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

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Canon VIXIA HF R21 Full HD Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory

Canon VIXIA HF R21 Full HD Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash MemoryI spent a fair amount of time (four hours) reading reviews and comparing features of Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, and Canon videocams. I also read all the reviews on Amazon regarding all the Canon videocams in the consumer line. Overall the Amazon had a slightly negative undertone, but I decided to go with Canon because of good experience with a point and shoot camera I had bought several years ago. But once I got the Vixia HFR21, I had a difficult time loading some test videos I had shot.

I remembered an Amazon review that said the .mts video format and the software used to upload Canon video was questionable. That's when I was a minute away from packing it back up and returning it. I am an above average computer guy, and I am an expert on Photoshop; a good user on Adobe Illustrator; above average on Microsoft products; and generally can do what I need to do to make things work via a pc. The mistake I made was following the directions included with the videocam that said if I don't have Windows 7, don't use the "VideoBrowser" software--it said to use the "utility" software. Wrong!!!!!!!!!! The VideoBrowser worked just fine with Windows XP.

After I discovered that, I pulled back from the brink of returning it. And now I've spent more time with HFR21, I am impressed. It's easy to upload video to your PC; it's even easy to watch a video you just shot on your flat screen TV. Also, of critical importance to me, is that .mts videos that Canon shoots, is readily useable by Adobe Premiere Elements 9. I'm updating my software (haven't yet) and any video I shoot must be compatible with Adobe. And it is.

All that is the backstory (but what good is video if you can't quickly upload it or view it????).

About the HFR21: the video is sharp; shoots GREAT video right before sunset, when the dusk makes it difficult for a person to see really, really clearly. Video I shot last night at dusk looks as if the sun was shining; it wasn't, but you couldn't tell by watching the footage. Unbelievable really!

The battery is good; the size of videocam is SMALL and I LOVE IT! I want to be able to put the cam in a pocket and take a walk on the beach. I would never argue it's too small as some have on this website. The smaller the better.

The touch screen is good, average sensitivity. The size of the screen and the size of the icons is good. I have Polish-sausage sized fingers and the icons on the screen work fine.

I highly recommend the HFR21, especially at $449!

One other thing: this is not a fake review written by a competitor to Canon or by an employee of Canon. I'm telling like it is.

Just got my Canon Vixia HFR21 in from Amazon and it seems great so far. I really haven't played around with all the features yet, however I just wanted to write this review for Mac users, since I had a little trouble making the decision to buy this model due to the conflicting information I was reading on the subject. I've read many reviews with people saying that this camera wouldn't work with their macs. My Vixia is working flawlessly.

I have a brand new macbook pro running imovie11. At first I thought I was going to have trouble because I couldn't figure out how to get imovie to import a few quick videos I took. After about 20 minutes I figured out all I have to do is plug the camera into through the USB, click the import video button on the camera, and then click on "All-For PC only" and whallah...videos imported to i movie. That simple. I did not have to install anything or download any conversion software.

Now, let me get back to shooting videos.

Buy Canon VIXIA HF R21 Full HD Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory Now

This is a really nice camcorder. It is small and lightweight and fits snugly in your right hand. The adjustable grip belt, holds it securely in place, for easy one hand operation. You can even adjust the zoom and take still pictures while holding it with one hand. This leaves your left hand free to adjust the rotation of the LCD screen and use the touch screen to change settings.

This camcorder is also intuitive to set up for basic operation. For more advanced functions, you will probably want to download the PDF manual. First thing I did, out of the box, was install the battery and then use the included power cord to charge it. After plugging it in, there is a LCD that flashes red as it charges and then turns green when the battery is charged.

While it was charging I installed the included software. It comes with 3 disks. One has the transfer utility, which you can use to transfer videos from your camera to your PC. You can also use the transfer utility to transfer videos and audio to your camera. The camera has built in editing functions, so you could actually compose and edit a movie on your camera, and then view it from the camera or use the included A/V or HDMI cables to view it on your TV.

It also comes with a Pixela Video Browser that you can use to view, edit, and create slideshows, with still pictures taken with the camcorder. The other disk contains some additional audio files for video editing and a manual for the included video and photo viewing software. I downloaded the actual manual, for the operation of the camcorder, from the Canon website. The manual is nice, because it explains less intuitive functions, like how to adjust settings when you are not using auto mode, and how to initialize the SD memory cards.

The HD video quality of this player is really nice. I used the included HDMI cable to hook the camera to my HD TV and the video quality blew away a standard definition camcorder hooked to the same TV with an A/V cable. This player also has 32 GBs of internal memory and two SD slots where you can add 32GB SDXC cards, and the player automatically switches to the next card when the previous memory is full.

The 28X Zoom works flawlessly and there are several presets for filming in different conditions. The auto focus makes filming as easy as pressing a button, and built in image stabilization will make even the work of a novice, look decent. The LCD screen is a touch screen and when used with the included stylus is very responsive. There are some fun added features, where you can use the stylus to draw on photos and add other effects suchs as bubbles or square pixels.

Besides the power button, the zoom, the photo button, and the record button, you will not find any other controls until you open the LCD screen. Once you open the LCD, it is a touch screen that enables you to browse photos and videos and change settings. Against the camera body are four other buttons, which let us toggle between record and view, video snap, auto focus, and an extra display light to make the LCD brighter, so it can be viewed in direct sunlight. You will find the mini USB slot and the HDMI slot under these buttons.

This camcorder has a lot of built in and adjustable advanced functions. Yet, it is easy enough to turn it on, hit auto focus, film some video, and hit playback on the LCD screen. You could also use one of the included HDMI or A/V cables and playback the video on your TV. This is a really nice camcorder and it's really fun to use. I have a feeling this will be replacing my regular camera and I will be getting a lot of use out of this camcorder.

Read Best Reviews of Canon VIXIA HF R21 Full HD Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory Here

I have had this Canon VIXA HF R21 for about a month now and I got it super cheap. For what I paid for the camera (205 on a Woot! offer) it works just fine for the price range. If you're looking for the step up from your Flip HD camera to a better quality camera, this will suffice. But for the upper 300-400 dollar range, this just doesn't make the cut. I would recommend the Canon VIXIA HF M40 or M41. The M40 is 50 dollars cheaper and you get a better CMOS censor, an accessory hot shoe for attachments like professional microphones or recording remotes, better zoom lens, and the low light recording is fantastic. This camera is about as bare bones as you can buy for a HD camera. The quality of video is pretty good when you play with the settings and crank them all up, but nothing too spectacular. The auto white balance doesn't ever seem to work for me, but custom white balance addressed that for the most part. I work with a professional lighting set up and green screen and when shooting with this camera, even with a 3000 watt lighting set up perfectly, i have to color correct in order to for chroma key the green screen. I tried to shoot my nieces ballet recital and I'm glad i always come with 2 batteries because it was definitely needed, and it didn't get very good quality video in low light. It turned out very grainy and saturated. I have to use an external microphone while working with this (I prefer Rode VideoMic Directional Condensor) because the on board mic picks up the camera motor and it sounds like you are shooting next to a jet engine. It is truly noticeable, especially when zoomed in, and because there is no hot shoe, I can't mount the microphone on the camera directly, i have to use a mic stand. Still photos look like they are sub par to cell phone photos, but thats not why people buy this kind of dedicated cameras. One thing I can really appreciate is the 32 gig of on board memory. I can stick a card in the bottom and get a lot of recording time. I regret buying this camera. Spend less money and get a better camera. Ive had to invest quite a bit of money to make this camera functional enough to use it, while i could have spent more money just to get a better camera. This isn't the worst camera I have worked with, and it isn't really all that bad for your average consumer, but for the money you can do A LOT better.

Want Canon VIXIA HF R21 Full HD Camcorder with 32GB Internal Flash Memory Discount?

Each new generation of technological advances makes camcorders better and better. This brand new Canon HFR21 is no exception. Let's look at its positives first.

* Very lightweight--less than 10 ounces

* Compact and rounded--fits in a woman's hand--2.4"x2.4"x4.8"

* Easy to use

* HD video lens has 28x zoom capability

* Can be used for both still and video photography

* Excellent resolution (picture clarity) for video (have not used it for still photos)

* Records HD video to a 32 GB internal flash drive

* Camera self-focuses (Canon Face Detection) on faces for a more professional shot

* Smart Auto Mode automatically adjusts settings to record correctly for settings/scenes

* Written manual and 3 CDs (1 instruction manual; 1 Video Browser for average users; 1 Transfer Utility for more complex/sophisticated capability)

* Instructions for use of camera are clearly written

* Camera has both built-in memory and can use a memory card (not supplied)

* Screen measures 3" (diagonal) and swivels manually as needed

* Touch screen panel (like the smart phones) for ease of use

* Records up to two hours under optimal conditions

* Has two SD card slots

* Easily gets your movies on the web from the camera/computer

* Helps to eliminate a shaking picture when used while in motion

There are few drawbacks that I've found so far. But, they should be noted. Here are the negative features:

* Instruction manual's graphics are too small to be seen clearly (see narrative below)

* Instructions for initial set-up are not clearly written for `non-techies'(see narrative below)

* Lacks a brief `take-along' guide for users (as typically provided with cell phones)

The written manual's size is compact--like the camera. Unfortunately, the graphics are so small as to be difficult to see. Pages 9-16, 22-24, 31, and 36 need to be enlarged as they are critical in learning how to operate the camcorder. When I tried following the PDF format on-screen, I still had to enlarge the graphics to 125% to be seen easily. (My corrected eyesight is 20/20, so the problem is not unique to a few individuals.)

If you are a novice or, unsure of yourself when dealing with technology, you will want someone to guide you through the initial steps required, prior to using your camera. You must install two CDs. One is an instruction manual. The second and third CDs offer you a choice. The Video Browser CD is for the more casual user. Its software allows you to manage, edit, and play back your movies. And the third CD (Transfer Utility) is for saving and transferring movies and music files used for background music. This third one is for the savvy user seeking more editing capabilities. Once the CDs are installed, the camera's usage instructions are readily understood. The difficulty with the manual is the reason I rate this four stars and not five.

It is not necessary to purchase an SD card (extends your recording time seamlessly) but, the camera has two SD slots. SD cards, depending on their capacity, run from $40-$90. Canon claims that, using the cards allows faster filming starts than when using the internal memory.

Another useful feature is the camcorder's ability to focus on one face (Face Index). When searching for photos of a particular individual, the camera `remembers' the face and finds all the pertinent shots for you. This is a great time saver.

This camcorder should be more than sufficient for those of us who want video and stills of life's momentous events, vacations, etc. For the aspiring cinematographer, its potential extends beyond casual filming and editing.

A final note: The Canon camcorder was supplied to me for review by Amazon. We last purchased a camcorder 18 years ago. It was bulky, about double the price, and could not take still photos. One of our sons broke it and it was never replaced. If I were buying a camcorder today, I would definitely get this one. Beyond the initial difficulty I had with the manuals and graphics, this camcorder is a pleasure to operate. A last note to my sons: Keep your hands off!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Gemini VINYL2MP3 Belt Drive USB Turntable

Gemini VINYL2MP3 Belt Drive USB TurntableTHis product was very great!I also liked the fast shipping.When I got my Gemini Vinyl 2 Mp3 Dj Turntable from the UPS center.I was so happy I jumped for joy! Thanks,

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7" 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD Monitor

Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7' 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD MonitorQuite often I notice many reviewers associate the word "professional" with this camcorder, which is frustrating since this camcorder is not "professional"; it is a professional consumer (prosumer) camcorder. I own this camera by the way, but I am neither a consumer (respectively) nor am I a professional; I have been to Radio-Television-Film school, which has allowed me to become a photojournalist, but I would never consider myself a professional I have chosen to be this way because becoming a truly professional videographer slash cinematographer requires some extensive knowledge and experience two things which I don't have, and two things which you probably don't have either since your on Amazon's website looking at the Sony DSR-PDX10, and reading a review on the camera from someone who is on the job, but obviously has nothing better to do at the moment.

Nonetheless, I will attempt to divulge your wonders about this camcorder. As of the current, I have owned a PDX10 since the spring of 2004 which I suppose is something like a year and-a-half to be not exact. And since I am much better at noticing negative things, I will start with those bad things about Sony's little three-chip camcorder, the biggest problem being the chips themselves. The three charged coupling devices in this camera are all 1/ 4.7 inches in diameter (almost 1/5 inches in diameter) making these chips the smallest ones in the prosumer market. What does this mean exactly? Well it means that the camera is absolutely terrible in low light shooting conditions. It also means that the image is highly susceptible to noise a thing which wouldn't seem so bad if it were as aesthetic as film grain, but alas, this is interlaced digital video the farthest thing from celluloid. Small CCD's also mean that the range of optimal exposure levels for this camera is about as narrow as the mind of a narrow-minded person; thus, the image will yield the best quality when the lighting is bright and even. Because of this, the PDX10's image will look its best when the camcorder used for outdoor shooting situations (except at night).

This seems like a terrible camera now doesn't it? Not very professional at all, you say. Well, before you write this camera off, I must mention that the PDX10's image at its best is quite incredible for this amount of money. And to mention the unmentioned, this is the only camera in its class that will record in true widescreen (16:9) ratio the PD170 (Sony's next-best prosumer DV camcorder [$3,500]) can't even do this. Most cameras which claim to record in 16:9 either crop the top and bottom of the 4:3 image, or they squeeze the initial recorded image by electronically changing the aspect ratio (but not the physical aspect ratio) of the pixels, which will later be "stretched" out when viewed on a 16:9 television this process is physically degrading to the recorded image. Personally, I always record in 16:9 because when viewed on a 4:3 ("full screen") TV via DVD, the over-sampled image looks great, and is also future proof for viewing on 16:9 televisions in "full screen". In fact, the PDX10 has been a choice camera for underwater photographers who want to have the ability to shoot in 16:9 while keeping a small form factor; because of the ambient lighting found underwater, this camera will yield an exceptional image in such conditions (during the day, of course).

When I purchased the camera, I also purchased both wide angle and telephoto lens adapters that thread on to the front of the camera's fixed lens quite annoyingly. With the 2x telephoto lens, there is serious chromatic aberration (a condition which is best described in words as blue-ish slash purple-ish hazes of light around subjects displaced in the depth of the image) that worsens the further you "zoom" in. This condition is not so apparent, if at all, wile just using the fixed lens, but then you will be limited to a 12x optical telephoto range. Digital zoom is available, and is broken up into two areas of intensity; the first level is 24x, which isn't so terribly bad as other digital zooms, mostly because the CCD's have roughly one million pixels scattered about each of their tiny 1/ 4.7 inch surfaces, and the resolution of NTSC DV only asks for about half of those pixels to show a proper image. The second level of digital zoom is available also, but I wouldn't advise using it unless you're spying on somebody whose one eighth of a mile away from you.

A wide angle adapter is nice to have, but I wouldn't suggest using it if you are planning on zooming in a lot, otherwise you will have to be constantly adjusting your focus. Particularly helpful when using these fixed-lens cameras is an auto focus feature, or more importantly, a push-auto focus feature. For example, you may set the camera to manual focus, and if you don't feel like messing with the focus ring on the front of the camera, you may push a button on the side of the camera that will automatically adjust the focus without having to switch into auto focus mode. There is even a third way to focus, and that is via the LCD flip-out screen, which happens to be touch-sensitive. Just hit tap the screen in the area you want the camera to focus and it will do so makes rack focuses easy as h-e and two hockey sticks. All three modes of auto focus are very fast; Sony is known for having the best auto focus for video cameras, and this camera is no exception as it was originally designed to be Sony's flagship consumer model. Probably my second overall disappointment with the camera is the manual focus ring that has a naturally sluggish feel to it; I much prefer the precise auto controls found on Panasonic's fixed-lens cameras, which closely mimic the feel of a mounted lens. The PDX10's focus ring gets even more sluggish in cold weather, as the back side of the metal ring is coated with an anti-abrasive lubricant whose viscosity decreases congruently with the clime's temperature.

Since I'm on the subject of temperature and climate affecting the performance of the camera, I'll have you know that even the most extreme conditions for humans will not affect the performance of the PDX10. It is known that both altitude and temperature affect electronics in general, and when exposed to the most extreme conditions, they might cease to even operate. Such was not the case when I went skiing in Colorado during late December of last year. I decided to take the PDX10 on the slopes one day, and mindful of the temperatures, loaded the camera with a DVCAM cassette just to test what the medium was all hyped up to be. Somewhere between 12,000 and 13,000 feet at single digits Fahrenheit, I blasted down the slopes holding the small camera close to the ground with idle-as-possible hands; it was fun. Sometimes when you're skiing, within all of those layers of clothing, you kind of loose perspective on how cold it really is outside. Well, looking down at the PDX10's flip-out LCD, I noticed that something was wrong it looked like the shutter speed was low. But after skiing a little bit more, it finally hit my mind it was so cold that the pixel refresh rate had increased, or the liquid in the crystal display was getting too cold. That's cold. One of my friend's digital cameras wouldn't power up that's cold. I began to wonder whether or not my footage would come out ok, but when we all got back to the lodge and played the tape, it was just perfect. Maybe DVCAM does have some redeeming properties whenever you're 12,000 feet above sea level, freezing your rear end off, and happen to be taping something.

On other issues of durability, I would like to in fact mention more issues of durability. It just so happened that this camera, in an unfortunate series of events, was catapulted to the ground in such intensity that the lens hood became permanently distorted, the corner of the LCD flip-out panel gouged a scar into the side of the camera body, the original shotgun microphone was rendered snapped-in-half, the high capacity battery was dislocated from the camera body, and the optical sensor for the focus ring was knocked out of place from the impact. Fortunately, I was able to re-attach the battery and continue filming. I was able to fix the focus ring problem myself by taking apart the camera and doing some rudimentary drilling. I don't have any problems with the camera to this day (this happened a year ago). I have worked with other cameras of the like, and can say in confidence that the PDX10, and all Sony prosumer video cameras, feel more durable than the Canon GL series cameras, as well as the Panasonic prosumer cameras not to say that it is more durable, it just feels durable and has proven to be so. So if you have any doubts of durability, I can tell you in all honesty to not have any doubts of durability when considering the PDX10 and its durability.

What you are buying when you in fact buy a PDX10 is a very high-end consumer camcorder that has the ability, in some applications, to be a quasi-professional video camera. If you are interested in filming extreme slash outdoor sports, I would highly recommend this camera for its durability, portability, great auto features, great image stabilization, and better-than-consumer results which will impress the people who see your footage, and might even trick them into thinking that it was a professional camera. If you're in the market for a camera to use for event videography, I would suggest investing in a camcorder that is shoulder-mounted (Canon XL series are a bit front-heavy by the way) and looks good in various lighting conditions (look for a rating of 1 lux or lower), and has readily accessible manual controls. If you're just a very wealthy or eccentric person who would like a video camera to document their own realities, you'd probably be attracted to the new HDV camcorders. If you are buying this camera to make a bloody film or documentary, find out how much it will cost to rent a professional camera and hire a professional to operate it that will give you the best results. Final word: the Sony DSR-PDX10 could be akin to a very large sink with a disproportionately small drain, if that makes any sense.

I teach videography and have tried many different camcorders before deciding on the PDX10 as the best compromise between price, easy of use, and professional quality.

The best feature of the PDX10 is the dual-XLR audio inputs and good quality microphone normally included with the camera. Cheaper consumer cameras often don't even let you adjust audio levels, even if you did add an third-party XLR input.

Video quality is both great and poor--that is, great when there's plenty of light and poor when you're in low light or even not-so-well-lit ordinary indoor situations. I shot a well-lit scene with the PDX10 and, right next to it, a $20,000 Sony camera with a $5,000 lens, and nobody yet has been able to tell which is which when I show them the footage. (Interestingly, the more expensive professional camera also did poorly in low light conditions.)

I've heard some people say they preferred the old Sony PD-100A, which was the PDX10's predecessor. However, I have both and appreciate the many improvements to the interface and slightly better color quality of the PDX10.

The closest competitor to this is the Panasonic AG-DVC30, which has better low light performance but doesn't have as good 16:9 support. More importantly to me, the PDX-10 records in DVCAM format (on regular mini-DV tapes) which puts more data on the tape for each minute of recording. I have found to my great dismay that the regular DV format is VERY prone to errors, dropouts, and rapid tape degradation. I can't tell you how many of my projects have been ruined or nearly ruined by problems with DV! Since I switched to DVCAM-only hardware in my studio, I have NEVER had a visible dropout or data error, even when re-using previously recorded tapes (which saves money, and which only a suicidal videographer would try with regular DV).

Bottom line: Buy the PDX10 unless you need to shoot in low light, in which case you should get a Panasonic AG-DVC30 (and splurg on best-quality tape) or save up the extra money for a Sony PD170, which also has good low-light performance. The PD170 also has more bells and whistles (such as selectable frame rate and more switches so you don't need to use menus as often), but for my money I'd much rather have two PDX10's (or a PDX10 and a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills) than one PD170.

Buy Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7" 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD Monitor Now

This camera is great if you are on a low budget. In fact, as of this date, it doesn't get better. Everyone has mentioned the greats... tons of digital controls over your image, a touch screen, and xlr ins. That's great. If it makes a huge difference to you, the CCD chips are small, and thus a low lux camera. So if you are planning lots of low light, it may be worth it to spend more on more. The digital controls are great, but they are nothing like manual shutter speed and fstop. This is a great camera for the price. It has captured beautiful images for me.

Read Best Reviews of Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7" 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD Monitor Here

The Panasonic performs much better in low light and has more accessible manual features, and it's cheaper. I'm not saying that the Sony is a bad camcorder, though.

Want Sony DSR-PDX10 Professional 1/4.7" 16:9 3CCD DVCAM Compact Camcorder with 3.5 inch LCD Monitor Discount?

ESTA CAMARA DE VIDEO SONY PDX 10 ES MUY BUENA, PARA FILMAR EN CONDICIONES DE POCA LUZ, SUS MICROFONOS SON DE BUY BUENA RECEPCION, SU PANTALLA GRANDE PERMITE VER SON MEJORES DETALLES LAS IMAGENES, LOS COLORES DE LAS IMAGENES PERFECTAS. NO LE PIDE FAVOR A LA PD150-PD170.

MUY BUENA VIDEOCAMARA.

Marcelo Mullo Torres.

Ecuador

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Friday, October 10, 2014

ZMODO 8CH H.264 Security DVR Video Surveillance System with 4 Day Night Cameras & 500GB HDD

ZMODO 8CH H.264 Security DVR Video Surveillance System with 4 Day Night Cameras & 500GB HDDGreat picture, easy to set up. Just make sure you run the wire in the right direction. We ran all four wires through the attic and then discovered the ends of the wires were different. We had every wire backwards..

Decent system for the price. However, the camera mounts are extremely limited in your mounting options. The mounts in my opinion limit you to only a couple camera angle options, and in some installations I could see the mount having to be replaced with one that would allow you to mount the camera properly. Also ZMODO, why would you not at least include one or two Video Surveillance warning signs or decals in the box? That way when you have it installed you can be ready to go legally. Not having to order in or go purchase a sign off the get go, I can understand not sending a dozen signs in the box, but at least one or two would be of some help. The quick setup instructions are lacking, but if you have a day to kill and want to read the included complete owners and setup manual you have that option available to you as well. It's okay for the price, and with the camera's and warning signs in place hopefully it is more of a deterrent than a system I will have to call upon if needed.

Buy ZMODO 8CH H.264 Security DVR Video Surveillance System with 4 Day Night Cameras & 500GB HDD Now

Easy to set up, all the cameras work well, really nothing wrong with this as far as an inexpensive system.

Read Best Reviews of ZMODO 8CH H.264 Security DVR Video Surveillance System with 4 Day Night Cameras & 500GB HDD Here

Excelent product good quality, the shipping excelent, and the description is really like the publication, i am happy with my order and everything is excelent

Want ZMODO 8CH H.264 Security DVR Video Surveillance System with 4 Day Night Cameras & 500GB HDD Discount?

I am very happy with my system the picture quality is better then I expected and the DVR is easy to set up and use! This is a great buy!

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

TCO DVR Spy Camera Button - Hidden Camera Color Surveillance Video Recorder. Built in 4GB Memory

TCO DVR Spy Camera Button - Hidden Camera Color Surveillance Video Recorder. Built in 4GB MemoryThis unit works very well. I have used for CYA recordings.

It has amazing clarity for its size and price.

The magnetic ring control system is a little persnickety but manual operation is flawless.

I would buy one of these from this seller again if I needed another one.

this camera works great alarm battery life almost 2 hours nonstop average quality in picture it's an easy 1 button operation Records at 30 frames per second and I would definitely buy another 1

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works well but directions not interpreted the best once you get the operation down no problems again use your imagination when reading the instructions

Read Best Reviews of TCO DVR Spy Camera Button - Hidden Camera Color Surveillance Video Recorder. Built in 4GB Memory Here

I bought this ruthless garbage camera because I was mislead with some nice review last couple months. When I received the item I was very excited and look for the manual instruction. I would say the manual is not what I expected. It only tells you where to find the little tiny button "ON" and "OFF". THIS GARBAGE CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. I already used the USB that comes with it and plugged in to my pc for a day to get the battery working and still not working. I can see the light "on" but I cannot see its functionality. NO PICTURE !!! NOTHING !!!! Also, the case is very very bad. You have to placed rubber band or scatch tape to keep it from holding together. DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE !!!

Want TCO DVR Spy Camera Button - Hidden Camera Color Surveillance Video Recorder. Built in 4GB Memory Discount?

The camera quality is poor. It says it is 4GB but when connected to the computer, it detects only 2GB. Picture mode does not work. All pictures result in a blue screen image. Video recordings are incomplete. I tried recording different events and it only recorded about 1/3 of the events.

Monday, September 29, 2014

10 of Single Side Black DVD Cases with Clear Plastic Cover - 10ds

10 of Single Side Black DVD Cases with Clear Plastic Cover - 10dsGreat products record bunch off family outing, good storage for our DVD; plastic covered to insert pictures. Well built will order ,ore in the near future

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Samsung U5 MP3 Player 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)

Samsung U5 MP3 Player 2 GB MP3 Player
  • Unique style, simple to use
  • Accessory holes-can be worn as a fashion accessory
  • Plays MP3, WMA and Ogg formats
  • OLED display
  • FM Tuner and recorder

I first bought a COBY-4 MP3 player because it was medium priced, small and slim, and had an FM stereo capability that I wanted to be able to listen to NPR while working out. The MP3 capability is fine (although the touch-pad controls sometimes require multiple finger pressing) but the FM radio reception is poor--regular static and cutting out. I did more research to see if I could fine a better quality and bought this Samsung U5. No comparison on the FM reception, the Samsung has absolutely clear reception in exactly the same location where I was getting lousy reception with the Coby. MP3 features work fine and navigation is easy. Small, slim size (half the width of the Coby) is great if you want something small that will slip into key pocket on your workout shorts.

Buy Samsung U5 MP3 Player 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) Now

If you're in the market for an ultra-portable mp3 player, this product deserves serious consideration.

-Easy drag-and-drop interface allows easy mp3 additions or deletions without the use of proprietary software.

-Built-in tuner offers a nice alternative to your mp3 rotation.

-Belt clip is a nice feature, but could be designed to be a bit more robust.

Overall, one of the better mp3 players in its class.

Read Best Reviews of Samsung U5 MP3 Player 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) Here

ive used sony, iriver, apple, and now this samsung U5. This U5 is soooo light and easy to use i carry it anywhere and everywhere. where ever i go, i dont need a charger because of the built in USB and i dont need a cable, again, because of the built in USB. sometimes i charge it in my navigation usb port in my car. the button use is just intuitive, i dont even look when im changing songs. apple was ok but i had to check the button all the time and i had to have cables to charge.. the apple was expensive and the repair was a nightmare. thats why i decided to go for carefree, low cost, i dont care what happens to it kinda MP3 but still with great sound and easy to use... and light. so i bought this cause i love my samsung led tv and its quality.. and well this u5 has been absolutely great. been using it for the past 4 month and its the best ive used so far. and when you actually buy it, it feels just right in your hands.. its designed really well for a low end mp3. oh and the best part of it is i just drag files into the u5.. no software needed.. and when im traveling, i just plug it into my car usb port and it plays my music and take it out when i leave my car. when im jogging, its so light i cant feel it.. i can feel the wires more than the mp3. and the built is so far solid. so i say this is a solid mp3 that you will have no regrets about. i fully recommend it. oh and by the way, this doesnt feel like those cheap chinese junk.. its well made and feels sturdy while being super slim. thanx.

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Always liked Samsung's small MP3 players. You don't plan to compete the "cool" look of Apple's ipods with these but I'm sure these small (and affordable) mp3 players are well worth their price, quality and portability. I had owned a similar (but of a different model) mp3 player from Samsung over three years ago and it finally broke in my mother's hand. But I'm not going to complain about that because I only paid for about $40 and it served me well all those years. Now, this is the second Samsung mp3 player I own and I'm expecting a good lifespan from it (already having a good experience with it).

I have had four MP3 players. This is a nice one, not perfect but quite good, especially considering the price.

I have been using this device for about six months. There are two things I do not like about it. One is that the controls are symmetrical, so I cannot operate the device by touch. When I want to do something I have to look at it. The second is that I have trouble wearing it around my neck. It has a clip designed for a shirt pocket, but nothing I can attach to a lanyard (other than the clip, which doesn't work too well).

There are many things I like about it. You can use the windows operating system to transfer files. This is not necessary, however, because there is some software which automatically loads from the device to the computer when you plug the device into the USB port. [But be careful of the upgrades. Twice I have upgraded the software in response to prompts, and twice the upgrade screwed up my system. I had to go back to reset points each time]). The screen layout of the device is clear and contains a great deal of information. The battery charge from the USB port lasts a long time. The file handling on the device is easy.

The thing I like the best is that when you fast-forward, the device speeds up the longer you hold the button down. I like to listen to long files, so this is a nice feature for me. I have not used the radio and voice recorder much, but when I have used them found them easy to use.

I recommend this device, but not the software that come with it.

Monday, September 15, 2014

(10) AG2 397 396 LR726 SR726 SR726SW G2 BATTERY

(10) AG2 397 396 LR726 SR726 SR726SW G2 BATTERYThese 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.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Taiyo Yuden 4.7 GB 16x Thermal printable silver DVD-R (value line), 100 pack

Taiyo Yuden 4.7 GB 16x Thermal printable silver DVD-R, 100 packExcellent media have burnt 45 of 100, so far no coasters. Stated 4x but burns up to 8x no problems.

God bless Internet forums. I heard about this brand of recordable DVDs from one, and after using them for over a month have yet to make a single coaster with my Panasonic dmr-es15 recorder.

Sure the packaging is dodgy-looking, but hey jewel cases, CD/DVD albums, sleeves and other media storage can be had very cheaply in bulk online. The key is reliability and compatibility with a wide range of different DVD players aside from one's recorder...on both counts, these Taiyo Yudens have been spectacular.

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I'm so happy to have finally finding the Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 4x DVDs. They are the only brand my manufacturer (Toshiba) recommends for my DVD recorder. Previously I'd purchased another brand, hoping that they'd work anyway even thought they weren't specifically recommended. Unfortunately, although we could use them with the recorder ourselves, we weren't able to finalized the DVDs, so we couldn't transfer anything to our computer or send them to anybody else to view.

The packaging doesn't bother me at all. Jewel cases take up to much room in my option and I've got lots of paper cd/dvd envelopes that work just great. I've used quite a few of the DVDs in both my recorder as well as my iMac and haven't found a coaster yet!

Read Best Reviews of Taiyo Yuden 4.7 GB 16x Thermal printable silver DVD-R (value line), 100 pack Here

I bought these DVD's mostly to burn in my Toshiba DVD video recorder. So far I have had no problems burning from my TV receiver to these blank DVD's. I get 8 hours of programming on the super long play and have not had any bad discs so far. I almost did not buy them because so many people had problems with them. All I can say is that so far I have not had any problems. I am very happy with this purchase and the price was very reasonable.

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Taiyo Yuden is the top of line in quality and reliability. I have NEVER had a single one fail YET. Excellent disc at a fantastic price!!!!

Dont waste your time or MONEY! You have FOUND have an EXCELLENT PRODUCT! Good for you! Now buy it and be happy.

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Toshiba Excite AT305T64 10.1-Inch 64 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi - NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.20 GHz

Toshiba Excite AT305T64 10.1-Inch 64 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi - NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.20 GHzI've been wanting to get a tablet since last year and have been holding out since they announced ICS and Quad-Core processors. I was going to get the Prime for christmas, but it was unavailable, so I decided to wait and see what came out in the spring. I've stayed away from the Prime due to the higher price and GPS issues, so it came down to 3 tablets while making my decision (Transformer Pad, Acer Iconia a510 and the Toshiba Excite 10). All 3 tablets are very similar and met my criteria for a tablet (ICS, Tegra 3, 1280x800 display, HDMI-out, etc.). I had originally ordered the Iconia a510, but it was back-ordered. Then I saw the Excite was available and in stock early on Amazon last week, so I cancelled my order for the Acer and immediately orderd the Toshiba. What ultimately sold me on the Toshiba model was the Gorilla Glass, the Stock ICS experience and the Full SD card slot. My wife takes a lot of pictures and will love being able to just pop the SD card out of the camera and into the tablet.

I received the device yesterday and it is very fast and slim. I used it for a good 3 hours straight last night with music playing in the background and experienced no lag at all and still had 70% battery remaining after the 3 hours. The Excite 10 is very well built and feels sturdy in the hands. Not too heavy, but just enough that it doesn't feel like you are going to break it. The WiFi signal was very strong and didn't have any issues there. The speakers sound pretty good considering how small they are. The setup took no time at all and with the Google Restore function, I had all of my phone apps (about 100) on my tablet within 20 minutes.

So far I haven't come up with too many Cons for this device. If I had to list some they would be the following:

1. There is a good amount of pre-installed junk on the device. Not that big of a deal since apps can be disabled in ICS.

2. The Charger is proprietary. It would be nice to charge over microUSB, but with the size of tablet batteries, it would take forever to fully charge, so it is understandable why it doesn't.

Overall, I am very pleased with this product and would recommend it.

UPDATE 5/11/12:

1. I wanted to point out that I ran AnTuTu Benchmarking tool and it listed the Excite 10 as a 1.3 GHZ Tegra 3 processor and got a better average score than every other device listed.

2. Some of the pre-installed junk can be uninstalled, but some can only be disabled.

3. I was able to plug the charger into my Laptop and Car USB ports and it was able to charge. It was charging slower than the wall plug, but a nice feature if the battery is running low.

Let me start off by saying that I have tried many, many different tablets. So far, this one is definitely my favourite. Let me break it down here:

1. SPEED: 9/10

I've ran a few benchmarks on it and so far, only the acer a510 has got higher. Still slightly faster than the TF series from Asus (TF101, TF201, TF300) and definitely faster than the first generation tablets (Samsung Galaxy, Toshiba Thrive, Acer a series, BB Playbook). Haven't run into any problems with speed so far.

2. BATTERY LIFE: 9/10

Again, the Acer a510 tablet is the only one I have run into with a longer battery life. The Asus Prime comes close, but not quite there (I would recommend an app called JuiceDefender, which will greatly help your battery life).

3 SCREEN QUALITY: 10/10

One of the best. Most tablets that are android based and 10.1 inch screens have1280*800 resolutions, however the brightness and clarity is fantastic. A little warmer than the Prime or Galaxy tabs (works great for HD TV or movies)

4. COMFORTABLITY: 7/10

An often overlooked attribute is how comfortable the tablet is to hold. This tablet is one of the thinnest, lightest on the market right now, so it is understandably a little odd to hold in landscape, nut trust me, its not nearly as uncomfortable as the Prime or Iconia a200. Once again, the only other tablet that is more comfy to hold is the.

Acer a510.

5. BUILD QUALITY: 10/10

AMAZING! Honestly, the best all around built tablet I have ever experienced hands down. Gorilla Glass, aluminum build, solid.

6. OPERATING SYSTEM: 9/10

Stock ICS is nice to have, and Toshiba throws in some very cool features with its organization. The only reason it loses a point is for the stock programs that can't be taken off. However this will not slow down anything on the tablet.

7: WHY NOT THE ICONIA?

With all the comparisons to the Aer 510, why not it for the same price? Well, I've owned both, and this one is better in almost all regards. I have not run into a bug or hiccup yet. Quite a bit smoother experience of a tablet.

OVERALL SCORE: 54/60

Actually, this is the best score I have given a tablet. Nothing is perfect, but this is quite high up there. Thanks for the time,

Nate.

Buy Toshiba Excite AT305T64 10.1-Inch 64 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi - NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.20 GHz Now

So far I've owned the ASUS Transformer Prime (TF201), Acer Iconia Tab A510, and now the Toshiba AT305. The TF201 had build quality and wireless/GPS issues and the A510 had a "grid effect" to the LCD and some bad heat issues (106+ degrees). And now the AT305, which has light bleed issues. The sad part is that despite this annoying "issue," it's still the best Tegra 3 tablet out there.

As with the Acer and Asus, I've already gone through two AT305's just to make sure these issues were consistent. But let's go into a bit more of a detailed review first on the AT305 that I've been using for a few days now.

DESIGN:

Out of the box, initial impressions are very good. The tablet has a great solid feel to it, it's comfortable to hold, thin, and yes, even light weight. The back has a hard, smooth, plastic feel to it although I hear its aluminum. If so, it probably has some type of coating on it. Basically, it's one nice looking tablet.

I won't go into details regarding where everything is or what feature it has, as you can easily see this from the pictures. Although the one item I must point out is the SD Card Slot, which is on the right side. There is a blank filler card that must be removed when you want to use your own SD card. While the addition of a full-size SD slot is very welcome, there is nothing to cover the slot once your card is in there.

So your hand will frequently rub against the sharp inside edges of the plastic casing. I'm normally not a big fan of plastic covers, but in this instance, it would have been very nice to have. If you're planning on getting a case, this won't likely be an issue.

WIRELESS:

I've tested both wireless and GPS extensively and found them to both perform very well. I'm able to maintain a solid WiFi connection even at the furthest reaches of my Access Point. And GPS can actually pick up a few satellite in-doors, which is always impressive. Outside I can get accuracy down to less than 18ft, within 1-2 minutes. This of course was verified with the GPS Test application.

PERFORMANCE:

Overall the device is very snappy and I haven't had any issues that I didn't run into with the other Tegra3 devices on Android 4.0.3. There are still a few occasional bugs or glitches with ICS, which I hope they'll resolve soon. Otherwise, nothing specific to the AT305.

Antutu scored a 10,313 and Quadrant is right at 4,000. I've seen slightly higher Antutu scores on the A510, which was closer to 11k. Although as I recall, this is the highest Quadrant score I've seen to date. Keeping in mind that both devices I had scored nearly identical. And in either case, the scores are subjective and personally don't put a whole lot of faith in them.

Until they have some new benchmarks that really take advange of the quad core CPU and Tegra3, they're just something to give you interesting numbers to look at. :) Real world tests are where it's at. Speaking of which, playing Tegra 3 games is smooth and they all run expectedly nice. Surfing the web, running apps, and other such tasks are all as expected. Quite good.

After watching movies and playing games, I got temps as high as 93 degrees on the back, right side. This was determined by my infrared thermometer. It's not as cool as the 85 degree TF201 but also nowhere near the 106+ degree A510. So I consider that to be on the warm side, but not uncomfortably so. I think the material on the back Toshiba uses helps to dissipate the heat so it doesn't "feel" hot or uncomfortable.

While surfing or running normal apps, the temps were staying in the 80's where it should be.

DISPLAY:

Starting positive here, the LCD does look very nice. In fact, of the TF201 and A510, it's the nicest I've seen. Even though it's not IPS (it's TFT as I recall), it looks great. The images are very crisp, colors are vibrant, and it has surprisingly good contrast ratio. The best part is that they've found a very nice color temperature balance.

While the A510 was very cool and the TF201 was on the warm side, I found the AT305 to quite neutral. This makes it very pleasing to use whether you are reading, surfing, playing games, or watching a movie.

But of course we can't ignore the negative part of this. There is light bleed, and it just makes me very sad. You won't notice this on any normal colorful image. But if you're watching a movie or looking at a picture that has a black background at the edges, you'll see a very uneven amount of light emitting from the sides. And the more you turn up the brightness, the worse it is.

In fact, just powering on the tablet, you'll see this on the Toshiba logo as it has a black background. It was exactly the same with both AT305's I got. And it's not something I ever experienced with any other tablet I've owned or used. Normally, this is considered a defect and swapping it out would resolve the issue. But based on my experience and countless other reviews/posts on-line, this is quite common with the AT305.

Whether you call it a defect, poor build quality, or a cheap display, it's not desirable.

BATTERY:

Just in general, when you make something smaller, you tend to make some sacrifices. In this case, it was the battery life. To test it out, I started with a fully charged battery. Then basically used it non-stop until I got down to 20% remaining, at which point we were right at 6 hours of usage. This isn't very good. Although keeping mind this is "heavy" usage. I was downloading a bunch of apps, playing games, watching movies, and even ran a benchmark or two during that time.

So I'd say heavy usage, you're looking at 7+ hours. Personally I don't like allowing the battery get much lower than 20%, so that's normally about the time I'm looking for a power cord. And yes, the power adapter is straight out of the 90's. There's no reason it needs to be that big; but it is, and I got over it.

For me, with "normal usage," I'm easily lasting the entire day on a single charge. This is mostly because I don't use it non-stop and spend most of the time checking e-mail or surfing the web. And overall, it's a fair compromise for its light weight and thinness.

SPEAKERS:

As with the A510, the AT305 has down-firing speakers at the bottom, and there are in fact two of them (unlike the TF201). They are backed by Toshiba and SRS enhancements, which are definitely needed. If these sound enhancements are turned off, the sound is horrible. But with them on, the speakers actually sound pretty descent.

I do suggest turning on the "boost" function if it's not loud enough. Surprisingly even with that turned on and volume maxed out, there is no distortion. The A510's speakers still sound noticeably better as there is most detail and they have a fuller sound. The TF305 has a tendency to sound a bit muffled at times, depending on how you're holding it.

I still wish they'd put them forward facing. Otherwise, I find them perfectly acceptable and wouldn't mind watching a few shows or demoing the device to friends.

So let's wrap this one up.

Pros:

+ Looks very nice

+ Light weight and thin

+ Tegra 3 Performance

+ Full-size SD Card Slot

+ USB functionality

+ Descent stereo speakers

+ Gorilla Glass

Cons:

LCD Light Bleed

Only "OK" battery life

No SD Card Slot Cover (when in use)

Considering specs (16GB model), could be a bit cheaper

CONCLUSION:

So how bad is the light bleed? It's annoying enough that this is getting returned. I've been in the IT field for nearly 2 decades and have repaired so many computers and electronics (including many LCD's), I wouldn't even want to guess as to how many. In other words, I know a defect when I see one. :) However, my lovely wife did play with this for a while and she did "volunteer" to take it off my hands even after showing her the light bleed. It didn't bother her one bit, which I'm sure will be the case for many other folks out there.

So my search for a solid Android tablet continues. On the plus side, I think we're getting closer! Just give me all of the good features from Asus, Acer, and Toshiba, and we'll have one killer tablet on our hands. Come on folks, it can't be that hard to spend $400-$500 on a tablet without making compromises.

Read Best Reviews of Toshiba Excite AT305T64 10.1-Inch 64 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi - NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.20 GHz Here

I received this tablet (the 32GB version) on Tuesday and after a couple days to get used to it here's what I found;

Overall I really like the tablet. It's fast, very fast, very thin & light, runs most apps without any issues (some apps won't work with it but this is only because the developers haven't put it on the list of compatible devices. i.e. Lets Golf 3 won't run on it, I'm sure it will be updated to work though. This tablet definitely has enough power to run it). There's no way I've found to root it yet though. I'll keep it as I'm sure someone will come up with a way sooner than later.

Some other reviewers have said the sound is too low. This is fixable by going into the audio enhancement settings and click on SRS sound boost. With this on the volume is just fine. The stereo separation is very good too (two speakers located on the bottom side of the device)

This tablet has a pretty big proprietary connector on the supplied USB cable. It should last a while, it better be tough for the size of it. This brings up an interesting point. When you plug in the tablet with this cable to your computer, nothing happens other than it will charge the tablet. On all of our computers (5 of them) windows wouldn't recognize the tablet was attached. When you plug in the tablet with a micro USB cable the computer will recognize it. It's a bummer they use a huge connector on a cable that only charges the tablet and then only at 5v. Takes a long time to charge. On the upside you can use external battery pack chargers (you can get 10000+mAh batteries for around $60 on Amazon that will provide a lot of spare power.

Toshiba tech support from my limited experience with them is awful. I called about transferring files via the supplied cable and they were no help.

I also had an issue using the USB host functionality trying to use an external hard drive and found via their tech support it will only support drives formatted to exFAT, FAT or FAT32. DOES NOT support drives formatted to NTFS. This is very odd... I had to back up a 750GB Oyen Digital hard drive, reformat it and then transfer the files (mostly movies and TV shows) back to it. Took forever. Now that the drive is formatted to exFAT it works perfectly. Just plug it in using a micro USB host cable (purchased separately) and viola, it shows up on the file explorer (both the stock file explorer and ES file explorer).

PROS:

* It's very light and thin

* It's super-fast. I scored a little over 10300 on AnTuTu benchmark, and this is with the tablet loaded up with apps (my xoom would only do 6700 or so). Once I can root it and overclock it a bit I'm sure it'll be one of the fastest tablets around.

* Full sized SD card support. I'm using a 64GB card and it works great. I'm sure it'll handle a 128GB card. If I spring for one I'll update this review if it doesn't.

* Some of the bloatware is un-installable (the demo app, games etc.). You don't need to unable them, but that is an option if you want to keep them on the device.

* Screen image is sharp (although there is a fair amount of light bleed see the cons)

* Gorilla Glass

* Handles 1080p video well, although the native video players doesn't handle many video formats. Use "MX Player", free on the market and will play anything.

* Screen is very responsive. Almost too responsive, when you go to touch an icon if your finger is moving at all left or right it will start to scroll the page and you'll need to touch the icon again to open the app.

* Very good wifi and GPS reception.

* Stock browser works great. Haven't had a force close yet (this would happen all the time on my Xoom, even after I upgraded it to ICS).

* USB host functionality is great (many devices need to be rooted to get this to work).

* Charging off of a standard USB port is nice, but it takes a long time to fully charge.

* Battery life is pretty good. I've been getting around 8 hours of actual use (mix of streaming vids, checking email, etc).

* Boot time is fast. I clocked 55 seconds from off to the lock screen showing up and then another 10-15 seconds for widgets to load.

CONS:

* Lots of light bleed. Not very noticeable if you're watching something with a lot of light but during dark scenes it's a little annoying.

* Proprietary charging cable that only seems to charge the tablet.

* Charging takes a looong time

* No way to root yet. After some digging around it looks like it might be awhile before a rooting method is released... This is a real bummer.

* Can only handle FAT formats if you use an external hard drive.

* Some apps aren't compatible with it, yet.

* You have to click the notification area a few times sometimes to get it to open up.

That's about it. Overall I really like this tablet and can't wait for a rooting method to be released. If I notice anything else that needs to be addressed I'll update this review. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll help if I can!

Want Toshiba Excite AT305T64 10.1-Inch 64 GB Tablet Computer - Wi-Fi - NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.20 GHz Discount?

Update to this review 06/04/12:

I have had one of those 180 moments where I leaned to the A510, but now prefer the T305 (I have both at the moment):

1. The right side heat of the A510 is getting annoying. Even viewing PDF files results in very warm to hot on the right side. The Excite barely gets warm even when playing 3D games.

2. The USB location on the A510 makes having the nice feature not practical. Having it on the bottom is pure stupid and flipping the tablet upside down still makes using it awkward.

3. After having the 305 a few days I really ntocie the vertical lcd array lines on the A510. The Excite does not have these.

4. Touch response is better on the Excite

5. Having a 128GB sd card formatted to exFAT works well and better than expected.

I am returning the A510 and will keep the Excite. Very ironic.

End

I appreciate the Asus 300 and Prime are also good tablets, but the 300's build is flimsy and needs a special cable for data transfer. The Prime has weak wifi due to the panel design, so IMO it is a current match between the Excite 10 and the Acer A510 (I am putting the Excite first, since this IS the product page for it):

Build = Excite. I thought the A510 was built well, but the Excite is a work of art and design and has Gorilla glass.

Comfort to hold = Tie. The Acer feels better to hold and grip, but the Excite is lighter and does not get hot on the right like the A510 can.

Performance/Speed = Excite, but barely. Benchmarks are a tad higher and seems to have a little better response.

Display = A510 (but subjective). The contrast is better and no light bleed around the edges that the Excite has. Some may prefer the slightly warmer color though. Still, both are 1280X800 and neither in the same league the iPad 3, but no others are.

Sound = A510. Fuller sound and better stereo effect, plus output to TV sounds better for surround sound. Both tablets have sound features that need activation for better sound.

File system = A510. My 1TB NTSF drive works great and can play 1080p MKV movies from it. The catch is can not charge at same time, so good the battery is so huge. I also had a Toshiba Thrive before and like the Excite, third party apps did not work well with files. Comic apps would not delete files either, so had to use the stock file manager. A510 works with everything thrown at it, but constrained to the file manager on the Excite.

Ports = Tie. Excite has full SD slot (nice), but the special connector is needed for charging. No special connector needed for the A510, so easier to find other charging options IF you forget or lose the charger. You are SOL if you misplace the Excite charger connector.

Battery life = A510. No contest here. About three hours longer with similar medium and heavy use (Web browsing, stream Netflix, Amazon on demand, local video, gaming and comic reading).

Though both are nice tablets, I give the win to the A510 due to better battery life and file management. That said, the Excite is a nice tablet.

Added: I wish Toshiba (and other OEMs) used the file system same drivers as Acer. Mobiletech review mentions this too, so not just me going crazy.

Added 2: Both have real good wifi and another plus for the A510 is 16gb more internal storage for the same price as the Excite.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

RCA DRC300iH DVD Player with Dock for iPod and iPhone

RCA DRC300iH DVD Player with Dock for iPod and iPhone
  • DVD player with dock for iPod and iPhone
  • HDMI output; digital audio coaxial output; analog audio and video outputs
  • HD upconversion to view your movies in 1080p resolution
  • Multiformat playback - DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R/-RW, HD JPEG, JPEG
  • Remote control and AV cable included

I have an Ipod touch 4 that I use for drum students as a source device for music,video's and such. This dvd/ipod player is super compact and works very well , it also charges the device! the hdmi output is handy , as well as the traditional outputs . It has been very durable so far.

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The unit could not be controlled from the iPod directly rendering useless to me. I found that a cheap DVD player and hooking iPod using the phone jack on receiver did the same thing.

Read Best Reviews of RCA DRC300iH DVD Player with Dock for iPod and iPhone Here

The iPhone dock doesn't work. Right out of the box it doesn't work. As in, you plug it in and it says it's not supported. It plays DVDs, but don't buy it if you want to use the iPhone feature.

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The dvd player its self is nice for the price nothing special. When it comes to the ipod menu its real sluggish and lags out to the point you have to click to enter menus and scroll around, you'll find yourself mashing the buttons on the remote a doven times before you get any response. All in all its worth the 70$, cheap and it does the job.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Opteka Gold Plated high speed HDMI to mini-HDMI 6' Cable For Canon EOS 5D Mark III, II, 1D Mark IV,

Opteka Gold Plated high speed HDMI to mini-HDMI 6' Cable For Canon EOS 5D Mark III, II, 1D Mark IV, 7D, 50D, 60Da, 60D, T1i, T2i, T3, T3i, T4i and T5i Digital SLR CamerasI like this product! It was exactly like i thought it would be. I would definitely recommend this to others!

Well, there isn't really that much to say about a cable. It does it's job and compared to the Norwegian prices it's extremely cheap. Good product!

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Complete High End Security Camera (1T HD) DVR System Package for Indoor & Outdoor Surveillance - (4

Complete High End Security Camera DVR System Package for Indoor & Outdoor Surveillance - 700TVL Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera and 4 Channel 15' Color LCD DVR Security SystemThis product works extremely well for the situation that we needed it for. It was very easy to set up and the video at night is very sharp and clear. The only thing that could use any improvement is the zoom function. I would like to be able to zoom in closer without being fuzzy. If I buy a more expensive camera then it would work great. But for the system and 4 cameras it is an exceptionally good value.

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Monday, July 28, 2014

Nokia E75 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Media Player, and 4 GB MicroSD Card--U

Nokia E75 Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, Media Player, and 4 GB MicroSD Card--U.S. Version with WarrantyI picked this phone up for my wife, replacing her aging E51. Overall, it's an improvement over the E51, despite it not being intended as a replacement for it.

She loved the form factor of the E51, and is willing to tolerate the added thickness of the E75 in exchange for the slide out qwerty. She wanted to do email and facebook on the phone, primarily, so the qwerty was definitely on the menu as far as she was concerned.

Build quality isn't as good as my E71, though it's pretty good. when working on the qwerty, it feels a bit cheap in my hands, though I suspect that's a common problem with phones of this genre. Application-wise, everything worked, except for repeated problems she had with the built-in Mail for Exchange support (Google Sync for Mail, Contacts & Calendar). This was positively awful. So unreliable, that we wound up purchasing a license for RoadSync, which has proven to be quite acceptable for her. This fact demonstrates that it wasn't a service-related problem, rather a software one.

Battery life is decent, though she's not a super-heavy data user. I'm pleased with S60 3.0 FP2's use of AP groups, allowing you to stack the home wifi above carrier gprs/hspa, which is a huge improvement over FP1 devices. Nice touch it can charge over the micro-usb connector, a welcome change for Nokia devices.

I usually buy things for the long-haul and consider paying a bit more if the item offers good "value for money". So, when I saw a $50 online coupon, I decided to jump on it and buy the E75 for $250 directly from Nokia at .

This is my first Smartphone and so I did lots of research online and offline/local in-stores & compared various brands including Blackberries, Samsungs, iPhones, HTC and Nokia E Series. I needed a phone that is deceptively simple on the outside for making voice calls but yet offers full Smartphone functionality inside for both business & personal use. I also needed a minimum of 3.2 Megapixel camera with a fast video recorder and be able to listen to music & radio. Finally, I needed a phone to make international traveling easier.

The Nokia E75 seemed to fit my above needs as it is not too big or too small and offers ready access to a simple regular dialing keypad in the front and lets you use a QWERTY keyboard slide out.

Updated review: Feb 15, 2010: After owning this device for about 4 weeks, I have lowered my rating from 5 stars to 3 stars. Although it seemed to met my needs feature wise, its reliability seems to be questionable. Ocassionaly some keys seem to lockup during non-voice operations. Also, voicecall quality is becoming an issue. In fact I should have heeded to many professional reviewers who also pointed to questionable voice quality.

Finally, I decided to return this back to Nokia for a refund and replacing it with a Nokia E72 model.

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I bought this phone to my wife, after a very deep research about pros/cons and other consumers comments.

I used for about 2 weeks and then my wife is using it for more than a month, without any problem. She is not a "friend of technical stuffs", but she is operating some functionalities without problem and every day she shows me something new that she learned by herself. This means that Symbian is very easy to understand, learn and follow.

The double keypad/keyboard is very good and the camera better than the E71 (my phone).

GPS works fine almost all the time (faster to initialize than in the E71).

The only 2 cons:

1apparently the wireless antenna is in the top of the phone, so when you are browsing, writing with the extended keyboard, the left hand normally is over the antenna and the wireless signal is not good at all (usually loose connection)

2the memory slot cover was made with plastic (the E71 is with rubber) and if you have no enough care (or long nails) probably you will damage it and then will be very difficult to open.

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I bought this phone from another merchant, for my son. All was well for awhile then he couldnt send pic messages. He could receive them, but not send them. I went into message settings and made sure everything was correct and fixed that problem and all was well again. Then a week later he couldn't send regular text messages. He could receive them, but couldn't send them. They would just go to the outbox. So we called AT&T and they said it had to be the phone because all of our settings and provisions were correct. Called Nokia and had to do a hard reset (after backing up all pics, files, etc). After that everything worked fine again.

The phone itself seems typical of Nokia Good quality, very durable, packed with features, easy to use, sleek design and feel. The camera is excellent and there are alot of features for use with the camera as far as editing, modes, etc. The screen is a nice size and the coloring is vibrant. My son absolutely loved it, but he is getting tired of the messaging problems. I can't blame him for that. I had bought him a Tilt2, but that phone was absolutely horrible. It locked up/froze constantly and finally took a final freeze and became a paperweight. So we returned it and bought this Nokia E75 since it had most all of the features my son had wanted, except for touch screen and tilting screen. Seemed like a good tradeoff since Nokia's are such good phones.

If we have to do the hard reset on this E75, we may end up returning it. It is simple to do, but it is something that shouldn't HAVE to be done in order for the phone to work properly. Texting is something my son can't live without. He sends and receives over 5000 texts a month. Typical teen these days I guess.

Anyway, overall despite the messaging problem it is a good phone. It processes fast, call quality is great, reception is great, has all the features you could need or want and it looks good too. The QWERTY pad is nice sized and easy to use. There have been issues with the recent updates though too, so if you are buying this phone soon, or have bought one recently DO NOT UPDATE YET UNTIL THEY WORK OUT ALL THE BUGS! The update is bricking some phones and renders most capabilities useless when it doesn't completely brick it.

UPDATE All issues were resolved with some simple settings tweaks. The phone has been great and was well worth the money. Nokia phones are so durable and reliable the problem we were having was due to it being unlocked and not properly setup for our carrier so it was our own fault. I should have updated sooner. This phone also does not require us to have a data plan with ATT, which is a huge plus! Not too many nice phones out there to buy unlocked, with wifi, that do not require a data plan.

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This is an excellent phone. It has been working perfectly and fulfills all the requirements. The QWERTY keyboard is really nice. Definitely better than I expected. You will not be dissapointed.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Teac AD-RW900 CD Recorder and Auto Reverse Cassette Deck with USB

Teac AD-RW900 CD Recorder and Auto Reverse Cassette Deck with USB
  • CD Recording from Cassette, USB, Digital-In, AUX
  • Supports CD, CD-R/RW and MP3 Disc
  • USB Audio Output from CD, Cassette, Digital-In, AUX, USB to PC
  • MP3 Playback from USB Memory
  • Auto Reverse Cassette Deck

I've owned a number of TEAC units over the years, my last one being a high-end reel-to-reel, which tells you how long that has been. At the time TEAC was always among the best you could get and I was very happy with their gear. In terms of features this unit has a lot to like about it and seems to be well built. But it has a few quirks you should be aware of.

I have not tried the CD recorder because -it requires blank music or "digital audio" CD media! Do you have lots of spindles of 'regular' blank data CDs? Too bad. This unit will refuse to record on them. Keep in mind that this is not a 'technical' problem but a licensing one. With Digital Audio blank media, you are paying a kind of tax because it is assumed that you will be recording copyrighted music onto the disk. Digital Audio disks are just like computer data disks except for a digital signature written to the Digital Audio disk. If this unit doesn't see that signature, it will refuse to record on it. I had originally planned on copying all my cassettes to CD first and then later rip the CDs on my computer to iTunes. But with a drawer full of perfectly good blank data CDs (which work just fine as music media when written from a computer), I refuse to be forced to go out and buy a whole bunch of new blank media. Fortunately you can copy directly from a cassette to a USB thumb drive, saving as an MP3 file, but...

The cassette --> CD recording method has a feature where the unit will try to determine track breaks on its own, automatically breaking the cassette up into separate tracks on the CD. But for cassette --> USB recording there is no such automatic feature. You can, if you want to, manually mark the tracks. But I wanted unattended copying from my cassettes, so this does me little good. The unit does have a auto-reverse cassette deck, so you can do both sides at a go. But I prefer to do each side of the tape as a separate session to keep the MP3 file sizes a bit more manageable. Remember that if you recorded most of your own tapes, a cassette is typically 30 or 45 minutes a side, so your MP3 files will be that long. That's a good sized file. And recording a side of a tape that is empty creates the same size file as one full of music.

The USB recorder doesn't always start and stop when you press the front panel buttons, or when the cassette player stops. I don't believe this is a defect in this particular unit, but rather some sort of artifact of how the built-in computer is polling for 'events'. To record from cassette --> USB, you select the output (tape), load the tape, and press the RECORD USB button. Usually this works, but sometimes it ignores the button press. Sometimes 2-3 times in a row. An annoyance. But more annoying is that the USB recording is suppose to automatically stop when the tape ends. It usually does, but like the button presses, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, the USB continues to record dead air. This can make for a pretty darn big MP3 file by the time you notice that the tape has stopped but the USB recorder hasn't. Again, not ideal for unattended recording. Ignored button presses can be seen in all the controls I've used so far -for example sometimes it takes pressing the stop or rewind button a couple of times for the unit to pay attention to you.

Sometimes when loading a cassette, the take-up reel does not engage the hub. You have to eject and reload the cassette. Over the years I have owned literally dozens of cassette desks, both cheap and expensive, and I don't believe I've ever had one with this quirk.

There is no light behind the cassette window, so you can see the tape packs. A common feature on any good cassette deck.

The head stays in contact with the tape during fast forward and rewind. This is a common feature for decks that allow you to automatically scan for the blanks between songs. But this unit doesn't have that feature, so this just adds a bit of unneeded wear to the heads.

There is no choice on the sampling rate from cassette --> USB. It is preset to 128K. That seems adequate for most cassettes, but for important original recordings it would be nice to be able to opt for higher settings.

Out of about 60 tapes transcribed so far, I had one session where two tapes were copied at 'double speed' to USB. The tape playback speed control, which I never touch, was set to normal. About 10 tapes later it has yet to repeat this little quirk.

The rewind and fast forward seem slow compared to other decks I've had. A minor issue. I have had two snapped leaders so far, but I blame that on the age of the tape, not the unit, given how non-aggressive its fast wind speeds are.

The Good News....

The transcriptions sound good. On casual listening with my old ears, the MP3s sound as good as the original tape.

Even though the deck is an auto-reverse unit, it has an intelligent auto-stop which will prevent this unit from eating your tapes. But you need to be alert. If the unit suddenly stops in the middle of a tape. Rewind the tape for a second or two, then pop it out, rap it on the table a few times, then make sure both hubs are turning freely. You can do this with your pinky finger or a pencil. If you forget to rewind the tape before ejecting, you'll find a loop of tape extending out of the cassette. Usually it should not be so much that there will be any damage. If this happens, just put a pencil in the take-up hub and wind in the loose tape. Then rap the sucker (the cassette, not the tape deck!) on the table a few times to free it up and try again. Whatever you do -don't just keep hitting play if the unit stops in the middle of the tape. You're just forcing the unit to eat the tape.

Sorry I can't report on any of the other features -I'm using this unit as a convenient way to copy all my cassettes to MP3 so I can cull them later with computer music editing software. I could have used an A-to-D converter with one of my current top-end cassette decks, connected to a computer, but I got this unit because I wanted to be able to just load a tape, press a button, and walk away. Except for the quirks described above, that approach is working pretty well so far.

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I wanted to make CDs from my old mixed tapes so I bought this and it works great. I just needed to buy an amp, speakers and some blank CD-Rs and I'm making CDs (15 so far). I love it easy to use, the CDs sound great and I'm updating them to my current tastes vs. what I liked way back when I made these tapes. I'm not a computer fan so I wasn't willing to buy something that hooks up to my computer. This is so much easier. I wish I bought this 10 years ago!

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Great review. I purchased this unit from JR for the primary reason of converting analog tapes anr LPs to USB mp3. I experienced much of the same 'quirks' as you, but also experienced the problem where the mp3 created from the cassette => usb function had 'skips'; where data was actually missing. After some sleuthing it appears as if the issue is compatibility with different thumb drives. I had been using newer Corsair 3.0 and HP 2.0 (mini because its low profile fit better in my enclosed audio cabinet). The skips (missing data) was heard on both when played through the AD-RW900 or through a computer. When I used an older SANDISK thumbdrive, the mp3 was created correctly. After hours on the phone and emails between myself and TEAC CUSTOMER SUPPORT, I was told to exchange the AD-RW900. The replacement I received had the same problem. Subsequent calls and requests to TEAC in which I requested a list of compatible USB drives resulted in a response that indicated one does not exist.

It is funny you ask if this is the SAME TEAC. I also have been a loyal TEAC customer for many years (3300sx reel-reel, Tascam multi-track porta studios, etc), and have been asking the same question. I told TEAC management that the quality and support of this machine is nowhere near that of machines purchased in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Quite frustrating.

For anyone who wants to spend top dollar for a poorly engineered product, and experience customer support on par with DELL at its worst, then this is the machine for you.

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You got to use MUSIC CDRs, which are becoming rare and more expensive.

But I found some and it definitely turns your tapes into CDs pretty easily.

Otherwise it does what it says it is supposed to do, including playing music out of your USB stick.

Decent CD player, you know, consumer grade.

Lowdowns:

tape sound quality: sure, I compared to a relatively good UHER tape player that I was in the process of repairing (but not sure I could). After I repaired it, I could appreciate the difference in sound quality. I was not expecting such a difference coming form a teac product.

rewind/forward: cheap mechanism: the reading head don't retract and thus rewing/forward is slow and the tape rubs all the time

no separate read / write heads: you know, low end tape player.

So, if you need a CD player AND also have some tapes laying around, I would recommend.

If you are looking for audiophyle quality both for tape and CD, and also MP3, this is not it.

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This machine has some temperments but overall works very well and automatically. It's complicated to operate and takes some concentration and learning curve. The sound quality is very good. Need to get the proper CD-R discs for it. Will not accept data discs. But so far it's been a great player/recorder.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Pyle Home PT570AU 5.1-Channel 350 Watts AM/FM Radio with USB/SD Card and Amplifier Receiver

Pyle Home PT570AU 5.1-Channel 350 Watts AM/FM Radio with USB/SD Card and Amplifier Receiver
  • 5.1 Channel Amplifier - 12 Preset Radio Station - Output: 5 Channel Speaker Output Terminal for L, R, Center, SL, SR, And 1 line Out for Subwoofer
  • Built-In AM/FM Radio - Full Remote Control
  • Built-In USB and SD Audio - VFD Display
  • 2 MIC Input, Treble and Bass of MIC Adjustable, Independent MIC Volume Control - Power Output: 300W for L,R Channel (4 Ohm) 50W for Center, Surround L and Surround R(4 Ohm)
  • Over Current Protection, Short Circuit Protection And Over Voltage Protection - Input Selector: 3 Stereo RCA Selector, 1AM/FM Radio, 1 USB/SD, 2 Microphone Input

Only had the unit a short period of time, but it seems to be a pretty good unit. It functions as it should and performs as I want with good output to the speakers I attached. It does have some quirkiness to it though. The full fuction remote is nice and does more that I expected it to, however the only way to adjust the Bass, Treble, and 3 pre-set "equalizer" choices on this unit is thru the remote control. The remote also offers the controls for setting the units Surround functions (2.1, 3.1, or 5.1). So don't loose the remote if you want to adjust these at all. When you turn the unit "off" with the remote it does stop playing and says goodbye on the display screen, but does not fully power down. There are lights around the tuning and volume knobs that stay on. These lights will go out when you use the power button on the unit itself. Another quirk is that it seems to have a pre-set default volume level of 18. It sets itself to that level when you turn it on or when you change from one input to another. For instance, lets say you are listening to Aux 1 at volume level 10 and you decide to change to aux 2. When you change to aux 2, it will automatically adjust to volume level 18. It will startle you if you're not ready for it. It does have a built in fan on the back that runs constantly and seems a little loud, but not an annoyance (at least to me).

Overall I am happy with the purchase.

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When I am alone with my music at the end of a hard day, I really wanted some power behind it. My best friend has a pyle receiver that cranks out good power, but I have better speakers, and so I thought I'd find out what my system sounds like when I put some power to them. Pretty darn good, i'd say! I love the clear display that I can see from across the room. The microphone jack is conveniently located FRONT AND CENTER: pay attention Sony!! Why would you want it any other way?

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I have had a Kenwood reciever for over 30 years and wanted to upgrade. I bought this one and it was very easy to set up. It seems to work ok. The problem I have with this item is when you cut it on, it blares out at 18db. I called the company and they said they could disarm the volume preset for free, but it would cost shipping both ways. It was an inexpensive unit and the shipping would take it over the top. At this point I am thinking about selling it. I have only had it for one day.

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the fan keeps it cool but is a little louder than i would like, basic as far as i can tell, works as described.

the remote is the best way for me to control it cause i can't adjust the eq without it.

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I wanted this for the fact that it plays mp3s from either an SD card or a thumbdrive.

It does this, but it only plays things in order. No way to view folders or files. And no way

to navigate between songs...just gotta let it play.

I had a feeling that would be the case when I ordered it, so it's not a deal breaker.

Also, the fan is very loud. Much louder than I expected. But again, not a deal breaker.

Over all, this reciever puts out good sound, nice a clear. It's not a "name brand", but it does the job.