Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Prosumer Camcorder - prosumer camcorder, high definition
Since I was a little kid with an 8mm film camera, I have tried in vain to make videos that had the look and sound of professional TV and movie productions.
I failed in many ways, many times. Sometimes due to my meager skills, sometimes due to the short comings of my cameras.
The Vixia HF G10 changes that. I can no longer blame my equipment.
Let me say now, I am not a professional video/film maker. I have had no formal training. My videos are for my own enjoyment, I record special moments and travels for myself and my family. I seldom display or publish videos on the Web.
I placed my order on Jan. 5th, the day of Canon's new product announcement. Amazon was great, as usual, and kept my pre-order updated until the camera was released. I received it last week, and was immediately struck by the quality of the images.
So far, I have just been learning about the G10, and its features. I've made some stunning video studies of my flower and vegetable garden. Whether played back on the camera's LCD screen, or on my big screen HD television, the images are sharp, clear, vibrant, and have the look of a professional documentary. In addition, the on camera microphones are far superior to any camcorder I've ever used. I have some large wind chimes near my garden and the playback of audio through my TV is astonishing. I have a Sennheiser MKE 400, but have not used it as yet, the on-camera sound is excellent.
What I like: Coming from a DV tape camera, the memory cards are the best thing since sliced bread. The 'touch screen' is very good. I did not think I would like it, but it is easy to use, responds well, and the menu system is somewhat intuitive. The Manual mode provides tons of recording and exposure options. In Programmed mode the camera will make several automated exposure adjustments as the scene or lighting changes. In Av mode the DOF control is excellent, and there are built-in ND filters available in Av mode that have already come in handy. I have not used Tv mode, but in full Manual the controls are easy to access and perform as well as my Canon EOS still camera.
Three modes of Auto focus and excellent, easy to use Manual focus. Zoom speed adjustment, very cool.
Cinema Mode: Sounds like a gimmick, works like a charm. The primary feature in Cinema Mode is a set of 9 filters for various cinematic effects. I like them all, and look forward to using them to highlight my scenes in my videos. It would be easy to over use these, I think. But the Nostalgic, Sepia, and Old Movie filters will surely get used, as will the Dramatic B&W. I'm thinking the Vivid would work on panoramic landscapes.
The whole memory card/built-in memory thing is wonderful. Transfer to a Win 7 PC is easy and fast. So far I'm sticking with the MXP 24P (true 1920 x 1080). It is the luxury I paid for, and I'm going to use it.
Things I don't need: Still photos - nice but I have a great still camera. In camera editing and Decorations: just fluff to me. I guess these things have market appeal, but why does Canon add them to a camera aimed at the upper end video customer?
Things I don't like: The initial impression that the G10 is a small, cheap-looking, plastic camcorder (I got over that when I saw how it performed). The shallow angle of the lens opening prevents adding after market wide angle conversion lens; apparently the only lens that currently fits is the very expensive Canon lens. The BP808 battery is small, and you need 2, or a larger BP819. There is no separate battery charger included, so you need one of those, too. The hot shoe is the Canon mini-shoe, so you need an adapter to use after market mikes or lights, or buy the expensive Canon accessories.
My still camera is a Canon 5D Mk2. It has fantastic video performance as well as awesome still image performance. I wanted the G10 to give me more flexibility for different situations; run-and-gun, handheld kind of stuff, ad hoc filming which I find difficult with the 5D Mk2.
That's about all I can think of now. I would buy this camcorder again without hesitation. I would and do recommend it to anyone looking to take that next step up in video making.
I'll try to post a short video soon, showing some of the images from the Vixia HF G10. Canon VIXIA HF G10 Full HD Camcorder with HD CMOS Pro and 32GB Internal Flash Memory
Let me first start out by saying, I originally wasn't going to spend so much on a new camcorder. I had bought the Canon HF 100 a few years ago, and was fairly happy with it. It was nice, but definitely had its drawbacks. So, I started researching Canon's new line for 2011 and was torn between the M40 and G10. Having the new CMOS Pro sensor was a must. Everything I read about the low light capabilities sold me. Basically Canon went with a smaller pixel count (exactly 1920 x 1080), which in turn makes the pixels larger and better in low light shooting. I originally bought the M40 and was very happy with it, but started to realize it wasn't fitting all my needs. That went back, and I went with the G10. I have not looked back since!
People might wonder what the biggest difference is between the two, and the big ones in my opinion are the manual lens control, wide angle lens (makes a HUGE difference in my opinion), larger LCD (3.5 in. vs. 3 in.), color viewfinder, and dual recording slots that let you record to both sd cards at the same time. Boy, I wish I had this feature two weeks ago for my niece's second birthday party. My sd card got corrupted while using the M40 and I lost her blowing out her candles and eating the first piece of cake. Now, if I had the G10, I would have had a backup of it recording to both slots simultaneously.
Image quality wise, I couldn't be happier. The video quality just pops out and is silky smooth. I have made a couple videos with it and people are just in awe of the quality. I usually record in 60i because I like the smoothness. I know there are benefits of recording in 30p and 24p, but for home videos, I prefer 60i. Now if I was doing an amateur film, I'd probably go with the true 24p this camera offers. This camera has a lot of setting to meet your shooting requirements. I know a lot of people wish Canon included a 60p mode, but I honestly don't see a reason for it, at least not now. Everything I've read about it, editing 60p is a complete nightmare. No thanks.
Speaking of modes, it does have an auto, manual, and cinema options. Manual of course gives you countless options, and cinema mode offers a variety of shooting preferences such as cool, vivid, dream, b/w, etc. You can search on youtube and see demonstrations of each.
One of the big selling points for me was the wide angle lens. Now I know you can always buy an optional attachment wide angle lens for the M40, but they add a lot of extra weight and in my opinion inconvenience of carrying around more equipment than necessary. I also think by the time you add in that cost to the camera, it's not that much cheaper. I love having the wide angle lens built in and with me at all times. It's truly something you get used to, and you won't want to be without.
Build quality is exactly what I expect from any Canon product. Feels sturdy and should hold up to a lot of wear and tear. I've never had any issues with previous Canon products breaking on me, so I would expect the same from this one. I would say the only thing I don't like on the newer Canons opposed to the older models is the touchscreen. It's simply not as responsive as I would like. I'm probably spoiled on my iphone's silky smooth touch controls. I guess it's just something I'll have to get used to. The only other feature I really miss from older camcorders is night vision. I don't know why most companies got rid of this feature. I still bust out my old Sony SR45 for those occasions.
In conclusion, if you're looking for an excellent prosumer camcorder with amazing low light, controls, and options, you won't be disappointed with the HF G10. I've already ordered the DM-100 external mic (I like to do lots of outdoor shooting, so I need to eliminate the wind noise the best I can), and already have the VL-5 from my previous camcorder for better dark shooting. I think I'm set for almost all recording situations. I hope this was an informative review. Thanks for reading. - 1080p - High Definition - Prosumer Camcorder'
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Not Recommended - usb, recommended
This is the most common USB cable these days for connecting 'something' to your computer but... beware of the 'Micro-B vs. Mini-B' interface confusion (read below).
On this specific cable, everything is done right, including the price. It is USB 2.0 certified, meaning that it supports data transfer rates of up to 480Mbps and, if your device accepts a Mini-B plug, this is the cable to get. Maybe the 2-meter length (6+ ft.) is a little bit too much but it does not bother me a lot and there may come a time when a cable this long may come in handy.
I am awarding this item 5 stars for price and quality - there's nothing to complain. However, I suggest that you look around before you place the order because you just might have one of these already as they tend to ship with many electronic gadgets these days.
______________________________________________
Notes:
Anyone in the market for a USB cable should be very careful because there are at least 6 kinds of USB connectors. If you are buying a cable that connects 'something' to your computer or laptop, the computer end of the cable will always be a USB-A or 'Type A' connector. At the other end, you may have a USB-B/Type B - a nearly square shaped connector used mostly to deliver power to a device but this is rare. Most likely, you will have a Mini-B or a Micro-B. The difference between the 2 is that the Micro-B is half as thick while the width is the same - Mini-B is 3x7mm while Micro-B is 1.5x7mm.
If your device (phone, PDA, camera) is a 'new' one and it's using USB, chances are that they will need a Micro-B connector because the industry seems to be adopting the 'Micro' form factor as its standard. If the above sounds simple, you should keep in mind that some devices require Mini-AB or Micro-AB connectors, also known as USB OTG (OnTheGo) devices.
My advice: before ordering any cable, make sure that you clearly understand what type of cable you need.
Whenever in doubt, do some more research and keep in mind that the 'Micro-B' (very small) is the emerging standard and it's likely to be found on the newer and smaller gadgets - phones, cameras, etc. but, before it we had the 'Mini-B' (this specific cable) so the older devices will need the 'Mini'. Cables To Go 27005 USB 2.0 A to Mini-B Cable, Black (2 Meter/6.56 Feet)
I use these cables for connecting MP3 devices and such, and also for connecting my Razr cellphone, using the Motorola Phone Tools software on my computer. (Note that for the latter purpose, you can actually use Bluetooth if you want to, and have the capability on your computer.)
Cable works perfectly, no problems or hassles. Construction quality is good. This is pretty basic technology after all.
I ordered this 'cos price was low. Tried connecting a Western Digital Elements 500gb portable hard disk and a 120gb hitachi 2.5 inch sata hard disk in an Acomdata Tango enclosure to my laptop using this. Connection is not at all stable. It connects and then disconnects immediately and then connects again and on and on. If left connected it'll probably damage the external hard drive. So right now, I'm using it only for charging my PS3 controller. Seems to be good for that. Hence the 2 stars.
I used a USB Mini Cable to download new maps from my computer to my GPS. The cable works just fine. When you purchase your cable, just be aware that there are at least two types: Micro and Mini; do not confuse the two different types.
This is just a USB cable. Nothing much to say, however, beware of the mini side. The large neck around the mini side prevents it from going into my graphing calculator. Make sure the connection on your device is not recessed.
This mini USB to USB 2.0 cable works perfectly when I need to connect my Garmin GPS to my PC's USB port. This is particularly useful for Garmin's GPS online product registration and map update downloads. The quality of the cable is rather good; it just plain feels well constructed and it has never failed to work for me; I have no complaints about this product. Although another reviewer wrote that their cable was shorter than the 6 foot length that is advertised here, mine is just about 72 inches long.
Some other cables will cost you more but you'll get the same quality as you will with this cable. I can't see why you should spend more so I highly recommend this item.
This USB to Mini-USB cable does what it is supposed to do, and when I purchased it, it was able to ship with Super Saver Shipping on a larger order, making it a really great deal for the price.
I bought this for charging a Playstation 3 Dualshock controller, and it works great. - Usb - Cable - Mini - Recommended'
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Speaker Stands - speaker mounts, bose
These stands are easy to assemble and add to our decor. The arrival of these stands only took a few days. They are sturdy and attractive, I would highly recommend these and the price was the cheapest around. Bose UFS-20 Universal Floor Stands (pair) - Black
OK, these are just speaker stands, but they were absolutely essential for my Bose Cinemate system. They were relatively easy to assemble, but maybe not so for the mechanically challenged.
I wish they were adjustable in height, but they do place the speaker at a uniform distance and height from the main TV. I no longer use the speaker from my LCD TV which had terrible audio.
These stands are essential for the Bose Cinemate system.
Outstanding price from Amazon (<$52)compaired to the MSRP Bose price of $99 for the pair, which is quite pricey from what you would get from Bose. Great height for the speakers and easy setup. I used the speaker stands on the Cinemate GS-II home theater system and the speakers fit perfectly on the stand and the speaker wire was hid beautifully in the slot provided in the stand. The stand does have a heavy base stand on the bottom to provide excellent stability for the speakers. Overall an outstanding buy from Amazon.
When I purchased this product a couple weeks ago I wanted to make sure this purchase was worthwhile. I studied many other speaker stands and it just didn't seem I would have been getting the same quality.
I received this pair a few days ago and originally thought they may be a little complicated to put together. They only took about twenty minutes to assemble and put my cube speakers on. The stands look great and go well with the cube speakers. I am happy I made this investment and will enjoy these for years to come.
The best price that I could find for these. These were easy to assemble. I previously had wall mounts, but the sound from my Bose speakers is so much better with these stands, away from the wall. They are relatively unobtrusive and easy to move around as needed.
What can I say... they're Bose. I am really pleased with the improved sound we got by getting our speakers off the ground, but the real story here is the price, and service. Best price I found anywhere, by at least $20, and really reasonable shipping charges($8.00). (Those suckers are really heavy)Even close to the holidays I received my product in less than a week, and it was in great shape! - Bose - Speaker Stand - Speaker Mounts - Home Theater'
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Love This - diaper, pampers
As a mom of 5 Boys, I offer my experience with disposable diapers.
I imagine myself having to wear diapers all the time and look for the best fit which I feel equals the best comfort. I have found that a great fit PLUS often changes equals no or minimal leaks.
In order to achieve a great fit you need to start with the correct size. I have found that the numbers on the box mean nothing! YOur babies height and frame size really determine which size your baby needs. It is usually a lot of trial and error but I have always purchased the next size well before my babies were actually the weight stated on the packaging.
Sagging, that is, when the crotch hangs down makes for a very uncomfortable diaper. Huggies supremes have the elastic in the back of the diaper which tends to hold the diaper up better, but I have discovered that there is so much padding between the legs that this style simply does not work for boys.
The wide stretchy sides that pampers cruisers have make achieving a perfect fit very easy! Although, sometimes I have to roll the back of the diaper back a bit to get that perfect fit. If pampers had a little bit of elastic in the back, they woudl be perfect! Also, the padding inside is trimmer in the crotch area making it not as bulky.
I also love the new woven liner. It is very soft. I don't know if it serves any other purpose but I feel better putting someithing soft and somewhat airy on my little baby.
I have tried Pampers Baby Dry, Huggies Baby Shaped and Supreme, Luvs, Walmart's Brand, and CVS premium. I am all about saving money where I can but I also want baby to be comfortable.
I have found all disposable diapers to be pretty much the same and no matter what brand you use, they all serve their purpose. With all the different types I have tried, I have never disliked any one enough to not use the entire pack. In fact, if I go to purchase diapers and there is an irrestible sale on another brand, I will purchase them and only buy a small pack of cruisers. I mix them up in our changing area and end up using both types. Sometimes I have three and four varieties mixed in there.
I do have to admit, the Pampers Cruisers are my first choice and always the ones I am reaching for first. I like the way they smell and especially the way they fit, even more now that Luca is up and Cruising around. They are the only ones I have found to not sag and shift with our toddler's many busy antics and movements.
Hope this helps!
Rosemary Bertinelli
My son is currently 14 months old. When he was a newborn, we used pampers swaddlers and when he was ready for the size threes, we decided to use pampers cruisers since they had the same absorb away liner in them that we loved. When I recently received another box of cruisers in the mail, I was disappointed to discover that the liner was missing. After calling the company, I found out that unfortunately, pampers has chosen to get rid of the absorb away liner in their cruisers and put out a new line of "Pampers Cruisers Premium Absorbency" available at Target. While using the box of the new style of cruisers my son developed the first diaper rash of his life despite frequent changes. These diapers are not as good as they were previously and I really wish that the company would go back to the old style. Needless to say, I am searching for a new diaper.
Cruisers were great. No complaints. Now suddenly, the mesh liner is gone, and when my son urinates, it smells like a CHEMICAL PLANT. I'm not kidding. These are the worst, cheapest things ever. And they didn't even change the packaging. I am so angry -- clearly they just wanted to save a buck, but the smell of these things? VILE. I have compared the old and "new" side by side -- old: nice smell, thicker, mesh lining. New: no lining, smells like chemicals, thinner. I will make it my business to write bad reviews about these diapers, because it's so typical that they think they can change something without telling the consumer, and we're supposed to pay the same amount for worse quality. Way to cut corners, Pampers. I hope you lose half your business because of the bad reviews the new Cruisers are getting. That's what happens when you try and sneak something past the customers. And PampersPattie, the Pampers rep who trolls on these sites and "responds" -- there's nothing you can say that changes the truth -- these diapers SUCK. And you know it.
I had my son in Huggies for the first year or so, then switched to Pampers cruisers and am very happy with the change. The papmers are lighter weight than the Huggies and I have had less leaks with the Pampers. As for sizing, I've found that all these diapers vary even though they say they are all the same size. For example, a size 4 diapers goes from smaller to larger with the following progression: Huggies Supreme->Huggies->Pampers cruisers. So if you are finding your Huggies size 4 getting small, try Pampers cruisers size 4 before moving on to a size 5. - Love This - Pampers - Diaper'
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Nail Gun - tools, nail gun
I've had mine for about a year and I love this gun. It's so much easier to grab this out of the backseat of my truck and start nailing than it is to grab a pneumatic gun, the compressor, the hose, finding an outlet and tripping over the hose as I'm trying to nail with it. For a small job you can be in and out with this gun before you even get the compressor set up. As long as you keep the gun lubed and clean you will rarely have a problem with it. I use mine for trim, woodworking and finish work with great results. In fact, I haven't used a pneumatic brad nailer since I got this, and I have 3 brad nailers that are collecting dust because of this gun. I've used different brands of nails and they all seem to work well. At the price this gun may not be for everyone, But everyone that uses it will want one Paslode 901000 18 Gauge Finish Nailer
i have used one of these for a few years and it has been a real time saver. beats seting up a compressor even on midsize jobs.
pros.
-power to sink nails in to hardwood. (i work with alot of oak)
-lots of shots to battery and gas
-belt clip is handy (clips on most step ladder stays)
Cons.
-loud
-not angled
-very tempermental
-must be cleaned atleast once daily maybe more if you are shoting alot.
-gas is not cheap AND HAS A SHELF LIFE. if you cant use a box in less then a year or it had been sitting on the shelf at the store for awhile it will go bad cusing misfires. CHECK THE DATE ON THE PACKAGE(or canister)
-aside from gas and nails you need to buy paslode brand cleaner spray and oil
I'll get right to the pros and cons.
Pros-
Obviously, convenience- sometimes you don't need to lug in a whole compressor setup for just handyman type work.
Good Case.
Cons & Problems-
This thing misfires just like the other Paslode Cordless guns, but not as bad as the framing gun.
Gas intake valves have been faulty twice (My company owns three of these suckers) - a 50 Dollar repair.
The driving pin gets constantly stuck, even with constant care and lubrication.
The tip mecanism broke off completely on one gun.
During heavy construction usage, battery charger A/C unit is easily compromised. (The power conection is weak)
In general, it's good to have around in a pinch, but don't count on it to do any serious work, you'll end up costing yourself more time, money, and frustration.
Note: The newest model of 18 gauge has seemed more solid and reliable, I've only used it a handful of times, but time will tell.
Have used Paslode's cordless framing gun @ work(carp. local #174 Joliet, IL.) and they have worked great so I went and got one of these trim guns @ H.D. and it is a great, lightweight, easy-to-use, time saving tool. I don't know why I waited so long to buy one-it is a small price for such a great piece of equipment-kudos to Illinois Tool Works. Treat them with care and they'll last forever. The storage case is durable and logical to use.
Be advised that Paslode's MSRP for this product is lowered to $ 259.00 so don't pay above that. You can get it with free shipping for $ 249.00 if you look around- Nail barn and elsewhere.
Awesome product, free of cords, hoses and heavy ancillary equipment. If you are not a pro, the only drawback is the shelf life of the fuel cell. This is offset in part by the fact that the same fuel cell works in the 16 gauge finish nailers. If you are not a pro though, is it worth paying so much more than pneumatic? Decisions decisions.
If your looking for a cordless finish nailer pass this one up and go to the newer [nailer] by Paslode. The price is about the same to [a little] more... I own two of these and there are times when the cylinder head gets in the way of nailing corners and under toe kicks It's a good nailer but it has been obsoleted by its brother ...
No one wants to drag around a hose and compressor. And, after working with a carpenter who uses 3 of these guns I was very impressed. Although the price was quite high the benefit seemed to outweigh the cost.
Upon receiving the gun it did not work and it was a lot of hazzle to return the defective product for another. So, Paslode repaired it free of charge. It then worked as advertised for perhaps 200 or so brads. Then it quit working again. I took the gun back to the repair shop where they told me the piston was bad! After about 2 weeks I got the gun back. It fired ONE brad perfectly and then stopped working again. Back to the repair shop where they told me it was a wiring issue. After this repair, I got the gun home, fired a few brads and the gun jammed (I was using the correct brads).
The repair shop told me these guns either work or they have lot's of problems. So, it seems I got one of the many duds.
I can't afford to experiment (gamble) with price heavy tools. Therefore, while the Paslode concept is excellent I highly recommed you save your money until someone develops a product that is high quality & dependable(which Paslode is NOT).
UPDATE - December 27, 2009:
I once again started using the gun installing baseboards for a friend. After about 2 racks of nails the gun quit working again. I took it apart for cleaning but this did not help. So, it's back to the repair shop.
There is simply no way I would ever recommend this nailer to anyone given it's high cost and exceptional maintenance needs.
I have this 18 ga and the 16 ga angled nailers. They both have worked flawlessly for over 6 months and a couple thousand nails. I use the 18 exclusively for crown and fine mouldings, and the 16 when there's a few pieces of base or casing. I still keep a compressor and air gun when I have a lot of nailing to do.
I've used this finish nailer for the past few weeks and it has worked flawlessly. I did find that you must depress the end of the nailer completely against the material being nailed in order for the depth of the nail to be consistent, but that was just learning to use the tool. I have found problems in purchasing the finishing nails for this gun. Even on line, the 5/8 inch nails are not available. I ended up buying 1 inch, 1-1/4 inch and 2 inch finishing nails to handle most of the tasks I expect. I would recommend this finishing nailer for anyone needing a finishing nail gun without the cumbersome hoses and compressor of most nail guns. - Tools - Nail Gun'
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4gb Mp3 Player - 4gb mp3 player, aaa battery
I really enjoy the small Coby MP3 players. Using simple MSC file transfer just like onto a flash drive, I can organize audio files any way I like. I listen to mostly audio books, audio drama, and podcasts, so play lists are not needed.
The basic operating software is the same on the MP315 as on the MP305 model, but with the MP315 model I get about twice the life out of a battery than with the MP305. I get about 8+ hours of play time from a rechargeable AAA battery. Coby Micro MP3 Player with LCD and FM Radio 4 GB Flash Memory MP315-4GBLK (Black)
The device automatically installs their own "Music Manager".
It is their idea of "iTunes". (Which is exactly what I don't want).
Do yourself a favor and cancel the install. Delete the files off the device.
The previous version from Coby, the MP-305 acted just like a memory stick.
You could use any music manager to sync files, or just drag and drop.
The FM radio on the MP-305 is a little better. It picked up 22 stations, instead of the 17 stations.
Music sounds just a good as my MP-305.
The price is pretty good. A 4GB thumb runs about $5, so an extra $20 you get a radio and an MP3 player.
I give this unit 4 stars, would have been 5 if it wasn't for the cheap battery compartment door and very tiny buttons that need more pressure than I would have expected to work which is most likely going to be the points of failure for most users.
I bought this player to replace my now dead 1 gig ILO player of 4 yrs (RIP).
Overall impression is nice small sleek unit about the size of two thumb drives side by side, a very compact unit. It is a rather basic unit, not much in bells and whistles but that was I was looking for.
Unit does have FM but I have not used it (although I really didn't need FM since it is used inside a metal building which leaves radio reception less than optimal at best).
Unit has several different repeat modes, a power save (On by default, need to turn this off if you want the player to play all day), Folder search.
As some folks have noted, this unit plays files in the order they are copied to the drive, this includes folders so it ignores alphabetical order.
The work around might be to place multiple folders on the drive, name them in numerical order. I have not tried this as of yet since I simply copied my existing folders from my PC to the player which are alphabetical using the album name.
Then name your songs adding in a NUMBER sequence (IE name the file something like MYMUSIC01, 02, 03, ect) This is how I was able to get my ILO to play each song of an album to play in track order rather than alphabetical order.
Also noted by someone else, you do not need to install the Coby Media Manager software.
It does not automatically attempt to install (Coby Media Manager) unless YOU choose to do so.
Folks, READ THE MANUAL, this info IS IN THE MANUAL.
When you plug the player in to the PC it will pop up an action box which at the top of the box is Install Coby Media Manager. Just ignore that and choose to Open folders like a thumb drive, now you can simply drag and drop your MP3 files directly to the player.
If you chose to remove the preinstalled Coby Manager installation software I would suggest copying it into a folder to your PC HD just in case. The reason for this is Windows Media player 10 and above may detect your player as a media player instead of a removable drive.
This player has some quirks, when powering on, it will splash Coby on the screen, then to menu which allows you to choose the action (play, FM, setup, ect), then pause 10 seconds or so then open the play folder. But it gets crazier from there, instead of automatically playing, it WAITS in Stop mode until you press the play button not once but twice.
Additional Bonus quirk, this one I like! This unit can be powered via USB port and play! To use this quirk, you do not need to plug into a PC USB port but instead use a USB CHARGER. I have even done this with no battery installed and the unit powered up and plays when I plugged it into a USB charger. Good bye to batteries that fail during the least opportune time.
Now for the good points.
LOW COST! This unit is a steal for being under $30!
Lots of storage space (4 gig can hold nearly 40 hrs of MP3s at 128 bit encoding)
Runs from a single AAA battery (read, no expensive or non replaceable Li-Ion batts which eventually require scrapping the player). Additional bonus, this player sips on batteries, I use Duracell 1000mahr NiMH rechargeable batteries with my old player it would play about 18 hrs per charge, the Coby is easily going 30 hrs per charge! Coby was only rating it as 8 hrs of play time but this was most likely based on drycells.
Acts like a thumb drive (no special software or specific version of Windows Media player required).
Can power up and play without a battery via USB or a USB charger.
Cons.
Battery cover is extremely cheap, rather difficult to get it closed since it is so flimsy. I would think this item is going to not last long if you give it to a kid or don't pay attention to how you put the door on.
Buttons are very tiny, unless you have very small fingers, it is easy to press the wrong button or press two buttons at the same time.
Buttons need pressed a bit harder than one would expect to be needed, hopefully they won't break off.
Bass equalizer setting is a extremely muddy and really isn't a usable setting.
Display has some very tiny fonts, may not be a good choice if you require bifocals.
When using NiMH rechargeable batteries, the battery indicator never reads more than one bar??? The battery indicator appears to be designed for use with dry cells (read as non rechargables). Coby needs to add a menu item to allow adjustments for rechargeable or non rechargeable batteries like some digital cameras do.
Final notes.. If you are looking for a cool high tech, slick Ipod with playlists then this is not for you! An Ipod it is not.
If you are looking for a low cost no frills player with lots of space (4Gig) and don't mind a few short comings then this one is for you. - 4gb Mp3 Player - Aaa Battery'
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Electronic Device Holder - electronic device holder, ipod car mount
it's not very often that i feel like i got a fair deal for my money. i was very surprised with this product though. i bought it on a whim, not really expecting it to work.
my first impression was that of solid construction. very heavy duty plastic. the flexible neck is thick and strong and won't move even holding the heaviest device.
i was fairly sure this wouldn't mount well in my 2010 honda fit. the cup holders are all a little oddly shaped. one was small. the other was very large and heavily tapered. another was more rectangular than round. turns out it mounts steadily in all of them.
the device holder aspect it ratcheting. it has pads to hold the device on the sides and two little pegs that fold out to hold the bottom. the pads on the side additionally expand vertically to adjust where they hold the device. all in all, ingeniously flexible in the number of ways it can adjust. considering your device may have controls on the sides and ports on the bottom this is important.
as far as i can tell it would fit just about any size device i can think of. i happen to have a nexus one that is very close to the size of an iphone 3gs.
a note on price / buying options. i paid $15.22 for this. when searching under "nexus one", i found the same bracketron unit listed for $26.99 (plus shipping) from a different seller. quite a difference. there is also another brand, "gomadic". they have a unit that, as far as i can tell, is identical to this model (bracketron). however, it's $29.99. Bracketron UCH-101-BL Universal Cup-iT Cup Holder Mount
I'm pleasantly surprised! This fits my HTC Droid Incredible perfectly, and would also work with an Ipod or GPS unit.
The side arms are independently adjustable, so that each "finger" can be spread apart as far as needed to keep volume control buttons and the charge port accessible. I have them far apart on one side of the unit, and close together on the other...because I can.
The neck bends like sturdy heavy wire and holds its shape.
The base is expandable with an easy turn of the dial, to accommodate wider cup holders. But the best feature is the easy rotation that "pops" into place, allowing one to use their phone in a vertical position, or quickly change it to horizontal view with one hand. The bottom supports fold up or down as needed.
The plastic is heavy and solid feeling--I have confidence this will hold up for some time. But it also came with a lifetime warranty if registered at Bracketron's website.
There was an extra flat plate in the package that would slide onto the base, but has no grip fingers. It has 4 screw holes or could be used with velcro or foam tape. The instructions don't mention the part. I assume it's for permanent attachment to the back of an item that would not fit within the approximate 4 1/2" grip, such as an internet radio receiver or iPad.
Edit after using for several months: The bendable neck's length should be a bit longer, to accommodate low bulging dashboards. This is the same height as my shifter, and moving it to the side puts it at a bad angle for viewing. Another couple of inches would help.
I purchased this item after I purchased an Android phone (which has a great built-in GPS app). I had previously used a Tomtom AIO GPS, attached via a suction cup, onto a dashboard beanbag mount. Wanting to minimize the gadget accessories in my car, I was hoping this would fit the bill and hold my cell phone while driving.
PROS:
*Pretty decent quality plastic, not as flimsy as other cheapo made-in-china accessories
*Decent securing mechanism. The bottom sits in the cup holder, and you rotate a ring which expands the edges into the cup holder
*Flexible neck appears pretty durable, will definitely hold the shape you bend it into
*The gadget holder section can rotate 360, so you can do landscape or portrait orientations. It's also padded, with "arms" which can be arranged so that they don't accidentally press on side-buttons. Could easily snake a car charger into the gadget of your choice.
CONS:
*Unfortunately, the flexible neck is really really short. Extremely short. Unless your cup holders are at the very front, directly adjacent to the dashboard, and elevated, whatever it's holding is essentially right at your side, and not in front of you. A real problem for GPS in my opinion, as you'd really have to look down and away from the road a bit more than I think is safe. I'd seen other ones which were much longer, but based on the photos here, I should have known better.
If you want it to hold a mp3 player or something, probably not a problem. But then why not just put the mp3 player directly into the cup holder then?
I'm going to try a generic suction cup phone mount to attach to my old beanbag dashboard mount.
The mount is well made but it's fit in the cup holder was, despite the adjustable feature, a bit difficult to get a tight fit. Depending on where your cup holder is located, it can be somewhat in the way. It is necessary to put the holder in the first cup holder[the one nearest the front of the car]which, again depending on where your auto cup holders are,make it quite awkward to use the rear cup for one's drink. In my case there was no other choice [it gets so hot in summer that the suction cup for a similar device just would not stay on] and this item functions reasonably well. Would I recommend it; yes if you can,t use the model that goes on the windshield.
I bought this product to hold my ipod touch so it would be easier (and safer) to quickly unlock the screen while I was driving. I has worked out great and I've also found that it adjusts wide enough to hold my TomTom GPS. No more suction cup marks on my windshield! The only down side I've found with it is that it's a little cumbersome and when I put it in my Mazda Protege 5, with the location of the cupholders I have to work it a little to bend it out of the way of the gear shifter. Other than that it's great! I'd much rather lose a cupholder when I want to than have to permanently install something inside my car. - Electronic Device Holder - Cell Phone Mount - Ipod Car Mount - Vehicle Mounts'
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Gifts For Men - adjustable wrench, all-in-one
I just tried the Black & Decker Ratcheting ReadyWrench out today. Picked it up at a local hardware store for $5 more than Amazon. It's an interesting product. The sockets swivel so that you can choose an appropriate socket size. On one side of the socket, red lettering tells you the approximate SAE size. On the opposite side, blue lettering tells you the approximate metric size. Once you place the socket on the nut, you can select the direction using the orange circle and start ratcheting.
Pros: 1-Offers 16 different sizes in one relative compact wrench (however see cons). 2-The wrench is similar to double box, offset ratcheting wrenches. So the angle of the "socket" sides does help to reach some difficult places.
Cons: 1-Sockets don't lock tight, so when you are trying to ratchet at an angle it can slip off the nut or bolt.(Similar problem to using "dogbone" wrenches) 2-Six point sockets are designed to fit both SAE and metric so that neither fit is precise. The loose fit may cause you to stip nuts or bolts. Advertised as "sure fit"...
It's not a bad all-in-one tool. The Ratcheting ReadyWrench can be used for a wide variety jobs. However, it is not designed for any specific job. So bring it with you if you don't know what you'll need or you don't want to carry multiple wrenches. Or better yet, buy it if you want a general purpose ratcheting wrench around the house. Use your regular wrenches if you are doing a specific job, like working on your car. Black & Decker RRW100 Ratcheting ReadyWrench
Picked this up the other day and the first thing I noticed was how heavy duty it feels. Some of these all in one type of items can promise the world, but be very cheaply made. This seems to be very durable and well made. The item fits 16 of the most popular sized sockets (standard and metric)and what makes it different from a lot of all in one wrenches out there is this one ratchets so you do not have to keep taking the tool off the bolt. I have only used this once thus far and was using to tighten up the bolts on my grill, but can see a lot of uses for this. Solid tool and could eliminate the need for a big socket set if you are using just for everyday, around the house jobs.
Once a socket is selected, the user must keep torque EXACTLY PERPENDICULAR to the axis of the socket. Otherwise the socket changing mechanism will rotate and the socket fall off the nut. I've found the ReadyWrench is only useful for holding bolts or nuts while using a real wrench (or screwdriver) to turn the other end of the bolt. The wrench is surprisingly heavy and sturdy in the hand and provides well-labeled and quick access to a number of socket sizes. The rachet direction mechanism is finicky and doesn't always stay put once set. If you're only using the ReadyWrench for holding nuts/bolts, then no rachet is needed.
This does NOT take the place of a good socket set. It's OK to throw in the trunk of a car or sit on your work bench, but the idea that it will fit all those SAE or METRIC sockets is wrong. It will ALMOST fit those sizes. If you are going to do any serious work, consider a 3/8" socket set, with SAE and METRIC, 6 point (that's 6 point) sockets, as a starter. This will handle most everything you will come up against. You can put a pipe "cheater" on the handle for more leverage. Later, you could add a 1/4" and a 1/2" socket set (again, 6 point, none of that 12 point nonsense) Ive been working on cars and things for 50 years. Take my advice.
I was looking to buy this to free up space in my bike tool box when noticed that it doesn't have a 12mm socket. 10 and 12mm are the most common size and without it this tool isn't much good. Glad I read the full description and watched the video.I can't imagine what they were thinking, maybe the SAE fits the 12mm.
This is a useful item. A good wrench to keep in your car of truck because it doesn't take up as much space as a full socket set. I found the large head doesn't fit in narrow spaces like a regular socket set and the rotating head lets the socket slip off the nut if you're not careful...in my opinion, not for the professional or weekend mechanic.
I gave this to each of the 3 men in my family as gifts and they all raved about it. I don't know a lot about tools but I thought if one tool can save using a bunch of other "parts" on the job, maybe my guys might just like it - and they did! The gift was a hit.
I was extremely excited to receive this product and when it came I put it right to work. After about ten minutes of trying to get it to stay on the size I selected with minimal success, I finally gave up and threw it in the tool box and grabbed a real wrench. Not the tool for anyone who does any real "wrench-turning". - Gifts For Men - Adjustable Wrench - Tools - All-in-one'
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Hip Scarf
This scarf is definitely lively! While it doesn't have loud sound of a coin scarf, it's perfect for dance classes - I can hear my teacher instead of coins. It is gorgeous when the sun/light hits it as well. Multi-Row Paillettes Gold Coins Belly Dance Wrap & Hip Scarf, Lively Style -hot pink
I wore this to bellydance class this morning, in all hot pink attire, and it was so pretty--I was a bit distracted staring at it in the mirror! The paillettes make it special but the hot pink is just gorgeous. This is my fav style (have several) and love that it's all chiffon and hand-made. Great scarf!'
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Electric Staple Gun - pneumatic stapler, staplers
I have been using these staples for many years, it's great for my screening outdoors as it will not rust. I use it indoors too. I tried using the regular stapels outside, but they rust and discolor my wood after one season.
There is not too much to say about a staple, just that it will not rust no matter what. That in itself allows me to highly reccomend this product, I only wish they made this in larger sizes, for I cannot find it anywhere. Arrow Fastener 506SS1 Genuine T50 Stainless Steel 3/8-Inch Staples, 1,000-Pack - Pneumatic Stapler - Stanley - Staplers - Upholstery'
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Vibrating Alarm - watches, moon phase
I had two other watches with audible alarms -- which failed to alert me in crowded areas. This watch's vibrating alarm works very well despite noisy surroundings, and the night light numerals are very clear and readable even without my glasses. I'm very satisfied with the product. Setting it is not intuitive and requires following the written instructions that accompany the watch. Casio Men's PAS400B-5V Pathfinder Forester Fishing Moon Phase Watch
I bought this watch for my fishing addicted oldman.
I did all the setup for him. He loves the watch, he wears it even not go fishing. His friends keep asking where to get one.
Its not too big as i thought.
Very nice leather, cloth band and 100m water resist,5stars for the moon phase feature.
Too bad it doesnt have navigator and tide chart, not with $35 lol...
A very nice, fun and afordable gift.
This is a nice watch. Easy to read the display and to understand the display. I like all the moon information. The vibrating alarms are great, although I'm not certain it will wake you up. It will also vibrate every hour, if you want it to. It has a timer that can be paused and restarted. The setup is easy but you'll have to go online to find your longitude and latitude and zone number. The watch band is comfortable and I think looks very nice. I never fish, so you don't have to be a fisherman to enjoy it. It would be great for astronomers and anyone who just would like to know what the moon is up to.
I liked this watch and all it does. I'm a guy with a small wrist, so the size of the face is perfect. However, the band, does not adjust down to my wrist size( 7 1/4). Also, Casio doesn't make a different replacement band, and the face is so unique you can't buy an after-market band because it won't fit. Sadly, I had to return the watch because I can't use it. - Vibrating Alarm - Watches - Moon Phase - Water Resistant'
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Digital Camera - digital photo, like it
Disclaimer: This particular review isn't being written from an avid photographer's point of view.
I needed a small, inexpensive, good-quality, easy-to-use camera for my job and the Fuji e510 I bought in 2005 just wasn't cutting it. The Fuji was good for its time, had manual settings capability, but had a painfully small viewer and was too complicated for my uses which require quickly taking good-quality indoor pictures with normal room lighting (no flash preferred).
I was looking at the Nikon L20/21's, then I saw that this new (Spring 2011) model L24 came out. I've used it on enough jobs to feel I can properly judge its operation and image quality and so far, I'm very pleased.
My job is a self-employed computer tech and I do a lot of on-site subcontracted work for companies that service electronics manufacturers' warranties. My main use for this camera is taking good, clear indoor before/after photos of various electronic devices and related components. My requirements are a large LCD viewer, the ability to use common AA batteries, have my settings (date/time, photo mode) retained after batteries were removed and replaced, and a quick way to transfer images to my PC's that doesn't rely solely on a USB cable.
Preferring not to have to deal with camera angle or cumbersome tricks to reduce flash reflection from shiny surfaces, I was hoping to find something that would allow effective non-flash settings where a semi steadily-held camera could take clear, acceptable indoor pictures as required by the companies that I do work for.
As much as I tried, I could not get good, consistent results with the e510 but I seem to have found that camera with the L24.
So far with the L24, I've taken pictures of HDTV televisions (displays powered both on and off), PCB boards, product labels, macro shots of venting capacitors, etc. - all without flash, using only ambient room lighting.
For me, time is an important factor and with these onsite job shots, I do not have the time or desire to do pre-shot adjustments or after-processing like resizing, gamma-tweaking, or cropping. The shots I take need to be ready to be attached to an email or be uploaded to technician portals. The settings that I have found that work for me is the "white balance" and "motion detect" set for auto, resolution set for 1024x768 (for email-ready small file and dimension), and flash set for "off".
As long as my subjects aren't in the shadows, the camera is held relatively steady, and the images framed properly, my pictures have been clear and all I have to do once I return home is transfer to my PC, attach and send. The settings as described above allow clear pictures for my uses in both regular and macro modes.
The camera remembers my settings with its AA batteries out and its 3" LCD viewer lets me verify a good shot (they've all been pretty good so far).
Connectivity:
All of my PC's have a card slot that accommodates the SD type, so if the included UC-E6 cable isn't handy, I remove the SD card from the camera and transfer images that way. If I needed more of these cables, I can get them for $4 each on eBay.
You don't have to use a SD card (camera has 17MB built-in) but I do recommend using a card for the extra storage and image-transfer/connectivity options.
When buying a SD card, consider the card-reading compatibility with your existing equipment if you intend on using using the card to transfer images. Some card readers do not read SDHC (high-capacity) cards, I was aware of this potential compatibility issue beforehand and bought a standard SD 2GB (not a SDHC) card.
I'm sure once more people buy this camera, more features than I covered will be discussed. There are settings on the L24 that I will probably never use. In my quick tour through the menu settings (haven't read the manual yet - haha) I didn't see where you can manually adjust aperture or shutter speed independently but there is an exposure control. The lack of manual settings might be a minus for serious photographers but like I said before, photography isn't a hobby for me - I just want to take good pictures easily and quickly. Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD (Red)
I purchased this camera for quick access during vacation and travel. Although the camera cannot zoom very far it still is a very good camera. Takes very clear pictures and can be slipped into your pockets very easily into my pocket. Transferring pictures is very easy just hook up the camera into the computer and click the you want and drag to the desktop. The only problem i have with the camera is that it has a hard time focusing on small texts. For example i want to copy a receipt and send it to the manufacturer it would come out blurry.
Overall this is a great camera and i would highly recommend this for travel or for quick takes - Digital Frames - Super Zoom - Like It - Digital Photo'
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Harry Potter Costume - glasses, costumes
Our son really looks like Harry Potter in these glasses and they fit his face really well --he is 7 years old but is about the size of a 9 or 10 year old. They fit me, too, and I am small adult -I think they fit the target Harry Potter age group well. Very nice quality for a costume; the lenses even offer UV protection! The frames are like low quality regular glasses that you would get from glasses store. Harry's Glasses Wire
If you think you are ordering officially licensed Harry Potter glasses with the Harry Potter name on the side (that fit most, have UV protection and that most reviewers really like), I would not place your order if it is to be filled by Cashco1000. They sent me a cheap alternative (that is not licensed, does not have the name on the side, etc. and is not only too big for my 7-year-old, but is also too big for me and my 6'1" husband). Cashco1000 says that this happens all the time. If your Amazon picture shows the officially licensed glasses, according to Cashco1000, Amazon posted this without their knowledge. Their picture should be of the cheap alternative (that should not, in my humble opinion, possibly get a positive review by anybody unrelated to that seller's company). Seller does say I'll get a full refund, but I'm still out my time and energy. Please be careful out there fellow shoppers.
I bought these glasses when I bought the robe. I am very pleased with both purchases. I had previously purchased the plastic rimmed glasses which did not last. In fact, the first pair broke within seconds! The metal rimmed glasses are still intact after a month of not very gentle play. Overall a good deal.
These glasses are a great addition to the Harry Potter costume. The quality is good (my 6-year-old boy hasn't broken them yet) and they really help make my son look more like Harry Potter.
I let my kids wear their costumes any time of year to get the most out of the money spent on any given costume. I think the cost of these glasses has already been worth it in the few weeks since we've received them.
I ordered these for my son, for his Harry Potter Halloween costume. Nice quality! He is a large child for the age of 7, and these fit very well. I am sure they would even fit a much older child. We just took them to a local eyeglass place, and they fitted the glasses for us for free. I didn't want to risk bending them myself, so it was nice to have these properly fitted, and they won't fall off. - Glasses - Costumes - Accessories - Costume'
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