We got a problem with this item, after one month. Remote controle stop working and without remote controle, this box is dead, because it's has just one bottom on/off. I tried to replace remote controle, by using warranty, but Cirago International co. does not want to do it. I bought remote controle for $ 15.00 trough Cirago Co.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
CiragoTV Pro Multimedia Center 500 GB Store and Play
We got a problem with this item, after one month. Remote controle stop working and without remote controle, this box is dead, because it's has just one bottom on/off. I tried to replace remote controle, by using warranty, but Cirago International co. does not want to do it. I bought remote controle for $ 15.00 trough Cirago Co.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Olympus VN-5000 Digital Voice Recorder (141985) (Silver)
Back to basics. This Olympus DVR works just fine for recording mock therapy sessions in my psychology class. It's easy to use. The sound reproduction is clear. It has a long battery life.I'm not a technie or a teenager. So navigating digital equipment isn't organic to me. I need instructions. The more cookbook-like, the better. Before I bought this model, I considered purchasing a similarly priced Sony model because after all I had a number of other Sony products in my audio visual stable. But, eek, reviews of Sony's murky instructions scared me off. The Olympus instructions sheet isn't the best--pictures instead of words. But when I got stuck, I called the Olympus toll-free line, and got through right away to a friendly customer service rep, who easily resolved my issue.
One nit: The "Hold" button is really the on/off switch. I'm not sure why Olympus doesn't call it like it is.
And a caveat: You can't transfer recordings from this DVR directly into a computer. You'll have a pay more to get this feature.I have owned three or four digital voice recorders over the years and don't have high demands. I mostly use it to record reminders while commuting. This one performs well enough (good voice clarity), however the design is very poor: 1.the record button is not recessed so it regularly starts recording when in my pocket; 2. recording requires pressing two different buttons, one to record and another to stop recording; 3. erasing a message is a three step process that requires pressing three different buttons. This is not the recorder to use while driving! My old SONY ICD-B5 was much easier to use and thinner, if a little heavier.
Buy Olympus VN-5000 Digital Voice Recorder (141985) (Silver) Now
It's the first recording device I ever owned and I'm extremely happy with this purchase.WHY BUY SUCH A THING:
1. if you have watched THE SIXTH SENSE, you should have remembered that Dr.
Malcolm Crowe used such a device to record down any thoughts he had after he met
his patients. IMHO, since most of my inventive ideas pop into my mind when it's most
inconvenient for me to take notes of such fleeting thoughts, a recorder is by
far the best device for taking them down. Even if most cellphones nowadays have some
functionality similar to a recorder, their performance and usability are much
worse.
2. David Allen's masterpiece about time management, Getting things done, also
recommends various kinds of in-boxes to store all the internal commitments you
may have anytime and anywhere, and a recorder is much easier to carry with you
than paper and pen and to use in various places out of office.
PROS:
+++ VCVA: this is a killing feature! it will only be recording when there is
sound louder than the threshold you set, so all silences in lectures, meetings
and dictations when you are thinking will not appear in the recordings! REALLY
GREAT FEATURE!
+ can be a good toy for children; help them musing over various sounds in Nature
++ amazing battery life: though I didn't use it intensively, that the included
batteries still being indicated as 'FULL' after 4 month of using, is extremely
satisfacory.
++ easy management of recordings: there is A, B, C, D, 4 folders for storing
different kinds of notes, and I found this very useful. I use A as an in-box for
my GTD system, B to store memorable quotes and sayings I encountered when
reading books, C and D for storing any thougths coming into my mind when I brainstorm
about a project.
+ LED indication of recording status:
CONS:
no appending/inserting: recordings cannot be edited later. But I think it's
not a big problem since nobody is going to use it record an album.
no connection to computers (for models without suffix of PC in their model
names): I don't care about the absence of this feature, since I only use it to
temporarily store things that I would never want to preserve for later use. If
some students want to use this to record lectures, they may want to buy models
that have a PC/Mac connection interface.
CONCLUSION:
A must buy for any intellectual worker. I would recommend this to
anybody!
Read Best Reviews of Olympus VN-5000 Digital Voice Recorder (141985) (Silver) Here
I thought I wanted a voice recorder a long time ago, while a student but I never actually bought one. If I remember correctly, I was deterred, back then, by the apparent mechanical complexity of the device, its using non-standard recording media mini cassettes the need to feed it batteries and its overall lack of versatility. I believe they used to be expensive too.This is my first and voice recorder and it seems to address most of my issues back then. The Olympus VN-5000 DVR's notable features include:
no moving parts other than the several buttons
small
long battery life
no physical recording media needed other than its own physical memory
moderately easy to learn controls
3 level of recording quality and, depending in the quality selected
20, 50 or 300 hours of recording time
voice activated recording
variable playback speed
date/time stamps on files
some rudimentary file management (4 preset folders, files can be moved between folders)
etc., etc.
Overall, this model is a trade off between low price/simplicity and features/flexibility in favor of low price and simplicity. Being my fist DVR, I happen to like it this way but the more sophisticated or the more demanding users may not not appreciate its awkward file management and the fact that, at least in theory, it's impossible to get the files out of the device, into some other form of storage (but it can be done see note below).
I am very pleased with this device. Between 4 and 5 stars, I decided on 4 because this inexpensive, 'entry level' gadget, while making recording easy, is not as good at managing and retrieving the information once recorded, especially when one stores many files.
_______________________________________
Note:
If you want to transfer your files to a computer, it can be done but it can be a time-consuming process. To do so, you need to
Install Audacity on your machine (it's a free download).
Plug a microphone cable into your DVR's headphone slot and the other end into your computer's microphone interface all computers should have these wires and you can use either the 'green' or the 'pink' one.
Set Audacity on 'record' and you simply 'play' your file.
Test for the proper volume setting before recording a long file.
Save your recording as a WAV or MP3 file.
It's going to take as long as it took you to make the recording but, once it's done you have a file that you can do with as you please.
Want Olympus VN-5000 Digital Voice Recorder (141985) (Silver) Discount?
This digital voice recorder has a good design and easy to use. I found it very simple and did exactly what I wanted it to do. I record different stuff for my website The only drawback is that the built in speaker is not very loud and and the batteries that came with it were weak. I gave this five stars because if you use earphones you can hear it as loud as you want. It was worth the money I paid.Sunday, September 21, 2014
TIVO HD, HD XL & Series 2, Series 3 AC Power Adapter Cord
Item does not look like picture. While the end that plugs into the TiVo itself is polarized, the outlet end is not. Not only that, the prongs on the plug end are thin and easily FALL OUT of the outlet almost by gravity alone! I am seriously torn as to which cable is safer, this one or the original one that was chewed by mice down to the bare wires (then repaired with electrical tape).Do NOT BUY THIS. LOOK ELSEWHERE!This is the best power cord ever! Why did I wait so long to get one! And the fact that it comes in black, black or black..... Well, lets just say I was overwhelmed ...
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Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD Recorder with SD Card Slot (DVD-RAM & DVD-R)
Very happy that I got to archive my old home VHS to DVD with great results.Great features:
This is an excellent entry-level DVD-recorder. The TV Guide feature is the reason to past over Panasonic cheaper brother the E55s which just have the VCR-plus feature. TV Guide is a simpler and free version to TiVo. It has an on-screen menu of the channels including title, time, info and the option to record. Sadly, TV Guide feature only work for antenna broadcasting and basic cable. Digital cable and satellite users might have to invest more money into a TiVo recording device (lack of component input here).
The recording quality is great, which is almost the same or lesser then the original, but never better. I transfer old VHS home video to this device and it was easy with excellent quality. Recording TV programs through the antenna is simple, but the quality depends on your reception. DVD-r is more common then DVD+r. I use XP or SP mode (1-2hrs) for VCR transfer, and LP or EP mode (4-8hrs) for TV program.
This is one of the most intelligence video devices I have own yet. There are so many option and setting to configure base on your needs. The SD card reader is a nice extra for this device. I have a Panasonic digital camera with a SD card so it is just plug and play. The manual is simple to follow and understand to figure this complex device.
The have not:
As an entry level recorder would mean this device have less of the advance input features. There are no component inputs which mean you can't recorder from higher quality image. No DV(firewire) input for newer digital camcorder. No hardrive for mix and match recording. The recorder is a 4-stars but the DVD playback is a 3.75-stars. The progressive scan has a lot of settings to customize from, but my Toshisba's DVD is a little smoother. The basic DVD-playback feature is just basic and limited. The old Toshiba has many features as zoom, slow forward, display length of the DVD, which I have yet figure/found. Slow boot time, but that is true to most recorders.
Panasonic quality is great. I have a Panasonic's HDTV for almost a year, a digital camera and they all are working fine with great results. I like Panasonic's pricing which is producing great quality for the price, but they leave out some of the more fancy features and style that Sony has that will jack up the prices. I use Verbatim's Digital Movie DVD-r at 4x and Panasonic's DVD-RAM, anything faster like 8x does not seem to work.For the price and the not so technology enabled person, this is a great peice of equipment. It was easy to set up and use. The only thing that may be a problem is the sd slot. I used this to see a slide show of my pics from my digital camera. The picture quality was not the best, but then this was only to review and edit my pics. Putting them on a disc, the picture quality is great. I am very happy with this product.
Buy Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD Recorder with SD Card Slot (DVD-RAM & DVD-R) Now
"U99" Error Problem.Piece of junk, one can not do anything with this machine in presence of that error code.The Machine has not been even used for any rcording-brand new and I was using Panasonic Brand DVD-Ram.Read Best Reviews of Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD Recorder with SD Card Slot (DVD-RAM & DVD-R) Here
In the year that I have had this model I have had to talk to Customer Support eight times. Not only did I have to call them to help me with a problem, I frequently had to wait a long time (over 45 minutes) to get someone on the phone. Once I was talking to someone I either had a really bad experience or a so-so experince. For the amount of technical trouble I have had with this machine, I would never buy another Panasonic product again.Want Panasonic DMR-E65S DVD Recorder with SD Card Slot (DVD-RAM & DVD-R) Discount?
Although I have called Panasonic and gotten assistance, after 4 weeks I am still unable to get the on-screen TV Guide to work. I am technology-saavy, and even had a friend help me with the unit. No luck. Programming recording without the TV Guide is fine, but that defeats the purpose of buying this machine.Wednesday, August 6, 2014
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Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder

- DVD Recorder/VCR Combo
- Progressive Scan
- 1080p Upconversion
- ColorStream Pro
- JPEG Photo Viewer
I must say: it passed the "probationary" period smashingly, though with a few small reservations I will mention later. Supposedly this deck is Toshiba's new improved version of its DVR-600 from last year. That deck brought forth quite a few frustrated reviews from buyers, and with this buyer-beware in mind, I assumed we were still in the Dark Ages as far as preservation on home DVD's was concerned. I initially thought a deck with merely a DVD recorder would do the trick (i.e., wiring my old VCR to its inputs to do duping), but I received conflicting and discouraging reports on these machines, too.
And so, the present model does a very, very nice job concerning the purpose for which I bought it: it will transfer my old (blank recorded) videos I made myself with almost no occurences of the "RECORDING ERROR" message; I had just one instance of this so far, which made me relegate that blank DVD to the "toss-out" pile. Actually, I'm using the discs with abortive recording projects for "test discs": that is, using them to see if a particular VHS video will transfer OK or not. I'm finding most '81-'85 rental tapes (pre-copyguard-era) will transfer OK, but you're up the creak without a paddle as far as dubbing your old prerecorded videos from '86 onward: specifically from the majors (Columbia, Warner, MGM, etc.). If your friends with similar movie tastes still have off-the-air broadcast tapes, by all means tell them to dig them out of storage!
While preserving taped-off-the-air movies has been a top priority, my FIRST DVD project was duping the one-hour tape full of films my old college animation class did. I made it a point to dub it at the high-quality speed (XP), and the transfer came off quite well, though there was a bit of picture jitter here and there. But after finalizing it, I found it played back well not only on the DVR-610 itself, but on my OTHER two DVD decks: my old Samsung player, and my 11-year-old Compaq computer. I used a Fuji blank disc for this one. The playback was smooth, and in time I learned how to make menus for later discs I recorded.
You would do well to reserve, as I did, a small pile of blanks for practice & test purposes; you will want to do comparisons of the sound quality of the highest speed compared to that of the slowest (for music videos--even those taped off a small 14" screen mono TV--the differences in sound reproduction are revealing). For feature films taped from mono television, the picture reproduction isn't that significantly different: not only in comparing your final DVD copy with the original tape, but also at the different DVD recording speeds. (I may think differently, of course,when I finally get a widescreen TV, but newer programs aren't of concern to me).
One thing I'm glad I learned quickly is how you can make individual cue-ups for separate films: unfortunately, you have to stop the DVD recorder at the end of each film. (For a cartoon collector like myself, this becomes VERY complex & involved....patience is mandatory!) At least I didn't find an alternative to this method in the owner's manual; and with my budget, I can only go with the cheapie DVD-R's that can be recorded only once. You CAN separate scenes for cue-up in a feature-length film, but THAT process is complicated by the machine's own automatic insertions of its OWN chapters in anything running over ten minutes. As for myself, I don't even bother separating scenes--only one movie from an entirely different one.
I was apprehensive during my first one or two tries at the "one-touch dubbing" feature, but this proved groundless (I used home-recorded tapes, of course). But I hasten to suggest: PLEASE DON'T throw out your old VCR, for a small number of tapes (yes--even your prize blanks) won't record on the new machine's all-in-one, two-decks-in-one feature.....you will have to wire patch-cords from your old videotape player to the front input jacks on the DVR-610. It is the only way around on these tapes.
One or two things I have to concur with on the other reviews of this machine: the manual CAN stand a bit better organization (it's categorized well, though not necessarily in the order you'd anticipate); two weeks back, when trying to find a mistake I made accidentally (I pushed the input button to "camcorder," or "DV," making it impossible to do tape-to-tape dubbing), the manual didn't list this problem which had me panicking for a few hours till I corrected it on my own. I have little quibble, though, with the English translation, which makes perfect & grammatic sense. AND: YES, the remote IS a pretty feisty critter! I've had about a dozen-and-a-half endings on some recordings where the "STOP" button goes to sleep, and I must rush to the machine itself to use the stop-button on IT. And the remote's own RECORD button is also as aggravating as a toilet handle. They work, alright (and you DO have to wait close to half a minute for the information from a just-finished recording to write itself onto the disc--as well as when you first turn on the deck with a blank disc still in it).
As for recordable discs, I've stuck with NAME BRAND blanks--those from Fuji, Maxell & TDK; and as yet, I've only recorded on DVD PLUS R (DVD+R) discs. All three brands play flawlessly when they're finally ready, and of course you must acquaint yourself with the "DVD MENU" feature which shows the option of finalizing the disc (necessary, of course, to have it play on other decks).
FINE deck, overall: there's still small room for more improvement, but this one gets an "A" for the job I want it to do: it's my main RECORDER now, and I'll be saving the playing for "play-only" decks (which I'll feel confident of buying in the future). It'll at least give me the security of knowing that the only film/TV fare that matters to me will be preserved to the time I kick off.
Buy Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder Now
This is the 3rd attempt I've made at purchasing something to transfer my old videos to DVD and I think I finally have a winner! The user's manual leaves a little (ok, a lot!) to be desired, but after deciphering the badly translated English, I was able to transfer my videos to DVD with no problem. It literally takes about 3 button pushes and off it goes.The quality so far seems excellent in both video and DVD playback too. And everyone I've given a DVD to has been able to play them so far!
Read Best Reviews of Toshiba DVR610 1080p Upconverting Tunerless VHS DVD Recorder Here
This Toshiba D-VR610KU took away my headache and fustration from other DVR/VHS recorders that I own. Other DVR's did not copy to certain brand DVD blanks or if it did copy the quality was poor at all settings.Pro(s):
I use Verbatim Archival Grade and Taiyo Yuden blanks from Japan in this Toshiba DVR and it copies with NO problem.
Playback quality after recording at all settings. VHS-DVD dubbing is EXCELLENT and picture is very close to Blu-Ray.
Con(s):
Another remote control you do not want to lose. 48 BUTTONS!!!
Owner's Manual is poor.
VHS Rewind is very slow.
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After a month of frustration with a similarly priced unit that was a major name brand, we returned that unit and bought this Toshiba model instead. The other unit was constantly making DVD's from old home VHS movies and the audio would be out of sync. We tried seven different movies and five different DVD recordable disc types. No matter what, when the DVDs came out, the people's mouths would move and the audio would come across two to three seconds later!As stated, this unit is a huge improvement over the other previous unit we owned/returned. If you're looking to copy VHS to DVD on a budget, this is the model for you. The unit features a full set of outputs (HDMI/Component/S-Video/RCA) and has 1080p upconversion when watching DVDs.
The only downsides to this unit are the somewhat funky remote and the overall layout/complexity to the user manual, I feel that the manual could have been much easier to understand with a bit better organization and not so much crammed on every page.Like many others, I was searching for a simple way to convert VHS tapes of family home movies to DVD, considering that VCRs are almost completely unavailable, and soon these family tapes would be unplayable forever. I first purchase the Samsung model, and discovered that much to my dismay, the audio and video did not synchronise! Turns out that it was a Samsung problem, and they could do nothing about it. Returned it.
Then I thought I'd try this Toshiba model. Well, first off, THERE ARE NO AUDIO/VIDEO SYNCHRONIZATION PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL!!!! If you follow the steps listed in the manual (and it's not hard to understand, don't know what everyone's complaining about), and if you record in "SP" mode for two hours, the end result will look and sound exactly like the source VHS.Terrific, Toshiba strikes again!
In regards to editing menus, if you've owned a Magnavox dvd recorder before this one, it will be like deja vu. They use the exact same program!
Really, this is the vhs/dvd recorder to buy. It will not disappoint you!
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Nokia 6103 Tri-Band Unlocked Phone
I bought this phone to replace an aging motorola. The phone worked fine for 30 days or so then started to need re-charging more frequently. As of today I've had it for two and a half months and it needs to be re-charged every night. Nokia will let me send it in so they can look at it but their policy is no loaner which means I have to buy another phone anyway. My conversation with Nokia's repair service ended with a conviction that I will never own another Nokia product. Admittedly this is partially due to the unanswered emails I sent prior to calling them. PHONE HAS HELP UP WELL. BATTERY LIFE IS EXCELLENT AND PHONE SERVES PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED. THIS PHONE IS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME MODEL WHICH I HAVE HAD FOR OVER THREE YEARS.Buy Nokia 6103 Tri-Band Unlocked Phone Now
great phone and would have given it 5 stars if it had a USB connection, which it doesn't.Read Best Reviews of Nokia 6103 Tri-Band Unlocked Phone Here
This is the worst cell phone I have ever owned. The call clarity is horrible, the instrument panel itself is clumsy design, the software has a lag and according to a T-Mobile insider it won't last for a year let alone the 2-year contract that T-Mobile made me sign-up for this phone.This was my first phone from Nokia (I was always happy with Motorola) and it was a dissapointment. But I went ahead and got a 6133 after two faulty 6103's. The 6133 is a good phone ... does everything it says it will and it does it well too!
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Waterproof Outdoor CCTV Security DVR Camera SD-Card Motion Detection DC-808
Took me an hour, with my my magnifier glass to read the instructions and get it working.The instructions are so small. Took me a while to find where the micro sd memory card went.
Just plug it in to power once you have the memory card in and have pushed the button once,Now you are recording. Picture is pretty good in good light. I was running Windows XP and it found the camera and memory card right a way on my computer.
You need to get an extension usb cable, if you have to put it more than 4 feet away from a power plug. It uses a 110vac to usb power supply.
I might add, when it detects motion, it records in 30 min blocks.The camera works so far. I had to use a class 10 data card since my class 4 wouldn't work. Also haven't figured out how to get it to use motion detection so I just leave it recording. I followed the instructions several times and it would look like it was doing motion detection then when I checked the card I found it was just recording continuously. Not a big deal to me. I have it looking down my driveway and it has a decent quality picture.
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I had great expectations and eagerly set up the camera as soon as it was delivered. Unfortunately, nothing happened when I plugged it into the external power source. Nothing happened when I plugged it into my laptop's USB port. I pressed the on/off button several times while I tried to power it on again. I inserted the micro SD card and tried to turn on the camera again, pressing the button several times with each try. Nothing happened. I couldn't use the CD disk because my laptop has a standard CD/DVD reader, not a mini. I have returned the camera and am waiting for a working replacement.Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Aqua 5500 ( Blue ) 18 MP Dual Screen Waterproof Digital Camera
Shipping was fast & secure within days of ordering camera. The camera is easy to use takes clear crisp pictures that have great detail even under low lighting. Have not used it underwater but have used it in the pouring rain(more like a deluge). The camera wiped clean and worked like a charm the next time I went to use it. The camera is durable can handle being dropped I would not recommend it. But it has happened to me to my surprise it worked like nothing happened.I would highly recommend this camera. I am a fan of SVP because my ir camera is that brand. So I knew the clarity of the pictures was a given. With what I do clarity definition matters. This is by far the best personal digital camera I have had to date. Its my first SVP camera that has not been tweaked.I bought this camera to give as Christmas presents, they love it! It's a nice portable and small camera with fine quality. Great price for gifts.
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Bought this camera for a small trip, I didn't want to spend too much on cameras. It turned out it's a pretty decent camera for the price I paid. The image quality isn't the best, but it's a cheap camera anyway.Read Best Reviews of Aqua 5500 ( Blue ) 18 MP Dual Screen Waterproof Digital Camera Here
I purchased this camera on cyber monday for a pretty reasonable price and we were blown away by the pictures it took considering it's a pretty inexpensive point and shoot camera. We were able to go snorkeling in Mexico and the clarity of some of the pictures were great but it did at times have troubles focusing and it couldn't take the best pictures in the distance but for taking pictures of the pretty fish underwater.. that's all I needed it for.Want Aqua 5500 ( Blue ) 18 MP Dual Screen Waterproof Digital Camera Discount?
I am a professional photographer so I never expected too much from these camera's but that being said They are really not worth the 55$ each I paid for them.The camera does as it says, it seems to be waterproof and does take pictures from both screens but there is a HORRIBLE DELAY from the time that you press the shutter button to when the picture is actually taken. There is almost 3 seconds in the delay. I purchased 3 of these cameras for Christmas Presents this year, 2 for the kids and 1 for my husband who is an avid hunter.
For the kids the camera would be ok. As long as their friends have a little paitents and hold the smile for 3-5 seconds after the shutter button is pressed.
My husband took it out hunting early in the morning when it was raining. The water didn't damage the camera at all, but the delay in the shutter was too much to catch wildlife in action.
PICTURE QUALITY is NOT AT ALL what other 18MP camera's generally produce. The shots are blury, grainy, too dark, or over exposed. No light meter I have in my collection seemed to help the problem. Used in my studio by the kids to "test the camera's out" we found it extremely hard to get even a few quality photos.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Magnavox ZC320MW8 DVD Recorder
If you're looking to buy the Magnavox ZC320MW8 DVD recorder you are probably looking for a no-frills machine that does the job for a reasonable price; you wouldn't expect a top of the line model with all of the whistles and bells for this price. However, if you are looking for a DVD recorder that will make perfectly good copies from VHS, TV, your home cable box with a hard drive DVD recorder, or from other DVDs, then this machine will not disappoint.Having read the other reviews for this product, I would make the following observations:
1. The pause function works perfectly well; the BIG red pause sign that is displayed on your TV (but not on the DVD being recorded) for a few seconds is a good enough indicator of the machine's current recording status. If you forget whether or not you pressed the pause button because it is not continually displayed throughout the pause process, I would attribute any confusion more to user error than to a design flaw. In essence, it would be nice to have the pause sign displayed while the machine is paused, but I SERIOUSLY doubt it will be an issue for you.
2. The lack of a continuous 'time remaining' feature will only be a problem if you plan your recording badly. The user sets the amount of recording time on each disc before recording begins, so he should know how much time he has. And after each recording session the disc menu clearly shows how much time is still available on the disc with even a modicum of planning, this will not be a problem.
3. The machine doesn't make copies of the disc it just recorded, but by repeating the recording process you will have an exact copy. The only problem with this would occur if you were creating a disc from a large number of sources, but I'd guess that most (95%+) users will make straight copies from VHS, TV or DVD which would negate this issue entirely. BTW, I have copied many films from TV and edited out the commercials with no problems whatsoever. And you could always hook up a DVD player to the machine to play the first disc and make a copy that way.
4. I've never had a problem with the remote (pointing it even vaguely in the direction of the machine has always worked for me) or with the editing process. The only tiny issue I have is with the user manual; while the step-by-step instructions it gives are very clear, difficult to get wrong, and even have pictures to illustrate each task, I found the order of the chapters not to be intuitive. So if you can handle having to check the table of contents the first couple of times you use the machine (after two uses you should be able to use the machine without needing recourse to the manual), then you will have no problems.
To sum up; for all but the most finicky of recordings this machine will very easily do exactly what the user needs, and will do it for a good price.Like everyone else, I also wanted to copy my old VHS in DVDs. It's easy to setup, does the job, no problems.
The price was fair and I have had it for more than a year without problems, but no heavy usage either.
Remote is kinda oversimplified. Labeling the titles is like using your cellphone to type text... clumsy.
Pause key is used a lot, so it should be bigger. In a nutshell, the design of the remote is horrible.
You want to make a second copy to send to mommy ? Too bad: the device doesn't make copies by itself, so you have to have your player hooked to it.
No display of any kind, so you have no idea how much time you have recorded.
No pause indicator.. this is worse as it only flashes on the screen for a couple of seconds, so while you mess with the source of program you find yourself unsure if pause is engaged or not.
So, here the pros:
price/value
easy to hook up
does the job
slim
your grandma is probably smart enough to use it :-)
Cons:
no pause indicator: you will miss this !
no elapsed/remaining time indicator
doesn't make copies of the finished disk : you will wish for this
remote needs to point straight at the unit.. you can live with that
editing and finishing the disk is kinda of hidden
Recommended for beginners and non techie people or, just as an entry level recorder.
Buy Magnavox ZC320MW8 DVD Recorder Now
Just to clarify I bought this machine from walmart.com. The machine was refurbished and cost me $56.55 after taxes and shipping fees.I bought this machine because I needed to transfer my 8mm Sony Camcorder tapes to DVD. About two months ago I bought the Diamond One Touch digital converter to convert my 8mm tapes to my computer so I could then transfer to DVD. Bad idea. The Diamond One touch simply sucked and created out of sync audio, choppy and off centered picture, along with black static lines appearing on the picture often. I am so glad I did some more research and opted for hardware that would convert straight to DVD rather than converting to a digital file first.
Magnavox DVD Recorder is simply awesome if you are using for the purpose of converting to DVD. I'm not sure how it plays as a simple DVD player since for the past two days I've been recording only. Thus far I have successfully converted six home videos. The audio and video quality is very good. Keep in mind though that if you are transferring from video, the quality is probably going to only be as good as the video. I played back my DVD's in a blue ray player and viewed on a HD TV and the quality was pretty good for some old 8mm tapes. The color is a little washed out yes, but that's because of the 8mm tapes and not this player. Make sure you are using high quality DVD's that have enough space. Also be sure to read the directions, it took me two DVD's to mess up before I got it right.
If you also want a digital file of the tapes you are converting then after you have recorded on to DVD and finalized, place the DVD into your computers CD/DVD drive, go to your computer options and open up the drive location for your CD/DVD and copy over the VTS files, the longer the video the more VTS files you will have. No need to convert these files since they should be .vob which will play in windows media player, not sure about quick time player. Anyway, this was a great buy if you need to convert home videos. Of course you will need the camcorder to play you 8mm tapes. Simply connect the camcorder to the DVD recorder the same way you would connect the camcorder to your TV. After that connect the DVD recorder to your TV so you can see what you are transferring. Pop in a blank DVD into the recorder, read the instruction manual which comes with the DVD recorder and go fourth from there. Everything records in real time, so it will take some time to convert everything.
Magnavox ZC320MW8 DVD RecorderI have 2 of these,,,one with the vhs combo and they all 3 do the job. Nothing fancy as far as trying to operate it. (That's what I like about it.) Records nice with a good playback picture. I think Walmart mightta originally sold these. I've had several dvd recorders and these do what you want for a fraction of the Panasonic and Sony's cost.I have two other Magnavox DVD recorders. Simple to the point. Very happy with this product. Refurbished scared me. Not anymore.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red)
I was looking for a camera to use on a recent SCUBA trip to the Caribbean and it came down to a debate between the Intova Sport Pro HD and Go Pro HD Hero2. I took a chance with the Intova Sport Pro HD because it had the following nice advantages over the Go Pro:1. Flat casing around the lens means that it won't have problems focusing underwater like the stock case of the Go Pro HD Hero 2 (fwiw, Go Pro sells a dive housing for an extra $50).
2. Standard tripod mount makes it fairly versatile and means I don't need additional strange mounts.
3. Manual white balance
4. Available red filter for when I'm too lazy to white balance underwater
5. Integrated LCD screen
6. Cheaper
Initial tests were optimistic with the Intova Sport Pro HD. Video quality was good, but not spectacular. The red filter added in nice colors underwater. Audio was okay, but had the presence of a distinct whine in the background. Still pictures were rather mediocre as it needs to be very still underwater and I have not yet fully mastered the fine art of buoyancy control. In any case, it was inexpensive and took decent video to document interesting stuff underwater. The buttons were firm but I could still navigate the menus underwater with no difficulty. It was good but not great device.
Well, that is until the second day of the trip. Sometime during my fourth dive of the trip the battery got low and it powered off. This was understandable as it had been running for about three hours at that point. I charged the device and the next morning it wouldn't power on even when outside of water (I tried turning the camera on before jumping off the boat and it didn't work). Further attempts to charge it were fruitless. The design of the device makes it impossible to take the camera out of the casing and examine the battery. So, I was left without a camera for the last fifteen dives of my vacation.
I've sent two emails to Intova, tweeted to them, and called their customer service line over the past eight days and I have yet to receive any response or acknowledgement from Intova. At this point I'm writing the device off and have concluded I would've been better off spending the extra money to get the Go Pro HD Hero2.I purchased the Invota Sport Pro HD video camera despite several very critical reviews. Enticed by the pricepoint, I was hoping I would have better luck . However, it failed within a few hours of use right and after the second battery charge. This product has many flaws and is not ready for market in my opinion.
1) The housing was extremely difficult to open for the first time. Almost as though there was a partial vacuum inside. With great care, I had to use a jeweler's screwdriver to pry open the door and even then it was resistant to opening. After the first opening the door operated normally which leads me to think it may have been manufactured at altitude. I am at 550'.
2) I didn't mind the buttons being hard to press as other reviewers commented but I found that the controls were often not activated by a press of the buttons, quite frustrating. Felt as though the inside surface of the housing buttons is just a little too short to make good contact the the camera's buttons.
3) The wrist strap broke immediately upon use as another reviewer commented.
4) The image quality was about what I expected at the price point.
5) The camera went completely dead after the first battery charge in the field. It was charged from an automotive USB cable. I returned the unit to Amazon for a full refund.
Buy Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red) Now
I have taken this camera on about 7 dive trips and also borrowed my brother's Go Pro Hero2 camera as well; so here's the differences:PROS:
this camera is almost as small as the Hero2 but it has a built in screen which the Hero2 does not. So if you added the screen accessory to the Hero2, then this camera would be smaller.
the picture quality is great with less fish-eye distortion than the Hero2 camera
this camera floats, unlike the Hero2, which is good if it falls off somehow
the head-mount does have a quick release and the Hero2 does not
this camera costs hundreds less the the Hero2!
this camera has more buttons and is easier to navigate the menus than the Hero2
the owner's manual is on a mini CD and has about 15 pages and is easy to understand
the case is made of high quality material which resists scratches (I know because I bumped it twice against rocks)
the lens does not fog up in cold spring water (72 degrees)
NEUTRAL:
this takes a micro SD card unlike the Hero2 which takes a regular SD card
CONS:
the back opens up to access the mini USB port and SD card, but you will need a butter knife to gently pry it open because a vacuum seal forms when closed
this camera does not have an audible beep when it starts or stops recording, unlike the Hero2
the head mount sticks out far from your head, which makes it easy to wobble; the Hero2 headmount is very compact and doesn't have this problem
the buttons are stiff and hard to press, after some time the buttons might even stick down
the audio has a high pitch tone or ringing sound in the background! it also doesn't pick up sound very good above water; so the audio track in your videos is almost worthless
I frequently had memory card errors when recording 1080p video! I bought a new memory card and still had the same problems. Basically, I had to erase all data on the card and record 1 long video, because I would get an error trying to record any more videos.
the camera will turn itself off in 5 min if you're not recording video or taking pictures.
this camera slowly leaks water! I greased the O-ring but it still happened in less than 60ft.
**Overall, it would have been better if I spent more money to get the Go Pro Hero2. The Sport HD camera records better video, but it doesn't work like its supposed to.
UPDATE: I called Intova customer service at 877-837-0074 and found out that their 2nd batch of cameras were defective, so they will happily replace your camera if you send them the old one. Their new batch of cameras are supposed to work correctly.
Read Best Reviews of Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red) Here
Purchased this unit a couple of months ago as soon as I became a certified OW Diver. Got also the red slip-on filter and cleaning kit at the same time.First time I laid my hands on the unit I felt that it has a decent build, albeit with buttons that are very hard to press (I assume that they will become soft in time). The lock seems to be sturdy and reliable in sealing the inside of the camera from water.
I was a bit surprised at the audio quality of the item as well. Even as it captures excellent video at HD resolution I found that it has a consistent high-frequency ringing and a low mechanical whirring noise (not sure where it comes from). Audio recording was pathetic at best. I guess the best way to explain it is that the sound is similar to what a person hears after a bomb explodes nearby. Distant voices and lots of high-freq noise. Not really good.
What Intova is good at, however, is recording nice underwater videos. Video captured is crisp, clear and absolutely a visual delight. Photos taken are the same as well -when you are talking about wide-angle shots. Once you decide to come a bit near to your subject, the images begin to distort similar to the effect you see on a fisheye lens.
Despite all the negatives, though, I thought it was a nifty piece of equipment that is value for money and designed specifically with divers in mind.
That is, until I actually brought it to a dive.
The unit is highly unreliable. First, the buttons are very hard to press, so your thumbs and fingers become callous in a very short period of time. You will look like an idiot trying to press what looks like a button but does nothing to the unit itself.
Second, the unit dies in unexpected moments. I brought it with me for a 40minute dive while recording a total of ten minutes of footage when the unit suddenly died without any warning. No battery low message is being prompted on the screen (in fact, the battery indicator showed that it still had a full charge right before it died). Pressing the power button also proved to be futile. It only turned on when I got home and plugged the unit to my computer.
Imagine your dissapointment when the only camera you have brought for a dive trip dies on you, making you lose out on opportunities to preserve memories which is why you have purchased the camera on the first place.
Third, after just having been with me for a total of barely 2 months, 2 pool dives and 4 water dives, my camera is now dead. The unit turns on when you plug it to a power source but dies after removing the plug and refuses to turn on. I suspect that it has a problem with the power button as it is not responding to varying levels of presses being applied on it. It dissapointed me again and therefore I find it hard to trust it again.
I have written a letter to intova about this and I hope they will respond to it asap. But I've decided that since it is highly unreliable I would just get a go pro regardless whether they will replace my unit or not. Its unreliable build makes me not trust it on dive trips, making me feel that the Go Pro, while a bit pricey, might have been the better choice all along.
Want Intova Sport Pro HD Video Camera (Clear/Red) Discount?
So far, so good. This camera is a lot of fun. I like the super wide angle, the ease of operation, the durability, and the features.This is a portable, rugged sports video camera. It is not very suitable for home movies or vlogging, nor is it a great still camera though it can perform those functions in a pinch.
I'm using a Class 4 32GB card which looks to hold about 8 hours of 720p video. I'm settling on this resolution for most of my work. The 1080 looks quite good too, though some of my PCs don't play it back well. This is a consumer camera, not a pro, so the optical quality is not like my Nikon. For what it is, it's quite good though. The wide angle hides a lot of sins. (And at 140 degrees coverage, expect a lot of distortion of nearby objects at the edges not fisheye, but getting there.) I saw some digital artifacts akin to posterization in dim areas of a scene with a wide range of lighting par for low light situations I think. Auto exposure seems to work well and adjust well I'm playing mostly with the Center mode (there is also Average and Spot, or something like that.)
The viewscreen is small but crisp. Audio playback is muffled by casing. Moreover, audio reception is muffled, and my audio contains a faint pulsing sound that almost sounds mechanical not something I can remove adequately with software (and I'm very good at audio restoration.) Will play with other resolutions and see if this persists. You should not expect to get hi-fi audio from a consumer U/W camera, and for my purposes, the audio is adequate. When people are talking, it picks it up okay, but drops off quickly with distance. You won't get much if people are across a room, say. So this isn't for home movies it's for outdoor dynamic shots and underwater videography. UW audio is good, since sound conducts better there you can hear the bubbles, for example.
I like a couple of the extra features such as burst mode photography, and time lapse. I like the TV out port. Cable included is flimsy but works 3 connections, 2 for audio, 1 for video. The charge port is a standard, and cable provided has USB at the other end. I would have liked a wall charger too, but have some of those around anyway.
The electronic manual is adequate, perhaps better than average for this type of thing. It would be better if it included explanations of the various modes however. It only tells how to set them, but little or nothing about why you might choose them. Menu navigation is easy; I grew accustomed to the buttons quickly.
The lens and back window came with a clear protector sheet on them which I removed. Later put a better one on the back since it was starting to get scratched. I recommend this I can only imagine how scuffed it will get when used in the surf and such, which would eventually make it hard to see the image on the viewscreen. In bright sun the screen can be hard to see, especially due to the reflectivity of the casing. And don't forget to lubricate the seal mine came prelubricated, but it doesn't come with silicon. Buy some at a dive store and keep it with the camera!
I boosted the saturation by using the Vivid mode. It's a bit oversaturated, but I will play with that during editing. I found that without it, the saturation felt a little soft. Most sample videos you see for sports cameras are oversaturated that seems to be the style of extreme excitement!
In the pool the camera performed flawlessly. No leakage, no fogging in 70 degree water. Buttons work fine. Most water streams off when emerging, so video looks good bobbing up and down. Exposure compensation is reasonably quick in this application. I haven't tried an extreme close up yet, but will do that the camera focuses very close but does not do macro.
So far, battery life looks good. I haven't actually drained it yet. My guess is that the advertised life is about right under average conditions.
Adressing a couple comments from others. Someone complained that opening the casing will take off your fingernails. No, if you look carefully at the manual and packaging insert, there is a little curved lever to the latch that pops the back open no problem. It's quite clever actually. About the buttons being very stiff. Mine seem to have loosened a bit, and I don't generally have a problem. Sometimes I use both thumbs with nails together, which makes it easier. The button sleeve has a groove from top to bottom so that your nails will easily depress the buttons. (Long nails would be a problem here.)
PROS
Overall use meets my needs
Value
Portability
Underwater capability far preferable to the "deeply" flawed GoPro Hero2
Features
Usability
Standard 1/4" tripod mount easy to use with your own contraptions
CONS
Audio quality
Lack of optical zoom everything is W I D E. (Haven't tried digital zoom much yet)
Apparent inability to mute the digital "click" sound when snapping a photo
Apparent inability to douse the internal red "camera on" light
No macro mode
Lanyard durability; mine came apart when I tried to slide it up onto my bicep. Replace with better one.
Bottom line: Very good at what it's designed for.
Watch my WyrdNet channel on YouTube some sample videos there.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Bell and Howell T100HD-BKTake1 HD Digital Video Camcorder with Flip out LCD Screen, Flip USB and 1.
This camcorder comes with batteries that don't work, and the videos it shoots are low-quality, very grainy and nowhere near HD--this is very clearly a case of false advertizing. There are no options to change the video or improve the quality, pretty much all you can do is point, shoot and hope it doesn't shut down while you're filming. It's not worth $10, much less the $49.99 they're asking for. I received this for Christmas this year and wish that the friend who gave it to me would've just given me a gift card instead. Hands-down one of the worst cameras ever. This is what you give to your accident-prone 4-year old when they want to play "movie star".It's a basic video recorder, with camera option. My screw-on adjustable tripod works nicely. I use it as an extended handle to take better video. Wish I could use larger than 16GB memory card, but that is still 2.5 hours of HD video (and over 10,000 high quality pictures.) The true test of this gem will be this summer during vacation to Mackinac Island!My husband loves his HD digital video camcorder. He expects to get alot of family functions recorder on the video camcorder.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface with GT-Player Express Software

- USB audio interface for recording guitar and vocals on Mac or PC music software
- Dynamic microphone input (XLR) with gain control and signal LEDs
- Switchable 1/4-inch instrument/line input and 1/8-inch stereo headphone output
- Drag-and-drop loop-based music creation > make great music even if it's your first time
- Jam and record your own tracks for guitar, vocals, keyboards and more > embrace your inner rock star
This product works great with my MacBook using garageband. It sounds really good too and the price is definitely right. That's the good news. The bad news is that it does take some time to fiddle with the settings to get working. Once you know what to do though, it's a snap.
First off, my mac recognized the box right off the bat since its USB compliant. I didn't have to do anything for it to recognize the box. However, two settings must be configured properly on the mac to get it to work the rest of the way: the input and output settings in the "sound" settings of the "System Properties" need to be set to "Fast Track USB." Make sure to crank the volume on the input setting all the way up (to the right). Second, you have to set your garageband settings properly...
Go into Garageband's "Preference" menu item and set the input and output to "Fast Track USB" as well. Then, plug your guitar into the 1/4" jack on the box. Finally, create a "real instrument" in garageband. You have to set the real instrument's track to read CHANNEL 2 and set the "monitor" to "on." That way you'll be able to hear the guitar through your speakers connected to the box (Incidentally, the XLR input on the box s/b considered channel 1 and the 1/4" input channel 2).
On the box, set the "mix" knob all the way to the right (full "playback" mode). Set the XLR "input" knob on the box all the way to the left. Set the "Output" knob high to the right. Now start playing your guitar. You should now be able to hear your guitar just fine through your speakers.
The extra software that comes with the box is awesome too expecially the GT effects software. This stuff has really great sounds. With this, you won't need all the effects pedals; it's all right there with GT.
Now, the manuals are really poor. You'll find no help in them. In trying to get this thing working I poured over the forum comments on m-audio's site. Review comments their gave me some idea of what to do, but not completely. I had to do a little google searching before I got the other answers to the puzzle. Therefore, I only gave the product a total of 4 stars: 4 stars for the great sound and awesome software, but a ding for the crappy manuals and website support. I would buy the product again though.
Buy M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface with GT-Player Express Software Now
I've got to say that this unit works perfectly with my wife's powerbook. Unlike other posters, I had NO problems with it at all on my G5 at work, my G4 at home and her powerbook. The sound is fantastic and it works really well with the Apple audio control program which recognizes it right away. My setup for mic level input includes a professional mic which is amplified by a separate mic amp. The output of that line level amp feeds right into this unit. Additionally, the sound output to my headphones is a step above what is built into my G5.Like one reviewer noted I too experienced an extremely high noise level plugging an electric guitar into the 1/4" jack. The direct box into the XLR input is the way to go. I hope this is limited to just our interfaces and not the whole batch produced. This product when using Windows ONLY works with XP It wouldn't install on my Millenium Edition computer. I have set up my laptop with Sonar Home Studio 4.0 and the Fast Track works great for laying down ideas on the road. Latency is minimal, and works well as an external sound card. I'm surprised that M-Audio didn't include a software mixer like other interfaces. It's a value for an interface less than $100.Want M-Audio Fast Track US44010 USB Audio Interface with GT-Player Express Software Discount?
I've been using this for a while now under both Mac and Windows. Setup on the Mac was dead simple, but I never did figure out how to manually set the latency in OSX. The latency in GarageBand can get a little rough when you add some effects, but that's likely more to do with my processor (a G4 PowerBook) than the interface. But overall I don't even remember setting it up on my laptop, which is probably a good sign.On Windows I didn't have too many problems once I got the Vista drivers. I've been using CakeWalk Music Maker 4, and once you get the right audio setting in the application (which can be a bit of a pain, but again not M-Audio's fault) you're set. Though I will say that disconnecting the USB cord while the sound card is busy is the one time I've managed a blue screen in Vista! But that's not entirely unreasonable. As far as latency goes, I've got a fast enough processor that if I set the latency on the Fast Track to the minimum (this can be set through the control panel in Windows) I get no perceivable latency. Oh, and if you're not using the ASIO drivers, that's probably part of your problem.
I've been using the 1/4" jack with little problem...I have to up the input levels in my application (which is a pain in GarageBand, easier in Cakewalk) but as long as I stay away from the monitor and fluorescent lights I don't really get any considerable noise. I may try the XLR route anyway, though.
This is a perfectly serviceable item for somebody just looking to do some casual recording on the PC, or in place of an amp when traveling (also allows for a wide array of amp/effect combinations without buying hardware). If you're looking to do anything even semi-serious (such as recording multiple instruments, or record actual tracks with a band) you might want to spend a little more. But for "personal" use thing thing's great...better than anything else I've seen or sampled in the same price range.
Also I've noticed that a large number of the negative reviews seem to have more to do with setup problems (or incompatibility problems) than the actual quality of the product. Like I said, I don't even remember setting it up on a Mac and on Windows (Vista) it was relatively simple. Provided you're moderately competent with computers you should have little trouble.
The hardware device works great with my Intel Core2 duo MacBook and an electric guitar. I was surprised how well it worked! I had mixed results with an acoustic guitar using a sound-hole external pickup, but was still usable (just really quiet) Here are some things I've learned...
*The knobs on the front of the unit are only used to control the mix and volume of the playback back to you if you are using the RCA-out for monitors or are using the headphone jack on the unit. They serve NO purpose for recording.
*The stereo mono switch is only used to separate sound in the playback. Mono will mix both signals into both speakers. Stereo will play the mic out of one speaker and the instrument out of the other. No recording use on this switch either.
*The signal LED is only for the Mic input. Don't worry if it doesn't seem to be working when you're just laying down guitar tracks.
*It is important to use the line level/guitar switch on the back correctly (this WILL affect recording)!
*In your Mac system settings make sure to set both the sound in and out to the Fasttrack.
*In GarageBand make sure both the input and output in the preferences are set to the fasttrack unit (make sure it's attached and powered up before you launch GB). Plug in your guitar and Mic. Create 2 new tracks in garageband. Make sure to assign the vocal track to channel 1 and the guitar to channel 2 or this won't work. You also want to make sure to turn the monitor setting to ON so you can hear it in your headphones you've plugged into the fasttrack.
*If you are getting a lot of noise and static (like I was initially) move the fastrack unit as far away from your PC as possible. This really helped cut down on the noise. It works even better if I use a powered USB hub to get even farther away from the PC. Same for your Mic and Instrument. Although the sound transmission is digital from the Fasttrack to the Mac, the sound the FastTrack picks up is analog and it doesn't seem to be well shielded or grounded.
*The included Live Lite software is bad. Skip it all together. Even the included tutorial was awful. It kept telling me to click on things in panels that are hidden by default, with no instruction on where to find them to display them. Stick to GarageBand.
Great little unit. One of my favorite Christmas presents ever!
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Samsung BD-C8000 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player

- Internet@TV
- Wireless LAN built-in
- AllShare?
- 10.3" screen
- 1GB built-in memory
- 10.3" display screen
- Advanced Connectivity With AllShare
i prefer the Samsung for the following reasons over the panasonic: As stated it is a multimedia player. it simply plays anything you wanna play. i plug my 1TB portable harddrive with hunders of movies in it and it plays every file, from simple DIVX and MKV etc. i have yet to find a format it does not play. Also it plays all those files, burned to either DVD or BD-R, BD-RE. (Not sure about the 2nd gen Panasonic's , but their first player only played regular DIVX from DVD-R's only) Wifi is included and eventhough the Samsung apps have yet to grow, its nice to have Pandora and Netflix out of the box. The only thing i am missing is an AV-in, so the screen could be used as an alternative, like a monitor for Videogames etc.
Buy Samsung BD-C8000 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player Now
First of all, I think this player's LCD screen is the best I have seen. For me, screen resolution is everything. I only compared this player against one other Blu-ray player and the LCD screen, at 1024x600 is excellent, much better than the other Blu-ray player. I also compared this player with three other DVD players and again, this player's screen is tops. I believe a true 1080p, 10.1 inch screen is not available at this time but at 10.1 inches and a resolution of 1024x600 you are really viewing a crystal clear image.The player was a breeze to set up for the Internet. The Internet@TV feature is really fun and a new way to experience what the Internet has to offer. Wow!
The player does play 3D Blu-ray disks, but you will need a 3D TV and 3D glasses to view the 3D content. I do not have a 3D TV or 3D glasses as of yet.
Sound is a little weak on the built in speakers, but with ear buds or headphones it is sufficient. If you wish to use external speakers, I would recommend powered speakers.
The player comes with a really nice carrying case (slip-on cover) to protect the player from scratches and handling. The player is molded of glossy black plastic so it is a finger print magnet. I would have preferred a textured outer case.
To really appreciate all this player has to offer, search for and download the user manual and read about the player's features.
I have had this player two weeks now and I really am glad I purchased it.
Read Best Reviews of Samsung BD-C8000 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player Here
The Pros:¡ Fantastic resolution on a nice screen. Video is unreal.
¡ It does do the Netflix thing,(my sole reason for buying it) but see cons.
¡ Battery life lasts for a movie
The Cons:
¡ Too expensive unless bought for about half price, which I did do.
¡ Sound quality is weak at best, although slightly better than some DVD players I've had. The volume control is quirky to say the least
¡ Touch screen is also quirky.
¡ It forgets where you were on a disc
¡ Support is abysmal. I finally connected it to my wireless, but not by any means Samsung suggested, by documentation or service phone call.
¡ Their website is a nightmare and you're better off searching non-samsung sites for links and information.
Want Samsung BD-C8000 1080p 3D Blu-ray Disc Player Discount?
As i've stated in other reviews, i am a dialysis patient. for those that don't know what that means, it's potentially sitting still five days a week for 2.5 hours doing nothing.I ordered the first ever BD player, the Panisonic DMP-15, and was happy with it at first. it didn't have a pause button on it, it was a smaller screan then i was used to, and the sound from the speakers, frankly, sucked. on top of all that the battery didn't always last the full time i was on the machine. I went to Pannisonic to find a new battery and they told me it would be $300 (OUCH!). I told them about this machine which was only $50 more then their battery.
This little darling has it all....except MAYBE the speaker quality.....but it is sweet. Bigger screen, higher resolution, 1080p blu ray quality (will play in 3D if hoked up to a 3D TV), and a whole BUNCH of extras (like uTube and flicker conectivity over LAN) that i never really wanted (but glad i have now) in a BD player
The quality of the picture is crystal clear. you can actually read the little translations on the movie on it clearly. it came with an adapter to plug it into the car, and a splitter for a second headphone.
the BEST part of it all is it is POUNDS lighter then the DMP-15 which was hurting my shoulder carrying it in to dialysis every day
Jan 9, 2011 UPDATE:
i have found some fault with this, though it won't effect the STARS i gavet. the "buttons" are very sensitive and the slightest touch of say, the menu button, will end the movie and put you alllll the way back the the very first screen with no real hope of getting back to where you were. all the buttons are that way, so do be careful when watching movies.No doubt people will have both negative and positive comments about this product, but coming from a true movie buff who wastes no time on TV, here are my thoughts, I bought this product on Amazon in early December 2010, I paid $220.00 for it, shipping included, no tax. Great price, its selling for $100.00 more 3 weeks later. The way the product works is that it plays 3D bluray movies provided you plug the unit into a 3D enabled TV, no big deal, did you think you were going to be watching a 3D movie on the unit screen with a pair of 3D glasses? come on now? what I like about the unit is that its small and sleek so it travels easily and if your a movie buff like me and you go from screen to screen from room to room from place to place, that has wifi of course, even at a hotel (an upscale one) you plug an HDMI cable from the unit to the tv and in addition to the blu ray stuff, you have all your internet tv functionality at your fingertips, ANYWHERE! Presto, instant access to thousands upon thousands of streaming movies and all internet tv services, remember how much it costs at the hotel when you use their services to play a limited selection of movies? $10.00 to 14.00 each! With this unit, using the hotels wifi which is usually complementary (they are at the hotels I stay at) it cost ZERO! ZERO! You just pull out your little HDMI cable that you pack with the unit and connect the unit to the hotel TV (all my hotels have the big screens) and presto! Your home collection, all the movies on your instant movie querie are right there for you anywhere! I use the unit to plug into other screens, not for movie watching on the built in monitor, (unless i'm at the airport and i can use their wifi to acess the internet tv services) qualitywise, it's just a monitor not bad, but you can't expect more if you know whats available and the functionality of the unit is best suited for connection to large screens. The bottom line is that this product should not be confused with a plain DVD player, this product in addition to the dvd bluray dvd and 3d player functionality, has the additional functionality of giving a true movie buff the ability to watch thousands upon thousands of titles anywhere, where wifi for easiest connection is available, or even connection to line. Imagine bringing your collection of these movies with you everywhere! and even accessing your collection in a strange system! You can also do the same thing with an IPOD connecting to Netflix and other movie services but you can't play the bluray stuff in the ipod and connect the IPOD to any tv like you can with this unit and by the way, I hate the loading time on the bluray players or the time it takes that you waste waiting for the disc to load or spit out, with this unit, you just open the top and snap in the disc, it loads instantly! If it doesnt for your product, your product simply isn't working properly. The battery time for playing is great, I got 4 hours, (with a new battery) In all the unit is great, the bad part is wireless connection, the unit automaticly connected with my home network, but I had problems in another location, probably due to incompatibility with the router and an updated router is the easiest way to remedy that problem then dealing with manual connection, IP address, DHCP and all that crap, a disaster! The phone support is even worse, when you know more then the tech support operator who is hard to understand, you find that you just want to politely end the call. In that situation, until you get a cheap updated router, (the unit is worth it, trust me) just plug in the network cable from your internet router and presto, the rest is as easy as pie and your connected to a new world, this is the future or movie technology!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Philips DVP3680 DVD Player - Black

- HDMI 1080p upscales to high definition for sharper pictures
- Progressive Scan component video for optimized image quality
- 12-bit/108MHz video processing for sharp and natural images
- EasyLink to control all HDMI CEC devices via a single remote
- CinemaPlus for better, sharper and clearer images, Rear Connections: Analog audio Left/Right out, Component Video out Progressive, Composite video (CVBS) output, Digital coaxial out, HDMI output Front/Side connections: USB
For those who are interested, here's an easy way to make the 3680 region free:
1. Power ON the DVD player with no disc inside
2. Go to the SETUP icon and press OK; next, scroll down to Preferences.
3. With preferences highlighted,
3a. Press NEXT CHAPTER (button above AUDIO, it looks like this: >|),
3b. Press PREVIOUS CHAPTER (button above SUBTITLE, it looks like this: ||
3d. PREVIOUS CHAPTER |<
4. The OSD will show the current Region Code
5. Press the Navigation Up or Navigation Down buttons to
select your desired region, or 0 for region free
6. Press OK to confirm your region selection
Buy Philips DVP3680 DVD Player - Black Now
like caroline in posting below i ordered the other model and they sent this (again the third party..must be a scam so beware) anyway this is a fabulous player. i have a lot of film on avi's some encoded with pcm audio which another expensive dvd recorder would not play. this handles any pcm, mp3 ,all divx. i couldnt be more pleased.Read Best Reviews of Philips DVP3680 DVD Player - Black Here
Not a bad "orphan annie" product at all and can't beat the price (under $50)solid DVD player, okay on screen menu. Limited output options for techies (really, for S-video, HDMI, and component output all in one, lay out over $100). The big issue is the USB playback option. Serious digging on the internet (not Amazon by the way) was required to find out that this unit will ONLY play very select kinds of video file formats avi yes, Xvid, some of them, MPG-3, maybe, and MPG-4, no way. Software updates, on the Phillips web site, stop in 2011 for this unit, so...set the wayback machine, or get a more expensive blue-ray player if USB is your input choice..It is possible to find more than a few web sites that will down convert modern file formats to the older sorts, assuming you enjoy that sort of techno-torture and guaranteed dubious results.
Want Philips DVP3680 DVD Player - Black Discount?
I bought this for my teenager and was excited that he can play video files off a flash drive. He likes to download videos and instead of having to convert them he can just watch them from the flash drive.What I Like:Plays DVD+RW disc without skipping
Simple menu
The High Speed USB: Reads wma files and burn CD's to mp3's, I can use my IOGEAR 12-In-One Pocket Flash Memory Card Reader/Writer, GFR209A (White). I put a memory card in the IOGEAR and plug the IOGEAR into the USB on the DVD player.
Can fast forward or rewind 2x to 32x fast, also has slow motion (don't remember how slow)
What I Don't Like:
When I put the HDMI setup to upscale to 1080p it messes up and my TV (Samsung UN22D5003 22-Inch 1080p 60Hz LED HDTV (Black) [2011 MODEL]) said the mode was not supported. Then I had to unplug the HDMI cable, plug in the RCA cables to view the menu, and it only upscales to 1080i not 1080p.
The manual said it reads avi video files but it doesn't play my videos. I hear the sound with no picture only the message "Video codec not supported".
Also you can't select songs to make a playlist. It just plays all the song in that folder.
When I first got it the disc tray wouldn't come out and when it did open it wouldn't go back in. It finally did and it working without any problems now
Overall: Does just about everything it said it would and I want it to do. I bought this from Amazon during the Black Friday deals for 39.99. I am very happy with it.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Supersonic SC-2020 Portable CD Player with Cassette Recorder & AM/FM Radio

- SuperSonic Portable CD Player AM/FM Radio Boombox
- Dual Cassette Tape Recorder: Records Voice, CD and Radio to Cassette
- Compatible with MP3, CD-R & CD-RW Discs
- Detachable Dynamic Twin Stereo Speakers
- Bass-Boost/Virtual Surround Sound Option
Buy Supersonic SC-2020 Portable CD Player with Cassette Recorder & AM/FM Radio Now
No remote control (for muting the device from across the room when the phone rings) and no returns (once I realized no remote control). The controls are fairly complicated...in fact, finding the Power button takes a bit of scanning as it is an obscure switch in the middle of many other switches. Not intuitive....and also not returnable.Not recommended unless you a desperate. Tuner is satisfactory and speakers are OK (presuming you don't want concert quality).
Read Best Reviews of Supersonic SC-2020 Portable CD Player with Cassette Recorder & AM/FM Radio Here
I bought this item to play background music in my office. It looks nice and seems well thought out to me. Some of the other reviewers who claim you can't do this or that actually need to read the included instruction book. For example, one reviewer said that you couldn't record from radio to tape. That's not true, but you do have to read the instructions. Nevertheless, based on my own experience and other reivews, it seems to me that product quality is so spotty that you should not buy this unit. In my case, it is the CD player that doesn't perform right. It's almost like there were a scratch in an LP record, but it happens with 90% of the CD's I play. My tape decks and radio work fine, although other reviewers report problematic tape decks and radios. Buy a better built product even if you have to get it used on E-Bay.Want Supersonic SC-2020 Portable CD Player with Cassette Recorder & AM/FM Radio Discount?
The tape player slows down and speeds up. On the plus side, high speed dub recording can produce regular tapes, but don't count on this one for a regular tape player or double player just for listening. The CD player works nice but why not leave it out? You can find that any place else you want.I had a BoomBox that finally conked out on me, that's what prompted me to purchase a new one hoping to get one exactly like the one I had. So I was very disappointed, when I found that it did not have an on/off button. In order to shut it off it is necessary to unplug the Box. If I would have known it did not have an on/off button I would not have purchased it. It came from China, so they must have different codes than we have. Another convenience my other Box had was that I could hook up multple speakers to it. This one has only two plug-ins for its 2 speakers. I could not discern from the photos whether these features were there. I am not mad at Amazon.com, because China is the one that messed up. Are there any electrical devices built in the USA, that do not have an on/off button or switch?Friday, November 8, 2013
NEW 32CH HD Standlone 960FPS Real-Time DVR HDMI, 2TB, DVD-RW
Bought this for my building 32 cameras security. Installing is basically plugging in your cameras at the back then powering up the unit. Plug in a monitor and you are all set. Networking it is also fairly easy if you are familiar with setting up a network hub or a router. The only thing i did not try is accessing the dvr through the internet. The software that came with the dvr is also very good and support for it is also available. I highly recommend this to everyone seeking for a self installation of security dvr. Compared to how much security companies will install and service a new dvr, if you have the camera's installed already, then this is your best solution.It was exactly what I needed. Light, easy to configure, full D1 real time recording.I connected my dvr standalone system in my warehouse, where I have 16 securities cameras. Now I can use the online viewer, player and even do online backups.
I really recommend this producto if it is what you are looking for. The quality is outstanding.
Buy NEW 32CH HD Standlone 960FPS Real-Time DVR HDMI, 2TB, DVD-RW Now
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Sony DCR-TRV330 Digital8 Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode
This camera was a birthday gift from my sweetheart and isundoubtedly the best there can be for ME ! But for all you guys outthere here's what I found out.1. Being digital hasadvantages... better resolution, color's great etc. Editing, however,is not so easy takes time and the right tools (e.g. 'AdobePremiere') so consider tapes being your primary storage medium. I'vemade VCDs and they're worth it but the quality is significantly lesserthan on tape.
2. Requires lots of light outside it'sbeautiful... inside JPG-like artifacts appear (also, colored dots ona perfectly white wall) But this is acceptable if you're *not* lookingfor professional quality.
3. Optical Zoom is great 25X one ofthe highest and definitely comes in handy. I've turned off digitalzoom (MoreThanYou'llEverNeed X) since it reduces picture quality and Ican anyway do it on the computer while editing. 25X optical is enoughfor most needs.
4. Picture stability (steady shot technology) isgreat shots from a moving car are stable.
5. Buttons are a bit tooclose to each other in my first exp., at a friend's party, I must'vemissed a cycle of on/off so, we got to see shots of table tops, walls;) and cleanly missed the action ;) fortunately this lasted for onlyabout 5 mins before i realized. The recording indicator is easy tomiss when you're concentrating on the subject (and if you've had ali'l too many beers ;))...
6. Memory stick stills taken in mediumlight again have JPEG artifacts and paying extra $... (over DCR-TRV230with no memory stick you *can* take stills on tape) for this is notworth it if you have a digital camera already. However, your cameramight not have 25X optical zoom so think about it. This camera usesthe same chipset for video and stills. In more expensive models, thereare two chipsets.
7. Night shot (shooting in darkness) sounds greatand works great if you don't mind loss of almost all color and agreenish tinge to everything. To our party, however, it gave a 'BlairWitch' effect everyone loved it. It's better to have some normal(intruding) light source attached to the CAM.
8. MIC is verysensitive and sound has been amazing throughout.
9. LCD is great -less dotty than DCR-TRV530 and uses less battery (1"smaller).
10. The bundled battery lasts for about 75 mins on an avgso you want to buy a backup for trips. Charging to FULL was somewhatslower than I expected.
This camera has some built-in editingfeatures which I am yet to explore fully.
To transfer the video tomy computer for editing, I had to shell out an extra $... for aFireWire kit. The installation on Windows 2000 was quite painless itdid everything for me except plug in the card physically.
Overall a4 rating a great camera and worth the money you put in even inthis recession.My fiance and I just purchased this camera and boy was I impressed! This is our first camcorder but not the first one I have used. It's light weight make it easy to handle. And the steadyshot works quite well. My hands are quite shaky but you could never tell by watching something I taped! The picture quality is good, but I am only using the standard A/V cables. Once I get the S-video cables I should see a dramatic upgrade in picture quality. The battery it comes with isn't the best, only about 90 minutes fully charged. I particularly liked the nightshot feature. Although the images come out in a green tone the picture quality is outstanding. I was fooling around with it in a pitch black room and you could see everything clear as day(green of coarse). The LCD is exceptionally smaller than the 530 but it is still big enough to fit most people's needs. Of coarse if you want to save battery power just don't use the LCD. The only thing I can't comment about is the still picture option. I just spent a large sum of money on a straight up digital camera so I don't need to use that option. So I am sorry I can't help you out there! Overall the camera is excellent and I would suggest it to anybody looking for a new camcorder.
Buy Sony DCR-TRV330 Digital8 Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Now
I must say its a decent camcorder. It has a easy user interface for downloading into my computer. Video quality was excellent . Unlike other people who bitched that under low light conditions that the picture was more grainier then earlier versions of Sony camcorders I found this to be not the case. This has been my 3rd Sony camcorder that I have purchased in the last 12 years and as usual I found it to be an excellent product. BE SURE TO FILL OUT THE ONLINE REGISTRATION AS YOU WILL BE REWARDED WITH AN 12 MONTH FREE LABOR EXTENSION OF YOUR WARRENTY! Oh yeah the only bad thing was that the mike is too sensitive for me.....Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-TRV330 Digital8 Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Here
I love my sony dcrtrv330! i have taken it everywhere with me this summer. It is small and compact enough to carry around and gets the job done very well. The digital still camera function isn't the best. But i suggest just exporting frames from your actual video tape for that. Its very easy to do and you can get it in higher quality as well. You can also avoid closed eyes and the like b/c you can choose frame by frame what to do. i definitely recommend you get a ieee 1394 firewire adapter card to get better connectivity with your computer. The usb is fairly useless! Works better in brighter lights but does fine even with no light at all! I love mine and will never own anything else but a sony in the future!Want Sony DCR-TRV330 Digital8 Camcorder with Built-in Digital Still Mode Discount?
The product comes with a starter package complete with a battery, charger, memory stick, cables, tripod, and various cables neatly tucked into a carrier the size of a shaving kit. The plug and play features and the MGI software provide easy installation via the VCR, computer, or still photos. Unfortunately, you'll have lots of fun exploring images but then your battery dies during the 4th quarter of your son's football game, and you miss the winning play! Buy a backup battery and a 32MB memory stick to catch all of the action! Great product.

