Showing posts with label voice activated digital voice recorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voice activated digital voice recorder. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2014

U) OLYMPUS WS-321M DIGITAL AUDIO REC

U) OLYMPUS WS-321M DIGITAL AUDIO RECThis product has good sound quality and is sturdy. I accidentally ran it through the washing machine and it still worked well enough to recover the data. I would have kept using it, but it got a little unreliable after being washed. ( Which if you ask me is impressive. )

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Defender STEALTH1 Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera

Defender STEALTH1 Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Hidden in a Motion Sensor & Bonus Sandisk 8GB SD Secure Digital High Capacity Flash Memory CardThe video quality is nothing like said in the advertisement. The adjustments in the on screen menu do nothing to improve it. I tried low, medium and high quality settings. I tried different resolutions and still the video is very grainey. I am sending it back.

So not worth it. The video is such poor quality! It's hard to make out what your watching and very difficult to use. Save your money!

Buy Defender STEALTH1 Covert MPEG4 DVR Recording System with Built-in Color Pinhole Surveillance Camera Now

Saturday, September 27, 2014

GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900 for All Digital Cameras

GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900 for All Digital Cameras
  • Keep track of your digital photos on a map with precise GPS location.
  • Record and replay trip routees anywhere in the world.
  • Share photos online with location tagging.
  • Works with ALL digital cameras.
  • User-friendly; easy information transfer to computer.

Unlike practically every other GPS tagger on the market, this product does not function as a USB drive. Instead, in order to make the product work, you need to install a serial-to-USB driver, pick a COM port if the software doesn't detect it automatically (what is this? 1995?), and access your log files via Gisteq's software. It's been a royal hassle to set up on Windows 7, and their support staff has not returned my e-mails or phone calls. I have a dual-boot machine, so I gave up on Win7 and installed it on my XP OS. You go through the same hassles, but at least it works.

The serial-to-USB setup also makes it difficult to backup log files, since you need to have a computer with you that has all of the proper software and drivers installed. Rather than just use any computer with a USB port, you have to bring along and use *your* computer if you're traveling. This is just a really frustrating device. It gets one star because it's got a nice form factor, and because I had to give it one.

Buy GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900 for All Digital Cameras Now

Edit: With the right software this little GPS stick is really a lovely piece of gear, I spend 2 weeks photographing in Hong Kong and came away very happy with the performance of the GPS, I am far less impressed with the manufacture who still have not contacted me about the software issues.

Edit: After struggling with the manufacture software and getting no support at all, I found that the software MyTracks for Mac, is the solution, the software have build in support for this device, look for DPL900 in the menu, have a assistant to detect the GPS stick, it was EASY, plug & play literally, exactly what you would hope it would be. to make things better, the software is maybe one of the easiest GeoTagging tools I have ever used. Personally I use the software to tag the images on the SD card, then I import to LightRoom when done, it takes a little longer to work to the SD card, but saves me having to make a temp directory before importing to LR3.

The hardware device itself, the PhotoTrackr mini, come with a lanyard, long enough for hanging around the neck comfortably, but the thing is so small that it virtually disappear in a jeans-pocket, it is easy to opperate, simply slide the on switch to ON. and forget. I have been getting roughly 15 hours of operation, more than enough for the typical photo excursion, the memory seems to be enough for maybe 10 full days of recording, you can turn off the device and continue tomorrow, it will add to the same file instead of making multiple files, this is great for me as a complete trip can be represented in one track file.

To complete this edit, with the propper software the PhotoTracker mini is a great little device, it is the smallest GPS recorder I have owned, and it is rather accurate. Im traveling to Hong Kong for photography this week and the PhotoTracker mini is coming with me.

Conclusion.

IF you spend 10 euros on the MyTracks for Mac software (mytracks4mac)

The PhotoTrackr mini is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...

However, if you are not ready to pick up a better software, you should avoid this product entirely. :-)

*** Im leaving the review at 1 stars, because it is simply not reasonable to sell this product and expect the user to purchase software to use the device.

Read Best Reviews of GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900 for All Digital Cameras Here

I am NOT returning this item. I like the concept, but I find the current 2.6.126.0 software release to be unusable for me.

The software appears to have been originally for another product, with a different feature set. I ran this on both Win7 and XP, with differing levels of success. My evaluation to Gisteq covered my first 8 hours trying to use the product and was over 2 pages long. After a 2 weeks or so (and a second submission) , I did hear from tech support, but solutions for most of the problems were never offered.

Some examples:

--Some strange game using 'your' Google account/password and 'their' URI being passed through 'their' map server strikes me as rather dicey (and un-documented). I was never able to display any maps with a key generated as directed by the software. The message "This site needs a different key...." appears to come from maps.gisteq.com, and not maps.Google.com.

--Being able to load pictures only from a volume root (i.e. C:\) rather than a sub-directory is odd to say the least, especially when I might have an 8GB SD with hundreds of pictures, and I only want to work with a subset.

--Numerous "unhandled exceptions" generated from the Java code.

--User management for a device with no login seems odd.

I will be watching for future software updates and hope that things mature.

Want GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr Mini DPL900 for All Digital Cameras Discount?

Install it with no problem on 3 different computers and made some tests with it. I carry the device and it had no problem in detecting satellites, it took my position without any problem, and at the end we are able to download all information and we have a precise information on were I was at each moment, able to register points of interest and also I was able to see in a Google map all the places I covered.

You can put this device in your company truck and check after were and at what speed it went, you can check locations were you took pictures, if you do jogging, you can check all distance covered and speed.. it has many many other applications besides its photo tracker.

Great system...

After many installations of the driver and software, and hours on the phone with Gisteq it will not work on a Mac. And Gisteq does not care. Read other reviews of Gisteq products, everyone has this problem. It is a horrible product. Some people got it to work but most did not. Gisteq is terrible, and the Phototrackr Mini is a rip off.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Vivitar DVR508 High Definition Digital Video Camcorder in Black + 4GB Accessory Kit

Vivitar DVR508 High Definition Digital Video Camcorder in Black + 4GB Accessory KitThis camera is low on options and features. It seems to work ok but feels like a toy. I guess it is worth the $60 I paid for it. My expectations were low and were fulfilled.

Friday, September 5, 2014

GSI Quality 2.4 GHz Digital Wireless Baby Monitor Color Camera With Video Receiver, SD Card Recordi

GSI Quality 2.4 GHz Digital Wireless Baby Monitor Color Camera With Video Receiver, SD Card Recording Slot And LED Night Vision - For Nursery And Bedroom SurveillanceI recieved this item and it looks great. I was exited to set it up and charged my units and tried to plug the usb cord up and set up my software. well it seems there was nothing on my Digital Wireless Baby Monitor Drive CD REV:837.1 and it will not find driver by not having it so I am wondering how to find the software if anyone knows please post

First, the ad on Amazon leaves TONS to wonder. First-I will answer all the questions I personally had prior to ordering this... only to be answered upon arrival.

1. It has a rechargeable battery. The battery lasts about 4 hours in the handset.

2. The camera has a rechargeable battery as well-in case of a power outage it will run about an hour.

3. It has automatic night vision

4. It does NOT zoom in or out or pan left to right or up or down.

5. It does have a slot for an SD card for recording.

6. It does not monitor room tempature

7. It does not have a night light or play lullabies.

8. Its sound does NOT have an option to turn off auto mute.

9. The sound is not very sensitive and only comes on when baby is really crying loud or coughing. (Its not quite sensitive enough for me, so I will be returning it)

10. No mounting hardware for camera.

This is a decent camera for the money. The sound is just not sensitive enough for me and it doesn't have a button to adjust sensitivity.

Buy GSI Quality 2.4 GHz Digital Wireless Baby Monitor Color Camera With Video Receiver, SD Card Recordi Now

We have been using baby video monitors for our kids for 3 years now. This is our 3rd brand, I just wanted to try it. Bad decision. This thing broke after a week of use (the other 2 brands broke after a year of use)! The on/off switch is funky (does not turn off when you want it off), and makes static noises at night when we are sleeping. The sound output is not great on these, and the picture quality is really bad when the camera is in a dark room (which is what happens at night when the lights are off in our daughter's room). It's great that there is a 2-way talk option, but this product lags in the basics such as picture and sound qualities.

Read Best Reviews of GSI Quality 2.4 GHz Digital Wireless Baby Monitor Color Camera With Video Receiver, SD Card Recordi Here

I bought this monitor not knowing what to expect because of it not having any reviews on the functionality of the unit itself. And I am so glad I did!! I LOVE THIS MONITOR! I didn't expect a lot because it was a lot less than all of the other monitors but this monitor works better than the one I paid $150 for..Never Take Your Eyes Off Your Baby or in my case my puppies, I can monitor them at daytime or even in a dark room at night. I set it to a position to see them better .The camera and the receiver Will Find Each Other From A Distance Of Up To 600 Ft .I have nothing bad to say about this monitor, picture is great, sound is great and battery life is great!

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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Coby Electronics TF-DVD7006 7-Inch Widescreen TFT Portable DVD Player

Coby Electronics TF-DVD7006 7-Inch Widescreen TFT Portable DVD Player
  • Compact 7" widescreen (16:9) TFT color display
  • DVD, DVD±/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, JPEG and MP3 compatible
  • AV Output: Composite video, optical digital audio, RCA stereo audio, 3.5mm headphone, integrated stereo speakers
  • 6.75" W x 1.5" H x 6" D unit dimensions
  • 100-240V UL AC adapter, AV cable, car/boat DC adapter, and rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack accessories included

I had been looking for a portable DVD player but simply did not want one bad enough to spend the $100 $200 for a decent one. I found the coby 7006 model for only $19.00. I was skepitical due to the price but figured I had 30 days to return it if it turned out to be a dud. Turns out it was anything but a dud. It plays many, many types of media that more expensive models do not play. It has a slew of bells and whistles. In fact, more bells and whistles then my regular high dollar DVD player/recorder. The picture is excellent. All the bells and whistles are very easy to use. No reason to even read the manual it is so simple to figure out. A great full featured remote control does about everything you can imagine, very easily. My only gripe, which is a gripe with many portable DVD players is it does have a rechargeable battery (lasted 3 hours and 20 minutes before needing to be recharged) and it does come with an ac jack for in home use and a DC cord for use with your cars cigarrete lighter. However, you must remove the battery, which requires unscrewing the back panel, if you are going to watch a movie using the ac or dc connections, as if the battery is left in, it will work on the battery as well as charge at the same time, ruining the battery, which is $40 to replace. However, all in all, this is a great portable DVD player. I like it as much or better then some of the $200 models I have looked at and am quite pleased I found it for only $19, although I would pay regular retail if wanted one ASAP and didnt want to wait to find one at a great price.

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If you know anything about brands, you know that Coby is as cheap as you can get in price and QUALITY. The unit I received did not have its LCD pannel aligned properly so there was a white fuzzy border on the right and bottom edges of screen. The motor is also unusually noisy so much so that you have to either crank up the volume to high or wear earphones to aviod hearing it. I contacted Customer Service by email a month ago and never heard back. For any service even under waranty, they expect you to send thing back at your expense WITH a check/money order for almost $20 for shipping/handling. I regard this policy as worthless considering the thing isn't even worth $20. One last thing to convince you not to buy you cannot watch moves using the included AC adapter as this will fry the onboard battery! So you either have to charge the battery in the unit for several hours then operate off the battery only, or remove the battey completely from unit (involves taking unit apart). A joke all around and horrible product. DON'T BUY!

Read Best Reviews of Coby Electronics TF-DVD7006 7-Inch Widescreen TFT Portable DVD Player Here

I got mine at a really good one day price from a local Video store. So far, so good. I'm happy with the performance. However, I kinda agree with the one reviewer on the battery/AC. I'm used to plugging in rather than relying on an internal battery. The battery so far plays thru a 2 hr movie (may have played longer but I recharged after the movie) Unless it plays back to back movies I would prefer AC. I'm using it for travel so time will tell.

Glad I was warned about not running AC and battery together!

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I got this for my mom so that she can watch DVD while she's on the road. It only lasted about roughly 6 months. It stopped reading the disc correctly. It'd indicated that the disc as "invalid disc".

We bought 2 of them for the children ages 3 and 8. We love them. There is no loud motor sound as mentioned in a previous review. The volume is perfect. It can never be so loud it will hurt ears. The children can hear it just fine in the backseat and it can't be turned up so loud that the front seat has to hear it, too. The price was very reasonable and the battery has made it through about 3 hours or more of viewing before signaling low battery. I love the light weight and the small size. The picture quality has been excellent and we have been using our players frequently. I recommend these players highly!

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Sony DCRTRV17 MiniDV Camcorder

Sony DCRTRV17 MiniDV CamcorderAfter about 2 months of searching for the perfect all around camcorder, I limited down my choiced to three competitors; The Canon Elura 2 MC, the Sony dcr-trv 730, and the Sony dcr-trv 17. Canon has always had a great reputation for delivering top of the line technology and optics in their camcorders, but I was never fond of the lengthy and slim shape of the Elura 2 models. The sony dcr-trv 730 looked like an ideal choice until I actually had the opportunity to use one, I found the shape to be too big for my hand and the picture quality wasn't enough for the ammount of money you had to pay. Some other turn downs on this model were its black and white view finder and its lack of a Carl Zeiss lense (megapixel technology), let me tell you that these let downs alone turned me away from this model. The sony dcr-trv 17 however included the Carl Zeiss lense, as well as a color view finder and 3.5 inch lcd screen. The shape fits perfectly into my hands and is worth the extra two hundred dollars from the price of the 730 model. Some add-ons I would suggest are a uv filter to protect the lense, some mini dv tapes (model does not come with tapes), a carrying case and an extra battery. Please keep in mind that this camera is a proffesional-consumer level camera, and I would suggest a sony dcr-trv 330 for beginners.

I bought a sony trv-730,didnt like it,its too heavy,grainy picture/video quality,returned it and got this trv-17 ,this has really good video quality as well as still shots and the size is really compact and very light,I love it ,wouldnt trade it for any digital 8's,but if you want to get something better and spend few hundred dollars, get the sony trv-30,this thing is amazing ,check it out and you'll say its the best!!!

Buy Sony DCRTRV17 MiniDV Camcorder Now

With it's image stabalization and all of its other automatic features, this camera makes even the most novice director look good. I can shoot from indoors to outdoors, walking, or standing still and this camera adjusts the video, lighting, etc. to what I am doing. It is more expensive than others in it's class, but accessories are easy to find, and Sony makes a high quality product. One more thing; this camera has a very nice lens, so buy a lens filter for it to keep it from being scratched.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCRTRV17 MiniDV Camcorder Here

My wife and I were searching for a camcorder for the birth of our first child, and this one fit every requirement we had. Image stabilization, low-light capabilities, and digital still photos onto Memory Stick made this versatile enough to cover the whole hospital stay and everything since, without needing a whole arsenal of gadgets. And it only took a little of bit light reading of the manual to figure out everything I cared about using.

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Bought the beast in preparation to a one-month trip to Vietnam and quickly mastered its use. The standard features bundled with the package are impressive. It is forgiving and the playback on a tv set is quite remarquable. I think the beast will do a fine job on the road.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical ZoomYes, technically this is a HiDef camcorder. No, its video output is not on par with traditional HDV camcorders such as those from Sony, Canon, etc. But, it is important to understand that this is a hybrid device with a unique feature set and good performance with a cost point that is about half of what a low-end HDV camcorder would cost. The video quality (in HD mode) is superior to regular DV camcorders and the stills are better than my 5-year old Sony 4MP camera. If I'm going to shoot critical production video or capture stills for color-separated print work, I going to use the proper tools. But, I'm not going to haul pro gear to a high school soccer game or a family BBQ. I can throw this thing into my pocket, shoot for hours and have fun doing it. For me, the unique packaging, versatile operation and efficient battery life means I will shoot more memories. Sometimes, that's more important than the compression scheme or low-light performance. Highly recommended.

This is the best HD camera for the price. It's the lightest HD camera of any kind. The quality is equivalent to professional SD cameras from 10 years ago if you're careful. You can get more resolution, more features, and more weight, for more money. It depends on how much you want to spend and how much excercise you want.

Now the bad news. You have to be careful to get the best quality from it. It has to be tripod mounted. You must keep ISO at 50 or 100. Keep the shutter speed below 1/100 or it produces very grainy images. Lower shutter speed seems to enable noise reduction.

It experiences blooming when shooting bright objects or the Sun. Don't bother using the still picture support. Get a digital SLR for still pictures.

The lens is cockeyed. You have to angle your tripod down to shoot level and you can't use the docking station for shooting. It won't stand up on its own without a tripod because it's top heavy.

The tripod mount occupies the same space as the power connector. You have to remove it from the tripod to run it on AC and download movies off it.

The tripod mount is plastic. Sooner or later it's going to strip. Be prepared to fabricate an alternate tripod mount for it and glue it on or try the restripping compound at OSH.

The biggest problem is there's no exposure lock function and no lightmeter function. The settings it says it's using in auto exposure are not correct, and it only applies manual exposure settings during recording.

The only way to lock exposure is to try different settings in manual mode and record test clips.

For auto exposure, keep it in "measure multi". The spot modes don't work.

For focusing, keep it in 5 point auto focus. The spot focusing doesn't work and the screen is too small for manual focusing. Locking the focus tends to lock it just out of focus most of the time.

Buy Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Now

The HD1 is a wonderful, amazing camera. And it is small enough that you can always have it with you -I've carried mine for months in my front pants pocket in its protective case, and been able to capture family and work stills and video that would otherwise have been lost. Even if the quality were not up to par, I would have something instead of nothing. But the quality is great! I'll expand on the quality below.

This camera is genuinely high definition, more than three times the resolution of NTSC. This is best shown by comparing a DV image captured with firewire (no NTSC modulation artifacts) on a computer monitor, to the HD1 image transferred from its SD card. Notice that this comparison should favor the DV -but instead, it makes the increased resolution of the HD1 clear.

HD televisons and monitors are already commonplace, and video captured at less than HD quality will not be as highly valued (like 8mm, good for historical content). Capturing now in HD preserves the value of your video. And this camera fits in your pocket! My bet is anyone who thinks the video from this camera is not significantly better than DV is looking at its output downconverted to letterboxed NTSC, probably on an old TV.

The HD1 records in 720p30 format for an hour on a 4GB sd card (about $70). There is no transport noise picked up by the on-board microphones, as there is no tape transport! Even lens and finger noises are attenuated by the intelligent placement of the microphones on the back of the fold-out screen, where unlike other cameras, they are pointed at the subject! It also has an external microphone jack, missing in other cameras.

Once the camera is turned on, folding the viewfinder puts it in standby mode with no apparent impact on battery life. This way, the camera is ready to go in a couple of seconds after the viewfinder is opened. Mine stays in standby, sometimes for days between uses. Battery life is very good (but keep a charged spare with you, just like you keep a second SD memory card).

The still shots from this camera are as good as or better than most dedicated still cameras. I would rate it just below the Sony DSC-T7. However, the HD1 has a 10x optical zoom, which reduces the need for cropping, thereby preserving resolution. Look at the stills and video from the HD1 on steves- (different Steve), which is a blowaway excellent web site for comparing cameras.

The output of the HD1 is not as clean as the output from the Sony HC3 or the Canon HV10 HDV comcorders, both of which capture at a higher resolution. Ironically both use CMOS sensors which have historically been much noisier than CCDs like the HD1's. I suspect that this is due to better post capture processing, so I'm eager to try something like Noise Ninja or NeatImage on the HD1 output. However, as is, it is easy to mix the video from all three using Vegas Video (and I'm sure other editors), especially when the HDV cameras have been used for tripod shots and the HD1 for handheld, more casual shots. Of course, the HV10 and HC3 each cost about twice the HD1, and as wonderfully compact as they are, neither fits in your pocket.

The program Jet Audio is the best I've found for playing the MPEG-4 video directly from the HD1 SD card on a PC. Even the free version does a great job.

Two other general purpose digital imaging notes: Always make two copies of your image files on different media before erasing the original! And rent some Internet space from a web host somewhere across the country (or world) and copy your image files to a non-public area on your web server space. This costs as little as $6 / month for 150 GB or so somewhere in a secured, backed up facility. And you can still use the public part of the space to create a web site. If there is a tornado, hurricane, earthquake, fire, etc. your "irreplacable family photos" (including any old ones you've scanned or reshot on your digital camera and uploaded) will still be safe. I understand at this point there are folks offering this sort of a service directly, although typically at a higher cost.

Another review mentions the "drawback" of the video freezing briefly when a still is captured while shooting video. On the other hand, this camera in video mode is shooting 30 1MP stills each second! Take your pick and always get the right moment.

Did I mention that the HD1 is a genuine High Definition video camera / recorder that fits in your pocket so you can always have it with you? What an outrageous step forward! I hope you like yours and find it as useful as I do mine.

Aloha,

Steve

Read Best Reviews of Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Here

After vigorous research and investigation, I decided on this camera because of portability with quality. Bigger cameras may provide better HD picture quality but I believe you may lose lots of opportunities since the camera is not in your pocket.

I used 4GB SD card to take about 1 hour of HD video. With two 2GB SD cards, I am pretty much covered in most occasions. With recent purchase of an 80GB portable hard drive that I can dump SD card to, I don't have to worry about running out of storage.

Battery life is also reasonable: I didn't measure the actual hours but I used all three SD cards with one charge.

Flash is also relatively powerful, but like other digital camera the built-in flash is not effective once it passes 10 ft or further.

Ergonomical design is the best of all like-kind portable video camera. I can control the button with one hand without too much worry about dropping the camera.

High Definition quality is not as nearly good as bulky ones such as Sony HDR-HC1, but much better than average among the same level of pocket size cameras. With a little adjustment on ISO, you will capture better images that you want. However, ISO 400 presents noticeable grain. 5 MP still camera image is not as good as my Canon digital camera but is good enough to print and share with friends and family.

Overall, I finally settled down with my seemingly endless research and enjoy this camera.

Want Sanyo Xacti HD1A 5.1MP MPEG4 High-Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Discount?

For the size and compactibility you can't get any better. Takes great digital stills and good video. Looks great up on my plasma better than my old dv camcorder. If I wanted something large to carry around, then I would go for the Sony HD camcorder with 5.1 sound; but I just want something you can place in your pocket and run out with. Great for travel and for taking to parties places where you don't want to be carrying a lot of equipment.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

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

DC+IG2-22A: i.Trek 9' Car Windshield Suction Cup Mount for Compact Digital Camera / Flip Kodak Sony Toshiba mini video camera and Garmin Nuvi GPS
  • iTrek windshield suction mount allows you to mount your Garmin Nuvi GPS or compact digital camera or mini video camera with screw hole in your car.
  • The mount comes with a standard Garmin 17mm ball joint to mount your Garmin Nuvi GPS and a screw joint to mount digital or video cameras.
  • Mount your Flip, Kodak, Sony Bloggie, Toshiba Coby Mini Video Camera in your car and convert it into a in car DVR to record your driving.

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

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

HDE® Worlds Smallest Hd Digital Video Camera Mini Dv DVR

HDE® Worlds Smallest Hd Digital Video Camera Mini Dv DVRI bought this little camera to take aerial videos from my RC planes. It is really tiny 44mm x 30mm x 12mm, and very light. It actually takes pretty good photos and videos, I was pleasantly surprised. I've seen better, but come on, it was only$15! The instructions are tough to understand so here are the easy instructions:

1. Plug the unit into a computer with the enclosed USB cable and charge it up, mine took a couple of hours the first time (red light comes on and blinks while charging, solid red when charged)

2. Unplug USB cord and Insert mini SD card (I'm using a Sandisk 8gb)

3. Turn on camera by holding the (round) on/off button down for 2-3 seconds, blue light will light, let off button and red light will be solid. Camera is now ready to record.

4. Quickly push round on/off button and camera is recording video with audio (red light flashing). Click round button again to stop.

5. For photos only, press (oblong) mode button once and light will be blue, ready for photos, just click round button to take photo.

6. For audio only, press oblong mode button til you see a red and blue light, then click round button to begin recording, press again to stop.

7. To shut camera off, just hold round on/off button down for 2-3 seconds til no lights are on.

I wasn't able to get the included disc to load on either my Macbook or my PC so I'm not even sure what's on it. I didn't have any luck trying to transfer the photos to either computer with the USB cable either. So to get the recordings off of the camera, I just put the micro SD card from the camera into a Sandisk micro SD card adapter and plugged it directly into the card reader slot in my laptop, and the files showed right up, it worked perfectly on both my PC and Macbook. Three folders will show up Photo (still pictures), Video (video with audio), Record (audio only), and a file named Time.txt. your recordings will be in the appropriate file folder so you can drag them into your computer, save, delete, or whatever you want done with them. If you open the Time.txt file you can set the time and date which will show on your videos.

All in all I am pleasantly surprised at the quality and functioning of this little camera. (I hope the instructions help)

The "HDE® Worlds Smallest Hd Digital Video Camera Mini Dv DVR" keep the time and date reliably.

They are great movie and picture quality. Most importantly they record up to impact instead of dumping movie files.

They are EASY to operate and to switch functions also. The directions are not easy to navigate at first, but still helpful. I have bought a few of these and even though they are "plastic and flimsy" as someone put it, a bit of scotch tape will prevent the case opening during most impacts of R/C flying, at least so far.

I have had two "lighter cams" that died quickly, (not from battery failure) but they were a pain to make sure they recorded/recording. Also the memory chips weren't fitter tight enough and caused glitches.

I have the "fob cameras" also. They are good pictures/movies, but the time and date are off key sometimes (had 2 battery failures and replaced). EITHER of those (lighter and fob cam)don't record during impacts.

The "HDE® Worlds Smallest Hd Digital Video Camera Mini Dv DVR" will. Lightweight and compact. They support voice recording, dvr function, and photograph also. They also arrive with a charger that takes only one "AA" battery. A nice extra.

Overall the price and reliability are terrific!

Buy HDE® Worlds Smallest Hd Digital Video Camera Mini Dv DVR Now

Not bad for the price. With a class 8 card I did not see any dropped frames. Good color in bright light.

It's not 720. Not very good indoors with low light.

I use it out of the plastic case on Micro Helicopters and Quads. You would get better video quality from the average cell phone

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It works although it is not full screen. I just want to make sure that people know that although the picture isn't horrible it is regular size format not full screen. I still like it though, it fits nicely on the belly of my MJX helicopter.

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The directions could be better but if you look online many have simplified the directions and offer them for your use.

Once you know how to use it for the price and size does the job. Using on RC race car

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

PHILIPS BDP2900 (Compact 12W" x 2H" x 8D") MultiZone All Region Blu Ray DVD Player - 1 HDMI, 1 COAX

PHILIPS BDP2900 MultiZone All Region Blu Ray DVD Player - 1 HDMI, 1 COAX, 1 ETHERNET
  • UNLOCKED GUARANTEED TO PLAY ALL REGION DVD 012345678 PAL/NTSC & BLU-RAY ZONE ABC, DivX Xvid AVI DivX-HD and MKV all supported 100%
  • Multi Zone Blu Ray & Code Free DVD that works on all USA/Canada/Japan (NTSC) TVs. REALTIME built-in video converter so that you can watch your PAL DVDs on NTSC TV or your NTSC DVDs on PAL TVs. Both settings are included and you can select the type of output PAL or NTSC....connect to any TV in the world, also it is dual voltage world-wide 100~240V 50/60Hz this means that you can use it in any country on the planet 100% Guaranteed.
  • DIVX XVID AVI MKV DIVX-HD, Blu-ray Disc Java, AVCHD, JPEG Playback, MP3 Playback, Precision Cinema HD Upscale, 1080p HDMI Output with DVD Upscaling
  • Blu-ray Discs have the capacity to carry high definition data, along with pictures in the 1920 x 1080 resolution that defines full high definition images. Scenes come to life as details leap at you, movements smoothen and images turn crystal clear. Blu-ray also delivers uncompressed surround sound - so your audio experience becomes unbelievably real. The high storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs also allow a host of interactive possibilities to be built in. Seamless navigation during playback and other exciting features like pop-up menus bring a whole new dimension to home entertainment.
  • 100~240V 50/60Hz Auto Switching Blu-ray HDMI 1080p upscaling delivers images that are crystal clear. DVD movies in standard definition can now be enjoyed in high definition resolution - ensuring more details and more true-to-life pictures. Progressive Scan (represented by "p" in "1080p') eliminates the line structure prevalent on TV screens, again ensuring relentlessly sharp images. To top it off, HDMI makes a direct digital connection that can carry uncompressed digital HD video as well as digital multi-channel audio, without conversions to analog - delivering perfect picture and sound quality, completely free from noise.

The good news is that the machine works with Region 1 and Region 2 DVD and Blu-Ray A and B (these are the only ones I have to test having just moved from England back to the US) out of the box. If it does not flip over to the correct BluRay region, it is a very simple matter, three key strokes, to switch to the region you want. (i.e. Region A for BluRay is simply 1+1+Power and that is it.)

No issues with the TV or simply adapting to the disk that I put in (regardless of the region for either DVD or Blu-Ray). The other nice thing is that it comes with everything you need, HDMI cable, etc., so no need to buy stuff that one would think you would need to hook it up. It also comes with Anynet which my very nice Samsung system recognizes with no problem.

The not so good news is that it is a relatively small, cheap box and the remote looks and feels like something you would get with a child's cheap toy. Considering it costs about four times the price of a standard Blu-Ray player and it simply ignores the region codes, not the best deal, however cheaper then some of the alternatives I looked at.

The player also has had stuttering problems when playing back disks. I must admit that I have not personally noticed it, however my family mentions it often during a play back. This would seem to me to be so brief as almost not to be noticed by an older person such as myself ;-)

My 'personal' recommendation is that it is fine for an average Blu-Ray player and works well just plugging it into your plasma screen and/or surround sound system. For the price and lack of selection available for Blu-Ray multi-region in Amazon, I suppose you could do worse.

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I am so happy I bought this gem...it reads and plays everything...all your dvds ..the ones bought in Europe, US and latin America..pal system ntsc and it does it all automatically. It also works for all blu rays no matter where you've bought them...so nice to have it all

Saturday, March 22, 2014

BLU T190Q-BLK/RED Tank Quad-Band Dual SIM Phone with Camera, Bluetooth, MicroSD Card Slot and MP3 P

BLU T190Q-BLK/RED Tank Quad-Band Dual SIM Phone with Camera, Bluetooth, MicroSD Card Slot and MP3 Player - Black/RedWe bought this phone for grandma since she always forgets to charge the battery and she has trouble pushing the power on button after charging. We can't visit her very often. That's why we bought this phone for the advertised monster battery life. When the item arrived, the model number said T190i instead of T190Q. And the spec states the battery could last only 500+ hours, far less than the advertised 1700 hours standby. We decided to give it a try anyway. So far, it's been 2 weeks, the battery indicator is still 100%. We'd be happy if the battery can last 1 month. The voice quality is great. Overall, if you are looking for a fancy phone, i.e. 4G etc., it's not the phone for you. However, for a very basic 2G phone, it has everything, large buttons, good voice quality, dual sim, long battery life, camera, music, and flash light etc.

1Item received was not the model I asked for,

2Item received menu was in spanish.

3operating manuels not even good for the birs or monkeys to operate.

4Seller is one of the worst I have ever come across and dealt with.

5Seller is unable to understand in plain English my desire to return item.

6Seller keeps chewing and chewing and chewing but unable to see and understand when given instruction.

7please review all my contacts with seller,as well as your contacs with him.

8I am not able to explain my reasons for returning the item,he keeps offering me an adapter,why adapter was not included in the first place.

9A very hard headed and stubborn vendor I will not want other people to face on any item he sells..

10Just help me return this telephone to him,also please when a phone's menu is in spanish and not English { our language} it should state so in the presentation..it was deceiving,vey decieving..

regards karl lawar

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Yes, this little device is my constant companion. It has a GREAT radio and a GREAT light, but I rarely use them. I like the fidelity of the calls, and with the 4 GB micro SD card, I can keep a lot of photos and music on here. I mainly made my purchase for the battery life, which is outstanding. Quad band seems to be working here in Asia, but it also worked great in the Transcaucas and Middle East. Wait 'till you hear the speaker! I dropped it multiple times and it is still "ticking". If I had to do over again, I would certainly buy it a second time.

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The instruction manual was too small to read and the instructions were not very helpful. Also I did not understand how to get the SIM card to work.

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Great Value for Money, Same Phone with blue color is $2-$3 less, but I like the red color so bought this one. Great Value for Money and reliable phone to be used overseas. Easy to Use, you really dont need instructions to install and use one. Great Buy!

Saturday, December 14, 2013

XM XPMP3H1 Portable Satellite Radio and MP3 Player (XMp3i)

XM XPMP3H1 Portable Satellite Radio and MP3 Player
  • Pause and replay up to 30 minutes of XM programming
  • Record songs while you listen, or schedule recordings of your favorite shows
  • TuneSelect and GameSelect find your favorite artists or sports events on any XM channel
  • Upload and manage MP3/WMA files with the included XM2go Music Manager software
  • 2 GB on-board memory, expandable via the microSD card slot

Anybody who is reading these reviews for the purpose of buying this product should be aware that a portable satellite radio is not based on the same technology as a Walkman-type radio sold back in 1980s. Satellite radios work by line-of-sight, which requires an unobstructed path between the receiver and its signal source. When properly installed and used, the XMp3i works great for recording and listening to live XM/Sirius broadcasts. However, you must ensure the unit is receiving a strong signal to make it work. If you plan on using it mostly in an automobile (with a live signal), that means purchasing an additional car cradle/antenna. If you wish to use it mostly indoors, you'll need to install the included home dock/antenna properly.

I've had a good experience with the Xmp3i so far. In fact, I was able to listen to live XM/Sirius radio while biking over the weekend with very little interruption. I also used the home dock to record some of my favorite shows for playback later. I believe it is the ability to record programming which is this unit's strong suit. You can record up to five channels at the same time, so getting vast amounts of music/talk on to the device in a timely fashion is easy; provided you have correctly installed the home dock. The playback is flawless and is much more convenient than listening live since you can skip songs, commercials, etc.

The interface seems a little sluggish at times and is not the most intuitive, but it works. Thanks to the microSD slot, you can load up your MP3 library and play your own tunes as well. I was impressed by the overall sound quality from both the satellite feeds and my MP3 files.

The Xmp3i is best-suited for users who will pre-record their music/shows to bring along in the car for playback. It also works well as a standalone device for plugging into your home stereo system. Do not buy this if you want to listen to live XM/Sirius broadcasts when you take the subway to work, or while you're hanging out in mom's basement waiting for some laundry to dry. Though it has a built-in antenna for live reception, the manufacturer clearly intended that to be used in outdoor-only situations.

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This is a great little radio. Reception is great. I love the recording of XM stations feature. BUT, as of this writing, the enclosed software DOES NOT work win WIN 7. So if you have WIN 7, you will not be able to copy mp3 recordings on this unit. Why they (XM) have not fixed this is beyond me. I called XM about this, and they are useless. Cutomer Service immediatly claims no responsibility whatsoever. They tell me to call Microsoft! Unbelievable. WIN 7 has been out for almost a year now. Come on guys!

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My XpressRC screen went out, and I needed a replacement. While I tried every way under the sun to find a current radio not made my Audiovox, I couldnt, so decided to try this one, since I dont own an MP3 player, I figured it would be a nice backup when I wanted to listen to something different.

First, this is a satellite receiver. Anyone that expects a satellite receiver to work 100% like an FM radio, doesnt understand the concept. While more forgiving than DirecTv or Dish, you really need to be able to see one of the two satellite locations for uninterrupted reception. Im not going to fault the radio because it blanks out inside a house. It needs an outside (or south window) mounted antenna (included) unless you happen to live where there is a terrestrial repeater (I do).

The radio needed two firmware updates when received. They took about 15 minutes. Added several features and fixed several bugs.

XM audio quality on the included ear buds is good. Much better than I expected.

Sound quality through the powerconnect FM transmitter in my work truck is much better than the previous clip on your FM antenna device. No issues at all in driving around out in the country out of repeater range. Usual dropouts going through tunnels, or under gas station awnings I had with the XpressRC.

The MP3 section is great. Audio quality is excellent. Needs a MicroSD card to store more than 7-10 albums at 256K rate.

Havent tried the song or station recording feature yet. 30 Minute buffer works fine.

Easy to navigate. Now if the screen doesnt burn out like my XpressRC did, Ill be very happy with this receiver. I do plan to try to buy an extended warranty for it though.

It claims 4 hours for XM live, and 16 hours for MP3's. Ive been playing MP3s for 6 hours and the battery indicator hasnt moved yet.

The documentation claims you shouldn't have the radio in an environment over 95 degrees as it will limit the lifetime of the battery. Its 5 degrees warmer than that here in the shade, so I figure 120+ in the truck when its parked.

Might need to keep a spare battery in the fridge :)

If the product holds up to daily use, Ill be a happy camper.

EDIT TO ADD: 02/08/2012 Have had the radio running almost 2 years now. Works perfectly. The powerconnect to the vehicle electrical system gives interference free reception. Recording works great, and Ive built up quite a library, as well as put all my mp3s on a SD card. No issues with the radio at all after almost 2 years. Pops out to bring home on weekends, and plugs into the home cradle with an outdoor mounted antenna, although Ive stopped doing that and just use their internet service at home now. Good radio. Highly recommend.

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I just purchased this product and was pleasantly surprised by its features, small size, and sound quality. It activated quickly and worked very well with good reception hand-held outside as well as indoors with the accessory antenna (included) in a window. Unfortunately, it is now fairly useless because I made the mistake of upgrading the firmware from v1.29x to v1.31x. This upgrade inactivates the control wheel of the device which means you can't use it -you can't selected items like channels, categories, set-up option, etc. The warrantee says the product should not be returned to the retailer from whom you purchased it (Amazon) -but should contact XM radio. XM radio technical support said they can't help, I should contact Audiovox. Audiovox said to leave an email on their website. I'm waiting for a response. Searching the web, others have had this same problem. I'll wait and see if any fix comes along soon, otherwise I'll return to Amazon. Glad I bought it here. I'll update this when and if I get more info.

Update: Spoke with XM again today. Even though the packaging that came with the unit has an insert that says in capital letters: If you experience problems DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT TO YOUR RETAILER but instead call XM Radio. The XM technician says they now have a solution -"Please return your unit to Amazon, buy another unit, and don't upgrade the firmware." Clearly that will work, but I think I'll wait until I hear back from Audiovox.

Final update: Audiovox's response was:"We don't provide customer or technical support for our XM radios; you must go through XM." So, I used Amazon's wonderful replacement service and was sent a new radio by overnight FedEx with Saturday delivery, printed out the return slip and sent the old one back. The new radio works just as well as the original but with a working control wheel. I love it. Downsides: every time I open XM2GO software to manage books and MP3s on the unit, it tells me my firmware is out of date -but I'm sure not going to update the firmware again. This unit is currently running firmware version 1.29x. If a firmware version appears that is higher than 1.31x, I might consider trying it, although I'd do so with some trepidation. I'm going to change my rating to four stars if Amazon will let me.

Final, final update: Thanks to a comment received to this review (feel free to read), I have now upgraded my new unit to firmware version 1.31x and after following the commenter's advice to remove the battery and wait a while -it works and works just great. Hope this helps others.

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Works great as long as you are standing in the middle of an open field and holding the radio over your head. If you live in a big city, XM does appear have the Clear Channel Repeater System backing up their satellite signal. I am guess that is where the good reviews are coming from. I live in a rural area. Took it to the ball park (no trees) for a morning jog. I could only get a signal while jogging in certain directions. It does work OK at the house hooked to the home dock with the external antenna but that is not why I bought a portable radio.I am boxing it up now to return.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Dane Elec 256 MB Compact Flash Card

Dane Elec 256 MB Compact Flash CardChip works like a charm holds several hundred digital photos.

I had a 256mb card used in a Linux firewall, and it failed recently. At least half the card is unreadable all the sudden. I do have backups though! :)

Since the write performance was lousy, I setup ram disks to take over the busy areas that see the most activity. Essentially, only /etc /bin /sbin /usr/sbin and /usr/bin were read/write on this card (nearly no write activity). Changes were only committed on an as needed basis (ever week or so). Oh well...

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the chord was just like brand new... actually i think it was brand spanking new! i just ordered the wrong one cuz it was for a scanner rather than for transferring pics from a camera to a computer.

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The freight charge was nearly 1/2 the price of the card. I live on the east coast but I did not expect to pay almost 43% in freight. This was standard shippng, no expeditd service. Wen I asked for justifcation from the company, I was told too bad.

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Monday, November 18, 2013

Toshiba SD-P1750 7-Inch Portable DVD Player

Toshiba SD-P1750 7-Inch Portable DVD Player
  • 7" Diagonal Widescreen,Tft Lcd Display
  • 480 X 234 Pixels
  • Views Standard, Letterbox & Anamorphic Dvds
  • Up To 3-Hour Li-Ion Battery With Rapid Charge

It's been almost two weeks since I purchased this Toshiba product. I wanted to get the Sony portable since it looks "cooler" and I read good reviews about the Sony's battery life but I ended up getting this one because it was cheaper.

So far so good, better than expected indeed, it's a 7' screen so smaller than the Sony and hence more practical.

The control keys are very friendly (in contrast to the Sony), the remote is slim and very light.

The voice volume is very acceptable, the screen resolution isn't bad at all.

The only issue I guess would be -as expectedthe battery life (little bit shorter than the claimed 2 hours) but I carry the cords with me most of the time so it's not that bad.

The device doesn't have an intrinsic mechanism to hook it to a car seat or something, but you can buy the 7-inch "case logic" case (around $15) where the device can sit and be operated while mounted almost anywhere.

Overall not a bad deal at all for the amount of money you're paying.

Hope this review was helpful ?!

FOLLOW UP: April 2008, VERY PLEASED STILL!!! glad I got it !!!!

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Great Picture quality.High resolution. Good sound(on ear phone). Not so good look.I have plyed only DVDs yet. Worth its price. I think, 7" is little bit small screen. Try 8" player.it should be of same pict resolution. ShashidharAM , Bangalore, INDIA

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I bought this player and at first I was very pleased with my purchase. The sound was good, it was light, and the screen was nice and big, but...after a few more uses I found that the screen pixelated every time the scene it was playing was in the shade or dark. Also, I would put in a DVD (that I had played before and had been crystal clear) and it either wouldn't play at all or it was so pixelated I couldn't watch it. The player freezes whenever you least expect it and the remote is horribly designed. If you press the pause button twice it goes into step and then you have to search for the play button. All around, I returned it and I wish I had stayed with my old Coby, even if it was falling apart.

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I mostly got this little model so that I can watch videos while in transit, between classes, and at the gym. Since I'm a film student, there are a lot of movies I need to squeeze into my schedule and this seemed like a good way. So far it's been an excellent unit, very reliable and easy to use, with no problems. My only two complaints are that I haven't been able to buy additional batteries for it -nobody, not even ToshibaDirect, seems to bother carrying them -and the claim that this model could handle .avi and Divx files has turned out to be incorrect. All in all, though, it's doing what I need it to do, and doing it very well.

I bought this to play videos in the car for my 3 yr old. Worked good. At one point I had to set it at a 10 degree angle because it was making some rubbing noises and freezing the picture. Only happened once so far though.

Not bad for the price.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

RCA M6204 4 GB Video MP3 Player with 2-Inch Color Display

RCA M6204 4 GB Video MP3 Player with 2-Inch Color DisplayI bought this item as a gift to my niece, and it works "perfectly", the only matter is the presentation, it's too light... it looks like one of those prizes you can find inside of your cereal box, and the buttons are a little hard to push, but we might know this as soon as we notice the price, so if you want to save some money and you don't care about how pretty and expensive your mp3 player looks like as soon as this one works for what you bought it, this is good option for you.

I have had many RCA mp3 players starting with the first. This model is definitely the WORST of all the models. It's a gift for your TRASH CAN. I can't understand why RCA keeps changing the models as they are getting progressively worse. The bottons are hard to manage....it feels like a piece of plastic...and more importantly it loads 70-90% of it's music under UNKNOWN ARTISTS which means you cannot navigate it's menu using the ARTISTS catagory. MOST IMPORTANTLY...rca/audiovox's costumer service is horrible; talked to several clerks regarding the player loading artists under unknown. Clerk's insists it's my audio files although the OPAL SOFTWARE LOADS IT CORRECTLY, IN ADDITION...STAMPING THE MUSIC BY IT'S OWN OPAL SOFTWARE...DOESN'T CORRECT IT...AND USING ANY OTHER STAMPING SOFTWARE DOESN'T CORRECT IT BUT...THE OLDER MODELS LOAD IT JUST FINE...SO IT'S NOT MY FILES...IT'S A SOFTWARE GLICHE THAT HAS DRIVEN ME OVER THE EDGE

PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY..research another brand...I KNOW I WILL

GOODBYE...RCA PRODUCTS...YOU'VE LOST A LOYAL CUSTOMER.

Clarence

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I am still learning the attributes of this player. Hopefully I will come back and write a more thorough review.

Right off the bat I have a good thing to say: This RCA player WILL do playlists! This is a "smart" player (I found this out the hard way by buying 2 other players from other brands that did not do playlists).

Many MP3 players are "dumb" players that will only list music by band name; they are basically just a flash memory that allows music playback to headphones. Though they may be well priced and have a large capacity and/or other features, there is no way to organize the music on their memory except by the natural file folder tree. Many of them even only list the bands alphabetically, or if you are lucky they list the bands in the order that they were loaded but they do NOT allow you to organize the songs separately in any particular order.

I needed an MP3 player for a dance performance for which I had chosen a playlist consisting of multiple bands and a specific order I wanted the songs in. From what I understand most Apple MP3 players allow playlists, but I was looking for something less expensive.

I went into Frys Electronics and found a large selection of many different brands of MP3 players starting as low as $20 (no name, text only screen, less Gigs) and well into the $100 range (name brand, large screen, lots of Gigs) but none of the sellers I approached could give me detailed information about the products besides what was already said on the packaging (several of them were very nice, but still unable to help me). To top it off, there is a restocking fee (I don't really blame them, used MP3 players do not sell well and might be broken or missing parts).

I chose a cheap one and brought it home. It was exactly what it advertised: cheap. On the good side, it was inexpensive enough that I almost kept it just for playing audio books or as a gift for a friend. No playlists, though.

After returning it, I bought a moderate sized one with a bigger screen, better name, higher price. No dice and no help from the salespeople.

After doing some research on line I learned that only certain makes of certain brands do what I wanted (some brands even differ dramatically between model numbers). I carefully read EVERY MP3 box on the shelf at the time. The only ones I found that even had the word "playlist" on the packaging were the RCA with easyRip (there was a cheaper RCA on sale that did NOT seem to have the software).

It worked!

I am not thrilled with learning a new music player software, but the player itself has been very good so far, and the playlists loaded and played great.

By the way, so far MS Mediaplayer is NOT playing well with the player or the other software. I have had this happen before where MSMP made its own private little space on an MP3 player that did not cooperate with playback. I was, however, able to load existing MSMP playlists into the player using the RCA easyRip.

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I don't like this thing. The first review on here talks about how it does playlists. I can't get that to happen. I have had cheaper players where you just upload a folder and then you listen to it--simple. This comes with a software that will organize my whole music library on my computer etc---Hey RCA--I don't need you to organize my computer--I want to listen to metal when I want metal and blues when I want blues and I don't need you to make it so hard. YOu can scroll through artists--big deal--put 700 songs on here and then try to scroll down to an artist in the middle of the alphabet--hope you have a half hour. I have had this thing for only two months and as if this moment, I think it has expired--it won't turn on. So if i wanna go hiking today and i do, I have to go on my lunch hour an buy a new one. Don't buy this. RCA--make something better.

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Unless you rip the songs into the player straight from a CD, it will almost always show up under "Unknown Artist". Bad glitch that looks like it will not be fixed.

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Wednesday, November 6, 2013

AAC-X4 Desktop Computer - 3.6GHz Quad Core Processor (Bulldozer) - 8GB DDR3 RAM - 1,000GB (1TB) HDD

AAC-X4 Desktop Computer - 3.6GHz Quad Core Processor - 8GB DDR3 RAM - 1,000GB HDD - WiFi - USB 3.0 Windows 7 64-BitShop around on Amazon and you will see that similarly configured PCs are much more expensive. It is the hands down winner if you plan to use this PC unchanged, right out of the box. It's cheap, fast and robust.

My emails to AA Computers support were answered quickly and accurately, KUDOS. This PC was the right choice for us because we needed a PC for internet, games and Microsoft office. We already had a wireless NIC, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Reliability is awesome. Be sure to check for loose connections when it arrives, shipping usually knocks a few cables loose.

If you want a barebones desktop to upgrade heavily, this may not be for you. The small motherboard, limited case cooling and 350W power supply make heavy upgrades challenging. Your upgrade costs will cancel out the savings.

Here are the details left out of the Amazon description:

350 watt power supply has only two Molex left available. All other connectors, including SATA power, are used. Larger power supply may be needed if more components are added. You may be able to add another HDD if you use a SATA power Y connector or a MOLEX to SATA adapter.

No case cooling. The only fan on this machine is on the CPU . The case has no other fans. Harddrives and other components run hot. Adding a graphics card and HDD would require more cooling.

Eight 3.5" bays. One in use by the supplied HDD. Plenty of room to upgrade here. Note: a very long card in any PCI slot will make it tough to get HDDs in and out of the bays.

Six SATA ports on the MB. Two are in use by the DVD drive and the supplied HDD. If you add a double wide, long graphics card in the 16x PCI-E, it will cover three of the SATA connectors on the MB. Then you would have only one SATA port available for upgrades. I didn't try a right angle SATA cable under the graphics card.

Onboard graphics adapter has VGA and DVI outputs. It uses system memory and CPU resources. This is OK considering the fast CPU and large amount of RAM that comes standard.

Total PCI: One 1X PCI-E, one 16X PCI-E and one plain PCI slot, all open. If you put a double wide graphics card in the 16X PCI-E slot, it will cover the 1X PCI-E slot. This basically deletes the 1X PCI-E and restricts cooling on any double wide card. In addition, a wide card will cover three of the SATA ports on the MB. A MOLEX 4 pin to PCI express six pin adapter is required if you need power to your graphics card.

Small motherboard: The mother board is very small which makes it tough to use a double wide graphics card in the 16X PCI-E. Very long cards make cabling and HDD placement tough inside the case (but all will fit).

Two RAM slots on motherboard. Both used. If you want to upgrade RAM you will need to replace existing RAM cards.

Wired network interface only. If you need to connect to your wireless network, you will need to buy a wireless card separately. MB has a 1X PCI-E or a PCI slot that can be used for this.

For a basic computer with good performance this is the right cost effective choice. If you plan on extensive upgrades you may want to keep shopping.

UPDATE 4/26/2013 Double check to see that a wireless NIC is now included. After I wrote my review, AA Computer Guy states " The computer HAS been upgraded since this review came out. The system now comes with WiFi (wireless B/G/N bands on a nano receiver in one of the USB ports) and USB 3.0." Thanks Computer Guy!

After spending a month looking for a computer to replace my aging and rapidly dying old XP computer I chose this one. It had the exact configuration I was looking for at a really great price. I love that it wasn't loaded with a ton of bloat ware that would take an hour to ferret out and remove. It comes loaded with just what you need.

I was a bit leery of buying a computer from a new company but knowing Amazon always stands by a sale plus the quick and friendly responses I received when I asked question of the manufacturer and the great warranty made me decide to give them a chance. I am glad I did!

I had this up and running in minutes with nothing to do but transfer some files from my old computer and download the programs that are important to me. Its a large form factor case but really quite attractive with lots of room for personalization and expansion.

In the "old days" I would have built my own computer . But with working long days and a busy life I just don't have time. To me this is the next best thing. Plus it does make me feel a bit warm and fuzzy buying from a small company instead of some big corporation.

I am very pleased with this purchase , so pleased that I think I will buy another computer from this manufacturer in a month or so to replace my husbands computer.

Buy AAC-X4 Desktop Computer - 3.6GHz Quad Core Processor (Bulldozer) - 8GB DDR3 RAM - 1,000GB (1TB) HDD Now

I bought this computer as a video server and to function as a server for the PlayOn program, which allows us to stream video from various online services to wireless (and wired) devices throughout our house. I needed a very fast, reliable computer at an affordable price. I used to build computers for a living, so I have always built my own desktops. At this price (with Windows 7 included) I could not afford to build my own.

I was very impressed with the computer the moment it arrived. The packaging was very protective and it arrived quickly. Out of the box the computer preformed beyond my expectations. The first thing I noticed was how quiet this computer is. I built computers to be used in radio studios, and noise especially fan noise was always a factor. I cannot even hear this computer running. I turned it around to look at the power supply fan to ensure that it was, in fact, running. It was! I even called AA Computers to make sure this is normal. They assured me it is. This is a PLUS!

I needed to add a second DVD drive to this desktop and it arrived today. When I opened the case to install the DVD drive I could not believe my eyes. When I built computers, I was a stickler for neatness inside. But this computer was far cleaner and neater than anything I ever built. AA Computers does a great job building these units at least they did on mine!

I am not one to heap flowery praise on a product, but this one deserves it (so far.) I have only used it a little over a month, but so far, so good. I anticipate good, lengthy service from this unit. (And no, I do not work for AA Computers, nor do I know anyone who does!)

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The AAC-X4 has a lot more muscle for the money (RAM, processor speed, storage capacity, etc.) than comparably priced computers from the big-name manufacturers. I was initially concerned about buying a computer from a small manufacturer. I quickly got over that when prior to making the purchase I e-mailed a few questions to Aaron at AA Computers who responded almost instantaneously with precise answers.

The computer set up quickly and was operational right out-of-the-box. There was a small issue with the DVD+CD player. I e-mailed the issue to Aaron who responded in less than an hour with a fix that took me less than 5 minutes and which worked (a plug had become loose in shipping). Anyone who's had an issue with a new computer knows you can spend hours going back and forth with technical support from the big-name manufacturers who run you through tiresome protocols before coming up with a supposed fix from their computer screen that may or may not work.

The computer is fast and quiet. I've used it daily for a month for e-mails, web surfing, word processing, spreadsheets, manipulating photographs, and storage. All of these functions work very well and I believe that the computer has more than enough excess capacity to serve for many years. The free software that comes with the computer works very well and enables the consumer to make choices between utilizing what's provided by AA for free or purchasing software for maintenance, security, word processing, etc. The only criticism is very minor the door for the two USB ports and the microphone/head jacks on the front of the computer is a bit clunky.

I would unequivocally recommend this computer to anyone.

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I was looking for a faster computer to play Amazon Instant videos and CorelDraw Suite X5 better. This is it! Windows 7 has a problem with the monitor going into sleep mode, but I don't have a Windows 7 compatible monitor yet. These are listed on the Windows 7 Microsoft site and are available on Amazon.

The best thing to do is turn off sleep mode. I checked on YouTube and found many people have ridiculous solutions for this. Just turn off the monitor manually until you get a better monitor or you will have to reboot the computer a couple of times to get out of sleep mode. Also, I signed up to get Windows 8 when it comes out for only $14.99. This is mentioned on other sites but not on Amazon. It is available to everyone who buys a computer preloaded with Windows 7, regardless of where you purchase the computer. The computer was exactly what I have wanted for several years. The 3.6GHz processor has better reviews than the newer 4.2GHz. It overclocks to better than 4.2GHz if needed. I don't need it but that is one of the positives about the bulldozer. I checked it inside when I got it even though it was completely put together. The DVD drive cable had come loose because the wiring was so neatly and tightly bound. One loose screw was in the bottom of the case but not touching anything. I took it out. Just to be safe, I would check it before plugging it in. I have an Electronics Engineering degree amongst others and could not have done better on the price if I made my own! Definitely happy!

Turns out Windows 7 updated and the sleep mode with my monitor works fine.I use the compatibility site at Microsoft to check software and hardware. My monitor is a 2009 Acer X230H and works fine.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Philips DVDR3545V/37 1080p Upscaling DVDR/VCR Combo with Built-In Tuner

Philips DVDR3545V/37 1080p Upscaling DVDR/VCR Combo with Built-In Tuner
  • DVD Recorder and VHS HiFi VCR
  • Dual Media play and record in DVD-R-RW and DVD+R+RW
  • 1080p and 1080i upscaling for optimum HD picture performance
  • ATSC digital HD/SD TV tuner built in
  • Plays MP3/WMA, CD-R-RW, Video CD's

This is a good box. It replaces a separate DVD player and vhs player,

and can record dvd as well. It has a built-in digital tuner, and up-

converts whatever it plays to the resolution of the tv. It has a digital

output (HDMI) to go the tv.

In my application, I use the tuner on the house antenna to get "free-from-air" digital broadcasts, while the cable input goes

directly to the tv. I didn't realize how important the upconverting

feature was until I saw it it makes old media look .. better.

In my copious spare time, I hope to convert vhs tapes I want to

save to dvd this box can do that offline, and unattended.

good value for the money.

Buy Philips DVDR3545V/37 1080p Upscaling DVDR/VCR Combo with Built-In Tuner Now

I was having problems coping from tape to DVD, the DVD would only play on their machine. I tried everything burned about 7 DVD's before I decide to call tech support which was very good. It turned out you can only use either Maxell or Philips DVD's. i when out purchase Maxell's and have no problems. Other then that the machine is great.

Read Best Reviews of Philips DVDR3545V/37 1080p Upscaling DVDR/VCR Combo with Built-In Tuner Here

This was my second purchase of a combo recorder it should have been my first! In late 2005 I bought an LG LRY-517 DVDR/VCR. The biggest mistake of my life! The LG had constant problems with both DVD and VHS playback. I thought this might be a universal problem with combos but, out of desparation and frustration with the LG, I bought this Philips combo. What a solid, reliable machine. My only complaint might be with the editting program. No big deal. As far as recording, dubbing VHS to DVD, and playback the Philips functions flawlessly. I might just buy another one...and throw the LG away!

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Initially, I bought the Panasonic DMR-EZ47V, based on Consumer Report's high ranking. It was a glitchy, slow, maddening disaster. I returned it and got this Philips, and so far, no complaints. Turns on and changes digital channels reasonably quickly. Remote control makes sense. Doesn't crash unexpectedly. Pretty low standards, I realize, but after the Panasonic, I'm happy to have a machine that does the basics.

I am on a replacement unit---which turns out to be worse than the first. This machine's VHS recording results are so poor that you cannot tell what you are watching. This machine will play BUT NOT record to DVD.

And, Philip's customer service is anything but service. They continually put you off, insisting that they can only assist you by having someone return your call---and, of course, the return call never comes.

Save time, money, and negative feelings --STAY away from Philip's products.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Sony HDR-UX5 4MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom

Sony HDR-UX5 4MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical ZoomThe combination of ClearVid CMOS and x.v. Color standard makes the difference. Supposed to capture 1.8X colors more than the human eye can recognize and i agree with that. Your LCD with HDMI will blow your eyes (component is nice too). I never tought my TV can display those colors, clear, crispy, vivid, you got to see it to believe it.

You can capture still images at 4MP even while you're recording (you need a MStick Duo). The pics are ok but doesn't replace a semipro digital camera. But let me tell you that you can leave your digital camera at home.

Your home movies will be flavored with dolby digital audio, so if you have a home teather you will see your friends in the scene while you're hearing sounds from other directions.

Slow motion mode lets you capture up to 240 fps for just 3 seconds, that's a 12 seconds sequence with no lost frames at normal playback, interesting for sports or any fast move.

The only con is the AVCHD format, you will need a PS3 or Blue Ray player in order to play the Double Layer DVD but can use the camcorder as player. Anyways you can use standards mini DVDs.

Is a good deal, i think camcordes twice the price are not much better than this.

The price of this SONY HDR-UX5 camcorder is a bit high. Also, you cannot just purchase this camcorder without also getting a Sony blu-ray disc player because you need a Sony blu-ray disc player to play the disc on your tv set if you are shooting with high def. Sony uses a video compression scheme called AVCHD to encode the high def video, so your disc with AVCHD video cannot be playback with regular dvd player. You can use the software that comes with the camcorder to playback the AVCHD video on your pc but I would rather watch my high def video on the big screen. On the pc, image size for AVC HD is 1440x1080 and MPEG2 SD is 720x480 which is about 4 in by 2 in. The quality of the video and audio is good and the 4M still photo is acceptable. In-door video is good if you have proper lighting. You can shoot at the screen of your tv set and get comparable result when you show the recording later on the tv set. Auto flash has three settings (high/normal/low) to give you sufficient lighting for still photo. I do not have problem shooting photo indoor.

The camcorder ($700) is expensive. On top of that, you need money for the accessories.

1. You have two choices of video formatHD OR SD. With HD, you should get the sony blu-ray disc player because the High def is AVCHD 1080i and can be playback on your tv with sony blu-ray disc player. Without a sony blu-ray disc player, you can playback the high def video by connecting the video camera to your tv set with the supplied component video cable. You will not be able to play "the disc" by itself using a regular dvd player if it is recorded with HD video. With SD, it is MPEG2 video. So, for SD, you can play your 8cm disc without the blu-ray disc player. For high def, you should get a Sony blu-ray disc player. I think of the Sony blu-ray disc player as an important accessory to the UX5.

2. Using the supplied battery(FH60), the recording time for SD (on SP mode) is about 75 min. I upgraded the battery to FH70 and I expect to get about 150 min. So I do not need to run back to my hotel to charge the battery when I was only halfway through shooting at the Great Wall. The mini dvd+rw disc records 30 min (single-sided, 1.4GB). If you want to record continuously on a single disc, consider using dvd+r DL. In SD (on SP mode), it is about 55 min.

3. If you record with dvd-rw disc, you can split or trim the video and that is all the editing function you got from sony. Or, you can use Nero 8 Ultra Edition to edit High Definition content in AVCHD format. Roxio easy media creator 10 and Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus will edit AVDHD. I don't know whether EMC 10 down-converted your footage. Certainly, it is much less expensive than doing it on the mac with Final Cut Studio 2. On the mac, you need Intel Core 2 Duo, Quartz Extreme graphics card, Mac OS X v10.4.9 or later, at least 2GB of RAM, Final Cut Pro 6 which is included in FCS 2. If instead, you use imovie '08, which is included with iLife '08; it will downgrade the high def to 480i. To me, it means it is not high def anymore.

So, as I've said before, AVCHD means get a Sony blu-ray disc player, shoot in high def and show your footage on the big screen like it is meant to be.

.

Buy Sony HDR-UX5 4MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Now

I upgraded from a Sony DCR-HC30E that was 3 years old to this new HD camera and these are the pros and cons that I have found:

Pros:

* High definition. Pretty amazing quality on good light conditions even when conected to a 32" Samsung LCD TV that is only HD Ready (not full 1080i)

* 16x9 rather than 4x3 format

* Power adaptor is smaller (important when travelling)although the power cable could also be shorter and smaller.

* Faster transfer to PC (not at viewing speed like old tape camera)

* More efficient for archiving the original videos in external HD (about 1/3 of disk space).

* Direct one-cable connection to TV with Standard HDMI connector

* Simple PC Software provided to view AVCHD files and to convert into regular Video DVDs (although it can take the whole night to genereate a DVD of 15 min)

Cons:

* Much bigger and heavier than my old camera. Now I need to think twice before taking it for my next trip.

* Being realistic can only record 15 min instead of 1 hour of video, before changing the DVD.

* Editing AVCHD files require a lot of processing power. Now I need to upgrade both my PC and my video editing software.

* Not possible to record both high def and standard def in the same DVD

* All disks have to be finalized before being able to read on a PC, and this is a slow operation that can take up to 5 minutes. So better to transfer videos through USB if you haven't had to remove the DVD from the camera because you ran out of disk space.

* Battery duration. Battery supplied is NP-FH60 rather than NP-FH70 and sometimes won't last for 2 DVDs of 15 minutes each.

* Only as emergency photo camera since quality of photos is way below my old Canon Ixus 2 Mpixel camera.

* Photos taken during video recording are even worse

* Memstick is not provided, so unless you buy one, you cannot even try it as a photo camera.

* I bought a Mem stick of 1GB. This is the same capacity than the DVDs, but you cannot recrd video to the memory stick!

* Camera is slow to start recording since you press the record button, so you may loose the first two seconds. In addition it is slow powering up.

* No multi TV System. I bough in the US and therefore is NTSC only, but I want to use it in Asia Pacific and in Europe. Fortunately I have a multisystem TV.

Read Best Reviews of Sony HDR-UX5 4MP AVCHD DVD High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom Here

The reviews here are well done and pretty comprehensive. Check out the CONs before you buy. The Mini-DVD's won't go in my Macbook, which I should have realized before buying. I thought for sure I could pop the dvd's in and use Handbrake to grab the clips. You can't, and only 15 minutes of HD video on a DVD is not practical at all...

AND -I'm also VERY disappointed because my camera died 91 days after I bought it, which means it costs me $165 (plus tax and shipping) to send the camera to Texas to get it fixed. I bought it in Feb. 2009 for $359.00

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For the product and technical illiterate, this is a great camera. For those who know a little bit more, it is an excellent camera. Easy to set up, use and edit. Placing the dvd directly into the camera is the best! Finalise it, and walk right over to the DVD player...Awesome!