VDO Z2 Heart Rate Monitor and Cycle Computer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is not an inexpensive computer; and if a good definition of quality is to meet expectations, then I have been let down.
It works well enough but the bugs it has are quite annoying. Maximum speed and maximum heart rate are important metrics, yet sometimes when I push hard I see a speed or heart rate on the display and then I find that the maximum recorded is a couple of units below it. That's simply not good. If the computer captures a top rate well enough to display it, it should not be a problem to record it as the maximum. It's the easiest thing to do in software.

Also, ergonomics could be better. To start the next lap, for instance, you have to press two buttons at the same time. It is error prone and in the heat of the ride it is easy to fail to do it, so you do it a few times and then find that it skipped two laps. It's quite annoying.
I have emailed customer support about this complaints and I got no answer, so there you go. So much for German engineering...


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Elegantly designed, the wrist-style VDO Z2 cycle computer will keep track of your training with integrated heart rate monitoring as well as calorie consumption and fully digital wireless transmission for speed, heart rate, and cadence (with optional accessory). It also features ANT+Sport wireless signal coding that transmits to your computer without interference from other training computers nearby. It's backed by a five-year warranty.
Features
Current speed and distance; average speed
Real time comparison of actual and average speed, indication by arrows showing speed difference of +/- 1 km/h
Second, individually programmable distance counter; either forward or backward counting possible
Cadence Data (optional, with cadence sender equipment installed)
Two presettable wheel circumferences (wheel sizes)
Six selectable timers
Current trip timer (up to 24 hours)
Current heart rate (permanently displayed), ECG-precise measurement
Average/maximum heart rate
Current heart rate in % of personal maximum heart rate
Time in % of total training time:
within the preset heart rate limits (Limit Zone)
below the preset heart rate limits (Limit Zone)
above the preset heart rate limits (Limit Zone)

Calorie-consumption on current trip
Recovery time or recovery heart rate measurement (adjustable time or heart rate)
Lap-timer for 50 laps with data for lap time, average speed and average heart rate
Audible signal if current heart rate is above or below limit settings.
Personal data presettable (age, weight, sex, personal maximum heart rate)
Automatic calculation or manual setting of upper/lower limits for each of the three training zones
Current time, selectable 12- or 24- hour display
Alarm function

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Garmin Forerunner 310XT Replacement Band (010-11215-01) Review

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(More customer reviews)My title says everything. I hate to buy replacement items, mainly when you spent a lot of money to buy the product, in this case the Garmin 310 XT. The original band didn't resist so much time, even in a regular use. I hope (and pray) that I won't need in the next future to buy one more band.

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Garmin Forerunner 405 Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor Kit - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the first review, ever, I have written about a product but I am so happy with it that I want to encourage others to buy it.
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 405 package (watch, USB connector and Heart rate monitor (HRM)) in July 2009 and it is one of the best purchases I've ever made.
At the time, I had just committed to yet another attempt to get in better shape and thought being able to track my runs (distance, time and HRM) would be an effective way to keep myself motivated. I'm a nerd when it comes to gadgets and I love keeping track of everything (e.g. I love MS Money) so this watch was just perfect for me.
Here are some cools things about the watch that I am particularly happy about:
1) the HRM (which you snap around your chest): starting from the poor shape I was in, it really helped having something in addition to the time and distance of each workout: while I kept running at a slow pace and at the same speed, I could quickly see progress in terms of a lower HR.
2) the fact that my runs gets imported into Google earth. After each run, all I need to do is approach my desktop and the watch starts sending the details of the run (speed, GPS locations, time etc) to the computer. Thereafter, a neat little program shows me the run (speed, HR etc) in Google earth.
3) it allows you to "lock in" the GPS location of a particular spot and then use that as a guide to find your way back. I use this when I travel. Upon arriving at a new hotel (in a new city), I lock in the hotel's location. The watch then has a feature called "go to location" that will guide you back to a particular location you have stored (i.e. it brings up a little compass that will guide you back to the hotel from whereever you might end up later in the day).
4) the optional footpod is convenient to have if you run on treadmills (inside where the GPS won't work). I also attach it to my shoes when I play squash to see how much of a workout I'm getting (as I said, I am a nerd when it comes to measuring things).
Here are some things which are not superb about the watch:
a) the battery in the food pod had to be replaced within 6 months
b) sometimes it can take up to 5 minutes for the watch to locate satelites. This is frustrating! The problem is particularly severe if you have moved from one country to another. Usually, when I run the same routes (within a country), it "remembers" the satelites and it connects within a minute or two.
I hope this was useful. Best, Lars

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USB ANT™ Stick Review

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(More customer reviews)Although it works OK
I lost my first one
Garmin should be able to make something that does not require another small part

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Garmin - GPS receiver band - Garmin Forerunner 405CX Review

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(More customer reviews)At the time of this review, the item pictured here is the soft velcro strap replacement for the Garmin Forerunner 405 watches. I ordered it and received a replacement OEM rubber strap, which is the wrong item. I wrote to their customer service and received automated authorization for return, so I'm not sure if any human ever saw my reason for the return. So, I'm not sure if anyone at AntOnline knows that the item pictured here is different from the one they're shipping. Take that into account if you order this item! Otherwise, shipping was prompt and the (wrong) item was well packed.

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Suunto X10 Wrist-Top GPS Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)I owned a Vector for at least 10 years and am having to go back to it as Suunto has had my X 10 more than I have over the last 8 months. I have sent it in twice the last time in Nov for the case coming apart. First time button cover came off. Cannot believe I paid $400 for this. Makes me question Suunto.

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Small and lightweight, the Suunto X10 wrist-top computer watch combines an altimeter, barometer, compass, and GPS navigator, making it a terrific companion for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The X10--which builds on Suunto's decade of experience in creating cutting-edge outdoor devices--stands above most other wrist-top computers thanks to its improved, faster GPS fixes. Even under heavy foliage, you can use the X10 to plot your treks, navigate to a certain spot, or get back to your car, all while keeping your hands free to hold a hiking stick or water bottle. Once back at home, you can share your treks on Google Earth, or use the Suunto Trek Manager PC software to create new routes and plan new journeys.
The Suunto X10 also includes a built-in altimeter, which displays your current altitude and your vertical ascent and descent rate. Accurate to within 30,000 feet, the altimeter is an extremely valuable tool for mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and wilderness travel. The altimeter contributes to your excursion in several ways. If you're standing on or near an obvious geographic feature, such as a ridge, trail, or creek, the altimeter can alert you to your current elevation and help you find your position on a topographic map. Similarly, if you plan on climbing a slope to a certain elevation and then traversing, the X10 can help you stay on course. And, of course, the X10 captures all your altitude information in its integrated logbook, making it easy to analyze your performance when creating a training routine.
The X10's barometer, meanwhile, measures and records air pressure to help you predict changing conditions--from sunny skies to hair-bending electrical storms. The barometer helps you decide whether to bring a soft shell or rain shell jacket when the skies look ominous, or even when to high-tail it back to the car. In general, low pressure brings inclement weather, while high pressure brings stability and clear skies. If you've arrived at camp and notice the pressure starting to plunge, it's probably a good idea to secure the tent and crawl in. Likewise, if you're on a climb, it would be prudent to find shelter and retreat. Even at home, the X10's barometer can look beyond office walls, skyscrapers, and nearby hills to help you plan for upcoming activities.
And no outdoor watch is worth its salt without a digital compass, a great tool for keeping track of your direction while skiing, hiking, or exploring a new city. Simply point the top of the watch toward your intended destination and lock it in. Other features include an Activity Mode that records your speed, distance, and altitude information, along with any memory points you define along the way; a Track Back mode that guides you back the same way you came; a long-lasting battery; up to 50 routes, 25 tracks, and 500 waypoints; water-resistance up to 330 feet; and all the standard watch functions, including a 12/24-hour display, a stopwatch, a calendar clock, and three daily alarms. As with all Suunto wrist-top computers, the X10 carries a two-year warranty.
Specifications:
Altitude alarm: Yes
Vertical speed: Yes
Temperature compensation: Yes
User-removable logbook files: Yes
Resolution: 1 meter
Altitude range: 1,600 to 29,500 feet
Logbook function: Yes
Stopwatch: Yes
Max number of split times in memory: 29
Automatic magnetic declination adjustment: Yes
Guided calibration: Yes
Heading in degrees: Yes
Declination setting: Yes
Cardinal directions: Yes
Bearing tracking: Yes
North-South indicator: North indicator
Distance measurement: Yes, via GPS
GPS resolution: 3 feet
Routes: 50
Speed: Yes
Tracks: 25
Waypoints: 500
Water resistance: 330 feet
Menu-based user interface: Yes
Display: Dot matrix
Backlight type: LED
Software: Suunto Trek Manager
Time: 12/24 hours
GPS time synchronization: Yes
Calendar clock: Yes
Dual time: Yes
Daily alarms: 3
Absolute barometric pressure: Yes
Weather memory: 7 days
Weather alarm: Yes
Trend graph: Yes
Temperature range: -5 to 140 degrees F
Sea level pressure: Yes
Battery power indicator: Yes
Rechargeable battery: Yes
Warranty: 2 years

About Suunto Suunto was founded in 1936 by outdoors man and a keen orienteering enthusiast, Tuomas Vohlonen, who had long been bothered by a problem: the inaccuracy of traditional dry compasses and their lack of steady needle operation. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovered and patented the production method for a much steadier needle, better readings, and a new level of accuracy.
By 1950 the company was exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1952, Helsinki was hosting the Olympic Games, and the torches carried to light the Olympic flame were Suunto products. The next step was improving the stability and accuracy of marine compasses. The first marine compass, the Suunto K-12, was launched onto the market in 1953. In 1957, Suunto started manufacturing hypsometers, which measure the height of trees.
In the 1960s, the compass range grew further and Suunto introduced its first diving compass--initiated by the divers themselves. A British sports diver attached a Suunto compass to his wrist and found that the device also worked underwater. Thanks to his feedback and initiatives, the new business category was found. Suunto's exports and business grew steadily and Suunto then focused on combining its strength in precision mechanics with new skills in electronics. Accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness have been Suunto's key values from the very beginning of the company history.
Today, Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports instruments for training, diving, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sailing, and golf. True to its roots, Suunto is today the world's biggest compass manufacturer. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto sports instruments combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers that help athletes at all levels analyze and improve performance. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to nearly 60 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with the sister brands Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, Precor, and Mavic.

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Suunto X10M Wrist-Top GPS Computer Watch with Altimeter, Barometer, Compass, and GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)This watch was a great purchase for the first few weeks that I had it; as far as functionality it has performed superbly. A few weeks after I purchased this watch (the X10 Military) I deployed to Iraq and planned on using this watch with my work in the Army here.
The watch has continued to serve fairly well, until I had about 2 months in country. The bezel/upper-case (a flexible rubber ring) is only attached by two rubber flanges that fit into the hard plastic body of the watch. First (at about 60 days) one of the flanges failed, then in another 30 days, the second flange failed. I have been able to superglue the bezel back onto the case (and probably voided the warranty, but I can't wait months to get this back and forth) but I am very dissapointed that a watch that cost me $500.00 USD and is listed as a "military" model, cannot handle exposure to the elements on my wrist for less than 3 months.
I think the concept and design of this watch is great, but I hope that Suunto is able to better incorporate some "painful" product testing before you market something to the military who will depend on it.

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Small and lightweight, the Suunto X10M wrist-top computer watch combines an altimeter, barometer, compass, and GPS navigator, making it a terrific companion for outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The X10M--which builds on Suunto's decade of experience in creating cutting-edge outdoor devices--stands above most other wrist-top computers thanks to its improved, faster GPS fixes. Even under heavy foliage, you can use the X10M to plot your treks, navigate to a certain spot, or get back to your car, all while keeping your hands free to hold a hiking stick or water bottle. Once back at home, you can share your treks on Google Earth, or use the Suunto Trek Manager PC software to create new routes and plan new journeys.
The Suunto X10M also includes a built-in altimeter, which displays your current altitude and your vertical ascent and descent rate. Accurate to within 30,000 feet, the altimeter is an extremely valuable tool for mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and wilderness travel. The altimeter contributes to your excursion in several ways. If you're standing on or near an obvious geographic feature, such as a ridge, trail, or creek, the altimeter can alert you to your current elevation and help you find your position on a topographic map. Similarly, if you plan on climbing a slope to a certain elevation and then traversing, the X10M can help you stay on course. And, of course, the X10M captures all your altitude information in its integrated logbook, making it easy to analyze your performance when creating a training routine.
The X10M's barometer, meanwhile, measures and records air pressure to help you predict changing conditions--from sunny skies to hair-bending electrical storms. The barometer helps you decide whether to bring a soft shell or rain shell jacket when the skies look ominous, or even when to high-tail it back to the car. In general, low pressure brings inclement weather, while high pressure brings stability and clear skies. If you've arrived at camp and notice the pressure starting to plunge, it's probably a good idea to secure the tent and crawl in. Likewise, if you're on a climb, it would be prudent to find shelter and retreat. Even at home, the X10M's barometer can look beyond office walls, skyscrapers, and nearby hills to help you plan for upcoming activities.
And no outdoor watch is worth its salt without a digital compass, a great tool for keeping track of your direction while skiing, hiking, or exploring a new city. Simply point the top of the watch toward your intended destination and lock it in. Other features include an Activity Mode that records your speed, distance, and altitude information, along with any memory points you define along the way; a Track Back mode that guides you back the same way you came; a long-lasting battery; up to 50 routes, 25 tracks, and 500 waypoints; water-resistance up to 330 feet; and all the standard watch functions, including a 12/24-hour display, a stopwatch, a calendar clock, and three daily alarms. As with all Suunto wrist-top computers, the X10M carries a two-year warranty.
Specifications:
Altitude alarm: Yes
Vertical speed: Yes
Temperature compensation: Yes
User-removable logbook files: Yes
Resolution: 1 meter
Altitude range: 1,600 to 29,500 feet
Logbook function: Yes
Stopwatch: Yes
Max number of split times in memory: 29
Automatic magnetic declination adjustment: Yes
Guided calibration: Yes
Heading in degrees: Yes
Declination setting: Yes
Cardinal directions: Yes
Bearing tracking: Yes
North-South indicator: North indicator
Distance measurement: Yes, via GPS
GPS resolution: 3 feet
Routes: 50
Speed: Yes
Tracks: 25
Waypoints: 500
Water resistance: 330 feet
Menu-based user interface: Yes
Display: Dot matrix
Backlight type: LED
Software: Suunto Trek Manager
Time: 12/24 hours
GPS time synchronization: Yes
Calendar clock: Yes
Dual time: Yes
Daily alarms: 3
Absolute barometric pressure: Yes
Weather memory: 7 days
Weather alarm: Yes
Trend graph: Yes
Temperature range: -5 to 140 degrees F
Sea level pressure: Yes
Battery power indicator: Yes
Rechargeable battery: Yes
Warranty: 2 years

About Suunto Suunto was founded in 1936 by outdoors man and a keen orienteering enthusiast, Tuomas Vohlonen, who had long been bothered by a problem: the inaccuracy of traditional dry compasses and their lack of steady needle operation. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovered and patented the production method for a much steadier needle, better readings, and a new level of accuracy.
By 1950 the company was exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1952, Helsinki was hosting the Olympic Games, and the torches carried to light the Olympic flame were Suunto products. The next step was improving the stability and accuracy of marine compasses. The first marine compass, the Suunto K-12, was launched onto the market in 1953. In 1957, Suunto started manufacturing hypsometers, which measure the height of trees.
In the 1960s, the compass range grew further and Suunto introduced its first diving compass--initiated by the divers themselves. A British sports diver attached a Suunto compass to his wrist and found that the device also worked underwater. Thanks to his feedback and initiatives, the new business category was found. Suunto's exports and business grew steadily and Suunto then focused on combining its strength in precision mechanics with new skills in electronics. Accuracy, reliability, and ruggedness have been Suunto's key values from the very beginning of the company history.
Today, Suunto is a leading designer and manufacturer of sports instruments for training, diving, mountaineering, hiking, skiing, sailing, and golf. True to its roots, Suunto is today the world's biggest compass manufacturer. Prized for their design, accuracy and dependability, Suunto sports instruments combine the aesthetics and functionality of watches with sport-specific computers that help athletes at all levels analyze and improve performance. Headquartered in Vantaa, Finland, Suunto employs more than 500 people worldwide and distributes its products to nearly 60 countries. The company is a subsidiary of Helsinki-based Amer Sports Corporation with the sister brands Wilson, Salomon, Atomic, Precor, and Mavic.

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Dell Axim X30 Pocket PC (624 MHz, 64MB, Wi-Fi) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had My Axim for a couple of months now and I have put it through its marks. I comes out on top in everything. Dell has thought of it all when it comes to this very handsome PocketPc. I was very impressed when I turned it on and went to the internet and it set its self up for my wifi network. I thought that was going to me a nightmare and it turned out to be a dream. It works like a dream on the internet too. I can use it anyplace and that makes it easy to keep up on my email.
It keeps my life in order with all the software that comes with it and there is so much to add if you need to. The free stuff is endless on the web.
It plays and stores my MP3s like the best MP3 player. I can watch the latest movies on it while waiting to see the doctor or play great games to keep my mind busy while waiting for that doctor who seems to be takeing forever, but I don't mind I have my Axim X30.
I can never find a piece of paper while out to take down an address or a note about something I don't want to forget and my Axim does that too. It takes notes and saves them with ease. Don't feel like writing? Well just press a button and speak your notes or anything else. You won't need one of those little tape recorders ever again. Throw away your Day Runner. You won't need it ever again. This stores all that and more.
I just can't list everything it can do because I would be writing forever but with software there isn't much it can't do. On the lighter side you can even use it for a flashlight or a mirror to check your lipstick!!
I have had many Palms and PocketPcs and I have liked them all but none can come close to this one. It's by far one of the very BEST there is out there. Its super fast too. You can add tons of memory with SD memory cards and they are so small.
I really could fill up allot more pages just listing the things this little package can do but I think you get the picture. They say that "Big things come in little packages". I think they wrote that just for the Dell Axim X30

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Sony Ericsson W995 Energetic Red Walkman Unlocked GSM Cell Phone International Version Sim Free Mobile Review

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(More customer reviews)If anyone do not want to spend extra $$ for smart phone's data plan, this phone would be the best alternative. Great camera, Sony Walkman for MP3, plus wifi, it's definitly a great buy.


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

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.

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HP iPAQ HX4705 Pocket PC Review

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(More customer reviews)This iPaq gets none of the love it deserves. In truth, it is the best stand-alone PDA available on the market. First, let me address the immediate complaints made about the 4705.
1. Price
Um, get a paper route. This is the highest end device of its kind, because of its speedy processor, VGA screen, and extras which are packed into the device. There are Pocket PCs available for much less money, but with lower price you sacrifice quality.
2. Size
Seven Ounces, the size of a pack of index cards. This PDA fits in your front pants or jacket pocket, and form factor dictates that it be that big to accomodate the large screen.3. Screen flip cover.
This is removable. I've never understood this complaint.4. Touchpad.
Using a floating cursor, like a laptop computer is actually a huge convenience. Using the pad as a navigation director isn't easy, so be aware of that before purchasing.Anyway. The 4705 runs on a very fast processor, and can handle several tasks at once. The VGA screen displays 640X480 pixels, making videos, games, and websites absolutely gorgeous to view. There is tons of built-in memory, as well as SD and CF slots to accomadate another 3 GB of storage. This is more than enough room for all your videos, music, photos, games, and PIM. Pocket Informant is included, to manage your Notes, Calendar, Tasks, and Contacts. It integrates with Outlook for your Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Tasks, and Inbox. ActiveSync 3.8 works very quickly, and you'll have no problem taking both your office, and your personal life with you on the go. Microsoft Office is included, so you have both Word and Excel. You can read, edit, write, and print documents and spreadsheets. These can be transferred to and from your computer. Windows Media Player 9.0 is included, allowing you to listen to .wma files, or watch .wmv files. A free e-book reader can be found to allow you to read books on the device, and if you subscribe to Audible.com, you can listen to books. There are literally hundreds of games that you can find for the device that are mind blowingly realistic graphics-wise. Some are free, some cost a small fee to download. HP Image Zone lets you make slideshows of your favorite photo albums. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also integrated in the device. This means you have two options of accessing the internet at any given time. Wi-Fi means that you can get a high speed internet connection near a Wi-Fi hotspot such as a coffeehouse, hotel, airport, office, home network, etc. If you're not near a Wi-Fi area, you can connect at dial-up speed using a Bluetooth modem. I use my Motorola V710 phone from Verizon. This may cost more, so check with your wireless company. All in all, this device is a life saver. To recap, I use this iPAQ to:
1. Maintain my Contacts, Calendar, Notes, Tasks, and Inbox
2. Keep all documents and spreadsheets handy
3. View all my photos
4. Read ebooks
5. Connect to the internet whenever, wherever
6. Play numerous PC console- quality video games
7. Listen to hours and hours of music
8. Watch video, including full length DVD movies
9. Record notes
And tons more! This iPAQ is worth every penny you'll pay for it. And if you have a job that involves anything more complex than soaking french fries, it will basically pay for itself, because you'll save hours from your job. The question isn't: Should you buy the HP iPAQ 4705? The question is: You haven't bought the HP iPAQ 4705 yet?!

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Includes: Windows Mobile 2003 2nd Edition, Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Informant 5.0, 1,800 mAh lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, desktop cradle, plastic flip cover, stylus, & more. hp iPaq hx4705 Pocket PC - This versatile Pocket PC is a reliable go-anywhere business tool for your hectic lifestyle. Be more productive when you utilize the hx4705's fast Intel 624MHz processor and bundled applications. Stay connected to the world around you with integrated 802.11b Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. No matter where you are, the world is at your fingertips with the hx4705 Pocket PC.480 x 640 Pixels Magnesium-alloy body Integrated SD Slot (supports SD/MMC and SDIO) Integrated CF Slot (CompactFlash Type II) Integrated Microphone & Speaker (both on the front of the iPaq) 3.5mm Stereo Headphone Jack MP3 Stereo Playback 4 Shortcut programmable buttons Navigation touchpad with mouse-like cursor Buttons -power, voice record, soft reset, contacts, inbox, mail, & iTask Connects to a PC via USB 2.0 Unit Dimensions -5.17 (h) x 3.03 (w) x. 59 (d) Unit Weight -6.6 oz.

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GARMIN Dakota 20 EDGE 305 310XT 705 FORERUNNER 50 305 405 Colorado Oregon 300 400c 400i 400t GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Sensor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed this on my road bike in just a few minutes (ok, probably 15 mins because I check and double check before tightening the straps). It was very easy and the instructions are very detailed. It synced up to my Garmin FR60 without any issue. It provides cadence AND speed/distance with this one device. Great product.

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Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Edit 2/2/10: After several months of use, I am revising my review to give this radio 4 stars. I still think it is the best out there today, but am subtracting a star to account for some poor design flaws on it with the way they integrate with the Bluetooth and Sirius units.
The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD is a touch-screen Double DIN aftermarket car stereo. It has a 5.8" full color widescreen face, front auxiliary port for connecting an IPod or other device, a front USB port for connecting a USB flash drive, and it can play DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, DivX, MP3, WMA and AAC files. The Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with Widescreen Display is the same exact radio, except it adds a bigger screen (7") by removing the physical buttons to the side, and it adds a subwoofer preamp output.

INSTALLATION AND DVD BYPASS: Double DIN means that it is roughly twice the size of a conventional car stereo, so before ordering, you need to make sure it will fit in your car. The best way to do this is to go to Crutchfield's web site and determine if it will work on your vehicle. The unit itself comes with the receiver, mounting screws, manual, a stylus pen, front mounting cover, and a power cable. I found it fairly easy to install. The power cable it comes with just has bare wires coming out of it. In addition to the radio, you will want to buy a mounting harness and mounting bracket for your vehicle. The harness looks just like the one that comes with the stereo, but it is designed to clip into the factory harness that's in your vehicle, to make it easy to remove the stereo. If you don't have one, you'll have to connect all of the wires by hand, and disconnect each one to remove. The mounting bracket is designed to make sure you radio fits correctly in your specific vehicle. I purchased both the harness and bracket from Crutchfield. My only problem with installation, is that it comes with a long green wire that is supposed to be connected to your emergency brake wire. This is necessary, because the unit has a safety feature that requires the emergency brake to be applied in order to play DVDs. My emergency brake wire was extremely hard to get to, and once I was able to finally remove the center console and find it, it was buried and almost impossible to access. I don't suggest doing this, but if you have the same problem and want to get around this issue, or if you want to be able to watch DVDs without having to engage the brake, then you need to connect this wire to an auto relay switch. Go to Radio Shack and buy a momentary push button switch, part number 275-1548. Cut the green wire coming out of the radio harness from the receiver, close to the end of it, maybe 5 inches away from that red clip. Strip the wire, and run it through one of the holes on the relay switch. You can solder it or just wrap it with electrical tape. Buy a standard 16 gauge wire from Radio Shack and connect it to the other hole on the switch, then connect the other end of it to a grounded connection on your vehicle. I just wrapped mine around one of the mounting screws for the radio. I stuffed this wire out of site under the dash and pull it out when I need it. Alternatively, you can just cut the green wire directly in half, and use the half you cut instead of having to buy more wire at Radio Shack, but I wanted an extra long wire in case I ever want to move it. Now, when you play a DVD, the warning screen will come on. Just press the button on the switch and it will go away, since it tricks the receiver into thinking you have engaged the parking brake. Be sure to check with your local laws, as having the DVD player on while driving or bypassing this may be illegal in your area. It may also void insurance claims. I definitely do not recommend ever watching a DVD while driving.
FORM FACTOR: The radio itself is beautiful. It fit flush with my dash and looks gorgeous. There are only a few buttons on the left hand side, and I didn't even realize they were buttons until I looked at them closely. They control volume, forward/backward, source, mute, and power. I like having these physical buttons, especially for volume and mute. If I get a phone call or need to hear something, I want to be able to instantly mute the radio without having to fool around with a touchscreen. It's very nice to have a radio that doesn't have 15 buttons all over it and looks cluttered. Customization is easy with the radio. You can select from several different colors, which will change the LED colors on these physical buttons and on the touchscreen menu buttons, so that it matches your car's LED colors. You can also choose from seven factory background screens, three of which are animated videos. The animation on the videos is very subtle and doesn't distract you. Plus, when you change the LED color, it actually changes the color of the background videos to match it, which is really cool. If you don't like these, you can use your own image from a CDR or USB drive. The screen contains a dimmer option, so when you turn on your lights, it automatically dims. This is pretty nice, but can also be annoying. I like to use my lights during the day, and while the screen is still readable, it can be hard to see. Fortunately, you can completely adjust the dimmer options through the settings.
TOUCHSCREEN: The touchscreen is very easy to navigate and done very well. The menu system is very intuitive and set up a lot like a computer. There is a back button and an escape button to get you through the menus. Seeking through a song can be done in three ways. You can hold down the physical forward/backward buttons on the unit, you can do the same with the touchscreen forward/backward buttons, or you can use your finger to slide a progress bar back and forth, the same as you would do with a video file on your computer or with an IPod. This is great because a 30 minute song can start, and I can just press the end of the progress bar with my finger and it will immediately skip to the end of the song (or whatever position I press on the bar). From what I can tell, it will scroll exactly like a computer and stop at the exact position you touch. A lot of touchscreens would have "segments" or 5-10 seconds, and stop on whichever segment you came close to. But with the AVH-P3100, it is segmented into 2 second increments, so you can have much more accurate scrolling. This is the only instance where I can see the stylus being of any use, but I have fairly large fingers and don't have any problem with the scroll bar. My main gripe with the touchscreen navigation, is with the up/down scrolling. This is used when navigating radio/satellite stations, song tracks on a CD, or file folders on a USB/IPod. There is no page up/down feature, so if five folders are displayed and you press the down arrow on the scroll bar, or if you press anywhere below the current position on the scroll bar, it will move the list down by one, instead of down by five. This is a major oversight in my opinion, and will affect the way you setup your folders. I have one folder on my USB with 80 subfolders. That means if I want to scroll through every folder in the list, I have to press the down button 75 times. Now you can put your finger on it and simply drag the arrow down to move quickly, but it goes kind of fast, and paging through the list would be so much more convenient. Also, since it only displays five lines at a time, it means you have to scroll one time to view all six of your radio presets.
USB: USB is the main reason I purchased this radio, and works well, with a few faults. First, it takes about 10 seconds when I start the car or select the USB source, for it to "read format." This is possibly because I am using a 8Gb drive with over 1000 songs on it, so it's acceptable to me. My main problem with the USB feature, is the way it organizes the folders. They do not appear alphabetically. I am not sure what method it uses, but like a lot of MP3 audio devices, it just seems to throw them up in the folder list in whatever order it wants. It will use the same order every time, but you can't trick it by copying a folder you want to appear at the top first, or adding "01, 02, 03, etc" in front of your folders/file names." There is probably a workaround for this, but I have no idea what it is. I think it would make more sense if it just listed the folders alphabetically. It does read ID3 information very well, however it cuts off anything after a certain character limit. It would be nice if it scrolled sideways through long song titles/artists to show you the full ID3 information, but for about 95% of people's music, this won't be a problem, and for the other 5% you should have enough of the title to figure out what it is. However if you don't have ID3 tags on your music, it can be a problem. For example, if you have a folder with 10 songs in it labeled "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," and there are no ID3 tags, it is only going to display the first part of the filename until it reaches the character limit. So your list on the screen will have 10 songs on it that all say something like "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fr." Additionally, the USB drive is going to stick out 3" or so from the unit, so unless you remove it every time, you have to be aware of it and careful not to break it off. It doesn't bother me at all though. (Edit - I recently purchased elago Mobile Nano II USB 2.0 microSDHC Flash Memory Card Reader (Black) for it, which only sticks out about 3mm from the unit and is awesome. Get this and a ...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD in-dash double-DIN DVD multimedia AV receiver features a 5.8-inch widescreen display and plays back DVD video, DivX, and MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC. It also features iPod direct control (CD-IU50V required) and is Bluetooth-adapter ready (CD-BTB200 required).
Now Playing in a Dash Near You This is what drive-in movies were supposed to be. Audio/video players improve on CD players by adding a large touchscreen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

I Can See Clearly Now The 5.8-inch widescreen touchscreen on the AVH-P3100DVD allows you to enjoy all of your music and videos in style. Sick of having to search through your music song by song? Now you can scroll through your music at the touch of a finger.

iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you're ready to rock and roll. Touch-slide scrolling, alphabetical high-speed search, album art, and improved link search make it easy to find your music.

Bring Your Music to Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA, and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer can make your music sound close to CD quality.

Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch-panel display, you can fast forward and rewind audio/video content. (Note: The touch-slide fast forward/rewind function is not available on iPod.)

Now it's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illuminations to match your car's interior lighting, color, and design. You even can set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB device.

Get the Blues Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth adapter and your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers, which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. (Note: CD-BTB200 adapter is required.)

Other Features The AVH-P3100DVD also includes features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide both superior sound quality and easy operation, such as:

built-in AUX input for your media devices;
two RCA high-Volt pre-outs for adding external amps and speakers;
built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion, and efficient power handling; and
supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing to ensure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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

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.

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Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Since the 1st reviewer really captured a lot of my feelings on this unit, I'll try to concentrate on or add some additional thoughts...
When researching the higher end offerings from Kenwood and Pioneer, I finally decided on Clarion's NX500 after I saw all of the features that were included for a price tag that was *at least* half the cost of anything comparable. For reference, I picked mine up for $579 from another online retailer.
Installation was a breeze in my Mercedes Benz ML320 using a Metra harness. I was especially pleased with the modular wiring setup in the back of the headunit. As the other reviewer mentioned, you only plug in the connections you plan to use. This all means less clutter and mess behind the dash. At the time of installation, I also installed the Sirius Direct Connect adapter and a rear view camera. Connections were very straightforward.
The navi system seems to be a hybrid between a Garmin and Honda/Acura unit. You have the ability to view the mapping aerially, or slightly angled (quasi 1st person). The system is adequate for getting you to your destination, although I would've liked to have seen an option that lists turn-by-turn directions on the right side of the split screen for better clarification similar to the software found in my Acura TSX. Guidance voice options include 2 sets of male and female voices. One set utilizes text to speech (TTS) and phonetically pronounces street names and highways. These voices are robotic sounding, and will literally pronounce names as they are spelled. For example, U.S. Highway 9 would sound like "us nine" vs "u-s nine". The other set of more human sounding voices merely give generic turn by turn directions such as "Turn left at next intersection" vs "Turn left at Broadway". A neat feature of the split screen option is that the time and distance to the next turn/checkpoint is displayed on the left side while the total remaining distance and estimated time of arrival are displayed on the right side. I did not have any issues w/ the unit keeping extremely accurate time as the other reviewer. I believe setting the time to sync via the GPS will solve his problem. The POI database in the nav software was fairly extensive and very helpful when in an unfamiliar area looking for a place to eat, a place to get gas, etc. Entering addresses to get routing guidance was fairly easy; however, destinations on main streets sometimes became sources of frustration. When trying to enter an address on Rt 46, I finally realized that the road was also known as "Main St". Having a HD based system allows quick re-routing when you deviate from the directions. While my Acura TSX and MDX would take a few seconds to "recalculate" a new route, the NX500 does it almost instantaneously. Nav reception via the GPS antenna is very strong. I mounted mine under the dash, and have had no issues whatsoever with getting located as soon as I turn on the vehicle. The reception is so strong that viewing the speedometer screen yielded identical results to the actual speedometer in my instrument cluster.
Sound quality was very good considering I am not running an aftermarket amp. If you're an audiophile, the limited EQ adjustments will feel limiting. For the average person, there are "preset" EQ settings for various types of audio such as "Rock", "Urban", or "Techno".
Sirius radio reception sounded CD clear in my vehicle. I did not get any hissing or "white" noise on any channel like the other reviewer did, nor has my sat radio ever locked up.
I also purchased a bypass module on e bay. Unlike Pioneers and other aftermarket headunits, you cannot simply ground the parking brake wire to the chassis. It requires a pulsing signal to mimick the release and re-engagement of the parking brake in order to operate any stereo function that includes video. I do not condone, nor recommend watching any video while operating the vehicle. For my purposes, I wanted the ability to adjust my nav destination w/o pulling the car over.
Ipod integration is ok --- all pertinent menus/data are available such as playlists, artists, songs, albums, etc. Unfortunately, however, you do not have the ability to quickly scroll through entries. I have over 5,000 songs on my 5G 30GB Video. Trying to select an artist beginning with a 'G' requires the continuous pressing of the down arrow. You cannot hold the button to accelerate the process.
The DVD function works well. The picture is very good, although it seems a tad washed out. Of course, this is a minor point as I rarely watch movies in the vehicle. Playing a CD is standard fare, but I was VERY disappointed in what appears to be a poor oversight in basic design. I used to be a vinyl DJ, and have a large collection of "continuous" mix CDs that I have not yet been able to transfer to my iPod. When playing a mix, the player will insert a 2-3 second gap between tracks, regardless if the CD was recorded without them. This can get rather annoying during a DJ set or live band performance.
The built-in bluetooth system makes this unit such a big upgrade over its predecessor because an additional, external modular add-on is not required (less mess behind the dash). Calls come in loud and clear through the vehicle's speakers, and a mic is built directly into the face of the stereo. I also installed the supplementary external mic in the vehicle to give me the option of choosing which mic to use, but callers on the other end have not reported any problem hearing me clearly when using the built-in mic. Music/video will pause and mute when a call is placed or received. My Verizon Blackberry Storm can synch its address book and call log w/o an issue. You can switch off to your handset in a snap with a dedicated button on the bluetooth screen interface. The other GREAT feature of the built-in bluetooth system is the ability to listen to Bluetooth audio. I frequently run Pandora and Slacker in the vehicle now from my Blackberry. I have so many "entertainment" options now, it truly is ridiculous. One gripe about this feature is that you can't view the nav screen at the same time.
As the other reviewer touched on, the biggest problem with this unit has to do with its visibility in bright sunlight. Because the screen is very smooth and gloss like, it reflects a great deal of glare during the day. I will try to remedy this with an anti-glare film and update at a later time. With all that said, after a month and a half of solid use, I would purchase this unit again in a heartbeat. I almost feel like I stole it, and cannot say enough about what a great value it really is. While it is not a supreme standout in any one area, it does everything fairly well. If you are looking for a good "quiver killer", I would highly recommend it.
Pros (to echo some of the 1st reviewer's sentiments):
1 - Ease of installation w/ no mess.
2 - Fast navigation due to HD based software; STRONG GPS reception.
3 - Clean sound, even w/o an amp.
4 - Easy addition of additional AV sources.
5 - POI database is robust.
6 - Built in bluetooth, especially the ability to stream BT audio (Pandora and Slacker in the car!!!)
7 - Tangible, physical buttons for volume control and source selectionCons (more nitpicking than anything else):
1 - Excessive glare in bright sunlight... hopefully this will be remedied w/ a simple anti-glare film.
2 - Can't use voicedial feature for making calls.
3 - Entering addresses could be a little cumbersome if you don't know the alternative names.
4 - No quick scroll feature for navigating through the iPod.
5 - Mix CDs don't play continuously.
6 - Can't view the nav screen when playing BT audio.
I hope this helps others who are trying to decide on a new DD unit for their vehicle. Thanks to the 1st reviewer for helping me make my own decision.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth

Clarion's NX500 is a premium double-DIN audio/video navigation unit with built-in GPS navigation, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free control, and audio streaming and USB iPod and iPhone compatibility. iPod video playback is also available using an optional cable (CCA748). The unit is also Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio Ready (including the iTunes tagging feature) with additional hardware. With built-in GPS navigation, the flash memory allows for quick response and access to navigation maps and multimedia options.

Built-in Navigation System with 12 million POIs NX500 features a built-in car navigation system with simple destination input, turn-by-turn voice prompts, selectable route guidance--everything you need to reach your destination quickly and efficiently. Pre-loaded with 12 million Points of Interest, its database includes national parks, restaurants, gas stations, and much more.
Built-in Bluetooth Hands-free Calling With Bluetooth built-in, you can wirelessly connect your Bluetooth capable mobile phone to listen to calls through your car's audio system. HFP/OPP/A2DP/AVRCP protocols are supported.
Superior iPod and iPhone Connectivity USB connection enables complete control of your iPod including video playback. Also "Works with iPhone" certified to bring its communication and entertainment capabilities into your car.
HD Radio Ready with iTunes Tagging Connecting the THD400 lets you enjoy listening to digitally broadcast radio programs with all their superior quality and helpful information. This includes iTunes Tagging capability, so if you hear a song on the radio that you like, you can tag it to download later from the iTunes Store. Save time finding and accumulating the tunes you want.
Sirius Direct Connect Ready Connect to a Sirius Satellite Radio receiver without any need for a interface box--and enjoy over 130 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with digital quality sound throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Rear Vision Camera RCA Input This RCA input enables you to smoothly connect a rear camera to display the area behind your vehicle. The increased view encourages and facilitates safer driving.
Front/Rear AV Inputs NX500 is equipped with AV input terminals on the front and rear of the unit to enable enjoyment of content from an external connected source. The rear RCA inputs are ideal for permanent installations, while the front pin jack type input will come in handy for quick connection of portable audiovisual sources.
24-bit D/A Converter for Superb Sound Reproduction Fully enjoy the sonic impact of DVD movie soundtracks or music videos. 24-bit technology actually oversamples the digital signal, providing excellent results that just weren't possible with older 16-bit systems.
6ch/2V RCA Output with Subwoofer Control With 3 sets of RCA outputs, you are free to add external power amplifiers to create a more powerful, sophisticated audio system. Also, independent volume control is enabled for the subwoofer so you can adjust the level of bass output to your liking at any time, regardless of the output level of the other channels.
What's in the Box NX500 Receiver, Remote Control, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

Click here for more information about Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth

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JVC KW-NX7000 Double Din Navigation with 7" Wide Touch Panel Monitor w/ DVD/CD/USB/SD Media Card & 2.0 Direct Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently installed a KW-NX7000 in my Honda Civic. Overall it is a pretty good system but it does not really break any new ground either. This is not my 1st GPS, I have installed a Kenwood DNX5120 in my other vehicle and a factory VW Navi in another. I also have various portables from Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, Dash, etc. I will primarlily make comparisons to the Kenwood, the VW system is not worth discussing!
Interface. One big plus I will give to the KW-NX7000 is the interface. It looks good, is intuitive, and is easy to use. Kenwood has good Navi menus (all Garmin) but the rest of the interface is a mess and often requires you to refer back to the manual. With the JVC the manual is really not needed, the whole system is very intuitive.
The navigation itself works very well. It locks signal quickly and presents routes that usually make sense. The database of POI's seems reasonably complete. You do have options for fastest time / shortest distance in both preferences and on a per trip basis.
I am not especially impressed with how the KW-NX7000 displays maps. They are easy to read but kind of dull, often times you are just seeing lines on a white background. Unfortunately, there is no option to show more or less detail. Thus, unless you are zoomed way in to about 600 feet, you do not even see road names, town names, etc., just lines. The 3D view was even more dissapointing as it shows even less detail unless you are in one of the few major metropolitan areas where 3d renditions are presented. I have yet to see it present anything nearly as interesting as the photo on the box! My 10 year old says that my other units maps look more "modern". Although I tend to think Garmins maps look a bit cartoonish, I still prefer them to the blandness of JVC's. I will give JVC the edge in how they present things like speed limits, lane guidance, and other details when you are doing a routed trip. If you are only displaying the map all you get is the map and the time.
The JVC has a feature that menus appear and buttons light up when you hand gets near the screen. This is a nice feature and sensitivity can be adjusted. You can change the screen colors but not the button light colors as you can on the Kenwood or Pioneer units. No big deal but if every other button on your car is red, these will be blue.
Boo-hiss to JVC for not including RDS on FM. This means that the unit does not display the song, artist, or station information. Kenwood does provide this feature. JVC has it for HD Radio only.
I installed the JVC bluetooth module and this works great with my blackberry. Given the price differential between the Kenwood and the JVC, I do think Bluetooth should be built in as it is on the Pioneers.
I have not yet installed the HD radio module as this requires an antenna splitter (KS-U21) to continue getting traffic. Unfortunately, part KS-U21 is virtually unobtainable at this time. I am also waiting on my ipod interface so will have to provide an update on that later.
Physically the unit looks good. As installed in the Civic it looks very close to a factory install. The removable, flip down, screen is a great feature unique to the JVC. The screen is nice and large, defintely bigger than the DNX 5120. However, keep in mind that in some vehicles, the screen will stick out a bit more form the dash than some other units and may thus look more "aftermarket" than some others. I was originally going to install this in a 2nd Gen MR2 and it just stuck out to far for my tastes. In the Honda it sits in a "pod" so this is not an issue.
Install was no harder or easier than any other 2-Din head unit. It does work with the PAC Steering Wheel interface controller.
I do feel that for the price of this unit it should include some additional "standard" features. If it included either Bluetooth or HD built-in, this could make it stand out from the pack and not require another box to hide under the dash. Heck, if they just included an iPod cable or an AV cable it would be nice. Do lifetime traffic instead of 3 months. Just provide something that makes this more than another "me too" GPS. This unit costs a good bit more than the DNX5120 but it does not feel like I got a lot more.
So, is this a good head unit? Absoultely. I think it does everything well. I guess the rub is that it does no one thing great, it just has not raised the bar in any features other than the removable faceplate. Some of this could be revised in software, but the same can be said for every other manufacturer.
If this unit were the same price as the DNX5120 I would call it a toss up. You would be trading some features for others so it is a matter of what is more important to you. Currently it is a fair bit more expensive. If I were to get another GPS today, and it were between these two, I would likely go with the Kenwood.

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This double-DIN all-in-one navigation system gives precise navigation with built-in RDS-TMC tuner, high sensitivity WAAS GPS, and 7-inch wide touch panel. The unit features map coverage of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, Voice Guidance in 16 languages, Text-to-Speech, 12 million P.O.I, Lane Guide, and Speed Limit Display. Enjoy audio and video (KS-U20 cable required for iPod video playback) from your iPod, USB devices, and SD cards. Experience a new style of operation with the Proximity Sensor--control keys will appear as your hand approaches. The unit is compatible with Bluetooth Wireless Technology, HD Radio, and SAT Radio with optional devices.
Superior Navigation Technology
Built-in Flash-Memory provides quick startup and search, high-speed route calculation, and is resistant to in-vehicle extreme temperatures and vibration.
Millions of Points of Interest and map graphics are Pre-installed for Coverage in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico.
POI database and Map data are updatable by SD card.
Allows use of navigation functions and listening to various multimedia sources simultaneously.

POI & Search Options
POI Information can be searched by Address, POI Name, Vicinity, Telephone Number, Map Location or Zip Code.
Store 100 favorite Points of Interest and recall up to 50 previous destinations from the built-in memory. Return trips are made easy by using the preset "Home" Location feature.
Quick Search Feature--Allows up to three favorite POI categories to be set in the immediate menu screen for one-touch access.
Routes can be configured by fastest time or shortest route length and configured to avoid specifi c roads such as Freeways, Ferries or Toll Roads.
Up to 4 Waypoints can be entered--even while in route to the destination that has already been entered.
Ambiguity Search--Compensates for spelling mistakes and eliminates the need to type in entire City or POI information by alphabetically listing the most popular entries for the partially given information.

Convenience Features
TTS (Text-to-Speech)Street names etc. read out in 3 languages: English, Spanish and French.
Customized Message A voice message greets you in the Text-to-Speech language when you power on/off.
Detachable Faceplate Faceplate with monitor is fully detachable for anti-theft security and convenience.
Lane GuideDisplays the correct lane to move into in preparation for approaching turns, highway entrances or exits, or U-turns.
Speed Limit Display & Speed Alert FunctionDisplays speed limit information on screen for the current road location. Selectable Speed Alert Function audibly alerts when the vehicle is traveling faster than the posted speed limit for the current road.
POI Touch-Screen Dialing Utilizes the internal POI database as a business phone book. Bluetooth wireless technology allows one-touch phone number dialing to a selected business or Point of Interest.
Brand Icons Display Familiar brand logos are listed on-screen for easy recognition of POI contents.
Direct Zoom Keys Allows one-touch access to specific aerial zoom level lengths or one-by-one zoom level adjustments
Multimedia Connectivity
Easy Connection for Digital Devices Front USB & AV-IN (mini)
iPod/iPhone via USB + AV-IN
USB Device via USB (Direct-In)
Camcorder via AV-IN (AV Mini Plug included)
Digital Audio Player via AV-IN (AV Mini Plug included or Audio Mini Plug)
USB Plug and Charge--Charge USB devices such as cell phones and digital audio players.

USB 2.0 for iPod, iPod Video, iPhone
Allows Direct iPod/iPhone connection using the iPod USB charging cable.
Connect Portable Hard Drives, Digital Audio Players and USB Flash Memory devices for added music selection options.*
Easily scroll through song files and layered categories.
Digital audio transfer provides the highest sound quality from iPod, iPhone, and connected USB devices.
iPod/iPhone Video display and control possible using the KS-U29 iPod Video adapter.**
USB Plug & Charge--Use the built-in USB port to charge your portable devices such as Digital Audio Players and Cell Phones.***

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/AAC audio files, or take in MPEG1/2 videos or JPEG images, from disc, USB device or SD Card.
Grow Your System With three gold-plated preamp outputs you can add plenty more to the KW-NX7000's 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier. You can also send the composite video output to a rear video screen, and use the gold-plated AV input to connect gaming systems or other devices.
Easy Operation Easy operation with 7 inches wide touch panel display and detachable faceplate security.
7" wide TFT Display is motorized with a low reflection surface that minimizes screen glare from sunlight.
Large screen area allows full name display, splitscreen information and map views, and easy multimedia functions operation.
Faceplate with monitor is fully detachable for anti-theft security and convenience

Proximity Sensor Unique Proximity Sensor Function and Touch screen allow for easy operation.
Full on-screen map is displayed while in navigation mode.
Proximity sensor will detect as your hand approaches to operate.
Unit changes to operation mode and Menu, Zoom and Function keys are immediately displayed on-screen.

Real-Time Traffic Tuner Provides Real-Time Traffic Update Conditions on-screen:
View relative traffic speed on selected highways or along the current route.
Shows high congestion areas due to accidents or construction.
Helps to calculate accurate travel time to destination.

Allows the option to reroute around congested areas automatically or continue on current route. Works directly through the vehicle's existing antenna so there is no need to purchase additional equipment Includes a 90 day free trial subscription to the RDS-TMC Traffic Service Network (Real-Time Traffic Subscription Service = $60 per year).
POI Downloads Street Director Assistant
Easy Point of Interest Update--Get the latest P.O.I. Information from the internet using your computer, save it to SD card, then add the new P.O.I. to the navigation system.

What's in the Box JVC KW-NX7000 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, face case, remote control, GPS antenna, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro U8 Unlocked GSM Smartphone with 5 MP Camera, Symbian OS, QWERTY Keyboard, Touch Screen and Bluetooth - Unlocked Phone - International Warranty - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this phone even i would prefer a update to other simbyam versión but for the time been is really fine, beware to purchase this model beacause it come in chinese, so if you have patience or another phone you have to change it

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Click here for more information about Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro U8 Unlocked GSM Smartphone with 5 MP Camera, Symbian OS, QWERTY Keyboard, Touch Screen and Bluetooth - Unlocked Phone - International Warranty - Black

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