Second Opinion Reviews: Recent Episodes
The Nexus TV
Second Opinion is a reviews show about anything and everything under the sun. If we can experience it, we can review it.
Ian is a utilitarian cyclist to the core, and is there a more pure expression of that than traveling from one metro area to another by bike? The Marin Four Corners is designed to take you the distance, at an affordable price. Come find out if they hit the mark!
Ian and Brandon have both ridden the Sirrus more than any other bike. And while neither of them currently ride it on a regular basis, they have a lot to say about how it fits into various types of lifestyles.
With just a modest collection of tools, you can make most adjustments and fix most problems that commonly come up while riding a bike! In this episode, Ian shows what he has with him at all times on his bike, and discusses three ways of carrying those tools.
That triangle in the middle of your bike frame isn't doing you any good sitting empty! A frame bag takes advantage of that space for cargo capacity. Listen in to find out how Ian likes Apidura's entry into this product category.
Revelate has come up with a unique mounting solution for their Spinelock seat pack. They claim it's the best thing since sliced bread, how well does it live up in practice? Join Ian on this review to find out!
Ortlieb is well-regarded for their urban and touring panniers, but how about their bikepacking gear? They have one of the largest saddle packs in the business, let's find out how it holds up!
Bike phone mounts are a very difficult product category to do well; they're usually either not durable, or too easy to steal, or too expensive. Rokform has focused on solving the first two problems, but the products are indeed expensive. Come listen to Ian give a verdict on whether they are worth the price!
Brian will be the first to admit, his new bike trainer setup was absolutely a pandemic purchase; but he's hoping that these will be items that he will use for many years to come!
Ryan reviews the wonderful MacBook Pro with M1 chip! It's an incredible machine, but you might be satisfied with a MacBook Air - find out more!
Ryan reviews the S21 Ultra. It's way better than the S20 and laterally better than the Note 20 Ultra.
Ian has been using Android 11 for five months now, so he is definitely ready to give you a thorough review of the latest version of Android! And not a moment too soon, since Android 12 developer previews are just over the horizon...
Ian is joined by Meghan Griffin to chat about The City We Became, a novel that uses a multidimensional sci-fi/fantasy story to shine a light on the social and political strife facing many of our cities today. It's a real good book.
Ian digs deep into his well of feelings to talk about one of his favorite games of all time.
Grappling with what the world will be like as we approach post-scarcity is a daunting task; Let Go endeavors to do so in the form of a graphic novel. Ian R Buck is joined by Quentin Pongratz and Daniel J Pool to discuss it.
Sometimes you have to change a tire while you're out on the road, and you'll need a small, reliable pump to do that. The Ninja Pump brings a lot to the table!
A bike is a significant investment, one that you should protect with a proper lock. This is the smallest, lightest folding lock Ian has used, does it compromise on security to achieve that?
Unlike many other phone mounts in its price range, the X-Mount Pro attaches to your bike under the stem cap. Did they cut any corners to keep it so affordable? Find out in our review!
The key to bike camping is having the right equipment. Big Agnes has designed the Fly Creek specifically for bikepacking, which is a promising sign! Let's find out how they did.
Once you've fallen on your bike on the ice once, you'll only ride studded tires in the winter from then on. Ian has been using the 45NRTH Xerxes studded tires for the last few seasons, and he is ready to review them for you!
You need a bike headlight and taillight, so why not buy them together? This is an extremely affordable set of lights, does the quality hold up?
The Vis 180 Micro has been discontinued, but there are still useful lessons to be gleaned from it!
Being seen at night by road users behind you is essential on a bike. What kinds of innovations does the Vya bring to the table?
Being able to see and be seen when riding in the dark is critical. Does the Urban 500 have what it takes for daily ridership?
Being able to change an inner tube on the road won't help you if you can't pump up the new inner tube! A frame pump like the Pocket Rocket will help you get back on the road.
A bike is a significant investment, one that you should protect with a proper lock. Folding locks are a recent innovation in the bike lock space; is the Foldylock a useful, durable lock, or just a gimmick with a cute name?
Having access to navigation on one's phone while bike riding can be quite essential. Also essential: making sure that your phone won't fall off of your bike. Ian has been using the Roam Co-Pilot phone mount for several years, and he is here to review it for you!
The Pizza Rack is easily the most unique aspect of Ian's bike build. It provides not only railings for panniers to attach to, but also a generous platform to place objects on top. Come find out how well Ian likes it!
The Ortlieb Back Roller Classics come with a serious pricetag, do they have serious performance to match?
Ian used this pannier set for his daily commute for a couple of years. How well has it stood up, how easy is it to use? Find out in today's review!
Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra: the most expensive mainline phone ever from Samsung and a merely OK camera -- why not!
Ian's sunglasses fog up when riding his bike during the winter. Will these over-the-glasses ski goggles solve his problem?
Ian has been wearing a pair of Tifosi Slips for cycling and as general-purpose sunglasses for over seven years. They aren't sold anymore, but they hold a lot of lessons for what to look for when buying a pair of sunglasses.
HyperDot is a new "dodge everything" arcade game from Twin Cities developer Charles McGregor. Ian really enjoys these kinds of games, let's find out how HyperDot stacks up!
Ryan reviews the standard Nvidia SHIELD TV 2019. The verdict: the remote is kind of confusing, but at least it's a good remote.
The Google Nest Mini (the second generation of the Google Home Mini) is the new entry-level Google Assistant device. Join Ian to find out what changes and improvements have been made in this new iteration!
Apple has brought the "Pro" moniker to the iPhone line! Join Brandon Johnson as he explores what makes this not just a new flagship phone, but a Pro phone.
You love listening to podcasts, so you deserve to be using the best podcast player to consume them! In this roundup, Ian R Buck exhaustively reviews over 20 different podcast players to help you find the one that is best for you!
Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 1, and the verdict is there are not enough apps for this to even be a smart watch.
Ryan reviews the Anker Soundcore Motion+ Bluetooth Speaker, and describes his criteria for using and purchasing a modern speaker against the alternatives.
Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ review: it's a great big phone, it looks better than any previous model, the headphone jack does not matter and so much more!
Android 10 is here, and brings with it dark mode, gesture navigation, and tweaks to many many things! Ian has been using it for a little over a week, and he's ready to tell you all about the changes.
Ryan reviews the Sony MDR-v6 headphones, lasting in some form or another since 1985, a studio classic - find out Ryan's recommendations with these Sony headphones for studio use!
Ian and Ryan have both been using the same studio headphones for monitoring and editing, and they are ready to tell you all about them!
Ian used a USB gaming headset for many years. What lessons can we learn from it when buying headphones in the future?
Chris Rampersad, Ryan's mom, joins Second Opinion to review the Google Pixel 3a. A nice phone for those not looking for a true flagship device.
Since Google has been making phones without headphone jacks, it is important for them to sell headphones that can be used with those phones. Are the wired USB-C variety worth using? Find out in our review!
Bone conduction headphones are marketed towards cyclists, so you can be assured that you can hear traffic around you while listening to podcasts or music. Ian tested out the Trekz Titaniums in several different scenarios, and is ready to give his recommendations!
After losing his Soundbuds while traveling, Ian had to buy a pair of earbuds he wasn't familiar with. Will the JLab Fit Sports satisfy him?
Living without a headphone jack, Ian is now on a quest to find the cheapest Bluetooth earbuds that are worth using. Brandon pointed him towards Anker's SoundBuds Slim, let's find out if they measure up!
With the ErgoFit earbuds, Panasonic was clearly aiming to win the race to the bottom - did they succeed in making the cheapest earbuds that are still worth using? Ian has had a lot of time to develop his thoughts on them!
Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy Buds (Galaxy S10+ pre-order gift) - surprisingly they fit and stay in his ears!
Limetown is a mystery/thriller audiodrama with themes of the social implications of technology. Meg Griffin and Tim Lowe join Ian R Buck to review the podcast, the tie-in novel, and talk about the upcoming video series.
Ryan reviews the Samsung Galaxy S10+ - the fourth phone in his Galaxy experience - from the new display, the punch out camera, to the oddities with the fingerprint sensor, battery certainty, signal reliability, and so much more!
First-time guest Kharme Mahamed joins Ian R Buck to review the latest flagship killer that has all the Android enthusiasts abuzz!
Brandon takes the Second Opinion wheel for a discussion about the latest Kindle Paperwhite, asking: are eReaders consumer tech after all?
Ian is joined by Quentin and Gwen to review the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. Is Google's latest flagship phone worth the price hike?
Google's first smart home device with a screen; but this isn't the first Google Assistant device with a screen! What has Google done to differentiate this device from the crowd?
In our first-ever roundup, we're bringing you six reviews in one! We tested LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password, Keeper, Bitwarden, and KeePass to figure out which is the best password manager.
Our first book review ever!! Ian is joined by Mary Austad to review Hank Green's debut novel An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, which is an exploration of fame and the social internet wrapped in a sci-fi mystery.
Our first time reviewing a desktop operating system! There's a new version of macOS out, and Ian and Brian are here to tell you all about it!
This year we get to review two different sized iPhones at once! Apple is now all-in on removing the home button from their phones, so let's find out how that paradigm is holding up.
Ryan steals the show to review his second phone of the year, and his conclusions are a little unexpected.
Brandon and Brian give an overview and discuss iOS 12. Brandon's recording got a little corrupted, but he is still understandable so we thank you for bearing with us on this one.
Last year, Samsung released the first Chromebooks that could run Android apps. Will their 2018 follow up make as much of an impact?
Google surprises everybody by releasing Android 9 in early August! There are quite a few interface changes in this one, so tune in to find out where all the hidden gems are.
It's not often that we get a serialized audio comedy sci-fi drama! Join Ian R Buck, Amanda Johnson, and Frank Karamaroudis as they gush about Bubble, the first scripted show from Maximum Fun.
Apple took a huge step in 2016 when they introduced MacBook Pros with butterfly switch keyboards and only USB-C ports. Ian is joined by Lilly Beyer to figure out if it was a step in the right direction.
After a long wait, we finally got a follow-up to HBO's Westworld! Does the second season hold up, does it answer the many questions we were left with, do they have more classic rock songs redone as orchestral pieces?? Ian and Brian have all those answers and more for you!
Despite its status as an Anthology movie, Solo had a lot to live up to as the backstory for one of Star Wars' most popular characters. Join Ian, Mike, Dan, and Quentin for a spoiler-free overview, followed by a spoiler-filled deep dive.
Motivating yourself to get out there and go for a run can be tough, and many apps have been created to help with that. Some tell a story, some prompt you to hit a daily goal, and some like the upcoming Run An Empire pit you against other players. After a month of trying out the beta, Ian R Buck is ready to share his impressions.
Apple made a very unexpected decision in 2017 to come out with a new version of the MacBook Air, which is very different from the rest of the laptops they are currently selling. Join Ian R Buck and Ryan Rampersad to find out what Apple has done to make this classic device relevant in 2017.
Ryan Rampersad is back at it again with a new phone! He liked the S8+ so much that he upgraded to the S9+, but was it a significant upgrade?
Amazon takes a very different approach from Google's for their streaming stick: it has a remote, it is heavily focused on mainstream video providers, and it's actually a stick! Ryan Rampersad joins Ian R Buck to tell us all about it.
The Chromecast was our first glimpse into a world of watching TV without a remote. Ian R Buck and Ryan Rampersad both use it heavily, but have different views on a few critical aspects of it.
The Chromecast Audio is a unicorn: really cheap, useful on a daily basis, and integrates so seamlessly into your life that you forget it's there. Come hear Ian R Buck tell Ryan Rampersad why this is his smart speaker of choice!
Smart speakers are here to stay, and Google's second iteration is smaller and cheaper. Ian and Ryan talk about how the ecosystem has changed since last year, as well as comparing the capabilities of the Mini to the Original.
Time for our annual Star Wars review! Ian R Buck and first-time guest Mike Sandberg sit down to talk about The Last Jedi, a very unusual Star Wars film in many ways.
First-time guest Aron Braggans joins Ian R Buck to review the iPhone X, Apple's biggest step forward since changing the body size with the iPhone 6.
Brian Mitchell has been using iOS 11 since it was in beta, so Ian brings him on to discuss the latest changes to Apple's mobile operating system.
Ian R Buck is joined by his tech twin, Betsy Dadabo to talk about the phone they both just bought, the Pixel 2! Is this a phone that will stand the test of time?
This year Ian R Buck finds himself all alone for the review of the latest version of Android. Highlights include a reorganized notifications tray, a fully redesigned emoji set, system-wide password manager, and picture-in-picture mode!
Ian is joined by Evan Haldeman, who recently upgraded from an iPhone 7 Plus to an iPhone 8 Plus. Come hear about all the notable new features, as well as the things that stayed the same!
In our timeliest review yet, Brian Mitchell joins Ian R Buck to review the brand-new Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE! Spoiler alert: it's pretty darn good!
Ian is joined by Geoff Schumacher, who has had his Switch for about five months. There's a lot to unpack here, from specs to controllers to the games themselves. So settle in and enjoy!
The Nexus Player is no longer being made or sold, but it provides some valuable insights into how the Android TV ecosystem is doing and what to look for in a set-top box. Join Ian and Ryan to hear about their experiences with it.
The Google Wifi does things a little different than most routers. Ian sits down with Ryan to talk about which things it does well, and which things it falls flat on.
Surprising no one, Ryan Rampersad has bought another phone! He comes on the show to tell Ian R Buck all about the Galaxy S8 Plus and whether the infinity display really is amazing or just a gimmick.
After spending five weeks livestreaming Tales from the Borderlands, Ian R Buck and Stella Cannon sit down to talk about the favorite (and least favorite) parts of the game.
Ian and his mom Amy enjoy traveling together, but usually Amy relies on travel books to find attractions. On a recent trip to Chicago, Ian planned everything out using the Google Trips app; can it completely replace an expert travel guide?
The original Monument Valley is one of our favorite mobile games, so we were very excited when a sequel was announced at WWDC! Brian Mitchell has played it, and he gives us his thoughts on how it compares to its predecessor.
Ian has had the Nvidia SHIELD tablet for over 2 years now, and he's learned a few lessons along the way that can be applied to other purchasing decisions. Join us as Ryan helps Ian get to the bottom of everything.
Ian joins Tyler Zabel and William Miller in a special crossover episode! Tyler and William cover Marvel news weekly on their show The RAFT, so they definitely know what they're talking about when it comes to Agents of SHIELD.
Ryan, Brian, and Ian hack together a review of Mr. Robot, an edgy show about computer programmers trying to take down an Evil Corporation.
Brandon Johnson and Brian Mitchell sit down to gush about Westworld, their new favorite show. They talk about the creative talent behind it, the moral implications of the show's premise, and reminisce about the phenomenal soundtrack.
Time for another Star Wars movie review! You know what that means: Ian Buck is never going to stop talking. Ian Decker and Tanushri Buck manage to get in a few words here and there.
Brandon and Brian discuss Apple's new AirPods, and compare them to their other Bluetooth earbuds.
Despite the fact that not all services are available on it yet, Ian R Buck and Ryan Rampersad wanted to give you an idea of whether or not the Google Home would make a good holiday gift.
After using Project Fi in several situations, including working at camp and living in St Paul, Buck and Decker are ready to analyze the service. We talk about the coverage, price, special features, and more!
Brian Mitchell tells Ian R Buck about Fog of World, a game that reveals more of the world's surface as you travel in real life.
Brandon Johnson and Brian Mitchell tell Ryan Rampersad about their experiences with the new iPhone 7.
Brandon Johnson, Brian Mitchell, and Stella Cannon discuss the new changes in iOS 10, while Ian R Buck pipes in every once in a while.
Ian R Buck and Ryan Rampersad hold nothing back as they criticize almost everything about Allo and Duo. You shouldn't install the apps, but you should find out why from us.
Ian R Buck, Ian Decker, and Ryan Rampersad talk about the latest version of Android, Nougat!
Ian R Buck and Betsy Dadabo review the Pebble Time and Pebble Time Round, and discuss the next generation of time.
Double Feature: Our thoughts and experiences with Gboard for iOS and Google Keyboard for Android.
Ryan Rampersad and Ian R Buck review Fenix for Android, contrasting Twitter's first party Android app to a great third party Android app.
Ian R Buck and Savannah Haslow discuss Star Wars: The Force Awakens in two parts, a brief introduction without spoilers, and a scathing review afterwards with spoilers.