Archive for the 'Video' Category
Ratings
Pros
- Amazingly bright
- Short-throw lens
- Light and compact
- Great picture
- Versatile with many inputs
Cons
- Lens cap difficult to mount
- Attracts dust easily
- Speaker not loud enough for video programs
The Bottom Line
The Optoma GT720 was designed with gaming in mind and it excels in its goal and yet pushes the envelope far enough to easily qualify it as the center piece of your home entertainment center when it’s time to relax from gaming and ease into a movie.
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
Projectors have been around for a good long time. I can remember using my first one during a business meeting in Silicon Valley in a conference room just blocks away from Paramount’s Great America. I had to turn off all the lights and close the blinds to the windows, both exterior and interior, to have an acceptable image for viewing on the drop down screen. Just twenty minutes after the presentation, the unit was hot enough to fry an egg on and the shutdown process took a good five minutes before I could unplug it from the wall. Nearly twenty years later, Optoma has made some amazing changes today from what I used that afternoon. But the GT720 is designed for games, not just PowerPoint slide shows. How does it hold up to the fast paced movement of todays games as well as the ever difficult ambient light?
Pros
- Tremendous remote control database
- Simple key layout
- Very easy to customize
- Powerful infrared transceiver
Cons
- Bit complex to set up remote (too many steps)
- Favorites require association to Activity
- Unable to disable vibration within application
- Inability to add user images for buttons
- Steep price
The Bottom Line
You can finally take control of all remote controls in one place with the Rē. The Rē contains enough built-in infrared databases to make you say aloud, “I’ve never heard of half of these brands,” while easily finding your well known brand. Finally be able to view a DVD from your home theater with just one button press while the Rē powers and sets everything up for you.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
I once had an iPAQ 3600 series that had a built-in universal remote by Nevo. I loved it as it was always with me and became a major factor in my work outs at the club since I no longer had to beg the staff to change the channels on the TVs. It also made home entertainment as well as playing tricks at my friends house simple and fun. Thankfully Barry Baril of NewKinetix also enjoyed the same experiences as I did with his iPAQ of yesteryear and this was, “One of my motivations to build the Rē,” he told me in an email. Outside of the built-in infrared port missing from the iPhone, is the Rē as good as the Nevo?
Pros
- Large easy to read screen
- Feature rich
- Great sounding built-in amp
- Plays iPod and DVD video
- Expandable with Sirius XM, Bluetooth, and GPS components
Cons
- On-screen soft buttons not responsive
- iPod listing very slow with large library
- Extremely difficult to navigate iPod
- Large screen wasted with small character amount
- New tracks “blanks” out info and lags on refresh
The Bottom Line
Alpine has a long history of making steller products that push the envelope of technology and its full sized Double-DIN strives to continue this tradition. With its out-of-the-box integration with an iPod, a beautiful looking interface, and excellent sound, one becomes surprised when they find fault with the iPod integration. While it’s first iPod unit, the iAD-X001, excelled even with its short comings, the iVA-W505 leaves one wondering where Alpine missed the boat with this iPod venture.
Ratings
Recommended
Maybe (Due to Price)
Full Review
When SvenOnTech reviewed the first fully iPod integrated Alpine iAD-X001 upon its release, we were excited to see the advancement Alpine made with the single-DIN unit. Sure, it had some minor issues, but it was a first generation and short comings are always expected with such releases. Sure to Alpine’s character, the problems were all corrected in the next-generation units. So with a large LCD screen allowing large real estate for menus, text display, and easy to reach buttons, the iVA-W505 has the potential to blow the roof off where the little guys left off.
Pros
- Simple to use
- No PC or Mac needed
- Versatile media selection
- Great video quality
Cons
- No auto-stop recording
- No support for Mac OS HFS+ formated drives
The Bottom Line
If you have a ton of video tape that needs to be archived to a digital format to preserve those years of memories and you want to do it easily and quickly, there is no better option than the Pinnacle Video Transfer.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
A few months ago, SvenOnTech was offered to give Pinnacle’s new gadget a try. When we received it, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical to how well this would work. I grabbed a Sony SLV-MH1F video cassette recorder out of the garage and a Western Digital Passport external hard drive from the drawer and hooked up all the cables to the Pinnacle device. I shoved in The Ten Commandments (please respect all copyright laws…this was just a test) VHS and pressed the record button on the Pinnacle Video Transfer (PVT). I used the Best video setting which Pinnacle states is a resolution of 720×576 (PAL, SECAM) / 480 (NTSC) 1.5 Mbps video and 192 kbps stereo audio 48 KHz for hard drive and flash media. The iPod’s best is 640×480 1.5 Mbps video with 128 kbps stereo audio 48 KHz and the PSP clocking in at 320×240 1 Mbps video and 128 kbps stereo audio 48 KHz.
After a couple of hours, tape one was done and I pressed the record button again to end the recording. A few lights flashed as it completed the recording process and I then had blue lights shortly after. I unplugged the Passport drive from the Pinnacle Video Transfer and plugged it into my Mac. In a newly created folder, VIDEO, lay my new recording. Affectionally titled VID00001.MP4. I double clicked it and up came QuickTime with The Ten Commandments in all its VHS to computer glory. Even though the video tape was from the 80s, the quality was very impressive. The audio was excellent as well. In fact, it was difficult to sense any loss of quality from the transfer at all. I was highly impressed. At a little less than a gig an hour, you will be able to pack a lot of videos onto your drive.
What surprised me must about the PVT was just how easy it was and how good the results were. Taking the supplied composite cables and hooking them up to the OUT on the VCR and into the PVT and then hooking up the USB cable to your hard drive was all it took. Well, that and the power cord. You select your quality and then hit record. It’s that easy. I’ve used many analog-to-digital conversion kits and they always were a pain to use. In fact, I didn’t use them after recording a few tapes to the computer because of the frustration of difficulty related to them. From Dazzle (I had the very first version and then an upgraded one) to gung-hoo video cards from ATI. In the end, it was the software that made them all suck and that doesn’t even account for the system resources it steals from your computer. No computer time for you while recording or start all over when it crashes. The PVT removes all of this burden.
Pros
- Class-leading pairing that you’re four-year old could do for you
- Sleek with that sweet Apple look
- Long battery life
- Ease of use
- Very good sound quality
Cons
- Short comfort level (about three hours)
- Poor button placement
- Pricey
- Low volume (updated)
The Bottom Line
In a world of “I just can’t find an all around great Bluetooth headset”, the Apple does pretty well. It’s high price makes it difficult to recommend but if you’re not too concerned with that, then we’d say that this headset may just be your iPhone’s digital best friend.
UPDATE: Do note that this is a soft volume headset. Read more below.
Ratings
Recommended
(Weak) Yes No
Full Review
I can’t begin to tell you how many Bluetooth headsets (BTh) I’ve used since that first one I paired up with my SonyEricsson T68 six years ago. I’ve tried a ton of them and spent probably over a thousand dollars on all of them in total. While I’ve found some “good” ones, everyone has had a deficiency. That’s why Apple’s asking price of $129 made me really hesitant when I had to replace my Plantronics Voyager 510. Read the rest of this entry »
Pros
- Extreme thump yet accurate bass response
- Clean highs
- RF remote
- Exceptional battery life
- Stunning style
Cons
- Poor rear port covers
- A bit pricey
The Bottom Line
We’ve loved our Altec Lansing inMotion im7 since we first received it nearly three years ago but after getting the HK Go+Play, dude, the Altec is going on eBay! Harman Kardon nailed it — completely! — with the Go + Play. There is no better way to bring your tunes with you using your iPod on the go. Period.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
We here at SvenOnTech thirst for bass. We love our 808 yet demand accurate boom from the likes of Tchaikovsky and the Beatles (come on, no one beats Ringo for solid rhythm.) So when we got the Harman/Kardon GO+PLAY, we did what we do with all things with speakers: we slammed some KJ-52 into it. When KJ’s voice came out nice and clear over the deep bass of his soul-filled jamz, we smiled. Then we threw on some Fresh Prince, aka Will Smith, and man, did our GO+PLAY get jiggy! It was thirsting for more, so we gave it some 80s music to play with. You know, the good stuff like “Sunglasses at Night”, “I Just Died In Your Arms”, “Walk Like an Egyptian”, and “Paradise”. Phil Collins “Paradise” sounded amazingly rich and full bodied, like a good dark beer from Germany (Deibel’s anyone?) I don’t think I’ve heard it this good since I last listened to it in my $5,000 stereo in my last car.
I was sure to take it through the paces. I threw it jazz, alternative, classical, oldies, disco, easy listening, rap, heavy metal (man Def Leppard sounded great again!) and even spoken word stories such as “Pilgrim’s Progress”. They all sounded excellent. In fact, it’s as if the HK GO+PLAY gave my old, tired, 80GB of music new life. Remember, this is from a iPod which mainly contains compressed music and yet, Harman / Kardon belts new life into every song you throw at it. Read the rest of this entry »
Ojo Shadow Review
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Easy to use
- Great image quality
- Excellent audio
- Sleek design
Cons
- Expensive hardware
- Costly subscription required
- Incapable with other video services
The Bottom Line
Ojo’s claim to fame is its ease of use for the technology challenged. With its excellent packaging and wonderfully laid out set up pamphlet, any one will be up and running in minutes. Ojo really is an easy to use video conference utility but the required $9.95 monthly service charge may be a deal breaker for some.
UPDATED 4/3/07: Ojo has informed SvenOnTech that the monthly price was changed from $14.95 to $9.95 during the course of our testing. The change has been already reflected in the review. This price change definitely helps with bringing this great unit into more homes.
SvenOnTech has noticed one very interesting thing about Ojo and it has nothing to do with the phone specifically but the users of it. Since we first reported about Ojo in January, we have seen nothing but positive remarks on our posts via the comments section. No one complains about the monthly service fee but only praises the Ojo. Food for thought.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
Remember your first microwave? Of course you have to be in your mid-thirties or older to answer this and in case you’re not, then let me tell you about my families first microwave. When we used it for the first time, it was obvious we had some learning to do after the hot dog blew up from some intense nukin’. The elder generation, my parents, had a bit larger learning curve than the younger generation, my brother and I. Eventually, though, the microwave became an everyday utility that was as easy to use as the hair dryer used every morning.
So back to that microwave question we started with. The reason I asked is because that elder generation didn’t quite grasp the new technology too well. It’s the perfect analogy to describe the difficulty many have with video conferencing. Most of those “many” would be mom, dad, grandma, and grandpa. Trying to get my parents to plug in the video camera into a USB port, install the drivers, test the install, and then go to Skype.com and download and install it is really not a reality that many want to experience. Even if you can get past all of that, you may be looking at Grandma’s carpet while on your Skype video call because she doesn’t know how to activate her video monitor window to know if she’s in the frame or not.
Thus we come to the next question, how does one bring Grandma and such into the video conferencing age? SvenOnTech thinks the answer is much simpler than dealing with Skype. That answer would be Ojo. Read the rest of this entry »
Pros
Very user friendly interface, easy to install and use. Keeps accurate records, easy to look up saved dates and countdowns.
Cons
Sometimes difficult to save countdowns, but not on a regular basis.
The Bottom Line
This electronic version of the original Date Wheel is an excellent purchase. It’s very simple and easy to use, and helps you keep track of countdowns to those important dates.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
Creative Algorithms recently released the newest version of Date Wheel, the time between dates calculator for palm OS and Treo smartphones. We had the opportunity to give Date Wheel a try and enjoyed it quite a bit. Date Wheel 3 can not only tell you the time between dates, it can also count down the days, business days, weeks, or months until a special event you have planned, and can even save your tasks. Reload them later for a quick and easy way to keep track of deadlines.
Date Wheel combines simplicity and ease of use and the result is a great program that can help anyone make plans and keep track of them. Creative Algorithms stayed creative, but didn’t overdo it when designing Date Wheel. The layout is simple. At the top of your screen, you have your start date. Enter either today’s date or the date at which your project will start. In the middle of the screen you have the duration of the event. Here you enter how many days your project will last, or how many days will pass until the event begins, or whatever you want. Calculate not only days in the duration period, but also business days, weeks, and months, which is a great feature of the new version. Immediately after you enter the duration, the program will automatically calculate the end date and display it at the bottom of the screen. All dates are displayed in the format of “2/19/07″ and “Mon Feb 19, 2007.”
The layout is very simple, with just 3 bars. The Start Date, Duration, and End Date. One of the greatest things about Date Wheel is it’s navigation. It utilizes all of the 5-way navigation tools (fingers, stylus, keyboard, keypad, and graffiti) and all of them can be used no problem. Personally, I loved being able to use the on screen finger buttons best since it only required one hand and the buttons are big enough so that I don’t make any mistakes.
Overall
Date Wheel is an excellent program to help keep track of the time between important dates. It has very simple user friendly interface, using it is a breeze, and you can carry it with you everywhere on your Palm Treo or Palm OS. Creative Algorithms hit the nail on the head with this program, it’s designed with all consumers in mind and is definitely a purchase you won’t regret.
Price: $14.95
Platform: Palm OS and Treo Smartphones
Pros
- Support for multiple turner cards for simultaneous recording
- Conversion support for PSP, iPod, MPEG4, MPEG HD, and even RAZR!
- DVD export
- Expanded support with Extender hardware and Placeshifter software
- Easy and powerful search capability
- Mac support
Cons
- Bit pricey
- No easy way to block out conflicts or notify you of your next recording from the TaskTray
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to add the power of a TiVo to your Windows machine but want a little more in the feature set like being able to watch recorded and live TV from any Mac or PC in your house (or out of your house), then you really want SageTV. It’s flawless install, easy set-up, and simple interface makes this DVR for the PC a top-notch choice for anyone.
Ratings
Recommended
Yes
Full Review
SageTV isn’t a new kid on the block when it comes to DVR (Digital Video Recorder) capabilities. We played with version 6.0 for a month and then moved up to 6.1 while in beta. The maturity of SageTV is evident from the beginning when you perform the install of the software. After downloading the file from SageTV’s site, a double click of the file gets you quickly started. Upon completion of the install, a wizard walks you through configuring your set-up and within minutes, you’re literally watching TV and setting up your recordings! I have installed other DVR software packages to my system with the same configuration SageTV had and system lock-ups was the worst (BSoD) while the inability to see my turner card was the “best”. SageTV did well on my system.
Picking shows (Favorites) to record is very simple. You can search by title, person, description, or just search all the fields at once. You can also search by category which is so in-depth, I actually discovered some shows I never knew about and really enjoyed. The Aussie’s will be happy to find a Rugby category and maybe Rednecks will enjoy the Arm-wrestling category. 
You can also view the Program Guide and look ahead and pick something there as well. And like any other DVR, live TV can be paused at any moment and resumed when you’re ready. The only thing that limits your recording power (available hours) is the size of your hard drive. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pros
More features for less money then TiVo. Period.
Cons
my.replay.com only updates once a day your selections.
The Bottom Line
If you have deep pockets and want a pretty interface, buy a TiVo. If you want the best technology for the least amount of money, buy a ReplayTV.
Full Review
Ok, got a chance to give you a little details on my ReplayTV 5060. Yes, 5060. That’s only available at Costco for the same price everyone else has the 5040. 20 more hours for the same price. Can’t beat that .
Now, why did I get a ReplayTV and not the hyped TiVo? LOTS of reasons. First, as I just stated, I got 20 more hours for the same price. Second, features. ReplayTV has more features. Built in RJ-45, built in Progressive Output, built in RS-232, home networking, broadband support, picture sharing, content sharing, Internet management, and a few other features. Third, subscription cost was cheaper. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pros
Sleek, fast, engineered well.
Cons
Lack of programs and a real docking station.
The Bottom Line
Great notebook. Hands down, the best out. Insure your needed type of apps exist on OS X before buying it, though.
Full Review
First, let put it out front that I’ve been a Pro PC and an Anti-Mac guy for years. I started on an Apple II when I was a kid and moved on to a PC by the time I hit high school. While Mac OS was cutting edge in 1984, it never seemed to move from that edge for almost two decades. That changed with OS X. Read the rest of this entry »
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Pros
Cheap, nice form factor, looks nice.
Cons
Sucks every piece of paper at once, crappy Win2k drivers and just all around sucks.
The Bottom Line
If you need a Multifunction: HP; Printer: Lexmark.
Full Review
I’ve bought Lexmark printers for years. I recommend them to all of my friends, even my clients. So when I bought this puppy over the HP, I thought I was getting the better deal. What I found out is I got the biggest piece of crap. Read the rest of this entry »