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Erkelbot
 
 
 
Erkelbot's stats
 
  • Review count
    7
  • Helpfulness votes
    79
  • First review
    September 23, 2013
  • Last review
    June 14, 2016
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4
 
  • Review comment count
    2
  • Helpfulness votes
    3
  • First review comment
    January 6, 2015
  • Last review comment
    June 15, 2016
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    0
 
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  • Answer count
    5
  • Helpfulness votes
    7
  • First answer
    January 6, 2015
  • Last answer
    July 13, 2016
  • Featured answers
    0
  • Best answers
    2
 
 
Erkelbot's Reviews
 
Samsung Gear Fit2 Fitness Watch + Heart Rate: This fitness watch measures your heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken and speed and features a Bluetooth 4.2 interface that lets you sync results with your compatible Samsung phone or tablet. Its smart notifications let you receive alerts and respond to calls from compatible Android and iOS smartphones¹ and a curved display makes it easy to view activity progress.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Nice, but with serious HR/GPS accuracy issues.
on June 14, 2016
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
So far, so meh...
I mean, the hardware is great -- it has all the features I wanted. Waterproof, GPS, HR, fitness tracking...everything. And aesthetically, it's beautiful. Legible in light, and a great presentation. I also LOVE the notification options for text, calls, and other apps you indicate are important. Said differently, it allows you to customize what apps have permission to send notifications to the tracker...
So why 'meh'? Well, I've been on two runs. The first, the GPS was accurate. The HR, however, was WAY off. It read I had a heart rate of 220 at one point. That's just wrong -- but a lot. I regularly wear a chest strap for my runs, and I really never get over 195. The second run?... The GPS registered about half the distance... AND, the HR read 225 this go. Again, completely wrong. Not good when accuracy is paramount...
Another thing I'll say about the Fit2 is that it's not very liberal with steps taken. Meaning, if you are holding a cup of coffee in your right hand and go for a stroll, you probably won't get credit for the steps.
The app is pretty bad too. There's some serious work to be done here where they get it to be more like FitBit or other more friendly ecosystems to users. This isn't a deal-breaker for me, but I do miss the FitBit app -- it was just really well designed.
I'm waiting on a replacement from BBY. Mine COULD be a dud, but I'm a little worried about the next one too. However, if mine is just an anomaly...and it is a dud...It's an awesome device. Seriously, the promise of the hardware are GREAT.
My Best Buy number: 3767184679
I would recommend this to a friend!
+17points
30of 43voted this as helpful.
 
Huawei Google Nexus 6P Unlocked Cell Phone: Run multiple apps at once and enjoy powerful performance thanks to the 64GB of flash memory powering this gold Huawei Nexus 6P phone. The 5.7-inch high-definition screen brings images, videos, games and social media apps to life. This refurbished Huawei Nexus 6P phone is unlocked, so you can use it with your preferred cell phone carrier.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Just as expected -- one catch
on May 13, 2016
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
It arrived, flawless. Just as new... I originally bought the 128gb version new, and was fine with it. The 128 seemed to be overkill, but I like to future-proof things like my phone... All was right in the world until I saw this 64gb refurbished version popped up at $399.99 within my 45 day return policy (Elite Plus). Naturally, I decided to save myself $200 and snap up a re-manufactured version -- figuring 64gb would be enough. It was. It is...
The only bummer through all of this is that BBY will NOT allow you to buy their Geek Squad Protection Plans with refurb things. This was news to me, and came as a bit of a bummer. The store person cited the reason why as being "It's refurbished. We don't know if OEM parts are in there." Seriously?!? You re-manufactured it, and sold it online (not marketplace)... So... fine. Weird, but fine... I wasn't going to argue with the girl with a limp at the counter...
All-in-all, the purchase was good. I have plenty of phone, and I saved myself $300 ($200 on the phone, and $100 on the GSPP). I'l take it.
My Best Buy number: 3767184679
I would recommend this to a friend!
+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
 
This portable speaker system lets you use your Wi-Fi network to connect and control your iTunes library for wireless audio in your home. Two 3" woofers and two 1" high-efficiency tweeters ensure full-range audio performance.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Decent sound...Connectivity tricky.
on January 13, 2015
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
It's a decent sounding speaker for the price, but the connectivity is a bit tricky. It requires an extra app to be downloaded and opened to get it to connect to your WiFi (it does not connect via BT), and has moments of shakiness with connecting. Tether it to your phone though, and it sounds good.
Just be realistic with your expectations... It's a nice replacement for an old radio, but it's not going to be a Sonos Play 5...
My Best Buy number: 0565679925
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Sanctuary is a place of peace and safety, but you know this hasn't always been the case. Two decades ago the Prime Evils plagued your world, but thanks to the tireless combat waged by the Barbarians, Demon Hunters, Monks, Witch Doctors and Wizards their reign of terror came to an end. Now whispers are circulating in the city of Tristram, the place where it all began, and rumor has it that a new menace is coming. Heroes must rise to the call of battle once more and defend Sanctuary against the demon hordes. Raise your weapon, sharpen your skills and join the quest — before it's too late.Return to the world of Sanctuary to wage war against the forces of evil in this action-packed Ultimate Evil Edition, which combines the thrilling Diablo III with the critically acclaimed Reaper of Souls expansion pack. Choose your identity from one of the five original customizable classes, including Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Monk, Witch Doctor and Wizard, or select the all-new Crusader class that lets you don fortified armor and rain down holy vengeance on the powers of darkness. Jump into the action of Reaper of Souls when you set out on an epic quest through frightening and awe-inspiring landscapes where peril lurks around every corner on the journey to the legendary city of Westmarch. Decimate demonic foes in fast-paced combat as you fight your way to the ultimate opponent — Malthael, the Angel of Death, a terrifying enemy bent on the ultimate destruction of the innocent denizens of Sanctuary. Feel the freedom of an expansive open world with Adventure mode, which lets you unleash your powers anywhere at any time as you strike down any demon foolish enough to cross your path. Track down the elder evil in randomized objectives that allow you to explore Sanctuary in new ways and earn bounties. Descend into the depths of fully randomized dungeons with Nephalem Rifts that deliver hours of replayability and tons of loot. Quest with advanced players and boost your stats with Apprentice mode. Personalize your loot by seeking out The Mystic, a mysterious artisan who takes your gear to the next level. Fight alone or with friends in four-player same-screen mode or online multiplayer mode. Receive the Infernal Pauldrons with pre-order — exclusive transmogrifiable shoulder plates honed to a deadly sharpness that are wearable in level one and provide enhanced health, life regeneration and cooldown reduction. Your might is needed to defend Sanctuary from the malevolent drive of a demon army — it's time to shoulder your weapon and leap into the fray once again.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Like its predecessors...It's outstanding.
on January 13, 2015
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
I'm a Diablo 2 fan, and I waited a long time to see D3 come out. Being as I'm now an adult and don't have countless hours of time to waste, I waited for a while to see how the game was received. Well, I waited long enough to see it come to console and it was well worth the wait...
The gameplay is solid, and Blizzard built upon the successful characteristics of D2 to make a console RPG worth playing. It's a great game.
My Best Buy number: 0565679925
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Mio Fuse Wireless Activity Tracker: This wireless activity tracker monitors heart race, distance traveled, pace and more for optimizing your daily activity levels. The Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity ensure simple communication.
 
  • My Best Buy® Elite Plus Member
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Pretty good HRM. Poor activity tracker.
on January 4, 2015
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
Let me start by saying that I was a previous owner of an Up24. Unfortunately the Up24 croaked a couple weeks back, so that meant looking for a new technology.
I was drawn to the Mio because it was waterproof, offered haptic feedback (vibration), and would help me consolidate my HRM (a Suunto) into one device. I was sad that I would not be getting sleep feedback from the Mio, but the fact that it had a screen and was waterproof offset that disappointment ( after 2 weeks I did miss the silent alarms and sleep tracking). The Mio Fuse seemed to have all that I was looking for.
After owning it for 2 weeks, I'm going to bring it back. I've used it for 4-5 runs outside, and the HRM function seems solid. It seems to accurately capture my HR, which is great. HOWEVER, the tap button function that starts and stops the measurement of a workout is very sensitive (it's not a button -- it starts and stops with a simple tap, like the Polar Loop). So much so that wearing a thermal over it will pause it if it rubs the unit wrong. So, for a couple of the workouts it measured incorrectly as a result of pausing itself.
The tap functionality that cycles the different screens and views also is very inconsistent. At times, it's downright unresponsive. This is particularly disappointing, being as you are timing your workout. Give yourself an extra 10-15 seconds to stop the HR function at least... That means that you have to work to get the display to show sometimes -- including after workouts. Or, it would just freak out and move on its own.
The biggest disappointment, however, was the lackluster ability for the unit to accurately measure steps like a true activity tracker. Unless you swing your arm like a pendulum, it won't count it as a step. Over the 2 weeks of owning it, my steps would vary WIDELY -- even though I had similar amounts of activity. The typical measurement of steps per mile is supposed to be approximately ~2000. When I was running I was seeing about 1400. I suspect that was due to my arm movement not being sufficiently embellished as to warrant a "step". The measurement was so bad that I was swapping it out to my non-dominant hand so it would capture more of my actual movement (which did help a lot). That would solve the issue a bit better for my runs...Not great, but doable.
That would work better for my workouts, though it did not allow me to also wear a wristwatch to work. I like my watch where it is...I didn't want to switch that. I was also varying my routines to try and carry things with my opposite hand so the step could be counted. I didn't care for that. An activity tracker should capture a true read of how much activity you are doing, where you do not have to augment how you live to do it...
In the end, I just couldn't justify keeping it. The so-so HR functionality were a deal-breaker for me, so I'll just bring it back and wait for someone else to make a better device. I suspect the Fitbit charge HR will likely do a better job (unless you are a swimmer, since it's not waterproof), as it was born from a fitness tracker, but they also invested heavily in a like technology to the Mio optical setup. Add that to the fact that the Fitbit also gives you sleep tracking, some additional smart features (caller ID), and seems to come in a smaller footprint, and it seems like a better choice.
My Best Buy number: 0565679925
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+27points
31of 35voted this as helpful.
 
It is 1715. Pirates rule the Caribbean and have established a lawless pirate republic. Among these outlaws is a fearsome young captain named Edward Kenway. His exploits earn the respect of pirate legends like Blackbeard, but draw him into an ancient war that may destroy everything the pirates have built.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Incredibly well designed.
on November 18, 2013
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
Naval battles, and sea travel are superb. Hunting, crafting, and upgrading all add to the fun and allow the player to enjoy the non-linear take on the game. In short, you could dump a boatload of hours in this game -- doing everything from harpooning whales to searching for lost treasure. A solid game all around.
And, as expected, the rest of the game is super polished. Ubisoft done did good.
What's great about it: Naval battles, open world RPG, gameplay.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
 
Enhance your vehicle's audio system and listen to music from an iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry or Android device with this JVC KWHDR81BT 50W x 4 MOSFET satellite radio-ready in-dash CD deck that features built-in HD Radio to expand your entertainment options.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great choice for double-din -- Stealth
on September 23, 2013
Posted by: Erkelbot
from Minneapolis
If you're looking for a low-cost double-din radio, this is a very solid pick. It produces great sound for the money, and has all of the features you would want -- with the exception of navigation or touchscreen. I have had many different aftermarket radios -- including those with touchscreen and navigation capabilities -- and I frankly like this one the best.
A bit more about why I like it:
It makes me sound like a geezer, but the buttons are nice and big -- as is that massive dial. It's super easy to toggle between stations and inputs in a flash. The touchscreens are much more difficult, and often require too much precision while driving. The BT capabilities are great, and the radio allows you to have 2 different phones paired at the same time. You can also customize each phone with a different color and ringer so you know which phone is receiving a call. The sound quality is great compared to stock, and the HD radio is nice a clean where available. The radio is also equipped to handle Pandora in app mode. I use an iPhone 4, and when plugged into the USB port (front or back, though I chose back) it plays commercial-free. If I decide not to tether it to the deck with the USB and I use bluetooth, it plays nice and clear but with intermittent commercials. The Pandora integration is one of my favorite features. But, if you insist on paying for your music it also offers a Sirius XM capabilities. I'm not into it, but if you are the deck has you covered.
My favorite feature though, it doesn't look like an expensive deck. Meaning, nobody is going to break into your car to steal it. It looks a lot like the OEM deck from many cars, so it simply doesn't draw the attention that many navigation units do. It can also be customized in color to match your dash. It offers the perfect amber hue to match my car.
Net: it's a great deck at a great price. It's not the best looking product on the market, but it costs a lot less than many other decks that offer fewer features and more of a headache.
Oh, and if your a DIY guy like me, it's a pretty easy install. Just make sure you have the right brackets and bezel parts. Many models of cars require plastic bezel inserts to fill in the space around the radio. The parts are cheap, and easy to work with. If that's not your bag, Best Buy offers Geek Squad install for like $75. What's great about that route, they warranty everything they do for the life of the product. Meaning, if you have an issue, you bring it back to them and simply say 'fix it'. Also, if you're dealing with a lease, they'll uninstall and reinstall your old deck. A nice bonus, done by pros.
What's great about it: Feature set, ease of use, bluetooth for two phones, easy to read display, good sound, big buttons and knob - easy tuning
What's not so great: Single line display displays limited metadata
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5 out of 5
5
Ease of Use
4 out of 5
4
Features
5 out of 5
5
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
Erkelbot's Review Comments
 
Mio Fuse Wireless Activity Tracker: This wireless activity tracker monitors heart race, distance traveled, pace and more for optimizing your daily activity levels. The Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity ensure simple communication.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Pretty good HRM. Poor activity tracker.
By Erkelbot from Minneapolis
Let me start by saying that I was a previous owner of an Up24. Unfortunately the Up24 croaked a couple weeks back, so that meant looking for a new technology.
I was drawn to the Mio because it was waterproof, offered haptic feedback (vibration), and would help me consolidate my HRM (a Suunto) into one device. I was sad that I would not be getting sleep feedback from the Mio, but the fact that it had a screen and was waterproof offset that disappointment ( after 2 weeks I did miss the silent alarms and sleep tracking). The Mio Fuse seemed to have all that I was looking for.
After owning it for 2 weeks, I'm going to bring it back. I've used it for 4-5 runs outside, and the HRM function seems solid. It seems to accurately capture my HR, which is great. HOWEVER, the tap button function that starts and stops the measurement of a workout is very sensitive (it's not a button -- it starts and stops with a simple tap, like the Polar Loop). So much so that wearing a thermal over it will pause it if it rubs the unit wrong. So, for a couple of the workouts it measured incorrectly as a result of pausing itself.
The tap functionality that cycles the different screens and views also is very inconsistent. At times, it's downright unresponsive. This is particularly disappointing, being as you are timing your workout. Give yourself an extra 10-15 seconds to stop the HR function at least... That means that you have to work to get the display to show sometimes -- including after workouts. Or, it would just freak out and move on its own.
The biggest disappointment, however, was the lackluster ability for the unit to accurately measure steps like a true activity tracker. Unless you swing your arm like a pendulum, it won't count it as a step. Over the 2 weeks of owning it, my steps would vary WIDELY -- even though I had similar amounts of activity. The typical measurement of steps per mile is supposed to be approximately ~2000. When I was running I was seeing about 1400. I suspect that was due to my arm movement not being sufficiently embellished as to warrant a "step". The measurement was so bad that I was swapping it out to my non-dominant hand so it would capture more of my actual movement (which did help a lot). That would solve the issue a bit better for my runs...Not great, but doable.
That would work better for my workouts, though it did not allow me to also wear a wristwatch to work. I like my watch where it is...I didn't want to switch that. I was also varying my routines to try and carry things with my opposite hand so the step could be counted. I didn't care for that. An activity tracker should capture a true read of how much activity you are doing, where you do not have to augment how you live to do it...
In the end, I just couldn't justify keeping it. The so-so HR functionality were a deal-breaker for me, so I'll just bring it back and wait for someone else to make a better device. I suspect the Fitbit charge HR will likely do a better job (unless you are a swimmer, since it's not waterproof), as it was born from a fitness tracker, but they also invested heavily in a like technology to the Mio optical setup. Add that to the fact that the Fitbit also gives you sleep tracking, some additional smart features (caller ID), and seems to come in a smaller footprint, and it seems like a better choice.
Customer Avatar
Erkelbot
Minneapolis
Additional Note:
January 6, 2015
I talked with Mio about the product roadmap for the Fuse, and they had some good information to share.
1) Sleep tracking is on their roadmap -- meaning they are developing it. Good news.
2) Silent alarms are on their radar, and will likely become a part of the app soon. Also good news.
3) While unconfirmed, there have been many requests for Mio to allow users to customize/calibrate their own Fuse units to better measure activity and movement. This is something Jawbone Up products have been doing for a long time, which is a nice way of users to ensure they are able to affect the readouts on their activity trackers. I do hope that this functionality is developed, and this is a recorded request sent into that team. I hope it comes true.
4) Sensitivity of the start/stop button is also being looked at -- specifically for swimmers, who must rely on the unit steadily working while submerged.
For that reason, I would upgrade my rating to a solid 4/5 stars.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
Samsung Gear Fit2 Fitness Watch + Heart Rate: This fitness watch measures your heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, steps taken and speed and features a Bluetooth 4.2 interface that lets you sync results with your compatible Samsung phone or tablet. Its smart notifications let you receive alerts and respond to calls from compatible Android and iOS smartphones¹ and a curved display makes it easy to view activity progress.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Nice, but with serious HR/GPS accuracy issues.
By Erkelbot from Minneapolis
So far, so meh...
I mean, the hardware is great -- it has all the features I wanted. Waterproof, GPS, HR, fitness tracking...everything. And aesthetically, it's beautiful. Legible in light, and a great presentation. I also LOVE the notification options for text, calls, and other apps you indicate are important. Said differently, it allows you to customize what apps have permission to send notifications to the tracker...
So why 'meh'? Well, I've been on two runs. The first, the GPS was accurate. The HR, however, was WAY off. It read I had a heart rate of 220 at one point. That's just wrong -- but a lot. I regularly wear a chest strap for my runs, and I really never get over 195. The second run?... The GPS registered about half the distance... AND, the HR read 225 this go. Again, completely wrong. Not good when accuracy is paramount...
Another thing I'll say about the Fit2 is that it's not very liberal with steps taken. Meaning, if you are holding a cup of coffee in your right hand and go for a stroll, you probably won't get credit for the steps.
The app is pretty bad too. There's some serious work to be done here where they get it to be more like FitBit or other more friendly ecosystems to users. This isn't a deal-breaker for me, but I do miss the FitBit app -- it was just really well designed.
I'm waiting on a replacement from BBY. Mine COULD be a dud, but I'm a little worried about the next one too. However, if mine is just an anomaly...and it is a dud...It's an awesome device. Seriously, the promise of the hardware are GREAT.
Customer Avatar
Erkelbot
Minneapolis
Battery is also suspect.
June 15, 2016
Last thing to add... I have consistently been getting about 2 days of battery life. It's stated as 3-4 days, but even with full charge it depletes itself quickly. I've noticed it loses BT connection fairly frequently, which could be the culprit, but either way if you're someone who gets a lot of notifications from email or text you may only get a couple days...
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
Erkelbot's Questions
 
Erkelbot has not submitted any questions.
 
Erkelbot's Answers
 
Stay active every day with this vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker. This smart heart rate monitor displays your bpm 24/7 and also measures intensity minutes based on your activity levels to help keep your fitness goals in check. This vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker displays a move bar when you've been inactive for an hour to help you keep moving.
 

do you have to have a smart phone to sync with or will it work on its own?

I think you need a smartphone to get the device registered and up and running. From then on out, it can be used as a standalone device. You will not receive any software updates, however, without a connected device tethered to it.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Erkelbot
 
Stay active every day with this vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker. This smart heart rate monitor displays your bpm 24/7 and also measures intensity minutes based on your activity levels to help keep your fitness goals in check. This vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker displays a move bar when you've been inactive for an hour to help you keep moving.
 

Does it have the time?

Yep. It's the primary screen.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Erkelbot
 
Stay active every day with this vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker. This smart heart rate monitor displays your bpm 24/7 and also measures intensity minutes based on your activity levels to help keep your fitness goals in check. This vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker displays a move bar when you've been inactive for an hour to help you keep moving.
 

How is the screen brightness, both inside the house and outside? Garmin is notorious for having a horrible display, especially inside of your house thanks

I found the display as legible as any tracker out there. The contrast based LED was very good in light and dark situations.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Erkelbot
 
Stay active every day with this vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker. This smart heart rate monitor displays your bpm 24/7 and also measures intensity minutes based on your activity levels to help keep your fitness goals in check. This vivosmart HR+ fitness tracker displays a move bar when you've been inactive for an hour to help you keep moving.
 

I have had the Garmin HR+ for about a week and now am getting a low heart rate message while running. When i synch it appears it has captured my correct heart rate. is the unit defective?

I had the same issue, and I tried two separate devices. I don't think you're alone. I returned it for this very reason...
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Erkelbot
 
Monitor your fitness, sleep and nutrition habits with this Jawbone UP 39912BBR wristband that tracks distance, calories burned, active time and activity intensity, as well as sleep patterns and nutrition to help you achieve and maintain good health.
 

How are the batteries recharged/replaced? What voltage, how many needed?

Jawbone Up batteries cannot be replaced by the user.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
Erkelbot
   Minneapolis