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    January 3, 2014
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    July 10, 2025
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  • Answer count
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  • First answer
    January 10, 2015
  • Last answer
    January 12, 2022
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3Tcubed's Reviews
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The best bedroom Smart Clock just got even better. The Lenovo Smart Clock Gen 2 has a 4“ color touchscreen showcases the time, weather and your family photos. Choose a customizable clock face or check in on your smart cameras feeds before bed. With multiroom audio, you can add your Lenovo Smart Clock Gen 2 to a speaker group and play media across multiple devices and rooms.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
A nice little clock
on November 30, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
My house is full of smart devices (over 90). This is my 6th or seventh smart display, I have 8 smart picture frames (2 just for artwork). I love the concept of a small to medium display showing Date/Time/Calander information. I had the original Lenovo, and hated it's limitations until it could display photos. Once I could use it for photos, that changed my opinion of it. Well this Gen 2 device adds bluetooth support, you can stream or cast music to it as a BT speaker. An nice addition, but the quality of the screen is much clearer (more detailed, better colors) than the gen 1 device. It also uses less slightly less power.
I have picture frames in all of my bathrooms, and many other rooms. I had an old, but decent sounding clock radio in my guest bedroom. It occured to me this was clearly obsolete in my smart house. So this Lenovo gen 2 goes to to my guest bedroom. My initial set up seemed to go pretty well. Add the google device, tell it what room it's in, let it update it's firmware and then set the streaming music options, video options and then select what photo albums (from Google Photos Library). Well it just would not show me my albums, all I could display were "selected favorites". Nice pictures but not what I wanted. I looked at settings in Google Play, and I didn't see my 'Guest Bedroom Clock' as a display device (with the 4 others I already had). Eventually I removed the device and re-added it; repeated the setup (5m) and it then offered me the options to select from my Google Photo Albums. Now I have 35K photo rotating every minute on my Leveno 'Guest Bedroom Clock'.
I set an alarm (for my next guest) to see how the streaming music sounded. And for it's size it's great, it's not stereo but it's loud enough you won't ignore it. A hidden feature is that's not documented (anywhere I could find) was it's snooze bar, tap the middle of the clock and it will snooze for a user programed duration. I did not see this in the documentation, but it seemed obvious, and worked. The top of the clock also has a volume up and down button; and the back has a switch to turn of the microphone. The Google Assistant works as well as it does on any other device (which means better than Alexa or Siri).
The clock offers many different dimming levels and night light settings, including off. Quite flexible. Swiping to the right allow you to easily configure the clock face. Swiping up and down allows other configuration changes, including volume and dimming. There are some things that probably will never change, it does stream a few video channels, but its pretty limited (no Amazon video or music). I wish the "industry" would support 'everything' everywhere, but each lives without the others. That being said this is a device you can use a BT speaker or cast to it. This is nice, it would be nicer if it could pair to another BT device, like headphones or another speaker. I'd love to send a song to my wireless earpods from this device..... but not today, I still have to send from my phone. In my opinion this is the biggest missing feature (which could probably be added via a firmware upgrade). All an all a great little "clock".
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Discover the fun of creative editing and storytelling. Adobe Sensei AI technology* and automated options do the heavy lifting so you can instantly turn photos into art, warp photos to fit any shape, reframe your video subjects, and more. Add moving overlays or 3D camera motion to take your photos to a whole new level, and save them as MP4s for easy sharing on social. Grow your skills with 87 Guided Edits that step you through how to create perfect pet pics; extend, remove, or replace photo backgrounds; add fun animated overlays to your videos; bring out details in video shadows and highlights; and more. Edit and export videos in social-friendly vertical and square aspect ratios, and compress videos for easy sharing. Effortlessly organize your photos and videos, and craft personalized creations like dynamic photoand video slideshows with all-new styles, inspirational quote graphics, and animated social posts. Transform your favorite photos into gallery-quality wall art, beautiful prints, and unique keepsakes with the built-in prints and gifts service .†And enjoy an updated look that makes the software even easier to use and navigate. *Adobe Sensei is the technology that powers intelligent features across all Adobe products to dramatically improve the design and delivery of digital experiences, using artificial intelligence and machine learning in a common framework. †FUJIFILM Prints & Gifts service is available in the U.S. only.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Great when not Crashing
on November 18, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I've used Photoshop Elements on and for for 20+ years; I have to say each release brings improvements and potentially new headaches. I did my testing on a 16Gb i5/G10, I have bigger faster machine but this on happens to have the bulk of my images (not stored in the cloud) on it and a set of my parents 8mm childhood videos, recently converted to DVD format.
The new Guided (AI) functionality works surprisingly well, however it is a little heavy handed at times leaving it's work somewhat pixelized where it had originally been, well lets just say just dull/flat. I found in a couple of weeks of using it the most valuable feature was what under Enhancements they call Haze Removal, this did a wonderful job of turning gray skies to blue, but in a very natural way. It also improved the appearance of clouds in enhancing contrast and shadows in a very natural way. The smooth skin Effect was subtle. The open closed eye works well if you had a similar picture of the same person at approximately the same distance and angle, where it works magic. Now if the person is wearing glasses it tends to make more of a mess (at least where there are some reflections). The whiten teeth effect works well if there is plenty of contrast around the lips, but if there is not you might find it lighting the nose's color too. I found when it worked it was an excellent touch-up tool that looked very natural. I've run into this concept elsewhere, an it can certainly go too far. But it does do a good job, as does the red-eye reduction enhancement. I was not as happy with the auto sharpen, as it caused some edges to become noticeably pixelized.
The more complex editing functions dealing with layers and composite editing work reasonably well but have a real learning curve to become proficient with them. The different layers styles and naming/grouping takes some getting used to. The Filter library and number of ways to transform you image into a new picture is quite remarkable, I can't say I'd likely do this very often thought but for thouse of you that want to artful, there is a lot that can be done.
In general the Photoshop elements can help you take a decent images and make it really pop. I photograph a lot of lightning when I can; and it improved several images I had previously edited and made them better, pretty easily. But as I opend more images without closing then I stated to run into some problems. I'd attempt to apply a new effect or change a layer and I ran into memory errors (can't do that now...) or screen freeze of my system. I have a 4K monitor tied to my Laptop (with NVidia video card); I had functions that wound work on one screen and not the other, and things that would be display on my second screen even though I was working on my primary screen. Ultimately I had to restart the system to get it to behave normally again.
When dealing with .mpg4 video, all have to be imported into your video asset library. This conversion of 640x480 video, in my case was quite time consuming, I attempted to import about 24 files, between 5 and 30min each and it took over 30min, after which I had to reboot; as my system again froze. Lesson learned, don't bite off too much at a time. Then in editing those I had difficulties using the Smart Fix tools to try to improve the grainy video quality. After exiting the premise editor it became stuck in memory, just about every time I used it. I had to use task manager more than once to kill it so that it could be reloaded. I had much better luck using Photoshop Elements than I did in accomplishing anything with the Premier Video editor.
In the end Elements is a good photo editor, just don't open to many images as I found it got buggy with a lot of active images.
Premiere Video was buggy from the start, causing more crashes than I'm accustomed to in a couple of months, in a few hours. It needs improvement, I can't recommend it as it is.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Connecting virtually with friends and co-workers gets a major upgrade with the monitor’s built-in camera, noise-cancelling microphones and dual 5W speakers. You’ll enjoy amazing video clarity and crystal-clear sound. Versatile USB-C connectivity delivers video, audio and data, and charges your laptop. Plus, with just one cord, you'll have a clutter-free desk space. A super clear 5MP IR pop-up camera features facial recognition through Windows Hello for convenient, instant sign-on to Windows. The best part? The camera stays hidden until you're ready for video chatting or selfies. A height-adjustable stand and a monitor that tilts, swivels and pivots so you look your best and feel your best for all-day conferencing.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Brilliant
on November 6, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
Having not left my office for nearly the last 2 years I can appreciate where this Monitor fits in. Very few laptops have decent cameras. I frequently use MS Teams and Zoom for video conferencing. My office setup is pretty typical a notebook to the side and a larger monitor (or 2) connected to my note book. The larger monitor is usually front and center. Which means for video conferencing I have to look to the right to use my notebooks camera (which I also have to do to use MS Hello to sign on). I've experimented with a seperate external camera and microphone and lighting. But the hassles with all the extra cables to plug in and get/keep setup, and to reconnect when I have to take my notebook with me.... well it's not worth the effort. Enter Dell's new line of video ready monitors; like I said brilliant. Not only a great IPS monitor but a monitor with a very good digital camera, which includes IR sensing so that it can be used with MS Hello to login (Hello requires 2 signals, video for comparison, and IR to make sure is not just a photograph (human heat and depth)).
The quality is the monitor for 24" is fine for Full HD. The color set up can be adjusted via RGB settings (great if your using it for photo editing, or content creation - you can exactly match the calibration you need). The 75Hz refresh rate insures you can't see any repaint on the screen, and it also prevents screen tearing when gaming. It supports AMD's FreeSync for improve frame stability when gaming. The other hidden big deal i that this monitor has a 5W sound bar built in. The sound quality is really excellent and clear, it seems to come from the sides and the bottom (it won't replace my $1K sound system w/sub), but does an adequate job of providing crisp voices when used in a video conference. It also provides a echo canceling microphone(s) so that the sounds from the monitor do not effect the sound heard on the other end. It does an excellent job of this. I have a $100 dual mic, echo canceling set up that I used with a seperate camera, and the Dell mic set up is every bit as good. This is often over looked when making video calls. The quality of the mic greatly effects the quality of the video call. The only thing that I might have added is some direct diffused lighting, I use a 4" light ring with adjustable color/light output clamped to my desk on a long goose neck. I use it for video calls and for desktop lighting, when doing close-up work.
The monitor is highly adjustable up/down,right/left. And the monitor can be turned on it's stand so that it can be used in portrait or landscape modes (it's not hard to turn, but you can't do it without using 2 hands). The monitor supports 3 means for connection: HDMI, DP and USB-C. USB-C is fairly new, your computer must support USB-C/DP output. Most notebooks with Thunderbolt/USB-C output or Power Delivery support this. Mid to high end notebooks fro the last 2+ years have offer this. I love this functionality. This Dell monitor also has a USB hub with Power Delivery built in so you can connect a USB device to the monitor (under left side of monitor (I put a little piece of tape on the bottom edge of the monitor so I could find it more easily). I can use it to fast charge my iPhone; very convenient, and it can be disabled to save energy from the setup menu.
The display quality and off angle viewing of this monitor is excellent, watching video on the monitor is very good when at least 16-18" from the monitor. Any closer and you can see the pixel array onscreen. The 24" is full HD (the 27" DZ monitor is QHD). One feature that is not supported is HDR/HDR10. The only time you would miss this is when watching Movie's that support this. It is something I look for, but in testing the HD set up in Windows 11, it was hard to see how the output could be improved (once the brightness and contrast were turned down from their defaut 75% settings). These settings are fine for a bright room but for viewing movies I found 40%/50% to provide better cleaner shades of grey and blacks.
For a 24" HD monitor it is excellent. I suspect the 27" QHD is more in line with state of the art. But not all workspaces are alike. Because I have 2 monitors on my desk, I really can't fit 2 27" monitors, but 2 24" plus the notebook fit comfortably. I also found the USB power deliver output under the monitor was sufficient to charge/power my notebook, one less power cord to my desk - cool.
I'm proud to have this monitor on my desk. I've been asked by several clients, what I'm using, as they can tell it's an improvement from just using my notebook. Dell once again has produced an excellent product, and push the camera down and you know your not going to be spied upon!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
7of 9voted this as helpful.
 
Smart security that is designed for every home. Set up in minutes, and receive notifications from the app whenever a visitor presses your Video Doorbell or motion is detected. You can also choose to wire it to sound your existing home chime. Blink Video Doorbell lets you answer your door no matter where you are. Receive customizable alerts right from the Blink Home Monitor app, and experience helpful features like HD day and night video and two-way audio. Best part – Blink’s long-battery life technology provides peace of mind for up to two years.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
SImple, Effective Video Doorbell
on October 29, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I've been trying to find the best Video doorbell for years, probably installed and tried 12-15. I've been a Blink (outdoor) camera user for about 5 years. I like the quality of their products, I've gotten 18-24mo battery life from their cameras. I've never understood why they stayed out of the doorbell market. Their cameras offer a great method to select areas to look for motion, this lack of masking has been the one of the biggest problem with most video doorbells I've tried. Picking up motion well away from the door, causes way too many false alarms. Blink's masking works great, the scheduling works great, their low light camera is excellent. Their software has improved year after year. All told this new camera is supported by a set of well made software applications. Many other video doorbells I've tried fail in there software implementations.
Well, installation, was a breeze, I added a new sync sync module, to the 4 others I have. I did this so that it could be put on a separate schedule from my my other cameras. I mounted this camera on my back door, I have another camera covering the yard area. I want this primarily for expected quests and yard workers, not really for night time use. I mounted the plastic bracket directly to my door (I wish this were metal). It has small teeth that lock the video doorbell in place, with a "key" to release it. This battery operated doorlbell can also be powered by you door bell power supply, I did not try this, as I did not have doorbell power to my back door. But given my prior experience with Blink cameras I expect to get close to two years of battery life out of the supplied lithium batteries. The video door bell snapped firmly to the mounting bracket, sealed by a silicon seal. So it's waterproof (another problem I've has with other video doorbells). Not a problem on my back door, but just to test it, I sprayed it with my hose for a few seconds, no problems - good to know. When you press the doorbell button the surround illuminates blue and it makes a classic doorbell sound. You know it's working (another thing done right).
Everything works like it should! I get a notification on my (iPhone) in about 1 second, which is excellent. The two way voice is loud and clear, I have an electronic lock on my back door that I can unlock remotely. So I can not let a friend or worker in my back door easily. Excellent. I set up a mask so only directly in front of the door detects motion. This is an excellent product for the price, or as I call it a keeper. The only feature this doorbell lacks is facial/person/animal recognition, but building AI would certainly add to the cost (and decrease battery life), but I could certainly see them offering and additional high end version with AI in the future.
The install kit includes a angled mounting bracket, which is frequently necessary if mounting to the side of your door. This is one of the best, most complete, entry level video doorbells on the market. Except for the plastic mounting bracket they got just about everything right!.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
 
Set your imagination free on the most powerful Surface Laptop, designed to light up the best of Windows 11. Boundary-pushing design lets you flex your creative muscle on the sleek 14.4“⁴ touchscreen, making seamless transitions from laptop to entertainment-ready stage to portable creative canvas, complete with built-in storage and charging for Surface Slim Pen 2* under the keyboard. Enjoy smooth gameplay, and draw, sketch and take notes like you would on paper on the bright, vibrant 120Hz display. Run intensive applications and get things done anywhere with all-day battery life, and get inspired with graphics power that exceeds your expectations. Elevate your entertainment with Quad Omnisonic speakers, featuring large bass and immersive Dolby Atmos. Stay in the flow, be inspired and get closer to what you love.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Spectacular, but not perfect
on October 26, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
Ok, my wife or I have had Surface Pro Tablets/laptops since 2012 (first release). We've seen the concept improve over the years. I had the first Surface Pro laptop, I can't say I enjoyed the problems I had with it. But since that experience we've had 4 additional models. I've tried all of Microsoft's Surface Pro keyboards - none I've used for long. But I have to say it seems like Microsoft has been listening. Almost all of the Laptop problem's of the past are addressed in this new Surface Laptop Studio (SLS). Their displays have always been one of the best you could find, but the SLS is a step better with 120hz display, with by far the best touchscreen you can buy. I have 4 other 'current' notebooks (all 15", Intel 10 or 11 Gen or Ryzen 5), none have a clearer display than this SLS. And then new gen 2 pencil is a nice improvement, it's shorter, and not round, more of a flattened oval that magnetically attaches and recharges from the front edge of the studio, hidden, but well connected to the notebook. And it's pressure sensitivity is far more acurate (I didn't think it would be a worthy upgrade, I was wrong, if you are accustomed to using a stylus, get this pencil). I annotate a lot of drawings, I love this new pencil.
This notebook is a new design for MS, it's thinner that their previous laptops (but about the same 4lbs weight), but it has 3 display modes: Laptop, Tablet and Stage mode. Another company recently had a high end product called a Folio, with a similar screen mechanism (I have one); in fact this type of mechanism has been tried by others for many years, but none have been as thin or as sturdy as this MS implementation. That being said a 4lbs tablet is a bit on the heavy side for me, sure I'll probably use it on a couch as a tablet occasionally, but I have other tablets that weight closer to on pound, which for me is more comfortable as a tablet over time. But having the flexibility to keep working on the SLS in multiple modes is very convenient. In addition the SLS has an excellent trackpad, it's 5.5" diagonally with a minimal edge (which is better than a completely smooth hand rest area). It also vibrates slightly when you "click" on it, so instead of 2 buttons, the whole trackpad is the left mouse button.
Like I said I have other highend laptops, The SLS has the fastest graphics processor out of all of them. Period. It beat all others by 10-20%, so for light gaming/graphics work it's a star. But I also do software development on my laptops (which is why I have several). In testing Visual Studio loading and light DB work, the SLS was the slowest. At first I was tempted to blame windows 11, so I disabled some of the new security features, and my times changed by less than 1-2% (faster). [Also good to know Windows 11 new security features don't cause huge performance issues on a new machine]
So I ran Crystal Disk Mark (against my 512 Gb SSD - And I found the cause of the slowness). All of my other notebooks have at least 1Tb nvme gen 3 drives. The SLS has a gen 3 nvme drive, but its as 2242 form factor, my others are all 2280's, all performing reads at about 3000MB/s. So the SLS with stock 512GB drive, is on the slow slow side. Here's the good news/bad news, the SSD is a replaceable device, but MS only recommends it be done professionally. I've upgraded several of my recent notebooks (both memory and SSD (the SLS cannot have it's memory upgraded)). I wish MS would make it easier for end users to upgrade/repair their devices. I've learned what it takes, it can be done, but it (currently) voids the warranty. The other good news is the SLS also supports Thunderbolt 3/4 connectivity, which will allow you use a Thunderbolt connected g3 nvme drive at full speed, faster than the provided 512GB internal SSD drive. In fact the two Thundebolt4/USB4 ports also support power delivery and can be used to drive 2 additional USB Monitors from the USB ports both at 4K 60Hz. I tested with a 2K and 4K display and encountered no problems, both were recognised and configured automatically. I'm certainly happy MS finally offers a high end notebook with Thunderbolt connectivity, this was my biggest disappointment with their previous laptops. I also wish that there was a SD or micro SDcard reader (there is not).
This is the best Notebook Microsoft has produced. I don't understand why they skimped on a slower SSD, maybe the larger drive performs better (I don't know). I wish the SSD were more easily replaceable. But I love the keyboard, trackpad, display combination. I've adjusted to Windows 11 differences, no big deal as far as I'm concerned. MS has enhanced several of their apps to take greater advantage of inking support (using the stylus to write lines/text), more should be made of the enormous improvements in Notes etc. MS claims that you could can get 19 hrs on the battery, well I used it for a full day doing what I normally do, and got a 10% battery warning after 12 hrs. No gaming, but screen was 80% bright and used non-stop. Probably the best battery life I've gotten from a standard notebook (no extended battery). For just browsing the internet and light office work this 'puter is fast, the Wi-Fi 6 support works very well. The build quality is exceptional, and given its size, the sound quality is exceptional, it seems to come from multiple directions (yea). And Windows Hello (Facial Recognition use for auto logon) works exceptionally well, I've used it before and never have I had it works as well as this SLS even in very low light.
In the end I decided I had to deduct a star as it should have a top notch SSD drive as it affects my primary job as a software developer (but it can be 'fixed').
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+15points
19of 23voted this as helpful.
 
The new Bella Pro Series 8-qt. Digital Air Fryer with Dual Baskets is every multi-tasker’s dream come true. You can now cook two different foods two different ways, simultaneously, and still have them finish at the same time. Or, make a full load of the same dish using the extra-large 8-quart capacity by easily syncing the cook settings across both baskets. Our innovative touch screen display not only looks sleek, but it also allows you to easily customize your cooking method with 6 built-in smart cooking functions. Thoughtfully designed and easy to operate, this product is what you need to take your cooking up a notch.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Pretty nice and flexible
on October 10, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
When I first got this I wondered how many things I cook at different temps, justifying this unit. But first I must note, this unit is not to be used to heat/boil liquids, the drawer are not intended to hold liquids.
What I really wanted to try was some onion rings that I had in my freezer for some time, based on the package it seemed like they should cook for about 15m total, turning a little about half way throught. Much to my suprise, when I started using air fry, the unit has a shake reminder that alerts you when you should turn/shake, The baskets on each side hold 4 quarts, the trays hold your cooking object about 3/4" off the bottom allowing air to circulate in the fair small space. I put about half my onion rings on the trays stacking them about 4 high, probably making 10-12ozs. Just as I started, I got another request from my visiting daughter, asking if it could make a toasted cheese; I thougth this was fair request, and it allowed me to try the dual cooling. I decided I was going to bake then broil the grilled cheese. I lightly buttered both sides of some sourdough bread, and put 4 slices of colbly jack cheese in between the non buttered sides. I placed it in the other side of the oven on the tray. I allowed it to bake for 5min at 325, the side on the tray, showed a little crisping, and the cheese was melting. I turned it over and but on broil for 2min. Since you can't see inside the units, you have to guess at something like this. Just before my 2 min was up The shake alarm on my onion rings went off. They were cooking but clearly not done. I did some re-arranging with chopsticks, and let them continue cooking. The toasted cheese was browned nicely on the top, but not the bottom; so I flipped it and gave it another 1m. Once that timer went off, I removed it and admired my work. I'm glad I did not cook any longer as the crust was getting close to burning. By the time my daughter arrived I was just taking out the Onion Rings (I did add 1 more minute to the cooking time. The were easy to dump out on a paper towel on a plate. They were an oily crisp that the paper towel helped absorb the hot oil. They smelled great, but more importantly my daughter thought the tasted great. I got two, she got the rest, with her sandwich.
So far so good, I but I miss not being able to look into the oven to see things cooking. Now I wanted to see how long it would take to bake a 1lb potato. I put it on bake for an hour at 350. It was getting done, so I gave it another 30m. I suspect at 400, the potato would have finished in an hour with crispy skin. I prefer a softer more leathery skin, which is what I got when I finished cooking in 90m.
So far so good, I can see why having two cooking temps/methods can help. I did find that the unit makes more noise when both sides are used at the same time, and the heat out the back is noticeably hot. They say you need 3" clear behind the unit, believe them. You certainly don't want anything plastic behind the unit. When baking the potato, there was some steam that came from the back. So be careful where you place this unit.
It seems to cook pretty easily, but getting the trays out when they are hot is a little tricky, I almost think there should little handle, tool or something to help get it out. They fit snuggly and sharking/turning must be done carefully, other than this, and not having a window, I like the unit.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+28points
28of 28voted this as helpful.
 
The Nextbase 320XR and Rear Window Camera is the ideal solution for all-around protection on the roads in full HD quality. The front cam captures every detail in 1080p full HD at 30fps, with the aid of a 140° wide viewing angle. It utilizes the latest 2.5" screen with IPS technology for easy menu selection and playback. The 320XR uses the exclusive Click&Go PRO mount with integrated neodymium magnetic power connectors for easy installation and removal using just one hand. The 320XR Rear Window Camera connects to your front facing Dash Cam via a supplied 6.5m cable. It fits directly to your rear window with an easy to install self-adhesive pad. The magnetic, adjustable fixture means that it's suitable for angled windows in cars or more vertical van windows. The Rear Window Camera records in full 1080p HD with a wide 140 degree viewing angle to guard against everything from hit-and-run impacts to knocks and bumps in a car park. The 320XR also includes Intelligent Parking, which automatically starts recording when motion is detected, keeping your car safe when parked. For this feature, we recommend hardwiring in the Dash Cam using the Nextbase Hardwire Kit. Footage must be played back on a PC/Mac using Mynextbase Player or online using the free MyNextbase Cloud service (minimum requirements: Windows 10/OSX 10.9). The 320XR is not Bluetooth, and will NOT sync directly with the MyNextbase cell phone application.
 
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5 out of 5
5
They keep getting Better
on October 9, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
This is my third dash cam, first was about 5yrs ago, had 640x320 video capture, it was dark, at night, really pretty useless. My last was HD but it required lot's of special software to view what was on it (and the mfg never updated it). Which is why I have this unit.
It remarkably can record full HD from the front and back camera at the same time. Compared to my back up camera its like looking out a picture window, and the higher view lets me see so much more clearly, combine this with my back up cam it's like having a 3d view of what behind me. Really helpful when backing into a parking spot.
The main unit has a wide field of view on a very clear screen, you can easily take the unit down to inspect what you've captured. You can set the camera to record in increments of 1,2 or 3 minutes; this is so much better when reviewing video. Having to scroll through 30-40m of video makes it much more easy to find something; on my other units this was such a pain. Organization by minute is much smarter and all (optionally) can have time stamps on them. There are many other set up options including over or under exposed, (I found normal fine for daylight), if I drove more at night I might want it slightly over exposed. You can choose if you want to record audio or not (you can record more is no audio). You can choose the resolution, but full HD is so much better and clearer than SD video. In recording front and rear at the same time I did not notice any frame droppage. As advised I used a new V3 Class 10, 128GB SDcard.
Installation will obviously vary based on your vehicle, I installed in a 2016 Nissan Maxima, the front cord was harder to hide then the rear cord. The front had about 1' extra cable, and the rear had about 30" extra, that was easily tucked away and hidden in a corner area. Both front and rear cameras mount with magnets. This makes re-alinging the rear camera very easy. My install only took about 15m. The provide a little "tuck" tool to help push to hide the cable in the cracks. All told it was pretty easy, but I've done this before, and get smarter with each install.
The biggest step forward, is how easy it its to review the video on the unit, I do wish it had a touch screen, as the little buttons on the side take some getting used to. But this is the best dashcam I've had, it's camera is excellent, in low light, the picture looks to be monochrome, but very well illuminated. An daylight or night you can read license plates at a distance of about 10 feet. Nextbase has software that allows you to post video segments on line (not sure I'll ever use it).
Easy Install, HQ video day & night and front and rear. Just wat I was looking for, well done, recommended!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+18points
20of 22voted this as helpful.
 
The Oster Pulverizing Power Blender with High-Speed Motor is perfect for creating delicious and nutritious smoothies, frozen drinks, sauces, and more. This blender features a premium metallic finish, and a powerful 800-watt motor with ice-crushing power. It effortlessly takes ice from cubed to crushed in seconds. Its durable 6-cup Boroclass glass jar is thermal shock-resistant, shatter-resistant, and dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. This versatile Oster blender has a Crush Pro 4 stainless steel blade, as well as 8 speeds (including Stir, Mix, Chop, Blend, Liquify, Puree, and Pulse) to easily pulverize and chop a wide variety of ingredients for all your kitchen needs. It includes a convenient 2-ounce filler cap that has built-in markings for easy measuring and pouring of ingredients. This blender is built to last. It is designed with an all-metal drive for increased durability and also comes with a 3-year satisfaction guarantee.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great Value
on October 4, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
This is not a very fancy blender, with LED's etc, and it certainly not a Smart Blender. What is it is a well made, powerful 6 speed (+pulse) blender. The exterior is all plastic. Oster has put the money into the two most important components, the real glass (6 cup) Jar and an all metal motor. I had another blender that had a hard plastic jar (polycarbonate), I made the mistake of blending chillies in it to make a mexican sauce. It still smells like chilis. The moral of the story, get a glass jar with your blender (period). Glass is easy to clean and won't absorb colors/smells. I now consider it essential in a decent blender. The motor is just as important. All metal will last a long time, motors that are partially plastic, or have plastic gears inevitably fail. This Oster gets the job done. I crushed some ice to put in a summer beverage, and it did an excellent job of creating a pretty even ice size (using chop). Using liquify, I created snow (not what I wanted, but it happened quickly). The blender moved the mixture through out the jug (as it should have).
I also made thick milk shake (using blend) that came out perfectly smooth, no lumps, completely mixed (just like it should have). All told it did a great job. My only complaint is that the lid is pretty light, it fits tightly, but if I were to fill past 5 cups, I'd be concerned it might come off. Also the fill plug on the top of the blender lid is plastic, with no markings in it. Previous blenders that I've had had 'oz' or 'mm' markings on the plug. Not a big deal, but I have used the plug to measure with in the past.
What you have here is solid well made blender that should last, It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it's normally stored in a cabinet. It will do what it should, blend well!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
 
The Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum combines powerful vacuuming with Matrix Clean Navigation, leaving no spots missed for an ultra whole-home clean. Features include: powerful Shark suction power, Matrix Clean Navigation for a deeper cleaning, HEPA 60-day capacity base for collecting and trapping dust and allergens, and CleanEdge Technology for better edge cleaning.
 
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5 out of 5
5
Best yet, if you have room
on September 15, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I've tried a lot of robot vacuums, probably 10-12 over the past 5 years. I have a multi-story split level home, to have a robot to clean each area without having to move them, I need 4. I have 2 areas with oriental rugs with fringe (still left on it), some robots I've used are unsuitable for rugs with fringe on them. So I first find out if a new robot is going to suck up the fringe and possibly eat it (bad robot). It's largely been hit an miss, but having learned my lesson, for me it has to be tested. So the Shark - AI Robot Vacuum, succeed in NOT eating the remaining fringe on the rug under my dining room table. This is my great room area, where I want to deploy the Shark - AI Robot vac.
This robot uses LIDAR (think low power laser object detection, it can tell how far away objects are at a distance (and how tall to some extent). This allows it to approach objects without needing to bump into them. IT WORKS (really well)! in doing so it maps out your floorplan showing where it can freely move and where furniture and chair legs might require some neavigation. You do this setup before using the robot the first time. The Shark App was very easy to set up and install, it walked me through the initial set-up process with ease. It then show me how to get more sophisticated naming areas and defining high trafic zones or areas to spot clean. Of course by default you can always have it programed to clean whole area on a scheduled basis. Having used the Shark app before, I must say it's greatly improved, specifically providing for improved functionality that still easy to understand.
The Shark has 3 suction levels, I found normal worked well, and I could easily watch TV while it was running. On high I think I'd have prefered to be out of the room. On any schedule this set up can be changed. If I had animals around the house I probably would have used the high setting. And you can also specify how often you want the unit to return to its base for evacuation (self emptying into the charging bases large bin, this is relatively loud for about 30s). Depending on how dusty your floors might be they claim the base might only need to be emptied every 6 months (I'd say for my space this would be accurate).
When it was cleaning I threw some obstacles in it's path, I moved a chair after mapping and put some salt on a carpet and on a hard floor. It normally moves in a very orderly back and forth overlapping path. As I put something "new" in its path it slowed it approach and moved completely around the object, barely touching it. It did a good job with the salt directly in its path, the salt off to the side got blown to the side a bit, but a subsequent pass cleaned it all up. It has two replaceable twirling whiskers, that should pull in dust just outside it's reach. To some extent these work well on hard floors, but they are much less effective on rugs that meet wall/corners.
Like I said this robot works better than any other I've tried some costing 2-3x. Shark has a great deal for you here. If you have room for it, the base is 13" wide and 14" tall, it should be placed against a wall with 6" to the right and left "empty", so you need at least 2', where 3' would be better (so the robot can clean adjacent to the base). I love the idea of not needing to empty the robot every time it's used, or finding it's stopped because it's full. That won't happen with the Shark - AI Robot Vacuum. It will return to its base to empty itself as often as necessary, then pick back up exactly where it was. It does clean well, and did not eat my fridge. It had no problem crawling up on with rugs on pads. It was thin enough to get under toe kicks (which the robots 5 years ago failed to do). On hard floors it did a great job of getting into almost all corners.
Vacuum robots have continued to improve, having a self emptying robot is a big advance, and Shark had done a great job making this AI robot really smart. Recommended!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
 
The Nest Doorbell is the battery-powered video doorbell that works with any home. See what’s happening at your door from anywhere and get intelligent alerts about important activity, like when there’s a person, package, animal, or vehicle.* And because there are no wires, you can install it yourself. Nest Doorbell requires the Google Home app and a Google Account – it’s not compatible with the Nest app or the home.nest.com site.
 
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4 out of 5
4
Getting Better
on September 5, 2021
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I think this is the 10th video doorbell I've had, my toughtest requirement is I want no false alarms. I have plenty of other cameras that detect motion and are fairly directional. The issue with all video door bells is they all have a fairly wide angle lens. This allows them to see motions from many locations besides just in front of the door. Many advertise to only pick up humans within x feet (using PIR). I've yet to find one that does just that. I live on a fairly busy street, lots of foot trafic as a school is just down the street. So I must have a camera that allows me to select the area of motion I'm interested in (that works).
Well the new Google Nest Doorbell (battery), seems to tick all the right boxes, but I've found until you try it in your own environment you just don't know for sure. I have tired almost all the major (and many minor ones) video doorbells, none solved all my issues (or had too short of a battery life). So what I really want is for the doorbell to be mounted at an angle mostly looking at a wall to minimize false motion from the street. I'm hoping the "AI" in this doorbell really only detects people, and can recognise who it sees, and that its activity zone do what they should. Theft prevention is also a must. Let's start there, the doorbell mounts to a metal plate that is secured to either a wall directly or to provided 30 degree angle block. The fact that this is metal is a plus, as it will strongly hold the doorbell (others have a plastic holder that does not have real strength). The metal plate attaches tightly to the back with a pin through the top (see image) that locks the plate securely in place. There is a larger hole in the bottom that must also slide in place to secure the doorbell. I does hold it securely, it comes with a "key" that you press in the top to release it so you can recharge it (they claim the doorbell only needs to be recharged every 10 weeks - this would be great). So mounting was fairly easy, I got about the field of view I was hoping for. I have many Google "smart home" products so I already had Google home installed (it must be). I also have other Google Nest products, as it's called a Nest Doorbell, so I expected this doorbell to also show up there (long story short it [currently] will not (-1 star, Google don't call it a Nest product if it does not play nice with other Nest products!)) I spent some time with their nice support people trying to figure this out.
So the Google Nest Doorbell (battery) must be added to the Google Home app to get it set up properly. This doorbell comes with a 30 trial of Nest Aware (there is the Nest name again). In order to use facial recognition OR the motion zones, you must have a Nest Aware account ($6/mo or $60/yr), for person recognition I understand this, but for the motion zones, this was a surprise (their docs said certain functions require Nest Aware, motion zones were not clearly identified). But the have the most complete set of motions zones of any doorbell, with up to 4 separate zones that can be defined, and you can trigger multiple alerts inside and outsize of each zone (I've not see this sophisticated of zone processing anywhere else. Within each zone you can trigger on people, packages, animals and vehicles. Again very cool, but must pay a monthly fee to use it... But now having tried it, I can tell you it is very accurate, it does a excellent job of recognising people. The user interface for setting up people you know is very easy to use/change. If you have a google home hub, and use the picture frame, people I know, functionality, it similar to this, except (currently) tied to the cameras captured images only.
The night time IR processing is also excellent (see image), It's the best I've seen/used. The definition of zones is also easily done with their software.
I did have some problems getting the software properly installed. My suggestion is to install and set up the Nest Aware trial before installing the doorbell. It seems (currently) that if then nest aware subscription is not enabled for your google home account when the doorbell is installed, some of the functionality does not appear in the app (can't enable motion zones, but can define).
Image quality is excellent, speed of push notiifcation to the phone takes a little over a second, a little more to get 2 way audio, which is loud and clear to/and from the doorbell. The doorbell is fairly thin, but some what tall, I think it's attractive (it come in 4 colors). If it's size really give it 10 week battery life, I'm all for it. Whenever it's recording a small green led can be seen. I think the button at the bottom is obvious as a doorbell, my wife does not. I prefer the simplistic appearance. It does come with a video recording "icon" that could be placed on you window (if required locally). So far it's the best battery powered video doorbell I've found. I do wish it was fully integrated with the other nest products, as it is it can't be fully part of Nest's home/away functionality.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+25points
32of 39voted this as helpful.
 
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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).
4 years, 6 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)
4 years, 6 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
4 years, 8 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
4 years, 8 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 ?

just under 15"
4 years, 8 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.
 

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.
4 years, 8 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.
4 years, 8 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.
4 years, 9 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.

9 1/2" across and 6" deep
4 years, 9 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 this instant pot have WiFi capabilities ?

No
4 years, 9 months ago
by
3Tcubed