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  • Review count
    144
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  • First review
    January 16, 2012
  • Last review
    May 27, 2024
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  • First review comment
    October 25, 2016
  • Last review comment
    October 25, 2016
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  • Answer count
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    February 21, 2014
  • Last answer
    November 24, 2021
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bzm3j81's Reviews
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The Beurer BR60 Insect Bite Healer uses natural heat to dissolve saliva, venom, and other irritants caused by insect bites. Direct heat application via a ceramic hot plate acceleratres the body's natural healing response to reduce itching and swelling, chemical-free. There is a 6 second application time for regular use, or a short 3 second treatment for sensitive skin. For best results, use immediately after insect bites. Suitable to soothe all types of insects bites like mosquito, spider, bee, chigger, flea, bed bug, wasp, ants, etc. For adults and kids ages 12+ with adult supervision.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Bug Bite Healer works well!
on September 20, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
I didn't know such a product existed until I saw it on Best Buy's site. I was curious and did a little research and knew I had to try it for myself.
The principle seemed plausible. The itchiness of a bug bite is caused by the venom injected by the insect at the time of a bite to which the Beurer Insect Bite Healer addresses by applying high heat to the injection site to burn off the venom.
In my research I also found out that the sooner that you apply the Beurer Insect Bite Healer to the bite, the better the product functions and as a result, less inflammation.
The device itself has just about the same dimensions of a FireTV remote control, just about 30% shorter. You get two AAA batteries that are inserted just as you would a remote control. There is a slide switch on one side that lights up an LED that indicates that the unit is ready. By single clicking the circular button on top, it lights up half the ring surrounding the button and you get a 3 second burst of high heat on the ceramic disc on the underside. By double-clicking the circular button on top, it lights up the full ring surrounding the button and you get a 6 second burst of high heat on the ceramic disc on the underside. Then you can use the slide switch to turn the unit off so it isn't accidentally triggered.
I tried it first on my arm without a bite. The heat stings a little.
Normally, when I get bitten, it itches for a little while and goes away. For the next few days it seems to get itchy every so often and by the end of the week, I end up with a welt. I've tried a few after-bite ointments and most recently a Benadryl cooling gel that doesn't seem very effective.
Enter the Beurer Insect Bite Healer. I was out doing some yard work and got myself a mosquito bite. Ran inside used the 3 second setting and the itch subsided. What's surprising was that the next day, I didn't have any inflammation!
It's a great product. It does what it claims.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
 
The myQ Smart Garage Camera is the only smart camera optimized for the garage. It works alone or as an upgrade to your existing myQ connected garage door opener to easily add streaming video, recorded events, motion detection and 2-way audio communication in one single myQ app experience. With a magnetic mounting base, and 360 degree swivel camera lens, you can see what is happening inside your garage 24/7.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Good WiFi Camera requires subscription for storage
on September 17, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
I have gone through a few camera systems to find a good match throughout my house. Unfortunately the Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Camera isn't a good match for my purposes.
I happen to have a Chamberlain garage door opener with myQ functionality but it is an older model that requires an internet gateway component. If you don't have a myQ garage door opener, Chamberlain actually sells what I would characterize as a universal retrofit kit (MyQ-G0401) that works on all the major door openers manufactured after 1993 that have the safety sensors.
The setup of the myQ Smart Garage Camera was pretty easy. It needs to be in range of WiFi and you set it up via the myQ app on your mobile device through a Bluetooth connection. Adding the camera in the app went very smoothly. If you're just looking for basic functionality, you can just leave it like this.
The myQ system allows you to link your garage door opener so that you have a button to open/close your garage door while in live view mode. For that, you need to either have the myQ functionality set up via a myQ opener, myQ opener with internet gateway or the universal retrofit kit mentioned above.
The camera itself delivers nice crisp images, decent 2 way audio and provides two mounting options. The stand has a snap on adapter to allow you to screw in the adapter and then snap the stand to the adapter if you want to secure the camera to a wall or ceiling. The magnetic mount lets you attach it to any magnet friendly surface. Surprisingly, the underside of my garage door opener was cooperative to this. I previously thought was just plastic. With that in mind, Chamberlain includes a 10' power cable, so it gives you greater flexibility to mount this camera.
With the myQ app configured for this camera and a few tweaks to the settings like the motion sensitivity and the custom notification messages, I was getting appropriate alerts for motion in the garage. Where I was particularly disappointed with this system is where the myQ system requires a subscription in order to store videos. So without the subscription, you get alerts, but cannot view the motion that triggered the alert. But you can jump into the app and get a live view. For video storage for a rolling 7 days, you need to pay $3 a month or for a rolling 30 days of storage, you need to pay $10 a month with discounts if you pay for an annual subscription. I think this is really steep for 1 camera.
In general, I like that this is a WiFi based camera, but having to pay for any amount of storage turns me off from this system. Having to use the myQ app to view the video is slightly off-putting since my other cameras are on a different system/app. I like the video and audio quality and it's nice to be able to open/close the garage door while viewing video. If myQ would just grant 3 days of free storage, I think it could garner a 5 star review.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Who’s in the garden? Are the kids doing their homework yet? Nest Cam is wire-free, so it goes almost anywhere, outside or in. It knows the difference between people, animals, and vehicles, so you can get the alerts that are important to you. Listen and speak through the camera right from the Google Home app. Check in anytime with 24/7 live view.* If you miss a notification, you can always go back and see what happened with 3 hours of free event video history.* And it’s easy to install yourself – no outlet or wires required. Nest Camera Battery requires the Google Home app and a Google Account – it’s not compatible with the Nest app or the home.nest.com site. *** Stand and cable sold separately
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Mediocre features not worth premium price
on August 31, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
Over a handful of years, I've installed different types of Security Cameras. Wired systems from Lorex and Q See. Wireless systems from Arlo Pro, Wyze, Eufy, D-Link and now Google Nest. Unfortunately, the Google Nest Camera Battery runs in the middle of the pack. I'm a little disappointed there isn't a breakthrough 'gotta have' feature.
Out of the box, the camera itself is just smaller than a softball. It's got some heft to it, so the battery should last a while. As I'm looking through the Google Home app, I can see that the camera has 98% charge after running it for 5 days. One nice feature in the Google Home app, it estimates the battery life, in my case it shows 12 months. This will vary greatly based on traffic.
The base magnetically secures to the camera and can be magnetically mounted. Fortunately, my door and sidelites are steel, so it made mounting easy as can be. Also included in the box is a twist-lock mounting plate and screws in case your mounting situation needs it.
The charging cable is proprietary. It's a magnetic contact charger. The included cable is 1 meter in length and connects to the AC adapter via USB, therefore it is not weatherproof. I looked around for the weatherproof version and the 5 meter and 10 meter versions are $35 and $40 respectively. Another nit-pick I have with this charging cable is that it attaches to the camera one way and it's toward the front of the camera and not towards the base of the camera. In my opinion, it highlights the cord instead of hiding the cord.
Setup of the camera is done through the Google Home app and not through the Nest app. This is rather unfortunate and confusing as this is advertised as a Nest camera. I believe I made the mistake of plugging in the camera to charge and not immediately setting up the camera since I had to tend to more immediate matters. When I came back to set it up, I had difficulty with the setup and required resetting the camera. I found instructions on resetting the camera, but the instructions were slightly misleading. There is a subtle button on the back of the camera and it requires a surprising amount of pressure to activate. I waited for the confirmation tone to release the button, but instead I had to wait for the yellow light to turn off to release the button before the confirmation tone would occur. This is tricky since the light is on the front of the camera and the button is difficult to push on the back. Once I had it reset, it took another couple tries to get it into the Google Home app.
What's nice about this camera is that it's WiFi based, so you can place it anywhere your WiFi reaches. This is opposed to Arlo Pro or Eufy where it's dependent on the location of the base station. So this Google Nest Camera Battery gives you a little more placement flexibility if you have a strong WiFi coverage for your home.
The video is clear but is limited to 1080 or lower. Some competing systems can give you 4K. Recorded audio is clear and the 2-way audio is better than I expected.
Most other systems event recording is set for a particular amount of time. The Google Nest Camera records for the duration of the event or up to 3 minutes. But the tradeoff is that the recording is only available for 3 hours unless you purchase the subscription package. There are two levels of subscriptions at $6 or $12 per month with a small discount for annual plans. These plans are set up for unlimited devices.
For my situation, I'm better off with another brand of cameras. The Google Nest Camera Battery doesn't have any features that make it head and shoulders above any other camera system. The premium pricing of just one of these cameras coupled with the proprietary charging cable could get me into a 2 or more camera system from other brands.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
REXING V5 Plus, The ultimate modular 4K camera. The V5 Plus includes a 4K UHD 3840x2160@30fps front facing camera that has 170° ultra-wide-angle lenses and can record everything in front of your vehicle in crystal clear 4K quality. Added hardware includes a 32GB SD Card, 1080p resolution cabin camera and a 1080p rear facing camera to cover you on the inside and the back. Record all three front, rear and cabin cameras together at the same time at 1080p resolution. Keep your hands on the wheel & use the special voice control commands such as "take a picture" or "start recording" etc. Other notable features include built-in GPS, mirophone, speaker, enhanced night vision, WiFi, mobile app, loop recording, G-sensor and parking monitor.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Dash Cam, Poor App
on August 24, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
Let me start out with a tip about this DashCam. Included with this camera are some 3M VHB tape strips that are pre-cut for the mounting tabs. That VHB stands for Very High Bond. I've used this type of tape before and it's difficult to remove. So I highly recommend using some Medium or High Strength 3M Command Strips or in my case I had Dual Lock strips (like velcro). This allowed me to move the camera to different places so it was not blocking my normal driving view. However, the dual lock really saved me when it came to installing the rear camera. I installed the rear camera and it wasn't until I had everything plugged in that I realized the rear camera was upside down. The Dual Lock let me quickly flip the camera as there are no settings I could find in the camera that would allow me to digitally flip the display.
This is my first DashCam. While selecting a DashCam, I was immediately drawn to this Rexing V5 because of the 4K resolution for the front and the 3 channels it offered (Front, Rear and In-Cabin). I plugged in the camera to the in-car power adapter and was able to navigate the menu system very quickly and easily to format the memory card. Using removable tape (as indicated in the tip above) allowed me to play around with the placement. Then it was a matter of routing the cable. I installed this in my Toyota Sienna and the cable routing was really quite easy. Along the top of the windshield there was already a gap in the head liner, so running the cable up there was simple. Going around the A-Pillar was easy because I could just slip the cable below the lip of the air-bag molding, then down behind the weather stripping of the door. There was plenty of wire left to go around the footwell and plug into the power receptacle.
The rear camera was almost equally as easy to set up and route the cable. I had more than enough cabling to the point where I ran a little extra path to take up some of the slack in the line.
Each of the cameras allow for a little bit of articulation motion to finely adjust the viewing angle.
One of my disappointments comes from the resolution. The front camera is the only one 4K capable. And if you run it by itself, you can get 4K. You can even have 4K with the front camera and run 1 of the auxiliary cameras (Rear or In-Cabin) in 1080. However, if you want to run all 3 cameras, the front camera resolution drops to 1920x1080.
All 3 cameras record in 1 minute clips. Each camera records to its own folder on the memory card. At 1080 resolution, the clips are approximately 80 megs in size. I saw approximately 118 clips on the card for each camera, so that means it recorded just shy of 2 hours before it overwrites the oldest file on the included 32 GB memory card. I will be investing in a larger card. From what I can see, the camera supports up to a 256 GB micro sd card.
The videos are very clear with all 3 cameras providing Date, Time, GPS location and speed information. I was a little surprised to find the In-Cabin camera is a little over-saturated in red. However, my minivan has privacy tinted glass for all the rear windows, so it may be the tinting of the windows that is causing the color difference. There are no color adjustments that I could find in the menu system.
While the DashCam offers WiFi to allow the Rexing Connect App on your smartphone to control the camera, I tried several times and with two different Android phones and while I was able to connect to the WiFi, the Rexing App would not see the connection. It's not a surprise to me that the Rexing Connect App is rated rather poorly in the Play Store with many complaining of the same kind of connectivity issues.
The Voice Command functions are convenient, especially since my Rexing camera is more than an arm length away from the driver's seat. The commands are simple and the Rexing acknowledges the command with a loud chime.
I was mildly disappointed in the 24 hour parking monitor feature. I was hoping this meant a built in battery or supercapacitor as I've seen on other dashcams. This Rexing V5 dashcam requires a Smart Hardwire kit, which can be purchased separately for a decently affordable price. I've ordered mine from Best Buy and it should be arriving soon. From the videos I've seen, it's a power cable that replaces the power adapter. The end that plugs into the camera plugs into the power outlet via a mini-USB style plug. The other end you'll route to your fuse box where you'll make three connections, a switched power fuse, an always on fuse and then the grounding wire.
Overall, I like the Rexing V5 Dashcam. While the resolution drop for running 3 cameras is a little disappointing, I feel that the 1080 resolution is very clear and sufficient for my use. I was also disappointed with the WiFi function as I could not get it to fully connect with my phone. It seems I'm not the only one and I hope Rexing can correct this in future Firmware updates. At the price that this is offered, I'm surprised that Rexing didn't just include the Smart Hardwire kit. I'm going to continue using this and I'm seriously considering a second Rexing V5 for my second car.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy extended storage for your smartphone with this 512GB SanDisk SDDDC4-512G-A46 flash drive. The dual USB 3.1 Gen 1 connectors enable quick transfer of documents between devices, while the all-metal housing with a cover can swivel to provide protection to the connectors. This SanDisk flash drive can be attached to a key ring for portability during your out-of-office assignments.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Speedy reads in a solid form factor
on July 27, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
This was exactly what I needed. More of the modern laptops I've gotten have included more Type C ports vs Type A ports. They've forced me to dig through my PC Accessories box to find Type A to Type C adapters when using normal flash drives.
This SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe solves the problem elegantly with a flip cover design. Flip the cover and it exposes the Type-C connector, flip it again, and it exposes the Type A connector. The cover clicks in place and provides general protection for the opposite connector.
The 512 GB of storage is accessible by both connectors. Read speeds are about 150 MB/s and the sequential write speeds are about 50 MB/s.
The finish throughout the drive and clip is a very smooth satin finish. It sometimes feels like it can slip through my fingers, but using the hole at the end of the clip, I now have it tethered to a keyring.
I hope these come down in price. I can see myself picking up several for my use.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Everything you love in a Galaxy PC, and more. Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺ sits at the top of its class with high-quality features to match. Equipped with our latest technology, innovative design, vivid display and a high-speed processor that'll dazzle your senses while exceeding all expectations. Its super vivid QLED screen features millions of colors realized at 100% color volume, adapting to your environment so you have an easy viewing experience no matter the lighting. Choose your view with the ultra-slim 2-in-1 design that transforms from laptop to tablet. Add the latest 11th Gen Intel Core i5 / i7 processor, and your work, play and entertainment continue from morning to night. Enjoy added built-in features like Second Screen capability and enhanced connectivity to anything within the Galaxy ecosystem, from buds to tablets and so much more. Plus, a super-fast charging battery¹ that lasts 17 hours on a single charge makes it easy to accomplish everything you need to do and everything you want to do wherever, and whenever you want.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Solid value, impressive performer
on June 23, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
After using this Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 Alpha laptop for the past few days, 3 things stand out. It's surprisingly thin, has great performance and the display is beautiful.
I was incredibly surprised with the thinness of this laptop. I've had a handful of laptops where the manufacturer curved out towards the edges to make their laptops seem thinner. This is not the case for the Samsung Flex2 Alpha. The edges are square, yet when closed, this laptop is thin. I've had tablets that are thicker than this laptop.
So far, performance has been great. It's taken everything I've thrown at it and processed it with ease. Photo Editing, CAD work and Office Productivity are all quickly handled. Last year, I learned of the Intel EVO platform starting in the 11th Gen processors. This is a certification to deliver key specifications. While this laptop has the i7-1165G7 with the Iris Xe Graphics that you would normally get you the EVO specification, this laptop did not receive the EVO specification. That's because the motherboard doesn't provide NVMe Gen 4 nor Thunderbolt 4 ports.
This means that you won't get the fastest storage speed possible. However, NVMe Gen 3 is still 3+ times faster than a mainstream SSD and probably 10 times faster than a mechanical hard drive. Most users won't be able to tell a difference between NVMe Gen 3 and Gen 4.
As far as I can tell, a Thunderbolt 4 gives you more bandwidth where you can take advantage of a higher end External Graphics dock. To be honest, if you're the type of person to drop a few hundred dollars on a high end external graphics dock, you can drop a few hundred more to get a gaming laptop instead.
That isn't to say that this laptop isn't able to game. I've been able to play several games with high settings and they've performed great.
This brings me to the display. I'm very impressed by the QLED display. Colors are very vivid but controlled well. The display also has an Outdoor+ mode (Fn + F10). I wasn't expecting that, but it boosts the brightness so you can work outdoors. But since this is a touchscreen device, the display is glossy and therefore glare is a problem.
The touchscreen is very responsive and flipping the display into tablet mode is easy. I also like that the hinges have enough resistance to them to hold any angle even while using the touchscreen.
The body texture is very smooth, but I was surprised that the touchpad has a slightly rougher texture than the body. Most times it's the opposite. It's something I noticed the first time I used it, but it quickly faded from my mind.
The keyboard is nice and comfortable, but the right shift key has been reduced in size in order to add a fingerprint reader. Setting up the fingerprint reader for Windows Hello was easy and works consistently well.
Since the laptop is so thin, there is very little passive cooling available. For most basic tasks, the laptop is silent. When you start throwing intense work at it, there is a bit of fan noise, but it's no louder than I would expect.
On the left hand side, there is a USB-C port (but you cannot charge the laptop with it), audio jack, HDMI port and the power port for a barrel style connector. Power button is on the right hand side next to the USB-A ports and microSD slot. However, by opening the lid, the laptop automatically powers on.
Overall I'm very satisfied with this laptop and think the pricing is below its competitors.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Meet Level Lock - Touch Edition, the world's smallest, most capable smart lock ever. In the footprint of a traditional lock, you can add effortless new ways for everyone to access your home.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Nicely built smart lock, but lacks door sensor
on June 23, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
I have two types of August Smart Locks installed at my home and have installed a Wyze Smart lock at my parent's house. In general, I look for Smart Locks where I can keep the same physical key and alter as little as possible from the outside so I'm not advertising that I have a Smart Lock installed.
I like the concept of the Level Smart Lock where most of their technology is located in the deadbolt mechanism, as opposed to the August and Wyze Locks, where most of their technology is located in the throw lever side. What's also interesting to me is that the Level Lock has WiFi built in without having a plug in adapter.
Installation of the Level Lock - Touch Edition went very smooth. I have installed all the exterior lock sets for my house previously, so I did not require any more instructions than what I already knew or found in the Level Lock instructions. While some normal lock sets allow you to customize the installation from an in-set rectangular faceplate to a rounded faceplate, the Level Lock - Touch Edition only allows the in-set rectangular faceplate. So you may need to chisel out some door material to allow it to fit properly.
After installation, setup in the app was very easy. The lock was recognized very quickly and a firmware update was needed. Operation within the app is fairly intuitive. The Touch aspect of this lock comes from the outer ring on the keyed portion of this deadbolt. You touch the ring when you want to lock or unlock the deadbolt (provided the right conditions are in place). I enabled the auto lock and unlock feature and set the geo-fence area. However, my neighborhood is pretty small so if I go for a walk around my neighborhood, I'm still in the geo-fenced area. The auto-unlock feature needs me to be outside of my geo-fenced area for a pre-set period of time (e.g. 2 minutes) in order for me to touch the lock for auto-unlock. So I would like the ability to change the geo-fence size.
The lock set includes two keys and two keycards. These keycards are handy to give to a child that doesn't carry around a smart phone. However, to set up these keycards, you must have a NFC enabled phone. I recently replaced my phone with a budget friendly device and it doesn't have NFC capability. So I wasn't able to set it up. I still have my old phone with NFC capability, so when I have a need for these cards, I can set them up for use.
I like that the Level Lock - Touch Edition has several styles to choose from. I chose the Satin Nickel finish and it matches the finish of all my other locks. While it doesn't exactly fit the same style, it's close enough. From the outside, it looks like any other keyed deadbolt. There are no signs of it being a Smart Lock which is big in my book.
Power for this lock is supplied by a single CR2 style battery that is located in the deadbolt itself. I don't know how long it will last. Since I have it installed on a door that is rarely used, I expect it will last several months.
As a side note. I happen to have Schlage locks installed on all my exterior doors. I previously spent the extra time to learn how to re-key my locks and purchase a $12 kit to re-key them with. When I ordered this Level Lock - Touch Edition, I was a little hesitant because I knew it would likely mean a separate key set. I would much rather have one key to open all my doors. However, to my surprise, I have noticed that the key style, tail piece, and after removing a cover, the mechanisms seem to match Schlage. I even tried my Schlage key to make sure the side notches matched up and they did. So I plan to play with this in the future to see if I can re-key the Level Lock - Touch edition to match the rest of my lock sets. I already anticipate that this will not be as easy of a re-key as other locks, but I believe it can be done. This will likely void any kind of Warranty, so this should only be attempted if you have the proper tools and experience.
I got my first Smart Lock to address a very specific use case. When we receive a package, she will unlock and open the front door, retrieve the package and then close the door and forget to lock it. After many years, of struggling, I came to the realization that it would be easier to purchase and program a smart lock than to re-program my wife. :-) Since the Level Locks don't offer a door open/close sensor, they cannot address this use case.
Overall, the Level Lock - Touch Edition is a solid product with a good feature set. If you're looking for the touch lock and unlock or the NFC card capabilities, the Level Lock - Touch Edition is the only solution that I know of. But for my use case, I need a door open/close sensor and so I would recommend a different brand that costs a bit less.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Soundcore by Anker Select 2 is the perfect crystal-clear portable Bluetooth speaker. Using our exclusive partycast technology, you can link over 100 partycast speakers together for synchronized music and lights. A 20-hour playtime paired with IPX7 waterproof technology that makes it the ideal outdoor speaker. You can also customize the sound and lighting using the Soundcore app to create the perfect mood. A detachable strap keeps it from falling off during more rugged adventures.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Impressive Speaker
on May 27, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
I've amassed a small collection of wireless audio products and lately I've been quite impressed with the Anker brand.
This Anker Soundcore Select 2 is the right blend of features and price.
In the box, you get the speaker, wrist strap and a USB charging cable (but no charging brick). Since I already have an abundance of USB-A to USB-C cables that I'm actively using, the included USB charging cable just went into my box of extra cables. Charging is straightforward with an easy to understand LED indicator.
Once charged, I turned it on with a quick press of the power button. Turning it off is a press and hold for about 3 seconds. I recently got Anker Soundcore headphones and you need to press and wait for the power on and off and it takes way longer than I think it should. I'm thankful Anker made the power on/off quicker and easier on this speaker. Bluetooth pairing was quick and easy. Playing music on the speaker works just as expected. I'm very pleased with the audio delivered by this speaker. Since I have a Bose Soundlink Micro handy, it was easy to compare the two. The Bose narrowly edges out the Anker Soundcore Select 2 speaker in terms of clarity and bass, but it was difficult for me to discern. If I didn't have the Bose speaker to directly compare to, I would not know the difference.
The top of the speaker has power, volume, Bluetooth and a multi-function button stylized like the Soundcore icon. On one side is the USB-C port for charging and I'm pleased that you can charge and play at the same time. The opposite side contains a loop to tie the wrist strap onto. On the back is what I assume is a bass port. The speaker has a good heft to it and makes me think it can survive a reasonable drop.
The Soundcore Select 2 has great battery life. I've been playing on and off for the past several days and I feel like the battery life is better than 20 hours. It's also much better than the paltry 6 hours I get from the Bose Micro speaker.
After loading the Soundcore app for my phone, there was a firmware update ready. Firmware update was quick and easy. Within the app, I was able to switch to a different EQ preset and I was impressed that the sound is equal to the Bose. What I really like is that Anker has several curated playlists available to suit your needs. So you can just pick one and go.
While I didn't get a chance to test it, I understand that I can chain up to 100 of these Anker Soundcore Select 2 speakers together to create a massive soundscape. This is something I’m very interested in trying out. I am very likely to pick up more of these speakers. Especially since they are half the price of the Bose speakers.
I'm genuinely impressed with the sound, features and price of this Anker speaker.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Immerse yourself in every detail with the Samsung A700 high resolution 4K UHD monitor. With HDR10 technology, colors will look vivid and lifelike while the TUV-certified eye comfort care will reduce eye fatigue and keep you productive. The minimalistic, virtually borderless design, clean cable management and slim, sleek stand gives you an optimized clutter-free workstation.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Lacks brightness, needs better HDR
on May 14, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
I am a big fan of Samsung products owning many computer components, TVs, phones and more recently a new electric range. Over the years Samsung has built its products to the point where I seek out the Samsung brand for the products I'm interested in.
However, I admit I'm quite disappointed with the Samsung A700 Series monitor. The brightness specification on this monitor should be up to 300 nits. I have it sitting next to an LG 27" 4K Monitor with HDR rated at 350 nits and the LG monitor is 50% brighter. The Samsung monitor's colors are subdued and definitely not the vibrant colors I get from the LG monitor with HDR. In general, there seems to be a blue-gray haze.
If you have this sitting on its own, you likely will not notice the brightness difference. I'm using this monitor for my personal computer. My LG 27" monitor is now connected to my work computer and it serves as a constant reminder that this Samsung monitor's brightness isn't great.
While not an accurate measurement, I used an app on my phone to measure the lux output of a white browser screen. The Samsung A700 Series monitor will put out 205 lux. The LG monitor I mentioned above puts out 300 lux. That's with the HDR turned off on the Samsung monitor. With HDR on, the brightness drops to 170 lux.
In terms of size, it's great. At first, it was a little intimidating in the box, but after a day or so of use, it's very comfortable. It is important to make sure the monitor is sitting at the right level and that you're facing it straight on and not at an angle. Another positive for this monitor is that there are no dead pixels.
The implementation of HDR on this Samsung monitor is a far cry from what I have become accustomed to. In order to properly activate HDR, you must go into your computer display settings and turn on "Use HDR". Once this is done, you can go into the monitor's settings and choose the HDR mode you wish to use and can tweak many settings.
In general, the HDR dims your brightness, then adds additional emphasis on the colors displayed. I found the Samsung implementation of HDR too harsh. Colors are blown out and bleed, especially the color red. I could not stand the HDR performance and have thus turned it off after initial testing and tweaking.
I spent the weekend tweaking settings on the monitor in several different modes. I tried making color adjustments within Windows and within my nVidia control panel. While I can mask the blue-gray haze, I sacrifice even more brightness and text clarity.
I've tried:
-HDR On in Windows + All the HDR settings on the monitor
-Changing the PC or AV setting in on the HDMI and DVI connectors on the monitor
-Turning off Eye Care and Eco Saving
-Running the Windows Color Calibration utility
-Adjusting the height to see if different viewing angles help
-Different PCs and HDMI and DVI connections
I think the size of this monitor is right for my needs. I also think 4K is the way to go on the resolution for a monitor this size. But I cannot recommend this particular monitor in places where you have mixed multi-monitor setups. I would spend more time in the store or doing more research on the brightness of my next monitor purchase.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
SmoothSkin Bare Plus is ultrafast, simple to use and effective in achieving permanent hair reduction, with visible results in as little as four weeks. A full body treatment takes just 10 minutes, and integrated safety sensors to ensure SmoothSkin Bare Plus never activates unless it's safe for your skin. 98% of women who tried SmoothSkin Bare Plus would recommend to their friends. SmoothSkin are the original pioneers and the world's #1 best-selling IPL hair removal brand. FDA cleared for safe and effective, permanent hair removal on your body and face. With over 30 years' IPL expertise and almost 4,000 clinical treatments performed, SmoothSkin promises to deliver real results.
 
  • Top 250 contributor
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Effective at reducing hair growth
on April 12, 2021
Posted by: bzm3j81
from Detroit, MI
My wife has pale skin and medium brown hair. She tested it on underarms, bikini line, upper thighs, and a small spot near her belly button.
The Instruction Booklet:
The booklet for this Smooth Skin - Bare+ does a decent job of telling you how to operate this safely. The instructions for this device are pretty easy to follow. Basically, shave and then either hold the button down for Automatic Flashing (Pulses every 0.6 seconds) or press and release for one flash. There is a series of do’s and don’ts but the basic operation is pretty straightforward.
First Use:
She followed the instructions and shaved prior to testing the device on a small test patch. When she went to do my initial test patch, she was surprised by a couple of things.
1. When you plug Smooth Skin - Bare+ in, it has a glowing blue light and a fan that instantly kick in. There IS a line that tells you that in the booklet, but she hadn’t really remembered it and was a bit surprised when it immediately started glowing and humming loudly! Be ready for that.
2. She was a little leery of actually using the device, because I didn’t know what to expect about discomfort level. The booklet said “warmth and tingling.” She didn’t really feel any tingling during the flashing, but “warmth” was a bit misleading. The little clear square gets HOT during the flash. Not, like, blister your skin hot, but it is definitely more than just “gentle warmth.” The Hot fades almost instantaneously though. Still, it was a bit surprising on that first flash. Also, some spots (even within the same shave zone) felt the heat more acutely than others.
3. The booklet briefly mentions the “skin tone” sensor will glow red and not allow the flash to happen if your skin tone was not appropriate for the device. But, it wasn’t immediately clear to me that the sensor ALSO glows red (and thus will not flash) if your device isn’t flush against your skin properly. This makes odd shaped areas like bikini line and armpits a little tricky. You have to use stamp mode for these areas because you have to position the device, (And often REPOSITION it) until the button glows white. Then, you need to look away & close your eyes, THEN you can flash. If you try to flash when the button is red, you get nothing.
4. Don’t forget the look away and close your eyes part. The booklet warns you repeatedly to look away from the flash. The light is BRIGHT. Even when you have your eyes closed, you can see the flash through your lids.
The Aftermath:
1. Immediately after she was done, she didn’t really notice much in the way of odd sensation. Maybe a little extra sensitive to clothing?
2. Around 3-6 hours afterwards she did notice a mild tingling sensation. If you’ve ever given yourself a mild sunburn… It was sort of like that. It didn’t hurt, but the skin was more sensitive to clothing rubbing on it than usual. Not painfully so. It was easy to ignore the sensation.
3. The next day, she noticed my more sensitive spots (Bikini line and tummy) were itchy and had red almost hives like bumps. The bumps faded within a few hours of me noticing them. And, it really was tough to say if that was a result of the device or just a razor burn type reaction to the shaving. (It’s a sensitive spot that I don’t like to shave because it’s prone to razor burn). End result is that itchy hives were no more bothersome than the razor burn she typically gets if she had to shave the area.
Recurring Issues During Use:
1. The main issue she had with using the device was positioning the “Stamp” properly. The booklet wants you to do it in nice neat rows with no overlap or gaps. That is really hard to judge. The window is square, but the window is subset into an oval shaped applicator. That made it really hard to judge where the window was on the last stamp. She basically just guessed. she is pretty sure she had both overlaps and missed spots.
2. She did not personally care for the continuous function. It was impossible to use it for tricky curvy bits like bikini line or armpits. It flashes at its own set rate, so if you aren’t careful its really easy to go too fast and have spots missed or too slow and double dose yourself. Moreover, there is no biofeedback. So, the device won’t TELL you that you are going too fast or too slow. Which means there really isn’t a good way to know if you are doing it right or to correct yourself if you aren’t. Lastly, when doing large areas like legs…. It is really hard to tell where your last “line” of flashing stopped.
3. Odd Shaped areas (Like underarms and bikini line) are sometimes difficult to get the skin sensor flush to your skin, and it won’t flash unless it is flush.
4. There can be a bit of a burning hair smell. (Even though she shaved, she thinks maybe it still fried some little bits or missed stragglers?)
5. Because you shave first, it is hard to see WHERE you need to flash! This is especially true if you are working on “patches” like bikini lines or armpits.
6. Also, you are doing this to yourself, so there is some contorting and it is rather awkward! She found that doing it in front of a large mirror helped.
Results
After a couple weeks of use, she did notice that my hair didn’t seem to be growing back as fast. She didn’t notice much difference in the amount when it did grow back, but it seemed slower. The bits that came back also seemed softer and less bristly. The first couple weeks she did notice that my skin was itchy (a bit like razor burn feeling) for a day or two after the treatment. However, that stopped happening as much after week 3 or 4.
Around the 4 week mark, she started noticing that the hair was noticeably less. Most areas seemed to be about 50% less than normal hair growth. (Arm pits were probably closer to 30% less.) It began to be very clear which areas she tended to miss with the flashing device as those areas were obviously MUCH denser hair growth!
By 6 weeks most of the hair on my bikini line and tummy was gone. The armpits were down to maybe 50% hair growth. By this point, there was rarely any itchiness or noticeable side effects to the flashing and I noticed I had much less issue with razor burn in my sensitive areas.
 
Overall:
Overall, she thought the Smooth Skin - Bare+ did a very good job at eliminating hair. It remains to be seen how long the hair stays eliminated for. Even if the hair does return, she would still keep and use this device. Whether it permanently removes the hair or not, she's found that using it in these areas has prevented almost all razor burn that she used to regularly get in those sensitive spots!
The major downside of the Smooth Skin - Bare+ is the awkwardness of using it. Being able to position it on yourself in the right spots is just difficult for many of the body parts. The second major downside is getting the hang of properly positioning the “stamps” or getting the “right” speed for the continuous use function. She struggled with that the entire time she used the device.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
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bzm3j81's Review Comments
 
Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
 
Overall4 out of 54 out of 5
Amazing Phone
By bzm3j81 from Detroit, MI
First and foremost, this phone is amazing. Performance and quality exceed my expectations from Google.
Pro’s:
- Build Quality
- Phone Performance
- Google Assist
- Unlimited photo storage
- Battery life
- Camera!
Con’s:
- Cost
- Lack of some “flagship” features (i.e. IP67 rating, wireless charging, removable storage)
Build quality: This phone is solid in your hand from the moment you pick it up. The aluminum body feels solid and the phone has enough weight behind it to sit comfortably in your hand. I was concerned about the glass portion of the back panel, as I cringed every time I put the phone down on a solid surface, but it has endured very well so far and beyond adding a little flair it helps to quickly identify the top from bottom of the phone as I bring it out of my pocket. The front screen is probably the best screen I have ever used on a smart phone, colors are vibrant, the blacks are deep, and I would put it up against any screen that Apple or Samsung produce. It would really be nice if this was IP 67 rated for water resistance and dust resistance.
Performance: The new Qualcomm 821 processor doesn’t seem leaps and bounds above the older 820 model, but there are times where it is noticeable. Transitions are smooth, scrolling is faster and more responsive, and the phone overall just seems more fluid. The finger print reader is very quick. The camera does load faster than my old phone, but isn’t instant.
Software: The new launcher is very smooth. Took a little bit of time to get used to the “pull up” for the app drawer, but it seems much more natural than the old app drawer button. The Google assistant is nice, but seems to be a slightly more powerful Google now… I expect this will get better over time, but right now seems to be a little basic. Verizon did a great job with the phone’s “bloatware”. I haven’t “noticed” the applications and it seems that they can be uninstalled if I want to. (good job guys). Everything seems to work really well, and the 3D touch is really nice for the applications it works with right now (mostly google apps) but as with most of the software, it will just get better with time.
Camera: This is hands down the best camera I have ever used on a phone. I was worried about the lack of OIS (optical image stabilization) but after seeing how well the EIS performs, it really isn’t a concern anymore. Photos look amazing, the stabilization is awesome, and the HDR+ mode is so fast, I do not even know it’s on. Combined with the unlimited Google photos storage, I really don’t mind the 32GB storage size. Low light photos are amazing and the autofocus is fast. Colors look amazing. I really can’t say enough about this thing. I do wish it had OIS to cover those situations where EIS struggles (lose some details in low light with HDR+ and shaky hands) but I do not think it’s needed overall.
Battery: bottom line, rock solid. I run my phones hard, and normally have to charge them in the car to and from work. (sometimes even at work). But no issues with this Pixel XL. The Qualcomm 821 processor combined with the OLED screen seem to have really helped battery life out. I am looking at 18 hours of life today alone and that’s with about 7 hours of screen time on.)
If you are in the market for a phone, and you have the money, this phone will not disappoint.
Customer Avatar
bzm3j81
Detroit, MI
Yes 3D Touch!
October 25, 2016
@RTB1980, to answer your question, yes 3D Touch. So when I press and hold a Google application, it displays a context menu specific to that application. It may not be based on pressure sensitivity, but timing. The same action on a non-Google app will 'zoom-out' so that you can drag and drop the app like in previous generations of Android.
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Enjoy a stunning LED display with this 27-inch LG monitor. The 4K UHD resolution and VESA DisplayHDR deliver vivid scenes to keep you captivated by your favorite shows and movies, and IPS technology maintains consistent colors at various viewing angles. This LG monitor's Radeon FreeSync matches your graphics card's frame rate for a stutter-free experience.
 

How do I connect monitor with my iPad.

If your iPad is a more modern one with a lightning connector, you would need to purchase an adapter. Such as this one: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-lightning-digital-a-v-adapter-white/7007013.p?skuId=7007013

Connect the adapter's lightning connection to your iPad and then connect an HDMI cable from the adapter to the monitor.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Enjoy a stunning LED display with this 27-inch LG monitor. The 4K UHD resolution and VESA DisplayHDR deliver vivid scenes to keep you captivated by your favorite shows and movies, and IPS technology maintains consistent colors at various viewing angles. This LG monitor's Radeon FreeSync matches your graphics card's frame rate for a stutter-free experience.
 

This monitor have the remote control

No it does not. The sole control is on the bottom of the monitor just behind the LG logo that's on the bottom front bezel. It's a little controller nub that controls on/off, volume, and leads you into the settings.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Take your playlist with you by using these noise-cancelling Sony headphones. Their 40mm drivers with liquid crystal polymer diaphragms fill your ears with booming audio to immerse you in songs, and they're ergonomically designed to provide comfort during extended listening sessions. These Sony headphones have a proprietary noise-cancelling processor, so you can immerse yourself in the music.Industry Leading Noise Cancellation. *As of August 30, 2018. According to research by Sony Corporation measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband-style of wireless noise-canceling headphones market.
 

Will these work while on an airplane watching their movies.

In the case, there is a 3.5mm male-to-male cable which should allow you to connect to most airplane jacks. If however you are in a plane that requires a dual 3.5mm plug, an adapter is also included in the case.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Take your playlist with you by using these noise-cancelling Sony headphones. Their 40mm drivers with liquid crystal polymer diaphragms fill your ears with booming audio to immerse you in songs, and they're ergonomically designed to provide comfort during extended listening sessions. These Sony headphones have a proprietary noise-cancelling processor, so you can immerse yourself in the music.Industry Leading Noise Cancellation. *As of August 30, 2018. According to research by Sony Corporation measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband-style of wireless noise-canceling headphones market.
 

How is the phone clarity while talking from both ends. What makes Sony WH1000 mx3 better than Bose Quiey Sound 35 II

Unfortunately, there seems to be quality control problems with these WH-1000XM3 headphones. Some reviews say they sound great, but I've personally experienced two bad headphones in a row and my co-worker also has a set that performs poorly.

First Set: You will hear everything clearly, but the other party will hear you as if you're talking through a pillow. When they speak, they will hear a echo of themselves.

After connecting with Sony, they sent me a second set with a return label for the first set.

Second Set: Greatly improved over first set, but the other party hears a bit of static on the line and the echo of themselves is still present. In addition, the right ear cup has a clicking sound even with small head movements or even moving my jaw. I can reproduce this clicking if I compress the padding with my palm.

Hoping you get a great quality set. By comparison, I have not had any problems with my Bose QC-35 and the QC-35 II is supposed to be the same.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Handle storage demands with this Western Digital SATA solid-state drive. Its 560MB/s read speed and 530MB/s write speed are suitable for intensive applications, and its 2.5-inch form factor fits most desktops and laptops. The solid-state drive has no moving parts, making the drive resistant to shock to protect your data. Includes the WD SSD Dashboard to keep track of the drive's status.
 

Does this fit in all macbooks?

It will depend on how old your MacBook is. If your old drive is a mechanical drive, this will likely fit. If you have a newer MacBook, it might have an m.2 drive which is a different form factor and thus will need to be replaced with another m.2 drive and not this SSD.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Handle storage demands with this Western Digital SATA solid-state drive. Its 560MB/s read speed and 530MB/s write speed are suitable for intensive applications, and its 2.5-inch form factor fits most desktops and laptops. The solid-state drive has no moving parts, making the drive resistant to shock to protect your data. Includes the WD SSD Dashboard to keep track of the drive's status.
 

Does this ssd works on MacBook Pro

This will depend on what model MacBook Pro you have. If your MacBook Pro had a mechanical drive, then this will likely fit. However, newer systems have m.2 drives which are a different form factor and you'll need to replace it with another m.2 drive.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Dell Inspiron Desktop: Surf the web quickly with this Dell Inspiron desktop computer. It's equipped with 12GB of DDR4 RAM and a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor for blazing operations, and its 1TB hard drive comes loaded with Windows 10 Home for immediate productivity. This Dell Inspiron desktop computer includes an NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 graphics card for crisp game and video images.
 

Does this pc's motherboard have any m.2 or nvme slots?

It's labeled as an m.2 slot. But NVMe drives can have m.2 or pci-e form factors.
5 years, 9 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Enjoy hours of reliability and speed with this HP Pavilion desktop. Its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 12GB of RAM let you accomplish multiple tasks at the same time, and its 1TB hard drive provides plenty of space for file storage. This HP Pavilion desktop comes with a wired keyboard and mouse for interacting with Windows 10 Home.
 

What is the model of the processor? amd ryzen 5 1400, 1600, or 2600?

AMD Ryzen 5 2400G with AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 onboard video
5 years, 10 months ago
by
bzm3j81
 
Enjoy a vibrant display with this monitor that features Splendid Video Intelligence Technology and a 50,000,000:1 contrast ratio for arresting clarity. Full 1080p support brings high-definition photos and videos to life.
 

Coming back in stock?

is this monitor going to be restocked at some point? It been a few weeks.
Looks like it is back in stock now. I don't believe it is a product they have in-store though. I bought this monitor from BestBuy.com almost 2 years ago and have enjoyed it since.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
bzm3j81
   Detroit, MI