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Gear4 Renew SleepClock Sleep Monitor for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

Measure your sleep with no wristbands or headbands to wear.
Select your wake up time and start monitoring.
Listen to FM or iPod as you settle down.
Enjoy a better night's sleep and compare information withprevious nights to track and improve your sleep.
Track how long it takes for you to fall asleep.

I have never written a review about anything, but I felt compelled to let everyone know how amazing this clock is.

I researched all of the sleep monitors before deciding to buy this.I debated for a while if I should spend so much on a clock, but thought I would try it, and if I didn't like it I was going to return it.

I have been using it every night for the past 2 months, and now I can't imagine ever going to bed at night without it, it is that incredible!!!

I call it a clock, but it is so much more than that! There are so many things I love about it, I don't even know where to start.

First of all, it is the most UNCOMPLICATED thing to use...all I do is click once on the APP on my iphone to let it know I am going to bed, and I dock my iphone on my bedside table.

That's it!

I just get in bed and go to sleep!

There is nothing attached to my body, no headbands, no wristbands, nothingat all!

While my iphone is charging all night, this is monitoring EVERYTHING about my sleep.

It wakes me up in the morning during my lightest sleep, within a preset window of time that I need to be awake by.

The alarm in the morning is NOT ALARMING, which I appreciate. I wake up to the most beautiful music that gently increases in volume.

I know it is working and has found the best moment to wake me, because never in my life have I woken up so peacefully, not feeling the need to hit the snooze button to get a few more minutes of sleep!

I then remove my fully charged iphone, and whenever I have time I can look at my "easy to read" sleep stats,

which gives incredibly accurate information such as:

-how many minutes it took for me to fall asleep

-exactly what time and for how long I am in both LIGHT sleep and DEEP sleep

-how many interruptions during the night, including the exact time I woke up and and for how long I stayed awake before falling asleep again

-the amount of time I spent in bed

-the amount of time I was actually sleeping

There is actually so much more information, and there are so many more ways that I can use it, such as answer questions about things my day that might affect my sleep (coffee alcohol, exercise, stress and many more).

Also, I could type notes or thoughts about that particular nights sleep.

All of my stats and information for each night will be there forever, and I can look at all of the information listed above averaged by the week, month or year.

It tells me my average amount of sleep compared to others that are my age.

It gives me a sleep score, and explains to me, in full sentences, conclusions about my sleep habits and patterns, and continues with suggestions to help me improve my habits.

There are graphs that keep track of things such as my amount of deep sleep over a months time.

It figures out a target of the best amount of sleep for me!

There are minute by minute graphs of exactly what was happening all night long.

I really do believe that it is accurately monitoring me, because there have been nights when I wake up and look at the clock to see what time it is. Then if I have a hard time falling back asleep for what seems like forever, sure enough the graph shows that I was not sleeping at that time. That is mind boggling, almost unbelievable that it is so accurate.

At night, when it knows I need to go to bed so I can meet my target, it makes a little noise (like a text message would make) reminding me that it is time for me to go to bed. Seems like that would annoy me, but I actually appreciate it!

I am so glad that I decided to buy this! I get information that I could only get if I were sleeping in a sleep lab, and yet there are many nights that I forget that it is monitoring me... because pretty much all I had to do was dock my iphone at night (which I have always done anyway,so that it has a full charge in the morning).

Oh, and I should also mention that you can preset 5 radio stations in, or you can listen to your own music on your iphone, ipod, etc. The speaker has great sound, which kind of surprised me. You can set it to play a certain amount of time at night, then it will automatically go off so you will be able to sleep in silence.

By the way, it probably sounds like I work for the company,and let me assure you that I don't, and don't know anyone who does. I just think this is an incredible tool, and from my research, there is nothing like it, not even close.

Worth every single penny, and now that I know what it has done for me (and will continue to do) I would have paid more!

Buy Gear4 Renew SleepClock Sleep Monitor for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Now

I've had the renew sleep clock for 3 weeks now and love it. It's so interesting to see how well I sleep night to night. There is a journal feature that allows you to enter daily activities and things you consume such as coffee, food, etc that can impact how well you sleep. I feel the results on the sleep report have been very accurate especially the number of time I wake up through the night and when they occur letting the dog out, etc.... By looking at the journal results and comparing my sleep scores, i've made some changes in some of the things I do and has resulted in better sleep.

I've let my father borrow the clock to measure his deep sleep vs light sleep the results have let him to believe he may have sleep apnea and he is going to having a home sleep test to see if he needs to seek other treatment.

I definitely recommend the clock!!

Read Best Reviews of Gear4 Renew SleepClock Sleep Monitor for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Here

This is a very "unusual" clock, to say the least. There are some "interesting" things about it. . . but also some things you should know, especially before paying this much for an alarm clock.

First and foremost, you need to have a want. . . need. . . and desire for a clock which is going to record your sleep patterns. If this is what really want. . . need. . and desire, then this might be the alarm clock for you.

Next, you really need an iPad. Granted, it will also work with an iPhone and a newer iPod Touch. . . . but in reality, you're not going to be able to see what's going on very well without an iPad. FYI, it will even work without one of these devices, but then you just have a VERY expensive alarm clock, because without a device to go with it, you will not be able to see your results. Also, having a device makes it MUCH easier to set-up the alarm clock.

Other things you need to know:

* You have to sleep on the same side of the bed as the clock is located. The alarm clock also needs to be six-inches above your mattress.

* The display on the alarm clock itself is WAY too small. For the most part, it just tells you the day-of-the-week, and the time. . . but. . . if you're very far from the clock you're probably not going to be able to tell the time, and it's also not very bright.

* There is no battery back-up. This is a HUGE mistake. My power went-out last night just for a moment, and I just happened to wake-up when it came back on. The iPad thought I was awake and had turned-off the alarm. It was waiting for me to tell it how I was feeling (tired, good, great. . . which it asks you after each time you turn the alarm off). If I had not woken-up, then no alarm would have sounded. You might want to consider getting your own battery back-up (like for your computer) to work with this alarm clock.

* You give the alarm clock a "range" in which you would like to be woken-up. For example, between 800A and 830A. Then, based upon your sleep pattern, the alarm clock will choose the "right" time to wake you up. If there is no "right time" determined, then it will wake you up at the latest time, which is 830A, in this example.

* There are lots of different "sounds" to wake you. The radio. . . music on your device. . .chirping birds. . . drums. . . etc. etc. etc.

* I don't think it's 100% accurate. Though I don't think it really could be. By using radio waves, it can tell if you're moving. If you get out of bed, to get a drink of water for example, then it knows you're awake, because there's nothing in the bed. But if you wake-up and you're in bed, it can't really always tell if you're awake or not. I can only assume that all of the information it has is based upon your movements in bed. There is a line going across the screen when you tell it that you're going to sleep. If you move, then the line goes "crazy" like an EKG machine. If you're still, then the line is more-or-less flat.

* It charges your device, which is nice, but I don't find it the easiest thing to slip my iPad into, but perhaps that's just me.

* Once you've been using the clock for several days, you can tap the "recommendations" button, and the system will give you information about your sleep habits and what (if anything) you might try to improve. The longer you use it. . .the more data you will have.

I have an iDesign Cube Alarm Clock by Brookstone which I've been using for the past year and really like which I'm going back to. Granted, it doesn't work with my iPad, but it does work with my iPod Touch and it has battery back-up, which I just can't do without. Not that the "SleepClock" is a "bad" item. . . It's just that the iDesign Cube meets my needs better.

iDesign Cube Alarm Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone Devices

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I wish I had saved the packing box so I could easily send this thing back. I find the product description very deceptive! This device might work fine with older Apple stuff, but forget it if you have anything new. The picture looks like an iPad mini, I assume it's a iPod touch. Supposedly the iPad and iPhone are supported. The sleepclock only has a large style (30 pin) connector so if you want to use a iPad mini or iPhone 5 it will have to sit off to the side connected by a cable. Support was not helpful. They told me:

"All of our testing with the iPad mini/ iPad with retina display have been in conjunction with a authentic Apple lightning connector and I reconfirm that that all of the aforementioned devices have worked in conjunction with one another."

My iPad with retina display (ipad 3) has 30 pin connector and plugs right in, but yields a message about the device not being supported. I am very frustrated.

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Tells me what I want to Know about my sleeping habits and lets me know that \I sleep better than thougt.

Wakes me very softly to any sounds or music I like.

Would recomend sleep clock to everyone.

Know of no other product like it or good as it.

Used this product for 2 weeks but this is enough time to test it.

The only dislike is that it didn't come with an Australian addapter'

Motorola SLVR L7 Unlocked Cell Phone with Camera, MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot--International Vers

i have had so many problems with this phone and it has only been two days. They sent a European charger with a converter so when my phone wouldn't charge, I figured that was the problem. After spending $25 on a new charger, I learned that it was the phone that had the problem. The user's manual is in French (luckily I know some French) so it is no use to most buyers. The phone came with a warranty, but no contact info to act on it. My sister and brother-in-law both bought SLVRs from AT&T and love them, so I would recommend that route. DO NOT order it from here.

I didn't buy this through Amazon; I got it through Verizon 2 years ago. It was the best phone I owned, and I wish I could have kept it if it didn't wear out. It is thin, has great sound quality, and the ringtones/ringer were crystal clear, even two years later. Only downside was the phone would freeze once in a while and I'd have to pull the battery out, but that would happen only once every few months.

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I love my Slvr L7 it looks great, it works just fine.. small, convenient, easy to use and cute. I had some big problems with my seller that I'm STILL trying to resolve (MobilePC, if you're interested). For one thing, I didn't realize that "International version" means there's no US charger which they later told me about. For another, I hear the Slvr's can be kind of temperamental and the first two I received from MobilePC absolutely were. After I found a good seller, I got one that works with my SIM and is everything I could've hoped for!

Read Best Reviews of Motorola SLVR L7 Unlocked Cell Phone with Camera, MP3/Video Player, MicroSD Slot--International Vers Here

The Slvr is not worth buying.

My SIM card kept slipping out of the bracket that is supposed to hold it in place. The camera is less than impressive although it does have zoom. I thought it would be great to have a phone compatible with iTunes, but the lacking functionality of the phone overall made it hard to enjoy. I also thought the clarity of the screen and images was very poor. The phone had terrible reception in areas where I normally have no problems and I was using the same provider.This was all relative to whether or not my SIM card was actually registering as having been inserted. Bottomline...I was disappointed with the Motorola Slvr. I'm sticking with my LG for now.

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Denon AVR3310CI 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver

Networking capability opens up your AV system to audio and jpeg photo streaming and Internet radio.
HDMI 1.3a Repeating (5 input, 1 output) provides one cable connection between the receiver and TV
1080p HDMI connectivity supports Blu-ray disc surround sound formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and dts-HR
Dolby Laboratories new Pro Logic IIz Matrix decoding featuring front height effects channels
Audyssey MultEQ, Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ

The AVR 3310CI is loaded with nice features. Excellent sound quality, inputs for just about anything, and decent menus for setting up and using the receiver. The amplifiers give a very good quality sound, not as good as my MacIntosch system but not bad for the money. Construction is good and it runs fairly cool being it is in a somewhat enclosed area. Technical support is good in that there is little wait time when calling.

Now for the bad. I have now gone through 3 AVR 3310CI receivers trying to get one that works. I believe that most if not all of the issues I have are due to firmware problems as the hardware seems to work just fine. I would try to update the firmware but there are even problems with this function as it takes forever (many hours) and most of the time it will abort or hang in the middle of the download/update process so you have to try and try again. My first unit eventually got into a hang state in that it couldn't update the firmware and as a result the receiver just kept on trying with no success. During this time the other functions were not available. According to Denon there was no over the phone fix for this problem and suggested I either return it to the store and send it in for repair but that I am responsible for the shipping costs.

My second (and as of Saturday my 3rd unit) has two out-of-the-box issues. First is when connecting to Internet radio I get a "Please Wait" window. Sometimes this hangs the system and sometimes I can recover from it. On my recently installed unit this past weekend I immediately got this message and waited 15 minutes or longer and still no resolution. I turned off/on the unit and after a while the message went away and I was able to use the Internet function.

The second problem is when selecting the setup menu button. The menu comes up fine but within 5 seconds it starts to go dimmer and dimmer and to the point that you cannot see the menu on the TV screen anymore. This occurred with units number 2 and 3. I am afraid to do a firmware update due to the many problems that I had with the first unit and I was told that others had the same problem (even Denon admits to this and recommended to me NOT to perform updates).

I have spent many hours on the phone with the Denon Techies and they say to just send the unit back and they will repair it. However, I have to pay for the shipping costs (estimated at $50). I refuse do this on out-of-the-box problems. These are design problems and not normal failures.

So at this point in time I'm considering switching to a different model number and hope that it has a more stable design.

One other area is in regards to the search and general navigating capabilities on the Internet. Given the price of the AVR 3310CI this function could be a lot more sophisticated as the current function is pretty basic.

Buy Denon AVR3310CI 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver Now

I've had my Denon 3310CI AVR for 6 months now and it has been working fine. That is until I did the firmware update. Something has gone wrong with the programming in the system. The main remote does not work as it should and gives unpredictable results. The unit no longer connects to the internet and I can't see any network activity lights at the back of the box. When switching from once source to another, for example from DVD to PS3, there is no sound but there is video. I have to turn off the unit and turn it back on to get the sound. I'm unsure what to do now. If I had seen these reviews before I would not have upgraded the firmware because the unit was working fine out of the box. There were no problems during the firmware update. The power did not go off and internet connectivity was never lost. So, it totally confuses me as to what the problem could be. I'm currently researching the net for answers.

So in conclusion, you can buy the unit but don't do the firmware updates.

Read Best Reviews of Denon AVR3310CI 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver Here

I had been scoping out Denon's and other brands for a while. I finally decided on this unit due to it's features and price point. I highly recommend the Denon website for comparing different XX10CI models. So far, I have been happy with my purchase. It has a whole host of features including up-converting all inputs to HDMI, HD Radio, Sirius capable, 5 HDMI inputs, 3 audio zones, and completely re-assignable digital/analog inputs. The ability to reassign different audio and video inputs on the fly has turned out to be quite useful, something I did not anticipate. Overall sound quality has been superb so far.

One downside is menus can be a little slow to navigate through, and the GUI isn't too sharp looking. It's certainly not the XMB from Sony, but it's functional. If I wanted cool looking menus with overpriced sound, I would have bought a Sony. Features that this unit does not have include dual HDMI outputs (I don't really foresee myself having two TV's in one room), and the ability to network wirelessly. I plan on purchasing a Denon iPod dock (the -3w or -51w, I don't know if the -51w is worth the price difference) which should allow wireless connectivity to my computer. One downside that surprised me was the need to have HDCP HDMI devices connected. I have an older Motorola cable box from Comcast with DVI output, and the 3310CI would not pass the video from the cable box using a DVI/HDMI cable, so I have to use component cables. Not a huge problem, but stupid IMO. Comcast told me they won't provide true HDMI boxes unless you pay for DVR (we already have it in another room, so I didn't need a second DVR), and HDCP is just another stupid security control.

One other downside, which I'm still toying with, is the ability to select inputs with the Comcast programmable remote. (For anybody who doesn't know, the standard Comcast remote is very powerful and can be fully reprogrammed, but they don't tell you this. There are many websites with more info on this.) My roommate has an older Denon that I was able to control inputs, volume, and power with the plain old gray Comcast remote. So far I just have the volume and power with the 3310CI, while the number pad isn't quite matching up to the input numbers on the back of the Denon remote.

I ended up picking up this unit at a certain popular electronics store for $1200. It was not an advertised sale in either their circular or on their weBsite, But the posted price appeared in their computer.

My advice is to wait till this thing goes on sale, but it's still worth a GOOD BUY at full price. (I think my hints were obvious enough, no?)

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There is a problem with Denon 2310/3310/4310 receiver line playing TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio track when connected to LG, Samsung or JVC Blu-Ray players. The receiver shows that it is receiving the HD audio signal from the player and the HD audio blue light comes on the front of the receiver but then instead of sound you get a "helicopter" like noise or no sound at all coming from the speakers. There are multiple reports from 2310,3310 and 4310 owners about this problem on AVS Forum.

The receiver plays sound fine when Blu-Ray player sending Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS or Multichannel PCM, but not theDolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio sound track. After I sent the receiver in for service to Denon NJ factory for repair, the receiver came back with the problem not repaired after 3 weeks in the service center. This is very unfortunate problem as the receiver has a great set of features

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This is my 2nd Denon receiver, the 1st of which is still working just fine after 9 years -justed need to upgrade to HDMI.

Set-up was very easy -almost suprisingly so -I'm running all HDMI -connected an LG blu ray player, a Direct TV HD DVR box, and an LG plasma tv -no problems whatsoever. No lipsyncing issues, no missing sound, etc, everything works as it should.

Speaker set-up was remarkably straightforward -I was dreading the day of hooking everything up, as I'm not the best doing this type of stuff, but even I was surprised at how simple the overall set-up was. 2 channel sterio listening is simply WOW -a true delight. While this unit sports many nifty features, the one that counts the most in my book, is audio playback quality (how good does the damn thing sound!) -and sound quality is this unit's main strength.

Sounds fantastic playing through a pair of B/W CM4s (also a CMC center channel and a Velodyne sub) -soundstage is wide and open, with crisp highs and solid, earth thumping lows -instrument separation is very nicely done -sounds like a live band is playing in your living room -Movies sountracks are spectacular in the Neo cinema mode. Video output is crystal clear. I've tried some DVDs, to see how well the upconversion is working and it looks really good to my eyes. Maybe not Blu ray good, but damn good -cannot complain one bit in this department either! Everything sounds so good, that I didn't even run Audessy feature as it already sounds good enough for my ears, but I'll try it out at a later time.

Input switching works fine -menus and GUI are not the best, but are simply enough. While other complain the remote is terrible, I'm perfectly fine with it -I've programmed it to act as the TV & Blu ray remote as well -nice to be able to consolidate a few remotes! The user manual is decent, though could be a bit more clear on a few points -that being said, I've haven't had any problems really getting anything to work if I spend a bit of time and dig deep enough in the manual.

I haven't even tried the online radio options or IPOD playback, etc -probably won't, but I've tried a USB drive, and that worked fine -nice to be able to play my 20GBs of music without ever leaving the couch. Build quality looks good and solid -a handsome piece of AV equipment -nothing evident to fault. I have NOT upgraded the firmware as everything seems to be working properly and unless I see a reason to do this, I probably won't. (mine seem to be one of the ones with the proper circuit boards; I believe some early models had problems with firmaware upgrades due to bad circuitry.)

Unit does run hot, so make sure you have adequate cooling / ventilation -Also, and the only thing which is baffling me a bit, is how to have the unit to play the audio put signal automatically -for example, if I play a Blu ray, I have to manually switch the sound from 2 channel stereo (which the unit automatically starts up in) to DTS cinema, etc. I have the mode set to output the correct format auomatically, but it doesn't seem to be doing that. If anyone knows a solution to this, please do let me know!

Got this unit on Amazon for approx. $600.00 bucks on a daily deal special -for that price, NOTHING comes close; At least not in sound quality and total, overall features. This unit is a very nice solution to those that want a reasonably priced receiver to handle their home theater needs, without sacrificing audio / video quality. (especially audio).

Sharp DKA1 i-Elegance Music System with Alarm Clock for iPod (White)

White iPod audio system with built-in docking station and AM/FM tuner
Pair of front-firing, full-range speakers and matching side-firing subwoofers
6-step electronic equalizer with flat, rock, classics, pop, vocal, and jazz modes
32 station presets; built-in alarm wakes to iPod or buzzer; includes remote
Measures 15.75 x 5.75 x 9.88 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

The Sharp DK-A1 is a solid choice if looking for a way to play your I-pod externally. The positives include: very good sound. My sister has the Bose sound system for her I-pod which costs over twice as much from what I paid, but does not sound any better. The Sharp casts very deep, full sound, with lots of base for such a small unit. The E-sound button magnifies the bass nicely, but will become distorted, if the sound is too loud with it on. The illuminated blue lights are a nice touch and look great at night. The general design is nicely laid out. The negatives are: Limited range with the remote. I can only use the remote if I am within 6 ft of the console. In addition I am unable to change the play lists from the remote. It will only control the sound level and allow you to change the songs from the same play lists. I would have liked if this system had a handle to carry it from room to room and had a built in antenna, rather than the external wires which are a nuance to disconnect and reconnect when moving the system. The display panel in the front of the unit only says I-pod when the I-pod is in use, rather than display the artist and song playing. You need to look at the display of the I-pod to get this information which isn't nearly as visible as the display on the unit. Also, the AM radio only gets adequate reception. In general, I do recommend the Sharp DK-A1 as it does deliver very good sound at an affordable price but wish it had better thought out features.

Buy Sharp DKA1 i-Elegance Music System with Alarm Clock for iPod (White) Now

I listened to a lot of docking stations before settling on this one. I started with the one I thought would have no peers the big "B" brand speaker. As I moved along in my search, the Sharp DKA1 had the bass sound that came closest to the big brand name docking station. Most other copycat brands sounded tinny. In addition to the DKA1 having rich, deep tones to complement the highs and mid-range sound, it has a built-in clock and an AM/FM radio with 40 presets. And the price for all of this is much less than the big brand item. It's the most bang-for-the-buck of any docking station available today based on my comparison with nearly 20 competitive products.

Read Best Reviews of Sharp DKA1 i-Elegance Music System with Alarm Clock for iPod (White) Here

For the current price listed on Amazon ($289) you'd be better off getting a BOSE Sound dock in my opinion.

But if you can get this unit for much less like I just did, it's a solid little unit. It looks and sounds great.

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I have had my Sharp DKA1 i-Elegance, for 4 years now, I also have the Bose sound dock and it can't compare to the sound of the Sharp, the sound fills the room, and sounds rich and powerful, the blue lights look great and makes it look sexy at night. I also have the Ihome Dock and a few others but the i-Elegance is my favorite, you can't beat the sound for the Price, it stands out and commands to be played, find a nice corner of the room sit it there and crank it up, and enjoy how music should sound...you can't go wrong with this purchase and you will love it, I Do!!!

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I purchased this for my daughters i-touch, and the sound is truley amazing.It does not however, charge the newest gen itouch, but I would place blame on Apple for that since the Sharp is not a brand new product on the market.

50 392 LR41 Watch Alkaline Batteries AG3 SR41 Battery

I use these batteries in a laser pointer and it is always important to have spares on hand. I searched everywhere I know of in local shops and couldn't find this specific type. I have paid as much as $5 each for similar tiny alkaline batteries. This is less than $8 for 50 of them including shipping!!! Absolutely amazing. I received them via regular mail service 2 business days after the sale. I put them in the laser pointer to ensure they are the right size and they work. This is one of those rare examples of extreme value and service. Buy these batteries.

By the way, I am seriously just a random buyer. I don't work for them or know anybody who does. I'm seriously just amazed at how sweet this worked out for me.

Less than $.20 each. WallyWorld charges $3 for what appears to be the same thing. Prompt shipping.

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I purchased the 50 pk of batteries for replacements in stop watches I was using for a special project. I felt the price was a great value. After receiving the batteries and installing them in the watches I discovered that 46 of the 50 were bad. I only had 4 that worked and of that 4, 2 only worked for a few days. It was not one of my better purchases. This was the first item I was unhappy with purchased through Amazon. I still Love Amazon.

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I was surprized to find such a deal on these batteries. The order arrived promptly and in good condition. Will definitely purchase from this vendor again.

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I purchased these as spares and have not tested them yet, but I am giving this product one star less already because there was no manufacture or expiration date on the package. After I complained, the seller quickly responded assuring that the batteries are fresh and have the shelf life of about 3 years. I actually hoped it would be longer than that (this is where the date on the packaging would be informative). I should also mention that the batteries are made in China for a Russian company (according to the text in Russian), and this is not necessary a negative detail. The basic information about the product is also available in other langugaes.

Philips DCM292 Sleek micro music system dock for iPhone/iPod

Play and charge your iPod/iPhone simultaneously
USB Direct for MP3/WMA music playback
Digital tuning with preset stations for extra convenience
Play MP3/WMA-CD, CD and CD-RW
MP3 Link for portable music playback

The ipod dock does not close. Sent it back in exchange for another one, and this one doesn't close either.

Nice sound, nice look. Would be better if the dock closed for the 'sleek look'. Seller was willing to work with me on this.

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This is a fantastic product. I loaded a 32 gig flashdrive with music and play back at random in my workshop. Couldn't be easier!

Read Best Reviews of Philips DCM292 Sleek micro music system dock for iPhone/iPod Here

I was looking for a sound system where I could easily plug my iPhone or my iPod nano, play them white recharging, play CDs (including the MP3 files) and with the FM radio option. I purchased it a month ago and I'm very satisfied. It is very intuitive, has a good sound quality. The volume is even louder than what I need (I don't plan to make parties with it). Later I realized that I could even plug a USB flash drive or any other MP3 player, using the P2 connection! It is really complete! With the iPhone the possibilities can be expanded, as I can set an alarm clock to play an Internet radio, for example. I'm very satisfied, and strongly recommend it.

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Great system, it sounds good, good amount memory presets and works great with iPhones, I have an iPhone 2 and iPhone 4 and both works good with the system, however there is an app called phidelio for iPhones that does not work with this system, please be aware of that. I think Phillips should incorporate this device among the devices that can work with this app.

Another point is the nail that holds the iPhone on the system, I believed it should be made with some bent on the top so it can easily get the iPhone connected.

When I place the iPhone on the device I expected to charge as long as it stays connected, however as soon as the system shuts down the iPhone / iPod starts the accelerated discharging process. I think they can leave that connector open for a charge the iPhone even when the system is off.

Remote control can control the iPod function but very simple way, when I got back to pick a new song I can come back to what is playing and I cannot control any other function of the iPhone.

Despite all this flaws that I listed, I think is a good equipment, very stylish design and has almost everything: cd player, fm radio, USB, and iPod dock with a good sound for a decent size room.

Pharos PTL600 Unlocked Phone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Tuner, and Digital Camera--International Vers

I read all the reviews of the Pharos 600 and bought it anyway. I'm glad I didn't listen to the people who disliked it. The Ostia navigation software, contrary to a review I read elsewhere, is easy and intuitive to operate. I programmed in a house address and followed the prompts while driving, and it got me there perfectly. I was early for my meeting, so I kept driving, and Ostia kept calculating new routes to get me back there!

The phone sounds crisp and clear, and it's easy to use. The only thing I'm reserving judgment on is the camera, since I haven't fully tested it yet. The images I've taken so far don't impress me, but as I said I haven't mastered all its settings.

It connects to the nearest WiFi for internet access, and even displays the week's weather forecast on the home screen. I downloaded Google Maps, and when using the GPS it can show the satellite image with traffic report overlays.

My goal was to have one compact device to carry around, especially on trips, that had a phone, camera, internet, basic computing (MS Word), and GPS all in one, so my briefcase wouldn't be cluttered with crap and all the power cords and adapters necessary. The Pharos 600 does it.

Very disappointing. I had hoped for a full-featured Windows smartphone plus a substitute for an in-dash car GPS. I got neither.

First, the good parts. Nice feel, small form factor. Crisp screen. The windshield mount worked well, and the belt clip is nice. Deserves at least a star for that.

However, the small form factor kills ease of use, as the 1.25" X 2.75" screen is far smaller than an in-dash car GPS. Many important features require tapping tiny icons or pull-down menus not linked to buttons and you have to pull the Pharos out of its carrier to get at the stylus.

It is difficult to add waypoints to force it to take a certain route on the way. The manual barely covers this. I guess I'm spoiled by google maps, the Ostia zoom-in/out requires 5-6 diagonal strokes to get to city level and street names don't show. While moving the map with finger or stylus I often accidentally zoomed in to some part of the city I couldn't recognize and had to start over. It appears the designers thought of this and put in a Power User feature to display the entire route, but that menu item was always grayed out for me. Only alternative is to check the route in turn-by-turn text form.

And check it you must. In Houston we have these feeder roads that run alongside the interstate. The GPS often thinks you're on the feeder when you're on the interstate and vice-versa, and gives bogus instructions accordingly. More than once I was told to exit travelled along the feeder road through a light and then back on the same interstate! If you didn't spot this before departure, it's too late when you're driving to try to zoom out and see where your GPS is sending you.

The area I live in also has some new roads and exits since 2003 which aren't on the map a minor annoyance when you know more than the map, which squeaks and squawks in protest until you come into an area its familiar with again. POIs out of date and incomplete, and Live Update takes too long to load to be useful here. Also, if you forget to turn off the GPS after arrival you might not have enough battery to make it through the day.

As a PDA the Pharos 600 is unstable and memory-starved. I think that comes from it being an ETEN 500 repackaged by Pharos with GPS stuck on, and they tried to squeeze all the maps into memory. Getting MS Active Sync to work was an agonizing troubleshoot I'm not sure that is all Pharos' fault, though their technical assistance was zero help unreachable after 5.30pm and don't return calls. The website is for marketing with one screen of FAQs masquerading as support. True, I do have 6500 contacts but I never had a problem with the Palm, which synced in minutes, not overnight.

I've never really played with any of the other features like email or internet, if it can't do rock-solid contacts it's worthless to me. In fact, right now it's locked up again and even a hard reset isn't bringing it around. If I can get Tech Support to pick up the phone I'm reluctantly returning this what a potentially nice device.

My advice: skip the Pharos. Spend slightly more for an in-dash GPS for the car, and a Palm for contacts. And spend more time with the kids, rather than listening to hold music.

Buy Pharos PTL600 Unlocked Phone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Tuner, and Digital Camera--International Vers Now

First of all the Pharos 600 is manufactured with a major flaw that when it does break the motherboard will be useless. The power plug/usb connector in the phone is made with a gap, space, void area that allows preassure on the soldered connection to the motherboard inside. At any time, the slightest preassure will break the soldered connection with forseen leverage on the usb connector. This is not the case with every other phone on the market. Other manufacturers do not have this planned designed defect.

Then you have to deal with the company that will acknowlege the defect, unconcerned of the effect on the customer. You will have to pay for basicly another phone or walk away with your broken one.

If less stars than one was available it would have been my pick ... for customer service at Pharos headquarters.

Read Best Reviews of Pharos PTL600 Unlocked Phone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Tuner, and Digital Camera--International Vers Here

I have been their customer for a while ( I should say almost 5 years). But since then their customer service has become hopeless. Recently I purchased this phone and found out some features that are standard to Windows Mobile is missing. I have sent them several e-mails for support and yet no response. Not even a single automated mail stating that they received it and assigned a case or doing something about it. They have just gone down hill.

Regarding the product, it's fairly ok with many features. But the processor is slow. I have to reboot it atleast once a day. If you have the phone , wife and gps on , most time it hangs. Some phone features that are standard to Windows Mobile will be missing because these guys reprogrammed the ROM I guess. For e.g auto answer and setting # of rings etc. Not worth the price.

Want Pharos PTL600 Unlocked Phone with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM Tuner, and Digital Camera--International Vers Discount?

Got this for free for getting an A in an online college course from the Naval Academy.

Loved the device! Works great on the ATT network checked email, created powerpoints, and even wrote papers using the MS word program. I reccomend buying the external keyboard sold seperate.

Cambridge SoundWorks i755 Table Radio with iPod Dock

?Large LCD displays song currently playing from iPod
?Charges iPod while it is docked
?Wireless remote operates iPod and all device functions
?Stereo headphone jack offers private listening option
?AM/FM radio with 16 FM and 8 AM presets

June 2011 update -My third replacement of this radio has been used occasionally as only a radio. Last week, the clock started freezing as the earlier models had done. Requires that I unplug and reset. Cannot rely on the alarm clock feature. I believe there is an engineering bug in the design; I'd never purchase another.

Earlier comments:

After waiting almost 4 weeks for a factory repair, they sent a second radio instead of repairing the first one. After about 2 months, the second radio has the same problem -the clock display freezes, radio stops functioning as an alarm clock, and the on/off buttons on the radio and the remote control do not work. Tech Support says to unplug, push the on/off button several times during two hours, and then replug to power. Same routine as for first radio; it worked for a while and then same symptom.

They will NOT give a refund after 30-days, even though the problem I called about was originally less than 30 days!

They will NOT give a refund!

What follows are notes from the first radio, that also failed in the identical way.

-------------

In

Supersonic SC-1963UM Detachable Panel Display with Remote Control

Detachable Front Panel
LCD Digital Color Display
PLL Electronic Tuning Stereo
AM/FM Radio, Supports CD/MP3/WMA
SD/MMC Card Slot, USB Input

For the price this system has a lot of really nice features. It's easy to use and puts out some decent sound.

The Good, Nice easy to read display.

Very intuitive controls.

Lots of nice features, especially the SD card, Aux, and USB inputs.

The fake alarm LED that starts flashing when you remove the faceplate is a nice touch also.

The bad, Buttons are a brilliant and lurid red color and can't be dimmed.

The SD and USB inputs have no randomization feature, so the order the files are in on the card is the order they'll play.

The USB input is on a cable from the back of the unit which is too short to reach the front. Later models have the USB on the faceplate but this model doesn't.

Also the box is LARGE. It barely squeezed in to the space I had available in my dash.

The Ugly, the front bezel is smaller than the flange on the metal mounting assembly, so there is a lip of metal sticking out around the edges when the unit is installed.

Edited to add that there IS a randomization feature, but it is not mentioned anywhere in the very limited documentation. The documentation on this unit falls into the ugly category, as it is only just sufficient to allow you to wire the unit without burning down your car. Anything else other than simply turning on the unit (including mounting and any feature other than Play-Stop) is NOT covered.

Buy Supersonic SC-1963UM Detachable Panel Display with Remote Control Now

Overall a pretty decent car stereo for the price. Full-featured and easy to install.

Note: I have not tried the CD player.

Note: The backlights and screen glow bright red, which might be distracting depending on where the stereo is mounted.

Pros:

-Good sound with standard car speakers.

-Easy to install in your dashboard

-Better than the bargain VR3 stereos (the cheaper SD card stereo). The FM tuner on this one actually works, and the memory picks up MP3 tracks where you left off.

-Has most of the standard features you'd expect: fake alarm light, random mode, radio memory, etc.

Cons:

-Some of the buttons are inconvenient or mysterious. The track forward/back buttons are hard to hit, and there are two "stop" buttons but no "pause"?

-When playing MP3s from an SD card, the stereo cuts off the first half-second or so of the file. This isn't a huge issue, but is annoying for some songs.

-No instructions on how to insert/remove the faceplate (You have to hold it in the folded-down position and push it onto the little pins at the bottom of the unit). Took a few minutes to figure out the first time.

Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver

Preset tuner scans up to 18 stored streams
User-Selectable Search -Search by stream name, capture and store up to 20 artists and song titles, while skipping streams when stepping up & down
Stereo line level audio output, via industry-standard connectors
Multi-channel wireless stereo FM connection via 6-channel modulator/transmitter and antenna system
Parental Controls allow administrators to passcode-protect streams form other users

First off, the XACT is a very nice receiver. I have owned a PNP2 and this receiver and I prefer this one. The XACT, while not wearable, is very portable. You can even buy the Powerpod and take it anywhere you go. The size of the receiver does come with setbacks though, there are only 10 S-Seeks compared to 20 on most of the other receivers. The screen is smaller (although very nice), and the presets require a little more work to set. The greatest thing though is the service itself. It is great not to hear any commercials, and the music streams are top quality. The Talk, News, and Sports are also great. Sirius recently added a Maxim channel, which is quickly becomming one of my favorites. Sirius's sports are great, I am a fan of football and there is nothing like hearing your team that is normally not carried locally. In the end I recommend this receiver and Sirius.

Buy Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver Now

This unit has a difficult-to-read screen (especially in sunlight) and tends to lose power for no reason. But the most compelling reason to avoid it is the company that makes it. I have never experienced worse customer "service" in my life than that I have experienced with XAct. When the screen on my XTR1 got cloudy for no apparent reason, obscuring my vision of the display, I called XAct and after wending my way through their seemingly endless voicemail menu, I finally reached a live human who gave me instructions for returning the unit and remote, saying it was covered under warranty and would be replaced within 7 to 10 days. After a month I called back and when I finally reached a person (who was at first stymied by the apparently mysterious fact that I had called from a DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBER), I was told that the unit had not been replaced (and I had not been contacted) because I had the gall to leave the wall adaptor in the box that I returned. This now meant I was supposed to completely un-install the wiring and antenna from my car and send it all back so they could replace it, and I could then pay to have it re-installed. They could not grasp the concept that they could just send me a new receiver and remote, along with my erroneously included adaptor.

One month later and I am STILL trying to get my new receiver. I have been told several times that supervisors were not available, at lunch, etc. and would call me back, but I have yet to receive a single phone call from this company. I will NEVER buy another XAct product and I will tell as many people as possible to avoid them like the plague. Get the Starmate Replay -it works much better than the XTR1, has a display that is visible even in bright sunlight, looks great and isn't made by XAct!

Read Best Reviews of Xact XTR1 Sirius Satellite Plug and Play Receiver Here

The good: Nothing. I'm absolutely serious. So off to...

The bad: I got this for Christmas as part of a promo from Sirius. (It was purchased in November and that's when the 12 month subscription started. Of course they don't tell you that until they charge you IN OCTOBER to renew. Thanks Sirius!) The unit did not work out of the box. I still have to turn it on/off several times for it to work. And then about half the time the screen is blank. The FM transmitter is total garbage, I have yet to find a usable station for my whole commute. Ones that work at home don't work in the city. No fault of the unit per se, just bad design in general. And even when it works, the thing is too far from my radio to transmit a good signal, so the crystal clean digital music sounds worse than AM, worse than even a CB radio. I guess the genius designers thought I'd attach this directly to my dashboard so it can be directly above the car stereo, as the customer rep suggested. Sorry, not gonna happen. Plus the output audio cable that is shown prominently in the manual was not included in my kit. So that's an extra expense. The antenna's magnet has scratched my paint (how about a nice rubber base next time?), and I'm just waiting for the cable to snap on me like so many others have mentioned. Did I mention the heat yet? It gets very hot.

The ugly: This thing does not perform to any level of expectation (unles you expect the worst), there is no customer service to speak of and I'm afraid this piece of garbage will catch on fire months before Stern even gets on the air.

Final point: It's no wonder they were giving these away with a prepaid one-year subscription. You get what you pay for.

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I had been using my Xact Receiver since January 05 without problems until the end of September. It began powering itself off, and would continuously reboot with the Sirius logo and without any sound. Since the problems coincided with the Sirius updates, I figured it was a satellite problem. Sirius resent the signal several times, and that didn't fix the problem. They did not advise me of any problems with my particular brand of receiver although I'm sure they have heard plenty of complaints. Once I started having major problems I started looking online for others with this problem, and found quite a few people who are furious about this.

I called the Xact customer service department, and while it was very difficult to get a live person, I finally did. She gave me EXPLICT instructions to follow about returning the unit (including the remote-got to follow instructions people!!!) and approx 3 weeks after sending my defective unit in, I received a brand new factory sealed receiver and remote. They advised me to lower the contrast and brightness on the receiver; it would keep the unit cooler. I also don't leave the unit powered on unless I am actually listening to it; I guess I'm trying to prolong this receiver's life.

I'm not happy with this experience .... I have purchased 2 boomboxes, the car unit and the home docking kit for this receiver...I feel that it is just a matter of time before this one goes out also. I think its a shame that Xact has put out an obviously defective piece of equipment, and that Sirius is not demanding quality control from it's equipment manufacturers.

Buyer Beware on this one folks!!!! DO NOT BUY USED!!!! You will no doubt be buying someone else's problem. I know the next time I have problems, I will be selling my equipment on ebay or amazon!! Any takers?

I purchased the Xact XTR1 last November when I first subscribed to Sirius. I have been disappointed with this item since the first day. First, the item was very cumbersome when I tried to fit it onto my car's console. Second, the boombox accessory has horrible tone too tinny for my ears. Third, and most important, the receiver gets *very* hot. The unit hasn't overheated but I am very nervous about using it. I've owned this unit one year and am going to ditch it for a newer receiver.

There are better receivers out there....

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read Best Reviews of Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT 7" In-Dash Double-Din Navigation CD/DVD/MP3 with Pandora iPhone streaming Here

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

1) The Navigation screens are so poorly designed.

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

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

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

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

4) Musicsphere is more trouble than it is worth.

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

5) Outdated options.

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

6) AVIC feeds app has terrible ratings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Positives:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Negatives:

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

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

Clarion CZ100 In-Dash CD / MP3 / WMA / AAC Reciever

Bluetooth® Ready with BLT370
18 FM / 6 AM
Front AUX Input
LCD13 x 10 Single-Line
BeatEQ for User Customizable Sound

Looks and sounds great, and the build quality is very good. Has a bunch of options for tuning your sound. The built in low pass filter and subwoofer controls are great. I have this powering the Pioneer TS-A6872R 6-Inch X 8-Inch 3-Way 240-Watt Speakers (Pair) and it sounds great. The FM reception is extremely good. The only reason I give this 4 stars is due to the fact that the clock will not display unless you push a button. If you take any other action you must push the same button in order to make the clock display. There should at least be the option to have the clock be the default display.

UPDATE: I'm now using a JVC KTHDPK1 / KT-HDPK1 / KT-HDPK1 Transportable HD Radio Receiver with Car Kit with this head unit and it sounds like the band is in my car. Also using a JVC KS-AX3002 Compact 2-Channel Power Amplifier with 370 Watts Max. Power Output (Black) to drive the the Pioneers I mentioned above.

UPDATE 2: There is now a newer version called the CZ101, might want to check that one out too

Buy Clarion CZ100 In-Dash CD / MP3 / WMA / AAC Reciever Now

I've had this head unit for about a week and a half so far in a '93 Honda Civic CX. Hooked to it, I have a pair of 5 1/4 Pioneer TS-G1343R speakers. I am very impressed with the combo and the sound coming from my speakers. This head unit adds an extra something to the sound that seems to be missing in other budget head units. Something that makes me want to keep listening to the music, instead of just turning it off. I suppose that can be good and bad, since I have to move on with my life. Honestly, this head unit is a bit ritzier that what I need, and has blue illumination that is very fancy. Some of the buttons are a little hard to press and will need a bit of wearing in. The navigation is not completely intuitive, but close enough. The EQing options are quite impressive, giving you the ability to tweak the frequency and Q of the bass and midrange, and just the frequency for the treble. If you are getting older and you have lost your ability to hear around 15 kHz (the highs cease to sound crisp to you anymore, but rather they sound tinny), no problem. Just turn the treble frequency down to something in the 12 kHz range, or even lower. If you know how to use a detailed EQ, it can really work to your advantage.

You get 18 watts RMS per channel, which isn't bad, but Clarion certainly has head units that are much higher if you shell out the $$$. You get 4 RCA outputs, which rivals most head unit's 2 outputs. If you have a car with steering wheel audio controls, there is a connection in the back of this head unit for that, which is uncommon for head units that are this cheap.

The radio sounds great on many channels, and this head unit seems to really reveal the bad EQing and poor signal quality on certain FM radio stations. Whereas, on my old Pioneer most channels sounded pretty good, on this head unit, certain channels sound awful and other sound excellent. But one major drawback is that this tuner does not pull in the channels as well as many other similarly priced tuners. Even though it can sound good, it just doesn't pull in channels like my old Pioneer. It occasionally skips pretty strong channels, and I have to rescan to find them, and it is not uncommon to have the signal go in and out when driving under trees and through certain areas. So if you need stellar, perfect signals that don't go in and out once in a while, you might look at some other head units, or even some higher level Clarion's. I've never had a problem with the tuner in Pioneer's though, as they've really gotten it down to a science. However, I have never had any problems with AM reception on this head unit. AM signals come in perfectly fine, and maybe better than my old Pioneer.

The fit and finish of this head unit is pretty good, but I'll have to see how it holds up over time. I had a Pioneer DEH-P6400 head unit that I paid $300 for back in the day, and it was wonderfully built and only started having problems ejecting cds after about 7 years (but you could still get them out with a little work). I don't really feel like I've downgraded too much with this Clarion, although I don't think it's going to be as fit and finish as my old Pioneer. But for the price, this head unit is great so far. And it sounds a little better than my old Pioneer. Can't put my finger on why.

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Excellent choice to buy a reasonablly low-priced, great-quality car stereo.

Easy installation, manually perfectly explained with the necessary details.

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Had this product for a year (before it got stolen) Only thing i can remember that was wrong with this product was that the menu button didnt work, so I wasnt able to enjoy some of the other functions. Otherwise, everything was good.

my first cz100 was defected only one rca side works , my second one still banging 1.5 years later , nice customization settings for audio , don't like the built in clock feature goes away after few sec . everything else it's ok for $57.00 way better the my suzuki oem head unit .

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