VideoSecu 4 Channel MPEG4 USB DVR System Internet Remote Control, including 4 Color Audio Infrared

I recently bought this system . I am quite happy with it! Here are my thoughts: Everything that came in the box was as expected.

con : each camera require running cable until a local power source shared (4 cam)

I was looking for was ensuring that each camera didn't require a local power source, as I didn't relish the idea of running receptacles to each camera location.

I will like single cable with an video connector that runs to each camera and carries both power AND video signal .

Plus : very cheap, nice picture.

I was impressed with the picture I got from the night vision from the cameras.

Easy install software and run.

recommended this system

Some of the features I like about this unit is of course the night vision cameras, the ability to view the cameras over the internet, the ability to record continuously or as motion sensors.

I bought this item in March 19, it's already May 11th and I haven't been able to properly connect this security camera. After connecting all necessary wires properly, my screen still says..."video loss", I tried to get help from the number provided but to no avail. Customer service and tech support for this company sucks, no help at all. I will try to return it, but not sure how yet, although I still have the box, but all 4 cameras are installed already along with the cables...grrr!

Buy VideoSecu 4 Channel MPEG4 USB DVR System Internet Remote Control, including 4 Color Audio Infrared Now

Amazing hard to install the software. The manual is written in oriental English and very hard to comprehend. The display is terrible and in less than 2 months the capture card went out. I contacted the company when originally installing the system. They were very very nice however, their English was very very bad . The server part actually did get installed but the client software would never install on any of the computers. The software is difficult to work with, with not enough clear choices and poorly organized. If you are good with security systems you will probably have better luck than I did.

Read Best Reviews of VideoSecu 4 Channel MPEG4 USB DVR System Internet Remote Control, including 4 Color Audio Infrared Here

Mele A2000 TV Box Full HD Internet Media Player

I had got the MeLe A2000 to watch online video, play some games, and run emulators,

it can play videos "acceptably" and "some" Android games play fine, but a lot of games

wont work in landscape mode, and Emulators are mostly useless without bluetooth or

gamepad support, another thing I dislike is the device seems slow at times, not sure

if its low memory or just needs a tweaked ROM.

The MeLe A2000 is well made, however the ROM that is installed has some issues that

need to be fixed, some of them include, no bluetooth support, and no gamepad support,

Android can work with bluetooth dongles and USB gamepads, but MeLe neglected to include

them in the ROM, however you can flash another ROM, and even shoe horn ClockworkMod onto

the device, with some effort I was able to install both CM9 and ClockworkMod, and then

my bluetooth dongle and USB gamepad worked, over on Reddit there is a Subreddit called

Mele with more info.

The MeLe A2000 can play some 3D Android games with no trouble, like 3D Mini Golf, and

Dead Trigger does work but at a low frame rate, and most emulators work fine.

Of the videos I have tried, most worked just fine, I had one AVI fail to play, and one

of the HD videos I had on a thumbdrive seemed to be playing at a low frame rate, I use

MX Player Pro, as it seems to work with the MeLe's hardware providing hardware acceleration.

It keeps crashing after few minutes of video play. I have tried many video players without luck. It works normally and after 10-20 minutes it crashes and need hard reboot. This is the same for youtube as well.

I didn't upgrade it. I still have firmware 1.5 and Android 2.3. The reason why I cannot upgrade is because the company website is so slow that the connection drops. And today the links are not even responding. I hope the upgrade will solve this issue.

Buy Mele A2000 TV Box Full HD Internet Media Player Now

This is a nifty and versatile media player that shipped with Android Gingerbread but can be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich or other Linux distros. The method to upgrade is pretty easy but it takes some searching to find the upgrade files. You then need a Windows utility (that did not work for me) and an SD card to flash the new firmware. Instead I just did it in Linux. I followed the instructions here:

[....]

But there is a typo on this line:

[....]

(it should just be: [....]

Another drawback, for English language types, is that you must change it from its native Chinese. If you know your way around Android menus, you should be able to get it switched.

It is pre-rooted so you have full access without any complicated procedures to obtain root.

Overall, I'm happier with this than my Google TV (Logitech Revue) because it is not locked down. I would like to be able to get GTVBox (for GTV) running on this. The Mele also can launch the Vulkano application without all the video issues that Google TV has.

The remote works but not always very smoothly. I tend to navigate more with a wireless mouse.

Read Best Reviews of Mele A2000 TV Box Full HD Internet Media Player Here

I bought this after reading about it on Gizmodo, in an article about good comps for under a 100. This is a comp with a cell phone/tablet operating system, and for media it's awesome. I don't have cable and needed another comp for my bedroom TV that is still a tube TV. The comp had the right rca output for the old TV, and HDMI if i ever get a flat screen. I plugged in my removable hard drive and started watching TV/Moives right away. It connected to my internet with no prob, and I logged into my Google account and it synced up with my email and other Google stuff (just like my smart phone). The remote works great but if you want to do some hardcore surfing (pron?), you might want to invest in a keyboard/mouse combo that works with this type of comp. The only negative thing i have to say is that the language is set to Chinese. I was about to call the delivery guy to translate but i was able to recognize enough symbols from the quick start guide to find my way through the settings and change the language. The apps already installed are for Asian websites and services. I just removed all those and installed the few i need to get content. This could be a deal breaker for people with no tech back ground, but if you have a little patience its totally worth it. Haven't tried any games yet because i'm not sure if games like angry birds would work with the remote. To sum it up, this comp is great for media and lite web surfing, and most of all it's cheap! I'm willing to bet these type of comps will become super popular in the near future, for poe folk like myself, who want a smart TV, but don't want to pay a lot for it.

Want Mele A2000 TV Box Full HD Internet Media Player Discount?

The box works fine but crashes occasionally. This box appears to come with a flawed or very mediocre version of ICS.

JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom

I have had this camcorder for about a month. The main reason I bought this camcorder was for convenience. I have MiniDV camcorder as well, but I never got around to uploading video from camcorder to computer and then converting AVIs to mpeg to DVD. The workflow with MiniDV was too time-consuming and needed a lot of system resources (1 hr AVI takes about 13GB disk space!).

This camcorder was great. For around $320-ish, its great value. Its totally solid state, no moving parts. I use 16GB SDHC card (around $50-ish), that card can record about 3hr58min video in best quality. The battery lasts about 2 hrs. I doubt I will ever shoot more than 4 hr video in a day. you can always back up your video on a computer at the end of the day or buy multiple SDHC cards.

You can use the included USB cable or a SD card reader to upload mpeg files to a computer. You can upload video and burn a DVD in as little as 10 minutes (if you go straight to DVD and do not edit). You can also upload your video you-tube or other video hosting websites. It comes with included software that is supposed to make YouTube uploads easy for the user. I like to do it myself, have not used the software that much.

The picture quality of this camcorder is amazing. Its not a HD camcorder, so don't expect wonders on your HDTV, but picture quality is very good on SDTVs. The low light capabilities of this camcorder are great. However, auto white balance under light bulbs (indoors) is not that great. You will get better results with manual white balance. Recorded sound quality is OK, not great, but OK. It comes with 35X optical zoom, which is the best in its class. It has digital image stabilization which works very well. this camcorder does allow some manual controls for the enthusiast.

JVC has this new laser touch based interface. It sure looks fancy, but is not great to use. It takes a little getting used to and you never really get a hang of it. Its not very accurate. But this is a simple camcorder and most uses will use it in auto mode all the time. So, the laser interface is not a deal-breaker kind of a thing.

This is a very small camcorder. Its very light. Its easy to handle and feels firm and secure in my hands. It does not come with a neck strap (I just use the one from my previous MiniDV camcorder). It has a built-in lens cover, which is better than some pastic-ring-tied-with-thread lens caps which are annoying. The included battery lasts about 2 hrs. It can also take still pictures, though I have never used it to take still pictures so far.

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend this to a friend.

I wanted to get a camcorder that recorded onto SD cards so I could place the card into a media reader, download the footage, and edit in Sony Vegas. Here's what happened:

Forget about the camera's Quality settings for video. You'll probably want to set it to the highest setting, and never touch it. I get 2 hours of widescreen footage on an 8GB card at the highest quality setting. By not using any moving parts to record an image, camcorders like this are reduced down in size to (roughly) a soda can!

Having downloaded some test video to my Windows XP PC, I noticed that each video file has a separate 3K document that tags the video as being full or widescreen. Because this tag isn't included in the video, editors like Vegas will open ALL the video as fullscreen. However, look for a free program online named SDCopy which puts the tags in the files. Don't worry -it happens as quickly as making a copy of the file. It's not like SDCopy has to "process" or "render". While I wasn't crazy about this extra step, I can live with it.

Now that my widescreen footage opens as widescreen in Vegas, I can say the image quality of the resulting DVD is outstanding! Footage shot outside was colorful and remarkably clear, and nothing looked cheap or pixelated. Footage shot inside (normal lighting condition) produced images on TV that look better than reality.

The Laser Touch feature works OK for me, and is a gimicky way to navigate though the settings. It also keeps the weight of the camera down. Battery life is good (no moving parts), but I'll be buying a 2nd battery and a changer.

I like that this camera has a built-in lens protector that snaps open and closed. The 35X optical zoom is a huge step over my last camera (also a JVC) which had a 16X optical zoom. The only complaint I have about this camera is that the door to the SD card compartment is more like a plastic flap that gets shoved closed. It feels like you may break the thing every time you go to open it. Also, like many camcorders made today, this camera has no optical viewfinder -only the LCD screen. That may be something to consider.

Overall -a very small camera that produces stunning video at the highest quality setting. And isn't that why you use a camcorder?

Buy JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom Now

My wife and I are expecting so I started reasearching what cameras to buy. I was very confused at first with all the different models and options but eventually wanted something easy to use or else it might just gather dust. I settled on getting a camera that used memory cards because of fewer moving parts and the ability to easily transfer data to a computer. I visited stores in the area and I really liked the JVC Everio but the downside was there were only models with a hard drive. About a month later I found out there was a new JVC Everio model using SD cards and I quickly bought it. This camera is so easy to use it's great. I simply flip the viewer open and can start recording in a second. Great zoom, lightweight, and the lasertouch control panel makes it so easy to adjust settings. I just taped a two hour lecture the other day and it was easy. When I got home I transferred 4GB of data to my computer in minutes. My wife who has two left thumbs even finds it easy to use. Battery lasts about 2 hours so I will probably buy a bigger battery. I bought three 4GB Class 6 SD cards which each hold an hour of footage at the best resolution. I made the right chose and I am happy I didn't make a mistake on this as I have on other things in the past.

Read Best Reviews of JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom Here

I ordered the GZ-MS100 to upgrade from an older VHS-C Panasonic cam-corder. Obviously, the JVC is head and shoulders above the older Panasonic. I did not need HD at this time, so I focused on hard drive vs. SDHC cameras. I opted for the SDHC due to no moving parts, quieter operation, and ease of file transfer and transportability. Also, the cost of SDHC cards are very low. The camera works as advertised. The unique menu interface (the slider bar to the left of the screen) was easy to master. I like the user interface since it is clean and avoids the many buttons, switches, and selectors that would have been the alternative. I also like the way I can switch between Auto and Manual mode with the push of one button, and the camers saves the last Manual set up mode I programmed into it. I use the MS100 for general video tasks, and for some dark and low light video using IR lights a Sima SL-20IR and a Sony HVL-IRM. The camera records in total darkness using either or both of these lights very well the Sima providing a "flood" type of coverage, while the Sony provides a "spot" type of lighting. The MS100 has a night mode setting that slows the shutter speed down and works with IR lighting, but I have found the shutter speed is a bit too slow for my liking it produces jumpy video using IR light sources. Instead of the pre-programmed night mode, I use the camera's Manual mode and set the camera to black & white with a shutter speed of no longer than 1/15 sec. The exposure with IR lighting is still very good, and video is much smoother. When going from darkness to a lighted area, I simply go into Auto mode by pushing one button, and the camera is back to color with good exposure control; if I move back into a dark area I return to Manual mode the camera remembers my last settings.

Overall, a very nice camera small, light weight, silent, four video quality settings (so you can opt for varying qualities and associated recording times), and long battery life due to no spinning hard disk or moving parts. I also purchased a second higher capacity battery and charger so I can record for exended times.

I have seen comments about the mod files this and other cameras produce. I have found that I can save the mod file to my computer by pulling the SDHC card out of the camera and inserting it into my media card reader, then dragging the file onto a folder on my hard drive. Video and sound come across in the one file. I can open and play the mod file using Windows Media Player, but files recorded in widescreen format display in the 4:3 format, so the video is "scrunched". I did download the SDCopy utility, and it easily converts the mod file to a jpg file that WMP can read and display in widescreen correctly. As a side note, I also use Nero 7 Essentials, and its bundled player Nero ShowTime Essentials can display native mod files correctly, whether recorded in widescreen or 4:3 mode. Apparently, it correctly reads the critical aspect bit in the mod file, and WMP does not.

To close, a great little camera at a good price/performance point.

Want JVC Everio S GZ-MS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 35x Optical Zoom Discount?

One caveat of note for the JVC Everio GZ-MS100 (and this may very well apply to other JVC models) the video files the camera produces are .mod files. These files are not read by XP Windows Movie Maker (JVC says VISTA has no problem with them, not confirmed by me) Also the software included is not for video editing and probably useless to anyone half way computer savvy. End result: without buying more software (maybe $70) you can't string together video clips, edit, etc. using what comes with the camera and XP. I'm using trial version of Cyberlink Director Pro but that will cost at least $70 if I want to purchase.

Panasonic LM-HB94LU 9.4GB DVR Double Sided Disc

The Panasonic DVD-RAM disks have been my media of choice for 3 or 4 years now but I just recently purchased a couple of the cartridge-type disks. The advantage is that the disc is never touched by human hands nor receives scratches or nicks. The disc remains pristine. I'm very pleased with these and will probably never buy another brand. As a matter of fact, 2 of these 2-sided cartridge discs should last beyond the life of my DVR. I understand from my research that they should last 100,000 cycles of re-recording. At once a day that's 273 years! I perform a format every 20-30 recordings just to really clean them up. Highly recommended product!

These discs have normally been reliable for me, even though they do tend to make more noise in my recorder than other brands of DVD-RAM cartridges, such as EMTEC (which I can no longer find) or the Verbatim branded discs.

However, 1 of the 2 Panasonic discs that I ordered recently had been crushed on the end, prior to shipping, which prevented the shutter cover slide from closing properly. I returned it to Amazon only to receive a replacement with similar damage. Rather than return that one too, I instead took the doubled-sided disc out of the cartridge and will just use it that way.

While I can't be sure where the damage happened (at the factory or at Amazon's warehouse?), I will be avoiding the Panasonic discs for a while, unless I can see them before buying.

Buy Panasonic LM-HB94LU 9.4GB DVR Double Sided Disc Now

A perfect replacecment for the original Panasonic double-sided disc providing all the features included in the original product. The best recording medium short of using a PVR.

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic LM-HB94LU 9.4GB DVR Double Sided Disc Here

The price is better than I could find locally. There was a problem with the initial order not containing all of the ordered product but it was taken care of promptly.

Want Panasonic LM-HB94LU 9.4GB DVR Double Sided Disc Discount?

Not many people actually have a need for DVD-RAM, however, those that do, know it and the Panasonic DVD-RAM media has always proven very reliable.

Save 9% Off

Sony Radio CD MP3 Cassette Stereo Boombox w/ Remote

• Cassette, CD player w/MP3 playback capability
• Audio In for Digital Media Players
• ID3 Tag in large display - MEGA BASS Sound System
• CD to Tape Synchronized Recording
• Digital Synthesized FM Stereo/AM Tuner w/30 Station Preset

[[ASIN:B00439BHB0 Sony Radio CD MP3 Cassette Stereo Boombox w/ Remote] I would love to say that the sound is superb, but instead I would say that it is fairly good for a small boombox. I am keeping it because it plays CD'S with MP3 format, has a cassette component, AM/FM Radio and is very portable. Easy to use, I listen to audio books and to find your way around the disc is no problem. I have had it for a week, and so far am pleased. I gave only four stars because it is quite pricey for its size.

Buy Sony Radio CD MP3 Cassette Stereo Boombox w/ Remote Now

I bought this unit because it is one of the few units on the market that play both cassettes and CDs. I noticed that the reviewers for a lower-priced Sony combo said that it ate tapes. I had hoped that this more expensive unit wouldn't. Unfortunately, it does. It ate a commercial 60-minute tape. Do not buy this unit if you want to play tapes.

It does fine playing audio CDs (I have not tried MP3 CDs yet).

It has a convenient jack on the front to allow you to play the output from an MP3 player. That works fine.

I have not tried the remote control. In my opinion, a unit this small does not need a remote.

All of the controls are digital. I would much prefer a volume control that is a knob, but this one consists of two buttons -+ and -.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Radio CD MP3 Cassette Stereo Boombox w/ Remote Here

It's very difficult to find a cassette player, and cd player with mp3 and best yet with a remote...Sony's own web site does not offer this model (out of country only) so if your looking for all of the above this is it....but sound quality not so much...the remote doesn't get you to specific cd tracks..and on pause it will not hold the exact portion of the cd only the chapter but I use it strictly for the kitchen (inside a cabinet garage) to listen to books on tape while cooking etc. so sound quality is not of the greatest importance. I replaced an older sony model with this unit and if the other model played mp3's I would have gotten the same model again as the sound quality was better and the remote worked better as well. If you don't need to play cassettes there are other much smaller units that sound better and play all types of discs...but this is about the best you will find that does it all at this time.

Want Sony Radio CD MP3 Cassette Stereo Boombox w/ Remote Discount?

I bought this from a big box mart store at $40 less than the price here. I'm impressed and super pleased with my purchase. CD, cassette, radio and it can run on batteries if need be. It's compact, has a nice handle and very portable when on the go. It sounds great (has mega bass). I'd recommend it to anyone that needs a small, portable cd and cassette player. Just buy it for $50 instead of $90

Save 44% Off

Sony Portable Digital Tuner AM/FM Radio Tape Cassette Recorder & CD Player Mega Bass Reflex Stereo Sound System with Program, Shuffle, Repeat, 20 Track RMS Programming, 30 Presets, LCD Display, Auto Scan Tuning & Audio in Jack to Connect any iPod, iPhon...Only thing good I can say about this radio is that it does work. But the sound quality is awful, in all formats. I got this for my wife to use at yoga, but one can't even understand the words it has so much background noise & hiss. I bought a 1970ish straight radio at a yard sale & it sounds so much better. No excuse for the sound quality not to be better on the Sony radio no less some 40yrs later. Should have returned it but was so confident in Sony I threw away the box & packing, then heard radio after wife got home & was so angry I just threw my hands up. Always had good luck with Sony but never again. So maybe you should listen to one first or just go with another kind. I realize this sounds angry but have had time to think it over, so decided to try to help others if possible, especially right before Christmas. Good luck

MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit

• Frequency response is 40Hz to 20kHz, sampling rate is 44.1kHz and 48kHz
• No special drivers required, Mac and PC compatible
• Includes USB cable, desktop stand and carrying case
• No Special Drivers Required
• Mac and PC Compatible
• Frequency Response: 40Hz to 20kHz; Sampling Rate: 44.1kHz and 48kHz; Inlcudes USB cable, desktop stand and carrying case
• No Special Drivers Required; Mac and PC Compatible

If you're looking for a good sounding microphone that is far superior to any standard PC microphone, this is a good choice. However, the most unique feature that set's this microphone apart the headphone jack is a real disappointment. It is *NOT* a realtime feed from the mic. Rather, the headphone jack is the output of a USB sound card that is integrated into the Microphone. There is significant latency between the microphone input and the audio output, so much that it really is useless as a recording monitor. This feature doesn't allow this microphone to be distinguished from any other USB condenser mic that lacks an audio output.

The headphone jack is possibly useful for setting levels, etc., when you're working with a PC that lacks a sound card, or need to have the microphone a significant distance from your p.c. or laptop. If you have a long USB cable and need to roam, maybe the headphone jack is useful.

There are many good points about this mic recording is warm and full sounding; you do get that 'NPR' sound. While the mount is light, it's adequate. The 10' USB cable is quite generous, and the hard plastic case has pre-cut foam and is a nice touch.

Overall, I am satisfied with the product, but I am disappointed that the promising feature the headphone jack for real-time monitoring, is not what it is implied to be. It is a USB sound card and suffers all of the latency of your internal sound card.

Buy MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit Now

I'm disappointed. I'd read good editorial reviews about it on other sites, but neglected to read the user reviews here on Amazon -the latency issue with the headphone jack would have been a deal-breaker for me. The sound quality of the mic itself is nice for the price, but I found there was a background hiss possibly due to the inexpensive USB interface; I've noticed the same problem with other sub-$100 USB interfaces, and suspect they all use the same chip/circuitry. Acceptable for podcasting, interviews, etc. in the field where the built-in USB interface is less cumbersome, but not for serious voice work in a home studio. You will definitely want a shock mount if using a floor mic stand, as it's very susceptible to picking up stand thumps.

Read Best Reviews of MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit Here

This microphone is as described, and I highly recommend it for the home-studio enthusiast. It was completely "plug & play" on my XP laptop and I was recording immediately with no hang-ups or need for extra hardware drivers. The mic picks up high and low frequencies nicely, but I recommend buying a windscreen to cut down on "Ppops." The carrying case is durable and the foam inlay protects all the components in seperate compartments. A well-designed package, overall.MXL Studio 1 USB Microphone with Headohone Jack, Desktop Stand, USB Cable, and Carrying Case

Want MXL Studio1-USB USB Desktop Recording Kit Discount?

Here is my review.

Save 19% Off

This microphone is very easy to use (just plug and go!). Some of the extras that come with it are not the greatest including the desktop stand which is pretty cheap and so small that it isn't even that practical. The microphone itself, though, works fine and is worth it for the money if you aren't looking to record at a very high level. I used it to record voice overs for a play and it worked just fine.

Eznsmart 16-channel H.264 DVR Network DVR CCTV Surveillance Iphone Android Blackberry Remote View

I have one at home for 2 years and have no problems with it . Would recommend same to anyone. P> J> M

This company will not resolve this issue. The dvr's are not working with custom and none custom cables. I have tried all three DVR's on a couple other systems that are working and still nothing. I WANT MY MONEY BACK. I will send them back if they send shipping.

Buy Eznsmart 16-channel H.264 DVR Network DVR CCTV Surveillance Iphone Android Blackberry Remote View Now

iMBAPrice - Pelican iMBA Series - High Speed HDMI cable (6 FEET) - 1080P - Lifetime Warranty

Very clear picture, and sound. All tested with Blu-rays Via a playstation 3 and no issues what so ever with my laptop. Don't get ripped off in the stores with there over priced name brand HDMI cables... And For free economy shipping. HDMI is the way to go, these cables will make great gifts for people getting new tv's, Blu-ray players, Ect.

Looked thin at first glance but work well with both my HD blu-ray and Roku. Can't beat for the price

Buy iMBAPrice - Pelican iMBA Series - High Speed HDMI cable (6 FEET) - 1080P - Lifetime Warranty Now

As long as you don't mess with it, they work great, This cable is actually rather cheap, again for the price, super high quality should be the last thing on your mind. The ones I bought actually came from newegg rather fast.

Again, set it and forget, if you plan on messing with the cable or have an unstable set up, get a better cable because this one will give you artifacts if you move it around or mess with it too much, other than that it's perfect.

Read Best Reviews of iMBAPrice - Pelican iMBA Series - High Speed HDMI cable (6 FEET) - 1080P - Lifetime Warranty Here

Fast shipping I received on the 2nd day. I cannot believe the quality is better than my $29 HDMI cable. After I compare both cables by connect with my LG BlueRay and my Samsung LED 3D. Don't waste the money on a high dollar cable. This Seller and HDMI cable I rate 5 STARS.

Want iMBAPrice - Pelican iMBA Series - High Speed HDMI cable (6 FEET) - 1080P - Lifetime Warranty Discount?

Not of good quality. Being a new item it has scratch on the plating of the connectors!

I ordered it from Amazon, but the package came from Newegg's RMA warehouse... not sure if it is a repackaged used item.

Doesn't has the brand name anywhere, looks like an unbranded product. But it was sold as "Pelican iMBA Series".

Save 60% Off

NEW DENLE Replacement Sucker Bracket Holder Mount for Car Vehicle Recorder DVR Camera

The windshield mount that came with the dash cam was a piece of garbage. The plastic center post that moves in and out to create suction separated from the suction cup shortly after I got the camera. The Denle mount has a more flexible suction cup (similar to those found on quality GPS mounts) and has not come off the windshield since it was installed.

Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

• 16:9 Full HD 1080p Resolution Panel (1920x1080)
• Motionflow 120Hz technology delivers natural motion )
• BRAVIA Engine EX fully digital video processor
• Advanced Contrast Enhancer circuit (ACE)
• x.v.Color technology

This is my third LCD set. The first being a 32" Sharp Aquos 720p (touted to be the best at the time of that purchase). The second being a 40" Sony V2500 1080p unit. This third being the 40" XBR7. Oh my have things changed over the years.

In the comparison of apples to apples (V-series from 2 years back against the current XBR7), the difference in picture quality is amazing. The color contrast is better (without the need to be in 'torch mode'), and the "blurring" is almost gone.

If I am comparing the unit to another, please assume it's the Sony KDL-40V2500 unit unless otherwise specified.

Menus:

The XMB menu system is great. There is a bit of lag when switching from category to category though. It's just in the animation. The function isn't hindered. The adjustments (that make everyone's heads spin) have some added comments to help you decide which setting is best. It's a nice added feature, but I would still use the best tool to adjust the set: your eyes. Many home theater "elites" will criticize all of the added "picture enhancers" Sony has added. I would ignore their advice of "turn if all off" and simply adjust the set to what looks best to you. Of course, a simple calibration baseline does do wonders: Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics [Blu-ray]

Source: DirecTV HR21 HD-DVR Connected via HDMI to Receiver, then to TV

The HD content has a more crisp and clear look to it. The "MotionFlow" should be either set to Off or "Standard", as the "High" setting is a bit dizzying. It gives a smooth "flowing" visual effect which makes content look great OR horrible (depends on your eyes and personal preference). Many movies (HBO HD, 1080i broadcast, I think) look fantastic. It's almost as clear as having the actual BluRay. The SD content PQ has slightly improved, but nothing amazing.

Source: Playstation 3 (60 gb Launch model) Connected via HDMI to Denon Receiver "Pure Mode" (bypasses any receiver processing), then to TV

Stunning. That is the word that best describes the quality. The first thing I watched after setting up the TV was Batman: The Dark Knight. The detail in the dark scenes were quite impressive. Most LCDs will produce a very dark gray since it's near impossible to reproduce black. This unit get's VERY damn close in my opinion. Details can actually be seen in the dark scenes now (the V2500... couldn't distinguish much). Film content (24p) is best viewed with MotionFlow OFF. With the feature on, it looks like the main subject(s) on the screen are slightly popping out from the rest of the scene. It's an interesting look, but it's not for me.

When gaming, there is no motion blur (1080p and 720p) that I noticed. The V2500 had some blur issues. The colors are crisp and vibrant. Details can be seen even in the darkest of rooms. This is definitely a noteworthy contender if gaming is the main function of this TV.

Source: Lenovo T500 Notebook via HD15 Directly connected to TV

Intel on-board graphics test... will test ATI Graphics at a later date

Everything looked fine. I was running the native resolution for the notebook's screen (1600 by 1050, or something in that ballpark). The text was easy to read. I haven't been able to do full resolution (1920x1080), but will try the next time I connect it.

Overall, this is a great unit. There were very little gripes I had about the unit. It's near flawless. Some say the XBR6 quality is the same. I unfortunately didn't have the luxury of a XBR6 and XBR7 side by side for a true comparison. To save a few bucks, I'd recommend checking out the XBR6 also. The only difference that MIGHT exist is a 8bit (XBR6) versus 10bit (XBR7) panel... but Sony never indicates what the XBR6 actually has. Rumors have it that they both use 10bit panels and it's just hidden in the XBR6 documentation so the XBR7 will have a larger arsenal to market with.

Buy Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV Now

I've held off on buying a 1080P set until I could get what I wanted, and not just get what was just within my generally limited price range. My spouse set the size limit at 40" because of the room size (I would have pushed for a 46" but in marriage you have to choose your battles...) When I've gone to Costco or Best Buy the Sony Bravia XBR series has always stood out. Since my television sets generally last me 15-20 years, I wanted the most up-to-date version of the best I could get.

The color and definition of what I have seen on the set so far are wonderful. Razor-sharp imagery has always been important to me, both in my years as a film exhibitor and as a photographer. One of the first things I checked out on the new set is one of the "Planet Earth" Blu-Ray discs -dependably gorgeous and detailed. Next, a Blu-Ray disc of 1938 "The Adventures of Robin Hood". The definition holds in the action scenes when men and horses are streaming across the screen, while the sense of dimensionality is frequently beyond what would have been technically possible with the best film printing and exhibition at the time the film was made. Then I looked at a standard definition disc of an early 1940s comedy (Criterion's edition of "Heaven Can Wait"); the upscaled presentation on this television set is beautiful. I grew up on nitrate prints from the UCLA film archive; for the first time since then I feel like I can see film imagery with a comparable (or better) sharpness and luster. As great as this set will be for HBO High Definition broadcasts and Blu-Ray discs, this is also a cinephile's dream television set for something like the new Fox release of Murneau and Borzage silent films due out next week.

I'm thrilled. This was worth the wait.

Read Best Reviews of Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV Here

Everyone seem to start a review with " i don't usually write reviews" but honestly i don't.

I am an IT guy and i love electronics. Music and tv are my passion and this is why i decided to write about this tv, because i care.

Now as far as the 40-xbr7

Looks: Wow the most gorgeous, slickest TV i have ever seen.

Sound: Great sound even though i am planning to get a high end surround system later on this year.

Picture quality: I am very happy with the deep levels of black on this set. I like the work that 120hz does with the 3 different types of settings it has ( even though you can't chose a 120Hz ON or OFF option per say)I have ATT U-Verse which i absolutely despise and i think offers the worst quality of picture to day and i can't wait to change it. Having that said, the xbr7 has a ten times better quality then the 37" Visio that i have right next to it.

Overall positives: Great deep black levels, unbelievably warm colors, tons of options to adjust the quality of the picture, excellent gui etc etc.

Negatives: there is white "halo" on both top corners of the TV when changing channels and the screen is all black. This got me worried in the beginning and i hope it will not get worst in the future but for now it is just a minor detail. ( i don't know if the warranty will cover it or not"

Would i recommend it to a friend?

Yes i would.

Would i recommend it to a family member?

Of course i would.

Conclusion: Overall a great TV that does a very good job with regular channels and a superb job with HD channels. For the amount of $ that i purchased the TV it is well worth it. Ah and one more time: if you learn anything from this review besides the fact that this TV is just as good as it looks, Learn from my mistake and don't get ATT U-verse because you will definitely regret it.

---------

Update:

I have had the TV for few months now and it has surpassed my expectations. My primary objective was to find a tv that will do a good job at non HD channels and boy did i find one. I changed the Cable provider and now i have Cox. What can i say i still keep on smiling when i look at every channel wether it is HD or not because the quality is just superb.

Even the "Halos" "Clouds" they just disappeared and i have not seen them for over a month now. I would definitely give it a 5 star without any hesitation.

I love this TV and i would not hesitate to buy it again in a heartbeat and i am glad i stuck with Sony brand.

Want Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV Discount?

I bought this TV on March 2nd and it was delivered on March 9. Ceva did a good job, but the guy told me that he wasn't supposed to help me to mount the TV on my stand. Whatever the TV picture is spectacular; there are no words to describe exactly the picture quality, I live in a condominium where the TV signal from Comcast is free, the picture quality is great but note that you get 3 different kinds of signal when you have cable; analog, digital 480 and HD 1080i and the analog and digital makes a big difference, I repeat a big difference, now HD channels are awesome, completely breathtaking incredible....and Then I connect my indoor HD amplified Terk antenna and that's almost another word the image is perfect , incredible perfect. But the day after I received my TV I found on the hallway one of the cable company techs and I asked him about the signal quality from his company and we started talking about their service, the guy was very nice telling me ...never order cable service if you have a HD TV only use Satellite company , because the quality it's so obvious , he told me that the cable signal lose quality thru the cable instead of satellite everything is thru the air and the signal is 100% digital and 100 % HD. That's why I'm ordering direct TV. But I do recommend this TV to anyone looking for the best TV and the best quality TV, why I put it this way? Because I started doing my research to buy a TV like 6 months ago and I found that the best picture quality is with Samsung series 600,700 and 800. BUT there is so many complaining about quality, like features that doesn't work as promised, the frame peeling off etc etc and Sony Bravia processors make the image looks so great in standard signal or HD. BECAUSE when you are shopping around for a HD TV in your local stores note that almost all TVs looks great, almost every single one have great picture , WHY? Because those are connect to a HD air antenna, Satellite or Blu ray (which those 3 are HD signals) but when you take it home, the history is 100 % different because in the real world we don't have all the channels in HD the majority are standard digital signal. That's why a good TV and a good TV processor are extremely important, the capacity of the TV to make those standard definition channels look like HD channels, most of the HD TVs now, the picture looks excellent in HD signal, but when you watch standard channels on a HD TV is the biggest test your TV will pass or not and believe me most of the TV out there look terrible in Standard definition, because the processor of the TV doesn't have the capability to upscale the signal near to 1080i. Tell the salesman to connect the TV you are interest in to an standard definition signal and you will see that he will tell you that they don't have standard definition signal in that store. And be realistic.... You can find out there a 40'' TV for 649.00 but also there some TVs that's cost $6,716.23 or like the Sony XBR7 40 that the price list is 2,100.00 but you can get it here in Amazon for 1,400.00, Why there is such price difference in TVs ? Because technology cost, you get what you pay , if you want quality you have to pay for it, if you don't believe me , look right now for the cheapest TV here in Amazon . Recapping...you want the best picture? , well my best advised for you is to go for Sony but also get ready with your wallet because their best ones are expensive. Also I bought this TV because the price was the same that the XBR6 40. And the XBR7 have even a better processor and a woofer not a sub woofer. I hope this review help you to decide..Sony Bravia XBR KDL-40XBR7 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

*************************************************************************

This is an update from my previuos review and my pictures that I upload recently. Im so happy with this TV. that I have already for like 2 months. Im 100 % satisfied. two of the best features I like is that I can see my baby pictures from the USB memory stick or also my TV connected to my computer and then I can surf my diferent folders in my Pictures folder from the pc, its incredible that if my pc is off my TV will turn on my pc, I love this tv , the pictures in HD look awesome , like real life... Buy this TV , you will never regreat

We have had our Sony for a couple of weeks now and have enjoyed it very much. This is our first flat screen TV and after a lot of Internet research and multiple visits to our local brick and mortar stores we chose the 40XBR7 as the TV that best fit our needs. We decided early on that we would rather spend more money on picture quality rather than a larger screen size. We do not have cable or dish, only broadcast TV and the quality of the picture is excellent. There is no jitter or jagged edges on fast action sports, skin tones and overall color is excellent on TV dramas. The sound quality is more than acceptable with DVD movies and broadcast TV.

If you want to have the largest screen size you can afford then a 40" TV is going to be too small... but if you need to have one of the best LCD pictures available, good sound quality and Sony reliability then the 40XBR7 is a tough TV to take your eyes off of.

Belkin PureAV AV52400-04 4-Foot HDMI-to-DVI Video Cable

Nice sturdy cable that works like a dream. I am using the connection on a PS3 to LCD 1080p monitor and I could not ask for a better HDMI-to-DVI cable. One other thing. The knobs Belkin uses on the dvi portion of the cable are great! If you have ever had a hard time conecting or unconnecting cables because they were hard to unscrew don't worry about having this problem with the Belkin PureAV. The grip and size of the knobs make it easy and painless.

This is one heavy duty cable, built better than most.

I had to return a Amazon Basic cable that was faulty and bought this one as a replacement.

Belkin makes high quality cables, buy with confidence.

Buy Belkin PureAV AV52400-04 4-Foot HDMI-to-DVI Video Cable Now

First of all let me state that I purchased this cable 'Used' for like $3.95 from an Amazon retailer... It literally cost more to have it shipped. I've seen the same cable advertised for like >$29.99 which I would have never purchased... It is just a cable.

That being said, I have a 2007 MacBook Pro w/ a DVI port and purchased a Veiwsonic VX2453mh-LED that only has HDMI connections (mistake on my part) so instead of returning the monitor I decided to go with a conversion cable.

The cable works as advertised but this thing is beefy and VERY inflexible. If you are trying to wall mount a monitor or if you have some space restrictions DO NOT buy this thing. It is a little comical how over built this thing is. The HDMI end feels like it could be used as a club to destroy a standard HDMI port. Again, it does NOT flex. If you dont have at least 100cm of space @ either end, do not purchase. I think the thing ways like 16kg, so at only a little more than a meter long it must be made of solid tungsten.

Also, I have only used it as a DVI-out to HDMI-in... I have not tried to converse and cannot comment.

So aside from price and ludicrous build quality, go for it.

Cheers!

-MM

Read Best Reviews of Belkin PureAV AV52400-04 4-Foot HDMI-to-DVI Video Cable Here

This is a wonderful product. The construction is top notch and easily matches and exceeds the build quality of the much higher priced Monster Cable wire. If you have not tried a Hdmi/Dvi wire for your HDTV you are missing SOOOOOO much as far as picture quality. MY HDTV cable box is vastly improved with this wire compared to the monster cable componet wire i was previosly running. As a long time Monster Cable Fan I am now a Belkin Pure AV due to the low price and very high build quality. I also recommend the Belkin Pure AV Pf40 power consule in order to get the best signal possible.

Want Belkin PureAV AV52400-04 4-Foot HDMI-to-DVI Video Cable Discount?

Changed my PC to HDMI monitor after years of the other way around.... Still ticking without any issue. Highly recommended.

Save 62% Off

Memorex 40x Music CD-R Media - 50 Pack Spindle

Four months ago, I used this product and had no problems except the finished CDs did not play in one person's car player. With this stack every one of the first 15 CDs I made did not play in most equipment, although they played in the recorder where I copied them. It was very disconcerting to put them in other players and get nothing, or get something only after forwarding to the 3rd track. Didn't understand why this was happening. But I'll not buy them again. It was a waste of many hours since I was assuming they worked.

I wanted to try this Memorex CD-R, 80 Minute in the 10-pk box before committing to a 50-Pk spindle. I've had nothing but good luck with these CD-R's. (Not a coaster in the bunch!!)

If you aren't sure about getting that 50-pk spindle, go on and order the 10-Pack. Give them a try and (if you are as satisfied as I am with their performance) order that 50-pk spindle..you won't be disappointed!!

Buy Memorex 40x Music CD-R Media - 50 Pack Spindle Now

these cds burn fine BUT they won't play in most cd players. I've tried it in two car aftermarket cd players, brand new mazda, and a brand new F1500 they all did not read the cd. Most computers can read them, but other than that they are not very usable.

Read Best Reviews of Memorex 40x Music CD-R Media - 50 Pack Spindle Here

Avoid a headache. I had the same problems with these new Memorex music CD-Rs. They will not work in my Philips CD audio deck, and as you can see in other reviews they don't work on most decks. I suspect they are plain digital CD-r's, or that the newer 40x discs will not work on Digital Audio decks. A design flaw at any rate. I have had great luck with older Memorex Music CD-Rs, but I believe they were 32x. I have no problem with Sony Music CD-rs which are easily available, and cheaper most places. However, Memorex is good with warranty service in my complaints about these.

Great for dummies who pay extra for music CD-Rs for their computer because they are copying their friends CDs!

Want Memorex 40x Music CD-R Media - 50 Pack Spindle Discount?

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this problem. My home recorder is a Pioneer, and until I bought these Memorex discs, I never had a problem recording. I bought one pack at Wal Mart or Target or something, and when I put in a disc to start recording, it wouldn't read it. I tried 3 more discs, and they all were unreadable. I returned them, and tried again at an online store (maybe I got a bad batch?). Same problem. So I always buy another brand of CD-R Music discs. These are pretty useless.

Save 54% Off

Denon DP-200USB Fully Automatic Turntable with MP3 Encoder

• The DP-200USB Easily converts your record collection to MP3 format on a USB memory stick
• Includes Trans Music Manager PC software that contains either automatic or manual track splitting functions
• Includes moving magnet phono cartidge and swithable built-in RIAA phono equalizer
• Fully automatic operation for ease of use and gentle handling of records
• DC Servo motor coupled with a belt drive system

I did quite a bit searching and waiting to find a decent turntable that I could both connect to my stereo system for LP playing, as well connect to my computer for digitizing of those same LP's. Having owned and used a traditional Denon turntable for 20yrs, I thought I'd stick with a brand that I knew and could trust. My first impressions of this turnable have been mostly favorable....it works with well/sounds good playing LP's and the digitizing is quite easy using a UBS drive and the provided software. Once you've recorded your music onto the USB drive, the "autosplitter" function breaks up your music into tracks. With a bit of renaming, the end result is good for both listening on an MP3 player or burning an audio CD. Things that are really annoying/dumb: 1)the recording function doesn't stop when the LP has ended and the turntable has turned itself off..so unless you're standing by the turntable you end up with a lot of dead air recornded. 2)the turntable belt drive is underpowered....lightly trying cleaning your LP with a Discwasher brush will bring the turntable to a stop. And 3)there is no tonearm up/down lever...so you must manually lift and place the tonearm onto the LP if you want to skip a track. 4) the tonearm feels very light and skips easily with slight scratch on LP or hard step to your floor. Denon should have put about $10-15 more into the turntable design to add basic features that anyone who grew up playing LP's would expect. Overall, however, I like the unit.

Buy Denon DP-200USB Fully Automatic Turntable with MP3 Encoder Now

This is the USB turntable for someone like me, who isn't interested in researching and sorting sound cards, software and cabling, and who loves music but isn't a compulsive audiophile.

Here's how it works: unpack and set up the turntable, connect it to a sound system, stick a flash drive in the port, put on a record (LP or 45), push a couple of buttons, and you're in business. Records in real time, files are stored at a rate of 192kbps. The software for splitting files is easy to work with--however, Mac users need not apply (don't know if there's a workaround). "Auto splitter" works okay if the vinyl is pristine; I use "manual splitter" mostly to eliminate the sound of the tone arm drop at the beginning of each side. As another reviewer has noted, the Gracenotes option for naming tracks isn't much use, as that database largely covers only CD era releases. I rename files after importing them into iTunes.

So yes, labor is involved: You have to hang around while the record plays; you have to split and rename the files. Doesn't seem like a LOT of labor (splitting and renaming an album's worth of files takes about 10 minutes at most). If you want to eliminate/minimize clicks and pops, you can look online for other software.

The turntable itself is pretty basic, and definitely not built for hard use. However, it's of significantly higher quality than Ion's USB turntables, and is adequate for use within a home entertainment system. The only annoying feature is, as another reviewer also notes, the lack of a tonearm lever.

I'm perfectly happy with my purchase. Again, it's not for high-end audiophiles or club dj's, but if you just want to port your vinyl-only releases to your mp3 player, it's a fine solution.

Read Best Reviews of Denon DP-200USB Fully Automatic Turntable with MP3 Encoder Here

I purchased the Denon DP-200USB to transfer vinyl LP's to CD. It was to replace a TEAC P-A688 amplified turntable that I have had for some time and is due a needle replacement. I considered the Denon amplified turntable to be an upgrade. This did not work out as well as I had hoped. The method of transfer is through the line-in of my Creative Audigy sound card. I have used both Nero Wave Editor 2 and Audacity software. Upon connecting the Denon, I noticed a reduced signal based on what I had expected based on the TEAC. I connected both the Denon and TEAC to the aux input of my Bose Wave radio and confirmed that the TEAC had slightly more volume than the Denon. I had verified the Denon On/Off equalizer switch was in the correct (default) position. This in itself was not a showstopper. The major drawback to the Denon is the lack of a damped tone arm system for lowering the tone arm anywhere but at the beginning of the LP. I do not feel comfortable trying to pick up the tone arm and placing it at the correct spot on the LP if is other than the beginning. This manual "splitting" of the songs on an LP can be simpler than doing it with software splitting.

The Denon DP200 has a USB port designed to allow recording to a USB storage device (thumb drive). The instructions are adamant about not connecting the turntable directly to a PC USB port. I don't understand why, but it is Denon's product and I did not try to do this. To record to a USB storage device and then manually connect it to the PC port is a bit of a kludge. This might be designed so that the Denon can be connected to a sound system as a traditional turntable and as an afterthought be used to record and transfer music to a PC. I reviewed the Trans Music Manager. This is pretty rudimentary software, which will probably do the basics. The Gracenote section of the software included for track identification is pretty useless. It requires a connection to the Internet so that it can compare the recording with their online database. However, if no CD exists to compare your LP to or the CD version is re-mastered, no match is possible. Since my LP transfers are primarily Jazz which are not available on CD or have been remastered, Gracenote is useless. The USB transfer method supports only MP3 and I prefer to use the Waveform through the sound card. I did not try the USB transfer method provided by this Denon turntable so I don't know how well it works.

Therefore, I cannot recommend this turntable if you plan to connect it to your soundcard to record LPs. You are paying for a USB recording system that I consider unusual at best. The lack of a dampening system for the tone arm is a showstopper and I have reconnected my old TEAC turntable to my PC.

Want Denon DP-200USB Fully Automatic Turntable with MP3 Encoder Discount?

Initially I should mention I'm partial to Denon. I've owned their products for years, because they last for years. Recently I'd experienced trouble with my 20 year old turntable, and had been seeking a USB turntabe from a reputable brand. Viola! I located this Denon DP-200USB from a small stereo shop several months ago, right after it made its US debut.

Although I've never run my LP's on the turntable for dusting/cleaning, I haven't otherwise noted a lack of power, or an unusual amount of skipping, as mentioned in another review of this item. Then again, I also don't have a great knowledge of other brands for comparison, so only take that information at face value. I'm also very protective and caring of my vinyl, so I cannot relate how it may track even slightly scratched or otherwise marred record.

As expected, the sound is fantastic. Listening to Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumors' on vinyl sounds darn close to the recording on compact disc. The USB recording couldn't be easier. I'm vaguely computer illiterate, yet was able to record severel live vinyl recordings without a hitch.

I reviewed at four stars, as my 20 year old Denon turntable, which was manufactured for easy connection to mini componant systems, had a lever to lower the arm. (It was the base model at the time). I like this function and can't understand why it wouldn't have been included with this model.

Overall, per usual, I'm very happy with my purchase and expect nothing less from Denon.

Save $1.00 Off

I got this record player without doing my usual research. I depended on the Denon brand to be a quality product. This was a mistake.

As others have mentioned, this is an OK record player. But it's cheaply made and the design is lacking in key features. Getting it out of the box we broke a piece off of the dust cover.

1. There is no tone arm lift lever.

This means you have to pick up the tone arm by hand and very gently let it down on the edge of the record to start playing. Recipe for damage to the needle and the record. Also very difficult to use if you want a track beyond the first one. As another reviewer said, this is a show stopper.

2. The record player doesn't stop recording when the record ends.

This is also ridiculous. The device is able to auto-return the tone arm to the rest position after playing, but the built-in USB recorder doesn't stop recording. So you can't really do unattended recording.

3. No autosplitting of tracks.

An ideal record to USB recorder would autosplit the tracks, using the normal pauses in the record. Or at least have an option to do this, as quiet passages on some records could have you wanting to turn it off. Instead, you get one long recording of the entire side of a record. Since MP3 is a lossy format, you then have to further degrade the recording by manually splitting it (every time you edit and resave an MP3 you lose quality).

4. No adjustment to MP3 bit rate.

I don't know what bit rate is used on this, but it's not adjustable.

5. Software is Windows only.

(There is free software like Audacity available for a Mac.)

I am astonished that Denon would put its name on something this poorly thought through.

Don't get this record player for its USB recording. If you are willing to deal with the manual tone arm, it's an OK, but not great, turntable.

For its quality level, this thing should cost less than half what it does. I'd give it 1.5 stars if I could.

Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black)

I just purchased this camera a few days back from Target and couldn't be happier. I did almost a straight month of research on deciding what camcorder to buy. Reviews after reviews make me unsure what to buy. I started with a decision to purchase the Canon FS100. Well a week later the new model FS200 came out and was $70 more. No thanks.

Then I found information on this camcorder. It actually won an award for best entry level camcorder. Got to be good I thought. I researched Samsung camcorders from my ultimate source of camcorderinfo.com. They rated the standard definition SC-MX20 very well in comparison to camcorders much more expensive. Therefore I took the plunge.

I have used the camera for a few days now and ran through a battery of tests. First off in regular daylight or inside light the picture is phenomenal for this camcorder. Shots are crisp and clear and the autofocus is quick. Zoom is great as well; great pace to keep focus and the intelli-zoom works well too.

As for the anti-shake function, this works pretty well until you hit 8x or more zoom, then it's tough to keep it really steady. Overall the F34 was pretty good for a digital (non-optical) anti-shake.

Now on to the low light, the dreaded measure of most camcorders. I can tell you that of all the reviews I have read there is no camcorder under $600 that performs really well in low light. This is the nature of low end camcorders. Who is gonna spend most of their time recording at night anyways!!! For this the low light was ok. I went out side at night with just the motion light on and I could see what was illuminated. I turned up the exposure manually and it was even better. Not too bad for a $250 camcorder.

Overall I am very impressed with this camcorder. How can you pass up a Samsung brand item that performs well with 16GB built in and a 3 hour battery for $250? It's a steal compared to JVC and Canon. I would highly recommend.

Well, I had a video review ready but it simply won't upload so I had to shorten it substantially. Also, I'm new to video reviews so be kind. To be perfectly fair, I wanted to mention the following (and somewhat obvious)...

1. Took out of box, charged and recorded hand held while walking in neighborhood park with mowing taking place in background. Unfortunately, the video goes fuzzy and there is a lag time when moving about quickly. In fact, it becomes downright blurry although it's not as obvious when you are actually holding the camera. Upon playback the fuzziness becomes more obvious.

2. Handled sound very well. The park was actually pretty loud but this buffered the background noise and picked up only the sound of our voices. Surprisingly decent.

3. Color saturation fair but not stellar. Again, I made zero adjustments only the straight out of the box settings. Accurate but not great.

4. Ergonomic and convenient size. Buttons easy enough to locate. Light weight, easy to hold. Strap is non-slip.

5. Software installation simple enough but had to change format 3 times before would upload to website. Is a lot slower than anticipated took 6 minutes to do 'save as' for a 2 min clip. I'm fairly underwhelmed by the included software. It has some cute little navigation etc but the Adobe and even the Microsoft "movie-maker" were a lot faster.

6. I would have uploaded a second video clip where I was standing still but Amazon only allows one so I deliberately selected the WORSt one to show the deficiencies. When I buy an item I want to know the limits of what I can do with it...when standing still, this item does much better. When moving/walking the lag time and shake (especially on zoom) becomes very obvious and exaggerated. Standing still, the picture is still a bit grainy and color saturation (out of the box settings) isn't great but quite sufficient for a general all-purpose inexpensive camcorder.

7. Comes packed with everything needed to get started takes an optional card but not required.

Bottom line this is a fun, entry level camcorder with suprisingly good sound. Not great for those planning a lot of movement as the lag time and blur gets pretty bad. Much better when standing still to record the action. Color saturation on factory settings is okay/acceptable but wont knock your socks off. Easy to use albeit a bit slow on the coversion with the supplied software. Everything you need to get started is in the box, battery recharge is fast. At this price, a solid buy.

Buy Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black) Now

Please note that this camera does not shoot in HIGH DEFINITION.

The idea of migrating the storage of camcorder shots to an internal memory was very appealing with this camera. It stores up 16GB and there is a slot to add an SD card. Hence, there is no extra cost in buying an SD card, which is not the case for all camcorders in the same price range.

What we liked about the camcorder

very light, very easy to hold and shoot.

has a built in lense cap, which is terrific and mades the whole design have a much cleaner finish. Also, when you switch the camcorder on, it will tell you when you have not opened the lense cap!

built in 16GB of ram and a slot to add an SD card

a visible botton on the outside that allows you to choose between using the a) camcorder b) camera c) watch the movies stored

the menu is very user friendly and some of the options we liked include:

i) grids to help you frame your shot

ii) focus that allows for auto focusing, face recognition or manual focusing

iii) simpe scence shot options: sports or portraits

IV) has anti shake option, which comes in handy if you are using the zoom (also see below for the not so great bits about the zoom).

vi) up load to utube is very easy

v) cuts on wind noise (it works and reduces the muffle sound)

vii) the program for editing your shot is very simple, as the intention is to allow you to edit (if any) before loading to utube or send it for friends/family to see. If you are looking for a more sophicated finish then you need to buy a separate program.

Maybe it is the price bracket this camcorder falls within, but we would have liked to see improvements in the following:

the zoom feature is great to a point, but if you plan to use it to its full capacity then I would recommend that you use a tripod. Otherwise, the whole shot comes out very 'shakened'.

we noticed that the zoom button was more sensitive compared with other camcorders in the same price range, which made it very difficult to zoom in and out without you feeling that you were travelling through the stargate!

the camcorder and camera options are best used in good lighting. Not advisable for low lighting events.

no flash light.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black) Here

I wanted to record my children in a format that I could easily work with and save on my computer. But my biggest concern was video quality. When I looked at it on TV I didn't want to regret not getting a hard drive or HD camera. I have been recording on one setting below the best quality and I would say that the quality is as good or better than my old 8 mm tape recordings. The camera is a breeze to use and it is very convenient and easy to carry with you. The 16 gb built memory is great with room to spare. I would defiantly buy this camera again.

Want Samsung SMX-F34 Flash Memory Camcorder w/16GB Memory & 42x Intelli-Zoom (Black) Discount?

Last year, Samsung introduced the consumers to the first generation SC-MX20 Flash Memory Camcorder. This year, there are a few updates that make a solid value for budget minded consumers. This camera includes the capability for still photos (at 800x600 resolution), 16 GB of internal memory, 42x Intelli-zoom, and Time Lapse Photography. This is an excellent point and shoot camera/camcorder.

The camera features a 2.7" 112k pixel LCD screen, 34x optical/42x Intelli-zoom/1200x digital zoom, a swivel handle and a rotating LCD screen. This particular model operates utilizing a SDHC (high capacity HD card) or MMC (multimedia card) plus.

WHAT IS IN THE BOX?

AC power adaptor

Audio/video cable

USB cable

Software CD (Cyberlink Media Show, Windows Only)

User manual CD, quick start guide (hard copy)

No carrying case this year

DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION:

An important feature for any electronic device is a battery life indicator. This camera states the amount of battery life in minutes. It is useful to carry a spare when traveling. In addition, the camera displays the amount of time left based upon its internal memory and flash memory card.

The housing is hard plastic in a cobalt blue color with matte silver accents. A switch operates the built-in lens cover. The built in cover really helps when traveling since it is one less loose part to have to keep track of. The camera has a handle that swivels 180 degrees to allow versatility for positioning. The LCD screen flips out 180 degrees, also, and can be closed with the screen facing out, if desired.

The unit has a bullet shape with a flat bottom surface to keep from rolling off of the table. The back of the unit has a flip off cover exposing the USB port, AV port and DC power in port. The underside of the unit has a battery door with an adjacent slot for the SDHC Card.

This camera features a simple design. The top of the unit includes the zoom/wide angle control, the photo shutter button, and mode button. There is also a record button in the back for one handed operation; however, to turn the unit on, you need to slide the power button down which requires 2 hands.

To the left of the LCD screen, a menu button, 4-way directional control button and central enter button, and record button, are unchanged from last year's model. The microphone is in the front of the unit and is quite sensitve. There is a solitary speaker along the left side of the internal housing.

A volume control toggle, fast forward, reverse, play and pause button are utilized with the 4 button directional keys, during playback.

OPERATION:

The biggest improvement to last year, is the whopping 16 GB of internal memory. Startup time from the off position is about 6 seconds. The user can toggle between photography and video recording by either pushing the camera shutter or pushing the "Mode" button.

At near maximum zoom levels, the camera shake from pushing the shutter button is too excessive to get optimal focus. This is also the case for the camcorder operation. You really need a tripod for zoom greater than 20x.

Playback uses the directional keys to highlight the clip of interest. The menu button allows the user to format the internal memory/memory card and protect a clip. The advantage of flash memory recording is the instantaneous review of images

The Easy Q button makes this camera a point and shoot camcorder that optimizes all of the various parameters for the best `foolproof' clips. Intermediate and advanced users can optimize their artistic talent with various digital effects (through iScene), 16:9 or Standard screens, white balance, exposure and shutter settings.

One of the newest additions this year is the time lapse photography, which is great for focusing on a flower bud opening and closing through the day, recording the setting sun or watching beach goers come and go over a long period of time.

PICTURE/SOUND QUALITY:

Picture quality has improved over last year's model with regards to lower light; which seems to be a perceptible improvement. However, very low light demonstrates a lot of noise, still.

You really need to use a tripod since the amount of compensation from "anti-shake" is minimal, at best.

Recording time with the built in memory is as follows:

Web/mobile @640x480 924 minutes

TV normal @720x480 (60i) 640 minutes

TV fine @720x480 (60i) 490 minutes

TV superfine @720x480 (60i) 396 minutes

You can take about 31,000 still images at 800x600 resolution.

PROS:

Compact and light

34x optical zoom with 42x Intelli-zoom

Built in memory, 16 GB

Still photo capability

Time lapse capability

CONS:

Minimal Anti-shake

Limited in low light settings (but improved from last year's model)

Only up to 16 GB cards are supported

No integrated flash for still images

VERDICT:

Given the added improvements over the 1st generation Flash Memory Camcorder, this camera deserves 5 stars.

Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player - U.S. Version with Warranty (Black)

This is my first review ever. This is also the first time I have ever ordered something from Amazon that was not what I expected.

The phone does work. It was also new, as stated. Works fine. This does not appear to be a US version though.

1.) The included manual has a table of contents going up to page 100+... The last page of the manual cuts off at page 80-something. It also says in the back to contact Motorola-Asia for assistance. Not a deal breaker, but this may indicate the level of detail of the seller.

2.) I say this does not appear to be a US version because I have two (2) used U.S. Razr v3's in my briefcase right now and this is just not quite the same. This seems it might be a U.K. version.

My 2 previously purchased US versions do NOT have the extra button above the wheel/pad. This seems to be the only visual distinction...which results in...

No such things as "missed calls" on this phone. It is classified as a Received Call, but either has a "check" or "no check" next to the entry seemingly indicative of it being a missed call or not.

Speed dial assignments (1 though 9) are 4 digit values (1001 through 1009).

Cannot lock Smart Key on phone exterior.

No light illuminated when charging.

"Center" is spelled "Centre"

Installed graphics are not even remotely the same.

Doesn't seem that time will auto-set.

Doesn't even use the same battery part # as my 2 other U.S.-purchased phones.

That is why I do not believe this to be a U.S. Version phone as stated.

I am not very happy about this. I am going to seek to get this resolved. This is why I purchased this from Amazon because I believe they will make this right.

End

I have never written a review before but I think this is important. These phones are NOT new! I purchased two of these phones for my sons. I tried to set up the internet and found that the phone was either used or refurbished and had the previous users information. Both also had parental control blocks on the internet and the previous users passwords were necessary to remove the block. I called my carrier and they told me there was nothing I could do and I should return the phone. I am extremely disappointed!

Buy Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player - U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Now

A replacement for my original Motorola Razr V3. I guess they don't make them like they used to. Not the same, quality-wise as my original, but it'll do. Paint chip off easily, sure wished I had opted for the silver one, not black.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player - U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Here

Description says "with warranty" read the fine print. i obviously didn't. It died after 45 days and no warranty after thirty days. Sad product. Don't waste your money!

Want Motorola RAZR V3 Unlocked Phone with Camera, and Video Player - U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Discount?

As per my understanding better if they start the rate between 0-5, so that I can give then 0 instead of 1. Worst support from OEM Shop. I would like to advise everyone never purchase the things from Amazon.com. They are having lots of stupid vendors, those they are selling the things online and Amazon has no control on them. I am really frustrated.

Save 80% Off

Neewer 4 Channel Video Audio Capture Adapter CCTV DVR USB 2.0

In my business I have used almost every type of USB DVR and many PCI dvr cards. This is the worst I've bought. I was dubious when I ordered it because it's so cheap, but I figured great if it works. Unfortunately it's a very low quality that barely works. It does work, but just barely. Bad quality, problems with motion detection.

I just tossed it in the trash.

It was $22/each, most are $45-$80/each. There is a reason.

Sony DCR-SX85 Handycam Camcorder (Silver)

After using both HD camcorders and devices like the FlipCam, I was looking for something that fit somewhere in the middle given that few of the computers around the office are equipped to store and edit HD video files. Ironically, the older standard definition camcorders (D8 and miniDV) laying around would have fit the bill, if not for the fact offloading and sharing footage on them is cumbersome compared to the drag-and-drop file transfer you get with a flash media recorder.

So ultimately I was looking for something with all the convenience of a FlipCam, but with a few more features like zoom and SD card recording. I didn't really think I'd find something (at least from a major manufacturer) that fit those requirements and that wasn't HD, but with a few clicks of a product wizard, I found Sony's SX85.

The camera lacks two features I usually look for headphone and external microphone jacks but since I'm not the one who will be using the camcorder most of the time, those features were easy to forego. The video quality is decent not great but given the rather unremarkable needs (recording meetings, quickly documenting something to share with colleagues), it's sufficient. The lack of a viewfinder can be a little problematic in full sunlight and having a lot of the functions and settings buried in the menu doesn't make the camera a standout for usability, but for dead simple recording and easy access to the video files, it does what is needed.

I can confirm the camcorder is compatible with Mac computers recognized both by iMovie '11 (which converts the native MPEG2 video files to MOV on importing) and the Mac OS (Snow Leopard) itself. For those looking to just pull the recorded files off the internal storage or SD card, the volumes will mount without problems (just be sure to acknowledge the USB connection on the camcorder menu screen). After that all it takes is hunting a bit through the folders to find the recordings. Be aware that without the MPEG2 codec for Quicktime, the files won't play in that application (you'll need to buy Quicktime Pro), but VLC has no problem handling them and is in most cases a better option over Quicktime anyway.

I paid more that I had planned for a small still & video camera because I've had such good luck with Sony digital cameras in the past. But I'm very disappointed in this one. On a sunny day, outdoor pictures, whether still or video, come out great if you are lucky enough to have pointed it at the subject you wanted to take. The viewer has so much glare that it acts like a mirror, and about all you can see is your face in it, no matter how much you try to adjust the angle or shade the viewer. Indoor pictures have all come out extremely dim and grainy while my friends with their cheap little cameras are getting great shots. I'm really sorry I bought this one.

Buy Sony DCR-SX85 Handycam Camcorder (Silver) Now

Just purchased this Camera this week and it is great, I am also a mac user and did not have any trouble

getting it to work with my macbook pro. I had already upgraded my ilife to 11. But imovie was able

to download the movies with our any issues.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DCR-SX85 Handycam Camcorder (Silver) Here

Research is the first thing I do, when I buy items like these, I read all the comments and evaluate what I think is a reasonable assessment of the comments given and then I go and take a chance.

Did that with the SX85, and I found that it performs adequate for what I'm looking for, that being a basic video recorder for on the road and sometimes mounted on the dash of my big truck for some interesting video in traffic when it gets difficult, as long as it is not in serious zoom.

It records a good video image and shoots a good single picture also.

If you are looking for a vidcam to make quick shots with, you're likely to be frustrated, as the startup and selection of your particular mode will take a minute, but if you just want a cam to take scene videos or take a picture or two, or generally have it running on like I do sometimes, I would say that this camera is pretty decent for the money.

I bought it with the secondary thought to have the 2000x magnification when zoomed in, so I could watch birds and objects from a distance (have that tripod handy!)

We all know that zoom like that brings the shakes with it when you hand hold a cam, so I use a variety of tripods, and that works very well with this camera. I have other cameras that do jobs of a more delicate nature when situations need for them.

In general with the reproduction of the image when you take the video or shot, they are never what you saw when you took the shots in the first place unless you bought something a bit more expensive.

I thought that the reproduced pics or videos from this camera were just fine.

Gritty video or grainy shots happen sometimes, it depends on lighting at the moment of capture, but I found the camera to be all it said it would be after playing with it for a bit so am happy with it.

Dislikes;

-I do not like the USB lead in the strap, although I like the idea of it being right on the camera as a handy thing.

-I do not like the start button where it is, because when you have your hand in the strap, it is hard to get at without using the other hand, and that produces another form of the shakes, or aimless wandering of the scene you are trying to stay focused on.

-I do not like the strap comfort when you take a video while moving, not somuch for the hand comfort as the arm that has to hold it all up.(Working on that with a custom made hard grip with a trigger.)

I agree with another commenter here, on the preview screen's vulnerability to glare in almost all positions, but I have a sticky film that eliminates that problem by diffusing the light that causes the glare, similar to some coatings on glasses or lenses.

You may want to experiment with some satin finished Scotch tape of the right width, the stuff I have came frome somewhere I can't remember and is slightly tinted but works fantastic.

All in all, I think it's a handy little cam.(No pun.)

I would suggest some dilligence and careful checking out of products on YOUR part, when you go out to spend your hard earned cash on something BEFORE you buy it. That may give you a better situation all around and you most likely will enjoy things a lot more once you have them.

I'd buy one again if this one was lost, Thx, John.

Want Sony DCR-SX85 Handycam Camcorder (Silver) Discount?

Well I have read all the reviews here and elsewhere about this Video Camera... truthfully Im glad I took the chance on it. I bought it from somewhere else and paid.. 199 for it. AT THIS PRICE or even the Price that Amazon is asking for this fine Camera its a steal..

The people who saw grainy pictures with this Camera must have gotten defective cameras, because mine has a beautiful picture both on close up and zoom. I dont see any grainyness. For those who complained you couldnt see the screen in the daylight may I suggest antiglare screen protectors and adjust the screens brightness. This is a touch screen camera and a screen protecter is a must so to not damage the screen with your oily fingers...

For those really wanting to see what the zoom of this camera (70x and 2,000x) will do go to YOUTUBE and search for sony handycams 70x ... you can even take a very good close up of the moon... this camera is great. No its not HD but you can set the picture qaulity to HD which is very very good. I dont get the name of MOONJOGGER for no reason at all... I like taking Videos and Pictures of unexplained things in the night sky. If this is you also, you will not be disappointed.... lol... set the sceene setting on Spotlight and go to Manuel Focus, put your camera on a trypod and your set to film planes that fly over... giggle...

For those who complained the supplyed sony picture software would not load on their computer... the camcorder has this application already loaded on it, so you can hook it to any computer and download the Camera content... its a portable version that you can get under the HELP column... It takes a lot of time to learn all the settings. If a filming looks to bright go to the sceene selection and try a different setting.

All and all... I just got done filming deer in my back yard... where is the grainyness.. I dont see a bit use the HQ settings instead of LP. This is a great deal because they are no longer making VIDEO CAMERAS with Monster Super Zooms like this... but if you use it make sure you put it on a trypod and use your manual focus because AUTOFOCUS has a limited distance...