1/31/2012

Ramsey RRW1AC Wireless IR/RF Repeater Transmitter Kit Review

Ramsey RRW1AC Wireless IR/RF Repeater Transmitter Kit
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your marketing sucks.
seriously. it sucks.
I don't mean your lack of adverts on abc or anything that trite. I mean that you sell components that _require_ other components, and you fail to make those requirements known.
here, let me elucidate.
I have a projector. this projector is behind me. the video is fed to the projector by an AV receiver which is also behind me. leaning over the couch and trying to point the right remote at the right device (do I need to pause a dvd? do want to skip to the next selection on my apple tv? hell, do I want to adjust the volume on my stereo) is awkward. I have to imagine that this is a pretty standard predicament for someone to be in when they go searching for this sort of product. so I went looking for something that would transmit my IR signal at the front of the room (where the image is projected) to the back of the room (where the AV gear is located).
amazon, to the rescue!
the least crappy/most flexible of the products appeared to be the ramsey products. cool. for 30$ something, I ordered the IR/RF transmitter. it comes and it turns out that this is a DIY setup. ok, that's not what I was expecting. It would've been nice if the description said DIY somewhere. My bad for not correctly interpreting 'kit' to mean 'solder this yourself'. But what the hell, I get a soldering iron and get it setup.
nothing happens.
ok, I see that I only got the transmitter. crap. I guess I need a transmitter and some sort of repeater/receiver. would've been nice if ramsey had mentioned that on my initial purchase.
so I order the repeater. another $30 (and another 10 days). I'm expecting a DIY kit this time, and this time, I'm not disappointed. soldering gun at the ready, and I get it going.
repeater, works just fine. transmitter, still nothing. Not amount of futzing can get these two devices to talk to each other. odd, b/c my amazon research lead me to believe that these were the two I wanted. I figure I must've set the transmitter up incorrectly (it _was_ my first device. I was less experienced and the actvity indicator LED's act differently. when the repeater recieves a signal, the LED blinks on. when the transmitter recieves a signal, the LED blinks off. something must be crossed in the transmitter).
so I toss the transmitter and buy a new one. $90+ invested now, in a DIY kit.
setup. plugged in. LED blinks. still, no dice.
what could possibly be wrong?
Oh, when buying the RRW1A wireless transmitter, I also need to buy an RRW1B reciever (according to the manual). except that on amazon, it's called an RRW1BC wireless RF/IR Repeater Receiver (try searching amazon for "RRW1B", all I get is two random books when searching "all departments")
Riiiight.
So, Ramsey, your marketing sucks. you utterly fail to make known what components are needed for what to work. you have, however, inspired me to simply move my a/v receiver to a location that isn't quite so awkward to point at from the couch. yay, you.


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Have you ever been frustrated with the range of your remote controls? Tired of having to bounce your IR remote off ceilings and walls? Do you want to run your system from another room or floor? This is the answer to your prayers! Extend the range of your remote controls through walls, around corners, and even from outdoors. Unlike store bought units, error correction can be turned on for pulse width regeneration. The foolproof IR repeater! Take advantage of wireless technology with this practical kit, which almost anyone can use. The RRW1A and RRW1B pair allow you to rebroadcast your AV Infrared remote controls wirelessly on 433 MHz up to 100 feet. Broadcast through walls, doors, floors, and ceilings. Use the pair to control the satellite receiver downstairs, and watch it upstairs! Be outside and control the tunes on your stereo system in the living room! Use multiple RRW1A s to broadcast from multiple locations in the house to the single RRW1B receiver near your equipment. Feed the control freak in all of us! Both units operate on 7-18V AC or DC. For continuous operation, use our AC125 AC power adapter. Sleek matching cases measure 5 W x 1 1/2 H x 5 1/4 D.

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1/30/2012

Wavecom Jr. RF-Link 2.4GHz Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter Review

Wavecom Jr. RF-Link 2.4GHz Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter
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Box says 300ft range (clear line of site), penetrates floors and ceilings. OK, clearly I don't expect a 300ft range through floors and ceilings. However, for my use (trying to transmit a signal from one room to another, about 75ft, through 2 walls and a floor) this was totally useless. I FINALLY got it to connect, and play audio without unbearable static: by placing the transmitter and receiver directly across from eachother on opposite sides of a wall. It would not work if I asked it to transmit (only about 10ft) through the wall at an angle; it had to be perpendicular to the wall. Endless fiddling with antenna orientations couldn't give me a workable solution. When I opened the box, I was really happy: it included an infared link, and the receiver transcodes the composite video input into a coax signal that an old TV might use (has composite output too). That's all great- but are useless features if the signal can't reach the receiver. Going to see if I can return it for a refund :-(

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wavecom Jr. RF-Link 2.4GHz Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter

WAVECOM Jr. is a device that uses wireless communication technology to deliver sharp stereo audio and color video as far as 300 feet from the source. Short for Wireless Audio Video Everywhere COMmunication, WAVECOM Jr. is ideal for home and security products where the source doesn't need to be controlled by a remote control. For instance, you can use it to transmit picture and sound from a strategically placed camcorder in a baby's room to the TV in the living room, parent's bedroom, or kitchen. To use WAVECOM Jr., you hook up the necessary connectors (included with the product) to the audio or video source (such as a television, stereo tuner, or VCR). Then follow the directions to position the device for optimal output. The best feature of WAVECOM Jr. is that it helps you get the most from your electronic products. Rather than wiring cable through your house to connect all your televisions, you can rig WAVECOM Jr. to transmit video and sound to your televisions. And instead of buying outdoor speakers, you can set up WAVECOM Jr. to transmit sound from your existing speakers.Directional antenna transmits up to 300 ft clear line-of-sight 2.4GHz signal penetrates walls and ceilings without interference 4 separate channels allow up to 4 transmitter/receiver pairs to operate simultaneously Includes AC power adapter and A/V cables · Additional receiver for Wavecom Jr. 2.4 GHz wireless stereo audio and color video transmitter system · Directional antenna transmits up to 300 ft. clear line-of-sight. · 2.4 GHz signal penetrates walls; doors and ceilings without interference. · 4 separate channels allow up to 4 transmitter/receiver pairs to operate simultaneously. · Includes AC power adapter and audio/video cables. · Sends and receives crisp color video and stereo audio without wires. · Works with any existing audio or video components.

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1/29/2012

Sony BDV-T11 Home Theater System Review

Sony BDV-T11 Home Theater System
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I wanted to write a review as I could not find one when evaluating systems on-line. I bought this one blindly and have been extremely pleased with the purchase.
Items to note:
1. Huge sound on BlueRay's and DVD's.
2. Picture quality is top draw on my 1080 screen. The up-converter does an excellent job on DVD's to an almost Blue-Ray quality.
3. The small speakers kick out a lot of sound. The radio portion is still weaker then I would like. But this is a home theater. I have a sound system for my tunes!
4. It was easy to set up. Following the cables colors it was put together in 10-15 minutes.
5. The book is lengthy so do your self a favor and download the PDF. You can search for keywords to your specific question and tackle any question in seconds.
6. The optic cable offers great sound reproduction from my Plasma TV. I thought I wouldn't use it because of the great sound I had from my TV. But now I find I use it all the time.
7. You can't beat the price!
I think that these were promotional items for selling with Big Screens during Christmas with bundled packages. My guess is that it is the exact same electronics portion as the BVD-300 and the T10 as they share the same manual. That is what I used for my initial analysis.

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Experience high-definition picture quality and sound to get the most out of your HDTV. This all-in-one system plays Blu-ray discs in 1080p and upconverts DVDs to nearly HD picture quality. Plus there are 800 watts of total system power for DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD high-definition surround sound formats. Plays your Blu-ray Discs movies in full HD at 1080p on compatible HDTVs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound BD-Live ready Plays DVDs and upconverts them to nearly high definition HDMI output Digital media port iPod cradle included for digital media port (iPod sold separately) AM/FM with 20 FM station presets and 10 AM presets 133 watts x 5 channels plus a 135-watt amplifier for the subwoofer for total system power of 800 watts Two 2-way front speakers Center channel speaker Two micro satellite rear speakers Subwoofer with wood cabinet Easy setup DVD S-AIR Multi-room and wireless rear speaker ready Xross media bar-based menu system Composite and

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1/28/2012

CE LABS CAT5RX CAT-5 HD A/V Receiver Review

CE LABS CAT5RX CAT-5 HD A/V Receiver
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This product, when combined with the CAT5TX transmitter, provides an excellent quality solution for making a long run of component video. This receiver unit has an adjustment knob for tuning the picture for lengths of 100-500 feet. This made me a little concerned about my use, which was with a run of about 50' or less. No worries, though: I just left the adjustment turned down all the way, and the picture and sound are perfect. I honestly do not see any difference between the picture with this system or with the components connected directly to the TV.

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The CE Labs CAT5RX receives the CAT-5 signals from the CEICAT5TX transmitter and converts the signal to a high-definition component video, digital or left/right audio signal.

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1/27/2012

Wireless RF Signal Detector - Hidden Video and Bug Locator Review

Wireless RF Signal Detector - Hidden Video and Bug Locator
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...though, admittedly, I didn't expect much. It's deaf beyond about 10 inches or so (this is true of many $100-$200 detectors) and the lack of signal strength indication can be maddening (I was in an elevator once and it detected constant RF no matter where I held it - maybe I was in a big microwave and didn't know it). In any event, it responds to a wide range of RF and it has lasted over a month now attached to my key chain which is far more than expected (even my keys have a hard time standing up to the abuse).

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Don't sacrifice your privacy. You never know who is watching or listening. Our Keychain Wireless Detector is easy to carry with you so you can feel Confident in the office, bedroom or dressing room.* Innovative high technology device keeps you safe from wireless wiretap and video cameras.* Detectable radio frequency width 30MHz - 2.4GHz.* Responding distance 10-15 feet.* Super bright blue LED light for emergency or illumination use.* Stylish key chain makes it easy to carry the detector wherever you go.* Portable and lightweight. Product size - 1.2" x 2.3" x 0.4"* Uses 2 button cell batteries (included)

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1/26/2012

Sony LAV Microphone w/Bodypack Transmitter & Portable Wireless UHF Receiver (CH 66-69) Review

Sony LAV Microphone w/Bodypack Transmitter and Portable Wireless UHF Receiver (CH 66-69)
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I purchased this microphone just prior to taking off on a two-week video shoot in SE Asia. I was a bit apprehensive about relying so heavily on a mic about which I wasn't able to get much information before purchasing. After having used the mic quite extensively for a couple of weeks, I can now breathe a sigh of relief and report that overall this is a very good microphone for the price. Its selection of frequencies and other user-changeable features are good, though its menu system is not intuitive and requires keeping the manual close by.
My main criticism is its cheap plastic construction, typical with Sony products at this price point. It only took a few days to break the "foot" on the shoe mount.
Overall, I am relatively happy with this purchase and would recommend this mic, but I would also strongly recommend a good hard case in which to store it (no case is included).

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The Sony UWP Series Bodypack Transmitter with Omni-Directional Lavalier Mic for the UWP-C1 Wireless System comes supplied with an omni-directional lavalier microphone. This bodypack transmitter is ideally suited for news gathering, interviews, talk shows and conferences. Key to achieving stable transmission & reception is the use of a stable carrier signal to avoid interference with other frequency channels & to allow the selection of a preferred channel from multiple frequencies. The UWP series achieves this by using a UHF Phase Locked Loop frequency synthesized system, which provides the use of accurate carrier signal frequencies. This system is used in both the transmitter & tuners, so that a stable carrier is gene rated at the transmitter & accurately tuned in at the tuner. This PLL-controlled system provides highly stable, user-selectable frequencies in increments of 125 kHz. When operating a wireless microphone system, it is essential that the tuner not pick up carrier signals transmitted from other systems. In order to avoid this, the UWP series transmitters transmit a 32 kHz pilot-tone signal along with the audio signal. The squelch circuit of the UWP series tuners recognizes this tone signal and output the audio signal only when this tone signal is received. RF power output -30mW or 5mW (selectable) Audio attenuator adjustment range -0 to 21 dB (in 3 dB steps) Local oscillators -Crystal-controlled PLL synthesizer Signal-to-noise ratio -60 dB or more Power requirements -DC 3.0V (2 AA-size alkaline batteries) Antenna -1/4 wave length wire Pilot tone signal -32 kHz Frequency response -50 Hz to 18 kHz (typical) Audio input level -60 dBV (at 0 dB attentuator level) Audio input connector -3.5 mm (5/32 inch) diameter 3-pole mini jack Battery life -Approximately 6 hours with Sony AA-size alkaline batteries at 30mW output Unit Dimensions -Width 2 1/2 x Height 4 x Depth

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1/25/2012

Remote Control Extender 418MHZ Review

Remote Control Extender 418MHZ
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I purchased two of these units, one on each frequency, to address a situation where IR remote control of two TV set ups in adjacent rooms visible to each other was causing unintended operation. By "blinding" the IR sensors after attaching the IR heads from the RF extenders it did solve the problem.
The caveats are:
- Don't expect easy access to technical support from the company. Emails go totally unanswered. Phone messages left go unanswered. If you are lucky enough, however, to actually reach someone on the phone when you call, Bob in my case (once), you can get help.
- I could not make the RF extender work to turn on or off a Motorola DCT-700 cable box. In fact with the remote supplied by cable company it would not work at all. (What made this really strange is that the incredible sensitivity of the IR control of the DCT-700 is the reason I had the problem I was trying to solve!) When I substituted a Logitech Harmony remote I was able to easily control the cable box, but still not the on-off function on a reliable basis. (I solved the problem by leaving the cable box on all the time). When I did talk to Bob he acknowledged that they had issues with some cable boxes - something to do with IR pulse length - and that they have an updated version of the receiver designated with a "+" that may address the issue. He offered a swap out if I called and asked for this, but as I could never reach him again I did not pursue this approach.
- Be very careful if you do buy units on the two different frequencies. While the battery sized transmitters are color coded, the two receivers look identical in EVERY way right down to the model number and FCC designation. (I have no idea how they manage to keep these sorted out in their own operations!) After getting them mixed up a few times, I ended up using adhesive labels on each receiver to identify them.
- In most set ups you will need more than the single IR extender head included in the package. An optional 3-head cable costs extra.
- The receiver has 3 settings. The instructions indicate that some equipment may work better, or only, with one of the settings. As such it is quite possible that you could end up with a single RF extender receiver not being able to control all your gear. As the most likely role for this kind of unit will be to control many boxes inside a closed cabinet, this restriction could be an issue, and require you to buy 2 units for the same system. (I did not run into this as I used the extender ONLY for the cable box. I used the normal IR for the TVs as they were different models and didn't cross impact each other.)
- As noted in the instructions the location of the battery like transmitter in a remote that uses multiple batteries can be critical, and requires trial and error.
- The nature of the design means that you do need to swap the rechargeable batteries on a regular basis. The unit comes supplied with two and the receiver charges the one not in use. The challenge is that there is no indication that the batteries need swapped, other than when the remote no longer works. This is a minor inconvenience, but in a unit with this price tag a more elegant approach would have been nice. (I don't yet have experience of the battery life in the Harmony remotes.)
Overall, as noted in other reviews I have read, this is a really innovative and neat concept, that when needed in the kind of situation I was in and others, is a great solution. However the actual implementation, and particularly the virtually non-existent support, leave a bit to be desired so it can't be recommended without reservation. Expect to spend quite a bit of time getting things working reliably.
Using one of the top-end Harmony remotes with RF capability built-in is almost certainly a more elegant solution to most problems addressed by this unit, albeit a more expensive approach.

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Next Generation Remote Control Extender 418MHZ.

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1/24/2012

Ear Force X31 Digital RF Wireless Game Audio + Xbox Live Chat Review

Ear Force X31 Digital RF Wireless Game Audio + Xbox Live Chat
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I waited to write my review until a week after receiving my headset. I have owned two sets of Turtle Beach headsets, I have an audio background, and I wanted to write a definitive review from somebody who has used multiple sets of their products and had knowledge in the audio field. The Turtle Beach X31's are a repackaging/redesign of the popular Turtle Beach X3 headset. I've owned the Turtle Beach X1's and now the X31's.
I'll start with the good. The X31's have some great features! Here is a list of basic features and improvements:
-Almost everything is updated! The X31's improve on everything that was decent in previous Turtle Beach headsets and you can tell Turtle Beach is definitely ironing out some of the complaints from previous model headsets and starting to get it "right."
-Newly redesigned 40mm drivers/speakers. You can hear a difference in the quality! Upper mids and highs/treble frequencies are a lot better represented, providing more clarity to the game sound.
-Chat boost. When the game audio gets louder, it slightly increases chat volume to match it so the game audio doesn't drown out chat voices.
-Effects. Bass boost button. Stereo widening button. Stereo widening + bass boost button. (each are all on the same button, you click it a number of times and hear an audible beep in your headset each step of the way)
-Power. Runs on two AAA's. I recommend Duracell rechargeable NiMh batteries. Battery life is what the package claims from my personal testing. It has a circuit in the headphones that helps use up every bit of power from the batteries. Typical battery life is around 20 hours in regular use with Bass Boost engaged. Also, the headset will shut off automatically if no signal is detected for five minutes, which is nice.
-Comfort. They redesigned the headphone cups to go around your ears better. The material on the cups is also softer and less plastic like. It's fabric mesh that is more breathable.
-Wireless. Truly wireless. Wires all plug in near your TV then you only have one wire to your controller to pick up the chat. The wire is redesigned as well, there is no "puck," it's a straight shot into your controller so that you can use the chatpad if you have it as well. =)
-Technology. 2.4ghz RF that is no longer "line-of-sight." In testing, the unit worked anywhere around my TV from within about 15 feet of the sender unit.
-Basic functions. Boom mic that bends out of your way easily. Being able to mix the chat/audio on separate controls. You can actually hear in older emulated games like Halo 2! (emulation makes the voice really soft in a game like Halo 2 if you're running it on a 360)
-Audio quality. This is a very nice headset compared to Turtle Beach's older models. I really enjoyed my X1's, but they were overly bassy, especially in the chat. This time around, it seems like the chat and audio go through separate processing. There's more mids and highs, not "bass all the time only with a bit of highs sprinkled in." The dynamic range is a lot clearer, there's more frequencies represented and better separation at loud volumes.
-Online advantage. I play mostly first person shooters online. I would say this headset has saved me at least 2-3 times PER MATCH that I've tried it out in. The better audio quality makes footsteps stand out better than with previous Turtle Beach models. The games I tested were: Doom, Halo 2, Halo 3, Battlefield: Bad Company, Battlefield: 1943, Call of Duty 4, Ghost Recon, and some other non-FPS games. In each game, I could clearly hear when there were footsteps around me. Also, even though the headset is only stereo (no 5.1 Dolby Digital), you can hear a distinct direction each sound is coming from with this headset. I could even hear when there were snipers around me, I could hear the bolt cycling on their sniper rifle! (even if they were upstairs...play Bad Company with this headset, it's a real treat!)
-Mic monitoring. Mixes in a bit of your own voice so you don't talk too loudly with the headset on.
Now here's a list of the negatives/improvements I think Turtle Beach could make:
-Price. Still a bit rough at $99.95. They are worth it, but a $79.99 tag seems a bit more realistic to me for Turtle Beach going forward.
-Mic monitoring. It mixes in your voice and you can hear yourself in pre-game lobbies, but let's get realistic here, as soon as all the game audio comes in, you can't hear yourself AT ALL. You still end up talking too loudly with the headset on.
-Material on earcups. The headphones are way more comfortable, but I noticed all around my ears you'll get some kind of black ink wear-off. The material they used rubs off on your skin and leaves black marks all around your ears? I can't believe somebody didn't notice this when playtesting the headphones before the company gave the green light to ship them?
-Chat. I know it's hard to take a low-level, noisy chat signal that is using really small bandwidth from Xbox Live and increase it real loud and make it sound good. The chat is a HUGE improvement, don't get me wrong. I still think they could make it better. They mention that there is no "hiss" from game audio. There isn't. The game audio itself sounds uncompressed and great. The problem is, you get a noisy chat signal, plus if you're using a wireless controller with batteries, you get an annoying hiss from that with the chat signal. I do not know for the life of me why Turtle Beach (an audio company, mind you) could not implement a "noise gate" into the chat processing so low level hiss could be eliminated and the gate would open up when speaking or voice comes through. That could be a simple button you could use to turn the noise gate on or off.
Also, with the chat, they took ALL the bass out of chat. It would be nice to have a little bass in there. Games like Halo 3 have the chat so loud that it starts to break up and distort, it's almost too much treble all the time in your ears! (and yes, I have the chat set up correctly, it's not boosted too much and my sender unit is set correctly as well along with dashboard/guide chat volume)
-Audio levels. A big one for me. It seems like you don't get audio out of the headset until it's up 1/3 of the way, then it starts increasing. You wish there was just a bit more audio that you could push the volume level to. You wish there was just a bit more bass that was added in as well. You still get a full bass sound, but it's not close to the X1's. I know it's wireless and they made them a bit quieter and with a little less bass to conserve battery life since low frequencies take more energy to reproduce notes, but you still wish there was a bit more, especially after using the X1's that get LOOOOUD and have a ton of bass! I was expecting the bass boost button to do a tad bit more...
-Battery life. Great at around 20 hours. I wanted to point out once again to buy rechargeables, because you will definitely go through batteries!
-Effects. I found the "stereo widening" function absolutely useless. It's not something they needed to add in and they could have made some other better effect or maybe another click to the bass boost instead.
Over all, I gave this headset a 4 our of 5. It's a great headset and a nice step up in features from the X1's and X3's. I think if Turtle Beach does one more headset, they will get everything right and put out an even better product. Worth the money, I would buy this headset again and recommend it to friends.
Thanks for reading my review!

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The Ear Force X31 is our third generation of wireless headsets for the XBOX 360. Like the X3, the X31 combines XBOX live chat with wireless game sound so you can hear the game sound and the voices of other players in the headset. In other words, it replaces your XBOX communicator headset and external speakers. By hearing the XBOX Live chat in the center of your head rather than in one ear, you can communicate better online. By eliminating speakers you can turn up the game without disturbing others. And, by having the game sound right on top of your ears, you can hear even the softest sound cues that are impossible to hear with speakers. For example, you can hear when someone is quietly sneaking up on you and react faster. That means you\'ll have a totally immersive gaming experience while becoming a better player.Just like the X3, the X31 includes a headset and small transmitter. As you can see, the colors have been changed so it\'s easy to see it\'s a new model. What is different, however, is that we made the headset more comfortable by increasing the size of the ear cups so they sit around your ears rather than on top of them. We also replaced the vinyl ear cushions with these soft, fabric mesh cushions that let your ears breathe. The most significant improvement is that the X31 uses digital 2.4 Giga Hertz Radio Frequency wireless technology. This new digital RF technology is a huge improvement over analog IR because it delivers CD-quality sound with no background hiss, no interference from plasma TV screens and no line of sight restrictions between the transmitter and headset. Sound quality is improved with new 40mm speakers that use the same design as our high-quality X41 50mm speakers for better frequency response and improved clarity in the game sound.Inside the headset is a digital signal processor for bass boost and stereo expander effects, which can be turned on by pressing this button. This makes the expander more dramatic than the X3.

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1/23/2012

Keyspan ER-V2 RF Remote for Windows Vista Review

Keyspan ER-V2 RF Remote for Windows Vista
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First off, this remote was shipped quite rapidly. I received it only three days after placing the order.
Out of the box it has a light, but solid feel. The plastic feels tight and does not flex or make noises. It seems like it'll be able to stand up to some wear and tear.
I plugged the receiver into the 32-bit Windows Vista Home Premium box that I built, and it was instantly recognized and ready to use. Thanks to the RF receiver, the range on this is great. I have the receiver plugged in behind my computer and I can point the remote away from the computer and still have reception.
The functions of the remote seem pretty standard for a Windows Media Center Device. One feature I didn't notice before purchasing is that it has a button that can put the computer in and out of standby. Another cool thing I've discovered is that this remote has some limited functionality with iTunes. Stop, play, forward, reverse, and pause all work. The volume on the iTunes volume slider will not change by pushing the volume controls, though.
I'm very happy with this product and would definitely recommend to people looking for a quality remote.

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More Range! More Convenience! Introducing the new Keyspan ER-V2 RF remote for Windows Vista! Use the ER-V2 radio frequency (RF) remote to enjoy the entertainment offered by your Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate PC. Unlike infrared (IR) remotes that are often provided with a PC, the ER-V2 RF remote provides greater range and works through walls or furniture. It provides a more convenient and fun digital media experience -- and provides you more freedom when deciding where to place your PC. Use this remote with your PC to enjoy live TV, TV/video recording,movies, music, photos and radio. There is no software to install -- just plug the receiver into the USB port on your PC and it works within seconds. Highlights Controls media center TV, music, videos and photos RF signal works up to 60 ft through walls and furniture Allows you to locate the PC in an AV cabinet or closet No software to install -- works within seconds

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1/22/2012

ASUS EeeKeyboard Review

ASUS EeeKeyboard
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Since the miniITX boards came out the fans of game platform emulators like MAME and multimedia centers like MythTV have come up with hundreds of designs for a small multimedia computer with living room appeal. It was all very exciting, but I was always wondering why no company would create such e device and sell it for a reasonable price.
Finally, here is the eeeKeyboard and it is perfect. I love the design, the performance is just good enough and the best thing is the wireless HDMI interface.
I know that it does not have a lot of power when compared to the multi-core >2GHz CPUs that you get in laptops at a similar price today, but this was never the idea. I can connect this keyboard-sized-living-room-friendly computer to my home TV and surf the Internet from the sofa. I can run MAME and play a game and I can also watch video. Of course it is not 1080p and Quicktime runs slow, but my sofa is too far from the TV to notice "low quality" when I play a "low-resolution" movie (and most of the movies I have are "low" resolution).
I love this computer because I have been wanting something like this since the first 533MHz miniITX board (yes, you can play videos even on this type of system).

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With its sophisticated computer-in-a-keyboard design, the EeeKeyboard PC delivers room-to-room HD entertainment to your HDMI-ready TV in a whole new way. Its versatility is matched only by its simplicity as it blurs the line between a personal wire-free media hub and an energy-efficient PC. Packaged with an incredible array of features, you can master all your media from the built-in 5-inch multi-touch display. With its Easy Mode, you have quick access to the Internet, photos, music, videos, Skype, and more.


Key Features
An LED-backlit keyboard PC with 5-inch multi-touch display panel
Ultra-Wideband Technology wirelessly streams HD content to an HDMI-ready display (Learn more)
Capacitive display for precise navigation at a touch (Learn more)
Easy Mode gives you quick access to the Internet, photos, music, videos, Skype, and other useful apps (Learn more)
Broadcom Crystal HD Technology for seamless HD video playback (Learn more)
Built-in battery for up to 4 hours of unplugged use1
High-speed wireless N networking for faster wireless connectivity(Learn more)
Unlimited ASUS WebStorage for a secure, convenient way to backup, share, and access your data online2 (Learn more)

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An Amazing Wire-Free Digital Entertainment Experience
Masterful Controls for Your Media and More
A Keyboard PC for Your Daily Needs
Enhanced Connectivity and Even More Storage
A Brand That Sparked a Revolution – The First Netbook
Customer Warranty
1 year standard limited warranty3
Free one-way shipping for repaired or replacement product
What's in the Box
EeeKeyboard PC
Recovery DVD
HDMI cable
Quick start guide
User manual
Warranty card
AC adapter
Power cord
Ultra-Wideband receiver
Ultra-Wideband receiver AC adapter
Wireless antenna (Wi-Fi + Ultra-Wideband)
Mini-USB cable
Specifications
Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Home
Display: 5-inch panel display (800 x 480)
Touchscreen: Capacitive multi-touch
CPU: Intel Atom N270 processor
Memory: 1GB DDR2
HD Video Decoder: Broadcom 70010 / 70012 HD Coder
Wireless Audio/ Video Technology: Ultra-Wideband Technology
Wireless Data Network: 802.11 b/g/n (@ 2.4GHz) and Bluetooth V2.1
LAN: RJ-45 10/100/1000 Mbps (Gigabit LAN)
Hybrid Storage: 16GB solid-state drive (SSD) + Unlimited ASUS WebStorage2
Audio: Built-inspeakers x2,microphone
Input/Output: 1 x HDMI port, 1 x VGA port, 1 x Antenna (WLAN + Ultra-Wideband), 1 x Giga LAN, 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x Headphone jack, 1 x Microphone jack
Battery Life: Up to 4 hours1
Dimensions: 16.73 x 5.70 x 0.39 ~ 0.96 –inches (L x W x H)
Weight: 2.43 lbs
Color: Silver
1 Operation lifetime subject to product model, normal usage conditions and configurations. The estimated maximum battery life in Windows XP Home is measured with MobileMark 2007. 2 ASUS WebStorage is a complimentary trial service with a 60-day trial after registration. 3 Warranty covers EeeKeyboard PC system, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Adapter, UWB dongle, UWB power cord, built-in battery, EeeKeyboard PC, AC Adapter. The warranty is only valid within the region that your product was purchased (regional warranty terms). Scope of service does not apply to products residing in or purchased in regions other than the United States or Canada. Please visit http://usa.asus.com in order to locate the contact information for your local service area. This product is excluded from the following warranty terms: ASUS Global Warranty terms and conditions, Accidental Damage Warranty (ADW) program, Zero Bright Dot (ZBD) display program, Dead on Arrival (DOA) terms and conditions, and software related problems are not covered by any warranty terms.
All specifications and terms are subject to change without notice. Please check with your supplier for exact offers on selected models. Products may not be available in all markets. Product may not be exactly as shown in images. Products and corporate names appearing in this manual may or may not be registered trademarks or copyrights of their respective companies, and are used only for identification or explanation and to the owners\' benefit, without intent to infringe.



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1/21/2012

Archos 5 32 GB Internet Tablet with Android Review

Archos 5 32 GB Internet Tablet with Android
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just got my new Android 5 500GB direct from Archos yesterday and its quite a beauty. I'm upgrading from my old Archos 5 250GB, so that will be my primary point of comparison. I also have the following to compare to: iPod Touch 64GB, Archos 605, Walkman X, Samsung P2, and a host of other MP3 players large and small.
Given that my iPod Touch upgrade this year was less than astounding, I pretty much figured that this upgrade for Archos would be similarly understated. Mainly I just wanted the extra hard drive so I could backup all my laptops onto my music player. I was wrong! The new Android version seems to have a whole new feel both in form factor and the new software. I had heard that Archos was having problems with the software, but they seem to have ironed most of them out as of 1.1 firmware release. I did update my firmware immediately, and the process was quite smooth.
I'm going to rate this player on my absolute scale. I will also be making notes on the value of the upgrade from my old Archos 5. Note: I mostly use this as a media center to play music and video; secondarily as a backup drive.
Let's get to it then, these are the things I love about my new Android:
1) 500GB -- totally awesome amount of disk, I can now put just about every digital file I own on the Archos.
2) Android interface -- the overall feel of the software interface has definitively improved with the integration of Android. Effects are crisper, the esthetics are cleaner, things seem to happen faster. I especially like how easy it is to access the most recently played song or video from the main screen, pops up with a little thumbnail that you tap on and voila, resumes right where you left off!
3) Apps -- with Android we now have access to some serious app selection. Of course, nobody compares to the Apple App Store, but this comes the closest.
4) Weight -- this actually feels lighter to me than my 250GB.
5) Dock/DVR -- this popped right into my old 5 DVR and started playing right away. I still think this is the best DVR/Player combination available of all the MP3 players.
6) Video/Hi Def -- of the players I have owned, this has the best, biggest, and highest resolution screen.
7) Portrait/Landscape -- Archos has borrowed the iPhone trick of rotating the display according to orientation. I guess they have an accelerometer in there now, I dunno. Still, its fun to see this feature on an Archos. Its a lot easier to navigate playlists in portrait mode.
8) Easy and regular firmware updates -- with a WiFi connection, the firmware updates are easily performed on the unit itself. That's the easiest system I've seen of all my players. One thing I've learned about Archos over the years, they will put out a steady stream of firmware updates.
9) WMV/MTP mode-- very smooth interface to Windows for either Media Monkey or Windows Media Player.
10) Dedicated volume button -- power and volume buttons have been conveniently located onto the top edge. This is actually much easier to use when it is docked on the DVR (which is where mine spends most of its life!).
11) Sound quality is quite good, sounds great through my Klipsch speakers and seems to have more oomph than my other players.
12) WiFi/Browser -- has a good browser and WiFi connection has worked well for me. I think the keyboard is better than the Touch's, although Safari is probably the slightly superior browser. The bigger screen also helps for browsing. Overall I'm inclined to give the Archos the top ranking for browsers.
13) I just discovered Twidroid, one of many apps pre-loaded, allows me to check my Twitter in a really nice format -- love it!
14) Portability -- well there's only so much portability that can be expected with a screen and hard drive this large. This new design is smoother and rounder so its a little more comfortable in a pocket. It is very easy to carry around as a handheld device, fits nicely in my hand as I stroll about the house trying out all of the Android Apps! In any case, this is not as portable as a Touch but I think its pretty good for a small computer -- which is basically what this is.
15) No extra plug ins needed (so far!). Always in the past I've laid out another $40 for additional Archos plugins to play iPod format music and other video formats. So far I haven't had to do that -- thank you Archos :)
16) Archos will stand behind their product. I've had to send in a couple of Archos units over the years and they have always been happy to either repair or replace the unit without quibbling about it, as long as its under warranty. Note: it did take two weeks to get my unit back!
17) Multi threading: now I show my engineer/geek side. This baby can do a bunch of different stuff at the same time, unlike the iPhone/Touch which can really only do one thing at a time. The Android can be doing other stuff while you are listening music. I love the little bar on the top that you can pull down and switch to any other task that is running.
18) Built-in kickstand, very nice feature.
19) Stylus friendly touch screen -- sometimes you just get tired of trying to type a touchscreen keyboard with fat fingers! In general, this is one of my favorite touch screens. Most of the other touch screens, including iPod/iPhone, are capacitance which means stylus won't work
20) Micro USB cable plug-in: finally a standardized USB plug and you can have it resting on its kickstand while plugged in :)
Given that the Archos tops the class in several categories, and continues to be the best 500GB 5 inch screen player available I give it about a 4.7 stars out of 5 (round to 5). There are a few things I'm less than thrilled about:
1) Update: I believe you can now format your drive in a Windows friendly format on 1.7.96 version of firmware. External hard drive EXT3 -- as I understand it, Archos changed to the EXT3 hard drive format for reasons of speed and reliability. The result for me is that I can no longer simply select hard drive MSC mode, plug the Archos into a Windows machine and expect to access the drive. You have to install an Ext3 driver such as EXT2 IFS on your Windows PC. Once I did that I was able to access the hard drive and backup files to my hearts content.
2) The playlist interface didn't get much of an upgrade and its still kind of clunky. I want to simply tap my playlist and it starts playing. Often times I have to do a couple of extra taps to get the thing playing.
3) We lost the dedicated play button and removable battery a while back -- but I still miss them both! None of my favorite touch screen players has either of these features. I'm also missing the brown metallic color and the rubbery backside.
4) Finding a case for this baby is no easy trick. You're not going to find one at the local Best Buy I'm afraid. In the past I've resorted to ordering my Archos cases from European companies like I-nique and Noreve. This is generally true of any player that is not an iPod or a Zune.
5) As always with Archos, you must remember that you are dealing with a French based company. This means that they don't always provide the best support/service/upgrades to us Americans.
6) Lets face it, Archos is always playing catch up. Some of the new features aren't fully functional yet. I do have faith that Archos will fix all the little glitches with things like GPS over the course of the next 6 months. The Apps available are currently a bit limited. I expect this will improve over the coming months.
7) Keep in mind that this is not a unit for the faint of heart. This is more for the hobbyist who wants a cutting edge experience that may take some messing around to get it just the way you want it. If you want something easy that requires minimum effort then iPods are going to be more your cup of tea.
For me this is still the best player of its class -- that class being large hard drive, big screen PMP players with other fun features. Android makes for some fun possibilities, and overall I'm impressed with this as an upgrade. Once again, if you don't mind a smaller screen and you love apps I suggest you get an iPod Touch. If what you care about most is sound quality you may want to get a Walkman X. For me those are your top 3 touch screen players, it just depends on what you care about the most.
Note: 10-23-2009; I upgraded to firmware version 1.2.03 which fixes some App, Browser, and YouTube issues. Apps do seem happier now, upgrade process was very smooth. Still happily listening to tunes for about 8 hours a day with no problems :)
Update 11-7-2009: I've been running version 1.2.15 with a host of bug fixes and the unit does seem more stable in general now. Wifi is working better and USB connection seems more reliable.
Update 11-23-2009: Upgrade to firmware v 1.3.07 -- a long list of bug fixes including a few improvements that I had hoped for to control the scanning of multimedia files/ ArcLibrary. Got an AppsLib update which seems to work more reliably. There seem to be a lot more apps available now (300 ish) in AppsLib. Just keeps getting better and better! Still is playing music day in and day out with no problems and I'm backing up 2 laptops worth of files onto my 5 IT.
Update 12-18-2009: I've been on firmware 1.4.16 for over a week now. Lots of little fixes, seems even more stable now.
Update 2-11-2010: Firmware 1.7.33 (Android Donut) upgrade. The upgrade was a bit of work, I ended up reformatting the drive and starting anew. However, power saving seems to work a lot better and I haven't seen it reset itself for quite a while now. This seems to be the most solid release yet!
Update 4-8-2010: Firmware...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Archos 5 32 GB Internet Tablet with Android

Archos, award-winning for its constant technology innovation, now introduces its new Archos 5 Internet Tablet. This product combines all the multimedia know-how that Archos is famous for, with the Android operating system. It offers you an uncompromised Internet, Media and TV experience in a customizable interface. In perpetual evolution with the continuous arrival of new applications, you can personalize your Archos 5 Internet Tablet to perfectly reflect your tastes and needs.




HD Multimedia
Brilliant 5-inch Touchscreen The Archos 5 features an 800 pixel-wide 5-inch touchscreen, an ultra thin design, and an accelerometer for portrait or landscape viewing. Whether enjoying media yourself or sharing with friends, it delivers outstanding image quality.

HD Video Formats Don't compromise--the Archos 5 Internet Tablet is able to handle the widest range of video formats, even at HD 720p resolution (H.264 HD, MPEG-4 HD, and WMV HD5).

Your Music Everywhere Enjoy more music formats directly on your device (MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, AAC+, FLAC and OGG Vorbis). In addition, the unique Archos music browsing system allows you to create your playlists without using a PC. Who needs a tuner? Just plug your Archos 5 into amplified speakers and you're all set.

Experience Your Photos Browse through your photos with a simple flick of your finger or play a slideshow with music and transition effects. The high resolution screen is great for zooming in on details.

Take It All The devices features a 32 GB Flash drive and a microSD card slot for expanding the player's capacity, so you won't waste time choosing what files to bring along--take your entire media library with you.




Internet
Fast & Convenient Web Surfing The Archos 5 lets you easily surf the Web. With a Wi-Fi connection (802.11 b/g/n) and the new OMAP3440 processor running at 800 MHz, you get quick and responsive Internet browsing just like on a laptop, without the endless waits for page loads. Enjoy the Web in full width thanks to the 800 pixel wide screen, with no need to zoom in or out.

3.5 G Mobile Phone Connection If you own a standard mobile phone equipped with 3.5 G & Bluetooth technology, simply pair it up to your Archos 5 Internet Tablet via Bluetooth. This will give you easy access to Internet directly on your device anytime and anywhere.

Web TV and Web Radio In less than 3 clicks, you can access nearly 1,000 Web TV channels, over 10,000 Web radio stations, and 100,000 podcasts. There's no downloading wait time. Radio and TV start streaming directly from a worldwide list of traditional and independent radio and TV stations.

Media Club The Media Club remains the easiest way to get video and music content on the go. With an even richer library with new partners and some of the biggest industry names, you'll discover a large library of movies, documentaries, music albums, and games. Buy or rent your entertainment in a couple of clicks and start watching it on your Archos 5 Internet Tablet.



GPS
Full-Featured GPS Whether you are walking or driving, you will always find your destination with the on-board GPS. The GPS includes voice assistance, points of interest, fast multiple-route calculations, and car/pedestrian/adventure modes based on the latest maps from Tele Atlas with 3D landmarks.

You can go to your account at anytime on the Archos website and purchase the available maps or cities.

3D Photo-Realistic City Navigation Find your way around cities in 3D Photo Realistic mode. With multi-angle views and four zoom levels, you'll be able to recognize places as if you had taken your own photos from the sky. This is ideal when walking and visiting large cities in the US (available Q1 2010).

Free 7-Day Trial Try the GPS for 7 days free of charge.



TV
HD TV-Out With the Optional DVR Station or HDMI Mini Dock Turn your TV into a real web-connected multimedia platform. Enjoy all the Archos functions on the big screen of your living room. Watch your movies in HD (720p), listen to your music, share your high resolution pictures, play games or surf the Web.

Record your favorite programs with the Optional DVR Station With the optional DVR Station, you have the perfect match for your Archos 5 Internet Tablet at home. Record TV shows and movies in one step using with the included remote control. Then you can enjoy your recording at home on your wide-screen TV or in the palm of your hand when you are out.



Applications


Ready to go with pre-installed applications Enjoy a selection of fun and practical applications for daily use right out of the box:
eBuddy IM: for instant messaging The multi-platform instant messaging application. Chat from one place to all your friends on the various platforms. Supports MSN, Yahoo, Gtalk, Facebook, ICQ, MySpace and AIM (AOL)

DroidIn: for connecting to LinkedIn Connect to your LinkedIn account to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Stay informed about your contacts and industry. Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals. Control your career online.

Twitroid: for instant micro-blogging Twitroid is the industry-standard Twitter client for the Android platform. Easily access the famous free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables you to send and read tweets, publish short URLs and pictures.

Deezer: for music streaming Enjoy 35 free web radio stations and the SmartRadio directly on your Archos 5 Internet Tablet.

Dailymotion: for viewing and sharing videos Browse videos by searching tags, channels or user-created groups.

QuickPedia: for access to Wikipedia Access to the free web-based and collaborative encyclopedia.

ThinkFree Mobile: for viewing Office documents This application allows you to view, edit and create Microsoft Office 97/2000/XP/2003/2007 Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF documents. You will get a free update before year-end allowing you to also edit and create documents.

E-mail & contacts Stay in contact by using the full integrated Email and contacts applications.

Moov: toggles easily between your apps Moov wraps up your search needs all in one place, so you can quickly toggle between the product's contacts, Google, Wikipedia and the remaining Applications on your product.

CraigsPhone: for access to online classified advertisements CraigsPhone is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements--with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, resumes, and discussion forums.

High Paying Jobs: for access to a list of jobs (US & Canada only) Browse through jobs lists directly on the Product. Search over 2 million jobs from all the leading jobsites.



Add-ons
DVR Station This accessory allows you to record TV, play video back to your TV and charge your Archos. Recording your favorite programs has never been so easy. You can also surf the Web or stream web video to your TV while comfortably laid back on your couch using the included remote control as a keyboard and mouse pointer.

DVR Snap-on Use our DVR Snap-on to record from almost any audio or video analog source when you are on the move.

Mini Dock Transfer your files directly from USB keys, digital cameras, or other portable media players. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter. Play video out to your TV with video output in high quality S-Video or standard quality composite.

HDMI Mini Dock Optimize TV playback with HDMI output quality. Transfer your files directly from USB keys, digital cameras, or other portable media players from the standard USB port. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter.

Battery Dock Transfer your files directly from USB sticks, digital cameras, or other portable media players. Quickly charge your Archos with the included charger/adapter and get extended playback with the built-in backup battery. Play video out to your TV with video output in high quality S-Video or standard quality composite.



What's in the Box Archos 5 Internet Tablet with Android (32 GB), headphones, Standard USB cable, DVR Station adapter, Quick Start Guide (QSG), legal and safety notice.

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1/20/2012

Samsung SWA-4000 Wireless Receiver Review

Samsung SWA-4000 Wireless Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this product for use with the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System.
Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)
Even though the directions were sparse, using this was as simple as plugging in the rear speakers to the unit, plugging in the unit and inserting the transmitter card into the back of the Samsung Home Theater control unit.
At first I thought I didn't setup the unit properly because I didn't hear any sound from the rear speakers, but then I realized I just needed to set the Samsung Home Theater system to the right audio mode in order to get it to work. For example, the Dolby 5.1 mode only works if you are using a media such as the DVD or XBox360 that supports Dolby 5.1 to hear the rear speakers. If your source is something like a component audio device or coaxial cable you need to change the audio mode to "Cinema" or one of the other effects modes to use the rear speakers through the wireless link.
Most of the sources I have for my TV are Dolby 5.1 anyways, so when moving to a coaxial DirectTV player that doesn't do 5.1 I don't change the mode, I just go without the rear speakers -- it doesn't really bother me. The cool thing about this wireless unit is that when you shutdown the Home Theater system, the wireless unit senses the shutdown and puts itself into "standby" mode, thereby drawing very little power.
I've had the Samsung Home Theater and this wireless transmitter for two months now and I've had no problems. Very satisfied with the sound quality -- I've got an optical audio out from the TV to the Home Theater system and the rear speakers sound fantastic when driven by this wireless unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung SWA-4000 Wireless Receiver

Samsung wireless rear stereo amplifier receives 2.4GHz signals from DVD changer/receiver. It is designed to work with compatible Samsung home theater systems. It has 2-channel rear amplifier with transmission range up to 33 feet. It includes TX card to insert in DVD changer/receiver.

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1/19/2012

Valor Multimedia RM-1100WS 11-Inch Wide Screen Overhead Flip Down Monitor Review

Valor Multimedia RM-1100WS  11-Inch Wide Screen Overhead Flip Down Monitor
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Easy install if you are a little bit mechanically/electrically inclined. Took me 45 minutes to mount and wire it, but i didn't have to remove my headliner, so some installs may be a bit more tricky. Stereo shop wanted $400 for install, so i'm glad i did it myself. As for the quality, it is simple in design, but the video looks great. I use my car stereo speakers, so i haven't tried out the IR feature for headphones, but i plan on getting a set of headphones in the near future. Keep in mind this is not a DVD player, only a monitor. I have an in dash DVD player with video output to this screen. For the price of this unit, it gets all 5 stars.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Valor Multimedia RM-1100WS 11-Inch Wide Screen Overhead Flip Down Monitor

11-Inch Wide Screen 16:9 LCD Roof Mount Flip Down Monitor with IR Transmitter, 2 A/V Inputs, Dome Lights

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1/18/2012

Latte Café 32 GB Video MP3 Player with 4.3-Inch Touchscreen -- Amazon.com Exclusive (Silver) Review

Latte Café 32 GB Video MP3 Player with 4.3-Inch Touchscreen -- Amazon.com Exclusive (Silver)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have used latte's products and very satisfied with this little-knwon company's product.
First thing I would like to mention is that they have a very good customer service. I had my Ice 8GB mp3 player that I accidentally broke the screen and the latte replaced the whole unit to the new one.
Now I needed more memory space to upload my home videos and found this latte on Amazon. Ice 8GB is now passed to my son and I got this 32GB mp3 plus the 16GB extra memory. I uploaded most of my home videos(about 40GB) and still have plenty of memory space left for the music. My husband is using the Archos 60GB harddrive mp3 player, but now he wants this latte 32GB cafe mp3 because the response time is a lot faster than the Archos. My husband is telling me that it is becuase of the memory: flash memory should run faster than the harddrive memory.
*Screen: Very sensetive touch screen. Unlike ipod touch, cafe mp3 requires the double click to activate any buttons or lists. But for the price that is around half of the ipod touch 32GB(nowadays, it is around $399), I am very impressed about the quality of this cafe.
*There are not many choice for the high capacity mp3 and the prices are too expensive. I had my research on the high capacity mp3's and found ipod touch($399), Archos 60GB($269) , Sansa($175 but not touch screen and small screen), Zen($235 but not a touch screen), cowon($269.99), and latte cafe($189).
*Sound: reasonable sound quality. pretty much same sound as my previous latte Ice mp3 player(of course, they are from the same company ^_^)
*Video: I am very happy that I can now carry all of my home videos with me. cafe has TV connection feature but I haven't tested.
*Accessories: Nice leather case and the touch pen. Also, the good earphone.
I think the other 32GB mp3s are very overpriced compare to this latte. I hope my review helps.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Latte Café 32 GB Video MP3 Player with 4.3-Inch Touchscreen -- Amazon.com Exclusive (Silver)

Latte's Café portable media player boasts a 32 GB capacity (expandable with Micro SD cards), a 4.3-inch touchscreen with WQVGA resolution, wide audio and video format support, a voice recorder, and bonus features like a calendar and stopwatch. Add sleek design and an attractive metallic/gray finish, and you've got a perfect PMP package.


4.3-inch LCD Touchscreen Enjoy your favorite videos or pictures and navigate with ease on the Café's 4.3-inch touchscreen display with 480 x 272 (WQVGA) pixel resolution.

Built-In Speaker The Café features amplified dual speakers so you can share music or videos with friends. Throw on headphones for private listening.

Audio Player While some devices limit you with their skimpy format support, the Café will play MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC, and APE music formats for about 8-10 hours on a single charge. Standard play modes like repeat and shuffle are included, and of course the Café supports ID3 tages (versions 1 and 2) for displaying song info while you listen.

Dial in your sound with the seven-setting on-baord EQ and enjoy the tunes.

Video Player Take your favorite videos with you and enjoy them anywhere with the Café's brilliant screen. You'll get about four hours of video playback on a single charge.

The Café supports AVI, RM/RMVB, and FLV formats, so you can enjoy more video with less conversion.

Picture and Text Viewer Browse and view your favorite images in JPEG, BMP and GIF formats. Zoom in and out or play a slideshow for friends.

The Café also lets you view text (TXT) files.

Naturally, you can keep the tunes rolling while you enjoy these features.

Voice Recorder Record voice memos, meetings, lectures, or anything else you decide to point the built-in microphone at directly to your Café in WAV format.

Easy File Transfer and Portable Storage Enjoy transfer speeds of up to 4MB/S thanks to the Café's USB 2 interface. You can also use the Café as a USB storage drive for taking a few choice files with you.

Micro SD Card Slot Expand your available memory using Micro SD cards. Keep a few cards at the ready with whatever contents you like, and swap 'em out on the fly.

What's in the Box Latte Café 32 GB video MP3 player with 4.3-inch touchscreen (black), wall charger, stereo earphones, leather case, stylus, USB cable, manual


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1/17/2012

Mediagate - Windows Vista Certified Media Center MCE Remote Control w/ 2 Channel IR Emitter and Infrared Receiver for Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate Review

Mediagate - Windows Vista Certified Media Center MCE Remote Control w/ 2 Channel IR Emitter and Infrared Receiver for Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate
Average Reviews:

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This did exactly what it is supposed to - control my media PC. I wasn't careful in my shopping however, and I was expecting this to ALSO be a universal remote for my TV, and it is NOT-- but that's MY fault. Also, it would be nice if the instructions included information about how to program the colored buttons.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mediagate - Windows Vista Certified Media Center MCE Remote Control w/ 2 Channel IR Emitter and Infrared Receiver for Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate

Efficiently access your digital entertainment with our MCE remote control A single remote control gives you the freedom to access your entertainment from anywhere in the room. The friendly Mediate Center on-screen menus are specially designed for remote control interaction, delivering a fun, engaging and integrated digital media experience.All-access digital entertainment as close as your MCE remote controlUse the MCE remote control to enjoy more type of entertainment offered by your Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate PC. The MCE Remote Control and Receiver uses the on-screen interface to offer you TV / Video recording, personal Video, Movies, Music, Photos, and Radio. TV tuner card with FM radio capability required for live TV and radio functionality.Control your TV with this Remote ControlThe receiver also emits signal that will allow you to control your TV with this Remote Control at the same time. 2 in 1 Function!Familiar Controls Power - your Media Center PC and / or TV with our remote control Record - selected television programsPlay - selected media Replay - jumps recorded TV back few seconds, or jumps back one music track or one DVD chapterPause - audio, video, a slide show, or live or recorded TV *Start - and launches the Media Center Start menuVideos - accesses your video collectionMusic - accesses your music collectionPictures - access your photo collectionGuide - opens TV Program Guide to display available channels and programsLive TV - launches full-screen live TV ** TV tuner card with FM radio capability required for live TV and radio functionality

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Click here for more information about Mediagate - Windows Vista Certified Media Center MCE Remote Control w/ 2 Channel IR Emitter and Infrared Receiver for Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate

1/16/2012

Sony BRAVIA NX 800 Series 60-Inch LCD TV, Black Review

Sony BRAVIA NX 800 Series 60-Inch LCD TV, Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First of all, I actually bought the 60NX801, which i believe is the same unit as sold thru COSTCO. I bought it bundled with a T57 Blueray Home Theatre system,which is also top notch.If you never considered a HT sys, think again, you'll hear a lot more with the surround system, and it dramatically improves the viewing experience.
I shopped and "researched" for about a year, and also considered 3D units. I have been a SONY user for many years and feel very comfortable with thier products in general. A few months into the process, I eliminated all the other manufacturers which made the decision easier.Then the next decision was 3D or not. After viewing 3D's in numerous stores,including the Sony store, I thought it wasn't worth the hastle of batteries, glasses, etc. since many of the glasses I tried had some problem during the demos.
Making the decision, was further complicated by the so-called experts,especially CNET whose reviews never rated any TV very well. I assume once they found a TV they liked, they would be out of business. So, so much for the experts. I am sure you realize the "picture" usually looks great in the show room, and also depends very much on the subject matter. Finally, I got a couple of techies in the Sony store to give me thier opinion, since they set these systems up every day..both recommended this unit.
Setting up the TV and Home Theatre system is very simple and easy, but not intuitive. I screwed around with it for days, got wrong info from 3 Sony guys on the phone (not sure what continent they were on) but finally got it right. The Cable box goes into input 2 and HT goes into input 1.., go figure.that's it, simple, but not what i expected.
Finally, picture is great right out of the box, HD and the standard DVD is exceptional, I haven't tried a Blueray DVD yet, nor the Widgets, etc. I did upgrade the software via an ethernet connection, which was easy.
My only problem is that my room is on the small side, and i think the set is a bit oversized. Which brings me to this note, HD comes thru very well, but if the background is out of focus, say in a golf match, you notice it much more on a very large screen such as this. The quality is very dependent on the quality coming in, on a small set, the image would be more forgiving.
Finally, the TV and the HT system are "synchronized" or mated, so that the TV automatically sends the sound to the HT if it is on, or to its own speakers if the HT is off, a very convenient feature, in my opinion...one last thing, the unit is fixed to its stand and does not tilt forward and back.. not a big issue, mine tilts a bit into the room , but I can live with it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony BRAVIA NX 800 Series 60-Inch LCD TV, Black

Enjoy Full HD 1080p picture quality, premium contrast and energy-savings with the sleek and slim Edge LED backlit BRAVIA NX800 Series HDTV. Features an innovative six degree tilt for improved viewing at a lower angle. Also includes powerful motion performance technology and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for convenient access to your favorite entertainment apps including movies, TV shows, videos, music and more.

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1/15/2012

Galaxy G20 Keyless Entry Car Alarm with 4 Buttons Review

Galaxy G20 Keyless Entry Car Alarm with 4 Buttons
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you know how to install alarms this is for you. I had the car wiring diagram Older model Toyota Camry. I'm eletronicly capable knowledge wise and like to tackle things. I opted after trying it myself to have a car stereo place install it for $25. Works well otherwise. Simple alarm/door remote if thats what you are looking for. Toy alarm loudness which is not good.
I was looking for something just to operate my power door locks other than the $250 factory.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Galaxy G20 Keyless Entry Car Alarm with 4 Buttons

Galaxy Keyless Entry Car Alarm is a complete security and keyless entry system. It has two sleek four button remote controls with a separate lock and unlock. Its built-in parking light relay and plug-in dual zone impact sensoor make this product very handy. It also features a programmable three stage anti car-jack feature and remote keyless entry and accessory activation.

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