Nokia N96 16 GB Unlocked Phone with 5 MP Camera, 3G, GPS, Media Player, and Micro SD Slot--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was extremely excited to open up the Nokia N96, because from its specs it looked to be one of the most powerful mobile phones on the market. It certainly lived up to its expectations in some areas, and exceeds them in others, but fell short with some very common issues.
For anyone looking for a camera/media device that also does phone calls, this might have been a serious contender.
The media player works well for audio, the built-in FM tuner is great, and the internet radio feed was easy to use and loaded with content. This phone does everything well, but not nearly well enough to justify its astronomical price tag.
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Things Done Right:
Browser - The browser on the phone rendered the pages I tried perfectly and it was very easy to navigate using the device. Bookmarks and other features you'd want were all there.
FM Radio - This worked like a charm! It was very cool to have this in a mobile device.
Light Weight - The phone weighs considerably less than my AT&T Fuze and Tilt.
Massive Storage - The phone's best feature is its internal 16 GB of storage.
Looks - Trust me when I say the phone looks even better in person.
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Half-Way There:
Mapping - Rather than relying on a live internet feed for maps, it had very detailed maps of the US right on the phone. This is great if you are in an area with patchy service and need directions. But, it's no Google Maps. I've been spoiled by having Google Maps on my Windows Mobile phones for some time now, and while the mapping application on this phone is good, it's not Google Maps. Plus, many of the advanced features of this application require an extra fee such as turn-by-turn directions and traffic reports.
WiFi - Connecting the phone to my home wireless network with WPA/PSK was a breeze. HOWEVER, many of the features on the phone such as the mapping tool, internet radio, and others required use of data plan, even if you were connected via WiFi. And despite trying, I could never get it to connect to my computer for WiFi Sharing.
Help - The phone has online help for nearly every menu, most of which was well-written and useful. Some of the more rare settings had no help, however.
Camera - While this phone won't replace your $200 digital camera, it's better than what I've seen on most mobile phones. I especially liked the on-screen menus for making adjustments on the fly. The flash on the back of the camera is great for close-up subjects.
Voice Command - There is a utility which reads you your messages to you, which was pretty neat. And, you can dial your contacts through voice command, plus launch applications. Unfortunately, that's all. Voice command apps on other devices allow you to dial numbers as they are spoken, play specific media, or dictate text messages.
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More Work Needed:
No Keyboard - This device lacks both a keyboard and touch screen, limiting all input to the numeric pad and a plethora of other buttons. If you are a heavy text/emailer, this is going to be a deal-breaker for you.
IM Difficult - The phone includes an IM application, but it was intimidating to configure with settings that I had no clue about. Other phones include apps which are preconfigured for Yahoo, AIM, and MSN, but that was not the case here. The manual and help were useless here.
Micro USB - Every portable device I own uses Mini USB for sync and charging, but the Nokia N96 introduces the even smaller Micro USB. That means that I need to carry yet another cable.
No USB Charge - To make it worse, you cannot charge via USB. While the phone comes with an AC charger and a car charger, its proprietary and means yet ANOTHER cable to carry.
WMV Playback - Despite being touted as a media player, the phone would not play any of the WMV files I copied to it. These were non-DRM files that worked fine on other phones.
AGPS - The manual claims that the phone supports Assisted GPS (to speed up your positioning) but it would not work.
Other Annoyances - There were a few other things that bothered me about the phone. For instance, the music playback stuttered while using the phone for text messaging or mapping, and there was no option to disable the power-saving features while on AC power.
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In Conclusion:
For the price that this phone sells for, and comparing it to other devices on the market at half the price, I find it very hard to justify recommending the phone to anyone.
Its only real saving grace is the 16 GB of storage, although some of its competitors will support memory cards with 4-16 GB of capacity.
If the price came down considerably, and they issued a software upgrade to fix several of the above issues, it would probably beat its competitors hands-down. But until then, I recommend passing this phone up for any of its half-priced competitors.

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The followup to the sensationally popular N95, the Nokia N96 is a veritable Swiss Army knife packed with all the mobile communication, multimedia, location and computing tools you need. With a large 2.8-inch screen, 16 GB of internal memory, additional MicroSD expansion, and support for high-quality videos in a wide range of formats, the dual-slide Nokia N96 represents an exciting new chapter in mobile media.
The quad-band Nokia N96 GSM/EDGE phone makes it easy to roam globally and stay in touch with voice and text messaging, and this model is also ready to run on 3G networks here in the US (850/1900 MHz HSDPA), enabling fast downloads and streaming multimedia while on the go. It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots. You'll also be able to connect to a wide variety of peripherals--including stereo headphones--with the Bluetooth 2.0+EDR capabilities.
It's based on S60 software operating on the Symbian OS, enabling you to personalize the N96 by choosing from a wide choice of compatible applications that can be downloaded--including games, navigation, entertainment, and productivity titles. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera/camcorder with Carl Zeiss optics, assisted GPS (A-GPS) for navigation using the Nokia Maps application and geotagging of photos, FM radio, USB 2.0 connectivity, TV-out capability for displaying photos and videos on external televisions, access to live TV (operator service using DVB-H or streaming over 3G, where available), and up to 3.7 hours of GSM talk time.
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
Phone Features Offering a design similar to the N95, the N96 has a large 2.8-inch LCD screen with a 240 x 320-pixel resolution and support for up to 16 million colors for terrific depth when viewing photos or playing immersive 3D games. The screen also offers Auto UI rotation based on the integratedaccelerometer. The innovative 2-way slide concept makes it easy to switch between different modes, going from reading maps to watching a video with a simple slide. A numeric keypad slides out from one end of the device while dedicated media keys slide out from the opposite direction, converting the display into full screen landscape mode. In addition to the internal 16 GB memory, the N96 also offers memory expansion via optional MicroSDHC media up to 8 GB in size--providing a whopping 24 GB of mobile storage, enough for up to 40 hours of high-quality video.

The Nokia N96 actually has two cameras, a high-resolution, 5-megapixel camera on the back of the device and a lower resolution camera on the front (VGA resolution, 640 x 480) on the front of the phone for video calls (requires network compatibility). The main camera on the back of the N95 supports an image capture resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. You can use both cameras to take still pictures and record videos. It allows DVD-like quality video capture at 30 frames per second at VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels). Further, with the integrated A-GPS, you can now "geotag" pictures with location data and share them with online communities.
With the Carl Zeiss optics on the 5-megapixel camera, you can capture print quality photos and DVD-like quality video clips. Carl Zeiss, a world leader in high quality camera lenses, brings an award-winning legacy to the Nokia N96 with state-of-the-art optics for mobile photography and mobile video. The Zeiss name has been associated with cameras from Hasselblad, Rollei, Yashica, Sony, and Nikon. This auto-focus Carl Zeiss Tessar lens has a 5.2mm focal length, F2.8 aperture, focus range as close as 10cm. The camera also features a flash, video light, auto-focus assist light, self-timer, white balance and exposure compensation settings, scene settings, and digital video stabilization.
Images are saved as JPEG or EXIF files while videos are recorded in the MPEG-4 file format with the .mp4 file extension, or in the 3GPP file format with the .3gp file extension (sharing quality). Photos and video clips can be enjoyed on a compatible television thanks to the device's TV out feature and support for Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology.
Accessing internet videos is quick and simple. The Nokia N96 supports common video formats including MPEG-4, Windows Media Video and Flash Video, making favorite videos easy to view. The Nokia Video Center also offers one place to discover and access a variety of mobile content ranging from movie trailers and comedy to news from world-leading content brands such as YouTube, Reuters, and Sony Pictures. Transferring and accessing videos is even faster with the high-speed USB 2.0 connection and WLAN and HSDPA support. In select markets, the integrated DVB-H receiver offers live broadcast TV with an automatically updating program guide. For added convenience, the Nokia N96 features a "kickstand" on the back cover that allows for hands-free viewing.
For a superb music experience, the Nokia N96 features media keys, a 3.5 mm headphone connector and built-in 3D stereo speakers. You'll easily be able to control playback with the dedicated media keys, and the digital music player supports playlist editing, equalizer and categorized access to your music collection. You'll also enjoy podcasts, Internet radio, and access to FM radio with RDS.
This smartphone has an integrated Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g), enabling seamless connectivity with wireless networks at work, at home, and on the roam via Wi-Fi hotspots at airports and coffee shops. Because the N96 is Bluetooth enabled (with version 2.0+EDR), wireless communication headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation. It also offers Bluetooth stereo audio support (A2DP), enabling you to enjoy your music without any wires. If your laptop is Bluetooth enabled, you can connect wirelessly and enjoy dial-up networking (DUN)--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server.
With A-GPS functionality, you'll be able find your route quickly and easily, whether walking or driving (A-GPS is a network dependant feature that requires a data plan; additional charges may apply). The Nokia Maps application offers richer maps with urban details and satellite views and the ability to search and download information about points of interests, such as restaurants, hotels, companies, travel agencies, airports, and more. It also provides optional upgrades such as City Guides, turn-by-turn pedestrian mode and voice-guided car navigation.
The N96 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. It also enables you to check your email on the go (supporting POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols). T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile text messaging users.
View web pages as they were originally intended with the integrated Nokia Web Browser, which enables you to zoom out to a full screen view of the entire page using the Mini Map feature. Find the section you want and then zoom in to the content you need. The text instantly adjusts to the size of your screen. The browser also keeps a history of your browsing so you can quickly get back to where you started.
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) technology means that this Nokia phone will discover, interact with, and control other compatible home electronic devices. This includes PCs, media centers, home entertainment systems, new smart appliances, home automation systems, networked peripherals, and Web-based services. With compatible equipment, you can stream video from your Nokia device directly to your TV, or hear music tracks stored on your PC through your living room's sound system.
Other features include:
Supports the Ovi family of Nokia internet services, including maps, music, media sharing and more
N-Gage application with try-and-buy games
Music playback: MP3, AAC, eAAC, eAAC+, WMA
Video playback: MPEG-4 / SP and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, up to 30 fps, up to VGA resolution (scaled max QVGA on device, SDTV on TV-out); RealVideo up to QCIF at 30 fps
Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BIP (for sending images to another device), DUN (dial-up networking), FTP (file transfer), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures)
128MB RAM, 256MB system memory (operating system plus dynamic user data area)
3.5mm stereo headset plug , TV-out support (PAL/NTSC)
Wi-Fi supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security settings
Speaker-independent voice commands
Document viewer (compatible with Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF, ZIP)
Flight mode

Vital Statistics The Nokia N96 weighs 4.4 ounces and measures 4.06 x 2.17 x 0.71 inches. Its 950 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.7 hours of GSM talk time (2.5 hours on 3G networks), and up to 220 hours of GSM standby time (200 hours on 3G networks. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as the 850/1900 MHz HSDPA 3G frequencies found in the US.
What's in the Box Handset, battery, travel charger (AC-5U), connectivity cable (CA-101), video-out cable (CA-75U), wired stereo headset and remote (HS-45, AD-54), mobile car charger, documentation

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TomTom GO 930 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've owned Garmin's for more than 5 years and I currently own a NUVI 760. I've heard the great news about the TOMTOM 930 with IQROUTES, lane guidance, and the HOME feature so I decided to buy the 930 so I can give it a spin and compare it to the NUVI 760 with MSN DIRECT.
TOMTOM Pluses:
Arrival time -
The arrival time with IQROUTES are MORE accurate than Garmin's. The NUVI keeps updating the arrival time during the trip. I compared the arrival time from the start and the TOMTOM was more accurate. TOMTOM is constantly collecting the travel times and updating their database. When you sign in to the HOME program the IQroutes from your trips are uploaded to the TOMTOM server.
Routes:
If anyone writes a review about a GPS and states that routes are 100% accurate then they are lieing, I have not found the perfect GPS with perfect routes.
The routes on both the 930 and the NUVI 760 have been identical. With the 930 I see minutes left on the trip, time left, and arrival time. I can even tell the 930 what time I would like to arrive at my destination.I can AVOID any of the roads on my trip. You CANNOT avoid roads on the NUVI 760.
TRAFFIC:
I'm using traffic on the 930 through my ATT Tilt phone and it seems to work and it is accurate. It uses my Tilt to access the traffic on the TOMTOM server through the Internet. If you have cell coverage you should have traffic data.
MSN Traffic on the 760 is not accurate and the avoidance feature does not work that well. The bad thing about the MSN Direct feature is that it does not have good range. I live in Chicago and the service does not work in many of the outlying suburbs.
PLUSES:
Iqroutes are more accurate than the NUVI.
Lane guidance works in my area.
Avoiding roads on your trip.
Being able to correct street names, closed streets, one ways, and many other errors is a big plus.
Traffic works well.
The GPS chip has not lost reception. I've lost the signal numerous times on the NUVI.
More information on the 930 screen than on the 760.
TOMTOM minuses:
The screen is hard to see in sunlight.
The maps are not bad since I loaded the Garmin map look on the 930. I even have the magenta route line on my 930.
The battery does not last more than 1 hour.
The Text to speech does not work all the time. The street names are not pronounced as good as the NUVI.
You don't get the constant reminders that the NUVI 760 provides. Sometimes I don't think that I drive the 930 with my eyes close. With the 760 you can close your eyes and not miss a turn.
I cannot locate an address by ANY city like the NUVI. Sometimes the 930 cannot locate an address if it thinks it's in a different city. You have to input the surrounding city names to get the correct address and route.


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TomTom's award-winning software means ground-breaking new technology for the ultimate driving experience. Switch on and go right out of the box. Just enter the address on the touchscreen or use voice address entry and start driving anywhere in the US or Canada. TomTom guides you door-to-door with turn-by-turn spoken instructions, including street names. TomTom has the most accurate maps and with TomTom Map Share technology you can instantly modify street names, street direction, and POIs on your own device. New IQ Routes gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel to calculate your trip rather than posted speed limits. Enhanced Positioning Technology gives you uninterrupted navigation even in tunnels or highly built-up areas. And now, Advanced Lane Guidance brings even more clarity to complex multi-lane exits so you can be even more confident on the road. The GO 930 makes driving even safer with handsfree calling. And with the Help Me! menu, there are added safety features so you can easily access local emergency providers. The TomTom GO 930 is the ultimate car navigator.

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Samsung Gravity 2 T469 Phone, Berry Mauve (T-Mobile) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After looking at phones for almost two months, i picked up this phone for the following reasons:
- It is a voice-first phone, so there are no manditory data plans or add-ons
- It is the smartest non "smart" phone that you can get. it has fast nice 3g internet with functional browser, but you don't have to buy a smartphone internet plan to use it. I pay 10 bucks a month for unlimited internet that gets me any full html website just great.
- the slideout keyboard doesn't make the phone too fat and is perfect for writing emails. (emails are included in the text plan with this phone, you don't have to subscribe separately like with smart phones.
- good call clarity, though you do need to have the volume just right.
- expandable memory and great quality camera to fill it up.
the cons:
- as with all samsung phones, you can't change the menu buttons for quick access.
I would recommend this phone if you are looking for something inexpensive that can do most simple browsing and emailing functions as well as a smart phone but want something slim and easy.

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Thinner and sleeker than its predecessor, the Samsung Gravity 2 for T-Mobile also includes an improved slide-out QWERTY keyboard, 3G cellular connectivity, GPS location capabilities, and a higher megapixel camera/camcorder. A great choice for heavy texters, the Gravity 2's slide-out keyboard makes it easy to send SMS text messages and e-mail as well as keep up with your chat buddies on popular IM services. Enabled for T-Mobile's expanding high-speed 3G network, the Gravity 2 offers fast data delivery and an enhanced Web-browsing experience that lets you connect quickly to social networking sites.
This GPS-enabled phone comes with a 14-day trial of the TeleNav navigation service, which provides real-time location on maps, turn-by-turn driving directions, and more (monthly subscription required after trial expires). Other features include a 2-megapixel camera for still photos and video capture, Bluetooth for both hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD memory expansion (up to 16 GB), digital audio player, personal organizing tools, and up to 5.5 hours of talk time.

Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity via T-Mobile's HSDPA/UMTS network (1700/2100 MHz bands, UMTS/HSDPA; see more about T-Mobile's 3G service below)
Quad-band GSM phone for good global voice connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands)
Built-in GPS provides real-time location on maps, driving directions, and more (monthly subscription required).
Full QWERTY keyboard that slides out from the left side of the phone, complemented by standard alpha-numeric keypad and navigation keys on the phone's face. (Learn more)

Brightly colorful LCD screen with auto-rotation (240 x 320 pixels, 262K colors) that flips orientation from portrait to landscape when you slide open the keyboard.
2-megapixel camera/camcorder for high-quality still prints and on-the-go videos that can be sent via MMS messaging. (Learn more)
Digital media player compatible with a good variety of audio (MP3, AAC/AAC+) and video (MPEG4, H.263, H.264, 3GPP) formats
Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity with stereo music streaming (A2DP) capabilities as well as hands-free headsets and car kits. (Learn more)
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 16 GB. The phone has an internal 40 MB memory.
Full messaging capabilities including SMS text, MMS picture/video and IM instant messaging (via popular services including AOL, Yahoo!, Windows Live Messenger, and Google Talk)
Audio Postcard featureallows you to add a personalized message to a photo before sending it to friends and family using multimedia messaging (MMS)
Personal e-mail with support for AOL, Yahoo! and Gmail
Organizer tools including calendar, alarm, tasks, memo, calculator, world clock, converter, timer, and stopwatch
Download HiFi Ringers, MegaTones and wallpapers to customize your phone with sounds and voices from your favorite artists, instrumental versions of songs as well as cool graphics.
Web browser with RSS feeds
Phonebook stores up to 1000 entries with room in each entry for 4 numbers, 4 e-mail addresses, 3 IM handles, street address, URL and note
Included and downloadable games
Speaker phone for easy hands-free communication
Voice dialing enables you to call someone with simple voice commands to keep your hands free for activities like driving.

Vital Statistics The Samsung Gravity 2 weighs 4.4 ounces and measures 4.49 x 2.05 x 0.59 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.5 hours of talk time, and up to 300 hours (12.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as T-Mobile's 3G network (1700/2100 MHz).


T-Mobile Services
High-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's 3G network: In addition to its quad-band GSM connectivity, this phone is also compatible with T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA 3G network, which operates on the 1700/2100 MHz AWS spectrum. This phone is designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web or downloading content from the T-Mobile Web2go content portal. T-Mobile is currently rolling out its 3G network, and it expects by year's end that its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.
In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and e-mail on the go.
While this phone is optimized for use with T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, many of its functions will also work well on the moderate-speed EDGE network. If you plan to access the Internet extensively on your phone, 3G network coverage may serve you best.
Activities that work well on EDGE or 3G networks:
Email, instant messaging, and texting
Downloading ringtones, CallerTunes, wallpaper, light data files
Sending photographs via e-mail or picture messaging
Activities that work best on a 3G network:
Viewing content-heavy websites (lots of images or videos playing)
Viewing YouTube and other video files (they will play on EDGE, but require loading time)
Uploading large files (photos, videos, presentations) to sharing websites
Downloading large files from an e-mail or a website


T-Mobile's web2go intuitive web browsing service makes it easy to view and navigate the web from your phone with features including Yahoo! oneSearch, a customizable home page and a simplified shopping and download experience. You can create a personalized home page for easy, one-click access to your favorite Web sites.
With access to the web2go marketplace included at no additional charge, you can also browse and purchase the latest ringtones, games, wallpaper and mobile optimized applications and services to customize their phone. Providing access to the latest news, information and content, Yahoo! oneSearch intuitively returns results grouped around your intended search. For instance, when you search for a sports team, Yahoo! returns the latest scores, schedules, team profiles, roster, news, images and a link to the team's Web site.



Learn More
Sliding QWERTY Keyboard for Fast Messaging The candybar-style Samsung Gravity 2 holds a secret--turn it on its side and push the face up to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, perfect for easy typing of longer messages and e-mails. When the keyboard is opened, the screen orientation automatically rotates to landscape mode. The keyboard includes arrow keys for navigating the screen's UI and a handy www./.com key for quickly entering Web URLs. When closed, you can use the standard alpha-numeric keypad on the face to send quick messages. It's complemented by a five-way navigation pad, send/end and two soft navigation keys, and a dedicated messaging key.

2-Megapixel Camera/Camcorder Great for snapping still photos and capturing short videos while on the go, the Gravity's integrated 2-megapixel camera can snap pictures in one of four resolutions (1600 x 1200, 2180 x 960, 640 x 480, and 320 x 240). It also includes a 2.5x digital zoom, three quality settings, night mode, multiple white balance settings, three metering modes (matrix, center-weighted and spot) and several special shot modes, including Panorama (which stitches together multiple shots taken from left to right) and Smile (which automatically snaps a photo once a smile is detected). You can also capture video clips at up to QCIF format (176 x 144 pixels) and can shoot for as long as you have available memory; videos meant for MMS messaging are capped at between 20 to 30 seconds.

Wireless Freedom with Bluetooth This phone provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
Bluetooth profiles include: A2DP (stereo music streaming), AVRC (remote control), HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), BPP (basic printing profile for text, e-mail), FTP (file transfer), HID (support for mice or joysticks), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures),

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Real-time recording,Wireless WiFi IP Internet Pan Tilt Dual,Two-way Audio Camera IR Day/Night Vision Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Knockoff
Worked "ok" after about a weeks worth of setup. Picture quality marginal at best. After searching forever for somewhere to get support, found out this is a knockoff of another product. Trying to update the software bricked the camera, but I was warned that this may happen. I was happy to toss it in the trash, but sad I spent the money on it.

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Garmin nüvi 670 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this to replace a Tomtom Navigator 5 system running on a Dell x51v with the external Tomtom Bluetooth receiver. The major issues with that were a terrible lack of POIs, terrible time and distance predictions, poor routing, no control of the map view and the receiver shutting off despite being on external power.
First thing I noticed on opening the box is that the mains charger comes with adapters for all the countries I regularly visit, so I clicked the US two pin adapter in place, plugged it in then plugged the lead into the 670. It came on immediately and said it was loading maps. A few seconds later it showed a map. It was already locked on! That's a huge advance from the old days when it took at least 4 minutes for my GPSIII+ to find the satellites. I am in the middle of the top floor of a large open plan building, the position shown was accurate.
Without looking at the manual I got rid of the touch beep, bound it to my bluetooth phone, set the timezone and voice and set it up to navigate to a restaurant for lunch. All in under 15 minutes with time out for work.
In the car I mounted the unit to the windshield and plugged in the power conenction, it immediately lit up green to show it was connected to the traffic system. I was expecting to have to register and sign up for a service agreement, instead it came up and showed it was already enabled with 3 months to run. A few minutes later I looked at the traffic detail map and saw it already showed the local problem areas. Very cool.
Apparently the 2.60+ firmware handles 4Gb SD cards so I ordered one and look forward to trying the MP3 player. (I have used three different 4Gb cards since I wrote this and they all work perfectly.)
I tested the POI list by looking for gas stations and particular stores in the area, it had everything I knew of and more, so I am very hopeful at this stage.
I'm looking forward to trying the hands free too, all we did so far is dial another cell phone in the car and laugh about the echo we got. Sound quality and volume seemed good. I'm going for a 1500 mile road trip to Utah this weekend, so I'll update after that.
1685 miles later...
Garmin certainly has accurate maps for CA, NV and UT, they seemed very up to date. The option to "avoid dirt roads" was especially welcome and saved me some nasty miles that the direct route would have taken on unpaved roads. Routing was mostly good, but could do with some more skepticism on the choice of rural state roads. I was happy to take route 88 into the Sierras from the bay area because I was on a road trip, but I80 is probably 50% faster.
The one significant bug is a holdover from previous Garmin products like the GPS V, it is also an issue it shares with Tomtom. While heading down an interstate, let's take I880 from Oakland to Fremont as an example, with many miles of straight ahead to go, the 670 will direct you off at a ramp, it likes to take the I238 ramp towards Livermore, and then immediately back on. This is amusing to a local, but it could be very confusing to a visitor. It did the same to me in 395 south through Reno last night, that did confuse me. This is a bug that should have been eradicated years ago.
Another issue with the GPS V is still present in the 670. When recalculating the map display is suspended, so right when you need to see what's going on you have a useless map. When routing resumes it gives the verbal instructions before repainting the map. Not good. In contrast the Tomtom always recalculates silently and just flashes up the new route. The Tomtom never leaves you with a dead screen. I don't like to be told every time the route is recalculated, when I go the wrong way, for whatever reason, there's no brownie points to be gained telling me off. At the very least there should be the option to disable this 'feature'.
POI selection is absolutely outstanding, at least compared to other things I have used. It makes the Tomtom implementation look like amateur night. You can select the POI by type, gas stations, shops and restaurants are my favorites, then either go straight to the list of hit SPELL and type in part of the name. It will match on any part of the name, so you can include partial names, even partial words, and it will still show the matches. Once you have your list you can select by address, direction and distance, or see the POI on a map. The direction changes from compass direction when stationary to relative direction when moving, so you don't have to waste your time looking at gas stations you passed twenty miles ago.
I did have one POI which can obviously never have been true, the Shell station near Lohi, UT has obviously always been a house. But mostly the POIs are very accurate.
It is disappointing that you can no longer select different on-screen data, I liked that with the old units and miss it. That's a big step backwards. I want to know time-to-next, time-to-go, course, altitude and other things that used to be offered.
There is a weird issue with map detail and zoom level, small roads appear and disappear as you zoom in and out. Let's be clear, a small road that is visible on a small scale (big area) disappears as you zoom in and then only reappears at some of the highest scales (most detailed) when you can't see any context, or even if it's actually the same road.
In general though, the automatic map scaling is very good, the 3-D view shifts to a track up view as it zooms out, this addresses my major gripe with Tomtom in that it allows you to keep your route in context and see how you are getting on in the big picture. As the view zooms in it adds a lot of street detail, much much better than Tomtom.
The time to destination predictions remain excellent. Outstanding. It was within minutes on the driving time over a distance of hundreds of miles on each occasion. Tomtom is often pessimistic by 50%, totally inadequate for planning purposes.
Is it worth it? Is it as good as it should be? For me, no and no. For $850 I can get a decent laptop, that's a lot more hardware, so that's not where the money went. They are still not addressing their software issues, they have faulty algorithms that have been unmodified for years and inherited from old products. As a software engineer I am disappointed but not surprised. Near work it will still sometimes tell me to take three right turns instead of an entirely legal left.
But it is very good. Garmin's mechanical people have done a great job, this is obviously a class device. But the software and systems people aren't as good.
Overall? If I could edit the rating I'd drop at a point or two now. But I still haven't seen better. At these prices it's not like there are many people who are willing to try them all.
Contrasting my own companies attitude to software errors (we are one of the biggest suppliers in the cell phone, commercial radio, wireless networking and many other fields), we would not allow even a mildly irritating bug to remain in one of our products for years. So I am wondering if I should return this on principal. I'll try support first, in the past that didn't achieve much.
8,000 miles later
Yes, I do a lot of miles.
Lasting impressions: I almost always have the voice prompt switched off, the guidance is repeated too often on high speed roads and I hate to hear it continuously telling me that it is recalculating when I don't agree with the way it told me to go.
There have been too many instances of ridiculous routing, you need to zoom out and see of the route looks sensible. Most do. A good example of a bad one was in Yellowstone National Park, I was in Canyon Village and wanted to return to my hotel in West Yellowstone, about a 35 mile trip fairly well due west. The first part went OK but then I was directed north 60 miles on US89, 30 miles west on I90 then 60 miles south on US191. I ignored the advice and the continuous u-turn instructions and recalculation. As I arrived at the Wyoming/Montana border, about three miles down a straight road from my hotel, the Nuvi crashed. Screen controls didn't work. When I swiched it off and on again it discovered there was a three mile route to the hotel instead of the previous 170+ mile suggestion. Strange.
The traffic information has been a mixed blessing too. As traffic builds in the morning and evening rush hours it seems to be added in realtime, but it doesn't seem to be purged out when it is no longer present. So if I go in to work late at 10am the roads are running at the speed limit but the traffic information on the Nuvi still says they are at a crawl. On Friday night I went to dinner after work, when I left at 11pm the roads were quiet and most people were doing 15mph over the limit, but the Nuvi told me that I880 was jammed solid with a 30 minute delay for the next few miles. That had probably been true six hours earlier, but not in the last four. This isn't a fault with the unit, it's a fault with the traffic service, when switched on the unit gave the correct route. Bad traffic information also gives unreasonably pessimistic ETA estimates.
Would I buy it knowing what I do now? Still yes. I still think Garmin are the best of the current offerings, they just need to fix a few things and beat up their traffic information provider.
Does it work with SDHC Cards? Yes it does. I have tried the Transcend 4Gb card, which I use for music and audio books, and a SanDisk 4Gb card which came straight out of my Canon SD1000 and in to the Nuvi. A couple of seconds later it was showing a slide show of the pictures I took recently, so it can handle 2Mb jpeg files too.
Long term traffic issues:...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin nüvi 670 4.3-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

Now you can go from North America to Europe without loading any moremaps with the Garmin's transatlantic nuvi 670 Personal Travel Assistant. This pocket-sized personal travel assistant comes with built-in street maps for both continents, making traveling abroad as easy as getting off the plane. The nuvi 670 is loaded with convenience features such as a travel kit and hands-free calling, on top of which it provides you with even more maps and an integrated traffic receiver.
Despite being loaded with features, the nuvi 670 still allows you to navigate with ease. This unit comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded NavTeq City Navigator NT street maps for both North America and Europe, and includes a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel stops, ATMs and more. Simply touch the super-bright, sunlight-readable color screen to enter a destination, and the 670 takes you there with either 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. This navigator voice even announces the name of exits and streets so you never have to take your eyes off the road, and can concentrate on your driving to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. In addition, the 670 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras, and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs that require your special consideration such as speed zones and safety cameras.

Speaking of keeping you safe, the nuvi 670 lets you make hands-free calls so you can talk freely during your worry-free driving. By integrating Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, you can pair your nuvi with any compatible Bluetooth phone and talk hands-free while staying focused on the road. You no longer have to fumble with your phone's handset to answer a call or dial a number, just tap the 670's screen and you're instantly connected. And with 1-touch dialing for your POIs, you can quickly and conveniently call ahead to make reservations or get needed information.

You can also avoid tie-ups and steer clear of traffic with the nuvi 670's integrated FM TMC traffic receiver. This unit allows you to receive alerts about road construction and traffic problems that lie ahead on your route. Simply touch the nuvi's screen to view traffic details or change your route so you can detour around the problem area. All of which can be customized with configurable vehicle icons that let you choose individual car-shaped icons in a variety of colors that show your position on the map. As an added benefit, the nuvi 670 has an FM transmitter as well, which allows you to hear its voice prompts, or your music or audio books through your car's stereo for a fuller, richer sound.

In additional to all this functionality, the nuvi 670 includes many must-have entertainment and travel tools such as an MP3 player, an audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), and a JPEG picture viewer so you can take your favorite music and pictures with you wherever you go. This unit also features a world travel clock with time zones, a currency converter, a measurement converter, and a calculator so that wherever you travel it will be easy to know what you are getting and keep track of your costs. The MP3 player lets you browse music by artist, album, and/or song, while the optional audio books may be purchased from Audible.com which features over 70,000 hours of audio programs. What's more, the nuvi 670 allows further customization via optional software such as travel guide, savings programs and language translation on plug-and-play SD cards for all your travel needs.

The Garmin nuvi 670 comes with a built-in, high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, and lets you view and operate it via its bright, LCD TFT touch-screen, wide-screen display that measures 4.3 inches (diagonal) and has a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels with 64,000 colors and a white backlight. As a whole, the nuvi 670 measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D), and weighs only 6.2 ounces for easy portability. This unit provides you with from three to seven hours of battery life (depending on use) via its rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and comes with Garmin Lock, which is an anti-theft feature to protect your investment. While you can add software via the SD card slot, the Garmin nuvi 670 also lets you interface via high-speed USB for loading data, though users should note that, like most USB mass storage devices, this unit is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.



First Rate Map Data The nuvi 670 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps, including a hefty POI database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nuvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. Garmin gets its map data from NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality mapping.

In addition, the nuvi 260W accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs

Important note about map updates: Due to our high volume of sales, almost every Garmin portable GPS navigator sold by Amazon.com will come with the most recent map version. If you ever do need a map update, you can purchase one from Amazon.com at our Garmin Store.

What's in the Box Garmin nuvi 670, City Navigator NT maps for North America and Europe (preloaded, full coverage), FM traffic receiver and transmitter, vehicle suction cup mount, AC charger, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, USB cable, leather carrying case, quick reference guide, and owner's manual.


Which nuvi is Best for You?Note: All nuvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
Device

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TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I really love the 720. I have tried the Garmin Nuvi and just didn't like the software nearly as much as the TomTom. Entering addresses is really fast and you only see towns in the state you are looking in. This means no more having to scroll through 30 different Springfields to get to the one you are searching for. You can hide the keyboard to see a long list of close matches so instead of having to type out the full city or street name you can just hit the first few letters and then pick from a list.
Mapshare seems like it will be a huge advance in the world of automotive GPS devices. Is a street marked as open when it should be blocked? Just correct the error with a few quick taps on the screen and it's fixed. What's really the big advance though is the ability to share my corrections with all other TomTom owners. I connect the 720 to the TomTom HOME software and it downloads corrections that other users have submitted.
What you see on the screen can be fully customized so that if you want the status bar on the side then you can put it there or you can leave it on the bottom. You can also decide what information is shown in the status bar. You can show or hide the time of day, remaining time, remaining distance, current heading, and your current rate of speed. If you subtract items from the status bar the other items automatically get bigger to take up the remaining space. You can also select if you want to show the current street you are on and the name of the next street you will be turning on to.
Text to speech quality is very good and will say the directions so for example it might say "in 250 feet keep right, then take the exit right, 204B towards Westview." Or "in 200 meters, turn right South West Madison Avenue." You can choose from multiple voices although I think the Dave voice sounds the best of the bunch. If you don't want to hear the "keep to lane" instructions you can disable this feature although I personally like to have it on. You can also record your own spoken instructions so for example you could have your kid's voice tell you to turn left in 200 feet. I haven't tried this though.
The screen is very bright and easy to see even when I have my sunglasses on. The 720 can be set to automatically turn the brightness down as it gets dark thanks to a built in light sensor on the front of the unit.
The mount is pretty clever and super easy to use. Just push it up to the windshield and it sticks right on. The 720 then just slides right on and is held solidly in place. You can turn the 720 in any direction to get it exactly where it's easiest for you to see.
With all the great features of the 720, I think what will really set it apart even more from the other GPS units out there is the Mapshare feature. Being able to fix your own map and download updates automatically to keep the map up to date is one of those things that is so fantastically great that you wonder why on earth it took so long to make to a shipping product. Whether or not it can live up to the expectations remains to be seen. Even if you took Mapshare away it's still the best car GPS I've ever used. With it, there's just no contest.
My biggest complaint is that there's no case in the box. You need to buy one separately although I've been using the plastic holder it shipped in so far which is OK.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TomTom GO 720 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator

The TomTom GO 720 Color GPS Navigation System with Mapshare is one of the newest, and most advanced GPS navigators to date, from one of the most trusted names in vehicle navigation. The GO 720 features a high-quality finish with an extremely elegant and slim design that allows it to not only complement any car's interior, but also fit perfectly and easily in your hand or shirt pocket so it can go anywhere you do. Despite its sleek and portable size, the TomTom GO 720 is packed full of all the functionality you need to easily get where you are going, as well as a ton of features to make your trip as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Top-Notch User Interface and Software The GO 720 is operated via an award-winning, intuitive user interface, and is ready to go right out of the box so as soon as you switch it on you can start using it. This navigator comes with the latest and most complete maps of the USA and Canada pre-installed for door-to-door navigation anywhere across the North American continent. Providing easy and quick access to extensive information such as building footprints and live traffic information, the unit includes multiple information options for personalization to your needs. What's more, the 720 is fully future proof, with new maps and free software upgrades available through TomTom's "Home" service so you'll never be out of date.

Simple, Easy Navigation TomTom's GO 720 uses a 4.3-inch, extra-wide, touch-screen LCD display that features anti-glare technology for easy viewing even in direct sunlight. Realistic and clear visual instructions are provided with high-quality 3D graphics, while spoken instructions tell you where you need to go in your own language. Using the latest technology, the 720 provides you with fast and accurate positioning, with fast route calculation and automatic re-calculation so it's virtually impossible to get turned around. You can even record your own navigation instructions, for either places you know best, or for planning out trips in advance based on the recommendations of others.

The GO 720 is as safe as it is convenient, and comes with a host of safety preferences. This unit helps ensure safe and efficient driving by doubling as a hands-free kit via Bluetooth technology, which is becoming essential as more states pass laws against driving while talking into a handset. With dual microphone support and a built-in high-quality speaker your phone calls are as clear as a bell, and with convenience features such as automatic call pick-up you can truly concentrate on your driving. However, if for some reason your concentration does lapse, this device includes a selectable speeding alert to keep you from accruing expensive tickets.

Extra Features The GO 720 is full of functionality, such as a tip feature, a customizable status bar, an extensive guided tour, and even a 'Help me!' menu, so it guides you through its usage as much as to your destination. It also features a personalized shortcut menu, 'current location icon' options, and millions of POIs (points of interest) so you can find what you need wherever you are like a lifetime local was riding shotgun. Taking navigation beyond just convenience, the 720 lets you play your music wirelessly over your vehicle's stereo system via its built-in MP3 player and FM transmitter. Now you can enjoy your music on the 720, all while seamlessly providing navigation instructions and still handling your hands-free phone calls. This amazing navigation device even provides you with a document viewer and photo viewer, so you can take your work with you or instantly download and enjoy your holiday photos wherever you go.

TomTom Plus Services The TomTom GO 720 is compatible with TomTom Plus services that allow you to check the current weather and road conditions on your route, and get up to five-day forecasts for places your visiting. This feature also allows you to take advantage of buddies functionality, TomTom Plus traffic, and the easy download of additional voices. What's more, as a new addition to the TomTom line-up, the 720 comes with TomTom MapShare technology. TomTom Map Share technology not only lets you add to, update, and personalize your maps instantly, but also share them with others so all your family and friends know the latest changes in your area. You can also download others' changes daily as one of many online services.

TomTom's GO 720 comes complete with TomTom Home software, an internal high-quality rechargeable lithium ion battery, and the capability to share content directly between other compatible TomTom GO devices. A Bluetooth remote control is available as a separate accessory. The 720 is also backed by a manufacturer's limited warranty.

What's in the Box TomTom GO 720 navigation device, windshield mount, desk dock with USB cable, car charger, CD-rom with software and user's manual, quick-start guide, accessory/PLUS leaflet, TomTom safe driving leaflet, and warranty information.

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Samsung T101G Prepaid Phone (Tracfone) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did not purchase my Samsung T101G tracfone on Amazon but at the local Dollar General store. It came with a packaged deal which included a belt clip carry case, phone car charger cord, ear phone piece and the free unlimited double minute plan. All that for $10 (which is dam good considering if all these items were purchased separately would come to $65 total). At that price I could not pass it up. That being said, I am a first time user of cell phones and the Samsung T101G is what I am beginning with. It is a great phone for first time ever cell phone users and is perfect for those who want a simple cell phone without all the fancy bells and whistles of the more expensive models. I was looking for a phone to have for emergency purposes and for general contact with the outside world when I traveled and this particular model phone is perfected for that. Reception has been decent in most areas and I have had no problems so far with making and receiving calls. The phone has many other features like web browsing and text messaging with which I am still experimenting with, so I can't give you an honest review yet on those features. But if your looking for a simple, inexpensive cell phone that does what a phone should do (make and receive calls) without all the fancy bells and whistles, the Samsung T101G is a excellent choice.

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The perfect complement to Tracfone prepaid wireless service, the Samsung T101G offers an affordable way to stay in touch with family and friends across town and around the globe via voice communication and text messaging. It features a color display, speakerphone, bi-lingual support (English and Spanish), organizer tools, up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 20 minutes of starter airtime upon activation.

Tracfone Service Tracfone provides nationwide prepaid wireless service using the nation's leading cellular providers to create a national footprint covering 99 percent of the U.S. population. This gives you connectivity everywhere cellular service is available. You can use your Tracfone across the U.S. and if you move, you can relocate your wireless number with just a phone call.
You can buy bundles of minutes (which must be used within a set time limit of between 90 to 365 days) from the Tracfone web site on your home PC or directly from your phone's web browser. For example, if you purchase a block of 120 minutes of airtime, you'll need to use that within 90 days of your first use. When you buy additional airtime minutes, your Tracfone service is extended automatically by another 90 days. Tracfone also offers international long distance calling to over 60 international destinations (including Argentina, Brazil, China, Mexico, most European countries, and many more), which deducts the same amount of minutes from your phone as when you make calls to destinations within the U.S.
This phone ships with a number of handy Tracfone services, including free voice mail, free caller ID, and free call waiting. And perhaps most importantly, the integrated TracFone Airtime Balance Display shows you how much airtime you've used and how much is left, so you can control your costs. You must activate your cell phone before use either by calling the Tracfone toll-free number or going to the Tracfone web site.
Phone Features The Samsung T101G has a 1.5-inch color screen with a 128 x 128-pixel resolution and support for 65K colors. It sits above a standard navigation area with send/end buttons and soft navigation keys, and is complemented by a standard alpha-numeric keypad. The phone's small internal 2.4 MB memory can store up to 100 contact entries in the handset's phone book, and it also displays the last 30 incoming/outgoing/missed calls.
If you need basic messaging capabilities, the T101G has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS text messages. The T9 predictive text technology is built into the unit, which autocompletes text for you as you type on the alpha-numeric keypad and offers options for selecting the correct word.
Other features include:
Includes up to 20 minutes of starter airtime upon activation (after activating your TracFone on the TracFone web site)
TracFone Airtime Balance Display shows you how much airtime you've used and how much is left, so you control your costs
Downloadable ringtones, graphics, news, weather, sports and more using Airtime Minutes
Organizer tools: Alarm clock, calendar, calculator, world time, stopwatch, converter
15 pre-loaded ringtones
Speakerphone
Vibrating alert
Multilingual text display (English and Spanish)
Auto redial

Vital Statistics The Samsung T101G weighs 2.5 ounces and measures 4.07 x 1.77 x 0.59 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 456 hours (19 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies.

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Sanyo Katana LX 3800 Phone, Black (Sprint) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Katana LX is a marked improvement in design if you compare it to the older phones. This phone has a memory card slot but you'll have to buy your memory. The interface is fast and the graphics are sufficient. It comes with the basic features most phones offer nowadays - loud speaker, bluetooth, mp3 player, media card slot, camcorder, 1.3 megapixel camera. Added features include a very nice display on the outside which looks very well illuminated. The phone doesn't come with any usb cable or headset, you have to buy your own 2.5mm headets. A surprise feature in all Sanyo phones is the inclusion of the ability to send phone numbers via bluetooth. You can send all your contacts using the bluetooth, this can be a demerit if someone doesn't want their contacts to be at everyone's disposal.
Good phone for the price. However one thing doesn't charm me. The cover is very easily scratched on the outside and when you hold the phone it can sometimes feel a little toy-like. If you're lookin for a better phone with a better build quality and some more features, go for the katana eclipse.
The LX 3800 phone comes in black,blue and pink. Girls, you will love the pink. Men, try the Eclipse black. The phone is compatible with all the Sprint plans and can be set up within minutes at a store for an upgrade or new contract.


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Offering a seductive, sophisticated look, the svelte, affordable Sanyo Katana LX has an elegant mirrored finish with a translucent OLED display glowing through to subtly show the time or incoming caller ID. In addition to Sprint Vision services for surfing the Web and downloading email, you'll also enjoy GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional Sprint Navigation turn-by-turn direction service. Other features include a VGA camera for capturing still images, Bluetooth connectivity for handsfree devices and using your phone as a modem (optional service required), access to personal email and instant messaging services, and up to 4.8 hours of talk time.
Sprint Service This GPS-enabled phone provides optional access to Sprint Navigation for driving directions on your mobile phone--by voice and onscreen. Along the way, turn-by-turn directions will be announced in a clear voice and displayed on your phone. For example, Sprint Navigation will say, "Go 1.2 miles and turn right on Elm Street." As you approach the turn, you will hear, "Turn right on Elm Street." Sprint Navigation also provides proactive traffic alerts with one click re-routing. And it's easy to find restaurants, banks, cafes, hotels and more from over 10 million points of interest across the U.S.
Sprint Vision provides innovative wireless services like web access and email and text messaging capabilities. Plus, with the Sprint National Network, you get the nationwide coverage and excellent voice clarity. The Restrict and Lock function allows the user to restrict calls and limit access to Vision services--valuable for parents or business managers. For instance, you can restrict incoming and outgoing calls to only those numbers held in the internal phonebook, lock the camera and any pictures saved in the phone, and provides up to three "special numbers" that are always available.
Phone Features Curvier with rounder edges than the other models in Sanyo's Katana line, the Katana LX is highlighted by the unique external OLED display that glows through the mirrored-finish and completely disappears when not in use. It displays current time/date, signal strength and battery life--but not caller ID--and it also provides whimsical, short animation clips for added fun. The internal 2-inch display has a 128 x 160-pixel resolution and 65K color depth. Below the screen you'll find a circular five-way navigation pad that's complemented by a round frame of buttons, including a dedicated camera key, back button, and two soft navigation keys. The send/end and dedicated speakerphone keys reside between the navigation area and and the alpha-numeric keypad.
The phone has a small 7 MB internal memory, which cannot be expanded. The phonebook provides a total of 300 contact entries, with the capability of saving up to 500 total phone numbers and 600 email and 300 Web addresses. Other features include a speed dial list of up to 98 numbers and a call history of the most recent 60 outgoing/received/missed calls.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and file transfer. You can connect your laptop via Bluetooth and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server (requires Phone As Modem Service Plan).
The VGA camera can capture still images up to 640 x 480 pixels (with additional resolution options for 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 pixels), but it does not record video clips. Other camera features include a digital zoom of up to 16x, three quality settings, five picture modes (Normal, Beach/Snow, Scenery, Night/Dark, Soft Focus), brightness controls, multi-shot capabilities, multiple shutter sounds (including silent mode), and a self-timer. Once a picture is snapped, you can snazz it up with a variety of fun frames and play with the color tone.
Other features include:
Wireless Backup to manage contacts list in the event that the phone is lost, stolen or damaged
Text and SMS Voice Messaging: Instantly send and receive SMS Text Messages across the room or across the country, anywhere in the Sprint National Network. Send voice messages to any mobile phone or email address. Just select a recipient, record a message and send.
Voice-Activated Dialing: Say the name of the person you want to call, and the phone dials the number automatically.
T9 predictive text input makes it simpler to send messages
Voice Memo/Recorder: Record and store as many as 100 different voice memos, each up to 3 minutes in length, for playback anytime.
Customizable Favorites Menu: Personalize your phone based on the applications most frequently used; assign favorite device activities to the corresponding menu numbers for quick access.
WAP 2.0 web browser
Instant messaging and Web-based email capabilities, including AOL, Windows Live, and PCS Mail
Call screening (pre-recorded or custom 12-second announcement)
Bilingual user interface (English and Spanish)
72-chord polyphonic ringtones and vibrating alert
Organization and productivity tools: Alarm clock, world clock, stopwatch, countdown timer, calculator
Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC) rating of M4/T4.
Bluetooth version 2.0 with the following profiles: HFP (hands-free car kits), HSP (communication headsets), DUN (dial-up networking), OPP (object push for business cards, calendar items, and pictures), PBA (transfer contacts), SPP (serial port profile)

Vital Statistics The Sanyo Katana LX weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches. Its 800 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.8 hours of talk time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA frequencies.

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Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset ( VOIP3211G/37 ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great sound quality and even better range this phone works much better than I imagined. The phone has a feel of quality. I agree with the comments made by grn4jd and I should add that grn4jd's comments made me realize how to dial directly from the handset. The fault that people are making about dialing directly is because of the bad documentation, also Philips tech support is not great about how to configure the phone not to disable the computer speakers. I actually found the fix to this at Philips online Knowledge base. I won't go in the details but it has something to do with going into Control Panel>Sounds and also you need to go into Skype>tools>options>sound devices and choose "Audio in, Audio out & Windows default device" then reboot. As far as dialing out directly from the phone, it's simple, dial the prefix 001 then the 10 digit number then press the red Skype button. The only thing wrong with this phone is that the computer needs to be on for it to run Skype and there are phones out there than run independent of the computer but their not for me because they make Skype the default connection over the landline phone.
EDIT: I am editing my review to add a comment. The reviews of this phone are interesting, this phone seems to get either 5 stars or 1 star and I chalk that up to people figuring out how to dial directly out and also to those that didn't figure out how to fix any conflict with the phone and sound cards. Definitely this phone easily dials out using Skype directly. I posted my solution to dial the prefix 001 and the reviewer Matt B. posted another solution that looks even easier than my solution. Also with some aggravation, I believe the sound card conflict can always be solved. The solution lies within ControlPanel>Sounds and the Skype Toolbar.

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Philips VOIP3211G/37 DECT 6.0 VOIP PHONE SYSTEM (1-PHONE BUNDLE) 1-PHONE BUNDLE; MAKES & RECEIVES SKYPE VOIP CALLS; MAKES INTERNET OR STANDARD PHONE CALLS; 50-CONTACT ADDRESS BOOK; AMBER DISPLAY & BACKLIGHTING; SPEAKERPHONE; UP TO 100-HOUR STANDBY TIME & 10-HOUR TALK TIME; ACCESS TO YOUR SKYPE CONTACT LIST FROM ANYWHERE IN THE HOME; CALL MANAGEMENT FEATURES INCLUDE CALL WAITING CALLER ID, CALL ON HOLD, MESSAGE WAITING & CALL TRANSFER;HANDSET KEYS INCLUDE LINE, DIALING KEYPAD, PHONEBOOK, CALL LOG, REDIAL, SKYPE & LOUDSPEAKER;AMBER BACKLIT;10-CALLS REDIAL LIST CAPACITY;10 MELODY RINGERS WITH LANDLINE OR INTERNET CALL DISTINCTION

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Panasonic KX-TG6444T DECT 6.0 Expandable 4-Handset Cordless Phone System with Dual Keypad, Talking Caller ID, Answering Machine and Talking Alarm Clock Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these Panasonic Phones having purchased Panasonic phones before. The two features I love the most are the voice enhancer, which allows you to hear who is calling, and the fact that all the phones work together at the same time means all four of my family members can be on the phone at the same time speaking to our son at college!! The phones hold a good long charge if left off their holders for a couple of days and the sound quality is fantastic! The only minor issue I have is that I wish I could raise the volume even higher to hear our voice messages, which can be played from any of the 4 phones. I also love the fact that once you enter a phone number into the address book, it automatically appears in all 4 phones. Additionally, what's also nice is that you can set each phone to ring at a certain volume, so I can silence my teenager's phone so that the phones will ring in all locations but his. That means he won't be awakened by early morning calls! I highly recommend this product to families with the need for phones in every room.

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Magellan Maestro 4350 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth & Integrated Traffic Review

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(More customer reviews)As this is a lengthy review, those not wanting to wade through the entire text can find a summary under the 'Conclusions' heading.
Test Conditions:
All tests were conducted in the Northeast U.S. Although I don't own another portable GPS, I do have a factory installed navigation unit in my 2006 Audi which I've utilized for several side-by-side comparisons (the Magellan is actually for my wife's car).
Updates to the 4350's operating system and navigational firmware are available at no-cost from Magellan's website. These significantly improve the functionality and stability of the unit and if you own one you'd be making a mistake not to install them. The procedure is made relativity easy by the CD based instruction manual that comes with the unit. It took me about fifteen minutes to bring my unit up to date and in a month of testing since, it has never crashed, frozen, or seriously misbehaved. All findings posted here are based on a unit updated to the following: OS Version 00.42.01.0919 and Navigation Version 8.3.2.64084. As the 4350's were just released in September 2008 there are no map updates available or required. Startup:
If powered by an ignition controlled power source the 4350 turns on/off with the car. Otherwise pressing the power button for about two seconds turns it on.
Acquiring satellites happens very quickly - we're talking seconds, not minutes. Only once, inside my house during a very heavy snowstorm, did it take longer (about two minutes) to lock. Display Screen:
The display is plenty bright and the touch screen feature is very sensitive (sometimes too much so). An optional power-saver feature dims the screen somewhat between turns when using the built-in battery. I found this very useful as besides saving the battery it tends to catch your eye when it 'wakes up' to normal brightness. Since that happens about five seconds before the first spoken notification regarding the next turn it gives you a visual heads-up that a verbal instruction is imminent (so if you happen to be blaring Hendrix on the car stereo you have time to lower the volume a bit). Touching any part of the screen will also restore it to full brightness.
The menu system is well organized and intuitive. There are a few things I'd change but overall it's very good.Audio Quality and the MP3/Photo/Video Player:
The audio is loud and clear even with the volume all the way up, which was never necessary for me. There's a male or female voice option for each available language (English, Spanish, and French).
Like most units in this price range the 4350 announces the actual street names along with the turning instructions. The pronunciations are occasionally off but they get the point across. One odd thing was although the male voice pronounced 'county' properly the female would say 'count'. I.E... "In one quarter mile turn right onto count route 513".
The built-in MP3 player and the photo viewer are nice enough and get the job done. The video player only handles Xvid .avi files, which limits its usefulness, but I believe this is the only GPS to have a video player so you probably can't do better elsewhere.
Now to one of the two big gripes I have with this unit...
There's no headphone/line-out jack! What good is an MP3 player without one??? This restricts you to listening through the single (mono) speaker or using the FM transmitter to send the signal to your car stereo (more on that later). POI's (Points of Interest) and AAA:
Magellan claims 6 million POI's reside in the 4350's database (my Audi only has about 1.7 million). Locating one couldn't be easier. You can search by name, category, and/or area. In addition to this is a listing of all facilities reviewed by the AAA, complete with descriptions, ratings and member discounts. AAA members also get an additional year of warranty coverage and one-button access to local certified garages. Although it's not mentioned in the rather sparse instruction manual, you can import your own POI's as Google .kml or .kmz files. To do this you'll need Magellan's 'Content Manager', a free download, which if you updated your firmware you'll already have. Route Selection:
Planning a route is extremely easy, as is adding interim stops (something you still can't do with many GPS models). The keyboard can be configured as QWERTY or ABC and it gray's out irrelevant letters as you type - a nice feature.
Once you've selected your destination the 4350 calculates four possible routes: Fastest, Shortest, Most Economical, and Simplest. The fastest route is chosen by default but you can examine the relative times and distances or see the routes compared visually on the map before selecting the best one for you. Some or all of these routes may be the same as multiple criteria are often met by the same route. I found the [post-upgrade] route selections to be very good, certainly on a par with my Audi's unit.
A 'One-Touch' menu allows you to store your favorite destinations as icons on a single menu. 'Home', 'Previous', 'SOS' (emergency), and AAA 'Service' icons are there by default. You can add five of your own which can point to specific addresses or POI lists. I.E... A list of all Starbucks in the current area.
Finally, being a portable device you can select your type of 'vehicle' from: Car, Bus, Emergency, Bicycle, or Pedestrian. In another undocumented feature, when switching to pedestrian mode you'll be asked if you'd like the unit to remember your car's location. Garmin makes a big deal of this feature; you'd think Magellan would at least mention they have it too. Go figure...Guidance - On the Road:
On the road is where this unit really shines. The 4.3" screen packs in a surprising amount of map detail without looking cluttered. Maps can be displayed in 2D or 3D (I prefer the 3D view which my Audi doesn't have). Landmark buildings can also rise from the map in three dimensions but in my rural area I've yet to see this in action. Information regarding the next turn is displayed across the top of the screen and I especially like how the names of cross streets appear as I approach them, then disappear. You can select which POI categories appear on the map - I chose restaurants and gas stations. Unlike some other units this feature works in 2D or 3D mode. For major chains (BP, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, etc) the generic symbols are replaced by the company logos, allowing you to see at a glance what type of establishment is coming up.
An optional warning displays the speed limit on the left side of the map when you approach or exceed it by a percentage you preset from 70 to 130%. You can also set an audible alert for this if you wish (I have a wife who performs that function). Although I don't consider this an important feature, those who do should know that in my area it only worked on the interstates.
A new feature called 'Lane Guidance' is one of the primary reasons I choose this unit over the Garmin 760. At complicated interstate exits it displays a visual representation of the overhead highway signs to show you which lane you need to be in for an upcoming maneuver. The Garmin models with a similar feature called 'Lane Assist' are far more expensive. The only other GPS to offer lane guidance near this price range is Navigon's 7200T but its POI database is small and its search features are reportedly poor.
The verbal directions are extremely clear and precise. It always beat my Audi in giving me a heads-up regarding the next turn and was usually more specific as to what I needed to do.
Besides the detailed spoken instructions the 4350 also produces a 'doorbell like' chime at the point you should be turning. It even chimes differently for left, right, and U turns. This is a feature that several prior Magellan owners have mentioned missing after switching to another brand. For some reason Magellan initially omitted it from this model but the firmware update restores it along with another enhancement that tells you which side of the street your destination is on.
Lastly, recalculations (required if you go off the designated route) were very fast, taking about the same amount of time as my Audi's unit and often producing a better result. Bluetooth, FM Transmitter, and Traffic Info:
At first the 4350 refused to find my Blackberry Curve but after doing a hard reset (as suggested by Magellan's website) the units paired right up. Bluetooth connectivity has been fine since then but all is not well... When making/receiving a hands-free call I found the audio on my end to be satisfactory but I had to shout at a distance of two feet from the unit in order to be heard faintly at the other end. In actuality I had to speak 1 to 3 inches from the built-in microphone in order to be heard properly. Compounding this issue is the fact that there's no external microphone jack like on some other brands. This was the most disappointing aspect of this test. Even though I don't use this feature, some of the people I gave these to might want to. Therefore if you need Bluetooth capability I must recommend you look elsewhere.
In my initial review I stated that the FM transmitter (which sends all sound from the 4350 to the car's audio system) worked like a charm in my Audi but didn't perform so well in my wife's Sable Wagon. I attributed this to the Sable's rear mounted antenna and the fact that the U.S. severely limits the transmitter strength of these units. However, further tests have resulted in excellent results with both cars. One thing I did notice is that the DC power cord seems to act like an antenna so if you're having reception problems plug the power cord into the 4350 (this seems to work even if you...Read more›

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Plantronics Explorer 230 Wireless Headset - 79222-62 Review

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(More customer reviews)This worked just long enough for me to throw away the receipt and the packaging. Now it will not turn on at all. The red light comes on for a couple of minutes when I try to charge it, but it won't do anything else. A quick search online shows that I'm not the only one having this problem.

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NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype Review

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(More customer reviews)This review concerns only the SPH200W; I don't know anything about the earlier SPH101.
I was hesitant to buy this product based on reviews, but I went ahead and got it, expecting to have to do some troubleshooting.
The product has been completely satisfactory to me. The phone is adequately sturdy, battery life is quite long long (I power the phone down when I'm on the move to keep it from searching for networks, and I get 3-5 workdays of standby out of one charge), and call quality is fine. Incoming call clarity is superb; outgoing clarity isn't always great because of the mic placement and quality on this phone. Setting up the phone is easy and intuitive. The phone connects quickly and reliably to networks, and options for preferred networks, entering passphrases, etc., are many and easy. Making calls is very easy. As is clearly indicated on this product's box, there's no onboard web browser, so you can't authenticate on a network using a browser. If you just have to register hardware on a network you use (like I do at work), that's easy - use your computer to register, or just tell your IT person the MAC address of your phone, which is under the battery.
You can charge the phone using the included cradle which receives a male USB mini-A plug, or you can plug a USB mini-A cable directly into the phone. Netgear supplies you with an AC adapter which plugs into the wall and terminates with mini-A, so you can charge this phone like you would any mobile phone. There's also an A- to mini-A USB cable in the box, so you can charge from your computer if you need to. Both methods work with either the cradle or without it. Very versatile charging options.
Here's what I think will be useful to potential buyers -
Netgear's support is mediocre at best, and I couldn't get any info. from them about compatible headsets or batteries. Don't buy this phone expecting excellent support from the manufacturer. I did some legwork, and much research later, I have answers:
"Standard" headsets don't work with the SPH200W. You need a 4-pole plug, to start, and then not all headsets of this description will work. Nokia headsets have worked for me - I bought an HS-47 for peanuts, and it works great. This significantly improved outgoing call quality.
Batteries. No help from Netgear on this one, I'm sad to say. The battery for the SPH200W is lithium, 3.7V, and has 900mAh capacity. If you search for batteries which are interchangeable with Nokia BL-5C, you'll find one which will work. The Netgear battery is the shape of the BL-5C, and many BL-5C replacements are 3.7V (vs. 3.6) and some are higher capacity than the stock one (Lenmar makes one which is readily available and works very well with this phone). If you absolutely must have tons of battery life out of this appliance, get an extra battery and you'll be good to go for a long long time.
Other complaints of others:
1) "the speakerphone isn't hi-fi." It's true. Have you heard high-quality sound from a mobile phone's speaker? I never have. This works just fine; I can understand what callers are saying when I use the speaker. I don't listen to lossless audio playback on my phone.
2) "outgoing call quality is poor." Not quite true, though this is the SPH200W's weak point. It's often just as clear as a digital/cell connection, but sometimes it's obscured enough to be annoying. If you want to upgrade, spend a few bucks and get a good headset. If this still doesn't satisfy you, wait for the next generation of wi-fi phone technology.
3) "battery life is terrible." Not true. If "less than 9 days of standby" is "terrible," then I guess I can see what folks are saying here. You get plenty of talk/standby time out of this battery, and it's very easy to keep it charged up with all the options you have. Extra batteries are also easy to come by.
I'm glad Netgear is producing VoIP equipment. This is a good piece, and I recommend it to anyone who is weaning him/herself from a 2-year wireless contract.

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Unlimited Free Wireless Calls to Skype Users, Without a PC. Make and receives Skype phone calls wherever you have Wi-Fi access. Works with most leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers including T-Mobile USA. Lets you talk for free to other Skype users without a PC. Calls any phone worldwide at low SkypeOut rates and NO MONTHLY FEES. Works with security protected home WiFi networks. The SPH200W is compatible with leading hotspot providers that support the WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming) protocol, including T-Mobile USA. A list of WISPr hotspots can be found at www.netgear.com/hotspots. NETGEAR neither operates nor guarantees the continual availability or compatibility of Wi-Fi hotspots. Subscription or usage fees may apply for Wi-Fi hotspot usage. Wi-Fi hot-spots requiring browser-based authentication are not supported. For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited. The Skype service is offered and operated solely by Skype, and NETGEAR does not guarantee Skype service availability, quality or pricing. No emergency callingemergency calls will need to be made by alternative methods. This phone will not function during a power failure or broadband outage. Use of Skype software, SkypeOut and/or SkypeIn is subject to Skypes terms of service and end user license agreement.

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Jazz DV150 Digital Movie Camera (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this the other day and I am pleased with it already. It takes an SD card so you better plan on getting a 2 gig or 1 gig at the lowest.
The default format is to record at 640x480 at 30fps. Quality is good for this type of hand held camera. Built in stabilization makes for easy handling. Also the Low Light capability is awesome. If you know you are going to be filming at night, just change an option to shoot in night mode. Not the normal night mode that some camera's have but this one boosts the sensitivity so you can get some footage.
As for the Picture taking, or audio books, I haven't used it for that but so far I like this a lot.
I would give it 5 stars but I haven't used it enough to rate it that high. Easy to use though.

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