Assassins Creed

Visit Store Now !!

Ok I've been reading up on all the five star reviews on this game and I'm sorry, It's just not as innovative and mesmerizing as most people are saying and certainly not as good as us gamers had hoped for. (there's alot to cover so sorry for the length of the review)



Let me start out by saying this is a good game. When I started playing as Alteir the assasin, I thought it was the most amazing thing ever just because the scale of the amazingly designed cities and towns. Just walking around and looking at the scenery and people is fun but unfortunately, after eight hours of gameplay, (which is where I am at) it truly fails to stay fresh, you start noticing alot of the games problems and glitches and at this point, I'm almost forcing myself to continue on.



After the game starts, you see the scale and technological advances this game carries, you walk around and anxiously wait to run the streets freely and start killing people. When I first rode into Damascus on a white horse by means of a beautiful mountain pass that I had to go through, i thought this had to be the greatest game ever. It looks so great and going to locations such as Jerusalem and Damascus is just awesome.



But unfortunately, the scenery just isn't enough. To start, one thing that really makes this game get old fast is that everytime you go to a city, you do the same routine over and over and over again: You sneak into a city, you find some really high towers or "view points" which fill up your map and shows you the places to go. You go to the assasin's headquarters (there's one in every city) and they give you tedious little quests you must do before you can assasinate a target.



Your regular routine of tedious objectives consists of pitpocketing guys for information, interrogation, which consists of finding your target, following him until he reaches a secluded spot, then punching him until he gives you what you want. You can also meet informants who give you little chores (such as killing guys and doing the same crap you already have to do for the assasin's headquarters) and in exchange for your hard work, they give you information so as you can see, everything you do is for information on your next target. These little quests get EXTREMELY old after hours and hours of gameplay. They really arent challenging, they don't change or get harder and are only really fun the first five times you do them. You do the same crap over and over and over again in every city. (and not to knock on the the awesome looking cities or aything but truth is, apart from some bigger buildings and smaller buildings, the cities don't look THAT much different.)



When walking the cities and doing your quests, of course you are challeneged by the city guards who are constantly on the lookout for you. You have some pretty cool weapons to take care of them, such as thowing knives, a sword ( the swordfighting looks really cool), and a cool sharp spike which you can pull out or retract from just under Alteir's left hand. This weapon is used for stealth kills. Of course you also have moves and counterattacks you get as you progress.



In the upper left hand corner of the screen, you have your health bar and little meter that changes color depending on the guards: White for the guards are "unaware", Yellow for "Suspicious" and Red for "alerted".... The meter is almost always yellow which means you are supposed to hold the X button and walk EXTREMELY slow until the meeter changes to white. When you actually do that, (which takes forever) all it takes is ten seconds and the meter goes back to yellow... So naturally you're always on yellow but the enemy AI is not the best. You can silently kill a guy with your spike right in front of a guard and although it is a "silent kill", the guy will scream and fall to the ground and the guards will walk right past... but if you're just walking on the street, they might get alerted for no evident reason.



Another low point, which is kind of funny to watch is the guards amazing ability to keep up with you which is really ridiculous. To get away, you can climb up walls, get to the top of tall buildings and very unrealistically jump across rooftops... and the guards will keep up with you... You are a trained assasin but regular guys in heavy armor will climb up walls and pursue you across the largest of rooftop jumps... Just as ridiculous, you can run from one side of the city to the other, the meter will stay red and you can try to blend in but the guards on the other side of the city somehow just know you are the guy being chased 1-2miles away on the other side of the city and they will attack you... Did they have radios during the crusades so people on the other side of the city could warn others of you presence? As for hiding from the guards, this I felt was another low point. The cities are huge but you really have only three spots to hide: hay stacks, little square garden houses on rooftops and if you are being chased, you can just sit down on a bench and the guards will run right past you and you will be safe... There are trees everywhere but you cant climb or hide in them. There are barrels, crates, doors and shops you think you would be able to jump into but no... you have to sit on the bench... There are no disguises or such froms of deception that you can use. The idea of vast and creative options is just absent.



Now for the actual assasinations. (sorry. i know this review is long) The assasinations, while still fail to remain something mouth-dropping and new do have a bit of newness to them. You have to assasinate nine specific guys in the game and each pose a different challenge. Now don't misunderstand, you are still doing the same crap to kill the nine guys as you would be doing to kill anyone else but without spoiling anything, you will find each main assasination a bit different from the last, followed by a cinemeatic while the target dies. After each assasination, you return to the boss and he gives you the next target.



Believe it or not, although this is a very mission based game, (you just get one mission after the next) it does have a bit of story in the mix. The main character can think for himself (but unfortunately has some of the worst voice acting i have ever heard) and there are other characters but there aren't really any other "real" characters. Sure there are guys that you speak to for a mission but there aren't any real new characters that pop up and the game just doesn't really have alot of character such as a game like Metal Gear beacuse the game just remains the same. But, without spoiling anything, there is a major story twist... which you actually discover at the beginning of the game... which is kinda weird but you can determine for yourself whether it's a good twist or a bad twist.



Finally, i have to include some of the horrible glitches i have come across. Are these glitches a cause of the ps3 or the game? I can't really say for sure but I'm pretty sure its the game for my ps3 has worked great with every other game. Whenever you pass a crowd of people on the streets, every once in a while, if you turn the camera around quickly to look back, the people will have ALL dissapeared randomely, then if you look back again, they will be back in place... This has happened to me the other way around as well. Ontop of that, while i'm ruinning around, my character has just frozen in midair. Now the game itself didn't freeze, just my character. It looked like something in the matrix. My character was in midair while everything else was moving and i had to restart my ps3. Weird.



In conclusion (finally, i know this is a long one) Assasin's creed is a good game and I am still enjoying it but this was supposed to be one of the greatest games of this generation and it could have been but the only thing that really makes this a cool game now, i beleive will be a common thing in all next gen gaming titles and in a year, this game won't be remembered as anything. Now the question is: should i trade in Assasin's Creed for Uncharted which comes out next week?? Assassin's Creed'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Assassins Creed Assassins Creed Assassins Creed

Play Wooden Kitchen - retro, play wooden kitchen

Visit Store Now !!

Pros:

1. It looks much like Pottery Barn's play set for a fraction of the cost.



2. Walmart is cheaper then Target. We had liked one at Target, but Target's is smaller in width than this one. Also if buying online Target doesn't have free shipping to store. Shipping alone would of been almost 50 bucks.



3. Makes noises but not loudly. This play kitchen has

3 knobs in the front that make clicking noises.



4. Nice compartments sizes. The door under the sink opens to a large space without a shelf which is a plus because wood play appliances could be stored in there or a large basket of play food.



5. It's made of wood and not plastic. All the wood is sturdy, solid and it was easy for my husband to put together.



6. HUGE hit with our 2 year old daughter and all her play date friends.



Cons:

1. Weird holes. I didn't like was there is holes the size of quarters drilled in on the back side and floor in the area below the sink in inside the compartment area. The same size holes are drilled in the very bottom area under the oven and yet again in the back areas of the refrigerator. Not really sure what the holes are for wish they were not there. But I probably still would of bought this play kitchen set because it is the best out there for the price and being real wood.



2. Plastic handles and knobs. At least their heavy duty would be extremely hard to break. I personally like metal hardware better. But its not a deal breaker.



Specific Dimensions:



Outside the sink stove part:

about 25.5 inches wide and 20.25 inches high. The back slash with the clock at it's highest point is 26.5 inches high.



The inside areas of the sink stove part:

Within the oven it's slightly over 9.5 inches high and slightly under 13 inches wide. The lower shelf is slightly over 3 inches high the top is right at 6.5 inches. The shelf area below the oven is right at 6 inches high and slightly under 13 inches wide. The are under the sink is 16 inches high and slightly over 11 inches wide.



Outside the refrigerator:

Is 29 inches high and 31 inches high on the highest point of the door.



Inside the refrigerator:

Inside the top door of the refrigerator it's a little over 15.5 high and the space is split evenly with a shelf making two compartments. The bottom door is 11 inches high.



The dept on the inside areas in all the doors of all pieces is exactly 11 inches in depth. The dept on the outside of all pieces is 12 inches.



If you want to see 2 pictures I posted the same review on Walmart's site with pictures of all compartments open.



Hope this helped happy shopping! :) Kidkraft Retro Kitchen and Refrigerator in Pink

We surprised our twin 20 month old daughters with this pink retro kitchen set for Christmas. We stocked it with pots and pans, dinnerware, felt food and the Kid Kraft coffee maker and mixing bowl set. It was a hit! I too was drooling over the Pottery Barn retro pink set--agh, but the cost! So we settled with this one. With twins you need more working space--and more storage. So I ended up buying the white pie cabinet from PB anyway to go with this kitchen set. It works like an accent piece. The quality of PB is much better--it's more solid and durable than Kid Kraft and you do not see the screw holes. PB uses solid wood--Kid Kraft is MDF board. The Kid Kraft set has only been mildly used since Dec 25 and I've already had to contact Customer Service for replacement knobs (clickers inside the knobs broke)and we've had to tighten the hinges several times as they continue to come loose. The CS dept is good and I'm awaiting replacements as I write this.

Bottom line: You get what you pay for.



A YEAR LATER: Well, we've had the set nearly a year now and it has brought the girls endless hours of fun and learning. It's held up beautifully except for those darn clickers in the stove knobs--the only sound feature. Not really a big deal in the end. Customer Service rocked, but call early on if something gives out. The Melissa and Doug cutting food set fits great in the open space under the oven

We liked the Pottery Barn Kids Retro kitchen but it was very expensive. This kitchen is very similar in look (a little smaller) and it extremely sturdy. It was easy to assemble (less than an hour). My 2-year old daughter loves it and it is high-quality and attractive enough to have 'out' in your house ... we use it as a cute piece of furniture for her bedroom. I would definitely recommend it! (A couple of the pieces arrived damaged, but there is a website where I picked the pieces from the part list, entered my address and received replacements for free in about 3 days.)

I have two girls, 2 and 4 years old. We got this for them last Christmas. We LOVE Pottery Barn Kids merchandise and were debating between their sets and this one. After reading reviews and more product info, this was the clear choice. Much cheaper and frankly now that I have it, better built. My two-year old tends to climb. She has climbed on this and bounced up and down and the kitchen is like a rock. Very sturdy! KidKraft always come through for us.

I was really torn between the KidKraft Retro kitchen and several kitchen sets from Pottery Barn. Nevermind the opinion of my kids (age 3 and 2), the most important thing to me was to get something that would look good in our house. Ultimately I settled on KidKraft because of the price, but I was expecting ugly particle board and cheap construction. I just finished putting it together, and WOW! I'm really blown away by the quality! Very heavy duty. The paint job is really beautiful, and they even painted the screw heads that show, a detail my husband will appreciate. Assembly took me two hours, but I'm definitely not gifted in that area. Instructions were easy to follow, although I would have appreciated a little more detail on a few points.



For the Moms who are into interior decorating and like a nice looking house, you won't be disappointed with this PB alternative! - Retro - Pink Kitchen - Play Wooden Kitchen - Kidkraft'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Play Wooden Kitchen - retro, play wooden kitchen retro Play Wooden Kitchen - retro, play wooden kitchen

Kindle

Visit Store Now !!

The books are great, I've been reading this non-stop since I received it. However, there are several typos, which is the reason for the 3 stars. The typos are easy to ignore and do not really change the meaning of the sentences at all, they are just annoying to me. The Sherlock Holmes Collection (with active table of contents)

These are incredible detective stories because they are not just about wacked out crimes, but Holmes' personality is revealed as he unravels the crimes. By far the best and most intense Holmes stories I have ever read.

He is a keen observer of things, people, and movements.

He can see whether you were a soldier or a navy.

He has a keen eye, especially for science. His senses are

sharp as a razor. He is physically fit. This book is one among the greatest books, I have read, written by Arthur Conan Doyle, about his fictional detective. It is a must for all detective fans. Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew are no match for Sherlock Hlmes'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Kindle Kindle Kindle

Chain Saw Sharpener

Visit Store Now !!

Don't let these reviews sway you, pick one up right away you won't regret it. The directions are the worst, but if you can figure it out, you will be happy you did. I tried the 5/32" file and that was a lot of work and because I have pins in my arms could not put enough strength into filing the chain so it only lasted cutting 4-5 tree branches before it went dull. Picked this baby up at local Lowe's and couldn't be more happy. Sharpening now is quick and easy and not a pain in the behind it was with manual filing. Excellent product, especially for a homeowner who only needs his chain saw once a year. Oregon 30846 12-Volt Sure Sharp Chain Saw Sharpener

I have used this for a couple years.



It isn't very durable. Shortly after I began using it had to put a nylon strap around it to hold it together.



Also the knob that you tighten to hold the sharpening "sticks" is not easy to work with and doesn't hold very good unless you use a pliers to tighten it in place. This is a problem since the knob is hard to get at with your fingers and/or pliers.



Save some money by just using your electric drill to sharpen it or get a higher end product. You just need to match the angle of the sharpening with the angle of the chainsaw teeth.

I like the product and once I figured out how to use it I was happy. I think it should come with better instructions as I had to figure it out by looking at a couple of pictures and I am still not sure if I am using it right, but I am able to cut what I need.

I have used a manual Oregon sharpener for 28 years and thought this one would be easier and faster.But it's really like sharpening free hand, with no depth stop of any kind only degree marks to go by. I'll buy another manual. I own a sawmill and cut a lot of timber not some weekend warrior.'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Chain Saw Sharpener Chain Saw Sharpener Chain Saw Sharpener

Bicycle Odometer - bicycle odometer, cycling

Visit Store Now !!

The only problem I had was resetting the Trip Meter (DST) because the instruction maunual is incorrect.



Press and hold only the left side of the button for 3 seconds to reset DST to zero. TM (Trip Time) and AVS (Average Speed) will also be reset. Bell F12 Bike Computer

This is the second one I've had in 5 years which I think is a good thing. It's accurate and very helpful but a little complicated to use at first. Take time to read the instructions. You do have to set it to the size of tire on your bicycle to get accurate mileage readings, but there is a chart in the instructions to help you with that. It's great!

This unit is extremely easy to install (It took about 5 mins and attaches with electrical ties), and easy to set up. The instructions are intuitive and easy to follow. The numbers seem accurate enough for my purposes; the machine gives mileage to the thousandth of a mile.



HOWEVER, it is not durable at all. While I was trying to slip the computer into the holster on the bike, it slipped from my hand and fell onto grass, and now it will not turn on. Luckily, at this price, I got my money's worth while it worked.

I basically liked my bike computer, but it was driving me crazy that I could not reset the trip timer (TM) without resetting everything (wheel size, clock, etc). I am using the computer to train my dogs to gradually increase their exercise time, running along my bike, and I need to reset it for each dog. I am so glad I checked out the reviews and found that there was an error in the manual. Now I can reset the trip time easily! Thanks C. Wilson! Now I really like my bike computer!

[3rd season update: Again I left it outside all winter. It again turned on immediately, steamed up again for a couple of days, and is now working perfectly again. I got my ten bucks-worth two years ago, and this thing still takes care of all my needs.]



[Second season update: After being left outside all winter under a tarp, it turned on as soon as the magnet flew past the sensor. Water had obviously got into it however, because for the first couple of days it steamed up to where it was hard to read the display. But after a few days or riding in the sun, the steam vented off and it worked excellently as before. Moral #1: take it indoors for the winter. Moral #2: Don't sneer at a ten-dollar bike computer.]



I had planned to get a fancier bike computer, but after some bad experiences with "Amazon vendors" (Mr. Bezos: don't they cheapen your brand? They are often unreliable), and the new and frequent Amazon annoyance of "This item cannot be shipped to your default address", I chose this one, which at least could be ordered from Amazon proper.



I'm glad I did. For a tiny amount of money, this biking geek now gets constantly showered with lots of good, reliable data. Installation was a breeze, with the single exception that the sensor has to be placed perilously close to the wheel magnet. The wire is ugly, with zip-ties running up my fork and stem, but it also delivers 100% reliable wheel-turn-counts to the computer.



The instructions are mediocre, but you'll get past them, and using it is utterly brainless, with the single exception of remembering to zero out your current ride before you start. It turns on automatically as soon as the magnet flies past the sensor; it turns off after a few minutes of inactivity. Zeroing out the current ride also zeros out everything else except total odometer and maximum speed (currently 31.7 mph, which was scary, given that I was on a rough rail-bed trail).



My main problem with it is that I cannot read the smaller numbers on the display without putting my glasses on - small gripe. I have ridden in heavy rain, which didn't seem to bother it at all.



One possible nice touch (I don't have experience with other bike computers, so I can't tell if this is common): when setting the wheel circumference (so that the computer knows how far it is moving at each wheel-turn), you have the ability to actually measure your wheel and tyre circumference (I used a piece of string) and input the actual amount, not just some generic 26" wheel circumference.



Total weight is probably about 4 oz. Wireless would look nicer, but would be slightly less reliable. To make me upgrade from this one, I'd have to splash all the way for GPS with altimeter, heart-rate and cadence monitor, and accurate calorie count (think the Garmin Edge 305). For now, I have other things to spend my money on.



One final thought about bike computers in general: I have a standard, fourteen-mile rail-bed trail near my house that I ride every day if possible. I have now taken to competing with myself, which increases my enjoyment substantially.

As a newbie to competitive cycling (and a poor grad student) this cool, cheap computer gets the job done. Took it on a triathlon and measured the distance. It was dead on accurate! Instructions are clear, pretty easy to install (and I'm not very techy inclined). Just be sure to look at one of the previous reviews above for the instruction correction since there's one error in the instructions on how to reset the trip distance (hold the left hand button down until it clears, instead of holding both buttons down).



Highly recommend it if you're looking for a simple computer to tell you trip distance, real-time speed, average trip speed, fastest speed, and total distance (odometer).

I can't complain. It works just fine. Just keep in mind the error in the instruction manual. To reset the trip odometer (DST function) only hold the left button down for 3 seconds. If Bell eventually makes the correction in their manual, there shouldn't be any complaints concerning this item. The item is small yet easily readable. The scan option is great while you're riding so you don't have to press buttons to view various functions. For around $12.00 what's there to complain about? - Low Cost - Bike Speedometer - Cycling - Bicycle Odometer'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Bicycle Odometer - bicycle odometer, cycling bike speedometer Bicycle Odometer - bicycle odometer, cycling

Ridgid Jointer Knives - ridgid jointer blades, freud

Visit Store Now !!

The review is based on the Amazon's service rather than the knives themselves. The knives a the typical high quality from Freud, but I had to wait nearly three months for delivery. I got one message after another from Amazon about the delay with new expected delivery dates, but as the date approached I received another delay notice. Freud C310 4-Inch x 5/8-Inch x 1/8-Inch Jointer Knives - 3-Piece Set

Well I think the item was not available at the time when the reivews were written.though I felt bad about them,(fellow Buyers).My order did went as it should be.It Arrived in 4 Days and the blade is awesome.Can't beat the price too.Now its time for it to make sawdust.

Ordered on May 5, 2003. It's now June 4, 2003. Only information available is "not shipped yet". If the item in fact is not available, let the buyer know so that the buyer has the opportunit to contact other suppliers. - Jointers - Knife-setting Jigs - Freud - Ridgid Jointer Blades'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Ridgid Jointer Knives - ridgid jointer blades, freud jointers Ridgid Jointer Knives - ridgid jointer blades, freud

Closet Space Saver - closet, cascader hangers

Visit Store Now !!

I first bought these else where and like other I woke up the next morning with my clothes in a heap on the floor. Seeing their potential as well as not wanting to shell out $15+ for 2 of the steel ones I decided to do a quick and easy modification that took less than 10 mins.



I simply drilled a small hole at the top, right through the loop, and inserted a small zip-tie.



They now hold everything I put on them with ease, 5 sets of jeans easily.



edit: 4 months in and still going strong!

edit2: 7 months and still working great.



Added a picture of what I did. As Seen On TV Magic Hangers, Set of 10

I was hoping for them to create a bit more room, but they are worth it.



I used 10 of them & it created about 6 inches of room, which is very helpful because before it was jam packed.



UPDATE:

After 6 months they bent & fell off the rod. It turns out that they are so cheaply made that they eventually bend out of shape from the weight of sweatshirt weight pullover shirts.



So be warned!

I wasnt expecting much when buying these- I read the reviews before purchasing.

I should have just saved my money!!

There is a large closet in our bedroom that we have split into a his/her closet.

I thought that since both sides were jammed full of clothes and barely room for new clothes to be added that I would buy this and the space would increase--

Well for me, it really didnt save the space- and I tried hanging a pair of jeans and 4 t-shirts on one and it broke-- I tried 2 sweaters and 3 t-shirts- it broke- the sweaters were not heavy either.

For the few that are still useable-- they are still in the closet- but its kind of a pain to find the clothes on the hangers and like I mentioned its really not saving any space.

Not much to say, this product is very good. It has cleared up a lot of space in my closet so now I can actually fit all my clothes. I also have another type of space saving hanger and it's a little bit hard to get the clothes out but with the Magic Hangers i can pull my hangers out of the holes easily. And it looks like they're strong because they haven't broken with me yet :)

This hangers are trash, I really liked the idea and I got 10 boxes of this hangers, I wanted to organized the shirts, bloused and T shirts. Initially (first day) I thought they work great. But the hangers are the worst quality. They are not able to hold even 5 spaghetti straps!!! On the second day I found my all the hangers in the floor of the closet, a complete mess

All my light clothes fell to the floor the next day after using these. Complete waste of money! Wish I never bought these. They might be good for belts and light purses but it couldn't handle my t-shirts.

I bought this because I live in a very old, very small house (circa 1920) with only one very small closet. As soon as I started putting clothes on hangers and putting them on this "Magic Hanger" the hooks on the ends, which are supposed to keep the clothes suspended horizontally while you hang your clothes on it, then you drop one of the hooks off the rod, and your clothes hang vertically, started coming off. That resulted in my opening my closet and finding my clothes in piles on the floor, with one hook still on the closet rod. Nothing heavy, either: blouses, slacks, dresses. Poorly made - the hooks on the ends are made to clamp onto the hole on each end, but not to go clear through the hole or to lock in place. So they keep slipping out and down go my clothes. I haven't been able to figure out how to fix this problem - complete waste of money! If I could rate is less than one star I would.

The biggest problem with these is that they are simply not strong enough. They barely hold 5 light shirts. Don't even bother trying to hang jackets. The top hook detaches way too easily, even after being lightly brushed. Great concept, poor design. - Cascader Hangers - Wonder Hanger - Closet - Space Saver'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Closet Space Saver - closet, cascader hangers space saver Closet Space Saver - closet, cascader hangers

Shoot Digital Cameras - point and shoot, lumix

Visit Store Now !!

We use this triple hole punch at my office and there have been no complaints to date. The design works well and I have not experienced any occasions where it has failed to punch through the pages inserted. Punches through heavier stock nicely as well. Swingline LightTouch High Capacity Desktop Punch, Adjustable Holes, 20 Sheet Capacity, A7074030

Having used several manual punches over the years made me curious about the Light Touch claim. I tried a staplier claiming light touch and was very pleased with the result and the same applies to this product. The holes are clean and the claim for 20 sheet capacity is accurate. I have used heavy duty punches but they require much force. One could almost do as much punching with one hand. Cost is a consideration but if you are doing any project that requires punching, this is the machine for you. I would direct the person doing periodic punching towards this and leave the electric machines to those big projects. The dies are positionable so multiple punch variations can be had but this is basically a three hole punch.

Bought it for college... So much better than the one it's replacing. The lockdown function makes it much easier to store, and it doesn't take much force to punch through even close to twenty sheets at a time. I also like that it catches and stores the punch-outs.



The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that if you have a packet that's stapled together with more than twenty sheets (say, 50 to 100) - which several of my teachers have liked to give out, the staple has to be removed first. This wouldn't be a problem, except that it's a little challenging to then find a stapler that'll go through that many sheets when it comes time to re-staple the packet. This could be solved with a cutout on one side of the three hole punch. That would also enable three hole punching a paper that's longer than 11 inches (not that there's much demand for that, I just thought it'd clarify what is otherwise a pretty vague sentence). Despite the minor design flaw though, it's a good product and I'd recommend it.

As a freshman in college, I only use my hole punch occasionally. It works very well, and I like that the lever locks down so it takes up less vertical space on my hutch. I also chose it because of the warranty, so even though it cost a few extra bucks, I know I don't need to worry about it breaking for a few years.



I've had it for about a month, and so far it's worked exactly as I have expected. - Lumix - Point And Shoot - Pocket Camera - Panasonic'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Shoot Digital Cameras - point and shoot, lumix point and shoot Shoot Digital Cameras - point and shoot, lumix

Power Strip Extension Cord - extension cords, mini extension cord

Visit Store Now !!

It's a great product for outlets behind desks, bookshelves, etc. or if you just need a few feet of extension. It's sturdy and feels well made. Whatever you plug into the Liberator will stay - it has a nice grip. Ziotek ZT1212590 Power Strip Liberator Flat 18-Inch, 5-Pack

Excellent, fantastic, very durable and heavy gauge. If you want to get your furniture up against the wall or move a power cord to eliminate a sharp bend this is it.



All of the Liberator branded items are the best and I recommend highly.



One reviewer is right these are a little bigger and not for cramped power strips. For those get preferably the "plus" which is compact and cylindrical with a pass thru on top so you can hook up a wart AND still use the outlet.



If your strip is REALLY tight get either the original or they make the original that has two tails coming out.



If your strip won't accomodate the plus or the original... why do you still have it? Anything that tight is probably a waste of money and so cheap it is a short waiting to happen. Just my 2 cents worth.

Use:

These cords are great for use on wall power outlet that you want something to push against it. I used these for my TV mount and pushing my coffee maker flush against the wall. I would not suggest these extension cords for power strips, they take up too much space (try Ziotek ZT1212542 Power Strip Liberator 14-Inch Extension, 5-Pack)



Quality:

The cord is 16 AWG, which is thick, and it is sturdy. The cord is rated at 13A, 125V, 1625W. It is also designed so that you can use two of these cords in one outlet and the plug only sticks out 1/2 an inch (See the picture I added)



Overall, I am very pleased with this product and it is a great value (5 for $17 vs 1 for $10 Cables To Go - 29804 - Flat Plug Power Strip Plus)

I bought this product so that I could plug more items with bulky adaptors/transformers into a strip of sockets. This product does not help much. The plugs are too big to fit next to each other in a standard multi socket strip (I tried three different ones).

Kill-a-Watt Caution. I checked with the shipper and this cord has a lower power rating than the Kill-a-Watt you may be using it with. To avoid over-heating this cord be sure not to use with refrigerator, washer, dryer, air conditioner or other large power using appliance. Kill-a-Watt is rated 15 amps (1875 VA) and this cord is smaller, about 1/2 the amount of the Kill-a-Watt. We want you to be safe and avoid the classic "extension cord fire" from over-heating a cord.

I have an outlet behind my bed that is controlled by a light switch. I wanted to use a lamp, but my headboard was crushing the cord. I have a Belkin surge with this type of plug behind my entertainment center and love it. I use these behind my bed and it solved the plug problem. They work great, and if you need a little extension, they double for that. They are great if you have a large adapter that you don;t want taking up too much space on an outlet. Highly recommended.

I bought this because my TV's wall mount has a rod floating an inch in front of the power outlet, and a traditional extension cord would not fit. This one does with room to spare. Without it, my hidden cable plan would have gone for naught.



There is some confusion in these reviews about the rated capacity of these cables. The cord has a sticker that claims 13 Amps capacity at 120 Volts. I had another extension cord rated at 10 Amps, which was getting hot powering a space heater. I replaced it with one of these and it does not get hot, so I believe the sticker is accurate.



If you have a standard two plug power outlet you should have no trouble using two of these per outlet.



In general, a good product and a good value. - Mini Extension Cord - Extension Cords - Organization - Flat-plug'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Power Strip Extension Cord - extension cords, mini extension cord organization Power Strip Extension Cord - extension cords, mini extension cord

Portable Media Player

Visit Store Now !!

Having had a chance to spend a little time with a review model gives me a chance to share the experience with you a bit early (before my own arrives). I'll take you hands-on with the new model, plus I'll share from my past two years of iPod touch ownership altogether, especially for those who haven't yet owned (or been owned by) one of these mobile gems.



I've also hidden a treasure trove of info on how you can legitimately download tons of quality apps for free. First though, let's quickly cover what's new.



+ Faster 1GHz A4 Processor - to keep up with the high demands of multitasking

+ Ultra high resolution "Retina display" - packs a 960 x 640 resolution at 326 pixels per inch

+ 15% larger battery - 3.44 Whr/930 mAh plays 7 hrs of video & 40 hrs of audio

+ Rear-facing camera - supports 960 x 720 sized photos (0.6 megapixels), plus 720p HD videos

+ Front-facing VGA-quality camera - VGA-quality is a resolution of 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels)

+ 3-Axis Gyroscope - allows for higher precision and more motion gestures

+ Wireless N - Connect faster and go farther than ever, with this WiFi device (requires a router with 802.11n)

+ Built in microphone - but Apple reverted back to using the remote- and mic-less earphones

+ Game Center - Apple's own social gaming platform

+ Sleep/Power Button - it's been moved to the right, but not improved beyond that

+ Thinner, lighter than ever

* Note - Memory remains at the same 256MB despite several unconfirmed sources touting 512MB. There's also no vibrate module.



Unlike last year's iPod touch update, this one's a complete overhaul to the entire line. Last year, the new models didn't change in appearance. On the inside, faster processors and double-memory were added to the 32GB & 64GB models, but the 8GB got left out. Not this time. Buying the new 8GB iPod touch indeed gets you all the new goodies. You'll also pay thirty bucks more than before, so consider buying the 32GB model instead. You'll get 400% of the storage capacity for only 23% more coin!





===== Background =====



I'm a mobile app developer who's created a few apps and games for the iPhone, iPod Touch and now iPad. I was initially drawn to the iPod touch because of the popularity and capabilities of its mobile Web browsing--I was primarily a Web developer at the time and no other device could surf the Web so well. After I got one, I was hooked. I racked up over a hundred bucks in app purchases within the first month, and before long, I found myself learning how do develop native apps for the device.



Indeed, if you have never had an iPod touch before, you're in for a real treat. Of course, if you have, then you know first hand: it's is worth its weight in gold--no, in platinum. And now, with the latest generation, it may even be worth its weight rare gem stones! I digress.





===== Out With the Old =====



The iPod touch is frequently called an iPhone without the phone. However, until now there have been several other features also missing in the iPod touch besides the phone: a camera, GPS, magnetometer (compass), and some newer amenities from the iPhone 4: front-facing camera, high resolution "Retina display" as it has been dubbed, and the powerful 1GHz A4 processor--indeed a necessity to keep up with multitasking.



That all changes, now. The 4th gen iPod touch brings with it some new features and amenities, some of which have been anticipated by iPod touch fans and developers alike, including myself, for several generations of the device. From a developer's perspective, the more hardware features we can get our hands on, the better and more innovative apps we can create, and the more users that can download, use and enjoy them.





===== In With the New =====



The striking new design of the latest iPod touch is definitely a looker. Apple has made it even thinner (and I thought it was already too thin before) complete with a beautiful chrome back. While the super thin design is certainly attractive, I've found it slightly difficult to keep it well-gripped in your hands. The usual chrome back looks great too, but it's scratch-insistent. Yes, it's incredibly easy to scratch it all up, even after the first few days. For these two reasons, definitely get yourself a silicone skin (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042GVG5G?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) alongside your new touch!



For ages, the feature topping everyone's wishlist for the iPod touch has been a camera. Check! It handles HD video too--bonus! Granted, its not the 5 megapixel camera that the iPhone 4 sports, but again, the new iPod touch is thinner than ever, making it a miracle that we even got a camera in the first place, let alone two! Yes, Apple went the extra mile so we could make video calls with our iPhone toting friends, via their FaceTime app. Brilliant! So, having not had any camera on the iPod touch before, and now having TWO cameras on it, we can't really complain can we? Nah.



I'll have details on the quality both cameras later, but what excites me even moreso is the new much-higher resolution screen--dubbed "Retina display". You may not think much of it if you haven't used an iPhone or iPod touch before, nor have an older model nearby to compare it to, but for those that have and/or do, the difference is clear! (pun intended)



Where this really comes in handy is in browsing the Web and reading non-mobile-formatted PDF e-books. Now, I can see things so much clearer at the default zoom level (which shows the full width of a Web page or document). My vision isn't spectacular by any means, I just don't mind seeing things smaller on the screen. It allows me to see more content without having to scroll. Indeed, the Retina display was the #1 feature I never knew I wanted (until I saw it in the iPhone 4 that is).



Other newness includes: 15% larger battery, HD video recording and editing, built-in mic, wireless-n for nearly double the WiFi connection speed and distance, Game Center: Apple's new social gaming platform (which seems to be Apple's attempt to kill-off third party social gaming platforms like OpenFeint and Plus+), 3-axis gyroscope sensor, which complements the existing accelerometer sensor, both of which handle the rotating, swinging and other motion gestures of the device (previously, rotation were roughly calculated from accelerometer data), and new placement of the sleep/power button on the right (but still as difficult as ever to press).



Features still missing include: 512MB of memory, vibration, 5 MP quality camera + flash (iPhone apps now support using LED flash as a flashlight, like Android does), magnetometer (compass), and the GPS. I'd happily trade the thinness of the latest iPod touch to have the GPS. WiFi based location is often inaccurate, and the GPS doesn't need a WiFi or cellular connection, it just needs to see the satellites in the sky.





===== iOS vs Android =====



So far, Apple has cornered the market of multitouch mobile devices that aren't phones, but things are slowly changing. Currently, the two hottest mobile and smartphone operating systems out there right now are Apple's iOS (formerly: iPhone OS) and Google's Android. Of course, iOS is popular because it runs on not only the iPhone, but also on the iPod touch and now on the ipad as well. Plus, it has garnered support from scores of app developers who've gotten behind Apple's slew of high-demand devices.



The iPod touch has really made iOS what it is today. It does a lot of what the iPhone does, without a contract, or carrier exclusivity, as is the case with the iPhone and the iPad (WiFi+3G models). So if it weren't for the iPod touch, a lot of the market share Apple now has in the industry would have been stifled by their carrier exclusivity. I think Apple will see the light soon, but that's another discussion.



Enter Android. Google has held a different stance on their mobile OS. It isn't tied to a select few devices, and it's open source, so it can be further developed by manufacturers who use it. Indeed, several mobile device manufacturers have now latched onto Android as a foundation for numerous devices. Wireless carriers that have been unable to carry the iPhone have also taken a liking to it. Now, tons of Android devices have been released, and there's no end in sight. Manufacturers have also seen the iPad's potential and now they want a piece of that pie, too. So, expect to see a lot more Android tablets and media-centric non-phone devices soon. The competition is heating up.



But not everything with Android, nor with iOS, is perfect. I own an EVO 4G, one of the most popular Android devices currently available. I've also used an iPod touch almost every day for nearly two years, so I'm pretty qualified to share my experience with each platform. Both certainly have their share of unique offerings, and neither of them are without flaws. For this reason, and because of the increasing competition between the two, I plan to dispel some of their key differences for you at various points in this review.





===== So What Can the iPod Touch Actually Do? =====



Well, what can't it do?



The iPod touch is like a magical little box, only it's flat. While it cannot cook your breakfast, yet (I'm sure someone is already working on that), it can indeed do some pretty extraordinary things. It's an amazing catch-all device that can provide hours of entertainment, give you the power of the Web in your hand, and it can even replicate the functionality of countless one-off products. Developers have been creating apps that take advantage of special hardware of the iPod touch to emulate some other product for less, and sometimes even for free.



Even expensive products have seen cheap iOS based clone apps. For just 99 cents, you can snag a special alarm clock app that monitors your sleep cycle and wakes you up when you're in an ideal state of wakefulness. I spent 350 bucks on an aXbo

(http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014RDSSY?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8) a few years ago, who's functionality is easily replicated by several "sleep phase" alarm clock apps in the app store. When you do the math there, you see that it's easily a no brainer: buy yourself an iPod touch now!



I've listed more apps like this in the comments!



Plus, with the support of such a strong community of app and game developers, there's never a drought of fresh new apps and games. There's always something to do with the iPod touch, and I guarantee you'll never be bored with it. I honestly cannot say the same thing about Android, though I also tote my EVO 4G around with me. I do admit that the EVO's mobile hotspot comes in incredibly handy for providing the iPod touch with a WiFi connection while I'm on the go).



Now, with the proper resources, you can legitimately download thousands of high quality apps for free. I do it all the time and it is perfectly legal. See, Apple allows developers to temporarily put their apps on sale (and even drop the price to free). Usually they do this to get you to write some rave reviews for their apps. The secret to success is having the resources to help you spot these special app sales--so you know when and where to get them during their sometimes extremely-limited-time promotions.



In hopes of making this the most helpful review on Amazon for the iPod touch, here's how to obtain these special promotional-sale apps:



There are several resources you can use, both on the Web and on the iPod touch itself. I prefer to use the app called BargainBin that lists all apps that recently went on sale or dropped to free. It also supports watch lists with push notifications, and can alert you whenever an app you're interested in goes on sale. It's a phenomenal little gem, and it has gotten me a ton of apps and saved me a fortune! It also has a companion website that lists the same apps (Google: App Advice). There's also a website called AppShopper (Google it) that lists apps with recent price drops and new apps as well, and you can filter just the free products or just the sale products. The two sites don't always list the same apps. Sometimes one will miss something that the other will catch, so it's good to keep track of them both. Check them daily if possible. Several apps are duds, but you'll come across some really great ones from time to time. They'll all add up!





===== Web Browsing =====



Alongside spending lots of money on all those wonderful apps in the App Store, Web browsing is one of the most popular uses for the iPod touch. Browsing the Web with mobile Safari was my original attraction to the device. The experience hasn't changed too drastically in the past two years (since the days of iOS 2), and while it's still very powerful, there are some definite flaws. And no, I'm not talking about Flash. Just minor usability issues I'd like to see overcome, but first let's look at the positives.



Mobile Safari has a smart approach to zooming in on content. Double-tap on a paragraph of text or an image to cinch that content right up to the edges of the screen. The downside: some sites aren't mobile-friendly, so zooming in on a really wide block of text can leave you with tiny text. You can zoom further manually, by using the "unpinch" multi-touch gesture, but because the browser doesn't have an option to reflow the text to the screen width, you have to scroll left and right, as well as up and down, just to read the text. Android's browser doesn't feature smart zoom, but it does reflow the text to fit the screen when zoomed in. It's a nice feature, and Apple should add it as a preference for Safari.



Browser history can also vanish after a few days, and browser windows get overwritten by links from other pages sometimes (usually when I've hit the maximum of eight windows). Also yet to be seen is support for doing common things like searching for text on a page, or bookmarking a link by tapping and holding. That would be invaluable for adding bookmarklets--bookmark based scripts that help overcome browser shortcomings.



Flash is also a great debate, one I won't get into. I will just say that all is not as it seems with the Flash-support-touting Android platform. Flash does work, but it is buggy because Flash doesn't play well with touch interfaces. Flash based video players don't work right, and I even run Android 2.2, which is supposed to have the "full Flash experience". It doesn't, trust me. So you're not missing much by not having Flash on the iPod touch!



Indeed, we can just hope and pray that Web developers and Flash-fiends see the light and start replacing Flash content with technologies like HTML5's canvas element, which is poised to take on a lot of Flash's most popular abilities.





===== Media =====



Despite all the incredible things the iPod touch can do, audio and video are still one of the iPod touch's greatest strengths. And with the incredible resolution of the new iPod touch's retina display, to say that videos now appear much sharper, more vivid and highly-defined is definitely an understatement. Yes, videos were great before, but now they frickin' rock!



Just make sure your videos are at least 960 x 640. If you've owned an older iPod touch and used video conversion software to scale down your media to fit the old 320 x 480 screen resolution, definitely change your conversion settings, or look for a software update to support the new higher-resolution display.



For those interested in watching live TV on the go (over WiFi), Sling Media's SlingPlayer app, paired with one of their Slingbox devices is a phenomenal and freeing experience, especially considering your alternate choices for watching live TV on the go are pretty much nil up to this point.



On top of that, Netflix's recently released iPod touch version of their media streaming app has also been a much-welcomed addition to my ever-growing collection of apps. Netflix videos stream quickly, and even moving the play position back and forth in the timeline, the movie starts playing very quickly without much time rebuffering the video.





===== Photos =====



The latest iPod touch is also a game-changer for photography and video recording on an iPod touch. It's not mind-blowing by any means, but we went from having no camera right to having two cameras on the device. I probably would not be so thrilled with just a new back camera. I merely would have sighed, mumbling "finally" under my my breath (unless it were 5 megapixels). But despite the less-than-one megapixel quality of the rear-facing camera, I was taken aback by the rather decent quality, especially in low-light environments. Check the comments for links to sample photos!



Between that and the ability to connect with other iPhone and iPod touch toting friends via Apple's FaceTime app, yes... it's a game changer. Granted, I have been wanting front facing cameras on mobile devices ever since mobile devices started having cameras period. I got the first of such devices when my EVO 4G arrived in June, but as they say: the more the merrier. Friends, welcome to the future we've been dreaming of. Video killed the audio call!



The quality of my test calls were pretty good. Of course, it was over WiFi, but it proves the cameras are decent. You can switch from using the front camera to using the rear camera, too, in case something was going on in front of you that you wanted to share. Just tap the "camera swap" button in the bottom right corner of the screen. FaceTime also rotates along with the iPod when flipped on its side, nice.



HD video recording is the other half of the aforementioned game-changing equation. I didn't expect to see ANY video recording, considering the original iPhone camera was originally just a camera. But it's here, complete with HD quality (yes, the quality is indeed desirable), plus basic video editing support, as well as support for Apple's brilliant "iMovie" app: an advanced video editing studio right on your iPod touch. It's just five bucks on the App Store.





===== E-Reading =====



The iPad has been making waves in the genre of media reading for several months now, but that hasn't exactly been the same story for any generation of the iPod touch so far. Granted, it's not exactly marketed as an eReader like its iPad counterpart, but there are some really great apps out there for media reading on it, so there's no reason not to use it to read digital media. The obstacle to doing that, for me at least, has been the limited screen resolution, and so that may all potentially start to change, now that Apple has brought the Retina display to the iPod touch.



The 163 pixels per inch screens of past iPod touches were still pretty great, just not ideal for tiny text. For comparison, LCD monitors typically only have 96 pixels per inch, and CRT monitors only have 72 pixels per inch. TV's are even worse than that. What this means for you is that the iPod touch display has always been sharper than your own computer monitor.



However, despite being able to display content at a higher quality, I still found that in a lot of eBooks, especially PDFs that weren't mobile-formatted, the text was just not clear enough to be readable when zoomed out. However, zooming in meant having to constantly scroll side-to-side while reading. The app "Good Reader" helped ease that pain by doing the left-right & vertical scrolling for you with just a tap of the screen, as well as offering an additional view that re-flows the text to fit on the screen at a large enough size.



However, with the Retina display, all text and content in the aforementioned "zoomed out" state now appears extremely clear. That is a wonderful thing, so long as you don't mind reading tiny text.



Could you still benefit from having an iPad too? Perhaps. After all, it does have unique qualities that set it apart from the iPod touch, as my in depth iPad review portrays (http://www.amazon.com/review/R16U71KO7POLA2?tag=1pod-20&ie=UTF8). But unless you specifically see the need for one of those unique qualities, then no, you probably don't need both.





===== Gaming =====



If you're like me, you probably don't have time for games. Regardless, it may still be high-time to let the kid within you roam free from time to time, as I do. The iPod touch has made it possible. In fact, it is so easy, there's no excuse not to enjoy yourself. My favorite games are the racing games and, when I have a bit more time, strategy games.



With the iPhone and iPod Touch having taken on a clear role as a gaming console that has been as revolutionary for mobile gaming as the Wii was for living-room gaming, it goes without saying that the iPod touch is, and will continue to be, one of the best platforms for gaming. It's simple, convenient, and pretty much instant. Whenever you have a few moments of free time, wherever you're, just turn it on, find your game, and bam! You're gaming. Simple as that.





===== Productivity =====



Productivity carries numerous definitions. Usually its "getting something done" though some people tend to believe that it's the ability to focus without being distracted, which I see as one of the iPod touch's strengths, at least for me, primarily because the screen is small enough to force you to focus on the task at hand.



In the context of software though, Apple's own suite of productivity apps for the office, collectively called "iWork", has been further refined for the iPhone and iPod touch. Because of the aforementioned "focus factor" of the iPod touch, I have found myself to be surprisingly productive when working on documents with it. There are three apps in all: Pages allows you to work on word processing documents. Numbers allows you to work on spreadsheets. Keynote lets you work on presentations and slideshows (including PowerPoint files).



So far, I've found these apps to be highly useful when I have work to do, but don't feel like being at the computer to do it. Another great app for that is "iTeleport" which let's me at my computer remotely, when iWork won't work (meaning I'm not working on office documents). Log Me In Ignition is another similar app that is slightly easier to set up, but a bit slower than iTeleport, when you're just working over the same WiFi connection as the remote computer.



Furthermore, there's a whole category of iPod touch apps in the App Store specifically dedicated to productivity. Some of my favorite productivity apps include: Bento (info management), Things (project management), iTeleport (remote computing), and GoodReader (best PDF reader around). Search for them in the App Store.





===== Email, IM and Social Networking =====



The iPod touch has been, and continues to be an exceptional communication-machine. Whether it's reading or composing email, keeping in touch via instant messenger, or managing your life via social networks, you've got plenty of options here.



Instant messaging is easy with platforms such as AIM, Yahoo, Gtalk, MSN, Skype and apps that handle multiple platforms: IM+, Fring, Nimbuzz, BeejiveIM and Fuse Messenger. Finally, multitasking means you can truly remain connected to your IM platforms of choice, instead of relying on apps to keep you signed remotely, then push new-message notifications to your device. This is a much welcome addition to the new iPod touch.



As well, there are plenty of apps to help you browse and update your status on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Within the iOS development community, Twitter apps have often been a laughing stock, simply because there are so many out there on the App Store. They're almost as rampant as "fart" apps. So to say you've got countless options as far as social networking apps are concerned is probably a pretty accurate statement.



For email, you need not look any further than Apple's native "Mail" app. Even if you're using Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or Apple's own MobileMe, setup is a snap. It even supports Microsoft Exchange, often useful for corporate email setups. As well, any other email accounts that support POP3 or IMAP connection types will work with the Mail app too. Plus, new to the iPod touch with iOS 4 is the option to use a unified inbox--handy for those already used to that behavior on Mac OS X.





===== Downloading Apps and Games =====



Downloading apps on your iPod touch couldn't be easier. Once you set up your iTunes account with a credit card, all you need to do is find the app you want, tap the download button (usually it says the price rather than "download", which then changes to "buy" after you tap it), then tap again to confirm. Voila, you just bought an app. Behind the scenes, Apple then charges your card the amount of the app plus tax, while you're already off enjoying your new purchase. This ease of access is a blessing and a curse, because you can easily empty your wallet if you're not carefully considering each purchase.



All apps in the App Store range in price from Free and 99 cents on up, always incrementing in whole dollar amounts (1.99, 2.99, 3.99, etc). The maximum price for an app is set to $999.99, of which there are only eight currently priced so outrageously. And don't even think of toying with them. Apple does not allow refunds on apps you have purchased--all sales are final!



Contrast that with Android's more complex Android Market, and you'll find several more steps, especially for paid apps. For one, there're no fixed pricing tiers, and secondly, they allow multiple currency pricing, which only confuses its users. The good developers do keep their pricing similar to iOS apps, with the 99 cent base plus $1 increments, but I often see apps priced at ¥0.55 or 0.79 or $1 or £2.95 ...it's quite disorienting and unstructured. They have also set their price cap at $200, so you can't accidentally run up a $1000 charge on just one app--you'll need at least 5 apps for that. ;)



Meanwhile, to actually buy an app on Android, you must tap the BUY button, confirm that you want to buy the app, then get redirected to a Google Checkout link, where you must setup your Google Checkout account or choose an existing payment method if you already have an account set up. Once you confirm the purchase yet again, THEN you can finally download the app.



Google also makes selling apps a bit more complicated for developers than Apple, but I won't get into that. I'm just stressing how absolutely simple Apple makes the app buying and selling process. Contrary to Apple however, Google does allow users to "return" purchased Android apps within 24 hours for a full refund. That's nice.





===== Technical Specifications =====



Since Amazon's product descriptions tend to be lacking, I like to include all the technical jargon geeks have come to expect when researching new gadgets. Feel free to breeze on through!



In the box

+ iPod touch

+ Earphones

+ Dock Connector to USB Cable (for sync and charging)

+ Quick Start guide



Size and weight

+ Height: 4.4 inches (111.0 mm)

+ Width: 2.3 inches (58.9 mm)

+ Depth: 0.28 inch (7.2 mm)

+ Weight: 3.56 ounces (101 grams)



Capacity

+ 8GB, 32GB or 64GB flash drive/SSD



Wireless

+ 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)

+ Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

+ Maps-location based service

+ Nike + iPod support built in



Display

+ Multi-Touch display

+ 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen

+ 960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch



Cameras, photos, and video

+ Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio; still photos (960 x 720) with back camera

+ VGA-quality photos and video up to 30 frames per second with the front camera

+ Tap to control exposure for video or stills

+ Photo and video geo tagging over Wi-Fi



TV and video

+ H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

+ MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

+ Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

+ Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)



Audio

+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz

+ Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV

+ User-configurable maximum volume limit with parental lock

+ Earbud headphones included in box



Earphones

+ Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz

+ Impedance: 32 ohms



Input and output

+ 30-pin dock connector

+ 3.5-mm stereo headphone minijack

+ Built-in speaker

+ Microphone

+ External buttons and controls



Sensors

+ Three-axis gyro

+ Accelerometer

+ Ambient light sensor (for proximity detection)



Battery, power and playback time

+ Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

+ USB sync cable is also used for charging

+ Fast charge in about 2 hours (80% capacity)

+ Full charge in about 4 hours.

+ Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged

+ Video playback time: Up to 7 hours when fully charged



System requirements

+ USB 2.0

+ iTunes 10 or later

+ Mac: Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later

+ PC: Windows 7, Vista, or XP (SP3 or later)





===== Praise =====



+ Apple continues its trend of creating the best multi-touch experience around. Android doesn't even come close.

+ The Retina Display - Phenomenal! Kudos for bringing it to the iPod touch as well as the iPhone. Now try it with IPS technology Apple!

+ Wireless-N, finally! - Faster and farther-reaching WiFi connections (if your router supports 802.11n)

+ High performance 1GHz A4 processor - provides all the power of the iPhone 4, a win for gaming and multitasking.

+ Multitasks like a dream with iOS 4 and the powerful processor, despite the same 256MB of memory as the third generation touch.

+ Rear camera - It's not the 5 megapixel iPhone 4 camera, but I definitely can't complain here. It shoots great photos, especially in low-light without flash, plus it can do HD video.

+ Front facing camera - What a pleasant surprise! Now it just needs to work with Skype.





===== Dissappointments =====



+ No GPS - IP based location just doesn't cut it at times. GPS has no subscription fee or contract to use. GPS chips are costly, but tons of high cost GPS apps are in the App Store now to offset that cost for Apple.

+ 256MB memory - iFixit has confirmed this disappointing flaw, putting to rest all the rumors of 512MB still littering several reviews.

+ Still no 120GB model - Useful for higher res videos that look great on the Retina display.

+ No USB 3.0 or wireless sync - Sync'ing can be slow or inconvenient over the cable.

+ Thinner design - I was hoping for a more squared design, like the iPhone 4, as it is easier to grip, handle and press the power button.

+ Power button - Yes, it hasn't changed much. It's been moved to the right side on this model, but it's still the tiny, hard-to-press button it's has always been, and if you take lots of screenshots like I do (by pressing power+home simultaneously) half the time you end up closing your app because the power button didn't work right.





===== The Bottom Line =====



It is absolutely clear: Apple has definitely blurred the lines between iPhone and iPod touch with its 4th generation of both devices. Since it has no contract or carrier exclusivity, this phenomenal device will continue to shine its light in the otherwise dark voids of the smartphone market where the iPhone cannot go, even without the phone. That's just smart!



Given all my tips, I think you'll find the iPod touch to be an extraordinarily useful, possibly even highly addictive device, with a price tag that is well worth it, especially the 32GB model. With all the things that the iPod touch can do, it will undoubtedly enhance your life and change the way you interact with the Web. It might even make a gamer out of you if it hasn't already, it sure did for me!



I hope you've found my hands-on review helpful. I do actively participate in any discussions via the comments, so feel free to drop me a line, or ask me any questions as well. :) Apple iPod touch 32GB (4th Generation) - Black - Current Version'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Portable Media Player Portable Media Player Portable Media Player