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AmazonBasics Alkaline Batteries (Pack of 20)

I've avoided the big name brands for batteries for a couple of years now unless they were on sale. I never noticed a difference in battery life from any of those other brands (Kirkland, Maxell, etc), but I have noticed that these Amazon Basics batteries just don't last very long. Some examples:

I replaced the batteries in my wireless mouse in November with Amazon Basics AA. Yesterday (December 31) those batteries died and needed to be replaced again. Normally I go between 1-2 years, but this time I didn't even make 8 weeks.

My daughter got an LED snowman light at the beginning of December that took 2 AA batteries (used the Amazon batteries). In 4 weeks, I had to replace the batteries 3 times.

We rarely use our Wii, but I replaced the batteries in my Wii remotes with Amazon batteries at the end of October to play a few games with my daughter. We didn't play again until Christmas day, and the batteries were dead already.

I'm not ready to give up on these yet, but my current experience has not been that good. I got some Duracell AAs on a deal in December, so I am doing some comparisons now.

Never in a million years would I have thought these batteries would outperform Duracell Alkaline batteries. I read recently that a consumer magazine recommended buying batteries based on price and not brand name. My limited testing agrees with that advice.

AmazonBasics AAA alkaline batteries performed better than two types of Duracell Alkaline batteries, and was on par with Kirkland Alkaline brand. The bigger surprise is how well Enloop batteries performed in my testing. The Kirkland and AmazonBasics alkaline batteries were roughly 20% longer lasting than the Duracell alkaline batteries. Freshly fully charged Enloops (NiMH) performed 20% better than AmazonBasics and Kirkland Alkalines.

What can you say about these batteries? Yes they are AAA, they fit in devices that require this size battery, and they last a good long time. I wanted to do some accellerated testing, put the batteries through some heavy drain use in a controlled manner. Since I don't have a testing rig like the one NLee the Engineer uses to test batteries, I came up with a standard device a small electronic flash that uses two AAA batteries.

The test setup: load two batteries into the flash, when the ready light glowed, fire the flash. I counted how many flashes each battery type could make in five minutes. I repeated the test with fresh batteries twice for each brand / model of battery. At the end of the test the batteries were pretty warm and none of them were exhausted. A battery tester showed all the batteries were about 30% spent, so there was still a good bit of life left in them.

Qualitatively, the Kirkland and AmazonBasics Alkaline batteries recycled the flash very fast during the first minute of the test. Recycle times tapered off to a constant level after that. The Enloops (NiMH) seemed to deliver a rapid recycle time throughout the test.

Kirkland and AmazonBasics Alkaline batteries fired 97 times

Duracell Alkaline and Duracell Ultra Alkaline fired 77 times

Enloops (NiMH) fired 117 times

The consumer advice seems to be accurate, purchase AAA batteries based on the lowest per cell price you can find. Enloops are the best alternative, they are rechargeable and deliver great service (Sanyo Eneloop Ni-MH Charger and 8 Rechargeable AA and 4 Rechargeable AAA Batteries). If you do search out rechargeable batteries, the best advice in the world can be found in NLee The Engineer's reviews.

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Amazon has gone into the battery business! These batteries are a great alternative to the more expensive name brands. And so far, the quality seems just as good. The price is great and it's even better if you use "Subscribe and Save". Also, they came in a nice box ("frustration-free" packaging) which fits just perfectly in my drawer (I just cut off the lid). It kept the batteries from rolling around in the drawer.

And, really, who doesn't want that famous Amazon smiley on their batteries?? lol

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Batteries are commodities, and "premium" batteries that promise more power at a higher cost seems kinda silly to me. I found out about the Amazon brand of batteries by accident, but I'm glad I did -The battery life is good, the price is great, and the packagine is easy to open and is completely reclycable. I go through batteries a lot (peripherals for my computers, hand-held devices, etc) so I'm glad I found a set of affordable and dependable batteries. Don't forget to properly recycle your used batteries!

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Some Amazon Basics items are well worthwhile, this one is not. I use Energizer and Duracell alkalines in my gear (digital camera, GPS, LED headlamp, flashlights (LED and incandescent), and couple of other devices), and thought I'd give these a try. Unfortunately these Amazon Basics AAs are consistently miserable in their longevity compared to the others mentioned. Too bad, seemed like a bargain but is not.

Could be worse, though: they could be DOA or promptly start leaking, but these have not been the case.

Pyle Vehicle Radio Player and Speaker Package for Home, Studio, Car, Van, Truck, Mobile etc. - PLRCS

PLRCS19U - AM/FM 2 Band Radio; Anti-Theft Pullout System; Digital Display
AUX Inout Front Panel; Built-In USB Port; RCA Preamp Output; 4 Channel Output
MP3 Compatible; Auto Antenna Lead; Night Illumination
Auto Antenna Lead 200 Watts Ouput; Cassette Player; Clock Function
PL6984BL - Non-fatiguing Butyl Rubber Surround; 1.25'' High Temperature ASV Voice Coil; Blue Poly Injection Cone; 50 Oz Magnet Structure; 1-1/2'' Film Dome Midrange; 1'' Film Dome Tweeter; 3/4'' Piezo Tweeter

I bought this system as an upgrade for my ten year old truck factory system. I am astounded by the quality of this system for the price. Not that this is the best you can buy, however, you will not find a better sounding system anywhere near this price range.. Buy it and you will be very happy !!!!

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Coby CX-53 AM/FM Radio with Digital Display & Alarm Clock

Ultra slim compact design
Sensitive AM/FM tuner
LCD with digital display
Built in wide range speaker
High performance telescopic antenna

I bought this unit, along with another pocket radio, to fill up an order. I planned to use it around the house or put it in my emergency supply kit. The digital display, and clock & alarm aspect sounded interesting, and for $9, it couldn't be a big mistake. The radio is really small, which is fine, and takes AAA batteries. That's OK too, but they don't hold as much energy as AAs. The big problem is the tuning. It has a digital display but it is not a digital tuner. It uses a regular thumbwheel on the side, and the position of that dial is indicated on the display as a digital frequency. The resolution of the tuning is very poor: a small displacement of the knob results in a large tuning change, so you have to be very dexterous to tune in a station. Plus, in my unit, the displayed numbers did not correspond to the real station frequencies; it was miscalibrated. The display is hard to read in daylight, and there is no backlight, so it's no good for beside the bed. Other than that, it seems to work OK for a

Lasonic Electronics High Performance BT Music System

Weak base output for the size of the unit. Overall sound quality underwhelming. Physically it looks like it would be powerful unit but pick it up and the light weight tells you it is largely an empty box

I was trying to decide between this and the iHome boom box for my boyfriend. So glad I chose this. The sound is great and the kitschy retro design is a huge hit. The remote comes in handy and the Bluetooth means you can change the tunes from your phone while in the other room. Just keep in mind this device is pretty big.

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Bluetooth works great. Looks awesome. Gets super loud. Audio quality could be a bit better.

Overall it's the best. Very happy with my purchase

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The model number and customer image do not match the product title and product image--I want the BT, but this one looks like it might be the BTQ, which doesn't have the classic multicolor skin. The skin costs another $20 from the Lasonic website, and if I have to ship the skin I may as well get the boom box for less there. It would be helpful to know if anyone has ordered it if this is the model with the colors or the added equalizer.

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Cheap buttons. Volume control doesn't work correctly. Stickers for no reason. USB doesn't work for for apple products.

Best thing to say about it is that the sound does sound good. When controling the volume with that good sound, just not even close to par.

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Eton S350DL AM/FM Shortwave Deluxe Radio Receiver (Black)

Modern, high-performance field radio combined with classic styling, rugged construction, and military-style controls
Accurate tuning across the AM, FM, and shortwave bands
Features large tuning knob and a concentric, independent fine-tuning control knob
Stereo line-level output, and jacks for supplementary AM, FM and shortwave antennas
Can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via four "D" or four "AA" batteries

This is an improved version, for fifty dollars more, than the Grundig S350. It comes with nice headphones; it has stereo sound for the headphones; the 99-dollar Grundig has only mono through the headphone input; the speaker on the Deluxe is slightly bigger; but most significantly, the Deluxe version has been changed so that it does not drift away from the selected channel the way the old version did. Only a fastidious radio lover will want to spend the extra money since the drifting problem (I own both models) is quite minimal and doesn't in my case affect reception adversely.

This is a fun radio, easy to use, has a big stereo sound and has strong FM reception, the best you can find with a good speaker. The only better FM reception you'll find is in the Kaito 1103 but the Kaito has a tiny speaker.

For those who are disgruntled and disappointed with this radio, may I suggest that environmental limitations or areas that are "hostile to radio reception" can sometimes be so insurmountable that no radio can overcome them.

Post Script: The Kaito 1103 now has a cousin, the Kaito 1107 (currently available as the Degen 1107) that has equal reception as the 1103 but is, like the Grundig S350 DL, an analog radio. It's fifty bucks and has a bigger speaker than the 1103. So for a hundred dollars less, you can get similar performance as the Grundig in the Degen/Kaito DE1107.

Update: I've noticed that two AM stations, 1150 and 980, get overloaded with two stations blaring at the same time. Lack of filter, lack of SSB, AM reception that is "too good." I'm not sure. My Kaito 1103 and Grundig G4000, both compact radios with SSB feature, have excellent separation and do not overload. Of the two, the Grundig G4000 has superior AM and a bigger, warmer speaker.

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This S350DL is everything I need in a portable radio. Powered by D-cells which seem to last forever, the FM audio is fabulous for a $150 radio and long distant night time AM band reception is simply great. Just tune the well lit LCD display to a frequency and if there is anything on it worth listening to it's there.

The selectivity is tremendous with the bandwidth set to narrow. I live almost next door to a powerful station on 820KHz and like to listen to a weak one several hundred miles away on 810KHz, not a problem. No interference from the strong station.

My scant and no doubt obsolete communications theory always held that for great radio reception, double or even triple conversion receivers were the norm. Now I have a radio advertised with highly sensitive and selective latest state of the art single conversion analog tuner circuitry. What that means, I haven't a clue but I'm impressed.

The only negative thing I've found about the radio so far is that its fine tuning knob has a tendency to jump past the frequency you're trying to tune up to, then, when you tune back down it jumps past on the downside. I've heard this called backlash. Eventually you can get a lock on the exact frequency but it is a minor annoyance. Another thing that takes some getting used to is that I'm so used to push the button scanning type receivers, that rotating an old fashioned tuning knob several turns to get from the high end of a band to the low trys my patience. Overall I'm a happy camper and find this radio's good features far outweigh its bad.

Read Best Reviews of Eton S350DL AM/FM Shortwave Deluxe Radio Receiver (Black) Here

This radio has excellent features for someone who is either new to shortwave radio or just wanting a simple, user-friendly set of controls. Also perfect for those that like analogue-style controls that would be encountered on older radios. I have the S-350, the model that the S-350DL replaces. For general world band programme listening, this radio is fantastic. Outstanding speaker. Easy to read digital display includes backlight. Includes attenuator. Clock can be set to 24 hour time. Easy to carry anywhere. Robust antenna. Does not support SSB tuning, which you would need to tune in Ham radio. Same radio sold under Tescun name in other parts of the world.

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I've been using this radio for a few days now and really like it. It's above average. Forget the guy that says it has cheap knobs, plastic case, etc. It really does feel sturdy, has good selectivity and pulls in the distant stations as well. The only drawback that I wish this radio would have is some sort of memory for selected stations. But I can easily find my favorites manually. It's a lot of fun and the quality is evident. I would definitely recommend it based on price/quality. Another plus that is lacking in most radios of this type is the big speaker. Most Short Wave radios have a tiny speaker which is really bad. I don't know why they do this??? I would gladly pay more money for a bigger speaker with some sound to it.

I have had quite a few shortwave recievers, and this is by far the best one I've ever had! (Under a thousand dollars). It holds up to abuse, lasts forever on a set of batteries, and has fantastic reception! The "hard" antenna works far better than any other model I've ever owned, and if you take the time to hook up a "soft" antenna, look out you'll get so many signals you will have to use your gain and filter switch to sort them out. I have nothing at all bad to say about this model, infact I now own two! If you want a pocket unit, try the Grundig mini-300, but if you want to listen to shortwave from all over the world, save money on batteries, have crystal clear reception, and ease of use, this is it! It really isn't as bulky as you think, and you'll never regret owning this one!

Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Digital Tuner Shower Radio (White)

Splash-resistant multi-band shower radio
AM/FM/weather band with 20 memory random presets
Built-In digital clock and countdown timer
Selectable automatic-off timer
Unique easy-grip design
Selectable Automatic Off Timer
Splash Resistant Multi-Band Shower Radio
Unique Easy Grip Design

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)UPDATE: June 2011

The Sony ICFS79W AM/FM/Weather Band Shower Radio is well designed for its purpose, but some flaws do show up over time. I spent a long time searching for a shower radio that had more than just AM/FM, like a CD player for example. I eventually gave up that quest and gave this a try. There are few options in shower radios.

I was open minded but skeptical when I got this. The strong reception is really the best feature, and the weather band and auto on / off timers are nice extras. It would be almost perfect if not for a few cons. Still, it's hard to find alternatives.

After using this unit for several years, the plastic covering the buttons has worn away. This creates openings that water might be able to get into, damaging the unit. However, even with all the humidity that goes along with being used in the bathroom, it's still going strong. As some have commented, the batteries have indeed lasted forever. Given the fact that over 2 years I've only had to change them once, perhaps the larger cell batteries were best for this design.

PROS

++ GREAT reception; it's actually surprising how good it is

++ Nice simple and intuitive controls

++ Included Weather band reception

++ Convenient timer to get you going

++ Auto-Off feature for easy morning operation

++ Batteries last a very long time

CONS

-Plastic covering the buttons wears away over time

-Button placement makes it difficult to see buttons and the screen at the same time

-Analog volume adjustment provides little control at lower volumes

-Uses large C batteries, that are less convenient than AA

-List price is quite high

-Wire Antenna is difficult to stick up and often comes loose

-Weather band has more static than AM or FM

Some of the cons are minor. Still, this unit could use some improvements. It's hard to believe that for this price only AM / FM and Weather bands are included. But while the weather band has static from time to time, the AM and FM bands are some of the best I have heard in any radio. Whatever internal antennae and supporting electronics they used, the reception is surprisingly strong and clear.

Having to worry about replacing those large batteries is also a throw-back to 1989. It would have been nice if they used AA batteries. Most people with lots of electronics already have rechargeable AAs, but few people have rechargeable C batteries on hand. Still, the batteries last a really long time in it.

CONCLUSION

If you need a shower radio, this is still one of the better options. There are some that offer more features, like a CD player, but most have less reliability and performance. For the time being, it seems like despite a rather high price this might be the one to go with.

Enjoy.

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I very rarely write reviews but I love this radio so much I felt inspired. (Actually I own the S79V, but it seems to be identical to this one.) It is simply the perfect shower radio. Reception is excellent and better than some of the more expensive radios in my house. It has a clever suction cup aerial that sticks to shower tile well. The controls are simple and I particularly like the timer function, so I don't need to worry about turning it off. It goes forever on a set of batteries. I also like that this isn't equipped with a CD player, which would add bulk for a questionable extra function.

The white plastic has yellowed over time (four years?), and the top control panel membrane has deteriorated slightly, but it's still going strong. I purchased a replacement just to have a spare handy should I need one and find that Sony has stopped making these gems.

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I love this radio! We own 2, and I'm about to buy 2 more one more for our home and one for a gift. I keep one with my gardening tools and carry it around with me and listen while gardening. The others travel between the bathrooms and bedrooms. Good sound quality, takes dirt and water abuse, and the preset buttons are great for a portable radio. No playing around trying to tune in favorite stations. The batteries seem to last forever (I don't even know what kind they take, since I've never changed them and we've had our 2 units for years). So the time is always right, even with the occasional power outs we have in our area, which messes up all the plug in radio times. The best portable radio ever!

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This sony radio is a good shower radio and clock. It has an external antenna that suction cups to the wall.

There are a few parts of this design to note that make this a good product, not a great one. First, the radio has a strap that clips on the back and while hanging, it does not lay completely flat. Second, it takes C batteries and three of them. They are generally sold in packs on two or four and they are not included. Third, the buttons are on top. Style-wise this is a good decision, but because the radio needs to be high enough to see the clock, it makes it more difficult to see the buttons. There is a sleep timer built in to the on button. It would be great if I did not have to push the button five times to get the radio to turn off after 10 minutes. Lastly the volume control; it is well designed and simple to grip, but has only one purpose, unlike all the other pieces on the radio. It stands out as odd.

I wish there were another sleeker option for a clock radio for the shower, but until this one breaks it is good not great.

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I happily owned the analog predecessor to this radio for at least seven years and finally gave up on it when all the knobs broke off after falling on the shower floor. I really cannot complain because I accidentally dropped it. I then purchased this digital version. When I bought it, I was surprised that there was no gasket around the battery compartment. However, the compartment seemed to be designed to drain water away, so I did not worry about it.

Over the year that I used it, I occasionally noticed that the batteries were low. When I checked, it turned out that the water had corroded the battery contacts. The main drawback is that I had to be careful about getting corrosive battery material on my hands and the need to replace batteries that should have lasted much longer if they had not been exposed to water. Cleaning the electrical connections with steel wool generally did the trick. However, after about a year, the metal springs that hold the batteries in place (and provide electrical contact) snapped due to corrosion from the battery acids.

Now, I kept this radio on the shelf in my shower and I typically shower for about 5 min each day. It is not drenched in water, but it did get some drips from the showerhead. In thinking about it, I should have made my own gasket when the radio was new by using silicone caulk after the batteries were in place. This is a odd solution for a major design flaw and would require breaking the seal and putting in a new seal with each battery change.

I went ahead and replaced the metal springs with some careful soldering, then put in new batteries, and sealed it up with caulk. It worked for a few days, and then I noticed the low battery indicator. Apparently the moisture from the drying caulk was sufficient to again cause a corrosion problem. I then removed the caulk seal and gave the radio to a friend. It is sitting in his dry garage and working fine as long as it is never again exposed to moisture. I now have the Sangean H201 and hope that it will serve for many years. At least it has a seal around the battery compartment.

I am therefore giving this product a single star because of this design flaw that could have been so easily fixed. If you have this radio, I recommend that you never get it wet. Since it is sold as a shower radio, this is a clear problem.

Sony ICF-CD513 Under-Cabinet CD Clock Radio

Space-saving under-cabinet CD clock radio--perfect for kitchens
Mega Bass enhances low frequencies for heightened musical impact
Built-in timer/alarm function, stereo speakers
Drift-free, digital-synthesized AM/FM stereo tuner with AM wideband reception and 15 presets
Self-powered backup memory; includes mounting hardware

I gave one of these to my wife six months ago, after being less than impressed by reviews of the equivalent GE product. Basically, I wanted something that would pull in her 3 public radio stations and offer me incentive to feed the cats. Trouble is, the darn thing requires installation--which took me 4-5 hours not counting the five months I simply thought about doing it.

The pluses: It seems very solid and durable, is a no-brainer to operate, and produces relatively high-frequency (if a bit hollow-sounding) fidelity.

Minuses: It's deeper than I'd bargained for. The only under-the-cabinet space that would accommodate it was in a corner. Curiously, Sony's instructions warn against installing it near florescent lighting. (What are you supposed to do--rewire your kitchen?) This may explain why radio reception, while decent, is hardly startling. Only by fiddling with the electrical cord (which does double duty as an antenna) can I get acceptable sound on most of the fringe (40-70 miles out) stations. If only manufacturers would scrap some of the automatic features and station memory banks in favor of more sensitive and selective tuners. And, true, the unit has a "mega-bass" switch with a single setting--but does anyone remember the days when radios came with a handy little knob called a "tone control"?

All in all, a well-made product offering solid performance and value. An excellent gift for the handyman in the family.

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I bought this player about a month ago after installing one for a friend. I liked the way it looked and sounded in her kitchen and decided that I wanted one for me. Its a nice unit that is easy to use and has 15 pre-sets for the radio.The slot for the cd holds one cd. The sound is good, not great. I especially liked the instructions and template for installation. It made it very easy to look like a professional install. Especially for a guy who is all thumbs.

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I put aside my qualms about Sony sound products (my experience is that Sony is great for pictures, but their sound always goes) and bought this machine. For about two months, I revelled in finally being able to play my favorite music while trapped in the kitchen. I liked it so much I didn't even begrudge the money I spent having a handiman install it (no way could I have done this myself). So I was really crushed when one evening, the CD simply stopped working. I tried all the remedies described in the operating instructions, but eventually was forced to take it down (no small feat in itself). Though the machine is still under warranty, Sony's online repair service told me that it will be replaced with a factory refurbished model--not a new replacement. And of course, I have to pay to ship the thing to Texas to get my refurbished model. I am not happy at all.

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How many times have you cursed the almost ubiquitous little volume "up" and "down" arrows on most new electronics? They are hard to press and they take forever to adjust. Here's your chance to get a decent under-cabinet clock/radio with a large, simple, functional volume knob located conveniently on the side. That alone is reason to give this unit serious consideration. I actually purchased this for my garage to go under the cabinets above my workbench (I have the Salton "ICEbox" in the kitchen, but that's over 2 grand). Its only weak point is the speaker output is not quite powerful enough at higher volumes, distortion becomes evident. However, at most normal listening volumes, it sounds fine.

This is a great item! No trouble with installation. Great sound from the radio and also the cd player. Very easy to use! The price just can't be beat. I am very happy with this product and would highly recommend it!

5.3 Inch Capacitance Touch Screen I9220hd Android 4.0 Smart Phone 8 Mp Camera Wifi Dual Core Mtk6575

I was very cautious when I bought this phone I was unsure of what to expect. I can honestly say that the phone exceeds my expectations. It is very fast with little no lag, it also has the Android Play store pre-installed so that you can get up and running downloading apps. The battery life is excellent and the phone is very light. The screen is a little dull because it is not amoled display. The camera is definitely not 8mp and the quality is very poor. The phone only has 2gb of internal memory so one has to keep this in mind when downloading files. The phone call quality is average with calls sounding a bit low but the speakerphone is fine. Most apps work with the exception of gameloft games, I tried shadowgun and grand theft auto 3 both ran flawlessly which was really impressive. Overall a great product, I recommend giving it a try. BTW Im using simple mobile as a provider and the device is only capable of edge internet speeds on t-mobile's network.

Added 8/5/12

Unfortunately, the display began to malfunction, the display would show garbled and i would have to remove the battery to reset the phone. Eventually the display just stopped working which is disappointing because I really liked the phone.

5.3 Inch Capacitance Touch Screen I9220hd Android 4.0 Smart Phone 8 Mp Camera Wifi Dual Core Mtk6575 1g Mhz. I PURCHASED THIS FOR MY SON. RECEIVED IT TODAY. FIRST OF OFF THEY SAY ITS ROOTED. ITS NOT. SECOND THE CAMERA IS TO BE A 8MG NO WAY!!! I TOOK MULTIPLE PIXS THERE HORRIBLE. I HAVE A DINOSAUR CELL PHONE THAT TAKES BETTER PIXS. THE PIXS ARE WASHED OUT AND FADED TO A POINT THAT THEY LOOK BLACK AND WHITE. SO IF YOU WANT A PHONE THAT TAKES GOOD PIXS THIS IS NOT IT. THE PHONE IS LOUD. THE SCREEN NICE AND IT LOOKS NICE. MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE CAMERA. I BROUGHT THIS SO MY SON ALWAYS HAD A CAMERA WITH HIM FOR THOSE PERFECT SHOOTS. VERY DISAPPOINTED. WOULD BE A GREAT DEVICE IF THE SPECS WERE CORRECT. I WOULD NOT RECOMEND THIS DEVICE.

after calming down because the of the camera issue. i installed several gameloft games and to my surprise they all work. this phone would be perfect if the camera lived up to what it is supposed to do. outside the pixs are average. not a inside camera. so to update over all the phone is a pretty good budget phone. if its games you like this is for you. it has loud sound and plays videos very well . in conclusion i would give it 4 stars for gaming. 5 stars video and music. and 2 stars for camera.

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I received my phone in records time!! It is perfect, JUST as described!! It's fast and works great with Straight Talk unlimited service!! I can't put it down! Would highly reccommend for the price!! Do not let the fact that it comes from China worry you...doesn't everything??!!

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I previously owned a Samsung Note well ... it literally got ran over by a semi when I happened to drop it while taking off on my motorcycle ... ANYWAY .. I needed to replace that phone but didn't want to shell out the big bucks.

This phone works for what it is. The camera is definitely weak I'd say about 1.5MP (cheap optics). However, other than that and of course the lack of space (I installed a 16 gig sd card and now I'm fine) it doesn't make me miss my note much. The screen isn't as flashy as some of the new phones, but its ok.

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First off, I love the phone for what it is: big screen, excellent speed, very responsive to touch controls, thin, fits in my pocket with no problem, good battery life, cameras work fine for me. And the seller (Super Saving Store) is excellent (I had a problem with the proximity sensor being mis-calibrated, so I emailed the seller, and within an hour I had a step by step guide to how to fix the issue and it's now working fine).

However, I specifically chose this phone, because it is listed as "dual core" (I wanted something a little more future proof). But when I received it, I discovered it's not (it identifies itself as an "ALPS A9550", and the Passmark benchmarks confirm it is, ranking it just above a Galaxy S in performance). Last week I also purchased this phone (same seller, for my wife):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084S70Q2/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00

which benchmarks the same (even slightly faster). That phone identifies itself as "Alps E1808_v75_jbl2".

Both phones have impressed us (I'm coming from an Optimus T), and so far no serious problems (my wife's phone is finicky about how you hold it and WiFi connectivity, probably the metal rim doubles as an antenna?).

The seller is the most responsive I've had the pleasure of dealing with on the Internet, I recommend them (also very fast shipping, less than 1 week from China). I contacted them about the "dual core" issue, but they say the product listing description is not under their control.

In case you're interested, rooting it presented no problems (I used SuperOneClick to get the USB driver, then TPSparky).

UPDATE:

Netflix was laggy, until I found the "Force 2D GPU rendering" in Settings, under "Developer options", that fixed Netflix. I read that some games don't like that option, but Angry Birds, and GLWG don't seem to mind.

Some benchmarks:

PassMark 1107

CaffeineMark 8386

Vellamo 1031/363 (1139 on Vellamo1)

(for the most part, these scores compare favorably against the dual core MT6577 )

Advance Quartz Analog Clock

Lighted dial with luminous hands
Large snooze/light bar
Ascending alarm
Uses 1 AA battery (not included)

Size, style, features, etc., all are fine EXCEPT I can't see it in the dark. It needs phosphorescent hands, which it does have. If I could see it, I'd give it 5-stars.

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The "fully lit dial" does not illuminate the hands. The hands are painted to look like they glow in the dark, but they do not. As a result you will not be able to read the time during the night unless you pick up the clock, get it close to your face, and press the "light" button several times, tilting the face back and forth to try to make out the time. You are now fully awake.

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I just bought this clock. The listing says Quartz Analog Clock by Timex, but it is not by Timex. The clock face says "Advance" and the manufacturer is some small company you never heard of. I'm going to keep the clock --it seems to work, it has the features I want --but it has a cheap feel to it that I would not expect from a Timex clock.

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I love this clock. It tilts back for easier viewing, lights up when touching the snooze button and has the ascending alarm. A nice simple little device. It also looks good. Not real high end but good enough for "Design on a Dime"

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I bought this clock because I was tired of the light from other alarm clocks (expecially digital) being much too bright at night for my personal preference. The hands on my clock do glow in the dark. The backlighting is really bright when activated in a dark room -I would have no trouble seeing the hands even if they didn't glow. The ascending alarm and snooze works as well as other more expensive alarm clocks. In an increasing complex world, I bought this clock because of its simplicity. I am very pleased with it.

Casio WS300-1EV Men's Full LCD Ana-Digi Illuminator Sport Watch

When I ordered this watch I did it because I saw this watch has features I need and maybe more than that. I was right.

First of all, I like dual time watch because I like to know exact time in other time zone.

Moreover, I don't want to ask someone for exact date. I want to have it on my watch. This watch also has useful feature lap memory which helps me when I run arround socer field because I often forget how many laps I made. And, one unexpected but very good feature is auto illumitator which helps me to see the time when my both hands are busy.

It is also water resistant which means a lot when I swim.

In short this watch is perfect for my needs and it is also very cheap.

i need a watch w/ a second hand (i'm a physician, and take pulses all the time). my "good" watch a le coultre i inherited from my dad needed to go in the shop for a while. i got this to use while it was gone.

i'm *amazed* by its accuracy. i have a few clocks that automatically sync to naval observatory time, and i sometimes call the official u.s. naval observatory time message at 202-762-1069. this watch has both a digital and an analog component, and the digital part has not gained or lost a second in several months! the analog (not synced w/ the digital, like my intelliquartz) has lost about a second every two weeks!

it's easy to reset the analog part, since the second hand stops when the stem is pulled out. and the blue backlighting is great especially the feature that allows you to put it in "position sensitive mode" and have it light up when you raise the face towards vertical to check the time. |< [] [] |_ !!!

my highest recommendation: it's now my daily watch. 5 stars.

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Had this watch about two weeks. It's very light and comfortable to wear. Always shows the digital date and time, which is nice. I think it looks good, but you'll judge for yourself on that. It has a very pretty back-light, and can be set to automatically light-up when moved into "reading position". This actually works very well, although I doubt I'll ever use it. (The autolight feature automatically disables after a few hours to conserve battery.) As for durability, only time will tell, but Casio has a good rep in this department, so I expect at least a few years. Most likely it will last until I scratch up the face beyond all readability.

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I have always liked Casio products. This WS300 watch is great. One feature I like is the user friendly size of the digital windows. They to see and read and yet the analog face is not obscured. Additionally, the watch arrived running and good operating order. The instruction booklet is adequate for setting up the watch.

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amazing watch waterproof and illuminates, only thing is when you shake the watch it makes a ringy noise but does not affect the watch.

2.4" touch screen dual SIM Rugged Waterproof Mobile Phone JAVA Bluetooth FM Camera Green XP5300

I was so happy to get my new phone which keep n mind that it came all the way from China to California to my parents house because they dont ship to Alaska an from my parents to Dutch Harbor . IT TOOK About 45 days to get . After getting my new phone which i was very happy to get . it looks very nice touch screen , many useful features :)

The downfall of this product , ITS NOT WATERPROOF !!!! I ested it n a bucket of water an right away it started to take in water the screen filled with lots of water which it took 2 days to dry out . But the battery stayed nice an dry lolz , i guess i was lucky . the mp3 player that i use my flash card with that holds over 1500 songs an works wonderfull in my old phone , more then half the songs wont play on this phone as well as it doesn't have continous play so after every song u have to scroll to play next song .

The instructions are not in english so u must figure the phone out on ur own . I what a waste of a phone , don't buy it just spend the extra money an buy a better waterproof GSM phone . NO point in returning it , so oh well .

OK, I admit that I have not plunged this phone into a bucket of water so I do not know if it is truly waterproof or not but it has worked fine in the rain. I am working in Eastern Africa region and needed a phone that I can drop and that can get kicked around (through no fault of my own). So far this phone has really fit the bill. The back cover is secured with screws so it does not fly apart when dropped. The IP-67 casing material is indeed rugged and so far proven excellent. The dual sim was a key factor as there is not really one reliable network here so we need to be on at least two. Also the price of $80-$90 dollars was fine as that is what the all the dual sim phones cost here anyway but they are not nearly as durable. This is strictly a work phone for me and I did not want to pay a whole lot of money for a true rugged smart phone, again so far so good. A couple of added bonuses, Tetris for games!, and Michael Jackson's "beat it" included as an MP3 which makes for a very rousing ring tone.

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Says that it is waterproof, it is not at all...

tried it from the first time and the phone now is liquid damaged!

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