3Tcubed's stats
- Review count167
- Helpfulness votes1,525
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewApril 29, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count72
- Helpfulness votes45
- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
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From Wireless Dolby Atmos to sound calibrated to fit your space, the ultra slim Samsung S800D delivers a rich audio experience with style and features se t to impress.
Customer Rating
5
Very Impressive for it's size
on April 29, 2024
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I've had a B*** soundbar and sub in my living room (not my main listening room) for almost 4 years. I got it when ATMOS was just starting to gain ground. Most movies were still being released with DTS:X vs Dolby ATMOS, but ATMOS was making headway. If you don't know much about these surround formats, they both fool the mind into believing it's hearing 3D sound. If you just listen to a "normal" broadcast TV it really does not matter, as you will only find these surround formats from movies (Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray 4K quality, as DVD quality does not support ATMOS or DTS:X). Or from 4K UHD, DTS is supported from HDX format. Both ATMOS and DTS require your television to support eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel). Well ATMOS has now convinced most studios that it is the superior format. And from doing some A:B listening ATMOS clearly works better especially with only a sub and soundbar. With a full 5.1 or 7.2.x speaker setup (like in my main listening room) the two are quite similar. But with a soundbar that has upward firing drivers ATMOS is the clear winner. This is why I decided to "upgrade" to this Samsung HW-S800D. I tried to do in store comparisons, and found it nearly impossible to decide.
When I set up my new S800 I set it up with a HDMI switch so I could easily compare the two soundbar systems (both with a wireless sub (very simple to pair)). Both systems support WiFi and bluetooth for streaming, my B*** supports onscreen display the Samsung does not. The B*** supports Alexa voice control and AirPlay, this Samsung supports Alexa, Google and AirPlay; AirPlay is the only WiFi feature I've used in the last 4 years. Both also support Chromecast. The S800 is about 46" long and 1.5" tall and deep. It comes with all necessary mounting hardware if you want to mount it to the wall under your TV and a HDMI cable. The sub is about 9 1/2" in all directions. If you have a recent Samsung TV, it also supports Q-symphony which will utilize your TV's speakers with the soundbar. My (2019) Samsung TV did not support this, but if you have a 2020 or newer Samsung, this is a nice combination/feature. Samsung also sells matching wireless rear speakers (SWA9500S), so the system can become 7.1.4.
When I first compared my new S800D to my B***, I compared the voices on a baseball broadcast. The two soundbars were similar, the mid range of the Samsung sounded a bit louder, and a bit cleaner. The highs and bass were nearly identical. Now for the real test, the new Top Gun. I was anxious to hear/see and compare the carrier launch scenes, as well as passing mach 10 (and things not going so well). Cut to the chase, there was no comparison. Samsung's surround sound blew the B*** away. Not only louder but much more immersive, sound seeming to come from above and behind me and a pretty good tight base. You could feel the plane tearing apart as Maverick foolishly passed mach 10.2. It was not as deep as my 12" and 10" subs in my main listening room, but given the size and cost (my 12" sub alone costs twice what the S800 system costs). The music throughtout the movie was most excellent.
After the movie I quickly listened to Boston's first album via AirPlay. The highs were very airy and the mids were quite clear and rich. The bass was just acceptable, good but it didn't have the kick I really wanted to hear/feel. But, it had a good balance to it, all and all very well done. But I know what to listen for, and for its size the S800 more than pulls its own weight, color me impressed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The perfect blend of scooter and bike, the FLEX VOYAGER is great for errands or just riding in comfort. Free storage basket included. Improved speed and range. The FLEX VOYAGER can reach 15-19 miles per charge with a 15.5 MPH top speed. It is the perfect way to make it to class on time. Powered by a 350W Motor and a 36V 8.0aH battery.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
My GoTrax Flex (campus) arrived yesterday while I was vacationing in Sedona. I couldn't wait, so I drove back and forth to pick it up. I had it assembled in about an hour. It comes double boxed, and very well packed. Substantial packing material is in the box and it does a great job of protecting it. It comes with the tools to do the full assembly. The handlebar needs to be installed, but the handlebar stem folds up for more compact storage. The seat needs to be attached to a seat pole stem which has a hand lock to snap it into place. Other than that the only other assembly is attaching the rear basket. My scooter arrived with a nearly dead battery, A full charge took about 5 hours. The charging pack has a led on it that changes from red to green when the scooter is charged. It had gotten dark, so I didn't want to try riding until the next morning.
If you've been lucky enough to have been to Sedona, you know it's quite hilly. On the handle bar there is a key to start the scooter, and to turn the headlight on (off/on/on w/light). Once the scooter is on the battery gauge illuminates (Full, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, empty). I rode for about an hour before I was below 1/4 battery. My first ride on the scooter was up and down numerous hills, all paved streets. My first impression was "wow is this thing solid". Little bumps on the 2"x14" tires were almost unnoticeable. The scooter does not have a speedometer, they claim the top speed is 15.5-20mph. Going down hill I suspect it goes more than 20mph. Going uphill I doubt it goes faster than 10-12mpg, but it gets there. It rides at a comfortable speed on flat terrain. Having rented electric scooters in sseveral locations. I compared the ride to those scooters. This scooter is more solid and it handles much better. The larger tires seem to give it a more comfortable ride. After about 10 minutes of standing I finally sat down on the seat. The seat is fairly wide, soft and very comfortable. I found the wider foot platform (base of the scooter) was a great feature, I'd not thought much about it. I also found that riding seated was quite enjoyable, even relaxing. It's different from riding a bike seated, where you typically are moving your legs. Sitting with your legs firmly on the platform is more like sitting on a couch with your feet up on a hassock, but with wind in your face. I really like the idea of using this scooter to pick up a few things from the grocery store, the rear platform with a basket behind the seat makes that so much more practical. Once I get a decent lock I think I'll start using it for that when the weather is nice.
I'm really impressed by the scooter's stability. It was really easy to get it into my SUV just lowering 1/2 the rear seating, and not collapsing anything (something I can't do with my eBike). I kind of wished it had a speedometer (just for curiosity's sake), and wished it had a range more like 25-30 miles. The speed seems very comfortable. The front and rear brakes slow you down and stop you, but not too quickly (if you slam them on you won't go over the handle bar). When you apply the brakes the rear reflector lights up and blinks (a great safety feature). The front led headlight is nice to have, but I don't think it's bright enough to allow you to ride at night (safely). I believe the scooter weighs about 60 lbs. The rear suspension can be adjusted. It includes a kickstand and reflectors on the wheels and frame. The battery can not easily be changed and the throttle has no markings on it (a raised area would have been nice). The scooter includes a 2 year warranty. I'm very pleased with it, I think you will be too.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Type and click across computers effortlessly with the Logitech MK955 Signature Slim Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo made out of recycled plastic. Make work-life magic with customization and shortcuts that keep you in control of your wireless mouse and keyboard. Enjoy fast, precise scrolling and a familiar laptop-style keyboard feel that allows you to work even smarter with the Logi Options+ App’s custom shortcuts. Quiet keyboard typing and mouse clicking give you more focus and less disturbance to others. Connect wirelessly with Bluetooth or the included Logi Bolt USB receiver, and stay concentrated for longer with up to 36 months of battery life for the wireless keyboard and 24 months for the wireless mouse for larger hands.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I paired this keyboard/mouse with my HP Envy notebook (Windows 12), my Apple (macOS 14.1) MacBook Air and my Lenovo P12 Tablet (Android 13) via Bluetooth. I like having a full size keyboard with my devices, and I almost always use a mouse versus a trackpad. I've been doing this for over 20 years. Improvements keep happening. Many of my past keyboards were very light or very thin. The Logitech K830 is one of my favorite keyboards (I must have 5 or 6) but I can only pair it with a single computer and the keys have too little of an indentation and there is no kbd inclination (and is not a full size kbd). The MK995 Keyboard has some weight too and it has little feet that pop-up out from under the bottom to give some kbd inclination. And the keys have a bit more travel than any of my notebooks and the K830. The keyboard is powered by 2 alkaline batteries that they claim should last 3 years. The mouse is powered by a single alkaline battery that they say should last 2 years.
The keyboard has a great feel to it, and is VERY quiet. The bit of weight that it has gives it a solid stiff feel, no twist (again more solid then the K830). Switching between different computers is done by simply hitting one of three keys over where the pgUp/pgDn are located. Because the different OS's deal with the "windows" or "option"/"cmd" key differently Logitech has labeled the key key more like an Apple keyboard than a windows keyboard (but the number of keys is more like a windows keyboard). There's really no right answer, but their approach felt comfortable, yet I had to look at the keys adjacent to the space bar as they are not the same physical layout as an Apple keyboard. The one thing that I missed was a keyboard backlight. As soon as my office got dark, I looked for a key or sequence to turn it on, well don't bother, it does not have back lighting (like the K830 does).
The keyboard has a great feel to it, and is VERY quiet. The bit of weight that it has gives it a solid stiff feel, no twist (again more solid then the K830). Switching between different computers is done by simply hitting one of three keys over where the pgUp/pgDn are located. Because the different OS's deal with the "windows" or "option"/"cmd" key differently Logitech has labeled the key key more like an Apple keyboard than a windows keyboard (but the number of keys is more like a windows keyboard). There's really no right answer, but their approach felt comfortable, yet I had to look at the keys adjacent to the space bar as they are not the same physical layout as an Apple keyboard. The one thing that I missed was a keyboard backlight. As soon as my office got dark, I looked for a key or sequence to turn it on, well don't bother, it does not have back lighting (like the K830 does).
I've been traveling with a Logitech MX Anywhere 2 for quite some time. I don't mind it as my desktop mouse, but it is a tad small for my hand. However the mouse with the MK995 is a huge improvement. It is almost an inch longer and probably 1/2" taller. Overall it better supports my hand without me cupping my fingers. In addition the texture around the side of the mouse feels nicer to the touch than the texture on the MX mouse. And the wheel on the mouse is taller and longer than the MX mouse, and it spins more freely (but no right left scrolling (which I rarely used, so I don't miss, and it's not supported by Apple or Android)); it just feels better. And the MK995 has a bit more weight to it than the MX mouse. However, to switch the mouse to another computer you have to turn the mouse over and push a single button that moves from computer 1 to 2 to 3 to 1... Not nearly as easy as pushing a single key on the keyboard. I'd think that with their supplied software, it should be possible for a single button to be set up to switch both at the same time. Having to turn the mouse over is a hassle. When selling the keyboard and mouse together Logitech could better unify the packaged pair. But using the mouse on any of the 3 OS's it worked exceptionally.
I changed my notebook to use the Logi Bolt receiver to see if I could tell the difference from the BT connection, I really could not. And I could not try it on my MacBook Air as it only has USB-C connections. In summary the keyboard is excellent (but does not have backlighting), it feels better than almost any keyboard I've ever used. The mouse is excellent, but changing between computers is clumsy, it should be possible from the top of the mouse or unify with keyboard changes. The size of the mouse is much better for a desktop setting (not a travel mouse).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The TUF Gaming VG279Q3A 27" IPS Gaming Monitor with IPS panel and 1 ms MPRT response time combined with AMD FreeSync Premium support, NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, Full HD resolution monitor is designed to deliver sharp graphics during high-action sequences.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
Monitor quality keeps improving, especially gaming monitors. I come from the CRT monitor era. But I continue to evolve, always looking for deals and better computer monitors. I'm a software developer. I use my different notebooks (9 Windows, 2 Apples) for different projects. I keep some with older OS's for testing, others for the differing software and hardware projects I'm working on. In most situations I prefer a multiple monitor setup, I always have a 27" monitor next to the notebook I'm using (when I travel I have 2 USB portable monitors). I pretty much can't work without a second monitor. This ASUS is light (13.2 lbs with stand), it has almost no bezel (1/8" + 3/8" black bar) (allowing 2 to be used close together) and the colors are very rich. The monitor has a matte finish rejecting some reflections (not all). The detail on the monitor is very good for a 1080P monitor. It supports up to a 180Hz refresh rate, which is great for even extreme gaming play. Its display is extremely steady, no flickering. It supports both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, and claims to have 1ms response time. It also says it's 99% sRGB accurate, BUT it does not support HDR10. It supports 4 levels of Blue Light Filtering which reduces potentially harmful blue light emissions. I thoroughly enjoyed watching (most) videos on this display.
This is strictly a 1920x1080 HD monitor, not a 2K or 4K display. It does not support HDR (extended blackness, mostly having to do with video), yet its blacks are acceptable and its colors exceptional. But I had great difficulties getting my HDR10 notebook to match the colors on this monitor. I tried some image editing and video editing, and the whites were too yellow and the blacks too bright. I attempted to change color temperatures and various user changeable color tones. I get things looking good on one image, change to another and it would still be off. I generally don't have this problem on a monitor which supports HDR10. I guess I knew this, but didn't think it would have such an effect.
The monitor stand offers only a tilt adjustment (no height, it can't be used in portrait mode with the stand provided. But it does have 4 vesa mounting holes on the back (covered by a TUF logo). The matte screen is excellent, offering very little glare. I personally prefer this finish on my monitors. The screen has 2 HDMI connectors and a display port connector (no VGA, but it's rarely needed nowadays) and a headphone connector (or for powered speakers). This is not the highest performing monitor you can purchase, but for its price you get a very high quality product. It makes a great extension monitor. I did notice that it's blacks on some dark videos were not as precise as they could have been (specifically The Batman, which is a very dark movie).
The monitor stand offers only a tilt adjustment (no height, it can't be used in portrait mode with the stand provided. But it does have 4 vesa mounting holes on the back (covered by a TUF logo). The matte screen is excellent, offering very little glare. I personally prefer this finish on my monitors. The screen has 2 HDMI connectors and a display port connector (no VGA, but it's rarely needed nowadays) and a headphone connector (or for powered speakers). This is not the highest performing monitor you can purchase, but for its price you get a very high quality product. It makes a great extension monitor. I did notice that it's blacks on some dark videos were not as precise as they could have been (specifically The Batman, which is a very dark movie).
For gaming it's tremendous, very fast, no tearing, very smooth transitions. Yet the colors are not perfect, when I compared my notebook (ASUS Zenbook OLED) to this monitor. The monitor does have some special gaming features which will display on screen the Frames per second being displayed and an on screen timer or stopwatch and a very fine display alignment. It has 7 quick set visual modes, (Scenery, Racing, Cinema, RTS/RPG, FPS, sRGB and MOBA) that some may find useful. I found Fortnight, Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto all performed excellently. As a throwback I played the Myst 30th anniversary edition; it was again captivating. I'm sure when I first played Myst it was in a 17" CRT. Playing this updated anniversary version (actually 8 versions included) on a 27" widescreen monitor was quite the throwback (some things I remembered others I struggled to recall). Anyhow it was a lot of fun, and with the 8 included games all being "re-mastered" it will be for some time.
I like this monitor a lot, but in hindsight would probably have made sure to get one the next version up with HDR thinking it would help match colors more accurately (specifically for image editing).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Best for home offices and small teams, the Brother HL-L2460DW Wireless Compact Black & White (Monochrome) Laser Printer combines affordability and reliable quality. Designed to provide high-volume printing with exceptional efficiency, it consistently produces crisp, easy-to-read black & white prints at speeds up to 36 ISO pages per minute (1) (ppm). The convenient 250-sheet paper tray (2) means you'll make fewer paper refills, while the automatic duplex printing feature saves additional time and decreases paper waste. Flexible connection options include dual-band wireless, Ethernet, and USB 2.0 interfaces. Best of all, you can print from virtually anywhere with the Brother Mobile Connect App. (3) Plus, you can feel safe knowing that advanced security features are helping to protect your information and maintain secure connections while you're printing.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
This printer replaces a +20yr old Brother printer. I went to get a toner cartridge for it and it was hard to find, and when I found it it was more expensive than I expected. My old printer was 300dpi, this one is 1200dpi. My old printer printed 10-12ppm, this one prints 36ppm. My old printer was not wireless, I could not easily print to it from my phone or tablet. My old printer had no security services, this one has all the latest. My old printer consumed 12w in standby, this consumes 0.4w. Both printed double sided, but this one is SO much faster. my old printer had 4gb memory, this one has 64gb (handling graphics much better). And this printer is so much quieter when printing (49db).
I took the toner out of its package, removed the protective plastic on the cartridge, ran the cleaner back and forth (green tab on cartridge) and then inserted the cartridge. I turned it on, and then followed instructions using the Brother "Mobile Connect" application, which optionally allows you to print on your printer from anywhere in the world (over the internet, when registering it and setting up an account with Brother). And this printer is eligible to work with the Brother Refresh program, which will ship you new printer cartridges before you run out of toner (program based on number average number of pages printed per month). Set up was complete in under 5 minutes. Extremely easy to do with their app.
I printed a couple of documents that I had on my phone and found that the quality of normal and fine printing to be nearly identical. Normal uses less toner. And the speed to get the first page printed was under 8 seconds. The output was exceptional. So for a few dollars more than a new cartridge for my old printer I have a printer that is 3x faster, with 3x the quality output and it's quieter and uses far less power and I can print on it wirelessly. New standard output cartridges are about $50/cartridge (less than half what I need to spend on a new cartridge for my old printer. Seems like a winner all the way around. I am most happy with my upgraded Brother printer. If I get another 20 years out of this printer it's an excellent deal.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ScanWatch Light is the perfect representation of what a health hybrid smartwatch should be: advanced sensors providing essential & accurate health data all nested in a premium & lightweight watch. And because improving or maintaining health is a journey that benefits from around-theclock tracking, ScanWatch Light packs 30 days of battery life before needing to be recharged.
Customer Rating
5
ScanWatch Light vs ScanWatch 2
on December 7, 2023
Posted by: 3Tcubed
First the Best Buy Description says this is for Women, lookwise it's nearly identical to the ScanWatch 2, in both size, weigth and appearence. Both watches are truly unisex and any sex whould be happy wearing it. Now I wan to compare how this Withings ScanWatch Light compares to the Withings ScanWatch 2.
I could not decide which ScanWatch to get (the Light or 2). I've been using their Body Comp scale for about 7 months. I'm really impressed with it (especially compared to my previous Smart scale (from F.....) that just would not stay paired. But I loved that their (F.....) watches had 6-7 days of battery life. That being said, I have the latest 'fruit' watch, and I have to charge it more than once a day, it's get about 20hrs on a charge. And I've never liked how it looked.
When I first saw the Withings original ScanWatchs I wanted it. But it was missing the heart rate, and O2 monitoring, and its sleep functionality seemed lacking. These 2 new watches buy and large fit my requirements. Neither have GPS built in but both can pair with your smartphone to acquire GPS info, which helps reduce battery usage. They both have a small round OLED on on the watchs which use much less power than a full face's display. And call me old (school), but I really want my watch to look like jewelry rather than technology strapped to my arm.
Upon unboxing the two the Light has a perfectly flat crystal, and the "2" has a slightly raised convex crystal (Sapphire crystal, stronger and more scratch resistant than the Light). The "2" is 38mm wide and the Light is 37mm wide (you can't tell the difference in size), with a flat surface (made of Gorilla glass). They ship with slightly different chargers, the "2" is expandable and could hold a wider watch, the Light has a fixed width, both can be used on either watch. Both watches are made of a shiny stainless steel, the "2" having a rounded case, the Light being more squared off. The "2" weighs 54g (1.9oz), the Light weighs 47g (1.7oz). For comparison my fruit watch weighs 69g (2.4oz) and has to be charged every 20h, and supports a 'special' magnetic wireless charger, the ScanWatch has a cradle it can be put into to charge (much like F......). The ScanWatches both come with an attractive, comfortable silicone band. One issue with both ScanWatches, that disappoints, is can you can't see the the time at night without touching the watch (if you put it on your bedside table and turn out the lights or if it's on your arm), well the "2" has some bioluminescence, if the watch face has had sufficient light hitting it, before you turn out the lights, the watch arms glow for a few hours. The Light lacks this feature, really can't explain why besides their arms are more narrow. If you push the crown the date and time does show up in the OLED display for about 12s. One clever feature that both watches share is, when you push the crown the arms of the watch spread to 10 & 2 so the OLED face is clear of the arms.
Are the functions accurate.... I compared the BPM data from the two watches to my fruit watch. The 3 were typically within 2 BPM of each other. The step counters of the two were within 100, after 3000 steps, with the fruit watch in between the two. After exercise, the Light recovered more slowly than the "2" or the fruit. but after 3-5m all were together again. The SpO2 level of the "2" was +/-2 of the reading on the fruit, the averages were essentially identical. The ECG data was also nearly identical, but the graphic presentation (see last image) from the "2" was better to "read" than the fruit's presentation. The body temp data I found very interesting, you again have to use to visualize, but the granularity of the "2" is much better than the fruit, this info is not available from the Light. This was most interesting when exercising, you can easily see how your body temp rises, to a point and then plateaus. And then slowly drops after you stop (as does your HR, but it recovers more quickly). Withings provides you ECG data to a health group: Heartbeat Health (with your permission) were they to see an abnormality (afib) they would apparently contact you. Kind of a cool feature I don't plan to utilize. Both watches offer min/max heart rate notifications, that you can set the thresholds for. The fruit offers only high notifications. Both watches also monitor your respiration rates; Breaths/min it does this at random intervals, but during your sleep it can indicate good/poor/restless sleep. Now my previous f....t smart watch could not monitor my sleep (which is why I stopped using it, it worked fine for my wife). My fruit watch consistently measures my sleep time about 2hrs less than actual, and rarely captures REM sleep, but it does see deep sleep. The Withings watches gave me more credit for more Deep or REM sleep, but it lumps the two together, whereas the fruit watch identifies Deep and REM separately (not sure how accurately either is). The average Heart Rate is available from both and it is presented in the Withings app much better than in the fruits Health app, which shows the heart rate and an hourly range, where the Withings app shows continuous data.
The Withings watches both support notifications tied to your phone. You get caller Id info (name and number) and you can select what other applications you want to get notifications from, you can select other apps like Calendar, Facebook, Gmail, and any other app that you might have installed on your phone. I've not found a way to decline incoming calls, or to force a message to be taken from the watch. Something I can do from my fruit watch. But other than that you can get a full range of notifications displayed on both watches. This is the feature I like/use the most on my smart watch. I rarely, if ever, pick up a call on my watch, I just want to know who's called or messaged, then I use the phone's bigger screen.
Overall I'm very impressed with both watches. The feature I miss the most is the ability to see the time at night in a dark room without touching the watch (maybe add a shake feature that turns the OLED on for 10s). What surprised me the most was the comfort of both watches, the silicon bands have small ridges on the back, this prevents the watch from sliding around on the arm, staying where you put it is huge. With the stock band on the fruit watch I spend 1/3 of the day realigning it on my arm. I'm sure the lighter weight of the Withings watches helps. The Withings bands are easily detachable, so if you want different colors for different occasions it is easily done (in acouple of seconds). So it becomes a question of is the ECG, Body temp and SpO2 levels of a great value to you. I'm guessing if you're not an athlete, someone who's doctor has interest in monitoring this data (which can easily be shared with health professionals from within the app) the Light is fine. So it's a cost issue. I think the flat glass on the Light is more attractive/easier to read, but the scratch resistance of the Sapphire crystal on the "2" is a nice feature if you're concerned with scratches (I've not tested the scratch resistance of the two, and don't plan to). I love the appearance of both watches, and will happily trade my fruit watch for either. One other interesting note, when you install more than one watch the Withings app tells you that "you successfully installed an additional tracker. You can switch devices anytime you want, we take care of the rest". It's good to know it also includes Nokia watches, and Apple Watch data via the Health App and iPhone sensor data via the Health App. The watches are very well conceived, I can only imagine that their excellent app will continue to improve.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you just got a new computer or simply upgrading your current setup, you can’t go wrong with this Insignia NS-PM3NK3B24 Bluetooth 3-Button Mouse. It uses reliable Bluetooth technology to easily connect to your Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, iPadOS and Android systems. A slim, ambidextrous design works for both right and left-handed users, and a timeless layout consists of 3 buttons. Finally, optical technology makes this mouse more than suitable for a variety of daily uses. Upgrade your setup with this easy-to-use Insignia mouse.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I've been using mice or track balls since notebooks added trackpads. I never liked trackpads, but I grew more accustomed to there ocassional use. However for real productive work I want a mouse or trackball. The Bluetooth standard has evolved to pair more easily and it sip less and less power. Companies like logitech had always provided their own usb dongles to overcome the shortcomings of early Bluetooth. But since BT5 has been out for 5+ years the performance and reliability of BT has improved greatly. Modern BT devices can transmit data 5x faster than v4 with new profiles optimised to specific devices (add devices don't look like serial devices any more).
Enough with BT improvements, this mouse is somewhere between a true travel mouse and a full size desktop device. My hand is fairly large and I'd prefer that this mouse was a little bigger for everyday use, but after using it a bit I find it quite acceptable for daily use. With Windows 11 the mouse was automatically detected, and I was asked if I wanted to pair with it. On my Apple Air I had to tell it to pair, but it was immediately recognised and worked fine. At the same time it's small enough to toss in my travel case. It's a very responsive mouse that you can easily change the DPI (800,1200 & 1600) for more precise work. There are more precise mice out there, but you rarely need it (IMHO). My only complaint is that it uses a battery, I'd far prefer it to be a USB chargeable, and that it still works when it is being charged. The scroll wheel is very responsive, I wish it had a bit more texture to it. The mouse works very well without a mouse pad, which is quite important. I tried it on a glass table, and it worked but not as well as on a non-clear surface. it slides very nicely, and generally has a good feel to the buttons.
Enough with BT improvements, this mouse is somewhere between a true travel mouse and a full size desktop device. My hand is fairly large and I'd prefer that this mouse was a little bigger for everyday use, but after using it a bit I find it quite acceptable for daily use. With Windows 11 the mouse was automatically detected, and I was asked if I wanted to pair with it. On my Apple Air I had to tell it to pair, but it was immediately recognised and worked fine. At the same time it's small enough to toss in my travel case. It's a very responsive mouse that you can easily change the DPI (800,1200 & 1600) for more precise work. There are more precise mice out there, but you rarely need it (IMHO). My only complaint is that it uses a battery, I'd far prefer it to be a USB chargeable, and that it still works when it is being charged. The scroll wheel is very responsive, I wish it had a bit more texture to it. The mouse works very well without a mouse pad, which is quite important. I tried it on a glass table, and it worked but not as well as on a non-clear surface. it slides very nicely, and generally has a good feel to the buttons.
On a 1-10 scale it's a 8. And price wise it's a 10.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ScanWatch 2 is more than a hybrid smartwatch, it is a health guardian on duty 24/7. This next generation includes new and exclusive sensors, including TempTech 24/7 module which for the first time, delivers day and night body temperature variation tracking, alongside proactive heart health notifications, atrial fibrillation detection via a 1L ECG, and blood oxygen levels. Together these sensors can help anyone maintain a healthy lifestyle, effortlessly. ScanWatch 2 also features its trademark sleep and activity tracking plus an extraordinary battery life of 30 days before needing to be recharged.
Customer Rating
5
ScanWatch Light vs ScanWatch 2
on November 28, 2023
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I could not decide which new Withings ScanWatch to get (Light or 2). I've been using their Body Comp scale for about 6 months. I'm really impressed with it (especially compared to my previous Smart scale (F.....) that just would not stay paired. But I loved that their watches had 6-7 days of battery life. That being said, I have the latest fruit watch, and I have to charge it more than once a day, it's get about 20hrs on a charge. And I've never liked how it looked. When I first saw the Withings original ScanWatch I wanted it. But it was missing the heart rate, and O2 monitoring, and its sleep functionality seemed lacking. These 2 new watches (except for O2) both seemed to fit my requirements. Neither have GPS built in but both can pair with your smartphone to acquire GPS info, which helps reduce battery usage. That and the small round OLED on each watch uses much less power than a full face's display. And call me old (school), but I really want my watch to look like jewelry rather than technology strapped to my arm.
Upon unboxing the two the Light has a perfectly flat crystal, and the "2" has a slightly raised convex crystal (made of Gorilla glass or Sapphire crystal, stronger and more scratch resistant than the Light). The "2" is 38mm wide and the Light is 37mm wide (you can't tell the difference). They ship with slightly different chargers, the "2" is expandable and could hold a wider watch, the Light is a fixed width, both can be used on either watch. They are both made of a shiny stainless steel, the "2" having a rounded case, the Light being more squared off. The "2" weighs 54g (1.9oz), the Light weighs 47g (1.7oz). For comparison my fruit watch weighs 69g (2.4oz) and has to be charged every 20h, and supports a 'special' magnetic wireless charger, the ScanWatch has a cradle it can be put into to charge. The ScanWatches both come with an attractive, comfortable silicone band. One issue with both ScanWatches that disappoints, is can you see the the time at night without touching the watch (you put it on your bedside table and turn out the lights), well the "2" has some bioluminescence, if the watch face has had sufficient light hitting it, before you turn out the lights, the watch arms glow for a few hours. The Light lacks this feature, really can't explain why besides their arms are more narrow. If you push the crown the date and time does show up in the OLED display for about 12s. One clever feature that both watches share is, when you push the crown the arms of the watch spread to 10 & 2 so the OLED face is clear of the arms.
Are the functions accurate.... I compared the BPM data from the two watches to my fruit watch. The 3 were typically within 2 BPM of each other. The step counters of the two were within 100, after 3000 steps, with the fruit watch in between the two. After exercise, the Light recovered more slowly than the 2 or the fruit. but after 3-5m all were together again. The SpO2 level of the "2" was +/-2 of the reading on the fruit, the averages were essentially identical. The ECG data was also nearly identical, but the graphic presentation (see last image) from the "2" was better to "read" than the fruit's presentation. The body temp data I found very interesting, you again have to use to visualize, but the granularity of the "2" is much better than the fruit, this info is not available from the Light. This was most interesting when exercising, you can easily see how your body temp rises, to a point and then plateaus. And then slowly drops after you stop (as does your HR, but it recovers more quickly). Withings provides you ECG data to a health group: Heartbeat Health (with your permission) were they to see an abnormality (afib) they would apparently contact you. Kind of a cool feature I don't plan to utilize. Both watches offer min/max heart rate notifications, that you can set the thresholds for. The fruit offers only high notifications. Both watches also monitor your respiration rates; Breaths/min it does this at random intervals, but during your sleep it can indicate good/poor/restless sleep. Now my previous f....t smart watch could not monitor my sleep (which is why I stopped using it, it worked fine for my wife). My fruit watch consistently measures my sleep time about 2hrs less than actual, and rarely captures REM sleep,but does see deep sleep. The Withings watches gave me more credit for more Deep or REM sleep, but it lumps the two together, whereas the fruit watch identifies Deep and REM separately (not sure how either is accurately determined). The average Heart Rate is available from both and it is presented in the Withings app much better than in the fruits Health app, which shows the heart rate and an hourly range, where the Withings app shows continuous data.
The Withings watches both support notifications tied to your phone. You get caller Id info (name and number) and you can select what other applications you want to get notifications from, you can select other apps like Calendar, Facebook, Gmail, and any other app that you might have installed on your phone. I've not found a way to decline incoming calls, or to force a message to be taken from the watch. Something I can do from my fruit watch. But other than that you can get a full range of notifications displayed on both watches. This is the feature I like/use the most on my smart watch. I rarely if ever pick up a call on my watch, I just want to know who's called or messaged, then I use the phone's bigger screen.
Overall I'm very impressed with both watches. The feature I miss the most is the ability to see the time at night in a dark room without touching the watch (maybe add a shake feature that turns the OLED on for 10s). What surprised me the most was the comfort of both watches, the silicon bands have small ridges on the back, this prevents the watch from sliding around on the arm, staying where you put it is huge. With the stock band I spend 1/3 of the day realigning the fruit watch on my arm. I'm sure the lighter weight of the Withings watches helps. The Withings bands are easily detachable, so if you want different colors for different occasions it is easily done, in a few seconds. So it becomes a question of is the ECG, Body temp and SpO2 levels of a great value to you. I'm guessing if you're not an athlete, someone who's doctor has interest in monitoring this data (which can easily be shared with health professionals from within the app). It's a cost issue. I think the flat glass on the Light is more attractive/easier to read, but the scratch resistance of the Gorilla glass on the "2" is a nice feature if you're concerned with scratches (I've not tested the scratch resistance of the two, and don't plan to). I love the appearance of the watches, and would happily trade my fruit watch for either. One other interesting note, when you install more than one watch the Withings app tells you that "you successfully installed an additional tracker. You can switch devices anytime you want, we take care of the rest". It's good to know it also includes Nokia watches, Apple Watch data via the Health App and iPhone sensor data via the Health App. Very well conceived, I can only imagine that their excellent app will continue to improve.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Denon Perl Pro True Wireless Earbuds let you create a personalized sound profile via Masimo AAT for audio that is perfectly tuned to you. Add in CD-quality sound from Qualcomm aptX lossless technology and spatial audio from Dirac Virtuo for an unrivaled wireless audio experience. Confidently take calls with best-in-class voice audio. Use the Denon Perl Pro app to create your profile and fully customize your listening experience. And with eight hours of earbud battery life-plus 32 additional hours from the case and wireless case charging-you can keep the music going all day.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
This is probably my tenth set of wireless BT earbuds. Why, because they keep getting better, and I've always appreciated the Denon sound quality (I have their receivers and wireless speaker). Denon claims 24h battery life 8h+16h from charging case). I fully charged, and updated my firmware before trying them out. I had no problem pairing them with my iPhone 15 pro. I then ran them through Tara Labs Noise burn in overnight (they lasted ~7h 45m), just short of the 8h quoted, and then I recharged them. I installed the Denon Headphone App. The earbuds were immediately recognized, and my battery level showed 100% on each earbud. The software provides an equalizer (only 5 bands, 400, 1K, 2.2K, 5K & 10K that you can adjust +/-6db; not overwhelming, but adequate), you can save your own curve with your profile. They allow setting up to 3 profiles, the real customization comes from the Adaptive Acoustic Technology, which plays a series of tones/music and then detects how well you hear each frequency, it only takes a minute or so (in a very quiet environment) for these tests to be done. They graphicly show you where they are testing and re-testing. They then show you what areas they believe need emphasis. I was not surprised to see I need a little mid to low end boost, but that my high end hearing was good. You can then compare your personalised curve on/off. Leaving little doubt how well it works!
Then on to the really important part, how do they sound and fit. I generally move to the next larger rubber earbud surround, but after testing I found the standard set worked just fine for me. I generally prefer a soft spongy insert for longer listening, which they include in the standard size. And they fit comfortably in my ear canals', they did not feel loose, like they might come out, and the sound seal seemed very good. I had a hard time telling the difference between the foam and the silicon, but I think the form isolated the external sound better.
Now to the music, Pink Floyd's masterpiece; DSOTM. Speak to Me sounded great, the volume level was wonderful, opening up the subtle sounds of the song. I had the earbuds at 80% volume and that was fine (for now), but knowing they could be drive higher, I did play with the immersion mode at +2/+3, this boosts the low/mid bass, mostly (+2 is nice; +5 provides too much emphasis; your mileage may very). The subtle tones were absolutely superb as the song builds; it had the oomph you could feel, that higher volume brought. The high notes (treble) in Time were excellent, these earbuds provide a sharp/crisp clear airy high end. Then Great Gig In the Sky's ethereal voices, wisp around the soundstage (enhanced by the included Spatial Audio) with the bass building as it should have. Money got me drumming, it sounded so real, the tom-toms had a real kick to them, and it was even better a little louder. Us and Them was tremendous, it kept me turning my head, like I could tell the different instruments were right in front and around me. As we ended with Eclipse I felt like the little voices in my head would persist, and there would be more.
Then I quickly listened to Kansas Live, with Carry on my Wayward son; the vocals all came from different locations, and I could literally visualise the guitars moving in front of me. Again the sound stage with live music is much better than I expected from ear buds. I then moved to Boston's first album; More than a feeling was very crisp, and the bass had real presence with very nice highs. On Foreplay/Long time the fade in/out fade had great separation it was nearly surreal. The subtle build up was just as I expected, possibly better. The bass was nice and deep, a little boomy (I turned the immersion mode down to 2, and it was more to my liking). Here I tried turning the personalization on/off to see how well it worked. Quite impressive, like having a 2D or 3D soundstage. The immersion mode can be overdone, but it's easy to adjust. I tapped the earbuds to advance the song, it worked as I expected. The touch controls can be programmed as you desire (a nice feature) 1,2,3 taps and double tap and hold, so 4 different options on each earbud. The software can also control ANC (Adaptive Noise Cancellation), On and Off. Outside I could barely hear my A/C running with it on, and it was noticeable with it off. A big difference, I imagine they will work great on an airplane. But I don't think it is as good as a couple other name brands in doing the cancellation. And I do really like their social mode that lets you hear the external sounds clearly, and mostly mute the music in the earbuds.
I'm accustomed to the software including custom sound profile but the Denon customization/personalization does a truly excellent job. The immersion mode is another bonus, the EQ could have more bands and the ANC does a really nice job. The earbuds are plenty loud with great battery life. The battery case is a reasonable size with a USB-C connector.
All told these tremendous earbuds, they are as close to the best that I've heard (at nearly the same price). After listening for several hours, I found them very comfortable, I appreciate that they ship with foam and silicone tips so you can get just the right fit. I just spent a 7 hour day with them in. I rarely thought about their weight (other than how good they sounded), so I decided to program the social mode into the tap twice "space", as it really comes in handy (when you have to interact with real people). And I think they look good (better than looking like you have marshmallows or cotton in your ear). Having an iPhone, I could NOT try AptX lossless delivery (only available to Android users (not Apple), I've used it before and I'm sure it's another plus to these earbuds.
Denon is new to earbuds and they have built themselves a real winner. They are why I keep looking, but I doubt I will stop further research, certainly from trying what their follow on product is.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether your mess is wet or dry, the Roomba Combo i5+ robot vacuum and mop can double up on cleaning tasks with one machine. From spilled crackers to every day shoe prints—this robot can handle it. Set it to vacuum only or vacuum & mop your hard floors by swapping in the Roomba Combo Bin.
Customer Rating
4
More features and improvements
on November 2, 2023
Posted by: 3Tcubed
I live in a split level home 2 levels downstairs, and 2 levels upstairs. In the last 6 years I've tried 6 or 7 different robot vacuums in my 4 levels. Originally my first robot "ate" most of the fringe off of one of my oriental carpets. Lesson learned, create exclusion zones, or find another vacuum. All of my floors are hardwood or tile, but most have various rugs. My "good" orientals are no longer on my floors. I still have 3 (that have fringe, in my dining room, family room and in my master bedroom (all on different levels). So I continue to look for "new and improved robots' ". The "new" feature I most vigorously support are the self emptying stations/towers. I love that the robot can run, return to its station to empty or recharge and then continue its work until finished. I recall that my first robot seemed like it needed to have its dustbin emptied every 40 minutes. This new iRobot i5+ should only need to have its cleaning bag changed every 2 months.
First my experience with the i5+. Installation was a breeze, mostly because I already had the iRobot app installed. Adding it to my others was simple (one will go away, as this will replace an older unit). I, probably foolishly, had it map and clean at the same time (can't recommend this). So from the "Map" icon, have it create a new map. It does this faster (and IMHO more accurately) when not vacuuming. I actually had to do this 3 different times before I got an accurate map. The first time it found a wire attached to the power supply, under a bed (that I didn't recall was there) that caused me to restart mapping. The second it got caught in a tight area where it could not get out of, by moving a couch a few inches this was corrected. But if you pick it up while it's mapping you don't get accurate results (or so I found). The third time took 50 minutes, and it included a family room (30x15), bedroom (12x15), laundry area (8x12) and a bathroom (6x5). This seemed reasonable. Vacuuming the same area took about 2h 30m; it returned home once after 2h to empty, and departed fairly quickly after it got there. It did a very good job of getting into corners, but it left a few dust bunnies against a rug that it had to crawl up on (on an oriental w/some fringe). It struggled with the fringe going "up" through it, but had no problems moving over it when coming off. This robot moves much slower on my thick wool pile oriental than it does on a hard floor. On a 1 to 10 score I'd give it an 8 for its cleaning. After its map was complete it no longer got stuck. I connected my Robot to Google home, and was able to use my voice to tell the robot to start cleaning.
The map is pretty accurate, furniture in its way prevented it from being more accurate. In trying the mop function, I was concerned it would go on to the carpet, so I watched it for quite some time, it would bump into the rug but not go upon it. If the robot knows where the rug is, it should show the difference on the map (it would have let me think it knew what it was doing). But it does not, boo! How well does it mop, on a 1 to 10 score maybe a 6. I suspect if I used it over and over it would get better and better, but after the first pass there were some greatly improved areas, and others.... that still needed work. The mopping function uses a minimum amount of water, I would not hesitate to use them on wood floors. Getting the mop on/off the unit is a very manual operation, but the mopping tray swings in/out pretty easily, but you need to raise the robot or bend down to the floor. I understand the more expensive i9 unit can automatically put the mop up/down. But that's not what I have.
So I'm definitely going to retire a 5yr old robot (I know someone that will love to have it). It still works well, but is MUCH louder than this new i5+, in fact that is another big difference. The room mapping is greatly improved, and it's much quieter. And I'd still rather it runs when I'm away. In fact, with its new interface to my phone, it knows when I leave the house, and I can program it to clean when I'm not there (I love this idea). So, other features, well my old unit had three vacuum power settings, this unit is supposed to be able to determine what power level to use automatically, except on carpet I never detected any other power suction changes. This I am still not sure about. The battery capacity on the i5+ is more than double my old unit, which never worked more than 1 hour. I know the i5+ can run well over 2, another big advantage. But the dust bin is my favorite feature. It comes with an extra dust bag, and a place to store the extra (see image). But if I only need to change the bag every 3 months, that will be fine by me. When I use the last one, I'll order 2 more new ones, no rush. Technology moves forward, and brings us better products (again).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Brydge 12.3 Pro+ wireless keyboard with touchpad matches the quality and functionality of the Surface Pro 4,5,6, and 7 seamlessly. Designed to meet the standards set by Microsoft, the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ features a precision touchpad, adjustable viewing angles and 3-level backlit keys, bringing a laptop-like experience to your Surface Pro.
Is it running on windows 10? And What’s the speed how fast is it?
This is a Keyboard/Track pad only.
It is intended to be use with a MS Surface Pro (G4-G7); the Surface typically runs Windows 10, and there are multiple versions (processor/memory for the surface).
It is intended to be use with a MS Surface Pro (G4-G7); the Surface typically runs Windows 10, and there are multiple versions (processor/memory for the surface).
3 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
The Brydge 12.3 Pro+ wireless keyboard with touchpad matches the quality and functionality of the Surface Pro 4,5,6, and 7 seamlessly. Designed to meet the standards set by Microsoft, the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ features a precision touchpad, adjustable viewing angles and 3-level backlit keys, bringing a laptop-like experience to your Surface Pro.
Is this a laptop and keyboard
Keyboard/Trackpad only intended to be used with MS Surface Pro (G4-G7)
3 years, 4 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
Is there a compatible single serve blending cup that I can use with this blender? I’m interested in a 20 or 24 ounces blending cup option.
It comes with 2 x 16oz personal containers (actually 32oz, but for blending you should only fill to 16oz when using
3 years, 5 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
There's no Puree' option, so does this blender not have a way to blend a smoothie until it's basically almost as smooth as milk? That's pretty much going to be my deciding factor between this and the Instant Pot blender. Thanks.
It does have a Pulse mode that moves the mixture thought-out the container, fine for a puree
3 years, 5 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
What is the height of appliance with glass jar and lid attached ?
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
How do I purée foods? It doesn’t have a purée button.
It has 2 modes, smooth and pulse, the pulse mode move the mixture throughout the container very effectively, would easily puree.
3 years, 5 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
Can I use another attachment with this blender like Nutri Ninja or the coffee and spice grinder ?
They offer a separate small jar (not included) which would be great for a spice grinder, you could probably use the included large polycarbonate container for grinding coffee with the pulse mode, it should work well.
3 years, 5 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.
Does instruction manuals come with it and recipe book
Yes, but pretty limited. There is on online app with a lot of recipes (well organized, searchable) you'll find several for just about everything.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.
What are in internal dimensions? All I can find are external.
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.