The camera is too light and current moves it easy . Lens focuses too close no depth of view in water . Go pro type lens needed . Wish I could return this one . Waste of money .
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Navroute Neptune EZ Silver DVR Underwater Video System (30 meter)
The camera is too light and current moves it easy . Lens focuses too close no depth of view in water . Go pro type lens needed . Wish I could return this one . Waste of money .
Monday, November 10, 2014
Philips PD7012/37 7-Inch LCD Dual Screen Portable DVD Player, Black

- The color LCD display brings images to life, showing off your treasured photos, favorite movies and music with the same 'real life' rich detail and vibrant colors as high quality prints.
- It comes with convenient in-car accessories to enhance your movie enjoyment on the road. A car adaptor allows you to power your portable DVD player using the cigarette charger
- The Philips Portable DVD player is compatible with most DVD and CD discs available in the market. DVD, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, (S)VCD, and CD - all of them can play on the DVD player
- Dual screens allow you to display same videos or images from the portable DVD players. Simply plug in and mount the screens on the headrests in your car.
- The DVD-Video player remembers where you have finish viewing a DVD and continue playing from the exact scene where you stopped watching even after a power failure.
Buy Philips PD7012/37 7-Inch LCD Dual Screen Portable DVD Player, Black Now
I recently purchased this item after much researching and reading reviews of other similiar products. I was desperate for portable Dvd players for my sons (ages 3 1/2 and 7) for our long ride on vacation.These are great! They were VERY easy to hook up. The actual screens fit very well around the headrests and were perfect for viewing by my sons. My oldest son (age 7) was able to work the entire thing independently including changing dvds. Volume and picture are great. Each screen has individual volume and brightness controls. I love the fact that after turning off/on the car, the dvd starts where you left off. That is a nice feature that alot of other players do not have. Great product and exactly what we were looking for!
Read Best Reviews of Philips PD7012/37 7-Inch LCD Dual Screen Portable DVD Player, Black Here
I bought these to entertain my 2 year old twins on longer trips. I have had them for a couple of months now and I really can't complain. They have a good picture quality and can be connected to a TV (which was great when we were on vacation). It is true they only work when plugged in. There is no stored battery, but that has not been an issue for me. My only wish is that it came with a remote. It is impossible to restart a movie while I am driving. They were worth the $119 I spent. (Best Buy on sale)Want Philips PD7012/37 7-Inch LCD Dual Screen Portable DVD Player, Black Discount?
We got this for long car rides and have used it 4 times so far...kids love it! Easy to set up and use, good picture, ok sound (have to set both screens volume at high for highway travel). Power cords are long enough to reach from front car outlet to 2nd row headrest for the kids in the 3rd row. Velcro straps connect screens to headrests easily and securely.READ THE OWNERS MANUAL: Many reviews I read before buying this complained about the 2nd screen not working right from the start and I wonder if they read in the manual were it says DO NOT connect the second screen to the 1st while the 1st is on, turn both screens off before connecting.
Overall we are very happy with this product and recommend it.We bought these for our twins to watch on a long drive when we moved. At first they were great but then 4 weeks later the 2nd one stopped working. Amazon replaced it, 5 weeks later those stopped working. Here I am returning a THIRD set and I dont want another one. I will be looking for a new brand to buy.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Sony CFD-E90 CD Radio Cassette Recorder (White)

- CD, cassette, and radio boombox with CD-cassette synchro dubbing
- Compact remote control, fold-out carry handle
- 20 FM and 10 AM station presets; drift-free digital PLL tuning
- Sleep/wake timer, jog dial for easy clock setting, and track selection
- Audio CD-R/CD-RW playback compatibility, Mega Bass low-end sound enhancement
However, after one week the CD Player would not play a disc, instead read "no disc" even when one was inserted. I later have read where this is a common failure with this unit. I returned it and tried another, but this one gave the "no disc" error right out of the box. Very disappointing product from Sony.
I ended up returning it and got something else entirely. Don't waste your time on this product.
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We received 2 as gifts last Christmas. Both broke in 90 days same issue as everyone else "No disc" error. AVOID AT ANY PRICE!!!!!!! This is junk!!!!!Read Best Reviews of Sony CFD-E90 CD Radio Cassette Recorder (White) Here
I purchased the Cd Radio Cassette-Corder CFD-E90 for my 1 year old son for Christmas. About a month ago we started getting the Error No Disc problem. It seems to be getting progressivly worse. The unit will not play CDs anymore and it is less than 6 months old! Never again I even paid extra to get the Sony name, but I won't do it again......Want Sony CFD-E90 CD Radio Cassette Recorder (White) Discount?
I really did like this product, back when it actually worked. Then I started getting the infamous "No Disc" message. I really think Sony should do something about this unit. I don't know why they just didn't make it to say "Place Fist Here and Pound" instead of "No Disc." That really is what it makes you feel like. I finally got fed up and went to Best Buy for a replacement product. I bought a Sony CFD-S350, and it works fine. I guess the E series was just a really bad design or something.Terrible sound quality and non-intuitive controles. Lack of digital radio tuning a HUGE turn-off for radio listeners. Don't buy this piece of junk.Thursday, October 16, 2014
SecuVox 4GB Motion Detection Night Vision HD Clock Camcorder and Player (Silver)
I bought this and returned it. I may have gotten a defective product that is why I am unhappy. The concept of the product is great but it just wasn't functioning right. I wrote a review in the sharper image website after being asked to rate the product but since I rated it low, they never posted my review.So I am glad that it is available here at Amazon so I can let you know about this product. The concept of the item is great. But it is not well made. The buttons on the unit itself does not react right away when you press it. The remote can be confusing to use because instead of saying what the buttons are for, they are just marked A B C. So you have to keep guessing what those letters mean. It uses this really oversized rechargeable AA battery that when you put it in the unit, it is difficult to take it out. There is no AC adapter and you have to keep charging the unit using your computer but the unit won't fully charge that is why I think it was defective in the first place.
I suggest you purchase a better item at Amazon which maybe a little bit more expensive but may have better reviews than what I am writing for this product.I have mixed feelings about my purchase of this device. It works as advertised. The buttons are a little clumsy to use, as one has to press a button for "eight seconds" for a command to register. Additional buttons may have been helpful. However, the real Achilles heel of the device, at least in my case, appears to be the battery. I charged it repeatedly, but the whole thing dies after a few days. It works for an afternoon, certainly, but when I leave it somewhere for a week, not only is its dead, so is its memory. I really think that given the design parameters and the need for cheapness, its engineers must be commended for their efforts; however, its usefulness would have been greatly enhanced if it had either an outlet plug-in or a double battery to enhance its longevity.
But, hey, it works.
Buy SecuVox 4GB Motion Detection Night Vision HD Clock Camcorder and Player (Silver) Now
I purchased the Clock camcorder for my room, when I am gone to work. The first day, it kept cutting itself on, but no one had entered the room, and nothing had moved. No open windows, where wind could blow. I even covered the numbers on my cable box, so that the time changing wouldn't activate it. The second day.... I got much of the same, it just kept activating itself with no movement detected. The third day..... It just stopped working altogether. The instructions do not include troubleshooting tips, nor does it have a customer service number. I wouldn't even purchase this junk for novelty reasons. Nor would I ever dream of connecting it to my computer. I would not recommend this to anyone, not even as a gag gift. Back to the drawing board for me.this s*** does not work don't f****** buy itit says it has night vision camera and it doesn't and the it says it has night vision camera and it doesn't and the camera doesn't even reach that far the description really sucks because its not what it says is gonna be
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I would not waste my money on this item. The construction is inferior, the documentation is confusing, and the thing does not work. The SIMM card is flimsy and there are no instructions for how to insert the card and no way to know when it is properly seated. The instructions tell you to push buttons that do not exist. A fully charged battery lasts only a few hours, so overnight surveillance is not possible. The playback feature is useless.Saturday, October 4, 2014
Philips LFH0622/00 Voice Recorder with 2GB Storage - 283 Hours Recording
I wanted a simple to use voice recorder that allows me to quickly make a voice note of things to do, groceries to buy and other information that I would normally write on pieces of paper, eg addresses or phone numbers. The Philips voice tracer is a very easy to use device. I'm able to quickly record a message and listen to it via the crisp clear speaker. I didn't want to be mucking around with ear phones etc, and wanted the replay the message and be assured that the sound was cystal clear, so I woudn't have to replay several times to hear the entire message. I'm very happy with this device. Highly recommended for those who want a simple to use voice recorder to quickly record voice messages and replay whenever required with clarity.This is a very good voice recorder! I went to financial presentation and recorded it all. Than transferred the recording to my computer, than replayed the recording. The recording was very good. I am pleased with the product.Buy Philips LFH0622/00 Voice Recorder with 2GB Storage - 283 Hours Recording Now
Extremely disappointed. Nearly unusable because it is so complicated and the manual is not well written. Unable to delete messages even after reading the inadequate manual repeatedly. Wanted a simple "record", "playback" but got a voice recorder too complicated for everyday use. Also recorder came without a packing slip, so apparently unable to return item. A complete waste of money. Don't buy it!Read Best Reviews of Philips LFH0622/00 Voice Recorder with 2GB Storage - 283 Hours Recording Here
I did some interviews during a Hollywood Press Junket and this little recorder was perfect. I uploaded the digital tapes, had them transcribed, and the articles written in a day. Great little recorder at a great price.Want Philips LFH0622/00 Voice Recorder with 2GB Storage - 283 Hours Recording Discount?
I use the recorder with Dragon NS 11. Transfers audio into text well. After a little adjusting and learning how things work, background noise is less of a problem than I thought it would be. I use the four recording folders for different projects. I would like it if there was a way to select and continue recording on the same file(withing the folder) rather than starting a new file every time the record button is pressed. The pause feature helps with this but if you stop recording or turn the recorder off you will start another file next time you press the record button. This is a problem for me when developing ideas from scratch.Friday, September 19, 2014
TOP Secret Spy Camera Mini Clock Radio Hidden DVR- Continuous power or battery
.I decided to buy one after seeing the quick response, by the seller, with regard to the individual that had a problem.
Item arrived quickly ahead of Amazon's estimate which impressed me as we are on opposite sides of the USA.
The other reviews here are positive but brief. I want to add detail. It really IS a sweet little item.
I've tried a number of these for office security and MANY are JUNK. Go ahead, check my other product reviews. It's a relief to find one the seller stands behind. Now I do also.
1. The unit fits in the palm of your hand. It is a nice travel clock. LED display is not too bright. Tiny and easy to pack. Discrete.
UPDATE: If you find the display too bright as a nightstand clock, use a screen protector for a cellphone. For $2 the "High Quality Privacy Screen Protector Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630 Sprint" (Amazon) covered (and dimmed) the screen but did not block the cam so you won't have to move the protector in the AM for security "duty".
2. The AC adaptor is both 110V and 240V THANK YOU! so you can use it in Europe / China / etc outside the USA. My Sonicare toothbrush can't do that. International AC adaptors are a must in my opinion. Travelers: The cord is about 2 feet. See seller comment to this review for longer cord options. Note that it does have a USA plug so for China/Europe you'll need plug adaptors but you do NOT need a voltage change.
3. VIDEO: I intend to use this as a security cam in my hotel room as I travel often for business. A little extra "peace of mind".
You can choose 320x240 or 640x480 for video resolution. These choices are pretty standard for security cams. I set it to 640x480 and "high" quality. Looks NICE!!! Obviously, more quality image means more memory used. Follow the seller guide (included see item 4).
BIG PLUS... the IR LED lighting is 940 nm! Who cares? 940nm is invisible to the eye. Many cams use lower nanometer levels which glow RED the universal signal that you are recording. I viewed THIS item with another IR camera and only then did I confirm the lighting was "on". Nice!
NOTE: See the first comment to this review, from Nick (the seller), regarding the amount of video time per gigabyte of memory.
4. The instructions included are TINY but the seller forwards you a LARGE size version PLUS a two-page "get started" guide. I was functioning in under 10 minutes. Follow the seller's guide step-by-step. Honestly, if you have a micro SD card reader you are ready to go in no time at all. No software necessary. There is a micro DVD included with English User's Manual, video example, etc but I found the seller doc more useful.
5. When you check your micro SD card you will see FOUR folders have been added Music, Pictures, Rec, Video
Any use of the cam goes into the "Rec" folder (there is another "video" folder in "Rec"). Why mention this? Because it really IS a clock/radio/MP3 player combination. I put a set of songs into the "Music" folder and it plays them well. Sound is not bad considering it's so small. It will also auto advance to the next song. I'm listening to it now. If you have an iPhone or iPod you might not use it but then an iPhone doesn't have night vision.
6. Mine is silver as in the first photo above (detail page). Some of the photos show other colors. I'm happy with silver. I think that is the default. Contact the seller if you have a question.
7. Travelers... it has a small pull-string sack to carry it. That will help protect it and the accessories in your luggage.
***** The clock has no alarm ***** But it has so many other features (cam, true IR, radio, mp3 player, etc) the lack of alarm is not a deal breaker (for me).
------------
Bottom line: The item is impressive. Make sure you're buying from onlineenterprises888. Don't know him. Not connected in any way. But I have to admit the item and the service make the purchase risk free.
That's how it should be. Thanks!!
==================================
By request video samples (5 segments)
A TV at standard definition, 4 feet distance, room lights on, cam at 640x480, high quality
B 3x3 Post-it with red X and red heart on brown wrapping paper, 2 feet distance, room lights on, cam at 640x480, high quality
C Same except now Night vision ON, but IR LED OFF note that with lights out nothing is seen
D Same now Night Vision ON and IR LED ON note illumination circle. Shapes are visible detail on Post-it is not.
E 2 liter Diet Pepsi 640x480, 2 feet, Night vision ON, IR LED ON Room lights on briefly then off
Summary the detail in a lit room (day time) is pretty good. Night is best with some additional light to assist the LED.
I prefer to always run at 640x480, high quality, night vision ON, IR LED ON.
.I wish I could expound on how wonderful the camera is (and it does seem to be), but we purchased it to catch a thief ~ literally. Before we had a chance to set it up, another neighbor caught the scumbag in the act. But, what I can attest to is the integrity of this seller. The product, once ordered, was immediately responded to and then sent out in a very timely manner. Great instructions and product support. The seller includes his name and a way to contact him personally. Wow!!!!
As mentioned above, we had a very specific reason to buy the camera and once that was resolved, I asked to send it back. Again, without hesitation or problem, a return was issued.
We are all familiar with the ways of Internet purchasing and most don't involve personal contact....may I just say that as disconnected as the process seems, this gentleman makes it honest, genuine, and as close to "home" as the Internet can.
I wholeheartedly endorse purchasing from this seller!!!!
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I love this product that I bought two more. I thought one might be great gift. I found that it does so many things plus you could take it traveling it is compact. If you are into paranormal investigations great product to use because of long life battery and video recording. Compact to take on paranormal investigations. Want to have security when you leave your home this is great thing to have because it is small and discreet. Many are putting cameras in they're home this is just more discreet.I use this to monitor my home while at work. I turn on the recording when I leave the house and off when I return. The unit in plugged into the AC charger all the time and since I have the spy camera set to loop record there is no need to delete files from the device ever.Want TOP Secret Spy Camera Mini Clock Radio Hidden DVR- Continuous power or battery Discount?
This little camera works great! I was a little worried with the purchase, but everything works just as described. The only thing I would like to see improvement on is the width of the view. I expected to be able to capture more of my office with it, but I can only capture about half of my office. Other than that, this product is a great purchase!Saturday, September 13, 2014
Flip UltraHD Video Camera - White, 4 GB, 1 Hour
Please see Cisco's response, below. I am glad Cisco has responded.________________________________
I almost bought one of these until I read the fine print.
The "real" Flip UltraHAD 3rd Generation has 60 fps recording speed for better action shots AND electronic stabilization two BIG features.
I can give up the 4 gb of extra storage on the "regular" model, but his "Black Friday" model blowing out at Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon strikes me as a "come on" it omits the two essential features that make the 3rd Generation Flips of interest the higher frame rate (60 fps vs 30 fps on this one) and the stabilization. Read the specs and blurbs on the REAL model you need to be looking at:
Flip UltraHD Video Camera Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODELI couldn't ask for an easier lighter more user friendly camcorder than this! This camera is so easy to use it's amazing. Just point and shoot. Then preview your videos or upload to your computer. The Flip software for your computer helps you customize and make adorable movies to be burned to a cd and saved forever! This camer is so easy, I convinced my principal to purchase three for our school. Now kids make video projects! I even video taped our SGA speeches and created a movie with music and credits. Sure, there are plenty out there that can do all this, but for the price and the ease, the Flip is the bomb!
Buy Flip UltraHD Video Camera - White, 4 GB, 1 Hour Now
I double checked the specs on the Flip website although the 1 hour and 2 hour Flips have identical names, they are NOT the same quality camera. The 2 hours has image stabilization and 60 fps (frames per second), while the 1 hour camera does not have stabilization and only shoots 30 fps.I can't stand it when companies pull stuff like this.
Read Best Reviews of Flip UltraHD Video Camera - White, 4 GB, 1 Hour Here
The economical Flip does what it says and despite the rumors of the parent company selling out and etc, etc. seriously who cares at this price? I remember the huge,sit on shoulder camcorders at $1800 back in the early 1990's and the $800.00 mini camcorder we bought (still a handful) just a few years ago which, with their smaller videos, could not be loaded directly onto our computer or viewed without other pieces of equipment or a pro to upload to a disc. LOL and then within a month of buying it, the digitals popped up. So from a 20 year perspective of evolution of the camcorder, we love it!So the FLIP was a welcome little jewel. We went for the 1 hour rather then the 2 hour at a lower price and it has been great. Quality rivals our previous expensive camcorders, it is simple to use, lightweight, and uploading to the computer is as simple as popping it onto the computer.
So don't sweat over the future of the original company. By that time something else will be out and at this VERY affordable price, you can't go wrong.
We stuck with the basics and are delighted with the results. We use it not only for personal use but our business where we can easily upload a YouTube tutorial as well as use it on short clips on Facebook.
Not bad for someone who remembers when computer programmers had to read punch out cards!
Want Flip UltraHD Video Camera - White, 4 GB, 1 Hour Discount?
I really am impressed with this camera. It films GREAT! Very clear, many FPS, and it blocks out background noise very well. It was deffinatly worth the $99 dollars! Trust me, DONT listen to the bad reviews, it really is a great camera.Thursday, July 10, 2014
Pyle Home PT570AU 5.1-Channel 350 Watts AM/FM Radio with USB/SD Card and Amplifier Receiver

- 5.1 Channel Amplifier - 12 Preset Radio Station - Output: 5 Channel Speaker Output Terminal for L, R, Center, SL, SR, And 1 line Out for Subwoofer
- Built-In AM/FM Radio - Full Remote Control
- Built-In USB and SD Audio - VFD Display
- 2 MIC Input, Treble and Bass of MIC Adjustable, Independent MIC Volume Control - Power Output: 300W for L,R Channel (4 Ohm) 50W for Center, Surround L and Surround R(4 Ohm)
- Over Current Protection, Short Circuit Protection And Over Voltage Protection - Input Selector: 3 Stereo RCA Selector, 1AM/FM Radio, 1 USB/SD, 2 Microphone Input
Overall I am happy with the purchase.
Buy Pyle Home PT570AU 5.1-Channel 350 Watts AM/FM Radio with USB/SD Card and Amplifier Receiver Now
When I am alone with my music at the end of a hard day, I really wanted some power behind it. My best friend has a pyle receiver that cranks out good power, but I have better speakers, and so I thought I'd find out what my system sounds like when I put some power to them. Pretty darn good, i'd say! I love the clear display that I can see from across the room. The microphone jack is conveniently located FRONT AND CENTER: pay attention Sony!! Why would you want it any other way?I have had a Kenwood reciever for over 30 years and wanted to upgrade. I bought this one and it was very easy to set up. It seems to work ok. The problem I have with this item is when you cut it on, it blares out at 18db. I called the company and they said they could disarm the volume preset for free, but it would cost shipping both ways. It was an inexpensive unit and the shipping would take it over the top. At this point I am thinking about selling it. I have only had it for one day.the fan keeps it cool but is a little louder than i would like, basic as far as i can tell, works as described.the remote is the best way for me to control it cause i can't adjust the eq without it.I wanted this for the fact that it plays mp3s from either an SD card or a thumbdrive.
It does this, but it only plays things in order. No way to view folders or files. And no way
to navigate between songs...just gotta let it play.
I had a feeling that would be the case when I ordered it, so it's not a deal breaker.
Also, the fan is very loud. Much louder than I expected. But again, not a deal breaker.
Over all, this reciever puts out good sound, nice a clear. It's not a "name brand", but it does the job.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
ITRONICS ITB-100HD 1080p True HD Car DVR "Black Box" Recorder with GPS

- 2 Megapixel - H.264 Compression - Night Vision - Full HD 1920 x 1080p, 1280 x 720p, 720 x 480p
- Record Video, Audio, Speed and GPS Location - GPS is built in
- 8GB Class 10 SD Card Included - Recording Time 3 - 13 hours
- Parking Mode with Shock and Motion Sensors - Record Incidents Even When Vehicle is Unattended
- -20 to 70C (158 F) Operating Environment - Does Not Suffer Heat Issues
Short review:
+ Full HD! can read license plates and see details clearly in daylight
+ Built-in GPS is surprisingly accurate with both location and speed.
+ Built-in accelometer records any bumps or "shocks" the vehicle receives.
+ Good quality mounting sticker
+ Several configuration options
+ Updateable firmware if you can find it
+ Automatically over-writes oldest files when card is full
+ Small and semi-inconspicuous
+ Automatically saves video when unplugged
+-Parking mode option if camera is powered
+-Default configuration options don't work well, but are changed easily.
+-Included 8GB card is only 4 hours of HD video. Easily upgradeable to 32GB card though.
Not so great at night this is where the 5th star went.
Expect broken English, as this is a Korean product.
Quick start guide only Korean English manual is on the SD card.
Software tends to crash/lock up fairly often
I believe there is no manufacturer warranty for the US.
No button to permanently keep a recording
Built-in mic records quiet and muffled.
Details:
Only 1 button on camera: Microphone toggle on or off.
List of configurable options for the CAMERA from within the SOFTWARE:
* Only one physical button: Microphone on or off.
* Speed toggle in Kilometers/hour (KPH): on or off.
* Recording quality: 1080p@24fps; 1080p@15fps; 720p@30fps; 720p@15fps; 480p@30fps; 480p@15fps.
* Brightness: Standard & Bright. Literally just makes the recording brighter doesn't seem to improve quality at all.
* Shock sensitivity when driving: Off; insensitive; normal; sensitive. Normal picks up every single bump. I keep at insensitive.
* Parking Mode: Off (stops recording); Record for Shock only; Record for Shock or motion.
* Shock sensitivity when parking: Insensitive; normal; sensitive.
* Motion sensitivity when parking: Insensitive; normal; sensitive.
* Shock alarm: On or Off. Camera beeps when it senses a shock.
* File delete method: By time or by file type. Overwrites oldest file first, or lets you set percentage of each type of file to keep.
* Time Zone: For the date/time overlay on recordings.
List of configurable options for the SOFTWARE:
* Speed toggle: Kilometers/hour (KPH) or Miles/hour (MPH)
* Brightness
* Contrast
* Night mode: On or off. Same thing as brightness control, just simpler.
* Rotate recording
* Capture image. Saves current frame as image.
* Play Speed: 0.4x; 0.6x; 0.8x; 1x; 2x
* Volume
Parking mode details:
Parking mode is supposed to be a low-power mode that is activated after the camera is stationary for 5 minutes. Of course, this will only matter if you keep the camera plugged in and if your car provides power when off. The camera stays on the entire time, it just doesn't write the video to the card unless it detects shock or motion, which I assume uses less power. Yes, this could drain your battery anyways, but the camera uses such little power this is not likely unless you rarely/never drive the car.
Note on motion: The manual doesn't clarify this at all, so I had to test for myself. The camera actually does "see" motion not just "feel" it. In other words, if motion is turned on for parking mode it will record someone walking in front of your car/camera, not just pushing on the car.
Other notes:
* You need a windows computer to install the software, change settings, or view GPS data. However, raw video is stored as standard AVI files, so you will still be able to view video with any computer.
* This camera has no night vision whatsoever. There needs to be some source of relatively bright light to see anything clearly.
* I forgot to measure the length of the 12v adapter cord before installing, but I was able to route the cord all the way around my windshield, out and around the dashboard, and to the middle outlet with about a foot to spare. It may have been 10-12ft long.
* The camera saves a video file to the card every 1-2 minutes OR when power is disconnected.
* Camera takes about 30 seconds after power is applied to begin recording, and averages about 1-2 minutes to obtain a GPS signal.
* To reiterate, if speed overlay is enabled, you will only see KPH in the video. MPH is only viewable in the software.
*Update: There is an English version software update available that works for me on Windows 8 x64, so I assume it should work on Windows 7 as well. It is located on the original manufacturer's "mall" site, which is totally in Korean. Link below if it will allow: ipassmall.co.kr/ipassblack/down_proc.asp?filename=PC+Player%28ver+1%2E3%2E2%29%5FITB%2D100HD%2Ezip
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This is a great camera, for what it is.With accelerometers (to sense crashes, jolts or sudden acceleration/braking) and embedded GPS metadata, this is much more than just a souped-up GoPro camera.
The camera records audio and video continuously on the included full-size 8Gb SDHC card, but I would recommend buying a 32Gb card or two. It's a good idea to have a spare on hand in case you need to remove the card to view or preserve its contents.
Most cameras in this price range dont even record audio, the ITB100HD does.
Camera settings are done within the (Windows only) player application, which are then transferred via the SDHC card to the camera. The camera itself has one control: A single push button that toggles the internal microphone on and off, and to format the memory card. Worked fine with 64-bit Windows 7.
Settings include choices of frame-rate and resolution, whether or not the camera records continuously (or simply responds to motion or jolts), whether the camera overwrites older files, and in what order event-associated files are over-written.
You can also choose how sensitive the shock sensing and motion detection is -to a point. I have found there are too few steps of resolution to choose from, and the camera is often sensitive even at its most insensitive settings. There are also presets for brightness, time zone, and the ability to export still frames or whole clips to your computer's hard drive.
When the camera experiences shock or jolt, it tags a clip as an 'event'. Likewise, if it records motion while in 'Parking mode' (when it senses you haven't moved for five minutes), it tags those just as distinctly. This is useful when sorting thru files to distinguish travel time from time parked.
The on-screen speed overlay is in Kilometers/hour, requiring a 3rd-party firmware hack to correct it to mph.
Time-stamp information comes from GPS, so that is not only a convenience but essential if you need to use this video in court.
There is a 'Video Out' connector you can use to assist aiming during installation, and later to provide sound and picture if you want to live-stream your dashcam to UStream, Skype, etc. This is an essential option if you need to preserve your video remotely, to protect evidence from theft or confiscation.
The videos are divided into one or two-minute timestamped clips (depending on the frame-rate you choose) and are standard H.264 video playable on any modern computer.
In the event of a crash or power loss, the camera has enough internal reserve power to do a proper shut-down, preserving the video.
At the highest quality setting, the frame-rate is 24fps (rather than 30fps) but is more than adequate. Even the 15fps option performs well, and may actually be a better choice for night driving and economizing memory.
The 'Parking' setting appears to be more for saving recording space than battery power, so if you have a weak car battery you may not want to leave this operating for days without charging your battery.
The pinhole opening for the microphone can be enlarged to improve audio, which comes from the factory somewhat muffled.
The mounting kit is for adhering the camera to the windshield glass. In my vehicle, however, I get better performance mounting the camera to the rear-view mirror, so you may wish to obtain a hefty piece of Velcro. Mirror-mounting also better conceals the camera from theft, and newer vehicles have continuous power available at the mirror so you dont have visible wires and clutter.
Each time you insert the SDHC card, you need to push the 'format' button to get the camera to recognize it. If you forget, the camera will sound an 'SD card error' (4 beeps that repeat) after the camera has been operating for several minutes.
There is an essentially useless LED that faces the front, and flashes when in the 'Parking mode'. I call it the "steal me" light, and you can cover it with black tape.
The oddest thing about this camera is how it is marketed.
iTronics has apparently had issues with some sellers, and honoring the warranty seems to depend on where you bought it.
The manual is broken English, so it would be worthwhile to consult some online forums dedicated to this camera.
The English portion of iTronics website is completely unintelligible, so firmware and software updates are often found on independent forums like dashcamtalk.com or radardetectorforum.org.
Even with the English-language software version, iTronics seems to assume most users will be in Korea. That's unfortunate, because they are underestimating the value of their own product, and missing bigger markets.
You can find the English manual on-line, search for ITB100HD_English Manual.pdf
You can also download and install the player application, by searching for ITB-100HDE PC Player.zip
There are other versions of this camera from iTronics, some have substituted the GPS module for Wi-Fi (so you dont have to fetch the SDHC card) and even one with a voice module (sadly, only in Korean). The ITB-100HD has the better CMOS imager and performs better at night, so beware if you are considering other models.
If you are a good driver, and are ever in the position where you need to prove it, this under-$200 "black box" is a good investment.
If you would like a rock-steady record of a road trip matched with a GPS map, you are also in luck.
One last thought: Using this camera at night will definitely illustrate the value of keeping your windshield clean.
Read Best Reviews of ITRONICS ITB-100HD 1080p True HD Car DVR "Black Box" Recorder with GPS Here
The only concern I had when buying this product was that I saw that it was km/h only and would only show MPH in the viewing software.I found a guy on a forum who was selling a converstion for $8.00 and thought that was crazy. Then I did a bit more searching and found a blog post that not only described in detail how to convert the code to work with MPH, but also shared a patched binary for FREE!
has details on how to update the firmware of the camera to use MPH instead of km/h. It took me less than five minutes to convert mine and now I couldn't be happier.
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1080hd for good quality video,GPS to tell you where and how fast you were going,
shock sensor to tell when you crashed,
Accelerate or Decelerate awareness,
creates separate folders,
So whats missing?
an installation for MAC, are you serious? how did such amazing technology mess this up? i cant even look at the settings, since there is only one button on the device and everything else is handled through the computer when the SD card is inserted, fail...Bought this from Lone Wolf Electronics (NOW SA Computer Systems) and the first thing was the box did not have any instructions in English as was stated would be in the box in the description. Ended up going online to get instructions and installed the product and then were not able to get the information to download on the computer (that manual would have been great) Decided to return the product right away. When we contacted the seller, they said they had a *** 50% *** restocking fee plus they deduct the shipping and handling from what was left of the refund. WHAT?? When questioning this policy, which I cannot find stated anywhere, the seller states it is an Amazon policy. again.. WHAT??? called Amazon and they said their return policy is a full refund within 30 days (which we were) and that some sellers have a different policy. Buyer beware, if you product doesn't work, you only get half your money back even if you're given instructions in Korean and the return policy isn't stated.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
BUFFALO 8x USB 2.0 Portable DVD Writer - DVSM-PC58U2VB
I bought this drive on Amazon through Buffalo Technology to use on my Mac mini (the internal DVD drive had failed on it).I have had this drive for around two months and have burned about 50 CDs and about 60 DVDs with it so far. I have also played a few CDs and watched a few DVDs on it too. It works with just one USB power cable on both my 2009 Mac mini (model 3,1) and my 2008 13in MacBook (model 4,1). The other USB cable wraps neatly under the DVD drive and is unnoticeable.
The drive has a low profile and makes a minimal amount of noise. There is an LED that shines through the top back slit in the case. A blue light (which is just bright enough and quite slick looking in my opinion) indicates that it has sufficient power, but red means that you need to use the second USB cable for additional power.
Of note, once there is a DVD in the drive, I can only eject it by ejecting it by clicking "eject" on my computer (the button on the DVD drive itself is non-responsive with a DVD in it). This has in no way been a problem for me. It only caused a bit of confusion when I first used it.
It works just as I expected it to and is more aesthetically pleasing than I thought it would be. Overall, I am very satisfied with the price (I paid $37.88 ), quality, functionality, and convenience of this product, and I highly recommend it.Purchased from Fry's electronics for $40+Tax to be used on my New MACBOOK Air 11" i5/4GB/128GB
the drive has been recognized by the MAC running OS X 10.7.1 (Lion) without any problem.
Its been detected & configured automatically with VM-Ware Fusion Version 4 as well to be used by Windows 7 pro.
Pros:
-short USB cables to be connected to both sides of the MACBOOK AiR 11" & you don't need to purchase any USB extension cable for it but for my connivance I attached a RETRAK retractable USB 2.0 Cable (a $13 multi adapter cable) so I can put the Drive next to my MAC instead of under it!
-light weighted
-Compact
-Usb cable is detachable (T shape not Y)
-Easy to carry (both USB cable heads snap to the chassis of the drive for easy mobility)
Cons:
-I don't like the shape and color of the LED indicator for power supply stability on top !
-you need to plug both USB cables always
Addition:
-there is a plug for a 5 volt external adaptor that can be helpful instead of using Dual USB.
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It's been 6 years since I bought a laptop with an optical drive, so a good external disc drive is pretty important. I had been using a feature rich LG Lightscribe for the last 4 years, but it finally gave up the ghost and left me without a reliable method to read or write CD's.For my next drive I wanted something smaller, as there was nothing portable about the old LG. Enter the Buffalo MediaStation. I haven't had it very long, but I can report one 3 important facts.
1. You can run it off one USB port. The drive has two USB cables wrapped around the side and on the undercarriage. Whether or not you can run this off a single port depends entirely on your computer. The drive does make this easy for you by lighting up red or blue depending on your power needs. If it's blue you're golden; red and you're going to need that second USB port.
2. The drive is pretty fast for a bus-powered external. On a 1.3ghz Intel Dual Core 2 laptop with 4gb of RAM, iTunes encoded 160 kbps MP3's at 20x.
3. The DVD drive can be noisy. There's not a lot of room for insulation in this device, so it's going to rattle around some.
I can't speak for longevity, but so far it's been an excellent buy.
Read Best Reviews of BUFFALO 8x USB 2.0 Portable DVD Writer - DVSM-PC58U2VB Here
This product is clearly meant for use with laptops and is not a convenient solution for people looking for an external replacement drive for their home PCs. My USB ports are at the top of my tower and the cords are so short I can't even get the drive to sit on top of it. The cords are only 6 inches long!! I had to stack it on top of CD spindles, behind my computer, with my desk pulled out, merely to see if it had any redeeming qualities.I was considering trying USB extenders if the drive appeared to suit my needs otherwise, but the instructions recommend that "to minimize electromagnetic interference" you should "use only the supplied USB cable." Making matters worse, the USB cables are physically attached to the drive and cannot be replaced. Between folding them back into place for travel and the strain put on the cords by being so close to the hardware they are connected to, it's hard to imagine these USB cords having a very long life.
The drive would not play without stuttering using the USB ports on the front of my computer. It plays smooth and the video looks fine when connected to the back and because I am using it with a home pc and not a laptop it appeared to have no trouble getting enough power using only one usb cable.
Though this page does not make mention of it, the side of the box indicates that the drive can read or write dual-layer discs. It does appear to be able to read them but it does not recognize blank ones.
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PROS:
-It's lightweight
-Not bulky
-Reasonably aesthetically pleasing
-Inexpensive
-Playback quality appears fine when properly connected (Requiring USB 2.0 or higher USB Ports)
-Should be recognizable on Mac computers
CONS:
-Extremely short and irreplaceable (6 inch) cords
-May require 2 USB (2.0 or higher) ports, depending on your systems power configuration
-Unable to write dual-layer dvds
-Shiny surface is prone to fingerprints
-Software included will NOT function on Mac computers
-No playback software is provided for Mac or PC. You will have to find a free player you trust or one you consider worth purchasing.
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This drive may be a functional portable drive for casual laptop users. For the price it is really not a terrible device, but it has a lengthy list of flaws that should be examined by potential buyers. This was a disappointing purchase for me.
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Despite the two negative reviews about this DVD burner that claimed that this product does not work on Lion... it works very well on Lion. I am currently running version 10.7.4 on my 27" iMac and I did not encounter any problems with this device. I have just recently upgraded to Lion from Snow Leopard so I was wary at first that this may have been the issue that the two negative reviewers encountered. However, from the moment that I plugged it in, my system recognized the drive and I was able to burn DVDs with no problems at all. I didn't even have to download any additional drivers from the Buffalo website (Yes Buffalo offers this. I don't think that the person who went so far as to contact Apple Tech bothered to do any research at all. Perhaps they were not even running Lion).One possibility on why this drive didn't work for those two negative reviewers is that this drive may have not liked the brand of DVD that they were using. Over the years I've learned that some DVD drives can be finicky with what brand of DVDs that they prefer. My other external DVD burning drive (which is a Sony) refuses to use Fujifilm DVDs... this doesn't mean that the drive is defective (It works fine with Memorex and several other DVD brands). At the moment I am using TDK DVDs with this Buffalo drive. It may give me an error if I switch to another brand... but as of yet it's working perfectly fine.
I wanted to post this review because I almost didn't buy this DVD drive after reading that several people encountered problems because they were using OS Lion. This is a very good alternative to the more expensive DVD burners that are specifically made for Mac (MAC external superdrive which retails for almost 80.00 if bought directly through Amazon with Prime shipping). Since I am working on a newer iMac, the shortness of the USB cable was not an issue since it fits snugly under my monitor. As of right now I'm quite happy with my purchase and I'd gladly recommend it to anyone who is experiencing issues with the built in DVD Rom on iMac or similar products.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Pyle Home PHDMIW1 Single HDMI Wall Plate 90 Degree Exit Port
I bought two of these outlets. They looked great, but when I started using them I couldn't get any sound and had weird formatting issues. Luckily I figured out it was a really sloppy solder on one of the outlets that overlapped onto an adjacent pin and was able to resolder it myself. It works fine now, but was *really* frustrating.This worked perfectly for my home theater setup. The plastic is a little flimsy but all of the ones I've seen are like that. Audio and Video look great.Buy Pyle Home PHDMIW1 Single HDMI Wall Plate 90 Degree Exit Port Now
I bought this to run HDMI cables through my room and it works like a dream. I highly recommend this product!Read Best Reviews of Pyle Home PHDMIW1 Single HDMI Wall Plate 90 Degree Exit Port Here
I had to modify my original plans (poor planning on my part). I shouldn't have gone withe the 90 degree version. However, slight modification to the box, and it works great. I would buy this brand again, and it was a quick delivery. One the the few products that I have ordered that actually match my own thoughts of what "white" is in terms of color.Want Pyle Home PHDMIW1 Single HDMI Wall Plate 90 Degree Exit Port Discount?
This item would have been great (I think) had it been able to fit. When placed inside of a junction box, an HDMI cable was not able to connect to it. Seeing that this is how this item should be properly and professionally installed, I can't imagine how this would work. Maybe someone else will find a way, but I ended up getting the HDMI wall plate that sticks strait out in the back, not at 90 degrees, which surprisingly worked fine.I can't attest to the quality of the connection as I never got that far. The item appeared to be of good quality and fit well with my replacement decora wallplates.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Sony BDP-S770 Blu-ray Disc Player - Black

- Features -
- Built-In Wi-Fi - Connect to your home's wireless broadband network
- 3D Blu-ray Disc Full HD 1080p playback - Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p; also supports standard Blu-ray Disc movies in high definition and upscales DVDs to near HD quality
- USB Input - Simply connect your digital camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device
- 1GB built-in memory
1) blu-ray content looks amazing
2) looks good, is easy to use (remote and exterior controls)
3) amazing built-in capabilities: built in Wifi is smooth, Netflix, Pandora, and the amazing Berlin Phil Digital Music Hall
4) Set-up of wifi is very easy...you are guided right through
After one week, I have zero complaints and give it the highest recommendation.
ps--I don't even use the 3D capability and don't care, so I can't comment on that
Buy Sony BDP-S770 Blu-ray Disc Player - Black Now
I have been nothing but impressed with the quality of the BDP-S770. It is a fantastic Blu-ray, Netflix, Amazon, and Qriocity media playing device. It has just about every feature that you could possibly want, with one exception. One of the main reasons I bought this particular player was for its DLNA capabilities. I have a DLNA media server that has around 400 h.264 movies and thousands of AAC songs and I was hoping that the BDP-S770 would be able to play them through DLNA streaming. This is not the case. At first I was just confused, the device showed all my pictures from the media server, but would not show or play any music or movies. After digging though the manual for a little bit I found a few very curious footnotes. The device only supports AAC and H.264 video through a direct connection! It cannot stream these formats from my media server, which is very disappointing.If you want a top of the line Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Blu-ray player .... then this is the device for you. Just dont expect it to live up to the hype when it comes to your DLNA media servers. Hopefully they will address this via a firmware update, which if they do, this would turn into a 5 star review.
Read Best Reviews of Sony BDP-S770 Blu-ray Disc Player - Black Here
Just got the newest Sony 3D BluRay player, BDP-S770. Really bought it so I could stream internet content to my HDTV. This new player has very quick startup and video quality of my Bluray disks when played on the S770 are much better than my S350. Internet hookup went well, but have one issue. I can not get Dolby 5.1 sound to stream when streaming HD movies that have Dolby 5.1. The test HD movie clip from Amazon video on demand has great video but the sound is PCM.I assumed that the player would stream Dolby 5.1 but it does not according to Sony. I get great Dolby 5.1 when playing disks but not when streaming via internet (ony get PCM sound), and I have a very fast Verizon FIOS 35 Mbps connection and I used Ethernet cable from my router to the Blu Ray S770. My S770 is connected to my surround sound amp via a digital cable (I also tried an optic cable with no luck).
I called Sony and they said the S770 was not designed to stream Dolby 5.1 when streaming HD movies. Seems like a dumb design. I am considering returning the player since I bought it to replace my present practise of renting disks at Blockbuster. Without Dolby 5.1 sound, I am missing the surround sound experience unless I use disks.
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I just got and set up my new Sony BDP-S770 and it delivers on all levels. The best feature for me (to my surprise) is that it can output a 1080i picture using component video cables. I have a home theater with a Sharp Z10000u projector (that cost me as much as a small car (No HDMI) which I am not ready to replace. I was only able to get 480p output with my previous Sony dvd/bluray players. The load time is so fast I couldn't believe it. Those of you who had or have an original bluray player know about load time, It loaded Star Trek in 10 sec. The internet setup was so fast and easy and there was an update for the player when I hooked it up. The remote is east to use and the buttons are back lit which is great when watching movies in the dark. Another bonus was that Monster House 3D came free in the box, another surprise because it's not mentioned in the player's description. If your looking for a new bluray player that also does 3d with a great price THIS IS IT!!This player will handle almost all video file types. Go to Sony and check out the owner's guide for the full list. I tried using Amazon's catalog suggestion feature, but Amazon thought it was too much information. Apparently, they feel that simple minds can only handle simple descriptions.It's a great player. I get 5-bar signal strength on the wireless connection while my laptop only manages 2-3 bars. Internet setup was very easy. I would have liked to be able to select a config file with the SSID and WEP code from a USB stick, but it wasn't an onerous task to type it in using the onscreen telephone-style keypad.
I'm really happy with the unit. I've watched a couple Blu-Rays and a number of things from NetFlix.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Defender Connected 8CH H.264 500GB Smart Security DVR with Smart Phone Compatibility - 21012
Saturday, January 4, 2014
VideoSecu 9 Channel 12V DC CCTV Key Lock Security Camera Distributed Power Supply Box for Home Surv
If you are looking for a substitute for transformers, this is a great choice. This unit is small and and looks good attached to the wall. I made this purchase for a 4 camera system after the original equipment transformer overheated and melted, but luckily there was no fire. This unit is enclosed in a metal box and fused at the AC input as well as the individual distributions.Compact size & works great. Nice rubber inserts to prevent the metal case from cutting wires inserted. Easy to mount. Straight forward manual.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder

- 40-hour digital video recorder
- Pause live-action TV shows
- High-quality slow-motion and fast forward effects
- Networking ability lets you send programs to other 5000 Series users
- Skip past annoying ads with Commercial Advance feature
Price: With two $50 mail-in rebates my final cost was $199. This is a lot of technology for $199!
Quality: The box is well built and solid. There's a big fan to keep it cool. The choices of inputs and outputs is complete. You can fit this device into any home threater system any way you want. I have a 36" HDTV and have this connected using S-video. I tried composite video and it was slightly worse. I didn't try the component video outputs.
Setup: Setup was easy but did take a while over a cable modem connection. During the setup it seemed to update the operating system which took about 25 minutes. Total setup was about 40 minutes. I don't know how long it would take over the built-in modem.
Recording: The programming guide is easy to use and setting things to record is straight forward. I only record at high quality so I only get about 10 hours of recording time.
Picture Quality: The picture is acceptable but not as good as the direct feed to the TV. When you watch a show throught the ReplayTV you are ALWAYS watching the recorded version. There is about a 1 second delay between the "live" picture throught the ReplayTV and the "live" feed from the cable company. This is what allows you to pause and rewind a live TV show. Because you're watching a recorded version of the show and the recording is digitized and compressed the picture quality is slightly worse than the original. I find the colors to be a little washed out.
Customer Support: EXCELLENT! I was worried about calling tech support when the IR Blaster couldn't change the single digit channels on my cable box but was pleasantly surprised when my hold time was less than 2 minutes both times I had to call. The fix was simple but undocumented in the manual or on their web site. To get to the advanced settings for the IR Blaster you have to press the "Zones" button when the list of codes for your cable box appears on the screen. This lets you set certain properties of the IR Blaster like the minimum number of digits to send to the cable box. It was sending a "2" for channel 2 and I needed it to send an "02". Bumping the minimum digits to 2 fixed the problem. I also got a tip from their tech to put all zeros in the delay boxes to speed up channel changing which is fairly slow. Changing the delays to "0000" helps slightly.
I like this better than Tivo. This thing is light years ahead of an old VCR!
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It may sound dramatic, but my ReplayTV has changed my relationship with television completely.First, the ability to pause live TV is amazing. When the phone rings, we pause the show, answer the call, and then resume. Nothing missed! An interesting point to discuss with my wife? Pause and talk. You'll wonder how you lived without it.
The ability to schedule automatic recording of all the TV shows I watch, and to have them actually recorded reliably (which is more than I can say for my VCR) has given me complete freedom to enjoy TV on my own terms.
Let me say that my wife and I watch a lot of TV, we just plain have a lot of shows that we enjoy watching. And Replay allows me to watch my shows when I want them, how I want them, no matter what the network schedules may throw at me. Like the Simpsons? Schedule your Replay to keep the last five syndicated episodes at the ready whenever you feel like a laugh. Enjoy the late night shows but can't stay up? Program it to record the shows while you're asleep and watch them in the morning. You can even set up a manual recording that will just record the monologues! And of course it will record all your favorite daily and weekly shows, even if they're on a special day or change time slots. Even set up categories in order to keep your shows organized. Even if you don't spend a lot of time watching TV, wouldn't it be nice to have something recorded that you actually want to watch when you have time? Don't be a slave to the TV Guide again! (BTWThe program guide on the Replay is a huge improvement if you are used to the cable TV box electronic guide).
One of the best things about the Replay over your VCR is that you can watch a show that's already been recorded while it's recording something else. That means that you're no longer stuck waiting for something to finish recording in order to watch something. You can even watch a show that's recording from the beginning! You can come home halfway into recording "Friends", and watch it from the beginning while it records the rest of the show!
And that's where the ReplayTV excels: When you watch a recorded show (or even live TV that you've paused for at least 5 minutes), the Replay will automatically skip the commercials! Sure, you can turn off the skip if you want to see them. But it's just a thing of beauty when screen goes blank going to commercial, and then all of a sudden the program continues where it left off! When someone asks "did you see the commercial where....", you can smugly say "nope" :*)
If you watch TV in more than one room, you can get a second unit and connect them together. You can actually watch a show on one Replay that was recorded on another. And if your friends or family have a ReplayTV, you can actually send a show or even your home videos from your unit to theirs over the internet. All you need is their Replay ID and hit "Send" and off it goes. It's not instantaneous though, even a half-hour show can take hours to transfer. But it's a lot faster and easier than mailing a videotape.
The other choices in this market are good don't get me wrong, I own a TiVo as well. But like I said: Once you've seen Commercial Skip, In-Home Video Sharing, MyReplayTV.com, and Internet Video Sharing in operation, you'll never go back. The TiVo is now in the guest bedroom...
And Sonicblue is continuously working on improving the software, adding new features and functions. It just keeps getting better.
This thing is worth every penny.
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Replay has created a new way to watch TV! Its hard to imagine ever watching a show the old way. I used to have to watch what was on between 9pm and 11pm but not anymore. Now I have lots of show recorded automatically everyday that I want to see, and I can watch them when I have the time!! I even uploaded 1.5 gigs of digital pictures from my pc to the Replay 5000 and I am amazed at the quality when viewed on my 36" Sony XBR. You can even create a folder of pictures to use as the pause screens. I hooked it up via my cable modem to download the updates, and that also allows me to send or receive shows via the internet. The Commercial Skip (CA) works about 97% of the time, which really blew me away. I had figured it wouldn't work very well, so I am very pleasently suprised. I am considering ordering another Replay so I can record two show simultaneously and also take advantage of streaming from one box to the other. Say watch a show in the living room or bedroom thats been recorded in the tv room. The CA feature alone blows the competition away. All the other features are just icing on the cake. I would rate this a 10+ after using it for almost 3 weeks. (I would rate myself as difficult to impress)Want ReplayTV RTV5040 40-Hour Digital Video Recorder Discount?
I was skeptical when I first heard about ReplayTV but had to give it a shot. Four units later, I'm not sure how I ever watched television before. With ReplayTV you are in complete control of what you watch and when you watch it. In a nutshell:Phone interruptions: Hit pause and resume when you want.
Missed something: Back up and watch it again normal speed or slow motion
Hate commercials: They're gone in your recorded shows thanks to Commercial Advance. Is it perfect? No. It misses a few but it catches about 95% or more.
Love commercials: Just turn Commercial Advance off.
Scheduling: Couldn't be easier. Bring up the channel guide, hit record, you're done. You'll never miss a show again.
Share shows between multiple units: Have more than one unit and a home network. Record on one unit and watch on another even while someone is watching something else on the other unit.
Screen Saver and Slide Show: Upload your digital pictures to your ReplayTV to have a personal screen saver or slide show. A great way to organize and view all those pictures.
I've become so addicted to both pause and instant replay that I find myself trying to do the same to the radio in my car.
This just scratches the surface of what you can do. There's a lot more waiting for you.
Is ReplayTV perfect? Not yet but SONICblue appears to be quickly fixing minor glitches.
Is ReplayTV the perfect way to watch TV? Absolutely. It's perfection!
Try it and you'll never go back.I've had my replayTV for a few weeks now connected to my cable-TV.
Here are my impressions:
What I like with ReplayTV:
Works great. Revolutionizes TV watching.
Skips most commercials on major networks -really nice!
30-second forward skip, to jump through commercials that weren't skipped.
-...BR>Ethernet port allows me to download shows I wasn't able to watch onto my PC, and burn them as a VCD to see them later.
Nice user interface.
Nice channel guide.
Appears to be the best DVR for the money.
What could be better:
Changing channels when viewing TV through the replayTV takes 5 seconds.
System response lags a little -I'm used to appliances that respond immediately.
Can only record 1 show at a time -I would be willing to pay a little more money to have a system with 2 or 3 tuners.
When you've programmed several shows that overlap, it's difficult to tell which ones will get recorded and which ones won't. It's even more difficult to understand how to change their priority.
Can't specify to record only new shows, and not re-runs.
The progressive video output doesn't work with my JVC TV (although that may just be due to the TV)
Doesn't always detect commercials on all channels.
The system is finicky. If it works, it works great, but it clearly has bugs. It occasionally fails to connect at night with the phone line (this is discussed in many user groups), and has crashed a few times.
Features I found useless:
Storing and displaying pictures -really too slow to be useable.
The 5 (!) different video outputs on the rear of the device -why do I care?
The digital audio output -which supposedly sounds just like the normal audio outputs.
Sharing shows over the internet with other users -it just takes too long to be practical.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Panasonic PV-L354 VHS-C Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom
I wanted a camcorder that was reasonably priced, not too large and with the ability to use a VCR tape that could go directly into my VCR. This camcorder more than met these requirements. The VCR-C tape goes into an adapter and can be immediately viewed on a VCR. You can dub a tape directly to the normal size VCR tape directly from the camera. There are great digital effects possible fading in and out of the picture in a number of different colors and shapes. It has both optical and digital zoom for a total of 70x. There is an image stabilizer for use when riding in a car or walking. Plus more features. Great LCD view screen.With the newer digital and DVD recorders, this one may seem a bit out of date, but it is much more reasonably priced and is VERY EASY to use. The manual can be a bit unclear, but if you read it carefully, a few times, everything becomes clear.
Excellent product.I am from the old school. So I not only loved the VHS recording format, but if I wanted to dip into modern day technology the photo feature on this particular model will allow me to. Compared to other camcorders under $250 the picture isn't as great but good enough! Remember you get the best of both worlds with this one!! It's easy to use and it's cheap!!!!!!!!!
Buy Panasonic PV-L354 VHS-C Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Now
I bought a Panasonic Camcorder a few years back. I continually got a Dew Detected message. Got that fixed and shortly there after the sound was intermitant as noted in so many other reviews here and elsewhere though I did not know it at the time. So I gave Panasonic another chance. I bought this model and it worked fine again for about a year or so...Then, Halloween comes around and the sound is not there, then there, then so low you can barely hear it then static then back. Needless to say as with others the moment was lost, FOREVER!Read Best Reviews of Panasonic PV-L354 VHS-C Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Here
We bought this camcorder because we were going on Vacation to Disneyland and our other camcorder would not work. This camcorder is so much better than our other one was. When ever you moved the old camcorder to get various shots, it had to refocus, which took a few minutes. This one does not need to refocus. This camcorder is a little bit heavier than our old one, but it is easier to use. And the better quality makes up for the weight difference. This is a very good product and I will recomend it to a lot of people.Want Panasonic PV-L354 VHS-C Camcorder w/20x Optical Zoom Discount?
I, too, thought this was an excellent camcorder for several months until I did a playback of one of those events that can't be repeated and....NO SOUND!! The video looks great, but...NO SOUND!! It had worked fine on several occasions and even now, I can shoot a quick video and check to make sure there is sound on the playback before I shoot the important moment I want to capture. Then I shoot the main event and, again, NO SOUND!! Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it doesn't...very unpredictable. I thought it was operator error on my part until I saw Mark Noll's review.Panasonic's customer service was no help at all. It's time for a new (non-Panasonic) camera.
So...you might get one that works fine, but with this camcorder, you are taking a chance that, at some point, you will miss something great.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Vivitar DVR865HD 8.1MP Camcorder with 8x Digital Zoom (Black)
I purchased this video camera for a trip to Florida,I am pretty much pleased with it so far. At first I was disappointed with the amount of internal memory it has but after purchasing an 8gig SD card I was able to use it.The camera is very sensitive so you have to have a steady hand when taking pictures with it. As to the video recorder it works great and the zoom is fantastic,the only draw back with the video recorder is that the playback sound is very low.
I would recommend this camera to a friend,like I said for the price it's well worth the money.If I were to compare and rate it accordingly, this camera would get only 2 stars.
Just based on my experience with this camera alone it rates good which is surprising
considering the other cameras I have.
The 8MP and HD video look pretty decent. The battery
life is excellent. Holding this style of camera takes a little getting used to & is awkward
when taking stills. The buttons are not very accessible and figuring out which buttons do what
is also awkward when first getting used to this style of camera.
The software installation was a somewhat painless since I figured out on the third try that
it helps to restart the computer after software installation. That's not in the instructions but
I decided to try it anyway and it worked.
The software is kinda important for uploading video to those social websites but my other computer
picks up the memory card just fine. The LCD screen is hard to view and unfortunately the zoom is not good.
This small camera makes a descent camera to carry around just in case.
Price to quality ratio is pretty good. I am satisfied with this little camera.
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DON'T TRY THE FOLLOWING AT HOME OR ANYWHERE!
The following is my experience alone & should not be attempted by anyone...not even professionals.
So after a few months the video screen went dead and I found out the solder inside the screen housing subject to break because there is a sharp bend in the strip. My camera warranty is expired.
I did some tinkering & research and found out two things:
1:This camera is very easy to take apart and put back together with a small Phillips screwdriver
It's very easy to check for a break in the circuit if you have the tools, and just as easy to repair the broken solder. Luckily I work very basic electronics & crafts & have all the tools needed to troubleshoot & fix this. Which is what I did. Works like new.
2: A replacement screen which you can only get from a website in China costs under $10.00 shipping not included. The screen is very easy to remove and replace. The screen part # is ALT-024CSLN-J2.
This camera is great for hobbyists and tinkerers.
My rating and opinion remains unchanged.
Buy Vivitar DVR865HD 8.1MP Camcorder with 8x Digital Zoom (Black) Now
I bought this camera at radio shack on black Friday for $79 so I wasn't expecting a whole lot and that is what I got. It takes pretty crappy video especially indoors. very grainy and bad quality. I would rather spend twice as much which is still not very much cash and get a flip. My wife just bought a flip ultra hd and it is much much better but doesn't really have much of a zoom function but the video quality is very very good compared to the Vivitar POS.Read Best Reviews of Vivitar DVR865HD 8.1MP Camcorder with 8x Digital Zoom (Black) Here
This camera is probably the best you'll get for a hundred bucks. It shoots in full HD (1280x720) and has 20 FPS or 60 HZ AT THE MAXIMUM! You could look up test videos online at youtube of the quality and you will be surprised. I prefer getting the bundle with the 4 gigabyte memory card because my 2 gigabyte memory card only runs thirty minutes.Want Vivitar DVR865HD 8.1MP Camcorder with 8x Digital Zoom (Black) Discount?
Vivitar DVR865HD 8.1MP Camcorder with 8x Digital Zoom (Black)This little camera takes terrible quality videos so that the playback on a computer is pixalized (And it really does not look good if you want to add a video to youtube). The zoom is bad. The layout is really badI found it very hard to navigate around the menu's, Not only was it slow but it was confusing. You have to buy a big memory card too or it can't store much video.
The battery life was good (though sometimes it would just not turn on unless I charged it a tiny bit). I also didn't like that you can't use it while it's charging. The size is a plus though.
I would rather spend more money and get a real camera, but if you're looking for a cheap, throw away camera then go ahead. But I wouldn't suggest it to a friend.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sony ICD-SX750D 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black)
Sony ICD-SX750D 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black)Excellent buy as expected for what I want to use it for. Superb voice/music recording. Low battery consumption enabling long recording. Lot of space for sound, music or photos. Excellent voice recording input/output. The price is right for all the options included in this light machine. Very easy functionality. All together I highly recommend this unit for students or any other purposes.When you playback any voice or sound, the space between voice, it keeps hissing.
recorded voice is clear but, too much hissing. sounds like "SHEEEEEE".
so, it is harsh to the ear.
sony technical support advised me to set voice mode to low and stereo XQ mode.
so,I set the mode to voice low and Stereo XQ mode, voice is clear,and not hissing noise,
but, voice is too low.
so, I tried the mode to voice high, and it was louder and clear but, too much hissing
in the space between voice.
I had the other sony recorder ICD PX820, that was much better quality sound than this.
but, these 2models( ICD-SX750,ICD-PX820 )I do not recommend SONY voice recorder for recording secretly.
SONY ICDPX 820 recorder play button is projected(protruded),so the playback button can be pushed unconsciously when you put it in to the pocket or something.
if you want to use for concealment recording, I would recommend OLYMPUS VN-8100PC or any VN series.
if you want to use for publicly open for recording, I recommend sony icd-px820.
and also, dragon naturally speaking software doesn't recognized recorded files well.
if you want to buy dragon naturally speaking software, get the new version 11 separately.
Buy Sony ICD-SX750D 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black) Now
Great product with many features along with the fact you get Dragon natural speaking with it makes it a real bargain for the money.Read Best Reviews of Sony ICD-SX750D 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black) Here
My fourth Sony ICD-SX. I can't say enough good things about this model series. Like any electronics, I found out the hard way, they are sensitive to moisture. THe software to play back and edit is great too.Want Sony ICD-SX750D 2 GB Flash Memory Digital Voice Recorder (Black) Discount?
This product is the best recorder I've found. It has style and very functional. Also doesn't require much effort to use and secure.

