Cupra's stats
- Review count182
- Helpfulness votes1,000
- First reviewNovember 23, 2013
- Last reviewApril 25, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
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- Answer count6
- Helpfulness votes18
- First answerSeptember 26, 2016
- Last answerOctober 14, 2019
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
LIFX Clean has the power to eliminate bacteria in your home, as well as enhance your home setup with innovative smart tech functionality. By scheduling LIFX Clean to activate its Clean Cycle in the hours that you’re not using it as a standard smart light, HEV lighting will switch on to help mitigate harmful bacteria on surfaces and objects in your home. Without lifting a finger, clean your phone, keys, makeup brushes, kitchen cutting boards and more. Plus, it’s is safe for you, your family, your pets and your plants.
Customer Rating
4
Nice, Responsive Multi-Function Smart Light Bulb.
on October 27, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The LIFX Clean Smart Light is a nice addition to a saturated smart light market place. This version is a somewhat 'niche' offering, that's not only a nice, bright, smart light with a wide 1500-9000K white balance and full color spectrum, but it also has a 'cleaning' mode!
The bulb does NOT use UV light to clean, but rather a High-Energy Visible (HEV) light setting. This is a high-frequency, high-energy light in the violet/blue band from 400 to 450 nm in the visible spectrum. So whether close to a surface for a deep clean, or in an overhead light as a 'supportive' cleaning process, the light is safe for use around pets and humans, but bacteria such as S. aureus and E. coli on surfaces don't stand a chance.
Simply screw the light bulb into your lamp/housing/socket and turn it on. Download the LIFX (pronounced Life X) app and set up the bulb. Within the app, you have the ability to switch through a variety of white color temps, ranging from 1500 to 9000K. This is a very bright lightbulb and performs very well. It also covers the full color spectrum as well, which you have control over within the app. And if you press the little 'star' button in the app, you can set the cleaning process as well, where the bulb turns to the purple/violet color range and you can set a timer for the cleaning. You can test the light out on the included sample card, that absorbs the light, revealing a picture, proving that the light was working.
You can also integrate this light with Alexa/Hey Google/Apple HomeKit/SmartThings, to voice control the light. I use the Alexa ecosystem, and set up was a breeze. Search for devices, add the light to a new or existing group and you can control the light with your voice. It worked seamlessly every time.
My reason for docking a star, is that while the bulb is very smart, has neat features and is very bright, the design of the bulb limits it's light output. A regular bulb offers about a 85% surface coverage to light. A typical smart bulb offers between 50-75% of it's surface coverage to light. This bulb has a relatively narrow disc of light that comes out of the top of the bulb.
Best way to explain this is in my pictures. In the light fitting, the bulb is on its side. And with the design of the bulb, its light pattern is not even, and pushes the light out more on the left side of the housing, demonstrated by the light pattern on both the stove, and on the back splash. The whole left side is a lot brighter than the right side, whereas the previous smart bulb I had in that position had an even light across the whole surface. I wouldn't normally worry about such things, but with the bulb being so bright, it is very noticeable when working in the kitchen.
This may be a unique circumstance, but if there was anywhere that I wanted to 'keep clean', it would be my kitchen work surfaces.
Aside from the design/shape, I'm very happy with the brightness, the controllability and the versatility of the light bulb.
Mobile Submission: False
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Hear Big. Win Big. Take your game to the next level on Xbox or PlayStation with the Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 powered gaming headset. Powered by a rechargeable 12-hour battery, the Recon 200 Gen 2 multiplatform gaming headset delivers powerful, amplified audio, and can keep going without power in passive mode. Whether you’re chatting with teammates or trash-talking the enemy, the flip-to-mute mic picks up your comms loud and clear. Play for hours in comfort with ultra-soft memory foam ear cushions with ProSpecs technology.
Customer Rating
5
Really Comfortable Gaming Headphones.
on October 25, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
These Turtle Beach RECON 200 (Gen 2) headphones are incredibly comfortable! They are replacing a 7+ year old pair of genuine Sony Silver Wired headphones that I've been using most weekends.
Our normal gaming sessions last for about 5 hours on a Friday or Saturday night, and these new Turtle Beach headphones are so incredibly comfortable to wear. The memory foam ear cushions are covered in athletic fabric, and the foam itself is very soft and breathable. I would usually end up with hot ears and have to move my original headphones around to remain comfortable. I was able game for 5 hours without even thinking about the headphones. They memory foam also helps accommodate people who wear glasses, the pressure from the cups on the head is minimized, leaving them a lot more comfortable for glasses wearers. The padded grey headband also just rests on top of your head, and doesn't feel heavy or dig in at all.
Sound was loud, clear and crisp, although, I did have a slight amount of really low level feedback in the background, and with the variable mic monitoring feature that these headphones have, I could hear my voice within my own ear cups when talking, which took some getting used to. But once leveled out with the independent game volume and voice volume controls incorporated into the ear cup, they were great.
The sound was truly immersive, clear definition of sounds, explosions, footsteps, and according to my buddies, my voice was clean and crisp and they had no issues hearing me at all. This is absolutely key, as when you are strategizing, you don't want to have to keep repeating yourself, or interrupting. Everything was clear and crisp, both talking to my buddies and also hearing every word they said. You can also flip the mic up to mute, if you need to snack/drink/cough!
These headphones also feature 'always on' Bass Boost, provided by the 12 hour battery life included in a single charge (that can also be charged while playing). I wouldn't say it was 'earthquaking rumble', but it was definitely present and sounded good.
Overall, very happy with these lightweight, durable, and 'color co-ordinated with my PlayStation 5' (i.e. white) headphones! They are very comfortable, with clear sound, decent bass, good microphone pick up, easy of use controls on the ear cup to dial in your volumes (and even switch between XBox and PlayStation settings).
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Style up your home studio or gaming station with this CORSAIR iCUE smart lighting strip starter kit. The four strips include individually addressed LEDs for customizing the illumination, while the light-diffusing casing softens the brightness for balanced ambiance. This CORSAIR iCUE smart lighting strip starter kit features magnetic clips and adhesive backing for easy installation.
Customer Rating
5
Totally Changed the Gaming Dynamic!
on October 22, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The Corsair iCUE LS100 Smart Lighting Kit has totally changed the 'feel' of my son's gaming environment! It's so much more dynamic now!
The kit was very simple to install, took about 15 mins total to get it set up on the back of the PC. The kit comes with everything you need, from sticky backed magnetic mounts, to cable management clips, and extension cables as well, meaning that you can lay out the lighting however you desire. It is incredibly flexible, so you are not just limited to the edge of a monitor, or the straight edges of your PC. This kit contains two 450mm light strips and two 250mm light strips, offering a total of 84 LEDs in total, along with a power/control module.
Once set up, you download the Corsair iCUE software, and you can configure the lights to your hearts content. The app is a little unintuitive at times, and it took us a couple of attempts to get the lighting exactly as we wanted it. We had it looking great, went to shut down his PC and the lighting changed back to a rainbow and remained on, even with the PC off. We had to go back into the settings and set each state 'Awake/Sleep/Off', but of course, they aren't called that.
You can set up scenes, like you would with many other smart lights, and every time the PC is turned on, the screen will play, be it a static color, a swirling wave of color (of your choice) or synchronizing along with the content on your screen (games/videos), there are so many possibilities with this kit. It really is fantastic! And, as mentioned, you can set lighting characteristics for each mode of your PC, so one style, say animating with the content of your screen when 'Awake', then maybe a rainbow effect when your machine is in 'Sleep' mode, and then maybe a soft white glow when the PC is off. It's incredibly versatile!
It's unobtrusive as well. It sits on the back of your monitor, out of direct line of sight, and you can place the controller module wherever you want on the back. And everything is magnetic, so it's not permanently there, if you want to remove it if you are taking your monitor somewhere. That's a really nice touch there. It has built-in light diffusion in the form of a frosted curved bar on the top of the light strips, that really throws the light far and wide.
Overall we are extremely happy with the performance of the physical iCUE LS100 kit, it's well made, looks durable and is a fun addition. My only comment would be for the software to be a little more intuitive as to the states of the lighting (Awake/Sleep/Off) to make it clear which mode it's in, would make this set perfect!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 10-qt air fryer. This XL 2-Basket Air Fryer has DualZone Technology and IQ Boost. With its 2 independent baskets you can cook 2 foods, 2 ways, at the same time, not back-to-back like a traditional single-basket air fryer.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Technology and Easy to Use!
on October 22, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
Our family uses an air fryer 2-3 times a week. The Ninja Foodi XL 2 Basket Air Fryer has taken air frying to another level, making it so much easier to cook meals that have different fried elements to them, with different cooking times, and having them end the cooking cycle at the same time. Brilliant!
An easy example for us, was cooking fries for my 10 year old son's dinner, while my wife and I wanted garlic bread to go with our spaghetti and meatballs. We love cooking garlic bread in our air fryer (we've used our 'old' Ninja Foodi XL 5.5 quart air fryer for a couple of years now), and we've found that the garlic bread comes out nice and crispy on the outside with a soft, juicy, garlicky center, far better than broiling.
And fries, they are fantastic, about 14 mins at 350 and they are perfect. Really crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. We don't add any oil to them at all, and they taste fantastic.
Now, the beauty of this air fryer lays with the dual zone technology, with dual baskets, which means you can cook two different types of food, two different ways, for two different times, and still have them finish at the same time! In our example, we had the garlic bread cook for 9 mins at 375, and the fries for 14 mins at 350, and they both came out perfectly.
With 6 programmable functions including Air Broil, Air Fry, Roast, Reheat (which is the absolute best for revitalizing pizza - seriously, try it!), Dehydrate and Bake, you have plenty of options with this machine. Coupled with dual 5 quart baskets, you have great capacity to make a complete meal, or a huge capacity using the 'Match Cook' button for a combined 10 quart capacity (think fries or chicken wings!). The baskets are dishwasher safe, along with the non-stick crisper plates that allow the hot air to circulate under the food.
This is a really easy to use system, with intuitive controls. I only had two challenges with the unit.
1. Coming from the Ninja Foodi XL 5.5 quart unit, if you pulled the basket out, the machine would pause, stop the timer, and cut the heat to the machine. This new Ninja Foodi XL 2 Basket Fryer DOES NOT pause when you pull the basket out. When you do, the counter continues to count down, and the machine does not turn off on that side. However, you CAN pause it. You have to press the pause button (press in on the silver dial) in order to pause the cooking, if you want to check on the progress. I loved the fact that my previous air fryer would automatically pause, a great safety feature, but this one is lacking in that area.
2. My previous air fryer had a round basket, and as such, it had 3 rubber feet on the crisper plate. That makes it so easy to remove from the baskets. With the new Ninja Foodi XL 2 Basket Fryer, the crisper plates are rectangular, and have 4 rubber feet on them. They are a lot more difficult to remove from the basket, and the small handle in the middle feels even smaller than before compounding the issue.
Aside from these two small things, as I say, you CAN pause the machine manually yourself, so it's definitely not a deal breaker, just used to it automatically pausing, and the crisper plates being a little more difficult to remove, I am really happy with my Ninja Foodi XL 2 Basket Air Fryer. It's a great addition to the kitchen, it looks great, and performs really, really well.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing MX Keys Mini for Mac, a smaller, smarter, and mightier minimalist wireless keyboard with a layout for Mac made for creators. The minimalist form factor provides improved ergonomics by aligning your shoulders and allowing you to place your mouse closer to your keyboard for less arm reaching, more comfort, and better body posture. Perfect Stroke keys are shaped for your fingertips with optimal key stability and tactile responsiveness to keep you oriented and in your flow. The backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach, and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions. Smart Dictation, Mic Mute/Unmute and Emoji keys streamline your workflow even further.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Replacement for the Mini Mac Keyboard!
on October 3, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
My initial impression of this keyboard was not favorable. I didn't like how the indentions in the keys felt when I first started typing. I'm also always skeptical of using non Apple branded products with Apple devices.
Well, one day later, I was thoroughly impressed with this keyboard!
And here's why: After connecting the keyboard via Bluetooth Low Energy Wireless, the indentions in the keyboard keys actually became a lot more intuitive with time, it just took some getting used to from my usual Mac keyboard, which is incredibly low profile and flat. Another thing that hampered me to start with was adjusting my wrist just slightly to the higher elevation. Sounds odd, but when you have been used to typing on a low profile keyboard for 10+ years, that difference IS noticeable. I, however soon got used to that new wrist position.
Now, having this keyboard with its backlighting and ambient light sensor, it is fantastic at night. The keys are bright and well defined, you can clearly see all the markings on the keys, and talking of markings, this keyboard is specifically laid out for Mac users. So you have your Apple/Command key, Option key and Control keys all in the right place. The volume/media buttons all work great, and once you download the accompanying Logi Options App, you can customize it to your liking - including setting up the F keys and enabling voice-to-text dictation.
The lighting on the keyboard automatically adjusts to the ambient lighting in your room, and automatically dims when the keys have not been touched for a while. They typically go dark after about 5 seconds of inactivity.
The integrated internal battery is charged with a double ended USB-C charging cord which is included with the keyboard. A full charge lasts 10 days with the illumination on, and 5 months without the backlighting turned on. You can also adjust the lighting on the fly with the F4 and F5 buttons.
The 'Perfect Stroke Keys' have a scissor mechanism in them for even pressure over the whole key, resulting in smooth typing with no missed characters or fingers slipping off the keys.
This keyboard also has the ability to connect to 3 different devices and switch between them using 3 dedicated smart keys on the top of the device. Nice if you want to switch between a desktop/laptop/iPad on the go.
Something novel to feature on this keyboard is the 'emoji' button which pops up a menu with a vast array of Apple emojis. Don't know how often I'll remember that functionality is there, but a nice little option none the less.
Overall, I went from 'skeptic' to 'lover' of this keyboard, and have really enjoyed using it since I switched over and adjusted to it. In my photos, I've given a comparison of my (admittedly 'grubby') Apple keyboard, and the new Logitech MX Keys Mini. In those photos I've tried to capture the key layout, the height difference and overall look of the keyboard, compared to a regular aluminum keyboard. This keyboard is not made out of aluminum, and is not adjustable, but it does feel substantial in your hand.
I have no hesitation in recommending this keyboard!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy the ease of the all-new Dinamica Plus Connected, a fully-automatic espresso machine that precisely prepares 16 barista-style beverages at the touch of a button. Experience the simplistic elegance of a colorful touch-display that intelligently controls a built-in conical grinder, delivering maximum freshness and flavor with every use. The new Coffee Link App levels up personalization like never before by letting you save up to 3 custom profiles complete with recipe favorites. You’re just a touch away from expertly tailored coffee, tips and tricks, and even machine maintenance updates. From recipe selection to first sip, this masterful machine is built to deliver authentic espresso in the comfort of your home.
Customer Rating
5
Stunning and versatile coffee maker
on September 13, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The De'Longhi Dinamica Plus really is a 'one machine does it all', fully automatic espresso machine. And at $1500, it really does need to 'wow' you, and do it all.
Thankfully I can report that this machine is incredible! My wife is the coffee connoisseur in the household, she likes her coffee a specific way, and she was absolutely blown away by the Dinamica Plus.
To start with, the machine looks fantastic on your countertop. It's sleek design, relatively compact profile and color tone really look great. Setting the machine up was a breeze, step by step instructions, not only in the printed quick guide, but also on-screen on the 3.5" digital touchscreen display on the front. Clear and crisp graphics tell you to run a couple of cups through the system to start with, to make sure that all of the mechanism inside is clean. You are guided when to attach the water spout, or to replace it with the LatteCrema System, for frothing/foaming/heating your milk. There are 6 buttons on the front to set up the machine, set your cup size, brew strength, user profiles etc.
We started by adding fresh grounds to the 10.5oz grind hopper on top. It has 13 settings, using the rotary dial located inside the hopper lid. Adjusting the coarseness gives you the choice over the boldness of flavors and aroma. The grinder works exceptionally well, and is not 'that' noisy.
First time out, there was a little guessing game as to where to put your cup first, under which one of the spouts! The machine did a self clean before brewing the first coffee. Over time, looking at the screen prompts, this gets easier! The thermal carafe is superb. It is double walled so keeps your milk a lot fresher than other machines we've used in the past, and stores the milk in the refrigerator for next time use without issues. Even the LatteCrema System does a self clean after each use, negating the need for you to have to go in there and clean it after every coffee which is a real time saver, and really helps you enjoy your coffee more. It's like some kind of ethereal magic going on inside the machine, how clean it keeps itself. And talking of clean, slide the metal topped drip tray out, to reveal the grounds bucket. Even that, when pulled out, has neat little discs of discarded coffee grounds, making it really simple to clean up. You are recommended to clean the main removable brewing mechanism once a month. Having only had the machine a week we haven't done that yet.
Onto the coffees - We prepared several coffees right out of the gate to see how it would perform. The LatteCrema System uses the afore mentioned magic to create luxurious, velvety foam with an incredible density, almost as if you could eat it like a marshmallow, instead of drinking it! Adjust the dial, and you can have a softer, more frothy feel to your foam, or, lower the dial again, and your hot milk will be creamy, smooth and ready for a hot chocolate. We tried those 3 to start with and they all came out perfect! As I said, my wife was blown away that an automatic system could make a drink this well.
The coffees this machine can serve up for you are Espresso Macchiato, Cappuccino, Cappuccino Mix, Cappuccino+, Coffeelatte, Latte Macchiato, (Hot Milk) and Flat White. This machine can ALSO create an amazing iced coffee! Out of the gate, we made a cappuccino. It tasted amazing! Creamy, smooth, flavorful and aromatic. Next up was a Latte Macchiato, to put the LatteCrema System through its paces. Thick foam on top, smooth coffee and creamy milk below. Then on with a mug of hot milk (for a silky hot chocolate), and then finally, the iced coffee. Yes, I said it, an iced coffee. We have (the operative word should now be 'had') a dedicated iced coffee maker, but the Dinamica Plus makes an astounding iced coffee. And all of these drinks were made from one fill of the water reservoir. It has a great capacity, and a dedicated water filter in the middle as well.
You can set up and save 'user profiles' that store your favorite coffee options, so you can recall them at the touch of a button. This is handy with multiple coffee drinkers in the household. You can download the De'Longhi Coffee Link app, connect to your machine and brew coffee via bluetooth. In our experience, the brewing part works well (sending the signal to the machine and creating the coffee - check out the pictures), but the user interface is still a little clunky at times, and the lack of wifi connectivity makes the range somewhat limited to about 30ft (standard bluetooth range). Not a deal breaker, we were able to summon a hot cup of coffee from the sofa, without raising more than a finger to tap on the phone screen. However, when launching the app, we've been asked to input our location, re-enter our password and select our machine several times, so it's not a slick and smooth process there, but the actual menu for the beverages looks great and is very intuitive. Instructions on the app are spot on too, they take you through step by step stages for each drink creation.
Overall, we are really, really impressed with this machine, yes, it's expensive, but I think the actual quality of the beverages, the luxuriousness of the lattes, and the foam are in keeping with the price point. The quality of the machine is fantastic, and the ease of use is second to none. And the self cleaning is almost worth the price of entry alone!
You won't be disappointed with the quality of the coffee this machine makes at all. You can adjust the temperature of the water, the strength of the coffee, the coarseness of the grind, the density of the foam and size of the coffee you make. The adjustable dispensing spout aids the addition of larger cups, however, you can't remove the drip tray to get a larger insulated cup in there. That would have been a nice option.
Very impressed with the De'Longhi Dinamica Plus.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Elevate your entertaining experience with immersive 3D sound. The power of Samsung sound bar Q600A makes surround soundbar comes to life with speakers that fire from front, side and above.
Customer Rating
4
Nice Entry-Level Dolby Atmos Experience.
on August 12, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The Samsung Q600A 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos Soundbar is a nice entry-level toe dip into the Dolby Atmos/DTS:X world. It's slim profile means that it's unobtrusive on your TV stand, but it does pack a punch! I hooked it up to a 40" Samsung TV, and plugged an Amazon FireTV stick DIRECTLY into the soundbar.
*Heads up: I've found from experience that if you plug the FireTV stick into the TV and then route it through the soundbar, the Samsung soundbar has trouble passing the bass through. By plugging the FireTV stick directly into the soundbar, you get all of the audio passed through the system for a nice deep bass presence.
For bass, this smaller Q600A is no exception, it has a nice punchy bass from the subwoofer, clear center channel audio and of course left and right channels to fill out the sound. To add that extra dimension and the Dolby Atmos sound, there are two top firing speakers as well, that project the sound up and bounce it off the ceiling to envelope you in sound. While not as accurate as a traditional 5.1.2 dedicated surround system with rear speakers, the Q600A does a good job of augmenting the sound and 'throwing it' around the room, so you get to feel like you are part of the action.
Something that Samsung has updated with this soundbar is moving the display to the front edge of the soundbar (in this instance, the right hand side), so you can actually see it when you are sat down watching TV. Previously it could be found on top of the soundbar and was pretty much unusable. Nice to know they've listened to feedback on this one.
The soundbar itself is sturdy, with a solid grill on the front instead of a material one (which I much prefer). Set up was simple, along with minimal instructions from Samsung. Plug in the soundbar, plug in the subwoofer, they pair together, or you can actually go and pair them manually. Plug it into your TV and power on. I played 'Lost in Space' on Netflix, which has a Dolby Atmos soundtrack to test out the soundbar. The ambient sounds were fantastic, buzzing around your head, really expanding the stage of the show. Action felt like it came from further to the left or right that what you saw on screen, which also heightens the watching experience.
With 2 HDMI inputs, Adaptive Sound, and Game Pro mode, the Samsung Q600A is a nice all round entry-level foray into the Dolby Atmos/DTS:X home theater experience, if you don't have the space for a dedicated surround sound system. Add to that the proprietary 'Samsung Q-Symphony' system to utilize the TV's speakers as part of the surround sound experience, you expand the experience.
Bluetooth connectivity to enable your to stream music to the system is simple to set up and use with control over the soundbar.
Cons: The remote is a little touchy, I'm not a fan of the toggle switches for the volume etc, you can end up muting the system more than you want when adjusting the volume. And the subwoofer, while it packs a decent punch, the design of it feels like an after thought and to a budget. The case is vinyl wrapped MDF with a cloth grill cover on it. But, with the subwoofer, you do kind of 'set it and forget it' behind the sofa or in the corner, so it's not a deal breaker.
Overall, I'm happy with the soundbar and I'm using it to fill out the sound in my garage, to stream live concerts to a TV I have out there. This Q600A definitely fills the space, I've been using it out there for over a month now with great results. I've even had neighbors come up and ask about the system I'm using!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Transfer files between iOS and Android devices with this SanDisk SDIX70N-128G-AN6NE iXpand Flash Drive Luxe. The Lightning and USB-C connectors allow fast transfer speeds, and the automatic backup feature safeguards photos and videos on your iPhone. This SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe boasts a 128GB capacity to let you free up space on your smartphones and tablets, while the iXpand Drive app helps you remotely protect your files with a password.
Customer Rating
5
Easily transfer pics & videos from your iPhone!
on July 28, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The SanDisk iXpand 128GB flash drive plus is a great addition to my iPhone 12 Pro. I create DIY fix videos around the house and edit them completely in my iPhone. Having this flash drive to hand is great for easily storing either those finished videos for archiving, or to take the b-roll footage off of my iPhone and free up space.
The drive itself is really easy to use, it has a sturdy aluminum case, with some weight to it, and a convenient swivel action to reveal either an Apple Lightening connector, or a USB-C connector. It does have a small cover for the exposed connector, so make sure you keep track of that, it is not tethered and could potentially go missing. There is also a loop built into the back side of the drive to attach it to a keychain, so that it's with you, always ready for use.
Simply plug the lightening connector into your iPhone and you will be promoted that the app required to use this device is NOT installed and you need to download the iXpand Drive App from the App Store. Once installed, the user interface is really simple and clean, easy to use and makes great sense. There are some audio/music files, and some pictures already on the iXpand Drive, which I chose to delete right away, as they are simply taking up space. The drive plugged straight into my iPhone, WITH a silicone case on, great that I didn't have to remove that first.
Looking through the app, once you have transferred files from your phone to the drive, you are able to preview your photos and play your videos, so you are in complete control of your files on the drive. You have the option to set up automatic back ups, I chose not to do this, as I have a 256GB iPhone, the main use for this drive for me, is to have a nice, clean version of the videos I create, as a back up. You have the ability to password protect and create secure folders on the drive if you so choose.
Flip the drive around 180º to expose the USB-C connector and you're set to plug the drive directly into your computer. It comes preloaded with the required software for both Mac and Windows machines to make the transfer of files seamless. Again, easy to use and intuitive, a nice transfer solution. I haven't had any issues with the drive at all since I started using it.
Overall, I am very happy with this easy-to-use, versatile, robust and convenient 128GB SanDisk iXpand Drive.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+15points
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Game like a pro with this ROG STRIX Advantage Edition. Double up on AMD firepower with Ryzen 9-5900HX CPU and Radeon RX6800M GPU featuring exclusive AMD SmartShift and Smart Access Memory technology that dynamically boosts performance for any task. Enjoy eSports speed on 300hz FHD simply with FreeSync premium enabling ultrasmooth gameplay.
Customer Rating
4
Nice Gaming Laptop with Lots of Features
on June 23, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The ASUS - ROG (Republic of Gamers) Strix G15 Advantage Edition is a great looking piece of kit, from the moment you open the box. The laptop is 'presented' to you like some kind of trophy as you open the box. At 5.29lbs, this laptop does have some heft to it.
As for the machine itself, it took quite some time to get it set up, the usual Windows 10 configuration, which with all the flashing lights on the laptop, infuriated my son, as he wanted to get stuck in and personalize it for himself. After the initial set up, he had fun setting the Aura Creator up to get the laptop looking just how he wanted it. The RGB backlit keyboard with dedicated WASD key highlights is almost infinitely customizable, along with the C shaped light bar along the front edge and 1/3 of the sides.
The screen is nice and bright, colorful, it is NOT touchscreen, no matter how hard you press it. My son's desktop PC is touchscreen so this took a moment to adjust for him. Its a 1920x1080 (full HD screen) at a nice 15.6" diameter with a 300hz refresh rate and 3ms response time.
We tested this laptop out with two key games, Roblox for him and Call of Duty Warzone for me. I tend to prefer dedicated game consoles, my son prefers gaming PCs. With Roblox, everything ran as expected, until we got into some intense multiplayer action, when there appeared to be some interpolation on the screen, the graphics effectively 'scrolled' to refresh down the screen. Not the end of the world, but not what I was expecting from a dedicated gaming laptop. Similar situation with Call of Duty even during the opening video, the interpolation was there, causing an almost scrolling refresh of the graphics as the animation continued. Need to delve deeper into the settings to find the optimal set up for both types of games and demands on the machine.
The SSD is kind of small (at 512GB), especially when considering most game downloads these days exceed 100GB, so either an external storage solution, or upgrading the internal drive to a much larger one will be needed. I don't understand why companies who are designing for gamers, and know the typical download size of a game are making the drives so relatively small. Same is happening with consoles too. It has 16GB RAM on board, but that really needs to be upgraded as well, to increase performance.
I've read that several people have had issues with the Radeon 6800M GPU, either not switching, or even being DOA. I haven't found that to be an issue, yet, but having only had the laptop a week, only time will tell. So far so good, I haven't had a similar experience.
AMD Smartshift aims to increase performance by as much as 10% by using a hardware boosting interface that shifts power between the CPU and GPU, but in all honesty, I didn't notice any significant increase in performance during gameplay.
The sound is very impressive, I must say. The intro start up sound takes you aback and grabs your attention. The laptop has Dolby Atmos compatibility, with dedicated headphones (not included). The battery is a 4-cell Lithion-Ion Polymer and has 'decent' life to it, but don't expect to game all day on a single charge.
As mentioned, there are many other features of this laptop including a 'vapor chamber' that offers better and faster heat dissipation, an IR sensor that monitors the temperature of the keyboard, so that the cooling can adjust to keep the keyboard as cool as possible, it has two-way noise cancellation that helps filter out unwanted noise during voice communication, has a HDMI out to enable you to expand to a High Definition monitor or TV, a multitude of connectivity options including USB 3.2 Type C and 3 USB Type A 3.2 ports. The machine is also WiFi 6 certified with two data streams and two antennas for improved responsiveness. It also has swappable 'armor cap', (the red bar on the top left of the laptop) - there are two other caps, a silver and a graphite one buried under the packaging in the box.
Overall, I've been happy with the ASUS ROG STRIX G15 Advantage Laptop in the short time I've owned it. Could it be better? Sure. Is it a decent laptop? Absolutely, it provides a great platform to build on, with a lot of nice features, great aesthetics and a substantial overall feel.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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13of 89voted this as helpful.
The RØDE iOS Vlogger Kit contains everything you need to get professional results when fi lming using your iPhone. The VideoMic Me-L microphone connects directly to your device, delivering crisp, clear, directional sound for any application. The SmartGrip secures your device firmly in place for stable recording and connects seamlessly to the Tripod 2 for either handheld or tabletop use, while the MicroLED ensures all your shots are perfectly lit. The Vlogger Kit comes with a mic clip to ensure the mic is secure and a furry windshield suitable for filming in outdoor and adverse weather conditions.
Customer Rating
4
Great 'All-in-One' Filmmaking Kit
on June 21, 2021
Posted by: Cupra
from Keller, TX
The Røde iOS Edition Vlogger Kit is a great addition to any iPhone users video arsenal. The kit includes everything you need to create high quality, professional looking videos::
1x VideoMic Me-L Microphone
1x Rubber Clip (pre installed on the microphone)
1x WS9 Windshield
1x Smartgrip
1x Tripod 2
1x MicroLED On-Camera Light
1x Clip-On Diffuser
8x Colored Filters
1x USB Charging Cable
1x Rubber Clip (pre installed on the microphone)
1x WS9 Windshield
1x Smartgrip
1x Tripod 2
1x MicroLED On-Camera Light
1x Clip-On Diffuser
8x Colored Filters
1x USB Charging Cable
The kit is compatible with iPhone/iPod touch 6th Generation up to the iPhone 12 range, with the lightning port.
Set up is incredibly easy, attach the iPhone clip to the tripod, charge and attach the LED light to the top of the iPhone mount, and plug in the microphone to the bottom of your iPhone and you are up and running. The LED light is bright, it has 4 light settings, long press the button on top to turn on and off, short press to switch between the light intensity settings. There is a light diffuser case and 8 different gels that you can use with it, meaning that the light can not only be used on top of the camera to light you/your subject, but you can also place colored gels on the LED light and use it as ambient lighting for a scene you are shooting. The light provides a nice full cast on the face, giving an even light without being to harsh, but I do wish it's angle could be adjustable. The 8 light gels come in their own little carry case so they remain clean and undamaged. The charge of the LED light lasts for approximately 1 hour before needing to be recharged again.
The VideoMic Me-L is a nice, compact, direct connect, directional microphone that has a great sound field pick-up, that is only enhanced by adding the WS9 Windshield. This eliminated almost all background noise and interference and provided crisp, clear, intentional sound, helping make videos feel a lot more professionally finished. I did have an issue accessing the on-screen video button with the windshield on, but this can be overcome by using the volume up button on the iPhone (12 Pro in my case) to start and stop your video. You do need to remove your case from your phone in order to use the microphone in the lightning port.
The iPhone clip is aluminum, with a spring actuator to keep it open as you place your phone in there, a nice touch, makes it easier to position the iPhone in the cradle. The handle of the tripod is heavy duty plastic/rubber and has a gimble on top to enable you to get the iPhone at just the right angle for your video. The handle has 3 legs on it to provide a stable base for the camera to rest on, and adjust as needed. There are not adjustable legs in themselves, they do not extent, retract or bend into other settings.
Overall, very happy with the Røde Vlogger Kit for iPhone, it's elevated my content, giving a much more professional look and feel to it. If I were to change anything about it, I would like for the mount on top of the iPhone holder to have a small gimble on it so that you can rotate the LED up or down, away from the subject slightly, it would be nice if the handle could extend a little to give a little more versatility, and if the windshield was a little more sculpted to allow better access to the on-screen recording button, but again, these are 'nice-to-have's' on an already great product.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Cupra's Answers
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