psyclopps's stats
- Review count230
- Helpfulness votes719
- First reviewJuly 30, 2012
- Last reviewAugust 5, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count2
- Helpfulness votes2
- First review commentOctober 14, 2011
- Last review commentJune 28, 2012
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count21
- Helpfulness votes39
- First answerApril 25, 2013
- Last answerFebruary 17, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
Tackle everything. Worry about nothing. This laptop is co-engineered with AMD to adapt to you ~ peak performance when you need it, not when you don't.
Customer Rating
5
HP and AMD have a winner here!
on May 14, 2023
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
This laptop is AMAZING for work, portability and maybe some light entertainment. It is the closest thing to a MacBook I have seen in the Windows ecosystem. There are a few minor issues holding it back from perfection but it is well worth the buy.
This laptop is AMAZING for work, portability and maybe some light entertainment. It is the closest thing to a MacBook I have seen in the Windows ecosystem. There are a few minor issues holding it back from perfection but it is well worth the buy.
Unboxing & setup:
The HP box is a minimalistic white box with pretty much nothing inside. You will simply find the laptop, the 96W charger & USB-C braided cable and a quick setup sheet between the keyboard and laptop.
The HP box is a minimalistic white box with pretty much nothing inside. You will simply find the laptop, the 96W charger & USB-C braided cable and a quick setup sheet between the keyboard and laptop.
My first impression was that the build was quality and weight was good for portability. I received the black model which has small bits of reflective material, nothing too obvious but it is there if you look close and adds a bit of personality. Otherwise the design is minimalistic with just the HP logo providing any contrast. There are only three ports. One of the left ones is a 10gbps USB-C right next to a 40gbps Thunderbolt port. I assume the smaller one was meant to simply be the primary changing port and will likely get the least amount of use for I/O. There is another 40gbps USB-C port on the right side.
Setup was your typical Windows setup. With an HP login to boot to add access to specific features and registration. It was nice to see WIFI 6e connectivity available and I was able to connect to 6 Ghz frequency. There is a setup for face recognition or fingerprint using Windows Hello. It is nice to have the choice since most laptops only have one or the other.
Keyboard & mouse:
This is an amazing keyboard in typical HP fashion. It simply feels right. After about an hour of playing with the laptop I was able to get to 90 WPM in a typing test with pretty good accuracy. The keys are a tiny bit offset due to the HP specific buttons on the right. The backlight on the keyboard has three settings; high, low and off and it is plenty bright.
This is an amazing keyboard in typical HP fashion. It simply feels right. After about an hour of playing with the laptop I was able to get to 90 WPM in a typing test with pretty good accuracy. The keys are a tiny bit offset due to the HP specific buttons on the right. The backlight on the keyboard has three settings; high, low and off and it is plenty bright.
I was very impressed by the mouse. This is the first Windows machine I have used that has a haptic touchpad similar to what you will find on MacBooks. You can click anywhere with an equal feel of clicking and it is near perfect. I would rate it to 90% of the feel of a MacBook trackpad.
Screen:
I do a lot of typing and photo editing. The screen is high enough resolution at 1920x1200, but by default it is set to 150% scale which on a 14 inch screen makes everything huge. I pushed it down to 125% which felt better for the screen space provided. The specs state it has 100% of sRGB and 99% of DCI-P3 color space but when trying a few image tests with good DCI-P3 photos, there was a decent amount of shades it was unable to display. No deal breaker but worth noting if that is important to you. I feel confident doing photo editing on this device on the go. Blacks are also good enough to watch movies on even though it is a LCD IPS screen but it is definitely not as good as an OLED for that purpose. I give the screen an 8 out of 10. It does have a touch screen layer but I rarely use it and think HP should have come with a pen to use it with for signing documents. The display is limited to 60fps and is not HDR.
I do a lot of typing and photo editing. The screen is high enough resolution at 1920x1200, but by default it is set to 150% scale which on a 14 inch screen makes everything huge. I pushed it down to 125% which felt better for the screen space provided. The specs state it has 100% of sRGB and 99% of DCI-P3 color space but when trying a few image tests with good DCI-P3 photos, there was a decent amount of shades it was unable to display. No deal breaker but worth noting if that is important to you. I feel confident doing photo editing on this device on the go. Blacks are also good enough to watch movies on even though it is a LCD IPS screen but it is definitely not as good as an OLED for that purpose. I give the screen an 8 out of 10. It does have a touch screen layer but I rarely use it and think HP should have come with a pen to use it with for signing documents. The display is limited to 60fps and is not HDR.
Audio:
There is no headphone jack here so you will have to use a dongle or Bluetooth for that purpose. The included B&O speakers are great though, one of the better ones I have heard on a Windows laptop. They are a bit lacking on bass but there is an EQ in the myHP app which can offset this. The speakers support 24bit 48000hz. They are great for music and movies alike.
There is no headphone jack here so you will have to use a dongle or Bluetooth for that purpose. The included B&O speakers are great though, one of the better ones I have heard on a Windows laptop. They are a bit lacking on bass but there is an EQ in the myHP app which can offset this. The speakers support 24bit 48000hz. They are great for music and movies alike.
Software:
There is not a whole lot of bloatware installed and anything included is useful. There are four full sized buttons on the right of the keyboard. One for the myHP control menu, one for the myHP support menu (more later), and one for another control menu in the same software. The last one is a programmable key which is nice. I thought it was weird they all point to the same software and would like the ability to map some of the keys to other uses since it feels redundant. Also, I have to hold the key down to trigger the software, a simple press often does nothing.
There is not a whole lot of bloatware installed and anything included is useful. There are four full sized buttons on the right of the keyboard. One for the myHP control menu, one for the myHP support menu (more later), and one for another control menu in the same software. The last one is a programmable key which is nice. I thought it was weird they all point to the same software and would like the ability to map some of the keys to other uses since it feels redundant. Also, I have to hold the key down to trigger the software, a simple press often does nothing.
Performance:
I am greatly impressed by the Ryzen 7 7736U, integrated Radeon graphics, 16gb of LPDDR5x memory and 512 GB of NvME storage. This thing is crazy fast and runs cool consistently! You will easily be able to do this for pretty much everything but heavy gaming.
I am greatly impressed by the Ryzen 7 7736U, integrated Radeon graphics, 16gb of LPDDR5x memory and 512 GB of NvME storage. This thing is crazy fast and runs cool consistently! You will easily be able to do this for pretty much everything but heavy gaming.
In Adobe Lightroom, I exported 104 RAW photos from a cell phone to 100% JPEG in about 1:02 mins. For comparison I exported the same set of photos using an Asus ROG G14 with a much better video card in almost the same time.
In CrystalDiskMark I was blown away with the 7016 MB/s read and 4792 MB/s write.
For graphics, I was able to achieve a score of 3428 in Wild Life Extreme and 3372 in Extreme Unlimited. I did try a few games out of curiosity. I was able to play Starship Troopers Terran Command at 1080P at about 30 fps in low/medium settings. This should be good for light strategy games, Fortnite and CS go if you wish. The Radeon graphics are a good step above Intel Xe and can be used for light video editing as well.
I also tried mining some Monero. I was able to achieve an average of 2398 H/s. For comparison My Ryzen 9 6700 is able to get 4567 H/s and my intel 1360P is able to achieve 3003 H/s.
Battery & heat:
This laptop is great for traveling and working on the road. Off of its charger, it runs cool as can be and rarely uses the fans. This is a much more efficient processor than the intel P series. The battery easily lasted me two to three days between charges with typing, music, videos and surfing the internet. If you are using it all day at the office, coffee shop or class, you likely will be able to get home easily before you need a charge. I did not notice any degradation in performance while on battery whereas the Intel P series often slows down quite a bit off of the charger. I think AMD has a hit here with this generation. Of note, perhaps due to the hardware configuration, my copy of windows never gave me an expected remaining battery time, just percentage.
This laptop is great for traveling and working on the road. Off of its charger, it runs cool as can be and rarely uses the fans. This is a much more efficient processor than the intel P series. The battery easily lasted me two to three days between charges with typing, music, videos and surfing the internet. If you are using it all day at the office, coffee shop or class, you likely will be able to get home easily before you need a charge. I did not notice any degradation in performance while on battery whereas the Intel P series often slows down quite a bit off of the charger. I think AMD has a hit here with this generation. Of note, perhaps due to the hardware configuration, my copy of windows never gave me an expected remaining battery time, just percentage.
Repairability:
Though there is not much of anything that can be upgraded, this laptop appears designed to be repaired if a part goes bad. The RAM is soldered on so choose your configuration wisely. The system manual on the HP website has full tear down procedures for pretty much every component as well as part numbers for order. The bottom cover requires no removal of rubber pads to get to screws, they are all (5) accessible. The plate is held on only with magnets so there is no need to pry it open. Photos are included of the interior. Just be careful with the ribbon cables for the fan.
Though there is not much of anything that can be upgraded, this laptop appears designed to be repaired if a part goes bad. The RAM is soldered on so choose your configuration wisely. The system manual on the HP website has full tear down procedures for pretty much every component as well as part numbers for order. The bottom cover requires no removal of rubber pads to get to screws, they are all (5) accessible. The plate is held on only with magnets so there is no need to pry it open. Photos are included of the interior. Just be careful with the ribbon cables for the fan.
HP support:
Of note, the four buttons on the right keyboard are designed to provide quick access to personalized support. I had no issues so did not test it but supposedly it provides 24/7 professional support for road warriors. The service is free for the first year.
Of note, the four buttons on the right keyboard are designed to provide quick access to personalized support. I had no issues so did not test it but supposedly it provides 24/7 professional support for road warriors. The service is free for the first year.
Issues:
Nothing is perfect. Though this laptop is amazing. I had two instances in my five days of testing where the system shut down for no reason or would not wake out of standby resulting in a reset.
Nothing is perfect. Though this laptop is amazing. I had two instances in my five days of testing where the system shut down for no reason or would not wake out of standby resulting in a reset.
The lid to the laptop is stiff when opening. It is not a one handed open. Also, typing often puts my palms against the sharp corners of the device frame which can be uncomfortable at times.
The screen corners are “rounded” but it feels like HP took a shortcut to make it feel more premium. Instead of any actual rounding, they just put a straight diagonal edge on the corners\
(pictured).
(pictured).
That is pretty much all I could find that I did not enjoy about the device.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Pro-level results, easier than ever. Our best-seller, only better. The first Anova Precision Cooker launched in 2014 and started a home-cooking revolution ~ bringing sous vide to the masses and making Anova a household name in the process. This third generation of our flagship sous vide circulator adds key improvements, making perfect results easier to achieve than ever before.
Customer Rating
5
Great device for so many uses! Cooks to perfection
on April 26, 2023
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
This thing is a game changer! I have only had it a few days and only cooked a few items, but I see it as a common use item in the house as it makes cooking extremely easy and adds time to total meal prep but saves time since it cooks in the background and the food comes out perfect every time.
This thing is a game changer! I have only had it a few days and only cooked a few items, but I see it as a common use item in the house as it makes cooking extremely easy and adds time to total meal prep but saves time since it cooks in the background and the food comes out perfect every time.
Unboxing / Setup:
There is not much in the packaging, simply the unit and documentation. The unit is rather large but at first glance is uncomplicated. After plugging it in and setting it up via the Anova Culinary App (Android and iOS), connecting it to Wi-Fi and updating the firmware, I was good to go. Of note, it only supports Wi-Fi 802.11 B, G and N so ensure you have a 2.4ghz network set up.
There is not much in the packaging, simply the unit and documentation. The unit is rather large but at first glance is uncomplicated. After plugging it in and setting it up via the Anova Culinary App (Android and iOS), connecting it to Wi-Fi and updating the firmware, I was good to go. Of note, it only supports Wi-Fi 802.11 B, G and N so ensure you have a 2.4ghz network set up.
Use:
The first recipe I tried out was some chicken tenderloins. I found a simple recipe (there are also lots of recipes in the app) consisting of salt, pepper, and oregano. After mixing those together, tossing with the chicken I placed them in zip lock bags as I forgot it normally needs vacuum seal bags. I cooked it at a lower temp for about an hour and a half then took it out to sear it in some olive oil in a pan to crisp the outer sides of the meat. WOW! This food tasted amazing and was very juicy! The first bite will turn you into an instant believer.
The first recipe I tried out was some chicken tenderloins. I found a simple recipe (there are also lots of recipes in the app) consisting of salt, pepper, and oregano. After mixing those together, tossing with the chicken I placed them in zip lock bags as I forgot it normally needs vacuum seal bags. I cooked it at a lower temp for about an hour and a half then took it out to sear it in some olive oil in a pan to crisp the outer sides of the meat. WOW! This food tasted amazing and was very juicy! The first bite will turn you into an instant believer.
I also made some potatoes seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano and garlic powder. After an hour of cooking at 190 degrees, these are some super good potatoes cooked to perfection!
The instructions for the unit explain how to use it with zip lock bags as well as with vacuum seal. Using zip lock bags, all you need to do is fil a pot of water, dip the bag in the water which will displace the air, and seal it when all the air appears to be out. It works well!
Issues:
The unit itself is large and requires a large stock pot. I used a 12” one which means you will use a lot of water to cook. I thoroughly suggest finding some recipes where you can cook multiple items at the same temperature to maximize efficiency. You can probably cook entire meals in this.
The unit itself is large and requires a large stock pot. I used a 12” one which means you will use a lot of water to cook. I thoroughly suggest finding some recipes where you can cook multiple items at the same temperature to maximize efficiency. You can probably cook entire meals in this.
The device uses a lot of plastic whether it is zip lock bags or vacuum seal bags. There are some reusable silicone ones you can purchase if you do some research and I highly recommend this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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All hail the new king. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset brings the best premium features to your gaming multiverse for PS5 & PS4, Windows PCs, Mac, Steam Deck and Bluetooth equipped mobile devices. An optimized audio cavity houses powerful, 50mm Nanoclear drivers. Each Nanoclear driver is hand-selected at the factory to ensure perfectly matched frequencies in both the left and right speakers. Plus, a powerful onboard DAC, an optimized audio cavity and active software tuning produces a highly detailed soundstage for captivating audio with 3D Audio for PS5. The exceptional audio story only just begins with the drivers. A 10-band EQ plus up to 10 custom presets lets you dial-in the perfect sound, all directly from the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app for iOS, Android, Windows PCs & Mac. Lock-in on the game or accentuate ambient sounds for nearly full noise transparency with the most versatile, competitively benchmarked noise-cancellation system ever available in a gaming headset. Our variable, active noise-cancellation reduces noise levels by up to 25dB, plus you can fine-tune noise-cancelling levels and other audio adjustments all directly from the headset using the mappable wheel, or with your smartphone with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app or on PC or Mac with the Turtle Beach Audio Hub V2 app. Also available in the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app, you can assign distinct functions based on your gaming style to the mode button and wheel for additional customization and convenience. Two swappable battery packs provide endless power and Stealth Pro automatically reconnects when swapping packs to minimize downtime. Plush leatherette material wrapped around ultra-soft memory foam with built-in ProSpecs technology lends to enhanced noise isolation and all-day, glasses-friendly comfort. Stealth Pro has a refined aesthetic with a rugged, steel-reinforced headband and frame design that is sleek and durable for everyday use and intense gaming. Designed for gaming, traveling and everything in between, Stealth Pro features a lay-flat design, and removable TruSpeak boom mic for gaming, as well as dual concealed mics for using the headset on-the-go. The next-generation TruSpeak noise-cancelling microphone will take your game to a new level, utilizing a uni-directional, cardioid polar pattern with S.M.A.R.T. (Sonic Measurement Audio Reduction Tuning) technology designed to adapt to environmental noise and only let your voice through. The result is distinct, precise comms unlike anything you~ve heard before in a gaming headset, reducing up to 97% of background noise ~ nearly 10X more effective than the competition*. The two built-in internal microphones also use S.M.A.R.T. technology and are great for a more discrete look and for making and taking calls on-the-go. Plus, you can refine the microphone settings even further with a 10-band EQ and save up to 10 custom presets in the Turtle Beach Audio Hub app. Tuned at our San Diego, CA audio lab, our proprietary, lag-free 2.4 GHz wireless delivers a reliable, low-latency connection via USB transmitter station to PS5 & PS4 consoles, Windows PCs, and Mac. Plus, with Bluetooth 5.1 dual connectivity you can connect directly to your iOS or Android mobile device and simultaneously listen to your own music, discord, or take mobile calls while gaming on PlayStation, PC & Mac ensuring you~ll never miss a moment of action. Lastly, an included velvet cloth carrying pouch makes it easy to take your Stealth Pro on-the-go or stow away safely when not in use. *20dB noise reduction behind mic vs. 2dB competitors as tested by Turtle Beach.
Customer Rating
5
Great on pretty much every platform!
on April 23, 2023
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary: These are quite impressive for primarily gaming, but also for everyday use! Even though they are marketed toward PlayStation, they are very much able to be used with PC, Switch and mobile via USB or Bluetooth. The audio quality is great for games and music, battery life is amazing, and they are comfortable for long wear.
Unboxing: The packaging is very high quality. Inside the sturdy box you will find the headphones, the detachable microphone, a carrying case, two USB-A to USB-C cables (for connecting to console/PC and charging), two batteries (one installed, one on the charger/puck), the puck adaptor and documentation.
Setup: On PS5, setup couldn’t be simpler. Plug in the puck to one of the available USB ports, ensure it is set to PS, turn on the headphones and wait a few seconds to sync. Depending on your PS5 setup, you might need to dig into audio settings to switch the audio output. On PC, do the same but ensure it is switched to PC which installs a few drivers. There is also software I recommend you download to ensure firmware is fully updated and to map buttons and EQ to your heart’s content (screenshots included). This app also exists on phone which you can connect via Bluetooth.
Use: I first tried it with my PS5 since that is what it is marketed toward. I used the front USB-A slot for review purposes but keep in mind the PS5 has two USB-A ports in the back you can use if you want a cleaner set up. As described above, setup is a breeze. I first tried playing with Tetris Connect since there are some amazing music tracks in that game. The Bass is thumping on these 50mm drivers! I also streamed some Spotify music on PS5 while waiting for an update and the music was outstanding. Next, playing some Overwatch 2, I was most impressed by the thump of the shots and explosions and how the headphones also emphasize detailed sounds like footsteps. There is a lot of sound stage on these allowing for a good overall ability to locate where the sound is coming from so that’s a bonus. I mainly had the same thoughts for Destiny 2.
I then tried it with PC. My main wow factor came from the Turtle Beach Audio Hub software. I don’t usually customize my settings on mice, keyboard and headphones but the number of settings within this was amazing! Here you will find EQ sounds, Microphone EQ, ANC, Superhuman Hearing (footsteps and such), power settings, levels, button mapping, and firmware updates.
Other stuff: I liked that the mic boom is detachable. If you prefer to use your headphones as simply headphones, you can do that, and they look mostly like a normal set of cans without the boom (no crazy lighting). Don’t lose the little plug where the boom goes as it covers up the port. Without the boom, there are still microphones built into the headphones which also for mic communication, the boom just simply makes it better.
The included bag is a very snug fit. It does the trick for storage though and even has a little pouch for the boom.
I love the batteries! I fell asleep one night during a late “review” session wearing them and they were still playing Spotify music on the PS5 until morning when I woke up. What is super cool here is that you do not need to plug them in to charge them. There is an included 2nd battery in the puck so you can very quickly swap batteries out by pulling off the left outer ear panel and changing them out in seconds, a great feature!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Display your style while protecting your smartphone with the Insignia NS-23UTFFLWR Hard-Shell Case for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. This durable case protects your phone from everyday damage and drops up to 6 feet. Raised edges let you set your phone down without risking scratches to your screen or camera lens. But you don~t have to sacrifice style for added protection. A falling flower pattern gives your smartphone a unique touch while allowing its original color to show through. The case is also compatible with wireless charging, so you~ll never have to take it off. Give your smartphone the protection it needs with this trendy Insignia hard-shell case.
Customer Rating
4
Great for most people, minimal design
on March 16, 2023
Posted by: psyclopps
This is a great case with a good design that is minimal and comfortable.
The case is easy to install and is a stiff TPU design. It is soft to the touch and easy to remove if needed. The flower pedal design is well thought out and has a nice cascading design as if the pedals were falling and collecting at the bottom. The paint appears high quality and does not feel as if it will scratch off anytime soon. I also enjoy that the case is clear in most areas so if you got a nicer color for your phone, you will still be able to show it off.
The S23 Ultra is a large phone so I appreciate that this case is very minimal not adding much at all to the size of the phone. But, the ability to easily take the case off and flexibility make me wonder how durable it will be in the long run or if it might pop off certain areas if it were to fall (especially with a front facing fall). It seems like a case that might be replaced over time and I am not sure how well the clear parts will hold as most of these types of cases tend to yellow over time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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From simple tweaks and trims to advanced artistic options and effects, it~s never been easier to create beautiful, awe-inspiring photos and videos. With Adobe Sensei AI*, bring motion to your photos and click once to transform your videos with effects inspired by famous works of art. Add depth to photos with peek-through overlays, and showcase your memories with new collage and slideshow templates. Plus, go beyond your desktop with new web and mobile companion apps (English-only beta), and enjoy faster installation and performance plus Apple M1 chip support. Have fun with the easy picture editor and moviemaker for Mac and Windows.
Customer Rating
4
Good for most casual / advanced hobbyists
on November 26, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
Mostly the same for returning customers with some new additions like every year. That is not a bad thing, just a much more refined software for a casual photo editor. Of note this year, extracting images from video adding effects that follow objects in videos, video stabilization, better color pop features, more video formats for export, filling of video borders, better hardware acceleration support, moving elements in photos, Apple M1 support, much better performance, and more.
Mostly the same for returning customers with some new additions like every year. That is not a bad thing, just a much more refined software for a casual photo editor. Of note this year, extracting images from video adding effects that follow objects in videos, video stabilization, better color pop features, more video formats for export, filling of video borders, better hardware acceleration support, moving elements in photos, Apple M1 support, much better performance, and more.
Pros:
-Loads of new options
-Great overall feature set
-Good performance on PC
-Loads of new options
-Great overall feature set
-Good performance on PC
Cons:
-High DPI displays require some messing around for support
-Learning curve if you are not familiar with prior versions
-RAW not supported by default (requires plug in)
-No HEIF / HEVC support in application
-High DPI displays require some messing around for support
-Learning curve if you are not familiar with prior versions
-RAW not supported by default (requires plug in)
-No HEIF / HEVC support in application
Installation:
For this downloadable version, I was provided with a registration key which was used to obtain a serial number. Save that number for future installations! After installing, I imported my photo library (a lengthy process between JPEG and RAW) and got started. Of note, it would not import 1000 photos and videos of mine since they were in HEIF / HEVC format. The link directs you to download the windows extension but that does not appear to affect the organizer if they are already installed.
For this downloadable version, I was provided with a registration key which was used to obtain a serial number. Save that number for future installations! After installing, I imported my photo library (a lengthy process between JPEG and RAW) and got started. Of note, it would not import 1000 photos and videos of mine since they were in HEIF / HEVC format. The link directs you to download the windows extension but that does not appear to affect the organizer if they are already installed.
Photoshop:
This is the one I use the most. I usually bounce between Elements and Lightroom as a photography hobbyist and it is great that they are always adding features to elements. My first impression was a minor frustration since my laptop has a resolution of 2560x1600. The DPI options in the settings are “automatic”, “100%” and “200%”. Unfortunately, 100% is too small and 200% is too large to the point where it is hard to get work done in the space allowed. After tinkering with system properties to force DPI settings, it appears the application provides the best setting at 100% or 200% so you will just need to see which one is better for you. After plugging it into a 4K monitor I was a bit happier 200% option.
This is the one I use the most. I usually bounce between Elements and Lightroom as a photography hobbyist and it is great that they are always adding features to elements. My first impression was a minor frustration since my laptop has a resolution of 2560x1600. The DPI options in the settings are “automatic”, “100%” and “200%”. Unfortunately, 100% is too small and 200% is too large to the point where it is hard to get work done in the space allowed. After tinkering with system properties to force DPI settings, it appears the application provides the best setting at 100% or 200% so you will just need to see which one is better for you. After plugging it into a 4K monitor I was a bit happier 200% option.
One thing I have always liked about elements is the options between “quick”, “guided” and “expert. Expert mode feels mostly like the full version of photoshop whereas there are the other two options to learn how to do certain projects with guided walkthroughs and demos.
I mainly work in RAW so I was surprised that the software does not by default support it. You first must go to “help” and select to install the RAW plugin at the bottom of the menu. This will install “Adobe Photoshop Elements Add-on Utilities 2023”.
Once opening a RAW file, there is a simple RAW editor that will pop up with the essentials such as lighting, color, noise reduction and so on. It works well to at least get you to the main processing. Other products might be better for the photo editing pipeline, but this software is great for cleaning up photos and various creative work creative work. I had fun messing with some of the AI features such as object removal, adjusting facial features and shake reduction. A few samples are posted into the review.
Premier:
I am relatively new when it comes to video editing, but this software has more than I need for any project. I often create slideshows, family montage videos of birthdays and simple projects for work. The software is great for simple edits with lots of video effects and transitions. Due to the time it takes to edit a video of quality, I did not get a lot of time in this review but here are some quick notes.
I am relatively new when it comes to video editing, but this software has more than I need for any project. I often create slideshows, family montage videos of birthdays and simple projects for work. The software is great for simple edits with lots of video effects and transitions. Due to the time it takes to edit a video of quality, I did not get a lot of time in this review but here are some quick notes.
Performance on a Ryzen 9 6000 series laptop with Radeon RX 6700s was good until you add filters, then the video stream is no longer real time and choppy. I noticed that the microphone is enabled for some reason when running the program. I did not dig too deep, but saw similar concerns in forums. This is a non-issue to me but somewhat strange and you might not care for it. Rending an 8-minute video with transitions and filters at 1080p took me about 9 minutes total. Once rendered, speed is great for further edits until exported. Testing the same video as a 4k export high quality 100Mbps MP4, it took about 25-26 minutes.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Soundcore Sleep A10 Earbuds are your perfect companion for a peaceful night's sleep. They~re designed around an exclusive 4-Point Noise Masking system to keep night-time disturbances under your radar. Enhanced passive noise canceling combines with an advanced active noise masking algorithm, and soothing sleep sounds to block out up to 35dB of unwanted noise and deliver the ideal sleep environment. Sleep A10 earbuds are tiny and lightweight so they stay comfortably in your ears, all night long. Slim profile and pressure-free fit means even heavy side-sleepers can rest the entire night without discomfort or fatigue.
Customer Rating
4
Good for most, not for all
on November 20, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
Though these do not have noise canceling, they do a great job at sound isolation with lots of options for a perfect fit. They work well for falling asleep, though I question the long-term comfort for side sleepers. Also, these are not too bad as regular headphones!
Though these do not have noise canceling, they do a great job at sound isolation with lots of options for a perfect fit. They work well for falling asleep, though I question the long-term comfort for side sleepers. Also, these are not too bad as regular headphones!
Unboxing:
The packaging is nice. The package folds out revealing instructions, a large variety of fit options (in ear silicone and fins), the unit and a nice hockey puck charging case. There is a USB cable as well.
The packaging is nice. The package folds out revealing instructions, a large variety of fit options (in ear silicone and fins), the unit and a nice hockey puck charging case. There is a USB cable as well.
Setup:
Pairing is done via the “Soundcore” app. Pairing was easy with the device quickly finding the headphones but if there are issues, there is a small button on the back of the case to force pairing mode on your device.
Pairing is done via the “Soundcore” app. Pairing was easy with the device quickly finding the headphones but if there are issues, there is a small button on the back of the case to force pairing mode on your device.
Use:
Prior to sleep, I was impressed to see the plethora of options within the app. After a firmware update, I found a good fit using the included ear tips / wings and put them in. I was impressed that the sound isolation is actually pretty good even without ANC. The easiest way to put it is that you can still hear your kids talk comfortably but background noises seem to disappear. This is with no audio. If you are playing music or white noise (various selections), it does an even better job of blocking noise since you are focused on the audio. Comfort with wear is very good overall (more on sleep later). Within the app there are options for music and many options for various sounds while sleeping. The selection ranges from simple white noise to rain to sea wave. Non music sounds can be downloaded to the headphones directly within the app.
Prior to sleep, I was impressed to see the plethora of options within the app. After a firmware update, I found a good fit using the included ear tips / wings and put them in. I was impressed that the sound isolation is actually pretty good even without ANC. The easiest way to put it is that you can still hear your kids talk comfortably but background noises seem to disappear. This is with no audio. If you are playing music or white noise (various selections), it does an even better job of blocking noise since you are focused on the audio. Comfort with wear is very good overall (more on sleep later). Within the app there are options for music and many options for various sounds while sleeping. The selection ranges from simple white noise to rain to sea wave. Non music sounds can be downloaded to the headphones directly within the app.
Sleep:
I am a side sleeper; I had no issues getting to sleep with these headphones and they stayed in the entire night. I have had issues with losing earbuds before as they fall out after inadvertently falling asleep while wearing, not an issue here. Sound isolation was great with some wave sounds and I could hear nothing else. After a few nights I was able to test it while sleeping in other settings. I have a job with some extremely long shifts on some days and people fall asleep while on standby. The sound did an ok job of blocking a snorer nearby but if they are heavily snoring, they will not take care of that.
I am a side sleeper; I had no issues getting to sleep with these headphones and they stayed in the entire night. I have had issues with losing earbuds before as they fall out after inadvertently falling asleep while wearing, not an issue here. Sound isolation was great with some wave sounds and I could hear nothing else. After a few nights I was able to test it while sleeping in other settings. I have a job with some extremely long shifts on some days and people fall asleep while on standby. The sound did an ok job of blocking a snorer nearby but if they are heavily snoring, they will not take care of that.
I woke up most nights wearing this as a side sleeper with pain in the ear I was lying on and had to remove them. By that point in the night, I was already tired enough I had no issue falling back to sleep but I could never wear them the entire night on my side. If you are a back sleeper this should be a non-issue.
The app can monitor sleep patterns and provide a nice little alarm clock to wake you at set times. I did not see any option for Google Fit integration and am unsure about Apple Health.
Audio quality:
For music, these are actually pretty good headphones! The only part of the audio range that is weak are the highs. Mids and bass are surprisingly good. I highly recommend these for podcasts, audiobooks or light / lo-fi style music. The drivers are smaller and meant to have lower volume output. The extra bass probably comes from the isolation and depth in the ear canal.
For music, these are actually pretty good headphones! The only part of the audio range that is weak are the highs. Mids and bass are surprisingly good. I highly recommend these for podcasts, audiobooks or light / lo-fi style music. The drivers are smaller and meant to have lower volume output. The extra bass probably comes from the isolation and depth in the ear canal.
Battery:
I never ran out of battery for the night. The website quotes them at six hours for music and 10 hours for white noise. With up to four extra charges within the case. These should never die on you.
I never ran out of battery for the night. The website quotes them at six hours for music and 10 hours for white noise. With up to four extra charges within the case. These should never die on you.
Other notes:
-Firmware updates are very small (less than a MB) but they take a very long time to update.
-Multipoint Bluetooth is not supported and it seemed to me I had to repair anytime I switched devices, so have a single phone or tablet you use this with
-SBC and AAC codecs are supported
-Firmware updates are very small (less than a MB) but they take a very long time to update.
-Multipoint Bluetooth is not supported and it seemed to me I had to repair anytime I switched devices, so have a single phone or tablet you use this with
-SBC and AAC codecs are supported
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get a healthier, brighter smile with the Philips Sonicare 9000 Special Edition. This toothbrush features a pressure sensor, 4 brushing modes, 3 intensities and smart brush head mode pairing technology. The Philips Sonicare 9000 Special Edition will look beautiful in your bathroom, with elegant charging glass and premium finishings. Track your brushing within the Sonicare App to ensure you're reaching your oral health care goals.
Customer Rating
4
Great for most people
on November 20, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
I really like this toothbrush. It looks great, does a great job and even offers connectivity to your phone.
I really like this toothbrush. It looks great, does a great job and even offers connectivity to your phone.
Pros:
- Nice blue color
- 20 second timers for six segments
- Multiple modes
- App connectivity gives great tracking to brush head and brush patterns
- Docking station is well thought out
- Charges last a long time
- Nice blue color
- 20 second timers for six segments
- Multiple modes
- App connectivity gives great tracking to brush head and brush patterns
- Docking station is well thought out
- Charges last a long time
Cons:
- App doesn’t connect to another service (Google Fit) on Android
- Included travel case is very cheap plastic
- App doesn’t connect to another service (Google Fit) on Android
- Included travel case is very cheap plastic
Unboxing / setup:
The package comes with the brush, charger (with base), one Diamond Clean toothbrush head, documentation and a plastic travel case.
The package comes with the brush, charger (with base), one Diamond Clean toothbrush head, documentation and a plastic travel case.
Setup is simple. If you just want a toothbrush, plug it in, charge it and use away with one of the following modes: clean, white, gum health, deep clean. If you intend to use the app, download the “Sonicare App”, create a login, pair the device simply by turning it on while using the app, and brush following the app guidance.
Use:
First, I can’t say enough, it looks really nice with a royal blueish color. The app provides great feedback on pressure while brushing and turns out I have been brushing too hard all this time. The timer works in 20 second segments on the basic clean app for emphasis on different parts of the mouth. I have used Sonicare brushes before and the teeth whitening does work with routine use but plateaus at a point. The travel case is very flimsy plastic and felt like an afterthought compared to everything else in the kit.
The charger is a plastic clear plate that goes on top of an inductive charger. In my time reviewing this product, I was never able to drain the toothbrush with 2x / day brushing for 2 minutes each. The charger is compatible with other similar brushes in the lineup as it charged my wife’s brush as well so you will not need multiple chargers if you have multiple Sonicare brushes.
First, I can’t say enough, it looks really nice with a royal blueish color. The app provides great feedback on pressure while brushing and turns out I have been brushing too hard all this time. The timer works in 20 second segments on the basic clean app for emphasis on different parts of the mouth. I have used Sonicare brushes before and the teeth whitening does work with routine use but plateaus at a point. The travel case is very flimsy plastic and felt like an afterthought compared to everything else in the kit.
The charger is a plastic clear plate that goes on top of an inductive charger. In my time reviewing this product, I was never able to drain the toothbrush with 2x / day brushing for 2 minutes each. The charger is compatible with other similar brushes in the lineup as it charged my wife’s brush as well so you will not need multiple chargers if you have multiple Sonicare brushes.
I was a bit disappointed that the app doesn’t tie into any other health ecosystems on Android (Google Fit, Withings Health, Samsung Health), but I believe it integrates with Apple Health for iOS users according to their website.
Only taking a star away due to the cheap travel case and lack of integration on Android. Otherwise an outstanding toothbrush!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![McAfee - McAfee+ Premium Family (Unlimited Devices) Antivirus Software, Scam Protection (1-Year Subscription with Auto-Renewal) - Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Mac OS, Windows [Digital]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/c49ceca8-ded1-41d3-ba59-f1072d13a406.jpg)
McAfee+ Premium ~ all-in-one protection for your digital life. In today~s digital world, protecting your personal info and devices from online threats is more important than ever. McAfee+ Premium is an all-in-one solution to protect you online. It gives you peace of mind because you know you~re protected from the latest scams, viruses, and identity theft. McAfee's Scam Detector identifies potential scam texts, emails, and videos to prevent financial fraud and safeguard your personal information. We~ll also monitor your personal info and let you know if anything looks suspicious, so you can take action to protect yourself. We~ll even help you get rid of your personal info from data broker sites that sell it, so you can keep your data private. Our Secure VPN will protect your online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address, so you can browse the web privately. Plus our antivirus software will protect all of your devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets, from scams, viruses, malware, and other threats. This subscription also includes Parental Controls that will help you keep your kids safer online by blocking bad content and letting you monitor their online activity.
Customer Rating
4
Robust suite with extras
on November 17, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
The product has very much improved this year in usability. On PC, Android and iOS, the features are easy to navigate and robust. On MacOS I found installation to be troublesome on Ventura but eventually got it working. Like many security products, there are ads for upgrades and many of the features are web based. With unlimited licenses, this is a good product and the VPN is a great feature. Family management is easy to use but limited.
The product has very much improved this year in usability. On PC, Android and iOS, the features are easy to navigate and robust. On MacOS I found installation to be troublesome on Ventura but eventually got it working. Like many security products, there are ads for upgrades and many of the features are web based. With unlimited licenses, this is a good product and the VPN is a great feature. Family management is easy to use but limited.
Pros:
Robust feature set
Easy to use (except for Mac)
Available on all platforms
Great interface
Good VPN
Robust feature set
Easy to use (except for Mac)
Available on all platforms
Great interface
Good VPN
Cons:
Intrusive ads
Installation on MacOS not for a novice user
Unable to add folder exceptions, only file exceptions
Intrusive ads
Installation on MacOS not for a novice user
Unable to add folder exceptions, only file exceptions
Installation:
I received a downloadable link. On PC installation was easy and simply involved downloading the link, entering your serial and then exploring the app and updating permissions as needed. Installation is just as simple on Android and iOS with the only modifier being to install a VPN profile. MacOS was tricky though. I installed the software on the latest version of Ventura, of which McAfee does not have specific instructions for as the menu layouts have changed in that OS version. The app provides some instructions to use finder to find specific files and add them to the privacy and security folder. I followed all instructions but the program would never properly load or activate some features. I uninstalled (another long process of finding multiple files in the file system and deleting them, using instructions at McAfee.com) then reinstalled the software and after a few tries it took all the settings to get it operational. The process could use some streamlining and McAfee should come up with an uninstall tool as other antivirus companies have done.
I received a downloadable link. On PC installation was easy and simply involved downloading the link, entering your serial and then exploring the app and updating permissions as needed. Installation is just as simple on Android and iOS with the only modifier being to install a VPN profile. MacOS was tricky though. I installed the software on the latest version of Ventura, of which McAfee does not have specific instructions for as the menu layouts have changed in that OS version. The app provides some instructions to use finder to find specific files and add them to the privacy and security folder. I followed all instructions but the program would never properly load or activate some features. I uninstalled (another long process of finding multiple files in the file system and deleting them, using instructions at McAfee.com) then reinstalled the software and after a few tries it took all the settings to get it operational. The process could use some streamlining and McAfee should come up with an uninstall tool as other antivirus companies have done.
Use:
I was very impressed with the PC and Android versions. The layout is intuitive and pleasant. My only concern is most of the privacy monitoring features are web based and require a lot of setup to get working properly. After that is done though, you have a lot of powerful privacy monitoring tools as well as a great software suite. The VPN works well with only a minor impact to my overall speeds. Scanning is fast and doesn't seem to bog down performance. When trying to exclude some crypto software from scans, I could only exclude specific files, not folders. This made the process tedious.
I was very impressed with the PC and Android versions. The layout is intuitive and pleasant. My only concern is most of the privacy monitoring features are web based and require a lot of setup to get working properly. After that is done though, you have a lot of powerful privacy monitoring tools as well as a great software suite. The VPN works well with only a minor impact to my overall speeds. Scanning is fast and doesn't seem to bog down performance. When trying to exclude some crypto software from scans, I could only exclude specific files, not folders. This made the process tedious.
Mac, iOS and iPad OS are extremely basic. The Mac software has scanning and VPN but less overall options than the PC version. iOS versions have only VPN and remote admin functions.
Of note are advertisements. On the PC I received constant pop ups to activate certain features or upgrade to different subscriptions. I got annoyed by these and I did not see an easy way to disable these as you can turn off security related alerts in the settings but I saw no feature for things that recommend upgrades.
Family security:
The nicest feature of this security software is that it can be used on an unlimited number of devices. But, unless I missed something, it appears if you use it on another adult device such as your spouse, it will require the login for the account owner which I would say is a security hit right there. Second, the family management app (Safe Family) is only for managing child accounts and is a separate download from their website. Once you are using the software it is pretty decent. It allows for quick pausing of devices and specific app disabling. What is a little too simple is permissions for managing usage time. You can manage allowed hours but not time limits within the day. For example, 1 hour limits.
The nicest feature of this security software is that it can be used on an unlimited number of devices. But, unless I missed something, it appears if you use it on another adult device such as your spouse, it will require the login for the account owner which I would say is a security hit right there. Second, the family management app (Safe Family) is only for managing child accounts and is a separate download from their website. Once you are using the software it is pretty decent. It allows for quick pausing of devices and specific app disabling. What is a little too simple is permissions for managing usage time. You can manage allowed hours but not time limits within the day. For example, 1 hour limits.
Extras / Notes::
The Mcafee website allows for downloads or access of extras with your subscription. Items I saw listed are the True Key password manager, access to Family Safe, individual VPN downloads (also included in the McAfee Suite), ID Monitoring and Personal data cleanup.
The Mcafee website allows for downloads or access of extras with your subscription. Items I saw listed are the True Key password manager, access to Family Safe, individual VPN downloads (also included in the McAfee Suite), ID Monitoring and Personal data cleanup.
Concerning True Key, it is a pretty good overall password manager and even supports Windows Hello. The only reason I will not use it as my primary manager is I do not see any option for password sharing with family members.
Last, on Mac, it appears to be a native ARM app which is nice for performance and battery life as can be seen in Activity Monitor (listed as Apple, not Intel)
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meta Quest Pro is a virtual reality system that unlocks new perspectives into how we work, create, and collaborate, so you can go beyond what was previously possible. A completely reimagined headset is slimmer and more well-balanced for long-lasting comfort. Breakthrough high resolution mixed reality passthrough uses full-color sensors to let you see and engage with the physical world around you~even as you connect, work and play in virtual spaces. Multiple room-sized displays let you skip between tasks to get more done, more easily. Connect better with friends or collaborate with peers like never before with real-time avatar expressions that mirror your authentic facial reactions. Intuitive, redesigned controllers dispense with tracking rings, using self-tracking cameras to capture a greater range of motion and fine motor controls to translate detailed finger operations like writing and drawing into VR. Advanced multi-point haptic feedback makes virtual interactions feel more real. Meta Quest is for ages 13+. Certain apps, games, and experiences may be higher.
Customer Rating
4
A glimpse into the future, with a few issues
on November 1, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
WOAH! This is the future! There are still quirks to work out but there is simply so much potential here. I am writing this review on my laptop and synced up the Quest Pro… I can see the keyboard in front of me via passthrough, but everything around that is in VR with my computer screen appearing to be a 50’ TV in front of me with the surroundings of the Pacific Northwest all around me in my virtual office. I can’t wait until they expand it into a multi desktop view (not supported yet). Games are fun, social experiences are outstanding and using this thing for work or entertainment just makes it feel like the future is right around the corner.
WOAH! This is the future! There are still quirks to work out but there is simply so much potential here. I am writing this review on my laptop and synced up the Quest Pro… I can see the keyboard in front of me via passthrough, but everything around that is in VR with my computer screen appearing to be a 50’ TV in front of me with the surroundings of the Pacific Northwest all around me in my virtual office. I can’t wait until they expand it into a multi desktop view (not supported yet). Games are fun, social experiences are outstanding and using this thing for work or entertainment just makes it feel like the future is right around the corner.
Pro:
- Wow factor
- Premium build
- Possibilities!
- Works well
- Great for work and play!
- Wow factor
- Premium build
- Possibilities!
- Works well
- Great for work and play!
Cons:
- Feels like an experiment
- Lots of shiny surfaces (might scratch easily)
- Not many people using these
- Feels like an experiment
- Lots of shiny surfaces (might scratch easily)
- Not many people using these
Unboxing:
For a premium product such as this, the packaging feels on par. Every included item has a nice little cutout. Inside you will find the headset, blinders, a charger with cable, two controllers, a charging station, cleaning cloth, stylus nibs and a cover for the front of the device when not in use. Everything feels premium.
For a premium product such as this, the packaging feels on par. Every included item has a nice little cutout. Inside you will find the headset, blinders, a charger with cable, two controllers, a charging station, cleaning cloth, stylus nibs and a cover for the front of the device when not in use. Everything feels premium.
Setup / first impressions:
After initially charging it, I downloaded the Meta Quest app and simply had to log in to the app to sync the devices. Then it was kind of the Wild West after that! The initial setups mainly involve tutorials on how to navigate, movement, fit, configurations and so on. After getting a chance to explore some apps, I naturally downloaded a few games to get the initial experience! The first games I had to play were Epic Roller Coasters and the Vader Immortal pack. The graphics were relatively simple compared to what one would find on a PC or Xbox but they were great overall when you take into account the resolution of each lens at 90hz (I believe). The first WOW moment was when I set up a virtual barrier around me and realized that if I get close to the barrier, it will show grid lines around me similar to the Star Trek Holodeck. Those gridlines will also dissolve into an augmented reality view to see the real world. My son was confused how I knew how many fingers he was holding up, a fun trick to play since others think you are blind!
After initially charging it, I downloaded the Meta Quest app and simply had to log in to the app to sync the devices. Then it was kind of the Wild West after that! The initial setups mainly involve tutorials on how to navigate, movement, fit, configurations and so on. After getting a chance to explore some apps, I naturally downloaded a few games to get the initial experience! The first games I had to play were Epic Roller Coasters and the Vader Immortal pack. The graphics were relatively simple compared to what one would find on a PC or Xbox but they were great overall when you take into account the resolution of each lens at 90hz (I believe). The first WOW moment was when I set up a virtual barrier around me and realized that if I get close to the barrier, it will show grid lines around me similar to the Star Trek Holodeck. Those gridlines will also dissolve into an augmented reality view to see the real world. My son was confused how I knew how many fingers he was holding up, a fun trick to play since others think you are blind!
Use:
Another WOW moment was when I ventured into MetaWorlds. I am not the most social guy but I was genuinely impressed by this app! In it, you will find people exploring the same as you, some social some not but there are event rooms in which you can see special events such as movies, sports, comedy and concerts. These events have virtual rooms such as houses you can gather around in (some with mini games) and you can walk to the back porch to watch a movie that is on what appears to be a hundred foot screen!
Another WOW moment was when I ventured into MetaWorlds. I am not the most social guy but I was genuinely impressed by this app! In it, you will find people exploring the same as you, some social some not but there are event rooms in which you can see special events such as movies, sports, comedy and concerts. These events have virtual rooms such as houses you can gather around in (some with mini games) and you can walk to the back porch to watch a movie that is on what appears to be a hundred foot screen!
Work blew my mind and I have a feeling productivity is what will take the longest to explore. As I stated earlier, I am writing this review on my laptop and Quest Pro on what appears to be a 50’ screen in my virtual office. There is a virtual desk that is overlaid on my real table. There are “workrooms” you can set up which are a meeting type setting with various tables and tools. It is hard to test by oneself and I can not fully speak to it until other people I know jump on the bandwagon, but I see massive use for this in a world where social distancing and working from home becomes the norm. In these spaces there are meeting tables, drawing boards, presentation boards (with laser pointers) and more. I would happily conduct meetings in these rooms. You can open workrooms on your PC to schedule meetings. I can’t wait until this catches on and becomes more normal. I fear it will be a long time since I only know one or two people that even have a Quest 2 much less any businesses outside of Meta that use these.
Facial animations in the headset are cool, if not a little creepy. The device can track eye movement and facial animations once set up and they are oddly accurate. In addition, you can set it up to control your scene using your hands with no controllers, this takes a lot of practice but is much more natural when you get used to it.
Audio:
My first experience with the speakers was in the Roller Coaster simulator game. I was surprised by how good the spatial audio is. It is better than ear pods when you have audio synced up with 3d visuals. Animals and explosions feel like they are coming from the right direction. The speakers are ok at best. They don't have much base but are good for a private activity like watching a movie in a VR theater. I don’t think they support Dolby since it doesn’t appear to be an option in Netflix or Amazon Video but it still feels full.
My first experience with the speakers was in the Roller Coaster simulator game. I was surprised by how good the spatial audio is. It is better than ear pods when you have audio synced up with 3d visuals. Animals and explosions feel like they are coming from the right direction. The speakers are ok at best. They don't have much base but are good for a private activity like watching a movie in a VR theater. I don’t think they support Dolby since it doesn’t appear to be an option in Netflix or Amazon Video but it still feels full.
Battery:
In this session, I have been using the device for about an hour and my headset is at 73% with my controllers about 95%, not bad! By the time I have to charge the unit, my eyes will be fatigued or motion sickness will set in so the battery life is about what I require for something like this.
In this session, I have been using the device for about an hour and my headset is at 73% with my controllers about 95%, not bad! By the time I have to charge the unit, my eyes will be fatigued or motion sickness will set in so the battery life is about what I require for something like this.
Bad stuff:
As stated, this device is not perfect. There are weird flickering glitches I see from time to time, especially in productivity apps that require syncing with other devices or casting. After about two hours, I will get kind of dizzy or fatigued, nothing serious but it is noticeable. The eye pieces are high resolution but you can still see individual pixels. The learning curve is HIGH, but worth it.
As stated, this device is not perfect. There are weird flickering glitches I see from time to time, especially in productivity apps that require syncing with other devices or casting. After about two hours, I will get kind of dizzy or fatigued, nothing serious but it is noticeable. The eye pieces are high resolution but you can still see individual pixels. The learning curve is HIGH, but worth it.
It comes with a decent amount of stuff but the website sells other must have accessories. For example it comes with blinders but it really should come with the full light blocker sold on the website. Also, there is a carrying case that looks like a must have if you want to use it on the go, it is too fragile to transport otherwise. Also, I could not find any info on if this device is compatible with the PC Link Cable for the Quest/Quest2. If it is that is great for gamers, if not than they should definitely make one. There is a USB-C port on the side that looks like it is compatible but I did not have the correct speed cable to test it with.
Overall, even with these negatives, the positives far outweigh. I do not recommend this to everyone as it is somewhat overkill for most. But, if you want to see what the future holds, want to explore new technology, or simply want a fun experience, check these out! They are next level amazing!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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eufy - eufyCam 3, 2-Outdoor Wireless 4K Solar Powered Security Cameras with HomeBase 3 - White/Black
Keep an eye on your property with AI powered vigilance. The eufyCam 3 system delivers expansive security capabilities, day and night, in crisp, clear, full-color. Capture everything going on around your property in 4K detail, with facial recognition and expandable storage up to 16TB with no monthly fee. BionicMind AI powers true facial recognition and seamlessly integrates with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Customer Rating
5
Best outdoor camera on the market!
on October 31, 2022
Posted by: psyclopps
Summary:
I am greatly impressed by the ease of setup and the quality of this device. Everything about it is well thought out and it is even expandible!
Pros:
- Quality build
- Quality video
- Solar panels
- Expandable
- Great app
- Easy to set up
- Works with Alexa and Google
- Quality build
- Quality video
- Solar panels
- Expandable
- Great app
- Easy to set up
- Works with Alexa and Google
Cons:
- Limited mounting options
- Limited 3rd party support
- No Samsung SmartThings support
- Apple Homekit not yet supported
- Limited mounting options
- Limited 3rd party support
- No Samsung SmartThings support
- Apple Homekit not yet supported
Unboxing / setup:
Inside you will find the base unit, an ethernet cable, two cameras, mounting hardware, hard drive screws and setup info.
Setup is extremely easy! First, download the Eufy app (if you have an Anker account, no need to make a new account, just use that). The app will have you pair the base unit and each camera to the account and it works like magic with a quick scan of each device. After a quick firmware update I was up and running.
First impressions:
The hardware is extremely high quality. The cameras are chargeable via USB C but there are also little solar panels on the top to extend battery life. The base unit has a pop off top which allows for you to expand the hard drive. Internally there is 16GB in the device, I had a spare 2.5” Sata 128GB hard drive lying around from an old computer so I tossed it in there and after a quick format it worked like a charm. It is expandable up to 16TB so I might toss a bigger HD in there down the road. There is limited mounting hardware included but there are additional options on the website.
App:
The app is one of the best ones I have used, and I have used competitor devices. One of the first things that popped out to me was facial recognition of common faces, you can use photos from your phone or Google Photos to recognize. There are loads of options for automation including location based use geofencing, schedules, to name a few. In the few days I have had it, the local storage (16GB) has filled about halfway, older videos will delete when it is full. A 128gb or higher hard drive will take forever to fill up, especially if you have Terabytes to fill! There is also a premium subscription you can get if you want emergency options. There are also options for cloud storage if you do not want to go all in on local recording. I was a bit disappointed Samsung SmartThings is not supported and Apple Homekit support is not supported yet either. Google assistance and Alexa are built available.
The app is one of the best ones I have used, and I have used competitor devices. One of the first things that popped out to me was facial recognition of common faces, you can use photos from your phone or Google Photos to recognize. There are loads of options for automation including location based use geofencing, schedules, to name a few. In the few days I have had it, the local storage (16GB) has filled about halfway, older videos will delete when it is full. A 128gb or higher hard drive will take forever to fill up, especially if you have Terabytes to fill! There is also a premium subscription you can get if you want emergency options. There are also options for cloud storage if you do not want to go all in on local recording. I was a bit disappointed Samsung SmartThings is not supported and Apple Homekit support is not supported yet either. Google assistance and Alexa are built available.
Camera quality:
These are 4k cameras so the quality is outstanding day or night. The lag between the phone and the real time camera feed is minimal. Chatting is available between the app and the camera with a speaker in the camera so you can query anyone standing outside your house when you get an alert.
These are 4k cameras so the quality is outstanding day or night. The lag between the phone and the real time camera feed is minimal. Chatting is available between the app and the camera with a speaker in the camera so you can query anyone standing outside your house when you get an alert.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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psyclopps's Review Comments
SynopsisThe last time the earth was ravaged, animals were saved two by two in a massive ark, peacefully sailing to a new beginning, or so the story goes. This time, we're not so lucky. With a massive asteroid hurtling toward the planet, a select few were chosen to inhabit modern-day arks ~ pods buried deep within the earth's core. You were chosen. You were buried alive. And you rose from the ground to face your worst nightmare. Hordes of mutants killing without a thought, bandit gangs wreaking havoc throughout the already defunct wasteland, a looming Authority seizing maniacal power and holding secrets ~ this is what remains of humanity. The world as you know it is gone, but if any world is to stand in its place, there's only one person left who can raise it up from the ashes ~ you. That is, if you can survive the Rage.Step up to the challenge and climb into the wasteland in the first-person shooter that flings you to the edge of the earth and the brink of extinction. Rage pits you against the odds in a desolate world in which you were selected for survival ~ just to face death at every turn. To redeem humanity, you must master a massive arsenal of exotic wingsticks, sentry bots, bomb cars and other powerful weapons and fearlessly wage war against the evil forces overtaking your planet. Fire through heart-pounding first-player shooting action, rip through the wasteland in high-octane vehicle chases and turn your car into your most deadly weapon ~ you have to play dirty if you want to live. Experience the mass decay with every painfully realistic detail with the id Tech 5 engine and Megatexture technology, firing at 60 frames per second to make you feel as if the world has crumbled around you. And when you take the battle online, the devastating action really does stretch around the world. You've survived the apocalypse. Now comes the real battle.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Game was not tested properly
By skullboy88
from Los Angeles, CA
First of all the reason for such a low rating is that the game is not playable. Right out the box. Now, I have been building pc's for over 10 years and have sunk hundreds of dollars into my rig to play the most demanding games. And I do. The problem is that ID software sent out a game to the public that is not finished. Google, rage graphics problems and you will find a magnitude of arcticles about poor graphics bad drivers and other issues. AMD and Nvidia have been working for a driver patch but reports from many say they do not work to fix the tearing and poor rendering . People are paying $60.00 for a pc game. Dont you think it should work right away without having to wait for a patch?
psyclopps
San Diego, CO
Updates
October 14, 2011
To be fair, a patch has since been release which fixes many of these PC problems including better support for video cards and settings.
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Rock out during your workout with these Sony Balanced Armature Sports XBAS65 earbud headphones that feature water-resistant housing with a waterproof film to stand up to sweat, rain and rinsing. Balanced Armature drivers deliver clear, detailed audio.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Horrid Sound
By DELienz
from Delaware
I had pair of Sony Headphones that I bought a few years ago for approx. $50 dollars... Sounded Amazing, but I recently ran then over with my car... Anyway bought these assuming the sound would be similar and also compensate for my only complaint with my other heardphones which was falling constantly out of my ear during workouts. Turns out these are more expensive but that sound terrible. Tried changing the setting on my IPOD and there is no overcoming the lack of bass. I am a auidiophile and I do listen to music a lot of double bass and drums so bass is something I must have in a headphone. If that's what you looking for don't buy these. I'm confident cheaper headphones with the same quality sound can be obtained so I would not recommend these to anyone...
psyclopps
San Diego, CO
Balanced Armature
June 28, 2012
Balanced Armature headphones are designed to sound like the original recording. Most headphones these days are "dynamic armature" which are designed kind of like a hardware equilizer where bass is usually most important. Any of these balanced armature headphones are aimed specifically at audiophiles as they repoduce very true to original sound with detailed mid ranges and highs.
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psyclopps's Questions
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Lenovo Yoga 710 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Take your work or play with you with this Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop. The Intel 7th Gen Core processor and Windows 10 Home operating system keep you moving through tasks quickly. An edgeless 15.6-inch UHD display lets you see intricate photo details when you view websites or downloaded media on this Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop.
Why is this computer so cheap with all these features?
Good question. The only areas I can see where they skimped out a bit are a bit in the trackpad and battery life. Everything else seems as advertised and it performs very well to match the specs. There is little to no bloatware installed. Lenovo is making some great stuff these days!
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Lenovo Yoga 710 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Take your work or play with you with this Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop. The Intel 7th Gen Core processor and Windows 10 Home operating system keep you moving through tasks quickly. An edgeless 15.6-inch UHD display lets you see intricate photo details when you view websites or downloaded media on this Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop.
Does this model have a fingerprint scanner on it?
Yes it does, it uses Windows Hello fingerprint which is very fast and accurate.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Can it read audible audiobook from amazon ?
Unless you have an app that can "cast" audio then the answer is no. Amazon is much more integrated with it's own Echo. I own both and Echo is much better for this task than the Google Home. From what I can tell, Audible apps do no throw audio to other Chromecast devices such as Google Home.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Does the Google Home have to be set up with your cell phone provider?
No it does not, it is a wifi only device but works great with any phone or device that has google play music or youtube installed.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Will it work with Samsung SmartThings?
According to Google, yes. It lists Smart things on the box and website.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
If I have T-Mobile, will this phone work with it, or is it just for Verizon?
I have tried my Verizon Pixel with my T-Mobile SIM card and it works perfect. The device is actually unlocked if you buy it outright. I had full LTE connectivity in the Seattle area on T-Mobiles network.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
Is this version of Google pixel phone a unlock version and will it work in a country like Malaysia ?
I am not sure if it will work in Malaysia but I have used this Verizon Pixel with my T-Mobile SIM card. It is unlocked but ensure you have paid off the device to ensure it is not stuck to Verizon through a contract.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
psyclopps
Get your own workout coach with the Fitbit Blaze in blue. PurePulse heart rate tracking ensures you reach optimal heart rate for maximum calories burned, and the all-day activity tracking notes every step you take, whether you're climbing stairs or running for a taxi. The Fitbit Blaze in blue even features sleep tracking and can wake you up each morning.
How does the GPS feature work?
It requires your phone to be within bluetooth distance (in your pocket). You press run, it syncs with the phone and the phone tracks your GPS distance while the fitbit tracks heart rate and steps
9 years, 3 months ago
by
psyclopps
Get your own workout coach with the Fitbit Blaze in blue. PurePulse heart rate tracking ensures you reach optimal heart rate for maximum calories burned, and the all-day activity tracking notes every step you take, whether you're climbing stairs or running for a taxi. The Fitbit Blaze in blue even features sleep tracking and can wake you up each morning.
does it let you know if you have a call coming in and if so how far away can the phone be from the fitbit
It does let you know if you are paired via bluetooth. As you are using bluetooth, you get the usual limitation of 30 feet or so from your phone.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
psyclopps
Get your own workout coach with the Fitbit Blaze in blue. PurePulse heart rate tracking ensures you reach optimal heart rate for maximum calories burned, and the all-day activity tracking notes every step you take, whether you're climbing stairs or running for a taxi. The Fitbit Blaze in blue even features sleep tracking and can wake you up each morning.
How do you tell how many steps that you have
Two ways you can tap until you see steps displayed or you can look at the ring around the time display. The ring is a graphical version of how many steps you have until your goal.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
psyclopps