RonH's stats
- Review count159
- Helpfulness votes420
- First reviewSeptember 9, 2012
- Last reviewSeptember 24, 2024
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- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count21
- Helpfulness votes31
- First answerDecember 5, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 27, 2021
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All the Power You Expect, without the Cord. Go where ambition takes you with the Cordless Food Chopper from KitchenAid. Designed with a powerful rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery, the new cordless food chopper delivers optimal runtime and performance, so you can cook wherever*, whatever, and however you choose. Chop up to 40 onions on a full charge** *Indoor use only. **Based on onion size of 90 - 110 grams
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
As a hard-core KitchenAid lover, the Cordless 5 Cup Chopper is the first KitchenAid product that I’ve not been able to get excited about.
Out of the gate, it seems KitchenAid was only thinking about chopping onions with this machine. They rate the usage time by how many onions you can chop on a full charge. 40 if you were wondering. I guess this would be approximately 30 – 40 minutes of constant run time on a full charge.
This is listed as a 5-cup chopper which, when using solid or dry foods may be the case. The bowl will hold 4 cups of liquid before it spills over the center post but when you turn it on with this much liquid, a good portion shoots out the pour spout. 2 cups of liquid at best, any more and you have a mess to clean up. The chopper includes a blade and a whisking disk. Not sure why I would want to use the whisking disk and apparently, neither is KitchenAid, as other than listing it as included, there is no further mention of it in the instruction guide, and using it causes even more liquid to shoot out the spout.
I was able to chop onions just fine, using the pulse (your only option, there is no constant on) function to get them to a somewhat uniform size. I also tried a single tomato but it didn’t fare as well, until it was almost a puree, which would be great if you like your salsa more pureed than chunky, or if this is your intention for a tomato sauce. There is a drizzle hole in the top of the lid if you are making dressings or sauces like mayonnaise or vinaigrette, or dishes like a pesto. Also, there is a small delay when you press the button till the blade kicks in. Not a big deal once you get used to it.
The bowl and attachments are top-rack dishwasher safe. I was confused by the lid, which has a black ring that has a tab that you press to operate the chopper. I attempted to take it off to clean it to keep gunk from getting up under it when sink washing. It is clearly not intended to be taken off as there is no indication in the instructions on how to do it and I broke a small clear tab off the lid that I imagine was there to keep it locked on. This did not affect the operation of the chopper though.
This is a cordless device and the battery takes about two hours to a full charge. There is a three-color LED that shows the charging status, Green, Yellow and Red. Other than the freedom to use it anywhere (keep in mind the limited run time), or perhaps if your kitchen has limited electrical outlets, I feel the cordless option is more a gimmick than a useful feature. There is no corded option, you cannot use this while charging.
I will continue to use this for making small batches of pesto and chopping onions and peppers when making small batches of salsa, or grinding fresh bread crumbs, crackers or chips for breading items to be fried.
For the price, I don’t think I would recommend the KitchenAid cordless chopper to my family or friends.
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Keep facial hair under control with this Panasonic all-in-one cordless shaver. A rechargeable LiIon battery offers up to 50 minutes of use on a single charge, while smart shave sensor technology detects beard density to adjust power and deliver a uniform shave. This Panasonic all-in-one cordless shaver includes two snap-on comb attachments to neatly trim mustaches.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The first thing you notice when you use the Panasonic Arc3 shaver and trimmer is the sound of the motor. This is because Panasonic used something called a linear motor rather than a regular rotary motor you are probably familiar with. Intrigued, I did a little research and learned that the linear motor is more powerful and wont slow down as the battery level drops. Good choice.
I generally shave with a blade because I shave my head and face. There are times when I just want a quick face shave and don’t want to bother with the shave cream and blade so I use an electric shaver and a separate beard trimmer. I’ve used shavers from all the big brands and the first time I shaved with the Panasonic Arc3 I fell in love. This is the closest shave I’ve ever had with a shaver. The head just glides across your face, cutting everything in its path along the way. Unlike triple head rotary shavers I’ve used in the past, there was no need to constantly rub over and over the same spot to get a close shave. Not having shaved for a couple of days to see how the Arc3 would handle the longer growth, it chomped it away with out a struggle. I did hear the motor rev up a few times to handle the longer growth which helped make the shave effortless.
The Arc3 is a wet/dry foil shaver so I gave that a try as well. I lathered up with the same cream that I use with my blade and was equally as amazed at how this shaver handled it. For those with sensitive skin who need to shave wet, this shave works great and is almost as fast as a blade. Cleanup is just as easy. Pop off the shaving head and rinse the unit under running water and your done.
My most favorite feature with the Panasonic Arc3 shaver is the trimmer. Most all electric shavers have a pop-up trimmer these days but they always seem like an afterthought and in my opinion are pretty much useless. Not Panasonic. This shaver comes with two trimmer guards, each with three height selections. Snap on the guard and select the height and be amazed. This trimmer worked as well as my single trimmer and I didn’t have to change devices.
The battery is rated to last about a week on a single charge and I’ve not had to recharge it yet. Charging takes about an hour and there is a five-minute quick charge feature to get one shave in. The Arc3 does not have a corded option which means you can not use it while its charging. With the five-minute feature, this should not be an issue.
If I had to find a negative issue for this shave, it would be that it does not come with a travel pouch to hold the separate pieces. I guess that’s what the purple cloth bags when you buy whiskey are for :-)
I highly recommend the Panasonic Arc3 shaver.
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Powerful, quiet, and commercial-grade. The professional smart massage device is in a league of its own. The most powerful commercial-grade massage device with the features pros know and trust. Our top-of-the-line deep muscle treatment is more personalized than ever, thanks to our guided app experiences, which help to reduce muscle soreness, improve mobility, and increase relaxation. The Theragun PRO with continuous battery life, rotating arm, and an industry-leading 2-year warranty, is the most advanced recovery tool of choice for both professionals and everyday people.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
One word to describe this massager – Wow!
I’ve used other big-name percussive massagers in the past and they are no match for the Theragun Pro. The pro model comes with two removeable batteries that each provide up to 150 minutes each, and with my use, this is accurate. You also get six attachments including a supersoft attachment for sensitive areas, just remember to take the plastic cover off it, not just the sticker that says please remove.
The first thing you notice when you open the included carrying case is the quality of the build. The unit is made of plastic and feels solid. I was surprised at the weight of it, which after using, wasn’t a problem.
After charging the batteries, I downloaded the Therabody app and paired it to the Theragun without issue. There was a firmware update to do which took about 20 minutes and took several attempts to complete.
After charging the batteries, I downloaded the Therabody app and paired it to the Theragun without issue. There was a firmware update to do which took about 20 minutes and took several attempts to complete.
Using the Theragun couldn’t be any easier. There is an OLED display that show which of the five speeds you’ve selected and a graph that shows the pressure you are applying to your muscles. There is a longer throw for the attachments on this model which allows you to get a nice deep muscle massage, more so than some of the lesser models with shorter movements. The triangular shape provides multiple ways to hold the unit and makes it easy to reach your whole body.
For people concerned about how loud the Theragun is, this model is very quiet. You can hear the quiet hum of the motor but the mechanics driving the massage head seem to be where the bulk of the sound comes from. It sounds like a hand-held mixer on its lowest setting. To me it just sounds like relief!
I have to say my favorite part of the Theragun Pro is the app. It contains routines for just about everything that ails you. The display shows you which attachment to use, pictures that show you where the muscles are and how to move the massager over them. the bottom of the display shows a timeline and if you are applying the correct pressure. Flip through the options, find what you need and press play. The Theragun turns on and when time is up it turns off. There are routines for everything from sleep, carpal tunnel and knots to activities like stairs, walking and running. Just plug and play, It doesn’t get any easier this.
My only gripes with the Theragun Pro are the battery charger and case. There is one light on it that illuminates when you put the battery in it and it never goes off. There is no way to know when the battery is charged other than putting it in the massager and checking the level on the display. The case is very well made and great to have but unless you remove the sponge padding, there isn’t enough room to house the attachments, which also come with their own separate vinyl bag.
Speaking of charging, there is an optional Theragun dock that will charge the unit wirelessly. I can see this being handy for someone who is using this in a professional setting.
Overall I am very impresses with the Theragun Pro and highly recommend it to anyone who needs relief of muscle pain and cramps or those who are looking for an easy way to loosen muscles prior to vigorous activities.
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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.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The Dyson V11 Outsize is a stick vacuum with all the power, capacity and capability of a full-size upright.
Build quality. It's a Dyson so the build quality is top-notch and well-constructed. It feels solid and all the attachments fit smoothly, connect with a solid click and are removed with a push button. This is a premium device and it shows. This model ships with two power heads, the full-size torque head and the smaller powered stair/upholstery head. There are numerous additional attachments like the crevice tool and dusting brushes. There is also a mounting bracket that holds and charges the attached battery and two attachment. There is also a small attachment holding clip that snaps on the tube.
Operation. After charging the two batteries for 4.5 hours, using the V11 was a breeze to operate. Once you have the proper attachments, just pull the trigger and sweep. There is no lock on position for the trigger, but I didn’t find this to interfere with use.
The LCD screen shows the three speed options, Ecco, Auto and Boost. The device was set to auto and this should be all you ever need to use. Each setting tells you the remaining operating time and, in my use, each was very accurate. The torque head always runs at the same speed, however, the suction motor changes with each choice; Ecco being the lightest and Boost being the strongest.
The time range with my fresh charged battery was 77 minutes on Ecco, 48 minutes on Auto and 9 minutes on Boost. When in Auto mode, the suction motor changes based on bare floor or carpet and during my use, it adjusted quickly between each surface every time.
The torque head has a slide on the front which raises or lowers two dampers, controlling the airflow into the head. This also controls how hard the head pulls to carpet. The brush roll is designed with two types of brushes, longer black brushes designed for bare floors and tile and shorter purple, stiffer brushes designed for the pile of a carpet. My only wish would be headlights on the Torque head.
I have hard wood floors with area rugs on the main level and carpeting on the second level along with four dogs to clean up after daily.
The V11 worked effortlessly on all surfaces and I liked that it really brushed up my carpet. My only complaint is on hard surfaces with large debris there was some snowplowing. I feel the soft roller head that shipped with the V10 versions would work better in these instances. These are available and I understand they work with the V11 as well.
The dust bin is as large as was on my first Dyson and has more than enough capacity to clean my entire house before emptying. I like the single button release and rubber scraper to empty the dust bin and filter grate.
The Dyson V11 weighs about 10 pounds and it can be a little difficult to push, especially on carpet; especially if the torque head gates are not in the correct position for the surface.
Two batteries ship with the V11 and are rated to give about 60 minutes of cleaning time each. This time will only be achieved on Ecco mode on bare floors. Using Auto mode, I had more than enough charge to clean my whole house leaving about 50% charge on the 2nd battery.
The portability allows the V11 work great on stairs but it's a bit unwieldy for use in smaller places like cars. There is an optional attachment hose that I would have liked to be included but it is inexpensive and very much needed for smaller spaces.
Overall, I can say the Dyson V11 Outsize will replace my 15-year-old original yellow Dyson and I’m thankful for it. This is a premium vacuum cleaner and the cost reflects it. If it lasts as long as my previous model, it's worth every penny. Other than initial cost, there really is nothing that I can complain about for this device.
Yes, I would and have recommend this to all my friends.
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Train like a pro with this 44mm Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch. Bluetooth functionality enables syncing with your smartphone, while the internal storage lets you work out with your favorite tunes. This swimproof Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch features GPS to track your activity outdoors, and the heart monitor keeps tabs on your cardiac rate.
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The Fossil 5th generation smartwatch is a replacement for my 2014 Moto 360 model. I was excited to see the 44mm size and disappointed when I received the watch to find that there is a huge bezel around the display making my 40mm Moto face actually larger. The Fossil display is OLED vs the Moto’s LCD and it’s a lot crisper but it is smaller.
Pairing the watch to my Pixel 4 was effortless, already having the WearOS app installed, the phone recognized the Fossil as soon as I powered it on,
Unlike my Moto, the Fossil band was large enough to fit. I have large wrists and its difficult to find watches that fit without having to order extra links or new bands. The band on the Fossil is easily changeable without fighting with tweezers and the small band pins. There are sliders you simply squeeze together to remove the band.
The WearOS interface on the watch is zippy and responsive and apps loaded effortlessly, much faster than my Moto.
The Fossil is water and swim proof so you don’t have to worry about taking it off or getting it wet. Wear it continuously until the battery needs charged.
The WearOS interface on the watch is zippy and responsive and apps loaded effortlessly, much faster than my Moto.
The Fossil is water and swim proof so you don’t have to worry about taking it off or getting it wet. Wear it continuously until the battery needs charged.
There are four battery settings to allow you to extend the battery life from about a day to over 5 depending on the features you have on. Charging the watch is done by connecting the contact-based charger to the back of the watch. I would have preferred a wireless charging stand similar to the Moto. Charging the watch for an hour is said to give you up to an 80% charge with Rapid Charge and this was true for me.
The watch has its own GPS sensor so you can track activities like running and bike riding without having to have your phone connected.
There is a heart rate sensor to track your heart rate, along with a pedometer to track your steps. Both work well and integrate nicely with Google Fit.
One of my favorite features is Google Pay. The fossil has Google Pay so I don’t have to pull my phone out to make purchased where Google Pay is available.
Unlike my Moto 360, the Fossil has a speaker so you can hear alarms, alerts and make and receive phone calls. You can also get voice feedback from OK Google. The speaker is weak but will do in a pinch.
OK Google seemed to be a bit of a struggle for me, not providing audio feedback as expected and having a difficult time sending texts and making appointments.
There is 8GB of storage so you can store and play your favorite tunes directly from your watch when you are away from your phone.
Fossil provides quite a few watch face options, several of which are similar to existing Fossil watches.
Fossil provides quite a few watch face options, several of which are similar to existing Fossil watches.
I give the Fossil 5th generation smart watch four stars only because of the large bezel compared to the actual size of the watch and that it doesn’t have wireless charging. If these don’t matter to you, add the extra star for five. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to upgrade an older smart watch.
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Meet the 2nd generation Nest Mini, the smart speaker you control with your voice. Just say "Hey Google" to play songs from Spotify, YouTube Music, and more.* Music sounds bigger and richer. Ask your Google Assistant about the weather, news, or almost anything. Hear your personalized schedule, current weather conditions, and reminders.** Set timers and alarms. And control your compatible smart devices.***
Customer Rating
5
A step in the right direction
on November 2, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
The Google Nest Mini is the new version of the Google Home Mini. Placed side by side, you can not immediately tell the difference between them. When you turn them over however, the Nest Mini has a built in hook to hang on the wall versus having to purchase a separate holder for the original home mini. The other give away is the power plug, it is now a barrel plug rather than a mini-USB. Setup is the same and handled through the Google Home app.
The nest is supposed to have improved microphones to pick up your voice better. I had no problem asking Google from across the room and responses seemed to be a tad faster. The nest is supposed to have better sound as well. I created a speaker group with an original and the Nest and for what it's worth, you can tell the difference between the two. The Nest sounds a little bit richer and there is more bass, but don't expect full-bodied mind numbing sound from the device’s small speaker.
The new Nest also has a sensor that knows when your hand is near it and when playing music through the device, the volume buttons located on either side of the four lights on the top light up to show you where to touch to raise and lower the volume. Touching the top of the Nest also will pause the sound.
The Nest has an intercom feature that is supposed to work between linked devices but I was unsuccessful in getting this to happen, but I bet that's more user error than device issue.
It would be nice for it to have an integrated clock option like the Echo Dot to allow it to be better bedside device, otherwise you can set alarms and check the time simply by asking it.
The Google Nest Mini would be a perfect addition to your desk or office where listening to music or radio is done at a lower level.
I give the Nest Mini 5 stars because it does what it's supposed to do and the sound, while not earth shattering has improved over the previous model. If you are looking for full-bodied orchestral sound, the Mini is not the device to give it. For accessing your Google Assistant, listening to audio in smaller settings and making calls to others, the Google Nest Mini fits the bill just fine.
The google Nest Mini does everything I expected it to do and fits in perfectly with the rest of my Google based home and would recommend it to my friends.
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Google Pixel 4 XL is the phone made the Google Way, with a camera that takes a perfect shot every time and the new Google Assistant. It also provides Motion Sense™ technology. Google Pixel 4 XL is built around Google software you know and love that's always getting better.
Customer Rating
5
Everything a flagship phone should be, and more!
on November 2, 2019
Posted by: RonH
from Washington DC
I have been a google phone fan since before the Nexus so I was very excited to get their newest flagship, the Pixel 4 XL. I got even more excited when I got the iPhone 11 Pro Max as my work phone so this review will compare the two flagships.
In the box is the phone, charger, USB C cord and a USB C to USB B adapter which is needed to transfer data from your existing phone to the Pixel.
The device is beautiful, shiny black glass on the back and the OLED screen on the front. I recommend getting as case for it as the phone is slippery and slides easily on most surfaces. The Pixel feels lighter than the iPhone. It is a bit narrower which makes it easier to hold, especially if you have smaller hands.
Initial setup was simple and the Pixel walks you through it. Answer a few questions and select some options, then transfer your data from your old phone, which can be done from either another android or iPhone. Using a cable to transfer data requires using the included adapter. My existing phone, an Essential PH1 also USB C, but using the charging cord didn’t work for data transfer, I had to use another cord and the included adapter. The transfer went smoothly and most of my settings and data transferred fine. The phone did have to download all of my programs from the playstore again, which took several hours.
The face ID is fast and works well. It uses motion detection to begin the process as soon as your hand approaches the phone and I love that it goes right to the home screen, unlike my iPhone which requires an additional swipe after recognition. Like you may have read in other reviews and in the text at the bottom of the Face ID setup page, the phone DID unlock with my eyes closed so I’ll have to update that setting.
Size wise, the Pixel is as tall as and not quite as wide as the iPhone 11. Unlike the 11, the Pixel has a bezel on the top rather than the screen going all the way up, there is no camera bump since it's in the bezel, the actual screen size is about the same minus the camera bump. It took a minute to get used to the large bezel but i've grown to like it just as I have with previous bumps.
There is no longer the home and back buttons, these have been replaced with gestures which took a few days to get used to but after a few days I’m navigating like a champ. Adding to the navigation is Google's Motion Sense and allow you to just wave your hand over the phone to move forward and back, like changing music tracks. It worked as expected most of the time. You can see a little wave of color at the top of the screen moving in the direction of your hand so it would appear that the few times it didn't work may have been due to the app that was running rather than the hardware not sensing the motion. You can also use this feature to snooze and silence alarms rather than having to pick up the phone and fumble with finding the right buttons.
Speaking of cameras, there are two forward facing and one selfie and there are multiple modes, Camera, Portrait, Night Sight, Video, Panorama, Photo Sphere, Slow Motion, Time Lapse, Playground which lets you put emojis and other stickers in your pictures, and Lens which uses AI to recognize what's in the frame and find it on the internet for you. You can adjust the exposure and HDR on screen before you take the shot. The phone takes great pictures in every environment. I found the unedited color does not seem as saturated as my iPhone but the sharpness of your subject is a bit cleaner. Portrait mode does a great job of separating the subject from the background. Video offers 1080 at 30 or 60 fps and 4K 30 fps (enabled via settings menu). All looked good in normal light but seemed a little grainy in low light, but all very useable. One downside, Google has stopped unlimited storage of your photos unless you opt for a compressed version of them. You can till store full quality to your Google drive until you run out of storage. You can also purchase additional storage as needed.
Speaking of AI, the Pixel 4 offers live view in Google maps which overlays the directions which is really cool.
Hey Google works as expected and you can access it just by saying it or you can quickly squeeze the phone and it comes right up.
The OLED screen is crisp and clear and with 90hz refresh, scrolling is smooth as silk and phone apps are responsive and fast.
Since this is a phone, calls sound crisp and clear, volume is good both in the earpiece and via the speaker. Callers on the other end can hear you and you sound just as if you were on a wire-line phone.
One of the biggest complaints I’ve seen is the battery life. I will say my iPhone does last longer but I have been able to get through an entire day on a single charge. The phone charges quickly with the included charger and it also has wireless charging which I love. It’s charged without incident on several wireless charging pads I have and if you don't have one, I highly recommend getting one.
Long gone are the days when a phone only had numbers, a send and end buttons and you only got them from your wireless carrier at a heavily subsidized price. Now it seems you almost need to mortgage the house to afford these technological achievements. When you consider the technology and how well the OS interacts with the hardware, the Pixel 4 is definitely a winner in my book. While most people will make their phone buying choice based on their existing ecosystems, the Pixel 4 holds its own on every level and I highly recommend it to everyone!
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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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