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Miscellaneous Electronics

Duracell or Energizer: which one provides longer lasting power? Check out their ratings under Battery Manufacturers. In this section, you'll also find reviews of camcorders, electronic book readers, fax machines, and much more!

Recent Happenings

14 days ago

For quite some time I've eagerly awaited Amazon to extend the release of their Kindle e-book reader to the UK so I can reduce the number of physical books that I buy (hence saving space and the environment). Just recently they've finally allowed us to buy Kindles from the US and to use them over here and they will soon be offering them direct from Amazon UK as well.

However a shiny, gorgeously shaped spanner has just been thrown in the works with the revelation of Barne's & Nobles nook e-Reader. It is possibly one of the nicest looking e-Readers I have ever seen and my first thought after seeing it was "want!" which is generally not a good sign for my wallet. At the time of release there will be over 1 million books available which can be purchased and delivered over 3G or Wi-Fi. One of the best features I can see in the feature list is it's ability to have additional storage (in the form of microSD) so if an average of 1,500 books with the standard storage isn't enough you can enough extra to store 17,500 books (on a 16Gb card). They've even thought about people wanting to share their books with others - they allow you to share a book with a friend for free (for 14 days) and there are also a number of free books available for download.

You can share nook to nook, but it doesn't stop there. Using the new Barnes & Noble LendMe technology... you will be able to lend to and from any iPhoneâ„¢, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC, or Mac, with the free Barnes and Noble eReader software downloaded on it.

Even the way you navigate books is brilliant - whilst the book part itself uses E-ink technology, the book browser is a full touch-screen colour display that shows the book covers. It's not going to be short on accessories either, at launch there are 30 different covers, and 7 different designer covers for keeping your nook protected in as well as a range of protective "frames".

The vital statistics don't look too shoddy either, 7.7" x 4.9" x 0.5" and weighing in at 317 grams. Even the battery does sound too bad as you can read for 10 days just so long as the wireless is turned off.

At $259 for such great features I've totally changed my mind about buying a Kindle. However there is the downside that it won't initially be available in the UK which is incredibly unfortunate. I do wonder though if I bought one from the US whether I'd be able to buy books okay whilst in the UK. Of course though, having to wait for this to reach the UK shores does mean the sacred Tablet of Apple could be released first. Let the race begin!
votes 3 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

15 days ago

I was asked to share my experience with this HDMI Powered Splitter 1x2 V1.3 Certified HDTV 1080P. The only thing I might add to an all ready extensive review of this product is about the High-Res Audio applications. I bought mine for use with a Lumagen Video Processor and a PIONEER KURO Front Projector (a re-badged JVC DLA LCOS Projector). I needed to send a 1080P image from my Blu-Ray player to my video processor and on to my projector. Using the splitter I was also able to transmit a DTS Master Audio and a Dolby True HD audio track to my Pre-Amp. The splitter handled both the decoded High-Res audio and the raw bit-stream versions. The splitter handled all the HDCP hand-shakes with ease. The only reason this is worth mentioning is in another review it was specified not to connect the splitter before the receiver (pre-amp) as the TV would cause High-Res audio to be down converted. The sound needs to understood by every device in the HDMI path, TV's couldn't handle the High-Res audio so it was down converted for them. Projectors not having sound capability do not compromise the sound Res. By connecting this way I got a cleaner signal to my video processor and on to projector and still have High-Res audio. I also have the out-put from my pre-amp free to run to my TV!
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

16 days ago

Recieved tv in original box and installation was fairly simple to accomplish.
Tv looks great. I was disappointed with picture quality. The farther you stand back from it the better the quality of the picture, but when the tv is located in your kitchen area your standing pretty close to it. It doesn't turn on right away, it takes a little while for picture to come on. What I dislike about it most is the difference in sound levels. Level 2 is too soft and level 3 is too loud and there is no adjustment for in between levels. I'm disappointed in the total performance of the unit and I would not reccommend it to anyone. There has to be a better undercounter lcd-tv than this.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

16 days ago

I purchased this item new for about half of what Amazon is selling it for. I thought I was getting a great deal. I found that inserting and removing my brand new SDHC card was very difficult. I checked the contacts of my card and found deep scratches. My conclusion is that the pins are either too stiff or too long. I have no idea why no other reviewer encountered this problem. I did not try any other memory cards with this reader so I can't comment on how it would work with other cards. I was however very disappointed and returned the product for a refund.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

16 days ago

I don't know if this is the fastest reader, but it is the best and it certainly is NOT slow. Some cards are slower than others and I think this reader keeps up at least the limit of USB 2.0 speeds. No drivers needed for XP or higher OS. The right-side fits a micro-SD without needing any adapters. It works with all sizes of SDHC I've tried. We've had to toss most of our older card readers because they wouldn't read SDHC, but these Delkin / eFilm ones have always and still do read every card I can throw at it.

I don't blame this reader but one brand of SD card I had did eventually crack, split, and fall apart after going back and forth from reader to camera a lot. Use care to get the SD card oriented correctly (not upside-down) and insert it slowly and carefully and you will not experience issues.

I always insert the card into the reader, then plug in the USB cord. When finished, use the Safely Remove device tool to "eject" the card, then unplug the whole reader. This way, you won't corrupt the flash card, and you will never have an issue when switching cards and not finding the new card.

I've ordered at least 8 or 10 of these for myself and my work, and they all work perfectly.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

17 days ago

Easy to install - flexible options for installation.

It may be difficult to use an mp-3 player with it if the right side of unit is close to wall.

Sound quality good for a device of this size.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

17 days ago

If you're looking for a radio with good volume and high sound quality, look elsewhere.
If you're looking for an emergency radio that performs as advertised? Look no further.
Very happy with this radio, only problem I've had with it is the times I have it on "Weather Alert" and forgot it's on that setting. Just about gave me a heart attack, but that's my fault, not the radio's
Good looks, good function, and a bargin at $36. Very happy with this purchase!!
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

18 days ago

After my GPX model refused to change channels anymore, I took a chance on the Coby.
(GPX is pure junk in case you're wondering.)
The complaints I read about the Coby are all pretty much true.
* The picture quality is poor and has a very limited viewing angle.
* Sound settings are rediculous - it's either too soft or too loud, nothing in between.
* cd player works well. I play mp3 disks in it, but again it's impossible to adjust the volume to a comfortable level. I haven't bothered trying a dvd, because of the poor picture and sound.
* Radio reception is almost non existant as was the GPX.
* Slow to warm up or transition between modes just as stated in the other reviews.
* The clock on mine doesn't work. After setting several times, it just flashes arbitrary numbers.

Overall, I'm disappointed. It's a little better than the GPX's in most ways - at least it works. It's good for checking the weather or news, but that's about it. If I had the space, I would just go with a small lcd tv on a pivoting mount.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

18 days ago

Works great, no drivers to install. Vista found it on first try. Has an indicator light.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

19 days ago

Easy to setup, and very reliable, didn't have any issue since the moment I plugged it in. Highly recommended.
votes 0 Helpful / 0 Funny / 0 Agree / 0 Disagree

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