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  • Review count
    214
  • Helpfulness votes
    749
  • First review
    November 5, 2010
  • Last review
    September 15, 2024
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  • Average rating
    4.5
 
  • Review comment count
    2
  • Helpfulness votes
    2
  • First review comment
    October 14, 2011
  • Last review comment
    June 28, 2012
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  • Answer count
    21
  • Helpfulness votes
    39
  • First answer
    April 25, 2013
  • Last answer
    February 17, 2021
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psyclopps's Reviews
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Clean floors with this ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO vacuuming and mopping robot. The 240ml water tank supports simultaneous mopping and vacuuming, while the carpet detection feature prevents wetting carpets. This ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO vacuuming and mopping robot works with a mobile app that lets you customize cleaning schedules from your smartphone conveniently.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The best robot vacuum out there
on April 26, 2020
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
Quick summary: A well designed and effective at home robot that works in multiple situations. There are only a few minor issues with connectivity (2.4 ghz only) and size due to the on board sensors (a pro and a con). Well worth purchasing for an extremely high tech vacuum/mopping robot.
Design: This thing looks cool. It is sleek and modern in design and looks neat sitting in a corner when not in use. If you need to pick it up there is no easy to reach handle, and you will simply need pick it up by the sides. This is not an issue at all but just be aware. It has a decent amount of weight to it. The top has a large knob which houses many of the sensors (more on this later). There are side brushes on both sides to push debris into the main vacuum. The main optical camera is directly in the front of the unit. The specs say the dust bin carries approximately 420 ml so you will need to empty after each cleaning. Battery is rated for three hours using a 5200 mAH Li-ion battery.
Set up: It is relatively easy but you will need the Ecovachrome app to set up properly. You will scan codes from the packaging to set up during the process and tie it to your account. The only issue I ran into is that the vacuum only supports 2.4 GHz. If you are on 5 GHz wifi, this is slightly inconvenient. It took a minute to figure this out so switch to your 2.4 to set up to avoid any hassle or the set up process will fail if you are on 5 GHz.
In the box you will find instructions, the charging dock, warranty, reusable cleaning cloth, disposable mop cloths (5), extra brushes (4), HEPA filter (2) and a cover for the camera.
Use: In use the robot performs flawlessly. It is one of the smartest robot vacuums on the market in my opinion. The device will map out the room using a combination of sensors including cameras and lasers. This is why the bump is so large. It will hug your baseboards and walls and rarely will bump into anything so scratches on the unit and furniture should be a non-issue. It will clean in parallel lines and appears to be highly efficient in its cleaning route. Once it rolls over a carpeted area, it appears to increase suction and you will audibly hear it using a little more power. Most of the time the device is relatively quiet unless the brushes are needed, then it sounds like a small airplane propeller. After cleaning is complete, it finds its base station with ease and docks, it does not take long since it already knows where it is in the internal map.
The mopping feature advises you to use filtered water which might be an issue for some. I assume this is to prevent any buildup of calcium inside to robot to minimize any needed descaling. For mopping you will attach the disposable cloth to the cleaning plate. It does not leave any wet residue after going over and vacuums / mops simultaneously. I noticed battery run time was a little lower while mopping but it was not significant. I cannot rule out that it might not have been fully charged prior to mopping though.
App: The app is easy to use and shows you the most recent maps that the device has created. You can schedule cleaning times in there. Firmware is issued remotely as well so this should be a non issue for the unit. I didn’t find much use for the camera feature but you can use your camera to see a first person view from the robot while it is cleaning to your phone. It’s cool to play with but seems to have a specific use case. You can steer the robot while doing this in the app. In the app you can set up virtual boundaries to keep it out of certain rooms.
Summary: There is not much to dislike about this device. Almost every feature is overkill and it appears as if it will last a long time with its high end features and durability. There are few costs of ownership here to be aware of such as replacement parts, cleaning cloths, filtered water, but if you know this going in it should not be a large issue. The only thing that felt out of date on this was the 2.4 GHz wifi support, I would have liked to see 5 GHz support since some users might need to adjust their wifi routers to support.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Easily scan paperwork, receipts, business cards, and plastic ID cards directly to your PC or smartphone with this Brother mobile scanner. The embedded battery and microSD port let you use this portable scanner anywhere, while duplex scanning processes both sides of the document at one time. This Brother DS-940DW wireless scanner scans black-and-white and color documents at up to 16 ppm, while its compact size and mobility make it a perfect fit for usage on the road, in the home or small office.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Amazing for road warriors, great for desktops
on March 17, 2020
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
This thing is nearly perfect for home office and on the road needs. I travel a lot, so I am getting a lot of use on this product so far. Here is my in-depth review.
Unboxing:
The box is rather simple stating the specs in a non-flashy manner. Inside there is all manner of documentation, the unit itself and a USB 3.0 cable (the larger kind, not USB-C).
Setup:
I tried two different setups, one with wi-fi on my Macbook and the other wired with my desktop Windows PC. Initially you need to install the “Brother iPrint&Scan” app which can be found on iOS, the Mac App store or on the brother website. After that installation is pretty easy with the password on the bottom of the device or a direct connection. Just make sure the switch is in the correct position of which there are three choices… wireless, connected and SD Card.
Usage:
Once set up I was greatly impressed scanning to my Mac wirelessly. There was a little charge when I unboxed but enough to let me demo it. I put in a random sheet of paper and selected duplex and it scanned with great quality and no problems the first time. The software is a little bare bone, but it allowed me to easily add pages or save to various formats.
I then plugged it into my PC and setup was similar and easy, not much change in the experience. I also tried it on iOS, the app works similar to the wireless function on a PC or Mac. On iOS I had a little trouble connection via Wifi as it always assumed the connection was for internet and defaulted to another Wifi or LTE, but it eventually worked.
The greatest option for your road warriors out there is the Micro SD option. Toss in a Micro SD card (a 32GB used for testing), flip the switch the card option and it will scan directly to the card, no computer needed until you need access to the file. There are basic options on the device control panel for color, mono, pdf, jpg, 2 side or 1 side so you need no PC interaction. Obviously, there is no screen to see the results but if you are in a hurry, this option is rather priceless.
Cons:
The only negative I could think of is the lack of any kind of auto feeder. This is to be expected on a device of this size so as long as the user is aware it is not a big deal, but if you scan a lot of documents it might be a little bit of an issue. USB-C would have been a way better addition but connection over the USB 3.0 cable is fast, just requires you to carry another cable around.
Summary:
Overall a great device that is small, great looking and, reliable and works well. It is outstanding for anyone who is away from a desk or travelling often but can also be used to great effect for a home office so long as you don’t scan all day. Battery on it is outstanding, just be sure to keep the USB 3.0 cord.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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This H&R Block Premium Tax software is designed for people who want to be in control of their tax preparation experience and feel empowered by completing their own return. It is a perfect solution for homeowners, investors, rental property owners, or self-employed who have complex tax situations and want to get a big refund.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Basic but stable
on February 1, 2020
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
It has been a while since I have used any tax software in the age of most things being available online through a website. Because of this, it was nice to conduct this review for the H&R Block Premium + Efile + State software. Getting directly to the point, tax season has just started and I feel the software is not yet complete as they are adding forms / interview questions as they are released. You might not want to file quickly if you have complex tax situations. If you have a simple 1040 you are probably good to go as of time of writing at the end of January.
Installation:
I installed the software on both my MacBook Pro and my Alienware desktop. I ultimately completed my taxes on the MacBook but the both versions of software for Mac and PC appeared to be fairly identical. Installation was a breeze on both platforms with your standard installation methods. I quickly received an update at time of installation and one toward the end of January. There is another expected update mid February on the Mac according to the software.
Use:
The basic interview questions are mainly straightforward. Enter your personnel info, enter your income documents, enter your mortgage info, etc. There were a few snags I noticed. I feel most of these issues come from doing my taxes early in the year but they are worth noting. -First, not all the interviews appear to be complete. For example, as of this date in late Jan, there is an interview question asking if you have held any crypto currency through the year. If you answer yes you should be directed toward an interview to fill out a Schedule D form to claim the holdings but it does not exist in the software. I reached out to the support page and it appears that it might come in the February update. If you wish to claim crypto currency now, you would have to manually fill out the form which kind of negates the purpose of having the software to simplify things.
-Next, this is not so much the fault of the software but as of time of righting, there are a lot of forms unavailable at the moment. For example, interest forms and important from the employer or bank directly since most of these agencies do not make them available until middle February.
-Last, the software does not appear to have a lot of baked in help options. Chatting with support is easy enough but chatting with a tax pro is not included with the software unless you pay another fee. There is a search feature to look up common topics but I had more success looking it up on the website instead.
Getting around the software is easy enough with tabbed formats for every section. Federal and State are both very similar and filing taxes is extremely easy with very direct questions. There is a planning tab which helps you determine your withholdings for the 2020 tax year so this might come in handy for some.
The interface is basic but useful. I noticed on my MacBook Pro 15 that the text is a little blurry, as if the designers did not plan for high DPI screens. It is not a huge deal but noticeable if you are looking for it.
Summary:
In all, the software is good. Most of the faults are not directly the fault of H&R Block but I highly advise waiting until the end of February to use this software if you have investments and cryptocurrency. It works well and is stable. I only take away points due to lack of polish. I think next year I will likely revert back to web interface tax software but if you have a need for offline use, this is a great option.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Panasonic easy-to-use video baby monitor uses the same clear and secure (non-wi-fi) long-range DECT technology found in its top-selling cordless home phone systems. DECT systems offer clear, secure and interference-free signal strength up to 1500 feet* more than the length of four football fields, and twice the range of comparable monitors. Anywhere in or outside the home you can clearly and continually keep tabs on your child. The Panasonic baby monitor includes a bright 3.5-in. color monitor and easy controls that sync to an improved wide-eyed, wall-mountable monochrome night vision camera in the baby's room. The video camera can be controlled remotely to pan, tilt and zoom the camera from the baby monitor to look in on your child anytime. Improved long-life, built-in battery charging in the monitor stores power for up to 13 hours of standby time and up to 5 hours of power for continuous use. A smart motion sensor alerts you when the baby is awake or crying. A temperature sensor alerts you if the room is above or below a range you set. When activated, sensors sound a chime, illuminate a LED on the monitor and display notifications on the monitors screen. Microphones and speakers in both video camera and baby Monitor enable 2-way talk with anyone in the room. And, you can play gentle, soothing sounds that include five types of White noise and a choice of lullabies.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great for what it is designed for
on December 8, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
Th Panasonic baby monitor is a pretty good bundle overall. There are lots of high end features in this little package and a few annoyances.
Unboxing:
There is not much inside this package, just the basics. You will find the camera, a wall mount, a plug for the camera and the monitor, a battery for the monitor, the monitor and some documentation.
Setup:
Setup is extremely easy, mount the camera on a flat surface or on the wall mount (requires two screws or nails), put the battery in the monitor, turn it on (or charge it), and just position the camera to your liking. It is pretty much gtg right out the box!
Use:
The product works great for what it is designed for. I used it for a couple of days and it gets great video day and night. The motorized camera is amazing since you can move it around from the monitor anywhere in the house. Night video is bright and picks things up from far away. The monitor is a little low resolution for my liking but you don’t need to connect to any apps like many modern cameras so you can essentially have an always on connection to the camera or leave video playing constantly.
Complaints:
The resolution is a little low on the camera. It is not a huge deal if you just want awareness of what is going on but you won’t be taking any pictures on this or getting any fine details.
The unit alerts you when there is movement or sound, this is good but at night time, it can get rather annoying and woke me up with any movement in the room and I had to tone it down to the lowest setting.
There is no video recording or photo ability on this unit.
Pros:
The battery on the monitor is great, it seems to never die!
The range on the monitor is outstanding, it worked anywhere in the house.
Audio is clear and the alerts (though annoying) are helpful if you are doing another activity like cooking or reading a book.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Improve your confidence with the Upright GO posture trainer. The personalized program trains your body to notice when you're slouched, while the small, lightweight design makes it unnoticeable. This Upright GO posture trainer features an app on iOS and Android for real-time progress tracking and provides instant feedback once placed on your back.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Builds good habits and is fun to use
on November 26, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
Summary:
This is a pretty useful device is you are trying to work on your posture. Set up is simple, it is relatively unobtrusive and it works well.
Unboxing:
The packaging is small. Essentially, just a little cube. The device is inside with a box of information, alcohol wipes and adhesive strips. There is a micro USB cable and a carrying case inside as well.
Setup:
Setup is easy, download the app, press the button to pair it and make an account. I tested it out on my iOS device and my Mac. After the initial setup, press a button to connect it and work on your first training session. It was only about six minutes but it got me to be a little mindful of my habits. I then set it up on my mac with the app available in the app store. All that is to be done is connect it to your phone and then scan a QR code on your mac to sync them together. You can then do some basic tracking / training with a widget on your Mac.
IOS integration supports the Health app for “mindful minutes”.
Use:
First, for training, you will start with 6-7 minutes a session but can work your way up higher and higher as you go. All it really does in this mode is show a little graphic of your posture and you want to keep it above the red dot, if you go below the red dot for a few seconds you get a buzz. This was most helpful when using the computer (typing this review) as it helps me to reinforce good sitting habits. Outside of sitting, I didn’t use this mode any other time as it did not seem practical for daily use.
Second, there is tracking mode. This is essentially your “activity tracker” mode. Put the device on your back, set this mode and go about your day! It only tracks posture (would love to have it do steps too) but it is easy to forget about. After a few minutes you will forget it is there so I would check throughout the day to make sure it didn’t fall off. I never had that happen once but I couldn’t help but be concerned since it was so transparent to the user.
Comfort:
Great! I never felt it was there as it has virtually no weight. The adhesive is never too sticky and causes no discomfort. I did notice that in a t-shirt, it might add a little “hump” to your back which I found ironic as it is meant to help correct posture but appears like you have a small hunch when wearing. If you wear a jacket, hoodie or thicker shirts, no one will ever notice.
Battery:
I was a little disappointed by the battery life. For training mode, you will get more than enough for the sessions you might be wearing it. For all day tracking, I would expect a daily recharge. I wore it for 10 hours the first day and was at 10% at the end of the day. The next day I wore it for 5:40 hours and it was at 60%. It isn’t bad but just be aware this is not something you might wear every day all day. Plus, charging is micro USB. I would love to see USB-C or wireless charging support.
Mac support:
The mac widget is nice to look at as it is extremely simple and small. It is very basic with the graphic, a toggle between training and tracking and the ability to click to turn off the device. It is good for a typing session but not much else. The app frequently disconnected and required me to click “connect” to see my status. It never lost its connection from the phone but only on the mac.
Summary:
Overall, I was pleased with this device as it is unobtrusive, small, comfortable and easy to use. I was disappointed by short battery life, the requirement to buy adhesive down the road (each one is good for 3-10 uses) and micro USB. If the device had wireless charging and a slightly bigger battery, I would give it a perfect score. 4 out of 5.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Keep your computers, phones, and tablets in peak performance with this AVG software. AVG TuneUp will help you free up precious disk space, remove unnecessary junk files, and get your devices running smoother and faster than before.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good and simple
on November 25, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
In testing out this software, I tried it on Mac, Android and PC as there is no iOS app. I’ll review it based on OS I tried it on.
Mac:
There are three options available for MacOS, “clean clutter”, “find duplicates”, and “find photos”. The clean clutter feature is pretty straight forward, you click it and it quickly finds files taking up storage on your device. I was able to free up about 10GB of files pretty easily and it did its job there.
For the find duplicates feature, I can see this being useful if you have all your files stored on your device. If you store your files in cloud storage, this might be an issue. The problem I ran into is, I store a lot of files in OneDrive. As OneDrive tries to keep copies of files in the cloud until used, the AVG TuneUp software will have to download the pictures in order to scan them. If you have a 128 or 256GB Mac and lots of photos in the cloud this cloud be an issue as it will fill up your hard drive. As a result, I didn’t use the find duplicates and find photos features too much as it took too long to try to download all my photos. The clean clutter feature works well though.
Android:
In short, pretty useful! The most straightforward use is the quick clean feature which will clean all your cache and other files you might have forgotten about. It is a great one stop shop to clean up files on your device especially if you have limited storage space such as a 64GB device. Memory clear is as expected and same as how other apps do it so nothing special there. I did end up liking the media tab as. It will help clear up similar photos, bad photos, sensitive photos and old photos. Also, it can optimize photos to allow you to choose the compression and resolution of the files on your device. For some people this will never go used as they want full quality, but if you have a small screen you might not need full resolution, especially if your photos are backed up to the cloud.
PC:
The best version is the PC version. The main features here are “maintenance”, “speed up”, “free up space”, and “fix problems”. Maintenance is as described, there is a great registry cleaner and broken links cleaner here in addition to the usual cache, cookies and history cleaners. It has an automatic maintenance mode you can use as well.
Speed up is somewhat useful and mostly shows you in a graphical view what background tasks are taking up space and allows you to “snooze” them. This is nothing you can’t already do in the performance tab of the OS but it is nice to look at and easy to use.
Free up space is very much as described and it was able to find me 8.3GB and recommended 10 additional GB. Fix problems is more of a hard drive scanner. Again, this is nothing you can’t already do in the OS but it is a one stop shop.
I was a little annoyed by the ads on the bottom of the app recommending other AVG apps to the user. This is pictured in one of my screen shots. It is not too intrusive but a little annoying.
Summary:
Overall, the software is good and a useful cross platform app. It is easy to use and does a good job without too many options to confuse the user. I recommend, especially if you can get it at a good price.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Gran Lattissima is the new generation of one-touch system milk machines. With three different coffee variants and six milk recipes available at the touch of a button. Each machine includes a complimentary Nespresso Original capsule pack with a range of capsules with unique aroma profiles.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great milk based espresso drinks
on November 15, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
An amazing coffee maker with a few quirks. I have enjoyed using this device, but it resulted in me making a few changes to my coffee routine (good and bad). The quality of the drinks is great, but I had a few concerns about hardware quality. Here is my detailed review.
Unboxing:
The packaging is great with a premium unboxing experience. Inside you will find the machine, the milk assembly (multiple parts), an extra tray (for espresso shot glasses), a few manuals with various guides, and a drink variety pack sample.
Set up:
I highly recommend you read the instructions prior to set up. The device says it requires a cleaning for the first few uses. You should also review how to assemble and disassemble the milk unit. In addition, there are cleaning instructions which should probably be done after each use for milk-based drinks.
After setting up I tried to make my first drink, a latte macchiato. It worked flawlessly adding a generous amount of foam. I made the wife a caffe latte and was very impressed by its ability to switch between milk foam and steamed milk.
It is highly suggested in the instructions to use skim milk to get the highest quality, I was using whole milk in the beginning and the milk output was never consistent as a result.
General use:
One thing you might expect or be surprised by, is that your drinks are going to be smaller than usual. The max drink size it makes is about 8oz so not Starbucks sized drinks here unless you use multiple pods.
Cappuccino’s and flat whites will be at around 4.6 oz. There are a few settings you can mess with to get some slightly longer shots of espresso and milk, but it is only by about an extra oz or so if you program it for a longer shot.
Drinks are highly consistent, but you will need to figure out which pods you prefer. I became a fan of lungo pods (Starbucks sells lungo for this) due to the larger shot. The manual recommends which pods types go best for which drink. For example, a cappuccino recommends a ristretto or espresso, a caffe latte recommends a lungo and so on.
In trying to replace my drip coffee maker with this I found you can pour a shot of lungo, empty the pod and do a shot of water with the lungo button to make a pretty good americano.
Cons:
My main gripe is some concerns about hardware quality and how long parts might last. Overall, the build is solid in most parts. The water tank felt like they saved a few bucks in the plastic quality as I have seen better water containers on cheaper units from competitors. My main concern here was with the milk container. In order to thoroughly clean it, you must disassemble it to ensure the milk is cleaned out and does not dry out. It consists of about five pieces. The piece that attaches to the actual spout that allows you to aim the milk had some issues with poor quality plastic after a few install/removals for cleaning. I took a picture and attached it to the review. It still attaches fine to the unit, but it looks a little rough. Hopefully this is just an isolated incident, but it did have me a little concerned that it might get worse with time as it feels a little too easy to pop it off the unit when I take it off for cleaning.
Next, the milk assembly seems to require you ensure every piece has a firm fit. The tubes that lead into the milk do not always stay 100% in place. This is annotated in the instructions, but it feels to me that they slip out too easily. Most of the time it is not issue but if the slip out of their spot just the tiniest bit, it does not seem to pour milk effectively, similar to drinking out of a straw with a hole it, it will work but it also sucks in a little air making it less effective.
Summary:
If the milk container issues were not present, I would not be able to fault anything on this unit other than the wish it could make a 12oz cup of coffee, but that is just a preference (there are other units in the lineup for that). As a pure espresso maker, I would give it 5 stars. But as a machine meant to make milk-based espresso drinks, I give it more of a 3.5 stars rounded up for the review system.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Connect multiple peripherals, and increase functionally of a MacBook with side-by-side USB Type-C ports with the Platinum USB Type-C multi-port hub. The hub is made exclusively for MacBook, and transforms two USB Type-C ports into eight ports. Premium space gray design compliments your MacBook.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great and useful product
on November 11, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
This is an amazing product. It works extremely well, is well build and has all the ports one might need.
Product:
The product itself utilized two thunderbolt ports on the side of your Macbook Pro. I tested it with a 2019 Macbook 15” and it attached just fine. The product is not flush with the laptop like some competitors but instead uses a plug with a cable to the actual hub, the cable is not very far so it works well for a desk. On it, you will find 2x USB 3.0 type A plug, USB C x2 (one supports 40 GB/s the other is for power in or a 5GB/s connection), Micro SD, SD Card, ethernet and a HDMI port. When connected the height extends over the edge of the laptop by just a bit so if you like your products to look nice and tidy this might bug you.
Performance:
As mentioned, it connects just fine with my Macbook Pro 15 and requires zero setup. I do a lot of photography, so the inclusion of a Micro SD and SD card slot are great. With this product you get full Thunderbolt 3 speeds. I did not have a Thunderbolt external monitor to test it with (was using HDMI), but it should support pretty much any resolution you can throw at it over USB-C Thunderbolt. The label stats it supports 5k video at 40 Gbps. SD card transfer speeds were in the ballpark of 81 MB/s write and 88 MB/s read on my Sandisk card which supports speed up to 95 MB/s read. For an A1 rated micro SD card, I got 56 MB/s write and 87 MB/s so overall card performance was good.
In short, you should be able to connect all your devices while quickly transferring files back and forth.
The setup I am using includes a 4k HDMI Free sync monitor, USB-C external hard drive for backups, USB-C SSD external hard drive for photo storage, and normally a SD card for my camera. I did not notice a single instance of slowdown and all devices appeared to run at 100% speed.
Last note on performance, there is a label saying to connect type-C power to the device for possible improved functionality, with everything I had connected there was no issue so I assume this might be if you have full speed thunderbolt devices connected.
Cons / concerns:
I ran across one issue but could not replicate it. When removing the device while the laptop is powered on, there was an instance where the laptop shut down the moment it was pulled out and I was able to reboot it. I started getting in the habit or removing it only when the laptop is powered down just to be safe. I was a little concerned it caused a power surge. I cannot say if this was an isolated incident to my unit or across the whole product line. I am only deducting one star as it seems like it might be a rare issue and do the products fit explained earlier
Also, the product is a little hard to remove from the laptop, but it is a minor issue.
Summary:
High quality materials, great style, useful connections, seamless integration. Buy this.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Portal Mini from Facebook is smart video calling with Alexa Built-in. Easily video call friends and family on their smartphones and tablets with Messenger or WhatsApp, even if they don’t have Portal. Enjoy an effortless video calling experience for large groups with Messenger Rooms, which lets you start or join calls of up to 50 people. Smart Camera pans and zooms to keep up with the action, and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in view. Smart Sound enhances the voice of whoever is talking, while minimizing background noise. Portal is private by design and all calls are encrypted. You can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the camera lens with a single switch. Experience even more together with the ever-growing AR experiences library on Portal. Become some of your children’s favorite storybook characters with Story Time, where well-loved tales come to life with music, animation and immersive effects. Display your Instagram and Facebook photos directly to your Portal with the mobile app. You can even share photos during calls. With Alexa Built-in, you can ask a question, set a timer, add items to your shopping list, control your smart home and more. Facebook Live makes it easy to broadcast hands-free to family, friends and fans. With additional account activations, you can enjoy music, videos, news, games and more from our growing list of partners including Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio and the Food Network. You can also work smarter from home with partners like Zoom and Workplace from Facebook. Portal needs a wireless internet connection and AC power. Screen images simulated. User experience may vary. Additional registration, terms and fees may apply. WhatsApp is not available on tablets.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best smart display out there, I'm a convert!
on November 2, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
Overall, I ended up liking this product way more than I expected. I had read various reviews on the internet of other Portal products and most were lackluster. After playing with this for a few days with an out of state relative who has an identical product, I have realized this could be a game changer for me! Read below for a detailed review.
Unboxing:
The package for this 8” version comes in a box that is barely bigger than the product. Inside there is the Portal, a kickstand, the cord and AC adapter. Other than that, there is not much to it! The packaging is good quality and explains most of the features.
Set up:
It was easier than expected. I was dreading typing in my Facebook password, Pandora password, Spotify password which is always annoying on touch screens. Instead, you will be directed to a Facebook page which just asks you to enter the code displayed on screen which links it to your account. This also works for Spotify if you have Facebook login enabled. Pandora did require me to type in my password, but it was minimally intrusive.
Wi-Fi set up was straight forward and connected properly the first time followed by a day one update which took around 10 minutes to apply.
Initial use:
Upon setup, I called a family member who set his up earlier in the day. A simple command such as “Hey Portal, call xxxxx” will dial the person for a video chat. As soon as they answer, the video looks flawless so far as I can tell. Both of us have internet that is high speed but, on most services,, we usually see artifacts, lighting issues and more… on the Portal, there was zero issues I could see, video and audio were crystal clear and loud in both bright back light and dark settings.
A great feature of the video calling is that the video will zoom and pan around the room within the camera’s field of view if the caller moves. Keep in mind the camera is fixed in place, but it is wide enough that there is room to move when utilizing this feature. If the person on the other end does not answer, you can leave a quick video message which they can see on their portal or on their phone with Messenger.
Features:
After playing with the device a little more and messing with settings, I discovered many more ways this device can easily integrate in my life. I am used to smart speakers and have various brands around the house, but this one is different… in a good way.
First, there is a great story time app. It shows an interactive video of a story using the camera to place your child in the story book while you read to them. Next, audio is mainly featured through Pandora and Spotify, audio quality is loud and clear with plenty of range on all ends. It is by no means a large speaker so there will be limits but I have found it better quality overall compared to similar devices.
Second, there is full Amazon Alexa support if you enable it, this greatly increases the usefulness of this device to the full range of Amazon skills. The built-in app store in the device has a small selection but most of the ones available are very useful, it appears Facebook put more effort on quality instead of quantity.
Third, the screen is limited to 1280x900 resolution, but you would never know. You can prop it up in landscape or horizontal display which will stream photos from Facebook and Instagram (if linked) when idle. It looks amazing.
Misc:
The Portal supports integration from Messenger (best option), Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram, Pandora, Spotify to name a few. I did not test Whatsapp.
For those concerned with privacy, there is a toggle on the top of the device to turn off the audio and video.
Families will love this thing to stay connected to other family members, I recommend buy a pair and send one to Grandma and Grandpa or anyone out of state!
During my testing I had zero issues with the device hearing me from across the room and accurately doing the proper command.
Summary:
I really can’t think of anything I would knock this device for. I didn’t want to love it, but it ended up as my favorite smart device in the house. Mainly due to its amazing call/video quality to stay in touch with loved ones, the great speaker and the integration of Alexa.
If I had to knock it for anything, I would only say that the Pandora login is a little difficult since the text on screen seems small and not adjusted for the resolution of the screen, but this was only with that one app. Everything else worked like a charm!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+10points
12of 14voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy pure protection in the event of an accidental drop with this clear tech21 Pure case for Apple iPhone 11 Pro. A self-healing construction keeps your device looking like new, while the lightweight design adds little bulk to your device. Delivering reliable drop defense up to 10 feet, this tech21 Pure case is an ideal daily option.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great iPhone case
on October 26, 2019
Posted by: psyclopps
from San Diego, CO
After a few days, this case is near perfect for my phone needs. I was previously rocking a leather case which had its pros and cons but I needed something better for work which this Tech 21 case is ideal for.
Unboxing:
Pretty straight forward, the front has a transparent layer so you can see the case with a slide out part on the right side to take the case out easily. The back has the product info explaining 10ft / 3m drop protection, antimicrobial protection, 37% plant based, and a self healing finish. The packaging is 100% recyclable.
Product:
The case itself fits like a glove on my iPhone 11 Pro. I got the transparent clear case which does an amazing job at showing off the finish of the space gray phone. It doesn’t smudge up too easily with fingerprints like some cheaper brands might do. It also doesn’t add much bulk to the product but the front side extends just enough over the front to ensure drop protection (on a flat surface) and on the back it just barely extends enough over the lenses. The corners have the most bulk, though it is not unreasonable. There is an interesting ribbed/frosted look to sides which looks kind of cool.
Of note, all the buttons are easily accessible. One weakness in most cases I have tried is accessing the “silence” switch. Most cases require you to use a fingernail to get to this but this case makes it easy to do with the bulk of your finger. Buttons all feel natural but the volume rocker on the case has a little “wiggle”.
A minor concern I always have with clear cases is when you turn on the flash. On these types of cases, the flash will often create a “glow” effect in the case as light also travels inside of it. It is a totally minor issue but can be distracting at night time. This case does a good job diffusing it within the frosted sides so it is apparent but minimal.
Grip is amazing on this case and it is not likely to slip off a table to take any damage from scratches. I am not going to try dropping my phone in it so I am going to take their word on it at being 10ft drop resistant.
Summary:
Great minimal case, got get one!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
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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.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Game 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?
Customer Avatar
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.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
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.
 
Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
Horrid 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...
Customer Avatar
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.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
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Lenovo y500?

Ok so I was really looking forward to buying the lenovo ideapad y500 i5 version for $889.98. It said it was sold out but I wasn't worried, figuring it would be restocked in around a week. However, today I looked and it's been taken off the site. It's a shame because it was an amazing laptop, and I couldn't believe it was taken off. I was also wondering WHY it had been taken off. It seemed to make no sense. I would see if it had bad reviews and problems, but the lenovo had 2 ratings, both 5 star! I was very dissapointed and it looks like I'll have to go to TigerDirect and try to find it. If there's something I might not know, please tell me.
Thanks
Though I could not answer any specifics as the reasoning, I might be able to speculate. I have seen the Y series as very well configured for amazing prices in places. After reading reviews, a common trend mentioned of sub par build quality, most notably the touch pad would sink into the chassis. This would be enough to anger me after purchase. For the price, it might still be well worth it though.
11 years, 4 months ago
by
psyclopps
   San Diego, CA