Showing posts with label kitchen clock radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kitchen clock radio. Show all posts

Memorex Home Audio System with iPod Dock and CD Player (Black)

Memorex Home Audio System with iPod Dock and CD Player
  • 25 watts of total power output with integrated down-firing subwoofer
  • Top-loading CD player
  • Digital AM/FM radio with station presets
  • Audio CD, CD-R/RW and MP3 CD playback
  • Illuminated blue LED accent lights for unit and CD player

My dad's entertainment center takes up almost an entire wall of our house. The stereo system alone consists of about 3/4 of the space. Two huge speakers flank the TV; an entertainment rack has a turntable (aka record player, if anyone even knows what those are anymore), an old CD player from the late 90's (will not recognize CD-RWs or mp3 CDs), a tuner, an amplifier, and a cassette deck (another obsolete piece of equipment).

Why am I bringing this up? Well, Memorex realizes that the times have changed and have changed to bring you all that equipment in a much smaller package: meet the Memorex Home Speaker System for Ipod. This handy dock has not only an iPod dock (and charging station!) but AM/FM radio and a CD-RW/mp3 CD changer (nice addition, may I add!).

Firstly, I really enjoyed the price. Bose docks cost almost triple of the Memorex price, and I think while the quality of the Memorex is no where near the Bose, I find that it is adequate for my purposes. The unit is pretty compact and doesn't stick out, which is great as I stick it directly on the floor. I haven't quite gotten the FM radio to sound as good as I would like, but there is a cord for FM radio reception and I'm sure if I play with it, I can get better quality. Also, the remote takes some getting used to, but it is sure nice to be able to remotely access music, switch from iPod to radio or CD or change the volume. What is also nice is this unit comes with a bass and treble modifier, which seems to work rather nicely. Also, there is a clock (nice feature!), a sleep (great for going to bed to!), and a timer, which I haven't used yet.

Overall, I am very pleased with the Memorex. It has provided what I needed (i.e. iPod dock with CD changer and radio) at a fairly low cost. I would recommend.

NOTE (7/13/09): I recently moved the unit to the counter in the kitchen of my apartment and it works amazingly! The unit is loud enough to carry into the living room, dining room and even slightly into the bedroom. The only problem I still have is the remote, which requires to be pointed very particularly at the unit in order to work.

UPDATE (11/01/11): This unit continues to work fine. The clock tends to be fast, so every few months, I have to reset the time (it can get almost 10 minutes ahead. Also, the radio tends to have lots of static (not sure if that has to do with the unit, the positioning of the antenna, or the location the unit is in). I've had no problems playing CDs and using my iPod (both playing the iPod and charging it)--but I will also admit I use the unit intermittently (probably a few times a week at most).

UPDATE (01/11/12): This unit will charge the iPhone 4. I have not tested the playing function, but my sister says it will not play.

UPDATE (02/27/12): My sister and I were listening to my iPod one evening when a loud screech was emitted. We looked at the dock, and there seemed to be no problem. It has not emitted a screech since. (Given that the product is now 3 years old and has been located in the kitchen, subjected to my cooking experiments, I am impressed.)

UPDATE (10/08/12): TA few months ago, I finally had to purchase a replacement battery for the remote. I was unable to use the Sleep Function without the remote. The replacement battery cost almost $10, which was steep. I reset the clock after a few months, because it was almost 30 minutes fast. Otherwise, I still find the unit adequate to my needs--radio functions beautifully, as does the Sleep Feature.

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Before I purchase various items, I take the time to read User Reviews. In this case, I nearly passed up on this great little CD player! The reviews for this product were awful including people claiming tinny sound and poor durability (including many who said it completely stopped working after one month). Well, I don't know how other people have treated this product, but I've had it for a few months now and have not experienced any problems. Sound is great. It's easy to operate. It's got a compact and neat design. And, if you read the reviews for Bose products, people have loads of complaints including problems with installing CDs into the unit --and these people paid many, many times over the cost of this Memorex unit. I was NOT disappointed in the performance of this item at all and would indeed recommend it to others.

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I bought this Memorex Ipod Dock at Target about a year ago for around $100. At first, it was great. Great sound, (decent, nothing to get excited about), it was able to get pretty loud without becoming muddled and I liked how it allowed you to change the base and treble levels. The greatest thing about this product is that it had the CD player, ipod dock, and radio all in one, which made it unbelievably convenient.

HOWEVER, I turned it on yesterday morning only to find that, quite simply, the sound doesn't work anymore. I've never been rough with this or anything and I'm surprised it didn't last over a year. There goes $100 down the drain.

I would recommend getting a speaker system instead. One that you can use for your computer and also plug it in your ipod headphone jack. Most of the time their cheaper, sound better, and more versatile. Logitech sells some great sound systems for a great price, well under what this cost with more bang for your buck. I definitely won't ever go back to this or recommend it for others. I don't think I'm going to go back to Ipod Docks in general. Complete stereo systems are the way to go unless you are wanting to go for portability.

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I bought this last year for Christmas, after a month the ipod charger quit working. I took it back and got a new one. Last week the whole thing quit working, less than a year later. I would not recommend this product.

I bought this last Christmas for my 80 year old mother, as she has a few CD's. The CD player didn't last 6 months before it would not play a CD. I tried different CD's, home burned and commercial. Still nothing. Thought I could send it back under warranty but discovered a very short, 90 day warranty. My mother probably played a CD in that thing maybe 20 times, tops. Too bad a well known company can't warranty something longer than 90 days.

AM/FM Stereo Speaker Clock/Ra

AM/FM Stereo Speaker Clock/Ra
  • Sangean FM-Stereo / AM Pocket Receiver with Built-in Speaker

I have been looking for a "Ghost Box" aka a radio for a long time. I have watched lots of videos on a ghost box. This one I highly tell you to get for using

for the use of paranormal. It's also great for taking to camp or every day use. you can look at my paranormal videos at and if

that youtube account is not in use, go to youtube/rockingirl999 thanks for reading ghost girl.

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JENSEN AWM910 RV WALL MOUNT CD PLAYER AM/FM RADIO

JENSEN AWM910 RV WALL MOUNT CD PLAYER AM/FM RADIOI purchased this radio less than a year ago. Upon bringing the camper home from indoor storage the unit will turn on but nothing else on it works. I have tried resetting the unit, unplugging the power, and anything else I can think of and it will not work. I am very disappointed.

This product replaced a radio that we have had for 8 years. We are excited that it fits perfectly in the place that we had the previous one! Thanks for the quick shippment and great product!

Buy JENSEN AWM910 RV WALL MOUNT CD PLAYER AM/FM RADIO Now

Purchased the item to be installed in our RV. Easy installation and it works great. The sound is awesome and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a quality product.

Read Best Reviews of JENSEN AWM910 RV WALL MOUNT CD PLAYER AM/FM RADIO Here

I had this radio in our RV. In less than three years it broke. It's not worth the money. $200.00 plus it's not worth 10.00 bucks. I would suggest you not wasting you money on this JUNK. Replaced it with a portable battery powered radio that works fine.

LG

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The Jensen AWM910 came installed in our new trailer 2 years ago.

Now only the clock works.

Don't buy it.

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iLive IHP211B Compact CD Player Stereo Home Music System with FM Tuner and Dock for iPhone/iPod

iLive IHP211B Compact CD Player Stereo Home Music System with FM Tuner and Dock for iPhone/iPod
  • Home music system with 20 FM presets, iPhone/iPod dock, DBBS sound and remote control
  • Dock to play and charge most iPhone and iPod models
  • Auto time sync with iPhone
  • Power adapter included, batteries sold separately
  • Remote control: requires a CR2025 battery (pre-installed)

Nice size, takes up minimal space. Cd sound is good for size. I would recommend for small bedroom sized room.

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Smaller than it looks but the sound and look is perfect for my spa room. I would recommened this product.

Read Best Reviews of iLive IHP211B Compact CD Player Stereo Home Music System with FM Tuner and Dock for iPhone/iPod Here

Love it Great sound love the blue digital screen comes with the remote which has a good range easy to put together loud but not too loud over all I am very happy with it.

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This machine has an attractive design, pleasant sound, and worked well. ***For about six weeks. Then it died.***

I kept the packaging around just in case, and I'm shipping it back to Amazon. You get what you pay for, I guess. Still, I'm very disappointed.

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sound is good for size. you cannot scan for stations, but have to press the up button, then pre-set station selection.

the digital display on the front.. has stopped working.. some parts of some digits don't blacken so you can read what station or time it is.

Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bl

Clarion NX500 6.5' In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth
  • Built-in Navigation System with 12 million POIs
  • Built-in Bluetooth® Hands-free Calling
  • Superior iPod® and iPhone® Connectivity
  • HD Radio(TM) Ready with iTunes® Tagging
  • Sirius Direct Connect Ready

Since the 1st reviewer really captured a lot of my feelings on this unit, I'll try to concentrate on or add some additional thoughts...

When researching the higher end offerings from Kenwood and Pioneer, I finally decided on Clarion's NX500 after I saw all of the features that were included for a price tag that was *at least* half the cost of anything comparable. For reference, I picked mine up for $579 from another online retailer.

Installation was a breeze in my Mercedes Benz ML320 using a Metra harness. I was especially pleased with the modular wiring setup in the back of the headunit. As the other reviewer mentioned, you only plug in the connections you plan to use. This all means less clutter and mess behind the dash. At the time of installation, I also installed the Sirius Direct Connect adapter and a rear view camera. Connections were very straightforward.

The navi system seems to be a hybrid between a Garmin and Honda/Acura unit. You have the ability to view the mapping aerially, or slightly angled (quasi 1st person). The system is adequate for getting you to your destination, although I would've liked to have seen an option that lists turn-by-turn directions on the right side of the split screen for better clarification similar to the software found in my Acura TSX. Guidance voice options include 2 sets of male and female voices. One set utilizes text to speech (TTS) and phonetically pronounces street names and highways. These voices are robotic sounding, and will literally pronounce names as they are spelled. For example, U.S. Highway 9 would sound like "us nine" vs "u-s nine". The other set of more human sounding voices merely give generic turn by turn directions such as "Turn left at next intersection" vs "Turn left at Broadway". A neat feature of the split screen option is that the time and distance to the next turn/checkpoint is displayed on the left side while the total remaining distance and estimated time of arrival are displayed on the right side. I did not have any issues w/ the unit keeping extremely accurate time as the other reviewer. I believe setting the time to sync via the GPS will solve his problem. The POI database in the nav software was fairly extensive and very helpful when in an unfamiliar area looking for a place to eat, a place to get gas, etc. Entering addresses to get routing guidance was fairly easy; however, destinations on main streets sometimes became sources of frustration. When trying to enter an address on Rt 46, I finally realized that the road was also known as "Main St". Having a HD based system allows quick re-routing when you deviate from the directions. While my Acura TSX and MDX would take a few seconds to "recalculate" a new route, the NX500 does it almost instantaneously. Nav reception via the GPS antenna is very strong. I mounted mine under the dash, and have had no issues whatsoever with getting located as soon as I turn on the vehicle. The reception is so strong that viewing the speedometer screen yielded identical results to the actual speedometer in my instrument cluster.

Sound quality was very good considering I am not running an aftermarket amp. If you're an audiophile, the limited EQ adjustments will feel limiting. For the average person, there are "preset" EQ settings for various types of audio such as "Rock", "Urban", or "Techno".

Sirius radio reception sounded CD clear in my vehicle. I did not get any hissing or "white" noise on any channel like the other reviewer did, nor has my sat radio ever locked up.

I also purchased a bypass module on e bay. Unlike Pioneers and other aftermarket headunits, you cannot simply ground the parking brake wire to the chassis. It requires a pulsing signal to mimick the release and re-engagement of the parking brake in order to operate any stereo function that includes video. I do not condone, nor recommend watching any video while operating the vehicle. For my purposes, I wanted the ability to adjust my nav destination w/o pulling the car over.

Ipod integration is ok --all pertinent menus/data are available such as playlists, artists, songs, albums, etc. Unfortunately, however, you do not have the ability to quickly scroll through entries. I have over 5,000 songs on my 5G 30GB Video. Trying to select an artist beginning with a 'G' requires the continuous pressing of the down arrow. You cannot hold the button to accelerate the process.

The DVD function works well. The picture is very good, although it seems a tad washed out. Of course, this is a minor point as I rarely watch movies in the vehicle. Playing a CD is standard fare, but I was VERY disappointed in what appears to be a poor oversight in basic design. I used to be a vinyl DJ, and have a large collection of "continuous" mix CDs that I have not yet been able to transfer to my iPod. When playing a mix, the player will insert a 2-3 second gap between tracks, regardless if the CD was recorded without them. This can get rather annoying during a DJ set or live band performance.

The built-in bluetooth system makes this unit such a big upgrade over its predecessor because an additional, external modular add-on is not required (less mess behind the dash). Calls come in loud and clear through the vehicle's speakers, and a mic is built directly into the face of the stereo. I also installed the supplementary external mic in the vehicle to give me the option of choosing which mic to use, but callers on the other end have not reported any problem hearing me clearly when using the built-in mic. Music/video will pause and mute when a call is placed or received. My Verizon Blackberry Storm can synch its address book and call log w/o an issue. You can switch off to your handset in a snap with a dedicated button on the bluetooth screen interface. The other GREAT feature of the built-in bluetooth system is the ability to listen to Bluetooth audio. I frequently run Pandora and Slacker in the vehicle now from my Blackberry. I have so many "entertainment" options now, it truly is ridiculous. One gripe about this feature is that you can't view the nav screen at the same time.

As the other reviewer touched on, the biggest problem with this unit has to do with its visibility in bright sunlight. Because the screen is very smooth and gloss like, it reflects a great deal of glare during the day. I will try to remedy this with an anti-glare film and update at a later time. With all that said, after a month and a half of solid use, I would purchase this unit again in a heartbeat. I almost feel like I stole it, and cannot say enough about what a great value it really is. While it is not a supreme standout in any one area, it does everything fairly well. If you are looking for a good "quiver killer", I would highly recommend it.

Pros (to echo some of the 1st reviewer's sentiments):

1 Ease of installation w/ no mess.

2 Fast navigation due to HD based software; STRONG GPS reception.

3 Clean sound, even w/o an amp.

4 Easy addition of additional AV sources.

5 POI database is robust.

6 Built in bluetooth, especially the ability to stream BT audio (Pandora and Slacker in the car!!!)

7 Tangible, physical buttons for volume control and source selection

Cons (more nitpicking than anything else):

1 Excessive glare in bright sunlight... hopefully this will be remedied w/ a simple anti-glare film.

2 Can't use voicedial feature for making calls.

3 Entering addresses could be a little cumbersome if you don't know the alternative names.

4 No quick scroll feature for navigating through the iPod.

5 Mix CDs don't play continuously.

6 Can't view the nav screen when playing BT audio.

I hope this helps others who are trying to decide on a new DD unit for their vehicle. Thanks to the 1st reviewer for helping me make my own decision.

Buy Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bl Now

(I also reviewed this on )

I bought the Clarion NZ500 after researching many different in-dash dual-din receivers. I found the lowest price at the time (March 2010) for $574 using which eventually took me to the seller on Amazon. If searching for the NZ500 directly on Amazon, the seller I bought from wasn't listed and the lowest price I could find was $585. What really sold me on the NX500 is a speedometer feature. I only seen this on one other unit and that too was from Clarion. See my pics above.

Anyhow, I thought the price was very good for a 6.5" screen, DVD player, built in Navigation, HD Radio ready and Sirius Sat ready. What I really liked about the NX500 is that there are no wires/cables coming out the back of the unit. For example, the back of the unit is clean, with no wires/cables hanging out. What you do is PLUG in the necessary wires/cables that you need, like the wiring harness that goes to your car, and the SAT antenna or the Sirius connector. I didn't need to connect the wires for an external amp, so I didn't need to plug those wires into the back of the unit. Unlike other head units, you don't have a choice. The back of the unit is cluttered with wires that may not be needed. Not with the NZ500. Other units I have seen (Dual, Eclipse, etc) all have the wire connectors in the back of the unit whether you need them or not. This makes for a mess during install.

I installed the NX500 in my 2007 Kia Sorento. The hardest part of the install was removing the plastic panels on the dash. As for the actual NX500...well, I just bought a wiring harness and then matched the colored wires together and used shrink tubing to bind them together. Took no more than 10 minutes to do.

I also purchased the Sirius SC-C1 satellite receiver add-on. I also got this from Amazon using and got it for less than $40. With the NX500 all you need to do is buy the SC-C1 and plug them in together. You DO NOT need any addition add on to get this working, unlike other in-dash units. However, you will need to subscribe to Sirius for service.

I am so very pleased that this installation went without any problems. I had it installed and working in less than 30 minutes. The sound of the NX500 is incredible with my stock system, however, I did notice there was no EQ control for my mid-range speaker, only Tweets and Woofer. There is a LOUD control and this thing really boosts the sound loud; So loud that I probably won't be using it as it distorts the bass TOO HEAVY. I guess I could adjust the bass, but so far, I didn't. I did a custom install of the Sat antennaes of both the Navi and Sirius. I installed them with double-sided tape on the dash board above the radio and it works great (while I had the dash opened, I also installed/hardwired my radar detector wire, too), the reception is fantastic. See pics above.

The Navigation works great and the signal was picked up as soon as I turned on the NX500. I'm not too thrilled with the color scheme but perhaps it looked the way it did because it was dusk? I know Navi's colors will change with the time of day, so perhaps the color scheme emulated that it was getting dark. However, that didn't detract away from the performance of the Navi. No need for a DVD or memory card, just turn the unit on and it's all good. I really like that.

The stock radio channels come in nice and clear and I get far more stations than my old stock radio. Not sure why, but I'm not complaining. I didn't opt for the HD Radio add-on as I have HD Radio built in my other car and it's not all that and for whatever reasons, most of the stations in my area quit broadcasting the 2nd HD signal. But I digress, the NX500's stock radio signals are very clear and sound great with my stock 12 speaker set up. The NX500 has built in controls for the Sirius SC-C1, too. Once I subscribed to the service (online, had to use my computer first), the signal was received and I was listening to SAT radio. Quite honesty, I thougt it would be more clear than this, plus there is a loud hissing noise that isn't very mutable by lowering the high's (tweeter) control through the EQ. I was a little disappointed in this, but still happy that I got this system installed and everything was working from get go, unlike other times I've done Do It Yourself and had nothing but problems.

I didn't install the hand brake wire for the DVD. I'm not sure where the wire would go anyhow, so I purchased a bypass kit off Ebay and it should arrive in a few days. I will need this in order to get the DVD to work because even in park, the movie would not show; I could hear it, but there was a warning message on the screen. For now, I had the parking brake wire grounded, but this did not work (like my Jensen head unit, just ground the parking brake wire and you're good to go). Anyhow, once I install the bypass, I'll also install the license plate camera I bought last week. I didn't install it tonight as it was getting dark and I didn't want to tinker with the install all night.

Overall, I am very very pleased with the NX500. For the price and ease of install, I'm not sure if I could have done better with another brand. I did have my heart set on a comparable JVC, but when that got sold out, I found the Clarion. Installed in my Kia Sorento, it looks so clean and professional that it looks factory. :)

Pros:

1) Easy to install.

2) Connectors on the back of the unit to "plug" in wire connections. No messy unused wires like other units.

3) Built in Navigation. Once unit is installed and antenna is plugged in, that is all you need to receive Navigation. No DVD's or memory cards needed.

4) Receive more clearer radio stations that my old stock radio

5) Clear, crisp sound. Perfect for my stock speakers

6) Easy to use interface

7) Added Sirius SC-C1 for added Sat-Radio. Easy plug and play (plus subscription though)

8) SPEEDOMETER

9) Bluetooth but I couldn't get my Motorola to sync with it (or any other device. It's my phone that's the problem)

Cons:

1) High hissing sound from Sat Radio. Can be adjusted slightly by using the EQ settings.

2) EQ only had High and Low settings. No midrange. Perfect for my other car, but my Sorento has 3 speakers per door, not two, so I would liked to have had midrange control.

3) Need to connect the brake wire in order to view DVD. Wiring to ground will not make this work at all.

4) Not many cons. This is an awesome receiver!

Updated: 03/25/10

Had to reduce the stars from 5 to 4. Reason:

1) Can't really see the display during the day; Too much reflection on the screen. It's especially dimmer when the headlights are on, as the NX500 has an auto-dimmer when you turn on the headlights. Can't really get around this when it's raining and you have to turn on your headlights! My only solution is that I bought (hasn't yet arrived in the mail) an anti-glare film to place over the screen. I hope this helps, as it was pretty expensive (close to $20)

2) I've had to power off/on the unit because the Sirius would lock up. I've had to do this a few times over the past couple days (and I'm not in the car but momentarily when I'm driving to and from work). What happens is that the categories for channels will lock up and I can't select any stations/channels. I can hear the Sirius radio and use the other functions on the touch screen, but not the category buttons (like presets, etc). My solution was to power off and on the unit to "reboot" they system. It works, but come on, this has happened too many times now. Very annoying.

Read Best Reviews of Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bl Here

After about 2 weeks of browsing and looking for the right head unit for my 2009 Ford Escape, I decided the Clarion NX500 would be perfect. As compared to other units in its class, the Clarion NX500 has many more features. Including navigation, Satellite radio, HD radio, full iPhone/iPod interface and compatibility, Bluetooth calling/audio/video support, rear view camera support, as well as DVD and auxiliary in. The unit also supports addons and is just all around VERY adaptable to your lifestyle.

The navigation is perfect! I don't have a single negative thing to say about it, although on the plus side, it will calculate any local route in under a second (2 seconds tops). I even calculated a route from mid-Michigan to Hollywood blvd and put it side by side with a Garmin 765T, NX500 26 seconds, Garmin 765T 1.5 minutes. The speed of calculation is due to a very large navigation processor within the NX500.

I was able to sync my iPhone to this unit very quickly. Playing Bluetooth audio was a breeze.

The video lockout is easily bypassed by connecting a PAC TR7 Universal. Trigger Module contains a nice guide to how its done.

Video comes out clear, personally, I don't see any problems with glare, although I do have a slight tint on my rear windows.

All and all, this is a great unit and I would suggest it to anyone!

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For the price it seems like a good deal. However, there are a few serious problems with the NX500. I ended up getting a different brand in dash Bluetooth audio GPS system, which I am very happy with.

NX500 Problems:

1. Screen glare when it is sunny outside.

2. GPS maps require that you enter a city name first. For addresses near city borders you may have to try a couple city names before you find the one NX500 uses for that address. Very time consuming and annoying.

3. It was missing some addresses. The GPS maps need an update. Unfortunately Clarion did not have an update available.

4. You cannot use the GPS system and Bluetooth audio at the same time. I listen to internet radio via Bluetooth from my cell so I could not use the GPS system. These are both nice features but the fact you cannot use them at the same time makes the system useless.

I do not recommend this system. Maybe one day Clarion will catch up but the NX500 does not do what you would expect. Great features but usability wise it leaves a lot to be desired.

i am very unhappy with this product. it pauses in between playning a mixed cd,the time on nav system does not work,the nav system works fairly.I'm stock with this product-now looking to buy another nav system that works.

LG Optimus Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile)

LG Optimus Prepaid Android PhoneI had to abandon my ATT family plan in favor of letting my youngest daughter get on it and enjoy the free family minutes and unlimited texting, etc., which I don't use so much (already had 5 lines and they won't let me add another one). So, I was looking for the cheapest alternative to getting a 6th line, at least comparable to what I would have paid for the 6th line on ATT. I looked all over and all the individual plans where $40+ or so, without including texting. Then I came across the Virgin Mobile $25 unlimited data, text, web + 300 minutes and it seemed that it would fit the bill.

I got the phone on sale for $105 and it is just the best phone I have ever had, although I have not activated it yet (more on this later), at an awesome price. Why haven't I activated it yet? Well, it turns out, this android phone lets you install all kind of apps from the android market via wifi without activating the phone, you can pop in an 8Gb, 16Gb or 32Gb SDHC card and use this as a pretty awesome (and cheap) ipod/iphone substitute. I have installed apps for watching TV shows, read news (USA Today, NYTime, Bloomberg, etc), Pandora radio (sound through the speaker is very full for such a tiny device), GPS navigation/maps, calculators, MS Office documents viewer, a few games, GasBuddy to find cheap gas locally (pretty handy these days), etc. All FREE from the Android market. But, BY FAR, the best applications I installed are Google Voice, which together with SIPDroid (after signing up for a free GoogleVoice account and a free PBXes.org account) allows me to link them together and configure the phone to use VOIP to make my calls through the internet instead of using the limited 300 minutes I would get if I signed up with Virgin Mobile for $25/month, I can also use it to do unlimited free texting through my Google voice number.

I wanted to do this to make sure I did not go over the 300 minutes and start racking up a huge bill with VM once I activated the phone, but as it turns out, this has worked out so well that I am still undecided as to weather I will need to activate the phone and sign up for the monthly service. Granted, I can only make/receive calls when I am within WIFI range, but, WIFI is so prevalent these days. Many of the establishments a person does business with have free internet access for their customers: Starbucks, Dennys, Mcdonalds, Barnes&nobles, Homedepots, Panera bread, Hooters, highway rest stops, libraries, Krogers, Quiznos, Schlotzsky, FedEx offices, Hotels... the list goes on and on. I also installed a WIFI Analyzer App which shows if there is a free/open WIFI within range and its signal strength. You can get a nice directory of wifi spots in your area here-> which of course does not list all the available ones.

What happens when I'm outside WIFI range? Well, of course I can not make calls, inbound calls go to my GoogleVoice voice mail and as soon as I get into WIFI range and connect, my inbound text messages get delivered and/or I get a notification of a missed call which I can check right away. Obviously not something I would want to use as a business phone, but for personal use when you do not need to be available 24X7 this works great! You also get a great excuse when you don't want to answer someone, later you can say... "Sorry, I was not in WIFI zone...", you can even put that in your answering message. This setup would be great for students who live on campus where they have free access to the campus WIFI network (many of them provide free open WIFI all over campus). All these for $0 a month plus the cost of the phone.

If you feel you need capability to make calls from anywhere in case of emergencies, or for 24X7 availability, then just activate the phone and pay the $25/month. You would get many other benefits which would make this device a very capable business phone. I've read that once activated, you can install an app to make the phone a WIFI hub for up to 4 or 5 devices (supposedly there is an app for that, :-) pun intended, in the android market). This would provide internet service to your WIFI based laptop anywhere. I will investigate this more if/when I activate the phone. I have to admit, it would be fun to be able to go on trips and have internet in the car for my kids ipod touches or laptops while we are on the road. The more they can entertain themselves, the less "are we there yet?, are we there yet?" questions we will get... :-)

Summarizing, if you activate the phone, you get unlimited texting, phone web browsing, tv watching, internet radio, etc. + unlimited internet based calls using the provided unlimited data service + internet for your computer/ipod touches anytime/anywhere. All these for $25/month? Sweeeet! I don't think any carrier can beat that, the closer unlimited everything plan is cricket for $55/month for an android or blackberry phone. ATT, Verizon, etc? $70 and up... Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint 3G network, so, it's coverage (at least here in Houston) is pretty good.

I hope you find this useful.

Enjoy!

Nov. 23th. 2011 I finally activated the phone this summer which I spent away from the family working up North and they wanted 24X7 access... (great to be loved so much!). It is now even better. I have an app that shows how many minutes are left and when I'm getting close to using the 300 minutes, I can dial out using the internet and google voice through the data service from anywhere (where there is 3G signal). Came in handy to have Pandora on the phone when my car radio stopped working and it's great to be able to do everything I used to do only within WIFI range now everywhere. GPS worked great while I was traveling through the North East, except when cruising through the Adirondacks (no 3G service out in the sticks :-) ).

Virgin has raised the price of the plan to $35 a month for newcomers, (previous users are grandfathered in at the $25 rate) but even at $35, it still the best deal around as far as I know. Finally, Target has the phone on sale for $50 for the next two days...

After being a T-Mobile customer for 8 years I finally dumped them when I found the phone and plan I'd been waiting for: the Android 2.2, LG Optimus V with the Beyond Talk plan.

The Phone:

An Android 2.2 operating system powers the LG Optimus V (V stands for Virgin... the S is Sprint's phone, but both share the Sprint mobile network) and allows for zippy web surfing via the 3G network. Apps open quickly and transitions from one thing to another are smooth. The processor seems up to multitasking and I had no problem downloading apps and emailing at the same time.

The body of the phone is comfortable to hold with a slightly rubberized feel, and the screen is bright and clear. I did note the back cover of the phone is a tad flimsy, so be careful pulling it off and on to put in the battery. Bear in mind I'm used to a Nokia E71 phone, which has a metal back, so that may just be something that bothered me and won't phase anyone else about this phone. The four navigation keys on the front of the phone are sturdy and responsive.

The touchscreen doesn't seem to respond as easily as my iTouch does, but then again, it may be me and the way I was gingerly giving it an initial once over. I have texted and emailed using Swype (a cool technology included on this phone that basically allows you the ability to move your finger over a keyboard and have it intuitively guess at what you're trying to type without you lifting your finger) on this phone, and it works well. I'm pretty slow at it, but practice will undoubtedly help.

The camera is a 3.2mp without a flash. I'm not overly impressed with the quality of the photos I've taken, but I don't use my phone-cam as my primary camera anyway. You can also take video with this phone.

Charging this phone can be done by two methods: USB or travel adapter. The travel adapter (included in the package along with the USB to phone cord) attaches to the USB end of the cord that attaches to the base of the phone. You can charge your phone via either AC or USB AC seemed to do it a tad faster, but be prepared to have a full recharge take 1 to 2hrs.

This takes us to the downside of this phone: the battery life. If you are downloading or surfing the web, this phone sucks down the juice. There is a free app called Juice Defender, which will prolong your battery life I highly recommend it along with Hotspot Widget, which allows you to use Hotspots for Wi-fi. Talk time on the battery is estimated at 6hrs, with up to 3 days of standby time. This would only work if you never checked the web, emailed, texted or played with apps!

The phone weighs 4.69 ounces and is a tad thick, but not much more than an iPhone with a hard case on it. It ships with a 2GB micro SD card in it, but I recommend picking up at least an 8GB card or larger to replace it. Adding apps will quickly diminish the 2GB.

No flash player is yet available for this phone or so I've heard, thus 'flash' doesn't play on it. You can view YouTube videos and there are several TV apps, so not really an issue for me yet and probably something that will be fixed with firmware in the future.

I suggest purchasing a case to protect it, as none is included in the phone package. LG Optimus S and T cases will work with this phone. Deals with a case, charger, screen protector, etc... like this: LG Optimus S LS670 Full Diamond Bling Black Zebra Skin Hard Case Snap on Cover Phone Protector Sleeve + Mirror LCD Screen Guard Film w/Cleaning Cloth + Free Biodegradable Screen wipe are available on Amazon.

The Beyond Talk Plans:

No deal out there comes close to this one. Yes, the phone is an initial chunk of change, but it's an Android phone that will offer excellent call quality on the Sprint network and data at 3G speeds unlimited data, text and email for $25 a month with 300 anytime minutes. GREAT deal! A bump up for $40 a month gives you 1200 anytime minutes a month and unlimited data, text and email, or for $60 a month you get unlimited everything. NO CONTRACT. You can pay via gift cards you purchase with cash, or have a debit or credit card on file with Virgin Mobile. You can choose to have them take the plan fee out each month, or you can tell them you'll do it yourself via the online payment section. Really, really easy and no taxes or hidden fees. If you go over your minutes it's an additional 10 cents a minute, and minutes don't rollover to the next month.

Virgin Mobile coverage maps are available on their website. Check it with your address to see coverage in your area prior to buying the phone. There's a way to check voice coverage and then click over to data coverage.

'Porting' Your Number (Keeping Your Old Number):

If you want to keep your same cellphone number (the one used by another carrier) you need to keep these things in mind.

1. You have to be in the same area code to do it.

2. You cannot cancel your previous service prior to calling Virgin Mobile to set up service.

3. You cannot activate your LG Optimus V on Virgin Mobile's website, you must call them to tell them you want the same number.

4. You need to have your old number, account number for the other provider, and a bit of time (up to 72hrs, although it took VM only 1hr to port my number...) to switch the old number to your new phone.

5. You must have your LG Optimus V charged to be able to receive a text letting you know the number has been switched and your old service has been cancelled.

6. Calling your old provider to make sure your service has been cancelled and to pay off any lingering debt with them is advised.

Call to 'activate' your Virgin Mobile service after the number has been ported to your new phone. They will ask you how you are paying for your service and have you do a test call.

If you don't have an old number, you can either call Virgin Mobile to activate the phone or do it on their website.

The LG Optimus V phone is my first android smartphone and so far, I'm very impressed. GPS, email, web, checking in on eBay and Amazon... all very exciting and something I thought I'd never be able to afford as I couldn't justify spending $70 a month for it with T-Mobile or ATT.

In a few months the purchase of this phone will pay for itself and with no contract I'm sure I'll feel good about having the option to change, even if I never do. If you don't want to be under contract, but want to enjoy the perks of new technology at a reasonable price per month get this phone and the Beyond Talk plan. Heck, get them for the entire family! You won't regret the purchase.

UPDATE: March 13, 2011

Found several FREE apps in the 'Market' of note.

1. ShopSavy: uses scanner technology to scan items in the store and then give you the best price for that item online or locally. Works very well!

2. GasBuddy: gives you the current prices on fuel at different grades. Type in a zip code or name of a place to get the listings. You can also add a price as you see it to assist others using the app.

3. Speed Test : gives you the current speeds of your internet upload and download. Noted that my wifi is much, much faster than the 3G network, thus when home I switch my settings from mobile to wifi.

4. Amazon Kindle: read all content on your Kindle, also on your phone.

5. Radar Now: shows current weather maps as shown on your TV weather report (satellite maps) in real time, via GPS.

6. HP Photo Print: found my home network printers and printed photos taken on my phone after uploading to the printer via this app. Also can use Photoshop Express (also free) to tweak the photo prior to printing.

7. SilentBoot: once downloaded an on, this allows you to turn your phone on and off without any noise.

8. AVG free antivirus: still a good idea to run an antivirus whether it's on your PC or phone.

9. Google Sky: really fun app that shows you the night sky (stars, constellations) and moves with you according to GPS location... play with this one!

10. Quick Settings: very easy way to turn on and off wifi/gps/mobile... and a host of other things like uninstalling apps you no longer want.

11. Zedge: lots n' lots of wallpapers and ringtones for free.

12. Memory Booster lite: frees up unused memory to use by the processor.

13. JuiceDefender: runs in the background to save your battery from draining too quickly.

14. World Newspapers: just like the title implies, access to worldwide news via newspapers, but also magazines, webnews, social networking, etc... fun to browse and in many, many languages.

15. Tune In Radio: allows you to pick up radio stations and podcasts by state. The 3.5mm headset jack (standard like on iPods and other MP3 players) is great and this app plus your music library on a SD card means you can choose to leave your music player at home as it's all on your phone!

Battery drops quickly with a lot of app use, but without it the phone holds a good charge for several days. I simply keep topping the battery up whenever I'm home and near the charger. The manual says not to let the battery be completely discharged.

Also on the subject of 'battery': The battery also is somewhat loose in my phone. Not sure if that's all Optimus V's or just mine. Sometimes my screen goes black and it's a loose battery. A small bit of tape fixed the problem and is unseen under the back cover of the phone.

The Voice Recognition software on this phone seems to be fabulous! Both voice dialing and voice input for texting (instead of typing) seem to work great for me. One suggestion for texting via voice: make your sentences short. This seems to give me the most accurate input.

Overall I love this phone and look forward to using it and Virgin Mobile for a long time! Call clarity is great and so far the Android Experience is all I would have wished it to be. I've watched lots of YouTube videos, emailed, msg'd, all with great ease. The calls have been clear on both the sending and receiving end, and I've yet to find an area where I have not had service. That's a pretty big deal considering I don't live in a major metropolitan area. Great find, and happily discovering new things I like about the phone every day.

UPDATE: 9/27/11

Phone continues to give great service, but occasionally freezes when trying to dial. I end up taking the battery out and reseating it, which seems to solve the problem. Did I mention you can't turn the phone off either? I'm considering a new battery for it...can get it off of Amazon for about $13. Anker 1600mAh Li-ion Battery for LG Optimus V VM670 (Virgin), LG Optimus S LS670(Sprint), Optimus One P500, Optimus T, Optimus U, Optimus C LW690, Optimus M MS690 Fits LGIP-400N White

Service for the phone has gone up in price from $25 a mo to $35 a mo for 300 minutes with unlimited talk and text. Fortunately for me, as I got in with the $25 plan, my price DID NOT go up. Thought that was darned nice of Virgin Mobile! Hope it lasts.

UPDATE: 1/25/12

Received a text from Virgin Mobile today informing me that Internet speeds would be reduced for Beyond Talk customers if they go over 2.5GB of useage per month. The Internet speeds for 3G with Virgin Mobile have been spotty lately, which makes me wonder if that's part of a transition to this new policy. Time will tell if I will stay with Virgin Mobile or switch to something else. I don't use much data, but it bums me out that Virgin Mobile is going the way of several other providers and doing this now. The phone is still a good one, and the plan is good for the money, but definitely not for those who don't want to wait too long for Facebook to load!

UPDATE: 8/29/12

Over the past two months or so the LG Optimus V has been acting fussy. The touchscreen became less responsive, sometimes the phone wouldn't turn off, and hanging up from a call became impossible without taking out the battery! I have been very gentle with the phone and it's only been dropped twice, while wearing an Otterbox case. 3G speeds are excellent in the right location, but terrible in others. I don't blame the phone for that one.

I read a bunch of phone reviews and decided that for my budget, Virgin Mobile is still the best deal out there next to Tracfone which has such a poor phone offering I can't convince myself to jump ship. Today I purchased the HTC One V Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) and can activate it with my current number online, once I log in to my Virgin Mobile account. I chose the One over the HTC EVO V 4G Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) because the EVO is $100 more and I don't have 4G coverage in my area, so paying for that option when I can't use it seemed wrong for me.

I will update again when I activate (I'm waiting for Amazon to ship my OtterBox 77-20718 Commuter Series Hybrid Case for HTC One V 1 Pack Retail Packaging Black before I do so. I'm optimistic that the LG issues will not be present on the HTC phone, and since the LG Optimus V has been replaced in the line-up with the LG Optimus Elite Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) which gets so-so reviews, I feel good about this new purchase.

I'll also let you know if a phone call to Virgin Mobile won't help me keep my grandfathered in $25 a month with the new phone. Fingers crossed!

UPDATE: 12/2712

Been using the HTC One V Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) for about 4 months now had to upgrade to $35 plan to get it to work and I love it! It's a huge step up from the LG Optimus in both speed and features. The LG Optimus was good and I'm glad I bought it initially, but the HTC One V is great and what I would recommend over this phone at this time for 3G users on Virgin Mobile's network.

Buy LG Optimus Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) Now

I have never had a cell phone plan, and I don't plan on having one any time soon. When I first started using cell phones, the curse of prepaid services were the phones. Companies like Net10 had fantastic deals, but the phones were always cheap and disposable, which of course is the great part about prepaid service. I'm not stuck with a phone for two years and if I need one, I'm not worrying about the price.

Another great part about prepaid service is that I will never have to speak with a representative. Virgin Mobile is an easy set up and upon start up, the phone was quick to activate and start my service. This two reasons are high on my list for why prepaid trumps contract phone plans.

When this phone was announced, I was a bit skeptical. I was worried that it would be a watered down version of the LG Optimus S, but I am happy to report that it is essentially the same device. The following will mention the look, feel, and speed of the device.

The touch screen: Nimble! Going from screen to screen is fluid, transitions are visible. For every single touch and swipe, the device is right there with you. There is no lag to be found. However, there are times when I'm playing Angry Birds, and there is considerable lag. It usually happens for the first thirty seconds of the game.

Screen resolution: High quality but with the plastic front, it cheapens the device. However, I am not complaining. Zooming in and out on a webpage, you might notice that it's a little pixelated when you get close to the text.

3G capabilities: Testing this against my friend's iPhone, it's very fast. I was incredibly surprised by the responsiveness and how quick I could go from webpage to webpage. But, I will say that there are times there is absolutely no service. After looking through forums, one easy way to fix this is by activating the phone again. I did this once, and it helped tremendously.

App store: Although it's not as big as Apple's app store, it has everything one would need. The great thing about Android is that if there's something you don't like, you can change it. Widgets are absolutely one of the best features about Android's app store. You can even change the web browser if you don't like it!

This phone does not support Flash, so don't be disappointed.

Navigation: A dream. It works better than my Garmin, the voice is loud and concise. I will say that after plugging it into my auxillary connector that it does sound a little muffled. But I'm not disappointed at all. The maps are amazing. There was one time the directions were a little funky and another that it was taking a while to acquire satellite.

Camera quality: I have to say, the quality of the camera is amazing. With auto focus, it's great. And with the camera apps, you can create some great effects.

Overall, this phone is a great value. I talk a lot, so I use the unlimited everything plan for $60.00. It's not a bad deal considering I would be paying well over $100.00 anywhere else.

There are a lot of other prepaid services you might want to consider if you want to go prepaid. If you aren't someone who talks a lot and just need a phone, Net10 is the perfect service. But if you do talk a lot and browse the internet, then services like Boost Mobile, AT&T GoPhone, Straight Talk, and Virgin Mobile are great alternatives to the high cost of contracts.

The problem with prepaid still? The phones need a lot of work, but this is the first I've seen to make a huge step toward a great future with prepaid service.

Update:

I love this phone. It has efficiently replaced my iPod and GPS Navigator. Put in a 16gb micro sd card, and you're set. Apps like Double Twist make music listening a great experience (and for $4.99, you can sync your music wirelessly, listen to radio stations, AND podcasts)

If your car as an auxillary connector or even a tape adapter, connect your phone, and you can listen to Navigation WHILE listening to music. I know it's a weird thing to obsess about, but I always thought it was one or the other. Directions are precise, so I'm not constantly looking at my phone wondering where I am.

Streaming on Pandora and NPR is great. However, after a few hours, it completely stops and you have to get back into the app. It's not terrible, but I like to listen while I'm at work.

The Android App Market has everything you're looking for as long as you know how to search. I would recommend joining forums, because that's how I found out about different apps. One I love in particular is the WiFi Hotspot widget. With a simple click, you can connect your laptop and computer to the phone's 3g network. Other apps like Car Home allow you to travel and easily find navigation, music, and manage what apps you need on the go.

Depending on where I am, Youtube can lag a little. I expected this. But for the price and the fact that I have completely replaced a few gadgets I own, this is totally worth it.

FINAL UPDATE:

I have had this phone for five months, and I thought I would give my final impressions of the device.

First off, the battery life isn't amazing, but I've found that turning off data while I don't use it is really helpful. The phone lasts for days. If I need to check something online, I quickly go into my settings, turn it on, and check what I need to check. Before I started doing that, I realized that the phone would last MAYBE six or seven hours.

Web browsing has actually gotten a lot better. I was a little worried after three months in. There were times I couldn't get on a web page at all, but I feel that the problem has been resolved.

GPS is still reliable and better than my Garmin.

I actually no longer use this phone as an mp3 player. Even with Double Tap, I felt that it lacked organization.

I have experienced a few dropped calls. One time in particular, I was calling a friend, and our call was dropped four or five times within the hour. I'm not sure if it was his phone or mine, but it had never happened before, and it hasn't happened since.

This phone is really your best bet if you're on a budget yet want to experience a midrange smart phone. Does it have the capabilities of an iPhone or Droid? It's actually pretty close and for the price, I can't complain. $60.00 a month for unlimited everything and a quality phone is fantastic. If I decide I never want to see this phone or this company again, I'm not forced to pay a fee for having a choice. I can easily go online and cancel my services, and I'm not waiting on the phone to speak to a representative. In the five years I've used prepaid phones, I've never had to speak to one person regarding my phone, terms of service, etc. That alone is worth the price in saved time and frustration.

A DEAD PHONE:

So, my phone died after days of being unable to hold a charge. I'm not sure what the problem was. I had to keep it connected at all times, or it wouldn't turn on. Then even while it was connected, it just died. It's a shame, because I truly loved the phone and was sold on Android until I experienced numerous problems with the device. Don't get me wrong. I love Android and their innovation. However, I seem to notice that while their phones are amazing devices at first, they cannot stand the test of time. I was looking forward to keeping this phone for quite a while.

Internet seemed to be incredibly slow as well as time progressed. I generally like to use data if I'm lost or need to check my e-mail. I found that it was faster finding someone polite enough to give me directions or just wait to go home. This could just be a defect on my phone, but my raving reviews about it in the beginning are a thing of the past.

This phone is great for someone just getting into the smart phone world. That person was me. I'm not sure if my demands or wants got higher, but I am switching over to a contract phone. Yes. Even after all of my talk about how much I hated contracts. But if you look at it, you're paying either way. Do I want to spend money on a new phone every few months with spotty service? While I can't predict whether or not I will be left with a lemon is up to fate. Until then, hello Verizon Wireless.

Read Best Reviews of LG Optimus Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) Here

This is a truly great phone. We have been with TMobile for several years and finally got tired of the bill and our Blackberrys. VirginMobile has a plan that can't be beat. I wish I had switched over sooner!

Here are some of the features I like about the LG Optimus V:

Voice to text is awesome.

You can speak an email or a text or a search on the internet and this phone almost always gets it right. I never used texting before. I don't have time, patience or skill to hunt and peck on a tiny keyboard. Voice to text makes this so easy. Just punch the microphone button on the keyboard. I'll say it again, awesome.

Use GoogleVoice and GrooVe IP for free minutes.

With VirginMobiles Unlimited Text and Data with 300 minutes plan you can place and receive calls without using any minutes. Set up a google gmail account and add google voice. It is a really simple process. Buy GrooVe IP from the Amazon App store for about $5. Setup takes less than 5 minutes. When you are near a good wifi connection, GrooVe is exceptionally clear. You can make calls even in places where you are not able to get cell service. Forget Sipdroid and all those other difficult apps. GrooVe is simple to set up, simple to use and it works!

Great price for VirginMobile plan.

We were paying over $75 per month per phone. Virgin mobile is cutting that by about half. $35 per month for 300 minutes and unlimited text and data. By the way, there are not a bunch of fees on top of that like other carriers. My total is under $39 with all taxes and fees.

Free 60 minutes when you sign up with a kickback code.

As you set up your phone, you will burn through some minutes with you voice mail setup and trying it out. When you activate your phone on the internet you can use a kickback code to get 60 extra minutes for free. Here is a code you can use: 8TE0VXNQ (note, the 4th character is a zero)

Tips:

Download the pdf file for the LG Optimus User Guide from the VirginMobile site. Along with the Basic Guide booklet that ships with it, this will help you get the most out of your new phone.

My favorite apps besides GrooVe IP are Amazon Kindle, Gas Buddy, and ShopSavvy. There are several apps preloaded on the phone. GoogleMaps is my choice for best. It gives spoken turn by turn instructions and a street view of the address you are looking for. This is a lot better than my TomTom.

All in all, this is a great phone with a great plan.

If my review was helpful, please give it a click below as helpful. Thanks.

Want LG Optimus Prepaid Android Phone (Virgin Mobile) Discount?

I purchased this phone at my local Radio Shack a couple days ago, and it has been awesome so far! The performance of the phone is zippy, and it actually performed faster than the Samsung Intercept, which is also from Virgin Mobile, and has a faster processor. Also, the screen is much clearer and colorful than the screen on the Intercept. It's glass covered instead of plastic, unlike the Intercept.

The phone looks great, it seems to be built very well (especially considering the low price), and it looks like a more expensive phone.

Most apps on the Marketplace work, and there are some that really add to this handset's functionality.

The camera is great, takes awesome images for a 3MP shooter.

Get this phone, you will not be disappointed, especially for the price!

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Camelion AA Rechargeable Batteries 1000mAh Ni-CD 1.2V 4pk

Camelion AA Rechargeable Batteries 1000mAh Ni-CD 1.2V 4pk
  • AA Rechargeable Batteries
  • 1.2V
  • 1000mAh
  • NiCD
  • 4 pack

the batteries were great,i had bought them to replace batteries in my solar light outside,fast charging and easy to install diffinately would recommend to some looking for these batteies

iLuv iMM727BLK ArtStation Stereo Speaker Dock for the New Apple iPad -3G / iPad 2 WiFi/3G Model 16GB

iLuv iMM727BLK ArtStation Stereo Speaker Dock for the New Apple iPad -3G / iPad 2 WiFi/3G Model 16GB, 32GB, 64GB NEWEST Model for Apple iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPod Touch -Black
  • Delivers exceptional sound performance to any room.
  • Flexible viewing options; innovative arm tilts and rotates.
  • Enjoy full functions of the iLuv App (Free at the App Store).
  • Charge and play your iPad, iPhone, or iPod with impeccable stereo sound.
  • Sync with iTunes on your computer when docked.
  • 3.5 mm auxiliary input.
  • Charge and play your iPad, iPhone or iPod with impeccable stereo sound
  • Easy to use controls or control with convenient remote.
  • Easy to use on unit controls, or use the included remote
  • Flexible viewing options; innovative arm tilts and rotates
  • Made for iPad2, iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod touch (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation),iPod Nano (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th generation)
  • Sync with iTunes on your computer when docked

The iLuv iMM727BLK speaker dock is a descent set of speakers. The iLuv App and the Remote Control, however, are a little disappointing. I have evaluated the Speakers, the iLuv App, and the Remote Control separately. First, the Speakers:

Speakers

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The speakers measure roughly 11" x 5" x 3.5" (L x W x H).

The sound quality of the speakers is comparable to that on a set of low-end desktop speakers. Although the bass output is a bit lacking, it's entirely acceptable coming from speakers this size. The speakers do buzz a little when the volume is cranked up all the way but, again, that's almost a given on any smaller-sized speaker system. All in all, the sound quality on these speakers isn't bad.

The speakers look very aesthetically pleasing (they look wicked on my nightstand!). I do realize that this speaker system functions primarily as a dock for the iPhone/iPad, but I'm disappointed that they are not rechargeable for cordless/portable operation.

iLuv App (Version 3.0.6)

--------

After you plug in your iPhone/iPad for the first time, you'll be prompted to download and install the iLuv App. The app consists of Clock, Weather, Radio, and iPod functions, selectable with a menu of choices on the bottom of the screen.

There are a few problems with the app that are noteworthy:

o It crashes periodically.

o Once the >>| button advances past the last song of an album, it displays a blank screen. Pressing the |

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Timex T035WW4 Color Changing Alarm Clock with Soothing Sounds (White)

Timex T035WW4 Color Changing Alarm Clock with Soothing Sounds
  • 7 changing colors on cabinet and display, with simple and convenient controls for easy operation
  • Wake to 4 soothing nature sounds or buzzer alarm; 24 Hour Set-And-Forget Alarm that has auto repeat and auto shutoff
  • Large, easy-to-read LCD shows hour, minute, month, date and day of week; as well as 12 or 24 hour time display
  • 24 hour countdown timer for appointments, meetings, naps, etc.; as well as an adjustable snooze from 1 to 60 minutes
  • Indoor thermometer (Fahrenheit or Celsius)

As far as I can tell, the colors only change when 1) a button is pressed or 2) you play the "soothing sounds". Otherwise it looks like a clear plastic sphere with a white faceplace/insert. The silver "button" on top apparently does nothing (I thought this would be perfect for snooze!). The soothing sounds are very digitized, but for the price I wasn't expecting much from that feature. I had thought with an "INDIGLO night-light" that the clock would remain backlit at night, but that does not appear to be the case--at night you have to press one of the face buttons (which always BEEP when pressed, annoying!) and then you get a brief backlight.

The pros...it's cheap, it tells the time/date/temperature (though I have yet to understand why anyone needs their room temperature readout on their clock), you can wake up to a pseudo-nature sound that is not a buzzer, and it runs on batteries so it is small and compact without needing a trailing cord. I think the design overall is cute, but the functionality could have been much improved.

Buy Timex T035WW4 Color Changing Alarm Clock with Soothing Sounds (White) Now

I almost sent this back because it's battery powered and very small. But when I saw all the things it does, I decided to keep...changes colors, gives you soothing sounds to go to sleep by, gives you the room temperature, has easy to use settings for alarm and snooze....very neat little gadget. I just wish it was AC and twice as big.

Read Best Reviews of Timex T035WW4 Color Changing Alarm Clock with Soothing Sounds (White) Here

You can't get the "soothing sounds" with the countdown timer. The countdown timer has only a harsh beeping noise. The "UP" button did not work, which meant I could not turn up the volume -it was stuck on lowest volume forever -though I could adjust the time by pressing the DOWN button for a long time.

The clock is cute, the changing colors are cute (though they light up & change only when you press a button). I liked the soothing sounds, though they are "computer-like," but I needed them for the timer. I returned the clock.

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I decided to buy this clock based on everyone else's "bad" reviews. So glad that I did! I wanted a small white or clear clock for my baby's nursery. I needed something that was battery operated, so I could move it around the room and not have to worry about finding a free plug. I really like that the color changing lights don't stay on constantly, only when the "nature sounds" are on. (My baby seems to enjoy listening to those sounds and watching the lights.) I also like that you can set the amount of time until the sounds shut off (one hour or less), so that it doesn't stay on all night. Seeing as how this is used in my baby's room, I also love the thermometer function. Bottom line, this is a nice, small, inexpensive, simple clock. As long as you read the manual, operating this clock is not confusing at all. Perfect for what I was looking for. However, I do not use it as an alarm clock, and not sure that I would. I am a sound sleeper and I don't think that the nature sounds would wake me up. There is a beeping alarm option, but it isn't very loud compared to other alarm clocks out there.

It sounds like a cool, relaxing clock, but it is really a piece of junk. It is SO confusing to operate and unreliable as an alarm. There is no backlight, and it wont stay lit unless the sounds are playing. Disappointed. Atleast it was inexpensive.

LG KP500 Cookie Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera and Digital Media Player--International Version wi

LG KP500 Cookie Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera and Digital Media Player--International Version with WarrantyI travel frequently back to the UK so this phone works great for me. It is quad-band and GSM phone which means it has a removable sim card that I can use a pay as you go sim card when I go back to the UK, and then switch it back while back in the US. Unfortunately your limited to AT&T or T-Mobile in the US as the other carriers don't use GSM phones, not sure why?. The phone itself which I bought in the UK has an adapter for 110/220v for charging in other countries which is a nice touch from LG (I once fried a US adapter by plugging it into a UK socket, duh!). It comes with a screen protector and the casing feels nice and not too cheap. The touch screen itself is bright and easy to navigate and the inclusion of a stylus that fits in the base of the phone makes it very handy when texting. The phone houses a slot for a micro SD card up to 8gb, which is ample for mp3's and photo's or video's. I don't like that you have to use the supplied headphones in order to listen to music as they aren't that good and would have preferred the ability to use third party phones.

Camera quality isn't that great, but like most phone cameras the quality is grainy, I only use it rarely as I have a good quality digital camera for that. Overall it's a great little phone that is considerably cheaper and less bulkier than the i phone. And if you need accessories then eBay is the place to go, I picked up a great leather case that fits perfectly, and a car charger. I have had the phone now for 7 months and am pleased with it so far.

Update: I recently flashed the phones firmware to the latest version which is V10n and the phone is so much better.

The touch screen works a lot better than before and the slide bar can now be used without having to press hard.

The firmware install is a little tricky and can only be done on a windows operating system, but is well worth the time as the phone's performance is so much better. Do a search for KP 500 firmware v10n update.

I live outside the US and the phone worked perfectly with Guatemalan Carriers, it is a great value phone has almos every feature built in other smartphones. the only downside is that it doesnt has wifi, but the browser is very good, you can surf every web page, not only mobile sites.

great design not big and bulky like the iphone, its easier to handle when you are speaking.

The only downside is that you need to push a litte hard sometimes in order to move things or activate things, i dont know if it is only my case or thats the way the is. I own it now for three weeks and im loving it, and the touchscreen is getting more responsive over time.

The phone has a lot of features but at least im gonna mention the ones I like the most.

favorite contacts screen

it remembers the number you dial or the ones that call you, so it suggests every time you start dialing.

nice camera

widgets

grat music player

up to 8gb micro sd

Nice phone I highly recommend it.

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This is a very nice phone with great features. It has a rubbery feel to it (doesn't scratch easy) and a beautiful screen. However, if you buy it unlocked for U.S. use, the MMS (picture, mp3 messages) will not work! I was surprised. Everything else works though, even text messages. I talked to AT&T to try to make it work, but after an hour on the phone they said it cannot be done because this unlocked phone is not available in the U.S. Therefore not all features will work. But if you can live without MMS, this phone is awesome.

Pros: Clear and bright screen even in direct sunlight, Build quality, Features, Customizable, Built in stylus, Micro SD slot up to 8Gb

Cons: Camera (no auto focus, no flash), small qwerty keyboard, FM radio cant be played without headset attached.

Read Best Reviews of LG KP500 Cookie Unlocked Phone with 3.2 MP Camera and Digital Media Player--International Version wi Here

UPDATE 3-12-2013 Still have this phone at 3 years and it still works great!

To start with, I've had this just one week so far & for basic/casual use only. Will not use it for the 'net & haven't tried the camera yet. Edit 4/15 I like the camera, it works great & pics are clear, with fun editing options. With that said, I absolutely love this phone! It has the functions I was looking for and more. It has many features all explained in detail in the thick booklet it comes with...thanks to LG...I suggest reading it thoroughly with phone in hand to check it all out. It has lots of -helpful tips& many features with detailed information.

It came with a charger for 100-240v and an adapter that fits well. It's all you need to charge in the US or in other countries. More accessories are included but I suggest -nottrying the screen protector they added separately since it has residue AND it's a bit thick which would make the touch screen less responsive. Also ---> the phone already has a screen protector on it when you take it out the box (the right kind of protector for touch screen), so if you look closely you can tell it's there and no need to remove or replace it. Just wipe clean when needed.

This phone looks a lot nicer then it appears in the pic shown. It has good quality hardware and easy to hold on to, not slippery. The touch screen looks really nice & is very responsive & brings up the menu or whatever you need quickly. Mine does anyway, and there are settings for every thing (I do mean every thing) so you can adjust to your preference. Easy, intuitive, & has many features that make it so nice and capable of doing a lot.

Edit (4-11-10) -Someone else reviewed saying they could only listen to music with the headphones, but... that's if you start from the widget. If you access your music from the entertainment section instead, you can play it loud and clear w/o the headphones & the info as well as cover art appears on the screen. :)

The side scroll bar takes some getting use to but it works well after practicing a bit. Edit 4/15 sliding the bar from fingernail works better. The backlights longest time for inactivity is 60 seconds, but you can just press the on/off button once and it will be back on & in the same screen/function you were using. That's all minor stuff imo. I got more then I expected for the current price and with a year warranty from cell concepts (ordering directly from Amazon), it is a great deal in my opinion.

I use T-Mobile and pay as you go service. I find this phone to be reliable & -nota cheap quality cell that the phone companies offer w/o a contract. An unlocked 'non-branded' phone is much better then a phone directly from the phone companies & retail stores. What I mean by non-branded is, for example, AT&Ts name is not on the hardware, only the manufacturer...like LG is on this phone. I have had an LG flip phone for the past 6 years & it still works, I just wanted to try a newer more functional phone and this one is very nice.

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I have been looking for a new phone for the last year, since my old T-Mobile Blast was becoming outdated. So, when I took a trip to Germany and found the LG KP500 there, I was quite curious. I looked up reviews here on Amazon, and after some consideration, bought the phone from a German electronics retailer... And I am sure glad that I did!

Let's get started with the Pros and the Cons of this phone.

PROS:

-Unlocked, Quadband World Phone.

-Inexpensive. I bought the phone for 89, which is comparable to the price here on Amazon.

-Good Quality. Although the phone is small and made of plastic, it has an extremely durable feel.

-Signal Quality. I normally have no signal with T-Mobile's To-Go plan in my house, but I usually have at least 3 bars with this phone. By comparison, my last three phones constantly lost signal in my house.

-Great features. Many features, including a Movie editor, 3MP Camera, Music Player, Video Recorder, Games, Accelerometer, and drawing pad.

-Stylus. Not really necessary, but it really helps with texting and making notes.

-Multiple Apps and Task Manager. You can run more than one app at a time, like Music Player and Camera

-Widgets. On the home page, there is a selection of widgets to choose from. These include: Music Player, World Clock, Clock, Calender, FM Radio, and Notepad.

-Speed Dial Widgets. With a swipe of the finger, the home page changes to a speed dial home page with up to 10 contacts and images.

-Downloadable Apps and Games. The phone is Java based, so you can download .JAR apps from a number of sites to transfer to the phone.

-Expandable Memory via microSD slot (Up to 8gb)

CONS:

-The interface, while very sleek and refined, can become slow due to multiple apps running at once.

-Texting in QWERTY format is a bet annoying at first, due to the small keyboard. But after a while, you get used to it.

My recommendation: If you are looking for a new, unlocked phone at a cheap price, the LG KP500 is for you.

NOTE: I own the silver version of this phone, which doesn't have the rubbery texture.

UPDATE 10/2010-

The phone is still working great. I actually received an update from T-Mobile to allow MMS messaging and internet web-browsing, so the phone is actually better now than it was 6 months ago! Plus, after accidentally dropping it face first into concrete, it still works with no scratches! So that is another plus!

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Philips AD300/37 Docking Speaker

Philips AD300/37 Docking Speaker
  • Bass Reflex Speaker System delivers a powerful, deeper bass
  • Compact design for any space, any lifestyle
  • LED clock display for clear time viewing
  • Play and charge your iPod/iPhone simultaneously

When I read other customers negative reviews about this product it kind of scared me away from buying it, but I am SO glad I did! I read other peoples complaints about the clock only showing military time, but mine shows 12 hour. When you place your phone on the dock, it syncs with the clock on your phone...the clock on the speaker dock reads whatever the time on your phone is. It plays my music loud and clear and charges my iPhone at the same time! Absolutely LOVE this product and it was SUCH a fantastic price!!

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If you buy the Phillips docking station in the store it'll cost over $59.00. It's sound is perfect for what I need, it's not a Bose but if you looking for a trustworthy sound system this is it. The reason I didn't buy a Bose system is because I live in a dorm and I was afraid someone would steal it, not that I want someone to steal my Phillips. It's a great sound system for the money. Compared to some of the other docking stations out there, this one is great.

Read Best Reviews of Philips AD300/37 Docking Speaker Here

I bought this particular speaker because it doesn't have a "pocket" that the device rests in while it charges. That makes it so you can charge iPhones, iPods and even iPads even with a case or cover on. It works beautifully for all our devices and it's so convenient for all members of our family to just set it on to charge up any time. I keep this speaker in the kitchen so I can listen to music and podcasts while I'm busy in there, but the music often attracts the kids or my husband, and we have a good time being together listening, dancing, cleaning, whatever. The sound is clear and loud. The bass sounds a little stuffy, but I wasn't going for high-end audio quality with this. It was 100 percent worth the money, and I would buy another one. Also, my clock does not display military time. It shows regular 12 hour format.

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The thing worked great for a few months. I imagine the 5 star/happy reviews must have come during this honeymoon period, before the devil entered their equipment. The first sign of its downward spiral: I'd start to play music from my iTunes on it, my phone would claim the music was going, but nothing came out of the speakers. I thought the speakers were shot and mourned the loss of my hard earned money on a piece of crap. About fifteen minutes later, I nearly had a heart attack when the music started playing. Luckily I wasn't doing any home surgery or standing in an oil slick at the time. It still functions like this. I start playing the music, and despite all my wishes and curses at the thing, it won't be told when it should or shouldn't play music. I think it's possessed.

I don't remember if this came around the time of an update, as another reviewer mentioned. I know it hasn't been working properly since, maybe late spring or early summer. I don't remember what updates went on around that time.

It quit grabbing the time for about 2 months, and just blinked incessantly. Suddenly it now shows the time. The wrong time. I don't even know how that's possible. I don't remember if it was only military time before this, as others have complained about, but it is now. And I don't have my phone set to military time. I can subtract pretty well, so this doesn't bother me as much. But having to subtract because of military time, and the added incorrect time, now that's way too much work.

I'm not getting rid of it just yet, as it does keep the phone charged and I'm just not ready to cough up more money on a new speaker/iPhone set up just yet. Once it ceases doing that job too (which I expect will be any day now), I'll cast it down into the depths of hell from which it came. And won't be buying any more Philips products.

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I got this for Christmas last year (2011) to use with my iPhone 4. For the short period of time that the speaker worked, it was awesome. I especially liked that it worked with my protective case on the phone.

Then I did an update of the iOS. Since then it has been a large charging dock on my desk...no sound from the speakers, no time display.

At that time Philips customer service said they would have to work on an update. Now a year later, I called customer support today, 11/20/2012, I was told the same thing.

So if you have an iPhone that you aren't ever going to update the operating system then this is the speaker/dock for you.

Emerson CK5051 Dual-Alarm Clock Radio

Emerson CK5051 Dual-Alarm Clock RadioMy husband and I really enjoyed this clock. Why we don't have it anymore has nothing to do with how it performed. It was a great clock. We liked how the numbers were large. That LED light makes it soothing to look at as well. No bright red, yellow or green lights. Just a nice blue(and there is a dimmer switch on it if it is too bright for you). It's taller than it is long which makes it a nice space saver. We also had quite a few storms last year, and if your power goes out and comes back on later (even after 2 days like what happened to us, the right time WILL show up again) And as an added bonus, the alarm still goes off on time if it is plugged in and the power is out (so long as you put a battery in it of course :D ). About that snooze button. We had no problems with that either. If you set the clock away from where you sleep, so you have to get up to turn it off, then you will actually look to see where the snooze/radio buttons are. Of course you're going to hit another button if you just reach over the bed, eyes half shut, and slap the thing. We had no problem finding the buttons with our eyes wide open. One more compliment has to be that we didn't find the buzzer annoying either. It was actually pleasant compared to every other one we tried out in the store. Go ahead, try them out. You'll see what we mean. It's more of a beep than a BUZZ! Which was really nice. Me personally I have to have the buzzer on. Otherwise I will fall back asleep to the music, and the one thing I can't stand to hear when I first wake up in the morning, is a loud BUZZ sound. Praise God, they made one that BEEPS for a change. Well, take care and God bless you all, and enjoy your alarm clock. (whichever one you choose to buy)

works well as a clock, but depend on the dual alarm feature to help you get up in the morning? HAH!

i have returned my clock to target 3 times to get it replaced. don't depend on your snooze button to work, because it simply turns the alarm off. this was a defect i found after about a month of using the clock. it used to let you snooze for about 7 minutes, but after a while, the snooze feature simply stopped working. i thought it was because i set the second alarm within 1 hour of the first. not true.

and i called emerson customer service to inquire about it. their service was awful and they wanted me to pay shipping to send it back to them for replacement! not likely to find anyone paying $9 shipping on a $13 clock.

i'm returning mine to target and replacing it with a $17 brand from sony.

i can't afford to depend on this emerson clock to let me snooze any more! i would have been better off to set 2 separate clocks at my bedside!

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My husband and I really enjoyed this clock. Why we don't have it anymore has nothing to do with how it performed. It was a great clock. We liked how the numbers were large. That LED light makes it soothing to look at as well. No bright red, yellow or green lights. Just a nice blue(and there is a dimmer switch on it if it is too bright for you). It's taller than it is long which makes it a nice space saver. We also had quite a few storms last year, and if your power goes out and comes back on later (even after 2 days like what happened to us, the right time WILL show up again) And as an added bonus, the alarm still goes off on time if it is plugged in and the power is out (so long as you put a battery in it of course :D ). About that snooze button. We had no problems with that either. If you set the clock away from where you sleep, so you have to get up to turn it off, then you will actually look to see where the snooze/radio buttons are. Of course you're going to hit another button if you just reach over the bed, eyes half shut, and slap the thing. We had no problem finding the buttons with our eyes wide open. One more compliment has to be that we didn't find the buzzer annoying either. It was actually pleasant compared to every other one we tried out in the store. Go ahead, try them out. You'll see what we mean. It's more of a beep than a BUZZ! Which was really nice. Me personally I have to have the buzzer on. Otherwise I will fall back asleep to the music, and the one thing I can't stand to hear when I first wake up in the morning, is a loud BUZZ sound. Praise God, they made one that BEEPS for a change. Well, take care and God bless you all, and enjoy your alarm clock. (whichever one you choose to buy)

Read Best Reviews of Emerson CK5051 Dual-Alarm Clock Radio Here

This clock is a piece of junk. The battery backup is USELESS. I was late to work twice this year because of it. It just drains the battery, then it doesn't work. Setting the clock and the alarms is a huge pain. Emerson is difficult to contact. Buy another brand!

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I hate this alarm clock. I would like to know what is wrong with it, the snooze button only works when it wants to. I got one as a wedding present and the snooze only worked when it wanted so i took it back and got a new one and the new one does the same thing. I have tried useing only Alarm 1 or only Alarm 2 and using both, also tried hitting the snooze button in different places and sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. This morning my husband used Alarm 2 and got up at 4:30 and i hit the snooze to test it and it worked, (hasn't worked in about 5 days) and my alarm 1 went off at 7am and I hat the snooze and it didn't work so I didn't wake up till 8:00, Hello suppose to be at work already! It is very fustrating, and I can't figure out when it likes to work and when it doesn't. So I would like to chuck it across the room. I will be buying another alarm clock and throwing this one away! My husbands $.25 clock that he got at a rummage sale works better!! If you see this alarm clock run!