Keyless Lock - keyless deadbolt, schlage

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I recently bought one of these for our home after we moved in. Now I don't need to fumble with keys every time I need to ket in the house, and I don't have to worry about kids losing or forgetting keys.



Like other schlage locks I have owned, this unit seems to be very well made, sturdy, and easy to install. The programming of codes is simple, and codes can be added or deleted just by using the keypad. Keypad use as far as entering codes or even updating codes is straighforward. The fact that a simple button push "lights up" the buttons at night is also cool.



The buttons are also epoxy-coated, so the numbers won't "wear off" thus revealing the codes used. I have a separate code for each family member, and can easily add codes if I have a contractor stopping by.



A key can be used to open the lock if for some reason the electronic part stops functioning (too cold from sub-sero weather, perhaps?). Since this is a Schlage lock, it can even be re-keyed so that the key you have matches the other Schlage locks your house may have. Schlage FE595VCAM619ACC Camelot Keypad Accent Lever Door Lock, Satin Nickel

The other reviews have covered the product very well, so I am just commenting on the battery life. My 9 volt battery that came with the lock lasted 1 month. I just assumed it had been sitting in the package and was near it's exp. date. The 2nd battery I installed was a fresh Everyready Alkaline 9 volt. It lasted a total of 4 months. There are only 3 family members in my house, so I don't think it is a matter of heavy use.

My point is that 4 months is a long way from the 3 years advertised so consider this when you are thinking of getting this lock.



4/5/09 Another update...3rd battery lasted less than 1 week and when it failed the door sat unlocked all day, not good. Will contact Schlage for replacement, but do not like to have to return things and pay shipping

I timed my installation of this at a surprizing 15 minutes, including removing the old doorknobs and reversing the handles on the keyless entry. Usually everything takes twice as long with me! The only hard part was deciding which door to put it on- the main house entry or an outbuilding I use a lot.



An earlier review stated that the lock shuts down for 5 minutes after four consecutive missed entries of combinations. I timed mine at 30 seconds shutdown, confirmed in the owner's manual.

The thing is made well, heavy duty even. Easy to program and delete combinations. I was hoping to gain entry a tad quicker by "swiping" a finger across four digits in a row, but this won't allow that; it wants a discret push of a number on the keypad with a very short time between entries. So it takes 3-4 seconds to open the door.

No complaints, but I await the day the 9V battery gives out and I have to remove the inside portion of this lock to replace it. Then I may have my first gripe!

P.S. - I paid $118 (on sale) for mine in bright brass at Lowe's, Jan.'09.

Having just purchased a new home and in need of replacing the locks, we did a great deal of research on the various companies before settling on Schlage. Of course, they are a decent mid-level quality lock and there are much more secure, and much less secure lock ratings than found within this line (i.e., commercial, etc). We selected this keyless lock to use on an outdoor utility/laundry shed with the intention of being able to access laundry the laundry room easily without the need for keys. It has been wonderful, and we enjoy the bronze colored finish a great deal. I have heard that it can peel and crack, so be sure to keep your receipts in a safe place, or your original packaging, should you need to send it back to Schlage for warranty work (there is a lifetime warranty, as far as I am aware).



The lock is easy to program and uses a 6 digit master code for this purpose. You can store 2 four digit entry codes in the lock at at time, and they can be changed using the 6 digit code. As others have mentioned, this is useful when contractors need access to the home. For example, we were able to have the sprinkler system repair guy do some work on the house because of this.



As for the battery life, I can't comment much on it, except to say that we are still on the battery that came with the unit and it has been about 2 months. I would note, however, that we do not use this system on an entry door to the main house. Rather, it is in a location where it is not used every day. Nevertheless, we live in a very hot climate, which usually kills batteries at a faster rate, and have not encountered a problem with the lock as of yet.



Thus far, we have been very pleased. If I encounter any problems, I will be sure to update the review, but at present, I am very satisfied. A note of caution - be sure to retain the instructions included with the lock, as they contain the 6 digit code necessary to change the entry codes. If you happen to misplace this, you will need to take the lock apart to get the code, as it is inside of the lock.

I had all the same positive reactions listed by others when I installed this. After I had been using it about six months, the 1-4 digits stopped working - when I pressed them nothing at all happened, though all the other buttons worked. This was intermittent for a while and then they quit altogether, taking me back to using a key. I called Schlage and was told that they recommend replacing the batteries every three months. Wonderful! Anyhow, I replaced the battery and guess what?! Now none of the buttons work at all! I have messed with the connections and all, but have been unable to revive it. So how do you send a lock in for repair? Just leave your door unprotected when you send it in? Anyhow, I misplaced my receipt, so I'm totally out of luck. I guess I'm just back to living with fishing out my key every time I need to get in. - Keyless Lock - Keyless Deadbolt - Keyless Entry - Schlage'

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Kindle Game - word game, word games

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I just downloaded and played a timed game. Your goal is to match all 10 pair of shapes on the left and right by selecting one letter from each column to make a word. Letters can weave up and down as you move across. When you match all the shapes you unlock the next level. Then you concentrate on finding the remaining words before your time runs out.



Each letter is worth 20 point so a 4 letter word on first level is worth 80 points. The length of the words increases on higher levels. A bonus of 800 points given if you find all the words on the board.



The words on the board are in alphabetical order which help find words like Every Word.



There is a tutorial mode if you are new to the game. You can also use the keyboard instead of 5-way controller. I found typing worked faster for me.



Checking the words you miss afterwards is always good for vocabulary building.



Amazon came up with another fun word game. Give it a try. Thread Words

This is a fairly straight-forward little game where you try to make words out of letters. Similar to other word games, you can't use names, but in a different mode things like days of the week, or states. This one is good for kids, too, as I think these type of games are much better than a shoot-em-up game.



One thing that is a little different rather than going in straight or a pure diagonal line to find your letters, you can weave up, down, and sideways after selecting one letter from each column. You also have to match some shapes in order to go to the next level.



You can also do a timed game or an untimed game (called a "relaxed" game). Unfortunately, I do better doing the "relaxed" game!



Overall, especially considering the free price, this is a neat little game for your Kindle!

This is very similar to the othr word games created by Amazon Digital Services. Even some of the words are the same. Many of the words are wierd and not really the type you use everyday. Using context clues such as looking at the word on the top or bottom can help you figure out what letter a word starts with, since words are put in order of the first letter. Also, by matching the shapes on the side, you only have to figure out the two middle letters. A good game for word lovers.

If you like word games, and in particular Amazon's previous popular Kindle games Shuffled Row and Every Word, you'll like this one. Instead of visually unscrambling the letters (Every Word) or creating words as letter drop off (Shuffled Row), now you have to connect the dots between the letters on the board. You get to move up a level when you create words that use certain letter combination. I found it easier to deduce the words left to find between the word list (alphabetical) and the letters left on the board.



You can choose between a timed or relaxed game play (I chose relaxed), but this game doesn't have the frenzied pressure to find words that Shuffled Row with its falling letters has, IMO. This game has more similarities to Every Word, but of the three games, I rate this one third after Shuffled Row -- and Every Word as the best.

I got this for free and it's a nice distraction when I'm tired of reading, or sometimes I play it inbetween books. It starts out easy and becomes more challenging as you progress through the 10 levels. I am not a suduko fan and I love this game, it's great at enhancing your vocabulary. I can play it for 15 minutes and then all of a sudden see a word that makes me say, "I can't believe I missed that!" You can always stop and then pick up days later at the same level too, which is nice.

I have to start out by saying I am addicted to this game.I have a good vocabulary,and some of the words that are acceptable in the game are pretty obscure.That's good.I learn new words. I have gone through level 10 many times,sometimes frustrated because I simply guess at a word ,stringing together unusual letter combinations,and lo and behold,it is an actual word,albeit not one in my vocabulary...until I come across it in the game.

All-in-all,a fun game.Starts easy then becomes more difficult as you progress through each level. But not so difficult that you cannot finish most levels.Level three might be a tough one,then level 10 is easy.I like the inconsistency.Makes the game more challenging.

One thing I have discovered about myself while playing this game:If I am having a difficult time finding a particular word,I put the Kindle down and do something else for a while.Then I come back to the game and the word I was searching for jumps out at me.I'm sure it must be my subconscious that helps me.But it's kind of cool.Fresh eyes and all.

I have purchased some word games for my beloved Kindle,and this one is the very best.I'm looking forward to Version 2.0 !!

As a word game lover, this one is right up there with Every Word, my current favorite. It's different enough to provide variety, yet still has the same object - finding words with a limited number of letters. I highly recommend this game to all my fellow word geeks!

I thought the game was easily entertaining. It challenges you but not overly hard. My 10 year old son even likes helping me make words! I couldn't put the game down till I beat all the levels! If you like scrabble you'll totally dig this FREE game!!

Well, it's obvious. Ever since getting some of these fun games on my Kindle, I have read less. This new game is yet another challenging and entertaining one. And really nice that it's free. Now I have had put myself on restriction. The new rule is that I have to read first, and then I can play. - Word Games - Games - Kindle Active Content - Word Game'

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Digital Camera - 1080p, high definition

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Check out my sample footage video on Youtube. On Youtube search "djeror zi8 low light"



In my previous review of the Kodak Zi8 I was pretty frustrated at the fact that whenever I used the built in microphone the recorded videos had an annoying high pitch whine that made the audio from my videos almost unusable. Kodak recognized that this was an issue and created a firmware update that fixed the problem. It also fixed a few other things like the previous issue of the image getting darker as you zoomed in. They seem to have fixed all of the major problems with this firmware fix.





I do tech product reviews so I need the following things:



- External mic input - most of my videos are shot wearing a lapel mic

- Macro mode - I have to get close to little tiny screens

- SDHC memory - I go to all day trade shows, I need 10+ hours of video

- Power options - I need to be able to shoot while AC power is plugged in or use a large external battery.

- Under $200 - I'm poor.



Because of these requirements no other camcorder can fit my needs. One cool thing about this camera is that it is much more upgradable than the other pocket cameras on the market.





Con:

-The built in microphone is OK now that they fixed the whining noise, but it's still not amazing.



Work-around:

- Don't use the internal mic... I use an Audio Technica lapel mic for 1 person interviews.Audio Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone For events I ordered a Sony stereo mic to use instead of the built in mic. Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone . Although I wish that Kodak made the internal mic better, for the most part I am kind of excited that the Sony stereo mic will give me much better sound than any of the standard internal mics that any of the pocket cams have.







Con:

-Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) sucks a lot of juice. Also the Zi8 uses a proprietary battery rather than cheap swappable AA's. Battery life when shooting non-stop is 1hr 16min in 720p 60fps with EIS on. If you turn off EIS you get about 1hr 41min at 720p 60fps.



Work-around:

- Use the USB to power cable that comes with the camera in conjunction with an external battery source. This is a must if you are going to be recording for more than an hour with EIS, cause that's about what the internal battery will give you. Tekkeon TekCharge Rechargeable Li-Poly Battery You can just stick this battery pack in your pocket and connect the charging cable to the Zi8. This will allow you to record for a super long amount of time. I haven't tested to see what my total record time with the battery pack will be but it should be around 5X the standard recording time. (about 6 hours with EIS on, almost 9 with it off) This gives you the best battery life of almost any camcorder. Sure it's an extra cost, but when you're at an all day trade show you don't have to worry about running out of juice.







Con:

- Image stabilization can't rescue video you shoot while moving around. Any camera motion makes video awful.



Work-round:

- Accept the fact you should probably be using a mini tripod with this camera or at least stand still. Also, although it takes a bunch of time to process if you have the new iMovie the image stabilization processing you can do is light years beyond what the EIS in the Kodak Zi8 can do.





One more important note. Make sure you buy high speed SDHC memory cards for this thing. If your SD card is not fast enough the camera will record for like 2 seconds and then stop with an error. It took me a while to figure out why the camera kept stopping recording when in HD mode but worked fine in SD mode. It was because of my old SD card. You need to make sure your SD card has a write speed of at least 9MB/s if you want to record in 1080p. These high speed cards cost more, but you need them for any camcorder that is going to record HD video to them, it's not just the Zi8. I think most Class 6 high speed SDHC cards should work.



If you want to get the most out of this camera plan on spending an extra $100 - $150 in order to buy upgrade items. Personally I've come to the conclusion that the extra expenses were worth it. It all depends on what you plan on using the camera for. For a typical mom purse cam this would not be my recommendation, I would say go with a Flip Ultra HD. But for someone with particular needs like mine this camera may be the only one that fits the bill. Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (Raspberry)

I rarely will type/review products but I've been a little frustrated reading the reviews of this product on Amazon and by users at other sites. Many users seem to think that this camera was designed to compete with expensive, professional cameras that cost thousands of dollars and produce full HD quality video. That's not what this is. Also, while my camera hasn't had the 'noise' issue from the Mic, i have seen a camera that had the issue and its BARELY noticeable. Its almost like a very quiet background noise from a Florescent light or something.



Kodak has designed, marketed, and built a camera to compete with FLiP and has clearly produced a FAR better product.



I'll keep it short and sweet and first explain who I am and what I am using this camera for. I use it for:

-Home Videos/Fun stuff with old buddies and friends

-For work when I need some quick video that's easy to upload online, or put in iMovie and edit

-For work when I need more complex videos that may require editing, or somewhat lengthy video but I want the ease of use/portability.



I have seen some of the problems stated with the internal Mic and I have had none of them (I do have the upgraded Firmware that is now standard 1.03, and Kodak says this completely eliminates the issue...again have never had the issue on my camera). A relative of mine was lucky enough to purchase this product when Kodak did an 'early' release a few months ago and occasionally his videos will have a bit of a higher pitched background noise, but it doesn't interfere with the sound from the video -- its just a light background noise that, honestly, i've heard on dozens of cameras. Don't forget, without an external Mic the camera only records mono so -- the sounds quality isn't going to be great anyway!



The video is great, image stability isn't as advanced as those available on more expensive cameras but it is better than anything i've seen in a FLiP or other Kodak model. It does work and you can see a difference, even if its not huge. Its SO easy to flip between video modes. The 1080p is awesome, but sometimes its nice to move back down to 720 and the 60fps to capture 'action' footage.



One negative -- which most people may see as a positive -- i do wish there were more settings, or at least the ability to play around with more features/edit modes. Its GREAT easy to use, its a point and shoot video camera -- but with the great lens and abilities, it seems like Kodak could have -- pretty easily -- had this camera competing with much higher end cameras. If all the hardware was put to great use this could compete with $500+ cameras. But I understand wanting to keep it simple.



I like having the SD card. Some people would prefer the internal memory, and yes by the time you buy a decent sized SD card the camera is more expensive than the FLiP, but, the FLiP has a very limited memory. This camera is limited only by the size of the card...Definitely a positive!



Finally, I know people that are both in the TV business and do a lot of Video blogging and they are drooling over this camera because of the external mic capabilities. One reason lots of 'pros' didn't like FLiP was because of the audio issues. Kodak has solved those, not to mention providing better quality video.



Again this isn't something to shoot with if your a young film-maker or a die-hard amateur cinematographer. But if you need something cheap to get some great quality video, or need something super easy to use that is really portable....Take the plunge. And if your considering FLiP -- don't bother... - Zi8 - 1080p - Camcorder - High Definition'

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Beginner Yoga

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This video (and the People Yoga series) is really fantastic. I found this easy to follow and keep up with and the work out was solid; my heart got pumping. I've done a bit of yoga this video series really sticks out as a great way to learn and practice. Beginner Yoga

I am new to yoga and this video was really good. The instructor set me up for success and I feel great doing this video over and over again. I've done it 6 times now and keep getting better each time I do it :-).

I recommend this video to anyone looking to practice yoga.'

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Abercrombie - bracelet, abercrombie

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I really liked the look of this bracelet, being female, it was a tad big for my wrist, but it worked perfectly as an ankle bracelet. That is until I got it wet. I'm one of those people that wears multiple bracelets all the time, including in the shower and when I swim. This one was ok for a few days (like I said it looked great) but after a few showers it fell apart, not the knots, but it literally split down the middle. It seemed to be held together with glue or something because it was a clean break. So, lesson learned, if you get this, it looks great, but take it off before you swim or shower. Mens Black Adjustable Leather Cord Surf Bracelet Anklet

ive had this all of 3 days now and today after getting out of the shower the cord splits right down the middle... i figured from the title "SURF" it should be fine for swimming, showers, anything with water... its not wish i had read more reviews before buying...

This is just like it looks. I own the black version and the brown version. I thought the shipping costs were a little high, but, whatever. I would buy this again. I wear them as bracelets, not anklets. Only problem is that it's a bit of a challenge to get it fitted right with one hand, but you can do it with practice. Looks great on and I think it's going to wear fine. I've lifted weights with it, showered with it, etc., and it's hanging together fine. I mean...it's leather, how bad can it be, right ?

I originally purchased this to wear as an anklet, but also tried it as a wristband. My wrists are so thin, the band fell to right above my knuckles. Unfortunately, tightening only serves to allow the other leather bands to pop out of the alignment, therefore pushing the cuffs of my shirts up, or just plain sticking out. So, I tried to put it over my ankle. There's no problem with my foot or ankle, there's just no way to loosen the band far enough to get it over both your foot and ankle, (even if its pulled loose at its farthest point). I finally managed to get the band onto my ankle, only to have it too tight, and unfortunately me having to cut it off because there was no way to get it off my ankle again.



Good product for the quality of manufacturing. Not a good product when it comes to adjusting the bands for proper fitting.

Used it as a wrist bracelet. Took it off every day after wearing it, never got it wet. Upon loosening and tightening it repeatedly, the cord got a slit in it. It was only a matter of time after that until it broke.



If it had been a more durable product, I would have been very satisfied.

This company is the easiest of ever worked with on Amazon! I have a few of there thinks and they are outstanding! Service is excellent, people are friendly and always answer any questions you have. I wil be buying many more items from surfertiki! Its hard to find employees amd managment that cares these days, and trust me they do. I just cant say enough about these people or there products. I've ordered from at least 40 stores on amazon and theres is buy far the best. 6 stars in my book! - Abercrombie - Mens Bracelet - Bracelet'

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Concrete Countertop Tools - concrete, polishing granite and marble

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The 50 grit pad was what I tried first. It would not remove any of the stone surface. Moving on to the other grits, none of the others would remove any stone. I'm assuming that the diamond binder was too hard. Also tried MK 50 and 150 polishing pads. They worked great. The hook-and-loop backer pad that comes with these pads did work well. Dry Diamond Polishing Pads - Set of 8 with Free Back Holder - Polishing Granite And Marble - Wet Polisher - Polisher - Concrete'

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Mineral Makeup - foundation, mineral makeup

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I have used bareMinerals - Foundations - Fairly Light .3 oz/9g for awhile now, it was a miracle to me and my skin. I had used liquid, powder, and "whipped mousse" foundation for years and nothing ever made my skin look natural, or gave me all over coverage.



In these hard times I have found myself cutting back on spending $$$$ for makeup and started looking for adequate substitutes for the brands I usually buy. I decided to try Maybelline Mineral Powder because the ingredients were strikingly similar to Bare Minerals:



*Results clinically proven after 8 weeks*: 52% improvement in skin smoothness; 49% improvement in skin luminosity; 43% reduction in redness

*Buildable, even coverage

*Tested on sensitive skin

*Won't clog pores

*Contains 0% oil, 0% talc, 0% preservatives and 0% fragrance SPF 18



I have been using it for 3 weeks now and CANNOT tell the difference between the pricier one and Maybelline, and that blows my mind!!! It even comes with its own little kabuki brush made with natural hairs! Maybelline New York Mineral Power Finishing Veil Translucent Powder, Translucent, 0.28 Ounce

I've gone back and forth between many foundations and yet always find myself coming back to this one. It is the only foundation I've found that blends and matches my skin PERFECTLY! I have oily/combination skin that becomes very dry in the winter and this suits my skin throughout all its different "moods". If i need to conceal a spot i just put a little powder on an eyeshadow brush and apply it like I would a concealer and then apply the foundation on top of it. Why pay a bunch of money for bare minerals when you are getting a product of similar or even better quality? My only complaint is that the jar is too small, I wear it everyday (and probably touch up one to two times) and it only lasts one month to six weeks. I LOVE THIS FOUNDATION! If you like powder/mineral foundations, definitley give this one a try!

When I ordered this item, I was assuming I would receive a loose powder, as pictured above. What I got was a liquid foundation. I'm not sure if the image above is inaccurate or there was a flux in the shipment, but whatever it was, it was not "Mineral Power POWDER." It was "Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation."



At first I was okay with that, thinking I'll try it anyways. So I did and discovered that this liquid foundation caused my skin to break out. Badly. It's safe to say that I wasted $10

i use this product because it contains no fragrance. my skin is too sensitive to handel scented products. it works well. no scent helps it feel more natural. i would advise using powder first though.

my only complaint is not having a container for the brush, and it may take a few tries to find your shade.

I recieved the powder in good condition. It also included a tiny kabuki brush. This is what I dont like as much in this powder. The brush is small, not soft. The powder, on the other hand, is great! It gives medium coverage and evens out your skin tone! I recommend this for light makeup wearers and for people with oily skin.

I got this product just to have a powder to lightly set my makeup and I got to say it works better than I thought it would even considering I dnt use much of the product whenever I apply it. It's so light but helps get rid of the shine on my face but still leaves a bit of sheen so you know ur skin can breathe with this on and it looks natural and effortless. The other day I was too tired to fuss with makeup so I jus applied concealer under my eyes and buffed this product onto myface and it gave a really nice finish. Evened out my skin tone and even in the evening it still felt comfortable on it's own. Love this foundation!

I gave up on foundations years ago. I don't like the mess, the neck lines you can inevitably see, the way my skin looks oily after a few hours of use, etc. My skin is pretty good on its own, so I rarely feel the need to "cover up." As I reached 30, though, I've noticed that my many freckles have darkened, and my skin tone has become less even in some areas. I've considered mineral make-up before, but I am infinitely cheap and balked at the more expensive brands. Some online searching brought me to this product.

Wow. I am impressed!!! It's so easy to evenly apply, feels undetectable once it has a few minutes to set in your skin, and my face seems to have a more even tone even when I'm not wearing it. Can that be possible? I thought those claims were absolute phooey, but now I have to admit that they're true.

This is also the first product I've ever used that doesn't cause me to break out or clog my pores.



I intended to wear this only occasionally, but I'm loving it so much that I'll probably wear it nearly every day!



One word of warning- my skin is can get rather tan, so I went with no.4 light. If anything I would have thought this would be too light. Instead, I was surprised to find that the powder itself is a bit darker than what is shown on the cap, and it's still a little too dark for my skin. I think a shade down will be perfect, and I plan on picking that up this week. I hate not being able to try out cheaper brands in the store, but at least I know the product is good, so a little trial and error with the shade isn't going to kill me.

I started using Maybelline's Mineral Makeup after reading a positive magazine review. I have used several mineral makeups in the past, including both drugstore brands and department store brands. I don't really use many Maybelline products, but the Maybelline Mineral line really ranks high on my list. The coverage is much better than most mineral makeups and it doesn't make my skin look blotchy or oily later on in the day. - Fragrance Free - Face - Mineral Makeup - Foundation'

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Sling Catcher - sling catcher, slingmedia

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I have been waiting for this product for 22 months, having seen the announcement and demo at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronic Show in January 2007. I have long been a fan of Sling Media and have used its products for close to three years. I have also recommended them to many friends and colleagues. I am a technologist and a "gadget freak" and seldom return products. Even less frequently I write reviews.



I received the SlingCatcher yesterday, after pre-ordering it on Amazon, and I could not have imagined, 24 hours ago, that I would now be packing it to return it. In a word, this product is a disaster. It is expensive for the features it offers (I paid $299 at Amazon, and I note that the product is already discounted two days later) and it is poorly implemented.



The installation was the only positive part of the experience. It was very simple to install (even simpler than a Slingbox) and recognized the network immediately. I have a wired, 1 Gigabit network available at the right location. The SlingCatcher does not have WiFi. The only peculiarity is that it took several minutes to download a software upgrade. Given that I have one of the first units to come off the boat, I wonder how many bugs were discovered during the trip from China to the USA. I should say that I did not experience any of the installation problems mentioned by other users.



The SlingCatcher lets you do three things (according to what's written on the box): watch video from the Internet; watch video from a Slingbox; and watch video from a PC. But be careful about making assumptions about what these descriptions mean!



Watch video from the Internet -- while you might think that this feature would allow you to browse the web and stream videos from it, it is not quite so. You have to have a computer on your network running a software program called "SlingProjector," which allows you to "project" whatever you can play on your computer onto the SlingCatcher (and your TV.)



I downloaded the SlingProjector software to my laptop (which I operate wirelessly) and to my home computer which sits on my 1Gig network (iMac running Windows because there is no SlingProjector software for the Mac OS yet!) I was able to go to the web from my laptop and stream software which in turn was streamed from my computer to the SlingCatcher and my TV. In order to stream a Hulu or Youtube video, the software lets you capture the portion of the screen where the video is being shown via a "cropping" feature. This works reasonably well, but the resulting quality is not that great. Part of it is a function of the quality of the incoming video, but I think that the fundamental problem is that as you stream the signal twice, you lose quality. In addition to that, you are showing the video on a large screen TV, and that is bound not to look as good as on the computer. So, expectations are high and quality is lower than it could be. Not a good outcome.



I then streamed videos from my home computer on the 1G network, with similar results. Note that in order to do that, you better have the SlingCatcher, your computer and your tv in the same room, otherwise you have to go back and forth all the time. I was watching a video and all of a sudden a computer message popped up right in the middle of the screen, which required going back to the home computer to click on the message.



But the worst part of the SlingProjector was that it did not work in some instances. I wanted to show a PowerPoint presentation on the tv screen, and in order to do that I did not use the "cropping" feature, but I put the SlingProjector in full screen mode. After opening the PowerPoint file, it was not possible to get the thing going from my laptop to the SlingCatcher. I managed to see a screen, but then the whole thing would freeze and I could not make it work even after restarting and resetting the box. After a while I gave up.



The second feature is the ability to connect to a SlingBox and watch on a TV what you would until now watch on your computer. That feature seems to work, though I found the menu system quite cumbersome. The quality also did not seem that great. I would have thought that having two hardware boxes talking to each other would allow Sling to optimize protocols and provide high quality and speed. Not so. Perhaps you can get better results with the HD box, which I do not have (it would have been the next purchase probably.)



Finally I thought I would get good results with the third, "slam dunk" feature, "Watch Video from your PC." Note that even this description is misleading. Watching video from your PC means implementing the Sling version of "Sneakernet" -- copy your files on a USB stick from your computer and walk it over and plug the stick into the SlingCatcher. But much to my surprise, this did not work at all. I tried both a USB stick with a few files, and then attaching a 500GB USB external hard disk full of media files. In the first case it found nothing, in the second case it told me that the files were unreadable. So much for the slam dunk feature.



So, I am disappointed at two levels. First, because the product is buggy and does not work as advertised. I knew what I was buying, because I have been reading about this for almost two years and despite the misleading descriptions, I knew enough not to be surprised. Even so, however, the product just does not work!



At another level, I am very disappointed in Sling. This was a huge opportunity to corner the market as the "media center" device of choice. For $300, why didn't the company include a web browser, so that I could go on the web directly and stream video from there as opposed to having to do it twice, with the additional inconvenience of having to use a computer in the middle? Was that not possible, given that the product is 2 years late and they charge $300? How much more would that cost? Some additional memory maybe?



Second, what's the deal with Sneakernet? Have we gone back 20 years? If you can read from a USB device (which you can't even make work) can't you allow me to read from devices on my network? I have several computers on the network as well as a NAS. My Playstation allows me to browse all these devices, retrieve and stream videos in HD, retrieve pictures and music and play it at high quality and flawlessly on my TV. If you can do it from a USB device, why can't you do it off the network? Even if it requires people to upgrade to a 1Gigabit network for HD video, it is still better than not having the feature at all.



In conclusion, I am very disappointed. The SingCatcher is under-featured and overpriced. Most importantly, it is a buggy product, which is incredible for something that's been in the works for over two years. Sling Media SlingCatcher SC100-100 Universal Media Player for TV - Remote Viewing - Sling Catcher - Slingbox - Slingmedia'

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Kitchen Scale - nutrition, kitchen scale

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Royal's ds3 scale works great for checking the weight of your outgoing mail and to help you calculate the correct postage with a handy chart. The hold button makes it easy to keep the weight displayed even after you take the package off the scale.



My only real complaint is that the packaging promises you access to updated charts on their website. After countless hours searching for it, and their horrible customer service contact form where I never got a response back I ended up going to the US postal web site and printing out my own form. Too bad Royal can't keep their end of the bargain by posting new rate charts for customers to print out on their web site.



[Update 8/19/09 - Royal has posted the updated postage charts on their website. See comments below for the URL.] Royal DS3 Postal Rate Scale (17012Y)

I have used this product for the past 8 months. This review is for a second one I bought recently for another office. Put the battery in, and read the weight. I use Postal Assistant from the USPS to print the labels for the packages that I weigh. I ship 3 to 4 small packages a week. This keeps me from making mistakes.

I really liked this little scale, until it suddenly stopped working after 3 months. I don't ship a lot of packages so I'd only used it about a dozen times altogether. Tried switching out the batteries with fresh ones and ones from a working flashlight - no luck. It just died.



Checking reviews for other scales by this company I see similar complaints. Too bad, because it was a nice product, while it worked.

If you go to the Royal site you can print a new chart, for some reason I had to go to firefox for the pop up to open, yes I have the pop up blocker off. On other sites I have the same problem with IE7.



You can mail first class with PayPal.



paypal dot c o m then you ad /us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_ship-now



This scale has saved me hours I just drop off the package no waiting and I have double checked the weight on the post office scales and they are the same. I love my Royal.



USPS also has a site that allows you to purchase online postage at a discount, if you have questions post a reply and I will answer.

THIS IS A TERRIFIC LITTLE SCALE AND HIGHLY ACCURATE. I HAD ONE THAT WENT ON THE FRITZ AND I LOOKED AT ALL OF THEM TO FIND THE NEXT ONE THAT I'D LIKE. THIS IS EASY TO USE, BUT PLEASE READ THE DIRECTIONS FIRST! I DIDN'T AND THOUGHT IT WAS BROKEN, WHEN IT WAS MY STUPIDITY THAT MADE IT MALFUNCTION. BUT TRULY A GREAT LITTLE SCALE AND A GREAT DEAL. LOVE IT.

I bought this scale at WalMart over four years ago. It was affordable and weighed accurately the whole time I've had it. The 9V battery is still working. My only reason for needing a new scale is that many of my packages weigh more than three pounds. When I get a new scale, I will keep this one for kitchen use. Great product! - Nutrition - Postal - Kitchen Scale - Mail'

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Corded Rotary Tools - 1080i, engraving

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This engraver works incredibly well. Although it looks unweildy, its very easy to control and engrave clearly. In fact, my engravings turned out to look just like my handwriting. I've used it to engrave tools and other metal and steel products, and it has done it with ease. I've had one for several years now, and its still an excellent & reliable engraver. Dremel 290-01 1.15 Amp 7,200 Stroke Per Minute Engraver includes Letter and Number Template

I bought this engraver with birthday money from a discount store last fall, after researching it online. It will leave its mark on just about anything you would want. I like the variable speed settings which allows you to match the work to the material. I have used it to initial all my tools so there is no mistaking who it belongs to. It works on hardened steel as well as plastic. My wife uses it for craft projects in her pre-school teaching job.

I got this as a Christmas present, and just now used it for the first time to engrave my cellphone. I had been wondering how easy it would be to control, but am glad to report that the result was as small & legible as what can be achieved with pen and paper.

4 stars instead of 5 because I know there are better scribers out there - but hard to find for the home hobbyist. This one is a little noisy but quieter than most inexpensive models. Yes, it is easy to adjust, and easy to control. I am amused and pleased at the inclusion of a letter and number template. I wish the AC cord were a little longer, by a foot or two.

this product works well.. i use it to engrave my luggage.. so even if the tag gets ripped off the airline can still see my contact info. i also use it to write on power adapters so i know what product they go to. Dont you hate it when you have all those little black adapters and they dont have a name on them? well just write Timmys R/C car, or Daddys Nokia cell phone etc.. and problem is solved.

I engraved 79 ornaments for a fund raiser/memory tree for a genealogical society. The tool arrived 3 days after the order, I was delighted. The tool was so easy to use, it was like writing with a kids big pen. The flow was fantastic, and I got many compliments, like "did you really do this?" It just fit my hand and was so comfortable to use. The cord was cumbersome at the beginning, but I found if I wrapped it behind my arm, it was pliable enough and didn't get in the way. BTW, we made $650.00. I kept the engraver for my own use. I have done several Christmas presents with a personal message. Thanks AMAZON.COM....Kay

Works great on soft surfaces such as plastic or aluminum. However it does not do much to hard metals and glass as it claims it does. Works good for the money, just don't expect to be able to engrave your wrenches and it be deep enough that one swipe of sandpaper wouldn't take it off.

Basic drill to engrave items. Only thing is it's LOUD and vibrates. It goes the job and comes with a small plate to follow the letters and numbers to make it look professional. VERY easy to use!



Put the tip on, set to how deep you want to go and plug it in, turn on and away you go!



Great to protect items from theft so nobody can say it's not yours! Put the last four #s of your SSN, or last name, initials, or anything relating to you to engrave. - 1080i - Engraver - Engravers - Engraving'

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