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blackdaz
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- Review count47
- Helpfulness votes101
- First reviewJanuary 6, 2012
- Last reviewMarch 14, 2024
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- Average rating4.6
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- First answerJanuary 25, 2017
- Last answerJanuary 25, 2017
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The Ninja Hot & Iced XL Coffee Maker with Rapid Cold Brew brews everything from a single-serve cup, to a travel mug, to a carafe—no pods required. Plus, enjoy Classic, Rich, and Over Ice coffee, as well as fresh cold brew, now on your countertop. With a keep warm function and 24-hour Delay Brew option, you can wake up to hot coffee every morning.
Posted by: blackdaz
I got this new model as a replacement of our old Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker, intended as an upgrade. I was lured in by the intrigue of on-demand cold brew coffee. However, I found that this is more of a sideways move than an upgrade. I love that I can have a cold brew coffee in about 10 minutes, instead of having to wait overnight. While it’s not exactly the same thing, the Ninja machine does a pretty darn good version. Some may never really taste the difference. This came at a cost for us though: this machine focuses more on producing quick turnaround iced drinks, like iced tea and cold brew. Because of this, it’s done away with the frother, which is vital to my wife’s morning lattes. We’re still learning to cope with this, but the change hasn’t been all negatives. I like that this model now shuts itself off when idle. With Specialty machine that I had, there was a power button, but it went mostly unused. We’d turn it on and leave it on so that the machine was always ready for us. On this new model, we were thrown off by having to hit the brew button more than once, until we realized it was because hitting any of the other buttons, not just the power, will wake the machine up. Then you need to hit a button again to actually start brewing. Another adjustment we are still getting used to is the new sizing designations. On the Specialty machine, there were separate pictures and sizing names to depict smaller to larger sizes. This model focuses on drink sizes. Sure, there are still some pictures included to steer people in the direction of the size they want, and it’s is better to be precise as to the actual size of the drink you want (in ounces), but the change still takes getting used to. It’s great that they’ve added hand holds to the inside of the water tank itself. I understand that this is supposed to help when filling, but I feel like they are a little small. I understand they made them the size they are so as to maximize the tank volume, but when you are holding it under a tap during filling, I can feel the tank slipping away most times. I end up filling a secondary bottle then draining it into the tank instead. While I don’t feel the Hot & Cold Coffee Makers is as versatile as its name implies, especially when compared to our old Specialty Coffee maker, but I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looker for simpler hot coffees and quick server cold brews and iced teas.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Feel better throughout the day with Theragun Relief, your go-to percussive massage device for everyday comfort. Comfortable and light, Theragun Relief is our most easy-to-use device using scientifically proven percussive massage therapy to provide fast and effective relief from daily aches, pains, tension, and stiffness. The patented triangle grip helps get to those hard-to-reach spots and 3 specialized attachments help treat everything from large muscles to tender, sensitive areas. Theragun Relief makes it easier than ever to feel better and stay active.
Posted by: blackdaz
I was always curious about the Theragun products, but the pricing has always kept me on the outside looking in. I can see the value of the higher priced models: active people or athletes that need a varied array of features to help address their warm-ups or recoveries. However, I’m not that active but I do want help with recovery. The Relief seems like all the things I wanted out of a Theragun without the same price tag. The gun itself is easy to use. Its shape helps you to reach basically your entire back. This was a lifesaver for me because I had developed middle back pain several weeks ago and what seems to be shoulder socket impingement pain. I’d seen videos saying that shoulder impingement could be alleviated with stretching or massaging of muscles in the middle back, by the shoulder blade. I found that the latter definitely helped, but I needed to find a way to massage it frequently without having to ask for help all the time. For some time, I managed to squeeze a tennis ball against the wall and my back to reach the area. This was okay, but after I got the Theragun, I saw a world of improvement. Whereas I was using the tennis ball several times a day, I found that a single 1 minute session daily helped to seriously reduce the shoulder pain, even eliminate it entirely on some days. I just recently started using the app and it’s great. The app can connect to Google Fit, which I use frequently, and it creates a daily routine for you based on activity history. It also asks about activities that you do regularly to further improve your routines. I haven’t been using it for very long, but I can say it’s really easy to configure and use. Even if I don’t end up using the routines in the long run, I think I’ll definitely be using the gun regularly from now on.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Control up to three devices with this RCA rechargeable universal remote. The quick access keys provide easy access to popular apps like YouTube, Netflix and Disney+, while the dedicated streaming device key lets you control services like Roku and Apple TV. This RCA rechargeable universal remote features a USB Type-C rechargeable battery that lasts up to 6 months on a single charge.
Posted by: blackdaz
If you are looking to get this remote to use with a Roku stick, first you’ll need to make sure that your TV can control the Roku stick via CEC. This is a special mode that allows your TV to send signals to the Roku stick through the HDMI port for control. Even if your TV does have CEC mode, like mine does, it doesn’t mean that the TV can definitely control the Roku. After working on the settings, I found that my Vizio cannot control the Roku Stick via CEC and thus, I can’t use the universal remote to control it. While that means I can’t consolidate all of my remotes into one, at least I now have a means to cut down the amount of remotes to two. My original problem was that I had to use three separate remotes. The Roku Stick remote could control the TV volume before I got a Bose soundbar. When I connected the Bose, I found the only way I could control its volume was through its provided remote. I use an optical connection for it, so I can’t use the TV to control the volume of the Bose. The Roku Stick remote can turn the Vizio TV on and off, but it doesn’t have a button to change inputs on the TV. Now, even if I still have to use the Roku Stick remote, I can use the universal remote to control the TV to switch between inputs and control the volume. This is also great because the Vizio remote is really buggy. The universal remote seems sturdier and button presses relay commands better. On the Vizio’s original remote, I have to constantly keep hitting the button I want until the TV is able to receive the command. Setup of the universal remote was simple. I was able to use the auto code detect feature to configure it to use with my TV. The Bose soundbar resisted auto detect, so I used the manual code entry and it worked easily. I like that it’s rechargeable and that its charge will hold for a long period of time. (The product description states that the charge should last for 6 months, but we’ll see. Seems like nothing lasts as long as they’re rated for.) At least, if I don’t have to charge it for a month or two, I’ll be happy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Officially licensed for the PlayStation5 console, the WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe SSD for PS5 consoles allows you to store more titles with worry free installation. Instantly add up to 4TB of storage to hold more of your favorite games. With an optimized heatsink built specifically for the PS5 M.2 slot, you won’t need to worry about compatibility. Experience uninterrupted gameplay as your WD_BLACK drive runs cool with quality you can trust. The WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe SSD for PS5 consoles is certified and tested for PlayStation 5 consoles so you can store more, play more, fast.
Posted by: blackdaz
This is a great SSD expansion drive. When I installed it, the PS5 stated that read speeds came out to 6,539 MB/s. It’s short of the 7,300 MB/s advertised, but that was to be expected. All the same, in use, I can’t notice a difference between the console storage and the expansion drive (more on that later). The drive is listed by the PS5 as providing 2.1 TB of new space, with 500+ MB tied up in system files, so the usable total listed was 2 TB. My first task after installation was to free up the console drive space so I moved 475+ GB onto the SSD. It took about 6 minutes. I use a 2 TB external HDD to store older PS4 downloaded titles and game files for older games I hardly touch, so my next task was to move some of that content over. 114+ GB took 21 minutes to move from the external USB drive to the SSD. After the housecleaning, I was finally able to start testing. My saved content from Jedi: Survivor loaded within seconds. I almost felt like the game loaded into my save file faster than when the console storage was used. I played for about a half an hour and decided to try something else that would test the new storage. I have a copy of the PS4 version of Shadow of the Colossus saved to my PS Plus account that I’ve been meaning to try out so I downloaded it to the SSD. It took 5 minutes. Unfortunately, I hadn’t played the game before on the console storage so I don’t have any means for comparison, but I will say that the game loaded and worked seamlessly. In all the time it took me to get through 15 of the 16 colossi, I didn’t see any hiccups or lag. If anyone is looking to upgrade their PS5 storage, this should be a serious consideration. It’s great that it came with a heatsink, but for the price, I think it should. One serious warning about installation (which has no bearing on the review of the SSD itself), getting the game off and opening the SSD expansion bay are not difficult at all. However, unscrewing the mounting screw and spacer was impossible. The screw was too tight for me to get out and I ended up striping the head. Ultimately, I had to buy a third party screw to secure the SSD in place, but at least the placement of the provided screw and spacer were out of the way. I’ve read that overtightened mounting screws provided by Sony are a common thing, so be aware ahead of time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Go anywhere and do anything with our thinnest and lightest XPS laptop. The new XPS 13 is packed with power in a seemingly weightless shell.
Posted by: blackdaz
My daily driver, prior to upgrading, was a Dell XPS 13 9305. The upgrades seen in the 9315 over the 9305 are mostly welcome changes, with a few of my personal preference nit-picks. First off, the immediately apparent change is the screen size and keyboard. On the prior model, the screen was limited to a squished 16x9 ratio with bars at the top and bottom of the screen. Thankfully, the new bezel to bezel screen from the most recent 2-in-1 models have been incorporated here and I love it. I really had no idea how much more difficult it was to work with the prior screen size until I was able to work on my daily tasks using the full screen. Honestly, the reason why I bought the 9305 was that I was mistakenly thinking that I was getting a model with the bezel to bezel design, but I was sadly mistaken when it arrived. When I have to upgrade again in the future, it’ll be difficult, if not impossible, to go with anything less. As mentioned, the keyboard is another big change over the 9305. It now extends from edge to edge, as opposed to the previous model that had buffer zones to the sides. I understand that the major part of this was due to internals: the previous model included 3 USB-C ports, a SD card reader, and a side battery indicator. The previous model also had a battery light indicator in the front just below the touchpad and it’s gone in this model, but more on that later. Now that the keyboard is edge to edge, Dell has only been able to include a single USB-C port on each side. To make up for this, they’ve included a USB-A to USB-C dongle and a USB-C 3.5 mm audio adapter. While this doesn’t completely make up for the loss of the extra USB-C port (which I did find myself using occasionally in conjunction with the other two ports), it helps to soften the blow. If I had to be honest with myself, I haven’t used the 3.5 mm port in a while and the use of all 3 ports at the same time was a rarity. I do mourn the loss of battery indicators though. While I had actually forgotten about the side one, the one below the touchpad was very useful when charging. Granted, you can check the battery level via the icon in the taskbar when in use, but if you shut down the laptop, close it up, and plug it in, it’s anyone’s guess as to when it’s been fully charged. With regards to battery, the power adapter for this model is now 45 w as opposed to the 60 w version required. The plus for this is using a third party adapter isn’t as expensive as having to find 60 w ones and uses less power. In turn, this means longer battery life but I find that it charges slower than the 60 w model. It’s a small pain point, but if it means that I can keep the laptop operating on battery for closer to 6 hour periods under heavy use for longer, as opposed to my previous laptop that was only getting 4 hour battery windows under medium use, I’ll take it. Going back to the keyboard, the larger keyboard means larger keys.They feel like softer presses than the old model, but their proximity to each other have put a cramp into my typing. It’ll take some getting used to. That’s nothing, though, compared to the power button. Like the previous model, the power button incorporates a fingerprint scanner, which I love… it’s just its new placement. The button has been incorporated directly into the keyboard as opposed to being offset from the main keyboard. With the new positioning being where the Delete key was, I’m finding that I get close to accidentally turning off the computer a lot. I use the Delete key a lot and it’s a little painful to accommodate the new placement. Another keyboard change I’m struggling with is the arrow keys and the new integration of the Page Up and Page Down into the Up and Down arrow keys. I use these a fair amount and having to use the fn button to access them is a bit of a pain too. All things considered, I believe the new keyboard is sturdier and much quieter than its predecessor, so the changes are maybe for the best. Of the other physical changes made, I’m not a fan of the down-firing speakers. I believe there were down-firing speakers in the 9305, but for some reason, these new ones don’t sound as great. That’s likely due to other changes to the internals involved with the bigger keyboard. With regards to internals, it’s nice to have a 1 TB hard drive. Even though I was able to make due with the 250 GB drive in the 9305, not having to connect an external hard drive all the time is a relief.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Blue Pure 411i Max HEPASilent smart air purifier quickly cleans 219 sq. ft small rooms in about 12.5 min or up to 526 sq. ft space in 30 min, on high. This air purifier has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 141 for fine smoke particles, dust and pollen.
Posted by: blackdaz
We have 2 of the larger, original 211 air filters that we use for our first floor. The original models didn't come with the smart features that are now offered. It's a shame, because I've found these new smart features to be very useful. We use the 411i Max in our bedroom and it's great that it has an automatic mode. It runs virtually silent most of the time, but every now and then we can definitely hear when it cranks up to accommodate for the times when the air has a higher volume of pollutants/allergens. I like that the app can tell you the allergen level at the time the filter is running. It also keeps track of the life of the filter. They suggest you replace the filter every 6 months, but I believe that may be overkill if the filter is being used in a room that doesn't get that dirty. With the tracking, we can ensure that we replace the filter when needed, not necessarily in a specific timeframe. That works better for us with this filter because our bedroom won't need to be replaced as often as the larger units on our first floor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience a balanced sound, with crisp, soaring teble and controlled, runbling bass. Built-in Dynamic Loudness adjusts the tonal balance of the sound, ensuring your music sounds brilliant at every volume, while Placement Compensation corrects for any nearby reflective surfaces that may affect the sound. Marshall has taken its signature rock 'n' rollhome speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement. Its iconic design knocks all other speakers off the shelf. Generation III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available. Over 55 years of sound knowledge is combined with future-proof technology to completely immerse you in your music.
Posted by: blackdaz
The new sonic options available through the app to account for speaker placement near a wall and/or near the edge of a shelf are a real game changer! My family has used the Action II as our daily driver for years now and we can’t believe how much better the sound is with the new adjustments. Listening to some of the same tracks that we used to through the Action II is a different experience. The audio just sounds so much more full. The addition of the rewind and fast forward button makes things so much simpler. Even if the phone that’s connected to the speaker is nearby, the switch gives you an quick option, rather than having to enter the pin into your phone, open the app, and make the adjustment. Finally, I love that they changed the power switch to a full toggle instead of the Action II’s one switch for on, long press switch for off. I just think it made operation a little bit simpler but much more useful. If you don't have a Marshall Bluetooth speaker already, I highly recommend this one. However, if you do, this would make a great addition and would definitely be worth your time and money.
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Get incredible HERO11 Black video performance in a smaller, lighter, simpler design. HERO11 Black Mini’s size makes it more comfortable to wear when capturing point-of-view footage, while its new dual mounting fingers boost your body and helmet mounting options. As waterproof as ever and even more rugged, it’s ready for any adventure. Simply press the Shutter button to power up and start recording. Its new image sensor ensures you’ll get stunning video up to 5.3K with silky-smooth HyperSmooth 5.0 video stabilization.
Posted by: blackdaz
I have a GoPro Hero Black 10 and this feels like a miniature version. It has a lot of the same benefits that the Hero Black 10 has, but it’s smaller. Aside from its size, the better thing to mention is the rear mounting point. The Hero 11 Mini still has the bottom mounting point, but the dual options make this a great option for POV type shoots, like a helmet or body mount. Sure, being the mini version means that you lose out on the screen, but if you intend to use this more for POVs and body cams, I didn’t feel like the loss of the screen was a big deal. You can still use the Quik app to preview and set up the cam in the correct position before you start shooting. I’ve used GoPro mini versions before and the lack of these mounting options didn’t make those versions as usable as this one does. With all of that said, I would recommend this as a secondary camera. I think together with a full version Hero 10 or 11, you can get some great secondary shots, using the larger for the main focus of your shoot, which the Mini can provide an alternate view. If you don’t already have a GoPro with a screen, using this as your main camera is going to take more work. As mentioned, you can use the Quik app to preview what the camera sees, which helps to work around the lack of a built in screen, but it takes a bit more time than pointing and shooting.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience fully immersive sound in a sleek, compact package with the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. Featuring Dolby Atmos, proprietary TrueSpace technology, and two upward-facing transducers, this TV speaker has the power to make you feel everything you play – whether you’re binging a new series, streaming this summer’s blockbuster, rocking out to your favorite artist, or playing a video game. For full immersion all the time, Bose TrueSpace technology intelligently analyzes signals other than Dolby Atmos, like stereo or 5.1, and upmixes them to create a multi-channel sound experience. The acoustic architecture of this Dolby Atmos soundbar squeezes five transducers – including two that fire upward – into a compact frame that fits perfectly under any television. With the Bose Smart TV Soundbar 600, you can stream content any way you want thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Chromecast compatibility. This Bluetooth soundbar also has Bose Voice4Video technology and Amazon Alexa built in, so you can control your soundbar, TV and cable or satellite box with just your voice. Get a captivating sound experience that goes beyond simply watching with the Bose Smart Wireless Soundbar 600.
Posted by: blackdaz
I had high hopes for this soundbar, given that it's a Bose. However, I did have some doubt considering it doesn't come with a sub-woofer. Despite this, it did sound really good. There is a good amount of bass coming through and movies did sound great. Dialog wasn't as lost as some other soundbars that I've used before, but this could be because it doesn't have a sub-woofer. With regards to the voice assistant functionality, if you've ever used an Echo before, there isn't much more to expect. A downside to this is in the options: there is a setting which you can use to turn the soundbar on and off when it senses the attached TV is turned on or off. However, this setting also means that you have to turn the speaker on separately from the TV if you want to use the voice assistant. That's a double-edged sword. I like that I can have my privacy, but it means that it's not as convenient as a traditional smart speaker when you want to try hands free functionality. Furthermore, if you are in the middle of a movie, I found that I would have to yell over it to get the assistant's attention. That's nothing new for other smart speakers, but it's ironic that this soundbar creates its own interference. Unfortunately, I think the inclusion of a voice assistant function over the inclusion of a sub-woofer kind of hurts this products overall value. The soundbar does allow for an addition of a sub-woofer or other speakers, but those have to be purchased separately. I think this is a great speaker for those in apartments that can't really use a sub-woofer, but I'd look elsewhere for others, given the price.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The new Inspiron Compact Desktop with responsive features in a modern design empowers you to stay connected with the people and content key to your day-to-day life. It features the latest 12th Generation Intel®processors and 12GB memory.
Posted by: blackdaz
Not as "compact" as I would have liked, but definitely smaller than a full size desktop. The size is still good. Overall, it's a great system. The I5 paired with the internal SSD and 12 GB of RAM make for a very quick and responsive system. Downloads and installs are extremely fast. Connection for a DisplayPort and HDMI monitor is great for dual monitors. Having a headphone jack in the front as well as an audio port in the back is something not seen too often on "smaller" or mid-range systems anymore. It's also really nice to see a USB-C port in the front. Just wish there was one in the back too. I also wish that they had included 2 USB-A 3.0 ports in the front, instead of just the one. Given the new standard, I would have thought it a better move to include 2 USB-A 3.0 ports and 1 USB-A 2.0 ports, but I understand the reasoning. Even though the "compact" system is bigger than I had originally expected, it's nice to see that there are expansion slots. Furthermore, I'm pleasantly surprised that it also includes a DVD+/-RW drive. Seems like disc drives aren't offer much anymore. Great little system.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy your music while training with these Under Armour wireless headphones. These audio devices are sweat proof and have TwistLock technology to keep the earpieces in place through any workout. Designed by JBL, these Under Armour wireless headphones meet the highest audio standards and provide up to 8 hours of battery life to last many workouts.
Do they have a microphone and can the microphone be worn in either ear
They do have a microphone for answering calls. However, the buds are not interchangeable, as the twist-lock technology forces you to put the appropriately labeled bud into the correct ear. However, I wouldn't think of this as an issue, as the twist-lock really helps hold the earbuds in place, especially during activity.
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blackdaz