TECHBEENGOOD's stats
- Review count287
- Helpfulness votes3,145
- First reviewOctober 18, 2013
- Last reviewApril 2, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
- Review comment count3
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentOctober 5, 2014
- Last review commentAugust 1, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count30
- Helpfulness votes78
- First answerNovember 19, 2015
- Last answerNovember 1, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers6
Life Note 3i noise canceling earbuds deliver the perfect balance of comfort, performance and value. At work, at home, and everywhere in between, Active Noise Canceling, 40hrs playtime & App Customization make the Life Note 3i the ultimate audio companion for an on-the-go life.
Customer Rating
5
Great sound and an invitation to save money.
on October 17, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Soundcore’s Life Note 3i challenges the idea that you must spend a high price to achieve great headphone performance. The noise reduction is a bit above average, and the sound quality is mostly similar to more costly competitors. The full featured App adds a collection of sound enhancements that contribute more value. There is nothing about the Life Note 3i earbuds pushing me to run to the high priced earbud choices.
SETUP: I had to make a few attempts to connect to bluetooth, but that sorted itself out without me doing anything special. I’m listening to music within minutes. Button presses on either right or left ear bud shell calls up Noise Cancellation or cancels it, and enable phone answering or call end. I’m in control of the music without using the App, but it is worth downloading. Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t require the Soundcore App to be loaded or open, but the App won’t find the earbuds until the connection is made.
Soundcore App: It is within the App that you can create a collection of customized sound curves using a multi band (?? adjustment points) equalizer. The changes you make can be as subtle or exaggerated as you desire, and saved under names you assign. Soundcore has its own collection of modifications, also saved under names that hint at the types of music they might enhance. I consider this sound contouring tool as a way to correct recordings that don’t sound balanced. So, for example, my older 60s/70s recording lack a modern bass emphasis. I created an “oldies bass” contour and saved it under that name.
The App provides a noise cancellation circuit which can be selected by button presses on the earbud shell or within the App. I have my two at home tests. Our laundry room lets me test for medium frequency loud fan motor whooshing and the drum beat of the washer. The Life Note 3i does a great job eliminating the lower bass and thrumming sounds. The whooshing was modified with the lower frequencies removed but mostly still there, if a bit quieter. Sitting in my main TV listening area with the TV playing loudly illustrates how effective these earbuds are at stripping away voices in a busy environment. That loud TV, limited by the noise cancellation of the Life Notes, now seems to be playing in a distant room. Decent performance but not as good as the category leaders. That said, it will still be very helpful on plane rides.
Other stuff: These are very light weight, and stay comfortable in the ears for lengthy listening sessions. The charging case is quite small. They sadly lack mag-safe charging.
SUMMARY: I love headphone Apps that offer any amount of sound equalization. The Life Note 3i goes well beyond any other headphones on the score. I always prefer a few more ear cushions but the included set was adequate. A good fit contributes to the effectiveness of the sound cancellation circuit which won’t challenge the industry leaders, but still gets the job done. And most importantly, sound accuracy was great, and music of all types sounded natural. These are a great earbud that everyone in our house will reach for.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Capture video of the road ahead and your vehicle interior with this Rexing 4K front and cabin dash cam. The ultra-wide-angle lenses capture more of the surroundings and the infrared night vision lets you capture clear footage any time of the day. This Rexing 4K front and cabin dash cam features a parking monitor that automatically begins recording after detecting vibrations.
Customer Rating
3
Nice performing camera, but not user friendly.
on October 15, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Rexing - V5C Plus 3" 4K Dual Dash Cam with Adhesive Mount
I’m not easily frustrated by any electronic products, but I’ve found this model Rexing dash cam difficult to love. I’ll explain in my detailed review what irritates me. As I try to remind readers, you may find my issues trivial. The nice thing? Return guarantees encourage you to try this for yourself.
I’m not easily frustrated by any electronic products, but I’ve found this model Rexing dash cam difficult to love. I’ll explain in my detailed review what irritates me. As I try to remind readers, you may find my issues trivial. The nice thing? Return guarantees encourage you to try this for yourself.
In the Box: The combination front and rear camera, charging cord, mounting plate(2), adhesives(2), USB cable (missing from my box, but they are everywhere in my house), Quick Start Guide, cable management tool.
SETUP: Everything is managed using the camera screen. Screen navigation buttons are arrayed along the bottom surface of the camera and include the MENU Button, Up/Down navigation, and OK button. My first complaint is how the button labels, which are what you actually can see, are not aligned with the the buttons, which you must push. The buttons are just far enough offset left to be irritating. Ports for the Micro SD card, USB Charging port, and cabin-facing camera are all accessible, but the power cord plugs in, angled upwards, towards the top of the cabin. If you intend to immediately tuck wires into the top liner in your vehicle above the camera, this is perfect. If, instead, you want the cable to drop downwards, it’s another irritation. There is another port that accepts a Rexing Rear Camera, but it is NOT included with this package. Only the add-on cabin camera is already attached.
After following the mounting instructions I had an attachment plate adhering to my windshield and the camera pointed in the right direction. There was a Class 10 Rexing labelled memory card already in place. The camera can accommodate up to 256GB of memory, but there is a 64GB card provided. It needs to be formatted, which is accomplished by the camera. As I discovered later on, this formatted memory card could not be read by a Mac computer. In fact, attempting to update the firmware failed for the same incompatibility. There are several other solutions to seeing the video, so it’s hard to be too bothered, unless you prefer to view videos on a large screen. So, yes, I’m bothered, but you might not be.
The device is automatically powered on and begins recording when plugged into a 12V accessory socket or cigarette lighter and the vehicle is started. There is USB power option but there is an accessory hard wire accessory. Holding down the Power button also turns on the camera manually. Pressing the OK button cycles through various viewing modes: front camera and cabin camera inset, front only, cabin only, OFF. The LED lights and red dot blink when the Rexing device is recording. It is (too) easy to stop recording by either powering down the camera from the underside power button or tapping the OK button. Should it be this easy?
EMR Mode (Emergency Record Mode).
Hold down a UP button creates a 20 second video that is automatically saved and locked. Viewing the EMR recordings is accomplished by pressing the menu/playback button.
PHOTOS are taken by holding the DOWN button and are viewed similarly. If only the button alignment matched the label location. Either scenario could go awry if you press the wrong button.
Hold down a UP button creates a 20 second video that is automatically saved and locked. Viewing the EMR recordings is accomplished by pressing the menu/playback button.
PHOTOS are taken by holding the DOWN button and are viewed similarly. If only the button alignment matched the label location. Either scenario could go awry if you press the wrong button.
Parking Monitor: IF YOU HARDWIRE the camera to your car, the camera will turn on if the car is bumped. This is a nice feature but keep in mind the caveat. The default is OFF.
RECORDING and VIEWING: Four methods should work, but I could only successfully use two.
To playback a video on the device, toggle the MENU TWICE to enter the Playback mode. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to toggle to the desired video. Press the OK button to play. This certainly worked, but the small screen, unaligned menu and buttons, and the awkward screen navigation were not enjoyable.
To playback a video on the computer, either use an SD card adapter or connect the device to the computer directly using the USB cable. On my Mac, the camera was not recognized so I had no access to the video files on the camera. And the card reader was equally useless, because the Mac complained it was unreadable as formatted.
If connected using Wi-Fi via the REXING CONNECT APP on my iPhone, I was able to view and save clip captures with my Apple iPhone12. Trying to get a successful WiFi connection to the camera was tricky, but ultimately successful. Rexing support documentation recommends using a 3rd party App, TimaCam, if you’re having difficulty. Either App also offers access to a few of the camera settings. Oh, if only Rexing gave access to ALL the camera settings! Customer satisfaction would increase greatly. TimaCam was always reliable for me, offering most of the same features at the Rexing App. So, the WiFi approach, offers access to the clips for viewing and downloading. I would very much prefer a straightforward connection to my large screen Mac.
To playback a video on the device, toggle the MENU TWICE to enter the Playback mode. Use the UP and DOWN buttons to toggle to the desired video. Press the OK button to play. This certainly worked, but the small screen, unaligned menu and buttons, and the awkward screen navigation were not enjoyable.
To playback a video on the computer, either use an SD card adapter or connect the device to the computer directly using the USB cable. On my Mac, the camera was not recognized so I had no access to the video files on the camera. And the card reader was equally useless, because the Mac complained it was unreadable as formatted.
If connected using Wi-Fi via the REXING CONNECT APP on my iPhone, I was able to view and save clip captures with my Apple iPhone12. Trying to get a successful WiFi connection to the camera was tricky, but ultimately successful. Rexing support documentation recommends using a 3rd party App, TimaCam, if you’re having difficulty. Either App also offers access to a few of the camera settings. Oh, if only Rexing gave access to ALL the camera settings! Customer satisfaction would increase greatly. TimaCam was always reliable for me, offering most of the same features at the Rexing App. So, the WiFi approach, offers access to the clips for viewing and downloading. I would very much prefer a straightforward connection to my large screen Mac.
SUMMARY: The Rexing V5C plus has a great image, a great form factor in the car, is easy to physically mount and offers both a cabin camera (included) and a rear camera (purchased separately). You can select what view appears on the camera LCD screen, or eliminate the viewer while you keep recording. Then there is the issue of retrieving the videos, sorting and viewing them in a way that’s convenient for me. It’s here I hit a roadblock. I can certainly view them, but not the way I prefer. You have to reach your own conclusions and you may succeed where I couldn’t. Users can fairly complain that the Quick Start Guide leaves users without sufficient support, no way to easily find answers to operational questions. Navigation between menu pages, getting to file management, and understanding the implications of various selections is mostly missing from the Quick Start Guide. I could not find a more complete instruction manual. I’m unable to recommend this Rexing camera but others will have more success than I had..
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Enjoy versatile projection for remote work, home entertainment and beyond with the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 Portable Projector. Designed to bring more ease and convenience to your workday, the Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 Portable Projector delivers a widescreen picture up to 300"—that’s four times larger than a 75" flat panel—for collaborative online meetings and detailed presentations. Perfect for engaging at-home learning, immersive movie watching and more, this 3,000-lumen projector1 offers Best-in-Class Color Brightness2 to deliver crisp, colorful images in virtually any lighting environment—even during the daytime. Sleek and compact, this portable projector can be easily carried in bags and backpacks for easy viewing virtually anywhere. And, with a built-in HDMI® port and speaker, you can conveniently stream movies, TV shows and more using your favorite streaming device for a truly amazing viewing experience.
Customer Rating
5
A very capable projector for home theater and work
on October 14, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Epson EpiqVision Flex CO-W01 projector. It’s rare to find a projector that easily and successfully serves multiple roles. After all, you want the projector you bring to an office meeting or lecture hall to be very light for carrying around, accept inputs from several sources, and shows a contrasty, sharp image. A projector designed for the home theater has to offer a cinematic image, revealing details in the shadows, very accurate skin color, and keeps noise and image artifacts to a minimum. The EpiqVision does all this and more for a price that is a small fraction of Epson’s specialized projectors. Chck out my photos taken while doing some early setup testing.
SETUP: Plug it in to a power source. Plug in a streaming device of any brand. Or, plug in an HDMI cable (use an adapter you must provide) from your computer or laptop or tablet/phone. Or plug in a USB device (powered or not, but it should be powered from its own source). The Epson will project a wide variety of still and video image types.
IF you want to use this projector as a sound source, the Epson has an internal speaker. It’s adequate. But, for a home theater experience you really want to use the internal Bluetooth feature to send audio to a soundbar or bluetooth speaker. Better yet, use an Audio Video receiver to manage your sound. I hope no one is surprised by this. The projector is only as big as a textbook and audio quality doesn’t seem to be a piority.
IF you want to use this projector as a sound source, the Epson has an internal speaker. It’s adequate. But, for a home theater experience you really want to use the internal Bluetooth feature to send audio to a soundbar or bluetooth speaker. Better yet, use an Audio Video receiver to manage your sound. I hope no one is surprised by this. The projector is only as big as a textbook and audio quality doesn’t seem to be a piority.
PERFORMANCE: The Epson is set up in my theater room. There is light streaming through the one window, and no effort was made to create the cave lighting this room is capable of. I am using my 120” screen, although a wall with no obstructions will work perfectly fine. Even under these difficult lighting conditions, the Epson throws a great image on my screen. There are a full set of adjustments. Everything about color, brightness, contrast, sharpness and picture geometry can be adjusted. The projector offers a HIGH and ECO light setting to use less energy, add life to the lamp, and allow for a quieter viewing experience. I found ECO to provide more than adequate brightness and great color. Fan noise was decent with either setting, but really quiet with ECO.
Other than the manual lens focus control and zoom, everything was ready to display a beautiful image. See my photos for images captured off of my screen. Remember, this is a 1080p resolution projector, not 4K. Higher resolution at this projected magnification offers a smoothness you can see. I found the CINEMA picture setting to have a nicely balance presentation. I’ll use a calibration disk after a few weeks to check my contrast, brightness and color settings. For now, I slightly boosted the color and contrast, but only a smidge. The image pulled you in with its huge size, bright saturated colors, and overall naturalness. This is a compelling image at any price. For this price it is very easy to recommend.
NEGATIVES: Projectors usually have a foot adjustment to raise the front of the computer for those projecting from a table. It’s rare if you can get a left-to-right level image and so it was with the Epson. I also needed a rear “foot” because of my high projector shelf. Minor issues.
You need to do a side by side comparison with a far more expensive projector, which I happen to have in the same room, to notice the slightly grainier image, a lack of smoothness in action scenes, and the broader richness of color that a very expensive projector delivers. I am pleasantly surprised by the high quality images and convenience the Epson EpiqVision offers while also noting you do get more cinematic images from far more costly projectors. It’s not a knock on this Epson EpiqVision but a reminder that for a significant price increase you can do better.
SUMMARY: Great image from a multipurpose projector. It’s easy to recommend a projector that offers portability, flexible uses, and an introduction to a home theater experience. It sure seems unbeatable at this price.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
5of 7voted this as helpful.
Your new countertop convenience, this Bella Pro Series 4.2-qt. Digital Air Fryer will have you whipping up healthy versions of your favorites in no time (less oil, less fat). Enjoy features like circular heat technology, user-friendly touchscreen controls, and a stylish stainless steel design—you’ll love having it in your kitchen.
Customer Rating
5
Bella’s Air Fryer does the thinking for me.
on October 7, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Bella Pro Series - 4.2-qt. Digital Air Fryer Model 90174
This newest air fryer from Bella is another step forward for home cooks. I’ve owned a few variations of both Bella’s and other manufacturers’ countertop ovens and air fryers. This appliance is a standout for a few reasons, all very positive for our family cooking efforts.
This newest air fryer from Bella is another step forward for home cooks. I’ve owned a few variations of both Bella’s and other manufacturers’ countertop ovens and air fryers. This appliance is a standout for a few reasons, all very positive for our family cooking efforts.
To begin with, this Air Fryer is extremely quiet. I usually take sound level readings but the noise level was below my typical ambient kitchen noise. We weren’t sure it was actually cooking, but it sure was. Quietly.
The Bella is very fast. We had to cut back the already short cooking time for our first batch of thick, curly french fries almost in half. They were crispy browned, hot, and softly potatoey in the middle. If we wanted to take a peek at the cooking progress, it was easy enough to pull the drawer open, shake up the food if needed, and slide it back in. Cooking restarts without any intervention from us.
For some foods and cooking processes, we never had to look up time or temperature. The Bella has a menu screen that cycles through popular cooking styles and foods, making a really good estimate of time/temperature we might use successfully. Worked out well for these fries. Other food items were often spot on. If we wanted to finish cooking a pan seared steak, chicken, or pork loin, this small table top oven was a most effective and energy efficient appliance.
All Auto settings in the on-screen menu are adjustable, most often within a range of 1-60 minutes and 170-400F. A few settings are limited in sensible ways (Keep Warm between 150-200F).
Bella fills out its Touch Screen Auto settings with Air Fry (20min; 400F); Bake (25min; 350F); Roast (30min; 400f); Broil (10min; 400F); Reheat (6min; 250F); Keep Warm (60min; 170F); French Fries (18min; 360F) and Wings (20min; 360F). And, again, these resets can all be modified very easily. Just press the up or down buttons in the upper right or left of the screen and choose a more desirable temperature of time.
Everything is easy to clean. Controls are logical, never requiring a search for the user manual after the first day of use. Visitors quickly get the hang of it. But, of course, if you want to fully manage times and temperatures, you can ignore the auto settings and take charge. I’d point out any issues, but I couldn’t find anything to fuss over. Recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-1point
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The Velox Magnetic Wireless Duo Stand is engineered for maximum efficiency. With dual charging capabilities, you can wirelessly charge your MagSafe compatible iPhone and AirPods or other Qi-enabled earbuds simultaneously. The magnetic mounting face securely holds your iPhone to ensure an efficient charge at 7.5W of power. The wireless charging pad offers 5W of power for Qi-enabled devices and accessories. The Duo Stand features a built-in USB-C cable and an LED indicator light for the charging pad. A weighted base and non-slip silicone pads ensure a safe and secure charging experience, regardless of device size. Made from premium aluminum and silicone in midnight blue and champagne gold, the Velox Magnetic Wireless Duo Stand is a sleek and modern charging stand that perfectly complements any home or office. Power adapter not included..
Customer Rating
4
Perfectly fine for me, maybe not for you.
on October 2, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
The iOttie charging stand is well designed if you need a combination of charging, regular display of your phone screen, and a convenient place to keep your MagSafe-enabled earbud case charged and ready to go. The aesthetics aren’t luxury, but still nice looking on a desk-top or bedside table. It is not “fast-charge” enabled.
This iteration of iOttie’s Velox MagSafe Duo Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand does NOT include the AC adapter (power brick). For me, the missing AC adapter is not a problem in my home where I have numerous USB plug-in charging stations. However, it is inconvenient for my traveling activities. It sends me on a hunt for my USB-C charging brick if I’m going to be on the road.
The magnetic pull of the charging disk is OK and effective on my naked iPhone 13. It will not hold on to my iPhone if it remains in my inexpensive, clear plastic, protective case. There are other cases that solve this problem by embedding magnets in the case, itself. I have to decide whether to acquire a new case for my aging phone or forgo a case entirely. I didn’t want another decision to make.
I can make this phone/earbud case, charging solution work for me. But, it’s only fair to note that it will come up short for others. The iOttie Velox requires compromises if your needs don’t match what it offers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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The G715 Logitech Wireless Gaming Keyboard from the Aurora Collection delivers low-key style with high-key performance so you can express yourself and play your way. Float away with its dreamy white design and comfy, cloud-shaped keyboard palm rest. With a tenkeyless layout and adjustable height, this is an ideal compact mechanical keyboard for gaming that gives you that good game feeling, all-day long. Pack it up, place it anywhere, and play your best with G715’s rechargeable 30 gaming-hr battery life (with full lighting), Logitech LIGHTSPEED wireless, and Bluetooth connectivity. Use the USB-C to USB-A cable (included) for quick and streamlined recharging. Logitech LIGHTSYNC brings your gaming to life with four responsive Play Moods that reflect your state of play in 16.8M programmable RGB colors. Get your creative juices flowing, show off your style, and even create your custom animation effects on your wireless TKL keyboard with free G HUB software.
Customer Rating
5
Not just light effects! Intense customization
on September 5, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Logitech - G715 Aurora Collection TKL Wireless Mechanical Tactile Switch Gaming Keyboard
I love the feel of the keyboard. I like the generous spacing of the keys. It has a solid, nicely sprung press rebound, and a sound that confirms every key stroke. I type with wildly random force so audible feed back is a big help. Very little pressure is required to register letter entry. Just be aware that you’re now inviting nearby friends and family to comment on your typing speed and enthusiasm. The volume roller is a first for me and I like it a lot. The TKL layout (ten keys less, but not literally) describes the loss of the numeric keypad, which results in a conveniently smaller overall size. Facilitating number entry is not important to me. It’s wireless, with a battery that offers hours of charge. Or, use it wired. A lengthy USB cable is provided.
I love the feel of the keyboard. I like the generous spacing of the keys. It has a solid, nicely sprung press rebound, and a sound that confirms every key stroke. I type with wildly random force so audible feed back is a big help. Very little pressure is required to register letter entry. Just be aware that you’re now inviting nearby friends and family to comment on your typing speed and enthusiasm. The volume roller is a first for me and I like it a lot. The TKL layout (ten keys less, but not literally) describes the loss of the numeric keypad, which results in a conveniently smaller overall size. Facilitating number entry is not important to me. It’s wireless, with a battery that offers hours of charge. Or, use it wired. A lengthy USB cable is provided.
THE G HUB APP: Customizing the RGB lighting results in a keyboard that matches your mood or helps you create one, Although you can add a lengthy list of presets, I liked the selection offered in the “Meet G715” introduction presentation. It has a basic Fixed Lighting, or Breathing, Color Cycle, Color Wave, Ripple and Immerse which are easily selected using the the Logitech G Hub App. I concluded that the first four of these lighting effect did the best job of ensuring there is sufficient lighting in all light conditions while entertaining me.
THE KEYBOARD: You should think of the GAME MODE BUTTON, as a master control for the settings you create in the G Hub App. It selectively deactivates keys you won’t need in your current game. You can fine tune your desired game play settings, creating a keyboard that is easy to manage under extreme game play. For gaming, you can modify colors for individual keys.
The F-keys can be assigned to game or app actions, system commands or macros. Using the G Hub App I was able to configure a collection of function keys to improve my productivity during regular typing, These same FN keys can be assigned to macros. There are 2 memory profile slots where you can store game profiles.
There is a dedicated switch to change connectivity from wireless to bluetooth. And of course, there is an included USB cable for wired keyboard use. Logitech requires the use of its LightSpeed USB Connectivity dongle. It has been 100% reliable, never losing its connection from any reasonable distance.
There is a dedicated switch to change connectivity from wireless to bluetooth. And of course, there is an included USB cable for wired keyboard use. Logitech requires the use of its LightSpeed USB Connectivity dongle. It has been 100% reliable, never losing its connection from any reasonable distance.
CUSTOMIZING THE PHYSICAL KEYBOARD: Logitech provides a collection of replacement top plates and keysets for this who want to further customize their keyboard. I don’t want to forget the cloud-like wrist support. It’s really comfortable, soft and large enough to make a difference, yet not in the way. I spend most of my typing time with the keyboard in my lap, so it’s not really useful to me. I can see others using it continually.
CONS: The setup guide should be in the box. The G Hub App is complex. It should also have some basic guidance. It would also be helpful if Logitech maintained a forum where end users could offer example setups.
Perhaps I’ll get accustomed to how Logitech manages access to the keyboard settings. But right now I’m frustrated with the various paths to those settings. Sometimes I need to hit the menu up in the left corner. Sometimes I need to click on the big, centered, keyboard image. And then some info is located behind the gear. I can even make changes within the MEET G715 intro. Any chance we can simplify this?
My other issue has to do with commands assigned to the Function keys. If the keyboard has been inactive for a short period (extended lost-in-thought moments), attempting to use the functions keys is frustrating. It seems that that initial key press after a delay has to wait on re-acquiring the App. You only THINK you’ve applied the function. The first key press is ignored. Compounding my issue, because I’m on a Mac, I’ve assigned some Command actions (copy, paste, select all, etc) to function keys so I don’t do anything foolish while editing. [That Windows/Alt key is a dangerous placement if you forget while editing extensive passages. Ugh.] I’m now dodging two problems.
SUMMARY: Logitech’s wireless G715 Aurora collection is loaded with features. The keyboard has tremendous flexibility and customizability. There is even a collection of different color top plates, key caps and compatible headsets and a gaming mouse. At this price and the potential for accessories, it’s probably fair to call this keyboard an indulgence. But, the build quality is excellent, and for an item that may be used every day, all day, I’m not going to agonize over the price. I like it and can recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Instead of filling up your house (and the planet) with an extra charger for each new device you buy, Anker 735 charger has the power you need to charge the majority of your personal devices with just a single charger.
Customer Rating
5
Right mix of capacity, form and convenience
on September 1, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Anker - 735 3-port USB charger (up to 65W total)
This is a lot of charging power in a very small power brick. Power is available up to a maximum of 65Watts, but only from a single USB-C port, with no other power demand. That maximum power can be dispensed in a variety of other mixes, as described in Anker’s Charging Guide. Anker delivers a lot of usefulness in a compact package. It’s my new go-to for travel convenience.
This is a lot of charging power in a very small power brick. Power is available up to a maximum of 65Watts, but only from a single USB-C port, with no other power demand. That maximum power can be dispensed in a variety of other mixes, as described in Anker’s Charging Guide. Anker delivers a lot of usefulness in a compact package. It’s my new go-to for travel convenience.
For a couple of examples: Either of the 2 USB-C ports can provide 65W maximum power for a laptop, tablet, phone, etc. The second USB-C and USB-A ports can not be used in this case.
All of the three ports when used together are limited that same (approx) 65 Watts, with 40W max from one of the USB-C ports, 12W for the other USB-C, and 12W for the USB-A port. Other variations of power delivery depend on which ports are being used, and how much power is demanded.
I've had great success and reliability from Anker products over the years. Nothing has changed. Anker’s got the right mix of capacity, configuration and convenience.
I've had great success and reliability from Anker products over the years. Nothing has changed. Anker’s got the right mix of capacity, configuration and convenience.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill, the smart XL indoor grill that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. This 2nd generation grill has 6-in-1 functionality, now with a new sleek design. Smart Cook System helps you achieve the perfect doneness, from rare to well-done, at the touch of a button without the guesswork. With an XL capacity, grill large family meals or air fry crisp guilt-free fried favorites.
Customer Rating
4
Ninja’s Grill does the work, you take the credit
on August 12, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Ninja - Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Countertop Indoor Grill with Smart Cook System, 4-quart Air Fryer
The Smart XL Grill manages to take the core feature of every Air Fryer, super-heated moving air, and create a multi-purpose cooking tool. It can grill food with all the markings for a large group, roast/broil/bake a significant sized multi-serving of any protein, and, of course, Air Fry. And it does it all with repeat accuracy because of its built in thermometer. Although Ninja’s Air Fryers are usually really easy decisions for our family, this newest Smart Grill requires more thought. Some features we loved. Some were a challenge.
OPERATION: If you already own any of Ninja’s Foodi countertop air fryers you know how little effort is involved getting underway cooking. For first time owners, grab the Quick Start Guide. Starting with the most unique feature, pull out the thermometer from its storage area. If you want to take advantage of the programmed cooking, first select a COOK FUNCTION (Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil. Dehydrate) and press the THERMOMETER/PRESET BUTTON. Now use the RIGHT ARROWS to select your protein and the LEFT ARROWS to choose doneness. PRE-HEAT should be underway. Stick your thermometer into the protein. Wait until ADD FOOD appears on the screen. The screen now read out progress towards doneness. It also provides real time readings of the temperature once you’re underway. FLIPPING appears during ROAST and GRILL and you probably follow that instruction. When done, GET FOOD appears and you’re ready to let food rest for a few minutes.
During cooking I measured the sound level with my uncalibrated Sound Meter App. It confirmed what my ears told me. 72dB. A bit loud, and far louder than Ninja’s other, more traditional Air Fryers.
RESULTS: A premium piece of BEEF TENDERLOIN, cooked to my special request of MEDIUM, came out text-book medium. Sometimes these settings (RARE, MEDIUM, etc) will have multiple levels. I should have stopped at the first choice. However, I got exactly what I asked for. It was minimal effort to get my “order.” After the initial setup, I was free to prepare other side dishes without further interaction with my steak. It becomes apparent that the now very hot grill will very quickly cook any veggies you toss in. You can cut out another pan.
Next up is a piece of PORK TENDERLOIN, which we know should only be cooked to just barely medium to keep moist. After about a 7 minute preheat the total cook time was under 10 minutes. Sadly, I didn’t trust it could be cooked and tried to figure out how to restart. Dumb. After a few minutes of trying to convince the Ninja to let me add some minutes, I relented and stuck my own instant thermometer into the pork. Yikes. I was already well past medium. The Ninja is shockingly fast. Trust it. But verify with your own thermometer if you are unsure.
RECOMMENDATION: Ninja Air Fryers offer a broad array of useful and effective features. This Smart XL 6-N-1 is no different. It simplifies cooking by taking over the timing, the temperature setting, the schedule of flips and final rest period. It gets it all accomplished correctly by measuring the cooking progress. It gets it right with few exceptions. The flexibility is also well done. This new design and layout expands the quantity and size of foods that can be cooked successfully. The cooking chamber is huge. The space under the cover allows for maximum serving sizes and quantities.
What are my quibbles? This is Ninja’s noisiest Air Fryer. It will interrupt the party. I also question the efficiency of this Ninja as food size or quantity gets smaller. The lengthy pre-heat time for this larger device makes the decision to use this for a pair of hamburgers or small steaks questionable. If I were to make a suggestion, I’d like to see more “doneness” or target temperature increments. For these smaller items it makes sense to allow a more nuanced doneness choice. On the other hand, pork loin, chicken breast or cut up whole chicken, a roast all become a treat to cook on this really smart countertop grill. It seems to contribute both hands and eyes to meal preparation. With such heat and speed availability, completing a vegetable dish after the protein is completed is a realistic expectation. You can immerse yourself in other activities knowing Ninja has the protein portion well covered. I like it, because what it does, it does really well.
The Smart XL Grill manages to take the core feature of every Air Fryer, super-heated moving air, and create a multi-purpose cooking tool. It can grill food with all the markings for a large group, roast/broil/bake a significant sized multi-serving of any protein, and, of course, Air Fry. And it does it all with repeat accuracy because of its built in thermometer. Although Ninja’s Air Fryers are usually really easy decisions for our family, this newest Smart Grill requires more thought. Some features we loved. Some were a challenge.
OPERATION: If you already own any of Ninja’s Foodi countertop air fryers you know how little effort is involved getting underway cooking. For first time owners, grab the Quick Start Guide. Starting with the most unique feature, pull out the thermometer from its storage area. If you want to take advantage of the programmed cooking, first select a COOK FUNCTION (Grill, Air Crisp, Roast, Bake, Broil. Dehydrate) and press the THERMOMETER/PRESET BUTTON. Now use the RIGHT ARROWS to select your protein and the LEFT ARROWS to choose doneness. PRE-HEAT should be underway. Stick your thermometer into the protein. Wait until ADD FOOD appears on the screen. The screen now read out progress towards doneness. It also provides real time readings of the temperature once you’re underway. FLIPPING appears during ROAST and GRILL and you probably follow that instruction. When done, GET FOOD appears and you’re ready to let food rest for a few minutes.
During cooking I measured the sound level with my uncalibrated Sound Meter App. It confirmed what my ears told me. 72dB. A bit loud, and far louder than Ninja’s other, more traditional Air Fryers.
RESULTS: A premium piece of BEEF TENDERLOIN, cooked to my special request of MEDIUM, came out text-book medium. Sometimes these settings (RARE, MEDIUM, etc) will have multiple levels. I should have stopped at the first choice. However, I got exactly what I asked for. It was minimal effort to get my “order.” After the initial setup, I was free to prepare other side dishes without further interaction with my steak. It becomes apparent that the now very hot grill will very quickly cook any veggies you toss in. You can cut out another pan.
Next up is a piece of PORK TENDERLOIN, which we know should only be cooked to just barely medium to keep moist. After about a 7 minute preheat the total cook time was under 10 minutes. Sadly, I didn’t trust it could be cooked and tried to figure out how to restart. Dumb. After a few minutes of trying to convince the Ninja to let me add some minutes, I relented and stuck my own instant thermometer into the pork. Yikes. I was already well past medium. The Ninja is shockingly fast. Trust it. But verify with your own thermometer if you are unsure.
RECOMMENDATION: Ninja Air Fryers offer a broad array of useful and effective features. This Smart XL 6-N-1 is no different. It simplifies cooking by taking over the timing, the temperature setting, the schedule of flips and final rest period. It gets it all accomplished correctly by measuring the cooking progress. It gets it right with few exceptions. The flexibility is also well done. This new design and layout expands the quantity and size of foods that can be cooked successfully. The cooking chamber is huge. The space under the cover allows for maximum serving sizes and quantities.
What are my quibbles? This is Ninja’s noisiest Air Fryer. It will interrupt the party. I also question the efficiency of this Ninja as food size or quantity gets smaller. The lengthy pre-heat time for this larger device makes the decision to use this for a pair of hamburgers or small steaks questionable. If I were to make a suggestion, I’d like to see more “doneness” or target temperature increments. For these smaller items it makes sense to allow a more nuanced doneness choice. On the other hand, pork loin, chicken breast or cut up whole chicken, a roast all become a treat to cook on this really smart countertop grill. It seems to contribute both hands and eyes to meal preparation. With such heat and speed availability, completing a vegetable dish after the protein is completed is a realistic expectation. You can immerse yourself in other activities knowing Ninja has the protein portion well covered. I like it, because what it does, it does really well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
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Fire it up then go full throttle faster and more effectively than ever with Acer's next evolution of its Nitro 5 gaming laptop. The new Nitro 5 soars to new levels of performance for gamers and creators, courtesy of its 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3050 graphics—powered by Ampere™ NVIDIA's RTX architecture! Next, toss in the vivid, crystal-clear 17.3” Full HD display with a 144Hz IPS panel, ample cooling and a 4-zone RGB keyboard and you can see why the Nitro 5 is a knockout hit for gamers of every level!
Customer Rating
5
A Great Big Gaming PC for Beginners
on August 11, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
Acer - Nitro 5 17.3" Full HD IPS 144Hz Gaming Laptop- Intel Core i5-12500H- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050-512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
Goodness, this is large. I am typically a console gamer. With this 17" screen filling my field of view with my new favorite game, my gaming experience is better than ever. The hefty base means I’ll look for permanent locations to set up. The keyboard is slightly smaller than I expected, but with larger than normal track pad, which I appreciate. The keys themselves feel very sturdy and have a distinct white outline that really sets them apart, as well as an enhanced white outline around the direction arrows and ASWD keys that are typically used for game controls.
Goodness, this is large. I am typically a console gamer. With this 17" screen filling my field of view with my new favorite game, my gaming experience is better than ever. The hefty base means I’ll look for permanent locations to set up. The keyboard is slightly smaller than I expected, but with larger than normal track pad, which I appreciate. The keys themselves feel very sturdy and have a distinct white outline that really sets them apart, as well as an enhanced white outline around the direction arrows and ASWD keys that are typically used for game controls.
WHAT’S INSIDE?
17.3" Full HD IPS 144Hz monitor from Acer
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 is a 2022 graphics processor that keeps cost down, drops power demands, but in a laptop at this price promises stunning performance which translates into higher frame rates, better looking game play, and maybe even some more challenging settings.
Intel Core i5-12500H CPU launched in early 2022 provides mid-range processing performance range
512Gb PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. While only a modest size, it offers exceptionally fast read/writes that addresses the demands of gaming. [There are 2 M.2 slots so a second SSD can be added; there’s even a 2.5” bay for an HDD drive.]
USB 3.2 standard with Gen1 and 2 support = 10Gbit/s transfer speeds
+ includes 1 USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2
+ 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (power-off charging)
+ 1 HDMI 2.1 Port with HDCP
+ Headphone / speaker / Line out jack
+ Ethernet (RJ-45 port)
+ Wi-Fi 6 enabled
+ DC-in Jack for AC adapter
There are 2 slots for 32GB of DDR4 3200 Ram; 8GB of Ram is loaded in this configuration.
NitroSense software allows you to configure lighting etc features to customize the look of this laptop.
17.3" Full HD IPS 144Hz monitor from Acer
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 is a 2022 graphics processor that keeps cost down, drops power demands, but in a laptop at this price promises stunning performance which translates into higher frame rates, better looking game play, and maybe even some more challenging settings.
Intel Core i5-12500H CPU launched in early 2022 provides mid-range processing performance range
512Gb PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. While only a modest size, it offers exceptionally fast read/writes that addresses the demands of gaming. [There are 2 M.2 slots so a second SSD can be added; there’s even a 2.5” bay for an HDD drive.]
USB 3.2 standard with Gen1 and 2 support = 10Gbit/s transfer speeds
+ includes 1 USB Type C 3.2 Gen 2
+ 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (power-off charging)
+ 1 HDMI 2.1 Port with HDCP
+ Headphone / speaker / Line out jack
+ Ethernet (RJ-45 port)
+ Wi-Fi 6 enabled
+ DC-in Jack for AC adapter
There are 2 slots for 32GB of DDR4 3200 Ram; 8GB of Ram is loaded in this configuration.
NitroSense software allows you to configure lighting etc features to customize the look of this laptop.
SETUP: Entertaining. As you turned the computer on, the keys begin to flicker, red beginning on the left and continuing across the board to the right as if the power is building. A very cool aesthetic feature. Once it is on it speaks to you about accessibility features should you require them. The screen is bright and vibrant, very easy to read and view. Select your language. The Acer checks for updates, lets you name your device and then restarts. Login to your Microsoft account and you’re given the option to use a previous account configuration or set up as a new device.You customize for your interests. I indicated that I would be using the Acer to play video games. I opted in for an Xbox Game Pass, so I can begin gaming right after setup. (Free trial for Game Pass is 1 month, which wasn’t initially obvious.). All this was pretty quickly accomplished.
NitroSense APP: The onboard control panel app dubbed "NitroSense" allows for customizing your keyboard with either dynamic or static background lighting in a variety of colors and configurations. I have the option for 5 different colored zones! I can control brightness of the keys, and how long the backlight stays on. I can shift from quiet, default, or performance mode based on gaming, music, movies and more. Last but not least it shows you how the device is performing, from controllable fan speed, to CPU and GPU power output, temperature, and what percentage of work each section of the system is accounting for. This adds to usability and the fun of this Acer Nitro!
PERFORMANCE: For a large computer, Acer did a nice job of keeping the keyboard compact and easy to navigate with a larger than normal trackpad. The buttons are very responsive and the white outline is a nice aesthetic. You do have to reach further forward than you typically would with a smaller device, but this beast is housing a larger set of hardware and fans to keep everything running in optimal condition for gaming purposes. I wish there were separate buttons for the volume and brightness controls; instead they are the secondary function of the arrow keys and are initially difficult to locate.
Game mode, using Xbox Game Pass, leads to a long list of available games. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was my first game and it’s big, beautiful, full of picturesque worlds, frenzied, intense, melee style combat, and free range acrobatic movements. Download time was 2-3 hours using my WiFI that doesn’t fully exploit my gigabit home internet service. Let the gaming commence! and I was up and running in seconds.
Once the game got to the home menu you could hear the fans in the Acer pick up to keep the system cool. It was also here that I experienced the computer’s audio for the first time. I was disappointed. Even at max volume the fans overpowered the game’s audio. (Headphones are on order!) I also hadn’t learned about NitroSense yet. I had more control over sound than I realized.
The Acer’s vibrant display and the bigger screen really brought this beautiful game to life. I played the game on and off for about 6 hours and the fans in the computer really let me know I was putting the system to work. Graphics continued to impress me, however there were a few instances where the game was a bit jittery or slow. Perhaps the processing system was trying to keep up with the requirements of such a robust and detailed environment? [I need to see if NitroSense can help here, also,] These incidents were few and far between. 95-99% of the time this system was able to keep up and supply a richly detailed, colorful, active and fun experience. For an improved gameplay experience I plugged in a mouse. The built-in track pad to pan your view in any game does not make for an optimal experience. Afterwards, I switched to my usual console controller (Power A enhanced wired), plugging it directly into the USB port. This made a world of difference. I was quite satisfied with how everything had turned out from my newbie perspective.
RECOMMENDATION:
This computer was a fun gaming computer and of course it provides a powerful general use computer. The laptop itself is very sturdy and offers a truly great viewing experience with its large dimensions. The display is stunning both for typical uses and during gameplay. The venting keeps everything looking cool and working cool. The graphics were excellent. Downsides? The i5 processor ma be a little slow to keep up with some of the larger more complicated games resulting in the slight screen lag mentioned above. Perhaps adding to the memory might help. I’m still discovering the impact of the NitroSense tools, but outboard sound augmentation may be necessary. Overall, I think this device is a great starter gaming PC at an affordable price. This is best geared toward newer PC gamers or those with less demanding needs. It’s unlikely to provide more experienced gamers with the power they need/want. I can recommend it for the right audience. I would have scored 4.5, but I’m OK with 5.
This computer was a fun gaming computer and of course it provides a powerful general use computer. The laptop itself is very sturdy and offers a truly great viewing experience with its large dimensions. The display is stunning both for typical uses and during gameplay. The venting keeps everything looking cool and working cool. The graphics were excellent. Downsides? The i5 processor ma be a little slow to keep up with some of the larger more complicated games resulting in the slight screen lag mentioned above. Perhaps adding to the memory might help. I’m still discovering the impact of the NitroSense tools, but outboard sound augmentation may be necessary. Overall, I think this device is a great starter gaming PC at an affordable price. This is best geared toward newer PC gamers or those with less demanding needs. It’s unlikely to provide more experienced gamers with the power they need/want. I can recommend it for the right audience. I would have scored 4.5, but I’m OK with 5.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+21points
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JBuds Air Pro are your DAILY DRIVER. Imagine you put in your earbuds in the morning and they go with you through your day without a thought. From work calls on your laptop, to listening to a podcast on your mobile, to walking the dog and watching a movie. You need headphones that are versatile as you. Who says you can’t you wear the same earbuds for both work and play?
Customer Rating
4
Checks off my high activity day needs nicely.
on August 8, 2022
Posted by: TECHBEENGOOD
JLab JBuds Air Pro True Wireless (Model:EBJBAIRPRORBLK82)
I’d like to think I’m a wise shopper. I’ve concluded that we should have earbuds that are less costly for everyday, high activity usage. JLab’s Buds Air Pros keep the price reasonable but also allow me to have a bunch of features that I’ve gotten used to. The real trick that JLab has accomplished is allowing the “button press” set of features to work extremely reliably without an App and making the results all sound good.
I’d like to think I’m a wise shopper. I’ve concluded that we should have earbuds that are less costly for everyday, high activity usage. JLab’s Buds Air Pros keep the price reasonable but also allow me to have a bunch of features that I’ve gotten used to. The real trick that JLab has accomplished is allowing the “button press” set of features to work extremely reliably without an App and making the results all sound good.
CONNECTIONS: For Apple (and increasing numbers of Android users) there is the always reliable AAC. There is also SBC. This new JLab adds Bluetooth MULTIPOINT meaning you can connect to the Bluetooth of two devices. Setting up on my phone and my Mac was easy and reliable. There is no App so you don’t lose features if you switch devices.
OPERATION: Pairing was immediate, right as I pulled them from the carry case. Both ear buds synched up. I wish my more expensive earbuds were this easy.
I was initially overwhelmed by the thought of so many feature assignments to one button on each earbud. I was prepared to make myself a cheat sheet! But, almost immediately this all seems obvious. JLab has done a great job making sure the button presses are reliably read by their embedded software.
Right Ear tap assignment: single= Vol+; double=Play/Pause; triple=Aware mode; Hold 1sec= track forward.
Left Ear Tap assignment: single=volume-; double=Voice Assist; triple=EQ changes; Hold 1sec=Music/movie mode.
Phone calls: Single tap answers; Double tap hangs up; Hold 1 sec rejects call.
I was initially overwhelmed by the thought of so many feature assignments to one button on each earbud. I was prepared to make myself a cheat sheet! But, almost immediately this all seems obvious. JLab has done a great job making sure the button presses are reliably read by their embedded software.
Right Ear tap assignment: single= Vol+; double=Play/Pause; triple=Aware mode; Hold 1sec= track forward.
Left Ear Tap assignment: single=volume-; double=Voice Assist; triple=EQ changes; Hold 1sec=Music/movie mode.
Phone calls: Single tap answers; Double tap hangs up; Hold 1 sec rejects call.
PERFORMANCE: It’s hard to test ruggedness but the IP55 rating offers protection against squirt guns, rain storms and some beach sand. These are nice sounding Earbuds and far more comfortable than many I’ve sampled. They are so light. In fact, the carry/charging case is very compact, with its USB charging cable neatly tucked into the shell.
I can’t emphasize enough that a good fit is critical to getting a balanced sound. Frankly, I wish JLab had thrown in a couple of different sizes or types of ear tip materials. I prefer a more solid foam type tip. I found myself fussing a bit more than usual to keep the fit snug.
When the fit was sufficiently snug, the sound was very nice. Sound with the “balanced” setting was my preference. JLabs two custom settings were a big miss for me. I stayed with balanced and found that every modern recording in my playlist sounded great. It was only with my classics collection that I was looking for more bass. I think my less than ideal fit made that a bit difficult.
Phone calls were easy to handle and sounded fine unless outdoor noise was too high.
RECOMMENDATION: As always, ear bud fit is the core issue. I’m going to suggest readers do their own sound assessments, because I couldn’t get an ideal fit. Otherwise, I think these are a great deal. The set of features all work wonderfully. I can live without ANC during workouts. These are unusually light-weight making wearing them for extended periods a joy. Total volume output seemed a bit limited until you get a good fit, which add both volume and better bass. Try them out for yourself.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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TECHBEENGOOD's Review Comments
Keep food fresh and cool with this LG LFX32945ST 32.0 cu. ft. French door refrigerator that features Smart Cooling Plus technology to maintain temperature and humidity for optimal freshness. LoDecibel quiet operation ensures minimal noise.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Large capacity, useful and COLD.
By TECHBEENGOOD
from AUSTIN
My experience has been quite good. This was a purely indulgent purchase. We come from a generation when you never want to run out of food or miss an opportunity during store food specials. This LG ends those fears. It simply soaks up frozen and refigerated foods. We love the open cabinet space and various door and specialty spaces.
I've placed calibrated thermometers in multiple locations in the frdge. It took almost 3 days for the temps to settle down, but now they are within a 4 degree range of the settings. (The LG does NOT show the temp, ONLY the settings. You must use your own thermometer.) The door space in my unit is only a couple of degrees higher, and only during periods of use. The drawers are usually colder than the open space of the fridge. My situation may be unique.
The low noise level is especially welcome. We loved our previous Maytag, but this is another level of quiet. We wondered about the extra depth, but the approx. 2" are not an issue for us. Tighter kitchens may present a problem.
I also called customer service with LG during the 1st 48 hours to understand why the fridge was taking so long to reach the settings. There is a language issue. The pleasant person on the phone struggled with anything other than the simplest presentation of facts, had no appreciation for humor, and was fairly quick to over-react to criticism. Her attachment to the script was frustrating. Most importantly, telling a customer that it's perfectly fine and normal for the temp setting to be 37 and the actual temp to be 42 is wrong. She did not understand that the "setting" is NOT the actual temperature. She then fussed around and helped me cycle through the demo/operational settings which may or may not have helped. The temperature did settle in another 24 hours nad has been perfect for weeks. Customer service needs some work..
I should also add that this purchase was originally made at another long-time national retailer who utterly failed to complete the delivery due to incompetence. Best Buy/Pacific handled sale and delivery with wonderful professionalism.
TECHBEENGOOD
AUSTIN
Edit of review: about that freezer middle drawer
October 5, 2014
I would probably lower the score by 1/2 star after several months of use. You may feel differently. . . . That cute middle slide drawer in the freezer needs a redesign. It occasionally pops out of its track with very little effort. It does not pop back in quite so easily. We've not yet figured out what we've done wrong but with unusual caution and we can avoid the problem. Busier families with kids will not be so fortunate. It'll be an aggravation.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
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."
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Google (runs my) Home
By TECHBEENGOOD
Google Home
“Hey, Google . . . play “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young” and so it was done. Google Home used the Pandora account I just entered, and a rather smooth, well balanced music playback began. It could get loud without harshness out of a cute beer-mug sized device. Without any other command, Pandora was now playing. Seemed like magic to my visitors who were listening in to my conversation with Google Home while I was setting it up.
“Hey, Google . . . play “Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young” and so it was done. Google Home used the Pandora account I just entered, and a rather smooth, well balanced music playback began. It could get loud without harshness out of a cute beer-mug sized device. Without any other command, Pandora was now playing. Seemed like magic to my visitors who were listening in to my conversation with Google Home while I was setting it up.
Set up took less than 10 minutes, but I don’t have many of the partner products (NEST, Philips Hue, SmartThings, IF) that Google Home operates with right out of the box. But Google Home has a nice bag of tricks with which to work. With the right Chromecast enabled speakers, you can apparently get the house rocking relying on Pandora, Spotify, Google Play, Youtube Music, or Tunein to provide the tunes.
Both my wife an I are getting a kick out of challenging Google to provide weather reports, news updates, or filling in our grocery list (using Google Keep). It’ll do a very accurate job of answering trivia questions and has no trouble deciphering our voice commands. It could provide the names of local restaurants and addresses, but couldn’t schedule a table for us. It could list where movies were playing, but not when. Google Home easily picked out our voices over a playing TV and was quick to respond. It wasn’t ready with TV schedules, however . . yet.
For me, the real excitement begins if/when Google operates my Logitech Harmony Theater system hubs, my HomeBrite Devices, or maybe lets us order from some online stores. I have no trouble recommending the Google Home device, but I’m also expecting ti to expand its partner list. These are wonderfully useful gadgets, but they rely on Google to play nicely with a variety of other products that I want to control.
TECHBEENGOOD
Austin
Have you got "multiple" networks? Read.
December 7, 2016
I discovered an aggravation in recent days with my Google Home. if you've set up a roaming or extended network in your home, there is a potential problem. (Others with a simple, single router, network can stop reading.) At some point, typically after moving your Google Home or manually quitting then restarting WiFI, you may discover Google Home can't connect to your network. Huh? You've got it extended everywhere in your house and you have a problem ONLY with Google Home? Seems silly. Well, Google Home wants to see your original setup device (phone/tablet) on the same BRANCH of your network. Anything else creates a crisis. Start over, be sure to find the Google device with your setup App on your phone/tablet, and re-establish the connection. Be patient, it will reconnect.
0points
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Get seriously clean floors without the effort thanks to this Roomba robot vacuum. It automatically navigates across your carpet or vinyl while avoiding hazards and keeping track of its location all the while picking up dirt, debris and mess. Automatic recharging keeps this Roomba robot vacuum powered so that it's ready to go.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Roomba, you're hired.
By TECHBEENGOOD
from Austin
I WILL volunteer to vacuum. Of course, I haven’t developed my wife’s skills or strategies for coping with our home’s diverse floor landscape. All those transitions to wood, tile, various carpet types and back again, through a forest of chair legs, blind hallways, low hanging sofas, beds and chairs, and scattered debris, most of it mine. I’m a work in progress. Which brings us to this iRobot Roomba 890. Kudos to the teams of skilled designers, engineers, of focus groups who built and tested a robot that so successfully accomplishes that which has confounded me for so many years. My wife, our specialist, will have the final judgment on the Roomba.
Setup requires a minimal amount of planning. The Roomba’s charging station needs to be located where the Roomba can find it, be plugged in and docked. At this point, after a few hours to fully charge, you have a working automated, intelligent vacuum. Hate technology? Don’t need it. Press the CLEAN button (x2) whenever you’re ready to vacuum. For me, it’s as I’m heading out the door. And I love technology, just not vacuuming tech. Most others will want to take advantage of the Roomba’s ability to schedule vacuuming sessions, get notifications, and monitor cleaning cycles from the app. Once it’s on your home Wi-Fi, a connected Roomba will work with Amazon’s Alexa.
I’m not going to detail the Wi-Fi connection process. It’s not that it’s lengthy but it requires your close attention to details. My efforts required some restarts, but then, I’m notorious for trying everything first with minimal scanning of the instructions. Don’t try that with the Roomba. Also, you may be jolted by the “unsecured network message” (on the iPhone), but that only indicates a temporary setup condition while configuring the nearby Roomba. Roomba’s online support provides easy-to-follow help if you get into trouble. Don’t be reluctant to reset or restart, as this solved all my issues.
How does this Roomba 890 work? Navigation is effective, as it deals with obstacles, drops, rises, and transitions without problems. Watching the Roomba negotiate my tangle of wires, sneak under our low sofas (low even for our manual upright), and easily climb over our various throw and area carpets is impressive. In places we were sure it would get stuck, it either solved the predicament or avoided it. The combination of sensors, thoughtfully designed rollers and spinners, and logic makes these Roombas special. Oh, and it is surprisingly quiet. We didn’t have to adjust the TV volume, even as it maneuvered around our chairs. At just shy of 90 minutes it found its way back to the charging dock.
My wife’s evaluation? She’s quite willing to leave our home in the tireless, relentless, fastidious care of our new robotic housecleaner. The iRobot Roomba 890 is pretty competent. I think you know my feelings.
TECHBEENGOOD
Austin
I checked again
August 1, 2017
Well, now you've got me wondering if I was sloppy in my review. So, I ran another test today, several weeks after my initial posting. I set my Roomba off on its task by double-clicking the CLEAN button. Set my stopwatch . . . and . . . you can almost set a clock by my Roomba. On my iPhone I got 1:29:10.25 (89 minutes) of vacuuming. Yes, I have 85% hardwood floors (with several large oriental rugs), tile in the bathrooms, and the remainder in a carpeted bedroom. And I do hear the motor working a bit harder on carpet. Your experience will certainly differ, but I'm confident you'll get well past an hour.
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TECHBEENGOOD's Questions
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Night Owl is excited to offer our U.S. designed and engineered 4K Wi-Fi Bluetooth Network Video Recorder with Wi-Fi IP 4K Spotlight Cameras and Pre-Installed Hard Drive. With secure app-based Bluetooth setup, there is no need to connect a TV or monitor for setup or viewing (optional). You can easily configure your system right from the app on your smartphone or tablet with the Bluetooth connection. While a TV or monitor is not required, with Google Assistant you can use simple voice commands to stream camera footage directly to your TV or monitor, all while remaining hands free. Each camera has 2-Way audio (talk and listen) as well as a built-in siren and preset voice alerts. From within the app, you can easily activate the built-in siren, startling intruders and sending them packing. Have a guest but can’t get to them? Use a preset voice alert to let them know! Smart detection technology including human detection, facial capture, and vehicle alerts reduce the risk of false alarms, keeping you safe and well protected. Facial capture lets you see who is on your property by snapping a photo and sending the image to your Smart Device. Motion-activated dual spotlights flood your yard with bright lights when human motion is detected, instantly warding off trespassers. Proudly designed and engineered in the USA, our security system uses a built-in wireless connection for uninterrupted viewing with no delays. Our app gives you control of your system and easy access to your recordings, regardless of where you are. Night Owl never charges fees for storage or access to your videos. All recordings are securely stored on a pre-installed hard drive for convenience. You can view and download the recordings as you need them. This system provides the latest technology to give you the ultimate security experience. NOTE: Your Wi-Fi recorder is compatible with our BWNIP2 (Wire Free), WNIP2 (Wi-Fi IP) and WNIP8 (Wi-Fi IP) Series devices and is not backward compatible with other Night Owl products.
Can I add more cameras
Yep. I added cameras from the previous wireless series (1080p) with no difficulty. Your added cameras need to be Night Owl wireless type but they definitely work.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
Add that professional touch to your video calls with this set which features a 60 LED light that illuminates your videos and helps you shine on social media. True to its name, the achiever is perfect for experienced or aspiring social media bloggers, travel, working professionals and journalists.
What are the Circular Stand’s Dimensions? I need a Stand that is no more than 3 inches deep (front-to-back). It is going to sit on a desk behind my laptop.
5.25" diameter. Keep in mind, the light unit has a separate, multi-purpose clip which readily attaches to a laptop screen, or anything else that isn't too thick.
2 years, 8 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
BISSELL CleanView Allergen Pet Lift-Off is designed to give pet parents a quick, lightweight and convenient way to keep up with pet hair on multiple surfaces in their home. The innovative Lift-Off Technology boasts a removable canister that lets you easily clean pet hair anywhere. It's also packed with pet cleanup features, like a HEPA Sealed Allergen System, Tangle-Free Brush Roll, One Touch Easy Empty, and pet tools that store right on the vacuum. And this machine doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too! BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
What is the sound decible? I have sensory issues and your BC vacuums tend to be extremely loud
Sound level for our vacuums is a pet peeve of mine, so I make it a point of measuring. With my uncalibrated iPhone App I measure my house on a typical day at 44dB. We're quiet. This vac kicks the noise up to 75-77dB from a yard or two away. The pitch, overall, is not too bad, except for a bit lower volume, higher frequency sound I find annoying. This isn't a quiet vac. Ask the BB store support to fire one up for you. I should note that various vacs of the same model might have differing volumes and pitches.
3 years, 3 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
Add music to your workout routine with these Skullcandy Push Ultra true wireless sports earbuds. The moldable ear hooks offer a secure fit during vigorous exercises, while built-in controls and microphone enable hands-free calls. These Skullcandy Push Ultra true wireless sports earbuds provide up to 40 hours of battery life to last through long hiking trails.
can you just use just one
YES. I even tried it for myself. Either earbud can become your monaural single bud. Placing the unused earbud into the case triggers a switch mono-play for th earbud you're using..
3 years, 10 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
The Linksys Velop MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system gives you more speed, coverage, and capacity than it ever has before. Wi-Fi 6 combined with Velop's Intelligent Mesh™ technology delivers true Gigabit Wi-Fi speeds, up to 5.3 Gbps, to every corner of your home, even the backyard and outdoor smart home devices. Wi-Fi 6 also sends and receives multiple streams of data simultaneously and reduces latency, providing up to 4x more capacity compared to Wi-Fi 5 technology. So, it can handle the demands of up to 50 devices and more, from laptops and gaming consoles to smart home devices and 4K TVs, all competing for the same bandwidth. You'll also always have a more efficient Wi-Fi experience with OFDMA that enables more data to and from your devices in a more streamlined manner. And, with BSS technology, congestion is also minimized eliminating interference from nearby wireless networks to deliver a strong, clear Wi-Fi signal to your home, so you won't have to worry about your neighbor's Wi-Fi interfering with yours again. You'll even have 7x more battery life with Target Wake Time that reduces network interference, allowing your devices to remain in sleep mode longer. The MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system is a part of Velop's modular system, so if you need more coverage, just add more nodes. Plus, setup is fast with the Linksys app, so you can enjoy the next evolution of Wi-Fi in minutes.
Does this have to run on battery?
Each device must be plugged in. No battery necessary.
4 years, 5 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
Google Pixel 4 XL is the phone made the Google Way, with a camera that takes a perfect shot every time and the new Google Assistant. It also provides Motion Sense™ technology. Google Pixel 4 XL is built around Google software you know and love that's always getting better.
Unlocked, means that I can use it right away with any carrier included Europe (Poland) mobile operator, correct?
Any carrier that uses the same underlying wireless networks.
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/46/48/66/71
eSIM11
Or, simply use Wi-Fi.
GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/46/48/66/71
eSIM11
Or, simply use Wi-Fi.
4 years, 6 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
Cut down on cooking time with this Bella Pro air fryer oven dehydrator. Top and bottom heating elements ensure exceptional cooking results, while the 10.5-quart capacity holds plenty of food. This Bella Pro air fryer oven dehydrator features a touch-screen control panel for quick operation, two nonstick racks for crisping and one pan for baking convenience.
Does the drip pan go underneath the heating element or above?
The instructions on Page 5 of the instructions (item 17) say to only place the drip pan on the oven floor, under the heating elements. This is in direct conflict with the diagram on page 8, where the drip tray is drawn so that it is clearly on the first pair of guides (runners) ABOVE the heating elements, and not on the oven floor. The fact is, it will not sit on my upper guides. It only rests on the oven floor.
4 years, 6 months ago
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TECHBEENGOOD
Dell Inspiron Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Smart meets sleek in this compact 2-in-1. 15" laptop with a heat dissipating hinge design, full-size Dell Premium Active Pen, adaptive thermals, 4k UHD screen and full number pad. Work efficiently while on the go with this Dell Inspiron two-in-one notebook. The 15.6-inch Ultra HD touch screen with Active Pen support lets you create sketches with precise detail, and 16GB of RAM handle seamless multitasking. This Dell Inspiron two-in-one notebook features a 512GB SSD for prompt data access, and the Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics card enable intensive photo and video editing.
Is it windows 10 professional or home that comes with this system?
When spills happen, the Braava jet m6 robot is always on call—ready to head to the spot and take them on. Just say to Google Assistant or Alexa, “Have Braava mop in front of the kitchen counter”, and it heads out and gets to work. Always learning your home and your cleaning habits, it can offer customized schedules that work around your life—even suggesting extra cleanings during pollen season. Using Precision Jet Spray, it loosens dirt and sticky messes without spraying furniture, rugs, or walls—all without any effort from you, making your mopping tasks a thing of the past. *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
Can you use Swiffer Dry and Wet Jet Pads on this like the Braava 300?
The m6 appears to sense the unique hole pattern on the mounting plate of each pad type to identify the dry or wet pads and perform tasks accordingly. If I'm correct, it seems unlikely that a generic pad will work properly.
4 years, 10 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD
When spills happen, the Braava jet m6 robot is always on call—ready to head to the spot and take them on. Just say to Google Assistant or Alexa, “Have Braava mop in front of the kitchen counter”, and it heads out and gets to work. Always learning your home and your cleaning habits, it can offer customized schedules that work around your life—even suggesting extra cleanings during pollen season. Using Precision Jet Spray, it loosens dirt and sticky messes without spraying furniture, rugs, or walls—all without any effort from you, making your mopping tasks a thing of the past. *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
We have a pretty big open floor plan and own a roomba i series that empties itself. The only thing holding me back on purchasing the mop is if there is a mechanism where it goes back to its station and can refill with water or does it stop when out?
Our m6 heads back to its dock and the App indicates that it needs a refill. The mop is a bit more hands-on that the vacs.
4 years, 10 months ago
by
TECHBEENGOOD