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- Review count38
- Helpfulness votes128
- First reviewJanuary 21, 2011
- Last reviewApril 1, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.1
- Review comment count3
- Helpfulness votes3
- First review commentNovember 3, 2014
- Last review commentJuly 18, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes1
- First answerJuly 18, 2016
- Last answerApril 1, 2019
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
Samsung Galaxy Tab E: Easily browse the Web and stay entertained with this tablet, which features a 9.6" display that's large enough to watch movies and TV shows and small enough to take on the go. Plus, you can record videos and snap photos with the 5.0MP rear-facing and 2.0MP front-facing cameras.
Posted by: darien87
from CA
I bought this tablet to replace my Nook Tablet HD that suddenly stopped booting. I had my Nook rooted and running Cyanogenmod 10 so it worked great. I expected this tablet to be better since it was a few years newer and supposedly has a quad core processor. I believe the Nook only had a dual core processor. Well this tablet seems to be no faster than the Nook was. It takes about a minute to load the game Candy Blast Mania just like the Nook did. Perhaps it is the amount of bloatware that is on this thing that is slowing it down. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a root for the Tab E so I am stuck with all of the garbage that Samsung chooses to burned this tablet with.
Also the touch screen doesn't seem to be very accurate. I constantly have to make multiple taps to get the selection I want and I can't tell you how many times it has made an incorrect move while playing a game.
Overall this tablet is just not very good. It's surprisingly slow. I would say that my old Nook Tablet HD was better in just about every way and it cost less. Oh well.
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+9points
10of 11voted this as helpful.
Samsung Gear Fit Fitness Watch + Heart Rate: Monitor your exercise and sleep habits with this Samsung watch that features accelerometer, gyro and heart rate sensors to provide helpful fitness data. A Bluetooth 4.0 + LE interface allows pairing with select devices, so you can receive SNS, call, e-mail and app notifications.
Posted by: darien87
from CA
This device should not even be called a fitness tracker. It is more of an extension of your cell phone that has a few VERY basic fitness tracker functions on it. However there is no app for tracking or analyzing your data which makes this device pretty much useless as a fitness tracker.
The Samsung Gear Fit Manager app to make the thing work would not work with my phone. I had to buy a 3rd party app from the Google marketplace to even use this thing. It seems like Samsung wants you to have a Samsung phone if you want to use the Gear Fit.
This device is great if you want to read and send texts or e-mails from your wrist. But if you're looking for a full functioned fitness tracker, this is not it.
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-5points
3of 11voted this as helpful.
Polar Loop Activity Tracker: With a custom-fit bracelet, this tracker can be worn comfortably on your wrist, allowing you to monitor your activity levels and receive helpful guidance and motivation. The rechargeable battery offers up to 5 days of continuous use.
Customer Rating
3
Pretty good but lacking a couple of features
on January 3, 2015
Posted by: darien87
from CA
This is my 5th fitness tracker now. The others I have used are the:
Withings 02 Pulse
Adidas Fit
Garmin Vivosmart
Samsung Gear Fit
Adidas Fit
Garmin Vivosmart
Samsung Gear Fit
I think this is the one I will be sticking with. It does just about everything I want my fitness tracker to do but it lacks a couple of features I liked in others. Of all the ones I've tried so far I think the Garmin Vivosmart is the best. But I ended up returning that one because it would constantly lose sync with my phone and had to be manually re-paired. It would happen multiple times a day and I just got tired of having to go through the pairing process again every time. It was very frustrating.
The Polar Loop has quite a few things going for it:
* Looks good - I originally had the basic black model but exchanged it for the purple, (Black Currant).
* Comfortable to wear - I wear the band loose enough that it slides around a bit on my wrist so I barely know it's there.
* Connects easily to the HR6 or HR7 Polar heart rate strap. I wanted a tracker with heart rate function because I do more weight lifting than cardio so I wanted a device that would give me accurate calories burned while lifting.
* No problems pairing with my phone.
For the cons:
* Wrist band must be cut to size - I found this process to be very tedious. I'm not a watch maker. Using the tiny tool to remove and reinstall the retaining pins was very frustrating. I actually lost one of the pins because it immediately shot across the room when I took it out of the buckle. Luckily Polar provides you with a spare pin just for this issue.
* App is still in Beta and is pretty basic.
* Proprietary charging cable - I don't know why all of these tracker manufacturers can't just use a standard USB charging cable like on Android phones. I've had 3 or 4 different brands of phone in the last couple of years and every one of them had the same charging cable. The Polar one connects to the back of the device and it is a bit of a pain feeding it around the buckle to connect it.
Overall I like this tracker but if not for the pairing issue with the Garmin Vivosmart I would have stayed with that one.
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+10points
10of 10voted this as helpful.
Microsoft Xbox One: The Xbox One is your all-in-one media center. Its powerful hardware delivers impressive graphics and detailed game worlds, plus it also offers an impressive lineup of video streaming apps to bring you movies, TV shows, sports and more in HD.The wireless controller was refined through hundreds of tests to emerge as Microsoft's most advanced controller to date. There are more than 40 improvements over the Xbox 360 controller, including everything from a more comfortable design and improved response time to additional rumble motors that can deliver more dynamic haptic feedback.Kinect is bundled in, delivering motion capture technology that allows you to step into your games and control them by moving your body. It also includes voice recognition, so your games and apps respond to the sound of your voice. Navigating the Xbox One's dynamic menus is simple and convenient; just swipe your hand, speak commands or use the included wireless controller.Advanced TV hardware required. Games, add-ons and media content sold separately. Initial setup and some games and features require broadband Internet; ISP fees apply. Online multiplayer requires Xbox Live Gold membership (sold separately). Multiplayer between Xbox 360 and Xbox One not supported. See Xbox.com/XboxOne.
Customer Rating
3
Not bad so far but not really ready for prime time
on March 3, 2014
Posted by: darien87
from CA
Verified Purchase:Yes
I originally had a PS4 but I returned it after a couple of weeks because it doesn't even play CD's!!! How ridiculous is that? But so far I only like the Xbox marginally better. I'm not a fan of the Xbox controller but that's probably just because I'm used to the Playstation controller. I list Kinect as both a pro and a con because when it works it's pretty cool. The problem is that it only works about 70% of the time. Games load quickly and I like being able to pin apps I use most often to the home screen. My wife likes Xbox Fitness so that's a plus. Also being able to watch TV through the Xbox is very cool. No more switching between my gaming system and the TV. Very convenient.
Overall I'd say the Xbox is OK. Not really worth $500 though. We'll see how it improves once more games come out.
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
What's great about it: Kinect, speed, Xbox Fitness
What's not so great: Kinect, not many games
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Rock out during your workout with this LifeProof 1335 armband, which features a lightweight and breathable design to let you stay comfortable while exercising. The nonslip plastic construction helps keep your Apple iPhone SE, 5s or 5 in place.
Customer Rating
4
Expensive but works well
on June 7, 2013
Posted by: darien87
from CA
Verified Purchase:Yes
This thing is very expensive but it was the only one I found that would hold my ZTE Avid 4G phone with it's case. Works well, it's just very pricey.
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
My Best Buy number: 2013468778
What's not so great: Price
I would recommend this to a friend!
Durability
4
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Rock out with these stereo headphones that feature a neodymium-iron-boron magnet and 11mm drivers for brilliant sound quality.
Posted by: darien87
from CA
I was skeptical about buying these headphones because when it comes to sound, size is everything. You just can't get good sound from tiny speakers. These headphones proved me right. They sound pretty bad. "Deep, rich bass"? Yeah right.
What's great about it: Not much
What's not so great: Pretty much everything
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
1
Comfort
3
Durability
3
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-4points
0of 4voted this as helpful.
Keep your Wi-Fi connection strong anywhere in the house with this NETGEAR router. Monitor your network with the NETGEAR genie app, keep track of your kids with parental controls, and use multiple devices simultaneously for downloading, gaming and more
Posted by: darien87
from CA
I use it in...:Small home
Bought this router for my home and it works great. The WPS feature is especially nice. I hooked up a desktop PC, my PS 3 and a Blu-ray player to it in about 10 minutes with Netgear Wireless adapters. I thought WPS would only work with other Netgear products but I was also able to use WPS to connect my DirecTV box so I could get on demand. If you're a technophobe WPS is a live saver.
What's great about it: Easy set up
What's not so great: A tad bit big
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
4
Performance
5
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Access eBooks, music, videos and more while on the go with this lightweight digital book. The 7" TFT-LCD provides 600 x 800 pixel resolution and features touch-screen capability for easy navigation through your virtual library.
Customer Rating
4
Good for the price
on January 21, 2011
Posted by: darien87
from CA
I recently thought about getting an eReader because I read a lot of books, but once you're done reading you're stuck with storing the book. I wanted one with a color screen so I was initially looking at the Nook Color. The Nook Color is awesome, but I just couldn't get myself to spend $250 on it. I just wanted something that I could use to read books and casually browse the internet. I liked the screen on the Kindle, but who wants to surf the net in B & W.
So I ended up buying the Novel. It's weird people seem to either love or hate this unit. I think it's pretty cool. Sure it's not as fast or responsive as the Nook, but it costs half as much. I haven't really had any problems with it. Sure it's not an iPad, but you can't expect iPad quality for $129. For the money, it's good and does what I want.
What's great about it: Price
What's not so great: Short battery life, screen not super responsive
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
darien87's Review Comments
Have you ever wondered what you would do if you woke up one day to find the world transformed to one full of horrors? Lots of people have apocalypse survival plans, but do they really ask themselves how they would cope? It's hard to gauge how well you would deal with a life that consists of nothing but fear, because you've never really experienced it. But one thing is for certain — if you let the fear win then you don't survive. If you don't keep the evil within chained up under lock and key, then the horror will overtake you and drag you under.Dive into a world crafted by the father of survival horror, Shinji Mikami in The Evil Within. In a game that embodies the meaning of terror, you have no choice but to gather your courage, shut down the fear and let your adrenaline carry you away. Explore highly crafted environments full of the stuff of nightmares and contend with the horrifying anxiety of constantly fighting to survive. An intricate storyline weaves together to build an engrossing experience that will make your palms sweat and your heart race. Do you have what it takes to overcome the tension and withstand the deadly terror?
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5a mind-bending and keep you on your toes style gam
By Jerome2679
a kind of game that'll keep you on your toes, death and mystery around every corner. must decide whether to go for the extra experience or save your and my own parts to get through the game. boss battles at challenger mind
darien87
CA
Huh?
November 3, 2014
This review makes no sense.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Polar Loop Activity Tracker: With a custom-fit bracelet, this tracker can be worn comfortably on your wrist, allowing you to monitor your activity levels and receive helpful guidance and motivation. The rechargeable battery offers up to 5 days of continuous use.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Pretty good but lacking a couple of features
By darien87
from CA
This is my 5th fitness tracker now. The others I have used are the:
Withings 02 Pulse
Adidas Fit
Garmin Vivosmart
Samsung Gear Fit
Adidas Fit
Garmin Vivosmart
Samsung Gear Fit
I think this is the one I will be sticking with. It does just about everything I want my fitness tracker to do but it lacks a couple of features I liked in others. Of all the ones I've tried so far I think the Garmin Vivosmart is the best. But I ended up returning that one because it would constantly lose sync with my phone and had to be manually re-paired. It would happen multiple times a day and I just got tired of having to go through the pairing process again every time. It was very frustrating.
The Polar Loop has quite a few things going for it:
* Looks good - I originally had the basic black model but exchanged it for the purple, (Black Currant).
* Comfortable to wear - I wear the band loose enough that it slides around a bit on my wrist so I barely know it's there.
* Connects easily to the HR6 or HR7 Polar heart rate strap. I wanted a tracker with heart rate function because I do more weight lifting than cardio so I wanted a device that would give me accurate calories burned while lifting.
* No problems pairing with my phone.
For the cons:
* Wrist band must be cut to size - I found this process to be very tedious. I'm not a watch maker. Using the tiny tool to remove and reinstall the retaining pins was very frustrating. I actually lost one of the pins because it immediately shot across the room when I took it out of the buckle. Luckily Polar provides you with a spare pin just for this issue.
* App is still in Beta and is pretty basic.
* Proprietary charging cable - I don't know why all of these tracker manufacturers can't just use a standard USB charging cable like on Android phones. I've had 3 or 4 different brands of phone in the last couple of years and every one of them had the same charging cable. The Polar one connects to the back of the device and it is a bit of a pain feeding it around the buckle to connect it.
Overall I like this tracker but if not for the pairing issue with the Garmin Vivosmart I would have stayed with that one.
darien87
CA
More info
January 9, 2015
EDIT - 1-9-15
So I've had the Loop for a few weeks now and it's still pretty decent. I wish that you could see how much battery life is left other than by plugging the Loop in to charge. It would be nice if you could see it on the display.
Also, there have been a few network outages where I have not been able to sync my Loop with their site. This is pretty frustrating. Polar's customer service is horrible!!! I have called them 3 times and each time eventually hung up after waiting on hold for about 10 minutes. The 3rd time I got my questions by using their online chat so I guess they don't completely suck. But with Garmin I got a live person on the phone right away every time. I really wished the Vivosmart had worked better with my phone because that seems to be the best of all the trackers I've tried.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Accomplish fitness goals with this Samsung fitness watch. IIts smart notifications let you receive alerts and respond to calls from compatible Android and iOS smartphones¹ and a curved display makes it easy to view activity progress. Featuring a music player with access to countless songs, this Samsung fitness watch lets you jam to your favorite tunes.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Great fitness tracker, but limited...
By Nicolly05
After owning this device for about 10 days I decided to return it. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice device. I like the fitness features, and there are so many exercise choices to choose from. I like that you can add music to the device and listen to your tracks with out having your phone on you. (However it does require Bluetooth headphones) The screen is vivid and I never had to turn the brightness up to 10 even when outdoors. Step counter seemed to work fine (although sometimes I noticed it stopped counting steps randomly through out the day).
I really only have 2 major complaints about it. While you can pair this device with any Android smartphone, you are severely limited in the apps/watch faces that show up in the Samsung store. With my Nexus 6P I had only 8 watch faces to choose from. When I paired it with the Samsung S7, there were over 30. Apps were the same way, about 4 showed up in the store for the Nexus, but many more appeared once it was connected to a Samsung phone.
Most importantly: (my major reason for returning the device) The band design on this thing is clearly flawed. I cannot tell you how many times the band popped out of place almost causing the device to fall off. Sometimes I noticed when it happened, but other times I just noticed something felt off and looked down to see the device hanging off my wrist. Thankfully the band has a built in loop or this thing would have dropped a ton (and I only wore it for 10 days!). Until Samsung makes an option to replace the band I really cannot recommend this product.
This device really is an improvement over the original Gear Fit but the band and limited app/watch face options on non Samsung phones outweighed all the positive things that I liked about this device,
darien87
CA
July 18, 2016
Mine popped off numerous times also, (about 4 times in a week). I returned mine for the same reasons you noted as well as the atrocious battery life. I could barely get a day and a half out of mine and that was with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned off.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
darien87's Questions
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darien87's Answers
Enhance your exercise sessions with this Samsung Active smartwatch. Advanced auto workout tracking detects up to seven exercises and tracks up to 40 more, while proactive health monitoring sends real-time alerts in case of irregular heartbeat. This Samsung Active smartwatch can pair with your smartphone, Android tablet and select iOS devices.
Can you change the watch faces like you can with the "Gear" watches? Also...is this watch smaller than the Gear S2?
Yes and Yes.
5 years ago
by
darien87
Play party music with this three-box Sony audio system. Its Digital Sound Enhancement Engine and S-Force Front Surround technology produce high-quality sound, and the built-in microphone input lets you engage in karaoke-style singing. This Sony audio system offers wireless streaming from Bluetooth devices, and its USB port and CD player provide extra connectivity to music sources.
Are the included Speakers hardwired? Or Bluetooth?
Hardwired. Very thin wiring.
5 years, 5 months ago
by
darien87
Accomplish fitness goals with this Samsung fitness watch. IIts smart notifications let you receive alerts and respond to calls from compatible Android and iOS smartphones¹ and a curved display makes it easy to view activity progress. Featuring a music player with access to countless songs, this Samsung fitness watch lets you jam to your favorite tunes.
Can you get text messages and play music on it.
Yes you can.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
darien87
Accomplish fitness goals with this Samsung fitness watch. IIts smart notifications let you receive alerts and respond to calls from compatible Android and iOS smartphones¹ and a curved display makes it easy to view activity progress. Featuring a music player with access to countless songs, this Samsung fitness watch lets you jam to your favorite tunes.
Is it only compatible with Samsung phones or can it be used with any Android phone?
Worked just fine with my LG G4.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
darien87