review

How To: Android Auto 5.5 for Navigation & Entertainment on a BMW S1000XR

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

The BMW S1000XR includes a factory navigation quick-disconnect coupler that accepts a third-party smartphone mount, eliminating the need for a dedicated GPS unit. This article covers installing that mount on an S1000XR and running Android Auto 5.5 on a Motorola G6, including navigation, music, and voice control. With Android Auto 5.5, Waze became available alongside Google Maps as a supported navigation option, giving riders a meaningful choice between the two platforms. Continue reading How To: Android Auto 5.5 for Navigation & Entertainment on a BMW S1000XR

How To: BMW S1000XR Horn Upgrade

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

The BMW S1000XR’s engine compartment is tight enough that the standard single-unit Denali horn will not fit, requiring the two-piece Split Dual-tone version instead. This guide walks through the complete parts list and the installation process, covering fairing removal, bracket mounting, air-hose routing, and wiring. I also address the challenge of routing the air hose away from engine heat. Continue reading How To: BMW S1000XR Horn Upgrade

How To: BMW S1000XR Farkles

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

“Farkle” blends “function” and “sparkle”, a term motorcycle riders use for aftermarket accessories that add performance, comfort, or safety. Here, I cover a curated set of farkles for the S1000XR, with installation notes for each. My guiding rule is to prioritize upgrades that carry over to a replacement bike, which shapes some counterintuitive recommendations against stock BMW options. Continue reading How To: BMW S1000XR Farkles

2016 BMW S1000XR Review: A New Journey Ahead

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

The BMW K1300S sits taller than most sports bikes, yet its stock geometry places the handlebars too low and the foot pegs too high for the tall riders it attracts. This article covers specific aftermarket fixes: Helibar risers, Knight Design lowered foot pegs, a Verholen gear shift extender, and a custom brake lever solution. The brake lever modification, improvised after a Verholen unit fell off on the interstate, is where the real-world problem-solving gets interesting. Continue reading 2016 BMW S1000XR Review: A New Journey Ahead

Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker with WiFi Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Food

Anova built its reputation on laboratory instruments before entering the consumer kitchen market. We test the WiFi-enabled Precision Cooker, examining its hardware specs, mobile and voice-assistant setup, and step-by-step use for sous vide cooking. Central to our experience is the Anova mobile app, which served as the primary interface for pairing, configuration, and monitoring a cook remotely. Continue reading Anova Sous Vide Precision Cooker with WiFi Review

Nikon D7500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D500, D7200 & D7100

Mike ConnellyPhotography

The Nikon D7500 shares its 20.9-megapixel sensor and EXPEED 5 processor with the flagship D500, giving it identical image quality at a lower price point. This review compares the D7500 against the D500, D7200, and D7100 across image quality, autofocus, speed, video, and battery life. The case for the D7500 weakens considerably once you account for its single card slot, reduced autofocus points, and the D500’s current street pricing. Continue reading Nikon D7500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D500, D7200 & D7100

Epiphone ES-339 P-90 PRO Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar Review

Mike ConnellyGuitars

The P-90 pickup, originally designed by Seth Lover for Gibson in the late 1940s, was eventually displaced by the humbucker it inspired. This review covers the Epiphone ES-339 P-90 PRO, a limited-edition semi-hollowbody built around a revival of that single-coil design, including its construction, electronics, and real-world performance. The central question is whether the P-90 PRO’s characteristic clean sparkle and overdriven growl justify choosing it over a humbucker-equipped alternative. Continue reading Epiphone ES-339 P-90 PRO Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar Review

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III Guitar Review

Mike ConnellyGuitars

Upgrading from the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-II to the Ultra-III centers on one key hardware addition: a built-in USB output that connects the guitar directly to a digital audio workstation. This review covers what changed between the two models and whether that upgrade justifies the switch. New ProBucker humbuckers, patterned after Gibson’s PAF-style BurstBuckers, are a notable addition alongside the USB interface. Continue reading Epiphone Les Paul Ultra-III Guitar Review

Fujifilm X100F Camera: Review & Comparison to the Fuji X100T

Mike ConnellyPhotography

The Fujifilm X100F uses the same 24.3MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor as Fuji’s flagship interchangeable lens cameras, X-Pro2 and X-T2, with a processor that Fuji rates four times faster than the X100T’s. This review covers the upgrades to sensor, autofocus, viewfinder, and controls. Focus points expand from 49 to 325, which may finally resolve the X100T’s persistent target-acquisition failures. Continue reading Fujifilm X100F Camera: Review & Comparison to the Fuji X100T

Nvidia Shield Android TV: 2017 Hardware & Shield Experience 5.1 Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

The Shield TV continues to be an anomaly: in 2017, it is by far the most powerful media streamer and a capable gaming platform though not as advanced as the Xbox One or Playstation 4, but costing nearly as much. While Google focuses on stripped down Chromecast devices and Chromecast-enabled TVs, Nvidia singularly showcases the advanced functionality of Android TV including DVR, media serving, gaming, and now smart home capabilities. Continue reading Nvidia Shield Android TV: 2017 Hardware & Shield Experience 5.1 Review

Line 6 Amplifi 150 Guitar Amplifier Review

Mike ConnellyGuitars

Line 6’s Amplifi 150 strips out the physical knobs and replaces them with an iPad app that controls over 70 amp models, 100 effects, and 20 speaker cabinets via Bluetooth. Here, we examine the remote app workflow and the hardware limitations discovered during testing. The amplifier performs differently in home practice versus live contexts, and the app-dependent control scheme is the reason why. Continue reading Line 6 Amplifi 150 Guitar Amplifier Review

iPhone 7 Plus Camera Review

Mike ConnellyPhotography

The iPhone 7 Plus is the first iPhone to carry two rear cameras: a wide-angle lens at f/1.8 and a 56mm telephoto with true 2x optical zoom. I examine what each change actually delivers in aperture, low-light performance, image stabilization, color accuracy, and optical zoom. Portrait mode is the reason most people will consider the upgrade, and this review tests it against real shooting conditions, including artificial bokeh at close range. Continue reading iPhone 7 Plus Camera Review

My First Motorcycle: 2008 BMW K1200S

Mike ConnellyMotorcycles

I still remember the day I caught the motorcycling bug. I was exploring the back roads of horse country and neighboring farms outside of Philadelphia. There was something about the freedom and adventure of the open road that just drew me in. This article covers my experience buying and riding the K1200S as a novice, including the safety course, aftermarket modifications, and five years of touring mid-Atlantic states. Continue reading My First Motorcycle: 2008 BMW K1200S

Nikon D500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D5, D7500, D7200 & D7100

Mike ConnellyPhotography

I upgraded to the Nikon D500, which carries the D5’s 153-point Multi-CAM 20K autofocus system in an APS-C body at roughly 30 percent of the flagship’s price. This review covers image quality, burst speed, video capabilities, and comparisons to the D7100, D7200, and D5. The resolution-versus-high-ISO trade-off relative to the D7200 is where the D500 either earns its cost premium or doesn’t. Continue reading Nikon D500 Camera: Review & Comparison to the Nikon D5, D7500, D7200 & D7100

Google Chromecast Audio with Multi-room Support Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

Google’s multi-room audio distribution technology is based on the success of their video casting platform, Chromecast. This article examines how it compares to the AirPort Express, focussing on signal stability, multiroom grouping, and support for both optical and analog output. The upgrade from older wireless standards enables a measurably more reliable connection under real listening conditions.
Continue reading Google Chromecast Audio with Multi-room Support Review