Saturday 29 August 2009

Refrigerator Filters - whirlpool water filter, refrigerator filters


Sorry folks, but I don't know if I got a lemon or what, but after following instructions on how to install the filter,etc, the end result was water tasting like plastic. The only way i can assume this happened is that the filter sat in the warehouse in the dog days of summer long before it came into the consumers hands. Too bad because it installed and was fine otherwise, but the taste cannot be ignored. Amazon had the best price for this but if I were you, I would probably buy locally if you can. Otherwise, it's a crapshoot in terms of knowing if you will get one that is free from plastic taste or not. Whirlpool 8171413 KitchenAid Side-by-Side Refrigerator Water Filter, 1-Pack

Last time I purchased one of these filters was at Best Buy. It cost $35. I was very pleased to find such a great deal here. I haven't seen them cheaper anywhere else. Can't beat the ease or economy of it!

The water filter was a manufacturer filter, but at a better price than Whirlpool had on their own website. The order arrived on time and in great condition. I will definitely purchase from this retailer again.

At first I was a little scared, since it only worked intermittently after installation. I think that it just had to work out some air bubbles. After that, I have had clean delicious water with no debris at all. Definitely works better than I expected!

I can only compare the price of this filter with local purchasing and not the quality of the filter. The price is about 1/3 of what it cost to but the same exact at the store locally. I ave purchased 2 times and am satisfied.

Quick shipping. Good water filter although the recommended replacement of six months is a poor design (My filters that I used inline prior to the inside mount would last 2 years). Much better price than home depot. ($10-$15 more.) - Fridge Filter - Whirlpool Water Filter - Whirlpool - Refrigerator Filters'


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Refrigerator Filters - whirlpool water filter, refrigerator filters refrigerator filters Refrigerator Filters - whirlpool water filter, refrigerator filters

Highly Recommended


We bought the Rio, thinking we were stepping up from the Sevylor Tahiti we also own. I was disappointed & like the Tahiti better, even though the Tahiti is a cheaper boat.



The Rio has a nice, tough hull; a tough fabric shell over an inflatable core. But in the water, it fish-tailed too much. When the wind blew, it blew me & the Rio quickly across the water where I didn't want to go. I think it sits higher in the water than the Tahiti & that's probably why it was at the wind's mercy. Don't know if you can get a skeg for the Rio, but you will need one. We sold our Rio but love our Tahiti. Sevylor Inflatable Rio Canoe - Green

Two years ago I purchased a Sevylor Tahiti kayak. I wanted to try it out on some class 1 rapids. It was the worst kayak I have ever tried to use. Due to the very thin material it was punctured very easily and the cold temp. of the water was causing it to get soft very frequently before the puncture occurred. I know it was not made for that, but I just figured it was a Sevylor. My father and I last year purchased a Rio and it was one of the best purchases that we have ever made. Both of us took this kayak through a class 3 rapid and hit several rocks as well as getting hung-up on debris many times through out the trip downriver with this thing. Not a puncture on either. They held their air through the cold of the water pretty well also. We only had to refill them once during the trip. If you're looking for an inexpensive, very maneuverable, durable, beginner kayak with a lot of features then this is an excellent choice.

The Rio is not the best whitewater kayak, nor is it the best touring kayak , but for the price, it's the perfect multi-purpose boat. I use mine to paddle rivers, lakes and the ocean. It has enough agility to manuver around rocks and through rapids, and if you paddle evenly, it will track reasonably well on flat water. The thick cover protecting the tubes is so much better than the Tahiti-type boats, that I never wory about springing a leak. The seat is very comfortable and elevated a few inches off of the bottom of the boat to help keep your backside dry. It's not a true self-bailer, but there is a plug in the rear that can be removed to allow water to drain if you're in big waves or whitewater. Overall, I'm very pleased with my little Sevylor Rio. For a kayak, it is extremely stable, even when fishing; it's easy and comfortable to paddle, and it is very well-built. I totally recommend this boat. In fact, I'm looking to buy one for my wife now too.

I bought two of these boats (Rio and Colorado) for moderate whitewater. They are the same boat and only differ in length to accommodate the number of paddlers. I have now ran 20 miles of mild rivers (Class I and II) with them without any issues. My wife paddles the Rio solo and I paddle the Colorado with my daughter in the front. I am very pleased with both the engineering and material of the boats but need to use them more to see how durable they are. I chose these over the Aire Tomcats because of price and so far I think I made the right choice. I expect the Aires to be better boats but for family use these should work great. If it is needed we will upgrade later on but based on reviews with some reasonable care we should be able to use these for many years. These are very stable but I suspect their limit to be rapids III+ or IV. We will do our first III run this weekend!



So far we have got these stuck in rocks several times (low water levels) with no visible sign of wear. The bottom of the boats is a very tough plastic and seems to be doing its job. As some other reviewers commented these are not really designed for flat water so paddling in flat water or slow moving rivers is manageable but tedious. They track reasonably well in flat water for an inflatable but if you expect hardshell kayak tracking you will be disappointed. The paddle choices depends on the number of paddlers. Two paddlers could handle the Colorado with canoe paddles but I would not want to paddle the Colorado solo or the Rio with a canoe paddle. If paddling the Colorado solo or with a child (my daughter weight 50lbs) you want to invert the seats and paddle backwards as this helps balance the boat lengthwise. It tracks much better this way. If you will only inflate one of these boat you can do with a manual pump but if you have two you definitely want to use an electric pump initially and finish the inflation with a manual pump. Inflating these to the correct pressure without a pressure gauge is extremely difficult so I recommend to invest in a pressure gauge. I bought a "Bravo" and rigged it to my Coleman dual action pump which is a great combo.



The correct kayak paddle length for paddlers irrespective of height is 240cms because of the fat and high side tubes. The problem with this was that paddles this long could not be found locally so we had to order online and wait for the delivery. If you insist in buying shorter paddles locally definitely don't go shorter than 230cms or you will not reach the water comfortably.



My operating procedure for these boats is the following: 1) unfold, 2) inflate main chambers for volume with a 12v pump quickpump, 3) inflate main chambers for pressure with a manual pump with pressure gauge , 4) Inflate seats with the manual pump, 5) tie seats, 6) launch.



After kayaking: 1) take out of water, 2) unplug drainage valve, 3) lift kayak to drain water, 4) dry with camp towel, 5) deflate manually, 6) deflate with pump, 7) dry again with camp towel, 8) unfasten seats, 9) fold, 10) drive home, 11) inflate for volume main chambers, 12) let dry for a day, 13) deflate with pump, 14) fold.

i own 2 of these and r very pleased with all about them. very durable and industructable. i use them in rapids, hunting and fishing in minnesota. hot and cold temps.i cant say enough good about these, great investment!!!'


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Highly Recommended Highly Recommended Highly Recommended

Camcorder Battery - kodak zi8, np-50


I bought two of these batteries to serve as spares for the KLIC7004 which powers my Kodak Zi8. They recharge in 90 minutes and are long lasting. I am quite pleased with them and would highly recommend them. As they are Li-Ion batteries they have no "memories" so it's quite permissible to take a half charged battery and recharge it frequently without causing any damage to it. In fact, the manufacturer even recommends it. They are an excellent value for the price. Maximalpower DB FUJ NP50 Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for Fuji NP50, Pentax DLI-68, Kodak KLIC7004 & Zi8

Went to Vegas with my new Fuji camera so I bought this battery as a backup. We were there for 4 days. The factory battery lasted 2 days and this battery made it the rest of the way and had some charge left when we came home. Between the two batteries I took around 400 pictures, a lot with flash at night. If you buy this you will not be dissapointed!

I bought this battery as a backup when I purchased the Kodak Zi8, and I'm so glad that I did. Maybe the Kodak battery that came with the camera is defective, but it lasts a shameful 30-45 minutes.



I'm not exactly sure how long the Maximalpower battery lasts because it hasn't died yet! I recently took both batteries on a trip to San Francisco. The Kodak battery died within the first hour of use while the Maximal lasted the whole weekend. I even got home and began watching videos from my trip on the camera's playback mode and it STILL hasn't died :)

I bought two of these replacement batteries for my Koday Playsport because the original battery that comes with the camera has very poor battery life so I wanted to have some backup. It's really good, it has a good battery life. The package says it's battery life will improve over time (after 6 full cycles) and it's true.



And the best part is that this battery is SUPER cheap. Get it, you won't regret it.

Could not be better for the price. We purchased 2 of these to use in our Kodak Playsport during a recent cruise to the Caribbean. Both worked as well as the one that came with the Kodak Playsport. To get the maximum life from the battery you should fully charge and discharge it about two times when you receive the battery. We are happy with our purchase.

I bought this battery as a backup for our Kodak Playsport for our trip to Disney. We just returned and the battery did outstanding!! I had heard that these batteries had to be used a few times to get a long charge out of them but ours did great on the first charge. Very happy with the purchase.

I use this with my Zi8 camera. It works great when I am out filming something for a long time. This battery and the one that comes with the camera lasts about 40 minutes or so. I carry this battery in my pocket and when i am running low on the first one i just switch them. I like that the battery is cheap and i will probably end up getting more as I get more memory for my camera. I highly recommend this item. - Fuji - Camera Battery - Np-50 - Kodak Zi8'


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Catherine Hicks - 1990s, 7th heaven


The WB's ultimate secret ratings weapon has always been the little, unassuming family drama that chronicles the lives and all the things that come with it, in the big family circle of the Camden clan. Dad Eric(Stephen Collins), is a minister, and mom Annie(Catherine Hicks) is a super mom/housewife, and they have 5 kids, Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon, and little Ruthie. Season 1 showcased that well meaning family shows are still appreciated and needed, and so season 2 keeps up the sweet momentum that season 1 started. I am used to writing for shows with seasonal arcs, but 7th Heaven has never really had seasonal story arcs, although they may have a story that could carry over for some episodes. The premiere, "Don't Take My Love Away", is a nice opener, and carries over a few things from last season's ender, like Lucy with Jimmy Moon, and the aftermath of Mary's surgery. Season 2 doesn't stop short of season 1's message episodes. Season 2 will deal with issues like IRS problems in "Red Tape", The importance of hearing those special words in "I Love You", or the opposite, hearing those fearful words in "I Hate You", a powerful episode that also deals with Simon learning of a neighbor's time in a concentration camp. The unfair and hurtful tags that some people get pigeonholed in are examined in "Like A Harlot", where Matt takes a girl with a less than stellar reputation to the prom. The show, like in it's debut season, continues to show that they, and the writers, have a strong hold on young kids, to pre-teens, to teenagers, and things that can come with it. The young actors who portray the kids seem like real kids, although not all of them are up to par with their acting. Some get better over the course of the seasons. The solid foundations that the show is built on and continued to be carry on thru to the present seasons, are Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks, as Eric and Annie. They are old veteran pros who give the show it's validation in the acting department. Some other powerful and strong moments this season has to offer is "Rush To Judgement", which deals with sexual harrasment from a teacher. Who gets harrassed?. Just watch. The best episode of the season is "Who Knew", the show's first big "drug" episode, and still the best. The moments with Eric and Matt fighting are strong, and is just one highlight from a great episode. The danger of gangs and being in one hits close to home in "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", and a storyline about a friend's death really hits close to home for Bevery Mitchell(Lucy), in the outstanding "Nothing Endures But Change", which was based on a real life experience for her. She is great in this episode. The two part finale, "Boyfriends" and "...And Girlfriends" are two fun and frenetic episodes with some surprising and life changing events. It's best finale to date. One thing that is odd is the second ep, "See You In September", and the first day of school. It would fit more as a premiere, and the title doesn't make sense since it is September. It would of made more sense as the title for a season finale. Oh well. Once the show got into it's 7th season and onward, the writing fell flat and became 'off', but in these priceless early seasons(up to season 6), the show and it's episodes and plot lines, message filled or not, are heavenly indeed. The show is not preachy, it just tells things how they are and the rest of it is up to you. Why do I like such a show as 7th Heaven?. It's nice, it's sweet, it's homey. It's great comfort food to know that the Camden family are there every Monday night, and are now on DVD for fans to return home time and time again. 7th Heaven - The Complete Second Season

After watching this show stand firm and successful on the air for nearly 10 solid years, it is absolutely refreshing to go back to these early seasons. Those who have been keeping up with the show know where all the characters stand and what the Camden kids have grown to become, and as much as I have enjoyed the series' 10-year run in general, my favorite thing is returning to happier times with the early years, where Matt was a teenage searching for his role in life, Mary was a driven young lady with basketball serving a very valid identity for her, Lucy was an emotional 13-year-old trying desperately to be confident, Simon was a sweet and inquisitive preteen with the whole world at his feet, Ruthie was just an adorable little girl, and Eric and Annie were young, vibrant, affectionate parents. Since then, the show's message of faith and love has held up well, but everyone's roles have changed and the family has spread out. In addition, numerous outside characters have been woven into the plot, taking precedence over some of the core Camdens that added so much charm to 7th Heaven in its early days.



A lot of noteworthy episodes represent the freshness of 7th Heaven's second season, which aired way back in 1997. Matt's sudden involvement with drugs prompts Annie to reveal a dirty secret from her past (and let's not forget that Stephen Collins' performance in this episode is arguably one of his very, very best in the entire series). Mary's romance with teen dad Wilson heats up and prompts a shocking development in the season finale. Sweet and insecure Lucy continues her struggle to be popular and have a relationship (Jimmy Moon, anyone??) and learns a tough lesson in immortality through the tragic death of a classmate. Simon discovers a thing or two about the chilling reality of the Holocaust (and today, that episode remains one of my personal favorites), and in-between starting first grade and getting trouble for wearing a backwards hat on the first day, Ruthie gets an early dose on the impact that cruel words have on people (any mother who has ever had their precious baby say "I hate you!" to them, and any child who remembers saying this to their own parents, will most likely find this episode very touching). Then, of course, there's Eric and Annie, who maintain a healthy and loving relationship amid the craziness of raising five kids. Eric continues to counsel and support many community members (the one with the teenage girl in the gang is particularly effective), and in the season finale the lovebird Camden couple get the deligtful news that their family will be growing with a brand new addition (or should I say two new additions?)



All in all, if you are an avid 7th Heaven fan who, to this day, still tunes in every Monday night to watch the show's newest episodes (die-hard fans will be pleased to know that an 11th season has just been confirmed for 2006-2007!) I strongly recommend you buy the first two seasons on DVD and enjoy reliving the youthful innocence that the show began with ten years ago. I sometimes have a hard time believing that I was in fifth grade when this show began, and I have been tuning in since pretty much the very beginning. I think a lot of people will be shocked to look back on how many years they've been enjoying 7th Heaven and witnessing a true keeper of a series that, with a historical 11th season on the way, beats out previous long-running classics like "The Waltons" and Michael Landon's "Little House on the Prairie." How's that for success? (Keep in mind also that all three of these phenomenally popular shows all share one major premise: the story of a large, tight-knit, Christian family that goes to Church every Sunday and is always striving to help others. Maybe these themes aren't as ignored by the public as some may think.)



As all die-hard fans know, 7th Heaven made history by filming 10 solid seasons and has now defied all odds by introducing a Season 11 to the Fall 2006 lineup. Everyone has their own opinion about this, and I personally feel that their stubbornness in letting it bow out with grace has harmed the initial charm and freshness of it all, and even when the show does end they will almost definitely bring a spinoff or two into the fold. 7th Heaven is a lighthearted mirror of innocence and will always be a series about a loving family with a faith-filled core, but sometimes the sign of a true class act is one that will bid farewell before the public gets a chance to grow tired of them (look at shows like CBS's "Everybody Loves Raymond" for a good example of that dignity).



The release of Seasons 3 and beyond have not been announced since Season 2 came out over a year ago. Originally, it looked as though sales were going great and they were planning to get all the seasons out on DVD in a timely manner, but since then it appears that sales must not be high enough. Hopefully, once the series wraps up in May with a good even 10 seasons, people may be more inclined to start their DVD collections. Seasons 3-5 were really groundbreaking, as the family began changing and Mary started undergoing her problems after an immature team prank barely afforded her the opportunity to graduate high school and destroyed her chance to go to college on a scholarship. That, in my opinion, was the most well-written and dramatic part of the show--truly its peak. I am very hopeful that we will soon get the entire series on DVD, but until then, just keep buying the first 2 sets and pray that they go ahead with future releases! - Family Values - Drama - 1990s - 7th Heaven'


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Belkin Router - wireless, n150


Amazing router, works great!! My internet provider is Time Warner Cable Road Runner and with this router i get 10mbps with no problem, the setup is very EASY just plug the yellow cable(ethernet) to your modem and that's it belkin do the "magic", i have a PS3, Wii, 2 iPhones, 1 Blackberry, 1 Notebook and 1 iMac connected in my network and this router do a GREAT job!, really really buy this router, why pay 60 or 80Dlls for another router if this for 29.99 do a great job. Belkin N150 Wireless N Router (Latest Generation)

I tore through the package, inserted the disk, plugged her in....POW. It couldn't have been 10 minutes when I had it up and running 5 devices. It didn't ask for IP adresses, or what devices to run... It just knew. I went to my neighbors house and tried everything I could to hack into my network, Belkin said NO.. Less wires, and I got to cancel extra IP adresses with my provider. Pays for itself in 2 months. ALL SMILES

I bought this unit exactly one month ago. Since I used 3Com, D-Link before, I quickly set it up.



PROs:

-Easy installation;

-Easy configuration;

-Speed seems good.



CONs:

Two weeks after usage, the wireless network can't be connected from my iphone, g-tablet, laptop wifi, desktop wifi. Maybe it's my bad luck?



This issue happens once a week and every time I have to power it off to resolve.



My firmware version is v. 1000, 201109G1135490. Latest FW version from belkin site is version: 1.00.08. If it doesn't work out, I have to contact support.



P.S.: The original firmware is v.00.08. The wireless still fails once a week after flashing. I guess it's purely bad luck.

This is the second Belkin router that I have purchased and installed a Belkin router. I had tried to setup and install a cisco linksys router previously and even though I'm a very tech savvy individual, could not get any step of the process to work. Compared to that- this setup and install was the most strait forward and easy I'v ever done. The instructions were plain English, non-cryptic and the diagrams made complete sense. The best part is that it worked the FIRST time. The whole setup took about 10 minutes. Excellent functionality for the price. - N150 - Wireless - Routers'


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World Travel - venice, italy


I love that this is a black and white poster with just a hint of color. It looks excellent with any decor and framed it looks like I paid a lot of money for an expensive print. I love the poster and it will go with all of my decor. Venice, Italy Bridge of Sighs Scenic Black & White Poster Poster Print, 24x36 Collections Poster Print, 24x36 Poster Print, 24x36

Our down stairs bathroom is black, white, and red. This poster fits in perfect and was a very nice touch. This picture is so simple, yet so beautiful. I received the poster before the estimated arrival date, and the packaging was great. I would recommend this merchant and this poster. - Italy - World Travel - Venice'


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Electronic Learning Toys - preschoolers, electronic learning toys


I just got 2 of these for my 4 year old and letter-excited 2 and 1/2 year old. Since the boxes have been opened, they have both been enamored for over an hour. The letter instruction is accurate and straightforward. The eraser is easy to use and the stylus is at least more accurate than the one at Target where I bought these. My 2 year old loves to write letters, so I know it would be a hit for him. But my 4 year old fights writing and drawing, so it's super exciting to see him get all excited about it AND actually write decent looking letters and lines. Get it! You'll be glad you did! Perfect back to school, starting school toy/tool for your youngster! LeapFrog Scribble and Write

My 3 year old is starting to write and draw and this is really helping with her learning to write her ABC's and shapes. She really loves the dog Scout and the cute audio. The size of it is right on the money and is easy to take along in the car. Every letter brings out some cute responses too.



Good Stuff...

This was an Amazon gift from the grandparents to my 4 year old. He LOVES this! It teaches your child the proper way to make their letters. (My 8 year old needs one LOL!)He loves tracing the dots and sliding the eraser. It cheers the kids on after they push the paw print. He will sneak to play with it when he is suppose to be sleeping. It is currently at show and tell at his pre-k, he loves it that much. One week of use and he is going all over the house writing the first letter of his name. He has shown off his letter writing skills at the Drs. office. He now writes his letters better than his big brother in 3rd grade!

Based on the positive reviews, I bought this for my 4 1/2 year old son. I wish I'd listened to the 3 star reviews. This is more like a magnadoodle with a suggestion on what to draw. It doesn't give any feedback as to whether the child follows the drawing or letter correctly. What's more is that if you don't press hard enough, your drawing won't be made. I wish I'd passed on this purchase.

My just-turned-3 daughter loves this toy - we bought it in advance of a long car trip and it was helpful in keeping her attention. She calls it her "Leapster" and loves the fact that she has something electronic and portable like her older sisters have. She's a smart cookie, but due to her age, she's not really able to really follow tracing letters. I can see this being increasingly fun and interesting to her later this year. There are lots of different play features so fortunately not all of it is beyond her. She's able to turn it on and off by herself which is great for battery life, and is able to put the stylus back in it's place too. It's lightweight but not flimsy and a perfect size for preschoolers to carry around. The volume level is not obnoxious if it's on the lower setting - it doesn't drive the adults crazy. Recommended.



Update: March 2011: My now 4.5 year old still plays with this! She loves it! At this age, she is able to use her big sisters' Leapsters but she continues to come back to the Scribble and Write to trace letters and play the other games. It will probably travel on Spring Break with us again this year too. It's going on year 2 of play value (pretty impressive for a toy), so I continue to recommend it. Thanks, LeapFrog!

Great educational toy. One thing I would like to see get improved is the part you write on. It is a cheap plastic and when you write on it you can barely see what you wrote. I can see this part breaking or getting ruined somehow so easily. Those scribble pads that use a magnet are way better in this one aspect. Also the slide bar that you use to "erase" is completely open at the bottom so once you get any type of dirt, grime, food in there it will interfere with the writing.

Let me start by saying my 4 year old, hates to write. He will do anything in his power not to do the letters both at school and at home. I have workbooks and he will do everything but the letter tracing. He thinks he is not as good as the kids in his pre-school class and doesn't want to be embarrassed.

I will say the prices now listed are a bit high, they were going for under twenty when I bought mine.

I had purchase this for Christmas, when I showed my husband he asked I give it to my son right away. I am so happy we did. The first two days, my son that has a very short attention span, played with this for 4 hours at a time. It was unbelievable to me. It also has a reward where after you draw the letter it has you draw things like turtles, butterflies and a house. My son really loved that.

The next week at school, my son's pre-school teacher was surprised and thrilled he finished his letter tracing. I know I have the LeapFrog Scribble and Write to thank for that.

I really love leap frog products, this one will help your child prepare for school and life.

This toy is a good toy, but I guess I was expecting more... The lights that light up behind the writing surface are small red LED type lights, and are arranged in a 90 degree pattern, so that diagonal lines appear jagged. The writing surface utilizes a dual film surface, and the pressure between the two films leaves a mark. You have to have your child press very hard to have their writing stay intact, otherwise, the film comes apart and the written image degrades. I still think this toy is a good idea for teaching basic writing skills. I think for $15, it would be a good value.

I first saw the Leapfrog Scribble and Write and the Text and Learn on Amazon. However, I am glad I decided to shop around before purchasing through Amazon. The Amazon price is $42 for the Scribble and Write. It is $16.99 on the Leapfrog site and $19.99 on Walmart.com and in their stores. The Text and Learn is also significantly lower at both sites than on Amazon. Why are Amazon's prices so high? I am very disappointed because I love shopping on Amazon. - Preschoolers - Writing - Electronic Learning Toys - Educational Toys'


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Usb Battery Pack - usb power pack, portable power


I've used other products when trying to extend the life of my iPod touch on long airplane flights, but this one is tops. It's small size and ease of battery replacement is ideal, and it does everything it's supposed to adding considerable life to an iPod Touch, especially when viewing videos, which can drain the iPod Touch within a few hours. No longer is that a problem. I HIGHLY recommend this product. Tekkeon TekCharge Mobile Power and Battery Charger

This is a nice little charger. I love it but only giving it 3 stars. It charges my PPC-6700 VERY slowly and can't charge my HTC Touch Pro at all. It would show the batteries are dead after 5 min of charging and the charger gets super hot. After it cools, you can charge other devices just fine with the current batteries. I've tried it with alkaline, powerex 2700 NiMH batteries, powerex imedions, and eneloops with the same results. It works great with my ipod touch 2g, PSP, cowon D2, and creative Zen. I would recommend this unit for all your MP3 needs but if you plan on trying to extend the life of your smart phone, I'd probably get a Lithium-ion version.

I have been looking for a multipurpose charger to work with the stubborn charging requirements of the iPhone 3G, and I know I have found it. I was avoiding a rechargeable battery pack, just in case that battery went dead, and I didn't like the price associated with them.



This charger uses 4 AA batteries, and can also be used to charge 4 rechargeable AA batteries. You can charger the AA batteries through the provided USB cable, then in turn, use the battery pack to charge your iPhone the other devices compatible with this charger. It serves a useful dual purpose.



Also, this is a true battery charger, not a battery extender. It actually charges the battery so you do not have to keep the charger connected to the device to use it. I would recommend this product to anyone who needs a portable USB charger for their devices.

This Tekkeon 1550 has been working very well for me. There are many detailed in depth reviews of the Tekkeon here on Amazon, so I will instead address some other issues that people seem to have.



The power unit will work as designed and will be reliable if you do not exceed the limitations of the device. Again for emphasis, do not exceed the limitations of the device and it will serve you faithfully!

(There is a Summary at the end for the main highlights)





1) Overloading the Tekkeon

Do not attach a phone or any device that will draw more than 800mAh (.8 Ah)! Yes, this means some of those Android phones with giant screens, Dual Core Tegras, etc. If your phone draws more than 800mAh it will overload the little Tekkeon and burn it out sooner or later! It was not meant to supply power for those super power hungry devices. Know the electrical specs of the device you intend to attach to it!





2) Charging rechargeable batteries in the Tekkeon

Do not attempt to recharge partially charged batteries! It very briefly touches on this in the manual and yes, they should have addressed it more. With regards to charging batteries, it appears that the Tekkeon is a simple timer charger that sends a given amount of current for a fixed amount of time and then shuts off.

If you try to recharge partially charged batteries, the batteries will get full too quickly before the Tekkeon turns off. The batteries then shed this excess energy through heat. Solution: only charge empty or near empty batteries. You should be using a smart charger (like the La Crosse BC9009 or Maha MC9000) to recharge partially charged batteries.

To be safe, I rarely use the Tekkeon to charge and instead use a smart charger. It really is better for the batteries and for the Tekkeon this way as it was primarily designed to provide power, but in a pinch can be used to recharge. If you find yourself with empty batteries and need to charge them, go ahead and let the Tekkeon charge them. It can and will safely do this. But don't use it as your main battery charger.

Lastly, if you are in a bind and need to use the Tekkeon as a charger, let it fully charge them without disconnecting it. If you do have to unplug it before the cycle finishes, do not immediately replug it back in to charge more. When you unplug it, this will reset the timer and the result will be too much charge at the end of the charge cycle as explained above.

Restated again, if you do disconnect it before the charge cycle finishes, do not try to charge them again in the Tekkeon until the batteries have been run down. Or take them out and use a smart charger to finish them off.





3) Tekkeon does not charge my smartphone/device fast enough

Modern smartphones need the data pins (D+ and D-) on the USB cable to be shorted. This lets the smartphone know that it is connected to a USB power that can supply more than 500mAh.

In the android world, most phones can sense three conditions:

a) No cable attached

b) USB power attached -- phone will draw max 500mAh

c) AC power attached -- phone will know it can draw over 500mAh

I suspect this is related to the slow charging issue. In the Fall of 2009, all of the major cell manufacturers and governing bodies agreed to standardize on the MicroUSB plug to charge cell phones. The standard also specified the shorting of the USB data pins to let devices know they are attached to a high power USB port.

My android phone detects the Tekkeon as USB power, so it draws only 500mAh from it. I am perfectly fine with it charging at 500mAh instead of 700-800. It takes a little longer, but it still charges.

For the Tekkeon to supply more current to your device, the idea is to 'trick' your phone into thinking it is connected to AC power when it is really connected to the Tekkeon. This is can be done with a `Charge Only' type cable (where the D+ and D- pins are shorted together). But do not exceed 800mAh as discussed above!! You would need to also check how you phone senses how different chargers are attached.





4) The attached device discharges into the Tekkeon

(i.e. the Tekkeon discharges my phone after it finishes charging my phone).

I suspect this happens when the batteries in the Tekkeon are near empty and it just finishes charging up the device. Best I can offer is, try to always unplug the Tekkeon from the device when finished charging OR when all three power level LEDs on the Tekkeon turn off. If there is not much power left in the Tekkeon, it will only partially charge your device and the Tekkeon LEDs will all turn off..Unplug it! Perhaps there is no one way flow regulator built in (any EE people care to chime in?). This is probably due to the fact that the Tekkeon also has to be able to charge batteries, so power flows both ways.





Summary:

1) Don't overload your little Tekkeon, 800mAh or less!

2) Don't use it for recharging batteries (use only in emergencies and with fully depleted batteries). Use a separate smart charger!

3) Be patient when it is charging or use a cable with the USB Data lines shorted, but pay attention to #1 above!

4) Unplug your device from the Tekkeon when it's finished.





P.S. I use Eneloops in the Tekkeon and they work well together. - Usb Power Pack - Battery Extender - Portable Charger - Portable Power'


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Screen Protection - blackberry storm, screen protection


The screen protector is slightly too large for a Blackberry storm. Worse yet, there are two tabs that are attached to the protector. The first removes a piece of plastic to expose the static surface, and the second says remove after application to the device. That tab would not come off!!! Even after I scrapped at it and tried a damp cloth to release the glue. It left paper stuck to the screen! Spend a few bucks more and get one made for the Storm that doesn't have paper glued to it. High Quality Screen Protector Guard for BlackBerry Storm 9500 9530

Pros:

Easy to apply. No bubbles or sticky rsidue

Colors and sharpness are preserved thanks to the glossy finish

Touch screen functionality is preserved

Only $2:50 delivered in just 4 days



Cons:

Protector is about 7 mm too long

Only one was supplied - certainly not the advertized three!! would have been nice to have at least 2 in case installation failed

Shows smudges just like the original screen due to glossy finish. Not a bad trade off for the enhanced sharpness



Bottom line: works better than most matt protectors i have seen that really dull the look of the screen. for $2:50 you can't go wrong

2 big problems.



1. The order page clearly says there are 3 covers in the package. There was only 1.

2. The sticker did not come off easily. This left a residue of glue and paper on the screen cover, rendering it useless.



I recommend ordering from someone else.

la experiencia con The OEM SHOP fue mala. ya que fueron ineficientes en la entrega del equipo celular que adquiri primero me enviaron un equipo equivacado por la que pedi el reintegro por las molestias causadas y luego me enviaron el equipo dañado. no es recomendable esa tienda

This screen protector is crap. It's much thicker than the screen protectors that are available at the local Verizon Wireless outlet. With this screen protector applied to the Blackberry Storm, the display becomes somewhat occluded because of the thickness of the protector and there is a lot of glare rendering characters on the display difficult to see clearly. The original protectors are far superior to this aftermarket junk. I wouldn't pay 2 cents for the entire inventory of the company that makes these aftermarket duds.

The screen protector fit perfectly and was easy to put on. My only complaint and it is a very small one is that the screen is not as slick as it was when nothing was on it. I would get this screen protector again.

black berry strom 9530 non operative phone ever,the day one i bought this ph for my brother & send it to him abroad,after 2 weeks he got it and try to operate after charging,keep start to restart for 1 day from next day its dead.I feel so bad and waste my money to this crap cheap device ever,when i try to return seller refuse to take it back as their 7 days return policy ,i feel its scam ,beaware for this device to any one those who r interested.... - Screen Protection - Accessories - Protector - Blackberry Storm'


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Holly Valance - jaime pressly, eric roberts


"D.O.A.: Dead or Alive" as everyone knows is based on the Video game franchise of the same name. This film was released in mid-2006 in Asia before in the U.S. possibly because of the larger market for video game inspired movies. For this reason, I managed to own the region-3 Asian release (image by S. L. Bledsoe in Amazon) even before the movie hit U.S. theaters. Directed by Corey Yuen (Transporter, So Close) an acclaimed Martial arts choreographer, (although Corey's not as renowned as the legendary Yuen Woo-Ping) D.O.A. looks promising. After all, Jet Li quoted Corey Yuen In Black Belt magazine as "..if I need something fresh, I go to Corey Yuen."



A tournament called D.O.A. is being held in a remote Island by a man named Donovan (Eric Roberts). Three beautiful but lethal women are invited to compete. Tina (Jaime Pressley), Kasumi (Devon Aoki), and Christie (Holly Valance). Each of the three female leads have their own motivation and has their own baggage to carry. Once there, they must battle their way up the fighter rankings through a bunch of other seasoned fighters to reach the finals. Once in the final phase, the women uncover a hidden "sinister" secret that is the true reason for the competition. Aided by Helena (hottie Sarah Carter) and Hayabusa (Kane Kosuji), they must either join forces or perish...



Since the movie is based on the video game, expect something with a simple plot with scantily-clad women engaging in fisticuffs and, ahem, volleyball (which is a nice touch, there is a game called "D.O.A. Beach Volleyball"). What can we expect? The game itself is renowned for its hard-hitting fights and titillation factor ("bouncing b--bs" and skimpy outfits) so the film just exploits those factors.



It is fairly obvious that Corey Yuen has a limited budget to work with. Still, he manages to pull off an accelerated fast-paced action film that is both hard-hitting and visually stylish. While the plot is lacking and with almost no decent character development, Corey goes for the throat with a lot of mano-o-mano fights and as much "PG-13" brutality(no blood) he can spare to compensate for the lackluster plot. The extensive fight choreography is the true "lure" of the film. The film is based on a video game so reality is out the door.



D.O.A. remains true to its roots (gimmicks), as there is enough tease (but not explicit) to make a male(like me) excited, shots of a few tanned skin and sexy curves to satisfy the raw sex appeal of the games. While it does have its goofy moments, (the nerdy guy is so annoying), there is enough action to divert our attention that it does avoid the screenplay from becoming "cheesy" nor "campy". Eric Roberts is definitely miscast as the bad guy, he didn't have the "raw appeal" for a baddie. Wrestler Kevin Nash even makes an appearance as Tina's wrestler Dad. The film is short, and the ending gives you a little tease of the possibility of a sequel.



Since I am 90% certain that the U.S. release will have the same transfer, I will give you my take on the dvd quality...

VIDEO/AUDIO: Anamorphic widescreen. The PQ is excellent. Colors are vibrant, clean and extremely sharp. Black levels are solid and strong when needed. 5.1 Dolby digital/DTS-ES English track. The DTS track is the way to go if your equipped since it is very powerful and crisp. The 5.1 Dolby isn't too shabby either.

OVERALL:

Corey Yuen made every effort to bring the video game to life. "D.O.A." is a hyper-accelerated-kinetic stylish action film that gets the fight sequences (for a Hollywood film) just right and that's the best anyone can hope for given its source material. Its' a video game with hot chicks, what can we expect?

RECOMMENDED! For fans of the game and the action genre, a good rental for everybody else. (3 ½ stars) DOA: Dead or Alive

After reading all the 1 star reviews on Netflix, I still watched the trailer. Then I found out the director of the Transporter did this movie too. So....I just had to check it out.



It was fun.

I'm not going to own it, but it was fun and much better than Ultraviolet.



- Fast action.

- Acrobatic martial arts.

- Gorgeous girls all around (so much better looking than the Charlie's Angels trio and they had Sarah Carter who I just loved when I first saw her in the tv show Smallville)

- Eric Roberts as a bad guy on the tv show Heroes and a bad guy here. He's perfect for those types of roles.

- Great sets that get smashed to pieces

- Lots and lots of fighting that is so unrealistic you laugh at the silliness of it, but love it at the same time



If it wasn't for all the scantly clad bodies and sexual themes, this no-blood fight movie would have been rated PG.



Yes, everyone who gets slashed by a sword just falls down with no blood. No effort went into any type of makeup work on the main characters after taking several punches in the face. Oh, well, we like our female leads looking pretty throughout I guess.



It was a movie where you turn your brain off, laugh out loud a couple of times and enjoy the scenery and action. Pure fun, but not an oscar winner by any stretch of the imagination.



You want a quality, thinking person's movie watch The Fountain or Children of Men.

You want a zone out for a bit with the type of movie that isn't another bad effects B-horror film, then get this.

I might be in the minority here, but great martial arts choreography + hot babes + campy storyline = good times to me. This was a must have if you enjoy martial arts flicks, and can find a sense of humor. A lot of people also didn't like Kung Fu Hustle, which I thought was brilliant.

Video game to film adaptations rarely work as you no doubt already know. Chances are if you've seen any previews of the Dead or Alive movie, you most likely laughed at how ridiculous it looked. Well, guess what? Here it is on DVD, and it's surprisingly not the terrible waste of film that many (including me) thought it would be. Sure, it's nothing remotely great in the least, and even laughable in some spots, but as a whole, Dead or Alive is a fun and entertaining guilty pleasure that does it's job well. A martial arts tournament is being held on a remote island, with many of the competitors being in the form of some incredibly hot babes (Holly Valance, Jamie Pressly, Devon Aoki, Sarah Carter, Natassia Malthe), who soon learn that there is more going on than it seems. The action is good (courtesy of Transporter director Corey Yuen) and the movie delivers plenty of eye candy, no matter how inane or non-sensical the events that unfold turn out to be. That aside, the film manages to pay some delightful homage to it's source material (volleyball anyone?), and while it's not always faithful to it, it's still a fun ride regardless. Also featuring Eric Roberts, former wrestling star Kevin Nash, Matthew Marsden, Brian J. White (who looks exactly like Zack from the game) and look for Mortal Kombat star Robin Shou as the Pirate Leader. - Eric Roberts - Holly Valance - Jaime Pressly'


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Water Filter - water filter


The filters are easy to replace/install. I also appreciated the upgrade to reduction properties for Cryptosporidium oocysts adding peace of mind. The multi-pak saved several dollars on costs and Amazon's regular shipping was very prompt. Thank you Amazon and Maytag. Maytag UKF8001 PuriClean II Refrigerator Cyst Reducing Water Filter, 2 Pack

I received a brand name not shown in the picture or mentioned in the description. These are generic replacement filters NOT made by Maytag. The water is coming out of my fridge even slower than the expired old Maytag filter was. False advertising, misrepresented product.

We ordered the Puri Clean II UKF8001 for Annana or Magtag it looks just like the picture..... But to our suprise and disappointment We got part # W10186667....a Purple color PUR Push Button style filter for an ingrill type refrigerator.. Not even close..... The Filter sent fits a whirlpool and Kitchen aid.. The part they shipped on the invoice said it was the right part but it sure was not.. You would think some one would at lease verfiy the piture and the part number before shipping.. Do not buy from amazon and the Buy it now store... - Water Filter'


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