Pioneer AVIC-F900BT In-Dash Navigation Audio/Video Receiver with DVD Playback and Advance Voice Controls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I originally had the F700BT for 2 weeks and though I liked it I sent it back due to the following issues.
1.I had all the same issues as described on avic411 forum but I was not sure I wanted to wait for a firmware update. These problems are mentioned in other reviews.
2.There was no quick way to reroute/detour if you seen traffic ahead
3.MSN Direct could not be added later
So I returned it and ordered this F900BT. It was backordered for a long time because Pioneer was working on fixing the multiple issues. Now I have had it installed with the firmware update for about a week and went on a 17hr road trip to test it out fully. Now I am glad to say this stereo is meeting my expectations from the previews months ago.
Sound:
Better than my factory of course with the usual Pioneer EQs such as Powerful, Super Bass etc..
Screen:
Preupdate, the screen only looked good in the shade and washed out a lot in sunlight but after the update I can see it a lot better along with greyed out icons. The splash/startup screen can be customized with a jpg by SD card or usb drive. The button lighting can also be adjusted to match your car interior. The responsiveness is ok after startup. But sometimes it can be picky.
Nav:
The Nav is nice. I'm coming from a Garmin Nuvi 200 and a Kenwood 5120. Since the 900 comes with Bluetooth you can call the POIs in the device with a touch of a button. You can create a trip/route with stops/waypoints in it and manage them. You can preplan restroom and food breaks or site-see. There is a screen for progress and itinerary info. This screen can show you your progress along the trip whether its miles left or hours left or you can view the trip as turn by turn. Your map screen can show you a lot of info such as speed limit, your speed, next turn and second turn, time to destination/turn and estimated arrival. The only annoying them after the update is the green turn boxes stay on screen even if you have no route in. Another minor thing is the voice prompts happen to frequently, you'll notice this when entering/exiting a hwy or approaching a turn. There is also a button on the corner that shows what your currently listening to, that you can press and be sent to that screen. For instance, if its ipod, the current song will show on bottom along with album art. If you press the button it will take you to the main ipod screen with all the info. There are also tons of POIs in the unit, you can find them by: along route, near cursur, near destination, by current position. There is also a shortcut to POIs if you're just cruising around. Press the info button on right side of map, this will show you a zoomed out image of where you are. From here you can save your location or press "info" and it'll tell you all the POIs near you. You can also turn on speed warnings where it'll warn you when you're speeding. In the future Pioneer will introduce a POI creator. I'm not sure if this will enable proximity alerts such as Garmin's red light/speed cam warnings.
HD radio (add-on):
First, Pioneer does not tell you this but you need an antenna splitter or additional antenna for HD Radio Tuner to work. I got one off Ebay for $6 shipped. The antenna goes to HD and stereo, stereo needs it for MSN to work but if you're not using MSN then its fine. Pioneer told me this was aimed at the F700 since it doesn't have MSN, but anyway. Ok, I'm in Raleigh and we have about 12 HD channels and they sound GOOD. It was like night and day when I put my antenna back into stereo while waiting for the splitter. Plus with the $50 HD rebate this was a cheap upgrade. HD integrates into interface and takes control of FM/AM if no splitter is present. When you select the HD source you'll get 3 sets of FM presets and 1 set of AM presets. If you have a splitter this number is doubled because the FM source has its own 3 sets. Things work as expected but I have had two issues. One, when you press the next preset button (P. Ch > ) it tends to skip. For instance I'll be on P6 and it'll skip to P4 instead of P1. Two, preset info doesn't show up on the Preset list. You just have to remember whats there. In FM mode the presets are listed as 88.9, 97.5, 99.1 and so on but in HD mode its just blank. While in HD you can do HD Seek where it will find the next HD channel instead of static from standard FM. Yes you can still listen to standard FM while in HD source. At car startup music will begin in about 5 secs.
iPod:
iPod interface is great. I wouldn't say the manual searching is quick though but it has a huge shortcut, voice control. Just like Ford Sync, you can press a button and say "play artist..." and it will play that artist/album. You can tell it to show you artists, playlists and albums. It is really cool and is spot on. I was surprised by it getting Gnarls Barkley. Before the update the stereo had to catalogue the ipod at startup each time which was a pain but now you only need to do it once. Album art also shows up on the map as well. Videos look well also but I don't think videos work when you have a nav route on (dvds do though)(assuming you have the bypass connected, be safe and watch the road). Full startup time on mine is about 1:45 when ipod is left as default (left on when car turned off), but music begins after about 30 secs.
DVD:
DVDs look good to me not much to say here. You have a set of controls come up when the movie is playing such as pause and next, but you can also skip chapters by pressing the knob. On the main menu screen you get arrow controls and a enter button. When I put in my first dvd the unit became unresponsive to the controls and wouldn't eject but a reboot fixed that and it worked fine afterwards. If you're in route the voice prompts will mute the audio. You can either pause the movie or press `map' to see whats coming up and then return to movie. I only did this for my passengers so they wont annoy me.
MSN:
Depending on your area the info can be great. In Raleigh you get a lot of info but in Durham the signal is weak. Info comes through the FM antenna hence the need for a splitter for HD. If in a strong area, info comes in about 2 min. Traffic info will overlay on your map and if in route you will be guided around it. You can route to movie theatres or gas stations as well. Movie showtimes show up for the entire day and Gas prices may or may not be current but it tells you like this, $3.79 (+2 days) or $1.48 (today) wishful thinking I know.
Bluetooth:
Ok lets get the obvious out of the way, Blackberries are hit and miss with this. But I have a Samsung A900 and its works ok. Sounds good on my end and haven't had complaints on callers end. My friends Treo 755 works really well. You can transfer your phonebook, store 5 phones, call contacts by name (Call Mike) or number (call 919-771-7771). It says you can receive/view incoming txts as well but I have not got any while in car to test this. Others report it works though.
Overall I have to same I am very very satisfied with the unit. Glad I waited for it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-F900BT In-Dash Navigation Audio/Video Receiver with DVD Playback and Advance Voice Controls

You've been holding out for something that links all of your devices together into one seamless experience. You love the idea of a system that can be operated by the sound of your voice. It's time to stop wishing for the next great thing because it's here. This is your life made easier. Introducing the Pioneer AVIC-F900BT In-Dash Navigation AV Receiver with DVD Playback and Built-In Bluetooth.


A New Class of Navigation No more hassling with map discs. Now you don't have to worry about discs being misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen because we've done away with them for the F-Series navigation line. We've taken the entire TeleAtlas Database that was previously on the two-DVD set, compressed it down, and stored it internally on flash memory.

Freedom of Speech The AVIC-F900BT offers a new generation of voice recognition capability for controlling iPod playback and making calls hands-free via connected Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. The technology accepts and recognizes conversational phrases and language, filters out superfluous sounds and phrases, and if the user doesn't give enough information in the command, the unit will ask additional questions to clarify the request.

Subscribe to a Better Solution The AVIC-F900BT comes equipped with a built-in MSN Direct tuner. At a glance, see updated road conditions, search for movie times, find the best gas deals in your area, and get directions - all without leaving the car! See current conditions and the three-day forecast to better plan your day. The service is available through MSN Direct data subscription service.

Bluetooth Technology: In Touch, Hands-Free The AVIC-F900BT comes with built-in Bluetooth. Now you never need to miss a call, even if your tunes are cranked up or your phone is buried in your bag.

Simplified Menus and 3D Landmarks Simplified menus and intuitive icons shorten the learning curve, allowing you to quickly and efficiently start using the system. Quickly enter destinations, browse music libraries, or adjust settings. Enhances your map with 3D Landmarks. Our advanced iPod integration allows exclusive features like iPod album art overlaid on the navigation display.

Mobile Media Pioneer has created a line of Navigation systems that make it easy to play various digital and audio formats like: DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW discs, Portable Media Players like iPod, USB memory devices, and SD Cards. We can play a wide range of files types as well, such as MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and MPEG-4 video files.

Make It Personal Personalize your drive. AVIC FEEDS freeware contains POI Creator, Driving Report, and Picture Editor Applications. You never know where the road will take you, but our POI Creator can help you get started on the right path.

Blending In Like its predecessor, the AVIC-D3, the new AVIC-F900BT allows you to change the illumination color to match your car. Select from among 32,768 different colors to match car interior and dashboard lighting.

Seeing Is Believing The old WQVGA displays that most Navigation units use are 480x234 pixels. However, our WVGA display is much higher quality at 800 x 480 pixels. Images become sharper and more defined, just like our maps and menus on these units. The display's enhanced GUI (Graphic User Interface) has also advanced, making system control and management effortless.

iPod Control Made Simple With the new CD-IU230V cable, you can directly control your music and videos from your iPod. Fast and easy control through USB, the AVIC-F900BT also features iPod Album Art display, Alphabetical Speed Search, and much more. Click Here to see iPod compatibility chart.

Adding Another Set of Eyes For safer parking, try using the ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA backup cameras. The system automatically displays images shot from a connected camera as the vehicle shifts into reverse.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVIC-F900BT, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet.

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Samsung Nexus S 4G Android Phone (Sprint) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This phone literally has everything I've wanted in a device - for that reason, it didn't even occur to me that the actual phone signal and calling would be the fatal flaw here. I get terrible reception everywhere, and the wifi signal is weak even when I'm in the next room from the router. I have friends who own the Evo 4g that get great reception where I get none. I miss calls and then get random voicemails, the phone cuts out and then comes the "can you hear me, did you hear me, I couldn't hear you for a second" frustrations. Thats just unacceptable. This is literally the only major issue I have with this phone, and its sad that it happens to be a HUGE DEALBREAKING ISSUE. I will be returning my device if I don't hear of some sort of firmware fix or something in the next few days.
Apart from the actual phone calling and data reception, when I actually do get enough signal, I can video chat on gtalk, use google voice, google maps navigation, and all the other great features that shine in Google's Gingerbread OS. The processor is super fast and the interface is sleek and smooth, I've downloaded a ton of apps and they all work flawlessly and smoothly. Installing and uninstalling apps is instantaneous.
Pros:
-Fast, sleek, perfect size (not huge like the evo), better battery life than other android devices .
-Front facing camera for video chat
-Great camera for taking pictures
-NFC functionality for google wallet
-processor and interface is fast
-Netflix!
Dealbreaker Cons:
-SIGNAL / RECEPTION ISSUES - and yes, its this sprint device that is the issue, not the network. I have a buddy I ran around all day with the other weekend that owns a Sprint Evo 4g and where I was missing calls and not getting data, he was getting blazing fast operation on voice and data.
-Horrible echo for the person on the other end of the line when using SPEAKERPHONE
-Extended batteries that require a larger back casing will disable the NFC functionality (part of whatever makes this work is housed in the OEM back cover). I'm used to a blackberry that goes days without charging, so for me, I need a larger battery for these android phones. I don't care if it makes the phone bigger if it lets me get through a day without charging. Not having an official extended battery with special NFC-enabled back cover really detracts from the overall "all in one device". Looks like you're stuck carrying your actual wallet if you want longer battery life.
Other minor cons:
-no upgradeable memory, you're stuck with 16gigs. This is plenty for me, but some of you that use your phones for watching movies and storing all of your music, an option to load different micro sd cards will be terribly missed.
-keyboard takes some getting used to, and you will never be as fast as you would on an actual qwerty like on a blackberry
-google disabled facebook integration on this device so it won't pull data and pictures from facebook into your contacts automatically. there are some workarounds, but not really worth the time.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung Nexus S 4G Android Phone (Sprint)


Get the ultimate Google experience at 4G speeds with the Nexus S 4G for Sprint, which pairs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor and integrated Google Voice capabilities. A thin-profile contour display gives the Nexus S a unique slim and trim size that fits easily in the palm of your hand, and its brighter, high-contrast screen means colors are incredibly vibrant and text is crisp at any size--even when viewed in bright sunlight.

It runs on Sprint's expanding 4G network, offering simultaneous voice and data connectivity and download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G. Additionally, the phone can still connect to 3G data services in areas not currently served by Sprint's 4G network (learn more about Sprint's 4G network below).

The Nexus S is packed with the latest mobile technologies, including a Super AMOLED Contour Display with curved glass screen, 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, and Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking plus 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability for sharing your 4G connection with up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. And with support for Near Field Communications (NFC), the Nexus S can read information from "smart" tags, or everyday objects that have NFC chips in them--from stickers and movie posters to t-shirts.

The phone is outfitted with a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera plus a front-facing camera for easy video chats on the go. Other features include assisted GPS (A-GPS) for navigation and location-based services, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, haptic feedback vibration, access to both personal and corporate e-mail, and up to 6 hours of talk time. And with the Nexus S, you'll always be the first to receive software upgrades and new Google mobile apps as soon as they become available.

Google Voice Integration
With Google Voice, your phone number is more than just 10 digits--it's the main hub of your voice communications. You get one number that rings all your phones--up to six different phones--with intelligent call routing and advanced features like call screening, blocking, and recording. You also get transcribed voicemail that's sent to you via email and/or text message, low-priced international calling, custom voicemail greeting capabilities, and more.

You'll be able to use your current Sprint wireless phone number as your Google Voice number without having to port your number, avoiding porting charges and potential service disruptions. So now when someone calls your Sprint mobile phone number, it can also ring your office, your home, or even your Gmail account. And if you already have a Google Voice number, calls made from your Sprint mobile phone can display your Google Voice number automatically.

Android, 2.3 (Gingerbread)
The Nexus S 4G runs the Android 2.3 platform (dubbed "Gingerbread")--the fastest version of Android available for smartphones yet. It features a cleaner, more refined interface with new icons, improved top notification bar, and more intuitive navigation. Multitasking in Gingerbread allows you the ability to run more than one app at a time. If you're playing a game, you can easily switch to an incoming email and then switch back to the game without losing your place.

A new onscreen keyboard makes it easier to type thanks to additional spacing between the keys and larger font sizes. And the more you use the keyboard, the easier typing will be as the enhanced suggest feature records previous input history to make better suggestions.

With Voice Actions for Android, you can press and hold the Search button from anywhere and speak almost anything--text messages and emails, navigation direction queries, opening web pages, and more. And like the previous version of Android ("Froyo"), Gingerbread provides support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web.

The Nexus S 4G also brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services you use every day, including Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Calendar™, Picasa™, and YouTube™. It also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Picasa, & YouTube are trademarks of Google, Inc.

Near-Field Communications
An NFC Reader application lets your read and interact with near-field communication (NFC) tags. For example, you can "touch" or "swipe" an NFC tag that might be embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement, then act on the data read from the tag. A typical use would be to read a tag at a restaurant, store, or event and then rate or register by jumping to a web site whose URL is included in the tag data.

Vital Statistics
The Nexus S weighs 4.6 ounces and measures 4.87 x 2.48 x 0.44 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of talk time. It runs on Sprint's 4G network as well as the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A frequencies.

What's in the Box

Nexus S handset, rechargeable battery, AC charger/USB cable combo, 3.5mm headset, quick start guide

Sprint's Blazing Fast 4G Network
Sprint 4G offers a faster wireless experience than any other U.S. national wireless carrier, and Sprint is the only national carrier offering wireless 4G service in 32 markets (with more coming online soon). Sprint 4G delivers download speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, giving this mobile phone the fastest data speeds of any U.S. wireless device available today. Sprint 4G network coverage is expected to reach 120 million people by the end of 2010.

Sprint 4G services dramatically increase download speeds for photos, videos and large files. You can download a favorite song, picture, sitcom or large video in seconds, not minutes, or watch live streaming video--all while on the go, not just from the home or office. Additionally, businesses can benefit from the fast connectivity speeds of 4G. Some examples include:

Real estate agents can conduct virtual property tours.
Construction teams using 4G in the field can save valuable time by sharing schematics with engineers online.
Insurance companies can speed their claims management through real-time communication with on-site adjusters.
Health care professionals can improve their ability to remotely monitor patients.
Emergency first responders can rapidly assess and coordinate disaster action with real-time on-site video and audio.
Photojournalists can instantly transfer high-resolution images to the newsroom.



Also Available for This Android Device

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Metra 99-7871 Honda Civic 2006-UP Dash Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There aren't too many choices when buying a dash kit for the '06 Honda, and I had read a lot of reviews for other, higher priced kits that were really well made but didn't match the dash color exactly. Color match is important to me, and I was really happy with the Metra kit - it matches exactly. You'd think it was factory installed, and the quality is just fine.

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Pioneer CNDV-100MT Map Update for AVIC-D and -N Series Navigation Models (DVD) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This version is not much better than the 2007 one. Errors in some cases are over 10 years old. I'm sorry I bought it

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Garmin City Navigator 2009 Mexico Map microSD Card Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have purchased this and already used it in Mexico. It is helpful to get you to any of the MAJOR cities but even within Guadalajara it was clearly very dated and did not compare favorably with a GPS that my friend was using that he purchased in Mexico.
I bought the Garmin GPS specifically so I could use this map in Mexico. I called Garmin and asked when an update would be available and was told they have no plans to update. When traveling to Ajijic it did not show ANY streets or even a road to get to the city. Ajijic is on the shore of Lake Chipala -- the largest lake in Mexico.
Let us hope with that with more requests Garmin will finally update this map. It is at least five years out of date.
KS


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JVC KW-AVX710 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN CD/DVD/MP3/iPod Bluetooth-Ready Touchscreen Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)No USB connector and no SD card slot as stated in the description of the reciever.

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC KW-AVX710 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN CD/DVD/MP3/iPod Bluetooth-Ready Touchscreen Receiver

This Double-DIN receiver can play DivX and other video formats on the wide 7-inch monitor, which is also a user-friendly touch panel. With GIGA MP3 MULTI, a huge amount of songs in MP3/WMA/WAV format can be played from a single disc. The 7-band iEQ lets you fine tune the sound to your taste. You can also enjoy iPod, Bluetooth Wireless Technology, HD Radio, and SAT Radio with optional devices.

CDs, DVDs and More Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs.
You can also enjoy your favorite WMA/MP3/WAV audio files, or take in MPEG1/2 videos or JPEG images, from disc or from a USB device.
AM/FM Radio The KW-AVX710 features an AM/FM radio with standards like automatic presetting. You can also add SAT or HD radio with additional accessories.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
To get even more from the airwaves, add JVC optional hardware for HD Radio or SAT Radio reception.
Stylish Frame Design With its smooth slope from side to bottom, the faceplate's simple streamlined contour blends perfectly with your car interior.
Customizable Interface Choose from 12 different GUI colors and multiple graphic options to match your car interior.
Multimedia Connectivity Connect, control, and charge your iPod or iPhone with full speed using its existing charging cable. Also compatible with Portable HDD Devices, USB Flash Memory Drives, and Digital Audio Players (KS-U30 Cable required for iPod/iPhone video connections).
Dial in Your Sound Perfect your sound with a three-band parametric equalizer and Loudness control for low level listening.
Input and Output Two pairs of 2.5V preamp outputs are provided for adding a little extra power to the KW-AVX710's onboard 50W x 4 amplifier.
An AV input is also included for use with video game systems or other devices, and you can also use the composite video output terminals to send video to a passenger screen.
Bluetooth Ready Bluetooth Wireless Technology is available with an optional adapter. A maximum of five compatible mobile phones can be registered for hands-free calling. With voice-recognition mobile phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your mobile phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player, for listening on your car stereo.
Wireless Remote A full-featured wireless remote is include for controlling receiver functions.
What's in the Box JVC KW-AVX710 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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DOD GS600 Car Black Box DVR & GPS Logger 1920x1080 HD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this Camera about 1 month. The idea is great but the camera itself and the software leave a lot to be desired.
The Remote is very weak. You have to pretty much have to hold it right up to the frt of the camera to get it to work. Changing any settings is just a royal PITA and that's assuming you can get the remote to work.
Customer support is all but non existent. The DOD forum is not up and running. E mails go unanswered. I suspect that DOD America is 1 or 2 people running a business from a 1 bedroom apartment. Slick website, but that's all.
The actual Video quality is good. That said this is on the highest resolution and a 16 GB card fills up very quickly. Once the card is full the camera stops recording and seems to corrupt all the files on the card.
The DOD Player sucks. End of story. I never use it anymore.
The idea is great but this camera needs a lot of work before it is a good product. I would not recommend the product at this time.
Customer service is Abysmal. I would not recommend DOD America.

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PIONEER AVIC-N4 IN-DASH DVD w/NAVIGATION & TOUCHSCREEN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My Corvette has only a 1.5 din radio slot, so the 1 din AVIC N4 was the perfect solution to not being able to install a 2 din in-dash unit.
My problem: My Garmin was great, but in the Washington, DC area there simply are no clear FM frequencies that will allow communication with the radio. The AVIC N4 solves that problem, because the navigation is built into the unit. One of the cool things it does is to locate addresses by punching in a phone number. Since it is satellite radio ready, I also get no interference when I'm listening to XM Radio.
As to the CD player, it simply will play any format you can put onto a CD. The DVD player is just gravy.
One annoying aspect is that the vehicle must be stopped with the parking break on before a route can be programmed. Also, the map CD must be in the unit to program a route. Ejecting the map CD will put the navigator into memory mode so you can play your CDs.
Bluetooth allows you to make and receive phone calls through the unit without ever removing your cellphone from your belt. It allows you to store an extensive phone book of numbers.
I'm very happy with this unit.


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Magellan Maestro 5310 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just to clarify: I own this unit and while it's exactly what I was looking for (needing neither Bluetooth nor Voice Command) I can clarify the inaccurate information stated above - the 5310 has neither of these features. The Magellan Maestro 4050 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator has both features available for those who are interested. It is possible that we'll see Voice Command came out as an upgrade for the 5310 as it did for the 4050, but it's not there now. That said, this is a great little unit with a large, easy-to-read screen, great AAA extras, good maps and a very intuitive user interface. I'd highly recommend it and at $350 Amazon has one of the best prices I've seen (it's $500 elsewhere).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Magellan Maestro 5310 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

The Maestro 5310 delivers a superior navigation experience, in an ultra-wide 5" screen that makes it easy for customers to enter their destination and go. With large icons and buttons, it is now easier than ever for drivers to get to their destination. Advanced features include integrated live traffic alerts, a highly intuitive user interface that guides drivers to their destination with on-screen prompts, 6 million points of interest, and more. Built-in Navteq Maps includes pre-loaded maps of the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The included Live Traffic Alert service comes with a free 3-month subscription, and provides both real-time traffic updates, and reroutes drivers when an alternate route is available.SmartDetour prompts drivers to route around heavy or stopped freeway traffic Exit POIs make it easy to access commonly used POIs while driving on the freeway AAA TourBook travel information for the United States and Canada AAA member Roadside Assistance details AAA Show Your Card & Save member discount locations Atlas III GPS Chipset 5-10 meters GPS Accuracy 1900mAH Li-Ion rechargeable battery, up to 3 hours Route Calculator Methods -Fastest Time, Shortest Distance, Least Use of Freeways, and Most Use of Freeways Option to Avoid All Toll Roads Basic VantagePoint Support Dimensions -Height 3.61 x Width 5.64 x Depth 0.79 (9.18x14.34x2.03cm) Weight -6.9 ounces (196 grams)

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Motorola Atrix 4G Android Phone (AT&T) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been an iPhone user ever since the first iPhone and upgraded to every version of an iPhone, every other year I would upgrade at full price. What I can tell you is I've had the Atrix for only a few days and the customization that you can do with Android phones is Incredible.
I'll try and list what I like about it;
You can customize widgets to your home screen to display a mini version of your most used programs, I use it like a preview without having to open the program.
There is a bar across the top of the phone that has all the phone notifications.
I use the Finger print recognition to unlock the phone which I find it to be much faster than entering a code, there is a code backup just in case something happens to the fingerprint reader or if you are wearing gloves.
Downloading and Installing applications is faster than any phone I've ever used. There are a lot of Free apps on the Android Market that are paid apps on the App Store.
The best analogy I can tell you is; This phone is like a custom race car, It will take a few days to customize, but once you do, it's like nothing you've ever driven before.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Motorola Atrix 4G Android Phone (AT&T)


Enjoy the power of mobile computing in the palm of your hand with the Motorola ATRIX 4G for AT&T, which offers a 1 GHz dual-core processor and the ability to connect to AT&T's ultra-fast 4G mobile broadband network. Powered by the Android 2.2 platform (learn more below), it also features Motorola's webtop application, which offers a PC-like experience and runs a full Mozilla Firefox 3.6 browser with support for Adobe Flash Player (requires optional dock).

With AT&T's 4G network, you'll enjoy mobile broadband speeds up to 4x faster than AT&T's already fast mobile broadband network (learn more below). You also get the optional AT&T Mobile Hotspot service built right into the smartphone--enabling you to connect additional Wi-Fi-enabled devices to the phone's mobile broadband signal.

The NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor (2 x 1 GHz) allows you to multi-task quickly, while the 1 GB of RAM provides PC-like power and performance. The 4-inch qHD touchscreen display offers a rich 24-bit color depth and a 960 x 540-pixel resolution for extremely sharp images.

Other features include a 5-megapixel camera/camcorder that can capture video at HD 720p resolution, ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth for stereo music streaming and connecting to peripherals, 16 GB internal memory, microSD expansion (up to 32 GB), MOTOBLUR for integrated social networking, GPS for location-based services and navigation using Google Maps, HDMI audio/video output, and up to 9 hours of talk time.

It's complemented by optional accessories that include a super-thin laptop dock--for which ATRIX 4G is the "engine"--and an HD media dock that uses ATRIX 4G's HDMI video output capabilities and processing power to enable a revolutionary browsing, application, productivity, and media experience (learn more below).

Your Digital Hub
The Motorola ATRIX 4G is the only smartphone that allows you to carry the power and performance of mobile computing inside your pocket. Motorola ATRIX 4G is built around a 1 GHz dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM for the horsepower you need to keep pace with all aspects of your life. Web pages open twice as fast as non-dual-core smartphones and Adobe Flash Player makes it possible to view a full range of online animations and video.

PC Power from Your Smartphone
You'll be able to create, edit, and interact with all your documents, media, and content using Motorola's webtop application (when connected to an optional dock). The ATRIX 4G can be used to browse your favorite web sites with a full Firefox desktop browser, view social networking sites, and use HTML5 web-based applications and supported cloud computing services while running your Android applications in a window. And you'll also be able to send instant messages and make phone calls--all at the same time. Calls continue uninterrupted even if the ATRIX 4G is removed from the dock.

To access the webtop application, with the Laptop Dock, simply dock the phone to the Laptop Dock and webtop launches automatically. Or, dock your phone in the HD Multimedia Dock and choose between webtop and Entertainment Center mode.

Empower Your Fun
The dual-core processor lets the ATRIX 4G render graphics and games faster, and everything you see on the ATRIX 4G screen is in crisp, rich 24-bit color with the world's first qHD (Quarter High Definition) smartphone display. With the U-verse mobile app from AT&T, U-verse subscribers can browse a library of shows for streaming to the ATRIX 4G, and remotely schedule recordings on their DVRs at home.

And the ATRIX 4G offers up to 48 GB of memory--16 GB on board and an optional 32 GB microSD card--giving you space to store thousands of songs, photos, and files to keep you entertained wherever your life takes you.

Enhanced MOTOBLUR
MOTOBLUR is Motorola's exclusive experience that syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more--from your favorite social media sites, work and personal e-mail, and last.fm--and automatically delivers them to your home screen.

Filter social networking and messages widgets: Filter by social networking account, by contact(s) or by contact group to only see the information you want.
Improved social networking functionality: Retweet, like Facebook comments, and more.
Screen customization: Move and resize preloaded widgets on up to three home screens.
Battery manager: Manage battery consumption by operating in one of three performance modes.
Personal and corporate e-mail: Pushed directly to the device.





Connectivity
Ultra-fast 4G connectivity via AT&T's HSPA+ network (with enhanced backhaul). See more about AT&T's 4G service below.
Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
Optional AT&T Mobile Hotspot service enabling you to connect multiple devices--from tablets to gaming devices--to the phone's 3G/4G cellular connection via Wi-Fi.
Onboard GPS for navigation and location services
Integrated Google Maps with turn-by-turn navigation, street and satellite views
Optional AT&T Navigator service includes audible turn-by-turn directions, real-time traffic updates, and re-routing options.
Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, A2DP audio streaming, and for connecting to peripherals like a wireless keyboard.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola ATRIX 4G weighs 4.76 ounces and measures 4.64 x 2.5 x 0.43 inches. Its 1930 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 9 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours (10+ days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as AT&T's dual-band 4G network (850/1900 MHz; HSPA+/HSDPA/UMTS).

What's in the Box

Motorola ATRIX 4G handset, removable battery, charger, USB cable, HDMI cable, quick start guide





Accessories That Make The ATRIX Smartphone Smarter
Motorola complements the ATRIX 4G with two unique companion docks that enable you to have an enhanced and more interactive computer-like experience.

AT&T 4G Network
This phone runs on AT&T's dual-band 850/1900 MHz 4G network (UMTS/HSDPA/HSPA+), and with HSPA+ you'll experience mobile data speeds up to 4x faster than ordinary mobile broadband--up to approximately 6 Mbps (download). AT&T has deployed HSPA+ to virtually 100 percent of its mobile broadband network, which enables 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul (via Ethernet or fiber).

Backhaul is one of the major pieces of a telecommunications network. Think of it as the limbs connecting AT&T's cell towers with AT&T's backbone network that provides access to the Internet.

Coming later in 2011, AT&T will deliver a second layer of 4G network called LTE (Long Term Evolution) that is even faster than HSPA+ speeds.

In areas where either AT&T's 3G or 4G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the AT&T EDGE network, which offers availability in more than 13,000 US cities and along some 40,000 miles of major highways.

Note: AT&T's 4G mobile broadband coverage is not available in all areas. 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul; availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment.

Android Operating System
The ATRIX 4G runs the latest Android operating system--OS 2.2 (aka, Froyo)--which provides a faster overall Android experience as well as greater multitasking capabilities. You'll be able to receive notifications, listen to music, and even record GPS data without keeping the application open. And it features a plethora of new enhancements, including an improved onscreen QWERTY keyboard, full push corporate e-mail, and support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web. It also offers enhanced Exchange support, with Calendar syncing, Global Address Lookup, improved security, auto-discovery, and more.

With integrated Google technology, the ATRIX 4G brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, GTalk instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The ATRIX 4G also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets, and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

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Power Acoustik PTID-8310NRB Single-DIN 8.3-Inch Flip-Up Nav-Ready TFT-LCD Touchscreen A/V Source Unit with Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So i bought this deck awhile back, like last year, anyway its a great deck, you can hook RCA's up or wires for your speakers right out the back of the deck. anyway, its a really great deck, everything worked, and everything is very impressive, screen is huge, and fits perfectly in my car. Now ive read some other reviews and people are complaining that the DVD player and SD card reader dont work. TO THOSE PEOPLE< READ THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!. If you want that to work you have to go into the harness of the radio and install and ground the BLACK WIRE, to the ground, this wire is suppose to be installed to the handbreak so when it is pulled you can watch movies (its a safety option) you can by pass it by grounding it out. i really hate that this deck is very impressive but is getting horrible reveiws becuase of the dvd option, i will assure that the deck will work and be a perfect addition to your car. Message me with any questions, i could install these things for a living haha.

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Power Acoustik's going huge with this receiver--the single-DIN unit boasts an 8.3-inch flip-up screen. Yes, you read that right: The company developed a new ultra-slim transport (only half an inch) and rotational mechanism to give you the big picture. It comes with two cages that will allow for hooded dash installs or a flusher install where no hooded dash exists. Enjoy a superb picture with 800 x 480 resolution, playback of your favorite media, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth technology, and then some. You can also add the optional NaviBox-1 for full NAVTEQ navigation.

Huge 8.3-Inch Screen The PTID-8310NRB boasts an 8.3-inch in-dash screen, for uncompromising entertainment. The motorized, LED-backlit LCD telescopes forward and backward with preset angles. It offers 800 x 480 pixel resolution with a 400 NIT brightness rating, for a picture to rival anything else out there. It's also a touchscreen, for quick and easy navigation of system features.
When not in use, the screen tucks safely away into the receiver, thanks to Power Acoustik's unique rotating mechanism. A standard DOT display picks up the slack when you're not using it.
Integrated Bluetooth Make hands-free calls or stream music with integrated Bluetooth technology. The PTID-8310NRB works with most Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, and it includes a built-in microphone.
A2DP profile support means you can stream audio from compatible devices directly to your stereo, with no cable needed.
Enjoy Your Media Play back your favorite discs with support for DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, and VCD formats. You can also enjoy DivX and MP4 video, along with MP3/WMA audio (from disc, SD card, or USB devices).
Dial in the sound with custom or preset EQ settings, along with audio staging controls.
Prefer the radio? The PTID-8310NRB features an AM/FM radio with 18 FM and 12 AM presets, for instant recall of your favorite stations.
50W x 4 MOSFET Amplifier The built-in 50W x 4 amp provides plenty of output to start with; but for those who want a little more system, three sets of 4V preamp outputs (front, rear, sub) are included. Add some external amps for some chassis-shaking power.
Front-Panel Inputs You get plenty of input options with this receiver. Put your favorite media on SD cards or a USB thumb drive, and plug right into the slot/port on the front of the device.
There's also a standard 3.5-mm auxiliary input, so no matter what your device, chances are you can connect it.
Navigation-Ready Just add the optional NaviBox-1 (sold separately), and you'll have a full-featured NAVTEQ navigation system at your fingertips. Get realistic intersection views, turn-by-turn instructions, 2D and 3D map viewing, and plenty more.
Remote Included Control unit functions with the provided full-featured remote.
What's in the Box PTID-8310NRB receiver, Bluetooth microphone, remote control, wiring harness, and installation hardware.

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Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector (Black/Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Here is my "short list" of the top performing windshield mount radar detectors which are available from any manufacturer and at any price. This list is grouped in order of decreasing performance. Models within a particular group have nearly identical performance:
Valentine V1
Escort Redline
Beltronics STi Driver
Escort 9500ix
Beltronics GX65
Escort 9500i
There you have it. That is the short list of the top performing windshield radar detectors.
In a nutshell, the V1 and the STi are designed primarily for highway driving and long road trips. The models listed in the second group are designed mainly for suburban and city driving since they feature GPS in order to filter out known false alert locations. Those false alerts are caused by either X band or K band microwave automatic door openers and by alarm systems which use radar motion sensors.
The V1 has front and rear antennas plus arrows to indicate where the radar source is located -- front, back, or to the side. Yet the V1 is readily detected by the Spectre radar detector detector (RDD) which is used by police in VA and by the DSP in Texas to nab motorists who are using radar detectors. The STi, on the other hand, is completely immune to detection by the Spectre RDD or any other RDD since the STi does not emit any type of microwave radiation. In short, the STi truly is a stealth radar detector and its steath makes the STi worth its weight in gold.
I have extensively road tested both the V1 and the STi. Both perform very similarly in terms of overall performance, with the V1 having a very slight edge. Yet the STi's stealth, combined with its superior quietness when used in cities or other suburban areas makes the STi the clear winner in my book. The STi, unlike the V1, is also extraordinarily easy to program in order to configure its settings to perfectly suit your needs. My one major caveat regarding the STi is that its built-in speaker isn't very loud. But this issue is easily solved by installing the extremely loud amplified remote speaker which Beltronics includes with the STi. You can hear the remote speaker with the top down and with the radio blaring.
In short, the Beltronics STi Driver is my favorite windshield mount radar detector. It is so good that I use it all the time even though I also have the Escort 9500ci remote installed radar detector and laser shifter system installed in my car. I always operate one or the other radar detector in bar graph signal strength display mode with the other radar detector in radar frequency display mode. This way I not only know how strong a radar threat is, but also the specific nature of the radar threat. For example, 24.7 frequency Ka radar guns are relatively easy to detect, but 35.5 frequency Ka radar guns are harder to detect since these radar guns have very long and narrowly tapered radar antennas. You have to slow down immediately when detecting 35.5 Ka radar since most of the time there is no easy way to determine just how far away the 35.5 radar gun really is.
Finally, although the Beltronics STi Driver is my favorite windshield mount radar detector for my particular driving needs, it may not be the most ideally suited radar detector for you. For example, if most of your driving (or my driving) is suburban/city driving, then I would pick one of the radar detectors which I listed in the second group. On the other hand, if you are a road warrior who logs hundreds of interstate miles every month and if you frequently travel through VA or TX, then the STi Driver is your only real choice. Excluding these two states, then the V1 also is an excellent choice, and at that point it boils down to your own personal preferences as to what features between these two radar detectors which are most important to you.
If you buy a used STi, keep in mind that most likely it will not have any warranty. If you buy an STi from an unauthorized dealer, then it will have no warranty whatsoever. If you buy a used STi, then you should be willing to send it to Beltronics and have it flashed with their latest firmware which addresses several issues and which improves overall performance. Yes, there will be a fee for this service, but on the other hand, a used STi with the latest firmware flash will perform exactly like a brand new STi. Something to think about.
So, there you have it! I always try to cut to the chase and write unbiased product reviews.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Beltronics STi Driver Radar Detector (Black/Silver)

The Beltronics STi Driver features a new platform for radar detection. A magnesium housing provides extra durability and shields the STi Driver from detection. Exclusive TotalShield technology makes this top of the line detector invisible to radar detector detector, including VG-2 and Spectre. Beltronics doesn't skimp on the advanced warning systems, either. With two forward-looking antennas, you are well protected against X, K, and Ka-band radar, including "POP" Ka-band instant-on radar. Multiple laser sensors sweep at long range, and you'll be protected against false alarms by the AutoScan feature. You can program the STi Driver's sensitivity for city or highway. For a drive-worry free car trip, get the leading STi radar detector.9 programmable features 280 LED alphanumeric display voltage meter display 2 city modes and highway mode Operating Bands - X-band -10.525 GHz +- 25 MHz; K-band -24.150 GHz +- 100 MHz; Ka-band -34.700 GHz +- 1300 MHz; Laser -904nm, 33MHz bandwidth Dimensions -3 1/16 W x 1 1/4 H x 4 3/4 D

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USA-Spec PA15-HON2 Honda to iPod Interface Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ordered a USA Spec PA15HON2Y to use my iPhone 3G in my 2005 Accord. I looked at multiple products including a parrot MKi9100 and DICE. Ended up choosing going with a USA Spec and a separate Parrot bluetooth unit (MK3000) since it 1) was price right and 2) offered integration with the factory radio.
My Accord has built in Navigation so I wanted something that would play nice. The USA Spec unit does integrate with my nav and radio. You can set up the USA Spec to display using text of what is playing (Artist, name, category). This will scroll through the upper radio display on the Accord as well as on the Audio menu on the navigation screen. If you want text, it will put the iPod menu on the iPhone into accessory mode and will not allow you to select specific songs directly from the iPhone. You will need to use the stereo controls or the steering wheel controls to scroll. There is the option to give you direct access to the iPod screen (you adjust modes by the pre programmed XM stations ie XM station 1 would be Artist, 2 would be by Category, 3, all songs, 6 is direct ipod). If you do choose to toggle to the direct iPod control, you lose the text - it'll just show as iPod.
The USA Spec unit will also allow you to keep XM functionality in the Accord. The XM stations show up on XM2 mode.... I don't subscribe to XM but can still hear their barker/preview stations.
One concern I had was that I definitely did not want to lose my navigation controls... safe to say it all still works... the Nav still shows maps, etc as well as provides voice directions. It will continue to mute (like it normally does) XM, FM, and iPod music when it gives you directions.
Installation wasn't too bad - took awhile to get everything out (and yes you have to take out the factory navigation to get to the right plug). After you pull out the nav unit, it's plug and play (unplug the blue plug from the back of the Honda Nav, plug in the male end of the cable that attaches to the USA Spec unit, plug in the additional adapter, then plug in the original Honda Nav plug right into the additional adapter (the adapter allows you to keep your XM).
I used some heavy duty auto tape to secure the litte USA spec box on top of the nav DVD drive and ran the ipod cable through the empty slot below (had to cut a small opening). I put everything back together and everything is hidden and seamless (except the adapter cord that plugs right into the iPhone). It does charge the iPhone too!
It sounds great.... (at least the same quality of the CD player). A couple of other great things about the USA Spec - it has another set of audio inputs. I plan on using these eventually when I add video through my navigation to get sound in since all of the video adapters still require another sound adapter. Also, it works great with Pandora or streaming podcasts through itunes (if you're in an area that has good AT&T coverage).I added the Parrot CK3000 bluetooth since I didn't want to have to unplug the iphone to answer it... the iPhone plays nice with both at the same time... if I'm listening to my podcasts and get a phone call, the music gradually softens and the phone rings.
The new DICE silverline units looks like it performs the same way but it was $40 more than the cheapest price I could find with the USA Spec.
Overall, I give this 4 stars and would recommend it.... only thing I wish it would do is also show song text even if it was in direct mode.... maybe this is a limitation on apple's part where it doesn't send text data if your using it as an accessory. Also, each time you plug your iPhone in, you get a nag screen about it isn't made for the iPhone and if you want to turn on Airplane mode to minimize interference... I hit no and it works fine.


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JVC KW-XR810 Double-DIN Bluetooth Dual USB/CD Receiver with USB 2.0 for iPod/iPhone, and Bluetooth/Satellite/HD Radio add-on capability Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installed it in 2010 Nissan Frontier Extended Cab, along with the HD Radio tuner, 6"x9" Alpine SPR-69C speakers in front and 6.5" Alpine SPS-600's in rear.
Pros:
1. Very easy, intuitive navigation, especially for all the features, including large dedicated buttons for preset radio stations -- which was important to me since I listen to the radio a LOT. Menu and Back buttons make the nested menus easy, especially when using USB mass storage (up to 20,000 songs). Can Hide infrequently used menu options (such as AUX input) using Setup. Can readily "customize it" to meet your preferences. Once you've tweaked your setup, it's very easy to use.
2. Color matched my dash lights VERY well, with separate settings for the display and the buttons, including totally different setups for night and day. Display is fairly customizeable, as well, in addition to choosing Negative and Positive backlighting.
3. Great internal equalizer provides 3 different adustments for each of at least 3 frequencies in each of the 3 broad ranges (High, Mid, Low) -- making it more like a 9 or 10 band equalizer. Can finetune it to your speakers and the car's acoustics -- your tweaking is most easily done by pressing and holding the preset that's closest to what you like, then make your manual adjustments and its automatically saved as a USER preset that's easily accessed via this dedicated EQ button. Or, you can do it the hard way using the Setup >> Audio menu.
4, Strong internal amp is certainly not "over-rated" at 20 watts -- it will produce 20 watts with little noticeable distortion. With good aftermarket speakers, you may not (I don't) need an amp or separate sub, though I'm sure it would sound even better. Multiple LOUD settings to enhance low volume, if desired, but I don't use them -- just tweaked the EQ. You could boost the volume even more by jacking up the input volume (see #5 below). Of course, you have 5 sets of RCA out jacks and built-in subwoofer control if you want to amp it up...
5. Adjustable input volume for each input source(Aux, USB, CD, etc) other than the Radio, so you can get the same output volume from each source withour jarring (and possibly harmful to your ears or speakers) volume changes when switching sources. Even the Aux input sounds good, though it doesn't quite compare to the 24-bit Digital-to-Analog (DAC) converter in the headunit.
6. Clean, great sound, though I didn't try it with just the stock speakers. With all the adjustments, you can tailor it to the type of music you typically listen to. Surprising bass with these nice Alpine speakers. The stereo in my truck now blows away the Pioneer/Bose setup in my house!
7. Attractive, without being flashy. Looks almost stock... hopefully won't attract the attention of theives!
CONS:
1. Couldn't transfer phonebook from my old Casio Boulder. Easily paired up to it, and the Bluetooth works great otherwise. I just dial out using Phonebook on my cell, and the headunit takes over. Could still manually dial using headunit, but it's more cumbersome. Sounds great -- callers say it sounds like I'm just using a headset, without echoes, road noise or other distractions.
2. Didn't recognize my Sansa Clip MP3 player - perhaps because I also have a microSD card in it. Bought a 8GB USB flash drive that works great, and use it on the rear USB, hidden in glove compartement. (The tiny USB Bluetooth adapter stays in the front USB and isn't very noticeable at all.)
3. File names and folders still limited to 25 characters, which initially required some renaming of the files. This has little impact on the display, however, since the Tags (Artist, Album, Song Title) can contain up to 128 characters. Can select to scroll long tags once, repeatedly, or turn scrolling completely off.
4. FM radio reception isn't really any better than stock, though the sound is clearer with less static on normal AM/FM. AM reception seems better than stock, and much clearer overall. HD radio sounds GREAT, though HD stations and their range are still limited. I saw HD as an investment in the future, without subscription charges, especially since the FCC just recently approved the HD stations to increase their broadcast power (i.e. range) ten-fold or something like that.
5. Glossy faceplate and buttons show fingerprints and dust, and makes it look "less stock" than it would if it had a textured finish. Otherwise, matches stock dash very well. At night, with the colors adjusted and stored via setup, it looks like it came from the factory instead of having a multi-colored light show... See the photos that I uploaded.
Overall, I'm VERY, VERY pleased with the upgrade. The improvement in sound (not counting flexibility of two USB inputs, AUX, HD radio, etc.) over the stock single-CD (non Rockford-Fosgate) system is simply incredible. With the 6x9 Alpines, you can crank it up and feel the bass thump your chest. IMO, this JVC has the most features available at this price point in a double-DIN deck, those features are easy to use, and the sound won't disappoint!

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC KW-XR810 Double-DIN Bluetooth Dual USB/CD Receiver with USB 2.0 for iPod/iPhone, and Bluetooth/Satellite/HD Radio add-on capability

JVC's double-DIN KW-XR810 is a USB/CD receiver with plenty of connectivity--connect USB devices and iPod/iPhones using dual USB ports, or other devices using the front-panel 3.5mm auxiliary input. Bluetooth technology gives you hands-free audio or audio streaming with your cell phone, and expansion options include three preamp outputs and the easy addition of HD or satellite radio. The icing on the cake is JVC's Separated Variable Color, which lets you adjust the receiver's display color to match your vehicle or preference.

Separated Variable Color The KW-XR810 features a Full-Dot LCD with JVC's Separated Variable-Color. Personalize your stereo to match your vehicle's interior illumination colors. Separated variable color lets you use two separate colors from a choice of over 30,000 options to create your own color scheme.
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless Technology Drive more safely (or legally depending on where you live) with hands-free calling. The included wired microphone offers flexible settings for clear communication. The Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) for iPhone lets you automatically access your phone book without transfer. You can also manually transfer up to 400 numbers from compatible cell phones. Changing from hands-free to a private conversation can be done by a push of a key. You can also easily switch Bluetooth connection between 2 phones, such as for business/private use.

CD and MP3/WMA/WAV Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or throw in burnt CD-Rs. You can also listen back to MP3/WMA/WAV data CDs, which allows you to throw hours of music on a single disc, with ID3 tag display of artist and track info. Or better yet, just drag your files to a USB thumb drive and plug it into the receiver's front-panel USB port.
A 24-bit TI/Burr-Brown analog-to-digital converter provides a solid sound base, and you can perfect it with the three-band EQ. For quiter listening, a Loudness function (in three different patterns) is provided, to ensure you still get some low-end and dynamics.
Front-Panel USB and Auxiliary Input Connect USB thumb drives, iPods/iPhones (see below), or other USB devices using the USB port. If you have another audio device that's not USB compatible, just use the standard 3.5mm auxiliary input and you're all set. A second USB port is provided on the rear of the receiver, so you can keep a couple devices connected.
USB Audio and Video for iPod/iPhone The USB connection for iPod/iPhone provides clear digital sound directly from your iPod or iPhone. While your device is in use, it also receives a charge, so it's ready to step out of the car when you do. Since the KD-R810 features two USB ports, you can connect two different iPods, or a USB device along with an iPod.

With External Mode for iPod, you can also enjoy sound from your favorite iPod/iPhone apps in your vehicle, such as Internet radio, games, video, or navigation apps (compatibility differs by model).
AM/FM Radio The KW-XR810 features an AM/FM radio, with 6 AM and 18 FM presets, for quick access to your favorite stations.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
HD/SAT Radio Ready If you'd like to add some serious entertainment options to your vehicle, add an optional HD or Satellite radio solution from JVC to take advantage of XM/SIRIUS programming or HD features like Multicasting or iTunes tagging.
50W x 4 MOSFET Amplifier The built-in 50W x 4 MOSFET amp provides plenty of power, but three 2.5V preamp output terminals (front, rear, subwoofer) are also provided for system building.
What's in the Box KW-XR810 Receiver, Bluetooth Microphone, Sleeve/Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Instruction/Intallation Manuals, Warranty Info

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Pioneer AVIC-F700BT In-Dash Navigation Audio Receiver with CD Playback and Advanced Voice Controls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pioneer has acknowledged that the first release of this system had issues ... freezing up, parking break warning for no reason, lack of proper brightness, etc. But they issued an upgrade in July of 2008. THIS UPDATE FIXES EVERYTHING.
I have this unit, I used it before the update (lots of problems -- all clearly explained in multiple posts all over the internet). But I downloaded the firmware, installed it, and now it works AWESOME. I truly have to give it to Pioneer for acknowledging their error and spending time to listen to owners and fix it.
I love this unit. I hook up my Iphone 3G and watch podcasts, listen to music, and everything. I have SM radio for it and I use the GPS all the time. I use the bluetooth with my iphone and the call clarity is fantastic.
I'm serious when I say this is a great value and much better than the D3 unit it replaced, but you have to install the firmware. Do that and I'll love it.

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The Pioneer AVIC-F700BT car stereo marries solid entertainment capabilities with advanced navigation. Its flash-based GPS system comes pre-loaded TeleAtlas maps of the US and Canada, featuring more than 12 million points of interest and robust user routing options.
Built-in Bluetooth allows you to make hands-free calls on compatible devices, and Pioneer's voice-recognition software lets you use voice commands to control your phone or iPod (with separate iPod adapter). Hugely expandable, with options for iPod connectivity, MSN Direct, HD radio, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and more, the AVIC-F700BT also includes a USB interface for quick connection to iPod music players, portable media players and USB memory device. Additionally, SD memory card support means you can insert cards filled with additional Points of Interest or compressed audio and video for your use and enjoyment. Link all your devices together into one seamless experience.
5.8-inch Widescreen LCD The AVIC-F700BT features a 5.8-inch widescreen color LCD with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution, perfect for navigation via GPS, or simply navigating your audio files.
A New Class of Navigation No more hassling with map discs. Now you don't have to worry about discs being misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen because we've done away with them for the F-Series navigation line. Pioneer has taken the entire TeleAtlas Database that was previously on the two-DVD set, compressed it down, and stored it internally on flash memory.
Touch panel key operation--It is possible to operate the navigation and audio functions by using the touch panel key.
2D and 3D map view modes--Various types of screen displays can be selected for navigation guidance
A variety of Points of Interest (POI) information--More than 100 types of POI categories are included in the database. You also can create your own customized POIs and categories.
Auto reroute function--If you deviate from the set route, the system will re-calculate the route from that point so that you remain on track to the destination.

Freedom of Speech The AVIC-F700BT offers a new generation of voice recognition capability for controlling iPod playback and making calls hands-free via connected Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. The technology accepts and recognizes conversational phrases and language, filters out superfluous sounds and phrases, and if the user doesn't give enough information in the command, the unit will ask additional questions to clarify the request.
In Touch, Hands-Free The AVIC-F700BT comes with built-in Bluetooth. Now you never need to miss a call, even if your tunes are cranked up or your phone is buried in your bag.
Mobile Media Pioneer has created a line of Navigation systems that make it easy to play various digital and audio formats like: CD-R/RW discs, Portable Media Players like iPod, USB memory devices, and SD Cards. The AVIC-F700BT can play a wide range of files types as well, such as MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and MPEG-4 video files.
Make it Personal Personalize your drive. AVIC FEEDS freeware contains POI Creator, Driving Report, and Picture Editor Applications. You never know where the road will take you, but our POI Creator can help you get started on the right path.
Blending In Like its predecessor, the AVIC-D3, the new AVIC-F700BT allows you to change the illumination color to match your car. Select from among 32,768 different colors to match car interior and dashboard lighting.
Seeing Is Believing The old WQVGA displays that most Navigation units use are 480 x 234 pixels. However, the WVGA display is much higher quality at 800 x 480 pixels. Images become sharper and more defined, just like our maps and menus on these units. The display's enhanced GUI (Graphic User Interface) has also advanced, making system control and management effortless.
iPod Control Made Simple With the new CD-IU230V cable, you can directly control your music and videos from your iPod. Fast and easy control through USB, the AVIC-F700BT also features iPod Album Art display, Alphabetical Speed Search, and much more.
AM/FM Radio Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets.

Best Stations Memory Setting your radio presets can be a real pain while you're driving--especially if you're in an unfamiliar area. So, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the six strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
Adding Another Set of Eyes For safer parking, try using the ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA backup cameras. The system automatically displays images shot from a connected camera as the vehicle shifts into reverse.

AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any portable digital player or other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the AVIC-F700BT has this input on the front panel.
What's in the Box Pioneer AVIC-F700BT, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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City Navigator Israel Nt Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Garmin City Navigator Israel for a recent trip to Israel--our first visit there, and we were driving around to quite a few places in a rental car. I was not sure if we needed it or if paper maps would be good enough. I was really, really glad I bought it! It was a great help--it had all of the places we were looking for and accurate and easy to follow directions. It is very current (I think it is new). We were really happy with it. A tip for using it--the spelling of street names can be different in the gps than the ones you have, so, if you don't find the street by spelling it, browse through the street names list and you'll almost always find it with a slightly different spelling. It was very good for finding a gas station and "points of interest" as well. Jerusalem was very challenging for driving around, and we would have been hopelessly lost without the City Navigator--but with it we got around very well. I had a little bit of trouble putting the sd card into the gps--I didnt realize that you had to remove the larger adaptor card and just stick the tiny little sd card itself into the gps. I bought the card because I saw online that a lot of people had trouble with the downloaded version. It was a little challenging getting the nuvi to recognize the map when I first installed it--you have to go through several steps with the settings in the gps to tell it to look for another map (I found the directions for how to do this on someone's blog the web, not in the manual!)but once I got that set it worked great. Highly recommended if you are driving around Israel. One humorous thing--the nuvi voice has a very hard time pronouncing Hebrew names, and the pronunciations of the street names were hilarious. Sometimes it seemed to give up entirely and just garbled the name completely. We could always figure it out, but it was really funny.

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Garmin Map Update 2009 for City Navigator North America NT Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought my CD last week and have been visiting popular as well as remote places to see if anything's changed. For anyone who has to deal with space constraints and such (me, for example), the mapping data is about 1.4GB. Installation does take some time, presumably due to the increase in mapping data and time required to build increasingly diverse index files.
Sadly, NT2009 does not seem to be as big an update from 2008 as the latter was from NT8. There are quite a few major/popular POIs (like banks and restaurants) that are still not present. In fact, there is a BoA branch that's suddenly changed location in the '09 database. Over the past couple of years, there have been a couple of exit changes on I-84 but none of them are reflected in here. There are a couple of streets near my gf's house that were renamed a few years ago but have still not found their way into the Garmin DB (haven't checked NAVTEQ though). At the risk of belaboring my point, I'll stop right here. :)
YMMV though as many friends, relatives and members on online discussion forums have found solace with NT2009 in places such as FL and AZ. I will be in GA/ATL all through May and shall update this review in a couple of weeks.
Overall, if you're eligible for a free update, go for it. However, if you live in the N.E. and have to shell out $55-odd, I think your money is better spent elsewhere, assuming you have NT2008 already.
P.S.: If you have an older system (like the c3xx), you can fit the entire mapping data on an SD card. If you have a 1GB or smaller card, select the areas you most want via MapSource. For example, removing PR and Hawaii easily saves 70-odd MBs.
Edited on 05/28/08:
After spending a few weeks traveling through GA and NC, I can't find any location that isn't mapped in the latest version. One or two gas stations in the ATL suburbs (Alpharetta to be more precise) show up on the opposite side of the street (maybe it's bad interpretation logic in Garmin's hardware and has nothing to do with cartographic data) but hey, at least they aren't completely absent! Overall, the south-eastern U.S. seems better covered as compared to the north-east.

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