gadgeTT's stats
- Review count178
- Helpfulness votes806
- First reviewOctober 1, 2015
- Last reviewJune 28, 2024
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- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count11
- Helpfulness votes19
- First answerAugust 12, 2017
- Last answerDecember 2, 2021
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Discover the power of X! The new Philips Sonicare Power Flosser creates an X-shaped stream of water that reaches deep between teeth for a gentle, thorough clean. This X-shaped water stream, known as Quad-Stream technology, covers more surface area for a faster, deeper clean versus manual floss. Because of Quad-Stream technology, Philips Sonicare Power Flosser enables you to improve your gum health by 50% in just 1 minute per day!
Customer Rating
5
Compact, Quiet, Works Great, Convenient Features
on April 17, 2022
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
The concept is simple - spray water between your teeth to clean ‘em up. This water flosser is easy to use, compact and quiet. It has some really nice features that set it apart from others.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
The concept is simple - spray water between your teeth to clean ‘em up. This water flosser is easy to use, compact and quiet. It has some really nice features that set it apart from others.
Pros:
* Doesn’t take up much vanity space.
* Very quiet even at full speed.
* Convenient features like auto-pause when on the magnetic dock.
* Easy to fill and clean tank.
* Doesn’t take up much vanity space.
* Very quiet even at full speed.
* Convenient features like auto-pause when on the magnetic dock.
* Easy to fill and clean tank.
Cons:
* Buttons could be easier to press with one hand.
* Nozzle ejection button is a bit too easy to accidentally press during use.
* Buttons could be easier to press with one hand.
* Nozzle ejection button is a bit too easy to accidentally press during use.
Details - Setup:
Not much to say here. The provided power cable is clearly labeled on the wall-end for what it connects to which is really nice. The end that plugs into the flosser is recessed so it won’t get wet if there’s a puddle on the countertop. The unit comes with several nozzle choices and a storage case for the ones that you’re not using. It was very easy to set up and get ready to use.
Details - Typical Usage:
All of the controls are “soft” (electrical buttons) with the exception of the “pause” switch and the nozzle ejection button on the handle. The tank is easy to remove from the base to fill with warm water and perhaps some mouthwash. The lid flips open really far so it’s easy to not only fill but empty and let air dry. Both the power and the mode buttons have “lips” on them to make them easier to use if they were just flush with the base, but they still need to be pressed into the unit to actuate. One of my very minor complaints on the design of this flosser is that pressing these buttons typically moves or slides the whole base so it’s best done with one hand supporting the base while pressing.
The “dock” where the handle stores on the base is magnetic and easy to keep clean. There is a “pause” switch on the handle that stops the flow of water. When docked, the switch automatically pauses the flow which is really convenient. That switch is also easy to reach and use while flossing.
Another small complaint is that the “eject” button for the nozzle is really easy to accidentally press while flossing. If you do this, the nozzle disengages and the flossing doesn’t work so well. You really have to be careful while flossing to not brush against that eject button as it doesn’t take much pressure to pop the nozzle off.
The hose is plenty long enough to reach into the sink as long as the base isn’t too far away. It also coils back into a loop and stores neatly into the base.
There are four flossing modes. I’ve been using the “deep clean” one most often, but the others work well, too. There’s also a knob for adjusting the overall water pressure in 10 levels. All settings have a white LED light to show their current setting.
The pump is really quiet… not silent, but noticeably quieter than other competing models that I’ve tried. During use, you should expect the handle and your hand to get wet. A quick rinse is all it takes and the you can re-dock the handle, pop the nozzle off for a more thorough rinse, and then empty and rinse the tank. The quad-stream nozzle worked really well for me. I have some teeth with tight gaps and it seemed to get most stuff. You might still need some mechanical flossing if you have something really caught in there, but this flosser will get just about anything else.
Details - Typical Maintenance
The base shouldn’t be rinsed under running water, but it has smooth edges and is easily wiped down. The area under the tank has raised edges to keep any stray water from overflowing and a channel out the back to make emptying that area easy if you ever need to. The tank itself is really easy to clean, too. The lid flips open almost all the way around so you can easily fill it, empty it, and then leave the lid open to air-dry in-between uses. The nozzle comes off (a tad too easily IMHO) and can be rinsed under the tap. The handle, too, can be rinsed under the tap and then docked back on the magnetic holder on the base.
In short, the entire unit is easy to rinse and/or wipe off and keep tidy.
Conclusion:
My dentist recommended using a water flosser so I thought I’d give this one a try. It really has exceeded my expectations. It’s easy to use, easy to keep clean, is very quiet and doesn’t take up much counter space. While there are a few small improvements I’d suggest; neither of which prevent my complete recommendation of this unit for anyone who wants an easy way to keep their teeth clean.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
5
Performance
5
Durability
5
Value
5
Ease of Use
4
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Jabra Elite 4 Active is designed to stay comfortably in place. And that’s not all: with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), adjustable equalizer, and HearThrough technology, plus instant access to Spotify Tap playback, Elite 4 Active are engineered to bring a real boost to your workout. Made with a secure active fit, and IP57-rated water and sweat proof protection, these buds are engineered for all kinds of workouts. And with a 2-year warranty when you register them in the Jabra Sound+ app, you’ll never have to worry about your workout buddies letting you down. ANC blocks intrusive sounds at the touch of a button, so you can stay immersed in your music. From ignoring the sound system at the gym, to filtering out ambient urban noise, you get in – and stay in – the zone. You can even customize how your music sounds. Whether you want to boost the bass or turn up the treble, just download the Jabra Sound+ app and tune the equalizer to your preference. You can also activate Spotify Tap playback for instant, seamless connection to the music you need to power you through.
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Value Mid-Range TWS Headphones
on January 28, 2022
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
How Often Used:Daily
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Overall an amazing value for the price. The primary missing features are wireless charging for the case and premium materials. Otherwise, they sound great, have ANC and Transparent modes and long battery life for an amazing price.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Overall an amazing value for the price. The primary missing features are wireless charging for the case and premium materials. Otherwise, they sound great, have ANC and Transparent modes and long battery life for an amazing price.
Pros:
* Great sound.
* Comfortable fit.
* Long battery life both in the buds and the case.
* Compact charging case.
* Useful ANC and Transparent modes.
* Each bud can be used solo.
* Useful app.
* Great sound.
* Comfortable fit.
* Long battery life both in the buds and the case.
* Compact charging case.
* Useful ANC and Transparent modes.
* Each bud can be used solo.
* Useful app.
Cons:
* No wireless charging for the case.
* No in-ear sensor (doesn’t auto-pause when removed).
* Lack of premium materials (all plastic).
* No wireless charging for the case.
* No in-ear sensor (doesn’t auto-pause when removed).
* Lack of premium materials (all plastic).
Details - Setup:
Setup was fast and easy just like all recent Jabra TWS headphones. The provided app takes care of the heavy lifting and guides you through pairing and modifying initial settings. It’s a rather nice experience compared to even some premium competitors.
Details - Typical Usage:
The charging case may be all plastic, but it’s still a rather nice design. The compact case is similar in shape and about the same size as an AirPods Pro case, yet it can sit up on its own even with the lid open, which snaps closed with a nice magnetic click. The lid stays open and the case is stable if left on a flat surface. The buds are very easy to grab and remove but also snap into the case with a satisfying magnetic hold.
The buds have a slim shape that fits my ears well and they don’t protrude much. There is no extra “wing” to hold them in place, but they didn’t budge during workouts and while walking around. The outer flat surface is a tactile button to perform the usual actions of answering/ending calls, toggling through the ANC/Transparent modes, etc.. While the button doesn’t have any bumps or other tactile indication to identify by touch alone, I found it rather easy and obvious to use. In fact, I prefer these tactile buttons to the capacitive buttons that most other TWS headphones use. I did notice, though, that touching the buds while “hunting” for the button did transmit a rubbing sound through the shell of the buds. This isn’t a big deal, but it’s worth noting.
The ANC and Transparency (HearThrough) modes are not industry-leading, but they are still very effective. I noticed a significant reduction in noise when ANC was on, and could easily participate in a conversation with someone nearby with the Transparency mode on. In the app, you can choose to have the audio muted when the transparent mode is activated. This worked well, but I would prefer that the audio is paused rather than merely muted - especially if listening to podcasts where you’ll miss anything that is going on while the HearThrough mode is on.
Instead of voice prompts, these headphones use sound effects to indicate connectivity, battery status, etc.. These work, but voice prompts are more obvious without having to memorize what each sound effect means. I have a fairly large stable of TWS headphones from basic models to very pricey high-end models. The sound quality of these Jabra’s are quite good; even compared to models that are much more expensive.
Charging is via a USB-C plug on the back only as there is no wireless charging - not really a huge deal. Charging via cable is still faster than using a wireless charging pad, anyway. There is an LED on the front of the case and lights on each bud to indicate charging/pairing status. T
The provided app allows for the usual firmware updates, settings changes and shows battery status of each bud and the case. The LEDs on each bud and the case also provide some status, too. The app also has a nice EQ to adjust the sound to your choice. I have seen other TWS earbuds with more comprehensive apps, but other have no apps. This is a nice balance of useful features without too much fluff.
Conclusion:
TWS headphones seem to be grouped in three main categories; budget models that basically just play audio, high-end models that focus on amazing sound quality and have a ton of convenience features, and mid-level models that attempt to strike a balance between the two. These Jabra headphones are priced like the mid-range but really offer a ton of attributes that you’d expect from a high-end model…. but at a mid-level price. Jabra seems to have included a lot things you’d expect from more expensive models and left out things that hopefully won’t matter much to you. Overall, these are an amazing value for the price.
TWS headphones seem to be grouped in three main categories; budget models that basically just play audio, high-end models that focus on amazing sound quality and have a ton of convenience features, and mid-level models that attempt to strike a balance between the two. These Jabra headphones are priced like the mid-range but really offer a ton of attributes that you’d expect from a high-end model…. but at a mid-level price. Jabra seems to have included a lot things you’d expect from more expensive models and left out things that hopefully won’t matter much to you. Overall, these are an amazing value for the price.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
4
Comfort
5
Durability
5
Quality
4
Value
5
Ease of Use
4
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Built on the belief that modern life needs modern solutions, GE Profile appliances are designed to make daily life simpler by incorporating Smart Home technology and cutting-edge features in every appliance. GE Profile’s sleek design and quality engineering will give your kitchen the most up-to-date look and the innovative performance you’ve been looking for. And now the cutting-edge engineering you've come to expect from Profile is available in a countertop espresso maker that delivers up-to-date styling and exceptional performance. All GE Profile Espresso machines are Wi-Fi connected and sync with the SmartHQ app. Drink customization technologies allow users to customize drink preferences by volume and strength, while also enabling software updates. The built-in steam frother creates a variety of textures and thicknesses and the built-in conical burr grinder delivers a consistent grind with any bean roast and features an adjustable grind size for ideal taste and aroma extraction. Built with a modern design this contemporary espresso machine has a sleek appearance to match its high-tech functions and compliments any décor.
Customer Rating
4
Good Value and Tasty Coffee but Not Perfect
on January 28, 2022
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A few design quirks mar an otherwise nice machine. Overall, it works as described and makes great coffee beverages.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A few design quirks mar an otherwise nice machine. Overall, it works as described and makes great coffee beverages.
Pros:
* Attractive overall design.
* Easy to use but relies of memorizing light sequences to understand what’s going on.
* Easy enough to refill water and coffee beans.
* Easy to empty used coffee grounds and waste water.
* WiFi setup works and the app is useful for setup but not essential otherwise.
* Attractive overall design.
* Easy to use but relies of memorizing light sequences to understand what’s going on.
* Easy enough to refill water and coffee beans.
* Easy to empty used coffee grounds and waste water.
* WiFi setup works and the app is useful for setup but not essential otherwise.
Cons:
* Need access to front (obviously), top and left side of unit which makes placement tricky.
* App is required to set up “My Beverage” mode to something other than Ristretto.
* Notifications are not as useful as they could be.
* Water tank is a bit cumbersome.
* A bit noisy when operating.
* Need access to front (obviously), top and left side of unit which makes placement tricky.
* App is required to set up “My Beverage” mode to something other than Ristretto.
* Notifications are not as useful as they could be.
* Water tank is a bit cumbersome.
* A bit noisy when operating.
Details - Setup:
Removing the unit from the box was a pleasant surprise - there’s a lifting strap that surrounds the product so you can pull it straight up and out of the box without fear of it dropping on the floor. Setup was easy enough with few parts to install. Once it is assembled and plugged in, you just add water and beans and make your first cup. If you want to get fancier and adjust the grind timers and water amounts per drink, you need to get the unit on your WiFi and connected to the phone app. This was fairly straightforward but wasn’t the easiest I have seen. I did notice that settings I changed in the app sometimes didn’t “stick” in that you’d change a setting, exit that menu and see that the change you made wasn’t there.
Details - Typical Usage:
The buttons are all capacitive, backlit and on the top front edge. You turn the unit on and it preps itself for making a coffee beverage… Be careful not to put a cup under the spouts yet, though, as it will probably rinse both spouts with leftover water that is intended to go in the drip tray and not in your cup.
Another thing to be really careful of is that the hot water/milk frother spout rinses, too, but at a significantly higher pressure than the coffee spout. This frother spout can be manually rotated to the right to make it easier to froth milk in your cup or the provided pitcher. If you don’t return that spout to *perfectly* vertical, it won’t be aimed into the respective hole in the drip tray and will splash hot water all over when the machine runs its rinse cycle. I had to get in the habit of making sure that spout is aligned with the associated drip tray hole before turning on the machine to avoid the splash.
There is an attractive light ring on the top of the coffee spout. It is colorful and animated, but the purpose of them is not 100% obvious. You probably will need to read the manual a few times to remember what each pattern means. A small LED display with words and/or icons would have helped a LOT instead of just a light ring. At this price point, I wouldn’t think a small display would be out of the question.
A nice touch, though, is a bright white led under the spout to illuminate the inside of your cup as the coffee is dispensed. I really like this so I can see what’s going on. For example, an “Americano” brews and dispenses an Espresso first, then the internal machine ejects the coffee grounds and runs another 4ish ounces of hot water through the same spout to dilute the espresso and make your typical cup of coffee. This whole process seems like two separate back-to-back brews and if you catch the machine between, you might pull the cup before it’s done. The light helps you see that the cup isn’t full yet so you can give it some more time to finish.
Details - Typical Maintenance & Refills
Adding coffee beans is as easy as you’d expect; just pull off the lid and pour in the beans. The water tank is kinda odd, though. There is a freely hinged top lid that pulls the tank up and out of the body of the unit. The water tank fits in one direction, but the “fill to here” line is printed on the back side of the tank. You might think that it would be printed on the front in the same orientation as you would install it.
The WiFi and App enable notifications like when the water tank needs a refill. Since the tank is fully enclosed in the machine’s body, you would otherwise have to lift the lid and remove the tank to check the water level. The app will send you a push notification when the tank needs a refill, but there may not be enough water for your last cup before you get that notice. I prefer being able to see the water level visually, or at least getting that push notification early enough that I can be assured that my cup will have enough water to finish. By the way, I seem to get two separate but similar notifications when I pull the water tank to refill it - perhaps this can be fixed on the server end?
When it comes time to empty the used coffee grounds and drip tray; both are easily accessed from the front of the machine. The drip tray magnetically attaches to the front and is easy enough to pull off and rinse in the sink. The used coffee grounds are dumped in an internal bin that you get to it by sliding a drawer out the front of the machine. I have another competing espresso machine with a similar layout and like this machine’s implementation a bit more.
Conclusion:
Overall, this espresso machine makes some seriously good coffee beverages. It is generally attractive on your countertop and its nice to not need expensive and wasteful pods. Typical maintenance and refills could be easier, but it’s not a deal-breaker. The app is moderately useful but not essential after initial setup. There are a few odd design choices that mar an otherwise nice product. While this is not a perfect machine, competitor units are much more expensive so this is actually not a bad value for an otherwise good machine.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Durability
3
Quality
4
Ease of Use
3
Value
4
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Rewire the rules with the Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma—a sleek, customizable hub that ushers in a new era of connectivity for your ideal setup. Packed with 10 ports, lightning-fast data transfer rates, and dual 4K or single 8K video output, you’ll always be primed to make the right connections.
Customer Rating
5
Clean, attractive and fully featured
on December 9, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Docks are usually all business of just connecting a lot of wires to one box and then connecting that box to your computer with one wire, but this one is not only very capable, but also fun! I would have preferred having the cable to the computer on the back and a few more ports on the front for temporary connections, but this does the job it was designed to do, and does it with panache! There is more than enough power and ports to get everything connected with a single cable to your laptop or desktop.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Docks are usually all business of just connecting a lot of wires to one box and then connecting that box to your computer with one wire, but this one is not only very capable, but also fun! I would have preferred having the cable to the computer on the back and a few more ports on the front for temporary connections, but this does the job it was designed to do, and does it with panache! There is more than enough power and ports to get everything connected with a single cable to your laptop or desktop.
Pros:
* Small footprint.
* Full-size SD card slot on the front.
* 3.5mm Headphone jack on the front.
* Light bar is fun and the configuration options are endless.
* High-power TB cable to the computer for laptop charging, too.
* Small footprint.
* Full-size SD card slot on the front.
* 3.5mm Headphone jack on the front.
* Light bar is fun and the configuration options are endless.
* High-power TB cable to the computer for laptop charging, too.
Cons:
* Huge power brick about the size of the dock (albeit one with a huge 135W capacity, too).
* No labels on any of the ports.
* Minimal ports on the front.
* Huge power brick about the size of the dock (albeit one with a huge 135W capacity, too).
* No labels on any of the ports.
* Minimal ports on the front.
Aesthetics:
Very subtle design that matches other Razer products with a matte black finish and chamfered edges. The front has 3 holes with no labeling but it’s kinda obvious what they are for; an SD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Thunderbolt cable. The Chroma lighting is totally unnecessary for a dock, but it’s eminently cool anyway. You can even sync the dock’s lighting up with the other Chroma-controlled parts of your rig so they all work in harmony.
Very subtle design that matches other Razer products with a matte black finish and chamfered edges. The front has 3 holes with no labeling but it’s kinda obvious what they are for; an SD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Thunderbolt cable. The Chroma lighting is totally unnecessary for a dock, but it’s eminently cool anyway. You can even sync the dock’s lighting up with the other Chroma-controlled parts of your rig so they all work in harmony.
Usability:
The entire bottom is a rubber pad so the dock not only won’t slide around on your desk if you tug a cable, but also so it won’t slide away from you as you insert or remove an SD card from the front. Inserting or removing the 3.5mm headphone cable might require two hands, but it’s probably not something you’ll do often.
The entire bottom is a rubber pad so the dock not only won’t slide around on your desk if you tug a cable, but also so it won’t slide away from you as you insert or remove an SD card from the front. Inserting or removing the 3.5mm headphone cable might require two hands, but it’s probably not something you’ll do often.
None of the ports have labels. While this adds to the minimalist aesthetic, it does make it a tad more confusing to figure out what each port is intended for; aside from the obvious based on the shape of the plug.
I generally prefer my dock to have all of the “permanent” connections in the back and all of the “temporary” connections in the front to keep things neat. This dock has the single TB cable for the PC in the front along with the SD card slot and headphone jack. I would have liked that PC cable to be in the back and have a spare USB-A and USB-C port in the front for temporary connections, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
The software is very gaming-centric. I wouldn’t call it the easiest to use, but it does have a TON of configuration options for the lights on the dock. You don’t need the software for any other aspect of the dock, though. Then again, if you don’t want the Chroma lighting, there are other dock options out there for less cost.
Functionality:
I won’t go down the spec list or enumerate every device you can connect. Let’s just say that if you can plug it in to this dock, it’ll most likely work. I find it incredibly useful for my laptop so I can have a few 4k monitors, a hardwired network, and a few other devices all connected to the dock for use when I’m at my desk. Then when I want to take my laptop with me elsewhere, it’s just one connection to unplug. If your laptop charges over USB-C/TB, that one cable can also keep it powered up, too.
I won’t go down the spec list or enumerate every device you can connect. Let’s just say that if you can plug it in to this dock, it’ll most likely work. I find it incredibly useful for my laptop so I can have a few 4k monitors, a hardwired network, and a few other devices all connected to the dock for use when I’m at my desk. Then when I want to take my laptop with me elsewhere, it’s just one connection to unplug. If your laptop charges over USB-C/TB, that one cable can also keep it powered up, too.
Value:
I would not call this dock a value-priced option. It’s not priced crazy high, but it’s not the cheap option, either. Based on Razer’s other products, I’d feel comfortable with the quality and support you’ll get from this.
I would not call this dock a value-priced option. It’s not priced crazy high, but it’s not the cheap option, either. Based on Razer’s other products, I’d feel comfortable with the quality and support you’ll get from this.
Conclusion:
You get what you pay for, and you get a LOT with this dock. Not only does it support a ton of high-power connections, but does it with style, too. BTW, as of the time of this review, there is no Mac version of the software, but there is a Mac-specific version of the dock in white with no lighting effects (or software).
You get what you pay for, and you get a LOT with this dock. Not only does it support a ton of high-power connections, but does it with style, too. BTW, as of the time of this review, there is no Mac version of the software, but there is a Mac-specific version of the dock in white with no lighting effects (or software).
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the MagGo Magnetic 2-in-1 charger, featuring magnetic precision for effortless alignment during charging. Compatible with iPhone 12 and beyond, this sleek design offers secure charging for your phone, AirPods, and AirPods Pro. With a versatile free-standing design, you can adjust your iPhone's viewing angle for convenience and comfort. Plus, enjoy an illuminating charging experience with a beautiful ambient light glow.
Customer Rating
3
Compact and Convenient but not quite MagSafe
on December 2, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A compact and capable wireless charger for up to two devices. It supports magnetic phone attachment but is not really MagSafe so it’s not as fast or as easy to use as MagSafe. The spot for charging a second device wirelessly is somewhat useful. Overall a good value but there are better options for slightly more money.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A compact and capable wireless charger for up to two devices. It supports magnetic phone attachment but is not really MagSafe so it’s not as fast or as easy to use as MagSafe. The spot for charging a second device wirelessly is somewhat useful. Overall a good value but there are better options for slightly more money.
Pros:
* Small footprint.
* Includes a tiny and fast 20W USB adapter and a good C-to-C cable.
* Strong magnets hold an iPhone at virtually any angle including rotated to landscape for video watching.
* Can charge two devices wirelessly in the same tiny footprint.
* Small footprint.
* Includes a tiny and fast 20W USB adapter and a good C-to-C cable.
* Strong magnets hold an iPhone at virtually any angle including rotated to landscape for video watching.
* Can charge two devices wirelessly in the same tiny footprint.
Cons:
* Slightly slower iPhone charging than MagSafe.
* Not as easy to remove iPhone from magnetic hold as MagSafe.
* When traveling, the provided cable and USB adapter don’t work directly with iPhone without the base.
* The magnets on the top charger force odd alignments with non-MagSafe devices.
* The space for charging a second device is limited due to the hinge design for the top charging pad.
* Slightly slower iPhone charging than MagSafe.
* Not as easy to remove iPhone from magnetic hold as MagSafe.
* When traveling, the provided cable and USB adapter don’t work directly with iPhone without the base.
* The magnets on the top charger force odd alignments with non-MagSafe devices.
* The space for charging a second device is limited due to the hinge design for the top charging pad.
Aesthetics:
This charger looks really clean and simple and takes up minimal space on a desk for charging two devices at once (phone and headphones, etc.) It has a substantial weight that keeps it from toppling over even with an iPhone Pro Max on top. A subtle white light ring around the base adds to a nice ambience while also indicating the charge level of the device on the top pad. The shiny chrome hinge on the front is a tad odd, though, in that it looks like a button rather than a hinge.
This charger looks really clean and simple and takes up minimal space on a desk for charging two devices at once (phone and headphones, etc.) It has a substantial weight that keeps it from toppling over even with an iPhone Pro Max on top. A subtle white light ring around the base adds to a nice ambience while also indicating the charge level of the device on the top pad. The shiny chrome hinge on the front is a tad odd, though, in that it looks like a button rather than a hinge.
Usability:
The top charging pad is on a tilt hinge so that the angle of the attached iPhone can change from flat to angled up. It’s mostly sturdy but the phone and base tend to wobble when the phone is tapped at the top or bottom of the screen (or left/right when in landscape). At no point does the phone feel like it will easily pop off, but that’s a two-edged sword in that it’s also not very easy to remove the phone with one hand as you kinda have to hold the base down. A MagSafe charger tends to hold the phone just as securely but it is much easier to “peel” the phone off the magnets than this charger.
The top charging pad is on a tilt hinge so that the angle of the attached iPhone can change from flat to angled up. It’s mostly sturdy but the phone and base tend to wobble when the phone is tapped at the top or bottom of the screen (or left/right when in landscape). At no point does the phone feel like it will easily pop off, but that’s a two-edged sword in that it’s also not very easy to remove the phone with one hand as you kinda have to hold the base down. A MagSafe charger tends to hold the phone just as securely but it is much easier to “peel” the phone off the magnets than this charger.
Under the top wireless charging pad is a second pad so you can charge something smaller like a wireless headphone case. This second pad is only available when the top pad is tilted up, and due to the placement of the hinge and the angle of the top pad, there is not much clearance for that second device. Another phone cannot be charged there, for example, because you can’t center a phone on that pad. By the way, you can charge anything on the the top charger, but that pad’s magnets force odd placement of non-MagSafe devices but they do still charge. For example, my headphone case charges when on top, but the magnets force an off-center alignment that is not ideal.
Functionality:
The ability to change the tilt angle is useful - especially if you’re going to use the phone while it is charging, but I’m not sure I see the benefit of leaving the top pad flat. As mentioned above, non-MagSafe devices will charge on the top pad (when it’s flat) but they don’t align well. In other words, the change in angle is nice but the ability to fold it down flat is not very useful; especially since you loose the ability to charge a second device when the top is flat.
The ability to change the tilt angle is useful - especially if you’re going to use the phone while it is charging, but I’m not sure I see the benefit of leaving the top pad flat. As mentioned above, non-MagSafe devices will charge on the top pad (when it’s flat) but they don’t align well. In other words, the change in angle is nice but the ability to fold it down flat is not very useful; especially since you loose the ability to charge a second device when the top is flat.
Apple’s MagSafe is a flavor of the qi charging standard and this charger supports standard qi but with additional magnets to hold an iPhone onto it. This is not true MagSafe, though. It is not as fast a charger as MagSafe and as mentioned above, the magnets are not as easy to remove the phone by “peeing” it off the base with one hand.
iPhones don’t include the USB adapter any more - the USB adapter included with this product is really nice as it’s small and powerful. It’s just a tad larger than Apple’s 5W USB-A charger and is more compact and more powerful than Apple’s 18W USB-C charger; plus, the folding prongs make it much easier to pack for travel. Speaking of that, due to the weight of the base (for stability), it is not the best thing to take when traveling, but the compact USB-C adapter is great for travel. When leaving home, you’re best off taking the USB adapter and leaving the heavy part behind. BTW, the USB cable that it comes with cannot be used directly with your iPhone, either, so best to remember to take a USB-C to Lightening cable with you.
Value:
At its current price, this Akner wireless charger is slightly less expensive than another well-known company’s “2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe.” That other charger, while a bit more expensive, is true MagSafe so it can charge an iPhone faster and is easier to remove the phone with one hand. Plus, that other product has most of the benefits of this charger like the ability to rotate the phone to landscape and a spot for charging a second device, etc., So while this product is a little cheaper than competition, it is not as fast nor as easy to use. The included 20W PD compact USB charger and C-to-C cable are a great bonus, but the charger itself is not best option available right now.
At its current price, this Akner wireless charger is slightly less expensive than another well-known company’s “2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe.” That other charger, while a bit more expensive, is true MagSafe so it can charge an iPhone faster and is easier to remove the phone with one hand. Plus, that other product has most of the benefits of this charger like the ability to rotate the phone to landscape and a spot for charging a second device, etc., So while this product is a little cheaper than competition, it is not as fast nor as easy to use. The included 20W PD compact USB charger and C-to-C cable are a great bonus, but the charger itself is not best option available right now.
Conclusion:
Overall, this charger works as advertised. It is compact and comes with a great USB adapter and cable. There are aspects that I don’t like as much as the competition, though. The competition may be a tad more expensive, but for that you get faster charging, true MagSafe compatibility and a more useful spot to charge a second device.
Overall, this charger works as advertised. It is compact and comes with a great USB adapter and cable. There are aspects that I don’t like as much as the competition, though. The competition may be a tad more expensive, but for that you get faster charging, true MagSafe compatibility and a more useful spot to charge a second device.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Echo Frames are smart audio glasses that give you hands-free access to Alexa. They are designed to help you save time so you can focus on what matters most. Use them to listen to audio entertainment, control your smart home, stay productive and organized, and communicate hands-free.
Customer Rating
3
Light and Helpful but not Amazing
on November 23, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Light and comfortable to wear. Useful Alexa functionality. Sound quality is passable at best. Battery life is OK and drains a lot when in standby. Numerous rough edges to improve upon for Gen 3?
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Light and comfortable to wear. Useful Alexa functionality. Sound quality is passable at best. Battery life is OK and drains a lot when in standby. Numerous rough edges to improve upon for Gen 3?
Pros:
* Very light and comfortable to wear for long periods.
* Numerous controls.
* Private LED shows when Alexa is listening.
* Relatively stylish.
* Very light and comfortable to wear for long periods.
* Numerous controls.
* Private LED shows when Alexa is listening.
* Relatively stylish.
Cons:
* Sound quality is passable at best.
* No battery status in iOS.
* Looses a lot of battery when in standby.
* Wake word cannot be changed and can trigger nearby Echo devices, too.
* Proprietary charging cable.
* Doesn’t fold up tightly.
* Doesn’t turn off when folded - only when upside down.
* Case is OK but blah.
* Sound quality is passable at best.
* No battery status in iOS.
* Looses a lot of battery when in standby.
* Wake word cannot be changed and can trigger nearby Echo devices, too.
* Proprietary charging cable.
* Doesn’t fold up tightly.
* Doesn’t turn off when folded - only when upside down.
* Case is OK but blah.
Summary:
“Smart” glasses used to be a small niche and Bose was the predominant option. They never quite caught on but now there are at least three major options to consider including these Echo Frames. The eyewear (lenses) part is nothing special, but the frames themselves are basically like having Bluetooth headphones built-in so you can listen to music or talk to Alexa or your phone’s assistant. You may ask yourself why have your Bluetooth speakers built into your eyewear rather than popping them in your ears separately? Two primary reasons; since they’re built into the frames that you’re presumably already wearing, it’s one less thing to wrangle and wear, and they don’t block your hearing so you can be more aware of your surroundings.
“Smart” glasses used to be a small niche and Bose was the predominant option. They never quite caught on but now there are at least three major options to consider including these Echo Frames. The eyewear (lenses) part is nothing special, but the frames themselves are basically like having Bluetooth headphones built-in so you can listen to music or talk to Alexa or your phone’s assistant. You may ask yourself why have your Bluetooth speakers built into your eyewear rather than popping them in your ears separately? Two primary reasons; since they’re built into the frames that you’re presumably already wearing, it’s one less thing to wrangle and wear, and they don’t block your hearing so you can be more aware of your surroundings.
They do exactly what they are advertised to do. The beam forming microphones pick up when you speak and even listen for the “Alexa” wake word unless you choose to disable the microphones for privacy. The speakers are built into the side parts of the frame and aim audio down toward your ears. Unless the volume is really high, most people won’t hear what you’re listening to, or at least it won’t be obvious. There really is no discernible treble or bass - just sound you can hear but I wouldn’t call it anything close to a good sound quality. Of course, if you really want great audio, you’d probably be using a nice pair of TWS earbuds instead.
Setup was relatively easy and uses the Alexa app for iOS or Android to pair the frames with your phone. Once paired and charged up, just flip the frames right-side up to reconnect to your phone. When you’re done using them, flip them upside down and a red light confirms that they’re now in standby. This is handy until you put them in the case and then toss that case into a bag. As soon as the case flips upside down (thus flipping the glasses right side up), they glasses wake up and start draining their battery… as well as sucking the audio from your phone and listening for the Alexa wake word. I’d really like to see an improvement whereby folding the sides also puts the frames in standby, and then opening them back up wakes them up.
There are a bunch of buttons on the frames to make control a bit easier. There are dedicated volume buttons and a button that enables/disables the microphone as well as doing a few other things. The touch strip is a bit confusing, though. Tap to pause music but double-tap to resume seems odd - why not just tap to pause and then tap again to resume? It’s also not very easy to feel for the location of the touch strip when you’re wearing the glasses as there’s no bumps or lines or anything to feel for - you just have to tap or swipe and hope for the best.
An LED on the top inside of the frame lets you know when there are any notifications or when the microphones are disabled. An ambient light sensor is facing inward on the other side of the frames and this perhaps adjusts the brightness of the notification LED. The lenses are not photochromic, so the only thing the light sensor might control is the brightness of that LED. It would be great if the lenses adjusted their darkness based on ambient light (photochromic) but these are not.
Battery life is OK but not great. In fact, I fully charged them, put them in standby (upside down) and 3 days later, they were down to 60% of their charge. Unlike most other Bluetooth headphones, there is no battery or connection status in the top line status bar of an iPhone. You have to either ask Alexa what the battery level is, or wait for the frames to announce it. When it’s time to charge them up, you have to use a proprietary magnetic USB cable. It’s probably best to carry that cable with you just in case you need to charge the frames up on the go, but there is nowhere in the case to store it. You kinda just have to wrap it up and tuck it in the folded frames if you want to bring it with you. A loop or pocket in the lid would be a nice improvement.
Another small thing is that unlike other Echo devices, you cannot (at the time of this review) change the frame’s wake word from “Alexa.” This means that if you say that wake word when within earshot of another Echo device that uses that same wake word, you then have multiple Echo devices acting on your command. While this may not be common when outdoors, it could happen with your phone that has to be nearby for the Bluetooth connection to work.
Overall, these “Smart” frames are fun and helpful but need numerous small improvements to improve from “good” to “great.” I wouldn’t expect the audio quality to be the same as a good pair of Bluetooth headphones, but competitor smart frames sound a lot better; albeit without the built-in “Alexa” functionality.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Our most creative camera yet. Polaroid Now+ is our revamped analog instant camera with even more creative tools. Get 5 new lens filters, and unlock two extra tools — aperture priority and tripod mode — inside the Polaroid mobile app. Try light painting, double exposure, manual mode and more. Plus a tripod mount to steady your ideas inside the original Polaroid square format frame.
Customer Rating
5
Classic Camera with Cool Creativity Boosters
on November 7, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Everything you love about instant analog photography plus some useful creativity tools in an app.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
Everything you love about instant analog photography plus some useful creativity tools in an app.
Pros:
* Simple controls.
* Easy onboard control for basic adjustments.
* Light and easy to carry.
* Classic styling with snazzy stripes.
* Simple controls.
* Easy onboard control for basic adjustments.
* Light and easy to carry.
* Classic styling with snazzy stripes.
Cons:
* Steep learning curve if your first experience with analog instant photography.
* Expensive per-shot costs.
* Steep learning curve if your first experience with analog instant photography.
* Expensive per-shot costs.
Summary:
I’ve been a hobby level digital photographer for about 30 years. My first digital camera was a Casio with a now-laughable 320x240 resolution. I loved the benefits of a nearly Infinite camera roll and instant reviews of my shots. Over the years, digital camera resolution and quality has drastically improved, but at the end of the day, a digital photograph is still just a digital copy.
I’ve been a hobby level digital photographer for about 30 years. My first digital camera was a Casio with a now-laughable 320x240 resolution. I loved the benefits of a nearly Infinite camera roll and instant reviews of my shots. Over the years, digital camera resolution and quality has drastically improved, but at the end of the day, a digital photograph is still just a digital copy.
Long before digital cameras emerged, a Polaroid camera was the ONLY way to take a photo and see the results per-shot without having to develop an entire roll. Polaroids were cool before instant digital photography was available. I applaud Polaroid for keeping instant analog photography alive! Today, its advantages are mostly as a unique creative tool.
The Polaroid Now+ is yet another extension of the groundbreaking Polaroid camera for creators. The “+” part mainly offers a BTLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) connection with an app on your phone. This type of connection doesn’t require pairing so it’s fast and easy to use. The app enables a lot of cool creative tools like a remote shutter, full manual controls, double-exposure and light painting that basically is a really long exposure so you can “draw” with the light from your phone (or a flashlight, etc.).
The is a nice addition, but you can also do a lot without it. There are only four buttons on the actual camera but they allow you to do a lot of stuff fairly easily. The shutter and power buttons basically do what you’d expect of them. The Flash button doubles not only to turn the flash off for the next photo or until the next power cycle but can also temporarily adjust the camera’s exposure to “more”, “normal” or “less.” This model now has a “+” button on the front which is used to set a self-timer, start a double exposure mode or do whatever favorite mode you assigned from the app. You can also hold that “+” button while turning the camera on to get a more detailed battery level reading on the single-digit display.
Being used to instant digital photography, most of my first 8 photos did not come out well. Polaroids really love light and a steady hand. For me, getting used to analog instant photography has been a steep learning curve but one that I’m sure will pay off with creative results that are not easy to match with a now-ubiquitous digital camera.
I really enjoy the classic styling of this camera and enjoy the colorful stripes on the front. The eyepiece is rubberized for comfort and the provided shoulder straps are easily removable if you need to do so. There’s a tripod mount on the bottom for steadier shots and the supplied creative lenses add some flair to your photos; although they are a tad cumbersome to store in the provided canvas roll which does not have a way to clip it to anything. I especially liked the effects of the Starburst filter but the others have uses as well.
If you’re used to Polaroid photography and are looking for more tools to express your creativity, this camera will not let you down. If you’re new to analog instant photography, you might want to buy a few extra packs of film to go with your camera so you can experiment and get used to the differences of shooting analog. Either way, you won’t be disappointed in this medium where each photo is a unique one-of-a-kind.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Explore a new world of personalized home theater audio. The SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speaker uses Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology to envelop you in the rich audio of your favorite shows and movies, while being unobtrusive to others in your home.
Customer Rating
5
Sounds great, not totally private audio
on November 1, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A comfortable and convenient way to listen to music or movies but isn’t totally private audio.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
A comfortable and convenient way to listen to music or movies but isn’t totally private audio.
Pros:
* Comfortable to wear for long periods.
* Sounds great.
* Bass you can feel.
* 360 Audio for supported sources.
* Long battery life.
* Comfortable to wear for long periods.
* Sounds great.
* Bass you can feel.
* 360 Audio for supported sources.
* Long battery life.
Cons:
* Bass vibrates your collar bone which may feel weird.
* Audio is not totally private and can be heard by others easily.
* Controls are not completely obvious by touch, but you can get used to it.
* Bass vibrates your collar bone which may feel weird.
* Audio is not totally private and can be heard by others easily.
* Controls are not completely obvious by touch, but you can get used to it.
Summary:
I use a similar product from Bose every day that looks very similar but has one big difference; that one is designed for private audio - the speakers supposedly shoot the sound directly toward your ears so you can listen without bothering anyone around you. These Sony neck phones don’t make that claim and others near me could hear the sound clearly from the same distance (although not as clearly as I could), but the audio, at least for my ears, sounded much better than than my old Bose.
I use a similar product from Bose every day that looks very similar but has one big difference; that one is designed for private audio - the speakers supposedly shoot the sound directly toward your ears so you can listen without bothering anyone around you. These Sony neck phones don’t make that claim and others near me could hear the sound clearly from the same distance (although not as clearly as I could), but the audio, at least for my ears, sounded much better than than my old Bose.
You may be asking yourself why someone would want to wear their headphones on their shoulders rather than the traditional headphones with cups that cover your ears. That’s the important bit - these headphones sound great but don’t block your ears so you can hear other people or things around you. They’re not as heavy to wear because, rather than resting on the top of your head and pressing against your ears, they sit on your shoulders. I can speak from experience that neck phones are much more comfortable for all-day wearing than traditional headphones.
Battery life is exceptional with a claimed all-day 12 hours of use. A quick 10-minute charge gets you an hour of playtime and they are easy enough to charge with USB-C that plugs in on the outer edge of the unit. I would have put the charging LED near the plug on the outer edge but Sony decided to put it on the inside edge. Not a huge deal but not the decision I would have made.
These sound great for music and have support for Dolby Atmos with compatible sources like Amazon Music, etc. They also come with a transmitter box and optical cable that can plug in to supported Sony TVs to provide clear surround audio from your TV. You can actually listen to movies and TV in surround without headphones or a big surround setup. That all really makes a difference considering that the speakers are not covering your ears. You can listen to movies, podcasts, or just music and it all sounds fantastic!
As is typical with Bluetooth headphones, these also have microphones so you can use them for personal or work calls, or talking to your favorite voice assistant. They offer a ton more freedom to move around and not get fatigued by wearing standard headphones or earphones. No one on your call will know that you’re essentially using a neck-worn speakerphone.
There are buttons on one inner edge for adjusting the volume and a multifunction button for playing/pausing music or answering/ending a call. The other inner edge has buttons to mute the microphone and turn the unit on or off. The buttons are easy to find by touch once you learn where they are. I probably would have put the “Up” button closer to my neck and the “Down” button further away from my neck, but again, a small “nit.”
If you like listening to great audio while moving around, but don’t want to have your ears constantly covered, these Sony neck phones are awesome. Great audio for anything you’re listening to, great battery life, and a comfortable all-day fit. Plus. they won’t bother anyone else nearby as much as a Bluetooth speaker would.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
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
Cool and Completely Configurable
on October 24, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
An easy and cool way to add a splash of color and light effects to anything - especially a gaming rig. A lot to set up but you can tune everything exactly to your liking. PC-only… no Mac support.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
An easy and cool way to add a splash of color and light effects to anything - especially a gaming rig. A lot to set up but you can tune everything exactly to your liking. PC-only… no Mac support.
Pros:
* Cool.
* Extremely configurable.
* Comprehensive software.
* Ability to run one “profile” even with the PC off or disconnected.
* Cool.
* Extremely configurable.
* Comprehensive software.
* Ability to run one “profile” even with the PC off or disconnected.
Cons:
* A lot to set up.
* No Mac support - PC-only.
* A lot to set up.
* No Mac support - PC-only.
Summary:
For most gamers, what’s on the screen or in their headphones defines the gaming experience. That’s not everything. These configurable lights can add even more dimension to your visual experience. I won’t get into what bits are included in the kit because you can see that in the main product description. Setup is relatively straightforward but there is a lot to do. Each light strip has adjustable mounts that you can slide to where they work best. Each mount is magnetic and there are little metal pads with sticky tape on them so as to attach the metal pads to something like the back of your monitor, a table, a wall, etc… The strips can either chain together to form one large “channel” or you can pair them up and have the two pairs that are separately controlled instead. Extension wires are provided so they don’t have to be butted up against each other.
For most gamers, what’s on the screen or in their headphones defines the gaming experience. That’s not everything. These configurable lights can add even more dimension to your visual experience. I won’t get into what bits are included in the kit because you can see that in the main product description. Setup is relatively straightforward but there is a lot to do. Each light strip has adjustable mounts that you can slide to where they work best. Each mount is magnetic and there are little metal pads with sticky tape on them so as to attach the metal pads to something like the back of your monitor, a table, a wall, etc… The strips can either chain together to form one large “channel” or you can pair them up and have the two pairs that are separately controlled instead. Extension wires are provided so they don’t have to be butted up against each other.
The control box is small and also has a magnetic attachment to metal pads. There is a power button on the box that works to turn on or off the “hardware” preset that you assign in the software so the lights can work even when the PC is off or the USB cable is not plugged in.
The lights themselves are diffused but the colors and patterns really shine. The cables are all relatively thin and easy to route.
The software is amazingly complete. You can define custom profiles, choose the direction of light patterns and just about anything else that you might want to do with the lights. You can also assign various profiles that run when a specific app is started.
If you’re looking for easy plug-and-play; this may not be right for you. If you want total control over the lights; what they do, when they do it and how they look; this will give you all you need. Again, the Mac is not supported…. just so you know.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Until now, streaming devices forced you to use each of your apps individually – creating browsing headaches and disconnected watch lists. TiVo Stream 4K is the first to help you find what you want to watch–across your favorite apps–without needing to switch between platforms and navigate different screens. Recommendations from your apps are combined, giving you all your options in one place. And with direct integration with Sling , your live entertainment has a home alongside your streaming shows and movies. From beginning to end, from binge to browse, TiVo Stream 4K delivers an amazing Android TV streaming media player experience. A voice control remote with the power of Google Assistant lets you find movies, check scores, dim the lights and so much more, all with your voice. With Chromecast built-in, you can easily cast movies, music, and more to your TV from your mobile devices. Google Play integration gives you access to a world of movies, shows, games, and over 5,000 apps. Plus, with 4K UHD, Dolby Vision HDR, and Dolby Atmos compatibility, you can enjoy cinematic-quality viewing from the comfort of your couch. The company that invented the DVR just simplified streaming. Less scrolling, more watching. Availability of streaming content from third-party sources is subject to change and certain third-party fees may apply. Streaming apps may not be available in all regions. Broadband internet connection is required to access and receive streaming and live TV content.
Customer Rating
5
Easy Way to Cross the Streams
on October 20, 2021
Posted by: gadgeTT
from South Florida
TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
There are a TON of stick-style streaming devices available. This one is based on Google TV and has a voice-enabled remote, supports 4K resolutions and does a reasonable job of combining all of your free and subscribed services into a manageable way to find something to watch.
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
There are a TON of stick-style streaming devices available. This one is based on Google TV and has a voice-enabled remote, supports 4K resolutions and does a reasonable job of combining all of your free and subscribed services into a manageable way to find something to watch.
Pros:
* Fast.
* Attractive UI.
* Easy to use remote with built-in microphone.
* Based on Google TV.
* Fast.
* Attractive UI.
* Easy to use remote with built-in microphone.
* Based on Google TV.
Cons:
* Can be a tad cumbersome to set up and manage a large number of streaming services.
* Google TV does not yet support DirecTV Stream, which is itself based on Google TV.
* Can be a tad cumbersome to set up and manage a large number of streaming services.
* Google TV does not yet support DirecTV Stream, which is itself based on Google TV.
Summary:
The main challenge with streaming services is that there are so many to choose from, and each service has its own app and way of “bookmarking” or revealing content to watch. If you have multiple services (subscription or free), it becomes cumbersome to check each service’s app to find something to watch.
The main challenge with streaming services is that there are so many to choose from, and each service has its own app and way of “bookmarking” or revealing content to watch. If you have multiple services (subscription or free), it becomes cumbersome to check each service’s app to find something to watch.
This is where the TiVo Stream has an advantage. The hardware is good but nothing too special… There is a “stick” that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and a USB power adapter. The remote control is not too large and not too small, and has plenty of useful buttons and even a microphone for Google searches. Sure, the stick supports full 4k UHD streaming, but even that is relatively common.
The TiVo “special sauce” is a way to homologate or combine the available shows across all of your streaming services into one “guide” or list. I use DirecTV Stream as my “live” TV service provider and unfortunately this is not yet supported by TiVo Stream, but if you do have a supported service, the “guide” will even show what’s on “live” as well as what’s available on-demand. It has a common way of searching for and playing content across all of your services. The video and audio quality is great, and the system is easy to navigate once set up.
Like any other streaming stick that supports multiple services, it may be a bit overwhelming to get it all set up by signing in to your various services, but once set up, everything seems easy to use. The TiVo Stream is based on Google so you have the ability to speak to the remote and ask Google anything, including finding content to watch or controlling the playback of that content.
Overall, the stick itself is easy to install, the audio and video quality is great, and the remote is comfortable to hold and use. The TiVo system is easy to use once set up and works across numerous services. With the one absence of DirecTV Stream (or any other service that is itself based on Google TV), the TiVo system makes it easy to find and control just about anything you want to stream including live TV if you subscribe to a supported service.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5of 5voted this as helpful.
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Monitor your travels with this Full HD THINKWARE dash cam. It begins recording automatically when you start your vehicle, and its 140-degree viewing angle and high-resolution camera capture the action as you drive. This THINKWARE dash cam has a file lock feature to let you save important videos.
Does this sky include the hard wire kit? If not, is the hard wire kit available?
This F800 is the "normal" one - the F800Pro is the one AKA the "Sky." The hardwire kit is available separately and linked below.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
gadgeTT