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Well, the Lakers are out of the playoffs. Will the same fate meet the Boston Celtics when they face the Miami Heat on their home court Tuesday night? The game starts at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, and you’ll need access to TNT to watch it. As in years past, all playoff games will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV, with ABC exclusively airing the NBA Finals. Whether you want to follow one particular series or catch the entire tournament, you will likely need a streaming subscription if you’ve ditched cable. We’ve listed all your options below and included links to get you started. ![]() Sling TV offers one of the least-expensive alternatives to cable, but you’ll need a TV antenna to watch your local broadcast channels. Over the air![]() Winegard’s Flatwave Amped antenna (model number FL-5500A) is one of our favorite indoor antennas. Martyn Williams/IDG The good news is you can watch the Finals on ABC for free if you have an over-the-air TV antenna and are within the radius of your local ABC affiliate’s broadcast tower. You’ll find our top antenna picks here. You can watch the playoff games with some combination of the following services. DirecTV StreamDirecTV Stream will give you access to ESPN, TNT, TBS, ABC and NBA TV through its Choice package for $100 per month. Currently, the service is offering $10 off the monthly rate for the first three months of your subscription. You can try the service for free for five days. FuboFubo’s $85-per-month Elite package includes ABC and ESPN, and NBA TV. None of its packages include TNT or TBS, though. A 7-day free trial is available. Hulu + Live TVHulu + Live TV gives you access to ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT. As with most other services, however, the exact channel lineup varies by market. The service costs $70 per month, and there’s a 7-day free trial available. Sling TVSling TV’s “basketball bundle” is one of the least-expensive ways for cord-cutters to watch the NBA postseason. Sign up for the Sling Orange package plus the Sports Extra add-on and you’ll get $20 off the usual $51-per-month price for the first month. That will get you ESPN, TNT, TBS, and NBA TV. Add a TV antenna to catch the ABC broadcasts, and you’ll have everything covered. Sling TV offers a 7-day free trial when you sign up through a Sling-compatible streaming device . YouTube TVYouTube TV is our top pick in TV-streaming services overall, and it includes local ABC stations (in 99.5 percent of the homes in the U.S.), ESPN, TNT, TBS, and NBA TV. Subscriptions are $73 per month, but the service is currently offering the first three months for just $63. A 7-day free trial is available. via TechHive https://ift.tt/TOi5LG7
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Netflix used to cast a blind eye toward password sharing, but that blind eye is quickly turning into the Eye of Sauron. Soon, Netflix subscribers will have to pay extra to share their accounts with family and friends outside their household. So, when exactly will Netflix begin cracking down on password sharing, and what will happen if you get caught? Here’s what you need to know. Update: April 18, 2023: We’ve added new details about when Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown will begin in the United States. Netflix password sharing crackdown: Your questions answered
1.
Why is Netflix cracking down on password sharing?Netflix didn’t always have a problem with subscribers sharing their passwords. As recently as 2016, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called the practice a “positive thing” because so many password sharers eventually got their own accounts. To be clear, Hastings wasn’t actually encouraging password sharing, but he didn’t seem interested in a crackdown, either, noting that account sharing “really hasn’t been a problem.” Of course, Hastings’ 2016 comments came in the context of explosive subscriber growth for Netflix. By early 2022, that growth had stalled, with Netflix reporting that its subscriber base had shrunk for the first time in a decade. Password sharing was partly to blame, the company said. While Netflix hasn’t quantified how much revenue it may have lost from password sharers, a Los Angeles Times report estimates the practice may have cost streamer and pay-TV operators up to $9.1 billion in 2019, a figure that could balloon to $12.5 billion by 2024. The streaming landscape has also changed dramatically in the past few years. Back in 2016, Hastings could afford to be cavalier about password sharing because the streamer faced little in the way of serious competition. Today, it’s up against the likes of Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, and Apple TV+. With all the big players fighting tooth-and-nail over new subscribers, streamers like Netflix aren’t giving password sharers a free pass anymore.
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Is it ever okay to share your Netflix account?According to Netflix’s Help Center, you can only share your Netflix account with people “who live together in a single household.” It’s also fine to use the same Netflix account when you’re traveling or between different homes–for example, if you’re staying at your summer home (lucky you!), you can sign in to your Netflix account there as well as at your regular residence. But if you share your Netflix password–and thus your account–with someone who doesn’t live in your household, that’s a no-no, and it’s clearly spelled out in Netflix’s Terms of Use.
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How does Netflix know that you’re sharing someone else’s password?Netflix says it uses a combination of IP addresses, device IDs, and “account activity from devices signed into the Netflix account” to determine if an account is being used in the primary account holder’s household. Netflix may also ask you to verify a device by entering a four-digit verification code sent to the account holder. Suffice to say that if you’re sharing someone else’s Netflix account, Netflix can likely detect it.
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Is Netflix password sharing illegal?Well, that’s a bit of a gray area. The 30-year-old Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (or CFAA) is often cited as a federal law that could make password sharing a crime, and in 2016, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a particular case of corporate password-sharing was illegal under the CFAA. But as Slate points out, there is “much ambiguity and uncertainty” about the CFAA, and the 2016 Ninth Circuit ruling had nothing to do with sharing streaming passwords. Put another way, ask 10 lawyers whether it’s legal to share your Netflix password and you’ll get 10 different answers. In any event, no one has ever been prosecuted for sharing their Netflix password, or at least not yet.
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When will Netflix start cracking down on password sharing?After months of uncertainty about when Netflix would begin its password-sharing crackdown in the U.S., we finally have our answer. During its Q1 2023 earnings report on April 18, Netflix said it will begin a “broad rollout” of “paid sharing” plans in the United States starting in the second quarter, after initially pushing back those plans from the first quarter. In other words, expect Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing in the U.S. to begin sometime before July. The move follows a growing series of password-sharing tests that began in 2021, when the streamer began asking users to verify their Netflix accounts using a four-digit code sent to the account holder. A “verify later” option let users keep streaming even if they didn’t have the code, but still, the test certainly raised eyebrows. In March 2022, Netflix’s efforts to stem password sharing became more official, with the company announcing an option for account holders in Chile, Costa Rica, and Peru to create reduced-priced “sub accounts” for up to two people outside their household. Four months later, Netflix took a different tack, rolling out an “add a home” feature that let Netflix subscribers in five Latin American countries “buy” more homes in which they–or others–could use the same Netflix account. And during its third-quarter earnings call in October 2022, Netflix confirmed that it would start charging account sharers starting in “early 2023.” In a related development, Netflix announced a new “Profile Transfer” tool that makes it easy for password sharers to transfer all their Netflix profile data, including their watch lists, histories, and recommendations, to a new account. Later, Netflix rolled out account-sharing features in Canada, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain, and now they’ve finally arrived in the United States.
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How will the Netflix password crackdown work?With its recent tests and pilot programs, Netflix has revealed how it will crack down on password sharers–namely, a combination of asking users to verify their accounts plus options for account holders to pay extra to share their accounts with others outside the household. Here’s a little more, taken directly from Netflix’s Q3 2022 report: After listening to consumer feedback, we are going to offer the ability for borrowers to transfer their Netflix profile to their own account, and for sharers to manage their devices more easily and to create sub-accounts (“extra member”), if they want to pay for family or friends. Following the aforementioned trials and pilot programs in overseas markets, Netflix has finally begun rolling out tools in the United States that allow account holders to set up–for a price–“sub accounts” for users outside their households. When it comes to the stick, it’s likely Netflix will begin blocking the streams of password sharers who can’t verify their accounts or who aren’t streaming under the sub-account of a paying subscriber.
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How much will it cost to share your Netflix account?Netflix has finally revealed how much it will charge U.S. users to share their accounts: $7.99 a month per “extra member.” In Canada, for example, Premium and Standard subscribers (who pay CAD$20.99 and CAD$16.49, respectively) must pay CAD$7.99 a month for each sub-account. Updated May 23, 2023 with recent news and developments. via TechHive https://ift.tt/xyJY6Xr
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Your front door isn’t the only place that would benefit from the installation of a video doorbell. Since they are essentially video surveillance systems, you might find it useful to have one at every entry point into your home: Side entrances, at your garage door, and the door to your backyard, for example. Whether you’re watching for trouble-makers, monitoring for parcel deliveries, waiting for friends to visit, or hiding from that weird neighbor who keeps asking to borrow your lawn mower, video doorbells are becoming essential security tools. These are our top picks in several categories of video doorbell: Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — Best video doorbell for most people![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $179.99
Best Prices Today: $139.99 at Amazon$139.99 at Best Buy
Ring made significant improvements to video resolution and aspect ratio and added package detection to maintain its position as the best video doorbell for most people–unless you’re looking for the best Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit compatibility. Nest Doorbell (Battery) — Best battery-powered video doorbell for Google Home users![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $179.99
Best Prices Today: $119.99 at Dell Small Business$179.99 at Best Buy$179.99 at Dell Home
Despite its name, Google’s powerful and versatile Nest Doorbell (battery) can operate on either battery power or your home’s existing low-voltage wiring that powers your current doorbell. This smart home device was supremely easy to install and configure, it delivered crisp and clear video recordings, and it was consistently accurate with its alerts and notifications. If you’re firmly in the Alexa camp of smart speakers and displays, however, you’ll want to stick with Ring or another competitor, as this one works much better with Google Assistant products. Nest Doorbell (Wired) — Best wired video doorbell for Google Home users![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $179.99
Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Amazon$179.99 at Best Buy$179.99 at Google
Nest’s Video Doorbell (Wired) builds on the excellent Nest Hello and improves it with on-device video processing, recording during power loss, and image classification. Opt in to a Nest Aware subscription, and you’ll also get 24/7 recording for up to 10 days, among other features. It’s not compatible with Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, however, and Amazon Alexa fans would likely be happier with another pick. Ring Video Doorbell Wired — Best budget-priced, wired video doorbell![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $59.99
Best Prices Today: $38.99 at Best Buy$39.99 at Dell Small Business$64.99 at Amazon
Ring wins this category by building an inexpensive-but-strong video doorbell that can be integrated with the company’s increasingly diverse smart home ecosystem. Yes, it’s a single-band Wi-Fi device; and yes, it can’t ring your existing chime despite being wired to it. But it delivers pretty good 1080p video in daylight and very good black-and-white night vision when it gets dark. Blink Video Doorbell — Best budget-priced, battery-powered video doorbell![]() Pros
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Price When Reviewed: $49.99 (tested with optional Blink Sync Module 2, $34.99. Total cost as reviewed: $84.98.)
Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Dell Small Business$59.99 at Amazon$59.99 at Best Buy
If you have a tight budget for a video doorbell and don’t have the existing low-voltage wiring that the Ring Video Doorbell Wired depends on, you should definitely consider Amazon’s other smart home brand, Blink. The Blink Video Doorbell can operate on either wired or battery power and it has a strong set of features. However, you’ll want to also buy the optional ($35) Blink Sync Module 2 to squeeze the most value out of this device. Wyze Video Doorbell Pro — Best budget-priced video doorbell, runner-up![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $79.99
Best Prices Today: $93.99 at Wyze Labs$99.98 at Best Buy$99.98 at Home Depot
The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro is a well-made, sturdy doorbell that works well, and it comes with a remote chime at no additional cost. It’s ability to operate on either battery power or connected to a low-voltage power supply is another big positive. But as with Ring’s doorbells and home security cameras–and a number of other competitors–you’ll need to buy a subscription package to get the full value from it. Logitech Circle View Doorbell — Best video doorbell for Apple HomeKit users![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $199.99
Best Prices Today: $159.95 at Apple$199.99 at Amazon$199.99 at B&H Photo Video
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell — Best video doorbell for Apple HomeKit users, runner-up![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $299.99
Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Netatmo
The Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell doesn’t require a subscription for video storage, and it supports Apple’s HomeKit ecosystem, but it’s missing some important features for a premium product. Ring Peephole Cam — Best video doorbell alternative![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $129.99
Best Prices Today: $129.99 at Amazon$129.99 at Best Buy$129.99 at Ring
The Ring Peephole Camera is an excellent choice for tenants who want to install a video doorbell without angering their landlord. It’s also a great solution for anyone who lives in an apartment or condo with an entry door that already has a peephole. Remo+ DoorCam 2 — Best video doorbell alternative if your door doesn't have a peephole![]() Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed: $199
Best Prices Today: $199 at Remo+$219.41 at Walmart$219.99 at Amazon
Renters don’t always have the ability to change or install a doorbell. If that’s the case, consider the Remo+ DoorCam 2 has a nifty design sits over the top of your door, so you can keep watch without drilling holes or going inside a wall. It doesn’t have a doorbell function, but it will alert you to anyone on your porch. Two-way audio allows you to chat with people on the other side of the door without opening it. What you should consider when shopping for a video doorbellIf your house has existing low-voltage doorbell wiring, take advantage of it so you don’t need to worry about recharging a battery. Several battery-powered video doorbells can tap a wired connection to keep the doorbell’s battery charged. If you do want to buy a battery-powered model, make sure the battery can be easily removed for charging and that you can buy a spare battery, so you can swap it for one that’s on the charger. If you’re renting you domicile and can’t install a video doorbell (or if you just want to make sure you can take it with you when you move out), consider one of our video doorbell alternatives that either connect to your entry door’s peephole or hang on top of the door. Most video doorbells come with motion detection, night vision, and smartphone alert features, so be sure to read our full reviews for details on how they performed. Many also require a monthly subscription to store video in the cloud, so factor a few years of service into the price before you make a decision. If you’re also thinking of adding indoor and/or outdoor security cameras for additional protection, or if you intend to integrate your video doorbell with a comprehensive smart home or home security system, explore your compatibility options, so you don’t find yourself juggling two or three different apps. More TechHive video doorbell reviewsThe products linked above are our top picks in this category, but there are lots of competing products in this category, and we’ve reviewed most of those as well. Arlo has some excellent indoor and outdoor security cameras, and if you own some of them, you’ll want a doorbell in the same ecosystem. Fortunately, the Arlo Video Doorbell is not only excellent, it’s also affordable at $150 (plus the not-really-optional $4.99 per month subscription for cloud services). This is a wired doorbell, however; there is no battery-power option. TP-Link’s wired Kasa Smart Doorbell is a great value at $50–it earned 3.5 stars from us–and it comes with a remote chime and local storage (you’ll need to supply your own microSD card). But you’ll need to sign up for a subscription to be able to share video clips from within the app. If you security cameras, People looking for HomeKit compatibility have another option in the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell, a $250 wired doorbell with a dual-band Wi-Fi adapter. It’s on the chunky side, though, and Belkin–the company behind the Wemo brand–has stepped back from its pledge to support the Matter smart home standard for the time being. The $150 Nooie Cam Doorbell is from a less-familiar brand, but the battery-powered device earned a 4-star review. via TechHive https://ift.tt/g9Z4Ru1
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Streaming in 4K on the old HBO Max used to cost $15.99 a month; now, on the new Max, it costs $19.99 a month. Say what? That was one of the more unpleasant surprises about Max, the just-launch combination of HBO Max and Discovery, but Max is promising that the 4K price hike is worth it. In a press release sent on the eve of Max’s launch, the streamer showed off its 4K offerings, touting dozens of TV shows and movies available in 4K and Dolby Vision. Several of the 4K titles available on Max’s Ultimate Ad-Free tier were only offered in HD on HBO Max. In all, Max will boast more than eight times the number of 4K titles than HBO Max did, the streamer says. Shows getting the 4K HDR treatment on Max include And Just Like That…, Barry, Chernobyl, Game of Thrones, Sharp Objects, Succession, and Watchmen (the TV series). Max is hosting the entire Harry Potter film series in 4K, along with all the Lord of the Rings movies (including the Extended Editions), The Hobbit trilogy, and all the Matrix films. Starting June 7, you’ll also get to stream Avatar: The Way of Water in 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, Max says. Here is the complete list of 4K titles that Max will have available at launch:
Max is launching today, with subscription rates starting at $9.99 (or $99.99 a year) for the Max Ad-Lite plan. The mid-tier Ad Free plan, which doesn’t include 4K streaming, costs $15.99 a month ($149.99 a year), while the Ultimate Ad Free plan with 4K streams goes for $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year. via TechHive https://ift.tt/bkTu1Fh
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It’s been three months since Paramount Global execs said they’d be hiking the price of Paramount+, and they’ve long signaled the possibility that the standalone Showtime app would be going away. Well, both are now set to happen, with the Paramount+ price increases slated to hit next month, while the legacy Showtime app will disappear before the year is out. Ready for the details? The $9.99-a-month Paramount+ Premium tier, which will take on the Paramount+ with Showtime brand, will cost $11.99 a month, up $2/month from the previous $9.99-a-month rate (as per Variety). That price hike will take effect June 27. Meanwhile, the ad-supported Paramount+ Essentials (minus Showtime) will be going up to $6.99 a month, a buck more than the previous $5.99/month subscription rate. Finally, the standalone Showtime app will be shut down by the end of the year. Streaming via the Showtime app currently costs $10.99 a month. Previously, Paramount+ had offered a couple of ad-free options: Paramount+ Premium, which cost $9.99 a month but didn’t include Showtime, and Premium with Showtime, which went for $11.99 a month. As of June 27, the cheaper Paramount+ Premium plan will essentially morph into the pricier Paramount with Showtime plan, meaning all ad-free Paramount+ subscribers will be paying the same $11.99-a-month rate. Once the standalone Showtime app is retired (Paramount execs didn’t offer an exact date), the Paramount+ and Showtime consolidation will be complete. Paramount first promised to combine the two services more than a year ago. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery just launched Max, its combined HBO Max and Discovery offering (the Discovery+ standalone app is still around), while Disney says it will soon offer a “one-app experience” for Disney+ and Hulu (both services will continue to exist separately, at least for now). via TechHive https://ift.tt/PI8jW74
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At a glance
Expert's RatingPros
Cons
Our VerdictThe EZVIZ H8 Pro 3K is a great option for monitoring large spaces without blurry images or blind spots. Price When Reviewed$149.99 Best Prices Today: EZVIZ H8 Pro 3K
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Choosing a security camera to monitor a large property often requires a sacrifice of image quality for coverage—the wider the lens, the more clarity and detail you typically lose in the bargain. The EZVIZ H8 Pro 3K requires no such trade-off. Its 360-degree pan-and-tilt design and 3K resolution provide the flexibility needed to monitor broad areas without blind spots or blurry images. The camera utilizes a dome design similar to other EZVIZ pan-and-tilt cameras, like the C8W Pro 2K, which must be mounted to your home’s exterior wall or eaves. A cable extending from the back of the camera splits into a pigtail with ports for the power adapter and an ethernet connection, the latter for use if your Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong enough outside. Curiously, EZVIZ doesn’t give an IP grade for the camera, saying only it has a “weatherproof design.”
With a 104-degree diagonal viewing angle and the ability to pan 340 degrees horizontally and tilt 80 degrees vertically, the camera significantly reduces blind spots and is well-suited for monitoring yards, driveways, parking lots, and other broad expanses. You can set up to 12 waypoints, enabling the camera to “patrol” the areas around your home you’re most concerned about when you tap each of these preset locations in the EZVIZ app. ![]() Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The camera includes color night vision up to 20 meters via a pair of spotlights, as well as 30 meters of black-and-white night vision in full darkness. A “smart night vision” option enabled by default allows you to utilize both, automatically switching from black-and-white to full color when motion is detected.
Outdoor environments are notorious for triggering false motion alerts in security cameras; such innocuous activity as swaying tree branches or a squirrel running across your fence can set off a barrage of unwanted notifications. The H8 Pro 3K’s onboard AI algorithms home in on the objects users most care about from a security standpoint: moving people and vehicles. It can even inform you when an unknown vehicle parks on your property without permission. When a human is detected, the camera automatically rotates to track the person and zooms in up to four times for a clearer picture. For extra protection, you can enable an active defense feature that will also set off will set off the camera’s built-in siren and flash two of its spotlights to deter the intruder. Setting up the H8 Pro 3K is simple: Scan the QR code on the camera’s body and follow the prompts in the EZVIZ app to connect to your Wi-Fi network. At the end of the process, you’ll need to decide about a CloudPlay cloud storage plan. The camera can save videos locally to a microSD card (in capacities up to 512GB), but there is always the risk an interloper can take or break the camera and any evidence along with it. Cloud storage allows you to preserve and more easily access your captured video clips. ![]() The EZVIZ app makes it easy to operate the H8 Pro 3K and customize detection settings. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry A CloudPlay Standard plan, which stores event-detected video clips from one EZVIZ camera on a rolling-7-day basis, costs $3.99 a month/$39.99 a year; you can upgrade to a 30-day rolling history for $6.99 a month/$69.99 a year. Premium plans support up to four cameras and cost $5.99 a month/$59.99 a year for a 7-day video history and $10.99 a month/$109.99 a year for a 30-day video history. A 30-day free trial of the least-expensive CloudPlay is included with a camera purchase. The H8 Pro 3K captured impressively clear video; it was easy to make out details like facial features and license plate numbers. Both forms of night vision were effective after dark, and the active defense feature worked as advertised in my tests. The camera responds instantly to pan-and-tilt commands and moves smoothly with almost no motor noise. The EZVIZ app makes operating the camera and managing its features easy, with options for calibrating pan-and-tilt, scheduling notifications, and customizing motion detection with additional algorithms. The last includes an Image Change Detection option, which enables the camera to detect any kind of motion, and a Gesture Recognition option that allows a person in front of the camera to make a video call to the monitoring user by waving directly at the lens. Motion detection worked reliably well, each event prompting an instant notification that took me directly to the captured video clip when tapped. The app organizes clips in thumbnails organized by day and hour, starting with the most current, so you can skim through them to find what you need. The H8 Pro 3K’s $150 price tag seems reasonable considering the camera’s capabilities and its leap in image quality over still-common 1080p security cameras. Consider, too, that monitoring your large property might otherwise require purchasing multiple fixed-angle cameras to get the same surveillance coverage. In that light, the H8 Pro 3K seems like a pretty great value. via TechHive https://ift.tt/H0qr87t
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Just three years after HBO Max debuted, the service is getting a rebrand. Now dubbed “Max,” the streamer combines most of the content of Discovery+ and the old HBO Max into a new, jumbo-sized offering. Naturally, the changeover to Max brings with it plenty of questions. What new content is available on Max? Is there a new Max app, and if so, how do you get it? What’s happening to Discovery+? Most of all, does Max come with a price increase? Read on for answers about your burning Max questions. The new Max: Your questions answered
1.
Why is HBO Max merging with Discovery+?
At the time, Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels said the companies “believe in a combined product” that would be “one, very, very strong combined direct-to-consumer product and platform” as opposed to a bundle of different services.
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Why is HBO Max losing the “HBO” branding and becoming “Max”?According to Warner Bros. Discovery execs, the idea behind the new “Max” name is to convey that the newly combined streamer offers a little of everything, including programming for kids, rather than being focused on HBO’s brand of premium “adult” shows. “This new brand signals an important change from two narrower products, HBO Max and Discovery+, to our broader content offering,” said JB Perrette, Warner Bros. Discovery global streaming president, in a press release. “While each product offered something for some people, Max will have a broad array of quality choices for everybody.”
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What’s on the new Max?Rather than just a portal for streaming HBO movies and TV shows, Max now offers a much wider variety of content. From Discovery+, Max is getting shows from such home and lifestyle brands as HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, and ID. So besides such grown-up fare as Chernobyl, Euphoria, and True Detective, Max now serves up shows like House Hunters International, Property Brothers, Deadliest Catch, Mythbusters, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Say Yes to the Dress, and Little People, Big World. Max execs are also promising a variety of new titles, including a forthcoming Harry Potter series, a comedy “derived” from The Big Bang Theory, a Game of Thrones prequel, a show based on The Conjuring movies, and a new True Detective season with Jodie Foster.
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Where is the new Max available, and when will it launch in other regions?For now, the new Max is available only in the United States. That said, Max will go live “later this year” in Latin America, and next year in other regions.
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Can I still subscribe to Discovery+ on its own?Short answer: yes. Longer answer: The original plan was to consolidate HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single service and then eliminate the standalone services, but Warner Bros. Discovery subsequently backtracked on that idea. Instead, Discovery+ will stick around following the arrival of Max, and it will still cost $6.99 a month, or $4.99/month with ads. You can sign up for a free trial of Discovery+ right here (assuming you’re a new subscriber).
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How much does a Max subscription cost?With the new Max streaming service comes new subscription plans, and here they are:
Former HBO Max ad-free subscribers will notice that if they stay at their existing price level, they’ll be losing 4K and Dolby Atmos support unless they pony up for the pricier Max Ultimate Ad Free tier. That said, Warner Bros. Discovery promises that HBO Max subscribers moving over to the new Max will keep their “current plan features” for a “minimum” of six months following the changeover.
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Will I need a new app for Max?When you fire up the HBO Max app on launch day, one of two things will happen, depending on which platform you’re on: Either the app will automatically update itself to Max, or you’ll be prompted to download the new Max app. In either case, HBO Max subscribers won’t need to do anything special to prepare for Max’s arrival.
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What’s new about the Max app?The most striking thing about the new Max app is that it ditches the purple color scheme of HBO Max, going to a blue theme instead. Besides the new color, you’ll also see a revamped navigation menu at the top of the screen, along with “streamlined” categories, genre hubs, and AI-powered content recommendations, according to TechCrunch, The new Max app is also debuting more granular options for kids profiles, including the ability to create profiles that cater to five different age groups, from younger tots to teens. Perhaps best of all, the new Max app is getting a much-needed, “under the hood” tune-up that should deliver “faster, more reliable, and more efficient performance,” TechCrunch reports. Let’s hope so.
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What will happen to my HBO Max profile, watch history, and downloads?Those won’t be going anywhere, with your profiles, watch list, and settings slated to move over to the new Max service automatically. If you’ve downloaded any HBO Max shows for offline viewing, however, you’ll need to re-download them on the updated Max app. via TechHive https://ift.tt/CDc0HNE
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Back at CES in January, Govee promised to have its first Matter product ready by this year, and now it’s here: a 6.5-foot multicolor light strip that’s capable of working with all the major smart home platforms. On sale now for $59.99, the Matter-compatible LED Strip Light M1 arrives with 50 controllable color light segments, more than 64 light modes, and the ability to sync with other Govee lights.
More importantly, Govee’s M1 light strip is the first of the manufacturer’s products to work with Matter, the new standard that promises to help Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and other smart home ecosystems to work better together. Practically speaking, that means you’ll be able to pair and control the M1 with any of the above smart home platforms (a Matter QR code is available within the Govee app, as well as on a tag attached to the remote cable). And thanks to its Matter support, the M1 also marks the first Govee light to work natively with HomeKit, outside of pairing it with the open-source Homebridge utility. ![]() The Govee Matter-compatible M1 light strip comes wiht a three-button remote; note the tag stamped with a Matter code. Ben Patterson/Foundry While you will be able to control the M1 light strip with the Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings apps, the actual degree of control you’ll get is limited to turning the strip on and off, adjusting the brightness, changing its color, and tweaking its white-color temperature. To dive into the M1’s animated color modes and effects, including the ability to change the colors of the strip’s individual segments, you’ll need to use Govee’s smart home app. The Govee app can enable the light strip’s music mode, which can make the strip’s LEDs pulse in sync with any music picked up by the integrated microphone, while Govee’s DreamView feature will sync other compatible Govee lights with your tunes, as well. Like similar light strips, the Govee M1 light strip has a peel-and-stick backing for easy installation, and you can splice the M1 together with an extension ($17.99, available May 29) to double its length. What you can’t do with the M1 is cut it to fit, a surprising omission given that most other smart LED light strips allow you to snip them shorter at designated points. Govee says it will follow up the M1 light strip with a Matter-compatible version of its Neon Rope Light for Desks, which will be available this summer, with more Matter-ready Govee gear coming “later this year.” We’ll have a full review of the Govee LED Strip Light M1 Matter Compatible once I’ve spent more time with a sample unit supplied by the manufacturer. via TechHive https://ift.tt/6XGa7Eb
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Who wants to vacuum? No one! That’s what robot vacuums are for. Vacuuming is one of the most loathed household chores. Sure, it doesn’t carry the ick factor of cleaning the toilet or the tedium of dusting, but pushing and dragging a noisy, cumbersome vacuum is its own kind of torture. Robot vacuums don’t have unwieldy cords or hoses to contend with, and they require little effort from you: You can run one from your couch using a physical remote or smartphone app, and the higher-end models can be programmed to wake up and start cleaning without any intervention at all. Robot vacs easily dispose of the most common household detritus—food crumbs, pet hair, dust—making them ideal for both routine maintenance and quick cleanings when you’re expecting company. Our top pick isn’t the most expensive model on the market, though it’s price tag is up there. If you’re working with a more modest budget, we have a strong recommendation in that category as well. Updated May 22, 2023 to add a link to our Dreamebot D10s Plus review. Best robot vacuums for every budgetiRobot Roomba j7+ — Best robot vacuum overall![]() Pros
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Price When Reviewed: $799.99
Best Prices Today: $599.99 at iRobot$799.00 at Best Buy$799 at Home Depot
The Roomba j7+’s excellent cleaning performance and sophisticated obstacle recognition makes it an excellent option for most households, particularly if your pet is prone to accidents. Yes, this robot vacuum is smart enough to recognize pet poop on the floor. It won’t pick it up for you, but it will navigate around it instead of making a regrettable mess an unmitigated disaster. Roborock S6 Max V — Best robot vacuum overall, runner-up![]() Pros
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Best Prices Today: $649.99 at Amazon$720.99 at Home Depot
When a manufacturer builds one device that’s designed to perform more than one function, you all too often end up with a product that’s a jack of all trades, but a master of none. That wasn’t the case with Roborock’s vacuum/mop hybrid, and this update version features stereo cameras that enable the device to avoid obstacles like shoes and power strips that will trip up robots with simpler navigation systems. iLife A4s Pro — Best budget-priced robot vacuum![]() Pros
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Best Prices Today: $179.99 at Amazon$184.99 at iLife Robot Store
This robot vacuum blends powerful suction with straightforward controls, an approach that kept its price tag less than $200 when we first reviewed it. It’s current street price is now less than $150. This vac doesn’t create sophisticated maps of your home’s floorplan, so you’ll need to deploy its battery-powered ElectroWall to prevent it from going into rooms where it could get in trouble. But one person’s perks are another person’s pain points, and if you prize simplicity and competence in your technology, the iLife A4s Pro will make you very happy. Wyze Robot Vacuum — Best budget robot vacuum, runner-up![]() Pros
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Price When Reviewed: $249.99 when reviewed March, 2021. Price as of May 3, 2022: $274.99 (plus shipping)
Best Prices Today: $274.99 at Wyze Labs$319.50 at Amazon
Wyze delivers a raft of top-shelf features not typically available in budget robot vacuums. Its LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensor, for example, enables it to build an editable floor map of your space. That’s typically a perk of robot vacuums in the $400 to $800 range. Same goes for its ability to section that map into multiple rooms and dispatch the vacuum to any one of them. Yes, it costs more than the iLife A4s Pro, but you get a whole lot more vacuum for the money. DreameBot L10s Ultra — Most sophisticated robot vacuum![]() Pros
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Price When Reviewed: $1,299.00
Best Prices Today: $999.99 at Amazon$1299.00 at Dreamebot
Dreametech now surpasses all other competitors with the most sophisticated robot vacuum on the market. The Dreamebot L10S Ultra not only vacuums with 5,300Pa of suction, its twin mopping pads forcefully scrub hard-surface flooring as effectively as a manual stick mop. It also eliminates the daily maintenance chores of empty a dustbin (its onboard dustbin empties into a large bag in its base station), and it scrubs clean–and then blow-dries with heated air–it own mop pads. While not maintenance free–you’ll eventually need to replace that dust bag, empty its dirty water bin, and refill its clean water bin–this vacuum frees you from two chores that must be performed much more frequently: Vacuuming and mopping. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra — Most sophisticated robot vacuum, runner-up![]() Pros
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Price When Reviewed: $1,399.99
Best Prices Today: $1,399.99 at Amazon$1399.99 at Roborock
Roborock’s S7 MaxV Ultra delivers a lot of features: It not only empties its own dustbin–an increasingly common feature on high-end robot vacs, but it also cleans itself and its mopping cloth, refills its water tank when needed, and creates 2D and 3D maps of your home’s interior. You can even use its onboard camera as roaming security camera to see and hear what’s going on inside your home while you’re away. Yeedi Vac Station — Best robot vacuum for pet hair![]() Pros
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Best Prices Today: $499.99 at Amazon
The Yeedi Vac Station automates vacuuming and mopping for easier maintenance of carpeted and hard-surface floors. Frequently asked questions about robot vacuums
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How much does a robot vacuum cleaner cost?The convenience robot vacuums provide come at a cost: As much as $1,400 at the high end, with many of the best models running no less than half that. To help you determine which ones are worth the expense, we tested models from some of the most popular brands in a real-world lab: my home, where the floors are punished daily by two kids, three cats, and a dog. I tasked each one with vacuuming a 400-plus square-foot space that includes low-pile carpet, hardwood flooring, and linoleum that was regularly littered with food crumbs, pet hair, tracked-in dirt, stray cat litter, and other debris. To maintain the real-world environment, each model also had to contend with random floor clutter during several cleanings. Be aware even the most premium robot vacuums are a supplement, not a substitute, for your stand-up vacuum. Despite manufacturer claims, most just don’t have the same suction power of an upright. Think of them as an easy way to maintain your floors in between deeper cleanings with your current vacuum.
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How do robot vacuums operate?Fundamentally, the robot vacuums in our guide all operate the same way: They autonomously maneuver around your home on a couple of wheels suctioning debris from your floors. Two to four brushes on the bottom—both rolling-style agitators and spinning side brushes—grab dirt from the floor and wall edges respectively, and guide it into the suction area or direct it straight to a small, filtered dustbin. When cleaning is complete, or their battery is running low, they return themselves to their charging dock. But just how they get the job done can differ across manufacturers and models.
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How do you control a robot vacuum?Autonomy puts the “robot” in “robot vacuum.” Virtually all models include an “automatic” mode that requires you to do nothing more than press a button on a remote, in an app, or on the vacuum itself to clean a room. This is great for ad-hoc cleaning, but most models can also be programmed to clean on a schedule. The latter scenario is great if you want them to work when you’re not home, or to create a regular cleaning routine. Some higher-end models also integrate with smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home, which allows you to control them using voice commands.
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Do robot vacuums have different cleaning modes?Just as your stand-up vacuum can be adjusted to clean either carpet or hard flooring, so to can a robot vac. Most feature the ability to change suction and other cleaning functions to adapt to different floor surfaces, either automatically or with input from you. They may also have a spot mode for more concentrated cleaning on a small area (cleaning up a spill, for example), include options for single- and double-passes of a room, or offer an option to focus just on cleaning along wall edges and baseboards.
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How do robot vacuums navigate rooms and avoid obstacles?The allure of robot vacuums is their promise to complete their task with minimal management from you. In order to do that, they must be able to navigate a room’s unique layout, maneuver around furniture and other obstacles, and avoid hazards such as falling down stairs and getting tangled in electrical cords. Robot vacuums “see” the world through a combination of sensors. Cliff sensors let it know when there is an increase in distance to the floor—e.g., stairs or a sunken living room—so it doesn’t tip over the edge. Other sensors tell it when it has bumped into an object, so it can change direction, or is near a wall, so it can follow it. Still other sensors help the robot vacuum track how far it has travelled. Depending on the manufacturer and model, a robot vac might also include sensors that determine the amount of dirt present so it can adjust its cleaning mode accordingly.
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How do robot vacuums avoid cleaning the same area twice or more?Manufacturers are increasingly including mapping capabilities in some of their robot vacuums. These models use an onboard camera or laser reflections to produce a 360-degree view of the room. This allows the robot vac to create a map of the space and locate itself within that map. The advantage of mapping is the vacuum will know which areas it has already cleaned and which it hasn’t, to avoid going over the same spot unnecessarily. It also lets it know where to resume cleaning if it must stop and recharge midway through the task. This makes it ideal for larger rooms and—because it’s still something of a premium feature—larger budgets.
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Can I prevent a robot vacuum from going into a particular room?In an ideal world, you’d clear all your floors of clutter before using your robot vacuum. But we live in the real one and that’s not always possible or desirable. Knowing this, many robot vacuums include some way to block off areas you don’t want it venturing into, whether it’s a pet’s area, your kids’ room, or a cluster of device cords in the corner. Often it’s just a length of magnetic tape you stretch in front of or on a forbidden area that the vacuum’s sensors will detect and tell it to avoid. But some models employ virtual barriers, such as the ability to designate boundaries on a floor plan that signal the robot to steer clear.
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Are all robot vacuums the same size?The dimensions of a robot vacuum matter for a couple of reasons. First, they will determine how well it can get into tight spots, such as under your kitchen cabinets and low-clearance furniture (couches and recliners). If it’s too tall, it won’t be able reach into these spots, or worse, it will get in and get stuck until you physically free it. Second, the bigger the robot vacuum, the larger the dustbin. Robot vacuums don’t use expandable bags like many of their stand-up brethren do, so when it comes to debris capacity, what you see is what you get. There is no sweet spot for robot vacuum dimensions that we could determine—it really depends on your particular room layout—but a diameter of 13 to 14 inches and a height of 3.5 to 4 inches are the most common measurements we encountered.
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Are Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuums inherently better than other types?Wi-Fi-enabled robot vacuums allow you to control them with a smartphone app instead of, or in addition to, a physical remote. That convenience alone doesn’t really warrant the extra cost these models command, but some model’s apps also provide other perks, such as detailed cleaning histories and the ability to save and edit floor maps for better navigation. Those models are worth considering if you’re cleaning large, intricate spaces.
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How can I avoid the chore of emptying a robot vacuum’s dustbin?While robot vacuums take over most of the cleaning, they have historically required the user to step in and manually empty the dustbin. Given that most robot vacuums’ have a very small dustbin capacity, they might need to be emptied multiple times per cleaning job, particularly if you have children or pets or live in a large home. That’s not just annoying, it can be downright uncomfortable if you have allergies or dust sensitivity. Auto-emptying robot vacuums bridge the last mile of the vacuuming process with a charging dock that includes a canister vacuum and a dust bag that can hold one to two months of debris. When the robot docks after a cleaning job, its bin’s contents are automatically sucked into the dust bag. Typically, the robot’s companion app alerts you when the dust bag is full, at which point you will have to manually dispose of it. Many bags, however, seal themselves when you remove them, so no dust escapes.
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Are there robot vacuums that can mop hard-surface floors, too?Some robot vacuums include a mopping capability to meet all your floor’s cleaning needs with one device. While this sounds like a great idea, in practice it often yields subpar results. The problem is the method these hybrid devices use for wet cleaning. Mopping robot vacuums include a flat, small-capacity water tank that you fill from your tap. A microfiber cloth is then attached to the bottom of the tank, and the tank is installed under the robot. As the robot rolls across the floor, it drags the dampened cloth over it. This usually removes surface grime and spills but leaves deeper dirt and stains behind. If you have a lot of hard flooring in your home, it’s worth considering a dedicated robot mop. These appliances are better suited to wet cleaning, spraying water directly on the floor to soften gunk and stains, and applying some agitation via a scrubbing pad or brush. If you still want a vac/mop hybrid, look for one that has spinning brushes or pads as opposed to a cloth that attaches to the bottom of the appliance. A model with a docking station that can clean those brushes or pads and reservoirs for clean and dirty water are even better. Those models will, of course, cost quite a bit more. via TechHive https://ift.tt/gl0QI1H
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At a glance
Expert's RatingPros
Cons
Our VerdictThe DreameBot D10s Plus delivers on its promise of efficient, automated vacuuming, but its average mopping performance means hands-on cleaning will still be required at times. Price When Reviewed$349.99 Best Prices Today: DreameBot D10s Plus
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Based on the name alone, you’d be forgiven for thinking not much separates Dreametech’s new DreameBot D10s Plus from the DreameBot D10 Plus we reviewed several months ago. But the 10s Plus has some feature enhancements that justify its slightly higher price tag, including AI-assisted obstacle avoidance, stronger suction, greater dust capacity, and a longer runtime. Cosmetically, the D10s Plus robot strongly resembles its sibling. Home, Dock, and Spot Cleaning buttons run along the tempered-glass top adjacent to a turret containing the robot’s laser distance sensor. A hinged lid conceals a 570mL dustbin that slots into the top of the robot. Recessed in the front bumper are a camera and AI visual sensor that enables the robot to identify rooms and obstacles, so it can suggest more efficient cleaning strategies. (The camera can also be used to remotely monitor your home, effectively turning the robot into a roaming sentinel.) The vacuum uses a rubber roller brush and single spinning side brush to sweep dust, debris, and pet hair from hard and carpeted floors. A 235mL water tank can be attached to the bottom of the robot for mopping.
The auto-empty base measures 16 x 12 x 20 inches. You need to clear 20 inches on each side of the base and 60 inches in front, to provide the robot easy ingress and egress. The base’s canister houses a 4L dust bag with an E12 HEPA Filter, which captures 99.5% of small particles. After each cleaning job is completed or when its dustbin is full, the robot returns to the base, and its dust box contents are sucked into the dust bag. Dreametech says the bag only needs to be changed about once every 65 days, which is about two-and-a-half times the average capacity of many other self-emptying robot vacuums and 20 days more than the D10 Plus.
![]() The Dreamebot D10s Plus recognizes and identifies objects on the floor and labels them on its map. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry Setup and performanceThe bulk of the setup process is clearing ample space for the base station. Once that’s squared away, you need only snap the side brush to the bottom of the robot and set it on the contacts to fully charge. The robot uses a 5,200mAh battery that when fully charged delivers up to 280 minutes of runtime according to Dreametech, that’s about 100 more minutes than the D10 Plus. While you’re waiting, you’ll need to download the Dreamehome app and scan the QR code beneath the robot’s lid. That will launch a wizard that prompts you through the process of connecting the vacuum to your Wi-Fi network. When you open the app for your first cleaning job, you’re given the option to have the robot map your space without vacuuming. This allows it to get the layout of your home in a fraction of the time it would take it to do so while cleaning at the same time. The robot divides the mapped floorplan into numbered rooms, which you can rename by tagging them with proper names (kitchen, bedroom, etc.) from a list. The map also labels any obstacles the robot identifies—including furniture, cables, and even shoes—with appropriate icons. You can modify any completed map to make it more accurate by splitting and merging rooms. You also to set virtual walls, no-go zones, and no-mop zones to keep the robot out of designated areas. The upside of all this tinkering is the ability to customize your cleaning. It allows you to send the robot to clean a specific room by selecting it on the map, choose the order in which rooms are cleaned, and save customized cleaning settings for each room. The D10s Plus offers the same four vacuum modes as the D10 Plus—Quiet, Standard, Strong, and Turbo—but it has a greater maximum suction of 5000Pa. In my week of testing, standard mode was sufficient for most household dirt, including pet hair. The robot automatically boosts suction on carpet, and it did a decent cleaning job on a pair of throw rugs in my living room. For whole-room cleaning, the robot starts by vacuuming along the walls and then cleans the rest of the room in an S-shaped pattern. To vacuum an area of concentrated dirt, you pause the robot and press the Spot Cleaning button; the robot will clean a 60 x 60-inch square-shaped area and then return to its starting point. ![]() The Dreamehome app makes it easy to edit maps, manage AI settings, an customize cleaning jobs. Michael Ansaldo/Foundry The D10s Plus has the same basic mop as the D10 Plus: a microfiber cloth attached to the bottom of the water tank. You need to dampen the cloth and install it on the tank, then fill the tank with tap water and slide it onto the bottom of the robot until it clicks into place. You can tailor water usage according to how dirty your floors are by selecting from three moisture levels in the app. For best results, Dreametech recommends you vacuum the floor three times before mopping it. Even then, the mopping results in my tests were average at best. Because the robot just drags the dampened cloth across the floor, it mostly removes surface dirt while leaving deeper grime and stains in place. The mopping cloth must be hand cleaned and air dried after each use. Most mopping robot vacuums I’ve used include a spare mopping cloth, but here–as with the D10 Plus–Dreametech doesn’t, so you’d be wise to purchase a backup. Dreametech sells a two-pack separately for $21.99. The Dreamehome app makes it easy to navigate the D10s Plus’s various features and settings. The most critical controls are accessible from the robot’s home screen. These include the current map, vacuum, and mopping modes, and real-time cleaning stats. You can schedule cleanings, view your cleaning history, customize AI recognition, and more in a separate settings menu. Overall, the D10s Plus did an admirable job keeping my floors free of dirt and pet hair while automating away the parts of vacuuming I hate most. The addition of AI obstacle avoidance was the X factor for me because, with kids and pets in my home, the floors are rarely clutter-free. The robot’s ability to recognize and avoid shoes, stray charging cables, video-game controllers, and the like meant I didn’t have to stick around in case it needed to be rescued. Its limited mopping capabilities didn’t put my stick mop out of a job though, so if you’re considering enlisting the D10s Plus in your war on dirt, calibrate your expectations accordingly or consider spending a bit more for the DreameBot W10, which uses pair of rotating mopping pads rather than a microfiber cloth to remove even the toughest stains. via TechHive https://ift.tt/BVF27es |