OBi110 Voice Service Bridge and VoIP Telephone Adapter

• Works with Google Voice for FREE calls to the USA and Canada - Great international rates too!
• VoIP Telephone Adapter (ATA) and Analog Line Gateway Supports: GV and SIP Services; Callcentric, Sipgate, Vitelity, Voip.ms, etc.
• Make free calls on the OBiTALK Network - Connect to other OBi Devices or use the free OBiON for iPhone application or OBiAPP for your PC.
• OBi Calling Features: Caller ID, Call Forward, Anonymous Caller Blocking, Message Waiting Indication, Three Way Conference Calling
• OBiTALK Portal Features: Manage Your OBi, Connect to Your Friends' OBi Devices, Add Services, Download Apps for PC, Speed Dial Up to 99 OBi Endpoints or Phone Numbers

I configured the OBi110 to use Google Voice, and it completely replaced my home telephone service. With free long distance within the US, the device will pay for itself in savings in a couple of months.

Configuring the device was easy. The online documentation was decent, and I found a few other blogs with tutorials as well. I recommend using the obitalk web site for ease of configuration. The only problem is that it stores your Gmail username and password, so there's a certain expectation of trust that OBi will not misuse that information. Personally, I created a second Gmail / Google Voice account just for this product. Thanks Google!

Note: this product does NOT provide access to 911. If this is needed, it is available through several Internet phone service providers. I used CallCentric, which provides enhanced 911 for $1.50 per month. The OBi online wizard provides easy setup for CallCentric and other Internet phone services, and configuring the device to place 911 calls through this service was fairly easy.

Also, the call quality has been excellent. I cannot tell a difference in sound quality between the OBi / Google Voice and my previous PSTN service. I have not had any problems with dropped calls either.

Overall, this is a solid product and a great way to save some money by dropping the telephone company.

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I have been looking for a simple solution that would allow us to setup and use Google Voice. Since asterisk 1.8 came out, I have been waiting for DD-WRT or tomatoes to integrate this in the router so I would not need a computer to run 24/7 to set up Google Voice.

Then comes Obi110 which solves this problem. The setup was very simple. If you don't want to store your GV credentials on the Obitalk.com you can set it up by logging on the adapter (just like logging onto the router). I did find it that if you do it this way, when you dial out you still have to dial "**1" (using profile1) then the number you want to reach. Maybe there is a way to get rid of this. But if you setup through Obitalk you can enable the prefix and dial just like in GV. You can also update the FW from Obitalk.

Everything is working as expected. Caller ID shows up correctly when you call someone. When someone calls the ID would show "+" then the number with no dash, something like this: +1234567890. My wife was on the phone for an hour and she said the quality was good. If you are looking into a simple setup (and almost plug and play) I would highly recommend the Obi110.

Update 12/10/11: Caller ID has been showing the correct format for a while now. Also, my unit died a few months ago. I called their tech support, they checked from remote and confirmed that it's dead. They sent out a replacement unit the next day! I just have to send the dead one back. Great customer service. Google voice is still free for 2012 btw.

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I waited 6 weeks before writing this review. After looking at all the reviews@amazon.com, I bought this product . I set it up using google voice and sipgate. It was easy to set up. It works fine even with VOIP enabled home security system. It worked fine for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks of use, I encountered 3 main issues. 1) Every 2-3 days, I have to reboot the system. It was stuck and we were not receiving calls. It was frustrating experience for the family. Customer service promptly pushed the update. It did not help the problem. Later, customer service attributed the problem to google voice. 2) At times, caller on the other side can't hear you. If you hang up and call back. It works fine. Customer service blamed it on google voice. 3) call gets disconnected in the middle of the call.

If you visit customer forum, you will read that many customers are having similar problems. I need a reliable communication phone line. I am disconnecting from obihai 110 and signing back with vonage. If they fix these issues, I will go back.

I encourage you visit customer forum before buying this product. I feel that the reviews at amazon.com are based on very short term use.

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I purchased this product a week ago and recently set it up and it works perfectly. It's been running for a total of two days since I last set it up. I will update this review in a few months after its run for a while.

My goal was to get an alternative/replacement to Skype which was my replacement for Vonage -I no longer use landlines & totally committed to VOIP. I was tired of paying extra costs associated with telephony services thus this option. This has turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The people at OBi110 have perfected KISS principles, it was so easy to setup Google voice, actually much easier than setting up Google voice settings options in Gmail.

Pros.

Free VOIP at least when connected to Google Voice for now.

The installation is very simple my setup is a little different from the manuals recommendation, since this is connected to my power Ethernet adapter due to proximity of my phone but it still worked on the first try.

Simple admin UI that is easy to use and understand.

Just works perfectly.

It's super small.

Con

Next version should possibly have an automated firmware update check. It is currently a manual process.

This is the perfect alternative for services like Vonage and better, at least for now calling to the US and Canada is free using Google voice. I highly recommend this product.

Thanks.

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I am a Google Voice user and this thing is awesome. If you use Google Voice for all your calls, you need this piece of equipment. In a nutshell, the Obi110 links your home phones to Google Voice, so that you can just pick up a phone and dial. Call quality is excellent and all of your favorite calling features are supported. There are no monthly fees of any kind (so long as Google Voice is free), your only cash out is for the purchase price of the Obi110. And even if Google starting charging for Voice in the future, it's a pretty safe assumption that their service will cost no more than the next cheapest competitor.

In addition to the Google Voice integration (which is awesome), the Obi110 lets you customize almost everything about your phone system. In my configuration, I've redirected 411 calls to BING 411, 311 calls to the local non emergency police line, and 911 calls to my Verizon landline. I decided to keep my landline for e911 and faxes (VOIP craps out on faxes about 50% of the time), and changed my Verizon landline service to measured rate with no bells/whistles. The Obi110 lets you configure up to 2 VOIP services and also plug in your landline if you like.

Installing this thing and getting Google Voice up and running isn't any harder than setting up a wireless router. Those who are more technically inclined will find an Expert settings menu that allows you to mess with almost anything you could think of related to your telephone service. It takes a little bit of time to figure it out, but if you have some basic programming knowledge, it shouldn't be too difficult. There are a lot of configuration examples on the web that you can pull up by Googling "Obi110" and whatever you are trying to do. For example, you could google "Obi110 411 BING" and you'll find the config string to enable 411 to redirect to Bing 411.

I've barely scratched the surface of this thing and I am still very impressed with the Obi110. There's so much more you can do with it if you want to put in some time to learn more.

The only thing I'm a little wary of is how long this thing will last. The 1st unit I ordered from Amazon was DOA, and I had to send it back. No big deal though, Amazon returns was easy as always and I got my replacement a day later.

Assuming it doesn't crap out on me in a year or so, this is one of the most interesting and useful computer products I've ever purchased. I am very pleased with it.

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ASUS ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router

• 1 x Gigabit WAN port
• 802.11AC(1300Mbps over 5G) + 802.11N(450Mbps over 2.4G)
• IPv6 support
• VPN Server Support
• 2 x USB2.0 support got Printer sharing or HDD sharing

Before having the great Asus RT-AC66U I was dealing with a Cisco E4200 v2 (Stay away from these routers). The Cisco E4200 v2 was a terrible product, it had an intermittent internet and slow speeds (I spent more than 1 hour with Cisco support trying configurations) then I gave Cisco another chance, I bought a Bran new Cisco EA4500, same problem impossible to get it to work properly. I did a lot of research and it looks like many many people are having these problems with Cisco and there is no fix. The 2 Cisco high end routers that I have tryed were really bad, dropping a poor signal on both 2.4 and 5.0 and really slow slow. Then I got the Netgear AC 1750 (R6000) It worked really well, but I didn't like that in the configuration you could not choose N or AC modes only, instead it says Up to 450 Mbps, Up to 1300 and like that so it enables all Wifi types and you can not use it as N only, apart from that it was so Bulky even the charger was large as the ones found in laptops.

I Just received the Asus RT-AC66U and it works great, excellent range and speed link (260Mb 10 meters -33 ftaway from the router, some walls in the middle) The Set up has easy options for novice and advanced tools for expert and it look really good. The router has the better construction quality that I have seen, the plastic, the terminals and everything looks really good quality (The Netgear looked so cheap from the outside, and the Cisco was just ok)Even the box was better quality and better printed that the Cisco and Netgear ones, also the manual. The router's look is great, like a jewelry box.

Pros:

Great Range and Speed

Great configuration interface

Good construction quality

Detachable antennas (you can upgrade to a larger antenna for extra coverage)

Compact compared to other AC Routers

dd-wrt Firmware likely to be available for this router some time soon

Cons:

It warms up more than others, but I think it's normal.

I would recommend this router to anyone, Great product overall.

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Update (10/1/12):

I downgraded the firmware back to 164. Since I upgraded the firmware to 220, I have already rebooted the router about 4~5x, the internet connection suddenly stops. I don't know if it's just me, but I feel that the router is a bit warmer when I touch it using firmware 220. I don't have any temperature measuring device so I can't confirm that it's really warmer (I did not adjust the transmit power setting, fyi).

Update (9/12/12):

I updated the firmware to version 3.0.0.4.220, and the 2 previous problems I stated is still existing.. I don't mind it that much but I still hope Asus fixes it soon. Workaround for 1.) I connect my PC to 2.4Ghz. 2.) I use Splashtop from my iPhone to connect to my home PC from office.

AiCloud looks promising, supposedly you could view/play your media files from your iphone/ipad and android devices within and outside your network. But I'm stuck with the loading page, after I put my login user and password. My iphone can't login. Can anyone confirm if the aicloud works?

Update (8/30/12):

So far have encountered 2 problems with the latest firmware (3.0.0.4.164)

1. I'm using Nero Media Home 4 in my PC to share my media to my wireless TV, Bluray and PS3. When my PC is connected to 5Ghz, the tv, bluray and ps3 cannot connect to Nero. When I connect to 2.4Ghz, they can see Nero and play the media. This works fine with N66U.

2. I have setup port forwarding for Remote Desktop Connection, so I can connect to my home PC from my office. It's not working. This again, is working fine with N66U.

QOS is also a known problem, but I'm not using it for now. I believe it's just a firmware issue since both are working with N66U. I hope it gets fixed with the next firmware release.

Original Review:

I bought this to share my media files, from an external hard drive, to my 3d tv and wireless bluray in bedroom. So far I'm not disappointed. I also have N66U to compare with, I've read from other reviewers that this router gets hot, when I touch the top part, it is warm but not hot, which is the same with my N66U.

This is suppose to have a greater coverage compare to N66, but to my experience, the coverage is the same, which is already awesome.

Initial setup was very straightforward, easy, fast and CD-less. Below are the actual steps after opening the box:

1. Connect LAN cable from modem, LAN cable going to PC, and power cable

2. Open web browser. Router setup page automatically shows up. Click Next

3. Type the User login and Password that you want. Click Next

4. Type the SSID and key for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (or you can click the checkbox: Copy 2.4Ghz settings to 5Ghz settings). Click Apply.

After that, your wireless device should now be able to connect to your new router. I even used the same SSID and password from my previous router, and my devices connected automatically after the setup.

These are my devices that connects to this router:

3 laptops

2 Iphones

Ipad

wireless tv

wireless bluray

PS3

wireless printer

No problem with connections, no disconnects, iphones when outside the apartment are still connected.

PROS

Media Bridge mode. Applicable using 2 AC66U. This feature is not available to N66U

Dual band, 450Mbps+1300Mbps. I can't comment with the AC speeds, I don't have wireless AC clients for now.

HTTPS authentication when accessing admin page. If your using this for office/business use, this is plus.

AiCloud. Coming soon, the app is not yet available from the appstore/googleplay as of this review. (This is now available as of firmware version 3.0.0.4.220)

2 USB ports. Supports external hard drives, printers or 3g/4g modems

3TB external harddrive works (Manual says only up to 2TB is supported). Tested using Seagate expansion 3TB STBV3000100. My TVs won't even accept 3TB harddrives when connected directly to its usb ports.

DHCP Manual IP assignment (if you need static private IP on your device)

DLNA. Streams HD vids, pics and 3D vids to my LG tv and my LG bluray player, no lags, no disconnects. And this is even using wireless connection and not wired.

Awesome range. Before, I was using a cheap netgear, single band 2.4Ghz, included from my ISP. From the farthest point in my apartment, I get 2 bars of signal in windows 7 wireless network connection settings. With AC66U, I get full 5 bars using 2.4Ghz, and 4 bars on the 5Ghz band.

3 Large external antennas

Download Master (if your into P2P downloading/uploading)

Option to vertically stand the router, or wall mount

User friendly setup

Impressive performance particularly on 5Ghz band

Stylish looks and superb quality

Ability to install 3rd party firmwares

CONS

Steep price (but worth it!)

Lack of USB 3.0 (not a big deal, since I don't get usb 2.0 speeds for file transfer using FTP or Samba, which I already know before purchasing this)

Manual is a bit helpful, but this router has tons of features and the manual only mentions the basic functionalities.

If you got the money, and want a great performing router and stylish as well, I Highly Recommend Asus RT-AC66U. If you're about to buy N66U, just add $20~30 to your budget, and get this router, you won't regret.

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I've been following routers for about a year and determined this model would help future proof some wireless stuff we purchase next year. It's also one of, if not the strongest available. I was a little intimidated buying this one because of all it's features and not one of the traditional router brand. I thought setup would be a hassle. Boy was I wrong on all counts. This thing is wonderfully thought out...in all areas. It blows away Cisco's new "cloud for dummies", tricking some into online router accounts, so they can track your data usage.

Before setup I found 3 excellent HD Youtube videos (ASUS RT-N66U Setup...Wired...Wireless). They're made by a down to earth Asus employee who does a great job covering the setup wizard and various features. Getting it up is a breeze, very simple, takes a couple minutes for both wired and wireless. Before install you might want to check into the following:

1) Download the latest firmware from the ASUS website. The routers FW version listed at top of GUI, nice! (Router access is 192.168.1.1)

2) Decide if you want a different (SSID) name for the 2.4GHz and the 5GHZ channel and figure out what the names will be.

3) I used an online "WPA Key Generator" so the keys were ready before setup. I created a different one for each channel.

4) Visit smallnetbuilder.com forum for the AC66U. Read the couple threads on how they're getting strongest signals, best channels, frequency's, etc. Many passionate owners will help with timely support and tips.

5) Test your internet speeds and pingtest.net before and after you install this new router.

The routers GUI is incredibly easy to understand and has tremendous amount of information and features. They use plenty of icons, images, grids, laymens terms, and "?" that provide simple explanations when hovering over. The ability to configure "port forwarding" was so simple I spent more time looking for complex steps, then the actual time to config.

THE BOX Folks this is an impressive looking piece of hardware. It uses very dark/deep blue LED's just below the top surface. This dark blue lighting matches that same blue on our high end components. The small ASUS name in the back right corner is gold plated, a nice touch. The criss-cross grid pattern is done extremely well. The unit itself is solid, a very heavy device for it's size, which is nice for a change. I'm a fan of external antenna's and these look good, fully adjustable. They screw on so you could add extension cables to relocate them.

Surprisingly there is a small power button on the back no more plug/unplug. There's also a WPS button on the back or AC66U. I discovered it's purpose on my Android phone, a WPS note next to router network name. This feature eliminates the need to enter long WAP keys. Hitting the WPS button in a timely fashion automates and finishes connection to router. I had no ideas this tech was in routers.

The feature called "Download Master" performs downloads for your PC. With a storage device attached I no longer need to leave my PC running while waiting for a download to finish. There's many other features you can add or simply turn on. It's the shizznit of routers for sure. I'm in the GUI every couple hours checking features, usage, etc. It's a great application for sure.

Since ASUS is making firmware changes frequently, listening to their customers, I was not worried about those minor glitches when first released this device. I was confident they would get it right and work things out. My unit is Hardware version A2, so they are updating hardware too. Stop your searching and reading get this router you will be happy.

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I got this router last week and my experiences are mixed so far. Fist the positive: the router is very fast and has the range no other router I tried had. With Asus EA-N66 access point as a client RT-AC66U is capable of reaching two stories straight down on very good speed. Other routers I tried were unable to achieve that. The router's web site is very informative and well designed.

Now the negative: If you have a device on your network such as server, storage or media streamer which provides remote access, this router is not for you. Remote access uses UPnP for port forwarding and this feature is not working with RT-AC66U. When I first received the router both my homeserver and NAS box reported UPnP setup as successful, but remote access wasn't working. Disabling the GRO option in the LAN's Switch control section did not help either. ALL devices I am aware of which provide remote access require forwarding of the ports 80 and/or 443. My internet search revealed that RT-AC66U firmware does not allow UPnP to forward ports below 1024. There is a way to bypass this restriction which involves enabling the telenet access to the router and issuing couple of the commands, but I am not sure that this hack is for everyone. After I managed to enable remote access I tried to enable the AirCloud (which is one of the main selling points of this router). That immediately broke remote access since AirCloud uses port 443. Enabling the firewall had the same effect.

ASUS technical support wasn't very helpful. This is the response I received to my question about UPnP and port forwarding:

My name is Joe and it's my pleasure to help you with your problem.

1.It could use UPnP to allow remote access to the devices on the home network.

2.The AirCloud can't be used together with the remote access.

I am not sure why Asus made a decision to quietly take over low range ports for AirCloud without explicitly documenting it. If AirCloud needs a port Asus should have provide a mechanism to reassign it.

I will keep the router for now because of it excellent speed, but if Asus will not provide a UpNP/AirCloud compatibility soon I will have to switch to another one.

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I was a long-time Linksys customer until I finally got sick and tired of garbage firmware, unexplained WAN slowdowns, and having to periodically reboot the router to recover proper performance (for a while). I bought the ASUS RT-AC66U about a month or two ago, upgraded the firmware, and installed it. It has worked flawlessly ever since and I have not had to reboot or babysit it at all. I haven't used all the functionality yet (e.g. usb attached drive or printer), but everything else has been better than the Linksys alternative even the configuration interface, which is very intuitive and easy to use. I am very satisfied with my purchase!!!

Update: If you're a semi-techie and have performed router firmware updates in the past, you will appreciate this. For years, with the Linksys units I owned, I would have to re-enter all of my configuration settings after updating the firmware. It was a ROYAL PAIN! Whenever something went wrong, Linksys/Cisco would say "Use the reset button on your router, re-enter all of your settings manually and see if that fixes it...". Ridiculous. Anyway, I did my first live firmware upgrade today on the RT-AC66U after running problem-free for a month. I upgraded from the 164 version to 188. The upgrade took no more than 3 minutes and the unit RETAINED ALL OF MY PREVIOUS SETTINGS without issue. This, in and of itself, was worth the switch to ASUS. Easy, reliable, and non-aggravating...

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Panasonic KX-TG4743B DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone

• DECT 6.0 Plus Technology
• 3 Cordless Handsets
• Single line
• Digital Answering Machine - Included
• Amplified Handset Volume with Dedicated Volume Key

I've had many Panasonic phones over the past 30 years. It is the only brand I trust for quality and customer service. The last one I had was KX-TGA402. There was no back light and it didn't have a speaker ID. I could never see the caller ID when I was on the phone with some one else. After a few years it stopped ringing in one room and I didn't want to purchase a range extender which Panasonic does sell. The back/lit panel is the largest and brightest I've ever had. About 1.8 inches by 1 1/4. Even with the light off you can read the date and time very easily. The key pad has larger than usual easy to press buttons. So easy to set up, it really is a breeze.It takes 7 hours to charge but I received a phone call within 30 minutes of setting it up. The phone book and everything else is set on all 4 phones with just one entry. The answering machine is loud and clear and so is the caller ID when the phone rings... The manual spells everything out very easily and clearly.. I did have one question about entering my greeting. Customer service answered quickly and was most courteous and helpful. My husband has a hearing problem but he has no problem with this phone either listening or hearing the phone ring.. The volume control is on the side which is very convenient compared to pushing a button to see the bars expand while you're talking. I checked Panasonic online before I purchased this. It was the only Dect 6 Plus that said NEW so I assumed it would be the most advanced. Amazon was also about $11 less than the retail price. Another helpful feature is that there is message counter lit in bright red so when the phone is off you can always see how many messages are stored. Another plus is that when you have a Voice Mail message there is a 1 1/8 inch bar on the top of the receiver that flashes on and off (the indicator light). You can't miss it. There will be a lit message on the display that you have Voice Mail waiting for you.. If you have entered your VM phone # in your phone book just click under VM and Voice Mail will automatically be dialed for you. This light also flashes on and off for an answering machine message. I've never seen this feature on another pnone before-if you are in another room other than the base you can listen to your answering machine messages on any handset in any room!!! I am so happy with this phone. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I am adding this information a few days after installation, as it is not included in the instruction booklet on page 32 as it should be. If you subscribe to Caller ID this is important to know. When you refer to caller list the name, date and time appear but not the caller's phone number. This is the first Panasonic phone I've had where there was no number. I called Panasonic and they told me to press the right arrow on the Navigator key which is the large black button with the 4 arrows. The phone number will immediately appear. If you press the left arrow the caller list appears but without the phone #. I hope this is of help.

August 29,2012 update. I'm still extremely happy with this phone, more so than ever.

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We needed a few more handsets to place around the house. Also needed phones with good volume control. We just love everything about these. Setup was simple simple simple! Volume controls are on each handset, in a great placejust above your thumb as you pick up the handset. Each handset has an indicator light, so you can tell in any room if there is a message AND you can access the message, change the recording, etc.. all from EACH HANDSET. No more going to the base station everytime you have to check a message. Our recorded outgoing message sounds much clearer than our old phone system. We really like these!!

Read Best Reviews of Panasonic KX-TG4743B DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone Here

I've had this phone system for three months now and it's the best I've ever owned. It's very easy set up and to use with lots of extras such as audio caller ID. Having five phones is very convenient even in a small condo and it's nice to finally have a phone in the bathroom. It's ALL good.

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I have been using this cordless phone system for over a month now. I upgraded from an older DECT 6 system from Panasonic which also worked very well for me. Here are some things I loved, and things I didn't:

Pros:

1. Handset is easy to hold, large and backlit buttons makes it easy to dial out in low light.

2. I use only four handsets and the fifth is stored as a backup. Cheaper than having to buy another one seperately!

3. Sound quality and range are very good.

Cons:

1. Haven't liked the usability of their Address Book. Too many clicks to get to the right names. A quick dial capability for favorite names would have been helpful.

Overall a great buy. Not sure if DECT 6+ adds to the range over DECT 6; I am assuming it does, but haven't tested it that way.

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I needed to replace an older system. I like this one much better. I especially like the voice announcing of caller ID at each handset. Another plus will be when I have to replace batteries. These handsets use standard batteries not proprietary like my old system. Very easy to use out of the box.

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OEM Dock Connector/USB Charging Cable for Apple iPhone and iPod

• Access to all controls and dock connector
• Form-fitting construction
• Allows charging while in case

Chinese cheap trash. Placed next to my real $20 cable and could tell right away. The real kicker was my computer couldn't recognize my iPad 2 with the cable. Did with a cheap duracel brand, but not this "OEM" one. Upset, because I could get these same junk cables cheaper on Amazon. If you look at other bad reviews on other seller's feedback, they look just like the side by side pics posted.

BUYER BEWARE

Update 12-23-11

They called up and were very apologetic. Offered me a 3 dollar refund and wanted me to remove this feedback. I took that so I now have a $3.55 "charge only" cable. I would have liked a real OEM cable. :(

I decided not to edit the original feedback for their sake. Some angered, bored and/or rich customer might slap them with a punitive damages/false advertisement lawsuit.

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I guess I should not have expected much for under $2.

I have to fool around with this cord a lot just to get it to charge my phone.

One prong was already missing when I bought it. I am now wondering if

these are defectives that someone is trying to sell. I do not recommend!!

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These cables arrived and immediately I could tell they are not OEM. I haven't tried them all yet, but I am certain they are not OEM, when held next to an OEM cable it's clear the materials used to make this cable are inferior to those used by apple.

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Bought 6 of these because my household has 10 iDevices (iPhones, iPads and iPods of all sizes). I also have TONS of aftermarket cables laying around that I hate using because they are often defective and most importantly, the 30 pin side is FAT and often requires me to remove the case off my iPhone. The ACTUAL OEM cables are slim enough that you don't have to remove your case, which is why I bought these... Unfortunately, these are much thicker than actual OEM. Whatever, not the end of the world...

HOWEVER, when I discovered that only 4 out of 6 worked... That's another story. Amazon should do something about this product, and fast. 66% success rate is UNACCEPTABLE!

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In case my formal review doesn't go through. I bought this product and it sucks. I bought 3 cables all three identical in looks and functionality. Bottom line this is advertised to charge ipod/iphone and also data sync. Here's how it really works. Does not data sync to at all, won't work in the PC or plugged in the iphone which is why I bought it only charges from the wall which is NOT why I bought. It were advertised as only a wall charger than it would be okay but this is a scam and illegal. I just hope no one buys from this company I don't care about my money back, not worth my time, but the other reviewers are lying because I got three cables and they all worked the same which is NOT working, and they look like the picture.

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Google Nexus 7 Tablet (16 GB)

• 7 inch 1280x800 HD display (216 ppi)
• Quad-core Tegra 3 processor
• 16 GB internal storage (actual formatted capacity will be less)
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean),Memory: Slots: Onboard, Installed: 1GB
• 4325 mAh battery (Up to 8 hours of active use)

Google just announced upgraded Nexus 7 tablets to be available on Nov 13. You will be able to get a 32GB Nexus 7 for the price of the current 16GB model.

NOTE:

My initial review was a Nexus 7 vs. the first generation Kindle Fire and the Nexus was a clear winner. I have now updated my review for the Fire HD. It's a close call but the Nexus' 4-core CPU and its pure Android, more open makeup make it my preferred 7-incher. However, the rest of my family prefers the Fire HD because it's such a great dedicated (Amazon) media consumption pad.

We've been using a Kindle Fire since September 2011 (pre-ordered) and I am happy we ordered ours. Soon after purchase it was adopted by our daughter. She is using it to draw and paint, she watches Netflix for Kids on it, she learned how to search Youtube for arts and crafts 'how to' videos and she plays (mostly free) games from Amazon's Appstore. The Fire wasn't a full-feature tablet when it launched but we overlooked its hardware shortcomings, its off-mainstream Android and its locking us out Google's much larger app store because the price was right and because the 7" screen size made it lighter and more portable than the 'full size' 10.1" alternatives. We are still happy with our Fire but we are happier with Nexus 7, our second 7" tablet.

Because Nexus 7 and Amazon's Kindle are both Android tablets very similar in screen size that sell for the same price, I am going to compare the two while I write about my experience with Nexus 7. Whenever appropriate, I will note the differences between Nexus and the Fire when such differences exist. If a feature is present on both tablets I will simply note its existence. I will prefix specific features with an equal sign if both tablets support it equally, a plus sign if the Nexus implementation is superior or Fire lacks it and a minus sign when a feature is better implemented by Fire or is a Fire exclusive.

HARDWARE (Nexus 7 but it's a close call)

The Nexus comes pretty close to what we normally call the latest and greatest (written in July 2012).

+ GPS (Fire lacks it)

+ Quad-core CPU vs. Fire's dual-core

16/32GB models for Kindle vs. 16/32GB for Nexus

Dual-antenna for Wi-Fi on Kindle vs. one antenna on Nexus

= Accelerometer

= Backlit screen at 1280x800 are identical in specs and looks

= Front-facing camera on both

= Gyroscope

= Micro USB port

= Microphone on both

Neither the Fire or the Nexus come with memory expansion ports or a rear-facing camera. The Micro USB interface will allow you to attach flash drives and even powered USB HDDs but the fact remains that if you buy an Nexus 7 or a Kindle Fire HD you are stuck with built in amount of internal storage. At the same time, I will testify that I haven't used 8GB yet on my much older 16GB XOOM. A rear-facing camera would have been a plus.

CONNECTIVITY (Nexus 7)

The better connected a tablet is, the more useful it becomes. Both the Nexus 7 and the Fire HD lack 3G/4G capabilities (Amazon will have a very expensive 4G model later this year), relying mostly on Wi-Fi to stay in touch with the world but there are some differences between the two worth noting.

= WiFi 802.11 b/g/n

= Amazon's Appstore

= Bluetooth

+ Near Field Communication (Fire lacks it) It allows two devices that support it to exchange information by touching each other. Not widely used at this time.

+ Google Play (Fire restricts access to Amazon's Appstore only)

I listed the app stores under connectivity mostly because Amazon made it impossible (unless you hack your Fire) to shop from anywhere other than Amazon's own store and I believe you are confined to Amazon's cloud services. There are no such restrictions on the Nexus. You can use Amazon's cloud, Google's or anyone else's if you so desire.

SOFTWARE (Nexus 7)

+ Android. Nexus 7 comes with Android 4.1 pre-installed, the latest version at the time I write this. It is very likely that it will be upgradeable to future versions. At the same time, it is not likely that the Fire's custom Android 3.x will ever be upgraded. It's possible but not likely.

+ Chrome. It happens to be my favorite browser. Amazon does not allow Chrome on its Fire. Fire's own browser is not too bad but I personally prefer Chrome.

= Flash. Nexus 7 or Android 4.1 rather does not support Flash which is too bad but it's because Adobe decided not to support it on Android 4.1. Kindle Fire HD does not appear to support Flash either.

BUILD (a tie)

I like both tablets look and feel. Both the Nexus 7 and the Fire HD are strikingly beautiful tablets. One little issue for the Fire is its too well hidden power and volume controls but it's something that's likely to be annoying for the first few days only, until reaching for them becomes second nature.

PRICE (Fire HD but it's a close call)

The Fire HD appears is the less expensive one on the 16GB configuration but the difference is not as big as it may seem. Keep in mind that the Fire comes without a charger so you will have to buy one separately and you will have to pay Amazon some more if you don't want to see ads on it.

MY CONCLUSIONS

I've been using a Nexus 7 for over a month at the time I'm writing this. I've also been using a Kindle Fire HD for about a week now. I am fully aware that when it comes to 'tablets' the technology changes fast and I have little doubt that it will be surpassed by many newer models but, at the time I'm writing this, I have a personal preference for the Nexus 7 even though I enjoy using the Fire HD and they are nearly on par when it comes to 'media consumption' activities with the Fire HD clearly in the lead when the content's is Amazon.

Neither the Nexus or the Fire are perfect. Both tablets, for example, lack memory expansion capabilities and a back camera. However, the Nexus, while selling for the about the same price, beats the Fire in every single category but it's a close call. If you are an Amazon person (like I am) the Nexus gives you the best of both worlds. You can still get your Amazon Appstore and the Kindle reader app but nothing restricts you from using someone else's store. The Fire HD erased the Nexus advantage on Bluetooth, camera and microphone. Amazon's new tables now match the Nexus 7 for many features and they even beat the Nexus on some (Wi-Fi, internal storage). In my case, I will continue to use the Nexus 7 but the rest of the family prefers the Kindle Fire HD.

>> Brush your teeth, it's the law!

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Esky® HD Spy Hidden Camera DVR Pen and 4GB Recorder

• Produce high res color photo, 3840x2880 resolution of JPG format
• Video recording with sound, with 1280x960 video resolution and 30 FPS of AVI format
• Built-in micro DVR;HD camera effects;1.3 megapixels camera;
• High sensitive microphone, cover 15 square meters
• 4 GB internal memory with micro SD Slot expandable to 8gb

I had my doubts! How come a video camera would fit inside a pen barrel?

Well... I got my answer! Excellent video and the sound pick up astonishing!

At first I thought the manufacturer idea on having to remove the micro SD card in order to extract the videos was a nuisance. They even supplied a little SD to USB adapter...

I said... Why? Then I found the answer: The supplied USB cable had a too thick rubber moulding which would prevent the connector to be inserted unless the SD was first removed.

I was worried of having to put in and out the little memory, as the operation could damage the pen memory connector... Then I decided to get a small sharp knife and remove the excess rubber from the pen side at the connector cable.

Bingo! Now the cable goes in easily and no need to remove the micro SD! The pen does recharge fine with the card in place and the video and audio data is easily retrieved without using the SD adapter!

So thanks for the adapter. It is nice... For something but i don't really need it!

One little drawback: During my first recordings I experienced some unexpected stopping. I am not sure if it was an accidental switch depression or the pen did it for itself.

I have to test this! It might be an operation mistake while accommodating the pen in my jacket pocket!

Nice device indeed! Might be a little fat, but I don't think they can be made any slimmer.

It already solved a $160000.00 dollar conflict by catching the swindler on the fly!

Do not hesitate. Get one!

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This review is for the 4 gig Esky HD Spy Hidden Camera DVR Pen VP-482.

Video:

Bitrate: 18614 kbps .AVI

Frames Per Second: 30

Frame Resolution: 1280 X 960

Sample rate: 22 khz

Audio: 352 kbps .mp3

Pros:

-Very slim and believable, compared to the other fat USB Pen Cams, because of the tiny connector on the end that plugs into pen cam.

-There is no light on when the pen cam is recording (to record, you hold the button down until the green led starts flashing, and then quickly let go that way you can be 100% sure it is recording).

-Very good video resolution.

-The video picture is 4:3, which is almost square, so, unlike wide-screens Pencams, the top and bottom of the subject isn't cut off.

-30 frames per second.

-Good, clear, audio (except around fluorescent lights when it buzzes).

-Playback of videos on Windows Media Player is flawless, but not so good on VLC Player.

-Videos/pics can be viewed using the supplied USB cable, while the pen is recharging.

Cons:

-If pen set in a stationary position, then there is no motion blur whatsoever but if you are moving around with this Pencam then you get a LOT of wavy, motion blur.

-Rather large, and very distracting, yellow time/date stamp in lower right corner on playback.

-Maximum recording time on a single charge is 45 minutes (2.65 gigs) and then the battery goes dead (the red led light comes on). You can upgrade to the 8 gig SDHC memory card, but it WON'T extend the video recording time you'll have to recharge pen after 45 minutes.

-I bought an identical second Esky Spypen from BetterStuff LowerPrice (5 star rated great service), and it had a total of 35 minutes record time on a single charge.

-DON'T use the USB cable to move videos to your PC it will take forever. Use the supplied USB adaptor and it transfers files in seconds.

-Battery time is short; it takes about an hour to recharge.

-Color on video is okay, but it's a little 'yellowish'.

This cam has a very good, although not excellent, video picture. If set in a stationary position there is no motion blur, BUT if you move around with it there is tremendous motion blur (so much so the video is basically worthless). The only way to get a good video is to hold it steady in your hand.

Clipping the Pen to a plastic card in your shirt pocket will keep it vertical, and making a small mark on the top will keep the subject centered.

I've bought and tested 5 different Pencams from Amazon. If placed in a STATIONARY position (except for all Swann Pencams) they all work very good. But so far, there is only one I would recommend the Sphere Pen Camera.

Why ..? because it has a CMOS camera. Brilliant picture and sound and get this it has AUTO-aperture. The camera auto-adjusts to changing light situations..amazing. NONE of these cheap plastic lens Pencams has this.

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the seller was so kind that he gave a microSD reader in the box. Although it didn't work well. I want to say thanks. the spy pen is cool. the camera and recorder work well. I like it.

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This product is a cool gadget to have. It is portable, light, and very useful. The only difficult thing when I tried to record myself was to hold the pen in the right direction and angle. Other than that, the pen recorded well. The lighting was a little yellow but it didn't affect the viewing.

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It does the job! I'm very happy with quality and performance. Small, easy operation, effective for take picture and video.

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Sony ICF38 Portable AM/FM Radio (Black)

• AM/FM portable radio
• Tone control switch
• Large built-in speaker. Earphone jack
• LED tuning indicator
• The ICF38 can run on batteries or using an AC plug

I'm a big time radio guy, and have used many models over the years. There are two things that really make any radio stand out, and this one has both of them.

The ICF-38 is an excellent performer as far as reception of both AM and FM signals go. Weak signal pick up on both bands is markedly better here than with almost all small portable radios I've used, and even more importantly, selectivity (ability to seperate stations cleanly) is better as well. The tone switch (which some radios don't even have) cuts the treble when desired, if you want a less harsh sounding AM signal. The dial has no clock or light, but an LED for indicating if a station is tuned in. Battery life is excellent if alkalines are used (it takes 4 AA batteries). Output volume is listed as 4 watts, quite loud for a radio of this size, with little distortion at top level.

The other ingredient for a good radio is ease of use and a well thought out design. There are little things here which most people won't notice that actually make this radio a joy to use. Many radios today that run off both internal batteries and AC require a seperate wall-wart that plugs into the radio and the outlet, but the ICF-38 has the power cord built in so you won't have to search for it when needed. Also, the battery cover is hinged, which is great as battery covers can disappear as easily as wall-warts (and you can't just go to Wal-mart to buy a new battery cover). The carry handle flips up when needed, and there is an indentation in the cabinet which allows you to slip in a finger to raise it easily, and you'll find out how nice this is when your hands are full and you need to bring the radio with you as well. Both slide switches for band selection and power have a raised bump in the middle which makes it easier to change bands or turn it on. Finally, The shape makes it easy to place in most locations and it is very stable, making it unlikely to get knocked over.

If there were no markings on this radio to indicate the manufacturer, I would have easily guessed that it was a Sony product. It has the great performance and clever design that I associate with Sony.

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This radio brings in distant stations, sounds good, and takes up little space. The controls are easy for me to use. These were the qualities I was looking for so I am pleased I made the choice to buy Sony ICF38.

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Just what I was looking for--a quality desktop radio with nothing fancy-just a radio. The sound quality is very good and the reception is excellent with a telescoping adjustable attenna. Great value for the price.

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I just recently purchased this gem for use in my office & garage & my first impressions are as follows:

-Decent sound quality

-Reception is very good,actually better than a few portables I own that

cost much more.

-Very easy to use,you don't even need a manual.

This radio is a throw back to the 70's,no bells and whistles

just a tone control for music & talk. What impressed me the

most is the ease of picking up on AM lower powered stations

over 100 miles in the day time. For giggles & grins, I used a

'Select A Tenna' antenna in the night time & this unit turned

into a serious DX,ing machine! . In a nushell, for the money you

can't go wrong.

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This radio has great sound and bring in the stations clearly especially when I use it on the beach.

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Canon Laser imageCLASS MF4890dw Wireless Monochrome Printer

• Print and Copy at the same speed up to 26ppm
• Duplex Versatility - print, copy, scan, and fax two-sided documents
• Wireless Connectivity - print form almost anywhere in your home or office
• Single touch Quiet Mode reduces operational noise

I have had this printer for about a month and really really like it. I bought it to replace a Brother (click on my name to read my review on that one). Although my previous multi-function device worked well, this Canon has the following improvements: Scans in duplex, has an ID-card photocopy function that I love, and MOST OF ALL IT IS QUIET. I do not use the fax feature. I have a PC with windows 7 and I was able to install it easily. It connected to the wireless network very very easily, which was a big plus. My previous printer was also wireless BUT it required a hard-wire connection to the router with an ethernet cable as part of the initial installation process. With this canon, I was able to connect to the network wirelessly, type in the Wi-Fi password directly on the printer, and didn't have to use any cables. Marvelous! I did compare the printing side-by-side with my brother, and unfortunately I think this Canon is a little bit worse. However, for my purposes it is fine. The Brother was so loud and the fan would run for 10 minutes after every print job. This Canon is super quiet, and even has a quiet feature which I haven't even had to use yet. I anticipate being very happy with this printer for a long time. Five stars!

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A very high quality full featured laser printer (Canon), now at a bargain price. Very impressed with this printer. It is full featured enough for a small business, yet compact enough for home use. It arrived well packaged with good shipping protection, and set up very easy. It runs quietly, and remains in "stand-by" very low power mode when "off". It receives wireless signals well, and prints with good speed. Software included is user friendly, and it scans very well. Documentation included is also high quality. Very high quality laser printing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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I got this printer at local store, Setup was easy, took 15 minutes to unwrap the packaging and it was up and running, I use Macs in my setup, printer is hard wired to my apple time capsule router( I am not planning to use its wireless capability as this printer is located next to my router but if I need an open Ethernet port on my router I might use it), there are three drivers for Mac OS X Mountain Lion Fax/scan/print downloaded from Canon web site they were installed on all Macs (5 minutes to install). I can confirm that this unit is mac compatible, I have not used all the functions fully yet, nor can say how the windows version of software works; I can access printer and scan functionalities via my software in Mac.

I like automatic duplex printing feature, no paper jams, it will save lot money on paper also, print quality is very good both copies and in printing from pc, scanning was no problem either, I am not sure how the scan to PC buttons (1,2 on machine) works since there is not software for Mac. Overall very smooth operation. Setting up fax was very easy entering Fax number information and what kind of mode the machine will be used, I will try to do some fax testing in few days. Overall the fit and finish of machine looks good, does not feel cheap plastic. Machine is very quiet goes into sleep mode when not in use. For $230 it is very good machine to do all functions.

Now the toner, it is around $80 which is very close to price Brother toner I was using, much cheaper than Samsung toner cartridge though. I am sure there will be cheaper alternative for this machine too, I was buying toner powder for my brother machine for last few years it was very cheap ($10) and it last long time. I recommend this machine.

update: 10/26/12

Scan function does not work with mac drivers, this is bummer, canon has to blame to put mac logo on their product and it does not work. print function work fine, i have other scanner on hp printer so not an issue for me but for many people it would be an issue. i have to reduce it to 3 star (from 5 stars) until canon fixes drivers for macs. I have also tested the wireless function of the printer, it works fine. scan function stil an issue on wireless network also, i am surprised canon has not addressed the mac driver issue as there are many users of macs now.

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At this price point, I couldn't ask for much more. I had some issues connecting it with CAT5e, but the wireless connection was seamless. I did not try installing with the USB, so i have no comment about that. I spent a few hours messing around with it to learn all the functionality and basic limitations, but the typical user could have this machine up and running in about half hour or less. The instructions that came with the printer were very clear, in my opinion. They double up on the toner installation instructions, which has the end user double checking themselves, but i feel that they wanted to drive the point home about the importance of installing the toner cartridge correctly and removing the packing material. I have no problem with this.

All of the functions on the printer work on all of my remote computers. Overall, I'm happy with this unit.

Pros: Unit is simple to to install wirelessly if you have a router with auto-connect capability, copies and prints good quality for home use. Drivers are easy to install and quick.

Cons: The duplex unit for copying and printing (2 sided) is on the slow side. Printer had issues with connecting a hard-line from the printer to the router. This is likely due to the nature of my setup (dynamic IP). If your set up with a static IP, you'll likely not have any issues. Since I had the wireless router, I opted to take the path of least resistance. Fax is a little finicky. There are settings that describe an "auto" feature. The Auto feature is supposed to distinguish between a voice call and a data call. Unfortunately when I answered voice calls, the fax machine answers as well (screeching fax beeps). For me this is not a big issue as I know when faxes are coming, so I can simply unplug the fax line until i know when a fax is rolling in. Color scanning is on the grainy side, but is ok for non-professional use. If your looking to scan pictures in high quality, this may not be the right machine for you. Since I have not messed around with the scanner much, there may be higher res settings that I overlooked that will produce better image scan quality.

Again, most of my cons are not real bad. There are easy work-arounds for the issues that I encountered. I mainly wanted something that printed and copied on 2 sides, and to have a reliable printer for basic home use. This MFP appears to fit the bill for me.

My primary use for this machine will be in my home. I print less than 100 sheets per month, half dozen faxes per year, copy/scan 20-30 pg's per month.

I rated this at 4 stars only because of the minor issues I had, but could have easily given it a 5 star as well. Overall, I'm happy with the Canon ImageClass MF4890dw. For home /small business use, this is a good machine at this price.

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Terrific printer. I love that it uses Toner since this is more cost-efficient for me. We are using a brand new HP workforce in one office and this in a bedroom and it is lightening fast and super easy to use. This printer set up within 5 minutes and we had no issues connecting the wireless functions to our computers. It was literally one of the easiest setups for a printer I have ever done.

The print quality is great but I am only comparing it alongside my HP. Side by side comparisons look pretty even. I would give this the win though since it prints in a matter of seconds whereas my HP takes a tiny bit longer to spit the end result out. That's the best part of having a laser printer! SUPER FAST PRINTING!!!

This printer is also incredibly quiet! It's barely noticeable when printing compared to the HP. Doesn't seem to chug or whine as much. It's an airy, breezy noise and it doesn't linger. Love that! It seems very energy efficient as well which is great.

Overall, well worth the money!!!

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Educational Insights Hot Dots Jr. Cards - Patterns & Sequenci

• Set of 72 Patterns
• 41 Double sided cards
• Flash Cards

These cards are great for pre-schoolers, featuring a number of different activities involving patterns and sequence:

The questions are either "which completes the pattern" or "which completes the sequence" and the cards feature various levels of difficulty depicting animals, shapes, colors, sizes, positions for patterns,and various activities (eating, going to bed, building a snow man, sending a letter, etc.) for sequences. These are great activities for cognitive development.

My son is 3 years old and while many of the questions age-appropriate for him, some are still very challenging, so I can see the educational value of these cards lasting for a couple of years. The cards can be used with or without the dog-pen, and although the pen makes it more fun, sometimes my son chooses the wrong answers on purpose (or presses answers randomly), because it's fun for him when the dog makes a sad sound. That being said, the price of the set is high enough to include the price of the pen, in my opinion, which is why I give the product 4 stars.

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Love these because they can practice on their own. We will be looking to get additional sets. Love watching them learn and grow

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My 4-year-old daughter loves these beginning phonics cards. Some are easier, and some challenge her. You'll need to make sure you purchase the Hot Dots "pen," in regular style, doggy or kitty animal characters available, too. Although she can sit at the kitchen table and work on these alone, I prefer to sit with her and help her learn. Great for preschools, too!

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I found one set of these cards at a scholastic warehouse sale and went to amazon for the pen. while searching around I discovered cards for other skill sets. This is a leapfrog concept but not the leapfrog price! My 3yr-old can use this without help and my 2yr-old can with help. You do need the pen for the full effect. Its a great little item for reinforcing the skills we've been learning and has a good variety of higher-order skills for review. The price on amazon was the best I could find as well... at least $3 cheaper then education sites and stores b/c of the free shipping.

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Great learning tool for my 4 year old grandson. We have previously purchased the ABC and numbers and thought this would add to the collection. He loves to hear the talking dog pen that tells him "Great Job". He sometimes misses an answer just to see what the dog will tell him. Then he selects the right answer and proceeds to tell me how he was just teasing. Great learning tool. Would recommend to anyone who wished to assist his preschooler before they begin kindergarten.

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Case Logic TBC-302 FFP Compact Camera Case (Black)

• Camera case compatible with ultra compact point and shoot cameras
• Durable dobby nylon and interior padding protect your camera against daily wear and tear
• Belt loop allows for easy transport
• Zippered pocket stores memory cards and other small accessories
• Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging

I recently purchased a Canon S90 to complement my 5DmkII on a safari in Tanzania. Throughout the trip I had the S90 on my belt for quick and easy access; the case isn't bulky and seemed to protect the camera well enough from the occasional knock as the land cruiser hit big bumps.

On my last day in Tanzania I was walking through the streets of Arusha when suddenly I felt a hard tug that almost spun me around. I turned to see a man starting to flee. I started off in pursuit--concerned more about the memory card than the camera itself--but after a few steps realized the camera was still at my side, only a slight rip in the strap indicating anything had happened.

Recommended as a sturdy carrying case with a reasonable amount of padding for impact protection (you won't want to drop it from very high or expose it to strong blows).

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I tried several cases for my new Canon S90 and this case had the best snug fit for the S90 without being too snug. It will provide a modest level of protection for the camera without adding unnecessary bulk. The outer pocket will hold an extra battery and/or memory card.

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This case happens to be a good fit for the Canon S90. If you're hiking or are on vacation, it'll get you that crucial amount of padding plus room for 1 or 2 spare batteries and SD card. I particularly like the fact that the belt loop is fixed (not a clip), so once you put it on, you can be confident that it stays on, no matter which woods you're cutting your way through. Use a wider belt if you have one, the case wiggles a little with slim belts.

If you're out in Metropolis though, the "outdoor factor" may be just a tad over the edge. You can remove the metal hook and cut off the bright label with sharp scissors, but it'll still look a bit too dorky for, say, the opera or sushi gathering. For such occasions, you'll do better with Canon's PSC900 Deluxe Leather Case.

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: 1:15 Mins

Case-logic review

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I purchased this camera case to go with the Panasonic Lumix DMC ZS15, but it was too small to hold the camera. The quality was nice and it was very lightweight--just didn't work with this camera.

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Westek RFK100LC Wall Mounted Switch and Plug-in Receiver

• Simply plug desired appliance or lamp into the receiver into any outlet
• A press of the handheld transmitter's button turns whatever is plugged into receiver On or Off
• A Wall mounted transmitter designed to look just like a light switch
• 240-Watt tungsten load, 120-Volt
• For indoor use only

The only reason I'm not giving this product 5 stars is because of the cheapish styling. It has a one-piece rocker switch/plate cover that looks like it could break easily. However, I've had mine for about 2 years so far and it's still intact.

This unit has three channels, so you can have up to three different sets of these in your home. In my living room, I have two sets, both on the same channel, controlling two lamps across the room from each other. Since they're both on the same channel, either transmitter can turn on or off both lights (kind of like three-way switching for multiple lamps).

The rocker switch makes it seem like you'd press up for on and down for off. However, it's just a toggle switch -there's no difference between up or down.

Leviton makes a more-attractive switch (although they only sell the almond color here on Amazon). It resembles a regular hard-wired rocker switch commonly found in homes. However, it only has two channels (so you could only have two sets of these in your home), and it's VERY tempermental. It will randomly switch off and sometimes constantly switch off -very annoying.

I would like to see X10 come out with one of these devices, but their controllers resemble remote controls too much. They need one that looks like a regular wall switch. So why X10? First it can handle 256 channels -not just two or three. Second, it can integrate with your PC for home automation. Third, it costs about the same as one of these other more-basic models.

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This switch works well in my home. However, as another reviewer said, it has only two different frequencies, and the frequency is NOT selectable. When you buy, you must specify either the "A" or "B" frequency switch. The package is labeled such. Don't get two of the same frequency within range of each other! Oh, and the switch and control block do not look like what is pictured. The control block is bigger and the switch (as mentioned in the other review) is a rocker, not a traditional toggle as pictured.

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The remote wall switch solved a big problem in my bedroom where the hot plug is on the opposite tiny wall with no room for a light, but the product could not be more cheaply manufactured. They included two plastic screws to secure the faceplate on to the switch backing. I hand screwed the plastic screws in, and both of the screw heads snapped off. This left the base of the screws inside the backing -so, I cannot just buy new screws.

I would look for another brand if you are looking for a remote wall switch.

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We've had 3 of these in our home for close to 20 years and they've never needed replacement. Our house was built with no wall switches in the bedrooms and we were thrilled to find these. They've actually gone down in price since we bought ours. They work perfectly and we've never had a problem.

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I was prepared to fish wire inside a wall and hook up a switch for my new accent lights when I heard about this gadget. I bought one and it works better than I had hoped for. It's great!

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Enrock EKMCB90 Marine Boat Car Radio Stereo Receiver Waterproof (Black Cover)

• Protects Your Stereo From Outside Elements
• Smoke Colored Housing Window
• Spring Loaded Flip-up Door
• UV Resistant Plastic

The cover looks sharp. It functions well and is easy to install. One MAJOR problem is the hinges are made from cheap plastic and break very very easy. Everyone of these covers I have ever owned breaks in the same spot on the hinges. They need to fix this problem...Then I will buy another,for now I am over wasting my $20

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This cover works perfectly. It flips right up to allow easy access to my receiver. It's priced low but gives me a sense of security that my receiver is safe. I love it!

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Pyle PLMRMP3B 4 Channel 800 Watt Waterproof Micro Marine Amplifier

• 4 X 100 Watts RMS at 4 Ohms - Anti-Thump Turn-On - Volume Gain Remote Control - Fuse: 10A - Remote Control for Volume Gain
• 4 X 200 Watts MAX at 4 Ohms - Soft Turn On/Off - T.H.D: 0.05% - Dimensions:6.10''Lx3.35''Wx1.38''H
• 4 X 300 Watts RMS at 2 Ohms - Adjustable High Low Level Inputs - S/N Ratio:95dB - Color: BlackAccessories:
• Electronic Crossover Network - RCA Line Input - Channel Separation: 65dB - iPod / MP3 Waterproof Poly Bag
• 2 Ohms Stereo Stable - Power Protection Circuitry - Frequency Response: 10Hz-40KHz - iPod / MP3 Waterproof 3.5mm Stereo to RCA Adaptor

Awesome product for my boat, I've gone through many marine stereos, but this amp is just right for being around a salt water environment. Install is easy, and all the hardware is rust resistant, only thing I'd change is the size of the aux jack. It sucks having to drill such a large hole for such a small connector! Over all I love this product!!

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Bought this for my Motorcycle, best money spent on my sound so far!

Great power and quality sound no matter what source, wish I had more toys to install this unit in.

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What can I say...this thing is AMAZING. I didnt even know I needed this untill I saw my best friend (who is a stereo guy) listening to his mp3 on his PWC. "How do you do that" I say. "Waterproof Stereo" he says...well I knew I needed one right then. Now you do need a fair amount of other equipment ie. speakers and a head unit before you are listening to your Mp3's on the boat but, this amp was the final piece for me. Good amplification and waterproof little bag to have your player accesible at all times. Now Im listening to "On A Boat" On a boat.

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Installed amp with cadence wakeboard speakers on my side by side atv. Easy install and to use. System sounds good for the money

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On my speed boat that I use for waterskiing, I have a basic little radio that we tune in regularly to a local marina radio station. Problem is, we can never hear much of the music over the engines of the boat unless you are right there at the wheel. I found this amplifier online after a friend suggested it, ordered it, received it in 3 days, and by the following weekend, the music was powerful enough to carry all the way back to the skiers. It was simple to install, and has great frequency response. Its great for the boat.

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PYLE PLMR67W 6-1/2-Inch Dual Cone Waterproof Stereo Speaker System

• Dual 2.25'' Bullet style Weatherproof speakers
• Mounting Brackets and Accessories included
• Speaker Dimensions - 2.5''W x 2.5''H x 3''L

I put these in some 6" PVC tube to mount on my jeep's roll bars, they are loud and clear enough to run the top down on the highway and still enjoy your music (I run somewhat loud A/T tires also). The biggest reason I purchased them was due to them being waterproof and I've run these same speakers on ATVs crossing creeks, covering them in mud, and hosing them off at the day's end with 0 issues yet. Just keep in mind these are not high end, but work well and you will not be to upset if they get hit out on the trails etc.

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for the price these are great. I put them in a golf cart, and i enjoy them. I am sure audiophiles would complain about the sound quality but for the price to me they were more than adequate.

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Fine rich full sound with solid bass and crisp highs. Not at all muddy in the middle either just a good performing speaker at a good price. I purchased two for the rear seats of my pontoon boat and liked the sound I put two more under the front two bench seats as well. The boat is rockin' now and I'm happy with the purchase (both times) and am looking forward to having friends out on the boat anchored swimming and relaxing at our favorite cove all the more with these contributing to the good times.

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I plan to use these outdoors and they are plenty loud and clear for the application. Good midrange, adequate low, but not very crisp on the high range. They won't win any awards for clarity or response, but are solidly built, come boxed securely and with spaded wires for easy installation...for $15 a pair! I'm building a suitcase boombox for plugging my iPod and tablet into. One repurposed snare drum case, four speakers and a cheap 20w powered amp and "voila" a loud digital music boom box for less than $60.

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I mounted these on my Polaris Ranger 500...Have a really good sound for the money...i bought these for a cheap pair of speakers to listen to the radio on my UTV and not have to worry if they got wet...Had for about a month now with no issues...they are doing what i wanted them to do

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Roku 2 XD Streaming Player 1080p

• 600+ channels with movies, TV shows, music, sports & more
• High-definition streaming up to 1080p HD
• Works with virtually any TV
• Free app for iOS and Android
• Built-in wireless (Wi-Fi b/g/n)

I love Roku and the whole Roku experience. It allowed me to "cut the cable" and save a good bit of money each month. It gives me plenty of programming, most of it free. It's also adding new channels all the time, about 360 or so at the moment.

I current own the previous Roku XD 2050x and love it. It's not a perfect product, but it's a darn good one.

This review is on my current purchase, the Roku 2 XD. It's not a perfect product either and it's just been released. It's also not quite ready for prime-time, but almost...

There are some differences between the XD and the Roku 2 XD. Most are good, but I do have two gripes. The original XD had both a wired connection and wireless available. I use wireless, but wired can be handy. When I first received my original XD, it wouldn't properly connect with my router. So, I hooked it up with an ethernet cable, which allowed it to receive a quick update. This update fixed the problem and I haven't had any problems since. The wireless worked great.

Now, the new Roku 2 XD only has a wireless connection. If you want a Roku 2 with an available wired connection, then you have to spend 100.00 to go up to the XS. I think this was a bad move on Roku's part. I have no desire to play games on my Roku and I especially don't like "Angry Birds" which is the main selling point of the XS.

My other gripe is that the new Roku 2 XD no longer has the "rewind/replay" button. This neat little button will give you an instant replay of the past several seconds, allowing you to take a look at a movie scene you might have missed or a sports call you might want to replay.

The original Roku XD had this button, but the new Roku 2 XD doesn't have it. Again, if you want this button, then you have to move up to the higher priced XS. Again, another bad call on the part of Roku in my opinion.

As I mentioned previously, I think they might have rushed this product to market a bit too quickly. The main reason is that there are a few common channels (and popular private channels) that won't run on the new XD, while they run fine on the previous generation. Roku is working on the problem and releasing updates, but still, this shouldn't have happened on the scale that it did. For example, currently, Food Network Nighttime won't play at all and all of the NASA programming will actually crash the Roku and cause it to reboot. When the Roku 2 was first released the problems were worse, but the company has been working to correct it. However, with so many glitches at release, they really should have waited to refine the software before releasing it to the public.

Now, I'll move on to a quick list of Pros and Cons for the Roku 2 XD

Pros: 1. Overall faster performance especially in menus

2. Wireless range and signal seems better than the previous models

3. Better looking menus and color schemes

4. Smaller Roku footprint.

Cons: 1. No wired ethernet port on XD and HD, only on the XS

2. No rewind/recall button on remote of XD and HD, only on the XS

3. Seems to run a little warmer than previous models

4. Too much common content (and some private channels) won't work and can possibly crash/reboot the Roku

Overall, it seems as if it'll be a great product, like the previous models, once they work out the glitches.

I do wish they'd have kept the wired ethernet port on the XD at least, as well as the rewind/recall button.

If you have a previous generation Roku XD, stick with it for at least the next couple of months. Hopefully they'll have corrected the video/streaming problems that are plaguing it currently.

Also, if you need a wired ethernet connection, then either stick with or track down a previous generation XD. Otherwise, if you're willing to spend the extra money on the XS, then do it.

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My favorite quote from the slim setup manual: "Step 3 establishes your network connection and bring out your inner geek. You can do it!" Well, setup is about as easy as it could possibly be and there's really nothing geeky about it. Choose your wifi network name and enter the password. No requirement to choose the encryption standard (WEP, WPA etc) or anything more technical than username and password. You will need a computer to create an account at Roku and associate it with your new box.

Once setup is complete, driving the user interface via a very straightforward IR remote is intuitive. IR is quite directional and you might want to position the Roku box where you most naturally point the remote. This should be easy because the Roku is remarkably small at just a couple of inches square. I think you could velcro the box to the side of a TV if that was convenient to you.

My inner geek is an energy miser! I did my initial testing using a Kill-A-Watt power meter and was delighted to find power consumption runs around 1 to 2 watts even when streaming (I'm compensating for a satellite TV DVR that sucks an outrageous 50-60 watts, 24/7). Great job!

There are dozens of stream feeds preprogrammed into the Roku, most of which appear to be free of charge. Streaming of the most recent NBC newscast looks to be useful. I plan to look around at the others when I get some time. My main intended use for this is to stream video from Netflix. That is working fine and is very similar to my Samsung blueray player and rather faster in operation.

I use an HDMI cable with both a 720p and a 1080p TV and image quality is fine; I didn't try the analog connections. When you order, just remember that no HDMI cable is included; Amazon's own-brand cables work fine and are very economical (there's that miser, again!)

Overall, this is a fine implementation of a streaming video player. Usage is tailored very much to normal people; geeks might want to get their thrills elsewhere!

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We recently bought a Roku XD box (right before Roku 2 came out) and we absolutely love it. Hundreds of free channels from all over the world. Buy Roku once, and -as long as you have a TV (even an old one, like ours) and an Internet connection -you have free television shows and movies... lots of them.

See, absolutely anyone can create a channel for Roku and -as long as they have hosting to meet bandwidth demands -they can place the channel on Roku, free. (Assuming it meets Roku's quality standards, of course.)

As a result, there are all kinds of great niche channels created by enthusiasts for things like surfing, rock climbing, old-time drive-in movies, etc.

Lately, we've seen a lot of Christian programming added, which makes Roku attractive for many people who want more faith-friendly programs. Menorah TV is also on Roku. And, BYU-TV just added their channel, which means we can see "Dogs with Jobs" every evening... among other cool shows, like genealogy shows, history programs, and sports.

More recreational and fitness programming is arriving, and there are so many (mostly English) channels from Asian countries, they have their own category among the hundreds of Roku channels.

I love watching France24 news and other international news shows, live (and in English). My weather channel is now Roku's feed from Weather Underground... so it's for my exact town instead of the nearest city, complete with fresh-every-five-minutes satellite and radar images.

Though it's only part of what we watch, we have Netflix on our Roku programming. It costs the same as Netflix does on your computer (if you already have Netflix service, you don't pay anything extra), and you can also add things like Hulu Plus and Amazon's streaming programming.

But, except for Netflix, everything else we watch is free. That means, after buying the Roku box (less than a month's cable TV bill), we pay nothing extra for our TV service. It's saving us over $100/month in cable TV bills, with far better programming and crisper images. Most channels have little or no commercial interruptions, too. Almost all of them are on-demand, as well.

We can also access things like Picasa, Pandora, and Facebook via Roku. Lots of options!

The only negative to this -and we hope this is short-term -is that there's no closed captioning. (However, the hundreds of anime features on Crackle have subtitles... and that programming is free.) I'm pretty sure the channels and Roku are working on this.

All in all, I have no idea how cable TV will compete with things like Roku. Between the price (free) and the range of great programs we can watch, we will never go back to cable TV.

Roku + an Internet connection + a TV (even an old one) = free TV!

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I've been an avid user and fan of Roku's first generation player since it was first released in 2007. I bought this model to add it to another television in my house. When it first arrived, I was SHOCKED on how tiny it is! The first generation player is already small; this one is about a quarter of the original size! I mainly use this player for Netflix, but also use it for many other applications (40-50 different ones) such as Amazon Video and even Facebook. I have a high-speed Internet connection, able to stream 1080p HD picture.

I don't know why other people have had so much trouble with this player. Setup was complete in less than two minutes: just plug it in and follow the on-screen steps. You definitely need your network password if your wireless is secure. Also, as a new requirement to add channels, you need to create a free account on Roku.com. In order to create an account, Roku requires that you add a credit card on file for any purchases that you make in the channel store. This was not required with the old player. I was not worried at all about this; I do not plan on buying anything from the store so there will be no charges. A 4-digit PIN is required to purchase anything, so there should be no problems with children trying to buy something unauthorized. As an added convenience once you create an account, Roku will upload all the channels that you already have on your old player to your new player. So once I logged into my Roku account from my new player, all of my channels that are on my other player were automatically added. This saved me a lot of time searching for and adding the channels that I wanted.

There are a few obvious changes in this model from the first gen HD player. It's a matter of opinion if these changes are good or bad. I personally think that most of these changes are improvements.

The main changes are:

1. No Ethernet port (available in first gen), wireless is the only internet connection option

2. No Optical Audio Out, S-Video input, or Component input (all available in first gen). The only two options are HDMI (not included) & Composite (included)

3. There is now a Micro SD slot for added memory for anything: pictures, video, games, apps, music (not available in first gen)

4. Immediately I noticed that loading time for Netflix is significantly faster (5-8 seconds from 15-20 seconds), but video begins pixelated (low quality) and quickly buffers itself while playing to 1080p HD in about 10 seconds. What results with this change is no more stopping to reload video if the Internet connection becomes slower. The video will automatically improve if connection improves or decrease in resolution if connection becomes slower.

My only complaint about this feature is that you no longer actually know the picture quality of what is streaming. In the old player, it would say the strength of the wireless signal (when I would stream something HD, it would say HD). Ultimately, this lack of knowing the quality is not really an issue, since everything I've been watching from Netflix that is labeled HD has so far had an exceptional picture quality, even better than the 720p HD first gen. player.

5. The new remote is a little longer and lighter than the first generation remote, but more narrow. In contrast to the first gen. remote, the new one feels a little cheaply made. The first gen. remote is solid and sturdy, while this one feels too light and the plastic feels thin. Also, the up,down,left,right and OK buttons on the new remote are all connected in one pad, unlike the individual, separated buttons on the previous generation remote. In my past experience, remotes that have one solid pad for 5 actions usually have more malfunctions than a remote that has separated buttons for different commands.

For example, when pressing the left button (which is the most commonly pressed button since it is used to scroll through everything on your Roku) on the old remote, there was no possible way to do anything else but press left since it was its own separate button. Now, in the new remote, when pressing left it is possible to accidentally press up or down if you are not pressing the absolute correct section of the pad. Luckily, both remotes work on both players.

6. The size of the player is drastically smaller than the previous generation. I mean TINY. It is so small, that the HDMI cable can lift it up if the cable is not perfectly straight. Conveniently, it can fit almost anywhere since it is only about an inch high and 3 inches wide/deep. (first gen. player was about 2.5 inches high by 5 inches wide/deep)

Overall, I highly recommend this player to anyone with a Netflix account, although there are HUNDREDS of other useful and fun applications that are available besides Netflix. If you don't have a TV with Netflix connectivity already included, this player is an inexpensive way to get the most out of your Netflix subscription. It has completely changed the way my husband and I use our television.

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Peter G McDermott unboxes, reviews, demonstrates and teaches you how to use the Roku 2 XD 1080p high definition (hi-def) set top box for your television. All you need is a TV, power source and Internet connection to get started.

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