Disney HS700D High School Musical DVD Player

• DVD video and CD audio Compatible
• Supports CD, CDR, CDRW, Picture CD, DVDR, DVDRW
• Dolby Digital (AC3) audio output
• On-screen display
• Parental controls

You might want to consider other players over this one.

I bought this, and the matching tv.

The first player, the knob fell off less than a few weeks into play. I got a replacement. But less than a month into use, it began asking for parental passwords for all DVDs, even ones rated G. Then captions began popping up unless you told the DVD not to show them. There seems to be no way to turn off the parental password now. :(

The frustration isn't worth it. Get a name brand for long term use. For short term, if it's just for kid use, it might be worth it for them.

The matching TV is still going strong. But my portable DVD player lasts five times longer than this one.

Samsung HMX-U10 Ultra-Compact Full-HD Camcorder with 10 MP Still (Black)

I just finished boxing up this product back to Amazon and am compelled to write this review to help others make an informed purchase from someone who used the product.

I had been in the market for an ultra compact HD camera for about 3 months after tiring of the mini DVD cam I had for about 10 years. When I read about Samsung's entry into the market I knew I had to wait, because I love their quality in general. Plus, the promise of a 10mg digital camera with one-touch upload to Youtube and SD card capability made this a no brainer for me.

My primary uses would be 1) capturing family moments with the kids without having to resort to carrying the larger camcorder and a supply of DVDs everywhere we go. And, 2) shooting stationary video for my v-log entries.

When the product arrived, I was really happy. On the positive side, I like how compact it is.

Ergonomically, it fits really well in my hand and I actually like the controls. While the touch controls are sensitive, I didn't have any problems easily selecting my options.

The camera is completely intuitive. I was using it straight out of the box as soon as I inserted the SD card. Switching between video, pictures, and playback is a cinch! Very nice.

Compact. The camera's size is unbelievable. It easily fits pretty much anywhere you have a pocket. Fantastic.

Appearance is spot on too. It's a nice looking camera.

Now for the overwhelming negatives:

The image quality is dreadful. Not only is it grainy indoors, but unless you have a lot of light it's almost unusable. It's also really choppy, which I don't like.

The sound quality doesn't seem to match up with the video. While the mic picked up the sound, it didn't match upon playback.

Picture quality. Don't be fooled by the 10mg capability. I challenge you to take a quality shot with this camera. Forget about anything indoors and stand as still as you can and it's still going to be blurry. Unless you plan on carrying a tripod everywhere, forget it.'

I really, REALLY wanted to love this video camera, but I had to send it back. The concept is a good one, but it is nowhere near acceptable in the performance category, which is a shame since these are used to record family memories.

I am really quite angry at Samsung for putting this type of garbage on the market. They are smart people and must know about this product's shortcomings.

I am an absolute research hound before I buy products, especially technology related ones. But, this time I wanted to be the first one on the block and I got burned. Had I just waited a week or two I would have seen the negative reviews and steered clear. I will give a look at the Flip Mino, but may not even buy an ultra compact at this point, because I can't see how the video and indoor, low light quality can be that much improved on such a small device.

Buyer beware, there are better options out there.

LEt me start by saying I have owned the following:

Vado HD

Flip Ultra HD

and the Samsung HMX-U10

This camera is going back after two days of testing.

Cons:

Everything

Pros:

7 degree angle

1080HD (Didnt look any better than the Vado)

The controls on this camera are heat sensitive, think original ipod controls. Howver there is about a millimeter of space between the direction and the "ok" button causing you to hit the wrong buttons almost 90% of the time. SO ANNOYING!!!! Not only that when you are shooting video it is VERY easy to accidentally hit one of these buttons.

The camera lens seems to be the LEAST wide angled of the three cameras I have tried. I was about five feet from my daughter and I think I filmed her eyelashes. Like the poster above you really need to be at the height of the object being filmed. Horrible with low light, not even visable. Horrible in bright light, the camera seems to get confused and keep trying to adjust. My daughter looked like the guy from the movie powder in the sunlight.

Intlistudio is worthless

It is disappointing that Samsung had all the research possible with Flip and Vado coming out early. Samsung definately flopped with this camera. Vado is by far the best of the class.

One quick note, the point of these pocket camcorders is eas of use. This camera almost has too many options which bogs down the fun and easy of point and shoot. Maybe this is a personal preference but my wife would not use this camera as much as the Vado because of confusion.

Last, the connections SUCK!!!! I mean how can Samsung not put mini HDMI to HDMI on this??? The Ultra and the Vado do. I mean you have this tiny camera and then you have to plug in COMPONENTS??? 5 wires that need to be plugged in. It would almost be better with Red white yellow. The USB plugin is too close to the flap that covers it. So when you plug it in you feel like you are going to break the flap. Another problem, the rest of this class has the USB attached which is MUCH easier. Why have another wire lying around?

If you are new to the pocket camera world, get the Vado HD (first version) for 110 dollars. Save money, looks great, just came out with a software that works with a mac. Wide angled lens, mini hdmi, buiilt in memory, three button controls, comes with protective sleeve and hdmi wire. The Vado HD is the best, dont get the second version because it is the same camera just in a new flashy color, which doesnt matter because you put a silicon sleeve on it.

Samsung laid an egg on this one, hence the 20 dollar drop in price in just 2 days after the release. Hope this helps

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I have read a lot of negative reviews about this camera and I can honestly say, "I don't get it". some people said there were lipsync issues, lousy video and bad still shots. I have put this little HD camcorder through it's paces and have had no issues at all. Is it the best camera out there? No, but it is far from terrible as some have said.

Easy to operate with some decent features and great quality. Now if you are expecting to get 500 dollars worth of camera for the 149.00 price point, then you will probably be disappointed. This baby takes better video than some full size vhs camcorders I had back in the day and I had to carry those on my shoulder. I'm sure the tech on the mini camcorders will get even better as time goes by but these minis are still pretty new.

I can definitely recommend this camera.

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Many consumers who commented on this product seems to be frustrated by certain aspects of the camera.

Although they are somewhat valid, I am not sure if they realize how much they have paid for the product.

Currently, this camcorder is selling for about ~$110 and this product does the perfect job for the price. The image is clear and it is very easy to use.

If you want to buy a camcorder with superior sound quality, etc, then you should upgrade to Samsung camcorders that are in the $500 range. If you want to spend less and just want to capture the moments at decent quality, this camcorder is it!

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I debated whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. The video and features warrant 4 stars, but the camera and tripod issue warrant only 3. I guess it just depends on your needs. I really wanted the camera, hence 3 stars.

Pros: Ease of use. Sleek looking. Great video quality, settings, and features. Sound is amazing (boasts 3 mics). Comes with AC and USB charger. Internal rechargeable battery.

Cons: Horrible camera and picture quality. States 10 mp, but I highly doubt this and you can see by the photos on my video, they don't appear to be 10/7.5/6mp. NO FLASH which basically renders the camera worthless. Also, the placement of the tripod mount on the side? What designer came up with that lame idea? Sure it comes with an adapter, but unless you plan on carrying it around with you, it's a joke. Also, what if you lose the adapter? Seriously LAME. Also, replacing the internal battery could prove to be troublesome since you need a special screwdriver to open it up (though the replacement batteries are cheap).

Luckily, the video quality is great and ALMOST makes up for these. If you can get this for under 60 dollars, then you're getting a good deal, but any more than that, it's not worth it since the camera is worthless. The time lapse feature is great. The other settings such as B&W, sepia, art and negative are nice, but not necessary since most video editing software offers these anyways. But a nice addition, nonetheless.

I would recommend it ONLY if you can get a great deal on it and you don't need or care about the camera.

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Polycom SoundStation EX with Two-way Conversation

This company who sell the product, get very angry when you complain because you haven't received the product. Neither gives you a tracking number or any kind of help to let you get your product. You are not sure if you lost your money.

The unit was as described and works well. I wish the volume could go up just a smidge higher, but otherwise it works well.

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Haier DVD101B 5.1 Channel Home DVD Player, Black

• Compatible with DVD, VCD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, JPEG
• Progressive scan with 5.1 Channel Audio Output
• Dolby Digital AC3 Decoder
• Supports Multi-languages, OSD, and multi-angles
• Full function remote

I often route for the underdog when it comes to DVD players. Most people usually opt for the name brands, but not me. I have owned a number of off-brand machines

over the years, and many have suited me quite well. This player is no exception. I was immediately impressed with the exceptionally clear picture, and bright colors I experienced when using the component video inputs through my older Sharp CRT TV set. This DVD player is a real gem. Although it is advertised as being a black player, it is not. It is a bright, shiny metallic silver color, and has a very solid feel to it. The picture is truly amazing, and not at all what I expected for the price. If you're looking for something nice that won't break your budget, this Haier will fit the bill nicely. With its wide array of features, and solid construction, you simply can't go wrong for the price. A very good buy.

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This is a very good DVD player, totally region code free, and the price is amazing. I would recommend it to friends.

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After just receiving the DVD player (which arrived in excellent condition), the appearance is very nice. It is sleek and not overly large. For the price, this product does exactly what you need. We only watched one movie so far and after messing with the [very basic and not picture-adjustment-friendly ex: tint and brightness features) menu options and were finally able to view the first movie just fine.

No issues with the actual play of the DVD player, as it ran smoothly.

The only other issue we had was the delay between the remote and the unit. When you find the sweet spots on the buttons to get them to work properly, there is sometimes a delay and the 'selected option' onscreen will fly through the options to match the amount of times the button was pressed (so patience is mandatory unless you want to watch the 'highlighted option' go nuts!!)

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Only had this unit s few weeks & it played fine,then the very day I threw away the box I went to play a movie & it would not go past the fbi warning,so I opened & closed it several times & finally went only to freeze up many times.Brand new movies to.So instead of ttrying to return with no box,I lose 40$ because I smashed into little bits then into the trash.I dont know if there are any good players out there that will play more than a few weeks or months,what a peice of crap!

Netgear Neotv Streaming Player (ntv200-100nas) -

I must admit I was more than a little apprehensive that this little box would be able to stream video seamlessly and reliably as advertised, but I was totally amazed at how well it performs. It was so easy to set it up, and the remote is wonderful! I stream Netflix daily, and love Vudu as well. I highly recommend this unit!

For the money spent on this its cool. It has all kinds of apps that come on it or that you can go download. I have on in the living room and one in my daughters room. She is 5 years old and knows how to work this thing. If you want something simple for Netflix, Hulu Plus, and whatever else.... this is it!

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Ematic 8 GB Video MP3 Player with 3-Inch Touchscreen, Built-in 5MP Digital Video Camera, FM Radio,

• 8 GB capacity for storage of up to 2,300 songs, 7,000 photos, or 20 hours of video; expandable to 16 GB via MicroSD card
• Up to 8 hours of music playback or 4 hours video playback on a single charge
• 3-inch color TFT LCD touchscreen display with 320 x 240 (QVGA) pixel resolution
• Supports MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, FLAC, and APE audio files; AVI, MP4, RM, RMVB, and FLV video files; JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, and TIFF images; TXT text files
• One-year limited warranty

got this for my daughter and it worked for 3 hours, sent it back and got a new one, this lasted for 2 weeks, this was never dropped or abused, they are junk don't buy

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I bought at the site, and request to deliver at my hotel in Orlando, considering that I am a turist and I will stay for few days in US. The item arrived in my last day, I out it in my bag, and traveled back to home. When I arrived at home to open the item, it never worked. The screen has a problem and did not show anything. The problem now is that i have to send back to Amazin and pay the amolst the same amount of the cost, just to ship. So I will keep my never work mp3 with me....

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I am in disagreement with the Ematyic E4 Series received , the Digital Video Recording and Digital 5MP Full-Sized they are out of service, he does not gain images, I only can see a green screen. I sent an email to Ematic and the answer that they gave me was not useful for me. I am very angry because I purchased a bad-quality product and I do not have suitable answer from Ematic. Can Amazon make anything to solve my problem?

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Ematic 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Touchscreen, 5MP Video/Still Camera, FM Radio, and Speaker (Black) the 8 GB Video MP3 twith 3-Inch Touchscreen,with Built-in 5MP Digital Video Camera,a FM Radio, and Speaker I got this before I got my table it work good for every thing but reading books. Now I us it with my old computer speaker to listen to music, camera is better then my table you have to add an sd card to make it work

I got mine from another website but never the less it still ended to be not worth it. I took good care of it and for some reason it wouldn't hold a charge anymore

Openbox S10 HD Satellite Receiver PVR

• 300 MHz MIPS Processor
• Fully compliant MPEG-4 H.264/AVC Main Profile Level 3 & High Profile Level 4.1
• Fully compliant MPEG-2 MP@HL & MP@ML
• Fully compliant MPEG-1 Layer I & II & III, Dolby Digital Audio(AC3)
• SCPC & MCPC receivable from C/Ku band satellites

I ordered the Openbox S10 from Amazon and the supplier was L33T Group, Inc. I think experiences may differ based on who supplies it. I've been using this receiver about a month now.

Some people are selling fake clones of this receiver so I did check it based on information on a forum. The Openbox I received is an original and not a clone. The problem with clones is that if you update the firmware or change the OS, it will brick after 10 on and off cycles (forums did have work arounds for clones though).

I am using this strictly for FTA on Hispasat 30W. I don't use any cams or cards so can't tell you anything about compatibility with them. I use a fixed offset dish so I can't comment on motor controls but the menu has everything to use a motor. The receiver did not come with Hispasat freqs preloaded. I did a blind scan and it found every free to air tv and radio channel listed on LyngSat. I was not able to get EPG (electronic program guide) to work though. I think that HispaSat may not have an EPG for the U.S. beam though.

I connected a 16 Gb USB stick and use the PVR function. It works very well. I have it setup to auto-record whatever channel I am watching so I can pause or rewind live shows and it starts recording immediately after changing channels (1 to 2 seconds).

I noticed that audio/video sync was off on most channels by about 3 seconds and was quite annoying. I updated to the latest firmware and it fixed the problem. I think there are multiple ways to upgrade but the method I used required me to download it to the USB stick. You insert the USB stick into the Openbox and go to "Upgrade by USB" in the menu. It loses all settings after upgrading but HispaSat was in the new firmware. I had to set my LNB type and scan for all the channels again. Definitely worth it though for the synchronization.

The receiver has an excellent picture. It changes channels quickly. The remote worked well for the 2 days I used it before setting up my Harmony universal remote. I have never had the Openbox lock up or reboot on me. The box is small and light. It gets pretty warm but not too excessive. My entertainment system is in a sealed closet and it hasn't overheated even with the stereo heating the closet up pretty good.

I have one issue that seems to be a compatibility issue with another device. I use a RE BL IR repeater/ IR to blue-tooth PS3 controller. If you are one of the rare people who uses one of these, you might want to know about this otherwise disregard. At a distance of over 11 ft using the RE BL and the wired emitter, the channel up and down function often outputs a number rather than channel up or down. Instead of being able to scroll through the channels you will keep ending up at the channel number that the RE BL relays to the Openbox. I have definitely confirmed the problem to be with the RE BL and not the Openbox.

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First of all, no book. I found one on the internet, but it didn't have the process for upgrading the firmware, which is necessary because it will not power an antenna motor with the lnb without it, according to the reportsI read on the net. I did find a book net, though, through a forum. I received the unit in excellent condition physically, it looked pretty and small. I bought a new DG380 Powertech motor which draws a max of 350ma of current. The LNB draws about 200ma. The Openbox S10 is only capable of 500ma max.current. So it didn't work, the motor wouldn't run with the lnb connected. So, I removed the motor to see if I could just set it up with one satellite, but after an hour of watching a tv program, it started rebooting, which means the receiver was shutting down because of too much of a load on the power supply (I think), and the receiver got pretty warm, and when I disconnected the lnb, the receiver became stable again. Since I don't live in the US, the receiver is not in warranty, which I knew. I am an electronics tech, and after looking the inside over, and cleaning many solder splashes and sloppy solder connections, it didn't solve the problem. So, I don't know whether the problem is poor design or just failure. I sure wasn't impressed with the workmanship.

Edit: After a bit of troublshooting, I found the problem with motor and lnb drive was that the Openbox aparently was designed for 220VAC Europe, etc., power input. I am running it on 220VAC now with no problem.

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I've had an Openbox S9 receiver for over a year, and didn't think too highly of it. A few months ago, I found out that some S9 and S10 receivers were assembled with the wrong value resettable fuse in the LNB power supply. Mine was shutting off when the current hit 350mA, much too low. I replaced it, updated the receiver with new firmware, and what a difference! So I decided to take a chance on an openbox Openbox S10 (one that had been returned) and I'm very pleased. I checked for it being a "clone" receiver, it's not, it was priced at less than half of what I paid for my S9, and is much smaller physically. What's not to like? To those who have had problems, my suggestion would be to do your reading, take a couple days, or weeks, to learn how to set things up. BTW, these receivers have universal (100-240VAC) power supplies, and will work with any LNB. Do your research to determine what you need (LNB type, dish size, etc) and do a site survey to make sure you have a clear line of sight to the satellite(s) you want, or hire someone in the business.

EDIT: After a bit more than a month, I've decided that the S10 is not worth buying. The first problem I had was with the hard drive (DVR) function. I used a laptop hard drive in an enclosure, the same one I had used with my S9 for over a year, and the S10 couldn't handle the load, it started cycling power every 2 minutes or so. It's okay with separately powered hard drives or USB/flash type memory. Then it decided to stop sending power to the LNB. I can "piggyback" it to my S9 and change channels, so I know the tuner still works, but I have to watch the same satellite polarity that the S9 is on. I don't recommend this receiver.

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I bough this openbox s10 from Amazon, And it works fine.And I downloaded new s/w from Yojiatech and upgraded it,and it was ok....

Then I turn it on one night and it shows on the screen "this is clone..." and it is dead.The supplier sent me the clone one but charged me the price of an original!

What a dishonest supplier!!

I LOST MY MONEY WENT I BUY THIS ITHEM. PAST 2 WEEK THE RECEIVER WAS BURNS BELEIVE OR NOT. IS IN THE GARBAGE AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMENDATION.

F900LHD Full HD Car Black Box DVR Camera 1080P LCD

• Having a wide range of use and being convenient to video anytime, anywhere.
• Anti-shake function. Motion detection recording.
• Support for the SD (SDHC ) card with high power capability.
• This subminiature high-definition digital video camcorder is aimed at the market demand, with many leading functions as high-definition digital video recorder, photograph, highspeed USB data transmission and, USB charging.
• SD Card not included.

One thing I don't like is if the LCD is closed and recording and you pull out the cigarette lighter power, the unit shuts off (even if the battery of the camera is fully charged). If the LCD is in the open position and you unplug the cigarette lighter, the battery in the unit keeps running and recording. It has good definition, but I'm not sure why when I use a 32gig Micro SD card with adapter it keeps shutting off. It won't work with a 64 gig sd card. I have found the 16 gig standard SD card works and at 1080p resolution will hold just about 2 hours of video before it starts to record over itself. I'm going to try a 32 gig SD card and see if it will work and give me more recording time. The lower resolutions suck pretty bad so I'd plan on recording with the resolution set to 1080.

The audio recording works good. Window mount is good and secure. Plenty of cable. Wish it plugged into the unit form the top or back rather than the bottom.

I've bought a couple other camera's and this is the best of them so far. I think there is a better unit out there, I just haven't found it yet.

Video shows visual, and audio capabilities. Lets your read license plates. It does have a 4x zoom but you never really think about it.

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Unit records nice with pretty clear video. The manual is awful, just finding where the battery went was a challenge if you go by the manual, ex " turn the battery knob towards the mark to open cover" not at all how it works. Open the LCD screen squeeze the sides of camera and pull up. Using the menu there is a button that is like a joystick and moves 4 directions and you can push it down. Took a while to figure the buttons out. Also when you set for auto rotate the image it only auto rotates the LCD screen not the camera. So it you mount it on the windshield as it suggests your videos will be sideways on your computer. A 7 minute video on 780 dpi used 1 meg of space

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this camera is fun to use if you can understand the manual that comes with it,some guess work went with this when trying to operate it.but the picture it takes is very sharp and clear

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I rate this product 4 stars. I bout it because it was cheaper that I can buy it at home.It enough good for this money.

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This 15 MP camera has very poor picture quality which is worse than my 1.3 MP phone camera which I got it for free and very flimsy (not even close to 480P CAM PERIOD!!!)

THE WORST CAMERA I'VE EVER BOUGHT IN MY LIFE, PERIOD!!!

TDK SA 90 minute Super High Resolution Type II Audio Cassette Tape

• Type II / High Position
• Super Avilyn Cassette

TDK SA 90 competes with Maxell XLII 90. The recording quality of both is excellent. The mechanism in the TDK SA 90 is superior to the one in the Maxell. The Maxell mechanism has too much drag, which negatively affects the consistency of recordings made on Class A cassette decks. For years, l had routinely purchased a five-pack of SA 90 tapes at about the same price as a five-pack of the Maxell. The price of SA 90 has recently increased to an extraordinary high level. The Maxell XLII 90 five-pack is currently priced at $13.20 on Amazon, but the Amazon price for TDK SA 90 is $4.95 PER TAPE, which is $24.75 for five tapes. Amazon's vendor for TDK SA 90 is Burlington AV Recordings of Oceanside NY.

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These type cassettes are hard to find, and that is what works with my 4 track recorder. It came fast and works great. Thanks

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This audio tape is great for recording even the most intense and powerful cds from the 80s. Of course, if you are listeing for it, you can probably tell the difference between the cd and the audio tape. However, the VERY SLIGHT difference is easy to tolerate considering the fact that by using tapes when you travel, you are protecting your cds from cd rot. For those of you who don't know about cd rot, it is caused by heat and moisture. Basically what happens is that heat and moisture corrode the cd. It turns the cd purple and renders it unreadable. In extreme cases, tiny holes are also present. The best way to combat cd rot is to keep your cds in a cool dry place. (A drawer if possible.) Keep your cds safe, and use this great audio tape to make travel friendly copies.

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TDK Super High Resolution tape is just about the best. The price was very reasonable and it was delivered in a flash. I am just sorry that I did not respond with this review sooner! I look forward to my next transaction and will recommend this company to my friends.

Zmodo 4CH Security DVR Sony CCD Outdoor Surveillance Camera System No Hard Drive

good .......good ................good

thanks ..

happy new yeas ...

good

happy new yeas ...

happy new yeas ...

happy new yeas ...

SVAT CVP800 Mini Portable DVR Digital Video Recorder with MPEG4 Compression

I purchased the SVAT CVP800 with the CCDCO camera. After some minor initial bumps, I am very satisfied. When first received, the camera had a defective video cable. It took a while for me to figure out the problem, but once done, SVAT customer service was very responsive and sent a replacement cable immediately. The only significant negative comments that I have are that the CVP800 does not include or offer as an optional accessory a 12VDC plug-in car power supply; also the instruction manual is not very helpful in several areas. On the positive side, the CVP800 is extremely small (easily fits into a shirt pocket), light weight and consumes very little power (under 1.5 watt). It has a powerful feature not found on other similar mini-portable units that I evaluated, specifically, the ability to loop record, i.e., continuously record, writing over the oldest data when it reaches the capacity of the SD card. This allows the unit to record 24 hours a day forever without any attention whatsoever. If an event happens that you are aware of and want to review and save, simply stop the recorder and selectively play back the last minutes/hours recorded, and if you want to, download the data onto your computer to save it or simply pull the SD card with the recorded data, and insert a new one in the CVP800. Overall, I have found this unit to be well designed user friendly, easy to understand, and highly flexible in both recording and playing back. The only reason I gave the CVP800 a 4-star rating (rather than 5-stars) is the absence of an out-of-the-box way to power the unit in a car other than depending on the internal AA batteries.

There's no other DVR of it's type that I could find. I have it in my glove box wired to a forward seeing sony lipstick cam and microphone for insurance reasons. I set this thing to record at full frames full fps and to always record when powered. So it only records when I have the key in the ignition and save about 3 hours worth on a 2GB card. Hasn't failed me yet.

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Seems to work okay but it breaks up the video into ~10 second pieces when recording HQ (708X480?)@12 FPS. This is about an MByte. These files can be stitched together if you want to play them back with software, such as MS Movie Maker, but is a pretty big PIA.

It would be nice to find a file on your SD memory stick that started when you pushed the record button and ended when you pushed stop.

It would also be nice if it could use 12V.

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Once I figured out how to work it, it works well. The directions are really useless. I still haven't really got the motion detection thing figured out, but it does work. The pictures are not the best but they do serve there purpose. I think if I had looked around a little more I could have found something a little better, but all in all it does its job.

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I've owned two of these for 3 years one in each car. They loop-record anytime the car is in motion. I installed a GPS-overlay box between my forward-facing camera (mounted on my rear-view mirror) and the DVR. This imprints my speed on the video. The insurance this provides against he-said she-said accidents, inaccurate laser guns (check out my youtube video), or rogue police who say one thing on the side of the road, and another in court is priceless.

All co-workers have these installed after seeing how it reveals how 'unimpeachable, trustworthy, and honest' police officer testimony is anything but...

I don't go looking for trouble. It finds me. When it does, it's great to have an unbiased witness ready to come to my defense.

Note: If your state is a two-party consent state, you'll need to warn anyone within audio recording distance that they're being recorded. Otherwise, at best it's inadmissible, or at worst, you could be charged with felony wire-tap offenses. I solved this problem by applying small (3" x 1") red warning labels in the corner of all roll-down windows. They look like alarm stickers, but state "Notice: Any conversations inside and within 6' of this vehicle may be recorded".

I would have given it 5 stars, but I have two annoyances:

1) The A/V in/out jacks are nothing more than a 4-contact 3.5mm stereo jack. In humid environments the internal contacts become 'dirty' causing flicker in the video if the cables are bumped.

2) The video is actually split into multiple 1 1.5MB asf files. They can be spliced back together, but there is about a 2-4 frame loss at each seam. It's barely noticeable, but it is an annoyance. I imagine this has to be the case as the files must be completed and saved before power loss. If the power is turned off, whatever file is being written is corrupt. Each segment is about 4-6 seconds long. So you lose the last few seconds of record when you turn off the car.

Because of the age of mine, I do not have a firmware update option under the SD section of the menu. I have an email into svat to see if there is a work-around. For now, my max SD size is 4GB (non-SDHC).

If you want to see videos of how this works in a car, look up my username on utube.

AT&T 1738 40-Minute Digital Answering System with Time/Day Stamp

After using a phone with a built in answer machine for several years, I recently purchased a separate phone and the 1738 answering system which digitally records up to 40 minutes of calls. I paid $18.00 for this unit; a great price.

The human engineering on the 1738 is excellent. For example, to set the day of the week you repeatedly press a button until the correct day of the week is announced. Other set up steps are similar.

I like the remote access with toll saver to retrieve calls when traveling. You can select your own three digit remote access code.

They have a feature on this unit that is a first for me. That is the system can be set up to start the message with the phone number of the caller using Caller ID Announce.

The voice quality of a digital message is always an issue. I believe the voice quality of this machine is quite acceptable, admittedly it is not like Carnegie Hall. Manufacturers have to trade off voice quality against memory cost. In this case, I think AT&T did an excellent job. Messages recorded are clear and the outgoing message sounds like me.

It turns off and on and plays messages with a push of a button; the way I like machines to operate.

Other Features of Interest:

Like all digital memories, you can selectively delete calls.

A light blinks when you have messages and the number of messages is displayed.

If you elect to save messages, it tells you how many minutes of recording time are left.

The system has a half speed feature that allows you to press and hold a key to hear a message at half the normal speed. I think this will be nice when you want to write as you listen to the message. The down side is that when played at half speed, it sounds like a drunk is talking. Unfortunately, this feature cannot be used remotely.

Features I don't use but are available:

There is a feature that can be turned on to intercept calls where the phone number of the caller is purposely being blocked. This can intercept nuisance or threatening calls. With this feature on, it will play the message "We're sorry blocked calls to this number cannot be accepted"; then the system hangs up without recording a message. I tested this feature and blocked calls are stopped. It allows unidentified calls to go through (examples: calls from overseas and calls where people use calling cards).

It has a call screening feature.

My old digital answering machine which was manufactured by PhoneMate recently started to act funny, which told me that it was taking a dive. No complaints though as my PhoneMate answering machine lasted almost a decade. The sound quality with my ancient PhoneMate digital answering machine was great and crystal clear just like a tape, but digital.

A couple days ago I went out to buy a new answering machine. I bought two, one made by AT&T and one made by GE. I just now hooked up the ATAT 1738 Digital Answering System. The setup was pretty straight forward. Did not have to refer to manual.

After setting it up, I was eager to test the Caller ID Announce Function as well as the sound quality. I called from my cell phone and this machine clearly announced the entire phone number of my cell. Was happy to hear that as sometimes you just don't want to be bothered and have to get up to check your caller ID to decide if you feel like talking to that person or not.

Anyway, after hearing the machine announce my cell phone number, it then told me from my cell phone to leave a message. I left about a 30 second test message. I then hung up on my cell.

I then went to listen to my test machine. I could not believe what I was hearing. I literally could not understand one word that I left as a test on this answering machine. Also, there is a LOT of background air noise.

Frustrated, I called from my cell phone again and left about a one minute message and made certain that I pronounced my words very clearly. Went to the machine to listen again and sure enough, I could not make out what I had just left on this horrible machine.

Bottom line is that the features this machine offers are great, BUT THE SOUND QUALITY MAKES THE MACHINE COMPLETELY USELESS AND THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION. AT&T USED TO MAKE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS. I ONCE HAD AN AT&T CORDLESS PHONE THAT MY MOTHER BOUGHT ME ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO AND IT LASTED FOR 13 YEARS, AND YES, THE PHOONE HAD BEEN THROWN A TIME OR TWO.

I DID SOME RESEARCH ON A WEBSITE ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO AND FOUND OUT THAT VTECH I BELIEVE, OR SOME OTHER TELEPHONE MANUFACTURER BOUGHT OUT AT&T A FEW YEARS BACK. I AM PRETTY SURE THE SITE SAID VTECH. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THEIR PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER GOOD.

DO NOT BUY THIS ANSWERING MACHINE. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO GET IT ANYWAY, TAKE MY ADVICE AND PURCHASE IT SOMEWHERE LOCALLY AND NOT OFF OF THE INTERNET, AS YOU WILL INCUR S&H CHARGES. I RARELY WRITE REVIEWS ON ANYTHING AS I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WASTE. I WROTE THIS REVIEW ONLY BECAUSE I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW BADLY AN AT&T PRODUCT WAS IN REGARDS TO SOUND QUALITY. TIME TO REPACK THE AT&T UNIT AND TEST OUT THE GE UNIT. I DISLIKE GE PRODUCTS FOR THE MOST PART, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL SOUND BETTER. HATE THE FACT THAT I PROBABLY WONT BE ABLE TO FIND AN ANSWERING MACHINE THAT HAS THE CALLER ID ANNOUNCE. IF ONLY THE SOUND QUALITY WAS EVEN SOMEWHAT OKAY ON THE AT&T MODEL. OH WELL!!!

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I fully agree with Jack Berry's detailed review. Here's a quick supplement to what was not focused on.

I choose the 1738 not because it was AT&T but because after so many years, nearly all AMs, regardless of brand, had the same features; they differ mostly in recording time and a need for battery backup. Sound quality has risen to be equal to low quality cassette tape no matter what AM I auditioned in people's homes. Should I need to archive a phone message, I could easily digitize it by recording playback on my iPod clone.

In 2006, the 1738 is one of the cheapest AMs for price with a 40 min recording time. RAM and flash memory prices are very cheap, so all digital machines reflect this low cost. However, I was skeptical by the mixed reviews posted by many readers given my experience with no-name brand AM. If AMs were all the same, how can AT&T be worse, and for $17, it was low risk test given it cost as much as a list-price music CD.

Maybe AT&T has improved this model to correct negative reviews or there is a large variation in production quality for this model. I was quite surprised; the 1738 is a superb AM. The recorded in and outgoing message was as good as a tape machine. There is a catch: the microphone of the unit is poor quality, and one can make high quality outgoing messages by calling your home, say from a cell phone, and recording your outgoing message using the remote feature; or use the `default' machine generated message. You can use the built in mic, say for the 1738's memo feature, but with far less quality. Despite no battery backup, messages are retained when the unit is unplugged.

What I love about digital machines is the capacity to delete messages mid-playback, delete the middle of queued messages while saving other messages, fast and slow play without the `chipmunk' effect, and voice-mail quick response to remote control features. The 1738 #5 button on the remote is a HELP, and will read out what all the control buttons do, so you needn't carry a reminder card to operate the remote. I only wish AT&T followed the voice-mail control keys of popular systems like Verizon or Meridian, rather than invent their own.

In my engineering experience there are 2 common pitfalls in digital AM that are easily fixed and maybe construed as a product defect: memory fragmentation causing poor recording and failure to use a DSL line filter. I had these minor problems when I used my PC as an answering machine for a brief period. When memory fragments due to a glitch, either power down the machine or erase all the messages to realign memory. Alas, if the memory is truly defective and no allowance was made in the design to bypass faulty memory [such as in most flash or SD memory cards] the problem could be permanent. The DSL carrier signal on a landline is near the supersonic, but it will give very bad results if recorded on phone lines, especially with digital methods. Nearly all DSL providers give line filters which work well, use them on all phone lines.

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it got a lot of features with godd quality. very Clear Voice/ Great sound. I mean it is so darn easy to set up.even I could do it. when you press a botton it prompts and directs you on how to manipulate a feature.the instructional manual is a plus! Remote access & prompts date,time,yr ,phone number. this one is a keeper.

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Overall the AT&T 1738 answering machine has good functional qualities. However, the prompt voice is a little insulting in that it talks to you like you have never touched a piece of electronics in your life and will never understand the technology.

As for the voice quality, I was going to replace my 15+ year old Code-A-Phone tape-based machine with my new AT&T machine until I heard the announce voice quality from the new device. It sounded as if you were trying to talk through a pillow! Needless to say, my old Code-A-Phone machine will be seeing a lot more service until I can find a solid-state machine with voice quality worthy of my use.

For some reason, the transition from the earlier Lucent machines (I also have a Lucent A560 with excellent voice quality) to the more recent AT&T machines has caused a degadation in the voice quality. It probably has something to do with profits.

Idolian Studio 10 Dual Core 10", 16 GB

Let me cut right the chase. I'm picky and very critical about electronic devices. I build my own PC's for gaming and occasionally do reviews for on pads, pc's and electrical gadgets.

I have no bias for Android or OSX, Mac, Windows or anything else, I could care less and use both for what ever it is I'm working on. As I feel both have their benefits and downfalls.

I Currently Have the ipad 2 & 3 ( 2 purchased, 3 was gifted). So why did I purchase this? I wanted a pad to take with me to work frankly And the ipads had limitations, particularly being that they didn't have USB or microSD, plus the Ipad 3 is noticeably heavier than this and makes holding it for long periods of time a workout on its own..and also at a price of 600 bucks, I didn't want to risk damage or theft. It's the cheapest pad and at nearly 300 bucks, I initially regretted my order, but figured If I didn't like it or it stopped working I can return.

After much research, I opted on purchasing the Studio rather than going for a Samsung or Toshiba. Because after all, on paper the STUDIO 10 should perform as good as the Toshiba Thrive and possibly be on the same level as other "name brand" 2 processor tablets. I was honestly going to purchase a thrive.

First Impression physical;

I don't know why Idolian doesn't have pictures that do the pad justice. But they don't.

Compared to Ipad 2, It felt somewhat lighter, definitely thinner and more streamlined. But the View on Idolian was better because the screen was a bit bigger minus the large space between were the screen ends and the side of the products as in the Ipad.

Compared to ipad 2, it was brighter and offered sharper pictures, BUT not not sharp as the ipad 3. Same brightness and the difference in picture quality isn't really noticiable. Very easy to hold and use. I found it easier to hold and use than any of the iPads

The Idolian is made from good material. I was expecting some rattling, or cheap parts. But you don't get that. Instead, you get a pad that has tight fit sliver back cover with openings for speaker that is covered by a nice steal mesh underneath two slits.

Its got a volume rocker made of plastic on the same side as the camera. Its not loose and exactly to the slit size and slightly elevated from the side. Feels rock solid. My only critique is it would have been better if they used a different color rocker made of metal.

On the bottom its got head phone, usb, HDMI, and Micro SD slots. All of which work and no cheap corner cutting.

Now the camera. The biggest shocker is that the camera seems to take clear pictures! Now were not talking about iPad clear, but were talking about as good as a 5mp camera ( somehow the cam despite it being only 2 ( front as well) takes really good and clear pictures. Meaning There not blurry or terrible.

Operating system ( where they really shine above competition)

Screen:

Unbelievably bright, clear and sharp colors. Despite it not being a glass. It was the same brightness as my ipad 3. Vibrant color and super sensitive screen. Responds From all corners and everywhere you touch it. How do you know? Place your finger on the very edge of the screen and flip to the next tab. It worked from all corners.

When tablet is held at odd angles, there are no glares and is visible at eye level 180 degree

The pad is lighting fast!! The beauty of Jelly bean on this particular model, is that they've given you the user moderator option. And you can pretty much custom everything.

Go to the settings, then developer option and your in the heart of what makes this pad different that others. Naturally I cranked up Windows animation, transition animations, and adjusted GPU settings and let this bad boy run. Pad took everything I threw at it with out chocking up! however, because you have everything cranked up, it means that it's going to use a lot of theatrics in transitioning and that annoys because I'm pretty impatient when it comes to electronics. I want them to respond fast. But I never felt it freezing or stalling.

When the extra theatrics are turned off, I transitioned from window to window, apps to gadgets and basically everything so fast that my eyes had a hard time adjusting to the new screen and comprehending! For example on the iPad, there's a slight delay and some theatrics, but with this. When there's no theatrics, its FASTER THAN WHAT THE EYES CAN SEE AND MIND COMPREHEND.

It comes equipped with flash player and by simply going to 1settings 2-Developer options 3Scroll down to Apps and unchecked the Google Application ( it being checked hides everything from google).

The Play store appeared, and google search appeared. BTW this pad also has VOICE COMMAND! that actually works! and talks backs back. Youtube, Netflix, office products, adobe reader all work great.

Home screen has the little rectangular menu bar with with the icon to adjust brightness, wifi, Bluetooth and download. On the top left is the Google shortcut, but here's the best part. It's not obstructing your view, its in a small font, that clear white and next it is the microphone shortcut.

On the right hand corner is the icon for menu tab(?). Through their you can access APPS AND WIDGETS. the cool part about Apps is that they exhibit a nice smooth 3D motion. Then you can check widgets and you the Pad transition from screen to screen super fast and while offering 3D motions. And if you crank up the graphics, you can transition using fading in and out while zooming in and out and having the screen come up from behind slowly while the screen in the front slowly fades away.

On the Menu bar, it gives you the option to see history tabs and actually erase them as well! you just slide it out and the box underneath moves up! You can also adjust volume, return to home screen or Return to previous screen.

The device doesn't heat up as hot as other devices. And when you lower the brightness, I've gotten about 8-10 hours of usage. Videos brings the numbers down to 6-8.

It's priced exactly at where it should be priced imo. And frankly speaking. I offers a lot with out the cheap feel and makes it very functional.

If I notice anything else I'll post updates.

I bought this tablet as soon as it was launched and so glad I did it. It's extremely slip light and screen resolution is awesome! No lagging with performance and comes with 16GB. This one has better specs and performances than Ipad 2 I think. My wife has Ipad2 and it's not this fast. Battery life is very good, lasting about 7 hours and not draining batteries while it's not being used. This is well comparable to Samsung or Apple tablets. I wish they had some case that I can buy to protect the tablet. Metal casing in the back looks good but it gets scratched easily. Got this a lot faster than the estimated delivery dates and tablet was packed with some air bubble inside the box for extra protection in factory shrink wrap. Overall very impressive with even little details. One thing was that I couldn't figure out a way to get to google market since it was hidden at the DEVELOPERS options but I saw the video of their IdolPad plus model and figured it out. Not sure why it's DISABLED?? But it works fine. I downloaded Netflix, Facebook, Youtube and all cool apps. Again, screen resolution is just unbelievably crispy and bright. I love STUDIO!!! I feel like I got such a great deal on this! Highly recommended!

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I did my research before buying this tablet. I am not an Apple fan and truly appreciate the Android software so I immediately ruled out the iPad, if not for anything else, as overpriced. When I came across Idolian I was instantly impressed although I had never heard of them before. I was skeptical, but the price was right (less then half the price of the iPad) and the specs were where I wanted them to be (newest Android software, dual cameras, fast processor, large internal memory, expandable RAM, 10" TFT multi-point touchscreen, etc.). When I received it I loved it, with the exception of one major thing. I couldn't get Google Play Store or any Android apps. This baffled me and once I couldn't even see Google Images I was concerned I had made a big mistake. Then I started digging. In a far distant buried setting under Developer Settings (Advanced) I noticed that Google was "turned off". I was surprised by this. If I were a normal uneducated user I would never have found it. Fortunately, I have been in Telecom for over 17 years with a ton of computer skills. So, once I turned on Google, everything was right with the world. I was able to install anything and everything I wanted. So to conclude, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase, overjoyed in fact. The graphics are spectacular, the size is phenomenal, the speed is stellar, the memory is awesome, and the software blazing! So I highly recommend this tablet, but warn that you must find the Developer settings and turn Google on before you go banging your head on a wall. :)

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I researched Android tablets like crazy this Christmas, I purchased a very cheap 10.1 tab for my girlfriend and a smaller, cheaper 7 inch one for my daughter. Both worked well for them but didnt have any of the premium features that the more expensive tablets have (dual core proccessors, Bluetooth, Android 4.1, etc). I knew that I would want a tablet that had these features but really didnt like spending 500+ to get a top of the line tablet. Then I saw this on Amazon.

I did a lot of research on Idolian and found out that the Studio 10 is a new product for them, but their other products come very highly rated. As I compared features I quickly realized that if the tablet works as advertized this is a top of the line tablet at half the price.

I have had the tablet now for about a week and my first impressions are WOW! This tab is well built, with a metal backing and an incredibly sharp screen. The tablet is exactly as the description on Amazon and the Idolian website, so there were no surprises. The best review I can give a device is that it is what I was expecting it to be based off of the product description, there were no disapointments with this tab. Read the spec sheets and descriptions and then buy with confidence. I did and I am extreemely happy with my purchase!

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I've had this tabletl now for a little over a month and haven't used it a whole lot, but it does seems to pretty much do everything promised including a reasonably long battery life and access to the large Google store of apps. It is not, however, particularly user friendly. This is my first tablet and I've pretty much had to figure out everything by trial and error, so sometimes I'm not sure if a feature I'm looking for is missing or if I just haven't figured out yet how to access it; there is no manual of any sort no hard copy and no instructions on the tablet itself. Also,I have Hotmail as my e-mail provider and the Android version does not have all the features of my desktop version. The best thing is when I gave up on finding a couple of things, I phoned Idolian for help and the tech I spoke with gave me the information I needed to find what I was looking for, and invited me to call back if I had any other questions.

VIZIO Co-Star Stream Player With Google TV - VAP430

• Stream blockbuster movies and hit shows through Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, M-GO and more. Play the latest hit console video games through OnLive, or crank out your favorite tunes from iHeartRadio and Pandora
• Access to the Best Entertainment: Google play lets you purchase the latest music, movies, apps, and games right from your TV screen
• The Power of Google TV Search: Google TV Search pulls in results from virtually any source - live, local or streaming - making finding exactly what you want easier and quicker than ever
• Touch, Point, and Tap with Ease: The Co-Star universal smart remote looks and feels just as outstanding as it functions, packing a touchpad and full keyboard for easy and intuitive navigation
• Fast Connections Without Wires: With integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi, Co-Star connects easily to your home's wireless network for superior streaming quality and Web access without the unsightly wires

I've had my Co-Star for over a month now and love it. A couple of disclaimers up front...I own both an Android phone and tablet so I'm very used to the OS. I also have a couple of Roku boxes (that I love), but one of my Roku's was getting old and needing replaced, hence my decision to try a Google TV device. The top-end Roku's sell for about $90; the Co-Star is around the same price and not only offered Netflix, but also hosts a number of other features such as web browsing, games, integration with existing TV service, etc.

The Co-Star is a pretty small unit, approximately the same size as a couple of decks of cards. The remote is at least twice as thick as a normal remote because it has a keyboard on one side (more about that in a minute). Setup of the unit was very straight forward, although not as fast as a Roku. But then again, the Co-Star isn't a basic device like the Roku; it is much more powerful. Regardless, the setup was pretty easy...it walks you through pairing the bluetooth remote with the box, then adding your cable box, TV, soundbar, etc.

The remote will take some getting used to. Personally, I've had ZERO problem using the keyboard on the back other than the fact that my eyesight isn't great and identifying some keys requires me to put on my glasses. You might read some negative comments regarding the remote not registering keystrokes. My guess is that is because the remote has a built-in safeguard that only registers keystrokes when the remote is held/pointed properly since the remote has keys on both sides. As long as you're holding the remote fairly parallel to the ground, it works fine. If you're kicked back holding the remote like a paperback book, it probably won't work. The button layout on the non-keyboard side is very good...no issues whatsoever. The remote will work about anything; I easily paired it with my Philips TV, a Vizio soundbar, a Tivo HD, and an AC Ryan PlayOn HD media streamer. My only serious criticism of the remote is that it lacks any type of backlight...this coupled with my poor eyesight makes using the remote a pain unless the lights are fully on.

If you're not familiar with what Google TV is, you should probably go watch some videos on YouTube before purchasing. Basically, it's a version of Android--the same operating system used on a number of smartphones. The OS has been highly tweaked for use on TVs, however. Still, you have access to the Google Play store, the Chrome browser is built in, etc. As mentioned earlier, I was primarily needing a device to replace a dying Roku that I used to stream Netflix. The Co-Star has a Netflix app and it is awesome. So for me, as long as just that one feature worked well, I was covered. But Google TV has so much more to offer. First, the Google Music app is available. Google lets you upload 20,000 songs for free (which I had already done). I can now stream all of that to my TV, pumping it through my sound system. I also side-loaded the Amazon MP3 Player app which lets me stream all my Amazon music purchases from the cloud. GoogleTV has an really nice YouTube app that actually makes YouTube on a big screen compelling. There are some cons with the available apps--the app store on the Co-Star is not nearly as good as what you'll find on your Android phone or tablet. There are far fewer apps available and Google has done a poor job with app-discovery to assist you in finding apps that are compatible with Google TV.

One of the big selling points of the Co-Star (and GoogleTV) is the way it integrates with your existing cable/satellite service. It takes the video in from your cable box (via an HDMI cable) and passes it through the Co-Star, then on to your TV via another HDMI cable. This let's you overlay your TV programming with stuff from the Co-Star, use a better TV guide, etc. I don't have cable or satellite; I use an antenna to pull in OTA programming. However, I do run that through a Tivo HD (series 3) box which gives me the HDMI output...it works pretty darn good. If you have regular cable or satellite programming it should be even better for you.

Is the Co-Star a perfect device...no. Some folks will hate the remote control or some other aspects. As much as I like my Google TV, it is not for dummies (like the Roku). Roku devices are ingeniously designed to be dead simple. They achieve much of this by limiting functionality. The Co-Star probably isn't a device I'd give my elderly parents but anybody who is comfortable tinkering around a smartphone will be able to figure everything out without a problem.

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I own two Logitech Revues and was eager to upgrade to a newer Google TV with a faster processor and more RAM. Unfortunately, what I received was a half-baked device with hardware and software malfunctions. I am in the process of returning it and going back to the Revue, which had its issues, but were fewer and farther between.

It was easy enough to setup. The same process as my Revue. Unfortunately, after finishing the setup process I was presented with a blank screen. I left it on for a few minutes guess that it was booting up still. Eventually I had to unplug the unit and hard reboot. It turned on and immediately prompted me to install a firmware update. Sure! Low and behold, after the update finished I was presented with another blank screen. I unplugged/replugged and the box booted up as normal (note: I haven't had the blank screen issue since, aside from when it freezes after about 24 hours of uptime).

I quickly noticed three things:

1) Vizio did to Google TV what cell phone manufacturers have done to Android phones: They put their own UI on it. Keeping in line with expectations, their custom UI is not nearly as full-featured or snappy as the stock Android Google TV experience (owning two Revues, I can say that confidently). For example, the settings menu is not nearly as full as the normal Android settings. I still can't find out where it shows my used & available storage on the device.

2) The remote was not going to cut it. The remote was one of the more attractive parts of the Co-Star compared to the Revue when it was first announced. One side is your standard TV/DVR remote; the underside is a QWERTY keyboard. Using an accelerometer (I think), it knows which side is facing up so you don't have accidental button presses. The problem is that the accelerometer is very sensitive . So when I have the remote held at a slight angle, the buttons don't work. It, basically, needs to be flat one side or the other. There is also no "Cancel/exit" button on the remote. Say you type in the wrong channel number and want to back out. There is no way to do so. The two "Back" buttons will change you to the previous channel. It's strange and a big oversight.

3) I missed the Harmony features of the Logitech Revue. For the most part, I could customize any button on the keyboard of the Revue to a specific function. With that device, the first thing I did was change the "Fast Forward" to "Skip Ahead." I couldn't make any kind of changes to the Co-Star remote. Whatever it downloaded as the keys for my devices was what I was stuck with.

The Co-Star Box: It is super tiny. I wondered how they were able to cram all that hardware into such a tiny form factor. It didn't take long to figure out that the form factor would lead to constant overheating and freezing of the device. Vizio's advice (indicated below), was to turn off the box at night. No offense to the energy savers, but a Google TV is not a device meant to be turned off mainly because it just takes so long to boot up. No one wants to wait 60 seconds for their TV to turn on (this isn't the 70's). There are no lights and no on/off switch/button. It is very utilitarian.

The Remote: As I said above, the two key downfalls to the remote are the remote not working at certain angles, and not being able to customize the keys. It really was nice to have a smaller remote. But I also felt (compared to the Revue) that having to flip the remote over and over to switch from mouse to keyboard was getting extremely tedious. It was a great idea, but not a great result.

Random gripes:

There is no way to switch the input, so I can't change my receiver to anything with this remote.

There is no way to turn off the system sounds (like a chime when selecting something in a menu).

The interface "ghosts" at times you push a button and nothing comes up but you can't push any other buttons. It happened a lot pressing the bookmarks button. I push it and nothing happens, but I can't do anything else until I press the "back" button. The device thinks that the bookmarks are showing, and I could even blindly pick one.

It is bad with switching between audio outputs from my receiver. So, when watching TV it is outputting in Dolby and sounds fine. Then switch to stereo when a commercial comes up there is a good 1 second hiccup for the Co-star to adjust to the stereo input. Then, a 1-second hiccup again when the Dolby comes back.

PROS:

Chrome browser is quicker.

Small remote compared to Revue.

Quiet (no noise, really).

At a $200 price point, this could have been the best Google TV hands down. With a bit more time put in to the interface (or just using what Google gave us!) the gripes I had with the UX would have diminished. At a $200 price point, they could have afforded the "cooling fans" that my Vizio rep so defensively stated it does not have.

What's worse? I paid $110 for the device ($10 shipping). Now to return it I have to pay for shipping and a 10% ($10) restocking fee. So, $10 to receive, $10 to send back, and $10 for them to put back on the shelf. $30 to rent this for 30 days. If I had only waited 4 more weeks I could have gone through Amazon and paid nothing to receive or return the device. A $30 mistake. Vizio has really lost any future purchases from because of this whole experience.

Here is an excerpt from the transcript with a Vizio representative on my chat to return the Co-Star. Notice that he admits the device will overheat, but that it's not a design flaw:

Brett: Why are you wanting to return your CoStar?

Robert Alexander: It overheats and freezes, and the interface does not work correctly.

Brett: Afre you turning off the CoStar when you shut off your TV?

Brett: Are*

Robert Alexander: No.

Robert Alexander: Because then it takes an additional 60 seconds just to watch TV.

Robert Alexander: Waiting for it to boot up.

Brett: Well, because of the form factor of the CoStar there are no colling fans and if left on for extended periods it will overheat and freeze and not work correctly.

Robert Alexander: I understand; to me that is a design flaw, though.

Robert Alexander: It was not worth making such a small box at the compromise of overheating.

Brett: There is a 10% restocking fee and you're responsible for shipping costs

Robert Alexander: I currently own a Logitech Revue and do not have these issues with that box.

Robert Alexander: I understand. I am willin gto pay that although the device is defective.

Brett: No, the device is not defective.

Read Best Reviews of VIZIO Co-Star Stream Player With Google TV - VAP430 Here

I've owned the Co-Star for about 2 months.

Initially I thought it was a neat gadget to try out to see if I wanted or needed Google TV on the next big screen TV I would purchase. I also wanted to find that 1 tech device that will control everything (tired of having multiple remotes, etc.) I also figured that since these are on back-order (lack of supply) that I could resell it easily if I didn't like it.

Install and overview:

Co-Star took about 5 to 10 minutes to install and sync with everything, and has worked flawlessly since. It connects and controls everything in my entertainment system with no issues. Great device, the software keeps updating and getting better (my Co-Star is receiving software updates automatically from Google). The layout of the apps, and the navigation is better than the typical Vizio TV apps (for those of you that are familiar with the Vizio Apps layout). The new layout / navigation takes some getting used to just like any new technology. And like every new technology, it can use some software improvements. However, for $99 this far exceeded my expectations.

The issue concerning the Co-Star remote control:

The best thing about Co-Star is that I finally have a device / remote that consolidates and commands EVERY product that is hooked into my entertainment system. This is a huge plus! The Co-Star remote has a high degree of programability. It controls my Toshiba TV. Controls my Samsung Time Warner cable box.. full DVR control, access the guide, settings, search, schedule recordings, ff/play/rev, scroll in every direction, everything on the cable box! Controls my LG Blu-Ray surround sound system. XBOX 360.

The layout / design of the remote is probably my only "complaint" about the product. The Co-Star remote is similar to every other Vizio TV remote... which are not backlit. My brain is just too wired into the button layout of my Time Warner cable remote that I have always used.... I can navigate the Time Warner cable remote if I were blindfolded, wearing mittens, while in a straight jacket. So not being backlit is the reason it is difficult for me to use the Vizio remotes in the dark. However, I downloaded the free app called ABLE REMOTE. This app turns your cell or tablet into a remote, it has bigger buttons, is much more intuitive, and is easier to use. It is so much easier to navigate than using the Co-Star remote's touchpad. It also allows you to program favorite channels, websites, etc. Honestly the ABLE remote app is better than my Time Warner cable remote. It's better than the Google Remote app too!.

As for the big 4 items that I typically use:

Netflix & Pandora work just like they should. Netflix layout is better with Co-Star than a typical Vizio TV apps.

YouTube is very intuitive, & I like the Co-Star's YouTube layout / functionality. You get used to it very quickly, and you can scroll through 'related' videos amazingly quick. Again better than Vizio TV apps.

Amazon VOD took some getting used to, because Co-Star does not use the standard Amazon "app". Co-Star essentially takes you right to Amazon's website through the Chrome browser, then you navigate to your Amazon playlist / watchlist just like you would typically do on a laptop. So, this is very different from what everybody has been used to with the Amazon "app" on Roku or Vizio TV's. The upside of using Amazon VOD on the Co-Star is that you can utilize Amazon's Watchlist functionality, and browse / search for titles much more thoroughly. However, I do wish that in addition to the full Amazon VOD website, that Amazon would have a simple "app" interface that had just 4 items: Purchases, Watchlist, Prime, and "go to full website". This would simplify the process of watching the movies I've already purchased or that I want to watch (instead of having to navigate to it through the browser).

Other than the big 4:

Inernet. It's a full Chrome browser. Syncs with all of my Chrome settings and bookmarks on my other devices. Works and looks the same as using my laptop. Using the included Vizio Co-Star remote isn't the easiest way to type and search the web on your TV.... so download the free ABLE remote app to your cell / tablet and you can type on your phone / tablet just like you currently do while using your TV as the display. It's 100% easier to browse the web this way.

Google Play Music. Very nice feature to have on the TV screen. Google Music has been around for awhile, but I never really used it.... it was simpler to just use a playlist on Pandora through my entertainment system. Now that I've got the Google Play Music on the TV screen, I'm listening to my own playlists and the 1000 or so albums that I've actually purchased in my life, instead of always just using Pandora playlists.

Google Play Movies. app works and integrates with all other devices. Also, Google Play Movies is very specific and lets you choose between buying a movie in SD, or buying in HD. It shows the price for either side by side, and lets me choose if I want to spend extra money for the HD version. Amazon could take a lesson here.

Google PrimeTime. Nice to see what else is on TV that I might want to watch. This is somewhat like the suggestions you get from Netflix (Netflix suggests what you like based on how you've rated past titles)... Google PrimeTime is suggesting movies / shows that are currently (or coming on in next 1/2 hour) on your cable TV that you may want to watch (just like Netflix... on Google TV you have to start rating movies and tv shows for this to work well). Hoping for the ability in future software update to select my own "categories" instead of the standard "New", "Comedy", "Drama", etc categories that are currently used. ...just like I can customize the categories and the viewing order of my Google News sections..

Google PrimeTime also allows you to search for a movie, and it will show you all the places you can watch the movie (On your own cable TV, Netflix, Amazon, Youtube, etc) and if you can rent it, or buy it, and the costs associated for each. This is a very nice feature, avoids the time involved with searching through my own Cable system, then searching Netflix, then searching Amazon to see where and how much a movie is that I want to see.

I think the Google PrimeTime app has a ton of future expandibility. It's been updated once or twice since I've owned my Co-Star. They could link it with Google Drive, then essentially you have full TiVo / DVR capability. Again, this is at a $99 pricepoint all in, while currently Time Warner charges $10 / monthly rent per cable box. I'm interested to see what the Google software developers can do with the PrimeTime app.

M-Go... still waiting to see what this is.

OnLive... I don't play video games, so no opinion.

Other apps?? I haven't really used anything else, but there's a bunch of other stuff there.

Syncing to cell phone / tablet:

The coolest thing about Co-Star is the ability for it to sync with my Android cell phone and tablet. I'm just learning how to use this, but it seems that the possibilities will explode very quickly. While using certain apps / features on my cell phone or tablet, I can hit a "share" icon on the phone's screen and the TV will display whatever is on my phone's screen. Photo's, slideshows, etc. When I'm using YouTube on my phone or tablet, I can hit the "share" icon on the phone / tablet and the video instantly starts also playing on the TV. I can then search and add more videos to the "view on tv queue" on my phone without interrupting the video that is currently playing on the TV. I think that this sharing functionality is part of the most recent update, and it is very neat. I'd hope that very quickly every app on my phone / tablet will allow this.

Within the next 6 months, I don't see the need for specific Google TV apps for things like Facebook, Twitter, etc. It feels that Android capability to link your cell phone / tablet to the Co-Star is going to solve the entire issue and make it simpler than anybody imagined.

The devices sync using your home wifi.

Conclusion:

My current 50" TV is 6 years old and works well. I bought it before all the new gadgets were invented, so I've used ROKU, Blu-Ray players with apps, and now the Co-Star to make my old TV much more functional. Roku and Blu-Ray player were both very simple and basic, but VERY limited and maybe 1 or 2 software updates over the years. The Co-Star was the least expensive, and best performing, and IMO has the best ability for ongoing software updates.

The Co-Star is not perfect, it doesn't yet do everything in the world that all the technology reviewers are dreaming of... but it is getting software updates that have eliminated most of the initial complaints and improving the apps. So make sure to read the date of any reviews you have read. My review is as of today, Dec 20, 2012.

It doesn't wash your car, cook your meals, take out the dog, have every app in the world, etc... so if you're dreaming about and waiting for THE DEVICE that does everything you want specifically for your own preferences and likes, then you're probably going to need to win the Powerball and hire your own engineers to build it for you.

For $99 Co-Star is a great device for anybody that wants to use or try out internet capabilities, and begin using unified Android phone / tablet / TV capabilities on THEIR CURRENT TV set, prior to spending $1000 to $2000 for a new TV that will become outdated within 12 months. I believe that within 6 to 12 months, simply having the Co-Star communicate with your cell, laptop, or tablet will trump the idea of building the hardware into a TV set or some other gadget.

And, for $99 it is a flat out great device with a lot of current capabilities that will only improve because Android keeps evolving and getting updated.

EDIT: May 16, 2013.

Just an update:

I'm now so used to the remote control that it is no longer even an issue. My brain has learned where all the buttons are and I can easily use it in the dark. I also eventually figured out how to connect all my equipment so that the remote controls everything in my TV / Audio system.

A standard Amazon App was released and included with the last software update a few months ago. So that issue is completely eliminated. The Co-star Amazon App is much better than on a Vizio TV set.

The new PRIME app is probably what I like best about the Co-Star. And it truly does make "finding something to watch" much much much easier. The PRIME app is basically a new feature that pops up at the bottom of the screen and shows tiles of movies / tv shows currently on tv that you might be interested in. (it learns to know what you like!) The interface is clean, you scroll up / down for categories (similar to Netflix) and scroll horizontally for different titles (again, like Netflix). The items displayed are based on how you've already rated shows and movies. The more you use it and rate titles, the better it gets. Where this software completely blows away the Netflix software.... is that you can select the "Don't show this channel again" or "Not interested, don't show titles like this again", and the software will stop showing them as something you "might be interested in". I am so tired of the Netflix software that keeps showing me the same movies that I've already rated "waste of time". Netflix refuses to change their recommendation algorithms! The PRIME app software actually stops showing you items when you tell it you don't like them. Also, the PRIME app allows me to eliminate duplicate titles (HD and Standard def) playing at the same time by clicking on the "don't show this channel again" for the Standard def version. The learning algorithm needs your input, and I get EVERY channel that time warner cable offers....so probably after 2 weeks I had rated enough titles and eliminated standard def, spanish, etc type channels so that the PRIME app was getting really focused in to where it should be. The app also allows me to program a row that includes just my "favorite" channels. So, I NO LONGER USE THE Time Warner CHANNEL GUIDE AT ALL.

Lastly, it feels that the purchase price of movies has jumped up so much versus 1 or 2 years ago!! With Co-star, if I want to watch a movie, I can quickly check to see if it is free on Netflix or Amazon Prime, or HBO-GO. If it isn't, then I can quickly check the rental / purchase price on Amazon, Google Play, VUDU, and M-Go. (there's also a 3rd party app that can do this too)

I am amazed at the price differences for movies on the various platforms. I can also see the price for buying (or renting) in HD or standard def. I've definitely saved over $99 just by comparison shopping for movies I want to watch (or own).

I initially bought the Co-Star to see if I wanted / needed Google TV as an internal feature when I purchase my next big screen TV. After using this device.... I no longer even think of it as "Google TV". TO ME IT SIMPLY FEELS LIKE HOW A TV SHOULD WORK in this world of cell phones/apps where we basically tailor almost everything to our specific needs. These google tv devices are bringing an open sourced functionality to the world of TV. Instead of having to scroll up / down through a channel guide with 1000 channels, the software has learned what types of shows / movies I like to watch and with a clean interface at the bottom of the screen it shows me where / when they will be on tv. Instead of being stuck having to purchase a movie from the specific app that is included from the tv manufacturer,,, I can comparison shop quickly across multiple video apps and buy from the app with lowest price. It just seems natural to have that ability to comparison shop.

The Co-star and other devices still aren't perfect and the software is evolving. Based on the $99 cost for these type of open source devices, I'm much more inclined to just buy the tv with the best picture and not get bogged down with the manufacturer's internal branded apps and stuff. Plugging in a $99 OPEN SOURCE device is so much better than being stuck with the TV manufacturer's planned obsolescence.

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Having owned a Logitech Revue for about a year, I was in love with the Google TV platform but knew there were many bugs with the software. The other problem with it was that there was no guaranteed upgrade path for the Revue since Logitech abandoned the product. Anyway I purchased a Co-Star the moment they went up for pre order. It is the most feature packed streamer on the market right now by far. Here is a run down of the features:

1. Play StoreThe Co-Star is a full Android device with access to a wide variety of Apps that can enhance the viewing experience. A couple of apps I really enjoy are Plex, and Redux. Plex indexes movies, TV shows, music, and photos on my PC and then streams them to the Television Via the Co-Star. For TV, Movies, and Music Plex will automatically provide metadata and info such as descriptions and artwork which is really nice. It also automatically Trans codes (converts) files on the PC that are incompatible with the Co-Star which is nice if you work with obscure video files. Redux provides a curated YouTube experience based on Channels. Editors find video based on certain categories and it gives you a new way to watch TV.

2. Chrome BrowserThe Co-Star comes loaded with a fully featured Chrome browser with Flash support. This is particularly useful if a certain content provider does not provide a compatible app in the Play Store. Services Like HBO Go and MLB at bat are compatible. It can also be useful for doing a quick status update if your phone is not nearby or if you need to do some quick look up of something.

3. SpotlightSpotlight utilizes Chrome to provide the user with several Web applications for various content providers such as TBS, Crackle, HBO Go, Amazon Video on Demand, Etc...

4. Live TV integrationThe Co-Star has HDMI pass-through for Live TV. This means if you have an HD cable box you can plug it into the Co-Star and Google TV software overlays over your live TV. the advantages to this are listed in the next two points. Google TV also allows for Picture in Picture if you want to quickly browse the web or go into an app like IMDB during a commercial break.

5. TV and Movies AppThis app is an Awesome way of discovering TV shows and Movies. As you rate content it recommends more content to you. If you select a movie it will tell you How you can watch that movie. Right now it will tell you the next time it will be on live tv, if it is on youtube for rent or purchase, Amazon, Netflix, Crackle, or HBO go. Television shows also work the same way just it shows you how to get individual episodes. The other feature of this app is the ability to browse Live TV. Based on your ratings it will recommend shows based on genre or category and then tune your cable box to that channel in order to watch it.

6. SearchGoogle Is the king of search. Searching on the Co-Star will search through Live TV, TV and Movies app, YouTube, and the web. It makes finding content really quick.

7. YouTube Lean backThis is by far the best YouTube experience. You can browse through subscriptions, live content, other channels that people have created. Once you select a channel it just keeps playing related video. It works really well.

8. OnLiveThe OnLive service allows for streaming of games to the Co-Star. This means that if you have the OnLive controller you can play a wide variety of PC games right on your TV for a small fee (cannot recall what it is). You can also watch others play games on the service for free.

As great as the Co-Star is, it is not without its flaws.

1. For starters it is still based on the Android Honeycomb platform which brings some Lag and other bugs. This will hopefully be fixed with Google TV version 3 rumored to be coming out soon.

2. Another Flaw is the lack of support for certain services, namely Hulu Plus and Vudu. Without Hulu Plus (which according to hulu.com is coming) many people that would get this to cut the cord will not benefit from this.

3. Services like Amazon, and HBO Go do not have dedicated apps. Both of those services default to the standard website for browsing content and it is not as fluid as a dedicated app would be. Hopefully those will come soon. At least services like Crackle have customized websites for Google TV.

4. The Remote while somewhat large is actually pretty good. The Problem with it has to do with how it handles IR. Since Google TV can control your TV, Cable set top box, and Receiver it needs to be able to send IR codes to those products. With other Google TV Devices (Logitech and Sony). The IR is on the box itself. On the Co-Star it is on the Remote itself. This makes it more difficult to deal with 3rd party remote apps for my phone. I have to make sure power saving mode is off on the remote then I need to place it in a location that keeps it pointing at my home theater devices. This can drain the battery on the remote quicker and be a hassle.

Overall I have really enjoyed my time with the Co-Star and hope that it gets speedy updates to fix the minor issues i have with it (i know the remote issue cannot be fixed). I am rating this 5 stars because in my mind there is no better set top box on the market, with only Roku and the new Boxee coming close.

_______________________________________________________________________

I am editing my review and lowering my score after several months of use:

Pluses:

Amazon and Vudu dedicated apps are available.

New Quick guide is available and is quite good. The guide button on the remote now will pull up a quick guide that over lays on top of live tv telling you whats on on either your favorite channels or other recommended shows. If you press guide twice you get sent to the Guide on your set top box.

Search is nicer. Search is layed out better and gives you more info about what you are searching for.

Negatives:

The Remote is Terrible. Constant connection issues that make it difficult to type without letters repppppppppeating themselves. I have had Vizio replace the remote and have the same problem.

HDMI cables seem to be a crapshoot. I have tried 4 different HDMI cables 3 of which are 1.4 compliant and one is 1.3 or older (5 year old monster cable). One of the new cables and the old Monster cable seem to work (with the occasional pink screen due to connection issues).

Freezing when powering off. I have a universal remote with activities set up. It is configured to turn off unused devices when I switch an activity. If I switch from watch TV Activity (Uses Co-Star) to Watch Blu-Ray (Does not use Co-Star), and back to watch TV, I end up with a black screen with one notification in the upper right saying Ethernet connected (audio is there). I have to unplug the unit and plug it back in for it to work.

5.1 Audio with 3rd party apps. I have the new update with Amazon and Vudu apps. It appears that those apps are not properly outputting in 5.1 to my receiver while Netflix Plex, and Live TV pass through work just fine.

As mentioned above I really like the GTV Platform, and I really like this product when it works as advertised. I just wish I didn't have to go through all of these things with a $99 product when I could buy a Roku 3 which has more apps (no live tv pass through though) and just works.

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GoogleTV...A good idea that still hasn't become a great product.

This, the Vizio Co-Star is the latest attempt to provide that idea. The hardware is new. The software is mostly courtesy of Google, and not much changed over the past year.

The basic idea is to bring a variant of the Android platform to the TV...Netflix, Amazon videos, a browser, music, and a variety of other apps.

I've been living with the Logitech Revue Google TV device for more than a year. That device was (in)famously dropped by Logitech in the face of anemic sales and huge costs, at which a $300 list price product became widely available for about $100. As I have noted in my review of that device Logitech Revue with Google TV (Refurbished), it's sadly almost, but not quite, all it needs to be. It feels like the beta version of a product that may well become a star on its next major revision. However, given the orphan status of that device, a next "major revision" may not ever come. Still, the Revue is good enough that I am still using mine. (Note: There is also a first generation Sony device based on Google TV, which suffers most of the same shortcomings and is ultimately inferior to the Logitech Revue).

Enter the Vizio Co-Star. Does this device improve on the Revue? That is, does it improve on the interface? Does it fix the very laggy and buggy browser in the Revue? Does it open up the locks on desirable third party content (e.g. Hulu)? Does it improve on overall reliability (the Revue tends to lock up or otherwise need to be rebooted every several days)?

Short answer: The Vizio improves on a few features. And it degrades some others. On the whole, it's interesting, and the price point is attractive, but it's unfortunately not all you'd hope for in a second generation product.

Now the details.

Here are the places where I find the Vizio improves on the first generation Revue:

1) Faster processor. The Vizio has a dual core Marvell processor, versus a single core Atom processor in the Revue. That is reflected in somewhat faster response. This is welcome, as the Revue can often feel a bit laggy. The Vizio is hardly a speed demon, though--it's all relative.

2) The browser (Chrome), in particular, is more responsive. The browser in the Revue is often extremely draggy.

3) There is a button on the remote that allows you to turn the Vizio off. On the Revue you have to unplug the device to reboot it.

4) Vizio has introduced a very nice icon/launch menu next to the home screen. This is long overdue, and much improves on the default menu set on the Revue.

5) Smaller footprint. The Revue isn't huge, but this is even smaller

6) Passive head dissipation. The Revue uses a fan to dissipate heat. That can result in very low level noise, although I use one in my bedroom and it isn't bothersome.

Now, where the Vizio box falls short.

1) Much poorer remote experience. The Revue comes with a full sized keyboard/trackpad combo that works extremely well and has no problem communicating with the box even at long distances, and doesn't even require line of sight (since it uses IR). The Vizio has a standard sized hand held remote that features traditional buttons on one side, and a chicklet compressed keyboard on the other. This is better than no keyboard at all, but if you run an app that requires text input, you will IMMEDIATELY wish you had the Logitech remote. It is head and shoulders better in every way.

2) The wireless transmitter on the Vizio seems flaky. On my Revue, I have never had a problem contacting my router (in the same room!), negotiating a connection, etc. On the Vizio, I have had repeated problems (in the same room!) It took three tries to even get it to negotiate a connection with the router during setup. I frequently have Netflix tell me it can't find a connection. And so on. Very annoying, and there's no excuse for this.

3) There are no indicator lights on the front of the Vizio to tell you it's on. There's a small light on the BACK of the unit, but that's not much help. Especially since you can turn the Vizio on and off with the remote, it would be quite useful to know if the unit is, in fact, on or off.

Where the Vizio fails to improve on shortcomings of the first generation Revue:

1) Still no support for services that are almost mandatory for a device like this, primarily Hulu. This is a limitation due to GoogleTV licensing, not due to the specific hardware, but it remains a gaping hole in the functionality.

2) Weak HTML5 browser support (meaning the browser remains second rate). Vizio has promised an update to address this.

3) The unit still has a tendency to lock up on occasion. It doesn't self heal when this happens, and the remote can become unresponsive, meaning that even though the remote has an on/off button, you'll have to do a hard reboot (unplug/replug) to fix it.

4) Very limited useful third party apps in the Google Play app store (again, this is a GoogleTV issue, not a hardware issue).

In the end, what's the verdict? Well, this is still quite a lot of hardware and software for $100. But, unfortunately, it still feels like the beta version of a product that is, soon, or maybe just eventually, going to be ready to set the world on fire. This is, ultimately, very much at the feet of Google, rather than the hardware provider, but it's still an issue.

In addition, the Vizio remote pales in relation to the gold standard Logitech Revue keyboard. That's assuredly due to the fact that this was built to meet a price point. The Logitech was built to sell for $300. This was built to sell for $100. Corners had to be cut.

Finally, the wireless connection issues I experienced--repeatedly--are worrisome. Those are the kinds of issues that are hard to overlook.

On the whole, while I find this an interesting effort, I'm going to stick with my Logitech Revue for now. If Google eventually rolls out a major new software release that fixes some of the existing major issues--and if those fixes aren't simultaneously rolled out to the orphaned Revue--then I'll reconsider. But for now, I'm not quite excited.

The price is good, and this device has a better chance of being updated into the future. But right now, at the minute this revue is being written, the Logitech Revue (at the clearance price) seems like the better move.