Motorola DROID MINI (Verizon Wireless)

Customer Ratings:

I upgraded from a Droid RAZR that I owned for 2 years and I have no regrets. In fact, I am blown away by how smooth and responsive is the new Droid Mini, in addition to the display quality. Even though it is not a 1080 display, at 4.3 inches, the 720 resolution of the TFT LCD display on the Droid Mini gives it 342 pixels per inch (ppi). It has more ppi than its bigger brothers (the MAXX and Ultra) and even the iPhone 5! What this mean is that the display is very detailed and sharp. Even though the contrast may not be as good as an OLED or IPS display, the white balance is more accurate (instead of the yellowish tint typical of Pentile OLED)

Compared to the other "mini" phones on the market (i.e. HTC One Mini), this has the best overall processing capability and the largest RAM. The 2 GB RAM keeps the device snappy even when there are multiple apps running in the background. Even though it only has a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, it's the fastest one out there (for now). In addition, the quad-core graphics processor allows it to keep up with higher-end flagship phones when running cutting edge games.

There are some cool features that are unique to the new Droids and Moto X: Active Notifications, Touchless Controls, and Quick Capture. Amazon has since included information about these features in the product description, so I'll provide supplemental details:

-Active Notifications: it works with any app that has push-notifications such as Facebook Messenger.

-Touchless Controls: If the phone is secured with face unlock, pattern unlock, PIN, or password, you will need to provide the necessary validation in order for Google Now to respond to you. So to keep it "Touchless," the screen lock setting needs to be set to "None" or "Slide". Supposedly the phone will only respond to my voice, but my co-worker was able to activate Touchless Controls after the third attempt.

-Quick Capture: I recommend the following camera settings to be "On", Quick Capture, HDR, and Tap to Focus.

All the above features are always on, which could significantly drain the battery if handled by the dual-core processor. To address this problem, Motorola designed two low-powered chips to process these new features. As a result, this phone can last a day under normal use. For me, the Droid Mini lasts about 16 hours under moderate use.

Since the phone is provided through Verizon and not directly from Google like the Moto X, there will be bloatware. Thankfully, you can disable the bloatware through the app settings menu, something I couldn't do on the Droid RAZR. There is one app that I actually find to be interesting and useful is Droid Zap. This app allows you to share pictures and videos with people around you (within 1,000 feet) by swiping up on a picture with two fingers. The recipients then open the Droid Zap app (free and only for Android devices) on their phones and two finger swipe down to download the shared picture (or video).

There are a couple things I don't like about my new Droid Mini, but they can be easily addressed. My first complaint is the construction. The Droid RAZR has an aluminum frame that gave it a solid feel, the Droid Mini does not. Also, the Kevlar back is now coated with a clear shiny resin. This causes the back of the phone to be covered in finger grease, to a point where I can't even see the Kevlar pattern! So I promptly got a case to cover up that ugliness and to give it better drop protection. Here is the link to the particular case I bought: Incipio MT-269 DualPro Dual Case for Motorola Droid Mini XT1030 White/Grey Retail Packing

My second complaint is that it does not have a micro SD slot. For some people, this would be a deal breaker. But thankfully, SanDisk has a wireless USB thumb drive that stores its content on micro SD cards. This is something I'll be getting to expand my Droid Mini's storage capability. Here is the link for those who are interested: SanDisk Connect 16GB Wireless Flash Drive (SDWS2-016G-E57)

Oh, and another thing I'll be getting is a Qi wireless charger, since this phone has a built-in wireless charger receiver. I'll update my review to let you know how well that works.

**UPDATE: 9/10/13**

The Qi Wireless Charger came in and it worked like a charm. It even charged my phone through its protective case. The Droid Mini had a neat on-screen prompt that helped me place the phone properly on the charger. However, it makes an loud notification sound (which I can't control) upon successful connection. This sound will definitely startle your significant other if the phone is placed on the charger in the middle of the night, so I'll be using this charger at work and not at home. Here is the link to the particular charger I bought: GMYLE (TM) Black White Wireless Mini Charging Pad Mat Qi-enabled Standard Charger (1000mA) for Nokia Lumia 920/920T/925/928/1020, LG Google Nexus 4/5/7 HD, Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 5 (US Plug)

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AmScope 17 lbs Full-Size Professional Binocular Biological

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $1,900.00
Sale Price: $337.98
Today's Bonus: 82% Off

I purchased this microscope as a birthday present for my 16 year old. He has received countless microscopes, but, somehow always outgrew their capabilities. I wanted to purchase one that would carry him through college, without spending several hundred dollars. After researching several, I discovered this model and found it possessed many of the features of Celestron and other expensive brands without the cost. It arrived securely packaged within the time period promised. My son was thrilled with the clarity of the objectives and I was impressed by the quality. I highly recommend this microscope to all budding scientists!

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Samsung UN60D8000 60-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Silver)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $4,299.99
Sale Price: $2,197.00
Today's Bonus: 49% Off

This review is a little long winded. Skip to the bottom for just the pros and cons. Or, keep reading to waste 10 minutes of your life.

Over the last 5 years, I have been using a 58" Panasonic Plasma TV. Not a bad TV, but not the greatest either. It was only 1080i, it got hot pretty fast (which made the room hot and the air condition kick on too often), and the dimensions were weird (I looked at entertainment centers that should fit a 60" TV, but the TV still wouldn't fit.). I felt an upgrade was in order.

I'll have to admit, shopping for a TV was pretty fun. A lot of work though. The research was overwhelming at times. Websites upon websites, magazines, books, different people's inputs, salesmen trying to sell you different things depending on which store you went to, etc. I narrowed it down to one of many Sony HDTVs or a Samsung C or D series. After narrowing it down to those 2 brands, it was a little easier. I went to about 4 different Fry's Electronics and 7 different Best Buys to check it out in different situations. After that, it came down to the UN55D8000 (boy, did I memorize those numbers). To make the decision easier, I was looking on Amazon, and to my amazement, they had it for $500 less that everyone else, plus free shipping. Score!

With the free shipping, it usually takes a little longer. I would say, from the time the order was placed, until it got to my front door, it took about 1.5 weeks. It came delivered from Home Direct, USA and had no issues with delivery. They were going to set up the TV, but I told them not to, since my entertainment center hadn't come in yet. I opened up the box, put the TV on a soft cloth (our bed's comforter) and installed the stand. Eight screws, piece of cake. I connected the Directv receiver and a PS3. There are a few settings you will set in the beginning when the TV turns on. Takes about 2 minutes, literally. After that, the fun begins! Going from 1080i to 1080p is a huge difference! I had a recording of Chuck on the DVR and it almost looked live. I also watched some regular satellite programming and even the non-HD channels looked amazing.

After wiping the drool off the floor, I wanted to check out the 3D part of the TV. I popped in the free copy of Shrek the 3rd in the PS3, put on the glasses and waited to be amazed. Aside from the amazing colors, it looked exactly like 2D! WTH?! Then, I remember reading somewhere that the PS3 does indeed play 3D movies, BUT with an upgrade. I waited about 30 minutes for the upgrade to finish. After that, loaded up the dvd again, and there was the movie with that funky 3D image. Hey wait, I have 3D glasses on, how come I see that. Oh, oops. Batteries need to be installed in the glasses. Finally! The 3D image was awesome! Seriously, watching TV in 3D is amazing. I can't wait `til there's more media in 3D. As it stands right now, the only real movies in 3D are either documentaries or cartoons, with the exception of a few regular movies (i.e. Resident Evil, Step Up 3, etc.)

I just set it up last night, so I can't give you a whole lot more information. But, even if I did have more time, I don't think I can give you the detailed specs that you might be looking for. I'm not an expert on home theater. Here's an overview of pros and cons:

PROS:

* The lack of a bigger bezel really does make a difference. Not only aesthetically, but in terms of functionality, too (better 3D viewing. It looks like you're looking thru a window.).

* Images are spectacular. Whether it be regular programming, HDTV programming, or Blu-Ray.

* Price on Amazon was very good!

* Delivery was pain-free.

* A lot of settings options, so you can set up the TV to your preference and the viewing scenario (i.e. movie, standard, etc.)

* 3D movie watching is stunning! I just wish Panasonic didn't have exclusive rights on Avatar.

CONS:

* SmartTV is a cool feature. But, not a necessity. I really doubt that I'll Facebook or Tweet from the TV.

* Audio isn't great, but it's adequate. I wasn't really expecting much from a flat screen TV.

* Did not come with the touch-screen remote as was supposed to be the case in the beginning of the year.

* Have to mail in the vouchers (or register online) in order to get the 3D glasses. True, you do get a 3D starter kit with this TV, which has the glasses, but those glasses are a little different and use batteries. Also, you have to send out to get the free copy of Shrek Forever and Megamind. I really shouldn't complain, though, since these are free.

* Needs a more detailed manual on how to use most of the features. The manual it comes with is thick, but it's just because it's the same thing in different languages.

Sorry for the long review. Us Yelpers write a lot of gibberish, don't we?

UPDATE: After playing around with the TV a little more this weekend, I noticed that the top of the screen had some light flickering (around where the bezel meets the screen and it was about 1/16" tall and went almost across the whole TV. I'm hoping it's not the "edge lighting.") It only did this on some channels on Directv. Most channels were fine and Blu-Ray was fine. I'm thinking it's either the receiver or possibly the cheap HDMI cable. I have a Monster M1000 series cable coming in later this week, so I'll switch it out and update.

Also, there has been talk all over online about people having problems pairing the remote. I had zero problem and did it about 5 feet away from the TV.

One last thing, one of the glasses in the free 3D kit didn't seem to work. I changed out batteries and nothing. Then, the next morning, I tried it again, but this time turning off the bluetooth in my phone, and it worked. Whether this had an effect on it, I don't know. But, just thought I'd throw that out there.

BTW, this weekend, I watched Tangled in 3D and played MLB2K11 on the PS3...... WOW! I'll have to admit, I liked 3D, but I thought it was just a novelty. No way. 3D is much different now than when we had those blue and red glasses. It changes the whole experience.

UPDATE #2: Didn't have to do anything to get the line gone. It just went away one day.

Also, I finally got the 3D glasses from the voucher that's in the TV. Unfortunately, they are the 3300s and not the 3700s that I kept seeing from people at CES. I won't knock the rating down, but I am a little disappointed that the glasses and the remote that were advertised earlier in the year didn't come with the unit, nor even thru mail. Also, the charger for the glasses is $199! No, thanks. I'll just charge it using the USB cable.

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Yamaha YAS-101BL Front Surround System, Piano Black

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $299.95
Sale Price: $199.95
Today's Bonus: 33% Off

First, my motivation for taking the time to write a review is that these Amazon product reviews have helped me so much in the past that I wanted to pay some of that back.

More to the point, Yes, definitely buy this Yamaha Sound Bar if your needs are similar to mine.

I love this thing because my new 46Inch LED Flat Screen had a great picture but really dull sound and I wanted to add better sound without a complicated set of gear, and this Yamaha Sound Bar immediately gave me bright clear quality sound in a simple one piece component that looks high end and fits nicely in front of my TV. You don't notice it.

I gave it a full five stars because it worked great right out of the box, exceeded my expectations and I really got it set up within in 20 minutes, really.

When I turned it on I sat there with a big smile on my face because of the quality sound as I channel surfed and played with the sound settings, how many times does that happen with a new piece of gear?

Only two wires to deal with, the power cord to plug in and it came with the other one, an optical cable, so no running out to figure out what cable or cables to buy. You just plug in the optical cable to the audio out on the TV and into the back of the Yamaha.

When you slide it out of the box, be careful grabbing it, as along the bottom of the unit two of the internal speaker compartments are cloth covered and you could accidentally poke your fingers through before you get it fully out of the box, unwrapped and can see them.

Even though it sits in front of the base of my TV; it didn't block my TV remote's signals, as it has a setting to pass through and relay your remotes signal out of its back side. You can teach this Yamaha Sound Bar to respond to your TV's remote to turn the Yamaha on and off and adjust the volume, I haven't done that yet.

The Voice Clear feature is worth it alone, no matter if my home's noisy A/C is on or if there is a lot of back ground noise in what I am watching; it makes dialog jump out to be clear and understandable. Now I can now walk out of the room and not miss what's being said on the TV Show.

Also what I truly enjoy is that it automatically keeps the volume from increasing when the commercials come on.

The Surround Sound feature is excellent and full sounding; it makes you feel like the characters and action are in the room with you. The Stereo setting is also is excellent, music on it sounds great with depth and warmth like on my high end audio car system.

Remote is simple, settings and set up easy to use and the manual covered it all briefly but with enough to be user friendly for a normal person.

I feel like I got good value for what I paid.

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ASUS X101-EU17-BK 10.1-Inch Netbook (Black)

Customer Ratings:

Netbooks fill two needs for me. First, I need to access the Internet when I am on the move. Most of the information I need to make a living is somewhere in the cloud and for all practical purposes my browser is my business desktop. I do, however, need to write as well as read. I am writing this on the X101 in Google docs. A tablet doesn't work for me; I must have a keyboard.

I also have to write when I am not connected to the Internet--something that happens to me fairly often. That means I also need a word processor.

To keep me connected and writing, or just writing when not connected, I want a throw-away machine that boots up and shuts down quickly. By a throw-away, I mean something I can ruin by leaving it out in the rain without feeling that I have suffered a significant financial loss. The quick boot is so that I don't have to leave the thing in sleep mode all day to avoid the pain of restarting it. I don't need a lot of computing power or storage. I don't use power hungry applications or keep information I care about on netbooks.

After a weekend with the Asus X101 with Meego, I have the following observations.

Internet: Everything is fine here. The Chromium browser works well and the screen is bright. Videos, images, pdfs, and other files display easily. The wi-fi connects painlessly.

Word Processor and Office Applications: The Asus X101 comes with OpenOffice and a very basic text editor. I use OpenOffice in my physical office and like it in that context. OpenOffice, however, is big and acts a bit clunky on the X101. It opens slowly and at times the low powered X101 struggles with it. Something like Jarte--a little more sophisticated than a simple text editor, but less than a full office suite--needs to show up on the Asus application site.

Keyboard: It has a chiclet keyboard which is not as comfortable as a full sized keyboard, but it isn't bad. I have hands that can palm a basketball, yet I was up to full speed typing after an hour or so of getting the feel of it. One thing I like is that the touchpad is easy to turn off so you don't accidentally hit it when typing.

Meego: The Meego operating system boots up in about fifteen seconds. This is better than windows on a low powered machine, but not great. It shuts down almost instantly. I found configuring and then navigating Meego a bit confusing at first, but I eventually got a desktop that works for me. I can now navigate multiple applications without having to think too much about the operating system. That is good.

Meego Applications: There is a Meego App Store that comes with the computer,but the shelves are almost empty. I didn't see anything I wanted, but, other than a middle of the road word processor, there isn't a lot I need that isn't included.

Battery Life and Weight: Batteries are heavy and this thing is not. It is very thin and light. You pay for it in battery life. I have gotten between three and four hours out of a charge, a fairly short time compared to heavier Asus netbooks, but not bad compared to many full size notebooks. It has a reasonably small plug, and no unwieldy power brick.

I have only had the X101 a few days, but I consider it a keeper. It does a few things well and those happen to be things that I need done. I am over searching for the one machine that does everything. The X101 provides cheap lightweight connectivity, a workable keyboard, and some basic stand alone applications. If you need a lot more than that, I would look elsewhere.

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Dell Inspiron 660s i660s-3854BK Desktop

Customer Ratings:

This computer is exactly what I was configuring on Dell's own website but during checkout at Dell I ran into a problem as they wanted to charge me $70 to ship to Hawaii. I did the Dell chat thing to ask why it was so much and the chat support person was so slow and asking so many unnecessary questions that I did a quick Amazon search and found it for around $150 cheaper on Amazon with free shipping to Hawaii no less!

Good old Amazon coming through yet again. I feared it would be lacking something because it was cheaper but it is exactly as described, had the extra ram in it, wifi IS included, etc. Very fast, minimal bloatware from Dell, super quiet and fairly small (not as small as the old Dell Studio Hybrid series but smaller than a normal desktop).

I would highly recommend this computer for anything expect high end video games.

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Seagate Backup Plus 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $94.99
Sale Price: $76.95
Today's Bonus: 19% Off

I recently purchased a Seagate BackUp Plus 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable Drive and have been impressed with this sleek, compact, quiet running drive that does its job admirably. Many thanks to the many user comments which helped in my decision making process. This review will focus on Styling, Setup / Ease of Use, Performance, Reliability and Value

STYLING / STURDINESS (5/5): The Seagate Backup Plus 1TB Drive arrives in a 8" x 10" cardboard box (not much bigger than the dimensions of the actual drive) and includes just the bare essential components the Portable Drive itself, 1 USB 3.0 connector cable, 1 Warranty Booklet and 1 Setup Instruction Guide. The Portable Drive itself (reviewing a red 1 TB version) weighs no more than a current generation dataphone (iphone etc) and boasts a brushed metallic red finish on the top / cover plate which is aesthetically pleasing, as well as functional in that it feels sturdy to the touch and does not seem to attract fingerprints. Given that this drive is not advertised (and not priced) as a 'Rugged' or 'Drop resistant' portable drive, I did not 'Stress test' the drive and plan to treat it much as I would any other portable electronic gadget eg. a laptop. The included USB 3.0 cable is 12-15" long (definitely portable, but admittedly on the short side) and of good quality with thick protective coating along the entire cable. The cable ports are USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0) on one end and a proprietary Seagate port on the side which plugs into the drive which might irritate some buyers. The only drawback of this proprietary port is that you will have to buy a replacement / extra cable from Seagate and not any electronics retailer so you lose some of the convenience aspect to replacement but given Seagate's reputation for reliability this should not be an issue for most folks.

SETUP / EASE OF USE / SOFTWARE (5/5): The Setup Instruction Guide includes 2 steps plug the included cable into the Seagate portable drive, and plug the other end into your computers USB port. It really is that simple as it should be hence my perfect score on 'Setup and Ease of Use'. Once you plug the drive into your computer (I used Win 7), Windows will automatically detect the drive and download the latest driver software to allow you to access it. This usually takes less than a minute and once this process has completed (you are notified via a popup window), you can access the drive by going to 'Start My Computer' which will list all the available drives including your new Seagate Portable Drive. The drive is now ready for use Two Step Simple Incredible! Once you access the drive itself you will see the pre-installed files for the Seagate Dashboard Backup Software Double click the Seagate Dashboard Installer icon to start installation of the backup software. I have traditionally preferred to not be tied to third party proprietary software and like to manage my backups manually so did not install it and cannot comment on that part of the product. If you do not want the software, do not double click on any icons but instead either delete the software files or create a new folder and dump all the pre-installed software files into that folder in case you change your mind on using the software later. The drive is otherwise ready for use and you can create folders / drag and drop your files as needed. One point of note a 1TB drive comes with only 930 Gigs of useable space out of the box the rest taken up by the Seagate Dashboard software / formatting etc. Losing 7% of your capacity from the get-go is kind of annoying but similar to pre-loads on a new PC.

PERFORMANCE / SPEED TESTS: (4.5/5): My PC is not USB 3.0 equipped so please note that my speed tests were based on USB 2.0 and therefore not indicative of the true performance capabilities of this product. Nevertheless, I was able to achieve transfer speeds PC to Portable Drive of 1.8 2.0 Gigs per minute while transferring ~150 Gigs of content in little over an hour. Additionally, the Seagate Portable drive has a white indicator light on one end that lights up when the drive is plugged in and flashes slowly while in use. The drive does runs slightly warm after an hour or so of continuous use (eg. during my initial transfer) but again this is something which is pretty common for most external drives and other portable electronics.

RELIABILITY (N/A): Will not be able to comment on product reliability until I have consistently tested / used the product for 6-18 months, but based on the consistency of previous user comments and Seagate's stellar reputation as a bellweather in the industry, I expect this drive to hold up well over time. I will of course be sure to loudly voice my displeasure if this is not the case :)

VALUE (4/5): This was one area where I felt Seagate could improve but $100 $110 for a 1TB drive is in-line with the market / competitors in 2012. There are cheaper options (eg. WDs Passport 1TB for $90) and more expensive options (HP or LaCie 1TB for $125 to $175 range) and Seagate's BackUp Plus runs right along the mid range between the two. One important point to consider plan to get the highest capacity drive you can afford / or want to spend on storage, as the higher capacity drives present the best value for example Seagate's 500GB drive is $90, 1 TB is $110 and 2 TB is $150. On a pure dollar / GB basis it is hard to ever recommend the 500 GB drive when for $20 more, you get double the storage capacity....and so on.

SUMMARY (PROS / CONS):

PROS:

Seagate Brand / Reputation for Reliability

Aesthetically Pleasing

Compact yet Sturdy Build

Super Easy Set-Up (2 step Process)

No forced use of Software / Bloatware

Runs Quiet and Good Performance (in line with competitor read/write ranges)

Future Proofed (USB 3.0 standard, Backwards USB 2.0 Compatible and Future Proofed with removable Adapter options)

Mac OS and Windows Compatible

Decent Price Point

CONS:

'Nothing Special' Backup Software (its free for a reason)

No Password Protection / Security Option

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, I compared a number of drives from different manufacturers before deciding on Seagates BackUp Plus including drives from WD (Passport series), LaCie, HP, Buffalo Technology, Silicon-Power Rugged etc. This drive does not include some notable and desirable features of some other competitor drives like Security / Password protection, Drop Resistance etc and everyone will need to weigh which features are indispensible / most important to them. But for me, Seagate's combination of stellar reputation in the industry for reliability, included features, overall ease of use, overwhelmingly positive user comments (or alternatively the glaring lack of mixed to negative feedback as some other products have), aesthetics and price point proved to be a winning combination. Very Highly Recommended A ++

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Memorex 700MB/80-Minute 52x CD-R Media 100-Pack Spindle

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $27.99
Sale Price: $24.53
Today's Bonus: 12% Off

Before I start, I would like to remind people that compatability problems still exist with CDRW burners. Some media brands will just work better on certain hardware/burners. On reviews like these, it's best to state your burner as well so readers will have an idea of what media matches best with what hardware/burner. I would also like to remind people that compatability problems exists between CDRs and late model CD players wether on a boombox or on your car's player.

Ok now onto my review... I have a LiteOn CDRW 40x burner (on my old PC), Teac DVD+/CDRW combo burner and an LG-Hitachi 48x CDRW burner. Memorex media works flawlessly on all these burners! Music CDs that I made plays perfectly on all my components 5-disc Sony caroussel from the early 90s, my DVD player from 2000 and the rest of my CD players in the house and not to mention my car's CD player. No problems at all.

The only problem I encountered was when I made VCDs using these disc. They "sometimes" wouldn't work on my Panasonic DVD/VCD player (year 2000). They would give me playback problems such as pixelation and audio skipping! But when using another brand, such as TDK or Fuji, I don't get these playback problems. The Memorex VCD would work on my dirt-cheat Apex though. Further, establishing the idea that media do have compatability problems.

Considering my hardware, the brands that gave me no problems at all were: TDK, Fuji and Maxell they just work flawlessly on whatever I throw at them. I would put the Memorex up there with the other brands but they seem to be only good when it comes to music and data but now much on video projects. But since most people use their CDRs for music and data anyway, these CDRs are still a great buy in my opinion! I currently have TDKs and Memorexs.

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Rokinon 800mm Multi-Coated Mirror Lens with 2x Teleconverter

Customer Ratings:

Let's get 1 thing clear. It's a piece of junk compared to Canon lenses. It's blurry at 800mm & extremely blurry at 1600mm. It's 18oz with teleconverter & EF adaptor.

The answer is no. The 2x teleconverter doesn't buy any more resolution. The fact that the 2x teleconverter has no front lens cap shows how valuable its manufacturer thinks it is.

What the 2x teleconverter buys U is sharper focusing. If your goal is focusing bright objects, use the 2x teleconverter & throw away 1/2 the frame to get better focus. It's much easier to focus this way.

It's probably no better than a 400mm L & it's probably no better than a 200mm L + 2x teleconverter for $200 in 2007. Unfortunately the Canon 2x teleconverter jumped 50% since then. It's definitely better than a 200mm L.

F/8 is a really narrow depth of field. F/8 & F/16 R not a problem when using a tripod & a modern digital camera. The Canon's focusing squares R useless. It's too blurry & dark. Unfortunately, F/16 brings out all your sensor dirt.

U need to fabricate a lens platform to mount it on a tripod. It's too heavy to hang off the camera body.

Focus guides on T mount lenses R worthless because they always go on the bottom, but it still has a focus guide.

It can make out the space station solar panels & fill 1/2 the frame with the moon. It can't see Jupiter's bands.

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VTech InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi Learning App Tablet

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $94.99
Today's Bonus: 5% Off

Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S THE SAME?

If you're already familiar with InnoTab 2 you're basically looking at the same tablet. The design stays the same, with all of the keys in the same place. The only addition is the WiFi key, which tells you if the tablet is connected to the internet, and how strong your connection is (a four bar display).

Included Apps are the same.

VTech still decided not to include the rope for the stylus. In the manual they call it a "Wrist Strap Fastener" (Note: not included). But it's clearly not a wrist strap fastener, because the stylus has a rope loop hole in it, and the tablet has a hole in it right beside the stylus. The website even states it has a "stylus with hole for string." My husband thinks VTech doesn't want the liability of a child wrapping their neck in the rope, and put the responsibility on the parent to get the strap themselves; it certainly seems that way.

HOW ARE INNOTAB 2 AND INNOTAB 2S DIFFERENT?

Some people like to creatively take the tablets out of the box for setup before handing to a child as a gift. InnoTab 2 is a bit of a challenge; just use sharp scissors to break the tape and foldout the box carefully. InnoTab 2S, I am happy to report, is the easiest of them all! The tablet just slides out the top in a plastic covering; no tape, or attachments cut into the box. You simply pop the tablet out of the molded plastic, and there you have it! I feel like someone at VTech heard parent's frustration and decided to fix this... thank you!

The big difference with InnoTab 2S is the new wireless capability, but don't imagine browser capability. The WiFi is simply used for downloading apps from VTech's website. Your child can make wish lists with the Wish List app on their tablet; my son is only 3, so he's not using that feature . . . yet. Downloading apps is easy, but you don't purchase them off the tablet itself (that's good new, otherwise imagine all the apps your child might "accidently" buy). You purchase them off your computer, tablet, or phone (I haven't used that feature yet).

The look of InnoTab 2S is basically the same, but I enjoy the bold black inlay over the previous grey and pink choices. I think this way it looks more like quality hardware and less of a toy (that's just my preference, my son doesn't care). Oddly, this one is considered blue because of the color of the back, not the front, which is white. Even the rubber sides are grey, unlike the pink one which actually has more pink on it. I think the "blue" is less gender specific because the back looks more dark purple; something to think about for parents who need to share this tablet between genders.

Finger swiping on the InnoTab 2, my son was having problems with the tablet thinking he was selecting an app, which would cause it to load. With InnoTab 2S the opposite has occurred; now the tablet wants to swipe to the next page and not open the app. At 3, my son prefers using his finger, but the InnoTab 2S works best with a stylus and opens apps perfectly that way. This is a bit of a downer, but workable.

OVERALL REVIEW?

It pains me, because I really want to like the InnoTab 2S, but it has one big flaw that hasn't been fixed it's *still* s-l-o-w. InnoTab 2S takes 43 seconds to reach the app home screen. The InnoTab 2 took 37 seconds; we shouldn't be regressing here (I should mention, the LeapPad2 takes 21 seconds!). It takes InnoTab 2S a solid 8 seconds to open an app. I said it before, and I'll say it again, there's a lot of "loading" (read: waiting) going on with the InnoTab 2S, and it makes a difference to me.

Another thing I had a bit of an issue with is videos. The InnoTab 2S comes with the same memory as the InnoTab 2 (2GB). You can add an SD card to expand up to 32GB; that's a big plus, but I've never needed it with my son. This time I wanted to upload videos for him to watch. So I put a 16MB SD Card, that came with an old camera we purchased, into the tablet. Putting the SD Card in was easy. The slot is in the battery compartment; you'll need to remove the batteries. This is a nice touch, in a way, because my son can't get to it and loose it. But can I just say that getting the SD Card out is a pain!!!! Horrible design. My son can probably get it out easier than I can. My husband? No chance. It doesn't have the push-eject feature, so you have to extract it out with small fingers, or tweezers! VTech if you're reading this, please fix this.

Afterwards I plugged in the InnoTab using the USB cord to my PC, and pulled up an LLL file on the card. In that file you transfer your converted video, photos, music (supports JPEG formatted photos, and MJPEG/H.264 videos (avi)). Sadly, there wasn't much I could put on a 16 MB disk. BUT, it was really easy to transfer everything and find them on the tablet. The video was of decent quality with playback options. Unfortunately, I'm not willing (read: lack the time) to convert movies for use on the InnoTab when I already have them converted for the iPad. But, if this is a feature you like and want to use, you'll enjoy it! Also, as an MP3 player the sound quality is decent, not a lot of distortion.

So which do I recommend?

Either. The WiFi is a nice touch, but not necessary. And there are no big changes between the two, except the InnoTab 2S appears slower, and the color change.

In case you don't want to go looking for the reviews on the VTech InnoTab 2 Learning App Tablet White, which is the same, here are some things you might find helpful:

Screen size (2 ½" x 4 ½"), or 5" if you're measuring diagonally.

Require 4 AA batteries (not included).

Uses a stylus (comes with two).

Has a cartridge port for additional games and uses purchased apps.

3-9 year age requirement.

Swivel camera.

Can buy additional accessories like screen guard, cases, rechargeable batteries, ac adapters, and headphones.

Personalize for up to 4 players, plus 1 guest.

Has an eReader, MP3 Players, art studio, calculator, calendar, notes, clock, and most of your basic themed books and games.

Has a mic and volume control.

Parent tracker that allows parents to track their child's progress and success playing a game.

Rubber corners to help protect it from a fall.

Battery compartment is easily accessible, just slide a switch and it opens the compartment. This is where the SD Card slot is found.

2GB of memory, but can add an additional 32GB of memory with SD Card (not included). I've found 2GB is more than enough for our needs.

Can be played right away (just add batteries, not included). Need to spend less than 5 minutes setting up the tablet date, time, and personalization.

InnoTab has a tilt sensor like an iPad or iPhone and will tilt the screen if held horizontal or vertical.

Has buttons for brightening or dimming the screen, but don't expect much, there's only four bars and it doesn't make a lot of difference.

Has a "?" button that allows you to hear instructions again, or find out more information about an app (nice touch!). The InnoTab itself tends to repeat things all the time (it's a bit annoying). The tablet doesn't ever sit quietly when turned on and not touched, it constantly wants to talk to you; you'll need to turn the volume off.

Comes with manual.

Internal "kickstand" for standing the tablet up vertically or horizontal.

Plays converted videos. Quality isn't like an iPad or iPhone, but little kids won't mind.

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Wii Hardware Bundle - Black

Customer Ratings:

My husband and I got a Wii for our birthday. We also have 3 kids, two of whom are old enough to play Wii games. Right out of the box, we found the Wii to be very intuitive. Set up was easy. He had it set up within a few minutes while I was putting the kids to bed (we wanted to try it out before letting the kids see it!) We immediately put in Wii Sports and found the game to be intuitive. We thought it was fun my husband liked the Boxing best and I liked the Tennis best. We have really enjoyed Sports Resort as well. I think the swordplay is the overall favorite for 2 players, but we have also enjoyed Archery, Skydiving, Table Tennis (well, that's me!), and Frisbee (my husband). In addition to the included games, we got a few others. My 5 year old LOVES the Princess and the Frog Wii game. We also really enjoyed Just Dance! My 4 year old still doesn't understand the controllers, but she was able to participate in Just Dance! without them. My 5 year old and I both held the controllers (we only have 2 right now). Mario Kart is probably our favorite game! It is fun for adults and kids alike (though it is too hard for my 4 year old).

The reason we chose a Wii was the fact that it is fun for the whole family. With the games we have played, there are things for people with a range of ages and skill levels. I love that my kids can play and not get frustrated. We really enjoyed playing Wii games with family and guests. Because the Wii is intuitive, people who have never played before can easily join in with games such as Sports, Sports Resort, Mario Kart, and Wii Ski. Swordplay on Wii Sports Resort is a huge hit for social gatherings. I'm not saying that the games are really easy only that it doesn't require hours of practice to have fun.

We aren't what I call serious gamers. My husband and I used to play a lot of computer games when we were younger and we had Nintendo systems as kids. But we haven't really played many video games as life got hectic. The Wii definitely has better graphics than what we had seen 7 or 8 years ago when we played video games more regularly. I think that the Wii really is the perfect system for a family.

For people interested in a Wii, you don't need to get too much extra other than what comes in the box since it comes with two games. However, it only comes with one controller get a Remote Plus (you don't need Motion Plus with the Remote Plus and either Motion Plus or Remote Plus are necessary for Wii Sports Resort). I definitely recommend getting one more Remote (at least) so you can play with others. You may also want an additional Nunchuck. Last, consider getting a charging station.

As for games, shop around. There's something for everyone. I found that a LOT of games are available for significantly less than $50. Only the newest games are that pricey (and nearly all video games cost around $50 or more when they first come out). You may want to check out some gently used games too or renting them from your local video store. Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort are fun games, but they aren't "classic" video games. The neat thing with Wii is that you can also revisit video games and characters that you enjoyed 20 years ago!

I wanted to point out that this packaging includes Remote Plus. If you are looking for this in a store, be sure that you buy the one with the Remote Plus. We actually initially bought a Wii at Best Buy but returned it before opening it once we realized that it came with the regular remote and the Motion plus instead of Remote Plus. Remote Plus is the newest Wii remote and does not require you to have a separate Motion Plus attachment.

OVERALL:

Wii is an entertaining game system for the entire family. The Motion games are very intuitive and easy to use for anyone over the age of 5.

The Wii White (and Black) hardware bundles come with the console, Remote Plus, Wii Sports, and Wii Sports Resort. The included games are NOT classic video games, but are lots of fun for a wide range of ages.

You likely will need at least one more controller. Get the Wii Remote Plus, as it has the Wii Motion Plus capability, but doesn't require you to buy both the Wii Remote AND Motion Plus attachment.

You may want to buy additional games. Try renting or check out some used ones for a lower price. There are lots of games for the entire family. You can find traditional video games for Wii as well as ones that take advantage of the Wii's motion sensing capability.

Get a charging station, as Wii remotes go through batteries pretty quickly. We got this one:

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Canon EOS Rebel T3 12.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with EF-S

Customer Ratings:

Pics from this camera are great. Presently I am using only automatic/basic mode since I am new to DSLR. The whole bundle worth for money. But the bag and tripod not a very good quality. Seems better than similar deals. Dealer is very responsive. I would strongly recommend this product/bundle to a friend.

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Complete Professional 8 Channel Real Time H.264 (2TB HD) DVR

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $2,350.00
Sale Price: $1,060.00
Today's Bonus: 55% Off

This system provides very good quality videos. It is not hi-definition but very good for standard definition. My only real complaint is that the seller does not send any instructions for installing the system and that it took a while to get in touch with their tech support people because they were so busy, but once I did talk to them, they were very helpful including setting me up with access to my system via the internet or smart phone. They did send me an onlink with some instructions I wish they would have provided instructions or a link when they shipped the system. However, their instructions are 12 links to 12 specific items and not a comprehensive instruction manual. That is the main thing GW Security needs to improve. I am very happy with the system. It was a bit of a pain to run all the wires from the DVR to the 8 separate cameras, but that's to be expected with a system like this. I like that this sytem comes with 500' of bulk siamese wire for two reasons: (1) this wire without end-connectors routes through mich smaller wall/ceiling holes than wires that comes pre-terminated, and (2) I can cut each wire to exactly the length I need and therefore there is no waste. I used 488' of the 500' wire so it worked out great. Lastly, I linke that the cameras I purchased are adjustable focal length (zoom) so I was able to set each one just like I wanted (most I left at full wide angle 2.8 mm which covers a lot of area more than a 90 degree view). Thanks!

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Canon EOS Rebel T3i 18MP - Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS II - Canon EF

Customer Ratings:

All of the items are brand new and in the box. The only complain have is the camera bag and the tripod. The tripod is junk and dangerous to use with any DSLR camera. The bag is small and not enough space for what is needed. All of the extras except the telephoto lens and the camera are all off brand items, but work just fine. I recommend this setup as you get all you need. Just buy a good tripod and a good camera bag for your nice new shiny camera. Good luck

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Samsung Galaxy Camera Ek-gc100 8gb Black, Android Os, V4.1

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $699.00
Sale Price: $352.61
Today's Bonus: 50% Off

I took a bit of a chance buying this unlocked device. I didn't know for sure if it would work on the AT&T network and I can confirm that it does. One of the first things I did was remove the SIM card from my phone and place it into the camera. The camera booted right up and connected to the cellular network. I was able to send, receive texts and well as upload images to DropBox. That said, I will probably be using my wireless hotspot with this camera the majority of the time, but for those wondering whether it will connect to the AT&T network, I can confirm that it indeed will.

The stock rom is version 4.1.1 of Jellybean. This version will not support the remote viewfinder which is a great feature. It allows you to use your phone as the viewfinder, zoom in and out and actually snap the picture. You then have the option of saving the image to the camera only, the phone only or both devices. I sought out the upgrade file for 4.1.2 which is the version of Jellybean that supports this feature. First I checked for updates from "Settings"... nope, latest version is installed. Next, I downloaded Samsung Kies, plugged in the camera and there was no update available. Finally, I sought out the update file and found it on Hotfiles here

http://hotfile.com/dl/210290153/91452aa/GC100ZSBMC1_GC100OZSBMBC1_TGY.zip.html

Be patient, it is a huge file and the bandwidth is throttled unless you are a premium member. The upgrade file is flashed to the camera via Odin. For those who would like to undertake this upgrade on their own, here is a link to a page that gives step by step instructions on how it's all done.

http://www.ugrades.com/2013/05/update-samsung-galaxy-camera-gc110-to.html#chitika_close_button

I followed the steps and successfully flashed my phone to the latest 4.1.2 update. I can confirm that the remote viewfinder does indeed work using the 4.1.2 update and a Galaxy 3s phone. It's so cool it just tickles me to death.

For anyone on the fence, I would say go for it. This is a great camera, unlocked and ready to go. I have had loads of fun with it just in the past few days I've owned it. If you have any questions about upgrading the phone, please feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to help out.

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Samsung UN55ES8000 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D Slim LED HDTV (Silver)

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $3,419.99
Sale Price: $1,875.99
Today's Bonus: 45% Off

I just received my TV, set it up and tested it out. First of all, installation was a breeze, camera and mic work beautifully as do the motion controls.

More importantly, the image is perfect. I don't know what these other reviewers are going on about but screen uniformity is phenomenal and on par with any of the other LED LCD tvs I've seen. Blacks are deep and inky and with the backlighting on the factory default, I saw no evidence of flashlighting or light creep.

3D works like a charm. Set the PS3 to recognize the new screen and the new 3D glasses pair with the TV quickly and easily and don't mind at all if I look away from the screen. Tested out Transformers 3D (don't laugh, I have 6 year old son and he loves them) and the image was crisp, detailed with very little artifacting or crosstalk. I fired up wipeout HD 3D and that performed beautifully as well.

For me, it was between this TV and the new Panasonic line up. While I agree that the plasmas handle blacks better than LCD screens, I prefered the image crispness of an LED LCD panel. I am not disappointed and more than happy with the es8000.

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SanDisk Extreme Pro 32 GB SDHC - UHS Class 1 Flash Memory Card

Customer Ratings:

The SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-1 is the fastest SDHC currently on the market. That being said, I must point out that this card uses the UHS-1 standard which most cameras in existence currently do not support. I have the Nikon D7000 and as far as I can tell, it is the only camera that supports this card. Currently you can pick these cards up for about 75 dollars for the 16gb and 150-170 for the 32 gb. However, I suspect that as more cameras are released that support this card, you will see the price go up.

This card writes and reads at a minimum of 45 mb/second. This is 15 mb/s than the former fastest SDHC card on the market, the SanDisk Extreme Class 10.

Even if you do not currently have a camera that supports UHS-1 this card will still work and is backwards compatible with SDHC and SHXC devices. However, the card will revert back to standard Class 10 speeds approximately.

I could go on and on about the quality of SanDisk but I won't. Simply put, they make some of the best memory for cameras out there.

This is a great card, but it is not for everyone. I prefer it because I only shoot RAW (NEF for Nikon) and the files are typically between 25mb 30mb. The Nikon D7000 16.2MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) has a buffer of 10 RAW photos. When I get to the end of the buffer, this card starts with the magic. Where my Transcend Class 10 card would only allow me to shoot 2 shots per three seconds once I reached the buffer, the Extreme Pro allows me to shoot 2 shots per second when I run over the buffer. It also replenishes the buffer in about 4 seconds versus the 15-20 seconds the standard Class 10 cards would take.

So, this card may or may not be for you. If you shoot event photography, sports photography, or weddings, then I would suggest you buy a couple or more of these. If you are a casual shooter who never fires off a large burst of photos, I would save your money and buy a less expensive card like the Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E that is one third the cost.

In the video I compare three cards, the Dane-Elec 8 GB Class 4 SDHC Flash Memory Card DA-SD-8192-R, the Transcend 16 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC10E, and the SanDisk Flash 16 GB SDHC Flash Memory Card SDSDXP1-016G (Black). I start by shooting straight RAW photos until the camera's buffer is exhausted and then see how quickly the card can write to clear the buffer. I then shoot the cards again in Fine JPG mode. I do this to show that the three cards will all suffice if you are just shooting JPGs. I wanted to show this so that it would help others in deciding if this was worth spending three times as much as other Class 10 cards. Since the 8gb and 32 gb Extreme Pro are built to the same standard and architecture, the write/read performance should be the same and the capacity should be the only difference. As this is a SanDisk branded SDHC card, this is a rather safe assumption.

Overall, I would buy this card again.

-Cheers!

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