Feed: Verzon Phones - AggScore: 16.1

Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After researching for 3 weeks, I was set on a Sharp TV.Sony was too expensive for my price range, and while I read a lot of good things about Samsung, this TV's features for the price sold me.After having it for a little while now, this is how I would rate it.

Price - Excellent. 4.5/5Sharp was the cheapest prices between the top 3-4 brands I looked at that had a familiar name and plenty of reviews.I did examine other brands with lower prices on 1080p TVs, but I couldn't really obtain enough informational reviews or enough good ones to justify purchasing any of them just for the lower price.

Picture - Excellent. 4.25/5.I'll be honest, I was a little worried when purchasing a Sharp TV.First of all, I saw it's previous model (the D62U) at a Best Buy and a Circuit City and was not totally impressed with the picture, but I had heard that sometimes bad feeds or other issues can make a store-display not as attractive.However, my real concern was if my TV would have the infamous "banding" that seemed to plague some of Sharp's earlier models.You can easily find out what banding is by searching something like "Sharp banding issues".I won't go into specifics myself about that.Anyway, I had read this model of TV -can- have banding, but that it is not near as common nor as significant in earlier models.My TV has no noticeable banding issues at all, and I'm not going to go out of my way to nitpick and search for any small issues that may be there as I can't see them now.

As for the picture itself, it is great.Much better than the store displays for the earlier model that had me worry.Obviously, out-of-box settings aren't the best.At first I tried to change picture modes (of which there are several) to a User setting and tweak it using recommendations from some tech forums.This became tedious as people posted different specs and none were really quite looking right for me.So I gave up on that and just tried them on the default settings for what I was doing.I set my HDMI PS3 input to Gaming picture and it looks great.I see no reason to change it beyond that, it looks exactly as I was hoping for.Same with the Movie setting as well for my DVD input.No dead pixels and a crisp clear picture with good contrast black levels and brightness make it a great choice.

Plenty of options available for picture adjustment as well.

Features -Very Good. 4/5Plenty of inputs.You can read the specs in the item description.My only reason for docking it a point is because the 3rd HDMI and 2nd Component are located on the side and stick out when plugged in.I can understand this could be an eyesore for those wall-mounting it or just not wanting to see them sticking out.I am not using that 3rd HDMI port (yet), but I do have 2 component items hooked up and the cords sticking out the side and noticeable from looking at the TV straight-on plus the location of my TV itself does make it a tad annoying, but I am getting used to it and it's not really bothering me as much as it might others.

Overall - Excellent. 4.75/5 (note, the overall is not meant to be an average of the other scores).Overall, it's definately a great buy.There is more that I could say and some things I have probably forgotten about that I wanted to say, but that's ok.I don't want to make this too awful long a review.So, yeah, basically my experience with this TV is amazingly goodand I would easily recommend this TV to anyone who asked me.It's price, features, and picture easily won me over.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

Product Description:
The AQUOS(R) D64U Series raises the bar by fitting large screen sizes into incredibly small footprints. Depth is reduced by 36%, allowing placement in virtually any setting. The D64U Series utilizes Sharp`s proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel with multi-pixel technology, providing 10,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio with Enhanced Picture Contrast Technology and 4ms response time. The D64U Series are HDTVs with built-in ATSC / QAM / NTSC tuners and include 3 HDMI(TM) inputs, compatible with 1080p signals, a PC input and 2 HD component video inputs. Side terminals are included for convenience as well as RS-232C input for control. The D64U Series features a sleek piano black cabinet with subtle, recessed bottom-mounted speakers.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42 Inch 1080p LCD HDTV now ?

Kenwood KVT-514 7-Inch Wide In-Dash Monitor with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Kenwood KVT-514 is the new motorized DVD unit for 2009. This thing can do it all. It is the First of Kenwood's units that works with the iPhone, you will need the KCA-iP301V($25-$30)cable. I doin't have the Bluetooth adapter yet, so I can't vouch for that, But I do know that you can use the screen to dial your contacts, and then you nave the Navigation hooked up while are looking up a place of business(Restaurant) You can press on the phone number and it will dial the place. I have the iPhone & Kenwood KNA G510 - Navigation system bu Garmin. The Nav. is great!! Well it's a Garmin and they are the best in the Nav. business.
I was looking at the Kenwood Excelon DNX8120, It has everything...but..I wanted a good unit that didn't stand out in a parking lot, and a 7in screen in the dash just beggs to be stolen. The screen in the 514 has the new Z-Action(tm) mechanism gives you 12 different viewing angles for optimum visibility. Kenwood's flip out screen units have been very good and reliable. 1 word of CAUTION...KENWOOD ONLY HONORS THERE WARRANTY IF YOU BUY FROM THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS..(Crutchfield). This is a lot of money for a unit and adds up if you add all the stuff for it, so a warranty is always a good thing. This thing will do it all I am glad I chose this model. I do my homework and buy the best, You cant beat Kenwood and Garmin both have a very good track record...Enjoy..

Works with Kenwood iPod adapter, Bluetooth adapter, HD Radio tuner, satellite radio tuner, and navigation module.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood KVT-514 7 Inch Wide In-Dash Monitor with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

Product Description:
7.0" Wide Indash Monitor with USB/iPOD Direct Control / DVD Receiver

Want to read more honest consumer review about Kenwood KVT-514 7 Inch Wide In-Dash Monitor with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver now ?

Samsung LN40A750 40-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)... buy this model.We got it to replace a three year old, 32-inch Sony that has served us very well in our bedroom, but we wanted a bigger screen.We got the bigger screen in a better looking cabinet, and, a much better picture, much better sound, and a much better tuner.

UPDATE (8/24/08) - If I could give this TV more than 5 stars, I would.When I registered my TV with SAMSUNG online (as opposed to mailing in the warranty card), they automatically extended the warranty from 12 to 18 months.Then, 2 days ago, I got a box in the mail from SAMSUNG with their USB wireless network adapter.For free!I attached it and gave myself a crash course in setting up wireless network security. At first I used automatic network setup on the TV menu.It worked well but intermittently with WPA-PSK encryption, but, flawlessly when I used manual wireless setup. The content this gives you is from USA Today.I found out what "That Darn Wheel" on the remote is really for.When you read a multipage news story, you have to use the wheel to turn the pages.There's no other way.

I ordered a cheap HDMI cable from an Amazon independent vendor (cost $6, including shipping) and hooked the TV up to a Philips 160 GB HDD/DVD recorder with a built-in digital QAM tuner.Got rid of all the other cables to neaten up the cable tangle situation.The recorder does 1080P upscaling if you use the HDMI interface and the TV automatically senses and adjusts its resolution mode to match. Makes even regular channels look almost as good as the HIDEF ones.I don't use the recorder's tuner all the time for normal TV viewing, but when I need it, its there to add a new dimension for enjoying this TV's many features.

I got almost $150 back during the 30 day grace period, and the price has fallen another $159 since, but I got it when when I needed it and don't regret not getting a better price. Every time I turn it on, I am glad I chose this model.

Back to my original review -

PLUSES -

CABINET - The jet black bezel has a subtle tinge of red, and is accented with a clear rim.It's stunning.

SOUND- I chose this model for the internal subwoofer.We don't want multiple speakers in our bedroom, and the Samsung's internal speakers work fine.We loaded a Blueman Group DVD and the internal woofer was pretty powerful.I turned up the bass on the built-in equalizer and had to throttle it back to neutral so the room wouldn't shake.The factory settings are fine.

PICTURE - The picture is sharp, even on analog channels.Digital channels look even better.The wideband flourescent backlight delivers the promised color performance.The factory settings make both analog and digital pictures look fantastic, but I detuned the picture to dim down the light emitted into the room and set the energy saving feature to high which also degrades the picture.Know what?It still looks great.

TUNER - We don't have and don't want to use the cable company's box,but, we can get all the analog content and unscrambled digital, high def channels they offer (NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and PBS).The Sony's tuner used to break up on Fox and ABC high def channels, but the Samsung's tuner locks in tight on everything. The Sony took a few seconds to lock on digital channels and the Samsung does this much faster.

MINUSES - Not many.

PRELOADED CONTENT - The content the factory loaded on the internal flash drive seems silly.It includes games, artwork, recipes, and entertaiment.The artwork includes high def works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Latrec.I can see that it might be nice to use the TV as a picture frame, but who needs it.The other content is OK to look at once, but after that, never again.You can't add content to the internal memory, but you can use MP3 and JPEG content on an external USB thumb drive.

THAT DARN WHEEL - Overall, the remote is also great, but the wheel is twitchy and there isn't a single thing you can do with it that you can't do easier by just using it as a 4-way switch (up, down, left, right).It's more awkward to twist the wheel with your thumb than it is to push down on the wheel's edge, but if you aren't careful the slightest twist will change the function you are trying to adjust.It's not hard to master the feel, but the wheel is a totally unnecessary feature.Wonder how much it adds to the remote's production cost.The remote lights up when you touch it, which is great while you are learning where all the buttons are, but it does run the batteries down faster, so the instructions say.You can easily enable and disable the light function.

Amazon's price was right and it dropped $45 between the time I ordered and when it was delivered.Getting a refund for the difference took less than 5 minutes on the phone.The TV was delivered 5 days earlier than promised.

Directions on how to adjust the TV on/off melody sound, which is annoying, are on page 61 of the manual. Navigate to menu/setup/external settings/melody. then select "off."

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung LN40A750 40 Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color

Product Description:
The upgraded model for this product is Samsung LN40B750 The LN40A750 is a truly exceptional HDTV and offers an incredible entertainment experience. SAMSUNG's new Touch of ColorTM design is sure make a statement in your home. And InfoLinkTM RSS lets you instantly access news, weather, sports and stock information. Seeing is believing with Auto Motion Plus 120HzTM. It creates an amazingly clear picture and more realistic action scenes. Satisfy your craving for the latest in HD technology with the SAMSUNG LN40A750 LCD TV.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Samsung LN40A750 40 Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color now ?

8 CCTV CCD Camera DVR Video Security Record System free 1 larger warning sticker , 8 small free warning sticker DVK2806 1G1 Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was hesitant to buy this system instead of a complete setup with DVR due to compatibility/driver issues, but I was pleasantly suprised. The instructions in the setup software were a little unclear at times, but the user manual filled in any gaps along the way. I was also impressed to find that the features of the program for recording, motion sensor, network connectivity, etc. were powerful and easy to navigate.

I would recommend this unit to anyone who wants to use their PC and save the cost of adding a new DVR. In fact, I was able to buy a new PC with 500G storage for less than a DVR with the same size hard drive!

I only wish the cameras had a smoked glass cover so nobody could tell which direction the lens is pointed. These have a plastic cover with a clear slit through which the lens looks. That said, they do a great job and the motion detection is helpful for recording and monitoring.

Click Here to see more reviews about: 8 CCTV CCD Camera DVR Video Security Record System free 1 larger warning sticker , 8 small free warning sticker DVK2806 1G1

Product Description:
This cost effective dome camera video security system are a great choice for restaurants, stores, offices, homes or anywhere requiring video security that blends into the environment. The 8 CCD cameras deliver razor sharp resolution-- 420 lines. The cameras deliver a wide angle of view with their 3.6mm lenses. Pan/tilt adjustments let you position the cameras in just seconds. The eight cameras come with their own all-in-one video/power cables which are easy to install. Simply install the DVR card in your PC, load driver and software, connect camera to your PC based DVR and connect to the power supplies. Your DVR system will displays all eight cameras at one screen, or a sequential view and also brings a live camera full screen even while all four are being recorded. The video is recorded to the computers hard drive in a compressed format. This compression allows a huge amount of video to be stored, it recording continuously for all 8 cameras. These systems do not require daily scheduled action to maintain the video recordings. They record video to the hard drive until a certain amount of disk space is left. Then the system will delete the oldest clips and record the new video. The video is played back on the computer monitor or burned to a CD. You can also print or save a jpeg image of any specific video frame. These systems allow you to view and playback any combination of cameras without interrupting the systems recording process. Package includes: 8 Color CCD Cameras 6 - 50' Power / Video Cables 2 - 150' Power / Video Cables power supply for 8 cameras 2 DVR 4 channel Card DVR software You provide the PC. Integrate with your PC, this DIY kit has all the hardware you need to set up a professional CCTV system.

Get 53% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about 8 CCTV CCD Camera DVR Video Security Record System free 1 larger warning sticker , 8 small free warning sticker DVK2806 1G1 now ?

Shure SCL5CL SHURE EARPHONES DUAL DRIVERS CLEAR E5 Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The sound is excellent.The build quality is heavy duty.The wiring is solid.The fit is tremendous.Due to the different style and size of earpieces, I was able to achieve a seal which allows the bass to come throught very well.

I knocked it down one star because it does not have a good midrange. In all fairness to the product, I do not believe that a solid midrange is intended for this product.It is not meant to achieve a "blend" of sound.I believe that the earphone is designed to be for performance musicians who want to hear a clear separation of sound between instruments rather than a blended sound which is what most casual listeners would want.For a more blended sound with the fit that comes with the Shure earphone products,I would recommend a 530(three driver) or 420(two driver)earphone.The prices on Amazon and Amazon Marketplace are really quite competative.

These earphones are well packaged with the right accessories to help you use them "on the move" and to achieve a good fit in the ear.They are very comfortable to wear and achieve isolation through passive exclusion of outside sounds.The cables do not seem too susceptible to vibration noise.This is a good thing.

Lastly, as with all Shure products, I believe that it is a well made product.I would always recommend using a headphone amplifier to enhance the sound and make the earphone perform to its best level.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Shure SCL5CL SHURE EARPHONES DUAL DRIVERS CLEAR E5

Product Description:
Designed specifically for use with Shure PSM systems, Shure earphones deliver the incredible sound and performance that ear buds and other headphones can't. Don't go In Ear without them.SCL Sound Isolating? Earphone models use award-winning earphone technology from Shure.All SCL models deliver professional caliber sound for live performance environments and will work with personal music players.The SCL5s feature dedicated high-definition tweeter and woofer drivers couple with an inline crossover to deliver exceptional audio:precision highs, natural mids, and full bodied bass with clarity often difficult to detect with traditional stage wedges or studio headphones.The choice for discriminating professionals.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Shure SCL5CL SHURE EARPHONES DUAL DRIVERS CLEAR E5 now ?

Yukyung Technologies S7PRE-HUS Viliv S7 Pre-h Atom Z520 1.33g 60gb Sshd 7-wsvga Touch Wl Bt Xpp Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received the S7 which came defected so I returned it back to Amazon. The defected keyboard requires you to type twice on certain characters before it shows up on the screen.Then, it shows up twice.Keyboard is also too small to use unless you are 5 years old.The unit is very expensive for what it offers.Buying a Viliv is like buying a very expensive Hyundai built in the eighties.

After returning the S7, I purchased the S10 blade directly from Dynamism.The exact same keyboard appeared.After playing with it some more, I discovered more issues (XP version).The OneNote does not work.The mouse cursor jumps to upper left corner.The battery indicator always shows "battery" even on AC mode.The cheap plastic material makes cracking sound when you rest your wrist on the unit.The performance for S10 is also terribly slow so that you can't really make hand-notes.

I called Dynamism and asked for a return.I received RMA # with 15% restocking fee and I still have to pay for shipping.After a few emails exchanged and phone call, I finally got the attention of an executive of the company.He is willing to exchange for a Windows 7 model for free without shipping charge.

There were a few work arounds for the defects which the Dynamism technical support and I were able to discovered for the keyboard and the OneNote mouse problem. Viliv shouldn't be shipping products that customer need to "work around".Dynamism shouldn't be selling them and cause headaches for customers and themselves.

I give Dynamism executive 5 stars for trying to make me happy.However, I give -5 stars for Viliv and Dynamism policy of charging restocking & shipping for returning defected products.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Yukyung Technologies S7PRE-HUS Viliv S7 Pre-h Atom Z520 1.33g 60gb Sshd 7-wsvga Touch Wl Bt Xpp

Product Description:
The viliv S7 weighs just 1.76lb (799g), yet features fantastic battery life and swivel-touchscreen--making it a true "mobility-tablet". It's a fantastic fun and productivity tool for a short business trip, or a day spent running around the city for meetings. Ultra Mobility: The viliv S7 strikes the productive blend of usability and portability. At 799g, it's so small and light that you can conveniently hand-carry anywhere and S7 gives you full Windows XP(TM) on-the-go. Battery Life: The S7 has a run-time of 7h doing nonstop video playback at 80% brightness, and 9.5 hours under ideal conditions. Along with instant-on feature that allows you to resume Windows XP from sleep in 4 seconds. Swivel touchscreen: Touchscreen convenience lets you sign documents, draw charts, take handwritten notes--and, of course, provides super-intuitive navigation of web pages. Twist-and-fold the screen down for a 7 inch touchscreen PMP with extreme battery life! Easy PC to PC Data Transfer: Unique capability to link directly with another PC using a standard USB cable, and move files back-and-forth. Built-in webcam and mic for mobile VOIP: Use Skype make video conference calls from everywhere. The S7 keyboard is tight, but it's large enough to type on after getting used to. There's also an on-screen virtual keyboard intended for use in tablet-mode. The viliv's unique user interface, called viliv Shuffle, allows you to customize the look and feel of your computing experience. S7 features integrated 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x mini-USB, SDHC slot, camera, VGA-out, AV-out (requires dongle), audio in/out, and internal speaker/mic.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Yukyung Technologies S7PRE-HUS Viliv S7 Pre-h Atom Z520 1.33g 60gb Sshd 7-wsvga Touch Wl Bt Xpp now ?

Samsung Q1 - Celeron M 900 MHz ULV - UMPC - RAM 512 MB - HDD 40 GB - GMA 900 - WLAN : 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR - Win XP Tablet PC - 7" Widescreen TFT 800 x 480 ( WVGA ) Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)(I didn't buy my Q1 through Amazon.)I've had it for 6 months and I absolutely love my little Q1.I needed an XP computer, not a souped up cell phone or pda, but laptops were too bulky and fragile.My Q1 goes right into my purse and goes with me everywhere.I can demo QuickBookssoftware for clients, and transfer their files to my Q1 and work on them on it.I have fully functional email, I can create or receive and documents, I have full access to ftp and corporate data.In a hotel room I can listen to mp3s or streaming radio.I can work anywhere - even on a plane - without worrying about finding a flat space or trying to balance a laptop while typing.I can hold the Q1 in one hand and use the stylus to tap on the onscreen keyboard with the other.I have all of my previous email with me all the time on the Q1 so it's a cinch to look up an older message, or type a reply to a message even when I'm offline and send it when I can connect again.

Drawbacks are that the processor is a little slow, the optional CD drive accessory has a much too short 6" cord and requires the powered USB port.(Imagine trying to hold the Q1 in your hand or lap, and there's a CD drive almost a s heavy as the computer dangling by a 6" cord from the top of the Q1.)Fortunately the Q1 has a second USB port into which I can plug a USB hub for a mouse, keyboard, memory stick, printer, etc.There is also a port for an external monitor, and an ethernet connection as a backup to the built in wireless.I wish they'd given more thought to where the ports are placed (I'm assuming they had a choice, though with something this small, maybe not!) because it gets very hard to hold the Q1 when anything is attached - including the power cord!There's just nowhere to put your fingers with cords coming out of three sides.

A major drawback is the battery life.Don't count on it being anywhere near the advertised amount.An hour and a half is pushing it.I bought the power bank as well as a second power cord (one for home/travel and one at work.)The powerbank doesn't provide the advertised 9 hours either.You can get a car adapter power cord as well.[...]
The screen on the Q1 is big enough to be useful.(It's often quoted as being the size of a paperback book.)I've been able to work for several hours at a stretch.I can't imagine using one of the smaller UMPCs with 4" screens.There are only a few issues with things not displaying properly, mostly that some windows are bigger than the screen so you can't see or click on "ok" buttons.This is Microsoft's fault half the time, you'd think they'd pay more attention to this problem since they are pushing the "origami" platform.However you can easily solve the problem by switching the display resolution with the dedicated button on the Q1.

Most of the time my Q1 display automatically adjusts itself when it's hitched up to an external monitor, but sometimes I have to manually toggle between the display modes to get the screen to size correctly.

Another feature I use is the built in voice recorder.I haven't tried the Compact Flash slot yet but I hope I can use it to store music so I don't eat up my hard drive space.My Q1 has the 40 GBhard drive and 512 MB RAM - I'd recommend the 60 GB with the 1 GB RAM which wasn't available when I bought mine.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung Q1 - Celeron M 900 MHz ULV - UMPC - RAM 512 MB - HDD 40 GB - GMA 900 - WLAN : 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR - Win XP Tablet PC - 7 Widescreen TFT 800 x 480 ( WVGA )

Product Description:
Shed your arsenal of gadgets while on the go--your notebook PC, PDA, and MP3/PMP player--and replace them all with the incredibly small yet amazingly powerful Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC. Weighing just 1.7 pounds and measuring 1 inch thick, the sleek, elegant Q1 has a pearl black casing and can be carried in a small briefcase, daypack or handbag. Yet it offers a full range of computing power normally associated with a laptop computer--a quick, ultra-low voltage Intel Pentium M processor, Windows XP Tablet operating system, Internet access using Wi-Fi networks (802.11b/g) or through your cell phone (via Bluetooth connection).
The Q1 has a bright 7-inch touchscreen LCD with a widescreen aspect ratio (800 x 480 pixels), and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator video card offers up to 128 MB of shared video memory allocated from the system. Keep in voice contact with VoIP (when connected to a wireless network) using the integrated dual array microphone with enhanced noise reduction. Take advantage of enhanced power-management features to use the Q1 away from your desk for longer periods of time with up to 3.5 hours of battery life using the included 3-cell standard battery--or an astonishing 10 hours with the optional 8-cell power bank.
The 1.0 GHz Intel Pentium M ULV (ultra-low voltage processor delivers outstanding mobile performance and low-power enhancements. And the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system adds the freedom and simplicity of putting stylus to touchscreen to the foundation of Windows XP Professional and its advanced security tools.
Other features include a 40 GB hard disk drive, 512 MB of DDR2 RAM (at a fast 533 MHz and upgradeable to 1 GB), expansion via Type II CompactFlash (CF) card, two USB 2.0 ports (allowing you to connect an external keyboard, printer, etc), an RJ-45 port for 10/100 Fast Ethernet wired networking, and a VGA port for connecting to a monitor.
With the integrated Bluetooth technology, you can connect wirelessly to peripherals such as your cell phone and make cable clutter a thing of the past. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR is up to three times faster than its predecessors, offering a maximum data rate of 3Mbps, and is also backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 1.x devices.
Instant Media Gratification
The instant-on AVS Multimedia features allow you to experience movies, photos and music the touch of a button and without having to boot the Windows operating system. The Q1 supports many video formats--including AVI, DVD, WMV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VCD, ASF and TS--and is also compatible with MP3 and WMA audio files. You can listen to your music or movies privately using the headphone jack, or using the built-in speakers with enhanced SRS TruSurround sound. Treat friends and family to photo slideshows and easily access your picture library with the AVS Now thumbnail gallery, which makes it easy to scroll through your entire photo collection.
What's in the Box
Q1 Ultra Mobile PC, stylus, AC adapter, 3-cell standard lithium-ion battery, printed operating instructions

Want to read more honest consumer review about Samsung Q1 - Celeron M 900 MHz ULV - UMPC - RAM 512 MB - HDD 40 GB - GMA 900 - WLAN : 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR - Win XP Tablet PC - 7 Widescreen TFT 800 x 480 ( WVGA ) now ?

Kenwood DNX5120 6.1-Inch-Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Navigation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I also have this radio and think its great.. very easy to use and looks awesome.. Martins wrote in his review "and all the streets are pre-programmed, any updates come straight from Garmin via satellite, " - thats NOT true. Software updates need to be downloaded from Garmins website and burned to a CD and copied over. Map updates are usually done yearly and must be purchased (for $140) from Garmin (or another authorized re-seller) - they are NOT free and are NOT sent straight from a satellite.

It doesn't change how good this radio is, but I just wanted to make sure no one was basing their purchase on an incorrect statement.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood DNX5120 6.1 Inch-Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Navigation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

Product Description:
in-dash DVD/CD player with internal amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels) * 6.1" touchscreen * built-in memory for navigation with maps of Canada, USA, and Puerto Rico * live traffic and weather data availablewith optional TMC receiver * plays DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R/RW, and MP3/WMA/AAC files on disc * compatible with Kenwood iPod adapter, Bluetooth adapter, HD Radio tuner, and satellite radio *

Want to read more honest consumer review about Kenwood DNX5120 6.1 Inch-Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Navigation with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver now ?

Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had the luxury of listening to lots of top level headphones. I have the Audio-Technica ATH-A700 and ATH-AD700, ATH-A900, ATH-AD900, ATH-AD 1000, ATH-AD2000, and ATH-5000; AKG 271, 240, K601, and K701; the Beyerdynamic 770, 880 and 990; Sennheiser 280, 600 and 650; Grado GS-80, GS325i, RS-2, GS-1000; Sony 7505, 7509 and 5000, Denon 2000 and 5000.With the exception of the AKG 240 and 271, all of those headphones are excellent.It becomes a matter of taste and whether you can use them with an Ipod without a separate amplifier.

I think that I most often use the Audio Technica ATH-AD900.They are open back phones. I don't often listen to rock.If that was my primary source for music, I might rely on the Grado's more often.They are fabulous for rock.

The ATH-AD900 have wonderful treble and midrange.The bass is certainly there, but it is not prominent.These have good bass, but it is not the primary feature.By way of comparison, the Bose tri-port and earbuds are very bassy sounding to the point where the bass sounds muddy to me.For the price of the Bose tri-port, you could have the Sennheiser 280 or the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 or ATH-A700.To me any of these choices would be far better than the Bose tri-port which also appears to be more cheaply made. The separation and detail on the instruments is wonderful.I mostly listen to instrumental music.

The sound stage is large.They sound like you are close to the source of the music, but there is a very small sense of space.The headphones ae comfortable.The headphones earpieces are covered with velour pads.My entire ear (big ears) fits in the enclosure, so they do not rest on my ear.

Since my music collection is just too large to have immediate access to a large selection of titles, I have put portions of my collection on the computer and use an Ipod.These phones can be driven very well with an Ipod and no additional amplification.The Sennheisers really must have independent ammplification to not sound muddy.On acoustic music, the AKG K701 headphones do well without amplification.The Denon headphones are fabulous, but really fare much better with amplification--especially on bass.The Sony does pretty well without amplification, but sound more colored to me than the ATH-AD900 which sound very nuetral to me.You need to be careful when ordering the ATH-AD900 because Audio Technica also has an ATH-A900.These are closed backed headphones rather than open backed.Audio Technica has a number of models where the numbers are the same that are either open backed or closed backed.You need to be careful to get what you want.To my ear, the open backed models generally sound more natural.

Lastly, the Audio Technica line is reasonably priced.You can almost always find a vendor on Amazon Market Place or one of Amazon's fulfillment partners that sell for a price vastly under the MSRP on this brand and many others.All of the headphones mentioned herein were purchased from Amazon or Amazon Marketplace with the exception of Grado.Grado is a fair trade price product.There are no "deals" on Amazon on Grado headphones, but I must say that I am satisfied with the Grados at the prices Grado charges.A store called Audio Cubes often has the lowest bid on the Audio Technica headphones on the Amazon Marketplace website (amazingly enough, your Audio-Technica headphones are actually shipped directly to you from Audio Cube's supplier in Japan).To date, I have received at least three pair of headphones from them in a timely manner and the merchandise to date has all worked just fine.I still have a few more items on the way from Audio Cubes.Hopefully, the rest of the shipments will arrive as quickly and uneventfully as the previous ones have.

If budget is really an issue, the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 and the Senheisser 280's are a very good buy.The AKG 240 and 271 are quite reasonably priced, but they just don't seem to hold up next to the competition sound wise.To me, they sound kind of clinical and boring. The AKG 701 is fabulous and worth every penny. Also, the Grado GS-80 is unbeatable for the price at about $90.00.The Grado is not my every day headphone, but when I listen to the Grado's, each and every time it is pure joy!!!If you get the Grado, spend $15.00 extra and get the "comfort rings."It makes the headphones so much more comfortable. It also gives you just a little more space between the transducers and your ears.If you can spring into the middle to upper $200.00's, the Denon 2000 (closed back) is a wonderful sounding pair of headphones with mostly metal fittings and gimble like design--quite a reasonable value.It looks and feels like high quality.

If you can spare the money, the Audio-Technica 5000, the Denon 5000, the Beyerdynamic 990, AKG 701, and the Grado GS-325i and RS-2 are all top of the line in the $350.00-$475.00 range.The Sennheiser 600 and 650 are good sounding phones, but you will need to figure at least $100-$200.00 for a headphone amplifier and they are not that comfortable if you have a large head.They grasp the head a little to firmly for my taste.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones

Product Description:
Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones: Give you stunning stereo; crisp resolution; and deep, balanced bass.

Get 5% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about Audio-Technica ATH-AD900 Open Air Dynamic Headphones now ?

Alpine iDA-X100 Digital Media Receiver Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've made my way through a bunch of different car stereo head units over the years, but ever since the iPod has become the de-facto standard, I've wondered why nobody made a decent iPod-friendly one.Alpine's iDA-X100 is probably the first usable product for this purpose (its predecessor, the X001 was essentially a beta-tester version of the X100, and by many accounts, not ready for prime time).Sure, there are a slew of crummy FM transmitter adapters, and many stereos have auxiliary (Aux) inputs, but those are merely kludges.

The X100 displays the artist, track, and album of the currently-playing song.It lets you quickly scroll through all your artists, tracks, and albums, so you can find the song you want fast.All this works very well, and does so while charging your iPod in your glove compartment or wherever you want to put it.Don't have an iPod?No problem - just put your tunes on any inexpensive USB memory key and plug it in!

The X100's bright screen rivals a typical iPod screen, although is definitely a step down from my iPhone.The volume knob, which also affords navigation through your collection, is large and comfortable.In all, a solid design designed for use while driving.(This means that, unlike the iPod itself, you can use without having to look at it.)

So, why not five stars?First, the screen is too small.With the X100's large, easy-to-read font, there's only room for 6-7 characters.Listening to the White Stripes?You'll only see "White S" on the screen.Sure, 'long' text scrolls back and fourth, but that's a poor design for drivers who need to keep their eyes on the road.If I had designed this unit, I would've moved the big knob all the way to the left, and made the screen twice as wide.As it is, the left side is wasted anyway.

Second, when a song begins playing, the text rolls out on the screen very slowly, like it's being typed one letter at a time from a typewriter.It can take 10-15 seconds before everything appears, making it a stupid design for a display that must relay all its information at a glance.

Third, the 'Back' and 'Next' buttons are small and flush with the surface of the unit; you can't use the big wheel to go to the next track.These buttons should be more prominent, perhaps akin to the slick lever on Sony's excellent CDX-C90.

Fourth, the X100 can be set to have blue or red backlighting.But the red is a harsh, dark crimson that looks terrible next to the amber lighting on my dashboard.Why no soft amber/orange setting?Who knows.

Fifth, the X100 can display cover art from the current song (provided you've loaded one into iTunes), but, for some reason, it displays a very low-resolution image.This is particularly glaring when you hit the Display button to hide the text and display only the cover art; it just looks bad.I have high-res cover art in my collection that looks great on my iPhone's screen, but the X100 just doesn't use it.Perhaps a firmware upgrade will fix this?

Finally, and it may sound like nit-picking, but the X100's customizable wallpaper feature is poorly executed.You have two trendy patterns from which to choose, or you can download additional patterns from Alpine's awful website (which was last updated in 2005, by the way, and only works on Internet Explorer).Although Alpine has gone out of their way to prevent customers from creating their own wallpaper (for reasons that completely elude me), you can do as I did and download the free, third-party xndconverter.exe utility and create your own APN files.With my own photo as the wallpaper, the X100 head unit actually now looks nice in my car, despite the lack of a matching backlight color.

As for the sound quality (which is supremely important, despite the fact that I've spent most of this review talking about the interface), I'd rate it a solid 'B.'The sound is pretty good, but lacks the richness and warmth of the gold standard, the Sony CDX-C90 (even when playing the very same MP3s).Perhaps the PXA-H100 IMPRINT add-on accessory will improve the sound, but I haven't tried it yet.

To sum up, this is THE unit to get if you want to listen to your iPod/iPhone in the car, but don't expect it to be perfect.I'd give it only three stars if there were competition, but since it's the only worthy game in town, it earns four.

(Note: At the time of this writing, Alpine also makes the ida-x200 and ida-x300, but these are lesser models, both without the X100's bright color screen.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alpine iDA-X100 Digital Media Receiver

Product Description:
Following the award-winning, innovative Alpine iDA-X001, Alpine introduces the next generation ultimate iPod Solution: the iDA-X100. It's simply the best way to control your iPod in the car- enjoy seamless operation of your iPod in addition to full control of all your favorite media sources. Unique to the iDA-X100 - a full color TFT display which shows your iPod album art and has multiple viewing options. Both the iDA-X100 and iDA-X200 come with a large Double-Action Rotary Encoder Knob - so you can utilize multiple functions like QuickSearch for finding your songs or adjusting your volume. Plus you get the best iPod sound experience thanks to a digital USB iPod connection and a dedicated 24-Bit Burr Brown D/A converter. Better yet, go all the way by adding an IMPRINT Sound Engine for the most ideal sound experience in your vehicle. In addition to the best solutions for your iPod and sound quality- the iDA-X100 features iTunes Tagging - so you can Tag songs you hear on HD radio, then automatically access them later through iTunes for purchase and download.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Alpine iDA-X100 Digital Media Receiver now ?

Navigon 8100T 4.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Free Traffic Alerts Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had a chance to play with the Navigon 8100T and it seems to be a solid performer. Graphically speaking, it features a graphics accelerator that allows for almost smooth scrolling in 3D mode and even more smooth scrolling in 2D mode. The visuals are very good, especially the 3D Panorama view where you can see surrounding mountains or hills in perspective with 3D shading. In 2D mode, the display is crystal clear with a lot of detail. One of the few gripes that I have is that the fonts chosen aren't the best and sometimes hard to read. Another is that the POIs aren't always easy to find if you do not know the exact city their located in. Fortunately, there is a feature called Direct Address which allows you to set up three POI categories for direct lookup without need of knowing the city. Upon choosing one of those direct address POIs, it will return all of that category that it has in its database for the surrounding area. The 8100T features millions more POIs than its 7200T relative (one of the glaring weaknesses of the 7200T), so consequently, there are POIS all over the place on your display if you are zoomed in at maximum. There are 32 categories of POIs each with its own icon, and fortunately you can choose which of these categories you want to appear on your display so that you are not inundated with them. The unit features an autozoom which zooms out the faster you travel and vice versa.

The traffic features from TMC are very good. When the unit picks up on a traffic delay, they unit notifies you with an on screen icon with distance from the delay, plus a voice announcement. You also have a choice whether you want to be rerouted around the delay area. I'm not sure if this was a bug or something, but I was traveling on a surface street and the unit told me that there was a traffic delay ahead and wanted to reroute me away from it... I didn't think that they tracked surface street delays.

The unit features quick recalculations and a choice of fastest time, optimum time & distance, and shortest distance routes. The routing seemed all right with no weird directions. It pretty much tries to route you in a straight line if it can depending on your routing choices.

Bluetooth pairing was a little flaky when I tried going to it from my Palm Treo 700p. Apparently it has to be done a certain way otherwise it will not pair. I had to open my phone to discovery, then when the Navigon saw the phone, it asks you to input any 4 digit code. You then have to input the exact same code into the phone otherwise it will fail.

All in all, this is a very promising device. If Navigon takes the suggestions given to it to heart, many of the weaknesses could be fixed. Personally I would like Navigon to add the 3D Landscape view that the 7200T has. The graphics system would easily be able to handle it. I don't know why Navigon chose to not include that in the 8100T (they probably thought the 3D Panorama view was enough).

An interesting sidenote of sorts.... Since this device runs Windows CE, some enterprising individuals added Windows CE Explorer to it and then was able to load other GPS software like iGo, TomTom, and Mio to it and be able to select which one they wanted to run. See this link here at YouTube: [...]

After playing with the 8100T, I would recommend it.

EDIT (5/31/09):Navigon has decided to no longer manufacture their PNDs in North America. This leaves support at a minimum and map updates will most likely end in 2-3 years leaving us with an orphan device. Navigon is no longer selling their FreshMaps product so North American map updates will be ending in a couple of years. Navigon will continue selling and supporting their European devices as normal. A shame really....it had a lot of promise...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Navigon 8100T 4.8 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Free Traffic Alerts

Product Description:
The NAVIGON 8100T sports an extra-large 4.8-Inch widescreen that serves as the perfect frame for a feature-rich navigation experience. NAVIGON is the first to bring you Panorama View 3D-giving you a true 3D experience. Only NAVIGON offers Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for the life of the product. Plus, features like Voice Destination Entry, Bluetooth Hands-Free Calling and Reality View Pro make navigating the road easier and less stressful.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Navigon 8100T 4.8 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Free Traffic Alerts now ?

HP Mini 1115NR 8.9-Inch Netbook - 3 Cell Battery Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had been looking at the mini laptops with solid state drives for a couple of months and picked up the HP Mini (Netbook) 1115NR a couple of weeks ago.I booted it up, began writing a text file, went online, and then it died.It had been on for about two hours.After some research online I found out that HP rushed this product to market and that the 'black screen of death' is a somewhat common problem.The machine will not boot up at all.The power light goes on, but that is it.Basically the flash drive gets corrupt and cannot be accessed.I returned the laptop and got my money back.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Mini 1115NR 8.9 Inch Netbook - 3 Cell Battery

Product Description:

HP Mini 1115NR Netbook
Want an ultra-portable computer for quick online access and entertainment? Bring the HP Mini 1115NR Netbook everywhere you go. The lightweight design helps you surf the Web, email, IM and video chat almost anywhere.


Want an easy-to-use keyboard that lets you do more than text? Forget about the tiny buttons on your cell phone or PDA. With the near full-size keyboard on this HP Netbook, effortlessly search the Internet, type notes, write emails and update your social networking website.
Want to see web pages, photos and more in crisp, clear quality? That's simple with the 8.9-inch Diagonal HP BrightView widescreen display. Enjoy streaming videos and online games, plus view digital photos and emails easily.


Travel light with the HP Mini 1115NR Netbook
Carry all the essentials. At 2.25 pounds and less than 1 inch thick, this ultra-portable computer is your perfect mobile companion. Count on convenient Internet access and enjoy entertainment on the go.


Power up everything you need
Make it easy to work and play. With an Intel® Atom™ processor and integrated wireless technology, HP Netbooks give you reliable, energy-efficient computing. Keep up with your favorite websites, plus chat face-to-face using a built-in HP Mini Webcam.



Get the specifics
Processor: Intel® Atom™ N270, 1.60GHz
Operating System: Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 3
Displat: 8.9-inch diagonal WSVGA LED BrightView widescreen display
Hard Drive: 16 GB (solid state drive flash module)
Memory: 1024 MB
Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (shared) with up to 128 MB total available graphics memory
Weight: 2.25 punds
Dimensions: 10.3 x 6.56 x 0.99 inches


FEATURES

Built-in Webcam X Built-in Wireless X HP Imprint Finish X 2-in-1 Digital Media Reader X [X] INCLUDED


What's in the box?


Remember
Accessories
HP Mobile Mini USB drive
HP USB notebook stand
HP 30W AC adapter
HP 3-cell Lithium-Ion Polymer battery

HP NETBOOK
The ultimate Internet companion.


Easier to use than a smartphone. Just as easy to carry.
Want ultra portability without sacrificing power or entertainment? Buy HP Netbooks. You'll get the Internet and multimedia you want in a compact design that easily fits into your backpack, briefcase or purse.


Store files on the go
Want to save your documents, photos and more? Store them directly on the large hard drive or to a memory card. Keep your class or meeting notes safe, plus store video messages to send to your friends and family. Want more storage capability? Buy the optional HP Mobile Mini USB Drive[1].



Reduce, reuse and recycle
Want to save energy? HP Netbooks are ENERGY STAR® qualified products. Also, HP advanced power features and default settings help you reduce energy use. Remember to recycle the packaging material.


Choose the right product for you.
Want a larger display and hard drive? Buy the HP Mini 1137NR Netbook.


Want to make a fashion statement with your PC? Buy the HP Mini 1140NR Vivienne Tam Edition Netbook.


[1] Not included. Please purchase separately.
ENERGY STAR and the ENERGY STAR logo are registered U.S. marks.

Want to read more honest consumer review about HP Mini 1115NR 8.9 Inch Netbook - 3 Cell Battery now ?

TomTom GO 910 4-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Basic GPS Features

The TomTom 910 comes preloaded with complete maps of the USA, Canada and Western Europe preinstalled. There is a fee upgrade to the latest current maps, despite their latest map guarantee. You will have the latest map - designed for that unit.

Navigation is simple. Your destination is selected by choosing a favorite, `home' or an address. You don't even have to know the exact address. You can get close to where you are going by choosing a city center, zip code, or intersection as well. If you have an idea where you're going on the map, you can zoom in to the area that you are going and tapping that spot on your screen. Favorites can be saved by knowing the exact address, tapping on the map, or plugging in coordinates.

Points of interest can be directly navigated to, but require that you search in the proximity of a destination already selected. In other words, you can't navigate straight to the San Diego Zoo (unless you know the street address). Rather, you select San Diego as your destination, do a search for zoos near your destination, select San Diego Zoo and then tap Go To.

Once you start saving favorites, you can manage them. The icon to manage your favorites is not in the most intuitive location. It's in the settings menu. I think that a subset menu of favorites would be the most logical location to manage - not the same place where you pick what voice you want to narrate your trip.

Many GPS units only allow the user to select their current location as the starting point of route planning. The 910 will allow me to plan a trip between San Diego and Seattle, even if I'm sitting in North Carolina. The itinerary planning feature allows the user to go from point A to point B via point C instead of going direct.

Navigational preferences allow for fastest route, shortest route, and avoiding toll roads, among others. If your route does include a toll, you can ask to drive around it. The 910 will then compare your original route to the toll route in distance and time. If you don't believe the GPS and want to take your own `short cut', it will allow you to and recalculate your route from your current position. This may not sound like much, but my mother-in-law's built in GPS on her Toyota doesn't feature this and becomes very angry with the driver if you miss an exit. It wants you to go back and pick up where it (incorrectly) wanted you to go in the first place.

One of the first things that I did in the settings menu was to turn on all icons. This is the only way to see the icon that allows you to cancel navigation so that you don't have to power off or smash it once you get to where you are going but want to drive around a bit.

Almost Premium Features

The 910 comes with a few extra goodies that require you to use the Bluetooth feature of your GPS in conjunction with your phone. You can get traffic alerts in select cities, add TomTom buddies, download options and premium features such as fuel prices. Even if the service, like buddies, is free, the GPS will use the data transfer feature of your phone to download the information it wants. If you're on an unlimited data plan with your cell provider, then that's great. No worries. But if you pay per kb, you can incur additional fees on your cell phone bill that you may not expect. As for traffic alerts, the cell phone data fee can be circumvented by using a special "TMC" antenna. This is only $160 and will save you from those pesky data fees. In fact you don't have to have a cell phone at all for traffic alerts with this antenna. Unfortunately, it doesn't download any other data.

TomTom Buddies is a unique feature that lets you pair up with someone else that has a Bluetooth phone and TomTom GPS. It will allow you to text message each other (please don't, if you're the only one in the car!) and will allow you to see where they are on your map.

The Other Stuff

The TomTom 910 has a Bluetooth connectivity option. This allows the user to use their Bluetooth enabled phone for hands-free talking, the aforementioned data downloading, and other audio devices. The hands-free features the ability to pair with a cell phone, but you can't unpair it without either deleting the profile, turning off Bluetooth altogether on either your phone or unit, or by switching to another phone. In other words, it's pretty inconvenient to just get in the car and not use your hands-free if you've already paired your phone to it.

The condenser mic supposedly has echo-cancellation, but was extremely sensitive to ambient noise. Adjusting the volume should help, but attaching the included mic to your visor may be a better choice.

The 910 also has a built in MP3 player. Note that this is ONLY an MP3 player and doesn't support any other music format. TomTom Jukebox is an attempt to organize your music, but it's pretty archaic. The MP3 player also supports audio books and has a function to directly download a book to your machine through either your phone or TomTom Home, the PC based docking application.

The built in speaker volume adjusts itself to ambient noise. Use the Bluetooth to connect to your car stereo for a better sound.

Finally, the 910 supports bmp and jpg photos. You can transfer as many as you can fit on the hard drive.

While you're out driving, you can have a slide show of your favorite photos while your favorite music is being played, and still not miss a turn. The GPS will interrupt your show when an upcoming turn is closing in.

The Hardware

The TomTom 910 is an older unit of about 2004-2005 vintage. This is one of the original TomTom form factors and is much bulkier than it's contemporary models. It's orange-wedge shaped and weighs about ? of a pound.

The 480 x 272, 16-bit screen is 4" across and is very visible. Its anti-glare screen is visible in most light conditions, even direct sunlight. It also has a light sensor to adjust itself to ambient light.

The 910 has a 400 MHz processor, 64 MB RAM and a very unusual 20GB hard drive. With 12 GB available, there is more than plenty of room for thousands of high quality songs and photos. You can easily take the unit from car to car and even carry it with you with it's 4-hour Li-Ion battery.

The 910 is also compatible with most 3rd generation and newer iPods (except the shuffle) with a separate adapter. You can access the menu on your touch screen and play the music through the GPS or through the Bluetooth audio device you have paired with it.

At Home

The TomTom 910 comes with TomTom Home, the PC based dock where you can download certain features with a USB cable connected your online PC.

Shortfalls

Overall, I like this GPS. The icons are large and easy to use, but there are some big problems that are probably very much uniform across the TomTom line that I would definitely be aware of before making a final decision on such a large investment.

Other than the favorites, there is no waypoint database that would be something compatible with Garmin or Magellan units. The unit is strictly for auto travel and unlike similarly priced newer units, is ineffective for hiking or other outdoor activities like geocaching. You can't store a track log, you can't download a list of waypoints that someone wants to share with you.

You also must always install the latest firmware to your GPS unit and have the latest version of TomTom Home if you want to continue using both together. Even if that means the incorporation of a change you don't like. For instance, the latest firmware update included a music icon the size of a nickel on the main navigation page. Though convenient to access your jukebox, it's annoying if you don't listen to music. There is no way to turn it off.

Another feature with regards to hands free calling is that it can import your entire phone database. While this is useful in that you can dial from your contact list on the 910 instead of your phone, there is no way to manage that database. You may want some numbers on your phone and not on your GPS. You can't delete individual entries or change the phone number or spelling without changing it in your phone first, deleting your whole paired device profile and starting over again.

As mentioned before, there are some neat features, but some are just not available in the US. As TomTom is marketed for different countries, it's really silly to continue selling the safety camera alert on US and Canadian websites and packaging when that feature isn't available outside Europe.

You can't plug in a USB or power cord directly into the unit itself. You MUST have the window or desktop mount. You lose these, and you can't charge the unit, talk to it, or hook up any other accessories. It also would have been nice to be able to charge the unit from the USB dock without a separate power cord.

Finally, customer service is just about nil. Reaching them by phone is difficult, and to contact them by email is very frustrating. Most FAQs on their website are for things already clearly spelled out in their manual (which is very much lacking in substance). It's simple to use for navigation, but fully utilizing all the available features will be a nerve racking and irritating learning experience.

Final Words

This unit was originally $600. I paid less than 1/3 of that for mine because it has been discontinued. If you can find it for less than $200, grab one! It's a great way to get into the world of GPS navigation. It's got a lot of great features, and if you don't care about its deficiencies, then no harm no foul. It's especially...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom GO 910 4 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished)

Product Description:
For easy-to-use, accurate navigation with a ton of extra features, you need look no farther than the TomTom Go 910 GPS Navigation System (Refurbished). With a few taps on its screen, the TomTom Go 910 lets you pick a destination, choose the type of route you want, and get going with innovative voice instruction and 3D graphics guiding you from door to door.
With a compact and portable design, the TomTom Go 910 can easily travel with you from car to car. Ready to go right out of the box, this unit utilizes simple touch-screen operation on its wide-screen 4-inch WQVGA display with 480 x 272 pixels of resolution and 64,000 colors. The Go 910 provides you with clear, accurate, turn-by-turn voice instructions, in more than 36 languages with more than 50 voices to choose from.
The TomTom Go 910 comes with a 20 GB hard drive pre-loaded with complete maps of the US, Canada and Europe, as well as millions of POIs (points of interest). Feature rich, this navigator allows hands-free calling with most Bluetooth-enabled phones, and includes text-to-speech for reading your text messages, a compass mode, an anti-glare screen, a speeding alert, and a tip function. What's more, this unit has a built-in MP3 player, and with 12 GB of free hard drive space for downloading thousands of your favorite songs, and is iPod compatible for even more musical flexibility. Already equipped with a quality speaker, the 910 also lets connect to your vehicle's audio system, access TomTom Home software for updates and additional information, and provides real-time traffic information, weather conditions, detailed city maps, a pre-installed safety camera database and more.
The TomTom Go 910 is constructed with a high-sensitivity, integrated GPS receiver, and features text to voice so it can read your text messages to you as you drive, a volume that is linked to your car speed so it increases as you drive at higher speeds, a route preview, fast re-routing, a remote control and more. The 910 is built with a 400 MHz processor and 64 MB of RAM, as well as an internal, rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that provides up to four hours of power on the go. The TomTom Go 910 weighs 12 ounces, and measures 4.2 x 3.1 x 2.5 inches (W x H x D). Users should note that this TomTom Go 910 is a refurbished model.
What's in the Box
TomTom Go 910 GPS navigator, remote control, carrying case, home dock, car charger, windshield dock, external microphone, audio cable, product code card, documentation pack (with quick-start guide, accessory leaflet, and CD), and user's manual.

Get 33% OFF

Want to read more honest consumer review about TomTom GO 910 4 Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished) now ?

Casio Exlim EX-Z1200 12MP Digtial Camera with 3x Anti Shake Optical Zoom (Black) Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great little point and shoot camera for candid shots.It's tiny, easy to clip onto your belt and carry it around all day.Large LCD screen, easy to navigate menus which gives you what you're looking for fairly quickly.It has many features not found on other similar models, some of which include a separate setting for brightness, contrast, and color saturation, manual focus, excellent white balance selection and easy to use manual white balance, auto ISO selection, and anti-shake.It has a collection of "Best Shot" images which are presets for the most common situations, including night shots, backlit, fireworks, and portraits - which have helpful comments to let you know what each preset does.

For close-up and indoor photos, this is a wonderful camera under a variety of lighting.Outdoor shots and landscape images do not quite sparkle as well as a high-end digital SLR, but only a professional photographer would be able to tell the difference.It blows away the built-in camera in your cell phone at any rate and is a must-have camera for vacation snapshots.

The USB charging cradle I'm not that crazy about.But, it's a simple matter to open battery/card slot and use a card reader to bring the images into a computer.It uses ordinary SD/MMC(+) cards.For making movies, the manual recommends high speeds memory cards at 10mb/sec or better to avoid dropouts.The movie quality and audio recording just blew me away when I played the movie on my computer.I purchased extra batteries and a charger from Impact, rather than using the cradle to charge the camera - but, that's a matter of personal preference.The camera allows you to quickly swap out the battery or the memory card if either becomes used up.

I found the outdoor images a bit flat, so am I still tweaking the contrast and saturation settings for the best images.I also have a rule to never use software which comes on the CD.My only complaint is that the full manual comes on the CD, but it can also be downloaded from Casio's website.Casio's customer service was quick and responsive when I asked them the maximum memory size for their flash cards.The manual mentions 1gig cards, but the latest model cameras can handle up to 4gig.Then again, 1gig cards will be faster for better quality movies.

I am using the camera for indoor candid shots and it's better than my professional digital camera in many respects for this type of photography.I can carry it on my belt since it's smaller than my cell phone.While it will not replace my professional digital camera, it has the ability to grab images which the big, heavy camera cannot.And while its not a professional camera, it has enough features to keep a professional photographer happy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Casio Exlim EX-Z1200 12MP Digtial Camera with 3x Anti Shake Optical Zoom (Black)

Product Description:
CASIO EX-Z1200 BLACK DIGITAL CAMERA

Want to read more honest consumer review about Casio Exlim EX-Z1200 12MP Digtial Camera with 3x Anti Shake Optical Zoom (Black) now ?

Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio Review

---

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I researched the best Double DIN units for a couple of weeks. There isn't much on the web about this unit and where there is there is 1 review that says it's great to 1 review that says it's horrible. This unit was more available for me to get my hands on locally then any other. I played with the pioneer a bit and was fairly satisfied with it's interface. The clarion's review on the web was terrible so i don't even bother. So basically it was either the pioneer (forget the model but it's the one with all the bells and whistles that compare to this unit) or this kenwood.

The pioneer installer actually told me that they wouldn't/couldn't install the unit in my '07 vette. Said it was just too difficult and couldn't be done. These people have installed all my alarms/radios/speakers etc for 15 years now and i trust their opinion. However, i read a couple step by step forum posts that showed it be done. Instead of arguing and trying to talk them into it i went to another installer.

The second installer had the kenwood (8120 and 7120) with some other cheaper non-options for me (Dual and some other manufacturer). The kenwood had the built in bluetooth which was a huge plus for me. I'm very very skeptical of bluetooth units in any car. I have had many and have yet to find one that was sufficient to replace me having to hold the phone to my ear. The fact that this was built in gave me hope as all others are add-ons.

Many reviews said the kenwood interface is bad. I don't see why. It is plainly laid out and functional. I think it just has so many options (bells and whistles) that there are many nav keys to get into them it confuses people. It seems pretty good IMO. Could be flashier but i haven't gotten into all the custom skins etc that can be added so maybe it is.

I added the IPOD and Sirius accessories. They work great. The sirius has a better connection then my sirius handheld stiletto which isn't saying much but worth noting. The IPOD connection works good and clean sound. The interface is kind of bulky but when you're used to the iphone's simple interface what isn't going to be bulky compared to it? (Bulky = boring/simple not alot of features)

So everything works great except for the one thing that i knew probably wouldn't before i ever purchased it. The bluetooth phone. Everybody i've talked to on the other end said it sounded choppy and/or had static. I could hear them just fine and the voice dial seems to work ok. However, none of that matters if the other person can't hear you :P I will prob keep the phone to my ear.

Oh, the NAV works great. I've used several nav systems on phones and in rental cars and OEM version's and this is wonderful. It auto updates the routes instantly and doesn't yell at me for not following it's orders. It adapts rather than freaking out. So far so good.

Bottom line -- I would look at the pioneer a little harder if i went back through the purchase process but i doubt it's BT is any better and i don't like it's nav maps. However, for me, if the BT is better i'd swap in a heartbeat. The BT is very important to me though.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio

Product Description:
With one-touch access to entertainment, navigation, and Bluetooth technology, Kenwood's DNX8120 is the ultimate all in one. A highly advanced in-dash system, the DNX8120 offers guidance by Garmin, premium NAVTEQ mapping, and built-in Bluetooth technology for hands-free cell phone operation and voice dialing. The DNX8120 provides superior sound quality, a 6.95" touchscreen with advanced GUI, and the industry's fastest access to iPod audio and video files.

Want to read more honest consumer review about Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio now ?