userreviews
Latest
Share your thoughts about Microsoft's Surface Laptop 2!
Microsoft's sequel to the Surface Laptop didn't just impress our reviewer last year -- the Surface Laptop 2 earned a strong score of 90, largely owing to its stunning design and fast performance. The keyboard and trackpad are a pleasure to use, the display is bright and crisp, and we also dig the new matte black color option. Also counted in the laptop's favor were upgrades to Windows 10 Home and 15-hour-plus battery life. However, we were less thrilled by the company's decision to continue using a proprietary charging port (which falls out easily) instead of switching to USB-C.
Amazon Echo Plus owners: Tell us what you think!
When we reviewed Amazon's updated Echo Plus, we concluded that the $120 device was a solid improvement with "some noticeable thump" and "crisper and more detailed" music tracks. But as a gadget that doubles as a smart home hub, it's less impressive. In particular, we were disappointed by the lack of support for Z-Wave or Lutron Clear Connect protocols, especially since the control over smart devices like the Hue bulbs felt basic and underwhelming for a smart home hub. While the audio and the price caught our attention, we ultimately didn't feel it was a necessary upgrade over the first-gen Echo.
Hey, Galaxy Note 9 owners: We want to hear from you
It's been four months since we reviewed Samsung's Galaxy Note 9, a handset that earned an unusually high score of 92. Since then, the phone has racked up a strong army of fans. When we tested it, we found it "lived up to its lofty expectations" with a large, brilliant AMOLED screen, significantly improved S Pen functionalities and an improved battery life that lasted around two days, on average. We also enjoyed the water resistance, fast Snapdragon 845 chip and the updated camera features. However, we were a little disappointed that the phone shipped with an outdated OS (Android Oreo). We also were less than impressed with Bixby, which reviewer Cherlynn Low said is "still kind of a mess." But that was our experience -- now we want to hear yours. A few of you have already submitted some thoughtful reviews of the Note 9 and have given the handset some outstanding scores, but we'd like to hear from even more real-world users. Are you using DeX mode much? Is the Intelligent Scan unlock feature working flawlessly for you? (Or does it fumble occasionally?) And how bad is Bixby, really? Share all your opinions and impressions on our Galaxy Note 9 database page and give it the score you think it deserves. Note: Comments have been turned off for this post, please submit your thoughts on the Galaxy Note 9 product page!
Tell us about your experiences with the Pixel 3 and 3 XL!
When Google released its latest Pixel phones back in October, we suggested in our review that the company had played it safe with the hardware. Even so, Android Pie (not to mention the Pixel-specific software tweaks Google made) are valuable enough that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are worth their $799-plus asking price. With features such as transcribing voicemail calls, expanded screen-time controls and dedicated image processing chips, the Pixel 3 and 3 XL earned impressive scores of 90 and 89, respectively. But we'd like to hear from those of you who actually bought either of these two handsets. Write your own review of these flagship smartphones on Engadget's product pages and weigh in on how they're working for you. You had a lot to say in the comments -- now it's your turn to tell us if you really hate that notch and if the photography features are worth upgrading for. Note: comments have been turned off for this post; please go to the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL review pages to leave your thoughts!
Apple fans: Tell us what you think of the Apple Watch Series 4
Apple's fourth and most recent smartwatch has been out for a few months, and in our review we deemed the device "bigger and better in every way that counts" and a "fleshed-out, worthy device in its own right." It earned a solid score of 87 thanks to its improved screen, new heart monitoring features and fun Walkie-Talkie conversations. In the course of testing the watch, we found the larger screen to be more immersive, resulting in fewer erroneous taps. The speaker is also louder (useful for Siri commands) and watchOS 5 performs snappily. Now we want to hear from you, the people who bought the thing. Does the edge-to-edge screen and more powerful processor make the Series 4 worth the upgrade? Have the advanced heart monitoring features been at all useful? Share your experiences over on our Apple Watch Series 4 buyer's guide page and let your fellow readers know how well the watch stacks up. Comments have been turned off for this post; please go to our Apple Watch Series 4 page to weigh in!
Netflix purges all user reviews like it said it would
If you're browsing Netflix for a new show to watch, don't bother looking for reviews on the platform to see if a title is worth your time. The streaming service is done purging user reviews -- a decade's worth of comments praising and excoriating shows, all gone. Under the question "How do I post reviews on Netflix?," the service's Help Center now says: "Netflix customers were able to leave reviews on Netflix.com until mid-2018, when reviews were removed due to declining use. To learn how Netflix suggests TV shows and movies we think you'll love, visit our Ratings & Recommendations article."
Netflix will remove user reviews from its website next month
Aside from a looming 'Ultra' tier that could raise prices while restricting features like 4K, HDR or simultaneous streams, Netflix has recently notified users of one feature that's definitely going away: written user reviews. While Netflix dropped the five-star rating system from its apps early last year, on the website users can still write down and share their thoughts.
Nintendo already pulled user reviews for Switch games
Last week, Nintendo began allowing customers to leave reviews for Switch games on its site. Along with leaving comments, reviewers could list themselves as a Nintendo fan, core gamer, casual player or a parent and they could also tag their review with a number of descriptions such as kid appropriate, immersive or great characters. But, as Polygon reports, customer reviews have already been suspended and there's no word on when or if they might be back.
AI writes Yelp reviews that pass for the real thing
On any given day, hordes of people consult online reviews to help them pick out where to eat, what to watch, and products to buy. We trust that these reviews are reliable because they come from everyday folk just like us. But, what if the feedback blurbs on sites ranging from Amazon to iTunes could be faked -- not just by nefarious humans, but by AI? That's what researchers from University of Chicago tried to do, with surprising results. Not only did the Yelp restaurant reviews written by their neural network manage to pass for the real thing, but people even found the posts to be useful.
Google automatically translates local reviews when you travel
We all use user-generated reviews to figure out what points of interest are worth checking out. If you're traveling in a country where you don't speak the language, however, the reviews you rely on are usually in the local tongue. Google has a new feature to help you out. The company will now automatically translate reviews into your native language without any effort on your part.
Tell us how you really feel about Windows 10
Windows 10 became available for download last week, and in our review we hailed it as the "most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft." We were able to recommend it "without any hesitation," and with free upgrades for Windows 7 and 8 users, there are plenty of reasons to give it a shot. Sure, a few other outlets have reported running into some bugs, which might be a good reason to hold back. But that didn't stop over 14 million people from making the leap within the first 24 hours. So, we'd like to know what our intrepid readers think. Write us a user review on Engadget's Windows 10 database page to tell us all about the highs and lows of what Microsoft is calling "the last version of Windows ever," and we'll feature the most interesting or insightful ones in an upcoming post.
Tell us how you really feel about the Microsoft Band
When we published our list of Engadget's lowest-scored gadgets last month, quite a few readers took issue with the inclusion of the Microsoft Band on that list. In our original review, we dinged it for its poor battery life and for being incredibly uncomfortable, knocking the Band down to a score of 65 and placing it near the bottom of products we evaluated in 2014. But in the end, our review is really just one experience with Microsoft's new fitness tracker. Now we'd like to hear what you, our readers, thought of the Microsoft Band. Was it comfortable on your wrist? Do you love the plethora of sensors offered in the device? How do you feel about the Microsoft Health service? Leave your thoughts in a review on the product page for the Microsoft Band, and we'll feature the most interesting and insightful comments in a future post.
One year in, here's what our readers think of the Xbox One
Since the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One launched in North America last year, our readers have had plenty of time to get to know both systems. Last week, we took a look at what you had to say about the PlayStation 4 one year in. Now, we're shining a light on what you think of the Xbox One on its first anniversary. What works and what doesn't? And what still needs improvement?
Tell us how you really feel about the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4
It's been almost a year since the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were released in North America, with sales reaching over 15 million units combined worldwide. While we reviewed both consoles, giving the Xbox One an Engadget score of 81 and the PS4 a score of 83, what we reviewed were the systems as they existed at launch, with some great features and a few kinks, but still lots of potential. Since then, plenty has happened for both machines -- like Xbox One shedding its mandatory Kinect unit and the release of a few marquee titles like Titanfall and Destiny. To find out where each system stands today, we turn to you, our readers, to let us know about your own experiences with the two consoles. How many games have you bought? Which do you play every day? Do you still make use of options like voice control? Write a detailed review of the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 on their product pages to let us know, and we'll feature a few of the most insightful comments in our roundup posts next month. Image credit: Javier Domínguez Ferreiro/Flickr
Here's what our readers are saying about the Surface Pro 3
With the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft tried yet again to build a tablet that can replace your laptop, but critics found it fell just shy of that goal. Engadget's own Dana Wollman said that despite being "easier than ever to use as a tablet," the Surface still has some "serious usability flaws," including a keyboard that "offers a subpar typing experience and a frustrating trackpad." CNET liked the keyboard, but says that the Pro 3 "still doesn't fit perfectly on the lap" and that it's "more successful as a tablet than a laptop replacement." But despite these issues, there's still plenty to like about the Surface Pro 3, as evidenced by the readers who added the Pro 3 to their have list and wrote a user review recounting their experiences.
Here's what our readers are saying about the new HTC One
The HTC One (M8) has been a hit with critics: Our own Brad Molen calls it "a great smartphone that does a lot of fantastic things," while Laptop Magazine goes so far as to say it's "the best Android phone on the market." But now that the M8 has hit all four major carriers in the US and has had a chance to stretch its legs out in the wild, how has it fared in long-term, day-to-day usage? To find out, we turn to user reviews, written by erudite Engadget readers like yourself, and they certainly haven't held anything back.
Google Play lets top devs reply to user reviews, smack down trolls
Are you an Android developer with an app in Google Play? Do you have a Top Developer badge? Well rejoice, because starting right now Google will let select developers reply to user reviews right from the safety, warmth and comfort of the Android Developer Console -- perfect for when you need to put the smackdown on those undeserving trolls give feedback to your beloved customers or share information about a new feature. Users are then notified by email about replies to a review and have the option to contact the developer directly. "Google continues to make investments in Google Play and we are excited to engage with our users through this new feature" said Autumn Brown, Android Account Director at EA. Google plans to extend the functionality to additional developers in the future. Isn't dialogue wonderful? Screenshot and PR after the break.
