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    January 14, 2012
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    July 2, 2014
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    April 8, 2018
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Arjay67's Reviews
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Without you knowing it, cybercriminals can infiltrate your Wi-Fi network and steal your identity or invade your privacy by accessing your connected devices. Password protection isn't enough anymore.Engineered with multi-layered security, Norton Core™ intelligently protects your Wi-Fi network and an unlimited number of connected IoT devices such as smart TVs, baby monitors, Wi-Fi thermostats as well as your personal devices like laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets against malware, spyware, ransomware, viruses and more.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
WiFi so fast you’ll slap your mother
on April 8, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
We’ll start with the unboxing. It’s similar to unboxing a “fruit company’s” Wifi router. Remove the sleeve, pull off the box from the base and the unit is nicely poised for display. The setup was easy and flawless. All the ports are in a recessed cavity on the bottom. They are a little tight for those with thick fingers. But I didn’t have much trouble at all. I appreciate the style of the device and the relevant but not obtrusive bottom light ring. It provides feedback on status of the device, without blasting you with way too bright blue LED’s that seem so common these days.
Connect using the included ethernet cable to your modem or combo CPE from your provider, connect the power and the ring on the base begins to pulse. Download the app, iOS or Android, and within 3-5 minutes you’re on your way. The downside is the same as with setting up ANY new WiFi router….you have to update all of your WiFi devices (including IoT devices) with the new credentials before you can begin using it. Oddly though, I have two TP-Link switched plugs. One seemed to automatically update from my phone, but the other did not.
My first bit of testing was just about the speed. I have tried a few other WiFi routers and mesh systems and usually been disappointed. More often than not, the WiFi on the router provided by AT&T would be much faster. But that’s not the case with the Norton Core. I compared the speed in many areas of my home including some areas that were particularly hard to reach like the garage. The Core punched through with better speed on every occasion. Usually resulting in an increase of 5-10 Mbit/sec.
As a WiFi router alone, I’m very impressed. But part of the draw is the packet inspection and filtering so I had to give it a try. So I had to look for places where intrusions are often found. After some Googling, I attempted to access some nefarious sites on a sandbox machine just in case something got through. The Core did a good job at detecting and filtering the trojans and drive bys. It didn’t catch quite all, as evidence by the activation and alerts from my security software installed on the PC. But I think that it’s a good second layer to help block infections before they actually make it to the PC level. And since security software on most mobile devices is often painful and slow, this provides a good first line of defense for those, and also all of your IoT devices.
But the other features are what I found most useful. The Core app allows you to set rules for devices, decide what devices are allowed to connect and also has a convenient master “pause” button when you want to be sure that the youngins are not surfing during mealtime or when they should really be asleep. Also useful when you want to be sure that you’re spouse is really listening without distraction. LOL
With an MSRP of $199.99 it’s towards the upper end for WiFi routers. But when you consider the features, design, app and speed it’s not too hard to justify. Though when considering cost, it would be a lot more palatable if it were about 50% of that price. Since to maintain the filtering and security features beyond the first year, you have to pay for a subscription which runs $99.00 per year. I’m not sure if those features will be enough to justify the cost one year down the road, but even if I decide not to continue the subscription, I would still have an excellent WiFi router with greater range, coverage and speed than most other routers on the market.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Handle it all and get affordable prints. Set up, connect and print right from your mobile device, and produce high-quality photos and everyday documents. Print, scan, copy, and fax with ease.
 
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Customer Rating
1 out of 5
1
Great printer, horrible scanner and software
on April 2, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
The hardware of this MFP is weak to begin with, but the software is where it really fails.
My first attempt with setup was using the wireless connection along with the HP Easy Start app. After an extremely lengthy start up routine from the MFP, there were several issues in doing this. First, after giving all of the credentials for my WiFi network the MFP attempted to setup their Web Services which continued for over 10 minutes and never completed. The Easy Start app never would see the MFP. After restarting the printer and then deleting and reinstalling the app it finally saw the MFP. But any time you power cycle the MFP after that, the app fails to connect unless you remove the device and re-add it.
Power cycles of the MFP seem to cause more issues than it could ever fix. As I mentioned, it takes a very long time (~ 2 mins) for the unit to start up. Then every time it wants to run a print head alignment routine. This does little more than waste a bunch of time and ink so that you have to buy more ink. Since the AirPrint connectivity was a strong selling point for me, having to wait two minutes, remove and reinstall the printer before printing is a major failure for me.
So then I attempted scanning from the mobile app. I tried a few different scans from the ADF. Usually it takes more than 9 seconds before it even draws the first page in. Then a 300 dpi scan of one page will take over 30 seconds. On a 10 page single-sided document it took 3 minutes and 25 seconds, so you have around 3 pages per minute of scanning speed. Reducing the resolution of the ßscan did not impact scanning speed significantly. Even when I tried to temper my expectations with the relatively low price point, I can not justify the trade off in speed. This was a difficult task to accomplish and took several tries as the app often looses connection with the MFP after 5-7 pages.
The settings for scanning in the mobile app are sparse. You have very few adjustments, and double-sided scans are not an option. Scans from the ADF are often skewed by 7-15 degrees. Color scans are washed out and uneven. Monochrome text is better but still not as good as many other scanners that I have used.
Then I attempted to use the MFP from my desktop computer to see if it was any better. I installed the software, but during the installation after opting out of the auto-replenishment of ink, the installer hung at a blank white window. I waited 5…..10…..15 minutes and it never would progress. So I tried to close the installer and viola! It suddenly wanted to continue the software installation.
After bumbling through the installation, I attempted some printing and scanning and things seems to go well. Still very slow at scanning, but it blazes through the paper and ink. Printed pages were crisp and clear. Images printed on plain paper were actually very good with minimal banding usually associated with inkjet printers. But once I turned off the MFP and then attempted to use it again the next day, all the troubles returned. It took a long time to re-establish the WiFi connection and then the desktop software never could find it completely. I could print but not scan or fax.
Since the WiFi performance was so spotty, I decided to try connecting by USB cable direct to my computer. You would think that since the software was already installed and then connection had previously been made that connecting the MFP by USB would “just work”. But that was merely a dream. To get the MFP to recognize the software, I had to remove and reinstall the software, with it’s usual blank white page, close and continue routine.
Scanning double-sided documents is a bit of a chore. Since this MFP only has the one scanning element, you have to feed all pages through twice. The scanner driver is good at instructing how to accomplish this and assembling the pages in the correct order. But given how slow it scans, having to run them through twice is too much. Also, scanning from the ADF results in skewed pages as before so it’s clear that it’s a mechanical issue. If you turn on the auto-align feature it will produce mixed results and sometimes even result in a more skewed page image.
Duplex printing is one of the strengths. Prints just as you would expect and does it quickly.
One other thing to note. If you have to uninstall the software to change the connection or for any other reason, it removes ALL PRINTERS AND SCANNERS used by the computer. This is UNACCEPTABLE!
In summary, as a printer this MFP is fast with high quality output. IF you can maintain a connection with your mobile device or computer. As a scanner, it’s slow, inaccurate alignment, uneven/washy color capture. With the connectivity and software issues present, I could not recommend this MFP for anyone.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
+89points
107of 125voted this as helpful.
 
Take your tunes along with this Sony portable speaker. Wireless Bluetooth connectivity lets you pair it with smartphones, tablets and laptops, and up to 12 hours of battery life ensures long-lasting sound. The Extra Bass feature on the Live Sound mode and built-in sound effects make this Sony portable speaker the life of the party.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Great sound at a good price!
on March 28, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
On unboxing, I found an attractive, nicely styled speaker. Warm blue tones, soft curves, tactilely pleasant cover. Buttons on top give you all of the normal controls that are easy to use and rubberized to seal out moisture and dirt.
The speaker arrived fully charged and ready to go. After using it for a couple of days I was alerted to the speaker needing to be charged by a voice prompt that I’ve become familiar with after trying other Sony headphones and speakers. I used a USB charger and it recharged in less than two hours. It’s rated play time is about 12 hours, but I saw more like 14-16 most times. But I was using it at work so I couldn’t blast it really loud most of the time.
On initial pairing, you receive a popup that prompts you to download the Sony Music Center app. The app gives you much more control of all special features, tone adjustment, control of lights and the ability to link multiple Sony BT speakers in “party mode”. Once paired, it’s very quick and easy to re-pair with your device. The app also has the ability to link to several music services like Apple Music, iHeartRadio, etc. This is nice, but most of the time I prefer to just use the respective apps. When you link to Apple Music, there is a lengthy delay while it connects and updates.
There are two LED lights on the speaker. Both in the center at top and bottom. This is the one area where the speaker falls flat. In the pictures I saw prior to receiving it appeared that the lights would illuminate the entire colored strip at top and bottom. But they really only light up the center. There are three modes to set them in without much difference between them. The lights are not a selling point as they are quite lame.
Sony has also built in some motion sensors that, with the app, can be utilized to do percussion beats by slapping the top, bottom, front or sides of the speaker. I tried this out and you have to slap kind of hard to get them to activate. This feature seems gimmicky and I doubt I’ll use it much. Who wants to slap a speaker when you really just want to jam to your favorite tunes?
Lighting aside, this is a great BT speaker. Sony really built this well and delivers on some quality sound. Everything seals up nicely to make it water/dust proof, without having a negative impact on the sound. For me, it was a direct comparison with a LifeProof - AQUAPHONICS AQ10. I have been very happy with that speaker, but the Sony blows it away on sound quality and battery life. It’s also a bit smaller (improving on portability) and it’s about 50% less in price!
One more note on the design….the unit rests on four small rubber feet. This is great on a smooth, flat, solid surface. But if you get it on something unlevel or set it on the sofa it will roll very easily. Not a big deal, but worth considering for your intended usage. I tried using it with Siri and had mediocre results. You really have to speak loudly to get it to capture your commands. Again, not a big deal for my use, but if you intend to use that a lot, you might be disappointed.
The one feature I was not able to test out was party mode. Sony gives you the ability to link multiple speakers (in the same series) to sync the playback between them. I only had one unit to try, but I’d be happy to test this out if I had more of these. (hint…hint)
In summary, Sony has a winner here! Great sound quality, water and dirt resistant, good recharge and playback times and a very good price point.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy an individualized listening experience with these Sony wireless on-ear headphones. Their built-in Bluetooth lets you stream playlists with a paired compatible device, and they last for 20 hours on a single charge for nonstop entertainment all day. These Sony wireless on-ear headphones have a built-in microphone for answering calls hands-free.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Very good headphones at a good price
on March 12, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
Sony has a winner here. A good price point of around $79.00 and very good performance. I previously tested the WI-1000X BT earbuds and those really knocked it out of the park. And for $300.00 they should! So I had high expectations for on-ear headphones from Sony. These aren’t $300.00 class headphones, but for their price point they are certainly a good value.
The headphones are light and comfortable. I’ve worn them for 3-4 hours at a time and they are just as comfortable as my cherished Bose wired headphones but they’re much lighter and wireless!
The BT pairing was simple, straightforward and nearly foolproof. As with the earbuds, Sony includes voice response with a pleasant female voice so you don’t have to decipher a cryptic beep code. She tells you the changes in power state, pairing state, etc.
I found two negative aspects but those are relatively minor. The first is the documentation. Setup is guided by minimalist pictograms. Any printed material is small and difficult for those of us in the 50+ category. I looked on the support site and the only documentation available is a pdf of the warranty and a marketing sheet. No biggie, I figured things out on my own, but it would be nice to have better docs available for download.
The second thing is more of a usability wishlist item. I would prefer if Sony had separated the Volume and Skip/Back functions on to separate rocker buttons. There is plenty of room on the left channel since there are no controls on it at all.
In summary, these are very good headphones. Light, comfortable, simple setup and operation, above average sound quality and excellent range. In my opinion they are priced right and affordable for all.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Bring together your analog and digital music collection with this 2-channel Sony receiver. Its phono input lets you hook up a record player directly, and its Bluetooth capability allows convenient wireless streaming from compatible devices. This Sony receiver has a built-in power amplifier for clear, distortion-free sound, and the rigid chassis minimizes vibration.
 
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2 out of 5
2
Good features and function, needs more and pricey
on February 28, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
Just when I began to wonder if receivers were only 5.1 or 7.1, along comes the Sony STR-DH190. All those big (and sometimes expensive) receivers are great for your home theater. But what if you still have components like a cassette tape deck, turntable and CD player? What if you just want to listen to great music without having to turn on TV’s, streaming boxes, switching through multiple devices? Alas, Sony sees that there is still a need for a 2/4 channel amp with a FM tuner.
What I liked:
* Good sound quality, very little hiss or hum.
* Sleep function - lots of times I have the radio on to fall asleep. With this receiver I can use many audio sources for that music and rest easy knowing it will shut off by itself.
* Dimming display - Vary from bright, dim or off so if you’re using the sleep function the blue lights won’t disturb you.
* Bluetooth - a must for any receiver in modern times. Provides you access to so much more than just your local stations, CD’s, etc.
* Reception - Surprised by the stations it pulled in. I live in a fringe area about 55 miles outside of Chicago. Often I prefer the Chicago stations over the local farm report and I’m able to pull in a few of my favorites even with the thin single wire antenna.
* Front input - So if you have an old iPod, Walkman, etc without bluetooth you can connect it and enjoy your tunes.
What’s not so good:
* Tuning - Scan only to hunt for the next station. I would greatly prefer the ability to step through the frequencies or just force it up the the frequency that I want without pausing at every station along the way.
* FM antenna is a small thin wire with an unusual connector. If I want to try for distant stations, I’d like to be able to connect in to my outside aerial for increased range.
* Remote - Needs numeral inputs for direct access to desired stations. Also, only has three buttons for quick access to just the first three presets.
* RDS not in US-only in Europe & Asia….seriously? If the circuitry is there, don’t lock it down.
* Pure Direct turns off display to eliminate possible noise from display - why not just provide proper shielding?
* No Wi-Fi streaming of online or home network. While you can always use a computer or mobile device to stream an online service or LAN based library, it would be better to have the functionality built-in.
* No AirPlay - MANY other brands include AirPlay within the same price point.
* Bluetooth - Yes, it’s in my likes list, but it also get a dislike. You can use a BT connection to stream music TO the receiver….but what about using BT with some Sony Wireless headphones? Forgeddaboutit.
In summary:
This receiver is a good, quality product, but it’s very difficult to justify the price. At this price point it’s missing a lot of features that competing products have. Even a cheaper Sony model has more features!
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-21points
27of 75voted this as helpful.
 
Enhance your listening experience with these Plantronics headphones. They wirelessly connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device to eliminate the hassle of traditional corded models, and they work with Siri, Cortana and other virtual assistants for convenient control. A single charge lasts up to 18 hours, so you can listen to your Plantronics headphones worry-free all day long.
 
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1 out of 5
1
First Disappointing Plantronics Product Ever
on January 18, 2018
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
I’ve tried out four different wireless earbuds and headphones over the last year. Most were pretty good and fit in their price point appropriately. I previously reviewed the Plantronics 305 earbuds and found them to be quite good, so I expected these to be of similar quality. I have used other Plantronics headsets in call center environments also and was always impressed with the quality. But with these, I was disappointed.
First the good:
- Small and lightweight
- Ships with a full charge
- Easy to operate, good control placement
- Includes 3.5mm cable to use direct wired.
But these are headphones intended to be used to listen to music, so the real issue here is the sound.
The sound quality is well below average. So far below average that I’ll never know what the battery life is like. After 30 minutes of testing with different music styles I just couldn’t stand them any longer! I tried different equalizations and they still are just horrible. There is virtually no low end produced by these headphones at all. Everything sounds like an AM radio in a steel box.
Ambient sounds pass through like you have nothing on. I could hear everything around me almost better than the music from the headphones themselves.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Store documents and photos digitally with this Brother wireless scanner. Its duplex setting copies both sides of the page in a single pass to save time, and its image optimizing feature improves the quality of the scan. The 2.8-inch touch screen on this Brother wireless scanner lets you configure its settings to your preferences.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Great scanner--weak software
on December 26, 2017
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
I was happy to receive and test out this new scanner from Brother. For the past four years I have been using a sheet-fed scanner from Fujitsu and I have been very happy with it. But as time goes on, I wonder how much longer it will be supported through the annual “upgrades” from Apple. So that is my baseline for comparison. Fujitsu makes a comparable scanner and hopefully soon I’ll have the opportunity to test it as well.
Setup
This can vary depending on your intended usage. The setup is different (if only slightly) whether you are going to be using it as a wireless to mobile device, WiFi networked, wired networked, direct to a USB flash drive (rear USB port), WiFi Direct or a direct USB connection to your computer. Both Windows and Mac are supported on the desktop, on mobile they support iOS and Android.
Right out of the box, my first attempt was to use the mobile app on my iPhone 8+. Simple download, search, link and viola I was able to scan a document straight to my iPhone. It happened so fast that I expected a low-resolution nasty scan. So I sent the file to my desktop and opened it there. Much to my surprise, the document was a 300 dpi full-color scan of a brochure. The quality was impressive.
So then I wanted try it out on the desktop. I installed the software (more about that next paragraph) and after giving it the AP name and password, it immediately found the scanner on my WiFi network. I loaded a 16 page document and touched the color screen on the scanner with “To PC” and then “Start”. Sumbeatch! It started pulling the pages through so fast that I feared it might just shoot them across the room! I saw the file appear on my desktop. When I opened it, I was greeted with a high-quality, 300dpi color facsimile of my document. Turns out, nothing was wrong…..it was a SPEED DEMON!
The page per minute (PPM) rate quoted by the promotional literature and on the website is 35 PPM. In my tests, I timed it from the moment that I pressed “Start” on the scanner to the moment it was finished processing and I had the complete file(s) on my computer. In that I found for 300 dpi Letter size it achieved 35.4 PPM. Better than quoted! But when switching to 600 dpi it was 9.8 PPM. For 4x6 photos at 300 dpi, 53.7 PPM; and for 600 dpi 19.1 PPM was the average. When you consider that the difference between 300 dpi and 600 dpi is not double, but four times the amount of data captured this is not bad at all. The maximum optical (real dot-for-dot capture) is 600 dpi. Software interpolation will create a simulated 1200 dpi, but this is not available through the basic interface. Rather, you have to use the TWAIN driver in other software to have this option.
Software
Their website lists the following software included: Nuance PaperPort 14SE (Windows), PageManager(Mac), NewSoft Presto! BizCard OCR (Win & Mac). But the software package that you download from the Brother website does not include any of these. You have to hunt around to find the links for download from their respective developers websites. This process really should be clarified as a less tech-savvy user may not find these at all. The base packages installs the configuration utility and the TWAIN driver. You can also pick the Support app and in the Utilities folder there is a Wireless Network Wizard available.
I made use of the configuration utility extensively in my testing and was pleased with it’s operation. It will find and alter the configuration whether you’re connecting by USB to PC, USB flash drive, WiFi, or Ethernet. Its operation is straight-forward and gives a lot of options. I also discovered that when connected by WiFi or Ethernet, there is a built-in web configuration utility available from your browser. This is a very nice feature when not connected to the desktop. With it you can setup the network file location to save your scan to, setup various Cloud services and even setup the scanner to email your files to any address. But you must have unrestricted access to an SMTP server to make this happen. Most email providers do not allow this.
Since I primarily use a Mac, that’s where my testing took place. The PageManager (PM) software is very similar in operation and function to PaperPort. So if you have used that in the past as I have, you’ll pick it up rather quickly. Figuring out how to OCR documents was the most difficult part and the results were mediocre at best. Accuracy is around 50% and it’s slow. Fortunately, since the driver is TWAIN compliant, I was able to scan and OCR from some 3rd party software that I already have. There’s also a serious bug in the PM software when using the Scan Button feature. All parts of the PM software show the appropriate English as set by my system. But for some reason the Scan Button menu shows only French. Presto really needs a fix for this.
Hardware
As I said before, the scanner drags the pages through quickly and with great ease. It also seems to handle a variety of paper sizes and types reliably and without jamming or excessive skewing. There were only two issues that I have uncovered that can present a problem with regard to paper types. First, if you are scanning a stack of cards (60lb) it will be sporadic in its ability to continuously grab them one after another. But this is not a major drawback, and the specs of the scanner clearly state that its design is for 14-29lb bond. The other minor issue was when scanning a stack of tear-off slips measuring 3.25” x 5.5” they would “skew” in the resulting image. I did not notice the slips twisting in the least as they fed through, but the images were significantly skewed by about 20 degrees. This only seemed to happen when the slips (since they are tear offs) had an irregular leading edge. This causes me to question; does the scanner/software have a “deskewing” routine? And if so, is that it’s incorrect attempt at resolving? Also, the scanner/driver does not seem to support any method of auto rotation of scans. If you scan something upside down or rotated, then the image will for sure be in that orientation. My other scanner does it’s best to correct for this with about 80% reliability. Also, I did notice on a few of the slips that ran full bleed, the edges were slightly cropped.
Next up, let’s try some color photos. I altered the setting to force full color and 600 dpi scanning. As you would expect, the scan speed was reduced since I was capturing at least four times more data. In comparison with my other scanner, the colors were not as rich and vibrant. There were also occasional phantom lines that looked like the streaking that occurs from debris on the scanning element. But they ran horizontal instead of vertical so I can be sure that was not the source.
Other software notes
When scanning to an Excel file, I ran into issues with having to grant file access just to open them. Also, when I instructed PM to OCR to an Excel file, it opened Excel with the raw text of the file rather than a spreadsheet. (screenshot included)
Summary
The Brother ADS-2700W is a very fast sheet-fed scanner with good paper handling and decent color rendering. It is mostly limited by the bundled software, but if you have more robust needs better software is available at a reasonable price. I really appreciate the variety of transfer methods supported. (e.g. WiFi, Ethernet, USB PC, USB Flash) The menus are easy to navigate and it’s definitely a keeper. This scanner will be a welcome addition to my drive to become completely paperless.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
+23points
23of 23voted this as helpful.
 
Brighten your home with this two-pack of Philips Hue white ambiance A19 bulbs. They provide a comforting, natural glow for your study or living space, helping you relax and unwind at the end of the day. The accompanying app lets you adjust the intensity of these Philips Hue white ambiance bulbs for a customized shade.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Love my Hue White, but these are so much better!
on December 18, 2017
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
I previously purchased the Starter Kit with two Hue White bulbs. After being impressed with the easy setup and flawless operation, I decided to give the Hue White Ambiance a try. I was wooed by their ability to alter the color temp along with the more basic features of wireless control of on/off and dimming.
So I unboxed them and swapped them in a lamp in my living room. Turn both sockets and they turn on by default. Launched the Hue app, and they were discovered immediately. So I created a room, assigned them and was adjusting the levels within about two minutes.
The color temp adjustment makes a big difference. No longer are you limited to the color of the blue when you buy it. My husband and I have different opinions on what looks best. I tend to go warmer, he tends to go more stark white. But with these we can find a happy medium, or just vary them based on the mood or outdoor conditions.
Another neat part is the app. It allows for easy setup and assignments to vary “rooms”. Plus you can use geofencing to control operation. I have mine set to activate the living room lights when I come home. But I also enabled the option to only activate if it is after sundown. So if I just go out and return during the day, they don’t turn on when it’s still daylight.
One more feature that sold me on these, was that from the Hue app I can copy all the setting over to Apple HomeKit. So now I can control them from the Hue app, my Google Home Mini or any Siri device. (iPad, iPhone, AppleTV)
Yep, these are definitely keepers. When my brother-in-law asked what we could use for Christmas, our first response was more Hues! And I will likely be buying several more once I can wade through all the competing standards to decide what other home automation devices I should get. (e.g. wall outlets, switches, security monitoring, etc)
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Video editing doesn't have to be daunting or take tons of time. Go from hundreds of mystery folders to a visual view of your videos automatically sorted by date. Use automated editing options and step-by-step guidance to create and share everything from animated GIFs and video collages to new dynamic slideshows and full-length movies.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Why pay when iMovie is free?
on December 6, 2017
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
After a lengthy download of nearly 3GB, I started the installer. Thirty minutes later the installer was finished so I fired up Adobe Premier Elements 2018. The first run is always the longest, but even on subsequent program loads it takes a while even on a high powered Mac, as it scrolls thorough what seems like one hundred different modules.
Only the super rudimentary controls are available in the Quick or Guided mode. To find controls for adding narration, or editing the audio you must dive deep into the Expert mode.
Features like Smart Trim will take longer than the duration of the video itself and don’t produce very good results.
Export options are robust and should cover any possible need that you have.
The layout and mixing are nicely presented, but adjusting and editing are far from intuitive. I typically use iMovie for these types of tasks. While it isn’t exactly “user discoverable” either, at least Apple provides courses for the end user that make it a breeze.
I think I’ll stick with iMovie. For me, it’s a lot easier, loads way faster and integrates much better with the rest of the system.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Enjoy clear audio without distraction while wearing these Plantronics BackBeat FIT wireless earbuds. They have a sweat-resistant coating and lightweight design that's comfortable to wear and stays in place as you exercise or lounge. These Plantronics BackBeat FIT wireless earbuds come with interchangeable tips in different sizes, providing a secure, noise-blocking fit.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Very competitive at a great price
on November 20, 2017
Posted by: Arjay67
from Kankakee, IL
On unboxing these headphones you find that they are quite simple in construction. No confusing parts, just what you need. They ship with a set of silicone plugs already attached and then include three extra sets to get the right fit for most all people.
The loops are a different design than I’ve used on other headphones but work every bit as well. I saw one other reviewer state that the loops caused a bit of wind noise while riding his bike. But I didn’t notice any more noise than any others. I wouldn’t even be sure that the wind noise would be from the loops themselves.
The audio quality I would rank as remarkably average. These are not $300 headphones so you can’t expect the best sound available. But for their price point they deliver above average quality. Once you select the right tips for your ears, they do a very good job in blocking out a lot of the ambient noise and provide a pleasant experience. I actually had to use different size tips for each ear as one of my ear canals is narrower than the other. So much for body symmetry. LOL
Also, much like more expensive headphones, they provide spoken audio feedback when selecting different modes or pairing. So much nicer that a series of beeps or flashes.
They are extremely light and it’s easy to forget you have anything on. The clip on the strap is a good addition allowing you to use it to chinch up the slack or clip it to your collar to keep it from bouncing around.
The specs show 6 hours of use per charge, but in my use it was a bit over 7. It’s nice that they include a pouch for storage, but they are so small and light that I just coil them up and toss them in the front pouch of my laptop bag.
From my experience/perspective the Backbeat FIT 305 provide an excellent value. Much lower price than so many others on the market, good fit, good water/sweat resistance, good sound and good ambient blocking.
My Best Buy number: 2381904496
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Arjay67's Answers
 
Without you knowing it, cybercriminals can infiltrate your Wi-Fi network and steal your identity or invade your privacy by accessing your connected devices. Password protection isn't enough anymore.Engineered with multi-layered security, Norton Core™ intelligently protects your Wi-Fi network and an unlimited number of connected IoT devices such as smart TVs, baby monitors, Wi-Fi thermostats as well as your personal devices like laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets against malware, spyware, ransomware, viruses and more.
 

Is Norton Core a good choice to work with Macs?

Yes, my iMac, iPhone, iPad, HomePod all worked beautifully and I saw much faster speeds than with the Time Capsule/AirPort Extreme that I have been using.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
Arjay67
 
Store documents and photos digitally with this Brother wireless scanner. Its duplex setting copies both sides of the page in a single pass to save time, and its image optimizing feature improves the quality of the scan. The 2.8-inch touch screen on this Brother wireless scanner lets you configure its settings to your preferences.
 

Can I duplex into SLMPDF and omit blank pages through the settings menu? How fast is it?

You might want to define what "SLMPDF" is.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
Arjay67
 
Enjoy up to 10 hours of wireless audio with these Sony noise-canceling headphones. They produce rich sound by playing at audio frequencies of 3-40,000Hz and have a closed-back design that blocks outside noise for a better listening experience. These Sony noise-canceling headphones sit comfortably behind the neck and work with or without the 1m wire.
 

Do the ear buds retract or adjust in any way

They certainly do! The earbuds are on short cords that attach to the neckband.
6 years, 5 months ago
by
Arjay67
 
Featuring Internet and multimedia keys, this Logitech K750 920-003677 wireless keyboard makes it quick and easy to access your Mac's frequently used functions. The solar-powered design ensures reliable use in most locations with ample lighting.
 

USB Only

Does best Buy sell the USB adaptor for this keyboard? I own the keyboard and the USB adaptor broke and has been misplaced...
You will need to contact Logitech directly for this. Good luck as they are very difficult to deal with even if it's still under warranty.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Arjay67
   Kankakee, IL
 
iPhone 4s has a 3.5-inch Retina display, an 8MP iSight camera with 1080p HD video recording, a FaceTime camera, and long battery life. And with iOS 7 and iCloud, it does more than ever.
 

What does contract EXTENSION meam?

You'll need to ask Verizon.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Arjay67
   Kankakee, IL
 
The iPhone 4S features a powerful dual-core A5 chip with faster graphics for browsing the Web, switching between apps, gaming and more. The 8.0MP camera boasts advanced optics and shoots 1080p HD video. Ask Siri, a voice-activated intelligent assistant, to make calls, send texts, set reminders and more. Features the iOS 5 operating system with its easy-to-use interface, rock-solid stability and extended battery life. Use with iCloud to store your digital content and wirelessly push it to all your devices. Requires a data plan starting at $20.Early termination fees will be prorated, starting at $325 minus $10 for each full month of service commitment completed.
 

how much for mints. & contract

How much are minutes and how much would it be to activate the phone
You will need to select a carrier and plan to find that out.
9 years, 8 months ago
by
Arjay67
   Kankakee, IL