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6/29/2012

Sonos ZP100 Digital Music System Bundle (BU101) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had been wanting to install a whole house audio system long before I even had a house. When I was a kid, I dreamed of being able to go from room to room and have my music follow me. Back then I envisioned a CD changer hooked up to all my speakers and listening to a selection of my favorite CDs. If I only could have dreamed bigger, I would have thought of the Sonos system.
I got an iPod three years ago and it was great to rediscover songs/CDs/artists that I hadn't listened to in awhile due to (1) the volume of my collection and (2) not having the ability to manipulate songs across the collection easily until the advent of mp3 playlists. But the iPod changed that. I loaded all of my CDs on an external hard drive, synched my iPod, and had all of my songs in a handheld device no bigger than my wallet. Or so I thought.
Turns out, I had too much music to fit on one iPod. So it was great to have *most* of my favorite music on the iPod so I could easily take it in the car or listen to on a single system within my house, but I still wanted access to all my songs and the single iPod couldn't pump music throughout the whole house without some costly wiring expenses. And along comes the Sonos system...
I had first read about the product nearly a year ago and it had gotten rave reviews wherever I looked. Thinking it was out of my price range though, I never really considered purchasing it. However, I then began to research different alternatives. The more I price compared a total solution (ie: running speaker wire throughout an existing house, a central media manager so I could run different and/or the same feed(s) to different rooms, and a remote to control it all), the more attractive the Sonos system became. Given all of the extra costs with a different system (not to mention the inevitable set up frustration), I was convinced that the Sonos system was my answer. But could this finally be IT or was I going to be let down by something that seemed to be soooo good, it almost seemed overhyped?
Without question, the answer is yes, this...is...IT. It is honestly the easiest computer interface/setup I have ever used. Connect a ZonePlayer to your router, press a couple of buttons, and follow the on screen prompts. Then follow a similar procedure to connect the remote (Sonos Controller). Another ZonePlayer in another room set up via the Controller (quicker than the 1st), and you're good to go. The remote controls up to 32 ZonePlayers (ie-rooms) so it should satisfy anyone's needs if you want to expand (and you'll want to!).
After 15 minutes, you'll be listening to Bach in the Basement, Frampton in the Family Room, and Sinatra in the bedroom. Or listen to the same thing all over the house. And the best part? There are NO buffering issues in this wireless music system. How'd they do it? I don't know, but it really does work.
Another important feature that is often downplayed but nearly equally cool, is the RCA input on each ZonePlayer. This allows you to connect an external source and send it throughout the rest of the system. So you can connect a tuner to one of the ZonePlayers, and then send your favorite radio station to the rest of your house. Connect another to a TV and send the TV's audio throughout the house. What for, you ask? I agree, I won't be using it for regular shows, but it should be great for sports and being able to keep up with the game when I run outside. To make that happen...
I'm hoping to add another ZonePlayer outside in the Spring so I can go from the upstairs to the main floor to the basement and even outside, all the while listening to the same song throughout the journey. I'm really looking forward to the good weather!
So as you can see, I just can't praise this product enough. For those of you who think it's expensive, compare it to a full solution like I did. If you have a large CD/mp3 collection and an imperfect listening solution, this is the one product that can tie it all together easily and achieve that sonic nirvana you've been searching for.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sonos ZP100 Digital Music System Bundle (BU101)

If you're looking for a simple, powerful, and stylish way to play your favorite music all over the house, look no further than the Sonos ZP100 digital music system bundle, which includes everything you need to set up the audio system of your dreams. The system gets you started with two Sonos ZonePlayer 100s (ZP100s, for short) and a Sonos controller, enough equipment to cover two rooms with full digital music access. When you're ready to expand your wireless, multi-room digital music system, simply add more ZonePlayers and controllers as needed.
Watch a demo of the Sonos Digital Music System. it in action [Flash]

The ZonePlayer 100 The ZP100 brings great-sounding music to any and every room in your house, regardless of where your music collection is stored. That's because the ZP100, with its built-in amplifier, communicates wirelessly with your PC or Mac and sends the music directly to any connected pair of speakers. You can even play the same song in different rooms or different songs in different rooms.

With 50 watts per channel of power and a guaranteed total harmonic distortion of less than 0.02 percent, you can count on superior audio quality playback--without hisses, crackles, or hums. The first ZP100 connects to your broadband router, but you have total freedom with each additional ZonePlayer. You can put one in the basement, garage, kitchen, and anywhere else, as long as you also connect a pair of speakers. You can even connect the ZP100 to your favorite CD or MP3 player and listen to that music on all the other ZonePlayers in your house. Connectivity is easy, as the ZP100 features spring binding post speaker terminals, RCA-type line-in and line-out jacks, and a subwoofer out jack.

Simply put, the ZP100 is ready for any setup you have, large or small. You can even match the ZP100 with a pair of Sonos' very own SP100 loudspeakers, which are aesthetically and acoustically designed to complement your Sonos digital music system.

Sonos in Depth The ZP100 is just one part of a complete Sonos digital music system. To make your system complete, you'll need access the Sonos controller (included in the bundle). The wireless Sonos controller gives you instant control over your entire digital music collection, along with Internet radio, subscriptions to online audio services, and even music from your favorite CD or MP3 player. You can turn off the upstairs music while you're downstairs. You can change the song in the kitchen from the den. Plus, the controller's full-color 3.5-inch screen lets you see album art, browse playlists, get detailed track info, and more. To start listening, just pick a room, pick a song, and hit play. The controller even lets you queue the right tunes for the right moment; you can build, edit, and save playlists right from the palm of your hand.

The system supports up to 32 Sonos ZonePlayers throughout your home--from the bedroom to the backyard. Expansion options include additional ZP100s, or you can choose the ZP80, which doesn't have a built-in amplifier but instead connects directly to your home theater or stereo systems. Or better yet, choose both for the ultimate in multi-room music. You can also add more Sonos controllers to give more people access to your music library.

Sonos Setup You don't need to be a professional installer to set up a Sonos system, or a technical wizard to use it. Sonos was designed to work right out of the box. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a router to get started. Then, unpack your components, lay them out in your home, and the result will be music to your ears.

Software Sonos offers desktop software for PCs and Macs that's as simple to use as the Sonos controller. Designed with a user interface that accommodates a larger screen, the Sonos Desktop Controller software guides you through both setup and music sharing. It offers the exact same functionality as the Sonos controller, but instead of being in the palm of your hand, it's all on your desktop. You can also use it to set up music folders on your hard drive or to add and edit Internet radio stations.

The ZP100 measures 10.2 by 4.4 by 8.2 inches (W x H x D) while the Sonos controller checks in at 6.5 by 0.95 by 3.8 inches. The entire bundle is backed by a one-year warranty.

Rhapsody and Sonos Now you can hear more music, in more rooms with Sonos and Rhapsody, the #1-Rated Digital Music Service. Sonos connects directly to Rhapsody via the Web, so you don't have to download an application or even turn your PC on. Instead, all that music (millions of songs + ad-free radio) is instantly accessible from the palm of your hand-to play in any room you choose.
With the Sonos Controller you can browse the entire Rhapsody Music Guide, everything from Top Artists, Albums and Tracks to New Releases and editorial recommendations. You can even view track information and album art. And whenever a new song is released, it's in your hands and ready to play-in the bedroom, bathroom or backyard. Rhapsody features Instant, plug-and-play access to millions of songs and ad-free radio on your Sonos system
Discover new music right from your Controller-browse by genre or check out the charts, then build your own library of favorites and create custom playlists
Get album and playlist recommendations based upon the songs and artists you've chosen.
Over 100 professionally-programmed commercial-free radio stations spanning dozens of formats
Customized radio stations based on your favorite artists

Free Rhapsody 30-day trial The minute you took your new Sonos® system out of the box or updated your software to Sonos v2.0, your free 30-day Rhapsody® Trial was ready to go. Now, it's your turn to start listening to all those songs, all over your house.
Simply pick up your Sonos Controller, hit the music button and you'll see the Rhapsody Trial. Now select the Rhapsody Music Guide and browse for your favorite artists, albums, genres, and more.

Click here for more information about Sonos ZP100 Digital Music System Bundle (BU101)

6/15/2012

Sony Ericsson W395 Quad-band Cell Phone - Unlocked Review

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(More customer reviews)The 395 is for all intents and purposes a walkman... I had the opportunity to use this phone for a week and within that time found things likable and some not. Firstly, the good stuff... This phone is LOUD! compared to other walkman "esque" phones sone produces, this phone is capable of blasting music at literally half the level of the others and still is louder. The slide system is quite easy to open close... as well as carrying the basics everybody who wish for music to have in a walkman phone... bluetooth, m2 memory card, headphones etc. Call quality is pretty good and that volume helps a lot.
Now the not so good news... The first thing you'll realize is just how smooth this phone is... it doesn't inspire confidence it'll stay in your hand... not to mention the phone is a small phone so in large hands like mine it tended to feel like it'll fall out. Also the keypad though nice to look at for its smoothness isn't the best thing for text messaging people... also not an advantage with big hands. Sony designed this phone to be more basically a music phone than feature ridden and you will find that out when trying to download themes... these isn't any, or at least I was unable to... doing some digging it seems that many others were unable to do so as well. Also, Sony Ericsson was a bit stingy with the pixel quality of the screen... it really isn't the sharpest LCD to look at and at 176 x 220 sizes, you'll feel like you were watching an old Motorola v600 rather than a New Sony Ericsson w395. The menus are all basic, and some of the commands are a little dull. The camera isn't the best quality at 2mp, but it does its job.
All in all, if you are looking for a phone in which music is your priority, and not so much the screen quality and features, then buy this phone without hesitation... you'll thank yourself for doing so. But if you are like me who needs a slightly bigger phone and more image quality and features phone wise, then try another in the walkman range... the w760i and w705a are good alternatives in that sense.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony Ericsson W395 Quad-band Cell Phone - Unlocked

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4/22/2012

Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Why are audiophiles buzzing about this inexpensive product? It is the first mass consumer unit to sound as good as much more expensive audio products. I had it up and running with my wireless network in 15 minutes, and was simply stunned by how good it sounded playing my music on computer. Even the internet radio playing through this unit sounded better than any standard radio tuner. Read my experience at musicserver.blogspot.com
I have a huge investment in my current audio system (more than $20k). I read about the Squeezebox on one of the audiophile websites, and was intrigued by having all my music accessible on a computer, but with sound quality to match my high end CD player. After a month of living with the Squeezebox, I can confirm how good it sounds, how simple it is to set up, and how versatile it is. I have not turned on my $3000 CD transport in 2 weeks, and plan on selling it shortly.
I encourage anyone ready to set up a computer system to visit my blog at musicserver.blogspot.com to see how easy it was to set up your music collection on a computer.
For the 95% of people out there who don't understand or care about audiophile quality sound, don't worry. A stock Squeezebox playing your music stored on your computer will sound better than anything you can buy for any reasonable amount of money.
For the uninitiated, a Squeezebox is part of a system of storing your CD collection on computer, and you use the Squeezebox to access/browse your computerized music collection. You need a computer, of course, and to get the best sound quality, you need to rip your music using a high quality format, like WAV or Apple Lossless or FLAC. It works with computers running Windows, Linux or Apple operating systems, and it does not require an expensive computer. Many users are running it with a laptop! It connects to your computer either wirelessly (using built in wifi connection) or via an ethernet cable.
After a month of playing with this unit, I cannot see how I could ever go back to using a CD player. I love being able to tune in and listen to Internet radio stations without having my computer turned on. I bought another Squeezebox for the family home theater system; now my wife can play my collection without me having to worry about misplaced cd's or the kids scratching CD's!!
For hardcore audiophiles who are dubious about how an inexpensive box can compete with separates, read my blog. This box is the real deal, and when upgraded (and particularly when used with your favorite high end external DAC), it is awesome!!! If you don't have or don't want a external DAC, the Squeezebox can be modified by a number of companies to upgrade the existing DAC and produce sound quality to rival top high end players.
The audiophile press and internet gurus are abuzz about this product for good reason. I was pretty skeptical, but it was so cheap I figured I had little to lose. I am not one to gush about gear, but this box is just phenomenal!!! I've rediscovered my music.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Squeezebox Wireless Network Music Player, Black

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4/16/2012

Crosley CR17 iJuke Mini Jukebox Review

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(More customer reviews)I selected this item at no cost to myself as part of an employee award program mainly for entertainment value for the kids. It is a very fun item with the flashing lights, bubbling neon looking lights and mini jukebox shape, so keep in mind this item is only for the light and young at heart. It adds fun to a small room quite well which is what it is supposed to do, so I guess it's a success.
Where I disagree with the first two reviewers is regarding the sound quality. It has one four-inch full range paper speaker for each channel and the sound reflects this basic cheapness. Of course if has no bass at all and with an external power supply providing only 14 volts and 2 amps, bass is not possible. The lack of bass I can understand but the lack of crisp highs and any sort of detail I cannot. The sound is below the standard of most computer speakers. The sound cannot come close even to $100 iPod docking stations. For a street selling price of $200 I would have expected better. You have to try to mess up digital sound, the iJuke has done just that and it's clear from the cheap old-school speakers that not even Crosley intended the iJuke to be a music device. My kids love it anyway because it's fun. I'm bitter that I have no reason to listen to it.
The unit is lightly and cheaply made and I give the remote 6 months of use before it stops working.
The second item is, my unit broke within 30 days of new. One of the tubes pulled out of the bubblers in plain sight on the front panel and stopped working. Crosley has not responded to my requests for a return authorization number, neither by phone or by e-mail as the website says will happen.
So in my opinion be aware you are shelling out $200 for a low quality toy if you buy this item. If you have money to burn, don't expect sound on par with docking stations half the price, or don't expect anything more than infrequent bursts of entertainment for the kids then it's an OK purchase.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Crosley CR17 iJuke Mini Jukebox

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2/21/2012

Motorola MOTOROKR EM30 Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, MP3 Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Cherry Red) Review

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(More customer reviews)So far so good.
Getting an unlocked phone has a lot of perks, this is a really nice music and movie player, I downloaded some dvds onto my computer, edited them with a free video to cellphone program, so really this does almost everything the $300.00 phones do, just for much much less.
So far, music player is great, videos are great, call quality is clear the only very small down side I can see right now is its slightly smaller than an iphone, so it will not fit any cell phone holster without padding, kinda annoying but other than that, you won't regret buying this phone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Motorola MOTOROKR EM30 Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, MP3 Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Cherry Red)

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12/13/2011

Tivoli Audio RadioCombo CD/AM/FM Stereo System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was stunned by the difference it made to add the satellite speaker to the Tivoli Model One, confirming the findings of Consumer Reports, which rated the Model One plus satellite speaker the best sound quality of the high end radios tested. Moreover, it's a compact unit with full-frequencied sound at both loud and low volume levels. The iPal, on the other hand, is an overpriced novelty, putting out appealing sound until the gain is advanced beyond the mid-point, at which point distortion is unacceptable. Don't even consider the Tivoli sub-woofer. This unit already has ample bass (sometimes too much); if anything, I wouldn't mind having a treble control to bring out ride cymbals a bit more, though on the whole Tivoli's engineers have done a nice job of balancing frequencies.
If you're serious about sound, and especially stereo separation, you won't want to use this as a bedside clock radio (though the separation is effective even when listening to it in bed with a speaker on each night-stand). Moreover, as some consumer reviews indicate, the clock radio mechanism is very basic. For two hundred more you can get Tivoli's top unit, combining stereo with clock radio and CD player, but you're sacrificing stereo separation, since both speakers are mounted in a single, comparatively small cabinet.
The CD player is a quality unit for those who don't load up discs willy nilly in changers, inviting jamming. Moreover, unlike most portable disc players that I tried, this one doesn't slip, stick, or quickly wear out. It will occasionally balk at discs it doesn't like, and at first I thought I had another irritating jam problem and repair bill on my hands. Simply unplug the power cord for a few seconds, replug, and it will regurgitate the disc.
The price isn't necessarily the smallest, but the unit is, even with all three pieces. Simply put, you won't find a bigger, more satisfying sound anywhere in a more compact system, and face it: even if you're not a wood connoisseur, it looks classy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Tivoli Audio RadioCombo CD/AM/FM Stereo System

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11/30/2011

Crosley EP18 Elvis Presley Baby Bubbler Jukebox Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this playing since it arrived!
The sound is wonderful...actually I have a long history with Grundig(Germany)and I would rate Crosley as equal in quality...
The door to the controls is a bit technically uncomfortable for me...I keep thinking that the latch will break and then what will I do? I do not want anything to happen to this radio! The CD player function is very good! The lights and the bubbles are simply great fun!
Arrived intact...very well packaged!
I would highly recommend this product...I would order Crosley again!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Crosley EP18 Elvis Presley Baby Bubbler Jukebox

Celebrate the King's legacy with Crosley's EP18 Elvis Presley Baby Bubbler jukebox. Equipped with a front-loading CD player, FM radio, and a pair of stereo speakers, the tabletop jukebox is a must for fans of the Memphis native who revolutionized the rock 'n' roll landscape. Appearance-wise, the limited-edition jukebox--which is a reproduction of an authentic 1946 Wurlitzer 1015--features percolating bubble tubes complete with enough neon to light a room. Also present are chrome highlights along the sides and a decorative song chart that brings to mind ice cream parlors, diners, and other places where jukeboxes held sway over a generation of teens.
Fortunately for listeners, the electronics are modern even if the design isn't. The CD player, for instance, boasts a 20-track programmable memory, letting users create a custom soundtrack for parties or casual listening. The FM radio, meanwhile, is bolstered by an electronically assisted tuner that helps locate the precise frequency every time. Add in the dynamic full-range stereo speakers and a full-function remote control and you're ready to rock. Additional features include a bright LED display, an FM antenna, and outputs for connecting external speakers for a more robust sound.
So relive the mass hysteria of the Elvis era with the EP18 Baby Bubbler jukebox, which measures a compact 12 by 18 by 9.5 inches (W x H x D). It's also backed by a 90-day warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the Box Mini jukebox, FM antenna, remote control, user's manual.

Click here for more information about Crosley EP18 Elvis Presley Baby Bubbler Jukebox

11/28/2011

Nokia 5530 XpressMusic Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a late adapter when it comes to cell phones. So refrained from Iphones and vu/touch phones as one was mostly tied to a provider data plan or had to pay a premium for the phone itself.
If you dont care about 3g (read data plan 29.99 a month) or GPS there cannot be a better phone at this price range. Solidly built, some reviews complained about back cover. I do see an issue there as it get on the phone with little notches on all sides. But how may times you open that. Specially when SIM/SDHC is accessible from outside. The only time you need to open the back cover is when you install a battery.
What I love about this phone in order of preference.Form Factor (It looks like a phone and not a PDA)
Not tied to a provider or unlocked so you dont have to be geeky searching for unlocking/jail breaking articles.
Wifi 54G (email is good on the run)
Quad Band GSM World Phone
Media/Music playback is excellent.
Can go upto 16GB Micro SDHC (plenty of music or videos) comes with 4Gig.
Speaker phone and in general call quality for me increasd 3-5 times. (I used Razr before).
Clear brilliant screen
Touch pad responsive enough
Picture quality @3.2MP is good in daylight and flash comes in handy for pictures in lowlight (subject @2-4 ft).
What I will look for in future revisions.
USB Charging capability
A little thinner (Not that is fat right now) but it would make it sweeter.
Total Alloy body including back cover for a more solid feel.
Maybe a more rugged look/feel (non piano black or non shiny finish for e.g Zune kind of finish or finish with more friction), I always get a feeling I am going to drop it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nokia 5530 XpressMusic Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black)

The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic unlocked phone keeps you moving to your favorite music while on the go as well as helps you stay connected to all of your mobile communication--from voice and messaging to social networking and web browsing. The sleek 5530 features a stainless steel body, tempered glass 2.9-inch touchscreen and built-in audio speakers, and it provides quad-band GSM connectivity for global roaming and EDGE data connectivity for accessing your favorite web sites. Additionally, it's Wi-Fi-enabled for accessing wireless networks at home, at the office, and at hotspots wherever you roam--from airports to coffee shops.
The 5530 XpressMusic provides up to 27 hours of music playback time, and it comes with a 4 GB microSD memory card for storing music, video and photos. You can easily manage and synchronize your music collection on your PC using the included Nokia Music for PC application. The phone also includes a 3.2-megapixel camera with an LED flash and video capture capabilities. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD expansion up to 16 GB, Symbian S60 5.0 operating system, access to personal email, and nearly 5 hours of talk time.
Unlocked Phone This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
Phone Features Among the highest screen resolutions available on a mobile phone, the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic's 2.9-inch widescreen display brings photos, video clips and web content to life in vibrant color and true clarity. It has a 640 x 360-pixel resolution and support for up to 16 million colors, and it includes an accelerometer that automatically rotates the display based on the orientation of the phone. It offers a variety of input methods, including a virtual alphanumeric keypad and a virtual computer-style QWERTY keyboard.
The phone has an internal 70 MB user-accessible memory that's expandable via optional microSD memory cards up to 16 GB in size (a 4 GB microSD card is included in this package). The internal phonebook is virtually limitless in the amount of entries you can store (bound only by available memory), and it offers multiple number and email details per contact as well as the ability to associate images with contacts. Other phone features include voice command capabilities, real-music and video ringtones, and vibrating alert.
The 5530's innovative "people carousel" features thumbnail images of up to 20 close friends and provides easy access to them and their communications history including emails, phone calls, photos or other social media updates. It also features the pop-up Media Bar so music, photos, videos, Internet and on-line sharing applications such as Ovi Share, Flickr and VOX are just a touch away.
At the core of the 5530 XpressMusic is its music and entertainment experience. In true XpressMusic form, the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic is a great music player with 27 hours of playback time, excellent audio quality with an 8-band equalizer, and 3D surround sound stereo speakers. New music can be purchased through the Nokia Music Store, either directly on the phone or through a PC. The music player supports playlists, shuffle, stereo widening and bass boost, and it's compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ file formats. The phone includes dedicated volume keys as well as dedicated touch music keys on the Home screen. You can also listen to your favorite radio broadcasts with the integrated FM radio (included headset is required).
Hands-free communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable). It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots.
The 3.2-megapixel auto focus camera includes a dedicated camera key, LED flash for low-light conditions, and a 4x digital zoom, and you can edit images directly on the phone with photo editor application. Other features include center weighted auto exposure, white balance adjustments, multiple scene modes (including sports, night and portrait), and light sensitivity modes. Additionally, you can capture video clips up to 176 x 220 pixels (QCIF) and up to 15 fps (frames per second) as well as zero in on your subject with up to a 4x digital zoom. Other video features include white balance modes and scene modes (automatic, low light mode, night). You can record up to 90 minutes of video. The video player is compatible with .3GP, .MP4, and RealPlayer formats.
The 5530 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. It also enables you to check your email on the go (supporting POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols).
Other features include:
Automatically switch between keypad and QWERTY keyboard when the device is rotated
Symbian S60 5.0 operating system
Email: support for IMAP, POP, SMTP protocols and email attachments
Messaging: SMS text (with multiple SMS deletion); MMS picture video (up to 600 kb with automatic resizing of images)
Organizer tools: Calendar with week and month view, reminders, alarm clock, written notes, voice notes, clock (digital, analog, world clock)
HTML web browser
Micro-USB connector
3.5mm stereo headphone plug
Text-to-speech capabilities
Applications include Flash Lite 2.0, Java MIDP 2.0,, Online Share 4.3, and Ovi Share

Vital Statistics The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic weighs 3.77 ounces and measures 4.09 x 1.92 x 0.51 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.9 hours of talk time, and up to 350 hours (14.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

Click here for more information about Nokia 5530 XpressMusic Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black)

11/13/2011

GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Walnut) Review

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(More customer reviews)Back in the day, actually before my time, televisions and stereos were designed to be both functional and beautiful - they were considered furniture, an essential complement to a well-designed room. Now, of course, function trumps form for most electronic gadgets, and most are ugly. With the advent of flat screen LCD televisions at least they don't look like the hulking monstrosities that overwhelm the room like the big TVs of the past couple decades, but it's still true that a decent sound system tends to be a box covered with buttons and indicators, and connected by endless wires to a range of speakers spread throughout the room.
That's not necessary if you've got one of these Geneva Sound L systems in the living room. It's an elegant blend of form and function - the sound is astonishing, especially considering that it all comes from a single wooden box. Did I mention wooden? The walnut variety, which is the one I've tried, is not just walnut coloring, it's actually encased in wood, and the metallic grating that covers the multiple speakers inside is just the right tint to match it perfectly. The whole system is small enough not to get in the way, but it delivers 100 Watts of stereo surround sound that can really fill a room for an immersive musical or theatrical sound experience.
Geneva Lab is known for setting an early high fidelity sound and design standard for iPod docking systems. This one is at the middle of their range -- they have one that's a bit bigger and one that's a lot bigger and a few smaller ones. I only have experience with this one and the smaller S model. For me and for my living room I can't imagine needing anything more. It feels solid and there is a serious heft to it - the system actually weighs about 40 pounds - it's not filled with cheap lightweight equipment that'll blow out when it gets loud. It can do radio and takes input from a television or other device, and there's a little, almost invisible, slot for CDs in the top, plus a panel flips open when you push it to reveal a universal iPod dock. It works perfectly with my nano and iPod touch. You can put it on the floor or a table, but Geneva Sound also sells a shiny and stable metallic stand that elevates it a couple of feet for optimum sound range. There's an LCD display that indicates the mode (radio with 6 preset buttons on the remote, iPod, CD or auxiliary), the CD track (will play CD-ROM and mp3 CDs as well as standard) and the volume (on a scale of 1-100) and the bass and treble values (each scaled from -6.0 to +6.0). All inputs, including the outlet plug, and L-R RCA input, are hidden beneath the box so that it looks good from behind -- and if you have the stand all cords can run from the device through the stand's support beam for simplicity and appearance.
Of course, it's the sound that matters most, and to my ears this really delivers. I've never really wanted a massive sound system in my living room but this one really fills the room with sound, both for watching movies and hanging out to music. While it's all in one box, there are actually two sets of speakers behind the screen - there's a pair of 1" tweeters and a couple of 5 1/4" woofers. While most of the sound is directed out from the front of the box, there's also a sound output slot in the rear, probably to help deliver a more expansive sound.The "sound test" CD that comes with the box is pretty amazing ... you drop it in and can literally hear sound coming from all directions, and this device is set to deliver that experience wherever the recorded input has the information. I didn't expect that level of "spatial differentiation" from a sound system that is this self-contained. I was also very impressed by the range -- even on a low volume it delivers what I can only describe as a "big" sound, that fills the room even without being "loud." But, I'm happy to say, it can get very loud without sounding "noisy" -- I've played jazz and hip-hop, rock and pop, and I'm very happy with the sound performance throughout, at various sound ranges.
There are a few problems, though, mostly minor but still annoying. One thing that bugs me about the design is that the buttons on the device itself (hidden along with the iPod dock beneath a wooden flip-up panel) don't do much. There's an on-off button a CD eject button and up-down volume buttons, and an input jack (for mp3 players that aren't compatible with the iPod Universal dock). What that means is that most functions on the system require use of the remote control -- and for me that is a drawback, both because in a house with kids like mine remote controls tend to wander around and are hard to find when you need them most, and because it detracts from the overall simplicity and ease. I imagine they left extra buttons off (pause, stop, song forward and back, mode switching, bass and treble adjust) in the interest of simplicity, but what that means is that the device itself isn't really self-contained, and so is inherently more complex -- to use it you have to have another thing lying around nearby. Of course it's nice to have the remote if you need it, but I like to consider a remote as an auxiliary rather than an essential. Why it's strange, too, is that there's plenty of room near the iPod dock for a few extra buttons that would still be hidden away and not detract from the aesthetics of the device. I like that I can play CDs here directly, and that it plays mp3 CDs, but I wish there was some more control in how it plays them. By default it plays them straight through (no random shuffle) and on repeat mode - and there's no way to change that. I tend to think that if a high end device like this supports a function (like playing CDs) it should support that function fully, not minimally as here.
Still, while I'd love to see an upgrade that fixes these annoyances, as a whole I think this is a beautiful device that delivers exceptional sound in an elegant and convenient package, and that's what it's all about.
About the video: I shot this as a quick illustration of the overall design of this device - shot against a green screen with a sky background because I like to play around with the green screen. One problem with that, as you'll see: there's a greenish tint on the sound system -- that's because I wasn't taking enough care to separate the lighting of the screen from the lighting of the device.

Click Here to see more reviews about: GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Walnut)

GenevaSound Large in Walnut is the first of its kind to feature genuine hardwood veneer. From Switzerland, GenevaSound is "furniture music" – a renewed fusion of home entertainment and home décor that brings technology and design full circle. Visually, Geneva is a classic design statement. But beyond its striking simplicity, Geneva's clean lines embody an advanced acoustical array that's won the highest marks from leading audio reviewers. One look at GenevaSound reveals why it's sold in leading design and fashion houses from Milan to Manhattan. Listen to Geneva Sound and you'll know why its patented audio engineering is found in recording studios that repeatedly win Grammies and Oscars. Never before have such a variety of functions been integrated into one compact cabinet - a complete, powerful hifi system with a slot-loading CD player, an iPod-iPhone dock, a radio tuner with digital presets, and line-in jacks. Leading reviewers say it's the easiest multi-function stereo ever. Geneva Sound Large delivers room-filling sound, thanks to the power of its four 25 watt amplifiers, for a total of 100 watts of Class D amplification, a new generation of extremely efficient, low-power-consumption amplifiers. On the top of the GenevaSound Large is a slot-loading CD player. Ahead of the CD slot is the 30-pin iPod+iPhone connector hidden under a flip-up lid. Embedded in the GenevaSound cabinet is a digital radio tuner; no tabletop radio has ever sounded this big before. Setting your favorite stations as a present in the remote control has never been easier. GenevaSound Large also has auxiliary line-in connections - 3.5 mm and also RCA. These can bring in sound from almost any audio device. The cabinet measures: height 11.5 inches, depth 14.2 inches, width 17.6 inches. It weighs 38 pounds. This model comes with brushed aluminum feet with rubberized footpads. There are optional floor pedestals.

Click here for more information about GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Walnut)

10/23/2011

GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Previously, in my search for the ultimate "all-in-one" sound system, I purchased the B&W Zeppelin and Bose Sounddock 10 and put them head to head in my own home. The B&W zeppelin was the clear the winner of that comparison with clear natural sound that really brought out the beauty of recorded music. The Bose had more volume capability and slightly more bass in the lowest registers, but it struggled to bring out the tone, accuracy and depth of the Zeppelin and my refence system, consisting of Full range Dynaudio Towers and NAD amplification. Of course this led me to wonder if there were any other systems out there that could be better yet. This led to me to Geneva. The Geneva line of systems has been out for several years, but I had never listened to them before. Geneva has systems of various sizes ranging from S to XXL, and I went with one right in the middle, the L. When I received my Geneva L, I was immediately impressed with the packaging and the fit and finish of the product. The glossy paint was perfect and the system integrated perfectly with the brushed metal stand, an optional piece from Geneva. It was very easy to operate. I opened the wooden flap on top of the unit, plugged in my Ipod, and powered the system on. Within minutes I was listening to my playlist. Now it was time to see what this thing could do. I already had a playlist of about 50 songs encoded from my CD collection in apple lossless. This is the same list of songs that I used to evaluate my home reference system, the B&W Zeppelin and Bose Sounddock 10. I then played about 50 hours of music and full bandwidth pink noise through the system in order to break it in. I can't stress enough how much the sound changes in all of these systems during the break in process, the Geneva most of all. After listening to my playlist on the Geneva L, I was truly amazed. The sound was simply fantastic. It has the clarity and tonal excellence of the B&W with overall volume capability and deep bass that surpassed both systems. There were a couple of trouble tracks, such as Joss Stone's "Less is More" and Jack Johnson's "Taylor," which caused the Zeppelin to exhibit port noise and some loss of coherency. The Geneva L played both of those songs beautifully, at high volume, without issue. The overall impact of this system was something that completely took me off guard. Listening to these systems side by side also showed how much deeper the sound stage of the Geneva L was. In fact it projected a sound image that was nearly as wide and deep as my reference system. The Geneva did appear to have less punch with very low volume listening which may be due to less dynamic loudness in the DSP. I also very much enjoyed listening to CD's and FM radio which is all included with the Geneva L. It became obvious to me very quickly as I was comparing the Geneva to other Ipod docks that this was not really apples to apples. First, this is a more expensive product at $999, but it was also a lot more than an Ipod Dock. With CD, FM, ipod and such full range sound, the Geneva was the first system that I consider a true stereo replacement, and could easily be the primary music system in my home. It really has the sound quality, dynamics, and imaging of full size stereo system in one sleek unit with a single single power cord. This system is a unique product is an excellent value for all that it can do, and I look forward to enjoying it for some time to come. I hope this helps anyone who is on the eternal quest for an "all-in-one" system that really can do it all.

Click Here to see more reviews about: GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Black)

From Switzerland, GenevaSound is 'furniture music" - a renewed fusion of home entertainment and home décor that brings technology and design full circle. Visually, Geneva is a classic design statement. But beyond its striking simplicity, Geneva's clean lines embody an advanced acoustical array that's won the highest marks from leading audio reviewers. One look at GenevaSound reveals why it's sold in leading design and fashion houses from Milan to Manhattan. Listen to Geneva Sound and you'll know why its patented audio engineering is found in recording studios that repeatedly win Grammies and Oscars. Never before have such a variety of functions been integrated into one compact cabinet - a complete, powerful hifi system with a slot-loading CD player, an iPod-iPhone dock, a radio tuner with digital presets, and line-in jacks. Leading reviewers say it's the easiest multi-function stereo ever. Geneva Sound Large delivers room-filling sound, thanks to the power of its four 25 watt amplifiers, for a total of 100 watts of Class D amplification, a new generation of extremely efficient, low-power-consumption amplifiers. On the top of the GenevaSound Large is a slot-loading CD player. Ahead of the CD slot is the 30-pin iPod+iPhone connector hidden under a flip-up lid. Embedded in the GenevaSound cabinet is a digital radio tuner; no tabletop radio has ever sounded this big before. Setting your favorite stations as a present in the remote control has never been easier. GenevaSound Large also has auxiliary line-in connections - 3.5 mm and also RCA. These can bring in sound from almost any audio device. The cabinet measures: height 11.5 inches, depth 14.2 inches, width 17.6 inches. It weighs 38 pounds. This model comes with brushed aluminum feet with rubberized footpads. There are optional floor pedestals. The GenevaSound Large Gloss is available in three colors: white, red and black gloss lacquer.

Click here for more information about GenevaSound All-in-One Stereo for CD, iPod, iPhone, Radio, Line-in (Large-Black)

10/04/2011

Sony WM-FS566 S2 Sports Walkman Digital Tuning Radio/TV/Weather Stereo Cassette Player Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great little gadget. My only problem with is that is does not stop automatically when it comes to the end of side two. It continues to play until it is manually switched off and if you forget about it, it will eventually chew up the tape.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony WM-FS566 S2 Sports Walkman Digital Tuning Radio/TV/Weather Stereo Cassette Player

Click here for more information about Sony WM-FS566 S2 Sports Walkman Digital Tuning Radio/TV/Weather Stereo Cassette Player