TiVo Bolt+ Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
TiVo
TiVo’s Bolt+ might be the shock your home entertainment system has needed.
Just about a year ago, TiVo introduced the Bolt, a single smaller, speedier box for watching and recording cable or over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts, as well as streaming over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube and more.
But for those in need of an expansive multiroom solution, the Bolt came up short in tuners — it has just four — and storage maxed out at 1TB, enough for about 150 hours of HD content. The Bolt+, on the other hand, has six tuners, so adding a TiVo Mini extender or two (each of which uses one of the Bolt’s tuners for streaming live TV) still leaves you extra tuners for recordings. And with 3TB of storage you can record up to 450 hours of HD programming.
Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of being able to watch and record OTA broadcasts. Otherwise, the Bolt+ gets all of the Bolt’s performance and feature enhancements, including SkipMode for blowing past commercial breaks with a single button press, in- and out-of-home streaming of your recordings, and 4K support for Netflix and YouTube.
Also, TiVo would really like to remind you the Bolt+ (and the cable/OTA Bolt for that matter) support Plex, just in case you had it in your head that an HDHomeRun would be a better option.
The TiVo Bolt+ costs $500, not including the monthly service fee. It will be available on September 15 through TiVo’s site, Amazon, Magnolia stores and custom install dealers across the US.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5
With the latest addition to the popular Galaxy Note series, Samsung decided to make the leap from 5 to 7. As is the case whenever a new generation of a device comes out, the question on everyone’s mind is whether it is a worthy upgrade.
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In doing so, we can also revisit the 5th version of the Galaxy Note, and find if it is still a phone you can keep in your pocket, or save a little bit of money on, instead of the latest and greatest that Samsung has to offer. This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs the Galaxy Note 5.
Buy the Galaxy Note 5
Design
The glass and metal unibody construction that was introduced with the Galaxy S7 was not just an experiment, but rather the baseline for the design that Samsung was going to use going forward. This was made abundantly clear when the Galaxy Note 5 was released, even though plenty believed that having the Galaxy Note device taking the lead of the S line, and not the other way around, brought the former down a peg in importance.
One design aspect helped soften the blow, however, which was the curve on the back of the device that made it easier to hold. This curve, when on the front, was rather controversial with the Galaxy S6 Edge and its larger, S-Penless brother, but putting it on the back was a simple, but significant glimpse, into how it could help with handling.
That said, the Galaxy Note 5 is still a large device, through and through. Since we have the Galaxy Note 7 in our hands now, it seems like a long time ago that such a large phone with a sharp metal frame was the norm. While the Galaxy Note 5 feels a little larger than the two, both have the same large canvas that plenty of users clamor for.
Now, that curve on the back of the Galaxy Note 5 makes even more sense , because it has been married to the front curve, with its successor. There’s no getting around it, this is the next baseline going forward. The edge is the norm for the Galaxy Note 7, not an extra version that will be built alongside what used to be the existing flagship. It’s a feature, not a novelty, and Samsung wants that to be official.
Samsung continues to provide the familiar aspects, including the home tactile button, button layout, and even the heart rate sensor, with the S Pen nestled to the bottom right portion of the phone, and now, the curved display is a part of that lexicon.
In the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung threw everything at their flagship device and the result is a phone that does continue the path that the Galaxy S7 Edge paved, but surpasses it. Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 7 can stand alone, and it does. Handling is better on the Note 7 in pretty much every way, and seeing and holding both phones together plainly shows the evolution.
Some key issues were also addressed in the new Galaxy Note, most importantly, the S Pen going in backwards and breaking. This time around, the Pen won’t even go into the slot backwards more than just a little bit. If you aren’t careless with the S Pen, this probably won’t be a big problem anyway, but Samsung did well to address one of the few issues that actually got a lot of press.
Display
The screen of the Galaxy Note 5 is still one of the better ones out there, featuring a Quad HD resolution, and sporting the Screen Off Memo that proved to be a useful, quick tool for jotting down notes or small pieces of information. That returns in the Galaxy Note 7, which has the same Super AMOLED display with the same specs, but sports a couple of enhanced features.
Basically, the Screen Off Memo returns again, but can be pinned to the new feature, the Always On Display. Coming straight from the Galaxy S7 line, the AOD can show a clock, some text, an image, or a calendar, so there is always information available even in standby.
Of course, there is also the new Edge UX, which comes from the S7 Edge and provides no new features. Empirically, this is one of the new features that the Galaxy Note 5 simply doesn’t boast, making the Galaxy Note 7 the easier device to recommend overall.
Performance
Performance on the Galaxy Note 5 continues to hold up, but that brings up an interesting aspect of this comparison, and when revisiting the old device, which came out at a time when Samsung was sticking to its own guns.
The Exynos 7420 is a more than capable processing package, enough to power all typical tasks of today’s smartphone user. We’ve even had a good time with Pokemon GO on the Galaxy Note 5, even it doesn’t last too long because of its smaller battery.
With the Galaxy Note 7, the Exynos is kept to markets outside of the US, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 reigns in the West. That doesn’t pose a problem for performance though, because both do a great job with keeping the phone speedy.
Where we found a little bit of an issue was in the amount of RAM. Going over the standard 4GB is still a bit of a rarity in today’s smartphone world, but considering the exorbitant amount of features and capabilities in the Galaxy Note 7, it felt like having a bit more could have kept the phone from getting bogged down. Or, at the very least, it would keep the user from having to clean it up in the the Device Maintenance area from time to time.
Hardware
Part of what made the design change in the Galaxy Note 5 a bit harder to handle was the move away from what power users wanted. The move to glass and metal bodies made removable backings impossible, which cut off the access to the replaceable batteries and expandable storage. The lack of both hurt plenty of users, but expandable storage was more missed, when users had to settle for 32GB.
We have a plethora of users at Android Authority with different needs, and found that the power users who did a lot of gaming definitely had an issue with this, while the more moderate users were able to make it work for a long time until the pictures and videos took up all the space. No matter where users are on the spectrum, that amount of space was about as finite as it could get.
Which is why the Galaxy Note 7 continues to impress, mostly because it was able to address all of that in a couple simple moves, with 64GB of on-board storage, and the return of microSD card expansion. Not to mention Samsung put another foot forward by releasing a 256GB microSD card that will make all storage woes go away.
The speaker is still bottom mounted and just isn’t very good at overall sound and volume. The headphone experience gets enhanced with customizable EQ settings, though.
3,500 mAh brought the Galaxy Note 7 to a proper part of the power spectrum, where we’ve so far found a nice long amount of battery life, especially with moderate usage. Thankfully fast charging has really moved forward in efficiency as well, so the Note 7 benefits from even just half an hour of charging to get to 50% battery.
Wireless charging returns, too, so that getting power doesn’t have to be a tethered affair. If better battery life and faster charging are important, and we know it is, the Note 7 continues to iterate in the right ways.
Which makes Samsung’s main addition a pretty big deal for the Note 7. The fingerprint reader on the Note 5 was already a good and fast biometric security feature, but the next step in such measures comes in the form of iris scanning.
A dedicated camera near the front facing camera does an infrared scan for a registered pair of eyes. Simply swipe up on the lock screen and gaze into the camera. For anyone that is looking for a little more security and ways of unlocking the phone, the Iris Scanner is definitely a “wow” feature, and can be used in conjunction with the fingerprint reader.
Camera
The cameras of the Galaxy Note 5 still have the specs of a high-end device, and continue to be reliable even a year after the phone was released. Compared to Galaxy the Note 7, it is just a few steps back in terms of sheer capabilities, but overall it continues to be a very good picture companion.
Sporting 16 MP shooter with a f/1.9 aperture, the Galaxy Note 5 doesn’t quite have the low light performance of the Note 7, that has 12 MP dual-pixel camera with a f/1.7 aperture. While the focus speed of the latter is definitely faster, it is one of the only advantages that can easily be experienced.
I used the Galaxy Note 5 in New York when we were getting to know the Note 7 for the first time. It proved to be an easy companion to have for all sorts of pictures and videos, including the occasional vlog or Instagram story.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 camera samples
So, to that end, the pictures between these two aren’t too far off in quality. Structurally speaking, the lower aperture of the Note 7 means slightly better bokeh for softened backgrounds, and that is also true for the front-facing camera.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 camera samples
Overall, the pictures and videos coming out of either phone show that Samsung has continued to provide some of the best camera experiences in the world of Android. While there are definitely some advantages to having the Note 7’s cameras, we don’t see there being much problem with the Note 5, given that video and picture quality hasn’t made any big steps or leaps since its inception.
Software
Finally, the software for both of these phones is still pretty similar, with the Galaxy Note 7 basically adding a few coats of polish over the existing Samsung UI. Touchwiz isn’t quite the name that they use for the software anymore though, and for good reason.
Especially with the Note 7, there has been some cleaning up in what used to be a bloated and very cartoonish interface. While some of those elements are still around, there is a noticeable unification to it all, that makes the Note 7 look a bit better on the inside.
That said, these are still some of the most feature packed software packages available, and more so with the Galaxy S7, because of the addition of the Iris Scanner, the Edge UX, and the Always On Display. Some other additions include the the Blue Light Filter and the enhancements to the S Pen.
The S Pen can now translate words, magnify elements on the screen, and create GIFs. All of these features were delved into more in the full review of the Note 7, coming eventually to the conclusion that they do add to the overall S Pen experience, even if they are tools that are situationally useful.
Strip that all away and the software experience is essentially that of the Note 5. Which makes this comparison a bit simple. If all that was added onto the Note 7 experience doesn’t really entice you to upgrade or even go further than the 5th version of the line, then the Note 5 can provide all of the elements that you may be used to already.
MultiWindow, Pop Up View, existing Screen Write and Notes capabilities, and even theming abilities are still all available and viable. It comes down to one simple question – are the additions in the Note 7 and the interface polish enough to put it over the top?
Specs comparison
| Display | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 518 ppi |
5.7-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 534 ppi |
| Processor | 2.15 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor Adreno 530 GPU |
2.1 GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 7420 processor Mali-T760MP8 GPU |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32/64 GB expandable via microSD card up to 256 GB |
32/64/128 GB not expandable |
| Camera | 12 MP rear camera, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens |
16 MP rear camera, f/1.9 aperture, OIS, LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS USB Type-C (USB 3.1) |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS microUSB 2.0 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 3,000 mAh |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm 169 grams |
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm 171 grams |
Gallery
Final thoughts
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5! A lot of this comparison shows how the Note 7 is the definitely the phone to beat. Better on-board and expandable storage, a bigger battery, and the new features make the Note line feel fresh again. Or at the very least, it makes us feel the way the Note 5 failed to when it was first released.
However, that doesn’t mean that the Galaxy Note 5 isn’t a good value in and of itself. Even without the leaps forward, it was still a top 2015 device, and some believed it could only be surpassed by the next Galaxy S and, in this case, the new Galaxy Note.
Without some of the many features that make up the incredibly stacked package of the Note 7, the Note 5 continues to be a good and reliable daily driver. If you need the best, the latest, or the capabilities that appeal to the power user, then the Note 7 might be the phone that you’ve been waiting for.
That said, users still using the Galaxy Note 5 have a lot to be happy about. If you have, however, been holding onto an even older phone and need to save a little bit of money, the tradeoffs between these two devices, while significant, are not immediately dealbreaking. The Galaxy Note 5 still has ability to be a viable choice in today’s smartphone climate, which makes it a value that users should definitely consider if these are the two phones in contention.
Buy the Galaxy Note 5
Fluance Signature Series Floorstanding Speakers review – CNET
The Good The Fluance Signature Series Floorstanding Speakers look like a million bucks with an attractive piano finish and striking yellow midrange driver. The huge 8-inch drivers are able to deliver all but the very deepest of bass.
The Bad Poor documentation about how to install the floor spikes. Competitors offer more flexibility and smoother sound for the same or less.
The Bottom Line The Fluance Signature Series Hi-Fi Three-Way Floorstanding Speakers offer gorgeous looks, impressive size and exciting sound quality.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
At the budget end of the A/V spectrum, Canadian company Fluance has been making its name as a high-quality speaker manufacturer since the turn of the century. After a run of seriously impressive Bluetooth speakers, the company is spreading its design wings and gliding from entry-level up into enthusiast territory with its new Signature Series floorstanders.
The Signature Series Hi-Fi Three-Way Floorstanding Speakers are available separately for $799 or as part of a 5.0 system (with surrounds and a center channel, but no subwoofer) for $999.
We first encountered the Signature Series in February 2016 and were unimpressed with what we heard. While movie sound was fine, the speakers couldn’t attempt any kind of music at all. We scored them a 6.6 out of 10. But it appears the company has made some tweaks, and while the outward design appears identical, we’re happy to say the wait has been worth it.
The floorstanders’ main strength remains the sizable 8-inch drivers, which virtually do away with the need for a separate subwoofer. But the midrange has now had the upgrade the speakers deserved. Music is expressive, wide-open and has a dynamic heft it lacked before.
While the Fluance’s main attraction is their overwhelming size and astonishing looks, the designers have tried to ensure that the speakers now sound every bit their $800. To the designer’s credit, we can say they’ve been quite successful.
Meanwhile, Fluance representatives have informed us if customers who bought their speakers in 2016 have an issue they should contact Fluance to discuss replacement (with potential shipping costs covered).
Editors’ note: This review has been updated to reflect the new version of the speakers available as of September 2016. The rating has been raised to account for the improved sound.
Design
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
It seems Fluance is participating in an arms race to create the biggest speakers possible, a race in which it is the only participant. The company’s previous flagship, the Fluance XL7F, was a stupendously large speaker. We said at the time that it dwarfed the others before it.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
Well, imagine a school bus being swallowed by a sperm whale and you get an idea of how big the new Signature Series is. At 4 feet tall, they could be the largest consumer speakers we’ll ever see in the CNET audio lab.
And heavy. At 62.4 pounds per speaker, you’ll definitely need help from a friend to set them up.
View full gallery Sarah Tew/CNET
The Fluance is a three-way speaker with a 1-inch silk dome tweeter and a 5-inch yellow glass fiber driver, which looks smaller than it is thanks to the enormous dual 8-inch bass woofers it sits above.
The crossover network seems to have had some attention this time around, for while the original points were set at (an insanely high) 1.2kHz and 2.3kHz to the tweeter, the blend is much more natural.
Laurastar Smart Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Ashlee Clark Thompson/CNET
I hate wrinkles. I also hate ironing my clothes. So I’m probably not the target audience for the more-than $1,000 smart ironing system that a Swiss company debuted at an international trade show. Yes, you read that correctly.
The Laurastar Smart was on display last week at the IFA trade show in Berlin. The Laurastar Smart, which will start at $1,400 (roughly £1,050 in the UK and AU$1,825) when it comes to the US in the coming months, includes an ironing board with a built-in water tank and filter and a Bluetooth-enabled iron.
The iron connects to an app that provides ironing tutorials and real-time guides to improve your ironing technique, just in case you’ve reached that point in your life when you can afford a $1,400 iron but don’t know how to use it. The app also gives you statistics about your equipment, such as your water levels, how much your ironing board cover is wearing and information about how much time you really spend ironing, a fun tidbit you can throw out at cocktail parties whilst wearing a crisp button-down that you ironed yourself.
Laurastar has spent more than 35 years making high-end ironing systems, some of which cost as much as $3,000 (about £2,250 and AU$3,910), according to the company’s website, so the shocking price isn’t new to its product line. Some features of its products include “a blower and vacuum system to prevent unwanted creases” and an integrated steam generator. And it looks like real-life people have not only bought, but like their expensive ironing system.
The casual ironer won’t need such an involved and expensive system as the Laurastar Smart or the brand’s other products. But maybe folks who iron a lot like seamstresses and tailors would find it useful? Honestly, I’m struggling to come up with a worthwhile reason to buy an iron that costs as much as an oven.
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- For all of CNET’s coverage from IFA, click here
Hunter 44157 review – CNET
The Good The $25 Hunter 44157 thermostat hides all of its clutter under a convenient plastic case. Its blue backlight makes the display easier to read in low-light conditions.
The Bad This thermostat’s ambient temperature reading was consistently 2 degrees lower than the four competitors I tested alongside it. I heard a faint, but distinct humming sound every time I pressed a button.
The Bottom Line I like the design of this simple programmable thermostat, but its low temperature reading and humming sound make it hard to recommend.
I recently moved from a home with a Wi-Fi-enabled Nest Learning Thermostat to a home with a very old, very basic programmable temperature controller. Maybe it’s because I regularly write about connected thermostats, but I find my comparatively “simpler” model much more confusing.
So I decided to investigate. Is this the case with all inexpensive programmable models or just mine? After testing out the Lux TX500U and the Honeywell RTHL2310B, I realized some affordable thermostats are fairly straightforward. Others, like the $25 programmable 44157 by Hunter, unfortunately aren’t.
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You can only set two programs with 5-2 thermostats like the 44157 — one for the weekdays and another for the weekends. That means this Hunter thermostat is fairly limited in terms of features.
At the same time, it has a jumble of buttons that aren’t particularly responsive, a faint, but annoying buzzing/humming sound that emanates from the thermostat for a brief period after you press any button, and an ambient temperature reading that runs roughly 2 degrees cooler on average than any of the other four models we tested alongside it.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
Ultimately, you’re only spending 25 bucks on this thing, so it isn’t a huge loss if you just bought Hunter’s 44157 for your home. You will have to interact with it to set programs and to override those programs during times when you want manual control, though. And this thing is downright annoying. I’d get the $30 Lux TX500U or the $25 Honeywell RTHL2310B instead.
Note: This thermostat is compatible with basic heating and cooling systems; click here for more details. If you have questions about installation, consult a professional.
Comparing thermostats
| Honeywell RTHL2310B | Hunter 44157 | Emerson 1F78-151 | White-Rodgers P200 | Lux TX500U |
| MSRP: $25 Lowe’s: $24.98 | MSRP: $25 Amazon: $20.59 | MSRP: $43 Amazon: $26 | MSRP: $50 Amazon: $23.77 | MSRP: $30 Amazon/Home Depot: $30 |
| White | White | White | White | White |
| Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AA |
| Yes, green | Yes, blue | No | Yes, green | Yes, blue |
| 4.75 x 3.4 x 1 inches | 8 x 6 x 1.6 inches | 6.2 x 4.2 x 1.8 inches | 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches | 5.4 x 3.4 x 1.1 inches |
| Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital |
| Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-1-1 | Yes, 5-2 |
Emerson 1F78-151 review – CNET
The Good The Emerson 1F78-151 thermostat reliably automates your weekday and weekend temperature presets.
The Bad It feels cheap, has a particularly bland design and doesn’t come with a backlight for making manual adjustments in low-light conditions.
The Bottom Line Emerson’s 1F78-151 programmable thermostat is fine, but its competitors offer more in terms of features and design.
Of the five affordable programmable thermostats I’ve reviewed to date, Emerson’s $43 1F78-151 — sold on Amazon for $26 — is the least interesting. Sure, it will dutifully adjust the temperature for you four times a day, but it really doesn’t have much else going for it, and that makes it hard to recommend for purchase over most of its competitors.
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To begin, the 1F78-151 doesn’t come with a backlight like the Lux TX500U, the Hunter 44157, the White-Rodgers P200 and the Honeywell RTHL2310B. Of course, not having a “nightlight” feature isn’t exactly a deal-breaker at this price range, but it would definitely make the small display easier to read — especially in low-light situations.
This thermostat also feels cheaply made from its white plastic casing to its buttons and its display. I know, all of these thermostats cost at or under $30, so what should I expect? But some of these competitors really do stand out by comparison, especially the streamlined, backlit Lux TX500U.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
To appear more minimal, many manufacturers attach a plastic covering to their thermostats. That way, you can flip open the covering when you need to access certain buttons and can otherwise keep them covered. Instead, Emerson’s 1F78-151 displays everything up front in a way that looks cluttered.
Its default is also to flash the time and the current ambient temperature reading, something I find slightly annoying. I would much rather the thermostat display stay fixed and not alternate between different types of information. The Emerson 1F78-151 is decent, but I would consider the Lux TX500U or the Honeywell RTHL2310B instead.
Note: This thermostat is compatible with basic heating and cooling systems; click here for more details. If you have questions about installation, consult a professional.
Comparing thermostats
| Honeywell RTHL2310B | Hunter 44157 | Emerson 1F78-151 | White-Rodgers P200 | Lux TX500U |
| MSRP: $25 Lowe’s: $24.98 | MSRP: $25 Amazon: $20.59 | MSRP: $43 Amazon: $26 | MSRP: $50 Amazon: $23.77 | MSRP: $30 Amazon/Home Depot: $30 |
| White | White | White | White | White |
| Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AA |
| Yes, green | Yes, blue | No | Yes, green | Yes, blue |
| 4.75 x 3.4 x 1 inches | 8 x 6 x 1.6 inches | 6.2 x 4.2 x 1.8 inches | 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches | 5.4 x 3.4 x 1.1 inches |
| Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital |
| Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-1-1 | Yes, 5-2 |
Honeywell RTHL2310B review – CNET
The Good The $25 Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat reliably switches among preprogrammed temperature settings and it looks fairly nice for the price.
The Bad I had to grab the user manual to figure out how to program it.
The Bottom Line Get the Honeywell RTHL2310B if you want a basic, affordable thermostat that you can program to suit your schedule.
The Honeywell RTHL2310B thermostat isn’t anything like the high-end Wi-Fi enabled models we’ve reviewed so far. It isn’t fancy or innovative and it isn’t trying to be…and I like that.
Available at chain retailers like Lowe’s for just $25, the RTHL2310B keeps things simple. This temperature controller can also autoadjust four times throughout the day to manage your Wake, Leave, Return and Sleep schedules for you.
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As with other 5-2 thermostats, you can create two different schedules — one for weekdays and one for weekends. One obvious limitation here is that a lot of schedules don’t conform to the predictable 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday work week. And some, myself included, may not keep to the same schedule on Saturday and Sunday. But if your life is at least fairly predictable, the RTHL2310B is worth consideration because the preprogrammed settings work.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
But you’ll want to plan for minor frustration at the outset. It isn’t all that easy to figure out how to create the custom programs. That’s mainly because the Set, Hold and Run buttons aren’t very clear. Give your user manual a quick glance, though, and you’ll be on your way to a simple preprogrammed 5-2 schedule in no time.
Honeywell’s RTHL2310B is about as basic as it gets for a programmable thermostat. Still, its customizable 5-2 program gives you a degree of HVAC automation and for some folks, that’s more than enough.
Note: This thermostat is compatible with basic heating and cooling systems; click here for more details. If you have questions about installation, consult a professional.
Comparing thermostats
| Honeywell RTHL2310B | Hunter 44157 | Emerson 1F78-151 | White-Rodgers P200 | Lux TX500U |
| MSRP: $25 Lowe’s: $24.98 | MSRP: $25 Amazon: $20.59 | MSRP: $43 Amazon: $26 | MSRP: $50 Amazon: $23.77 | MSRP: $30 Amazon/Home Depot: $30 |
| White | White | White | White | White |
| Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AAA | Yes, two AA | Yes, two AA |
| Yes, green | Yes, blue | No | Yes, green | Yes, blue |
| 4.75 x 3.4 x 1 inches | 8 x 6 x 1.6 inches | 6.2 x 4.2 x 1.8 inches | 6.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches | 5.4 x 3.4 x 1.1 inches |
| Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital | Digital |
| Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-2 | Yes, 5-1-1 | Yes, 5-2 |
White-Rodgers P200 review – CNET
The Good White-Rodgers’ P200 programmable thermostat lets you program Saturday and Sunday separately; it also comes with a backlight and a simple, discreet design.
The Bad I wish the display didn’t flash between the current time and the current ambient temperature.
The Bottom Line The White-Rodgers P200 is a solid option for anyone in search of an affordable thermostat with bonus weekend programming options.
You can find the $50 White-Rodgers P200 programmable thermostat for much less at most major retailers. In particular, it’s available for $24.79 at Home Depot and for $23.77 on Amazon. While it certainly isn’t a fancy thermostat, it still has a lot to offer and I can comfortably recommend it.
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What it lacks in modern design appeal, it makes up for with a bonus feature: 5-1-1 programming.
The other four thermostats I reviewed in this price range offer 5-2 programming — that means you set one heating and cooling schedule for Monday through Friday and a second schedule for the weekend. With a 5-1-1 thermostat, Monday through Friday has the same single shared program as before, but you can program Saturday and Sunday separately to give you more customization options.
That way, if your weekend routine involves hitting the gym or going to work on Saturday morning and sleeping in a bit more on Sunday, you can program the P200 accordingly.
Lux TX500U review – CNET
The Good A large display, strong blue backlight and an intuitive control panel make the $30 Lux TX500U easy to recommend.
The Bad Its plastic covering is flimsy and fell off once during use.
The Bottom Line The Lux TX500U strikes a balance between value and function, making it my top pick if you’re in the market for a basic programmable thermostat.
The Lux TX500U is my favorite all-around option for an affordable programmable thermostat, one that I would highly recommend. Available for $30 on Amazon, Home Depot and elsewhere, the TX500U is slightly pricier than the other basic models I’ve tested. But this one is worth the extra 5 bucks.
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Its main display features up and down arrow buttons and a hold button, with everything else tucked behind a plastic covering that folds down with ease. The covering is pretty flimsy, and it popped off once when I wanted to make some adjustments t0 the program settings.
It does keep the thermostat looking pleasantly minimal, though.
In other thermostat news:
- These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
- Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
- Same great Nest, now with even better looks
- Thermostat buying guide
The TX500U also features a Next button. This may not seem like a big deal, but it made it much easier to figure out how to create programs. Most of the models I’ve tested in this price range double up on buttons so that a Program button also acts as a Next button. Not so with the TX500U.
Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Sony
If there was ever a camera type that desperately needed optical image stabilization, it’s action cams. Oddly, though, it hasn’t been available until now on the new 4K-resolution Sony Action Cam X3000R and full HD AS300.
The cameras were announced earlier this year for other regions, including the UK and Australia, but they are now making their way to the US. While Sony and others have had electronic image stabilization (EIS) in the tiny, mountable cameras, EIS typically hurts image quality, narrows the field of view and reduces resolution.
Sony’s BOSS system joins the lens and sensor to counteract shake.
Sony
Sony’s BOSS system, which stands for Balanced Optical SteadyShot, joins the camera’s lens and image sensor into one unit that moves together to compensate for camera shake. Since it’s mechanical and not electronic, you get the full view from its 17mm ultrawide-angle lens (35mm equivalent) and in 4K or full HD.
The two new cameras can be paired with an updated version of Sony’s Live-View Remote that the electronics giant says is 30 percent smaller than the previous model. The remote gives you a view from the camera and full controls, which now includes being able to power the camera on and off using low-power Bluetooth. Sony also improved the interface and menu system and added a high-power Wi-Fi mode so the remote can be used from greater distances from the camera.
The 4K Sony FDR-X3000 arrives in late September for $400 or $550 bundled with the Live-View Remote (as the X3000R). The full HD HDR-AS300 is $300 for the body only or $450 with the remote. Pricing for the X3000 bundle in the UK is £500 and AU$650 in Australia. The AS300 bundle in Australia is AU$500, but is currently not listed for availability in the UK.
AIVAnet 