Philips Fidelio Docking Speaker iPod, iPhone and iPad, DS7700 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great, versatile player with a ton of great features. Most importantly, the sound quality is excellent. For such a small player, I was expecting much less. The sound has a very full sound and the bass is great for its size.
Pros
* Sleek design, portable, looks great
* Charges your iPod, iPhone, and iPad fast
* Has a built-in rechargeable battery. This is great! Can take it outside while we cook and eat out.
* App that plays internet radio. This is convenient and really makes it work.
* Works with Bluetooth. Your phone (or music player) does not have to be plugged in
* Easily something you could travel with. Packs flat and is built to move safely.
* Excellent sound, full bass, no distortion that I picked up
Cons
* Instructions were a little hard to follow, but its really plug and play, except for the bluetooth. (Hint: for bluetooth users, just push the button on the front on the front left, opposite the volume controls)A great music player with an excellent app. This is something that my family will use for a long time. Highly recommended.

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Compact and extremely portable, this Fidelio is no lightweight when it comes to performance. Designed to travel it delivers sound from your iPod/iPhone that is surprisingly powerful - letting you enjoy great music wherever life takes you.

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LG Revolution 4G Android Phone (Verizon Wireless) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)LG hasn't really been known in the past for their high end phones. Usually you have seen them mainly in the freebie bins. Though with the recent releases of both the X2 and now the Revolution it seems that LG is trying to change the way they are precieved. And in my eyes, they have done well so far.
I am going to say this right off the bat, the battery is neither horrible nor is it great. Unplugged at 7AM the battery with moderately heavy usage it usually makes it past 6PM with around 10% left. Thats with a few phone calls, moderate surfing (I live and work in a 4G area and usually have 2-4 bars) running of apps/games and of course some Netflix and HBO GO usage. Some days vary though and I need to recharge before 6PM. So as with any other LTE phone, you may want to have a spare charger around with you. Keep in mind though, my battery is in no way fully conditioned, so hopefully it will improve some. With the battery thing out of the way you will be greeted with a spectacular phone. The screen is crisp and clear. Not as good as the Droid Charge, but hands down superior to the HTC Thunderbolt.
The phone also comes with 16GB internal storage which is the most of any of the current LTE offerings. This phone also scores higher than both of the other devices in Quadrant usually getting me 2100. Granted not dual core territory, but great for a single core. Menus, games and the internet move quickly and smoothly. And chances are if you are looking at this phone, LTE is probably the most imporant thing on your mind.
The phone , like the other LTE devices, ships with Froyo 2.2.2 and hopefully Gingerbread will be out shortly. Lg has been speedy in getting Gingerbread out for the X2 so hopefully they'll have the same diligence with the Revolution, but we can only speculate with that. The phone also has VoLTE built in, which is nice but the sevice won't be turned on until next year.
A quick run down of differences/advantages between the current LTE phones:
Screen - (Droid Charge with the Super AMOLED+)
Screen/Menu Responsiveness - (LG revolution)
4G Speed - (All Even)
3G Speed - (Revolution has the newest verisons)
3G Data and Voice - (Thunderbolt can only do this)
VoLTE - (Revolution only, but again the service is turned off)
Battery Life Usage - (Charge 660min > Revolution 435min> Thunderbolt 378min)
RAM - (Thunderbolt & Revolution @ 768MB, Charge @ 512MB)
Onboard Memory - ( Revolution @ 16GB/14GB (installed/usable) Thunderbolt @ 8GB/2.5GB Charge 2GB/??)
Max Memory - (Revolution 48GB, Thunderbolt 40GB, Charge 34GB)
Camera - (Charge by far has superior Cameras than not only both phones but mostly every phone currently available save the Galaxy S II)
Netflix - (Revolution only)
HDMI - ( Revolution & Charge only)
All in all, you'll have advantages in some areas and will fall short in others. The Revolution is a well rounded LTE offering and in my opinion was enough to warrant a purchase and 2 year contract from me. If you're looking to get the fastest phone out there, you may want to look at one of the new dual core offerings, but know this, you'll be stuck on 3g. If you want LTE and want to lock yourself into unlimited 4g before Verizon switches over to tiered internet this should be your phone of choice. Dreams of a dual core phone with unlimited LTE support most likely got killed with the delay of the Bionic.

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Combining the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile broadband network with the power of Android 2.2, the Revolution by LG also offers complete HD support for streaming, playing and recording video multimedia while on the go. You'll be able to download movies and games in seconds, shoot HD videos and share them instantly, seamlessly multitask, and browse the web.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network provides speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless' 3G network. With 4G LTE, you'll enjoy simultaneous voice and data capabilities, allowing you to check e-mail, browse the web, download an app, and check directions while on a call. Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company's entire 3G coverage area over the next three years (learn more about 4G below).

In addition to high-speed 4G connectivity, you can also share the built-in Mobile Hotspot via Wi-Fi among up to eight devices--laptop, another phone, MP3 player, and more (additional service charge).

Stay up-to-date with friends and family over video chat with the front-facing camera, and snap crystal clear images with the 5-megapixel autofocus camera on the back. The LG Revolution also records video in HD 720p resolution, perfect for showing on HDTVs via the HDMI video output (or wirelessly via DLNA connectivity).

Keep yourself entertained with the latest movies on the go with the pre-loaded Netflix app. You can also load movies from your PC in multiple formats, including DivX, and experience rich sound quality with Dolby Mobile. And the LG Revolution comes pre-loaded with games, including Rock Band and Let's Golf 2.

Other features include a pre-loaded 16 GB microSD memory card (with expansion up to 32 GB via optional cards), Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo audio streaming, GPS turn-by-turn directions via free Google Maps with Navigation (plus optional VZ Navigator service), access to both personal and corporate e-mail, and up to 7.25 hours of talk time.

Vital Statistics
The LG Revolution weighs 6.06 ounces and measures 5.03 x 2.63 x 0.52 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7.25 hours (435 minutes) of talk time, and up to 335 hours (14 days) of standby time. It runs on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, as well as EV-DO, Rev A 3G and CDMA 800/1900 frequencies where 4G LTE is not available.
What's in the Box
LG Revolution handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, 16 GB microSD card, quick start guide

Android Operating System
The LG Revolution runs the Android operating system--OS 2.2 (aka, Froyo)--which provides a faster overall Android experience as well as greater multitasking capabilities. You'll be able to receive notifications, listen to music, and even record GPS data without keeping the application open. And it features a plethora of new enhancements, including an improved onscreen QWERTY keyboard, full push corporate e-mail, and support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1 for access to the full Web. It also offers enhanced Exchange support, with Calendar syncing, Global Address Lookup, improved security, auto-discovery, and more.

With integrated Google technology, the LG Revolution 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 instant messaging (with presence capabilities), YouTube, and Picasa. The LG Revolution also provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. And 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.

Swype Keyboard
An alternative to the Android virtual keyboard, the Swype virtual keyboard 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 right, 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.

Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network allows you to download photos, apps, and games in seconds and entire movies in minutes. LTE (or Long Term Evolution provides significantly increased upload and download speeds over 3G networks, as well as significantly reduced latency (or lag time). Verizon Wireless expects 4G LTE average data rates to be 5-12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2-5 Mbps on the uplink in real-world, loaded network environments.

With these blazing fast speeds, you'll be able to stream HD movies without the annoyance of constant pauses to buffer the video stream--as well as quickly download HD-quality movies right to your phone in minutes. Additionally, you'll be able to download a new song file in about 4 seconds or upload a photo to your favorite social networking site in about 6 seconds.

And with Skype Mobile with video calling capabilities via the 4G LTE network, you'll see callers face-to-face while you're on the go. In addition to chatting with other compatible smartphones, you'll be able to video conference to users on PCs.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile broadband network will also redefine the mobile office for business users. Business applications that used to require wired networks will be untethered forever, allowing you maximized productivity and efficiency while you're out of the confines of your office. Enhanced security lets you tap into most VPN networks with less waiting, and faster responsiveness enables you to upload 10 MB presentations back to your team in less than 25 seconds.

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TomTom VIA 1405M 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Lifetime Maps Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this to replace my 2-year-old TomTom XL 340S, mainly because I wanted lifetime map updates which were not available when I bought my XL. I hooked both units up in my car and drove around for an hour to compare them. A couple obvious differences are that the VIA units are slightly thinner and lighter than the XL series, and the VIAs have a slightly better screen, although honestly I could barely tell the difference. Diagonal lines are a little less jaggy on the VIA if you look closely, but the increased resolution does not make much difference. The font size is slightly different as well. The font for the current street is a little larger on the VIA, but the font for the next street to turn onto is slightly smaller, which you can see in the screen image on this site. The street name is green and white and meant to look like a highway sign. The fonts were perfectly fine on my XL, and they are fine on the VIA as well. One thing that they changed, and I think this is new for the VIA line, is that when you are approaching your destination it will tell you if it's on the right or the left. With previous generation TomToms you could see which side of the street your destination was on by looking at the screen, but it didn't announce it audibly. It's a slight improvement, but not a big deal in my opinion.
As far as navigation, the two units were pretty similar when giving directions. I noticed that in some places the Lane Guidance screen would kick in on the XL while it did not on the VIA. I think they have tweaked the software a little after realizing that there were times when Lane Guidance was coming on when it wasn't really needed. Also, I noticed at one exit that the XL said to exit and "go straight on," (although the screen showed a left turn with an arrow) when in fact it should have said exit and turn left. The XL got it wrong, the VIA got it right. Again, that was probably just the result of improvements that have been made to the software in the last two years. Also, the XL would say "take the exit toward Erie, PA" (spoken as "pa" as in "papa"), whereas the VIA just said take the exit toward Erie, and didn't mention the state. It's kind of pointless to say the state in that instance, so just saying a city and leaving it at that is fine.
And now for the best feature. The reason I would not consider any other brand of PND right now is because TomTom is the only brand with the excellent EasyPort Mount. I only use my PND when I travel by air and then rent a vehicle. In my opinion, having the mount built-in to the unit is great. It is much easier to pack and carry than it would otherwise be if the mount was a seperate piece of hardware. I've had no problems with the EasyPort Mounts on both of my TomToms. They work great!
I didn't want the traffic or Bluetooth options, so I went with the "M" instead of the "TM" and the 1405 instead of the 1435.
Overall this is a great PND. I highly recommend it to anyone who takes along a PND for use in rental cars. The EasyPort Mount is excellent and makes for a compact and easy to transport device, and TomTom is the only company that offers it.

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Apple iMac MC814LL/A 27-Inch Desktop Review

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(More customer reviews)A disclaimer of sorts: I write iOS and Mac apps for a living. I have written a few apps that I sell in the store, so I work full time with a Mac. I tend to buy a new computer every year, because that spinning rainbow wheel begins to eat away at my productivity as my projects grow in size, so I like to have the latest and greatest as it becomes available. I previously owned a Macbook Pro 17" (actually reviewed previously on Amazon by me) but decided to switch to a desktop for the added power and screen real estate. I used "Migration Assistant" to bring over my entire user account to the new iMac so that I was up and running in a few hours.
THE SHORT VERSION
Without going into too much back history, I can say the "short version" of this review is that it is a fantastic, speedy and powerful computer. I loaded it up with an extra 8GB of memory (Apple offers you an 8gb upgrade for a lot of money...you can buy an additional 8 to bring this machine up to 12 for half of what they charge you) and it just flies. I notice that apps that used to bounce for several seconds (sometimes 10+ bounces) now just bounce once before being fully open and operational. The screen is gorgeous, the all-in-one design is great and and the 1TB drive is spacious for all kinds of media.
THE LONGER VERSION
----
SPEED/MEMORY
As mentioned, I have upgraded the machine to 12GB of memory. (Corsair 8 GB DDR3 Laptop Memory Kit CMSO8GX3M2A1333C9) I highly recommend to buy at least an additional 4 to put into your computer. It has 4 slots, which is great, because that's a lot of room for memory expansion. I'm letting you know all this because I haven't actually booted the computer up with only 4GB. I imagine it's still pretty speedy (thanks largely in part to the new Intel CPU) but it won't be able to load up as many apps at once with ease. Installing memory is really very simple (took about 60 seconds start to finish) so I can't recommend it enough.
The new processor is unbelievable. It tears through tasks. My app projects that would literally sometimes take 1 to 2 minutes to build on my Macbook Pro take a fraction of the time on here (as fast as 10-15 seconds)--and these are projects that are really very large in size. I also noticed that ripping DVDs to mp4s was a lot smoother and faster on the new iMac. It could go through about 2 hours of video in ~20-30 minutes (at a very high quality). There are tons of benchmarks floating around on the internet, so I recommend searching around for the speed of this particular iMac. It's impressively fast.
SCREEN
One of the major reasons I went for an iMac over a new Macbook Pro this year was to gain access to the super high res 27" screen. Whenever I see these in the Apple store, I am always in awe at just how much you can fit, and with so much clarity. Its native resolution is 2560x1440 which is much higher than the usual "1080p" (1920x1080 or the MBP's 1920x1200). This means you can fit many windows side by side, or blow up your Safari window to full size and experience the web in a whole new way. I manage multiple windows of Xcode side by side now with ease and still have room to space for chat programs and Twitter.
The size really is enormous. You have to stand in front of one and use it to really appreciate just how much screen real estate you get when you go to this size--especially at this resolution.
ALL-IN-ONE DESIGN / PORTS
So one of the other benefits to the iMac of course is its "all in one" design. The box it comes in has styrofoam (which is unfortunate, given Apple's commitment to being green) but you just pop those out, and then slide out your computer, unravel your power cord, plug in, and you're good to go. With this particular model, you get the wireless keyboard and the "magic mouse." If you can afford the extra seventy dollars, I'd pick up the trackpad. It's so much better than the mouse, and really easy to use. It also has a huge tracking surface letting you manipulate your apps in interesting ways.
There are four USB ports and two thunderbolt ports. Thunderbolt is great, but it's so new that I haven't found anything to really test it. You're supposed to be able power up to two other full size screens which is awesome, but I haven't tested it personally and I also don't own any native thunderbolt devices. I'm waiting for external hard drive makers to come out with Thunderbolt enabled drives too, because it will be way faster than USB.
Speaking of USB, the four are all lined up right next to each other but what's nice is that they are lined up vertically--so it's a little bit harder for a fat device to get in the way of two ports, so that's great. You'd have to have something that is very wide (which I'm sure is possible) but for the most part, the ports seem distanced enough to be able to plug in whatever you want.
Oh, and finally, you get a built in SD card reader which is nice. It's below the DVD drive on the side.
GRAPHICS
I tested out some games running in the native resolution and they play without a hiccup of any kind. Games at 2560x1440 are incredible--it's a whole new experience, honestly. You can also search around online for benchmarks for this particular graphics card (the 6970M). It's a very capable card. (Note: The M means it's actually the mobile version of the desktop 6970, but it's still powerful and will meet most/all of your gaming needs.)
MAC OS X
I won't really mention too much here. Mac OS X has been around for ages, and 10.7 is right around the corner (due this summer.) I used to be a Windows guy but after using Macs for several years now, I don't see myself ever "going back." I even have converted a lot of my friends and family to the Apple world and they all love it. I especially love that all new Macs come with the latest iLife (For photos, videos, etc) and the recently introduced Mac App Store. I've loaded up my computer with tons of apps that I would have never known existed without the app store. I know Apple didn't invent software, but packaging it all in an organized store right there on your desktop is great.
OTHER THOUGHTS
The first major downside to this computer is the sheer amount of heat it produces. I walked outside my home office and noticed that the rest of my house felt about 5-10 degrees cooler. If you touch the iMac after it's been on for a while, you feel like you could cook something on it. It's seriously very hot.
The only positive thing regarding the heat is that the computer remains whisper quiet, even while running a full Flash video in HD. (Flash is notorious for spinning up your computer's fans. The latest version is a lot nicer though, especially if the website has updated their own Flash video, because its graphics accelerated, so your CPU won't die trying to render).
Another negative I read about this computer all the time is that it has no blu-ray drive. I personally don't care that it doesn't have a blu-ray drive because I prefer streaming media anyway, but I can understand why it's viewed as an important missing feature. The screen size and high resolution really would be nice to see a full 1080p video on, but I really don't think we'll ever see Apple provide a blu-ray drive, especially when they are in the game of selling movies via their iTunes store.FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I think if you're in the market for a computer that will last you a while (or you're like me and always have to have the latest and greatest) then this is a fantastic contender. For me, I was basically instantly sold on it when I saw it uses the new "sandy bridge" Intel chips, and its high res screen. If you shop around, a 27" screen at 2560x1440 can cost upwards of one thousand dollars, so getting one built into a very powerful, capable computer seems like a steal.If you have any questions or requests for info, please let me know in the comments and I'll respond/update!

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The Ultimate All-in-One Goes All Out. The 27-inch iMac features a brilliant LED-backlit, edge-to-edge glass display (see larger image).

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