Sony Ericsson W200a Unlocked Cell Phone with MP3/Video Player, Memory Stick Micro Slot--U.S. Version

After loosing the phone (samsung 807) which came with my cingular contract, I was on hunt for a cheap, nice phone with not many internet features. Because the guy who stole my phone made huge bill using internet.

After searching for a while I fixed on w200i. And after using it for a week, I am very much satisfied. The good points are

1) Walkman player on the phone is very good. Sound quality is very good with the included earbuds. Also the included 128MB memory stick is sufficient for ~20 songs which is nice, but I want to upgrade it to 2GB stick.

2) FM radio is good

3) Voice dialing. I like the implementation of voice dialing on this phone better compared to samsung D807.

On D807, there is no user control on how a contact is to be pronounced. Based on stored conact's name, the phone assumes a pronounciation. Since names are not standard english words, this always leads to wrong assumptions.Also being from India, my accent is different from American accent. And for me,it never worked on D807 satisfactorily.

On w200i, you can record a sound and associate it with a contact. Whenever you pronounce the sound, the associated contact is called. This way I can use the correct sound for the name and also I can use nicknames. This is much better and for me more natural.

4) Sound volume is good & clear. Unlike D807, I don't have to press the phone to my ears.

5) Light weight and looks cool

6) Limited internet features. This phone comes with no net browsing facility and limited data features. This way I don't end up with extra bill for using internet, after inadvertently pressing some button (many phones I saw have the important buttons associated with internet). This is good for those like me, who don't have/want data plans.

Average w.r.t.

1) Battery life

2) camera quality

Bad

1) The hands free cable implementation is a mess. It can be designed better I feel. The clip should be above the heavy handsfree button. Also for me, the left earbud cable is a bit short

This is a pretty solid phone. The one I got came from Mexico. It still was easy to switch it to english, but some of the stuff is still in spanish, such as the games. Not really a big deal to me, though. It's pretty simple to use and everything. No real complaints as of yet.

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I love SONY cellphones, but this one is a disaster mainly due to the very poor screen. Not enough light, and whatever you do see on the screen seems to be of very low resolution and low contrast.

Very limited menus, although you can download some, it seems. I can't rate the other features because I got sick of it just trying to improve the themes, the wallpaper and the lighting. But, it's low

price, so not too much money wasted.

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Tremendo telefono, tengo ya mas de 4 años con el, y si ningun problema. La interfas grafica mucho mejor que algunos telefenos nuevos y muy facil de usar. La camara si no es de lo mejor, pero como reproductor de musica es genial.

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Good, cell phone, a good quality. A little more than a regular cell. Just perfect!

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Sony ZSS3iP BLACK CD Boombox Speaker Dock for iPod and iPhone

• Rich, clear stereo sound output
• Charges iPod and iPhone battery while docked
• Compatible with most iPod and iPhone models.

We ordered this Sony unit to replace an old radio that finally died. We want something little,lite but still had a good sound quality. This unit gives it all, great to play all kinds of music anywhere you need and priced RIGHT!

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When the cd is playing, it makes a hissing sound, and the music sounds all muffled. I wanted to use it for the sleep mode, but I think it isn't for playing music softly, it would probably work better if the music is loud to cover that horrible hissing sound. Guess I should of listened to the other reviewers, but I wanted to try it myself. Unfortunatedly, they were right.

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I brought my Sony ZSS3iP used from Dantronics at a great Price, and it looks and plays just l like a new one. I am using it to play music in our bedroom so it just the right size and has decent sound for it size. The shipping was fast, I received it in less than a week and it was well packaged.

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This a fine all around boombox. It has a nice handle to carry it plus it charges my daughter's iPod. But if you play music through the CD player, iPod dock, or radio it sounds very thin. There is little in the low end, even with the bass boost. I don't expect a speaker dock to have tremendous sound but this really is thin.

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This is called a "Boom" box with "Mega" bass boost. There is no boom or bass to this box. I think this player would be fine for listening to AM radio or podcasts from your iPod, but for playing typical pop rock or classical or anything that uses a bass guitar or bass drums, you will feel saddened at the audio experience.

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Emerson CKS2235B Jumbo Display Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with SmartSet Technology (Black)

• Emerson's exclusive SmartSet technology automatically sets the correct time
• Automatic daylight savings time and leap year adjustments
• Large, easy-to-read 1.4-inch red LED time display
• Touchless snooze control
• Extra long-life battery back-up system with included 3v lithium battery

I've had it for a few months now. Does everything right. Big red numbers that don't light up the whole bedroom. I was concerned about the new DST which started March 2007, but to my surprise it can easily be changed to the new settings.

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This is a great radio! Does everything I want it to. Lots of buttons and switches but the instruction manual explains them all quite well. It's fascinating how the clock sets itself when you plug it in. The clock even handles the new Daylight Savings Time date. I would definately buy another one.

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This is a great little radio in many ways. It sets itself automatically when you plug it in & when Daylight Savings Time starts and ends. It has a battery back-up for power failures & the dial is big and easy to read. It has one quirky drawback. The radio dial will not go all the way to the low end of the dial. We have a station at 88.3 that the dial will not reach. I returned one & the same was true of the replacement radio. Otherwise, it is a great product.

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The Emerson CKS2235B Jumbo Display Dual-Alarm Clock Radio with SmartSet Technology fulfilled each and everyone of my specifications and then some.

What I was looking for was an alarm clock that had dual alarms, could be set with different alarms for week and weekend, had a gentle but increasing alarm, a battery back-up to keep the time in the event of power loss, wasn't so large that it took over my night stand, and was easy to read in the dark without my glasses. Over the last couple months of looking, I found this to be a tall order. Each clock I found was missing one or more of the required criteria I set. Often the big stumbling blocks were the gentle alarm or the different settings for weekday and weekend for the alarm.

The Emerson CKS2235B does all I ask, plus sets itself to correct time on start up, has a built in radio, and even during a power outage the alarm will work. Sure it cannot display the time without the power from the wall, but the fact that the alarm will sound using just the backup battery is virtually unheard of in an AC powered clock. As for the radio, as a monophonic bedside device, it is just fine. It delivers clean, crisp sound at moderate volumes. It is not a replacement for a stereo system or iPod, but it isn't meant to be. Top it all off with a reasonable price.

It could have a hair smaller display with a slightly smaller case, but the footprint on my nightstand is fairly modest and the big numbers are easy to read across the room, as well as, from in my bed. This alarm clock radio is a perfect fit for me.

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Good clock. Small footprint on nightstand. Numbers are gigantic, I'm pretty blind but can see them without glasses. Alarm is quieter than expected on buzz but gets louder. Wave-to-snooze works better on this clock than my old Brookstone -just wave in front of clock and the alarm snoozes. Auto-set is fast. Numbers are bright but can be dimmed just enough so that you don't have a bright light in your face in bed. Basic alarm clock -but it does what it does well.

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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

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Kenwood System-H2EC Sirius Here2Everywhere Satellite Radio Tuner with Car Docking Kit

• Here2Everywhere satellite tuner and car docking kit for receiving Sirius satellite radio
• Picks up 65 commercial-free music streams and 50 sports, news, and entertainment streams
• 5 search modes (stream, artist, song, preset, or genre); 30 station presets and 24-song memory/recall bank
• Includes car docking cradle, windshield docking base, cigarette lighter adapter, and remote control
• Includes wireless FM transmitter; tuner measures 4.5 by 2.91 by 1.18 inches (W x H x D)

I chose the Kenwood because of the look (sleek, blue screen) and reputation of their other products. This product does not live up to their standards. I was really disappointed, and here's why:

When I received the unit, I started with the in-home docking station. I hooked it up right away and basic set-up was easy. You'll know right away whether you can get a signal from the satellite on channel 184 before you subscribe. The instructions about antenna placement was clear... it needs a clear view toward the midwest. That was a problem in my house because of its layout, orientation, and trees on the property. The signal from the satellite was weak and cut out from time to time. The antenna wire was not long enough for my home layout--windows provided too weak a signal, and the roof was out of the question. Eventually, I moved everything around the house until I found a sweet spot. What an ordeal, already.

Second, the FM modulator was very weak. I tried to tune in my home stereo to the freq on the sirius and found that the sirius tuner had to be within one foot of my receiver to get any signal, and then it was weak. With the hard wires--the RCA plugs into AUX on the home stereo--sound was clear and loud. Music at last!

I tried the car kit, and found that the satellite reception was weak there too (here a signal, there a signal and in between... silence). It changed dramatically as I drove across town. The placement of the sirius unit in the car was critical. I tried it on the front of the dash, on the console, in the passenger seat, and all over the windshield. There was only one position in the car where the sirius could talk to the receiver, and that was low-center of the wind shield. Everywhere else was nothing but static. Even in this "sweet spot" I got a poor, static filled signal. Changing freq was easy, but didn't help. No problems with interference from other stations, since there are few in my area.

I was even disappointed with the display. The blue was nice, but the station info was more than could fit and the scrolling was distracting. Changing the setting for display size didn't help: there are two settings for the screen: big and really big. (Audiovox screen for example shows more info on one screen without the need to scroll).

My wife experienced how wonderful and trouble-free Sirius can be with an "older" Streamer, so I'm going to stick with this service and try a different tuner.

The Kenwood is going back.

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Nice setup for the sale price. At full price I'd try something else first. I have the home kit as well as the car kit.

The good:

The unit itself is a nice piece of hardware and the suction cup for car mounting is excellent. The extra 12VDC power cord to hard wire into your car is a nice touch as well. I have had no reception problems at all and the receiver stays relatively cool compared to others.

The bad:

I have a hard time reading the display due to the blue light. I thought it would be easy to see but I cannot see it well, there is just not enough contrast. ( Yes, I have 20/20 vision) The scrolling display is also not easy to read in either size. I would prefer good old amber or green.

More importantly the FM transmitter is weak as a kitten. I literally have to have the sirius unit on top of the radio to work. That goes for my real stereo and for boomboxes I have tried. This is a big weakness for me as it is supposed to be a "here to everywhere" unit, but only if it sits on top of your current stereo, and that stereo is within sattelite antenna distance to a window. I borrowed an older audiovox and tried it in the same place and the FM transmitter worked across the whole room and into the next.

Overall a nice unit, but the weak FM transmitter kills it for me.

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I love my sirius radio, i really really do. I do not listen to regular radio anymore. The setup of this radio was simple, and works well in my Tahoe. The only issue i have is the car kit has broken and i've had it less than a year. I need to replace it but i cannot locate a place to buy just the mounting kit sans radio. I had it professionally installed into my SUV so that i don't have the wires all over the place, and it looks great, and i don't experience the sound issues the others that posted here did.

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The Kenwood System-H2EC is a nice little unit however I've experienced plenty of short comings.

1) The FM modulator can't even broadcast it's way out of a paper bag. I pick up so many SIRIUS signals around me now on FM (thank-you Mr Stern) I don't even think I need a unit in the car.

2) The cigarette lighter plug is too big for the socket and pops out constantly.

3) The unit throws out so much heat you have to leave it out in the open or use it as a handwarmer.

4) The buttons are so touchy, the slightest touch will activate one.

5) Programming with the scrolling is a pain in the ....

6) The window mount is so big, I'd swear you could crack the windshield if you don't release the suction cup properly.

After having been a subscriber to Sirius for 3 years and having used 3 different tuners in my cars, this one is the best I've used. I live in the West and sometimes travel 10 to 15 hours at a time, through cities and remote areas. I've had zero trouble with reception in all areas, even with a luggage carrier on the car. The receiver is mounted on the windshield at eye level and is easy to read, compared to the others I've had (my Audiovox lasted 12 months and 1 day just in time for no warranty coverage). The FM modulator works fine in the car but I've always used my iRock FM modulator in the house which broadcasts just great. I also have the other Kenwood "Here2Anywhere" plug and play and, while it works fine, it does not have the FM modulator and the screen is very small, the latter making it harder to glance at the screen and read what it says while you're on the road. That and the fact that it isn't as easy to mount in the car causes me to rate the H2EC much higher.

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Acoustic Research ARS20i App-Enhanced Docking System for iPod, iPhone and iPad

• Docking station for iPad and iPod
• Portrait and lanscape views for different angles
• Two 1.5 inch speakers with radiator for bass
• Clock radio functionality

There are so many different docks on the market it's hard to make a decision. I purchased this based on specification, the reputation of AR and finally the price. I didn't expect much for an AR product at this price but boy I was wrong. It sounds amazing for its size. It's not a $1000 Bose but it's the best sound quality I've heard for $80.00 I love its ability to dock portrait and landscape. The app downloaded in seconds and is a very useful addition. Radio reception is 100%. Build quality is tops as you would expect form AR and it looks good too.

I purchased a second for my 16 year old Son who liked it as much as me.

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This unit provides a clean look with bright readout of time. It took me a few nights to get the dimmable screen to the right level to offer a "nightlight" glow. The digits are almost impossible for me to read at night, as I don't wear my glasses to bed. Glowing numerals on black background work better for this.

Sound is excellent, even at low volume. Programming the alarms are a chore compared to my old fashioned clock radio it replaced. Control buttons don't respond as well as they could. Once I got used to the system, though, this hasn't been a problem.

The App for the iPad needs work. It doesn't seem to address all of the elements needed to control the unit. I don't use too often except when doing work in the bedroom and using the iTunes. Screen would be too bright for me to have on at night. Also, I found myself in a mode where iPad started playing each time I inserted it into the cradle. Fixed this by revising commands on the App.

Overall, the unit is performing well and waking me to local news each morning. Sound is much improved over my old radio.

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Best of it's kind I've ever found or used! Excellent depth and richness of sound, easy setup and great value!

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Nice looking dock with decent sound but BUYERS TAKE NOTE: The description says it will work with iPads and iPods. IT WILL NOT WORK WITH THE NEW IPOD 5. We bought this for my son in law but his new iPod wouldn't fit. Evidently it has a different plug than the older iPods (I don't know much about this, I only have an iPad).

The sound is much better than through the IPad speakers. The sound is good, not hifi quality, but still decent. The unit makes a great place to store and charge the IPad. The electric rotate button is amusing. I am pleased with the unit.

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Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red)

• Product Type - MP3 Player
• Connectivity - USB 2.0
• Memory - 2GB
• Dimensions WxDxH - 2.19" x 1.39" x 0.5"
• Clock; Keep Track of Time

(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)The Creative Zen Stone Plus 2GB doubles the size of the iPod Shuffle and adds a monochrome screen for viewing track names and settings. Add in the functionality of a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder at $65 and you have a great value.

Pros -

+ good stereo sound

+ nice capacity for a decent price

+ light-weight

+ FM tuner with 32 presets ( though it's just average )

+ voice recording

+ simple design (no more click wheel!) with more color options

+ great navigation and sorting features

+ Nice format compatibility (MP3, WAV, WMA, Audible)

+ USB 1.1 and 2.0 connectivity

+ Can be used as a USB drive / mass storage

+ Can sync music with drag & drop or via Creative software

+ Nice extras like stopwatch function

Cons

average battery life of 10 hours (OLED screen sucks the battery)

mediocre backlight ( but it can be disabled )

some DRM song transfer issues with some firmware versions

not expandable few size options 1GB and 2GB

Creative software is buggy

larger than the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles

Creative's Zen Stone line was meant to be the upgrade to the Zen nano, aka Muvo mini. Unfortunately, the 1GB Zen Stone had some quality issues. With the new 2GB Zen Stone Plus, Creative has tried to improve on previous models and compete with the Sandisk Sansas.

I love the new Sandisk Sansa's. The Sansa Express has the advantage that you can plug it directly into your USB port without a cable. SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) Still, the Creative Zen Stone feels nicer in the hand. It's not as sleek as the Sansa Express and doesn't have all the cool cache' of an iPod shuffle or iPod nano. But it is priced very attractively and has some NICE features. It's good for a starter, workout unit, or gift for a kid.

The Creative Zen Stone Plus is lighter than the competition, but is still larger than the new iPod Shuffle 2nd and 3rd generations. Unlike the shuffle, you can actually see your track names! The OLED screen is perfect for a player this size but does suck more power and shorten the battery life.

The controls are an improvement from the Zen nano days. While I didn't mind the toggle wheel, it has been replaced by intuitive buttons for the standard functions (select, up, down, play, pause, forward or reverse). There's a headphone jack, microphone hole, and a USB port.

Another change from the Zen nano days is the Lithium Ion battery, which gives you about 10 hours if your lucky. This is less versatile than the old battery operated unit, but more convenient.

What about sound? The sound is great, and it comes through in pure stereo. As usual, you will hear complaints about the earbuds. Most people replace their standard earbuds so I won't hold that against Creative.

The Zen Stone doesn't have larger storage options. For those needing more space, you will have to explore the Creative Zen, Sandisk Sansa or new iPod Nano. All of those units have higher price tags.

Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)

Creative Zen 8 GB (Black)

Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)

Sandisk SDMX4-4096 Sansa e260 4 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot

SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)

Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)

Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation)

This unit is ideal as a player and not for those who primarily want to use it for recording. The built-in microphone is nice for short reminders.

The price isn't a give-away, and the plastic case could be more durable. Still, this is a nice starter unit that can last you a while. Check it out. Enjoy!!!

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I was enjoying the player immensely when after only 7 weeks it just stopped working. Since it was past 30 days i could not return it via amazon.com and had to call Creative directly. Their customer service staff were insulting. I explained what was wrong and told I needed to "troubleshoot" over the phone. When I said to Arnold, the rep, "there is an on/off switch, when I press it nothing happens, what exactly do you think we can troubleshoot?" his response was, that perhaps I wasn't charging the unit correctly. Now if it had only been 2 or 3 days I would have seen the logic in this, but after 7 weeks this was a ridiculous suggestion. I was then directed to a web site to request RNA. The website did not work. I searched the entire Creative web site and found only one place were a text email could be sent. After sending email to this link, I was finally provided an RNA and am still waiting to receive the player back. I would most definitely not recommend this or any Creative product.

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When I received this item, I thought it was cool, small enough to carry anywhere and durable so I could listen for hours. Well, I was in for a rude awakening; when I tried to play back my downloaded songs, after about 1 hour of play the battery was already at two bars, then after 2 hours down to one. Needs constant charging. Also, shuffled songs keep playing over and over, making you sick of hearing the songs. I'm not surprised though, how could such a small unit possess longevity and good sequence. Nice try Creative Zen but no cigar!

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I purchased these for two of my children. For the price, I think they are a great value, but the earbuds must be upgraded. I have a pair of $8 Sony earbuds that sound much better than the garbage that comes standard with these. The sound levels all blended together, produced static, and sounded muffled. That rant out of the way, upgrade the headphones, and this is really a nice little mp3 player. The equalizer works nice and this unit really does produce nice sound. I like it better than the ipod shuffle just because of the equalizer settings and the LCD display that allows you to see what song is playing, artist info... That being said, the LCD display does drain battery life a little quicker.

I bought $10 headphones for these, and still came in $20 cheaper than the shuffle, and there are some pretty decent inexpensive earbuds out there.

If the battery life was a bit longer, and they came with better earphones, I would have given this a full 5 stars. I am very happy, however, and my wife and I are considering picking one of these up for ourselves.

I've had this for over a year now, and have gotten hours and hours and hours of use out of it.

I use it only for audiobooks, as it plays the wma audiofiles that OverDrive Media uses which is what my local library uses as their download provider for audiobooks. Listening to audiobooks has changed my commute from a chore to something enjoyable and relaxing.

A few things: I do NOT have it display the date/time. This gives it a longer battery life. I did invest in a couple of mini-usb cables, which I have in my office(s), so that I can charge it at work. You don't need the software to charge the player, just the cable. I did put on a wrist strap, mainly so I could easily find it in my purse.

I have not had issues with the creative software, but I am only using it for audio books.

For a simple, basic player for overdrive wma audio books (since I got this they now have mp3 books ... but the wma are smaller, so I still prefer them), I recommend it.

As I can't speak to the software for music, or how it plays music, I am only giving it 3 stars.

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SONIC IMPACT 5089 I-P23 IPOD ALARM CLOCK

• I-P23 IPOD PORTABLE SPEAKERS + ALARM CLOCK + CHARGER. Integrated Travel Alarm Clock. Hard Zippered Case. Battery Compartment. AC Power Supply Included.
• Universal built in docking station compatible with all iPods.Twin neodymium speakers with built in T-Amplifier Durable casing with stylish design. Alarm clock function wakes up to iPod or radio. Sleep mode variable timer turns off your iPod.

My brother has one of these and I thought it was cool, so I bought one as well. I have been very pleased as it is a great unit for what it is and somewhat indestructible as the case is very rugged. It sounds pretty good for such a small unit and the device charges your ipod while you listen to music.

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It is amazing how they managed to put together a box that sounds so great. I will probably purchase a few more for my neices and nephews as Christmas presents.

I have been doing business with Amazon for years. I have had nothing but great service!

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It arrived quickly, in perfect condition. Everything was in the box. He even threw in a rechargeable battery kit with 4 batteries. Sounds great. A bit heavier than I thought, but still small and compact. Nice to zip up the iPod inside.

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I had purchased previously a SONIC IMPACT i-F2 which after using only 3 times refused to re-charge. Tried to contact Mfg. in SanDiago, California and they were out of business. Therefore I had a unit which I could not repair. So I bought model i-p23 as a replacement. So far it works perfectly ( Only used on one vacation ) Now what happens if it developes a problem. It came from the same mfg. who is out of Business.

Does anyone out there know who I can send it to for repairs???

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Tao xm2go Portable Satellite Radio Receiver with Home and Car Accessory Kits

• Offers 150 channels of the XM satellite radio content
• Memory mode can store up to five hours of XM programming
• Built-in FM transmitter makes any FM radio an XM radio
• Includes home and car accessory kit, headphones, remote control, belt clip/stand, carrying case
• Measures 2.8 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches (W x D x H)

I have been having a great deal of fun with the Tao xm2go. I even look forward to the daily jog! No more horrible music from broadcast stations. No more listening to my limited library of music. Now I have the largest variety of music, news, and information that one could ever hope for. Reception is great (apparently I'm near a repeater). The unit is a little larger than a pack of smokes. Easy to carry. Don't like the earbuds.....but they do have an inline volume switch. Any other standard headphones will fit it so I'll probably use some others. Nice to have a large disply. The buttons are easy to understand. Each button nicely lights up and is easy to read in the dark. Designed very well. An amazing array of accessories (most any other company would nickle and dime you to death for these). EXCELLENT gift for joggers, bikers, fishermen, gardeners, beach-goers, etc.

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The Tap XM2Go is about the best you can get for portable XM. It seems to be much more rugged than the other portables. I expect this to be a long-lived unit. Case looks like it can take some punishment.

The number of accessories included with the Tao XM2Go means that you're not going to be spending more on essentials to get you going. It includes both home and car kits, both of which are very complete. The home kit includes charging cradle, AC adaptor (with an innovative brick that doesn't block unused outlets), XM antenna w/ 25 foot cord, earbuds, a soft case w/ belt-loop, remote control w/ batteries, audio cable, and a snap-on portable stand. The car kit has car power adaptor, car cradle, car antenna, swivel mount, flush mount, vent mount, cell phone mount, cleaning kit, and an alcohol prep pad. I don't think any of the other units come with as complete accessories. This guy is ready to go.

Nice features include built-in FM modulator so you can broadcast to any FM radio, both in the car and at home. This works very well, but a direct connection sounds better. It also can record up to five hours of encoded audio. You can either record instantly (actually starts a couple of seconds after you press the button) or you can schedule a recording. Unfortunately, you have to have the unit turned off to schedule recording. Also, too bad you can't plug in an SD memory card to expand the amount you can record. Oh well, maybe the next model.

The controls and the remote control are easy to use. There are so many features that it takes a little practice but the learning curve isn't too bad. A little trial and error after error gets you through it. The manual could be a bit more descriptive, but it isn't bad considering that it is quite small. The only complaint I have is entering numbers on the unit is cumbersome. The remote control has a much better control layout.

There is no battery charge indication while the unit is charging. Tao claims five hours on a charge. I haven't had it enough to test this. If you use this unit mostly as a base/car unit, that should be plenty. I like the idea of using it outdoors on its batteries w/o an external antenna. My cursory testing shows that this works fairly well as long as the path to the satellite isn't blocked too badly. It would be nice if the unit had "skip protection" for those cases when connection is intermittent.

I rated this guy five stars because it is probably the top of the line. My review of competing units lead me to conclude that the Tao XM2Go was the most rugged and had the best features. If you want an XM radio, this one certainly should fit the bill. It's incredibly adaptable.

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I live in New Orleans and FM radio choices became very limited after the hurricane. So after months of audio purgatory I made the plunge and subscribed to XM.

WOW. XM is great and the Tao XM2Go works like a charm.

I connect the Tao to my belt and take it everywhere. I didn't even bother hooking up the car receiver. I just sit the little fellow on my dashboard and use the headphones. Reception is fine. It does lose the signal when you go under power line or an overpass, but it's only out for a fraction of a second.

There are a few minor things about it that I don't like though. 1) It takes a few tries and some maneuvering to attach the Tao to the charging base. Things just don't seem to lineup right. 2) The carrying case covers the LCD display and the control buttons. It would be nice if there were an opening that would allow access to the control panel without pulling it completely out of the case. 3) The head phones are painful 4) Control are stiff and a little difficult to work (especially when driving). I now leave the Tao's remote control in the car and use the remote to change the station.

Also TAO has apparently gotten the message about the battery problems. I purchased mine on March 12, and there was a replacement battery taped to the inside of the box.

Go XM!

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Tao xm2go is a great satellite receiver for music lovers. The five hour record feature makes the receiver similar in function to an m3p player. The antenae for the home base allowed reception through an exterior south facing wall. The only drawback is the reception on the unit is spotty without an external antenae.

I bought this as a gift for my boyfriend and then offered to install it. I will cop to being less than gifted in the technology department. Still, some think me an intelligent woman. It took me HOURS to install this in his car. The instructions were so vague I had to figure it out through trial and error. Things got better when I decided to put the antenna at the back of the car and run the wire through the trunk and under the carpet to the bottom of the dash. Also, I followed the advice of another reviewer who said to use the remote for programming the preset buttons. He was so right.

It was all worth it. This is such a great product. I was worried about the reception in our semi-rural locale. It is better than I hoped for. I will say that the signal is not strong enough to listen to live with headphones, but who needs that when you can record five hours of programming?

I researched a lot before making this purchase. For the money, I think this is the best and most versatile XM receiver on the market.

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LG KE 850 Prada Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, MP3/Video Player, and MicroSD Slot--International V

I have had this phone for about a year now and I have been mostly happy with it. A few of it's cons would be that mp3 player can only be used for songs stored on the phone with can only be about 5 or so. You can play song from your memory card, but it lacks the features of the mp3 player. Also it doesn't have a qwerty keyboard, but mostly it's a good little phone. I don't use the internet on mine so I don't know how well that works, but I've had it for quite a while and i've been happy with it and thinking about upgrading to the prada 2

The phone its self is very nice and I like it alot. But I have to return the next couple days because it keeps lost signal and drop calls with AT & T carrier and the signal is worser when traveling down the south.

A friend of mine also have this phone with T-Mobil and the signal is very strong. I recommend only if you gonna going with T-Mobil.

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i must say the item got here on good conditions on time. That was good =]

the bad part is that the phone feels so light..as if it were a replica of the original prada. Also i tried to insert the mircosd card and the phone froze and it began to get hot. Besides that the touch sensor is a little off and it takes a while to get what im trying to do.

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i bought this phone on my way to Germany I just luv it great phoneonly thing about it is that i cant get any memory stick to work in it.

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THIS IS THE WORSE PHONE I EVER HAD.IT WAS A FAKE CHINESE FON THEY SENT TO ME.I HAD PROBLEMS USING AT&T WITH IT.IT KEEPS ON GOING OFF.I ALWAYS HAVE TO SWITCH IT BACK ON AND THE TOUCH SCREEN IS NOT RESPONSIVE AT ALLI JUST WASTED MY MONEY.THE SIGN THE HAVE ON THE PHONE AS PRADA IS FAKE.IT CAME OFF AFTER TWO WEEKS OF GETTING THE PHONE N PEOPLE KEEP ON ASKING ME What TYPE OF PHONE DO I USE.

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Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT 7" In-Dash Double-Din Navigation CD/DVD/MP3 with Pandora iPhone streaming

• AM/FM radio, DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA/AAC/DivX receiver with GPS navigation
• 7-inch motorized widescreen TFT LCD touchscreen with new 3D interface and customizable home menu
• Easy-to-use navigation featuring turn-by-turn guidance, detailed maps, and voice-activated navigation
• MusicSphere technology creates unique mood-based playlists via iTunes for your iPod, iPod Touch, or iPhone device
• Take incoming calls with built-in Bluetooth and dial contacts via voice commands

[*** UPDATE 9/9/2010 It turns out that firmware version 2.003, which I just installed tonight, fixes the bug where you have to press OK before your phone connects to the AVIC-Z120BT. I tested this out and it works as expected now. ***]

I got this AVIC-Z120BT unit a few days ago and installed it in my 2009 Nissan Frontier. The install did take a while; but, I had several quotes by some car audio installation places and I decided I'd be better off doing it myself and saving the money. So far, I am absolutely loving having this system in my truck!

In the attached video, I tried to go over some of the main features of this unit. I'll also try to cover most of the same material here for people that don't want to spend the time to watch the video.

Here are the things I'm loving about this Pioneer navigation system:

1) The sound quality is very good. The radio reception is also exceptional for both AM and FM.

2) The media source selection is great! This unit supports playing from CDs & DVDs (including MP3s from either), SD cards with either video or music, iPods (using an additional interface cable), USB keys, or the internal AM/FM tuner. You can also add an HD radio tuner, although I didn't add that feature. Personally, I love that I can stick an SD card with all my music in this unit and it is always available to me without having to mess with an FM transmitter or hook up my phone to the receiver.

3) The navigation system itself is very good. The maps are up to date in my area, and it looks like new maps can be downloaded from Pioneer when they are available. It has all the standard nav features, like being able to adjust the scale or change the top of the map to be either North or to be inline with your current heading. It also offers turn-by-turn guidance, waypoints, and can be controled using voice commands although I haven't played with this much.

4) The Bluetooth interface on the receiver is amazing! It automatically downloads the contacts from my phone whenever it turns on and then I have access to all of my contacts through the nav system. Even though my Android phone does NOT support voice dialing over Bluetooth, I can now use the voice dialing feature of this receiver and it automatically dials my phone.

5) The voice interface in general is very good. It handles everything from voice dialing to switching inputs even when I'm driving down the highway. The included mic works fine for phone calls in the truck, although it does sound like I'm talking on a speaker phone (which I basically am when using this system).

6) Incoming calls on this system work very well. A small overlay pops up on the screen that lets you answer incoming calls, hang up, etc... It also mutes (or turns down) the currently playing audio during the phone call.

7) The backup camera is a great addition. It switches on automatically when the truck is in reverse, and it can also be used in conjunction with the map view which will be great for towing.

8) The system boots fairly quickly. The backup camera and previously selected music source are available almost instantly, where the navigation system and other controls are available after about 15 seconds. My Android phone typically takes about 45 seconds to connect from the time the system first starts up.

9) I should have shown this in the video, but the screen tilt can be adjusted if you need it to angle up a bit. In my truck, I don't need it to tilt at all; so I tend to forget about that.

10) The interface looks great and is very easy to use! The system also looks great in my truck.

11) You can set an anti-theft password through a 'secret' interface, and the system will prompt for the password if the backup power is ever cut. I think this is a dubious 'anti-theft' feature since the system could easily be stolen and the thieves wouldn't find out about the password until they were back at the secret lair :). I guess I would have the satisfaction of knowing they probably couldn't use it...

Although I absolutely love this Pioneer nav system, there are some quirks in the firmware that I hope will be addressed by future releases:

1) [*** UPDATE This is fixed in firmware version 2.003. ***] When booting the system, you need to press OK on the warning screen BEFORE the system connects to your phone. Otherwise, you won't be able to voice dial until the car is turned off and back on again. If the system boots up into the map screen, this is pretty easy since the prompt will show before the map is displayed. If, on the other hand, the system boots into the media mode, the prompt won't even display until you manually switch to either the home screen or the navigation system and it can be easy to forget until you need to make a call...

2) The AM and FM presets are named based on the text being broadcast by the station. That makes no sense in my case, so I end up with presets with names like "ive,". I wish that could just be turned off and I could just have the frequencies displayed or it would also be great if I could name the presets myself. Normally, I don't mind remembering the preset numbers but this interface doesn't really lend itself to that. Hopefully this will be fixed/changed soon!

3) I wish this system would show album art for songs that are on the SD card. I called Pioneer and verified that isn't supported in the current firmware.

4) On bright days, the display tends to be a bit washed out even on the brightest setting. It's still visible, but just barely. I may end up getting my front windows tinted to help out with this.

Overall, I really love this system and would highly recommend it if you want an integrated nav/bluetooth/multimedia system in your vehicle. The combined feature-set that this added to my truck wouldn't have even been possible a few years ago; and, the Pioneer pulls it all off with a very nicely integrated user interface. There are some quirks in the firmware, but I think they should all be easily addressed by future firmware updates I just hope Pioneer does us all the favor of actually updating the firmware!

I will update this review to reflect any changes in my opinions, or if new firmware versions are released.

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I have been using this receiver in my 2010 Toyota Tundra for several weeks now. I will simply go over the points that mattered to me. This is an updated review.

sound quality: excellent. Very happy in this regard. I have this connected at the line level to a JL Audio 400 watt amp and Morel Tempo speakers. Professionally installed.

navigation: so far so good. The voice quality is great. The UI works well and I haven't found it slow when searching for an address or a POI. I like how it behaves as your drive.

iPhone integration: generally very nice. Both for video and music and phone contacts. The audio quality I am getting for better music files is what I had hoped for. I am using the Pioneer iPod cable. There are glitches here and there, such as transitions. For example, shot off the unit/vehicle with video playing, then when the unit starts up again, the video doesn't play but you hear the sound. This continues even after acknowledging the safety screen. Can be lived with.

Voice quality during phone calls appears to be good. Or should I say nobody has complained nor misunderstood me. I did move a microphone a few times before settling on the rear edge of the visor. This is a less hidden, less integrated place to put it, but this places the microphone much closer to my voice. Sound levels in my Tundra aren't too bad. The doors are lined with Dynamat.

voice recognition/control: overall surprisingly good. There is a bug that happens if your phone connects to the unit before you have acknowledged the safety notice for the GPS. Voice commands related to the phone refuse to work at all. This bug earlier led me to believe that the VR was useless. Work around for this is to hit that OK button in GPS mode as soon as possible after starting up the unit. I have used the VR even for specifying an address or searching for a point of interest, and it all works well. The VR voice is computer generated and not nearly as smooth as the GPS voice. One of several points of integration between the unit's separate systems that could use some improving.

So overall, I am very happy with this choice. I have not used such a unit in the past, so my expectations were actually quite high. I am used to better integration between features. I am however quite impressed with the overall quality of the user interface. Much nicer than I have seen on earlier receivers. Useful and looks good, not a silly display of flashing graphics. I believe it could be improved on, but I develop user interfaces for a living, so take my opinion as coming from a more critical point of view.

Six months update: really not happy with the navigation in this unit. Makes mistakes too often and in a few cases dangerous situations (big city, lots of traffic, etc.). The alternate view thrown at you at big intersections isn't helpful and causes more confusion at bad moments. I could go on for an hour why I don't like this GPS. I have resorted to using a portable Garmin sitting on the dashboard. That's right, $1300+ "nav" unit and I have to use a Nuvi 760 if I actually want to get there.

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This unit is not what I expected for a "Flagship" unit from Pioneer. If I would have been able to test a unit before purchasing, I would not have purchased it.

1) The Navigation screens are so poorly designed.

If you have the unit search for any point of interest, i.e. "Taco Bell", it will give you multiple results with the distance being the only thing differentiating them. You have no idea which street they are on, or in which direction they are from you. Completely useless. It would not be asking much for them to at least put an address on there. Ideally, a map display of results, similar to what you get with Google Maps is ideal. However, for an update, I would be happy with just showing addresses.

2) The features of the radio are utterly pathetic. There is less functionality in this radio than the most basic car stereos.

You can only have 6 channels in memory, and 3 FM "modes" (FM1, FM2, FM3), for a total of 18. Why so little channels? Is it a lack of technology, processing power, or laziness in design? There is no scan function. The channel info freezes when you switch away from the station, and stays there until you reselect the station. So, you may have a partial name of a song you listened to days ago, as a means to identify what one of your presets are.

3) Voice features for music are not responsive. I don't even bother with this feature anymore. It rarely understands what you ask for, and usually ends up changing the audio source when I ask it to play an artist or album. The Voice dialing actually works really well, so I do not know what the disconnect is between great voice dialing and terrible voice music requests.

4) Musicsphere is more trouble than it is worth.

The program is just a convoluted way of making playlists. You can jump through hula hoops to make playlists through this program or you can just use Genius in Itunes or make them yourself. The program does not work with 64 bit versions of Windows OS's, so hopefully your computer is not too advanced for this.

5) Outdated options.

There is an option to dial Google 411 on the phone screen, and when you call it, Google informs you that the service is no longer available. They could have removed this on a firmware update but have not.

6) AVIC feeds app has terrible ratings.

Read the reviews on the Itunes store for more info. I have never had the pleasure of using it because it is not compatible with an older operating system I am running on my Iphone.

BOTTOM LINE-------------------------

For a "Flagship" aka "Top of the Line" Product from Pioneer, this navigation unit has many shortcomings. As of this review, there is not even a downloadable firmware update for the unit. There used to be one, but it is no longer there. Hopefully they are preparing a new firmware that addresses many of the shortcomings that this unit currently has. If they do, I will update this review.

Until Pioneer makes changes to this unit and future units, save your money and wait for a company to really put an effort into their top-of-the-line products.

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Long story short, I have had this deck for under a year and got a lemon. Deck has been into Pioneer two seperate times and each time it works for a little while and then dies again. Pioneer still refuses to replace the head unit, so I have put in a "competetors" in place. Thus far, its flawless. The Pioneer head unit (if I ever get it back from Pioneer) will be going on the shelf as a back up. Pretty rediculous to have to use a $1000 unit as a back up, but I just cant sink any more time and money into this worthless product.

Good job Pioneer... You will never see another dime from me.

Positives:

1) My iphone works great with the optional cable (Pioneer CD-IU50V). Very nice menu structure for your music library.

2) The Pandora app works well but you have to start the app before you plug the phone in or you won't get the graphics on the screen.

3) The rear view camera (Pioneer ND-BC4) works very well with the unit. The dual screen mode is nice for keeping and eye on my trailer when I tow.

4) The nav system boots up really fast. It is already tracking before I leave my driveway. I really like the way the system zooms in on the intersection where you are about to turn which helps avoid missed turns.

5) Blue tooth audio works well and the sound quality is great but you don't have any graphics on the screen. I use BT audio when I'm making short trips around town and don't want to take the time to plug the phone in.

6) Blue tooth phone connection works great with no issues.

Negatives:

1) The nav system doesn't do a very good job of choosing the fastest routes. It always wants to take you on larger roads and through towns rather than taking the bypass route that most smaller towns have. If you take the bypass anyway, the system will recalculate the route and show a shorter route time that it had originally calculated. I understand that this is a common problem with Pioneer nav systems.

2) The screen really washes out when in direct sunlight and makes it almost unreadable, especially with sunglasses on.

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