Showing posts with label pen voice recorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pen voice recorder. Show all posts

Friday, September 5, 2014

Sandisk 16mb Smart Media Card 16 Mb Sm Card in Retail Package

Sandisk 16mb Smart Media Card 16 Mb Sm Card in Retail PackageThis product works well, the only issue I have is with the availability and the high cost of this product for the amount of memory.

I purchased this for my mother for her camera. Her old one quit working. She is thrilled to be able to use her camera again. It came in the mail very quickly also.

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Friday, July 4, 2014

CIB K808AV500G8653 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w/ Eight CCD Cameras...

CIB K808AV500G8653 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w/ Eight CCD Cameras...I bought the 8 camera system from USA Security listed here. I would have given five stars, but it's four for the product not the firm.

The company shipped out a package missing a power supply for the main DVR unit. However, when I wrote and called to complain, they immediately shipped out a replacement power supply without any trouble whatsoever. This firm seemed committed to resolving sales problems for its customers, and for that I'm grateful. I'd definitely buy from them again, and would recommend others purchase from the firm as well.

The device works as advertised. Images from the cameras are straight 480i, and what's recorded is really about 320i, but then again so what. I'm not making a movie, I'm recording video of the exterior of a property. I don't care about image quality, I care about having proof for insurance adjusters and law enforcement. I've installed about half the cameras and got the DVR working, so I can say for certain that it works as advertised.

However, and here's why the fifth star is missing, the DVR system is based on Linux. It's clearly imported hardware from China. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't include source code for the Linux portion of the product. Yet, that's a requirement of the GPL license agreement for Linux. Frankly, I doubt USA Security has any control over their Chinese manufacturers they're likely just buying in bulk and selling an imported product. But they should know that if they could get their customers source code, folks like me just might improve it. I'll need the root password too.

For the vast majority of potential buyers, this is not an issue. If you want a cheap 8 cam security system, this device will do the trick. But it sure would be nice if these manufacturers actually read and followed the license agreements of the Free Software they base their products upon. Following that license would actually benefit them and their customers as well.

Very complete kit, including a nice power box, pigtail wires, cables, cameras and great DVR and software.

Cameras have nice resolution and good motion sensing.

Took me just a few hours to setup the first 5 cameras. Very easy setup, the software with the included mouse makes setup a snap, in no time I had it emailing me snapshots.

I really like the snapshot on motion, it emails me jpgs from 2-3 active cameras at once.

Overall great value with plug and play experience.

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I purchased this unit 7 months ago and I love it. I operate a home daycare and buying these cameras have been the best investment hands down. I consider myself mechanically inclined and all by myself, was able to hook up the cameras without much trouble. The hook up of the equipment is pretty simple and it took me 2 days to hook them up. The hardest part was running the wires through the attic but if you have help, I'm sure they can be set up in a day.

After a day, one of the cameras stopped working. I contacted the seller and he immediately sent me out a new camera with a prepaid box to ship the defective camera back. I also contacted the seller before I bought this system and spoke with a woman and she took the time to explain the system to me and answered any questions I had. That was the main selling point for me. Customer service now days is ridiculous and I appreciated the time she took explaining everything to me and the promptness of the return of the defective camera.

I did have problems hooking up the cameras to the internet. I am not very computer literate, so I had Geek Squad come out and try to hook it up but he had problems also. Apparently, the user login kept asking for a password that was never created and the only way to obtain that password was to contact the vendor or manufacturer. I checked YouTube and was able to figure out that the password was password.

I normally only buy products off of Amazon by ratings and this product did not have a rating at the time of my purchase but I am glad that I took a chance. Unfortunately, the other person who gave it a 1 star was commenting on a different item.

Read Best Reviews of CIB K808AV500G8653 8CH Network Security Surveillance KIT w/ Eight CCD Cameras... Here

Q-see is one of the worst company I've ever dealt with.

I purchased their product and couldn't get it to work.

I emailed the company many times before I received any

acknowledgement. When I finally was able to get replacement parts

for the unit, I only had one week left under the warranty.

Needless to say, the replacement parts didn't fix the problem.

I tried to recontact with the company via email...and they blew me

off until the warranty ran out.

After which, they told me they wouldn't even look at the unit..

a unit that never worked,

unless I paid them $90.00 in advance.

Do not give these thieves your hard earned dollar.

Stay far away from Q-see

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sony HDRFX1000 High Definition MiniDV Handycam Camcorder

Sony HDRFX1000 High Definition MiniDV Handycam CamcorderI purchaized FX1000 form Amazon two months ago to videotape theatrical performances at home. I have chosen it because of good low light specification (1.5Lux) and made the right choice. With correct manual settings (most important maximum gain

Friday, June 20, 2014

Tascam DR-07 MKII Portable Digital Recorder System

Tascam DR-07 MKII Portable Digital Recorder System
  • Specially Priced Package includes Tascam DR-07 MKII as packaged by Tascam, PLUS:
  • (1) Soft Case, (1) Tascam VT1 Closed Back Stereo Headphones
  • (1) Mini Tripod, (1) 6' Stereo Cable
  • (1) 6' RCA Pair Cable Left & Right
  • Sonic Sense One-Year Extended Warranty Adds One Year to Manufacturer's Warranty.

Don't get me wrong, the Tascam DR-07 mkII is an awesome little recorder for the price. This package, however, is probably not worth your time. For an extra $30, (the Tascam DR-07 mkII usually goes for about $149.99) you are getting a worthless little tripod that I wouldn't trust to hold even the cheapest or lightest point and shoot camera. The bag is mehhh at best. My biggest complaint is the product title says "Tascam Headphones". This seemed odd to me as I wasn't aware that Tascam made headphones, but I went with it without researching. Don't be fooled like I was. The headphones are not Tascam, but Samson (model HP-10). They are almost decent, but are very rigid, plastic-y, and rather uncomfortable to wear. They fall of my head easily and never really feel secure. I'd save the $30 bucks, buy only the recorder and if you need them, get a nice pair of Sennheiser headphones instead. You'll end up paying about the same, and won't have a bunch of gear you'll never want to use.

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I received the Tascam DR-07mkii very quickly and started to use it right away. I have a home recording studio set up in my bedroom and record alot of original music. I have many musician friends always asking to here some of my music and I don't burn to CD much or not at all. So, this recorder came in real handy for that purpose. I just record line in from my computer and presto, I have my recordings in hand that sound amazing. I don't see a problem with the line in input at all. The recordings are nice and clear and can be used in the place of demo CDs.

Of course if there is any interest in any of the tunes they can be burned later.

It is also nice to have the case to carry the recorder with you and although the supplied Tascam headphones are not up to snuff for my liking, I have lots of headphones to use in their place and will just add these to the others.

Also, I have been able to capture some musical ideas in the early morning hours when an idea hits me. I just get up and grab a guitar and start to record. As a musician I'm sure most of us know those moments can get away from you and fade very quickly.

The battery life does not last very long and I have to invest in a power cord although you can power it through USB which I have yet to do. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Tascam DR-07 MKII Portable Digital Recorder System Here

As a professor looking to do audio and video work with students and to conduct interviews in remote locations abroad, this is an ideal solution. Intuitive controls, easy integration with a Mac laptop (i.e. without any setup, it mounts as a drive when you plug in the USB cable to the laptop), and the sound quality was more than I expected. For the audiophile, I think this would be a great mobile solution and for the uninitiated to sound recording, a better solution than built-in mics within mobile devices. As a sidenote, I'd encourage anyone who wants the options of focused sound and broad, ambient sound to go with this choice versus the fixed, dual mic option from Tascam (the dr05 if I'm not mistaken). I thought I was going overboard getting the adjustable mics, but it really does make a difference in the end product. The bundle too is a bonus the bag is bulky and unnecessary for me, but the cables and tripod alone make up the price difference.

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I'm a member of a barbershop quartet and I needed a decent recording device to bring to rehearsals that I could also use to playback during rehearsal time. So I needed a carrying bag that could handle a few things. The bag itself is very good. I wish it had a bit more padding, but it has oodles of pockets even a tiny Velcro pocket for the tiny memory card the device uses. The headphones seem good, and there is a 2.0 USB included which connects the device nicely to my Mac. However, the tripod is not so impressive (I suggest the Gorilla flexible mini-tripodJoby GP1-A1EN GorillaPod Flexible Tripod (Grey and Black)). Overall, I really like the bag because it holds many things, recorder directions, my Wowee speaker WOWee One Power Bass Portable Speaker for iPad, iPhone, MP3 Players, Laptops, Mobile Phones, and Personal Game Systems (Black) (I also suggest one of these if you like to playback during rehearsals), the tripod, various wires, etc. The whole shabang really isn't much more than buying the device alone, so I think it's worth the extra $$$ even if a few of the "accessories" will end up in the trash.

I am a gadget lover and a music maker. When I was shopping for a recorder there was really no doubt in my mind. I bought this kit for the extras. I love the unit! The headphones are nice sounding but quiet. I've used them on my pc and laptop and get the same quality. Other wise everything is great. I have recorded two songs with this unit. Listen here www.reverbnation.com/dakotamusic listen to the tracks "KCI to Knoxville", and "sunsets and supernovas"

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Hitachi DVD Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Digital Still Capability (DZMV230AR)

Hitachi DVD Camcorder with 2.5' LCD and Digital Still CapabilityWe got this camera as a Christmas present. For simple movies and communicating with the family, it serves well. There are some design errors that Hitachi will need to fix before I recommend it, though.

First, the DVD disk noise is audible during playback. It is a high-pitched whine in the background. It is not overwhelming or too distracting, but people interested in making amateur films or top notch home video should find a less noisy camera.

Second, the camera does not come with a separate battery charger. You have to put the dead battery into the camera and then use the camera as the charger. This means you can't film on one battery while recharging the other. So, you either charge them all ahead of time, or you hope that you catch all your footage in one go.

Finally, the editing software for this camera is not yet available in the US (as of Dec. 2002). The editing options built into the camera are pretty limited. There are three fade options: fade to white (not black), vertical wipe, and fade to b/w. The interface would be fine for a road trip, but splicing long sequences together is a real pain. The fade features also require additional dead air, or else they cut into the sound portion of the tape. This may be my inexperience, but it bugged me for a while.

Overall, I found the camera very intuitive and easy to use, and I wouldn't give it up for a different gift. Still, there are probably some tape or other DVD-based models out there that are more polished in

their design.

I do not own this camcorder, but I have used a friends. The camcorder may have a long list of don'ts but what other camcorder can you record directly to a DVD? The DVD Rams may be expensive, but so does every blank DVD. The ability to edit video directly on the camcorder is only offerd here and on the sony MD video camcorder. Also the DVD's hold 2 hours. Thats alot. MiniDV holds 60 minutes, and Digital8 holds 60 minutes, and 90 in EP mode. Also the fact that it can Re-Use DVDs, no fast fowarding or rewinding, not quality degrade. Also, the DVD's scrathc just like other DVD's. I can take some scratches, but no gashes, just like a normal DVD. The zoom is responsive and the LCD screen has impressive resolution. The battery life is very good considering its burning a DVD. Also it is SMALL. Its not a huge camcorder, its like a small Digital8 or a large MiniDV. This is cutting edge technology here. DVD burners are just starting to appear on computers, and they are [hundreds of dollars] a pop. It has S-Video outputs and some computer port. Not sure on what it does, but I imagine it lets you put video to your computer. The comcorder is not super durable, but is not fragile. The camcorder will not break under 32* weather but wont record well, because the DVD burner has trouble writing to the DVD, so I wouldn't recomend useing it in cold weather. Also, must camcorders wont record when its over 90* outside. Especialy analog ones. Heat is also very bad for ANY lcd screen. It is a first generation DVD camcorder, infact the only one you can get. Its not perfect, but if you want a DVD camcorder, its very nice.

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Feels good in my hand, telephoto works great, going

thru the menus is a breeze. Being able to pop out the

dvd, and put it in My dvd player or computer makes this

camera a must buy.

Read Best Reviews of Hitachi DVD Camcorder with 2.5" LCD and Digital Still Capability (DZMV230AR) Here

I own a previous model Hitachi DVDCam. I have had several of my DVD's become corrupt and unreadable after I had recorded (and viewed) several videos on them. I called Hitachi and after a LONG phone call was basically told that I had bad luck and they were sorry. It is a porblem with the DVD itself and they do not stand behind the DVD's (because they are from a different manufacturer). My only option is to contact a data recovery service to get back my hours of lost video. Looks like that will cost me about $200-400 for two discs.

I understand that they do not make the DVD's, but their cameras use them. If I can record my videos on to them, I should be able to see those videos again. The only way to use their DVDCams are to record onto DVD's! Save your money and frustration and don't risk losing your precious family memories!

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I bought a Hitachi DZ-MV230A DVD Camcorder from Future Shop, Surry, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 28th Sept., 2003. My computer OS WIN XP (Home Edition) does not detect the Camcorder, nor the recorded DVDs are detected by the DVD ROM installed with the Computer. So, I cannot download anything from the Camcorder. The Camcorder is thus useless to me though I like its picture quality and shape. No software was supplied along with the gazette and it was written on the manual that it would work with WIN XP. I wish, the manufacturer gives weightage to this letter and send me the solution.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (White)

Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video CameraSeveral people complained on various internet review boards about how this camera does not deliver very high quality video, etc. I'm a technology enthusiast, computer specialist, amateur photographer and have about 7 or 8 different cameras so I feel qualified to give a good review.

This is a camcorder meant for internet uploads/sharing, quick shots, etc. This is not what you want to film your wedding with. So don't expect broadcast quality.

Having said that I think the image quality is VERY good for its size. One huge advantage over Flip/etc... is the swiveling lens. This was the main attraction for me. I'm always embarassed waving a big camera in public. Just don't like when people stare at me for filming something. This is why Sony bloggie is a great product. You can turn the lens to an angle you like and hold the device like your cellphone. People will actually think you are just playing with your phone.

Let's get done with my complaints list quickly:

-CMOS sensor means you get the rolling shutter a.k.a jello effect when panning too fast with the camera (vertical objects appear skewed)

-Smaller lens angle when using 1080p mode. (i.e. picture is too "tele")... you get a nicer wide angle if using 720p.

That's about it, image quality -especially in daylightis very very good for such a camera. I actually prefer to record in 720p 60fps mode, the high frame rate gives it a very smooth motion.

FYI, it's compatible with Apple's iMovie. Will take some time to import your videos but once it's done, editing is super easy!

I hesitated for a long time before buying this camera but I'm glad to say I don't regret it at all! Very satisfied with my purchase.

My actual rating is 3.5 stars but I've rounded up for now.

First, I read the specs of this before I ordered it so I knew what I was getting myself into. I did not buy this for great recording capabilities and did not expect that. I bought this device to have a easily portable recording device for cheap and it delivers.

The negatives for me so far has been the awful sound recording and the lighting. I did not expect a great mic but the quality of sound recording is far below my expectations. Combine this with the inability to attach an external mic (let me know if there's a way that I don't know of) makes this device subpar. The lighting recorded fluctuates quite a bit. Sometimes I would have to set the setting a couple times to get video to appear versus a dark/black screen. Let me note that I was recording in the evenings indoors without much light in the first place. Yes, this isn't ideal but if it is not able to handle that lighting, setting the device's settings a couple times should not magically "fix" the issue.

The overall design works well and the navigation is a breeze, similar to other Sony cameras. You can also easily pull this device out of your pocket and start shooting either in camera mode or camcorder mode within seconds. I do feel that they could have utilized the screen space much better; video is displayed on the top of the screen and the bottom of the screen is basically wasted IMO. There are no exposed ports so the unit is nice and sleek. The area that goes over the USB doesn't completely move out of the way so depending on the USB port you are connecting to you might not be able to plug it in. No worries though, a USB extension is included. Oh, and you can use both SD and the memory stick, yay!

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I was really excited to see the next generation of pocket camcorders come out for 2010 and the Bloggie is the first I know of. It has a larger, updated optical sensor and presumably updated firmware and hardware to render better video quality. I bought it as soon as I found out it was available.

My initial impressions are less about the Bloggie and more about what an achievement the Flip cameras are. Here's why:

The Sony Bloggie seems brighter but is more sensitive to movement than the MinoHD. I go over my videos frame by frame to get screen captures and the majority of the frames the Bloggie seems lost on the action and repeats the same bad exposure for many more frames before it adjusts to get the best exposure. The MinoHD on the other hand, even though it is over a year old, is much quicker at correcting exposure, frame by frame, focus and light, to provide overall better video resolution. This is in spite of the fact that the Sony Bloggie has a bigger optical sensor and the newest hardware. Flip just seems way ahead of every pocket camcorder (haven't tested the Kodaks) in its internal intelligence in detecting focus and exposure. This is what truly gives it the edge.

The Bloggie does have a removable battery or memory card unlike the Flip. But I can't wonder if it's even necessary. I've never needed more memory or another battery in my Flip. Also it presents open compartments that will no doubt gather dirt in the electronics and buttons, unlike the Flip which is mostly sealed.

Playback mode? I'm a software developer so I'm not afraid of complicated stuff but I found the playback controls on this frustrating over and over. There are 6 or 7 different buttons you can push on playback to pause, ff, rw, etc and I kept finding myself pressing the wrong one and getting kicked out of play mode. Yes, the Flip had this right and so simple! I actually feel like I have taken the Flip's playback for granted thinking it was just without features. But for the same functionsplayback, pause ff, rw, the Bloggie feels like it is many times more complex and mysterious even though it's attempting to do exactly what the Flip does so effortlessly, mindlessly. As for uploading to Youtube, etc., like it is featured to do, I guess that's like programming your VCRpossible if you really want to learn it but more like a punchline than useful.

The Bloggie has still image, movable lens, and other bells and whistles the flip doesn't have, but is an order more complicated to use than the Flip. In the end the video, even at 1080p, is still not as sharp and clean compared to the smooth 720p of the Flip MinoHD.

Other features such as an external mic input are not available on either the Bloggie or the Flip MinoHD but are available on others such as the Kodak Zi8 etc. But this wasn't a factor for me.

I will also ad that looking at the instructions made me understand why this has the stupid name of Bloggieit is a uniquely Japanese product rushed to market without alot of careful insight into the aesthetic of the American consumer (If I may, nothing against Japanese products, usually I think them superior.) The instructions are pretty poor considering some of the dummy proof large font easy-to-read stuff I've gotten used to from places like Ikea and yes, Flip. These look like they were put together by a technical person in a tight deadline who doesn't speak English well...

Keep trying Sony, some good ideas here but mostly I think you need to improve on that smooth auto exposure algorithm!

Read Best Reviews of Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (White) Here

Here are the PRACTICAL reasons I bought this camera ...

1) I love having an SD card ... and "unlimited" video memory space

2) I love having a replaceable battery ... that can be charged either in the camera or in a charger

3) I love the fact that it is small, and compact and easy to use

4) I love the included USB extension cord, so that the USB doesn't block my other cords

4) I especially love the swivel lens ... you can set it down and aim it anywhere.

I will mostly be using this camera (as an adult) for videotaping family, but no matter how old you get, you never lose your imagination.

I keep thinking how great it would be to be a child again ... playing spy. I would sneak videos over the fence of my neighbors yard. I would set it in the corner of the porch and record my friends and me just hanging out. It would go up in the tree house with me, and I'd peek it over the edge and video what was going on below. Gosh, if I were a boy with imagination, I'd find a way to use it to sneak a few shots of my sister and her friends.

Just a quick suggestion, if you are into really fun features, you might want to pay a few extra dollars and get the Sony bloggie MHS-PM5 Camera Kit Camcorder High Definition widescreen 5.0 Mpix supported memory: MS Duo, SD, MS PRO Duo, SDHC flash card white which has the 360 degree lens included!

There is photo software included if you want to install it ... but if you don't need it, it's on a disk and you can leave it off.

I have used the Flip, the Aiptek pen camera, but of all of them, this is the most fun, and for sheer flexibility of things I can do the most practical. I purchased it with an 8G memory card, and will be purchasing an external charger for trips.

***Edited***

I used the camera on vacation and have further reporting

1) I recorded both indoors and outdoors and the quality of recording was very adequate under both lighting conditions.

2) The mike recorded well indoors and picked up a lot of ambient sound when recording outdoors.

3) The one difficulty that I had was in being able to clearly see the screen under very sunny conditions.

4) It was extra super to not have to change between video and camera click one button it is camera the other and you are videotaping.

5) The battery charge lasted for the full week I recorded a number of small clips rather than a single large event.

As I anticipated, having the SD card was super I simply popped it out, handed it to my daughter and she copied the videos and pictures on her computer before I left so we both have our own copies.

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I bought the Sony Bloggie from Amazon along with a high speed Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader MSHX8G for a 3 week trip to Bermuda. The camera is very compact so it was easy to carry in my pocket in an old cell phone case. It's actually smaller than an iPhone or a G1.

It was easy to quickly take a photo or a video. The built-in software also makes it simple to upload videos and photos to the Internet. There are several sites programmed into the software but I just used Picasa for photos and YouTube for videos.

I shot all my videos in 720p and was very pleased with the quality of the video and sound. I only took a dozen or so photos with the Bloggie but they were acceptable. It was so much fun and so easy to take videos that I didn't even think about taking photos.

The Bloggie is not without its drawbacks. A jack for an external microphone would have been a nice feature but I found the built-in mic to be fine. Oddly the most irritating thing about the Bloggie is sliding the USB connector back into the camera. I always felt like either it would never go back in or that it might break. The USB extender cord that comes with the Bloggie is about 6.5" long; a longer one would have been more convenient. The screen is way too reflective and washes out in daylight so an anti-glare screen protector will be my next purchase for this camera. Documentation, once you have set the camera up is pretty much non-existent, so it's a learning experience as you use the camera. The will be some shake to your videos if you aren't firmly holding the camera or not using a tripod but that is true of all video cameras regardless of size unless one has a Steadicam or other camera stabilizer.

My bottom line is I really love this camera. It met all of my expectations; not too cold, not too hot but just right. I highly recommend it and would buy it again without hesitation.

Addendum: Took it on a cruise to Mexico and, well CURSE swimsuits with large pockets! I hopped into a hot tub with it in my pocket on the last day of the cruise! The camera died BUT the good news is that the Sony memory card survived with all my videos intact. Whew!

Now considering purchasing the Sony MHS-CM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet) NEWEST MODEL with the 5x optical as a replacement.

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Saturday, May 3, 2014

1280*960 Mutifunctional Hidden Mini Dv Digital Video Lighter Novelty Camera U Disk Home Security Ca

1280*960 Mutifunctional Hidden Mini Dv Digital Video Lighter Novelty Camera U Disk Home Security Camera Motion Detection Camera USB Flash Shape Recorder Sold by Maxwell Global Trading07.02.2013

hello

Yesterday I received the "1280 * 960 Mutifunctional Hidden Mini Dv Digital Video Lighter Novelty Camera" which I bought on Amazon.com, but I have not received the disc on which the driver would have been written (I was looking for drivers on the Internet but not find it) I also could not understand the instructions, as it is written very small font.

please help me with the driver and the instruction

13.03.2013

I bought this camera two months ago and the memories of this product is not very good(( about the problems I have already written in my first comment. I also regret that I rated this camera 4 as no camera and not the seller does not deserve even 1.

I will not say nothing to the account review "Robert" which is not a buyer, and promotes certain goods (you can see his comments)

So do not make the same dosing errors, which I did when I bought this unfinished camera.

My daughter uses this for pictures and her homework, it has worked perfect for her without any problems. I would recommend this product.

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Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Maxell CD-330 CD-to-Cassette Audio Adapter

Maxell CD-330 CD-to-Cassette Audio AdapterI use this adaptor to connect either a 5th gen iPod or iAudio U2 to my wife's BMW 5-series. The 528i has a cassette in the front and CD changer in the trunk. The soud quality from this Maxell is as good as it gets for tape adaptors. It will never be as good as using a dedicated line-out on the source plater to line-in RCA jacks on a good headunit (which I do in my car). However, those cars without any line-in connections on the amp/headunit, the next best thing is a tape adaptor. I've tried a few tape adaptors and this one has some of the lowest signal noise and virtually no mechanical clicking. It also boasts a high signal-to-noise ratio when compared to other models out there. It is also compatable with cassette players with a picky auto-switch feature.

Those of you with this unit (or any tape adaptor) and an MP3 player; I HIGHLY suggest you invest in a dedicated line-out adaptor (through the dock connector on recent iPods). This will give you much better sound quality than going through the headphone jack. It will also alleviate the need to volume match the output on the mp3 player to that of the volume level on the car system.

A word to the wise: As for the "An electronics fan" user who posted his awful review of this adaptor...ignore that review. I highly doubt any real electronics fan would keep blown speakers in his/her car. I also have trouble taking audio quality advice from someone who clearly doesn't care or understand proper audio staging/imaging, bass reproduction, EQ setup or the quality of his speakers. The fact that his speakers buzz with this tape unit shows the person a)needs new speakers, b)is outputting via a poor CD/MP3 player, c)isn't volume matching the signal or using a dedicated line-out, d)knows very little about audio.

I did a lot of investigating before buying this product. I ended up buying it mainly because it was the only one with decent reviews that I could find in stores. However, I am not disappointed at all. The sound isn't quite CD quality but it's pretty darn good and definitely better than a regular tape. I don't have an FM adapter but from what I read, the cassette adapters have a much better sound.

The other big bonus is that it doesn't matter which way the larger opening is on your tape deck because this adapter has a latch you can open on the bottom to change the cord over to the other side if needed. Warning, some brand name adapters will only work in tape players facing a certain direction! Every once in a while I have to put the tape in twice for it to work right; otherwise I haven't had any other problems with this and it gives my mp3 player a great sound! Another tip: if you don't have an equalizer on your car stereo or mp3 player, what you can do is adjust the volume on the player and your stereo to balance the bass and treble (for me, if I have the mp3 player sound lower and the car stereo louder, I'll have more treble...and a little more static, too).

As an aside, I doubt the product itself was the problem for the person with the bad car speakers who reviewed this product negatively.

Buy Maxell CD-330 CD-to-Cassette Audio Adapter Now

Once I got into the mp3 thing, I needed to find a way to play this stuff in my car. The Radio Crap cassette adapter ($20) failed miserably, as in my car (BMW) the auto-reverse mechanism would kick in, I would get a "tape error" message, and the unit would shut down.

This adapter has a simple one way gearing that fools this mechanism rather than spinning freely. I have no problems with the sound quality, and it's half the price of the Radio Crap. I wish I had known about this before heading over to the Shack.

Read Best Reviews of Maxell CD-330 CD-to-Cassette Audio Adapter Here

I purchased this adapter primarily due to the feature that allows you to adjust the position of the line cable. The top portion of the adapter can be removed, allowing access to the cable which can adjusted to protrude in a way that does not bite on the cassette slot. Once you find the best position, replace the top portion to lock the cable in place.

I use this device at least two hours a day, nearly every day of the week. After about 6 months (~280 hours), the device started to activate the cassette deck's auto-reverse. A shot of silicone spray put an end to that until about 3 months later where it started to stop and eject after several seconds. I suspect the plastic becomes worn and sticks.

Seems like a normal amount of time for the device to last, I guess. Best of the one's I've used, comparable quality to Sony adapter but adjustable cable is very useful.

Sound quality is what you'd expect for a product of this type. Suitable gain and imaging.

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I got this because I thought my Sony cassette-to-3.5mm adapter was broken--turns out it was my mp3 player that I had attached to it that was malfunctioning.

So once I replaced that, I figured I'd go ahead and keep using this Maxell adapter. Bad idea. Even with my ipod at max volume, I had to have my car stereo volume at about half (twice as high as it is for the radio or my old sony one), and when everything is turned up that high, the quality is just bad.

Also, I like to leave my ipod plugged in in the car now and then, especially on long road trips. But this? The audio cable is very poorly shielded and charging it and listening to it at the same time is a no-go--unless you happen to enjoy that incessant buzzing sound.

So I've been using my old Sony one and it all works just fine--and I suggest you save yourself the time and hassle and do the same.

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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Q1C1 outdoor Night vision 3.6mmWide View Angle Lens 26 Infrared LEDs 520 TV Lines for CCTV DVR Home

Q1C1 outdoor Night vision 3.6mmWide View Angle Lens 26 Infrared LEDs 520 TV Lines for CCTV DVR Home Surveillance Vandal-proof with Camera Power Supplythe camera was mounted on a bad area of bronx new york. the camera is very strong, no one can damage it. plus it gives very good video to us.

we love this camera very much.

recommended.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Toshiba W512 Hi-Fi VCR

Toshiba W512 Hi-Fi VCR
  • 4-head hi-fi stereo VCR
  • High-speed rewind and fast-forward
  • Rear A/V inputs
  • One-touch recording and digital tracking
  • Auto setup with channel memory

This is a nice VCR. The video quality of pre-recorded movies is good, and the record quality is nearly as good as playback quality. The on-screen menus are a nice feature, as is the automatic time and channel setup. But the best feature of the VCR is easily the rewind/fast-forward speed. It rewinds a two-hour movie in about a minute. I was amazed the first time I rewinded a tape.

But there are two problems I have with this VCR (which keep it from 5 stars). First, the VCR counter is defaulted to be on-screen. This is very inconvenient, as you have to turn it off every time you put in a tape. And secondly, the remote isn't so great. For some reason it's fat in the middle, making it awkard to hold. Also, the remote is not lighted.

But aside from these minor inconveniences, this is still a good VCR in this price-level.

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I bought this as a third VCR for our exercise room, for my wife to work out with her exercise videos. I didn't need the best, as this was for light use only, so I didn't spend much, and boy was I surprised at the quality!

My premier VCR is a six-head Toshiba which I bought reconditioned for somewhat more money than this one, and I'm perfectly happy with it. This one has similar picture qualit but was much easier to set up-easiest setup experience yet for me. After plugging it in, the clock set itself in seconds. No it doesn't have VCR Plus, but after harping on that as a necessary feature for the previous four VCRs, I found myself not using it much. The rewind is lightning quick and it feels like a very solidly built electronic item, despite the fact that it weighs next to nothing (making it very portable if you want to do some dubbing to another machine).

The only small drawbacks are (1) an awkward tiny two button combination you have to push on the remote to set the timer. This seems to be a feature on all Toshibas, and they don't get the idea that this is poor design. (2) There are no plugs on the front of the VCR, which is not a huge deal for me, since this one is so light, I just move it to the other Toshiba with the front plugs, if I want to do any dubbing. (3) The system defaults to showing the counter and other display items on the screen, so you have to turn it off every time you start a new video. Not too big a deal.

Overall, I got way more than I expected in what was a rock bottom low price on a hi-fi VCR. Treat yourself to that third VCR-you can't lose with this one.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba W512 Hi-Fi VCR Here

This VCR is ok for technically-savvy people used to joysticks, but is an absolute nightmare for older or fat-fingered people.

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Dissolusioned and surprisingly dissapointed with a product from what I thought is the name brand I could trust. The only reason I'm putting 2 stars instead of 1 is good picture quality and rewind speed, no denying that. But the other reviews are beyond me I'm about to get rid of this stupid thing and get a better one.

My #1 complaint: USER INTERFACE SSSSSSSUCKS!!!! I can't emphasise that enough Toshiba designers scored a guinnes record on the unfriendliness of use here. I'm a product designer, and I think the interface, i.e. ability to program this thing to simply record things, is a design crime. I so hope that they (toshiba) actually check out user reviews, may be they'll get a clue.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Esky® Mini Clothes Hook Hidden Camera DVR With 8GB Micro Sdhc Card (Tf Card)

Esky® Mini Clothes Hook Hidden Camera DVR With 8GB Micro Sdhc CardIt is exactly what I wanted. I just got done testing it and even in low light the picture is pretty good. It will get the job done. You will be able to see who is in the video. You can't beat this for the price. I have tried to leave it plugged into the computer and it doesn't record while plug in. I also tried it with a wall charger bummer it will not record. I wanted to us it with a steady power supply. other then that it works great!!!

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Friday, February 28, 2014

Zmodo 4 Channel H.264 DVR with 500GB HDD + 4 x 480TVL CMOS Outdoor Bullet Camera Weatherproof Survi

Zmodo 4 Channel H.264 DVR with 500GB HDD + 4 x 480TVL CMOS Outdoor Bullet Camera Weatherproof Surviellance Kit PKD-DK40107-500GBA little difficult to get going on the mobile but right for the price!!! You have to download the instructions for the most part and follow them....

I researched for several months and found this product to be the most reasonably priced. The DVR is very easy to use. Wires are a little thin but they are run through the attic. The cameras are 480 tv lines. I would not go below 480 tv lines.

Buy Zmodo 4 Channel H.264 DVR with 500GB HDD + 4 x 480TVL CMOS Outdoor Bullet Camera Weatherproof Survi Now

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sony DCR-DVD305 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom

Sony DCR-DVD305 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical ZoomJust received my Sony DVD305 a few days ago and am extremely satisfied. I have put this camera through the ringers, from Black and White, to Sepia, to Still Images, to Super Night Shots and I firmly believe this is the best camcorder I've ever owned! I was particularly impressed with the small size, yet the image stablizer really controls any shaking. The still images are fantastic for a 1 Mega Pixel camera.

You cannot go wrong with this camera, not to mention it was over $150.00 cheaper on Amazon than getting it from Best Buy, Circuity City, or Ultimate Electronics!

I bought the DCR-DVD305 after using a Hi8 Camcorder for a few years and a VHS Camcorder for many years before that. I would consider myself an "occassional" user and typically only pull out the camcorder to capture vacations, holidays, family events, sporting events, and trips to the local theater to watch friends and family perform. I spent countless hours researching camcorders online and in the stores before I purchased this and flipped back and forth between Hard Drive (bad), MiniDV and DVD models before I finally settled on DVD. That said here's some insight that I think would help other camcorder purchasers:

(1) DVD305 vs the competition: If you've been doing online research, you've probably found that most reviewers give the highest marks to two competing models: the Elura 100 and the Sony DCR-HC96. Both of those use the older MiniDV format and are said to have more bells and whistles, better low light filming conditions, and longer filming times on one cassette, and better ability to edit films on the PC. I managed to borrow both of those models from friends and try them out before I bought the DVD305 and truthfully I didn't see much difference. Maybe a serious filmmaker can tell the difference, but an occassional home user won't be able to.

(2) Edit on a PC I've seen some other reviews here where the reviewer said they couldn't edit their movies on their PC. I have Windows 2000 and a USB2.0 port and didn't have any issues. I used the included sony software to download the movie to my PC, used 3rd party software to edit, then burned my edited movie back to a new DVD using the camcorder (yes...you can use this camcorder as a DVD burner when it's attached to the PC with the included USB cable). I'm guessing the other reviewer didn't read the help files that come with the software.

(3) DVD vs MiniDV I've heard that MiniDV is a better quality medium and can record for longer than a DVD. As far as quality goes, I couldn't tell any difference in the quality between the two. The MiniDV does record longer, but they also cost about twice as much as the DVDs and they're much bulkier to carry. So for me, I prefered the low cost of the DVDs the ability to put about 10 of them in a tiny little case in the front pouch of my camcorder bag (imagine putting 10 MiniDV tapes in a bag it would fill the whole bag up!!!). Also, if you want to share your movies with friends, you'll need to transfer MiniDVs to DVD anyway. Going straight to DVD removes the need to purchase a DVD recorder.

(4) Size All of the models were about the same size. If you're trying to figure out how big this camcorder is, imagine a US dollar bill. The 305 is about as long as dollar bill and an inch or so taller. The 305 does feel a little awkward to hold, but the same is true for all of the small camcorders.

(5) Low light Seriously, I'm not sure what all the fuss is around low-light. I filmed in lowlight conditions with the 305 just fine. The viewfinder does appear a little grainy in really low light, but the film looked just fine. And think of it...how often are you filming in the dark?

Overall...my advice is this. If you're an occassional user, stop reading the reviews and buy this camcorder. You'll be VERY happy you did!

Buy Sony DCR-DVD305 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Now

I wasn't planning on buying it already, but I had a few margarita's for lunch. Came home with it, and was quite pleased. It worked out of the box!

When my kids came home, we played with it. Low light, full light, it was set for the widescreen, which looks funny on the tv, so I have to set it for the smaller screen I have. That's ok. The widescreen may look better on my computer monitor, so I will withhold judgement here.

I do wish the batter could work longer. You will have to buy an extra battery if you plan on doing any filming away from a power source for any amount of time.

I also wish it came with a disk, like my sony camera did. But that's minor.

So far I'm pleased with my purchase. It's intuitive to use, and I love the touch screen controls. I used it, played with it, changed settings before I read the manual.

I will be back again later to update if anything comes up!

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-DVD305 1MP DVD Handycam Camcorder with 12x Optical Zoom Here

Purchased this product in August and three days later got on a plane for a family vacation in Mexico.

The thing that became apparent straight out the box is the ease of use of this camera..despite the rather daunting manual that comes with the machine. We wanted a DVD based machine for the ease of shooting and straight into the PC without the use of cables and this machine couldn't be easier to use.

The menus are intuitive and rational making first movies very simple. Formatting the disc is a simple and pain free operation as is finalizing prior to viewing on a PC then it's straight into the computer for any editing or simple viewing pleasure.

Colors are great as is the detail at least in daytime, beach and sunny locations as we haven't had the desire to take night video.

The camera also does still shots but since this isn't why I bought it I won't critique their quality which is obviously not as good as the 7MP pocket still camera we throw in our bag.

All in all very happy with the purchase and at a great price!

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This is a very good DVD Camcorder. I have decided to go for DVD-305 instead of 205 just because it has USB connectivity where you can transfer your recordings to a PC/Laptop for editing. You can also use your camcorder as a DVD writer by connecting to USB port. This camcorder is really great if you are looking for mid budget camcorder.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Adapter

Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Adapter
  • Allows you to play CD, MP3 or MD players through your car's cassette deck
  • Inexpensive way to listen to your digital music through your car speakers
  • Plugs directly into your portable player
  • Powered by your car's electrical system
  • If you have auto-reverse on your cassette player and there is no way to disable it, this product will not work. There is a warning on the back of the package that says you have to disable auto-reverse.

There are basically 4 ways to play your iPod in your car:

1) Newer cars (typically 2006+) have an aux input which you connect your iPod to with the right cable. A direction connection like this is the simplest, lowest cost, and best sounding option but you need a newer car.

2) On most cars without a dedicated aux input, you can hard wire a connection in the back of the head units with kits from several manufacturers (USA Spec for example). This provides sound quality as good as item #1 but can get a little messy as the hardware needs to be mounted (usually under the dash) and can be fairly expensive (approx $200 hardware, $50 to $100 install)

3) You can use a FM modulator with any car that has an FM receiver. This is low cost simple option, but the drawbacks are well known: OK sound quality at best, issues with static and noise from nearby radio channels.

4) For cars that have a cassette tape deck (remember those?!) you can use a cassette adapter like the Phillips here. My older Lexus has a cassette deck and I chose this option before I invest in adding a hard wire connection (#2) as described above. I figured I would least try it for $11 and I am very impressed with the sound quality! I would call it near CD sound quality. There is no hissing or mechanical clicking of the gears in the adapter. I also purchased the Maxell cassette adapter since they used to make the best cassettes back in the day and to my surprise it sounded much worse and had a loud humming noise. So I am keeping the Phillips and returning the Maxell and just ordered another Philips unit as a backup for long trips!

Buy Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Adapter Now

I have two of these devices. The sony that I have cost $20 and clicks when I play it in my one car. In my other car, it always sounds like the dolby sound filtering is on. This one works and sounds better and was half the cost.

Read Best Reviews of Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Adapter Here

I got the Philips Cassette Converter to run my iPod Shuffle in my '96 Saab 900 with factory equiped stereo and it works beautifully. Yes, it is true that the signal is not very strong, so you have to turn the volume up a bit, but even the little Shuffle can compensate for it and by no means do you need to fear forgetting to turn the volume down when you switch to Radio or CD. The sound quality is as good as the iPod delivers and you have no disturbing background noise. I also had no problems that the deck would eject the tape. I can recommend this product and it's good value for money (I didn't try similar one)

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...for solving a new tech problem. Cassette tapes are almost as extinct as the 8-track ...but the cassette deck lives on in many factory installed car stereos ...pretty much lying dormant as the CD player gets all the use. Wanna play that new fangled iPod or MP3 player in your car but don't have a modern, high zoot car stereo you can just plug it into? Problem solved if you're lucky enough to have a cassette player as part of your setup. Turn on your radio (volume down) and simply slip this cassette adapter into the slot. Connect the mini-plug into the headset jack on your pocket-sized player and...voi-la! ...put that puppy on "Shuffle" and enjoy a just about endless supply of tunes. It's that simple.

I have two of these Phillips units; they work great and sound great. The Phillips is also one of the least expensive of the lot. All the adapters work the same and they will all probably sound the same ...so why pay more? The audio cable can be routed in one of three ways making it adaptable to just about any cassette deck made. You can route the cable out the left or right side and out the center of the back edge of the cassette shell. There are two large screws allowing you to use a dime to open the slot and realign the audio lead.

One thing you need to be aware of as you use this cassette. Many cassette players came with some type of noise reduction system (Dolby and others). When using this adapter you want to make sure the noise reduction circuitry is turned *off* ...otherwise the music will sound dull and have a slightly weird effect to it. Some factory cassette decks, like the one in my 2000 Jeep Cherokee, default the noise reduction circuit to the "on" position so you have to turn it off each time you insert the adapter. Or you can just leave the adapter in the player with no harm.

Another point for getting good sound is to make sure the volume level of the MP3/iPod player is not greater than about 75% of max ...there's a good chance you'll get distortion if the player is at full volume.

The only downside I've experienced so far has been the top label peeling up in the hot weather. The ends will curl up and the sticky side will attach to the cassette door as you try to eject it. Simply peel off the label, problem fixed. So fire up that old tech cassette deck and enjoy your new tech using some low tech.

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This adapter works fine with my mp3 player, at top volume there's slight background noise that can be taken care of with noise reduction if your car stereo has it. Sound quality is excellent and very consistent. It's much better and less expensive than a radio transmitter. I'm extremely satisfied with this purchase.

Monday, December 9, 2013

BV Tech 4-plus-one Port 802.3af Network PoE Switch (Up to 48 Watts) (IP Camera Power Solution)

BV Tech 4-plus-one Port 802.3af Network PoE SwitchProduct is as advertised and works well. Wish it came in a 1gb version as well. Product was easy to install and the power switch option is easy to use. Would like the RJ45 ports rotated 180 degrees. When you mount the unit to a flat surface it is very difficult to press the tab to extract the cable. In the opposite configuration you would have very easy access to the release tab of the connector.

Not a teckie... but works just fine.. been using for about 1 year. I would buy another one when I expand the system

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The RJ-45's bring upside down was my only problem.That and both of cords can be hard to tuck kept the product from 5 stars.

Read Best Reviews of BV Tech 4-plus-one Port 802.3af Network PoE Switch (Up to 48 Watts) (IP Camera Power Solution) Here

Wanted to mount an IP camera way up on a wall (about 20' up) and running a little ethernet cable is way easier and safer than running a power feed up for a wireless cam (which provides better throughput and then you're not "wasting" your wifi bandwidth, either!), and this is the perfect solution.

Ports are switchable (PoE on/off) so you're not limited to PoE usage only.

This switch also provides nice high wattage per port (If you're looking at other switch options, make sure you'll be able to power all of your devices to the required wattage).

Want BV Tech 4-plus-one Port 802.3af Network PoE Switch (Up to 48 Watts) (IP Camera Power Solution) Discount?

Nicly built, small and easy to install. I've got 2 cameras running on this now and will move to 4 shortly.

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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Q-See 1TB 16CH DVR System

Q-See 1TB 16CH DVR SystemIt has more features and options & is easier to set up than one of their four-year-old models. Its maximum video recording size and resolution is twice as large as most of their less expensive models. And its iPhone and iPad App is also easier to learn and use than their older App. But it doesn't have an HDMI port, unlike some of their less expensive models. And its maximum monitor resolution of 1280x1024 is less than the 1080p monitor we connected it to. So for its price it should have these features.

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Saturday, November 9, 2013

Sony DVP-NS325B DVD Player, Black

Sony DVP-NS325B DVD Player, Black
  • Single-disc DVD player with support for DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3 CD
  • Precision Drive 2 with Dynamic Tilt Compensation improves readability of damaged discs
  • 10-bit video DAC with 27 MHz processing for pristine video (through component-video, S-video, and composite-video outputs)
  • Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 - 2 coaxial output.
  • Offers DVD/CD Text, block noise reduction, custom parental control for 40 discs, multi-disc resume (up to 6 discs)

I'm the electronics geek / enthusiast in the family. So, it came as a surprise that my wife informed me she was off to pick out a DVD player for the family! What she brought home was this really nice Sony DVP-NS325B DVD Player (Black), loaded with features that make it useful for everyday play. It doesn't record but the sound and picture from every disc we've played (from Finding Nemo, the Indiana Jones Trilogy and even some borrowed dvd club copies) have been absolutely top notch.

The remote control as mentioned earlier is easy to use and logically laid out. This is a reasonably priced DVD player, one disc at a time, nothing fancy machine that may not impress your friends by how much it cost, but WILL impress them with the gorgeous picture and sound.

John Row

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This is a basic player with the Sony name and quality. Good picture, simple but functional remote, easy to operate. This was a replacement for my DVP-S330, which after a few years of loyal service finally gave out. Unit feels solid and well-made. It is not a progressive-scan unit, does not support WMA or JPEG, but does support DVD-R and DVD-RW, which were my main care-abouts. If you have a progressive-scan-capable TV, you probably aren't looking for an $89 DVD player anyway. It has a very slim design if space is a concern. As far as single-disc players go, you are certainly paying something for the Sony name, since you can get a JVC or Panasonic unit with more features for the same price. If you are partial to Sony and don't need WMA or JPEG support, go with this one.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DVP-NS325B DVD Player, Black Here

I was given this DVD player as a gift from a friend, and with that I entered the digital age of video. It is a great improvement over the VHS player I had, and I had a hi-fi VHS player with four heads and all the bells and whistles intended to give a clear and stable picture. Quite frankly, there is no comparison.

The picture when playing DVDs is crystal clear, through playback, fast-forward, reverse, and still. Of course there is occasionally fuzziness due to the motion of the action on screen, but in comparison to the stills and fast speeds of the VCR, again this player wins easily.

There are some interesting features, like DVD lock-outs (I haven't had the need, but perhaps a family with young children could use it to prevent adult-rated DVDs from being viewed), and disc-resume for several discs (the documentation tells me up to 6 discs, but I've only ever used it one at a time). I had wondered how one saves a spot on a film the way one does on VHS tapes; now I know!

This has features for various DVD formats, and includes audio CDs and MP3s. I have this connected to the equaliser of my stereo, and the sound is fantastic for both CDs and DVDs. There is a virtual surround sound that enhances the sound through the stereo; while I don't have a fouror six-speaker set-up, I still have a much greater experience of sound from this DVD player than from the VCR that is likewise connected to my stereo.

Of course, with a brand name of Sony, one expects high quality, and on this DVD player, they deliver. I have learned to trust Sony products over the past 30 years (I had a television which lasted nearly 25 years from Sony).

This machine is very slim, and fits quite well on top of my VCR, so there was no need to rearrange furniture, buy new stands, etc. It is compact and easy to install, and has auto-set-up features that make it almost completely plug-and-play.

By far my greatest surprise with a DVD player, however, has to be that it makes a great cat toy. Cat toy, you ask? Yes. With the remote, the disc drawer can be opened and closed by remote control. One cat finds this truly fascinating, and tries to 'catch' the tray as it zooms in and out. The cat also is attracted to the lights on the face going on and off. Who knew?

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This is an almost-perfect DVD player. In the first week of using it, though, I did get a "video stuttering" problem for a few seconds when playing a brand new DVD. In the subsequent weeks, though, I haven't seen this problem. This DVD player is quiet, slim, sleek, and has more than enough features that I'm looking for in a DVD player. I recommend this unit to just about anybody who's looking for a reasonably-priced, high-quality, jam-packed with features DVD player.

Note: If you have HDTV (I don't), you'll want to go with Sony's progressive scan unit instead, which gives even higher quality for HDTV sets. That model # is DVP-NS725P.

Hate it! I bought my Sony DVD player about 6 months ago, worked great then out of the blue I kept getting "cannot play" errors. It will play music CDs or video CDs but NOT DVDs. Called the Sony help desk, they had me unplug it for 2 minutes, plug it back in, then insert a DVD same message. Their response was that for 39.99 and shipping they would give me a replacement "refurbished" unit. For that price I bought a Zenith on sale.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Tivo C00221 Replacement Remote

Tivo C00221 Replacement RemoteAfter the remote that came with our TiVo HD got dropped on the floor one too many times and REALLY exploded, we decided it was time for a new one.

This remote is a tiny bit different than the one that came with our TiVo, but just fine. Worked instantly after being programmed, and no lag or delay in communication with the TV/TiVo.

One thing I would recommend doing BEFORE you receive your new TiVo remote is to use your old one to look up the codes for your TV. Just go "Messages and Settings" in the main TiVo menu, followed by "Settings," and then "Remote Control." You'll find all the codes you need there.

We're going to order another onethey are inexpensive and it'll be nice not to have to toss it around the room anymore.

I love this shiny new TIVO remote control. Contrary to what another reviewer said, I did need to go into the TIVO settings and complete a very short process so everything--such as volume and channel changing--would work.

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Good replacement Tivo remote. If you have a dual tuner Tivo then you will be disappointed that the LIVE TV button does NOT switch tuners but other than that, it works great.

Read Best Reviews of Tivo C00221 Replacement Remote Here

I needed a replacement remote for my Series 2 Tivo and this remote worked right away. No programming, nothing. Just batteries. Great price on Amazon.com!

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My two-year-old Tivo3 controller started to be very unresponsive, having to press buttons very hard for it to register, even with brand new batteries. This controller works perfectly after putting in batteries with no setup.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

MoviePix Kids Digital Video Recorder (Blue)

MoviePix Kids Digital Video RecorderMy six year old son just turned 6 and he loves making videos. I read a lot of reviews on the matter and decided to go with this camera. It is still working 2 months after his birthday so that counts for one star. It was fairly cheap. I have read the review of one guy who rated this product poorly and he stated he'd rather get a cheap starter camera for adults. The problem with that is that you are going to spend at least 3X the price. So this camera gets another star. The next issue is ease of use. My six year old can operate it without reading the instruction manual so this camera gets another star. The picture quality is pretty rough, esp. indoors and the internal memory is pretty small, so I am going to have to subtract a star. You just about HAVE to buy another SD card to make it worth your while (I would recommend AT LEAST 2 GB). It is red (his favorite color) so it gets another star. It can take still pictures (it gets another star). Overall, I think I would purchase it again. It is NOT as toughly made as the Fisherprice photo camera but with a little supervision, I think it should last a while...

I bought this video camera for my 6 year old daughters birthday. From the reviews on a few different websites, I thought this would be a great first camera/camcorder for my daughter. I had looked into a real camcorder for her, but when I saw this I thought it would be safer to go with. When I got this in the mail I was shocked at how tiny it was.... it even looks small in my daughters hand. When she started to use it we saw it had a light on the front to help with lighting, unfortunatly that light does nothing, and you need to be in an extremely bright room to be able to record anything clearly with this camcorder. A gift i thought would be a hit, is taken out once in a while to be played with....but im pretty sure my daughter does not want to have to deal with the lighting issues with it either! I wish I would have bought a real camcorder...... i would suggest looking into a real one, or something different than this one if you have a child who seriously wants to record, and not just play around with it!

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I bought this for my boyfriends son for his tenth birthday. He loves it! Its perfect for a kid if you want an inexpensive video camera for them to play around with. I'm only giving it 4 stars because the memory card that comes with it runs out of memory VERY fast, so you need to buy a bigger card to go with the camera. but isnt that the same with all cameras? Very nice present for a child!

Read Best Reviews of MoviePix Kids Digital Video Recorder (Blue) Here

MoviePix is, clearly, a 'kids only' video recorder and camera and as such it's Okay if 'fragile' doesn't bother you. It performs most major/basic functions one would expect to see in a real video recorder/camera and, as such, it has some educational value beside its obvious entertainment qualities.

This is a 'kids only' because of:

low resolution the highest is 640x480 (known as VGA)

low quality optics lenses appear to be 'plastic'

low sensitivity it doesn't perform very well on anything other than a sunny, outdoors environment

The above are or should be expected. After all, it's a 'kids' product. I did hope for it to be a little more sturdy. The way the MoviePix is built, it's too easy to break the swiveling wing that holds the little LCD screen AND the zoom in/zoom out buttons. All it would take to break it would be to push one of the zoom buttons without holding the wing steady.

For 'features', it's not a bad package. The MoviePix comes with:

Macro on/off switch

Zoom in/out buttons

2 LED for shooting in the dark

Video/camera/playback modes

Slot for a SDHC flash memory card (not included but a 4GB is highly recommended)

USB and video out interfaces

USB and video cables (included)

The setup allows you to set the date/time and the preferred movies and pictures (JPG) resolution with 640*480 the highest. When shooting it's possible to make some other adjustments to account for the ambient light but I found that 'auto' is always the best.

As for 'quality', this is really meant to be a toy. Our little girl learned to use it after a 30-minute training session and she did not break it yet we told her to be VERY careful about the 'zoom' buttons. She takes pictures and shoots videos and she's happy to be able to show them to her girlfriends and her school mates in the school bus but no one should try to use this as a replacement for a 'real' camera. The pictures are small, the colors are poor and the sound is not so good.

Evaluating this a 'toy', MoviePix earns a cautious 4-stars (I like it) the 'I' in this case being our daughter. I must take away one star for its apparent low durability. I am confident that our girl will not damage her camera because we've shown her how easy it would be to break it but I would not give one of these to a kid unless confident that they fully understand that they must handle it with care.

I will come back and update this review if/when this breaks.

_________________________________________

Note:

2/15/11 a couple weeks later, it didn't break yet, still on the first set of batteries, kid is still using it, it's still one of her favorite toys.

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I bought these as Christmas gifts for my 8 year old nephew and 9 year old niece. They absolutely loved them and have been making movies with them since.

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Monday, August 26, 2013

Audiovox 8410 CDM 8400 BATTERY BTR-8400

Audiovox 8410 CDM 8400 BATTERY BTR-8400I got two V505 and one V180 from AT&T corporate store for free with family calling plan. So far, I am impressed with this little phone.

Pro:

-Good Battery life. It has lasted over 1 week under modest use.

-Speaker phone. It's pretty clear and loud.

-Size. It's compact, easy to hold and nice keypad.

-Quad band.

-Reception is pretty strong and clear.

-Mini USB port. I can use my Canon camara's cable to connect to PC using Motorola software.

-Price(Free or make money depends on contract)

Con:

-Screen could be better or bigger. But it's not too bad for a basic phone.

-No blue tooth

-Address book could be better.

Overall, this is a great phone if you are just looking for a good no frill phone.

This is my third cell phone and 3 weeks into using it I'd say it's the best one I've had. My main complaint about phones this size is that the number keys are too small, but I've not had a problem with this one.

The only thing that I would change is the manual (some of the instructions are a little on the brief side) and the address book (seems to sort by first name, and not last name).

Overall, a decent phone.

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I have 2 of these (and got one replaced). All 3 have HORRIBLE battery life. I have to recharge every day and a half, after only 20 mins of talk time in that day and a half, and the rest stand by. 7 hours talk and 14 days standby is a huge lie. I could see recharging every 3 days with modest use, but this is pathetic.

If my batteries are bad and others are fine, it is weird since all 3 of mine are like that.

Be aware.

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