4/18/2012

Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Jeep Grand Cherokee, LTD, Laredo '99-04 Review

Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Jeep Grand Cherokee, LTD, Laredo '99-04
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For those trying to figure out a way to mount mobile electronics (GPS, Sat Radio, etc.) in their vehicles, this is something to consider. You pop off the bezel around the radio, pull two screws that hold the radio, put this bracket in place, then put the two screws back in and pop the bezel back on. Presto... a very solid mounting point to start from and you haven't messed up the dash or harmed the vehicle in any way. Note that these are vehicle specific so you have to buy the one that fits your vehicle. Mine mounded in a Jeep Grand Cherokee and is a perfect fit. It can mount on either side of the radio; I put mine on the left. I then used epoxy to secure the suction disk that came with my Garmin nuvi 660 GPS to the mount. When the glue was set I just used the suction mount - normally for the windshield - to fasten the GPS unit to the Panavise mount. A perfect install! Very solid. Looks very professional.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Jeep Grand Cherokee, LTD, Laredo '99-04



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Jeep Grand Cherokee, LTD, Laredo '99-04

Read More...

4/17/2012

Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in HD LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat Toyota Camry - Rosen DSTY0710H11 Review

Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in HD LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat Toyota Camry - Rosen DSTY0710H11
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this unit to replace a Pioneer Nav unit for my VW Jetta and frankly, I wish I'd kept the Pioneer. The Rosen Navigation unit is quite possibly the poorest designed product I've ever encountered. To be fair, the Navigation portion of the unit is OK, maybe a 5 on a 1-10 scale. The radio? How could they possibly screw that up? What astonishingly bad is the iPad interface. I swear to God, I seriously doubt anyone at this idiotic company even plugged in an iPod to see how it works. Yes, it does play the iPod, so Kudos for getting the sound out of the device. But try navigating around your iPod, try to search for a song or artist or album! It's impossible to do so without endangering the lives of your passengers or fellow motorists because the interface is so confounding you run the risk of rear-ending someone or veering off the road. Unbelievably, it's most detailed search parameter is a numerical input key. Imagine yourself (if you're like me with a couple of thousand songs) thinking, "Gee, I guess I'll play song 5,483. It's literally that insane. Plus, you have to painstakingly scroll alphabetically through all the various categories to search, ie,; song, artist, album with a touch panel the moves like molasses in January. If you play the iPod in random mode, it works, that is until it doesn't as it so often jams the iPod you have to jolt the iPod back to life with a hard reset. Then when you leave your car and expect the device to pick up the iPod on the tune you left off on, it starts all over again from literally song 1 (alphabetically) on the iPod all over again. Frankly I want to throw this thing through a window. An incredible rip-off at $1200. To be clear, I wouldn't take this unit again if it were given to me. It's that bad. Oh, and what's worse it the stunning indifference if you try calling those morons at Rosen to get some tech support. Not only is their phone number not listed on their web site (it took a bit of sleuthing for me to eventually uncover it), but they had the audacity to tell me that the next version would be better, if I was willing to buy another entire unit. When I asked about a software update they simply told me that they don't do that. Oh, and get this -- the bluetooth portion of the unit doesn't import your address book or contacts from your phone, despite the fact that virtually every other manufacturer does so as a basic feature. These clowns had the audacity to tell me that that feature would cost even more money. Horrible unit. Terrible company. YOU STAND WARNED!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in HD LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat Toyota Camry - Rosen DSTY0710H11



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Rosen AM/FM DVD In-Dash 7in HD LCD Navigation Ipod/Bluetooth Sat Toyota Camry - Rosen DSTY0710H11

Read More...

4/16/2012

Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Honda Odyssey '05-06 Review

Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Honda Odyssey '05-06
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Works as expected. Honda '07 install is abut 45 mins (but give your self several hours if this is your 1st time). This compared to a Mercedes ML '98 install of 5 minutes (Note: each install is unique and uses a custom part!). Will need to get new keepers for dashboard as dashboard removal deformed several. Still, I would recommend the mount.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Honda Odyssey '05-06



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Panavise Custom InDash Mount for Honda Odyssey '05-06

Read More...

4/15/2012

Delorme Street Atlas USA 2010 Map Software Review

Delorme Street Atlas USA 2010 Map Software
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I ordered the DeLorme Street Atlas USA 2010 in late December 2010 at an exceptionally nice price from an Amazon seller. I guess because Street Atlas 2011 has, or is about to be released, the price was very reasonable. This was my first "update" since Street Atlas 2003 which I've used with no complaints over the past seven years. When I received the new item, the DeLorme box just said "Street Atlas USA 2010", but when I opened it, the CD jewel box inside noted that it was the "2010 PLUS" edition (with two CD's). A bonus from DeLorme! I've just started to use the new software on my laptop and early indications are that it's certainly a world of improvement over my old copy. Lots of new features. A trip from southern Florida to a small town in Massachusetts later this year will give it a solid test.
P.S. Sorry...I know I didn't give a very technical review of this GPS mapping software but for now, I'll say that it does everything I want it to do. I'll try and do a more detailed update after my long trip from FL to MA (and return)in a few months.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Delorme Street Atlas USA 2010 Map Software



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Delorme Street Atlas USA 2010 Map Software

Read More...

4/14/2012

Kenwood DNX7120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio Review

Kenwood DNX7120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
OK, my wife got a new car with the Honda Nav system, which has consolidated the tuner, CD changer, XM radio, bluetooth, and GPS with a nice size screen (about 7") and I immediately fell in love with it. Only, it's her car. So when I traded in my car for a new one, I started thinking about getting my own setup.
Enter the Kenwood DNX7120. It does not have all the features I wanted, specifically it was lacking satellite radio and bluetooth, but they are available as optional add-on components. With the add-ons, everything appears and functions as one consolidated unit. Great! The price is decent enough, the unit that is closer to being fully consolidated is priced at slightly over $1500 at this time, while this unit is just slightly over $900. The add-on componenents are roughly $200 extra, so the cost savings seemed to justify going this route.
Quality: from my perspective, great. The unit takes maybe 30 seconds to boot into a usable screen, but while it is booting up it automatically starts playing whatever you left it at. So if you were last listing to FM radio, about 5 - 10 seconds after you start you will at least have music. Sound is great, although my car is not an audiophile's high-end, but I enjoy it. The unit has a large number of potential interfaces, to include USB, I-pod, and A/V RCA connectors. Video display is nice and sharp. Favorites seems to be limited to 6 of each area (FM, XM), but that limitation might be because I haven't fully read the manuals yet. (I'd like to have more than 6 XM favorites).
This unit comes with a remote. The remote has a lot of buttons making it more complex than I care for, so I can't see myself using it while I drive. But maybe your passenger will want to use it.
Drawback: lack of data interfaces. The built-in Garmin would have a good source of updates if it had an SD card reader, but it doesn't. The manual says that updates are either through the SD or the DVD player, so I guess I'm stuck with ordering a DVD when it's time to update. I'll try the USB, but I had read another review that said the USB won't update the Garmin's database.
GPS: It's Garmin (love it or not). I love my portable Garmin Nuvi, and this acts very similar to it, so I feel comfortable with the nav programming. One bad thing (maybe should have put under drawbacks), if I'm running the GPS for a route and the phone rings and I take it, the GPS will not be displayed at all during the phone call. So either you're on a stretch of road that you won't miss a turn, or you'd better make the call short.
Last thoughts: This particular model is now, I believe, out of production and superceded by the DNX 81xx series. So obviously prices will be going down. If you can get this unit at $700 or under, it will be an exceptional bargain. It's still a good deal at current prices. Get all your optional components at one time and install everything together. You probably won't want to take it apart later just to add an add-on component.
UPDATE: After using this for a few days, reading the manual, and playing around with it, I have found that you can talk via bluetooth and still watch the GPS map. The unit will not automatically revert back to your screen, but all you have to do is press the NAV button and you will get the map back. So at this point, I wish I had given it 5 stars, but it seems that you cannot edit your initial star rating.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood DNX7120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Kenwood DNX7120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio

Read More...

4/12/2012

Pioneer AVIC-Z1 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio Review

Pioneer AVIC-Z1 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I bought this unit here at Amazon.com, and then had it installed at a major appliance center. The major appliance center had free installation with the purchase of this unit, but I saved enough money buying it here at Amazon, to where I came out ahead by having to pay for the installation.
This unit made quite an impression on the technicians, who all said that they want to get one for their vehicle.
It fit PERFECTLY in my Ford F-150 double din. Looks great.
I have already paired my cell phone via bluetooth with the unit. You have to buy the accessory for the bluetooth, which is well worth the money. When I get a call, it turns down the music, and the caller id comes up on the screen. You then just answer. You also have a phonebook on the screen, which uploaded right from my blackberry. This accessory is a must.
I also got the iPOD adapter. This accessory is a HUGE MUST. It sounds absolutely unbelieveable. However, this is one of the few negative things I have to say. Although it does have a search function, it requires a lot of scrolling. Also, if you decide you don't want the song selected, it then reverts back to the beginning of the list, even if you were in the "n's", for example. Pioneer needs to make it easier to select groups and songs in the iPOD. Still, do not pass on the accessory.....the techs also loved it. I had them place the cord in the glovebox, which worked out very well.
As far as navigation, the display is beautiful. That extra half inch of display (this is 7" vs the tpical 6.5") makes a BIG impact. Navigation is easy, and there is a pleasant female voice to guide you on approaching turns. I have owned to Garmin GPSs, which are good products, but this is better because of the guages that pinpoint the approaching turn.
The voice commands are very cool, but I am just learning them now. It works well from what I have seen.
My 2005 Ford F-150 had an upgraded sound system with sub-woofer, and they were able to hook into this. The quality of music in changing to the Avic-Z1 just DOUBLED easily. I actually sat in my driveway last night listening to my iPOD, amazed at how clean the system sounded. Honestly, it sounds like I got a whole new high end speaker package. This unit is ready for either SIRIUS or XM, which I passed on because with 5000 songs in my iPOD, just don't feel like I need it.
The DVD picture is awesome, and with the newly improved sound, it is like being in a theater.
I had to take one star off just for the iPOD issues, and the fact that they need to improve the iPOD menu. Maybe they can do that via a software upgrade. I also had to give it only four stars because of their governors on the video and other functions. In order to watch video, the emergency brake has to be set. I am told there used to be a way around this, but now there is an internal gyroscope that is tough to bypass. Boooooo!! What if my passenger wants to watch video? I also have to set the brake to enter an address for navigation. I guess I can understand they don't want people inputting info when driving, but I wish it was not there.
I highly recommend this unit, and do not regret it at all.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-Z1 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVIC-Z1 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio

Read More...

4/11/2012

Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM Digital HD Video Camcorder, 3.2 LCD Review

Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM Digital HD Video Camcorder, 3.2 LCD
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is easily one of the best HD Cameras on the Prosumer level of any kind. The quality of the image, thanks to the Zeiss lens is incredible. I shot on the run in New Zealand in the middle of winter, and was able to get great definition from everything from the foreground to the background. Leaves and grass are clearly separated and not like in most HD cameras all bunched up together. Stunning. Audio real good, but you need to buy an extra mic/mix as the one that comes with the camera does not work for filming, but it's good enough for quick stuff.
To export footage into computer is a breeze, but time consuming. I use Final Cut Pro 7 and it took no time to get the footage into bins directly.
F-stops/shutter/focusing is manual, which increases the quality of the picture shot. Zeiss lens is incredible. Low light is beyond believe and we pushed the grain as high as possible, and the range is quite big. Great for low light situation. We pushed it as far as a night shoot in a moving car with only the inside light on, and you could still get definition on the blacks. Granted in the end the image is way too grainy, but this is an example of how far you can push the camera.
You can use up two mics at the same time. Cards are regular SD cards for media.
Overall an INCREDIBLE camera for most indies and even a b-camera for bigger projects. It's light and portable. Only negative, if you can say that, is that you can't change the lens but then again for under $4,000 this is FAR SUPERIOR to the EX1 series (obviously not as good as the EX3).

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM Digital HD Video Camcorder, 3.2 LCD



Buy NowGet 17% OFF

Click here for more information about Sony HXR-NX5U NXCAM Digital HD Video Camcorder, 3.2 LCD

Read More...

4/10/2012

Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom Review

Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is my 3rd Sony camcorder over the past 11 years. My first was the TRV-310 which used Digital 8 tapes and at the time was the high end for consumer camcorders. We used it for travels all over the world and were very pleased with the quality. It was especially good in low light, which tends to be where we used it most (indoors in regular incandescent light, which I would guess would be 75% of the total recording).
We had our first child and upgraded to the DCR-HC85 mini DV camcorder and again were very pleased. We shot over 70 hours of tape and over Christmas converted all the tapes to a hard drive through a 3rd party company (who has time to convert tapes at a 1:1 ratio plus setup time?) because were were tired of creating long index pages for each tape and then digging though them to find the small section we wanted (1 terabyte drive to hold it all!). The only issue I had was that as comcorders started moving to digital, the low light quality got worse. This one was frustrating indoors with shadows, backlit settings created dark, grainy videos, etc.
About 2 weeks ago, I decided it was time to bit the bullet and buy the XR520V. I am absolutely impressed. I was very skeptical about the low light specs on the Sony site (11 lux vs. 4 lux I had on the TRV310 and 8 lux on the HC85). I guess because of the larger CMOS sensor,the higher resolution and going back to an optical lens, the low light is excellent. Perfect for indoor use even in pretty low light (finally!).
The one feature I like the most is the index of each section of video recorded. If you are like me, you have hundreds of 30 second to 2 minute clips which were impossible to index on a tape. This indexes by date, so you can scroll through the dates and see thumbnails of each clip. This is so much better than fast forwarding through a tape (if you can call it FF!). Again, hooray!
Pros:
*Great low light
*Outstanding video quality
*Instant on by just opening the LCD screen
*Index thumbnails grouped by date (even my kids like this since they can pick out their favorites instantly!)
*Much better controls on the camera (record, zoom are also on the LCD screen, so big fingers don't have to squeeze into the hand strap and then find the zoom)
*Nice optical stabilization and zoom (be warned that in full HD mode, it will track every shake and although not jittery, it is noticable). Zoom is very smooth and doesn't "jerk" like older models if you moved it too fast.
*Touchscreen menus are much better than previous models
*37mm filter diameter, so I can keep most of my lenses from the last 2 camcorders (again, keep in mind that with HD, you will need to upgrade wide angle or zoom lenses due to resolution, but UV should be fine).
*Nice, compact size. I'm not carrying a large bag with me everywhere we go.
Cons:
*You should budget spending at least another $300-400 for accessories. The included battery is functional, but you may get caught short on a long trip without some way to keep it charged in the car. You will also need software to be able to convert the video to HD due to the AVCHD compression (Sony Vegas seems to be the best for this at about $80 on Amazon); a good UV filter to protect the lens; HDMI cable; new case (as I would lose this camcorder in my current case for the HC85) and a 1TB hard drive to save video (to start!). Blu-Ray will be a much later purchase for us.
*No HDMI cable included.
*Using the HDMI cable, it appears the camcorder will only output a 1080i signal max. Not sure I understand that one, but in the setup of the camera, it doesn't give an option for 1080p output throught HDMI. What gives?
*GPS is nice, but I have to go outside to get a satellite to get my location. I think it will be a novelty for me as I get tired of doing this and just quit bothering. Maybe if I am on family vacation somewhere and I want to tag it, otherwise, I will spend a lot of time chasing satellites.
I have to say overall, I will thoroughly enjoy this camcorder. We have 2 kids 4 and 2 and this is so much easier to use and carry around than our older model. I also like the quick on, so we don't miss their spontaneous sing alongs. It is also nice to take videos over a weekend trip and then just plug it into the TV, go to the index and pick out what we want to watch. Instant gratification! No more finding a tape and going back and forth to find the scenes we want (plus the previous camcorders FF is about 2X FF max).
I only got the 520V over the 500V for the extra drive space. Normally, I never try to max out a drive or flash card in a camera to avoid loss of data. I regularly copy over from my camera and never max out the flash card, so I imagine I will do the same here, but with no option to get an extra tape when I need it, it was worth the $200 for the extra space. I would never want to get caught short here!
4 stars only due to price and "forced" cost of needed accessories.
Enjoy!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Sony HDR-XR520V 240GB HDD High Definition Camcorder w/12x Optical Zoom

Read More...

4/09/2012

KENWOOD EXCELON KVT-614 7" DVD MONITOR WITH TOUCHSCREEN Review

KENWOOD EXCELON KVT-614 7 DVD MONITOR WITH TOUCHSCREEN
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The unit works well however there are a couple of things that is not noted in the manual. First thing is that it does support both XM and HD radio. However as I found out it will only use ONE of them. So you can have either one but not both. This is a real shame and was quite disappointing. The second thing is you can use either a USB thumb drive or the IPOD cable but not both. This limitation is not as serious because if you leave the usb connector withing easy reach you can swap them as you need to. It still is a pain however. I wanted to connect the ipod cable and leave just the end that plugs into the ipod exposed. Now I have to have all 3 wires exposed and have to stop the car and switch them when I want to use a different device. All in all it is a good unit and I like it I just wish that these limitations had been made clear or better yet not had them to begin with. I also tried using a usb hub for the usb drive but it won't read the device. A powered hub might work better but I don't have one that will work in a car to test that.

Click Here to see more reviews about: KENWOOD EXCELON KVT-614 7" DVD MONITOR WITH TOUCHSCREEN



Buy Now

Click here for more information about KENWOOD EXCELON KVT-614 7" DVD MONITOR WITH TOUCHSCREEN

Read More...

4/08/2012

Canon WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera Review

Canon WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I had a chance to test this out for a week and the general conclusion is that it is NOT a buy at this price. The product is geared toward studio environments which is their first mistake. The 7D is a great camera, but studio photographers that are willing to pay $700 for a mere convenience accessory aren't using a $1,500 camera. If this was for the 1Ds then the price would makes sense. Now after that rant lets get to the review. The grip transmitter is solidly constructed (though not sure if it is weather sealed like 7D) and weights about the same as the regular battery grip. It was easy to setup and use. Transferred files with no problems whatsoever. Since I have a DLNA TV that is compatible with the TV display feature it was cool to see shots displayed on my tv when they were taken. However, it is worth saying that the transmitter only transmits at 802.11a,b,g speeds and is not 802.11n compliant.
Overview:
PROS
-----
Easy Setup
Relatively Quick Transfers
TV Display Feature for compliant TVs
Does Exactly What You'd Expect
CONS
-----
Price!
BOTTOM LINE
-----------
If you're a studio photographer that somehow is using the 7D and is willing to spend $700 for the convenience of wireless transfer then what you expect is what you will get. However for everyone else I can't recommend spending half of the camera's price on this accessory. If you're willing to spend that on wireless transfer then you should be upgrading to one of the Canon 1D bodies anyway and will have no need for this accessory.
Also, I only had 1 grip to test so I wasn't able to try out the linked shooting master/slave feature that is probably the only real application where this accessory could make sense, i.e. parallel photography from different angles. This feature would allow sports photographers to trigger multiple cameras to capture "the shot" from multiple angles at the same time. Given the 7D amazing auto-focus and 8fps this about the only reason I could think of to purchase this accessory.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera



Buy NowGet 38% OFF

Click here for more information about Canon WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter for Canon 7D Digital SLR Camera

Read More...

4/07/2012

Rim BlackBerry 7100(Nextel) Review

Rim BlackBerry 7100(Nextel)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Is this for real? It looked like it came out of a gumball machine. I returned it asap!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Rim BlackBerry 7100(Nextel)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Rim BlackBerry 7100(Nextel)

Read More...

4/06/2012

7" Google Android 2.2 Apad Epad Tablet with Built-in Web Camera Review

7 Google Android 2.2 Apad Epad Tablet with Built-in Web Camera
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This says MAI XIN 722 in the title and description but from the seller photos this is clearly an inferior model!
Be aware!!! NOT MAI XIN 722!

Click Here to see more reviews about: 7" Google Android 2.2 Apad Epad Tablet with Built-in Web Camera



Buy Now

Click here for more information about 7" Google Android 2.2 Apad Epad Tablet with Built-in Web Camera

Read More...

4/05/2012

TVandNav2Go MyGig Block Unlock V2 W/ Audio Video Cable Review

TVandNav2Go MyGig Block Unlock V2 W/ Audio Video Cable
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Lockpick works perfectly fine, it does not take 15 mins to install unless you have installed several, but in 30 to 40 mins you are done and doing it with care its really simply. I recomend it.


Click Here to see more reviews about: TVandNav2Go MyGig Block Unlock V2 W/ Audio Video Cable



Buy Now

Click here for more information about TVandNav2Go MyGig Block Unlock V2 W/ Audio Video Cable

Read More...

4/04/2012

Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder Review

Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
COLOR:
The camcorder does a good job in the color department, most of the time you get Accurate & Natural colors but other times it tends to vivid the blues & reds. The same happens with the Canon HF-S21, while Panasonic HDC-TM350 & HDC-TM700 looks more natural "most of the time".
LCD:
The touch responsiveness is simply amazing, comparing it to the Very Difficult to handle of the Canon HF-S21 and the just OK of the Panasonic family. The resolution is the best of his class by far. Also you can organize it in a very custom way; "You can use the menu items easily by registering the menu items you use most often on MY MENU. You can register 6 menus items on each MY MENUS of the MOVIE, PHOTOS and PAYBACK. That's a total of 18 pre-determent Custom Menus. LENS:
The HDR-CX550V has larger lens than last year's model. The new G-Lens is capable of capturing videos at enormously wide angles, Close to 20 degrees more than Canons & JVC are capable of. It's also a much wider angle than you'll get from the Panasonic HDC-TM700.
Low Light:
In this area the clear winner is the HDC-TM350 or HDC-TM700, Sony has the Night Shot which allows to record in almost 0 LUX but you get a graining and unacceptable quality. Using the LOW LUX feature improves the image quality but some light is needed to be able to record.
RECORDING MODES:
Format -Resolution -Bitrate -Codec
HD FX -1920 x 1080 -24Mbps -H.264AVC (AVCHD)
HD FH -1920 x 1080 -17Mbps -H.264AVC (AVCHD)
HD HQ -1920 x 1080 -9Mbps - H.264AVC (AVCHD)
HD LP -1920 x 1080 -5Mbps - H.264AVC (AVCHD)
STD - 720 x 480 -9Mbps - MPEG-2
ZOOM & STEADYSHOT:
For some reason the SteadyShot has an impact on the zoom of the camera, when you have the SteadyShot set to Active the zoom goes up to 14X (this has been a complain for some reviewers because they have said it only goes up to 10X) but if you have the SteadyShot in Standard or OFF it does only go to 10X. Based on this, it seems like a good idea to consider that setting depending on the scene and recording conditions, example; if you are going to use the camcorder on a tripod to film landscapes, sunsets or any other scenography in which you want a wider angle it will be very helpful to turn OFF or put in Active the SteadyShot, but if the situation is the other way around, you want to record a far away object and want them to looks closer then the SteadyShot should be in Active mode even when using a tripod.
Comparing the HDC-TM700 (12X) to the HDR-CX550 (10X) in Optical Zoom and TM700 (18X I. Zoom) vs. CX550 (14X Without been named or pointed out by anybody else). At Digital Zoom the TM700 goes up to 30X or 700X (complementing its name) while CX550 MAX is 120X, either of them display very bad and distorted images when the Digital Zoom is used.

The Stabilization produced by the STEADYSHOT is one of the best I have ever seen, it works great in all situations while keeping very sharp image quality.
STILL PICTURE:
In the still picture nobody can beat the JVC GZ-HM1 as far as quality-sharpness-colors; the Sony does a descent job just like any other camcorder in this price range. The Smile Shutter is one of the FUN features of this Camcorder, this allows to take a picture every time the cam detects someone smiling, Smile shutter can be set so that it is always on, to work during video recording only, or it can be turned off completely but unfortunately this is NOT available when recording at the MAX Quality Setting of 24Mbps HD FX Mode.
FUN Features:
Smooth Slow Record: A slow motion setting that records 3 seconds of footage and turns it into 12 seconds of Very Slow Video. This setting shoots at a very high Frame Rate of 240fps in order to create the slow motion effect. You have the option to select that the Camcorder record those 3 seconds after you press the START button or be recording at all time (like a Pre-Record Mode) so when you press the START button the last 3 seconds will be converted into the 12 seconds of Very Slow Video. The quality of this Smooth Slow Record is NOT quite close to HD, it may be SD quality at 16x9 aspect ratio.
Golf Shot: Takes two quick seconds of video and divides it into frames that are recorded as a movie and photos in a 16x9 aspect ratio.
GPS: The built-in GPS allows you to keep track of your videos & photos by the location in which they were shot. By having the GPS on, the battery life decreases by 2-3 %.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is a good camcorder with lots of Manuals and Fun features, very portable, with a good overall performance; it looks like a very good choice for a Family-Vacation's Camcorder.
Hope you find this review helpful enough, if you have a particular question feels free to ask in the comments section and meanwhile press the YES button below!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Sony HDR-CX550V 64GB High Definition Handycam Camcorder

Read More...

4/03/2012

Rosen Video Am/fm/cd/dvd In-Dash System W/8 Lcd Display/nav/ipod/bluetooth/sat - Highlander Review

Rosen Video Am/fm/cd/dvd In-Dash System W/8 Lcd Display/nav/ipod/bluetooth/sat - Highlander
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The screen is impossible to see in bright sunlight, not a good idea for a gps map. The points of interests are in some cases 50 years out of date. I know because I am living where one of them is located. Imagine my suprise. Street names are not accurate. Again I am shown living on Erin Av, not Erie as it should be. I would like to be able to have the gps on the screen while listening to the radio. If the map is up the radio is off. I have had a Tom Tom and a Magellan. They are both much easier to find points of interests and addresses. The radio shows buttons for mp3 and ipod. The unit will not control my mp3 player. To make matters worse some of the cars features were actually disabled to install this unit. No more phone controls on the steering wheel or use of the cars usb console plug. I would not recommend this unit.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Rosen Video Am/fm/cd/dvd In-Dash System W/8 Lcd Display/nav/ipod/bluetooth/sat - Highlander



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Rosen Video Am/fm/cd/dvd In-Dash System W/8 Lcd Display/nav/ipod/bluetooth/sat - Highlander

Read More...

4/02/2012

Virgin Mobile Wireless Network Router MiFi 2200 Review

Virgin Mobile Wireless Network Router MiFi 2200
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Everywhere that we have used our Virgin Mobile Mifi, it has worked great. $40 a month unlimited internet with no contract, and the ability to only pay for it the months you use it, is the best deal out there. I highly recommend this device.
One note that you might not be aware of. None of the Mifi 2200's (for any carrier) can be used while they are connected to a computer's USB. The data connection to the computer shuts the Wifi off. There are three solutions. 1) If you use the Mifi on battery this isn't an issue (obviously) 2) If you use the Mifi plugged into a wall or car charger, with no data connection to a computer, this isn't an issue. 3) If you buy a "Power-Only", no data, USB cable, or modify your USB cable to remove the data connection, you can power it off your computer and still use the Wifi.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Virgin Mobile Wireless Network Router MiFi 2200



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Virgin Mobile Wireless Network Router MiFi 2200

Read More...