Scosche IALM Alarm Clock for iPod

Scosche IALM Alarm Clock for iPod
  • Wake Up To IPod Or Buzzer
  • Digital FM Radio Tuner
  • Multifunction Back Lit LED
  • Safely Charges Your IPod While It Is Plugged In

We wanted an inexpensive clock/radio/iPod dock for our 8 year old. There is constant static with the radio function turned on, and a constant buzz when the iPod function is in use. This item is an example of "you get what you pay for". We'll be retuning it to Amazon for a better quality product.

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COBY CX-8 SVR AM/FM Radio with Built-In Speaker & Earphones

COBY CX-8 SVR AM/FM Radio with Built-In Speaker & Earphones
  • Built-in belt clip and neck strap
  • Compact and colorful design, weighing just a few ounces
  • Features Dynamic Bass Boost System (DBBS)
  • Built-in speaker and stereo earphones included
  • Uses two "AA" batteries, not included

You get what you pay for. This is a sorry excuse for a mini radio. Tuning is awkward,won't stay on station, poor reception. Pay $15 more and get a Sony Walkman with digital tuning and lock feature.

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If you're tight on the budget and you don't have money to purchase a higher-end Mini AM/FM Pocket Radio, then buy this product. Worth the money, I believe. I've had no problems with this product and I mainly use it for outdoors and during travel.

Please read the product info. It is what this product is all about. Works for me!

Franklin Merriam-Webster ((Speaking)) Spanish-English Dictionary (BES-1850)

Franklin Merriam-Webster) Spanish-English Dictionary
  • Clear, concise full definitions from Merriam-Webster, give you the meanings to communicate effectively
  • Hear words spoken clearly and pronounced accurately
  • Write and speak accurately with the advanced verb conjugation feature, conjugating and translating both English and Spanish verbs
  • Grammar guide includes all essential information on Spanish grammar rules, to help you construct sentences
  • Hear 600 travelers' phrases in recorded human voice, useful for business and leisure travelers

After using the BES-1840 and TES-118 for the last few months and being throughly frustrated with their problems and limitations, I am delighted with the BES-1850. It has all the positive features of the BES-1840 like speech and large vocabulary and combines a few of the good features of the TES-118 like a clock and a closing protective cover. It also isn't as bulky and oddly shaped as the BES-1840 but instead it is shaped like a larger version of the TES-118. It also has a larger vocabulary, an address book, resizeable fonts and backlighting that turns on and off conveniently which eliminates the problem with shadows the 1840 has. I have only had the translator for one day but I am very impressed with it. The only downside I saw was that it has a data cable for interfacing with computers or Palm Pilots, but neither of my laptops have a compatible port. But I think my desktop computer does so it doesn't seem to be a showstopper for me. All in all I think this is the translator we have been begging Franklin to put out for the last 5 years.

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The Franklin BES-1850 is fantastic! I did an EXHAUSTING amount of research before purchasing an electronic dictionary/translator device. I became so overwhelmed at times trying to figure out what to buy that I scrapped the idea all together a few times. However, I eventually purchased the Franklin BES-1850 and could not be more satisfied.

1.) I am attempting to learn Spanish all on my own. This can be quite a task. I wanted something easily portable that could be used to look up words on-the-fly and was lighter and less bulky than the huge, heavy paper dictionary that I was porting around.

2.) I was completely willing to spend upwards of $600 if the device was something fantastical. However, I did exhaustive research and there is nothing out there that serves a function better than this Franklin device. And the Franklin BES-1850 cost less than $100. It's $100 well spent.

3.) I do agree with some of the comments that the latch sticks and can be a bit hard to open. However, it's a strong latch that protects the device when you throw it in your bag. It's not that great of a concern. However, it is true that the latch can be hard to open.

4.) I don't have much trouble at all in seeing the screen. However, I can see how that comment also is valid. I would imagine that if you're trying to use the device on a park bench in the direct sunshine, that you're going to have trouble (and I'm all for having a device that I *can* use on a park bench in the sunshine). However, the thing costs under $100! The screen is perfectly easy to see in most common circumstances. I really love this device!

5.) My main use of the device so far is to find vocabulary words when I'm attempting to work an assignment in one of my workbooks (BTW: The series "Practice Makes Perfect" Spanish is THE BEST in terms of written grammar). In addition, I commute by public transportation and use the device to look up words when I'm attempting to "read" a Spanish periodical on the train. The device is perfect for this!

6.) One drawback is the fact that you cannot type in an entire phrase and have that phrase translated. (Actually, this *might* be possible. However, if it is possible, I haven't figured out how to do it.) Instead, you have to look up your ideas in the form of single words. I was going to complain about this. However, I have to say that I'm actually impressed. I could not remember the reflexive verb "to put oneself to bed". I assumed that if I typed in "bed" the only option that would be returned was the Spanish word "cama". However, to my delight and surprise it returned both "cama" and "acostarse" (the latter is the verb that I wanted). Good going, Franklin!

7.) IT CONJUGATES VERBS IN ALL TENSES!!!! Oh my gosh is that wonderful. Truly, this thing rocks!

I actually bought two of these. I'm using mine to go from English to Spanish. However the second one that I purchased was for a Spanish-speaking friend trying to learn English. I will attempt to report in with another review once I hear how well the device works in the other direction. My impression is that it is well done in both directions. Thus, if you are a Spanish speaker looking for an English translator, I'd go with this device as well.

Well done, Franklin!

Do not spend more than $100 for this or any of these devices. There is nothing that those other devices can do that warrants the price jump. Buy this Frankling BES-1850 model.

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It's very hard to read without the backlight and it shuts off after a very short time! I don't think it allows you to program the backlight duration. If you want to read anything you always have to be turning it back on! The vocabulary is limited compared to the Sharp PW E550 dictionary. The keyboard is not as comfortable as the Sharp. Its ok if you are not going to use it for a prolonged time. After some time you're fingers will get tired since the keyboard is somewhat compressed.

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I love the possibilities an electronic dictionary offers but the mechanics of this one has a lot of problems. The screen does not have enought contrast no matter how you adjust it. If you use the backlight it shuts off, in fact it shuts off on its own all the time. Very frustrating. Whenever it shuts off unexpectedly you also loose all of your preferences (like large type). The voice part is really not worth the extra money. The pronunciations are so digitized it does not help much. It is extremely convenient to have an electronic translator in your pocket, just not this one.

I've used this dictionary for a couple of weeks and it suits my needs just fine. It's certainly not without some faults but overall it does okay. The pronunciation function could be better some of the spanish words sound as if they have been recorded by someone reading "at speed" but I don't believe they have led me astray. Where else can I get fairly good portable pronunciation help (carry around a spanish dwarf)?

Screen could be brighter but then the battery life would become a problem. A bit of a bother but it doesn't aggravite me very much. I like the conjugation function particularly well it helps quite a bit.

All in all I think this device is very good. Don't know when the next version with better pronunciation comes out, but I won't be buying it. This one suits me just fine.

Creek Audio Limited Evolution 2 CD Player

Creek Audio Limited Evolution 2 CD Player
  • A high quality transport mechanism
  • Low Jitter clock
  • Burr-Brown PCM 1796 DAC circuit

I bought the Creek CD player used from an Amazon vendor, saving about a $1000 on it. Otherwise I would have never considered buying such a high-end player because I couldn't have afforded it. I basically invested with the idea I wanted something to last me a good decade, until the cycle of new technology phasing out older technology to then be revived years later would be complete. It's actually cheaper at present to buy used CDs than downloading mp3s if you want the whole album, plus you still get liner notes, lyrics, etc. I listen to tons of music at home, mostly vinyl records but there's a whole range of albums published in the 1990s to the beginning of the 21st century that never saw a vinyl release (nor are they available on mp3. You would be surprised).

Anyway, the Creek CD player totally astonished me because there IS a difference in the sound quality compared to cheap ones. We tried it first with some Brian Eno ambient music and it came out crystal clear on the speakers. Since then, I've been playing a lot of CDs that used to skip on my old player (John Cale's Paris 1919, The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Fall's Franz Experiment) and they magically stopped skipping. And they sound absolutely gorgeous (especially the John Cale one). I also play a lot of classical music from Bach to Morton Feldman or John Luther Adams, and the listening experience has really been enhanced on the Creek.

In addition, the most notable feature for me was the total absence of shuffling sound from the player. You know how all cheap CD players always produce that annoying "frrrrrt frrrrrt" sound when you play something? It's totally absent from the Creek. Only thing you hear is the music.

So, from being really skeptical about high-end audio equipment I've become a true believer. Next step when I win the lottery is buying a very good amp/power amp & preamp

ETON Grundig YB400PE AM/FM Shortwave Radio

ETON Grundig YB400PE AM/FM Shortwave Radio
  • Receives AM, FM, continuous shortwave, and SSB (single sideband)
  • Tuning via up/down buttons, auto-scan, and a numeric keypad
  • High-quality circuitry and a digital PLL tuner
  • Dual clocks allow you to track the time in two time zones
  • Can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via six "AA" batteries

This, along with the Sony ICF-7600G are among the two best portable shortwave radios offered by Amazon at this time. Both have their advantages and it is up to the user what is most important. The Grundig YB-400 is a fairly easy to use radio that allows the user to punch in the desired frequency, enter it into one of 40 memories, or scan desired bands to find a station of interest. The Grundig's best asset is its great audio. It is definitely the best audio I've heard from a shortwave portable and makes listening a real pleasure. If you live or travel to any part of the world other than Europe or eastern North America the Grundig YB-400 is the best you can buy. If you live in one of those two places consider the Sony, which has a synch. detector that allows you to reduce interference from adjacent stations. This is important in areas where there are a high number of strong stations crowded next to one another. In any case, both are well worth the money.

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Among the best consumer world band radios available today, and the finest low-cost radio I have owned in over twenty years of listening.

This is great all-around radio. If you are new to short-wave, this is an very good radio to start with. For beginners, the lock-on tuning and scanning functions make listening easy. For more experienced and adventurous listeners, there is the ability to access single sideband transmissions. All current and proposed medium-wave, FM, and short-wave bands are available.

The speaker sound is excellent, and one can also attach stereo speakers to the YB400's headphone jack; my YB400 does double duty as an FM tuner and short-wave.

The Grundig YB400 comes as part of a very complete package. Included with the radio is an AC adapter, stereo earbuds, carrying case, and an external reel antenna that plugs into the radio itself. The manual is brief but clear, and a listening guide is also included.

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Great sensitivity and sound in a small radio.

Very simple to operate.

It's to be compared with the Sony 7600G, in choosing a portable, its chief competitor. You can't go wrong with either one.

The YB400 audio is much better than the Sony, and the operation is easier than the Sony.

The interference rejection however is better in the Sony because of the Sony's synch detector, if interference of strong stations is a consideration, or if ``selective fading,'' common on shortwave or twilight AM broadcasting, where the carrier fades below the sidebands causing distortion, is a problem. This is also solved by synch detection.

If distance daytime AM listening is desired, the Sony with its fast AGC is better than the YB400 with its slow AGC, because you can add a MW loop (Select-a-tenna, Terk Loop, or Radio Shack MW loop) and tune it successfully with a fast AGC. It's difficult to tune with the YB400's slow AGC, though sometimes you can turn the switch to local and disable the AGC temporarily to do it.

(Slow AGC gives you an edge in copying interfering morse code stations, however, because the louder station won't modulate the weaker one on the YB400, and it will on the Sony.)

For strong stations, pick the YB400 for the audio. For interference or AM distance listening with a MW loop, pick the Sony.

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While I'm not exactly a shortwave hobbyist I've used shortwave radios on every one of my travels overseas. That being said the YB 400 PE is the best SW I've ever had. This Grundig brings a lot of features to the table such as digital tuning, forty presets, great capture of stations and above average sound. I've really enjoyed using the 400 and its great features.

One complaint I had was that the manual that accompanies it does an inadequate job of explaining some of the functions and the pre-sets are all inclusive, that is it's forty pre-sets for all bands FM/SW/LW/MW rather than per band. But these are small things that shouldn't take away from the overall excellence of the radio.

I'm getting ready to go on an extended trip to the third world and the Grundig YB 400PE is at the top of my packing list.

I've had my YachtBoy 400 for about a week now, and I love it! [the 400 is identical to the 400PE, but the newer PE comes with an AC adaptor.]

Within minutes of putting the batteries in the unit I was listening to stations from all over the world. To maximize your listening, especially as a newer listener, buy a good guide like Passport to Worldband Radio.

I have read all the reviews, and I believe the tone quality is better than the naysayers lead you to believe. The tuning is very simple, and once you try all the functions, the operations are intuitive.

I considered the Sony and the ATS-909 among others. I read hundreds of reviews, and I was convinced that the biggest weakness of the Yacht Boy is SSB reception. I have been satisfied with that feature on mine, and since it works ok for me, I'm not sure what the grumbling is all about.

If I had it to do all over again, which radio would I buy? This one. I'm perfectly satisfied with it.

By the way, if you have questions or ever need help, I have found that the Eton (Grundig U.S) customer service and technical folks are extremely helpful.

iLuv i277BLK iPod Alarm Clock Audio System with Bluepin (Black)

iLuv i277BLK iPod Alarm Clock Audio System with Bluepin
  • BluePin iPod docking system with dual alarm and remote control
  • Play and listen to your music wirelessly with Bluetooth wireless technology
  • Liquid crystal display with white backlight and 4-level dimmer control
  • Watch your favorite videos on your TV with your 5th generation iPod 30GB/60GB/80GB.
  • jAura acoustic speaker technology

This is really a cool product. I was able to pair with my Mobile(HTC TyTN II), Headphone/Headset (Lubix) very easily. It got paired in the first try. The instructions are pretty clear in the manual. Music is good for the small size, Bass is less, naturally. Can't compare with Bose. The music from my Phone through the BluePin on this is really good. The Blupin Receiver was able to receive music till 15-20 feet clearly, after that it breaks. I was able to FF/RR/Stop, Adjust volume from my phone.

As a Bluetooth transmitter, it works great. I connected my TV Audio output to 277 using the line-in and change the mode to AUX with BluePin in TX mode and used a Lubix Bluetooth Head Phone/Set. The transmission was awesome.

Tested with iPod/iPhone and this works as stated. The snooze button in the front is good one. Even we can switch off the display using this. Radio works as stated. Weight less. Looks great. Has a remote but not senstive.

Actually I was searching for a Bluetooth Transmitter for my TV. The Sony and Motorola were quoted @ Amazon for $60. I thought it's pretty costly for the simple Bluetooth Transmitter of class 1. So searched the net and found this for same price. So now I have a Transmitter with multiple functionality.

So this is an All in one model.

Pros

1) Receiver for my Phone to listen music

2) Wireless Transmitter to my TV, so I can watch the TV without disturbing anybody using my Bluetooth head phone

3) Listening to iPod/Radio in Wireless mode with full control.

If you read the manual twice , it easy to understand everything.

Cons

1) The cons, I would say is that it's not Bluetooth2(has 300Ft of range) only Bluetooth1 (30 Ft range)

2) No Equalizer/Pre-set for music.

3) Remote can be made better.

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Update Nov 26th 2010

After 1 year of use, it is still working good. Bluetooth works fine. Audio quality is good. Like this product

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Update June 8th 2012

After 3 years of use, it is still working good. I was able to cofigure with my old harmony 600 but trying to figure out a way for 900

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This radio does everything that it advertises. It looks and works great. Two things, howerever. (1) the instructions could be a little clearer to understand. It was difficult to set the volume for the alarms by reading the instructions. I finally found out how by trial and error; and (2) the clock light is very bright, even at its lowest setting. It would be better if the light could be manually set at a lower intensity, similar to a dimmer switch. Other than that, I would recommend this radio.

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This is my 3rd IPOD Dock. Previously owned an IHOME and another ILUV Product, which I had to return. This one has been amazingly good so far at this price. Bought it for $53-ish from E. Expo through Amazon.

Pros:

(1) Bluetooth the others were pricier and had no bluetooth. To my surprise, bluetooth pairing and functionality has been great. I have a Blackberry Curve 8310 and it connects to it instantly. I can play mp3 from my blackberry and route the music to the ipod dock over BlueTooth. I read other reviews which talk about limited BT range. So this is the first thing I tested. I kept the clock in my kitchen in first floor and my blackberry in 2nd floor bed room, which are quite far apart. The music was streaming like normal. I use the BT Feature pretty often and my blackberry pretty much works like a mp3 source and a remote. I can choose the song, change the volume or stop the music from the blackberry. Better than my expectation.

(2) Sound quality is good.

(3) Works great with my IPOD 30GB Video.

(4) Comes with a Line-IN (aux) and Line-Out.

(5) Good looks. I own a black clock.

(6) FM Reception is great for most of the strong stations. Weaker stations may generate some noise

Cons:

(1) Remote range is too low, less than 7ft. Within the same room, the remote doesn't work sometimes across half the length of the room.

Update: 10/05/2010

After 10 months of usage, this is still going great. I love its bluetooth receiving feature. I used to use it in my bedroom. Now I use it in my living room. I stream Pandora off my iPod/iPad/iPhone to this and from there, I have a line out to my music system. Works flawlessly. All of its other functionalities have been working great for me. I would recommend this to anyone.

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This system works very well and exceeds expectations. Though box doesn't state, it works with the IPOD touch and Iphone.

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We bought three of these radios last Christmas and none of them still work. All of the backlights quit w/in the first 6 months, one iPod dock broke off, two totally quit. They seem nice at first and have a nice sound, but all of mine turned out to be junk!

Sony HIDB70T Dash Information Alarm Clock

Sony HIDB70T Dash Information Alarm Clock
  • Stay updated with 1,000+ free apps (no subscription)
  • Wake to internet radio, podcasts, or nature sounds
  • View online photos: Flickr, Picasa and Photobucket 1
  • Interact through the 7" LCD touch screen
  • Get up and roam with Lithium-Ion battery

This device is the best alarm clock EVER! It provides personal and customized internet at my fingertips when I wake up each morning. It takes up little space on my bedside table, measuring 7.5" tall, 5.5" wide and 2.5" at its thickest point. The price is a little steep but the convenience and the great updates make it worth it for me.

This unit needs to be plugged into an outlet and your house needs to have WI-FI set up for it to work properly. It provides 1,000+ free apps that provide just about everything you would ever want to use. FaceBook, twitter, NY Times, Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Pandora, Slacker, Flickr and several homebrewed options are provided. I love the webcams from Australia and Italy for beautiful and relaxing vistas. In order to access more apps, you need to register online. There are plenty of cool apps to browse through (humorous, entertainment news, etc.) and new ones are constantly added. I sometimes play videos and music understanding that the video source determines quality and the speakers are basic but good; remember, it's a souped up alarm clock and not a stereo system. Although, adding better speakers to the next generation wouldn't hurt (hint, hint SONY). There is no memory card slot but there is an usb port. Also, they've added a "WWW" button on the menu which allows for easy connections to yahoo.com, google.com, and sony.com for now. The features just keep getting better and better the longer I own it (I've had it just over a year).

You start out with a default channel with popular apps preloaded (Facebook, twitter, CNBC, etc.) but you can set up several different channels and add apps to provide a very customized experience. I have 5 channels (daily, entertainment, news, travel and games) that I can easily switch between through the menu. Having said that, I usually stick with my daily but like the option of different choices and change the channels ~2 times per month.

The two beefs I had with the Dash have been fixed: (1) I had trouble getting it to display the correct time zone but this was addressed by very helpful Sony customer reps.; and (2) instructions to press snooze button twice to access menu was spotty and took several attempts but was advised to use one long touch to access menu and that works every time. The only remaining issues are that the touch keyboard can be tricky (people with large fingers or long fingernails will have a problem with the small keyboard) and sometimes I have to reboot my Dash to reflect changes made online. Despite these minor irritants, I think this is the best alarm clock ever!

I use this strictly as a bedside alarm clock with super benefits. The light given off is adjustable with a nighttime mode easily reached at the press of an onscreen button (moon icon) and you can even put it into a black sleep mode for a perfect night's sleep if you require complete darkness. The unit has a 7" screen and the ability to customize it. The set background colors change throughout the day which is pretty cool. Granted, it takes a little work to set this puppy up but once it's running, it's a thing of beauty. I love being able to set several different alarms (weekday AM, bus pick-up, weekend AM, soccer practice, etc.) and be able to set them to different alarm types (regular alarm sounds, nature sounds, radio, videos, personal messages, etc.). I can program my local weather, get top news headlines, music, video or any other of the 1,000s of apps it boasts and at the touch of the screen -view them when I roll over in the morning. It's a brilliant way to start the day!

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This is NOT a useless product. People who say it is aren't paying attention to what they're buying and expect it to be something it's not and something it's not even advertised to be: a tablet. If you think you're buying a tablet, you're not reading the literature or the many reviews online. THIS IS NOT A TABLET. And it's not advertised as being a tablet. Don't review it as if it is. Let me repeat: DON'T REVIEW THIS AS IF IT IS A TABLET. If you think you bought (or were gifted) a tablet, you are mis-informed and a review treating it as such isn't relevant. It does EXACTLY what it is designed to do: provide internet content from specific addresses. Plus it delivers some custom content via apps like Pandora, Flickr, Netflix, AccuWeather and more.

So how do I have it set up? Well, I have the AccuWeather app, so, when I wake up in the morning, it shows me a brief summary of the weather for my ZIP. It scrolls through internet pages, showing different websites like facebook, woot, cbs news, etc, so I can see the latest at a glance. Then maybe I'll flip over to Pandora to listen to some of my favorite music. (I believe you can have it wake you to music too, but I've not tried it.) Before I go to bed, I can set a quick one-time alarm or a more advanced custom alarm. Then maybe I'll watch something on Netflix. Or I might check my email. (No, you can't respond to emails. It's not a tablet. It's a content VIEWER. But just viewing emails is handy in some cases.) I can even flip over to a radio station if they happen to stream over the net in a specific format. Sure, a lot of the other apps are cheesy but show me a device that doesn't have a bunch of cheesy apps...

So, is it worth the $170 asking price? Probably not. But I only paid about $70 through woot. For $70 it's the coolest alarm clock ever.

Read Best Reviews of Sony HIDB70T Dash Information Alarm Clock Here

I bought my Dash from the Woot website about 18-months ago. At first it seemed to work alright. Setting it up was easy, and I liked the alarm clock feature (I set the Dash to wake me to the sound of waves on the seashore nice!) Then, things took a turn for the worse.

At some point in the intervening period, Sony updated the software. After that, my Dash was (and still is) nearly useless. It constantly disconnects from my wireless network, and rebooting it is a LONG, LONG process often resulting in an endless cycling and failure to connect. An error message will appear, and I have to unplug and start over. This goes on all the time. ALL THE TIME.

When my Dash worked (ah, the good 'ole days!) I loved falling asleep to Pandora. Those days are gone forever it seems. I replaced the Dash with my old alarm clock, which is functional, reliable and dependable. I miss Pandora though. If I were brave, I'd give the Dash to some other sucker, but I wouldn't want to inflict it on someone else. Yes, it's that bad. Maddeningly bad.

Keep shopping. You'll probably find something similar that's more reliable. Oh, and don't bother contacting Sony that's also an exercise in frustration closing your fingers in a car door is less painful.

You've been warned.

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Probably the the best alarm clock ever. If your looking for more, get something else. No slacker radio, does not stream video. Don't let other reviews fool you, only the personal internet viewer(HID-C10) has the Bravia TV stuff. Internet radio is nice but can be tedious to set up your own streaming stations. Battery is only good for about an hour, according to manual, haven't tested it.

This does NOT support video! The reviews are wrong! I have this model only for battery back up feature. Also have HID C10 which does have netflix, hulu +, etc. Streaming radio is good, similar on both but only C10 has slacker. Pay very close attention to model numbers, and look up specs carefully.

Update. Locks up daily. No longer works as alarm clock. Unit freezes and needs to be reset before operational again. Product support is disappearing. I this Sony knows this product is a dud and they are quietly walking away.

iHome App-Friendly Rechargeable Speaker System for iPad, iPhone and iPod

iHome App-Friendly Rechargeable Speaker System for iPad, iPhone and iPod
  • Compatible with iPad , iPhone & iPod models
  • Charges & plays iPad , iPhone or iPod while docked
  • Reson8 speaker chambers
  • SRS TruBass enhances bass & overall sound performance
  • Customizable with advanced iHome apps?free iHome+sleep app creates alarms, local weather, etc. &
  • iHome+radio app accesses up to 10,000 Internet radio stations from around the globe Operates on AC or internal rechargeable Li-Ion battery

I never know what to expect with apple-compatible devices. Over the years, I've found some that are very good and some that are just a step above useless. So I was pleasantly surprised by this rechargeable speaker system from iHome. Physically the unit is lightweight, yet reassuringly sturdy, meaning it's easy enough to move from place to place but also solid enough to survive constant relocation. The rubberized base eliminates any slipping when you place it on a flat surface, it's going to stay there.

The system has several features which work well and provide flexibility of use. First of all, it's not only a speaker system, but also serves as a recharging port for your iPhone, iPod or iPad when the unit is plugged into an outlet. Then again, the speaker system has its own rechargeable battery, which means it can play your music anywhere, even when an outlet it not close at hand. The universal dock worked well with all of my various i-devices (I have five) and there is also a line-in jack for CD players, MP3 players, or other audio devices. The unit also works with remote control devices, although none is included. As an added feature, this system will operate with the free alarm clock app iHome+Sleep and also with the internet radio app iHome+Radio.

The most important thing about a speaker system of course is the sound quality, and this unit is about the best I've heard in it's price range. While it does not have separate controls for bass and treble level, the sound clarity is high and the bass processing very good. Overall I am very pleased with this unit it's much more than I expected at this price point.

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This speaker looks quite unassuming, it's small, lightweight, and only has one control on the front (volume). But the sound it produces is wonderful and rich.

If your iPad, iPhone, or iPod is playing music just plug it into the connector (the same as the standard Apple connector and immediately the sound comes through the speakers.

If the speaker unit is plugged in, it also recharges your unit.

On the front there is a line of lights that show you if the speakers are charging or charged.

I found with my iPod Touch that the volume needed to be only halfway to get a good rich sound with indy rock. And the sound was rich and complex, far better than the built-in speakers on either the iPod or my Mac.

I haven't tried it yet with the wider dynamic range of classical music, but I expect the sound to be great.

It would be nice to have more controls for balance, but for casual listening, they aren't necessary. The iHome speaker can't replace your best speakers, but they make a good, easily portable addition.

All in all, I'm delighted with this unit.

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I own a couple of cheap plastic ipod speaker docks. Those things are cheap and lightweight, but the sound quality is poor. The iHome is definitely a step up from the cheapies. Right out of the box, I can see and feel a difference in quality. The iHome is well built and fairly heavy for the size. It looks nice enough to place on an executive office desk or in a home with quality furniture. I don't have an ipad, but my ipod fits fine on the dock. Music sound quality is substantially better than the cheapie speaker systems, at least up to medium volumes (like when you are working at a desk or kitchen up to several feet away). I did not expect room-filling sound from these small speakers and I can hear quite a bit of unwanted distortion at higher volumes.

There is a 3.5mm jack in the back of the iHome so you play music from non-Apple products, though that empty Apple dock on the front of the iHome would look pretty silly if you never put an Apple product on it.

The iHome does charge my ipod when it is in the dock. I do not know if it has enough power to properly charge an ipad. The power supply is rated for 2000mA, though I do not know how that is split between the speakers and the device charger.

I run my ipods and cell phones naked. If you have a bulky cases on your devices, they won't fit in this sleek dock (or most other docks). Check with your case manufacture to see if they make a dock or can recommend a 3rd party dock that will work with your case.

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Bought it. Opened it. Returned it. You can NOT fit and iPad 2 on this with out wedging something behind the connector. I currently have the iP46 and use with 3G iPhone and it's a nice product, but this is terrible. I can't believe it was allowed to go into production like this. FYI i tried an iPad 2 wifi only no case/cover.

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I really love the speakers. Of all the ones I have bought, these are my favorites to listen to music. The problem I have is when I am watching a movie or video. You want to turn the iPad on it's side to get the best picture, but of course the way it works is standing up. I don't want to watch a movie that way, so I tried using a cord to connect the iPad to the speakers and then I could watch with the iPad the way it's meant to be. The problem with this is that the speakers keep tuning off if the iPad is not inserted. It's too bad, because I really like how sturdy and easy to use these speakers are. If the seller has any ideas, I'd love to hear it, because that is what I purchased them for initially. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I've tried and tried & so has my husband. Too bad, but if you want to use them for music, they have terrific sound, they are lightweight but sturdy and the seller is great. Maybe I'll come up with another way. But don't let that stop you from listening with them. They really are great and I can use my computer to watch movies on, so do consider them.

Sharp SPC026A .6" Red LED, Snooze, Battery backup-Black case

Sharp SPC026A .6' Red LED, Snooze, Battery backup-Black case
  • Red 0.6-inch LED display
  • Keyboard style case
  • Features alarm, snooze and battery backup
  • 4.25 x 3.25 x 2.25 inches (W x D x H)
  • Two year limited warranty

Seems like a nice little alarm clock small, not too bright so it doesn't keep me awake at night, but yet the display is easy to read. Simple to use. But the alarm on/off switch is permanently on. So there is no way to turn off the alarm.

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I can't say enough good things about this little alarm clock. It has everything I want and nothing I don't want. Want: Small, battery backup yet still plugs in, red numbers, single alarm, hour AND minute set buttons, easy to use. Don't Want: Radiom, Auto-set timezone, battery only, confusing multiple alarms.

This is by far the best alarm clock I've ever gotten.

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Nice inexpensive alarm clock, but the alarm tone is amazingly loud. There appears to be no way to lower the volume.

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Nice, easy to use, looks good for the money. Using it in my guest room.

JVC RAP10 Boombox for iPod (iPod not included)

JVC RAP10 Boombox  for iPod
  • 4W x 2 power output
  • Full-range speakers
  • Blue back-illuminated LCD
  • Wake-up timer
  • Thermometer

The sound on these is excellent for such a small unit. I was very surprised by the fullness of the sound and how well the room was covered.

Despite what the other reviewer says, this unit DOES work with the new 2nd gen Nano. I have a green 4GB Nano and it fits perfectly on the dock. Granted, the adapters may not fit the Nano I have, but it frankly didn't need one. It stood tall on its own with no chance of damage due to it incredibly low weight.

The bonuses of a built in alarm clock and the option to run on AC or battteries makes this product a done deal for me. I couldn't be happier.

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The RAP10 is a great value. We were looking to replace a radio that we had in the bathroom to listen to in the morning while getting ready for work. My wife chose the JVC RAP10 as the replacement.

For the unit's size, it's a great little iPod clock radio with decent sound. Having the ability to add our iPod nano when we want a little of our own music is a nice feature. It also has a miniplug line-in for other MP3 players if you don't have an iPod.

The RAP10's (+): the price is right, the sound is quite good for the small size, the small footprint is nice as we have limited counter space in the bathroom, the option to use 6xAA batteries rather than plug it in, the AUX jack, the remote and the backlit display.

The RAP10's (-): the case feels a bit too "plasticy", not much bass response (but it is a small unit), no radio presets and using the FM antenna is required to get some radio stations and having the wire hang off the unit is cheesy.

Overall, I really would recommend this unit for anybody not looking to spend over $100 for an iPod speaker system that has a radio and is portable. We have been very happy with ours and hope that it lasts as long as the CD boombox it replaced.

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Pros: This is a great way to get your iPod heard. Runs off the included AC adapter or batteries. Charges your iPod while on AC power. The remote control is nice too, I put a velcro pad on the back of the remote so I could stick it to the unit.

Cons: Lacks bass and midrange. A little hard to carry around, it's a small round case and there is really nothing to grab onto.

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Before buying this item I checked reviews from other customers and also expert reviews. Opinions varied. Consumers said they were happy. Among the experts, the iLounge guy seemed very pleased, while others were not so happy about the JVC RAP10. But the price was good, so I decided to take the risk, and do not regret it one bit. It is a very good product in its category, especially considering the promotional price. I have to say that, given the reviews, I was surprised at how good it sounds. And the remote control is a great plus. It is extremely hard to find a similar product at a reasonable price with a remote.

This boombox works with any iPod that uses a dock connector. I've tested it with my iPod 15GB Gen3 and my iPod Nano Gen1 and they both work. My friend also got one and it worked with his iPod Video. The sound quality isn't as great as I'd hope, but it's not too bad, plus it's smaller than I expected making it extremely portable.

Sonoro AU4101BL Elements W Audio System (Black)

Sonoro AU4101BL Elements W Audio System
  • Connect to over 10,000 internet stations worldwide with easy to use interface
  • Internal WiFi antenna built in or use LAN line to connect
  • Headphone jack and Aux in to connect MP3 player and computer
  • RF Remote control
  • Clock and alarm function with wake, snooze, and sleep functions

I received this radio as a retirement gift (chose it from a catalog) from my company. The sound is good, but don't expect it to keep the correct time. After setting the time, it automatically goes back to 12:00 once you turn on the radio. I have returned this radio twice, and received radios back with the same exact problem. The distributor realizes the problem (said he has had other complaints with the same problem), and even contacted the Home Office folks in Germany. They realize there is a problem, but don't know how to fix it. I was told by the distributor yesterday in an email that there is nothing more he can do. For the price of these radios, you would think they would have gotten this issue cleared up, and/or offer a different model in return (I told them I would pay any extra costs involved). It's not often that a manufacturer's responses are this disappointing. Stay away from Sonoro.

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As I said in the title, the unit looks great and sounds really good (for a table top radio). However, there are a couple of things that really bug me: 1) you have to set the clock manually which is lame considering all other modern internet radios can fetch time and set the clock automatically...why can't this unit do it? 2) it is a multi-step process to switch from FM to iRadio and the presets are distinct between the two...i'd rather have preset 1 be an FM station and preset 2 be an iRadio station but presets can't switch between the various input/media/source types. 3) Beware of how non-intuitive Reciva is (the internet service that Sonoro uses to setup iRadio stations, streams, pandora, etc.) -it takes quite a time to get used to the site.

Good luck...with patience, it can be quite a nifty radio.

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I purchased this radio 2 weeks ago. I couldn't get Pandora to load onto to it. Had trouble finding service, I finally had to call Reciva's UK office to get service. Pandora worked but then iRadio would not connect. I'm returning this week.

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Design is as good as it could get, beats the competition down to the ground and esthetic is really important to me.

Sound is the reason I bought it, nothing sounds better at this size.

Interface....just not worth your nerves! It's so hard to hook it up wi-fi, and you're probably have to repeat procedure every time you turn it on.

Radio reception also disappointing.

Clock resets itself with no reason etc.

If you're gonna use it to play music from iPhone, don't waste your money.

I got it for 170$ it was store demo unit, but mint condition, I'm satisfied what I got for my money.

Cheers!

Absolutely worth every penny. The sound quality is incredible for what I consider to be a bedside radio... The internal antennae is amazingly powerful as far as FM goes. My former bedside radio was a Tivoli, but it had to have an external antennae for most stations...not the Sonoro. Love everything about it!! iRadio rocks....switches from a station in Croatia to a Station in Instanbul in a heartbeat. Not a single negative on this purchase!

Fairly easy to program...if you remember your wireless router's security passwords!!

If you are considering it, go for it you won't regret it.

If you don't go for it, you have no idea what you're missing and when you finally encounter one at a friend's home...you'll definitely envy them and regret missing out all that time!

It sooooooooooooooo rocks!

Pyle PLTS73FX 7-IN Single DIN In-Dash Motorized Touch Screen TFT/LCD Monitor w/ DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/S

Pyle PLTS73FX 7-IN Single DIN In-Dash Motorized Touch Screen TFT/LCD Monitor w/ DVD/CD/MP3/MP4/USB/SD/AM-FM Player
  • AM/FM-MPX 2 Band Radio - PLL Synthesizer Tune - LCD Digital Display - Brightness: 400 Nit - Mute Control - Remote Control - Sd/Mmc Card Slot
  • Auto Store/Preset Scan - On Screen Display Title, Time, Chapter, Subtitle - Last Position Memory - Audio/Video Source Through Aux line - RCA line Out - Rear Camera Input - Dimensions: 7.01''W X 1.98''H X 6.54''
  • 30 Station Memory - Treble/Bass/Balance/Fader/Encoder Volume - ESP (Electronic Shock Protection - Input Jack(Mp3/DVD/Cd - Preset E - Parking Video Input - USA/Europe Frequency Switch
  • Touch Screen Control Operation - Pal/NTSC Color System - Anti-Shock Mechanism - Repeat/Intro/Random - Sub-Woofer - Usb Connector - Feather Touch Sensor Controls
  • Full Motorized Screen Telescopes Out And U - Relolution:1440x234 Pixel - Lo/DX & St/Mo Selector - Clock Function - A/V Input & A/V Output - Iso Connector

I bought this for my brand new truck and had it professionally installed. The technician pointed out about halfway through the process that the face of the unit wasnt working properly. Sure enough several of the buttons didnt work and when pushed it randomly did something it wasnt supposed to do. I had already paid 300.00 for the install and tested everything else for myself. The unit itself the touchscreen and remote work fine. The faceplate is junk. It plays DVD's and I added a backup camera both are nice. Everytime I hit a bump in the road the unit either mutes itself or changes stations. I decided to keep the unit until I can install a better one. Dont waste your time or money on this one.

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after installing what i thought was a quality product it turned on and worked great then the next time i turned on there was a screen malfunction, then the sound did not work and in the end the whole deck failed in just 3 days of use and i purchased a replacement and through this deck back in its box and so it sits on a shelf. was not impressed with the overall quality and i feel this deck should not be allowed to be sold as it not a quality part or meets any satisfaction standards

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the item was what I expected. Other then the usb port been something I didnt expect, thought u conected da usb to the stereo, but no ther waz a adapter which was I didnt like but I didnt see that but that was my fault..... But everthing is good

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this is a great touch screen radio for the price. lots of options. and great sound/ vidio quality it awsome. i would recomend this to anyone,

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unit wasnt fully operational because the screen will not power out.

without the remote the skipping function to select a next track is not on the radio.

when toggling from usb to cd or dvd or even radio,whenever usb is reselected the usb has to reload and I have over 5000 music on it so it takes forever.

I cant get the micro card to work, it keeps saying err.

RCA RC46R AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with Large Blue LED Display (Black)

RCA RC46R AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio with Large Blue LED Display
  • Auto time set for seven different time zones
  • Alarm reminder with 2nd smaller display showing alarm wake time
  • Dual wake features two different alarm settings for two different users: radio or buzzer
  • Programmable snooze; Programmable sleep
  • Graduwake ramp-up alarm makes waking from a deep sleep easier

Trying to find a reliable, easy to use, inexpensive, alarm clock for the wife. She wanted one that sets itself and had a battery back-up. I wanted one that would wake her up. Found this one at K-mart and spent 30 mins playing with it over by the televisions (needed a power source). This radio alarm clock is perfect for what I need. This being my first review, I"ll just point out the things that made me buy it.

1. Nice soft blue color, 2 setting...low you can just make out and high is clearly visible

2. Battery back up (even came with batteries) easy to find AA"s

3. Plug in in and it sets itself (all you have to do is set the time zone) has a switch for Daylight Savings Time.

4. Dual alarm (his and her) or in this case days and midnights...set it and forget it. You don't have to remember to set it everyday.

5. If the power goes out the alarm goes into kind of a sleep mode. It beeps to warn you of the power failure and according to the instructions, remembers the alarm settings and goes off without it being plugged in (not tested yet)

6. The alarm starts off kinda like any other alarm but then gets progressively louder (can't see anyone sleeping through this one)

7. Playing with the tuner, looks like one of those old fashion, spin the dial things, but it shows a digital read on the display (kinda cool but it's a cheap radio folks and sounds like one)

8. The snooze is adjustable from 1 to 30 mins.

9. Last but not least, the alarm set time is displayed on the lower right, so if your the nervous type, you can double check to make sure the alarm is where you want it to be. All for around 20 bucks...and that"s all I have to say about that.....

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I had googled "alarm clocks best" or something similar and the earlier model of this one came up.

Since I had already gotten one at my Big Box store that I wasn't happy with, I decided to give it a try.

Pros: HUGE easily readily numbers for the time.

It goes off each morning at the set time without you having to remember to reset it

It has a second alarm you can set if, for example, you want to take a nap during the day

Cons: Setting it is not totally intuitive, and I had to sit there with the (not easy to follow) instructions in hand while setting it up the first time. And setting the second alarm seems even more complicated, to the degree that last time I needed that feature, I just used the alarm on my cell phone.

And when oh when will some body come up with a way to set the time without having to scroll through every number?!

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The clock looks pretty good. The display is far too bright for a dark room, even with the automatic dimmer set. One of the blue lines that makes up the time display broke after about a month. After a year the flimsy plastic switch to turn on/off the alarms just snapped somewhere and no longer works.

OK design except for the brightness but the build quality is pathetic. Don't waste your money.

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I needed a new alarm clock because my old one had a nice feature where the time would automatically adjust to Daylight Savings time. The only trouble is that I purchased it long before the Powers That Be made the decision to change the dates for Daylight Savings time (I had it for more than 8 years!). So, twice a year, I was going somewhere at the wrong time. I couldn't update the software on it to the new DST schedule, so I finally decided to get a new one.

I really wanted to love this alarm clock from RCA. I thought the blue display would be a nice change but mostly the idea of having the alarm time displayed was just what I needed. You have to flip the switch to DST instead of it being automatic like my old Emerson, but I decided it was a good trade off. I also like the adjustable time for the snooze so that you can set it to exactly what you want it to be.

Other reviewers have said that the blue display is very bright, and I do agree. But this didn't bother me much since I mostly have my eyes closed anyway and don't have to deal with it in the dark. The snooze button across the top of the unit is very large....which is great for a sleepy hand to hit it, but it makes it difficult to hold the unit in order to adjust the time for the alarms and such. But this is also something that you can get used to and work around.

The main reason that I am rating this item low is that the alarm button broke right at the 30-day mark. Now my "alarm 1" is stuck on the wake to music setting. I can't change it to the buzzer, but more importantly, I can't shut it off!! So, I have an alarm set every single day. The best I could do was change the time of the alarm. This was really annoying for the rare weekend when I had the opportunity to sleep in.

I'm past my 30-day warranty from the place I purchased it from, so I can't return it there....so now I am struggling with the manufacturer for a refund. Needless to say, I am going back to my Emerson brand. I definitely do not recommend this product.

I didn't buy this clock for it's "Auto Clock Set" feature, but I was quite pleased to see it when I unpacked the clock. However, don't be confused, "auto clock set" is completely misleading.

The clock does some silly circling lights when you first plug it in, as if searching for a frequency, but it's not doing ANYTHING. The time is pre-set at the factory, that's it. That's why the thing ships with batteries installed. This doesn't sound like a big deal unless you want exact time and, like me, accidentally adjust the clock "manually."

I may not have cared about the auto time function at first, but when I made a mistake and messed up the time, I didn't want to go through the trouble of re-setting the clock, so I unplugged the clock and removed the batteries. I assumed the clock would search out the atomic-clock frequency and set itself again....it didn't and it won't for you. All you get is blinking 12:00 (like any clock).

After much searching through manuals and online and trying every trick I could think of, it dawned on me that the whole "auto clock set" thing was a gimmick. So, if you lose power for too long, if your batteries go dead, if you take the batteries for some other device, or if you just decide to unplug this clock and take out the batteries, you'll have to reset this clock just like any other clock radio purchased in the past 30 years. There is a name for the feature this clock comes with, "battery back-up" with "factory set time." The time zone button is just a simple one hour time cycle adjustment.

Aside from the misleading claims, it seems like a reasonable clock. It's display is bright as others have commented, but you can dim it. The two alarms is a nice feature, as is showing the alarm in the lower right corner. I haven't had this clock long enough to speak to build quality, which, judging by other reviews, seems suspect.

UPDATE:

1st or 2nd alarm button--can't recall which--broke off. Took about two months for this to happen.

Eton Rukus Portable Bluetooth Solar Powered Wireless Speaker System (Black) - (NRKS100B)

Eton Rukus Portable Bluetooth Solar Powered Wireless Speaker System -
  • Bluetooth Sound System with Solar Panel
  • Play music from Bluetooth enabled smartphone, tablet or PC
  • AC power and/or solar power
  • E Ink Display
  • USB port for mobile device charging

The Eton rukus is a well made boombox with the key feature of having a solar panel to charge the battery. Unfortunately, it seems most of the product cost is going to the battery and solar panel rather than the speakers themselves.

The sound from this unit is ok, but not great. You'll get sound similar to lower priced systems, but you do get the added benefit of a long lasting battery and the solar charger. The speakers are two small full range drivers. They are not ported at all, and their positioning makes the sound come out in a pretty directional nature.

The volume can be controlled on the unit or by your device. Cranking it all the way up, it's not all that loud for filling a noisy room or playing to a crowd outside. That said, the distortion isn't all that bad, either. What it lacks in sound, it makes up for in portability. The handle and design of the unit is very good quality. It feels sturdy.

I like that the elastic band to hold your music player is recessed and protected, although the down side to this is that it's on the underside of the Rukus, and you can't see it unless you take it back out. Therefore, you pretty much have to be resigned to set a playlist then walk away. Since it's bluetooth, there's no way to skip/reverse/pause from the unit. The only sound customization is a "bass" button, which adds a little, but unfortunately there's no indicator on the screen to let you know if it's on or off.

The e-ink screen is good, no complaints and when it changes, it doesn't flash completely black like some ereaders. It simply updates. Unfortunately it only displays battery level and the input (USB, Line in, or Bluetooth). It does not indicate volume or if the bass boost is turned on. I really would have liked those to be displayed.

In all, if you want something portable and solar powered, this would be an ok choice, just realize you're spending some of your money on those features vs. sound quality.

[Update]

Just wanted to update this review with a few more observations. The Rukus doesn't really charge via the solar panel while indoors. If it does, it's not strong enough for the charge indicator to come on. It will charge outdoors, even in fairly overcast skies.

Another good use for the Rukus is that it can charge any device via the USB port. To do this, you have to have the unit turned on, then you have to press the USB button. It will still play via bluetooth, but just plugging something into the USB port doesn't automatically start charging it. This makes sense in that you might not want to drain the Rukus' battery every time something gets plugged into the USB port. This also makes the Rukus a choice for disaster preparedness, travel (like mission trips or when you're not sure when you'll have power available), etc.

Lastly, I'm still not overly impressed with the sound. It's ok, but not on par with other docks. I believe that the size of the speakers and volume limitations are probably a design choice that helps conserve battery life. Driving bigger speakers louder would certainly take more power thus reducing the length of time you can play on battery power. I do like how it can be laid flat or be stood on end. By standing on end indoors, it helps disperse the sound as it hits the ceiling.

[Update #2]

I used this as an iPhone charger at a baseball game. My phone was about 50-75% depleted and the Rukus had about 3/4 of its battery left. I was using a baseball scoring app that drains the battery pretty quickly. It was bright and sunny and the Rukus was in direct sunlight. I was just able to get a 100% charge before the Rukus' battery was completely drained. Once drained, it shuts off. I guess the point is that if your iPhone needs charging and you plan to have it on using apps, it will drain the Rukus faster than the solar panel will charge it. I thought this might be useful info for some people.

[Update 7/2012]

In my quest to be green I placed the Rukus outside to charge the battery, then forgot about it. It rained. Now water is clearly inside the unit as the solar panel is fogged up. I'm trying to let it dry out before powering back on. Lesson learned: it's not water resistant. Not sure if I will let it dry out on its own or try to open it up to dry out.

Also, the plexiglas panel covering the solar panel is easily scratched. I took it to a baseball game (very dusty) and was placing a cooler and my drink on it since it provided a nice flat surface. Now there's a bunch of fine scratches on it. Doesn't seem to affect anything other than aesthetics, though.

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Eton is known for their emergency radios and the like. This isn't one. There is no radio on board so if your "device" quits you have a solar powered paperweight.

This is a great little unit for beach, poolside, tailgating, camping and all your bush parties. Probably not for hiking because it weighs close to five pounds, too heavy for a backpack. The sound is good with bass boost. There is a 50 to 70 foot range from your iphone. Don't know why this would be important but it's true. I think I would be more comfortable with some sort of protective cover over the solar panel when it's not being used but maybe it's tougher than I would expect.

I guess everyone is expected to be tech-savvy these days but the instructions are very sparse. There is a pamphlet which tells you how to charge the unit and that's about it. The online manual has about eight pages in english. The picture, naming the parts, is labeled wrong. Of course the 4G iphone is simple. Hold the bluetooth button on the unit for three seconds until you hear the beep. Tap "rukus" on the phone. If it asks for a password put in 1234. That's it, but not much info on connecting anything else. There is a USB port to charge you phone if needed and a little pocket on the back to store your phone securely.

There's a code number for three months free access to MOG music downloads ($30 value) but be sure to keep track of your registering date. You will be signed up and charged for a membership if you don't cancel in time. One of those deals.

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I spend allot of time on my deck when it is warm out and have been struggling to find an elegant solution to listening to music downloaded to my phone when I am out there. Enter the Eton Rukus Solar Bluetooth Sound System. This device has thus far fit my needs perfectly.

(1) I charged it once a few days ago...since that time, my battery has continued to stay full. The built in Solar Panel keeps it charged continuously throughout the day.

(2) It was a breeze to connect to my Android phone. Once I paired the device through my Wireless Manager, it now automatically streams to the player if the Rukus is on and within range. No user intervention on my part.

(3) Sound Quality is just fine. It is certainly not high fidelity, but should meet the needs of 99% of all people.

(4) Not clunky, ultra portable.

(5) Stylish and slick looking in an old school way! My neighbors saw mine, and they liked it enough that they also ended up purchasing one.

(6) Its just reliable. Works when you want it to work. I can't recommend enough.

(7) Left it outside overnight and it rained! The Rukus is no worse for wear and playing just fine afterwards. Very durable it seems!

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Finally, a product that has what I'm looking for!!! This just arrived yesterday and I love it. Turned it on, paired with my phone in about 10 seconds, and started playing music right away!

Pros

1) The solar panel is pretty big and seems to work well for charging small devices. Gonna see how quickly it charges my iPad...a slightly bigger draw.

2) I love that it has a USB port and not an iPod specific port like some iPod docks, so you can charge any low power USB device from it.

3) You can turn charging on and off while a device is connected (so it won't charge if you don't want it to; and you can use the Bluetooth connected device while another device is plugged in and charging.

4) It's pretty small, lightweight, and easy to carry (even though it comes in a box way too big for it's size).

5) Some reviewers have said the speakers were weak. I haven't played it outside but in my house it was pretty darn loud and the base was decent. I will update when I come back from a beach trip next week.

6) The Bluetooth range is about 40 feet or so line-of-sight, a little less with walls in the way, so you can keep your "player" in your pocket and use it as a remote.

Cons

1) The one thing I'd love for this to have is a water-resistant and dust-resistant design like the Eton Soulra.

2) The design of the iPod compartment leaves a little to be desired; it is only a black elastic strap, not very secure especially for small iPods.

3) Not sure how scratch resistant the solar panel is, I'm leaving the protective cover on for now. I might decide to put an iPad screen protector on it, trimmed to size.

4) It doesn't have an AM/FM tuner. I'm really tired of companies not making products with tuners...the circuitry is so simple now...just put it in. That goes for Apple's products as well. I'm not going to "stream" everything over my data connections when the AM/FM airwaves are all around me.

********* I will update with any new findings after my next 2 weeks of use. ***********

Update 8/30/2012

The sound is not LOUD, but it is definitely loud enough for it's purpose, which is a decent set of speakers that you can play in your vicinity and never run out of power (ahem...during the day). It was certainly loud enough for what I had it for, which was to play some tunes while sailing down the Chesapeake Bay and lounging on the beach. You will not be able to throw a party with just this little guy...but for two 2-inch speakers...it worked just fine.

*********

Update 9/17/2012

I've discovered a few quirks that are worth sharing.

1) It seems that you cannot turn off the Bluetooth. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong, but it's constantly on when the unit is on.

2) The charging takes quite a long time. It has a fairly large battery so you can fully charge your phone and play for a few hours, but the solar panel takes a good bit of time to charge this battery back up. This is compounded by a quirk in the software that causes intermittent charging. When you place the unit in the sunlight, it doesn't automatically start charging; you have to push the power button to turn it on for it to start charging. This is a problem because if you're just charging it and not using it, you want to turn it off so that the system (and the Bluetooth) is not on, draining your battery. When you push the power button again it does indeed turn off and continue to charge UNTIL the sun fades for longer than about 1/2 a second, after which it does not continue charging. So if a cloud rolls by or you cast your shadow over it by walking in front of it, it will stop charging and you won't know it. You have to cycle the power button to get it to start charging again. This is disappointing design to me; you would think that anytime it has light, it would attempt to capture that automatically by charging, bu this is not what happens. This means unless you place the unit in direct sunlight, you have to nurse it.

3) USB connection This is a more minor one, but you cannot hook your device up to the unit with USB in order to play music. The USB is a CHARGE ONLY port, it does zero data transfer. This also means that either Bluetooth or analog stereo-mini jack is the only way to play audio.

Forget all the snobby audiophiles who might scare you away from this product. If you are honestly expecting this to replace your existing home stereo system then yes, you might not love it. If, however, you want a quality speaker source to play your favorite tunes from your mp3 player... through bluetooth... and to play them all day thanks to the solar charger... and to provide a loud, crisp quality sound far beyond what most would expect from such a little unit... while also charging your phone!!... then this product is for you. Works great on the boat dock and is plenty loud for everyone to hear. A great little piece of innovation that my entire family loves. This was a gift for my son, but I like it so much I may get another one just for me.

Night Light with Time & Temperature by Northpoint

Night Light with Time & Temperature by Northpoint
  • 8 Built in LED Illuminate for a Soft Glowing Night Light
  • Digital LCD Display - Celsius & Fahrenheit
  • Multi Function Clock
  • Month Date and Day Calendar Display
  • Alarm & Snooze Clock Functions

It is a good night light but it runs on batteries. The light dimmed significantly over a few night of use due to battery drainage. It would have been nicer to be able to plug this into the wall outlet.

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This clock works for the time and date, but the day stays on TUE. It's supposed to automatically change the day when the date is set, so there is no other way to set the correct day. Time and date are very easy to set, but I can't get past that.

Coby KTFDVD1093 10.2-Inch Under-The-Cabinet LCD TV with Built-in DVD/CD Player and AM/FM Radio(White

Coby KTFDVD1093 10.2-Inch Under-The-Cabinet LCD TV with Built-in DVD/CD Player and AM/FM Radio(White)
  • 10.2" Widescreen Tft Under-The-Cabinet Dvd/Cd Player With Atsc Digital Tv Tuner And Am/Fm Radio,Tft Color Display
  • DVD,DVD+R/RW, CD,CD-R/RW, and JPEG compatible
  • Dual Atsc/Ntsc Tuner For Digital And Standard Tv Broadcast Reception, Digital Am/Fm Radio
  • Audio/Video Input Jack For Video Games,Vcr'S, Or Other Av Sources
  • Convenient Front Panel And On-Screen Display, Integrated Stereo Speakers, Multiple Languages, Parental Lock Control

For the price and package I thought I had found a good all in one product to install in my kitchen with ease to stow away.

Upon unpacking this product brand new I found it to be very cheap plastic. I tested by plugging into my cable tv and found that it takes about 10-15 seconds for the unit to warm up to show a video picture. The next BIG complaint, is the volume is very weak. To the degree that if you were the only one in the kitchen and cooking and/or running the water at the sink you would not be able to hear even if it was turned up all the way. Then when it does show a picture it is of very very low quality. To change from TV to Radio or DVD it takes about 6-8 seconds between starting the new feature. The DVD drawer would not open all the way nor shut. This was a disapointment finding it defective out of the box. The remote control is suppose to have a magnet to place against say the refrigerator, it was missing any magnet from the packaging. The screws for mounting were missing as well.

I found a 15 inch LCD/HD Polaroid TV from my local Walmart for less money which out performs this by 100%.

This Coby product's performance/quality is not up to my expectations. Product was missing parts and accessories.

I would highly advise steering clear of this junk. This one was returned to Amazon.

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After reading many reviews before buying a product like this, and being very skeptical based on the bad reviews, we decided to give this unit a try. It seems you either love it or hate it. I decided to side with the "love it" extreme. Though it may not be a perfect product, it is perfectly suited for what we're using it for. I'd like to defend some of the features people were disappointed in:

Ease of mounting We put it up in about 5 minutes. The holes were aligned on the template just fine, and it came with two sets of screws. Any difficulty might be with cabinets that are recessed or not deep enough. You need a good 18 inches depth to have enough room for cables behind and to operate the controls if cabinets come down over them. We have a corner cabinet it fit perfectly under.

Volume/sound quality The volume control works fine. The sound is a little dull, but, hey, this isn't a Bose system.

Picture quality Again, consider what you're paying and what you're getting. The picture is just fine to sit and watch the news or a cooking show in your kitchen. As far as needing to be dead on to view the screen, I haven't found that to be true. It was actually better than I expected for an LCD screen.

Delay between features It does take a few seconds to switch between DVD mode/TV mode/radio mode, and to power on, but there is an indicator bar on the screen so you know the progress you're making. It really isn't that annoying. (Also about the DVD player, it does need to be on and in the DVD mode before it will eject.)

Not cable ready Our cable connection works fine.

The magnetic remote Mine wasn't magnetic either. But I'll live.

As far as durability, I'll have to wait another 91 days to see if it dies when the warranty expires. I'll revise my review if it does! Otherwise, I'm glad we purchased this unit. Even my 14-year old son, who loves electronic gadgets, thinks it's pretty cool.

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This undercounter 10.2" TV (from what I was able to try) works great:

The screen size is nice

The controls and screen are splatter resitant

The display swivel works great then securely stays under the base

The digital tuner picked up more stations than any other TV I own

The picture (for digital TV) is excellent

The analog picture is average

The undercounter mounting worked great

The customization menus are very nice, although not the most extensive more menus would be unnecessary for such a small display

It saved my settings when wall power went off

White color looks at home in a kitchen

I really can find no faults, except there were a few things I didn't try. It has MP3 capability, which for DVD players is normally poor with no random or menu controls. I didn't try this function yet so I can't complain. And the remote control battery came dead so I didn't try that either yet. If either of these two are remarkable I will report back.

Other than that, this display is a tremendous value.

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It has tons of features and a very good picture, but the quality of the product is extremely suspect. The first one I received had a stuck DVD/CD tray and had to be returned. The second one is now experiencing the same issue. Occasionally the tray will get stuck and require a few "knocks" to the underside of the system to get it to release. I'm going to give a week or two longer and if it occurs again, it's going back for refund this time.

Coby makes cheap electronics and this one isn't that cheap to be experiencing such basic issues. I would go with something a little more reliable even if it means paying an additional $50 or doing without some features.

I purchased this model after my GPX kitchen TV died after 1 year (junk). The picture on this TV is far far better than the GPX TV. Installation was very easy. My only complaint is that the remote buttons all look the same and the volumn controls don't stand out from the rest.

Electrohome EAAC600 SelfSet Projection Clock Radio with Dual Alarm, Temperature, and Battery Backup

Electrohome EAAC600 SelfSet Projection Clock Radio with Dual Alarm, Temperature, and Battery Backup
  • Automatically Sets the Time/Date & Restores Alarm Settings after Power Loss
  • Projects the Time on Your Wall or Ceiling; Dual Alarms with Optional Weekend Skip
  • AM/FM Radio with Digital Station Display; Temperature & Calendar Date Display
  • Connect Your iPod or MP3 Player; Blue Backlit 3.6" LCD Screen
  • Wake to Radio/Buzzer/Time Projection

This clock was somewhaat difficut to set up, but once done it works well. The internal temperature was accurate as long as there were no other external heat sources near-by like lamps or a heat register. The time display is reversed, but that was not a problem once you get used to it. The FM sensitivity is not as strong as I would have liked, but this is not a high priced stereo just a reasonably priced clock radio.

The projection display does have a focusing adjustment, and while it cannot be seen during the daylight hours, it is very readable at night.

One other plus to this unit is the dimable display light. Set on high you can use it as a night light, and on low if it bothers your sleeping, while letting the display to be read easily in either setting.

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I received my clock very quickly, Amazon shipping can't be beat. The clock was a little difficult to set up but that was only because I hadn't read all the directions. Once I did that, it was a breeze. I love it. You can set how bright the clock is for those who have trouble sleeping with any light in the room. The projection is terrific, just what I wanted. I would definitely recommend this clock to anyone who has trouble seeing the clock on the bedside table.

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The Clock projection system is nice and the clock looks good.

However, my biggest problem is that the display is much too bright for bedtime (even the dim setting). Although it is possible to turn off all displays, it is not possible to turn off the front display while simultaneously using the time projection. For me this defeates the purpose of having the clock.

The radio is mediocre with no presets.

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The description for this item was kinda misleading; I thought I was buying a clock that automatically sets itself from some remote time (an atomic clock, in other words), but that is not the case.

Furthermore, the directions for the clock were somewhat unclear, requiring some experimenting before I could figure out how to do what I needed to.

Otherwise, this clock is solid, if a bit bulky, but it wasn't what I was looking for.

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I chose this product because it has a radio and the projection part swivels (I've ordered another brand in the past that did not). It has large numbers and seems to work well so far (have only used it about 2 months). I have ordered 3 one for each of my 2 sons and one for my husband and I. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 2 is because even on the dimmest setting, the light is very bright. It doesn't bother my kids, but my husband and I keep the clock covered up (which is fine since we look up at the ceiling to see the time at night anyway). Love that the projection arm swivels my son has bunk beds and his night stand is under the bottom bunk so he is able to project the time across his room to he wall so he can see it. I would recommend this to a friend.

Philips AJ3231 Mirror Finish Clock Radio

Philips AJ3231 Mirror Finish Clock Radio
  • Wake up to your favorite radio station or buzzer
  • Dual alarm times with repeat
  • AM/FM analog tuner
  • MP3 link for portable music playback
  • Battery back-up

Pros:

*Gorgeous contemporary design with mirror and stainless steel look. The LED display magically floats in the mirror.

*Very low level brightness yet perfectly legible and without glare. Many alarm clocks are way too bright even on dim settings. If the brightness of alarm clocks bothers you, this clock should work well for you.

*Easy to figure out without instructions which makes it a viable option for guest bedrooms.

Cons:

*When adjusting the alarms, there is no indication on the LED display which alarm you are adjusting. Compounding this problem is when you turn on an alarm, there is no way to see what time the alarm is set for. It's far too easy to adjust one alarm and turn on the other by mistake. This is a MAJOR negative. The display also doesn't tell you if the alarm is set for buzzer or radio. The lack of information on the display makes it impossible to adjust in the dark.

*No fast reverse. To adjust times, there is a fast forward button and a slow reverse button. I like clocks that also have fast reverse which makes changing alarm times easier and quicker.

*Slide controls are small and difficult to use. The distance between settings is very small so it can be frustrating.

*Buzzer volumes are not adjustable. Alarm 1 is set at a low volume which is very quiet and might not work for sound sleepers. Alarm 2 is slightly louder but it's still quieter than any other alarm clock I've used. With both alarms, you do have the option of waking up with radio which is volume adjustable and gets very loud.

*No gradually increasing alarm volume.

*Radio is not digital. Not a major issue but the dial is small so it's hard to know what station you're on.

*No nap function.

*The audio cable in the back doesn't stay in the holder and flops around annoyingly. I have since cut it off.

*Snooze not adjustable (set at 7 minutes).

Overall, this alarm clock would work well in a guest bedroom where style is of paramount importance. For your main alarm clock, you should consider something with better functionality.

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I have been looking for "the perfect" clock radio for quite a while and I think I found it!

A marvel of engineering and design -it's light, airy, amazing looking yet sturdy and substantial at the same time. This is so well designed! I find that the buttons are in the right places, easy to get to and intuitive, they feel very substantial and not flimsy and cheap like so many other electronics today. I don't know how they were able to make a piece that is so substantial and solid feeling yet airy and light and unobtrusive looking. A really great job done though! I am quite impressed and very pleasantly surprised, this feels like a product that will last, which sometimes seems like a thing of teh pasttoay everything is made to toss...

I love the non digital radio station dial-I live in a mountainous area where it's very hard to get any reception, and the manual tuner is a must. And this one is well made and sensitive -I actually get several stations with this, which I have never been able to get with others I have tried.

On top of it the light display is brilliantly done! The mirror finish is really cool it's a smoky color so not like a shiny standard mirror. And the time is displayed in a golden color that makes it really easy at a quick glance see what time it is whether it's light or dark in the room, yet at night it's very unobtrusive. Living in the mountains we have no ambient light (except the moon when it's full) coming into the bedroom. So, any light source really pops out and I have a hard time sleeping with that in the room. So I have been looking for one that didn't keep me awake. I have tried several ones with adjustable displays but ended up having to toss a piece of clothing over each one I have tried, which makes it a useless time keeper. This one was just perfect.

I really, really like this clock radio and can highly recommend it.

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(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM) The last thing I want to do when I wake up is look in the mirror. However, even thought this Philips Alarm Clock's face is mostly one large mirror, it still looks sleek. The time is shown through the mirrored surface in bright yellow with adjustable brightness. It looks great, stands vertically about six inches and has all the basic features of a typical alarm clock. However, don't get too excited.

My previous alarm clock was easy to just reach over and slam the snooze button until I was ready to wake up. The snooze here is not so easy to find being a small tab on the top. There are two alarms (typical) that you can set to the radio, a buzz (one second beep tones) or off. They are difficult to set as the front display does not show you which setting is which. The font is very hard to read, being a tiny gray typeset on a black background. The other side contains the volume wheel, a radio tuner for AM/FM and a small dial to find radio stations (Look at the photo I included for size comparison). There is also an AUX setting as you can hook up your iPod/MP3 in the back. The cord for the iPod/MP3 is supposed to fit snugly around the back, but the slot it was designed for is too short, so the cord hangs loose. The top has the small linear tabs for `On/Off', `alarm reset' and `sleep'. The largest tab is the `Repeat Alarm/Sleep Off' on top. Its very compact, but not the easiest to set up. Do note that you need bright light to work any of the setup functions; not a dark room.

Aside from the small settings and type, this Philips Clock does look nice with the mirror finish and yellow clock shining through. That is it's sales quality. The materials are all plastic and I wonder if it could survive a drop to the floor. The 1.5" speaker is not Hi-Fidelity. Other than the appearance, there isn't much else going on here, so you might think about keeping your current alarm clock. It just looks good. Think about that with the price.

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The fit and finish was very nice. The mirror is stylish but I really don't want to see my ugly mug early in morning.

The orange LED was a nice touch. Not as bright as the 'regular' green LED's on most alarm. On dim mode it doesn't light up a dark room.

The MP3 mode leaves something to be desired. If you're in the room with your MP3 player hooked up your OK listening to tunes, but I like waking up to certain music in the morning. I don't know about your MP3 player but I cannot leave it on all night without the battery dying by morning.

It's a cool alarm clock but only adequate for an MP3 Player.

This clock has a nice, modern look with large amber colored numbers. The alarm buttons are horribly designed, however. You can snooze, but cannot turn off/change the alarm without picking up the whole clock. The buttons are flush with the body and don't slide easily so you more or less have to pick up the whole thing to do anything to it. Not fun when you're half asleep. The body tips forward easily too.