NAMO's stats
- Review count154
- Helpfulness votes1,078
- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewJune 15, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count16
- Helpfulness votes13
- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
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Get smart about lighting with this two-pack of Wemo smart light switches. The Wemo app offers remote operation via smartphones and makes it easy to set lighting on schedules or timers. Compatible with popular virtual assistants, these Wemo smart light switches offer convenient hands-free operation without a smart hub.
Customer Rating
5
A great addtion to the WeMo line.
on September 16, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
I have been using WeMo products since their first generation of devices. With the release of each generation, the products have gotten smaller, better looking, and offer more reliable performance. This device is no different. The 3-way light switch has been sorely missing from their line-up.
INSTALLATION
This is the only remotely complicated part of the entire process. I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable DIY’er. I usually take on 99% of my own home and automobile updates and repairs. I lead with this as a qualifier as I have installed numerous 3-way switches over the years and I had absolutely no issues installing these switches. If you have ever tried installing a 3-way switch from “Big Orange” using the directions printed on the leaflet where you need the Hubble telescope to read them, you will be in for a pleasant surprise with the WeMo instructions. They are super simple and in full color. The print is actually legible and WeMo walks you through nearly any scenario you may encounter when you do the install. The only difficult part you may encounter is trying to determine which wires are the line, load, and travelers in your box, if they don’t follow the common color scheme. Should you still find yourself apprehensive or a bit intimidated, installation it is nothing a licensed electrician can’t easily handle. But, if you feel you can safely perform the install, the WeMo instructions are simple and walk you through the entire process, step-by-step. EXCELLENT!! Major kudos to WeMo for their detailed directions!
This is the only remotely complicated part of the entire process. I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable DIY’er. I usually take on 99% of my own home and automobile updates and repairs. I lead with this as a qualifier as I have installed numerous 3-way switches over the years and I had absolutely no issues installing these switches. If you have ever tried installing a 3-way switch from “Big Orange” using the directions printed on the leaflet where you need the Hubble telescope to read them, you will be in for a pleasant surprise with the WeMo instructions. They are super simple and in full color. The print is actually legible and WeMo walks you through nearly any scenario you may encounter when you do the install. The only difficult part you may encounter is trying to determine which wires are the line, load, and travelers in your box, if they don’t follow the common color scheme. Should you still find yourself apprehensive or a bit intimidated, installation it is nothing a licensed electrician can’t easily handle. But, if you feel you can safely perform the install, the WeMo instructions are simple and walk you through the entire process, step-by-step. EXCELLENT!! Major kudos to WeMo for their detailed directions!
CONFIGURATION
Initial configuration is as easy as any WeMo product. Almost identical to the WeMo products I’ve used for years. Using the WeMo app, your Android or iOS device connects to the WeMo, enter your Wi-Fi credentials and the process should go without further hiccups. Once successfully connected to your Wi-Fi network, the devices will check for firmware updates, notify you of the availability, download the update, apply the update, and restart. Smooth and simple.
Initial configuration is as easy as any WeMo product. Almost identical to the WeMo products I’ve used for years. Using the WeMo app, your Android or iOS device connects to the WeMo, enter your Wi-Fi credentials and the process should go without further hiccups. Once successfully connected to your Wi-Fi network, the devices will check for firmware updates, notify you of the availability, download the update, apply the update, and restart. Smooth and simple.
SOFTWARE
I’ve always found the WeMo software simple and easy to use. The app has evolved a great deal over the years and has remained nearly 100% bug free for me regardless of whether I’m using the Android or iOS app. WeMo consistently updates their app, squashing bugs, most of which I never experience.
I’ve always found the WeMo software simple and easy to use. The app has evolved a great deal over the years and has remained nearly 100% bug free for me regardless of whether I’m using the Android or iOS app. WeMo consistently updates their app, squashing bugs, most of which I never experience.
As an added bonus, WeMo is one of the most compatible platforms in the business today. Their products work with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Home Kit, IFTTT, and Nest. After the initial set-up and configuration of the devices, I rarely use the WeMo app. I have it linked to my Amazon Alexa account and use it 99% of the time. Alexa rarely has an issue with the WeMo devices, even my 1st generation devices still work flawlessly.
NEGATIVES
The switches are substantially larger than most existing, dumb 3-way switches. You may have trouble putting a switch into your existing electrical box if space is already tight to begin with. You cannot force the switch into the box to make it work either. One it is unsafe, two, the mounting tabs are plastic, so they will bow and potentially break if not installed correctly.
The switches are substantially larger than most existing, dumb 3-way switches. You may have trouble putting a switch into your existing electrical box if space is already tight to begin with. You cannot force the switch into the box to make it work either. One it is unsafe, two, the mounting tabs are plastic, so they will bow and potentially break if not installed correctly.
Second, WeMo switches rely upon your existing 2.4GHz WiFi to communicate and function. So, if your internet or router goes out, you will lose remote functionality of the switches (they will still work manually). While this is true with most smart devices, others like Z-Wave and Zigbee can still function without WiFi as they use a separate protocol for communication.
Lastly, this is not a necessarily a negative, but should be mentioned. These switches do require a neutral wire to function properly.
CONCLUSION
The 3-way switch is a much-needed addition to the WeMo line. Not only is it a great option for a 3-way switch, it can be converted to a single pole switch by merely capping one of the wires. Awesome!! WeMo has almost everything you need to fully automate your home: single pole switches, outlets, dimmers, and now a 3-way switch. While there are other competing technologies available, Z-wave, Zigbee, etc. (I own several of each), I always seem to come back to the WeMo line. Their products work natively off your existing Wi-Fi network, without the need for an additional hub or controller. They offer a ton of compatibility with 3rd party applications like Home Kit, Google, and Amazon. Most importantly, I find the WeMo products and app the easiest to learn and most user friendly of the smart home switches and outlets. This is especially helpful for those that may be more technically challenged. I have no problem giving this product a full 5 stars. Excellent!!
The 3-way switch is a much-needed addition to the WeMo line. Not only is it a great option for a 3-way switch, it can be converted to a single pole switch by merely capping one of the wires. Awesome!! WeMo has almost everything you need to fully automate your home: single pole switches, outlets, dimmers, and now a 3-way switch. While there are other competing technologies available, Z-wave, Zigbee, etc. (I own several of each), I always seem to come back to the WeMo line. Their products work natively off your existing Wi-Fi network, without the need for an additional hub or controller. They offer a ton of compatibility with 3rd party applications like Home Kit, Google, and Amazon. Most importantly, I find the WeMo products and app the easiest to learn and most user friendly of the smart home switches and outlets. This is especially helpful for those that may be more technically challenged. I have no problem giving this product a full 5 stars. Excellent!!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Shark - ION Robot RV761, Wi-Fi Connected, Robot Vacuum with Multi-Surface Cleaning - Black/Navy Blue
The Shark ION Robot is designed with a Tri-Brush System, combining side brushes, channel brushes, and a multi-surface brushroll to handle debris on all surfaces, corners, and edges. Use the SharkClean app or voice control with Alexa or Google Assistant to start cleaning from anywhere.
Customer Rating
3
Software is buggy. Vacuum is best on hard floors.
on September 16, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
SET-UP
Initial configuration was straightforward and relatively pain-free. Using Shark’s instructions, I chose an iOS device to initially configure my vacuum. A word of note: use SharkClean to search for the necessary app in either the Google Play store or the Apple App Store and not Shark Robot. I was surprised to find how many apps (mostly games) must be weeded through to find the correct Shark app.
Initial configuration was straightforward and relatively pain-free. Using Shark’s instructions, I chose an iOS device to initially configure my vacuum. A word of note: use SharkClean to search for the necessary app in either the Google Play store or the Apple App Store and not Shark Robot. I was surprised to find how many apps (mostly games) must be weeded through to find the correct Shark app.
The Ion Vacuum can only use Wi-Fi on the 2.4GHz band. Prior to configuring the device, you must make sure your Android or iOS device is not connected to your 5GHz Wi-Fi, if so equipped. Like I stated earlier, initial configuration wasn’t error free, but went without much fuss. The errors that I encountered were easily fixed by restarting the SharkClean app. Just when it appeared the Ion failed to configure correctly, restarting the app magically fixed all issues and reported that the vacuum was properly set-up and ready to use.
USE
I find the actual performance of the vacuum a mixed bag. The Ion does a good job at cleaning up loose debris off my hardwood floors. The long, spinning side brushes help bring anything on the floor or along a wall under the vacuum where the bottom roller can sweep it up into the .1 gallon dust cup. The Ion never failed to remove any debris from the hardwood floors that it encountered.
I find the actual performance of the vacuum a mixed bag. The Ion does a good job at cleaning up loose debris off my hardwood floors. The long, spinning side brushes help bring anything on the floor or along a wall under the vacuum where the bottom roller can sweep it up into the .1 gallon dust cup. The Ion never failed to remove any debris from the hardwood floors that it encountered.
However, its performance on carpets and rugs is quite different. I am not nearly impressed. I have a mix of surfaces in my house. Hardwood floors, tile, short nap carpet, short nap rugs, and a long nap, dare I say “shag” style rug. Once the little vacuum encounters some form of soft flooring, it really seems to be drug down. The vacuum seems to labor quite a bit when sweeping anything other than hard floors. My carpets and short nap rugs never really give any issues to my other vacuums (even cordless ones), but the Shark sounds like it’s a lot of work it to clean those surfaces. Those long, rotating brushes that work so well to sweep along the walls and in the middle of the hardwoods are next to useless on any form of soft material. The brushes are so long, that any little bit of resistance just folds them up as they spin around, making them useless on carpets and rugs. However, to be fair to Shark, the vacuum has never given an error of failed to truck right along while sweeping my carpets and rugs. It has never given up and has even managed to sweep my shag style rug. Something that my big upright can’t do.
Lastly, I am in no way a fan of the Shark mapping algorithms. I have never owned a robot vacuum before, but anticipated some form of cleaning protocol for the little Ion. If there is one, I haven’t witnessed it. The vacuum seems to just randomly truck along until it bumps into something and then spins to another direction, wash, rinse, repeat. I was expecting some form of logic or method to its cleaning regimen, but I have yet to see it. There are still areas of my 1st floor that the vacuum has not touched and other areas its been over several times.
The vacuum does come with “BotBoundry” tape to keep it confined to a smaller area. This would, without doubt, increase its cleaning effectiveness. But who really wants a bunch of black, magnetic tape stuck all around their house? While it is a solution to help contain the vacuum to a desired cleaning area, it is just not a practical or elegant solution.
SOFTWARE
This is a huge let down for me. I have found little else useful about the SharkClean app other than telling the Ion to start cleaning and return to the dock. All other functions seem useless. I have tried the different modes for the Ion (Eco, Normal, Max). There appears to be no discernible difference in performance. The vacuum doesn’t decrease or increase its suction and the vacuum runs the same amount of time, no matter what setting it is on.
SOFTWARE
This is a huge let down for me. I have found little else useful about the SharkClean app other than telling the Ion to start cleaning and return to the dock. All other functions seem useless. I have tried the different modes for the Ion (Eco, Normal, Max). There appears to be no discernible difference in performance. The vacuum doesn’t decrease or increase its suction and the vacuum runs the same amount of time, no matter what setting it is on.
Registering the product via the SharkClean app has proven impossible. Thinking it was just a glitch with the iOS app, I tried to register the product with my Android phone. Both the iOS and Android app appear to work until the very last step and both fail. I get an invalid model number error and an invalid serial number error every time. Thinking it was my inability to type, I even tried to register using the QR code on the bottom of the vacuum. It didn’t work. Furthermore, make sure you remember your password when you create your Shark account. It is an exercise in frustration to reset your credentials.
Shark claims the vacuum is compatible with voice assistants. For some reason, mine is not. I have enabled the SharkClean app in my Amazon Alexa app and linked the accounts. However, I have been unsuccessful at getting Alexa to communicate with my Ion. Alexa keeps giving me a communications error and refers me to SharkClean.com to troubleshoot. I tried that, but the results have been the same. No luck. I don’t really find this a deal breaker, as it is just icing on the cake. I can always use the SharkClean app to start and stop the Ion.
CONCLUSION
The little vacuum has picked up quite a bit of stuff off my floors. I am pleased with its performance on my hardwoods and tile. Once going, it goes about its business and doesn’t give much fuss. Even without moving chairs and barstools, the Ion has never gotten stuck or in a situation it couldn’t find its way out of. My wife thinks it is loud when I use it in the evening, but nothing a couple of clicks on the TV remote can’t solve (I don’t think it’s too loud). My cleaning cycles have ranged from 60 – 90 minutes and then the vacuum returns to the dock for recharging (Recharging from 0% takes about 3 hours).
The little vacuum has picked up quite a bit of stuff off my floors. I am pleased with its performance on my hardwoods and tile. Once going, it goes about its business and doesn’t give much fuss. Even without moving chairs and barstools, the Ion has never gotten stuck or in a situation it couldn’t find its way out of. My wife thinks it is loud when I use it in the evening, but nothing a couple of clicks on the TV remote can’t solve (I don’t think it’s too loud). My cleaning cycles have ranged from 60 – 90 minutes and then the vacuum returns to the dock for recharging (Recharging from 0% takes about 3 hours).
While I like the performance on hard surfaces, I’m not as impressed on carpets and rugs. However, as I mentioned earlier, the Ion may sound like it is laboring, but it still goes about its business without intervention. However, the cleaning area is greatly reduced on carpets and rugs. Those long brushes work great on hard surfaces, but are useless on even the shortest of carpet.
In the end, I want to really like and recommend this product. I had high hopes for it, as my other Shark vacuums have been outstanding. Both the Android and iOS apps are very buggy. The vacuum doesn’t seem to have any form of self-learning mapping logic built in. It just appears to go until it bumps into something and then spins around going in that direction until the next obstacle. As of now, this vacuum and its software seem like beta units. I am only going to give it 3 stars. However, I would give it 4 stars if Shark can get the bugs worked out of the software and the user experience.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
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Create nutrient-rich meals with this NutriBullet blender combo. The 64 oz. blending pitcher shreds tough skins, pulverizes stems and crushes seeds to deliver creamy snacks, smoothies and soups. This NutriBullet blender combo features a powerful 1200W motor that operates quietly, so you can engage in conversations while blending fruits and vegetables.
Customer Rating
5
This may be the best smoothie maker ever.
on September 3, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
This is a substantial step up from the original, smaller Nutribullet. I’ve owned the smaller one for years and it has never failed to let me down. From making smoothies to pureeing fruits and vegetables for baby food, the original Nutribullet was a versatile workhorse. Hoping this would prove to be as good, or better, than the original, I had to give it a shot. It did not disappoint. The blender features a 1200W motor base that has had absolutely no issues with any food I put in it. I’ve used anything from nuts to frozen bananas and the blender chews through them with little to no effort. While I really like the original Nutribullet, you did have to be cognizant of what and how much you put into it. This one is on a whole other level. It never seems to mind what kind of job you ask of it.
The extract function was the most often used button on the machine. It is custom tailored for smoothies. It is pre-programmed to automatically start and stop throughout its cycle to make perfectly consistent smoothies. While I am in no way a chef (I struggle with frozen pizza) this machine is tailored for folks like me, taking all the guesswork out of the equation. I never experienced any large chunks of skins or inadequately blended ingredients in any of the recipes I tried with it.
The 1200W motor is as loud as it is powerful. I wouldn’t necessarily say it is obnoxiously loud, but you are not going to watch any TV or listen to the radio when using it. The motor is so powerful that it will get away from you if you don’t give it your full attention. While blending a smoothie with frozen bananas, it grabbed one of the bananas and tried to spin itself off the counter. It chewed the banana with enough force that it pushed liquid past the seals of the single serve smoothie cup. Luckily, I was keeping an eye on it and not letting it go on “cruise control”.
Would I consider this product a good buy? Absolutely. It is the most powerful blender I’ve used and chews through food without breaking a sweat. If you liked the original Nutribullet and/or want an upgrade, I think you would hard pressed to find a better machine. Add to that the assortment of pitchers and single serve containers, makes it just that much more versatile and appealing.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven is an air fryer, convection oven, and toaster oven that packs a lot of features and cooking capacity in a small countertop footprint. Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Bagel, Toast, Dehydrate, and Keep Warm—all in one powerful, stainless-steel 1800-watt appliance—and create full family-sized meals in as little as 20 minutes. When you're done cooking, reclaim your counter space by simply flipping the oven up and away to clean and store.
Customer Rating
5
A Very Convenient Alternative to Many Appliances
on September 3, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
I will fully admit that I am culinarily challenged and find most things other than a frozen pizza or homemade spaghetti, a difficult endeavor. After working a 10 hour day in the 100+ degree heat, it is a great feeling to come home to air conditioning. But, after a long day, who really feels like cooking, let alone having to heat up the oven, wait, bake, and then eat? Not to mention, the oven is a huge energy hog and heats up the house that much more. We had tossed around the idea of getting an air fryer for some time, but didn’t know if it would be of any real benefit, let alone be a wise purchase for someone that isn’t very good at cooking to begin with. After using the Ninja Air Fryer a few times, I wish we had gotten one sooner.
This Air Fryer is quite large, much like a convection oven, so it does occupy a considerable amount of counter space. It will hold a full-size 13” frozen pizza. To help with the space concerns, Ninja provides the ability to rotate the fryer on its back for storage when not in use, preserving precious counter space. Super convenient. The controls are simple, with minimal options and selections (that is a good thing, not a negative). A couple of button pushes and the turning of a knob to set the cooking method, time, and temp is all it takes. Did I mention earlier about how I hate to turn on the oven and wait for it to preheat after a long day? That isn’t an issue with the Ninja. This thing heats up nearly instantly. Wanting some cookies, I set the temperature to 350 degrees and the desired cook time to the recommendations printed on the box. By the time I was able to remove 12 pre-made, frozen cookies from the package to baking sheet, the Ninja had beeped it was up to temperature and had begun the timer countdown. It heats up so fast, it catches you off guard. As soon as it reaches your preset temperature, it begins the countdown, you need to be ready when it is.
Included with the unit are some basic, simple to follow recipes. After experimenting with a few recipes supplied by Ninja and some gathered from the internet, I can conclude that even for unskilled people like myself, the Ninja is easy to use and has turned out consistent and quality meals. Food prepared per the instructions is cooked just right and very quickly. The ability to bake, air fry, air crisp, dehydrate, keep warm, toast, etc in one appliance is great. I am very impressed with the unit.
As always, things are never 100 percent perfect. This unit is quite large and takes up a good deal of counter space, even when folded up. In addition, it gets quite hot. You can’t touch the unit while it is in use. I was quite shocked at how hot the outside of it gets. Lastly, are the digital controls. When the timer completes, the display shows hot and turns off the cooking. The unit will continue to show hot while it turns on a fan to cool itself down. However, instead of cooling itself down and powering off, it shows flip on the display, as in time to flip the food over. You must manually turn the unit off when done cooking. I would like to see some additional logic that turns the unit off completely after completed cooking and its cool down cycle.
I think this appliance is a great alternative to many common kitchen appliances. It is healthier than frying food in grease or oil and who doesn’t want a healthier option? The controls are simple and straight forward. Honestly, the most difficult part of using the Ninja is figuring out what sheet or rack to put the food on for how you want it prepared. Everything we have cooked in it so far, has turned out excellent. I can see why air fryers have become so popular. In my opinion, this is appliance offers a lot of versatility and is a very good investment.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+19points
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Boost your home theater's audio capabilities with this Definitive Technology Studio Advance sound bar system. The 5.1 channel system offers virtual surround sound and supports 4K and HDR content for your enjoyment. This Definitive Technology Studio Advance sound bar system has Chromecast built in to let you stream music wirelessly and control the speakers with Google Assistant voice commands.
Customer Rating
5
Another high-quality product from Definitive
on August 13, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
SET-UP
Set-up proved to be a bit of a challenge. Unlike prior Definitive products, this example is configured via the Google Home app. At first, I was glad to see that they have moved away from the old-style Definitive Studio app, that didn’t work all that great. But, in actual practice, Google Home didn’t work any better for set-up. I was unable to get the speaker configured properly using the Google Home app and an iPad. I got continuous communication errors. The soundbar would not configure itself properly and communicate with my wi-fi. Luckily, I have an Android phone and the process worked without issue. The Google Home app found, connected, and properly configured my soundbar and it’s wi-fi settings. The wireless sub paired with absolutely no intervention. Once the soundbar was properly configured with my Android phone, I plugged the subwoofer in and it was instantly paired to the soundbar. Very slick. Unfortunately, there was no firmware update available, nor was there an app update available for the iPad, so your luck getting it set-up may be hit or miss.
Set-up proved to be a bit of a challenge. Unlike prior Definitive products, this example is configured via the Google Home app. At first, I was glad to see that they have moved away from the old-style Definitive Studio app, that didn’t work all that great. But, in actual practice, Google Home didn’t work any better for set-up. I was unable to get the speaker configured properly using the Google Home app and an iPad. I got continuous communication errors. The soundbar would not configure itself properly and communicate with my wi-fi. Luckily, I have an Android phone and the process worked without issue. The Google Home app found, connected, and properly configured my soundbar and it’s wi-fi settings. The wireless sub paired with absolutely no intervention. Once the soundbar was properly configured with my Android phone, I plugged the subwoofer in and it was instantly paired to the soundbar. Very slick. Unfortunately, there was no firmware update available, nor was there an app update available for the iPad, so your luck getting it set-up may be hit or miss.
I connected the soundbar to my TV via the TV ARC HDMI port. My DirecTV was plugged into HDMI 1 on the soundbar. Once configured, my Vizio TV identified that it was connected to a soundbar and established an ARC connection. For those not familiar, the ARC is an Audio Return Channel that allows a TV’s audio to be passed through to the soundbar without the need for additional cables or connections. I have never had much luck getting the ARC connection to work with any form of TV or soundbar combination, but in this implementation, it is working flawlessly. AWESOME!! No more need for an extra SPIDF cable for audio. Not only is my DirecTV audio piped to the soundbar, so is the audio from any of the Vizio’s apps, including: Netflix, Prime, YouTube, etc. No need to switch inputs, no need to make any changes, audio is transferred smoothly and effortlessly.
USE
The soundbar contains 9 separate drivers consisting of 6 mid bass drivers and 3 tweeters with dedicated amps to reproduce 5.1 surround sound. The subwoofer is an 8 inch, self-powered unit that is rated at 50W RMS and 100W Peak. True to the Definitive heritage, the soundbar/subwoofer combines to make any movie or TV program more enjoyable. There is no more straining to understand what is being said on the screen because your TV’s speakers barely emit any sound. Dialog is exceptionally clear and bass is fairly tight and controlled being this is a lower powered, ported style subwoofer. The soundbar and subwoofer will definitely increase your enjoyment of any program material you choose to watch through it. The 3 aluminum dome tweeters produce clear, crisp high frequency details, while the 6 mid bass drivers deliver equally impressive dialog and lower frequency sounds.
The soundbar contains 9 separate drivers consisting of 6 mid bass drivers and 3 tweeters with dedicated amps to reproduce 5.1 surround sound. The subwoofer is an 8 inch, self-powered unit that is rated at 50W RMS and 100W Peak. True to the Definitive heritage, the soundbar/subwoofer combines to make any movie or TV program more enjoyable. There is no more straining to understand what is being said on the screen because your TV’s speakers barely emit any sound. Dialog is exceptionally clear and bass is fairly tight and controlled being this is a lower powered, ported style subwoofer. The soundbar and subwoofer will definitely increase your enjoyment of any program material you choose to watch through it. The 3 aluminum dome tweeters produce clear, crisp high frequency details, while the 6 mid bass drivers deliver equally impressive dialog and lower frequency sounds.
CONS
While this isn’t necessarily a con, I feel it must be mentioned. I don’t think this is the set-up for a full, dedicated home theater. This soundbar does not offer the same level of performance as Definitive’s own SuperCube Subs or the SuperTower speakers. But, to be fair, it isn’t really meant to. It is meant to give you the most of TV shows and movies. The soundbar won’t overpower your room and the sub won’t rattle your walls and shake the plates in kitchen. If you are wanting that level of performance, you need to look at other options. This product is something that is meant to be nearly invisible, with its sub tucked away and just make the best of the source material.
While this isn’t necessarily a con, I feel it must be mentioned. I don’t think this is the set-up for a full, dedicated home theater. This soundbar does not offer the same level of performance as Definitive’s own SuperCube Subs or the SuperTower speakers. But, to be fair, it isn’t really meant to. It is meant to give you the most of TV shows and movies. The soundbar won’t overpower your room and the sub won’t rattle your walls and shake the plates in kitchen. If you are wanting that level of performance, you need to look at other options. This product is something that is meant to be nearly invisible, with its sub tucked away and just make the best of the source material.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This product serves as a great addition to my family room TV. It has made movies and TV shows much more enjoyable compared to just TV speakers. Would it be my primary product if I had a dedicated home theater? Probably not. You just can’t beat the sound and power having separate speakers and a receiver. On the downside, separates would cost substantially more money and be much more complex to configure and install. If you don’t have the space or need for a dedicated theater, this would provide a great option. The mids and highs are smooth and detailed and the sub adds just enough punch without being overpowering. The ability to stream to the soundbar with Chromecast and Bluetooth, along with the ability to control it via the Google Assistant is just that much better. If I had the original Definitive W Studio, I wouldn’t upgrade. The products are too similar to each other to justify the upgrade. So similar, the soundbar is the same size and has the exact same mounting holes as the original W Studio. The extra processing of the 5.1 of the Studio Advance is nearly unnoticeable to me (I own the predecessor to this product, the original W Studio).
This product serves as a great addition to my family room TV. It has made movies and TV shows much more enjoyable compared to just TV speakers. Would it be my primary product if I had a dedicated home theater? Probably not. You just can’t beat the sound and power having separate speakers and a receiver. On the downside, separates would cost substantially more money and be much more complex to configure and install. If you don’t have the space or need for a dedicated theater, this would provide a great option. The mids and highs are smooth and detailed and the sub adds just enough punch without being overpowering. The ability to stream to the soundbar with Chromecast and Bluetooth, along with the ability to control it via the Google Assistant is just that much better. If I had the original Definitive W Studio, I wouldn’t upgrade. The products are too similar to each other to justify the upgrade. So similar, the soundbar is the same size and has the exact same mounting holes as the original W Studio. The extra processing of the 5.1 of the Studio Advance is nearly unnoticeable to me (I own the predecessor to this product, the original W Studio).
If you want to improve your overall TV viewing experience and want a high quality, great sounding product, this one should definitely be on your short list of options. I have listened to dozens of soundbars and subwoofer combinations and the Definitive products continue to be my go-to. I feel they sound better than any of their competitors for the price.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Stay active while listening to the crisp sound of these JLab EpicAir wireless sports earbuds. The rechargeable LiIon battery provides hours of listening time, while the ear hook design offers a secure fit. These JLab EpicAir wireless sports earbuds are sweat-resistant and water-resistant and have different-sized eartips, which can be swapped out for comfort.
Customer Rating
2
Mediocre performance, at best.
on August 4, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
POSITIVES - The product is easy to pair to both Android and iOS devices. The controls for the ear buds are built into the bud itself. They respond to touches on the logo for various functions. Phone calls are clear and callers stated they have had no issues hearing or understanding me. In a typical office environment, even my soft talking was picked up and understood. A definite plus. Unfortunately, it has been extremely hot and dry, with calm days. I have not been able to test them in windy conditions.
I really like the case and charging. The case contains a battery and is used to recharge the ear buds. The case is charged via a normal USB connection (Type A). There are 4 white LED’s on the front of the case indicating the current state of charge for the internal battery. The headphones rest in the case and are held in magnetically. Once the ear buds are inserted and the lid is closed, they are automatically turned off and charged. Once charged and removed from the case, the ear buds turn on and connect to the last device they were paired with. Very slick! JLabs claims roughly 10 hours of battery life before needing recharged, and that seems close to spot on.
NEGATIVES – These ear buds produce little to no bass. While normal vocals are fairly clear, these buds do not excel at music reproduction. You will not get any additional bass from the built-in EQ curves either. If this is your thing, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
However, my number one, biggest complaint with these is the Bluetooth lag. I have a set of JLab JBuds Bands headphones that cost significantly less, and I don’t experience anywhere near the amount of audio delay I do with these. I have tried all forms of different apps and source materials to see if the audio lag is related only to one device and/or app. I must report that it is not. Regardless of app or streaming service, the lag is present and undeniable. It is bad enough, that I do not use these for and type of video playback. Of course, should you stick solely to audio, this would be a non-issue. But, in my mixed use that includes video, I find the delay a distraction.
FINAL THOUGHTS – In my opinion, these are mediocre headphones. They are adequate for listening to the news, podcasts, and conducting phone calls. They fit reasonably well, are sweat resistant, and JLab includes a number of different tips to help achieve a comfortable, secure fit to your ear. I thought the charging case was very well executed, as is the software for the buds. The auto shut-off and auto reconnect feature never failed on my Android or iOS devices. However, I expected more for headphones that cost this much. Honestly, my JLab JBuds Bands headphones, while not fully wireless, give nearly identical performance for far less. Add to that an irritating amount of audio delay and I cannot recommend this product.
FINAL THOUGHTS – In my opinion, these are mediocre headphones. They are adequate for listening to the news, podcasts, and conducting phone calls. They fit reasonably well, are sweat resistant, and JLab includes a number of different tips to help achieve a comfortable, secure fit to your ear. I thought the charging case was very well executed, as is the software for the buds. The auto shut-off and auto reconnect feature never failed on my Android or iOS devices. However, I expected more for headphones that cost this much. Honestly, my JLab JBuds Bands headphones, while not fully wireless, give nearly identical performance for far less. Add to that an irritating amount of audio delay and I cannot recommend this product.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Watch movies or the big game with this VIZIO HDR smart TV. The screen measures 74.5 inches diagonally so everyone in the room can view content clearly. With Apple AirPlay and HomeKit compatibility, you can use Siri to send photos and videos from your devices. This VIZIO HDR smart TV features 4K resolution for vivid images and sharp details, while the 240ms refresh rate allows for high frame rates.
Customer Rating
4
A good TV with only one sweet spot
on August 2, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
Quantum Dot 4k LED Display
Compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR, and HLG Content
Up to 2700 nits brightness
Full backlit display with 480 local dimming zones
Airplay 2 and Chromecast compatible
Google and Alexa voice control compatible
This isn’t an all-encompassing list, just some of the highlights.
Quantum Dot 4k LED Display
Compatible with Dolby Vision, HDR, and HLG Content
Up to 2700 nits brightness
Full backlit display with 480 local dimming zones
Airplay 2 and Chromecast compatible
Google and Alexa voice control compatible
This isn’t an all-encompassing list, just some of the highlights.
SET-UP
This is one of those products whose packaging is impressive and very well thought out. There was no wrestling to get it out of the box. Inside the box, the TV comes in a large plastic bag with 2 grab handles built in. I will admit that I was very hesitant lifting a TV that heavy by the grab handles in a plastic bag, but it worked without any drama. While the plastic seemed to stretch an uncomfortable amount, it didn’t fail. A huge plus is that the screen comes with a padded cardboard cover affixed to it and really protected it from damage. I was able to lay the TV down without worry of damage to the screen.
This is one of those products whose packaging is impressive and very well thought out. There was no wrestling to get it out of the box. Inside the box, the TV comes in a large plastic bag with 2 grab handles built in. I will admit that I was very hesitant lifting a TV that heavy by the grab handles in a plastic bag, but it worked without any drama. While the plastic seemed to stretch an uncomfortable amount, it didn’t fail. A huge plus is that the screen comes with a padded cardboard cover affixed to it and really protected it from damage. I was able to lay the TV down without worry of damage to the screen.
Initial set-up was very quick and completely pain free. Upon power up, the TV walks you through all the steps necessary for setting it up and getting it working. It took me approximately 5 minutes after plugging it in to watching content. That included downloading and installing a firmware update.
PERFORMANCE
This TV is a very strong performer and gives the big names a run for their money. Out of the box color and picture were not all that great. But, lowering the sharpness below 10 and using the Calibrated picture mode really cleaned things up. In my opinion, close enough to reference that most people could use these settings and be perfectly happy. However, if you are a perfectionist, Vizio includes a wide range of adjustments that allow you to get the color fine tuned to near reference levels. Vizio’s panel and color tracking were very accurate. I am in no way a professional, but I do appreciate a well calibrated, accurate display and own a colorimeter to calibrate my TV’s. As you can see from the photos, I was able to get the error rates of all grayscale measurements down to imperceptible levels. Outstanding! This is the only TV, other than my LG OLED, that I have been able to achieve a picture this accurate.
This TV is a very strong performer and gives the big names a run for their money. Out of the box color and picture were not all that great. But, lowering the sharpness below 10 and using the Calibrated picture mode really cleaned things up. In my opinion, close enough to reference that most people could use these settings and be perfectly happy. However, if you are a perfectionist, Vizio includes a wide range of adjustments that allow you to get the color fine tuned to near reference levels. Vizio’s panel and color tracking were very accurate. I am in no way a professional, but I do appreciate a well calibrated, accurate display and own a colorimeter to calibrate my TV’s. As you can see from the photos, I was able to get the error rates of all grayscale measurements down to imperceptible levels. Outstanding! This is the only TV, other than my LG OLED, that I have been able to achieve a picture this accurate.
Audio performance was also a welcome change. I use this TV with the included chrome, metal stands. You can actually hear and understand this TV without a soundbar. While I really disliked the Surround processing (it seemed to make the scenes way too loud), turning the surround off cleared up the dialog.
NEGATIVES
The major drawback I have with this TV is the poor viewing angle. If you really want to enjoy that perfectly calibrated picture in all its glory, the only way to experience it is right in front of the set. If you sit just slightly off axis, the picture quality rapidly deteriorates. I have included a picture with a dark screen to show the effect. If this set is for one person or a couple that sits right next to each other, great. If not, you most likely will not enjoy the experience in any other seating position other than straight ahead.
The major drawback I have with this TV is the poor viewing angle. If you really want to enjoy that perfectly calibrated picture in all its glory, the only way to experience it is right in front of the set. If you sit just slightly off axis, the picture quality rapidly deteriorates. I have included a picture with a dark screen to show the effect. If this set is for one person or a couple that sits right next to each other, great. If not, you most likely will not enjoy the experience in any other seating position other than straight ahead.
The second drawback is the lack of Dolby Atmos support. While this isn’t a total loss, at this price point, I feel the TV should be able decode Dolby Atmos encoded soundtracks. Other manufacturer’s TVs will decode Atmos soundtracks, but Vizio seems to reserve this exclusively for their soundbars.
My third issue is the performance of the Wi-Fi. 5GHz performance on this TV is very poor. This TV is only about 30ft away from my router and I am only able to get about 4Mb/s down, at best. Switching to 2.4GHz improves things substantially, raising throughput to 35Mb/s. This is not a function of 2.4 having better coverage than 5. I placed my laptop next to the TV and downloaded a file on the 5GHz band. My laptop was averaging 30MB/s. That is not a typo. I then used the Netflix tool to test speeds. Netflix speed tests also confirmed the speed discrepancy, averaging 80+Mb/s for the laptop and about 3Mb/s for the TV. That is a substantial difference in 5GHz performance. Using the ethernet connection is highly recommended and would eliminate these potential issues.
CONCLUSION
Do I like this TV? Yes, if I am sitting directly in front of it. The picture can be outstanding. The quantum dot technology makes the picture very bright and vivid. Colors really pop and whites can be so bright, they are almost uncomfortable. Out of the box calibrated modes are close to spot on and any discrepancies in the color accuracy can be easily fine tuned with the well designed Vizio software and a good colorimeter. The audio is equally impressive. This is one of the few flat panels I’ve had that can be heard and understood. The Vizio software is decent and easy to learn. The Smart TV functions are easily accessed with little to no lag. However, that viewing angle is VERY poor. You really need to sit directly in front of the TV to get the best experience. If you sit anywhere slightly off center, the image deteriorates rapidly.
Do I like this TV? Yes, if I am sitting directly in front of it. The picture can be outstanding. The quantum dot technology makes the picture very bright and vivid. Colors really pop and whites can be so bright, they are almost uncomfortable. Out of the box calibrated modes are close to spot on and any discrepancies in the color accuracy can be easily fine tuned with the well designed Vizio software and a good colorimeter. The audio is equally impressive. This is one of the few flat panels I’ve had that can be heard and understood. The Vizio software is decent and easy to learn. The Smart TV functions are easily accessed with little to no lag. However, that viewing angle is VERY poor. You really need to sit directly in front of the TV to get the best experience. If you sit anywhere slightly off center, the image deteriorates rapidly.
So, it all boils down to one question: Would I purchase this TV or a slightly smaller, similarly priced OLED TV? Unfortunately, I would say: OLED. If you are interested in a super bright, vivid image, shear viewing size and sit directly in front of this TV, you will be extremely happy with this television. It is very nice and has a ton to offer. But, if you truly want the ultimate in black level performance, the best viewing angles, and the most accurate image reproduction, OLED is superior. However, should Vizio be able to improve the off-center viewing performance of this TV, then that could be another story entirely …
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Logitech G703 LIGHTSPEED Gaming Mouse meets the next-gen HERO 25K sensor. Go pro with precise gameplay at 25,600 max DPI and zero smoothing, plus enhanced wireless performance. 10X the battery efficiency of previous generation sensors means up to 35 hours of gameplay with LIGHTSYNC RGB enabled. A comfortable design meets advanced button technology for supreme comfort and crisp, clean clicks. G703 LIGHTSPEED lets you play like the pros — and play to win.
Customer Rating
5
This is a high quality, very accurate mouse.
on July 27, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
SET-UP
Set-up was very simple. After plugging in the small USB receiver, Windows takes control and installs drivers for basic functionality. Initially, I was very disappointed with the performance of the mouse. The default Windows drivers and mouse options offered very inferior performance compared to my go-to Logitech MX1100. Finding a quick and simple place to download the Logitech software from the website proved very frustrating. However, once I went back to the directions (who would have thought to read those??), I found the proper URL for the necessary GHUB software. After installation, things were immediately different and the mouse had a whole new personality. The GHUB software is mandatory to get the most and best experiences from the mouse. It allows you to fully customize the interactions from lighting to resolution, assigned buttons, macros, report rates etc.
Set-up was very simple. After plugging in the small USB receiver, Windows takes control and installs drivers for basic functionality. Initially, I was very disappointed with the performance of the mouse. The default Windows drivers and mouse options offered very inferior performance compared to my go-to Logitech MX1100. Finding a quick and simple place to download the Logitech software from the website proved very frustrating. However, once I went back to the directions (who would have thought to read those??), I found the proper URL for the necessary GHUB software. After installation, things were immediately different and the mouse had a whole new personality. The GHUB software is mandatory to get the most and best experiences from the mouse. It allows you to fully customize the interactions from lighting to resolution, assigned buttons, macros, report rates etc.
USE
Once the GHUB software was configured to my tastes, this mouse has been very enjoyable to use. The mouse has a premium feel. The optional 10g weight was much needed and a welcome addition. Button clicks are smooth with just the right feel and resistance. The scroll wheel has the perfect amount of resistance and is smooth and consistent. It is obvious that Logitech spent a great deal of time and effort in the design, ergonomics, and functionality.
Once the GHUB software was configured to my tastes, this mouse has been very enjoyable to use. The mouse has a premium feel. The optional 10g weight was much needed and a welcome addition. Button clicks are smooth with just the right feel and resistance. The scroll wheel has the perfect amount of resistance and is smooth and consistent. It is obvious that Logitech spent a great deal of time and effort in the design, ergonomics, and functionality.
The mouse is nearly infinitely customizable. The buttons, scroll wheel, lighting effects, resolution, report rate can all be changed and tailored to support your needs and wants. The GHUB software makes programming the different options simple and straightforward. While I don’t find the software instantly intuitive, it is easy to learn and offers many options for the user. I really appreciate how changes the user makes to the mouse instantly reflects in the GHUB software. For example, I had the report rate set at the default of 1000x/second. After and extended gaming session, the mouse was draining the battery fairly rapidly. I switched to 125x/second and the software immediately re-estimated my remaining battery life and current draw. Very slick.
CONS
While I am still getting used to the new size of the mouse, I do really miss the size and heft of my MX1100. I have been using that mouse for years and am really accustomed to the weight and feel and am sure it will be the same with the mouse as I continue to use it.
The GHUB software is good, but it is a weird experience too. The software has to load in order to get the mouse configured correctly. Until it fully loads into memory, the mouse uses the basic Windows drivers and is not very responsive or user friendly. Granted this is only for the first few seconds after Windows boots, but the switch from the basic Windows drivers to the GHUB software is abrupt and I constantly lose the mouse pointer. If I had more patience, this wouldn’t be an issue, but I don’t have a great deal of patience. The same scenario occurs when the mouse goes to sleep too. It conveniently dims the lights after 1 minute of inactivity and goes to sleep after 5 minutes. Upon wake up, there is an awkward transition from Windows drivers to GHUB. To be fair, this can be reduced or eliminated by changing the sleep times in the GHUB software. But, this would also affect battery life.
While I am still getting used to the new size of the mouse, I do really miss the size and heft of my MX1100. I have been using that mouse for years and am really accustomed to the weight and feel and am sure it will be the same with the mouse as I continue to use it.
The GHUB software is good, but it is a weird experience too. The software has to load in order to get the mouse configured correctly. Until it fully loads into memory, the mouse uses the basic Windows drivers and is not very responsive or user friendly. Granted this is only for the first few seconds after Windows boots, but the switch from the basic Windows drivers to the GHUB software is abrupt and I constantly lose the mouse pointer. If I had more patience, this wouldn’t be an issue, but I don’t have a great deal of patience. The same scenario occurs when the mouse goes to sleep too. It conveniently dims the lights after 1 minute of inactivity and goes to sleep after 5 minutes. Upon wake up, there is an awkward transition from Windows drivers to GHUB. To be fair, this can be reduced or eliminated by changing the sleep times in the GHUB software. But, this would also affect battery life.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really like this product. Even with my impatience regarding the software, it doesn’t diminish my opinion of the product. The mouse has an excellent, premium feel. In addition to the wireless features, it includes a charging/direct wire cable, should it be needed. Dimming the lighting to 80% and slowing the report rate to 125x/second gives me about 50 hours of battery life per charge. Having the option of using the included hardwired cable or the optional wireless charging pad are great features. I have found this mouse not only works great for gaming, but is also super precise and a great fit for photo editing. It is far more accurate than my MX1100. Highly recommended.
I really like this product. Even with my impatience regarding the software, it doesn’t diminish my opinion of the product. The mouse has an excellent, premium feel. In addition to the wireless features, it includes a charging/direct wire cable, should it be needed. Dimming the lighting to 80% and slowing the report rate to 125x/second gives me about 50 hours of battery life per charge. Having the option of using the included hardwired cable or the optional wireless charging pad are great features. I have found this mouse not only works great for gaming, but is also super precise and a great fit for photo editing. It is far more accurate than my MX1100. Highly recommended.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Record your experiences on the road with this Nextbase dash cam. A wide-angle lens captures every detail, ensuring you are covered at all times, and the 2.5-inch LCD screen allows for comfortable viewing when reviewing videos. This Nextbase dash cam connects with smart devices via Wi-Fi and and Bluetooth 4.2, letting you review video footage on your device.
Customer Rating
5
Good Dashcam with Tons of Features
on June 27, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
FEATURES
1080p recording at 60fps
Emergency SOS feature
GPS
Ability to connect to your insurance provider or loved one.
Ability to add a rear-view camera.
Amazon Alexa support
This is not a full feature list, just highlights.
1080p recording at 60fps
Emergency SOS feature
GPS
Ability to connect to your insurance provider or loved one.
Ability to add a rear-view camera.
Amazon Alexa support
This is not a full feature list, just highlights.
SET-UP
The camera can be configured via the MyNextbase Connect app that is available in the iOS or Google Play store or by its 2.5” touchscreen. Either option allows you to adjust the many parameters of the camera: resolution, GPS functionality, speed tracking, audio recording, SOS notifications, etc. Initial set-up went fairly smooth, even though there were some bugs. I used an Android phone to configure the camera and had very little difficulty. Once installed, the app immediately recognized the camera, established a connection, and downloaded the latest firmware. Though I got errors saying my phone couldn’t establish a wi-fi connection to the camera, everything went without issue. After a successful firmware update, I never received any additional errors.
The camera can be configured via the MyNextbase Connect app that is available in the iOS or Google Play store or by its 2.5” touchscreen. Either option allows you to adjust the many parameters of the camera: resolution, GPS functionality, speed tracking, audio recording, SOS notifications, etc. Initial set-up went fairly smooth, even though there were some bugs. I used an Android phone to configure the camera and had very little difficulty. Once installed, the app immediately recognized the camera, established a connection, and downloaded the latest firmware. Though I got errors saying my phone couldn’t establish a wi-fi connection to the camera, everything went without issue. After a successful firmware update, I never received any additional errors.
USE
The dashcam has performed without issue and appears to be very rugged. It has never failed to work even in the 100+ degree heat. Video recording is very clear, even if restricted to only 1080p resolution. The ability to record video at 60 frames per second goes a long way in video clarity, especially when driving at highway speeds. The camera has a 140-degree field of view and has no problem seeing three lanes of traffic starting about halfway down the hood of my car. License plates and street signs are legible. The lens has a polarizing filter to help cut down on glare when facing toward the sun or other bright objects.
The dashcam has performed without issue and appears to be very rugged. It has never failed to work even in the 100+ degree heat. Video recording is very clear, even if restricted to only 1080p resolution. The ability to record video at 60 frames per second goes a long way in video clarity, especially when driving at highway speeds. The camera has a 140-degree field of view and has no problem seeing three lanes of traffic starting about halfway down the hood of my car. License plates and street signs are legible. The lens has a polarizing filter to help cut down on glare when facing toward the sun or other bright objects.
Camera videos can be viewed in 1 of 3 ways: the MyNextbase player app for the desktop, the 2.5" touchscreen on the device, or by the MyNextbase Connect app on your phone or tablet. When viewing on your phone or tablet, the dashcam establishes a Bluetooth connection for low resolution video playback, but can also link to your phone or tablet via a wi-fi connection for high resolution video download or playback. I must add that the switch between Bluetooth and wi-fi has proven seamless since the dashcam’s firmware update. The software automatically saves clips at a user-selectable 1, 2, or 3-minute interval. Each 1 minute, 1080p, 60fps video clip occupies approximately 125MB of space. Choose your microSD card (not included) wisely, if you want to retain videos for longer periods before having them overwritten.
The camera can be configured to call emergency services in the event of a detected accident. The camera gives you a warning on your phone and if you fail to reply to the warning on the phone’s screen, the camera will initiate a call to first responders with your name, location, and any medical conditions, should you program the information in. Thankfully, I have not had to test this feature.
The MyNextbase Cloud website is a cool feature. This is a secure site where you can upload any dashcam videos you would like saved. It is a free service and Nextbase will save your files for 30 days. Once you have uploaded the video, Nextbase emails a secure link to that video. This link can then be shared with whomever you deem necessary: insurance, authorities, etc. Again, thankfully I have not had the need to test this feature either, but can definitely see the benefit and give major credit to Nextbase for offering it as a free service.
The GPS is very accurate. Playing back videos recorded on the dashcam splits the screen on your phone or tablet. On the top is the footage from the camera and on the bottom is the GPS information: speed, direction, coordinates, etc. It is a really cool system and the GPS information is in sync with the video playback, even showing your position on a map overlay. Playback is smooth and has never stuttered or been choppy.
NEGATIVES
Nextbase app. The app is buggy. It gave me errors during the initial set-up process. Though, the app worked through any errors, it was not a smooth, issue-free experience. The app freezes during video playback. After viewing several videos on my Android phone, the app will fail to connect back to the dashcam and retrieve any additional information or videos. A reboot of the app and camera re-establishes the connection.
Nextbase app. The app is buggy. It gave me errors during the initial set-up process. Though, the app worked through any errors, it was not a smooth, issue-free experience. The app freezes during video playback. After viewing several videos on my Android phone, the app will fail to connect back to the dashcam and retrieve any additional information or videos. A reboot of the app and camera re-establishes the connection.
Alexa. While this appears to be a good idea, it falls flat in practice. The dashcam can be linked to your Alexa app installed on your Android or iOS phone. Once linked, the mic on the dashcam can be used to access Alexa and make requests from her. This is better in theory than in practice, as the mic on the dashcam does not record audio all that cleanly or consistently. To be fair to Nextbase, this may be able to be improved with repositioning the dashcam, but at just off center of the top of the windshield, every sound is muffled.
CONCLUSION
I really like this camera. The 2.5” touchscreen is easy to use and very responsive. Both the app and the direct menu of the dashcam are intuitive and easy to learn and navigate. The dashcam has a ton of features and safety systems built-in. I even appreciate the sleep mode where the camera will record video if it detects a jarring movement while powered off. Like I said before, the camera itself has worked flawlessly, even with interior car temps well over 100+ degrees. Even though the apps are a little buggy, Nextbase appears to have put a ton of effort and thought into their products. Based on all the built-in, thoughtful features, free cloud storage, and overall ease of use, I give this product 5 stars.
I really like this camera. The 2.5” touchscreen is easy to use and very responsive. Both the app and the direct menu of the dashcam are intuitive and easy to learn and navigate. The dashcam has a ton of features and safety systems built-in. I even appreciate the sleep mode where the camera will record video if it detects a jarring movement while powered off. Like I said before, the camera itself has worked flawlessly, even with interior car temps well over 100+ degrees. Even though the apps are a little buggy, Nextbase appears to have put a ton of effort and thought into their products. Based on all the built-in, thoughtful features, free cloud storage, and overall ease of use, I give this product 5 stars.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience immersive graphics with this HP OMEN X gaming monitor. The 24.5-inch 1080p display has a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time for smooth visuals. Adaptive Sync technology eliminates blurring and tearing, while the adjustable height and angle support simple customization. This HP OMEN X gaming monitor has a DisplayPort, two HDMI and two USB ports for versatile connectivity.
Customer Rating
4
A Strong Performing and Sleek 1080p Monitor
on June 26, 2019
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
16 x 9 TN Panel with a Matte Finish
240Hz Refresh Rate
1920 x 1080 Display
1ms Response Time
Ports: Display Port, HDMI, USB
This isn’t an all-encompassing list, just some of the highlights.
16 x 9 TN Panel with a Matte Finish
240Hz Refresh Rate
1920 x 1080 Display
1ms Response Time
Ports: Display Port, HDMI, USB
This isn’t an all-encompassing list, just some of the highlights.
AESTHETICS
This is a sleek monitor. Easily one of the best-looking desktop monitors I’ve seen in a while. The bezels on the sides and top are very thin. It gives the illusion of having no borders around the top and sides. Even the bottom bezel is nothing too thick. The monitor has an LED light on the bottom to illuminate the workspace underneath and is controlled via the HP Omen app or directly via the multi-function joystick on the back of the panel. The light can be set to display 1 of 7 different colors, or cycle through them. The brightness and speed are also adjustable. As expected, the monitor is adjustable vertically, includes a tilt feature, and has a handy headphone hook on the back.
This is a sleek monitor. Easily one of the best-looking desktop monitors I’ve seen in a while. The bezels on the sides and top are very thin. It gives the illusion of having no borders around the top and sides. Even the bottom bezel is nothing too thick. The monitor has an LED light on the bottom to illuminate the workspace underneath and is controlled via the HP Omen app or directly via the multi-function joystick on the back of the panel. The light can be set to display 1 of 7 different colors, or cycle through them. The brightness and speed are also adjustable. As expected, the monitor is adjustable vertically, includes a tilt feature, and has a handy headphone hook on the back.
PERFORMANCE
This monitor performed flawlessly with any desktop app or game I played. The monitor boasts refresh rates of up to 240Hz with response times as low as 1ms. Paired to my GTX 1660Ti, the nVidia Control Panel had no issues recognizing the display. The necessary drivers were automatically downloaded and installed and the G-Sync feature was enabled. G-Sync is Nvidia’s technology that allows the computer to match the monitor’s refresh rate to the video card (similar to AMD Radeon’s FreeSync, which this monitor also supports). This tech is said to prevent screen tearing and artifacting during gaming. I will say that it worked awesome in my tests. Images were razor sharp and gaming was smooth and fluid. Even static images, such as fonts, spreadsheets, photos, etc. were crisp and highly detailed.
This monitor performed flawlessly with any desktop app or game I played. The monitor boasts refresh rates of up to 240Hz with response times as low as 1ms. Paired to my GTX 1660Ti, the nVidia Control Panel had no issues recognizing the display. The necessary drivers were automatically downloaded and installed and the G-Sync feature was enabled. G-Sync is Nvidia’s technology that allows the computer to match the monitor’s refresh rate to the video card (similar to AMD Radeon’s FreeSync, which this monitor also supports). This tech is said to prevent screen tearing and artifacting during gaming. I will say that it worked awesome in my tests. Images were razor sharp and gaming was smooth and fluid. Even static images, such as fonts, spreadsheets, photos, etc. were crisp and highly detailed.
Out of the box color performance was very good. I began my testing and calibration using the “Standard” setting on the Omen monitor. With this setting, the brightness was considerably higher than necessary and the color temperatures were a little too cool (blueish). However, after some measurements with my colorimeter and a few tweaks to the settings, I was able to get the white balance nearly spot on. I have yet to calibrate a monitor that comes this close to the D65 target white balance or has so few color errors throughout the measurement ranges. The end result are images and photos are vivid, detailed, and have true to life colors.
The monitor includes the usual selection of ports found on most monitors. These ports include: USB 3.0, Display Port (1.2), and 2 HDMI ports (2.0).
NEGATIVES
I have only 2 complaints about this monitor. One is the resolution. It is only a 1920 x 1080 monitor. I consider this resolution the bare minimum for today’s standards. Sadly, my 2012 monitors from another manufacturer have higher resolutions than this monitor that is 7 years newer. That being said, my monitors don’t support G-Sync or FreeSync and are only 60Hz.
I have only 2 complaints about this monitor. One is the resolution. It is only a 1920 x 1080 monitor. I consider this resolution the bare minimum for today’s standards. Sadly, my 2012 monitors from another manufacturer have higher resolutions than this monitor that is 7 years newer. That being said, my monitors don’t support G-Sync or FreeSync and are only 60Hz.
Second, is the dynamic range. This is billed as a premium gaming monitor, but yet it still only supports Standard Dynamic Range and doesn’t support High Dynamic Range. I feel this is a glaring omission, as so many games now support Wide Color Gamuts and High Dynamic Range.
CONCLUSION
I really like the look of the monitor. The thin bezels on the top and sides really give the monitor a sleek appearance. Gaming was always smooth and images were crisp, detailed, and vibrant. I never experienced any image tearing, motion blur, or stuttering. The monitor appears built to take full advantage of the latest cards from nVidia and AMD.
I really like the look of the monitor. The thin bezels on the top and sides really give the monitor a sleek appearance. Gaming was always smooth and images were crisp, detailed, and vibrant. I never experienced any image tearing, motion blur, or stuttering. The monitor appears built to take full advantage of the latest cards from nVidia and AMD.
However, if you don’t need a monitor specifically geared toward gaming, I think you could find better. 4k HDR displays are commonplace now and can be had for similar money. Granted these monitors probably won’t have the 240Hz refresh, G-Sync or FreeSync, but that tech is not really needed for non-gamers. A good, high quality HDR image at 60Hz will be sufficient. The HDR monitors offer substantially more detail and definition to images and colors, making them that much closer to being lifelike. However, if gaming is your thing, this is a very good monitor and offers a lot of features most other monitors don’t.
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HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 Cores / 8 Threads. Intel has disabled hyper-threading on its i7 processors.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
NAMO
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
The advertisement and stated processor says its a 9th gen i7-9700 however if you click on the pdf information for this computer it states that it is an 8th Gen i7-8700? Also indicates that graphics are onboard and not the GPU?
It is the 9th Generation 9700 processor with an nVidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card. I believe all the Intel processors include onboard graphics.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
can a windows 7 computer boot from this drive ?
You should have no issues as long as your bios supports this feature.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
Is this compatible with a Surface Book?
Mine did not work correctly with a Surface Pro, even with a powered hub. It has worked perfectly with every other computer and/or laptop I've tried it with, though.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
Difference between the 2016 vs 2017 models? Any one what the pros/cons?
From my research, it appears the big differences are that the 2017 models come with LG's latest OS installed (WebOS 3.5 vs WebOS 3.0). LG has also worked some magic on the video processing too. They are now able to get more detail in the very darkest portions of an image, where the 2016 models would sign off on the darkest details earlier & just represent them as total black. Lastly, they able to tweak the light output on the panels to improve overall brightness, which was a common complaint of the 2016 models that were installed in fairly bright rooms from what I have heard.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
7 years ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
When is bestbuy going to sell the LG B7 65 inch model?
I don't think they will. It is my understanding that the B7 is identical to the C7, but intended for Costco and/or Sam's only.
7 years ago
by
NAMO