2/15/2012

Samsung Q2 Flash Memory 8 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Review

Samsung Q2 Flash Memory 8 GB  Portable Media Player (Black)
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I purchased the Q2 on the suggestion of a friend and as a usable way to make my .wma music library portable. I am finding that Samsung makes some very cool products and this player is an affordable example. The touch controls are fairly easy to use even for a fat finger like me. It is somewhat limited in its shuffle ability. I have not used the EmoDio support software much. I have synced it to Windows Media Player and imported music, created playlists, etc. My only real regret is not spending a few more dollars and getting the 16 GB.

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Samsung Q2 Flash Memory Portable Media Player 8GB Black

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2/14/2012

Panasonic TC-P54Z1 54" Plasma 1080P Review

Panasonic TC-P54Z1 54 Plasma 1080P
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This is my first plasma HDTV purchase. The picture quality is fantastic. This is a NeoPDP panel (single pane of glass)
The panel thinness is still amazing to me. A screen this big and this thin looks crazy.
The sound is surprisingly good... the included speakers are also extremely thin. Not huge bass, but still very good for TV speakers.
The wireless feature is nice... especially for those who want a wall mount installation. You still have the option to use an HDMI cable from the separate tuner to the panel, if you like. I am using wireless, but on a stand. The stand has glass shelves. I have the tuner component on a lower shelf. Line of sight between transmitter and receiver, for the wireless, seems critical. This may be since I have the receiver almost directly over the transmitter.
The Viera Cast is nice, except I haven't been able to get the Amazon-On-Demand to play anything. It logs in and I can access content... nothing plays. I have contacted both Panasonic and Amazon... twice and have not received a comment from either. You Tube, Picassa, Weather Channel and Bloomberg all work well. Viera Cast could be a very nice feature if they can add more content... Vudu, Hulu, Netflix, etc. would be nice.
The THX picture setting option has a yellowish hue... this seems to be inherent in the THX settings that Panasonic is using.
Pros
Picture quality
THIN screen
Cons
Price (although I did get this well below MSRP)
Amazon-On-Demand doesn't play
2/4/10
I contacted Panasonic about the inability to stream Amazon VOD content. They were able to replicate the same problem on a TC-P54Z1 at their facility. Panasonic kept me posted via e-mail about their progress with this issue. A few days later, Panasonic tech support issued a firmware update that corrected the problem. Amazon VOD content now streams through Viera Cast. Very good customer support!

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The combination of the VIERA Z1's innovative technology and aesthetic design is truly without equal. The ultra-thin profile of this sophisticated series delivers stunning picture performance and elegant style making a bold statement within any home décor

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Amphony Digital Wireless Headphones Model 2500 - Headphones ( ear-cup ) - wireless - radio Review

Amphony Digital Wireless Headphones Model 2500 - Headphones ( ear-cup ) - wireless - radio
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These wireless headphones sound great. I have tried a couple of different 900MHz headphones and was very dissapointed in the static I would hear on them all of the time. I discovered these when looking for a pair of digital ones on the internet. These sound great and work throughout my entire house. They would get 5 stars except for a couple of minor needed improvements:
1. There is an occational clicking sound when walking around. If you are not moving, you don't hear any clicking. It isn't a big deal and doesn't distract from the music or TV.
2. The headphones are a bit tight on my head, and I think I have a normal size head.
3. The battery compartments are a little hard to open.
4. It is really hard to find a dealer that sells them.
Other than that, they are great. They have normal stereo RCA connections, but also have an optical digital connection if your receiver has optical out.
So, don't waste time with 900MHz, get these instead.


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The Model 2500 Digital Wireless Headphones from Amphony combine the best of headphone technology with the best of wireless audio transmission technology. As a result, this model achieves audiophile sound reproduction and eliminates any noise or audio distortion by using digital audio transmission.By transmitting its signal at 5.8 GHz, the Model 2500 is fully immune to interference at 2.4 GHz (wireless networks etc.). The transmitter provides fully digital audio interfaces in order to eliminate any unnecessary digital-to-analog or analog-to-digital conversion and achieves unsurpassed signal-to-noise ratio. The audio data is transmitted to the headphones without applying any audio compression or sample rate conversion. A noise-shaping filter, which is part of the headphones, removes any quantization noise from the audible frequency band.The Model 2500 features velour ear cushions to maximize comfort as well as battery charging bays to keep your headphones working at any time.

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HP Remote IR receiver (paintbrush) - For use with Picasso remote control 5070-2584 Review

HP Remote IR receiver (paintbrush) - For use with Picasso remote control 5070-2584
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I Have been using the 5070-2584 ir receiver (and the blaster cable 5188-6055) with my HP notebook. It's great. Just follow the windows media center setup instructions and you'll have a dvr. It works with any provider's settop box. I have Directv. The photo doesn't show the blaster cable (emitter cable that goes to the settop box infra-red window). And the receiver is pretty generic. It's used on a huge number of products, so ignore the Picasso reference.

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This HP Remote is an IR receiver (paintbrush). The 5070-2584 is for use with Picasso remote control. Product Specifications: * Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard * Model: OVU422000/06 * Part: 5070-2584

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2/13/2012

Creative Zen 32 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Review

Creative Zen 32 GB Portable Media Player (Black)
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This is a great choice for those people who previously limited their flash players to workout duty, or only holding a small piece of their large music collection and having to change the music on it every so often. With a 16GB capacity most people can fit their entire collection on here without difficulty, and even have room for some videos.
First impressions of this player are very good. It is extremely appealing to the eye, everyone who sees it will ask about it. It is about the size of a credit card, just thicker (less than 1/2inch). The front is a very glossy black plastic that looks great until you touch it, instantly covering it with fingerprints :) The back is a rough, cheaper feeling black plastic. Overall it has a nice solid weight and feel to it, but not very heavy. This will easily fit in a pocket.
The 2.5" screen is absolutely gorgeous. Very bright with vivid colors. The viewing angle is very good, two people can easily look at the screen at the same time while watching a movie for example. The menus are all nicely animated and intuitive to navigate. The icons and text are big clear and easy to read.
One of the big perks to having so much capacity is plenty of room for videos. This was one of the first things I've tested as it was a big reason for my purchase. First of all it DOES play Amazon Unbox videos perfectly. Transferring files was very easy (just a few clicks) and very quick. The quality of the video was great as well. The max size of videos is apparently 320x240, I have not been able to get it to play anything larger than that. If the video is smaller (for example widescreen) you have the option of playing it at the correct aspect ratio, or fill the screen (stretched out). I've gotten it to play videos encoded in Xvid and WMV format. Xvid files were encoded with AutoGK, and the WMV files were encoded with Arcsoft MediaConverter. If you synchronize with Windows Media Player, you can put in *almost any* video file and it will automatically convert the file into WMV format and then transfer to the player. How long it takes to convert depends on the type of video you're encoding, how big the file is and of course the speed of your computer.
Music sounds very good on this player, but please... get rid of the stock headphones they are horrible. Using a decent pair of headphones makes a HUGE difference. The EQ options are OK, there are about a half dozen presets and a customizable EQ. The "Bass Boost" option just made it worse in my opinion, it just distorted the sound. Otherwise it is a very even and balanced sound, very similar to the Vision:M.
The FM radio has a whopping 32 presets and the reception is pretty good. Strong stations are in stereo, weaker ones come in mono. I haven't had a chance to test out the built-in mic.
I easily transferred music and playlists onto this player from Windows Media Player and MediaMonkey, as well as protected music (WMA) from Napster. Everything was very easy, usually just dragging and dropping. The speed of transfer is probably the fastest I've seen. I've used this player on XP Home and on Vista Premium 64-bit.
Regarding the SD cards. I think its only a slight inconvenience that the memory card media isn't directly integrated with the other content. Meaning if you have videos on the SD card you don't go to the "Video" menu where all the other videos are, you have to access them through the "Memory Card" menu. Once there, you browse through the file structure like normal. If you organize the content smartly on your cards you should have no problem. And really its a small price to pay for that feature. Currently SDHC cards are up to 16GB in capacity, meaning you could double the capacity and carry around 32GB worth of content in your pocket. Amazing. I tested a Kingston 512MB SD Card and a Kingston 2GB microSD card (with adapter of course) and they were recognized and played the content without difficulty.
A quick note about the firmware. Mine came with 1.10.05. When my player turns off, it really turns off. With newer firmwares when it turns off it goes into a sleep mode for a while before it finally turns all the way off. What that means is with the older firmware each time you turn it on it has to "boot" all over again, whereas with the newer firmware you get an "instant-on" at the expense of slightly reduced battery life (since it is asleep and not off). Something to consider before you decide to upgrade the firmware.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen 32 GB Portable Media Player (Black)

This credit card-sized ZEN has a stunning 2.5-inch color screen and is perfect for music, videos, and photos. Enjoy up to 8,000 MP3, WMA, or AAC songs; watch up to 120 hours of videos; and share hundreds of photos with your friends. Even expand your portable music, video, or photo collection by adding additional content through the convenient SD memory slot. The ZEN player also is available in 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, and 16 GB capacities.

Credit Card-Sized Player Supports 16.7 Million Colors View your album art, videos, and photos on this 2.5-inch razor-sharp TFT display. Your favorite photos will burst to life in 16.7 million colors on the fresh, new ZEN-patented user interface. The TFT display works under sunlight and allows everyone to watch your home videos and vacation slideshows from any angle.

Truly a Multimedia Player ZEN is the first Creative player to support the unprotected AAC format, so you can enjoy all your favorite CD tracks that you've ripped through iTunes software. ZEN also supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store, in addition to MP3 and WMA music tracks. It is also compatible with music subscription services such as Napster To Go and Rhapsody.

ZEN also supports audio books from Audible.com. Download your favorite books to keep everyone entertained on long road trips, or download daily news reports every morning and listen to the news during your morning commute.

Watch purchased or rented movies and TV shows from online services like Amazon Unbox. Share home videos, or load your TivoToGo recorded movies and TV shows.

Plus, share your collections of latest photos in 16.7 million colors. Instantly turn your slideshows into attention-grabbing multimedia extravaganzas by adding your favorite song to the slideshow.

Expandable Memory Need more space? Add additional storage capacity with the built-in SD slot and easily play new music, videos, or photos on your player. With SD cards to go, carry virtually unlimited amounts of your digital library, anywhere you go.

FM Radio In between your tunes, use the built-in FM radio to keep yourself up-to-date on world events, sports scores, or traffic reports. Or tune in to the program airing on the gym's TV while running on the treadmill.

Battery Life Enjoy up to 30 hours of your songs or 5 hours of video on a single charge--over a full day of music. Or 10 episodes of Scrubs!

What's in the Box Creative ZEN 32 GB player, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, installation CD, and quick start guide.


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TomTom GO 930 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

TomTom GO 930 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator
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I've owned Garmin's for more than 5 years and I currently own a NUVI 760. I've heard the great news about the TOMTOM 930 with IQROUTES, lane guidance, and the HOME feature so I decided to buy the 930 so I can give it a spin and compare it to the NUVI 760 with MSN DIRECT.
TOMTOM Pluses:
Arrival time -
The arrival time with IQROUTES are MORE accurate than Garmin's. The NUVI keeps updating the arrival time during the trip. I compared the arrival time from the start and the TOMTOM was more accurate. TOMTOM is constantly collecting the travel times and updating their database. When you sign in to the HOME program the IQroutes from your trips are uploaded to the TOMTOM server.
Routes:
If anyone writes a review about a GPS and states that routes are 100% accurate then they are lieing, I have not found the perfect GPS with perfect routes.
The routes on both the 930 and the NUVI 760 have been identical. With the 930 I see minutes left on the trip, time left, and arrival time. I can even tell the 930 what time I would like to arrive at my destination.I can AVOID any of the roads on my trip. You CANNOT avoid roads on the NUVI 760.
TRAFFIC:
I'm using traffic on the 930 through my ATT Tilt phone and it seems to work and it is accurate. It uses my Tilt to access the traffic on the TOMTOM server through the Internet. If you have cell coverage you should have traffic data.
MSN Traffic on the 760 is not accurate and the avoidance feature does not work that well. The bad thing about the MSN Direct feature is that it does not have good range. I live in Chicago and the service does not work in many of the outlying suburbs.
PLUSES:
Iqroutes are more accurate than the NUVI.
Lane guidance works in my area.
Avoiding roads on your trip.
Being able to correct street names, closed streets, one ways, and many other errors is a big plus.
Traffic works well.
The GPS chip has not lost reception. I've lost the signal numerous times on the NUVI.
More information on the 930 screen than on the 760.
TOMTOM minuses:
The screen is hard to see in sunlight.
The maps are not bad since I loaded the Garmin map look on the 930. I even have the magenta route line on my 930.
The battery does not last more than 1 hour.
The Text to speech does not work all the time. The street names are not pronounced as good as the NUVI.
You don't get the constant reminders that the NUVI 760 provides. Sometimes I don't think that I drive the 930 with my eyes close. With the 760 you can close your eyes and not miss a turn.
I cannot locate an address by ANY city like the NUVI. Sometimes the 930 cannot locate an address if it thinks it's in a different city. You have to input the surrounding city names to get the correct address and route.


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TomTom's award-winning software means ground-breaking new technology for the ultimate driving experience. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just enter the address on the touchscreen or use voice address entry and start driving anywhere in the US or Canada. TomTom guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions, including street names. TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, and POIs on your own device. New IQ Routes gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel to calculate your trip rather than posted speed limits. Enhanced Positioning Technology gives you uninterrupted navigation even in tunnels or highly built-up areas. And now, Advanced Lane Guidance brings even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be even more confident on the road. The GO 930 makes driving even safer with handsfree calling. And with the Help Me! menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers. The TomTom GO 930 is the ultimate car navigator.

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Cisco-Linksys PLK200 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit Review

Cisco-Linksys PLK200 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit
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I got this because my wireless quality has been declining steadily over time. I live in a large aparment building in New York City and as more and more of my neighbors get wireless devices my signal quality has been dropping. I stream music wirelessly using Apple AirPort and the quality became so poor that I could not listen anymore. Not wanting to run cables all over my apartment I thought I'd give this a try - but buy from Amazon since they have a good return policy in case it did not work.
I just plugged it in and it worked! Simple as that. If you have monkeyed around with wireless you'll appreciate that there is basically nothing else to this. And it is fast! I can now play my ripped music from my PC to my stereo with excellent quality - better than I ever got with wireless. Luckliy the AirPort can stream music using a LAN cable in addition to wireless.
The only hitch that I can think of maybe the wiring in your house/apartment. I was worried about mine living in a aparment building that the circuits may not be linked, but they were. I had no problems plugging in other rooms with different circuit breakers - since they are all on the same control panel. I guess it is possible that this is not always the case - depending on how your house is wired. For example, if you have combined two apartments they could be separate. But if they are then it does not get any easier or much faster than this.
Only downside is the very high price - it is way more expensive than wireless. You can buy a good wireless router for less than $50 and if you have a laptop you are done. This option costs MUCH more than that. For me it was preferable to running unsightly network cables throughout my apartment.
Another option for me could have been trying an 802.11n wireless to see if the signal was better. But since that is not yet a published industry standard, each vendor (DLink, Linksys etc) has they own flavor of it and so they are unlikely to work together well. So I'd probably have to completely retool my existing wireless which may be no better and may have the same problem with interference when my neighbors all move to it in a few years anyway. So I gave this a shot and I could not be happier.


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The PowerLine AV Ethernet Adapter lets you turn the existing powerlines in your home or office into a high-speed network. Now you do not have to drill through the walls and climb through the attic or cellar to install network cables -- just use the wires that already run through the building! The PowerLine AV Adapter interfaces Ethernet devices to the HomePlug AV PowerLine network standard. Just plug the PowerLine AV Adapter into the wall, and connect your Ethernet-equipped device to the Adapter using the included network cable, and you have turned your whole house into network infrastructure! Attach more computers to the network by simply plugging them into the wall anywhere in the house, using more PowerLine AV Adapters.

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2/12/2012

Sony BRAVIA KDL40HX800 40-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D-Ready LED HDTV, Black Review

Sony BRAVIA KDL40HX800 40-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D-Ready LED HDTV, Black
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From the moment I opened the box, it was obvious I had made the right choice. This TV oozes quality in every single way.
The display is wonderful. It's not a matte display, but it has a relatively low reflection, not obnoxiously glossy like recent Apple products. The picture looks gorgeous, even off angle, and the unit and base have a high gloss black finish.
The features are well covered in the specs above (Netflix HD streaming capability, YouTube, a built in TV Guide using online data, DLNA support to play media off your PC over the network, 3D)
Looking for downsides, the use of the large 300x300 VESA mount is unfortunate, the display is lightweight and really doesn't need such a large mount. The built-in stand uses a separate mount that is much smaller, and you could make your own plate or L bracket for the display to slide onto.
The TV menus are in the style of a PS3 (XMB), but some of the animations are unacceptably slow. Perhaps this can be improved in a later firmware upgrade. Also, not all menu options are available until about 30 seconds after you turn on the display.
My display says it is "Made in Mexico".
Audio:
The built-in audio is acceptable, but I suspect most will want to use external audio with this display. There's a non-obvious setting to turn on "S-Force Front Surround" mode for the internal speakers which improves the perception of sound, and by default it doesn't try to reproduce low frequency bass.
Settings:
The display works well out of the box, but if you're feeling adventurous, there are many settings for both the display and audio (scene select, four motionflow settings, mpeg noise reduction, dynamic LED, low light recovery and bright light reduction, steady sound, audio clarity settings to emphasize the human voice)
3D:
At the moment I am not impressed after using the 3D mode. Technically it works as expected with Blu-Ray or a PC with NVIDIA 3DTV Play, but the display is so bright and gorgeous on its own that I prefer 3D off. Note that you must buy an optional Sony 3D sync transmitter and Sony 3D active shutter glasses to use the 3D mode.
Don't forget to buy an HDMI cable or two!

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Experience premium picture quality with the Sony BRAVIA HX800 Series LCD HDTV with 3D. Enjoy amazing contrast with the Dynamic Edge LED backlight plus sharp, vibrant images and crisp, fluid motion plus connect to the internet and stream the widest variety of online entertainment. Add the Sony Sync Transmitter and enjoy 3D movies, sports and video games in Full HD 1080p picture quality or convert your 2D personal content to 3D with the push of a button on your remote control.

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IGI IRB-1 i Got Control Remote Adapter for iPad iPod touch and iPhones Review

IGI IRB-1 i Got Control Remote Adapter for iPad iPod touch and iPhones
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Pros:
-LARGE code database included within the remote software, which is free on I-tunes!
-App that actually learns the codes you need to use from other remote controls (IE: TV remote RF sends the codes to be learned. Look at website for tutorial).
-Macro buttons are easy to setup and have a delay feature to ensure that the buttons work properly.
-Cost as cheap as other remote controls, but uses software instead of pre-installed hardware chip with codes.
-Small adapter to I-phone/I-pod/I-pad (not too bulky)
-Active support team that is located WITHIN THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!! (trust me, this is a BIG perk).
-Website video tutorials
-System wide power button feature that allows you to push one button to turn on multiple products (For example, turn on your TV, Cable, and Audio all by pushing one button)
Cons:
-Costs money :) (still, its worth the purchase)
-Some codes are not programmed within the existing software (but you can use other remotes to get the codes you need)Summary: TRUST ME! If you can find your old remotes, or find the code already within the software, this is the only product you will ever need.
It is truly awesome!

Click Here to see more reviews about: IGI IRB-1 i Got Control Remote Adapter for iPad iPod touch and iPhones

IR Remote Control Accessory for iPhone/iPod touch and iPadWith its built-in worldwide IR database and learning capability, the IRB1 turns your iPhone or iPod touch into the most powerful personal remote control ever devised. The IRB1 accessory and its associated iTunes application (i-Got-Control) combine to turn your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a universal remote control that can virtually control any Infrared device! There is no need for a home Wi-Fi network; just CONNECT, SELECT and CONTROL your A/V components.Features:
Built-in IR library with 1000's of remotes pre-installed
IR Learning capable for codes not found in library
Use to control AV Home Theater Components and Home Automation IR devices such as lights, fans, AC, etc.
Includes IR codes for iTunes and Front Row
Portable - take the IRB1 on-the-go to control devices in Hotel Rooms, the office, friends house, even the local pub! Take Control wherever you go!
Easy to setup: just Connect, Select, ControlSpecifications:
Dimensions: 50mm(L) x 29.6mm(W) x 10.4mm(H)
Weight: 0.5oz (14grams)
Power: Powered by iPhone/iPod Touch (No Batteries required)
Connection: Apple 30Pin Connector
IR Output: Distance: 30ft
IR Dispersion angle: 30degrees(+/-15degrees off Center)
IR Library: Contains IR codes from 1000's of Consumer Electronic devices from around the world
IR Learning: 30kHz to 100kHz Carrier frequency
IR Learning Capability: depends on iPhone/iPod Touch Memory (virtually learns unlimited).
# of Devices supported: (from Library or Learned) Unlimited. Organized via Pages. 9 Devices per page. pages automatically created as needed.
LED Indicators: 2 Led's: GREEN = GOOD, RED = BAD

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iLuv Noise-Canceling Headphones with Bluetooth Wireless Technology (Black) Review

iLuv Noise-Canceling Headphones with Bluetooth Wireless Technology (Black)
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I've tried out several pairs of noise canceling headphones and bluetooth headsets, and this one does its job well both in noise canceling (comparable to $100 pairs by audiotechnica, except it is not circumaural) and in bluetooth pairing (clearly excels over the Motorola S9)
Its bluetooth setting take a little getting used to, but once you know that you do not need to re-pair the headphones even if you switch between audio sources and that the play/pause button actually serves as a bluetooth-reconnect button if you wander out of range, they are really very intuitive.
The headphone's microchip sports two audio-modes instead of two audio streams for its Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (HQ music) and Hands Free Profile (mobile)... This surprised me at first, but it actually allows you to have a lot of freedom.
Battery life is great with a 10+ hours of continuous music streaming (experimentally) and a mere 1.5 hour (also experimental) charge time.
I can't say enough good things about this product. Asides from the mentioned items it also has great sound quality, and the fold-up ability is pretty handy for mobility.
The only two things I would've liked for it is to not look so cheap and to have came with a carrying pouch that is its size (and not like 3X larger)

Click Here to see more reviews about: iLuv Noise-Canceling Headphones with Bluetooth Wireless Technology (Black)

Free yourself from tangled wires and city noises The i913 frees you from the tangle and limitations of wires using Bluetooth wireless technology. Not only that, but outside sounds that interfere with pure music enjoyment or that create a distraction during an important phone call virtually disappear helping you focus on what you want to hear and not on what you have to hear. With i913 you can listen to music wirelessly in the way it was meant to be heard. Plus, this swivel-designed noise canceling headset has comfortable soft-cushioned ear pads, and with its mini-USB connection you can also connect to most audio devices using the included mini USB to 3.5 mm cable. Bluetooth wireless technology helps you connect to your phone without being physically attached to it, freeing you to walk around and use your hands the way you would if you were talking to a person in the room with you. What's more, you can talk and listen longer with the i913. With nine hours of talking time is available with 8 hours of listening time, the i913 helps you enjoy walking and talking more than you did before.

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2/11/2012

Ijet Two-way iPod and iPhone LCD Remote Black Review

Ijet Two-way iPod and iPhone LCD Remote Black
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The other reviewer of this product obviously didn't read the directions. First of all, the unit comes with a piece that secures the battery in the remote. Second, I am assuming it is a limitation of the iPod's software, but when the remote adapter is plugged in, the iPod is supposed to say it is OK to disconnect. Having said that, the unit does suck. When the adapter is plugged in, you cannot use the iPod's controls or view anything on its screen. The remote is very buggy and often loses its connection to the iPod. If you go through songs too quickly, the information displayed on the screen will not always be correct. The iPod doesn't always respond to the remote. You can hear a buzzing in your earphones when information is being transferred to the remote. Battery life is pathetic. Finally, the remote scratches easily and is ugly. Suffice it to say, I returned mine.

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ABT IJET2WAY- B iJet Two-Way Transmitter/Receiver (Black)Works with all 3G, 4G, 5G, iPod(R) mini & iPod(R) Photo with 30-pin dock connector; View & control song selections, playlists & artists from the remote LCD screen; Up to 150-ft range; Sort by playlist & artist; Selectable user EQ mode; Pass-through 30-pin dock connector allowing charging/syncing; Advanced low-power mode; RF signal travels through walls, ceilings & floors; Black iJet Two-Way Transmitter/Receiver (Black)

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AM / FM / HD Radio Outdoor Antenna (Model AFHD-4) "Probably the Best Ever AM/FM Antenna for Every Home Theater Receiver". Review

AM / FM / HD Radio Outdoor Antenna (Model AFHD-4) Probably the Best Ever AM/FM Antenna for Every Home Theater Receiver.
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It does work. Other AM/FM antennas like Terk and others do not work. My home is in a dead zone for both AM and FM. For some reason, cheap portable radios work and so does the car, but my expensive home stereo receivers only catch one FM and ZERO AM stations. I bought a Terk antenna...didn't work. AAUGH! I need my sports radio. Need to listen to Hawaii football! Go Warriors!
As a last resort, I bought this and it worked. I still don't get all the local radio stations, but now I get 6 FM stations and several AM stations...best of all I can now listen to sports radio on my home stereo.

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Designed for easy outdoor or attic installation with rugged pro-quality construction, this low profile omni-directional antenna will bring out the best performance from any receiver. Specifications: Antenna length: 48 inches- Frequency of Operation: AM Band (500 KHz to 1750 KHz)- FM Band (88MHz -108 MHz)- Ground plane required: None- AM capture length: 300 inches - AM / FM Band Separator Performance: FM rejection in AM band: > 50 dB- AM rejection in FM band: > 60 dB- AM/FM Pass-band loss: < 1dB- AM load impedance: 300 ohms- FM load impedance: 75 ohms- Antenna Beam Width: Omni-directional- Reception Performance:- These results will vary as function of the antenna's height above ground, the power of transmitting station, the transmitter's antenna beam pattern, the local terrain and the quality of the receiver utilized. These reception test results are for good quality daytime reception with the antenna mounted 20 feet above ground over flat terrain, (using a Sangean Model HDT-1X as the receiver with 200 ft of cable between the antenna and receiver.) FM Stereo: 80 Miles- FM HD radio: 50 miles AM Mono: 90 miles- AM HD: 50 miles.

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Sirius SLH2 Home Install Kit for the Stiletto 2 Portable Radio Review

Sirius SLH2 Home Install Kit for the Stiletto 2 Portable Radio
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Most of the reviewers of this product are failing to mention its most salient value-add, which is the enablement of convenient upright desktop listening when the radio is far from a window. The base allows easy attachment to the included AC charger and antenna as well as your stereo speakers. The external indoor/outdoor antenna with 21' cable costs $34.99 by itself. So you are getting the dock, charger and remote control for only $15. This is great value from my perspective.
My particular application is the recording of various CNBC programs both in the morning and in the evening. This allows me to listen to the programs during my urban commute and fast forward through the commercials. This content is extremely valuable as I work in the financial services industry and need to absorb as much news as possible before the stock market opens. The dock and its external antenna allows me to listen to the radio where is it most convenient for listening but not necessarily the best location for reception. My urban commute is generally on a bicycle, in a taxi or on a bus/subway, so having a robust method of listening to programs like CNBC Squawk Box for 30 minutes that would be otherwise be wasted is a big productivity gain.
As reception deep inside my thick-walled prewar high rise is limited, the remote antenna dramatically improves the quality of the recordings and the overall user experience. Before purchasing this dock, I would place the Stiletto 2 on the window ledge so I could record key programs. This made listening to recorded programs while it was still recording not feasible. Now, I have the Stiletto 2 on my dresser plugged into a surplus pair of computer speakers. This allows for uninterrupted recording while I am listening to recently recorded or live programs. When I am ready to leave, I quickly remove the Stiletto 2, plug in the headphones and head out the door. My one issue with the dock is that it does not accommodate the case that Sirius itself sells. So, I have to spend a few extra seconds placing the Stiletto 2 in its case. This is very minor issue, however.
One other change I would suggest to Sirius engineers is that they provide a slightly more flexible antenna mounting mechanism. For those using the antenna indoors, it would be helpful to have suction cups or adhesive mounts so it could be affixed directly to glass. While the current antenna pivots on a base, there is a limited range of motion. So even if the user wanted to use double-sided tape to attach the base to the window pane, the actual antenna would be facing into the room. In my application, I used double sided tape to attach the base to a relatively narrow window ledge. This has worked fine and I am very happy with the reception.
In summary, this home dock is an excellent value. It improves reception and make access to the radio more convenient. I would especially recommend this product for anyone who wants to record important programs and/or listen to the radio while the recording is in progress.
Pros
Dramatically improves reception
Great value
Enables quality recording of shows while the radio is in the most convenient location
Easy upright placement close to external speakers for easy menu navigation
Cons
Doesn't accommodate a case (minor)
Antenna mounting orientation is limited


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Sirius slh2 sirius(tm) stiletto 2 portable radio home kit stereo audio output to connect home audio system or powered speakers; headphone jack to listen to sl2 while docked without speakers; pc sync to manage your mp3 & wma files; charges stiletto 2 while docked; compatible with stiletto 2 radios; compact, sleek design with high gloss finish; includes home dock, remote control, indoor/outdoor home antenna with 21-ft cable, audio cables, usb cable, pc software & ac power adapter

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2/10/2012

Samsung P2 8 GB Touchscreen Bluetooth Portable Media Player (Black) Review

Samsung P2 8 GB Touchscreen Bluetooth Portable Media Player (Black)
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Aesthetically, this is a really nice product from Samsung. The player is quite sleek, with nice rounded edges, a decent weight, and sharp piano black gloss finish. The sound quality is superb. I didn't get the same battery life the manufacturer did (they rate 30 hours, I probably average 20), but I would bet that's because I use the touchscreen interface more than their battery testers did.
As for the touchscreen, I have to admit it's pretty nice. I prefer tactile use, so I'm more of a fan of buttons than touchscreens, but Samsung has done a nice job executing this one. There are a couple of odd quirks to the touchscreen. For example, when you "swipe" the touchscreen to advance you have to swipe from right to left, which seems counterintuitive since you are advancing the progress bar from left to right. Obviously, the same is true of swiping to back up, where you swipe from left to right, even though you're going back on the progress bar.
Also, in the default menu setting, you make circular gestures on the touchscreen to advance through the menu. Neat? yes. Functional? not really. The biggest problem I had with this is that my thumb kept obscuring the icons as they moved into view. Ultimately, I found this too annoying and I disabled it in favor of a regular grid menu. Not as cool to show your friends, but much more functional.
The audio player functions are top notch. As a caveat to this, I will say that I could not get this to sync with Winamp 5.5. My Winamp crashed every time I loaded it when the P2 was plugged in. Instead, I did my syncing through Windows Media Player, and it worked fine. It synced playlists perfectly, and did a great job recognizing albums when I copied them directly like a mass storage device. The on-board player functions include a customizable EQ with quite a few presets and a clarity adjuster. There are preset visualizations including a couple of light shows (that do not track the music), album art, track info, and a spectrum analyzer.
The video player is pretty good, but I don't really like watching video on such a small screen anyway. I'm not a big fan of the fact that you have to convert through Samsung's software to get it to run, but I guess that's the case with most MP3/video players. The widescreen playback is properly formated. FM reception is satisfactory. Not sure how the eReader works since I don't have any ebooks for it, but you can see test screens of it.
This is, overall, a good MP3 player, even if it is a bit pricey. It is only $50 cheaper than the iTouch, but it also brings in an FM radio tuner and bluetooth support for up to two bluetooth devices--including a pass-thru for your cellphone to a set of bluetooth stereo headphones like the non-US release Samsung T9. Bluetooth is a great feature if you've got bluetooth headsets, speakers, or car radio. So you're getting more features than the iTouch offers. A major downside for me is the fact that it is primarily touchscreen-only (there are hard buttons on the side: on the left a lock button and a play/pause/power button; on the right, two volume buttons). Since I tend to like to keep my mp3 in my pocket, I prefer to have tactile skip buttons as well.
Samsung has made some great strides with their feature packed MP3 players. And while this one was almost perfect for me, it fell short of the mark only in the somewhat high price tag and the lack of hard skip buttons. I give them kudos, however, for having hard play/pause/power and volume buttons (FYI, play/pause and volume can also be controlled via the touchscreen).


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The Samsung P2 is the first Samsung MP3 widescreen video player with an optimized touchscreen user interface and Bluetooth functionality. The P2's Bluetooth capability will enable the P2 to pair with other Bluetooth 2.0 devices. The P2 comes ready to pair with stereo Bluetooth 2.0 headphones and speaker systems to provide high-quality wireless listening.For added convenience, the P2 is able to pair with up to two devices at the same time. Full integration with cell phones will be available via a firmware upgrade in November 2007. Users can even set up datacasts (podcasts) by using the SMS software that comes on the included installation disk.
The Samsung P2 is an 8 GB Flash-based portable media player with a three-inch widescreen LCD and a slim-style form factor. Capable of video, music, photo, and FM radio playback, the P2 lets you enjoy your favorite media files wherever you go. The player supports video playback in MPEG4, SVI, and WMV9 file formats and audio playback in MP3, WMA, and subscription WMA file formats. JPEG files can be viewed as pictures or slideshows.
Packed with such additional features as an alarm clock, world clock, and calendar functionality, the P2 is an extremely multifunctional media player. The P2 also comes with a file viewer, which you can use to view and delete any file on the device without the PC. The P2 supports up to 30 hours of music or five hours of video playback with every full charge of its internal Li-Poly rechargeable battery. The P2's battery charges whenever the device is connected to an active USB link. Compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, the P2 measures 3.94 x 2.05 x 0.39 inches and weighs just 2.88 ounces.

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Diver (TM) Waterproof MP3 Player. 2 GB. Kit Includes Waterproof Earphones. (Pink) Review

Diver (TM) Waterproof MP3 Player. 2 GB. Kit Includes Waterproof Earphones. (Pink)
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I have been doing water aerobics for years by toting my CD player to many pools. I was so pleased to discover a waterproof MP3 player which works beautifully. Thank you for carrying this product.

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This Diver (TM) MP3 player is a High Quality, Brand New and Completely waterproof MP3 player (along with waterproof earphones). It's perfect for wearing while swimming or doing any other water activity. Both the MP3 player or earphones can stay submerged under water for more than 24 hours without sustaining damage. The MP3 player can be easily attached onto headband or swimming goggles while you swim!The player comes with waterproof earphones that are short and unobtrusive and hooks around the ears for better stability. These earphones come with an extension wire to extend the earphone wire length for non-water use.

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Sony HTCT500 3.1 Speaker System with Complete Built-In A/V Receiver (Black) Review

Sony HTCT500 3.1 Speaker System with Complete Built-In A/V Receiver (Black)
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This is one slick little soundbar/subwoofer combination. A significant improvement over the previous offering, the CT100. The sound bar is bigger than that model and feels like it is better constructed. The subwoofer is a solid piece of work as well.
Now for the important part, sound quality. The sound quality is much better than the old model and I would say it approaches the quality of the more expensive Yamaha YSP sound bars. You will probably have to do a little tweaking with it to get it set up properly but once you do this baby will shine. Sound is strong from both the soundbar and the subwoofer. The subwoofer is where your connections are located. You can run your dvd/blu ray player and your cable box (among others) to the sub and then the sub will run an HDMI cable to the tv. You can pretty much plug anything into the back of the sub as there are three HDMI inputs, two component inputs and a composite input along with the normal cable tv coax.
One thing to keep in mind. This will not surpass the surround quality of a good quality seperate sound system with multiple speakers. But then again most buyers should know that from the start. This is an option for people who don't want speakers all over the place or who have space issues which make a soundbar solution the best option. I rated this item 5 stars in comparison to other soundbar solutions, not compared to a surround system with multiple speakers. While there are some better sounding soundbars they are at least twice as much if not more expensive. For the quality and price this is an excellent soundbar option.

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Experience surround sound with fewer speakers and wires. Add in the full functionality and connections of an A/V receiver and bring excitement to movies and video games. Featuring five HD inputs, three of those HDMI connections with Active Intelligence, S-AIR multi-room audio capability, on-screen user interface, set-up, control and connectivity of the home theater has never been easier. Its flat TV centric design allows the sound bar to blend in.

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2/09/2012

Pioneer Airware MyFi XM Portable Satellite Radio Review

Pioneer Airware MyFi XM Portable Satellite Radio
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I don't normally submit "product opinions" (I know, shame on me) but this portable XM radio from Pioneer is so good that I felt that I had to. I had been considering getting some kind of a satellite radio for my car for more than 6 months and when I found out that a friend of mine had a Delphi XM unit in his car I knew that the time had come to finally make a move :-)
I was thinking of getting a Delphi MyFi but then discovered that the Pioneer AirWare had recently hit the store shelves. I like the Pioneer brand and also liked the looks (and controls) of the Pioneer unit more than those of the MyFi .. so I picked up an AirWare at the local Circuit City (can get it cheaper elsewhere for sure). I have had it for 3 weeks now and during this time have used it EXTENSIVELY in the car, in my home office and also on business trips. It works great !
I am especially impressed by the effectiveness of the built-in FM transmitter ... I have used a few built-in and external FM transmitters in my time over the past few years but haven't had much luck with them (too much interference from other radio stations). I was pleasantly surprised (and relieved) to discover that the AirWare's transmitter is VERY effective ... I have been driving around the Connecticut/ Westchester County/NYC/Long Island region quite a bit since I got it, without having to switch FM frequencies at all !
The features and sound quality of the unit are great. It is very useful that you can record up to 5 hours of audio (via a "scheduled record" function) that you can then listen to offline when the satellite reception is not up to snuff. Another neat feature is that if you hear a song or artist that you like, you can press a button and from then on whenever that same song or artist is playing on any of the 150+ channels the unit beeps and displays a message so that, if you want, you can press the same button and the unit automatically switches to the relevant channel.
The AirWare comes with everything that you neeed to set it up at home or in a car. When using the AirWare in my car I use the "vent mount" to secure it (in its cradle) to an air vent. I have the antenna magnetically-mounted outside on the front part of the car roof. On some of the more tree-lined roads of Connecticut, satellite reception can sometimes be spotty ... you need to have line-of-sight to the XM satellites which are positioned in the southern sky .. but generally reception is very good. All-in-all I am very happy that I got it ... it is a very, very well designed and executed product ... plus the breadth and quality of the XM programming is great.
In summary I can heartily recommend both the Pioneer AirWare and the XM service !

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Imagine having Satellite radio in your hand, in your pocket, on your hip, in your car, in the mountains, at home, anywhere. Well, it's here. With the Pioneer AirWare XM2go Portable XM Satellite Radio Receiver, you can take XM radio anywhere you want to go. Now you can stay connected to the world in your car, at home, in the office, or by the beach. Pick up the AirWare XM2go, tune in to XM satellite broadcasts, stuff the receiver into your pocket, and you're ready to go.
This receiver comes with a home kit that includes a docking station, antenna, RCA cables, wireless remote, and AD adaptor that will bring XM radio right into your living room. Toss in the vehicle docking station, antenna, and 12-volt DC power converter, and you've got XM on four wheels. Pioneer doesn't stop there, though. With a set of stereo headphones, a rechargeable battery (up to five ours of use), and belt clip, you'll be tuning into the satellite airwaves anywhere your feet might take you.
The built-in memory effortlessly records and stores up to five hours of broadcasting. With this feature you never miss your favorite broadcast. The built-in FM transmitter enables your XM2go radio to play through any car stereo, home stereo, or boom box with a simple frequency tune. And, of course, no XM receiver would be complete without an informative LCD display that shows channel, artist, and song information, as well as personalized stock ticker and sports scores. All of this functionality is at your fingertips with the easy-to-use numeric keypad and scroll wheel. Add 30 presets and you've got one-touch tuning to your favorite channels.
The AirWare XM2go is the perfect introduction to XM satellite radio. It's portable, easy-to-use and requires no special installation. Listen to music, sports, talk, comedy, drama, news and kids programming, from coast to coast. For more information about XM Radio digital-quality sound, coast-to-coast coverage, and more than 150 channels of satellite radio entertainment, visit XMradio.com.
What's in the Box AirWare XM radio receiver, home docking station, home antenna, AC adapter, wireless remote control, 2 AAA batteries, audio cable, car docking station, car antenna, cigarette lighter adapter, cassette adapter, swivel/flush/vent mounts, rechargeable battery, headphones, belt clip, and protective case.

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