Sunday, 30 January 2011

Point And Shoot - point and shoot, affordable


I was looking for a pocket-sized camera to replace a larger camera which, I was told, would cost $250 to repair due to a faulty battery pack. Came across this Polaroid i1036, compared it with other similar cameras, and decided that this was a great buy. When received, I put it through all the paces, testing it under all sorts of conditions which had given me problems with previous digital cameras; it passed all the tests. It starts up very speedily; it takes pictures without any delay; the functions are easy to understand; it's hard to believe that such a great camera could be manufactured at this price! I love that I'm able to toss it into my trousers pocket (or even in the pocket of my jacket) and take it with me wherever I go. The only problem I have is that, as a 6 footer, my hands are rather larger, which means that my big fingers have a tendency to miss the "on" button; but I can live with that mini-problem. Probably I'll eventually catch on concerning how to turn it on properly. Certainly 10 megapixels are more, more than I'll likely ever need. Polaroid i1036 - Digital camera - compact - 10.0 Mpix - optical zoom: 3 x - supported memory: SD, SDHC - black

I waited too long to replace the old Fuji 1.5 mega pixel camera I bought in Japan in 1999 for $99. The Polaroid I-1036 is far cheaper but it was worth waiting for. It's amazing how far the technology has come in just 10 years and how small, powerful and reliable they can make these things. The Polaroid I1036 is very small but has a lot of power and capability packed into its tiny frame. Its functions are simple and even menu navigation is simple on it. It's controls and indicators are very logically arranged so the average person could operate it without even reading the manual. In auto mode it shines. It quickly adjusts settings and quickly processes the picture so you may take another. All the enhancements and features that have been developed over the last 15 years in digital cameras seem to be there. It will record video with audio and saves it to an SD high capacity card as a .Wmv file, so it `s video format can be uploaded to YouTube or LiveLeak.. I also bought a small Polaroid Zink PoGo printer that connects easily to any camera and prints very good small photos. This Polaroid camera is feature packed, high resolution, takes great videos and seems reliable and rugged. The kind of camera you keep in your car or take with you to record anything worth taking a picture or video of!

The camera is very good, I ordered an additional memory card, had not installed it thinking there was 'some' internal memory... There was, enough for 5 pictures. I haven't used all the features, but the most used functions are good, quality is VERY good. I migrated from a Kodak Easy Share and this is very user friendly.

First off, this is a great camera for the price.



The pictures are great, it is very intuitive to use.



I bought it as an inexpensive way to make videos, for you-tube, family functions, etc...



The audio that comes from the microphone is not worth a flip.



But i did use it for some videos by syncing it up with my zoom h2 microphone.

Got this for my daughter as an inexpensive replacement for her fancier more expensive camera that had been stolen. She loves it. Says it takes pictures and video as well as her old camera and she has had no trouble with it whatsoever. Would definitely recommend for anyone on a budget that wants a decent point and shoot/recreational type camera

I like the size of the camera. The AA batteries have a pretty good life within the camera. I like the speed and clarity of the pictures and the 10 Megapixals. Great camera for such a small price-I highly recommend this product for those who want the most bang for their buck.

for the price i did not expect to receive so many features.; definitely better than the last camera i had which cost a lot more. hope to have it for a really long time. Oh.... and the problem that some persons reported about the power button not coming on at times. My own works perfectly. thanks! for the speedy delivery - Digital Camera - 10mp Camera - Affordable - Point And Shoot'


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10mp camera Point And Shoot - point and shoot, affordable

Comfortable Respirator


I have reviewed and tried to read numerous books on the osha guidelines but this is without a doubt the best! The information was understandable and informative and the narative was interjected enough to keep me awake. I especially found the section, chapter, on what is osha recordable / what is not most helpful. This chapter alone makes the book worth purchasing. It also provided a generous amount of details on others regulations and inspections tips. The Complete Guide to OSHA Compliance'


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Quickcam Pro For Notebooks - logitech quickcam pro 9000, logitech


This is the perfect webcam for using with a laptop. The image quality is outstanding and works well even in low light. The cord is just long enough to connect up to a USB port without getting in the way and saves space when packed up in the tiny neoprene case that's included. Logitech even thought to include a handy mini velcro strap on the USB cord to keep things organized. There's a small and quite adequate microphone with the camera. The stand that is included with the camera breaks apart into three smaller pieces so it can also easily fit in one's gear bag. I'm a bit concerned it's not quite sturdy enough for constant assembly-and-disassembly. I can see using the stand quite a bit when attending lectures because it isolates the microphone from the sound of keyboard typing. I also own an Quick Cam Ultra Vision on a workstation at work. All in all, I'd say that this tiny webcam gives the huge Ultra Vision a good run for it's money on image quality and features, but is much more convenient for the road warrior. Logitech is obviously taking web cams seriously-- these are the two best webcams I have ever seen. They suddenly make video conferencing, video Skype, and OneNote video notes a must have. Logitech 720p Webcam C905

Update: A replacement unit has good focus from side to side. The focusing defect I saw appears to be unit specific. Check your unit for focus uniformity across its entire field of view to avoid a defective unit. Once you have a good one, the image quality is excellent.



This webcam does produce a better picture than the built-in camera of a MacBook. Yes, it works with with Mac OS 10.4.10 natively as a UVC device. HOWEVER, the unit I purchased had a focusing flaw. The left side of the image was always slightly out of focus while the right side of the image was well focused. As a result, the very nice lens system just could not get the entire picture right. This focusing flaw was not so noticeable at iChat's low 640 x 480 resolution, but if native resolution images were captured using other webcam capture software, the left 1/3 of the image was clearly out of focus. I believe the unit had its glass lens tilted relative to the CCD preventing it from ever bringing both sides into focus. As a result, the camera's touted superior lens was largely negated.



However, it is otherwise an impressive camera which delivers better tolerance to poor lighting than the built-in MacBook camera. The increased resolution CCD is impressive (in the focused portions of he picture) and gamma response yielded an image which conveyed greater depth.



If the entire image were in focus simultaneously (in full resolution captures) I would have given this using 5 stars. With the optical flaw, I can only give it 3/5. It is possible that other specimens may have better alignment between the lens and CCD, but without testing several more units, I don't know if the problem is a design flaw or simply a single missaligned unit.



[...]

Compact size, superb image with autofocus, clear wide field of view. I am very happy with the video and sound quality. This WebCam replaces my HP 1.3M WebCam HP RD345AA 1.3 Megapixel Webcam for Notebooks.



INSTALLATION: 3 Stars [Update process could have been smoother]

Out of the box, the package warns you in several places not to plug the camera in until you have installed the software. They even put a small cover on the USB plug with a message on the cable. Very effective. I turned off AntiVirus protection per the instructions and then installed the software. I enabled automatically check for updates. It said no updates were found. Then I plugged in the camera. After full install, it said updates were available and gave me a link to the website where I was supposed to select my camera, operating system, file version, etc.... I closed that link and found the "Check for Updates" link within the software (Right click on the Logitech Camera icon in the System Tray). That worked smoothly without intervention from me. It updated my software from version 11.1 to 11.5.



IMAGE: 5 Stars

The 2 MP camera produces very clear images that work great on Skype. Motion is no longer blurry, and the autofocus works great. The specifications say the autofocus will not work closer than 10 cm, but I find that if you move in slowly, it will work as close as 4 or 5 cm. This is great if you want to show something up close like an image from your digital camera or a label on a product.



SOUND: 5 Stars

The built in Microphone combined with the Logitech noise reduction software eliminated all the echos and howling that I expereienced with my previous camera. I no longer have to yell to be heard. I can speak in a normal voice, or even from across the room, and my sound is crystal clear. Flawless.



CLIP: 3 Stars

The clip for this device does not hold it securely. The camera can easily be pulled left or right if the USB cable is tugged even slightly. The rubber feet on the clip seem robust, yet it seems to be delicately balanced on the edge of my monitor. It doesn't fall off, but it is not a solid perch. The camera can be independently tilted up and down, but not left and right. There is no option for clipping the camera to the side of the monitor. The included stand works decently. It is made of three pieces that fit together and then the camera clips to the top. I placed the stand behind my laptop and it worked very well...peering over the top. Unfortunately, you cannot adjust height of this stand. I will probably not bring this on future trips.



SPECIAL FEATURES: 2 Stars

There is a thin button across the top of the camera that allows you to take still photos. I found the camera button was too easy to press while trying to adjust the camera. And since the camera does not clip securely, trying to press this button almost requires two hands...one to steady the camera and the other to push the button. The included software allows Avatars to imitate your facial expressions in place of your real image. You can also add special effects like hats, arrows through your head, or goatee and mustache. When it works, this is a really neat feature that my kids loved! But, even though it was neat, something in that feature conflicted with my Symantec Antivirus. As soon as I turned antivirus back on, turning on these neat video features forced my machine into an immediate shutdown! I got a BSOD followed by a hard shutdown that I haven't seen since Win95! My machine hung in a state of limbo. The power button wouldn't turn it off (software driven) but the machine as powered up with a blank screen. I had to pull the plug and remove the battery to complete the shutdown. Each time I turned that feature on while using Antivirus, my computer gave me the BSOD and performed an immediate and hard shutdown. Needless to say, I no longer use these special features.



AUTO FACE TRACKER: ?

This is a neat feature, but I do not find it useful. It really does a great job of following my face, but at what price? It seems like the other person would get seasick watching the background bob and weave as the software followed my head around. I think I am used to seeing the background stay put, while the person moves around in the frame. Anything else is disconcerting. Since I don't care for this feature, I did not rate it. You may find it entertaining.



ACCESORIES: 5 Stars

The included soft-sided pouch, along with the velcro strap for wrapping the USB cord are nice touches as I plan to use this for travel. Why don't more manufacturers offer these nice touches?



OVERALL REVIEW: 4 Stars

The video and sound are superb, and that is what really counts. But it seems that logitech could take one more step forward and improve the software to eliminate glitches with anti-virus, improve the software update process, and design a more robust clip. With a few minor changes this would easily be a 5-star item.



RECOMMENDATION:

After trying several different brands and models, this one had the best price/performance. Cheaper ones left me wishing I had better video. More expensive ones had me wondering why they cost so much when this one offers everything I need. I would recommend purchasing this item. - Logitech - Laptop - Skype - Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000'


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logitech quickcam pro 9000 Quickcam Pro For Notebooks - logitech quickcam pro 9000, logitech

Walkie Talkie - gmrs, 2 way radios


Those Uniden GMR1235-2 2-way Radios are so compact, you can easily hold both in one hand (see my Customer Image). They are also very inexpensive (around $20 for a pair), so one may think of them as just toys for kids, But in fact they can be used by kids and adults alike - provided that you start with the correct expectation.



First of all, forget about the manufacturer's claim of '12-mile' range. That is only possible under the most optimistic test condition (transmitting from one hill top to another with clear line-of-sight). In an urban environment, you are lucky if you can get one or two miles. With this limited range in mind, this walkie talkie set can still be very useful in many places (such as in a National Park, or a large shopping mall). The sound quality is quite decent - similar to an AM radio.



Next, this thing is a battery-eater if you use disposable alkaline cells (three AAA per radio). The manufacturer claims an average battery life of '20 hours'. But again, this is under a special test condition of '5/5/90', which means 5% transmit, 5% receive, and 90% idle time. The device consumes different amount of current during different operation modes, as shown below:



- While transmitting: 400mA

- While receiving: 50-100mA (depending on volume level)

- While idling: around 15mA.



If you do a lot of transmission, a set of alkaline cells is likely to run flat in less than two hours (because alkaline cells are very inefficient at high current). My advice is to buy some good quality AAA rechargeable cells, such as the Sanyo Eneloop or Rayovac Hybrid, to power those radios. That way, not only will you save money on batteries, you can even get longer run time per charge. Uniden GMR1235-2 12-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

I bought a pair to see how they would work for a local communications net and they were great! Sure, they lack a lot of the fancy bells and whistles but they have range and clarity that some of the other hand-held radios in the net lacked. Some of the other members were so impressed, they wanted to know where they could get some. I'm buying some more now before these babies sell out, again!



Good, basic communication option. Fairly long range, easy to use, batteries included, and good price. What's not to love?

Bought these as knock around radios for the kids so they didn't need to play with my nicer Motorola talkabouts. For the price these are excellent radios. They have been tested out to just under 1 mile over water (opposite sides of the local lake). The included batteries are kind of like the inkjet cartridges you get with your printer... just enough juice for you to test the product, but not enough for real work. Don't head into the field on the included batteries! A buddy and I hiked into a high mountain lake to fly fish with these radios and they were great for us to brag "fish on" when we were too far apart to see each other. At $10 each they were a guilt free purchase, even knowing they won't see daily use. Very happy with the quality and performance at this price point.

The battery life is terrible. If you read nothing else in this review, know that. But first:



Upon opening, the first thing you'll realize is that no matter how small you think they are, they are even smaller. They measure about 3 inches tall. Maybe 4.5 with the antenna. They are quite easy to grip though, and look and feel rugged enough to live through a few drops without an issue.



The sound quality in close proximity is great. Anything under 100 yards is very clear, even if you are going through brick walls and steel doors. I can hear my roommate just fine through 3 highrise apartment complexes. At distance, however, the quality breaks down quickly. No one expects 12 miles from a 2-way labeled as 12 mile capable, but 3 miles? 2 miles? Not likely unfortunately. If you get 1.5 residential area you should be thrilled.



The design seems rather straighforward, (volume up and down, channel up and down, power, scan, lock, squelch)The onlything I find odd is the placement of the belt clip. You need to remove it before you remove the battery cover. Makes replacing the battery a little more of a chore since the clip doesn't come off very easily.



Finally the battery life. This comes with 3 batteries for each radio. In the first use, our batteries lasted 4 hours. Now keep in mind, this was not constant communication. This was 90% standbye time. The manual says that after 2 minutes of non-use, the radios will switch to a power-save mode. That seems a little long to wait. They're fine for very casual use, but in any type of emergency situation I wouldn't be able to trust them. It's unfortunate, but I'm going to have to purchase my third set of walkie talkies simply because of the batteries.



Overall, it does fine for the cheap price. I didn't expect to much, but I'd look elswhere for a rechargeable unit if you need to rely on communication for anything critical. - 2 Way Radios - Frs - Gmrs - 2-way Radio'


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Iphone Car Charger


We own several Palm Pre's and wanted to use this dual charger to power them up in our car. Unfortunately this device can't provide sufficient power to charge 2 at once. It can charge one Palm Pre at a time, but can't charge up 2 at a time.



If you have cell phones, or devices that need 800-1,000ma each, this charger can't do it. Total power out seems to be about 800ma split between the two USB ports.



Other than being weak in the power department, the unit appears to be well constructed, it does fit 2 USB cords comfortably, and has a charge indicator light so you know when its in use. Scosche Dual USB Car Charger

This is a cheap way of charging any device that will charge via a regular USB port. I have used it in my car for several months without a problem. It did a fine job with my AT&T Tilt phone and my iPod.



Before you invest in this or any other standalone USB charger, you should make sure that your device will charge via USB cable alone. Many phones (Motorola Razr is one) these days have what looks like a standard USB connection but require special software or adapters before they will charge.



I got this for about $5 or $10 at Wal-Mart. Great investment.

Just picked up this item from Best Buy today. Had to get a charger for my car because my IPOD interface for my stereo does not charge the 3G IPHONE. :( I was initially going to get the DLO car charger for my 3G IPHONE until the cashier told me of the Scosche USB12V2 Dual USB Car Charger. It sounded ideal since my fiance and I both have a 3G IPHONE and won't have to fight for power when riding together. Ensured that I didn't get that uncompatibility error before leaving Best Buy. Left Best Buy with 80% charge and was fully charged by the time I got home in 20 minutes.



Note: Have to use your own supplied Iphone/Ipod USB cable with adapter.

Here are the electrical specifications that were shipped with the Schosche USB12V2A Dual-USB Car Charger I received:



Power input: 12-24 VDC, 1A

Power output: 5 VDC, 2A (1A per port)



Which is just what I was hoping for.



It sure would be nice if this basic information was published in the product description here on Amazon in the future!

This charger charges my iPhone 3GS without a problem. It is also compact and aesthetically appealing. I bought it so I could charge a multitude of USB-powered devices and it works for everything I've tried with the one exception:



A Garmin Nuvi cannot be charged from this device. The Garmin Nuvi thinks it's connected to the USB port of a computer and goes into a computer mode when plugged into this device. Technically, the Nuvi is charging but it can't be used in the meantime. This is most likely a shortcoming of the Garmin Nuvi than of this particular charger.

This is a great car charger. I love the flexibility of being able to plug any USB cable into it. I bought this to replace a lost car charger, and it has exceeded my expectations. I've used this product to charge: Sprint HTC Evo 4G, Sprint HTC Hero, Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone 3GS, Jawbone Headset, and even an Apple iPad. I want to specifically mention the iPad, becuase most USB chargers do not work with an iPad due to its increased wattage requirements. This works flawlessly - even while charging a cell phone too!

I ordered this about a year ago form newegg for dirt cheap (it was a special deal). This charger is a piece of cake to take apart. You just unscrew the top and remove the spring and fuse and it pops apart. It charges my Sandisk Fuze without a problem. However, I recently got a Nokia N900, but this charger would not charge the phone. This is because the N900 and many other phones use the USB charging standard in which the data pins (pins 2 + 3; the middle pins) are shorted out. So I took the charger apart, took out my soldering iron, and soldered the top usb port data pins together. I put it back together and the top port now charges my phone. Also, after the "hack" it is able to charge my sister's ipod touch. Way cheaper than an expensive charger from the cell phone manufacture. See this link for more info: [...]

I wanted a car charger for my new Droid but didn't want to pay $30 at the Verizon store. I searched Amazon and stumbled on to this. I ordered it and couldn't be more satisfied with it.



The vast majority of cell phone car chargers have a non-detachable cord with a jack on the other end that plugs into your phone, and cost $20-30. If the cable or plug develops a short, you have to replace the whole thing. If you're on a road trip and have multiple devices, like a Garmin, a cell phone, an iPod, then you have to swap out the various chargers unless you're lucky enough to have a car with two or more power outlets. Even then, it's a mess with all those chargers.



This dual USB charger requires you to purchase a separate USB cable (with a standard USB jack on one end and whatever size jack you need for your device on the other end). Amazon has plenty to choose from, and they're pretty inexpensive. Or, you can simply use the charging cable that came with your device.



I find it incredibly handy to simultaneously charge my Droid phone and my iPod from one power outlet. On road trips, my wife and I can both charge our phones from one power outlet. This is very convenient. This Scosche charger appears to be very well-made, compared to other car chargers I've used. It's solid, I'd be surprised if I didn't get many years worth of use out of it.



Best of all, it is flexible enough to charge just about any device that can be charged from a USB port on a computer. I may replace my phone or get a different MP3 player in the next year or two, but I won't have to buy another car charger.



Highly recommended!'


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Large Power Strips - tripp lite, power strips


The major drawback to this item is that the outlets are mounted 90° from where they should be. As almost all wall warts plug in with the cord between the blades of the plug, that means when plugged into this strip the cords are in-line with the strip instead of at right angles to it as they should be. For this reason, even though the outlets are wide apart the cord still blocks the next outlet in line so I can only use half of them. Tripp Lite PS3612 Multiple Outlet Strip 15-Amp 12 outlets 15ft Cord

If you are looking for a power strip for your garage, workshop, or office, this is an excellent choice. I purchased one of these to mount to the edge of my workbench in the garage and my only complaint is the price! Now no matter where I am at my bench I have an outlet handy, and I can leave all the tools plugged in without having them "share" a single outlet or two.



Overall I am very impressed with the heavy duty construction of this item, and highly recommend it as a top notch product (albeit at a higher price).

I use this power strip for my computer and peripherals, tied into a battery backup power source. After trying a few other similar products that didn't hold the large DC converter bricks in place, I was impressed with this product's ability to grip the plugs. The construction is first-rate. The sockets are widely spaced, oriented along the aluminum bar so that your cords don't stick out at right angles, but the down-side is they may interfere with adjacent bricks. Still, I preferred this arrangement, as it lessens the chance of the bricks working themselves loose. I also like the cover over the switch and the bright red indicator light. Tripp Lite has consistently manufactured products to a higher standard than the competition, and this product is no exception. I recommend their power conditioners as well--like the power strip, they tend to be more ruggedly built than the other popular brands.

Several extention cords running from a power source to power a drill press, router, etc., made for a mess. Even though they ran behind everything it was hard to clean up and store things because the cords were always in the way. I mounted this with concrete anchors (not included) and the brackets that are included. Didn't take but a minute or two and the strip snapped right into the brackets. They hold strongly and I can unplug cords from the strip without it pulling out of the brackets. The 15 foot cord was more than enough to reach the power source and is heavy duty. In fact, this thing is heavy, solid, and has enough room between the outlets to plug anything in. However, since the plugs are mounted in line, a transformer or converter plug can interfere with the next plug. Not a problem since there are 12 plugs on this strip. There is an on-off lighted switch inclosed in a plastic housing so it won't be accidentally turned on or off; the breaker is at the end with a reset button.



It replaced the extension cords and made all my plugs in one location, very convenient not to have to stoop or fish behind material to get a plug. I'll get the 20 amp version next purchse. This is not your household power strip. It's loaded for bear. Highly recommend it for a workshop or garage.

I'm impressed with the quality of this powerstrip. Installation was a snap and it was easy to mount to the underside of my workbench. So far, I've experienced no problems, all outlets have power, and I expect the unit will continue to perform problem-free.

Great product. I use the Tripp-Lite power strip for my pedal board for my electric guitar set up. I would love to buy a couple more for my computer and TV set up as well. Seems to be well made. I love the spacing of the outlets. The spacing is great for all the AC adaptors that are used with effects pedals. The product was shipped to me within a week and was in good shape.

This is an excellent, metal power bar. It has a red indicator light and more than enough sturdy AC inputs (12) for the average bench top. The cord is extra long. I got this strip for a good sale price, too. - Tripp Lite - Electrical - Large Power Strips - Power Strips'


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Cable Ties - velcro, cable ties


It's hard to tell from the pictures, but these straps do not have velcro material down the full length of the back side. "Fuzzy" velcro material covers all of one side of each strap, however the back side of each strap is smooth except for a small swatch of the "hook" velcro material near the end with the black Belkin label. It's more than enough to grip, but they don't hold nearly as effectively as those found in Velcro #90438 1/2x8 Get A Grip Velcro or Velcro(R) Brand One-Wrap(R) Cableties 8in Blk 25pk. Belkin F8B024 8-Inch Velcro Cable Ties

But my intention was using these to tie and untie frequently used cables (power cords, headphones, etc), but these ties lack a tightening mechanism which you must try to do by yourself before applying the velcro part... These beats the purpose of having a quick method of wrapping and tying cables... Might work for those occasions where you simply want to leave a cable tied up for a long time...

I'll never understand why re-useable cable ties are so expensive, or so unavailable. These Belkins are really for permanent stereo or computer installation. And even for that purpose, I don't care for their design.



If you are a musician looking to tie up microphone, speaker or instrument cables, these are not suitable.

Not a very efficient solution if you need to wrap and unwrap your cords more frequently. It's just a long strip of Velcro, much longer than I actually need so most of the material is wasted and even gets in the way (as you have to wrap it around and around). This also makes it more time-consuming to wrap cables.

They do what they're supposed to. However, if your using them for audio cables (like myself) and you're going to be frequently wrapping and unwrapping them, I would suggest getting a brand that allows you to keep one end permanently attached to the cable. I've already lost 2 of them at gigs!

I have used a couple of types of Velcro cable ties in the past. The best ones have hooks all along one side and fuzz all along the other with a slot in the top, so you can loop it around the cable at one end so it stays attached even when the cable is unwrapped. These have hooks only on about an inch or two at one end of the tie. You have to wrap it carefully (and not particularly tightly) around the cable bunch until you get to then end with the hooks. If you unwrap the cable the tie falls off. These a just considerably more annoying to use than the type I first described. One other review mentioned these work best in more permanent installations where you aren't going to be undoing them regularly. True, but plastic zip ties and twist ties also work for this at a fraction of the cost. - Cables - Velcro - Cable Ties - Belkin'


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