Esky® Silver Plug-in 2GB Mini DVR Video Pen Camera with Video Recorder Camcorder

after using for a two weeks now there is some improvments that need to be made but after u figure out how to use it its fun, mine will stop recording video whenever it decides its enough and automatically starts up in voice recording, u cant do any spontaniease recording u will need a couple sec prior to setup, a little less obvious than holding a cell phone up but like i said thats only if you walk into the room already recording defeats my perpus .

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Defender Sync 19 Inch LCD All-In-One Security System with 4 Hi-Res Indoor/Outdoor Surveillance Came

First off, the idea of this DVR security combo is fantastic. I loved having the monitor and dvr as one unit. However, after three weeks of use, a burning smell and 2 camera failures forced me to return the unit. I dont know if it was just this unit that was defective or if this is a widespread problem with these combo dvr's. Just check around to see if anyone else has been reporting similar problems. It's very time consuming to layout, set up, and configure your system just to take it down and return it after a few weeks of use. Good luck.

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Stealth Cam Wildview Digital Scouting 8-MP 35 Black Infrared Camera

Great product for the money. I really like the toggle switch system vs program buttons.

it takes clear pics and works well to keep an eye on my house

with the black IRs you don't notice it.

Had a previous model and decided to upgrade. GREAT DECISION!! Set it up this past weekend and the pictures couldn't have looked better. Thanks for making a quality product Wildview!

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Very impressed and very to use. The toggle switch settings let me set-it up without having to fumble thru instructions for an hour. IMpressed witht he quality of pics so far. Bargain for the money.

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Will sometimes take a few photo's, but no more than six or seven before hanging up. Tried all settings, several sets of new batteries and different memory cards, all with same results.

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We are very happy with this game camera. The clarity is amazing and it is easy to operate! We may need to pick up another one.

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Sony ICD-U50 All-In-One MP3 and Digital voice recorder 256MB

I bought this as a replacement for my other voice recorder that I lost in school. The sound quality is very inferior compared to my old Olympus. It is advertised as stereo but there is only one mic input. So, what you hear in your left ear is the same as in your right, no stereo imagery. Plus, Sony's DVF file sucks. You can only play it on the Windows Media Player, but only if you downloaded the included plug-in. My old Olympus's output are WMA files. So everywhere I go, I can use any PC with Windows Media Player to listen to my files.

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Nokia C6-01 Unlocked GSM Phone with 8 MP Camera, 720p Video Recording, and Ovi Maps Navigation--U.S

Surely you have read all reviews about this phone (GsmArena, PhoneArena, etc).

I want to emphatize just a few aspects that could help you decide:

1I was looking for a state-of-the-art cell (touch), but size is very important to me: I don't like iPhone or Galaxy-S size. I need to put my cell in my pocket, and operate it with just one hand; that's the first reason to buy Nokia C6-01;

2Quality: there is no people that could give you an opinion against the very good quality of this phone;

3Symbian is TOTALLY customizable: I understand Android could give you a very "update able" impression, but Symbian is too.

4I am a middle-age professional (44). Big hands, lot of work, very internet-dependent (for work), and travelling a lot by airplane. I need a cell phone to get email mainly through wifi networks, but I really do not have too much social-related activity (Tweeter, Facebook, and so), so I doubted when reading a lot of reviews referring to this aspects. I can tell you that customization is total: you can decide to put every icon related to screens as you want. I've cleaned my screens and setup the icons I needed.

5Connectivity in this cell is absolutly easy and user-controlable.

6Installing Ovi Apps is an easy and error-free process. I've installed Opera Mobile (it works like a rock!), Skype, a better calculator, QR barcode reader, etc.

7I've setting up my Hotmail account and a Gmail-corporate account without any problem: they are living in my cell exactly in the way they should be: each inbox separated from the other, and syncronizing just when I want (over wify or data operator link).

8Camera is VERY good. Of course it is not a full Nikon with a telex, but the photos are great for such a device;

9-Windows application to manage the phone is great. It works like a charm, easy installation, and very high quality presentation. I can control every aspect of the cellphone (You can even type and read sms in real-time using this app, provided your C6-01 is connected through usb cable !), do backups of your data, contacts, messages, and so.

10It is beautiful and very stylish. I've bought the silver one (it's very metallic: not "plastic-metallic"). Screen is REAL black, and touch operation is perfect.

So, I'm very happy with this purchase.

I hope this help you.

In today's smartphone market, it is hard to find a phone that is actually a decent "phone" size. That is, one that does not feel like a brick when you hold it to your ear. When I saw the Nokia C6-01, I knew I found my next phone. The phone fits perfectly in my hand and is a pleasure to use as a phone. It is heavy for its size, but somehow, that just makes me feel more confident in its build. Since this replaced a Nokia E72, the screen size was not a problem for me. It is big enough for me to see everything I want, and I rarely even need to zoom when reading web pages. Lastly, the AMOLED is super bright, and easy to read in sunlight. It will not disappoint. Even the standby screen (that shows the time when the phone is not in use) is relatively bright. I especially like this feature which really adds to the sophisticated look of the phone.

Hardware: Everybody knows Nokia builds quality hardware, so I will not spend too much time on this. Call quality is good so far and the speakerphone is clear. The button placements are well thought out, especially the unlock slider. Slide to lock, slide to unlock. I use it a lot. And if you hold the slider for a few seconds, the camera flash LED turns on as a flashlight. Very useful. One complaint is there is a little slop in the slider. (Not what I expected from a Nokia phone.) The 8MP camera is good in bright environments, although for indoor shots, there is some noise. I am still not sure how I feel about fixed focus cameras, but I guess most of my shots are decent so far for a camera phone.

Software: Symbian ^3 is a huge improvement from S60 in terms of "prettying up" the UI. The usability itself is still close to the pre-touch era. (E.g. why can I not swipe between call logs for missed calls, received, and dialed? Instead I have to press the tiny tab buttons on the top of the screen...) I have to admit, the 3 home screens are useful, especially with widgets that automatically update weather, sports scores, tweets, RSS feeds, etc. One thing I like about Symbian it is very customizable and I have access to all the settings. It may take a few button presses to get there, but I am OK with that. Also, nothing can beat the free Ovi maps. It has turn-by-turn navigation and traffic updates. It is fast, accurate, and FREE. The search feature also works quite well, which saves time when you only need to type in the name of the place instead of the full address. Lastly, Nokia is coming out with awesome apps from their Beta Labs. I use Situations to put my phone in silent mode during work hours, and Normal mode when I am at home (using my GPS position). And I am trying out Nokia Drop to push files to my phone.

Cons/Quirks:

1. The proximity sensor does not work dependably when I hold the phone over my hair. That caused a lot of disconnections in the first few days. I was about the send it back when I realized that the problem is gone if I place the phone directly on my ear (that is underneath my hair). This is a strange problem that I do not see in other phones (tested on an iPhone 4). I will live with it for now though, since it is not much of a bother for me.

2. The phone can be a little sluggish at times. For example, when I turn the phone to type a message, it takes a few seconds for the screen to actually switch orientation. Or sometimes I have to turn the phone a couple times.

3. Battery life can last 1 day with mid-to-heavy usage. I would like that to last a little longer.

Closing thoughts:

I know this review sounds like there is a lot wrong with the phone, but I am actually really happy with it. This phone is fun to use and a lot of the features are well though out. It has everything that I require from a smartphone. And I cannot stress how important the size is to me. The Symbian OS may be coming to an end, but I am OK riding it out with the C6-01 and waiting for what Nokia comes out with next. Last thing: people with big hands might want to try the phone out before purchasing.

Buy Nokia C6-01 Unlocked GSM Phone with 8 MP Camera, 720p Video Recording, and Ovi Maps Navigation--U.S Now

Well, after years looking for the real iPhone killer i think i found it!. This Nokia has EVERYTHING that an iPhone can offer you and a lot more!. I had all type of phones before, HTC's, Palm Treo's, Palm Pixi... and more. Let's start for the physical characteristics... is a heavy phone, a thing that i like, since the case is made of really nice Metal hard to scratch (not like other cheap plastic phones). Is smaller that the iPhone but the screen size is perfect. It comes with a GPS that works like a charm, even in other countries (like Colombia) without a data plan since you can download the OVI maps for free via Wi-Fi or on your PC and transfer them via USB or Bluetooth. The app store is GREAT a lot of useful free stuff, apps, games and videos. I got a mosquito repellent app, a 360 degrees panoramic photo app, Compass, Fingerprint security, a lot of Internet Radio stations just one click away from your home screen, Pop-mail and Facebook notification on your homescreen and the best protection against thieves!: An app that you can send a msg from another phone to your C6 and sends back another MSM with the exact location of the phone! and if somebody change your SIM card the phone is locked, your personal info is send via email and deleted, and besides that send you an MSM with the notification of the change and a photo taken with the front camera. The 8MP back camera is really good and the HD video @ 720dpi looks really smooth. The front camera is really useful for the Skype app or Video calls. The camera flash works also as a REALLY! bright flashlight... Comes with FM Radio but i never use it since you need the hands-free as the antenna, i usually use with the internet radio. Other apps that come with the phone are Quickoffice, Zip and Adobe PDF Reader. I'm more than happy with this cellphone and i highly recommend it even if you don't live in the US.

Read Best Reviews of Nokia C6-01 Unlocked GSM Phone with 8 MP Camera, 720p Video Recording, and Ovi Maps Navigation--U.S Here

I have to add my two-cents worth to the other glowing reviews for this phone. I just received it yesterday and I am very happy with it. Very solid and expensive looking with a great (AMOLED I think) display. I am particularly impressed that the steel back cover is so rigid yet the phone isn't too heavy. Call quality is good and it was a cinch to import the contacts from my Nokia E71. The screen is (finally!) glass I had an N97-Mini for a couple of months and I did not care for the resistive-touch and plastic screen. To me, it is a little small for comfortable e-mail reading and I would say that it is too small for surfing the internet. I have to say, though, that it's Symbian OS is a little bit of a pain to navigate perfect example is checking remaining space on your micro-SD card who would think that you would find that under Applications / Office / File Manager? But I can live with Symbian's annoyances to in order to get a great little phone with a beautiful display for half the price of a plastic device from one of the other makers.

*********************** Added on June 21, 2011 **************************

I've had this phone for another week+ and I just want to reiterate what a great little device it is!! Battery life is great and it recharges quickly. I've carried it on many evening walks and it shows zero wear and tear thanks to it's metal construction and glass display. It's my primary phone for calls between Germany and the US and I've had zero dropped calls or other call-related problems. And, much to my surpise, once I downloaded the new Ovi Store I found there are quite a few good free games on Ovi Angry Birds Seasons, Rio, Monopoly, car racing, you name it I was really pleasantly surprised!! This continues to be a compact and very well-built smartphone I highly recommend it.

*********************** Added on November 6, 2011 ************************

The Nokia C6-01 continues to be a superb phone. Still runs like a top and looks like new despite another four+ months of carrying around and using. Another advantage I really like is it supports both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G bands in the States and works here in Germany with Telekom. Last but not least I like it so much that I've ordered a second one for my wife to use. Keep in mind though this phone isn't for you if you want a large screen to surf the internet or check FB. It's a great phone with super battery life and a very clear screen.

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Updated on 05/28/2013.

Still going strong, however the latest upgrade to Nokia Belle made it less responsive to touches and in general more buggy.

Latest navigation update added a pedestrian mode. navigation itself could be a bit quirky some suggestions are downright dangerous like

making turns where it is physically impossible. Also the new browser does not have an option to remove the status bar at the bottom that

eats into already small page space.

Recently was running car navigation and listening to the Internet radio streaming at the same time all on 340MB of RAM impressive!

Also I can view 720P movies shut on my GoPro camera via OTG cable with USB flash reader. Pretty cool!

Will take a look at Lumia 620 next. It also has worldwide navigation with free map upgrades.

End of Updated on 05/28/2013.

First, the negatives.

1) Reboots a lot. While searching for the GPS location, playing MP3s, running the custom application I wrote for the Symbian OS NOT ANYMORE see below

2) Limited applications availability. Only one music player that came with the phone, no player that plays by folder so the music has to be tagged/organized

3) Browser experience is sub-par

4) Cumbersome navigation. Read the manual!

4) Nokia OVI store on the phone stopped working after I swapped the supplied 4GB micro-SD card for a 16GB one NEWEST UPDATE FIXED THE ISSUE see below

5) Nokia app for the computer is not very intuitive

Now the positives that BY FAR outweigh the negatives, mostly what was not mentioned by the others

1) High quality body/screen

2) Excellent voice quality

3) Sensitive wi-fi radio

4) Works perfectly as a standalone GPS with the maps of the whole world available for download. Maps of Europe are superior to Google's. last year in Croatia Google was forcing me to take the ferry since supposedly it was no road available. Nokia maps got it right.

5) Availability of cheap GENUINE Nokia accessories on the famous auction site and various Chinese outfits on the WEB. You can get an outstanding car holder for peanuts as well as some basic covers and extra battery with charger that works with the supplied with the phone proprietary power cable.

6) With a dirt-cheap (see above) OTG cable you can connect a USB flash drive as an external memory to the phone and it will be treated like an internal memory or an inserted micro-SD card

7) Skype works perfectly over wi-fi and 3G

8) GSM coverage EVERYWHERE in the world

9) Good still/video camera

10) Small. No damage to vital organs when kept in the pocket.

Suggestion: make sure that USB cables you buy are for Nokia, generic ones might not work. OTG cable model number: CA-157, GPS holder: CR-114 or CR-115.

Also do not buy into Symbian 'obsolescence' myth. NOTHING in Android realm can touch this phone for the price. Android has more apps and seamless download but this phone will do everything you need in a small form factor. Highly recommended.

Update on 09/28/2011.

Go to and download Store QML client. It updates Ovi store functionality on your phone. Works perfectly!

Update on 10/29/2011.

Installed a new version of software (prompted by Nokia itself on the phone). Rebooting seems to be fixed, at least partially.

Update 0n 11/26/2011

New OS update solved the rebooting issue have not had it once! Also GPS fix now is very fast. Ovi store now works seamlessly-I download and install apps while riding on a train.

Recommended!

Samsung DVD-V9500 DVD/VCR Dual Deck

• Space-saving, multiformat DVD/VCR combo
• Plays DVD movie, CD audio, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, and JPEG
• Up-converts standard DVD signals, improving them to near-high-definition quality
• Outputs: 1 composite, 1 S-Video, 1 component
• 16.9 x 3.4 x 11.1 inches (WxHxD)

I bought this unit about six months ago because I wanted to simplify the connections and use the HDMI cable. At the time, this and the Toshiba 593 were the only units available with an HDMI connection.

If you want upconversion from the DVDs 480i scanning to 720p or 1080i, then you must use the HDMI connector. Conversely, any DVD unit with an HDMI connector is an upconversion unit. Got it? The VCR will only play through the RFI or composite video connection. HDMI does not support VHS, nor was it ever meant to (ignore the other reviewer that had this "problem" and thought it was a bad unit).

The unit itself has functioned well. Once you wade through the thick owner's manual, understanding how the unit works does not seem to be a problem. Could the oncreen menus and programming functions be easier -yes. But it is not bad, and every manufacturer does it a little differently. One great thing about the remote is that it is a multi-brand remote and is usable with most brands of TV sets. I hate having to use multiple remotes to turn on or operate this and that. Most other DVD/VCR combos have a single brand remote. Beware of this. Another minor nit is that when you have programmed the VCR for recording, there is no indicator light on the front panel. It will record as programmed, but you do not know if the timer is set. Annoying.

The upconverted picture is nice -no more black bars on the top, bottom or sides. No more flattened images that look unreal. It is not true HD, but I'm not complaining. I refuse to jump on board Blu-ray or HDDVD because I hate these freakin' format wars.

I've got some nitpicks that may or may not be a big thing for you. The resume function only works if you keep the disk in and the power on. Its annoying to do a chapter search and find the place you left off at the next day. I've got a JVC DVD/VCR combo that will remember where you left off even if the disc has been removed and the power turned off. And it will do it for the last THIRTY discs. IMO, Sammy dropped the ball on this one. Also, in order to program or navigate the menu, you must go through the HDMI connection and select the appropriate TV input. Not a big problem, but why must I do this if I'm programming the VCR?

Reliability still remains to be seen. Nobody, I mean nobody has a warranty longer than 90 days for labor or parts for one year. Lets face it. DVD players and VCRs are now considered throwaway commodities. They are built cheaply. What manufacturer will build it like a tank and then sell it for $100-150? And I don't like the rip-off extended warranties. Maybe the best you can do is buy it with a credit card that has an extended warranty benefit, but those cards are getting scarce.

All in all, if you need a DVD/VCR combo with upconversion, this is the unit. Its not perfect, but it will do the job well.

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To save space, I was looking for a combo unit with the HDMI connection for superior video from DVD's. I have a 46" DLP and it performs beautifully. I bought it for $150.00 including shipping which is a very good price for this unit. It works flawlessly with great video clarity. The VCR section is similar to any other VCR out there but the overall quality is pretty good considering it's a VCR. A previous reviewer stated that with just the HDMI connection, the VCR would not work. This was NOT my experience. They both work fine with just the HDMI connection. My component cables are now in storage. I am very happy with this unit and highly recommend it.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung DVD-V9500 DVD/VCR Dual Deck Here

I just purchased the DVD-V9500 about a week ago. I have a DLP TV which allows for connecting via HDMI, which when paired with this combo unit, should have performed well. I hooked up the combo to the TV via the HDMI cable and played a DVD at the 720p setting, and so far, so good. I then tried playing a VHS tape after switching modes over to the VCR, and nothing happened. I tuned my TV down to the 480p and then 480i settings, thinking that the VCR part needed to see an analog output stream, but that didn't work either.

I then called customer service at Samsung, and they told me that if I wanted to use the HDMI interface for my DVD, that I had to ALSO use the composite connections (red,white,yellow) in order to use the VCR part. This is NOT what the product description from Samsung advertises and is as far as I can tell, false advertising. Even the manual for the player states that all youo need once you hook up the HDMI cable is that one cable and nothing else. Samsung claims that when the manuals were translated from Korean to English, that part got messed up. Okay, so why still advertise the product that way?

Overall perfromance from the DVD was good to excellent. Overall performance of the VCR was poor to fair because of the limitations of the connection output, which looks terrible on a widescreen HDTV. Not that I watch VHS much anymore, I got this so my kids could watch those evil Disney movies the have. "Piece of junk" would be a generous way to describe the remote; and forget about trying a universal remote to learn this unit's codes Samsung already says that it can't be done (hopefully that's just another one of their false statements).

If you're looking for a space saver, have a regular CRT TV, and don't watch a lot of VHS tapes, this may be okay for you, but I still wouldn't get it when you can get something similar for half the price. If you're an HD enthusiast, thinking this is the answer to all your problems, it may come close if you hardly ever watch VHS tapes and don't mind the poor quality of the video from them, but like good quality from your DVD's; I for one was disappointed in the product.

If you are buying this unit, or any other that promises that the HDMI connection is all you need, you're better off going after something else.

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Item shipped to me without a Remote. I have contacted Amazon Warehouse and am awaiting their response, but as of now: I'm not very happy

Pegasus ST09 9-Inch LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Gray

• HDTV Tuner Inside
• Full TV Feature that can be used with Cable/Sattelite/Air and Other Deviced such as DVD Players
• Travel Friendly
• Wide Screen 9-inch display
• Audio/Video input, S-Video input, External Antenna Jack, Earphone Jack

This small set meets our needs perfectly. It was purchased to replace our trusty 5 in B&W analog at the time of the digital conversion. We use this set only in the bathroom in the morning to watch news and sports while getting ready for work, so we are not with concerned with receiving scores of channels. It took about 9 days to arrive using the free shipping option. The set was well packaged and unlikely to be damaged with routine handling. Setup was a breeze following stepwise instructions (with pictures) on a quick setup card. After the digital conversion the auto scan quickly picked up 14 over-the-air channels (which included all 6 major channels in this area) using only the provided very small HD antenna. The antenna cable connects at the top of the set rather obtrusively; this could have been better designed. We have not tried a cable connection for comparison. Reception for the major channels is good. The picture is clear and sharp, far better than our old 5 in analog set, but it is far from the quality of our 46 in Sony LCD. The picture varies somewhat from channel to channel, some being a little dark and the next a little too light with a washed-out appearance. This can be corrected fairly well using the brightness and contrast controls which are easily accessible via the full function remote. The sound is adequate for this small set and the way we use it: in a bathroom, with the water running. We did not set our expectations unrealistically high.

We highly recommend this 9 in digital TV for use in a kitchen, bath, workshop, etc. for over-the-air reception in a tight space.

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Although its 9 inch screen is larger than LCD TVs in it price range, the picture quality is poor and very dark. No amount of adjusting will help. The sound from the tiny speakers is actually worse than the picture. I do NOT recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of Pegasus ST09 9-Inch LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Gray Here

We receive over-the-air only. We live in Houston and have strong signals. Reception with the little antenna that came with the TV is very poor. Reception with rabbit ears is still poor but better. Reception with our large attic antenna was good.

The digital converter box we purchased for our other TV receives all stations strong with rabbit ears, so I was disappointed that the TV only picked up about half of the stations using the same rabbit ears.

Also, I don't know what is HDTV about it. Especially since the resolution is only 640 x 234.

Anyway, the picture is decent and it's a decent little TV if you've got a strong enough signal or are just using it for a monitor.

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The Pegasus ST09 9 inch LCD HDTV delivers high quality picture quality and sound for a very low price. My wife has it set up in the kitchen,connected to the portable antenna included with the purchase and she gets all of the over the air channels....crystal clear with very good audio. We'll be taking a road trip next week and will take it with us. This was a great buy.Pegasus ST09 9-Inch LCD HDTV with ATSC Tuner, Gray

Save 43% Off

First I would like to respond to several negative reviews. When programming for available channels make sure the antenna is located where it is receiving a strong signal---just a slight rotation can effect the signal. Take your time, get it right the first time, remembering that digital transmissions are very directional. I used the small antenna that came with the TV, then tried a larger set of rabbit ears----could not tell much difference (I live twenty miles out of Phoenix, AZ where most of the transmitters are located). For my location I can get just about all of the channels that are available, about the same as other TV's in the house that I put rabbit ears on. Realizing that this is a hand held portable TV I find the picture to be as good as any small screen with this resolution. Tried hooking it up to the rooftop antenna and I got everything. I get an excellent picture, bright enough to watch outside, I will have to agree that the sound is a little "tinny" but, what should I expect from a unit this size. There is an earphone jack for private viewing. This TV is loaded with features such as, on screen program guide, program info, time, etc....I have a 12v adapter that will allow me to use it for camping and emergency use. Have seen same size TV's at B&M stores for almost twice the price, this is a true value! I would think that if you are considering this TV, try one of your digital TV's on a set of rabbit ears to see what the signal is like in your area. Hope this provides a bit of info. that might be helpful in your decision.

(10) AG2 397 396 LR726 SR726 SR726SW G2 BATTERY

These are the same batteries that you will find one for the same price at a drugstore as you pay for all of these. I think, they were actually cheaper so if I never need the others before they die, I'm still ahead.

Sylvania NB501SL9 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

• Full 1080p Resolution Output With 24/60 Fps
• CEC Deep Color Control With Advanced User Interface
• Inputs: HDMI, Component; Digital/Analog Audio Output
• DTS, WMA, MP3, Dolby True HD, And Linear Pcm Audio Options

This is the Rodney Dangerfield of Blu-Ray players: it gets little or no respect. Most people don't even know that this player exists. They would prefer to spend the extra money and buy a Sony/Panasonic/Samsung Blu-Ray player. But this player does a comparable job.

Set up was simple. I just connected a high powered Mediabridge HDMI cable (which I bought through Amazon) from my Sony Bravia Z series 40" HDTV to the Sylvania 501SL9 and then connected the Sylvania adapter from the back of the player to a wall outlet.

Initially, I had a problem getting the remote to respond. But once I put in the included Panasonic batteries properly, the remote responded well. Load times are quick (10 to 15 seconds). I pressed the set up button on the remote to configure the player properly for audio and HDMI resolution (1080p24). It is important to go into the settings and make this change as the default HDMI display resolution is 720p. I also changed the audio to deep surround sound, which I like better.

The only thing I did not like about the Sylvania remote was that I had to use my Sony remote to change the sound volume. I could not find that feature on the Sylvania remote.

It should be noted that this player does not have an ethernet or USB port so if you need to upgrade the software, you will have to call customer service at Sylvania to send an upgrade disc unless you already possess some advanced CD burning software for a bin file.

I've only had the Sylvania Blu-Ray player for 4 days, but I've already watched 2 blu-ray movies and loved it; it was a tremendous experience with no problems whatsoever.

So, if you want to pay considerably less than the name brands and get a great Blu-Ray player, consider the Sylvania 501SL9.

Update 5/19/09:

I've watched about 15 Blu-Ray movies over the past 3 months and this player has performed flawlessly. Moreover, I finally was able to update the firmware (1.108) for this unit. The program that allowed me to do this was gBurner. I downloaded the bin file from the Funai web site and burned it to Disc (DVD+R) and couldn't believe it when it worked. I followed the instructions from Funai (on the web site) very carefully. Prior to gBurner, I tried so many different programs, but just got error messages. Very few programs support burning bin files and the ones that do are so complicated. At one point I had given up. But I finally did it, thanks to gBurner.

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This was my first (and only) Blu-Ray Player, which was purchased last December (2008). Overall, I was very pleased with the picture and sound quality. It was easy to use and other than the occasional "skip" on a dirty disc, it worked fine. The time to load a Blu-Ray disc was quite good for a low-end player (at least from what I can tell compared with the specs and reviews of other players).

The SD slot was a nice additional feature and since my DSLR uses an SD card, I was able to quickly show high-def slide shows.

Unfortunately, just after 6 months of use, it stopped reading discs. Initially it would say "no disc" after loading a CD, DVD, or Blu Ray disc. Eventually, the problem changed and after saying "Loading" for a long time it would display a disc error with a message the disc might be unplayable. Note that the parts warranty for this player is a full year, but for labor it is only 90 days.

Oh well. Perhaps I just received a lemon or had bad luck, but I'd be reluctant to buy this again and will stick with a more well-known brand next time.

Read Best Reviews of Sylvania NB501SL9 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player Here

I have had this player now for 3 months, it works well. Excellent picture and Sound, very good up conversion. No problems, until I tried to upgrade the firmware. This unit is made by Funai. The Funai site asked me to check the upgrade version. No number, Funai said that I needed an upgrade. So I downloaded the file, unzipped it, burnt it to a cd, it did not work. I had also downloaded the upgrade instructions and followed them to the letter. So I called Funai, I was told that I had probably made an error. I tried again, same result. Called again, told that I had to burn it to a DVD, I explained that the site said I could use a CD. This was wrong, DVD only. Once again I tried, didn't work. To cut a long story short, I was told to change the CD burner, CD burning software, CD + R, CD -R, and so on. So after 5 CD's, 2 DVD's (+ and -0), it still will not up grade the player. If anyone else has had this problem please let me know. (nbailey005@cfl.rr.com) I'm still trying to make the file work

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Purchased the Sylvania Blu-Ray player Model NB-501sL9 today at Radio Shack for pus tax. I truly wanted to purchase here at Amazon.com or their affiliate Buy.com for the much lower sale price of with NO TAX and NO SHIPPING!! Why didn't I?? Well, for the past 3 weeks I have been getting UPS delivered packages to my door that belong to neighbors and I end up delivering them in person. They have the same 2 last numbers for a street address but the 1st 2 numbers are not even close. I guess it's the Holiday rush or these UPS guys can't read very well. The last straw was 2 days ago when they left a package at my door for a neighbor 2 houses down with our house numbers NOT similar at all! So I paid about more but at least I carried it out of the store!

Anyway, back to business Last month I purchased the Insignia NS-BRDVD, which is BEST BUYS house brand. It had received excellent reviews from Consumer reports (not quite as flattering from CNET) so I purchased it on sale for The unit is fanastic! It plays everything I feed it! Excellent Blu-ray Picture quality and VERY good upconversion on my old DVD's. I wanted to purchase another for our den but they were sold out at BEST BUY. So, after doing a lot of searching I discovered (also through Consumer Reports and some Video Forums online) that the Sylvania NB-501SL9 is a clone to the Insignia Model. Actually there are 3 alike-The Insignia-Sylvania and Magnavox (NB500MG9).

The load time are much faster than the 1st generation blu-ray players. It took about 30 seconds to get to the blu-ray screen and another 15 seconds to be able to click on play (provided you don't have to fast forward through a lot of previews). Start-up for regulas DVD's are like any other regular DVD player-fast. I do a lot of recording from DISH NETWORK-especially HDNET, TNT, and MGM Hi definition movies. They look fantastic on the Sylvania/Insignia. The only disappointment is the fact that on some (many actually) Blu-Ray discs you cannot RESUME when you hit STOP to take a break. It will start again and go through all the previews. This is NOT the fault of the Player. The resume function works on recorded DVD's and most standard DVD's.

I will provide updates as I view more Blu-ray DVD,s as I just received my first 3 Discs from NETFLIX. UH-OH,the DVD MAMA MIA was freezing/skipping during some parts of the movie as my wife just now informed me. I just restarted it and it played through with no more freezes/skips. Could be the way the rentals are handled (dirty/hard to see scratches etc.)

I am backafter viewing "Chronicles of Narnia/Price Caspian", and "HANCOCK". They both looked fantastic and played without a problem. (both NETFLIX rentals). I have aso viewed 5 other Blu-ray Discs that I purchased from Amazon (great discounts) that I was "lucky" to have correctly delivered to MY address. Although they were viewed on the Insignia, I would expect identical results from the Sylvania. To further identify them as clones-the Manuals are the same and the face of the units and remotes are identical. We are completely satisfied with our purchase of the Sylvania NB-501SL9. As of today 26 Dec 08 Amazon still has it on sale for . I wish I could have taken advantage of that deal!!

I got this Blu-Ray player in a bundle deal on a whim at my local Blockbuster for $199 about a year ago. They had it packaged with The Dark Knight and 4 free blu-ray rentals. As far as Blu-Ray performance goes, it's great. It loads a little slow, but so do just about all Blu-Ray players under $500. Picture quaility is brilliant in 1080p on a Toshiba Regza 42" LCD. It outputs Dolby TrueHD and DTSHD Master Audio just fine to my 7.1 Surround system, but if you have the settings off just the wrong little bit you can run into trouble with the audio not coming out as pure lossless. Make sure you have Downsampling turned off and the BD Audio out set to HD (not mixed) otherwise it'll just downsample everything to 5.1 Dolby Digital.

Now, the DVD playback sort of sucks. The upconversion is so-so but while the player has NO issue outputting Dolby and DTS via blu-ray it WILL NOT output DTS or Dolby Digital via DVD's. All it does is downsample everything to a 2.1 Mix, giving you a huge loss in audio quality when watching DVD's.

One final note, many people have said you cannot update the firmware on this player due to a lack of ethernet. This is not true. There are firmware updates available on Sylvania's website and it's easy to due by simply burning a CD.

If you are simply looking for a cheap way to watch blu-ray movies, look no further. I've had the player for nearly a year, and have had no issues at all. I'll admit I was heasitant at first due to the lack of a name brand (I could have gotten a Panasonic, Samsung or Sony player for $50 more) but I am very pleased. Great player for someone who knows what they are doing but wants something cheap. Would also work great as a second player to watch BD's in a bedroom or something as well.

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 MODEL

I 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!

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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.

Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount

• Rycote Lyre Mount
• Half inch professional grade microphone
• Attaches to consumer video cameras
• 0.375 inch standard boom pole threads
• 80 Hz high pass filter

I use a Nikon and Zoom H1 for my video recordings. This mic is of course miles ahead of any camera mic but I'm still doing my testing as to the improvements (if any) over a mic like the Azden.

The shock mount seems to work well enough but I find the coiled cord a little short. I'm mounting my Zoom down below the camera and the cord pulls the shock mount to one side. It's not enough to make pieces touch but it's still distracting enough to make you wonder if it will.

My last recordings were of my kids concerts and the SPL was really high but this mic registered low and I had to turn the Zoom up to 70 to make it audible. You can check out a video at http://youtu.be/fj2oHx_JX64 for a sample.

Buy Rode Videomic Shotgun Microphone with Rycote Lyre Mount Now

I use a Nikon and Zoom H1 for my video recordings. This mic is of course miles ahead of any camera mic but I'm still doing my testing as to the improvements (if any) over a mic like the Azden.

The shock mount seems to work well enough but I find the coiled cord a little short. I'm mounting my Zoom down below the camera and the cord pulls the shock mount to one side. It's not enough to make pieces touch but it's still distracting enough to make you wonder if it will.

My last recordings were of my kids concerts and the SPL was really high but this mic registered low and I had to turn the Zoom up to 70 to make it audible. You can check out that video on youtube if you look for 'QA Choir Final' .

Vizio VBR140 Blu-Ray Player with Wireless Internet Application

• Enjoy 1080p Full HD from Blu-ray and DVD HD up-scaling
• VIZIO Internet Apps delivers - stream movies, TV shows, music and more
• Built-In Wi-Fi (802.11n) enables easy and high-quality connection to your wireless network
• Supports up to up to 7.1 channels of digital audio output via HDMI with Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS audio technologies
• View personal photos (JPG) or music (MP3) using the built-In USB port

I didn't want to even give it half a star; but in order to continue, I had to rate it.

I am sorry that I did not read the reviews first. This product must be unplugged every time you turn it on or off or it locks up. I am writing this review after reading previous reviews and I am having the same problems that they are having. But I would like to take a minute and run through them all

1. Remote Sensor is located somewhere that does not allow for easy use of the remote unless inches from the face

2. Product will not turn on and off. Must be unplugged and reset

3. Connecting to wireless is not easy, and the wireless reception is awful

4. Menus are awful

In closing I would like to mention that the product is so bad, I didn't even take the time to see if it plays blu-ray discs. It might, I don't know. I am returning it immediately. Further, I don't know if anyone at Amazon reads these reviews, but I hope they discontinue selling this item. It is truly the worst thing I have ever bought; and I've bought some trash, in my day.

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It doesn't get much worse than this. I can't stream a movie for more than 5 minutes without it locking up. My playstation 3 streams just fine. Everything else wireless in home works just fine. But this piece of junk just can't seem to pull it off and for the 80 dollar price tag...this is most unacceptable. I've contacted Vizio on multiple occasions which is a useless endeavor. I flat out told them this model is horrendous and should be pulled from shelves. Please potential buyer...save your money and buy a Sony or something.

Read Best Reviews of Vizio VBR140 Blu-Ray Player with Wireless Internet Application Here

Purchased for my elderly mother. Unit requires at least a daily unplugging in order to respond at all. Seems like a firmware update may be required. Not available yet (6/12/12).

Does easily connect to Netflix and Blu Ray functions.

Only complaint is frequent lock ups but that is a huge deal, hence the 1 star rating. Lock ups started after first shutdown right out of the box. If you shop around you will find my complaint to be a frequent main complaint.

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I won't waste time writing a review...just believe what everyone else has already written. This is going back to Wally World tomorrow....

Piece of crap. Locks up all of the time. Have to unplug it and then plug it back in to get it to turn on. Streaming is horrible. All around a waste of money.

Royaltek RDV-1000 GPS Car Driving Video and track Recorder (SiRF IV, G-sensor, Night Vision)

• Please note: MicroSD card is not included. Storing images manually. LCD Screen Display.
• Real time and Continuous recording. Audio Recording. GPS automatic Time setting. Backup battery support.
• Auto storing GPS information. Build in 3 axis G-sensor to store car acceleration information. Clear View day and night.
• RDV-1000 is a digital video recorder installed in car windshield to record video, audio data related to vehicle impact or accidents while driving.
• Product features a full-color LCD, wide-angle camera, built-in GPS and a 3-axis G sensor.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my RDV-1000. I have mine recording whenever I'm moving. I've been using VLC to watch the videos on my mac and my windows 7 computers with no problem. The unit's display comes set to Cantonese by default. It takes a little effort to set the preferences to US English. The RDV-1000 creates an .INI file on the SDHC card. (not included) Here is a copy of the settings file after I set my unit for US English and Central Time Zone.

#

# BlackBox Setting_Valiable Information

#

[Recorder]

Format = 2 ;

Quality = 2 ;

Audio = 1 ;

[Display]

LCD B/L = 1 ;

TV = 0 ;

[Setting]

[System]

Utcoffset = -6 ;

Language = 0 ;

[Accelerometer]

EventTrigger_Mode = 1 ;

Scale = 0 ;

Trigger_Level = 1.0 ;

[Camera]

Brightness = 0 ;

Contrast = 0 ;

Aeweight = 0 ;

[SD]

Format = 0 ;

One concern that I had is that the mini-usb connector on the camera is not usb. The manufactor is using it for 12 volts to power the camera. This might be a problem is the included cable where to be plugged into an other device. I think the USB specification is for 5 volts. 12 volts would be to much.

TheGoldenValley MP-D6600 6600mAh Power Bank / External Battery Pack/ External Battery Charger with

with todays smart phones, people using them all the time, this little baby was so handy to have .. I use it about once a week when i am somewhere and cannot plug in my phone! It charges my tablet too!

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen 4GB Pro-Pack (Black)

This is obviously a nifty product, and I've been impressed with reviews elsewhere. But isn't $210 asking a bit much given that Livescribe just released a next generation "Echo" model that is 4GB and only costs $170.

The least that could be done, it seems to me, is to drop this package below $200.

In taking my match, english, and world history classes: along with taking notes at HOA meetings. It has been the best thing to use. The HOA would have a "hissy" if they knew that they were being recorded along with my taking notes. Also the college instructors will soon find out from their Deans just how bad that they have been delivering speeches and giving inacurate responces to students and leading the students to make incorrect choices on tests. Yeah for the Smartpen.

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The Smartpen is a great way to keep minutes for fraternal organizations. The written record along with the voice recording makes it easy to check and make sure you have kept an accurate account of a meeting.

Read Best Reviews of Livescribe Pulse Smartpen 4GB Pro-Pack (Black) Here

I'm a geek, and even I'm amazed by this pen. How does it do it? It not only records the sound in a way that lets you go directly to a particular part of the recording, it copies your handwritten notes to your computer! And when you're listening, you can watch your own hand draw the letters on the screen. It's eery.

I use it when doing mediations, so I can get down the exact wording of the agreement without having to slow down the process.

Four stars cause the software is kind of clunky, but it works well enough to get the value from the pen.

I also love that the little LED window tells you the time expired, so if clients don't come on the hour, I don't have to keep figuring out when to end the session.

It's also a great conversation piece!

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ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread

Pros:

-Pretty sturdy little device.

-Light

-Rubber platform under the 1/4" thread

-Fits my RODE Micro Boompole to connect my H4n (or H1) to the pole

Cons:

-Sometimes the head will spin while you tighten it somehow you have to hold the top of it while it tightens. A little hinky.

-Rotating head could be lower in my opinion (see reason for use above)

-1/4" thread is too long (See Other Thoughts)

Other Thoughts:

1/4" thread is too long to connect my H4n on to it. I needed to grind it down about 1/8" to make it fit. Not realizing how hot the metal thread was getting on the bench grinder, it suddenly popped out of the plastic head. I tried fixing it by re-drilling a hole through the head, but to no avail. Time to buy a new one (or one with a shorter thread).

Bottom line: This clamp is pretty sturdy; I would recommend it. However, if you need to mount an Zoom H4n or H1 (or even a digital camera), you may want to consider grinding it down (carefully!) or find another that has the right height of thread. Learn from my mistakes.

On a moving object (bike, car, etc) the camera does vibrate and can flop out of position if you hit a big bump. I found that it is better to work with gravity than fight it. Mount the camera hanging down or under your handle bar instead of on top. In some cases that could result in your video playback being upside down, but that's easily fixed too. Just import the video into Microsoft's free Movie Maker software, and under "edit movie" there is a list of options: pick "video effects", and then pick "rotate 180", and then use "save to my computer" under "finish movie" and ta-da, you just created a copy of the video file turned 180 upside down, or in this case return it to right-side up. It takes all of 7 seconds.

I am no video expert, but it was easy to download Microsoft's free version of MovieMaker and just flip the video around. I am sure other video editing software has rotate options too.

Buy ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread Now

Vibrates way too much to have clear video while riding, which is the purpose of the device, right? I used it to make portions of this short music video, to check it out search "chaotic commute" on YT. Amazon doesn't allow me to post a direct link.

Read Best Reviews of ARKON CMP227 Motorcycle and Bicycle Handle Bar Mount for Cameras with 1/4 20 Screw Thread Here

I read roughly 40-50 reviews on Amazon before purchasing this product. I read the Arkon product description, hoping to find weight limits that the mount would support, but found nothing discrete.

The CMP227 product listing does note that the mounting screw fits GoPro and Contour cameras. I have a Contour GPS, so I figured that this mount would be solid enough for my camera. The mounting instructions that arrived with the product show an outline of a camera that has nearly identical dimensions to the Contour camera line.

I took a test run across paved suburban roadways in a well-funded municipality. The mount allowed the camera angle to sink a bit over the course of ~10 miles, but it was not a major problem to readjust.

Upon viewing the video back home, I experienced more vibration that previous reviews had me anticipating. To remedy this, I opted to use my Contour GPS's "Continuous Photos" feature instead of capturing video on my next ride.

I rode for roughly 20 miles through a mixed-use paved path before my mount stem unexpectedly snapped on a smooth area of the path while I was maintaining consistent speed, elevation, and direction. My camera took damage across the lens and battery/memory card door when it fell to the side of the path. I had followed the mounting instructions that I received with the product and had not allowed extreme environmental conditions to affect the mount.

Arkon requires $9 to replace my mount using the 90 day "In Warranty Procedure". I spent $13.06 on my Arkon mount when I purchased it on March 26, 2013, making this warranty replacement cost 69% of the original cost. I see that it is currently selling for $7.62, which makes the warranty process seem incongruous for current potential customers.

I have used other types of mounts with my Contour GPS (car dash, fixed surface, headband, clamp) and none have faulted. I've had my Contour GPS since December 2011, and it received its first scratches using the Arkon mount today (April 3, 2013).

Summary:

I used my Arkon mount twice for a total period of 3 hours, and it snapped causing my camera to receive damage that hinders its ability to operate correctly. The warranty process is not agreeable for a customer with my experience. I would not recommend using this product.

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Quite pleased with both performance and price. I used this with a Canon SD780 in HD video mode on my mountain bike over rough terrain. Very small camera and the mount held it well. Resulting video is much better and more stable than dedicated "sport" cameras I've tried in the past.

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Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd Generation (Black Gloss)

Selected the Vado over other pocket video camcorders (specifically the Flip Ultra Camcorder 2nd Generation, 120 Minutes) because for almost the same price(~$90) it provides up to HD 720p resolution (instead of VGA only) and has a wide-angle lens.

Received the Vado yesterday evening and charged it overnight using standard charging speed. Took it for a quick test run this morning filming three small clips (17 to 30 seconds duration) using the HD+, HD, and VGA settings. The Vado performed as expected based on the hundreds of reviews I had read and I won't rehash the specifics here.

I did encounter the same issues with out-of-sync audio/video that a number of other reviewers have noted when playing both HD+ and HD videos directly from the Vado on my laptop (VGA had no issues). To test this more fully I recorded an eight minute HD+ video, saved it to the laptop hard drive, and played it back on both Windows Media Player and WMP Classic. Both programs lost sync rather quickly.

I then recorded a five minute HD video, saved it, and played it back on the same programs. This time both WMP and Classic remained in sync. Note that, just like the shorter video, playing this HD video directly from the Vado caused the video to go out-of-sync. So for myself the best way to view videos using my laptop is to record in HD, copy them onto my hard drive, and use WMP/Classic.

Here are the various specs so potential purchasers can compare what I'm using to their computers to hopefully get an idea of expected performance:

Windows Media Player 11 Ver. 11.0.5721.5268

Windows Media Player Classic (unicode build) Ver. 6.4.9.1

1.73 GHz Intel Pentium M

MS Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 3

1 GB RAM

*****6 Dec 09*****

Uploaded a 40 sec HD+ video review to Amazon as a test (it's for Bob's Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli, 40-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) if you want to take a look). This worked fine.

I then tried the proprietary Vado Central software to create some clips from three ~30 second videos shot at VGA, HD, and HD+. Editing worked fine with the VGA clip. The laptop's video lag with HD+ and HD videos made editing such clips a bit of a chore, although it could be done using audio cues or noting the time points at which you'd like to start and stop from playback on the Vado itself.

Note that Vado Central saves edited videos to the laptop by default. I saved an edited video to the Vado directly in the same directory as the original, but both Vado Central and the Vado itself refused to recognize it. This means that if you want to use clips to make movies in Vado Central you'll be working from the hard drive. It also means you can't upload videos to the Vado to watch.

Next I tested the Vado Central movie making function. It works as advertised, subject to the lag issues noted previously. Interestingly, while videos and clips are saved as .avi, movies are saved as .wmv. In addition, at least on my laptop, adding a style to a movie was a very slow process, as was saving the actual movies. To give an example, just saving a movie made from a 30 second VGA video with sepia style took about six minutes and the final .wmv file was only 4.4 MB in size.

None of this changes my five star rating for the Vado. At the price point it is still the best value for me for the reasons originally stated.

*****7 Dec 09*****

Today I encountered my first real disappointment when I worked with the Create Movie portion of Vado Central. Specifically, I tried to combine seven clips into a movie when a pop-up screen informed me this action was not possible. Apparently, Vado Central uses a program called muvee Basic (not mentioned in the product description) which, among other limitations, limits you to importing no more than three videos/clips to make a movie. Try any more and a handy pop-up suggests an upgrade to muvee Premium which would allow, among other things, unlimited videos/clips to be combined. And all for the low, low price of $19.99.

This experience enters one of those gray areas for me as the product description says nothing about making movies or muvee Basic, simply stating "With integrated Vado Central software, the VadoPocket Video Cam makes it easy to quickly shoot and edit your own short movies and capture snapshots in still and burst modes.", which it certainly does. So, on the one hand, the inclusion of muvee Basic can be considered a bonus. On the other hand, it's obviously a play to get you to spend an additional $20.

Personally, I managed to work around this restriction by combining the seven clips into three smaller movies and combining those into the final larger movie. Whether this method would also circumvent the restriction placed on music I have not tested. For my planned uses, it is really a non-issue. Your mileage, of course, may vary.

At the time I bought this (Christmas season 2009), the Vado was the least expensive option for 720p video pocket-sized recorders. It's very handy to carry around and the little included silicon case is useful and well designed. The camera is fairly intuitive to use for shooting videos. I'd recommend a tripod for long interviews with seated subjects. To download the images to a Mac, you need to download software from the Creative site. Once you do that, you can either bring the videos into the Mac via: 1) the Vado software for quick editing or file conversion; 2) directly to iPhoto for quick storage and playing/editing on Apple Quicktime or iMovie.

If you already have a decent quality compact point and shoot camera with a video option, the Vado probably is superfluous (and its competitors are as well). The lens is cheap and under low light the images are grainy with little color rainbow patches. Under good lighting, image quality is fine, but it won't wow you. The audio quality is passable, but hissy and doesn't give much beyond the human voice in terms of frequency range. It should be noted that the to-be-released "3rd generation" model will allow for an external mic.

If you don't have a good quality compact still camera with video, this item can be a lot of fun. The images aren't fantastic, but for Youtube they are more than decent enough. Be sure to find a way to have decent lighting before you shoot because otherwise you might end up disappointed by the degraded image. At the price I bought this thing, I consider it to be a bargain.

Buy Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd Generation (Black Gloss) Now

I have found the video quality of this camcorder to be consistent with its price, which in the end isn't too shocking. What surprised me is that the video quality, even on the highest HD quality setting, is still far below the HD quality of my Kodak camera which is not even a dedicated video camera like the Creative. My Kodak camera is a digital still camera which also records in 720P. The indoor video quality of the Creative is very soft, lacking the clear, sharp imagery one would expect from 720P.

The Creative is very use to use, and it is basically idiot proof. One button to turn it on, one to record, and two very limited zoom and zoom-out buttons.

Whether the ease of use outweighs your need for higher quality will of course depend on your needs. If you are shooting any footage that will have sentimental value to you, like family, children, etc, I would recommend spending more money on a higher quality camera. If you are shooting buddies at parties, or goofing off to post videos on You Tube, the ease of use of this camera is worth the lower quality, assuming such footage isn't something you value as much as your baby's first steps.

The attractive pricing of this camcorder clearly places it in the low-end of expected performance. As long you are picking the right camera for your intended use, and this fits into that objective, you will probably like this camera, despite its lower quality.

Read Best Reviews of Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd Generation (Black Gloss) Here

I have this thing for more then a week now and it's performed as expected. The Vado is a pocket cam so low light performance is a given . I took a few clips from a reasonable light room and very low light area and the lower light clips are totally unusable .The rest of the clips are nice and clear with audio sync only with my 2.8ghz computer so my laptop is useless in backup mode .I compare this cam with the Flip Mino HD and the pictures is identical ,even though the Flip is 1080P .The audio is much better then I expected since I read reviews saying the audio pick up is poor . I think the cam is reasonable price for what it is now .

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We bought this camera for our 7 year old who loves to film everything. We looked at the flip cameras and decided for the price and features, this one seemed better. We bought a waterproof pouch with it so she can film underwater. I am very pleasantly surprised about the quality of the HD film. We can even plug it right into our TV to watch the recordings. I love the fact you can print stills from it. We use it with our PC but heard you can get software for the Mac. If I were to pick something I do not like that much, it would be that the USB cord is on the bottom so you can't stand it up straight without 'rigging' it or using a tripod. We got one that clips onto something or also stands on the legs.

All in all, I would recommend this product to a friend. Well worth the money.

RCA HD DTV In-Car Digital Recorder Receiver / Tuner

Of course the only obvious problem is that you can't really watch an ATSC broadcast while the car is moving more than like...10 miles per hour.. That's what the ATSC M-h is designed for The mobile version, and only if you are lucky to have such service in your area.. I live in NYC so pretty much all the local stations here (CBS, NBC, FOX,....) do have Mobile broadcast. Anyway good product overall.. I'd wish the antenna wa a big longer though.. So far so good, regardless .

Toslink Male/Male Cable 2.2mm Jacket 6 Feet

This little box successfully converts the digital audio from a Panasonic TV to good old analog audio that you can plug into the aux input of an amplifier. The only glitch is that the sound clicks out and back in fairly frequently pretty much every time we change the channel, and sometimes for no apparent reason.

DXG 581V High-Def Camcorder (Silver)

Great Camcorder for the price. Video Quality is great, however the mic pretty much sucks for anything other than the guy holding the camcorder, tho this is to be expected, so if you want to record anything with good audio you'll need a separate mic.

It records with the h.264 (mp4) codec inside of a .mov container, but the file extension may be changed to .mp4 or .avi to play it on almost any pc.

Battery lasts about 45 minutes, I picked up some extras here on amazon for about $4 with shipping, and they work just as well as the manufacturer's battery.

Get a tripod, Magix Movie Edit 15 Pro, and set up a green screen for the ultimate camcording fun! Check out YouTube's demo video's by searching DXG-581v if you haven't thought of that already!

Really can't do better for the ~$100-120 price range. Very small, portable... only cons is that it doesn't have image stabilization and better zoom and wide angle.. but for the price you can work around its weaknesses.. you can easily carry this and a flashlight in the same pocket to overcome the need for a light.. A tripod helps for long recordings..

Buy DXG 581V High-Def Camcorder (Silver) Now

i want to go in detail like some people does but i dont have the time @ this moment. i honestly did not have the cash to spend $600-$1,000 or more so i went cheap and specially an unknown brand. but man i was impressed. i have and HD TV w/ auto motion 120hz and i guess that what also made it a little bit better. so if you are in a rush and you dont want to miss anything becuase u can't affort it well this is a suggestion i am giving you. but ya true HD does cost a fortune but eventually i am thinking of getting 3D HD. why get HD when u can't get the newest technology 'till then i am very happy w/ this gadget.

Read Best Reviews of DXG 581V High-Def Camcorder (Silver) Here

I have been using this camcorder for a while and seems to be doing what it is supposed to. I keep capturing precious moments with this handy camcorder which is a good value for the money spent. I will recommend this to all my friends.

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This is a good product for the money. It could use a better zoom for scenery films, but I like it.

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