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Showing posts from November, 2020

Ring Indoor Cam, Compact Plug-In HD security camera with two-way talk, Works with Alexa - Black

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  Ring Indoor Cam, Compact Plug-In HD security camera with two-way talk, Works with Alexa - Black Very easy setup, great image quality (light or dark), great audio quality, nice form-factor, perfect integration with my Ring network. INSTALL: This took about 4 minutes to set-up. That includes opening the box and updating my Ring app. Amazing! This is my 3rd Ring camera (first of this type), and I also have 3 other d-link cameras and 15+ other network-connected smart home devices and this one had been the easiest to set-up, by far! Most have required at least one call to CustSvc at some point in the process (& I'm very familiar with IOT and network installs). I didn't need any of that knowledge with this new Ring device. I'd recommend you install/update your Ring app first, as that was my only hiccup (old versions dont have the new hardware listed). APP: So: install/update Ring app > Open box > remove and unwrap device & plug (usb to 2-prong usb) > plug in to...

Echo Auto- Hands-free Alexa in your car with your phone

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  Echo Auto- Hands-free Alexa in your car with your phone I have grown to love my Amazon Echo Auto; After having become so accustomed to, and reliant upon, my Echo devices in my (increasingly) smart home, I am thrilled to be able to add this functionality, and Alexa, to my non-smart car. My base-model Kia Rio came without Bluetooth and a very basic audio system. The Echo Auto gives me a Bluetooth connection to my stereo, allowing me to go hands-free in my car; phone calls through the stereo speakers, voice control of music streaming, instant access to my music library, GPS navigation; all so much easier and more convenient. Installation and setup were simple, due to clear instructions and quick walk-through provided by the Alexa app; I was up and running in fewer than ten minutes. As long as I have my phone with me, the Echo Auto establishes a connection within seconds of my starting the car. So far, I have had zero issues with this device's functionality. The one problem I had was...

Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080 HD video, motion detection, night vision, Works with Alexa – 1 camera

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  Blink Mini – Compact indoor plug-in smart security camera, 1080 HD video, motion detection, night vision, Works with Alexa – 1 camera So one of the things that Blink does really well is make it easy to set-up everything. I mean it's an app, you follow along, and they're online and just working. The battery thing is convenient but in the house, there are plugs everywhere which is really convenient for something that likes to send you pictures and notices but also warns you when it's too active about batteries. I mean that's the real benefit right, constant power here for those of us who are not as handy with wiring battery ones to a power supply. The minis struggle a bit more with night vision, and I think the reason why is there's just more stuff close up to an internal camera than what I have with my external ones. For instance, one has access or view of a window. Every night it "detects" motion or something and shift t night vision. There is nothing th...

Echo Flex - Plug-in mini smart speaker with Alexa

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  Echo Flex - Plug-in mini smart speaker with Alexa I received two Echo Flex devices today. I'd read all the one-star reviews before ordering, so I was prepared to send them back if they were as awful as some folks say. But when I unboxed them and plugged them into outlets, I was glad to see how quickly and automatically they connected to my wifi. Ready to use in about a minute or less. Yes, those who say the audio is tinny are right. Not at all as good as my Echo Dots, Echo Show, or the original Echo tower. But the two locations where I wanted to put the new devices aren't areas where the quality of the audio matters: living room and bathroom. So far, Alexa has had no problem hearing me, nor have I had trouble hearing her. I even tested the living room one to see if Alexa could hear me when the TV is on. I raised my voice only slightly above conversation-level. No problem. I also heard her despite the TV's audio. I noticed that the Flex in my bathroom sounded louder than t...

Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with more than 2x the Storage – Ad-Supported + Kindle Unlimited (with auto-renewal)

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  Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with more than 2x the Storage – Ad-Supported + Kindle Unlimited (with auto-renewal) Before purchasing this product, I was using the Kindle App on my iPad Mini. Had it for two years before the app started to lag and crash starting a few weeks ago. I've had my eye on getting a Kindle for awhile and finally got around to purchasing the All-New Paperwhite with 32 GB. It's been several days since I've had it and I have to say, I'm totally impressed. For someone like me who's an avid e-reader and has 4,000+ books in their Kindle account, this device is perfect for suiting their needs. FIrst of all, the display is gorgeous. I love how crisp the lettering is and how the pages actually look like real paper. There's barely any glare on the screen when held up in sunlight -- a huge advantage over the iPad Mini even with the light sensor it has built in. There's a very, very slight glare the ANPW gets when in direct sun, but it's...

All-new Blink Outdoor – wireless, weather-resistant HD security camera with two-year battery life and motion detection – 1 camera kit

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  All-new Blink Outdoor – wireless, weather-resistant HD security camera with two-year battery life and motion detection – 1 camera kit   We've got some bad actors in the hood, so it was time to catch them with some irrefutable evidence. Our XT2 is a little old and our Arlos are acting stupid. Saw this come out and had to give it a shot. It was time to upgrade. Plus, the specs of the possibility of TWO YEAR BATTERY LIFE is mindblowing. It's probably a lot less, but my Arlos would last a week with $10 CR123 batteries, so that had to go. Anything had to be better than those dinosaurs. Set up was fairly easy. There is no real printed instruction manual, but those are rare today. Scanned the QR code and my smartphone popped me to their website with tons of tips, info, and even setup videos. The entire setup process is QR from the new Sync Module 2 to the camera itself. So don't make the mistake of slapping the batteries in and closing the camera unit like I did before I scanned...

All-new Ring Video Doorbell – 1080p HD video, improved motion detection, easy installation – Satin Nickel (2020 release)

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  All-new Ring Video Doorbell – 1080p HD video, improved motion detection, easy installation – Satin Nickel (2020 release) I have just upgraded my 1st generation Ring Doorbell with this new 2nd Generation Ring Doorbell. PROS: 1) The same mounting plate dimensions/holes as the 1st generation I could install it to the same 3rd party wedge mount which I got for the 1st generation saving me $20 to buy a new one. 2) Better video quality: The 1080p video is noticeably better than the 1st generation's 720p . 3) Better connectivity: The 2nd generation seems to connect better. When I ask Alexa to display the video on Echo Show, it sometimes took forever with 1st generation. The 2nd generation seems to connect more reliably. 4) Motion sensor: I have not tested this just yet but I am sure it is better with the new zone setting and else. CONS: 1) Trade-in discount did not apply: When I ordered it, it asked if I wanted to trade the old one by showing "Upgrade and save by trade-in" rig...

Echo Show 5 -- Smart display with Alexa – stay connected with video calling - Charcoal

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  Echo Show 5 -- Smart display with Alexa – stay connected with video calling - Charcoal My rating and review is focused on primarily alarm clock usage, with only occasional use to play music. If you're planning to use the Echo Show 5 for much more, this review may not be the most useful. If it's an alarm clock you're mostly interested in, read on... I bought the Echo Spot when it first came out. I loved (and still love) it. It was (mostly) perfect: high quality build, alarm face to fit my personal taste and decor, voice controlled (no more fumbling in the dark to set or turn off an alarm). But its biggest downfall, for me, was the size of the digital numbers, which I couldn't find a way to increase. My eyesight without glasses is walk-into-walls bad, so it was impossible to read from across the room and a challenge to read even from the bedside. Enter the Echo Show 5. All the same features I use on the Spot, but with big, clear numbers and still small enough to work on...

Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote | Dolby Vision | 2018 release

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  Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device with Alexa Voice Remote | Dolby Vision | 2018 release If you're new to Fire Sticks or you're wondering what the difference is between the new 4K and the older models, then let me help you! I have both (one for each TV) and while they are both more or less the same thing, the new 4K version is worth the extra couple of bucks due to the extra speed and increased convenience of some thoughtful features. The 4K version has the new upgraded Alexa remote, which is such a triumph compared to the older Alexa remote, due to the fact that they've finally added power, mute, and volume buttons. Hooray! No more scrambling around for your TV or cable company remote control when you need to change the volume in a hurry. The voice controls are also more sophisticated in this version, so that I can actually tell Alexa to "switch back to HDMI 1" or "switch back to cable TV", rather than toggling the Input button on your TV or cable remo...

Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1" 1080p full HD display, 32 GB) – Black

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  Fire HD 10 Tablet (10.1" 1080p full HD display, 32 GB) – Black I have read a few reviews in the tech press that lack any detail, leading me to feel the writer has spent little time with this device. I have been using it for just under a month and wish to share my experience. The screen image quality is very good. I have watched several videos on Netflix and Amazon among others and have found the image quality to be excellent. The audio and the projected stereo sound field is at times extraordinary. I, have on more than one occasion looked to the side as a result of the stereo sound field. One must recognize the speakers are extremely small and keep one's expectations realistic! Battery life is, in my experience awesome. I can watch 2 full-length movies, no problem with juice left to spare. last night, I spent 4 hours with it and it still showed 54% battery remaining. I call that excellent. The device itself is somewhat heavy and very, very slippery so I urge you to purchase ...

All-new Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal

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  All-new Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Charcoal I don't understand some of the other reviews. Power brick: Yes the power brick is bigger, it's longer, not wider or thicker, but if you read the information, it's because it has advanced power management, it only supplies what's needed and drops lower in standby mode. I uploaded a comparison photo. The cord: Yes the cord is white, I don't see the problem with that, mine is on a table, the cord behind it, I don't see the cord, also, you can use a sharpie and color it how you like or buy cable sleeving and change it that way, or bundle it with other cords and use a cable wrap. The sound: I never understood the 3rd gen dot, the speaker fires down, there are no holes in the fabric area, or under the speaker, if you have one, turn it on it's side, you'll be surprised by the difference! This one has a larger speaker, fires forward and upward, the sound is clearer, crisper, if you want more base...