Creative Zen 8 GB Portable Media Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)IMPORTANT NOTES FIRST:

YES, it is iTunes-compatible, and YES it is compatible with Yahoo! Jukebox, BUT ONLY THOSE TRACKS THAT YOU HAVE PURCHASED AS "BURNABLE". In other words, you will not be able to transfer your Subscription or Stream tracks to this device, which is only fair (for that, you have to have Yahoo! Music Unlimited To-Go, which is an invite-based service and thus uncommon). Needless to say, you can import tracks from any CD quickly and painlessly, and/or copy any wmv/mp3/mp4 or whatever that you already have on your hard drive: the device is browsable with Windows and all you need to do is copy/paste to the right folder.

Now for the review.THE GOOD:

++ Compatible with an amazing variety of file formats, without conversion, unlike iPods. Whatever is not compatible the software will convert for you if at all possible. This is a HUGE plus for the computer-illiterate.

++ Great sound quality, a bare minimum requirement for a music player.

++ Sleek looks, IMO superior to the trite iPod-like, spin-wheel design. It certainly got more looks and comments than the iPod I had previously. Also, it's more pleasant to hold in your hand: small but not too tiny, and very sturdy/solid (which, if you'll handle it 8-10 hours a day like I do, is a huge plus).

++ The included software is fantastic. It's fast, reliable (never froze), and lets you manage files and create playlists quickly and painlessly. Basically, anything you can do with the player's built-in software you can do with ZEN Media Explorer from your computer. So, go for it.

++ Many complained about the interface, but I actually like it very much. The built-in software is easy to understand and utilize. The buttons are a tad tricky, but all you need to do is play around with them for ten minutes before you're able to find them blindly by just sticking your hand in your pocket (something you certainly cannot do with iPods, whose interface is more visually-driven).THE SO-SO:

++/-- The SD expansion slot is both a pain and a pleasure. Yes, you can basically make this a 16Gb with an SDHC card for a few bucks--but it's true that only SOME content will run off of it, and that while you are playing content from the SD card you cannot navigate the built-in flash memory. So, caveat emptor... but if you know what you're getting there's no reason to complain. How many times do you really browse your music while you're already listening to something else anyway?THE BAD:

-- Perplexed about battery life info: "25 hours of continuous listening"? I don't think so. More like 10-12, which is on par with similar devices.

-- The shortest USB cable ever bundled. Buy a cheapo extension from Monoprice right away, unless you already own a USB hub. Otherwise, your player will lie on the floor or, worse, hang by the cable while it's being charged and sync'ed, neither of which is good.

-- The joystick buttons make a slightly annoying clicking sound, not when pressed but when released. However, this does not happen on my friend's ZEN, so maybe I got a "bad" unit?

-- AWFUL packaging! What were they thinking? Not only is it one of those impossible-to-open blister packs, but if you use scissors it's relatively easy to harm the contents... not the player, thankfully, which is in full sight, but the manuals and CD and bundled cables. So be careful.OTHER THOUGHTS:

** BUY A SCREEN PROTECTOR! Apply it immediately. The screen will collect dust (and thus scratches) within hours, like any LCD.
** BUY A CASE OR SKIN! Piano-black finish is attracted to fingerprints like flies to s__t.
** 8Gb is perfect for the serious music listener with varied taste. Buffs and pros want to go for 16Gb. Occasional listeners will do well with 4Gb. Media moguls, of course, need not apply: that's what the Vision is for.Overall, one of the best entry-level portable music players on the market. The price tag may well be the deal-breaker here: it is cheaper than any other brand music player, and it does the same things AND, in my opinion, more and better. Support by Creative is also famously good, so I see no reason not to buy a ZEN.

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Product Description:
Bring your media with you wherever you roam with the Creative Zen 8GB player. Watch 32 hours of videos, enjoy up to 2,000 of your favorite songs or share hundreds of photos with your friends. And do it all on a device that's about the width of a credit card.


A razor sharp 2.5-inch display makes your photos and videos come to life. See the Zen in detail.

Small size. Big features. All in the palm of your hand. View larger.

Add even more storage capacity via the SD card slot. View larger. Design
The Zen sports a 2.5-inch TFT color display with 320 x 240-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors. This razor sharp display is packaged in a device that weighs just 2.1 ounces and measures 3.26 x 2.16 x .44 inches (W x H x D). The internal battery powers the Zen for up to 25 hours of continuous audio playback and up to five hours of continuous video playback. Use the Zen's SD slot to expand your portable media library with music, photos and videos stored on your SD card. There's also a handy built-in microphone for capturing notes on the go.
Features
Load up up your favorite songs, as well as your album art, and get going with the Zen. The device supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store and MP3 and WMA tracks. Subscription and pay-per-download music services are supported, as well. Discover, save, and play millions of songs when subscribing to services such as Yahoo Music Unlimited and Napster To Go. You can even tune into your favorite stations with the Zen's FM radio. The radio allows you to save up to 34 presets.
The Zen has you covered when it comes to video, too. The device supports MJPEG, WMV9 and--with transcoding--MPEG1 and 2, MPEG4-SP, DivX 4 and 5, and XviD. Enjoy purchased or rented movies and TV shows from online services such as Amazon Unbox and Walmart.com. Watch home videos. Even load your Tivo To Go movies and TV shows onto your Zen.
Additional features include a clock and alarm function, volume restriction, eight equalizer settings, and a USB hard drive mode, which allows you to drag and drop files directly to and from your Zen. The Zen can also function as a handy organizer, allowing you to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook and display your contacts, calendar, and tasks.
What's in the Box
Zen player, earphones, USB 2.0 cable, installation CD, and quick start guide.

A slick user interface makes it a snap to enjoy your media.

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Samsung F40 Ultra Zoom Camcorder (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I want to preface this review with a comment.If you are expecting that this camera is going to put out High Definition quality videos and be amazing in low light situations, then you're looking at the wrong camera.In fact, MOST cameras will have difficulties in low light situations.The camera was not designed for HD, obviously, so that expectation should go out the window.

Overall, the camera is great.Purchased for $165 from Amazon's website at the end of March 2010.The camera has excellent zoom and picks up sound very well.The reason that the camera was purchased was to capture golf shots between friends.It's very lightweight and easily fits within the compartments of our golf carts/bags.It's still a bit big to fit into my pants to the point where I feel comfortable taking a golf shot.Don't get me wrong, it is still small and CAN fit into your pant pockets.I just don't like the feel of it when I take golf shots.

I had considered purchasing the Flip HD and Kodak zi8 (which I do have) and must say that though the form factors on the handheld camcorders is better from a size standpoint, you simply can't beat the benefits of this camera.

For those of you who are concerned about the battery life, let me assure you that the 4.5 hrs of battery life is definitely real.I tested it today since I was skeptical about it as well.This 'concern' came about because the battery indicator light is not designed well and appears to drain faster than it really does.At one point, there were zero bars on the indicator but the camera continued taking video for an additional 45 minutes.

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Product Description:

With its incredible 65x intelli-Zoom (52x Optical Zoom), the Samsung SMX-F40 series give you the ability to bring distant images into forefront focus, enabling you to zoom closer to the action from further away.

FEATURES:

Record More - Enhanced energy efficiency and advanced power management coming from Samsung 8th generation DSP Solution combine to create a camcorder that gives you over 4 hours and 10 minutes of battery life, ensuring that you can shoot and share for longer.
Get Closer - With its incredible 65x intelli-Zoom (52x Optical Zoom), the Samsung SMX-F40 series give you the ability to bring distant images into forefront focus, enabling you to zoom closer to the action from further away.
Bigger sensor, better video - The Samsung SMX-F40 series use a 1/6 CCD Sensor to enhance image quality. Its extra-large sensor sets it apart from other camcorders in its class and enables you to enjoy higher-quality images.
Ultimate Companion to your PC - intelli-Studio 2.0 is designed to enhance your sense of freedom. Plug & Play PC Software, intelli-Studio 2.0 is built-into the Samsung SMX-F40 series, you can use any PC to view, edit, and upload your memories to the web without software CD.
USB Battery charging - The convenient USB charging gives you flexibility and freedom. Simply connect the Samsung SMX-F40 series to any PC via USB cable and the camcorder will begin recharging, allowing you to enjoy a more mobile lifestyle.
Record the passing of time - The Time-Lapse recording feature captures frames at preset intervals and then arranges them in sequential order to create a video file that condenses an extended period of time into a fraction of the time.

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Centon 1GB USB 2.0 Digital MP3 WMA Player Voice Recorder Flash Drive Review

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(More customer reviews)First of all--yes, I'm glad I read the other reviews before purchasing. They were exactly right--a completely worthless manual, not even worthy of trying to figure out. But for me, the use was kind of intuitive. First thing you want to do after installing the AAA battery (included) is turn the "hold" button away from the arrow; the hold button is basically a "lock" that keeps you from switching settings while it's in your pocket. Then you push the round button on the front to turn it on, and an icon menu comes up the functions that this thing performs: music, recording, playback, FM radio, or storage device. It's not that intuitive, but then, it's not completely un-intuitive either; just understand that the kind of "mousy" button on top can be pushed left or right to scroll, and then down to select. Apart from the volume button, that's about it.

It's easy to drag and drop music onto this device; just plug it into your computer and off you go. Note: this thing does NOT take MP4 music--only MP3--but if you have Itunes, it will do the conversion for you, provided that you didn't buy the music from the Itunes store. There are instructions on how to do it on the web here and there. If you only have Itunes music, you can buy conversion software. Otherwise, just stick to your MP3s.

Playback quality is very good with Apple earbuds, but is pretty bad with the included earphones. I did a little voice recording, and played it back--the playback quality was surprisingly good. The internal mike captures a lot. Will also record directly off FM, if you ever need such a thing.

Overall--for the price I paid (less than 20), a real steal. If it's much more than that, forget it. Believe it or not, I saw this exact same thing in Uganda (Africa)--it is all over the world, from China, and CHEAP. So if some USA reseller is trying to rip you off, give it a pass.

Just plan on diddling with it a while before you get the feel of how it works. If you aren't a diddler, this thing may be a bit tough to crack, so have your techno-friend who just can't let it go nearby, and s/he'll get you sorted!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Centon 1GB USB 2.0 Digital MP3 WMA Player Voice Recorder Flash Drive

Product Description:
This Centon MP3 player is perfect for people on the move. It brings affordability and breakthrough digital technology to the audio player market. Whether you want an MP3 player for your workouts or long trips, this USB 1GB MP3 player will do the job amazingly! The Centon MP3 player functions as a MP3/WMA player, high-quality digital voice recorder, and USB flash drive all in one unique design. Take it anywhere to listen to MP3 music, store data, and take quick voice notes for those hard to remember pieces of information. It also delivers superior sound quality as compared to most other players on the market!The portable MP3 player features 1 gigabyte (1024 MB) of internal memory, an attractive crystal clear backlit LCD screen, 5 equalizer settings, and an integrated USB 2.0 connector. The direct USB connection on this MP3 player makes transferring music and files on and off the unit extremely simple. Its sleek design makes this device very portable and its rugged finish and construction prevent physical damage. Listen to hours of your favorite music anytime and anywhere!The digital voice recorder allows you to make reminders for yourself for later which makes your memory more tangible. With a 1 GB storage capacity you'll be able to take those important files with you, there is a convenient built-in USB flash drive. Always know what song you're listening to, the player has ID3 Tag support. Tracks are easily viewed because of the LCD backlight display which changes light color as you switch modes. This Centon MP3 Player will help you keep your tunes and files with you while traveling, so order yours today! List of Contents: Centon 1 GB USB 2.0 Portable Digital MP3 Player, earphones, 1 AAA battery, 1 year manufacturer's direct warranty.

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SANYO ICR-FP700D Digital Stereo MP3 Voice Recorder with Expandable SD Card Memory Slot Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, specifications require SD or SDHC memory cards from 512 to 8 GB.Not all cards are the same and recording on different cards may cause the recorded sound to skip; therefore, the recorder may have to be used to reformat the card.I suggest to make a sample recording first.The card provided is manufactured by Toshiba.

The ICR-FP700D records Stereo 192kbps @ 60-20k Hz, Stereo 64kbps @ 60-7.5k Hz and Mono 32kbps @ 60-6.5k Hz.High quality recording requires more card memory where low quality recording requires less card memory:Figure approximately 10 hours recording for 1 gig of memory for High Quality Stereo Sound and approximately 60 hours recording for 1 gig of memory for Low Quality Mono Sound.Battery life for recording varies depending on sound and battery quality so figure approximately 15 to 30 hours from an alkaline battery.

To get any quality from such a little device is a good thing.The ICR-FP700D currently is the only model that can connect to a PC and that issomething to consider although removing the SD card and inserting it into a media card reader worked too.I transferred the MP3 file to my PC and transfered the file into a wav editor program to find that it is truly a Stereo MP3.Nice!

The ICR-FP700D has stereo mics integrated or use the line input to add an external device that can be another mic or a tape player or a radio.Input sensitivity can be adjusted manually by setting the switch on the back to MIC or LINE.I tried LINE at first and got a poor recording.Then I tried MIC (this is with a radio headphone output as an input source) and got the quality I was wanting to hear.

If you want to use the timer to start a recording you can and also set the time duration to 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hour and ALL.I would not suggest ALL as if you want to split the file you need card memory and if you used it ALL up there is none.It would be nice if the time duration could have been every 30 minutes...30,60,90,120,150,180 then ALL.

If you are going to record by the integrated mics, only one folder can be used.Line in can use both MIC and LINE folders if that is of any importance.All I care is that it is recording to a removable SD card and not internal memory.

Playback of any recording on the ICR-FP700D is possible but consider that it has a very small speaker.If you want there is a headphone jack. Playback should be at lower volumes only as the manual states higher volumes for sustained times can harm the ICR-FP700D.So, do not listen to music with the ICR-FP700D.

The ICR-FP700D has a very small door for the SD card and it is attached in a flimsy way.Yes, it would only be a matter of time before it breaks off. Attempting to remove the SD card can be a challenge because you don't want to break off the little door that is in the way.I didn't want a shiney black surface and I still don't care much for the shiny black surface as it does show finger smudges.No choice here.

What was somewhat confusing was the VAS (Voice Activated System).Appears all that has to be done is to go into the MENU and select ON then to activate press the RECORD button.Depending on the sensitivity any sound will activate the recording.Adjusting the sensitivity is done by pressing the - and + buttons while recording.Adjust then delete the file and your set.One thing to be careful of is the erase button that is on the right side, because depending on how you hold the ICR-FP700D you may accidently push it and have to back out of that mode.

It is nice that the ICR-FP700D comes with a battery and that it is a replacable AAA battery.I just don't care much for devices that I have to plug into a PC's USB port for hours.

I made the purchase to make recordings from radio and it works great... after I figured out how to make a decent recording.I'm happy with it.Turn on the radio, adjust the volume (start low), plug a line into the ICR-FP700D's mic(line)input, set the sensitivity to MIC or LINE (MIC worked best), plug the line into the radios headphone jack, turn on the recorder, use folder MIC or LINE, press the record button and there you are, recording.I'm happy the instruction manual is easy to follow, too.

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Product Description:
The Sanyo ICR-FP700D digital voice recorder is an excellent choice for business professionals, college students, reporters, conference attendees, and music enthusiasts; providing uncompromising audio recording quality in a sleek, compact design. For work, for school, or for play, it combines important functionality in an easy-to-carry, user-friendly design. The ICR-FP700D is a "best of class" digital voice recorder. It offers Stereo MP3 recording and virtually unlimited recording time using removable SD memory cards (1GB SD card included).High Quality Stereo MP3 Recording Format, Up to 544 Hours of Recording (with optional 8GB SDHC card)29 Hour Battery Life* ("AAA" alkaline battery) Built-in Stereo Microphones and External Stereo Microphone Input Playback Speed Control + 200% - 50% (MP3 files) Voice Activated System (VAS) Technology Preset Equalizers (EQ) Recording from External Sources Timer Recording Features Easy File Management

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