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Jacobs
 
 
 
Jacobs's stats
 
  • Review count
    73
  • Helpfulness votes
    798
  • First review
    June 19, 2008
  • Last review
    April 9, 2018
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    3.7
 
  • Review comment count
    14
  • Helpfulness votes
    48
  • First review comment
    January 24, 2011
  • Last review comment
    November 17, 2016
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    0
 
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  • Answer count
    8
  • Helpfulness votes
    1
  • First answer
    May 13, 2015
  • Last answer
    November 8, 2017
  • Featured answers
    0
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    0
 
 
Jacobs's Reviews
<< 1 2 3 4 5 ... 8 >>
 
Keep your floors spotless with this Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum. Its sensors and mapping system automatically adapt to the pattern of floors in the home and effectively avoid obstacles. This Alexa-compatible Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum provides maximum cleaning coverage including edges and corners thanks to its sophisticated edge-cleaning technology.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Smarter than competition - Great vacuum!
on July 2, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
So far the best Robot Vacuum I have come across. It's learning capabilities are amazing. Improves navigation day by day.
I was able to compare features vs quality with iRobot from Roomba. Overall I am satisfied with Samsung POWERbot R7040 over iRobot 805.
[Pros]
+ excellent navigation capability
+ great suction power
+ smart capable (wifi connectivity with smart control), see cons also
+ washable filter
+ great running time per charge (almost an hour)
+ Visionary Mapping™ Plus - a great feature keeping the vacuum to get improved navigation every time.
[Cons]
- not low profile as iRobot, making it nearly impossible to go under furniture like couches
- difficult process to empty bin
- very loud, but manageable compared to its suction power
- no handle to carry it, you need to lift whole machine in case if you need to move it around
- lousy smartphone app
- get disconnected from wifi frequently (not my router issue)
[Conclusion]
I am not a Samsung fan, but this product is absolutely engineered before releasing to public unlike many other samsung products. Overall, I am satisfied with Samsung - POWERbot R7040 and I would highly recommend this over iRobot.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Control everything from lighting to your refrigerator in your home with this all in one Samsung Mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub. Not only does it deliver an optimized Wi-Fi signal to every corner of your home, it also works as a SmartThings Hub, connecting compatible cameras, lights, voice assistants, and more to create your smart home. Now you can manage your Wi-Fi and all your smart devices from the palm of your hand with this Samsung Mesh WiFi Router and Smart Home Hub.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Price vs Features vs Support = Stay away!
on July 1, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
To me this is a 1 star or no star product as is. However, considering this is a new productline and concept from Samsung, giving the scope for upgrades and improvements in the future, settling with 2 stars.
For advanced users - two words... Stay Away!!!
[Setup]
Using iOS device(s) setup was a pain in the neck. Spend more than half day with multiple resets and numerous trials finally was able to get it running.
[Support]
Joke! First of all, if you select correct menu options you will end up with dead silence. I had to trick the system to get help for mobile devices and then explained them its for smart home products. When they internally transfer the line you get a smart home technician. However, they have never heard of Smart Connect device or its model number. They cannot be blamed as if you search samsung support website with the model number, you will get error result. I had to insist to get level 2 support and finally after 30 minutes they figured out samsung has a product called smart connect :))
[Pros]
+ Full gigabit speed on wired interfaces (unlike Amped Wireless ALLY which limits to 500Mbps),
+ Decent wireless range compared to its size without antennas,
+ Built-in smarthings hub
+ Sleek design
[Cons]
Pretty much everything about this product - few of them are highlighted below.
- Setup - most painful setup I had to go through for a wireless router in my 20+ years of tech life
- Price - this product is over priced for its features and functions.
- No web GUI
- Extremely limited features via smartphone interface
- Fixed DHCP IP address range (192.168.2.x) - Bummer! Confirmed with tech support that you cannot change the IP range.
- Gigabit internet users out of luck - this router only support unto 866Mbps on 5.0 Ghz and 400Mbps on 2.4Ghz
May be ok for basic home users, but definitely a NO for advanced users and Gigabit users.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-1point
1of 3voted this as helpful.
 
This is more than just a speaker - it's a journey. Starting from the very basic elements of sound and speakers, your children will build a deeper understanding as they move toward assembling their Speaker Cube. At every step, exploration is encouraged and curiosity is rewarded.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
My 8 year old girl loves it!
on July 1, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
My daughter is picky in choosing gadgets, she always prefer the best.
BOSEbuild Speaker Cube was one of her best pick and she loved to build and experiment producing sound on different objects and surfaces. Components are high quality build and best for kids to handle.
Provided videos tutorials are self explained and truly helpful for kids.
Cons: Only downside I found for BOSEbuild Speaker Cube is that it doesn't support Android devices, bummer but manageable.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Listen to music safely with these JLab JBuddies folding headphones, which have an integrated 85db volume leveler to safeguard sensitive ears. Equipped with soft cushions which stay comfortable for extended periods, these earphones and make a great addition to your kid’s travel kit. Use these versatile JLab JBuddies folding headphones with a range of devices.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Super KID friendly headphones
on May 27, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Well, do not buy this headphones if you are looking for audio quality. It has super low quality audio performance.
My 8 year old liked this headphones by its looks and comfy feeling. However, she said she didn't like the audio quality. I can't blame her because you need to crank up the volume of on the device then on the headphones itself. On the plus side, since it produce very low quality sound, it stays within the headset and barely audible outside.
As far as the design, comfort and size, I had to give 4 stars. If the audio quality was slightly better, I would have give full 5 stars.
Not bad for the price and quality.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Take your tunes anywhere with this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker. This floating waterproof device is submersible in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, and it deflects damage from snow, ice and dirt. Pair this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker with up to eight Bluetooth devices, and use the included dry box for storing keys and cards.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Do you need sound quality or waterproof speaker?
on May 22, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Yes it is a waterproof speaker - thats the only plus side I can think about LifeProof - AQUAPHONICS AQ10.
- Extremely disappointed with the sound quality. LifeProof has focused on water proofing while completely ignoring sound quality (primary use of a Bluetooth Speaker).
- Moderate sound quality if you set it up below 50%. Anything after that will cause distortion.
When you pay $200.00 for a BT speaker, you will have a lot of exception about sound quality. Believe me, if you are a sound enthusiastic, do not waste your money on LifeProof - AQUAPHONICS AQ10.
I thought my amazon echo had the bad sound quality until I had a chance to use LifeProof - AQUAPHONICS AQ10.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Experience immersive entertainment options with this Sony 4K Blu-ray player. Its Ultra HD resolution provides exceptionally detailed screen images with increased brightness and more realistic color, and its support of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X provides cinema-quality sound. This Sony 4K Blu-ray player supports high-resolution audio formats for more accurate music reproduction.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Sony - UBP-X800 - A good 4K Player
on May 22, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
I am very impressed with the quality of Sony - UBP-X800. When you pickup this unit, you will feel the build quality even before you get to know the system. Yes, this player weighs around 9 pounds.
Things I like about Sony - UBP-X800
+ Loading speed : 4K discs loading relatively faster compared to competition
+ Upscaling - Sony - UBP-X800 - Playing non 4K BRs handled very well.
+Pretty fast WiFi connection
+ Bluetooth: Having bluetooth connection is a blessing when others' need privacy. You can watch movies and listen to it using your favorite BT headset.
Things i don't like about Sony - UBP-X800
- None so far :)
I will highly recommend Sony - UBP-X800 for those who looking to get a 4K HDR BR player.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
 
ALLY is a Whole Home Wi-Fi System that delivers smart, safe, secure Wi-Fi controlled from your phone. The ALLY mobile app is equipped with advanced parental controls, including an online activity log, and alerts that can be sent when someone attempts to access a blocked site. ALLY also comes with built-in AVG security to protect your network devices from malware and harmful websites
 
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Customer Rating
1 out of 5
1
4 Stars to 1 Stars - not for advanced users!
on April 29, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Disclaimer: I have received this product for free in exchange of honest review. So here it is…
This was a 4 Star product to me until I ran into some issues and got a call back from the support, I had to drop my rating to 1 Star.
Overall, Amped Wireless - Ally Plus is an OK product for beginners. This is not the best compared to price vs features. I consider myself as an advanced user because networking is pat of my professional life.
Pros:
+ Unlike some competition ALLY comes with web interface in addition to smartphone access - but comes with a price (see cons)
+ Great coverage without any external antennas - signal strength is at par with my previous router with antennas - really impressive. (with a massive drop on speed - see cons)
+ Parental control aka device control is pretty straight forward and designed perfectly and “exclusively” via smartphone app.
+ Device design itself is sleek and eye appealing
Cons:
Unreliable network connection after 24 hours (check images) - needed reboot to gain network access again
You don't see half of the features on the smart phone that you see on the web interface and vice versa. (very confusing)
Never change the IP address from 192.168.3.1 to anything else if you plant to enable AVG Security on the router - though not sure why there is an option to change IP address at first place if it is not to be changed (see other thoughts).
Some devices drops connection and requires rebooting the device, not the router.
Though coverage seems to be at par with my previous router (1 v/s 2 ALLY including extender), connection speed has drastically dropped by 60-70%
Other thoughts:
Originally I was impressed with the router and wanted to give it 4 stars. However, after talking to the Escalated Support Team, I had to drop it to 1 star. Biggest challenge I faced apart from the CONS mentioned above was enabling AVG security feature, I was not able to access the web interface anymore. Called support, the scheduled a called back for next day morning. I have received a prompt response next day morning. However, after some trouble shooting I was told that if I have changed IP address from 192.168.3.1 to anything else, I have to toggle AVG security to OFF from a smart phone in order to access web interface. ALLY was designed to work on 192.168.3.x series only! I shared my thought with them, if that is the case why there is an option to change the IP address at first place? After almost 30 second silence, they repeated ALLY is suppose to work on 3.x series only. I have more than 50 devices on my network and at least 1/3rd of them has static IP addresses. To use ALLY I have to reconfigure my devices including mounted wifi cameras? No way!
At this point I wouldn’t recommend ALLY to advanced users. It may be OK for beginners, again, price v/s features its not worth it.
Like other user mentioned, it is a half baked product trying to sell for full price.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
User submitted photo
User submitted photo
0points
5of 10voted this as helpful.
 
Hear every footstep, click and breath with this Razer Kraken digital gaming headset. The powerful 50mm drivers have neodymium magnets so that they produce exceptional sound directly to your ear, and the included microphone picks up speech clearly. This Razer Kraken digital gaming headset connects to a USB port for easy setup.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great product for features vs cost
on April 18, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Razer - Kraken 7.1 Wired Virtual Surround Sound Chroma V2 is one of the over the ear wired headset I have used so far. It has solid build and great sound quality. Illuminating logo on the sides looks great, also it turns red when the mic is muted.
Virtual sound effect has executed beautifully in this headset. I could not ask for any bette experience on my Windows machine. On the Mac side, I found it is ok but not that great. I believe optional windows software is the game changer.
On the down sides
- you need to sign up for an account to use the windows software.
- there is no volume or mute controls other than using pc/Mac resources
Having said the down sides, I would still recommend this gaming headset :)
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Deep clean your carpets with this practical Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum, which comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head for great results on a range of floors. With a generous 30-foot cord length, this unit easily travels through large rooms and up stairs. The Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum’s HEPA filtration system makes it ideal for commercial or residential use.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
My first Dyson product - not too bad
on April 14, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Dyson floor multi floor 2 is a great vaccum with a lot of suction power. I had a great chance to compare this product with a shark complete upright vaccum. As far as tbe suction power both tied up with leaa noice from shark. I had to take one star off from Dyson because I felt shark is more easy to handle and featurea v/s price.
Over all I am satisfied with Dyson vaccum and I recommend this product.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Router with a beauty - doesn't mean it is smarter.
on January 11, 2017
Posted by: Jacobs
from CA
Disclaimer - I received this unit for no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.
No doubt that this is the best "looking" router I have ever tried. Unfortunately, with the present limited app and firmware functionality Velop is only meant for novice plug and play users who doesn't care about network speed or advanced functionality.
I have nearly 60 devices (wired and wireless combined) that includes Desktop/Laptop, Phones, Tablets, Media/Storage server, Wireless Security cameras, Home automations and smart home devices. About 30% of those devices have static IP addresses. Some of the latest smart home devices are isolated to 5.0Ghz network with a specified network name.
Velop is an epic failure if:
- you want to define your own network IP address such as 192.168.1.x
- use it as an access point without router capabilities
- control the router with full potential usage via web UI than with limited functionality provided in the smartphone Applications
- required UPnP functionality with any of your connected device
- you want to create 2 or 3 different SSIDs to specify what device to connect which frequency.
Velop is a great solution if:
- you have no clue what you want to get from your expensive router other than getting your devices connected to internet.
- you are looking for a router that comes in more than 1 piece and has great appealing to your eyes.
- you don't care about the internet speed or internal file transfer/streaming speed.
With my personal usage pattern, I found it is not a good idea to change static IP address on each device than changing the IP range on the router itself. (expample: mounted wireless security cameras needed to unmount and connect to a PC/Mac to reconfigure IP address). Could not use UPnP functionality needed on certain network devices.
SETUP: Very straight forward with its smartphone app. Takes almost 10~ minutes to complete each node. More Nodes, more time to spend setting them up. Though 1 out of 3 nodes gave me hard time, but eventually got it configured.
WIRELESS RANGE: As a key factor of every wireless router, Velop with a combination of all 3 nodes give very decent coverage. Though I have not noticed any significant increase in the range compared to my single router placed on the first floor with 4 antennas.
WIRELESS SPEED: Bummer! With so called advanced technologies using a combination of hardware and software, it completely failed to obtain maximum transfer rate within 5 ft of the node. My 250Mbps connection (when connected to a 5.0Ghz network) dropped to ~70Mbps.
IP ADDRESS RANGE - For reasons not known to me Linksys/Belkin decided to force-feed users with 10.40.1.x IP series. Like I said above, I have no intention to go to each device to change its static IP range from xxx range to 10.40.1.x. Hopefully Linksys will resolve this issue with future firmware updates.
SSID: Though I honestly like the idea of having single SSID for different frequency ranges, it doesn't work well all the time. Especially devices that are older than 1-2 years won't switch automatically go get better speed/range. Rather those devices will be confused whether to join 2.4Ghz or 5.0Ghz and under perform.
FUNCTIONALITY: It is a wireless router, stick with it!
IMO, it is an over priced under performing device for any advanced users out there.
Though I will recommend Velop for those who are looking for a simple plug and play (not that easy, be ready to spend almost 10 minutes per node) set up.
My Best Buy number: 0558284846
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
 
<< 1 2 3 4 5 ... 8 >>
 
Jacobs's Review Comments
1 2 >>
 
This hub works with your high-speed Internet and your home phones to deliver VoIP phone services and supports up to 4 Ooma Telo handsets. With easy setup, you can enjoy unlimited U.S. calling and low international rates.*
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Quality bargain Voip
By steve0617 from ossining, ny
If you have reliable high speed internet service and are looking to keep a home phone # for cheap Ooma is the way to go. It is easily setup - plug it into your cable modem and router using the simple diagram. Go to their website to create an account. You can choose a new phone # or port over you current number for a fee. If you go with a new number you will be ready to use it in minutes. For me the quality has been nearly as good as my cable company's phone service was and since I have a reliable high speed internet service I've had no phone service issues in the 2 months I've been using Ooma. The quality is good, faxing has not been a problem, no need for a computer other than to manage you account or any special phone handsets. I have an all-in-one printer/fax that I plug the phone line from Ooma into then plug the phone line out into the main base of the 2.4GHz wireless handsets I have. You can listen to voicemail online, using your phone by calling into voicemail like you would your cell phone or just pushing play on the Ooma device like you would an old fashioned answering machine. The best thing is there is no additional cost once you buy the box - all the main features you'd expect are included like voicemail and caller id. If you want some of the extra premier features such as 3 way calling, special rings, block lists, etc. you can get that for just $9.99/month. Their website lays out the included features and the premier features. I was asked about hooking up a home alarm since I do not have one I did not look into this but sure its on their website and if not just ask them. Overall a nice cost effective way to keep a home phone.
Ooma is only good for basic callers
January 24, 2011
Their premium service and international plans are rip offs. It is a very good phone for those who wants to call within USA. All others forget this as it will tear your pocket eventually instead of saving your money.
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
 
The 2nd generation Apple TV® allows you to stream movies, TV shows, photos and music from your computer to a compatible HDTV or home theater system via the built-in 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN connection. Smart Set-Top Box Get a world of instant entertainment with this smart set-top box. Connect to the Internet and stream movies, listen to music and access a wide variety of other content on your HDTV. Learn more about smart products. Netflix YouTube Flickr
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Disappointing for Apple Product
By Blackhawk22 from Elburn, IL
We were really excited to try the latest and greatest thing from Apple...thought that Apple TV would be a great replacement for Netflix etc. While it does allow you to sync music, photos, etc. from your iPod and pc desktop, it is horrible in regards to renting any movies from the iTunes store. Even after upgrading our DSL to 6.0 mbs, it took 13 hours to download a movie...furthermore, upon going to play the movie after the download, it said that another 14 hours until it was ready to play! What?! This could potentially be a cool item, but pretty much a waste of 99 bucks if you can't even use the movie feature. Returning it.
Check your internet speed
February 5, 2011
Having your connection upgraded to 6.0mbps does not guarantee that you get the full speed some times. I would suggest you check your download speed by going to www.speedtest.net from a pc or a mac. Also if you are using a wireless connection, check your routers technical specification. Also try changing the wireless channel on the router. Hope this may help you. :)
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
The all-new thinner and lighter design makes iPad 2 even more comfortable to hold. It's even more powerful with the dual-core A5 chip, yet has the same 10 hours of battery life.1 With two cameras, you can make FaceTime video calls,2 record HD video and put a twist on your snapshots in Photo Booth. And the iPad Smart Cover attaches magnetically and wakes up, stands up and brightens up your iPad 2.3
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Worth very well, it is a must buy for Tablet lover
By Jacobs from NJ
I have waited a long year for buying an iPad. I did not purchase the first gen because of it lacks a front facing camera for video, that was the only disadvantage I found in iPad. Today at the launch day I was able to get my White 32GB AT&T 3G model from my local best buy store. It is absolutely stunning. Although I have seen and tested may other tablets came after iPad but nothing can stand with iPad. Some of them might be bit superior than iPad in hardware, but performance wise iPad is the ONLY winner so far. I am not a apple fan boy, but I have a MacBook Pro, iPhone4 and now iPad 3G :P.
I love the way USA Today implemented its App for iPad. All other iPad Apps I have tested today is upto my expectation.
Cons: no earphone included as with iPhones, I personally did not like the new smart cover. It might be magnetically smart, but did not feel that way. Front and back camera produce extremely poor images during dusk/low light. After being used with iPhone 4 retina display iPad's display doesn't look enogh, not really a con but could have been better resolution in second gen iPad.
Pros: Pretty much everything from size, weight, look, and functionality FaceTime and Skype video calls
What you mean false advertisement?
March 17, 2011
@iguy2u. I got mine in my Local BB store on the launch day (3/11) after waiting in the queue for more than 45 minutes. I am pretty sure all retail stores sold out iPad 2 on the same day including Apple stores. I don't understand your comment on false advertisement.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
The iPhone 4S features a powerful dual-core A5 chip with faster graphics for browsing the Web, switching between apps, gaming and more. The 8.0MP camera boasts advanced optics and shoots 1080p HD video. Ask Siri, a voice-activated intelligent assistant, to make calls, send texts, set reminders and more. Features the iOS 5 operating system with its easy-to-use interface, rock-solid stability and extended battery life. Use with iCloud to store your digital content and wirelessly push it to all your devices.Sprint Easy Pay option available in store. Learn more ›Requires a Simply Everything or Everything Data plan and a $10 Premium Data add-on.The Early Termination Fee is prorated and is calculated by taking the months remaining on your Service Agreement times $20 for Advanced Devices, with a maximum of $350, and minimum of $100.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Disappointed
By theregularguy from fl
I am on my 3rd iphone with the same problems. I cannot answer the phone! The agent at the Apple store told me this is an issue that I will always have and it is common across every model they have including the 4s. Several times each week when my phone rings I am unable to slide the indicator on the screen to answer the phone, nor can I push the slider to unlock the phone. The official Apple answer is to just call the person back! Not possible if the person is calling from a location with a switchboard such as a hospital or your child’s school. How would you like to miss one of those important calls? I am disappointed that a premium priced phone is less reliable than one of those $20.00 throw away phones.
I have 3 iPhones in the household, u r not alone
November 27, 2011
Though I agree that all iPhones (at least 3 of them at my home) is having this issue periodically. It is not a serious issue, you click on the sleep button once, just once, two clicks will deny the call, and you will be able to slide to answer the call. It works most of the time. I never called Apple for this issue. It happens only once in a while and I am a Computer Technician, so I believe I know what could be the reason so I just ignored it. There is no way this once in a while problem makes iPhone to get a single star!
0points
2of 4voted this comment as helpful.
 
The 2nd generation Apple TV® allows you to stream movies, TV shows, photos and music from your computer to a compatible HDTV or home theater system via the built-in 802.11a/b/g/n wireless LAN connection. Smart Set-Top Box Get a world of instant entertainment with this smart set-top box. Connect to the Internet and stream movies, listen to music and access a wide variety of other content on your HDTV. Learn more about smart products. Netflix YouTube Flickr
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Horrible Product from Apple
By Meghna from Richmond
This is first time I'm not happy with an apple product. It takes forever to stream movies from your iPhone or iPad. Screen mirroring also horrible. There is a lag of minimum 2 min. The streaming quality is very poor if you are sharing from iDevice. It works good if you use built in apps like YouTube. The bad part is if your Tv is more than 40inch, the picture quality is very poor. My router is 3 feet away from apple tv and still this is so horrible. If your router is away..I don't think screen sharing or streaming videos from your iDevice will be feasible at all. I don't recemmend this to anyone.
Blame your net work setup
December 22, 2011
It seems like the problem is with your network setup (router) or may be the ISP (slow speed for streaming part). If you are using a wireless connection, try using wired connection. This device has a 720p output and I am using it with a 55" LED TV and I did not have any resolution issue. May be you need to check the video output under Apple TV's "settings".
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
 
Overall4 out of 54 out of 5
Good upgrade from 2nd Generation Apple TV
By Jacobs from CA
I have been using Apple TV 2 for nearly 1 year and upgraded to 3rd Generation on the launch day. I am overall happy with the upgrade. Video quality has been improved compared to previous generation device.
I do not use Apple TV to stream contents from iTunes. I use this device mainly for Airplay from my other Apple devices / computer. Also I watch Netflix and Youtube for streaming contents. Netflix quality has been improved compared to Apple TV 2.
I love Apple products and recommend its products to my friends and family. But I am not fully convinced with Apple TV. 2 years ago Apple brought us Apple TV 2 with "720p" resolution when the world has already standardized to 1080p and 1080p 3D. I could not figure out why Apple was stuck at 720p that time. May be because Apple TV is just a "hobby" for them.
Finally in 2012 Apple brought us 1080p capable Apple TV, hurray! Well, my only concern with Apple TV 3 is that despite the fact that it has 1080p streaming capability, I am not seeing a Full Screen image when I Mirror my retina enabled Apple devices such as iPhone 4 and "the new iPad". I am still seeing a 4:3 ratio output with rest of blacked out screen in Landscape mode. Forget about portrait mode!
Though, I said what I didn't like on my new Apple TV, but it doesn't mean that I will not recommend Apple TV, it is a great product otherwise and I will always recommend Apple TV especially for those who use other Apple products. It is a must to have accessory for those use iPhone and iPad.
Mac mirroring coming soon!
March 25, 2012
Not yet, mac mirroring coming soon with Mountain Lion release, probably this summer :)
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
Good choice for Apple fans, not great for others
By TheDream from Seattle, WA
Okay lets get this out of the way. If you're not a hardcore Apple fanatic with multiple Apple devices and you're looking to turn a TV into an internet connected device, then this is not for you. That is, unless you're willing to be stuck with just Netflix for streaming and a ton of pricey movies to rent/purchase from Apple. For a true internet connected television, any number of other devices are better options (Roku, Sony Media, Western Digital, or even a TiVo Box#. The Apple TV is just very limiting as it offers little else. But there are things that the AppleTV does well...
Pros:
-Well built and packaged. Apple just gets it in this regard. The device #much like an iPhone# feels well engineered and sturdy.
-Superb picture quality. The 720p Apple TV was decent, but I was stunned by the resolution of the Apple TV. Not only did Netflix look the sharpest I've ever seen, but photos were equally stunning. I was shocked at the color definition on my Panasonic Plasma TV.
-Very easy to set-up
-As usual, integration with other Apple products is great
-Very plasma TV friendly. You won't have any burn-in issues with this device.
-Home sharing works well for music/pictures/videos from your Mac/PC
Cons/Nitpicks
-As I've stated before, very limiting in streaming options unless you're willing to pay Apple a lot of money. Most of the stuff that's available to rent/purchase from Apple is available on Hulu Plus- and Hulu Plus is a ton cheaper. It's no wonder that Apple won't allow Hulu on this device
-AirPlay integration is gimmiky. I purchased this device specifically to stream music to my home theater receiver from my iPhone and was disappointed badly. First of all, AirPlay requires a second password #separate from your App store password# and your device won't remember it. You have to type it in manually every time you access an app that supports it #iPod, Spotify, Pandora, etc#. As annoying as this is, it's even worse that the AirPlay has it's own volume control- and there's no way to cede direct volume control to your receiver/TV. You have to turn the volume of airplay basically all the way up, then adjust the volume separately on your other device- which makes the music sound like garbage.
-Home sharing still won't work unless you go to your computer and open up iTunes. Seriously, DLNA can wake your computer up, and Apple can't make the computer launch iTunes automatically?
-$100 price is steep
Overall, not a bad product, but not one I can recommend to anyone but a true Apple die-hard. It's not a bad choice if you've got another device to stream other apps #an XBox or Blu-Ray player) and you want the integration with iTunes.
Airplay
April 5, 2012
" First of all, AirPlay requires a second password #separate from your App store password# and your device won't remember it. You have to type it in manually every time you access an app that supports it #iPod, Spotify, Pandora, etc#. As annoying as this is, it's even worse that the AirPlay has it's own volume control- and there's no way to cede direct volume control to your receiver/TV. You have to turn the volume of airplay basically all the way up, then adjust the volume separately on your other device- which makes the music sound like garbage."
If you are using other Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, Mac for airplay the separate password you mentioned is not applicable, not at least in my case. Am I missing anything? Not sure about "other devices" and "other apps". It sounds like you are mentioning about third party devices that support airplay. About airplay volume control and receiver volume control, of course airplay device in no way going to control your receiver or its volume. That's why most of the new receiver manufacturers came up with "apps" for smart devices to control receiver. The function you talking about (controlling receiver volume within airplay) may come in the near future, none of them exists as far as I understand, correct me if I am wrong.
+3points
4of 5voted this comment as helpful.
 
iPhone 5 features a 4" Retina display, the powerful A6 chip, an 8.0MP iSight camera with panorama, ultrafast wireless, iOS 6 and iCloud. Yet it's the thinnest, lightest iPhone ever.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Essentially the same phone as their last
By WompWompWomp from MN
I picked my phone up around midnight. I upgraded from an iphone 4. I like the phone, don't get me wrong, but the iPhone 5 is like the same thing almost. The screen is a little bigger. I am surprised the screen isn't bigger than 4 inches! Most of the modern smartphones have screens bigger than that. I am happy that there is 4g with this phone. But almost everything else is identical to my old phone. Apple needs to step up. They sued Samsung because they knew that they couldn't make a better product than them. Since I got this phone with the upgrade deal, I probably will sell it online to some other iSheep fan for a bunch of money. Samsung Galaxy S3 son... Samsung Galaxy S3!
Believe it or not Samsung Galaxy S3 is a piece ...
September 23, 2012
I had similar thought as you when I head the specs about iPhone 5. I went ahead and purchased 2 Samsung Galaxy S3s. I tried to like the phone for more than 4 days. Bigger screen is ok, but very hard to handle the phone in your palm. You need to use both hands to hold the phone securely while texting or surfing. I have relatively big palm and I could not hold the phone securely. S3 is made out of cheap materials. Despite of having 2GB ram and a Dual Core processor, the phone was freezing, losing signals etc. Believe it or not; stick with your iPhone 5 or else you will regret, JMHO. I am waiting for the unlock version of iPhone 5 to be released. I do not want to get into rip-off contracts anymore. I am happy with my StraightTalk service on AT&T Network with no restriction and unlimited data and FaceTime over 4G :)
+2points
13of 24voted this comment as helpful.
 
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Router, with breakthrough Tri-Band WiFi 5 delivers multiple bands for homes with many WiFi devices. WiFi speed up to 3.2Gbps and 6 high performance antennas provide maximum speed and range. Smart Connect allows you to game, stream, and download mega-sized files without lags.
 
Overall2 out of 52 out of 5
Not worth for the price
By Jacobs from CA
I bought this router to replace my perfectly working Asus RT-66R model. I wanted to change my router just to get bit more range in my new 2200sqft home. Prior to getting this router I have tried one of the best range extender Ampedwireless AE-20. It’s range was excellent, but connection was very much degraded and struggled to get connected at times though it was set up to clone settings from original router.
So, after reading few positive reviews on BBY and mixed reviews on amazon, I decided to give new Nighthawk R8000 a try. I am happy with its slightly improved range than Asus and very much disappointed with its 2.4Ghz performance. I have more than 15 years of network experience and I really don’t bother tech support unless until it is really out of my hand and hardware specific.
Here I am trying to do a fair comparison with two routers I have (Asus & Netgear) + sign means “better” and – signs means “poor”
Wired Connection:
+ RT-66R has excellent wired connection which works at par with Motorola SB6141’s consistency
- R8000 has fair wired connection with slight consistency issues.
Wireless 5.0 Ghz:
+ RT-66R has excellent consistent connection
+ R8000 has excellent consistent connection as well at full speed by ISP
Wireless 5.0 Ghz Second Connection:
- RT-66R Not applicable (does not come with this feature)
+ R8000 excellent connection with full speed by ISP’s
Wireless 2.4 Ghz:
+RT-66R has excellent connection with 80~Mbps out of my actual 120~Mbps ISP feed at channel 6 with 450 Mbps capability.
- R8000 is a complete failure in terms of 2.4Gh network
I have tried all available channels and found it degrade my 120~Mbps connection 1-14 ~ Mbps
At this point I called customer service and it sounded like they kind of aware of the issue. With minimal trouble shooting and changing the channels to their recommended channels (01, 06, 09 & 11), there was no improvement. So they asked me to degrade from 600Mpbs to 289Mbps and it started working.
So technically now their claim of 3200Mbps became 2911Mbps.
Access Control:
+ RT-66R has fairly good access control capabilities. You can schedule what time of the day each device can access the internet. This feature is important for me as I found it is very useful with kids on top of parental control settings.
- R8000 access control only let you allow or deny connecting a particular device. You cannot decide what time it should be able to connect. – Major drawback for me.
Parental Control:
- RT-66R has poor parental control settings, but with an option to point DNS to OpenDNS we can achieve better parental control settings with their FREE offerings.
+R8000 – also use OpenDNS but with dedicated service assigned to netgear so that you can add bypass account also which can’t be done with OpenDNS free account. This is the only additional benefit I found with this router so far compared to RT-66R.
VPN:
+ RT-66R is also able to use OpenVPN with mobile access with their free App. I was abe to access local network using iOS and Android devices with no issues.
-R8000 – did not bother to check as soon as I read that it does not support mobile devices using same OpenVPN platform.
LED Control:
- RT-66R – Not applicable (missing feature)
+R8000 – very useful feature if you have your router in bedroom or other place you don’t like lot of flashing lights. Can be accessed via web GUI and with a dedicated hard button at the rear of the router.
USB Storage and Cloud access:
+RT-66R allow you to create a personal cloud with your router with AiCloud application. I am able to enjoy my music and movies over AiCloud on the move.
- R8000 – could not find any documentation about cloud access. Only information I found is about ReadyCloud and it is dedicated to Netgear NAS only. Another major setback for an expensive router.
Web GUI:
Though Netgear has a simple interface and easy to follow GUI, it lack modern look and feeling. I like Asus GUI better.
Customer service:
+ Asus- Never had to call them. No subscription fee, 24/7 free support (as far as you are within product warranty).
- Netgear – Though I received prompt customer service when I called, it was shocking to learn that the phone support is only available for 90 days of purchase, then you have to pay PREMIUM subscription to get phone support.
CONCLUSION:
I have thoroughly tested all important feature that I need. Rest of the features are generic to me and I am not bothered much about them.
I am sure this router with Dual 5.0Ghz network will be very useful for those who have new wireless devices. For me I have a lot of devices that depends on 2.4Ghz frequency such as smoke detectors, thermostat, laptop that connects to NAS for backup etc. and degraded and unreliable 2.4Ghz network make it absolutely worthless considering the amount I spent on this router.
I am seriously thinking to take this back to the store. I don’t see any point in spending almost double amount of money to get a couple of benefits and a lot of drawbacks and pay for a premium to get their phone support if needed to an overpriced product.
I would not recommend this router at its current price and it is unable to meet its original claims and comes with a premium phone support after 90 days.
Net gear support not good as I thought
September 4, 2014
They asked me to contact them again after reading my reviews in different sites. Provided all information they asked for. After 3 days they responded me saying that some one may contact me if necessary. Imagine this level of support after their 90 days of phone support expires. I was holding off returning this product thinking that I would give them another chance if they try to resolve the issues. However after seeing their last response I have reverted back to ASUS router and life is back to normal.
-1point
8of 17voted this comment as helpful.
 
With so many devices in use, your home network is busier than ever. This Linksys router can eliminate slowdown and interference by delivering Wi-Fi signals directly to each device, so everyone can listen to music, stream movies, and shop or game online at the same time..
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Worst Wireless Router ever... period!
By Jacobs from CA
I was desperate to replace my Asus AC87R. When I placed the order online there was only one review with a single star. However, I decided to take a chance. Ordered online and picked up from a store little far away from work/home.
Hooked up and found constantly flashing Linksys logo on the top. Tried to access interface with default IP address and linksys given url. No luck! Checked available wireless network, linksys network nowhere to be found. Called tech support and explained the problem. First guy started with the templated trouble shooting and finally transferred to a specialized team handling with EA8500. They asked me to do some tricks like power recycling the device constantly 3 times between 2 flashing intervals and finally I was able to access user interface.
Everything looked fine at this point and I was already on the phone with them nearly an hour. I had to hung up the phone and decided to continue with setup in a while. After 30 minutes when I returned there was a warning on UI that I am not connected to the router. Tried to refresh, nothing happened. Again I did the same trick as by power recycling 3 times and again I was able to access UI. This time I tried to change network settings etc. In less than 3 minutes again it is disconnected even before I could complete set up like changing wireless network name / password etc.
At this point I gave up and reconnected my existing Asus router. It turned out that I have received a Dead router out of the box. Un acceptable quality control for an expensive router like this. This device is back to the store. :(
There is no pros about this router so far and plenty of Cons. UI is extremely slow. I would say slowest UI ever experienced on a router. Could not do any further test.
Linksys RMAed this unit - going back to best buy
May 25, 2015
I did work with Linksys and finally they observed that this unit has a possible faulty 2.4Ghz radio. They RMA-ed this unit. But since I am within returnable timeline with BBY I am not taking further hassle to deal with this unit. I already spent hours with Linksys to isolate the issue. I would rather raise the rating from 1 to 3 just because Linksys really wanted to get it working and they stood behind their product. To me it is not worth spending so much time to trouble shoot a device expensive like this. Going back to BBY and hunt is still on for a better AC router.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
Jacobs's Questions
 
Jacobs has not submitted any questions.
 
Jacobs's Answers
 
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR® certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
 

Is this Honeywell, Model: RTH9585WF compatible with ‘nest’ software product standards?

Stay away from RTH9585WF. Comparing nest software with Honeywell software should be a crime lol. It is just a digital thermostat with wifi connectivity with no product support.
6 years, 5 months ago
by
Jacobs
 
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
 

Will it work with xfinity home

NO
7 years, 5 months ago
by
Jacobs
 
Quickly create crisp, vivid prints with this HP LaserJet Pro 400 m451dw color printer that features print speeds up to 20 ISO ppm* for rapid performance. Built-in Wi-Fi permits flexible placement options.
 

Does the printer come with toner?

Yes it does comes with 4 (3 color and 1 black) cartridges which will yield around 1200 pages.
8 years, 5 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA
 
Quickly create crisp, vivid prints with this HP LaserJet Pro 400 m451dw color printer that features print speeds up to 20 ISO ppm* for rapid performance. Built-in Wi-Fi permits flexible placement options.
 

Does this printer - HP LaserJet Pro m451dw - have an ethernet network connection

Yes it does!
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA
 
With so many devices in use, your home network is busier than ever. This Linksys router can eliminate slowdown and interference by delivering Wi-Fi signals directly to each device, so everyone can listen to music, stream movies, and shop or game online at the same time..
 

will this work with my provider ATT Uverse

none
Yes it will, though it is recommended you turn off WiFi function on the AT&T provided router.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA
 
Quickly create crisp, vivid prints with this HP LaserJet Pro 400 m451dw color printer that features print speeds up to 20 ISO ppm* for rapid performance. Built-in Wi-Fi permits flexible placement options.
 

Does this machine copy or scan? Is it multifunction?

No, thesis not MFC, this is only for printing!
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA
 
Quickly create crisp, vivid prints with this HP LaserJet Pro 400 m451dw color printer that features print speeds up to 20 ISO ppm* for rapid performance. Built-in Wi-Fi permits flexible placement options.
 

does this printer have automatic 2 sided printing

does the laserjet 400 pro print on both sides automatically or only manually? cant find automatic double sided print settings
It is automatic, it depends on OS where you can find exactly how to enable auto duplex printing from print dialog box.
8 years, 6 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA
 
Enjoy wireless Internet access throughout your home with this Asus Extreme RT-AC87R router that features 802.11ac AiRadar universal beamforming technology and 4 detachable dual-band antennas to provide reliable coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft.
 

when being used as a media server will the second AC-2400 still act as a range extender?

Hello,

I'm contemplating getting a second one to use as a media server to consolodate the music and digital movies i've bought over the years so i can watch them throughout the house. But there are some points on one side of the house where the signal gets weak and unreliable weather i'm using the 2.4 or the 5ghz frequency so i was wondering if having the 2nd AC-2400 in media server mode would still allow it to act as a range extender or if it would have to remain close to to first router to act as the media server.
RT-AC87R can be configured in Media Bridge mode.The Media Bridge mode provides the fastest 802.11ac Wi-Fi connection for multiple media devices simultaneously.To set up the Media Bridge mode, you need two RT-AC87R: one configured as the Media station and the other as a router.Configure one RT-AC87R as a router and another RT-AC87R as an 802.11ac Media Bridge to provide a simultaneous 802.11ac Wi-Fi connection for your media devices such as computer, Smart TV, game console, DVR, or media player via Ethernet cable.Change to Media Bridge mode to provide a simultaneous 802.11ac Wi-Fi connection for your media devices.
In Media Bridge mode, only wireless devices connect to the P-AP. Client devices need to be connected to the Media Bridge with a network cable.
In Media Bridge mode, the DHCP-assigned IP address changes. Install and use the Device Discovery Utility to get the wireless router's new IP address.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Jacobs
   CA