Showing posts with label samsung. Show all posts
Showing posts with label samsung. Show all posts

6/23/2012

Samsung HT-DB120 Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Silver) Review

Samsung HT-DB120 Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Silver)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The quality of this DVD player is absolutely amazing. The progressive scan technology looks great even on a normal TV! The sound quality is unmatched and along with Dolby Digital 5.1 there is two sweets that make this deal amazing. The first is Dolby Pro-Logic 2, which is great for watching TVmovies and other nice programing encoded for this format. It is also GREAT for the GameCube which uses Pro-Logic 2 for surround! The best part of this deal is the DTS support!!! DTS for under $200!!!!! When I turn this DVD player to widescreen and then use the 16:9 aspect ratio on my 32" Flat CRT TV the quality is similar to HDTV!! Make sure when you get it and you are using a 4:3 display to change the setting on the system to tell it that you are using 4:3 otherwise it will default to wide and it will look bad on your TV!! Great buy!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HT-DB120 Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Silver)

The HT-DB120 merges the basic components of a home theater into one compact and silvery system, delivering simplicity and convenience for people seeking quality home entertainment in a surprisingly affordable package. The HT-DB120 spins DVD-Video, video CD, audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) CD, as well as Kodak Picture CD/JPEG CD--great for living-room slideshows of your digital photos; you can even pick one to be the wallpaper for the player's onscreen menu.The amplifier distributes 40 watts per channel to each of the system's 5 compact satellite speakers (left, center, right, and left/right surround), while the standalone subwoofer packs a potent 50 watts.All major movie surround signals are decoded and routed to their appropriate speakers: Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II (which generates 5.1 surround from any stereo source, whether movie or music), and DTS 5.1-channel surround sound. The system includes an AM/FM radio tuner with 30 preset memory settings, and a headphone jack for private or late-night listening.The system's progressive-scan component-video output prepares you for the future, with the ability to use the system in conjunction with a high-definition or HD-ready television. Smooth progressive-scan images are free from even the slightest hint of blurring or distortion, bringing new realism to DVD movies and other selections.The HT-DB120 also performs 3:2 pulldown detection--an unexpected inclusion at this price. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24-frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; reverse 3:2 pulldown digitally corrects this distortion, removing the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture.What's in the Box DVD player/integrated surround amplifier, 5 satellite speakers, a powered subwoofer, AM/FM antennas, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and all requisite cabling.

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6/19/2012

Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers Review

Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
First one came DOA from shoptronics. The funny thing is, not only was it not working, but it had been obviously opened, tampered with and the box had an RMA # on it and said "BAD". :) A quick call to shoptronics fixed the issue with a brand new and functional system sent to my door within a few days. So for the most part, I'm happy.
As for the item, it does what it says - transmits two channels of audio wirelessly. However, regardless of placement of either pieces, sometimes a loud "POP!!" and smaller crackles occur. Also, regardless of volume or signal tuning, there's an audible "hiss" sound - not good for rear surrounds just a few feet away from your ears. Maybe that's due to AC line noise, but I'm using 16ga THX Monster speaker cable and known-good sattelites, so I know it's not that.
In all, it's a passable trade off for people not having the luxury of running wires under the carpet (i.e. hardwood floors or in an apartment), but I think RadioShack could have made this one a bit better. All of the other alternatives used the very volitile 2.4Ghz range though and seemed to have their own caveats so who knows...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers



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6/10/2012

Samsung i900 Omnia Unlocked Phone with 8 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version No Warranty (Black) Review

Samsung i900 Omnia Unlocked Phone with 8 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version No Warranty (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I am glad I bought this phone. I fell in love with it since I got it out of the box.
PROS:
* Slim design, executive look
* Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional (great improvement)
* AGPS. 100% accurate when you choose My Location. Associated with
google maps is an A+. (Why pay for something that is already part of the
phone...That goes for you VERIZON!!!!).
* Opera Browser works great (sorry Internet Explorer)
* Touchscreen is very responsive (if you do not want screen to vibrate,
you can disable it in SETTINGS.
* Stylus, I do not use it. my fingers do the job excellent.
* Push E-Mail. I get all my emails from work, POP accounts, Gmail, (which
is already integrated in the phone), and of course windows live
messenger.
* Video player is very good, good resolution, great audio. (One thing
I dicovered today is that I can listen to Internet radio, WOW!!)
* My 5 Faves...NOT REALLY, but keep reading, (in this case 4 faves, yes, one of the widgets lets you add 4
people you call the most just like my five faves.) I am using my Omnia
with T-mobile and this came very handy.)
* Microsoft Office, YES! you have Excel, Word, Power Point. All 3 are
mobile version, you can read and edit any documents as you wish. you
also can read .pdf files, isn't that something?? you will love this
phone.
CONS:
* I personaly, don't have any negative comments on this phone, but I will
mention one that I know bothers some people out there, that is:

NO 3G Network compatibility in the USA. This phone was made exclusively
for Asia and Europe and their 3G works on a different band. But I tell
you one thing, Internet over EDGE is very good, so I really don't care
at all about 3G speed. So keep this in mind....NO 3G in the USA.
Over All, this is a great phone. you will have to take your time to play with it to find all its features and how to make them work for you. Don't get frustrated if you don't get it to work the way you want the first time. It took me a good week to figure this phone out and now I am very excited I chose this phone. Iphone is a thing of the past, which I never had but my friends have it and some of them are not too happy with it, plus, they got stuck in a contract. Here you don't have to do that.
Thank you SAMSUNG for this phone.
I have include this link called Omnia i900 - The Whole Nine Yards
This will make you take a final decision to get this phone or not.
Hope it helps, like it helped me to get this phone
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i900_omnia-review-267.php
Thanks! and let me know what you think.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung i900 Omnia Unlocked Phone with 8 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version No Warranty (Black)

Meaning "everything" in Latin and "wish" in Arabic, the Omnia from Samsung is designed to provide business users with stylish multimedia capabilities and personal mobile users with simple access to business based functions. This touchscreen-enabled phone has a large, brightly colorful 3.2 inch screen, and it includes Samsung's intuitive and easily customizable TouchWiz user interface. Other features include 8 GB of internal memory, a built-in GPS receiver, 5-megapixel camera, multi-format digital audio player, Bluetooth for handsfree communication and stereo music streaming, MicroSD memory expansion, video output to your TV, and up to 5.8 hours of talk time.
With the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, the Q Global supports Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager, which provides single-point access to line of business and corporate data such as applications, files and other information located on the corporate network. It also provides push email for immediate send and receive on Corporate Microsoft Exchange servers as well as editing of Microsoft Office documents.
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.
When paired with a compatible 3G network that uses WCDMA 2100 MHz connectivity (found in Europe and Asia), you'll enjoy a high-speed connection offering a variety of feature-rich wireless services--from data connectivity to your office to multimedia streaming, and take advantage of simultaneous voice and data services. In the United States and foreign territories where 2100 MHz 3G networks are not available, you'll continue to receive data service via EDGE network (depending on network compatibility).
Phone Features The Samsung Omnia's 3.2-inch touchscreen as a 240 x 400-pixel resolution and a 65K color depth. It features handwriting recognition capabilities as well as an accelerometer sensor that auto-rotates the screen when shifted from tall to side profile (and back again). In addition to the internal 8 GB of memory, the Omnia can be expanded via optional MicroSD/MicroSDHC memory cards up to 8 GB in size.
Samsung's TouchWiz user interface makes entering data and text simple. With unique widgets, you can customize and personalise the way you use the phone. The quick and simple drag-and-drop feature lets you have instant access to your favorite functions at a moment's touch. A unique menu of widgets display functions such as the clock, radio player, music player and more personal elements including photos and birthday reminders. And Samsung's differentiated tactile technology also gives you tangible feedback sensation when items are selected.
Handsfree communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, and audio/video remote control. 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.
The 5-megapixel autofocus camera sports a 4x digital zoom, flash, face detection, 15 shooting modes (from sports to sunset), ISO settings, and many more advanced functions. It also captures video clips (length determined by available memory), which can be displayed on external TVs and monitors using the phone's TV output capabilities. You can also edit videos on the Omnia, with functions such as trimming, audio dubbing, and subtitles.
The digital audio play provides a wide range of format compatibilities (MP3, WMA, AAC, eAAC+), and the video player offers multi-codec support for DivX, Xvid and other video formats, eliminating the hassle of file format conversions. It also comes with an FM radio with RDS, which displays the name of the currently playing song (when tuned to compatible radio stations).
Other features include:
GPS receiver, including navigation and geo-tagging capabilities
USB 2.0 wired connectivity to your PC
Messaging: SMS, EMS, MMS, personal and corporate, instant messaging
Polyphonic and MP3 ringtones
Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g)
Organizer tools: World time, currency converter, calculator, stopwatch

Vital Statistics The Samsung i900 Omnia weighs 4.3 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.2 x 0.5 inches. Its 1440 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5.8 hours of talk time, and up to 500 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 2100 MHz 3G frequencies.
Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 offers a number of handy features that make searching through email, editing Microsoft Office documents, and staying on top of your most important communications even easier. Emails can now be viewed in their original rich HTML format and now offer the ability to visit embedded links. It also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides a full set of Windows Live services, such as the Windows Live Messenger IM application, which now enables you to chat with more than one person at one time or send a file.
With Windows Mobile 6.1, your phone will finally be able to emulate the power and features of your PC's Microsoft Office suite. You'll be able to neatly view, navigate and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting--without affecting tables, images or text--as well as view PowerPoint presentations.
Microsoft Office Word Mobile features include spell-check, Find and Replace commands, bulleted lists, text formatting, and support for tables for the first time.
With Excel Mobile, you're not just confined to editing charts: with the new Chart Wizard you can create charts quickly and easily.
PowerPoint Mobile allows you to view the full presentation, rehearse timings, check the order and any live links you may have in your presentation. You can then email comments back to the team or communicate via MSN Messenger for an immediate response.
After creating or editing a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, you can synchronize it with your PC and it will automatically be converted to the PC version.

All Windows Mobile 6.1 powered devices include Direct Push Technology for up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. It also offers a set of important device security and management features that include the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, helping ensure that confidential information remains that way.

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Click here for more information about Samsung i900 Omnia Unlocked Phone with 8 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version No Warranty (Black)

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4/12/2012

Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black) Review

Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Warning! I am NOT a techie. I am just your average everyday technology-using non-...uhm, techie. So what you'll get here is just a superficial review based on my observations. Ask me what certain programs are for, your guess would be as good as mine. :) So here goes...
Exterior - Don't judge a book by its cover for sure! The Samsung Omnia has a very simplified, sleek look. Just three buttons on the front: accept call, end call, and for navigation.
The Touch Screen - The screen is adequate. The touch screen sensitivity is fine, although sometimes you need to tap two or three times. But then again, being the phone is new I suddenly find myself with a very light touch.
The Keypad - Portrait-oriented, the keys are narrower even for my small fingers. But I typed 'the quick brown fox...' sentence with only 3 errors. Landscape-oriented, the keys are much much better.
Battery Life - This is the only area with which I had a big problem. I researched a lot about this phone but somehow I missed out on this one important factor. It turns out this phone's battery can only last an average of 5.8 hours. I charged it one whole day and the next day I had to recharge it twice again, and after 3 hours it died on me. This is NOT good. So I looked up ways of saving battery life and hit on this - http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsMobile/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3979662&SiteID=65. The topic is about HTC Diamond, but the advice works on Omnia. Right now I'm up to 75% charged after 1.5 hours. Believe me, I'd rather have that than charging it for a full day. I'm still researching for other tips on saving power. :)
Wi-fi - Since this is an unlocked international phone, I don't get the advantage of 3G network here in the US. But with the battery life issue, that's okay with me to just use the internet while I'm at home using wi-fi. This might seem very discouraging to some, so you can always avail of the Omnia from Verizon. It can access their 3G network.
Text Messaging - I'm a text fanatic. I give Omnia 100%! The only thing I don't know how to work out yet (or this might not even be possible) is how to make the messages in my inbox just reflect the sender's name in the front-view of the folder instead of a snippet of the message. I don't know, I just feel uncomfortable with seeing snippets of messages at a glance. :)
Camera - Really really nice!!! 5mp with auto-focus, flash, smile-focus, image editing, and a lot more. :D
Video - Pretty decent for a phone.
Synching the Phone to PC - Really haven't figured this out yet. I popped in the CD and followed the steps but I think I missed something since after synching it, my phone alerted me its memory was low. I checked my media storage--I had downloaded almost every file in my computer from pictures to music to videos! That's a looot of memory! I had to hard-reset my phone to erase everything. Good thing I only had it for 1 day at that time. :)
That's it for now. Will be updating if I have any more info to share. :)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black)



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3/28/2012

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD16GB Unlocked Phone with 8 MP Camera--International Version No Warranty (Black) Review

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD16GB Unlocked Phone with 8 MP Camera--International Version No Warranty (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I'm using this phone for almost 6 months now, and I absolutely adore it. It's sleek, fast and packs more features and functionality than a swiss-army knife; 8MP Camera, 720P video recording (world's first ever), AMOLED 3.7 capacitive screen and 16GB of internal memory.
The hardware powering this phone is nothing short of phenomenal...it plays 720P HD content like butter, and the touch response rivals the iPhone 3GS. In fact, I even ran Quake III on this phone...yes, I'm referring to the 3D PC FPS game released by id Software back in 1999 (You need a full version of the game, a few apps and some research to do this)!
So you might ask, why does it get a 4 instead of a 5 from me? Unfortunately, as much as I love this phone I cannot ignore the shoddy support from Samsung. Firmware updates for this phone are not even released for most regions yet(the launch firmware is seriously outdated, lacks many features and bugfixes), and Samsung has done little to address buyers concerns thus far. I even went as far as to flash a different region firmware onto my phone, just to get the new fixes/features.
A big update is currently in the works, to be released by Feb 2010, aimed at addressing the complaints of disgruntled fans...but it is a bit too late now/people have already moved on to other, newer phones.
If only this phone had better support, it would have been a true winner; it's truly a pity that Samsung failed to realize the potential of this wonder device.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung i8910 Omnia HD16GB Unlocked Phone with 8 MP Camera--International Version No Warranty (Black)



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1/23/2012

Samsung HT-TX72 DVD Home Theater System Review

Samsung HT-TX72 DVD Home Theater System
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I recently purchased this system when it's price was sub $300 and I'm glad I didn't pay any more for it.
The system kicks out a MAJOR PUNCH in the sound department, with deep bass that will rumble the room thanks to it's HUGE subwoofer. It's as big as a PC tower case and blasts!
Sadly, you have to have it blast if you want to hear anything. There are few controls for the sound levels and trying to listen as low volumes was worse audio quality than listening to the TV with it's built in speakers.
The system is either too quiet to hear anything but voices, or too loud to hear anything other than boom.
Also, when in stereo mode, the back speakers shut off. There is one option that will do stereo with them on (Matrix Mode) but it tries to separate sounds and ends up with the speakers just making some noises sometimes and is a bit disconcerting.
The upconverting DVD player looks pretty poor on a high def television. There also is no difference with upscale from 480p to 1080i, it's just as blocky. If you've not seen a better upscaler (as found in the PS3 for example) then it might look okay, albeit blocky, but if you have seen a better one you won't be able to watch DVD's on your HDTV with this without feeling as if you're missing something.
Lastly... the fan. After a while a fan inside the receiver will kick in. This thing is LOUD. That shouldn't happen on a sound system - having something that makes listening to things worse.
Overall, I'm very dissapointed in this product and suggest you look elsewhere for a home theater system. I'm considering returning this item and wished I'd read a review like this first, so I'd know to stay away.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HT-TX72 DVD Home Theater System

Imagine the allure of 1200 watts of audio power.Samsung's elegant HT-X72 Home Theater Audio System offers industry leading power, enhanced by Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic decoders.The full-featured unit offers the convenience of a 5-disc changer, as well as improved USB Host Play, which lets you plug and play your portable digital devices without loading software.You will be delighted with the superior non-interlaced images sent to the latest digital television receivers giving you unparalleled image quality.Additionally, with the ability to go wireless you can expand your system to achieve the ultimate surround sound experience without the need to figure out how to hide those unsightly wires.

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1/20/2012

Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint) Review

Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Tab is a perfect hybrid between my phone and laptop. All the apps of your cell with the functionality of a laptop. Size is perfect for my purse. Lighter than the Kindle, which I also own. Battery is great even with several apps running AND..drum roll please, you can upload to it. Automatic Ipad killer with that function alone. This is the first product that I've had that runs on the android platform and its flow is easy and simple.
Camera is decent, both back and front. I do like the idea of both. The one on the front is not the greatest and unless you are in good light don't even bother with a self portrait.
Screen size and display is just beautiful, eye catching. Slightly smudgy at times so invest in the screen protector. Also GET A CASE!! It's essential and protects a very valuable investment.
Kindle & Nook apps are great, prefer reading on Kindle but in a pinch this will work well.
Skype works like a charm along with all the multiple other apps available and it comes preloaded with quite a lot! Some rather useless but that's standard these days with almost every product. I did a quick clean and deleted quite a few while adding more. I'm not a game player but I do have Pandora and Slacker radio installed, both are battery killers!
Seriously this is just a perfect on the go or at home toy. I generally keep it on WI-FI at home to reduce cost. The monthly plan is pricey thru Sprint and sort of disappoints when you have to constantly remember to turn off the 3G and/or switch to the Wi-fi if its available. Turning on the 3G feature should be slightly easier as well but once you get use to turning things on and off, it goes rather quickly. I do like the idea of turning off things running in the background at will, and be careful because there are a lot of things running willy nilly in the background. They are battery drainers! An average day of texting, cruising FB and Yahoo messenger means at least one good charge every 10 to 12 hrs. If I'm just texting and essentially keeping off the internet I can go two days without charging. I do find that it doesn't charge very fast if connected to my pc vs charging thru an electrical socket but it will maintain the juice it has if it is connected to your pc.
You do get a number assigned to your tab and you can text, which is a feature that is hardly ever mentioned in promo for the product. I've essentially stopped texting from my phone and moved it over to the much bigger and crisper screen of the Tab with the added bonus of using the Swype feature. That app is amazing by the way! Once the phone feature is added, which it will be, I would more than willingly drop my cell phone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung Galaxy Tab (Sprint)


Enjoy a rich, brilliant viewing experience wherever you roam with the Android-powered, 3G-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab mobile tablet for Sprint--a powerful, entertainment device ideal for home or on the go. Weighing just 1 pound, it features a vibrant 7-inch touchscreen display with 3D-like graphics, speedy 1 GHz processor, and the Android 2.2 operating system--all in a sleek and compact form factor.

In addition to fast 3G speeds from Sprint's high-speed EV-DO network, you'll enjoy GPS navigation capabilities for accessing the optional Sprint TV video-on-demand with full-motion video and vivid sound (see more details on optional services below). The Galaxy Tab is also a great choice for a cellular audio player, with access to the Sprint Music Store for over-the-air downloads as well as the Sprint Music Plus service, which enables you to purchase a bundle of song, ringtone, and ringback tone.

With integrated Google technology, the Galaxy Tab brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, Gtalk, YouTube, Picasa, and contacts/calendar synchronization. Through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

The Galaxy Tab offers full support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for accessing Flash-enabled websites, watching video and playing games, and with built-in support for ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi, the Galaxy Tab's portable screen is ideal for watching the latest movies and entertainment. And with built-in mobile hotspot functionality, the Galaxy Tab also allows up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices--including laptop, camera, music player, video player, or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device--to enjoy the benefits of 3G speeds on the go.

Designed to fit in one hand, typing messages or notes is simple and easy with the Galaxy Tab's virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows you to input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard. It's outfitted with a rear-facing camera for photo capture and sharing as well as a front-facing camera for video chat. Other features include Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, 2 GB internal memory, microSD memory expansion (with included 16 GB card), HDMI video output (via optional dock), and up to 13 hours of battery power.

Samsung Social Hub
Offering one-stop shopping for all your updates, the Samsung Social Hub all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts. It's built around Messaging and Contacts, both of which initiate the sending and receiving of information--whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

The familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.

Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity thanks to Sprint's EV-DO, Rev A network
Powered by the Android operating system (version 2.2) with deep integration of Google services, access to thousands of apps via the Android Market, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1.
7-inch touchscreen display (1024 x 600 pixels, 16 million color depth) with 6-axis motion sensor and accelerometer.
1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor speeds up everything--from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work.
Virtual keyboard
Swype input system allows you to input text faster and easier by gliding your finger around the keyboard, moving from letter to letter in one continuous motion. The Swype technology then calculates what word you're intending to type (learn more below).
Samsung Social Hub provides one stop for all your updates integrates all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts.
Samsung Media Hub provides entertainment on the go with the ability to download and view thousands of hit movies and TV shows via Wi-Fi or on the Sprint Network. (Movies and TV shows available for purchase or rental).
GPS navigation enabled enables you to search for the closest coffee shop, or navigate to a specific address with a 3D map that moves with you.
3-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash captures still images and video that that can be edited, uploaded, and shared.
1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat
Multi-format media player compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC music files plus DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, and H.264 video files.
Ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
Built-in mobile hotspot functionality allows up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices to share the 3G experience on the go with a laptop, camera, music player, game unit, video player, or any other Wi-Fi enabled device.
Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as headsets and printers. It includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
2 GB internal memory
Included 16 GB microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
DLNA capabilities via AllShare
3.5mm headphone jack
Support for personal and corporate e-mail
Text and picture messaging with threaded conversation messaging

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Galaxy Tab weighs 13.6 ounces and measures 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.47 inches. Its 4000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 13 hours of battery life, and up to 500 hours (20+ days) of standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 CDMA/EV-DO Rev. A frequencies.

What's in the Box
Samsung Galaxy Tab, rechargeable battery, charger, 16 GB microSD memory card, quick start guide


Sprint Services
Broadband-like 3G network: Supporting the EV-DO Rev. A high-speed data standard, this phone enables you to download and stream high-quality video, straight onto your phone. Where coverage is available, EV-DO Rev. A connectivity provides average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps, with peak rates up to 2 Mbps.

Sprint TV enabled: With Sprint TV, you can make your cell phone your always-on source for news, weather, sports and more. This comprehensive video service combines high-quality streaming audio and video from channels including the NFL Network, ABC, The Weather Channel, Fox Sports, E!, CNN, The Discovery Channel, and more.

Sprint Music Store enabled: The Sprint Music Store enables you to buy, download, and then jam out wherever you are with new songs or old favorites. Offering a growing selection of more than 1.6 million songs, the store provides you two copies of each song--one for the phone and another for the PC, as well as the ability to burn songs to a CD using Windows Media Player. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you.
And Sprint Music+ offers an easy way to discover new music and tones and manage all of your music content in one convenient place. Love a new song and want the music track, ringtone, and ringback tone? Save money and buy the bundle! SM+ is also a full-featured music & tone manager--you can create music and ringback tone playlists, assign ringback tones to play for different callers and times of day, and get recommendations based on your musical tastes.
Stay Sporty with Sprint: With NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, instantly connect to the NASCAR information you want, when you want it. Follow NASCAR action from practice to race day with real-time leaderboard and alerts. Get exclusive access to your favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver with real-time driver stats, breaking news and more. Live in-car audio, race radio, NASCAR on SPEED and other audio/video only available on select phones. Visit sprint.com/speed for details.
To access, just text "NASCAR" to 7777 on your Sprint phone or visit the Sprint Digital Lounge to download NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile (standard text messaging and data rates apply).
This phone also provides access to Sprint Football Live--free for any phone with a data plan. You'll be able to follow all the live play-by-play action with the Live Game Center for both pro and college football games, as well as stay on top of the pro football draft with a Live Draft Tracker and in-depth analysis and bios on nearly 500 top prospects. Access by texting "FOOTBALL" to 7777 on the handset to download Sprint Football Live from Sprint Digital Lounge (standard text messaging and data rates apply).


Swype Keyboard
An alternative to the Android virtual keyboard, the Swype virtual keyboard (seen at the right) allows you to input text by swiping the finger with one continuous finger or stylus motion across the screen keyboard. Based on testing, speed and accuracy are equal to or better than the traditional keyboard-tapping method. You can activate the Swype keyboard by pressing and holding in a text field, wait for popup to appear, click Input Method, and then select Swype.

In the image to the left, the word "quick" was generated from tracing the path shown above in a fraction of a second, by roughly aiming to pass through the letters of the word. A key advantage to Swype is that there is no need to be very accurate, enabling very rapid text entry.


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1/17/2012

Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-Ray Sound Bar Home Theater System (Black) Review

Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-Ray Sound Bar Home Theater System (Black)
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When my 10 year old projection TV finally died recently, it was finally a good enough reason to buy a flat panel TV. I ended up buying the Samsung UN55B6000 55" LED. Of course once I got it home it confirmed to me what I knew would be the case, the sound on flat panels isn't great. It's just hard to make speakers small enough for a flat panel that are big enough to be good.
So after all of my hunting, I found the HT-BD8200. I thought it would be perfect. I could get rid of the stack of stereo and AV components and replace them with this. In theory it can replace the Radio tuner, CD player, DVD player, Blu Ray player and receiver.
I received it, hooked it up and started admiring it (I discovered rather rudely that Samsung does not put an HDMI cable in the $800 box so had to go buy one). The wireless subwoofer is awesome and I was able to hide it out of view behind the couch. The unit itself looks like it was made for my TV. It's the same glossy black glass look with the red touch of color.
I had visions of wall mounting my TV with the HT-BD8200 wall mounted right under it (it comes with a wall mount kit).
The controls on the unit are super cool touch controls. No buttons, just symbols on the top of the disc drive area that light up. Just touch the glass over the control and a small beep lets you know it's activated.
It comes with a wifi adapter so that you can stream netflix, pandora, blockbuster etc. to it over your wifi network at home.
I could babble on forever about the cool things it does which is why it breaks my heart to have to list the bad things and ultimately why I had to return it.
Once I got over the thrill of having a new toy, I started to notice buggy behavior that makes me think Samsung rushed this out or cobbled it together without enough QA testing.
- "MODE NOT SUPPORTED"
Since I connected the unit to my TV with HDMI, it activated the Samsung "Anynet" feature which basically let's the TV and soundbar talk to each other and activate Samsung specific features. For example, when you put a disc in the soundbar, it'll automatically change the TV to the correct input and start playing the disc so that you don't have to go through the "source" menu on the TV. What I found was that from time to time I'd put a disc in the soundbar, it'd change the source on the TV but then the TV would just display "Mode Not Supported".
Nothing in the manual said anything about this error and a google search came up with a million unrelated postings about the error on various Samsung products. I was able to get around it by switching the HDMI cable to another port on the TV. When the error would come up again, I'd switch it back to the original port and it would work again. Pretty crappy for an $800 product.
- "Misbehaving Night Light"
Like my TV, the soundbar has a small accent light at the bottom of the center of the unit. You can set it to be on while the unit is on, off, or all the time. I set to to be on when the unit is on. When I went to bed I turned the unit off and the light went off. The next day when I came home from work the light was on and the unit was off. I checked the setting in the menus and it was still set to be off when the unit was off... but it was on. Annoying
- "Ghost in the machine"
The soundbar started to turn itself on by itself. The first time it happened I thought maybe I had left it on without realizing it. So I made it a point to verify it was off when I went out the next day and sure enough it was back on when I came back that night. I had to start leaving it set to an unused input before turning it off to make sure it wouldn't come on blasting the radio mid day or mid night.
- "Low Volume on TV"
The volume when watching movies or listening to CD's can reasonably loud. Don't get me wrong, you cannot ever go deaf listening to this unit on max volume because it just doensn't go that loud but watching TV, the max volume seems to be roughly one third lower than on movies. I found myself watching tv on maximum volume all the time. If it was loud outside or someone was making noise in another room, max wasn't loud enough.
I thought maybe the HDMI audio was the issue so I went and bought an Optical Cable (buy the AmazonBasics one, good price and decent quality). I hooked up the Optical cable to my TV and the result was exactly the same. I then hooked the optical cable directly to my cable box. Exactly the same. Nothing could make the soundbar louder while watching TV. The TV speakers themselves were often similar in volume or louder than the soundbar. The difference was that the soundbar had richer sound. Still not acceptable when the main reason I'm buying it is because I need more volume.
- "Anynet" annoyance
As this list grew and my patience thinned, I finally hit the last straw. I wanted to play a music CD while putting around the house. The TV and soundbar were off. I turned the soundbar on and dropped in a CD. The soundbar automatically activated the anynet feature, turned on the TV and switched to the HDMI input for the soundbar as if I was going to watch a movie. Apparently Samsung didn't bother programming the soundbar not to switch if it's an audio CD. "no big deal, turn off the TV" you say? I did... and Anynet promptly shut the soundbar off with the TV. ARRRRGH!
Could I just disable anynet? Sure! But losing a big chunk of functionality when I bought two Samsung products that are supposed to work together is unreasonable to me, especially when they are as expensive as these are.
So I resigned myself to thinking this was a defective unit and I'd give it another try. I boxed it up and sent it back to Amazon. I was ready to reorder a new one, but they weren't in stock. I decided this was a good thing as if mine was defective, hopefully I'd get a newer one from a newer batch.
I waited a couple of weeks and Amazon finally got them back in stock. I ordered another and it arrived. I connected it and found that only ONE of the issues above had gone away. The new unit didn't turn itself on by itself. All of the other issues were still there.
I finally had to give up and admit that this product is just not what I hoped for and the quality was not worth $800. I sent it back and am now looking for an alternative.

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1/07/2012

Sony Ericsson Lt15i Mobile Phone Sony Xperia Arc *Silver* Internationa... Review

Sony Ericsson Lt15i Mobile Phone Sony Xperia Arc *Silver* Internationa...
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Great phone, fast, thin and lightweight, sexy looking and very responsive... The only issue and the reason i didn't give it 5 stars is that it lacks a front facing camera for video calls.

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1/05/2012

Samsung Galaxy Tab (Verizon Wireless) Review

Samsung Galaxy Tab (Verizon Wireless)
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As a current iPad owner who also uses the Droid X, I must say that after spending 15 minutes with this thing I absolutely love it. The size is fantastic in that its a signifcantly improved viewing experience over the 4.3 inch Droid X screen (which is also great) and it is easy to hold with one hand and navigate with the other - an added bonus is that it also fits in a suit coat pocket.
The Microsoft Exchange integration with email/calendar/contacts is seemless and allows for almost all of the functionality provided via a laptop. One of the drawbacks of the iPad is its poor integration with Outlook (couldn't delete, move emails while one a plane working offline - not a problem with the Tab).
The screen is gorgeous, speed is quick and the Google location services (GPS, Latitude, Maps, Place and the list goes on and on) are fantastic.
I would highly recommend this product.
Update - after 1 week of ownership, I love it even more. As someone who travels (4 cities over last 5 days), I'm considering leaving my notebook home on business travel with future trips. The benefits of the form factor can't be overstated - it fits in my jeans pocket when out casually and in my suit jacket during business. It also smartly switches from WiFi to 3G when a WiFi network is not within reach and vice versa (so that you don't unnecessarily consume data via your cellular carrier). I also watched a movie on my East to West coast trip - 3 hour and 13 minute move burned less than half the battery time. It's also great to be able to modify .xls documents when needed - seamless integration with outlook / attachments.
Absolutely love this thing...


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Enjoy a rich, brilliant viewing experience wherever you roam with the Android-powered, 3G-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab mobile tablet for Verizon Wireless--a powerful, entertainment device ideal for home or on the go. Weighing just 1 pound, it features a vibrant 7-inch touchscreen display with 3D-like graphics, speedy 1 GHz processor, and the Android 2.2 operating system--all in a sleek and compact form factor.

Offering the fast speeds and reliability of the Verizon Wireless 3G network, you'll be able to connect to a wide range of streaming media choices and enjoy fast downloads of music, movies, and documents while on the go. Verizon Wireless customers can add a monthly access plan beginning at $20 a month for 1 GB. Additionally, you can share your 3G mobile broadband connectivity with up to five other devices--laptop, another phone, MP3 player, and more--using Wi-Fi.

With integrated Google technology, the Galaxy Tab brings one-touch access to the popular Google mobile services millions use every day, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps with Street View, Gtalk, YouTube, Picasa, and contacts/calendar synchronization. It also includes popular mobile applications such as V CAST Music, V CAST Song ID, and VZ Navigator from Verizon Wireless as well as Slacker Radio, Kindle for Android, and BLOCKBUSTER On Demand presented by V CAST Video.

Through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day. Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab will also feature V CAST Apps, Verizon Wireless' mobile storefront offering hundreds of applications for businesses and consumers.

The Galaxy Tab offers full support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for accessing Flash-enabled websites, watching video and playing games, and with built-in support for ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi, the Galaxy Tab's portable screen is ideal for watching the latest movies and entertainment.

Designed to fit in one hand, typing messages or notes is simple and easy with the Galaxy Tab's virtual QWERTY keyboard with Swype technology, which allows you to input text faster and in a more intuitive way with one continuous finger motion across the screen keyboard. It's outfitted with a rear-facing camera for photo capture and sharing as well as a front-facing camera for video chat. Other features include Bluetooth 3.0 wireless connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, 2 GB internal memory, microSD memory expansion (with included 16 GB card), HDMI video output (via optional dock), and up to 13 hours of battery power.

Samsung Social Hub
Offering one-stop shopping for all your updates, the Samsung Social Hub all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts. It's built around Messaging and Contacts, both of which initiate the sending and receiving of information--whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization.

The familiar text messaging experience is enhanced with group messaging and "reply all" functionality for up to 10 contacts, a threaded conversations format, a consolidated inbox, and enhanced multi-media display.


Key Features
Fast 3G connectivity thanks to the reliable Verizon Wireless EV-DO, Rev A network
Powered by the Android operating system (version 2.2) with deep integration of Google services, access to thousands of apps via the Android Market, and support for Adobe Flash 10.1.
7-inch touchscreen display (1024 x 600 pixels, 16 million color depth) with 6-axis motion sensor and accelerometer.
1 GHz Samsung Hummingbird processor speeds up everything--from playing games to watching shows to opening files from work.
Virtual keyboard
Swype input system allows you to input text faster and easier by gliding your finger around the keyboard, moving from letter to letter in one continuous motion. The Swype technology then calculates what word you're intending to type (learn more below).
Samsung Social Hub provides one stop for all your updates integrates all your social networking services, messages, personal and business e-mail, calendars and contacts.
3-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash captures still images and video that that can be edited, uploaded, and shared.
1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat
Multi-format media player compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC music files plus DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, and H.264 video files.
Ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g/n) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
3G Mobile Hotspot capability allows you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot using your Verizon Wireless 3G EV-DO connection, which can then be shared among up to five Wi-Fi-capable devices. Just open the 3G Mobile Hotspot app in the Applications tray and turn on the service. (Note that 3G Mobile Hotspot sharing uses the device's regular data plan and does not require a Mobile Broadband Connect plan.)
Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity provides faster throughput while minimizing on power requirements. It's compatible with new Bluetooth 3.0-enabled devices as well as backward compatible with older Bluetooth-enabled peripherals such as headsets and printers. It includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
2 GB internal memory
Included 16 GB microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB.
Blockbuster movie rentals and purchases
DLNA capabilities via AllShare
3.5mm headphone jack
Widgets including AccuWeather Clock, Daily Briefing, news and weather.
Support for personal and corporate e-mail
Text and picture messaging with threaded conversation messaging

Vital Statistics
The Samsung Galaxy Tab weighs 13.58 ounces and measures 7.48 x 4.74 x 0.47 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 13 hours of battery life, and up to 500 hours (20+ days) of standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies as well as EV-DO, Rev A 3G frequencies.

What's in the Box
Samsung Galaxy Tab, wall/USB charger, 16 GB microSD memory card, quick start guide


Verizon Wireless Services
Reliable 3G Network: With support for the EV-DO high-speed data standard, you'll enjoy fast access to the Internet and Verizon Wireless multimedia services (additional charges applicable), with average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps and peak rates up to 2 Mbps. (Learn more about where EV-DO coverage is offered.)

VZ Navigator Capable: With this GPS-enabled phone, you'll be able to access the Verizon Wireless VZ Navigator service (additional charges applicable) for voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions, heads-up alerts, local search of nearly 14 million points of interest in the US (such as landmarks, restaurants and ATMs), and detailed color maps.

VZW Backup Assistant: Automatically back up your mobile contacts to your online address book. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, or you decide to upgrade, easily restore your saved address book to your new phone. You can also add, delete, edit, and print your contacts online and send the changes to your mobile phone.


Pre-loaded Apps on the Samsung Galaxy Tab
Kindle for Android: Pre-installed on the Galaxy Tab, the Kindle for Android application lets you shop for hundreds of thousands of books in the Kindle Store, including New York Times Best Sellers and new releases from $9.99. Use Amazon's Whispersync technology to automatically synchronize your last page read, bookmarks, annotations, and more across your various devices --- including Kindle, Kindle DX, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry and Android phones.

Slacker Radio: With millions of songs from thousands of artists, Slacker is the best way to discover new artists and hear your favorite music. Listening to Slacker is as easy as selecting one of over 120 DJ-programmed genre stations or searching for your favorite artist or song. As you listen, you can tell Slacker what you like and don't like with the click of a button. Get the ultimate in music discovery while you listen with detailed artist biographies, in-depth album reviews and more.

ThinkFree Office Mobile: The award-winning ThinkFree Office is a Microsoft Office compatible application suite comprised of word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation graphics software--all usable online and offline. You'll be able to view, edit, and create Office documents (compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint) as well as view PDF documents.

Let's Golf (Gameloft): Discover a fun atmosphere making golf accessible to anyone with 63 holes in 4 environments in 3D and 4 characters to customize. 63 holes in 4 distinct locations remodelled in 3D: Fiji Beach, the American Mountains, the English Countryside, and Scottish Lochs. 4 cool and animated characters customizable with your own style. Each player has unique strengths and weaknesses.


Swype Keyboard
An alternative to the Android virtual keyboard, the Swype virtual keyboard (seen at the right) allows you to input text by swiping the finger with one continuous finger or stylus motion across the screen keyboard. Based on testing, speed and accuracy are equal to or better than the traditional keyboard-tapping method. You can activate the Swype keyboard by pressing and holding in a text field, wait for popup to appear, click Input Method, and then select Swype.

In the image to the left, the word "quick" was generated from tracing the path shown above in a fraction of a second, by roughly aiming to pass through the letters of the word. A key advantage to Swype is that there is no need to be very accurate, enabling very rapid text entry.

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12/16/2011

Samsung I9000T Galaxy S 8GB Unlocked Cell Phone with Camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth--International Version with 1 Year Warranty (Black) Review

Samsung I9000T Galaxy S 8GB Unlocked Cell Phone with Camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth--International Version with 1 Year Warranty (Black)
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If you have done your homework, you should be aware of the pros and cons of the Galaxy S. The star feature is, of course, the screen. The only noteworthy drawback is the GPS, which is very weak and unstable, making Navigation pretty much useless. There are plenty of reviews comparing this phone with iPhone, HTC, etc., if you're in doubt go read them.
About this particular version - Unlocked International Version with 1 Year Warranty sold by Amazon.com:
When you get the phone the first thing you'll notice is that everything will be in Greek. Don't panic. Just press the Home (middle) button, and click the Menu icon, that is on the lower left corner outside the screen. Click on the gear icon, then scroll down until you see the "A with dots" icon. Click that and then click the first option in the menu. Now you may choose among many languages. European Portuguese and US English are available. Phew!
Soon you'll realize that Android Market is broken. You'll be stuck with the preloaded apps until you update the firmware on the phone. To update, download KIES from Samsung. Install it on a laptop with a charged battery and connect it to AC power. On the phone click Menu, Settings, Wireless and Network, USB Settings, Samsung Kies. Connect the phone to the computer using the supplied USB cable. About a minute after the drivers are installed, Kies will offer a firmware upgrade. Do it. Follow the on screen instructions. It's pretty much automatic. Needless to say, while upgrading don't turn off the computer, connect other peripherals to it, use applications that may cause it to crash, etc.
To my friends in Brazil: (Galaxy S I9000 desbloqueado Brasil - traduza com o Google Translate)
Samsung doesn't sell the I9000 in Brazil. That's because there's a special I9000B version, the only difference being a digital TV tuner. However the unlocked I9000B price tag is US$ 1100. If you have the option to bring a cell phone from the US without taxes, why overpay? The I9000 does work in Brazil, at least I've tested it in Rio, Sao Paulo and Brasilia.
Get a SIM card ("chip") by TIM, which uses the 2100 MHz frequency. I highly recommend a data plan of at least 250 Mb/month. Also, it's a good idea to enable International Roaming and test the phone directly with your chip while in the US.
Choose the Unlocked International With Year Warranty sold by Amazon.com. Have your order delivered to the US and bring it back with you on the plane, or you will be heavily taxed. Your international credit card issued in Brazil is ok to use here in Amazon, even for deliveries in the US. Try to arrange a way to order in advance, especially if you are not going to stay long in the US, as delays may occur (I ordered mine on Jan 18th, should be delivered 2 days later but only arrived on Feb 7th).
Once the phone arrives, install a SIM card and see if everything works as it should. It is easier to use the warranty in the US if you have to. If you are using your TIM number, you will get 3 SMS messages as soon as you register. One of them has a toll-free number to call TIM in Brazil. Use it to test your speaker and microphone. (Note: roaming charges for both data and voice are *very very* expensive, so don't get excited. If you wanna play with your new toy, get a prepaid SIM. AT&T or T-Mobile should work.)
To configure the Internet, once you're back to Brazil. Click Menu, Settings, Wireless and Network. Then click Mobile Networks, Access Point Names. Click Menu, New APN. Name: TIM Connect Fast, APN: tim.br, Username tim, Password tim, APN type Internet. Leave the rest as it is. Check that the MCC number is 724 and the MNC is 02, 03 or 04. (You can make sure of the correct MNC by typing *#0011# on the dialer - look for Reg PLMN 724-?). Click Menu, Save. To make your phone connect only to 3G (faster but not available everywhere), Menu, Setting, Wireless and Network, Mobile Network, Network Mode, WCDMA only.
To change the input language: Menu, Settings, Locale and Text, Select input method, SWYPE, go back, SWYPE settings, Language, Português Europeu. Brazilian Portuguese works well with that, although you will need to add a few words that are spelled differently.
To change the applications language to Brazilian Portuguese: install an app called MoreLocales2 from Android Market and change locale to pt-BR.

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10/21/2011

Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System Review

Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System
Average Reviews:

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I was originally planning on getting the 6500, but couldn't find one locally. During that search, I ran into a store that had one 6600 left and it was on sale, so I went ahead and got it. The only apparent difference that I've found is the 6600 has Bluray 3D capability, but other than that they seem pretty identical.
Setup was relatively easy. Everything is color-coded and Samsung has their own little speaker wire plug, so it's hard to screw up. That makes it easy, but more difficult to do any kind of customization of your own with other speakers. The speaker calibration seemed to work pretty well, although now and the audio track randomly gets out of sync on occasion, requiring a re-boot to reset things. So far this has only happened when I've been watching the DVR, so I'm not sure if it's specific to that device or input or not.
I have my Xbox 360 and HD Cable plugged into the HDMI inputs, and it plays everything well. It's great playing games in surround sound, too. That adds a whole new dimension to the gaming experience. All of it is running to a 50" Panasonic plasma TV, which has one of the best pictures in the TV business to begin with, so the video quality is awesome.
I expected the sound to be marginal at best, coming from a bit of a home-theater customization background. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it actually sounds, though, particularly when playing DVD or Blurays. Don't get me wrong here, though. This provides the most basic of surround sound, which still greatly enhances watching movies, but it does not provide the same depth of sound as much more expensive and more powerful systems. That said, the subwoofer does get low enough to simulate most sounds, and the rest of it sounds pretty good. Dialogue is the best part, as this is actually sometimes the hardest part of a soundtrack to find a happy medium for comfortable listening without having to keep the remote handy for turning it up and down as the scenes change. The Samsung finds a balance between action and dialogue where you don't have to constantly adjust things, which is proof that they have the auto-calibration down pretty well.
I have mine wired directly to my home network. I didn't even bother with the wireless dongle, as I've yet to use one that works to my expectations. Even with a wired connection to a 10gb connection, I experienced Netflix issues. The entire internet-based menu and apps system is sluggish at best, so I will probably only use the internet for firmware updates. I believe this is a Samsung issue, not my internet, for the simple reason that I can watch full HD Netflix movies through my Xbox wirelessly with no issues at all. And that's fine with me...I still play them through the Samsung surround sound, so it's not a loss, although it would be nice to see Samsung come up with a fix to smooth things out.
There are various apps and whatnot you can play with online, but the remote is clumsy and poorly designed in my opinion. It lacks any intuitive way to type, for one thing, which limits what you can do efficiently on the web. You have to create an account at the Samsung app store, and another at their internet@tv or whatever it's called site, and I just haven't had the patience to sit through it all. I have enough computers and apps already, so I guess I'm happy with just being able to play Blurays in surround sound for now. :)
For the price, I don't think you can beat what you get with this system. $450 and it does almost everything. I do wish it would tell you what resolution it was outputting to the TV and what kind of sound it was playing in (i.e. DTS, Dolby 5.1, etc). As far as I've been able to discover, there is no way to tell if it is truly playing the encoded surround signal.
Pros: Price, good sound, easy setup, better than normal auto-calibration system for speakers
Cons: Confusing remote, unexplained slow-down in internet signal run through system that makes using Netflix almost impossible.

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Be surrounded by superior sound with the Samsung HT-C6600 3D Blu-ray home theater system.

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10/16/2011

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD 8 GB Unlocked QuadBand Cellular Phone with 8 MP Camera, WiFi, GPS, Touchscreen, FM Radio (Black) Review

Samsung i8910 Omnia HD 8 GB Unlocked QuadBand Cellular Phone with 8 MP Camera, WiFi, GPS, Touchscreen, FM Radio (Black)
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I have a love/hate relationship with my Omnia HD. I've owned it now since mid-July and have on numerous occasions thought, "this is it... I'm done with this phone... I'm going back to X." I still using the Omnia HD, though. In the end, the phone is pretty impressive. The capacitive OLED screen is a stunner, with rich contrast and fantastic detail, and the overall fit and finish of the phone is second to none. Seriously, this is one solid smart-phone. Every line feels tight, every angle feels put together just perfect. We can talk about the camera at length, but I've honestly not been too blown away by it. It takes great pictures, it takes horrible pictures, sometimes right in succession of each other. Low light is abysmal, and it has a tendency to flare and ghost purples under incandescent lighting. Outdoors, however, even in twilight, I've captured amazingly great shots that you'd be hard pressed to say came from a phone. The HD video recording doesn't work at all. Sure, it records 720p, but it frame drops way too much, and even at its best is under 24 FPS on average. You get a really jerky-stutter feel to 720p recordings. Dropping it down to either of the lower settings, however, produce great videos. If you want this to do HD video recording, you'll be disappointed, though. As is, it's a nice gimmick to show your friends, as long as you don't move the camera too much.
The ARM A8 @ 600MHz is the same CPU you'll find in all of the latest and greatest devices (from the iPhone 3G S to the Palm Pre and the Nokia N900) and it shows why. So very responsive, so very quick... at times. Herein lies the one true fault of the Omnia HD. Samsung really doesn't have the programming prowess that Nokia does on the Symbian platform. This was true with the INNOV8 and becomes doubly true on the S60v5 platform. With so much grunt under the hood, you would expect the i8910 to fly through your day to day tasks, but I find the OS only marginally better than my old N97 in many situations. The software is a mix-match of Symbian and Samsung developed applications. The music player is an in house job, and has a couple quirks. I appreciate they've tried to modernize it with visualizations and 5.1 sound output (that now works through the internal speakers and sounds pretty good), but it has an annoying stutter every time you start an internet connection. If you're listening to music and do anything over the net, you'll get a hiccup in your music playback. For a machine with this much power to be doing that (especially since it has a dedicated CPU just for telephony actions) is just ridiculous. My Nokia 9500, on its archaic hardware didn't even do that.
Other issues like a video player that has to re-sync its library every time you go into the application. A gallery that does not cache image thumbnails and rebuilds every time (usually taking several seconds or more depending on how many shots you have in there) and overall poor email integration (with none of the self configuration scripts that Nokia phones have) give you a sort of barely passable feeling to the overall software on the phone. Everything works, in some facility or another, but none of it feels as good as it should be... or as good as this phone looks or should perform. There is the main issue. As much as I love how powerful and how well built the Samsung is, I can't help but miss my E71 or Nokia 5800 when it comes to just having everything work. Sure, the Nokia devices are underpowered... but at least they get every drop out of the hardware possible. The i8910 feels like it is just spinning its wheels and really not taking advantage of the true grunt the A8 can deliver. It's a good phone... I'm using it right now... Every time I pull the sim card out within a week or so it gets put back in, but... I have to be honest, as soon as something better comes along in the hardware department, I'm jumping ship.

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