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

Apple iPod nano 16 GB Silver (6th Generation) OLD MODEL

Apple iPod nano 16 GB Silver OLD MODEL
  • 16 GB capacity for about 4,000 songs
  • Up to 24 hours of audio playback on a single charge
  • 1.54-inch (diagonal) color TFT display with 240-by-240-pixel resolution (220 pixels per inch)
  • Support for AAC, Protected AAC (iTunes Store), MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV audio formats
  • One-year limited warranty

I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't play every time I was ready to listen to my music. The battery never stayed charged as you cannot turn it off completely. What good is that -how can you move around the office, or wherever, when you're tied to a cord? Really dumb thinking on the designer's part.

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Short review: if you think your nano will get at all touched by sweat outdoors or in the gym, think twice about buying one--in fact, I advise you to get the new shuffle instead.

To rebut the #1 negative review of the nano, this thing is Not a super shuffle. If only it were....

Long contextual review: I purchased the 6gen nano for one purpose only, going on 40-60 min outdoor runs (with Sennheiser's PMX 680i headphones) during which I get totally drenched in sweat. With the built-in clip I thought the nano would be like a super shuffle (I have been using a shuffle on my runs for the past year with no problems), and for one glorious week it was. Then, after one sweaty run in 85 degree weather (with the nano clipped to the waistband of my shorts) it stopped working. First the volume dongle on my headphones ceased working towards the end of my run, so I stopped and unclipped the nano to re-plug the headphones into the jack (this works on the iphone, shuffle and touch--I suspect there is some corrosion on my headphone plug). But then when the screen turned on, it was ghostly white; I could barely see the icons. A software reset fixed the screen brightness issue and it looked like the problem was fixed, but then immediately after the nano got very hot while syncing my 16 gigs of music and stopped working entirely. Itunes couldn't find it; it wouldn't start. Did some sweat leak in somewhere and kill it? Was it a lemon? I used it for a total of four runs, about three hours. (I even purchased a silicone plug to protect the docking port from getting sweat in it, which seemed to be working well.)

Fortunately I had saved all the packaging and Amazon gave me a full refund w/in 24 hours of my returning it.

I currently use an ipod shuffle clipped either to the back pocket/straps of my running shorts or, lacking those, to my shorts' waistband. I don't like using an armband to hold my ipod so this thing has to clip somewhere on my sweaty clothing. For the better part of the past year the shuffle has worked great clipped to my shorts; I don't even know it's there. The only thing that bugs me about the shuffle is the inability to scrub through long tracks on it, which the nano touch-screen allows you to do.

I have absolutely no problems with the nano's looks, interface, or audio functionality. The pedometer is neat. The iOS-like interface is easy to use, 16 gigs is plenty of memory, and it is not too heavy clipped onto the waistband of my shorts. I really wanted this thing to work.

I didn't drop the nano in water or on the ground or anything like that. It did, however, get exposed to sweat. Obviously I clip it onto my shorts with the screen facing outwards (plus I sealed the docking port). Yet my sweaty shirt does flap over it, and some sweat could get onto it from that. Plus I swiped at it with some sweaty fingers at the end of my runs (you know, to check that pedometer). Perhaps some sweat leaked in through the screen's edge or the volume buttons?

Anyway, I fear the nano 6gen can't handle being in a sweaty environment, and especially can't handle being stuck to a sweaty runner. Perhaps you will have a different experience, but I'm not plonking down $170 to try this thing out again. I'll stick with the shuffle, which works perfectly well for long hot outdoor runs thank you very much.

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Read Best Reviews of Apple iPod nano 16 GB Silver (6th Generation) OLD MODEL Here

I run and work out a lot, and supposedly I fit into category of intended users of iPod Nano 6G so my review is based mostly on sports use. I owned previous nanos (2G and 4G) and using them was a pleasure. Using 6G is just annoyance.

1. The clip is very inconvenient, contrary to what they show in videos. Instead of just sliding it into a pocket, every time you need to figure out how to detach and then re-attach it back to your clothes. Maybe it works better with jeans, but most of us don't work out in jeans. Previous nanos were small and light enough to just wear them in the pocket without noticing.

2. When you pull it out to change music, you have to spend seconds to figure out proper orientation, because the device is square and display doesn't rotate when you turn it. You also have to make an effort to figure out where the unlock button and the volume buttons are, which is especially difficult in darker environment. Volume buttons are too small and too close to each other.

3. The display is way too small to be useful. It only fits 3 and a half lines of text and if you have many songs and artists, scrolling is just pain. The "currently playing list" screen is even worse half of the screen is occupied by star rating control, and you only see two and half lines of useful text. I have no idea what multi-touch does here you can barely fit one finger on this screen.

In other words, changing music (or doing anything with the device) while on the go, takes a whole ritual and lots of struggle. I hoped it would get easier over time, but it didn't. In my opinion, compared to 4G and 5G nanos, this is a complete failure and is merely a glorified and overpriced Shuffle.

Playback quality is okay and battery life is also good, although it doesn't even come close to 24 hours they claim.

Also, two months after product release, most non-Apple software doesn't yet support this model (last.fm scrobblers, for example), which forces you to use iTunes. This is important point for those who have problems with iTunes.

So, after several days of struggling with it, I gave up. There are better and more usable MP3 players. I am returning this to the store. Apple makes some good products, but iPod Nano 6G is not one of them.

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Beware buying Apple products through Amazon.

1.) The Sleep/Wake button on my iPod Nano (6gen) failed yesterday after nine months of flawless use. This was my favorite of the models (I have owned six). Research revealed that this is a common issue. The underlying mechanism does not seat well resulting in a button that fails to press the actual switch inside the housing. This is correctable with a 75.00 US service charge unless under warranty, as I believed mine was...

2.) I took the iPod purchased on Amazon to the Apple Store. The genius kid told me that the iPod is out warranty with a purchase date in December 2010 (I bought it in August 2011). I produced the Amazon receipt showing purchased as "NEW", but Genius Kid attempted to handle me and send me out to resolve with the seller. I persisted.

3.) The Apple Store manager informed me that Amazon is not a licensed reseller. Amazon failed to disclose this or the purchase date (Dec 2010) of their lot of devices. Incensed, I used words like "Honor, warranty, contract" in Colonel Jessup fashion. The manager left, came back and relented. She honored my receipt and replaced the iPod under warranty, adding that the reseller issue would be referred to corporate. "If you're gonna pay full price, buy at Apple." I agreed.

I bought 2 of these with my new Mac. This new design proved to be utterly worthless. The touch screen is unresponsive and appears to vary from user to user. After loading it and having trouble navigating I installed the new software from Apple which seemed to fix it, but the next day it was unresponsive again. I recommend waiting for the next generation or finding the onld-Nano somewhere else. Thanks to Amazon for the bulletproof returns.

Creative ZEN Style M100 8 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black)

Creative ZEN Style M100 8 GB MP3 and Video Player
  • 8 GB internal memory with additional 32 GB available through microSD card slot
  • 1.45" TFT screen
  • Up to 20 hours of battery life
  • Full media player with audio, video and picture playback capabilities
  • Built in microphone and clock display

i'm happy with my creative zen m100, however there are a couple of issues with it. one issue worth pointing out in detail is the one of the sd card memory expansion. while i was very aware that music from the internal memory and the music you add via sd card would be separate, i had no idea that the player has to scan the card EVERY TIME you choose to open the sd card library. even when you have not taken the card out of the player. depending on how much music you have in it that could take a few seconds or a few minutes. also, the player is not going to organize your music from your sd card as it does with the music you put in it's internal memory. instead it reads it in files. so i suggest organizing it yourself in files so it's easier for you to sort though your music there.

i still like my player and there are many things positive with it (read the pros), but i think the sd card issue is something that people should know about before purchasing this product.

pros:

1. responsive capacitive buttons

2. excellent sound quality and volume

3. small and lightweight

4. great battery life

5. simple and intuitive interface

cons:

1. sd card integration

2. songs that you choose or the first song of an album/playlist sometimes stutter at the start

3. no gapless playback

4. booting times longer than normal for mp3 players

5. no playlist feature

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In the past I owned several Creative Muvos, which I loved. Fabulous MP3 player. I wore them all out through use. Too bad they don't make them any more. The Muvo had a AAA power source, more flexibility, which I prefer as opposed to a built-in one. Also the Muvo plugged directly into a USB port, thus obviating the need for an additional wire. The fewer parts the better right? Of all MP3 makers I have owned such as Sony, Sandisk, iPod, Zune and more, I like Creative the best.

I believe the M100 was released on Jul-1-2011, so I guess I am on the bleeding edge. After having the device for only a few days, the screen has frozen several times. What's even more fun is that on 2 of those occasions the power button, also apparently frozen, would not turn off the device, so I had to wait for the device to run out of power (a number of hours), then recharged, and rebooted and thus be useable again. What a pain.

Also the the menu system requires a lot of navigating past lesser used features. It doesn't look like much thought has been put into or usability testing has been done here. Before giving up on the device, it seemed to me that the concept of folders, which is how I organize my content, doesn't appear to be supported by the menu system.

Maybe I got a lemon. Maybe some of this stuff will be fixed by a firmware upgrade. I hope so because I don't plan to waste my time with this player unless the freezing issue, at least, is fixed.

Read Best Reviews of Creative ZEN Style M100 8 GB MP3 and Video Player (Black) Here

I'm a lover of previous Zen mp3 players--and was looking forward to using this one for downloading borrowed books from my public library's digital audio books portal. There's nowhere to put this kind of download, except into the music category under albums. So far so good. But "shuffle" is the default selection for playback--even after setting it on "normal." So each time I go in to listen to my public library audio book, I have to change the "shuffle" default to "normal." So aggravating! And when I do this it loses my place in the story! Please, please, dear Zen folk--consider such uses in your development. Not all of us are buying audio books--lots of us are borrowing them (thankfully) from our public libraries!

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This player has great sound and looks nice. And the devil with it if that's all it's got.

The software is absolutely infuriating! I load my albums as folders and I cannot view them that way on the internal memory; diddling around with ID3 tags is a pain. BIG FAIL for this player.

The expansion card slot is hit-or-miss; a lot of times the player will hang up instead of reading the card. I HATE resetting the player every time I want to load the memory card. BIG BIG FAIL for this player.

The design includes absolutely no way to hang or attach the player to anything. I am not throwing bad money after good by laying out $25 for a little silicon skin. STRIKE THREE. And another design flaw is that there are touch buttons on every side so that any time the player is touched it pauses the song or goes off into another song or displays all the menu items in Greek!

I bought this basically due to my past experience with Creative Labs gear. It's been all good up to now. But I wasted my money. I hate using it. I hate to even look at it really.

Well, this has been something to deal with. I've been pulling my hair out for days, trying to create a playlist. I finally had to give in and emailed creative support. I have many creative players, so I'm not a novice with these players. Well, it turns out that you have to use a third party playlist creator to make playlists in this player. Can you believe it? There isn't any software sent with this player. Now, I'm going to make it alot easier for whoever reads this review. Since I emailed and complained about this issue to creative, they have now posted an article on how to obtain winamp and also how to use it to create playlists. So now that I've lost 5 years, you don't have to.

Now, as for the player itself. It has touch controls which I like. The sound is ok. I've found that setting the equalizer to the Jazz setting sounds best to me. It's tiny, so I wouldn't buy it for watching video. The screen is about the size of a postage stamp.

All in all, it's an ok music player, but I don't think I would buy another one. Creative has many much better players. I hope this review saves many of you a lot of aggravation.

Lark Pro Sleep Monitor Silent Alarm Clock and Personal Sleep Coach

Lark Pro Sleep Monitor Silent Alarm Clock and Personal Sleep Coach
  • Transform your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch (3rd generation and higher) into a personal sleep solution with LARK, the first patent-pending silent un-alarm clock and sleep sensor
  • Nighttime wristband nudges you awake
  • LARK UP Mobile app and personal online dashboard coaches you based on your unique sleep patterns
  • Year-long use of award-winning Personal Sleep Coach program
  • Shows how well you slept and how to sleep better

This is a great alarm, and really that's all. I'm a heavy sleeper and audio alarms don't seem to work. This one with the vibration on my wrist wakes me up right away. The app still has a bit more to improve upon. On the weekends I like to sleep in but still track my sleep pattern. Well you can't with this app. To use the sleep tracker you have to set an alarm. I have a different app on my iPhone and it has a bit more nicer features than this one., and was only $.99 rather than $160.00. I do like the online part of this alarm thought. Over all a good product but a bit pricey.

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This is impossible to sync with my phone. Get the Up band instead. I wish I could get my money back,

Kanto SYD5GRN Speaker System for iPod (Kelly Green)

Kanto SYD5GRN Speaker System for iPod
  • iPod Universal Dock: Charge your iPod while it's playing and control the SYD 5 from across the room with sleek remote control unit.
  • Video output: If you have music videos on your iPod you can play them onto your big flat panel TV while you listen to the "uncommonly robust sound" on your SYD 5.
  • Hand crafted wood cabinet: The SYD 5 design utilizes a acoustically designed wood cabinet, delivering a unique, rich finish with superior sound.
  • Volume Control: One particular feature that everyone comments about is the additional manual volume control on the back. Sometimes the simplest things just work so why change them.
  • Audio Specifications: Frequency Response: 45Hz-20KHz, S/N Ratio: >90dB (typical, A-weighted), 80 real watts power, Low Drivers: 2x20 watts RMS 8 ohms @1% THD+N, Full-range Drivers: 2x20 watts RMS 8 ohms @1% THD+N, Bass reflex port enhances bass response

My wife likes to listen to music in her studio, but didn't want something too obtrusive. Her studio can get noisy (glass lampwork) so she needed something with some power, but still able to faithfully reproduce sound quality, especially during quiet times. I bought her the Kanto Syd-5 for Christmas and she LOVES it. The cabinet is beautiful and if there's not an iPod docked on top, you don't notice it on the bookshelf it rests on. I read that the cabinet is made with the same finish they use for high-end pianos, and I believe it.

PROS: Super sound quality, plenty of bass, and plenty of power if you want to crank it up. I tried hooking it up to a 32" LCD TV via the S-video, and while it wasn't HD, it was pretty good. You could pair it with a flat screen and maybe a DVD player and have a pretty decent home theater. The remote is OK and lets you adjust treble/mid-range/bass.

CONS: Not many, but this is one heavy unit (25+ lbs). You won't want to move it around too much. We have the black finish, and while it's beautiful, fingerprints and dust are noticable.

As far as pricing, the Syd-5 was in the $4-500 range when it came out, but I got it for $250. I've heard the Bose Sounddock (both models), and the Syd-5 outperforms them easily for a (lot)less money. If you don't need portability and if looks and price/performance are important, then you can't do better than the Kanto Syd-5

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UPDATE: After owning and using this unit for over a month, I'm ready to bump my rating from 4 to 5 stars. The sound quality is more than enough to offset the shortcoming in the controls.

This isn't your usual iPod dock with tiny speakers! This baby can really put out the sound. As the product descrition states, "Maclife magazine announces the Kanto SYD 5 as a winner in its 'gear of the year' awards." And, this is the only iPod dock to earn such an award this year.

This unit gathered immediate attention as soon as I pulled it out of the box. My 17-yr old son was extremely interested, as you might imagine, and he even wondered where it would be living at our place, since his older brother took the iPod dock with him when he went away to college. My wife even took notice, and she seldom pays much attention to technology that shows up at our place.

We have had this unit for about a week now, and we are extremely impressed by its sound quality! It has two 3" full-range speakers and a 5.25" woofer. These speakers are housed in an attractive white housing and fabric-covered front panel that is held in place by magnets. The back panel has bass reflex ports. That front panel is easily removed to expose the speakers, and is easily replaced. The unit also has a wide variety of dock adapters for every type of iPod, from first generation Nanos through iTouch and iPhone units, and it charges them too.

The Kanto can fill an entire room with sound. As I mentioned above, it provides better sound than any iPod dock I've ever heard, and it even provides better sound than just about any portable stereo I've heard. Of course, this is not going to be able to go head to head with a full-blown component stereo, but it does, in fact serve as our main sound system. I think this would be a fantastic sound system for an apartment or other housing option where space is at a premium. It has a footprint larger than most iPod docks at 22" x 8". Still it will fit nicely in most shelves.

The rear panel provides multiple options for audio input including the following: a standard 4-pin S-video input, and an auxilliary input and 3.5 mm to RCA audio input for non-iPod MP3 player connection. The back also houses the power on-off toggle switch and volume knob.

I give the unit 5 stars for sound quality and 5 stars for overall design and appearance.

In my opinion the main weakness with this unit is the controls. Here is why I rate the controls at only about 3 stars. The only controls you can access without the remote are the one-off toggle switch and volume knob, which are both on the back of the unit. As such, these aren't especially convenient to manipulate. All other controls are manipulated via the small remote control unit that comes in the box. If you lose the remote or it gets broken, your ability to manipulate some of the controls for this unit will be lost.

The remote allows you to do the following:

change the volume (remote or by hand)

increase or decrease the bass (remote only)

increase or decrease the treble (remote only)

mute the sound (remote only)

change the input selection (remote only, as far as I can tell)

and manipulate an iPod that is seated on the dock (remote or by hand all functions)

iPod manipulation is complete via the remote. You can turn on the iPod's backlight so you can see the screen, rewind or go to the previous selection, fast forward ro go to the next selection, change the shuffle status, manipulate the iPod menus, and it even has an option that does the same thing as the iPod's wheel. But, the remote is the only way that these controls can be accessed (of course you can always use the wheel on the iPod directly).

Surprisingly there is no power on/off button on the remote a large oversight in my opinion. So, when you are done listening and you want to turn the unit off you have to go over to it and reach around to the back and turn it off.

All in all we are extremely pleased with this unit and it's seen lots of service at our place already. I think that it may find its best niche as a primary sound system for a small apartment, but it will be sure to find a place in any home.

Worried about the price tag? Yes, it is up there. At $300+ it is a pricy unit, but I think the price is worth it for the sound.

Read Best Reviews of Kanto SYD5GRN Speaker System for iPod (Kelly Green) Here

I listened to many similar products. This and the Bose top the list. Sound quality is excellent for both. The Kanto edges out the Bose based on the additional connection options (such as hooking this up to your TV).

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The Kanto Syd5 speaker system for the ipod is an amazing sounding speaker system. Measuring 22" x 8" x 8" (approx) and weighing at least 20+ lbs., you will need to devote a chunk of shelf space for this product. I have used it with an ipod nano as well as a 30GB ipod video and an iphone. The ipods mounts on the top of the speaker system. Various plastic adapters come with the system that allow you to adjust the connector port to your specific ipod for a snug, secure fit.

The front of the system comes with a cloth speaker cover that attaches magnetically to prevent dust and debris from getting into the speakers. You can leave the cover off, if desired.

The overall external construction is plastic and leaves a few things to be desired.

Pluses:

-Dynamic range for treble and bass with an automatic reset to neutral using the remote

-Easy to set up (a few simple connections with cables)

-Attaches via an S-video cable to the TV to play videos on our HD TV; looks and sounds great

-Volume range is outstanding

-Built-in sub-woofer really pulverizes the ole' kidney stones

-Remote control feature allows you to access the menu on your ipod directly and scroll through your selections and sound and playback options

-Charges your ipod while it plays

Minuses:

-Heavy, heavy, heavy; big, big, big

-Shiny plastic case scratches very easily, even with the greatest of care.

-Since we use different ipods, we have not installed the various plastic adapters to hold each of the different ipods in place. It is oddly difficult to then connect the ipod onto the top of the speaker without them.

-The remote control is slightly thicker than a credit card and is very cheaply made. It also is very easy to misplace!

-Without the remote, you can do very little. This is probably my biggest complaint about the system. Currently, my husband has misplaced the remote somewhere and now the only thing we can do is adjust the volume through the volume control on the back. Without the remote, you are pretty much stuck with manually going up to the speaker and selecting songs. However, any control over the different output features (bass/treble, etc.) is now gone. All we can do is adjust volume, which is disappointing. I would have preferred more controls on the speakers itself.

Overall, this is one of the best speaker systems I have heard for the ipod. Minus the remote, which is cheaply made, easily misplaced and absolutely essential, the price you pay for the speakers is worth every penny. Be prepared to devote space for this item, as it is too heavy to move around easily once it is moved into place.

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First of all, I love this thing, but I need to start my review by making sure that you understand just how large this speaker system is: 22 x 8 x 7.2 inches ; 22 pounds. When I first ordered this, I was kind of fooled by the picture, it looks much smaller for some reason... and then a gigantic box arrived at my door. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought that, because I showed my friend the product page and she said, "oh, that little speaker is what you got?" So maybe they need a picture of it on an entertainment center or something, so you can get a sense of the size. Anyway, it's quite large, but I love that about it now.

Although it's primary purpose appears to be for your IPod, and it comes with many different mounts, so that it can fit any kind of ipod under the sun, it became clear to me relatively quickly, that a speaker this fantastic would have to become the crowning glory of my living room. You can have three different things hooked up to the speakers at any given time, so I keep my TV, Ipod, and a jack for my computer always ready. And conveniently, the remote has a handy "input select" so that you can easy switch between those 3 options. About the Ipod... you can use any MP3 player, as long as it has a jack, which as far as I'm aware, they all do. The only caveat would be that you couldn't use the remote to control the mp3 player.

I'm no expert, but the sound on this speaker is awesome! It gets really loud, the bass, everything, just sounds great! My step father is an engineer with Bose, and he's very loyal to them, and a man of few words, but I asked his opinion of the speaker and he did say that it was a very good speaker ; ) So as far as an expert opinion, that's all that I can personally offer you. The only problem that I have with the speakers, is that I think the remote is kind of chintzy. I would think that for a product this expensive, that they could have put a little bit more effort into the remote, or at least somehow made the speakers compatible with a universal remote. It's the exact same kind of remote that comes with $50 (or less) electronics. Maybe even sell a better remote on their website?

Overall though, I highly recommend these speakers. The fact that they're compatible with an Ipod is probably the least impressive thing about them; at least to me. In my house, they're my all around, go to speakers, and I just can't get enough!

Sirius SPR1 Sportster Satellite Radio Receiver

Sirius SPR1 Sportster Satellite Radio Receiver
  • Enjoy more than 120 digital-quality channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment from coast to coast
  • Enhanced sports features include personalized team logo startup and shutdown screen, game alert to let you know when your team is playing
  • Select channels, browse categories, change display settings with remote control
  • Home and car docking kits (must be purchased separately) enable use in office, home, car, boat, and more
  • Measures 4.4 x 2.8x 1.1inches(W x D x H)

I've owned a Sportster for about 3 months now. I am happy with the unit and its features, and even happier with Sirius programming.

This unit is smaller than past portable units and features the latest chipset that offers many new features. You also have the ability to switch the unit between green and amber illumination (you can even mix the two). And an RF modulator is built into the Sportster so that you can easily listen to it on car or other FM radios.

The unit offers the ability to select your favorite NFL team and be reminded whenever your team is playing a game--thus the name "Sportster"(all NFL games are broadcast on Sirius). This unit was a great choice even though I don't like listening to sports games.

This unit offers 30 presets spread over three "bands." Having this many presets is important when you have a service offering 65 completely commercial-free music channels and over 50 talk, news, sports and entertainment channels.

You can also use the 10 preset buttons to directly enter a channel number if you first press the jog/dial button. Navigating channels is further simplified by a "Category" button that allows you to scroll through the different categories of programming (Pop, Rock, Country, News, Talk/Entertainment, etc.).

It also features a new "jump" button. With this button you can jump back and forth from whatever channel you are listening to to the traffic and weather channel for your area. Sirius currently offers 10 channels of continually-updated traffic and weather that cover 20 of the largest metropolitan areas. When I press the jump button for San Diego traffic, this unit automatically waits to switch me to the S.D./L.A. traffic channel until it begins San Diego information (the channel switches between San Diego and L.A. information every 4 minutes). If your city is not covered, you can assign another channel (like CNN) to the jump button.

If you are listening to your favorite song, or a program you really enjoy (like "Car Talk" on the NPR channels), you can just press the "Memo" button and if your Sportster is on, a beep and on-screen message will tell you whenever your song or program is playing. You can store 20 songs and/or programs this way.

There are some technical issues with the Sportster. I've spoken to several tech reps, and it seems some of these problems were due to the early car cradles for this unit (car cradles allow installation of the Sportster in your car and feature a "line out" jack for direct connection with head units offering auxillary inputs). I had to swap mine out a few times to get one that would work.

One problem that hasn't been solved seems to be common to all Sirius receivers using the new chipset. Sometimes the unit will play at a slower speed (like a 45 record played at 33 speed) when you turn it on. This is always resolved by turning the unit off and on again, and it happens very infrequently.

I chose to buy a 4-year, over-the-counter-swap service agreement with my Sportster, and I highly recommend a service contract to anybody who buys a Sportster (or any other portable satellite receiver).

I do experience signal loss while driving around town. I lose the satellite signal (which is line-of-sight) about every sixth time I drive under a bridge or overpass. The addition of more ground repeaters, which amplify the signal on the ground, will solve this problem over time.

Sirius is currently only officially available in the continental U.S. due to licensing issues. But I have driven over 1,000 miles south from San Diego to Cabo San Lucas (at the tip of the Baja Peninsuala in Mexico) with excellent reception throughout both trips.

A home kit, boombox and additional car kits are available so that you can listen to your Sportster virtually anywhere. Of course, with either you will need an unobstructed location for the antenna. The most difficult part of setting up your Sportster is running the antenna cable to the unit. Though the cable is very small, you do have to find a path for it, and this can be particularly difficult in a car where the antenna must be outside and the radio inside (some people do locate the antenna on the dash, but results seem mixed--external mounting is much preferred). The car antenna included with the Sportster car kit is magnetic (the magnet is very strong).

Sirius satellite radio is as valuable as cable TV. Once you have it, you won't want to do without it. And this Sportster unit allows you to take full advantage of the vast programming Sirius offers. I would have given 5 stars if it weren't for the ongoing (infrequent) technical issue. But with the service contract, I know I'll always be able to switch to any redesigned unit.

Buy Sirius SPR1 Sportster Satellite Radio Receiver Now

A couple of quick hits on the equipment:

1) Unit is considerably bigger than the Roady2, but the display is bigger and the buttons are easier to use.

2) Jump button is an excellent idea, it switches to traffic right when the report is due to start.

3) Home and Car reception has been excellent in the NYC area, with some dropouts in Manhattan. I use the FM transmitter cable, and have had no problems with it, no small feat in NYC.

4) Had no problem installing into my 2005 Altima. Slapped the antenna onto the roof, ran the wire through the rear door molding, under the passenger seat to the unit. For the home, put the antenna on my windowsill and reception is fine.

5) Three bands of presets. I use seperate bands for music, sports and news.

And on the service:

1) Much stronger music programming than XM, based on the 3-day internet trials I took on both services. I find myself listening to the Spectrum and Sirius Disorder the most. Plenty of offerings for my wife, and a channel for the kid's music. The Jazz and Classical offerings are solid.

2) The news and entertainment offerings are basically the same for Sirius and XM.

3) Sirius has a stronger sports package, with the NFL, NCAA, NBA and NHL.

4) XM has an additional fee for premium channels, while Sirius does not.

5) XM charges for internet streams, Sirius does not. It must be noted that Sirius currently only streams its music channels.

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I really have enjoyed this radio.Being a ham operator,i have for many years listened to stations from around the world such as the BBC and Radio Netherlands.But many have stopped shortwave broadcasts to the USA.Now i can listen to all of them here 24 hours a day!!The news content is the main reason i purchased the radio.Cable t.v. costs way too much and i cannot use a satellite dish as my apartment faces the north.$12.00 is so cheap in comparison.I have hooked mine up to a computer sub-woofer stereo system in my bedroom.Sound is incredible with no interference or FM drift .Occasionally though the satellites change their orbit just a bit(even though they are supposed to be geo-stationary)and the signal disappears.So i have positioned the antenna around the room to discern where my options are for reception.If you place the antenna outside facing east or close to that,the signal will be excellent.Since Sirius uses 3 satellites,the odds of not receiving a signal are nil.The radio is very user friendly that an 8 year old can use it with no manual.The music assortment is splendid offering anything one desires.I listen to classical and even though there are only 3 classical channels,it is nice to hear what they choose to play.(although they do play a lot of the warhorses:Beethoven,Mozart,etc.).I have 3000 cd's of classical so this really does not concern me but others will really enjoy the "no commercials" aspect of the music channels.My wife likes the Classic radio programs channel and i look forward to the NHL broadcasts.

Sirius offers a better lineup in my opinion(for me)and even though it is a little more expensive per month,three satellites as opposed to one give me a little more confidence in continued service.I drove to Seattle from Portland with the car kit in place and never had a dead spot!!Listened to anything i wanted without having to change the channel when the signal faded as with FM.

I have the car kit,home docking kit,and plan on buying the boombox when it is available.Buy this radio and you will enjoy it!!BTW,when the radio gets warm,it is normal.The heat sink inside is distributing the heat well and with the display always on it is a good thing that it does not use batteries as it would eat them fast.

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This generation of Sirius plug and plays is the first that is competitive with XM's equipment. The Sportster is a nearly the same size as the SkyFi. It does run quite a bit warmer than the SkyFi, but in my 3 months of using the Sporster, the heat hasn't been a problem.

For me, reception is excellent in Kansas. It doesn't drop out under trees or overpasses, as some have reported. At home, I had to stick the antenna outside of a north-facing window to get a signal, but that was fairly easy, and now I don't get any dropouts at home either.

My only complaint about the Sporster is the small remote. The buttons are way too small, and it's impossible to use in the dark, since most of the buttons feel the same.

In terms of programming, the main selling point of Sirius is their sports programming. With every game (with each teams feeds) of the NFL, selected games of the NBA and NHL (when they finally play), and football and men's basketball from 26 NCAA teams, including the Longhorns, Cowboys, Sooners, Cornhuskers, and Jayhawks. The have also added every game of the NCAA tournament, as well as live English Primer Soccer.

It can show the scores for all sports on the screen, which is a big plus, with the Sportster's GameZone, which sorts play-by-play by league, and displays the scores from each broadcast at the same time. The sections are: "NFL Zone", "NBA Zone", and "Other Sports", which is used for the college broadcasts.

Their music channels and talk offerings are also strong, with two stations of NPR programming, the entire schedule of Air America, and several original comedy shows on their two comedy stations, including one hosted by Jim Brewer.

The Sporster is a great unit, no matter if you're replacing an old receiver or experiencing Sirius for the first time, you will love it!

I would rate this 5-stars except for the antenna.

Quick hits on the radio and Sirius programming package both are great. My concern is with the antenna that came with the unit. I used to have an XM Roady2 and switched to Sirius for the college and NFL packages. Also the music choices on Sirius are a ton better.

My big problem is the signal, or lack of, I get far too often with the Sportster. The signal strength I got from XM is far better than I am getting from the Sportster. If I am under any obstacle, even small ones like leafless tress, my Sirius signal drops, if not altogether goes out. Even in broad clear areas, my antenna seems to need to have it's front pointed to the SSW, or else it will lose signal if pointed elsewhere. Needless to say, when driving this is an issue. This was not the case with the XM Roady2, which gave me a strong signal no matter where I was, and using it in the same exact way I am using the Sportster.

I have purchased the SIR-MINI antenna, in hopes that this will fix it (I read good reviews on how people's signals improved with it). If not, I will have to be calling Sirius to figure this out.

Pioneer DEH-3300UB CD Receiver with iPod Direct Control and USB Input

Pioneer DEH-3300UB CD Receiver with iPod Direct Control and USB Input
  • Single-DIN AM/FM radio, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3/WMA/WAV, USB, iPod/iPhone receiver
  • 4 x 50W MOSFET amplifier with one RCA preamp output (2V)
  • Detachable faceplate with 10-character LCD display, red key illumination
  • Includes front panel auxiliary input, USB port with direct iPod control
  • Advanced Sound Retriever restores audio from compressed digital recordings

I bought and returned this unit. The main reason is because the screen is too bright, and the brightness cannot be adjusted. That means it cannot be adjusted in the menu and there's no illumination wire on the connector that can be controlled by the headlight setting.

The screen is very bright. Excellent on a sunny day but glaringly bright and distracting at night. The black background of the display is even washed out by the brightness to the point where it's not quite black when the unit is on.

Also this unit is lacking a High Pass Filter. My speakers were getting distorted at moderate to high volume levels. A HPF would solve this. This feature existed on its predecessor, the 3200.

Also lacking is the EQ. The 5-band graphic EQ from previous models has been replaced with a 3-band bass/mid/high.

On the plus side the mechanics on the 3300 are excellent. The buttons have a great tactile feel and there is plenty of grip length on the control knob. I tried out the 3200 in the store and the 3300 by comparison has better buttons.

But the brightness of the screen and lack of HPF were the real deal-breakers for me. I returned it and bought one of last year's models, the DEH-5200HD.

As for the DEH-5200HD it is an excellent unit. It has a HPF, which stops the speaker distortion and helps the overall sound quality. Plus the 5-band EQ allows for better fine tuning, and the brightness is adjustable. Finally, I found I really like the HD radio feature as it opened up additional FM channels that I didn't have access to before.

Overall I'd recommend buying a 2010 Pioneer model instead of their 2011 models. The 4300 also lacks a HPF, but at least the brightness can be tuned to 1 custom setting. It wasn't immediately clear though from my reading if the 4300 allows for a preset low/high setting. That could make switching brightness tedious.

Pioneer should always have a HPF and low/high brightness setting at the very least. In addition they should have an illumination wire on all their radios so brightness is set to low/high automatically when the headlights are turned on/off.

The DEH-5200HD is a better unit in my own experience, and based on looking at the specs their other 2010 models are a better choice than the 2011 models since they have removed the HPF and brightness settings.

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Works great. As i could not find any info anywhere about this being compatible with Android as well it indeed does work fine. Since not everyone in the world likes or has an Apple device as it only says it will play Ipod and Iphones thru the usb port on the front.

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Honestly, I don't know why some people have given it such poor reviews. Now, I just received the item and perhaps I should wait a few months to see how this thing will do, but so far, I am nothing but impressed. It took me about 20 minutes to install it, and I'm not extremely knowledgable about such things. All the complaints and gripes that make this sound like it is only decent are such minor things that I can't see why people put up such a fuss. The LCD front display is bright, but it's not blinding and I think it's needed if you want to see it clearly during the day. The controls are not overly confusing as some have said. They take a little getting use to, but like anything worthwhile, it just takes some time and practice.

Honestly, this item is great and I have nothing negative to say about it. My speakers sound as good as they are going to now, and the ipod control is amazing. Scrolling through my playlists or artists is very easy to do and I can find things quickly. A good FM transmitter and charger will cost you half this price, so why not go a little farther and get something you won't regret and makes your ipod music clear, with no static at all? I honestly love this device and for the price you really can't go wrong.

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In general this is a decent entry-level car CD/USB/iPod receiver. One of the most important improvements in this model from the previous year's version was reworking the main function knob to a rotary encoder and push button only, with direction-pad functions moved to separate buttons. On the earlier unit, it would have been a frustrating game attempting to turn up the volume, for instance, without accidentally pushing the "joystick" and changing a track or station.

At this point in my ownership, the biggest drawback is the lack of AAC file support. If you're like me, you might be browsing several models that support MP3 and AAC (not to mention WMA) directly from a USB thumb drive, but fail to spot those that do *not* include AAC. Does this make (the DEH-3300UB) a bad product? No. But it feels a little bit like a fine-print gotcha.

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I bought one of these today for the used Acura I just bought (unexpectedly found it on sale, cheap!). It's not installed yet, but based on a similar Pioneer I put in another vehicle last year, I expect this one to be *very* worth the price. I've been buying Pioneer decks since the early 90's because I use the radio function most of the time, and the Pioneer "SuperTuner" has consistently been the strongest FM receiver I've found,at least in the low-to-mid-level decks I buy.

I wouldn't have written this review, but about the bad reviews based on losing the memory when the ignition is switched off? IT'S NOT THE RADIO'S FAULT. All modern vehicles have a constant 12 volt line to supply voltage to the radio to maintain the memory settings. If your radio is losing memory settings when the key is turned off, then the radio's main power connection is wired to something other than the intended constant 12 volt supply. So, it's like blaming your TV for going dark when a tree falls across the power lines down the road and knocks out the power to your house.

So, next time, consider finding somebody who knows what they're doing to install your car stereo. I'm just sayin'.

Cheers!

C Crane Co CCRadio-EP CEP AM FM Analog Radio with VOZ Stereo Headphones

C Crane Co CCRadio-EP CEP AM FM Analog Radio with VOZ Stereo Headphones
  • Excellent AM and FM Reception
  • Headphone jack, Line in for External Audio
  • Built-in, flip up carry handle, AC Adapter Included or runs on optional 4 D Batteries
  • Bass and Treble knobs can be adjusted for best music or voice rendition
  • External AM and FM antenna connectors

Picks up AM stations better than my other radios. Very easy to operate. Convenient to use and compact to store.

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Wife likes functionality of radionothing fancy but it works well and has clear reception, including some smaller distant stations.

Sony ICF-C218 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio (Black)

Sony ICF-C218 Automatic Time Set Clock Radio
  • Automatic time set
  • Automatic Daylight Savings Time
  • Battery backup ensures correct time
  • 0.9-inch green LED display
  • Single alarm

Not the niftiest, nor the most elegant clock radio available but the price and features make it about as good a buy as you'll find.

All the important features battery backup, automatic time synch, intuitive alarm setting, good (but gentle on the eyes) time visibility.

There's a dual alarm version available for a few bucks more too.

We liked this one enough to buy another for our guest bedroom guests won't be befuddled by this model...

BTW, radio isn't high fidelity but its not bad, a good Sony quality product.

UPDATE 10/28/09: Two years down the road and the two of these radios we bought are still going strong. One of the things I failed to mention in the original review was that this unit does NOT, repeat, does NOT have a power brick just a nice old fashioned wall plug on a wire sweet. I take note of the comment by others about the intensity (or lack thereof) of the clock LED. Myself, and upon further inquiry, my wife find the intensity to be 'just right'. Perhaps there is some variation in the units or maybe its just a matter of your sleeping environment. We're former Sierra Nevada 'country' folks who now live on the edge of a small Ohio town. Between the street light, the neighbor's lights, the wifi router and a couple of those green 'limelite' nightlights we DO have sufficient ambient light at night to move around without stubbing the old toes. BTW, I've dropped both of our units more than once, and accidentally kicked one across our guest suite no discernable damage. Oh yes, the wife says that they'd show the dust less if they were white.

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I've had this for 3 days now, and i'm very happy with it...and i put alot of research in everything i buy. The Radio works perfectly, picks up all the stations clearly, the alarms sound starts out soft and gets progressively louder..so you will get up. The Built in battery is also a plus, that way i'll never lose track of time.

for this price this is a great product..and oh yes huge green lights for the display and many more features...wake up to the radio or the buzzer...

enjoy....

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Unfortunately, I am not able to rate the Sony ICF-C218 as highly as my colleagues. Not that this clock radio doesn't have numerous good features. The radio got good reception and the sound was of better than average quality. The controls, as others have pointed out, are intuitive and easy to use even without ever resorting to the instructions. The alarm, as is common, can wake you up either with the radio or with a buzzer. The only missing feature that would have been nice would be a dual alarm, though for the price this lack cannot be complained of.

The problem with the unit, and it is a serious one, is the brightness of the display. Of the other two reviewers who've rated the ICF-C218 at three stars, curiously one complains that the display is too dim and the other that it is too bright. My experience agrees with the later. I didn't notice until I tried sleeping beside this unit, but once your eyes are accustomed to the darkness the nicely-sized display is simply far too bright. It casts shadows on my ceiling and was a distraction when trying to fall asleep; I was forced to angle it away from myself or face the opposite direction. This is simply inexcusably poor design in an alarm clock and is a deal breaker for me; I'm going to be returning my unit.

A more minor complaint would be the AM/PM indicator. Most clocks have a single light that is lit when it is post meridiem (or ante meridiem, depending on the model), but this one has two lights, one about 7 mm above the other, which indicate morning or afternoon. That's fine when the room is light and you can read the AM or PM text next to the two lights, but at night you'll simply have to remember which light is above the other one and how far each is from the top of the display. Not a big deal for most, but another small design flaw.

This isn't a bad clock for the price (Wal-Mart carries it for even less, $9.96) but the brightness issue makes it unusable for me. The addition of a dimmer switch, fixing the AM/PM indicator, and adding a second alarm setting would make this clock easily a five star item, even at a slightly higher price.

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The Sony ICF-C218 FM/AM Clock Radio is a capable and inexpensive clock radio that gets the job done quite nicely. It lacks some functionality such as a dimmable display but its ease of operation, decent sounding radio and overall ease of operation make up for any shortcomings.

It has a battery backup provided by a CR2032 battery and the clock is preset with the correct EST time. Just plug it in and you're good to go. If you live in another time zone, it's a simple matter to adjust the time zone to your zone by using the time zone button on the top of the unit.

I like that the FM antenna is within the power cord. There is no extra wire hanging out of the back of the unit like so many other clock radios seem to have.

Sound quality is quite decent given the small size of the radio. I also felt that the non-digital tuning was good and did not have any problems finding and locking in stations to listen to.

The alarm is nice in that it has a gradual ramping up of urgency. I find alarms quite obnoxious and an alarm that starts off slowly is preferred. That's what this alarm does and as more time elapses, it speeds up the frequency of beeps giving you plenty of time to turn it off before it reaches "full speed."

It's a great value and I like it. The only thing I would wish for is a display that has a setting to adjust the brightness.

By the way, I found this at WalMart for just slightly under $10.

I was so happy with this purchse, it really has a lot for such a small price. As soon as I pluged it in within seconds it had not only set the time but the date too. It small enough to fit on the night stand, easy to set for the alarm,and it has great reception on the radio. I live in an area where there are so many trees you have to go outside to get cell service. I have several Sony radios and cd players in the house and they are the only brand I have not had a problem in getting great reception on FM and AM, and they have such incredible sound......

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.

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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.

N8000 3G Smart Phone /Android 4.0.3 + MTK6575 Chip + 5.0 Inch Touch Screen

N8000 3G Smart Phone /Android 4.0.3 + MTK6575 Chip + 5.0 Inch Touch Screencan i put in a tmoible sim card and i have it work with that company?

does this phone need to have the internet connected with it in order to use it??