Showing posts with label mp3 digital recorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mp3 digital recorder. Show all posts

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Wasabi Power AC Adapter for Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, DCR-HC21, DCR-HC26, DCR-HC28 Series

Wasabi Power AC Adapter for Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, DCR-HC21, DCR-HC26, DCR-HC28 SeriesThe prongs on the product will not fit in any North American outlet I've ever seen. They are shaped exactly like the plastic thing you put in an outlet to keep babies out. The plug just falls out of the socket.

Only get this product if your AC adapter is faulty but you still have the electrical cords from Sony.

This is not a Sony product (it doesn't claim to be) and it's made in China. Buyer beware.

Still cheaper to get this ordered than to get Sony to fix it.

Review a power cord? Well it worked for the camera I purchased it for, and a year later is still doing the job! Would purchase from this company again.

Buy Wasabi Power AC Adapter for Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, DCR-HC21, DCR-HC26, DCR-HC28 Series Now

Thank goodness I found this. The price at Best Buy was waaaay more, and this works perfectly.

Read Best Reviews of Wasabi Power AC Adapter for Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, DCR-HC21, DCR-HC26, DCR-HC28 Series Here

This item was the perfectbreplacement for he lost charger for my video camera. It arrived on time an in great shape.

Want Wasabi Power AC Adapter for Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, DCR-HC21, DCR-HC26, DCR-HC28 Series Discount?

I lost all my accessories for my Sony Handycam DCR-HC20, so I needed replacements. The Wasabi Power Adapter works fine as a replacement unit, although the materials feel a little cheap. I haven't noticed any flaws so far.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Samsung DVD-L200 10-Inch Portable DVD Player

Samsung DVD-L200 10-Inch Portable DVD Player
  • 10-inch 16:9 aspect-ratio TFT LCD screen; player is just over an inch thick
  • Plays DVD-Video, VCD, DVD-R, MP3 and WMA CD, and JPEG image CD
  • 3-hour battery life with included rechargeable pack
  • Dual headphone jacks let you watch movies or listen to music with a partner
  • Includes credit-card remote control and required home theater hookup cables

I just bought this player after looking at many on the internet and all I could find at retailers in the area. Unlike many of the reviews of other players, I find the sound to be excellent. I started off listening with headphones, but found the speakers to be sufficient on a quiet evening. The screen size, at 10" is incredible and can be viewed from an angle. 2 headphone jacks will allow both my kids to watch it at once ... assuming they get it away from me!

Now, with all that, why didn't I give it 5 stars? It does not come with a DC adapter for the car or plane, and so far I have not been able to find one for this model. The DC voltage is an odd 8.4 volts, so the standard do-it-all adapters do not work. This seems to be a major missing component for a "portable" DVD player.

Buy Samsung DVD-L200 10-Inch Portable DVD Player Now

I owned the previous model (L100) and decided to upgrade to the L200 for the new features it offered, mainly the ability to resize the LCD screen for 4:3 and non-anamorphic discs. Contrary to what a previous poster noted, the L200 does have the screen resize feature (E-Z View) as well as a replay/resume function that will continue playing the disc at the point you stopped it. More buttons have been added to the unit itself which allows full functionality without need for the remote (which was a problem with the L100). The player itself basically looks the same and the 10" picture is as glorious and film-like as it's predecessor. Sound through the built-in speakers has been pumped up, and is as good as can be expected form a portable player. Battery life still clocks in at around 2.5 hours, but it's decent considering the size of the screen. Supposedly Samsung is working on an extended life 6 hour battery, but I haven't seen it yet. No matter I just bought a spare in the meantime!

Read Best Reviews of Samsung DVD-L200 10-Inch Portable DVD Player Here

How can anyone say 'no' to this dvd player when it is handed to you as a gift. I didn't. I previously had the panasonic dvd-la95, which I've used for quite some time and loved. But I got this as a gift and sold my panasonic away. Why? Well for one thing, the quality is better (not a lot, but you can tell the difference). It did fix problems everyone complained about from the samsung L100, namely the screen fix from widescreen to standard, and it does remember where you stopped. just make sure you READ THE MANUAL and fix the options to your preference. Also, it hasn't rejected a dvd i fed it yet. I mostly rent my dvd's and some are unplayably scratched, but this unit still plays it (with a few skips of course, but that's the disc).

Minus one star for its size. I know most people will be attracted by the 10 inch screen, but it's actually the problem (at least for me). Before you buy this, you have to see the unit for yourself, how big it actually is. It's a size of a laptop. And at around $800 for a brand new one, you might as well get a laptop.

But if you're one of those who think 'the bigger the better' and feel you have to have one of the best portable dvd players around, this is the player for you. The quality is one of the best i've seen. You'll have to see past the price though, otherwise you're better off getting a laptop with a dvd player (unless you want to mount this bad boy in your car).

Want Samsung DVD-L200 10-Inch Portable DVD Player Discount?

Ok....I've owned quite a few DVD players in the past few years... I almost purchased the L100 but was happy I waited for the L200, Samsungs newest entry.... The new unit promised to have corrected dome of the flaws that the L100 possessed.. Well, they did fix one MAJOR problem concerning the aspect ratio... However, the unit failed miserably in other areas... Let me explain... YES the unit lets you switch to a 4x3 ratio for those non-letterbox films, tv shows ect... BUT when using battery power, once you cut the unit completely off.... IT CAN'T REMEMBER the 4x3 SETTING ! and then you have to go thru the keystrokes to re-enable the setting... I can live with that BUT!! What I could NOT live with, is when running off the battery, everytime you would sit down to watch a movie the subtitle feature would come on ( close Caption ) and you would have to go thru several menu's keystrokes to cut it off !! This happens EVERYTIME you cut the player off on battery power only...

This is very irratating to say the least.. I made SAMSUNG aware of this and they actually called me back and admitted thats the way the Koreans had designed the unit !!! Go figure ?? Being someone that very rarely gets thrui and entire movie at one sitting, whether it be plane, train or automobile.... I was constantly having to do this procedure.. Sorry I had to take it back for a refund.... I look forward to trying the new Panasonic LX9 at some point in time.... I WILL ADMIT the picture on the L200 is very hard to beat... but I just couldn't get around the captioning issue.... sorry...I guess I'm picky....AND I will admit, the prices are coming down on this unit... I've actually seen it selling brand new for around $550 !! a far cry from what I originally paid for the unit I took back....

i was sent to iraq for 10 months and this is the best thing to have. people complained that it's too big and that they might as well get a laptop. well i got back from iraq and it's perfect for the children in the back seat. i bought this instead of a laptop because i don't want to deal with the problems a laptop will bring in the future.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435Q

KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435QTesting Configuration

Motherboard: ASUS

Processor: AMD 5600 (dual core 3 gHz, X2/64)

Memory: 3 gB

I ordered this USB stick from Amazon and received it in four days. Good service!

Software install went exactly as listed on the sheet that came with the install disk.

I attached an RCA flat plate antenna with internal low noise preamp to the USB stick. I am using the USB extension cable. I then scanned for channels (as part of the setup), and got all 13 available channels. The scan took about 4 minutes or so, updating the screen to show me what it had found.

Tuning the various channels in a windowed (not full screen) mode displays a signal level meter. Most stations are running between 80 and 100%. I am located 27 miles from the transmitter complex. I love the signal meter display. It is large and responsive when I move the antenna around. The tuner appears to be quite sensitive. I was able to get 8 channels with nothing more than the included whip (magnetic base) sitting on top of a lamp shade.

The display of channel numbers is crude. No use of "-" or "." for subchannels. Channel 13-2 is displayed as 132. This is a very minor point, but can be disconcerting at first. The fastest way to change channels is to just enter the numbers, 132 (from the keyboard), in this example.

The software is very easy to use. I never looked at the manual, just clicked around and was easily able to follow the program flow. After installing, be sure to go to the Total Media setup screen that lets you enable hardware acceleration. (if your graphics chip supports it). With hardware acceleration enabled my processor loading is less than 20%, even while recording HD.

The ability to record, and schedule recordings using the EPG (electronic programming guide) is a nice plus. Playback of recordings looks very good. This software basically gives you a DVR, and you can burn DVDs of your recorded programs if you like. The GUI is not as smooth as my DirecTV DVRs, but it is easy to use and functional. After playing around for a while (that is why bought this thing, isn't it?), you should have no problem navigating.

I like the ability to save the channel list (Export), so it can be imported later. You can save several lists if you like, and only import what you want.

Summary:

1. Very sensitive tuner with excellent signal meter.

2. Feature filled and stable (no crashes) software.

3. Easy to use, intuitive software.

4. Low processor loading on my machine.

5. Picture Quality is Excellent (of course, it's HD)

6. Playback audio is in sync with video (recordings)

7. Live View audio is in sync with video.

Operational Note: If in full screen mode, using all your display area, you can go back to the windowed mode by hitting the escape key. You can also use the menu mode to do screen captures, etc. Placing the cursor at the bottom of a screen will bring up a menu.

It will be interesting to see how reliable this thing will be. It runs warm, and for only 39 bucks, I'm not expecting it to run forever. For now, I'm very impressed!

I bought this product so I could get 1080i local channels through my cox cable provider. The channels are crystal clear. However, the channel set up is a little annoying. It also has a record feature that will make a MPEG file. The burn to dvd disc feature will not work for some reason. I downloaded a copy of EASY MPEG and I now am able to burn 1080i channels to a dvd-r. Overall I am very happy the price was right, I bought mine on NEWEGG for $29.99 + shipping.

Buy KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435Q Now

I ordered one of these and was so happy with it I ordered another to use at work. The second I received was "version 2". The case is the same but the LED was a different color. After I installed the drivers and software, it seemed to work OK at first. I then noticed it would not receive half the channels the version 1 was able to. I also noticed the software locked up a lot when version 2 but didn't with the version 1. Because of Amazon's great return policy, I returned it and ordered an "Avertv Hybrid Volar Max Tv Tuner Kit for Windows MTVHVMXSK" as a replacement.

Read Best Reviews of KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435Q Here

Works good in Windows Vista 32bit SP2 and Windows XP SP3 and Linux Xubuntu 11.10 "Ocelot"

for ATSC "over the air" viewing -had some trouble with aborted timed recordings.Using "HyperMedia Center" or "TiVme" software for Windows and Kaffeine Media Player for Linux.

With Xubuntu 11.10 "Ocelot", my Kworld ub435-q USB TV tuner works great in Kaffeine Media Player v. 1.2.2 and KDE v. 4.7.4 for "over the air broadcasts" without any modifications.

A) Simply open up Kaffeine

B) choose "Digital TV" in the Start Menu

C) hit "Configure Television" option icon

D) Click on "Device 1" tab

E) Choose "Source" which for me was "us-ATSC-center-frequencies-8VSB" for over-air broadcasts

F) Close window, go back to Kaffeine TV window and click "Channels" option icon

G) In "Channels" window, make sure "Source" is set to "ATSC", then hit "Start Scan" button -the scan took about 3 minutes and 17 channels were found -I believe all that are in my area.

H) Once the scan is complete, highlight all channels found in the right-hand box "Scan Results" (or all that you would like to save) then click "Add Selected" and those channels will then appear in the left-hand box called "Channels"

I) Hit "OKAY" to get out of "Channels" window and you will return to Kaffeine "Digital TV" window with your selected channels appearing in the left margin column.

j) Double click on a channel to select -and now hopefully you are watching !

Thanks Ubuntu and Kaffeine for programming for this tuner.

Want KWorld ATSC Digital HDTV USB 2.0 TV Stick KW-UB435Q Discount?

Many competing products also work as analog tuners perhaps so you can record analog cable signals on digital. I however bought this so that we could bypass cable TV entirely and since there are no longer analog OTA signals in the US, there was no reason to pay extra for a tuner with analog functionality as well as digital.

Installation? This was the first USB product I have ever tried that Windows (Windows 7 64-bit) didn't recognize and find drivers for. Instead I had to use the CD that came in the package. I didn't bother with the crapware on the CD. I just use Windows Media Center.

Result: it works great. Since all it's doing is getting MPEG-2 files encoded by a broadcaster from radio waves into your computer's hard drive, it'll either work or not. There aren't really any issues of quality to discuss. So far, it's been fine, and a small computer with Windows Media Center has replaced our Tivo HD box in the sitting room. The only thing the Tivo has that this doesn't match is a second tuner; I suppose I could just buy another of these and plug it into another USB port, but so far I haven't felt the need to try that.

Save 48% Off

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Vuescape Digital Camcorder 5MP 2.4" TFT Color LCD 4x Digital Zoom 16MB Buid-in Memory Silver.

Vuescape Digital Camcorder 5MP 2.4' TFT Color LCD 4x Digital Zoom 16MB Buid-in Memory Silver.This camera was very inexpensive and was purchased to keep in my automobile to document an accident or emergency. A couple of weeks after I bought the camera, I got whacked in my new, four week old vehicle. I immediately took a video of the other driver's completely frosted over windows. We'd had a freeze, he was in a hurry, and hadn't scraped his windows. By the time the police arrived, he'd run his heater until the windows cleared. I forwarded the video to my insurance company. The camera worked fine for this purpose. I wouldn't use it for much else.

I bought this camcorder because it was inexpensive, and I was going oversees on a Cross Cultural trip with my college. The videos weren't absolutely fantastic, but it did the job! This camcorder also took pictures, and it did take very good pictures. I definitely got my money's worth in this little camcorder, and I didn't have to worry about somebody stealing it because it didn't break the bank!

Buy Vuescape Digital Camcorder 5MP 2.4" TFT Color LCD 4x Digital Zoom 16MB Buid-in Memory Silver. Now

There really isn't much good to say about this camera. The video quality is poor and it eats batteries. I sent mine back after the first day. If you use the zoom at all the video becomes absolutely unwatchable. It is just a blocky mess and it still doesn't look very good zoomed out.

Read Best Reviews of Vuescape Digital Camcorder 5MP 2.4" TFT Color LCD 4x Digital Zoom 16MB Buid-in Memory Silver. Here

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Sakar Monster High Digital Camera With Face Plate - Sakar 16048

Sakar Monster High Digital Camera With Face Plate - Sakar 16048I have had to weather THREE meltdowns from my eight year old over this camera.

If the batteries are removed the pictures will be lost. We had to replace the batteries and that wiped the camera clean. We lost all of her field trip pictures.

The second time the camera got jostled in her backpack and the batteries popped out. Pictures gone. Finally I took 18 pictures to test it and made sure the batteries were NOT removed. The next morning every picture was gone. I've gotten better results from a $6 phone from Walgreens. I strongly discourage everyone from buying this phone UNLESS you take joy in talking your kid off the ledge every time she touches the camera. How do they get away with making such shoddy products?

This is a very cheap camera. My 8yo was disappointed. You cannot view your pica unroll you download them to a computer.

Buy Sakar Monster High Digital Camera With Face Plate - Sakar 16048 Now

I ordered this because my daughter is obsessed with monster high right now. She loves the changing faceplates. It doesn't take amazing pictures but is good for a starter camera.

Read Best Reviews of Sakar Monster High Digital Camera With Face Plate - Sakar 16048 Here

I have no idea how this works. USB connect and my computer wont recognize drivers. No where is there info on how to update to get it to be able to DL pics. This is ridiculous. And same here, batteries came out and pics missing from my daughters school trip. WASTE OF $

Want Sakar Monster High Digital Camera With Face Plate - Sakar 16048 Discount?

I did not like this camera. It was cheap looking not what you would think it would be with the discription..

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Sony ICDUX523BLK Digital Flash Voice Recorder

Sony ICDUX523BLK Digital Flash Voice Recorderat least for me.

after reading reviews of px312, here are reasons why i chose this over px312 for a little more money:

1. it has an internal usb outlet that SLIDES out, this is great because...

2. it can charge rechargable AAA batteries via usb (recorder only use ONE AAA as opposed to px312's two, and the battery that comes with the product is RECHARGABLE). combined with (1), this means you can conveniently charge your recorder while you transfer recording files to any usb-equipped computer, no need to buy a separate a charger.

3. able to edit existing or your own "scene" (recording area configuration), which isn't in px312. this means you can specify the bitrate, mic sensitivity, low cut filter, etc. that works best for you.

it also has all the pluses of px312: easy of use, nice sound quality, etc. very happy with the decision so far.

This product exceeded my expectations. I use it for recording my Pastors sermons and in class. Our church seats 1200 people. Sometimes, I sit in the pews instead of with the choir and I sit halfway toward the alter to give u a somewhat visual. Nevertheless, the recorder is where I'm seated and boy the 1st time I used it to record; after service I listened to the recording and it was so crisp and audible as if I placed it next to the Pastor. A co-worker has one; after listening to his, I immediately ordered one. You won't be disappointed. It has a lot other functons, I useit only to record.

Buy Sony ICDUX523BLK Digital Flash Voice Recorder Now

I use Dragon Naturally Speaking for dictating notes from conferences and client appointments. I wanted a digital recorder which I could keep in my briefcase or a pocket and it needed to be compatible with Dragon. The Sony ICDUX523 was top-rated by Nuance, the publishers of Dragon Naturally Speaking, and I've found it to be more accurate than when I use a microphone plugged into my computer. The recorder is light, easy to use, and works great with Dragon. Just what I wanted.

Read Best Reviews of Sony ICDUX523BLK Digital Flash Voice Recorder Here

Recently I had a need for a small voice recorder and I found this product on Amazon. I was quite amazed at it's small size and power. It has the capacity to record for over 40 hours on a single AAA rechargeable battery. It can also store MP3 songs if you want to use it for that feature.

The instruction booklet is a little bit confusing as there are many many features in this tiny package. The quality of the recorded sound is very good and there is software included so that you can download and playback your recordings on your pc.

If your looking for a feature rich pocket recorder then this Sony digital flash recorder rates a second look, as always Sony will make a nice addition to your audio and recording needs.

Gary in Tennessee

Want Sony ICDUX523BLK Digital Flash Voice Recorder Discount?

Bought to record my husband in his car. I was suspicious of his activities. The recorder is easy to use, as I am tech challenged. The VOR feature to record only when noise activated was nice so I didn't have to listen to hours of nothingness. It was also nice that I could listen in 2x fast so that cut down on listening time. Charges easily in a USB port, however it will only last 10 to 12 hours when in VOR mode so it needed to be checked once a day. I was right by the way.

Save 4% Off

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

On Stage CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder Adapter

On Stage CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder Adapter
  • Weight: 0.3 lbs.
  • Threading: 5/8-inch -27
  • Pan Adjstment: 360 degrees
  • Tilt Angle Adjustment: 180 degrees
  • Materials: Nickel plated, rubber padding

Sturdy and, according to package, able to support 6 lbs. Overall height is about 2 inches (53 mm). Platform is 50 x 20 mm. Equipment mounting screw slides in a 15 mm slot that starts 10 mm from the end of the platform. The slot is centered between and parallel to the long sides of the platform.

There's no damping on the ball; it's either locked or completely free. Mine was binding in a number of positions fixed by slightly loosening a hex-head set screw opposite the locking knob. There's a U-shaped cutout on both sides of the base to enable 180-degree tilt. One on mine had a burr that prevented its use removed with a small file.

Not the best workmanship, but a good value that does its job reliably. China.

Buy On Stage CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder Adapter Now



I was rather hesitant to purchase this item due to all the negative reviews, but in the end I am glad I did as it fulfills my needs entirely. I use this item to mount my Creative Vado HD to my Musician's Gear tripod and both fit perfectly.

The rotating ball was a little loose when I initially opened the package, but if you simply loosen the black twist screw on the side and press the little washer, that is inside the end that you attach to your microphone stand, up it will lock positions when you re-tighten the black screw.

As I am using a rather light weight pocket camcorder I can't really attest as to whether it will support a heavier full size one, but it seems as though it would. I also like that you can twist the little screw that inserts into the camcorder instead of having to twist the camcorder to tighten it, a really ingenious feature in my opinion.

I had no burrs, fraying, or other defects like the other reviewers mentioned so perhaps, hopefully, this company has fixed their manufacturing problems.

Read Best Reviews of On Stage CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder Adapter Here

Nice. This takes place of tripod when you need to use a mic stand. Nicely made. Works.

Want On Stage CM01 Video Camera/Digital Recorder Adapter Discount?

It's not a bad mechanism, and rather cheap, but there are a few problems. For starters, the camera (in my case a digital audio recorder) sets on top of the little platform and is held snugly in place by the screw underneath. There is a rubber pad on top that cushions the camera (or whatever) as it sets there, but mine wasn't glued on very well and came off after the very first application. I'm 36, and a professional musician, and VERY good to my equipment. I re-glued it, which did the trick, but how much could it have cost to have really glued the sucker on at the factory?

Save 55% Off

This mic stand to 1/4 inch "tripod" socket adapter is well made and works as intended. The Locking screw is secure and it will easily support a camera of 6 lbs or more. The unit I received was well finished, and the ball joint moved smoothly.

The cement used to hold the rubber top surface to the tripod "foot" does not stick very well to the rubber sheet. A few drops of plain rubber cement will correct that problem easily,

Some reviewers have reported that the locking screw does not work. That is not the case of you use the device properly.

This locking ball adapter works by having the tapered tip of the lock screw press against the BOTTOM of the lock disk below the pivot ball. If you unscrew the lock screw too much, the lock disk will drop down and the lock screw will hit the EDGE of the the lock disk, not the bottom. To correct this error, all you have to do is loosen the screw a little, turn the adapter so it's "upside down" and then re-tighten the lock screw. The small set screw can then be adjusted to limit the lock disk movement so this does not happen again.

I use this adapter with a small self-contained audio recorder (a Tascam DR-100). It works perfectly and allows the recorder to be positioned at exactly the angle I need in any recording situation. I've also used it to support a single lens reflex camera on occasion instead of using a tripod. Again, it works well and locks securely.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black

mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black
  • World's smallest digital audio player, at 0.63 ounces and 0.94 inches square
  • 1 GB memory holds 16 hours of MP3 and 32 hours of WMA audio
  • Plays MP3, WMA, and secure WMA (compatible with online stores and subscription services)
  • Integrated FM radio with 20 presets and record function; built-in microphone and voice recorder
  • Unique OLED display; internal lithium-polymer battery charged via USB connection or AC adapter

A few months ago I saw the MobiBLU Cube on some weekend morning news show. At the time I did not have an MP3 player, which is kind of strange since I am what you call an "early adopter." I liked the looks of the MobiBLU Cube. It's a small (approx. 1") cube that fits in the palm of your hand. A couple of weeks later I went to Wal*Mart and bought the black one. I wanted the pink one but that is only available online and I didn't feel like waiting. I purchased the 1 GB player and it was $129.00.

The MobiBLU Cube comes with the mp3 player, a pair of necklace headphones that double as antennae for the FM receiver, an ac adapter, USB cable, instruction manual, software and a rubbery protective thingy.

I should say right off that I am not a music person. I like music, of course, but I don't obsess about it. I can't really tell the difference between good sound quality and great sound quality. I can tell bad quality, though, and the MobiBLU Cube does not have bad sound quality. It may not be great quality but it is at least good quality--and, it may be great quality, as far as I know. All I can really say is that the sound quality is sufficient for me and would probably be sufficient for most people.

The MobiBLU Cube has some neat features. It can tune in FM radio stations, although in my area this feature doesn't really work. It has a microphone and can be used to take memos. You can also record from the FM receiver and add the recordings to your playlist.

I find that the included earbuds get really uncomfortable overtime. They came with spongy cover things but by the time I realized they had come with it one had already fallen out of the package so I don't know if that would help with the discomfort. My guess is that it would not help much because the discomfort is a result of the somewhat large size and slightly odd shape. I'll probably eventually pick up new earbuds one of these days.

The Self Emitting Blue OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) Display is ultra bright. Sometimes I use it in the middle of the night to find things when I don't feel like turning on the light, it is that bright. I also haven't had any problems reading the screen outside and I don't exactly have the best eyes in the world.

The random play feature needs some work. I currently have 66 songs on my unit (and yes, I paid for every one of them--I don't steal music), 26 of those songs are Big & Rich (two full albums). That's just over 1/3rd of them so at that rate B&R should be player approximately every 3rd song but typically it plays about 5-6 B&R songs in a row and then will play 1 of my other songs and a lot of the songs almost never come up on random play. Interestingly the B&R songs that are playing are almost always from the Coming to your City album. So, I have songs from one album playing repeatedly while other songs aren't playing at all. Now, obviously I like Big & Rich but come on, there's a limit to how many times I can listen to Jalapeno in one sitting! I frequently skip several songs in a row when I am listening in random play.

The product manual claims that with the screen off and the volume under 20 the MobiBLU Cube can play for up to 10 hours. I don't have the patience to wait out 10 hours to test it but I do know that I have never had it stop playing while I was listening to it. The most time I am likely to spend listening is maybe 2 or 3 hours. The one thing that really bothers me about this MP3 player is that the battery doesn't hold a charge when it is off. Every time I want to listen to it I have to recharge it even if I haven't been playing it and the battery was full a couple days ago. This may be the case with all MP3 players, I'm not sure.

I had trouble using the included software. I would drop the files to the player and the files would come up on the player as zero length files. Then I reformatted it and tried using the WMP sync function and it worked perfectly. When I got my new laptop I didn't even bother to install the MobiBLU software, I just use WMP and everything works just fine.

As far as durability goes I have had no problem. I have been using it for a few months without any problems. I have definitely dropped it once or twice and my cat is certain it is actually a cat toy. If I look away for just a second he will pick it up and run off with it and bat it around for a while. It still works despite a bit of abuse and that's a good thing. The iPod we got my nephew for Christmas stopped working before the New Year and he was treating it like vial of nitroglycerin! Apparently those things break if you look at them wrong.

The MobiBLU Cube is not without its flaws, but it's a cute little device. It's lightweight and really simple to use. The 1 GB capacity holds up to 32 hours of music (in WMA format). For the price it is probably the best deal on the market. It used to only be available from Wal*Mart but now you can find it all over the web including at TigerDirect, Target and Amazon.com.

Buy mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black Now

No need to repeat all the features, but the FM tuner functionality and recording capability is invaluable to me. The microphone is very high quality for its type -I've used it to record lectures, public announcements, and live music, and it's performed admirably in all cases. FM reception isn't too strong, but some is better than none!

One other note about the device's design: the dime's width screen makes for a surprisingly effective user interface, but don't expect to see track information while your files are playing -it just scrolls the filename. If you have 2gB of music loaded, that can be an annoyance.

Some people have complained about the service and quality of the device. I just got my 8-month-old unit back from the service center, so I can comment accurately on both issues.

The quality of the device's physical construction is very impressive. It comes with an impact guard, but it seems fairly indestructible. In 2/3 of a year of active use, there's not a scratch on the unit.

The one weak point is the OLED screen -blue, beautiful, and bright, but extremely weak to burn-in. That is, if the screen is active and displaying the charging screen -as it is when you connect it to your computer -the pixels that are on will noticeably weaken and fade. It doesn't make it unusable, but it's a flaw in the software. Using a wall or car charger does not cause this problem, so I recommend you do.

My unit's problem was corruption of the firmware. I don't know whether it was the player's fault or my computer's (I've had weird USB problems for a long time). In any case, the device would -every twenty syncs or so -get a bit corrupted, so that the options screen no longer worked. I had to reflash each time (though contrary to what another user complained about, you're not forced to delete all your audio files to do so). After months of this, a reflash failed, rendering the player unusable.

I emailed MobiBLU support about it and got no response. After a week, I called their customer support line. I talked to a very courteous representative who told me to resend the email. I did and got a response the next day. (I can only guess they have a zealous spam filter.) I sent the unit in, they replaced the firmware, and sent it back express. I got it within a three days of them receiving it.

Here's the best part: the new firmware performs a self-check on startup, which probably would have prevented my problem for occurring. The new firmware also improves navigation in the file structure and features a new "Favorites List" functionality that seems very useful. It doesn't appear to be up on their site yet, but it probably will be soon.

So: the firmware seems a little bit buggy and susceptible to corruption. Customer support requires a bit of effort to work with. Despite these problems, it's been a quality piece of equipment and the company has acquitted themselves well in our interactions.

If you want a tiny, light, convenient, inexpensive player, you can't do better than this one. It's not perfect, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else on the market.

Read Best Reviews of mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black Here

If you are introverted, don't buy a MobiBlu cube, people see it and want to know what it is without fail wherever I go. They will try to engage you in conversation and want to touch the cube. Once they find out it's an MP3 player, they shake their head in disbelief. It's roughly one inch square. They could probably make these even smaller but why, they'd be less usable and harder to manipulate.

In the gym I see people struggle with their oversized iPods (iPaid2much is a better name!) latched onto their arms like some plastic, electronic leech. The Mobiblu cube hangs neatly below your neckline via the supplied ear phone cord and is so light, you don't even notice it after a short while. If I am doing some very strenuous or exercising with lots of movement, just a quick tuck of the Mobiblu inside the shirt keeps it neatly and safely stowed for about anything you can think of.

Things I really like about the cube is that it recharges quickly. I can take 100's of songs with me to the gym, more than I can even listen to in the two hours I'm there. The sound is easily shaped to anyone's tastes and the construction is very sturdy, I was quite impressed by that when I first pulled it out of the box. The buttons have a nice tactile feel with sure clicks. The OLED blue screen is extremely bright and can be adjusted to further conserve battery life.

All in all, I think this is the best MP3 for the active person. This is the MP3 player that Apple wishes they were building.

Want mobiBLU Cube DAH-1500i 1 GB Digital Audio Player Black Discount?

I have had the mobliBLU 1GB for about 6 months and I use it for Mp3 music only. Although it can play WMA files, I believe the battery may last longer with Mp3 files recorded @128kbps. I set the LED display to ALWAYS ON only when charging for long periods of time (ie. overnight) so that it does not overcharge the battery. I had to reinstall the latest firmware once about six months ago, but it has worked reliably ever since. Seeing the display in *bright* sunlight is a problem. Selecting the music to play is fairly easy, and I have never had a problem with "random" mode. I really like the equalizer which has presets, but allows you to configure it anyway you want. The earbuds are a tad larger than I would like, but they seem to have excellent sound quality.

The FM radio only works for strong local stations. The 1GB is too small-I am sure the 2GB is a better value. Copying music and deleting th music is a piece of cake using My Computer or Windows File Explorer. The iPOD Nano is nice, but it does not come with the necklace earbuds which are $39.99 from Apple the last time I checked. You must also use iTunes to load and remove music, which I found cumbersome. I recommend the mobiBLU for those who want to try something diferent and easy to use.

I've had my little mobiblu 1 gb player for a year now so i know a lot about it. In the begining i was so excited to have it. the easy copy paste music feature is a nice touch.the size is obviously small and convienient. but that is also its down fall. It may be to small for it's own good. small buttons, small screen, small, small, small... you get the picture? The sound quality is alright but you really need to turn it up to hear it (not to say the volume is bad). the blue screen is nice and bright easy to see in the dark, and the unit is light and not even a bit heavy...It has a radio but the reception is bad. th clock and voice recording features are a nice touch as well. plus the same cable that you connect to the computer can be plugged into a wall outlit to power it as well. plus it also can get it power from the computer

now for the problems i've had with mine.

From all the reviews on amazon i've read. all of the other people who have this little system have different unique problems...Mine are as follows

The system after a long period of time would not turn on when i press the play/on button and the system had 3 bars full power and i had to constantly press the reset button on the bottom of the unit to get it working. When that did not work i went to my computer, and had to delete everything on the system to get rid of any file corruption that might be making the unit malfunction and reinstall the firmware that came from the disc that comes with the unit. I've had to do this twice over the course of me having the unit.

Well that my scoop on the mobiblu dah 1500i

It nice for novelty and having people stare at it ask "what is it?" to you. But you would be better off spending your money on another better mp3 player like the creative labs or the ipod players

Pros: It's small, Lightweight, easy to put files on it, easy to manage.

Cons: It's Small, you might experience a problem or two.

Friday, July 4, 2014

VideoSecu 4 Pack 100ft Feet Video Power White Cables Security Camera Extension Wires Cords with bon

VideoSecu 4 Pack 100ft Feet Video Power White Cables Security Camera Extension Wires Cords with bonus BNC RCA Adaptors for CCTV DVR Home Surveillance System CBV100W4 C23Worked well with all of my cameras, the signal is strong and the images are crisp and clear, quality seems quite good and the shipping was fast, I would recommend the seller to my friends or other customers.

Not happy with quality of cable, I have my original cables and added cameras with these, the video is getting lines probably from poor shielding,swapped with old cable and all is fine again http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0054NX4UG/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_title

Buy VideoSecu 4 Pack 100ft Feet Video Power White Cables Security Camera Extension Wires Cords with bon Now

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Q1C1 4 pair (8PCS) passive CCTV Security Video Balun Cat5E cable

Q1C1 4 pair passive CCTV Security Video Balun Cat5E cableThese work so great on my Zmodo CCTV system. The picture was "ok" and thought that's how good it is, but after using these I could instantly see an improvement!

Sunday, June 29, 2014

ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread

ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw ThreadPros:

-Pretty sturdy little device.

-Light

-Rubber platform under the 1/4" thread

-Fits my RODE Micro Boompole to connect my H4n (or H1) to the pole

Cons:

-Sometimes the head will spin while you tighten it somehow you have to hold the top of it while it tightens. A little hinky.

-Rotating head could be lower in my opinion (see reason for use above)

-1/4" thread is too long (See Other Thoughts)

Other Thoughts:

1/4" thread is too long to connect my H4n on to it. I needed to grind it down about 1/8" to make it fit. Not realizing how hot the metal thread was getting on the bench grinder, it suddenly popped out of the plastic head. I tried fixing it by re-drilling a hole through the head, but to no avail. Time to buy a new one (or one with a shorter thread).

Bottom line: This clamp is pretty sturdy; I would recommend it. However, if you need to mount an Zoom H4n or H1 (or even a digital camera), you may want to consider grinding it down (carefully!) or find another that has the right height of thread. Learn from my mistakes.

On a moving object (bike, car, etc) the camera does vibrate and can flop out of position if you hit a big bump. I found that it is better to work with gravity than fight it. Mount the camera hanging down or under your handle bar instead of on top. In some cases that could result in your video playback being upside down, but that's easily fixed too. Just import the video into Microsoft's free Movie Maker software, and under "edit movie" there is a list of options: pick "video effects", and then pick "rotate 180", and then use "save to my computer" under "finish movie" and ta-da, you just created a copy of the video file turned 180 upside down, or in this case return it to right-side up. It takes all of 7 seconds.

I am no video expert, but it was easy to download Microsoft's free version of MovieMaker and just flip the video around. I am sure other video editing software has rotate options too.

Buy ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread Now

Vibrates way too much to have clear video while riding, which is the purpose of the device, right? I used it to make portions of this short music video, to check it out search "chaotic commute" on YT. Amazon doesn't allow me to post a direct link.

Read Best Reviews of ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread Here

I read roughly 40-50 reviews on Amazon before purchasing this product. I read the Arkon product description, hoping to find weight limits that the mount would support, but found nothing discrete.

The CMP227 product listing does note that the mounting screw fits GoPro and Contour cameras. I have a Contour GPS, so I figured that this mount would be solid enough for my camera. The mounting instructions that arrived with the product show an outline of a camera that has nearly identical dimensions to the Contour camera line.

I took a test run across paved suburban roadways in a well-funded municipality. The mount allowed the camera angle to sink a bit over the course of ~10 miles, but it was not a major problem to readjust.

Upon viewing the video back home, I experienced more vibration that previous reviews had me anticipating. To remedy this, I opted to use my Contour GPS's "Continuous Photos" feature instead of capturing video on my next ride.

I rode for roughly 20 miles through a mixed-use paved path before my mount stem unexpectedly snapped on a smooth area of the path while I was maintaining consistent speed, elevation, and direction. My camera took damage across the lens and battery/memory card door when it fell to the side of the path. I had followed the mounting instructions that I received with the product and had not allowed extreme environmental conditions to affect the mount.

Arkon requires $9 to replace my mount using the 90 day "In Warranty Procedure". I spent $13.06 on my Arkon mount when I purchased it on March 26, 2013, making this warranty replacement cost 69% of the original cost. I see that it is currently selling for $7.62, which makes the warranty process seem incongruous for current potential customers.

I have used other types of mounts with my Contour GPS (car dash, fixed surface, headband, clamp) and none have faulted. I've had my Contour GPS since December 2011, and it received its first scratches using the Arkon mount today (April 3, 2013).

Summary:

I used my Arkon mount twice for a total period of 3 hours, and it snapped causing my camera to receive damage that hinders its ability to operate correctly. The warranty process is not agreeable for a customer with my experience. I would not recommend using this product.

Want ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread Discount?

Quite pleased with both performance and price. I used this with a Canon SD780 in HD video mode on my mountain bike over rough terrain. Very small camera and the mount held it well. Resulting video is much better and more stable than dedicated "sport" cameras I've tried in the past.

Save 58% Off

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Sony RDRVX515 DVD Recorder

Sony RDRVX515 DVD Recorder
  • 4 Head (19 Micron Heads) VHS VCR with Stereo
  • S-VHS Quasi Playback
  • Easy to Use Graphic User Interface
  • VCR-Plus+ Timer Recording
  • One Push Dubbing - DVD to VHS or VHS to DVD

This is my second dvd/vcr combo and I primarily wanted the ability to convert VHS tapes to DVD but also was looking for a better DVD player. I found just about everything I was looking for. Recording to DVD is very easy, and you have every conceivable format (-+R,RW). I've tested whether the recorded DVDs work on other, older players and they do. The DVD player is a little slow to load, but picture, sound, and controls are outstanding. VCR is fine, though we don't use it much other than for transferring home movies to DVD. Caution I have not found the remote for this system to be compatible with "universal remotes" even for my Sony surround sound system! But overall, a great spacesaver that doesn't make you sacrifice quality for the various components.

Buy Sony RDRVX515 DVD Recorder Now

We bought this model for the ease of dubbing VHS tapes to DVD. Dubbing was very intuitive. Despite some other reviews that said the color was washed-out, we didn't have any problems with color issues. However, the audio function was terrible. While playing DVDs (which is most of the mileage we would put on the machine) the audio sounded hollow and tinny -like an echo chamber. Neither my wife or I are audiophiles -this just sounded bad. We tweaked every setting, and triple-checked all the connections, but nothing helped. Finally, we just hooked our old player back up and the sound was fine. Ultimately, we returned the unit.

Read Best Reviews of Sony RDRVX515 DVD Recorder Here

This unit is so full of features that I eagerly purchased it, but I returned it due to two fatal flaws. First, the VCR performs poorly. When playing older tapes, they look noisy, not nearly as good as several other VCR's I have. Since a prime use for this unit is dubbing VHS to DVD, I was very disappointed. Second, you can't select the thumbnail picture for the titles menu. I couldn't believe this! The titles screen would be better with just text titles, rather than include the first frame that the machine automatically selects, which is usually not a good choice! (But allowing selecting a title thumbnail, is such an obvious feature to include, I just can't believe they didn't include this option.) Otherwise, this machine has more features (many DVD recording speeds, many editing options, support for + and R disks and new double-layer disks, etc) than any other machine I am aware of. Nice layout and functionality (except the two dubbing buttons are dangerously close to the two eject buttons, I see mistakes happening here all the time! I returned my unit and am waiting for someone to come out with a unit with this many features (or maybe the next Sony version!).

Want Sony RDRVX515 DVD Recorder Discount?

I have never been disappointed in a Sony product until trying the RDRVX515 DVD/VCR recorder. I currently own and use two other Sony DVD recorders. The RDRVX515 is totally inferior to the other two. The signal and recording quality are frankly not acceptable the definition is just not there. Also, when I tried to record a movie on several of the cable premium channels, it recorded for a few seconds and then stopped and a message came up saying that "you cannot record copy protected movies". This makes the recorder totally useless to me.

Well, I impulse spent and bought this from the J&R Music World website and phoned in my order for a HP Pavilion Widescreen Flat Panel and this DVD Recorder/VCR Player by SONY. I RARELY impulse purchase by the way. However, when I saw this thing on J&R's website I was like wow and the price was great too! After I purchased it I searched for reviews on my new TV and this Player. The HP TV got excellent reviews while this got nearly horrible reviews by almost everyone that's reviewed it here at Amazon.com. Well, now that I have unpacked it, set it up and actually have used it and dubbed a few DVDs from VHS Tapes I have to say that I must be one of the few people who are actually having a great experience with this player thus far. Every negative thing I have read on this site regarding the player are understandable. But only because you REALLY need to sit down and UNDERSTAND how this thing works! I have successfully dubbed 9 episodes of a TV Series I recorded onto VHS in 1997. The quality of the (SP) recorded DVD-R was just as it is on the VHS. And speaking of the VHS playback...it is not as bad as some people are saying. I compared it to my Sharp VCR WITH the fine tuning mechanisms turned on. This Sony VCR plays back that 9 year old VHS tape with ease and the quality is the same. The playback of the finalized DVD-R on other DVD Players (and PC DVD DRIVES) looks just as good as it does in this Sony player. I don't know but maybe some people just need to actually sit down and just work with the features and settings and options a little more. The manual was a but confusing with how to work some of this Players primary features. But once I figured it all out it was a breeze. I don't really care much about the fact that you can't record from TV if the signal will not allow you to. My main concern is just getting rid of all these freaking VHS TAPES! And so far I think that it will be a wonderful experience as it has already been. I will be chucking ALOT of old VHS tapes in the very near future. :)

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder

Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder
  • CD sync recording from external digital sources
  • 4x dub-speed capability
  • HDCD and MP3 decoding
  • Front panel optical and coaxial digital inputs
  • 24-bit/96kHz AKM digital to analog converters

I purchased this recorder primarily to convert several hundred record albums to a format I could listen to more easily. I found that it was easiest to record an album first onto a CD-RW, use computer software to break it into individual tracks, then re-use the CD-RW.

After recording about 50 CD-RW's in the first month the unit developed intermittent problems, sometimes not detecting any type of CD placed in the machine, sometimes appearing to record but unable to read the disc later, sometimes giving a disc error message at random times. Since Harman Kardon's warranty service instructions say that you have to bring it to a registered facility, which are all hi-fi audio retailers, I called some in my area. Their responses indicated they might get around to looking at it in 3 to 6 weeks, and, by the way "where did you buy it?" (implying that internet buyers could expect poor service.) Because the problem was intermittent, it was likely that they would look at it in 6 weeks and not find a problem, and I would get the thing back in the same condition. So I struggled on, and found that CD-R's still worked most of the time, but CD-RW's became completely non-functional. Because of the lack of a national service center for Harman Kardon, I definitely would not buy their equipment again, regardless of features. I would lean toward another manufacturer with a national service center, which would be more interested in keeping me happy, even if they have to replace an intermittent machine.

As far as features go, the CDR-30 is acceptable for my purposes. But it's controls are not user-friendly (even for an engineer like me), and a lengthy reading of the manual is required to try anything new. Some of the instructions in the manual are erroneous and misleading. The CDR-30 is pretty good for copying music CD's onto CD-R's, as it will dub at 4 times speed.

All in all, I would look to another manufacturer if I were buying a CD recorder. I couldn't recommend this machine.

Buy Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder Now

This is definetly one of the Best product I ever used.

I am musician and sound writer , it's so much easier to burn sample of my music directly from the sequencer and listen and check what to improve in term of quality of sound and combination

of sounds .The Analog options of burning any analog device to a CD is just Great ...

I have see my writing of sound improve greatly because I don't have to spend tousand of Dollars for just sample in Music Studio before the real production.I save a lot of Money with Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder

If You are Musician and Sound Writer This A GREAT MACHINE to Play with.

Read Best Reviews of Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder Here

I never dreamed that I would love this product as much as I do./ I don't even use my computer burner any more. This unit is so easy to use, and so comprehensive, that it eliminates the need for a computer burner... I have used this product incessantly since receiving it. The Harman/Kardon name is synonymous with acoustic excellence, and this is no exception. A must for the music teacher. Great for all aspects of music education, while still holding faithful to copyright laws. 5 easy-to-use stars!

Want Harman Kardon CDR 30 Dual-Tray CD Recorder Discount?

Whether making an exact backup of a CD or making a 20 track compilation, this recorder just works. Have never made a coaster -just remember to hit finalize when you are done with your recording. Fanatastic deck.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

EH1008H Hybrid Dvr

EH1008H Hybrid DvrOk...truth be told, first. The buyer has to provide and install a SATA HDD (Hard drive) for the unit to work. That said, installing the HDD is easy. It takes less than 5 minutes.

The DVR is an excellent product and, when set to motion detection, it can record for weeks. The GUI and specs are almost exactly like AVER's discontinued NV5000 capture card and Software bundles, which were excellent DVR platforms. Unfortunately, with the release of the EH line AVER has decided to target small retailers, instead of professional security integrators (like me). However, there is nothing lacking in the EH series as it pertains to performance. The only caveat is the limited back up capability of data/events. Otherwise, the EH series is a good performer. And worth the price.

Save 45% Off

Monday, May 26, 2014

Panasonic DMRE50S DVD Player/Recorder , Silver

Panasonic DMRE50S DVD Player/Recorder , Silver
  • Records DVD-R, DVD-RAM for best of both worlds; plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3-CD
  • Offers one-touch record, chasing playback (watching a recording in progress from the beginning)
  • Progressive-scan video output for seamless, flicker-free picture on high-definition and HD-ready televisions
  • Time Slip lets you replay a scene recorded earlier from a show in progress without disrupting the recording
  • On-disc video editing lets you tighten up or rearrange your home movies

I purchased my panasonic dvd recorder in February of 2003. For the most part the system has worked extremely well. You do need to test and make sure the "finalized" dvd-r discs will be read by the dvd player you wish to play them on.

As far as discs, the quality and experience has varied. I have had mediocre results with Imation, Memorex. I have had excellent results from Verbatim. Most of my recordings have been on the DVD-R, but I also record on DVD-RAM, edit and copy onto the DVD-R discs(because they are less expensive).

The only issue I have had, if you begin to record, and stop recording quickly (15-30 seconds), the disc sometimes becomes unusable. An easy solution to this problem is it let the recorder continue recording for a minute or two, then stop the recording and the erase it.

All in all, this unit has exceeded my expectations. It has allowed me to copy many programs and films to dvd.

One other recommendation, I also purchased the Panasonic DVD player (Less than $100) that had a rebate ($30) that will play DVD-R and DVD-Ram. So anything I record can be played on the player and watched, or (are you ready) can be played on the player and recorded on the recorder, for mixing dvd's or editing and then copying the dvd-ram recording to the less expensive dvd-r discs.

And, I have sucessfully been able to keep my dvd-r cost down to about $1.50 each, and the dvd-r to just above $4.00 each.

Buy Panasonic DMRE50S DVD Player/Recorder , Silver Now

This DVD recorder makes 2 hour recordings on DVD-R that I cannot distinguish from a live satellite tv broadcast. The unit was able to use one dollar generic brand DVD-Rs disc. It was possible to playback both on my computer DVD drive and on other home DVD players The unit is compact and quiet. There are three line-in inputs (RCA and S-video). A minor negative is the lack of a firewire connection for connecting a miniDV camcorder. I have not tested the DVD RAM feature that allows re-using the DVD RAM disc repeatedly. It comes with one free DVD RAM disc; these cost about Five dollars each. Set up is quick and straightforward. The remote is comlicated but does everything it's supposed to do. There is a "flexible record" (FR) feature that use the complete space available on the disc so that recording are of maximum quality. The unit is able to ecord up to 6 hours onto a single 4.7 GB DVD-R but the instuctions say that quality deteriorates noticeably if you go much over the two hour limit. Recordings that I have made in the 2 hour range looked great, better than anything I've seen from a VCR, but not as perfect as a store bought DVD. The source material affects the appearance: a broadcast of a grainy, faded movie looks grainy and faded on the recording whereas newer material looked very good.

I bought this from Amazon. The item was in my PO box four days after I ordered it. The price was the lowest I saw from a major source. Shipping was free and the price came to nearly one hundred fifty less than I would have paid had I walked into C*rcuit C*ty to buy the exact same thing. A minor shipping negative: Amazon sent this expensive item thorugh the mail in it's own box which obviously identifies it as an expensive piece of electonic equipment.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic DMRE50S DVD Player/Recorder , Silver Here

I have been watching the market for a DVD recorder for a couple of years. I'am really glad that I waited for this model (DMR-50). You will not have a problem with this unit if you will read and re-read as necessary the owners manuel. The other thing is DO NOT USE CHEAP DISCS. I've been using Ritek 1X DVD-R blanks and have not had that first problem with recording or playback on anything that is DVD-R compatable. The picture quality is good if not great at all recording speeds. The Sound is the same and agree with all the other reviewers. I wish we could record in surround sound , but I guess they are saving that for a later model. I Play back through a surround system that takes the sterio signal and makes it 4 channel and it is close to the surround effect. All and all I'am impressed with this unit and recomend it highly. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it helps you to decide if this is for you.

Want Panasonic DMRE50S DVD Player/Recorder , Silver Discount?

I bought the Panasonic DMR-E50S to transfer my old VHS tapes to DVD and I am absolutely thrilled with this unit! While the instructions are somewhat difficult to get through, the results are amazing! Using XP speed and copying one of my VHS-C cartridges to DVD-R (Memorex, by the way), the copy was wonderful! I also like the added feature of being able to put titles on each segment of a recording, that is pretty neat.

Amazon.com has a very good price. I paid the $12.00 s/h because I wanted to get the unit fast, even though I could have had free s/h. I ordered it on a Monday, and had it at my house that Thursday! The only problem I had was when I hooked up a newer DVD/VHS player to it and tried to copy my old tapes. I believe because of copyright issues with the DVD/VHS unit, it couldn't be done, which doesn't make any sense, since they are MY recordings! However, when I hooked up an older VHS model, I didn't have any problems. All in all, I am extremely happy with this product. Can't wait to try out all other cool editing features.

As a new comer to the world of DVD I was a little sceptical about DVD recorders. No more.

This piece of kit has just blown me away! Maybe I'm easily pleased but it just makes Video recorders utterly obsolete. No more dodgy recordings,no more accidental erasures, no more frantically searching for a space on the tape, no more anything you have to put up with using a VHS recorder.

Now, I'll come down to earth for a while and explain why it's so good and be a little more objective about some of the features.

This recorder uses DVD RAM and DVD R discs. Uh? Well DVD RAM discs you can record over and over (approx 100,000 times!!!) and DVD R are record only. Obviously the RAM's are more expensive. However a RAM disc comes with the recorder and I still haven't needed to buy another yet! Well that's just me. You can get 4.7 gig discs (supplied) or 9.7 gig discs.

Still with me?

The Panasonic can record on 4 different resolutions. So this is where the reality comes in. XP, SP, LP and EP. Now the lower the resolution (EP is lowest) the less memory is used and the more you can fit on a disc. So that basically means more recording time. However, the lower the resolution the inferior the picture. And I've got to say that LP and SP are not really watchable for me personally. Others may find it O.K.but the quality resembles a really coarse video streamed off the internet, you know the kind of thing? So generally I don't use these, but SP and especially XP are superb. So, a 4.7 gig disc will give you 1 hours recording on XP, 2 hours on SP, 4 hours on LP and 6 hours on EP. Bored yet?

So the bigger the RAM disc the more you can record at high resolutions. Phew! That's that over with.

Now there is this Time Slip feature. I can't really see the point of this but it's kinda cool. You can watch something while it's being recorded. WOW. What I mean is that you can sort of rewind the disc to an earlier record time and watch it while the programme is still being recorded. (This is sounding like Quantum physics now) Anyway, if that floats your boat then all well and good. But for me, the really sweet feature is the ability to watch a previously recorded programme while recording a completely different one. Example: Friday night you record ER because you're going out. Saturday night you decide to watch the episode of ER you recorded but then realise that there is something on NOW that you really must watch. Simple. Start recording the programme you wanted to watch NOW and then enter the user friendly menu system, select the recorded ER episode and press play. It plays and records at the same time. Sweeeeeeeet!!! It's that easy and just brilliant.

There's loads more stuff in ther also like, partial erase, moving recorded programmes around, editing etc. etc. Great for people who like editing their own videos.

I know I must sound like a Panasonic PR bod but really, I'm just a humble TV watcher with basic knowledge of audio visual stuff. If i can use this thing then, seriously, anyone can. It's an absolute breeze and for the price (internet [$$$]?)real value for money.

It's the future, buy it.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Polaroid 8gb Music & Video Player with 2.8" LCD Display

Polaroid 8gb Music & Video Player with 2.8' LCD Display
  • Micro SD card slot for additional storage
  • High Resolution 2.8" LCD Display
  • Stores and plays music, videos and Pictures
  • Rechargeable Li-ion battery
  • Built-in speaker

I read the first review of this product and disagree. This MP3/4 player is very easy to use, only takes seconds to turn on, the screen is very bright, you can drag and drop music, videos, and photos into it. Windows recognizes it as an extra drive via connecting it to a usb port just like if you connected a memory storage device. The internal speaker sound volume is not very loud but is much louder with headphones or speakers which connect easily to the audio out port.The player has up and down volume buttons.The photos and video are bright and the colors are accurate (which Polaroid is known for). Although I haven't used it, the player has a voice recording function.

This media player does not have an FM Radio which would have been a nice extra feature, but at the price and it having 8 GB of storage vs 4 GB many other players have, hard to go wrong.

This Media Player is finger touch screen operated, a stylus or pen is "not" needed and I'm not sure why anyone would indicate otherwise.

Note: Unit comes with a cd with software for converting video files to the format

needed to see them on this media player. If you do not have a cd player function on your laptop/netbook/tablet, you can use one of a number of freeware downloads to convert the video files instead.

Buy Polaroid 8gb Music & Video Player with 2.8" LCD Display Now

Purchased the PMP282-8 last weekend from Fry's . Much to my surprise, it's a very good MP3 player.

I have had an IPOD, a Samsung and a Fry's generic. The IPOD battery fizzled after a while. The Frys' generic was difficult to use and the Samsung just got out of date (my son still uses it). I copied all my songs from my IPOD computer program to the Polaroid with no difficulity. The Polaroid MP3 player works fine. Instead of a stylus, I use a dull graphite pencil. Works great. The screen is huge and all info is readily available. I bought it at Frys and of course overpaid. Now looking for a 8 GB class 6 card and case. To sum up, very good player at a reasonable price.

Read Best Reviews of Polaroid 8gb Music & Video Player with 2.8" LCD Display Here

In reality it isn't the real iTouch replacement but it's a great thing for my almost 6year old. She wanted an ipod touch, but we got her this one. the quality of video and sound is pretty good for the price paid. Although it is hard for it to recognize fingers, the trick is to use your nails and then it responds right away. The only issue is turning it on, It takes a few minutes to come on. Other than that, the CD that comes with the AVI converter for videos and everything else is great about it. My kid loves it. Although I was upset at first glance of using it, once you get the hang of it I realized how adorable and easy to use it is.

So bottom line, it's a great toy for your kid but if you want an iTouch this is not what you are looking for. Though iTouch from ipod breaks the screen instantly, not sure about this one yet.

Want Polaroid 8gb Music & Video Player with 2.8" LCD Display Discount?

Not a true touch mp3 player. You'll need a stylus for this player. this did came with a mini stylus but I lost it within the first day. it doesn't recognize any of my fingers.

The problem i have with my player is that it is defective. the sound only came out of my left side headphone. this could be fix by moving the headphone plug a little left and a little right and a little up and a little down until both sides of the headphone have sound coming out. music sounds great went it works properly but when I put the player down, again only my left side head headphone have sound. so, then, repeat the fixing method. this problem occurs on all of my headphones, giving me a headache.

Easy click and drop files to this mp3 player. it has a speaker. not very loud, but might be useful since the headphone slot is defective. This mp3 player doesn't seem to save my place on the play list when I turn it off, meaning that it will always start on the first song when I turn on this player. This player also has a video mode, photo view and voice record. Photo view doesn't have a sideshow option so it is not useful to me.

I tried the video mode by loading bunch of movies at varies formats. it only recognize the avi files but has a "file format error" when i try to play it. might need to download and install their converter. Also, this players allows me to delete video files within the player; I found this to be useful when I want to delete all files to return it. Sad since I got this 8gb player new for less than 25 bucks.

This mp3 player speaks 3 languages; english, french and spanish. Weights 2.70 oz. with expandable SD Micro memory and color 2.8" LCD screen.

Save 43% Off

I just recently purchased one off of a deal a day site for $35 for a 4G. Well it belongs to a 3yo and some how the screen cracked, so here I am looking for another. I think it is great for a novice or a child, definitely not for a hardcore techie, but it isn't designed for one either. I was pleased enough with its functionality and ease of use that I am buying a new one to replace the broken one.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom

Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with  40x Optical ZoomI got this camcorder a few days ago. It is very user friendly and simple. This is great for those of us that are not the most savvy. Sadly user friendly can also be a curse. Even though the picture quality of the video is great(still shots not so great, but thats not why I got a camcorder) special effects and other features are lacking. So if you want a camcorder thats easy to use and will make great home videos this is a good buy. You'll have few worries and no tapes. Easy DVD burn(just one button). If you want features and loads of them you may want to browse some other models. No light, but good night vision. No view finder, but the lcd screen is pretty good, I could even see it well outside with the sun hitting it. No adjustments to still picture quality. No special effects built into the camcorder. But really easy to use.

I wasn't originally planning to buy a hard drive camcorder (was mostly looking at mini-dv), but I saw this one at a discount at Circuit City, so that's why I purchased it.

After using this camera, I realized that it would have been a big mistake for me if I got the mini-dv tape camera. The advantages of convenience of a hard drive camera by far outweight the extra price (sometimes as low as 50$).

The best thing I like about this camera is of course the convenience of not having to buy tapes, and the ease with which the videos are transferred to the computer. I also really like the fact that I can review the clips on the camera right after recording, or earlier clips on the drive, without having to wait for the tape to rewind and trying to catch the right moment.

I also think that the audio is very good, the sound is clear and it records very quite sounds which make the videos even more interesting.

The other great thing I like about this camcorder is its powerful 40x zoom. I read a review here claiming that it's only a 25x zoom, but it still is really powerful and allows me to zoom up on people's face when they are so far that they wouldn't even be able to see that i have a camera. High flying airplaines can also be zoomed up to a full screen and I don't use the digital zoom.

There are other great things I like about this camera but I am sure it will be covered in other reviews so I am going to list some things that I thought were its weak sides.

First of all, the camera doesn't have a viewfinder which means that in order to see what is being recorded, one has to keep the LCD screen open, which uses the battery power pretty quickly. The camera can record, though, if you point it at something while it's on a tripod, and then let it record with a closed LCD, but hey, how often does that happen?

There is no usb port on the camera itself, the usb cable pluggs into the docking station, which means you have to carry it with you if you need to download a video on some other computer away from home.

As far as the video quality, it seems to be quite good by my standards. I mostly watch it on the computer and it is quite clear and sharp. The video is slightly better than on a Sony HC21 I tested before, and is about the same or slightly better than on my brother's JVC GZ MG21U hdd camcorder. The video is nowhere near the professional quality of course. But hey, professional cameras don't shake like camcorders either.

The bottom line, I think this is a good camera and the conveniences of instant file transfer combined with good zoom and audio should help the potential buyer make his/her decision. .

Buy Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom Now

OK, I have to start by saying I have not actually used this product. However, I have to comment on the review that says Sony is falsely advertising a 40x zoom. Unfortunately, the reviewer does not understand what 40x means, and since this is likely true of many readers, I wanted to clear this up.

If you read the specifications, you will see that this Sony camera has a lens with a minimial focal length of 36mm and a maximum focal length 1440mm. To calculate the zoom multiplier, divide the maximum focal length by the minimum focal length. In this case, 1440 / 36 = 40 so indeed the Sony camera has a 40x lens.

So, what happened when the reviewer "GAB" went to the video store and compared this to the JVC and other models? The answer is, he only compared the maximum zooms of the different cameras. The JVC, for instance, turns out to have a greater maximum zoom. JVC's camera specs for this model indicate it has a minimum focal distacne of 2.3, and a maximum of 78.2. You can't really compare the focal length numbers since the cameras are on different scales, but you can apply the same formula to the JVC, in which case 78.2 / 2.3 = 34, so indeed the JVC has a 34x zoom, as advertized. However, to completely compare the lenses, you should also zoom ALL OF THE WAY OUT, and compare those pictures as well. If you do this, you will find the Sony gives a much wider view than the JVC. In other words, the Sony has a wider angle lens than the JVC. So, if you are close to the subjects you are viewing, you will get much more in the picture with the Sony than with the JVC.

The bottom line is that zoom multipler on any camera lens is the ratio of the widest angle to the strongest zoom. Which is more important is up to you. Do you plan to shoot more indooors than out? In that case, a wider angle is probably better due to the close quarters. Do you plan to shoot lots of sporting events from the bleachers? In that case you probably want a greater zoom to get close to the action from a distance. Some of of both? You probably want greatest flexibility, which in this case the Sony gives you slightly more.

Consider how you plan to do most of your shooting, and buy the camera that meets your needs. But make sure you are comparing apples to apples, and considering all aspects of your decision. Zoom is only one of many features on these cameras compare them all!

Note: Since I have not used this camera, but I had to select a rating for it in order to write this, I choose four stars in order to average with GAB's rating of 2 stars and end up at 3. I apologize is this is misleading to anyone.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom Here

I had to think twice about getting this camera due to the price, but I'm glad I did. I have had it since last December. I used it at Christmas time and was able to store quite a bit of video on it, before downloading it to my computer and adjusting it. You can adjust features yourself or just use the Easy mode. The camera does such a great job of adjusting itself most of the time during Easy mode, that I haven't bothered with other features, except for the night vision. That does come in handy when taking night shots, though the video is black and white when using the night vision feature. Downloading is SO easy! Battery life is long. Video quality is great. My only complaint is that still pictures are very grainy and pixelly. I was hoping for just one camera that would give me good stills and good video. For some reason that holy grail has yet to be achieved. But as a camcorder, the quality of this product is excellent.

Want Sony DCR-SR42 30GB Hard Disk Drive Handycam Camcorder with 40x Optical Zoom Discount?

I will start with the bad first......

This camera and included software is NOT Mac compatible. Not to say you can't use it with a Mac, just not as easy as it should be. From what I understand many other Sony products are Mac compatible (including DV tape based video cameras), so I am not sure why their HDD cameras aren't. The Manual only explains how to transfer images to your computer using the included software. I had to figure out how to get the images into my Mac on my own and it is a fairly long process. Importing 1.07GB worth of video took 20+ minutes to get into the computer. Once it is finally in the computer, you will have to convert the MPG2 files into DV files if you want to use it in IDVD or Imovie. This is also a long process and requires the purchase of additional software. I am not able to use some of the features like the direct to disc burn feature on the camera. I also can't use some of the features on the Apple software that requires you to load video direct from your camera. Although I blame Apple for not allowing the use of MPEG2 files in their software, I also blame Sony for not including some sort of simple software or instructions on getting the files into your Mac.

My other complaint is the Manual. It includes a "guide" that constantly tells you to refer to the "handbook" which only comes on the disc in PDF. The 140+ page handbook includes instructions for at least 1/2 a dozen models and every you look it says except for this model or except for that model. Very hard to follow. For the cost of this camera, it should have had a hard copy manual specific to this model.

As far as the battery issue others are having, it doesn't seem to be much of a problem for me. I don't leave it on in stby mode too often and I always put it back on the dock at the end of the day. Most cameras come with the entry level batteries and longer life batteries are available.

Now for the good...

The size is amazing, it is comfortable to hold and easy to use.

Picture quality is pretty good considering they are compressed MPEG2 images.

A DV tape based camera does not compress the video and is a little better quality, but the trade off of not having any tape or discs was more important to me. Not having to worry about tape is great and 30GB is plenty of room for hours of video.

The 40X optical zoom is also great, which is the highest I found in any HDD camera including Sony's more expensive models.

Bottom line is it is a nice camera, but think about how much trouble you are willing to go through if you own a Mac.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo

Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo
  • DVD/VCR combo unit with progressive-scan DVD output and 1-month, 8-event VCR programming
  • Plays a wealth of formats, including DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, MP3 CD, JPEG image CD, and S-VHS tape (at VHS resolution)
  • DVD bookmarking, resume, and picture zoom
  • 4-head VCR offers commercial skip, 19-micron heads for clear images from EP recordings
  • Includes multibrand remote control that operates most TVs

I just returned this unit because of the same problems people had with the earlier SLV-D100. The first line on the addendum says "DVD's with scratches may cause the disc to pause". Not a good sign. Scratches or not the machine paused on every dvd I played. New, used, played once or twice it didn't matter. They all froze at some point in time during playback. I tried eight dvd's and had trouble with them all. I called Sony and of course they had nothing to offer. I wanted to keep this item but I had to return it, it was useless. I'm going to look at Panasonic next, hope they are better. I really used to admire Sony products. I have an older Trinitron TV and the picture is still amazing, nothing like it today. But today's Sony equipment is price competing junk.

Buy Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo Now

We purchased this DVD/VCR combo with a little hesitation due to some negative reviews here and on other sites but have found that, for the money ($179) it is a very decent DVD player/VCR player-recorder. Setup was a breeze -less than 5 minutes with only a glance at the instructions.

Since buying this unit last week, I've played about 10 DVDs on it. All played flawlessly with a beautiful picture. Last night we watched a DVD from the library and near the end, the picture began to break up as some other have complained about the unit. When we examined the borrowed DVD, we saw that it contained several severe scratches near the end and this is why the picture was breaking up -not the fault of the player.

The VCR works flawlessly -mostly we just record the news and Comedy Central and we use our tapes over and over. Even old tapes that had been recorded on many times played back beautifully on this player. (...)

I can't quite give the unit a rating of 5 because the response time on some of the commands is a little slow. Also, I have had one incidence of having no response when I pressed the eject button the DVD player. I had to switch the power off and on and press the button a couple more times before it worked. That was the second time I used the DVD, but it has worked every time since then. We have not yet completely read the manual nor learned to use all of the controls on the remote, but we are quite satisfied with the performance of this unit.

Read Best Reviews of Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo Here

After debating, I must say to others to pass on this unit. While not enough for me to return my item to the store, if I knew what I know now, I'd pass on getting it.

I've not had most of the problems posted in previous reviews. No problems with the VHS deck, no blue lines, no physical damage done to tapes. My only real VCR concern was an odd entry in the options setup where you tell the tape size, 120, 160, etc. Why? Shouldn't the unit ONLY care about the tape size when it detects the clear leader tape at the beginning and the ending? If not, then, it appears to me this option is for some kind of fast rewind, which I've always hated in VCR's. They did nothing but tear up my tapes because they never recognized the leader tape.

Main points that stick out that potential buyers should know. First is the included remote. Unfortunately, should you need a replacement, you probably won't be able to ever control the unit again. The buttons on the console itself are few. The remote commands are too numerous, meaning a universal remote probably will be useless on this, though I've not tested this. The remote buttons are fairly small, and, you will need a full light source to see what buttons are where and what they do.

Next, the manual is surprisingly lacking. Several set up options weren't covered anywhere in the manual I could see and key areas that should have been included in the Index at the back were not listed.

Finally, the main reason I believe people should not buy this unit. It does accept DVD writable discs, however, it is WAY too picky! Within the manual itself, it warns the unit may not be able to play discs that have label stickers on the label surface. While it is not recommended to use labels as they may peel off in the drive, to have the drive somehow detect labels or the drive bay have so little space for a margin of error that it physically prevents the disc from playing is simply outrageous to accept! The manual also warns that scratches on a disc may prevent playback. While this is certainly acceptible, IF scratches are what were causing my discs not to playback, then, this unit is too sensitive to them. When I read here of the DVD being picky, I loaded all of my library, disc by disc, to see the results. 11 discs simply refused to play with the drive's "THIS DISC CANNOT BE PLAYED! CHECK THE DISC!" error. No other explanation. Just a generic error that blames you for it. Were there more detailed error messages, it might be tolerable.

No, the laser within the disc reader is simply too picky. Using rewritable DVD discs, I was able to rebuild these 11 discs into a format the drive liked. However, all 11 of these discs played before, and I tested them again, STILL played fine in four other test players that they had passed in before! A Panasonic DVR, 2 PC drives (One of the the Sony DRU-500, amazingly!) and the Playstation 2. (Another Sony reader!)

Bottom line, 2 other Sony drives played them fine, but, this unit didn't even want to read them. The DVD drive is just too picky here. Not enough for me to return it because it has yet to fail on any DVD pressed discs, just writable ones. Granted, there are a lot of miracles involved, more than people realized, in getting a writable DVD disc to work. But, for discs that worked before in drives that still work, including 2 from the same manufacturer as this combo unit, that's simply something a buyer shouldn't have to accept.

A few annoyances that can be lived with, but, were I someone else knowing what I know now, I'd pass on the drive. Again, not enough for me to return it yet, but, I also cannot recommend anyone else getting it.

EDIT: I DID end up returning it.

Want Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo Discount?

The VCR part works great, we've never had a playback problem of either a new or rented tape, and the rewind speed is awesome!

The DVD part plays back fine, both video and audio, but does have the irritating problem, mentioned by many other reviewers, of occassionally pausing for some 20 seconds and sporadically freezing altogether requiring the stop button to be pressed followed by the play button. I take one star off for this annoying habit.

As at least one other reviewer mentioned, there is a design flaw in the video outputs: only the standard RCA outputs share the VCR and DVD signal, the SVHS and component outputs are DVD only. If you want to use a single video cable for the VCR and DVD signals, it therefore has to be the standard RCA output. Our TV won't display the standard RCA signal if a SVHS cable is plugged in, so unless we want to connect/disconnect everytime we switch from VCR to DVD mode and back, we can only use the standard RCA signal for both VCR and DVD playback. I take a second star off for this design flaw.

Just bought mine at Wal-Mart as part of Sony's pre-packaged home theater system. I should have checked the reviews here firat. I tried 3 different DVDs and it stumbles on all of them -pauses and pixellation. Very disappointing. Everything goes back tomorrow!