Articulating Wall Mount - cable management, articulating wall mount

Visit Store Now !!

I bought a pair of these 2 gang plates to hide the cables that would otherwise be visible dropping from my wall mounted TV to the cabinet beneath it. Mount the top plate behind your TV with the opening facing down, and the bottom plate behind your cabinet with the opening facing up.



I was initially wondering if a 1, 2, or 3 gang was the correct size. I'm glad I chose the 2 gang as it comfortably fits 2 HDMI cables, 1 optical cable, 1 analog audio cable, 1 component video cable, and VGA/audio cable. I can drop cables from the top plate and not fuss too much pulling them out the bottom plate.



Don't mistakenly think you could probably squeeze the cables in a 1 gang version. While the combined width of the cables might fit, getting all the connectors through would be near impossible I would think. I measure the widest point of the opening at 2-7/8" for this 2 gang.



7/28/10 Update - Product still performs well. DataComm 45-0002-WH 2-Gang Recessed Low Voltage Cable Plate (White)

Nice product, durable good construction. Used it to run my tv wires behind the wall. Does what you want it to do. Would like this packaged with the backing brackets instead of having to oder them seperatly but I guess if you already have a gang box in the wall you wouldn't need them.

These wall plates are perfect for wires exiting the wall in a bundle. I ran 3 HDMI and two composite wires and the double gang plate worked ideally. I can push the wires back into the wall to where they barely show and it makes the entire installation look very neat overall.

Good build quality, easy to install with a Dual Gang Low Voltage Mounting Bracket. I'm definitely glad I went with the 2-gang plate as I have about 7 cables going through the wall. Would purchase again.

I bought '2' of these and will by 4 more.. They are great for low voltage. I just wish they came with the metal bracket.. ended up going to HD and got some for a 2 dollars, but would ahve been nicer to get in one package..

The construction on this product feels solid and the finish is good. A pair of these is an ideal solution to hide wires for a flat screen TV wall mount.



One tip: use a dual gang wall mount bracket to mark cutout area on drywall, mount the bracket onto drywall and then this wall plate onto the bracket.



Second tip: You can not run a high voltage power cable directly behind the drywall via a plate such as this. This would be a building code violation in most places. You can only use this to run low voltage wires such as your hdmi and audio cables. To hide the TV's power wire, provide an electrical outlet directly behind the TV or use a product such as the following: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002KF438I/ref=oss_product

Used in our media closet where there about 30 wires coming up through one hole. Not as pretty as some other solutions but about 1/50th the cost of setting up speaker contacts, usb, hdmi, ethernet, power, etc., etc. wall plates.



Good quality construction. I wouldn't personally be happy if it was in a wall that was readily visible (I might go with a brush plate or appropriate wall plate) but still a better option than a hole in the wall.

Available in 1 gang or 2 gang size, this pass-through wall plate is essential if you plan to wall mount a TV and don't want to see wires. Perfect when doing new construction projects (as I am now), this allows you to create a huge conduit between the TV and a lower area on the wall (presumably hidden by furniture holding the components).



Unlike some similar products, this has a flush face from the wall (I've seen others that protrude). This allows for a very clean finish and will not interefere with the wall mounted TV or other furniture.



My project is still in progress, but once complete I will post some photos of this in practical application.



Wonderful product!! - Home Theater - Cable Management - Articulating Wall Mount - Wall Plate'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

cable management

Surge Protectors - surge protection, power strip

Visit Store Now !!

Normally I don't review accessories such as these, but it really makes a huge difference with all the crazy different power adapters I have. If you think you don't, remember the chargers for your digital camera or NiMH AA charger.



Most modern compact battery chargers tend to fall out of most power sticks. For example, a AA charger or for your digital camera. Instead, you can angle them at 45 degrees so they will rest on the shelf or floor and not budge. Also, a portable wifi can also sit at an angle, rather than just popping out under its weight. The big adapters are additional supported by other cables that you may run horizontally. Check out the picture I posted to see what I mean.



Every other power stick would only have 1/3 of its plugs usable; not only that, but they would fall out too easily. Not with this belkin.



It actually handles a higher surge than many out there. I've simultaneously powered: my 17" Apple, 24" monitor, three externall hard drives, a monster stereo, a scanner, a printer, a wifi, an NiMH charger, and lithium battery charger, and even an electric razor. Works fanastic without a glitch.



Also shows you if its properly grounded and protected with indicator lights. Organizes wires and through a pop up loop. Protects the cable as well.



Only complaint: I wish the cord was maybe 5 feet longer. I hooked a high quality extension to it instead Belkin Pivot-Plug Surge Protectors

most surge protectors list a joule rating, and sadly this product page didn't have one. i checked belkin's site and they didn't have one either!



luckily, i have a friend who works for them, and they let me know the spec. this wall mount protector has a 1080J rating.



hope this helps people.

I've used cheap surge protectors only for the fact that I don't have enough outlets. When I heard that a friend blew out all his home theater devices with a lightning strike, I figured I should invest in a good one. The ones I already had are 6-8 outlets, but not all plugs are the same. Sometimes a plug will take two spots instead of one for some proprietary design. Since Amazon has everything, I searched and found the Belkin Surge Protector. Now I am a bit impressed with a "Surge Protector", of all things.



Basically it is one strong unit that has twelve (12) outlets. Eight (8) of these are flexible/rotating for those odd-ball plugs. On one Belkin, I was able to connect my Television, Receiver, DVD players (2), Satellite Television box, multiple CD Player/Changer, a Light fixture, a Satellite Speaker Transmitter, and two Sub-woofers. The eight (8) foot cord is more than long enough as my electrical socket is very close. I don't have a phone jack in my living room, so I didn't need that (it is a good idea), but the 1-in, 1-out coaxial-cable protection makes me feel very good about protection.



It says that it has 4,320 Joules of Surge Protection and I have no idea what that means, but when combined with a $300,000 "Connected Equipment Warranty", I guess I don't need to. It would be curious to see if it failed and if Belkin would actually pay up on a faulty surge protector, but it's a very nice warranty. It has been on for four days now and it is not even warm. For the price, Belkin gave me a lot of piece of mind.



Now I think I'll buy another for my PC set-up. That is an entirely different issue!

The idea behind this is great, with the rotating outlets for transformers. However, look carefully and you'll see that they've blown it. On each side there are 4 rotating outlets, which are very close to each other. No problem, you might think, since you can rotate them. So let's assume you'll try to alternate one transformer with the outlet stick straight up with the next rotated 90 degrees so that the alternate transformer is plugging in at a 90 degree angle to the first one.



This works, except that if you have a 3-prong transformer there is only one way they will plug in, and that's with the cord sticking out/down, which means that the Belkin won't sit flat but will have cords pointing 'down', forcing it up in the air and putting stress of the cords running from the transformer. If many of your transformers are only 2-prong then you may be able to insert them so that this isn't an issue.



Belkin makes another 12 outlet device that's similar except that it's flatter and doesn't have rotating outlets. It only handles six transformers (3 per side) but they are very widely spaced. Also, it is heavier and seems of much higher quality.

I ordered three of these for the Home Theater and office set-ups. I utilized all the strip to minimize "vampire appliance" and turn the strips off every night. All of them failed in less than one year due to the bad switch. It may be the springs under the power button that wears out. It is a design flaw that needs to be address. - Surge Protection - Belkin - Surge Protectors - Power Strip'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

surge protectors

Camera Filter - 52mm, filter

Visit Store Now !!

Having had Tiffen filters in three of my lenses, I was getting uncrisp, almost faded looking photos in the day time, and heavily flared nightime photos. At first I thought it was due to my relatively low budget Nikon D40 camera and lens setup.



After much trial and error and eventually suspecting the filters, I tried the Zeikos and what an amazing eye-opener. The pictures are now much crisper, more contrasty and professional looking. The flare is still an issue but only mildly and occasionally, and never nowhere near as bad as the Tiffens were. And the Zeikos online cost about a third of what I paid for the Tiffens at the camera store.



Zeikos is probably not the best out there, but for the low price they're probably among the best values.



The Tiffens are going in the garbage. Zeikos ZE-UV52 52mm Multi-Coated UV Filter

I'm not an expert but this filter is average. I put it on the end of my K-7 DSLR and it workes when it comes to protection, but I did see some flare when it comes to the sky. It's ok but I am going to invest in a higher quality filter instead of being cheap and having an average one. If you want protection, then this is good, but warning it will affect your image quality slightly.

The reason I gave it two stars is based on two things:

1. It seems to me that the filter is not multi-coated. Normally, a multi-coated lens has colorful reflection (red, greeen...etc.). The filter shows nothing like no coating glass.

2. The filter has thick ring which may not be good for wide angle lens.

But for the price, it works well on my 50mm lens.

...but you sure can't tell by looking at it.



The purpose of multi-coating is to reduce reflections from the surface of the glass. These filters appear to have the same reflectivity as a plain piece of glass. And, unlike every other multi-coated filter that I own, reflections from this Zeikos filter are untinted. As far as I know, that's pretty much impossible with a true multi-coated filter.



My conclusion? Either the filters I received have serious manufacturing defects or somebody is shading the truth. Since other reviewers have commented about the lack of tinted reflections, I'm assuming it's the latter. Both this and the 72mm one were returned to Amazon for refunds.

This is a great addition to my canon 50mm f1.8 lens. It helps protect it from dirt and finger prints. The built was pretty good and the glass was perfect. I haven't seen any problems with photo's with the lens on. I recommend this filter just because its cheap, its glass, and it protects your lens.

The filter is cheap and does it's job, which is protect the lens. It does not eliminate or even reduce solar flaring, shouldn't expect that for ~$2 or so. Consider it a clear piece of glass that protects your lens while not interfering with the image quality. If you go in with that mindset you won't be disappointed. I use it on all of my lenses (Nikon, 18-55, 55-200, 35mm f/1.8) and it's been great. Cheapest insurance I've ever bought.

This lens actually works pretty well. I didn't expect a lot for 3 dollars, but it works well. Upon screwing it on, I noticed a difference in little UV rays on the screen when filming outside below a tree in the sunlight. Some of it is still there, but the lens doesn't seem to deteriorate the quality of my video at all. For the money, it's a no brainer. If you have the money I'd maybe look into a little higher quality filter, I doubt this one is multi-layered like the description says, but for the money It's a great buy.

I bought this filter and a 58mm. I didn't expect too much for this price, but I was happily surprised! I use Pentax lenses and it fit's on the threads perfectly. The lens cap also fits on it great. It is also really thin so it's barely noticeable. I thought the rim would probably be made of plastic, but it's made of metal. It also came in a hard case, which is great to have. It came clean and without smudges. I haven't done any real extreme photography with it yet but I haven't noticed anything diffrent with my pictures, so I can't complain. - 52mm - Lens Filter - Camera Filter - Filter'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

52mm

Travel Water Heater - beverage heater, tea

Visit Store Now !!

Works as advertised. Great for travel. However, you need to be careful that you do not remove it from the cup before you disconnect it. There is an internal fuze that turns the heater off if it gets too hot. Once that happens its shot.

I liked this product but nowhere on my box did it say that if you ever let it boil dry or get too hot, it would be PERMANENTLY disabled! Believe me, I looked when mine stopped working suddenly. I only found out what had happened when I went to buy a replacement. Works great but $15 plus shipping is a little steep for a product you can destroy so easily. How hot is too hot? Just a big caveat.

It does exactly what it says. Compact & good price but $8 for shipping bumps it up a bit. Arrived promptly. It works on dual voltage by taking twice as long to boil a cup of water in the US (110V) as compared to Europe (220 - 240V). 10 minutes plus in the US but I am sure it is worth the wait for a good cup of tea!

My dad travels a lot and he was looking for something like this which can heat up a cup of water in a jiffy. This does the job beautifully. He lives in an asian country where the voltage is 240V and this worked perfectly. A cup of water comes to a boil in less than 3 minutes ! Pretty darn amazing !!

Cheaply made, designed with a self-destruct fuse that permanently kills the unit the first time it senses the unit is hot. Might fail your first use, might last up to a dozen uses, but it's designed to fail pretty quickly. I've bought at least three dozen of these various places during my years of constant travel, and they all fail, no matter how religiously you obey the instructions, don't blame yourself because THEY ARE DESIGNED TO FAIL.

I just think of them now as disposables. If one lasts two uses, I've broken even vs. the price of a cup of coffee. If it works the third time, I'm ahead in savings and convenience; if it lasts a fourth use, I've doubled the price I paid in savings over room service/Starbucks.



Like other reviewers I'd gladly pay much more for a reliable product that does its simple job without self-destructing, but quality US immersion heaters are no longer made. Another industry sold off to China.

One alternative if you're going to Europe/UK: buy a heater locally, you may find better quality, not all there are made in China...yet.



A bulkier less convenient option is to buy a $15-20 variable-dial electric travel 'hot pot'--they too are cheaply made in China, and you're boiling in plastic, but they last much longer than these coils, and with many models you can make soup, boil eggs, etc. See reviews there.

This travel immersion should is very dangerous and should not be used or sold. When our heater arrived, there was a notice that indicated that the heater was made in china, it contains lead, and you should wash your hands after using it. We were going to use the heater to heat coffee or tea while on travel so you can imagine our surprise. If I could give this less than one star I would definitely do that; I am really surprised that Amazon and others are selling this dangerous product. If you don't take my word for it, buy it for yourself and you will see.

I am extremely disappointed with this product. The plastic clip broke the second time I used it. It heats water, but it takes a long time (greater than 5 minutes) to heat an 8 ounce cup. I don't recommend the product unless you want to overpay for a device that marginally works and is cheaply constructed. - Beverage Heater - Immersion Heater - Tea - Electric Tea Kettle - Hot Water'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

beverage heater

Cordless Reciprocating Saw - jig saw, cordless saw

Visit Store Now !!

Powerful compact saw. Won't last for larger projects, but for $32 it's great to have.

4 stars due to non-variable speed.



Pros:

-Small, light-weight

-Powerful enough for light/medium work

-Replacement saw blades found easily at dollar/discount stores

-Li-ion battery, no memory effect, charge when you feel like it without hurting the battery.





Cons:

-Only 1 speed - either it's on or off, no variable speed available.

-The LED light is nice, BUT, it only comes on when the saw is on. It would be nice if you could press the trigger half way to trigger the light so that you could see before cutting.

-Battery is built in, and uses a ac/dc adapter with a non-generic plug.

-No charging indicator light, and no way to tell when charge is complete or if it's even charging. I called customer service and they recommended leaving the charger plugged in for a minimum of 7 hours when the device shows signs of the battery running low. Black & Decker LPS7000 Lithium-Ion CompactSaw

Great for lite tasks. Would have given it 5 stars but:



1) the description does NOT indicate:



"... accepts T-Shank blades only. Thin kerf 10tpi or higher blade recommended." which is on Page 8 of user guide."



That's because of the no-tool "Blade Clamp Release Lever" which is great, if you have the right blades.



Does not accept typical U-ended jig saw blades.



(2) You have to engage a spring lock for the saw to start. There is no on position since it always springs back to off/lock. Makes if difficult in tight situations where needing two hands won't fit. You have to start it, keep the saw on, and then get into the tight place where only one hand will fit.

I bought this and had it sent to my son for a project we were going to do at his apartment. Based on that one use, I can't say I love it because it ran out of charge half way through the cutting portion of the project. Mind you we only cut a 9 inch by 9 inch opening in a 1/2 inch piece of wood so I don't feel we taxed it at all and we had to leave it charging overnight to finish the task. Maybe it needed more than the 6 hour first time charge we gave it before using it. The saw is easy to use and light weight, the blade went in very easy and it will probably be OK for the few times a year my son may need a saw.

I purchased this becuase I was looking for a simple saw that could work as a jig saw but also as a hacksaw/recp saw. This seemeed to fit the bill. I wanted something simple to use that I could trim small branches with but also use to cut basic pipe. I haven't used it a lot but so far I am happy with it. I plan to add better blades than what came with it but other than that it seems like a decent quality product to me. - Jig Saw - Cordless Saw - Cordless Reciprocating Saw - Great Product'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Cordless Reciprocating Saw - jig saw, cordless saw cordless reciprocating saw Cordless Reciprocating Saw - jig saw, cordless saw

Ingrown Toenail - manscaping, nail

Visit Store Now !!

I don't get it. Some people spend tens, hundreds of dollars to take care of their cars, iPods and digital cameras. Then, go out and buy a pair of nail clippers - the cheapest ones - for $.99 at a gas station. Should it not be the other way around, I mean, it is your body. Last week I picked up a pair of these for $7 at my local Walgreens.



So far, no problems. I love them, and they are so sharp that you WILL make yourself bleed if you're not careful. Being used to 'gas station shears' I had no problem doing just so.



After buying and subsequently throwing away countless pairs of nail clippers, I decided to look for something that absolutely does not rust! I like to keep a pair of clippers in the shower, and my sink, porcelain covered metal frame, would develop brown rust spots after 1-2 days of a clipper being left there. That's when the Tweezerman set caught my eye, not because they were made in Asia like all the others, but because they



1) were advertised as stainless steel and

2) Guaranteed for life.



And in the event that I damaged them, it says here on the packaging that they will replace them at 1/2 price for me. (S&H not included). At $7 for new, I'm not sure if this means much, but at least it says they stand by the product. But for all that it's worth, the price (remember they are a whopping 7-10 times MORE expensive than the regular ones) is worth paying for in my opinion. Tweezerman His Stainless Nail Clipper Set

Instead of being the light, effective, well-designed, easy-to-use clippers available at any local store, these clippers are heavy, poorly designed (actually hurts my hands to press on them), they can't cut unless you experiment and experiment with every single angle on every single fingernail, and even then you worry that if you don't get it exactly right, you are going to end up accidentally cutting yourself. I have no idea what nail clippers all these other people are reviewing, but the ones I have don't work and turn something quick and easy into a massive chore. What a waste of money.

Maybe my toenails are just too thick, but this cutter just is not heavy duty enough to cut them... I threw them away upon first use. My old toenail cutters were the same design but I don't know who made them...they worked fine... heavier duty metal and much sharper. These are junk IMHO.

I was so excited to purchase this set for my husband whom is very pickey about his clippers. Him and I both love tweezerman tweezers, so I figured that these would be equally impressive. Well, they're not. They are so hard to press down. My nails are thick, but my husband and sons aren't at all. My son's are actually very thin, so there should not have been any problem with his at all. If you need a real workout for your hand, then go ahead and get these, if not, consider something else. I'm going to continue my search for the perfect clippers. If these loosen up, I'll update my review, but I don't think there's any hope.

I love these nail clippers. We have many pair because these are the only ones my husband will use. Cuts even the toughest, thickest nails with ease. I have had less problems with in grown toe nails since I switched to this brand.

Pros:

* They look good

Cons:

* Cut is not clean- thin flap left holding the trimming to the nail so that you then have to tear or pull the trimming off and then file the ragged edge.

* blades are tall and vertical so that it's a challenge to get them under the nail (between the nail and fingertip).

It's nice to cut your nails when they're wet. They cut easier and are less likely to blast into someone's eye. Hence it's nice to have stainless steel nail clippers that you might take into a shower or something.



However I left my Tweezerman fingernail clippers in the shower ONE day and the darned thing started rusting where the blades are welded together!



So I've kept the toenail clippers out of the shower and tossed the fingernail clippers. However the toenail clippers are destined for the trashcan too. Take a close look at the toenail clipper. Blow up that picture. The shape of the cut is convex! Now imagine using that on your toenails. Most people on the planet want a concave cut that rounds your nails so they don't scratch and tear at things. However this toenail clipper gives a convex cut and will give your toenails horns!



Caveate Emptor.

Looking at the other reviews I must have gotten some bad ones. No doubt these are junk. I purchased two. I threw one in the trash. It would not cut anything. The pair I have kept are going in the trash too. They cut sometimes. The handle is not comfortable. I contacted the manufacturer and they showed no interest in replacing. I have some 59 cent clippers that are better than these. I would not recommend these to anyone. - Nail Clippers - Clippers - Manscaping - Nail'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Ingrown Toenail - manscaping, nail clippers Ingrown Toenail - manscaping, nail

Otterbox Defender - defender, otterbox

Visit Store Now !!

I waited anxiously for Otterbox to release this case and ordered mine within minutes of receiving the "Defender Released" e-mail. I received the case on Friday and I must admit, it did not disappoint.



First impressions: The case is of great quality and a lot of detail went into making it compatible with all the OEM "accessories". The holster is among the best I've seen for a phone of this size and works perfectly with the case.



After carrying it for two days (and this is already my 3rd iPhone 4 case - I am rough on my phones): The case is without a doubt the most durable I've seen for the iPhone 4 and lives up to the reputation that Otterbox has built over the years.



Cons: The case does add considerable bulk to the phone and may not be perfect for pocket carriers. It does include a holster which works great and can rotate for vertical or parallel carrying of the phone.





Miscellaneous: I have no complaints really, but I am left to wonder if the silicone "flaps" that cover the earphone and USB plug-ins could have been a little more user-friendly. Sometimes they are frustrating to get back into their proper "closed" position.



Edited one month after using: I am still extremely happy with the case. I have dropped my phones a few times already and though the case is starting to show signs the abuse I have provided it the phone still looks pristine! I opened up the case this morning to clean the phone etc and to my surprise there wasn't much to clean. With cases I've owned in the past I would have a forest of lint, dust etc. that would trap itself between the case and the phone. The Otterbox has minimized that debris!





I am uploading several photos showing the difference between a "bare" iPhone 4 and an iPhone 4 in the Defender case so everyone can get an idea of how much "protection" and in turn "bulk" this case adds to the phone.



Edited to add: Amazon removed my pictures when the placed the phone back in a "pre-order" status, I will re-upload them again once they allow. I'm not sure why they state "pre-order" when it should state "Back-ordered, will deliver in xx to xx weeks", but I digress. OtterBox Defender Case for iPhone 4 (White/Pink, Retail Packaging, Fits AT&T iPhone)

Otterbox defender for my iPhone 3Gs was the best thing I ever did for that phone! It fell into and was completely submerged in a 5 gallon pot of BBQ sauce - and rinsed off with the sprayer in the sink. Phone continued to operate flawlessly!



As soon as I bought iPhone 4 - I immediately ordered an otterbox case for it. It took over a month to arrive and when it finally did - I could immediately tell it did not offer the same amount of protection as the Otterbox for the 3Gs.



I'm constantly fighting the rubber covering -- if I pull it out of my pocket I have to push it back into place all the way around the phone.



The screen protector is better -- the bubbles are gone from the previous version. I like that.



The flaps that cover the charger port and headphone jack suck! They never stay in place and to get them to lock down is a pain. Debris can easily infiltrate into the case through these openings. I find that I have to take the phone completely out of the case and clean the phone and the case more often than I ever did with the other phone/otterbox.



Maybe they were just in a hurry to get a case that would fit the quick arrival of iPhone4. I hope the case is revamped and the thought is completed. I really need and want the kind of protection and rugged durability that the other case provided for 3Gs.



Regardless of what I hate about this case, it's still the BEST case that you can put on the new iPhone 4 if you're hard on your phone. Just wish it was better...

**** 02/12 update: I bought an AT&T case to get one fast at a discount and it works fine until the price drops on the universal case. The Verizon silent mode button is partially covered so if you use silent mode a lot and have big fingers, you might want to wait or buy from the manufacturer. The headphone jack doesn't align quite right with my Verizon phone, but just open the silicone port. And now this is a genuine five star review. I really like this case. It is sturdy and protective, looks stylish, feels comfortably grippy and it was easy to install the phone. Box directions are minimal but Otterbox has a simple video that takes you through it. *****



I just called Otterbox and a very nice lady in Customer Service says they have a universal design ready to fit both AT&T and Verizon phones, to be released 02/10/11. I suppose Amazon will have these as well. Hope they do all the same colors.



Important to know because the Verizon iPhone has some ports and controls in a slightly different place than its AT&T sister and this case would not fit both phones.



Just thought you should know. Glad I did some research before I bought this one. Yes, I know this isn't a real review but not everyone reads comments. At least I'm not one of those tiresome people who posts a one star review because something went wrong with the shipping. - Defender - Otterbox Defender - Iphone 4 - Otterbox'

Detail Products
Detail Reviews
Click here for more information

Otterbox Defender - defender, otterbox defender Otterbox Defender - defender, otterbox