Monday 7 March 2011

Texas Rangers - phiten, texas rangers


Purchased this item about a month ago and the strap is already broken after about 6-7 times of wearing. It is a thinly constructed "nylon" wrap. It looks great on, but is doomed to failed with the latch mechanism. Please do not waste your money on this item. MLB Atlanta Braves Gamewear Frozen Rope Necklace - Titanium - Texas Rangers - Phiten'


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Texas Rangers - phiten, texas rangers texas rangers Texas Rangers - phiten, texas rangers

Boat Cover - classic accessories, pelican


Having read other reviews stating that the cover doesn't stay on or protect very well against rain, I modified it a little to see if it would work better. All I did was buy some velcro fasteners (any home improvement store, target, Kmart-sometimes comes in a roll), I attached the rough velcro ends to the under edge of the boat and the "fuzzy" sides to the underside of the cover as I put it on. Everything stayed tight, the cover has never come off, and not a drop of rain has gotten inside. Great product for the money! Classic Accessories Silver-Tech Polyester Pedal Boat Cover (Silver, Fits 3 or 5 Person Boat)

Classic Accessories Silver-Tech Polyester Pedal Boat Cover (Silver, Fits 3 or 5 Person Boat)



This cover is okay but I have one caveat. I purchased this cover to keep rainwater out of the boat. But now when it rains the water collects on top of the cover which then slips down into the seat indentations. When you try to take the cover off, it is impossible to keep the water from spilling into the boat. This defeats the whole purpose. However, I solved the problem. I purchased several cheap beach balls and put one in each seat indentation before putting the cover on. The balls hold the cover up and keep it from sinking down into the seat holes. This works pretty well and does keep the rain water out.

This cover works pretty good to keep the water out when it rains.

If it is left out very long, water does get in the boat, some, but not like if I had nothing on it.

It protects it from the sun, too. Good item for the money. Fairly easy to get on and off.



Update-this is the second season I am using this cover. Now, the rain goes right through it into

the boat. I did not see any water on the outside and thought that it worked, but when I pulled

the cover off-wow-the front seats on my 5 seat pedal boat were full. I ordered the Attwoods

battery operated pump and am washing my cover with a little car wax and will spray it with a

water repellent I got at Walmart by the shoes. I will see if it will start to repel water again.

The fit is very good still-I have a KL Industries 5 seat pedal boat(with unadjustable seats).

This cover was easy to use out of the box. It has held up well for almost 3 months during a very rainy summer. Our boat has stayed dry inside despite many torrential rain storms. The cover has stayed secure and is easy to remove and replace.

Was shipped very timely, but much thinner material than I anticipated. My boat stays outside so I am not sure how the cover will stand up to the weather, i.e., wind, hail etc. It did fit my boat nicely, but wish it had come with some sort of tie down as I had to strap it to the boat to keep it fro blowing off. For the price, it appears to be adequate. - Classic Accessories - Boat Cover - Pelican'


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Boat Cover - classic accessories, pelican boat cover Boat Cover - classic accessories, pelican

Angry Birds


This toy failed within a couple days, and it was not just a defective unit. I have three differnt toys from the same line, and they all failed almost immediately.



So, I opened them up to take a look at the electronics. Just a really poor design. If you press the button too hard, you bend a contact spring. After that, it will never work again because the contact doesn't hit the right place on the circuit board. Easily fixed by bending it back, but without further modification it is just going to happen again. Guess this company has never heard of testing. Angry Birds 5" Plush Yellow Bird with Sound

My 8 year old likes this a lot. It is made of decent quality plush and honestly looks the part: a round ball with a beak on the front. The 'sound' piece is in the top of the head, between the eyebrows and black plumage on top. You squeeze the forehead and it makes the sounds that that particular bird makes in the Angry Birds game. This one has 3 different soundtracks that I've been able to identify. It's not the same thing every time but gives you the different sounds randomly.



One thing about the yellow plushie is that it picks up dirt easily and tends to look dirty even when new in the box. For that reason, I'd recommend a different colored one unless you are getting a set.

I got this plush doll for my mom for her birthday. She loves Angry Birds, and this little guy now rests on her desk. It's cute. We haven't had a problem with it breaking, but we're also not using it a whole bunch.'


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4 Port - hdmi cable splitter, hdmi


I was in the market for a 1x4 splitter for a 108i source to a Sony LCD, Onkyo SR-607--> Samsung DLP/Optoma HD20 and to an Integra DHC 9.9--> Samsung UNB7000/Sim2 D60. I started with a Monoprice's best 1.3b ATC 1x4 splitter and had compatibility issues with the Integra-->Samsung/ Sim2 setup. Then I tried the HD Trinity splitter from CECmpass which worked intermittently and most of the time required the Onkyo->Samsung DLP to be turned on at the same time for it to lock/sync the signal. Finally, I tried this splitter and it works like a charm with my pickiest Integra DHC 9.9 setup right out of the box. I have been experimenting with HDMI setups for over a year now and I have paid heftily(over $200/-) for 1x2 splitters last year. 2009 is the year to take the leap to HDMI splitters as the price is right and I cannot recommend this splitter enough to everybody out there. This is the splitter to get for the best compatibilty with the pickiest of recievers or TVs. After a month of frustrations with various incompatibilities, I have finally found my holy grail of HDMI splitters. Hope my experience helps others who have similar setups as mine. ViewHD 4 Port HDMI 1x4 3D Powered Splitter Ver 1.3 Certified for Full HD 1080P (One Input to Four Outputs)

This product is excellent. It is incredibly simple to use and works perfectly. I connected a second HD TV in my game room with a 50ft HDMI cable, also bought through Amazon at a price 75% less than at Best Buy. Amazingly, there is no drop off in picture quality. I would highly recommend this product.

Driving three TVs with cables of 6', 50' and 65' works perfectly.

I've paid $[...] for two way splitters that couldn't drive 50'.



The "instruction manual" is a joke.

Each language gets two 3" x 3" paragraphs of text.

Shouldn't need it though. There is nothing to set.



Keep in mind this uses a "Wall wart" power supply.

They never show these in the pictures.

It's a small "wart" as they go.

When plugged in, it extends off to the right or left.

Prongs aren't polarized, so right or left is always possible.

This arrangement means it won't block the outlet above or below. A+



========================================

Question

When driving two TVs, one of the blue active output

indicator LEDs flashes and one does not.

Does anyone know why ?

Doesn't have a problem, just curious.

This splitter works great. It shipped quickly and the price was right. I'm using it on the output from my Dish Network 722 receiver, with a 3 ft cable connecting to the nearby living room TV and a 50 ft Insten Super High Res. Gold HDMI cable to a nearby bedroom TV. The picture and sound over the 50 ft cable are indistinguishable from the living room TV. I was unsure whether to try the 50 ft run but the price of both this splitter and the cable (from Amazon) were great and Amazon's return policy is great so I went for and am not disappointed. The only down side is that output 1 of the splitter can only feed a stereo audio signal to the A/V receiver on my main surround system in the living room, and I cannot get Dolby Digital as before. This is not the splitter's fault but just the way HDMI works. Since splitter output 2 is connected directly to TV 2 and can only take a stereo signal, then all splitter outputs will provide only the stereo audio. I may fix this later, either by adding an HDMI-compatible A/V receiver (and speakers) to TV 2 or by moving the splitter to the output of my main A/V receiver.

I used this to run 3 Samsung 1080p sets from a single HD Digital Cable box. The length of run to the 1st set was 50ft; the 2nd was 25ft; and the 3rd was 15ft. Everything looked perfect on all TVs at the maximum resolution of 1080i/720p. It has a LED's to indicate it has power and connectivity if you need to troubleshoot. You can't hook it up incorrectly since the input is on the end and the outputs are all grouped together on the back. It is a little awkward to situate because of this but I had it hidden in a cabinet so it didn't matter. It is heavy and feels sturdy although it comes in a super generic box with hardly any documentation. Power supply is common - if it blows out, a replacement should be easily found locally.

Overall, it provides a solution and does exactly what you think it will.

I purchased this "used" from "J & R Galaxies". It was advertised as "used and tested and repackaged" and for that came with a price reduction. When I obtained this splitter, it appeared to be new. It was perfectly packaged and worked perfectly. I am using this as an HDMI splitter for my home. I have a "Time Warner" cable box with only one HDMI output. I wanted to send that HDMI signal to another TV in my home. I used this powered splitter with a "Media Bridge", 3' cable from the cable box to the splitter and then a PTC, 100', amplified cable run to another TV. This splitter is advertised as "powered" and did indeed come wtih a 5 volt power supply which I of course used. The 100' cable has an amplifier in it as well. This "View HD" splitter has been working perfectly for about a month now. It transmits BOTH video and audio (as HDMI should) perfectly. The 100' cable run is through my basement ceiling and runs the length of my house. There is about a 3 to 4 second delay between channel changes with this powered splitter AND the 100', amplified cable run. I suspect that is because the HDMI signal must need to be synchronized if going through amps. I tried this without the 100' cable using another 3' cable from the splitter to a TV and that dropped the delay in channel changing to about 1 or 2 seconds. That does not bother me but if you are a "channel surfer" and expect to rapidly "click" through channels, this might be a problem for you. I suspect this would be a characteristic of any amplifed splitter/switch or cable. After shopping for a 4 port splitter, I found this to be an excellent value and it works perfectly for me. I have not tried this with a full 1080p, HDMI signal, only with by cable box output but so far, it works perfectly for me. - Hdmi Switch - Hdmi - Hdmi Cable Splitter - 4 Port'


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Blank Media - blank media, verbatim


I have bought and burned over 200 of these discs and I have never had a bad disc! Today the blank media market has been flooded with cheap discs that won't work after a few uses or even burn properly! However, this specific blank media is still high quality and won't fail. Verbatim 95484 8.5 GB 8x-10x Double Layer Recordable Disc DVD+R DL, 15 Disc Spindle

This was my first experience using double layer media for burning, so while I have no reference points to go by, I must say I've not had a bad disc so far. I promise to update this review if things begin to change.



I have two versions of Nero (6 and 8) on two very different computers, and I've noticed that they both automatically lower the burn rate to 4X (though I can pump it up to 6X on Nero 6) and wonder if speed accounts for the fact that "lesser" brands fail more often. I even have one of the hated Sony burners in my Core Duo 2 laptop with Nero 8, and it works, despite being HUGELY slower than with a Lite-On drive installed in my ancient AMD64 desktop.



My only gripe with this product is, oddly, what drew me to it in the first place: the price. At $40.48 for a 30 pack you're looking at $1.35 per disc. I find it hard to believe that in this day and age, when the product cycle for optical discs of this sort is quite mature, that it costs this much to produce them. Can it really be more than double the cost of two single layer discs which can be had for 20 to 30 cents each at fairly reliable quality? Perhaps...I've never made them myself. I will conclude in Verbatim's defense that this is the lowest price point short of the widely maligned Memorex discs. That's why I chose them, and all in all I'm quite happy.



P.S.--It might be interesting to hear from those who have used both these and the cheaper Memorex discs to see if patterns in why things head south do so. I'll let you know if I decide to bite the bullet and try the competition at some point.

Verbatim has changed the manufacture process of their discs with the 8x. The dye has serious flaws in 80% or more of the discs. Normally I would recommend these to anybody interested in backing up data. Now I say stay away from these. Out of 15 discs only 3 are barely readable. 12 coasters. I would expect this from Memorex but not Verbatim. Stick to 2.4x discs if you can still find them. I used a brand new Pioneer burner with all of these so I know my drive is not failing. It burns everything else very well including the HP Dual Layer discs. Extremely disappointed.



Please take note I am referring to the purple box not the orange one. Never had a single problem from those. Depending on your chosen software for burning check and see if the disc ID number MKM-003-00 (or something close to that - must have the 003) appears. If it does.. do not even attempt to burn or else you will have just lost an hour of your day and a very expensive disc.

I do a lot of DVD burning, I won't mention any competitors all I will say is that I NEVER have had a Verbatim disk fail on me. If it fails its usually my fault. I have had great success with the Verbatim +R DL disks.

Don't let the price scare you. Verbatim DVD's are worth every penny! Use the other brands for frisbees and never worry again about your media. These babies burn clean without any discards. I've used a few hundred and haven't thrown out any! My only disappoinment is the 8x dual layer doesn't come in a pack of 100 spindle(hmmmmmm). I have reliably used them at different speeds with no difficulty. I have tried other brands, NONE COMPARE!!!

Discs performed perfectly--I'd heard stories of lost or contaminated data with 'bargain' or other cheaper Double Layer discs...I decided to go with the Verbatim discs based on reviews and the experience of friends, a little more co$t, but worth it in the long run....GH

My friends and I have a lot of experience writing DVDs. Even with a top rated DVD burner, the double layer writing is a little tricky and, as far as I am concerned, Verbatim is the ONLY choice. It works almost every time with very few failures. One time I bought a 50 stack of another brand because they didn't have the Verbatim in stock. I gave up trying to get a good write and threw them away. Don't waste your money on any other brand. - Dvd Dl - Verbatim - Verbatim Dl Dvd - Blank Media'


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Battery Aa Rechargeable - battery, eneloop


[Updated Oct 24, 2008]

My original review on the Sanyo eneloop NiMH cells was written nearly two years ago. Since then, I have learned a lot more about the characteristics about eneloop and other low-self-discharge cells. So it is time to clear up some inaccurate information I wrote about eneloop's self-discharge rate.



1. I was told that the Sanyo eneloop cells were not 100% fully charged when they leave factory. This makes sense because new cells are fast-charged in the factory to save time. In order to avoid problem with heat and gas built-up, they cannot be charged to 100%. I have tested some eneloop cells that were manufactured 20 months ago, and they still maintained about 70% charge. On the other hand, cells manufactured 6 months ago contain about 75% charge. This confirmed that the discharge rate is much lower than I previously estimated.



2. The self-discharge rate of eneloop (and other LSD cells) is not linear! My own testing showed that a fully charged eneloop may lose 10% of its initial charge during the first month of storage, but in the second months it may lose just 2-3%. The rate becomes even slower after three months. In fact, my 5-month self-discharge test using various brands of LSD cells gave nearly identical results as my previous 3-month test.



3. When an eneloop cell is freshly charged, its capacity actually measures at about 5% higher than its rated capacity (2100mAh vs. 2000mAh). In my previous tests, I used measured capacity as base to calculate the percentage loss. This results in apparently higher percentage loss. Had I used the rated capacity as base value, the self-discharge rate would be about 5% lower.



Based on the above revelation, I believe Sanyo's claim about eneloop (maintain 85% charge after one year, 80% after two year) to be accurate. Therefore the title of my previous review ("The News of LSD Has Been Slightly Exaggerated") has to be replaced.



Over the past two years, I have tested several different brands of LSD cells available from Amazon.com, including Rayovac Hybrid, Kodak Pre-Charged, and Duracell Pre Charged. They have all performed very well - practically no difference from the Sanyo eneloop. So the bottom line is: just pick which ever brand of LSD cell is on sale, and you can't go wrong.





[Update on April 21, 2011]

- After testing and using various brands of LSD cells over the past four years, Sanyo eneloop cells have proven to be the most reliable and consistent of them all. I now have to recommend Sanyo eneloop over all others brands.



- Recently Amazon started to offer the SANYO NEW 1500 eneloop cells, at around 25% higher price. In my testing, the improvement of the new eneloop over the original is hardly noticeable. So you'll have to decide whether it is worthwhile to pay the extra cost. Sanyo Eneloop 8 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries

[IMPORTANT NOTE]

My original review below was written back in 2007, when the Sanyo eneloop first became available

through Amazon.com. Part of my initial estimation about eneloop's self-discharge rate turns out to be inaccurate. Please see my other Amazon spotlight review for updated information.



[Original Review follows]



According to Sanyo, the new eneloop LSD (low self-discharge) NiMH batteries can maintain 85% of its original charge after 1 year of storage. This claim is slightly misleading, because it is based on simulation test at 20 degree C. At higher temperature, the self-discharge rate is likely to be much higher.



I have tested five of those AA cells (details are given in my review for the eneloop 4-pack). The average energy loss is about 26% after less than 6 months of storage, based on manufacturer date codes. This self-discharge rate is about 3 times higher than what Sanyo claimed. However, it is still 6 times lower than that of ordinary NiMH batteries. Therefore I'm in the process of replacing most of my existing rechargeable cells to the Sanyo eneloop.



Thanks to lower self-discharge rate, you'll discover a lot more applications for eneloop cells in your house, such as in clocks and remote controls. Do NOT use those cell in smoke detectors, since their discharge voltage profile is very different from that of alkaline cells. Also, don't use them as emergency flash lights batteries in your car, because the higher temperature during summer time will probably nullify the advantage of LSD.



[Update on Jan 13, 2007]

I have tested six new eneloop AAA cells, dated "2006-06'. The average residue charge is 589mAh, and the freshly charged capacity is 827mAh. This implies a self-discharge rate of 29% in 7 months, which is consistent with the rate for AA cells (26% loss in 6 months).



[Update on Jan 29, 2007]

The Rayovac "Hybrid" rechargeable NiMH batteries are now available at Walmart, priced at only $[...] for 4-pack of AA or AAA cells. It is also advertised to have low self-discharge rate, but not as low as that for eneloop. The eneloop is supposed to retain 85% charge in 12 months (when stored at 20 degree C), whereas Hybrid is supposed to retain 80% charge in 6 months (no mention of temperature).



[Update on June 3, 2007]

In my 2-month self-discharge test using four different brands of NiMH cells. Hybrid and eneloop came up neck-and-neck!



Room temperature: 60-62 degree F (16-17 degree C). All capacities measured are average of 2-cells.



- Sanyo eneloop 2000, purchased Jan 2007.

Initial capacity measured: 2070mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1796mAh (-13.2%)

(Note: my previous result for eneloop showed -18%, but I repeated the test and it did better this time)



- Rayovac Hybrid 2100, purchased Jan 2007.

Initial capacity measured: 2155mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1859mAh (-13.8%)



- LaCrosse 2000, purchased Jan 2006.

Initial capacity measured: 1902mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1417mAh (-26%)



- SONY 2300, purchased Sep 2004.

Initial capacity measured: 2210mAh

Capacity after 62 days: 1309mAh (-41%)



So neither eneloop nor Hybrid did as well as advertised, but they are still significantly better than previous generation of NiMH cells. So you can't go wrong with either brand. - Nimh - Battery - Aa - Eneloop'


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Dehydration - tender, health food


The water of a tender (green) coconut is a natural electrolyte, rich in potassium and other minerals needed. It is thus a natural sports drink. I knew that much before I accepted this book for review and was curious how a book could be written about that!



I was in for a pleasant surprise when I received this beautifully printed book with a colorful cover and found it well edited, printed well with a good collection of photos to drive the points home.



In 10 chapters, a few appendixes and 223 pages, the author succeeds in educating us about all the health benefits of coconut water. Did you know that Coconut water cured the cataract of eyes of a person? Well, I did not know that! Did you know that coconut water is a good way of detoxing without many problems associated with plain water fast and fruit juice fasts?



There are many more uses of tender coconut water and many of the same benefits are obtained from packaged coconut water too. Coconut milk is not to be confused with coconut water.



All in all, this is a highly readable book on the several health benefits of coconut water. I am lucky to be in a country where tender coconuts are sold roadside and also bottled coconut water is available in departmental stores just in case, I need to travel to places where fresh coconuts may not be available.



I am glad to recommend this book for all interested in health of themselves and or their family members, friends etc.



Very informative book... Has a lot of good information that will keep you wanting to read to book till u finish...



youd be surprised to all the benefits coconut water has to offer... Def. a real eye opener!!!!



I def. recommend you getting this book along with some coconut water... Amazon currently has a sale on Vito Coco coconut water until this end of this month!!!

I bought the "Coconut Water" after 3 month ago having receaved and rwad the "The Coconut Oil Miracle", and after that bought "Virgin Coconut Oil", all written by Dr. Bruce Fife.



It all startet about 3 years ago bying especially many healthy books, that is about eating the right things and doing the best exercice. It came when I discovered that there was something wrong with one of the bones, happely before it broke, and hade made an operation. And then after being to cholesterol measures for me and my wife in february last year, 2009, and for her getting a bad result, more books bying. And about the cholesterol it showed up, in the new bought books, that what I had learned i the 1960's when I was a teenager, and allso read in books bought i Denmark in the 90's was wrong.



But first in this year, 2010, after bying and reading nearly 100 books concerning (most) eathing and exercise, I came to the books about cocos. And then allso about this, cocos, found that it was much misinformations we had got in nearly all of the years since the second world war. Because we had been told about sorting fats in only good and bad and thereby cocos came to be bad. And then it has shown up that this was totally wrong, and instead all concerning cocos is the best we can get.



After readng the 3 mentioned book by Bruce Fife, and our knowings now a day, I think that it is a shame that in most of books concerning healthy eating the cocos is not even mentioned, even though it showed up to be the most healthy. But without doubt it wil change in the future, that is that all concerning cocos will get into the books about healthy eating.



All of the books written by Dr. Bruce Fife are written in good ways and have many good informations, bouth scientifically and about cases. And I'm going to by more of his books.



I come from Denmark but now live in Thailand and here we have cocos everywere. But after the cholesterol measure last year my wife by doctors was told not to eath cocos or drik cocos oil. But reading more than 10 books about cholesterol and the books by Bruce Fife I have told my wife that the doctors are wrong so now we nearly each day get something from cocos. I have allso tried to prowe it for the doctors,but they will not chance.



With regards Gert Bo Thorgersen

Firstly, I would like to explain that coconut water is the liquid found in the coconut, as opposed to coconut milk, which is a manufactured product produced by crushing coconut meat and extracting the juice.



Now, with regard to the book, I must admit that I found most of it extremely boring and thus not easily read, due mostly to its scientific content. Though the basic content of the book is absolutely important.



It turns out that coconut water is a superfood that saves lives. It can be used intravenously, its composition being "remarkably similar" to that of human blood plasma, thus making it more effective than standard IV saline solutions for rehydration.



Dehydration is a serious problem, for example, during cholera epidemics. Oral rehydration with coconut water has proved to be extremely effective, though there is much resistance to its use from the medical profession. Coconut water is superior to all other beverages for rehydration. Water is not enough, since the decisive factor is the electrolyte content of the fluid used, and coconut water contains the necessary electolytes, most importantly, it has a high potassium content



Coconut water is effective against Crohn's disease, strokes, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, edema, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc, etc.



I myself have Crohn's disease, but since beginning to consume coconut products, including coconut water, coconut milk, etc, I have had no episodes of any kind connected with this disease,



The book includes instructions on how to make coconut water kefir, how to open young coconuts (which, unfortunately, I have never encountered and can't get hold of), how to make coconut milk from fresh and dried coconut, how to do a coconut water fast and also includes a number of excellent coconut water recipes. The latter part of the book proved much more readable than the first.



Since reading this book together with another of Fife's books, on coconut oil, I now drink coconut milk and coconut water, use coconut oil exclusively when cooking, and eat the meat of at least two or three coconuts a week.



I would absolutely recommend this book for those in bad health or looking to retain their good health, since the information given as to the extreme nutritional value of coconut water is of absolute importance in my view. But you may need a certain portion of persistence in getting through the first part of the book, unless you are extremely motivated. - Tender - Health Food - Dehydration - Coconut - Green - Electrolyte'


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Ipod Touch Accessories - stylus, iphone stylus


These stylus are very well made and work very well, if all you want to do is find an alternative to pressing the onscreen keyboard. However, these stylus are totally useless for use with a drawing program because the rubber tip will not glide across the screen. If you use your iPhone outdoors and you are wearing gloves, these stylus are for you. If you want to draw, then you'd be better off with a stylus with a soft foam tip. 3 Pack of Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen (Red + Black + Silver)

Short and sweet:



I've tried three of the stylus brands offered on Amazon: The $15.00; the $11.99 aCase; and the cheap three-pack "Universal Touch Screen Stylus.".



It is easy to tell you which not to buy: the cheap ones. The rubber tips on them have too much friction. You can't write or draw easily; you literally feel like the Stylus is getting stuck on the screen. Guaranteed, one zillion percent, you will hate it.



Now, to the Boxwave vs. the aCase.



This isn't just a draw; there's not even a fight, because the two products are exactly the same (there's one subtle difference in the way the little headphone-jack string insert is attached to the pen. One uses a tiny, carbiner-type hook, and the other a ring. You'd probably never notice the difference, because there is non.



So, which to buy? The aCase is three dollars cheaper, but it only comes in black. That's it.



Boxwave: http://www.amazon.com/review/create-review/ref=cm_cr_dp_wr_but_right?ie=UTF8&nodeID=172282&asin=B000ETU944&store=electronics

aCase: http://www.amazon.com/Acase-Apple-Capacitive-Stylus-Black/dp/B003ULE6GU/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_1

Three-pack: http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Touch-Screen-Stylus-Silver/dp/B002BBJMO6/ref=pd_cp_e_3

I should have read the reviews carefully.

Do not buy this if you want to use it with your iPhone to draw, slide the screens or do anything cool.



The tip is very soft and you need to put some effort in pressing it against the screen. If you try to slide it, you are in danger of damaging the screen since the tip moves away and the hard plastic of the stylus can scratch your precious sceeen.



This is probably good if you are missing a finger or you are wearing gloves and your apps are in the main screen.

There are three (3) types of touch screens, buy the correct stylus for your screen.



From eHow:



Resistive-type screens lack the clarity of other touch screens but they tend to be very durable and can be used in a variety of environments. Resistive-type screens are the most common in use today.



Capacitive screens are resistant to outside elements, making them very durable, and they still maintain a high clarity. Unlike resistive and surface wave screens, which can be used with stylus, capacitive panels must be touched with a finger.



Surface wave touch panels are the more advanced of the three types, offering the highest clarity. But they are more easily damaged by outside elements.



[...]

The iPad has a capacitive touch screen, your gloves won't work, and that plastic stylus from your old Palm PDA won't work either. Buy a capacitive stylus for your iPad.

For reaching those peskly small areas on your iPod Touch screen, the Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen does the trick! They are comfortable in the hand and helps to make some of those tasks easier on the iPod Touch. If you have trouble with fingers that don't quite work the way you wish, then this is another reason to consider purchasing these pens.Silver Universal Touch Screen Stylus Pen for Apple Iphone 1st Gen, 3G 2nd Gen, Ipod Touch

The price and shipping time on this item are great. Sadly, the item itself is basically useless. I bought this for my iPad and it works but you have to mash really hard and then it leaves a funky streak mark and it's hard to get it to work and then it isn't very precise. I bought it to have a stylus to use with a drawing app and given how big the tip is and hard I have to mash to get it to work it's much less useful than simply using my finger.

This is a very nice stylus with a soft rubber tip. They work great on my Instinct and with the rubber tip there is no fear of scratching the screen. My only "issue" is that the stylus are to thick to fit into the stylus pocket on the stock Instinct case... but the size does make the stylus much more easier to control so you're more accurate with them. I'm glad I ordered the three pack because I can just keep one at work, one in the car, and one at home.

With fat fingers and hands that sometimes shake, these styluses worked great on my iPad AND my DroidX phone. I often give them away to friends and have ordered about four packs so far! For the price, it's worth a try! - Stylus - Ipad - Iphone Stylus - Stylus Pen'


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Ipod Touch Accessories - stylus, iphone stylus ipad Ipod Touch Accessories - stylus, iphone stylus

Ipod Dock - ipod dock, ipod dock system


I did extensive research on portable iPod speakers before buying. I wanted a unit that had decent sound and had a video output for showing pictures and videos on my iPod. After days of narrowing the field I settled on this iLive iPod speaker dock. Admittedly, I went a little 'cheap' on the price, but with product features saying "Great sound" and "full function remote" I took the chance.



When I played the music from my iPod in it the sound was tinny, playing all the highs and no mids or lows. I thought I might be able to live with it if I could get audio out of the unit into my sound system by the television for playing videos and pictures, but the sound does not extend through the video out. You must have an additional speaker cable or use the iLive speaker dock - no thanks!



I was also fooled by the claim that the speaker dock came with a 'full function' remote control. Folks, this is not a full function remote control. A full function remote control allows the user to get through all of the meuns using dedicated button pushes or a combination of button pushes. Again, not so! The remote I received had to be within 6 feet of the unit and was so hard to get the speaker system to accept a command from the remote control it was easier to reach over and use the iPod touch wheel or touch screen (whichever I had in at the time).



I could have tried more methods, but in stead, I lovingly repackaged the speaker system and returned it... never to make this mistake again.



So, not only did I lose valuable of time researching only to purchase the worst speaker system since my first car (a 1976 kick-butt Delta 88 that was barely roadworthy), I ended up paying $25 NOT to own this unit due to shipping and return shipping. My time and money would been better spent on a more expensive, better sounding, more capable unit.



I recommend purchasing from known brands like JBL, Blaupunkt, Altec Lansing, Logitec, and the like.



Summary: Don't buy this unless you are deaf. You will hate it. iLive iPod Speakers with Remote Control - White

Bought it Brand New and never worked fine, volume doesn't go up or down and body has yellow marks over the white surface. Definitely not a good choice, there are many other options with similar prices or only a little bit more expensive, but with fair quality. The product is just trash and a cheap imitation of a good ipod speaker or docking system. Check other options before making a mistake or loosing your money with this piece of... - Ipod Dock - Portable Speakers - Ipod Dock System'


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Laser Pointer - laser pointer, presenter


Offering multiple presentations every month, I have had the opportunity (misfortune?) of handling many other remotes. This remote allows me to use it as a mouse or to advance my presentation, but with a switch on the side, I don't have to worry about doing the one while wanting the other. An example from a recent presentation with a different remote: the remote was a combined mouse/remote. During a presentation, was trying to advance to the next slide, but mistakenly thumb over the mouse control, turning on the selection screen over the slide. "No problem, I'll just scroll down to 'Next Slide'." But, wait, then mistakenly hit the button that went to the previous slide. Very frustrating and distracting.



This remote allows me, at the flick of the swith on the side, to move between the distinct functions. For someone like me (with larger hands), that is nice.



Also, I don't feel like I am holding a Chiclet! While I have larger hands and some may feel comfortable holding a remote the size of a mail stamp, I don't. This remote is not too large, even for smaller hands, but it is easy for me to feel the separate buttons without having to look at the remote.



The range is good, as well. While standing in the front of a 200+ auditorium, I had no problems advancing the presentation which was run from the laptop in the back of the room.



When I am giving presentations, now, and I am at another facility and they offer their own remote, I ask to use my own...They may look at me funny - really, who has their own remote? - but it is well worth it. Satechi SP400 Smart-Pointer (Silver) 2.4Ghz RF Wireless Presenter with Mouse Function and Laser Pointer

I am very happy that I purchased the Smart-Pointer from Satechi. I teach both undergraduate and graduate students, and I also give presentations at state and national conferences. Rather than being chained to my laptop, I chose to purchase the Smart-Pointer so I could move around more freely to engage my audience. I have used several other remote pointers, and they were very finicky and didn't work very far from my laptop. In comparison, I have used the Smart-Pointer at distances of up to 70 feet from my laptop with no problem. The range is excellent if you like to move around.



The switch on the side of the Smart-Pointer changes the function of the buttons, so I haven't experienced any mix-ups, and the built-in laser function is great.



The seller supplied the first pair of AAA batteries in the box, so I was able to practice with the Smart-Pointer immediately. My laptop had no problem recognizing the device, and within minutes of opening the package, I was ready to go. Not that color matters in terms of functionality, but I purchased the red one to match my computer. Very nice!



The Smart-Pointer is lightweight, even with the batteries installed. It also fits my hand perfectly and slips easily into a pocket if I don't need to use it for a little while. The buttons are easy to find by touch, and I especially like the case that is included with the unit. The small zippered case measures approximately 5.5" by 4" and easily accommodates the pointer, the USB wireless connector, and 6 AAA batteries. (I believe in being prepared!)



Using a small remote that works with my laptop is much nicer than using a bulky projector remote. Because I had used other remote pointer units, I knew what I was looking for, and the Smart-Pointer has been very helpful to me. In fact, I am recommending this product to others at my university. You can buy this one with confidence.

This presenter could not be simpler to connect to a Macbook. I plugged the dongle in and a window opened suggesting that I might need to follow some actions through if the devise I was attempting to connect was a keyboard. Otherwise, if the devise is not a keyboard, it stated, I could disregard the prompt. I closed that window and, lo and behold the presenter was instantly fully functional !

I am also very satisfied with the performance the SP-400 provides. I had been using the remote that Mac supplied with my Macbook and it worked fine as long as I had a good clear line-of-sight shot at my computer.

On a few occasions, when I found myself off-center from the front of my Mac the function of the remote was impaired. How different this little presenter is ! The RF receiver picks up my clicks no matter where I point the presenter. Distance is no issue either. The range is fantastic (spec: up to 100 ft) !

The laser pointer is intense and powerful as well. As to the mouse function, as is true with most all multi-function presenters, the mouse feature works, but would probably not be something you would use a lot due to restricted directionality ( pointer moves up and down, left and right with arrow buttons - no true scrolling).

The SP 400 is smaller than the pictures seem to depict. It's just large enough to cradle in your hand comfortably and the heft is ideal as well.

Fantastic for Mac and probably the other guys as well ! - Presenter - Wireless - Laser Pointer - Powerpoint'


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Diamond Cut Paper Shredders - cross cut shredder, diamond cut paper shredders


The unit is extremely light duty. Six pages are possible, but pushing it. It will also do one credit card, which is good. Included with the manual is a warning sheet stating that the unit is rated at an average continuous run time of 2-4 minutes. Past that time, damage to the unit may result due to overheating and the warranty is voided for such misuse. The shredder paper slot is tight for an 8x11 sheet of paper, allowing little "wiggle room" of paper width.



It is a diamond cut which is better than a strip cut, but not as good as a crosscut for security purposes. The diamonds are approximately 1.5in.x1/4in. (HxW), measured at max width point (middle of diamond).

The unit is small, which could be a plus or a minus. Basket and shredder measure 13in.x11in.x6in. (HxWxD). The waste receptacle (basket) is not big, and will fill up often. It is nice that the top of the basket will fit into a plastic grocery bag, for easy emptying and inexpensive refuse disposal. There is a window on the front of the basket to indicate when it should be emptied, which is nice. It should be emptied at that time to prevent recirculating paper from damaging the shredder, according to the manual.



So far, the unit has worked well considering price and better shred security of the diamond cut versus strip cut.

The information previously stated is not a problem for me, though I will need to keep all the things in mind while using the unit.



For the price/performance, and as long as you keep the stated information in mind, the unit may well work well for you. Shredder Essentials 6-Sheet Diamond-Cut Shredder

I've had this item for about 5 months. It works fine. Sometimes a bit difficult to activate the shredder - it isn't very fond of thin paper, like credit card receipts, so the trick is to figure out how many receipts to group together to get it shredding. Also, it overheats rather quickly -- a lot quicker than they tell you. But once you adjust to its peculiarities, it works very well. Gets the job done. I use it just for occasional home shredding. I don't think it would be very satisfactory for any heavier use.

This shedder is exactly what I needed for occasional home use. It is sizeable enough, but also compact, and looks nice with all of my black office furniture. I needed something to shred documents as well as things like credit card junk mail or items that shared some of my personal information. The opening does not fit paper any larger than a standard 8 1/2" sheet. It's done the job for me, so I would recommend it!

While this shredder works great, what they don't show you in the photos is a huge white sticker on the top of the unit which has a long warning clause about not putting more than six sheets of paper in the unit (duh we know that). I have already spent an hour and a half a bottle of Goo Gone to remove it, this was not included in any photos. Now the top of it is scratched where the sticker used to be. If you don't mind a huge ugly white sticker on the top of this black unit, you'll love it.

Works well on the short term, but that was all that was promised. Unit, however retains quite a bit of shredded paper in the workings. So, when you lift in order to clear the mess, a lot of the paper bits fall on the floor. Then, you've got to clean it up. However, it does shred! After a lot of immediate use, it still works as needed. What more can you ask for a shredder at this price.

If you want a serious shredder this is not for you. But this thing is excellent for a value shredder. Much more secure than a simple shredder but a crosscut would be better. Don't plan on doing a ton of shredding with this though as it will overheat after extended use. I wouldn't recommend you trying too many sheets at a time and there isn't a ton of wiggle room in the slot but for the money you can't beat it. I haven't tried a credit card yet but I would say it would easily do one.



It does come with the basket and this is a compact shredder which in my opinion is a plus.

Love it! Shredder arrived quickly as usual, simple 2pc. set up that plugs into a standard outlet. Have been using it to shred very old paperwork, handles as advertised. Another helpful feature is that when the motor begins to heat the shredder will not operate. Give it 10-20 mins & its back to work - in 1 day I had 3 midsized trash bags filled with diamond shaped scraps of paper. - Aurora - Good Product - Cross Cut Shredder - Diamond Cut Paper Shredders'


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Whistling Kettle - tea kettle, tea kettles


Great Tea kettle


This kettle is great! I no longer have to worry about what the inside of the kettle is lined with - glass is clean and toxin-free. I use it on low-medium heat, and don't leave it sitting there boiling away. The whistle isn't real loud, but I'm hearing impaired and I can still hear it from another room. Since I drink MANY cups of tea a day, this kettle is getting lots of use. I hope it holds up over the long term, because I really like it a lot. And you sure can't beat the price!


This kettle is great! I no longer have to worry about what the inside of the kettle is lined with - glass is clean and toxin-free. I use it on low-medium heat, and don't leave it sitting there boiling away. The whistle isn't real loud, but I'm hearing impaired and I can still hear it from another room. Since I drink MANY cups of tea a day, this kettle is getting lots of use. I hope it holds up over the long term, because I really like it a lot. And you sure can't beat the price!


This kettle is a revelation for me. I was looking to replce my KitchenAid kettle that started to rust on the inside. The rust is from me neglecting it (not wiping it down after use and such). But I never liked the handle that gets really warm and uncomfortable.



I forgot how I came across this, but I'm so glad I did. Here're 2 things I really love:



1. The handle stays cool, because it's so far off to the side, unlike my old KitchenAid (and most other kettle).

And the location also makes it easier to pour (there's less angle to pour. You hardly lift up your arm). The first time I used it, I actually blurted out "Oh, dang, this is awesome!". With the KitchenAid, I would sometimes use a towel because the handle gets really uncomfortably warm.



2. I can pop this baby in the dishwasher! I don't have to worry about any rusting issue, either.



3. The price is about a third of the KitchenAid! (well, this last one is relative to what your other kettle is).



The negatives are:



1. I obviously have to be extra careful not to bang this around (I tend to smack things on the faucet).



2. I have to watch not to shock the kettle by filling in cold water while the kettle is still hot. I personally wouldn't have this problem. But I can see if someone needs to make multiple batch of coffee (say, during the holidays), you'd have to wait until the kettle cools down a bit before you can fill it with cold tap water, otherwise the glass might shatter.



I still give it 5 stars even with the 2 negatives. The negatives are more like inherent problems, not from bad design. Kinda like cast iron pans.


For my needs, this is the perfect tea kettle. It's great at heating water for french press coffee and boiling water for hot tea. I even steep tea right in the kettle when making iced tea.



The wide mouth makes it easy to clean, and the fact that it is clear makes it a lot easier than your typical tea kettle to tell that it is clean.



The only caveat I've found is that the whistle is rather quiet. I look at this as a positive -- I can make myself a cup of tea early in the morning or late at night without waking my roomate. If you need to know when your water is boiling from another room, though, you may want to consider another product.


Medelco 1-WK112-BL-4 12-Cup Glass Stovetop Whistling Kettle


This kettle is easy to use and easy to clean (you can even put it in the dishwasher if you like). It comes with a heat diffuser for use on electric ranges, but I suggest using it even for glasstop ranges as well. The whistle works well, but is a little more throaty than the high-pitch whistle on your standard metal tea-kettle. I use a probe thermometer and place it in the whistle hole, and let the water get between 200-205 degrees Fahrenheit - which is the proper brewing temperature for the best cup of coffee.



The kettle has a clean, retro design and is very well-constructed. Some reviewers have noted that the handle heats-up. I believe this is most likely because they are using the "big burner" on their stove and not the smaller one that is the proper size for the tea kettle (thus the handle is over the outside of the burner and causes it to heat-up). So just make sure to use the smaller, more appropriate-sized burner to prevent over-heating the handle. Regardless, the handle is pretty strong, and the entire kettle is solidly-built. The kettle is made in Germany, according to the documentation that comes with it (though the company is based in the USA).



I use glass almost exclusively for all of my cooking (like Corning Visions pots and pans, this Kettle, and so on) and if I can offer some suggestions to make sure your glass cookware (like this kettle) last you a lifetime, make sure that the outside is clean and dry when you place it on the burner, and turn the burner on low temperature for a few minutes and then turn it to medium to heat-up. Gently easing-up the temperature like that allows the glass to expand slowly and prevents cracking (which happens when you heat fast - though only rarely). Another tip I mentioned earlier - always use the heat diffuser! You probably won't need it for gas ranges, but for electric and glass-top ranges, use it to be on the safe side. When you take the pot off of the hot burner - DON'T place it on a cold burner or on the counter - this causes the glass to contract quickly and could possibly cause it to crack eventually. Instead, place it on a folded, dry towel or on a pot holder or two. Let id cool before you rinse it or clean it. - Glass Kettle - Tea Kettle - Tea Kettles - Glass Teapot'


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Dog Clipper - dogs, nail grinder


I bought this for my 2 dogs an Australian Shepherd and a Chihuahua. I got tired of taking my dogs to get their nails clipped at the groomers and paying a fortune and having them tell me that they accidentally cut the quick. At first both of them were afraid of the machine because of the noise it made. They ran away and it was difficult to keep them in one spot so I could work on their nails. It was difficult to chase after them with the cord and having to find an outlet. I did enjoy that with the cord I didn't have to bother charging and recharging the machine. After a while, I was able to groom their nails and they got used to the sound. I thought it was better than the traditional clippers and there were no jagged edges like clippers and I didn't have to worry about cutting into the quick. I would recommend this product as long as you have the patience to use it and let your pets get used to it. Oster Pet Nail Grinder

I have a German Shepherd who hates to have his nails cut. In fact he does not even like me touching his feet. I kept buying various nail clippers. Nothing worked. He would jerk his leg a split second before I was going to clip the nail. I had to start taking him to the vet to have his nails clipped which was starting to get expensive. It took two techs to hold him down and cut the nails. Each nail was a different length and the ends were very ragged which scratched my wood floors. To be honest he was not thrilled about me using the grinder on his nails - but he let me trim all of his nails. I had no fear about hurting him and I think he picked up on my new self confidence. I was able to keep going until each nail was the same length and the ends were nice and rounded. I wish I had purchased this product before I bought 6 different types of clippers over the years.

I bought this for one of my dogs who just has a weird quick and thick, thick nails (hard to clip through, clipping puts pressure on the quick, and the thick claw hides the very end of the quick). Trimming with clippers is not an option at all with her.



Pros:

*no pressure on or clipping of the quick

*more confidence in me=more confident, less fearful dog

*doesn't require batteries=good for many and/or large dogs, having lower operation cost and greater convenience

*also much more powerful than the battery operated kind

*comes with a set of durable bands and carrying case

*adjustable speed so your dog can get used to the sound and feel gradually

*no nail guide means greater control over the product and possibly less risk of injury to the dog

*much safer and more pleasant than clippers



Cons:

*The noise can be a problem for dogs that are frightened by sounds.

*The lower settings are less frightening and good to begin with, but lower speeds also allow the dremel to stop easily with even light pressure to the nail, which can damage the equipment

*causes nail bits and dust to fly about. You'll need protection both for your eyes and the dog's.

*The power supply is very heavy. Best to use it with a floor outlet or surge protector strip-something that goes on the floor. Otherwise the power supply has a tendency to fall out of the wall, which causes unwanted interruption when already trying to trim down the claws of a dog frightened by the noise or new procedure. You stop for a second and the dog jumps out of your lap and dashes out of the room.



I give this five stars anyway because using a clipper was a miserable experience for the dogs and me, and this dremel kit has spared us a *lot*.



Bottom line: the best solution to use instead of clippers. Makes the process much safer and more enjoyable, but may still require training to get some dogs used to the noise. Dogs that have had a bad experience with clippers will require patience and training for this new solution as well.



Tips for a successful experience:



I started by petting my dogs with the dremel and allowing them to smell and touch it. Then I turned it on to the lowest setting so they could hear the noise, and I began petting them with my hand as soon as the dremel was on, then I would turn it off and stop petting them. I repeated this procedure at length so the dogs would associate the sound of the dremel with something pleasant. Then I applied the dremel at the lowest setting to get the dogs used to the feel of having their nails trimmed using the new product. I gradually increased the speed until I had a powerful enough setting to do the job without the dremel stopping on me. After a successful nail-trimming experience, I slathered on the attention and affection. We still have a couple of dogs that do not like having their nails touched under any circumstances. We will be reinforcing the new learned behaviors with treats. I never force the dog to stay to have the nails trimmed. If the dog wants to walk away, I allow that so they don't become more fearful because they have no control over their circumstances. I coax them with treats and affection, and the minute they've had enough, we're done for the day.



PS-for extremely fearful dogs, you can begin by having someone else turn on the dremel in the next room, and as soon as it is on, give the dog a treat. Repeat until dog is comfortable with the noise. Gradually bring the dog closer each time and give a treat as soon as the dremel is on, never progressing faster than the dog's comfort level allows.

I have two beagles. 1 let me clip his nails and he was always an angel. The other put up a subtle, but persistant fight from day 1. She squirmed and wiggled and showed distress, but never bit or cried. All of that and I never once clipped a nail to show blood. I saw this product and decided I had to do something to ease my female beagles stress.



So far so good!!!! It takes some work to get them used to it. It is a power tool. But it has an adjustable speed which afects the sound level as well. I started them both out at the lowest and just touched the tool to their bodies and then their feet to feel the vibration. It did't take any time to get the male to let me work all four paws. The female has been slower going because I don't want to push her or stress her, but she is already better than she was with toe nail clippers. She sits still and lets me do both of her back paws. I started out doing a little work(about 5 mins) each of my days off (3)and they are getting very desensitized to it. I also always give them treats after. They are now excited when they see me sit down with the drill.



The instructions for the drill were not extensinsive for "dog training", but neither were they overly limited. I thought they gave the bare minimum to get started. Everyone should try this if their dogs don't like clippers. Just realize it is definitly a regular maintanence. The drill isn't made to drill monster nails down in a snap. If they are really long, do it in a few days. And never hold a drill on a nail too long as it will heat it up their nail. Move from nail to nail and then back again. Enjoy!!!! I do so far. - Dogs - Pet Grooming Tool - Nail Trimmer - Nail Grinder'


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Dog Clipper - dogs, nail grinder nail trimmer Dog Clipper - dogs, nail grinder