Showing posts with label voice recorders. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voice recorders. Show all posts

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Sony Professional Micro 3-in-1 Digital 4GB MP3 Voice Recorder with Memory Card Slot, Noise Cut Tech

Sony Professional Micro 3-in-1 Digital 4GB MP3 Voice Recorder with Memory Card Slot, Noise Cut Technology Reducing Background Sound, Direct USB Port, Backlit Display, Built-in Speaker + Stereo Earphones * Rechargeable Battery Included *(Gold)I purchased the recorder to go with Dragon transcribing software and indeed it works great. The unit is very small and compact, picks up the speaker well and transcribes well into Dragon. Very high quality unit and very easy to use.

Saturday, November 8, 2014

PIONEER DVR-A08XL Internal 4x Double-Layer DVD Writer - Black Bezel

PIONEER DVR-A08XL Internal 4x Double-Layer DVD Writer - Black BezelA fast 16x burner from Pioneer with a easy to use and versatile software suite included with it. I'm now a fan of Ulead's CD burning and DVD conversion/burning software. It requires little exploration to burn a DVD from nearly any video file. 16x media isn't out yet so a 4.7 GB burn takes about 7 min at 8x. The black bezel matches with my custom case too.

The speed of this drive and software was much better than the other DVD burner and Intervideo software I had. pcmag.com rated this drive very good which seems to be accurate. There was a sound problem I had when playing back some recorded piano music, I reported the problem on the ulead web site and they responded in a day with the existing fixes available on the web site; however, I am still having a sound problem on certain videos. I think it is because I changed the amount of sound bits in the middle of the recording and the software cannot handle it, but software should not fail when this happens. I have now purchased Adobe Premier Elements and Photoshop Elements together instead and it was able to detect the sound bit change. The ulead software is the current release which is good at least.

Buy PIONEER DVR-A08XL Internal 4x Double-Layer DVD Writer - Black Bezel Now

I was unable to use this DVD drive and had to return it because the tray is too wide. Most DVD drives give you about a 1/2" clearence on the sides, but this tray gos compeletely to the edge. Once I put the case back on the computer, the tray could not eject. If they would redesign the tray to be more compatible with Dell PC's and others, then this would be a good drive.

Read Best Reviews of PIONEER DVR-A08XL Internal 4x Double-Layer DVD Writer - Black Bezel Here

I bought this recorder three weeks ago and it works well. A previous reviewer complained about the tray being too wide. I ran into that problem on my Dell. I had to make sure the recorder was pushed all the way to the front of my computer so I could move the flexible frame of the computer a little to allow the tray to open. It worked and opens and closes, however Pioneer should have seen this coming and designed better. The player recorder works just fine, but the software makes me mad. You will likely have to buy new software and I feel cheated by Pioneer and Ulead for including software that is only lacking in handling Dolby. If you have a recording with Dolby audio the software will not handle the audio. Why do they do that? If I buy new software it definitely won't be Ulead because I feel cheated by them. All my recordings on my TV settop DVD recorder are in Dolby so how am I supposed to edit, etc. DVD's recorded on my settop DVD recorder?

Want PIONEER DVR-A08XL Internal 4x Double-Layer DVD Writer - Black Bezel Discount?

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Safety Technology HC-ARPUR-DVR Air Purifier Hidden Camera With Built In Dvr

Safety Technology HC-ARPUR-DVR Air Purifier Hidden Camera With Built In DvrI purchased this hidden camera because I believe my property manager is sneeking around in my apartment whenever I'm not here and I want proof in case any incidents may occur in the future. She is such a nosy witch!! I wasn't sure if it was working so I decided to pull the SD Card and put it in my laptop and see if anything was on it after owning it for about 2 weeks.

I should remember to turn it off when I'm at home. Over 100 videos taken of me with very little clothing!!! It is DEFINITELY motion sensitive and does NOT continuously run. It works absolutely great!!!! I am very pleased because you CANNOT tell that it is running; just what you want in a hidden camera!

Save 26% Off

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Toshiba SD-V280 DVD-VCR Combo, Silver

Toshiba SD-V280 DVD-VCR Combo, Silver
  • ColorStream component-video DVD outputs; 10-bit, 27 MHz video conversion
  • Quasi S-VHS compatible VCR with 19-micron heads (for stable still-frames) and hi-fi stereo sound
  • MP3-CD playback, DVD picture zoom, DVD bookmarking (skip instantly to your favorite scenes)
  • Optical and coaxial digital-audio outputs accommodate all digital surround receivers
  • Includes remote control

The unit looks fabulous, and I had no trouble with the remote control on my television. However, I only had it for 6 weeks when the power supply died. It can't be repaired, and Toshiba won't honor the 90-day warrantee.

So, while it looks like a great product, the power supply is fragile and the customer service is one of the worst I've seen.

My advice: Go with a similar product from a company with higher standards of quality and customer commitment.

Buy Toshiba SD-V280 DVD-VCR Combo, Silver Now

When I bought this combo system I assumed that in exchange for convenience and space saving there would be some compromises. Unfortunately there are a little too many. First, the unit cannot play back MP3 CDs as advertised. It lost about half of the songs from each CD I tried, it broke individual songs into multiple files, it messed up directory structure -in short, forget about using it to playback your MP3 collection. It is clear that the MP3 functionality was tacked on as an afterthought and not very well. Instructions regarding MP3 playback do not even appear in the (indecipherable) manual, but rather are found on an (equally indecipherable) piece of paper shipped with the unit. Since MP3 playback was a big selling point for me, I was rather disappointed.

A second annoyance is that the remote control does not work with my new Toshiba TV. Nor does the Toshiba TV remote work with the VCR/DVD. This is just ridiculous.

My main complaint however is that the unit simply stopped working 3 weeks after I bought it. The entire electrical system just shorted out I couldn't even eject the tape and DVD that were in it. Amazingly, there is a Toshiba certified repair center nearby. They promise to have it fixed about 3 weeks. Great.

Update Two weeks later, I received a call from the Toshiba Authorized Service Center saying that they don't know how to fix the unit. I was told to call Toshiba customer support. Toshiba says they will looking it, but are non-commital doing anything.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba SD-V280 DVD-VCR Combo, Silver Here

The player is very nice to look at, with a nicely subdued blue glow to the digital display. It's surprisingly lightweight and easy to carry and position. The gold connectors are nice too. Quality is excellent with both the DVD and VHS. Recording looks good. Colors seem perfect. Audio is top notch. Dialogue, music, and the bass really kick in nicely. Monster cables or something equal increase the quality something fierce, so I recommend picking those up. The VHS is noticably less crisp than DVD, but that's pretty much a given with anything. I'm sure the remote and on-screen menus could be made more user-friendly, but I'm not complaining. Some form of audioscopes would be welcome to go along with the music. Overall, no real complaints. I like the multitude of features. It compliments my little home theater setup nicely.

Want Toshiba SD-V280 DVD-VCR Combo, Silver Discount?

Whole thing broke down no way to eject disks. Toshiba repair claiming "lightening or power surge" and refusing to back warrantee (there was no lightening, and if there was a power surge, it didn't affect our computers at all...)

This unit is very light weight considering the fact that it has additional hardware to accomodate the DVD electronics.

There's no vent/exhause holes for dust or insects to get in. This means that there's probably little to no electronic problems in the future.

The remote and on-screen feature takes a little time to get used to, as most new things do. I found them to be self-explanatory.

DVD play is comparable to most DVD players with all the extra DVD features accessible through this player.

VHS playback is also generic in quality. But VHS recording comes a little short. It only have SLP & SP recording which means that if you want to dub over a family video or a movie that's more than 2 hours long your going to have trouble. It does NOT have EP or even LP recording which is capable of recording 4+ hours. I found that a little surprising when I tried to record over a family home video ... good thing I have a Sony VHS as my back up.

In general, this VHS/DVD combo is a great addition if you a first time DVD-player owner. Otherwise if are into recording VHS over 4+ this is NOT the combo you need.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Mini Digital Video Recorder MD 80 - 2GB

Mini Digital Video Recorder MD 80 - 2GBThis thing is awesome. I have used it on several occasions and it has not disappointed me yet. As long as you keep in mind the size of the product and not to expect movie quality sound and graphics you will love it. The video and audio quality is just what I was looking for. If something ever happens to this one I will be buying another one.

The user's manual that comes on the mini-CD is written in a Chinese-English that may be confusing. There is no diagram of the switch location, however they are labeled. There is a better description at have a switch labeled "MODE" and the diagram in the recommended site calls it "sound trigger switch"

Buy Mini Digital Video Recorder MD 80 - 2GB Now

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Digital Watchdog VMAX-FLEX Digital Video Recorder, 16 Channel, 1TB

Digital Watchdog VMAX-FLEX Digital Video Recorder, 16 Channel, 1TBI have installed 50+ Digital Watchdog DVR's. NO PROBLEMS!!! The flex is simple to set up, easy to navigate, and is a great buy. I highly recommend any DW DVR. I especially love the smart phone APP for apple products because it has the capture button, once you see live streaming and want to take a picture of that screen hit the capture button, and it saves the photo to your phone. Plus the APP is FREE.

We've installed dozens of these units and they have proven to reliable, affordable and simple to use. One of the biggest issues we have with the cheaper DVR s is the lack of DDNS function and if it is present they drop off way to much! Neither us or our customer can afford frequent service calls to re-initiate the network or have the DDNS go down while they are away on holidays.

Buy Digital Watchdog VMAX-FLEX Digital Video Recorder, 16 Channel, 1TB Now

We have tried EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO BACK THIS UP BECAUSE IT ONLY HOLDS ABOUT 30 DAYS AND THEY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BACK IT UP! IM PRETTY PISSED WITH THE PRODUCT, DO NOT BUYY!! BUY SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY THINKS BEFORE MANUFACTURING A PRODUCT. SECURITY DVR'S ARE SO THAT YOU CAN GO BACK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT ONLY 30 DAYSCOMON!

Read Best Reviews of Digital Watchdog VMAX-FLEX Digital Video Recorder, 16 Channel, 1TB Here

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording

Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video RecordingThis ematic 4gb player is so cool. I got this for my work outs specialy, I have used this instead of my bulky old player. The Usb Cable was great. just Plug And Play. It was perfect all my file folders opened and i started placing my music on it right away. I put about 150 songs on it. 9 albums and 4 list. It came with the cd to install. Tha Packaging was very easy to open. I like the light weight of it.

The package came with:

1 usb wire

1 video cable

1 stylus

1 install mini cd

1 cool comfy ear bud

1 microfiber cleaner for the screen.

Over all it was very easy to use.

I even used the web cam feature as well to skype.

This is more than a MP3 its a All in 1

I would recommend for any one who likes great priced and easy to use products.

Bought this for my soon to be 13-year-old son. He wanted a "touchscreen" mp3 player for Christmas, but no way are we in the market for an iPod. He is thrilled with this. Touchscreen, takes photos and videos and plays music. Also has Minesweeper game included and a notepad/drawing feature. A good little device for the price.

Buy Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording Now

This was a gift for a teenager. Very glad that they loved it! Good price and features, especially since this is considered "disposable technology" because new model/versions are created several times a year.

Read Best Reviews of Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording Here

My granddaughter got one of these for her birthday last year and it worked fine for about 5 months and then died and would not turn back on. Seems very unreliable. I wouldn't recommend it.

Want Ematic EM638VIDRD Touch Screen MP3 Video Player with 5MP Camera with LED Flash and Video Recording Discount?

Sounded perfect for my son, but the touch screen stopped working. The company said that after 90 days, I would have to pay 40 dollars to get it repaired/replaced. I asked their representative, why they list their warranty as being for one year, he said between 90 days and 1 year they would replace the Ematic E6 8GB for $40.00. On top of all this my son was constantly having to reset it and even though it has 8GB of memory built into the device, that memory is worthless because it get's wiped when you reset it the E6, so you are stuck with keeping everything on your purchased separately microSD card. Why would anybody want to pay $40 to replace an item that costs $40-$60 to buy new, and I would have to pay shipping and handling both ways, what a bargain. I absolutely DO NOT RECOMMEND the Ematic E6 8GB MP3 Video Player or purchasing any of this company's products. The telephone customer service representative did not seem surprised that it did not work or that I was unhappy with Ematic's products, this not a good company or product. F.Y.I. Ematic and XO Vision are the same company, so don't let them trick by slapping another name on the same bad product.

Besides all that there isn't a 16GB E6 and even under "Product Features Technical Details" right on this page it says.

"Flash Memory 8 GB, stores up to 3000 songs, or 34 hours of video or thousands of photos"

Friday, August 15, 2014

Nokia 6555 Unlocked GSM Flip Phone with 1.3MP Camera, Video MP3/Video Player, Bluetooth and microSD

Nokia 6555 Unlocked GSM Flip Phone with 1.3MP Camera, Video MP3/Video Player, Bluetooth and microSD Slot - BlackWhile it is true that the Nokia 6555 has very short battery life, it is common to all 3G phones. However, there is a way to increase battery life: change connection type from UMTS to GSM from Auto. This will disable 3G and force the phone into GSM mode, which will greatly increase battery life.

Hope this works.

I bought this phone last week directly from the AT&T store. I renewed my existing contract with AT&T so I already had their service. I am very impressed with the phone overall. It is sleek and stylish with a lot of features which work well.

Pros: Styling and Features

Call quality and signal strength

Micro SD card slot

Dedicated USB cable port

Dedicated headphone jack (albeit a small one so you still need an adapter)

Pin type connector charger (not the clip on connectors)

Cons: Battery Life

Lack of installed ringtones, (correction, see below)

Hard to navigate folders and menus

I mostly use the phone to talk on and not much else. I need to charge the battery pretty much every night. I can go about a day and a half or 2 days if I stretch it. If you talk a lot or intend to use the other features plan on charging it every night. In their defense the battery life is rated at 3 hours of talk time and that is pretty much it. You won't get more than that and like I said you won't get even that much if you do games or other stuff. The other thing that was kind of disappointing was no ringtones installed except the standard ATT ring. (Correction). There are a couple of ringtones installed I just wasn't looking in the right folder which is the biggest problem I have with it now. The music hides in different menu folders and depending which menu you are in you won't see them which is why I didn't think there were any tones at first. You pretty much have to download anything you want to play.

I really like the phone and if the battery would last longer it would be about perfect. Since all I do is use it for talking and not much else it suits me.

I have had this phone for about 5 months now and still really like it. I am not a tech wiz so I have not even used the music player and other features until recently. I downloaded some ringtones from a 3rd party website and it was easy. They play great. Today I used the bluetooth capability to load pictures from my camera to my MacBook and also loaded a few songs onto my phone. It was easy for a novice like myself. No compatibility issues. Call quality and reception have been above average. I fly all over the east coast and it works pretty much everywhere you would expect.

Buy Nokia 6555 Unlocked GSM Flip Phone with 1.3MP Camera, Video MP3/Video Player, Bluetooth and microSD Now

Just got this phone on Weds, as replacement for my old Nokia I was looking for a phone that is reliable, easy to use, has texting capabilities, sleek, has a streamlined design, a loud alarm (I rely on my phone to wake me up), and takes clear pictures. This phone is compact, and performed well when I saw it at the Cingular store.

BUT today, I experienced the worst battery life that a cell phone could have. After charging this phone to the max, I texted my friends, and talked for about 3 hours when the battery indicator showed that 1/4 of its capacity. Then, my phone died. Usually, I'd have at least 1 hour left to use the phone, with an indication of 1/4 battery. BUT NO! It just died, and luckily, I wasn't in a situation where I needed a phone (I was at home all day today). Everyday since I got this phone, I've had to charge it. Usually every 2 days I'd charge my old Nokia phone.

I will be calling Cingular to ask for a replacement battery.

Read Best Reviews of Nokia 6555 Unlocked GSM Flip Phone with 1.3MP Camera, Video MP3/Video Player, Bluetooth and microSD Here

I replaced my Motorola L6 with this Nokia 6555. I liked the L6 except the keys were very small and close together, so I would sometimes hit the wrong key. Also, I had to lock the keys whenever I carried it so a key would not get pressed accidentally. What I needed was a flip phone with slightly larger keys and this Nokia was just the ticket.

This cell phone has so many features that I will only list a few. First off, my friend just got a Samsung Blackjack II and this Nokia does almost all the same things that his does. They both have MP3, 3G, Bluetooth, internet access, camera, Micro SD memory ready, organizer, and more with services through ATT. As far as we can tell thus far is the only thing the Smartphones have the Nokia 6555 does not have is Microsoft Mobile Suite. The Blackjack keys are so tiny that I do not know how anyone can use them. Plus, the Blackjack cost much more. The better choice is by far the Nokia 6555.

The only problem I am having is navigating the menus to find the settings I am looking for. I have to keep referring to the manual. I suppose after a while I will learn where everything is and memorize most of it.

The battery life seems to be about average for a fully loaded cell phone. Maybe some day they will make batteries that last much longer for those power users that complain about short battery talk time. For now we just have to charge the battery more often. Not a big deal for me. If I plan to use the phone a lot, then I simply charge my phone and headset at night to have a full charge on both and I am ready to go the next day. If I do not use it very much, then I only have to charge them about every 3 or 4 days.

Pros:

Slim and stylish.

Good sound quality.

Many features.

Cons:

Menus difficult to navigate.

UPDATE:

Another con is the backlight only stays on for 10 seconds and there is no way to adjust it to stay on longer.

Want Nokia 6555 Unlocked GSM Flip Phone with 1.3MP Camera, Video MP3/Video Player, Bluetooth and microSD Discount?

First, the bad. I purchased the Nokia 6555b from AT&T Jan 8, 2008. Three weeks later the exterior mini-display was cracked and inoperable. I had worn it on my belt while driving and my seat belt buckle put enough pressure on the mini-display to crack it. VERY disappointing. All Nokia had to do was put a thicker, more rigid plastic cover over the display and it would be fine. Instead, I have a busted phone. Except for the broken mini-display and the inability to see the clock or caller ID, the phone still works, but that mini-display is a Bad Design.

A lot of people complain about the battery. At first I experienced very short battery times as well. I even bought a second battery for $15 with some other accessories. I have never needed it. I believe the battery gets better with time. At first it was displaying low battery charge. Now it goes for a couple of days no problem. I charge it each night, though, just to be safe.

I bought the 6555 because it works with the Acura Hands Free Link system via Bluetooth. (Not all Bluetooth phones do.) It also works with the Ford Sync system. Both work very well. It is indeed nice to place or receive calls without having to find the phone. No clumsy earphones. No looking away to dial or press buttons. No wires at all. My wife leaves hers in her purse, I leave my in my pocket (not wearing it on my belt anymore--I might break it again.) With Sync, the Bluetooth even allows the phone to become a media player. Very cool.

Using the free downloadable Nokia software, you can edit the phonebook from your laptop via the special--and hard to find--micro USB cable that costs $15. But if your laptop has Bluetooth like mine--because I bought a Microsoft Bluetooth wireless laser mouse 8000 and its Bluetooth receiver also receives other Bluetooth devices like my phone--you can connect without having to buy the micro USB cable. The cable is handy to carry though, so you can connect the phone to other computers if necessary to download pictures and video if needed. Using this software, you can also make your own ring tones. My custom ringtone is Hillary Clinton cackling/laughing.

The main display has a nice large font that is visible in broad daylight. Color combinations (themes) are adjustable and some are better than others, but it's nice to have options.

The phone has a speaker phone built in if desired.

It's easy to switch from ring to vibrate--just hold the # key for a few seconds.

If you have MS Outlook as your emailer, you can sync your calendar.

The 6555 comes with a host of useful tools including: a Stopwatch with split times; a Countdown Timer to remember to take the roast out on time; a full-function Calculator; an Alarm Clock; Notes; To-Do list; and a Calendar.

It has some dumb games that are mostly demo only.

It has a very mediocre still camera and an even more mediocre video camera.

It can text, but I don't do that.

It can be configured for Push-To-Talk, at extra cost, if you must have walkie talkie capability.

I was worried about the tiny charging plug, but so far it's been durable, even though it did obsolete all my previous Nokia accessories.

It does need a micro-mini plug for the headphones if you want to use it as a personal music player. Mine included a short Micro-to-Standard mini adapter so you can use your regular headphones.

The Settings menu allows you to reconfigure what many of the buttons will do: if you need to get to some buried menu item like the calculator often, make the Right Selector button do it. One touch and you're in business. This is a very handy feature.

Overall, I am quite pleased with the phone. The audio quality is fine, it rarely drops calls and is small, thin and lightweight. The only real problem is how fragile the outer display is. Nokia should have shipped it with a protector or engineered it better from the get-go.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Geniatech iGrabber One Touch Video Grabber For MAC and PC, Push Button Recording

Geniatech iGrabber One Touch Video Grabber For MAC and PC, Push Button RecordingI bought this item in order to digitize some old VHS tapes of our wedding, some Hi-8 home videos of our travels, and some exercise tapes my wife wants to play from her laptop instead of a VCR. The item is very basic but provides the necessary connections to hook up our VCR to import the video footage. One of the interesting features is that it can automatically detect and work with just about any video format such as NTSC, PAL and SECAM, which is great if you have videos in more than one format. Here is the breakdown of my own experience with this product:

PACKAGING:

Professional package containing the iGrabber device, instructions, and a software installation CD-ROM. The instructions had a lot of screenshots and not much text information available for each step, but was sufficient enough for me.

INSTALLATION:

Big Problem: The software does not readily install on a Macintosh because the vendor improperly packaged the installation program instead some error (-1) appears and the installation fails.

The Solution: Locate the Installer Package and choose Show Package Contents (right-click to see this option), you will see another package inside it with the same name pop up in a new window. Double click on that inner package item and all works as it should. The company should fix the Package within a Package problem as the average user won't figure out how to get it to install.

PERFORMANCE:

The iGrabber performed very admirably for a product at any price. I am able to import VHS and 8mm Camera video at full resolution and full frame rate with no problems. The software does sometimes have a hiccup starting the second or later recording but is resolved by restarting the application. I can accept that in a $30 product. When the software is running, you can see the video and hear the audio in the application window. Simply press the button on the iGrabber to instantly initiate the video capture process and click your mouse in a special window that pops up to stop the recording when done. When capturing video, you may not hear the audio and the preview window will not update in realtime anymore this is normal and won't affect the quality of the video you are capturing. You can choose the video/audio format for compression, the directory location for automatic file creation, the resolution of the video being captured, and you can tweak tint, contrast, brightness, white and black levels, too. All the various settings are remembered each time you use the program.

** IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that your hard drive be able to keep up with the video/audio stream or the audio WILL get out of sync badly because of hanging, jerky video output. My internal drive was an SSD that had slow write performance and was not able to keep up with the 6Mbps H.264 file being created. I used the external drive I use for Time Machine backups and had perfect performance and no audio sync issues when using that fast media to create the MP4/H.264/AIC video files on. **

This software does not have any way to crop the video you are capturing, therefore, I recommend that you capture the video at full size and frame rate using the Apple Intermediate Codec (uses between 15-20Mbps, and then use another software program to edit, crop, and otherwise transcode into the format you want for the highest quality final project files. Wondershare Video to iPod (or Video Converter for Mac) is a good suite I use for just that purpose that was developed for Mac OS X.

OVERALL:

For the price, you can't beat this product. It could use some polishing and some bug fixing, however, it is very usable in its current form. It exposes numerous codecs for compressing the video and audio. I recommend H.264, MPEG 4, or the Apple Intermediate Codec for the video and uncompressed 16-bit, 48kHz audio. Slow or fragmented Hard Drives or SSD's with slow write speed will cause problems with this product where the audio gets out of sync and the video is not smooth, so make sure your system is fast enough to handle the data stream. There are many settings you will have to explore and tinker with on your own as the documentation is extremely limited and lacking and from other reviews, support is nearly non-existent. The user interface and menus are fairly intuitive.

This came with a CD that does not include the correct drivers for a Mac (and yes, I have TWO Macs that are supposedly compatible with the software). Actually, I don't know that, because the CD won't even open.

After scouring online for the MyGica website (do NOT search iGrabber, search "MyGica"), I finally found the drivers--they hide it very well. Click the link "Video Capture" on the Left Hand side of the screen, and you will see a download for Mac.

The other problem is that once I installed the software and was asked for a serial number, the serial number to use was NOT the one they said to enter on their website! I was sweating bullets, repeatedly entering a serial number from the CD sleeve that did not work (I didn't want to have to pay postage to send it back AND a restocking fee).

Finally, I tried the serial number they said NOT to use and it worked! Jeesh!

In response to a comment --->>>***AGAIN. Do NOT follow their directions. Try any of the serial numbers you see on all the packaging. One of them will work.

Finally, if you have a Mac with a built-in camera, once you hook up the VCR and open iGrabber, go to the top menu, click on "Digitizers," and select "iGrabber."

Supposedly (after extensive research on the web), setting your Video Setting to capture as JPEG is the most reasonable capture option. And warning--test the Sound!! Increase your Gain (under the Sound (Audio) Settings) if the sound is coming out too low from your computer.

Do not expect amazing Hi-Def results from the video you've captured--not gonna happen. Artifacts will appear on the bottom of the digitized video, and I don't know if that happens with every digitizer out there or not.

It would have been REALLY NICE if the company had included a manual that was actually helpful. Why did I have to figure out all this stuff from trial and error?

Buy Geniatech iGrabber One Touch Video Grabber For MAC and PC, Push Button Recording Now

I needed to transfer some old Hi-8 video and VHS to my computer. I found this and thought I'd give it a try as it was the least expensive of the options I had found. Set up took under 3 minutes. There is no manual, just a read me file (where obviously English was not a first language) but it is pretty self explanatory.

So far I have digitized one 2 hour tape from an old Sony Hi-8 (circa 1996). The video on the screen during the transfer is VERY shaky and grainy but when you're done and play it back the video is just fine. I had no issues with quality or sound on the one tape I transferred. I did not adjust ANY of the settings in the software.

Then I imported the video to iMovie and it all seems to be working fine and the quality appears to be the same as the original. (Maybe a tad bit better). I also ran other small programs (iCal, Firefox) during the transfer with no apparent issues. I'm running 10.5.8 on a 2.66GHz iMac with 2GB RAM, so nothing fancy.

It does exactly what it is supposed to do at a great price.

Read Best Reviews of Geniatech iGrabber One Touch Video Grabber For MAC and PC, Push Button Recording Here

I received the unit earlier than expected. The packaging was great and the item was as expected, until I attempted to install. The installation DVD would not work on my mac due to an error that told me the install DVD was damaged. The Windows drivers are included and worked fine after what seemed to be a lengthy install. After searching through the very poor manual that was included, and all of the installation files, I had to exhaustively search online for the mac driver only to find it under a completely different manufacturer name. The product now works but only after finding the correct drivers. Support for this product is non existent, so if you have trouble, you need to go search for the mygica website, not the name igrabber as expected.

Want Geniatech iGrabber One Touch Video Grabber For MAC and PC, Push Button Recording Discount?

I was fixing to spend more than $100 on a USB video capture device for mac. I'm very glad I did more research and ran into the iGrabber for Mac. For the price it did so much more than I expected. It performs well and let's you choose your video and audio settings before you record. I simply recorded what I wanted, then I uploaded it into iMovie to edit, and turned my VHS cassettes into DVDs.

Excellent device at an excellent price.

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Sony ECM-719 Walkman

Sony ECM-719 Walkman
  • High-quality electret condenser microphone with oxygen-free copper cord
  • Music/meeting mode switch enables suitable recordings for each situation
  • Designed for table-top or clip-on use
  • Frequency response: 100Hz-15kHz
  • Dual power options: plug-in or LR44 battery
  • Gold-plated L-shaped stereo miniplug

The wire at the point where it connects with the mike is too fragile. After 3 months it has lost contact and is useless to me now. Fixing it is a hassle and the minimum bench charge at the Sony store is prohibative.

Buy Sony ECM-719 Walkman Now

This is typical Sony. I have heard that it works great with a Sony Mini-Disc recorder... if you have one, maybe it's not so bad. For any other application, avoid this thing like the plague!

The microphone is designed to clip to a lapel or stand on a table. It's fine for the lapel: the mic will capture the speaker's voice and not much else. For standing on a table, it is absolutely useless. The speaker's voice must be within 6 inches to pick up anything. It's also very poor for a uni-directional microphone, it's more omni-directional in practice. Not what I expected from what Sony brands a "uni-directional" microphone.

This is the last time Sony robs me. I will never again buy another Sony-branded proprietary piece of junk. Never again!

Read Best Reviews of Sony ECM-719 Walkman Here

I've used this mic pretty strenuously for just over five years now, and it's still going strong. I've used it with a Sony MZ-R700 recording minidisc Walkman and a Sony Hi-MD MZ-RH1 recording minidisc Walkman. It records the voice beautifully in every environment I've used it including tours of industrial areas, dedications in the windy outdoors, presentations in bustling meeting rooms, and quiet interviews in closed offices. If you use it with these recorders, the compact size of the mic and the resulting quality of the recordings simply can't be beat.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Sony PEGA-VR100K Video Recorder Compatible with Clie PEG-UX, TG, NZ, and NX series

Sony PEGA-VR100K Video Recorder Compatible with Clie PEG-UX, TG, NZ, and NX seriesI bought this system when there were no reviews based on:

o Trusting the Sony brand name.

o Impulse Buy after getting a Clie

As to every device, there are pros and cons. Problem is when the cons >> Pros.

Pros:

o System is small, Light Weight.

o Can be placed vertical or horizontal.

o Accepts MS & MS Pro (30 min for every 128 megs approx. at high quality)

o Can record at various quality levels for memory efficincy.

o Line-in and Line-out + RF in.

Cons:

o System ONLY RECORDS, it does not play what you recorded, so playing recordings on a big screen TV is out of the question.

o No remote provided, which means you have to get up every time you want to start or stop a recording. Placing the system in a small space between your TV and DVD player adds the disadvantage of awkward button pressing.

o Way too expensive. for the price of 2 I can get a top quality DVD recorder.

o Recordings do not play on a PC.

Sony always does this,come up with a great product (Clie) and flood the market with prototype add-ons that are discontinued due to 'lack of sales'. I hope this trend doesn't last long.

First off, some of these people who offer reviews need to stick to beta and 8 tracks. In reference to a previous review, of course it doesn't playback, its a freakin recorder. Second, just because it lacks a remote doesn't make it bad (get up and start the record process yourself!!!!!!!!!) I digress though, I purchased one of these so I could watch movies on long plane rides from DC to LA via my Clie UX-50. I load up a 1 or 2 gig memory stick with about a half a dozen movies and I am in a happy minature video coma for hours. Of course I have to initially deflect all the curious questions about the UX-50. Ughh. The bottom line is that this is a great product that does EXACTLY what it is designed to do.... record video to memory sticks for later viewing on other memory stick compatible products. Sure its expensive, but its cutting edge, well designed and its a Sony product. If you havn't noticed, Sony products are not cheap. You get what you pay for.

Buy Sony PEGA-VR100K Video Recorder Compatible with Clie PEG-UX, TG, NZ, and NX series Now

I love this unit. You can choose to record at, basically, 3 quality levels. The sound and picture are great on my Sony UX-50. Many will consider it an expensive toy, but the quality is fantastic and I enjoy it. For the person that has everything...

Read Best Reviews of Sony PEGA-VR100K Video Recorder Compatible with Clie PEG-UX, TG, NZ, and NX series Here

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Sanyo MCD-V199M Portable VCD/CD Radio Cassette Player with Karaoke. Cassette Recorder with MP3-CD P

Sanyo MCD-V199M Portable VCD/CD Radio Cassette Player with Karaoke. Cassette Recorder with MP3-CD Playback 110V-240V for Worldwide Use.
  • 110V - 240V Unit for Worldwide Use. Top Loading VCD/CD player.
  • Portable VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3-CD Radio Cassette Player. Only Cassatte Recorder with MP3-CD Playback.
  • FM Stereo / AM 2-band Radio. 100W P.M.P.O
  • Line in (AUX in) Terminal for All Music Player
  • KARAOKE Function. Remote Control. BASSXPANDER, VIDEO CD, MP3 MEGA AUDIO, COMPACT DISC DIGITAL AUDIO.

I wanted a Karaoke capable boom box with a radio and cassette. This has all the parts, they just aren't integrated together. Some notes on this:

* It only plays VCD disks, not CD-G disks. It seems everything is CD-G.

* The microphones do not work except if you have a VCD disk in. (Well, I don't know,

because I can't find a VCD disk). It would have been fine if the mics worked all the time. It's silly to turn them off except for VCD disks. Kids want to sing along with everything.

* You cannot record from the microphones. I was really hoping we could do that so my kids could hear themselves for choir.

The above three issues are ridiculous.

The quality and sound are ok, not exceptional by any means. Radio seems to work ok, though mine was off a bit on the displayed frequency. I didn't try the mp3 part.

I'm sending it back.

Buy Sanyo MCD-V199M Portable VCD/CD Radio Cassette Player with Karaoke. Cassette Recorder with MP3-CD P Now

I brought 2 of these as gifts for people who did not have players and who I wanted to send some CD's to. They LOVED this player. They said it was easy to use and with 4 speakers it sounded great. I would recommend this player and it was delivered 2 days early.

Roger

.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Versio

Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Version with WarrantyAfter loosing the phone (samsung 807) which came with my cingular contract, I was on hunt for a cheap, nice phone with not many internet features. Because the guy who stole my phone made huge bill using internet.

After searching for a while I fixed on w200i. And after using it for a week, I am very much satisfied. The good points are

1) Walkman player on the phone is very good. Sound quality is very good with the included earbuds. Also the included 128MB memory stick is sufficient for ~20 songs which is nice, but I want to upgrade it to 2GB stick.

2) FM radio is good

3) Voice dialing. I like the implementation of voice dialing on this phone better compared to samsung D807.

On D807, there is no user control on how a contact is to be pronounced. Based on stored conact's name, the phone assumes a pronounciation. Since names are not standard english words, this always leads to wrong assumptions.Also being from India, my accent is different from American accent. And for me,it never worked on D807 satisfactorily.

On w200i, you can record a sound and associate it with a contact. Whenever you pronounce the sound, the associated contact is called. This way I can use the correct sound for the name and also I can use nicknames. This is much better and for me more natural.

4) Sound volume is good & clear. Unlike D807, I don't have to press the phone to my ears.

5) Light weight and looks cool

6) Limited internet features. This phone comes with no net browsing facility and limited data features. This way I don't end up with extra bill for using internet, after inadvertently pressing some button (many phones I saw have the important buttons associated with internet). This is good for those like me, who don't have/want data plans.

Average w.r.t.

1) Battery life

2) camera quality

Bad

1) The hands free cable implementation is a mess. It can be designed better I feel. The clip should be above the heavy handsfree button. Also for me, the left earbud cable is a bit short

This is a pretty solid phone. The one I got came from Mexico. It still was easy to switch it to english, but some of the stuff is still in spanish, such as the games. Not really a big deal to me, though. It's pretty simple to use and everything. No real complaints as of yet.

Buy Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Versio Now

I love SONY cellphones, but this one is a disaster mainly due to the very poor screen. Not enough light, and whatever you do see on the screen seems to be of very low resolution and low contrast.

Very limited menus, although you can download some, it seems. I can't rate the other features because I got sick of it just trying to improve the themes, the wallpaper and the lighting. But, it's low

price, so not too much money wasted.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Versio Here

Tremendo telefono, tengo ya mas de 4 años con el, y si ningun problema. La interfas grafica mucho mejor que algunos telefenos nuevos y muy facil de usar. La camara si no es de lo mejor, pero como reproductor de musica es genial.

Want Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Versio Discount?

Good, cell phone, a good quality. A little more than a regular cell. Just perfect!

Monday, February 17, 2014

VIO POV 1.5

VIO POV 1.5 Video SystemLove the rugged unit. Very easy to use. Love the loop mode so I don't have to record all day, just tag the good stuff.

The wireless remote is the only detractor. You have to have it close to the unit so if you have the main unit in your backpack you have to get your wrist close to it in order to tag a loop.

Very long battery life with rechargeable batteries. I would also recommend the extra mounting kit as it has many more mounts that will give you more flexibility.

I purchased this camera at Amazon and have used it for six months now. I have also used other helmet-mounted video cameras. This camera has a couple features that no other camera system under $500 has, so if you need those features you have to get this camera. However, many of the details about using this camera have been absolutely maddening and I've cursed VIO aloud many times. Here's a summary of pros & cons (as compared to other sub-$500 cameras):

PROS:

* Nice LCD monitor to check what you just filmed.

* Uses AA batteries rather than rechargeable, so you can bring extra batteries and use it all weekend without needing 110V and time to recharge.

* "Loop" function to retroactively record what you just did. Great in theory (and the main reason I bought this camera), but in practice it is maddening (see below).

* Some interesting accessories, such as transparent dust cover for lense (for off-road filming)

CONS:

* Mounting systems SUCK! I bought the $70 mounting kit, and virtually every mount has a serious design flaw, is unecessarily complex and time-consuming to use, and is not reliable. None of the mounts designed to be attached with glue pads have broad flat surfaces to which a glue pad can actually adhere. SO guess what -they fall off! Every mount had some flaw that made it unreliable. For examples: The Wire Guide mounts don't actually grip the wire firmly, so at any speeds above 30mph the wind pulls out the wire on three different helmets -useless. The "Star Mount" for helmets is flimsy, ridiculously large, and has no good surfaces to which its glue pad can adhere (BOTH my Star Mounts fell off the helmets just sitting on a shelf, even BEFORE the first use!). Finally, all the mounts require the use of tiny screws that must be firmly tightened or else they'll fall out, yet they are of poor quality and strip VERY easily. And at least three slightly different size tiny screws are used, and no extras are provided. Just stupid compared to other cameras' clever mounting systems for helmets. {I offer no comments on the mounts other than for helmets -the other mounts actually appear more useful with caveat about the tiny screws still applying)

* Even the $30 fabric pouch for attaching the heavy CPU unit to your vest, etc. has a design flaw. It appears to be a very beefy design overall, EXCEPT the two final straps that actually hold the CPU unit in place are thin fabric with very small velcro patches -they'll tear off and unit will fall out if you are doing anything very bouncy, so you must use zip ties. If these two straps were simply wider and used bigger velcro patch it would be an AWESOME pouch. But as it stands it stinks.

* Heavier & more complicated than other camera systems

* Remote is not very water-resistant (mine failed during first use on a jet ski), nor is main unit (which requires $100 accessory to be water-resistent).

* "Loop" function is maddening. When you push the button to retroactively record the last "3 minutes" of video, you have no idea of knowing what it will actually record. What is actually recorded will range from past 1 minute to past 4 minutes PLUS will ALSO record going forward another 1-4 minutes (which sort of defeats the purpose of retroactively recording it seems to me). I suppose if you are a professional film editor who plans on spending 6 hours reviewing the day's footage this is okay, but for an amateur looking to watch cool videos from his day's ride it forces you to record & watch 2-4x longer video than you really want, and you never know if you actually captured what you want to capture. It would be much nicer to push the "record the past 3 minutes" button and have the camera actually just record the last 3 minutes. (I realize that this description may sound inscrutible if you are not familiar with the Loop function, so I apologize).

Buy VIO POV 1.5 Now

This camera is superior than others in having the lcd screen and small profile camera head, but don't be fooled into purchasing anything from V.I.O. or it may cost you.

Price: costs a LOT more than the competitors

Accessories: you will need them and WOW will you have to pay top dollar to get them. $90 just for a mounting kit.

Repairs: They don't do them. Something breaks, buy a new one.

Firmware updates: You have to BUY them too!

Professionalism: Ended up getting the wrong extension cord from their website because it was incorrectly labeled as compatible for my camera. Also took almost a week to get my email to customer service answered.

Design flaws: POV1.0 Camera head opened under normal use. Head can be easily unscrewed when removing the a/v cable because it is not fixed closed. (it is threaded to open for no apparent reason and attached to where the a/v cable attaches. If camera head twists open, the fixed wiring will pull away from components and render the camera head useless. ($200 replacement part). No warning in the instruction manual and they do not repair or have refurbished parts. Customer service first said the product was used improperly. When I disputed this and it was clear that it opened while used as directed, the supervisor intervened and stated that the user tampered with the product and voided the warranty. This design flaw was fixed for the POV1.5 when they created the tethered head, but they claim this change was done to "make the camera easier to use" not because of a design flaw.

Design Flaw #2: Camera will not stay secure in the mount on its own. I had to add tape around the body of the camera to secure it tighter in the mount so that it would stay fixed upright. Camera head would not stay upright on my helmet and video would be ruined because camera was shooting at a crooked angle.

There are plenty of helmet cameras out on the market for half the price. For the price of VIO cameras, there should be much better customer service. This is not the case.

Read Best Reviews of VIO POV 1.5 Here

This is a great camera system. Rugged, very good quality video. Good battery life. Lots of mounting options. I wash there was a recording indicator on the remote.

Want VIO POV 1.5 Discount?

Easy to use. I now own two of these so I can mount one on my helmet and the other one on my snowmobile.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Add-On Camera For Lw2311 And Lw2712 Weather-Resistant

Add-On Camera For Lw2311 And Lw2712 Weather-ResistantThis is the best camera for the money . Nice wide angle lens . Three cameras cover around my whole yard. This system was on the DIY show I want that .

I added this camera to my system to cover the back of the house. The original covered the front. Installation was easy and the operation of the two cameras has been consistent. No down time. Only minor flaw is that I've found it very hard to sync up with Skype, which may be my fault more than the the camera system.

Buy Add-On Camera For Lw2311 And Lw2712 Weather-Resistant Now

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

"Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder"

'Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder'I was really hesitant about buying a voice recorder. I thought about it years ago but thought it would be a waste to hear 2 hr lectures again, BUT with the "T-Mark" button which allows me to "bookmark" a part of the recording, I can easily skip through all of the other stuff to things I thought were important. I especially like that I can also place a T-Mark after the recording has been made and I have reviewed it. The sound quality is great on this recorder, and the Noise Cut is a great help when reviewing with ear buds. Especially since I tend to move a lot of paper around during lecture. I also really like that you can record in different folders, and you can come back to where you left off if you leave the recording. The speed control is also great in case the person said something too quick, you don't have to sit there and try to figure it out. Although I have yet to try it, I'm really looking forward to being able to transfer things onto my computer. I really like that this function is available, or you can also use a memory card for transfer. I like that it has a little "stand" attached to it so it does not have to lay flat as it is recording (reduces noise). The recorder also saves batteries by shutting down after about 1 minute of non use (not playing/recording/deleting). You can simply place it on hold if you need to step away for a small period to say for example take a quick phone call or bathroom break. Overall great product, lightweight, easy to use, and comes with a carrying bag. Although it is a bit on the higher side of the price scale for all of the recorders I looked at here on Amazon, it is well worth the investment if you plan to use it for a long period of time.

*UPDATE*Have been using this for about 6 months now with no problems. Sounds great when played back and has come in real handy after a LONG day of lectures in multiple classes. I sometime listen to it in the car instead of the radio. Also, if you ever find that you transfered one of the MP3 files to the computer and it's a 6 hour long file that you forgot to break up, there is a program I use called Slice Audio File Splitter. It is free to download on CNET. It lets you choose how many pieces you want the file broken down to or you can choose to break it down by any amount of time you choose. I use this for audiobooks as well that I listen to on my MP3 player. Hope this helps!

I use a voice recorder extensively for my work in on-the-road sales as an important supplement to my regular note-taking. I also use it extensively for personal reminders and other personal matters. I used an RCA voice recorder prior to this for a number of years before it bit the dust. The Sony AX412 puts the RCA to shame in all respects. Recording quality is excellent and it does a pretty fair job of blocking out road noise and noise from my noisy a/c unit. I've even used the Sony to record sounds that I use in my 3D animations and they've turned out extremely well. Since my primary use of this recorder is for note-taking, I have not tested this device yet in meeting/lecture situations, therefore my review is admittedly somewhat limited in terms of it's effectiveness in other situations.

For my purposes, which is primarily riding around in a van all day, I started checking out the various voice levels to see which ones would be best suited for my needs. The device has various recording "scenes" to choose from such as Voice Notes, Interview, Lecture and Meeting. After some experimentation, I decided the Interview scene mode worked best for my situation. The Meeting scene also worked almost as well, but I believe (and I could be wrong about this) that the Meeting mode actually requires more memory. Voice Notes, which you would logically assume would be the best choice, was actually the least desirable in terms of volume level on playback. The volume was way too low and because I'm hard of hearing, that just made it totally unacceptable.

The manual is pretty clear on most things but it got a little hard for me at first to understand when it came to adding files to existing files, but it turned out to be pretty easy once I began experimenting with the software that comes with it. I like the fact that this software allows me to combine separate but related files into one file. In fact, the Sound Organizer software is really quite excellent overall and provides a wide range of tools that can be used to manipulate your sound files. Beyond that, the manual is very well written and very clear. Transferring files from the device to the computer was very important to me and this works flawlessly.

The sound quality, whether the recorded voice or music,is outstanding when played back through my computer speakers. It serves as a very respectable MP3 player. Of course, it records in stereo MP3 format. I will say that because I deal with a lot of road noise, I do have to hold the microphone(s) fairly close to my mouth when recording if I want nice and crystal clear recordings, which is just fine with me. I have done quite a bit of experimenting holding the device away from me and below my mouth level, etc and find that sound quality suffers pretty radically, so I simply keep it close to my mouth when recording and it does the job just fine. Again, bear in mind, that my van is noisy, there's a lot of traffic noise and the a/c is very noisy. It would take a pretty expensive and sophisticated mic setup to overcome all that. We're talking about a device that sells for under $100 here and, keeping that in perspective, the AX412 does a remarkable job.

There are some features that this device has that I have not really tested. One of those is voice-activation. Personally, I don't have much use for it at this time. The AX412 also has a plug-in for an external mic which I think is another very cool feature to have as an option. An external mic coupled with voice activation could be very useful in meeting and lecture situations. Obviously, it has a headphone input as well. Memory can be expanded by use of micro SD cards. You can slow down or speed up speech and/or playback. It has a noise cut filter than can be turned on or off. I usually leave the noise filter on for all of those reasons previously stated.

The unit is very durable. I have dropped it a number of times and it had held up very well. Now I'm not saying it could take a lot of punishment, but it has survived my clumsiness so far. By the way, it comes with a nice protective draw-string bag to keep it in. Very helpful for people like me.

One very nit-picking complaint I have is that the erasure procedure is somewhat more cumbersome than i would like. However, it is probably a good thing that you can't easily accidentally erase your files, so maybe it's actually a good thing that you have to go through a series of procedures first before the file can be erased. Again, it isn't that big a deal; it isn't that hard. With my previous RCA recorder, all I had to do was hold down a button and it would erase the recording.

If I had to single out any real complaints, it would be that the playback volume on the device itself is not as loud as I would like when using it in the company van. Even at the maximum volume levels, I have to hold it pretty close in order to hear it, but again, bear in mind that I am hard of hearing. Also, I have discovered that most of the problems I've had with playback volume can be solved by simply remembering to hold the microphone closer to my mouth. Battery life is pretty decent. It uses 2 triple A's. I like the fact that the device will turn itself off if no recording activity is detected after a period of time.

In spite of of these nit-picks, I have to give the AX412 five stars because I believe that, for this particular price point, it may just be one of the hidden jewels and best deals around. "At rest" sound quality is outstanding. That it records as well as it does in the noisy environment that I use it in is remarkable. It's easy to use and versatile. It can even act as a flash drive for those that need that capability. To be quite honest, this device is probably more than I really need, but I certainly don't regret having purchased it. I can highly recommend this to anyone looking for a reasonably priced, but powerful little digital recorder.

Update: April 18, 2012

Well, it's been going on a year now and this recorder has held up beautifully. I have now used it to record product demonstrations & company lectures. For these last, I think it would have been better if I would have had a more powerful mic placed in a more appropriate spot. Or perhaps with a little more experimentation (like changing the "Scene" mode), I would have had better results. Nevertheless, this has been an extraordinarily useful and easy-to-use tool for my work as a roadman-type sales rep. I even use it to track my mileage! And yes, I'm still clumsy and this thing has continued to take it's share of knocks and still performs flawlessly. I have yet to buy or try out a microSD memory card with it, but I also have never yet run out of memory and I often record 2 hours a day (or more) with it without transferring it to my computer. I know, that's not too smart, but still, it amazes me how much data this thing will hold. As before, I still highly recommend it.

Buy "Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder" Now

I am a volunteer for a local agency that collects oral histories for the Veterans' History Project(Library of Congress). I wanted a recorder that is easy to use, provides good quality sound and enables me to easily import the audio files to my laptop and then burn a cd copy. This recorder met all of my requirements and fully exceeded my expectations! I have used it several times and have been pleased with the quality of the recording and ease of use.

Read Best Reviews of "Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder" Here

I bought this for my dad who has insisted on using his dependable high end tape voice recorder -also a Sonyfor twenty years.

There were some initial hurdles introducing this device: it has about 15 buttons all over it (old device: volume + tape controls), it takes almost 2 seconds to turn on (old device: instant) and it looks significantly cheaper (old device: metal).

Surprisingly, what won this hard-core tape user over in the end was the playback sound quality and small size. The entire gadgetry (pitch control, folders, safe erase, computer download, ...) made much less of an impression I suppose these speak to different kind of users such as interviewers or transcribers, not "voice note takers".

All in all, this is a really sweet little recorder, easy to operate and with great voice sound quality. I'm withholding one star because it doesn't turn on instantly. I realize that the current competition is probably the same and it won't matter for many use cases, but when you give this to an older person who takes impromptu voice notes as they go about their day, it's a bit of a drawback.

Want "Sony ICD-AX412 Digital Flash Memory Voice Recorder" Discount?

To buy an IC recorder I had shopped for 6 months and finally determined to buy Sony -ICD-AX412.

As I expected it is excellent IC recorder for my use and personal goal.

First of all it has very clear sound quality, big screen, easy operating features as well as external memory function. Especially, recording function and quality are super. Only one inconvenient thing is unable to read screen during night since there is no LED is provided for night use. When this IC recorder is broken, I would like to buy the same one.

Save 11% Off

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Audiovox Electronics Homebase DPF711K Digital Message/Video Center/ Digital Picture Frame

Audiovox Electronics Homebase DPF711K Digital Message/Video Center/ Digital Picture FrameThe audiovox message center is interesting, but maybe a little slow to be completely useful! I like being able to record a message and have the light come on to indicate a message. The light is also on for a calendar event that has a message, so sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. I couldn't get the card reader slot to read my SD card, but was able to easily load some pictures using my flash drive. It's a fun conversation piece, but we are using it more as a digital frame right now.

The idea of having a digital picture frame with message center is great. However, this product is a bit hard to use. There are 4 buttons: menu, message, and up & down. The buttons often have contact problems, and I have to press many times to get it started. And you have to do everything with these buttons, so it is a pain. But I guess it is still better than just a digital picture frame...

Buy Audiovox Electronics Homebase DPF711K Digital Message/Video Center/ Digital Picture Frame Now

Initially I was impressed by the design of this unit... Hey, a 7" Digital Photo Frame, a message center, a calendar and space for notes. Pretty good. However, the set up and controls are a hassle and took the smile off. Then when I turned on the photo viewer I found out that the quality was pathetic. The photos are grainy, the colors are saturated and over all a disgrace. Audiovox provides no adjustment to tone down the overpowering reds and balance the ever present green. You won't want to show the full 7" photos, thus, the best you can do is set the display to thumbnail and split screen it with a clock. It is sad that Audiovox coulda/woulda had a good product if they would not have cut the corners to save a few bucks and chose to put in a descent display. This is not an inexpensive product but it is cheaply made one. Sad. Not Recommended.

Read Best Reviews of Audiovox Electronics Homebase DPF711K Digital Message/Video Center/ Digital Picture Frame Here

I love this! It is an awesome product! The picture and video are super easy to use and the calendar feature I use to leave myself video reminders as far as a month out! The only downside is that the sound quality is very poor... I ended up opening it up and hooking up a cheap pair of passive speakers to it and it was night and day different (Be advised: This involved soldering, and is NOT plug and play)

Awesome product! If they advertised this on mainstream media, I am certain that everyone would want one!

Want Audiovox Electronics Homebase DPF711K Digital Message/Video Center/ Digital Picture Frame Discount?

I was scared to order this after reading the bad reviews. but it was exactly what i needed in my kitchen since I leave a note everday. the review about the sound being poor was what worried me most since i thought it would be fun to leave a voice note. well their is a volume button and i had it turned up all the way and it was very loud. it was too loud i had to turn it down . so great that works! picture quality is good. as long as you start with a good photo, if your picture is blurry it will look poor. it is easy to hang up and they give you things to hide the cord. if you have a white wall you will be able to hide it, my wall is yellow and it didnt look good so idecided to change location and its fine. i love this product.

Save 69% Off

Samsung SDE-3001 4 Channel DVR Security and Surveillance Kit

Samsung SDE-3001 4 Channel DVR Security and Surveillance KitOverall, I have to say that the setup and installation of this system was very easy. The 500GB hard drive stores many days of footage, even at the highest quality/continuous recording mode. The user interface takes a little while to be comfortable. Some of the terminology used on the screens and in the user manual could use a bit more explanation. For instance, they don't explain what "spot-out" means and setting motion detection areas took a while to find and configure properly. Use the attached USB mouse because using the remote to configure this unit will drive you absolutely frustrated. I suggest not setting the sensitivity to 8(High Sensitivity) because the infrared night vision LEDs attract flying insects and you will have constant events being triggered, unless the camera will be inside. Over all, I give this a 4-star rating only because the camera mounts are not the greatest design. They have a screw to attach into the back top or bottom of the camera, but the tightening nut doesn't tighten down without a lot of fiddling with. The RJ45 connectors on the end of the camera wire (about 9 inches) are a female RJ45 port and a bit bulky to conceal but still better than running a RG58/59 coax and separate power lines. The cameras are powered over the standard outdoor rated CAT5e UTP Ethernet cables (included). If you want to have tidy installation, a box of RJ45 connectors and a cheap RJ45 connector crimping tool is a must. Tie-wraps and hammer-in cable clamps are also a good idea for a neat job. I wondered if these cameras would get covered with snow in the winter months, but they seem to get slightly warm while operating, enough to melt any snow or ice that sticks to them. The night vision on these cameras projects IR at least 50 feet in the center of the viewing field. Try not to mount it too close to soffit, eaves or backside of the fascia boards or the cameras will try to adjust to the IR reflecting off of the structure, leaving the important areas very dark. Hope this is helpful.

This is the 2nd system I bought. The first one was sold through Amazon not by Amazon. I could not get the power to come on and Samsung tech suggested I return it (not much help). I had already installed the cameras and cables very painstakingly and professionally looking. I couldn't just return a part I had to return it all. I did get the required authorization and returned it. This system sold by Amazon (exactly the same) gives me the option of returning a single defective part. It cost about 10.00-15.00 more but worth it should there be a problem. I was unable to install it for about a month due to other projects and work, but just finished installing it today. I am happy to report that the power did come on and it works. The paperwork that comes with this unit is not written with much explaination. I highly suggest installing the CD manual and going off of it. I am still in the process of setting up the remote access to my smart phone, but so far so good with everything else. ALSO I have yet to have it installed through the night so I can't say how well the cameras work in the dark. They are supposed to be very good night vision cameras which is one reason I selected this system over other cheaper systems. I can tell you the daylight look is very good!

Buy Samsung SDE-3001 4 Channel DVR Security and Surveillance Kit Now

The best security system for the price by far, Awesome product.Easy to set up and install and doesn't need seperate power cords for cameras

Read Best Reviews of Samsung SDE-3001 4 Channel DVR Security and Surveillance Kit Here

Where do I start. Had the system up for 2 months and had a light rain one night before this past Christmas and poof......one camera out.Had to contact Samsung and get an R.M.A for a return and I had to pay shipping.Watched the video playback of when it went out and it was under an eve too during the little bit of rain it received. When I pulled the connector apart and looked at it, it was burned up inside and smelled like pure fried up electronics which made me think that this could maybe burn the house down in a rainy situation.

Then last night our vehicle was broken into in which i have a camera 15 feet away aimed at both vehicles and guess what.....We couldn't make out a face,the clothes,the shoes,the hat ect of the perp on playback. Worst night recording I have ever seen.Looks like you have 50 sheets of screen door material in front of the camera when veiwing the recording and that's after 2 hours of trying to find the best settings in the system menu.

600.00 dollars down the drain and i can't return it.During the day it's fantastic but all of the thievery and crimes happen 99% at night. Very Very Dissappointed. Once again 600.00 with an extended warranty and 5 hours of nut breaking installation hanging off of a ladder.Listen to me now and believe me later....pass on this system if you need decent night recording and need these cameras in all weather situations.

Want Samsung SDE-3001 4 Channel DVR Security and Surveillance Kit Discount?

This system is a snap to install considering other alternatives in the market which require a seperate ethernet cable for signal and power. The picture quality is 2/5. It says it's weather proof but after 2 days of rain in Southern California I lost the only camera that was installed outdoors. I wouldn't recomend this system.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Supersonic SC-23 2.0 Channel DVD Player with USB and SD Card Slot

Supersonic SC-23 2.0 Channel DVD Player with USB and SD Card SlotSmall, lightweight, basic DVD player. For those interested, there's no HDMI port. I haven't yet tried the USB port or SD Card slot options. In addition to the front power button, there's a power button on the back which you have to turn on before you can use the front one or the remote control. The USB port & SD Card Slot are on the right side as you look at front. Easy Hook Up to TV Component 1 or 2.

Comes with remote control (triple AAA batteries not included), AV Cables, & instructions.

So this DVD player worked great for a couple weeks. The remote was a little finicky, I constantly had to move around the room and point it at different angles to get it to work, but the player itself worked fine. The dvd and usb hookup worked great. Then after a little while, the remote just got worse and worse! I had to stand literally OUTSIDE of the room the player was in and point at it from really far away to get it to work. Sometimes I need to stand there for like 10 minutes just trying to select what I want to watch (which is EXTREMELY frustrating because I either use it to workout or set my toddler up with a movie). Once I get it to start... it's ok. On the player itself you can only push play, pause, or stop. You can't fast forward rewind or scroll. So yeah, it basically just really sucks. When I finally get it at the right angle where it works... it's ok, but why the heck should I have to stand in the hallway and aim my remote to the side of the player (not even AT the player) to get it to work?

I would return it, but my own fault. I didn't open the product until a while after I had already received it. I think it's too late now. And no, it's not the batteries, I have tried with fresh batteries MANY times. :(

Buy Supersonic SC-23 2.0 Channel DVD Player with USB and SD Card Slot Now

What good is a DVD player if the tray doesn't open? I left it unused for about a month, which I know is my fault, so now after discovering this problem I can't return it. The only reason this has 2 stars instead of 1 (or zero) is because I purchased this player for the USB port, which works.

Read Best Reviews of Supersonic SC-23 2.0 Channel DVD Player with USB and SD Card Slot Here

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Honeywell Ademco L3000PK Lynx Plus Complete Starter Kit

Honeywell Ademco L3000PK Lynx Plus Complete Starter KitI am pleased with this security system. There are several factors that I really like about this system. The ease of operation once it is installed, and also the fact that no one can mess with this unit merely by cutting the regular land line phone lines.

The keyfob makes it a cinch to operate and it allows the owner to squash the hopes of any criminal, past, present, and future to attempt to get the combination because no one can get at that combination, even if the owner is under surveillance.

There is only one factor that I would like to review with anyone that wants to purchase this unit. An average person with no knowledge of electrical wiring will not be able to install this system. One has to have a good amount of expertise to be able to wire this unit and install it correctly. The company should probably mention this.

Therefore, anyone that wants to purchase this system should be aware of the fact that there is an additional cost of installation when getting this unit.

Save 15% Off