user friendly, you just push a button and the Mini 2 will take off and hover in front of you, and when it's time to land, press the button again and it will return back to where you started and automatically land (some caveats apply).
Continuing on the flying aspect, the Mini 2 now connects to the controller via OccuSync 2.0. This means you can theoretically fly with a good connection for miles. The FAA requires you to maintain Line of Sight to the drone so you will have a hard time seeing it that far away but if you are flying within 1/2 mile you can easily see the drone and feel confident in the connection. That alone makes flying a dream.
Once you've taken off, you can get beautiful 4k footage of your flight if you want to use the highest resolution. As the commercials say, "and that's not all!". You can actually zoom the camera! Ya, zoom. You can zoom up to double when shooting in 4k. The video quality will suffer a little but if the light is good, it's very useable. If you drop down into regular HD mode, 1920 x 1080, then you can zoom up to double and lose no resolution. It's crazy. And if you really need more zoom, you can go up to 4x in that HD mode. Just like the 4k zoom, once you go past 2x, you will start to lose video quality.
If you like to shoot pictures as I do, the Mini 2 has you covered. It will shoot 12mp images that look really nice. What's more, if you like to do your own customization on the images, it allows you to shoot in Raw mode to produce a DNG file. That was reserved for only Pro-level equipment last year. The Mini 2 has more than just a single picture mode. It will shoot HDR images by taking 3 differently exposed images in AEB mode (you will need to combine them manually though). It takes panoramic images. A full 360-degree images as well as a 180-degree image. It shoots that in Raw mode also. You can grab the files from the SD Card and stitch them yourself.
You've undoubtedly seen some interesting footage over the years where the video circles an object, or shoots up in the sky. Quickshots mode handles all that camera and drone movement for you to get the same cool video.
Let's talk about flying time. The Fly More Combo comes with 3 batteries and that cannot be understated at how important that is. Realistically you get about 25-28 minutes of flight time per battery before you get into an area where you will need to land the craft safely. You won't believe how quickly those 25 minutes are. Having a couple of extra batteries allows you to fly for a long time and position yourself to get the shots you want without having to rush. You also get a 3 hub battery charger which makes charging the batteries very easy. It won't charge all 3 at once, unfortunately, but you won't have to worry that forgot to unplug one before charging the next.
If the batteries aren't enough in the Combo, it comes with a very cool carry case for the Mini 2, controller, batteries, and accessories. Again, you're going to buy a bag anyway so you might as well save money and get it in the Combo Pack. It also comes with a few sets of propellers. Eventually, they will need to be changed due to normal wear our you scraping it on something, and they are basically freebies in the Combo pack so again, why not!
If you've been looking for a camera drone that is packed with high-end features and a great price then the Mini 2 Fly More Combo is amazing.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
19of 30voted this as helpful.
 
Record captivating vlogs and take brilliant photos with this black GoPro HERO9 camera. The high-quality CMOS sensor captures 5K video and up to 20.0MP images for stunning clarity, and support for a microSD card offers customizable storage space. This water-resistant GoPro HERO9 camera allows for use at the beach or pool.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Front Camera is awesome
on October 5, 2020
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
I own a GoPro 7 and 8. When I saw the promo trailer for the Hero 9, I was stoked. After using the Hero 9 for a few days, my expectations have been reeled back. That doesn't mean it's not a good camera. It means that many of the changes they made don't seem to fit what I use. So let's get into the good and the bad.
------------
Let's start with some of the pluses.
The Hero 9 has definitely upped its game on the Photo front. We now have a 20mp image vs. 12mp. I can definitely use this and it's one of the best parts of the camera for me.
The next biggest plus is the front-facing screen. I do a lot of bike vlogging. The screen absolutely helps because I can see exactly what I'm shooting vs. guessing.
Next is going to be the replaceable lens. The 7 had it, the 8 didn't. I had to replace the lens on the 7 after a mishap so I've very happy it's back.
They say battery life is 30% longer. That's pretty reasonable. That means instead of 1 hour of recording I can get about 1 1/4 hours. I did set my brightness down from the default of 75% or so to 66% to help out. I did this because most of my filming doesn't require me to actually frame my video. It's either on my chest or on my bike. In either case, it captures what it captures, no need to look at the screen.
The bigger rear screen. I don't look at my rear screen all that much as I've mentioned. I didn't really think much about it until I was using my Hero 8. That's when I realized, dang, this screen is a lot bigger!
I'm going to put this in the plus list because it has been a game changer since Hero 7, and that's Hypersmooth. I can't see that it works better in the Hero 9 for what I do, but it doesn't work any worse. Hypersmooth IS the reason I finally got on the GoPro bandwagon. It is the single best feature of the camera. Without Hypersmooth, I would not shoot near as much video as I do.
Hindsight. This is mostly a plus. What I don't know at this time is what the battery cost is. I've tried it out though and it works! You can choose to have it set to invisibly record 15 or 30 seconds in a loop. Once you actually hit the record button, it records it to the memory card and continues recording like always. The only downside (besides possible battery drain) is that the recording beep is audible in the video. That's a shame depending on what you are recording. So remember, if you don't want the beep, turn it off.
Enhanced TimeWarp. Yes! When I'm riding my road bike, sometimes I mostly just want to record the journey. Nobody wants to sit through an hour of bike riding though. I turn on TimeWarp. Ultimately though, I want to say something or highlight some cool part of town. The enhanced TimeWarp lets me drop into real-time mode, show off that landscape or do some vlogging, then immediately resume the TimeWarp. This feature works as advertised.
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Now on to some stuff that didn't wow me.
5k. Ya. Was I excited about this feature? Eh...maybe. The promo makes it look so good. I wouldn't say it looked bad, but there were two things I took issue with. First and foremost, it simply didn't wow me. I have a 32" 4k monitor to edit with and it didn't really look anything different than the 4k video. Now I may be able to crop the image to 4k and that will be nice but I haven't yet gone down that road. The second item was the lack of Superview in 5k mode. When I'm filming on my mountain bike using the chest mount, I use Superview to get all of my handlebars in the image. Wide view comes close but not like Superview. That would be the biggest reason I wouldn't use 5k. If you depend, require or adore Superview, just know that 5k won't support it.
Horizon Leveling (HL). This feature could be a game changer. I LOVE using my GoPro Max because I always get a level horizon. I just stick the camera out and boom. Does HL work? Ya, it seems to. The issue is once again where you can use it. It only works when you are in Linear mode. That's two steps narrower than Superview. Once again, if you depend, require, or adore Superview or Wide mode, just know that HL won't support it.
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Finally, the minuses.
First stop would be the battery. It's physically larger. All the chargers and batteries from the previous generation are useless. Gotta get new ones. Sigh. Not a deal breaker but just know you will have to get some new ones.
I think that's it for the minuses. Nice short list.
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Some things that might be an issue.
The rear touchscreen. I'm not sure what to make of this yet. Sometimes it seems like it's ultra sensitive and I've literally changed settings by trying to scroll, and other times I'm touching and touching and nothing is responding.
------------
Summary
Can one really have too many cameras? It's a rhetorical question! Seriously though now. If I didn't have other cameras then this is definitely a must buy. It's as good as any previous version and adds a lot of new features. I personally won't use some of them which is what makes the next question interesting. Should you buy it if you have a previous version? That's going to be up to you. Ya, I know, helpful. You can see my plus list of the features I use. If one or more of them are worth the price that yes, it's worth upgrading. And if one of the new features I didn't review, Scheduled recording, Duration, LiveBurst, or Streaming.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+39points
49of 59voted this as helpful.
 
Experience a new level of flexibility when it comes to your home security. With 1080p HD resolution, a wide 115° diagonal field of view and a flexible camera head that can bend up to 90°, you can rest assure you will not miss any detail. The compact light weight design and magnetic base provides a variety of placement options, while the included mounting kit allows for ceiling or wall installation. Only get the most important notifications with Person Detection technology. Keep your footage private with no monthly fee local storage. Experience a new level of confidence in your security with a camera that is designed to protect what matters most.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Cool Indoor Camera
on August 10, 2020
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
We wanted a security camera to monitor our granddaughter when she goes down for a nap or when she is spending the night. This Lorex camera totally fits the bill. The image quality is very nice and the camera is definitely on the affordable side. If you have the camera configured to record, the footage is not stored in the cloud. It's stored on a memory card in the camera. Lorex was kind enough to include a memory card with the camera, which seems almost unheard of these days. The card is on the small side, 16Gb, but that still allows around a day of continuous recording! You access the camera through their mobile app. You cannot access the camera through your computer aka website or otherwise. You have to be able to install an iOS or Android app. Lorex also does not make an iPad app. It's an iPhone app. Not having an iPad specific app a bit disappointing.
Everything you want to do with the camera is done through the app. The camera is very simple to set up. Plug it in, install the app, and give it access to your local WiFi network. Once you do that, you'll be able to access the camera inside or outside your home. The app itself is pretty comprehensive but slightly complex and confusing to start with. There is no real help within the app. You have to go to the Lorex website to download a manual. The manual does a decent job of explaining things but it didn't match up 100% of what is in the app. Once you play with the app for an hour or two, you begin to understand how to find the various things you want to do. It's beyond the scope of this review to go into too much detail but I will give Lorex kudos for trying to make it semi-automatic to view the recorded footage.
The configuration of the camera allows you to set recording schedules, motion detection, motion zones, and sound detection. Because the camera is plugged into an outlet, the camera is always on (but only recording if you want it to). Unlike a battery-powered camera, you can watch the camera without worrying about killing the battery. Speaking of which, the camera does integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. I hooked it up to my Echo Show and it's as easy as saying, "show me my bedroom camera" and I'm watching the camera live.
I also put the camera in a window pane to look outside. It worked great for that. At least during the daytime. I didn't try it at night. I think the infrared won't work because it will reflect off the glass. If you're looking for an outside camera though just for viewing and can't or don't want to put one outside, it's an option. The motion detection was kind of hit and miss though so think of it more as a webcam.
At this price point, I'm very happy with what the camera and software have to offer. It's certainly more than 50% cheaper than my set of battery-powered cameras I use on the outside of the house and I don't have to have an online plan!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Get a smooth shave at home with this cordless Philips Norelco electric shaver. The anti-slip grip provides a secure hold for accurate cuts, while AquaTec technology allows both dry and wet shaves to suit your needs. This Philips Norelco electric shaver features dual precision heads for even results at different lengths.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great value
on June 22, 2020
Posted by: InsaneDiego
from San Diego
The new Norelco AT811 shaver is a very affordable shaver and it does a good job. I have had many different electric shavers in my life, from cheap to very expensive. This shaver is on the less expensive side and I think it brings great value with it. I didn't get a razor clean shave with it but visually the shave was very good. The shaver was very quiet and had a nice glide over my face. I used it dry and also in the shower with my shaving gel. If you put on some shaving gel, it's like skating on ice, very smooth. Clean up was a breeze too. Just run it under some hot water and let it dry. In addition to the shaver, it comes with a Precision Trimmer. I found that it also did a good job. It allowed me to trim my sideburns and my mustache around my lips. It did not actually shave my mustache, however. So I still need another tool for that. The shaver fits very well in my hands. Nice a grippy with curves in the right places. Overall, I was very pleasantly surprised that I could get a shave this good with a shaver this inexpensive.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
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InsaneDiego's Answers
 
Hover-1 Alpha-Pro Electric Folding Scooter
 

How is this different from the hover-1 Alpha?

Virtually identical. 17 mile range vs. 12 and a 2A charger vs. 1.5A. Everything else is the same.
2 years, 11 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
DJI Mini 2 is beginner-friendly, powerful, and well, mini. Impressive performance, stunning image quality, and creative videos are just a few taps away. Explore an entirely new perspective, capturing the moments that make your life truly yours.
 

Does the mini 2 have a “follow me”feature?

No. You need something like the Air 2 for that feature
3 years, 4 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
DJI Mini 2 is beginner-friendly, powerful, and well, mini. Impressive performance, stunning image quality, and creative videos are just a few taps away. Explore an entirely new perspective, capturing the moments that make your life truly yours.
 

does this drone have the the ability to return to the controller?

Yes, it's called Return to Home (RTH)
3 years, 4 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Ninja Foodi's TenderCrisp pressure cooker allows you to achieve all the quick cooking and tenderizing wonders that you love about pressure cookers. The Foodi's Crisping Lid allows you to air fry, bake/roast, and broil. That means you can give your tender, juicy pressure-cooked meals a golden, crispy finish. The secret is TenderCrisp Technology, which produces the perfect combination of heat, fan velocity, and air circulation to give your food even crisping from top to bottom.
 

Most stores are offering Model OP302. Best buy is offer model OP301. What is the difference? Are the pot mitts included?

Mitts were not included with mine and I think the other difference is that the 301 doesn't have the dehydrate feature.
5 years, 5 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Focus in and take amazing photos with this Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto lens. The incredible zoom range is ideal for shooting detailed closeups from a distance, and AF-P focusing is super quiet for shooting video or shots of wildlife. This Nikkor 70-300mm telephoto lens is compact, lightweight and compatible with a range of Nikon cameras.
 

will this work on my D750

Absolutely. It's stellar! Don't hesitate. Really nice lens and it's light too.
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6 years, 1 month ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Showcase your next vacation with incredible videos shot with this Sony action cam. The Balanced Optical SteadyShot feature keeps your shots smooth and the super-fast BIONZ X image processor captures action up to 4K at 100 Mbps. This Sony action cam includes Exmor R CMOS sensor to ensure dim shots are full of light.
 

I review small hardware for vendors and manufacturers for vaping. When reviewing a tank, I need to get up close to take a closer look at the details, instructions, etc. Will t his camera do that? The size of the camera and performance seems adequate.

The closest you an get is about 12-14" and it's wide angle. I'm not sure this fits the bill. You'd probably be better off simply using your phone camera for this.
6 years, 9 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
 

Does the Google Home have an Aux audio output jack? Does it support audio output via Bluetooth or do I have to buy a Chromecast in order to get audio out of the Google Home?

It is NOT a Bluetooth speaker. It understands casting but you don't need Chromecast. Some mobile apps will cast to a Google device, for example Spotify. So I guess Home is basically like Chromecast in that it's a destination. But Home will also interact with Chromecast to control some aspects of your TV. I don't believe it has an audio out jack but I haven't looked for one either.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
 

How will this compare to Amazon Echo? Is it pretty much the same idea or will one do more than the other?

They are very close. Google Home answers more questions than the Echo and for me that's a decider. The Echo has a little more personality to it though and for my wife, that's her decider. I can't really describe that last statement but if you had both then you'd go, ya, I understand. Right now it's almost a coin flip as to which is better. I definitely like saying "Alexa" more than "OK Google" to ask a question.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Enjoy your favorite music while you bike or hit the gym with these Jaybird X2 wireless headphones, which feature a Bluetooth interface for wireless streaming and SignalPlus technology for clear, smooth playback. Comply ear tips offer a comfortable fit.
 

What are the ear fins used for??? These would get in the way of sunglasses, sport activities

They give a little extra support to keep the buds in the ear. They fit on the inside part of your ear (not the ear canal). They don't go over the ear and therefore they have zero impact on glasses and hats.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
InsaneDiego
 
Work or play the way you want, whether at home or on the go, with this Google Nexus 9 99HZF004-00 tablet that features an easy-to-use 8.9" IPS TFT-LCD touch screen, which delivers bright graphics and responsive app navigation.
 

Who makes this?

Is it Asus as it was for the Nexus 7? Or HTC?
HTC
9 years, 4 months ago
by
InsaneDiego