A/V

Pioneer inno Portable XM Radio

When you think of satellite radio, you probably think of car audio. But your car isn’t the only place to listen to XM and Sirius. Although portable satellite receivers have been around for a few years, recent models have matured considerably compared to some of their predecessors. In this review, we’ll be covering the Pioneer Inno, XM’s top of the line portable receiver.

Pioneer inno Portable XM Radio Read More

XtremeMac XtremeHD 4 To 1 HDMI Switcher

I have had a huge 65″ Mitsubishi RPTV (rear projection television) for several years now. I love having such a large screen, but having to pull it out when I need to connect various devices to the inputs on the back panel is a real chore. Then there’s the fact that this TV’s best input is DVI, of which there is only 1. When I recently saw XtremeMac’s XtremeHD 4 to 1 HDMI Switcher, I knew I had to get one for my home theater setup.

XtremeMac XtremeHD 4 To 1 HDMI Switcher Read More

XtremeMac Luna iPod Alarm Clock

At the end of last year, I reviewed the iH5 iPod Clock by iHome. I liked it well enough, but it left me wanting more. The latest iPod alarm clock to grace my night stand is XtremeMac’s Luna. If you’re wondering if the iH5 that was next to my bed before, has now been banished to my shelf of discarded gadgets, you’ll need to keep reading to find the answer.

XtremeMac Luna iPod Alarm Clock Read More

Insignia NS-DVB4G Video MP3 Player

At the end of 2006, I had the opportunity to review 2 digital audio players from Best Buy’s house brand of products: Insignia. I really liked both of these players and was happy when I was asked if I was interested in taking a look at their latest version of the NS-DV video player. Let’s see what has changed…

Insignia NS-DVB4G Video MP3 Player Read More

Mvix MX-760HD Wireless HD Media Center

Last Spring, I had the opportunity to review the MV-5000U Multimedia Player from Mvix. Except for a couple issues like a noisy fan and no networking features, I really liked this device. It is one year later and we now have the MX-760HD. This unit addresses all of the complaints that I had with the first generation device and goes even further to add a few major enhancements.

Mvix MX-760HD Wireless HD Media Center Read More

Elgato EyeTV Hybrid TV Tuner Dongle

I’m a big fan of USB gadgets. From the whimsical to the practical, I find them all fascinating. When I saw that Elgato condensed one of their EyeTV tuners into a USB dongle, I began to daydream of watching live network TV while sitting in a coffee shop or in a laundromat. “Never again will I miss an important football game!” I thought to myself while handing over my credit card.

Elgato EyeTV Hybrid TV Tuner Dongle Read More

Apple iPod Nano (2nd Generation)

The Apple iPod nano has received an extreme
makeover. Not that it really needed one though… The
1st generation iPod
nano
which was released approximately 1 year before the 2nd gen nano, looked
like a baby version of the full sized player. This new version looks more like
an anorexic version of the discontinued iPod mini. Are the changes all cosmetic,
are are there some other new bits under the hood of this very popular DAP
(digital audio player)? Let’s take a closer look.

Apple iPod Nano (2nd Generation) Read More

Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G Digital Media Players

People reading this site are no doubt well aware of my love for all things iPod. I’ve been a fan for years now, and have eight of them (various models) strewn around my house in drawers and gear bags. Although I’ve tested many other brands of digital audio players, I always come back to the iPod as my favorite. Today I’m going to tell you about the Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G players from Best Buy. These are great alternatives… dare I say that they might even be a better choice than the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle!

Insignia NS-DV2G and NS-DA1G Digital Media Players Read More

Anydrive 3 Wireless Transmitter and Card Reader with LCD

A couple of years ago, Julie did a review on the Anydrive Car MP3 and FM Modulator from Merconnet. In case you don’t remember, or never read the review, the device allowed you to plug in your USB flash memory storage apparatus and wirelessly broadcast the output to a FM radio.

Anydrive 3 Wireless Transmitter and Card Reader with LCD Read More

Apple iPod shuffle (2nd gen)

Step right up folks, it’s the incredible shrinking iPod! The new Apple iPod shuffle makes their first generation shuffle look absolutely huge in comparison. Their slogan of “Put some music on” is fitting as this new shuffle has a built-in clip that you can use to fasten to your shirt, coat, gear bag, jeans, etc. Is this the end all be all mini DAP (digital audio player)? Let me tell you more about it and we can decide.

Apple iPod shuffle (2nd gen) Read More

V-Moda Bass Freq Earbuds

There seem to be a blue million different earbuds, earphones, and headphones on the market these days. There are full sized phones that cover your ears, headphones that wrap behind your head, earbuds that fit outside the ear canal and ones that fit down inside your ear canal to isolate you from outside noises and distractions. This last style is one that I’ll be looking at today. The V-Moda Bass Fréq earbuds boost that they deliver superior bass response for a price that won’t make you cringe.

V-Moda Bass Freq Earbuds Read More

Slim Devices Squeezebox

Three years ago I had the opportunity to review the SLIMP3 Network MP3 Player from Slim Devices. Back then, the SLIMP3 was one of the first devices on the market that allowed you to stream audio files from your computer, to another part of the house. Let’s see how their original product has evolved in the past few years into a smaller, more robust device that is called the Squeezebox.

Slim Devices Squeezebox Read More

Brando USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder

This device is Brando’s 21st-century equivalent to the Swiss Army Knife, as it contains a raft of semi-related features in a compact package:

It’s a 1GB USB thumb drive!
It’s an MP3 player!
It’s a voice recorder!
It’s (supposedly) an FM radio!
It’s a pen!
It’s a floor wax!
It’s a dessert topping!

(floor wax and dessert topping sold separately)

Brando USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder Read More

Brando Nano Size Digital Audio Player

Apple changed the digital audio player landscape when it replaced its popular Hard Disk Drive (HDD) based iPod Mini with the flash-based iPod Nano. This shift forced competitors to launch their own version, which further propelled the demand for flash-based players and, in my opinion, altered the digital audio player market forever. One such device is the digital audio player by Brando. Let’s see how Brando’s latest audio device stacks up.

Brando Nano Size Digital Audio Player Read More

Brando USB Sunglasses MP3 Player

The proliferation of MP3 players has led to devices of all shape, size and alternative functions. There are watches, PDA’s, cell phones, key chains, and countless other gadgets that have the ability to play music so that we can set our everyday lives to a soundtrack. One such example is the USB Sunglasses MP3 Player from Brando. That’s right, digital audio eyewear that integrates an MP3 player and earphones into the frames, eliminating wires that dangle and can tangle into a mess. Of course, the primary function of the sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun, but let’s focus on how well they serve as a MP3 player.

Brando USB Sunglasses MP3 Player Read More

Chimei CMV 938D 19 inch Widescreen LCD

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to build a MCE PC. I
had built one for my dad out of an old PC we had laying around,
adding two HDTV tuners and a 7.1 audio card, and was so impressed
with it that I set out to build my own. Originally I started
specing it together to build from scratch, but I found it was
cheaper to buy the PC pre-built. Included with my order was a 19″
Widescreen LCD, perfect for displaying some high-def TV.

Chimei CMV 938D 19 inch Widescreen LCD Read More

SwissBit Swiss Memory s.beat MP3 Digital Audio Player

In the past I’ve reviewed a few Victorinox knives that had the added feature of a small Swiss Memory USB flash storage module, the most recent being the 1GB SwissBit Swiss Memory USB Victorinox Knife. But today I am going to look at a new product which takes that concept of a combination pocket knife

SwissBit Swiss Memory s.beat MP3 Digital Audio Player Read More