JVC KD-AVX44 El Kameleon Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5" Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I was searching around trying to find something that I could use as my central "media" center without having to install a mac mini in my Pt Cruiser.
My needs were/are: Ipod integration (including video playback), Dvd Playback, CDs, Bluetooth and of course am/fm. After a long hard search of single-din units I choose this model.
[...]
What I liked about this unit is you have a video out. You can hook up your headrest monitors and if you have a game system (Xbox, PS, Wii...what have you) you can hook it up to the video in that it has to offer as well (with full playback to your headrests). This just allows you to have direct connection to your cars speakers.
Dvd Playback. It is very good. Turn the car off, it'll start right back up where it left off.
Bluetooth. My boyfriend has a Pioneer DEH-P9800BT which I installed as well (A great unit if you don't require Dvd play back). Unlike the pioneer unit there is no mic to install anywhere and the quality still sounds pretty good on both ends. Doesn't matter what source you are using Bluetooth will alert you when someone is calling by pausing your music/video and showing the caller Id. You can accept or decline.
AM/FM. I was a bit disappointed that the unit didn't have RDS. I have been using a factory unit that had it and kind of miss that feature. Seemed like a feature they could have added.
Ipod. Heres where I am on the fence. I had been using a fm transmitter for my ipod and finally wanted direct connect because I could not take the quality anymore. I purchased an Apple Composite AV Cable (THIS WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A JVC KSU20 CABLE) Of course, The quality was 300% better than before. However, The Interface is a bit slow. I really hope that JVC comes out with a firmware upgrade that speeds it up a bit. When I go to play "The Killers" it takes me approx. 1 minute to get to the letter "K". But for the most part I keep it on shuffle. The unit charges the Ipod as well.
Ipod Video. This is a cool feature. With either the JVC KSU20 or the Ipod Composite AV cable. You can watch any video off your ipod and direct the signal to the headrest monitors as well.
Pros: Great Bluetooth, DVD, Ipod Video integration with a sleek (no button look). Love the 4 setting tilt screen (great for stereo units closer to the ground)And Love the Proximity motion light as well.
Cons: For a single din unit JVC did a decent job, Ipod interface is really my only complaint. I had looked at the JVC KD NX5000. But didn't like the look of the unit or felt the need for crappy navagation. The menu interface feels like it should be more user friendly (getting to the ipod artists list has to be done by hitting about 5 buttons)
I have not used satellite or the back-up camera (which I plan to install soon).
[...]
Good luck and have fun with this great little unit.*UPDATE*
A few new things.
Satellite Radio - Bought the Sirius Adapter through ebay. Though it's not as fast as a stand-alone unit, It sounds great and it's nice to have it integrated into the radio.
Iphone Compatibility - I was a little disappointed to see that, unfortunately, the Iphone does not seem to be compatible with the unit. Maybe with either an update from Apple or JVC this will change in the future. For now, I use my usable Ipod touch just as a music jukebox in the car and Iphone for everything else (gym, work, etc...). It's actually not a bad setup.
HD Radio - Buying the HD Adapter fixed my RDS problem. Any stations that send out artist info is now displayed. Without excellent reception, those extra HD stations are hit or miss. It's a nice feature to have. Quality can be exceptional at times.
I will keep those interested up-to-date if I come across any new info on the unit.
Have Fun,
Mary

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Apple iPad (First Generation) MC496LL/A Tablet (32GB, Wifi + 3G) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've now spent the better part of a day playing with the new iPad, and while it excels in many things there are still some things anyone considering buying one should probably keep in mind.
First the good sides:
This thing is very fast, opening and closing applications is quick, the screen is incredibly responsive, there is no lag while typing, and the built in Safari browser does a great job of quickly loading even graphic intense pages.
The not so good sides:
As has been thoroughly pointed out, there is not presently much in the way of multitasking within the iPhone OS, but with most expectations pointing towards a summer release of OS 4.0 this might be remedied by mid summer, and almost certainly by a generation 2 release. That said, it should be kept in mind that on such a little screen being able to view multiple applications at once will likely never be something you'll use, and the speed by which you can open and close applications makes this less a headache than you might think. It isn't as fast as moving between open apps, but it isn't a deal breaker by any means. The lack of a camera in this generation is a little surprising, while I've purchased my iPad already, I honestly believe that with the number of competitors expected over the course of 2010 we're probably going to see a generation 2 by Christmas with a camera. It's still an amazing device, but the ability to video chat with it would definitely put it over the top, that's a feature worth waiting for. The lack of Flash support isn't as irritating as I expected it to be, but still something to consider. Many major sites have evolved to html5, or are in the process of doing so. This allows for full viewing by the Safari browser, and where it exists, it works great. The remaining sites still using Flash show up with annoying little boxes looking for a plugin that is likely never going to exist. If you spend a lot of time on flash heavy sites it really probably is worth considering holding out to see how the Slate/Android Tablets look in a few months, but if you're mostly just e-mailing and checking facebook (no Farmville) the lack of Flash support probably won't bother you too much.
As a laptop replacement:
The inclusion of the iWorks utilities gives this device a little bit of a laptop personality. Don't let that persuade you into believing that you don't need a computer though. You might be able to get away with ditching a laptop if all you really do is e-mail or very light word processing, but if you do anything more than that you'll like the freedom and ease a full computer offers for more complex tasks. That said, this device is a tremendous leap towards a future tablet style device that may very well be a replacement for your computer, but for now it is more of a casual use device than something you can really expect to do substantial work with. I have put together a presentation in keynote, which was easy enough to do, but pages isn't as intuitive as I'd have liked, and taking lengthy notes or writing long letters/e-mails/reports will probably make it worth considering buying either the keyboard dock or the wireless bluetooth keyboard.
Battery life seems to live up to the claims, I managed to get about 7 hours before getting the 20% remaining battery life indication, which puts it about right for 10 hours or so of total use. One very important thing to realize about charging the device is that presently (at launch) there is some issues with charging via USB from many computers. The iPad is different than other iPod products, it requires a bit more power to charge up, and unfortunately most USB ports aren't set up to support that higher power draw. This is something that may be fixed in a firmware update to allow for a slower charge, or it may simply be that you'll need to either rely on a new Mac (seems like they can handle the power issue) or rely on the wall charger. Just don't be surprised if you plug it into your computer and it doesn't show that it is charging.
All in all, the iPad is an impressive device that might make for a reasonable replacement of a netbook for casual users. For people who need something to really do a lot of work on, you may find that for the price that a netbook or laptop still offers the better value for your needs. Future generations of this device will probably transition into fitting that market better than this first generation. However, if you're an avid reader, casual gamer, music fan, who doesn't do much more on the web than check a few sites, and e-mail. This thing is definitely worth considering! If you're on the fence, nothing about this product is so incredible as to justify running out and buying one right now, but it is worthy of your consideration if you're thinking you might like a tablet style device. I definitely would encourage you to go play with one at best buy or an apple store to get a feel for it. With a number of competitors due out over the next few months we're likely to see some price movement, or a second generation release, so it may be worth it to wait it out a little while.
One final note, the screen is absolutely gorgeous while it is turned on. It is crisp, bright, and very easy to see from any angle. But when you turn it off, every finger print and swipe is suddenly very visible (while it is on the light is bright enough you don't see them fingerprints). If you are a neat freak, or just hate finger prints on your devices you'll have to invest in some microfiber cloths or get used to using your shirt sleeve!
In conclusion, it's a lot of fun, and I'm not the least bit sorry to have bought one. It does many things, and over the next months will do many more. If you think you want one, go play with one, and if you don't want to wait for a next generation this one is definitely awesome. If you have specific needs that aren't really addressed in this generation or by apple, don't let the hype or peer pressure bully you into this one, there are a number of devices coming with great potential, one of those might be a better fit.

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ARCHOS 101 Internet Tablet 16GB Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been using Archos 101 for a month and I thought my experience might be useful for the other Amazon visitors. Before Archos 101 product, I had a chance of using iPad and Samsung Galaxy tab - which are our test tablets for the applications we developed. All tablet devices have their own pros and cons, I think as a buyer you are the one who know your needs best and you can decide which one fits your requirements.
I would like to evaluate the product from different aspects:
SCREEN SIZE:
It has 10.1 excellent high resolution capacitive multitouch screens - be careful it is rectangular, not square type like iPad and the rest of the other 10inches (if you are looking for a case - this might be good to know) in the market. You can use it comfortably at both vertical and horizontal levels. The only problem with the screen is the angle limitation - if you do not have the correct angle, you might have some difficulties in looking at the screen. Practically it means it is for only one person use (good for privacy bad for sharing) - if want to watch a romantic HD movie with a loved one, you need to put it to a long distance (such a win-win: you can both watch the movie and there is nothing between you & the loved one!).
SPEED:
It has 1GB ARM Cortex A8 processer (same with Samsung Galaxy Tab) but 256mb RAM (512mb at Samsung). It is neither fast, nor slow. Firmware upgrades can help to increase the performance and at normal system use around 100 mb is free. If you use android it is always a good idea to limit the use of widgets, as they are consuming so much power of the device. I know they are nice and using them is the nature of android but try to limit yourself with only the "must haves". In return, you are going to get a better performance.
BATTERY and WEIGHT:
One word: Excellent. None of the other tables can compete with Archos 101 in its category. Superb battery performance and very light table. Also, it is a handsome device. I have been using it with a leather case (bought from eBay) and to my surprise, since the case on it - it has been started to be noticed by the people around. (Moral of the story for attention gathering purpose - a leather case alone without tablet would be fine and cheaper solution!). It is 480 gr (10 inch), Samsung Tab is 380 gr (7inch) and iPad is 730 gr (9.8 inch)
MULTIMEDIA PERFORMANCE:
This is the specialty of Archos, as they are very famous with their MP3 and multimedia devices. While you are listening moonlight sonata, you can answer your mails or surf on the net. Plus, it is possible to watch almost any video format in this device. I was a little disappointed to see that Archos is selling plug-ins to support some video formats - this is a cheap way to make money in my opinion. Don't worry; android market is at your service! You can find lots of excellent video players (and more) in the market as free. One more tip: if you install Skype - you got a phone on it!
MARKET and Other Apps:
One of the main advantage of buying a tablet from a well-know brand is after sale support. In some forums I observed some users complained about installing market and some other problems with the applications (including flash, YouTube etc.). Thanks God, Archos fans created some groups on the net and very decent to share their experiences (a personal note: android users in general loves to share and expand the platform). If the instructions explained there followed carefully this is not an issue. Of course there is always a possibility that sometimes a defective product may hit you. In this case, it might be good idea to send the product back for refund or change.
HDMI, WI-FI, Bluetooth and USB:
Working all fine. Even so I have never managed to use Tethering function of the product. I wonder if it is a defect on the Archos 101 or in my understanding how to use it. Having a 3G tablet has tremendous advantages - for sure. However, you need to pay quite extra for it during the purchase, plus the monthly data package charges is very costly. In my opinion - unless you are always on the move - 3G tablet investment's return does not justify itself. Even if you are always on the move if you set up the connection between your phone and Archos 101 (either in the form of Bluetooth, usb or wifi hotspot) - there would be no problem on your side.
HOW TO INSTALL ANDROID MARKET to ARCHOS 101:
You need to follow easy 2 steps to install the apps to Archos 101.
Step 1: The tablet comes with pre-installed Archos market app. First You need to use it and download Archtools application from the Archos market (you can do this without sign up to Archos Market). Then by using Archtools app, you can download application packages (in total 2) provided by Archos that includes flash player, google maps, gmail, android market and other useful programs.
Step 2: After android market app is installed to your device - you can use android market (you probably know that you need a gmail account to use it) to have an access to unlimited number of application available to you. Please note that there are different android markets exist and availability of an app may change from one to another.
CONCLUSION:
I think it is a good product with a reasonable price tag. Compare to other tablets in the market (as of today) - it has the best price-feature match. It can be an excellent company at home and office (in the recent firmware upgrade proxy feature was added). After trying many others, I preferred to buy Archos 101 and very happy with my decision by now. Many people after seeing it in my hand - bought one for themselves; either my hand shows it good or it is good :)
Different people have different tastes, this makes the world a wonderful place for sure. My suggestions to you - whichever the table you choose - don't buy something with a small screen, which in means less than 9.8 inches. As Steve Jobs mentioned in his speech, Apple usability tests proved that users have so much difficulty at small screens. Our usability tests showed the same thing. Even so many new tabs on the way comes with 7 inch screens including new models from LG, Motorola (XOOM is an exception), HTC etc. If you have any chance that would be great to see the product in the shop and take it in your hand. So that you see how you feel.
Final words: if you buy Archos 101 - do not forget to register the product and regularly update the firmware. If you have look to the change log in their official web site - you can see that how much progress Archos had by now in itself and tablets are still in their infancy level.
I hope this review will help you in your decision.


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Offering a unique tablet design with the latest Android operating system, the ARCHOS 101 Internet tablet features a 10.1-inch multi-touch display with pinch-and-zoom capabilities, a fast 1. GHz processor for fast web browsing, HD multimedia playback, and multitasking across applications.
The Android-powered ARCHOS 101 with 10.1-inch multi-touch display and 16 GB internal memory (see larger image).

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Apple Nike + iPod Sport Kit for iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, iPod touch 1G, 2G, 3G (OLD VERSION) Review

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(More customer reviews)I was skeptical about buying this because I'd read so many bad reviews. Nike and Apple both live on hype, so how good could it really be? After a lot of online research on how to position the chip in your shoe and calibrate it properly, I decided to buy. I followed the steps (listed below) and have had no trouble. I did a one mile calibration and 3 weeks later the Nike+ was accurate to 200 feet on my half marathon! Incredible for something that costs $30. Maybe GPS is for hard core runners, but this would be fine for your average running fan. And the cool online running log is a great bonus you don't get with the geeky full feature GPS systems.
The secret to making it work right:
1: position the chip face up, facing forward on your shoe
2: The chip must be held so it doesn't jiggle at all. (if you have nikes, this isn't a problem, but I don't so I cut a hole in my sole and made my own chip holder. I've see people use the lace holders with success, but it has to be really tight.
3: calibrate it for at least a mile on flat ground and try to run a consistent pace that is normal for your running. If you improve your average running time, you should recalibrate with the new pace for maximum accuracy.
(Was this nerdy enough for everyone?)

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Nike + iPod Sport Kit Transform your iPod nano or iPod touch (2nd gen) into a personal workout coach with the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. This wireless sensor and receiver combination works exclusively with your Nike+ shoes and iPod nano or iPod touch to give you real-time feedback during workouts and let you track your performance on your Mac or PC.
Your personal trainer. Your favorite workout companion.Thanks to a unique partnership between Nike and Apple, your iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G; or iPod touch 2G becomes your coach.
Tune Insert the wireless sensor inside the custom, built-in pocket beneath the insole of your Nike+ shoe, and then plug the receiver into the Dock connector on your iPod nano. The iPod touch (2nd generation) includes built-in support for the system--no receiver necessary.
Run Now start your workout. As your run or walk, the sensor sends information to your iPod, tracking your time, distance, pace, and calories burned. If you choose, real-time, spoken feedback can even alert you to milestones throughout your workout.
Sync Back at your computer, sync your iPod to transfer your workout data to iTunes and nikeplus.com. There, you can evaluate your performance history, set goals, and even challenge other runners to a virtual race.
What's in the Box? Wireless sensor for Nike+ shoes, wireless receiver for iPod nano, printed documentation.

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