RonH's stats
- Review count152
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- First reviewSeptember 9, 2012
- Last reviewJune 12, 2024
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- Average rating4.5
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- First answerDecember 5, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 27, 2021
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Keep an eye on your home or business day and night with Arlo Pro 3. With no wires, you can install Pro 3 in minutes and view video directly from your phone. Spot unique details with color night vision, and see more in dark areas with the integrated spotlight. The advanced lens provides superior image quality, a wider field of view, and allows you to auto track and zoom on moving objects with clarity. Receive notifications when your camera spots people, vehicles, animals, or packages, and view live video or recorded clips directly from your phone, with 3 months of included Arlo Smart.* Hear and speak to visitors clearly with two-way audio.
Customer Rating
4
See AND light the night!
on October 6, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The Arlo Pro 3 camera system is the perfect upgrade to my Pro 2. Setup couldn’t have been easier, just plug in the Smart Hub base station, load the app (which I already had), find the base then add the two cameras which were already paired to the base.
Transitioning my existing Pro 2 cameras was also just as simple, although it did require a button press on each camera to link to the new Smart Hub. The cameras are well built and feel like quality devices.
Charging the batteries with the new magnetic charging cable is much easier. Charging from the camera takes about 3.5 hours to full charge but the batteries are rated to last up to 6 months; time will tell on this.
The cameras are waterproof and can be installed anywhere, indoors or out, which brings me to my first disappointment. The kit contains one permanent mount and one magnetic mount. At this price point, I would have liked two of each as both cameras will be used for outdoor use.
The image on the Pro 3 is wider and larger than the 1080 views on the Pro 2. It’s crystal clear in bright light as well as in low light and at night. The built-in spotlight is a great feature and lights up dark areas either manually or automatically when the camera senses motion. Speaking of low light, unlike the 2’s, the Pro 3 cameras are in color, even in the dark. The field of view is also wider and there is a zoom feature. I am able to see my entire front yard, driveway, front door and most of the street with a camera mounted about 15 feet from the ground over my front door. The cameras also have duplex audio so you can speak to through it to anyone, like a delivery driver to give direction or to let an unwanted know you see them. There is also a built-in siren in each camera which differs from the Pro 2 which has a siren but it's in the base station.
The cameras detect motion and notify when they do. Using the Arlo service, you can also have them contact 911. Using the app you can define active zones to minimize false alarms. Three months of complementary service is included with the purchase, after that you need to choose one of the paid offerings or use the restricted free service. You can also add a USB drive to capture video locally which is a really nice feature.
If you don’t have your phone, you can also access your cameras via any web browser.
Only having the system set up for a couple of days, I am really pleased with it. I have one camera mounted in a location that requires a ladder to access so hopefully the rated battery life is close. I will also be getting an external charger and battery, so I don’t have to take the whole unit down and reset the view every time it needs recharged.
This is my 2nd Arlo system and I highly recommend it for anyone who is just looking for a camera only security system.
Note I only gave four stars due to the need to purchase additional mounting hardware. If you plan on using one camera outdoors and one inside, add the extra star for five.
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Smart. Portable. Powerful. The Bose portable smart speaker is a wireless home speaker, a portable Bluetooth speaker, and a voice-controlled speaker, all in one. And no matter what you listen to or where, you'll hear it all in 360 degrees of astonishing Bose sound.
Customer Rating
4
Still sounds like a Bose
on October 4, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
When I opened the Bose portable Bluetooth home smart speaker box the first thing that comes to mind is statuesque. The speaker stands upright in the box and is protected with a heavyweight cloth like wrap.
It is always my goal to do the initial setup by reading minimal to no instructions and on this speaker I failed, although, it wasn’t due to any fault of Bose. The smart speaker uses the Bose Music app rather than the Bose Connect app used for my Soundlink Revolve. Once I got that straightened out, setup was quick and easy. Connecting to Bluetooth only is just as simple.
Setting the speaker up with Alexa was fast and easy. Switching to Google seemed to take a bit longer but I believe that’s due to the way google sets up devices. The Bose app allows you to switch between voice assistants but does not retain any settings between the two. Switching is like setting up the other service from the beginning.
The feature set for both Alexa and Google is not the same as if it was an actual Echo or Google device. One of the features it does not have is the ability to make or receive phone calls from them. This is unfortunate since you cannot use the speaker as a speaker phone when connected via Bluetooth. I’ve had other devices with google that had the same issue, however, this was changed in a software update. Possibly this will change in the Bose speaker as well.
Both voice assistants worked as expected and I like that you can set music presets in the app to go directly to your favorite service and stations.
The sound as expected is all Bose, however on this speaker, unlike my revolve, you have the option to adjust treble and bass. The volume is more than adequate to fill my house with sound and the microphones for Alexa and Google work well even at high volumes. The volume control is handled by two buttons on the top of the speaker. I would have preferred it be a ring like is found on the Amazon Echo devices. Also, the light ring on the top works clockwise from the top to show the volume level. Its not bad, just confusing at first.
Battery life is rated at 12 hours at high volume and is on par to reach that. Charging is done via USB-C plug. There is an optional charging base which at this price point should be included, especially due to the Alexa and Google Assistant tie in. Having the ability to simply lift the speaker from the base to use portably and just setting it back on the base when finished would make this an outstanding device.
As far as connectivity goes, you can also directly connect the speaker to any Bluetooth device and it works with Apple Airplay as well.
The speaker is IPx4 rated so it can take splashes by the pool or beach. I’m not confident though about getting it wet with the open grill. As a portable speaker I would have liked a higher rating, at least to include being dropped in the water. I know Bose can do it since the Bose Micro Soundlink works underwater just fine.
There is also no line in on this unit, Bluetooth and wifi are the only connectivity options.
When I comes to price, I put Bose and Apple in the same cart. A little pricy but you get what you pay for.
I only gave 4 stars because I feel the charging base should have been included at this price and the app should maintain the settings when switching between voice assistants. Otherwise, if this is not important to you, add the extra star and make it 5.
If you are a fan of Bose products, this speaker is for you and I would recommend it to all my friends.
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Start your day off with a steaming hot cup of energy using this Delonghi La Specialista dual-heating espresso machine. The sensor grinding technology helps ensure the coffee dose is just the right amount. This Delonghi La Specialista dual-heating espresso machine features active temperature control to keep the water consistently hot.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The first thing you realize when you get the La Specialista is the size of the box! This machine is huge and heavy, just under 40 pounds. Never fear however, getting it out of the box will be the most difficult thing you will have to do to get excellent coffee drinks from this machine. The build is stainless steel and somewhat commercial looking. This is a quality machine that you should expect to last for years. Speaking of that, De’Longhi has a 2 year warranty which if you register the machine with them, will be extended to 3 years. Generally anything over 90 days is unheard of, let alone 3 years!
The next hurdle you will have is finding counter space for it; the La Specialista is just over 17 inches tall with the bean hopper. Once you get it placed and plugged in, place the bean hopper and fill with beans and fill the 2 liter water tank. Flip the power switch in the back of the machine next to the plug and push the power button on the front of the machine. It will do a pre-flight system check and prompt you to prime it by pushing the tea button. Once the machine is primed you’re good to go.
Making espresso is as easy as grinding, tamping and pressing a button! Once you find the right combination of grind coarsness and portafilter fill level, you simply place the filter into the grinder head and turn the handle to the right, the grinder begins and stops automatically. Next, and what I think is the BEST feature of the De’Longhi La Specialista is the tamping handle. Give it a pull and your coffee is tamped, no mess on your counter! Remove the portafilter and move it to the brewing head and push ok. That’s it. Along with the espresso selection, there is also a coffee, (a long espresso) and an americano selection, (a long espresso with added hot water). The great thing about the La Specialista is the separate heaters so when you draw an americano, there is a separate spout that tops off the hot water.
If you prefer cappuccino, frothing and steaming milk is just as simple. Pour some milk into the included frothing pitcher, select flat or foam on the steaming wand, put the pitcher under it and turn the knob.
If you prefer cappuccino, frothing and steaming milk is just as simple. Pour some milk into the included frothing pitcher, select flat or foam on the steaming wand, put the pitcher under it and turn the knob.
This is a professional grade espresso maker built for your kitchen, not a Keurig, and there is no comparison between the two. I’ve had many espresso machines, from the sub $50 range to $1200+ fully automatic models and I have to say that once I got the settings perfected, the De’Longhi La Specialista is by far the best machine I’ve ever used!
A few things to be cautious of. First, the size of the machine, at over 17 inches high, it may not fit where you want it. Second, the placement of the water tank is in the rear. You will need to have access to the rear of the machine to refill the water and will have to pull it out to accomplish this. Third, this machine uses 1450 watts of power. If it’s on the same circuit as a toaster oven or larger microwave, you may blow a fuse or circuit breaker. Fourth, this is a technical machine and does have a slight learning curve while you get the settings just right, work through it, the result is worth the practice.
At this price point, this machine is an investment and not for everyone. If you like coffee shop drinks and like the idea of making them easily in your home, this machine is for you.
My only complaint about this machine is that it did not include a knock box. At this price point, including the $30 item with the frothing pitcher would go a long way.
Yes, I would recommend this to all coffee drinking friends!
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Store, share and transport files with the lightweight Western Digital My Passport Portable Hard Drive. The SuperSpeed USB port lets you transfer large files in seconds and 256-bit AES hardware encryption helps keep your files secure. The My Passport provides enough space to store thousands of files and documents. Auto backup capability allows you to select the time and frequency of file transfers.
Customer Rating
4
Decent bulk-storage portable drive
on August 21, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The first thing you notice when you unbox the Western Digital My Passport 4TB drive is how heavy it is for such a small product. The next thing you realize is how slippery it is. The case has been changed to hide fingerprints but in doing so, it is now very slippery and difficult to hold.
The USB 3 cord shipped with the drive is about 18 inches long. If you are using the drive on a laptop on a desk or tower pc, this shouldn't be a problem, however, I found when using my laptop in real-world applications (read sitting in my recliner) and the drive is sitting on the arm, it's slid off more than a few times. The slippery fingerprint resistant surface didn’t help.
The drive itself is a 2.5 inch 5400 RPM laptop drive with a USB 3.0 interface. There is an LED status light on the drive but it is very dim and difficult to see. You can turn it off using the WD Drive Utilities once you install it from the WD Discovery application.
The WD Security provides 256-bit hardware data encryption for the drive and you don't have to have the software installed on other PC’s to input your password and access your files which is very helpful.
WD Backup does just what it says, allows you to select your files for backup and schedule when it happens, either hourly, daily or monthly. An initial backup created about 8GB of files using default settings. The initial backup took considerably longer than I expected.
Several speed tests indicate I’m getting about 23 MBs write and 29 MBs read speed, significantly less than the USB 3 standard of 5 GBs throughput.
Overall, I was not blown away with the software tools other than the encryption. The drive it self nothing to write home about but it does pack four terabytes of storage which will work just fine with my media files. A perfect drive would use USB C and have a 7200 RPM internal drive.
I would recommend this to a friend for inexpensive secure storage.
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Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
Build
The first thing you notice when you open the box is the quality of construction. The Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless headphones are well constructed as is the battery case. The buds are held in the case with magnets and the lid also has a magnetic closure with a red light to show the buds are charging. Just like your fridge, the lights on the buds go out when you close the lid. Charging is done by USB-C and a short cord is included. Since the case has NFC, I would have also liked wireless charging but sadly, it doesn’t have it. They also are not sweat/water resistant, something to consider if you plan on using these for running or the gym.
The first thing you notice when you open the box is the quality of construction. The Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless headphones are well constructed as is the battery case. The buds are held in the case with magnets and the lid also has a magnetic closure with a red light to show the buds are charging. Just like your fridge, the lights on the buds go out when you close the lid. Charging is done by USB-C and a short cord is included. Since the case has NFC, I would have also liked wireless charging but sadly, it doesn’t have it. They also are not sweat/water resistant, something to consider if you plan on using these for running or the gym.
Fit
The headphones ship with four sizes of ear buds in silicone and three sizes in triple comfort memory foam. I found the medium silicone buds which came attached, worked perfectly for me. There is also a high-friction surface on the tips which also helps keep the buds in place. I found the earbuds to be the most comfortable I have experienced so far.
The headphones ship with four sizes of ear buds in silicone and three sizes in triple comfort memory foam. I found the medium silicone buds which came attached, worked perfectly for me. There is also a high-friction surface on the tips which also helps keep the buds in place. I found the earbuds to be the most comfortable I have experienced so far.
Connection
Taking the ear buds out of the case for the first time puts them in pairing mode. They paired with my iPhone with out issue. Touching both buds for seven seconds puts them back into pairing mode to pair with other devices. NFC Pairing with my Android phone was quick and easy. The connection held steady through my entire commute, including several difficult spots which have a lot of interference that knocks the signal off most of my other Bluetooth headsets. Rather than pairing just one side and the other connecting to it, both pair directly to your device which reduces sound sync issues. I was able to watch YouTube videos and the lips matched the words I heard on all of them. The simultaneous connections also mean you can use the earbuds one at a time like old school Bluetooth telephone ear pieces.
Taking the ear buds out of the case for the first time puts them in pairing mode. They paired with my iPhone with out issue. Touching both buds for seven seconds puts them back into pairing mode to pair with other devices. NFC Pairing with my Android phone was quick and easy. The connection held steady through my entire commute, including several difficult spots which have a lot of interference that knocks the signal off most of my other Bluetooth headsets. Rather than pairing just one side and the other connecting to it, both pair directly to your device which reduces sound sync issues. I was able to watch YouTube videos and the lips matched the words I heard on all of them. The simultaneous connections also mean you can use the earbuds one at a time like old school Bluetooth telephone ear pieces.
Battery Life
Battery life on the Sony WF-1000XM3 buds can vary between 3 and 8 hours depending on codec, DSEE HX and noise cancelling settings. The case is able to charge the buds three more times and a 10-minute quick charge will get 90 minutes of additional life. I’ve not worn the buds long enough to have the battery die. Battery life for the earbuds is always available using the Sony Headphone connect app.
Battery life on the Sony WF-1000XM3 buds can vary between 3 and 8 hours depending on codec, DSEE HX and noise cancelling settings. The case is able to charge the buds three more times and a 10-minute quick charge will get 90 minutes of additional life. I’ve not worn the buds long enough to have the battery die. Battery life for the earbuds is always available using the Sony Headphone connect app.
Sound
I have to say the Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds are the best sounding buds I have. The bass is punchy and deep; the mids and highs are crisp and bright. The noise cancelling is incredible to a fault. Listening to music with the noise cancelling on, I did not hear my wife come home or the door close behind her. When using these and she’s watching television, they completely block out the tv sound. You can also use ambient sound to hear some sounds around you or the quick attention mode by pressing the left bud. This lowers the volume and transmits outside sound and conversations so you can hear it. This works much better than either of my JLabs wireless buds.
I have to say the Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds are the best sounding buds I have. The bass is punchy and deep; the mids and highs are crisp and bright. The noise cancelling is incredible to a fault. Listening to music with the noise cancelling on, I did not hear my wife come home or the door close behind her. When using these and she’s watching television, they completely block out the tv sound. You can also use ambient sound to hear some sounds around you or the quick attention mode by pressing the left bud. This lowers the volume and transmits outside sound and conversations so you can hear it. This works much better than either of my JLabs wireless buds.
Controls
The earbuds are controlled by touch sensors on each bud, indicated by a circular dot and is the best working touch sensor I’ve seen so far. The left side cycles between noise-cancelling on, ambient sound on and both off. The right bud controls the playback/pause and skip forward and back. The Sony’s do not have a volume control, you have to adjust volume on your device rather than on the headphones.
The earbuds are controlled by touch sensors on each bud, indicated by a circular dot and is the best working touch sensor I’ve seen so far. The left side cycles between noise-cancelling on, ambient sound on and both off. The right bud controls the playback/pause and skip forward and back. The Sony’s do not have a volume control, you have to adjust volume on your device rather than on the headphones.
App
The Sony Headphone Connect App is a must have with these buds. You can control everything with it, including noise cancelling, ambient sound and equalize your sound. Battery life of each bud is shown at the top. The app allows you to customize the touch controls on each bud. Setting up the app on my Android phone automatically brought up the google assistant and asked if I wanted to integrate it to the app; I did and it reconfigured the left bud controls to work the assistant. This didn’t happen on my iPhone.
The Sony Headphone Connect App is a must have with these buds. You can control everything with it, including noise cancelling, ambient sound and equalize your sound. Battery life of each bud is shown at the top. The app allows you to customize the touch controls on each bud. Setting up the app on my Android phone automatically brought up the google assistant and asked if I wanted to integrate it to the app; I did and it reconfigured the left bud controls to work the assistant. This didn’t happen on my iPhone.
Phone calls
I was a little disappointed with how the earbuds handled phone calls. The called party sounded great however, they had difficulty hearing me clearly. Maybe this will be corrected in a future update.
I was a little disappointed with how the earbuds handled phone calls. The called party sounded great however, they had difficulty hearing me clearly. Maybe this will be corrected in a future update.
Overall, the Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds are the best I’ve tried, knocking my JLabs in to second place. I feel the $229 price is fair, however, I would expect to see these on sale quickly as competition heats up. I would highly (and have) recommended these to my friends.
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View photos, watch videos and get work done on this LG gram 13.5-inch laptop. The Full HD resolution provides stunning visuals, while the IPS panel lets you see contents. This LG gram 13.5-inch laptop has an Intel Core i5 processor for powering through intensive tasks, and the 256GB SSD offers fast load times.
Customer Rating
4
The lightest laptop I've ever had
on July 16, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The LG Gram 13 touch-screen laptop is yet another contender for the smallest, lightest laptop, in an already crowded field with the likes of Dell XPS 13, Microsoft Surface and Lenovo Yoga models, many of which are 2-in-1 models. Compared to my XPS 13 2-in-1, the Gram is just about 9 oz lighter but about a half inch longer, front to back. Thickness is identical. The Dell has a more solid feel over the Gram.
At just over 2 pounds, the magnesium-alloy frame gives the laptop a solid feel.
The keyboard has a nice feel. The key size and spacing are more than adequate for my fat fingers. The keyboard is backlit, however, once windows loads, the default is off, so you need to press the function (Fn) key and F8 to turn it on and cycle though the brightness levels. The track pad works well and recognizes taps easily. It also has multi-finger gestures which can be programed to your liking.
The battery in my unit arrived uncharged and needed charged out of the box. I was disappointed when I saw the power supply has a barrel plug on it rather than USB-C. Charging the laptop via the USB-C port is also possible with PD chargers of the appropriate size. I would have rather the laptop had 2 USB-C ports and a matching charger. The laptop took approximately 3 hours to charge to a full charge. The battery is rated for 20 hours which I imagine was obtained with the unit on battery saver. I wouldn’t expect to achieve 20 hours with regular full-power usage, however, it will provide ample power to get you through the better part of a day or cross-country flight.
The 1920x1080 IPS touch-screen display is bright and clear with a wide viewing angle. This is not a 2 in 1 laptop however and the screen does not flip back to convert the laptop into tablet mode. The screen is glossy/reflective and difficult to view in bright lighting, especially if the light is behind you. Videos play smoothly at full screen and look great. While the hinge seems solid, the screen does wiggle when typing. I’m not a fan of touch screens, mostly because I don’t like to see the fingerprints. The screen does give when you touch it but it does not require enough force to actually move the hinge.
The laptop has two USB-3 ports, one on each side and one USB-C on the left side along with an HDMI port. You can attach external monitors using either HDMI or the USB-c ports. There is no RJ45 ethernet port on the laptop, but it does ship with a USB-C dongle if you need a hard wired ethernet connection.
There is a micro SD slot on the right side for downloading photos or video or using for additional storage as the built in M.2 2280 SD Hard Drive is only 256 GB.
There are two small bottom-firing speakers on the laptop that are adequate for system sounds and maybe a YouTube video but the DTS Headphone: X jack is supposed to support 11.1 surround sound on movies and games that are encoded with the technology. You can hear examples of content at https://dts.com/headphonex# There is also a DTS app where you can configure the sound. Connecting headphones via the Bluetooth 5.0 interface provides great sound however, to take advantage of the DTS, headphones must be plugged into the 3.5mm jack.
There is a fingerprint sensor located in the power switch which once set up works well. I did have a little difficulty with the setup and proper finger placement, but I have rough fingertips which may have been some of the problem. It does not appear that Windows Hello is able to use face recognition on this model as it is not an available option in the setup.
The Gram has an 8th generation I5 chip rated at 1.6 GHz with turbo boost to 3.9 GHz. I was able to use Photoshop with no problem, however, Adobe Premier struggled with a 30 second hd video. I had no trouble with any of the Microsoft Office applications, which opened quickly. Web browsers opened pages quickly and multiple tabs posed no problems.
The Gram has 8GB of high-speed ram which should be enough for everyday applications. According to the specifications there is 4 GB soldered to the main board and a 4GB module that seems to be able to be upgraded.
Overall, the LG Gram 13-inch laptop is an extremely light weight device that is more than capable of handling your day to day needs. Battery life is the best I’ve seen and if your tasks can be done in low power mode, the battery will last pretty close to the rated 20-hour mark as advertised. The LG Gram is the perfect laptop for back to school. Price wise, it comes in at the middle of the pack. If you can get it on sale, you get a really nice laptop for less than a grand.
I am disappointed they didn’t make it a 2-in-1 where the display folds completely back for tablet mode and allow pen usage.
With so much competition in the field, it is important to weigh all your needs when purchasing any computer.
I would recommend the LG Gram to my friends and family.
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Vacuum and wash surfaces at the same time with this Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate JET hard floor cleaner kit. The cordless design lets you easily reach distant areas. This Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate JET hard floor cleaner kit is rechargeable for repeated use, and the SprayClean nozzle and trigger system provides solution as needed.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
Unboxing the FloorMate the first thing you notice is the quality of the build. You have to assemble the handle which just snaps right in; it fits tight and feels solid. The flexible head feels sturdy and strong. The brush rollers (there are two to choose from, Multi-purpose and Gentile, however its difficult to tell the difference) drop in and fit with a solid click.
After charging the battery, which took over an hour, I filled up the container and set out mopping the kitchen. I love that you don’t have to sweep first. There is a white headlight and blue lights on the side that come on when you are spraying cleaner, which is difficult to see spraying from the nozzle. I had to use a fair amount of solution on the floor to get some of the stuck-on dirt picked up. I would have liked the roller brush to be a bit stiffer for this application. The FloorMate excelled at picking up the solution and left the floor almost dry, taking only another 5 minutes or so to be completely dry.
Cleaning my average size kitchen took about 10 minutes used two notches on the battery meter which puts it exactly at the advertised 20 minute run time.
Cleaning the FloorMate was simple, remove, empty and rinse the collection container, take the brush roller out, rinse and dry. There is a rinse and storage tray to hold the unit.
I’ve had previous Hoover battery operated products and have had bad luck with them so hopefully, the ONEPWR will change my mind.
Overall, the ONEPWR FloorMate Jet is a well-built cleaner that is only limited by the battery life, 20 minutes run time and about 6 months – year lifespan depending on use. I was impressed with how it picked up the cleaning solution and got the floor dry but was disappointed with the hardness of the multi-purpose brush and wonder what you would even use the softer Gentile roller for.
Although I question the usefulness of products like this, I give it a rating of four stars and would recommend it if you feel this type of product fits your lifestyle.
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Listen to music all day with the JLab JBuds Air Executive true wireless earbuds. Three EQ settings let you customize sound easily, and soft Cloud Foam eartips keep you comfortable while listening. Plus dual mics offer clear phones calls. Powerful batteries and the included charging case let these JLab JBuds Air Executive true wireless earbuds deliver up to 30 total hours of massive sound.
Customer Rating
4
Everyone should have these
on June 27, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The JBud Air Executive True Wireless In-Ear Headphones come in the signature blue box like all of JLabs products. It has the headphones, 4 sizes and types of ear cushions and the veagan leather (read pleather) battery case.
Connectivity is as simple as it can be. When you take the ear buds out of the case they will seek to pair with Bluetooth. If they are previously paired, they will to connect, otherwise they will automatically go into pairing mode to pair with a new device. Simple and easy. With Bluetooth 5, the buds stay connected to my phone and to each other. Unlike other wireless buds, I haven't experienced the separation between the buds like I have in the past. Best I've experienced.
With four choices of tips, 3 black rubber and one blue foam cushion, fit should not be a problem for most. There is also the black ring that fits around the buds for those with larger ears. This was a hindrance for me so I removed it.
The build quality is top-notch. The earbuds are solid and well built. The battery case seems sturdy however, I do question the connected charging cable. It has a snug fit which makes it seem like it stretches a bit when its seated and It is not removable should it break or wear out from use.
Controls on the JBuds are the same as the ir other wireless earbuds. Both buds have touch-sensors on them and are controlled by various short and long taps. It’s a great idea but it doesn’t always seem to be as reactive as I would like. Like others have said, there is no app to control them from, everything is done on the buds. It's time for one.
Sound: There are three equalizer settings, balanced, bass boost and my favorite, JLab Signature which has tons of bass mixed with just a hint of treble. These cycle through with three short taps on the left bud. These buds have great sound for the price. Bass is decent considering their size, mids are strong but highs seem to get muddeled at higher volumes.
Battery life: the JBud Airs are rated at 6 hours per charge with the case providing an additional 24+ hours of charge. The buds charge every time you put them back in the case, which is also how they turn on and off, just take them out and they pair and turn on, put them back, they turn off and charge.
A feature I like a lot in theory is JLab’s Be Aware audio which uses the microphones in the headphones to play external sounds. It seems to work better in these than in my air elites.
Phone calls sound clear and are in both ears. The other party said I sounded crisp and clear with little external sounds, which is due to the dual microphone setup on each earbud.
Overall, I am really impressed with the JLab Air Executive headphones and at this price point recommend everyone to get them!
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+2points
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Simplify security at your home or business with this Yale Assure satin nickel touchscreen smart lock. The touchscreen design makes interacting easy, and the option for automatic unlocking when you approach with your phone adds convenience. This Yale Assure satin nickel touchscreen smart lock employs Wi-Fi connectivity for adjusting settings remotely.
Customer Rating
5
Not your father's deadbolt!
on May 28, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The Yale Assure wi-fi deadbolt is the coolest door lock I’ve seen so far.
Installation was essentially plug and play. I had to adjust the plate on the jam due to a bad prior installation and to make the lock work properly. This was not the fault of the lock which is actually designed to work with slight variations in spacing.
The lock set includes the base touch screen lock, a wi-fi module, August Home connect module and a DoorSense sensor to determine if the door is open or closed. I installed the lock, wi-fi and home connect module, I didn’t install the door-sense module.
Once the deadbolt is installed you need to program the lock. This was very ease since the lock talks to you, even so, its good to have the brief instructions to follow along with.
After initial programming, you need to install the August app on your smart phone to setup the wi-fi module which was just as easy. It is important to go through the app once you install wi-fi as some of the defaults may not be what you are looking for, like the remote lock and unlock.
Having your front door open automatically as you arrive home is one the neatest things. You can also program entry codes for family and friends and have them expire, just like your hotel room key. When they overstay their welcome, they can’t get back in. I imagine this is also good if you are an Airbnb owner.
The August Home Connect module allows you to connect to Google and Alexa (along with a host of other services) so you can simply say “Google, lock the front door” and its done. You do have to set up a pin to have Google unlock the door however.
My only complaint about the Yale Assure deadbolt was the lack of printed instructions. Everything was done through the August app, including installation instructions for the modules.
I would recommend this lock to anyone simply for its coolness factor alone
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Enjoy your movie experience with this Sony 2.1-channel sound bar. Stream from your smartphone with the Bluetooth connection, or use the HDMI ARC to control information right from your TV. The S-Force PRO Front Surround and wireless subwoofer make this Sony 2.1-channel sound bar powerful, providing bold, dramatic sound and a cinematic experience.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
If you are looking for a Soundsystem for your theater room, this is probably not the one for you.
The Sony HT-S350 is a good-looking compact speaker bar packaged with a sub-woofer that provides thunderous bass.
Connection was quick and easy using the included optical cable. You can also use a single HDMI cable via an ARC connection or Bluetooth. There is no RCA or 3.5mm connections.
Sony uses their S-Force PRO Front Surround virtual surround technology which does not compare to an actual 5.1 surround setup.
There are 6 sound effect pre-sets (Cinema, Music, News, Standard, Sports and Game) along with an Auto setting to adjust the sound based on the content you are listening to. There is also a night mode for enhanced lower volumes and voice mode to enhance dialog. I found there to be subtle differences between the pre-sets and prefer the Sports and Cinema to be the best sounding for most of my viewing. The S350 is rated at 320 total watt output and has a decent volume range. It sounds better at higher volume levels.
The sound bar reacts quickly to the remote control however, you will need to familiarize yourself with the instruction manual as several of the controls serve double duty depending on a short quick press of the button or a longer 5-second hold. The soundbar has only 3 indicator lights which flash in code to let you know the status of presets and volume. If you connect it via HDMI to a Sony television, you are supposed to see an actual volume level on the set, otherwise, the lights give only a general indication, one, two or all three to give a range of the volume level. I would have preferred a display or several more indicators as I found only three to be cryptic and confusing. There is also five touch sensitive buttons on the soundbar for power, volume, Bluetooth and Demo mode.
As for the sound output, I didn’t find it to have a full, robust sound, most likely due to the compact size of the device. I would have liked a little more treble to match the bass from the subwoofer.
I checked the “would recommend to a friend” because the Sony HT-S350 does what it claims to do, however, I believe there are better sounding options available including very capable 5.1 systems at the same or lower price points.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
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Full-size cleaning without the cord. Full-size Bin. Full-size cleaner head. Now with full-size bin and full-size cleaner head for full-size cleaning, without the cord. ¹ Tested at the cleaner head to ASTM F558, dust-loaded.² Runtime based on consecutive use of two battery packs. Actual runtime will vary based on power mode, floor type, and/or attachments used.³In Boost mode. All other modes achieve at least 99.97% filtration.
Does this vacuum work on both carpeting and wood floors?
Yes, it works equally as well on carpet as it does on wood or tile floors
4 years, 3 months ago
by
RonH
Vacuum and wash surfaces at the same time with this Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate JET hard floor cleaner kit. The cordless design lets you easily reach distant areas. This Hoover ONEPWR FloorMate JET hard floor cleaner kit is rechargeable for repeated use, and the SprayClean nozzle and trigger system provides solution as needed.
How long does the battery last?
You should expect the battery to last about 20 minutes on a full charge.
4 years, 11 months ago
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RonH
Unlock new potential for your wireless headphones with this Airfly headphone accessory. It plugs into any conventional headphone jack to enhance your listening experience and can pair with in-flight entertainment systems for added convenience. This Airfly headphone accessory has an eight-hour battery life and recharges through USB, so it's easy to take anywhere.
Will this work with the Bose super sport wireless ear buds?
Unlock new potential for your wireless headphones with this Airfly headphone accessory. It plugs into any conventional headphone jack to enhance your listening experience and can pair with in-flight entertainment systems for added convenience. This Airfly headphone accessory has an eight-hour battery life and recharges through USB, so it's easy to take anywhere.
Does this charge air pods. Lost my charger
Unlock new potential for your wireless headphones with this Airfly headphone accessory. It plugs into any conventional headphone jack to enhance your listening experience and can pair with in-flight entertainment systems for added convenience. This Airfly headphone accessory has an eight-hour battery life and recharges through USB, so it's easy to take anywhere.
Can you plug wired headphones into this to make them wireless?
No, this is only to transmit a Bluetooth signal to Bluetooth enabled headphones and speakers
5 years, 1 month ago
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RonH
Always know what’s happening at your door with the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro. Its crystal-clear 1080p HD video and 162° field of view give you a clear shot of your property 24/7. Two-way audio lets you hear and speak to unwanted guests (and welcomed ones too) - even when you're not home. Have the SimpliSafe App? The Video Doorbell Pro will send instant alerts whenever someone approaches. And with Smart Person Detection, it can tell the difference between people, vehicles and animals. That means you only get the alerts that matter. Plus, when backed by 24/7 professional monitoring, you’ll have experts who are ready to request emergency dispatch when you need it most. This camera is designed for all weather extremes—so you're still protected in rain and snow. (Compatible with the SimpliSafe Gen 3 security system. Requires Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and existing wired doorbell setup with mechanical chime and a transformer with 8-24 VAC, 30VA max. Not compatible with digital chimes.)
Can you use this without a doorbell transformer or chime box connected? I am wondering if Google mini or Echo can work as alternative for a chime/notification since Simplisafe now integrates with Google Assistant and Alexa.
No, this is a wired doorbell button and gets its power from the doorbell transformer.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
RonH
This VIZIO 24-inch LED smart TV offers radiant and crystal-clear detail, distributing edge-lit LEDs for picture clarity. Built-in Wi-Fi and VIA Plus connectivity let you stream content via the on-screen launcher for effortless navigation. Enjoy surround sound with two built-in speakers. Save money with this energy-efficient VIZIO D-Series 24-inch LED smart TV.
does it have built in speakers
Yes, this television has built in speakers and they sound pretty good for its size.
7 years, 6 months ago
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RonH
This VIZIO 24-inch LED smart TV offers radiant and crystal-clear detail, distributing edge-lit LEDs for picture clarity. Built-in Wi-Fi and VIA Plus connectivity let you stream content via the on-screen launcher for effortless navigation. Enjoy surround sound with two built-in speakers. Save money with this energy-efficient VIZIO D-Series 24-inch LED smart TV.
Can this be used as a photo frame (digital picture frame) with slideshow feature? with continuous looping / repeating?
This set does have a USB input and will display pictures, music or video from a FAT32 formatted thumb drive.
7 years, 6 months ago
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RonH
This VIZIO 24-inch LED smart TV offers radiant and crystal-clear detail, distributing edge-lit LEDs for picture clarity. Built-in Wi-Fi and VIA Plus connectivity let you stream content via the on-screen launcher for effortless navigation. Enjoy surround sound with two built-in speakers. Save money with this energy-efficient VIZIO D-Series 24-inch LED smart TV.
are the legs/stand adjustable
No, the legs are not able to be adjusted, however, this set does provide a VESA 100x100 connection so you can purchase a monitor arm/wall mount to connect it to.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
RonH
This VIZIO 24-inch LED smart TV offers radiant and crystal-clear detail, distributing edge-lit LEDs for picture clarity. Built-in Wi-Fi and VIA Plus connectivity let you stream content via the on-screen launcher for effortless navigation. Enjoy surround sound with two built-in speakers. Save money with this energy-efficient VIZIO D-Series 24-inch LED smart TV.
Can I use my phone as a Hotspot and watch Netflix on this tv
This television uses WiFi so if your phone will provide a strong enough signal to play Netflix, this unit should as well.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
RonH