RCA 6' AC Replacement Power Cord

hi. my mom lost her power cord, for RCD159 RCA CD boombox. I searched the net alot, and this RCA Universal power cord replacement model, seemed 2 be the right thing 2 get. It doesn't work on my mom's RCA RCD159 CD boombox, or my friend Fe has RCA RCD200 CD boombox. So, u see, i just know 2 RCA models that IT DOESN'T WORK FOR. Better be sure, cuz they will tell u anything, and usually they have no idea of what works, or doesn't work. I'm gonna email Thompson Electronics, who handles support for RCA items, i think they r in Indiana, and i will find my mom the same power cord that Fe uses on her RCA RCD200 CD boombox. i rated this 4, cuz it's ok, but it's not right 4 me. Good luck 4 u.

I ordered this cord as a replacement for my CD player, but it did not fit as it was supposed to.

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The description of the power cord was insufficient while viewing online. The cord did not meet my requirements. In addition, I had to pay to send the power cord back to the manufacturer, which was not cost effective

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Just what the Doctor ordered, and came in just as promised.

Great picture, I know it would work from the picture

THANKS!

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Needed a new power cord because I lost the old one. Fit perfectly. Price was right too. Would highly recommend this item.

Cowon A2 30 GB Portable Multimedia Player

• 30 GB multimedia jukebox plays and records music and video; 4-inch widescreen LCD
• Compatibility with wide range of audio, video, still image, and text file formats
• Record video from camcorder, TV sources; programmable PVR function for television programming
• FM tuner with record capability and voice recorder; line-in recording to MP3
• Internal rechargeable battery; compatible with Windows operating systems

The A2 provides the perfect traveling device to enjoy music, videos, photos and FM radio. The text feature is limited for use until it can use more common reader software. The user friendly nature, sound quality, screen quality and overall versatility is at the leading edge. I have 500 photos, 2000 songs, 10 full length movies and I still have over 30% of the drive to use.

Some have argued that the battery should be replaceable. This is not a major problem since few offer such a feature, and when you have the battery life of 15 hours one does not have to replace the battery to keep using under normal activity. People have to complain about something. It does not have a video camera like the Archos AV500, but who really needs that for the typical use of this type of entertainment product. One should look at the ease of use, the range of capabilities, the quality of how it works. Another reviewer said they had problems. I have not with either the A2 or the XL5 by iAudio. All electronic devices are going to have a few lemons. Complaints have been made of the customer service, but since I have not needed them it is hard to rate them. Their website has an excellent international chat room that provides much of the knowledge of issues and applications, as well as accessories available. The A2 has a greater international following due to longer marketing in Europe and Asia.

Their firmware updates every few weeks addressing many of the issues raised by customers. The A2 now has greater features than the AV500 at a much lower price. One problem is the newest features such as DMB (Digital Mutlimedia Broadcasting) is not able to be used in the US with our antiquated technology.

The earphones are only mediocre. Consistent with trying to break from the lemming pack, try the Ultrasone headphones (iCans or HFI700, I have both)from Germany. They provide a sound quality that the A2 can support with open, accurate and balanced frequency response.

The biggest weakness is that iAudio (Cowon) does not effectively market their products so more people can become familiar with their products.

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I have had the Cowon A2 for about 3 months now and absolutely love it. To keep things concise and purposeful;

Pros:

-Amazing audio quality playback

-Unique and excellent audio enhancements with 5-band equalizer

-Supports more codecs than any PMP available in the U.S.

-AC3 audio codec support!! (only PMP available in the U.S. which

supports this so far and ALL of my digital movies use AC3 audio)

-Sharp, crisp screen with 12 brightness level adjustment

-Recording function works well with high quality video (early

issues of poor quality video fixed with newer firmware)

-TV out function very handy and simple with just 1 A/V cable

-Astonishing battery life (I consistently return approximately 8

hours for video and 15 hours for audio at volume level 20/40

and screen brightness 7/12)

-Well built, leather-like carrying case included

-EXCELLENT technical support with CONSTANT firmware updates

Cons:

-Needs enhanced WMV support

-GUI could be more intuitive, but it's not terrible

-TV recording function could be more intuitive

-Mediocre voice recording

-FM radio useless without headphones/earbuds (act as an antenna)

Overall, I love the Cowon A2 and purchased the product over its main competitors the Archos AV500 and Creative Zen Vision because of the A2's excellent value, feature set, and beautiful screen.

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My daughter just saw my A2 for the first time, (she's 22) and BEGGED my to buy her one. So much for first impressions. The unit is small and sleek and easily transported in a pocket or purse. But let's begin with the manual. It's flawed, to say the least. It doesn't explain all the functions and fails to address several issues.

For example, it shows an item called a DMB and a tv logo. But this is for a Korean who wants to access a tv signal in Seoul. Since I'm in Arizona, that's a problem. The main function button allows things like fast forwarding of videos, yet this is not even mentioned. The manual type is very small and hard to read. The illustrations, likewise. But the player is pretty intuitive to use and playing with it for a while allows you to figure out most of the functions.

Now for the best parts. The screen is crisp and clear. Downloading from a DVD player or the tv is easy. I can also copy a DVD to my computer and download using the USB to the A2. And I have a Mac, which they says won't work with the software. W-R-O-N-G! It works just fine with my iMac G4 without any special softwware. Downloading does take a while, but so what? You can move items into folders and rename them at will. I dumped the Korean subway maps that are included as photos and popped in my own photographs in the jpg format.

I also have a tip: download the manual in PDF from their website, convert it to a txt file, and move it into the text folder. Then you'll have it on the screen if needed. I figure you can load about 28 2-hour DVD movies and 500 mp3's, which are also a breeze to load. And still I have room for 100's of photos. The sound through the earphones is good and better with better earphones. I can't wait to take it on airplane trips to avoid the in-flight movies and pick from dozens of my own, played on MY schedule.

A final word. It would have gotten 5 stars if not for the poor manual and tech support guy, who told me it wouldn't work on Macs and not to even try. I did a lot of research before choosing the A2 for it's size, price and features. I wasn't disappointed and if I ever am, a know a certain girl that will love to inherit it.

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This is the best PMP in the 4" market for video playback bar none. This is the only one with an LCD of 16.7M colors & low latency. And it shows. I can also play any file (with latest, 1.81 firmware), from mpeg-1/2/4 to xvid and divx and WMV. And the included software is also great if you want to encode for example a larger mpeg to a smaller compressed xvid. I compared this to the Archos AV500, Zen Vision, Ipod Video, Epson and a couple of others. This one is the best for video playing, by far. And I get about 9.5 hours on a single charge! If you want something for commutes or for when you're on the exercise bike to WATCH videos this is it. It also is fantastic as a radio and mp3 player, although these aren't the primary reasons I bought it. Hope this helps!

In looking for the best media player, I had a very short trial of the Video iPod. The screen was way too small. Then I thought I had found a great player in the Archos 604 WiFi. Much better, since I like to watch movies, but I decided to give this one a try. After a few days, the Archos is going back to the store. Here's why:

Screen: The Archos screen is good, but not nearly as bright at the highest setting. There's an anti-glare coating on the screen, which makes images much lower in contrast than the Cowon. The Cowon screen must be seen to be believed. It's better than my television. The shiny surface of the screen can be a bit of a problem in bright light (seeing reflections), but that doesn't come up very often.

Sound: The Archos has decent sound, but it's not loud enough. Turn the volume all the way up, and it's just barely acceptable (for me). On a plane, forget it. The Cowon sound blows away the Archos... there are many settings for sound enhancement, quality is noticably better, and the volume goes much higher.

Video: What bugged the heck out of me was that Archos wanted me to pay $20 for decoders for common video formats. The Cowon plays everything I throw at it, for free. And it comes with a cable that allows me to play videos to a TV. On the Archos... yep, it costs extra.

Recording: If you want to record on the Archos, get set to pay extra for the necessary bulky accessory. With the included cable on the Cowon A2, you can record off the TV... even set it to turn on and record something on your favorite channel, then turn itself off, just like a DVR. Amazing!

I must say that this is THE most impressive electronic purchase I've ever made. Passes the time at my kids' sports practices, and cool for lunch breaks at work. When I travel, the battery lasts long enough for a cross-country flight. The Archos died in a few short hours.

Pyle Home PHDMF2 Dual HDMI Wall Plate

Neither HDMI port worked on this when it arrived. I tried it on two tvs with many different HDMI cables. I would avoid this product.

USed this to wire my DVD and satellite directly to the TV throught the waal.

Works great and i'm happy with the item.

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I wanted a wall plate to put in a media closet and this worked great. I ran 50' of HDMI cable through my attic and connected it this piece. After two months of use, it is still working great. This wall plate is a great option for people, like me, who like clean connections.

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Best price on the web. Very easy to install. I used this to cleanup the ugly clump of cables running down the wall and over the mantel. Works great.

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Purchased two of these and both ports on both parts are very sensitive. Plugs inside the wall are nice and tight and work well. The outside ones though are a different matter. You have to make sure and seat the the cable connector firmly all the way in, then make sure you don't move it. Any movement at all and the picture, sound, or both will quit and you have to take it off and reseat it. Tryed 3 different cables, same result.

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IOGEAR 56-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Card Reader (Tri-Lingual Packaging) GFR281W6

It works as it is supposed to and reads the HDSD cards well...especially since some of the older card readers won't recognize the 16GB SD cards.

This worked great, just plug and play. Cards were immediately identified. I gave it four stars instead of five because this is a very light unit and it has a tendency to slide around my desk. It needs some tacky rubber feet.

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Transfer by cut and paste, copy or whatever to another drive without using drivers and a special USB connecter. So far I have used it on 4 different types. Copy and paste and then delete from the original media. Nice small handy, transportable drive and easy to use.

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This is a pretty decent unit for the price. Reads all of the major formats. Comes with a relatively short cable and is lightweight. Surface texture of the metal part is kinda funky. Only major ding is they ship it in an obnoxiously large plastic bubble retail package one of those that you have to destroy with a knife or scissors to get open.

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Franklin AnyBook Reader - 60 Hour Edition (DRP-4000)

Last month, a new product from Franklin Electronics called AnyBook Reader was launched. It is aimed at the working, busy or traveling parent, far-away grandparent, or any other long distance relatives, who want to bond with a child even when they are apart. It's an interactive reading device that allows you to read & record any book in your personal library in your own voice and then allows your toddler (who may or may not know how to read yet) to follow along with their favorite books and your voice, so that you're reading the book instead of the Nanny!

AnyBook can be purchased through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. There is a 15-hour version ($39.99), and a 60-hour version ($59.99).

Ok, now that you have seen the press release let me tell you all about it.

AnyBook comes with a selection of blank stickers for recording your voice. There are also stickers that have sounds recorded in them if appropriate to the book (dog, firetruck, rain, crying, etc). The stickers are made to be removed and won't ruin your pages. You can even re-record on them or order more if you run out.

You touch the button on the pen to start the record mode. You hear a few beeps and it is ready for you to record. That's it! So easy!

Last week I quickly and easily recorded two books so that I could carry it everywhere with me. My first stop was the school where I was meeting with my son's teachers and therapists.

I opened the first book and put the reader to the sticker. They heard the book being read through the pen and then I opened the next book to show them how the reader will read anything I record into the sticker. They all looked at me in amazement.

I was asked, "how do you get the recording". I explained that I touch the pen to a sticker that I place on the page, the pen counts down and I record the page into the pen by reading. They actually thought it was Ruby on the Max and Ruby book so they were at first confused. When I told them it was me doing characters that is when they were all amazed.

Everyone stated the same thing; they have seen other readers out there but you have to literally buy books from the maker of the pen. That is what makes this pen so much better! You can literally read/record your children's favorite books and they can hear you read to them anytime.

It is the easiest thing and so personal. I love this idea for military families especially but I think this is great for anyone. Perhaps your children don't get to see their grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends often. They visit you once or twice a year. They could read a book or two for the child into the pen and your child can hear them anytime they want.

Another friend had asked about the stickers and if they can put on other things. Sure, why not. This got me thinking how great this would be for a baby learning speech or perhaps someone trying to learn another language. Place the sticker on anything, record what it is and the person can actually learn speech.

What a great gift idea. Imagine a child on your Christmas list opens a book of books with the pen that you have already recorded the books on! This pen says "love".

Finally! ... a reader that is not limited to buying those special reading systems and the accessories for them. This is like the reading pens, but you can use the books you already have or would rather have for your children AND you record your own voice into it. So, you can personalize the story using your kids' names or by using your own character voices. It comes with sheets of removable stickers that are used to identify your recording. For example, you adhere a sticker on each page of your book. Then, you turn the reader on, touch the sticker with the reader to activate the sticker and then you record your voice reading the page. It also comes with an assortment of pre-recorded stickers with sounds on them (animals, phone ringing, clapping, etc.) to add to the story. My kids have fun with it. You can get creative with it, too. I can totally see myself eventually using this for their school items, crafts, albums, etc.

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Now there are not many nights that I miss storytime with my boys before bed, but there are the few nights I do and there are times when they want to read a book by themselves. I am not saying there is a total substitution for a parent reading to their child, but their is a device that can now help out a little. The AnyBook Reader by Franklin Electronic Publishers is a device that allows a parent (or another significant adult) to read a book into a microphone-like device and record themselves reading the book. What is nice about the AnyBook Reader is you can use it with any book in your child's library and you can use it with multiple books at one time! (There is a 15 hour and 60 hour version.) You place a small sticker on the corner of the book pages and record each page individually, then your child can tap the sticker and hear you read the story! So no more buying special books and/or cartridges, just buy new stickers when you run out. The stickers use a special glue that won't damage a book and can be removed at any time. A pack of stickers is $9.99 and contains 10 sheets of ready-to-program stickers, each containing 20 stickers for a total of 200 stickers. You'll also get 4 new sheets of sound-effect stickers (80 more stickers).

Setting up a recording and deleting a recording is very easy, almost too easy that I thought for sure I was forgetting something! The stickers are easy to remove but unless your child really picks at them they should stay on just fine. There is a little feedback in the microphone so make sure the room you do the recording in is very quiet (like naptime or after bedtime!) I really though like this idea and it is so easy and quick to do. I could have a basic book done in minutes from adding the stickers to the pages to recording it. What makes this product really unique though is that it is your own voice that you are recording, so not a strangers or a robot voice. This would be especially great for a grandparent to record (and easy for them to use), a deployed military parent or other family member. My sons got a kick out of hearing my voice and now its funny they look for the white stickers in all their books! The AnyBook reader may be a little bit more upfront than other readers (about $60) but its your voice and its any book your child wants! Really you could use these stickers on anything you want to record a message on the possibilities are endless!

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"AnyBook reader uses a simple touch, record, and playback process. A special optical reader, built into the tip, reads unique codes imbedded in the designs of the stickers included with AnyBook reader. It's similar to the way a scanner at the grocery store reads barcodes. Each sticker code is unique. When a voice recording is associated with a sticker placed on a page, Anybook-Reader stores the recording and "remembers" which sticker has been associated with the recording. Touch the sticker again and AnyBook reader plays back the correct recording."

It takes a little time to get this going, but once it's done, your child can have a book 'read' to him any time he wants!!! It's easy for my kids to use and they love being able to play with it on their own. They even like to just record their own voices on the reader.

If your child doesn't know how to read yet, the Anybook reader won't help them follow along. It isn't like a tag reader where you run the pen across a word and it 'reads it'. You simple touch the reader to the sticker and then the whole page is read to your child. But if your child can read even a little bit, this Anybook reader will be a helpful teaching tool.

It comes with a bunch of stickers, and you can always record over a sticker if you are done using it in a certain book. But you can also buy more stickers if you don't want to record over any of them. The stickers don't damage our books and we can easily remove them if needed.

This is a fun tool.

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I can't believe I haven't heard of this product before, it's genius! My son is learning to read and constantly wants my husband and I to read books to him. We were happy to do so, until my son got turned on to the 100+ page per book "Captain Underpants" series. It's a cute series (we bought them all), but requires quite the time commitment to read through, and my son wants to read them constantly. I searched online for "reading pen," and found this. All the other systems required special books, so they were not Captain Underpants-friendly.

To record, you turn on the pen, hold the power button for 3 seconds to go into "recording mode," touch the sticker, then hold the volume-up button while you record that page (I only put stickers on the left side and read both pages to conserve stickers). Then you let go of the button, put the sticker on the next page, and repeat. Then hold the power button 3 seconds again when you're done recording to exit recording mode. Very simple. Directions for deleting recordings are equally simple, and the stickers can be removed/changed so you can move them if your child gets sick of a particular book. The stickers are reasonably priced, though, so I already ordered some extras. Only the white ones and pictures of faces can hold recordings, the others contain sound effects that you can add as desired. They seem to be easy to move/remove from pages as the company claims.

The only cons: the sound quality isn't great, especially when you're reading louder or making loud sound effects. It helps if you don't hold the pen too close to your mouth while you're talking. Even then, not super quality, but my son doen't seem to mind. When you're holding the button while recording, sometimes it "rocks" back and forth a little which results in a loud clicking sound on the recording. This is the biggest problem I've encountered so far.

Overall, it's a great value. When you consider that it costs $25-30 for those "record your own" Hallmark books that contain only one story, and you can record about 10 with this depending on length of the book (it comes with 22 sheets of 20 recordable stickers, I think), it's a much better deal. When you add the fact you can use it on any of your child's favorite books, it's a slam dunk. It's also a great gift idea for a child that can't yet read or has parents who sometimes travel. A+++!

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Astrotel WD1-C/CAM 2.4GHz H.264 Digital Wireless Transmitter with Color CCD Camera and Receiver

I ordered this camera to put up at my barn, to watch my mares for foaling. It was an effortless plug and play setup. So easy, the picture quality is beautiful and I couldn't be happier. I'm thinking about switching my network camera setup for more like this one. I am completely pleased with it and so happy this is the product I chose.

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Philips DVT1500/00 2 GB Digital Voice Tracer with 2 Built-In Microphones and Dragon Naturally Speak

My wife had a nice little voice recorder that she used to record lectures when she would attend classes. It served her pretty well for quite a few years, but it has nothing on this little device. First and foremost, the device can record up to almost 2 days with the internal memory. The time it gives is literally something over 46 hours at default quality. If by some chance you need more, you can easily upgraded with a cheap micro-SD card to expand up to 32 gigs. I haven't left it running for that long straight, but I can tell the battery life on 2 AAA batteries is quite good. I've been using it off and on for a week and I'm still on full bars.

The recorder is extremely lightweight. You can put it in a shirt pocket and it's not like you'll forget it's there, but it won't be so heavy it's irritating. Set to "lecture mode" it can record a meeting pretty well even from inside an open shirt pocket, but please check applicable laws or you could be guilty of wiretapping if people don't know you're recording; I'm not joking. The display is crisp and clean and I had no trouble making out the info on the screen. Volume is extremely easy to control. The menu items are quite easy to get to. I'll get into features more in a moment, but if you're like me you're most interested in the advertised automated conversion of recordings to text.

One of the selling points for the device is that it can use Dragon NaturallySpeaking, which is one of the premier voice-recognition software programs out there, to transcribe the recordings you've made into a text file or word document. Something you should know about Dragon, even though it's probably the best software out-of-the-box, it is nowhere near perfect. The full version of Dragon is usually over $100, so don't expect to be getting full program along with this device. What you will be getting is simply the transcription module. I'm dictating this entire review using the full version of Dragon 11 and I have to make frequent corrections to make sure it doesn't interpret my speech as something odd. In order to show you what you can expect from transcription using the recorder I did the next portion of the review entirely using the recorder and then transcribing it with Dragon. I spoke slowly and clearly, but made no edits of any kind to what you see below. It should give you an idea how to set your expectations.

---

The portion of the review about the voice recognition software on the computer I thought it be a good idea to let the voice recognition software write this part of the review so I'm running it through the recorder and him and ran it into the computer and we will be seeing here is exactly how it comes out of Dragon just a note Dragon 11 is the one that comes along with this record it's a stripped-down version of Dragon 11 which only does the recognition portion if you want to paint the hundred or hundred and $50 price you can get one that does the actual text-to-speech on the computer where you can talk and you do not have recorder of some kind that into it they also have Dragon 12 which is out now it's more or less the same program and schedule little bit more to it as usually get with an upgrade overall it's a 11 is just fine for anything you need

---

As you can see, it leaves a bit to be desired, however this is a failing of Dragon not the recorder. I do not say this to be critical of Dragon, but just to be realistic. Converting anybody's random voice is into text is one of the toughest tasks that you can ask of a program. The fact it gets as close as it does is pretty amazing. Just don't expect perfection. If you wanted to record using some of Dragon's commands, you should be able to add punctuation, line spacing, etc. when it outputs to text.

Here are some of the specs I promised about the recorder.

* Stereo recording in MP3 format for excellent sound quality

* Zoom microphone feature for recording at distances of up to 15 meters / 50 feet

* ClearVoice for clear and natural reproduction of speech

* Voice-activated recording mode without pressing buttons (hands-free operation)

* Pre-recording feature, to avoid missing a single word

* Recording and power supply via a USB port for unlimited recordings

* Slot for microSD card for extra storage

* Highlight important parts of your recording using index marks

Organizing your recordings is usually one of the biggest problems you have with a device like this. The more you can record, the harder it is to find your recordings later. The Voice Tracer gives you several folders you can store things into that helps. One neat feature, when you're changing the various folders with the index the beep is different for each folder. It makes it easier to figure out what you're doing without looking so closely. You can also attach a normal computer headset (two jacks, not USB) to it or use an external microphone if you have a better than the one built in; both take standard 3.5mm jacks like a MP3 player uses not the 2.5mm jack many cellphone headsets use. Sorry, virtually no chance of using any cellphone headset with the recorder.

The recorder comes with minimal documentation included in the package. I've read that there's a manual included internally, but I formatted before I saw it. However, the Philips website makes it very easy to get a copy from there as well as a new firmware update. The update I did right after I received it was less than a 4 MB download, though you'll need over 50 MB free on the recorder. What you do, if you want to skip the instructions, is just get the file from their site, plug in the recorder, extract the file to the root directory (i.e. not inside any folders on the device) and then unplug it from the computer. Maybe takes a couple of minutes total and you get a few minor bug fixes, though nothing major stood out. In general, if you have a phone, mp3 player, router, etc. and it's working fine and the firmware doesn't promise some benefit you need, then I advise against updates. They often introduce slow down or more problems than they fix. Users of iPhones may know what I'm talking about. I had zero problems performing the update or using the recorder afterwards, but also noticed no benefit either.

I only have minimal complaints about this product. The first is that when you press the play button after you just recorded something you'll only play the last 2 seconds of recording. You'll have to press the back button to go to the beginning of the recording and then press play. The other minor annoyance is that the cord that comes with the device is extremely short. It's less than 6 inches long. It can make it very hard to attach the recorder to a desktop USB port. However the cord seems to be a standard micro USB cord so you should be able to replace it with something longer easily enough. That's the same type of connection the Kindle third-generation with keyboard uses. Possibly all the Kindles, I don't know beyond that particular model.

I really love this little device. I think it will be great use to me in my job and allow me to take better notes. Highly recommend.

Update 02/13/13

----------------------------

I got to test out how long the batteries last this week. I recorded in the neighborhood of 11 hours and the indicator showed 2 of 4 bars remaining. I don't know how much of bar two was actually left, but a single set of batteries should easily get you through an all day meeting/class. You can record indefinitely if you leave it plugged into your laptop via USB cord. Just plug it into the computer and it goes into USB mode, then turn on the power switch like you'd normally do and it runs off the computer's power. You can even use it that way without batteries. Very cool.

I was really excited to see the Philips Digital Voice Tracer in the Amazon Vine selections. I write alot and love the idea of chatting freely into the handheld device and then having it auto transcribe my words online. As the owner of Dragon Naturally Speaking, I already have a familiarity of how powerful the software is so adding the voice tracer (which comes with Dragon) seemed like a good idea. However, I was not prepared for the learning curve.

I spent several hours going over the manual online and working with the device and still found it difficult to figure out. I did not feel the online directions were very clear and I think directions should have been included with the device.

On the positive side it is lightweight and the recording sounds crisp and clear. But it will be more hours before I can figure out how to get it to work online to transcribe my words and how to make files etc. I really think it could be more user friendly.

Buy Philips DVT1500/00 2 GB Digital Voice Tracer with 2 Built-In Microphones and Dragon Naturally Speak Now

Having used a recorder for focus groups, I looked forward to the Philips DVT1500/00 2 GB Digital Voice Tracer, using Dragon Naturally Speaking. What I overlooked was the fact that the device's limitations are such that, the only voice it will (usually) accurately record and transcribe is your own. It will record all that it hears but, it must be trained to your voice and speech pattern to be able to transcribe. So, don't expect it to transcribe the voices of others.

Opening the package and expecting to immediately use it won't happen. You must read the manual (very tiny print) and would probably profit from downloading a more readable version. You must read aloud (into the mic) the text provided (for best adaptation to your voice)any number of times. Reading aloud other text also will help the device to acclimate to your voice and speech patterns. Start-up training can go beyond an hour or more. The more time you invest in this initial period, the greater the accuracy in transcription. Like many things in life, the more you put into something, the more you get out of it.

Read Best Reviews of Philips DVT1500/00 2 GB Digital Voice Tracer with 2 Built-In Microphones and Dragon Naturally Speak Here

I am frankly amazed by this little recorder. I'm still learning. It's well worth your time to read the manual and you really must to properly accesss the myriad features available. But it's intuitive enough that you should be able to do straight voice recording and playback right out of the package (but read the manual!). This device has so many features it's hard to describe briefly . . . .

Huge 2GB of internal memory (literally days of recording time). Plug in inexpensive microSD card for another 32GB!

Excellent clear voice recording including a zoom mic feature to target the recorded source at extra range. Equally clear playback. Stereo recording capable.

Voice recognition voice-to-text capable using the Dragon NaturallySpeaking program. Not perfect and no punctuation, but is an advanced technology and certainly acceptable to provide an editable text to work off of.

Compact (enough) and remarkably lightweight.

Great battery life on 2 AAA cells . . . DAYS of record time, to match the internal memory capacity. And I really prefer these common inexpensive AAA sources, as compared to rechargables and the associated short-life, difficult/expensive replacement, and the recharging inconveniences. Can also be powered via USB.

Speaking of USB hookup . . . there is direct online support from Philips, including online updates and user info (recommended).

Voice activated capable, hands free, including a pre-record feature to avoid missing first words.

Super little unit.

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As part of my participation in the Amazon Vines program I received this product for review.

I already have Dragon 11.5 installed on my PC (will soon be upgrading to 12) and did not need to install the included software. My Windows 7 desktop recognized and installed the drivers for the Phillips recorder with no problem. Dragon imported the audio files and brought them up in Dragonpad. As I worked with it, the transcription quality got a bit better as the software got used to my voice. The intitial ones need quite a bit of editing before it was usable.

As an author, I've found that I'm better when working with the Dragon software on my computer rather than dictating and uploading it to the software. The voice recorder does work well if I am trying to do a scene with lots of dialogue where I can simulate the conversation between the characters. I will continue to work with the product and become more adept at dictation/transcription.

If you are good at dictation or want to become better at it, this is a solid product to work with.

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Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver

• Built-in 80 GB hard drive
• Hybrid VBR (variable bit rate) technology lets you record up to 6 hours on a single-sided DVD-RAM disc
• Time Slip lets you watch from the beginning a program whose recording is still in progress
• Progressive-scan video output for film-like images on high-definition and HD-ready TVs
• Plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, music CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 CDs

First of all, kudos must go to Panasonic for insisting on sticking to the far superior DVD-RAM technology for re-recordable discs since the discs physical surfaces are fully protected and the data is apparently better organized.

I have to say that I absolutely love this device!

Record to HDD, then burn what you want to keep to DVD-R or the far superior DVD-RAM, and finally erase what programs you don't need.

The only limitation is that the DVD-RAM's will only play back on Panasonic DVD players, however, the DVD-R recordings in my experience will play on all modern DVD Players.

The remote control has been fully perfected as opposed to the one they had for this model's 40 GB predecessor which was a horror show.

I liked the look and design of the earlier 40 GB unit a little better and it also had a few more plug in ports for memory sticks and the like, but this one is far more functional in terms of button location, ease of use, and the remote control.

Realistically, you have to use SP or XP speed for best visual clarity so the 106 hours of storage it claims to record at EP speed is not something you'd really be using.

However, with the HDD to DVD-R or DVD-RAM transfer capability (It does this at higher-speed rather then playback speed) you can record, transfer, and wipe.

The next model should have more drive space but this will do nicely for most of us for now.

I will never record to VHS EVER again!

Buy Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver Now

This is a great recorder, the HD space of a Tivo (but no channel guide, bummer), together with the DVD-R/RAM disk read/write capability of the panasonic recordersa perfect match.

Correction for the posted specs:

the E80H model (w/ hard drive) does NOT have a digital Firewire input, and does NOT have coax digital audio out (optical only.)

The E60S (no hard drive) and the older HS2 model (smaller harddrive, more $$) have firewire input.

This player does play MP3s, and will actually also play DVD-Audio disks (but I think only in stereo , not 6channel sound.)

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic DMR-E80H Progressive-Scan DVD Player/Recorder with Hard Drive , Silver Here

This is a dual review, for the Panasonic DVD-R Recorder DMR-E80H and the Toshiba sd-h400. Hopefully it can help those deciding between the two. I had done the research and was on my way to collect the Panasonic when the video store I had called told me they were just unloading the new Toshibas. It was a hundred plus less than the Panasonic and included TIVO. My fiscal side took over and I figured I'd give it whirl. I have an extended digital cable box and the Sony KP57WV700 57" HDTV that I was going to interface this with, pretty straightforward system.

Here is the simple layout of what I wanted to do: 1. cable in to digital cable box, out via component cables [red, green, blue] to HDTV [this produces the best signal and HD channel output on the TV]. 2. cable in to Toshiba/Panasonic for recording basic cable Ch. 1-98. 3. Video [composite?] out from digital cable box to Toshiba/Panasonic to record HDTV or whatever channel is on, on the digital cable box.

First off neither the Toshiba or Panasonic boxes has component in, so they couldn't receive the best signal from the component out on the digital cable box.

The Toshiba touts and comes with Tivo basic, which gets you 3 days advance programming via their guide, chasing playback, etc. This was the first experience I had had with a Tivo product. The setup for the Toshiba took a long time [multiple phone calls and data manipulation], and compounding things it was required that a phone line be utilised for the connection. A bad thing if you don't have a jack around, so I had to string one across hallways in ungainly fashion. Not good. I should say, you can buy a wireless USB adapter if you want, or a USB Ethernet connector to get your updates if you want.

Second hit against the Toshiba/Tivo, and this is what bothered me the most: they do not allow recording / timer recording from a second video input source unless you upgrade to the Tivo Plus service. This bit of info is nestled in the middle of the manual during extended setup. So for my set up which had cable signal in via RF and composite video in from the digital cable box, it meant I couldn't record as line in from the digital cable box.

Finally, the recording quality of the Toshiba ranged between three levels, taking their appropriate chunk of the HD. The Panasonic offered more flexibility here with more levels and their times. Tivo also is constantly writing to the HD to maintain their `manipulate live tv' functionality.

The DVD playback output between the two was comparable, you can choose between progressive and interlaced if you have a TV that supports it.

So I took the Toshiba back and got the Panasonic which I should have done I the first place. It has a much more professional finish, there are no fourth grader designed graphics/buttons on it like the Tivo. The Panasonic allowed me to hook up three more video inputs and record against them and do timer recordings on them. Bingo. The picture quality is very close to source using the second to top recording mode which gets you 36 hours of record time, 104 for EP, 74 for the next, and 18 for the top of the line. The Panasonic also has the time slip functions that let you watch a prior recorded item from the HD if you're currently recording, and it lets you watch the beginning of a recorded item *while* it's recording. Nice if you show up for the program 10 mins. late. It also records to DVD-RAM and DVD-R if you want to dub your VHS tapes or something you watch on broadcast TV, but that's a secondary feature to me so I didn't get too into it.

And so, for my setup, the Panasonic was the superior choice I should have exercised the first go around. Be alert to the limitations of the Toshiba if interested in it. I'm definitely enjoying the functions and features of the new Panasonic and can recommend it highly.

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I've written some tips based on the reviews here and the problems that I've had. I hesitate to write them, because it makes the Panasonic DMR-E80GH seem so complicated. It's true that it is more complicated than a plain DVD-player, but it does so much more!

1.) The Panasonic DMR-E80H has a hard drive similar to a computer. So it helps to treat it like you would a computer. Get a high quality surge protector and plug the DVD player into it. If you turn the DVD-player off or unplug it, wait a minute or so before you turn it back on or plug it back in. You want to allow the hard drive to power all the way down before you ask it to power back up. I unplug it (and all my home entertainment equipment) during thunderstorms, just like I do my computer. Sometimes the DVD player needs to finish what it is doing before it will respond to a new command from the remote or a button on the machine.

2.) There are two important buttons: HDD (hard drive) and DVD. Whichever one is active will be lit (on the DVD player). So, if you press a button on the remote and you don't get the expected response, check to see which one is lit. For example, if DVD is lit, then pressing 'stop' then 'enter' won't stop a program from recording to the hard drive. So you have to push HDD first, and then 'stop' then 'enter'.

3.) Consider keeping the old DVD player hooked up for children.

4.) For DVD-Audio, the default setting is typically stereo 2.0, and you must go into the set up menu of the DVD *disc* to change to 5.1 or DTS.

5.) For playing some DVD-Rs, I've had to go into the DVD *player* set-up menu and select 'disc', then 'DVD-video mode', then select 'on'.

What I like:

Panasonic DMR-E80H has a higher quality picture than our previous two DVD players, one of which was progressive scan. The recording quality is much better than TiVo. I like the fact that it has several inputs. I have inputs from my vcr, two cable boxes, and TiVo. I love the editing functions (which TiVo lacks). When my brother-in-law was Iraq, he wanted news programs. I recorded a news show every day, edited out what he wasn't interested in, and mailed him the discs. He loved it!

I've used the cheapest DVD-R's that I could find locally (not on the internet). They work fine. I recorded a program related to work and passed it out to everyone at work. The discs played on everyone's DVD player. We've had no problems with compatibility (yet).

If you push play twice, it plays at 1 1/3 speed. It still plays the speech, which we can generally understand. This is great for watching something when we're in a hurry. Unfortunately, this only works in HDD mode, not on DVD's.

What I don't like:

It doesn't change the channel on the cable box like TiVo does. Once I wanted to record a program and I pushed the record button. Well, about 10 minutes later, it stopped recording the show to record a previously programmed show. It doesn't warn you (like TiVo does).

I highly recommend this DVD-recorder. I love it.

I had been waiting for DVD-recorder/HDD combo to come out for over 2 years. I had been following the market in Japan since DMR-HS1 and when HS2 came out, I almost bought it. The only thing that held me back was the 40GB HDD that some people seemed to be saying wasn't enough.

So when this DMR80E came out in Japan, I couldn't wait for it to come out here. And as soon as I found out it was out, I ordered it and have had it for 3 weeks.

This was exactly what I had been waiting for!

We record shows regularly and had been using VCR which was really irritating me for the following reasons:

searching for the right location in tape

tapes not long enough (I even used those 10hr tapes

but when I'm out of town that wasn't enough to

hold all the shows)

rewinding (imagine how long it takes to rewind that 10hr tape)

need to worry about overwriting

can't figure out what's in the tape unless i play it back.

All these problems are solved with the HDD.

I guess Tivo/Replay is the same and I did consider buying one previously, but I just couldn't agree to the subscription based business model. I know which shows I want to record, so why pay monthly fee (or ont time lifetime fee) for the service? And how many times would the thing really record shows I like that didn't know about??? Besides I have enough stuff shows to watch regularly that I don't need the machine to tell me about other shows.

Anyway, the DVD-RAM/R is handy for shows that you want to keep around. You shouldn't leave stuff on the HDD if you don't want to lose them. So the other reviewer concerned about the warnings should not be because ANY HDD based electronics has potential data failure against power outage.

Regarding DVD-R compatibility warning, I think that can also be said true for any DVD-R drives because some older DVD drives don't read DVD-R disks properly. Most recent models should be ok, but I think there's always that risk. Oh, be sure to turn on the DVD-R compatible mode when recording if you want to play it back on other players.

One note is that if you want to record stuff from HDD to DVD without re-encoding (ie loss of quality), you need to use the fast copy mode. You had to turn on the DVD-R compatibility mode in order to do this.

Zmodo 8CH Surveillance DVR Security Camera System with 8 Outdoor Security Sony CCD IR Night Vision

I was very satisfied with this system. I don't believe you will find a better product in this price range for CCD Camera kit. The free Zviewer app works great so I can see my cameras at home when I'm away. Would recommend to anyone looking for home security cameras for peace of mind. Excellent for the money.

The network set up is bit of rough... Average Joe will probably need to use Zmodo's interactive online tutorial for help. ()

May 23, 2013: Got the Netgear Wireless adapter and now I am able to connect this equipment wirelessly to my home internet. This Netgear device required a little configuration (1.5 hours effort to figure it all out.)

May 21, 2013: Upgrading to a 4-star rating as I got a call back from tech support which resolved issues. Turns out one additional parameter was not correctly set which was not in the help video / files.

Now, I can view video on my home PC, my iPhone and also get email alerts when motion is sensed. Beautiful!

The Zmodo guys now need to work on simplifying the usability of a great product.

Nice package with fairly easy to follow instructions to set up the camera and DVR. These worked with no problem.

Next is where the nightmare starts. I am a fairly technical guy and I am baffled how freakin' complicated the set up is for remote viewing (both through my home computer on the home network and through my cell phone.) There is a new help guide on the zmodo website, but, it is still not helpful. Few gotchas not mentioned in Zmodo's marketing or support:

1. The Zmodo DVR can only talk to your PC or Laptop if it is connected by Ethernet Cable to your DSL modem. It can't communicate through your home wireless network (unless you buy another Netgear device they recommend!)

2. You will need to tinker with your home DSL modem firewall settings to get the Zmodo DVR to talk to your home PC / laptop. I tried following instructions but it did not work. Had to call my DSL provider and am still only partially successful

3. Zmodo's instructions say you need ports 80, 9000 and 18004 open on the DSL modem. Catch is that for my (and most) home DSL services, the carrier AT&T will only allow opening of ALL ports or no ports. If you want specific ports open (as Zmodo requires), you need to upgrade AT&Ts service to Business DSL to purchase static IPs lot more expensive!

4. So, here I am after 4 hours of experimentation and on the phone with AT&T, still can't get it to work

5. Called Zmodo tech support and they are apparently swamped and asked me to leave a message.

So, beware, this is not for the faint hearted! If you are content sitting in front of the DVR and watching videos, this is simple and nice. For anything more, no idea still what it is going to take!

Buy Zmodo 8CH Surveillance DVR Security Camera System with 8 Outdoor Security Sony CCD IR Night Vision Now

Elsse 4gb Touch Multimedia Player with 4.3 Inch Touch Screen and 2 Mega Pixel Camera

• 4.3 Inch Large High Definition LCD Touch Screen - built in Micro SD Card Slot
• Video Support: AVI, RM, RMVB, FLV, WMV, DivX, DVDrip.Xvid, etc (unprotected)
• Music Support: WMA, MP3, etc (unprotected)
• Built in Radio Tuner, Clock, Calendar, Photo viewer, Text File reader, Voice Recorder and 4 Fun Games
• Built in 2 Mega Pixel digital camera

this multimedia player is great.The music plays fine out of loud speaker, the screen is pretty sensitive, and the camera has a good picture,even though it is 2 megapixles. The things that i dont really care for is the dictionary, its more like a translater. Also the headphones are to big and hurt your ears. If you are considering to get this product i say you get it, for 50 bucks, its not bad at all.

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I bought one of these, expecting it to be durable. To the contrary, I had it 17 hours dropped it once, a distance of 2 feet onto semi-firm ground, the screen broke and by the 48 hours, it would not even power up.

Q-See QSU2DVR04 4 Channel USB 2.0 Digital Video Recorder Adapter

Hi, I bought this USB DVR because it has two audio channels, so it is supposed to record audio, but this feature is NOT true!!! This DVR really sucks and Q-See tech support is really POOR, I have been calling for three days and they never answer. Please don't waste your money on this poor DVR and buy a real one.

That is what I was told by a service tech, after I purchased the unit, and after I spent many hours trying to get the product to work. It's not mentioned anywhere in the product information either.

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This product is easy to use. Install software, plug into usb port, attach cameras and your'e ready to go. I didn't want an expensive dvr system and this was perfect.

Read Best Reviews of Q-See QSU2DVR04 4 Channel USB 2.0 Digital Video Recorder Adapter Here

Errors on dedicated write drive partition every reboot, inexplicable resource error issues, schedule config crashes, must reinnstall, no software updates available, cant even find QSDT4pcrc in support area. Wrong product choice and company.

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SCREW QSEE I have the same usb dvr... I upgraded to w7 x86. and no luck. I tried running in compatibility mode for all versions of windows.... I tried setting up windows xp mode... I trided using parallels AND oracle. I tried running it on an old laptop, but it wont let me save to a network path to my desktop...not even a mapped network drive. the vms dont work because of the "virtual video adapter" I cant install the driver for my video card because of this reason too. the support is the worst i have ever dealt with. I am currently dual booting w7 and vista... but I would like to somehow be able to load my vista partition while running windows.. is this possible? Is there a way to mod the firmare? is there software compatible with this 4 channel usb dvr??? CAN THE DAMN PEOPLE AT QSEE JUST POST A PATCH ALREADY?!??!? worked great when I had vista tho... but I will not return to vista because of 1 piece of hardware.

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Lorex LW2450 LIVE Video Baby Monitor with Pan/Tilt Wireless Camera (White)

This video home or baby monitor improved a lot in quality and functionality compared to its past models. I still have and use one of Lorex's older models (3 years old). That old one seems likes a really ancient tool now. It doesn't have pan & tilt, the screen is very small, the picture quality is not so good, wireless range is limited, and there are no extra functions, such as temperature meter. All these things are featured in this newer video home monitor, LW2450.

I've been using the new Lorex model for over a month now, non stop, for over a month, and I have had no single issue. The reliability of this monitor is just wonderful. I have more than 10 wireless devices running all the time at home, and this monitor has never interfered with any of my wireless devices. Unlike this one, my older Lorex monitor had some interference with my iPhone 3GS; therefore, I am rather pleased that interference has not been a problem.

The big LCD monitor (3.5") is good enough to identify what's going on in the scene. It is not super clear like the iPhone's retina display of course, but I can tell the picture quality has improved a lot from the past models. Night viewing is limited in color and range due to the nature of the technology, yet I think it's better than any other brands' I have tried. Also, the viewing angle from the lens seems wider than I had expected, and I prefer a wider angle than a normal angle. Pan and tilt is just as great. It works the way it should and as expected without an issue. Among the many features from this video monitor such as two way talk , recording, and expandability, my absolute favorite is the temperature sensor. The wireless camera senses the temperature and displays it on the monitor. This is very useful and the best feature for me personally.

Remote viewing is also a nice feature, and I like the fact that it's capable. However, setting up with Skype for remote viewing is not that simple and functionality is limited. It is not difficult to set up with Skype actually. I just had to make a new account just for the camera and changed the preference Skype to auto answer on the computer. It is not that big deal to go through, yet I can see there are many people just wanting something easy to install and simple to connect. And in my opinion, this is not the simplest solution for remote viewing. There's another way, still not the best, to use for remote viewing. Using iCam app on the smart phones and tablet allows slightly simpler setup with push notification on motion detection. I prefer using iCam app for remote viewing, and it's nice the wireless cam works with the application, not just Skype. But both applications are not able to control pan and tilt.

So my wish for this unit is for it to have a dedicated smart phone app for remote viewing with push notification and pan and tilt control. Lorex's other video monitor series have their apps for iPhones and tablets. This shows the company is capable with the current technology for more flexibility. I know it is nice and useful to have a separate viewing monitor unit, but we are living in a mobile era now, and we will probably never go back to old technology. So it's only reasonable for new Lorex to embrace technology and improve product functionality. The WIFI IP cameras are getting really popular these days because of the flexibility that one can use in his/her current smart phones, which do not need to be tied to a separate monitor unit. If you are technically advanced and have some networking knowledge, WIFI IP camera will be cost effective. If you want something simple and easy to use for monitoring home or baby with some nice extra features, this might be a good choice.

We have owned Lorex baby monitors in the past and they were awesome. This is no exception. It is a little pricey but you are paying for quality. The camera pans and tilts quietly so your little one won't be woken up. The screen is great and you can see everything really well. Everything seems to be solidly built and the monitor holds a charge for a long time. We had a similar baby monitor from Motorola last year and it went out on us after less than six months. It was almost identical to this Lorex system. Based on reliability and my past experience with Lorex I would recommend this video monitor set up over pretty much anything else. Lorex is top notch and worth the money.

Buy Lorex LW2450 LIVE Video Baby Monitor with Pan/Tilt Wireless Camera (White) Now

I like that this product comes with a hard copy of the user's guide. So many products these days only come with a PDF version. I prefer to flip through pages to find what I need. This product also comes with a Quick Start Guide, so getting started was really easy.

This monitor comes with one camera but is expandable up to 4 cameras.

This monitor can be placed on any flat surface. It is not the kind that can be mounted on the wall (unless you purchase the optional mount). It comes with 3 wire clips that are backed with an adhesive strip.

If you want to record with this monitor you will need to get a microSD card (not included). You can use up to a 32GB card.

You can also connect the monitor with a usb cable (provided) to monitor using Skype.

The video capture is good. It has a nice large screen. The colors are a bit muted. The camera pans up and down and side to side, which is a great feature.

What I find lacking is the audio capture. I have it turned up to the maximum setting and still I find it difficult to hear unless the sounds are loud.

Also, I seem to get the "out of range" message more frequently than I should. It goes in and out of range what seems to be randomly. (and I am only in the next room)

Read Best Reviews of Lorex LW2450 LIVE Video Baby Monitor with Pan/Tilt Wireless Camera (White) Here

Lorex LW2450 works well, as designed to be without zooming, and the 4-hour battery life seems decent, though insufficient for obsessive monitoring. The quality of the video functions is higher than of the audio. It is expandable and allows simultaneous views from many cameras. Skype works fine on Macs, as the Manual states. However, the personal Skype device needs a speedy downlink (4G) for smooth video reception outside home. Otherwise the connection may drop especially on small portables such as iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, but unlikely on tablets or laptops connected via Wi-Fi.

The setup is easy and well depicted on just 2 pages of the Quick Start Guide & in the Manual on the enclosed CD; both also available from the Internet. The night video quality is at the top of those from the Internet searched for "video baby monitor night". The day video quality is good considering the max. 320x240-pixel resolution available. Video can be recorded with or without sound.

The operating system ("OS") of the home device sending video to Skype and connected to router/modem must be at least Microsoft Windows 7/Vista/XP SP2, Apple Mac OS 10.5.8 Leopard, or iOS 4 (free upgrade from iOS 3)the most popular now. It cannot be original (1st) Windows XP, Mac OS 10.5.7 Leopard or lower, Android, or else. Macs with PowerPC processors are NOT supported, only with Intel CPUs.

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I have two baby monitors. The Lorex LW2450 LIVE, and the Motorola Blink1 Wi-Fi Video Camera for Remote Viewing with iPhone and Android Smartphones and Tablets, Silver. I only bring this up because I feel the need to explain why I think this product (the Lorex) is going to be better for some people even though the Motorola Blink1 ran away with a big win for us.

Before I do that, I just want to say that the Lorex does everything intended well. The handheld controller/display is comfortable, has its own little 'kickstand' for tabletop display, and the thumb stick control is easy to use, and the camera responds promptly. The camera offers a quality picture whether the room is lit or pitch black, the motor panning and tilting the camera is quiet enough that it's not likely to rouse any sleepers. It is, by all measures, a fantastic product for people who want a self contained solution that they're going to use within the confines of their home.

And this is where the Motorola is different, why the Blink1 is a better solution for ME, but not necessarily for you. The Motorola doesn't have a dedicated device for viewing and controlling as it relies upon your iOS or Android device (phones or tablets). Because it relies on these devices, it offers an expanded range (quite literally) of options insofar as you can continue to monitor and control the device even when you leave your home. Wherever you are, you have the option of connecting and getting audio and video (the quality of which is commensurate, of course, with the quality of connection that device has wherever you are).

I loved the Lorex LIVE for what it was until we got the Motorola. And it's only because we're already toting around iOS devices wherever we are that the Lorex's control screen seems an unnecessary addition to us. That's not going to be the case for everyone else, however. So it seems a relatively simple equation for me, and that speaks to how you're going to use it and whether you'd prefer to have a dedicated screen for your monitoring or have it through a phone/tablet. The Lorex is a fantastic option if the latter isn't appealing and the mobility aspect isn't so important -which is why this is a rare case where I'm giving 5 stars to a product I've shelved because I've deemed a different one superior for my own needs. The Lorex is well designed, well engineered, attractive, intuitive, and smartly functional. It's self contained, you don't need or rely upon anything else, and it does what it sets out to do very well. I can say the same about the Motorola (and have, elsewhere), but even as it's the same type of device, serves the same purpose, they're still distinctly different enough in terms of HOW they do it that I'm cross reviewing each without penalizing or rewarding one or the other in the process.

Highly recommended if your needs are as described above -otherwise I'd take a long hard look at the Blink1. You're going to be very happy either way.

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DC+IG2-22A: i.Trek 9" Car Windshield Suction Cup Mount for Compact Digital Camera / Flip Kodak Sony

• iTrek windshield suction mount allows you to mount your Garmin Nuvi GPS or compact digital camera or mini video camera with screw hole in your car.
• The mount comes with a standard Garmin 17mm ball joint to mount your Garmin Nuvi GPS and a screw joint to mount digital or video cameras.
• Mount your Flip, Kodak, Sony Bloggie, Toshiba Coby Mini Video Camera in your car and convert it into a in car DVR to record your driving.

This item worked well till I ended up with the female screw section of my Sony Bloggie stripped. Now the camera/camcorder can no longer be used on a tripod.SO YOU MUST BE AWARE OF IT'S PROPER FITTING.This is not a sellers issue but a manufacture one.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB - 4-channel External Cable TV Tuner Device for CableCARD

I purchased the Ceton Infinitv 4 USB as soon as it was released. Set up with Windows Media Center was very easy. Bit of advice, download the latest drivers from Ceton's Support site prior to installation. I had a couple of problems and Ceton's support was quick to answer my questions. The problems were not with the device, but rather the user. Activating the cable card with my cable company Comcast was difficult. It took three days to actually get it working correctly. The problem was not with the device, but rather the cable company. They had to make sure the Cablecard was in their inventory as a one-way card then they actually had to activate as a one-way instead of a two-way card. Once they had it activated it worked flawlessly. I am running Windows 7 with 3ghz processor and 8gb of ram and have no problem recording up to 4 shows and watching tv through 3 xbox media extenders at once. This device works great and now my wife is no longer bugging me to buy 3 tivo's with lifetime service to replace the cable company's sub-par dvr. I highly recommend this device if you want true control over your tv. I have 2 3tb drives for my recordings and can store over 600 hours of hd programming. The combination of Windows 7 Media Center and the Ceton Infinitv 4 USB give you great customization options and works flawlessly.

The Ceton USB tuner is the last of 3 different CableCard tuners I have set up. I own a PCIe Ceton card, the HD Homerun Prime 6 tuner unit and the Ceton USB. (Yes, that is 14 HD cable streams!!) In short the PCIe is the hands down king of CableCard tuners, the HD Homerun Prime has tuner pooling, and the Ceton USB is pulling up the rear.

The Ceton PCIe unit has been by far the easiest set up, most stable and the best card of the three. It has never had a glitch, it was set up and running in no time, the cable company techs had very little difficulty getting it going and it has never ever shown so much as a single pixel of picture faults. No "tiling" and no slow downs. No over demands on the computer. The only cons with the Ceton PCIe card are the heat inside the box and the lack of tuner pooling. Until I could get the other tuners up and running I was sharing the PCIe tuner with two other PCs running Media Center which worked flawlessly on a wired network. However, without tuner pooling I had tuner conflicts like no tomorrow!! 4 tuners are not enough for cable recording. Not even close without pooling. You should think very seriously about heat dissipation if you are considering putting two of these inside your computer.

The HD Homerun Prime was more (a whole lot more) difficult to set up, but that really is more a function of Charter Cable's difficulty in keeping two CableCard installs straight at the same time. I can't fault the picture quality, though it seems to be ever so slightly more grainy than the Ceton PCIe. On the Panasonic VT-25 the picture was very, very good though just a bit more grainy than with the Ceton PCIe. However, on the Sony touchscreen computer (VPCL234FX/B) in the kitchen there is a significant diffidence in picture quality which, I think, is more due to the Sony's NIC than anything else. (Though the Ceton PCIe streaming to it never had any issues and a clearer picture.) Whatever problems that people had on the roll out of the HD Homerun Prime are no longer an issue with the latest firmware installed as of 12.28.2011. Once the Charter people got all their ducks in a row the 6 tuners have been running like a charm. Did I mention that the tuners pool!!

The Ceton USB tuner has proven to be a bit more difficult to set up. It shares the same cable feed as the PCIe card, but I regularly experience SDV error 1 codes. The Charter tech measured the signal and said it was a very strong signal. When looking at the card on the Ceton diagnostic tool it claims that the signal is too weak. The result is that the card is unable to resolve tuning. Moreover, when I can get card working it has significant tiling. Also to note is that the USB version is very hot... like a small space heater hot. While it is good to get that kind of heat outside of the CPU box, know that it is not at all cooler running than the PCIe. Though I continue to have problems with the card, so much so and so regular that I decided to turn it off after Charter got it properly paired up, I should say that it is very well made with an impressive metal casing. It is worth noting that I have been using the USB off the same cable feed and through the same computer as the PCIe card. Additionally, I'm using all the latest Nvidia drivers and up to date USB 2.0 and 3.0 drivers. The CPU is a quad core 3.0+ Ghz Phenom. Nothing about this computer is even mildly taxed with all 14 streams, but the USB still struggles.

I think that it is worth noting the complications and tribulations of getting a CableCard properly installed. I have used the Charter techs and also picked up and installed my own CableCards. Sometimes it works like a charm and other times it is a two day task of seeming total impossibility. First, the billing side of the house must be in order properly. This is to say the card must be correctly coded into your account. Then the various numbers must be all correct when you call to activate or the card will not pair correctly. In my case I have experienced various different errors which are almost always due to a clerical error on the part of my cable company. Just keep making the techs come back until you get the right one who is smart enough to ask the right questions. Better an actual Charter tech than a subcontractor as they seem to have more access to the advanced video help back at the mothership. I can't fault any of these manufacturers for set up woes... All the tuner cards are actually incredibly simple to set up and use. The only issue between you and HD cable recording bliss is the total lack of knowledge on the part of the cable company. Know what you are getting yourself into before you buy one of these cards as making it through the gauntlet of the cable company could be very difficult. Reserve three days and hope for ten minutes of set up time.

Buy Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB - 4-channel External Cable TV Tuner Device for CableCARD Now

This product works like they said it does. Had to call Comcast twice to pair the cablecard, second time worked. They had left the data number off the first time. Can now watch TV and record 3 programs at once. Quality of the picture is as good or better than with Comcast's DVR. Great product.

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I have one Ceton 4 USB running on a Windows 7 64-bit Media Center with Comcast providing service. Be prepared to get what is a Cablecard when ordering since most have not embraced this technology. I have had experience with a previous vendors offering for many years on RCN and was very excited to see the Ceton handles switch service without any addition hardware and four HD channels at once. My initial install was on a Windows 7 32-bit installation and setup was a snap; with the longest time allocated to time on the phone with Comcast to pair the Cablecard with the Ceton. Once up and running a problem did develop with the device disconnect/reboot for no reason while recording or watching programs live.

My Windows 7 32-bit install was a carryover from a SageTV/DirecTV/HDPVR configuration and with tweaks for that configuration which I thought might be the reason for my stability problems. A residence change resulted in my change to Comcast and this configuration. As a result of the disconnect/reboot issues with the Ceton I performed a wipe and rebuild on 7 64-bit to prevent any possible conflicts. My initial findings on 64-bit were very promising with stability for 10 days before the problem occurred with disconnect/reboot.

Based on other reviews here on Amazon I opened a trouble ticket on the Ceton support center and described my problem with a request for the updated firmware. I received an almost immediate response with a link to download the update and instruction on how via the Ceton diagnostic tool. All seems to be smooth, and have not had the problem since.

Since the problem is correctable I would not hesitate to purchase another, or recommend to a friend.

4-Stars for the product; there is no mention of the problem in the knowledge base and should be listed as a potential problem, but correctable

5-Stars for Ceton support for quick response and resolution to the problem.

Ceton InfiniTV 4 USB

** Update 19 March 2012**

My unit had dropped twice on the new firmware after Microsoft Updates in Feb 2012; after report to Ceton the recommended the following:

Power Options:

Sleep:

Sleep after: Never

Allow hybrid sleep: Off

Hibernate after: Never

Allow wake timers: Enabled

USB Settings:

USB selective suspend setting: Disabled

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I had been hesitant to purchase this type of device because all the reviews seem to speak highly of it, but each says they had to jump through multiple hoops (usually with the cable card company) to get it to work.

However, I went to a Comcast office here in Atlanta (on Cobb Parkway in Marietta) after an online chat said I could pick up an "anyroom dvr" at that location. After a thirty minute wait they told me they had to come out to install it, I gave up and ordered this device.

It arrived promptly (we have Prime) and came with a quick start guide which I simply followed. I won't repeat the steps here, but I just did what Ceton suggested.

I installed it and then went to Comcast Saturday afternoon, waited less than five minutes and picked up the CableCard to use with my "Tivo" as the online advice had recommended.

The only issue I had was that Comcast said that it showed pairing on their end, but through MediaCenter it continued to have the "thinking" spinning wheel. I exited out of MediaCenter and pulled up the Ceton diagnostic tool which showed that the CableCard was paired, all green check marks, but number 10, "entitlement," wasn't checked but it said it could take up to ten minutes. I hung up with Comcast, restarted MeciaCenter, and all was good.

Four digital tuners, all channels. It was truly easy and I thank all the people who put up with a bunch of hastle with the PCI version so that mine went flawlessly. No second calls. No repeated install, uninstall, etc. I have Avast antivirus and that didn't require any attention either.

Of note, you can't tell from the pictures, but the device is actaully beautiful. It is a brushed aluminum or something that is very attractive.

Now, the only thing Ceton needs to do is use the same enclosure to house a MediaCenter Extender for $99, and all will be good. Seriously, can someone get them to do that, please?

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Xtreamer Ultra 2 DELUXE HTPC - Home Theater PC Includes: 32GB SSD Preconfigured with XBMC on OpenEl

I made the mistake of purchasing this device directly from the manufacturer. When it finally arrived, I soon found out that the ethernet port wasn't working (and what good is an HTPC if it can't be connected to the network?!) The only option to contact them is via web-chat. After two tries, somebody finally instructed me to open a return request, which I did. After not having heard back from them after more than a week, I wrote to ask about the status. The brief email that followed was harsh and they suggested I read their returns policy (which is hidden deep inside their site) and that it will take "up to 10 business days" to get the return approved. Of course, after two whole weeks I still hadn't heard back from them. After having written another mail, I finally received word that I will have to ship the item to HONG KONG and that I would have to pay a restocking fee in case I want a refund!!! This is really incredible! I want to warn everyone out there not to buy anything from this company!! The product is lousy and the support is non-existent.

I bought Xtreamer Ultra 2 Deluxe more than a month ago from UK. It comes with beta XBMC openelec software.

The XBMC as many of might know, has an excellent interface with so many options.

The problem is that this device failed to do what it is intended for playing movies!!! I have 1080p MKV movie files and this device failed to play them smoothly from my gigabit server, and even from usb-3 and usb-2 drives. I haven't tried 720p MKV files. So, for sure this device has a buffering problem even it comes with massive 4GB rams and, I assume, good video card.

I tried so many other version of XBMC software, Frodo, Ubuntu, and many. Still fails.

Also, cooling is another engineering failure of this device. It heats alot because the air flow is not properly thought of.

For continues play of movie files (one after another), there is no way, but to use the keyboard. I tried my best but couldn't figure it out.

Xtreamer forum is full of those who bought Ultra 2 seeking help with no results. The forum administrators and experts, and support services, will keep telling you that this is a PC! Which means that you HAVE to install windows 7, use the device as a PC, and play movies from there. In their advertisement, they say you can use the device and "Enjoy watching your media files" OUT OF THE BOX, while windows is just an option. However, after you buy it, they will tell you have to install windows if you want to watch HD movies. This means you go and buy windows 7 and try! maybe it will work.

I highly recommend not to buy this device until it comes with proper firmware/software, and not this poor beta version that causes alot of stucks, not allowing audio through HDMI, not able to watch HD movies, and many other technical issues that the people in the forum are complaining about.

Buy Xtreamer Ultra 2 DELUXE HTPC - Home Theater PC Includes: 32GB SSD Preconfigured with XBMC on OpenEl Now

I bought this product for two reasons:

1) I didn't want to tinker with drivers, search hardware components, build my own device, read forums, etc.

2) I wanted a well supported and open media center, to address future codecs, add-ons, new builds, etc.

Ad 1)

yes, you get a fully assembled device with everything packaged in a compact box. It looks fancy, I like the style.

OpenELEC is compiled for Xtreamer Ultra 2. I got it working well and I got frequent updates from OpenELEC. The fan is a bit noisy, I would expect a passive cooling device though, without a fan. Also, you cannot expand the box, you need to connect your DVB-T or DVB-S/S2 to a USB port.

Ad 2)

I connected the device to my Hitachi HDMI 1.3 TV. It worked well, except that every 15-20 minutes I got a gap in my audio and sometimes video. The audio was jerky and I used the device for several months without a solution. Why? Because Xtreamer's support is non-existent. I wrote them several times and got no response whatsoever. Their support web-site is locked, you need to get a username and password (why? to search read forums?). However you cannot request a new username/password. Their web site is not working anymore.

Finally, I fixed it myself, reading posts on forums, I reconfigured my audio. This is exactly what I didn't intend and want to do. Now everything works flawlessly.

My verdict? I paid premium for a good device, but their lack of support completely undermines this great device. Xtreamer they have great marketing with all the bells and whistles, but when it comes to customer support, don't expect anything.

Think of other products with passive cooling, like Arctic. Check forums for good support.

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The headline summaries the drawbacks I have for this box.

Pro:

Remote, 32GB SSD and 4G RAM.

Con:

I used it only for streaming so I need as fast as networking as possible, that means 802.11n 5G supports. I have 4 WiFi routers, all support 5G so I used it to cover every floors of my house for streaming videos. I have three of them 802.11n 5G only and one 802.11 mix 2.4G.

I have a lot of Wifi devices: iPad, iPhones and Galaxy S2, two Touchpads, four laptops, smart TVs and AppleTVs and a smart Thermostat etc. Only my iPhone 4 and thermostat does not support 5G and I did not expect a 1 year old Xtreamer Ultra 2 does NOT support 5G.

I use OpenElec 2.99.1 so I don't know whether this is due t OpenElec or the device itself.

2. The box is too BIG and can not stand up right inside my entertainment console so I have to lay it down and the charger is too big with EU adapter.

3. Plastic makes it looks cheap.

Considering it is only $160 different from a much better looking, smaller and faster Mac mini, I think the drawbacks make it not very worth $400.

Updated: after near one month, I decided to return it. It is a capable HTPC, but it is just too big, plastic and the remote did not work properly with XBMC, the only purpose I used it for and it did not support 5G 802.11n.

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excellent product because it runs full hd video without any problems, besides being quiet and fast. advise paenas lead to a person empowered to configure windows on it if you do not want to use Linux. the only problem is the control that used the windows all the keys do not work, but is there a way to configure.

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Canon XL1 Digital Camcorder Kit

The Canon XL1 is a great piece of equipment. My company uses this very same camera to do most of our commercials. Since its got such great graphic quality (~360,000 pixels per frame) and can capture at high speeds, its the clear choice for our high-speed shooting. The sound quality and zoom on the mic is also incredible. If youre still not sure on buying it, I suggest you find a local video or camera store and rent and play with one for a day, its a tremendously worthy investment...

For high-end amateur applications, I returned my XL1 in favor of the Sony DCR-VX2000. The XL1 image quality is superb; however, the image quality of many less expensive cameras these days is so impressive that after shooting a lot of test video at various lux, close-up and zoom scenarios I was hard pressed to see *any* difference between the XL1 and my Panasonic DV600 and Sony PC-5.

Online reviews typically give XL1 and Sony VX2000 image quality equal ratings.

Although my XL1 was manufactured in August 2000, the model itself appears to be a couple of years old and lacks some of the Sony's electronic features and an LCD viewfinder.

I was also disappointed in the XL1 still photo quality. Most Sony models perform much better in this area.

The XL1 zoom motor is so loud as to interfere with sound recording, and the manual zoom apparently invokes a proxy mechanism rather than controlling the zoom directly, resulting in a latency which is perceived as lack of responsiveness.

Several online DV sites mention rumors of a Canon XL2. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the XL1 is near the end of its product cycle.

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I've used Digital Betacam that isn't as nice as this puppy. Recently shot behind-the-scenes at an Indy Racing League event, and this camera easily kept up with the 220+ racecars. I can't say enough nice things about this camera!

The only negative... I think it could be a little more comfortable to shoot with. Get a better shoulder brace or the balanced audio input, the Balanced Audio adaptor makes a better shoulder pad than the standard one... and gives you better sound quality to boot! That's saying a bunch cause the standard mic is pretty damn fine!

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I have owned one of these for over a year and a half and love this thing. I work at a full digital TV station with a the latest equipment and the first thing I did was do a side by side comparo against a ...Panasonic DVCPRO broadcast camera. The technicians and cameramen were shocked at the image being equal to their cameras. When we explored the camera further and found the ability to also use the ANTON BAUER battery packs it only got better. They looked at the lens quality and lens swapping ability, plenty of manual setting available for video and audio, hundreds of accesories for the proshooter, and the frame mode made it shine brighter in their eyes. The general manager and chief engineer evaluated the camera and said at the same time "imagine what this could do for our budget!". I use this camera for personal use and have also used it for news gathering, Many requests from the news department have come my way to go on a shoot due to lack of cameras. If you are looking for a camcorder to have many bells and whistles, this is not for you. This is a serious tool. I have read reviews where it dosent take very good still pictures, it lacks the LCD viewer!, It wont shoot in total darkness or see through womens clothes. They forget serious shooters have a main priority in their camera and that is the choice of different lenses. No current consumer camcorder has a interchangable lens system. Something to remember many tools have the ability to do many tasks but they never exceed at one. The Canon XL1 EXCEEDS at shooting video to a professional level....

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Design and construction is first class. I use it as a "point and shoot" but it is fully equipped to handle heavy pro work. Flip-down shoulder brace, variable speed zoom and excellent mike are great features. Can't say enough about the quality of workmanship.